[people clamoring]
[reporter] Lieutenant Governor, can you comment on the judiciary hearing
about your conduct?
All right, all right, all right.
Settle down. We'll take questions. You first.
Lieutenant Governor, you have declined to testify before the Judiciary Committee.
Can you explain?
The real question should be,
is why is our state more interested in political games?
This is all theatrics.
So you are denying allegations that you are having an improper relationship
with your bodyguard, Michael Davies,
allegedly nicknamed "Merman"?
Isn't it interesting that all these false allegations
are occurring at the same time that Governor Harper cannot do his job?
- So you are denying. - So am I human? Am... Am I?
You can answer.
- Yes. - Yes.
Am I a single woman human?
- Yes. - Yes.
Am I flawed? Absolutely. Are you flawed? Are you? And you?
- I think so. - Yes.
- Absolutely I am. - So you are not denying the allegations?
[tense music playing]
I am being railroaded here.
Is that why you refuse to appear before the committee?
No, I refuse to appear before the committee
because I'm not the one on trial here.
The system is on trial. Ask the system. Ask them.
- No, that's not the question. - That's all!
Lieutenant Governor, will you appear before the committee?
That's all, folks. We're done.
[reporters clamoring]
[twangy theme music playing]
- [gavel banging] - [Cole] Order!
Order in the court!
[upbeat music playing]
Order!
Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
I do.
With God's strength, I do.
Period.
I do...
I think.
I'm sorry, did you say something?
No. I didn't say anything.
You may be seated.
Come on, baby. Sit right here.
- Thank you. Ain't he a gentleman? - Yes. Y'all don't look at her booty.
- Mm. Go crazy. - [both chuckle]
- Closer. Scooch. - Gonna sit next to my baby.
That's what we wanna do.
Mr. Bonds, you work as the chief of staff
to one of the country's most beloved governors.
Is that right?
Yes. It has been the honor of my life to work for Governor Erwin Harper.
Yes indeed. Now, before the current state of emergency,
how would you describe your experience working at the Capitol?
Oh, um, uh, respectful,
uh, patriotic, and, uh,
God-fearing.
Mr. Henderson, please state your name for the record.
Mr. Henderson is cool.
Mr. Henderson, you are required to answer the questions posed to you.
So let's try this again. What is your full name?
Uh, allegedly, it's Basil Henderson, but, I mean, I don't know that.
Mr. Henderson, this isn't a criminal trial.
Ms. Thompson, do you really need to wear that hat?
I just came from Bible study.
Ms. Jackson,
uh, as policy advisor to the lieutenant governor,
where did you first meet?
Oh... [chuckles] Kelly and I met her at a picnic.
Really?
Because, um,
this is a photo
taken from a documentary which shows that, uh,
you met in the '90s at Freaknik.
[laughing, splutters]
Yes, sir, that is correct. It is a picnic...
- For freaks. - For freaks.
Uh, when did you first hear of Antoinette Dunkerson?
Uh...
Well, I have to be honest, I didn't know much about her.
Uh, I first became aware of her during that irregular election.
Now, look, I'm not saying that was voter fraud...
- But-- - Sounds exactly like what you're saying.
No, no. No, Senator.
I'm... No.
It was just an unexpected turnaround. It seemed impossible to pull off.
Impossible indeed.
So when did you meet Antoinette Dunkerson?
Oh, Antoinette. It...
Oh, Antoinette is my girl's...
Hold on.
Your girl's what, Mr. Henderson?
[sniffs] Do y'all smell that?
Like it's like some type of gas leak. It's messing with my head.
- I feel lightheaded. - He needs water.
- [Cole] Ms. Dunkerson? - Oh my God.
Ms. Dunkerson?
Hmm?
Can you state your full name, please?
Yes. [clears throat]
It's Shamika Latavia Latoya Farrah Dunkerson.
That's my baby.
And are you the cousin
of Lieutenant Governor Antoinette Dunkerson?
That is correct.
And do you and Mr. Henderson currently live with her?
Um... I'm not sure. Let me confer with my auntie grandma.
[whispering] Maybe, maybe not. Who's asking?
I might.
I might not. Who's asking?
We are asking.
Do you or do you not live with Ms. Dunkerson?
I'mma need immunity.
