Queen Sugar (2016) s02e10 Episode Script
Drums At Dusk
1 RALPH ANGEL: Previously on "Queen Sugar" Me and Mama getting married.
- So, you'll be together forever? - Forever.
ROBERT: Zika, it's a hurricane by another name.
And believe me, Nova, you connected the dots.
CHARLEY: Hello, Mother.
I'm the first black woman to own a mill in the state.
Will you be satisfied with this? You know, your hair it's falling out a little.
You might need to get this checked out, girl.
About that night, we have to tell your mother.
She doesn't wanna hear about it.
- What's eating you? - Something happened to Micah.
(MUSIC PLAYING) Good to see you.
All right.
Thank you.
(CLEARS THROAT) Why you looking at me like that? Ernest giving you this farm was the best thing that could have happened to you.
- Look what it's done.
- Man, watch out, Aunt Vi.
I ain't gonna mess this up, Aunt Vi.
Well, speaking about things you ain't gonna mess up.
You wanna make sure you stay on track with Darla.
This is something they started at my church.
For the young folk getting married and divorced like it isn't sacred no more.
Ain't no shame in getting advice.
Even those that think they got it all figured out learn something.
And it's free, so don't give me nothing about that.
(SIGHS) You look like you're feeling better.
I am.
- (LAUGHS) - About to get outta here, Aunt Vi.
I love you, Aunt Vi.
I'll see ya.
- Hi.
Can I help you? - Good morning.
You know where I might find Miss Bordelon? May I ask why? Well, a manager at Delta Diner told me that Miss Bordelon made the best pie I've ever tasted.
- What kind of pie? - Cherry.
Tart, sweet, flaky crust to die for.
Yeah, well, if you pass on from my pies, that's gonna hurt my business.
So, you're Miss Bordelon? It's an honor to meet you.
Kind of you to come this way, pay a compliment.
Oh, well, that's not the only reason for my business.
I'm Jarrett Rawlings of Rawlings Supermarkets.
We got stores in three parishes And I do plenty of shopping at the one in St.
Jo's.
Y'all's double coupon Thursday best thing going.
Well, thank you.
That was my idea.
Good one.
I hope you like my my latest brainstorm.
We'd like you to provide us with 350 pies a week to sell exclusively in our stores.
All the terms are laid out there.
I think you'll find everything is more than adequate.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING) Dreams never die, take flight, as the world turns Dreams never die, take flight, as the world turns Keep the colors in the lines, take flight Dreams never die Keep the colors in the lines Keep the colors in the lines, take flight.
Why is blood flowing through this body? Why is air in my lung? Where we goin' now? Why did I get to place my feet here? Thy kingdom come, Thy kingdom come Oh, I got a song to sing And it's a song about hope for you It's a song about faith I see all that you are going through And it's gonna be all right - Thanks, Pop.
- gonna be all right It's gonna be all right It's gonna be all right Everything's gonna be all right It's gonna be all right It's gonna be all right It's gonna be (SIGHS) Oh Hi.
- Mm.
- Oh! Whew.
Huh? You're still thinking about your father's will, aren't you? Charlotte, you can't dwell on this forever.
I just wanna know why Daddy did it.
Why he didn't discuss it with me.
The truth is, your daddy was a man who changed his mind.
But what you have now, it's far greater than that land.
The mill.
'Cause it's yours.
It is yours alone.
I'm not sure how much good that is anymore since a huge part of my business plan was tied to the farm.
Now, that is something that I can help you with if you just give me a few hours.
Okay.
Thank you.
Charley, you're gonna get through this.
Let me help.
Huh.
I told you, no physical labor.
You're just here to check in the volunteers as they arrive.
Please.
I'm just glad I could still use my body for more than just feeding the twins.
- How are they? - Growing like weeds, and too young to resent me for taking a few hours to help you, sister soldier.
And I can't thank you enough.
Hello.
Robert, meet my oldest friend from Tulane Sierra.
Oh, this is the friendship that began with the fight about whether or not Black History Month is a form of self-segregation.
- NOVA: Mm-hmm.
- She won that fight, by the way.
Uh-huh.
Of course she did.
(WOMEN CHUCKLE) - Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you, too.
I'm surprised at how quickly you pulled all this together.
- Ooh! - Go on.
- No, I know you wanna say it.
- Are you talking to me? Yeah, some kind of "I told you so.
" Since Timothy North's donation is the reason we could do this so fast.
There's nothing wrong with giving a bit of credit where credit is due.
You can give him all the credit you want; he still a horse's ass.
(SIERRA AND ROBERT LAUGHING) Yes, he is.
See? Always wins.
- What a pleasure.
- A pleasure.
Mmm Last I heard, you were done dating.
Now you with a damn unicorn.
We ain't like that.
Really? The way he looks at you? - How is it, then? - We have a lot of respect for each other's work.
Uh-uh, that's not what I asked.
How is it? - Well - Ooh! That's what I thought! Girl, look, I just want the best for you, so give this man a chance to be like that.
'Cause if you don't, I'm gonna scoop him up for myself.
You know what? Come on, girl.
We got work to do.
And don't you lift nothing.
Matter of fact, stack them bottles one by one.
- I'm watching you.
- Mm-hmm.
- One by one.
- Miss Bossy.
Yes, ma'am.
(BOTH LAUGH) (MUSIC PLAYING) I was tempted from the beginning Swallowing these second guesses 'Cause I had you in my mind Baby Following your thirst and sweat On a whim when first we met I just had to rewind it Got me spellbound with that face And the way you move that waist Thinking "Can I get a taste?" Mmm Wow.
