For Life (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - Marie - full transcript
In a unique episode taking us back nine years, Marie struggles in her marriage to Aaron as she deals with the turbulence of Aaron's arrest, trial and incarceration.
I, Aaron Wallace,
am under the permanent custody
of the State of New York,
serving a life sentence
for something I didn't do.
Becoming a lawyer,
proving my innocence ‐‐
that's how I'm gonna
get myself out of here.
Even if he's guilty,
I still want him out.
For Jazz or for you?
You know I want to be with you.
You think he knows
you still love Dad?
I think he understands
there are different kinds
of love.
He's not hard enough on her.
He's not her father.
If he's not willing to take on
that responsibility,
maybe he should
get out of your bed.
You think Aaron's
gonna find some way out of this
now that he's a lawyer?
He's gonna suck you back in,
and you're gonna take your eye
off of everything else
that matters.
You got yourself a career
as a nurse, a new man.
You are so much better off
without him.
Your husband is poison,
Mrs. Wallace.
I just can't fathom why
you would be helping him now.
Some cop rings my doorbell
and hands me this.
Your entire police file.
This is the story
of how they got me.
This is gonna get me home.
This is how they got me.
This is gonna
get me back to you.
I used to think
I was blessed.
I was married to a man I loved.
My baby girl
was happy and healthy.
I felt safe.
I felt secure.
I thought there would be
time for everything.
Yeah!
Whoo!
Ooh, we gonna get in trouble.
Oh, screw Nurse Ratched!
Shh, shh, shh.
I know I should be nicer
since I'm dying.
You know, heaven and all that.
Wait. First of all,
you are not dying, okay?
Not today, maybe.
Three more days of chemo,
then go straight into remission.
Right? Okay.
Positive attitude!
Okay, she's gone.
Ready?
Yeah.
Whoo!
Hey, Marie.
Hey.
I am holding
in my hot, little hands
a letter of recommendation
for nursing school.
Oh.
You make me sound
like Mother Teresa.
So, have you narrowed down
the list of schools?
No, not yet.
But I will.
I will.
You're too good not to do this.
Thank you.
And there's enough space
for three different bars.
I'mma set up the deejay booth
right over here.
And they got this new thing now
called a floating stage.
It's gonna be dope.
Can we afford all this?
I mean, it's twice as big
as the other club.
Yeah, which means
more people paying covers,
buying more drinks.
‐Yo, Marie!
‐Yo, Michael!
I didn't know you was gonna
make it down here today.
Yo.
It's gonna be hot, right?
Yeah.
We breaking out
the champagne for this!
Hey, Angelo.
How's it going there, Marie?
Good.
What's up, Lo?
Break 'em out, bruh.
We can't drink until we sign.
Got you. Right now.
Aw, look at that.
Yeah.
It's amazing, right?
Yeah.
All coming together.
It's all coming together.
Crack into this stuff, bro.
King of the club.
‐Yo, what you looking at?
‐Hey.
Hmm?
You alright?
What's going on?
Yeah, I'm ‐‐
It's just...
It's all moving so fast.
Well, we don't have to
sign right now,
if you want to talk about it
some more.
Boom. Artillery.
You know this.
Come on.
No, no, no.
You've worked so hard on this,
and I'm so proud of you.
You sure?
Yeah. Yeah.
‐Alright! Let's get it going!
‐Mm‐hmm.
Alright. My man. Hey.
How you doing, brother?
Hey, baby.
Come on, Marie.
Get in here, girl.
‐Cheers.
‐Salut.
To you, man. My partner.
No, man, to us.
We gonna rule the world.
Hey, Jazz.
You having fun, sweetie?
You weren't even there, man.
We told you about it afterwards.
It was 1986, and you had some
played‐out flat‐top.
She wanted
nothing to do with you.
That's what I remember.
Michael, you ‐‐
Michael, you still take
his side on everything.
There's my lady.
‐Mm!
‐Mm!
What a party.
Mm‐hmm.
You outdid yourself.
Did you say hi to Tracy and Ed?
He's been talking about
wanting to invest in the club,
so I just figured you'd ‐‐
I did, and I'm on it.
Now slow down.
Relax and enjoy the party.
Our baby girl only turns 7 once.
You're right.
Hmm.
Well, now, that's
what I like to see.
Maybe it'll lead to
more grandbabies.
Oh!
Ohh!
Woman, come on.
Mom, give me some love
and get off my back.
That kid of yours fell asleep
two minutes into
"The Princess and the Frog."
I found this on the dresser.
Yeah, Vanessa sort of
went crazy with that.
So, you're doing it?
You're applying?
I don't know.
I'm thinking about it.
Well, I think you should.
Jazz is older,
and now is the time.
Just don't, okay?
Don't push.
Look I'm not.
I'm just
Look, it's eight hours a day,
six days a week.
There's lectures, labs,
clinical hours,
and study groups.
Who's gonna be there for Jazz?
Well, I've been saying
we should get a nanny.
And I told you,
after what happened to my mom,
I don't want our daughter
spending her childhood
being passed between strangers.
I want her raised with family.
Look, club's open 10:00 to 4:00.
No reason why I can't drop Jazz
off at school in the morning,
come home, crash, then pick her
up in the afternoon
and get her settled.
Aaron.
Building something for yourself
is not abandoning her.
We can manage this.
But you've just got to be willing
to make some concessions.
I don't even know
if I want to do this, okay?
So stop trying to solve
a problem that doesn't exist.
You're right.
You're right. I'm sorry.
I just ‐‐
I just want you to be happy.
Baby, I am happy.
Happier than
I ever thought I could be.
But this is my issue.
Me. Not you.
Yeah, okay. Right.
You're right.
I love you.
And I love you.
You and Jazz are my world.
Another full house tonight!
This man want something,
he's gonna make it happen.
And soon we're gonna
have a second club.
Alright. Enough.
Come on.
Let me just spend some time
with my lady, man.
Alright.
He's the king.
Ever since we was 5 years old,
he's had my back.
You the king, my friend.
The king!
So, am I your queen?
Hey, Ryan.
You're welcome.
Oh! Hey! Hey, stranger!