There is no immunity because there are no charges.
- Oh. - Mr. Leary...
It's alleged the lieutenant governor made inappropriate observations
about her bodyguard during a morning show interview.
As chief of communications,
do you have any knowledge of this incident?
- Well, a... according to... - [microphone feedback]
According to folder,
um, folder D, section 4.5,
there has been no records or, uh, transcripts
of any said comment made at, um, said interview.
So, what has she been like to work with?
Well, uh, overall, I'd say she's rather lackadaisical in her work ethic.
- Lazy? - Well, except for the pipeline.
She became so angry about that.
It was almost impossible to have civil discourse.
She was just dead set on trying to protect her people. Do you understand?
I certainly do. Very troubling.
Yeah, you see, I'm more of a "content of your character" person.
I'm inspired by Dr. King.
[Cole] Mmm.
And how did Governor Harper react
to this angry, hysterical woman?
The Governor, well, he tried to reason with her,
but she became unhinged.
You know, now I'm not saying she caused his condition,
but, whoa, her passion was just running wild! [chuckles]
Which brings us to Merman.
Mmm. Well, now, no, I don't have any firsthand knowledge of Merman,
but... if I'm being honest,
I have felt her gaze.
Oh!
I am sorry to hear that.
Look, does Ms. Dunkerson know her place?
Mm.
Does she cross boundaries with everyone?
Huh. I couldn't say.
But... here... we... are.
- [scatter gasps] - [crowd chattering]
[man] Need some time to review your notes?
- I'm ready to go. - You seem hostile.
Why? No, I'm not.
Ms. Dunkerson, have you ever referred to your bodyguard,
Michael Davies, as "Merman"?
[tense music playing]
No.
Crew from a morning news show testified under oath that during your appearance,
you were heard on a hot mic calling your bodyguard "Merman."
Oh, actually, you know what? I do remember that. I forgot. It's, um...
Yeah, that's a word we use for security purposes at times.
What was mine?
I think I was... "Bluebird."
And he was "Merman," because he's strong.
So it kind of fit.
And I guess, you know,
I'm free and fluttery, so I was "Bluebird."
Crew on that morning show testified they heard the lieutenant governor
on a hot mic refer to her bodyguard as "Merman"
because, and I quote,
"He makes me wetter than the Mississippi."
[coughing]
- Ooh! - [Cole] Apologies for the vulgarity.
- [shocked chatter] - Ooh!
Apology accepted. [clears throat]
When would you use this code, "Merman"?
In times of distress or stress, stress or distress,
when it was needed for security or he was needed... at those times.
So it wasn't related to him making you, pardon me,
but according to testimony, "wetter than the Mississippi."
Hmm.
That is actually... offensive.
I don't...
Yeah, I don't...
Never said you'd like to meet at the bottom of your ocean?
I don't know what that means. Can you explain?
Would you like to read the transcript?
[Antoinette clears throat]
Let's see.
Lie... Like, these are lies.
I don't know who said those things,
but they're definitely untruths.
They also testified that they couldn't be sure,
but they thought you were in the room with Ms. Dunkerson.
Oh, me? Oh, no!
Oh, honey, I have been washed by the blood of Jesus.
[chuckles] Know what I'm saying?
Mm-mm.
Is Michael Davies "Merman"?
- Merman? - Merman?
What kind of shit...? Did they just make that up?
- Sounds fishy. I don't like that. - Real fishy.
You are being evasive.
- Whoa. Whoa. - Evasive, whoa.
Not going to do name-calling. You're not going to call my baby evasive.
- That's not cool. - Is he crazy?
Ms. Dunkerson, how old are you?
I'm grown.
Okay, Ms. Jackson,
were you at the lieutenant governor's mansion
on the day in question?
[chuckles] Uh...
Senator, to clarify...
I was here at the Capitol
the day that this alleged "Merman" conversation
took place in the kitchen in lieutenant governor's--
There was never any mention
of the conversation taking place in the kitchen.
[crowd murmuring]
[chuckles]
I'm sorry, huh?
Oh.
[humming "Amazing Grace"]
[more people humming]
[others join in humming]
[Pamela crying]
Mr. Henderson, did you receive a pardon from the lieutenant governor?
[spluttering] What type of questions is these?
