Reasonable Doubt (2022) s04e07 Episode Script

1
[LEWIS STEWART] Jax, sit down.
Nigga.
- Is this a joke?
- Not at all.
[CHUCKLES] So, so, what
are we intervening exactly?
I mean, fun, clearly. [CHUCKLES]
Your drug problem.
I know you fuckin' lying.
Jax, why don't you take
a seat so that we can talk.
- No, I'm good.
- You get it, Naima?
This is why I told you
not to say anything.
- Stop yelling at me.
- Spenser, now is not the time.
Maybe this wasn't a good idea.
[AUTUMN OWENS] Why
don't we all take a beat?
If she not gonna sit
down, what is the point?
Look, Jax, please sit down.
Dad, she clearly doesn't wanna be here.
Look, Spenser, if
you don't be quiet, I
Don't talk to him like that.
Look, Jax, you don't have
a leg to stand on, so, please.
- Maybe we should go.
- Yeah, I'm uncomfortable.
We can all figure this out if
we just take a moment to talk.
Look, I don't wanna talk about nothing.
We don't care what you
want. This is not about
It's my fucking birthday!
[LEWIS SIGHS]
[JAX SCOFFS]
- [LEWIS] Don't.
- [DOOR SLAMS SHUT]
You see what y'all are doing?
You see what y'all are doing?
Did you really think this
was a good-ass idea, Lewis?
Who, whose idea was this anyway? Huh?
[GASPS] Oh, let me guess.
My dear mother, right?
Actually, it was mine.
Wow. So much for trust, huh?
All we need you to do
is sit down and listen.
You know what? Nah. [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
I've heard enough.
In fact, since apparently
no one here is interested
in throwing me a birthday party,
[LAUGHS] I'ma go where I'm celebrated.
Just like Oprah said.
I don't think Oprah said that.
[DOOR SLAMS]
Jax, I promise you that
if you walk out that door,
don't bother coming back.
[JAX WHIMPERS]
You are going to lose
everything, and I mean everything.
Me, the kids, your
entire network of support.
And there is no amount
of conversation therapy,
nothing that can be done to undo
the damage you do if you leave.
Why?
Because I'll be fucking done.
I'm for real, Jax.
So, either sit your ass down
and listen to what the fuck we gotta say
or never speak to any of us again.
[OBJECTS CLATTER]
Alright. Y'all wanna talk?
Let's talk.
[SOFT, TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
Before we begin
we want you to understand
you are surrounded
by people who love you
and care about you. You understand?
You think this is how
you treat people you love?
No, actually it is.
And maybe by the end
of this, you'll realize that.
[AUTUMN] Jax, I need
you to verbally acknowledge
you understand that before we begin.
Fine.
Yes, I understand.
Thank you.
Now, we have all gathered here
to share how we have
individually been affected
by your drug addiction.
I'm not a drug addict.
What? I'm not.
You're high right now.
[SCOFFS] Yes, I had some drinks
and some very legal marijuana,
but I ain't drive here.
And again, given that it's my birthday,
I think I've been pretty
fucking responsible.
What about these?
- Where you find those?
- [LEWIS] Not where they're supposed to be.
Where else in this house around
our children do you have these pills?
Uh-uh. Why are you
talking to me like that?
Like I'm some kinda criminal?
I'm your wife, Lewis. See?
I thought we got past this.
This whole macho man routine
that you do every single time
Stop deflecting.
The only way this is gonna work
is if you stop talking and listen.
[JAX] Hmm.
Each of us will take
individual turns to speak.
While we share our experiences
with you, it's important you listen.
And when everyone is done,
you can express your feelings.
[JAX] Hmm.
So I'm just supposed to stand here
and listen to y'all talk
shit about me to my face
and I can't say anything?
You can. But not until the end.
Fucking fantastic. Alright.
[JAX SCOFFS]
Who first then?
I'll go.
[JAX SCOFFS]
Well, when they, uh, first told
me that you had a pill problem,
I, I didn't believe it, uh,
because you're so on it
and, I don't know,
controlling and kinda judgey
that I was like, "Well,
no way, not Jax."
But now, seeing you like
this, this, this isn't you, Jax.
I mean, yes, you can, you can be direct
and sometimes it's funny,
but tonight, you're just mean.
And it's not funny and it's,
it's actually making me sad.
And you know, I've got
my own reasons to be sad.
[VOICE BREAKING] I
mean, I'm still a little fucked up
about the whole crazy person
shooting a gun at my face thing
that happened a few months ago.
And, uh, I know you got
shot and I'm sorry and it sucks.
[SNIFFLES] But Lewis
and I, we had to see you
[DANIEL SOBBING]
We had to see you almost die, Jax.
Do you know what that does to a person?
Yes.
