Saints & Sinners (2016–…): Season 3, Episode 8 - Where There's Smoke - full transcript

Previously on Saints
& Sinners.

You're standing on the new
headquarters of my future
empire.

You get the hell outta my
church!

The petition for your recall has
already been submitted.

If they try to remove me from
office, there will be hell to
pay.

We're gonna expose you for the
fraud that you are.

I have a right to face my
accusers.

I said get ou...
I have a right to face my
accusers.

I said get ou...

He's not gonna get away with
this.

You killed my wife.



That was Shawn.

And I didn't waste a second
taking him out.

Why in the hell should I believe
you?

Cause we're brothers, Jabari.

Believe me now?

I did not lose our baby.

Uah.

Miles?

Tam?

Miles?

Christie confessed.

The police filed for a warrant
to search here.

The ship is sinking Dolores.

This is your last chance to get
on the raft.



Leona Byrd, you are under
arrest.

Get your hands off of me!

Ella, do something, Ella!

You should be ashamed of
yourself.

Using your granddaughter as a
scapegoat.

Don't be a fool, Ella.

Christie, put us here.

Not me.

For years people have looked up
to you.

That's right.

People only...

look up to strength, and power,
and leadership.

They look up to those people who
are

willing to do the things other
people can't.

Which is why you're getting
recalled as mayor.

You think you're so much better
than me.

No.

I'm stronger.

I built this city out of
nothing.

It took me 50 years,

to make it what it is now.

And less than a year for you
to ruin it all.

You stole a child.

That's a federal offense,
Mother.

Even as Mayor, I can't help you
out of that.

You don't think I'd rely on
you, do you?

Please.

Do you honestly believe the
testimony of a crazy lady,

and an overdose victim is
going to convict me?

How did you get so naive?

You need to relax, Ella.

Haven't you learned by now,

I always land on my feet.

* Go on, lift you hands. Give
God the praise *

* I fell so hard *
* Hey *

* Lost my faith in God *
* Hey *

* I couldn't even pray *
* Hey *

* So I say *

* We're just sinners *

* Saved by grace *

Ella, can we talk a moment?

Of course, Dolores.

What is it?

It's about your, mother.

Yeah that's one political
hot potato

I'm still trying to juggle.

- Maybe, I can help.
- How?

I've worked hard to get to my
position.

Just like you, Mayor.

And I'd hate to see someone
else's mistakes,

negatively impact good people.

Speak plainly.

Leona, could ruin us both.

If we don't do something.

Not to mention that nosy,
Detective St. Charles.

We have got to get him off the
force.

He can stop adding to our
troubles.

It shouldn't be too difficult
considering his recent rogue
tactics.

Forging my signature on a
warrant.

I don't know if you seen, but
I've already been impacted.

Maybe I can help.

I thought you and my mother were
friends.

We are.

But sometimes friendships are
complicated.

So what's your plan.

Based on testimony, Leona could
go to jail.

Or if played a different way.

She could be set free.

You should know by now that..

neither one of those would be
good for any of us.

I feel another option coming.

The law has many loopholes.

If you know what you're doing.

What you doin? Slummin'?

- Umm.

It's a new look for you being
solo.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Everybody's gone.

What brings you here, Jabari?

I need some answers.

Some answers to what?

Well.

What happen when my mom left?

You know, I knew this day was
comin' when your dad passed.

You were just 14.

And I thought it was gonna kill
you.

But to be honest, this might
even be worse.

Naw,

nothing is gonna be worse than
when I have to tell Jada.

Nothing is ever gonna be the
same for her again, I..

I never wanted her to feel the
pain of,

losing a mother like I did, you
know.

I understand.

I guess you reap what you sow in
this world.

Listen man, you

you took a lot of hard knocks,

losing both of your parents so
young.

It changed you.

And I did the best I could to
give you a family.

I guess I failed you.

You can make up for it now.

How can I do that?

Is Malik, my brother?

See um,

you were just four years old
when your mom left.

And your dad was hustling day
and night.

Trying to take care of his
little family.

The one thing I know,

your parents really loved each
other.

And they really loved you.

Yeah but what happened,
you know?

If she loved us so much, why she
leave us?

You know, Jabari.

Love can be complicated
sometimes.

When your dad found out
that your mom

was pregnant by another man,

It nearly broke him.

See it takes a certain kind of
man, to raise another man's
child.

So, Malik is my brother.

And my mom's out there somewhere
and she just...

she just didn't want me?

I can't explain why your
mother left.

But the woman I knew...

she loved being your mom.

