Original subtitles

Previously on "Braxton Family Values"...

One of the first things I wanna say to my "wasband"

was, "You did some really (bleep) stuff.

However, it wasn't all you."

It's very important for me to have closure with Gabe.

It's so stupid for it to still affect me, but it does.

I'm trying to go on a date tonight.

Whoo!

Well, this one guy, he's a really nice guy.

- I really like him. -You really like him?

I'm gonna have to find out who this man is, okay?

Hey, Gabe. It's Tray.

Today I'm gonna face my fears

and prepare myself for whatever fallout is coming next.

We need to talk.

♪ We are the Braxtons and you'll see ♪

♪ That we are not like an ordinary family ♪

♪ Toni, Traci, Towanda, Trina ♪

♪ Tamar and Miss E will ♪

♪ Teach you a thing or two ♪

♪ On "Braxton Family Values." ♪

Girl, you got tits for centuries.

You brought your titties out, I'm here for it.

- Oh, my God. - This the look I been waiting on.

Now, this is Toni Braxton, living legend that I know.

-Hey, family. - Hey, Tray.

Hey, titties.

My name is Toni, okay?

Who's making the drinks?

Look at the martini girl. Hey. Wait a minute.

- What's up? - Your boobs are up.

I'm gonna change my clothes because everybody...

No, don't change your clothes.

I have a dinner date late tonight.

Boom. There you go. That's why you glowin'.

Toni Braxton, you are dating a lot, girl, now.

I wonder if there's somebody that we need to know about.

Since you out here dating, do you know how to twerk?

Ladies don't have to twerk.

Lies. All ladies have to twerk.

Michelle twerks. Know that.

-Yes, she does. -Yes, she does.

President Barack Obama's like, "Oh, Michelle.

you movin' it so good right there."

-Can I teach you? - Nope.

- You'll thank me later. -You sure will.

All right, go ahead and teach me.

Girl, you can wash your hands and twerk.

Let me show you. You ready?

Wash your hands and twerk?

Wash your hands and twerk, 'cause it's nasty.

- Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. - My turn.

Towanda can hold the cup on her back.

Look, look, look. Look at the arch.

- Wait a minute. Wait a minute. - What?

No, I know. Wanda, let me put the cup on the back.

Don't break her cup.

Now that's skills.

That's skills.

- You know what? - You understand that?

You understand, you understand.

I can put a cup on my back.

Do it, Traci. Put it on there.

That's that dip.

I don't know. I think I can put a cup on my back.

- Poke it up. Poke it up. - Okay.

Poke it-- put that all the way up.

That's as far out as it's gonna go.

♪ You got that hump, baby ♪

♪ You got that hump, baby. ♪

Girl, you ready for the world.

- Yes. - Toni Braxton back in the world.

- Hallelujah. -Now she can go on her date.

Yes, you can.

Toni's a closet twerker.

I am not surprised Toni wanna put a cup on her butt.

She's done that before.

Guys, guess what? I want us to do--

I signed us up to do cooking--

like, real cooking lessons. Like, French cooking lessons.

Sauces, protein, the real stuff.

I signed all of y'all up. Just FYI.

Last year, the girls and I took a cooking class,

and they had me make the salad.

I'll do-- I'll do the ribs.

And all we need is one volunteer for salad.

Toni make a good salad.

That's what she do. She'll make a salad.

Oh, my God. I mean, in my house,

my 12-year-old son makes the salad

and I do the real cooking.

- You gonna tell her? - No, you tell her.

- The salad's not good? - No!

But now I wanna go to this professional class

and get the cooking lessons I deserve

that I didn't get last time.

So it'll be fine.

What you using that butter knife for?

- This is a spatula. - No, it's for peanut butter.

I bought that exclusively to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

- Also called a spatula. - You're gonna ruin the knife!

I'm not gonna ruin the knife!

She don't know nothin' about this kitchen life.

I'm telling you. That's terrible.

I will support you in teach them how to cook.

How about you teach Tamar not to use salt?

- Only thing Towanda know how to make is chicken. - Lies.

And she don't make nothing else besides the chicken.

It's just a chicken dinner. It's no sides.

That's a lie.

I am so not excited about

going to this cooking school,

because whenever we get together,

especially when it's Toni and Tamar involved,

it becomes a competition,

and I don't think that cooking should be a competition.

I just think that it should be food

just that we eat that's delicious and that's it.

Why can't we just do that?

Let me call Trina.

How you not gonna have accoutrements

along with this liquor?

