Original subtitles

[Woman] Previously on Queen Sugar...

You believe everything you read?

This book was written by somebody I trust.

-Jimmy Dale. -Oh, hey, Nova. Good to see you again.

What'’s he talking about?

Did she write about our past?

-You gonna show your face in our house? -I ain'’t the one, boy.

No! You'’re gonna kill him!

There are things goin'’ on that shouldn'’t be, Charley.

My intention wasn'’t to hurt anyone.

This is the last time I let you in this house,

Nova Bordelon.

[Nova] Be sure to check the mail every other day

and water the plants once a week.

And no wild parties with your friends.

No private parties with Keke.

[both laugh]

Nah, no worries about that.

Keke ain'’t even answering my texts lately.

Seems like I can'’t do anything right.

Are you sure you'’re up to doing this?

I don'’t want to cause problems between you and your mom.

It'’s all good.

The drive up will give me time to think

about what I'’m doing with my life.

There'’s been a lot going on since...

since I got back.

Well, if it makes you feel any better,

I don'’t know what I'm doing with my life right now either.

[both laugh]

Right.

They'’re really not coming to your book signing tomorrow?

I don'’t know.

-I hope they do. -I don'’t know why they think

the silent treatment is going to solve anything.

There was a lot of anger in the moment, but it'’ll pass.

I don'’t know.

It'’s like when my mom and dad broke up,

I didn'’t think that we would get

to where we could be in the same room again.

But y'’all got through it.

It wasn'’t overnight,

but you got there.

It'’s the same with this.

All I can do is let everybody know I love them

and how important they are to me.

Given time, this will blow over.

Hopefully.

[sighs]

Well, I love you.

I love you too.

-You'’re important to me. -Yes.

Oh, Micah.

[theme music playing]

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

Baby, you'’ve been up since the middle of the night.

You feeling okay?

I couldn'’t sleep. I just...

got all these recipes running through my head.

Chère, we ain'’t got to do it right now,

but at some point we need to talk about it.

Talk about him.

Don'’t waste your time thinking about no Jimmy Dale,

because I'’m not.

Really?

Vi, you and the whole family ain'’t talking to Nova

because of him.

Not supposed to mention her neither.

And as for that fool,

you got rid of him, which I do appreciate.

And I can'’t tell you how much.

And that'’s all I'’m thinking about.

You know I got you.

No matter what.

So why don'’t you, uh,

come on to the back and be with me.

I'’m gonna be back in a minute, okay?

[sighs]

Your team set up fast.

This space is ideal.

Hmm.

-No rain. -No bugs.

More sanitary and private.

Way back here, deep in the barracks.

It'’s perfect.

Thank you.

I'’m just glad it worked.

You made it work.

So, bravo to you.

It'’s not too busy, though.

No, no, it'’ll take some time for people

to start feeling safe to come in.

But we'’ve spread the word that we'’re a designated safe zone.

A sensitive location, right?

No ICE raids allowed--

I know, but with all the hate in the air,

people are afraid of ICE regardless.

I mean, they'’re raiding schools and churches.

Oh, God.

Nowhere is truly safe.

We have a visitor.

[Micah] Hey.

What'’s...what's going on?

Uh...what'’s going on is...

we opened our old home as a word-of-mouth clinic

-for migrant workers. -"We"?

Oh.

Let me introduce...

Romero Rodriguez, my son, Micah.

[Romero] Pleased to meet you.

Yeah, good to meet you.

Romero works as a physician assistant

at St. Josephine'’s Hospital.

And he also treats migrant workers at the border

and throughout the parish.

Oh, wow. That'’s dope.

Your mom is providing a great service to the community.

Okay, well, Romero and his team will be running the clinic.

I just provided the space.

Excuse me.

It was great to meet you, Micah.

Yeah, you too.

[cell phone chimes]

-Everything okay? -[sighs]

This is the investigator that I hired

to look into those letters.

Did they figure out who it was?

Yeah. The police have him.

Thankfully, he wasn'’t tied to anything organized.

Just one of those bored, hateful men

spending too much time in basements.

Why'’d he come after me?

Because you'’re out there trying to change things.

