All language subtitles for 4400 s01e03 That LaDonna Life.eng

What a night, y'all.

I mean,
we snuck out to Belle Isle.

Noah, like, nap-timed
the chaperones with his voice,

and Mildred--
you floated Rev

like a butterfly.[chuckles]

I have never seen
such trippy stuff sober.

You guys are like superheroes.

Like, with your own origin
story and everything.

I guess that makes me

the Kardashian of the group.

Like, bringing a dash

of reality TV fame
to spice things up.

What's a reality TV?

What's a TV?

TV is like radio you watch

like talkies.

And then reality TV is where

you get, like, a bunch
of regular people

with different personalities,

and you film, like,
all the drama that unfolds.

So, like, for example, so,
like, Shanice-- she's our rebel,

so she clashes with Rev,

the golden boy.
And then, Mildred,

you and Hayden are, like,
the "will they, won't they."

Will they, won't they what?

[chuckles]
Just wait.

So, then, what are you?

Obviously, I'm the star.

But nobody knows that

because
I do not have cameras

following me around anymore.

God, I miss being famous.
[scoffs]

Oh, my God, Mariah.

Wh... What?

But how did you
get in here?

Does your father
know you're here?

He wasn't gonna let me, but
I-I really wanted to see you.Okay,

but...

How? How are you here?

Some guy. I-I think he said
his name was Hayden.

He opened the door for me,

and... I don't know.

I guess I just...
I really wanted to meet you.

And I didn't think much past...

Making it happen? [chuckles]Yeah.

Hotheaded runs in the family.Really? [chuckles]

Wow.

[chuckling]

[chuckles]

Oh, come here.

[gasps]

I love you so much, Mom.

[gasps]

What was that?

What?I...

I...

You...

Um, a-are you okay?

Yeah. Yes, I just...

I...

I really need you to know,
t... to tell you

that you were...

You aremy world.

I never would have left you
by choice.

Okay.

But Dad told me
you wrote a letter,

so...No, I never wrote a letter.

I...You never wrote the letter?

Okay, well, okay, I did, but...

So you just lied to me?No.

It's not like that. I'm just...

I'm-I'm just confused,
and I-I saw...

You have this...
this Bridget person,

and-and...Wow. Okay,

what does Bridget have to do
with you leaving?

I don't know
why I thought I could trust you.

This was a mistake.No, M-Mariah.

Wait. Please.

Just...

[protestors
shouting indistinctly]

LADONNA:
This crowd has doubled since last night.

SHANICE:
I just hope Mariah got home okay.

But how did your
daughter get in?

She said Hayden let her in.LADONNA: I guess that's why

he didn't go to Belle Isle.

He can see the future.

No big deal.
[chuckles]

Anyway,

your daughter
sounds like a badass.

It's probably not her first time

sneaking back in at dawn.
[chuckles]

ANDRE: Quite the hullabaloo.

And all over us.This is

all good for us, okay?

No publicity is bad publicity
as far as we're concerned.

It keeps us in the public eye
and out of the shadows.

But the government

is a different story.

Steve said they're trying
to have some press event soon.

They want all this to go away

ASAP.You're on a first-name basis
with the guards?

The papers will be here?

Just Steve.

And we don't really do
paper anymore,

but yes, reporters.

You seem an expert on the press.

Being on camera
used to be my job.

On celluloid film?

[chuckles] Well,
it's digital now, but yeah.

I was actually shooting
my own reality show when...

this happened.ANDRE: Perhaps

someone documented the
precise moment you were taken,

then.I don't know.
It's all pretty blurry.

I remember drinking a lot

and then arriving on Belle Isle.

I must have been really trashed.

Um, I was shooting
my premiere episode.

♪ I'm burnin' up,
come put me out ♪

♪ Come and put me out

♪ I'm burnin' up...

This one.Oh, no.

Your body would do nothing
for that dress.

♪ Come put me out,
come and put me out... ♪

[sighs] Have you thought more
about me getting my degree?

