Original subtitles

Hello?

This is CJ Payne.

No, you've got the wrong number.

OK.

I'm so sorry I'm late.

So sorry.

Yes.

Morning.

Morning.

Hi.

You do know what today is, don't you?

Be nice to late employee day?

No.

It's your annual evaluation day.

Has it been a year already?

Yes, it has.

Have a seat.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

And as you can see, I took the time to explain your score

under each evaluation.

Are you kidding me with this?

With what?

CJ, with scores like this, I may

not qualify for my full raise.

Yes.

And that's what made this so difficult.

That and the obvious.

What is the obvious?

You are my wife.

That's not funny.

That's not funny.

Oh, I'm cracking myself up.

CJ.

That's very funny.

This is not a fair evaluation.

Listen, if you would take the time to read it further,

you would see without flipping out--

Hey, hey.

You gave me below average on my punctuality.

You can't justify that.

You were late today, this morning.

Yes, but CJ, you know-- are you--

are you listening to me?

You know I had to get the twins ready.

I had to drop them off at the daycare.

And I had to drop Jazzie off at school,

but somehow I still managed to get here on time.

This is not fair.

What are you doing?

I'm trying to get to my meeting.

CJ-- listen--

wait, you know what? You know what?

Listen--

No, no.

I'm done listening.

Are you finished?

I guess so.

Good, cause I am not signing this evaluation.

[music playing]

Hey, everyone.

Hey.

Hey.

So aren't you gonna ask me about my job interview?

Oh, yeah.

How'd your job interview go?

Oh, well, now that you ask, it went so well, baby.

Granted, they have one more candidate

that they do need to see.

But the job may be mine.

Good job, booboo.

Look there.

Miranda's on her second job and you

suspended from the one you got.

Pops, give me a break.

What kind of break?

What break do you want me to give?

You've been taking a break all day, son.

Oh Mr. Payne--

Watching TV til 3:00 in the morning.

You was taking a break then, wasn't you?

You need a break from your break.

That's what happening.

You looking for the wrong career.

You should be a break dancer.

Anyway, I will continue to temp at the mortgage company

until I find out if I've got this new job.

OK.

Well, I'm beat.

I would love a cold glass of water right now.

Yeah.

That sounds good.

Can you get me a glass when you go in there?

Sure.

Uh uh.

Miranda, sit down.

Calvin, if you don't peel your behind off that couch and go

get your wife some water, son.

Fine.

You better Keep it moving.

You better keep it moving.

Mr. Payne, I'm really worried about him.

Don't worry about him.

He's fine.

He's gotten water by himself before.

No.

Ever since he got shot, he just has not been the same.

I mean, he has an excuse for everything.

Yeah, well, you know, he's been

through one hell of a year, Miranda, both of you have.

And if you just give him a little time, give him a minute,

his focus will get better.

I promise you.

Does it take this long to get water?

No, it don't.

Calvin, where the water at?

Calvin.

What is he doing?

Calvin.

Is that what you call focused?

Something smells delicious.

It smells good.

Yeah, that smells good.

You know, I love spaghetti.

All right.

[inaudible]

Does this have something to do with the evaluation?

I think you're overreacting.

Do you?

Do you now?

And since you're the boss, I guess it must be true.

Look, baby.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Do not call me baby.

Do not call me baby.

We are in a professional workplace.

And I will be respected as such.

We-- we're at home.

You just got to find a way to be right, don't you?

OK obviously you want to pick a fight.

So I'm just gonna let it go.

I'm gonna be the bigger man.

Let it go.

But I have not had any dinner.

I would like to eat something.

Sorry.

I thought since you knew I don't complete assignments.

It wouldn't be a problem.

Bon apetit.

Hey, how's it going?

[inaudible]

How was work?

It was good.

You know, I'm glad the temp agency called,

because we can use all the extra money we can get right now.

Is Calvin in the back sleeping?

No, no.

He put the kids down.

But he went out to hang with the fellows.

What?

He put the kids down--

No, no, no.

I called Calvin before I left work

and I asked him if he wanted to go see a movie with me.

And he said he was too tired.