Then you know, and
that makes it kinda worse
'cause you would've thought that
you would've been there for me,
but you haven't.
Okay, but
we're not friends.
How dare you say that to him?
What? It's the truth. You
say it to him all the time.
I am different.
He adores you. He
would do anything for you.
- Well, not, not anything.
- Trust me, you would.
[JAX STEWART] Okay,
so what? Let me guess.
It's your turn to speak
now, Krystal, right? Huh?
Uh I guess so.
You know, the-the day I found
out that you had made junior partner,
I marched into HR and
demanded to be put on your desk.
I mean, you are a powerful Black
lawyer making waves in the firm.
I saw the greatness in you.
And I respected how you
demanded greatness from me.
You make my dream seem possible.
But now you're humiliating me in public.
You are attacking
Daniel for being Daniel.
You know what we gave up
to follow you to your new firm.
And we did it happily because we
all believe in the same thing, you.
Let me make one thing real clear.
It is not my job to be
some kinda super lawyer,
mommy, role model to
you and Daniel, alright?
I expect good work from you
because that is the bare minimum
required to stay in this game.
You watched me do what I do for
years without slowing down one bit,
yet you still go home and complain
about me not being enough for you?
That it's too hard?
Well, shit, I'm sorry, Krystal.
The job is tough, alright?
Requires a little more
beyond you riding my coattails.
- Riding your motherfucking coattails?
- [JAX] Yes.
- You have no fucking idea what the fuck
- Okay, okay, let's, let's move on.
Yes, let's.
[SIGHS]
Who wants to go next?
I'll, I'll go.
[SIGHS]
[CLEARS THROAT]
Cracka Jax, you okay?
I'm fine.
It's a pretty shitty-ass birthday party.
[SHANELLE SIGHS]
I, I know.
It's hard to hear some of this stuff,
but we're here because we love you.
I know, Shay Shay, but,
come on, you gotta listen to me.
They're wrong. I don't
have a problem. I'm fine.
Come on, you believe me, right?
I believe you believe you.
And I'm willing to listen and be wrong.
You believe that I believe
you Girl, what is that?
Where you learn to
speak like this? In prison?
[JAX CHUCKLES]
My God.
Yeah, I've seen a lot, Jax.
And it's forced me to realize that
the only way for me to sleep at night
is to be honest with myself
and the people around me.
Hmm. Well, you know
how I sleep well at night?
Knowing that I sacrificed
my marriage and my career
to make sure that your
ass stayed out of prison.
But now you in my house,
telling me what to do,
talking about you believe
me believing myself,
whatever the fuck you said
when you was getting
tossed around for years
like a rag doll for some
ain't-shit-ass nigga.
- I saved you, Shanelle.
- I saved myself.
Oh. Ooh. Is that right?
- What, you mad now, huh?
- [CHUCKLES]
Why, 'cause I'm telling the truth?
How that shit feel?
Not too good, huh?
[JAX LAUGHING]
Ahh! [LAUGHING]
You know, you once said to
me, "Deflection isn't a flex."
And that's exactly what
your ass is doing right now.
You think it's cute,
but we all see you
and it's embarrassing.
The only thing that's embarrassing is
that you've been trying to
be my bestie since, what?
- Like the 10th grade?
- [SCOFFS] This bitch.
Is that what this shit is about? Huh?
You mad I ain't call you enough
to ask you about your damn Tinder dates?
- Jax, can you listen?
- No, no, no.
You resent me because for 20 years,
I was the only one that knew
something about you that no one else
[ALL SHOUTING]
- [JAX] Just shut up, Shanelle!
- You need some fuckin' help!
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
Jax, please!
What you? What you mad at me for?
Ain't that what tonight was about?
We keeping it real, right?
Huh? Who want it next?
[SALLY BRASWELL] Alright,
Jax, you wanna keep it real?
Let's keep it fucking real.
[JAX] Oh, ho, ho, ho, here we ho.
[SALLY] Oh. [LAUGHS] Really?
- That's all you got?
- Aight.
You could call me whatever
you want, but I am a doctor.
And you tried to get
me to prescribe you oxy.
And when I didn't, you stole
pages from my prescription pad.
Oh, you thought I didn't know!
I don't know if that
shows how stupid you are
or how stupid you think I am.
- The latter.
- So you admit it then.
Look, what, what
difference does it make, huh?
I mean, I only took
it 'cause you said no.
That makes me a
fucking brat, not an addict.
The Jax I know definitely
would've been annoyed, yes,
but would not have stolen
pages from my prescription pad.
Risking my license, my
livelihood, and custody of my kids.
Oh, so what? Now you
scared of risk? Huh?
You lost your marriage, your house,
everything trying to save
Runaway Rhonda ass over there.
And now you end up
fucking a basic-ass white boy.
