01x113 - Episode 113

[bunniefuu]

As far as I'm concerned,

you are my real mother.

My only mother.

Whoever you want me to know

is the woman
who just pushed me out.

If I had it to do
all over again,

I would have
tracked you down a lot sooner.

You deserve
to know your history.

But it took me till I was almost
about ready to meet my maker

to do the right thing.

If my birth mother
didn't care enough to raise me,

why should I give a damn?

Because it's important.

I have to take care of business

and get all of my affairs
in order while I still can.

And you, Dana,

are my most
important business of all.

I don't mind the sound of that.

This is serious.

This truth could
change everything for you.

You were very quiet
on the way home.

Eh, I was thinking about

Ted and Nicole.

I know they've been
separated for a while now,

but Nicole divorcing him,

that's gonna... it's gonna
still be a big change.

Yeah, a change for the better,
as far as I'm concerned.

She needs
to get on with her life.

Well, even so, it's...

I can't help feeling like
a little bit of a failure.

You?

What does Nicole's divorce
have to do with you?

Well, doesn't common wisdom say

that women tend
to pick partners based on

their relationships
with their fathers?

So I've read.

Well, Nicole and Dani

ended up marrying men

who cheated and lied.

But you, my dear,
have done neither.

Don't blame yourself
for Ted and Bill's failures,

and take pride in the fact
that our daughters

didn't put up
with their bum husbands.

Okay, granted, Danielle
tolerated Bill's philandering

much longer than
she should have,

but Nicole took a firm stand

the moment
she found out what Ted did.

I suppose that's true.

Let-let Rowena get it,
sweetheart.

Listen, I think

this is the time
for all the Duprees

to come to terms with the past

and start new chapters.

Nicole is getting
closure with Ted,

just as I,
in a more positive way,

did with the Articulettes.

Hi, you two.

Oh, I'm so glad
you came by before you left.

I wanted to have
a proper farewell.

Actually, Anita, we were
hoping not to say goodbye.

We're hoping
you'll reconsider joining us

when we go on tour.

What's with
the last-minute text invite?

Everything okay?

-Uh, do I look okay?
-You look fantastic.

In fact, you're radiating.
Something's different.

And it's all coming
from the inside, too.

Care to spill?

Um, sissy?

It's a party,
so I decided to decorate.

With "Pin the tape
on the Teddy?"

What are we celebrating?

My impending divorce.

Divorce, the stuff
nightmares are made of.

Nicole served me papers.

Ouch. Uncle Ted.

But did you really think

that it was a surprise, though?

I mean, you've been
separated for months.

I thought we were
in a holding pattern.

I would talk to her,
I would see her.

Her anger had softened,
so I thought.

-Yeah?
-That's why
I feel so blindsided.

But has she ever said anything

to you to make you feel
that you were reconciling?

Things are always so vague
with Nicole, you know?

Now, suddenly, she's decided
we weren't worth saving.

Right. I feel you.

About being
blindsided like that.

I'm going through
the exact same thing.

With Dani?

No, with Ashley.

Ooh, it is slow
as molasses in January,

as my grandma used to say.

Yeah, there hasn't
been much activity.

But we are a hospital,
so maybe that's a good thing.

Gives me a chance to catch up
on my discharge planning.

Yeah, far it be from me
to wish ill health on somebody

to make my evening more fun.

I haven't even
seen Andre around lately.

Guess his girlfriend Dani's
been keeping him

pretty busy, huh?

Guess so.

Well, leaves more time
on your hands.

So what have you been doing
to keep yourself busy?

Oh, you know, I'm just focusing
on my own personal development.

I think it's time
to invest in myself.

Oh, so you've been
embracing the single life?

Is that what I just said?

-Practically verbatim.
-Okay.

So, are things still
done with you and Derek?

Yep. Maybe I'll use
all that time I spent dating

and do something for myself.

Ooh, like learn a language.

Oh, yeah. Which one?

I don't even care.
Anything but French.

Oh, be careful
what you wish for.

Ashley, check room
availability, please.

We've got a patient
coming up from Emergency.

Guys.

What's happening?

Biking accident, he went
over the front handlebars.

C-spine precautions are in place

but he is alert and oriented.

Move. Move, quick.

This doesn't look good.

