Original subtitles

Previously on "Braxton Family Values."

We've done a couple of performances now

and the next one is gonna be a monologue.

I'm gonna want you to really immerse into that character.

It's just so hard juggling school,

my kids, and all the traveling.

But what I'm looking for is a sign of more commitment.

- Look who's here. - What's going on old man?

- What's up? - What's up?

Gabe and Eric haven't seen each other in at least a year,

and it's not right or fair

because Gabe divorced me, not the boys.

And I'm not happy, because he cut them out of his life.

Wouldn't it be great to have us on Broadway?

We should have been up there

in New York with her in the meeting.

I cannot say that I'm on board.

We want to do a Broadway show with The Braxtons

and y'all looking at me like I done told you

I stole your bike.

♪ We are the Braxtons and you'll see ♪

♪ That we are not like an ordinary family ♪

♪ Toni, Traci, Towanda ♪

♪ Trina, Tamar, and Ms. E ♪

♪ Will teach you a thing or two ♪

♪ On Braxton Family Values ♪

'Wanda...

-Toni! - Is that you?

Hey, I'm in the kitchen.

I'm making Mommy's biscuits.

You're making them? Mommy gave you the recipe?

- She did. - That's cute.

But I think I'm doing biscuit cakes.

What else you put in it? I smell something else.

Why would you do that? You knew I was coming over.

Okay, this-- Okay, let me tell you the truth.

I tried to do Mommy's biscuits and they came out flat.

Oh, they're flat.

I can't believe that Toni is trying to add stuff

to Mommy's famous biscuits, okay?

I cannot believe she put almond extract in it

and she knows I don't like nuts.

I don't like the flavor of nuts.

I just don't like it.

What are you doing over this side of town?

Well, because I got an apartment.

- In L.A.? - Yeah.

For?

My acting stuff.

Oh, you serious.

- Uh-- - You know, I'm just saying, like, serious-serious.

Well, of course. I have to do something else

since I've retired from being a background singer.

Ha, ha.

Now that I've temporarily moved to L.A.

to focus on my acting career,

it is so important that I continue to progress

so I can ultimately get an agent

and start working as an actor.

I have a monologue, right, that I have to do...

Mm-hmm.

And... I don't know

how I'm going to do this monologue, because--

I'll help you.

What do you want to do? We'll read. Wanna read it?

- No, no, I mean-- - Oh, it's a monologue.

It's a monologue, it's not-- yeah. Mm-hmm.

My acting coach, David,

gave me a monologue, and I have to create

the character's entire world.

But, I am feeling a little stuck--

just a little bit--

with the creative details right now.

So...

she's Spanish--

This is the one that David--

Like, "Papi, I need to talk to you about this."

Or, like, "Stevie, yo, Stevie, why you ain't call me the other day?"

No.

There's lots of dialects.

Okay, see, you're making it

a little more complicated than it needs to be.

Let me tell you something about my teacher, David.

He's, uh, very strict,

but he's good.

How does that work?

He doesn't tell you what you want to hear.

- Okay. - He just tells it like it is.

So, he's like the Simon...

...of acting.

- Absolutely. - Okay, like Simon on "American Idol."

- Okay. - You should come to my class.

- Okay, I can come. - Good.

- Can I be Paula? - No, you cannot.

You can't be Paula, you can't be--

I can be Paula. "Towanda, you were absolutely wonderful.

I loved it. I thought you were great..."

I need you to sit down and not say anything.

Uh... Toni better not

embarrass me in front of David.

I promise. She better not.

I'm still new at this school and I want to show him

that it's not too late for me to start my acting career.

Maybe asking Toni to come with me was a bad idea.

But I can't take it back now.

I'm thinking about getting props.

You know, to help me dive into the character just a little bit more.

Like, dressing like that.

- And that'll help-- the visual part of it. - Okay, let me see.

I don't have clothes yet. I'm gonna go to a costume place.

I'm gonna make Traci and Trina go.

I don't think you should dress, like...

Spanish.

Why?

It's gonna be Spain? Native... Spain? Spanish?

I don't know, Toni, that's why I'm asking you.

