Original subtitles

[announcer] Previously on Queen Sugar...

My family is having trouble with the book.

I just need some more time to smooth things out

before the book tour.

This story is gonna help so many people.

I don'’t give a damn

about so many people, Nova!

He trusts you.

When he reads this, he'’ll believe I'm a monster.

Nova, this book ain'’t just about Ernest.

"And my Aunt Violet,

broken more times than she can count

by my Uncle Jimmy Dale."

No, she didn'’t.

You have to put the brakes on it.

I can'’t.

It'’s gone to print.

[light switch clicks]

[sighs]

Get it together, Vi.

[sighs]

You are stronger than this.

[knock on door]

[Hollywood] Everything all right in there?

Fine. I'’ll be out in a minute.

Don'’t give me that look.

Well, you don'’t seem fine.

Ain'’t seemed fine all morning.

If I say I'’m okay, then I'’m okay.

What you say and what you are

can be two totally different things.

Now, baby, I begged you, don'’t stay up all night

reading that book.

Called her three times this morning.

She too scared to answer. Hell, I would be too.

Well, then she shouldn'’t have put my life out there

for the world.

I told her she'’d better come look me in my face

before the sun goes down,

because if I have to go to the 9th Ward

looking for her, I will.

How could she do that?

How could she?

Morning, Miss Vi.

Morning, Rhonda.

Everything copasetic?

Oh, yes, ma'’am.

Oh, we'’re running low on napkins and to-go containers.

Can y'’all grab some from the back?

[Hollywood] Gotcha, baby.

Baby, just go on and take a seat and I'’ll be right with you.

Of course.

Thank you.

It'’s good to see you, sweetheart.

It'’s been a while, huh?

It'’s been a while.

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

-Here ya go. -Vi?

Thank you, brother.

Come on. Vi?

I'’ll go get another towel.

You okay, baby? You need a doctor?

-What happened? -You passed out.

Here, drink this.

Mm.

Wait.

Wait, where...?

What happened?

Shh, baby. You okay, all right?

You just got a lot on your mind right now.

The opening, harvest, Nova and all that stuff.

That'’s it, okay?

But you got to start taking it easier.

Hollywood, let'’s...

let'’s go home.

I just need a little rest, okay?

Okay.

[Charley] Micah?

Look, maybe after school we should talk about

some of the things you'’re reading in that book.

I know Dad did what he did.

But...

you paid Melina Galoudian millions of dollars

to keep quiet?

I did it for you.

For us. For our privacy.

Nova'’s book is not how I wanted you to learn about that.

All I ask is that you remember

that what'’s black and white on the pages of a book

is often very gray in real life.

You know, people say stuff like that,

but never what they really mean.

I'’m on the board of Landry Enterprises.

You think it'’s because I want to be in business with the family

that enslaved our ancestors?

That I love money that much?

Or is it because I need to know what they'’re up to?

I'’m not judging you, Mom.

I just don'’t...

understand you sometimes.

So you believe everything you read?

No.

But this book was written by somebody I trust, so...

Trust.

[scoffs]

Wow.

So you don'’t trust me.

Man, can we talk about something else, please?

[computer chiming]

Hey, Deborah. Perfect timing.

I can'’t decide what outfit to wear

for my interview with Dr. Hall.

I heard you should avoid red,

black and white while on camera.

Good to know. [laughs]

Even if the only folks who are seeing this

are psychology students or therapy centers,

I want to present myself right.

That may all be about to change with the news I'’ve got for you.

So we got an advance

on yourNew York Times book review.

And, Nova, it'’s a love letter.

A love letter?

From the Times?

-When does it come out? -This afternoon.

[laughs]

I wasn'’t expecting this.

Well, we were.

We'’ve believed in you from the start.

Thank you. What did they say?

Well, it'’s in your inbox, but here'’s an appetizer.

"Blessing and Blood is a near-virtuoso-level memoir

"that speaks in both the intimacy of a whisper

"and the roar of an urgent call to action.

