Pose (2018–…): Season 2, Episode 5 - What Would Candy Do? - full transcript

Competition gets the best of Damon and Ricky as they audition for a spot on Madonna's Blonde Ambition tour.

- Thelma's Place
is here to stay.

- My investors are
getting nervous.

- I have resources.
- I like your style.

- How about I make sure your
massage has a happy ending?

- I don't know what I'd do if
I saw you two together again.

- I think the phrase used
was "slam dunk,"

- am I right or wrong?
- And it's still a slam dunk.

We just need a little
more time, that's all.

- You asked to see me?
- Come on in.

- I can tell you both
how unhappy I am

that you haven't delivered
Thelma's Place.



As of this moment,
Carlisle Perkins will not be

representing me on
any of my future projects.

- Don't hold me accountable
for promises my daughter made

without my knowledge.

- You both told me Mayor
Lancaster was gonna help us.

You dangled him like he was
your little puppet, remember?

- Greg, Covington Lakeside.

Who kept your name
from being associated

with any of those
casualties, hm?

Only Carlisle Perkins could've
protected you like that.

- That's enough.

Now, need Thelma's Place.

If Rondell Lancaster gets
the signatures she needs

for an injunction
and my investors walk...



I'm taking it out on
both of your asses.

- Greg?
- Done talking to you.

- What is it gonna
take to get you back?

- A miracle.
- What kind?

- Lady, you can't deliver a
rundown ghetto greasy spoon.

How the hell are you
gonna work a miracle?

- Try me.

- Figure out a way to
help me double my income.

- That'd be a start.
- Greg...

- Asked and answered.

Isn't that how you
lawyers put it?

- Hm.

- Thought you could use a break.

- Oh, my god.
- How did you get up here?

- Oh, I have my ways.

- Seriously, no one
called me to let you in.

- That's 'cause I
went over your head.

Karen...

Micro-roasted Brazilian...

two sweeteners.

- See, this is why I married ya,

because you know
what I need before I do.

- 'Cause baby,
I'm good like that.

- Mm. Hi.
- Hey.

So, Purifoy let
you out of the petri dish.

How did you manage that?

- Well, I insisted on trying
a new kind of long-term

pain reliever called
visiting my wife.

- Okay, well, be
sure to thank Hunter for me.

- I will.

Hey!

I see surprise number one
made his way to your office.

- Thank you.

- Thanks again
for letting me in.

- Oh, no worries.

So, are you ready for
surprise number two?

- Yeah.

- Meet our newest
assistant US attorney.







- Titus Hughes.
- Been a while.

It's great to see you, Amara.

- I got a call from Damian's
boss at Birmingham DOJ.

They had a cracker-jack
prosecutor

who had put in for a transfer.

Since you'd worked
out so well here,

I had to jump at the chance
to bring Damian on board.

- On board?
- Mm-hmm.

- He'll be in this office?
- Atlanta, yes.

Unfortunately I don't
have the budget,

but the narcotics
division does, so...

that's where he's headed.

So we'll have to put the
Hughes-Collins reunion on hold,

at least for now.

- How's Atlanta working
out for you, Titus?

Hear you made a big change
to general counsel

at Purifoy Pharmaceuticals?

- Well, change was the point.

There was a situation
in Birmingham

making my life a living hell.

So getting the job at Purifoy
and moving to Atlanta kept me

from doing something I regret.
I'm sure you can relate.

- Well, I've gotta
steal Damian away

and introduce him
to his new colleagues.

- Good luck with that
situation, Titus.

Guess I'll be seeing you around.



- Amara?
- Titus, baby,

I swear I'm gonna get
to the bottom of this.

- Whatever.

- Did he really
say double his income?

- He was talking about
his entire portfolio.

- We have helped that
son of a bitch acquire

half of Atlanta's development
areas and it's still not enough.

What do we have to offer him
that he doesn't already have?

- The only thing that comes to
mind is the airport concession.

- Evan will never let Peters
get his hands on that.

- Not without
something to trade.

- Which we don't have.
- Let me make one thing clear...

Your underhanded attempts
to steal our firm's

biggest client from me
has put your future here

in very serious doubt.

- I had to step in.

He was furious he
couldn't reach you.

If you hadn't kept me out of
the English Rose negotiations,

we wouldn't be
in this situation.

