Ambitions (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 7 - Poison and Wine - full transcript
Stephanie makes an accusation and vows to get revenge; Bella navigates Rod and Evan; Amara forms an unlikely partnership that compels Titus to make questionable moves; Senior suffers a health setback; Carly takes a leap of faith with Lori.
- STEPHANIE:
Previously, on "Ambitions"--
- RODERICK:
I need to expose this bastard.
- Evan would pay a shit load
to make this recording go away.
- For the right price,
Millsap will give us
any judge we want;
we need judge Alton Waites.
- DAMIAN: Don't let our past
destroy your future.
- TITUS: His ass wouldn't move
across states to be near you
without a reason, Amara.
- SENIOR:
Thelma's Place belongs to me.
The decision is mine
and mine alone.
- I just can't
get enough of you.
- You bring out the wild woman
in me.
Mom.
- STEPHANIE: The Purifoys
are as poisonous
as the drugs they produce.
- EVAN: Stephanie?
Steph!
Jesus!
[panting]
- [coughing]
- Stephanie!
You're okay.
- No, no, not an ambulance.
[panting] Our doctor.
- [phone ringing]
- We have a situation.
- [crows cawing]
- ♪
- So what's your day like?
- TITUS: Pre-trial conference.
- Hmm, bet Stephanie can't wait
to see your briefs.
- You're the only woman
that gets to see me in or out
of my briefs.
- AMARA: [moaning]
- TITUS: [moaning]
- [unintelligible mumbling]
No, no, no,
you're gonna make me late.
- What's so urgent you can't
stay here and let me
put it on you one more time?
- Roderick Johnson.
- Finally got back to ya, huh?
- Uh, no, he left me
a voice message.
I need to follow up
with him today, though.
Something clearly pissed him
off for him to go
after the mayor of Atlanta
live during his broadcast.
Really?
- What?
- You just gonna stand there
and tempt me
with all that Titus hanging out?
- What do you mean?
- What do you mean, what I mean?
- What?
- What?
I think I'm
gonna have to be late.
- Oh, yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
- TITUS: Mm, just a little bit.
- AMARA: [laughing]
- ♪
♪
♪♪
- Enjoy, enjoy.
You're doing alright?
- Yes.
- Good, good.
- [bell dings]
- You know you ain't
got no business
taking no cash
out that register.
- I'm just borrowing $20
to put on the Powerball,
I'll pay it back.
Hey, if we hit that jackpot,
I'll buy out
the whole neighborhood,
Freeing us from Greg Peters,
how's that sound?
- A mess.
Daddy, that don't make--
Dad--Daddy.
Daddy.
Daddy.
Daddy!
- Stop yelling at me,
Thelma.
- Come on, sit down.
- What you talking about?
- Well, you just froze up
like a popsicle,
then you called me Thelma.
- Well, making up stories ain't
gonna get you your $20 back.
- You think I'm worried
about $20?
- What are you guys
arguing about?
- Your auntie's just mad
Paw-Paw's about
to strike it rich.
- Hmm.
- [chuckles]
What brought you over this way
last night, pumpkin?
- She ain't got to have
no reason
to spend the night with kinfolk.
Hell, I know if I lived with
my brother and sister-in-law,
I'd need a place to escape, too.
- [text alert]
- Thanks.
Oh, no.
- RONDELL:
Is everything alright?
- I'll catch you guys later.
Thanks for letting me crash.
- Okay. Bye, boo.
- [crow cawing]
- STEPHANIE:
I think I hear Carly.
- CARLY: Are you okay?
- STEPHANIE: I'm fine.
The doctor came by last night,
it was probably
just a fainting spell.
- Where you've been, Carly?
I've been texting
and calling nonstop.
- I spent the night
at Aunt Rondell and Paw-Paw's.
- [phone ringing]
- It's the doctor
with your test results.
- I'm so sorry, Mom.
I never should've run out
on you last night.
- It's okay, you couldn't
have known I was ill.
And we were both quite upset.
- What did Dad say when you
told him about Lori and me?
- I didn't say anything.
I think he should hear it
from you
when you're ready
to tell him.
And Carly...
I love and accept you...
no matter who you are.
Or how you live your life.
I want you to know that.
- Thank you.
- EVAN: Carly.
- Yeah?
- EVAN: Excuse us, please.
- Okay.
Is Mom gonna be okay?
- EVAN: Don't worry,
she's going to be fine.
- What's the verdict?
- When did you start
abusing drugs?
- Don't be absurd.
- The doctor said there was
some obscure designer opioid
in your system.
Coupled with the interactions
with alcohol,
you could've died if I didn't
come home when I did.
I saved your life.
- You can be so dramatic
sometimes.
You know I don't use drugs.
- Tell me the truth,
Stephanie.
- Someone must have
drugged me at the Summit.
- What?
- That's the only explanation.
That dirty bitch.
- Who, Stephanie?
- Lori Purifoy,
she did this to me.
She probably felt she had
every reason after
I slapped the shit out of her.
- You slapped Hunter Purifoy's
daughter at a public place?
Why?!
- She insulted me.
She insulted you,
she insulted Carly,
our entire family, and I wasn't
going to stand for it.
In return,
she tried to kill me.
- [laughs] Only you could get
yourself poisoned
at a women's empowerment event.
- Send someone to that
conference center to see
if there were any witnesses
at the bar.
Evan. If you don't follow up,
I will.
And believe me,
I don't have the restraints
that bind local law enforcement.
- Why don't you just relax?
Okay? I'll--I'll get
someone on it.
[sighs]
Where are you going,
Stephanie?
You need to stay in bed.
- The world doesn't stop
because my heart nearly did.
Thank you for saving
my life, husband.
But if I do nothing else
except exact my revenge,
it will be sweet.
I promise you.
- Thanks, Brian.
- Hey.
- Hey, Arden.
Thanks for coming up.
- Yeah, so, what's so urgent
you summon me up
from the dungeons
to the ivy tower?
- [chuckles] Don't let Hunter
hear you calling
Purifoy's state-of-the-art
labs dungeons. [laughs]
- So, what's up?
- Stephanie Lancaster is gonna
request everything Limodol,
down to the last paper clip.
I wanna see examples of every
label ever put on a bottle.
- The labels couldn't be
any more self-explanatory.
- I just wanna make sure
I don't get blindsided.
- Like we did.
- What do you mean by that?
Come on, bro, talk to me.
- Just because I develop
opioids doesn't mean
I turn a blind eye
to what it does to my community.
Blacks are increasing
in opioid overdose deaths
faster than anybody else.
- I'm fully aware of this.
- Other folks get hooked,
they're victims.
We get hooked, we're addicts.
Addicts are good for business,
right?
- Well, I know that other
companies target minorities
in poor communities, so you're
saying Purifoy does it, too?
- Let me go dig up those labels.
- Listen, man,
don't hold out on me.
There's too much at stake.
- Let me be clear.
Purifoy Pharmaceuticals
is a great company.
And I'm glad to work here.
- EVAN: Thank you, Chloe.
- My pleasure, Mr. Mayor.
- Is Carly alright?
- Yeah. Why?
- RONDELL: Showed up last night
all frazzled,
spent the night,
then ran out this morning
like the hounds of hell
were chasing her.
- Well, she's fine,
we just needed her home.
- RONDELL: Oh.
- So what brings you here?
Or should I even ask?
- This ain't about
the signatures for once.
- Oh.
- I've been fighting with Daddy
all damn morning about
going to the doctor.
- Oh-oh.
- I'm just plain wore out.
I need you to talk to him.
- [chuckles] You need me
to help you with your
anti-gentrification campaign,
you need me to get Pops
to the doctor.
