- Previously, on "Ambitions..."
- Life as you know it is over.
Mother and I are going to throw you
a tasteful retirement party at the compound,
naming me your successor.
- Thought you'd like to see my latest
filmmaking project.
- You're more insane than I thought!
- I think I need to look up this Greg Peters's number,
sounds like he and I got a lot to talk about.
- Something's going on at Purifoy and I need to get
to the bottom of it.
You have no idea how much you just helped me.
- It's Ben, we have a problem.
- Hey, babe, where are you?
- On my way home with a box of your favorite cupcakes.
- Titus!
Excuse me. I'm looking for Titus Hughes,
they said he was on this floor.
I'm sorry, his room, please?
Where's my husband? - One moment.
- Where is Titus Hughes?! They said he was on this floor.
- Mrs. Hughes? - Yes?
- I'm Elizabeth, the charge nurse.
Your husband was taken directly from the ER
into pre-op, he's being prepped for emergency surgery.
- What? How bad is he hurt?
- He's bleeding internally.
Your husband's situation is touch-and-go,
but the best surgeons in Atlanta--
- I have to see him.
- I'm afraid that's not possible.
- You just said he was touch-and-go,
so that means he may not come out of this surgery,
so I have to talk to him!
- Just let the surgeons do their work.
Every effort will be made to save your husband's life.
There's nothing you can do for him right now.
- I'm sorry--how long will the surgery last?
- It could be hours. But afterwards,
they're gonna bring him to this floor to recover.
There's a waiting room right down there
and there'll be a doctor to update you
at the earliest possible moment.
- I have to go.
- Titus.
- Hell. Wish I could say I'm surprised to see you
with my shady-ass cousin.
- Darcia and I just made a sweet deal,
had catch you to share the great news.
You sell champagne in this dive?
- Whatever deal you think you made with that demon girl
might as well have been signed in invisible ink.
- Don't be so sure about that.
Read it and weep, couz.
- Let me know if you need any help with the big words.
- Doctors, lawyers, everybody said Uncle Senior
was in his right mind when he revised that will.
- Ain't no way in hell that's legit.
- The court said I was free to take possession
of my two-thirds ownership in Thelma's Place.
- Which she promptly sold to me.
- Thelma's Place can only be sold if Evan and I
sign off on it.
- I couldn't force the sale of Thelma's Place
in its entirety to Greg Peters Construction,
but according to Georgia law, since I jointly own
the restaurant with you and Evan Junior,
I was free to do with my share as I saw fit.
- It has been a pleasure doing business with you, Darcia.
- It wasn't enough what you did to my daddy,
and now you got to come for his and my mama's life's work?
- I had nothing to do with your father being killed.
And while I sympathize with your loss,
I am still a businessman.
- Now that I'm majority owner of Thelma's Place,
be on notice that future insubordinations by staff
will be severely disciplined.
I hope that's clear to you.
- Constance. Constance. What's all this?
- Mrs. Lancaster's evening gowns, sir.
- And you're throwing them away?
- She's following my orders, darling.
- Tell me why the next bullet shouldn't go between your eyes.
- Have you lost your goddamn mind?
You could've killed me. - If I wanted you dead,
you'd be bleeding out on the floor.
Perhaps...
Bella... would warn you.
I certainly wouldn't.
- That's why there's a pile of ballgowns
littering our foyer?
You've been listening to ridiculous gossip
about me and your seamstress?
- I had her bastard child's DNA tested, Evan!
I know he's yours!
- Joaquin is innocent, you had no right.
- Oh. Now isn't that telling?
You only manage to offer true emotion
when it comes to that woman's son.
If only you'd shown our children the same consideration.
- Look, Stephanie, I know you're hurt.
- Please, hurt?
I'd have to love you for that, and I never did.
- It's a pretty extreme reaction over someone you never loved.
- My reaction has nothing to do with affection.
