Original subtitles

[woman] Previously onQueen Sugar:

My mother taught me to believe in what's good.

You're good.

-What's wrong, baby? -That's Nova's doing.

She spit in my face.

I'm never going to forgive her.

If you decide to run you'll discover the Landrys

are just the tip of the spear.

This isn't allowed.

You made more enemies in a day

than I've made in a lifetime.

My pops is my daddy.

But she says he ain't your real one.

Is that why I look different than you?

As long as my heart is beatin', Blue,

I'm gonna be your daddy.

I chose you.

[Octavia] Oh!

Beautiful, as usual.

It's not too buttoned up?

It is a serious suit for a serious woman.

[sighs]

Packed press day tomorrow.

Hopefully my feet can take it.

Oh, comfort is overrated

when you look as amazing as you do right now.

Oh, I've connected with some colleagues here in Atlanta

to help drum up more highbrows in the press.

And there's a shindig this week at that new social club.

Lots of notables should be there.

You stay plugged in.

I can give my publicist a call to get us on the list.

Oh, but we are already VIP, my queen.

♪ 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 ♪

-[laughing] -I thought you might like that.

I loved it!

[cell phone vibrates]

Hey, Deborah.

Yeah, sure. I could always use good news.

What?

What do you mean?

I can't believe this.

Wow.

Thank you.

Okay.

Talk soon.

I've been shortlisted for the National Book Award!

I can't...

I can't even believe this!

Congratulations, Nova.

This could get my book in front of so many more people

who need help.

And I think it could really help my family

see the value and reach of our story.

I mean, I can't believe this.

This is incredible.

Yes. Yes, it is.

But remember, Nova,

you don't need an award to help people.

You don't need an award for validation.

Yes. I-I know that.

I don't mean to rain on your parade.

I'm just being real with you.

Reminding you of who you are,

and to keep it all in the proper perspective.

Baby, you are worthy right now, period.

Point-blank. The end.

[Darla] Maybe I should take him to school,

so he doesn't miss the whole day.

I don't know.

Maybe we should let him take a break today.

Did you make the appointment?

I didn't get around to it yet.

I'm working on it.

Ralph Angel, he just found out

about you, about us.

He's a kid.

We need to make sure that he's going to be okay.

They even said they'd come to us.

There it is.

It's official.

[sighs]

Is it the right decision?

If you believe in it, it's the right decision.

Candidate Bordelon, I'm with you all the way.

You got this.

[Micah] All right, so we're all going to pair up

and each take a neighborhood.

[Charley] Yeah, we actually don't have much time

to get this on the ballot, so we've got to talk

to every registered voter in St. Jo

and get them to back our anti-highway proposal.

We can get it done.

We hit the pavement every day until we do.

That's right.

I'm from across the way, in St. Thomas.

We've got skin in the game too.

I heard you were announcing soon.

I don't waste much time.

I like that. I like that a whole lot.

So I'm here to lend you a hand, young lady.

Wow. Thank you.

I love your enthusiasm.

And I'm so happy that St. Thomas is joining the fight.

Your name, ma'am?

This is Lady Genevieve.

Leon Durand's baby sister.

Baby sister? I'm a grown woman, Mr. Prosper.

But it's good to see you again.

It's good to see you too, Lady Genevieve.

Okay...

let's do it.

Let's get to work.

Yeah.

So, how have you been?

Very well, thank you for asking.

Thank you for showing your respects to Leon.

Yeah, well, the least I could do.

For him and so many others, unfortunately.

How many has it been for you this year?

Funerals?

I stopped counting after the fifth one.

Time does slip on by,

whether we ready for it or not.

Yes, it does. Yes, it does.

Come on over here.

I'm happy to canvas the Latinx neighborhoods,

but they're going to want to hear from you directly.

Of course. I'm planning to make some inroads later this week.

Councilwoman Barrera will be campaigning

a lot there for us as well, so...

You might want to be there yourself more often than not.

I mean, no disrespect, but they already know her.

They'll want to know you.

Does "they" have a name?

It sounds like you're talking about someone specific.

Well, yeah, yeah.

I would start with Angel Martinez.

He's a pastor of St. Jo's Episcopal Church.

Across town.

You know it?

Not yet.

But I'm just getting started.

Hey...

are you sure you want to do this?

