01x82 - Episode 82

[bunniefuu]

Ah, I wasn't sure you'd be able
to untangle yourself

from the sheets
and my nephew long enough

to answer Daddy's call.

Unclutch your pearls, Sissy.

I wouldn't want you to choke
on your self-righteousness.

Girls.

Why did Granddad throw up
the Dupree Bat-Signal?

I have no idea. Apparently,
I'm always in the dark.

Hi, girls.

-So good to see you, sweetheart.
-Good to see you, too.

MARTIN:
Mom.

Big bro, why didn't
you tell me about the death?

-What?
-Of your

facial muscles.
They must have died

trying to keep up those bags
from under your eyes.

Thanks for your concern,
but this exhausted look

is only temporary.
I just couldn't sleep.

Oh, baby. Another nightmare?

Granddad, what's the fire?
What couldn't wait?

ANITA:
I couldn't.

I was hiding in the garden,
waiting for you to gather.

[laughter]

-Hey, baby.
-Wow.

Come on, bring it in here.

Hi, Gran.

Sweetheart, thank you,
thank you, thank you.

[sighs]
Thank God.

Thank God, indeed.

I tried, neph,

but Nicole's walls
are firmly in place

and mind made up.

She's convinced
Dani robbed the cradle.

I've never seen her like this.

-Mad?
-Unforgiving.

Well, that's on me.
I mean, I messed up so badly,

she thinks
any secret's a betrayal.

But she loves you and Dani,
and her anger will fade.

I don't know.
She seems pretty far

from the land of forgiveness
all around.

Well, I earned it. You know,

I wronged my wife.
But you, I mean, you just

fell into
this thing with Dani, and...

By the way, uh,
what are you calling it?

I don't even know.

My rolling stone nephew
decides to stop rolling,

and Dani stops chasing
her ex around with a bat.

Just give it a minute.

Nicole will see how much both of
you have changed for the better

and eventually get on board.

Nah, I don't know
if that's gonna happen.

Why not?

I'm in,
but I don't think Dani is.

Not even close.

♪ ♪

ANDRE:
Looking good.

I'm trying to look
composed and confident.

Ah, well, you might need
a little more work on that.

Hey, I'm kidding.

You've got this, coz.

-Thanks, Andre.
-Come on.

[chuckles]

-Hmm.
-[knock on door]

Come in.

What are you doing?

Smile, first day.

[both laugh]

Now to capture
a thousand more firsts

to make up
for what we missed out on.

The office is going to be
a little bit cramped

while the clinic
is being renovated.

Yeah, well, the temporary setup

where the rest of the staff
is working is pretty tight, too.

But I can set up my tablet
and laptop anywhere.

So, I figured you'd want me
to get more familiar

with payroll and billing first?

So who do I talk to about that?

You're going to learn
everything from me, the source.

Since Kat's unavailable.

Let's not play. "Unwilling"
is the word you're looking for.

She'll come around.

Have a seat.

So, what's the area
you need the most help in?

[chuckles]

Uh, that would be patients
who want me to turn them

into Boris Kodjoe
or Lupita Nyong'o

with the wave of my scalpel.

What would you fix about me?

I know you had
to have done Kat's nose.

Kat inherited her nose
just like you inherited yours.

You two are
too beautiful for my scalpel.

Thanks, Ted.

I'm sure you've had
people expecting miracles

in your styling chair.

Yeah, there were a few girls
who were low-key devastated

not to find
Teyana Taylor's cheekbones

when they traded
their weave in for pixie cuts.

See, there's a skill that Kat
didn't have when she started.

You're going
to help difficult clients

know that plastic surgery
is about confidence

and being comfortable
in your own skin.

Oh, I'd better write that down.

The one thing I have
that Kat doesn't.

Woo-hoo.

Yeah, I'm not taking on
any away assignments.

WOMAN [over P.A.]:
Rapid response to room 333.

What's keeping me in the DMV?

I'm... still trying
to figure that out.