See blood can disappoint you
sometimes.

But they're other kinds
of family.

Real family,

With you when the chips
are down.

You always got a place to come
back to, no matter what.

Whatcha trying to say?

Maybe it's time for you to come
back to your roots.

Yeah, I mean it do seem
like we do

better together than we do
separately.

Does that mean, what I think it
means?

What that we back in business?

Things'll have to change, I'm
looking for a partner
not a boss.

As much as I hate to admit it.

Times are changin' here in
Cypress.

I'm willing to roll with it, if
you are.

The unidentified male victim of
a recent shooting,

has woken up from a coma.

As police continue to
investigate the crime that took

place at a gas station. Located
between Cypress and Hazelton,
Georgia.

No leads at this time.

Tam.

Have you heard anything? Did you
find him?

No nothing so far.

I'm, I'm sorry.

You left this behind at the
precinct.

I thought you might want it
back.

Thank you.

Still feel him out there.

What do you think that means?

I just wanted to...

check on things with the two of
you.

We thank you, for all your hard
work,

I don't know how you do your
job.

Everyday you go to work

you deal with somebody on their
worst day.

No.

My job is never as hard as the
victim's.

Some cases do stay with me.

You think there's any real hope
of us gettin' our son back?

To be honest...

statistically.

The longer an abductor keeps a
child

the less likely we are to
recover that child.

Has Christie..

woken up yet?

No, nothing so far.

But the officer posted outside
her hospital room

has instructions to contact me
immediately,

if there's any new information.

This is like a bad dream.

You gotta stay strong.

You gotta hold on for Tamara's
sake, if not for your own.

I'm trying.

It's not easy. I just want my
son back.

The biological parents are
asking for any information on
the whereabouts of their baby.

Who investigators now believe
may be in the custody of

a woman posing as the
infant's mother.

Think about anyone who suddenly
has a chwas pregnant, t know

or even someone who has had
difficulties having a child or
looking to adopt.

My god.

That was Police Chief of
Cypress commenting on the
missing Calloway baby.

You're awake.

You know,

you seem to have a very devious
family.

But you don't look so tough.

Lying here all tied down.

Pss, speaking of..

Got it.

In fact..

you look pretty helpless.

Just like that little baby you
stole.

I didn't steal anyone's baby.

You can play it however you
want, I'm not judging you.

You know sometimes you do what
you have to, to get paid.

I'm just here to help.

What do you mean?

Your chart says you downed a
bunch of pills.

Guilt?

But that didn't seem to do the
job, did it?

But don't worry.

I'm here to make all the pain,

go away.

Stacia?

Kendrick, what are you doin'
here?

I was looking for Malik.

He asked me to look into
something for him.

What are you doing here?

I've switched sides.

I'm counsel for UpSurge now.

I don't blame you.

What's all this?

I'm getting to the bottom of
things.

One of these women...

could be my mother.

Where'd you get all this stuff?

I pulled my mother's old...

Marilyn's old case files.

The ones you took gave me clues
on what to look for.

Any case that has Leona Byrd,
Our Girls, Our World,

or the Greater Hope Clinic from
the 70's is on this table.

Sounds like a needle in a
haystack.

That's what I thought.

All the original medical files
were destroyed

in the Greater Hope Clinic fire
of '76.

But then I realized,

the clinic took Medicaid.

And they would have copies of
any services

that were paid for by the
clinic.

So I called in a favor.

Pssf, well be careful.

Because sometimes the truth is
worse than you imagine.

I just wanna find out who I am.

And where I really came from.

Well what happens when you find
your birth mom?

If I find my birth mom.

Look at this mess.

I'm not even sure that I'm
looking in the right place.

So wait a minute.

All these women, had their lives
ruined by Leona?

That's crazy.

Yeah.

Where did this photo come from?

Do you have any copies of these?

Dad!

Dad, I'm home.

Hey! Ha ha.

Welcome home. I missed you.

Hey, I like this little outfit
you got on here.

Lookin' smooth.

Hey.

Where's mom?

Mom?

Mom, I'm home.

Where's mom?

Here, come over here, baby.
Sit down.

I need to tell you something,
ok.

Is something wrong?

Give me your hand.

Mommy.

Mommy's not coming home.

What?

It was.

It was a.

It was a bad car accident, ok.

And we thought that she was
gonna get better but,

Mommy's gone to heaven.

My mom?

Yeah, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Grandma.

I'm sorry, baby.

I love you.

I'm sorry.

I'll cut to the chase.