Shit, I don't blame Chris
for divorcing your ass.
You about the dumbest
fucking doctor I know.
Yes, I am a doctor. [SNIFFLES]
Which is why I know what
happens with prolonged opioid use.
Do you, counselor?
Well, let my dumb ass fill you in.
It leads to a compromised immune system,
endocrine disruption, liver
damage, kidney damage,
heart attack, heart
failure, overdose, death!
Okay, Sally, I get it.
Right. 'Cause you're always
the smartest person in the room.
- Damn right.
- Except for tonight.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
[SALLY SOBS QUIETLY]
I can understand if you
are feeling overwhelmed or
I'm feeling betrayed.
How's that for feelings?
And then you, Dr. Bryant,
pretending to be a therapist
instead of being my friend.
I am here first and
foremost as your friend.
But given I am licensed,
I'm here to make sure
Here-here to make sure what?
That I don't OD and
die like your last client?
Ozzie didn't overdose in my office, Jax.
He overdosed here in your home.
It isn't your fault, but it is
clearly causing you deep pain.
Do not talk about Ozzie.
I lost him, too, Jax.
But I had to let it go. Let him go.
[JAX INHALES, EXHALES DEEPLY]
And I'm here to help you do the same.
So, you're-you're here to
help me release my trauma?
No, y'all here because my nosy-ass mama
told my controlling-ass husband that
I have a drug problem, which I don't.
That's enough.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
Whatever you got
to say, Ma, just say it.
I'm only here because despite
the horrible things you said to me,
I am your mother.
And as a mother, you should know
what it feels like to carry a child.
Birth it, nurture it, watch it grow.
That's a commitment that's for life.
What-what are you talking about?
You banned me from your life
because I told your husband the truth!
And here we are, and the truth is out.
Whose truth? Not mine.
Clearly everyone in this
room disagrees with that.
Well, that wouldn't be the
first time I wasn't believed.
- Hey, Jax, don't start.
- No, no, no, no. That's alright.
If I want her to own up to her stuff,
then I have to own up to mine, too.
I believed you about Paul.
I even left him over it.
After 10 years, I was
sad and I was lonely.
And maybe it's a generational thing,
but I had hoped that since I
had moved on, that you did, too,
but that was my mistake.
But one thing doesn't have
anything to do with the other.
You are the one that's hiding pills
and saying horrible things
to your family and your friends
because you're too high
to know how high you are!
Not me.
Now maybe there isn't a needle
hanging from your arm like your father.
But these pain meds
are controlling your mind
and your body the same way.
Maybe even worse.
And your not being able to see that
proves that everyone in
this room is right about you.
Doesn't that mean anything to you?
- No.
- [MAMA LU] Oh.
No, it doesn't.
[MAMA LU CHUCKLES]
You sound just like
your father right now.
I'm nothing like him.
Oh. But here you are with
the lies, the insults, the denials,
looking and behaving
just like a drug addict.
[STAMMERS] Just stop calling me that.
Then what shall I call you?
I told you to never
fucking call me again,
so I don't even know why you here!
I don't know why none of
y'all are here! [SOBBING]
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
[JAX BREATHING DEEPLY]
Oh.
Oh, wait.
Wait, I do know.
Oh, shit.
Oh!
Oh! [LAUGHS]
[JAX LAUGHING]
Well, what's so funny?
You know what? I'm sorry.
It's just, this is what y'all wanted.
This-this-this is literally
your-your dream fucking come true.
Y'all have been praying for the
day that you could hover over me
with your fucking
judgment and your delusion,
feeling like you're better than me!
[JAX SOBBING]
'Cause you know what,
y'all can't stand the fact
that no matter what
happens to me, I stay winning!
[JAX PANTING]
I know what y'all want.
Y'all want me on my
fucking knees, right?
That what you want?
You want me to be on my knees, huh?
You want me to cry, "Help
me, save me, cure me!
"I'm not the person you think I am.
I can't, I can't do
it alone. It's a lie!"
But that shit ain't
the fucking truth at all.
You know what, you want the truth, Ma?
The truth is that no matter
what bullet pierces my flesh
or what man puts his
hands down my pants,
I am still better than you.
I'm better than all y'all niggas.
And you know what? I always will be.
Yeah.
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
And you know what? On that note
all y'all get the fuck
up out of my house.
Yeah, you too. [CHUCKLES]
- Happy to.
- [JAX] Good. Bye, bitches.
That's right.
Bye!
Bye! [CHUCKLING]
Yeah. This was a mistake.
[JAX] Finally, something
we could both agree on.
Yep. Bye.
If you get help, I'll forgive you.
I'll keep that in mind, Daniel.
Get the fuck out, you corny-ass nigga.
[JAX SCOFFING]
Oh, you still got something to say?
Not anymore.
