Original subtitles

Hey, Lenny, are you sure you don't want any of Jabari's old furniture?

Please, I've come up in the world. I don't need no hand -me -downs. I could

my own stuff brand new.

Shoot, you're not going to throw away that half a candy bar, are you?

Len,

girl, that is nasty. You don't know how long that's been in there?

Hmm, starting from the nougat, about six months.

Oh, hell no.

What is this?

Well, it appears to be a dime bag of the gateway drug.

Okay, that is crazy. Where is this from?

My guess, Jamaica.

Oh, Macho 4.

No, 05.

Jabari Leroy, we'll get your butt out of here right now.

I didn't do it what I do.

If I do, does it mean it's mine? Oh, yeah, that's really interesting. That's

really, really interesting, Jabari, because I found it tucked way back in

dresser that used to be in your room.

I never used that dresser. That's where you used to hide all your new clothes

you didn't want Daddy to see.

Oh, don't be trying to flip the script on Sherlock, Mama. We on you now.

Jabari, I don't know how this got in there, okay, or where it came from, but

you look me in the eye and tell me the truth, baby, I promise.

I believe you, okay?

Mom?

It's not mine.

Boy, you lying. Go to your room. You're grounded. Get out!

Well, at least that solves one mystery.

What? Why do new clothes always smell like weed?

Your National Guard unit has been called to Iraq.

You're not in the National Guard.

Yes, I am.

I joined a few years back when I needed help with college tuition.

Well, why in the hell would you do that?

Because I need help with college tuition.

Well, didn't you know Iraq was going to be a never -ending quagmire?

No, I didn't know, Joan.

Besides, when I helped out in New Orleans, I thought a brother paid his

Well, why didn't you tell me?

Because I only have four months left.

It looks like they're extending it. Well, they can't do that.

Yes, they can, Joan. We're at war. Well, why do they want you?

You're old.

And we're engaged.

And you're old.

Look, Joan, baby, I understand.

Look, it's true.

And we're happy. And this isn't fair.

I know it's not fair.

But there's nothing we can do. No.

I just got you.

This isn't supposed to happen.

I'm supposed to be cooking for you in this kitchen.

And you're supposed to be in your man room watching your flat.

I'm supposed to come in looking all sexy, and you're supposed to look at me,

then you're supposed to take me upstairs to our bedroom, but because it's not

finished, we're going to do it right there on the floor. That's what I want.

No, I'm not going to take that away from you. Don't, don't, baby, don't, don't,

don't.

You know, it just ain't right.

You know, he's got four months left, and they just ship him off to Iraq?

Yeah, I don't even know why they want Aaron. He's nearly 40, and he's got that

shiny head. It's just a beacon for insurgents.

See how they do a black man?

Maya, they're sending his entire unit.

And I bet they are black.

This is not helping.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry. I'm just so stressed out.

You know, Jabari on the dope and all.

Guys, there has to be some way to get Aaron out of this.

There's a lot of things we can do, all right? We can implore Congress to cut

funding. We can march on Washington. We can call for impeachment.

We could stop this war dead in its track.

And how are we supposed to do that in the next few days?

I don't know. I'm just an ideal person.

Hey, Aaron.

We just wanted you to know what we're going to be thinking about you and

for you. Oh, thanks.

We love you, man.

We're going to keep a love chain going for you here on the home front.

What? I don't know what that means or why I said it, but we do love you, man.

We're going to keep it going.

Hey, we got you some.

Ooh, I hope it's a big get out of Iraq free card.

It's a bulletproof vest.

And one of those helmet liners.

We didn't know what your head size was, so we sort of went large.

Well, I like this thing you shouldn't have, but...

Unfortunately, I know what's what over there, so thank you. It's the least we

could do.

If there's anything that you need, let us know.

Yeah, um, y 'all could do something for me.

Can you look after Joan?

She insists on staying in our house.

You got it. No, really.

I need y 'all to look after her. Because those women in there can't keep water

wet. Yeah, we know.

I don't know what else to do.

I emailed my congressmen, my senators.

