What do you want, Micah?
I want this to stop.
Then tell the truth.
We don't have to be at odds.
We loved each other once.
And you inspired me.
I'm willing to say that.
That you were the inspiration behind Discard.
Rose, tell Poppy you were mistaken.
Lie.
That's what you mean, right? Lie.
-Is it though? -Yes.
You've told the story so many times, you might feel like it's your life,
but it's not. It was mine.
Not all of it.
The attack in the club, that didn't happen to you.
It happened to me.
You said he attacked you because you were an outsider.
He attacked me because I'm Black.
-You can't erase that. -That story was about vulnerability.
Coming home from school and finding
that your foster parents have moved and left you behind.
No warning.
Whose story was that?
-Rose, listen-- -Whose?
Tell me the truth if you can't tell yourself.
The truth is bigger than both of us.
I have thousands of girls who need me.
You took advantage of me.
Exploited Holt's devotion.
-That's not true. -It's not a lie.
Holt's DNA changed when he fell in love with you.
Broken boy meets broken girl.
Her jagged edges cut him to shreds.
You remember that loft we squatted in on Minna?
Well, you can live a life there.
It's yours.
If I do what?
Be careful.
Okay, I'll be careful.
-All right. Right about here. -Okay.
There?
-Have faith. There we go. -We got it?
Yeah. I don't know if it's crooked or not. Let me see.
-That's nice. -Yeah.
James Baldwin once wrote that to accept one's past, one's history,
is not the same thing as drowning in it.
It's learning how to use it.
But an invented past can never be used.
It cracks and crumbles under the pressures of life
like clay in a season of drought.
The drought has officially begun for Micah Keith.
A seismic reckoning for decades of deception.
The question is, what happens now?
Micah's deception was emotional criminality.
She took advantage of the most vulnerable amongst us
and exploited the pain for her own profit.
And almost everyone she touched has felt the repercussions.
My own reckoning looms as well.
For the choices I've made...
the people I've hurt in the process.
This story has forced me to be honest about my own mistakes.
My own reporting.
I didn't set out to expose Micah.
My only goal was to solve
the murders of Joshua Keith and his son, Drew Turney.
All right.
It's Rose.
-Hello? -The hospital discharged me.
Don't leave. Don't leave. I'll be right there.
Why are you the one to get Rose?
I don't have a choice.
She doesn't have a place to go.
Why do you need to see her so badly?
I listened to my interview with her last night,
and she said Josh was threatened because of his documentary.
We knew that.
-But how did she know that? -I don't know. Maybe Josh told her.
Maybe she knows more than she thinks.
Is this about Micah?
Why are you still protecting her after the way she betrayed you?
I want Micah held accountable. I don't want her dead.
Understood.
Customer service can help with any product returns.
I'll transfer you now.
You've reached Shelter. How may we enhance you?
Leave the phone off the hook. What happened?
When we got here this morning, there were people out front. Angry people.
-They pushed in, grabbing products. -Take a deep breath.
Okay, as long as no one was hurt, it doesn't matter.
Where's Ivy?
She just finished up with the board.
There was no board meeting on my calendar.
Ivy asked me to remove it.
I understand,
but people are canceling subscriptions by the thousands. Okay.
Give me five minutes to handle this. I'll meet you in your office.
No, because Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's both dropped the skin care line.
I don't know. That's what I said.
No, no, no. I need to call you back, okay?
How do you want to play this?
The board is moving to replace you.
With who?
The board approached me.
You want to try to replace me from my own company?
You didn't leave me a choice.
Okay.
Let's test this out then.
Let's see who people are more loyal to. You or me.
You know, this doesn't have to be a fight.
It won't be.
Sorry.
Hey, Rose.
I'm glad you called me.
They needed my bed, so off I go.
Well, I brought you a couple of things.
Clothes, shoes, hygiene products, a little money to get you started.
Thank you.
Can you help me with a couple of questions?
You said Josh was threatened because of his documentary.
What did you mean by that?
I went to his screening a few months ago, and I saw him get into an argument.
The guy got in his face and threatened to kill him.
