Being Mary Jane (2013) s03e09 Episode Script
Purging and Cleansing
(Mary Jane) Imagine if we had an hour-long show in the vein of how I produced the "Ugly Black Woman" panel.
You keep saying we.
I can't do this show with you.
You're not on drugs, are you, Patrick? I'm taking a little something to help me focus.
But it's far from coke.
I swear I'll never do that again.
You also swore you'd never do any drug 'but you broke that promise.
' You set me up.
Until you get yourself together, we are keepin' D'Asia.
You're not takin' D'Asia.
I'm not on drugs! Yes, you are! We've given you the last 15 years! We were just supposed to talk.
We ambushed him.
- Ambushed? - Yes! We are so used to protecting adults we no longer know what it's like to fight for our children.
- Dad, what you .
- Pauletta.
This fight ain't pretty, but it's necessary.
Now do you wanna give me the address to pick up D'Asia? I'll pick her up, just like we'd planned, Dad.
[Helen coughing.]
I'd better go check on your mother.
- Hi, D'Asia.
- 'Hi.
' - You ready to go? - 'Hi, Mary Jane.
' - Hi.
- Not yet.
- No? - She's havin' fun.
- How're you doing, John? - I'm doing good.
Hey, are you hungry? I have some food left over.
No, no, I'm good.
D'Asia, we really have to go, baby.
Aw, okay.
Aww, here you go, mama.
- Bye, Scott.
- Bye.
Here you go.
Bye, sweetie pie.
Good to see you.
- You too.
- Alright, buckle up.
- Ready? - 'Yep.
' - Good.
- Where are we going? (Mary Jane) 'Well, I thought it would be fun to stay over' at Auntie's house since I get you all to myself.
- How's that sound? - That's good.
Cool.
Where's my daddy? He's working late.
Uh, where's grandpa? You know, we all had such crazy days, you know? Grandpa had to pick up grandma and your dad had to work late.
Niecy even had to work late and you know I'm always workin'.
So I thought it'd be really fun if you could do your homework with Max and Scott since your school's so close to theirs.
'You did do your homework, right?' - Yes.
- 'Okay.
' Well, let's get you home so you can get in that big bath of mine.
- Okay.
- 'Okay.
' [Mary laughing.]
Uh-oh.
[Jill Scott singing "Jahraymecofasola".]
I would climb inside A red balloon Floating towards the noon Yay! For you "From the rooftop, I watched the mountains "change with the seasons.
"In the autumn, chill winds would come.
"In the winter, everything was white snow "long icicles hanging from the roof like daggers "which we loved to snap off.
"We raced around building snowmen and snow bears "and trying to catch snowflakes.
"Spring was when Swat was at its greenest.
"Eucalyptus blossom blew into the house "coating everything white and the wind carried "the pungent smell of the rice fields.
"I was born in summer, which was "perhaps why it was my favorite "time of the year, even though "in Mingora, summer was hot and dry and the stream stank where people dumped their garbage.
" I think I'd try How about jahraymecofasola How about jahraymecofasola (Mary Jane) Yeah, I think you need to come back.
'Because there's a lot going on right now, that's why.
' 'Hold on.
' Are you okay? - No.
- No, heh.
Do you wanna come sleep with me? Yes.
Okay.
Come on.
Hey, P.
J.
, I'm gonna have to call you later.
Alright.
Even better.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Bye.
Did you have a nightmare? No, I just wanna sleep with you.
Duh.
Auntie can be so dim sometimes.
What kind of sleepover is it if you're in the other room? - Is that too tight? - Yeah.
Okay, let me take this off of you.
Alright.
Be free, my child, be free.
[giggling.]
- Goodnight.
- I love you.
I love you too.
Is my daddy back on drugs? And see how it sounds Hey, D'Asia.
Sounds like Hey, D'Asia, are you ready to go? Jahraymecofasola Auntie's house.
Sounds like Is he? Girl, no.
You're dad's just working late again, okay? - He's fine.
- Okay.
Oh almost there now Oh Just a million miles to go Oh And still I can contain How you make me glow (Mary Jane) 'D'Asia.
' 'Come on, mama, time to get up.
' 'D'Asia.
' When you're slidin' into first And you feel a great big burst Diarrhea diarrhea I thought I thought that would work.
Nobody can resist the "Diarrhea" song.
Come on, we gotta get you to school and do something with this hair, come on.
Auntie? I don't like this.
You don't like your granola? You're really not gonna like this quinoa and kale salad I made for your lunch then, huh? No.
Okay, um, if we hurry we can get to Starbucks and I can get you breakfast and lunch.
- Yay! - Alright.
Jahraymecofasola Here you go.
Let's go.
Jahraymecofasola Ooh Ooh Seatbelt on.
Ooh Good morning.
- Hey, good morning.
- Hey.
You're here awfully early.
Where's D'Asia? (Patrick) 'Yeah, uh she spent the night with family.
' I, uh wanted to make sure she got her lunch.
Oh, well, I can take it for her.
That way, you can get a jump on traffic 'cause it is particularly bad out there today.
Yeah.
Everything okay? Yeah, I'm just tired.
How's the new job going? D'Asia mentioned it at recess one day.
- She did? - Yeah.
She's proud of you.
Phew, man, these allergies, you know? [sniffles.]
Yeah, Atlanta allergy season can be rough.
Um well, I will make sure she gets this and I'm gonna go ahead and get settled before these gremlins get here.
Alright.
You have a good day.
You too.
[instrumental music.]
[indistinct chatter.]
And then, actually [music continues.]
I mean okay he-he shouldn't have taken it without a prescription.
But it wasn't like he was strung out on crack.
Patrick was wrong.
They're overreacting.
I'm gonna be honest with you.
You have taken on your mother's fight your parents for that matter, and you have allowed them to use you as their guard dog.
Oh, so I'm their "bitch.
" You feel like a pit bull for them.
- 'A ferocious bitch?' - Yes, yes.
A ferocious bitch, yes.
You've had to be a ferocious bitch 'and have to keep everybody in check, Mary Jane' and this is not your fight, this is their fight and if you continue to allow them to throw those rocks on your lap, it is never gonna stop and then everybody's gonna turn around and wonder why you drowned.
You have some good shit happening for you right now Mary Jane, and you need to lean into that.
You need to be a little selfish right now.
[door opens.]
You hear me? (Mary Jane on phone) 'I can't pick her up again today.