- I asked you. - I don't think a costume--

Let me read. Okay. What is she doing?

What is your character doing?

Read it. It doesn't give any "prelogue," nothing.

- But you gotta know it yourself. - I did make it up in my head.

- What did you make up? - I wanna know what you think.

Listen, I wanna know what you think.

I don't think Towanda should dress Spanish.

I think that's a cliché.

I think do opposite of what you think it should be,

or don't make it so obvious.

Mm. I have reservations about that.

I don't know what to tell you

because you have to talk with a Spanish accent.

Well, you've been a lot of help.

I thought I was helpful.

- Let me see you try something. - No.

- One thing? - I'll figure it out, girl.

Doña, I need to talk to you, okay?

I made these biscuits. You want one?

No, because you put almond flavor in it.

They do taste better, though.

-Hey, guys. How you doing? -Hey, good to see you.

Come in. Tamar's over here.

Hello, hello!

- Hi! - How are you?

- So good. How are you? - Good!

Good to see you.

Hello.

David and James are the producers from New York

who wants to do the Broadway show with me and my sisters.

They're in town working on another show

but they asked to stop by to talk about our project.

Now, I have to tell the producers that my sisters don't want to do the show.

I'm hoping the producers still want to work with just me

because this Braxton right here

deserves and wants to be on Broadway

and she will get there, honey, okay?

It's good to see you? Did it take you long enough to get out here?

A long flight but well worth it just to see the two of you.

Oh, why, thank you. That's so sweet.

So, I was excited to talk to the girls

about what we talked about in New York,

and unfortunately...

I don't think they totally understood what I was trying to say.

Or they, I don't know if they didn't understand me

or if it's not a good time for them.

But I definitely feel like

we should continue working on a show,

if that's something you guys are open to.

So, at this point they said, "No, not now"?

Well, they just looked at me, so I don't think they got it.

- Right? - Yeah.

Yeah.

But I definitely feel like, you know,

we should continue on if you guys are interested

because I do have so many ideas

and this is something that I've always wanted to do.

I'm feeling a little anxious right now

because...

I don't know what they're gonna say.

I'll tell you, Broadway is the place to be right now.

Absolutely.

You know, it's, like, in the best place it's been in years. But--

We don't want to lose out on the opportunity

to work with someone like yourself, who is so great.

Yes.

That-- that would be great.

Oh, my God, that's such good news, Vince.

I'm just really relieved that David and James

still want to do this project with me,

because, you know, this is a huge opportunity.

But it's just so much pressure to make sure it's successful.

- Where do we go from here now? - Yeah.

Well, all right. You need to

really think about, what are you passionate about

both in terms of stories and in terms of what you wanna do,

and come back with at least three or four different ideas

that are either original or shows that you'd want to be in.

I can do that.

Okay, perfect.

Excited about the possibility

of bringing Tamar to Broadway.

Just get back to us as soon as possible

because we wanna get this train moving to Tamar Station.

Absolutely. Choo-choo!

The last time I had gelato was in Italy.

Gotta be careful. Last time I gained nine pounds in 11 days.

Since my boys, Eric and Caleb,

are on summer vacation right now,

the three of us are in L.A. visiting my sisters

and enjoying some family time together.

- Guess who's here in L.A.? - Who?

Pops.

He knows I'm here.

We've been talking, actually.

We've been to a therapy session, a couple of them.

I've been working through my issues

to find closure with Gabe,

and not just for myself but for my boys as well.

Gabe was the only father figure that Caleb and Eric

really had in their lives.

so I think it's really important to consider

that they might need some closure, too.

He said that he is upset with himself

because he dropped the ball with you guys.

And he'd like to rekindle

the relationship that you guys had

for the past, you know, 14 years.

Okay.

Why-- Why is your face scrunched up?

You know, I've never really liked him...

at all.

Coming up on "Braxton Family Values."

I am not coming--

I ain't gonna be swindled into anything.

Get out.

All the men flock to her.

Not that this should be an issue, Vince.

Oh, he can't stop all of this greatness.

the relationship that you guys had

for the past, you know, 14 years.

You know, I've never really liked him...

at all.

In 14 years, you have never told me that.

