Original subtitles

[announcer] Previously onQueen Sugar.

Welcome to Vi's Prized Pies...

and Diner.

[Darla] Do you think that you could take Blue

on one of my days next week?

-I have a date. -A date?

Micah is coming home tomorrow and I know it's a big deal

to introduce me to him is all.

It's my book.

It comes out soon and I want you to have it.

Something ain't right about that book.

-Hollywood. -I read an advanced copy

of your sisters memoir.

[Nova] Promise me!

Do not read it.

Give me the strength to see this through.

[car engine running]

[engine stops]

Just got Blue back in bed.

You read it.

I read the chapter about Blue.

I didn't read nothin' else.

How she gonna do me that, Charley?

Wrote about my son?

Prison?

Make me sound like some good-for-nothing convict

too stupid to know his kid ain't his.

Why, every time I try and get up in life,

somebody gonna drop a weight on me?

I'm sorry this is happening.

But I don't want you to worry, Rah.

I've got a plan.

I'm making some calls.

And after I've handled that...

we're all gonna go see Nova together...

make her look us in the eyes

and answer for what she's done.

She wrote about Blue.

How she gonna do that to him?

To me?

Ralph Angel...

I got you.

Dreams never die

Take flight as the world turns

Dreams never die

Take flight as the world turns

Keep the colors in the lines, take flight

Dreams never die

Keep the colors in the lines

Keep the colors in the lines, take flight

-Try it again, ma'am. -[engine starts]

[woman] It worked.

Oh, thank you so much.

[laughs]

Ain't no thing at all.

Why, my mama would have came down from Heaven

and snatched me to death if she thought

I rode past a lady in need.

Don't know how long I would have been here if you hadn't come along.

You sure have a way with an engine.

Shoot, I been repairing engines

since I was knee-high to a toadstool.

My daddy told me, he said, "You can't drive a car

'til you know how to fix a car."

Had me fixin' all his friends' cars for free.

I said, "Wait a minute, now.

This is unjust. I'm being used."

-Mm-hmm. -You know what my daddy said?

He said, "Son, if you ain't being used,

you're useless."

[chuckles]

Sounds like your daddy was a wise man

and he raised you right.

You live around here?

Nah, I'm just passin' through...

checkin' on an old friend.

You be safe on this road, ma'am.

Thank you.

All right, fellas, you all take good care of yourselves out there.

First day of harvest will try to break you to the bone.

Don't you let it.

[laughs]

[stereo] You got to get up...

Rhonda, have you seen Hollywood?

Think I saw him in the back.

Said something about doing inventory.

-[door opens] -Hey.

Hey. What?

I got five tables waiting on orders

and no one working the cash register, and you're in here.

Look, I'm sorry. I just lost track of time.

Well, we don't need no inventory reports.

I need hands delivering plates to hungry mouths.

I'm coming. I'm coming.

[Ignacio] And that leaves us to Friday.

We should be done with section one by the end of the week.

That timeline good for you?

[soft chatter]

Boss?

Yeah.

Yeah, that sounds good, Ignacio.

Might be a little while.

Got some stuff to handle up in N'awlins.

No problem.

[Blue] Pop!

Watch them shoelaces.

I don't want you to fall. Come on.

You okay, Pop?

Got a look.

What kind of look?

[laughs]

I don't look like that.

You do.

-Ah-ah. -What?

Come here. Come here for a second.

What?

No matter what nobody tell you...

you know I love you, right?

Just remember that, a'ight?

Okay.

I love you, too, Pops.

Uh-huh.

-We gotta go. -All right.

[knock on door]

One second, Michelle!

Rah?

Um, what's going on?

First, just tell me...

did you read the entire book?

Yeah, I read enough.

"Mysteries in Blue"?

See, I'm tryin', Nova, just to understand

why you'd do something like this.

I know it's a shock seeing it laid out like that,

but just try and take a step back.

Step back from what, my own life?

How that work?

This story is gonna help so many people.

I don't give a damn about "so many people," Nova!

And my life ain't no story!

I care about my son.

You know what I've been through, Nova. Come on.

You was right there when I got the paternity test.

This one time I actually thought you was there for me.

I was there for you. I am now.

Nah, you just needed something juicy for that little book of yours.

It's not one or the other, Rah.