Yeah, what-- you usually have hors d'oeuvres.

Hey, Trini weenie.

Hey, Wham.

Hey, so Toni signed us all up for a cooking class.

- Will you be able to go? - What day is it?

I think it's tomorrow.

Why she can't come early?

What's she doing the night before?

I'll take that. As long as we all there.

Yeah, but why she can't come early?

I just have some, um,

some stuff to take care of real quick.

I don't know where the hell Trina's gonna be

that she gets to miss this cooking class.

I don't know what the mystery is.

What's the mystery, Trina?

I got some hors d'oeuvres.

- Chips? - Potato chips?

Champagne and chips?

Champagne and chips is, like, the perfect thing.

You know what that's called?

- It's called hood rich. - Yes!

This is elegant right here. This is elegant.

- I'm gonna make it pretty. - Bye, Trina.

Love you. Bye.

Toni, you not gonna bring them smushed-up-ass chips

over here in a bowl and think--

- They not even whole chips. - Uh-huh.

Girl, them chips look like they been in your purse for a week.

We gonna go somewhere to eat.

I'm gonna take your glasses--

I'm gonna go to the car real quick. I'll be right back.

- Hold up. - Yeah. I gotta take this with me.

Wait a minute.

- Hello? -Hey.

- Hey. - What's going on?

I got your message.

Oh, yeah. Uh, I know it's kinda weird,

because we hadn't spoken in, like, 11 months,

um, but I really wanted to talk to you about something.

But I'm still in LA.

So I'm on my way to see my sisters

for this cooking class today,

and as luck would have it,

this is when Gabe returns my call.

Ugh. Not the best time,

but it's a conversation that needs to happen.

So what do you wanna talk about?

I was hoping to do it in person,

but, um, it's just some stuff about our relationship.

Lack thereof. I don't know.

Um... okay.

I mean, I guess I could do that.

I got some stuff I need to tell you, too.

So, um-- so when you gonna be back?

- In a few days. - Sounds good.

I'm not sure if I'm ready to tell my sisters

that I'm talking to Gabe again.

I know that they're gonna have some really yucky things to say,

but it's not about them.

All right, thanks. Talk to you soon.

- Cool. - All right, bye.

I'm really ready to show my culinary skills,

and who's really the boss in the kitchen

once and for all? Me.

Well, besides Mommy, of course.

-Hey. -Whatcha doing?

I came to slay. Ha ha. No one's gonna hold me back...

Tamar, listen, I don't want you to take this ass-whipping personally.

- Uh-oh. - You sure?

I don't want you to take it personal.

- Okay. - Okay? Just know that...

some people have cooking abilities

just a little more keener.

I cook-- "Barefoot Contessa."

She's, like, gourmet.

No, Tamar is-- no.

I mean, she acting like it's a cooking competition.

This is not a cooking competition,

because I will whoop your ass in this kitchen, okay?

She's just putting too much on it.

And I don't feel like it.

I think you can cook. I just think--

- Hello, ladies. - Hey, boo! How you doing?

How you doing?

Welcome to the Culinary Institute of Los Angeles.

My name is chef Al.

We have some fun things planned for you guys today.

So why don't we go ahead and put our chef's clothes on

and we'll get started?

We get jackets?

Yes!

Where's my jacket? I want my jacket.

Gotta wear the same thing.

Toni, you are little, girl.

- She needs a kid's jacket. - Yeah.

The chef puts us in two groups.

I'm leading one group, and Tamar's leading the other,

and each group is making beef and salmon,

two proteins, and we have to choose a sauce

to go with each protein.

Plus fancy potatoes and green beans.

This is so up my alley. I love this.

Let's go and have some fun.

Ha ha.

I got paired with Toni.

Yep. I'm not surprised that I got paired with Toni.

Yeah, I'm an assistant again.

This is gonna be fun.

I mean, the lemon caper sauce is really good with it.

You know, that's, like, a win-win with the salmon, right?

Right.

So what do you wanna make?

Salmon steak and a lemon caper sauce.

You're not gonna use the dill?

It might-- ask him if they're-- you don't like dill?

Let me tell you something.

Toni gets a little overzealous

with the flavor combinations sometimes,

and I don't know how much I can reign her in.

I don't know.

Would this mix with tarragon?

Coriander? No.

She just grabbin' stuff.

Before Tamar and them get it.

You know, Toni looks at cooking class

the way that I look at acting class.

She takes it so serious.

Oh, I did pretty good, Tay.

Yes, Traci. You better work it out. Traci butcher.

