Ambitions (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Welcome to Birmingham - full transcript

Stephanie looks for a way to repay Amara. Rondell falls out of favor with Senior. Bella looks to exploit her connection to the mayor.

PREVIOUSLY ON "AMBITIONS"...

I WANT TO TAKE DOWN AS MANY
CROOKED BUREAUCRATS AS POSSIBLE.

EVAN LOVES ME, AND ONE DAY SOON,
HE'S GOING TO PROVE IT.

YOU'RE JUST A SHINY TOY
TO HIM, MIJA. TRUST ME.

UNTIL YOU PUT A RING
ON MY FINGER,

I'LL SCREW WHOEVER
THE HELL I WANT.

NOT IN MY LOFT.

IT'S TIME YOU HANDED
CARLISLE-PERKINS OVER TO ME.

HAVE YOU COME OUT TO MOMMY
AND DADDY YET?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE TAKING ABOUT.

YOU DON'T GET TO TEXT MY HUSBAND
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.



IT'S DAMIAN COLLINS IN CASE
YOU FORGOT 'CAUSE I NEVER WILL.

DON'T DISRESPECT ME.

THELMA'S PLACE IS HERE TO STAY.

YOU REALLY WANT THE DIRT ON
LANCASTER, TALK TO HIS MISTRESS.

♪♪

[ SIGHS ]

APPARENTLY, IT'S HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW, MAYOR.

WHY WASN'T I TOLD ABOUT THIS?

THEY MADE IT SOUND LIKE
THEY JUST FOUND OUT.

HERE'S THE TEXT.

"HEADS UP. THEY'RE BRINGING
THE MAYOR'S MISTRESS IN."

[ EXHALES ]

♪♪

[ KEYBOARD CLICKING ]



[ LINE RINGING ]

♪♪

[ CELLPHONE VIBRATES ]

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

[ CELLPHONE VIBRATES ]

♪♪

LET ME INFORM YOU
WHY YOU'RE HERE.

POOR JUDGEMENT.

YOU'RE HAVING AN AFFAIR
WITH MAYOR LANCASTER.

COME ON, PICK UP.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO GET CAUGHT UP.

YOU NEVER THINK IT'S GONNA GO
AS FAR AS IT DOES

UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE,

AND THEN YOU'RE DEEP IN A PILE
OF SHIT OF YOUR OWN MAKING.

IF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS TRUE,
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT IS,

HAVING A RELATIONSHIP
WITH A COWORKER

COULD BE CONSIDERED ILL-ADVISED,
BUT IT'S NOT ILLEGAL.

SO YOU ADMIT YOU'RE IN
A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH MAYOR LANCASTER?

THE ONLY THING I'M ADMITTING
IS I DO MY JOB

AND I DO IT DAMN WELL.

ALL OF MY CONTRACTS FOR THE CITY
ARE ABOVE BOARD

AND BEYOND REPROACH.
-HMM.

I MENTION YOUR AFFAIR
WITH THE MAYOR,

AND YOU IMMEDIATELY FEEL
THE NEED

TO START DEFENDING YOUR HANDLING
OF CITY CONTRACTS.

INTERESTING.

AS AMUSING AS THIS
LITTLE GAME HAS BEEN,

I MUST BE
GETTING BACK TO WORK.

I'D SIT BACK DOWN
IF I WERE YOU, MS. MANNING.

♪♪

♪♪

WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU
ACCUSING ME OF?

ACCEPTING KICKBACKS,
CONTRACT SKIMMING.

IF THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE,

THEN YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT
SERIOUS TIME IN FEDERAL PRISON.

AND IF YOU'RE THINKING
ABOUT PROTECTING ANYONE,

JUST REMEMBER,
YOU'LL FALL FIRST AND HARDEST.

LET ME GUESS.

KENT HAMILTON
SICCED YOU ON ME.

THAT LITTLE WORM CAN ONLY
MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF

BY PUTTING DOWN THE MAYOR.

MS. MANNING,
YOU'RE BEING ACCUSED

OF MISAPPROPRIATING FUNDS
FROM GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.

I'M THE ONE THAT YOU SHOULD
BE WORRIED ABOUT.

♪♪

YOU CAN GO.

♪♪

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

♪♪

ALIX, GIVE ME YOUR PRIZE-WINNING
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MATTER.

♪♪

MS. TRU HAS BEEN WAITING
TO SEE YOU.

♪♪

AH, WELL, MY WIFE WOULD NEVER
FORGIVE ME FOR TURNING AWAY

HER FAVORITE DESIGNER,
PLEASE.

CHLOE, BUZZ ME AS SOON
AS REYNOLDS ARRIVES.

-MM-HMM.
-THANK YOU.

♪♪

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU
DOING HERE?

I'M HERE
FOR A BUSINESS MEETING.

YOU'RE ALWAYS TELLING ME
TO BE MY OWN BEST ADVOCATE,

SO HERE I AM.

A CONCESSION SPACE OPENED UP
AT HARTSFIELD-JACKSON AIRPORT.

-IT'LL BE PERFECT FOR BELLA TRU.
-BELLA.

100 MILLION TRAVELERS PASS
THROUGH THAT AIRPORT EVERY YEAR.

IMAGINE THOSE TRAVELERS STOPPING
BY A BELLA TRU BOUTIQUE.

-YOU ARE BEING UNREALISTIC.
-WHY?

THERE'S A BIG PUSH TO GET
MORE ATLANTA LOCALS

IN THE AIRPORT, RIGHT?
WHY NOT ME?

BELLA, COMPANIES KILL
FOR THOSE SPACES.

I KNOW.

LOOK, WE WILL TALK
ABOUT THIS LATER.

I'M SURE MY SCHEDULED
APPOINTMENT IS WAITING.

[ GROANS ]

THIS COULD BE EITHER THE BEST
FEELING IN THE WORLD

OR THE WORST.