What else do you need me
to help with, Rondell?
Fix global warming?
- Don't get smart, Negro.
- [laughs] Okay.
- [phone ringing]
- Hey.
- Hey, Pop,
you feeling alright?
Rondell's worried about you.
- Ugh, don't tell me Rondell's
over there bothering you.
- Yep, looking at her right now.
- [scoffs]
- Put me on speaker.
- Hi, Daddy.
- SENIOR: Listen, um,
I wasn't trying to cause you
kids to worry,
I mean, y'all lost your Mama,
and there's no need for you
to be worried about
losing me, too.
So, um, to ease your mind,
I'm making the appointment
as soon as I hang up.
- [whispers] Lies.
- SENIOR: Alright?
- Mm-hmm. Thank you, Daddy.
- SENIOR: Bye.
- You--you know he ain't gon'
make that appointment, right?
- But he said he's fine.
- And I'm telling you he's not.
You know, hey,
don't believe me, then.
Ooh, Lord, give me the strength
to deal with these men.
Ooh. Jesus.
- ♪
- BELLA AND RODERICK:
[moaning]
- ♪
- [groans] Oh,
careful, careful, careful.
Ribs haven't healed yet.
- I guess sexual healing wasn't
such a good idea after all.
- [laughs] Oh.
It's the thought that counts.
- I should've heard
from him by now.
- Don't stress.
I'll pay Lancaster a visit.
- You're still recovering.
- It's all good.
I can handle it.
- How many copies of the video
did you make before you deleted
it off your computer?
- Downloaded onto three
different flash drives.
- And they're in a safe place?
Remember how far he went
to get the dirt
I had on him last time.
- RODERICK: You worry too much.
- [knocking at door]
- That might be him.
- [groans]
- May I help you?
- Sure hope so.
Damian Collins with
the US Attorney's office.
I'm looking
for Roderick Johnson.
If he isn't here, he should be.
- Um...
- I'm here.
- ♪
- JUDGE:
Everything alright, son?
You look like you could use
an antacid.
- I'm good, Judge Waites,
thanks for asking.
How are you?
How's Judge Millsap?
- How would I know?
- Your Honor, if ever there was
a precedent
for granting summary judgement,
Naomi Sinclair et al
vs. Purifoy Pharmaceuticals
is the case.
- Save it for the courtroom,
Mrs. Lancaster,
this is just
a pre-trial conference.
And both your arguments
have holes
I could drive
an Escalade through.
- Then clearly you have not
read my argument thoroughly--
- Judge Waites,
Purifoy Pharmaceuticals--
- A painstaking number
of experts--
- [talking at once]
- Enough!
Now, you two are going
to sit across the table
and do your damnedest
to settle this thing.
Now go.
- ♪
- [sighs]
- KAREN: Hmm, is that right?
- AMARA: What's going on?
- Come in, Amara,
we're just getting started.
Damian convinced
Mr. Johnson to join us.
- We knew you wanted to talk to
him, so we chose your office.
We were just about to ask
Roderick here
how he got that beautiful
bruise on his face.
- Sleep-walking. I tripped.
- Mr. Johnson.
Assistant United States Attorney
Amara Hughes.
- You're the one who called.
- AMARA: Correct.
That was some show you put
on your broadcast a while back.
- As I was telling
your friends here,
Mayor Lancaster promised
I'd be the face
of a new Visit Atlanta
campaign.
I hired a publicist,
was in talks to set up
my own sports-themed talk show,
and he backed out,
no explanation.
I was that guy's biggest fan,
and he treated me like shit.
I went off.
- Your story's tight
and well-rehearsed.
- It's the truth.
- Well, since embarrassing
the mayor on television
isn't a federal offense,
you're free to go.
But if you think of anything
else you'd like to share
about your dealings
with the mayor,
feel free to give me a call.
- KAREN: Thank you again
for coming in, Mr. Johnson.
- RODERICK: No problem.
Whatever you're all looking
at Mayor Douchebag for,
I hope you get him.
Atlanta does deserve better.
- Notice how Roderick was
holding his ribs
like he'd been punched
pretty hard?
- Mm-hmm.
- And that bruise on his face
wasn't from a fall,
he knows more than he's saying.
- Of course he does.
But he is my witness,
and it is my case.
May I talk to you in private?
- KAREN: Yeah.
- I'll wait outside.
- Again, Karen? I thought
I made my position clear.
- You work for me, Amara,
not the other way around.
I don't need your permission
to do anything.
I'm getting pressure
from upstairs,
I need the kind of heat
you and Damian generated
in Birmingham.
- And I can bring that to you
on my own, I've already
found another witness
that may point
to Mayor Lancaster.
- Fine. Follow it.
Take Damian with you.
[sighs]
- Ready to roll?
- [bell dings]
- Back from shopping already?
- Can't pay for nothing
without my credit cards,
gotta go grab 'em.
- SENIOR: [groaning]
- Daddy?
Daddy what's wrong?
Daddy--Oh! You--oh, hell no!
Daddy, what?!
- Can a man get some privacy
in his own damn room?!
- I wa--ah!
Hmm...
Ugh. Okay.
- LUELENE: Senior! Senior!
Rondell! Rondell, help!
Your daddy, something's wrong!
- RONDELL: What?
Something's wrong?
Daddy. Daddy!
- Was he wearing a wire?
Thank you.
Roderick Johnson.
Oh, what happened, brother?
That looks terrible.
- [scoffs] Don't test me,
Lancaster,
you know what I can do.
- Oh, yeah, that cute little
blackmail thing
you and Bella are doing?
You know you're an even bigger
joke than I originally thought.
- And I'm about to be laughing
all the way to the bank.
I'm here to make sure
you pay up.
- I will, as soon as you
hand over those flash drives.
- You must think I'm stupid.
- Hmm.
- You get the drives
when I get the cash.
- How do I know you didn't make
more copies than you're
admitting to?
- I guess you have to pray
I'm more honest than you are.
- See, your brilliant plan
is failing already.
I don't trust you,
you don't trust me.
We're at a stalemate.
- That's where you're wrong.
Bella will be our go-between.
- [chuckles] I trust her
even less.
- Tough shit.
You give her the cash,
I give her the drives,
she makes the swap,
in that order.
Now, if you don't like it,
we go with plan B.
Leaking the videos,
get your sorry ass impeached.
- You do that, it would be
mutually assured destruction.
I promise you that.
- Fine by me,
I got nothing to lose.
- You sure about that?
- My video, my terms.
Cough up the cash or else...
brother.
- [door closes]
- [sirens wailing]
- HERSCHEL: Are you guys
looking for anything
in particular?
- Your office takes on average
four weeks to approve
of a single commercial property.
Safe to say that a plaza
or marketplace
would take considerably longer?
- Oh, yeah, more buildings,
more permits, more time.
- Simple math.
- Yeah.
- So, how does English Rose
get its permit
in under two weeks?
- Oh, well, it, uh--must have
their ducks in a row.
It's quicker when they do.
- Paperwork's in order?
That's really how
we're gonna play this?
- These mixed communities
were also approved quickly.
Who's the developer?
- Hmm, Greg Peters.
- Yeah.
- And your signature
approved them all.
- Well, I give building permits
to a lot of developers.
That's my job--
- Cut the shit, Herschel.
Peters paid you off, admit it.
- He paid his permit fees.
That's all I know.
I don't know what else
you're implying.
- We're talking about you
taking money
to expedite his permits.
- We're talking about prison,
Herschel, you want that?
Is there anything else you wanna
tell us about your dealings
with Greg Peters Construction?