Did you get his name, by chance?
But he looked like one of those high-steppers.
High-steppers?
Any of these look familiar?
That's him. That's him right there.
Send that to Aames. See if he knows who it is.
-You sure he threatened Josh? -Yeah, I saw him.
He didn't see me.
Micah was here.
She offered me a place to live for my silence.
I'm not gonna lie about my life.
It's the only thing I have. Good or bad.
If you need a place to go, I can help you.
How?
My sister looked into a couple of shelters.
There's one in Albany, one in El Cerrito.
I can take you to either one. Help you get settled in.
You can just wipe your hands of me?
That's not my intention. I just want to help.
Both facilities are nice, clean.
Where you going?
Micah came here to shut me up.
-You came here to use me. -That's not true.
Better off looking out for myself.
Okay. I heard back from Aames.
The guy Rose identified is Martin Haywood.
And until a couple of weeks ago, he was SFPD.
-Are you serious? -Yes.
Aames wants to meet us in the morning.
Okay. Follow up with him, and I'll connect later.
Hey, Daddy. It's me. I'm on my way.
I want to share the whole story about Miss Shirley.
Not just what I told on the podcast.
If your daddy really loved you, he wouldn't be in jail.
She never did things that people could see.
She made me feel unwanted, a burden.
Then it was words.
She was real good at cutting me with those.
The more she got to know me,
the more creative she was about what would hurt me.
I had been there a month,
waiting to hear from Daddy, wondering why he hadn't written to me,
when I saw a letter on the table.
She wouldn't let me read it, open it or touch it.
I begged. I pleaded. I cried.
She just laughed at me.
It sat there for about a week.
Finally grabbed it and ran.
When she caught me, I was screaming at the top of my lungs.
Even though she wasn't touching me, I just kept screaming.
She...
She grabbed it and threw it in the fireplace.
And as soon as the flames caught the edges of that letter,
I couldn't utter a sound.
It was like it ripped my voice right out of my chest.
For good.
I never spoke another word after that.
What-- You've been holding this in all this time?
Why didn't you say anything?
Remember, you gotta stay strong.
Don't cry.
Nobody cares about a little Black girl's tears.
You did what you had to do to survive.
I'm sorry.
For what?
All the times I diminished what you went through.
No, that's not your fault.
Then whose fault is it?
Daddy.
I'll go talk to him.
What are you doing here?
Your father gave me his key, but I decided to be respectable.
-And you decided not to get shot. -Yeah, that too.
-Would you like a drink? -Yes, please.
Whiskey?
The nectar of the gods. Sounds yummy.
So?
So, tell me something. Do you hate me?
That's gotta be rhetorical.
And I ask because you're about to go on trial over your behavior
as it pertains to the death of Owen Cave.
A death that happened in that room.
And now you tell the world that you let someone else die.
What do you want me to do? It's out there now.
There's a world where we lean into Miss Shirley's abuse of you.
Create sympathy.
But we're gonna have to get in deep, and I gotta know if you can do it.
Do I have a choice?
We all have choices, but not if you want to keep the house.
One of my neighbors wants to buy it.
I've been shipping Ingram's things.
This isn't home anymore.
It hasn't been since Owen Cave...
killed himself here.
You've been through a lot.
But you are a formidable woman.
And you do a lot of good in the world, even through your pain.
That's worth something.
Who the hell are you?
Well, funny you ask.
I-- Couple of years ago,
I did some of those ancestry researches.
I wanted to find out about my history. Who's responsible for all this glory?
Martin Haywood is a true believer in the Sons of Ivar.
I planted him undercover a few years back, and the snake took to the swamp.
I'm assuming this has to do with why he's no longer with the force?
-There's more than that. I fired him. -Holy shit.
Yeah. He was able to play both sides for a while,
but it caught up with him.
He's been using an alias on Parler to champion Ivar.
He's even made some financial contributions to the National Chapter.
That's what got IA onto him.
How'd that happen?
Usual bullshit.
Bitter divorce. The wife took the kids. It's the same with a lot of these men.
Yeah. He hated Josh 'cause Josh disavowed the Sons.