I mean, you'’re not the only one he'’s done this to.

Thank you for taking care of it, Mom.

Not everyone could have handled this.

But you did.

I'’m proud of you.

You'’re needed out front, baby.

I got to get this order for Ralph Angel ready

for his new program.

Oh, baby, let Rhonda take care of that.

The place is called Vi'’s Prized Pies & Diner.

Folks came to see Vi.

[loud clatter]

Rhonda, you got to watch what the hell you doing.

I'’m sorry, Miss Violet, I was just trying to...

I just don'’t have time for no mess today.

I'’m the one who's sorry.

I just didn'’t sleep well last night,

so I'’m a little on edge.

-Forgive me. -Look here, baby,

you go ahead and handle back here.

I'’ll take care of up front, all right?

We a team, right?

-What up? -All right.

-What'’s up, Aunt Vi? -Hey.

Smells good in here.

Everything almost ready?

Just about. What you doing coming through the back door?

Your niece out front again.

Rhonda.

Handle that.

Yes, ma'’am.

[upbeat pop music playing]

Miss Nova, I love you and I'’m so sorry.

But Miss Violet ain'’t changed her mind about you visiting.

Same as yesterday and the day before.

Okay, I hear you.

But could you please tell Aunt Vi or Hollywood I--

It'’s no use. Soon as I say "Nova said,"

I get the hand to the face and a frosty attitude.

She ain'’t ready to hear from you.

I'’m sorry.

Welcome. Come on in.

-How are you doing? -All right.

[door creaks closed]

[Ralph Angel] I was like y'’all.

Fresh out.

Looking for a second chance.

Something different.

That'’s what made me want to do this program.

Named it after my daddy.

He was my lifesaver.

Same way this farm could be for you.

Y'’all met Benny.

It'’s hard work. He'’ll tell you.

-Early mornings, sweating. -Yes, sir.

Got to get your hands dirty.

It'’s hard labor.

But out here you ain'’t working for the man.

Ain'’t nothing but space, feel me?

So make it beautiful.

Is it steady pay, though?

I mean, I hear that farmer'’s pay is irregular.

If you looking for a office job,

you ain'’t going to find that on the farm.

Y'’all look around.

We got about, like, ten of y'’all.

Huh?

Statistics say, what,

half of y'’all be back in six months.

My job is to make sure y'’all ain't part of that half.

All right, then.

Pies and paperwork.

Some coffee inside.

Y'’all fill that out and let's get this thing started.

-You say you got pies, man? -[indistinct chattering]

So am I right? Is something off?

Yeah, something'’s real wrong.

That worthless land purchase in the Landry board minutes?

So the permits were misfiled-- On purpose, I'’m sure--

To hide their plans

to develop a business center on the site.

But it'’s in the middle of nowhere.

Not for long.

That new highway?

Yeah, the one routed through St. Thomas?

Not anymore.

The new route will cut right through St. Jo.

So word is they'’re putting everything

behind Jacob Boudreaux

taking Barrera'’s seat on the city council.

Jacob? Why would they...?

Of course.

To make sure the city council doesn'’t fight back.

[scoffs]

Wait.

Am I reading this right?

This route guts most of the black farmers'’ land.

It guts our land.

I should have known.

[hip-hop music playing]

[Ralph Angel, over phone] This is Ralph Angel.

Can'’t get to my phone right now.

-Leave a message. -[answering machine beeps]

I leave in two days, Ralph Angel.

Please call me back.

I love you.

[sighs]

[cell phone rings]

[cell phone beeps]

Hey, Deborah. How are things going?

[Deborah, on phone] Are you sitting down?

Yes, I'’m sitting. What'’s up?

That glowing New York Times review,

it'’s now a six-week national tour.

Six weeks? Seriously?

First stop: Houston.

Then the Big Apple, Nova.

Boston, Chicago,

San Francisco and Atlanta.

Are you still there?

Yes. I'’m here.

Give me a minute.

[sighs]

All this from the Timesreview?

Yes, Miss Soon-to-be-Bestselling-Author.

Wow.

A national tour for a debut book.

