Emperor of Ocean Park

Previously on Emperor of Ocean Park...

The judge left some sort of arrangements behind,

contracts, maybe files.

Could be nuclear codes, for all we know.

A handsome guy like you, I bet you got

some rhythm to go with all those good looks.

I'm Maxine, by the way.

Has anyone been following you?

I haven't seen anybody. Why?

It is over. No more research.

Good luck to Sharik, 'cause I'm pulling his retainer.

I'm protecting our family, Mariah.

You need to try it sometime.

Truth. I am chasing the truth.

Oh, the truth? You gave up.

You glommed on to some rich white dude

and found yourself a mansion to hide in.

Fuck you, Tal.

Something's going on between you

and somebody else.

End it, or end us.

- To Abby. - To Abby.

None of us went off the deep end like Dad.

Losing Abby tore him up.

Abby was his baby.

Still hits me sometimes,

this rage that they never caught the guy.

The judge had this scrapbook.

It was filled with hit-and-runs.

If you would join us, together with your help--

Stop!

I didn't destroy the judge's scrapbook.

I figured if Addison wanted me to get rid of it that bad,

it must be important enough to keep.

- No. -

- - Abigail.

So are we just supposed to sit in silence or--

Let's talk schools.

Which way you leaning?

Harvard?

Howard?

Princeton?

I was thinking UNC.

What's in North Carolina?

This better not be about some boy.

Actually,

it is about a boy.

He went to UNC, and he's going to be the next president.

Is that what this is about, John Edwards?

He hasn't even announced he's running.

Oh, any day now.

And when he does, we're ending poverty

and getting universal health care,

all by redistributing your wealth.

We've been driving all over New England

visiting schools.

How did I end up with you

as a daughter?

Karmic punishment for all your evildoing, obviously.

Excelsior, my son, Excelsior.

Uncle Mal.

Sorry for calling so late.

Can you get me the phone number for Representative Paul Derry?

Yeah, from Wisconsin.

Actually, you know what?

Can you just get me his address?

Morning.

Did you poison this?

Arsenic with half-and-half.

Mm. Mm.

You were right, and I'm sorry.

A Mariah Garland-Denton apology.

What's the weather like in hell right now?

Stop. I'm serious.

I was having a hard time

accepting my dad's death, and...

I may have taken things

a little too far.

And I took time away from you and the kids and our home,

and that wasn't fair, and I'm sorry.

But all that's done now,

and all of my attention is back here at home.

Morning.

Mom?

Szuza, where's the, uh, olive oil spray?

And, uh, the onion powder?

Thank you. And the cheese grater?

I am making omelets.

Omelets? Tuesdays we usually have smoothies.

OK.

We can do smoothies.

Smoothies, smoothies, smoothies.

Smoothies coming up.

If we want the kids to come visit us this winter,

we have to convince them that they're not

stepping into a frozen tundra.

I'll have a contractor come take a look.

Where do you think you're going?

To hang out with Vanessa.

Claire, honey, I'll ring you back tonight.

Love you.

What about all that talk about

coming back from your college tour

so we could spend some time together before school starts?

That's still the plan,

after I hang out with my friends.

Abby.

This is my last free weekend before senior year.

I just want one last fun weekend

before I'm drowning in college applications and school again.

So can I go?

Please?

No.

We can go get some ice cream.

That'll be fun, right?

Come on.

Can I help you?

Hello. Hi.

I'm hoping to speak with Congressman Paul Derry.

This is he. What does this concern?

It concerns your daughter Bethany.

Best I could do on short notice.

Thanks.

I was sorry to learn about your dad.

He was a good man. I always admired him.

Did you two know each other pretty well?

The world of politics is small.

We'd met a few times.

We were friendly but not exactly friends.

I was under the impression that you two

might have been pretty close.

Really?

I found a clipping about your daughter

Bethany's accident in my dad's belongings.

I assumed it was because he knew you well.

Abby and Bethany had a lot in common,

unfortunately, including the way they died.

If I had to hazard a guess,

I think that's why he may have had that clipping

and came to the funeral.

I'm sorry, my father came to Bethany's funeral?

Came, stood respectfully near the back, shook my hand,

offered his condolences, and left.

Congressman, does the phrase "Excelsior, Excelsior"

mean anything to you?

No. Should it?

Just something my dad used to say.

I wish I could help you, but I don't know.

- Still want that cup of tea? -

Call me when school's out,

and walk directly from class to practice.

And under no circumstances are you to walk alone.

OK, you don't have to walk me

all the way to the classroom door.

Malcolm, I'm serious.

I said OK, Mom. Chill.

Judy.

Hi.

Don't you look nice today, Mariah?

- You holding up OK? - I am.

I'm feeling much more like myself.

- Aw. - Um, how are you?

How's Spring Gala planning going?

I know I've missed a couple meetings.

Oh, we understand. You've been through a lot.

That date just keeps getting closer and closer,

and there is still so much to do:

the decorations,

finding a photographer, sponsors.

Well, I am all freed up and available to you.

You just tell me what you need, and I'll do it.

- - Oh, mm.

You are a lifesaver.

I don't know how you do it all.

Ugh, you would be surprised what you can accomplish

when you suppress your own ambitions

and deny your hopes and dreams.

Oh, you're so funny.

I'll sample cake batter, please.

All right, here you go.

Anything for you?

No, thank you.

I know what I want.

Dad, you have to try this one.

Old reliable butter pecan for me.

He'll try cake batter.

Here you go.

And?

It's good.

I'll still take butter pecan, but it was good.

- Hey, what's up? - Where are you?

Stuck getting ice cream with my dad.