01x136 - Episode 136

[bunniefuu]

[sighs]
Now that I'm here...

...it's like stepping
into a dream.

Hmm.

Welcome to the enchanted isle.

- [chuckles softly]
- Mon amour.

[chuckling]

You know,
I've been coming here for years,

hiding in paradise,

but never with someone
who made me want to see it

through fresh eyes.

Enchantment.

That is your specialty,
isn't it?

Weaving spells with
those silver-tongued promises.

Oh, I'm just glad you said yes
to our little escape.

Mm.

Tell me,

what is it exactly
we're escaping from?

How about some blackjack?
Better game, simple odds.

See if your boy can salvage
this train wreck of a night.

I was under the impression
you were tapped out.

Hmm.

"Love, V."

Our tenth anniversary.

My wife said this was to remind
me that time was precious

and that I should spend it with
those who mattered the most.

Another one of these
while you're at it.

♪ ♪

That was fun, huh?

That's the...

that's the first time
I've really enjoyed myself

since the accident.

It was, wasn't it?

It almost felt normal.
[chuckles softly]

[gentle music playing]

What are you doing?

Just showing my appreciation.

It was just dinner, Derek.

No, it-it was more than that.

Uh, I mean, you really held it
down, Ash, with everything.

Even going with Naomi
to go pick up the food.

I'm getting a beer.

You want one?

- No, thanks.
- [clinking]

[refrigerator door shuts]

ASHLEY: To be honest,
it felt like you were, uh,

trying to get rid of me.

What?

No, I-I wasn't trying to--

Yeah, almost like you and Jacob
had some secret business

that required my absence.

I mean, come on, Ash,
it's not like you and Naomi

don't conspire
to leave Jacob and me alone

when you want to have
your private girl talk.

Oh.

Oh, Naomi and I had girl talk
all right.

What about?

- Me?
- Kind of, sort of.

Yeah. Naomi, she, uh...

grilled me about why
I really asked you to marry me.

Well, well, well.

If it ain't the Boy Scout
and his lady lawyer.

Out past your bedtime, hmm?

Detective Malone.

I didn't expect to see you here.

This place serves actual food,
not just donuts and coffee.

Hey, a brother's got
to expand his palate sometime.

Evening, Counselor.

You looking mighty nice tonight.

- [clears throat]
- Heard you finally escaped desk duty.

Your daddy finally let you
off the leash, huh?

And while you were occupied,

I was assigned a new partner.

Bright kid.

Eager to learn.

I might even ask that
the assignment be permanent.

Is that right?

And what does this model officer
think about your boss?

Well,

everybody in the department
loves your father.

Chief Hawthorne's a legend.

- Even I can admit to that.
- Nah.

See, you got it twisted.

I'm talking about the man
pulling the leash

around your neck.

Joey Armstrong.

So...

are you gonna tell me exactly
what we're escaping from?

Or make me guess?

No.

Tonight,
we're escaping everything.

The limitations, the judgments.

No more hiding in dark corner
booths where no one can see us

and no more whispers

about "What is that
high-end real estate agent doing

with that
questionable businessman?"

No more of Fairmont Crest's
polite society wondering

what a woman like me could
possibly see in a man like you.

Exactly.

Here, we're just another
power couple enjoying ourselves.

Anonymous.

Liberated.

Free to be as public
or as private as we desire.

Me,

I vote for as much privacy
as we can get.

[phone chimes]

[sighs]

[chuckles softly]

Guess we can't completely escape
your work,

even in paradise.

Sorry. Uh, this won't take long.

I promise.

[clears throat]

[Vanessa clears throat]

Excuse me?

Mr. Armstrong.

I believe we were just having
a discussion about priorities.

You sure that little hustle
of yours needs

more attention than I do?

Because if you're too busy, I...

I hear room service
does late-night visits.

Room service?

That's for tourists.

You need
the kind of service that...

isn't on the menu.

I could let it ride or...

I can try my luck and split it.

You only live once, right?

Hot damn.

Huh.

That's right.

You,

you are about to bust,
and I am about to get paid.

Twenty-one.

Respectfully,

perhaps it's time
to call it a night.

No shame in preserving what
you have left for another day.

Deal.

And shut up.

You still fetching
Joey's slippers?

Or does he finally let you sit
at the big boy table now?

You know,
one word in your daddy's ear

and I could see
that you're back on desk duty

before you could spit.

If you'll excuse me,

a real cop's work is never done.

How would you know?

You're lucky
you're from a rich family,

'cause this guy's career
is going nowhere fast.

Well, the world does need
more principled cops.