Hey, Marie, this is Maisha.
Ooh, I love your hair.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
Yours, too.
‐Police! Police!
‐Put your hands up!
Get on the ground!
‐Police!
‐Police!
‐Hands up!
Angelo Torres,
you're under arrest.
Michael Miller,
you're under arrest.
Hands behind your back!
Aaron?
‐No, no.
‐Aaron?!
Get back, ma'am!
Aaron!
You want to go with him?
What's going on?!
Marie, don't!
Aaron! That's my husband!
Marie!
Why are you arresting him?!
What did he do?!
Aaron!
That phone crackles.
Just pinch the cord.
You'll be awright.
Thank you.
You okay?
I had the arraignment.
They de‐‐ b‐‐
What?
They denied bail.
Five more minutes.
So, you're not coming home?
Not right now.
There was this ADA there,
a bitter son of a bitch,
name of, um, uh, Maskins.
He seemed like
he was out for blood.
So, w‐what are they
charging you with?
I didn't really
understand it all.
It ‐‐ They were talking about
"kingpin" charges.
They were
really coming at me, Marie.
Talking about undercover cops
in the club,
that they'd been surveilling
the place for months.
They arrested
Angelo and Michael.
Yeah, I know.
Have you seen them yet?
I got to tell you something.
Remember a few months ago?
I got a call in the middle
of the night from Michael?
Um, yeah, the ‐‐
the fight at the club.
It wasn't no fight.
A girl OD'd.
What?!
Michael dumped her
at the hospital.
Admitted he was dealing.
He said it was nickel‐and‐dime,
and, you know, I told him to cut
it out, and he swore he would.
And the girl survived.
How could you not tell me this?
You know Michael.
He's always messing up.
Do the cops know?
I don't know.
I don't know anything.
I'm still trying to
piece it all together myself.
So, what are we gonna do?
I don't know, Marie.
I don't know.
You have to understand how
serious these charges are.
And if this escalates
the way I think it will,
they could seize your house.
What? When?
Next couple of months.
But the thing is,
even if they don't,
you took out the second mortgage
to cover the construction
on the new club.
Marie?
Just give me a second.
We need to sell the house.
- No, no.
I‐I told you
my parents are gonna help.
Your parents
are working overtime
to help pay
for your legal expenses.
There's gotta be another solution.
No.
I‐I never wanted to take out
that second mortgage.
I told you it was too risky.
We were investing
in our future, Marie.
Look at our future now!
You want me to sign, I'll...
Send the papers through,
and I'll sign.
Hey.
We're not gonna let this
tear us apart, okay?
Look at me, Aaron.
Look at me.
It's you and me.
You're gonna get out of here,
and we're gonna
get through this, okay?
Okay.
Make a wish, honey.
I wish for my daddy
to come back home.
Okay!
Whoo!
Who wants cake?
You okay?
I haven't even prepared her.
Has she been to see him yet?
No. We don't want to bring her
there, to see him like that.
Yeah, it's hard.
He says you've been to visit
almost every week.
You know he'd do
the same for me.
You guys are like brothers.
I know it's keeping
his spirits up.
I like the house.
Thank goodness for my father.
You still applying
to nursing school?
Already did.
No time to wait now.
I'm sure you'll get in.
And you'll be great at it.
Thank you.
I'm scared, Darius.
I'm ‐‐ I'm really scared.
Angelo and Michael are now
witnesses for the prosecution.
The hell does that mean?
Angelo was dealing, too.
And now they're both saying
you were the mastermind.
What?!
They've flipped, Aaron.
Michael's weak.
Always was.
And you know
I never trusted Angelo.
What you want me to say?
You were right?
Fine, you were right.
You feel better?
I'm sure Maskins threatened them
or made a deal.
Whatever it is,
it's not good for us.
And if Aaron were to plea, would ‐‐
We're not talking about a plea.
We have to at least
weigh all the options.
They hinted
that they'd offer 20 years.
20 years?
They would reduce the charge
to a sale in the third degree.
You can get out from
under a mandatory life term.
How much with good behavior?
Maybe 12...
No way.
If he stays out of trouble.
You have to
at least think about it.
I'm innocent, Marie.
Come on.
Aaron, there is something
you need to understand.
I have won cases
with people dead guilty,
and I've lost cases
with totally innocent people.
I don't have to remind you
how the system
is stacked against you.
And we have two principal
parties that have flipped.
There are undercover cops
who are waiting
to testify against you.
No, but that's not true.
All we have left is
you saying that you had no idea
of what was going on
in your own club.
There's no e‐mails,
no texts, no paper
to prove that I'm tied
to any of this.
It's all hearsay.
With or without a paper trail,
the circumstantial evidence
more than covers
the burden of proof.
It's my life.
I'm not taking the plea.
So, let me
ask you something, Angelo.
Which aspects of the narcotics
distribution enterprise
was Mr. Wallace
responsible for?
Wallace ran the show.
He supervised and oversaw
every aspect
of the distribution process.
And did, uh, Mr. Wallace
eventually use
some of the profits
from his, uh, drug operation
to invest with you?
Yeah.
We used the drug money
to open the new club.
Thank you.
Do you recognize the individual
who granted you access
to the back room that night?
Yeah. He's ‐‐
He's right over there.
And when you went into
that back room, what did you do?
Bought drugs ‐‐ cocaine.
How much did Michael Miller
charge you?
200 bucks for two bags.
The people call Michael Miller
to the stand.
Do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth?
I do.
I know my son.
He had no part in this.
I'm not so sure.
Dad, please.
Darius!
‐No!
‐Darius!
‐Listen!
‐Hey!
You would have
done the same, man!
It's over. It's over.
It's over.
Ma'am.
It's over.
Get him out of here.
Okay.
Now.
Now!
Aaron wants to testify.
I know.
His lawyer thinks
it's a terrible idea.
I tried to talk to him.
You can't blame him
for wanting to defend himself,
after everything we've heard.
It's like the man they're
talking about isn't my husband.
Yeah, I know.
I remember you asking him
about installing
security cameras, surveillance?
I walked him through it, then
he said it was too expensive.
But if he was really
worried about Michael,
why wouldn't he just do it?
