- Previously on "Ambitions..."
- Tracy?
- Evan, call 911!
- I already told you, I'm not selling.
- You be careful out there.
Atlanta...
can be a rough city after dark.
- What you want?
- Several higher-ups in the Mayor's cabinet are on the take.
- Get that ungrateful husband of yours to play ball.
Stop smoozing and scheming trying to pull some power play.
- Show the people of Atlanta that the Purifoys
are heartbroken over this opioid epidemic.
- Steven Carlisle's been out to destroy my business for decades.
- Relationships have a way of becoming
complicated very quickly.
One second, you're having the best sex of your life--
- Why shouldn't we enjoy each other's company?
--and the next, you wanna kill him.
- I'd say he was about 5'10", 185 pounds.
- I'd put him closer to 200.
- Mr. Lancaster, I need you to put that shotgun away.
- I'll keep my shotgun wherever I damn well please.
This is a dangerous neighborhood.
- Clothes?
- Um...
saggin' blue jeans, white Jordans,
a gray hoodie, black skull cap.
- He had one of them girlie stockin' caps over his head
so we couldn't make out his face.
Whackin' the tabletops with a baseball bat.
- He came runnin' out of here,
headed north on English Avenue towards Wheeler.
- And who are you? - Inez Trujillo.
I work here. Live right across the street.
- And me and my father live upstairs above the restaurant.
- Was the assailant Black? White? Latino?
- Oh, he was one of us.
I was gonna shoot his ass if my daughter didn't stop me.
- Do you have a permit for your weapon, Mr. Lancaster?
- Don't need no permit for a shotgun in Georgia.
Stop tryin' to spin this back on us.
You know what's goin' down in this neighborhood.
You should've had more patrols out.
- You mentioned he said something.
- Yeah. He said, "You know what time it is, bitch."
- Me and my partner will file your report.
Make sure to keep your doors locked
during non-business hours.
- Y'all sorry.
You're sorry.
- Ms. Lancaster, Mr. Lancaster.
Be careful with that shotgun.
- You're the Mayor's freakin' family!
How can this be happening?
You should call him.
- I don't want Evan involved.
- This place just keeps getting worse.
- Rondell...
Maybe we should get outta here.
They've got those new townhouses over there on Buford Highway.
I could live closer to Bella.
- You can sell to that slime ball if you want to, Inez.
Thelma's Place is here to stay.
- Well, you know I'd never leave without you, girl.
You want me to open in the morning?
- I'm good.
Just plan on coming in for your regular shift.
- Okay.
I'll see you guys tomorrow.
Bye, Senior.
- Nite, 'Nez.
- She got a point, you know?
Peters ain't playin' anymore, Rondell.
- Neither am I, Daddy.
Peters thinks he can just come and scare me
into abandoning my mama's restaurant?
Uh-uh.
Over my dead body.
I had a dream we were in a little shack in the Caribbean.
And had the whole island to ourselves.
- Nice.
- No meetings, no deadlines, no photo-ops.
Just quiet.
- Well... being the city girl that I am, know what I think?
- What?
We should make some noise.
- Oh, alright.
- The Banks could be a thriving community
with just a little help, but the Mayor insist on
throwing services at the folks who don't even need it.
I want to know why.
Who does he owe?
And I wanna see his books. That's all I'm saying.
- Let's say that the Mayor's office
makes all of those records available to you?
Do you really-- - You still speaking to me?
- Haven't decided, you got something you wanna say?
- How about...
I'm sorry?
- Decent start.
- And I should've told you I'd seen Stephanie earlier.
- Makes me wonder why you didn't.
- Seemed easier not to.
- Because you have something to hide?
- Because I didn't want to have this conversation.
- Titus...
Do you still have feelings for Stephanie?
- Absolutely not.
- Then I don't understand why you went
rushing over there the first chance you got.
- Baby, she's opposing counsel.
I'm just trying to make this lawsuit go away.
That's it.
- When I suggested you pursue the position at Purifoy,
I didn't think that your first case would be
against Stephanie Carlisle.
- Forget Stephanie.
We came to Atlanta for us.
To make a new start.
- That's what you said you wanted.
To get our marriage back on track.
Was that just lip service?
- Lip service?
I got your lip service.
- You're always running out on me.
- I've already stayed too long.
