Original subtitles

Are you okay?

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm fine.

I'm sorry. I'm going to a job interview.

I'm a lawyer.

At least I used to be one before I opened a restaurant.

But, oh, that's not going very well.

But, you know, I got to be practical.

I mean, a girl's got to eat, right?

That's kind of ironic.

Me worried about eating when I own a restaurant?

Oh, anyway, this interview's just a safety net for me, you know.

Honestly, I really hope I don't get this job.

I mean, because truth be told, I don't really like the law.

Oh, look, we're going to the same floor.

Wouldn't it be funny if you were the guy I was interviewing with?

You're not Andrew Blackwell, are you?

No, I'm Kenneth Daly.

As in Will's Freedman Daily?

As in Andrew Blackwell's boss?

Do you validate?

Oh, my God.

Who died?

Apparently that restaurant.

How'd your little job interview go?

Job interview?

What job interview? Don't be trying to act all slick.

We know where you were.

And what you did.

What are you guys talking about?

I may be a famous authoress now.

But I am still very much plugged into the legal assistance gossip network.

I called Tamara to find out if Celeste had her baby. She told me that when she

called Latoya to ask about her fibroids, Latoya told Tamara that Stacy, Stacy B,

not Stacy L, had told her that she saw you this afternoon in her office

looking all fly in an interview suit.

So what you got to say about that?

She said I looked what?

Joan, I can't believe you're interviewing. Why didn't you just talk

called me three questions. in the morning to tell me about a stray hair on

nipple, and this you hold back?

So I went on an interview.

What is the big deal? The big deal is while you were out on your interview, I

had to bake a latte.

Foam got away from me and burnt up Jose.

Now he looks like the Phantom of the Opera and refuses to come out the

William, that didn't happen. Oh, you don't know.

You weren't there.

It was a backup plan, okay? Plan B. Well, I suggest you make it a plan A

that restaurant of yours is a culinary Titanic.

And see?

Morgan agrees.

Every time somebody starts talking about that restaurant, she starts crying.

You know, babies can sense danger.

You know, Joan, I hate to say it, girl, but that baby's right.

You need to think about your future.

Don't listen to them, Joan.

You need to keep your ass on that restaurant where you are and make me my

back.

Yeah, Joan, stick to the restaurant.

It's your passion.

If my passion isn't making me any money. Hey, I've followed over a hundred

passions and only one has ever made me any real money.

You know, that is until vice shut us down.

Maya?

What's so urgent?

William, my publisher just paid me a big fat advance for my next book.

That's great.

I know, but now they're calling me every other day, asking when I'm going to

come in and pitch my next concept.

Damn those people for wanting something for their money.

Well, here's the thing, William.

Although my first book was uplifting and brilliant, it was perhaps a little too

funny book.

And, well, this time around, I don't want to talk down to my sisters, and I

should be lifting them up, so...

I have an idea, but I wanted to run it by you.

I don't know, Maya. I don't think I'm really your audience.

No, no, no. It's okay. William, you have a critical mind and a keen intellect.

I'm the only one stupid enough to drop everything and run down here in a

moment's notice.

Pretty much.

All right. Okay. What have you got?

Well, as you know, the success of my first book, oh, hell yes.

With its attendant lectures and signings plunged me into the plentitude of the

masses. And once immersed therein, I discovered various and sundry layers

of exploration within the primarily feminine component of said mass.

And what seemed to me to be acutely underserved by the literary community

genre of treatises.

that directly address the textural realities, or should I say textural

of the black woman and their multifaceted origins in the African

Well, I recognize those words as English.

I just don't understand their relationship to each other.

Maybe you just won't poke it. Okay, let me try it one more time. I'm going to

pitch it to you again.

You could put it to music and take it to Broadway. I don't think that's going to

help.

May I suggest the Alborinho?

It's a crisp and wonderful wine that will complement the delicate flavor of

Montego and Quince.

You shouldn't give up on this place.

Your passion is obvious in the way that you talk about food and the way that you

interact with people.

You belong here.

You see?

I do validate.

What brings you to the J spot?

You. Me?

But how'd you find me?

I always find what I'm looking for.

I'm not sure how to respond.

I ain't asking nothing yet. Oh.

Would you like to have dinner with me?

Now you can respond.

Oh, Mr.

Daly. Kenneth.

Kenneth.

I'm flattered. Really, I am. I mean, you're attractive and you're successful.

ego's not fragile. Please, speak your mind.

No, I can't have dinner with you. Sorry.

Is it because you think I'm too old?

No, no.

I think I'm too young.

And what seemed to me to be acutely undeserved by the literary community was

genre.

that directly address the textural reality, or should I say textualities,

of the black woman and their multifaceted origins in the African

Y 'all feel me?

Joan.

Look, I really need to talk to you. William, I'm sorry I went on the job

interview. It was just a moment of panic, but I'm back.

I just wanted to say, if you think it's time for you to give up on the

restaurant and go back to practicing law, I'll support you.

I'll even help you out.

Thank you, William.

But I'm okay.

However, if I panic again, do you really think the law firm would take me back?

Not a chance in hell.

John, it's for you. Oh, thanks.

Hello? Yes, we do parties.

Um, you know, we've been booked solid lately.

Did you have a particular night in mind?

Oh, Friday night.

Yeah, that's rather short notice. Oh, no, no. No, no, no. No, no, no.

That's okay. That won't be a problem. No, not at all. Yeah, consider yourself

booked. Okay.

Terrific.

party at the J spot.

Okay, the L .A. Urban League wants to move their fundraiser after party here.