Listen, y'all... listen, I'm not answering nothing until y'all cut me a deal!
I ain't got no deal! I don't got no answers!
- I want community before I start talking! - [Cole] Order!
- [gavel banging] - I want community!
[Cole] Order!
Let's discuss the use of state funds for a romantic vacation
at the Old Fort military base.
Oh, the Old Fort.
Wow, really, that was an official event, sir.
It was for the Alliance of Southern Governors retreat.
You can, um, check that.
So did Mr. Davies join you at this so-called retreat?
Eh, well, I'm sure he was there 'cause he's security, like, it's his job.
He's paid to do those things by the state.
So, yeah, he was there, being security.
Ms. Dunkerson, would you mind telling us your observations
of the lieutenant governor and Michael Davies together?
Oh, I ain't never seen them together.
You've never seen Michael Davies,
the lieutenant governor's bodyguard, and her together?
Nope. Mm-mm. Nope.
- What's that? - [Basil] What's that?
This is a photo
of you, the lieutenant governor,
and Michael Davies at an apple orchard opening ceremony.
Do you recognize this?
- Can't really see that. - Baby, you gotta put your glasses on.
I do. I need my readers.
Sometimes in the daytime, she can't really see that good.
I can't. All Black people look the same to you.
I think you're being racist.
Oh!
- There's some people. - [Basil] There's people right there.
[Shamika] I see people.
So when did Mr. Davies start spending the night at your house?
That is... [chuckles]
That is not true. Mr. Davies has never...
[chuckles]
Oh, my God. He's never spent the night at my house.
To be clear, you are saying Mr. Davies has never spent the night at your house?
To be clear, hear me and hear me well.
Mr. Davies has never spent the night at my house.
We have testimony.
I don't know what you're trying to insinuate, sir.
Because if you're trying to insinuate
that Michael Davies and I
are in a relationship without any evidence?
Whoa.
That's offensive.
- Untrue. - I thought you were gonna cooperate.
I just did.
You are the lieutenant governor's cousin?
Um...
Yeah. Yeah, I think so.
And after the election, you were brought on as an assistant?
To the best of my recollection.
Can you describe what it has been like
to work at the Capitol on the lieutenant governor's team?
Girl, it has not been easy, okay?
They be sending us on these fool's missions.
It's been a hostile work environment. And, sis, we've had deaf threats.
For real.
Um, you... I'm sorry, you mean death threats, right?
- No, I mean deaf. - Deaf, yeah.
Yeah, Antoinette had a sign language interpreter.
He wasn't feeling what she was saying about the pipeline, right?
He started throwing up little gang signs and getting the wildlife set riled up.
Stuff was getting crazy. I was scared, he was scared.
I told him to come here, it was bad.
So Michael had to move in.
- N... O... - [Shamika] P...
- Did Michael Davies move in? - [Shamika and Basil] Q... R...S... I
- Love you. - Love you.
[both giggling]
Ms. Dunkerson!
Hmm?
Did Michael Davies move into the lieutenant governor's mansion?
That is new testimony.
[speaks Spanish]
[Basil speaking gibberish]
[both saying random Spanish words]
- Take them out! - Wait, y'all gonna kill us?
- [Cole] You are dismissed! - Take who out?
Calling Michael Davies to the stand.
Let's get Merman in here.
What? Who the hell you supposed to be, Morris Chestnut?
You got your hand out like you a usher.
[funky music playing]
You walk in front of me, I don't trust you.
- I'm scared. - I'm scared too.
No justice, no peace!
Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?
- I do. - You may be seated.
Now,
Michael Davies...
We have grown weary trying to establish
the timeline of your relationship with Lieutenant Governor Dunkerson,
so I will get straight to the point.
You are married, is that correct?
The timeline is simple. My marriage is over.
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! [sighs]
[Michael] We filed for legal divorce a year ago. Now...
You haven't been in here watching the testimony, have you?
Shh...
You're not supposed to watch the hearing. It's to avoid potential interference.
...eyes of God and the eyes of my former wife,
my marriage is over.
Amen.
He's married?!
It... Okay, he said he had an ex and two kids, but so do I.
Who are you to decide when your marriage is over?
Who else should decide?
That's right.
That's right!
- There has been testimony... - That's right.