- This is your last best chance
to stay out of trouble.
Take it.
- Listen, I've said
all I'm going to say.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I've got my completely legal
and honest job to get back to.
- Here's my contact info.
- If you're smart,
you'll use it.
- You scared us half to death.
- No.
- Me and Rondell
thought the worst
watching them carry you out
here on that stretcher.
- No, ain't nobody dying.
Doctors said I had what you call
a TIA.
All you need to know about it
is the T stands for Temporary.
It ain't coming back.
- You had a mini-stroke,
Evan Senior.
And that ain't nothing
to play with.
I know they gave you
some pressure medicine.
- Here been that pressure
medicine.
He ain't been taking it.
- You ain't been taking
your medicine?!
- That stuff ain't good
for my stuff.
- And you think I want you
dropping dead on top of me?
- [sighs]
- SENIOR: Come on,
don't be like that.
- Until you start back
taking those pills,
you ain't getting
none of this.
And don't make me wait
too long.
- SENIOR: [sighs]
- LUELENE: Good night, Rondell.
- Good night, Luelene.
- You see what you did?
- Daddy!
Look.
I understand that you're lonely.
You old, but you ain't cold.
Look, if the blood pressure
medicine you're supposed to be
taking is causing...
side effects, then--
- Look--Lord have mercy.
I can't believe
I'm having this conversation
with my own daughter.
- Well, don't talk to me.
Talk to Evan,
or talk to big Charlie.
Hell, talk to the man
on the moon,
if his ass can convince you
to take this medicine
that they gave you.
The doctor said this one
will regulate your pressure,
and, you know,
without messing with your...
love life.
You're the only daddy I got.
And I ain't trying to lose you.
You know what?
Just take your medicine.
- Rondell.
[sighs]
Listen, pudding.
You ain't losing me
any time soon.
I promise.
[chuckles] I love you.
- I love you, Daddy.
- [door opens]
- Hey.
- Hey.
- I am glad you are at home,
and not out with the woman
who tried to kill me.
- What? Yeah. Right.
- Your dad
didn't wanna tell you,
but you should know.
I was drugged.
Someone put a narcotic
in my drink at the Summit.
I'm certain it was
Lori Purifoy.
- Seriously? Mom.
That room was full of people
who hate you.
It's not enough that you
slapped Lori,
now you're accusing her
of poisoning you.
- If you'd only heard the vulgar
filth that came out of her mouth
about you...
that's why I slapped her.
- What'd she say?
- I won't deign to repeat it.
- Okay, even if she said
something awful,
that doesn't mean Lori
would do this.
Lori's not a malicious person.
- Please, it's in her DNA.
I have the memory
of my dead sister to remind me
just how lethal
the Purifoys can be.
Maybe you can forget
that they killed your aunt,
but I never will.
- Mom, please stop.
- What's going to stop
is this thing you have
with that girl.
I will not lose anyone else
I hold dear to the Purifoys.
It ends now,
do I make myself clear?
- It was all a lie, wasn't it?
- Excuse me?
- All that talk about
you accepting me for who I am,
you never had any intention
to do so, did you?
- Carly.
- Oh, my god,
I am such an idiot.
You can't accept me
for my career choice,
of course you can't accept
who I choose to love.
- Watch your tone,
I'm still your mother.
- Yes, you are.
And I will always love you, Mom.
But I love her, too.
And I won't give her up,
not even for you.
- [indistinct chatter]
- [phone ringing]
- Stephanie Lancaster
here for Titus Hughes.
- Okay.
- Thank you.
- Hi. Mrs. Lancaster
is here to see you?
- Here for me?
- I warned my daughter
you weren't worth her tears.
It took you less than 24 hours
to prove me right.
- You're lucky I chose
not to press charges.
Keep testing me, and I might
change my mind.
- [chuckles] You'll do
no such thing.
If you did, you'd be exposed.
- This should be good.
For what?
- Attempted murder, of course.
- You hit me.
I never laid a hand on you.
- Hey, what's going on here?
- Just discussing
the Purifoy princess
slipping a deadly narcotic
into my drink
at Marilyn Barnes'
cocktail party.
- What?
- That's an insane accusation,
even coming from you.
- Hmm, I don't blame you
for the need to scratch
your homicidal itch.
It's obviously hereditary.
Your father makes a drug
that kills thousands.
- Steph, do you know how
unstable you sound right now?
- She tries to kill me
with an opioid overdose
and I sound unstable?
I've got the toxicology report
to back up my claim.
- I want her out of
my family's building...now.
- Eh--given the circumstances,
I think that might be
the best course of action.
- I completely rearranged
my schedule to be here today
at the settlement conference.
It'll be weeks before
I can reschedule.
- I'm good with that.
You should go.
You're too hot right now.
- [laughs] You haven't
seen me hot yet, Titus.
But you will.
- [sighs]
- Herschel Cooper basically
rubber stamps permits
at Daphne Manning's direction.
- I bet Daphne's getting paid
every time one of those permits
gets awarded.
If Herschel turns...we got her.
- Great work, guys.
At this rate, we'll nail
Lancaster by midterms.
- Okay, wait, I know
we wanna get the mayor,
but we have to build
a bullet-proof case,
and that means we need to go
slow.
- We sure do.
- You're not protecting
your friend Stephanie, are you?
- Karen, don't be ridiculous.
I just feel like if we're gonna
make the big score,
then we can't be in a hurry.
Daphne Manning is gonna
give us Lancaster and Peters.
She just doesn't know it yet.
- Ugh, I've got a meeting.
I'll catch you both later.
Great job.
- Ah. Feels good
working together again.
[chuckles]
Feels like we're winning.
- We're not working together,
Damian.
Is that why you popped up
back in my life?
Were you on a losing streak
back in Birmingham?
- No, just missed the best
partner I've ever had.
No, I mean professionally,
Amara.
Listen, I'm serious.
I'm good, and I know that.
But working with you
makes me better.
- You were the rock star
when we got partnered.
I was just trying to keep up.
- We were good because of you,
not me.
You're the only one
that didn't know that.
- [phone buzzing]
- You gonna get that?
Let the hubby know
that we're working a case?
- [phone buzzing]
- Hello, my love.
[laughs]
Really? That's what you
called to tell me?
- [whispers] Later.
- [whispers] Get out.
Yeah. [laughs]
- I'll be home soon.
Love you, too.
What can I do for you?
- Go ahead, I know you've
been dying to ask.
- I reviewed our marketing
and accounting expenditures,
checked whether Purifoy reps
have targeted
specific doctors' offices,
I've even done background checks
on some
of the consultants we hire.
- And you found?
- No sign that Purifoy targets
African-American
or poor urban communities.
- Or any other marginalized
group, because we don't.
I know where this comes from.
You've been talking to Arden.
- Does that concern you?
- He's our chief pharmacologist
who knows everything
about Limodol.
It would concern me
if you didn't talk to Arden.
It's the other question
I thought you were gonna ask.
- Which is?
- Did I spike Stephanie's drink
at the cocktail party?
- [sighs] I know
Stephanie can be over the top.
But this time she absolutely
believed what she was saying.
- Just how well do you know her?
And don't try to sell me
that opposing counsel crap.
- She went to Spelman,
I went to Morehouse,
our paths crossed.
- Mm-hmm. Sure.
Well, our paths crossed
at the cocktail party
and I definitely owe her one,
but spiking a drink
just isn't my style.
- Glad to hear it.
Now, if you don't mind,
I have a motion to type up,
and I'd like to get home
to my wife before dinner.
- How sweet.
Titus and Amara Hughes,
the all-American couple. Hmm.