YOU CHOOSE, MR. MAYOR.

GET ME THAT AIRPORT CONCESSION.

♪♪

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

♪♪

♪♪

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

♪♪

-I'LL BE WITH YOU IN A MOMENT.
-NO, I'M DONE WAITING.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM STEPHEN
WITHIN THE HOUR.

-DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?
-IF I CAN REACH HIM.

DID I ASK YOU FOR EXCUSES?

MARTY, I'VE GOT THIS.
THANK YOU.

COME WITH ME, GREG.

♪♪

RIGHT THROUGH HERE.

♪♪

PLEASE, HAVE A SEAT.

IT'S NOT GOOD WHEN OUR
NUMBER ONE CLIENT IS UNHAPPY.

HOW CAN I FLIP THAT AROUND?

THELMA'S PLACE,
YOU UP TO SPEED?

THE ENGLISH ROWS DEVELOPMENT,
OF COURSE.

GOOD.
I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU

WHAT A PAIN IN THE ASS
RONDELL LANCASTER IS.

NO, YOU DON'T.

SHE'S TRYING TO BLOCK
THE EMINENT DOMAIN ORDER,

AND MY INVESTORS
ARE GETTING NERVOUS.

WE CAN'T HAVE THAT.

TELL THAT TO YOUR FATHER.
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THIS.

I HAVE RESOURCES THAT MY FATHER
DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT.

I CAN SECURE THELMA'S PLACE
FOR YOU.

MAYBE EVEN BY THE TIME DADDY
RETURNS FROM HIS GOLF TRIP.

[ LAUGHS ]

[ LAUGHS ]

I LIKE YOUR STYLE.

SHOW ME.

I'M STARTING TO THINK I'VE BEEN
DEALING WITH THE WRONG CARLISLE.

I'M THE FUTURE OF THIS FIRM,
GREG.

REMEMBER THAT THE NEXT TIME
YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE.

♪♪

YES.

OKAY.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH.
WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?

[ TELEPHONE RINGS IN DISTANCE ]

DEJA, YOU'RE 17.

YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE SCHOOL
TO GO TO A CONCERT.

NO!

WAIT, WE'RE NOT FINISHED TAL--

[ DIAL TONE SOUND ]

MUST HAVE GOTTEN DISCONNECTED.

[ CLEARS THROAT ]
SURE YOU DID.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH.

NEVER PEGGED YOU AS A THRASHER.

NO, I'M NOT.
BUT APPARENTLY, MY DAUGHTER IS.

I'M NOT SURE
IF THAT'S A GOOD THING.

HAVE A SEAT.

SO, WHAT DID YOU WANT
TO SEE ME ABOUT,

MR. GENERAL COUNSEL?

AND YES, I'M THE KNOW
FOR THE COOLEST SPOTS

AND CONCERTS IN TOWN.

WELL, THAT AND HEAD OF P.R.,
AS WELL.

YEAH, WELL, SOMETHING TELLS ME
THIS IS GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT

MORE THAN A "GOOD JOB, LORI"
KIND OF MEETING.

I'VE SEEN YOUR ADS
RUNNING IN THE NEWSPAPER.

IT'S A NICE CONCEPT,

BUT A BIT TOO UNAPOLOGETIC,
DON'T YOU THINK?

I CAN TOSS IN A FEW LINES
ABOUT MY DAD'S DONATION

TO THE SAMUEL PERKINS
FOUNDATION.

OR JUST PULL THE ADS ALTOGETHER.

[ SCOFFS ]
I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT.

THE PUBLIC ALREADY MISTRUSTS
BIG PHARMA.

AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN
DOESN'T HELP.

NEITHER DOES LOOKING WEAK.

OUR COMPANY DIDN'T SURVIVE THIS
LONG BY CONSTANTLY APOLOGIZING.

WE'RE NOT GONNA START NOW.

COMPANIES CRUMBLE ON ACCOUNT
OF THEIR HUBRIS.

THIS ISN'T A GAME, LORI.

AND YOU DON'T THINK
I KNOW THAT?

I'M A PURIFOY AND THE HEAD
OF PUBLIC RELATIONS,

NOT SOME SNOT-NOSE INTERN
FROM THE MAILROOM.

[ SIGHS ]

♪♪

OH, AND SINCE YOU'RE NEW,

HERE'S A PIECE OF WISE ADVICE.

STAY IN YOUR LANE.

YOUR FATHER GRANTED ME ACCESS
TO EVERY LANE.

WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

REMEMBER,
I'M HERE FOR A REASON.

AND I'M HERE
FOR THE LONG HAUL.

TOO BAD YOU DON'T REALIZE
THAT'S NOT THE CASE FOR YOU.

[ CHUCKLES ]

♪♪

THANK YOU. [ CHUCKLES ]

YOU'RE WELCOME.

I CAN'T GET OVER
WHAT GREAT SHAPE YOU'RE IN

FOR A MAN YOUR AGE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

IS THIS WHAT I HAVE
TO LOOK FORWARD TO WITH EVAN?

AH, GIRL'S NOT PLAYING.

NO, I'M SERIOUS.

EVAN LANCASTER JR.
BETTER BE GLAD

I MET HIM BEFORE
I LAID EYES ON THE ORIGINAL.

OH, NOW, HERE IT COMES.

SEE, I KNOW YOUR CARLISLES.

WHAT'S ALL THIS
SUGARCOATING FOR?

MUST BE SOMETHING
I DON'T WANT TO HEAR.

WOULD YOU MIND
IF I REMOVED MY JACKET?

IT'S GETTING A TOUCH BIT WARM
IN HERE.

WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?

YES, UM, GO RIGHT ON.

SENIOR, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE
THE SOLE OWNER

OF THELMA'S PLACE
AND NOT RONDELL.

