Original subtitles

Come on, my battery's running low, baby.

Come on. We want to get you.

We want to get you.

If you rush me, I won't have time to put all this stuff on.

There you go.

There you go Look at her.

Look at her. Sookie.

Sookie.

I'm the graduate.

Look at the graduate.

I'm the graduate.

[laughs] Oh, baby.

You look good.

Thank you.

Miss Ella, may I have this dance, please?

Oh, no sir.

My mother told me about men like you.

I'm sure glad you don't listen to your mama.

Boy.

[makes spitting sound] [laughs] I'm so proud of you,

baby.

Curtis, can you believe that I am graduating.

I know.

After I failed that test miserably.

But my professor just let me come back, retake the test.

And I got an A. And I passed.

And she knew-- she knew that was not what I usually do.

[sighs] I was so grateful.

You did good.

God is good.

- And I'm proud of you. - Thank you.

Look at you. Look at my graduate.

Break Brains and booty.

Mm.

Oh, no, no.

What was that?

- Brains and beauty. - Beauty?

Right. - What's wrong?

- Beauty. - Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

What's the problem? - OK, Curtis.

Well, listen. baby.

I Need to get out of this so that I can just

keep it fresh for tomorrow.

Well, can I help you get out of it?

[inaudible]

Oh, we could do a movie.

[inaudible] part deux.

[laughs] Hey!

Hey!

CJ: Go through this with me?

CJ, I don't want to do this right now, OK?

Right now's the time to go through it.

When else we going to go through it?

Get back home, you're going to go to work.

Call somebody, can you pencil me in for later?

Pencil you in. Really?

Why don't you just take a moment and breathe and listen

to what I'm trying to say. - Breathe and listen?

That's all you want me to do is listen to you.

I want you to listen. Listen.

Hey. Hey!

We're trying to make a movie back here, huh?

Can we get something done around here?

You bringing all that mess over here.

You're mood changes.

Please stop all of that bickering.

And don't bring all that bickering to my graduation

tomorrow.

No, we are going to be great.

Good. Hi.

Hello.

We just stopped by so we could pick up the graduation

tickets for tomorrow.

OK, good.

Right here.

My goodness.

Nephew, what's happening.

I thought you all doing better.

This is better.

You two need counseling.

And you should see Pastor Harmon.

Oh, please.

That man is on his third wife.

And he's still married to all three of them.

Actually, he's on his fourth marriage.

That's my point.

That man knows as much about marriage

as I know about walking on water.

We actually have an appointment

with a therapist this evening.

I hope they do miracles.

Me too.

What exactly is that supposed to mean, CJ?

It means that, now, maybe you guys can

get the help you really need.

Baby, I've got five on Janine.

Curtis, please.

So what's with this therapy.

You see, what the therapist does is her whole concept

is love and kindness.

She comes to the client's home and has the session there.

Good.

That's a good idea.

Hopefully, it will give CJ an opportunity

to get some perspective.

CJ don't need perspective.

Oh, really?

No.

Oh, you know what Janine needs?

Janine needs the support of her [inaudible]..

That's the problem.

Everything is about what Janine need.

[fighting]

CURTIS: Everybody chill out.

Everybody chill out.

Everybody shut it down!

Can I speak in my house, please?

Baby, I get $10 on Janine.

Do you.

[theme music]

So what seems to be the--

[interposing voices]

JANINE: And he always hangs the toilet paper backwards.

CJ: And she always hangs the toilet paper backwards.

Ooh.

Oh, no.

First of all, talking at the same time

prevents the most important part of communication.

What?

Listening.

Aw, hell.

Sometimes in life and in marriage, we forget to listen.

Now, I'd like you both to sit back, take a deep breath,

and just listen.

Excuse me--

[shushing]

What are we supposed to be listening to?

The sound of my money going down the drain.

Ah, do you hear that?

Mm.

Hear what?

Tranquility.