So Haywood had motive.
That's not enough for the DA. It's a start.
We need evidence or an eyewitness.
Okay, just tell me this. Do you think he could be our killer?
It's hard to say. He's got an alibi.
He was with SOI at an initiation ceremony
the night that Joshua and Drew were murdered.
He's got sworn statements.
Could be lying.
You think you could find out who was initiated
or supposed to be initiated that night?
That could be the road for us.
You don't make off the books very easy,
but I will see what I can do.
You guys be careful, both of you.
Haywood has come loose at the seams. I don't trust him.
So if he used police resources to cover his tracks, maybe he left a trail.
So, stick my head all the way in the lion's mouth?
Welcome to my life.
-All right. -Thank you, brother.
How am I dating a cop?
I mean, a fine cop, but it's not usually my style.
Top you off with another one?
-Why not, right? -Yeah.
-Markus Killebrew. -Desiree. What's happening?
Markus.
Hey.
-I'm glad you're here. -I got your message.
Where the Capstones at?
Elk. Fellas, what's happening? You--
Drea?
Sweetheart, are you okay?
Nando, call the police and the paramedics.
Desiree, can you take her outta here, away from the eyes?
Yeah. Could I get some officers at The Knock? Shattuck Avenue and 54th.
-Drea. Hi, I'm Desiree. This is Markus. -Hey, sweetheart.
We're friends with your mother.
So, why don't we go upstairs and wait for her
while Markus tries to reach her? Okay?
-It's okay. -Come on, baby. It's okay. It's this way.
Come holla at me outside.
So this is the guy who was supposed to be initiated
the night of Josh's murder.
Let's see if he'll back up Haywood's alibi.
Kyle Richter?
My name's Poppy. I'm a reporter working on a story.
Was hoping you'd have a minute to talk.
About?
The Sons of Ivar.
Nothing to say. I really don't have anything to do with that group anymore.
I'm sorry, is that an M40A5?
Once upon a time in Texas, I had a rat problem.
That was the best way to deal with it. And the most fun.
What else have you got back there? Can I?
This is a Marlin 336A
and a Remington 540XR.
Not bad.
Is that your father?
Military man?
Saw his name on the mailbox.
He's dead.
I'm sorry.
Yeah, that must've been hard.
You should go.
My dad was a Texas Ranger and military. Vietnam.
I can only imagine what it must have been like as a guy.
What happened the night of your initiation with Martin Haywood?
-Does he know you're here? -No.
And he never needs to know.
What happened that night?
Martin was a no-show. He missed the whole thing.
So Martin Haywood doesn't have an alibi.
Nope. Lied.
Have all the people at the initiation to back it up.
Just got an email blast from Shelter.
Looks like your friend's attempting to rise from the ashes.
The accusations lodged against you have--
Well, attacked the very core of everything I've tried to accomplish
and build here at Shelter.
We are about empowerment, female empowerment, from our inception.
For another woman to be the architect of this damaging campaign.
And what's being lost in all this is the work I do.
I didn't ask for this position. I wrote a book.
And it struck a chord.
It gave me a platform
to be able to show others how to turn adversity into strength.
And I say it because I believe it.
-What's next? -Getting back to the core.
Which is why I'm very much looking forward to my weekend wellness seminar
at Tilden Regional Park.
Which I hope anyone watching and everyone watching can make it.
Baby? You ready?
You know, traffic is a beast on the bridge at this time of day,
so we need to head out.
I'm not going.
I'm not trying to hear any of that, Shreve. Now, let's go.
I mean what I said.
Elk told me where they found Drea
and what they saw when they went in there to pull her out.
How could shit like this happen in my neighborhood
and I have no idea about it?
Used to be nobody made a move unless the Capstones gave a nod.
This isn't your fault, Shreve.
These appointments have been nothing but distractions.
Now, don't use that. You know that's disrespectful.
I'm not going. Ever.
Baby, I know that you're upset about being sick.
But what you're really upset about is Poppy
and what she told the family.
You two are so much alike.
She's more like you than the other two combined.
Share your pain with her so she can share hers with you.