I'VE ALWAYS ADVISED
MY COLLEAGUES TO COME

AND TALK TO YOU
ABOUT BUSINESS,

BUT RONDELL ACTS LIKE YOU
DON'T EVEN EXIST.

HMM. IS THAT SO?

I THINK IT'S A SHAME WE CAN'T
SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOU.

WELL, WE'RE TALKING NOW,
AIN'T WE?

MAYORS HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING
TO REVITALIZE

THE BANKS FOR DECADES.

THINK OF WHAT IT WOULD MEAN
FOR EVAN'S LEGACY

IF HE'S THE MAYOR
THAT ACTUALLY DOES IT.

YOU COULD HELP SEND EVAN
STRAIGHT FROM CITY HALL

TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

THAT IS, IF RONDELL
WILL LET YOU.

THIS OFFER HAS BEEN
ON THE TABLE FOR A WHILE,

BUT IT'S ABOUT TO GO AWAY.

DAMN IT! THIS AIN'T ALWAYS
BEEN THE MONEY!

OH.

SO, SHE BLOCKS YOU
AND SHE LIES TO YOU.

WELL, SHAME ON HER.

[ DOOR BELLS JINGLE ]

WHAT YOU DOIN' OVER HERE,
STEPHANIE?

TELLING ME THE TRUTH
ABOUT THE MONEY

THEY WANT TO GIVE US
FOR THIS RESTAURANT.

-THIS IS A REAL GOOD OFFER HERE.
-DADDY, I PROMISE YOU --

YOUR MAMA AND ME
STARTED THIS PLACE TOGETHER.

THELMA'S PLACE BELONGS TO ME,
NOT YOU.

AND I DAMN SURE DESERVE TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT!

I FEEL LIKE A FOOL RIGHT NOW!

WHY'D YOU KEEP THIS FROM ME?

WHAT'S GOING ON IS SHE
IS TRYING TO SELL YOU

ON GIVING MAMA'S RESTAURANT

TO A CROOKED-ASS
WHITE SNAKE IN THE GRASS.

SENIOR, YOU SAID SO YOURSELF.

IT'S A REAL GOOD OFFER.

SELL IT TO ME IF IT MAKES
YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.

I'LL MAKE SURE THE FAMILY
GETS THE BEST DEAL.

FAMILY?

YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW
THE MEANING OF FAMILY.

NOW, CARRY YOUR BONY
BEHIND UP OFF MY BLOCK!

SEE?

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT,
RONDELL!

Y-YOU JUST ACTING LIKE
I'M NOT EVEN HERE!

-DADDY, LOOK --
-DAMN IT, GIRL!

THE DECISION IS MINE
AND MINE ALONE.

I'LL BE IN TOUCH, STEPHANIE.

I CANNOT WAIT, SENIOR.

[ CHUCKLING ]

[ DOOR BELLS JINGLE ]

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

AMARA HUGHES WAS
THE ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY

WHO PULLED YOU IN YESTERDAY?

WHY DO YOU THINK I LEFT YOU
SO MANY MESSAGES?

SHE SAID I'LL FALL FIRST
AND THE HARDEST.

WHOA. NO ONE'S FALLING.

THE CITY IS THRIVING.
THAT'S ALL ANYONE CARES ABOUT.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

YOU DIDN'T LET MS. HUGHES
GET TO YOU, DID YOU?

A FEDERAL OFFICER WITH THE POWER
TO SEND ME TO PRISON?

YEAH, SHE GOT TO ME.

DAPHNE, WE ARE SMART PEOPLE.

WE'VE DONE SMART THINGS.

AND THE FEDS, THEY ONLY EMBARK
ON THESE INVESTIGATIONS

TO JUSTIFY THEIR PAYCHECKS.

COME ON.

GET BACK TO WORK.

WE'RE GOOD.

♪♪

[ EXHALES ]

-THANK YOU.
-PLEASURE.

LORI, YOU GOT A MINUTE?

-WHAT IS IT THIS TIME?
-JOIN ME.

PROBABLY NOT IN THIS CENTURY.
OKAY, I'M LATE FOR A MEETING.

IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT CAN WAIT, JUST TELL ME.

THE FULL-PAGE SPREAD
IN THE PAPER

WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER...

THE ONE THAT WAS NONE
OF YOUR BUSINESS?

...I CANCELED IT.

ON WHOSE AUTHORITY?

MINE.
NOW, YOU CAN GO TO YOUR FATHER,

BUT I'M SURE
HE'LL AGREE WITH ME.

FROM NOW ON, I NEED TO VET
ANY CAMPAIGN

THAT YOU PLAN TO TAKE PUBLIC.

YOU REALLY THINK
I'M GONNA REPORT TO YOU?

PROBABLY NOT.

BUT DON'T THINK I'M GONNA STOP
DOING MY JOB, EITHER.

YOU'RE AN ASS.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

WOW, THIS IS NICE.
I LOVE IT.

WE DIDN'T HAVE NOTHING
LIKE THIS IN BIRMINGHAM.

NO?

THIS BAND'S HERE EVERY WEEK?

TIGHT.

THIS IS THE PLACE
TO BE ON THURSDAYS.

I SEE.

IT'S SO GOOD TO HAVE
ANOTHER BROTHER AT PURIFOY.

YEAH, I WAS AFRAID
I WAS GONNA BE THE ONLY ONE.

[ LAUGHS ]

OH, THERE'S MY BOY OVER THERE.

-LET'S GO SEE HIM.
-I'M GOOD.

-YOU SURE?
-YEAH.

-OKAY.
-I'LL BE RIGHT HERE.

♪♪

♪♪

DIDN'T TAKE YOU
TOO LONG TO FIND

EVERYONE'S FAVORITE
WATERING HOLE.

ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID I HAD
TO CHECK THIS PLACE OUT, SO...

[ APPLAUSE ]

DON'T MIND IF I DO.

[ CHUCKLES ]

♪♪

OOH.