I don't know.
I think maybe he just...
got caught up in it all.
Good morning,
Mr. Wallace.
Good morning.
Now, you just testified
that you've never sold
or possessed a narcotic drug.
That's right.
And you also told this jury
that you've never ordered,
aided, or supervised
anyone else in the possession
or sale of drugs.
Like I said,
I'm innocent of these charges.
So, when your friend
Michael Miller testified,
everything he said was a lie?
That's right.
And your club promoter,
he was also lying?
Yeah.
And all the people
we arrested outside the club ‐‐
all of whom say they bought
drugs in the Trinity Room,
they're lying?
I don't know.
How about the six
decorated police officers
who testified to recovering
four kilos of cocaine
from a ceiling compartment
inside a club that you owned?
They were lying?
I don't know how that got there
or where it came from, so...
So, everybody's lying?
No.
Everybody's talking
about something
I had nothing to do with.
If Michael and Angelo
were selling drugs,
I knew nothing about it.
But it was your club.
It was my club,
but not my drugs.
Whatever they were doing, they
were doing without my knowledge.
But you trusted them.
I shouldn't have, but yeah.
And you trusted
Angelo Torres so much
that you decided to open
a new club together.
Well, he was my partner.
Actually, he was your employee
at the Trinity Room.
He was the club promoter,
so technically, yeah.
So, how much were you paying him
on a nightly basis?
Anywhere from $600
to $1,000 a night.
So, tell me, how does a man
earning roughly $800 a night
come up with $400,000 in cash?
He said he had
other investments.
And you vetted
"these other investments"
with your accountant
and your lawyer
to make sure
that they were legitimate?
No.
And it never occurred to you
that your club promoter,
who had been introduced
to you by your old friend,
the drug dealer ‐‐
I didn't know
he was a drug dealer.
That's interesting.
Yes.
Were you aware that seven months
prior to your arrest,
a young woman overdosed
inside your club?
Yes.
Good!
Because I want you
to take a look at something.
That's the parking garage
outside St. Jude's Hospital.
And that's you
and Michael Miller, correct?
Yeah.
Fair to say you're
the one doing the screaming?
Yes.
Mr. Miller says that you were
yelling at him that night
because you were angry with him
for exposing you and the club.
No, I was angry
because ‐‐
Because you knew
he was the one providing
the girl with the drugs.
He admitted he sold her some
cocaine, but only a tiny amount.
But you just testified
that you had no idea
drugs were being sold
inside your club,
and now you admit that
one of your oldest friends,
a man you hired
to help you run your club,
was dealing drugs?
He said it was
only nickel‐and‐dime.
Were you aware
the young woman was underage?
That's why I was so furious.
And he could be putting
your livelihood in jeopardy?
Yes!
Putting you in danger?
Yes!
Putting your family's
security at risk?
Mr. Wallace.
Yes.
But you didn't fire him?
No.
Did you call the police
and his parole officer
to report his criminal behavior?
He was my friend
since I was 6 years old, man.
Okay.
Did you at least install
a security system
to ensure that nothing like this
could ever happen again?
No.
Even though he was
a convicted felon
who had had problems
with drug‐related offenses
in the past?
He told me
it was nickel‐and‐dime
and that he would stop.
I was just trying to help him
get back on his feet again.
By hiring him
to help you turn your nightclub
into a drug den?
I told you.
I didn't know.
Right.
Because ignorance
is your specialty.
And as to the first count
of the indictment,
charging a violation
of Penal Law Section 220.21...
Guilty.
Criminal Possession
of a Controlled Substance...
Guilty.
In the first degree,
how do you find the defendant?
Guilty.
Sale of a Controlled
Substance in the first degree...
Guilty.
Sit down here.
You okay?
Hi, Daddy.
Hey.
You got to talk
through the phone.
Look at you.
You look 10 feet tall.
Where's my Jazz gone?
I miss you, Daddy.
I miss you, too, sweetheart.
How's school?
I got an A‐plus in math.
You got an A‐plus in math?
You're the smart one
in the family.
I made a new friend.
Hmm?
What's her name?
If he didn't do anything wrong,
then why is he in jail?
Your father's innocent,
and this is all
a big misunderstanding.
When will they let him out?
We just have to be patient.
That's what you've been saying
for so long.
You said he was coming home,
and now he's not.
I know.
I was wrong.
I'm so, so sorry.
Jazz.
Jazz, hey, listen to me.
Listen to me.
Your father's gonna fight this.
He's gonna get an appeal,
and he's gonna win.
And then he's coming home to us.
But in the meantime,
it's you and me,
and I'm gonna take care of us.
So you don't have to worry.
Mama's got us.
Okay?
Come here.
For inmate number 10‐B‐316.
Jazz, what do you think?
Hey!
You did it!
Sorry, no visitors today.
We are on a lockdown.
What? Why?!
You know
I can't answer that.
Okay, who wants cake?
Me!
I need to say something.
To our nurse.
You persevered,
made your dream a reality,
against all the odds.
To Marie!
Open it, Mom.
Mm!
Oh, my God.
Hey, take a look.
It has your initials on it.
Oh, I love it.
Thank you for ‐‐ for this
and for all your support.
‐Hmm.
‐Thank you.
Well, you seem happy.
Well, today was a good day.
So, um, Jasmine
was saying something
about Aaron trying to
become a lawyer?
Yeah.
Convicted felon?
In prison?
He thinks he has a way to do it.
And you're allowing that
to give you hope?
That's all I have.
You know, I was always afraid
he was gonna hold you back,
that you'd push down
your own dreams
because his took up
all the energy in the room.
But I saw he was a good father.
I thought he turned out
to be a decent husband.
Took care of you,
was devoted to you.
He was.
Still is.
But he's also reckless, Marie.
Believes too much in himself.
Line of work he was in,
having those people around him.
He took chances
he never should have.
With your life.
With Jasmine's life.
And I can't ever
forgive him for that.
Even if he's innocent.
But it don't matter
what I think about him,
because one way or another,
whether you still
in love with him or not,
time's gonna come when you have
to face reality and move on.
I love you.
Mm.
I love you, too.