' Well, I'll just reschedule your mom's appointment.
No, mom needs to go to the doctor.
(Paul Sr.
on phone) 'She will.
Just not today.
' Dad, we can't keep doing this and I don't want this to get worse for D'Asia.
What do you wanna do, send her back to her druggie father? (Mary Jane) 'I know you're upset with him, and I'm not thrilled' 'he's back on drugs either' but this is a different kind of drug, dad.
It's-it's more socially acceptable .
He's not supposed to be on any kind of drug, nothing! I'm not gonna sit around and see him ruin another person.
We were lucky with Naima.
But look at Niecy.
How many children have to suffer because adults can't get their crap together? There's a lot going on and I get that you're stressed about mom.
(Paul Sr.
) 'No, no, no, no, no.
' I understand you can't pick her up.
I'll pick her up.
That's what I've been doing.
Thank you for taking her to school.
I've gotta go.
Bye.
Miss Paul? Alana will see you now.
Hello? Hello? Hey, Pops.
What are you doing here? I came to help.
There's only one side to be on.
Otherwise, you can get back on that airplane.
Look, I love you.
I miss you on "Talkback.
" I'm bringing it back.
In fact, I'm meeting with my new team today.
Uh, it's a very diverse team.
I was thinking, you know, a lot of different points of view allow for many perspectives.
Uh, even though we examine a lot on the show from the POV of the marginalized in this country.
The black woman's voice is very saleable right now and you know your audience better than I do.
But what I would like to know is what would you with the title "Ugly Black Woman?" - I can sell that.
- Yeah, sure.
Well, the next time you come in to pitch, if you have 'any other ideas, please pitch those too.
' My door is always open.
I'd love to be in business with you.
Mary Jane, do you have a minute? I'm late for my meeting.
Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about.
Let's walk 'n talk.
I heard you're revamping "Talkback" and I want in.
I would love to bring the Hispanic point of view or a guest pundit, whatever.
I wanna be a part of the team.
I'm not looking for on-air talent.
Then let me be a part of your producing team.
Marisol, if you would have come to me earlier What little money I had, I spent.
You'll get something, okay? Don't worry.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Okay, we've got a lot to do.
Let's get started.
Guys, this is Nina.
- She's joining our Think Tank.
- Hey.
Lance here is our show's producer.
- Hey.
- This here is Young Jin.
Our associate producer, we snagged him from CNN.
Ooh.
And, guys, it took a lot of work but I somehow managed to convince Nina to join us as a news consultant.
She's what, 19, 20? She's over here and I'm 21.
Oh, that's only four years younger than I am.
Demographically-speaking, don't you think that's redundant? Yeah, demographically-speaking? Trust me, you both offer a unique point-of-view to the process, okay? Are you kidding me? You hired her? - What are you even doing here? - Not getting coffee.
- I can tell you that much.
- 'Okay, okay.
' So what does she bring to the table that I don't have? Let's break that down.
Let's start with intelligence, compassion insight, estrogen, real-life experience.
Khalil, until two minutes ago, you were pretty thrilled to be starting an internship here.
Now unless that's no longer the case, you can go.
Up to you.
Are you in or out? - I'm, I'm in.
- Good.
Finish passing out the coffee, open up your laptop and start taking some notes.
Nina, I didn't know what you liked to drink so I got you a latte, is that okay? That's actually perfect.
Thank you.
There you go.
Alright, let's get started.
Due to the new format, we had to trim the fat and roll with a skeleton crew, which is why all of your voices are vitally important.
'So don't go getting bashful on me now.
' 'You're all here for a reason.
' 'I expect each of your voices to be heard.
' Ideally, they want me on air as soon as possible but it's gotta be right, so Hi.
Are you guys finishing up in here? No, we're actually just getting started.
Oh.
The "Bradley Hour" or whatever you guys are being called, you guys have the room? Yes, we do.
I'm sorry.
No, no, don't apologize.
Let's pack up, guys.
I know it's not perfect, but No, it's fine.
Oh, okay.
- You were saying.
- 'So, basically.
' 'Nearly 52 percent of all single mothers in the US' live in extreme poverty, so, a single mother 'raising two kids on ninety-nine hundred dol ' This isn't working.
Let's go.
Wow, you make taking government assistance sound like a death sentence.
No, what I'm saying is how can people justify taking it at all? Uh-huh.
It's been statistically proven that a certain demographic of people .
Yes, yes, say it.
No, say what you're thinking.
Black people, right? I mean, that's the demographic you keep dancing around, isn't it? - If I'm being honest.
- 'Uh-huh?' - Yes.
- Oh, okay.
Well, then, it's actually Caucasian women who receive the most assistance, but I guess that's beside the point.
Boom! But ain't nobody talking about that though, are they? All I'm saying is that Asians typically don't.
My parents had to work for every cent that they earned.
- And we have never taken a .
- And mine didn't? My point is we never took a free handout not once, even when we needed it.
Okay, and my point is that you assume that we did.
'I mean, you think you know me because of the color' of my skin, right? Well, you don't know me.
You see, my mother is a professor my father is a lawyer and we can pay our bills just fine, thank you very much.
But, hey, I guess because I'm black and I wear my hair natural I must be on welfare, right? - 'Love it.
' - Very mature.
Thank you.
Two people speaking their truth.
That's what it's all about, right? And as we all know, people fall for all kinds of reasons.
They-they fall for desperation, addiction heartache, loss of employment.
'But none of these things are ever as important' or as powerful as the person behind it, right? 'That's what's gonna make this show different.
' Because as we delve deeper into those stories we always have to factor in a person's history and their motivation, because facts are all about perception, right? So someone's emotions and-and their passions those things are gonna allow us and our viewers the chance to see the real truth behind their stories.
- Alright.
- Right, verdict? We are pitching Greg a Show on "Welfare .
" Khalil, put it up on the board.
- Yes! - 'Whoo!' Good to have you back, Mary Jane.
Oh, good to be back.
I'm afraid to talk about small businesses in black communities with this group.
- Let's do it.
- Let's go.
(Mary Jane) Oh, jeez.
What do you want, Cece? (Cece) Don't get your panties in a wad.
I just came by to ask you for an easy favor.
What? An appearance from you would bring some much-needed business to the bookstore.
Cece, there are steps you have to take in order to book me and I get photo approval.
Why are you fighting our friendship? I mean, this could just be two friends doing each other a favor.