I think it could be
kind of good for me.[laughs]

Computer science. What a waste.

You wouldn't even
have time, anyway.Dad thinks I can manage...

Exactly why you know
that's a terrible idea.

Look, being fabulous

is your full-time job now.

Fix your priorities.

And fix your face.
You got a zit coming in.

SHARON: Cut!

[indistinct chatter]That was harsh, Mom.
Even for the cameras.

[sighs] Uh-uh, that wasn't for
the cameras. I meant every word.

You need to think
about your brand,

not your brain.

Hey.

Don't worry about
your mom, okay?

This is about you

coming out
of the ex-wives franchise

with your very own spin-off.

You are our future,
right? Our star.

You know what?
[chuckles softly]

If they're gonna bring in
the press,

I'm gonna make myself
the star this show needs.

KEN: Hey!

No loitering in the hallways.

Get to breakfast.

[mockingly]: Get to breakfast.

[scoffs]

HAYDEN: I wouldn't eat that.

What is that?CORA: A mate in three puzzle.

HAYDEN:
It's a way

to play my favorite game
without a set.

Chess.[squeals] Hayden.

Mildred told me
it's your birthday

tomorrow.
We are gonna party.

How old will you be?[mouths]

91.NOAH: Well, a party

is something to, like,
actually look forward to,

you know? We're
gonna make it sick.

I don't know how or with what,

but, by Gandalf, I'm excited.
[hums]

[chuckles]

Hey, Hay, was I not
supposed to say anything?

Just don't like my birthday.

There was-- I mean, is--

never much to celebrate
when you're locked up.

Your move, bro.

[door opens]

Yo, texpert.

Hey. What's up, J?

Okay, did anybody
pass through here last night

when we were...No.

I checked CCTV
soon as I got your text.

Okay, but then
who drew this?

And when?

No idea.

It's a mystery.

On top of the mystery
of what happened at Belle Isle,

well, twice.

Wait, do you have a theory on
what put us to sleep out there?

Working through
Keisha's body cam footage,

but nothing yet.

I should update her.

It'd give us
a reason to talk.

Hmm.

[indistinct chatter]

[door closes]

KEISHA:
These are for you.

JESSICA:Now that we're all
here, tomorrow,

we're holding a press event

to catch the public up
on the 4,400 situation

and dispel any rumors

that have been swirling
around them.

Carla Coleman

from the mayor's office
will be running the event.

Carla.

Thank you, Agent Tanner.

Thanks to the leak,
which DHS is still working on,

the public knows that
4,400 missing persons

appeared on Belle Isle

and are being detained.

That is all they know.

It's gonna be our job
to remind them of that

by removing any space
for speculation.

In your packets, you will see
approved statements,

the reporters in attendance
and an outline of the event.

Agent Tanner also tells me
a few of you

will be tasked with finding

an ambassador
among the 4,400.

This is going to be key,
as the public needs

to put a face to the situation.

You want me and Jharrel
to find this person?

Okay, look, my job is
to advocate for the residents,

not to play ball
for some government spin job.

None of the family members
have even been notified.

The mayor believes the sooner
the public has answers,

the sooner we can all focus

on returning the 4,400

to society
and moving on with our lives.

JESSICA:
Everybody else, your job

is to get this place cleaned up.

We want the world to see
what a safe

and welcoming environment
we have provided here.

CARLA:
Sorry.

[chuckles softly] I should have
given you a heads-up.

I-I didn't...No, no.

It's all good.

How have you been?

I'm good. And you?

Actually, I was wondering,

is... is Manny...

I-I know the 4,400
are missing persons.No.

Manny's not a 4,400.

Not officially.

What does that mean?

Look at this.

It's Manny's tag.

Look, this appeared
last night.

Only he could
have drawn this.

This is a circle.

No. No, this...

It's his signature.

Look, he draws a circle

and the first number,
and then I come in

with a second number,
and we take turns

until there's 12, but...

Look, I think he's here,

and he's trying to
tell me something.

Okay.

