The Paynes (2018) s01e06 Episode Script

The Waiting Game

1 CURTIS: Well? Are the police out there yet? No.
I'm going to call them again.
Curtis, I've already called them three times.
Well, what did they say? They said that this is not an emergency, and there's a game tonight.
They're going to send somebody over here when they can.
Where's my mama? Oh, she'll be back, baby.
Where'd she go? To the store.
Oh, you a lying Christian.
Ryan, can you take the kids into the office? Yes, ma'am.
And don't touch nothing.
Curtis, what else would you have me say to those kids? Why you going to lie to them? Just a thought, how about the truth? Well, it would break their hearts.
- And a lie won't? - Oh, hush, Curtis.
Hey, kids.
I got a story to tell you about your mama.
Curtis.
What? Do it, and die.
Ella, I am not scared of you.
Curtis you heard me.
Baby, they need to know.
And I will tell them soon.
Well, you need to tell them sooner than later, Ella, 'cause when the police come, they're going with them.
Oh, no, they not.
They going with y'all.
- No, they are not.
- Curtis.
She asked us to keep an eye on these children when she You see, that's what I'm talking about right there, Ella.
What? You don't have any legal rights to those kids.
And you know you got a bad eye.
It don't matter what she said, Ella.
They're not going to let them go.
- You're right, Curtis.
- Hm.
I know I'm right.
- [SCOFFS.]
- Curtis.
- What? - Stop smiling.
I am not smiling.
Yes, you are.
I'm smiling on the inside.
I didn't know you could See it on the outside.
This is not funny.
These kids can end up in foster homes if their mama does not come back.
It's better the fosters take care of that That one right there.
Stop it.
You know what this reminds me of? What? You uh That crack head What was her name? Come on.
What was her name? Janine.
Janine.
When she left jazzie, and and What's the boy? What's the boy? Curtis, don't do this Leave And leave with c.
J.
Same thing.
Same thing.
But, Curtis, they turned out real good.
Yeah, they had their daddy.
You know we had to raise c.
J.
, too.
- I know.
- Curtis.
This is different, baby.
We have the means to help these kids, and we're going to, and that's all there is to it.
But you don't have the age to help them.
Yeah, this is Curtis Payne.
Look here now.
Look.
We done called the police No, it's not an emergency.
Hey wh What? Wh yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
I mean, I know that.
I know that.
Okay.
It is an emergency.
All right? It is an What kind of emergency? - Look.
I'm about to - Don't do that.
Hold.
Why not? 'Cause they're going to come with their guns drawn.
Give me that phone.
Hello? Hello? Yes, this is the sane one.
Can y'all send somebody over here, please, just as soon as you can? Thank you.
Oh.
No, this is not an emergency.
Why'd you tell them that? She just saved you from getting shot.
Around here they shoot first, and they ask questions Never.
Well, they should have been here.
We all know that, Curtis.
I want to go home, Ella.
Me, too, all the way to Atlanta.
I want to go to my house in Atlanta.
Don't do that.
Is that what we going to be doing, - that right there? - Doing what? Baby, bringing up old stuff like that.
Come on.
You know what You need to let it go, Ella.
Okay.
Keep it up.
Keep it up.
Oh, I got it! I got it.
We can just leave the kids on the stoop, and the police can just "Find" them.
I wish you would just hush sometimes.
We're not leaving these children.
I'm trying to help, okay? And those are not chil Those are little grown people.
Okay.
You the one that always said kids are little adults.
Curtis, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.
Ain't there something you need to be doing in here to clean this place up while we wait for the police.
Aye, you.
Do you see the mess you have gotten us into? What did I do? You the one that sold us this money pit.
Go on somewhere, man.
Go on.
Yeah.
Okay.
Uh, you know, I'm going to go down to the corner and see if she actually went to the store.
- I already did that.
- Well, I'm going again.
Besides, I need a few things.
I'll go with you.
I know this place is rough.
For real, what the hell you going to do? Scream in a high-pitch voice, run like a kitty cat? Shut up.
Meeoooww Meeoooww.
Where you going? [SCOFFS.]
I'm just going out here to see If I see the police.
- Baby, don't go far.
- Oh, I'm not.
'Cause you know me and that one right there Curtis Just hush.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[SIGHS.]
Now look here, white hair, where's my mama at? That's what I want to know, little demon.
Lynn, come on.