Uh, later.

Ashley.

ASHLEY:
Hi.

Hey, I'm sorry
we couldn't connect yesterday.

How you feeling?

That bad?

Derek made it official.

We're over.

Oh, Ashley.

I didn't think
he would ever let you go.

It wasn't all him.

I know it took me
a while to say it,

but the second Derek
stood up from one knee

and I wasn't wearing
that ring...

[sighs]
...we both knew.

I hurt him.

That's the worst part.

Wanting different things
doesn't make you a bad person.

How do you do that?

I was in a complete funk.

But after what you just said...

I'm feeling better.

[laughter]

Mother, you are glowing
like the icon you are.

And you're welcome, BTW,
for tricking you

-up onto that karaoke stage.
-Mm-hmm.

Do you always have to make
yourself the beginning

and the end
to everything, Sissy?

You can't just
rewrite the truth.

We all encouraged Mother.

Karaoke was Naomi's idea.

How long do we have you for?

One day only.

But I could just not let
another moment pass

without laying eyes
and hugs on my family.

VERNON:
Okay, Duprees.

We need to move
if we're all going to get

-a chance to talk to her.
-We were talking to her.

You'll each have a turn

for a private conversation
with our visiting star.

Ooh la la. We each get
a reception with the queen,

which I am totally
fine with, by the way.

I love having you to myself.

Great.

Then I will start with you,
my little troublemaker.

Apt description.

All right. Spill.

I haven't seen that much shade

thrown from your sister to you
since the incident

of the borrowed jeans
in prep school.

Well, it's good
you're sitting down.

What did you do, Dani?

Danielle?

It's more like who or whom.

I am doing...

Andre Richardson.

Okay, here, you click here
and then, boom,

the hours are sent
directly to payroll. Got it?

No, but I will.

Oh, well, I'll walk you
through each one.

-It's no problem.
-No, you're too busy

to do all that.

Maybe there's like
a manual or something.

I'll make time.

A discrepancy could mean
a missed paycheck.

Well, I know
that paycheck-to-paycheck life.

I never want to screw that up.

We also have to make sure

the clinic's accreditation
certificate is current

so that we are meeting
all regulatory

and safety procedures.

Okay.

You have to make sure you are
aware of where Carlton and I are

at all times
in case of emergency,

even something
so simple as a busted suture.

So you have to make sure
we're on the same schedule

as the hospital and clinic.

That is it.

Look, Ted, I want this job.

I really do, but, honestly,

it's like
you're speaking in code.

We can work on it.

You'll learn.

Yeah, maybe in
a couple of years.

But Kat's right--
I'm nowhere near ready

to be your office manager.

You've got the wrong daughter
for this job.

I'm gonna get more tea.

Loves, why don't
you give Nicole a hand?

Come on, let's put
Gran's flower in some water.

And you taught me
the art of being subtle.

Desperate measures.

Anxiety is rolling
off of you in waves.

Even Kat noticed.

You need
to pull yourself together.

I'm sorry.

I just can't stop thinking about

we're paying
that b*stard off today.

And then it's done.

After that,

you just have
to keep it to yourself.

Even from your grandmother.

Gran knows.

She knows about what
happened two years ago,

not now.

You and Gran
don't have any secrets.

This is the first time
she's stepped on a real stage

in years.

She needs this.

And we're not going
to take that away from her.

Got it.

I won't say a word.

Come on upstairs,

splash some cold water
on your face.

Fake it until the guy who's
blackmailing you goes away.

Got it.

Yo, you been dodging me?

No, I...

Nothing to report. Pun intended.

My sources have all gone quiet
on the Marcel front.

There's one source that hasn't.

-Who?
-Martin.

You're married to the guy,
so why not just ask him

what went down
between him and Marcel?

I can't.

He's a strong person,
but whatever this is,

he couldn't tell me
about it when it happened.

And I have asked over and
over again about the nightmares,

and all I get is pushback.