NICE JOB CRAFTING AN ALMOST
CREDIBLE ARGUMENT

AGAINST SUING PURIFOY.

YOU WILL HAVE MY WRITTEN
RESPONSE IN THE MORNING.

BUT I CAN OFFER YOU A PREVIEW
RIGHT NOW IF YOU WANT.

RIGHT NOW, I'M OFF THE CLOCK.

WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE
IS A DRINK.

-OH, MISS?
-YES?

I'D LIKE A MANHATTAN.

-MANHATTAN.
-YES, MA'AM.

-FOR YOU, SIR?
-A BOURBON FOR ME. THANKS.

MM-HMM.

STILL THE SAME DRINK
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

I LIKE WHAT I LIKE,

AND THE BARTENDER HERE

MAKES THE BEST MANHATTANS
IN TOWN.

KNOW WHAT I'M REMEMBERING?

WHAT?

-FINALS BACK IN COLLEGE.
-[ LAUGHS ]

WE'D GET A BOOTH
OVER AT LUCKY LOUNGE.

YOU TOSSING BACK MANHATTANS
WHILE WE STUDIED OUR ASSES OFF.

AND WE'D IMAGINE THE BIG-SHOT
LAWYERS WE'D TURN INTO.

MM.
YOU'D BE CLAIR HUXTABLE,

AND I WOULD BE...

Both: BLAIR UNDERWOOD
FROM "L.A. LAW."

[ LAUGHTER ]

AND WHEN THE BAR CLOSED,

WE WOULD GO BACK TO YOUR PLACE
AND STUDY SOME MORE.

WE NEVER STUDIED AT MY PLACE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

♪♪

[ HEARTBEAT THUDDING ]

♪♪

I SHOULD GO.

WIFE BE AT HOME WAITING?

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

♪♪

♪♪

Man: TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY.

ASK YOU DOCTOR ABOUT LIMODOL
BY PURIFOY.

WE'RE TOUGH ON PAIN.

THANK YOU, GUYS.
SEE YOU TOMORROW.

-EXCUSE ME.
-OH, GOOD, YOU'RE STILL HERE.

I FIGURED I WAS GONNA HAVE
TO WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW.

WHY? WHAT'S UP?

LOOK, DAD,
WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.

WE MANUFACTURE OPIOID
PAINKILLERS IN 2019.

WE HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS,
DARLING.

NO, DAD, OKAY,
THIS IS SERIOUS.

I SAW TITUS AND ARDEN LEAVING
THE BUILDING TOGETHER EARLIER.

SO WHAT?

THE BROTHERS WE HIRED
ARE NATURALLY

GONNA GRAVITATE
TOWARD EACH OTHER.

IT'S THE LAW OF ATTRACTION,
HONEY.

LIKE ATTRACTING LIKE.

DAD, I WONDER IF YOU'LL STILL
BE SPOUTING PASSAGES

FROM "THE SECRET"
WHEN OUR CHIEF PHARMACOLOGIST

GIVES TITUS INFORMATION
HE SHOULDN'T BE PRIVY TO.

LIKE WHAT?

HE'S OUR GENERAL COUNSEL.

GENERAL ASSHOLE
IS MORE LIKE IT.

IS THAT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT?

TITUS PULLING THOSE
FULL-PAGE ADS YOU ORDERED?

LORI, HE MADE THE RIGHT CALL.

DAD, HE'S AN ARROGANT,
KNOW-IT-ALL, JIZZ STAIN

WITH A SAVIOR COMPLEX.

TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL.

LOOK, I GET IT.

THIS IS FUN FOR YOU TO HAVE
A SURROGATE SON

TO SHOOT THE SHIT WITH
OR WHATEVER YOU GUYS DO,

BUT BEFORE YOU GO OFF HANDING
HIM THE KEYS TO MY KINGDOM,

YOU MIGHT WANT TO BE SURE
HE CAN BE TRUSTED.

[ LAUGHS ] YOUR KINGDOM, HUH?

DAMN STRAIGHT.

GIRL, YOU GOT BALLS THE SIZE
OF MONTANA AND I LIKE IT.

YEAH, WELL, I GET THEM
FROM MY DADDY,

AND THE FIRST THING HE TAUGHT ME
WAS HOW TO PROTECT THEM.

GOOD. I'M GLAD YOU REMEMBER
WHO DOES THE TEACHING

AND WHO DOES
THE LEARNING AROUND HERE.

OH, COME ON, DAD.

LOOK, ARDEN AIN'T SAYING
ANYTHING TO TITUS

OR ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT LIMODOL
UNLESS I GIVE THEM THE GO-AHEAD,

AND I AIN'T GIVING IT.

BESIDES, TITUS WORKS FOR ME,
AND HE'S -- HE'S LOYAL.

-OKAY, YEAH. IF YOU SAY SO.
-I DO!

NOW, TAKE YOUR A--

TAKE THAT ADORABLE FACE
BACK TO YOUR OFFICE

AND FIGURE OUT A WAY
TO CONVINCE THOSE YAHOOS

OVER AT BLOOMBERG
TO TAKE IT EASY ON BIG PHARMA.

ARE WE GOOD?

YEAH, LOVE YOU, TOO, DADDY.

[ LAUGHS ]

OH, LORD, HELP ME.

[ SIRENS WAIL IN DISTANCE ]

[ MAN SINGING INDISTINCTLY ]

-HEY.
-HI.

WHERE'S JOAQUIN?

HE'S AT MOMMY'S.

DID YOU READ MY PROPOSAL?

I DID. IT WAS IMPRESSIVE.

SO YOU'RE GONNA HELP ME
GET THE CONCESSION?

IT'S NOT JUST MY DECISION
TO MAKE, BELLA.

YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT OFFICER.

THERE'S A WHOLE
SELECTION COMMITTEE.

YOU'RE THE MAYOR.

YOUR OPINION COUNTS
MORE THAN ANYONE.

