Original subtitles

Hey, Avery.

What's going on?

Maya,

thank you so much for meeting me here.

Mr. Dent. Hold up.

Avery, you know, I don't give any advice without payment up front.

500 cheats of three -hole punch.

You can count it.

It's all there.

Okay, we're all good. What you got?

Mr. Dent has me working so many late nights.

How did you keep your life together, given the pace?

Oh, you gotta suck it up, honey. You work for a senior partner. They work

There were times when William had me slaving here until 7, sometimes 7 .30 at

night.

I'm usually here till 3 or 4 in the morning.

Oh, hot damn, he is working you like a mule.

He never leaves except to catch a second wind at the J spot.

What would you do in my position?

I don't know, you know, I always had an ace or two I could pull. You know, one,

I have a kid, and two, I'm a black woman with hair issues.

Have you considered getting a weave?

Tender -headed.

And you don't have a kid?

Not that I know about.

Actually, I'm sterile.

Like a mule.

Jennifer, Jennifer, just calm down.

I'm sure it's just a regular spider.

Okay, I'll handle it when I get home.

Of course I'd be upset if it attacked and paralyzed you.

Okay, look, I gotta go, okay?

Lynn, that is like the tenth call from Jennifer since you got here. It's not

like you guys are in a fake relationship anymore.

You guys are just friends.

Put the phone away. It's crazy.

What you should put away is Jennifer. She's crazy.

No, it's okay.

She gets a little nervous if she can't get a hold of me. I promised her I'd be

available. You know, I liked Jennifer better when she was pretending to be a

lesbian.

And for the purposes of my reading audience, she's still a lesbian to whom

found herself strangely attractive.

Okay, Maya, if you're going to put me in your book, why can't I be a stable,

well -adjusted woman?

Because I don't write fiction.

Unbelievable.

This is the last time, I promise. Could be emergency.

Hey, Jen.

Well, is its tail bushy or bald?

Oh, then that's a rat.

If it's upsetting, you change the channel.

Okay, so she's a little dependent on me.

I've seen cajoined twins left attached.

Yeah, Lynn, I don't think it's healthy for you to be so wrapped up in her

Really? Yeah, especially because you're missing all mine.

Well, I can't just cut her off. You never know if she's going to play the

suicide card.

Well, you need to put her out. I don't want to wake up next door to some nasty

CSI situation.

So you're saying I should just put her out just like that?

Yes. She's taking up all your energy, all your focus.

You haven't had a random, meaningless job in months. I don't even know you.

Yeah. Isn't it time for one of your crazy -ass plans?

I must say, I do miss the falafel wagon.

I'm sorry I couldn't make it tonight.

I know we've had to reschedule this date a number of times, but...

Okay. Well, you have a nice life, too.

Oh, you were being sarcastic. I get that now.

Hey, Avery.

Back so soon from the J spot? It's only 1 .30 a .m.

Avery, can I talk to you man -to -man description?

Of course, sir. Look, I know you've been putting in a lot of long hours.

Sir, I really... No.

I want you to know that I appreciate all your hard work.

You're my right -hand guy, and you deserve a treat.

So I am giving you... The rest of the wee hours of the morning off?

Better.

Ta -da!

A top -of -the -line, state -of -the -art espresso machine.

I truly don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Now you'll never have to leave your desk.

Now I know.

Hey, is the cuckoo at the nest?

No.

Jennifer's on her way home from her morning therapy session.

She likes to nosh and take a little nap before her afternoon therapy session.

Listen, girl, I feel really bad about us ganging up on you the other night, so I

came by to offer you some support. You know, help you help her to the curb.

Well, I'm looking for signs that she's curb ready.

She's only called me two times today.

That is, if you don't count the call from the courtyard.

Or the sidewalk.

Or this one.

Hey, Jen, what's up?

I had a monumental breakthrough in therapy today.

And my therapist thinks that I can make even more progress if you'd go to

therapy with me this afternoon.

It would mean a lot.

Yeah, no, no problem.

I'm still there.

Great! I'm so excited!

Me too.

Hey, I got to go. I got another call coming through. Okay, I'll talk to you

later. Bye.

Hello?

It's me, you idiot.

That was your sign.