I'm not asking you for any of your money.
I'm just asking you for some of your time uses of your celebrity, so you can encourage a few black people to read.
Plus, you can keep your cool points in the hood, you know? Please? Come on, Mary Jane.
Please! Don't make me get on my knees.
You know when I get on my knees, it ain't for beggin'.
Okay.
Okay.
Fine.
Yes, I will do it.
- Oh! - Now you've gotta go.
Oh, see, you're a blessing.
I'm telling you, you're my friend.
Mm-hmm.
So, what's going on in here? A regular Brain Trust and some good-smelling Chinese food.
Let me get one of these eggrolls.
Oh, you're workin' on your new show, huh? Yeah, uh, we got green-lit.
We don't have a launch date yet, but Cece, do you mind taking that eggroll to go? 'Cause we're kind of busy.
So, what's the format? You're goin' straight news? Panel? It's a multi-platform conversation for pop culture social engagement, hard-hitting news with, um an opening stand up and then a panel discussion.
(Cece) 'Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
' For a room full of smart people, y'all sure are predictable.
Predict How are we predictable? Well, most of the topics you're tackling not only have a racial divide but a gender, a geographical a socio-economic hell, a generational divide.
Now to balance out the youth movement what you're gonna need in this show or Dorothy Cotton, one of the living legends.
You see what I'm saying? Write that down, baby.
Let's get that knowledge out of them before they die, y'all.
Now you've got something up here about, uh, uh, voting rights.
(Cece) They're gonna just run some tests and put me back together.
Don't worry about me.
How are you doing? Well, we need to help each other.
I have, uh, your lab report after the accident.
(Mary Jane) How did you get those? (Cece) I know you get paid every two weeks so you are gonna pay me every two weeks $5000 in cash until I get back to my blessing.
So now you deal with it.
This can be painless.
Twenty-five thousand in cash and I'm a distant memory.
I'm a survivor.
I do whatever it takes to survive.
Good stuff! Now write that down, baby.
Pulling it off the shelf Putting it on my chain Wear it around my neck I'm taking my freedom [car engine sputters.]
[car horn honking.]
Alright, what you want me to do, huh? I'm tryin'! Hey! Oh, come on, come on! [Jill Scott singing "Hear My Call".]
Here I am again Asking questions Waiting to be moved So, tell me, how'd it go at school today, huh? It was good.
We did an art project right here.
Whoa.
Quite a little artist, huh? Okay.
Let me get that door.
- Thank you.
- D'Asia! (Paul Sr.
) 'Let's go check grandma.
' - D'Asia! - Come on.
- Grandpa, there's daddy! - Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
D'Asia! D'Asia! - There you go.
- 'D'Asia!' D'Asia, baby! D'Asia, baby! - 'Grandpa!' - Dad, what you doing? Stop the car, dad, come on! Hey, Mr.
Patterson, what-what is going on? - Nothing.
- Is she in danger? - What? - Is she in danger? No, no, she's [sighs.]
My dad's on the approved pick-up list.
I just Forget about it.
Look, Patrick, something's going on.
I don't know what it is.
But this is not the place, okay? Where is the place? That's my daughter.
That's my daughter.
Played by all the rules Come on.
Yeah, man, I got real sick.
I'm not gonna be able to make it back in the office.
I'm sure I'll be able to catch back up.
I just wanna try and get in front of this, you know? Alright.
Cool.
Thanks.
My foot to take a step What is happening Oh this hurts so bad Would you like some water? If I drink anymore, I'm gonna need to use the bathroom.
And all I wanna do is go home.
Do you need a ride? Yes, I do.
I truly didn't mean to bring you any of my problems.
Let's go.
I need your healing Please You should know I'm a former drug addict.
I mean I am a drug addict.
I've struggled with addiction for around 20 years.
It took my life, cocaine crack, when I was really low.
The bottom was five years ago.
You've seen me rebuilding.
Recently, I started taking a little something to keep up the work.
My family found out and they flipped had an intervention the whole thing.
Sounds like they gave you a real boundary instead of rope this time.
I mean, it's just a little prescription drug to keep me focused at work.
It's nothing serious.
Well, to them, it's just another dance with their fear.
Well, that may be true, but when do you get to shake your past? By staying in action.
It's about what you're gonna do now.
I'm gonna go get my daughter.
And is that the best thing for her? (Patrick) I don't know, but I know she's not gonna spend her life wondering why I didn't show up, why I didn't fight for her.
- Yo! Yo! - Hey, hey, hey, get out! What are you doing here? I'm calling the police.
D'Asia! She's in P.
J.
's room doing homework.
Thank you.
- Daddy! - Hey! Hey, hey.
- Oh, sugar.
- You're finally off work.
Yeah.
Come on, let's get you home, huh? Please Please Please Bye, grandpa.
Bye, Uncle P.
J.
- Bye, baby.
- Bye, D'Asia.
You know the real fight isn't with you and your father, right? I don't need them.
Then stop blaming them.
A lot of times, people look outside themselves for blame and for answers when, really all these conversations we're having the ones you have with other people, they're just dress rehearsals for the ones we need to have with ourselves.
[sighs.]
Well maybe we could have him move back in here and, well, it would allow us to keep an eye on everything.
I'm sorry.
Stop that.
It's not your fault.
(Paul Sr.
) 'No, it is.
' 'We should have sold the house like you wanted to.
' 'We should have moved to Florida.
' 'We should, we should have traveled more.
We should ' (Helen) 'You know I wouldn't have been able to do that.
' 'I'm sick most of the time.
' Well, maybe you wouldn't be sick if you didn't have to deal with this chaos, and now look 'We've blown our-our savings ' Damn it, I should let him figure it out.
'Now, look at us.
We're right back where we started.
' [sighs.]
Helen, please let me say I'm sorry to you.
It may be the last thing I'll be able to give you.
[sighs.]
Oh Baby No, no.
You've always done the right thing.
Non-violent protests are beginning to form around the country in support of Mr.
Crawford with the hopes of getting the officer in question brought up on charges.
See, it's stories like these, ones that get overlooked that we will cover in my return to "Talkback" The news show with a new hour-long talk show format.
I'm very happy to relaunch the show that I love and I've missed.
There'll be more guests and experts sharing their perspectives to help me dig deeper into the stories that reflect us all and I get to use my quotes again.
Goodnight.
See you here tomorrow at "Prime Time.