Very good job.

But cooking is supposed to be fun.

I'm not having fun.

You doing good, Tray.

So we have a rule in the kitchen, Toni,

is that whatever your station is,

you stay within that station.

Meaning stay in your lane. Stay on the 405.

We over here on the 10. We good.

No looking around.

Although cooking together is not a battle,

it is a bit competitive.

Everyone raised to have executive chef position.

Although I'm the only executive chef.

What you-- what you making that's different?

Mine don't look like that.

You can cook it any way you want, he said.

Okay, you cheatin'.

Let me tell you why you cheatin'.

Why am I cheatin'?

Because what happens is

is that it gets juicy and moisture...

- Yes, it does. - When it's together.

You can cook it any way you want.

You got some black pepper?

Toni has the takeover spirit in the kitchen,

in the bathroom, on the stage,

uh, backstage.

In the car. She has the takeover spirit on her.

She needs to be redeemed.

Coming up on "Braxton Family Values"...

I feel bamboozled.

How you feel bamboozled?

This is not my zhuzh right now.

I almost dropped the bread. Okay? Wait. What?

You out here. You look crazy. I said it.

It's almost like, "It didn't work. Goodbye."

That's how black girls handle it.

Okay, you cheatin'. Let me tell you why you cheatin'.

Why am I cheating?

What happens is

is that it gets juicy and moisture...

- Yes, it does. - ...when it's together.

You could cook it any way you want.

♪ Here we go again! ♪

You got some black pepper?

Toni has the takeover spirit on her.

She needs to be redeemed.

All right, Tamar. You wanna do some grilling?

Sure.

Okay. And all your sauces are done?

Um, this one is about done, yeah.

Go ahead and clear everything off the table

so that way it's easy to plate.

Okay.

I don't mind cooking. It's just the cleaning part.

It's a lot of pans and stuff out here.

Oh, (bleep).

We didn't use it yet.

I put it over there. I'm sorry.

Oops. I threw it away.

I (bleep) up.

I did.

I wasn't able to make it in time for the cooking class,

but Mommy and I are just in time

to judge the food they made.

Hey, girls. We heard you guys were cooking.

Oh, my goodness!

I'm just wondering where she been.

Why you late, Trina?

What's really going on?

We ain't got no sauce for our steak.

What happened was, Traci had put it over there in the sink by mistake,

so we ain't got no sauce.

I'm not even worried because, guess what?

We're great chefs. We're great cooks.

You put a little butter and everything on it,

you're fine.

That's delicious.

Oh, my God.

You girls are chefs.

Mm. I love it.

Thank you.

Oh, we have to go taste Toni's and Towanda's food.

Yeah, come on, Towanda.

Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm. Let me see.

Oh, my goodness. This is good also.

Isn't it? Oh, my goodness.

So I'm gonna take this little medium part over here,

'cause it's really medium-well.

How y'all like your beef jerky and salmon?

My steak is overcooked?

Just a bit. But it's good.

- It's overcooked. - Mm-hmm.

I don't know this oven.

I now realize that cooking in a professional kitchen

is a lot harder than I thought.

Had I been making this meal at home,

it would have come out perfect.

I feel like I need a do-over in my kitchen

just to prove to my sisters how good of a chef I really am.

Y'all steak, delicious.

Incredible.

Your salmon, it's good.

So everybody got one thing that's great.

- Don't you think, Trina? - Mm-hmm.

I mean, really, though?

Like, we could have did this at home.

No shade. Like, ugh.

That's how you know one of us

is not a real chef, and it ain't me.

All right, y'all, now it's time to drink.

Come on, Tamar.

Come on, Tamy. Let's go.

We put anchovies in it.

Ooh, Wanda opened up the door and stuff too.

I did open the door for you guys.

Oh, now I know there is a God.

My instructor wanted me to bring my sisters

to acting class today,

so Traci and Trina agreed to come,

and I know this is my thing,

but I really appreciate my sisters supporting me.

Thanks, y'all, for coming.

You're welcome.

Whew. I'm tired.

Traci, I just wanna tell ya.

I just wanna pre-warn you

that, uh, David is a very direct person,

and sometimes he can be a bit abrasive.

Traci, you have to be on your best behavior.

Oh, my God. That's gonna be so hard.

David is a very, very serious man,

and he means business.

Everybody knows that Traci is just, you know, Traci,

so you never know what you're gonna get,

so I just had to warn Traci,

because I don't want him to kick her out.

- Hi, David. - Hello. How are you?