And I wouldn't have it
any other way.

You know you don't have to fight
my battles like that, babe.

It wasn't yours. It was ours.

I mean, the way
you stood your ground

without stooping to his level--

I couldn't let you have
all the fun.

Well, you're pretty good
at it, too.

The way you cut Marcel down
without raising your voice--

it's like you had practice.

Have you met my family?

- [laughs]
- [chuckles]

What's wrong?

This is, um...

I'm not sure
I have the words for it.

Well, I can think of a couple.

Special.

Extraordinary.

Intoxicating.

How about...

"first"?

[sighs, stammers]

This is the first time
I've actually packed a bag

and left Doug behind.

Maybe I didn't do it before

because it would have felt
like I was crossing a line.

But, um...

...now that I'm here...

...a magical feeling
to it all...

...I am wondering
what the hell took me so long.

Well, maybe you were just
waiting for me to come along.

I mean, I'm sure the other ones
weren't worth the plane ride.

Maybe you're right.

I know I am. And, actually,

that reminds me.

I have a question for you.

Actually, it's...

it's more of a request.

Hmm.

Name it.

Take off...

...your wedding ring.

Uh, my ring?

I'm not wearing one.

You're divorced. I'm not.

And I-I never take it off.

Even though your marriage
to Doug is in name only?

It's more complicated than that.

I love Doug. Even if
it doesn't always seem like it.

Even if he enrages me sometimes.

Enough to pack a bag and go away
with a man for the first time.

Doug's bitter about the way
things have been going lately.

How is that on you?

It's not, but...

I told you,
he still threw it in my face.

You deserve better, Vanessa.

The moon, the stars, the ocean.

It's the gambling and drinking.

It's not good for him.

You don't say.

Still...
[stammers, sighs]

T-Taking my ring off?

- Why now?
- Why not now?

I've worn it every other time
we've been together.

Well, I never felt like I had
the right to ask before.

So what makes
this time different?

Consider where we are.

A beautiful,
romantic destination

if there ever was one.

Yes.

And right now, right here,
it's all ours.

I want to feel that.

And I want you to feel that.

I want you to be here
with me completely,

not partially.

Not looking over your shoulder
at what you left behind.

Your ring is a symbol of that.

I want you to be here.

With me.

And be mine.

I hear everything you're saying.

I-I just can't.

DOUG:
Come on.

Come through for a brother
just once.

Son of a!

Got to be kidding me!

Damn, Doc.

You need to watch yourself.
For real.

Oh. You.

Last fool who scuffed my shoes
paid with an ambulance ride.

Not a mark.

- Consider yourself blessed.
- That's a first.

The only blessing here tonight

would be if this
whole damn place burned down.

After you.

Let's see if Joey's bloodhound
won't get played like I did.

Leaving so soon?

The night's barely started.

Table's gone cold.

I'll have better luck performing
bypass surgery blindfolded.

You know, you surprise me, Doug.

Yeah?

Why's that?

Luck's the kind of thing
that can flip in a heartbeat.

Any real player knows that.

Samantha told me about a class
project she was working on.

Something to do
with Zora Neale Hurston

- and Nella Larsen.
- Mm.

It warms my heart to know she's
learning at such a high caliber.

Something
I never could have provided.

- Hmm.
- You good?

Yeah. What were you saying?

Just filling your man in on
the talk I had with my daughter.

Of course, her father
didn't like it very much.

Which one? Martin or Smitty?

Hmm. The reporter.

Suspicious is a job requirement.

For cops, too.

But at least
you actually listen to folks,

instead of just waiting
for them to mess up

- so you can pounce.
- [Jacob chuckles]

NAOMI:
So what were you

and Samantha talking about?

It must have been
pretty significant

if Smitty has opinions.

Look, no offense--
you have been good to me--

but I'm trying to build
something real with my kids.

So I'm not going to be spilling
all of their business

every time they open up.

Some stuff is
just between me and them.

- Period.
- Well, we're about

to head home,
but we can stick around

if you need a ride
at the end of your shift.

Did you not just hear me say

I like it when it's nice
and quiet in here?

[chuckles]

Besides, I peeped the way
he's been looking at you.

- [Jacob chuckles]
- Like you the last slice of sweet potato pie.

NAOMI:
All right,

we get the hint.

- Bye, June.
- Let's go.

- Bye.
- [chuckling]

[door opens]

Sit wherever you want,

but the kitchen
is already shut down,

so don't come in here
trying to order a full meal

like you're hard of hearing.

TED:
Just wanted some coffee, if it's not too much trouble.