Well, maybe
bringing the truth to light

will make it all stop.

You got me to talk.

You have a superpower, Smitty.
Use those skills on your husband

before it's too late.

I don't think I can do that.

If something were
tearing Naomi apart,

I couldn't let it lie.

And it sounds to me like
Martin's crying out for help.

Not Ted's little nephew
Andre Richardson?

I know, I know. He's too young

and he's too close
to the family.

But he is technically
extended family.

And there you have it.

Another scandal starring moi.

Oh, Dani. I'm, uh...

-...surprised.
-Is it

so bad, Anita Dupree
doesn't have words?

Oh, I have words.

It's whether or not
it's appropriate

to use them is the issue.

I want to know
what you think, Mother.

You have been
through a lot, Dani.

And you deserve some solace.

Are you really cosigning this?

My biggest regret
was cosigning Bill.

He wasn't always kind to you.

Is Andre kind?

I didn't know someone could be
that nice and that hot at once.

Then, brava.

[both chuckle]

Now, is it serious?

We've barely
stepped out in public yet.

Why not?

You're both consenting adults
with no strings on you.

Oh, no, Dani.

No, you... you are not
still waiting for Bill?

No. I am waiting
to stop waiting.

Bill is still
haunting me, Mother,

no matter how fine Andre is.

No, baby.
You focus on Andre,

and time
will take care of the rest.

And in the meantime,
Nicole will go on hating me.

I was hoping
she'd understand, but...

Your sister doesn't hate you.

This is about her pain.

I'll talk to her.

How did you know?

Know what?

To come home
just when I needed you.

Gran may have rejoined
the Articulettes,

but she owes me a duet.

-Ooh.
-Ooh, serious.

-[phone chimes]
-Oh, that's Jacob.

Okay, I will be back
to reclaim my time.

-Okay, girl.
-Excuse me.

[laughter]

Um... [sighs]

I'm glad we have a minute.

This topic is NSFG.

What?

-Not safe for Gran.
-Oh.

Anita Dupree has seen it all.

[sighs]
Well...

I decided I was ready

to have cake with, um, Tomas.

Oh, yay.

And you know we don't have
to use code words.

How was it?

Well, I wouldn't know.

He came up with this nonsense

about being afraid
of pressuring me.

[sighs]

I think I might have waited
myself into a friend zone.

Guys are so weird
about virginity.

I mean, you're hot, he's hot,
you're going to be hot together.

It's inevitable.

-Is it?
-[ringtone plays]

Hey, this isn't a good time.

Fi-Fine. Okay.

I'll be there in a few.

Oh, Mom, can you put me
last on the Gran queue?

Dad's on a guilt trip.

Of course, baby.

-Bye.
-Bye.

See you.

-Bye.
-Bye.

Your turn.

Okay.

[chuckles]
Hey.

I didn't think
you were going to wait around.

Yeah, I couldn't leave.

Not after you said that
seeing me made you feel better.

So, feel better?

Getting there.

Yeah. Great, great.

I'll take my wins
where I can get them.

Not everybody is dying
to see my face these days.

Hey, what's going on?

I'm forever leaning
on your broad shoulders.

Let me reciprocate.

WOMAN [over P.A.]: Dr. Perkins
to delivery room five.

Okay.

For starters,
Aunt Nicole is pissed at me.

Well, that's weird.

I don't think I've ever seen

Nicole Richardson
mad at anybody.

-Yeah, well...
-What's going on?

Just some random family drama.

Yeah.

We'll be cool eventually.

But, um, the thing
with you and Derek.

So, do you think there's any way

that he could,

I don't know, get past the pain

and take you back again?

I seriously doubt it.

Derek's decided that
he's ready for a house

and babies and a goldendoodle.

And I just wanted things
to stay the way they were.

And when there's no way forward
and no way back,

what's there left to do?

I don't know, Ashley.

Well, I've been thinking
about it a lot, and, um...