- You can't keep doing this to me.
You're always talking about how it'll be better
once you're out of office and we're married.
But when is that going to happen?
And now you want to be governor.
I'm almost 30, Evan.
- At least you've already accomplished so much, baby.
- You promised me you'd help
turn Bella Tru into a fashion empire.
- Yeah, but what about--what about those outlets
I introduced you to that now carry your line?
- They're all local. I want to take my brand national.
- Relax. Okay, relax, you will, baby.
Now give me a kiss.
- No, I don't want to kiss you goodbye.
You can't keep doing this to me.
- How 'bout this?
Stop asking me to abandon my wife
when you're still screwing that football has-been.
He is so far beneath you.
The thought of you two together
makes me almost not wanna touch you.
I don't know what I would do if I saw you two together again.
- So, if I give him up, will you divorce Stephanie?
- I don't have time for this.
- Fine. Go!
But until you put a ring on my finger,
I'll screw whoever the hell I want.
- Not in the loft...
that I'm paying for.
- Fine.
- Hi, Mom. - Hi--
- Stephanie, is everything okay?
- I couldn't sleep, and I figured you'd still be up.
"The Edge of Night"?
- Classics never get old.
- What's on your mind, sweetie?
Where's Evan?
- Tonight, I was so proud watching my daughter
step in the spotlight as the First Lady of Atlanta.
And though you were beautiful, I never saw a smile.
Not a real one at least.
- Samantha and Adrian are off living their own lives.
I am the last Carlisle standing, the only one who gave a damn
about our family's firm.
- So why is Daddy punishing me for it?
- Of the many qualities I love about your father,
his insatiable appetite isn't one of them.
Plate's always full, but somehow there's always room for more.
More clients, more money, more power.
Feeding that man was sending me in circles.
I never smiled much those days either.
Took me years to realize that what I needed
was less Stephen and more Irene.
That's when I was able to go after what truly made me happy.
Night, sweetie.
- Good night.
- How's your week looking?
- High tea with the Falcons' wives in Candler Park.
Looks like the highlight.
- Don't forget the reading kickoff at Children's Museum.
- How could I forget that?
- Hey, don't pretend you don't love those kids
climbing all over you,
leaving chocolate paw prints on your designer suits.
- On my long list of First Lady duties,
I suppose reading to preschoolers isn't the worst.
- Hey. You used to love curling Trey and Carly up on your lap
with the story of the night.
- That seems like a million years ago.
Your favorite councilman's at it again.
He was on Georgia Public Television yesterday
disparaging you.
- Hamilton?
That guy's got the political instincts of a basset hound.
- You need to check him, Evan.
- I will, I will.
- One more thing.
You've been putting in a lot of late nights lately,
and I'm not the only one noticing.
- Are you talking about Saturday night?
The same night you put a gun to my head?
- Don't disrespect me.
- Thank you for seeing me, Councilman Hamilton.
- The prosecutor with the Department of Justice
says she needs to talk to me,
I'm inclined to make time in my schedule.
So, what can I do for you, Assistant US Attorney Hughes?
- I wanna talk to you about those statements you've been
making to the press about Mayor Evan Lancaster.
- So, Lancaster sent you?
I mean, he's the one who should be investigated.
- I work for the citizens of the United States,
not a local mayor.
In a recent television interview,
you took Mayor Lancaster to task, allegedly,
for failing to provide aid to poor communities like The Banks,
in favor of helping the rich get richer.
Pretty serious allegations.
- Are you aware that, uh, Atlanta has the widest divide
between the rich and poor of any city in the nation?
- That doesn't explain why you're all but accusing
a popular sitting mayor with being on the take.
Now, is this just politics as usual?
One political official tarnishing the reputation
of a rival to gain ground?
Or can you back up your veiled comments with facts?
- The US Attorney's Office is finally ready to take
a hard look at Lancaster's dirty cabinet,
and you want me to do your job for you?
Is that it?
- This was a waste of time.
- You really want the dirt on Lancaster?
Talk to his mistress.
- Hola, Mami!
- Where did he go?
Joaquin!
- There's my beautiful boy!
Ooh!
Were you a good boy for abuela?
- Yes, Mom. - You were?
Mami missed you so, so much!
- He missed you too.
- You know what I haven't been able to do this whole time?