" [cell phone buzzing.]
- Hey, what's up? - 'I wanna call them.
' Be strong.
(Mary Jane) 'I just feel like if I don't intervene now' 'I'm just gonna have a bigger mess to clean up later.
' (Kara) 'Well, you're always saying let grown folks be grown.
' Since when do you listen to me? It's just that there's another little black girl at stake.
I know, Mary Jane, you.
'You need to see who else is capable of showing up.
' You should apply that advice to your life.
Okay, girl.
Bye, Felicia.
- Hey.
- Hi.
- Are they still up? - Just missed 'em.
They're out cold.
Oh, my goodness.
How's the book coming along? Oh, I've, um, moved on to an essay.
My colleague just got a green light on a book of essays so I'm hoping to get one in.
They didn't offer it to you? No.
Don't ask any more questions, please.
I'm finally in action, rather than cursing the fact that my colleague used to be my assistant.
Well, good luck with it.
(John) 'Oh, I drank some of your wine.
I'll replace it.
' You don't have to replace wine, John.
(John) 'Just goin' by the roommate rule thing.
' Oh, and the, uh, the-the breaker thing tripped again.
I think the panel needs .
- What tripped? - The break The mai The breaker, the main breaker, the same one.
If you want me to get some estimates, I will.
How did you get here? Full disclosure I guzzled the wine right before you got here.
So, help me out here a little bit and point me in the direction of where you're driving.
I mean, I know how I got here.
Working-class Puerto Rican girl from the Bronx with a gambler, but good-natured father and a mother who worked three jobs to keep a roof over our heads.
And me running away from the Bronx was like me running away from every guy that reminded me of my dad.
My work ethic comes from my mother.
She worked like a dog.
She's my hero.
And I vowed that I was gonna have everything that my mother didn't have.
I was gonna make her hard work mean something to me.
I was gonna have the best.
Bussed to the best school.
Scholarship to Newhouse.
They say this is the best neighborhood in Atlanta.
That's where we buy a house.
They say that's the school that the boys need to go to that's where they go to school.
They say a white guy is more acceptable.
He's more sophisticated.
So I opened myself up to that.
So I know how I got here, John.
I'm curious about you.
Hmm Your mind games just get better and better.
I'm both envious and nauseated.
John, honestly 'I just want to know' how is it okay with you to let your ambition be so low and watch me take care of everything? Oh, I knew this modern arrangement you likely produced a segment on, was not gonna work.
Stop.
Just please stop.
John, listen to me.
I I'm not asking you to fix the life that I've created for myself or eat the problems off my plate.
I am simply asking you how you got here? You are a white man in America.
You can do anything.
You can be whatever.
But you are here.
How did you get here? You, you should be thanking me that I'm here.
- I should be thanking you? - 'Yeah.
' If I weren't, you wouldn't have a starring role in a life that allows you to work endlessly come and go as you please, be a part-time mother.
'You know, this is who I've always been' and I simply believed you when you said it was enough and I had the affair when I knew I was not enough 'and I moved back in with you when you figured out' that you didn't make enough money.
That's how I got here.
Thank you.
Really.
And you're right.
Your ambition was never enough for me.
But they need electricity.
So I am gonna stop bothering you and I'm gonna let you write the hell outta that essay and I'm gonna say a little prayer that it gets published because that's where we are right now.
Goodnight.
'I know you didn't get what Dasia got ' 'but time's up, Niecy, alright?' 'All the things your parents did or did not do, I'm sorry.
' 'I'm sure they're sorry too.
' But this is your life and you have to own it.
I don't get how my dad's issues have become my problem.
I tell you that I have a job that I finally like and the first thing that you have to say is do better.
- Like damn.
- 'Can I be honest?' Uh-huh, because you always seem to hold back.
You would have gotten pom-poms and rah-rahs if you were telling me this at 16 with no kids.
So we're being down on Niecy? It's like Ebola around here.
- Grow up, Niecy.
- I got a job.
No, grow up at the rate it takes to feed and house and care for your children.
Grow up at that rate.
Right, making minimum wage at 20 hours a week that's not gonna cut it.
Look, I'm sorry you didn't get a parade for that, but you just heard them it's time for folks to get up out their house.
Says the man who just moved out of his mama and daddy's house.
Damn it, Niecy, God, you I found him! I'm the one who found him when he overdosed.
That was me.
I had to see that, right? Him trying to be a better father for D'Asia is supposed to be for me.
I made the phone call.
I asked grandpa to help us.
That was me.
I asked for help.
I don't know what y'all want from me, but I'm trying.
- Okay.
Okay.
- I'm trying.
I got you.
I got you.
I got you.
I got you.
I'll help you.
[sighs.]
I just feel like my life never goes anywhere.
That's because you're waiting for somebody to rescue you.
But you got this, alright, and you have support.
Use it.
Look, people can help you, but they're not gonna rescue you.
Know the difference before it's too late.
You know, uncle is willing to help put you on a two-year plan to get on with your life.
The first thing you're gonna do is you're gonna start asking for more help from Cameron's family and Dante's family.
Then we'll enroll you in some type of school.
Okay, well, I know I wanna do hair.
Okay, then we'll get you a license to do hair.
I'll cover daycare for Bill and preschool for Trayvion and then, maybe we'll get you a car.
Yeah, and then we'll start, you know working on building your credit up.
Yeah, but wouldn't it be easier if I just came to California with you? Oh, hell, no.
You're trippin'.
No, see, I've already got my situation .
- Why? - No.
There you go.
I would climb inside A red balloon Floating towards the noon For you I would fly Across the midnight sky The stars and the moon For you too And on that flight I devise A new way to say How much I love you Tippy tah Sight ah tay I'm still working on it baby Please forgive me I think I'd try How about jahraymecofasola How about jahraymecofasola How about jahraymecofasola This has to stop, girl.
Get your gate fixed or give me your new number.
No.
Okay, I apologize.
I saw the official announcement of "Talkback" and congratulations.
Thank you, thank you, yeah, Greg loved the pitch and told me to go on ahead and announce it so we're back on air next week.
Oh, well, I must admit it feels good to know that I contributed to your success.
Girl, you got two shows.
- Don't share down ability.
- Exactly.
And I just wanted to know what kind of compensation might a woman who has made such valuable contributions expect in a situation such as this? Are you for real right now? What happened to "Oh, we're just two girlfriends "doing each other favors?" Come on, bae.