That dress looks beautiful on you.
What do you think? I think that it is way too expensive.
Do you really like it? You can be honest.
Darla, honesty is in my blood.
My mother is the queen of brutal honesty.
(SIGHS) I was with her when I went wedding dress shopping.
(CHUCKLES) I had fallen in love with the first dress that I ever tried on.
People say that never happens.
But my mother, she hated it.
She said that it made me look pregnant which I was.
But Yeah.
My mother knew that, but refused to accept it.
She didn't want her friends believing that her daughter was having a shotgun wedding.
And I wasn't.
I mean, Davis and I, we loved each other.
But my mother was disappointed, to say the least.
And she did not try to hide it.
Not from me.
The point is (CHUCKLES) if I didn't think that dress looked anything short of beautiful on you, you would know.
Oh, no, wait, - did did I say something? - (SOBS, SNIFFLES) I'm sorry, it's, um it's just my family doesn't even care that I'm getting married.
I called them to tell them I haven't heard back.
Well, how long has it been since you've talked? Years.
Well, that must have taken a lot.
Yes.
My mom actually sounds a lot like yours.
- (SOBS) - Mmm.
I always just wanted to please her.
I think (SIGHS) when I called her a piece of me was still doing that.
Probably most of me.
I just wanted her to see how far I'd come.
So she wouldn't feel like she's embarrassed of her daughter.
Just proud.
Well, I don't know why they haven't called back.
BUT I KNOW THIS: You have a family Ralph Angel and Blue and another one that you're about to join.
So even if you never hear from them again, you are still surrounded by people who love you.
Thank you.
Admit it, you'd rather be here than editing white papers with your colleagues in some ivory tower right now.
Technically, my colleagues are actually on the golf course right now, but this definitely leads to a stronger sense of accomplishment.
(GRUNTS) Damn, Aunt Nova! Look at those guns.
Micah, I didn't know you were coming.
Neither did I.
It was Keke's idea.
- Hi.
- Hey.
Oh, you two have never met.
Okay, Aunt Nova, this is my girl, Keke.
- Keke, Aunt Nova.
- Hi.
I've heard so much about you from Micah's mom.
And I love your writing and everything you do for the community, and just you're an inspiration.
Hey, I didn't know you were a super fan.
And this is Dr.
Dubois.
Just Robert.
Pleasure to meet you.
- Good to see you, young man.
- You, too, man.
Well, I think I see the news crews from Channel 6 over there.
We should probably go talk to them.
Thank you both so much for helping us out today.
- Of course, of course.
- Good to see you.
- Nice to meet you.
- (MOUTHS) Bye.
I know.
(CHUCKLES) Cool.
Hey, man, I'm Micah.
Leon.
- (MAN SIGHS) - (METAL THUDDING) Hey.
I'm ready.
All right.
- (SIGHS) - So, I was thinking - You was thinking.
- I was thinking we should get a porch swing for the house so we can look up at the stars at night.
Blue would love that.
(CHUCKLES) Ain't even moved in yet, and she already takin' over.
No, I just I think it'd be nice to switch things up a little bit so it feels different, like a clean slate.
As long as I got you and Blue under the same roof, I'm good.
You should make it your own.
It's your home too, now.
- My house too, now.
- (CHUCKLES) (CHUCKLES) - (TAILGATE CLOSES) - (CLEARS THROAT) What is this? Just Vi being Vi.
Premarital counseling.
I think it's a good idea.
Why? We good.
We doing it on our own, been doing it.
No, I know, but it's kind of like doing your steps.
I think it'd really help us if things get hard, or I ain't down with no counseling, Darla.
If I'm gonna get advice from someone, it ain't gonna be some priest who never been married.
(SCOFFS) What's he gonna tell me about being a husband? (CHUCKLES) (KNOCKS) Well, I What are you doing here? I'm helping Charley with her business plan.
I mean here in St.
Jo.
We had an agreement.
Yes, we did.
But then my daughter chose to move herself and my grandson here full-time.
- And that don't change nothing.
- Of course it does.
You can't keep me from seeing my family.
I ain't worried about your family.
You can buy them plane tickets to see you on any continent.
I'm worried about mine.
And I won't have you upsetting Nova.
Nova is a grown woman.
Who just lost her daddy for the second time after you stole him the first time.
You coming around here is just gonna stir all that up, and that's wrong.
I am sorry about your brother, because I know how much he meant to you.
(DOOR SLAMS) SAM LANDRY: So he says, "How many acres do you own?" And he says, "Well, I own a few cows.
" (CONVERSATION TRAILS OFF) If it ain't Miss Charley Bordelon herself.
Welcome to your first meeting of the St.
Josephine Sugarcane Society.
We started an hour ago.
I didn't hear anything about a time change.
I sent an email.
I guess I don't have the right address for you.
Strange.
I was on all the other emails in the chain.
Maybe just hit "reply all" next time or I can show you how if the technology's too confusing for you.
Most everyone's gone since we finished the serious business, but we decided to come and sit out here in the sun.
Guess I gotta introduce you to the troops.
This is Terence McGrath.
He owns 12,000 acres from St.
Josephine to St.
James.
This is Christina Bertrand-Moore, vice president of external affairs at Bertrand Refineries.
A family business for six generations.
Lucky for you, you missed all the boring logistical rigmarole.