...that you began to spend the night at the Lieutenant Governor's mansion.
Is that correct?
Yes. There were deaf threats.
And at that time, did you and the Lieutenant Governor
begin a relationship?
[tense music playing]
Yes, we did.
[crowd murmuring]
We did.
- [spluttering] This is a shitshow. - [Cole] Order!
I need to get in there and make a statement about his statement.
- What are you gonna say? - I don't know, Danny! You tell me!
That's your job.
I know I can't leave Michael to define what we are. That doesn't make sense.
Okay, fine. So what are you?
- Uh... - [mutters]
I don't know! You tell me!
Okay, let me... Give me a minute! Let me spin. Spin. We're spinning.
So why don't you just say that you did not want Michael's personal life
to be under such scrutiny
because you think this whole hearing is... is nothing but a sham.
- Okay, I like that. I can say that. - Yeah, yeah.
Michael does not report to you. You are not his boss.
- So it works! - It works.
And now, you dated for a minute. It's over, you're not seeing him anymore.
- [Pamela] Yes, it's over. - You are not seeing him anymore.
- [Pamela] Ever. - Why not?
- Like... - Hmm. Mmm.
[whispering] You can see him privately.
No, she cannot.
- On Saturday and Sundays? - Do you want this job?
- Do... you... want... this... job? - [rhythmic tapping]
- Do... you... want... that... man? - Okay, Shamika!
Can... you... hush... for... a minute?
Okay! Okay, okay, okay.
I'll... I'll go in there and I'll say that.
[Pamela] Okay. Yeah.
Okay.
Yeah, okay. Yeah, let's get down there.
But you cannot let them know that you heard any of this.
It'd look like you was tampering with testimony.
Okay, I'll just say that I heard somebody yelling
that they were about to adjourn outside my office.
- How about that? Okay. - That's good.
[funky music playing]
So are you guys going to go yell in the hallway, "Adjourned"?
- Yeah. - I got it.
They're adjourning!
What? They're adjourning?
I'll go see if they need me to testify!
Yeah?
[funky music continues]
Ms. Dunkerson, why are you here?
I would like to testify.
Ms. Dunkerson, you are aware that watching the testimony
and then running in here to tell us new information is not allowed.
I simply heard people outside of my office
shouting that you were about to adjourn, and I was eager to testify.
You were suddenly eager to testify.
Well, I, for one, would like to hear what she has to say.
I am not prepared for this.
I'll wait.
[tense music playing]
Fine. [clears throat]
Ms. Dunkerson, I will get right to the heart of the matter.
Great.
You testified, under oath,
that Michael Davies has never been to your house,
but we have heard testimony
that he has spent several nights at the lieutenant governor's mansion.
He has not. That is not my home.
[tense music playing]
I'm sorry?
You asked if he stayed the night at my home.
He has not.
The lieutenant governor's mansion is where I lay my head for now.
Uh-huh. How convenient.
And you are aware that he is married?
Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.
Mm.
I don't see how any of this is relevant,
since we are not dating.
There's some discrepancy about the timeline.
So...
You're trying to figure out a timeline
for when two... single
consenting people... dated.
Hmm. [chuckles]
Where are you going?
Oh, I came to give my testimony to clear things up, and I've done that.
Good day.
[crowd murmuring]
[music fades out]
Hello there. Hi, everybody.
Hey, Dot, how are the kids? Are they doing good? Fantastic. Okay.
Oh, come on, Bill.
I can't believe Mary let you out of the house looking like this.
I got you. Don't worry about it. Okay?
Oh, Mrs. Chambers, did you get that recipe that I gave you for the pecan pie?
Kids are gonna love--
Mr. Clatterbuck, if you could please make your way to the witness table.
Oh, my. I beg your pardon. [chuckles]
I'm such a people pleaser. Guilty. Party of one. [chuckles]
Mr. Clatterbuck, do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
May God strike me down. I will tell you the truth.
Just say, "I do," Mr. Clatterbuck.
I empathatically do so.
Just, "I do."
I do. Are you going to put a ring on it? [chuckles]
You may be seated.
Would you all like a mint? Mint? They're really refreshing.
- Sit. - Okay, I'm sorry.
Mr. Clatterbuck, if I could have your attention.
Absolutely. Would you like a mint?