And I figured out
how I'm gonna do it, Marie.
I'm gonna pick cases
from the Bronx,
and I'm gonna show
that he's corrupt.
I don't understand.
What?
See, I'm prison rep.
There's guys in here
who have been wronged by him.
I got all their cases
at my disposal.
I thought you were looking for
another appeal or a re‐trial.
I am, and this is
how I'm gonna do it.
Show that he's a scumbag
and bring him down.
Bring him down?
By this time next year,
I could be taking the bar.
And I'm gonna be on it.
But you're talking years,
right, to prove that?
I mean, I don't know what you're
gonna prove, exactly, but...
Well, that he does this.
He sets people up.
I'm telling you
this is the way, baby.
But I gotta know
that you're with me.
You're who I'm doing this for.
You and Jazz.
Yeah. Of course.
Alright.
Well, that's the plan.
I'm telling you
this is gonna work.
I'm gonna be out
of here before you know it.
Hmm?
Mm‐hmm.
All the way?
Clean it all up.
Okay, you're looking good,
Miss Kim.
I'll be back in a few.
Hey, Erick.
Hey.
I've watched you
with the patients.
You're very good with them.
I love what I do.
So, um, would you be up
for a cocktail sometime?
I'm...
sorry, I ‐‐ but I, um...
Oh, you're married?
I'm ‐‐ I'm sorry.
I‐I didn't see.
Y‐Yeah, I‐I don't
wear my ring to work.
Yeah, it's the gloves.
That's right. Um...
Jazz, dinner's ready.
Hello?
It's me.
It's almost 10:00.
How are you calling me?
I got a burner.
Now I'm gonna be able to
talk to you and Jazz
every night before bed.
Well, I‐I don't understand.
If they toss your cell
and find that,
this whole lawyer thing
is over, right?
No, that won't happen.
I'm being careful.
This phone will be my lifeline
to you and Roswell
for getting my case together.
I'm getting real close
to taking the bar.
As soon as I've done that,
I can get the rest
of my strategy going.
Yeah. That's great.
Hey, is something wrong?
No, no. I'm just tired.
I should probably go to bed.
I love you.
Marie?
Yeah.
I love you, too.
Alright, good night.
Aaron got a burner.
I know. He called me.
Do you have any idea
what he had to do
to get his hands on one?
I'm sure it was payment
for repping somebody.
Hmm.
His whole plan ‐‐
I just ‐‐ I just don't know
what he's doing.
It feels like he's taking
the same risks
that put him in prison
in the first place.
He's doing what he can
to survive.
And we can't have any idea
what that's like for him.
I just wish I didn't feel
so helpless all the time.
Doesn't feel like
there's anything
I can really do for him.
Well, what about you?
You okay?
Business is good?
Yeah, yeah.
Business is, uh, great.
Real busy.
Mm‐hmm.
Whatever happened to Sharon?
I liked her.
Yeah, she was great.
Just, you know,
wasn't the right fit.
Mm.
You tell him about any of this?
He asks, and I try to,
but it's hard.
Me talking about
my petty problems.
Him locked up in there like...
Hard to believe he's been
in there seven years.
Feels like 70.
And then
it feels like yesterday.
Depending on the day.
Sometimes I know
exactly who he is,
and other times,
he's like a stranger.
And if he could see
what my life is like now...
What's going on, Marie?
Hey.
You look beautiful.
You look tired.
Yeah, I've been up all night
reading precedents.
Hey, how's Jazz?
I know she was nervous
about her biology test.
Yeah.
Well, you know her.
She gets herself all worked up
and then aces it.
Well, I hope she's not being
distracted by that boy.
She's 15, Aaron.
Everything's distracting.
Yeah, I guess.
Mm.
Listen, I know it's been
a long road for you, Marie,
and I've put a lot on you.
Aaron, I want a divorce.
Is that what those papers are?
Why now?
I've been thinking about this
for a while.
Why now?!
Every time
I've walked out of here
for as long as I can remember,
I've been trying to figure out,
what am I doing?
What am I doing?!
You found yourself.
All those years,
you wanted to be a nurse.
Somehow I was holding you back.
No.
No.
The hardest thing
about all of this
is not being able to share
anything with you.
I know you're proud of me,
but you're behind a window.
So, um...
You giving up on me?
I can't do this anymore.
Look at me, Marie.
Look at me.
We created
a beautiful baby girl.
Come on.
We did that.
And we'll always be a family.
But I just can't.
I...
Baby, we can work this out,
I promise.
I'm gonna leave the papers
with the guards.
I'm sorry.
No, Marie. Marie.
Come on, please.
We can talk about it!
Marie!
Come on, baby.
Please.
Marie.
Marie!
‐Yeah!
‐Yeah!
‐Come on, girl!
‐Happy birthday, Mom.
Aw, thank you.
Um, happy birthday,
Mrs. Wallace.
Oh, you didn't have to do that,
Ronnie.
And I told you, call me Marie.
Alright, who wants cake?
‐Mm.
‐Dirty thirties are almost over.
Oh, God, don't remind me.
If you wanna jump
out of a plane, do it now.
No.
Um, I think Marie
is gonna be just fine.
Here, I got this.
Hmm.
Oh!
Let people take care of you
for a change.
Or, uh, go and sit
in between those two.
No date tonight?
Never seen that before.
I'm tired of dating.
And that Internet thing,
like, what?
Y'all could have warned me
about that.
Mm.
Oh, it's like
the Matrix.
You have to see it
to believe it.
But nobody looks
like their pictures.
That's what my last date said.
So, what did you use,
your high‐school picture?
What? I don't look
that different.
Okay, kids, I'm gonna go.
Bye.
Good to see you.
You, too.
Thanks for coming.
It's nice to see you having fun.
Thank you.
Get home safe.
Mm‐hmm.
Still can't believe Jazz
is old enough to date.
Man, our little girl
is not a little girl anymore.
Mnh‐mnh. Hmm.
You haven't missed
one single birthday.
All these years.
You've always been here.
I love you guys.
We love you, too.
I b‐‐ I better leave.
Wait.
Darius.
Don't do this.
I don't want you to leave.
I used to think
I was blessed.