Okay.
[clears throat]

...I have to move on.

Yeah, yeah.
Beats standing still.

But how does that look?

Well...

...that kind of depends on you.

Say what now?

I know you said
you were dating someone.

Is it serious?

[woman speaks indistinctly
over P.A.]

Dani told me about Andre.

Oh, thank goodness you're here
to get her back on track

and put an end to this nonsense.

Dani doesn't even

seem to think that
anything's wrong with it.

They're both consenting adults.

And what does
whom Dani sleeps with

have to do with you?

He's family to me.

Not to Dani.

Nicole, we have been holding
our collective breath

for Dani for months.

And she's
finally found some peace.

And Andre's a part of that.

And this isn't
about your sister at all.

This is about you.

Yes. Yes, it is.

Because I am sick and tired

of rationalizing
other people's lies.

First Ted, Eva and Leslie,

and now Dani and Andre?

When did I become
everybody's designated fool?

How did I not see?

Nicole...

You don't get it because you
and Daddy would never lie to me.

Sweetheart,

people have been lying
to protect the ones they love

since time immemorial.

No, people lie
to protect themselves

from the inconvenience of having
to face their own actions.

You know your sister
would never consciously

hurt you.

So now put yourself
in her shoes.

She's hurting, alone...

and she needs comfort.

This isn't about Dani and Andre.

They're just easy targets.

You make it seem like
I'm lashing out without reason.

Oh, no, no, no.

You have every reason
to be distrustful.

But you're aiming your vitriol
in the wrong direction.

Sweetheart... it is time

to blame the people
who really hurt you.

And it is not Dani and Andre.

Chelsea, how's ChelseaKat?

It was going amazing,
but we hit a snag on our IP.

But we've got it.

Her Majesty
will see you now, Martin.

I hope your mother successfully
brokered a ceasefire.

DANI:
Daddy,

my hands are clean.

This is all Nicole for once.

Well, I've heard
that song before.

Daddy, you don't have
to referee.

Dani and I can take it
from here.

Right, Sissy?

Damn right.

Yeah, I'm seeing someone,
but it's not exclusive.

What are you asking me, Ash?

I'm... asking you out to dinner.

Oh.

But we've already been
down this road, remember?

You shut me down cold.

Yeah, but I was dating
Derek then.

I'm not anymore.

So you're asking me
on a real date?

Not well, apparently.

[chuckles]
I'm sorry, I, um...

I-I'm missing
some key information.

Why now, and why me?

Okay. Uh, well, now because
I need to prove to myself

-that there's life after Derek.
-Ah.

-So I'm convenient.
-No, no, it's not just that.

It's, um, you're...

probably the best dater I know.

You're cute

and you're fun and...

...you don't take things
too seriously.

So what better man
to pop my dating cherry?

Oh, my God.

-I did not mean it like that.
-I don't even know

whether I should be
insulted or flattered.

The second one.

I want to go on a date
with someone who knows me.

And if you're not into it,
you can say no

and you can just pretend
I didn't ask.

But I would really like it

if you'd go to dinner
with me at Uptown.

[elevator bell dings]

Consider your SOS answered.

Thank you for coming.
I know you're not exactly fond

of me these days, but I know

how much you care
about the staff.

I'm here for them, not for you.

Well, that was easy.

I thought I'd have
to get you that pony

you wanted when you were seven.

[chuckles]
It's not too late.

Lisa Vanderpump has
a miniature one.

Lisa who?

[laughs]
Just tell me what you need, Dad.

I'm asking you
to fulfill your promise

to train your successor.

That was before
you made Eva my successor.

You could have promoted
anyone from the practice.

You didn't come to me
with any experience.

I've been shadowing you
since I was a kid.

Eva never had that opportunity.

The pity card bounces

when it's your b*stard kid
by a psycho.

I hate this.

I'll take that as a maybe.

Come on, let's get this done.

Let's go.

Gran is here just for the day.

Oh, no. You didn't have
to leave to come see me.