I know you've thought this through.

But the Landry/Boudreaux family, I mean,

they're a lot.

I'm a lot.

Whatever I have to do, whomever I need to talk to,

I'll do it.

For St. Jo.

And for my daddy.

I can't lose his land.

I know.

Baby, I ain't blaming you.

I just want to make sure you okay.

I'm fine.

Don't make a big deal about it.

It just doesn't happen every time.

Not for us.

Usually, I'm the one that got to catch up,

and you ready to go.

[sighs]

I'm tired, that's all.

Are you sure?

I'm sure, baby.

[clears throat]

Sorry.

Just a bit keyed up.

Still getting used to being the one

who's being interviewed.

-Thank you. -You are a natural star.

You always were. I'll be right outside.

I'm sorry. Dr. Laurent, right?

I didn't catch how you two were associated.

Oh, I'm Nova's former professor.

Just tagging along for the day,

doing a faculty write-up for the alumni magazine.

You know, I've had the pleasure over the years

of watching Nova grow as a writer and an activist,

so it's gratifying to see her recent success up close.

You probably have some great stories.

Those would probably have to be off the record.

[all laugh]

Let's get started.

Why a story about your family?

What were you trying to uncover?

First and foremost,

I was trying to uncover the truth.

And then use that truth to make connections

to a broader American narrative.

How has sharing the truth with the world

impacted you and your family?

The truth can be difficult to face sometimes.

But on the other side of that confrontation is healing.

And healing takes time.

Let's switch topics for a bit.

I want to make sure we cover this.

Your sister Charley

is preparing to announce her run for city council

in your hometown.

Would you say your activism has rubbed off on her?

Black women's influence on one another

is such an overlooked tradition.

Of course Nova's activism

has influenced her sister's budding interest,

just as my work has influenced Nova's intellectual curiosity.

Black girl magic is more of a continuum.

Blue, can you tell me what happened at school?

Friend told him that--

Please, Mr. Bordelon, I'd like to hear from Blue.

What's your doll's name?

Kenya.

Does Kenya know what happened?

Maybe she could tell us?

Kenya says that Marcus said...

that my pops isn't my real pops.

Thank you for sharing that.

The first thing I want you to know

is that none of this is your fault.

You didn't do anything wrong.

Everyone's family looks different.

What's most important about family

is that it's made up of people who love you.

Let's take a break.

Blue, you want to go play for a bit?

-Yes. -All right, come on.

Okay.

I think this is going to be really good for Blue.

Yeah, I hope so.

[sighs]

Blue's a great kid.

It may not seem like it now,

but Blue's processing this in a fairly normal way.

That may also be because he's yet to grasp what it all means.

What can we do to help?

Be patient.

Acceptance takes time.

This can be a lot for co-parents to handle.

Let's try an exercise.

I want each of you to write a list of the dreams,

big or small,

that you have for you and Blue.

Okay.

It's important for you to visualize the future.

And Blue needs to understand

that his future is more important than his past.

That starts with both of you.

Everything's in range, Violet.

-Normal. -I sure don't feel normal.

Whatever symptoms you're experiencing,

they're not related to your lupus medication.

Well, if it ain't got nothing to do with my medication,

I don't know what's going on.

Quite honestly, for the last few weeks,

you know, I've been having trouble in the bedroom.

I just haven't been in the mood,

and that ain't me.

I mean, that ain't me.

You said this started a few weeks ago?

Any major life events recently?

Something unexpected or traumatic?

Unexpected or traumatic?

Try both.

Jimmy Dale, my ex-husband,

is definitely both.

Still looking at that?

It wasn't fair of him to spring that on you.

It's a big deal that Charley is running.

If she wins, she can bring real change to St. Jo.

And I'm here...

giving fluff interviews.

One, you're a star now. Goes with the territory.

And two, so what?

So what? I'm talking about my family.

They're important to me.

[sighs]

You know how I feel about family.

They're just biological accidents.

I hate it when you say that.

-[sighs] -It's not true.

At least not for me.

Would you and your sister be friends if you weren't related?

-I'm not sure we're friends now. -Exactly.

Sometimes we have to put family in the rearview

to get to where we want to go.

-Hey. -Hey.

Thanks for dropping this off.

You're welcome.

Want to come in?