Call me if you need me.
I will.
- I love you.
- Love you, too.
[SOFT, SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
Why are you still here? Hmm?
- Because we're not done.
- Well, I'm done.
Jax, I told you, if you leave
And I heard you, Lewis.
Just because I'm staying
don't mean I'm talking.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[JAX EXHALES]
[LINE RINGING]
Yo, playboy. Ain't heard
from you in a minute. What up?
- Call me back, nigga.
- [DOOR OPENS]
What the fuck you doing in a tux?
I was at the Star Music Charity Gala.
Look, there's something
that you should know.
Star Music had a charity gala
and didn't think to invite me?
Well, I'm the head of Crop Records.
Not you.
At the moment.
Sure.
Anyway, um, Desiree Grant
is writing an article about you.
How the fuck does that happen?
As so-called CEO of Crop,
how come you can't do your job, man?
I am doing my job.
I'm the one keeping this shit afloat
while your ass is on trial
for kidnapping and murder.
Everything I do is for
you and for this company.
What else do I have to
do to prove that to you?
That shit should have been killed
before she even opened her laptop.
You know that.
So when you go home, I
want you to ask yourself
why it is you still can't
get shit done without me.
[TYGER CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Alright.
And I want you to ask yourself
why none of your boys care enough
to answer your fucking phone calls.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
[NAIMA STEWART] "Mom
"I love you and I know you love me too,
"but I've learned that
parents can love you
and still let you down."
Hey. Hey, hey, hey.
It's me, baby. It's Mommy.
You know the things they say
about me are not true, right?
Right?
Hey, why don't we talk,
just the two of us, okay?
Hey, is that alright with y'all? Huh?
No, we can talk here.
"I didn't know how to feel at first
when I found the pills hidden"
Wait, you found the pills?
Okay, wait, who, whose
idea was this? Huh?
Give her someone to
blame for the rest of her life?
- Jax.
- [JAX] Come on, baby.
Why didn't you come to me?
- I thought we were close.
- We are.
So then why did you rat me out?
[LEWIS] Alright, Jax, that's enough.
No, no, we're just talking.
We're just talking, right?
- I'm glad I told Dad!
- [JAX] Okay.
You know what?
You wanna ruin your relationships
with your friends and coworkers,
by all means, do whatever
the fuck you want, Jax.
But I'll be damned if I'm gonna
let you affect our children's lives.
Okay. So you think that what you're
doing right here is good for them?
It's good for you, Jax.
And what's good for
you, it's good for them
Shut up, Autumn.
[SPENSER STEWART] Y'all done yet?
I don't know, are we?
Dad, you, you know this
is a waste of time, right?
It's Mom. She ain't gonna
listen to all this bullshit.
- Alright, Spenser.
- Ain't you get it now?
This is why I told your
lil' ass not to say shit.
- Spenser!
- What? Hey
If Mom wanna take the
pills, let her take the pills.
- I took one.
- You
Spenser, no. No.
Baby, what did you take?
I don't, I don't, I don't know.
I found them in the hall closet
when I was looking for a fresh towel,
and I decided to take one
when I was having a bad day.
- No big deal!
- It's very, it's a very big deal.
Those are pain pills for me, baby.
Mommy has been in a lot of pain.
Yeah. So have I.
And this shit's supposed
to make it better, right?
Right?
You can't be taking pills.
Nah. We past that, Ma.
If you think I have a problem,
maybe you have a problem, too.
- I see what you're doing.
- [SPENSER] I see what you're doing.
- I don't have a drug problem.
- Stop taking 'em then.
- It doesn't work like that.
- So what? You can't stop?
No, that's not what
I said. I'm saying
Then what, what? What-what
are you saying, Ma? Huh?
- I don't know!
- Then I'll help you.
Say you have a drug problem.
I don't have a drug problem.
Just stop taking 'em
or go to rehab right now.
I can't go to rehab. I'm in
the middle of a trial, Spenser.
Then you gonna spend the whole weekend
getting this shit out your system.
- Whoa, whoa, no, no, Spenser.
- That's what you're gonna do.
We're gonna stick with the original plan
and your mom's gonna go to rehab.
What Oh.
Oh, so that was your plan.
[LAUGHS] No, I am
definitely not doing that shit.
See, I I told you, Dad.
This ain't gonna work.
But I know you, Ma.
And I know that if you
really don't have a problem,
you're gonna do whatever it takes to
prove that you don't have that problem.
Am I right?
That's right.
[SPENSER] Okay, then.
Prove you don't need the
pills for the whole weekend.
- Spenser.
- Do it, Ma!
Alright!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Lewis, I don't think that's a good idea.
Well, I think it is. Hmm?
It's only a couple days, right?
[LEWIS] Right.
I mean
I can have the kids, um, stay at Lu's
and I can stay with her.