- ♪
- RODERICK:
How's it going, baby?
- BELLA: Better than expected.
Guess whose goons
stopped by?
- So, we're good?
- We're better than good.
We're rich!
- BOTH: [laughing]
- Ooh.
- BELLA: Oh, careful.
- Where is it?
- In my bedroom in the safe.
Couldn't have that kind of money
just lying around.
- I wanna see it.
- Let me get those drives.
I have to get them over to Evan.
- What's the rush?
You're rolling in dough.
- He's already
mad enough as it is,
I don't wanna make it any worse.
- Bella, can't you see?
After this, we won't have to
worry about that mobster mayor
ever again.
- Which is why
I wanna get it over with.
So we can live the life
we've always dreamed of
and finally be happy.
Is this all of 'em?
- Yeah.
Thought about making another
copy for insurance
but I didn't wanna put you
and Joaquin at risk.
Now, show me the money.
- There is no money,
you piece of shit.
You really thought the mayor
of Atlanta would get bested
by some second-rate
has-been athlete?
How many hits to the head
did you take?
- I'm so sorry, Roderick.
- You might wanna leave now,
while you can still do so
on your own.
One more thing.
Don't ever come back.
- [crying]
- Do to these what I just
did to Roderick: destroy 'em.
- MAN: Done.
- [laughs]
Wasn't that fun?
- ♪
- Don't waste your time
feeling bad for Roderick.
You did what had to be done.
Think about what you'll be
getting out of all this.
- You promised me
the airport concession,
I still don't have it.
- You will.
- When?
- In exchange for those drives
I've set you up
with Valentina De Santos,
CEO and chairperson
of Corazon Textiles.
They make luxury materials
for the biggest
fashion houses in the world.
- [laughs] Oh, my god.
Valentina De Santos
is one of my idols.
I just read in "Women's Wear
Daily" how she wants
to expand into creating
fashion in house
instead of just supplying
textiles.
- You're going to lead them.
- Me?
- I've convinced Valentina
you could be the face
of their expansion.
You now have a contract
you can't put a price on.
Could Johnson have made
that happen for you?
You'll be working
with Valentina herself.
Now, Corazon is a major player.
Partnering with them?
That's the way to go
if you want a Bella Tru
boutique at Hartsfield-Jackson.
Sure you don't want me to get
one of my guys
to come over here
and watch your place?
- No, no, it's okay.
Roderick won't be back.
- Despite everything...
I've always believed in you,
Bella.
- [door opening]
[door closing]
- ♪ Why wait for tomorrow
♪ What you can do today,
today, today, today ♪
- What are you doing here?
- Told your assistant
we were friends.
Hope that's still the case
after this conversation.
Did you drug my mother?
- If you even have to ask,
you don't know me at all.
- I need to hear you say
that you didn't do it.
- I didn't do it. There.
Are you happy?
You don't believe me. Great.
- Mom said--
- To hell with your mom.
First she slaps me and now
she's spreading lies
about me poisoning her?!
- She told me you said
something nasty about me,
that's why she slapped you.
What did you say, Lori?
- All I said was that she's
just pissed off
I've given you more orgasms
in a few weeks
than your old man managed
to get her off
their entire marriage.
- BOTH: [laughing]
- I cannot believe
you said that,
I bet her head almost exploded.
- If she had been wearing
pearls,
she definitely would've clutched
them right off her neck.
Look, I'm sorry
for going there with your mom.
And yeah, it pissed me off
that she slapped me,
but I would never drug her.
Or anyone for that matter.
- I believe you.
Now, about those orgasms
you gave me?
- Yeah?
- Let's go back to your place
and see if I can return
the favor.
- ♪ It wasn't you
♪ It wasn't me
♪ No one to blame
- [chuckles] Looking sharp, Pop.
Looking sharp.
- Where do you think
you get it from? [laughing]
- So...
Ms. Luelene, huh?
- Ah, your big-mouth sister,
I tell you,
she can't hold water
in a rainstorm.
- EVAN: [chuckles]
She never could.
But you know what I thought
when I heard about you two?
- What?
- That's my daddy.
- [laughing]
- Now, about that
blood pressure medicine.
- Alright, now, I've already
been lectured and scolded
by one of my children
on this subject.
I don't need to hear it
from the other one.
- Then handle your business,
Pop.
I heard you have a new medicine
that won't mess you up.
- It's already handled.
I took 'em, dammit.
Tonight's gonna be the test.
- Hmm?
- At least I'm hoping.
[laughing]
- Papa bear.
- But hey, thanks for worrying
about your old man.
- You're all we got.
- SENIOR: Yeah, yeah. Love you.
- Hey, Evan Junior.
- Ms. Luelene.
You are looking lovely
this evening.
- LUELENE: Thank you, baby.
- Uh, Lue, we better be going
if we wanna get to the aquarium
in time to see the show.
- Mm, I love
the Georgia Aquarium.
Evan Junior, did you know
that beluga whales
are born gray but later
turn white?
- Wow, I did not know that,
Ms. Luelene.
- Well, you need to watch
the Discovery Channel,
you'll learn all kinds of stuff.
- Yes, ma'am.
- [chuckles] We better be going.
[laughing]
- [bell dings]
- Bye, Daddy, y'all have fun.
- SENIOR: Bye, baby.
- You saw that wink?
- Yeah, now your ass shows up
at the last minute.
- What?
- I did all the heavy lifting!
- [crickets chirping]
- AMARA: [sighs]
- I'm still having trouble
believing we landed Judge Waites
for the class action.
- Well, honey, you know,
sometimes you get the judge
that you want.
It happens, Titus,
just count your blessings.
- Yeah, I guess.
- The settlement conference
with Stephanie was today,
wasn't it?
- You mean Hurricane Stephanie?
- Uh-oh.
- Yeah, she comes in claiming
Lori tried to kill her
by spiking her drink
with a narcotic.
And apparently
she slapped Lori.
- Today?
- No, at the Summit.
- Oh, my god.
- Stephanie
was dead serious, too.
Needless to say,
we rescheduled the conference.
- I have something to tell you
and you're not gonna like it.
- Oh, boy. Figures.
It's been that kind of day.
Give it to me.
- It's about Damian.
- [sighs]
- We've been working together.
- Define "working together."
- Karen forced me to take him
with me to interview
a permit supervisor.
I mean--I tried to push back,
I really did, but--
- So now he's got Karen thinking
he's Mr. Dependable.
- Kinda looks that way, yeah.
- [sighs]
Okay.
- That's it?
- You're telling me
the truth, right?
- Yeah, of course I am.
- I'll be honest, Amara.
I kinda love you for that.
Yeah, I'm concerned,
but at the same time,
it had to be difficult
for you to tell me.
I trust you.
And I love you.
- And I love you...
so, so, so--[kisses]--so much.
And I really don't wanna
finish this report
that's due in the morning.
- But you have to, it's okay.
- [sighs]
- [computer beeps]
- [exhales]
- ♪
- [computer beeps]
- ♪
♪
♪
- [shutter clicks]
- ♪
♪♪
- STEPHANIE: Next time,
on "Ambitions"--
- Forget everything you heard
and saw.
- Don't you dare threaten me.
- You two know each other?
- Sure do, don't we, Kent?
- I oversee all
provisional partnerships.
- Provisional?
- Be a man for once.
- I'm more of a man
than you'll ever be.
What?
- Sir, you Titus Hughes?
- Do it!
- [groans]
- AMARA: Titus!
- TITUS: What are you doing?!
We're well past a good defense
being a good offense
where this guy's
concerned, Amara.
- Oh, and Stephanie?