I can still be your sister who loves you

and a writer searching for truth.

I ain't your research, Nova.

I'm your baby brother.

Were you never gonna tell Blue

that you aren't his biological father?

-[glass shatters] -That's my son!

That ain't your call!

Yes, he's your son.

That's my point.

We all need to understand that.

You said it yourself. "It don't change nothin'," remember?

Using my words against me, huh?

Rah-- and I say this with love--

you're acting like you're the first person

who's raising a child that ain't their own blood.

You got some nerve, Nova.

What's gonna happen to Blue when he go to school now?

-Nothing. -Oh, yeah.

You put this out there...

somebody gonna say something.

Yeah, he gonna hear something.

I didn't come to you before.

I should have. I'm sorry.

Honestly...

the book became something larger than me.

If you want, I can sit down with you and Blue,

explain it to him.

We ain't had the same Mama and Daddy...

I'd call you the son of a bitch

you actin' like right now.

[knock on door]

[women chatting outside]

[Michelle] Hey, superstar.

Sorry we're late.

You can set up in the office.

We'll start in there.

Nova, go with Seekie. She'll take care of you.

-[Nova] Yeah. -Oh, hello.

And you are?

Michelle, this is my brother.

The famous Ralph Angel?

Your story is so heartbreaking.

I cried twice.

Don't you ever go nowhere near my son again.

You lost that right...

"superstar."

[camera snapping]

[Michelle] Nova, just relax your jaw.

Think excited for your book.

Can we take five? Let's take five.

How far along are we

-in, uh, publication? -[laughs]

We're two weeks out, so I'd say

we're pretty far along. Why?

There's just a few chapters that I'd

like to go over, uh, rework, maybe.

I love your book. I wouldn't change a thing.

This wouldn't have anything to do

with why your brother was here?

My family is having trouble with the book.

I just need some more time

to smooth things out before the book tour.

I see this all the time, you know,

when an author becomes successful.

Not everyone can come along for the ride, so to speak.

They're not everyone. They're my family.

This book is going to reach a lot of people and take you far,

and it's too late to stop the presses, anyway.

If you'd waited, like I said--

I had to let her know.

And now you've removed the element of surprise,

which is crucial to how I'm trying to stop this book.

I'm just as angry as you are,

but being a hothead won't always solve--

What's that supposed to mean, Charley, huh?

[sighs]

Has Aunt Vi read it?

No. I don't think she should.

She needs to know what Nova wrote about her.

-We have to sit her down. -Sit who down?

Uh, some kid at Blue's school bothering him.

That's all.

Oh, well, give me the mama's number.

I'll straighten that out real quick.

The new floors are looking good, Aunt Vi.

I like 'em, too, baby. [laughs]

[laughs]

We have to say something

before Nova gets to her.

No, I'll do it.

I mean, y'all too fired up.

She don't need the-- all that upsetting energy.

[Ralph Angel] She gonna be upset either way.

When she find out what Nova wrote about her-- [laughs]

Nova gonna wish she wasn't ever born.

[cell phone chimes]

Got to get Blue to this birthday party.

I'm gonna holler at you later, baby.

[Ralph Angel] See you.

So has he read the whole book?

I don't think so.

So he don't know that Darla in there, too.

That chapter broke me down.

Why would Nova put all that in there?

The-- The night that I found Darla and Blue

when Rah was locked up,

that's a story that should never be told.

I cannot believe that Nova would do that to all of us.

You gonna tell him?

No.

Because that book will never see the light of day.

[Darla] Can you drop Blue off tonight an hour later?

-I'll bring him by later. -Thank you.

All right. Talk to you later.

-Bye. -Bye.

-Pop, Marcus is there. -All right. I'm sorry.

Can I go give him his present?

All right. That's all you.

-Thank you. -Oh! Oh, hold up.

-What? -Have fun.

I'll be back to get you later.

-I will. Bye. -All right. Bye.

Hey, Blue.

Joie? You know Marcus?

[Joie] Yeah. He's on my soccer team.

All right, kids, gather round.

-Let's go, Blue. -Bye, Pop. Miss you.

A'ight.

Hello there, stranger.

-How you doing? -I'm good.

Joie and I were actually just talking about you boys.

Yeah?

She wants to have a play date with Blue.