I would have picked it up myself,

-I just-- -It's no big deal.

I mean, I was heading out anyway.

Well, I'll see you later.

Keke, I'm going to see Ant again later.

I was hoping that you would come with me.

Only immediate family can see him in juvie.

The warden checked me out,

and thought I could be a good influence on Ant.

Of course you are.

I'm happy that you're going to see him.

It's good for Ant to see a friendly face.

Keke, I was hoping we could talk.

I don't feel like it right now, Micah.

Maybe later.

Okay.

See you. Give Ant my love.

[door closes]

[Ralph Angel] That was quick.

[Hollywood] Wasn't no lines.

A couple of the workers was talking about that highway.

Wondering if Charley's going to be able to stop it.

[Ralph Angel] Yeah, me too.

Say, bro, you all right?

Just tired, man.

Ain't been sleeping.

Between the highway and Nova's book...

-[scoffs] -...been hella stressed.

We should've burned that damn book all the way up.

Me and Darla getting Blue therapy over it.

-Say what? -Yeah.

Damn.

But did it help?

I don't know yet.

Got us doing, like, a dream list or something.

What's a dream list?

Me and Darla supposed to think about Blue's future.

What we want it to look like.

I'm just thinking about today.

I'll think about tomorrow tomorrow, feel me?

You ever ask yourself

if tomorrows are for other folk?

Me and Vi, man, we supposed to be living in up.

We got love.

A little bit of money.

Doing it.

But stuff that happened before we was even a "we", man,

is just hanging onto us like a bad cold.

Bedtime's even chilly.

But shit, man, that ain't no way to live.

Sitting around, scared that your past

is going to snatch up your future.

Y'all meant to be, though.

Everybody knows that.

So don't give up.

How often do you all get together like this?

The church does this every so often.

We call it a carne asada.

It's like our version of a barbeque.

It's always great people, great music,

great food.

Let me get you more tamales.

-Yes, please. -Okay.

Excuse me.

Thank you for coming.

You know it means a lot to me

that you are getting to know Romero a little.

You really like him, huh?

-I do. -[both laugh]

I mean, I don't-- I don't know where it's going.

All I know is I feel happy when I'm with him.

That's all that matters.

You deserve to be happy.

-Okay... -Thank you.

[Charley] So tell me about Pastor Martinez.

I thought it'd be a good idea to meet him

and his members on his own turf.

He respects that.

Thank you.

Of course.

Okay. Um...

I'm going to head to Malik's, but I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?

-Okay. -[Micah] Okay.

Peace.

Time to make friends.

Hi. Pastor Martinez?

Miss Bordelon.

Uh, you know me?

Everyone knows you, Charley Bordelon.

And I hear the same is true of you, Pastor.

So, what brings you to our side of the tracks?

[laughs]

Just enjoying a neighborhood party in our community.

"Our"?

I see. Well, while you're here, try the flautas.

My mother made them.

I already did. They were delicious.

Thanks so much for allowing me to be here.

I'd love to visit more.

I hope to see more of your parishioners very soon.

Good.

But you should know,

I'm not one of those so amazed

that you can dance a little merengue

that you automatically get a permanent invite to la fiesta.

You don't trust me.

Before today,

I've never seen you in our neighborhoods.

Why should I trust you?

Understood.

I hope that you'll give me the chance

to prove myself worthy of your vote,

of your parishioners' votes.

I want you to vote for me,

not because I'm the lesser of two evils,

but because you believe in me

and my desire for all of us to rise together.

Thank you for your time, Pastor.

[woman] So did your father really--?

[Nova] As I wrote in my book, I don't know for sure.

I simply ask the question.

I care more about all of us living with so many secrets

more than anything else.

I got to tell you, though,

I was rooting for you and that white guy.

-What's his name again? -Calvin.

Yes. Calvin.

Now come on, girl. Real talk.

You knew that wasn't going to work with a married man.

But who hasn't dated a white married man?

Am I right, ladies?

[all giggle]

Excuse us.

[Nova] Wow.

[Octavia] Don't worry about them.

They don't mean anything.

I don't know how you do this scene so often.

It feels so superficial.

You get used to it.

Think of it as a game

where the goal is to stay in it as long as you can.

There's only one problem with that.

I was never one for playing games.

Well, we all have to play at some point

if we want any real success.