- We wouldn't be
in this situation

if you had followed
my directions.

I told you repeatedly
Evan was the way to go.

Senior's a leaf in the wind.

- I should be involved in
everything that goes on here.

Everything.

- Stephanie, bring Peters
back into the fold...

or you are finished here.

- Now, I know I've threatened
you before, sweetheart,

but this is one promise
I swear I'll make good on.

- Hmph.



- Well, if you like
Thelma's, join NAG.

Look, you could sign this
petition and get involved

in saving the neighborhood.

Five, seven, there you go.

You just sign right there.

Woo-hoo-hoo.

When these Negroes livin' that
boxed-up life in Woodruff Park,

maybe they'll wake up then.

- Look, I know you
frustrated, Rondell,

but you gotta channel that fire.

Now, all movements start with
one person leading the charge.

And your passion will draw
the people in like it did me.

Hm? Come here,
come here, come here.

- Yeah, alright, got it.
- Thank you.

I came by to treat
my guys to some Thelma's

and say hi to Daddy
and... what's this?

- Uh, 100% none
of your business.

- Mayor Lancaster, it's
good to see you again.

- You couldn't get to me, so
you're going through my sister.

- You know, I'm not gonna
dignify that with an answer.

- Oh, well, what are
you wiling to dignify

now that we're face to face?

- Alright, that's enough
testosterone up in here.

Now, y'all scarin' my customers.
Thank you.

- You know, my only intention...
- is to help you reach your goals.

Unlike some of us.

I'll see you later.

- That's a nice suit.
- It is.

- Ugh, brother.

- That punk talks about me in
the press every chance he gets

and you're letting
him cozy up to you?

- I needed help
with my petition.

And you were too busy forgetting
where you came from, so...

- Okay, so what's your
excuse for Amara Hughes?

Stephanie's told me
she's been over here.

- Oh, why are you so shook
by Kent and Amara anyway?

Evan, you in them fat
cats' pocket like this, eh?

- This is political chess, and
they're making you their pawn.

- Evan, your head has always
been as big as the sun,

but that don't mean
we all revolve around it.

It is possible Kent and Amara

befriending me is
about me and not you.

- Listen to me...
- Keep your eyes open.

I suspect it won't be long
before you see who these

new friends of yours really are.

Tell Daddy I stopped by,
I just lost my appetite.

- Oh, come on!

- Okay, so just to be clear,
it's a separate account,

and my name is the only
name that will be listed.

Right. Just me.

Isobel Trujillo.
Right.

Okay, thank you.

- Okay, bye-bye.



- Hey.



- What happened?
- I was robbed.

I came home and
everything was gone.



- You're an even better
liar than I thought.

- What?
- I saw him, Bella.

Lancaster, coming out the
other day after I left.

That's right.
You're sleeping with him.

And let me guess...
He's your robber.

- It's not what you think.

- You had that bastard in
here while you screwed me.

What kind of freaky weirdo
shit are you and that guy into?

- He made me do it!
- It's him!

It's all him!
He's sick, Roderick.

- You told me that Joaquin's
father was some male model

that you had
a one-night stand with.

- That another lie?
- No.

- He's Lancaster's
kid, ain't he?

- No, I told you the
truth about Joaquin's dad!

I started up with
Evan a year ago.

He financed Bella Tru,
this loft, all of it.

He promised to help me become
a major fashion designer.

I was stupid and starstruck.

I told him how I felt about you.

He... he became furious.

That's why he made me
have sex with you

while he watched
from the other room.

I know... I know it sounds crazy,

but he gets off
on that sort of thing.

That's why he took all
my stuff, to punish me!

He wants me to know
that I'm his possession

and he can do
whatever he wants to me.



- I'm mad as hell
at you right now,

but no woman deserves to be
treated the way he treats you.

I need to expose this bastard,
and I know exactly how to do it.

- Where are you going?
- What are you gonna do?

Roderick, wait!

- Yeah, the
Birmingham meth bust.

That's me and Hughes.
Good times.

See you later.

- You can't be here.

I am finally getting
my life back on track.

- I made it clear that what
happened between us is over.

- Chill out, Amara.
- I'm not here for you.

- I'm just supposed to believe
that your being assigned to

the Atlanta office is, what?
Just a coincidence?