We out.
Where you think you're going? To find my mama.
Oh, no, you're not.
You don't tell me what to do.
You going to stay right here until your mama come back.
Says who? Says me.
Get back.
Man, you better get out of my face.
- Ella! - Aah! Ella! - Curtis - You better get him.
Get this one.
I'm tired of playing these games.
Curtis, this is a child.
That is the seed of the devil.
Stop that.
Move.
Excuse me? I said, "move.
" Okay.
Jesus? Be a fence.
Baby, you are not supposed to talk to adults like that.
Well, you know what? Adults talk to me like that, so I say what I want to say.
Well, I'm not one of those adults that talks to you like that, so don't you talk to me like that.
Lady Uh, "miss Ella.
" Lady, I said move, and it's the last time I'm going to say it.
Kenny Oh, ho - Hmm? - Oh.
Oh.
Oh One time.
- It just takes one time.
- Curtis - May I? - Hush.
- Mother, may I? - No, you may not.
Okay, listen, son.
You have to stay here and wait until your mama comes back.
- I'm not staying here.
- Yes, you are.
Where is she at, then? Kenny, I don't know where your mama is.
Did she leave us? - She didn't leave us.
- Yes, she did.
She said she would never leave us.
Well, she lied.
Did she leave us? Did she leave us, Miss "I'm so good with kids"? Listen.
I'm not going to lie to you.
I don't know where your mama is, but she asked me to look after you until she comes back.
And I said no.
And I will.
Not be doing that.
Yes, we will.
Okay, listen.
Let's make a deal.
You have to make a deal with me, okay? Until your mama comes back, I will make sure that you have a roof over your head and some food and a safe place to live, and you have to Trust me.
What if she never comes back? She ain't never coming back.
She's not? I don't know.
I don't know, but you can trust me.
You can count on me.
Okay? Okay, Kenny? We don't know you, lady.
Almost had 'em.
I thought you had 'em.
Yes.
Yes, we are.
So will you let them know that we've come home now? Okay.
Oh oh, the address here is 2345 Orange Grove Street.
Okay.
Thank you.
[PHONE BEEPS.]
I can't believe they haven't come here in all this time.
I don't know why, mama.
When do they ever come into that neighborhood? Well, they should.
We need to do something about that.
You a regular ole Angela Davis, ain't you? Power to the people.
They need to come here and protect and serve.
That neighborhood? No.
This neighborhood? Maybe.
This neighborhood ain't much nicer than the laundromat.
Mama.
Oh.
My bad.
I'm sorry.
This place is so nice.
Why are we waiting for them anyway? Well, your mama was a crim Curtis! A wonderful woman who Needs help from them.
She needs a lot of help from them.
Why do you say that? - Well - Don't talk to them.
Kenny.
Let me tell you something.
Your sister can talk.
She shouldn't.
Why do you think that? 'Cause every time we talk to one of y'all it don't end up good.
One of us? I ain't got nothing to say.
- Kenny - I don't.
Then stop talking.
Maaan Man, look.
Did he say, "man, look"? Say it again.
Maaan Man, l Curtis! Three o'clock.
It's going to be me and you.
What's that mean? You'll see.
Lynn, why did you say that? They never come when we call them.
Oh, so you've called the police before? Yes, all the time.
Why? Don't talk to him.
Ella, you better get that one right there.
Why do you have to call the police? 'Cause my mama be fighting.
Is that right? Yes, and her boyfriend hits her.
- And you see it? - We hear it.
- Shh.
- Shh.
They make us stay in the room.
- What did mama tell you? - What? That if you tell people that, they're going to take us from her.
Well, she ain't here, is she? - Lynn! - Whatever.
You make me sick.
Girl, I be wasting all my time Uh-huh.
No, no, no.
No, no, no, no.
The two of you please just stop it, and I mean it.
I mean it.
Can I have something to eat? Well, you just ate, baby.
Well, can I? Are you really hungry? Chiiilllld, I got to eat when I can 'cause sometimes we don't.
Did she just say "child"? Joann, chiiild, child.
Can you fix her something to eat? Okay, "child.
" LYNN: Thank you.
Come on.
I have something in there.
I just need you to warm it up.
Oh, okay.
Come on.
I ain't going nowhere.
Well, okay, "child.
" Your sister can eat at all.
Hey, come on, man.
[KENNY SIGHS LOUDLY.]