[chuckles] This don't count?

Knowing Joie, probably not.

[laughs] Fair enough.

But at least we've got a break for a couple of hours.

That doesn't happen every day.

It sure don't.

You wanna take a walk?

Come on.

And that can buy us some more time?

Great.

If you could just, uh, send me over a draft,

I can take a look at it tonight.

Yeah.

Yeah, thanks, Olivia.

Mom.

What's up?

Mm.

You know, it feels good to be home.

Micah? Micah West?

Can we get a selfie?

Yeah.

Cool.

What's up?

[girl] Thank you.

[Micah] Peace.

Weren't they supposed to bring your car around by now?

Would have had it faster at the regular airport valet.

Micah. Your fabulous European vacation,

your fans clamoring for you upon your arrival,

your father chartering you a private plane

for a missed connection in New York...

I don't want you getting used to this.

I know, Ma.

When you said Paris was transformative,

didn't think you meant literally.

What, you hate the look?

No. No, I don't hate the look.

I-I'm surprised.

Well, I-I started growing my hair out,

and I bought some new clothes.

It's not a big deal.

Besides, I don't want you talking me out of it.

[stammers]

Well, a heads-up would have been nice.

Just trying something new, like you did.

-Me? -Yeah.

You stopped straightening your hair,

I mean, keeping it natural.

[texting]

Keke happy you're home?

Yes.

Yeah, I'm seeing her later.

I'm just texting Aunt Nova.

-[cell phone buzzing] -Ah, wait. She's calling me.

Hey, Aunt Nova.

Yes.

[laughs]

Paris was incredible.

I met up with your friend from, uh, Amnesty International,

took some amazing seminars.

Thank you. Um, Aunt Nova wants to talk to you.

-[valet] Ms. Bordelon. -Uh...

I'll talk to her later, when we're home.

Thank you.

Come on.

She says she's gonna call you later.

All right.

So what was all that about earlier?

What?

I know when somebody's lying to me.

You and Charley, Ralph Angel,

all huddled up, hushed tones.

Baby, that wasn't nothing.

I was halfway listening to myself.

You know them two. They always at it about something.

Really? So what's the something?

Some farm stuff.

Look, it wasn't none of my business.

Baby, I'm about to put these desserts in

so these folks can get some of that good pie, all right?

[sighs]

[sighing]

With a heart of stone

You can't carry my heart back home

Mm mm, mm mm mm

Deep into my bones

You made everything feel so cold

Mm mm, mm mm mm...

[phone line rings]

Hey. You free right now?

I mean, look at you, man.

Like, you had to go all the way to France to get black?

Come on, man. I don't look that different.

Surprised you ain't posted your new look on Instagram yet.

Yeah, nah, man. I had to get off social media.

Ever since my prison speech,

I been getting hate from these trolls, man.

Had to take a break.

I'm sorry about that, man.

That really sucks.

[scoffs] Yeah, I bet it sucks

being in Paris all summer, meeting celebrities.

And activists. Yo, I went

to the, um, Young Groundbreakers Conference,

met a lot of dope people,

a lot of young activists like us.

I been doing some dope stuff.

How was your summer?

Fine. Tried to hang out with Ant

as much as possible before he went to juvie.

But it's like now we can't even visit him,

because it's family only.

Man, I can't believe he's gonna miss

the last first football game of the season.

Yeah, we just gonna have to enjoy it on his behalf.

Facts.

-[car stereo playing music] -Uh-oh.

-Oh. -[laughter]

-Oop! -Uh-oh. Uh-oh.

-[beat-boxing] - Hey, hey, hey

Here she come oh, oh, oh

Here she come hey, hey, hey

-[Keke] Hey. - Here she come

- Hey, hey, hey... -Hello.

I missed you.

[whispering]

Okay, should we leave y'all alone, or...

Don't mean to intrude or anything.

[Deesha] I don't know how you do it.

I mean, I grew up on a farm.

I had dirt in my shoes and in my hair.

[laughs] Occupational hazard, huh?

Mm-hmm. But you love it.

I could do with less dirt in my shoes.

[laughs] But, yeah.

I do. I love it.

I take it you ain't following in your daddy's footsteps.

Uh, well, I would,

but overalls aren't very flattering.