Deborah, I just don'’t have the words.

Thank you.

This is wonderful.

Enjoy the moment, Nova. See you soon.

Yes. See you soon.

[phone beeps off]

Wow.

You have been working real hard this morning.

And I appreciate it.

Now you go take a break

before the lunch hour gets here.

[man] No, no, I didn'’t marry her for her cooking.

[man laughs]

In the beginning, I was the only cook in the house.

[laughs]

But she didn'’t like that, mm-mm, no.

So she learned.

[continues indistinct]

Man, I tell you, that'’s what love will do.

Hey, hey. Hey, Vi, am I right?

My Clare learned to cook almost as good as you.

Good enough to make him a stranger at the High Yellow.

We couldn'’t compete.

Yeah. I...

I miss that woman.

See y'’all later.

Take care of yourself, baby.

Thank you for meeting me.

Not a problem.

So you'’ve heard the news?

About Jacob running for your city council seat?

I swear, these people.

It was a hard decision to step down.

Wait, you'’re...

Isabel, please don'’t.

Hold your seat. Help me stop this highway.

It'’s just not worth running up against

Jacob Boudreaux and that family.

We could have formed a coalition.

I will fully support your campaign.

You'’re barking up the wrong tree, Charley.

I'’m stepping down because I know a brick wall coming at me

when I see one.

You didn'’t choose this.

They got to you somehow, didn'’t they?

That highway can'’t be stopped.

There'’s too many deep pockets that want to get deeper

that are fully invested in ensuring that it happens.

That'’s what they said about the prison, but we stopped that.

The prison was a state project.

The highway is federal.

It involves more money

and more stakeholders who are willing

to sell their mother down the river to see this happen.

Why do you think the Landrys let go of the prison so easily?

They already had a backup plan to cash out.

A bigger plan.

The prison fight didn'’t seem easy to me.

It'’ll seem like child's play if you try to stop this highway.

We can do this. Together.

Form a solid, grassroots campaign.

[speaks Spanish]

Choose your battles,

and know when to throw in the towel.

We can'’t win them all.

[laughter and chattering]

[cell phone chimes]

Charley, good to see you.

And you.

Good to have you back in town, Frances.

Aw.

I took the liberty of ordering for you.

-No, thank you. -All right.

I don'’t appreciate being handled.

The board minutes I'’ve received are a farce.

A smoke screen.

If there was an error,

I'’m sure it was a clerical oversight.

Omitting your highway proposal to gut St. Jo

and take over half of Bordelon land is not an oversight.

Please stop taking everything personally.

My family is losing land as well--

In exchange for a lucrative business enterprise.

And, as a Landry shareholder, you will profit too.

Land is the only thing God is not making any more of,

so it'’s a blood sport.

And you know it.

Which is why I will not see my family

and the black farmers of St. Jo

thrown away like trash.

You know, 40 years ago you'’d be lucky

to be allowed to clean toilets here.

And yet, you just walked across these grounds like...

like you own the damn place.

You'’re not one of them.

I read your sister'’s book.

You...

conquered the league

and turned a basketball player into an empire.

[laughs]

Only a stone-cold capitalist knows how to do that.

We'’re more alike than not.

You think my sister'’s sentimental drivel

has given you insight into who I am and what I'’ve done?

You don'’t know the half.

So let me fill you in.

You wouldn'’t make it one day in Hollywood

or professional basketball.

And, as you said,

I conquered them both.

So, what do you think I'’m going to do to Jacob

when he tries to run for office for you?

Yeah.

Yeah, I know about that too.

I really appreciate you getting me all this,

but why not just make me a playlist?

-Playlist? -Yeah.

-[laughs] Are you serious? -Current times.

Yeah, you'’re clearly not a musician.

Digital just can'’t capture the full sound like vinyl.

-Hmm. -You know?

Music deserves a fully immersive experience.

You got to let yourself be transported.

Vinyl is the key.

Okay, okay. I got it.

We will test this theory when you'’re finished.

Okay. I'’m telling you.

When the needle hits the groove, ooh-wee, it'’s like magic.

You'’ll see.

Voilà.

-[soul music playing] -Turntable for my lady.