I'm furious that you risked everything we built
over some... cliché tryst with the help!
This marriage is over. - Wait, come on.
Stephanie.
Consider our endgame.
The one where you transform Carlisle Perkins
into the nation's top black-owned law firm,
and I'm the first black governor of Georgia.
I don't need your help to achieve my goals, Evan.
As for your dream
of the Georgia governor's mansion?
Good luck making it come true without a Carlisle backing you.
- Our marriage means more than that to me.
- Prove it.
Your shell committee is the primary investor
in Bella Tru.
Sign over your shares to me.
- I can't do that.
- Divorce it is, then.
- I sincerely hope it was worth it.
Because you are no longer a part of this family.
- I guess it's a good thing I got enough of Peters's loot
to make sure I never have to depend on family ever again.
- How could you do this to us?
It's like you forgot everything good about how we grew up.
- See, Rondell? That's your problem.
You're stuck in the past
while I'm thinking about the future,
and a check with a whole lot of zeroes on it.
Good luck with Peters.
Something tells me you're gonna need it, couz.
See you around.
- Hey, how's it going? - Hey, Stephen.
Get your ass out of my chair.
- Before I physically remove you.
- Fine!
The seat... is yours.
For a few more days.
Oh! I spoke with Mother this morning,
and she assured me that planning for your retirement party
is coming along swimmingly.
Any special requests?
- What makes you so sure that I'm gonna go along
with your plot to overthrow me?
- Because you are aware of the consequences
of defying me.
If you aren't, I can certainly remind you.
- You know, your arrogance is gonna be
your undoing, Stephanie.
- About the party--
- Yeah, go ahead and plan the damn party.
But I can promise you one thing. Novak Petrovic?
He's not gonna be nearly as amused by your stunts
and inane antics as his son is.
- Let me guess, one of your mini schemes
in danger of blowing up in your perfectly made-up face?
- Hmm.
Enjoy your last few moments in my office, Daddy.
- Hello? - Amara? Oh, girl,
I must have called the wrong number,
I was trying to reach Titus for some legal advice.
Since my no-good brother ain't answering his phone.
- No, Rondell, you called the right number,
I'm on Titus's phone.
We're at Atlanta Mercy, he's been in surgery all night.
- What?
- He was hit by a car.
- Tell me what you need.
- This is ridiculous.
What, am I waiting for my blindfold and last cigarette?
- It's not an execution, Hunter.
- I'll be damned if it ain't.
And don't think for one minute I'm just gonna stand by idly
and let you sons of bitches kick me out of my own company!
This fight ain't over.
- Don't make this more difficult than it already is, Hunter.
- Business is business.
- Ladies, gentlemen. Think!
What you're suggesting is ridiculous.
Purifoy Pharmaceuticals is nothing
without a Purifoy at the helm.
- This isn't about the Purifoys.
This is about salvaging a publicly traded company.
There's talk of lawsuits pending in Michigan,
Oklahoma and other states.
Now, considering that our general counsel is in ICU,
this board has a responsibility to act swiftly.
- Ellen's right. There's even talk of a federal case.
- I told you cockroaches not to settle.
- We didn't have a choice thanks to you.
Our only option now is to change leadership.
- The Purifoys have successfully led this company
for almost six decades.
- And that comes to an end now.
- Negro, I'm gonna need you to call me back!
Darcia done sold her shares of Thelma's Place
to Greg Peters.
Okay, here you go, got your toothbrush,
a deodorant, baby wipes, a change of clothes,
some snacks and an Octavia Butler novel.
Your name's in there and I was sure to lock up.
- Thank you.
I don't know what I'd do without you.
- Any update?
- He's still in critical condition.
- It's gonna be okay, girl.
The doctors are gonna take care of Titus
and in the meantime, I'm here to take care of you.
You had anything to eat? Okay.
- Mrs. Hughes? - Yes?
- I'm Dr. Harrison, I'm one of the surgeons
who operated on your husband. - How is he?