USE YOUR INFLUENCE.

EVERYONE KNOWS
I'M AN AMAZING DESIGNER.

-JUST ASK YOUR WIFE.
-HEY.

DON'T BRING UP STEPHANIE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT MY CAREER,
EVAN.

WHAT ABOUT MY CAREER?

YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE
SAW YOU AT CITY HALL?

YOU EXPOSED US TO ALL KINDS
OF SCRUTINY.

YOU'RE BEING PARANOID.

ALL ANYONE SAW WAS
AN ENTREPRENEUR

GOING IN TO PITCH THE MAYOR.

ENOUGH.

NO MORE STUNTS.

WE HAVE TO COOL IT OFF
FOR A BIT.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN
"COOL IT OFF"?

I MEAN, I CAN'T SEE YOU
AS MUCH ANYMORE,

AND I SHOULDN'T
EVEN BE HERE NOW.

WAIT.

ARE YOU DUMPING ME?

LOOK, THERE'S A LOT OF HEAT
ON ME RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS BECAUSE I PUSHED
FOR THE CONCESSION, ISN'T IT?

YOU'RE NOT HEARING ME.

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH THE DAMN CONCESSION,

AND IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY.

DON'T GIVE ME
THAT TEMPORARY BULLSHIT!

I'M NOT STUPID, EVAN!

BELLA, WHY ARE YOU
ACTING THIS WAY?

NO, WHY ARE YOU?!

YOU'VE ALWAYS KNOWN WHO I AM
AND WHAT I WANT!

AND I HAVE YOUR CHILD!
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MARRIED!

STOP!

SHH...

MY GUYS SAY RODERICK
IS ON HIS WAY UP.

I'M LEAVING.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-[ Whispers ] GET RID OF HIM.
-[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

GET RID OF HIM! NOW.

Roderick:
BELLA, BABY, IT'S ME.

YOU GONNA LET ME IN?

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
-YOU IN THERE?

BELLA?

♪♪

WHAT'S WRONG?

I'M -- I'M JUST HAVING
A REALLY TERRIBLE DAY.

COME HERE.

I'M ALWAYS GONNA BE THERE
FOR YOU.

JOAQUIN, TOO.

I LOVE YOU, BELLA.

♪♪

♪♪

[ MOANS ]

♪♪

♪♪

Bella: [ MOANS ]

♪♪

♪♪

Man: ♪ YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, BABY,
WE CAN GO ♪

♪ WHEREVER, WHENEVER ♪

OH!

TITUS. OH, MY GOD.

-YOU SCARED ME.
-HEY.

FIGURED I'D FIX THE COFFEE
TABLE EDGE

YOU'VE BEEN RIDING ME
ABOUT SINCE BIRMINGHAM.

I'VE BARELY MENTIONED IT.

-BARELY LIKE EVERY DAY.
-EVERY DAY?

YEAH, LIKE CLOCKWORK.

♪♪

HONEY?

ROUGH DAY AT WORK?

YEAH.

HUNTER'S SPOILED-BRAT DAUGHTER
GOT UNDER MY SKIN.

SHE'S BARELY OUT OF COLLEGE,
AND HE LETS HER RUN

COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING
FOR THE WHOLE COMPANY.

IT'S MADDENING.

SWEETHEART, HEY.

HOW ABOUT WE LEAVE THE OFFICE
AT THE OFFICE?

GOOD IDEA.

[ DOOR OPENS, CLOSES ]

MM.

AW. THAT'S SO SWEET.

OH, YEAH.
I FORGOT TO TELL YOU.

OUR DAUGHTER'S MAKING
A QUICK TRIP TO ATLANTA

TO ATTEND A ROCK CONCERT.

LET ME KNOW
WHEN SHE GETS HERE.

♪♪

HEY, SWEETHEART.

HOW'S SCHOOL, DEAR?

FINE.

MM.

ANY UPDATES ON YOU AND KHALIL?

MARILYN BARNES AND I WERE JUST
TALKING ABOUT

WHAT A CUTE COUPLE YOU MAKE.

CARLY, WOULD YOU PLEASE
PUT DOWN THE DAMN PHONE

AND ENGAGE IN A CIVILIZED
CONVERSATION WITH YOUR MOTHER?

[ CELLPHONE THUDS ]

THANK YOU.

I WAS CHECKING
MY REHEARSAL SCHEDULE.

OH.

I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU'RE NOT
NEGLECTING

YOUR MORE IMPORTANT CLASSES
FOR ALL THIS THEATER BUSINESS.

WOW,
MY "MORE IMPORTANT CLASSES."

HONEY, I JUST DON'T WANT
YOUR GPA TO SUFFER.

YOU KNOW HOW COMPETITIVE IT IS

TO GET INTO
A IVY LEAGUE LAW SCHOOL.

MOM. FOR THE LAST TIME,
I'M NOT GOING TO LAW SCHOOL.

THEATER IS NOT A HOBBY FOR ME.
I'M AN ACTRESS.

NO ONE GIVES A DAMN ABOUT
WHAT VIOLA DAVIS'S GPA

IN COLLEGE WAS.

[ LAUGHS ]

I'M SORRY, HONEY.
YOU'RE NO VIOLA DAVIS.

CARLY, I DIDN'T MEAN
THAT THE WAY IT SOUNDED.

HONEY, I WAS JUST TRYING
TO SAY THAT --

CARLY, ALL I WAS TRYING
TO SAY WAS --

THAT I'M TERRIBLE.

I HEARD YOU, LOUD AND CLEAR.

CARLY.

CARLY, HONEY, WAIT!

I'M REALLY SORRY!

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

[ RINGS ]

HEY, NICK.
I COULD USE SOME GOOD NEWS.

REALLY?

TELL ME ALL ABOUT THIS
DAMIAN COLLINS.

YOU GONNA BE OKAY?