This is a triathlete's
worst nightmare.

Okay, we can put him in--

Go on tour with you?

The whole point of this tour

is to show the world
that you two

are lead singers.

I reminded Tracy

you insisted
our reunion was one night only.

But you took to the spotlight
again like a duck to water.

And I mean that in a good way.

Your light made us all shine.

So,

you want
to hit the road with us?

I will support whatever
you decide to do, my love.

I'm sorry, ladies,

I have to stand by
my initial decision.

Right now, I couldn't possibly

think of being away from home.

There's a lot happening
with my foundation work,

but more importantly,
with my family.

What I've learned the hard way

is that lives
really don't change,

no matter how much
you dream they will.

How could learning
more about my mother

make anything better for me?

I'd be some kind of masochist
to want to go out of my way

to meet a woman who wanted
nothing to do with me.

Gosh, do you know how many times

that I've been rejected?

Enough to last
a dozen lifetimes.

You were always
so stubborn and rebellious.

And it serves me well.

And it serves anybody
in this world

who wasn't born with
a silver spoon for a pacifier.

Please, just shut your trap

for a minute and listen to me.

Tell yourself
it's my last dying wish.

Fine, enlighten me, Peaches.

Your birth mother
was a friend of mine.

She was...

beyond talented.

She was a professional
singer for a while.

Really?

I mean, I really like to sing.

Figured that my birth parents...

...they didn't amount
to a hill of beans.

Your birth mother's career
was cut short

when she was
on the verge of success.

Sadly, she never recovered
from that disappointment.

Then, about a year later,

she found out she was pregnant.

What about my father?
I mean, who was he?

Your mother
would never mention him.

If I asked,
she'd never talk about it,

so I just,

you know, sensed that it was...

not a, really,
a long-term relationship, and...

You know how that is.

I'm not even sure he knew.

Well, maybe it's in my DNA.

My own kid grew up with a father
who didn't know she existed.

It's not in your DNA, Dana.

It's choices and circumstances.

Your mother was working
minimum wage jobs

and struggling.

She didn't have support,
she was running out of money,

and she decided
to turn to me for help.

Put him in exam room two.

Oh, I'll go with him.

Ashley, remember your training.

This is someone
you know too well.

Let the paramedics
handle it, okay?

There could be a head injury.

What do I do? Uh...

Page the neurologist on duty,
Dr. Madison Montgomery.

Ashley, you have
to be a nurse right now.

Treat him like you would treat
anybody else.

Uh, okay. Okay.

Okay.

Hey, I remember you.
You, you're one of the guys

from the fire station, right?

Yeah, that's right.

What happened?

He wasn't prepared.

He started training
for the triathlon too late.

He didn't even know the course.

Most of us have gone over
that course dozens of times now.

-Was there a hill or...
-No,

it was a series of S's,
S-curves.

-Okay.
-You know, there was
a horseshoe, it's nasty,

but every rider,
every professional cyclist

knows to slow down.

Derek wouldn't slow down.
I tried to warn him.

He didn't listen to me.
He sped up.

-Oh, my God.
-Yeah.

He went over the handlebars.

His lower back
slammed against the curb.

God, what was he thinking?

I don't know.

But before the competition,
he told me

that he was willing to go
to the limits and beyond.

That's what he always does.

It's different
when you're pulling someone

out of a burning building,

but it's something else entirely

when you have
nothing to lose but...

Me.

Brilliant me, I blew off
a completely perfect,

very hot, no strings attached
thing with Dani

so I could
settle down with Ashley,

only for Ashley
to tell me we were done. I...

You were willing
to give up Dani Dupree

for the newbie nurse?

I thought that Ashley
and I could have

had something serious.

I mean, she straight up told me
that she would date me...

Thank you.

...if I was
willing to be exclusive,

and you know me, Uncle Ted,

that has never been my MO.

But I said sure, why not?

And then she just played me.

Maybe you think you were
giving her what she wanted, hmm?

How's a man supposed
to figure that out?

I did everything by the book.

I took it slow.
I wined her, I dined her.

I'd share stories together...

...only to wind up
still kicked to the curb.

I mean, what's up with that?

Women have a change of heart,
I guess.

Yeah, I guess.

I know that Dani is wild,

and she blows hot and cold,

but Ashley, I thought
she was the kind of person

that would keep her word.