Ain't nobody that friendly.
A woman's gotta eat, don't she?
You keep saying we.
I can't do this show with you.
You're not on drugs, are you, Patrick? I'm taking a little something to help me focus.
But it's far from coke.
I swear I'll never do that again.
You also swore you'd never do any drug 'but you broke that promise.
' You set me up.
Until you get yourself together, we are keepin' D'Asia.
You're not takin' D'Asia.
I'm not on drugs! Yes, you are! We've given you the last 15 years! We were just supposed to talk.
We ambushed him.
- Ambushed? - Yes! We are so used to protecting adults we no longer know what it's like to fight for our children.
- Dad, what you .
- Pauletta.
This fight ain't pretty, but it's necessary.
Now do you wanna give me the address to pick up D'Asia? I'll pick her up, just like we'd planned, Dad.
[Helen coughing.]
I'd better go check on your mother.
- Hi, D'Asia.
- 'Hi.
' - You ready to go? - 'Hi, Mary Jane.
' - Hi.
- Not yet.
- No? - She's havin' fun.
- How're you doing, John? - I'm doing good.
Hey, are you hungry? I have some food left over.
No, no, I'm good.
D'Asia, we really have to go, baby.
Aw, okay.
Aww, here you go, mama.
- Bye, Scott.
- Bye.
Here you go.
Bye, sweetie pie.
Good to see you.
- You too.
- Alright, buckle up.
- Ready? - 'Yep.
' - Good.
- Where are we going? (Mary Jane) 'Well, I thought it would be fun to stay over' at Auntie's house since I get you all to myself.
- How's that sound? - That's good.
Cool.
Where's my daddy? He's working late.
Uh, where's grandpa? You know, we all had such crazy days, you know? Grandpa had to pick up grandma and your dad had to work late.
Niecy even had to work late and you know I'm always workin'.
So I thought it'd be really fun if you could do your homework with Max and Scott since your school's so close to theirs.
'You did do your homework, right?' - Yes.
- 'Okay.
' Well, let's get you home so you can get in that big bath of mine.
- Okay.
- 'Okay.
' [Mary laughing.]
Uh-oh.
[Jill Scott singing "Jahraymecofasola".]
I would climb inside A red balloon Floating towards the noon Yay! For you "From the rooftop, I watched the mountains "change with the seasons.
"In the autumn, chill winds would come.
"In the winter, everything was white snow "long icicles hanging from the roof like daggers "which we loved to snap off.
"We raced around building snowmen and snow bears "and trying to catch snowflakes.
"Spring was when Swat was at its greenest.
"Eucalyptus blossom blew into the house "coating everything white and the wind carried "the pungent smell of the rice fields.
"I was born in summer, which was "perhaps why it was my favorite "time of the year, even though "in Mingora, summer was hot and dry and the stream stank where people dumped their garbage.
" I think I'd try How about jahraymecofasola How about jahraymecofasola (Mary Jane) Yeah, I think you need to come back.
'Because there's a lot going on right now, that's why.
' 'Hold on.
' Are you okay? - No.
- No, heh.
Do you wanna come sleep with me? Yes.
Okay.
Come on.
Hey, P.
J.
, I'm gonna have to call you later.
Alright.
Even better.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Bye.
Did you have a nightmare? No, I just wanna sleep with you.
Duh.
Auntie can be so dim sometimes.
What kind of sleepover is it if you're in the other room? - Is that too tight? - Yeah.
Okay, let me take this off of you.
Alright.
Be free, my child, be free.
[giggling.]
- Goodnight.
- I love you.
I love you too.
Is my daddy back on drugs? And see how it sounds Hey, D'Asia.
Sounds like Hey, D'Asia, are you ready to go? Jahraymecofasola Auntie's house.
Sounds like Is he? Girl, no.
You're dad's just working late again, okay? - He's fine.
- Okay.
Oh almost there now Oh Just a million miles to go Oh And still I can contain How you make me glow (Mary Jane) 'D'Asia.
' 'Come on, mama, time to get up.
' 'D'Asia.
' When you're slidin' into first And you feel a great big burst Diarrhea diarrhea I thought I thought that would work.
Nobody can resist the "Diarrhea" song.
Come on, we gotta get you to school and do something with this hair, come on.
Auntie? I don't like this.
You don't like your granola? You're really not gonna like this quinoa and kale salad I made for your lunch then, huh? No.
Okay, um, if we hurry we can get to Starbucks and I can get you breakfast and lunch.
- Yay! - Alright.
Jahraymecofasola Here you go.
Let's go.
Jahraymecofasola Ooh Ooh Seatbelt on.
Ooh Good morning.
- Hey, good morning.
- Hey.
You're here awfully early.
Where's D'Asia? (Patrick) 'Yeah, uh she spent the night with family.
' I, uh wanted to make sure she got her lunch.
Oh, well, I can take it for her.
That way, you can get a jump on traffic 'cause it is particularly bad out there today.
Yeah.
Everything okay? Yeah, I'm just tired.
How's the new job going? D'Asia mentioned it at recess one day.
- She did? - Yeah.
She's proud of you.
Phew, man, these allergies, you know? [sniffles.]
Yeah, Atlanta allergy season can be rough.
Um well, I will make sure she gets this and I'm gonna go ahead and get settled before these gremlins get here.
Alright.
You have a good day.
You too.
[instrumental music.]
[indistinct chatter.]
And then, actually [music continues.]
I mean okay he-he shouldn't have taken it without a prescription.
But it wasn't like he was strung out on crack.
Patrick was wrong.
They're overreacting.
I'm gonna be honest with you.
You have taken on your mother's fight your parents for that matter, and you have allowed them to use you as their guard dog.
Oh, so I'm their "bitch.
" You feel like a pit bull for them.
- 'A ferocious bitch?' - Yes, yes.
A ferocious bitch, yes.
You've had to be a ferocious bitch 'and have to keep everybody in check, Mary Jane' and this is not your fight, this is their fight and if you continue to allow them to throw those rocks on your lap, it is never gonna stop and then everybody's gonna turn around and wonder why you drowned.
You have some good shit happening for you right now Mary Jane, and you need to lean into that.
You need to be a little selfish right now.
[door opens.]
You hear me? (Mary Jane on phone) 'I can't pick her up again today.
' Well, I'll just reschedule your mom's appointment.
No, mom needs to go to the doctor.