I made it pretty obvious.

I don't like the way he treated you

- in your guys' relationship. - That's fair.

Caleb is upset with Pops

because of the way Pops treated me.

Caleb was very upset with, you know, the infidelity,

and seeing things that, as adults,

we think we're hiding,

and they see more than we think they do.

So, that made me realize I need to be very careful

in the way I choose relationships in the future.

- Let me ask you a question. -Uh-huh.

How did you feel

when you saw Pops at the bar?

What's going on, old man?

It was a little peculiar.

What do you mean?

I just-- I wasn't aware that you guys were talking

and stuff like that. I feel like...

I guess it would have been nice to know

that you guys were still in communication.

It was very new at the time.

Okay.

We've made our peace.

I mean, we're not gonna...

start dating or get back together.

We're not gonna reconcile or anything like that,

but we're no longer enemies.

Do you guys wanna sit down and talk to him while he's here?

I'm open to conversation.

Do you guys feel like there's something that you wanna do?

I'm willing to talk to him.

But you're still angry?

Yeah. To put it lightly.

I think it's important for you, Caleb,

to express... all of your feelings.

Oh, I'm going to.

I'm really worried about my sons right now because

they don't really have a close relationship

with "bio dad."

And to have another father taken away from them

might really kind of screw them up in some way.

So, I just really wanna make sure that

they're able to talk through whatever issues they have

and be okay with it.

Okay, well, I'll let him know.

And, uh, we can set something up.

Come in!

Heya!

♪ Come to my house! ♪

Traci and Trina are still in town,

so they are stopping by my L.A. condo

to hang out.

Even though I'm loving being a California girl,

I'm already missing my kids,

like crazy missing my kids,

and I can't wait for them to come out soon.

- - My kids are texting me.

Sorry, but let me call them. You know Brooke: "Mom!"

Trina, really? You eating it like you eating ice.

I'm trying to chew real quick first,

you know, so that I don't interrupt the babies.

Okay, I have time for one more. This dill right there.

-Hey, Mommy. - Hey, Poo.

-What you doing? - Hey, Brookie Poo Poo.

That's Aunt Traci and Aunt Trina.

- Okay. -Sorry.

Well, you know you have to come to L.A. to see me.

Yes!

You hear Brooke? "Yes!"

Woo-hoo!

I miss you guys so much. Mommy loves you guys so much,

-I love you too, Mom. - Okay, bye.

Bye! Bye!

I can't be away from my kids for so long.

I'm here in L.A. to focus on my acting, which is for me,

But I also want to show my kids that I can achieve my goals

and they can too someday. I love my babies.

Speaking of children, I know mine are grown,

but they are actually having dinner with Gabe.

No!

They're very open to it. They said they had some questions themselves.

- It's a good thing. - There's a lot more to it

but I don't want to get into all of it.

But I just hope the boys get their answers,

- what they're looking for. - That's what matters.

I wasn't much older than Eric

when my parents was going through their divorce,

and I can only imagine how he's feeling right now.

You know, you kind of feel alone

and you want to lean on your brothers and sisters,

and there's only two of them.

Thank God it was six of us to lean on each other.

What's been up? What's been going on with your acting and stuff?

I have a new scene that I have to do. I have to do a monologue,

memorize a monologue.

It's quite long.

It's not that it's challenging, it's just long.

What happened?

I am not coming...

I ain't gonna be swindled into anything.

'Cause next think you know, we're part of the scene,

and we're part of the props. "Trina, be a tree."

Traci...

And I'll be the mannequin.

Y'all got jokes... and they're not even funny.

Yes it is.

The last time I went to Towanda's acting class,

I felt very uncomfortable.

And then I have an assignment for some of you guys to come back with.

I didn't sign up for this! I want to enjoy watching her.

Not being in it.

I feel bamboozled.

- How do you feel bamboozled? - 'Cause I--

Towanda bamboozled us twice.

I didn't know!

That's fine. I didn't want y'all to come anyway.

But you can go shopping with me. I gotta get some props and costumes.

I just don't wanna...

Trina, you're not a tree. Drink.

Get out.

At least let me finish the champagne.