A fundraising party?

Why didn't I think of that?

You know, I'm on the steering committee for the Pan -Lucopenia Society.

Wait, isn't that a cat indeed?

Why are you involved with that?

Well, you know I'm for anything that's all about the pussy.

More parties at the J spot.

Where we drink champagne on the client's dime. Here, here.

William,

this party is going to save us.

I mean, look around.

Our restaurant is filled with rich and influential people.

And they will want to have other parties.

And then they're going to... William.

Oh, I'm sorry, John. I'm a little distracted.

I think that old man is cruising.

Excuse me, William.

Hello.

What a surprise.

A pleasant one, I hope.

So, did you crash this party just to see me?

I can't crash my own party.

What? I'm on the board of the Urban League.

So this party isn't just here by chance?

I don't leave anything to chance.

You have no idea what this means to me.

Apparently, free champagne.

Oh, God.

Now, I just started picking up glasses. Excuse me, let me get that for you.

It's okay, it's okay.

Oh, okay.

This party means so much to my restaurant.

I wish there was some way that I could thank you.

Go out with me.

Wait.

So you did all of this just to ask me out again?

No, I did all of this because I knew you'd do a great job with it.

Oh. Can't ask you out again.

Kenneth. Joan, you're beautiful, intelligent, ambitious, funny. The type

woman I enjoy spending time with.

I'm not looking for anything serious.

Just somebody who can hold their own in a conversation at a museum or after a

jazz concert or over dinner at my beach house.

So before you answer, or you think too much about our ages, just ask yourself,

is it maybe something you're looking forward to?

I see a colleague of mine, if you'll excuse me.

I'm so glad I didn't let something superficial like age keep me from what

quite possibly the best date of my life. I feel the same way.

And I've been dating since World War II.

Really?

Yes. But the truth is, Joan, that your beauty, your humor, your warmth, your

love of life, it makes me feel...

35 again.

Well, then, um, maybe you'd like to thank me.

I believe I would.

Oh.

Excuse me, I forgot something.

Oh.

Do you have a glass for these? Oh, my God.

Oh, my God. Oh, okay.

Joan, snap out of it.

Old is not your only option.

You have plenty of possibilities.

So, what do you do?

Just a second. Okay.

So, I was thinking of... Just a second.

So, tell me something interesting about yourself.

I have albino squirrels in my backyard.

It's so nice.

You have no idea some of the dates I've been on lately.

You can't be worse than the ones I've been on. Oh, but I... I have to take

It's my wife.

Hi, honey.

No, I haven't asked you yet, but... What? It looks like our tag.

I'll send you a picture.

Say, sexy.

Stop it.

Sexy.

Help me come up with a concept for my next book.

Because according to these threatening messages on my answering machine, that

publisher, she don't play.

Sorry, Maya, I wish I could help you out, but I got problems of my own.

Do you know what it takes to maintain a healthy lesbian relationship?

No.

Neither do I.

My fake girlfriend's catching on fast.

Oh, don't look at me. I'm in the middle of a custody battle.

And even if I wasn't, I really don't care.

What about you, John?

Uh -uh. Maya, I'm sorry. I'm a little preoccupied, too.

We know you and that damn restaurant.

Uh -huh.

So you don't know. Because I got other problems, too.

Yeah, well, no one wanted to state the obvious.

What? What's so obvious?

Nothing. You were saying?

I was saying that... For real, what's so obvious?

John, girl, would you please state your less obvious problem, please? Hey!

And, um, an older man asked me out.

Okay, that ain't no big deal.

I always said it would take an older man to calm your neurotic ass down.

No, Joan, older's no big deal. I've gone out with a bunch of older guys.

Lynn, you've gone out with a bunch of everything.

That is not true.

I've never gone out with a bunch of... grapes.

Okay, you guys don't understand.

He's... he's much older.

Okay, look what? And it's 50s?

thinking about it oh joan that's just great now we're both gonna be changing

diapers you hear that baby mama's got jokes here this is how we do so get

itty bitty dang joan carol clayton i mean for real is it that bad out

there you should know miss recycle husband

Sorry, girl, you got something right on the corner. Oh, sorry, that's just

jealousy.

Okay, I don't even know why I'm entertaining advice from you guys.

Same reason you're going out with an old guy, because you ain't got nobody else.

Well, I'm not listening to you, okay? You lesbian fraud.

And you, you divorcing mother, a little itty -bitty over there. Or you, you one

-hit wonder in search of something to write.

real what's so obvious the last time i was here i may have

lost you in a flurry of erudition but what i've

learned as i walk among my desperate and needy sisters is that they don't have

time to weigh through the big words someone needs to make

franchise for you. Okay, watch your nipple on this.

Oh, hell yes, you're a lesbian. Stop lying.

Oh, hell yes, he's too old for you. And your mama.

Oh, hell yes, I'm leaving you, but I'm keeping my baby.

And one very near and dear to my heart.

Oh, hell yes, your ex -husband can be your next husband.

So, see y 'all feeling me now, huh?

I can seat you now.

But the date just started. I know. I just wanted to get that out of the way.

You know, see if your teeth are real.

But the date just started.

I know. I just wanted to get that out of the way.

You've got such a sweet, sweet back.

Thank God we finally get a break from all the Jones and Maya's drama.

You said it, sister.

Instead of endless ramblings about the restaurant or Maya's next book, we

probably talk about meaningful stuff that we haven't been able to because of

them. Yes, we can.

Amen.

I'm going to give my girl Maya a call.

Tell them both I said hi.