I'LL BE FINE.

YOU SURE I CAN'T
SPEND THE NIGHT?

TONIGHT IS NOT A GOOD NIGHT.

-BYE.
-BYE.

-EVAN.
-SHH.

-THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?
-YOU DUMPED ME.

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME
FOR EVER GETTING INVOLVED

WITH YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE?

[ INHALES DEEPLY, EXHALES ]

COME ON, MAN. COME ON.

♪♪

COME ON.

♪♪

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

♪♪

[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]

SWEETHEART,
IT CANNOT BE THAT BAD.

I'M TELLING YOU,
EXCALIBUR IS THE WORST.

BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE EXCITED
ABOUT YOUR ROBOTICS LAB.

NOTHING ABOUT THAT
TRAINING FARM

FOR FUTURE
CAPITALISTS EXCITES ME.

WELL, I'M SURE YOU STAND OUT
WITH YOUR NEW LOOK.

YEAH.

I STAND OUT BECAUSE I'M ONE OF
ONLY FIVE BLACK KIDS ON CAMPUS.

[ DOORBELL RINGS ]
-[ GASPS ]

♪♪

-HEY.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]

MOM, DAD, THIS IS RAZR.
HE'S IN MY CLASS AT EXCALIBUR.

-WHAT THE F--
-LORD, HAVE MERCY.

♪♪

I CANNOT BELIEVE A COUPLE OF Ls
CREATED MY GIRL.

-EXCUSE ME?
-DID HE JUST CALL US LOSERS?

-LAWYERS! [ LAUGHS ]
-[ LAUGHS ]

YOU READY TO GO, BABE?

UH, I'M SORRY, GO WHERE?

PLEASE TELL ME
YOU'RE NOT GONNA TRIP.

DAD ALREADY SAID THAT
I CAN GO TO THE CONCERT.

-I DID?
-WHEN I CALLED YOU.

JUST BE HOME BY 1:00.

-MIDNIGHT.
-DAD.

YOU HEARD HER.

KEEP TALKING
AND IT'LL BE 11:30.

DEJA.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL
AND KEEP YOUR PHONE ON.

♪♪

IT'S BEEN INSANE,
MEETING YOU FOLKS.

YEAH, LIKEWISE.

[ DOOR OPENS ]

WE JUST LET OUR CHILD
LEAVE THIS HOUSE WITH...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT.

YOU'RE THE ONE
THAT GAVE HER PERMISSION.

NO, I REALLY DIDN'T.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE IT

A THING AND EMBARRASS HER
IN FRONT OF HER...

FRIEND.

WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR SWEET,
LITTLE BABY GIRL?

WE SENT HER AWAY SO THAT
WE COULD DEAL WITH ALL OUR CRAP.

AND NOW
SHE'S GOTH BLACK BARBIE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

OH, CAN YOU IMAGINE RAZR
AS A SON-IN-LAW?

TITUS. COME ON, NOW.
WE GOT TO DO BETTER THAN THAT.

OH, INDEED, BABY. INDEED.

YOU THINK THEY'RE HAVING SEX?

-OH, I CAN'T GO THERE.
-YOU'RE RIGHT. NEVER MIND.

[ DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE ]

THAT RESTAURANT IS MY LIFE.

AND THAT RICH
THOT YOU MARRIED?

SHE'S TRYING TO STEAL IT OUT
FROM UNDER ME.

MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD THING.

I KNEW YOU'D BE ON HER SIDE.
I JUST KNEW IT.

NO, I'M THINKING
ABOUT YOU, SIS.

YOU CAN'T TELL ME YOU'RE HAPPY
SLAVING 16 HOURS A DAY

IN A RESTAURANT
THAT BARELY BREAKS EVEN.

I LIVE GOOD,
AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD --

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD --
NEEDS THELMA'S PLACE TO SURVIVE.

THELMA'S RESTAURANT'S THE REASON
YOU NEVER GOT MARRIED

OR HAD CHILDREN OF YOUR OWN.

DO YOU EVEN DATE ANYMORE?

I DON'T NEED A MAN OR KIDS
TO FULFILL ME, EVAN.

LOOK, I JUST CAME OVER HERE

TO ASK YOU TO TALK
SOME SENSE INTO DADDY.

THAT'S ALL.

STAY OUT OF IT, EVAN.

♪♪

ME AND MY BROTHER ARE HAVING
A PRIVATE CONVERSATION, OKAY?

SO YOU CAN TURN YOUR LITTLE
FUNKY SELF AROUND AND TROT

RIGHT UP ON OUT OF HERE.

ANYWAY...

YOU'RE TELLING ME
WHAT TO DO IN MY OWN HOUSE?

THE ONLY ONE LEAVING IS YOU.

GO ON.

SCURRY BACK TO THAT RAT TRAP
YOU CALL A RESTAURANT.

GO ON, NOW.

THOSE CROW'S-FEET ARE WALKING
ALL OVER YOUR FACE,

SISTER-IN-LAW.

EVAN, WON'T YOU BE A DEAR
AND SCHEDULE

YOUR WIFE
ANOTHER BOTOX APPOINTMENT?

♪♪

YOU AND DADDY COULDN'T GIVE
GREG PETERS WHAT HE WANTS.

NOW I HAVE THE SITUATION
IN HAND.

HE HASN'T PROMISED TO SELL.

NOT YET.

♪♪

Amara: OKAY,
PUT YOUR LEG RIGHT THERE.

MM, YEAH, NOW HOLD IT.

-RIGHT THERE?
-MM-HMM.

-OH.
-OH, GOD.

-YEAH.
-OOH.

-NOW -- NOW PUT YOUR HAND THERE.
-RIGHT HERE?

-NO, NOT THERE.
-OKAY.

-HERE.
-OOH.

-THAT'S IT RIGHT THERE.
-OKAY.

-THAT'S IT.
-ALL RIGHT.