"Nova Bordelon'’s writing feels as if it'’s fueled

"by both fire and fear,

"a potent combination that catapults

"this journalist-turned-author to the upper echelons

"of writers exploring race,

culture and identity in America."

I know, right?

Are you there?

Oh, my God.

I don'’t know what to say.

Your work says it all.

It'’s moving now.

It'’s connecting with people,

just like you wanted.

Generator ready to go?

Alternator'’s still busted.

Meant to call you before you came.

My bad.

Today just ain'’t going my way, Mr. Prosper.

You doing just fine, Ralph Angel.

So, what'’s on your mind?

I don'’t know.

Nova. Her book.

She'’s going in on everybody.

Charley, Aunt Vi, Blue.

Everybody?

Something I need to be concerned with too?

I doubt it.

Knowing Nova, you never know.

So, what has she got to write about Blue,

other than the love she got for him?

She'’s telling the world he ain'’t mine proper.

That he ain'’t my kid...

before he even know.

I see.

You don'’t seem surprised.

By now, I'’ve learned that life is full of surprises.

Plus, I'’ve seen this kind of thing before.

My father wasn'’t my father either.

I mean, if you mean it in the biblical way.

For real?

Didn'’t find out till I was in high school.

By then, I didn'’t care.

He was good to me.

That'’s thicker than blood.

Sound like a good man.

Yup. He wasn'’t my father, but he was my daddy.

[laughs]

Yeah.

So the way I look at it, I won.

And Blue did too.

A book don'’t change that.

You make sure your boy knows it.

[speaking Spanish]

Slow down. Slow down. Say it again.

Ignacio. Enfermo.

Uh...sick.

Come on, man.

[Hall] We'’re fortunate to have two families

that read an advanced copy of your memoir.

And they'’re here to share their experiences

after reading your book.

[woman] For a long time, my mother and I refused to address our issues.

Kind of like you and Charley.

Can I ask how you were able to break through

all of the hurt feelings and the trauma

to get to a healthier place with her?

I finally had to let go of the fear

that stopped me from thinking about

anything in my relationships that saddened me,

let alone deal with them.

I realized I was suppressing everything.

But that'’s just putting it in a drawer.

It'’s not gone.

It'’s just...away.

And someday

somebody is going to open that drawer,

and the pain will still be there.

So I decided to clean out the drawer

once and for all.

Writing this was therapeutic in that way.

And it'’s an experience I hope those who read it

will have as well.

[phone line ringing]

[man, on phone] Frances Boudreaux'’s office.

-Hi, this is Charley Bordelon... -Miss Bordelon,

Mrs. Boudreaux is not taking calls at this time.

Care to leave a message?

Yes.

My message is that I want to know

how Jacob Boudreaux gets to attend board meetings

and I don'’t,

especially since we have the same amount of shares

in Landry Enterprises.

Tell Frances I expect a call back.

Soon.

[sighs]

-[toilet flushes] -What'’s going on, Vi?

Baby, you ain'’t say a word on the way home.

You don'’t even want nothing to eat.

I'’m scared for you.

I saw Jimmy Dale at the diner.

You saw who?

Bald-headed guy

with the white beard.

Old boy with the yellow shirt?

Said he caught you when you passed out.

He put his hands on you?

And he ain'’t even say who he was?

-Hollywood-- -Trying to play good Samaritan.

He gonna trip on out the front door?

Oh, hell no!

I didn'’t know what to do.

I didn'’t know what to say.

When I realized it was him,

something just happened.

[phone line ringing]

Who are you calling?

Hey, Rhonda. This is '’Wood.

-You remember that customer? -Which one?

Yeah, the new guy with the yellow shirt.

Let me know if he come back in.

A'’ight.

Hollywood, I don'’t want you

to get mixed up with this nonsense.

He'’s good at that.

No, baby, St. Jo'’s ain'’t but so big.

He around here somewhere.

Worst thing in your life,

come in your new place of business after 30 years.

