She's Gotta Have It (2017) s01e10 Episode Script

#NolasChoice (3 DA HARD WAY)

1 [HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
One, two, one, two, three Where Brooklyn at? Where Brooklyn at? Where Brooklyn at? Where Brooklyn at? [SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYS.]
Peace and blessings.
My parents have decided to spend the holiday with my father's parents.
I couldn't go because my boss, Ms.
Raqueletta Moss, wouldn't let me off work yesterday, so here I am in the Republic of Brooklyn.
To me, Thanksgiving is about appreciating family, love, and life.
I give thanks to the most high for a great mom and dad, who definitely let me do me and be me.
They have supported from the get-go me being an artist, to express who I am and who I hope to become through my art.
The way I see me, as opposed to how others see me.
Of course, Thanksgiving is also a grim reminder of this country's genocide of our native peoples, the forced occupation slash takeover slash total bogarting of their land.
Much like how modern gentrifiers have bum-rushed hoods all across God's formerly green planet.
In any case, happy Thanksgiving.
May you share it today amongst beloved family and friends in these very interesting times we all live in.
["BE REAL BLACK FOR ME" PLAYING.]
Our time, short and precious Your lips, warm and luscious You don't have to wear false charms 'Cause when I wrap you In my hungry arms Be real black for me Be real black for me Your hair, soft and crinkly Your body, strong and stately You don't have to search and roam 'Cause I got your love at home Be real black for me Whoa, be real black for me Be real black for me Be real black for me I want you to do that Be real black for me [INTERCOM RINGING.]
[RINGING CONTINUES.]
[RINGING CONTINUES.]
[EXHALES.]
- Speak.
[GIGGLES.]
- [MARS.]
Señor Afro Boricua.
Enter.
[BUZZING.]
- [MARS GRUNTS.]
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
[MARS GRUNTS.]
- Happy Thanksgivin'.
- Happy Thanksgiving.
- Oh, Junior's! - That's right, baby, world famous.
Mm.
And, uh, I remember you tellin' me this is your favorite Prince album.
- So, you do listen to me.
- All the time, girl.
[MARS.]
Mm.
Maybe we can get a little quickie in before the turkey? - No haps.
- You know I'm hungry for you.
And thirsty too.
Please, mami? Please, mami? Please, mami? Mami, mami, please? - Por favor.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- [INTERCOM RINGING.]
- Chill, chill.
Who be that? - Speak.
- [JAMIE.]
Delivery.
- After dessert, henceforth and perhaps? - Enter.
[BUZZING.]
- [NOLA CHUCKLES.]
- Okay.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
I'll get it.
Oh! My mans! Have a blessed Thanksgivin'.
The vino is here.
Nola.
Who's this? Who are you? - And who are you? - Um Jamie, this is Mars.
Mars, this is Jamie.
- Thanks for the wine.
- [INTERCOM RINGING.]
- Speak.
- [GREER.]
C'est moi.
Enter.
[BUZZING.]
- Bonjour.
- Bonjour.
Aw! These are so beautiful.
Thank you.
[GREER.]
Uh Jamie, Mars, this is Greer.
Greer, Mars, Jamie.
Um I am gonna go finish getting dressed.
Why don't you gentlemen hang your coats up, uh, maybe get acquainted? Yeah.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
["NOLA" PLAYING.]
Mars Blackmon.
Mr.
Jamie Overstreet.
I'm Greer Childs.
- Didn't I - see you at Nola's art show? [ALL.]
Aw, hell no! Before we bless the food anyone who wishes to exit may do so now.
It's all L-O-V-E.
Let's bow our heads.
Dearest heavenly Father creator of heaven and Earth and everything in-between, the one who keepeth truth forever, thank you for your grace, mercy, peace, and truth in our lives.
We all have so much to be thankful for.
Through Christ's merciful name we pray.
- [ALL.]
Amen.
- Greer? Thanksgiving to me is being grateful for never getting my face punched in, scratched or scarred in any way, shape, or form.
I'm also thankful for my black father, who taught me how to get in where I can fit in, in this racist country.
And my white mom who loves me no matter how painfully tight the fit is.
[JAMIE CLEARS HIS THROAT.]
God bless us all.
Amen.
Amen! Let's get it! Mars? Your turn.
Don't mind if I do.
Dear God Almighty, majestic, magnificent.