-Ah, it's the overalls. -Mm-hmm.

So it ain't the waking up early in the morning,

baking in that sun?

That's right. I based my entire career

on a fashion choice.

Well, I'm sure you would look good in anything.

So what you wear to work, then, eh?

Pajamas? Ball gown?

Well, I wish I could wear pajamas,

but, no, it's just a suit.

I'm a public defender.

Don't tell me you're the kind of guy

who can't handle a woman who knows her way around an argument.

[laughs]

You ain't met my sisters yet.

Oh.

Yeah, I'm sure I could take you.

Oh. Can you?

Well, I-I didn't mean it like that.

-Mm-hmm. -I...

[both laugh]

Ah, beignets, the reason

I'll never leave Louisiana.

I'm buying.

[laughs]

So you got another ex-boyfriend trinket you want me to sell.

I don't just call you for that.

[laughs]

I'm sorry.

I just...

It's been a day.

And I think I got a lot more of 'em coming.

You know I got you.

What you need?

A friend.

Just a friend.

I could do that.

I wrote a book about my family.

[overlapping chatter]

Some days are harder

Some days are gold

Some days, you barter

If I may be so bold...

What's up, my man? What you want?

Well, what you got? You out here,

got this asphalt smelling like my mama's kitchen.

-Hit me with it. -All right.

I got honey chipotle ribs, Cajun smoked wings,

and lemon pepper grilled shrimp and the encore,

banana pudding that'll make you disown your mama.

Ha ha. Well, let me try these ribs in a to-go plate.

Ooh.

Mmm! You know what?

I think, in another life,

you probably were somebody's grandma.

You sure you ain't out here trying to cook like you 50 years old?

I'm gonna have to see some I.D., young lady.

I always like to support local businesses.

You know, uh, I grew up

hanging on my mama's apron strings in her restaurant.

Matter of fact, I'm on my way to Louisiana

to see somebody I used to know,

recently opened up they own restaurant.

Well, maybe that could be you someday.

That's the goal.

And thank you for that.

Be sure and tell all your friends to come through.

Oh, I'll do that.

-[chairs humming] -[both sighing]

That feels good.

I never had no massage before.

Never?

No.

Oh, you are missing out

on one of life's great simple pleasures.

Ahh.

-[laughs] -Guess so.

Relax.

Just let it do what it does.

I am relaxed.

Oh, my God. If this is you relaxed,

I'd hate to see you tense.

Look, close your eyes. Feel the rhythm.

[laughs]

A'ight.

Give in to it.

Glad I ran into you.

Yeah?

So you think we could do this again?

This?

I'm talking about you and me.

No kids. Just us.

I'd like that.

[sighs]

A bit bitter, that one.

Really?

I mean, unless you like some bite with your coffee.

I just like coffee, period.

It's my saving grace.

When I first got sober,

I'd have injected caffeine in my arm if I could.

[laughs]

Too much?

No, not at all.

Uh, it's actually--

It's a relief to be able to joke about it, you know?

Laughing is not a crime, people.

Yeah, an AA group can get pretty serious sometimes,

but everybody's got their process.

I mean, God, six months ago,

I don't think I could have laughed

about much of anything.

Sorry. We said no group talk on our first date.

I know, but who are we fooling?

-True. -Hey, have you, uh--

you given any more thought to being a sponsor?

I haven't decided yet.

I think anyone would be lucky to have you as a sponsor.

You been through the fire,

and you still here.

Can even smile sometimes.

[both chuckle]

Thank you...

for that.

I-I feel like I, um--

like I've just gotten to a good place.

Yeah.

I been sober five years now,

and, uh, took me twice as long to get to where you are.

But-- But we ain't gotta talk about all that right now,

'cause now I think it's time

to get into this Italian dark roast.

Mm. [coughs]

It's just right.

[both laugh]

Bye, Miss Violet.

Night, y'all.

[entry bell rings]

You and the kids were talking about nothing, huh?

[manuscript plops]

Just found "nothing"

stuffed on a shelf in my office.

You said you ain't have time to read Nova's book.

So you took it upon yourself to read it for me,

and I take it that that child

done dug up every one of Ernest's skeletons.

Oh, this book ain't just about Ernest.

Vi, I think it's time for you to read that book.

[cell phone buzzing]

Third time tonight.

