American Woman

Previously on American Woman...

I feel like you women have it pretty good.

There are not a lot of options out there for us.

Believe me. I know.

He's so sweet and attentive.

But there's just no spark.

Sometimes I think I might not be his type.

You don't smell like you.

Yeah, I thought I'd try something new.

Your life is never gonna be the same without me.

I have a warrant for the arrest of Steve Nolan.

But Mr. Nolan doesn't live here anymore.

This is my house now.

Ugh...

["SILVER THREADS AND GOLDEN NEEDLES" PLAYS]

How long have you and Mr. Nolan

been married, Mrs. Nolan?

Um, almost 16 years.

And is it your intent to file for divorce?

I don't know.

I don't even know why he was arrested.

Well, according to the complaint,

your husband has been charged with two counts of fraud

for selling nonexistent beachfront lots in Florida

for a company called, uh,

"Vera Cruz Estates."

Does that mean anything to you?

No.

Vera Cruz Estates is a fictitious holding company

for several thousand acres of worthless swampland.

So it appears your husband

was involved in a pyramid scheme.

I'm sorry. I don't know what that is.

Uh, that's an illegal investment scam.

And that's why you now find yourself

in this situation that you are now in.

I'm not even sure if there is a way out.

Mrs. Nolan...

Mrs. Nolan?

Sorry to be the one to have to tell you this, but

you're bankrupt.

The only asset you have left

is the house.

Your husband put it in your name,

probably to protect it from creditors,

but the mortgage hasn't been paid for four months,

and the bank intends to start foreclosure

in the next 30 days.

I should have been more involved with our finances.

I don't even have a checking account,

because Steve said I couldn't handle money.

Is there no money left?

$126 in our joint checking account.

I took it out so Steven

couldn't spend it on his girlfriend.

Ugh, men. They're built to cheat.

Every time they take their pants off,

they see that one-eyed monster hanging there,

just begging them to get in trouble.

There's a visual I could have lived without.

I have to figure out a way to pay off the mortgage.

Oh, my God!

I'm so stupid.

I'll write a check for your mortgage.

What? No, I can't take money from you.

I'm happy to do it.

Kathleen, that's very generous,

but that would just be a Band-Aid.

I need to figure out

a solution for the long-term.

Plus, money has a way of messing up relationships.

Not so fast.

- I'll take a check. - What?

I have no problem taking money from friends.

You can make mine out to cash.

You're funny.

Becca?

- Jessica! - Ready, set, go!

Splashy, splashy!

Don't pull up...

Hey, Daddy, watch me!

I didn't mean to hurt you.

Then why did you?

I don't know.

Now, I know that's not a good enough answer.

But I want my life back.

I want to be with you and the girls.

Besides, you can't raise them

on your own. What are you going to do for money?

Thought I'd dabble in Florida real estate.

If we do this together,

we can make it work.

I know we can.

The girls miss you.

Yeah. I miss them.

And I... I don't want to lose any more time.

I couldn't even believe how much

Jess had grown in two weeks.

You know, it feels like yesterday

when she was born.

Do you remember that cocktail party

we had for the Bensons?

When you told me you were pregnant?

Of course, I remember.

I thought you were going to fall over.

Yeah.

Well, the doctor said we probably couldn't have one.

I mean, we were both just so over the moon.

Here, Jess...

Yeah.

Well, it's been a rough road lately.

But it wasn't all bad, was it?

No. It wasn't.

I miss you.

I want you to give me another chance.

We had a good life and we can put it back together.

Oh, and I...

I have this court date coming up.

And I want you there.

- In court? - Yeah.

I've never been in trouble before,

and my lawyer thinks, you know,

judge will go easy on me.

Especially if he sees that I'm a family guy.

I see.

Yeah.

Well, I might not have to go to jail.

Maybe just...

you know, probation, fine.

I'm not going to court with you.

You should leave.

Wait, you're mad at me because I need your help?

Say something.

You always need me to do something, Steven.

That's what our whole marriage was about.

You needed me to do something.

You needed me to take care of the girls or

make small talk with other wives at business dinners,

but when did you stop needing me?

- Steven? Just me? - Well, I do need you...

- I do need you. - No, you don't.

Don't lie.

Why don't you have any goddamn gratitude?

This life that you have:

I gave it to you.

All of it.

You know, when we were together,

you never had to worry about anything.

Maybe that was the problem.

Shit.

What's the matter?

There are no signatures on these loan documents.

- Shit. - Huh?

I didn't notice that.

What about the bird?

Did the bird notice anything?

Mr. Bishop?

I was gonna send these loan documents downtown,

but then I noticed that

they didn't have any signatures.

Oh.

These are for Arnold Taper.

Don't worry about it. It's not a problem.

I've known Arnold for 15 years.

I'll just give him a call and have him come by.

Back then, we didn't have half this paperwork.

We'd give loans on a handshake.

Gentleman's agreement.

When a man's word meant something.

Something else?

I heard that Craig Barron is moving to Arizona next month.

He is.

Well, I'd like to be considered for his position.

Of senior loan officer?

Yes.

Jeff is interested in the position.

I've been here almost a year and a half longer.

Mm-hmm.

And I have more experience

in the loan department than Jeff does.

Look, here's the problem

single gals like you never consider, Diana.

You don't have a family to support.

Jeff has a wife and two children.

And I take care of my mother.

So I also have a family to support.