And then for the longest time,
I was sure I was cursed.
And now,
from one moment to the next,
I realize
I don't know what I think.
am under the permanent custody
of the State of New York,
serving a life sentence
for something I didn't do.
Becoming a lawyer,
proving my innocence ‐‐
that's how I'm gonna
get myself out of here.
Even if he's guilty,
I still want him out.
For Jazz or for you?
You know I want to be with you.
You think he knows
you still love Dad?
I think he understands
there are different kinds
of love.
He's not hard enough on her.
He's not her father.
If he's not willing to take on
that responsibility,
maybe he should
get out of your bed.
You think Aaron's
gonna find some way out of this
now that he's a lawyer?
He's gonna suck you back in,
and you're gonna take your eye
off of everything else
that matters.
You got yourself a career
as a nurse, a new man.
You are so much better off
without him.
Your husband is poison,
Mrs. Wallace.
I just can't fathom why
you would be helping him now.
Some cop rings my doorbell
and hands me this.
Your entire police file.
This is the story
of how they got me.
This is gonna get me home.
This is how they got me.
This is gonna
get me back to you.
I used to think
I was blessed.
I was married to a man I loved.
My baby girl
was happy and healthy.
I felt safe.
I felt secure.
I thought there would be
time for everything.
Yeah!
Whoo!
Ooh, we gonna get in trouble.
Oh, screw Nurse Ratched!
Shh, shh, shh.
I know I should be nicer
since I'm dying.
You know, heaven and all that.
Wait. First of all,
you are not dying, okay?
Not today, maybe.
Three more days of chemo,
then go straight into remission.
Right? Okay.
Positive attitude!
Okay, she's gone.
Ready?
Yeah.
Whoo!
Hey, Marie.
Hey.
I am holding
in my hot, little hands
a letter of recommendation
for nursing school.
Oh.
You make me sound
like Mother Teresa.
So, have you narrowed down
the list of schools?
No, not yet.
But I will.
I will.
You're too good not to do this.
Thank you.
And there's enough space
for three different bars.
I'mma set up the deejay booth
right over here.
And they got this new thing now
called a floating stage.
It's gonna be dope.
Can we afford all this?
I mean, it's twice as big
as the other club.
Yeah, which means
more people paying covers,
buying more drinks.
‐Yo, Marie!
‐Yo, Michael!
I didn't know you was gonna
make it down here today.
Yo.
It's gonna be hot, right?
Yeah.
We breaking out
the champagne for this!
Hey, Angelo.
How's it going there, Marie?
Good.
What's up, Lo?
Break 'em out, bruh.
We can't drink until we sign.
Got you. Right now.
Aw, look at that.
Yeah.
It's amazing, right?
Yeah.
All coming together.
It's all coming together.
Crack into this stuff, bro.
King of the club.
‐Yo, what you looking at?
‐Hey.
Hmm?
You alright?
What's going on?
Yeah, I'm ‐‐
It's just...
It's all moving so fast.
Well, we don't have to
sign right now,
if you want to talk about it
some more.
Boom. Artillery.
You know this.
Come on.
No, no, no.
You've worked so hard on this,
and I'm so proud of you.
You sure?
Yeah. Yeah.
‐Alright! Let's get it going!
‐Mm‐hmm.
Alright. My man. Hey.
How you doing, brother?
Hey, baby.
Come on, Marie.
Get in here, girl.
‐Cheers.
‐Salut.
To you, man. My partner.
No, man, to us.
We gonna rule the world.
Hey, Jazz.
You having fun, sweetie?
You weren't even there, man.
We told you about it afterwards.
It was 1986, and you had some
played‐out flat‐top.
She wanted
nothing to do with you.
That's what I remember.
Michael, you ‐‐
Michael, you still take
his side on everything.
There's my lady.
‐Mm!
‐Mm!
What a party.
Mm‐hmm.
You outdid yourself.
Did you say hi to Tracy and Ed?
He's been talking about
wanting to invest in the club,
so I just figured you'd ‐‐
I did, and I'm on it.
Now slow down.
Relax and enjoy the party.
Our baby girl only turns 7 once.
You're right.
Hmm.
Well, now, that's
what I like to see.
Maybe it'll lead to
more grandbabies.
Oh!
Ohh!
Woman, come on.
Mom, give me some love
and get off my back.
That kid of yours fell asleep
two minutes into
"The Princess and the Frog."
I found this on the dresser.
Yeah, Vanessa sort of
went crazy with that.
So, you're doing it?
You're applying?
I don't know.
I'm thinking about it.
Well, I think you should.
Jazz is older,
and now is the time.
Just don't, okay?
Don't push.
Look I'm not.
I'm just
Look, it's eight hours a day,
six days a week.
There's lectures, labs,
clinical hours,
and study groups.
Who's gonna be there for Jazz?
Well, I've been saying
we should get a nanny.
And I told you,
after what happened to my mom,
I don't want our daughter
spending her childhood
being passed between strangers.
I want her raised with family.
Look, club's open 10:00 to 4:00.
No reason why I can't drop Jazz
off at school in the morning,
come home, crash, then pick her
up in the afternoon
and get her settled.
Aaron.
Building something for yourself
is not abandoning her.
We can manage this.
But you've just got to be willing
to make some concessions.
I don't even know
if I want to do this, okay?
So stop trying to solve
a problem that doesn't exist.
You're right.
You're right. I'm sorry.
I just ‐‐
I just want you to be happy.
Baby, I am happy.
Happier than
I ever thought I could be.
But this is my issue.
Me. Not you.
Yeah, okay. Right.
You're right.
I love you.
And I love you.
You and Jazz are my world.
Another full house tonight!
This man want something,
he's gonna make it happen.
And soon we're gonna
have a second club.
Alright. Enough.
Come on.
Let me just spend some time
with my lady, man.
Alright.
He's the king.
Ever since we was 5 years old,
he's had my back.
You the king, my friend.
The king!
So, am I your queen?
Hey, Ryan.
You're welcome.
Oh! Hey! Hey, stranger!
Hey, Marie, this is Maisha.
Ooh, I love your hair.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
Yours, too.
‐Police! Police!