Puh.
- Puh. - Puh.
Give me a kiss. Mwah.
You know what? I'm gonna talk to your abuela.
Go to your room and play, okay? - Okay.
- Beso. Mwah, okay. - Bye.
Guess what? - What?
- Someone came into Thelma's Place
and tried to beat up Rondell.
- What? Is she okay?
- Senior ran them off with a shotgun,
but what if he wasn't there or what if he hadn't heard them?
I mean, Rondell might have gotten killed.
- I hope she called the police.
- Waste of time, but she did.
Rondell thinks that developer Greg Peters is behind it.
- You both need to sell and get the hell out of there.
Take the money, leave, and don't look back.
- Just turn our backs on the neighborhood like you did?
- I have no regrets getting me and Joaquin as far away
from The Banks as possible.
We'll go even farther if I have it my way.
- You need to be getting far away from you-know-who.
I mean it, Isobel, that man will bring you nothing but misery.
- Your life's in danger in The Banks,
and all you think about is my situation.
- You're just a shiny toy to him, Mija, trust me.
I've known him since he was a boy.
Once Evan gets tired of you, he will throw you in a box
with all of the other trinkets he's discarded.
- No, Mami, You're wrong.
Evan loves me, and one day soon he's going to prove it.
You'll see.
- He's ready for you.
- Thanks, Chloe. - Yeah.
- What's next, Daphne?
- We should get into city transportation business.
- Business, hmm?
You keep looking like that around the office,
it'll be hard for me to get anything done.
- I can think of a few things you could accomplish.
- Mayor Lancaster, your father's on the phone.
He says it's important.
Yeah?
What?
When?
- I'm on the way.
Raincheck.
- Hey. You okay, Sis?
- Here you come, a day late and a dollar short.
Who called you?
- I did.
Your sister coulda been killed the other night.
- It was one of Peters' boys
tryin' to scare somebody, that's all.
- It wasn't one of Peters' guys. - How you know?
- Because you're both still breathing.
- You're gone allow folks to come up in here
and attack your own family?
- You know me better than that, Pop.
I already got guys canvassing the neighborhood as we speak.
- Boy, bye.
Ain't nobody in The Banks gone tell them busters shit.
You 'member the rules.
- Snitches get stitches.
- I'm glad y'all think this is funny.
- Pop, all he said was, "You know what time it is?"
- "Bitch." Don't forget the "bitch."
They broke one of my damn tables with that baseball bat.
- Where you going?
- To make sure this doesn't happen again.
- May I take your order?
- Not quite yet. I'm waiting for someone.
- If you describe them for me,
I'll be sure to direct them to your table.
- He is a handsome black man, who is quietly distinguished.
I think that would be a good description
for this particular old friend.
- I wouldn't exactly call us friends.
- If you showing up here is about Titus--
- It's about respect.
Stephanie, you don't get to text my husband
in the middle of the night.
- Amara, you and I are two strong, black women.
There's no need for us to fight over a man.
- Who's fighting?
Titus is mine.
- What is this?
The old Brandy and Monica song?
My text was only a request to set aside time
to discuss the Purifoy class action.
- Then you can reach Titus during normal business hours.
Don't let it happen again.
- I don't think we're quite finished clearing the air.
- Okay.
Let's.
So, what exactly do you wanna say to me, Stephanie?
Or is that too direct?
I recall you never like anybody coming straight at you.
- And I recall you like creeping behind my back.
That's how you got Titus.
- I simply valued something you discarded.
- As opposed to stealing something I valued?
- You know what? Since you brought up stealing,
what do you make of the rumors and allegations
against your husband's cabinet?
- Is this Amara the Federal Prosecutor speaking?
- Could be Amara your ex-best friend and sorority sister.
The one who knew you better than you knew yourself.
- You may have studied my every move back in college
because you so desperately wanted to be me,
but make no mistake...
you never knew me.
- You know, as fun as it is to remunerate on things that
happened 20 years ago, could we get back to the allegations
against Mayor Lancaster?
- It's obvious you've been watching interviews
of that idiot councilman, Kent Hamilton.
Only a fool would give credence to that imbecile.
- Well... I should get back to work.
- You should.
Civil service jobs are hard to come by.
- Don't underestimate me, Stephanie.
- Never again.