- He's better today,
but he's not out of the woods yet.
We have him on pain medication so he may be
in and out of consciousness.
However, he is awake right now and he wants to see you.
- Okay. Thank you.
- It's right there.
- Dr. Maine to recovery.
Dr. Maine, please report to recovery.
- Hey. - Hey, baby.
- You gave me quite a scare.
- Somebody hit me. - Yeah, I know, honey.
It was an accident, it was a hit and run.
- No. No.
- What? - No accident.
- What? - It was... no accident.
- Titus?
- I'm sorry, Amara, Titus needs his rest.
- I love the changes, they're really gonna work well.
- I saw the colors-- - Uh, you'll forward those
adjustments to the caterer, Mason?
- Of course, Mrs. Carlisle.
And congratulations on your retirement, Mr. Carlisle.
- You wanna know where you can shove your congratulations?
- I'll pick up the samples later, okay?
- That was uncalled for. - Well, forgive me.
I tend to forget my proper etiquette
when I'm being plotted against by one of my own offspring.
- All of this could've been avoided if you listened to me
and stepped down from Carlisle Perkins months ago.
- You're enjoying this, aren't you?
- I beg your pardon? - You have been lying in wait
to snatch control of this firm from me ever since
I took it from your father, so now thanks to Stephanie,
here's your chance for retribution.
- Oh, Stephen, you're being ridiculous.
Would I have stayed with you all these years
if I harbored some deep-seated resentment against you?
Now, I've made it no secret
that I believe our daughter's time has come,
but I am not supporting Stephanie to hurt you.
- She is blackmailing me into retirement.
- But you left her no choice!
- You know me well enough to realize I cannot let Stephanie
have what she wants, not this way.
- Then don't do it for Stephanie.
Do it for me. Hmm?
Do it for us.
Don't you think it's time we did what we talked about?
Traveling more, spending time with Samantha,
Adrian and the grandchildren?
Baby, we are not getting any younger.
Hmm?
- You need to eat something.
- I don't have an appetite.
- It's gonna be alright, mija.
- Stephanie stood right here in my living room
and promised to take everything away from me,
including Joaquin.
- She has every right to be angry,
but she should take it out on her cheating husband,
not you, and certainly not my grandchild.
Mija.
Maybe it's time you considered leaving Atlanta.
- You were always so against the idea of me moving away.
Especially after I had Joaquin.
- Circumstances have changed, Isobel.
After everything you and Joaquin have been through,
from that kidnapping to that horrible incident with Perla,
I think getting out of Atlanta is your best bet.
And I can come with you and help you to settle in.
- I'm starting to get real traction with Corazon.
- Corazon Textiles has an office in Manhattan,
I saw it on their website.
- You've really put a lot of thought into this.
- I need you and Joaquin safe.
And the only way to accomplish that is to get you both
as far away from Stephanie and Evan Lancaster as possible.
- Can you tell me
where I can find Titus Hughes's room?
- Stephanie. What are you doing here?
You're the last person Amara wants to see right now.
- How's Titus?
- How is he?
- Amara. - My husband is fighting
for his life because of you.
- I didn't cause Titus's accident.
- It was no accident, Stephanie.
Damian did this.
- Okay, wait, who the hell is Damian?
- Tell your sister-in-law how you brought a man
from my past to Atlanta to wreck my marriage
because you still want my husband.
- Is this true, Stephanie?
- Amara.
I know that we haven't exactly been on good terms
as of late, but perhaps we can put our differences aside
for Titus's sake. - Oh, no, you know what?
You need to go.
- Amara. If this... Damian is responsible
for what happened to Titus,
he'll get what's coming to him.
I can promise you that.
- Come in.
- Mr. Mayor, your father-in-law is here.
- Okay to come in? - Thank you, Chloe.
- I'd hate to get comfortable just for you call your mall cops
in on me again.