She seems so rational.

For the sake of
sounding like a caveman,

is there even a such thing
as a rational woman?

You see, that right there?

That is not making your case
as husband material.

Yeah, well, I've groveled
for the past few months.

Where has that got me?
Hmm? Nowhere.

I'm gonna keep it real.

Nicole has been
so inflexible, so unforgiving

for something
that happened decades ago.

What am I supposed to do,
get a, get a time machine

so I can go back
and make different choices?

I don't know.
I took Ashley to Paris,

never even leaving D.C.

If you want
Auntie badly enough, you...

Hmm. You know, I hate
to be Captain Obvious,

but whatever
magic trick you pulled

didn't work
any better than my apology,

so you can
keep your advice in your pocket,

and I'm going to keep
the liquor in the glass.

So, is that why I'm here?

To watch you
wallow in self-pity?

Yeah.

I've lost the love
of my life for good,

so I deserve
a big fat pity party.

Ladies, the first rule
of my divorce party

is that nobody,
and I mean nobody,

is allowed to tell me
how sad they are for me.

The divorce was my choice.

I gave it a lot of thought
and, honestly,

I feel really good about it.

So, no moping, no commiserating.

I'm opening my arms
to the universe

and saying, "I am single, bring
me whatever I've been missing."

All right. Well, Nicole,
we are entering

independence together since
old Andre gave me the boot.

What? Why?

He decided he'd rather
be with someone

much, much duller than I am,

all because she was
willing to get serious.

I'm getting whiplash.
Didn't you two

just make a splashy debut
at your mom's concert?

I don't know what
I was thinking. PSA, ladies.

Sometimes it's better to keep
a sneaky link a sneaky link.

Can't argue that.

Uh, out of
the three of us, Vanessa,

you're the only one
who's still married.

Yours is still going strong.

Is "strong" really
the right word? It's going.

I've got plenty of reasons
to stick with it.

Like?

Nicole, you only gave us
one rule for the party.

Oh, right.

Rule number two:

Anytime we catch ourselves
talking about

the men we are involved with,
we have to drink.

This party
is about independence,

remembering that we only

need each other.
Mother just showed us

how it's all done
with the Articulettes.

To women.

-To us.
-To us.

Ladies, if you don't mind,

I will allow you the privacy
to say your goodbyes.

So good to see you again, Tracy.

Oh, you're welcome
at our home anytime.

Visit anytime.

You are a gracious host.
Thank you, Vernon.

Uh, what about me?

Does that offer apply to me,
too, or am I too much trouble?

You know, I've spent a lifetime
tangling with the toughest.

I think I can handle you.

I know that's right.

I bet you could back in the day,

if certain people
hadn't gotten in the way.

And I'm still in the way,
so slow your roll, sis.

Oh, I saw that look
of relief on his face

when you said you wouldn't
be joining us on tour.

Yeah, of course I was relieved.

I want to see
my beautiful wife every day.

I make no apologies for that.

Now, excuse me.

I-I have to prep for
this upcoming semester,

and I am far too long
in the tooth

to keep school hours
and nightclub hours.

Good night.

Good night.

We are all so blessed.

-Amen.
-Amen.

How many people get the chance

to heal old wounds so profoundly

and finally
put the past to rest?

I am well acquainted
with how tough it is

to raise a child on your own.

Hell, adversity--

it's been my constant companion.

What about your daughter?

Eva? What about her?

Is she as rebellious
as you were?

Hardly.

She waited till her butt
was full grown to rebel.

You know,
I don't know whether to be

disappointed or proud.

You know, you were actually
a pretty sweet child.

Really?

But then, you hit
those teen years and decided

it would be cool to hang out
with the alternative kids.

That's when you started calling
me "Peaches" instead of "Mama."

That hurt like hot tar.

For what it's worth,

I'm sorry.

It's absolutely worth something.

Must have been
a difficult decision

for my birth mom to give me up.

I can't imagine
what it'd be like

to have life without my Eva.

Dana?

I promised you, hand to God,

that I was going
to give you the whole truth,

even if it was hard to hear.

And that's what I'm going to do.

So...

Your birth mother
never wanted children.

She was horrified when
she found out she was pregnant.

But me...