(Paul Sr.
on phone) 'She will.
Just not today.
' Dad, we can't keep doing this and I don't want this to get worse for D'Asia.
What do you wanna do, send her back to her druggie father? (Mary Jane) 'I know you're upset with him, and I'm not thrilled' 'he's back on drugs either' but this is a different kind of drug, dad.
It's-it's more socially acceptable .
He's not supposed to be on any kind of drug, nothing! I'm not gonna sit around and see him ruin another person.
We were lucky with Naima.
But look at Niecy.
How many children have to suffer because adults can't get their crap together? There's a lot going on and I get that you're stressed about mom.
(Paul Sr.
) 'No, no, no, no, no.
' I understand you can't pick her up.
I'll pick her up.
That's what I've been doing.
Thank you for taking her to school.
I've gotta go.
Bye.
Miss Paul? Alana will see you now.
Hello? Hello? Hey, Pops.
What are you doing here? I came to help.
There's only one side to be on.
Otherwise, you can get back on that airplane.
Look, I love you.
I miss you on "Talkback.
" I'm bringing it back.
In fact, I'm meeting with my new team today.
Uh, it's a very diverse team.
I was thinking, you know, a lot of different points of view allow for many perspectives.
Uh, even though we examine a lot on the show from the POV of the marginalized in this country.
The black woman's voice is very saleable right now and you know your audience better than I do.
But what I would like to know is what would you with the title "Ugly Black Woman?" - I can sell that.
- Yeah, sure.
Well, the next time you come in to pitch, if you have 'any other ideas, please pitch those too.
' My door is always open.
I'd love to be in business with you.
Mary Jane, do you have a minute? I'm late for my meeting.
Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about.
Let's walk 'n talk.
I heard you're revamping "Talkback" and I want in.
I would love to bring the Hispanic point of view or a guest pundit, whatever.
I wanna be a part of the team.
I'm not looking for on-air talent.
Then let me be a part of your producing team.
Marisol, if you would have come to me earlier What little money I had, I spent.
You'll get something, okay? Don't worry.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Okay, we've got a lot to do.
Let's get started.
Guys, this is Nina.
- She's joining our Think Tank.
- Hey.
Lance here is our show's producer.
- Hey.
- This here is Young Jin.
Our associate producer, we snagged him from CNN.
Ooh.
And, guys, it took a lot of work but I somehow managed to convince Nina to join us as a news consultant.
She's what, 19, 20? She's over here and I'm 21.
Oh, that's only four years younger than I am.
Demographically-speaking, don't you think that's redundant? Yeah, demographically-speaking? Trust me, you both offer a unique point-of-view to the process, okay? Are you kidding me? You hired her? - What are you even doing here? - Not getting coffee.
- I can tell you that much.
- 'Okay, okay.
' So what does she bring to the table that I don't have? Let's break that down.
Let's start with intelligence, compassion insight, estrogen, real-life experience.
Khalil, until two minutes ago, you were pretty thrilled to be starting an internship here.
Now unless that's no longer the case, you can go.
Up to you.
Are you in or out? - I'm, I'm in.
- Good.
Finish passing out the coffee, open up your laptop and start taking some notes.
Nina, I didn't know what you liked to drink so I got you a latte, is that okay? That's actually perfect.
Thank you.
There you go.
Alright, let's get started.
Due to the new format, we had to trim the fat and roll with a skeleton crew, which is why all of your voices are vitally important.
'So don't go getting bashful on me now.
' 'You're all here for a reason.
' 'I expect each of your voices to be heard.
' Ideally, they want me on air as soon as possible but it's gotta be right, so Hi.
Are you guys finishing up in here? No, we're actually just getting started.
Oh.
The "Bradley Hour" or whatever you guys are being called, you guys have the room? Yes, we do.
I'm sorry.
No, no, don't apologize.
Let's pack up, guys.
I know it's not perfect, but No, it's fine.
Oh, okay.
- You were saying.
- 'So, basically.
' 'Nearly 52 percent of all single mothers in the US' live in extreme poverty, so, a single mother 'raising two kids on ninety-nine hundred dol ' This isn't working.
Let's go.
Wow, you make taking government assistance sound like a death sentence.
No, what I'm saying is how can people justify taking it at all? Uh-huh.
It's been statistically proven that a certain demographic of people .
Yes, yes, say it.
No, say what you're thinking.
Black people, right? I mean, that's the demographic you keep dancing around, isn't it? - If I'm being honest.
- 'Uh-huh?' - Yes.
- Oh, okay.
Well, then, it's actually Caucasian women who receive the most assistance, but I guess that's beside the point.
Boom! But ain't nobody talking about that though, are they? All I'm saying is that Asians typically don't.
My parents had to work for every cent that they earned.
- And we have never taken a .
- And mine didn't? My point is we never took a free handout not once, even when we needed it.
Okay, and my point is that you assume that we did.
'I mean, you think you know me because of the color' of my skin, right? Well, you don't know me.
You see, my mother is a professor my father is a lawyer and we can pay our bills just fine, thank you very much.
But, hey, I guess because I'm black and I wear my hair natural I must be on welfare, right? - 'Love it.
' - Very mature.
Thank you.
Two people speaking their truth.
That's what it's all about, right? And as we all know, people fall for all kinds of reasons.
They-they fall for desperation, addiction heartache, loss of employment.
'But none of these things are ever as important' or as powerful as the person behind it, right? 'That's what's gonna make this show different.
' Because as we delve deeper into those stories we always have to factor in a person's history and their motivation, because facts are all about perception, right? So someone's emotions and-and their passions those things are gonna allow us and our viewers the chance to see the real truth behind their stories.
- Alright.
- Right, verdict? We are pitching Greg a Show on "Welfare .
" Khalil, put it up on the board.
- Yes! - 'Whoo!' Good to have you back, Mary Jane.
Oh, good to be back.
I'm afraid to talk about small businesses in black communities with this group.
- Let's do it.
- Let's go.
(Mary Jane) Oh, jeez.
What do you want, Cece? (Cece) Don't get your panties in a wad.
I just came by to ask you for an easy favor.
What? An appearance from you would bring some much-needed business to the bookstore.
Cece, there are steps you have to take in order to book me and I get photo approval.
Why are you fighting our friendship? I mean, this could just be two friends doing each other a favor.
I'm not asking you for any of your money.