She starts asking me
all these questions,

like where do I see
things going with you,

have I really thought
about my future.

[chuckles softly]
She was trying to be a friend.

Wanted to make sure
this is what I wanted.

And?

What'd you tell her?

What do you think?

I told her that this...

...is absolutely where I want
to be.

Right here,

building a future with you.

[both chuckle]

Well...

since you brought up
our future...

Oh, sh-- God!
Let me get some towels.

- Oh, wow. That is gonna set
if I don't catch that now. - Uh, no, baby, baby, it's fine,

- it's fine--
- No, no, no. Only be a minute.

Please, I don't want
to stain that rug.

- We were talking.
- Just one second.

- [departing footsteps]
- [sighs]

The man nearly died,
and now he's paralyzed,

possibly permanently.

I'm just saying that's a whole
nother level of commitment

than what they signed up for
when they first got together.

Bro, you can feel your legs.

No, easy. Slow down.

It's not what you think.

Why aren't we celebrating this?

I haven't told Ashley.

Babe, maybe we should just dead
this conversation for now.

They're our friends, Jacob.
Don't you care?

Of course I do.
But we've been with them

all damn day, and I don't want
'em in our bedroom, too.

Fine. You have something better
you want to talk about?

Well, I don't plan on using
my mouth for talking at all.

- [chuckles] Oh.
- Mmm.

- Wow.
- Mm-hmm.

- Mm-hmm.
- [laughing]

[both moaning]

Baby, why'd you stop? We were
just getting started. [chuckles]

I'm trying to figure out why my
wife took off her wedding ring.

I never took off my--

Oh, my God, Jacob.
My rings are gone.

Here you go. Hot and fresh.

- Thank you.
- I'll be over here

if you need anything else.

Or you can stick around.

Me? You want me to sit with you?

For what?

Well, truth be told,

I've never seen you here before.

I call myself a regular.

My whole family comes in here,
and...

I thought I knew
everybody that works here.

Thank you.

That's because I'm new here.

Uh-huh.

And I'm loving every second.

- Yeah.
- Folks here got good energy.

Yeah.

And that food
don't play either, huh?

- [chuckling]
- [chuckles] If I was coming up

in here every day, sh**t,

I'd be testing everything
that came out of that kitchen.

Have my tailor looking at me
with the side-eye.

[laughs]
Please. You ain't

never had to worry about
your weight a day in your life.

- I wish. But thanks.
- Mm.

[chuckles]

You're a married man.

That's why you got
to keep it tight.

- You got to keep it right
for your wife. - [chuckles]

Yeah. Married.

Least for now.

You have a family?

- [sighs]
- Uh, besides the wife, I mean.

Mm-hmm. And they're everything
to me, you know?

Special in ways
I can't even put into words.

Even when they try
to make me out to be the villain

in their story.

What about you?

- I didn't for a long time.
- Mm.

I made a lot of bad choices.

Mm-hmm.

But my kids,

they're back in my life now.

- That's beautiful.
- Mm-hmm.

Well, you make sure you hold on
to them with both hands,

very tight,

every chance you get.

[clears throat]
Uh...

Some habits die harder
than marriages, apparently.

I hope you can understand
about the ring.

I know it might seem trivial,
but I...

I guess I'd just feel naked
without it.

Wouldn't want that.

[chuckles softly]
You just can't keep that thing

in your pocket, can you?

[sighs]
Old habits.

Much like your ring.

- [phone buzzing]
- Um...

- [chuckling]
- I-I better check it. It-it could be

one of the kids.

[sighs]

Um...

Sorry.

Doug?

Wh-Why on earth
are you calling me right now?

Since when

do I need a damn appointment

- to talk to my wife?
- I would rather

not engage with you when you're
clearly swimming in vodka.

- [clears throat]
- Vodka? Woman, please.

- I drink that dark liquor.
- I have better things

to do than be your designated
emotional lifeguard.

All these years
and you don't know what I drink

when I'm drowning in my sorrows?

I guess that's on me,
too, then, huh?

Well, regardless,
this isn't a good time.

- Good night.
- No, wait.

Wait, wait, V. V, wait, wait.

Don't-don't-don't hang up.

What's wrong, Doug?

Everything.

About?

I should have never taken
my sorry a*s out to gamble.

Tonight or ever.

The house always wins, right?

But what they don't tell you

is that it's more than
just the money that you lose.

It's your pride,

your self-respect,

your family.

I'm the biggest loser tonight.

In gambling,

in life, and...

mostly with you.

[sighs]
Oh, Doug.

We could have had something
that lasted.