- I wrapped my cases in
Birmingham and needed a change.

There was an opening in
Atlanta, and I took it.

Was I hoping to see you
for old time's sake?

Sure.
You meant a lot to me.

But I accept that
what we had is over.

- Then go home.

- I understand things are a
little more complicated for you,

but it's a bump we'll get past.

The smoke will settle and
you'll see I mean you no harm.

You'll even be glad I showed up.

- I found myself in a bind.
- And then I remembered

an incident involving
an old friend...

My line sister who
had married well.

While her husband was out
raking in his millions,

my friend entertained herself
by partying with celebrities...

Rockers, mostly... and indulging
in recreational drug use.

Nothing serious.

A good time was had by all...

until a famous musician
became her lover,

and then sadly
drowned in her pool.

Mmm, fortunately, instead
of calling the police,

my friend called me,
and I cleaned things up.

And her misstep
was never revealed.

A scandal that could've
been never was.

- Stephanie...

that was a horrible
thing that happened.

I wrestle with that and how I
behaved every day of my life.

But why are you
bringing this up now?

- I need you to use every
ounce of influence you have

with Marvin to get him
to bring BetaNu Electric

and all of its manufacturing
plants to Atlanta.

- Let's don't do
this to each other.

- Can you afford for
that horrendous story

to see the light of day?

It will if you don't
give me what I want.

You'll be destroyed, Marilyn.

- Stephanie...

Marvin and I are
in a good place.

I never cheated again.
I don't party like that anymore.

We have a wonderful life.

- And none of that
has to change.

- I can't give
you what you want.

No one tells Marvin
how to run his company.

- Then someone will tell Marvin
how many times you were

bent over at the sound of a sexy
riff out a Stratocaster guitar.

How many times
was that, Marilyn?

- You'd be telling on yourself.

You're the one who moved the
body from my house to his pool.

- Which is a misdemeanor.

You screwed him,
which is a scandal

everyone will love
reading about.



- What do you want me to do?

Ask him questions.

Supply me with the critical
information I need,

and I will pass
it along to Evan.

He'll move the
plants to Atlanta.

And then your secrets
will remain safe with me.



- Ooh, Marilyn,
you look parched.

More tea?



- This way.



- Thank you.





- Reading what you emailed me.
- I'm not sure I get it.

- Which is why you
called me in to explain.

- It's your miracle.
- Hmm.

Keep explaining.
I don't see it.

What am I gonna do with
an airport concession?

- Double your income.
- With a retail store.

- In an international airport
serving over 100 million

consumers a year, and
that's just for starters.

- I'm a builder, not a merchant.

- Your portfolio
says you own a bar.

- The money from that bar ain't
coming from serving drinks.

I'm going to stop you

before you tell me
something I can't hear.

I will merge your bar

into our restaurant group
that we represent.

You'll have a franchise at the
busiest airport in the world.

And whatever your bar earns
now, however you're doing it,

those earnings will
expand exponentially.

- Unless I'm wrong, city's
gonna have to approve this.

- Don't underestimate
the influence my husband has

- in matters such as these.
- Your husband?

Gonna clear the way for me to
have an airport concession, huh?

- He will.

- Show me the proof.

- When I do...
- we're back in business?

- I'd be an idiot to say no.

- Welcome back.

- This is the
Carlisles' last shot.

Don't waste it.





- Uh, I'm sorry,
I have cold hands.

Bad circulation
runs in the family.

- No, cold hands
are not the problem.

- What's up? Talk to me.

- I like being with you, Lori,

but it seems like
all we do is have sex.

- Okay, well, I can't help it
that you're super hot

and I just can't
get enough of you.

Look, I know I took
your gayginity, okay,

but you're a fast learner.

I mean, you even
taught me a few things.

- Is that your thing?
- Making a play against

young, impressionable girls
and turning them out?

- Whoa, where is
this coming from?

- It's a simple observation.



- We don't go anywhere or do
anything unless it involves

- tearing our clothes off.
- You're not being fair.

We just can't be
gallivanting across the city.

Look...

if it gets out about us,

I mean, the press
is gonna have a field day.

So... this is it.

This is what we're doing.

And for now...

this is gonna have
to be enough, okay?

Look, I really like
you, Carly, okay?

And it's not just
the sex for me.

Please believe me.