Martin Haywood. Stop number two on our creepy man tour.
Well, we've been scarier places and interviewed scarier men.
Yeah, but then we had the might of the Times behind us. Now...
I just wanna interview him. Ask him some questions.
Shit. All right, let's do it.
Is Haywood running a meth lab back here?
This place is giving me the creeps.
Let's just-- Let's go.
-Okay. -Come on.
What's he doing with boxes of Shelter products?
What?
-Hi. -Hey.
This is not a good idea.
Why not?
Because it is dangerous.
None of the attendees have been fully vetted.
These people love me.
I called, and they came.
You keep doing this, you're going to destroy Shelter.
Can I get your attention, everyone?
-Hi. Welcome. -Hi, Micah.
So, we have a new speaker this evening,
Ivy Abbott.
And she's gonna start us off today.
Go ahead. The floor is yours.
Why don't you lead us in the burning ceremony?
That's a great idea.
Thank you.
If I can ask you to take out whatever item you brought here today.
A burning ceremony signifies...
a cleanse.
There is fire in renewal.
Take a moment and think about what your item represents to you.
How is it holding you back?
How does it represent your pain?
Your limitations?
Your failures and your disappointments?
Close your eyes.
Go ahead, close your eyes.
I really want you to focus
on whatever item it is that you have in your hand.
We all get trapped in unhealthy jobs, relationships, lives.
But we always, always have a choice.
An inner strength.
And that inner strength, it burns inside of us just like this fire.
All it needs is just a little-- little breath to ignite.
Who would like to be the first to come up?
We want Micah.
Yeah, Micah. Micah.
Right.
Thank you, Ivy.
Thank you.
This is hate mail.
All of it.
Death threats,
simply because I have the courage to use my voice.
It's time to release it all.
Any...
and everything...
that holds us back.
You remember my regular?
Thanks for letting me come see you.
I think about what happened to you every day.
Just replays in my mind.
Mine too. But it's not your fault.
You remember that young girl, Drea Spivey, who went missing?
Yeah.
Yeah, well, the Capstones, they found her.
And...
it's fucking with me.
What good am I doing, Pop?
I mean, when I was on the force, I had a purpose.
It felt like I was doing good for the world every day.
But here I am...
guarding some celebrity while shit like this happens.
Young girls like Drea getting exploited.
-So you need to put your cape back on. -Well, something like that.
Well, since we are baring our souls...
Ingram and I are getting a divorce.
You knew?
Zarina told me.
-How does Zarina know? -Micah.
That's right.
Well, I shouldn't be surprised, but...
sorry I drew you into all of this.
Please. I'm a grown-ass man.
I could've said no.
Did she ever fool you?
No. No.
But you see, I didn't trust Micah
because her reactions never were in line with the way I saw things.
But I never suspected her of anything.
I just wasn't buying the bullshit she was selling.
You know why I've always felt a connection with you?
Because you know what it's like to be terrified to ever stop running.
Because if you did, that demon could catch you.
Put you right back in that bottle.
This goddamn lawsuit is...
You know, it's drying up my whole business.
I'm obviously not working at Shelter.
And the few security gigs I do have pay for my men but not much else.
Trini, she's going off to college.
I got a new baby on the way.
Markus, why don't you let me help you?
Since I dragged you into all of this.
I'll get at you if I need your help, okay?
To help me find another job.
So, talk to Micah lately?
No, but I need to.
So, what? You need some backup?
And risk your wife beating me to death with her tennis racket?
No.
Hormones and all that.
That ain't hormones.
That's "your ex-girlfriend gets on my nerves" and all that.
It'd be easier if I was a bad guy.
A villain.
Did I embellish my story?
Yes. I did.
Did I get more than 300 unhoused kids off the street and into homes?
Did I build housing in San Francisco,
one of the most expensive cities in the country,
and put 80 unhoused families in homes?
I betrayed my friend.
I wasn't truthful about all four corners of my heart.
What woman is?
But I loved my husband.
I deeply loved him, and I miss him every day.
And somehow that real loss is just forgotten.