Now comes the fun part choosing this year's Sugar Crystal Court.
- Well, where should I, uh - Shall we begin? Olivia Mercer.
Volunteers with St.
Josephine Animal Shelter where she pioneered their program of bringing dogs into nursing homes to cheer up the residents.
- Oh, she's got my vote.
- Mm, mm, mm.
CHRISTINA: Iris Calvert.
Now, she's Olympic caliber.
- She's - What about Keke Raymond? Captain of her dance team, over 40 hours of community service.
Miss Raymond isn't Sugar Princess material.
You're new here.
Maybe just listen for a while.
Mmm.
Wow! This is different than your mom's place.
(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
You know, my my dad is out of town, so we we have the whole place to ourselves.
What do you wanna do? After all the work we did today, I just wanna take a shower.
Hey, what do you say we take one together? Micah, I don't know what type of girls you dated in Los Angeles, but I don't roll like that.
Oh, no, I wasn't I wasn't assuming anything.
I just Micah, I'm a virgin.
And I know it may sound cheesy, but I'm not having sex with anybody until I'm in love.
I just don't wanna have any regrets.
And I'm not saying I don't care about you.
I do.
But we're just we're still getting to know each other.
We're not ready.
Yeah, I'm I'm really sorry about that.
I just, you know I don't want you to feel pressured or anything.
Should I take you home? I never even asked if you wanted to come over and be alone with me, so whatever you wanna do that's what I want, too.
I wanna stay here and spend time with you.
- That's cool with me.
- (BOTH CHUCKLING) Great, thank you.
Yeah, I'll be in touch.
That was my friend, David Handleman, producer at ACN.
They want us to appear on a special.
What? Why? The Spellman panel, your front-page story.
- You are an expert.
- Mmm.
And, might I add, you have a gorgeous face - that belongs in front of a camera.
- Stop.
(CHUCKLES) When's the taping? So you're in? It'll bring more attention to the problems I'm trying to solve.
So, yeah, I'm in.
(CHUCKLES) And here I was ready to be content with the great work we did today.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) Thank you.
- (CHATTER CONTINUES) - (CAR STARTS) Star? Damn, you look as fine as ever.
You free right now? I can pay extra.
You have me confused with someone else.
Nah, Star, I recognize that ass anywhere.
Hope you're here next time I roll through.
(CAR DOOR CLOSES) (MUSIC PLAYS) What was that? I don't know.
The world's full of crazies.
- (ENGINE STARTS) - MAN: Whoo! - (SIGHS) - (DOOR OPENS) (SIGHS) Well, how was the rest of your day? Ha! (EXHALES) You found my business plans, huh? Yes, and all the problems with it.
Every farmer that you're working with brings in fewer than 1,000 acres.
Yeah, that's just how it is here, Mom.
Black farmers can't afford more than 1,000 acres.
Are you saying that you are exclusively grinding with black farmers? Yes.
Well, why is that? (SIGHS) When I first got down here, no farmers wanted anything to do with me.
And over time, I was able to change a few minds.
They just happen to all be black.
Well, did you even try talking to the others? I mean, did you even attempt talking with the white farmers? Of course I did.
None of them wanted to mill with a woman who looked like me.
Like I said, that's that's how it is here.
It sounds like an excuse to me.
I did not raise you to believe in barriers.
You cannot just roll over because "that's how it is here.
" If you don't like the way things are, then you work on changing it.
Changing it? We're talking about years of history.
Our history.
Then just be the bigger person, Charley.
Reach across the color divide.
Because green, that's the only color that you should be looking at here.
If you want my advice, that's it.
That is how you are going to expand this business now that you don't have the farm.
I'll take that under advisement.
And your aunt Violet stopped by earlier today.
What you doing over here? Just braiding my hair.
- My bad.
- (BOTH CHUCKLING) I'm just not used to you touching my hair.
But come on.
- .
.
the Porsche with the power on Grab these, this So I don't care if it crash right here All black, black, black with the fires on this and this.
- I only got two hands.
- Wait, hold that in one.
- Okay.
- And that in that one.
There you go.
Now crisscross.
I left you in the dust, baby (MUSIC CONTINUES) - Got it? - I think.
(BOTH CHUCKLE) Uh, I don't know how you do this.
That's why you in the slow lane - All your drama in the slow lane - Yep.
All your issue in the slow lane - That's why I left you yesterday - (CHUCKLES) Not bad for your first time.
You're lying.
You're just being nice to me.
I mean, it's not bad, you know? All your drama in the slow lane NOVA: His mama told me something that happened to him when he was pulled over a few months back.
My whole life is about lifting up people who have been hurt.
But when it comes to my own nephew I failed.
It's one of the reasons I've never wanted kids.
Yeah.
Me neither.
You don't? No.
And I hear about it from everybody.
Grandparents, parents, friends, anyone who feels entitled to share their opinion.
(SCOFFS) My parents told me, um, raising a family is the reason that God put me on this earth.
You know, I don't mean them any disrespect, but, like, I feel like my work has a higher purpose.
I feel the exact same way.
(MUSIC PLAYING) Hey The bed is your stage Take it away Put on a show Put on a play Don't pass, babe You know I'm your number one fan, babe So get those cameras rolling right now, under light And then I really wanna see you right now that you're lighted Take over you Your body's taking over you Now, baby, we can take it slow Say my name Don't let go I can hear your body Said I'll take it slow (CRICKETS CHIRPING) DARLA: It's time to go to bed, Blue.