- Good. - It's great to see you.

- You, too. - Welcome back.

- Thank you, thank you. - Good to see you again.

Good to see you too.

This is my other sister, Traci.

Oh, well, then give me a hug.

- Welcome back. - Thank you.

And today, I'd love for you guys to participate, right?

For all three of you to participate, right?

Um, an exercise called relaxation.

Body awareness, starting to learn

where energy sits in you, right?

And also unblocking, right?

Literally, like, pathways that the impulses flow. Sound good?

Sound good? Traci!

Traci didn't know what she was signing up for when she came in.

Excuse me, Mr. instructor, Mr. David.

I didn't sign up for this.

I want to enjoy watching her.

Not being in it.

The great thing about being an actor

is you get to have any impulse you want.

Like, whatever you've got, I want it.

Traci, quiet, not sure she wants to be here, right?

Put it into the roles you're given.

You put it into the situations that you create.

Now, we're gonna give some of that energy

a place to go here in a second, right?

Close your eyes.

See if you can lean against the chair

as much as possible.

Now we're looking for energy.

Unnecessary energy.

Which I will call tension.

Try to let it go.

That's right, Towanda.

What I want you to do, this is not a meditation exercise.

If you're sitting still, thinking,

you're not building the skill--

the awareness skill that we're trying to create here.

Come on, Traci.

Mm?

- You gotta move. - Traci probably went to sleep.

Yeah, I know, she did. We're looking for engagement in here.

Oh, my God. I can't believe Traci just fell asleep.

I mean, you could really get kicked out.

Why would you fall asleep?

That was a good nap.

I enjoyed my nap very much,

but the teacher woke me up like I did something wrong.

I don't understand it!

I am not your student!

And then I have an assignment

for some of you guys to come back with.

So there are three characters.

I didn't audition for this school.

I am here to be supportive,

not "supporting" actress.

There's a difference.

I'm interested in your childhood, right?

And I think actually having you work with your sisters--

they helped you sort of to access that a little bit.

So you understand what's expected, right?

- Yes. - Right.

You got 48 hours.

And in 48 hours, I'll see you back here in this room.

- Good work. Good luck. - Thanks, David.

Ain't nobody ask for all of that.

I feel bamboozled.

How you feel bamboozled?

Towanda bamboozled us twice.

I didn't know!

I'm feeling just a little bamboozled here.

And I'm-- I'm gonna do it to support Towanda and her dream,

but this is not... my zhuzh right now.

Trina can chop up those chives.

What should I do? I just washed my hands.

I keep telling you what to do.

Okay, I got the pot on. Need you to put butter on that.

Here. No, Tony.

I'm frustrated because my pasta machine's not working.

Don't be frustrated, girl.

So I've planned a five-course meal with my sisters,

and I'm gonna start with soup, salad, pasta,

intermezzo, protein, dessert.

I know I'm the best chef in the Braxtons.

I'm gonna prove it tonight.

All right, I'm here. Now we can cook.

Okay, good. Here. Take these. Here.

Oh, you want my bruschetta recipe?

No, I don't want the recipe.

I just want you to make it.

I knew you'd be back.

They all come back. They all come back.

Is this what this is?

I'm hungry. I came over here to eat.

I ain't come over here to cook. Again.

Okay, here we go. I'm gonna use this little center thing.

Get me some shaping here.

Little ravioli.

Y'all know I been going through counseling, right?

Amen.

I had a conversation with my "wasband."

I almost dropped the bread.

Okay. Wait. What?

There were certain questions that I had

that were unanswered that I needed to have answered

to move on with my future.

It's almost like, "It didn't work. Goodbye."

That's how black girls handle it.

I've been a black girl all my life.

- That's not always what it is. - Are you sure?

That's not always what it is.

I'm going to rebuild a civil relationship with Gabe,

whether my sisters like it or not.

And I actually plan on meeting up with him

when I get back from L.A. next week,

but I am not telling anyone that yet.

I learned, as a part of my therapy,

that even though he was wrong with a whole lot of stuff--

that it wasn't all his fault.

-Okay, that's fair. - That's human.

That does not absolve him from the stuff and the crap.

You think y'all gonna get back together?

No. No. That's not where we are.

You want that old thing back?

That's not where we are.

We're at a point to where it's--

the anger is dissipating.

But maybe it's a love connection.

Maybe you guys are gonna get together.

I'm not ready for that yet, either.

I'm still at a point where I'm still trying to--

Yeah, don't push her out the window, Toni.