- Come to my monologue
slam tomorrow.

- Did you not hear
anything I just said?

- I get it! I do!

But where I'm performing,
it's super bohemian,

super off the beaten path.

No one will have
any idea who we are.

- We have a good thing going.

Let's not overcomplicate it.

- Don't.



- Come on. Don't be mad.

- This may be enough for you,

but it's not enough for me.

I need something more.

I deserve more.



- Evan...

- Hey, I didn't
think you were home.

- I'm the living
room with a guest,

but I wanted to make sure
you didn't leave

- before I spoke with you.
- Can it wait 'til tomorrow?

- No, Evan, I'm in
court in the morning.

- It's important.
- Alright, so, talk now.

- I promised the airport
concession to Greg Peters.

Either you're lying

or you've lost
your goddamn mind.

- You haven't heard the rest.
- There is nothing you can say

to make me give the concession
to Greg Peters.

I'm amazed you would
even consider it.

Your father, he put you
up to this, didn't he?

- Mm-mm.

This is a move solely
orchestrated

by Stephanie Lancaster.

What if I could guarantee Marvin

moves his BetaNu manufacturing
plants to Atlanta?



- How?

- Marilyn's on our team now, and
she's going to feed everything

Marvin thinks to us.

- How did you pull that off?

- Marvin's plants,
2,600 employees,

hundreds of millions
of dollars annually

in revenue for Atlanta.

Unemployment goes down,

funding for state
health care goes up.

That's what you get if Peters
gets the airport concession.

Deal or not?

- Well, I'm gonna have to
see all this come together.

- And you will.

Now, if you're not
in such a dire rush,

would you please
just say hello to a guest

who I've so rudely abandoned
in the living room?

- Well, it's gonna be
hi and bye, but okay.

- Oh, Bella,
you're still crying.

I never would've kept you
waiting after the tragedy

you just suffered.

It was just critical
that I speak with Evan.

- It's okay, I should really go.

- No, not until we
take care of this.

Her apartment has been
ransacked by thieves.

- In Buckhead, can you imagine?
- You must be traumatized.

- The bastard took everything...
- Furniture, patterns,

racks of clothes ready for sale.

And the dress that you
wanted for the summit.

- Well, you have time
to remake it, don't you?

- I could borrow
a sewing machine.

It's tight at my mom's
with me and Joaquin there,

but I suppose I
could figure it out.

- We will get you a machine, and
you and Joaquin will move into

our guest cottage 'til
you're back on your feet.

- I'd hate to impose.
- The cottage isn't...

- I know, it needs
to be prepared.

But we'll arrange to have
everything you need brought in

and ready for you
first thing tomorrow.

In the meantime, I don't want
you making that long drive

to the Banks while
you're tired and upset.

- We'll have someone drive her.

- Oh, wouldn't you prefer
to spend the night

in one of our guestrooms?

- That would be wonderful.

Along
with the senior Tyrone Johnson.

Steps in great space,
misses with a left hand.

LaQuinton Ross
finishes with the finger roll.

- Hey, baby.

Perdue forced to
call a timeout as the Buckeyes...

- You got answers for me?

- Titus, I don't
know why he's here.

- He just showed up, then?

Out of nowhere?

Just like in Birmingham.
That's convenient.

- I'm telling you the truth.

- His ass wouldn't move across
states to be near you

without a reason, Amara.

That cocky look on his face
like he knows something,

- like he's hopeful.
- Titus...

you're overreacting.

- His eyes were deadest on
that plant in your office, too.

Is that one of his
special gifts to you?

You just couldn't force
yourself to get rid of it?

- Plant?

- Karen got me that as a present.
- Yeah.

- I made it perfectly clear
to Damian

that he's not welcome
in our lives.

- Well, I don't think
he believes that.

- I don't care what he believes.

It's about what I know.
And listen to me...

- I'm not gonna let him get
between us ever again, trust me.

- Every single day of him being
in Atlanta puts us in jeopardy.

Trust that.



- I'm going for a drive.

- If you need anything,
just ring for Constance.

- I can't thank you both enough.

Are you sure about the
guest house, Stephanie?

It could take weeks for
the insurance company

- to replace my things.
- Leave that to me.

I'll make sure recovering
your stolen property's

a priority for Atlanta PD.

- Good night, Bella.