Okay. I can connect you
with a telehealth provider
just in case something goes wrong.
Oh, there ain't nothing gonna
go wrong. Goddamn it. [SCOFFS]
Alright, Spense, you can
head back to your room
till your grandmother comes back.
Hey.
Forty-eight hours.
You got forty-eight
hours to prove me wrong.
Fine.
And what do I get if I show
No, when I prove to you that
I do not have a problem, huh?
I would love a little more trust
and a lot less bullshit, okay?
I think after you
detox, a lot will be clear.
Okay. Yeah, whatever.
[JAX LAUGHS]
Autumn, you can leave.
Lewis, let me know if you need anything.
He won't.
Mm-hmm.
Why'd he ask your ass
to come here anyway.
You know they all full of shit, right?
I guess we're gonna see.
[SOFT, PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Look at you burning the midnight oil.
Living wild on a Friday night.
Yeah. Well, we rest Eric's
case on Monday, thank God.
And I've gotta prep for
Jax and her defense.
How's the Monica Wilson case coming?
Good.
But Jax still hasn't agreed to testify.
Oh, I guess it wasn't just me.
Got it. Well
don't work too hard.
Actually, Mike?
[REGINA MOANS]
[REGINA CHUCKLES]
[REGINA EXHALES]
- Oh, man.
- Oof! Wow.
[BOTH BREATHING DEEPLY]
[CELL PHONE BUZZING]
[MIKE ORTIZ] Mm.
Everything okay?
Yeah, it's just my sister.
You guys close?
We are two very different people
with different lives
and different priorities.
[MIKE] Hmm.
- But, hey
- [MIKE] Hmm.
instead of talking
how about we find out what
else you can do with this?
[JAZZY MUSIC PLAYING]
[CHUCKLES]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]
You alright?
- Yes. Just, I'm tired.
- Then go to sleep.
- [JAX] I can't.
- Why not?
It's been a really fucking
long day, Lewis, that's why.
[SCOFFS, SIGHS]
Can you turn on the
air? It's really hot in here.
Well, I did that earlier, which
is why I'm wearing a sweatshirt.
Okay, well, then maybe I'm just
thirsty. I'm gonna go get some water.
No, no, I got it.
- Okay. Thanks, baby.
- [JAX] Uh-huh.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
- I don't want it cold.
- [LEWIS] It's not.
- [JAX] Oh.
- [LEWIS SIGHS]
- Thank you, baby.
- Yep.
I think you should get some rest.
[JAX] Mm-hmm.
[JAX SIGHS]
Wait, you're not sleeping over here?
No.
Come on, Lewis, you can't
sleep in that chair all night,
that's ridiculous.
Well, I slept in a chair for weeks
when you were in the hospital.
Yeah, that was, that was different.
[LEWIS] Was it?
You weren't okay then
and you aren't okay now.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[LEWIS EXHALES]
[LEWIS GRUNTS]
What are you doing?
[JAX] Oh, uh, um, I
was looking for a snack.
Oh. Snacks are in the pantry.
That's right. That's
weird. I I forgot.
- [JAX CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY]
- [LEWIS] Yeah.
Weird.
Look, why don't you go to the
room and I'll fix you something?
Oh, okay.
Uh, what, you, you sure?
Are you sure you were
looking for a snack?
Oh, come on, Lewis.
I mean, what are you,
you just gonna sit up here
and watch me all weekend?
- At this point, maybe I should.
- Well, I need to go take a shit.
You wanna come with me to the bathroom?
At this point, I'll do
whatever I need to, Jax.
Okay, what you need to
do is leave me alone, okay?
That's what you need to do.
No, that's the last thing I need to do.
[JAX SIGHS]
Where are they, Jax?
Where I, I, I told you I came in here
because I was hungry, Lewis.
This is where you come
when you wanna eat something.
No, listen, you have
told me a lot of things
in the last few months,
and they have all been lies.
So if you think I'm
gonna believe this bullshit,
you got another
motherfucking thing coming.
Why are you talking to me like this?
I thought you loved me, Lewis!
What are you doing? Okay.
Okay, this, this, this, this
is insane. This is insane.
What, what are you even looking for?
Okay, you know what?
Fine. Just Wait. Lewis.
You know what? Okay. Okay.
Is this the snack you were looking for?
Huh? Is this it?
- I don't know how that even
- Oh, oh, you don't know now?
Oh, okay. Oh, good.
I'll just pour 'em out then.
- Fine, do it.
- And you know what?
After I do this, I'm scouring
this whole fucking house.
I'm gonna find every pill that's in here
and I promise you, you
will never have a fix again.
[DISPOSAL WHIRRING]
[SCREAMING] No, no, no!
[GASPS]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
Jax, I think you should lay down.