Great, I really appreciate that, guys. That was good.

Thanks for coming in, I appreciate it.

- Thank you. - I'll be back in touch.

Hi, how are you?

Thank God David and James are still in town

auditioning for their other project because

I have a great idea I want to share with them.

But I'm a little bit nervous because people might not like it,

although I really, really love it,

and I might not get another opportunity

to do this, ever again.

How's it going? You find some good actors?

- Yeah, absolutely. - Great.

Well, you know, after we were last together

we talked about thinking about different potential vehicles.

I expect you have some

that you're excited about, maybe.

Yeah, well, I looked at is as, like, what haven't I seen?

And what would I want to see.

- Good call. - You know?

And... the story hasn't really been told about The Jackson Five,

but from a female perspective.

And that's how I see me and my sisters.

And, I don't necessarily have to be the Michael,

because everybody knows what happens with Michael, right?

- Mm-hmm. - But, did anybody know

that Jermaine Jackson had a huge career before Michael?

Did anybody know that? I didn't know that.

I didn't even--

I did research and I didn't know that.

- Okay. - And it was just so amazing to me

that just because one person in your family might have, you know,

the same aspiration and goal,

you automatically feels like, okay, then I can't do that, right?

- Mm-hmm. - Well, I would love to tell a story

about five women

who are singers,

and-- and go through each part of our life.

And then you see the evolution of Tamar,

with, you know, my hopes, my dreams,

my downfalls.

I want people to leave inspired,

and feeling like they can do and be anything.

when they leave the show.

So, in that approach,

we would be developing something, in your mind,

from the beginning, I suppose,

and developing a new story,

which is a longer process.

- Yeah. - Did you look at any shows

that you've, like, always loved

or would want to be in?

I probably could have played the role...

Uh-huh.

of Celie in "The Color Purple," I think.

- Okay. - I could have always done that.

Of course, "Dreamgirls."

- Okay. - Yeah.

You mention that you love...

- "The Color Purple," - Yeah.

and playing the Celie role.

I could also see you playing

Shug Avery.

Absolutely.

which is, you know, the consummate diva,

great singer,

but it's also a phenomenal acting job

because she shows her vulnerability

and her insecurity and her prowess,

and all the men flock to her.

Not that this should be an issue, Vince.

But, um--

Oh, he can't stop all of this greatness.

No, I'm joking.

Now, I'm just gonna be honest about it,

when I first saw "The Color Purple,"

Shug Avery was not the main character,

it was Celie.

But Jennifer Hudson came to do Shug Avery and turned it out.

She was amazing, she sang her face off...

Of course I'm here for it.

Okay?

- Obviously there are steps... - Of course, of course.

that we would have to go through,

but this is something that could be a possibility.

I just don't wanna leave that-- the big picture--

On the backburner, you mean?

No, well, I think those two things could be done concurrently.

If we're developing something from the beginning,

it's a process that takes some time.

Absolutely.

But, if in the meanwhile we build the steps,

so that by the time that that is ready to go,

there's some other things that have happened in this medium--

I'm right here with you. I was just thinking the same thing.

So, as I'm talking to David about my show on Broadway,

he just mentions that, "You know what, Tamar,

you should do some things on your own

on Broadway, just to get your feet wet,

so people become acquainted with who you are,

so it would be very easy

to open up your own show."

'Cause they already know who she is.

Ultimately the process, if it were to move forward,

would be that they'd probably have you come in.

You'd need to audition for them.

And I don't want to put you totally on the spot,

but if there are certain things that show off that range,

or something like that--

If-- if you want to--

When?

I was just talking about...

10 or 15 seconds.

Coming up on "Braxton Family Values."

She better (bleep) figure it out.

I heard that. Come on, y'all. I need y'all to behave.

We can kind of clear the air about some things.

At this meeting, I can let him know exactly what's what.

The one thing about being a man...

Oh, yeah?

It might be fun, if you want,

to maybe have you do a couple bars.

I don't know what song.

"Love and War" is actually in the same range

as "Push Da Button" from "Color Purple."

- Oh, really? - Yeah.

Okay, um...

Let's see.