I'm thankful that my big sister Lourdes hasn't thrown me outta her Fort Greene project apartment.
Thank you, God, for blessin' me with my many skills in this culture known as hip-hop.
I'm so thankful for my black father, Monty.
May he be restin' in peace.
Love you, Pops.
And my Puerto Rican moms, Lucy.
To all my peeps who don't think I'm crazy because of my dysfunction-junction, you know, my dyslexia, and let's give a big thanks to the hostess with the mostest, - the most gracious beautiful-ostess - [CHUCKLES.]
- Nola D to the Darling.
- Yes.
- We done? All right? Great.
- [MARS.]
Amen.
Yeah! Dear Lord Heaven help us all.
This clown is gonna have the nuclear code.
We could all be blown to kingdom come.
To smithereens.
On a more selfish note I would like to thank you for leaving me without a record even though I've been arrested.
[SCOFFS.]
I give thanks for being awarded the Catlett Prize in recognition of my art.
- Amen! [CHUCKLES.]
- Amen.
Mangia.
Let's eat.
Yes, let's eat.
[BURPS.]
Excuse me.
My bad.
- Mm.
Delicious.
- [MARS.]
Mm.
Damn, girl.
This is exquisite.
- Dopeness.
You know what I'm sayin'? - [NOLA CHUCKLES.]
Speakin' of post-us, did I ever tell you about the time I told Barack Obama to run for office to be the first black president of the United States of America? - Okay, seriously? - No, you haven't, Mars.
Oh, I thought I did.
Walkin' down Fulton Street, by Junior's and this young cat comes up to me, askin' me for directions to the A train.
And it hits me like a bolt of lightnin'.
Bang, bang! I'm like, "Oh, snap! Barry" That's what they called him back in the day.
I said, "Barry" my mans, my brother you know you the one.
"You gonna be the 44th president of these Estados Unidos .
" - You knew the year as well? - It's a gift.
Am I the only one who feels it blasphemous to tell lies at the Thanksgiving table? - Who you callin' a liar? - I'm calling you a liar.
- [MARS.]
You callin' me a liar? - Gentlemen! It's Thanksgiving.
Hussein That's Barry's middle name.
won his first term, I took the dollar bus down to D.
C.
I'm walkin' to the White House to see my brother, and the service secret don't wanna let me in! [GREER.]
Mm.
[MARS.]
Yo, how you gonna do me like that? - Coldblooded.
- [BOTH.]
Coldblooded.
I contributed a pretty penny a pretty penny to both of his presidential campaigns, and I've had the great honor and pleasure - of golfing - [SLURPING.]
Really? with the commander in chief on Martha's Vineyard on the Farm Neck golf course, more than once.
Have you both also graced the covers of international style and fashion magazines the world over, as I have? - And? - So? And so, I'm a model, obviously, but, also, a top photographer.
You would love the pictures I've taken of our lovely hostess.
Greer.
- Am I not speaking the truth? - Eat.
Why did you invite me to this turkey fiasco? What do you mean? It's Thanksgiving.
I know that.
- Should I pack you a doggy bag? - Can I help? No, thank you.
[MARS.]
You good? You quiet over there, bro.
How's the wine? Straight from Martha's Vineyard.
Would you pass me the cranberries? Got it, baby.
My man, my man, I got it.
- Thank you.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Oh! I'm so sorry, babe.
- [GREER.]
I got it.
You've done enough.
- My man, hold on.
Nola.
- It's fine.
- [MARS.]
Damn.
Come on, girl.
We good, though.
That gives the salad flavor.
Mars, it's okay.
- [MARS.]
You sure? - Yes.
- You sure? You sure? - [NOLA.]
I'm sure.
- She's sure! - My man, I didn't ask you.
Why don't we try and have a good meal? Nola's taken the time to make this meal.
- Let's shut up and eat.
- Who you tellin' to shut up? - Wanna take this outside? - Okay.
We can take it outside.
No, no, no one needs to take it outside.
My knuckles is fresh.
- Straight out the freezer.
- Is anyone ready for dessert? I'm still workin' on this turkey.
- You know I'm ready for dessert, baby.
- Today is my cheat day.
- I would love to indulge in a dessert.
- [NORA.]
Good.
- Today's your cheat day? - [GREER.]
Today's my cheat day.