You said you were looking for a sign?

Use this afternoon's therapy session and nudge her out of the nest and go get

your life back.

God, you know, I don't know if I can do it.

Yeah, Jen.

Yeah, I'm still excited.

for Jennifer.

I can so do it.

Lynn, welcome.

I applaud your commitment to Jennifer's healing.

Well, hey, I'm all about the healing.

Walk, sister.

Go down and crush this girl.

Crutch. Interesting.

Do you feel that Jennifer is broken?

No, it's a joke.

She's always joking. We laugh a lot.

You gave yourself Christ -like powers, too.

Ooh, good one.

She catches everything.

You're saying I have some kind of savior complex?

Please, I have a master's in psychology, too. If you want to get out of kiddie

pool, we can go somewhere.

So you can fix me, too?

Excuse me, I thought this was Jennifer's session.

Why did you help Jennifer when she threatened suicide that day?

Oh, let me see, because I'm a good person?

Some might say what you did was unusual, extreme, compensatory.

Stop it.

You said you wouldn't attack her.

Lynn, I'm sorry.

I didn't want it to end this way.

End? Wait a minute, what are you talking about?

Well, Lynn, Dr. Stewart, Has helped me

to realize that our relationship is... Um... Unhealthy.

And that we are... Codependent.

Therefore, I have come to realize that I must leave you in order to get my own

life back.

What do you mean, leave me? You can't leave me. We're friends.

I know. Best friends.

I need you. I need you.

Jennifer. Sorry.

You're regretting. Remember the destructive pattern.

Right. Lynn equals destruction.

Okay. Stop manipulating her. Jennifer, let's go home.

Jennifer, you should stay with me. Jennifer, let's go. Jennifer, stay.

Jennifer. Jennifer.

Lynn, I'm sorry.

Thank you for helping with Jennifer's healing.

You can go now.

And I don't validate.

You know what? Fine.

Fine. You can just stay here.

I lied.

I don't need you.

Jennifer, you just, you just can't move out like this.

Because why?

Well, because, because, because of all the wonderful things you do.

I have to go.

No, no, no, no, no. Wait, wait, wait.

Lynn, this isn't healthy.

You need, there's the air, but we breathe it.

Jennifer, I'm here.

Okay? Go away, Maya.

You called her?

Yes, I was worried about you. I didn't want to leave you alone.

dependent. We can't relate unless we separate.

It's a good thing I'm an itty -bitty thing, girl.

Okay, everything's okay.

Jennifer's gonna be fine.

Joan and Tony are on their way. We got this.

Go! Lynn, Lynn, Lynn.

Thank you for everything.

Wait, wait, wait.

Just going to walk out?

I mean, what about our King Day plans?

Okay, like Dr.

King, I too have a dream. And my therapist is...

call so late, but I'm desperate.

Avery, sweetie, I am so sorry, boo. I cannot deal with you right now. I'm in

middle of a situation.

Well, I have a situation here, too.

I'm so desperate to go home, I think I snapped and went too far.

Well, is William still alive?

Yeah. Okay, well, then I'm sure he's fine.

Look, I've got to go.

No.

Starch in the shirts, and if you can't get Mr. Dent's order right, we'll be

choosing a different cleaner.

You could have just asked me.

What?

If you wanted to go home, you could have just hacked me.

You heard me?

I taped you, actually.

Back when Maya was my assistant, I had the phone spugged.

After her Aunt Pookie passed away for the fifth time.

I didn't mind a lie.

Hell, I'm a lawyer.

I was just insulted by the laziness.

Then can I assume you know there's a pinch of animal tranquilizer in your

macchiato?

Say what?

Just enough to bring down a small e -cow.

Oh, Lordy.

All right, now.

Don't try anything.

I have a whistle.

Sir, yesterday, you did me the honor of speaking man to man's assistant.

May I return the favor?

Stick to the bullet points. I might be able to follow you.

Why does a successful, vital, handsome man like you spend all of his time

up in this office.

You have such a lovely home.

Don't you miss it?

You know why I have that house?

I bought it for a woman.

Yvonne.

We were going to get married and have kids.

She left me at the altar.

Now that house just sits up there mocking me with its extra bedrooms.