I'm just asking you for some of your time uses of your celebrity, so you can encourage a few black people to read.
Plus, you can keep your cool points in the hood, you know? Please? Come on, Mary Jane.
Please! Don't make me get on my knees.
You know when I get on my knees, it ain't for beggin'.
Okay.
Okay.
Fine.
Yes, I will do it.
- Oh! - Now you've gotta go.
Oh, see, you're a blessing.
I'm telling you, you're my friend.
Mm-hmm.
So, what's going on in here? A regular Brain Trust and some good-smelling Chinese food.
Let me get one of these eggrolls.
Oh, you're workin' on your new show, huh? Yeah, uh, we got green-lit.
We don't have a launch date yet, but Cece, do you mind taking that eggroll to go? 'Cause we're kind of busy.
So, what's the format? You're goin' straight news? Panel? It's a multi-platform conversation for pop culture social engagement, hard-hitting news with, um an opening stand up and then a panel discussion.
(Cece) 'Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
' For a room full of smart people, y'all sure are predictable.
Predict How are we predictable? Well, most of the topics you're tackling not only have a racial divide but a gender, a geographical a socio-economic hell, a generational divide.
Now to balance out the youth movement what you're gonna need in this show or Dorothy Cotton, one of the living legends.
You see what I'm saying? Write that down, baby.
Let's get that knowledge out of them before they die, y'all.
Now you've got something up here about, uh, uh, voting rights.
(Cece) They're gonna just run some tests and put me back together.
Don't worry about me.
How are you doing? Well, we need to help each other.
I have, uh, your lab report after the accident.
(Mary Jane) How did you get those? (Cece) I know you get paid every two weeks so you are gonna pay me every two weeks $5000 in cash until I get back to my blessing.
So now you deal with it.
This can be painless.
Twenty-five thousand in cash and I'm a distant memory.
I'm a survivor.
I do whatever it takes to survive.
Good stuff! Now write that down, baby.
Pulling it off the shelf Putting it on my chain Wear it around my neck I'm taking my freedom [car engine sputters.]
[car horn honking.]
Alright, what you want me to do, huh? I'm tryin'! Hey! Oh, come on, come on! [Jill Scott singing "Hear My Call".]
Here I am again Asking questions Waiting to be moved So, tell me, how'd it go at school today, huh? It was good.
We did an art project right here.
Whoa.
Quite a little artist, huh? Okay.
Let me get that door.
- Thank you.
- D'Asia! (Paul Sr.
) 'Let's go check grandma.
' - D'Asia! - Come on.
- Grandpa, there's daddy! - Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
D'Asia! D'Asia! - There you go.
- 'D'Asia!' D'Asia, baby! D'Asia, baby! - 'Grandpa!' - Dad, what you doing? Stop the car, dad, come on! Hey, Mr.
Patterson, what-what is going on? - Nothing.
- Is she in danger? - What? - Is she in danger? No, no, she's [sighs.]
My dad's on the approved pick-up list.
I just Forget about it.
Look, Patrick, something's going on.
I don't know what it is.
But this is not the place, okay? Where is the place? That's my daughter.
That's my daughter.
Played by all the rules Come on.
Yeah, man, I got real sick.
I'm not gonna be able to make it back in the office.
I'm sure I'll be able to catch back up.
I just wanna try and get in front of this, you know? Alright.
Cool.
Thanks.
My foot to take a step What is happening Oh this hurts so bad Would you like some water? If I drink anymore, I'm gonna need to use the bathroom.
And all I wanna do is go home.
Do you need a ride? Yes, I do.
I truly didn't mean to bring you any of my problems.
Let's go.
I need your healing Please You should know I'm a former drug addict.
I mean I am a drug addict.
I've struggled with addiction for around 20 years.
It took my life, cocaine crack, when I was really low.
The bottom was five years ago.
You've seen me rebuilding.
Recently, I started taking a little something to keep up the work.
My family found out and they flipped had an intervention the whole thing.
Sounds like they gave you a real boundary instead of rope this time.
I mean, it's just a little prescription drug to keep me focused at work.
It's nothing serious.
Well, to them, it's just another dance with their fear.
Well, that may be true, but when do you get to shake your past? By staying in action.
It's about what you're gonna do now.
I'm gonna go get my daughter.
And is that the best thing for her? (Patrick) I don't know, but I know she's not gonna spend her life wondering why I didn't show up, why I didn't fight for her.
- Yo! Yo! - Hey, hey, hey, get out! What are you doing here? I'm calling the police.
D'Asia! She's in P.
J.
's room doing homework.
Thank you.
- Daddy! - Hey! Hey, hey.
- Oh, sugar.
- You're finally off work.
Yeah.
Come on, let's get you home, huh? Please Please Please Bye, grandpa.
Bye, Uncle P.
J.
- Bye, baby.
- Bye, D'Asia.
You know the real fight isn't with you and your father, right? I don't need them.
Then stop blaming them.
A lot of times, people look outside themselves for blame and for answers when, really all these conversations we're having the ones you have with other people, they're just dress rehearsals for the ones we need to have with ourselves.
[sighs.]
Well maybe we could have him move back in here and, well, it would allow us to keep an eye on everything.
I'm sorry.
Stop that.
It's not your fault.
(Paul Sr.
) 'No, it is.
' 'We should have sold the house like you wanted to.
' 'We should have moved to Florida.
' 'We should, we should have traveled more.
We should ' (Helen) 'You know I wouldn't have been able to do that.
' 'I'm sick most of the time.
' Well, maybe you wouldn't be sick if you didn't have to deal with this chaos, and now look 'We've blown our-our savings ' Damn it, I should let him figure it out.
'Now, look at us.
We're right back where we started.
' [sighs.]
Helen, please let me say I'm sorry to you.
It may be the last thing I'll be able to give you.
[sighs.]
Oh Baby No, no.
You've always done the right thing.
Non-violent protests are beginning to form around the country in support of Mr.
Crawford with the hopes of getting the officer in question brought up on charges.
See, it's stories like these, ones that get overlooked that we will cover in my return to "Talkback" The news show with a new hour-long talk show format.
I'm very happy to relaunch the show that I love and I've missed.
There'll be more guests and experts sharing their perspectives to help me dig deeper into the stories that reflect us all and I get to use my quotes again.
Goodnight.
See you here tomorrow at "Prime Time.
" [cell phone buzzing.]
- Hey, what's up? - 'I wanna call them.