- No permit, no shoot. It's the law.
- How? It's a public park.
That means it's for everyone!
- It's for everyone that isn't shooting a film
without a permit. - It's not a film!
It's just a little presentation.
It'll take ten minutes.
I need my girls to walk the runway a few times!
What will it take for you to look the other way?
I'm sure your wife could use a new evening gown.
- I don't have a wife.
Is there something else you wanna do?
- You stay right here.
- It's about time!
- Just got a sec. You called?
- I'm inside the park at Piedmont and Tenth.
They won't let me shoot my presentation
without a park permit. I need your help.
- Why don't you just reschedule? - I can't.
There's a regional distributor expecting to see this tomorrow.
I'm only selling online right now.
If the distributor likes our presentation,
I could finally get my brand into actual shops and boutiques.
Don't tell me there's nothing you can do.
- I'm on my way to handle some urgent business.
If this can wait-- - It can't.
- It has to. Sorry, baby.
- Hey, Roderick, I need your help.
Yeah.
- Inez, now come on,
I can't be looking like no troll all over the Internet.
Will you help a sister out?
- I can't help you and hold the phone.
- Okay, you know what? Let's just do it.
The Banks is my home. - Wait, wait, wait, wait.
I just gotta get this. - Did you even--
- I got it, I got it, okay, go ahead, go ahead.
- The Banks is my home.
And I'll be damned if I let a colonizer have it.
That's why I'm putting together a coalition
to let these vultures know that we run these streets.
Our first meeting is tonight at Thelma's Place.
Be there-- - Ooh, geesh--
- Did you--
- I told you social media was Bella's thing, not mine.
- Look at the screen. - It's not broken, looks fine.
- Why would it turn off? - Because it fell.
- That's ridiculous. - Excuse me.
I was noticing you ladies having trouble.
Here, take mine.
- You're that councilman from TV--Kenny Hamford.
- Kent Hamilton.
The Banks is my district, so that makes me your councilman.
- How you gon' come rollin' up in here after all that mess
you talk about my brother?
- If your brother wasn't the second coming of Marion Barry.
- Ha. Excuse me?
- If there a way that I can help you, Ms. Lancaster?
- I'm fine.
- Look, I planned to come when I heard about the break-in,
but something came up in one of the community shelters.
It was late when I resolved it, so I came as fast as I could.
The truth is, I've been meaning to reach out to you
way before now.
- Reach out to me for what, hater?
- Thelma's Place.
It's an institution in the community.
And despite the antipathy I may have--
Tell you what.
How about I turn down the shade I throw at your brother?
- How 'bout you turn it off?
- Mm.
Then I want something in return.
- Thank you.
Uh-oh.
You have that predatory gleam in your eye.
- Yes, Stephanie's planning a press conference soon
announcing the Purifoy class action filing.
It's just a matter of time before we put those drug pushers
out of business.
- That girl is always turning herself inside out
trying to please you.
She took on your battle with Hunter.
And I hope you've noticed all of her hard work.
- Mm-hmm.
Stephanie's got her own reasons for going after the Purifoys.
She wants to replace me.
- Well, would that be so terrible?
It's her time, Stephen. And yours.
You've earned retirement.
Let her have the firm.
She'll do you proud.
- Stephanie put you up to this, didn't she?
- Not everyone plots world domination
before their second cocktail, dear.
- Thank you.
- Uh, Evan, darling, join us.
- I didn't come to socialize.
You went too far, old man. - What?
What are you babbling about? - Don't try to play me.
I know what a ruthless bastard you can be.
I've seen it firsthand.
You remember? You forget?
I used to work for Carlisle Perkins.
I know how you like to scare people into making deals.
- What people?
How dare you come in here accusing me?
- Everybody calm down--
- No. Not until this son of a bitch understands
he's messing with the wrong family.
He sent some goon with a bat to terrorize my sister.
Now, whether Rondell sells that restaurant or not,
you're gonna leave her the hell alone.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
I think you better back the hell up, boy.
I will not be spoken to that way in my own home,
in front of my wife.
- Who you calling boy, old man?
Now, you're gonna get this warning one time.
Go near my sister again, you'll be sorry.
- Oh hush, Evan.
Stephen didn't send anyone after your sister.
I did.
- The intent wasn't to harm Rondell or Senior,
merely to scare them.