- Don't make any thinly veiled threats
or attempts at coercion and that won't be necessary.
- Deal.
May I?
- So, what do you want, Stephen?
- A little ice would be nice.
- Thank you.
- So.
Are you aware that, uh, Stephanie is trying
to force me out of Carlisle Perkins?
- She's been plotting against you since she was
in nursery school, what else is new?
- Well...
The way I figure it, neither of us can afford
to let Stephanie have what she wants.
- Why exactly would I care either way
who helms Carlisle Perkins?
- Because there's no way in hell you'll ever be elected
the first black governor of Georgia
with a first lady who serves as consigliere
to Serbian gangsters.
- This... conversation might have given me pause
a few weeks ago, but it's starting to look like
your precious daughter and I
might not be married much longer.
- Let me guess.
She caught you tomcatting around on her?
Don't worry, son, I'm not judging you.
We all play around from time to time.
Including Stephanie.
- What are you insinuating, old man?
- Stephanie has been taking care of much more
than Greg Peters's legal needs.
For months now.
What are you and I going to do
to put that daughter of mine back in her place?
- Where am I?
- Hell. Or at least you soon will be
if you don't hand over all copies of the video footage
you illegally recorded from my office.
- Hmm. Now she's, uh... concerned about legalities.
- I don't have time for vapid conversation, Damian.
Either you hand over the footage,
or the gentleman that delivered you here will be back.
And he won't ask as nicely.
- You really are out of your mind.
- Said the pervert stalker with a voyeurism fetish.
- You might as well call your boy, Stephanie.
I ain't giving you shit.
- Very well, then, I will simply have you killed,
then track down the files,
while buzzards feast on your flesh
upon Kennesaw Mountain.
- Ooh. You're not gonna kill anyone.
You don't have it in you.
- Psycho bitch.
- Two cubes, please.
Thanks.
Are you okay?
- Better now that I'm here with you.
- That sounds like Stephanie is still on the war path.
- No, to hell with her.
Trust me, she is in no position to judge us.
- What happens now?
- I haven't figured it out, but I can promise you this much:
she won't be able to hurt you or Joaquin.
I'll keep you safe.
- Mami thinks me and Joaquin should move to New York City.
She even offered to come with.
- And what did you tell her?
Bella.
- Corazon has an office there.
I could work on my next collection
and expose Joaquin to all the culture--
- No. - It's a two-hour flight,
you can visit.
- I said no. Absolutely not.
You're not taking my son out of Atlanta.
- It's not your decision to make.
And Stephanie is never gonna back down.
- Stephanie is all talk.
- She broke in my home to threaten me and my son.
And how many times has she pulled a gun on you?
- I can handle her. - Just admit it.
You can't control your wife. No one can.
Stephanie will never stop coming after me
if Joaquin and I are still part of your life, Evan.
The only way to protect our son...
is for you and me to go our separate ways.
And this time for good.
- I'm not letting you and Joaquin go without a fight.
- You have no choice.
- Still ain't telling you shit.
- Stephanie! Stop! - You followed me?
- What the hell are you doing?!
- Help me. - Untie him right now.
I'm calling the authorities.
Whatever the hell this is, I'm putting a stop--
- You were right!
Damian hit Titus with his car.
He confessed. Just before you arrived.
- That's not--that's not true.
That's not. That's...
- Did you run my husband over and then leave him for dead?
- Of course he did!
He'd do anything to have you to himself.
- Just shut up, Stephanie!
- But you know it's true.
I would never have been able to convince him
to do my bidding if he wasn't obsessed with you!
- Get off of her! Get off! Damian!
- Damian, stop, let her go!
- He's dead.
- Amara.
We've gotta get out of here.
- We can't just leave him here.
- Think of what that animal did to Titus.
- You caused this! All of it!
- Alright, guilty as charged,
you can spend the rest of our lives
hating me for it, but we cannot stand here
and argue over a dead body!