It's necessary in order to have good communication.

Now, I've found that most marital issues

come down to the same thing--

trust, sex, and communication.

Where should we begin? - Sex.

Trust.

Definitely, sex.

Definitely, trust.

You ain't getting no sex.

Look. Mr. Payne.

Mr. Payne.

Mr. Payne.

Mr. Payne.

Could you please move the coffee table aside?

[sighs]

Thank you.

Mrs. Payne, could you stand up?

OK.

I want you to turn around so your back is to Mr. Payne.

Oh.

About-- perfect.

JANINE: Yeah.

Well, we've done this before, so we know exactly what to do.

Oh, good.

So Mrs. Payne?

Yes.

Close your eyes.

Take a deep breath.

[sighs]

Then just fall back.

You know, doc, when she said that I'm not going to have no--

CJ!

Oh, I'm sorry.

I really didn't know you was ready.

Are you kidding me? You didn't know I was ready?

I was falling.

How much more ready am I going to be?

It's OK.

It's OK.

Mr. Payne, you want to give it a shot?

Ha.

Yeah.

Come on, buddy.

Oh, no.

No.

We can just go ahead and just roll on to the next exercise.

You don't trust me?

Oh, I trust you.

How?

Trust that you would let me fall on my behind.

So I guess we do have a few trust issues after all, huh?

We've got issues more than trust.

[fighting]

OK.

Here is what I would like you to do.

When you feel the next argument coming on,

[WHISPERING] whisper.

Do what?

[WHISPERING] Whisper.

It takes the momentum out of the argument.

What?

Huh?

[LOUDLY] It takes the momentum out of the argument.

And once you both have spoken, you stop, count three,

take a deep breath--

[breathes in deeply] [WHISPERING]

and let the other person respond with a whisper.

[laughs]

[laughs] Now, doc.

I don't really think that the whole [WHISPERS]

whisper situation going to work out, all right?

[WHISPERING] Wait, wait, wait, wait.

CJ?

How will you know unless you try?

We could always go back to just dropping

each other on the floor.

[WHISPERING] I'm not the one who got dropped on the floor.

[WHISPERING] That's right.

You're the one who's going to get dropped right now.

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

[fighting in whispers]

We're communicating.

[fighting in whispers]

[LOUDLY] We're communicating!

The hell we are, because I can't

understand what he's saying.

I can't hear him.

See?

It's better already.

Where are you going?

Baby, I got to take this stuff to the car.

Hey, Floyd's gonna meet us over there with the barbecue grill.

They do not tailgate at graduations.

Baby, I'm going to have fun at this, OK?

This is my first one.

I done paid for two of them.

Hell.

[inaudible] we can't leave yet.

We have to wait on Claretha.

Baby, I don't want her wig sweat steaming up our windows.

Curtis, don't do that.

You know she has leukemia.

So what?

You the one that told me don't treat her any different.

That's not what I meant, baby.

That's not what I meant.

Look.

I done paid all this money for these doggone expensive words

and say what you mean.

How about that?

Use them.

Phew!

Just appeared.

How you feeling?

You feeling OK?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Good, because you're making me sick.

Uh, go pack the car.

I got it.

What's that you got on?

Vulture?

[laughs] Hi.

Ella!

Hi, baby.

Ooh, I'm so happy for you.

Da, da, da, da, dah.

I'm graduating today!

My friend is graduating college today.

Yes, I am so glad about it.

I can't believe it.

Are you OK?

Oh, yeah. I'm fine.

Good.

Just a little tired.

but I'm fine.

Good.

I can't wait to see you walk across that stage.

Claretha, I didn't really think that the ceremony was

going to mean that much to me.

I just thought getting my diploma was going to be enough.

But baby, I'm actually excited about the ceremony.

Oh.

Claretha?

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

Can I have a glass of water, though?

Yes, you can.

I'll get you a bottle of water.