[VOICE SHAKING] No. No.
This is crazy. I don't need
them. I don't need them.
I know, I know, babe.
I didn't know.
I didn't know.
I didn't Oh, my God. [GASPS]
Oh, my God. I said all, all
those horrible things to everyone.
I swear, I didn't know.
I didn't know. I didn't
know. I thought I was okay.
Oh, my God, I'm not okay. I'm not okay.
I'm I'm not okay.
I'm not okay.
I'm so sorry. I'm so
sorry, baby, really.
I I I need I need help.
I need help, baby, please.
I'll do whatever you want.
I'll do whatever you want,
but I need help, baby.
Please, I need you. I need you.
- I'm here, I'm here, I'm here.
- [JAX] I need you.
Please! Please, I need you!
[CRYING] Oh, my God!
Oh, my God!
Oh, my God, baby!
- I'm so s I'm so sorry!
- It's okay.
- [JAX] I'm sorry.
- It's okay.
It's gonna be okay. I got you.
- I've got you.
- [JAX CONTINUES CRYING]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Thank you for coming.
Where is she?
I was gonna call her doctor,
but I didn't want her to freak out.
I figured you could provide some
insight or empathy, given, uh
Yeah, no. I'm glad you called.
Daddy?
Jackie, honey, hey.
Hey, baby, hey.
[CRYING] I really messed up.
I lost control and I don't,
I don't know what to do.
[EDDIE NICHOLAS] I know, it's okay.
Most important thing is that
you know something's wrong.
That's a good step. Yeah.
Nothing about this is good, Dad.
It's I'm hot, then I'm cold.
I mean, I just, I'm, I'm
tired but I can't really sleep.
Then I have this headache.
This is like the worst
headache I've had in my life.
And that's not the worst part.
I mean, the worst part
is that the, the pain,
the pain has come back and I can't,
I can't do anything about it.
And that's why we
reach for the substances,
the pills, whatever.
Because the physical pain is hard,
but the emotional pain is unbearable.
"We"?
That's why "we" reach?
"We" being addicts.
[EDDIE SIGHS]
I just never thought that
you would become "we."
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
Yeah, me neither, baby.
Well, thankfully, it hasn't been
that long for me, you know?
It's just been a bad few months, so
I think I just take this weekend,
get this shit out of
my system, you know?
And then I'm, I'm gonna be smarter.
You know, I'm not gonna
lose control like I did.
[SIGHS] I hate to say this, but, um
whether it's been months or
years, addiction is addiction.
You know, it's not about being
smart or rich or poor or anything.
The drugs, that fix,
cancels all that shit out.
Nothing can help you except you.
And, of course, support
of your family and friends.
[EDDIE SIGHS]
It's not gonna be solved on a weekend.
It's something you're gonna
have to deal with for forever.
No. No, I'm not
dealing with this forever.
"A," I refuse.
But that's how it is
when you're an addict.
Then I'm not an addict.
I can't be. I won't be.
I didn't ask for this.
What, you think I asked to be an addict?
My father was an alcoholic.
So much so that when he found out
the disease was about to take his life,
he kept drinking to the very end.
So I didn't ask for this. No one does.
That's what I'm trying to tell you.
It's
It's not about what you've
experienced or who you're related to.
It's about you taking accountability
and accepting that you need help.
I, I don't need your
[EXHALES]
I'm sorry, Dad, but I
think that you should go.
[SIGHS]
Uh [SIGHS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
[JAX GROANS]
[JAX RETCHES]
[CELL PHONE BUZZING]
Hey, is she
[NURSE] [ON PHONE]
She doesn't have a lot of time.
You should hurry.
I'll be right there.
[MIKE] Is everything okay?
[REGINA] Um, sorry, I, I have to run.
[REGINA EXHALES]
Thank you for the distraction.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
[EDDIE] Man, you were
right. She's in trouble.
[LEWIS] Damn.
One of the few times I
was hoping I was wrong.
Sorry, man. I wish I could sugarcoat it,
but this shit ain't
nothing to play with.
I can see that.
It's gonna be a long
road to recovery for her,
especially since she's still in
denial about being an addict.
What? No, she admitted to
me that she had a problem.
Oh, she admits to that part.
It's the part where she
got to say this problem is
a permanent one, not a temporary one.
That's the part that's
gonna be hard for her.
And honestly, for you, too.
It's like
the minute it gets easy,
it gets hard again.
Look, Lewis [SIGHS]
I appreciate you calling.
I can imagine it wasn't exactly
the easiest call to make
for a number of reasons.
Yeah, well, I learned a long time ago,
when it comes to Jax, love
really is stronger than pride.
Wow. You really do love her.
I am trying.
[EDDIE] No, no, you succeeded.
You ain't let her get away
with what she was doing.