Hey, come on, Boo-Boo.
Time to go to bed.
BLUE: Kenya's excited to move, Mommy.
She's excited that you're here for good! That's very nice of Kenya.
But you should also tell Kenya that if you both go to bed right now, you can play for an extra hour in the fort tomorrow.
No, it's time.
Let's go inside the fort.
Come on! Where you get that light from? In the kitchen under the sink.
(SIGHS) You're real resourceful, huh? (TAPPING FLASHLIGHT) - Wanna see something cool? - What? Okay.
(BLUE BARKS) I wanna try.
(BLUE BARKING) DARLA: And if we all do it, we can have more than one dog.
Come on, Pop! DARLA: Come on, Pop, try it.
BLUE: Come on.
- Like that? - (BLUE CHUCKLES) - BLUE: Yeah.
That's good.
- (DARLA CHUCKLING) It's a dog family.
- Mommy? - Hmm? Are you really gonna be here every night from now on? Yes, Blue.
Is it true, Pop? Pop? Yeah.
Evenin'.
I'm so sorry I didn't tell you my mom was in town.
Treating her like a secret is a bad idea, Charley.
You can best know your siblings are gonna feel some kind of way about that.
I didn't know how long she was staying.
I didn't I didn't wanna upset anyone for no good reason.
I just Baby, what's wrong? It's just this meeting that I went to today.
A Sugarcane Society meeting with Sam Landry and friends.
Well, that must've been one hell of a meeting.
They treated me like I was invisible.
And not just me but the secretary and the maid and Keke.
I just had to sit there and take it because I don't wanna be the angry black woman at my first meeting.
And then I get home and my mom is telling me that I should bring white farmers into the mill.
And on one hand, it's it's good advice.
You know, it'd actually expand my business, but, I you understand, I just don't feel like doing that right now.
And I I just, um I can't please anyone.
Charley, you're grown and you have a son that looks to you every day for who he's gonna be.
You ain't got time to be playing by anybody's rules but your own, and I ain't never known you to be someone who needs permission.
Thank you.
You know, my mom said that you came by, but she didn't say why.
Well (CLEARS THROAT) I had a real nice offer this morning, and I need your help 'cause I'm gonna start selling my pies in grocery stores.
Okay.
(DARLA SIGHS) (SIGHS) This is my first night living in this house and you're acting like you don't wanna be anywhere near me.
All I can think about is that guy we saw earlier and how you might know him.
I knew it.
I could feel you judging me the second we left.
So I'm right? It's a guy you knew from back when you was turning tricks.
(SIGHS, SCOFFS) How come you ain't just tell me the truth? What was I supposed to say? I don't wanna talk about Star ever.
I have spent every single day of my life trying to forget her.
You think I wanted to be called out like that? Well, it ain't easy it just be thrown in my face like that.
I can't get that picture out my head.
We've both done things that we're not proud of.
We were just trying to get by back then.
You was trying to get by on drugs.
What? You was whoring to make money so you can get high.
Ain't that what happened? - And you were stealing credit cards - (SCOFFS) - and robbing convenience stores.
- Nah, the two don't compare.
I did that so I could take care of Blue.
You was only thinking of yourself (SCOFFS) as always.
Is this what our marriage is gonna look like? I don't know.
Us having the same argument over and over again.
You cannot keep punishing me for my mistakes, Ralph Angel.
I ain't punishing you, but it is what it is, Darla.
I'm not that person anymore, and I am so tired of trying to convince you that I am not.
If you can't accept me for the person that I am right now I can't marry you.
(SCOFFS) I'll sleep on the couch tonight.
Grandma has definitely made herself at home.
CHARLEY: Yep! - How was your day? - Good.
(REFRIGERATOR DOOR CLOSES) Yeah, Keke took me to Aunt Nova's Zika thing in the lower 9th.
- You saw your aunt today? - (SIGHS) Yeah.
- How was she? - Fine.
A lot of people showed up.
Well, that's good.
How was the actual project? Oh, yeah, Keke saved the day.
Yeah, she crawled in.
Yeah, she was handing back the trash so fast, I couldn't keep up.
Yeah, she got it done.
Go, Keke.
I was just talking about her today.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
With who? It was at the Sugarcane Society meeting about the harvest festival.
Mm, for the, um, Crystal Court application? - You know about that? - Yeah, she applies every year.
And she knows she's never gonna get it, but she still applies as her own sort of resistance.
Wow.
Sounds like you guys are, uh, really learning a lot about each other.
Getting pretty close.
Yeah, we are.
She's incredible.
(CHUCKLES) Are y'all? (CHUCKLES) No, we're taking it very slow.
Good for you.
Mom, I've never even I've never met anyone like her.
She just, I don't know she's already taught me so much.
Enough about me.
How was your day? It was great.
Because I decided that this year, the Queen Sugar mill will be holding its own harvest festival for the black community.
- Wow.
- Mm-hmm.
That's gonna be cool.
Yeah.
Yeah, it will be.
- (HORN HONKS) - ROBERT: Car's here.
(MUSIC PLAYING) I guess this is goodbye, then.
- I don't wanna go.
- Then stay.
I'm already giving the keynote at this conference.
I would.
I guess that'll hold me until I'm in Atlanta.
Yeah.
I'll be counting those days.
- Wait, you know what? - Hmm? Guess what? In fact, when you get to town, why don't you use these to let yourself in? Mm-hmm.
All right.
I'll call you from the airport.