We'll take it with us.

I always knew you'd make it, Ella.

From the first time I saw you--

oh.

Claretha, you are not all right.

We're taking you to the hospital.

Here. Curtis?

I'm fine. I'm fine.

Ella, I just need to rest before we go.

Curtis?

Please, honey.

Ella, don't make a big fuss about it.

Claretha, I'm not making a big fuss.

Sit, sit, sit, sit, sit!

Oh, God.

Curtis?

OK, wait, wait. - Where are you all?

Come on. Come on.

Curtis, no, no, no.

This Is serious, baby. OK.

Shh. OK, wait, wait, wait.

[music playing]

I still can't believe Miss Ella missed her own graduation.

I can't believe cuz yelled out, do your thing,

mama, to a perfect stranger.

Hey.

Everybody was in caps and gowns.

I had to cheer for somebody.

And I practiced that line all night.

Yeah, but the air horn was still a little much.

It was a nice ceremony.

Thank you, baby.

Mm-hm.

Hey, everybody.

Hi, Miss Ella.

Do your thing, mama.

Hey, mama.

You missed a great graduation.

And they had some good barbecue, too.

How's Miss Claretha?

She's looked real bad.

She's fine.

Yeah, but she looked bad.

Curtis, please.

Her medicine had her really, really queasy.

She's at home, and she's resting very well.

Thank you.

And she still looked bad.

Curtis?

Congratulations, mama.

[honks horn]

Enough with the horn, Calvin.

Aunt Ella?

What's wrong? Is it Miss Claretha?

Yeah.

I thought you said she was doing fine.

She is, and that's not why I am,

you know, upset, if that's--

I don't know.

Well, what is it, Miss Ella?

[sighs] I missed my graduation.

And this was supposed to be my special day.

Well, if it makes you feel any better,

I missed my graduation too.

Calvin, that makes me feel worse.

Especially since you were in jail.

Why do you always have to point out the negative?

Because there's so much negative.

Curtis, please.

[honks horn]

The main thing is that you graduated.

That's right.

OK.

Yeah, baby.

Please.

[scoffs] It's not the ceremony that's important.

It was to me, Curtis.

I haven't seen ma this upset since they

took Arsenio off the air.

Have you talked to Aunt Ella?

Yep.

What'd she say?

I don't know.

I couldn't understand her through all them sobs.

Aw.

I wish we could give her what she really wants.

Well, what she really wants is a graduation ceremony.

So that's impossible.

Well, why?

All we need is a stage.

And a speaker.

Mm-hm.

Yeah.

That-- that's a great idea.

Yeah.

We'll tell her that I thought of it.

Fine.

I think we should do it.

We could have her a little party after.

But it's got to be a surprise, so we've got to hurry

up before she gets back.

OK.

Um, Miranda?

Mm-hm?

- You start on the food. - OK.

- Mm-mm. - And--

Yeah.

I wasn't thinking.

Calvin, you do the food. - Check.

OK. You know what?

Y'all ain't right. None of you.

You could do the music.

Hey, uncle, you could get the chairs.

I sure can.

Hey, wait a minute.

Who's going to say the long, boring speech

to put everybody to sleep?

[ALL] You.

- Hey. - I know.

I know. I know.

Oh, wait, wait, wait. Wait.

Wait. So what are you two doing?

We are going to a therapy session,

so we'll see you at the graduation.

Yeah. Save us a seat.

[music]

We have been at this for an hour,

and we are not getting anywhere.

Now, I need each of you to decide if you

want this marriage to work.

[sighs]

Yes.

Me too.

Good.

Good.

Now, let's try one more exercise.

I want each of you to say one word

that describes how you feel.

Mr. Payne, would you like to start?

Yes, I would.

Ignored.

Misunderstood.

Alone.

Accused.

Abandoned.

Betrayed.

Forgotten.

Cheated on.

That's two words.

I needed the second one.