The county prosecutor's office
wants a clean win on this one.

So, we've drafted an offer

that your client can't refuse.

Well unless that offer comes
with zero jail time, no deal.

What are you kidding?

Her case has been
sensationalized all over the
news.

Thanks to the malfeasance of
your officers.

You can't hide behind them.

Kidnapping, assault, unlawful
detention.

You're lucky the city doesn't
throw the book at her.

I'd be careful with that book of
yours.

It might bounce back and hit you
instead.

My motion to suppress.

And I'm sure you know that
everything that was found

as a result of the bogus warrant
is inadmissible.

That includes the medical
administrator's testimony as

well as the couple found in the
ward.

All fruit from the poisonous
tree.

What about the Calloway baby?

What baby?

I see no evidence that this
alleged child even exists.

All the documentation that has
surfaced has illustrated the
contrary.

All you have is a distraught
mother suffering

from a raging case of postpartum
depression,

against a little old lady who's
been a pillar of her community
for fifty years.

Jury's never gonna convict.

So, why don't you save yourself
a little embarrassment.

Some taxpayer money, drop this
case.

How do you sleep at night?

Like a baby.

No pun intended.

Now, are we done here?

Cause my client has a bridge
game at four.

Madam Mayor.

May I have the room, please?

Yes, Ma'am.

You're late.

My attorney has already handled
everything.

Now, I have an appointment.

Sit down, and shut up, Mother.

Who do you think you're
talking to?

I said shut up.

I've listened to you my whole
life.

Now you're gonna listen to me.

Your tenure is over.

You no longer run Cypress,

I do.

- You think so?
- Let me count the ways.

I've consulted with my own
attorney, and you know what I
found out?

What it takes to declare a
person legally incompetent.

What are you talking about?

Everyone knows as plain as day
that I'm perfectly competent.

Are you sure about that
mother?

Because your behavior has been
way out of character lately.

Which is why I had my attorney
file for legal guardianship

of you and your estate.

Which led me,

to get this psychological
evaluation.

Compliments of Wilhelmina.

And the only thing that was left
was to submit the evaluation to
the court.

Which Judge Mitchell helped push
through.

Those bitches!

The police, they know
everything.

And they still have nothing.

Do they know everything, Mother?

Yes.

Are you sure about that
everything?

Do they know about this?

The police found this

green stone with a GIA number
that they could never

identify at the crime scene of
Debra Chase.

It directly connected the killer
to her murder.

No, no. That was your mess.

I cleaned that up for you.

Well that's your version of
the story.

You wouldn't dare.

Try me.

I never cared about all the
rogue moves over the years.

but when you involved
Christie...

when you risked her future and
made her complicit,

you crossed the line.

- What is this?
- Read it.

Remittance to Cypress County
Psychiatric Ward for reasons of

mental defect.

Have you lost your damn mind?
You don't really expect me to
sign this?

You're not following.

No, I'm not.

Okay, well let me help you.

The police have been hounding
me, they're looking for a way to
crucify you.

Including your whereabouts the
night of Debra Chase's death.

Look, I'm not going to lie for
you anymore, unless you sign
that.

But this leaves me with nothing.

Well you'll manage just fine,
I'm sure.

This is crazy.

Exactly.

You sign that,

and I will continue your lie.

And then you'll be free and
clear of legal prosecution.

And in exchange

you will be at a place where you
can never hurt anyone again.

Now, that's my price.

You can't make me sign this.

I won't sign that.

Well then I'll be forced to tell
the police that you fought with
Debra Chase

until the point of killing her
and you buried her body under
the church.

How long do you think it's gonna
be before they connect the dots
with

Kendrick's burial that that's
your MO?

You can never win with that one.

Well, probably not but it'll
cause just enough trouble.

The kind of trouble you don't
want.

And according to my attorney,
probable cause.

And then the police will have a
subpoena to your home and
they'll get your brooch.

Also your phone records.

And they'll be able to tell when
Christie called you that night

the night you tried to bury my
son alive.

You are making me really angry,
Ella.

You should really come to your
senses.

I finally have, Mother.

And you have, a choice.

Either you can,

be in court and the tabloids for
the next few years.

Or you can sign that.

And escape prosecution.

You won't do it.

You will not disgrace our
family.

You just try me.

My little girl is broken because
of you.

Well it's the way the world
works, Ella.

You know that.

I did, but she didn't.

She'll be stronger for it.

The world is cold.

Well, then you better get ready
for winter, Leona.

What's going on?

Thanks chief. I'll take it
from here.