- What you cheatin' from? - [GREER.]
I'm cheating from - Hairline? You cheatin'.
- creating this amazing body.
- [MARS.]
Hairline's cheatin'.
- Something you don't know about.
That shit ran away from you, son.
- Is this what you brought us here for? - [NOLA.]
This is not To endure insults over a delicious meal served by our gracious hostess.
What happened to your eyebrows? What happened to my eyebrows? How you got a one on your eyebrows? What is a "one on your eyebrows"? First of all, how both y'all hair matchin'? Y'all got ready together? Before y'all came here? Mars, you are on one today.
It's Thanksgivin', baby.
You know I gotta bring it.
Plus, I'm a little buzzed, so He's constant entertainment.
[NOLA.]
Bring a little less.
Know what's entertainment? That tight-ass shirt with them fish-net sleeves.
- It's tasty.
- Sweet.
I can taste the vanilla.
That's my mom's secret ingredient.
She made the pies.
What's the real purpose of inviting all three of us here? Yeah, what is this all about? That's the element in the room.
- "Elephant.
" - First thing we agreed on all night.
I'd like you all to know that the only reason I'm doing this is because you men think you know me.
You think you know what I'm about, and the truth is you don't.
I mess up, just like we all do but I try not to punish myself for my mistakes.
You know? Like, I don't see the point.
The world is too ready to punish us anyway.
So, if in the end, you get something good out of this, then that's cool too.
But this is for me.
I consider myself abnormal, and I really don't want to be like anybody else.
I don't.
You've all called me a "freak," and I hate that word.
I don't believe in it.
I guess what I'm trying to say is the world has made me the man of my dreams.
That's a Meshell Ndegeocello album.
- [NOLA.]
Nobody? - That's my girl.
We appreciate your candor, but I don't believe you answered the question.
Why are we all here? You've each asked me about the other dude.
Well You, you, you you're the other dude.
[SIGHS.]
Oh, I feel so much better.
[CHUCKLES.]
Did I answer all your questions? - Sort of.
- What don't you understand? - Oh, no, we understand.
- We just don't like it.
That's for you to deal with.
What kind of a lady Acts like a man? Tasty.
- Sweet.
- Taste the vanilla.
Know what I mean? [JAMIE.]
Ever been to Martha's Vineyard? - [GREER, IN FRENCH.]
- Hmm? No! These hands They're far too gentile for dish water.
- Let me help you.
- I'm good, but thank you.
Please? - Go relax.
- Fine.
I love washin' dishes.
I ever tell you my first job was as a dishwasher? No, you haven't.
BUT RULE NUMBER 68: my guests do not help wash dishes.
RULE NUMBER 69: Nola has too many rules.
Good luck.
- Hey.
- Hey, hey.
Surprised you could make it.
Yeah, my family, we usually have an early Thanksgiving dinner.
How'd you get away? During dessert, Cheryl and I got into it, she told me to leave the house.
To be honest I wasn't planning on being here when I got the invite.
Sorry.
I'm here.
You are.
Had I known there would be other - invited guests, I - What? It's complicated? I won't speak on behalf of Greer and Mars, but this is highly uncomfortable.
Sometimes, being uncomfortable can be a good thing, you know? It forces us to react, move, um evolve.
- That what we're doin'? - You tell me.
Why do you always answer a question with a question? What? - You ain't right.
You ain't right.
- Whatever.
[CHUCKLES.]
I have a real estate agent lookin' for an apartment for you.
Your life, your art and us.
Thank you for the kind offer, but no can do.
I am a strong, independent black woman.
God willing, I'll get to a place - where I can be fending for myself.
- Everyone needs help.
Yeah, and the Catlett Prize has been a big help.
- I'm happy about that for you.
- Thank you.
Truth be told, I'm just like, "What if Cheryl cancels another check, or?" I can't go through that kind of embarrassment again, Jamie.
You feel me? Do you? You're right.
You're right.
I feel you.
But I don't feel good about it.
Come on, let's, um We're being rude to the other guests.
The other guests.
Who wants to partake, huh? Who's ready to get down to the nitty-gritty? Yo, I'm down.
[GRUNTS.]
I get this from my Jamaican weed guy.
Special blend, au naturel.
It goes by the moniker of "White Gold," while Mr.
Jamaica calls this the Truth Serum.