[buzzing continues]

It's always been like this,

always on her schedule.

"Consequence" is not a word in her vocabulary, apparently.

Sorry.

I'm just venting.

It's okay.

If someone wrote all the things I did in a book,

I don't think I'd be handing it out to everyone I meet.

Hmm.

-Sounds ominous. -[chuckles]

Is there something from your past I should know about?

No. No, I-I just...

I just mean that there were a lot of causes

that I was passionate about,

and sometimes my passion didn't always help.

There are just some things

that I wish I would have

-thought through more. -Mm.

Well, I spent the better part of the last two years

moving on from the things she wrote about.

When you read it...

I won't read it.

I want to get to know the you now,

not you then.

Thank you.

All I know is...

I can't have this.

I can't.

Sounds like you have to talk to her.

Well, she never talked to me about it,

and now it's in print for anyone to read.

This is defamation, maybe even libel.

Was it all a lie?

I know you have to do something,

but if you go down the legal road,

it might just bring more attention to the book.

[sighs] This whole thing's a mess.

I'm-- I'm just trying to fix it.

What if you can't?

What if this is just one of those things

you have to live through?

[stereos playing music]

We have so much stuff to do now you're back.

I'm happy to be here. I don't know.

Have to go hang out and watch the game.

-Getting a big turn-- -Yeah--

-Yo, watch it. Watch it. -Oh, excuse me.

Hey, almost didn't recognize you there, Micah.

Looks like someone watched Black Panther too many times.

[boys laughing]

[boy] It's so true!

Hey, what did you say, bro?

No, what'd you say?

[laughter continues]

Oh, so I'm funny to you now?

[laughs] Yeah, dude.

-[Keke] Whoa. -Hey, get him! Get him!

Hey, sto-- Micah!

[kids] Fight! Fight!

[Keke] Micah!

[overlapping chatter, yelling]

[echoing] Stop!

[insects chirping]

See you soon.

I could see you inside.

I need to take things slow.

You understand, right?

I understand...

and I respect that.

See you soon, then.

Real soon, I hope.

[door opens]

He bumped into me on purpose,

didn't apologize,

makes a joke about black culture,

and I'm supposed to be like, "No worries"?

[scoffs] You know, guys like Beau

grow up to be men like Orson.

Orson wasn't born that way.

Before he started abusing us,

he got used to laughing at us.

That's the first step.

What is?

Ah, I went to one of those seminars

you told me about this summer.

Read a lot of Homi Bhabha, some others,

but I learned that the first step to taking a people's stuff,

to taking their land, their bodies,

is to take down their culture,

to laugh at it.

Yes, the comic turn.

I remember.

If someone had popped Orson in the mouth,

maybe he wouldn't have put a gun in mine.

You know, zero tolerance,

that's my new policy.

I want you to be the first person

to have a hard copy of my book.

Wow.

Ah, this is an honor.

Can you sign it for me?

-Already done. -What?

"For moments of doubt, remember we have wings.

With love, Aunt Nova."

Thank you.

[laughs]

He was so tired.

[laughs]

Yeah.

What?

Is everything okay?

Just a crazy day.

That's all.

You have a lot on your shoulders, Ralph Angel.

You're handling it, though.

I'm proud of you.

Appreciate it.

How you doing?

I'm-- I'm feeling stable

and hopeful.

Hopeful about this guy you been seeing?

[clears throat]

Do you think that, uh...

we should, um...

be talking about these kinds of things?

I mean, why not?

We co-parents, ain't we?

They say it's best we be friends.

I mean, shit, you already told me you dating somebody.

I don't think we should talk about these things,

because if I tell you about who I'm dating,

then that means that I'd have to hear about who you're dating.

And I don't think I'm ready for that.

[sighs]

Be honest...

I don't think I'm ready, either.

But I wish you happiness, Darla.

That, I do.

As I do you.

[chuckles]

[Charley] Micah.

[sighs]

-Oh, Micah. -I'm fine.

It's not a big deal.

Mm-mmm. That is not necessarily for you to decide.

You can't be getting into fights, Micah.

You-- You cannot.

How you act and how you look matter.

Why didn't you tell me you were gonna loc your hair?

You didn't say anything about my hair last year.

A high-top fade reads differently to most people.