But I was too busy
chasing the high of winning

to see what I was losing.

I'm happy to hear it.

E-Even if you came to
this realization the hard way.

Who knows? This...

May-Maybe it could even be
a turning point.

M-May-Maybe...

What?

You want a Château Margaux
with dinner or what?

You're with him?

You are, aren't you?

You're with that
bargain-basement Tony Soprano.

Listen,

Doug, you've been drinking,

and we both know how you get

when alcohol starts making
decisions for you.

And what

exactly have you been doing,
Vanessa?

While I'm out here
with my soul laid bare

like some idiot,

you're, what, baring your body

to a man that only sees you
for a plaything?

Just stop! We...

we-we can talk about this
in the morning

when you've sobered up
and I'm ba--

[stammers]
When...

we can both think clearly.

But for-for now, please, just...

Don't you dare "please" me.

For a moment, I...

I thought
I needed someone to talk to.

And I called the only person,

the one person,

that was guaranteed
to make it worse.

The one person

who could break
what little heart I had left.

Doug.

You deserve each other.

[shudders]

MARCEL:
Let me have another five grand.

Mm.

[grunts]

Thought you were out.

You thought wrong.

When you lose
everything that matters,

what's a few more chips?

That's what, uh, separates
the men from the boys--

knowing when to walk away

and when to double down.

Here, let me get you
another one of these.

You okay?

Don't play innocent with me.

Doug just heard every syllable
you projected across this room.

I swear, I didn't realize
you were still talking to Doug.

- I just wanted to know what kind
of wine you want with dinner. - [scoffs]

Joey, how gullible
do you think I am?

Do you really believe
that I would speak out loud

just for Doug to hear? Do you?

I don't know. I-I don't know
what to think anymore.

He...

he was just so devastated
when he realized I was with you.

He was finally honest for once.

And then it was like...
[shudders]

It-it was like something
inside him just shattered.

Which is exactly why I wanted
you to take off that ring.

I don't want Doug in here.
I don't want him in this room.

Not his voice or his problems

or his grip on your emotions.

I just want it to be us.

So you can step away
from all the...

... the wreckage
he's made in your life.

Only for one night.

That would be lovely.

I do admit that
I'm a little selfish in that.

- I just...
- [chuckles softly]

...want you to be...

here with me.

In every possible way.

Um...

God, this can't be happening.

This is not happening.

Baby, breathe.

But they've got
to be here somewhere, right?

I mean, we would have found them
by now if they were here.

- Well, when's the last time
you took 'em off? - I don't know.

I don't know.

Maybe they slipped
off my finger.

I could have been on the street
and they rolled into the gutter.

- Oh, God. They could be
down a drain somewhere. - Babe.

Relax, okay?
We're gonna find them.

And even if we don't,
it's not the end of the world.

You got to calm down.

You think I'm being irrational?

- I didn't say that.
- You didn't have to.

I saw it on your face.

Look at our place.

We trashed it over some rings.

They're not just any rings,
Jacob.

They are our wedding rings,

the symbol of our marriage.

Do you have any idea
how much they mean to me?

You spent months designing them.

You melted a piece
of your grandmother's necklace

to weave into the band.

Your own handwriting
is engraved on the inside.

You even measured my ring finger

while I was sleeping
to get the perfect fit.

JACOB:
Babe.

And none of that goes away
just because

the rings aren't on your finger.

Look, we can make more--
exactly the same,

- if you want.
- [scoffs]

They'll never be the same.

[sighs] Those were the rings
that you put on my finger

when we got engaged,

when we got married.

And what does it say
about our relationship

if we have to replace them?

Especially with all the couples
around us falling apart.

My parents, Aunt Nicole
and Uncle Ted-- I don't want

to be like them. I don't want

- to lose you.
- And you won't.

This isn't some sign
that our marriage is doomed.

They're misplaced pieces
of jewelry. That's all.

There is no one in this world
that I love more than you.

- Same here.
- And that's why

I need those rings.

They make me feel that love.

And I can't replace them
because they're irreplaceable.

[sighs]

Babe, you-you got most of it.

It's fine.

[chuckles] Look, I know you feel
bad because you're in that chair

and you can't help,
but don't worry about that.

You're gonna be
completely healed soon,

and you are gonna pitch in
more than your fair share

around here, because that...

is the guy
that I fell in love with.

- [phone buzzing]
- Ooh.

That could be the hospital.
Better get that.

Hey, Miss--

Don't worry.

Yeah, I'll be right there.

[sighs]

- You're leaving?
- Just for a minute.

It was Miss Boles from upstairs.
[chuckles]

It's garbage pickup tomorrow.