- It's cool.
- I can knock him out [GROANS.]
Baby, we didn't wait long enough.
Curtis, we waited three hours.
It was getting late.
That's not long enough.
Well, how long did you want to wait? Twelve and a half hours.
Curtis, don't do this.
Baby, I just want to tell you something.
- Can I tell you something? - Curtis.
I need you to hear me out, Ella, Mano y ma Y Mano.
I need you to listen to me.
Those kids can't stay here.
[CHUCKLES.]
I know.
I know that child welfare is probably not going to let them stay here.
- Exactly.
- But if they do, we need to accept this.
[INDIGNANT.]
Why?! Curtis, you know me.
You've been married to me all these years.
And again I say, "why?!" Ella, you know me.
Okay? You've been married all these years.
I'm going to kill that little boy.
He he just needs some attention, baby.
Well, I'm going to give him some ascension.
He's okay.
He's okay.
Curtis, we got this big ole house and just the two of us.
Is that what this is about? Curtis.
No.
We had to go through all this For you to get to that.
Is that what it is? Look, I'm not your counselor, Ella.
Okay? Next time, just spit it out.
You trying to fill up this house.
Baby, just talk to me.
Okay, tell me what you want.
I can buy some cats and some para-ka-keets.
You hate cats.
Not as much as I hate them kids.
And the cats would eat up the para-ka-keets.
And we would be entertained.
- I'm not listening to this.
- [DOORBELL RINGS.]
I'm not listening to this.
T-the police.
Excuse me.
- My mama? - No, no, uh, baby.
Just go on back in the kitchen and, uh Let me handle this, okay? You sure it's not her? - Just go on.
- Okay, come on, honey.
Just go on.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
NYLA: Hi.
Hello.
I see you got the note.
Off the door at the laundromat, yeah.
I left it for the police.
Yeah, I know.
Why did you leave? I just needed a walk.
I can't be without my kids.
I agree.
And they're ready.
Curtis, hush.
Now, Nyla, what about the police? They haven't showed up yet? No.
Good, 'cause there's no need for them to come.
Why? Kendrick, is He's fine.
He is? Yeah.
How do you know? I called, and he answered.
He said that he was sorry, and he wants us to come home.
Nyla! I'm sorry, miss Ella.
I got to go.
No, you don't have to go.
What happens the next time if you hurt him? I can't think about that right now.
I have to think about my kids.
I'm thinking about your kids, and they are fine here.
Ella.
Curtis, I mean it.
No, no.
Listen.
Listen.
He is not that bad, okay? And I've never had a man like that before.
Oh, one that beats you? One who is taking care of me and my kids.
He's not taking care of you.
- Yes, he is.
- No, he is not.
Lynn told us that she's had to call the police before.
That girl exaggerates.
Nyla, listen to me.
That man will not stop.
Do you have any other suggestions? Yes, I do.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm Mmmmmmmmm.
Move in here with us.
Ella.
[CHUCKLES.]
Miss Ella Right miss Ella! [GASPS.]
She's smiling.
I'm not.
You can move in here with us.
We can help you get some help, get a job and get yourself together.
We will.
Hey, Ella.
Yo.
Yo, babe? Can I see you in the kitchen? Will you just think about it? - "Think about it" - Will you please just - Excuse me.
- Curtis.
Excuse me.
He does that all the time.
- Curtis - Aye.
Will you please just stay here, please? Aye, aye Aye, yo.
Curtis, stop acting like you want this woman to go back with him.
I don't want to her to go back.
Thank you.
I just don't want her to live here.
Will you think about it? I don't have to, no.
Will you please just stay here, please? [GRUMBLES.]
[CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY.]
I know we can help you.
You don't know you can help her.
Stop that lying.
"Christian.
" Please, don't go back to that.
- Don't do it.
- [NYLA CHUCKLES.]
- [GROANING.]
- Oh.
Is that a "yes"? No.
It's not a "yes.
" You said "yes" before she even said anything.
Will you give the woman a chance to answer you? [HYSTERICALLY.]
Maybe she don't want to stay here, Ella.
You ever thought about that? You're making her stay here! - Baby, I'm sorry.
- You're forcing the issue, Ella.
I'm sick of you Christians forcing it all the time! That's why I don't even want to get saved.
Well I do, but Oh, I'm sick of this.
So, will you stay?
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