What's going on, Noah,

is the final cleanup of this
corrupt department.

What are you talking about?

And...

Where's Lt. Hawkins?

She's probably far away by
now.

That little stunt you two pulled
with the warrant,

left her with few options.

She's out. And if you go
quietly,

you'll walk away with your full
pension too, just like she did.

What you got, what 22 years in,
Noah?

Don't do anything stupid again
to screw it up.

I'm not a corrupt cop.

That forged warrant I have says
otherwise.

Sometimes you gotta do what you
have to do to get the job done.

Now you of all people should
understand that,

especially since you and your
family are experts at breaking
the rules.

Be very careful detective.

I'm still the mayor.

For the time being.

I'll give you time to pack.

So you can get used to your new
future, detective.

Opps, I'm sorry. Noah.

You think I don't know what
you're doing?

You're not gonna be able to
cover your tracks forever,

especially now that everyone
knows what you are.

And what is that?

The devil!

Goodbye Noah.

Good riddance, Ella.

What are you looking at?

Tam,

It's the first thing I bought
for him when I found out I was
pregnant.

Tamara,

We're not gonna get him back,
are we?

Don't say that. We're gonna get
him back. We gotta have faith.

I woulda been a good mom.

Look at me,

look at me.

We can't fall apart now.

After everything we've been
through, we're still standing.

Detective St. Charles,

What? Your mother send you to
twist the knife?

I'm here because I think you're
the only cop that can help me.

Wrong.

What do you mean? So now you
don't want to take down Byrd?

I'm not a cop anymore

Wait a minute, man.
What's going on?

Your mother just fired me and
Lt. Hawkins.

And if I go quietly, I still get
a gold watch.

So that's it?

Byrd, just gets away with
everything?

This town is a labyrinth of
lies.

And I finally had enough. And if
you know what's good for you,

you'll cut your ties with the
Johnson's, the Byrd's, bloodline
or not.

Man I get it. You're just like
everybody else in Cypress.

A fraud.

Trust me,

there's some things in this town
that'll eat you alive if you
don't let go.

I learned the hard way.

The EJ case is cold.

Now that I'm gone, nobody cares
if it's ever solved.

So you consider yourself off the
hook.

Listen man,

I can't just let this go.

I mean, she tried to kill me.

She drove my sister to OD.

She took me away from my mom at
birth.

And now this.

Listen, I don't care what
happens to me.

I just need your help to make
her pay.

I know you want that as much as
I do.

I'm not a cop anymore.

So I'll need to call in a favor
from someone in the inside that
can help us.

My God.

Christie, you
scared me.

You going somewhere?

I know what it looks like.

I didn't know how, Wilhelmina
got the baby.

Why should I have to suffer for
her misdeeds?

Haven't I...haven't we both

been through enough loss?

Bethany,

I know how much it hurts.

Believe me.

But I also know that there's
another mother out there in pain
for the same reason.

And we can change that

by returning this baby.

Are you sure you want to do
that?

Can't we win just once?

We can be a family together.

Think about it.

What's really keeping you in
Cypress?

If you left with me right now,
we could have everything we
always wanted.

I have enough money to disappear
and be happy.

Don't you want to be happy?

Baby,

Yeah.

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

- Yes.
- Yes.

- Yes.
- Yes, yes.

Yes.

Motherhood.

That's the hungry cry. I'll be
right back with a bottle.

Wow, you're a natural already,

It might take me a while.

Don't worry. I'll
teach you.

So this is what you've been
fighting so hard for?

Don't look like much for all the
trouble it's caused.

This is the only thing that I
have left of my father.

That UpSurge deal has split the
entire congregation

right down the middle.

But the church isn't why I
called you here.

What you were talking about over
dinner the other night,

did you really mean that?

I'm always straight up wit you,
Ella.

How far are you willing to go?

Speak on it.

I'm gonna need to resort to some
drastic measures

if I'm gonna stop this recall
dead in it's tracks.

But there's only one way I know
how to do that.

What's that?

Think about history.

There's never been a US
president that lost a

re-election in a time of war.

During crisis,

people want strength and
stability.

It saved George W. Bush's ass

and it's gonna save mine.

Listen Ella,

whatever you have up your
sleeve,

I'm always down.

I'm just happy the time has come
where we can

run this town together.

You understand?

Now you finally embraced who you
really are.

Who we are.

Yeah this city wants to

damn me to hell.

Yeah, well I'm gonna give 'em
hell right back.

Not to be presumptuous but,

I thought I woulda heard from
you by now.