- Yes, Mother?
- If you're going to play
with fire,
make damn sure you're
the one controlling the flames.
- ♪
- ♪
- ♪
- [ding]
Previously, on "Ambitions"--
- RODERICK:
I need to expose this bastard.
- Evan would pay a shit load
to make this recording go away.
- For the right price,
Millsap will give us
any judge we want;
we need judge Alton Waites.
- DAMIAN: Don't let our past
destroy your future.
- TITUS: His ass wouldn't move
across states to be near you
without a reason, Amara.
- SENIOR:
Thelma's Place belongs to me.
The decision is mine
and mine alone.
- I just can't
get enough of you.
- You bring out the wild woman
in me.
Mom.
- STEPHANIE: The Purifoys
are as poisonous
as the drugs they produce.
- EVAN: Stephanie?
Steph!
Jesus!
[panting]
- [coughing]
- Stephanie!
You're okay.
- No, no, not an ambulance.
[panting] Our doctor.
- [phone ringing]
- We have a situation.
- [crows cawing]
- ♪
- So what's your day like?
- TITUS: Pre-trial conference.
- Hmm, bet Stephanie can't wait
to see your briefs.
- You're the only woman
that gets to see me in or out
of my briefs.
- AMARA: [moaning]
- TITUS: [moaning]
- [unintelligible mumbling]
No, no, no,
you're gonna make me late.
- What's so urgent you can't
stay here and let me
put it on you one more time?
- Roderick Johnson.
- Finally got back to ya, huh?
- Uh, no, he left me
a voice message.
I need to follow up
with him today, though.
Something clearly pissed him
off for him to go
after the mayor of Atlanta
live during his broadcast.
Really?
- What?
- You just gonna stand there
and tempt me
with all that Titus hanging out?
- What do you mean?
- What do you mean, what I mean?
- What?
- What?
I think I'm
gonna have to be late.
- Oh, yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
- TITUS: Mm, just a little bit.
- AMARA: [laughing]
- ♪
♪
♪♪
- Enjoy, enjoy.
You're doing alright?
- Yes.
- Good, good.
- [bell dings]
- You know you ain't
got no business
taking no cash
out that register.
- I'm just borrowing $20
to put on the Powerball,
I'll pay it back.
Hey, if we hit that jackpot,
I'll buy out
the whole neighborhood,
Freeing us from Greg Peters,
how's that sound?
- A mess.
Daddy, that don't make--
Dad--Daddy.
Daddy.
Daddy.
Daddy!
- Stop yelling at me,
Thelma.
- Come on, sit down.
- What you talking about?
- Well, you just froze up
like a popsicle,
then you called me Thelma.
- Well, making up stories ain't
gonna get you your $20 back.
- You think I'm worried
about $20?
- What are you guys
arguing about?
- Your auntie's just mad
Paw-Paw's about
to strike it rich.
- Hmm.
- [chuckles]
What brought you over this way
last night, pumpkin?
- She ain't got to have
no reason
to spend the night with kinfolk.
Hell, I know if I lived with
my brother and sister-in-law,
I'd need a place to escape, too.
- [text alert]
- Thanks.
Oh, no.
- RONDELL:
Is everything alright?
- I'll catch you guys later.
Thanks for letting me crash.
- Okay. Bye, boo.
- [crow cawing]
- STEPHANIE:
I think I hear Carly.
- CARLY: Are you okay?
- STEPHANIE: I'm fine.
The doctor came by last night,
it was probably
just a fainting spell.
- Where you've been, Carly?
I've been texting
and calling nonstop.
- I spent the night
at Aunt Rondell and Paw-Paw's.
- [phone ringing]
- It's the doctor
with your test results.
- I'm so sorry, Mom.
I never should've run out
on you last night.
- It's okay, you couldn't
have known I was ill.
And we were both quite upset.
- What did Dad say when you
told him about Lori and me?
- I didn't say anything.
I think he should hear it
from you
when you're ready
to tell him.
And Carly...
I love and accept you...
no matter who you are.
Or how you live your life.
I want you to know that.
- Thank you.
- EVAN: Carly.
- Yeah?
- EVAN: Excuse us, please.
- Okay.
Is Mom gonna be okay?
- EVAN: Don't worry,
she's going to be fine.
- What's the verdict?
- When did you start
abusing drugs?
- Don't be absurd.
- The doctor said there was
some obscure designer opioid
in your system.
Coupled with the interactions
with alcohol,
you could've died if I didn't
come home when I did.
I saved your life.
- You can be so dramatic
sometimes.
You know I don't use drugs.
- Tell me the truth,
Stephanie.
- Someone must have
drugged me at the Summit.
- What?
- That's the only explanation.
That dirty bitch.
- Who, Stephanie?
- Lori Purifoy,
she did this to me.
She probably felt she had
every reason after
I slapped the shit out of her.
- You slapped Hunter Purifoy's
daughter at a public place?
Why?!
- She insulted me.
She insulted you,
she insulted Carly,
our entire family, and I wasn't
going to stand for it.
In return,
she tried to kill me.
- [laughs] Only you could get
yourself poisoned
at a women's empowerment event.
- Send someone to that
conference center to see
if there were any witnesses
at the bar.
Evan. If you don't follow up,
I will.
And believe me,
I don't have the restraints
that bind local law enforcement.
- Why don't you just relax?
Okay? I'll--I'll get
someone on it.
[sighs]
Where are you going,
Stephanie?
You need to stay in bed.
- The world doesn't stop
because my heart nearly did.
Thank you for saving
my life, husband.
But if I do nothing else
except exact my revenge,
it will be sweet.
I promise you.
- Thanks, Brian.
- Hey.
- Hey, Arden.
Thanks for coming up.
- Yeah, so, what's so urgent
you summon me up
from the dungeons
to the ivy tower?
- [chuckles] Don't let Hunter
hear you calling
Purifoy's state-of-the-art
labs dungeons. [laughs]
- So, what's up?
- Stephanie Lancaster is gonna
request everything Limodol,
down to the last paper clip.
I wanna see examples of every
label ever put on a bottle.
- The labels couldn't be
any more self-explanatory.
- I just wanna make sure
I don't get blindsided.
- Like we did.
- What do you mean by that?
Come on, bro, talk to me.
- Just because I develop
opioids doesn't mean
I turn a blind eye
to what it does to my community.
Blacks are increasing
in opioid overdose deaths
faster than anybody else.
- I'm fully aware of this.
- Other folks get hooked,
they're victims.
We get hooked, we're addicts.
Addicts are good for business,
right?
- Well, I know that other
companies target minorities
in poor communities, so you're
saying Purifoy does it, too?
- Let me go dig up those labels.
- Listen, man,
don't hold out on me.
There's too much at stake.
- Let me be clear.
Purifoy Pharmaceuticals
is a great company.
And I'm glad to work here.
- EVAN: Thank you, Chloe.
- My pleasure, Mr. Mayor.
- Is Carly alright?
- Yeah. Why?
- RONDELL: Showed up last night
all frazzled,
spent the night,
then ran out this morning
like the hounds of hell
were chasing her.
- Well, she's fine,
we just needed her home.
- RONDELL: Oh.
- So what brings you here?
Or should I even ask?
- This ain't about
the signatures for once.
- Oh.
- I've been fighting with Daddy
all damn morning about
going to the doctor.
- Oh-oh.
- I'm just plain wore out.
I need you to talk to him.
- [chuckles] You need me
to help you with your
anti-gentrification campaign,
you need me to get Pops
to the doctor.
What else do you need me
to help with, Rondell?
Fix global warming?
- Don't get smart, Negro.
