All language subtitles for Mary J Blige Presents Be Happy 2026 1080p WEB-DL AAC2.0 x264

-*
Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
*

*
Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
*

-*
Everyone dance
*
-*
Hey
*

-*
Sing when you want to sing
*

-Now, y'all know y'all crazy,

leaving this door open,
letting my air out.

-*
Whoo, ooh, ooh
*

**

-Hey, there.
-Hey, hey, hey.

Don't be messing up my mojo.
-Oh, my gosh.

Is it that serious?
-I'm trying to win.

Man, what you think you doing?
Man!

-Kayla, how far along are you?

- I am almost seven months.
- Ooh!

And you still got
that cute little shape.

That's why I know it's gonna be
a girl.

- Well, we don't know that yet.
- Girl, you want girls.

'Cause when I had them boys,
they gave me vertigo.

Kim, you ain't got vertigo.
Your ass drink too much.

-Mama, did you bring out
your ribs yet?

-Uh, here you go, babe.
-Oh. Thank you, baby.

-There you go.

-Mm!
-That's a good man, Savannah.

-Kayla, you really need to go
sit down somewhere.

It's not good
for a pregnant woman

to be on her feet like that.

-Mama, the doctor said
in moderation, okay?

As long as I'm listening
to my body.

-Okay. Micah's not gonna
want to rub them feet

if they're swelled up
like ham hocks.

- Mm-mmm.
- Let's go and get you a seat.

- Come on.
- That's right.

That's right.

Whew. Ain't nothing like a man
loving on his woman.

-Mm-hmm. I remember those days.
-Me too.

Mine was loving on the barber,
the dog walker,

the trainer,
the Walmart greeter --

-Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.

So, Val, what did you and Ross
do for your anniversary?

-Mm-hmm.
Twenty-seven years.

I just know
it was something special.

-Mm-hmm.
So, um, Ross...

upgraded our cable,
and we watched a marathon

of "Unsolved Mysteries"
all night long.

-Okay. Wait a damn minute.
-Okay. Hold on. Hold on.

Before y'all even get started!

Jeremiah is spending the night
at somebody's house,

and, uh,
I already have the champagne

and the whipped cream chilling
in the refrigerator.

Ooh! Nasty.

-Excuse me. Mama? I think it's
time to shut the party down.

Aunt Cheryl's outside twerking
to Luther Vandross, okay?

It's disgusting. Dad's about to
piece somebody up on dominoes.

-Oh, look at our big
college boy.

Acting just like his daddy,

walking around here
like he running things.

-Not for long, Aunt Donna. I'm
sure Mom and Pops can't wait

for me to get out the house and
they can have it to themselves.

-Uh, boy, you have no idea.

-Stop it. What is that?
-I'm gonna get your father here.

W-- How do you think
you got here?

**

*

-*
We built a crystal castle
*

*
It'll never be a home
*

*
'Cause we built
a crystal castle
*

**

*
We built a crystal castle
*

*

-Ross.

Aah!

-Hey.

*

-Um...I'm not feeling well.

**

-Oh. Um...I-I thought...

-Yeah.
All that food.

That beer got my stomach
acting crazy.

I think it was
them collard greens.

*

-The collard greens.
-Yeah, yeah.

Go on upstairs.
Don't wait up for me.

**

**

*

**

**

**

**

Hey. Good morning.

-Do you still plan on fixing
the refrigerator?

It's been two weeks.

-I've got somebody coming
to look at it later this week.

-You said that last week.

Okay. Look.
There's a, um...

There's a new exhibit
at the museum of art

that I really wanted to see,

and I was hoping that maybe
you would want to go tonight.

-Well, you get the tickets,
I'll be there.

-Between you and Jeremiah,
I don't know whose phone

I got to compete with more
these days.

-It's Micah letting us know
that he and Kayla landed home

in New Orleans.

-Oh.

Thank God.

I was really worried about Kayla
flying at almost seven months.

Leave it to you

to stress and worry
about stuff you can't control.

*

What's wrong with you?

**

-I--
-Baby, you know

I don't like blueberries
in my pancakes.

*

Uh, but that's all right.

I'll stop and get me a breakfast
sandwich on the way to work.

*

Later, Pops.

Boy!

-Oh, my gosh.
Blueberry pancakes.

-Use your fork!
-Mm.

Can I get some syrup, please?
-Yes!

Here.
-I'm looking forward to a lot.

But trading your cooking
for ramen noodles every day

feels crazy.

-What
are
you
looking forward to?

-Maybe I'll find my girl at Tech
like Dad did.

-Well, I don't know
if these new-age Tech girls

got anything like, you know,
your mama had.

You know,
not as bad as your mama.

That
was
two kids ago.

And that's when your daddy had
a high-top fade.

But okay.

-I like seeing you happy.

You know, it's kind of like a
new chapter for the both of us.

-Think so?
-Yeah.

Maybe you can spend the time

doing something
you've always wanted to do,

not spend the next four years
worrying about me.

-I'm your mama.

I'm gonna worry about you
whether you like it or not.