- Why would you--
- The English Rose Development will benefit us all.
The sooner it goes through,
the quicker we'll be rid of that vile Greg Peters.
- So you send some thug after my sister?
- Oh, would you rather it have been one of Greg Peters' hitmen?
I'm trying to keep us all safe.
- Hey, looks like she's got you there, Evan.
- You know how close my father came to shooting your messenger?
What do you think would happen if word got out
that the Carlisle matriarch hires thugs?
- That information better never leave this room.
- It won't, dear. Evan's family.
- I may be married to your daughter,
but Rondell and Senior are my blood.
Never forget that.
- Did not know you had that in you, sweetheart.
- After 45 years of marriage to Stephen Carlisle,
one picks up a few tricks.
- Mm.
That's some good eatin'.
- Now you know why they call my mama
the Julia Childs of the hood.
- Are you telling me there's a Thelma's Cookbook
somewhere I can get my hands on?
- Naw, she never got around to that.
- So, that means there's room for a "Rondell's Cookbook."
- Boy, bye!
I got signatures to collect and work to do.
And so do you, Mr. Councilman.
- I'm workin' right now.
- You just don't quit, now do you?
- Like I said, I think we're aiming towards the same thing.
I think you might be hiding a people's champion
underneath that apron.
- Nah. I mean, I don't know about all that.
I'm just a girl from The Banks
that doesn't want to see my home disappear.
- I get it.
My parents raised me in a house in Old Fourth Ward.
What's there now? Flipped houses and overpriced condos.
- So you ain't even from The Banks?
- Hmm-mm. Taught high school here.
Fell in love with the people,
thought I could help make things better.
- Hmm. You know, Councilman Hamilton--
- Call me Kent.
- Kent...
if it wasn't for all that smack you talk about my brother,
I think we could be friends.
- Mm. Well, I promise you, Rondell Lancaster,
we could be more than just friends.
But for now, let's just focus on saving The Banks.
- What you lookin' at?
- Got anything good for me?
- Talk about a loaded question.
- I was referring to the assignment I gave you.
- A guy can dream.
Your boy Titus is clean.
- What about the wife?
- Our Ms. Amara is a naughty, naughty girl.
- Go on.
- Hooked up with a co-worker.
Another Fed by the name of Damian Collins.
- She cheated on Titus?
- And got a raise and a promotion in the process.
- Together, they prosecuted one of the biggest meth dealers
in Birmingham history.
- So, what's the deal, Boss Lady?
Why are you so interested in their marriage?
- Nick, I pay you to answer questions, not ask them.
- Whatever you say.
- Amara Hughes,
you hypocritical, lying little slut.
Hmm.
- I told you 20 minutes ago you and your people need to leave.
- If you would let us finish, we could be out of your way.
- Ma'am, Ma'am, you have to leave right now, okay?
- Hey. - Roderick, please help.
- What's up? - Hey.
- Mr. Johnson, you understand my situation.
- 'Course I do, but let me holler at you, bruh.
So, how can I make this work?
- I can't. This--
- Thank you.
Appreciate you.
You got 45 minutes. - Oh!
What'd you give him?
- Ain't nobody passing up floor tickets to a Hawks game.
- There you are.
- I've been looking all over for you.
- Roderick Johnson!
I wasn't sure I'd be able to catch up with you.
Ms. Tru, you and Roderick seem joined at the hip.
- That's just his reward for lookin' out for me.
- Hmm.
- What's up, Mayor? - I was on the other side
of the park surveying a parcel of land the city wants to buy
for the park's expansion, I will be damned if one of the staff
didn't say there's a Roderick Johnson sighting over here.
- Bella was having a problem with a permit
for her video shoot. I got that cleared up.
- Your sway in this city is exactly why I sought you out.
- Mayor Lancaster, I only have 45 minutes
to finish my video.
I hate to be rude-- - Well, then don't be.
Now, just this morning, my cabinet and I greenlit
a brand-new "Visit Atlanta" PR campaign.
We're recruiting all the celebrities
to promote why they love Atlanta.
- I'd be perfect for that. - So we can count on you?
- I'm down for whatever you need.
- Alright. - So is Bella, right?
- Well, Bella's not a big enough celebrity.
No offense, but she's not quite at your level.