No, he here to get something started.

But I'’m going to finish it.

[cell phone ringtone playing]

Hey, Rah.

Say, I got a little situation over here at the farm.

Might make me late to my harvest slot this week.

[Charley] That'’s going to back me up.

[Ralph Angel] Yeah, well, I got circumstances.

What'’s the problem?

Ignacio, my top worker, he got sick.

And he can'’t go to a hospital, if you know what I mean.

I may actually know someone who can help with that.

Let me call you back.

Keke.

Can we talk?

I'’m gonna catch you later.

All right.

I don'’t know, can we?

I'’ve been trying to. You don'’t even return my texts.

We'’re at the same school. We have to talk at some point.

All right, let'’s talk.

Why are you acting all brand-new on me, huh?

Fighting that guy like you'’re some new-age thug.

You think that'’s cute?

You know he had it coming to him.

If it wasn'’t me, it was gonna be someone else.

I'’m not withsomeone else.

I'’m with Micah West.

You'’re right.

It was stupid of me.

I need to be more wise about things.

You'’re important to me.

What you think about me is important to me.

Just promise me that it won'’t get there again.

You need to channel that anger some other way.

I know. I'’m working on it.

You know, I can'’t say I won'’t disappoint you.

I'’m not perfect.

But...

I can promise you I will never disrespect you.

My mama taught me better than that.

You want to tell me what'’s going on, Jacob?

Could you give us a moment, Hank?

Miss Bordelon.

I'’ll wait just outside.

[door opens and closes]

Who'’s he?

And how does he know my name?

One, you'’re kind of famous,

so lots of people know your name.

And two, he'’s a new consultant.

Hank Miller.

What'’s with all the consultants?

Mark Criegar, Hank Miller--

Businesses hire consultants, Charley.

It'’s their job to know all our primary shareholders.

Well, I'’m not exactly primary anymore.

And neither are you.

Yet you'’re able to attend board meetings

without possession of the proper number of shares.

Sam combined his shares and voting power with me.

He passed new bylaws

so family members can attend

even if we don'’t have enough shares.

Right.

And to think I gave you the benefit of the doubt

that you gained an ounce of dignity.

[cell phone dings]

What'’s this all about, Jacob?

You know how much I like you, Charley.

But I need to let you know,

I think it'’s best if you don't ruffle any more feathers.

[laughs]

I don'’t respond to threats.

[Jacob] You know what my family'’s capable of.

They'’re like a freight train.

They stop at nothing in their way.

And you shutting down the prison

didn'’t exactly slow things down.

That'’s all I'm at liberty to say.

So now I'’m supposed to trust that you care about me?

My family?

Where'’s your mama?

She claimed to have my back, but she'’s nowhere to be found.

She'’s in D.C. taking meetings to expand Landry Enterprises.

-Expanding to do what? -That'’s all I know right now.

Oh, that'’s all you know?

So you'’re going to make me work to find out?

Fine.

I actually know howto work.

That'’s what you think of me.

I'’ve just been high on the hog since birth.

Silver spoon in my mouth.

Never worked for nothing. That'’s what you think?

You'’ve had a family.

Love.

Camaraderie.

I never had that.

To get anything close to love with us,

you got to break skin,

show blood and be happy about it.

I was never wired for it.

I always hoped you'’d see that.

I still do.

There are things going on

that shouldn'’t be, Charley.

I'’m trying to look out for you.

Why can'’t you just sit back and enjoy your dividends?

For the same reason you can just sit back

and enjoy your privilege, Jacob.

At some point, we all make our own choices.

Your family made theirs,

and you'’ve chosen to go along.

You telling a sad story about it doesn'’t change it.

[Hollywood] Coffee hot enough for you?

Well, it sure is.

Now, you must be the manager.

I didn'’t get to meet you earlier proper-like, you know,

what with all the commotion.

I sure do hope Violet'’s doing okay.

I know who you are...

Jimmy Dale.

I know what you'’re all about.