Tired from what?

What is he tired from laying up around here, eating all day?

Maybe he just wanted to go and hang out

with his little friends, honey.

Curtis ditches me all the time to hang out with Floyd.

Don't you tell that lie.

Curtis.

I don't ditch you.

Yes, you do.

I pretend like I got something else to do.

Then, I go meet Floyd and hang out with him.

Thank you for clarifying that for me.

He should've just been honest with me.

I mean, we never do anything anymore.

I miss my husband.

[message tone]

Maybe this is Calvin.

[inaudible]

I'm watching-- I'm watching the scary movie.

Oh my god.

What?

My bank just sent me an alert.

And somebody just withdrew $500 from our savings account.

Oh God.

Well, you need to check and make sure nobody

steal your card.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

This was Calvin's card.

I cannot believe he withdrew half of our savings.

I can't believe that y'all got $1,000 in the bank and you

can't pay on the cable bill.

As hard as I've been working and he's

been laying around here, I need to check our account.

OK.

Miranda, wait a minute.

Now, don't get all worked up.

I'm sure Calvin has a good explanation.

Right, he has no job, he wants some money,

so he drained the account.

You are not helping.

We're not even sure it's him.

Somebody could've stolen his wallet

and they could be doing this.

Yeah, well, whoever stole his wallet

made the withdrawal from the Little Mo Peep dance club.

What?

The strip club on Piedmont?

With the double poles and the free valet parking?

Never heard of it.

What up, y'all?

Are you OK?

Yeah.

OK, wait.

Did some rob you?

Did you lose your wallet?

No.

Why?

Well, how could you take $500 out of our savings account?

Whoa.

Let me talk.

OK, you talk.

How could you take $500 of my hard

earned money out of the account and spend it at the strip club?

It ain't just your money.

When is the last time you made a deposit?

OK, you got a point.

It's not even midnight.

How did you blow that money that quick?

Exactly.

The good strippers don't even hit the stage til midnight.

Besides, I didn't spend all of that money anyway.

You think I'm crazy?

How much do you have left?

Oh.

$30.

Oh my God.

My goodness.

My goodness.

Son, you don't have to tip that much.

Son. - Come on.

Come on, baby.

I need to know how and why you know

so much about a strip club.

Baby, you make them think you never stripped before.

So they still got them double dollar days?

Mm-hmm.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

I have been working day in and day out

while you have been suspended.

When you were shot, I nursed you back to health.

I have done absolutely nothing but encourage you.

And then, I asked you to go out with me to the movies,

but you blow me off and $500 out of a savings

account and go to the strip club with your boys?

You want to know why?

Yes.

I would love to know why.

Because I'm tired of you complaining.

I need a break.

Well, maybe if you got your act together,

I wouldn't have anything to complain about.

I'm trying, Miranda.

Gosh.

Calvin.

Get off of my back.

I'm sick of you.

What are you doing here?

I thought you were supposed to be at work.

Oh, yeah.

I'm temping at an office around the corner.

So I took my lunch early so I could some talk to you.

Oh, that's nice.

Coffee

Sure.

Oh, and why aren't you at work?

I called in.

Wasn't feeling so well.

Were you not feeling so well or were

you feeling unappreciated?

So you heard about my evaluation.

Yes.

I called the office and CJ told me.

I work hard.

CJ knows that and that eval was just too-- it was--

True?

I know you didn't come up over here to be on his side.

No, no, no.

I am not taking sides.

I'm just saying, do you think CJ really has it out for you?

Or does he just want you to be the best?

Miranda, that eval could effect my raise.

OK, we'll prove him wrong.

Look at the things he says you need to work

on and be honest with yourself.

I know for a fact when I was temping there that, you know,

we took a lot of early nights and a lot of late lunches.

OK.

But see, that's not the point.

CJ should've have talked to me before he did this.

He is your boss.

He is only doing what would Mr. Payne did to him,

wanting him to be the best.

How do you know all this?

I live with Mr. Payne.

Do you know how many stories I hear

about when he was fire chief?

All you have to do is show CJ that you can adapt.

I have.

I have.