-[engine idling loudly] -Turn it off.

-Huh? -Turn it off. Quick.

There you go.

Now stop right here.

-[turns engine off] -That'’s how you do it.

Pop! Mr. Benny let me hold the wheel,

and it'’s like riding a dragon.

What you know about riding a dragon, huh?

I know everything about dragons.

[chuckles] Go inside.

Get some lemonade.

-Let me talk to Mr. Benny. -All right.

-I'’ll be back. -Come on, player.

There you go.

Go wash your hands.

-[Blue] I will. -Nasty!

[sighs]

Tell me what you think.

This thing going to work?

I think so.

Feel good helping out our people, huh?

It does.

And I appreciate you helping me out.

Man, ain'’t no thing.

You know I got you.

Hey, man...

you mind if I ask you something personal?

[scoffs]

What'’s up?

I don'’t mean to get into your business or nothing like that,

but is it true what I'’m hearing about, you know, you and Blue?

Man, what you hear?

Listen, I ain'’t mean no harm by what I'’m saying.

Just want to give props to you for being a father to Blue.

My biological never stepped up for me

the way you do for your son.

That'’s all I'm saying.

I'’m proud to be working for a brother

doing the right thing.

Nothing but respect, man.

-Keep it up. -Appreciate that.

[sighs]

[doorbell rings]

Micah!

It'’s your dad!

[footsteps rushing]

-Hey. -What'’s up?

Hey.

Come on in.

-Hi. -Hey.

Oh. Hey, Charley.

Micah didn'’t mention you were home.

Yeah, I didn'’t... I didn'’t hear you come in.

Yeah, um...

Well, I said I had a surprise for you.

Let me introduce you to my daughter...

Tia.

Micah'’s sister.

Well, this is a surprise.

Tia?

What a pretty name.

Thank you.

I like your name too.

Well, it'’s a nickname for Charlotte.

So, Micah...

now that you'’ve met your sister,

perhaps you two could get to know each other better.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Charley, we'’re planning breakfast together.

You know, how about if you joined us?

You know?

Have a nice family gathering, and...

and I can tell you about some news I need to share.

I think you'’ve shared enough, Davis.

Tia, let'’s...

you want to grab a soda?

Go ahead. It'’s fine.

I don'’t know what your news is, Davis...

but I will not be whatever it is you want me to be.

Some kind of surrogate mom for that child.

Okay, I get that.

But, Charley, you'’re going to have to face the truth.

That child is innocent and here to stay.

I know that.

What I wanted to tell you

is that I'’m retiring from playing basketball.

I'’m taking the head coaching job at Bayou State University,

and it'’ll be announced soon, so--

Good for you.

Tia will be welcome here anytime

to visit Micah.

But I won'’t be back-doored into raising your kid, Davis.

This is on you.

You kept this secret for 13 years.

You laid with Tia'’s mom.

You led a double life. Not me.

So this, all this,

is your responsibility.

Right, she is Micah'’s sister.

Yes, I know how biology works.

[sighs]

Enjoy your time with your children, Davis.

I wish you well.

And God help that poor girl.

-[cameras click] -Ladies and gentlemen,

the woman the New York Timescalls

a luminous new voice,

the incomparable Nova Bordelon.

[applause]

Thank you.

I am happy to share this work of uncompromising love.

What I will be reading today

is actually a last-minute addition to the book.

I wasn'’t sure if I was brave enough to include it.

Still not.

It asks tough questions about what good people

have to do in order to carve out

a safe place in a dangerous world.

From the chapter "Buried Memories."

"I loved my father beyond measure,

and I learned to love whatever he loved,

so any time we spent together would become glorious time.

Often that meant just the two of us,

at the lake.

This one morning, we went to get bait

at a gas station near Lake Verret.

I waited in the truck in eager anticipation

of our day.

But when my father returned, he didn'’t have any bait.

But he did have a busted lip

and a look of anger and humiliation on his face.

I saw three white men smiling.

I didn'’t get it then.

But as an adult,

I now understand the veiled catcalls they uttered that day.