- [laughs] Okay.
- [phone ringing]
- Hey.
- Hey, Pop,
you feeling alright?
Rondell's worried about you.
- Ugh, don't tell me Rondell's
over there bothering you.
- Yep, looking at her right now.
- [scoffs]
- Put me on speaker.
- Hi, Daddy.
- SENIOR: Listen, um,
I wasn't trying to cause you
kids to worry,
I mean, y'all lost your Mama,
and there's no need for you
to be worried about
losing me, too.
So, um, to ease your mind,
I'm making the appointment
as soon as I hang up.
- [whispers] Lies.
- SENIOR: Alright?
- Mm-hmm. Thank you, Daddy.
- SENIOR: Bye.
- You--you know he ain't gon'
make that appointment, right?
- But he said he's fine.
- And I'm telling you he's not.
You know, hey,
don't believe me, then.
Ooh, Lord, give me the strength
to deal with these men.
Ooh. Jesus.
- ♪
- BELLA AND RODERICK:
[moaning]
- ♪
- [groans] Oh,
careful, careful, careful.
Ribs haven't healed yet.
- I guess sexual healing wasn't
such a good idea after all.
- [laughs] Oh.
It's the thought that counts.
- I should've heard
from him by now.
- Don't stress.
I'll pay Lancaster a visit.
- You're still recovering.
- It's all good.
I can handle it.
- How many copies of the video
did you make before you deleted
it off your computer?
- Downloaded onto three
different flash drives.
- And they're in a safe place?
Remember how far he went
to get the dirt
I had on him last time.
- RODERICK: You worry too much.
- [knocking at door]
- That might be him.
- [groans]
- May I help you?
- Sure hope so.
Damian Collins with
the US Attorney's office.
I'm looking
for Roderick Johnson.
If he isn't here, he should be.
- Um...
- I'm here.
- ♪
- JUDGE:
Everything alright, son?
You look like you could use
an antacid.
- I'm good, Judge Waites,
thanks for asking.
How are you?
How's Judge Millsap?
- How would I know?
- Your Honor, if ever there was
a precedent
for granting summary judgement,
Naomi Sinclair et al
vs. Purifoy Pharmaceuticals
is the case.
- Save it for the courtroom,
Mrs. Lancaster,
this is just
a pre-trial conference.
And both your arguments
have holes
I could drive
an Escalade through.
- Then clearly you have not
read my argument thoroughly--
- Judge Waites,
Purifoy Pharmaceuticals--
- A painstaking number
of experts--
- [talking at once]
- Enough!
Now, you two are going
to sit across the table
and do your damnedest
to settle this thing.
Now go.
- ♪
- [sighs]
- KAREN: Hmm, is that right?
- AMARA: What's going on?
- Come in, Amara,
we're just getting started.
Damian convinced
Mr. Johnson to join us.
- We knew you wanted to talk to
him, so we chose your office.
We were just about to ask
Roderick here
how he got that beautiful
bruise on his face.
- Sleep-walking. I tripped.
- Mr. Johnson.
Assistant United States Attorney
Amara Hughes.
- You're the one who called.
- AMARA: Correct.
That was some show you put
on your broadcast a while back.
- As I was telling
your friends here,
Mayor Lancaster promised
I'd be the face
of a new Visit Atlanta
campaign.
I hired a publicist,
was in talks to set up
my own sports-themed talk show,
and he backed out,
no explanation.
I was that guy's biggest fan,
and he treated me like shit.
I went off.
- Your story's tight
and well-rehearsed.
- It's the truth.
- Well, since embarrassing
the mayor on television
isn't a federal offense,
you're free to go.
But if you think of anything
else you'd like to share
about your dealings
with the mayor,
feel free to give me a call.
- KAREN: Thank you again
for coming in, Mr. Johnson.
- RODERICK: No problem.
Whatever you're all looking
at Mayor Douchebag for,
I hope you get him.
Atlanta does deserve better.
- Notice how Roderick was
holding his ribs
like he'd been punched
pretty hard?
- Mm-hmm.
- And that bruise on his face
wasn't from a fall,
he knows more than he's saying.
- Of course he does.
But he is my witness,
and it is my case.
May I talk to you in private?
- KAREN: Yeah.
- I'll wait outside.
- Again, Karen? I thought
I made my position clear.
- You work for me, Amara,
not the other way around.
I don't need your permission
to do anything.
I'm getting pressure
from upstairs,
I need the kind of heat
you and Damian generated
in Birmingham.
- And I can bring that to you
on my own, I've already
found another witness
that may point
to Mayor Lancaster.
- Fine. Follow it.
Take Damian with you.
[sighs]
- Ready to roll?
- [bell dings]
- Back from shopping already?
- Can't pay for nothing
without my credit cards,
gotta go grab 'em.
- SENIOR: [groaning]
- Daddy?
Daddy what's wrong?
Daddy--Oh! You--oh, hell no!
Daddy, what?!
- Can a man get some privacy
in his own damn room?!
- I wa--ah!
Hmm...
Ugh. Okay.
- LUELENE: Senior! Senior!
Rondell! Rondell, help!
Your daddy, something's wrong!
- RONDELL: What?
Something's wrong?
Daddy. Daddy!
- Was he wearing a wire?
Thank you.
Roderick Johnson.
Oh, what happened, brother?
That looks terrible.
- [scoffs] Don't test me,
Lancaster,
you know what I can do.
- Oh, yeah, that cute little
blackmail thing
you and Bella are doing?
You know you're an even bigger
joke than I originally thought.
- And I'm about to be laughing
all the way to the bank.
I'm here to make sure
you pay up.
- I will, as soon as you
hand over those flash drives.
- You must think I'm stupid.
- Hmm.
- You get the drives
when I get the cash.
- How do I know you didn't make
more copies than you're
admitting to?
- I guess you have to pray
I'm more honest than you are.
- See, your brilliant plan
is failing already.
I don't trust you,
you don't trust me.
We're at a stalemate.
- That's where you're wrong.
Bella will be our go-between.
- [chuckles] I trust her
even less.
- Tough shit.
You give her the cash,
I give her the drives,
she makes the swap,
in that order.
Now, if you don't like it,
we go with plan B.
Leaking the videos,
get your sorry ass impeached.
- You do that, it would be
mutually assured destruction.
I promise you that.
- Fine by me,
I got nothing to lose.
- You sure about that?
- My video, my terms.
Cough up the cash or else...
brother.
- [door closes]
- [sirens wailing]
- HERSCHEL: Are you guys
looking for anything
in particular?
- Your office takes on average
four weeks to approve
of a single commercial property.
Safe to say that a plaza
or marketplace
would take considerably longer?
- Oh, yeah, more buildings,
more permits, more time.
- Simple math.
- Yeah.
- So, how does English Rose
get its permit
in under two weeks?
- Oh, well, it, uh--must have
their ducks in a row.
It's quicker when they do.
- Paperwork's in order?
That's really how
we're gonna play this?
- These mixed communities
were also approved quickly.
Who's the developer?
- Hmm, Greg Peters.
- Yeah.
- And your signature
approved them all.
- Well, I give building permits
to a lot of developers.
That's my job--
- Cut the shit, Herschel.
Peters paid you off, admit it.
- He paid his permit fees.
That's all I know.
I don't know what else
you're implying.
- We're talking about you
taking money
to expedite his permits.
- We're talking about prison,
Herschel, you want that?
Is there anything else you wanna
tell us about your dealings
with Greg Peters Construction?
- This is your last best chance
to stay out of trouble.
Take it.
- Listen, I've said
all I'm going to say.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
I've got my completely legal
and honest job to get back to.