No, thank you.
Mr. Clatterbuck, how long have you worked for the state of Mississippi?
Fifteen years.
And in what capacity?
Well, I work for politicians so they can look good. [chuckles]
Uh, I basically, you know, take care of their bags, their personal items.
I juggle schedules. Sometimes I even remind them to call their mama.
[crowd laughing]
So, not quite an assistant, not quite a secretary.
I'm sort of a babysitter for grown toddlers.
[all laughing]
Mr. Clatterbuck, you seem to really love your job as a body man.
I was in my bag, so to speak, you know.
Which means I was quite good at my job.
I learned that from Shama... Shamonica.
So, you must have been very sad
to be reassigned to liaison with the lieutenant governor's office.
Oh my, I was absolutely devastated. I really was.
But then Jed, you know, he told me about the mission.
- Thanks. So, back to the-- - Uh-uh. No, no. Reclaiming my time.
Uh, if you could elaborate on the mission.
What exactly was the mission as it relates to the lieutenant governor?
So, I was assigned by Governor Harper to oversee Antoinette.
Uh-huh. Oversee.
[Henry] Uh-huh.
Basically, you know, uh, make sure she stayed out of the way.
Keep her in her lane.
Give her...
mundane and pointless events to go to so the governor could do the real work.
See? I knew it. I knew it. I knew it.
I told him, I don't need an overseer, and he kept saying, "Deny, deny, deny."
I don't need an overseer who was gaslighting me the whole time.
- Shh! They can hear you in the hallway. - Oh.
So, can you elaborate
on why you were being asked to oversee the lieutenant governor?
Hmm. I'm sorry, I cannot. That is above my pay grade.
[both chuckle]
Mr. Clatterbuck, in my opinion,
you are one of the most honest and forthright
impartial witnesses that we have seen today.
- Well, bless your heart. Thank you. - So, I will ask you directly.
Do you personally believe that Lieutenant Governor Dunkerson
behaved inappropriately in her office?
I mean, who knows, Senator?
She's very strict with herself and her team.
You know, I once heard her tell her team, "We have to be perfect."
But, I mean, come on, nobody's perfect. Am I right?
Would you say she doesn't fit with the decorum of the Capitol?
I mean, who knows? Everyone's got their secrets.
I've kept many a secrets from many a man in government.
So, these accusations, they don't make me even bat an eye.
[all exclaiming]
- Go, Henry! - Come on, Henry!
- That's right. - Better Watergate him.
She is as stubborn as a mule
and as subtle as a brick through a glass window.
Am I right? [chuckles]
But is that any different than the other men in this room?
We all know that politics isn't a tea party...
Oh, excuse me, just a little bit of tea. [clears throat]
But there have been accusations about her personal life.
Are you suggesting that we dismiss those?
I'm not here to defend her. Does she sleep around?
Maybe. I mean, honestly, I wouldn't be surprised.
But did you see her bodyguard?
- Mmm. - [Henry] Why wouldn't she be tempted?
Heck, I'm tempted, okay? [chuckles]
But are we really gonna pretend that that's the worst thing
that I've had to cover up here?
I mean, I have snuck out politicians out of strip clubs.
I have hid incriminating evidence.
I have made up fake alibis like, "I am working late."
And that's just for some of the people in this very room right now,
and I am not gonna name names, by the way.
Hmm.
And honestly, that's just scratching the surface, Senator.
So you have no testimony
about her behaving inappropriately with her bodyguard?
I never saw a thing.
I mean, to me, she's always been, dare I say, asexual,
but certainly not sexual.
And I think we can all agree, she is not... sexy.
Now, that is the... Now he's lying.
This is the first time he's started lying during the testimony. He was doing great.
Because I am sexy.
Yeah.
- Sure, yeah, sure. - I'm sexy.
- Yeah, you are. You know what? - Yeah.
I've taken many of mistresses
down what I like to call the underground fallopian tube railroad of health care,
if you catch what I'm saying.
And I do mean abortions.
And now we're sitting here pointing fingers at lovers?
- Come on, Henry! - [Henry] I mean... [chuckles]
Now I'm not innocent, by any means.
Sure, I may have been undermining her
at the very beginning by reporting back,
but as annoying as she is, and I do find her...
very annoying.