Despite how manipulative and
convincing I'm sure she was,
you stood 10 toes down to handle shit.
You saved her life today by stepping up,
being the man of this household.
You know, I ain't say it before,
so I'm gonna look in your eye like a man
and say, "I'm sorry about that.
That was about my shit,
Lewis, not about you."
But I'm guessing
you already knew that.
Yeah. I did.
I'm gonna go.
But if you need me, I'm only
a phone call away, alright?
Thank you.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]
She can, uh, apparently still hear us.
And so her nurse says this is
when people typically
share happy memories.
[TATIANA] I wish I could
remember the happy ones.
I have some.
[TATIANA] Of course
you do. You were younger.
I know that you have
this obligation to her,
but she wasn't a good mother.
Well, I still wanna say something kind.
Okay?
I keep thinking about
that last Christmas
we had together before
they took us away,
how I was dead set on having a
Christmas tree just like in the movies.
And the best I could do was a
broken-off branch from the park.
And then Mom came home
from work and she threw a fit
because of all the pine
needles on the floor.
I was so angry with her
for ruining our last Christmas together.
That was the first moment
that I saw everything for what it was.
I saw her for what she was.
And I've had this incessant feeling
of needing to prove myself ever since.
But maybe I should give her grace.
Maybe I should give myself grace.
Because at the end of the day,
we are all just trying to make
the most out of what we got.
[SIGHS]
- That didn't sound so kind.
- [REGINA CHUCKLES]
That's the best I could do.
Thank you for coming.
I don't think anyone
deserves to die alone.
Is that why you came back?
So Mom wouldn't be alone?
No.
I came back so that you
wouldn't be alone when she dies.
Because honestly
I don't think you're
ready to let her go.
[REGINA SIGHS]
[DR. CORDINA] I added some glutathione
in her IV to help ease the detox.
I also gave her Suboxone
to help with her withdrawal
symptoms and cravings.
However, the IV fluids on their own
with the electrolytes will help
reduce her nausea and vomiting.
Right. Okay.
Just be sure to check
on her every so often.
And if anything changes,
contact me immediately.
Don't hesitate, okay?
[LEWIS] Trust me, I won't.
And thank you for coming over so
early, Dr. Cordina. I'll walk you out.
I'm looking into your eyes and
you look just like your father.
[EDDIE] Addiction's addiction.
[INDISTINCT VOICES MURMURING]
Nothing can help you except you
[JAX BREATHING HEAVILY]
This is an emergency!
[RAPID BEEPING, FLATLINE ECHOES]
- [OZZIE EDWARDS] Jax?
- Yeah.
[SOBBING] I'm so mad at you.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
But I love you, too.
[JAX] [SOBBING] Ozzie, don't go. Stop.
Please.
You go in there and
you don't come back
and I don't get over you.
It fucks me up so bad.
And I'm still
I'm not okay.
And I don't know if I'll ever be.
[JAX BREATHES SHAKILY]
How did I get here?
I think you know.
I don't know.
You know.
I just, I couldn't take all the pain.
All the trauma.
It was just easier to feel free
to feel nothing.
But isn't that what we all
do? Do what we can to cope?
I mean, what's the matter with that?
What's wrong is that
it's not healing the pain.
It's just masking it.
They're distractions.
But I get it.
You've spent the last
few years surviving,
from Damon, me.
Your mom almost died
from cancer last year.
Then, shit, you almost died.
That's that's a lot of trauma
in a short amount of time.
And as long as you keep doing this
you're gonna end up like, uh
You.
[OZZIE EXHALES]
Still hard to believe, I guess.
I don't wanna be like you, Ozzie.
I don't wanna be like my dad.
[VOICE BREAKING] I just
I just want to be able to
Breathe
heal
and live.
[VOICE BREAKING] Mm-hmm.
[OZZIE] Okay.
So then make a different choice.
Now I, I know it won't be easy,
but you've built an
entire life and career
off of not easy.
And you're strong.
[SOBBING] I'm tired of being strong.
It's fucking exhausting.
- [OZZIE] I know.
- [EXHALES]
But
if you run from the
pain, it won't go away.
And you won't be exhausted.
You'll be dead.
The real courage comes from knowing
that no matter what
you can get through this shit.
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
[PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING]
[LEWIS] Hey.
Are you okay?
[JAX BREATHING DEEPLY]
I don't
I don't
No.
I'm not okay.
- [KNOCK ON DOOR]
- [SPEAKER] Housekeeping.
I'm good for now!
- [SPEAKER] Lo siento. Housekeeping.
- [KNOCKING CONTINUES]
[DESIREE SIGHS]
Eric? Did you really drive
your ass out to Irvine to
Excuse you. I did not
invite you into my room.
Relax. I just wanna talk.
I'm busy. And how did
you know where I was?