-This can wait.
-No, no, it's okay.

I'm here. What is it?

I just pushed someone
to come clean with their spouse,

and now I feel like a hypocrite.

-Jacob?
-Oh, no, no, no, no.
It's not about us.

It's about that reporter
I told you about.

I shouldn't have been so vague.

As officers of the law,

we're both vague
when we need to be.

It's not like you're going
to arrest another family member.

Oh, God, no.

But it is related
to your family.

The reporter is Smitty.

That's it?

That's... that's not a big deal.

I don't know why you didn't
mention it before

or, frankly, why it matters.

This is nothing like
when you arrested Mom.

You haven't heard the rest.

Smitty is worried that Malone
could have done something

to hurt a member of your family,
namely Martin.

Now, I am serious.

I want to know
why your grandfather

spirited you away
so you could freshen up.

Because I looked and felt
like 40 miles of bad road.

[laughs]

It's been tough with Smitty
going back to work, Gran.

It's changed
the whole dynamic at home.

Plus the two kids,
all my legislative duties...

it's a lot to juggle.

Yes.

Smitty ran your home
with precision and love.

Are you okay with this shift?

It woke me up, made me realize

what's important

and what I need to do

to step up in my family.

We're better for it.

And how's your performing going?

I know you haven't
missed a beat.

Hardly. We had
to hire a vocal coach

to dust off the cords.

But when we harmonize together

and create something bigger
than any single one of us,

it makes me feel like I've found
something I've long missed.

Granddad mentioned
that the ladies

don't always get along
with each other.

[laughs] Well, you can't get
three divas in a room

and not expect to risk
some hair extensions,

but we'll survive.

I always credit Granddad
with my diplomacy,

but you're the real OG.

Oh, who do you think taught him?

[laughs] I can't wait to see you
back in the spotlight, Gran.

Oh, I've had my time.

But Tracy and Sharon,

they haven't had nearly enough.

This concert is repaying
a long overdue debt--

the fame, the money,
the accolades--

for as long as they want it.

For me,

I don't need the spotlight.

I just need to make up
for some past mistakes.

Hmm.

Well, anything you did

was a part of the business
of becoming a star.

The heights don't mean anything

if you don't conduct yourself
well on the way up.

But enough about that.
Where's my hug?

[both chuckling]

I leave for five minutes
and come back

to find you glowing.

[laughs]
Well, Dad didn't die,

ChelseaKat is almost a go,

and Kat and I have finally
settled into Mom's guesthouse.

It's like the best
empire/sleepover ever.

Well, that sounds
like a whole lot of happy.

And there's more, Gran.

I'm in love.

Vernon may have mentioned her.

I can't wait
to meet this Madison.

Oh, she's gorgeous and
literally brain surgeon smart.

And she's able to cut through
all the crap and make me laugh.

And when I'm
in the same room with her,

I just float.

Well, that sounds like love.

Is there a "but" coming?

No, more of a "yes, and."

Yes, you met her
five minutes after a breakup.

And that breakup cut deep enough

for you to realize some
big things about yourself.

I was crushed,

but I think that the breakup
and everything left me open.

When you met Granddad,

you said that
your whole world changed.

Mm-hmm.

You said that you were able

to separate a "before him"
and an "after him."

That's how I feel about Madison.

Oh, sweetheart.

I am so happy to hear that.

[both laughing]

Hold on. How would my cousin,
the congressman,

be brought low in any way
by your dirty cop partner?

Stick with me.

Marcel's on the take and
somehow in with Joey Armstrong.

-Mm-hmm.
-Maybe they teamed up

to blackmail Martin.

But they couldn't extort him

unless he had actually
done something wrong,

and Martin is
the ultimate straight sh**ter.

And what would Marcel
and Joey Armstrong

possibly want from him?

Martin has access
to a huge purse

designated for the police fund.

Maybe Marcel wanted him
to redirect those funds.

Martin wouldn't.