And by most people, you mean white people?

I should live my life by making white people feel comfortable?

If wearing a belt on your pants

or cutting your hair is a millisecond difference

between you being dead or alive,

th-that's a compromise I'm willing to live with.

I'm not.

I'm gonna twist myself into knots

trying to fit into some box

that doesn't promise me a damn thing.

No, I'm gonna do me.

Sounds like you learned a lot in your chat with Nova.

[scoffs] This has nothing to do with Aunt Nova.

You know, the night I was in jail,

after I got out, you know who it was

who saw that I had pissed my pants because I was so scared,

tied her sweater around my waist so I wouldn't be ashamed?

Who wasn't across the parking lot screaming at Dad?

Who gave a damn that night about how I felt?

Aunt Nova.

Now, good night.

[pounding on door]

All right, now I'm ready for you.

Okay. Let's just sit down and tal--

No.

It was bad enough for you

to print this trash for the world to see,

but now your words have wormed their way into my son's heart

and poisoned him against me.

Charley, please. Micah came to me.

-He knew you'd be upset. -Mm.

He just needed someone to listen to him,

and you always-- [sighs]

No, keep going.

I always what?

You certainly didn't hold back in your book.

What do you think about me, Nova?

Actually, I already have an idea.

"My sister, born to privilege,

raised with wealth, and half-bathed in whiteness,

used her light skin as her shield and her sword,

weapons in every room she entered,

every deal she made, with every women she sacrificed,

and for every man she protected.

Her honey skin kept her safe,

all the while keeping her complicit

in the continued oppression of black bodies."

Is this what you think of me?

I was writing about privilege.

You can shove your themes up your pretentious ass.

Call it what you want, but this,

this is 300 pages of you telling the world

how much you hate your only sister!

Charley, I love you.

This isn't love!

This is betrayal disguised as pulp fiction,

trying to pass itself off as literature!

Almost everything in the book was public knowledge.

Oh, my God.

So I wasn't writing about Davis

to be salacious.

You and Davis present a classic story

about the insidious nature of rape culture.

Are you out of your damn mind?!

Nova, we are people. I am your sister.

I am not some example to be used

for your examination of rape culture.

I'm writing about how women often protect men

instead of protecting other women,

which is what you did, Charley.

And how we are blind to our own enabling of patriarchy.

You're hardly alone in this.

That's what I'm writing about.

Dress it up however you want,

but, at the end of the day,

you wrote about your evil, light-skinned sister

and her famous, philandering husband.

I'm laying myself bare in the book, too.

I admit what happened to Too Sweet was my fault.

I sold weed to Rid when it was illegal,

and Too Sweet bore the burden of my callous actions.

I have been complicit

in a system that hurts young black men.

Laying yourself bare

and laying your family bare

are two different things.

You wrote about me, Rah.

Nova, you wrote about Aunt Vi.

I'm writing about an American family.

Oh, when Micah reads this...

He trusts you.

When he reads this...

he'll believe I'm a monster.

He won't.

I'll explain it to him.

You have no idea what the consequences

of this being in the world will be.

You have to put the brakes on it.

I can't, Charley.

It's gone to print.

It's too late.

Don't ask for the truth

Then call me a liar

Breathing in deep

But my soul's getting tired

Show me the difference

Between love and desire

On the battlefield

Fighting fire with fire

"We speak of strength in black women

almost like a superpower,

an innate gift disconnected from growth,

struggle, tears, pain, joy,

and brokenness.

This is the lie.

For sure, strength isn't something

you buy at the corner store.

And my Aunt Violet is the proof.

Her body and spirit, so strong now,

was broken more times than she can count

by my Uncle Jimmy Dale."

Gotta make your way

In a cold world

No, she didn't.

There's no one there to help you but yourself

Look me in the face

- I'm no stranger... -[bell dings]

Checking in, sir?

Yes, I am.

I think I got turned around.

Where's that diner I heard so much about?

Used to be called the, uh, High Yellow.

That's Vi's Prized Pies now.

Vi's Prized Pies.

Yeah, I think I'll go over there tomorrow.

You won't be sorry.

Their peach pecan pie is to die for.

May I have a name for the room?

Dale.

Jimmy Dale.

[woman vocalizing]

[woman] Go, Ree-Ree.