So, Manny came back
with the other 4,400

on Belle Isle,

but instead of telling you
he's back,

he's skulking around,
leaving cryptic drawings?

This isn't like before.

This is exactly like before.

Manny went missing
and you got obsessed.

You followed every lead,

and then you made up leads
when those ran dry.

Spent every night at his place
waiting for him to return.

Never coming home.

Carla, I'm sorry.

All right, I know
I wasn't great

back then, but...

I'm not gonna give up on him.

And wrecking your whole life,

going on these
wild goose chases--

you really think
that's what Manny

would want for you, Jharrel?

I mean,
you already lost one job.

Well, I'm not losing this one.

This job at this hotel

is the only chance I have
of finding him.

Good luck, Jharrel.

[sighs]

[sighs]Hey.

There's my favorite
rebel social worker.

FYI, you'll be doing
a tailored statement

at the event tomorrow.

[chuckles]The public likes social workers.

And if I'd rather
jump off a cliff?

Keisha thinks
you're a bleeding heart,

but I think you just don't know
how to be a team player.Oh, I do.

Just not when the game
is rigged.

Look, I need this job,

but I'm here to advocate,
not to be a puppet.

The game has changed.

If you want in,
here's your speech.

Memorize it.

Play ball, or you're out.

Today, we are
interviewing residents

to be potential
press ambassadors.

JHARREL:
I think

you might actually be great

at the job.
And it could be fun.A job?

Is this a paid position?

No.[laughs]

And how would you rate
your oration skills?

Uh...

Okay.

Gonna take that
as below average.

JHARREL:
So,

how do you feel
about public speaking?

[chuckles]

Me too.

No worries.

What tactics would you use

with an upset reporter?

Michigan Penal Code.

Article three...

twenty-eight.

A person who commits
unlawful imprisonment

is guilty of a
felony punishable

by imprisonment for
not more than 15 years

or a fine
of not more than $20,000.

Or both.

[Claudette laughing]

So, you want me,

a Black woman being held

against her will,

to do all this
work for free?

[laughs]
Fun.

Oh, geez.

Hmm.

Did you have your interview

for the papers?Nope.

Wasn't asked.

Doubt I have
the face they want.

There does seem to be

an air of baloney involved.

But...

when the reporters
are around,

if you get nervous,
remember not to sing.

It would be
extremely dangerous

if your powers
made the front page.

I can't always help it.

Try?

Is everything
all right, Noah?

Where's
your usual joie de vivre?

I-I don't love doctors.

No offense.

Mine haven't been
the most supportive humans

in my life.I see.

Is there anything
I can help you with?

[paper rustles]

I need this medicine.

I haven't

had it in a week.

I'm transgender.

I need this

to be my true self.

Transgender?Yeah.

When I was born,
they said I was a girl,

but clearly, I-I'm not.
[chuckles]

Do you hide this?

It's no secret. I'm proud of it.

I'm out to basically everyone.

Well, this is all...

...remarkable.[chuckles]

Sorry, Doc.
Did I blow your mind? [chuckles]

Well, you've...

...certainly expanded
my vocabulary.

Thank you for sharing.

And you can count on me

to procure
the medicine you need.

Thanks.

It is such a waste that
they're interviewing everyone

for the press thing when there's
only one real option: me.

You wantthis role?
[scoffs]

Then why weren't you
interviewing

with the rest of us?

Well, I'm waiting
for them to finish

and realize they have no one
so that when they truly need me,

their desperation
will give me the leverage

to get the most out of this.

Oh, like get us
out of here?I'm getting my phone back.

[sighs] You know they not
gonna let you say the truth.

How we're being held
against our will.I mean, it's not that bad.

[scoffs]It's not like we're in cages.

Not yet.

LADONNA:
This is my chance

for me to use my superpower:
my media skills.

But use them for what?

CONGREGATION: Amen.Same time tomorrow for prayer.

And for those who haven't heard,
Brother Hayden's

birthday is coming up, and
we'll be having a celebration

in his honor. All are welcome.CLAUDETTE: Looks like

the beginnings of a cult to me.[chuckles]

Claudette.