- Here's my contact info.
- If you're smart,
you'll use it.
- You scared us half to death.
- No.
- Me and Rondell
thought the worst
watching them carry you out
here on that stretcher.
- No, ain't nobody dying.
Doctors said I had what you call
a TIA.
All you need to know about it
is the T stands for Temporary.
It ain't coming back.
- You had a mini-stroke,
Evan Senior.
And that ain't nothing
to play with.
I know they gave you
some pressure medicine.
- Here been that pressure
medicine.
He ain't been taking it.
- You ain't been taking
your medicine?!
- That stuff ain't good
for my stuff.
- And you think I want you
dropping dead on top of me?
- [sighs]
- SENIOR: Come on,
don't be like that.
- Until you start back
taking those pills,
you ain't getting
none of this.
And don't make me wait
too long.
- SENIOR: [sighs]
- LUELENE: Good night, Rondell.
- Good night, Luelene.
- You see what you did?
- Daddy!
Look.
I understand that you're lonely.
You old, but you ain't cold.
Look, if the blood pressure
medicine you're supposed to be
taking is causing...
side effects, then--
- Look--Lord have mercy.
I can't believe
I'm having this conversation
with my own daughter.
- Well, don't talk to me.
Talk to Evan,
or talk to big Charlie.
Hell, talk to the man
on the moon,
if his ass can convince you
to take this medicine
that they gave you.
The doctor said this one
will regulate your pressure,
and, you know,
without messing with your...
love life.
You're the only daddy I got.
And I ain't trying to lose you.
You know what?
Just take your medicine.
- Rondell.
[sighs]
Listen, pudding.
You ain't losing me
any time soon.
I promise.
[chuckles] I love you.
- I love you, Daddy.
- [door opens]
- Hey.
- Hey.
- I am glad you are at home,
and not out with the woman
who tried to kill me.
- What? Yeah. Right.
- Your dad
didn't wanna tell you,
but you should know.
I was drugged.
Someone put a narcotic
in my drink at the Summit.
I'm certain it was
Lori Purifoy.
- Seriously? Mom.
That room was full of people
who hate you.
It's not enough that you
slapped Lori,
now you're accusing her
of poisoning you.
- If you'd only heard the vulgar
filth that came out of her mouth
about you...
that's why I slapped her.
- What'd she say?
- I won't deign to repeat it.
- Okay, even if she said
something awful,
that doesn't mean Lori
would do this.
Lori's not a malicious person.
- Please, it's in her DNA.
I have the memory
of my dead sister to remind me
just how lethal
the Purifoys can be.
Maybe you can forget
that they killed your aunt,
but I never will.
- Mom, please stop.
- What's going to stop
is this thing you have
with that girl.
I will not lose anyone else
I hold dear to the Purifoys.
It ends now,
do I make myself clear?
- It was all a lie, wasn't it?
- Excuse me?
- All that talk about
you accepting me for who I am,
you never had any intention
to do so, did you?
- Carly.
- Oh, my god,
I am such an idiot.
You can't accept me
for my career choice,
of course you can't accept
who I choose to love.
- Watch your tone,
I'm still your mother.
- Yes, you are.
And I will always love you, Mom.
But I love her, too.
And I won't give her up,
not even for you.
- [indistinct chatter]
- [phone ringing]
- Stephanie Lancaster
here for Titus Hughes.
- Okay.
- Thank you.
- Hi. Mrs. Lancaster
is here to see you?
- Here for me?
- I warned my daughter
you weren't worth her tears.
It took you less than 24 hours
to prove me right.
- You're lucky I chose
not to press charges.
Keep testing me, and I might
change my mind.
- [chuckles] You'll do
no such thing.
If you did, you'd be exposed.
- This should be good.
For what?
- Attempted murder, of course.
- You hit me.
I never laid a hand on you.
- Hey, what's going on here?
- Just discussing
the Purifoy princess
slipping a deadly narcotic
into my drink
at Marilyn Barnes'
cocktail party.
- What?
- That's an insane accusation,
even coming from you.
- Hmm, I don't blame you
for the need to scratch
your homicidal itch.
It's obviously hereditary.
Your father makes a drug
that kills thousands.
- Steph, do you know how
unstable you sound right now?
- She tries to kill me
with an opioid overdose
and I sound unstable?
I've got the toxicology report
to back up my claim.
- I want her out of
my family's building...now.
- Eh--given the circumstances,
I think that might be
the best course of action.
- I completely rearranged
my schedule to be here today
at the settlement conference.
It'll be weeks before
I can reschedule.
- I'm good with that.
You should go.
You're too hot right now.
- [laughs] You haven't
seen me hot yet, Titus.
But you will.
- [sighs]
- Herschel Cooper basically
rubber stamps permits
at Daphne Manning's direction.
- I bet Daphne's getting paid
every time one of those permits
gets awarded.
If Herschel turns...we got her.
- Great work, guys.
At this rate, we'll nail
Lancaster by midterms.
- Okay, wait, I know
we wanna get the mayor,
but we have to build
a bullet-proof case,
and that means we need to go
slow.
- We sure do.
- You're not protecting
your friend Stephanie, are you?
- Karen, don't be ridiculous.
I just feel like if we're gonna
make the big score,
then we can't be in a hurry.
Daphne Manning is gonna
give us Lancaster and Peters.
She just doesn't know it yet.
- Ugh, I've got a meeting.
I'll catch you both later.
Great job.
- Ah. Feels good
working together again.
[chuckles]
Feels like we're winning.
- We're not working together,
Damian.
Is that why you popped up
back in my life?
Were you on a losing streak
back in Birmingham?
- No, just missed the best
partner I've ever had.
No, I mean professionally,
Amara.
Listen, I'm serious.
I'm good, and I know that.
But working with you
makes me better.
- You were the rock star
when we got partnered.
I was just trying to keep up.
- We were good because of you,
not me.
You're the only one
that didn't know that.
- [phone buzzing]
- You gonna get that?
Let the hubby know
that we're working a case?
- [phone buzzing]
- Hello, my love.
[laughs]
Really? That's what you
called to tell me?
- [whispers] Later.
- [whispers] Get out.
Yeah. [laughs]
- I'll be home soon.
Love you, too.
What can I do for you?
- Go ahead, I know you've
been dying to ask.
- I reviewed our marketing
and accounting expenditures,
checked whether Purifoy reps
have targeted
specific doctors' offices,
I've even done background checks
on some
of the consultants we hire.
- And you found?
- No sign that Purifoy targets
African-American
or poor urban communities.
- Or any other marginalized
group, because we don't.
I know where this comes from.
You've been talking to Arden.
- Does that concern you?
- He's our chief pharmacologist
who knows everything
about Limodol.
It would concern me
if you didn't talk to Arden.
It's the other question
I thought you were gonna ask.
- Which is?
- Did I spike Stephanie's drink
at the cocktail party?
- [sighs] I know
Stephanie can be over the top.
But this time she absolutely
believed what she was saying.
- Just how well do you know her?
And don't try to sell me
that opposing counsel crap.
- She went to Spelman,
I went to Morehouse,
our paths crossed.
- Mm-hmm. Sure.
Well, our paths crossed
at the cocktail party
and I definitely owe her one,
but spiking a drink
just isn't my style.
- Glad to hear it.
Now, if you don't mind,
I have a motion to type up,
and I'd like to get home
to my wife before dinner.
- How sweet.
Titus and Amara Hughes,
the all-American couple. Hmm.
- ♪
- RODERICK:
How's it going, baby?
- BELLA: Better than expected.
Guess whose goons
stopped by?
- So, we're good?