...I always dreamed
of being a mother.

But the good Lord
didn't bless me

with the ability to conceive.

I wasn't rich by any means,

but I had a steady job

and I paid my bills.

I was doing
a lot better than my friend.

When she called me and asked...

well, it was
mutually beneficial.

Hmm. Makes sense.

I mean, explains my whole life.

Nobody ever seems
to want me around.

We'll need to follow
concussion protocol

since, according to his records,

he had another concussion
a few months ago.

I need to be here.

Hey, everything's

going to be okay, okay?

-Ashley.
-You're in the hospital.

Your neurologist is here,

and we're going to get you
the best care that we can.

-I messed up.
-No, you don't have to do that.

I nearly made it.

I hit the curb on the course.

I knew what
I was supposed to do,

what everyone
told me to do, but...

Derek, scan your body mentally.

Where's the pain?

My back hurts like hell.

And...

I can't feel my legs.

Old wounds healed.

That's a beautiful thing.

But I do have one huge regret.

What is that?

The decades we spent apart
from each other,

isolated, mad...

...unwilling to close
the distance between us.

Now, I admit,

I was the one
who was most negative.

You said it, not me.

I'm trying to be real here,

and you just gonna
poop on my parade.

It be's that way sometimes.

Anywho...

What I'm saying is

if we would have just put aside

the anger and resentment,

maybe we'd have been able
to get back together years ago.

Mm, that's
a beautiful thought, Sharon,

but we each have had
our battles to fight.

For me,

it was opening up the box

where I kept everything Barbara.

And until I did that,

I wasn't ready
to face the two of you,

much less try to salvage

what was left between us.

Was it worth it?

What was left between us

was far more than
I even thought possible.

I always knew that
if we could get into

the same room,
we'd hash things out.

I mean, look at us.

We sang together after
decades of off stage,

and we managed to put ourselves
back on the map.

And you and I are
going on the road.

The love between us was real,

and it can
hold up against anything.

I am so grateful for that.

God, have...
haven't we cried enough?

I'm sorry.
I was thinking about Barbara,

and how much
I wish she could have

shared this triumph with us.

No one wanted you around?

That's not at all what I see.

To me, you were
an answered prayer.

One woman's answers,
another woman's question.

Your birth mother
offered me her unborn child.

With one stipulation.

When she gave birth,

I had to move away

and never tell her
where we went.

I had to cut off all contact,

and I could never
tell you who she was.

And when you were old enough
to ask about her,

I was supposed to just say
your mom passed away.

Don't know whether to hate
or admire a schemer like that.

Maybe I'm a chip off
the old block.

Well, when
your mother started to show,

she went away so that
she could have her baby.

You. When she went into labor,

she called me.

I was there at the delivery.

You were crying so loud,

louder than any other baby

in that entire maternity ward.

What'd I look like?

You were beautiful.

Brown face with chubby cheeks

and the cutest little nose.

Who named me?

Your birth mother.

Dana Leslie.

She said
you looked like a "Dana."

And "Leslie" was
her grandmother's name.

Given everything
you just told me,

I'm really surprised.

I mean, I...

wouldn't expect her
to care enough to want

to pass a part of her on to me.

I probably
shouldn't tell you this.

No, mm-mmm, mm-mmm.

Peaches, no. You are in it,

so you better use
your conscience and you better

spill the beans, 'cause
I want to know everything.

When your birth mom
looked at you,

the look on her face
was so, so tender.

She was nearly in tears.

She was holding you so tight,

I thought she wasn't
going to let you go.

Thought she had changed
her mind about giving you up.

And then she handed you to me.

She knew I could do
what she couldn't.

That's love.

It appears you have an injury
to your L2 vertebrae.

Do you know what that means?

Yeah, I injured my spine.

I can't pinpoint the exact
location of the damage

or the severity
until we take a closer look.

Shanice, please
call down for an MRI

and make sure the OR's prepped
for immediate surgery.

And find out which
neurosurgeon's on rotation.

Wait, they're going to operate?

Don't be alarmed.

These scans will tell us
what we need to know

for now, but until
the surgeons get in there,

they won't be able
to fully diagnose the problem

and figure out
how best to treat you.

I'd like to be a part
of his surgical nursing team.