There was a night
where he came home

with different clothes
than he left the house with.

I just got chills.

We should talk
to Granddad about this.

If somebody came
at Martin like that...

-He probably
would have gone to Vernon.
-Yeah.

Do you want
to come back with me now?

While I'm with Gran,
you can talk to Granddad.

Or even better,

Smitty should just ask
his husband what's going on.

That's exactly what I said.

I'm sure Smitty's
taking care of it right now.

Hey, babe.

Is now a good time?

Yeah, I just have a meeting
later on. That's about it.

I hoped you'd be home.

I just saw Gran.

Anita's back
from Chicago already?

Yeah, she just came
for a quick visit.

Told me she's patching up
things with the Articulettes.

Also made me think
maybe it's time

I've made up
for my mistakes, too.

I feel the same way.

You and I have been butting
heads about this Malone story,

and I owe you the respect of not
dancing around it anymore, so...

Stop.

It's much bigger than the story.

There's something
that I've wanted to tell you

for a long time.

You must have put on
quite the show

to have Mother
ignore the spectacle

of you dating
your almost nephew.

Maybe you don't know Mother
as well as you think you do.

Mother doesn't want the life

that her and Daddy
have built torn down.

Mother wants
her daughter to be happy.

She thinks that...

Enough hypothesizing about what
you think Mother thinks of me.

What did she say to you?

[laughs]
Oh.

Must be really good
if we have to take

a sip for courage.

She actually thinks

that I am projecting
the anger I have

for Ted and Leslie and Eva

onto you.

Ding, ding, ding.

Damn.

I am really sad
that you are where I have been.

You don't have to say it.

I know you're sorry, Sissy.

Oh, no. Is that what
you think is happening?

You are as far away
from an apology as you can get.

Eva, you were right
when you said it would take

quite a bit of time
to walk you through

the entire system.

But Kat can do it
in a heartbeat.

And why would you help me?

He's bribing me
with those mini ponies.

But I'm turning him down.

I actually do care

about all the people
that work for Dad

and Carlton at the clinic.

Plus, I'm the one
who optimized the whole system.

And the bonus is,
if you two get to spend

a little time together, you'll
see that you have more in common

than mutual animosity.

See, you two even roll
your eyes in sync.

I hate to run, but I need
to check on my patients.

Be kind to one another.

[door closes]

I'm sure this is the last thing

you wanted to do
with your precious time.

Yeah, right.

I mean it.

I mean, you're really busy.

Between this
and ChelseaKat and Tomas.

I wouldn't want you to lose

that fine boyfriend of yours.

I agree with Mother
that you have every right

to date someone.

Just as I'm allowed to feel
how I feel about how you hid it.

I didn't hide it
from you specifically.

I chose not to share it with you
until Andre and I were ready.

Handy excuse.

It's the truth.

I would have been
the first person

to push you
to start dating again, Dani.

I was there for every moment
of your heartbreak.

-And then, when it's my turn...
-I was there for you.

And I still am.

Instead of leaning on you,

I'm sitting here,
trying to forgive you.

Every moment was a lie.

Are you sorry that I lied,
or are you sorry

that I'm not "poor Dani,"

for you to pity
while you're still alone?

Maybe if Bill had a nephew,

you could sleep with him
and even the score.

Ew, gross.

I am fulfilling a need
and keeping Big Bad Bill at bay.

Isn't that what you wanted?

You are using Andre.

You pitched your story as

How Dani Got Her Groove Back
to Mother.

But if you really loved Andre,

you'd be showing him off
at the country club.

Instead,

you are hiding him
like a dirty little secret.

And you really want to return
back to the scene of the crime?

Derek proposed there.

I don't want
to seem all "Thank you, next."

I... I like Uptown.

And I just
don't want it to become

this shrine
of what might have been.

I just want it to be the place
that I like with great steaks.

I don't think you're all
"Thank you, next,"

but I don't want
to lose a friend.