Coming up on Braxton Family Values"...

So the question is, "Are you happy where you are?"

I am freaking out, because I don't wanna be kicked out of school.

I am not 80% present.

20% off is off.

Y'all getting back together?

If Trina and Gabe get back together,

I think it will be World War III.

I'm not gonna lie. I don't support that.

Not here for that.

Yeah, don't push her out the window, Toni.

No, I'm just asking her.

You know, I'm a hopeless romantic.

- I'm still trying to-- - And so is Trina.

Yeah, but don't be no hopeless fool. There's a difference.

I'm done.

Trina says that she and Gabe are not dating,

but they've reconnected,

and we all know what that means.

If she wants to get past it, it's between her and him.

I initially thought...

really?

But if she's happy, I'm happy.

All right, Traci, so I'm gonna talk to you,

because I can't really talk to the rest of the girls.

- Mm-hmm. - I'm sure you can understand

that I would need conversation for closure.

- You don't? - No, I don't.

- Tell me why? - Trina, first of all,

I'm an Aries, and I don't care.

Go on ahead with your life.

It's not like that for me.

I know it's not like that for you.

But, I mean, if you feel as though you need closure, that's you.

I can't tell you how you should feel.

Trina, I will support you no matter what.

'Cause I love you, mm-kay?

And I don't want you to get hurt at all.

But, Trina, I don't think I can

go through that all over again.

I don't think I can.

I don't think I have that strength for you.

I know they're in the kitchen talking about it.

But you can't go back with somebody

you know who's dogged the hell out you.

- Now, don't let me-- -If you love them.

No, no, no, no.

Sometimes people love each other, and they don't care.

And if they're willing to get past it, it's none of our business.

- No, no, no. -I'm just sayin'.

I love my sister too much

to have her out there in these streets like that.

She's beautiful, she's young, she deserves more.

She already done got out of that.

We can't be supportive for her gettin' back with the fool.

Nobody changes-- gets that saved.

Sometimes you forgive because sometimes

you have a stronger bond and love for that person.

Are we supposed to turn a blind eye, too?

Yep. That's her relationship, not yours.

We all had to pick up the pieces,

for God's sakes, including Trina.

But, as I said, she's trying to work something through,

and people will do and say a lot of things

to get through it.

I think there's things

to be put into perspective.

Like, when they were going through the divorce...

We have to leave our house.

We have to leave our home from 11 years.

Caleb is still in school.

You understand what I'm saying?

I have to uproot my kids and my family and my life

because he wants to be selfish and ignorant and angry,

and I just feel stupid.

That means you don't care a flip about me or my children.

- See, I-- - And our welfare.

I understand that, but people are different.

I have no idea what will happen

if Trina and Gabe get back together,

but I think it would be World War III

in the family, yep. I think so.

I think there will be a lot of questions.

Now, come on, let's talk about the public humiliation.

Let's talk about that.

Some people don't have humiliation.

Mama, she was humiliated. We were there, Mommy.

He's like, "Oh, I'm not gonna hurt you no more, Trina."

With this random girl?

Gabe and some girl that he found on a social network,

they had cybersex, and she filmed it

and put it all over the internet.

I'm so humiliated.

And we were there to pick up the pieces.

So-- oh, I'm sorry-- we supposed to stand by him

like, she's seeing Gabe, and everybody stand by?

Don't hit that panic button

but make sure that panic button dusted off.

You kickin' it with your ex-husband.

You out here. You look crazy. I said it.

But that ain't my life.

I'm over here in my bubble.

God bless you. I shouldn't say you look crazy.

You don't look the best.

Y'all getting back together?

- No. - Okay.

That's not what this is about.

I'm not gonna lie.

I-- that is not-- I don't support that.

I'm not here for that.

I don't want him to be with my sister.

I'm just here to let you guys know

what's going on in my life.

Because I wanna be able to come to you guys

and have a listening ear

and not necessarily an open mouth.

We're always gonna be there, period.

I think that the bottom line is

we just don't like seeing each other hurt.

Gabe and I, we've do-si-do'd

and played hopscotch so many times

throughout the course of our marriage

in the years that we've been together.

I can understand why my sisters would think

that we would get back together.

However, it's none of their business,

or anyone else's for that matter.

I understand wanting peace.

And sometimes forgiveness is not for the other person,

- it's for yourself. -Absolutely.

And I get that,

but I just want you to tread lightly

and be careful

'cause it was real jacked-up.

I'll always love Gabe. He was my first love.