Glad I caught
you. I could use

your insight
on how to throw a kids' party.

You'd know better than me.

You think that because
I'm a grown woman from my time

that that's
what I'd know best?

Mm.[chuckles]

I didn't mean to offend her.But you did

such a good job at it.

[sighs]

Thought I'd find you here.

Did they audition you, too?

Not yet.They're obviously

gonna use this press event

to screw us over even more.
[chuckles]

Hmm?

But...

something else is on your mind.

We need to get out
of this hotel.

And soon. Noah's not
getting the treatment

he needs,

not to mention what the guard

did to him the other day.
And if they find out

about his voice,

about all the... enhancements...

I think I...

When I hugged Mariah,
I saw something.

I think it was

a memory. Her memory.

Oh.

Oh.

You believe you might
be experiencing

an emergent ability

akin to Noah?I don't know. I...

I wish I wasn't. I don't want
to be afraid to hug her.

Hmm.

I believe

that with patience and study,

we can identify the boundaries

of all these abilities.

That may offer you
a sense of control.

Yeah, but I'll be no better
at being a mom.

I was so rattled

by the vision
and afraid of losing her

that I lied to her face.

Oh.

Well,

we're rarely good at something
without practice.

We're only human, after all.

Go easy on yourself.

And when you see her again,

be honest.

And if she never wants
to see me?

I don't think that will happen.

Your situation is

nontraditional, yes,

but there are many ways
to have family.

It's what you make
of it that counts.

♪ Oh, we're catching
the fireflies ♪

♪ In a bottle

♪ No wait until tomorrow... [knock on door]

Hey, you.
Bridge is bringing home Slows

in, like, five, and, uh,

I get to pick
what we stream tonight.

Okay.

Whoa, whoa. Hold on.

No World War III explosion

about "dad movies"?
What's going on?

You said she wrote a letter,
right?

Right.

I want to read it.

Absolutely not.

It won't help with anything.

And I only told you

about it so that you'd stop
making excuses

for her,
thinking she'd come back.

And she says she never left,

that she was taken. And I

told her she lied
about the letter,

but maybe you were, and...Whoa.

What do you mean,

you told her she was lying?
When did you talk to her?

♪ Don't you believe...

What did you do?

[sighs]
I went to see her

last night.You did what?

You can ground me later.Mariah, what were you thinking?

I knew you'd never take me,
so I-I took myself.

I ca...

♪ Now I'm controlling

♪ The fire restoration...

[exhales]
Well, how'd it go?

Honestly, not great.

I mean, she was nice.

I didn't know

what to call her.
I mean, Bridget is my mom.

I just don't know
what to think anymore.

I need to read that letter.

I need answers.

ANDRE:
I'm not interested in being

your master of ceremonies.
What I need

is medical texts,

contemporary
medical training.

Just yesterday,

young Noah notified me
of a medication I was unaware of

that he lacks access to.

I would very much like your help
in acquiring it.

Well, I will definitely
work on that.

And on getting Noah the meds
he needs.

So?

You find anyone we could use
as our spokesperson?

Anybody willing
and able? Nope.

Myself included.

But maybe... And hear me out.

Mm-hmm.This whole thing
is a terrible idea.

[sighs]

So, who do you have booked
for hair, makeup and wardrobe?

[scoffs] Yeah,
this isn't that kind of thing.

So, you want us to appear

in front of the press
and the public

like the malnourished,
unjustly held detainees we are?

What do you want?I want what you want.

Good press.

And I have
a very particular set

of skills:
memorization, improvisation

and charming... ization.

Look, I'll even sign an NDA.

It's pretty clear you need me

more than I need you.

[sighs]
You'll sign an NDA?

One demand.

I want my phone back.

Your phone?Yeah, you people
confiscated it.

It's pink
with a rhinestone case and...

Wait, did-did you know
I was coming in here?

What do you mean?

My phone.
There it is. Right there.

Right where?

[scoffs]
Look, just get it for me.I can't do that.