♪ We stay ♪

♪ On the front lines ♪

♪ Yeah but we're still here ♪

♪ After the bomb drops ♪

♪ We go so hard ♪

♪ We lose control ♪

♪ The fire starts ♪

♪ Then we explode ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ When the smoke clears ♪

♪ We dry our tears ♪

♪ Only in love and war ♪

Yeah, absolutely.

You would so totally kill it.

- Really? - Yeah, yeah.

Why, thank you.

I'll make a phone call and let's see where that goes.

And then let's brainstorm about putting that story together

and thinking about writers and people who would be involved with that process.

Cool beans.

I'm just so super uber excited and blessed right now

because the meeting was amazing.

You know, while I'm doing my research

and doing my own thing on Broadway,

it's just really good to know the ins and outs

of, you know, what's happening behind the scenes

and, you know, what the audience likes and what they expect,

so I will know how to write my own show.

- All right, okay. - Fabulous, thank you.

- All right, thanks. - Bye-bye.

- Hi! - Hi!

- Towanda, how are you? - Stephanie. Good how are you?

These are my sisters, Trina and Traci.

- Hi. Stephanie. -Nice to meet you.

-Hi, Stephanie. - Hi.

My character is-- she's a grandmother.

Uh-huh.

And she's Spanish.

We can do 50s, we can do a full skirt.

We can do 60s, we can do...

- pretty much anything you'd like. - Okay.

Every time, David, my acting coach,

gives me an assignment,

it's a test to see if I'm still gonna be

in this school or not.

He can say to me, "Towanda, that was horrible,

and don't come back, okay?"

I don't want that to ever happen.

And this script is really light on details.

Like, it gives me nothing--

nothing to go on.

I'm just hoping that I can be inspired

by the thousands of costumes

and props that they have in this place

so that I can fully embrace my character.

Well, let's get the dress first.

Okay, for sure.

Can you pull some stuff for me? I hate shopping.

All right, I'll see what I can find.

-Oh, that's too big. -Oh, yeah.

You don't even have any cleavage up in there.

Grandmothers back in the day had...

- Yeah, they kind of fell a little bit. - Yeah.

Hello.

Yes, that's more grandmother-ish.

- Didn't Mom used to have a dress like that? - Yes, she did.

Take it off.

None of these outfits

are feeling right.

Memorizing my monologue is only a small part of this assignment.

But when I saw my acting coach, David,

he asked me to really commit to this process.

She better (bleep) figure it out.

-I heard that. - Well, she'd better (bleep) fake it.

Are you--

Let's go.

Without owning this character

and knowing anything about her,

I'm afraid that I'm gonna disappoint David.

And you know what?

That's not an option for me.

I really have to go home

and focus on creating this character in my head

or this monologue is going to be an epic fail.

Now, I'll go over my lines.

I am feeling great.

I went home and finally connected with this character.

I was totally overthinking before,

but now I've simplified my approach,

and I'm gonna nail it.

I hate to say it, but Toni was right

when it came to the subtleness of the approach.

- Hey! - Hey, um...

Come on in.

What's up with the pajamas?

- Come on in. - And the shower cap.

- Come on in. - That's not--

Hi. That's not what? Tell me. That's not what?

You said you were going Spanish.

Okay, but let me tell ya.

This is a grandmother who's in an old folks' home.

And she's talking to her granddaughter.

How old is the granddaughter?

In her 20s.

Am I playing a 20-something-year-old?

No, you're not. You're sitting--

- I can play the 20-something-- - I don't need you to do that.

Parts of me are 20.

Yeah, but I need you to 20 yourself in the seat.

All right.

All right.

I invited Toni Braxton to come support me today,

but she is tap dancing on my last nerve.

But why you got the shower cap?

You taking a shower?

I put a lot of though and energy in this performance,

and I don't wanna start second-guessing myself

at the last minute-- I need to stay focused.

- Hey, David! - Hello, there.

- Hello. -

- How are you? - Hi! Good.

This is my sister, Toni.

- First a hug for you. - Oh, of course.

- And this is Toni. - How are you? Nice to meet you.

- It's great to meet you, also. - Likewise, you too.

-Well, take a second. - Thank you.