And being with someone for 14 years of your life

and then being away for only a year,

nothing's gonna be like, "Oh, okay, everything is gone

in spite of all the hurt."

It just doesn't work that way.

But I'm trying to move on.

Oh, Lord.

- Clean your palate. - Palate cleanser.

We ain't ate nothing.

I did.

Just saying.

What happened to the spoon?

Wait a minute. Wine don't go with that.

This is for the--

for the sorbet?

This is an intermezzo to cleanse your palate

while you prepare for dinner.

Acting like it's a little ice cream cone.

You know what?

Traci, that is so good.

Okay, now I'm really overwhelmed.

I feel like I've bitten off

much more than I can chew.

I'm getting frazzled.

- The kitchen's a mess. -Incredible.

I don't know what I'm doing, Mom.

Oh, shoot, look what I'm doing. I'm just making a mess.

Look how sloppy this is, Mom.

I'm so embarrassed.

Jeez, it's been in there--

Is it salad first or soup?

It's so unprofessional.

Is that right?

I'm exhausted.

The plates are getting bigger

and the food is smaller.

Oh, my God, these are serving plates.

It's all I had. You got a little plate for you.

Do you serve from the left or the right? I don't really know.

Who cares, Toni. Just give me the serving dish.

What's this stuff in the corner?

Why don't you just taste it?

My-- my-- uh-uh, that's not done enough.

-Is it terrible? - No.

- It's good. - A little terrible?

Who wanna go half on a pizza?

I feel my sisters could've been

a little bit more positive.

Tamar could just say, "Oh, this is good."

Could I get one handshake, just one?

I got nothing.

Hey. It was delicious.

You did a good job, girl.

I need a cocktail.

I really needed a drink.

I get why chefs have a little cocktail

on the side.

- I'ma sit right here. - Enjoy your meal.

Thank you so much!

It was great.

Y'all not gonna sit out here with me?

No, we taking this in. We cleaning up the table.

I'm gonna be honest.

I was very ambitious about my food tonight.

I may have taken on a little too much.

Maybe too complicated of a menu

for the time I had to prepare for it.

I'm gonna accept that.

But I am still the best chef

of the Braxton sisters.

You did a great job.

Who cleaning up?

You ready?

Uh, I am so distracted

over all this family drama that's going on

that I am not 100% into my class.

And I wanna be beyond prepared

every time I go to the school.

Now, you know, usually I'm able to do things like that!

- Yes. - But I have to be honest,

these past couple of days,

have been extremely challenging to focus.

I need to prove that it's not too late

for me to restart everything that I want to do in my life.

Coming up on "Braxton Family Values"...

How do you reconcile with somebody like that?

Maybe that's just me. I don't know.

But that's not my ministry, child.

You wanna get your feelings hurt again?

I will wait to tell her

how much of a fool I think she is.

Now, you know, usually I'm able to do things like that!

- Yes. - But I have to be honest,

these past couple of days,

have been extremely challenging to focus.

- I like being on task... - Yes.

...and I don't-- that doesn't make me--

I don't have warm and fuzzies right now, you know what I mean?

You want me to hug you? Will that make you warm and fuzzy?

No. Sorry, guys.

No, we sorry with you 'cause we know how

you're so-- you're such a "professionist."

Did you say a "professionist"?

- I'm taking that... - A perfectionist.

It's a professional and a perfectionist all in one.

A "professionist."

I'm taking it, I'm taking it.

Towanda, you're such a "professionist."

I am a professionist, and you're a professionist.

Traci, you're a professionist.

You're a professionist. Hi, David!

Hi, y'all. Am I interrupting?

No!

I said something weird again.

Got it, got it.

Well, here we are again.

- How you feel, Towanda? - Not good today.

- Not good. - Not today.

- What's going on? - Um...

I don't want secrets. Just tell me--

- Just tell me where you're at. - It's not a secret.

Where I am. I am not 80% present.

And I don't like that feeling.

I think you're on or you're off.

So 20% off is off.

The job is to get on.

It's to turn on, right? Like, that's the job.

So the question is, are you happy where you are?

Right? Yeah, that's why you're here.

Right? It's cause you want something here.

Okay, I'm gonna step down, give you a little space.

You know what?

I can tell that I'm just overthinking it.

You know? I know that I just have to

get out of my own head.

Would it help if I said, "Action"?

What?

Concentration, right?

Your ability for your concentration to obey your will.

And one of the things to practice, placing your concentration

on something. Okay.

I'm sorry, Miss Walters, but...