‐Put your hands up!
Get on the ground!
‐Police!
‐Police!
‐Hands up!
Angelo Torres,
you're under arrest.
Michael Miller,
you're under arrest.
Hands behind your back!
Aaron?
‐No, no.
‐Aaron?!
Get back, ma'am!
Aaron!
You want to go with him?
What's going on?!
Marie, don't!
Aaron! That's my husband!
Marie!
Why are you arresting him?!
What did he do?!
Aaron!
That phone crackles.
Just pinch the cord.
You'll be awright.
Thank you.
You okay?
I had the arraignment.
They de‐‐ b‐‐
What?
They denied bail.
Five more minutes.
So, you're not coming home?
Not right now.
There was this ADA there,
a bitter son of a bitch,
name of, um, uh, Maskins.
He seemed like
he was out for blood.
So, w‐what are they
charging you with?
I didn't really
understand it all.
It ‐‐ They were talking about
"kingpin" charges.
They were
really coming at me, Marie.
Talking about undercover cops
in the club,
that they'd been surveilling
the place for months.
They arrested
Angelo and Michael.
Yeah, I know.
Have you seen them yet?
I got to tell you something.
Remember a few months ago?
I got a call in the middle
of the night from Michael?
Um, yeah, the ‐‐
the fight at the club.
It wasn't no fight.
A girl OD'd.
What?!
Michael dumped her
at the hospital.
Admitted he was dealing.
He said it was nickel‐and‐dime,
and, you know, I told him to cut
it out, and he swore he would.
And the girl survived.
How could you not tell me this?
You know Michael.
He's always messing up.
Do the cops know?
I don't know.
I don't know anything.
I'm still trying to
piece it all together myself.
So, what are we gonna do?
I don't know, Marie.
I don't know.
You have to understand how
serious these charges are.
And if this escalates
the way I think it will,
they could seize your house.
What? When?
Next couple of months.
But the thing is,
even if they don't,
you took out the second mortgage
to cover the construction
on the new club.
Marie?
Just give me a second.
We need to sell the house.
- No, no.
I‐I told you
my parents are gonna help.
Your parents
are working overtime
to help pay
for your legal expenses.
There's gotta be another solution.
No.
I‐I never wanted to take out
that second mortgage.
I told you it was too risky.
We were investing
in our future, Marie.
Look at our future now!
You want me to sign, I'll...
Send the papers through,
and I'll sign.
Hey.
We're not gonna let this
tear us apart, okay?
Look at me, Aaron.
Look at me.
It's you and me.
You're gonna get out of here,
and we're gonna
get through this, okay?
Okay.
Make a wish, honey.
I wish for my daddy
to come back home.
Okay!
Whoo!
Who wants cake?
You okay?
I haven't even prepared her.
Has she been to see him yet?
No. We don't want to bring her
there, to see him like that.
Yeah, it's hard.
He says you've been to visit
almost every week.
You know he'd do
the same for me.
You guys are like brothers.
I know it's keeping
his spirits up.
I like the house.
Thank goodness for my father.
You still applying
to nursing school?
Already did.
No time to wait now.
I'm sure you'll get in.
And you'll be great at it.
Thank you.
I'm scared, Darius.
I'm ‐‐ I'm really scared.
Angelo and Michael are now
witnesses for the prosecution.
The hell does that mean?
Angelo was dealing, too.
And now they're both saying
you were the mastermind.
What?!
They've flipped, Aaron.
Michael's weak.
Always was.
And you know
I never trusted Angelo.
What you want me to say?
You were right?
Fine, you were right.
You feel better?
I'm sure Maskins threatened them
or made a deal.
Whatever it is,
it's not good for us.
And if Aaron were to plea, would ‐‐
We're not talking about a plea.
We have to at least
weigh all the options.
They hinted
that they'd offer 20 years.
20 years?
They would reduce the charge
to a sale in the third degree.
You can get out from
under a mandatory life term.
How much with good behavior?
Maybe 12...
No way.
If he stays out of trouble.
You have to
at least think about it.
I'm innocent, Marie.
Come on.
Aaron, there is something
you need to understand.
I have won cases
with people dead guilty,
and I've lost cases
with totally innocent people.
I don't have to remind you
how the system
is stacked against you.
And we have two principal
parties that have flipped.
There are undercover cops
who are waiting
to testify against you.
No, but that's not true.
All we have left is
you saying that you had no idea
of what was going on
in your own club.
There's no e‐mails,
no texts, no paper
to prove that I'm tied
to any of this.
It's all hearsay.
With or without a paper trail,
the circumstantial evidence
more than covers
the burden of proof.
It's my life.
I'm not taking the plea.
So, let me
ask you something, Angelo.
Which aspects of the narcotics
distribution enterprise
was Mr. Wallace
responsible for?
Wallace ran the show.
He supervised and oversaw
every aspect
of the distribution process.
And did, uh, Mr. Wallace
eventually use
some of the profits
from his, uh, drug operation
to invest with you?
Yeah.
We used the drug money
to open the new club.
Thank you.
Do you recognize the individual
who granted you access
to the back room that night?
Yeah. He's ‐‐
He's right over there.
And when you went into
that back room, what did you do?
Bought drugs ‐‐ cocaine.
How much did Michael Miller
charge you?
200 bucks for two bags.
The people call Michael Miller
to the stand.
Do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth?
I do.
I know my son.
He had no part in this.
I'm not so sure.
Dad, please.
Darius!
‐No!
‐Darius!
‐Listen!
‐Hey!
You would have
done the same, man!
It's over. It's over.
It's over.
Ma'am.
It's over.
Get him out of here.
Okay.
Now.
Now!
Aaron wants to testify.
I know.
His lawyer thinks
it's a terrible idea.
I tried to talk to him.
You can't blame him
for wanting to defend himself,
after everything we've heard.
It's like the man they're
talking about isn't my husband.
Yeah, I know.
I remember you asking him
about installing
security cameras, surveillance?
I walked him through it, then
he said it was too expensive.
But if he was really
worried about Michael,
why wouldn't he just do it?
I don't know.
I think maybe he just...
got caught up in it all.
Good morning,
Mr. Wallace.