WAIT, BUT DOESN'T YOUR KNEE HURT
WITH YOUR LEG AT THIS ANGLE?

YEAH, ALL I'M THINKING
ABOUT RIGHT NOW

IS HOW TO PUT
MY FOOT OVER YOURS...

-MM-HMM.
-...WITHOUT US -- WAIT, WAIT.

-OH-HO!
-[ LAUGHS ]

-YOU CHEATER!
-VICTORIOUS!

-OH!
-I WIN.

NO, FACT'S NOT ENTERED
IN EVIDENCE.

OH, NO, I'M SORRY, TITUS.

YOU SEE, THE RULES EXPLICITLY
STATE THAT THE FIRST PERSON

-WHO FALLS WILL --
-UNLESS THAT PERSON

IS INTENTIONALLY PUSHED
OVER BY THEIR OPPONENT!

NO, THE RULES DO NOT SAY THAT!

-YEAH, THEY DO!
-NO, THEY DON'T!

-I'M SORRY. [ LAUGHS ]
-[ LAUGHS ]

-THIS WAS FUN.
-YEAH, IT WAS.

IT'S FUNNY, ALL IT TOOK TO
SHOW US HOW TO LOOSEN UP AGAIN

WAS ONE LITTLE VISIT
FROM OUR MUTANT DAUGHTER.

-[ LAUGHS ]
-AH, SO I'M A MUTANT NOW.

-OH.
-DEJA, BABY, I'M -- I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T MEAN --

AH, DAD, I'M OKAY WITH
BEING A MUTANT.

I KNOW IT'S A SHOCK,
SEEING HOW I'VE CHANGED.

SWEETHEART, WAIT A MINUTE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

-WHAT HAPPENED?
-YEAH.

THE FRONT-ROW TICKETS THAT RAZR
GOT FROM THE SCALPER WERE FAKE,

AND WE COULDN'T GET IN.

OH, BABY, I'M SORRY.

HE'S JUST SO DEPRESSED.
I JUST TOLD HIM

TO JUST DROP ME OFF
AND PICK ME UP IN THE MORNING.

SO YOU CAME ALL THIS WAY
FOR NOTHING.

I GUESS I CAME ALL THIS WAY
FOR YOU AND MOM.

LET'S PLAY THREESIES.

-OH!
-OKAY.

-YEAH!
-YEAH.

I'LL KICK YOUR BUTTS
LIKE I ALWAYS USED TO.

UM, I'M SORRY.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.

NO, YOU'LL KICK YOUR
MOTHER'S BUTT 'CAUSE SHE'S --

-YOU JUST LOST.
-SHE'S NOT VERY GOOD AT TWISTER.

-DID YOU --
-YOU CHEATED!

DID YOU HIT YOUR HEAD
WHEN YOU FELL AND BUST YOUR ASS?

-OH, WOW, REALLY?
-YOU HAVE AMNESIA.

♪♪

Man: ♪ BAD GIRLS ALWAYS GETTIN'
IN TROUBLE ♪

♪ GOOD GIRLS WANT TO
BUT DON'T KNOW HOW ♪

♪ YOU KNOW I AIN'T
COME HERE TO CUDDLE ♪

♪ GIRL, I CAME HERE
TO TURN YOU OUT ♪

WHERE DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE GOING?

I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.

MAYBE I DO LIKE WOMEN,
BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN YOU.

♪♪

OKAY.

IF YOU SAY SO.

Woman: ♪ I REALLY DO ♪

♪ I REALLY DO ♪

♪ IF YOU ASK ME, LOVE,
TO SWIM THE OCEAN BLUE ♪

♪ I'LL SWIM IT BACK AND FORTH
JUST TO BE CLOSE TO YOU ♪

♪ AND IF YOU ASK ME, LOVE,
TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN HIGH ♪

♪ I'LL CLIMB IT JUST AS LONG
AS YOU WERE BY MY SIDE ♪

♪ LET'S SAY YOU ASK ME, LOVE,
TO CROSS THE DESERT SAND ♪

HELLO, MR. MAYOR.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

OH, NO, NO, THIS IS
THE RIGHT NUMBER,

BUT CARLY'S IN THE MIDDLE
OF AN INTIMATE MOMENT WITH ME

RIGHT NOW, AND SHE'S JUST TOO
OUT-OF-BREATH TO SPEAK.

OKAY. CARLY, I'M KIDDING.
I'M PLAYING WITH YOU.

-GEEZ.
-OH, MY GOD.

COME ON.

♪ I REALLY DO ♪

LOOK, THIS IS OUR SECRET.

I WOULDN'T PUT YOU
IN JEOPARDY, OKAY?

♪♪

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
I WOULD NEVER HURT YOU.

♪ I REALLY DO LOVE YOU ♪

OKAY.

♪ IS IT BECAUSE YOU PROMISED
ME YOU'D NEVER LEAVE ♪

♪ OR IS IT 'CAUSE YOU SAID
I'M THE REASON YOU BREATHE ♪

♪ IS IT BECAUSE WHEN
I'M FEELING DOWN, YOU CALL ♪

♪ OR WHEN I SLIP,
YOU CATCH ME BEFORE... ♪

♪♪

[ DOOR OPENS ]

♪♪

-CARLY.
-MOTHER.

I ADMIT I WAS A BIT HARSH
DURING DINNER.

♪♪

YOU KNOW I HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH BLURTING THINGS OUT.

♪♪

I THINK YOU ARE A PROMISING
YOUNG ACTRESS.

♪♪

BUT THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF
POSSIBILITIES OUT THERE FOR YOU.

I JUST WANT YOU TO BE THE BEST
POSSIBLE CARLISLE YOU CAN BE.

♪♪

"THE BEST CARLISLE I CAN BE?"

YOU SOUND LIKE A MARINE
SLOGAN, MOM.

I'M A LANCASTER, REMEMBER?