Dr. Montgomery, you should know
that Nurse Morgan

and this patient have
a personal relationship,

so I'll make those calls.

Okay, I-I-I just want to help.

Listen, the best way
to help your friend

is to provide emotional support

after he's out of surgery.

We don't have a second to waste.

I'm going to get an orderly
to take him down for the scans.

Okay.

Everything's gonna be okay.

I love you, Derek.

I thought you were over me.

Tried.

Failed.

Your mother loved you
by giving you to me.

She didn't want the fuss
of all the paperwork

or getting all
the extra people involved.

And when she
placed you in my arms...

you were mine.

Did she keep in touch?

Did she check up on me?

No.

She was a woman of her word.

She meant what she said
about no contact.

And then she passed away
a few years later.

I'm sure it was complicated.

I guess I'm surprised
she didn't even

want to see me before...

I mean, like, "What you doing?"

She was in bad shape, Dana.
Don't judge her.

She had given up on everything.

Because of whatever
illness she had?

Sure. Um... the illness.

Okay. There's no way
to sugarcoat this.

Your mother wasn't sick,
at least not in that way.

Was she in an accident?

Peaches, how did she die?

Suicide.

Barbara is with us,
right this moment.

I felt her energy on stage.

I told my daughter
something special happened

and it felt like a weight

was just lifted off of me
when we sang.

I believe our concert brought
Barbara back from the dead.

Made sure she got
the props she never got

during her years
on God's good Earth.

She was overlooked
because of me.

You went above and beyond
to make up for it.

Now it's time for us to take
the past and put it behind us.

You pulled off
a freaking miracle.

Be as proud of yourself
as Tracy and I are of you.

Hear, hear,

to Mother and the Articulettes.

Mm, but may I remind you
that our perfect

Y-chromosome-free sisterhood
is a little flawed

due to Mother's near-perfect
marriage to Daddy.

Drink.

-Next toast is yours.
-Eh. I'll pass.

Oh, come on,
get with the program, nephew.

If we can't drown our sorrows,

at least we can briefly
submerge them, hmm?

Okay. Bottoms up.

Yep.

Ah-ah! No fear, Vanessa.
You jumped the g*n.

The rules of the party
are not to mention men

we are currently
or formerly involved with.

- Dads are okay.
- All right.

Aren't you supposed to be
trying to cut loose?

Start a new chapter?

Yeah.

Then let's toast
to your next ex,

whoever he may be.

I mean, who is she
looking for me to be?

Her ex?

She swore up and down
she was over him.

Besides, I tried to be him by
being a one-woman man for her.

I swear...

If one more person tells me
I need to cut loose,

- I am going to--
- You'll what?

People wouldn't keep saying it
if you actually did it.

- Can't, I'm busy.
- With?

Work.

And with my kids, you know.

Especially Eva.

She needs me the most.

But at least once a day,

I ache to talk to Nicole,
you know, just...

get her advice, share good news.

Just hear her laugh, hmm?

-Go, bestie. Go, bestie!
-Go, sissy. Go, sissy!

-Go, sissy. Go, sissy.
-Go, go, go, go, bestie!

Who can't let loose?

Hey, hey, hey, get it!

You betta, you betta,
you betta, you betta!

Can't touch, now. Hey!

Me, that's who.

It's k*lling me
that I'll never know

if Ashley and I could have
gone the distance.

To heartbreak.

To moving the hell on.

Aw, yeah.

I came as soon as I got
your text. I'm so sorry.

It's horrible.

Derek can't feel his legs.

They just rushed him
into surgery.

Oh, God, he's been taking
these crazy risks lately,

and I can't help but think
that he's just trying

to prove that he's worthy of me
because I kept rejecting him.

Oh, don't blame yourself.

He runs toward danger
for a living.

Derek's always been
a little reckless.

But he used to say
that he would do it

to live life to the fullest.

But, oh, I'm just...

I'm afraid that
he's pushed things too far.

Oh, God. How is he?
How was the surgery?

Sharon, we got to go.
We're going to miss our flight.

Okay, okay, I'm coming.

Just have one more thing to say.

I agreed to do the concert,

hoping to relaunch my career
and make me some cash.

I intended to walk away

and never waste
another thought on you, Anita.

That's not what happened.