So, get yourself where you need to be.

Wait a minute.

You feel... focused?

Uh...

Yes.

Those half-answers concern me a little bit, right?

The "yes"

sounds like a no, actually.

Like, the half-answer...

- Um, yes. - If you were really foc-- if you were like,

"The light's on,"

- there wouldn't be hesitation. - Right.

Okay, at first I was really prepared

and I was really excited,

and then David walked in

and I'm feeling kind of thrown off.

I need to pull it together.

What have you-- like, what are you preparing right now?

- What's happening? - Okay.

I am in a old folks' home.

I have a hint of Alzheimer's.

- Oh, interesting. - And I'm talking to my granddaughter.

My granddaughter is going through...

a situation maybe with her fiancée,

that she called the wedding off.

Uh-huh, all right. So, it's thorough.

I like your thoroughness in this.

Like, you've set it up, like, you know what's going on.

Alzheimer's-- personal attraction?

Okay, my mother had a mini-stroke.

- Uh-huh. - There's some things that she kind of forgets.

- Simple stuff. - Yeah, yeah.

Like one time she forgot how to get to my house

and it took her an hour

and it should have only taken less than seven minutes

from where she was to get to my house.

Now I need you to make that specific in the moment.

- Okay. - You know, what's your mom's voice sound like

when she talks to you when she's lost?

When she forgets?

Um, hers is like,

I went down this street 500 times!"

- Good. Right. -It's like that.

So, where's that?

Okay.

Let me try something. Are you up for helping?

Oh, no! Okay.

David's like my favorite person right now.

- Okay, can I ask you a question? - Yeah, of course.

I'm just asking.

- I gotta be her sister? - Yeah, you're her sister.

I couldn't be her lesbian granddaughter

- and my lesbian lover left me... -

so I came to talk to my "gamma" about it?

I can't do that? No?

No, no, actually.

That would probably kill me.

- All right, here we go. -Here we go.

Oh, my God!

Toni Braxton. No!

Towanda's monologue. Towanda's monologue.

You're just a prop, okay?

Here we go.

I was so jealous

of every woman

my first husband looked at.

And he was a portrait painter.

And my second husband,

he tortured himself

from-- from jealousy of your grandfather.

Look at Toni, there. You're kind of avoiding her. Stay with her.

At the time, he would look at me from his balcony.

And then he used to get jealous-- he got jealous.

I'm gonna stop us here, actually.

My thought for you is...

I think there is-- there is commercial stuff available for you.

There's someone who I work with here,

someone who my students go in front of,

to get a commercial opinion, so to speak,

an industry opinion.

And... he's a manager, an agent.

Um, and I'd like his opinion on whether

he'd consider signing you or someone like you.

What... the.. (bleep)?

No pressure.

Like, what the (bleep)?

You wanna be an actor, you gotta hang yourself out there every day.

Coming up on "Braxton Family Values."

Is Towanda someone you would consider working with?

...not going to jail tonight.

Not tonight? How about tomorrow?

It's gonna take a lot more growing up

till you get away from your Disneyland views.

So, I have exciting news.

-Oh, yeah? - Yeah.

When we were in New York,

these producers that Vince and I met like four years ago

They want us to create a Broadway show.

Whoa.

I call that "z money." You know what "z money" is.

No, I don't know what that means.

"Z money" is money you make when you catching your z's.

Ka-ching! Ka-ching!

- Oh, okay. - Yeah.

All right, let's go eat.

Welcome to being an actor.

All right? Like, you wanna be an actor,

you gotta hang yourself out there every day.

He's bringing an agent

to give feedback on my monologue.

and I'm extra super-duper

duper nervous.

First of all, Toni Braxton is a prop.

It's just so much pressure. So much pressure.

I'm gonna go bring in Phil Brock.

I'll be back in a minute. Concentrate, prepare.

You just relax. And stay quiet.

- - It'll help her prepare.

Thank you, Dave.

I'm gonna be the big sister and just sit.

I'm not gonna give Towanda any tips,

I'm not gonna give her any advice,

I'm just gonna let her do her thing.

What, Toni? What?

Not... really.