Good morning.
Now, you just testified
that you've never sold
or possessed a narcotic drug.
That's right.
And you also told this jury
that you've never ordered,
aided, or supervised
anyone else in the possession
or sale of drugs.
Like I said,
I'm innocent of these charges.
So, when your friend
Michael Miller testified,
everything he said was a lie?
That's right.
And your club promoter,
he was also lying?
Yeah.
And all the people
we arrested outside the club ‐‐
all of whom say they bought
drugs in the Trinity Room,
they're lying?
I don't know.
How about the six
decorated police officers
who testified to recovering
four kilos of cocaine
from a ceiling compartment
inside a club that you owned?
They were lying?
I don't know how that got there
or where it came from, so...
So, everybody's lying?
No.
Everybody's talking
about something
I had nothing to do with.
If Michael and Angelo
were selling drugs,
I knew nothing about it.
But it was your club.
It was my club,
but not my drugs.
Whatever they were doing, they
were doing without my knowledge.
But you trusted them.
I shouldn't have, but yeah.
And you trusted
Angelo Torres so much
that you decided to open
a new club together.
Well, he was my partner.
Actually, he was your employee
at the Trinity Room.
He was the club promoter,
so technically, yeah.
So, how much were you paying him
on a nightly basis?
Anywhere from $600
to $1,000 a night.
So, tell me, how does a man
earning roughly $800 a night
come up with $400,000 in cash?
He said he had
other investments.
And you vetted
"these other investments"
with your accountant
and your lawyer
to make sure
that they were legitimate?
No.
And it never occurred to you
that your club promoter,
who had been introduced
to you by your old friend,
the drug dealer ‐‐
I didn't know
he was a drug dealer.
That's interesting.
Yes.
Were you aware that seven months
prior to your arrest,
a young woman overdosed
inside your club?
Yes.
Good!
Because I want you
to take a look at something.
That's the parking garage
outside St. Jude's Hospital.
And that's you
and Michael Miller, correct?
Yeah.
Fair to say you're
the one doing the screaming?
Yes.
Mr. Miller says that you were
yelling at him that night
because you were angry with him
for exposing you and the club.
No, I was angry
because ‐‐
Because you knew
he was the one providing
the girl with the drugs.
He admitted he sold her some
cocaine, but only a tiny amount.
But you just testified
that you had no idea
drugs were being sold
inside your club,
and now you admit that
one of your oldest friends,
a man you hired
to help you run your club,
was dealing drugs?
He said it was
only nickel‐and‐dime.
Were you aware
the young woman was underage?
That's why I was so furious.
And he could be putting
your livelihood in jeopardy?
Yes!
Putting you in danger?
Yes!
Putting your family's
security at risk?
Mr. Wallace.
Yes.
But you didn't fire him?
No.
Did you call the police
and his parole officer
to report his criminal behavior?
He was my friend
since I was 6 years old, man.
Okay.
Did you at least install
a security system
to ensure that nothing like this
could ever happen again?
No.
Even though he was
a convicted felon
who had had problems
with drug‐related offenses
in the past?
He told me
it was nickel‐and‐dime
and that he would stop.
I was just trying to help him
get back on his feet again.
By hiring him
to help you turn your nightclub
into a drug den?
I told you.
I didn't know.
Right.
Because ignorance
is your specialty.
And as to the first count
of the indictment,
charging a violation
of Penal Law Section 220.21...
Guilty.
Criminal Possession
of a Controlled Substance...
Guilty.
In the first degree,
how do you find the defendant?
Guilty.
Sale of a Controlled
Substance in the first degree...
Guilty.
Sit down here.
You okay?
Hi, Daddy.
Hey.
You got to talk
through the phone.
Look at you.
You look 10 feet tall.
Where's my Jazz gone?
I miss you, Daddy.
I miss you, too, sweetheart.
How's school?
I got an A‐plus in math.
You got an A‐plus in math?
You're the smart one
in the family.
I made a new friend.
Hmm?
What's her name?
If he didn't do anything wrong,
then why is he in jail?
Your father's innocent,
and this is all
a big misunderstanding.
When will they let him out?
We just have to be patient.
That's what you've been saying
for so long.
You said he was coming home,
and now he's not.
I know.
I was wrong.
I'm so, so sorry.
Jazz.
Jazz, hey, listen to me.
Listen to me.
Your father's gonna fight this.
He's gonna get an appeal,
and he's gonna win.
And then he's coming home to us.
But in the meantime,
it's you and me,
and I'm gonna take care of us.
So you don't have to worry.
Mama's got us.
Okay?
Come here.
For inmate number 10‐B‐316.
Jazz, what do you think?
Hey!
You did it!
Sorry, no visitors today.
We are on a lockdown.
What? Why?!
You know
I can't answer that.
Okay, who wants cake?
Me!
I need to say something.
To our nurse.
You persevered,
made your dream a reality,
against all the odds.
To Marie!
Open it, Mom.
Mm!
Oh, my God.
Hey, take a look.
It has your initials on it.
Oh, I love it.
Thank you for ‐‐ for this
and for all your support.
‐Hmm.
‐Thank you.
Well, you seem happy.
Well, today was a good day.
So, um, Jasmine
was saying something
about Aaron trying to
become a lawyer?
Yeah.
Convicted felon?
In prison?
He thinks he has a way to do it.
And you're allowing that
to give you hope?
That's all I have.
You know, I was always afraid
he was gonna hold you back,
that you'd push down
your own dreams
because his took up
all the energy in the room.
But I saw he was a good father.
I thought he turned out
to be a decent husband.
Took care of you,
was devoted to you.
He was.
Still is.
But he's also reckless, Marie.
Believes too much in himself.
Line of work he was in,
having those people around him.
He took chances
he never should have.
With your life.
With Jasmine's life.
And I can't ever
forgive him for that.
Even if he's innocent.
But it don't matter
what I think about him,
because one way or another,
whether you still
in love with him or not,
time's gonna come when you have
to face reality and move on.
I love you.
Mm.
I love you, too.
And I figured out
how I'm gonna do it, Marie.
I'm gonna pick cases
from the Bronx,
and I'm gonna show
that he's corrupt.