- We're better than good.
We're rich!
- BOTH: [laughing]
- Ooh.
- BELLA: Oh, careful.
- Where is it?
- In my bedroom in the safe.
Couldn't have that kind of money
just lying around.
- I wanna see it.
- Let me get those drives.
I have to get them over to Evan.
- What's the rush?
You're rolling in dough.
- He's already
mad enough as it is,
I don't wanna make it any worse.
- Bella, can't you see?
After this, we won't have to
worry about that mobster mayor
ever again.
- Which is why
I wanna get it over with.
So we can live the life
we've always dreamed of
and finally be happy.
Is this all of 'em?
- Yeah.
Thought about making another
copy for insurance
but I didn't wanna put you
and Joaquin at risk.
Now, show me the money.
- There is no money,
you piece of shit.
You really thought the mayor
of Atlanta would get bested
by some second-rate
has-been athlete?
How many hits to the head
did you take?
- I'm so sorry, Roderick.
- You might wanna leave now,
while you can still do so
on your own.
One more thing.
Don't ever come back.
- [crying]
- Do to these what I just
did to Roderick: destroy 'em.
- MAN: Done.
- [laughs]
Wasn't that fun?
- ♪
- Don't waste your time
feeling bad for Roderick.
You did what had to be done.
Think about what you'll be
getting out of all this.
- You promised me
the airport concession,
I still don't have it.
- You will.
- When?
- In exchange for those drives
I've set you up
with Valentina De Santos,
CEO and chairperson
of Corazon Textiles.
They make luxury materials
for the biggest
fashion houses in the world.
- [laughs] Oh, my god.
Valentina De Santos
is one of my idols.
I just read in "Women's Wear
Daily" how she wants
to expand into creating
fashion in house
instead of just supplying
textiles.
- You're going to lead them.
- Me?
- I've convinced Valentina
you could be the face
of their expansion.
You now have a contract
you can't put a price on.
Could Johnson have made
that happen for you?
You'll be working
with Valentina herself.
Now, Corazon is a major player.
Partnering with them?
That's the way to go
if you want a Bella Tru
boutique at Hartsfield-Jackson.
Sure you don't want me to get
one of my guys
to come over here
and watch your place?
- No, no, it's okay.
Roderick won't be back.
- Despite everything...
I've always believed in you,
Bella.
- [door opening]
[door closing]
- ♪ Why wait for tomorrow
♪ What you can do today,
today, today, today ♪
- What are you doing here?
- Told your assistant
we were friends.
Hope that's still the case
after this conversation.
Did you drug my mother?
- If you even have to ask,
you don't know me at all.
- I need to hear you say
that you didn't do it.
- I didn't do it. There.
Are you happy?
You don't believe me. Great.
- Mom said--
- To hell with your mom.
First she slaps me and now
she's spreading lies
about me poisoning her?!
- She told me you said
something nasty about me,
that's why she slapped you.
What did you say, Lori?
- All I said was that she's
just pissed off
I've given you more orgasms
in a few weeks
than your old man managed
to get her off
their entire marriage.
- BOTH: [laughing]
- I cannot believe
you said that,
I bet her head almost exploded.
- If she had been wearing
pearls,
she definitely would've clutched
them right off her neck.
Look, I'm sorry
for going there with your mom.
And yeah, it pissed me off
that she slapped me,
but I would never drug her.
Or anyone for that matter.
- I believe you.
Now, about those orgasms
you gave me?
- Yeah?
- Let's go back to your place
and see if I can return
the favor.
- ♪ It wasn't you
♪ It wasn't me
♪ No one to blame
- [chuckles] Looking sharp, Pop.
Looking sharp.
- Where do you think
you get it from? [laughing]
- So...
Ms. Luelene, huh?
- Ah, your big-mouth sister,
I tell you,
she can't hold water
in a rainstorm.
- EVAN: [chuckles]
She never could.
But you know what I thought
when I heard about you two?
- What?
- That's my daddy.
- [laughing]
- Now, about that
blood pressure medicine.
- Alright, now, I've already
been lectured and scolded
by one of my children
on this subject.
I don't need to hear it
from the other one.
- Then handle your business,
Pop.
I heard you have a new medicine
that won't mess you up.
- It's already handled.
I took 'em, dammit.
Tonight's gonna be the test.
- Hmm?
- At least I'm hoping.
[laughing]
- Papa bear.
- But hey, thanks for worrying
about your old man.
- You're all we got.
- SENIOR: Yeah, yeah. Love you.
- Hey, Evan Junior.
- Ms. Luelene.
You are looking lovely
this evening.
- LUELENE: Thank you, baby.
- Uh, Lue, we better be going
if we wanna get to the aquarium
in time to see the show.
- Mm, I love
the Georgia Aquarium.
Evan Junior, did you know
that beluga whales
are born gray but later
turn white?
- Wow, I did not know that,
Ms. Luelene.
- Well, you need to watch
the Discovery Channel,
you'll learn all kinds of stuff.
- Yes, ma'am.
- [chuckles] We better be going.
[laughing]
- [bell dings]
- Bye, Daddy, y'all have fun.
- SENIOR: Bye, baby.
- You saw that wink?
- Yeah, now your ass shows up
at the last minute.
- What?
- I did all the heavy lifting!
- [crickets chirping]
- AMARA: [sighs]
- I'm still having trouble
believing we landed Judge Waites
for the class action.
- Well, honey, you know,
sometimes you get the judge
that you want.
It happens, Titus,
just count your blessings.
- Yeah, I guess.
- The settlement conference
with Stephanie was today,
wasn't it?
- You mean Hurricane Stephanie?
- Uh-oh.
- Yeah, she comes in claiming
Lori tried to kill her
by spiking her drink
with a narcotic.
And apparently
she slapped Lori.
- Today?
- No, at the Summit.
- Oh, my god.
- Stephanie
was dead serious, too.
Needless to say,
we rescheduled the conference.
- I have something to tell you
and you're not gonna like it.
- Oh, boy. Figures.
It's been that kind of day.
Give it to me.
- It's about Damian.
- [sighs]
- We've been working together.
- Define "working together."
- Karen forced me to take him
with me to interview
a permit supervisor.
I mean--I tried to push back,
I really did, but--
- So now he's got Karen thinking
he's Mr. Dependable.
- Kinda looks that way, yeah.
- [sighs]
Okay.
- That's it?
- You're telling me
the truth, right?
- Yeah, of course I am.
- I'll be honest, Amara.
I kinda love you for that.
Yeah, I'm concerned,
but at the same time,
it had to be difficult
for you to tell me.
I trust you.
And I love you.
- And I love you...
so, so, so--[kisses]--so much.
And I really don't wanna
finish this report
that's due in the morning.
- But you have to, it's okay.
- [sighs]
- [computer beeps]
- [exhales]
- ♪
- [computer beeps]
- ♪
♪
♪
- [shutter clicks]
- ♪
♪♪
- STEPHANIE: Next time,
on "Ambitions"--
- Forget everything you heard
and saw.
- Don't you dare threaten me.
- You two know each other?
- Sure do, don't we, Kent?
- I oversee all
provisional partnerships.
- Provisional?
- Be a man for once.
- I'm more of a man
than you'll ever be.
What?
- Sir, you Titus Hughes?
- Do it!
- [groans]
- AMARA: Titus!
- TITUS: What are you doing?!
We're well past a good defense
being a good offense
where this guy's
concerned, Amara.
- Oh, and Stephanie?
- Yes, Mother?
- If you're going to play
with fire,
make damn sure you're
the one controlling the flames.
- ♪
- ♪
- ♪
- [ding]