They were threats of sexual violence,

of what they planned to do to me,

a 10-year-old black girl,

when her father wasn'’t around.

Daddy kept a close watch over me after that.

But I had a secret.

I liked to wander through the cane at night.

I loved the richness of the land.

It was me alone and safe in my world.

It was about a week after that aborted fishing trip.

I was out in the night and saw Daddy

digging a deep hole in the field.

I couldn'’t tell what was happening,

until he pushed a dark mound of something

I couldn'’t quite see into the hole

and began to shovel the land back in place.

Daddy never saw me standing watch,

and I never asked him about that night.

I was too scared to know

what it might have been.

That was the last time

I went out into the cane at night.

My natural connection to the land,

my birthright,

was buried with whatever my father

put in the earth.

All I know for sure is

I never saw those white men again.

And my daddy never again

took me fishing."

[applause]

[hip-hop music playing]

[camera shutters clicking]

Thanks.

Chantal. Wow.

Nova.

[laughs]

I wasn'’t expecting to see you. Wow.

Aww.

I'’m really happy to see you.

I'’m really glad you came.

Of course.

I wouldn'’t have missed this for the world.

I know, just because things didn'’t work out between us

doesn'’t mean that I'm not still happy for you, Nova.

And I am. Your words are so beautiful,

and they are so powerful.

I'’m so proud of you.

That means a lot to me.

I'’m not used to this from you.

It'’s...

It means a lot.

Yeah, well, I have been working on myself,

so I'’m able to say that now.

[both laugh]

I mean, we all got to grow, right?

Right. It'’s hard, though.

Oh, but it'’s so worth it.

Indeed.

So, listen, did you come alone?

I didn'’t see your family.

Are you good?

My nephew Micah is here.

Things are good.

Just complicated.

Understood.

Well, if you want a little company later,

so you know, I can be a friendly ear

if you want to talk...

or anything.

-Or come by my place? -That'’s a tempting offer.

[clears throat]

But I got plans later.

Well, you enjoy your moment.

Maybe next time.

[Darla] "It was the kind of place

that only rents rooms by the hour.

Star, in her drug-fueled haze,

was splayed out on the bed,

eyes rolled toward the ceiling,

drifting in and out of consciousness.

All the while, a snaggle-toothed john,

stinking of stale cigarettes and cheap whiskey,

was on top of her, sweating and pumping away.

There was no tenderness,

only the stench of desperation and soiled sheets.

Discarded in the corner was her baby,

sleeping fitfully--"

How could you do this?

How could you write about my past?

Let'’s talk. I did things differently with you.

I didn'’t use your name and changed identifying information.

-The world won'’t know it's you. -Think I'’m worried about the world?

Anyone in St. Jo with half a brain

will figure out that you are talking about me.

This will expose my old life to my new world.

I really took pains to protect you, Darla.

And if someone does find out, think about it.

Your story of resilience, strength, and honesty

is one to be proud of.

This will destroy the life

that I have worked so hard to build.

People need to hear that someone in your situation

can thrive.

I hoped you of all people would understand.

Why me of all people?

Because you told Ralph Angel the truth about Blue,

despite the pain you knew it would cause.

It'’s an inspiration and example

of the power of truth to heal the past.

Did you even consider my son

hearing these things about his mother?

What I used to do?

Who I used to be?

-Your identity is safe, Darla. -No!

You wrote that I used to steal to feed my addiction.

But you just published a book full of memories

that you have stolen.

You are the thief.

Do not touch me!

Don'’t ever come near me or Blue again.

You'’re lower than I ever was.

I'’ve been trying for so long

To read the writing on the wall

Everyone to blame but me

And now I see...

[door opens]

Hey.

[Charley] You look happy.

I guess you had fun.

It was cool.

You can tell me, Micah. It'’s all right.

You should have been there.

There was this, like, promotional film.

Two families who had read the book

were inspired to work through their differences.

You should see it.

The whole family should see it.

I'’m glad you found value in it.

I did. But the best part was

when Aunt Nova read a passage about Granddad, though.

But you knew about Daddy'’s depression

from the New Yorkerpiece.

Well, no, this was different.