We've gotta get the hell out of this cabin.
- No, I gotta call the police. We gotta call the police.
- And tell them what? That the man you had
an affair with is... dead by your own hands?
- I hit him to save your life!
- Can you convince the police
and the district attorney of that?
How about a jury?
- You're asking me to cover up a homicide.
Stephanie, I can't do that!
I'm not like you! I have a conscience!
- And what good will your precious conscience do for you
when you're in prison?!
- I'm not the one who kidnapped him
and brought him here to torture him!
- Okay.
Listen, Amara.
We're in this together.
And I will not let either one of us go down
for the likes of Damian Collins.
He isn't worth it!
You know that better than anyone!
Just... let my guys take care of this.
They can make it seem like we weren't even here.
- I don't know. I don't know, I don't know.
- Amara. Trust me. I've got this.
Go to your husband.
Go to him. I'll take it from here.
- Okay.
Uh... okay.
Rashid? I need you to get back to the cabin.
We've got a situation.
- Dad, Mom called me and she's worried.
What are you doing here on a Saturday?
- What's it look like? - Come on, let's go home.
- You know, I told your grandfather...
that it was a mistake going public.
I said it would open the door for those Ivy League
yahoos to come in and take over our family business.
Sure enough.
- We'll get the company back, Dad.
We are Purifoy Pharmaceuticals.
- So have you heard anything about that turncoat
Titus Hughes?
- Yeah, he's still in the hospital.
In critical condition.
- And he's getting exactly what he deserves, then.
He won't be blowing any whistles
with a trach tube in his mouth.
- You shouldn't talk like that.
Look, this is a minor setback.
It won't be long before you're back in charge.
- This is all Stephen Carlisle's fault, you know.
Bastard said he wouldn't stop until he ruined me.
Mission accomplished.
- I'm gonna call you a car service.
Hi, yeah, can I get a car service for my father?
And go directly to the house, no matter what he says.
Okay. Thank you. Bye.
I--
- As discussed, this will air tomorrow night,
you ready? - Let's go.
- This is Sharon Reed bringing you another
in-depth conversation with one of Atlanta's
leading movers and shakers.
It's an exclusive interview you don't wanna miss.
Tonight, I'm chatting with rising fashion designer
Isobel Trujillo, the Atlanta-born style maven
recently signed an exclusive contract with Fortune 500
luxury goods conglomerate Corazon Textiles.
Thanks so much for sitting down with us, Bella.
- Thank you, Sharon.
- Bella Tru.
The story is ripped right from a Horatio Alger novel.
Young woman, grows up poor in one of Atlanta's
most disadvantaged neighborhoods,
then uses social media to create her own fashion business.
So many of our local entrepreneurs,
they find success, then they leave Atlanta.
What about you?
- It's funny you should mention that, Sharon.
I recently considered moving Bella Tru to New York City.
In the end, I decided to stay put.
- What made you stay? - My son.
I never want him to run away from anything.
Come here, mijo.
Come on. Hey.
- What's your name, little guy?
- His name is Joaquin Trujillo.
And... his father is Mayor Evan Lancaster.
- Ow. Ow.
- Baby. Shh, shh, shh.
Easy, easy.
Honey, you just had surgery, be careful.
How you feeling?
- Never been better.
- I want you to just close your eyes and rest, okay?
- But you need to know.
Nothing. No one will ever come between us.
- I know.
Baby.
The police are investigating the hit and run.
And we both know who did this.
- They--
They-- - Damian.
And I promise you, baby,
he is never gonna hurt you again.
- No. It wasn't-- it wasn't him.
- What?
- It wasn't--
- Titus.
- Titus?
- No! No! Help me! Help me!
- Code blue. Room 212.
- Can you hear me?
- Still no pulse. Stay with me, Mr. Hughes.
- Starting CPR.
- No! Titus!
- No! No!
No!
- We're losing him!
Titus!
- We'll see you around. Okay.