You wanna use my car, my house My name, my bank, my money You wanna use my car, my house My name, my bank, my money Ooh, honey
- So, you'll be together forever? - Forever.
ROBERT: Zika, it's a hurricane by another name.
And believe me, Nova, you connected the dots.
CHARLEY: Hello, Mother.
I'm the first black woman to own a mill in the state.
Will you be satisfied with this? You know, your hair it's falling out a little.
You might need to get this checked out, girl.
About that night, we have to tell your mother.
She doesn't wanna hear about it.
- What's eating you? - Something happened to Micah.
(MUSIC PLAYING) Good to see you.
All right.
Thank you.
(CLEARS THROAT) Why you looking at me like that? Ernest giving you this farm was the best thing that could have happened to you.
- Look what it's done.
- Man, watch out, Aunt Vi.
I ain't gonna mess this up, Aunt Vi.
Well, speaking about things you ain't gonna mess up.
You wanna make sure you stay on track with Darla.
This is something they started at my church.
For the young folk getting married and divorced like it isn't sacred no more.
Ain't no shame in getting advice.
Even those that think they got it all figured out learn something.
And it's free, so don't give me nothing about that.
(SIGHS) You look like you're feeling better.
I am.
- (LAUGHS) - About to get outta here, Aunt Vi.
I love you, Aunt Vi.
I'll see ya.
- Hi.
Can I help you? - Good morning.
You know where I might find Miss Bordelon? May I ask why? Well, a manager at Delta Diner told me that Miss Bordelon made the best pie I've ever tasted.
- What kind of pie? - Cherry.
Tart, sweet, flaky crust to die for.
Yeah, well, if you pass on from my pies, that's gonna hurt my business.
So, you're Miss Bordelon? It's an honor to meet you.
Kind of you to come this way, pay a compliment.
Oh, well, that's not the only reason for my business.
I'm Jarrett Rawlings of Rawlings Supermarkets.
We got stores in three parishes And I do plenty of shopping at the one in St.
Jo's.
Y'all's double coupon Thursday best thing going.
Well, thank you.
That was my idea.
Good one.
I hope you like my my latest brainstorm.
We'd like you to provide us with 350 pies a week to sell exclusively in our stores.
All the terms are laid out there.
I think you'll find everything is more than adequate.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING) Dreams never die, take flight, as the world turns Dreams never die, take flight, as the world turns Keep the colors in the lines, take flight Dreams never die Keep the colors in the lines Keep the colors in the lines, take flight.
Why is blood flowing through this body? Why is air in my lung? Where we goin' now? Why did I get to place my feet here? Thy kingdom come, Thy kingdom come Oh, I got a song to sing And it's a song about hope for you It's a song about faith I see all that you are going through And it's gonna be all right - Thanks, Pop.
- gonna be all right It's gonna be all right It's gonna be all right Everything's gonna be all right It's gonna be all right It's gonna be all right It's gonna be (SIGHS) Oh Hi.
- Mm.
- Oh! Whew.
Huh? You're still thinking about your father's will, aren't you? Charlotte, you can't dwell on this forever.
I just wanna know why Daddy did it.
Why he didn't discuss it with me.
The truth is, your daddy was a man who changed his mind.
But what you have now, it's far greater than that land.
The mill.
'Cause it's yours.
It is yours alone.
I'm not sure how much good that is anymore since a huge part of my business plan was tied to the farm.
Now, that is something that I can help you with if you just give me a few hours.
Okay.
Thank you.
Charley, you're gonna get through this.
Let me help.
Huh.
I told you, no physical labor.
You're just here to check in the volunteers as they arrive.
Please.
I'm just glad I could still use my body for more than just feeding the twins.
- How are they? - Growing like weeds, and too young to resent me for taking a few hours to help you, sister soldier.
And I can't thank you enough.
Hello.
Robert, meet my oldest friend from Tulane Sierra.
Oh, this is the friendship that began with the fight about whether or not Black History Month is a form of self-segregation.
- NOVA: Mm-hmm.
- She won that fight, by the way.
Uh-huh.
Of course she did.
(WOMEN CHUCKLE) - Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you, too.
I'm surprised at how quickly you pulled all this together.
- Ooh! - Go on.
- No, I know you wanna say it.
- Are you talking to me? Yeah, some kind of "I told you so.
" Since Timothy North's donation is the reason we could do this so fast.
There's nothing wrong with giving a bit of credit where credit is due.
You can give him all the credit you want; he still a horse's ass.
(SIERRA AND ROBERT LAUGHING) Yes, he is.
See? Always wins.
- What a pleasure.
- A pleasure.
Mmm Last I heard, you were done dating.
Now you with a damn unicorn.
We ain't like that.
Really? The way he looks at you? - How is it, then? - We have a lot of respect for each other's work.
Uh-uh, that's not what I asked.
How is it? - Well - Ooh! That's what I thought! Girl, look, I just want the best for you, so give this man a chance to be like that.
'Cause if you don't, I'm gonna scoop him up for myself.
You know what? Come on, girl.
We got work to do.
And don't you lift nothing.
Matter of fact, stack them bottles one by one.
- I'm watching you.
- Mm-hmm.
- One by one.
- Miss Bossy.
Yes, ma'am.
(BOTH LAUGH) (MUSIC PLAYING) I was tempted from the beginning Swallowing these second guesses 'Cause I had you in my mind Baby Following your thirst and sweat On a whim when first we met I just had to rewind it Got me spellbound with that face And the way you move that waist Thinking "Can I get a taste?" Mmm Wow.