So you can save the Showtime at the Apollo

skinnin'’ and grinnin',

'’cause I know what'’s behind it.

And so does my wife.

[chuckling]

Oh, I see what'’s going on here.

But you got this all wrong.

See, me and Violet,

things just didn'’t work out, that'’s all.

But that'’s old water under an old bridge, my friend.

I ain'’t your friend.

I'’m Hollywood Desonier.

And I'’m going to tell you this one time, and be noble about it.

You need to bounce.

Excuse me, youngblood?

She don'’t want you around here, and neither do I.

So go on ahead and raise on up.

[laughs]

Ha-ha, hell.

You remember Ernest Bordelon?

Yeah, Ernest.

So if you want a part two to that ass-whippin'’,

think I'’m playing with you.

So go ahead and pay your tab,

get your little goofy ass in the car,

and get the hell up out of town before you catch these hands.

Well, I don'’t stay where I'’m not wanted.

I mean, I was just driving through.

I just wanted to wish Violet good luck with her little diner.

That'’s all.

I don'’t want no trouble. Didn'’t mean no disrespect.

But...

the Bordelons was my family too.

For a long time.

But that time done passed, but the past don'’t change.

I didn'’t get into it with him, baby.

Didn'’t have to. He gone.

[kiss]

How'’d you manage that?

'’Cause Jimmy don't back down easy.

Maybe he getting wise in his old age.

But I followed his ass all the way

to the end of St. Jo'’s parish line.

Watched him hop on the freeway headed west.

And all you did was talk?

That'’s all.

But he was getting up out of here come hook or by crook.

Yeah, I never take no real lunch break.

Especially not late like this.

I could get used to it.

The one thing about working in the bureaucracy

of the United States government I don'’t mind,

it'’s people clock in,

take their breaks, and clock the hell out.

When we was on the phone the other night,

you said you was working from home, right?

I'’m never going to let my cases suffer.

But I am going to eat my damn lunch too.

[both laugh]

Mm.

I, um, I know it'’s harvest time.

Um, I didn'’t think you'’d make it.

Needed a little break.

Been working around the clock, you know?

Plus...

I wanted to see you.

Vicky, I need you to look into something for me.

I received the minutes from the board meeting,

and I saw a $1.5 million purchase

of unidentified land

oddly tucked under "Operational expenditures."

And I have no clue what that'’s for.

Yeah, I'’m just trying to get up to speed.

Could you look into it if I emailed it to you?

Yeah.

Yeah, okay.

Thanks, Vicky.

You'’re the best.

[R&B music playing]

Hi.

Wow.

Thank you.

This is so on time.

You are very welcome.

It'’s good to break up the workday

every once in awhile.

Yeah?

Yeah, it is.

And you'’ll be pleased to know

that your brother'’s worker will be fine.

I'’m glad you called me.

[sighs] Thanks for making the time.

Yeah, your brother'’s doing good by his men.

Taking good care of them.

It'’s nice to see.

You don'’t see that very often.

-Hmm. -Some of the things I'’ve heard.

I'’ve seen some pretty messed-up stuff in St. Jo

that you wouldn'’t expect.

What do you mean?

Stuff that just stays with you.

Like those two migrant workers.

The ones that were killed on one of the farms

a few years back

because they were forced to work in a storm.

That'’s just not giving a damn.

But you give a damn.

I mean, the work that you'’re doing at the border

makes a difference, right?

I'’m just one man.

Well, if you could do more, what would it be?

More. Just more.

Maybe set up stations for people who need it.

Anonymous, safe, clean.

What would it take to get something like that

up and running?

Volunteers.

And a safe, clean space that'’s not visible from the street.

But it gets expensive.

Hmm.

So I have a space in the former barracks

in the back of the mill.

It'’s vacant.

I mean, if you can get the volunteers

and I pay for the supplies,

we could just do it there.

[laughs]

Are you serious right now?

I mean, because that could work.

We can do maybe a pop-up clinic once a week.