- Good night,
Stephanie, Mr. Mayor.

- Mm-hmm.



- Anything you could do
to find her belongings quickly

- would be greatly appreciated.
- Count on it.











Titus?



- Titus? You here, babe?







- That's fine with me.

Hey, uh, Congressman
Richards, may I call you back?

Thank you, bye.

Hey, you.

- Look, according
to the website,

we've fallen short
on signatures.

- You seem upset about
more than signatures.

- Have you just been
sniffing around me

to try and dig up dirt on Evan?

What? Come on.

- Don't act brand new, Kent.

- Did your brother pull
a number on you today?

- Don't make this about Evan.

I'm the one asking
the questions.

- Um... I would be
lying if I said

when I first approached you that
I didn't have ulterior motives.

- Triflin' ass. I knew it!
- Rondell, that was at first.

It wasn't long at all before you
were the only Lancaster

that I was interested in.

- Why should I believe you?
- Huh?

A lie ain't nothin' for
a politician to tell.

- Well, maybe that's
true for Evan,

but I've been
straight up with you.

- You really want to go
there about Evan...

- Hey, look, look...
- Your brother and I,

we're on opposite sides of
several significant issues

affecting this city.

But I'm perfectly capable of

separating my work life
from my personal life,

and my personal life...

has been all about you
since the day we met.

- You talk a good
game, Hamilton,

but my daddy always says
actions speaker louder.

If you want me for me,
I need you to prove it.

- And just how am I
supposed to do that?

- I don't know.

I mean, you are...
You're a smart brotha,

all these fancy diplomas
and degrees and whatnot.

Figure it out.

Don't.



Finally, South Atlanta

defeated Marshall High 3-2,
when Marshall's goalie

knocked the winning goal
into his own net.

Sorry, Marshall, but what a
boneheaded way to lose a game.

Speaking of boneheads, did
anybody see Mayor Lancaster

leering at this reporter
doing an interview

just outside his office?

Someone might want to tell this
guy to cover up how lecherous

he is... at least when
the cameras are rolling.

He's a bully and a coward.

Electing him mayor?

That makes us the boneheads.

The people of Atlanta
deserve better.

That's it from
Dirty Bird's Corner.



- Back to you, Fred.
- Thanks, Roderick.

Today in Atlanta, most of
our pile-ups block traffic on...



- Quite the show, Rod.

- Mayor Lancaster.

- What happened to
"bully and coward?"

Don't tell me you're going soft.

Relax.
I just came to talk.

I hate to see my
constituents unhappy.

Thought I'd come address
your concerns in person.

So...

what else you wanna
get off your chest?

- You should go to jail
for what you did to Bella.

- Hm? What did I do?

What did you see me do?

Nothin'.

You really think
you can get away with

talking shit about me
on your show?

Bitch.

I'm the mayor of Atlanta.
Break him.

- You cry like a
little girl, Roderick.

- You need your bodyguards!

- That's enough
talking out of you.

You know, I'm not
a fan of your show.

I find it dry, uninspiring,

and frankly not very good.

The people of Atlanta,
they deserve better.

- One more thing, never
forget, this is my city.

- Bitch-ass!





- Ha!

- A girl once asked the
question, what's in a name?

Her name versus his name.

Your name versus my name.

Your tongue versus my lips.

Their war versus
our forbidden kiss.

Bitter feuds versus sweet roses.

A new desire that exposes.

Do I risk it all
and deny my name?

Will she do the same,
or is this all a game?

- The question.

- You're here.

- Look, I want you to know I'm
not ashamed of you, or of us.

You were amazing up there.

- Aww, so sweet, young love!

- You happy now?
- I am.

I gotta say, naked on your
organic cotton sheets,

it's where I belong.

- You shouldn't have been
anywhere near my house.

Stephanie's smart.
If she picked up on...

- She didn't.

- You take too
many risks, Bella.

I thought cleaning you out
would've taught you a lesson.

- Instead I taught you.

- Yeah, well, that
lesson's finally learned.

From here on out,
we're strictly business.

I'll be an investor in
Bella Tru, but us, that's done.

- Okay.
- Mm-hmm.

- I'll be in touch
to make arrangements

on how and when I see my son.

- I don't know if
seeing Joaquin's a good idea.