CARLY, I'M TRYING.

CAN'T YOU AT LEAST
MEET ME HALFWAY?

IF THAT WAS YOUR BEST VERSION
OF AN APOLOGY,

THIS IS THE BEST
I CAN DO TO ACCEPT IT.

WELL, UH, WHERE ARE YOU
COMING FROM?

REHEARSAL?

KHALIL, MAYBE?

I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU AND DAD
ARE PIMPING ME OUT.

DON'T BE SO DRAMATIC.
NOBODY'S "PIMPING" YOU OUT.

HOWEVER, IF THINGS
ARE PROGRESSING

BETWEEN YOU AND KHALIL,

IT COULD HELP YOUR DAD
CONVINCE MARVIN BARNES

TO MOVE BETA
NEW ELECTRIC TO ATLANTA.

THAT'S ALL.

THERE IS NO FUTURE WITH ME

AND KHALIL,
SO DROP IT, OKAY?

♪♪

THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT THE BEST
CURE FOR A BAD ATTITUDE

IS A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.

LET ME NOT KEEP YOU FROM IT.

[ KISSES ]

♪♪

WHERE ARE YOU HEADED THIS LATE?

JUST A QUICK BUSINESS TRIP.

I'LL BE BACK IN THE MORNING.

♪♪

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

Man: ♪ I'LL GIVE YOU THE KEY
TO MY HEART, BABY ♪

♪ FOR FREE TO GO EXPLORING
IF YOU WANT, BABY ♪

♪ TAKE A HIT OF THIS
AND WE CAN ZONE OUT ♪

♪ WE ON A WHOLE 'NOTHER LEVEL,
WE AIN'T GOING DOWN ♪

I'VE MISSED THIS.

ME, TOO.

♪ SO DON'T TELL ME THAT
YOU LOVE ME IF IT'S NOT TRUE ♪

I'M DONE LIVING IN THE PAST.

I'M MAKING YOU A SOLID
PROMISE, BABY.

I WILL NEVER BRING UP
DAMIAN COLLINS AGAIN.

♪♪

♪ OH, BABY ♪

[ DOOR BELL JINGLES ]

THE GPS ON YOUR FANCY CAR
MUST HAVE GONE WONKY FOR YOU

TO END UP IN THE BANKS
THIS TIME OF NIGHT.

GOT SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND?

RONDELL SAID YOU'RE THINKING
HARD ABOUT SELLING THIS PLACE.

WHAT'S THAT GOT TO DO WITH YOU?

LOOK, THE ONLY REASON
YOU'D SELL

IS BECAUSE
YOU'RE PISSED AT RONDELL.

MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO THINK AGAIN.

SHE'S BEEN LYING TO ME,

TREATING ME LIKE AN OLD, SENILE
FOOL READY FOR THE REST HOME.

BUT THAT AIN'T THE REASON,
NOHOW.

♪♪

THEN WHAT?

THESE SOUL-SUCKERS ARE COMING
AROUND AND SAYING,

"GET OUT OR ELSE."

I DON'T WANT MY DAUGHTER FINDING
OUT WHAT THEY MEAN BY THAT.

POP, I UNDERSTAND
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I C--

IT'S TOO HIGH A PRICE TO PAY

FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT'S ALREADY GONE.

YOU GOT DRUG DEALERS
AND DEVELOPERS NO MATTER

WHICH WAY YOU TURN.

IT'S BETTER TO GET OUT

AND HAVE SOMETHING
TO SHOW FOR IT.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO SEE YOU
COMING TO ME LIKE THIS.

LETS ME KNOW YOU'RE NOT
WITH THEM.

AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE RUMORS
FLOATING AROUND ABOUT YOU

AIN'T TRUE.

DON'T BELIEVE
NONE OF THEM, POP.

WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED,
I WAS SO PROUD.

THOUGHT, "MY BOY THE MAYOR...

[ LAUGHS ]

"...YEAH, HE'S GONNA HELP
MAKE LIFE BETTER

FOR THE FOLKS AROUND HERE,"

LIKE YOU WERE REALLY GONNA
REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM

AND LIFT ALL OF US UP LIKE
"THE TALENTED TENTH."

JUST MAGICAL THINKING.

LOOK, PAPA,
DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

OKAY. SELL, DON'T SELL.

RONDELL WILL BE FINE
EITHER WAY. I GOT HER BACK.

THAT MUCH, AT LEAST,
I CAN PROMISE YOU.

AS FAR AS THE WAY SHE TREATS
YOU, WELL, WE LANCASTERS

HAVE A MESSED-UP WAY OF SAYING,
"I LOVE YOU."

♪♪

BUT YOU KNOW SHE DOES.

♪♪

♪♪

[ DOOR BELL JINGLES ]

♪♪

[ DOOR BELL JINGLES ]

♪♪

MRS. LANCASTER.

♪♪

WELCOME TO BIRMINGHAM.

DAMIAN COLLINS, IT'S SO GOOD
TO FINALLY MEET YOU.

♪♪

NEXT TIME ON "AMBITIONS"...

YOU GOT ANOTHER THING COMING.

OFFICER, PLEASE REMOVE
THIS GARBAGE.

CARLISLE-PERKINS COULD USE
AN ATTORNEY

WITH YOUR SKILLS
AND EXPERIENCE.

BRIBING A JUDGE IS NOT
WHO I AM, HUNTER.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY
LAWS YOUR BREAKING RIGHT NOW?

-IS THIS A VENDETTA?
-NOT AT ALL.

YOU LYIN' BITCH.

I CAN MAKE YOUR LIFE
A LIVING HELL.

YOUR THREATS ARE AS EMPTY
AS YOUR PROMISES.

IT'S WAY PAST HIS DEADLINE,
SO LET'S SEND THE INFORMATION

WE HAVE ON HIM TO --

SCRATCH THAT, NICK.