Julia. Julia, please.

Miss Walters, we do not see any reason

to accept your appeal.

David is so serious,

and I know that he kicks people out

if he feels that they're not

bringing their A game.

And I am freaking out

because I don't wanna be kicked out of school.

When it's not coming, don't just pretend.

I want you to experience

a particular moment a ways back.

I'm looking for you, like, to tap into

the experience there,

and bring that energy into this moment.

I remember a moment when we were in high school,

and Trina and I tried out for the Pom Squad.

We knew all the steps,

we knew all the moves,

but we didn't make the team.

And I was like, "How did we not make this team?"

Are you serious? No.

So that's where I-- I'm taking that.

So, good. That's enough to work with.

- Okay. - I want you to go out there,

and I want you to, like, do the steps.

How do you believe in that reality?

How do you create it?

And when I yell "enter," I want you to come in.

And do not stop it.

- Okay. - Right?

Okay, great.

This is extremely challenging

because I have to channel my teenage rejection

while saying my lines and memorize my lines,

and try not to laugh at Traci and Trina.

Now, that's work. That's hard work.

Towanda, are you ready?

♪ Yes! ♪

Start talking now.

Hi.

I'm sorry, Miss Walters, but...

Oh, Julie. Julie, please.

You failed your admissions test,

and there's nothing we can do.

Listen, I know I got all the answers right.

I know I did.

Can you feel the cheer in your body?

- Yes? - Go, keep on.

I did. I got my answers right. I did good.

- Miss Walters... - If you want to reapply next year...

No, please, please, please. No more Mrs. Walters.

Just call me Julia. Okay?

As painful as it is for me to know

that I have failed my test,

I just know that I am gonna keep going

with or without you.

Fair enough, Miss Walters.

We are going to accept your application.

Oh, you will not regret it!

I promise you won't regret it.

I promise!

- Thank you so much! - Oh! Okay.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Okay. Very well, very well.

- You best be going then. - Thank you so much.

Thank you!

- Her name turned to Judith? - Yes, it did. Meredith to Judith.

- Judith. - Oh, my God. That was so good!

I felt that spirit! I'm so tired!

Ooh!

I did a better job after David

gave me some instructions.

And I know I have a long way to go

because there's always room for improvement.

But I'm excited.

Keep doing the work. Keep doing it.

Nothing stops you except you,

except excuses and parents.

Right? And you're building something new,

so congratulations. Keep it up.

Thanks, David. Whoo!

I need a cocktail.

Do you know what I found out

- about this place, guys? - What?

That Marilyn Monroe used to come here.

Yeah, Marilyn used to come over here and mack, honey.

Yes, with JFK, secretly.

This used to be their spot.

Yeah.

Look how beautiful it is here.

-Absolutely. -It's gorgeous.

Oh, come on, now. Yeah!

Thank you.

That looks amazing. That's mine.

Thank you.

This restaurant where Marilyn Monroe used to be?

Traci, you can't even get a cup?

I'm pretty sure she didn't have to drink out of a bottle.

Yes, she did behind closed doors.

But this isn't a closed door, this is a open door.

I'm just puttin' it real.

Traci, you need a cup, though, Traci. That's not ladylike.

- Enjoying the drinks so far, ladies? - Yes.

Yes, especially from the glass.

- Taste better, doesn't it? - No. Here.

No? All right. We'll get this outta here.

- Thank you, Peter. - My pleasure.

That's some bull-crap, man.

Uh, Towanda and Tamar, like y'all ain't never

drank out of a bottle before?

Oh, my bad.

I think it's sexy.

It show my boy side.

Tamar, what do you think about Trina

discussing the Gabe situation with us?

I don't. What do you think about it?

Wait a minute. Hold up.

- What you mean you don't? - I don't.

I haven't thought about it.

Well, she said that she's never getting back with him.

I mean, how do you reconcile with somebody like that?

Maybe that's just me. I don't know.

But that's not my ministry, child.

I'm telling you, I'm sticking to the church

of Tamar "instinct" Braxton and her business.

Mm-hmm.

You got a church now?

Founder.

I'm just-- I'm just trying to figure it out.

Like, you wanna get your feelings hurt again?

After you done got out of it? Girl, please.

That's not my ministry, you know?

But the doors of the church is open.

When you get your feelings hurt, come on.

Come on back, come on home.

See, here's the thing.

- I'm growing up a little bit. - Amen.

And I don't want Trina to think I'm being shady.