This cannabis breaks down all the bullshit, all the masks, facades, frontin' and stuntin'.
Puff, puff, pass.
[JAMIE.]
Oh, he don't know the rotation.
I got the truth for y'all.
Follow me.
What's this? This is my latest work of art.
Ready? I call it The Three-headed Monster.
What the fuck, Nola? - You can say that again.
- Is this how you think of us? The beautiful thing about art is, it's open to interpretation.
This, fo sho, is some abstract-achalism and shit.
Objectification is a bitch, right? Well, Nola got one thing right.
I've got the biggest member.
Hold up, you don't have the girth, the width I possess.
Nola, you can bet your last money it's all gonna be a stone gas, honey.
Like my late father Monty told me, "Son, you gotta work with what you got.
" So, let me tell y'all, Nola don't mind 'cause I do it to her mind.
Bang, bang! All right, okay, all right.
What's the verdict? Did I body this or what? - You took shit to another level.
- Next level.
- Dope fleek.
- Well, this has been fun.
Uh, Nola, thank you, but I am going to bid you adieu.
Why? It's still so early.
Excusez-moi.
[JAMIE.]
I bought vintage French wine.
[MARS.]
You know I gifted-ed her that album.
[GREER.]
Flowers by Greer Childs.
["RASPBERRY BERET" PLAYING.]
One, two, one, two, three [COUGHING.]
I was working part-time In a five-and-dime My boss was Mr.
McGee He told me several times That he didn't like my kind 'Cause I was a bit too leisurely Seems that I was busy Doin' somethin' close to nothin' But different than the day before That's when I saw her, ooh, I saw her She walked in through the out door Out door She wore a raspberry beret The kind you find In a secondhand store Raspberry beret And if it was warm She wouldn't wear much more Raspberry beret I think I love her Built like she was She had the nerve to ask me If I planned to do her any harm So look here, I put her on the back Of my bike and we went ridin' Down by old man Johnson's farm I said now Overcast days never turned me on But somethin' about the clouds And her mixed She wasn't too bright But I could tell when she kissed me She knew how to get her kicks She wore a raspberry beret The kind you find In a secondhand store Raspberry beret And if it was warm She wouldn't wear much more Raspberry beret I think I love her The rain sounds so cool When it hits the barn roof The horses wonder who you are Thunder drowns out What the lightnin' sees You feel like a movie star, listen They say the first time Ain't the greatest But I tell ya if I had the chance To do it all again, oh I wouldn't change a stroke 'Cause, baby, I'm the most With a girl as fine as she was then Oh, raspberry beret The kind you find In a secondhand store Raspberry beret Uh-huh And if it was warm She wouldn't wear much more Raspberry beret I think, I think, I think, I think I think I love her Raspberry beret [MAN NARRATING.]
Oh, what a Thanksgiving night.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- [SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYS.]
As you've observed, I have a Rashomon effect on the Treacherous Three, my lovers Jamie, Greer, and Mars.
They all view me differently, but they also all want to possess me.
I will not allow them to put me in a box, to paint my life as they see fit.
I'm dealing with who I am now, at this very special moment in time and space.
I gotta look within to feel and understand what makes me happy.
And if Jamie Overstreet, Greer Childs, and Mars "Crazy Motherfucker" Blackmon want to deal with me, it must be, has to be on my terms or it ain't gonna happen.
That's why I painted The Three-headed Monster.
That artwork is about being open, shiny and not shadowy.
It's about the truth, and I understand, often, that is the hardest thing to get to.
To land at a place where folks can find openness, candor, and frankness amongst each other.
I feel I demonstrate that, first and foremost, through my art.
And whatever you feel about my personal truths that's on you.
[CHUCKLES.]
Oh, shit, I almost forgot.
I gotta give a love shout-out to my soul sisters.
I love you, Mekka, Clorinda, Ms.
Raqueletta Moss and Reggie, Skylar and her mama, Opal.
Love you black.
[INTERCOM RINGING.]
[RINGING CONTINUES.]
[SOFT PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES.]
Who is it? - Uh, Nola, it's me, Opal.
- What are you doing here? Skylar's father is in town for Thanksgiving, and she's spending the night with him.
I've got this bottle of champagne that I thought we could share.
[BUZZING.]
- [OPAL.]
Nola Darling.
- [CHUCKLES.]
[SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYS.]

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