' Be strong.
(Mary Jane) 'I just feel like if I don't intervene now' 'I'm just gonna have a bigger mess to clean up later.
' (Kara) 'Well, you're always saying let grown folks be grown.
' Since when do you listen to me? It's just that there's another little black girl at stake.
I know, Mary Jane, you.
'You need to see who else is capable of showing up.
' You should apply that advice to your life.
Okay, girl.
Bye, Felicia.
- Hey.
- Hi.
- Are they still up? - Just missed 'em.
They're out cold.
Oh, my goodness.
How's the book coming along? Oh, I've, um, moved on to an essay.
My colleague just got a green light on a book of essays so I'm hoping to get one in.
They didn't offer it to you? No.
Don't ask any more questions, please.
I'm finally in action, rather than cursing the fact that my colleague used to be my assistant.
Well, good luck with it.
(John) 'Oh, I drank some of your wine.
I'll replace it.
' You don't have to replace wine, John.
(John) 'Just goin' by the roommate rule thing.
' Oh, and the, uh, the-the breaker thing tripped again.
I think the panel needs .
- What tripped? - The break The mai The breaker, the main breaker, the same one.
If you want me to get some estimates, I will.
How did you get here? Full disclosure I guzzled the wine right before you got here.
So, help me out here a little bit and point me in the direction of where you're driving.
I mean, I know how I got here.
Working-class Puerto Rican girl from the Bronx with a gambler, but good-natured father and a mother who worked three jobs to keep a roof over our heads.
And me running away from the Bronx was like me running away from every guy that reminded me of my dad.
My work ethic comes from my mother.
She worked like a dog.
She's my hero.
And I vowed that I was gonna have everything that my mother didn't have.
I was gonna make her hard work mean something to me.
I was gonna have the best.
Bussed to the best school.
Scholarship to Newhouse.
They say this is the best neighborhood in Atlanta.
That's where we buy a house.
They say that's the school that the boys need to go to that's where they go to school.
They say a white guy is more acceptable.
He's more sophisticated.
So I opened myself up to that.
So I know how I got here, John.
I'm curious about you.
Hmm Your mind games just get better and better.
I'm both envious and nauseated.
John, honestly 'I just want to know' how is it okay with you to let your ambition be so low and watch me take care of everything? Oh, I knew this modern arrangement you likely produced a segment on, was not gonna work.
Stop.
Just please stop.
John, listen to me.
I I'm not asking you to fix the life that I've created for myself or eat the problems off my plate.
I am simply asking you how you got here? You are a white man in America.
You can do anything.
You can be whatever.
But you are here.
How did you get here? You, you should be thanking me that I'm here.
- I should be thanking you? - 'Yeah.
' If I weren't, you wouldn't have a starring role in a life that allows you to work endlessly come and go as you please, be a part-time mother.
'You know, this is who I've always been' and I simply believed you when you said it was enough and I had the affair when I knew I was not enough 'and I moved back in with you when you figured out' that you didn't make enough money.
That's how I got here.
Thank you.
Really.
And you're right.
Your ambition was never enough for me.
But they need electricity.
So I am gonna stop bothering you and I'm gonna let you write the hell outta that essay and I'm gonna say a little prayer that it gets published because that's where we are right now.
Goodnight.
'I know you didn't get what Dasia got ' 'but time's up, Niecy, alright?' 'All the things your parents did or did not do, I'm sorry.
' 'I'm sure they're sorry too.
' But this is your life and you have to own it.
I don't get how my dad's issues have become my problem.
I tell you that I have a job that I finally like and the first thing that you have to say is do better.
- Like damn.
- 'Can I be honest?' Uh-huh, because you always seem to hold back.
You would have gotten pom-poms and rah-rahs if you were telling me this at 16 with no kids.
So we're being down on Niecy? It's like Ebola around here.
- Grow up, Niecy.
- I got a job.
No, grow up at the rate it takes to feed and house and care for your children.
Grow up at that rate.
Right, making minimum wage at 20 hours a week that's not gonna cut it.
Look, I'm sorry you didn't get a parade for that, but you just heard them it's time for folks to get up out their house.
Says the man who just moved out of his mama and daddy's house.
Damn it, Niecy, God, you I found him! I'm the one who found him when he overdosed.
That was me.
I had to see that, right? Him trying to be a better father for D'Asia is supposed to be for me.
I made the phone call.
I asked grandpa to help us.
That was me.
I asked for help.
I don't know what y'all want from me, but I'm trying.
- Okay.
Okay.
- I'm trying.
I got you.
I got you.
I got you.
I got you.
I'll help you.
[sighs.]
I just feel like my life never goes anywhere.
That's because you're waiting for somebody to rescue you.
But you got this, alright, and you have support.
Use it.
Look, people can help you, but they're not gonna rescue you.
Know the difference before it's too late.
You know, uncle is willing to help put you on a two-year plan to get on with your life.
The first thing you're gonna do is you're gonna start asking for more help from Cameron's family and Dante's family.
Then we'll enroll you in some type of school.
Okay, well, I know I wanna do hair.
Okay, then we'll get you a license to do hair.
I'll cover daycare for Bill and preschool for Trayvion and then, maybe we'll get you a car.
Yeah, and then we'll start, you know working on building your credit up.
Yeah, but wouldn't it be easier if I just came to California with you? Oh, hell, no.
You're trippin'.
No, see, I've already got my situation .
- Why? - No.
There you go.
I would climb inside A red balloon Floating towards the noon For you I would fly Across the midnight sky The stars and the moon For you too And on that flight I devise A new way to say How much I love you Tippy tah Sight ah tay I'm still working on it baby Please forgive me I think I'd try How about jahraymecofasola How about jahraymecofasola How about jahraymecofasola This has to stop, girl.
Get your gate fixed or give me your new number.
No.
Okay, I apologize.
I saw the official announcement of "Talkback" and congratulations.
Thank you, thank you, yeah, Greg loved the pitch and told me to go on ahead and announce it so we're back on air next week.
Oh, well, I must admit it feels good to know that I contributed to your success.
Girl, you got two shows.
- Don't share down ability.
- Exactly.
And I just wanted to know what kind of compensation might a woman who has made such valuable contributions expect in a situation such as this? Are you for real right now? What happened to "Oh, we're just two girlfriends "doing each other favors?" Come on, bae.
Ain't nobody that friendly.
A woman's gotta eat, don't she?