- Don't pull this crap on me.
- I don't want him growing up

confused about
who his father is.

You said we're
breaking up for good,

so there's no reason for
you to see Joaquin.

- I can be in his life
without all that.

- Gonna take him to ballgames
like with Trey and Carly?

To the county fair?

How about just taking
him out during the day

in front of people
to get an ice cream cone?

- You sure about this?
- Are you?

- We really have
to stop meeting like this.

- I see it wasn't your witty
repartee that did it for Amara.

Have you made contact?

- Saw her my first
day at the office.

Titus, too.
Brought coffee.

Was kind of sweet if you're
into that sort of thing.

- Titus must've been furious
to see you anywhere near Amara.

You sure are enjoying this.

Playing games with the lives
of innocent people turn you on?

- That woman is
anything but innocent.

Then again, I don't
have to tell you that.

- You know, this is most amount
of time I've spent alone

in a car with a beautiful
woman in quite a while.

- Watch yourself.

- It's apparent that you haven't
had a proper screw in a while.

Might loosen you up a bit.
No pun intended.

- Vulgarity and gallows humor
might help you secure a tryst

with ill-bred base
women like Amara Hughes.

But be assured, Damian,
you'll have no luck here.

- You can't blame
a guy for trying.

- Just stick to the plan.
- Blow up the Hughes' marriage

and then you can go back to
where you came from.

Now, get the hell out of my car.



- Miss Rondell Lancaster.
- I've been waiting for you.



What? Eh... boy.

Okay... boy, stop playing.
I ain't got time for this.

The dinner rush will
be here any minute.

- Tonight, you're closed.

I bought the restaurant out,
settled the bill with Inez.

- What?





- Smothered pork chops,
mashed potatoes,

mac and cheese... your favorite.

- Okay, how did you know?

- I just figured it out.

- I can't...

I really do appreciate all this
effort and everything, I do.

But we need to discuss our plan
for getting those signatures.

- I mean, we down to five weeks.
- We'll be fine.

Now, will you allow someone
to take care of you?

- I...
- Just for one night. Please?

We will devise a plan, trust me.

But I want tonight
to be all about you.

Please?



- Okay, fine. Fine.

But, I mean, don't get all
carried away with all this.

You know I ain't trying to be no
Harlequin romance novel, okay?

- Yes, ma'am.
- Ooh, did... alright.

Oh, now let's see how
good you really are.

Oh!



What do you think?

♪ If this world were mine

- Hey!
- Oh, you like it?

- This is my song right here.

Oh! But you know
that, didn't you?

- I did my homework.

Just gotta make
sure I got it right.

♪ If this world were mine



♪ I'd give you the flowers

- Thank you.
- Oh, you're welcome.

I hope you're hungry,
because there is dessert.

♪ Your love beside me

♪ That would be all I need

- Well, if you don't
mind, Mr. Kent...

this girl would like
to start with dessert.

♪ I'll give you anything

Did someone order a miracle?

- What's this supposed to be?

- An IOU?
- Better.

It's a prequalification letter

from the City of Atlanta's
procurement office.

Congratulations, Greg.

I'm going to get
you that concession.

- Yeah, I've been doing a
little research of my own.

You were right about
these concessions.

Who knew they were
such goldmines?

- I knew, which is why I
should've been handling

your affairs from the start.

- Yeah, I think you're
right about that.

- So... I take it this means

you'll be staying on
with Carlisle Perkins?

- As long as I work
directly with you.

- I wouldn't have
it any other way.

- This is the second time

a member of your family
has held a knife on me.

♪ Walk in here, make
'em do a double take ♪

♪ High heels, tight
dress, I'ma troublemake ♪

♪ I'ma troublemake

♪ Hold up, I got a million
dollars on my wrist ♪

♪ Making heads turn

♪ I'm making heads turn

Next time on "Ambitions."

- You really think this
is our golden ticket?

- I want the concession
guaranteed in writing.

- I can't promise you a highly
competitive city contract.

- Do you think you can blackmail
me and get away with it?

- I prefer... encouraged.

Stay the hell away
from my daughter.

- You forget what happened

the last time you tried
to blackmail me.

- I was alone then.
- I'm not anymore.

- Go back to Birmingham and
we can both do our jobs.

- I'm gonna stop y'all
from taking the Banks,

no matter what.