It sounded like, you know,

Grandpa had to protect Aunt Nova when she was a kid.

What are you talking about?

Well, I guess it wasn'’t in the manuscript.

Aunt Nova wasn'’t sure about adding it,

but it just shows how, sometimes,

justice has to be taken.

[pop music playing]

[cell phone beeps]

[line ringing]

-Hi. -Hey. Chantal.

Hope it'’s not too late to call.

No.

But it depends on why you'’re calling.

Just wondering if you wanted to get together after all.

-Come over. -Wow.

So you know where I am at, Nova, right?

Yes.

Then why didn'’t you just come here?

To me?

So now you want to call late, have me leave

and come to you like we'’re Tinder buddies or something?

[scoffs] No.

[Chantal sighs]

You always did want everything done on your terms, Nova.

That'’s not what I'm doing.

Look, I'’ve been working on me.

Now it'’s time for you to work on you.

If you want me to be a friendly ear to listen to you,

I can do that.

Do you want to talk about what'’s been going on

with why your family,

and why they weren'’t at the book launch?

You know, I think I'’m good.

I'’ll just call it a night.

Early flight tomorrow.

Thanks, Chantal.

[drops phone]

[sighs]

I thought we agreed to leave Nova alone.

What makes you think I need to hear anything

that girl has to say?

Because it'’s about Daddy.

Micah heard Nova read a story at the book launch tonight

that wasn'’t in the copy that she gave us.

It'’s about a fishing trip.

They were hassled by some white men.

I don'’t need to hear this.

Aunt Vi...

what do you know?

I don'’t know nothing...

except God don'’t like ugly.

And he don'’t need my help, yours,

or Ernest'’s to take care of business.

Okay, what do you suspect?

Lord have mercy.

[sighs]

I never knew for sure,

but I suspect

that something happened to those wretched men.

You saying Daddy did something to them?

Or somebody else they hurt or did wrong.

And you never said anything?

Why y'’all think you need to know every damn thing?

Just like Nova.

Think you got a right

to what everybody holds in their soul?

You don'’t.

All I know is, is that after that fishing trip,

Ernest wouldn'’t take his eyes off Nova, he was so worried.

Then one day he wasn'’t worried no more.

Do I think that my brother carried a burden to his grave?

Yes.

Do I know what it was for sure?

No.

And I don'’t want to know.

Yeah, well, maybe he didn'’t need to carry all that alone.

Maybe he wanted to carry it alone.

Not all dark corners need light.

Sometimes I think that Jimmy Dale is my dark corner.

Maybe this was your daddy'’s.

Way I see it,

as long as you ain'’t hurting nobody,

everybody got a right

to keep some things between themselves and God.

You need something to be able to talk about

on judgment day.

[sniffling and sobbing]

She wrote about it.

About me.

She wrote about all of it.

[sobbing]

-[water running] -Baby, you coming to bed soon?

[Violet] I'’m going to take a quick bath.

[cries]

[muffled sobs]

If I leave will you promise me

That you won'’t follow?

You would treat your lies like performances

At the Apollo

All the schemes and the plots and the kids

Make me crazy

Like our love story'’s written by Martin Scorsese

Make your bed and you lie in it

That'’s just what happens...

[Ralph Angel, on phone] This is Ralph Angel.

Can'’t get to my phone right now.

-Leave a message. -[phone beeps off]

I was foolish to think that this could be forever

[Charley, on phone] Hi, this is Charley Bordelon.

I can'’t get to the phone right now, so please leave--

Oh, oh-oh, oh, oh

Dreams of letting go...

[Violet, on phone] You'’ve reached Violet Bordelon.

I am unable to answer the phone right now,

so please leave your message and I'’ll return it.

[phone beeps off]

Oh, oh-oh, oh, oh

You do whatever you want and you blame it on passion

[starts engine]

Can we go separate ways in an orderly fashion?

Do I have to explain why we can'’t be together?

'’Cause the list is so long it would take me forever

I had that I still think about us together

I was foolish to think that this could be forever

Oh, oh-oh, oh, oh

Dreams of letting go

Oh, oh-oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh

[woman] Go, Ree-Ree.