I work hard, Miranda.

I know.

I know.

Marriage is hard, without all this drama.

God knows I know.

Yeah, I heard.

Aunt Ella told me you and Calvin are fighting.

You OK?

No.

I don't know what I'm gonna do with Calvin.

Hey, now is my turn to give you some advice.

- OK. - This actually saved my life.

You ready?

Yes.

God help me to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom

to know the difference.

Baby, you are never going to be able to change Calvin.

All you can do is determine when enough is enough for you.

And that's what I'm scared of.

Don't be.

We're all here for you.

OK.

OK?

OK.

Thanks.

I really appreciate it.

I appreciate you too, because I was on a rampage.

Hey, Ms. Ella.

Hello.

Would you care for some tea?

You got any scotch?

No.

But do have some tea.

Deal.

No cream, no sugar.

Have you ever had a time in your marriage

to Mr. Payne where you just felt like you

weren't connecting as a couple?

A time?

Or do you mean which time?

Marriage is not easy, by no means.

But it is worth it.

There were times when I know there was nothing that

could keep us together but God.

Ms. Ella, I don't know if I can do this anymore.

What are you saying?

I'm afraid where our marriage is heading.

Miranda, don't say that.

Don't say that.

If you want your marriage to work, it can.

All you have to do is just try.

I am trying.

And try some more.

And then, try some more.

And keep trying.

Ms. Ella, I'm trying.

It's as if Calvin-- he--

he tries to find any excuse not to have to talk to me.

Have you talked to him?

Yes.

Hello.

I'm gonna step out so that you guys can talk right now.

No, Ma.

You you don't have to step out.

No, I'm going to step out so that you all can talk.

And I do mean talk.

I'm sick of this foolishness.

Talk.

Miranda, I--

Calvin, you don't have to say anything.

Yes, I do.

I'm trying to apologize to you about the money.

It was selfish.

And I'll give it back to you as soon as I

get back to work and get paid.

Things have just been really rough on me lately.

For you?

How do you think they've been for us?

I know and that's why I need some time to figure this out.

OK, fine, Calvin.

But don't take too long, because I don't know

how much more patience I have.

Welcome home, baby.

Is this a setup?

No.

But I did make you a very special dinner.

Where you going?

[inaudible]

Come on.

Why?

Because I cooked a special meal for you.

Come on.

This is my little way of saying I'm sorry.

You know, people do know I'm here.

Noted.

So you're not--

you're not mad anymore.

No.

I spent some quality time with my evaluation.

Have a seat.

Ah, yeah.

This is nice.

This is nice.

Have a seat, baby.

You know, it's really hard for me

to evaluate you without being biased.

I know.

But you didn't seem to have that much of a problem doing it.

Oh, that's nice right there.

Thank you.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

That's nice.

You know, people at work, they think

that I may or may not be making a choice

because you're my wife.

Right.

Yeah.

And see, they expect me to be biased.

Right.

And I know that.

That's why when it comes to your evaluation at work,

I have to be extra tough.

I know.

Yeah.

And that is why I signed it.

You signed it?

I did.

See, you are really, really good at what you do.

You know?

And if you weren't, you know, you wouldn't even

be there any anymore.

Enough about work.

This is about us.

OK?

Mhm.

You do know that--

It's sparkling cider.

I knew it tasted funny, but I'm gonna have to dock

you for today for taking off.

But why, baby?

I was sick.

Malaria?

I don't think so.

OK.

Is there anything I can do to change your mind, Commissioner?

Well, you--

Baby.

Were you off to, Curtis?

Where you going?

Huh?

Oh, I was just going bowling.

Gonna meet Floyd.

We're gonna go bowling.

Without your little bowling ball?

And where your shoes, Curtis?

In the car.

Shoes-- stuff's in the car.

What's that in your pocket?

Nothing.

Curtis, turn around. Right here.

This Pocket. - That's so violating.

[inaudible]

What?

You gonna tip the little waitresses

at the bowling alley, Curtis?

Nice try, Curtis.

Well, I can't never get nothing over on you.

Man.

You got me again, baby.

Lock up, darling.

[music playing]