I can't help myself. I need to give her a little advice.

- I just have one suggestion. - What is it, Toni?

It's a good one.

"I went to the river to get a drink of water."

- Harriet Tubman. - Jane Pittman?

Do a Jane Pittman!

Just being honest. Just---

I think you should just talk.

Think about it.

If I fail...

I am--

I'm not gonna be pleased, okay?

And I didn't expect for this opportunity to be here so soon,

but now that it's here, I'm just gonna have to kill it,

I'm just gonna have to just kill it.

And kill the prop.

Okay, shh.

- Hello! -This is Phil Brock.

-Hello, there. - Hi!

Phil, this is Towanda Braxton.

Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you.

- Hi, Towanda, how very nice to meet you. - How are you? Likewise.

-Toni Braxton. - Nice to meet you.

Hi, how are you doing?

I've been working with Towanda and she has a monologue for today,

and we're gonna see what you think.

A little reality check there from an industry person...

- to figure out what's gonna work. - Fantastic.

All right, I look forward to it. Let's do it.

Let's have a seat and we'll get going.

I was so jealous...

of my first husband,

because he was a portrait painter.

And every woman he looked at in the face I was jealous.

And my second husband...

he tortured himself

because he was so jealous of your grandfather.

Your grandfather...

he was our neighbor.

And he used to look up at me...

Ooh, that man was fine.

He was fine.

Scene.

You freaking out?

A little bit, yes.

I'm exhausted though, I have to tell you that.

So, Phil, what's your first reaction?

I would love for you to start off...

with a little bit more forcefulness.

A little bit stronger, maybe, at the start of the conversation,

because I never wanna see someone one-note.

Okay.

I think I'd like to see one part of the scene...

where you show more passion.

Phil, I'm gonna put you on the spot because I trust your opinion.

Is Towanda someone who you would consider working with?

If...

you show more improvement.

If-- If you're working with David...

If you find a way to fly.

Because that's what acting is about,

finding that way to fly.

So, I would be happy to talk to you later on.

I'd be happy to look at your progress,

and see where you are.

I have to say,

that by hearing the things that he said to me

and being honest with me,

it has really helped me move forward

and understanding that I need to keep pushing

and progressing and studying hard

to be the actress I know that I know how to be.

-Thank you. - Thank you.

So, you're done working today.

And Toni, you're done with your part, too.

- Yeah, you did great. - As the prop.

You deserve an Emmy for that.

This looks like a good little spot.

So...

Y'all wanna get a drink? Minus you?

Yeah, I can totally drink.

You're not going to jail tonight.

- Right. - Not tonight.

How about tomorrow?

I felt just a little bit nervous

about going into the lunch with Eric and Caleb.

I hadn't seen them in a while.

It'd be a good opportunity for us to sit down

and get things off our chests.

There were a lot of things that happened

that I'm pretty sure they were upset about.

So, listen, boys. I mean, I really wanted us to come out here...

We can kind of clear the air about some things that happened.

Like, after the divorce and stuff.

I would like to know how y'all feel, you know.

Just man-to-man now.

So.

No crickets in the air.

I don't...

I got a pretty thick skin,

so I mean whatever you want to say is cool.

I mean, I'll accept it.

I'm not gonna really interrupt y'all

and let y'all talk.

Say what y'all need to say.

I don't feel like I should be put in this situation at all.

I'm hoping at this meeting

I can let him know exactly what's what

and keep him from ever trying to talk to me again.

What do you think, Caleb?

You never expressed your feelings,

so I would love to hear it.

I will say...

I'm not exactly happy about the things that went on

with you and my mom.

The one big thing

about being a man

is being faithful to the woman that they're with.

Oh, yeah?

It's gonna take a lot more growing up

until you get away from your Disneyland views.

Do you feel like...

she was faithful to me?

Coming up on "Braxton Family Values."

You think you know all your side, but you don't.

You guys okay?

The one big thing about being a man

is being faithful to the woman that they're with.

Oh, yeah?

It's gonna take a lot more growing up

until you get away from your Disneyland views.

The world isn't all perfect and roses.

You're gonna get in a relationship with some woman

and you're gonna be in with them for many years...