Hey, whatever happens
on our date,

we will walk away as friends.

We can think of it as practice.

-Okay.
-And you'll be a hero.

You'll get me out of the house

and out of my sweats.

Well, in that case,
if I must be the hero

and save you from
a night of couch confinement

and comfy clothes...

...okay, let's grab dinner.

-It's a date.
-It's a date.

Why is Tomas's name
in your mouth?

I'm just saying,
if Tomas were mine,

I wouldn't leave him
unattended too long.

He's not that kind of guy.

And anyway, my relationship
is none of your business.

Well, at this moment,

my job depends
on your ever-changing moods.

If you break up with Tomas,
what's to stop you

from blaming me
and sabotaging my new gig?

The only thing
you're in danger of

is being
a decent office manager. Now,

do we start with payroll
or scheduling?

Well, Ted mentioned something

about accreditation
certificates.

Okay, that's a good order
of priority.

Payroll, then scheduling,

and we can save
the certificates for last.

What are the certificates for?

The clinic
is supposed to go through

regular inspections
every three years.

That would be important
if we hadn't just had one.

So, on to payroll.

Oh, it's one of those prompts
for the certificates.

Well, just hit ignore
and keep it moving.

This is so weird,

you being nice to me.

Well, don't get used to it.

Listen,

I can't have Carlton
and Dad blaming me if you flop,

so I'm going
to make you look good,

even if it kills you.

I'm sorry I haven't
been showing Andre off.

My schedule's been
a little full lately.

I had to take Hayley
to the hospital yesterday.

By the way, she is
not pretend pregnant.

She is for real pregnant.

You made up
a conspiracy pregnancy theory.

You wouldn't care if she had

a million little Bills
if you weren't still hung up.

This child will be
my daughters' brother or sister.

Naomi and Chelsea are old enough

to be unbothered by Hayley's
little bundle of joy.

You're throwing bombs

at Bill's marriage, still hoping

that something
will blow them up.

And what are you hoping for?

That I'll be
the company to your misery?

Everyone else in this family
is fine with me seeing Andre,

and this is the one time
that you choose

to ignore our mother's
good advice?

Keep this up, and you will

usurp my position
as the crazy one in the family.

Goodbye, Delulu Dani.

Hello, Nutty Nicole.

I promised you the world,

and instead
I've taken so much from you.

My wants and dreams have become
the center of our life.

And what's worse...

...I like it.

I like being
the center of everything.

I like you taking care
of everything.

I like you taking care of me.

But I'm so sorry, Smitty.

Your dreams matter, too.

Hey, listen,

Anita's not the only star.

I knew what I was getting into.

Okay?

I found your drive

to be incredibly sexy.

I still do.

Your dreams are my dreams, too.

To make this world
a better place

for us and our kids.

I'm also sorry for the worry
that I've caused.

That ends now.

But what about the nightmares?

They're gonna end, too.

But I just want to make sure
you know how much I love you.

Just in case...

You had me
until the "just in case."

Just in case what, Martin?

Just in case Gran doesn't put me

in this crazy, sentimental
place all over again.

Alone at last.

Oh, you don't have anyone else

lined up for their audience?

The only audience I need

is standing right here
in front of me.

Oh.

I can't tell you how many times

I've just wanted to run out
of those rehearsals and not stop

until I got
right back here to you.

Oh. Mm.

I know all
the reasons you have to stay.

And I want you to stay

till you get right.

Tracy and Sharon--

my life has been
a fairy tale in comparison.

And I hate missing it.

I mean, Chelsea's in love,

Dani's in lust.

Nicole's just pissed off.

And Martin...

Martin is still a little lost.

And it's all happening
in a blink.

I-I just-- it's driving me crazy

that I'm missing a moment of it.

Anita, we'll all be here
when you get back.

Maybe everything won't be
exactly where you left it,

but that's the nature
of this beast called life.

Is there something you're not
telling me about our kingdom?

Anita Dupree,

I love you

more than anything.