There's Lisette. I should go say hi.

Hey!

-Hi. -[lips smack]

[Lisette] I thought the book was brilliant.

I'm thinking of asking Nova

to edit a collection of essays on race.

That's not really Nova's forte.

But I have been looking for my next project

and it sounds absolutely perfect.

[Lisette] Your past work is still important.

But the series I'm launching is called Fresh Voices.

It's specifically for emerging writers.

Maybe you could write the foreword.

The foreword?

-Mm-hmm. -[cell phone vibrates]

Oh, excuse me. I have to get this.

Take care.

What was that all about?

I was just singing your praises.

And I set us up a lunch date for tomorrow.

The new Dean of Faculty at Princeton is in town,

and he wants to meet us.

[giggles]

Oh, I'll be right back.

[dance music playing]

So how did things go with Pastor Martinez?

No, not really.

Not yet.

But I'm happy.

Why is that?

Because you brought me into your world.

No strings attached.

Tried to do something for me.

I can't remember the last time a man added to my life

without taking from it.

Or tried to change me.

Thank you.

You deserve good things, Charley.

So do you.

And I think you've waited long enough.

We both have.

[cell phone chimes]

[sighs]

You look like you're seriously over it.

Some of it or all of it?

What can I start you with?

Something strong.

Anything, really.

-You coming or going? -I came, I saw,

and now I'm blowing this joint tomorrow morning.

Oh. Doesn't sound like the best trip.

Sometimes the bar is higher than your reach.

This one's on me.

Thank you.

This is fantastic.

I call that one, Drop It Like It's Hot.

[both laugh]

Okay.

I'm Terrence.

[sighs]

Nova.

Now, Nova, why are you--

As beautiful as organic brown sugar, the whole package--

Alone here in this hotel bar?

Currently I'm being accompanied by an old friend

for my book tour.

An old friend who I should've left where I found her.

So now I'm here, all alone...

trying not to make the same mistake I made last time.

I mean, if you're up to it later,

there's a lounge nearby with a DJ

where you can sweat out all your problems.

That all sounds lovely.

But you've done enough.

Thank you for the conversation.

I appreciate it.

Hey. Absolutely.

[Blue] Did you know that beaks are also called bills?

I knew that.

[Blue] And a black skimmer

uses a longer bill to skim food

out of the water.

Interesting.

Are there other animals besides birds that can talk?

Hmm, I don't know.

That's a very good question.

I guess you could say a lot of animals talk,

just in their own way.

Like how dogs bark.

-And cats meow. -Yeah. [chuckles]

[gasps]

Have you ever seen a flamingo?

They're really tall.

-Taller than me? -They're not that tall.

-[laughs] -Not that tall.

"After the mother penguin lays the egg,

"it's the job of the father penguin to stay with the egg

"and keep it warm and safe

"until the baby penguin is ready to be born."

Like how you keep me safe, Pops.

Yeah.

Just like that.

[Blue] A rainbow.

Pastor?

Your words last night really touched me.

I want you to know

I'm serious about building bridges between our communities.

We should all be serious about that.

All the time.

My commitment to all of St. Jo is real.

Black and Latinx residents should work together and pool--

You say that as if it's easy to do.

There are forces that prey on our fears and use it against us.

Sometimes we do it to ourselves.

You know, I think...

I think some black people feel like we're still fighting

for basic equality,

even though we're the ones who built this country.

And we're often the ones who maintain it,

by doing jobs others won't.

I see that.

They keep us fighting each other while the powers that be

are at the bank, cashing checks.

I need you to know...

I am in this for the long haul.

Well, nothing's going to be fixed overnight,

and certainly not in time for the city council election.

But I welcome a continued conversation between us.

[engine rumbling]

[engine turned off]

What in the world?

I know you did not just buy that death trap.

Well, hello to you too.

And I most certainly did.

You know it's always been a dream of mine.

Well, I am not riding on that thing.

I got this idea of you just leaning on me,

holding on to me while the wind blows in our face.

[laughs]

Baby...

I know I ain't been myself with you lately,

but it ain't got nothing to do with you, baby.

-Nothing. -I know something is wrong.

Could you please just tell me?

[sighs]

So I talked to Dr. Badami.

And today I realized

that Jimmy Dale coming back

stirred up a lot of stuff in me

that I didn't know was still there.