I even called the NAACP.

Why? I don't know. I mean, Aaron, the colored people, I figured they could

advance them past Iraq.

What are they going to do? They can't even advance past the worst colored

people.

Maya, I blame your cousin.

Ronnie, girl, please. You can't do nothing but hair.

No.

Condoleezza Rice, she could have ended this war.

Oh, Condi, she can't say no to her man.

you think if you called her that she could help Aaron?

Oh, girl, please. I mean, Condoleezza probably can't even be reached. I mean,

you know, she could be in Lebanon, Dubai, playing golf with Tiger.

Secretary Ising, the state.

Please, Maya.

Oh, you know, I can't call Condi. I mean, you know, the family's just all up

arms over everything that's just been going on with...

Condi ain't really my cousin.

What? Ain't nobody ever told you what my cousin is my actual cousin.

I'm an only child of an only child of an only child.

Okay?

You know, I only said that everybody was my cousin because I'm really friendly

like that.

I mean, truth be told, all I really have is a son on this town.

Can't believe it.

You're the second buddy of mine that got called up.

You know someone else over there?

Yeah, he's the guy that I went to.

You know what? It doesn't matter.

Well, sure it does. Maybe Aaron can look him up.

I don't think so.

Well, why not?

Maybe they could meet up at the BX.

I doubt it.

Well, why not? Everybody wants to see a familiar face from back home.

He's dead, okay? Drop it.

Like I said, Aaron, the chain of love will remain unbroken.

So, you guys in a good place, right? I mean, nobody's going off to war or all

in the war on drugs?

No, we're fine, just hungry.

Really trying to make those dinner reservations, Lynn. But hey, look, you

up unannounced. You said you needed something.

Let's just get to it. So you can get home.

I just wanted to share some really good news.

Something huge happened to me today. Something I just... I can't even... Tick

-tock. Tick -tock.

Okay. I signed with one of the best music managers in the business.

Whoa! All right!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Yay! Absolutely!

You're on your way!

And so are we. Do you have your keys?

Get the mic.

So you're for the party.

What?

You know, to celebrate.

I mean, normally Joan would throw the party, but I can't ask her to celebrate

the best thing that's ever happened to me when she's going through the worst

thing that's ever happened to her.

Well, why don't you let Maya throw it? Maya can't serve liquor when a kid's

headed to rehab.

So I had to turn to my other two best friends, and they were busy, so here I

Lynn, uh, maybe now's not the best time to be throwing a party.

Look, Aaron got a party, and he's going to war.

I got something good. Don't I deserve a party?

But, look, I need...

that you have to celebrate every victory you owe it to the universe.

Well, then you throw the party.

You seem all selfish and insensitive.

That's why I want you guys to throw it.

Hey, Maya.

It's Joan.

I'm on my way to San Diego to drop Aaron at the base. Sweetie, can you check my

back door?

I was so emotional when I left. I don't think I locked it. Thank you.

Thanks.

Okay, that is it, baby. I am all yours. No more calls.

Aaron?

Sweetie?

Baby?

Baby?

John, where are we?

Oy vey, oy vey, oy vey. Okay. Um, Donda esta safe house.

Donde? What the hell?

Where are we?

Mexico. Hi.

Hola. Hola.

Donde?

We're in Mexico?

over or until they declare amnesty for deserters we can't hang out in mexico

what about canada we're in the camry hybrid gets really good gas mileage do

know that we made it all the way down here to mexico on a quarter of a tank

know i have no regrets about buying this car in fact if we filled her up we

could probably make it to costa rica look i i can't be a deserter this is

no it's not insane it's knee jerk

Impetuous, crazy maybe, but not insane.

This whole safe house thing is for real. I got the address from Lynn. Now, when

we get there, the secret code is Cochise, and your name is Juan.

I have to go to Iraq, Joan.

My name is Maria, and no, Juan, you don't have to go.

Aaron, I just want to be married and happy.

I want to be your wife.

Let's get married then.

Well, I mean, I... No.

We're in Mexico.

I got about four hours.