Well, then, good luck, sis.Wait.

I can't, but Jessica can.

I'll make the case
to her, okay?

Best I can ask for
is supervised time once a week.

Once a day.Twice a week.

Final offer.

Deal.

So, he stood up,
and I was like, "Oh, my God."

Like, wow. I'm so impressed.

And then I stood up,

and I forgot
I was wearing my Louboutins,

and I kid you not, no lie,

I was, like,
a foot taller than this man.

[women laugh]Like, like, I could fit

one of his Grammys
in between our heads.

Cut![indistinct chatter]

Hi. Excuse me.

I know you're working.
I-I just noticed those...

those lighting
stands and cables

could be tidied up, you know?
Like, someone could trip

and get really hurt, so...

This is my first solo show,
and I really want to avoid

any legal drama.

And also for nobody to die.

So if we could just...[clears throat]

♪ Should've been...

LORETTA:
LaDonna, honey, remember,

you're a butterfly.

Don't bother yourself
with the worker bees.

Now, come away
from the window.

You can't afford
to get any darker.

♪ It should've been us.

♪

Sharon, are we ready to roll?SHARON:
We're ready to roll.

LORETTA:
Okay, let's get this over with.

[sighs]

[scoffs] Can't give a girl
some accessories?

These eyes are not
gonna highlight themselves.

[exhales]

[chuckles softly]

Time to be a butterfly.

They couldn't vacuum
two days ago?

CLAUDETTE:
Well, isn't all this just fine

and dandy for the cameras.

Can you believe LaDonna

is working for the enemy?Oh, let her have this.

[scoffs]She's smarter
than she appears

and more current
than the two of us.

Speak for yourself.
I know enough

to know when I'm
being bamboozled.

Excuse me,
unhand this young man.

Can't. Orders.

Where exactly
are you taking him?

And why don't you take
your hands off him

while you think
of your answer.

They said I have to leave
to get my meds.

ANDRE:
That makes no sense.

Others have been treated
here, so why is he

being singled out?MEDIC: You can take it
up with Agent Tanner.

[Noah humming]It's her request.

Noah.

[humming stops]Remember what we discussed.

We'll see you soon.

SHANICE:They can do anything
they want to us.

CLAUDETTE:
All in the name of good press.

They didn't want the reporters
seeing his face

and forcing them
to explain it.

I should have
protected him.

I should have known
not to trust them.

This wasn't your fault.

We're all doing
the best we can in here

in the face of people
who only want

the best for themselves.Mm.

And LaDonna's about to do
their job for them.

CARLA:
Welcome,

everyone. I'm Carla Coleman
from the mayor's office.

To be clear,
we will not be releasing

any personal information
at this time.

Our goal is to keep
our residents secure

until it is deemed

safe for them
to rejoin society.

Got it?

Good. Okay,

let me introduce you
to our resident,

since I'm sure you'd rather hear
from her than me.

[chuckles]

LADONNA:
Hi, everyone.

I'll be your hostess, LaDonna.
Please follow me.

So, as you can see,

Bois Blanc and the government
know how to treat their guests.

Where are the others?
Are there recreational areas?Of course, but the government

has to respect
everybody's privacy.

I noticed
a fleet of guards on duty.

Aren't
their little outfits cute?

I swear,
I feel like Michelle Obama

with my own Secret Service.[all laugh]

Things have been very scary

and confusing,
but with the government agencies

taking care of us, we have felt

safe and-and cared for.

Uh, Tom Ramirez with the
Detroit Express-Ledger.

You are LaDonna Landry, right?

I-I am. Did you recognize me?

Your mother said that you went
to rehab when you left the set

of your show six years ago.
You look great, like you haven't

aged a day. What's your secret?LADONNA: Tom,

you know the answer.

[chuckles softly]
It is

my amazing 11-step skin care
regimen.

[all laugh]Now I'd like you to hear

from our social worker,
Jharrel Mateo.

Oh. Um...
[clears throat]

Thank you, uh,

LaDonna, and...

friends, for joining us.