That dress looks beautiful on you.
What do you think? I think that it is way too expensive.
Do you really like it? You can be honest.
Darla, honesty is in my blood.
My mother is the queen of brutal honesty.
(SIGHS) I was with her when I went wedding dress shopping.
(CHUCKLES) I had fallen in love with the first dress that I ever tried on.
People say that never happens.
But my mother, she hated it.
She said that it made me look pregnant which I was.
But Yeah.
My mother knew that, but refused to accept it.
She didn't want her friends believing that her daughter was having a shotgun wedding.
And I wasn't.
I mean, Davis and I, we loved each other.
But my mother was disappointed, to say the least.
And she did not try to hide it.
Not from me.
The point is (CHUCKLES) if I didn't think that dress looked anything short of beautiful on you, you would know.
Oh, no, wait, - did did I say something? - (SOBS, SNIFFLES) I'm sorry, it's, um it's just my family doesn't even care that I'm getting married.
I called them to tell them I haven't heard back.
Well, how long has it been since you've talked? Years.
Well, that must have taken a lot.
Yes.
My mom actually sounds a lot like yours.
- (SOBS) - Mmm.
I always just wanted to please her.
I think (SIGHS) when I called her a piece of me was still doing that.
Probably most of me.
I just wanted her to see how far I'd come.
So she wouldn't feel like she's embarrassed of her daughter.
Just proud.
Well, I don't know why they haven't called back.
BUT I KNOW THIS: You have a family Ralph Angel and Blue and another one that you're about to join.
So even if you never hear from them again, you are still surrounded by people who love you.
Thank you.
Admit it, you'd rather be here than editing white papers with your colleagues in some ivory tower right now.
Technically, my colleagues are actually on the golf course right now, but this definitely leads to a stronger sense of accomplishment.
(GRUNTS) Damn, Aunt Nova! Look at those guns.
Micah, I didn't know you were coming.
Neither did I.
It was Keke's idea.
- Hi.
- Hey.
Oh, you two have never met.
Okay, Aunt Nova, this is my girl, Keke.
- Keke, Aunt Nova.
- Hi.
I've heard so much about you from Micah's mom.
And I love your writing and everything you do for the community, and just you're an inspiration.
Hey, I didn't know you were a super fan.
And this is Dr.
Dubois.
Just Robert.
Pleasure to meet you.
- Good to see you, young man.
- You, too, man.
Well, I think I see the news crews from Channel 6 over there.
We should probably go talk to them.
Thank you both so much for helping us out today.
- Of course, of course.
- Good to see you.
- Nice to meet you.
- (MOUTHS) Bye.
I know.
(CHUCKLES) Cool.
Hey, man, I'm Micah.
Leon.
- (MAN SIGHS) - (METAL THUDDING) Hey.
I'm ready.
All right.
- (SIGHS) - So, I was thinking - You was thinking.
- I was thinking we should get a porch swing for the house so we can look up at the stars at night.
Blue would love that.
(CHUCKLES) Ain't even moved in yet, and she already takin' over.
No, I just I think it'd be nice to switch things up a little bit so it feels different, like a clean slate.
As long as I got you and Blue under the same roof, I'm good.
You should make it your own.
It's your home too, now.
- My house too, now.
- (CHUCKLES) (CHUCKLES) - (TAILGATE CLOSES) - (CLEARS THROAT) What is this? Just Vi being Vi.
Premarital counseling.
I think it's a good idea.
Why? We good.
We doing it on our own, been doing it.
No, I know, but it's kind of like doing your steps.
I think it'd really help us if things get hard, or I ain't down with no counseling, Darla.
If I'm gonna get advice from someone, it ain't gonna be some priest who never been married.
(SCOFFS) What's he gonna tell me about being a husband? (CHUCKLES) (KNOCKS) Well, I What are you doing here? I'm helping Charley with her business plan.
I mean here in St.
Jo.
We had an agreement.
Yes, we did.
But then my daughter chose to move herself and my grandson here full-time.
- And that don't change nothing.
- Of course it does.
You can't keep me from seeing my family.
I ain't worried about your family.
You can buy them plane tickets to see you on any continent.
I'm worried about mine.
And I won't have you upsetting Nova.
Nova is a grown woman.
Who just lost her daddy for the second time after you stole him the first time.
You coming around here is just gonna stir all that up, and that's wrong.
I am sorry about your brother, because I know how much he meant to you.
(DOOR SLAMS) SAM LANDRY: So he says, "How many acres do you own?" And he says, "Well, I own a few cows.
" (CONVERSATION TRAILS OFF) If it ain't Miss Charley Bordelon herself.
Welcome to your first meeting of the St.
Josephine Sugarcane Society.
We started an hour ago.
I didn't hear anything about a time change.
I sent an email.
I guess I don't have the right address for you.
Strange.
I was on all the other emails in the chain.
Maybe just hit "reply all" next time or I can show you how if the technology's too confusing for you.
Most everyone's gone since we finished the serious business, but we decided to come and sit out here in the sun.
Guess I gotta introduce you to the troops.
This is Terence McGrath.
He owns 12,000 acres from St.
Josephine to St.
James.
This is Christina Bertrand-Moore, vice president of external affairs at Bertrand Refineries.
A family business for six generations.
Lucky for you, you missed all the boring logistical rigmarole.
Now comes the fun part choosing this year's Sugar Crystal Court.
- Well, where should I, uh - Shall we begin? Olivia Mercer.