I don't understand.
What?
See, I'm prison rep.
There's guys in here
who have been wronged by him.
I got all their cases
at my disposal.
I thought you were looking for
another appeal or a re‐trial.
I am, and this is
how I'm gonna do it.
Show that he's a scumbag
and bring him down.
Bring him down?
By this time next year,
I could be taking the bar.
And I'm gonna be on it.
But you're talking years,
right, to prove that?
I mean, I don't know what you're
gonna prove, exactly, but...
Well, that he does this.
He sets people up.
I'm telling you
this is the way, baby.
But I gotta know
that you're with me.
You're who I'm doing this for.
You and Jazz.
Yeah. Of course.
Alright.
Well, that's the plan.
I'm telling you
this is gonna work.
I'm gonna be out
of here before you know it.
Hmm?
Mm‐hmm.
All the way?
Clean it all up.
Okay, you're looking good,
Miss Kim.
I'll be back in a few.
Hey, Erick.
Hey.
I've watched you
with the patients.
You're very good with them.
I love what I do.
So, um, would you be up
for a cocktail sometime?
I'm...
sorry, I ‐‐ but I, um...
Oh, you're married?
I'm ‐‐ I'm sorry.
I‐I didn't see.
Y‐Yeah, I‐I don't
wear my ring to work.
Yeah, it's the gloves.
That's right. Um...
Jazz, dinner's ready.
Hello?
It's me.
It's almost 10:00.
How are you calling me?
I got a burner.
Now I'm gonna be able to
talk to you and Jazz
every night before bed.
Well, I‐I don't understand.
If they toss your cell
and find that,
this whole lawyer thing
is over, right?
No, that won't happen.
I'm being careful.
This phone will be my lifeline
to you and Roswell
for getting my case together.
I'm getting real close
to taking the bar.
As soon as I've done that,
I can get the rest
of my strategy going.
Yeah. That's great.
Hey, is something wrong?
No, no. I'm just tired.
I should probably go to bed.
I love you.
Marie?
Yeah.
I love you, too.
Alright, good night.
Aaron got a burner.
I know. He called me.
Do you have any idea
what he had to do
to get his hands on one?
I'm sure it was payment
for repping somebody.
Hmm.
His whole plan ‐‐
I just ‐‐ I just don't know
what he's doing.
It feels like he's taking
the same risks
that put him in prison
in the first place.
He's doing what he can
to survive.
And we can't have any idea
what that's like for him.
I just wish I didn't feel
so helpless all the time.
Doesn't feel like
there's anything
I can really do for him.
Well, what about you?
You okay?
Business is good?
Yeah, yeah.
Business is, uh, great.
Real busy.
Mm‐hmm.
Whatever happened to Sharon?
I liked her.
Yeah, she was great.
Just, you know,
wasn't the right fit.
Mm.
You tell him about any of this?
He asks, and I try to,
but it's hard.
Me talking about
my petty problems.
Him locked up in there like...
Hard to believe he's been
in there seven years.
Feels like 70.
And then
it feels like yesterday.
Depending on the day.
Sometimes I know
exactly who he is,
and other times,
he's like a stranger.
And if he could see
what my life is like now...
What's going on, Marie?
Hey.
You look beautiful.
You look tired.
Yeah, I've been up all night
reading precedents.
Hey, how's Jazz?
I know she was nervous
about her biology test.
Yeah.
Well, you know her.
She gets herself all worked up
and then aces it.
Well, I hope she's not being
distracted by that boy.
She's 15, Aaron.
Everything's distracting.
Yeah, I guess.
Mm.
Listen, I know it's been
a long road for you, Marie,
and I've put a lot on you.
Aaron, I want a divorce.
Is that what those papers are?
Why now?
I've been thinking about this
for a while.
Why now?!
Every time
I've walked out of here
for as long as I can remember,
I've been trying to figure out,
what am I doing?
What am I doing?!
You found yourself.
All those years,
you wanted to be a nurse.
Somehow I was holding you back.
No.
No.
The hardest thing
about all of this
is not being able to share
anything with you.
I know you're proud of me,
but you're behind a window.
So, um...
You giving up on me?
I can't do this anymore.
Look at me, Marie.
Look at me.
We created
a beautiful baby girl.
Come on.
We did that.
And we'll always be a family.
But I just can't.
I...
Baby, we can work this out,
I promise.
I'm gonna leave the papers
with the guards.
I'm sorry.
No, Marie. Marie.
Come on, please.
We can talk about it!
Marie!
Come on, baby.
Please.
Marie.
Marie!
‐Yeah!
‐Yeah!
‐Come on, girl!
‐Happy birthday, Mom.
Aw, thank you.
Um, happy birthday,
Mrs. Wallace.
Oh, you didn't have to do that,
Ronnie.
And I told you, call me Marie.
Alright, who wants cake?
‐Mm.
‐Dirty thirties are almost over.
Oh, God, don't remind me.
If you wanna jump
out of a plane, do it now.
No.
Um, I think Marie
is gonna be just fine.
Here, I got this.
Hmm.
Oh!
Let people take care of you
for a change.
Or, uh, go and sit
in between those two.
No date tonight?
Never seen that before.
I'm tired of dating.
And that Internet thing,
like, what?
Y'all could have warned me
about that.
Mm.
Oh, it's like
the Matrix.
You have to see it
to believe it.
But nobody looks
like their pictures.
That's what my last date said.
So, what did you use,
your high‐school picture?
What? I don't look
that different.
Okay, kids, I'm gonna go.
Bye.
Good to see you.
You, too.
Thanks for coming.
It's nice to see you having fun.
Thank you.
Get home safe.
Mm‐hmm.
Still can't believe Jazz
is old enough to date.
Man, our little girl
is not a little girl anymore.
Mnh‐mnh. Hmm.
You haven't missed
one single birthday.
All these years.
You've always been here.
I love you guys.
We love you, too.
I b‐‐ I better leave.
Wait.
Darius.
Don't do this.
I don't want you to leave.
I used to think
I was blessed.
And then for the longest time,
I was sure I was cursed.
And now,
from one moment to the next,
I realize
I don't know what I think.