It's taken everything I got to just get through each day.

It's messing with my mind, and I'm mad as hell about that.

So I'm asking for your patience.

Please.

And for a little bit of space.

-From me? -Just for a little while.

I know it ain't fair.

What is it they say?

In sickness and in health...

for better or for worse.

What I did to ever deserve you,

I will never know.

[door closes]

You blew off our lunch.

Your lunch.

[scoffs]

All I've done for you on this tour.

You invited yourself on this tour.

Being with you,

consoling you,

keeping your spirits up.

Emotional labor is still work, baby.

I refuse to be treated like an afterthought.

You want to talk about respect?

You tried to take that book opportunity from me.

How could you?

You're not qualified to do that kind of work and you know it.

They only want you because you're hot,

which, believe me, cools quickly.

When you've sustained a 20-year career,

then you come question me.

You can keep your 20-year career if it means lies and deceit.

Says the woman who threw her family under the bus

for her book.

I'm not your student anymore.

You do know I made you, right?

You were so green.

I found you, saw you,

spit-shined you

until I got the backwoods stink off your thinking.

Wow.

This is a sad day.

I suspected it, but now I know.

I've outgrown you.

The doors I kicked down to make it possible for you.

You don't even know the half of it.

All I had to choke down just to be seen!

I have tremendous respect for you

and all that you've done for women like me.

I'm beyond grateful.

But I've always charted my own path

and I will continue to do so.

Nova...

you were always the one.

Others tried to get close,

but I never crossed that line again.

You were my first in so many meaningful ways.

I'll always remember that.

[luggage wheels rumble]

[doors close]

We got a good little system going here.

That's because we make a good team.

[laughs]

Yes, we do. Yes, we do.

I know it's getting on about lunchtime,

but for dinner,

I'm grilling some steaks

and I have extra if you want one.

Free steak?

I'll bring the wine.

[both laugh]

Okay.

Let me show you something.

-Oh... -Hmm?

Does this say "fighter"?

It says "winner." Relatable.

But still muy hermosa.

Gracias, mi amor.

[laughs]

I just--I don't know.

I feel like the campaign is...

it's coming together.

I know I still have a lot of work to do,

but I just...

I feel good about tomorrow's announcement.

I-I do.

Aah!

[Charley gasps]

Is everyone okay here?

Okay. A little shaken.

Charley, let me help you.

You're bleeding.

-What? -Sit down.

What if the brick had hit Prosper?

Or Genevieve? Or-or-or anyone?

I didn't think this campaign

would be putting people's lives in danger.

You're not putting anyone's life in danger.

The Landrys are. This is on them.

-I know, but-- -This is why you're running.

To protect St. Jo from people that would do this.

People who think they can just push us around.

Exactly. You're in the midst of a proud tradition.

Fight.

♪ Out of the ???

♪ I'm stronger today

♪ I take a deep breath There's no holding back ♪

♪ Headfirst Yeah, I drive right in ♪

♪ I am who I am I'll give you all I have ♪

♪ If you take What I got to give ♪

♪ You get the best

♪ You get the best

♪ You get the best

♪ Of me

♪ You get the best

♪ You get the best

♪ You get the best

♪ Of me

Hi, Charley.

It's Nova.

I was hoping to catch you.

I just wanted to congratulate you on running.

It's just...

Charley, it's fantastic.

It's really incredible to see you looking out for St. Jo

in all the ways that you have since you've been home.

I've always admired how you know what you want

and you go after it,

no matter what.

I'm really proud of you.

I miss you.

I love you.

Give my love to Micah.

Night.

[cheers and applause]

Today, in the place that I'm proud to call home,

I am officially announcing my candidacy for city council,

and letting everyone know

that it will take more than a brick through my window

to stop me from doing what's right for our parish!

[all cheer]

Before I continue, I must thank Councilwoman Isabel Barrera

for her service to St. Jo and for her gracious support.

[applause]

To our victory!

We are not expendable.

We will stop the highway.

We will flourish on our farms.

We will protect our community.

Together, we will reclaim our parish.

We are St. Josephine's Parish

in the grand state of Louisiana,

and we ain't going anywhere!

[crowd cheers and applauds]

[cheering continues]

♪♪♪

[woman] Go, Ree-Ree.