Volunteers with St.
Josephine Animal Shelter where she pioneered their program of bringing dogs into nursing homes to cheer up the residents.
- Oh, she's got my vote.
- Mm, mm, mm.
CHRISTINA: Iris Calvert.
Now, she's Olympic caliber.
- She's - What about Keke Raymond? Captain of her dance team, over 40 hours of community service.
Miss Raymond isn't Sugar Princess material.
You're new here.
Maybe just listen for a while.
Mmm.
Wow! This is different than your mom's place.
(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
You know, my my dad is out of town, so we we have the whole place to ourselves.
What do you wanna do? After all the work we did today, I just wanna take a shower.
Hey, what do you say we take one together? Micah, I don't know what type of girls you dated in Los Angeles, but I don't roll like that.
Oh, no, I wasn't I wasn't assuming anything.
I just Micah, I'm a virgin.
And I know it may sound cheesy, but I'm not having sex with anybody until I'm in love.
I just don't wanna have any regrets.
And I'm not saying I don't care about you.
I do.
But we're just we're still getting to know each other.
We're not ready.
Yeah, I'm I'm really sorry about that.
I just, you know I don't want you to feel pressured or anything.
Should I take you home? I never even asked if you wanted to come over and be alone with me, so whatever you wanna do that's what I want, too.
I wanna stay here and spend time with you.
- That's cool with me.
- (BOTH CHUCKLING) Great, thank you.
Yeah, I'll be in touch.
That was my friend, David Handleman, producer at ACN.
They want us to appear on a special.
What? Why? The Spellman panel, your front-page story.
- You are an expert.
- Mmm.
And, might I add, you have a gorgeous face - that belongs in front of a camera.
- Stop.
(CHUCKLES) When's the taping? So you're in? It'll bring more attention to the problems I'm trying to solve.
So, yeah, I'm in.
(CHUCKLES) And here I was ready to be content with the great work we did today.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER) Thank you.
- (CHATTER CONTINUES) - (CAR STARTS) Star? Damn, you look as fine as ever.
You free right now? I can pay extra.
You have me confused with someone else.
Nah, Star, I recognize that ass anywhere.
Hope you're here next time I roll through.
(CAR DOOR CLOSES) (MUSIC PLAYS) What was that? I don't know.
The world's full of crazies.
- (ENGINE STARTS) - MAN: Whoo! - (SIGHS) - (DOOR OPENS) (SIGHS) Well, how was the rest of your day? Ha! (EXHALES) You found my business plans, huh? Yes, and all the problems with it.
Every farmer that you're working with brings in fewer than 1,000 acres.
Yeah, that's just how it is here, Mom.
Black farmers can't afford more than 1,000 acres.
Are you saying that you are exclusively grinding with black farmers? Yes.
Well, why is that? (SIGHS) When I first got down here, no farmers wanted anything to do with me.
And over time, I was able to change a few minds.
They just happen to all be black.
Well, did you even try talking to the others? I mean, did you even attempt talking with the white farmers? Of course I did.
None of them wanted to mill with a woman who looked like me.
Like I said, that's that's how it is here.
It sounds like an excuse to me.
I did not raise you to believe in barriers.
You cannot just roll over because "that's how it is here.
" If you don't like the way things are, then you work on changing it.
Changing it? We're talking about years of history.
Our history.
Then just be the bigger person, Charley.
Reach across the color divide.
Because green, that's the only color that you should be looking at here.
If you want my advice, that's it.
That is how you are going to expand this business now that you don't have the farm.
I'll take that under advisement.
And your aunt Violet stopped by earlier today.
What you doing over here? Just braiding my hair.
- My bad.
- (BOTH CHUCKLING) I'm just not used to you touching my hair.
But come on.
- .
.
the Porsche with the power on Grab these, this So I don't care if it crash right here All black, black, black with the fires on this and this.
- I only got two hands.
- Wait, hold that in one.
- Okay.
- And that in that one.
There you go.
Now crisscross.
I left you in the dust, baby (MUSIC CONTINUES) - Got it? - I think.
(BOTH CHUCKLE) Uh, I don't know how you do this.
That's why you in the slow lane - All your drama in the slow lane - Yep.
All your issue in the slow lane - That's why I left you yesterday - (CHUCKLES) Not bad for your first time.
You're lying.
You're just being nice to me.
I mean, it's not bad, you know? All your drama in the slow lane NOVA: His mama told me something that happened to him when he was pulled over a few months back.
My whole life is about lifting up people who have been hurt.
But when it comes to my own nephew I failed.
It's one of the reasons I've never wanted kids.
Yeah.
Me neither.
You don't? No.
And I hear about it from everybody.
Grandparents, parents, friends, anyone who feels entitled to share their opinion.
(SCOFFS) My parents told me, um, raising a family is the reason that God put me on this earth.
You know, I don't mean them any disrespect, but, like, I feel like my work has a higher purpose.
I feel the exact same way.
(MUSIC PLAYING) Hey The bed is your stage Take it away Put on a show Put on a play Don't pass, babe You know I'm your number one fan, babe So get those cameras rolling right now, under light And then I really wanna see you right now that you're lighted Take over you Your body's taking over you Now, baby, we can take it slow Say my name Don't let go I can hear your body Said I'll take it slow (CRICKETS CHIRPING) DARLA: It's time to go to bed, Blue.
Hey, come on, Boo-Boo.
Time to go to bed.