It's Poppy.
Poppy Parnell.
We're all imperfect humans.
What's she doing here?
That podcast on Micah.
You're not welcome here.
-It's okay. -You should leave.
It's okay.
Did you come to join us?
No. I came to make sure no one gets hurt.
They're all here 'cause they wanna be. I didn't force them.
But you forced me to reveal one of the most painful moments of my life.
And my pain means what?
I have no idea.
Because I don't know if you're capable of feeling anything.
What makes you the judge of that?
Did you team up with Martin Haywood to kill Josh?
Of course not.
You don't have a single ally left.
No one who knew you before all this is left in your life.
Where's the safety in that?
Do you believe in me?
Yes.
-Do you believe in me? -Yes.
Thank you.
-Do you believe in me? -Yes.
I believe in you, Micah.
I believe in you.
-I believe in you. -I believe in you.
I believe in you, Micah.
Hey, Daddy.
Hey, baby girl. I'm glad you came.
You ready to talk to me?
I just didn't want to talk to myself.
I hated every word that you had to say.
I failed you. The girls.
In so many ways.
That's not why I told you any of that.
Before she died, Miss Shirley told me you weren't my father.
One night she had been drinking,
and I overheard her talking with one of her callers.
She caught me eavesdropping.
And then she told me that Mama was already pregnant when she met you.
Do you believe I'm your father?
Have I been your father?
That's why you stopped talking, baby girl?
Really?
What was she to you? Miss Shirley?
Just a woman I ran with before I met Elinor.
Took me a long time to realize
that she loved me like I loved your mother.
She never forgave me when I left her.
-That why she took all her rage out on me? -She never showed that to me.
Not once, ever.
She was neighborhood. She still came to the bar,
the card parties me and your mother used to throw.
She only showed me one face.
I never would've left you with her if I knew anything else.
Do you believe me?
Look here.
I've never seen this one of you and Mama before.
You look just like her.
I love you so much, sweetheart.
I'm so proud of you. So goddamn proud of how strong you are
and how you've made your own way.
Your mother would be too, but not surprised.
She called you "Milky Way" when you were a baby.
She didn't.
She did.
Everybody thought the candy bar or your pretty brown skin.
It was because you were her whole constellation.
Her galaxy. Her little Milky Way.
I never knew that.
I used to tease her about it, but I loved to hear it too.
You are our daughter.
You are Elinor's daughter. You are my daughter.
Yeah.
Mitri, it's me.
A late-night call. I'm intrigued. What's happening?
I don't want to go to trial.
And I want to retire in Fiji. What's wrong? You getting cold feet?
No.
Clarity.
Settle the lawsuit.
Meet the terms of Alana's demands in full.
Were you smacked on the head again?
I'm serious.
Not everyone deserves peace and closure, but...
she does.
-Poppy! You home? -I'm in here.
I told Mitri to settle the lawsuit.
I'm selling the house.
Well, where we going next?
-You staying with me? -Until I can't.
How was your talk with Daddy?
It was really nice.
Well, I'm glad.
Miss Shirley told me he wasn't my father.
That Mama was already pregnant when they met.
What in all fuck?
Well, what'd he say?
That I was his daughter.
Good.
Running Mama name through the gutter like that, "already pregnant."
I bet Daddy stomped on that lie.
Do you believe I'm your father?
Where you going?
Daddy?
Daddy, you here?
You stay the fuck back.
It's time you stop running your mouth on your podcast.
tearing every one of us down.
Now, if you don't...
I can make sure that your father goes to jail for the rest of his life.
You can't make sure of shit, 'cause you ain't a cop anymore.
And I said stay the fuck back!
Hey.
-Come on. Hey. -Somebody help me!
-Shut up. -Somebody help me!
Get your motherfucking hands off my daughter.
Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
It's all right. I'm here.
They gonna send you back to jail, and it's gonna be my fault.
It's okay. It's okay.
-He's dead, Daddy. -Don't worry.
-You can't go back to jail. -I ain't going back anywhere.
I promise.
-It's okay. Come on. -Okay.
Come on, it's okay.
It's okay.