This has been

one of the most moving

and fulfilling experiences
of my life.

Since when does our resident
tough girl get sentimental?

Honey, you ain't
the only one who can change.

This has been

an amazing experience.

I am so grateful

that you put your pride aside.

And for getting us

back together,

All four of us.

Thank you.

No, thank you both

for letting me
back in your lives.

For giving your all
at the concert.

But mostly for
always inspiring me

with your glorious voices.

One last time for the road?

Better together,

sisters forever.

Articulettes strong.

You remember that girl group,

the Articulettes,
that I used to listen to?

Of course.

I just went to their, uh,

reunion concert
a few nights ago.

It was smoking.

So amazing to hear

all those women
singing together in person.

I knew all the songs.

They used to be a quartet.

Yeah, yeah.

They honored, um,

Barbara something or another.

She got booted out
before they made it big.

Yeah, Anita Dupree seemed to...

to be really affected by that.

Why do you ask?

Well, that Barbara
something or another...

...is your birth mother.

Derek listed you
as his emergency contact.

Oh, I knew that's
how it was before,

but then, um, well,
we broke up, and I--

-Would you prefer not--
-No, no, no, no.

I want to know everything.

Please, how is he?

There was an impingement
on Derek's spinal cord

from a bone fragment that
chipped off during his accident.

The surgeon was able
to remove it

and unpinch the nerve.

Okay,

so, um, eventually he'll make

a full recovery then, right?

Right?

I hope he regains function.

But it's also possible
he may never walk again.

Your speech about
missing Nicole every day,

it's given me some perspective.

Well, a man
who's willing to chuck

a friends with benefits
situation

with a former supermodel

for a chance at love
with the city's best new nurse

has plenty perspective.

Maybe, but that's
not the point, Uncle Ted.

What's the point?

Being real with yourself,
with Nicole.

I mean, sure, you may
have done some begging

and had a romantic
gesture or two,

but have you ever
gotten real with her?

Apparently, I haven't.

Well, maybe if you did,
it might get through to her.

You make a good point.

And I don't want to lose
the love of my life.

You know, thank you.

For what?

For making me realize

I can still fight for Nicole.

Goodbye, you wonderful women.

I had the best night ever.

I like this new sassy,
single Nicole.

She's fun.

But, sissy,

you know you don't always
have to act like that, right?

If you ever find yourself
mourning your lost marriage,

you call me. You can talk to me.

I appreciate the offer,
but honestly,

right now, I don't
feel the least bit sad.

I hope that's true,

because we Dupree women have
a tendency to put on

the tough gal mask.

That doesn't mean
we're not hurting, deep down.

Ain't that the truth?

Love you, sissy.

I love you more.

The house suddenly got quiet,

so I assumed
it was safe to come down.

The ladies are on the way
to Chicago for the big tour.

Have any last-minute regrets?

No, that chapter
with the Articulettes

is a fait accompli.

Except...

What's on your mind?

I think it would have
been nice if someone

from Barbara's family
had been in the audience.

I'm just sorry
it didn't occur to me

to reach out to them.

Well, I hope that small regret
doesn't mar your experience.

Oh, no, no, no.

Nothing could do that.

I just have to trust
that Barbara's family

has made peace
with what's happened.

My mother was an Articulette?

Yes, poor Barbara Mitchell

didn't get any
of the fame or money.

She wasn't on
any of the records.

I mean, I don't even
know her voice.

Well, I said my piece.

Well, I'm glad
that you are getting closure

from telling me all this,

and maybe in the long run,

I'll actually be grateful that
you filled in all the holes.

But right now,

just knowing where I came from

makes me feel like crap.

What am I supposed to do with
all this information, Peaches?

Every cloud has a silver lining.

So they say.

When I get to heaven,

I'm going to have
my maker take me

straight to Barbara,

'cause she is up there,
making a way for you

to make up for all
the things she's done.

What are you talking about?

Because of your birth mother,

you stand to inherit a fortune.

Martin, I think
we have a situation.

I didn't lie.

I saw you and Dani Dupree

all over each other.

I have some news,

and you're not gonna like it.

Why the rush?

And why is Anita Dupree

the first person
you need to see?

Get that woman out of my house!

-Who is up next?
-ChelseaKat.

ChelseaKat! Period!