Sounds like you're giving up.

Oh, Avery.

You're still young.

I'm beat up and bruised.

Seeing double.

You know, that's a thing that didn't work out between Joan and me.

The fight just went out on me.

So what if I dedicate myself to my work?

Is that so bad?

Oh, dear.

How sad.

Look, I know you want a home go.

I meant how sad for you and the person who will never get to fall in love with

you.

I told you no sweet talk, now.

You are so gone, you may not remember I said this, so I'll be bold.

You're a great guy with a lot to offer, and no one will ever get to know it but

me if you don't get out of this office.

Well, I am still on the clock.

Here.

This chamomile's good, right?

I don't know why I'm such a mess.

It's not like I even wanted her here.

But her leaving just left this void, this pit of fear.

I feel so stupid.

You should feel stupid.

You are stupid.

You already admitted that Jennifer was some excuse you were hiding behind, so

let's get with it.

What are you too stupid to face?

Tony. What? This is no time for tea and sympathy. We got a girl interrupted over

here.

You know what?

I just watched Mahogany on Black Stars Network, so I feel qualified to tell you

where you're going to and some of the things life is showing you.

You never got over Finn, and you acted like a cracked -out hoe for ugly. There,

I said it.

Maya. No, she's right.

I mean, I have never been such a doormat for a man.

Ever. How could I let myself get so humiliated?

Well, Lynn, sweetie, if I was your therapist, this is where I would say,

have your homework.

Check in with us next week. Come on, Joan.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Something just doesn't add up.

Why Finn?

I have a purse on, Joan.

No, really.

I mean, of all the guys you've been with, why is he the first man that you

get to you?

I mean, he said you barely talk.

He never took you anywhere. All you guys did was sit around and write music.

You said the sex wasn't that special?

Was it the chase?

Was it the British thing? I mean, I'm looking for a connection, Lynn.

Honey.

Goddamn.

What is it?

It was the music.

And when I joined that band, I felt...

Reborn somehow.

And when I left it, I felt lost.

Boo.

But you always lost.

That's just it.

I wasn't then.

So, Lynn, this is a good thing.

You didn't humiliate and debase yourself for a man. You did it for music.

Right, right. I mean, that's why you're in such a crumble, sweetie.

You were afraid that if Jennifer left, you'd have to face the music.

Oh, snap. See how the prose just flows?

Great. Now I know it's music.

What the hell am I supposed to do with that?

Damn, girl, we got you this far. When are you going to start kicking in?

Well, excuse me, Miss Always Got It Together.

Not all of us always know what to do and how to do it. Well, just do it.

Hell, girl, I didn't know how to get out of the cow pastures of Fresno, but I

did it.

And did some Goodwill pumps.

That's off the record.

Yeah, I don't know how to compose or play.

And hell, the only person I even know in the industry is Finn.

Look, if you could go after all these crazy things that didn't mean anything

you, then why can't you go after this?

Because this does matter.

And if I fail, that's it.

That's not it, Lynn.

If you fall, you get back up. Or what if you succeed?

Maybe that's what you're afraid of.

Because with success comes responsibility, which means you'd have

You'd have to produce. You'd actually have to write or perform. Oh, God. You

know, maybe I don't really want music. No, no. Maybe I do really want Jennifer.

Oh, or Finn. Oh, or that falafel wagon.

Yeah, I was good at that. Girl, you were good.

Okay, so it's decided.

Music out, falafels in.

Okay.

Lynn.

Look, you can do this, okay? You've just got cold feet like a bride the night

before.

Oh, that's it.

That's it.

You've got to marry music.

What? Yeah.

You know, make a formal commitment. If you marry it, then you've got to stay

with it forever.

Okay, you stand over here.

You stand over here, and you two get up here. Come on, you're going to be the

witnesses, and I'm going to be the minister.

And this boomba.

It's going to represent your soulmate.

Music.

Okay.

Do you, Lynn Searcy, promise to write songs that make the whole world sing?

But I don't get Lynn.

I do.

I now pronounce you and music committed for life. Here.

Congratulations. Thank you, guys.

We love you, guys.

Congratulations.

You can do it. Thank you.

Mr. Dent?

Oh, God.

I have to pee so bad.