I thought you said family was
everything.

Well it is but, I don't know
you.

I'm trying to change that.

Why now, man?

I've been looking for my real
family ever since I was 15
years-old.

and found out I was adopted.

Ever since then, I felt like a
piece of me was missing.

It's been a lot of anger and a
whole lot of time for me to get
to this moment.

But I'm here now.

I'm just hoping it's not too
late.

Look man,

what do you want from me?

I want to be your brother.

I want to make up for lost
times.

I want you to join forces with
me and my company.

Look man, all I know is the
streets and the hustle.

What do you think corporate
America is?

Just fancier wardrobes, that's
it.

Look, the, the, this is

too much right now.

Look, I understand.

And, I'm not expecting this all
at once.

Just hoping we can have a fresh
start.

Yeah um,

I appreciate that but

look I'm just gonna need
some more time.

I accept that.

And I respect it.

Say Rex, you always my favorite
helper.

Always.

Hey Smokey, you checking me out?

Just like old times, Man.

I remember I used to pay you in
ribs back in the day.

Yeah, you.

I've been on my feet for 30
years.

It's time for me to sit down.

And enjoy life I have left.

What you mean, Smokey?

I signed a buyout deal with
UpSurge.

Things are gonna start changing
around here.

Either roll with it, or get
rolled over.

Damn, Smokey.

It seems like the end of an era.

Progress is a way of life.

You stand in one place too long,

and the world passes you by.

Yeah.

Finally gettin' what you
deserve.

Excuse me?

Do I know you?

No, but you should.

I don't have time for this.

I think you do.

And you're gonna listen.

You thought that you could
really steal babies

from young girls out the hood
and no one would notice?

You ruined my life when you
ripped me from my mother.

So now, I've ruined yours.

I've taken your church, I've
bedded your daughter,

and flatlined her mayorship all
in one fell swoop.

You ending up here

that was just a happy bonus.

Malik Thompson.

In the flesh.

The city is mine now.

And who do you have to thank for
that?

You are so stupid.

Do you really believe you'd be
where you are today

had I left you with that

gutter mother of yours?

You're a real piece of work, you
know that?

But I get it.

You're just lashing out because
you're out of cards to play.

And I'm gonna make sure that
that smug look gets wiped off
your face.

Game over, Lady Byrd.

Cypress is more than a city to
me.

It's, my hometown.

No, no wait.

In the face

of a crisis is when
leadership...

No.

Unity, is born.

When Cypress hurts, I hurt.

Thanks for meeting with me, Sam.

Maybe I'm sentimental, but I
thought you might need a
shoulder to cry on

after getting fired.

Not exactly.

What I really need is a way to
get this information out to the
public.

Kendrick gave me these
documents.

These teenage mothers who used
the church clinic to give birth,

all stated that babies were
stillborns.

But around the same time, these
middle class members of Greater
Hope

experienced a baby boom.

My God.

She was stealing their babies
and selling them to church
members.

And Gloria was the only one

brave enough to speak the truth.

And they shut her up by locking
her away from society in a
sanitarium.

You know I'll give you points
for being persistent but a

I told you right now is not the
time to talk business, Man.

This isn't about business

Bro...

it's about family.

This is our mother.

Jabari, baby.

I'm home.

Decisions as mayor aren't always
easy.

And I can't always make everyone
happy

all the time.

But what I can do,

is make a safer, stronger
society

for our children.

Miles?

Christie.

Miles,

this is your son.

This is our baby.

I am so sorry.

For everything, I am sorry.

God.

I'm so sorry!

The date on this fire

is just 24 hours

after Gloria visited the pastor
and told him her story

about her baby being stolen.

The one that killed Pastor Byrd?

Yeah.

She said he told her he was
gonna talk to his wife and get

to the bottom of things. She
trusted him.

And a day later he died?

Yeah.

Does that mean Leona Byrd
murdered her own husband?

We just have to prove it.

And I think it's somewhere right
in front of us.

Okay.

And from the ashes

of this tragedy, we'll rebuild

the damages these events have
caused.

We'll build hope.

It says here that the accelerant
used to start the fire showed

traces of kerosine and mesquite
oil.

We cannot let
the evil deeds of

vandals dictate our pride as
Cypress citizens

or turn the victims of the
catastrophe

into senseless sacrifice.

There's also
evidence of broken glass.

And remnants of charred canvas
material were found

on the scene as well.

This sounds like a
molotov cocktail.

As a city,

we will reclaim our dignity.

Even in crisis,

Cypress will stand strong.