And we know that we're going to spend the rest of our lives together. So let's

just do it now.

Don't play with me, Aaron. I'm real raw right now.

I love you, Maria.

What do you say?

See, Juan.

Well, did he come clean? Did he confess? Did he beg for mercy? No.

And I tried everything to break him with back -breaking chores, and he still

said the weed ain't his.

Oh, God.

I don't need this dress.

This is, I'm about to bring one child into the world, and I'm about to take

out.

Maybe he's telling the truth.

Oh, he's a liar.

Okay, I found that weed in the old dresser in his room.

The old dresser?

The one that I kept when we separated. Yeah.

Was it in a sock? Um, in a baggie tucked way back in the top drawer.

Yes.

My bad. That weed was mine.

My husband's on the pipe.

Come on now. I'll turn the burner off. No, my, my, my.

Maya, please.

Come on now. That weed was almost three years old.

I bought it when we separated.

Baby, I was depressed.

I was missing you. I was mad and I did something stupid.

You were all depressed?

Yeah. Made you turn to the stuff?

It's so romantic.

We cannot tell Jabari. All right? No, no, he cannot know that his daddy was

strung out. Oh. No, he'll just use it against us.

Maya, we gotta let the boy off the hook.

He can't go around the rest of his life thinking that we think he did something

that he knows he didn't do.

Donna, please.

Think of it this way, okay? He is a black man in America.

That way, when he gets out into the real world, there'll be no surprises.

So this is really it?

There's nobody hiding in the back or in the kitchen or upstairs?

We told you no. So will you stop screaming, I'm here!

Okay, I understand the Jones with Aaron, but what about Maya and Darnell?

Apparently they had to take Jabari to Magic Mountain.

Something about being bad parents and making amends.

I don't know, you know I only listen to every third word that Maya says.

Well, did you plan any games or, like, sing -alongs or...

Fake musical -themed cupcakes. You know how Joan does. Keeps it all festive.

Joan's a little more desperate to hang on to her friends than we are.

Damn it! This sucks.

Lynn, why is this party so important to you?

It's not the party. It's what the party represents.

I mean, I'm always saying, give it up the universe.

It'll all work out the way it's supposed to. Well, it's not.

If I only have something fantastic I want to celebrate with my friends, and

they're all suffering.

Thanks for nothing. I'm out.

I'm here!

Damn.

Are you nervous?

No.

I'm happy.

I'm just a little...

I'm very happy.

Where's this priest at?

Down to dos and a half hours.

That time I saw him, he was shooing away the lady that was trying to braid my

hair.

Oh.

I think he's ready. Oh, okay. Okay.

Wait,

wait, wait, wait.

Okay, wait.

Move over, move over.

Okay.

I want to.

And I plan to.

But we can't do it like this.

Joan, I know this is not the wedding we planned, but...

It's the best we can do on short notice.

And with our remedial Spanish.

Aaron, I'm really sorry.

What are you sorry for?

I'm sorry I've been so selfish.

I mean, I haven't even thought about what you must be going through. I just

heaped all my worries and my fears on you.

And that was wrong.

Because, sweetie, I know you're coming home.

And if I marry you now, it'll feel like some part of me doesn't believe that, so

no.

I'm going to wait.

And I'm going to marry you when you come home.

But what if I don't come home?

Oh, you are coming home.

And I know it.

You're coming home.

to come over, but you really don't have to stay.

Come on now, Joan.

We're not going to leave you alone in this half -finished house with no man.

In a transitional neighborhood.

Which you'll be running through solo on the way to your core.

You know, Joan, if you get really lonely, you can always come and stay

in the guest room.

Thank you, Lynn.

But I actually... I don't know. I feel closer to Erin here.

So, you guys, we should talk about something else. I mean, like... Um...

Lynn's favorite vegan cupcake?

Woo! Oh, to celebrate her big news!

Congratulations on getting a manager!

Oh, Joan!

And with everything going on, you took the time to think about me?

You're the best friend in the world.

I knew you wouldn't let me down.

So these do come with champagne and gifts, right?