For now.

Are you serious?

Very.

He can'’t hurt me again.

Blue'’s mama now, we just got on good terms.

Sure as hell ain'’t happened overnight,

tell you that much.

-It'’s a process. -Yeah.

I'’m still not there with Joie'’s dad yet.

Just found it best to stay as far apart as possible.

He doesn'’t come around much, so it works.

Listen...

I'’m just gonna keep it real with you.

I did some things in my past that I had to pay for.

-I was-- -I know.

I ran your background.

Old habits die hard

when you'’re a public defender and dating and have a kid.

I respect that.

I read your file.

But my work has taught me people aren'’t their files.

You'’re certainly not.

[both chuckle]

Oh, this pie is so good!

I feel like I'’m doing something wrong by eating it.

[laughing]

Well, let me help you out.

It feels good in here.

Help yourself to whatever.

Yes.

Water is fine.

Water.

So healthy.

What'’s wrong?

"Micah West, close your big, loud mouth

or we will fill it with your blood and our bullets."

What?

"Keep stirring up trouble in St. Jo,

and we will put you down like the filthy mutt you are."

Oh, my God!

We need to take this to the police.

And what are they going to do?

I'’ll deal with this.

-Just let me fix it. -How do you fix a death threat?

I'’m on it.

Why does it seem I can'’t do anything right by you lately?

I don'’t know. I think I'm just accepting the fact

that we'’re two different people

with two different views of the world.

[keys jingling]

[opening drawer]

We received the first one a week after your speech

at the prison rally.

And this one came... two days later.

So I sent you to Paris for the summer

and hired a security detail you never knew about.

-What? -This one came

the day that I took you to the airport to go to Paris.

And these came the day after you left.

Micah, what do you see?

Letters threatening to kill me.

And how do you feel now that you'’ve seen them?

Angry.

Well, I don'’t have time to be angry.

I'’m too busy being afraid for you.

So if we see the world differently...

it'’s because I am committed to doing whatever I have to do

to keep you safe.

If that means sending you to Paris for three months...

[slides drawer closed]

...I'’m fine with that.

If it means asking you to trust me...

I'’m fine with that.

If it means...

Let me protect you.

It'’s my job.

Mom!

Hey!

Where'’d you guys go?

I texted you.

Dad surprised me after school.

We went to the roller rink,

and me and Joie got ice cream.

I got chocolate mint.

-Super good. -Joie?

Who'’s that?

New friend he met after school.

They wanted to do a little playdate on the playground--

I see. Hope you didn'’t ruin your appetite.

It was only two scoops.

[Ralph Angel] All right, go wash that outside off you, Blue.

Take your backpack off.

[sighs]

I got to talk to you about something.

Okay.

Nova wrote about Blue in her book.

What do you mean?

What did she write about him?

What the hell did she write about him?

That I ain'’t his biological father.

[sighs]

Why would she do this?

[sighs]

Oh, why would she--

I am so...

sorry.

Ain'’t your fault.

And I ain'’t blaming you.

Did she write about our past?

I mean...

how can she get into Blue without writing about us too?

I ain'’t read much more after that part. I...

I couldn'’t.

Why would she do this?

Hey, you know Nova.

She'’s going to do what she want, how she want,

and it'’s always right for Nova.

I mean, does she even consider other people'’s feelings?

This hurts you.

Oh, God.

And it'’s going to hurt Blue.

Ain'’t got to let that happen.

Can'’t let that happen.

I know it might take some time to process this,

but when the time'’s right...

let'’s speak to him together.

All right?

All right.

[Violet] There he is.

He'’s just going to love that I made this chicken pot pie.

So you do still live here.

Good to see you, Violet.

You look good, baby.

Why are you here?

Well...

why don'’t you open the door,

let me come in proper

so we can set for a spell.

Talk things out.

We due for a talk.

Like adults.

No. You need to leave, now.

[sighs]

I done came all this way to see you, Violet.

Don'’t turn me away.