- Have you seen how many social media followers she has?
If I was putting together this campaign--
- But you're not. Now can we count on you?
- I think you're missing out, but sure.
- I'll be in touch.
Good luck with your shoot, Ms. Tru.
- Am I dreaming?
You're home early.
- And you'll notice...
I got my chef gear on.
- Wow.
I could get used to this.
- Well, there are some benefits to corporate counsel
versus a one-man law firm.
I know building my practice caused issues for us.
So, how was your day?
- Good.
Had lunch with Stephanie.
- Should I be afraid?
- No.
Not at all.
Said what I needed to say and kept it moving.
- Okay. Well...
Stephanie is not a factor.
- I like the sound of that.
- I'm all about you, baby.
Our marriage is my first priority.
We've had our challenges, but--
- Yeah, but that's all over.
We're here.
Still together.
Nothing but a bright future ahead.
- The only thing throwing me off is Deja being away.
I really miss her.
- I know... a daughter claims prime real estate
in a mother's heart,
but I am willing
to fill that space 'til Deja gets back.
- Well, sir, it is a large space.
- Large space? - Mm-hmm.
You may have to put in lots and lots of work.
- Good thing...
I'm an overachiever.
- What are you gonna eat?
- Alright, alright, everybody, settle down!
Settle down!
As y'all all know, Greg Peters Construction
is planning a project right here in The Banks.
- Peters upped his original offer to me just yesterday.
I'm thinkin' 'bout selling and moving to Snellville.
- I didn't invite y'all here to fantasize about moving.
I brought y'all here so we can figure out
how to save The Banks!
Tonight's the first meeting of our neighborhood organization
I'm calling NAG.
N-A-G.
You know what that stands for?
- Neighbors Against Gentrification.
- Well, everybody, welcome Atlanta City Councilman,
Mr. Kent Hamilton!
- Who invited him?
- Daddy, just be quiet.
- How's everyone doing this evening?
- I'd be better if the street in front of my house
wasn't covered with potholes.
- Tell it to him, there's our tax dollars working for him.
- When's the City gon' do something about them dope fiends
hanging out in the alley all night by my place?
I can't even put my trash out at night in peace.
- Listen!
Listen.
Yes, tonight's NAG meeting
is about stopping developers
and improving our neighborhood.
Everybody, listen, together, we can make The Banks
a safe and thriving place to raise your families
and run your businesses, and yours.
- Rondell, yo' brother know you hanging out with the dude
who be talkin' so much smack about him on TV?
- Big Charlie, I'm a grown-ass woman.
My brother don't run me, okay? - That's right.
Now you heard her, sit down.
Sit yo' greedy behind back down and be quiet.
- Now, for the rest of y'all...
if you're not with NAG,
you're for that stankin' ass Greg Peters.
So what's it gonna be?
- We're with you, Rondell!
- 'Cause I'm gonna need all y'all's help to get enough
neighborhood signatures for that injunction against Peters.
- Pass it around.
- N-A-G! N-A-G!
N-A-G! N-A-G!
- Looks like you just became your local activist,
Ms. Lancaster.
- N-A-G! N-A-G!
- That's right, y'all.
- N-A-G! N-A-G!
N-A--
- Come on, baby.
Thank you for helping Mommy.
Are you Mommy's little helper today, huh?
- Mr. Evan!
- Hey!
There he is.
- There he is.
Ooh boy.
Oh, you're getting so big.
Hey, I got a surprise for you.
You ready?
Have you ever used a tablet before?
No?
Push this button right here, and you know what that is.
That's pretty cool, right? - Mm-hmm.
- Big high-five.
Alright, you wanna play with that in your bedroom?
- Mm-hmm.
- What are you doing here?
- Can't a father stop by to see his son?
- Head's up, they're bringing the mayor's mistress in.
- If these allegations are true,
you could be looking at serious time in federal prison.
- Why'd you keep this from me?
- Stay in your lane.
- You got balls the size of Montana.
Hell, I like it.
- She said I'll fall first and the hardest.
- No one's falling.
- I can secure Thelma's Place for you.
- I'm starting to think I've been dealing
with the wrong Carlisle.
- We have to cool-- - Are you dumping me?
- You and Daddy couldn't give Greg Peters what he wants.
Now I have the situation in hand.