I'm not trying to mess you up here,

but it's gonna take a lot of moral fibers ...

and background in your life in order for you to stay faithful to that woman.

I guarantee it.

I feel like if you can't, then you shouldn't be in that relationship.

Well, maybe that's why I've been single for a whole year.

But he says he doesn't feel

it's possible to be monogamous towards one person.

You know, I-- I call shenanigans on that.

I mean, I've done it in every relationship I've been in.

Me and all my friends, most people that I've known

have had no problem with it.

So, I think it's more of a personal thing for him.

Gonna say all I have to go on is what I've seen.

On her side.

To every divorce, there's always two sides of the story.

-I know. - You think you know all your side, but you don't.

There's another side.

I was ready to answer anything they asked me honestly.

Um, and kind of no-holds-barred

because for me, I mean,

they're pretty much, they're not little kids anymore.

So, I'm able to actually tell my side of the story, which was good.

I'd be pissed.

I still can't believe we have to say goodbye

to our home after 12 years.

Thanks, Gabe.

I was-- I was a little angry--

For a little bit.

All right.

That's understandable.

'Cause we were-- we were comfortable--

You mean, where y'all are at.

Where we were, you know? I had my group of friends.

And, you know, that was-- that was my life.

I was angry for a while,

but that now that, in growing up,

in understanding, you know--

I forgive you.

I appreciate that. I appreciate that a lot.

I mean, it takes a lot to...

move on from a situation,

and I mean, y'all are not little kids anymore.

You know what I mean?

Whatever y'all decide y'all want to do, y'all are gonna do it.

It's just, I mean, if you wanna grab a beer,

call me up, we'll grab a beer.

What do you think, Caleb?

Because of how my mother was treated,

which I feel was completely undeserved,

I'd rather not...

uphold a relationship after today.

I mean, yeah.

But I get that, I understand that.

If that's the way you feel.

You're a man.

That was very surprising.

It threw me off guard.

I actually expected to hear that

from Eric, not from Caleb.

So, whenever he told me that, it was kind of like, "wow."

And it was actually kind of like a dagger to the heart,

but I get it and I understand it, so...

and I respect his, you know, his decisions.

Well, you know what? I'll glad y'all told me how y'all felt.

We got the chance to be together and hang out.

It's pretty cool.

I mean, some of it's positive and some of it's negative,

but it's all right.

I could have communicated more

and I could have been there more.

But through time comes growth,

so, it's good.

Hey, everybody.

-Hey, Mom. - Who's here? Hey.

- Hey, guys. - Wanna sit right here?

- No, I'm good right here. - You all right right there?

- You guys okay? - Yes, ma'am.

Eric, Caleb and I decided

that I would come to the restaurant towards the end of their meeting,

and I'm walking to the table and I'm sensing

that there's an awkward kind of vibe going on here.

Just wanted to make sure everybody was good.

Came to pick up the boys.

Well, since you're here, I'll go ahead and--

I'll go ahead and leave.

-I'm gonna let y'all... -I appreciate it.

...take care of the bill? I'm just playing.

No, you can pay it on your way out.

All right. Later, man.

I'm gonna give you a hug.

- Come on. Bring it in. - All right.

- Can I give you a hug? - Yeah, sure.

Or you can figure out if you wanna give me a hug.

- See ya. Bye. - All right.

I would really like to...

have a relationship with the boys.

Even if it's just drinks, you know, once a month,

or meeting up for dinner.

I would still like to be, you know, a part of their life.

What you guys need in your life, that's my biggest priority.

You know what I mean? So, it was important for you guys

to have the same opportunity for closure that I had.

Nobody's trying to force you guys

to have a relationship.

It's on you guys.

You're old enough to make those choices for yourself.

You know? And of course I wanted to make sure--

that I didn't want something for you guys

that you guys didn't want for yourselves.

You guys had to make that choice and decision.

At this point I'm feeling like

I wanted something for them that they no longer needed.

And...

I was actually-- I'm enough.

And never realized it until this moment right now.

I'm proud of you guys.

-Thanks, Mom. -I know, I'm wonderful.

Yeah, you guys are wonderful.