Oh, right. I-I...

I used to take
the bins out for her.

And now I do it.

Be right back.

[grunts]

Damn it!

[grunts]

[grunting, breathing heavily]

[grunting, breathing heavily]

[grunts]

- [panting]
- ASHLEY: I forgot

I wanted to take
some catalogs up to Miss B--

What's up?

Derek, what's going on?

What do you mean?

- Is that what I think it is?
- [exhales]

I've been trying to give that to
you since Naomi and Jacob left.

But then I dropped it
like the klutz I am.

And then you tried
to reach for it. [chuckles]

But how...

- Are you able to--
- No.

No, n-not at all.

[pants]

That's why I'm so exhausted.
I was...

trying to use my torso
to do everything, and...

it was just too much.

Well, this is why you shouldn't
push yourself too hard,

especially when it doesn't
even matter.

But this does matter.

You made a dream come true
for me when you said you wanted

to get married.

And I wanted you to have this

so you know how I felt.

You didn't take it
the first time.

But...

I kept it, hoping that...

one day you would change
your mind.

[exhales]
So,

- that's why I'm so out
of breath. - [chuckling]

Because...

giving this ring to you...

...is the most important thing
in the world to me.

- So here we are. [chuckles]
- [chuckles]

Still strong.

[shudders] Even after
every cruel twist of fate

tried to tear us both apart.

Because you never let go.

No.

Because we never let go.

Everything all right?

Look like you saw something
that shook you.

I just found these
in the ladies' restroom,

- sitting on the sink.
- Hmm.

Somebody left them
like they were nothing.

I asked
everybody in the kitchen,

but nobody claimed it.

Wedding rings, huh?

Well, somebody's
gonna be missing those.

Unless they're not.

I don't understand
what you mean by that.

Well, uh, see,

someone must have either left
those by mistake or they...

...left them on purpose.

[scoffs]

Uh...

Hmm.

Now, why would anybody do
something like that?

[sighs] Well, maybe someone was
so done with the relationship,

they couldn't stand
to see it on their finger...

another day.

It happens sometimes.

DOUG:
You know what?

This marriage thing

ain't nothing
but a high-stakes gamble.

And the odds
are never in your favor.

TED:
You know,

we put these on
with such certainty

and-and hope.

Young and foolish.

Thinking...

it'll be different for us

than the sorry souls
that walked the path before us.

[scoffs]

DOUG:
The promises,

the hope we cling to

in the moments
of blind optimism.

[scoffs]

The fiction we tell ourselves--

that our good intentions
are enough to get us through.

It was nice talking to you.

Take care of yourself.

And...

these rings,

whoever they belong to.

- Good night.
- Good night.

[sighs]

Hmm.

Oh, snap.

I know who these belong to.

DOUG:
About time

something finally went my way.

Let's run it back.

And tell that brother
to bring me another.

Mm.

You take my breath away.

More business?

No. Only pleasure.

[Joey moans softly]

- [sighs]
- Thank God for June.

She really came through.

- [door closes]
- Forgive me. - Naomi.

No, I was stupid and reckless
with something that's sacred.

I will never, ever be careless
with these rings again.

Or forget what they mean.

Look, the ring
is just shiny metal

holding a pretty stone.

That's all.

It's our love that matters.

- It always has been.
- Yeah.

Now that you got those rings
back where they belong,

I was hoping there was
something else you could put on.

NAOMI:
What?

You remember these?

- [laughing]
- [chuckles]

- Oh, I like that. [chuckles]
- Mm-hmm. Mmm.

[chuckling]

[breathing heavily]

Welcome home.

God, I have missed this.

Mm.

I missed you.

[Derek moaning]

Okay, wait, wait, wait.

Maybe we shouldn't push this
too fast.

You know, you've got
a long way to your recovery,

and I-I don't want
to set you back just because...

we couldn't wait.

No, yeah.

You're right.

But, um...

maybe we could just...

...cuddle here for a little bit.

Like this?

[sighs]

Perfect.

[Ashley chuckles softly]

Just like my ring.

[grunts]
Uh... [groans]

Oh, my gosh.

Wait until Joey finds out
that I cleaned him out.

Yeah, you had quite the night.

I sure did.

["Wicked Love"
by Naomi August playing]

Man,

where'd everybody go?

Guess they had someplace to be.

Huh.

♪ Wicked love♪

Hey!

Hey, that-that-that's my money.

That's okay.

You won't need money
where you're going.

♪ Your♪

♪ Your wicked love♪

♪ ♪

♪ Your wicked love.♪