We have grown.

We have grown past all that childish nonsense.

And we both changed.

So I'’m just here to get back on the right track with you.

That'’s all.

Come on, sweetcakes.

I see you made some changes.

Still feels like my house, though.

Smells like you and your cooking.

And I do miss both, I will tell you.

But I didn'’t marry you for your cooking now.

So how you doing?

Violet, I'’m talking to you.

Not your house, Jimmy.

My house.

I see you got yourself that boy.

Your new husband.

Hollywood, is that it?

He ain'’t a boy.

[laughs]

I ain'’t never met no man allowed himself to be called that.

No, that ain'’t no man.

That'’s the name of a boy with stupid dreams.

But I didn'’t come here to talk about him.

I came here to talk about us.

Listen, I am sorry how we left things.

I was just a young, dumb man back then.

Everybody makes mistakes.

But not everybody'’s man enough to admit to them.

Some come to their dignity later in life.

You the last person who can ever talk about dignity, Jimmy Dale.

Get out of my house.

So that'’s how you gonna do me?

After all this time?

You'’re damn right.

There'’s the door. Use it.

Still got that spice in you.

Jimmy Dale? What are you doing here?

He'’s just leaving.

Oh, hey, Nova. Good to see you again.

Excuse me? Again?

What'’s he talking about?

I can explain.

-I can explain. -Whatever you did

to bring this to my doorstep,

you can'’t explain it.

Well, she ain'’t got to explain nothing.

I'’m just here to see how the years treated you.

And from where I'’m standing,

the years done good by you.

-Just a little pooch. -Don'’t you get near her!

Get your hands off me! Know what I'’ll do to you?

Get out! Get out! Get out!

Now! Get out!

[sobbing] Get out!

You gonna show your face at our house?!

Man, is you out your damn mind?!

I was trying to be nice to you.

But I ain'’t the one, boy, I'’m trying to tell you.

-[Violet] No, Hollywood! -[yells]

[grunting]

You'’re going to kill him! Stop!

-Hollywood, stop! Stop! -[groaning]

[Jimmy Dale wheezing]

I see you held on to your anger all this time, Violet,

because I took something from you

that you ain'’t never gonna get back.

But I just came here to say I was sorry.

But you know what?

I ain'’t sorry at all.

I ain'’t sorry about a damn thing.

[breathing heavily]

You are what you always was.

Ernest'’s little sassy sister.

But you were one hot piece of ass, though.

[roaring]

I never should have tried to make you a wife.

[Violet] He doesn'’t matter,

he doesn'’t matter, he'’s not worth it!

[crying]

Don'’t.

I never meant for things to come to this.

Yeah, you never do.

Well, I'’ll start with the truth.

I did go talk to Jimmy Dale for my book.

I thought it was for a good reason at the time.

I wanted to get all sides of the story.

I was hoping to explore whether redemption was possible,

even for the worst of us.

For those with unforgivable pasts.

But I realized after talking to him

that he was the same piece of trash you always said he was.

And that'’s why I left his point of view out of the book.

I didn'’t know that visiting him

would make him come stir up trouble in St. Jo.

All I wanted to do was celebrate your triumph.

Everything that you'’ve been through.

What so many have been through.

I didn'’t feel I could do that if I leave half the story out.

My intention wasn'’t to hurt anyone.

You have done some things in your day, child.

But this...

your daddy would be ashamed.

And your mama?

Your mama would do what I'’m about to.

You need to leave.

Right now.

-I didn'’t tell Jimmy-- -Stop it!

I don'’t want to look at you.

I don'’t want to talk to you.

Not right now, not tomorrow.

Way I'’m feeling, even ten years

can'’t put enough distance between us.

Aunt Vi--

[Violet] Don'’t darken my doorstep.

Don'’t bring no flowers to my grave.

I don'’t need you...

disturbing any more of my peace.

This is the last time I let you

in this house...

Nova Bordelon.

[sniffling, whimpering]

[music playing]