I'm Eric Cropper.
Also, you posted the
conference on your IG story,
so I guess you told me.
If you're not gone in five
seconds, I'm calling the police.
Desiree, please. Come on. Alright?
It ain't gotta be like that.
Look, I heard about your
"Surviving Eric Cropper"
or whatever you're
calling it article and I was
I just want a chance to be heard, right?
Tell my side of things.
If you believe me,
cool. If not, it's all good.
Dr. Todd Boyd is speaking on
a sold-out panel in 15 minutes,
which means you have 10.
Okay. I'll take it.
[DESIREE GRANT] And
if I feel like you're lying,
then you leave immediately.
Understood.
Understood.
[ERIC CLEARS THROAT]
[ERIC] Okay.
First off,
I have to say this thing has
really been bothering me.
Like, we used to be cool, Des.
You used to chill at my
house, hang with my peeps.
Remember when my Aunt
Delores came in from Flint
and made you them ribs?
I do.
And I actually think about them
sometimes 'cause they were bomb.
That's what I'm saying, Des.
Like, you weren't just some
music magazine reporter.
You became like shit, family.
[SCOFFS] Well, sometimes
family lets you down.
Oh, and you wanna be
honest? Let's get real then.
Why did you change the
paperwork in Dream Town's contract
to steal their publishing?
Why did you get Keisha
Beets fired from Radio Two?
Because she didn't wanna suck your dick?
[ERIC CHUCKLES]
Okay. Okay.
Dream Town had their
own independent lawyer.
It was their job to make
sure they understood
what they were signing
before they signed it, not mine.
And I had Keisha fired
because she was using
her dwindling platform
to spread lies about me.
Next question.
What happened with Allen Russo?
Did you have him killed?
Did I have [LAUGHS]
Did I have him what?
Des, do you hear yourself?
You've been watching
too many crime shows.
I thought you were gonna
answer my questions honestly.
Fine. No.
So you have no idea
what happened to him?
You sure about that?
Oh, shit.
[CHUCKLES] I know what this is about.
It's about you, Eric.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
This is about that music video
that I shot at my old house.
I told you to come through for a cameo
and when you pulled
up in that bathing suit,
it was like, oh, no, no, no,
so I put your ass at the back.
And everybody started laughing
because we all agreed that's
where the fuck you belonged.
Hey, but you still made
the final cut. You know why?
Because I'm a nice guy.
You thought you were nice.
You embarrassed me in
front of all those people.
I couldn't do interviews
without artists bringing that up.
They didn't think I
was helping a friend.
They thought I was a wannabe video ho.
And the worst part was
that you never defended me.
You liked the way the story changed.
People were even saying
you were telling that shit
at parties like nigga folklore.
But I was a journalist.
And then I became a joke.
It took me over five years
to build myself back up
personally and professionally.
Yet you, you get away
with fucking murder
and still end up with number one hits.
It's not right.
But that ends soon 'cause whether
you're found innocent or guilty,
I'll make sure the only
hits you get to have
are back shots from prison!
Yo. Yo, I was just joking.
But you are really mad
about this video shit.
Wow.
What did you want to happen, Desiree?
You wanna be all in the video?
And then for me to have me
take you into my guest house
and hollow you out?
Yeah.
That's what you wanted.
Hey.
You want it now, Des? Huh?
No, thank you.
I only eat dark meat on Thanksgiving.
Fuck you, Eric!
I have proof that you
had Allen Russo killed.
So while you in prison, I'll
call up your Aunt Delores
and ask her to make her ribs.
I'll be eating dark meat all year long.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
["SAVE THE HERO" BY BEYONCÉ PLAYING]
[BREATHING DEEPLY]
- [SOFTLY] I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- I lay alone awake at night ♪
- I love you.
- Sorrow fills my eyes ♪
- But I'm not strong enough to cry ♪
- [CRYING] I love you. I love you.
Despite of my disguise ♪
I'm left with no shoulder ♪
But everybody wants to lean on me ♪
I guess I'm their soldier ♪
But who's gonna be mine? ♪
Who's there to save the hero ♪
Oh-ooh-oh ♪
When she's left all alone ♪
And she's crying out for help? ♪
Who's there to save the hero? ♪
Oh-ooh-oh ♪
Who's there to save the girl ♪
After she saves the world? ♪
After she saves the world ♪
I bottle all my hurt inside ♪
I guess I'm living a lie ♪
Inside my mind, each day I die ♪
What can bring me back to life? ♪
- A simple word, a gesture ♪
- [REGINA SNIFFLING]
Someone to say you're beautiful ♪
Come find this buried treasure ♪
Rainbows lead to a pot of gold ♪
Who's there to save the hero ♪
After she saves the world? ♪
[ERIC] The fuck am I gonna do now?