How about stay at work all night with a guy that's

always trying to hit on you?

When are you going to get over it, CJ?

Really? You--

Stop.

This is not helping.

Why does your job mean more to you than your family?

It doesn't!

It doesn't.

I like what I'm--

I like my job because it's the one place I can go where

my past does not define me.

I get to be Janine, the PR rep, not

Janine the former crack addict.

Janine, we love you.

[scoffs]

But you are a former crack addict.

And I know you want to forget that,

but we can't just forget it.

We're your family.

We're behind you, baby.

But we went through a lot to get you where you at.

Now, you got to understand this ain't time for you

to become a career woman.

This is time for you to come rebuild the family

that fell apart when you went through what

you had to go through.

OK.

Honesty is good. - See?

It's that.

It's that whole attitude that makes it impossible

for me get past the kiss.

And that kiss meant something, CJ OK?

You can't sit there and act like you're justified.

I don't need to justify it.

All right?

Let's have a little quiet time.

[both] Shut up.

CJ: Look, man.

I'm just tired, all right?

I'm tired of all of this.

I do love you.

You've got a funny way of showing it.

Can we try just one more exercise?

Uh, doc, I need a little quiet time alone with my wife,

just so we can talk for a little bit, if you don't mind?

Talking is good.

I'll send you my bill.

Bill?

For this?

[music]

Ella?

Ella, Ella?

Come on, baby. Come here.

Come here. I need you.

Real quick, I need you.

Real quick.

Curtis, why are you yelling my name, baby?

I don't want-- what?

What did you do?

Why do you still have this suit on?

Why are those pulled like that?

What did you do?

Curtis, please tell me that you didn't use my church

hat again for some snack trays.

No, but that's a good idea.

Come on, follow me.

Curtis, I'm not in the mood for this tonight, baby.

Come on, Ella.

Come on.

[inaudible] Come on.

Well, wait a minute.

Show me where the door is, baby.

Curtis, don't push me.

- OK. - Curtis--

Watch the step.

Watch the step.

Curtis, I really don't want to do it tonight.

What?

Hello.

- Surprise. - Eew.

What is this?

What is this?

It's your graduation.

[honks horn]

[inaudible]?

Yes.

Yes.

Ah!

Congratulations, Miss Ella.

We hope you will remember this day forever.

Oh. [music playing]

Thank you. You guys are the best.

CJ, you didn't tell me.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

Say it, baby.

Say a word for your mama, baby.

You taught us to value education.

And one of us took you seriously.

Oh, don't go there.

I do have a degree.

Thank you.

And now, so does Aunt Ella!

Valedictorian of her class!

[honks horn] - Yeah!

Well, listen.

Who's going to do the boring speech?

Speak, baby.

Going back to college ain't easy.

Why, for some people, it's not easy

just going to college, period.

But not only, baby, did you go to college,

but you went while taking care of a family,

of a house, volunteering at that wretched, wretched help center,

and taking care of me.

You are my wife, and you are my inspiration.

Oh.

Thank you.

My mind goes back to when you first started this journey.

And what a day it was, wasn't it baby?

Curtis?

You had two nickles and a dream.

Bare feet on a dusty road.

Curtis?

Can we just get on with the graduation part, please?

That's what I'm saying.

And now, Ella Naomi Payne.

[applause]

Go ahead, mama.

That's right.

Play it.

That's right.

Here's your speech.

You wrote me a speech?

Yeah.

Please take your seats.

I can't thank you all enough for doing this for me.

I couldn't have done it without all of you,

especially my wonderful, supporting husband.

He is so-- fine?

Wonderful?

In And sexy?

And with no further ado, I send him back

to you, my hero Curtis Payne.

Let's hear it for her, everybody.

[claps] Ladies and gentlemen, I present

to you, Dr. Ella Naomi Payne.

Hold up that diploma, [inaudible]..

[honking horn] [applause]