- How did you pull off getting your old man to step down?
- I am a woman of many talents, Greg.
- Don't I know it.
Let's not be crass.
- You inspire me, Steph. - Oh.
- Maybe it's time I kick Novak to the curve,
then we can run the world together.
The only thing you and I will be doing together...
is making a lot of money.
Excuse me.
Ah. - Hey!
- Nice to see you. Oh.
I didn't expect to see you here tonight.
- Since when have I ever missed a Carlisle family function?
- Oh, well, considering you won't be a member
of the Carlisle family for much longer...
I doubt anyone would've missed you.
- I know you're sleeping with Peters.
You had the audacity to go on a gun-wielding tirade
about Bella when you're doing the man who killed my father?
- For the last time, Greg didn't kill Senior.
As for our... friendship. - Mm-hmm.
- Maybe if you'd been taking care of business at home
instead of soiling your Mexican tramp...
...we wouldn't be here.
- This is Stephanie, leave a message.
- Hey, boss lady, it's me. There's no body here.
- Now that we're co-owners of Thelma's Place,
we'll sure be seeing each other more
at these family shindigs, buddy.
- You know that warehouse you keep
down by the airport, Peters?
The one where you hide your family's dirty money
before you can clean it?
It's being raided... as we speak.
And this is just the beginning, buddy.
- It's time, Daddy.
- Indeed it is.
- Thank you. Welcome everyone.
This is the beginning of a new day for Carlisle Perkins.
I've had quite an amazing run as managing partner.
I have won quite a few sizable judgments
for my clients...
- ...and settled some massive cases.
Though none quite so lucrative as the 2.5 billion dollars
that my daughter Stephanie just recently scored
against Purifoy Pharmaceuticals.
- Thank you, thank you.
- Stephanie's big win caused me to take a long, hard look
at what I want for the future of Carlisle Perkins.
I decided to step down.
Making room for new blood and fresh energy.
But then... I was recently afforded the opportunity
to partner with one of the boldest iconoclasts
of our time.
Marvin, Marilyn, please, come join us.
Please join me in welcoming
Carlisle Perkins' newest clients,
Silicon Valley's own Marvin Barnes,
founder of BetaNu Electric,
and his wife, philanthropist Marilyn Barnes.
- Thank you, thank you, Stephen,
I can't think of anyone else I would rather represent
my interests as I continue to grow and develop my enterprises.
- Hey, I plan to do you proud, my friend.
Naturally, when Carlisle Perkins and the senior partners learned
that I was bringing on the Barnes and BetaNu,
they insisted that I stay on as managing partner
to oversee the accounts personally.
- I have one more announcement to make before
we get back to celebrating.
It is with bittersweet pride that the senior partners
and I confirm that my daughter Stephanie will be stepping down
from Carlisle Perkins to focus on her duties
as Atlanta's First Lady.
She will also be joining her mother and helping her
with the day-to-day operations
of the Samuel Perkins Foundation.
I'm quite sure that they will both make a formidable team.
- Alright, people.
Let's get back to the celebration.
Time to party!
- How did you pull this off?
- Well, I learned that Marvin was having trouble
with that pesky activist investor, Grant Creighton,
not to mention a grasping politician's wife
with a penchant for blackmail.
- You won't get away with this, Daddy.
- Well, you can thank Evan.
Oh, and... if you even think about using
any of that information that you have on Marilyn
or myself, for that matter,
I won't be the only Carlisle going to federal prison.
We will be one big happy family on the inside, my pet.
- I told you I was gonna pay you back, soror.
Consider tonight the first installment.
- Gloat now, Marilyn.
But you will rue the day you teamed up with my father
against me.
- Stephen Carlisle!
- How the hell did you get onto my property, Purifoy?
Somebody get this man out of here.
- You've ruined my life.
Everything I had is gone.
Everything my daddy built.
All of it. Just... lost.
Because of you.