I don't want Trina to think that

I'm talking about her

behind her back.

Coming up on "Braxton Family Values"...

When do we draw the line between

family and disrespect?

All hell's gonna break loose.

I mean, wide open with kerosene drawers.

The issue ain't with you, you or me.

Lie.

I don't want Trina to think

I'm being shady.

I don't want Trina to think

that I'm talking about her.

behind her back.

Now, if Trina was sitting here,

I'd feel very uncomfortable...

Here. Pretend this is Trina.

...to say my piece, but what I don't want

is to say something and it get back as if--

as if I'm saying something crazy.

I will wait to tell her how much of a fool

I think she is.

I can see how hard it is for Tamar

not to say something negative

about Trina and Gabe.

Because Tamar has disliked Gabe for years.

So for her to be silent,

let's just say it's very uncharacteristic for her.

So, we gonna talk to Trina?

Are y'all gonna talk to Trina?

- No, Towanda. - What?

- Let me just tell you-- - God.

Why is it always me?

You need to talk to her and we will support you.

- What do you mean... - Because...

...me talk to her?

We will support you because I feel like

she should hear from somebody who she feels like

that's not gonna judge her or something.

You know? Because I'm not judging,

I'm just gonna tell it like it is.

This is not a judge, you know?

I ain't Jesus.

Maybe she's just giving forgiveness for herself.

No, Traci.

When she was talking about it,

the response she got was...

- support. - No, it wasn't. Lie.

Well, maybe she needed closure.

Maybe, you know, that's love.

Or love, love, love.

And I-- that's just something that I don't get.

I'm not saying that you're not supposed to live your life.

If you love somebody,

you know, who's to tell you to be in love with

and who to be with?

That's really not my call.

But at the end of the day, it's, like,

when do we draw the line

between family and disrespect?

I think that it's important for us to be honest with her,

as I was, as you were.

But, Traci, you were just saying sometimes

you need closure, like, so what is your take?

I'm trying to play devil's advocate.

And, you know, I-- don't think that

I'm not pissed about certain things.

Don't think that.

I'm just saying maybe she needs it.

May-- maybe, I--

I don't know!

We have to give Trina the benefit of the doubt.

Okay? Because if Trina does get back with Gabe,

all hell's gonna break loose.

I mean, wide open with kerosene drawers.

Why have all these sidebars

when we're a family? That's really dumb.

Like, it's not like we're strangers, you know?

And it's not like we have not talked about

Trina and Gabe as a family

- when they were together. - Yeah. I think--

That would be different, you know what I'm saying?

But, you know, to be honest about it,

don't bring him around me like that,

'cause I don't-- I don't forgive that easy.

Mistreated my sister, mistreated my nephews.

Get your ass on somewhere.

Go ahead. If that's what you wanna put up with,

that's what you wanna put up with,

but I'm not gonna make you feel comfortable around me

like that's (bleep) okay. It is not okay.

And that's just my stance on it.

- And that's-- - I'm not judging nobody.

I'm not saying she can't do what

she wanna do with her life.

- I'm just saying around me. - Tamar, I don't--

listen, I don't believe that that's a judgment.

That is absolutely not a judgment.

What that is for you is a boundary.

- Yeah. - Not a judgment.

I mean, look, Trina's obviously

going through some things,

and I don't really feel like

our relationship, at this point,

is to the point where she is ready for my honesty.

Because if you don't tell me something

and you ask me how I feel about it,

you already know what you fittin' to get.

You know, while she's having all these one-on-ones with everybody,

we need to remind her...

...how 'bout you stop focusing on this

and focusing on that?

How 'bout that?

So what'd she talk to you about?

About me saying what she can't do.

Trina can't dance, Trina can't drive,

- Trina can't-- - You can't drive.

Yes, uh-huh! Yes, uh-huh!

What was your conversation about?

It was the same thing

and the fact that I laugh too much.

You give justificational laughs

'cause you laugh at everything.

I do laugh at everything.

It's not funny when people feel bad.

How you gonna have a issue with your sisters

and you ain't got no problem

with that old boy coming around like that.

Like, help me understand. You want somebody to put some respect on your know?

You need to ask them (bleep) to put some respect on your know.

That's who you got the issue with.

The issue ain't with you, you, or me.

I can't put no respect on your know

until that happen.

How 'bout to starting your own church?

- Boom. - Hallelujah.

- Amen. - Amen.

- The church... - Amen.

...of me, myself, and I.

- Amen. - Methodist, Inc.

Mm-mm. Nondenominational.