Yeah, she is.
[Henry] One thing I know for sure
is that she wants to make change for Mississippi.
She's trying to make a change for the people of Mississippi.
And isn't that what we voted her in for?
Look, given the lack of concrete evidence
and the questionable motivations behind these allegations,
I, for one, propose that we postpone this hearing indefinitely.
Unless you gentlemen would like to dive deeper
into Mr. Clatterbuck's allegations about the body at large.
[indistinct chatter]
I'll second that motion.
Motion carried. This hearing is adjourned indefinitely.
Thank you, Henry.
[gavel bangs]
[crowd murmuring]
Sis, I think we're about to become governor!
[laughing]
This is really happening?
- Yes! - It's happening.
We're about to do it?
You guys, wake up! It's our last move, and we're home!
- Let's go! - Oh my God!
- [all squealing] - Okay! This is so...
Oh my God!
All right.
I'm gonna need one of these. Here we go, thank you.
- You, homie, come on now. - Getting better.
Hey, afternoon!
Just here to take the governor for a morale-boosting drive.
He's not fully recovered.
Oh, hush now, he's fine.
A little fresh air will do him good, huh? Doctor's orders.
Oh, there's no orders...
Yep. You don't want chaos in your state, do you? Hmm?
- No. - No.
You want him to stay your governor and avoid a coup, right?
- A coup? - Coup.
- Of course. - Yes.
- I didn't know. - Well, now you do. Bye now.
Thank you. Governor! [chuckles]
You ready to take a little ride?
- Ride? - Yes.
You remember, um, Antoinette Dunkerson?
[upbeat music playing]
The lieutenant... The Black female lieutenant governor?
[monitor beeping rapidly]
Well... Mm-hmm.
Okay, calm down now. Yes. Yes.
We need to get you out of here, sir.
We need to show your country and state that you are on the mend. We've got to go.
- Go? - Go!
- Go!
Attaboy, come on! Let's get him dressed.
Get these clothes on this man. Make him look like the governor again.
[groans]
Your... Oh, what? Cover that up. Let's not see that.
- Here we go. - Dab me, Jed!
Yes, sir.
You know I've got my handkerchief back here. Here we go.
- Go! Go! - Yes, sir.
Come on, Governor. Let's show the world you're still in the game.
Charge!
[indistinct chattering]
- Oh my God. - Nette, you want these ugly boxes?
Nope. That stuff says "lieutenant governor," not "governor."
[all chuckling]
- [Basil] Champagne! - [all cheering]
- You know that's right! [chuckles] - Yes!
- Hey! - Didn't I tell you?
- Never go against the family. - Give me.
Thank you, Basil.
- [Basil] You're welcome. - Thank you so much.
- [Basil] A little bit for you, boo, too. - You guys, you guys.
I just want to say
I am so blessed to have all of you with me
on this next chapter
of being the governor of the state of Mississippi.
- I am just so... - [cheering]
Like cheers!
[all laughing]
- [TV news intro playing] - Oh, great...
Breaking news.
Mississippi's Governor Harper has been discharged from the hospital
and is returning to his duties effective immediately.
As you can see, we are tracking the governor's car
returning to the governor's mansion with his chief of staff, Jed Bonds.
Yep.
As you can see, the governor is in the house!
All right, now, come on. Get some shots.
Get some shots. Here he is right there. There's the proof. [chuckles]
Good. Thank you. All right, step out now. Go, go, go.
Thank you, y'all. Be good to us. Off we go now. Off you go.
Go ahead. Off you go. Go ahead.
No, Governor, this way, in the house. Here we go. [chuckles] All right.
We'll have you back up and running in no time, Governor.
She's going to make you pancakes, maybe something yummy, a little...
Hi, how are you? I'm good.
Oh, no. [chuckles]
Thank you. Lovely to see you.
- Okay. We'll put this right back here. - Are you fucking serious?
You know what? Who wants to be governor anyway? [chuckles]
We still can have some champagne.
- That's true. - You got another bottle?
- Yeah. - Oh, okay.
- [Kelly] What the fuck? - [Danny] Shit.
- Can I have the rest of that? - Yeah.
[twangy guitar music playing]
[forced chuckle, sighs]
[music stops]
[twangy theme music playing]
[music fades out]