Uh, "As a social worker

"for the 4,400,

"I take great pride

"in working alongside
the agencies

to prioritize
our guests' welfare."

Look, this whole thing
is personal to me.

My brother is a missing person,

so I know

how hard it is.

And I hope the day
will come soon

when we are finally allowed
to inform family members

instead of keeping them and
the public at large in the dark

about holding these innocent
people against their will.Thank you, Jharrel.

Always sticking up for us.

Jharrel, can you expand more?

Sorry, Tommy,
but we do have a schedule.

So, we're gonna go
to the dining room next.

Wait until you see the spread.

We have lobster.

[chuckles]
All righty. Right this way.

Looks like you won't have

that unstable
partner much longer.

Mm.

Really, Jharrel?

Look, I don't lie for a living,
all right?

[scoffs]Maybe this whole thing

is a lot easier for you
than it is for me.

Of course you think
this is about being the hero.

You're not the only one
with something to lose here.

If this blows back on the mayor,

it is my head.And I'm sorry.

All right? I didn't mean
to hurt you or your job.

I...Well, you did.

And it still didn't
bring Manny back.

I can fix this.

You don't know how
to fix anything.

[sighs]

JESSICA:
There she is.

The woman of the hour.

[door closes]What can I do for you?

I'm just here for my phone.

I'm sure when people watch,

they're gonna be texting me.
My...

My dad's gonna freak.
[chuckles]

[inhales]
Look,

I have to stick my neck

way out to even get my hands
on it, so...Okay,

that's not what we agreed.

First of all, the phone is mine.

Like, I... Like, I own it.

It became government property

when you came to Belle Isle.

I didn't come, I was taken.Look,

you did a great job today.

It's gonna help your cause.

♪ Because you know

♪ I'm all about that bass,
'bout that bass, no treble ♪

♪ I'm all about that bass

♪ 'Bout that bass, no treble

♪ I'm all about that bass...

Auntie Cha Cha!

You made it!Hey, girl. Come here.

What are you doing here,
Cha Cha?

If I recall, you
weren't invited.

Not by you.
But it's not your party, is it?

Come give your godmother a hug,
girl.

LORETTA:
Stay away from her.

This is her day, not yours.

I don't like your tone.

It's disrespectful.Sharon, what is this?

[indistinct arguing]Uh, this is trailer gold.

Don't worry, if it's good for
the show, it's good for you.

Hon, have a mai tai.

Okay?

Uh, B-cam, are you getting this?

♪ I'm all about that bass

You don't talk to me
like that...♪ 'Bout that bass, no treble

♪ I'm all about that bass,
'bout that bass ♪

♪ No treble.

We'll try again in a few days.

Right.

[sighs]

Where are you, bro?

I miss you.

[sighs]

[knock on door]

What the...?

[exhales]

Carla told me where to find you.

After your

meltdown about
your brother,

she knew you'd be here.

So, this is
Manny's place, huh?

You could've just called.

I know.

You knew you
could get fired

if you tanked the press thing.I...

Well, I can't help you
if you don't care.No, I do care.

All right?
That's why I said what I said.

Really? Because acting out

didn't seem to help
the 4,400 so much

as your own conscience.

All right...
[exhales]

How did you
keep yourself together

after you lost your sister?

My job.

It helped me
focus on something

other than myself.

I think I need that.You do.

Look, you want to be there
for them, be there for them.

They already went
missing once.

It's not fair
they go missing again.

Let go.

Oh, my God.
Is everything okay?

LOGAN:
Excuse me, Officer Taylor

said we'd have some privacy.

[door opens]

The guards seem friendly.

[chuckles]
You know,

we saw the press
piece they ran.

It is ridiculous
how the public's

already eating this up.Yeah, LaDonna
shouldn't have

done that.[Logan clears throat]

Um, hey, listen.

Mariah

has something
she'd like to say to you.

I'll leave her to it.

No. Dad, wait. Don't go.

Yeah?

[paper rustles]

"Dear Logan...