BLUE: Kenya's excited to move, Mommy.
She's excited that you're here for good! That's very nice of Kenya.
But you should also tell Kenya that if you both go to bed right now, you can play for an extra hour in the fort tomorrow.
No, it's time.
Let's go inside the fort.
Come on! Where you get that light from? In the kitchen under the sink.
(SIGHS) You're real resourceful, huh? (TAPPING FLASHLIGHT) - Wanna see something cool? - What? Okay.
(BLUE BARKS) I wanna try.
(BLUE BARKING) DARLA: And if we all do it, we can have more than one dog.
Come on, Pop! DARLA: Come on, Pop, try it.
BLUE: Come on.
- Like that? - (BLUE CHUCKLES) - BLUE: Yeah.
That's good.
- (DARLA CHUCKLING) It's a dog family.
- Mommy? - Hmm? Are you really gonna be here every night from now on? Yes, Blue.
Is it true, Pop? Pop? Yeah.
Evenin'.
I'm so sorry I didn't tell you my mom was in town.
Treating her like a secret is a bad idea, Charley.
You can best know your siblings are gonna feel some kind of way about that.
I didn't know how long she was staying.
I didn't I didn't wanna upset anyone for no good reason.
I just Baby, what's wrong? It's just this meeting that I went to today.
A Sugarcane Society meeting with Sam Landry and friends.
Well, that must've been one hell of a meeting.
They treated me like I was invisible.
And not just me but the secretary and the maid and Keke.
I just had to sit there and take it because I don't wanna be the angry black woman at my first meeting.
And then I get home and my mom is telling me that I should bring white farmers into the mill.
And on one hand, it's it's good advice.
You know, it'd actually expand my business, but, I you understand, I just don't feel like doing that right now.
And I I just, um I can't please anyone.
Charley, you're grown and you have a son that looks to you every day for who he's gonna be.
You ain't got time to be playing by anybody's rules but your own, and I ain't never known you to be someone who needs permission.
Thank you.
You know, my mom said that you came by, but she didn't say why.
Well (CLEARS THROAT) I had a real nice offer this morning, and I need your help 'cause I'm gonna start selling my pies in grocery stores.
Okay.
(DARLA SIGHS) (SIGHS) This is my first night living in this house and you're acting like you don't wanna be anywhere near me.
All I can think about is that guy we saw earlier and how you might know him.
I knew it.
I could feel you judging me the second we left.
So I'm right? It's a guy you knew from back when you was turning tricks.
(SIGHS, SCOFFS) How come you ain't just tell me the truth? What was I supposed to say? I don't wanna talk about Star ever.
I have spent every single day of my life trying to forget her.
You think I wanted to be called out like that? Well, it ain't easy it just be thrown in my face like that.
I can't get that picture out my head.
We've both done things that we're not proud of.
We were just trying to get by back then.
You was trying to get by on drugs.
What? You was whoring to make money so you can get high.
Ain't that what happened? - And you were stealing credit cards - (SCOFFS) - and robbing convenience stores.
- Nah, the two don't compare.
I did that so I could take care of Blue.
You was only thinking of yourself (SCOFFS) as always.
Is this what our marriage is gonna look like? I don't know.
Us having the same argument over and over again.
You cannot keep punishing me for my mistakes, Ralph Angel.
I ain't punishing you, but it is what it is, Darla.
I'm not that person anymore, and I am so tired of trying to convince you that I am not.
If you can't accept me for the person that I am right now I can't marry you.
(SCOFFS) I'll sleep on the couch tonight.
Grandma has definitely made herself at home.
CHARLEY: Yep! - How was your day? - Good.
(REFRIGERATOR DOOR CLOSES) Yeah, Keke took me to Aunt Nova's Zika thing in the lower 9th.
- You saw your aunt today? - (SIGHS) Yeah.
- How was she? - Fine.
A lot of people showed up.
Well, that's good.
How was the actual project? Oh, yeah, Keke saved the day.
Yeah, she crawled in.
Yeah, she was handing back the trash so fast, I couldn't keep up.
Yeah, she got it done.
Go, Keke.
I was just talking about her today.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
With who? It was at the Sugarcane Society meeting about the harvest festival.
Mm, for the, um, Crystal Court application? - You know about that? - Yeah, she applies every year.
And she knows she's never gonna get it, but she still applies as her own sort of resistance.
Wow.
Sounds like you guys are, uh, really learning a lot about each other.
Getting pretty close.
Yeah, we are.
She's incredible.
(CHUCKLES) Are y'all? (CHUCKLES) No, we're taking it very slow.
Good for you.
Mom, I've never even I've never met anyone like her.
She just, I don't know she's already taught me so much.
Enough about me.
How was your day? It was great.
Because I decided that this year, the Queen Sugar mill will be holding its own harvest festival for the black community.
- Wow.
- Mm-hmm.
That's gonna be cool.
Yeah.
Yeah, it will be.
- (HORN HONKS) - ROBERT: Car's here.
(MUSIC PLAYING) I guess this is goodbye, then.
- I don't wanna go.
- Then stay.
I'm already giving the keynote at this conference.
I would.
I guess that'll hold me until I'm in Atlanta.
Yeah.
I'll be counting those days.
- Wait, you know what? - Hmm? Guess what? In fact, when you get to town, why don't you use these to let yourself in? Mm-hmm.
All right.
I'll call you from the airport.
You wanna use my car, my house My name, my bank, my money You wanna use my car, my house My name, my bank, my money Ooh, honey