"I'm so sorry,
but I can't do this.

"I tried. I promise I tried,

"but I realize I'm not
meant to be a mother.

"You and Mariah
deserve better than me.

"You have always been my heart,

and I know you will be that
for our child."

[sniffles]

"I meant every vow
that I made

"to you.

"I'm only sorry

"that I'm not strong enough
to keep them.

Shanice."

Mariah.

Logan,

I had no idea
that you would ever read

that letter.

That it would stay with you
for 16 years.

I'm so sorry.

It was a difficult time,
and I-I was scared.

But I'm here now,

and I'd like to start from here.

If you'll let me.

I really hope you will.

[sniffles]

JHARREL:
Hey, Doc.

Brought these medical texts
for you.

Oh, my.

Thank you.

Who is the physician
from whom

you were able to borrow these?

My brother's, Manny.

He wasn't a doctor or anything.

More a polymath,
before he went missing.

I'm... very sorry to hear that.

Might he be among us 4,400?

I had hoped.

Thought I saw a green light
out the window the night

he went missing
and everything, but...

he's not here.

You're sure you want me
to have these?

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's time.

It's right in here.

Um, who are you, again?

Like, am I getting disappeared?

'Cause I just wanted
my phone back.

Oh, no, no, I'm not Gestapo.

I'm Soraya.

I've been trying to get

you alone for a couple days now,

but you were busy, but then...
[stammers]

I found the pilot rough cut
lurking on the deep Internet.

I figured you'd
never seen it and...

Wait, nerd lady, the pilot

to That LaDonna Life?Uh-huh.

Are you saying
you know who I am?Of course.

You're Loretta Landry's
daughter.

I have been watching
you since season five

of Real Ex-Wives of Miami.

I was so excited

for That LaDonna Life
to air, but then

you disappeared
and they said you went to rehab.

I always thought

that you changed your name
and snuck off to MIT

because in season nine,
episode seven of Real-Ex,

you mentioned
computer engineering

and your 4.6 GPA, but...

turns out that you were
just part of an inexplicable

physics-defying phenomenon

with 4,399 others.

You're, like,
my very first stan.

Oh. Honor.

[chuckles]

Check it out.

Ba-bam.

Whoa.

Peace.

NARRATOR:
Not everyone can have this life.

But everyone wants it.

[video fast-forwarding]

[scoffs]

LADONNA:
Auntie Cha Cha, you made it!

CHA CHA:
Baby girl, come here!

LORETTA:
What are you doing?

[video fast-forwarding]

CHA CHA:
I don't like your tone.

It's disrespectful.

And I don't let anyone
disrespect me.

LORETTA:
No, honey, you disrespected yourself in that outfit.

CHA CHA:
What did you say to me?

LORETTA:
Did I stutter?

Ladonna knows I don't...

Mom.

What are you doing?

You should be thanking me.

For stealing my show?

For giving you one.

You are not enough
on your own.

Reality TV needs
real-life drama,

and Cha Cha and I bring it.

I thought you were smart
enough to know that.

[short laugh]

Oh, honey... you're crying.

♪ That all the boys chase

♪ All the right junk
in all the right... ♪

Good, I'll go get the cameras.

You are unbelievable!

♪ Working that photoshop...

Suit yourself.

Cha Cha,
take three!

No, no, no, no, no, you
don't walk away from me!

You come here, you want
to come crashing parties,

you come and talk to me!

♪ To the top, yeah, my mama...

[sobbing]

[birds cawing]

I asked them to pick these up.

I'll do it myself.

It's my show.

[screaming]

LORETTA: You need to talk
to me first! Hey!

You better take your hand

off of me. The nerve.

Somebody bring me my drink so
I can throw it on this woman...

[crying]

[exhales]

Okay then.

I will bring
the real-life drama.

[indistinct chatter]

How's this?Right there is excellent.

Surprised to see me following
through on my promises?

I am.

My husband was
a preacher like you.

He did things for show.

Or for himself.

Well, that's not me.

But he sounds like my father.

So...

uh, what can I help out with?

Well, actually,
we're just finishing up.

He should be here...

ALL:
Happy birthday!

This is the best we could do.

Can't even find
a light anywhere.

Oh, I, I can help with that.

Look, I get it.
I messed up, but...

at least I can
kind of light this candle.

Wow.Ooh.

It's a very nice light,
thank you.

What're you gonna wish for,
Hayden?

I wish...

I wish Noah was here.

But... but you all
have made this day

better than it should have been.

Thank you.

I mean, there's
a lobster with a candle

in its head. come on.

[laughter]

♪ Yeah, I'm feeling

♪ Like an empire

♪ Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh

♪ Keep going on...

JESSICA: Yeah, I think that is
the wisest course of action.

Great, thank you.

Bye-bye.

That was the mayor's office.

Apparently Jharrel
keeps his job.

They don't want it
to appear retaliatory.

I can't say that I'm upset.

He shouldn't have said it
when he said it,

but he was only saying
the truth.

God, you're defending him?

He's my partner.But he's not your only partner.

Yeah, well,
my other partner reneged

on a deal I made
with LaDonna.

You couldn't just let her
have some supervised time

with the phone, really?

Do you not understand
the pressure

that I'm under
with these people?

It would be nice if my partner

of six months would be
on my side for once,

instead of the colleague
she met last week.

[chuckles]

Okay, fine.

I'm gonna go back
to my place tonight.

I think
we need some time

to cool off.Really?

Do you like it?

You made me a chess set.

Mm-hmm.

♪ Saying I can,
now it's game time ♪

♪ And I'm always feeling
the same ♪

♪ Like a king, I rise...

You saw that coming, didn't you?

[soft chuckle]

Uh...

hey, Millie?

I think I like birthdays now.

Good.

Want to play chess?

♪ Give it your best,
ain't got nothing on me ♪

♪ Beating my chest...

[knocking][door opens]

So the bad news is I remember
what I was doing

the moment the green light
snatched me up.

I was falling off a roof...

drunk,

shooting my own reality show
and no one

noticed.Oh, my.

And the good?I didn't die?

Oh, and what good news
that is, my dear.

It would be a mighty loss,
a woman of your intellect.

Literally no one has ever said
that to me before.

But you're right, I-I am smart.

[chuckles]
About time somebody noticed.

I see your extraordinary worth,
LaDonna.

Now...

Jharrel loaned me
medical journals.

And perhaps you
could help me refine

my understanding of DNA?

Sure.

All right.

Let's see...

What is this?

Okay, I don't know
what it means,

but it looks like
some old computer language.

My first thought is Cobol, which
no one's used since the '70s.

Well, these books belonged
to Jharrel's brother.

He went missing,
too. Jharrel

also mentioned the
presence of a green light,

but Manny isn't among the 4,400.

It could be nothing.[scoffs]

A missing person,
connected even loosely to us,

with computer codes
from the past lying around?

Sounds like something.

ANDRE:
Could Manny be involved in our plight some way?

LADONNA:
Or this could lead us to him.

ANDRE:
Seems worth looking into.

We certainly have the time.

♪

[phone vibrates]

PR lady?

Hi, Mariah, I'm Ladonna,
one of the 4,400

here with your mother,
and I need your help.

I've sent you a video
that I need you to put on blast.

To help Shanice.

To help all of us.

Look, I know you're
a bad-ass like your mom.

And I know what people
will do for their moms.

So thank you for doing
the right thing.

I didn't do anything.

I don't know
why this happened to me.

Do you see that?You know what,
I wouldn't eat that.

You want to tell me when you
plan on letting us out of here

for good? Michigan penal code,
article 328:

a person who commits
unlawful imprisonment

is guilty of a felony.

What?

CLAUDETTE: Why in the world
would you attack him?

He didn't do anything!Everybody needs to understand

that order will be maintained!

You don't make the rules here.
We do.

SHANICE: "Restrain" means
to confine that person

so as to interfere
with that person's liberty

without lawful authority.

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