-Okay.
I'm gonna remember that.

'Cause outside of sending me 500
every month,

I think I can take it from here.
-Five hundred?

Five hundred what? Dollars?
Oh, no, boy. Try 250.

-Two fifty. I can work with it.
-Okay.

**

Oh.

Hey. Ross, honey,
don't worry about parking.

There's a garage on Eighth --
-Val, I'm not gonna make it.

There's some emergency
maintenance

that's keeping me stuck
at work.

-Ross, I was really
looking forward to this.

-You should still go
and enjoy it, baby.

I'm sorry, but I got to run.

*

*

-*
No more
*

*
No more clipping
my wings down
*

*
No more holding me low down
*

*
Low down again
*

*
No more
*

*
No more keeping me boxed in
*

*
I'm done blocking
my blessings
*

*
Time to let them in
*

**

*

It's like she's...

...becoming.

*

Or maybe she's exploring
herself, her...

solitude, her...softness.

The version of herself that...

doesn't have to perform
or prove herself to anyone.

Blooming in her own time.

In her own way.

**

-*
Moving mountains on my way
*

-"Exploring new places
helps you remember who you are

and sometimes
who you're still becoming."

Becoming.
It's like the theme of the day.

Damn, Kim.

What'd you say you put
in this hot-girl-summer drink?

-Summa this and summa that.
-See, I'm not messing with Kim.

I'm not doing it.
I-- No!

-Here.
-Mm-hmm.

-Cheers to 30 years
of friendship

and a new chapter in this book
and a new chapter in Val's life.

Sis, I hope you get everything
you want and deserve.

To life after motherhood.

To life after motherhood!

-Yes!
-Yes.

-Mmm!
Okay, you guys.

I am so excited about this book.
-Girl, forget about that book.

Tell us what happened
the other night.

-Oh. Right.
So...

Yeah, it didn't happen.

-Why?

-He decided to spend his night
with Betty instead.

- Who the hell is Betty?
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.

You mean that old hunk of junk
in the garage?

-Now, see, Ross done lost
his damn mind.

-Have you tried talking to him?

Talk? Oh, my gosh.

We don't do
anything
like we used to.

We don't laugh like we used to,

and we definitely don't have sex
like we used to.

Okay. The Browns,
across the street from me,

started couples therapy
when they hit a rough patch,

and they seem to be doing
just fine.

-You talking about that white
lady with her white husband?

-Hold on, now, Donna.
Kim, didn't you and Lee

try counseling
before you got a divorce?

-Yeah,
and it was going well, too --

until he tried to hump
the damn therapist.

-Oh, hell no.
-Oh, hell yeah, honey.

Lee was a certified freak.

But at least therapy
let me know why.

-Well, I want to know why.

Well, sis, it's not your fault.

Okay?
It's called male menopause.

-Girl, what?
-Man, what?

Okay. Listen.
The brain is the first to go.

And then they start wanting to
hump everything they see

or their stuff just stops
working completely.

-Is that a real thing?

- Hell yeah, girl.
- Yeah, honey.

The mood swings,
the midlife crisis,

them buying cars
they can't fit into --

and dating women
they know they can't satisfy.

Mm-hmm.
How long that meat stop working?

Kim!

It's...

Okay. It's been, um,
three years and 22 days.

-Bitch!
-I know!

-Years?
-The problem is

the man is my husband
and the father of my children

and the one person that I just
do not understand right now.

-Mm. Well, sis,
it sounds like you're not happy.

-I don't think any of us
were raised to be happy wives.

We were raised --
-To work it out.

-Mm-hmm.
My mama used to say,

"As long as he's not in and out
of jail

or knocking you
upside your head,

you got something
to be thankful for."

Your mama is a liar.

That's exactly why I walked
up out of my marriage.

-Well, I-I want to water
my marriage,

you guys,
I don't want to burn it down.

-Well, Val,
if you want him to change,

then you're gonna have to bring
the ideas to him.

-So what should I do?

**

**

**

*

*

**

**

-*
Even though
I'm shined up...
*

-Honey, why you got to hold
the camera at that angle?

-Val, do you want to take
the picture?

-Let's just take the picture.

-All right.
Everybody say, "Tech!"

-Tech!
-Tech! Aww!

-Babe, can you at least take
one pic without that hat?

-No. I've had this hat since
I graduated from this school.

-Yeah. Well, while you're here,
maybe you can get a new one.

-Mom and Dad.
-Oh, baby.

My baby!

-All right, now!
-All right, player.

-There you go.
-Bye, baby!

-Bye.
-Mommy loves you!

-Okay.
Okay.

Call Mommy!

-We really have another Tech man
in the family.

-We do. We do.
We do.

Hey, do you want to go over
to the fine arts building

and see if our names
are still on the wall?

-Val, that was 30 years ago.

You know they painted over that
by now.

Door's open.

*

And here we are with
another timeless R&B classic.

- *
...love
myself enough to know
*

*
When it's time
*

*
Time to let go
*

*
Sing
*
-*
All I really want
*

*
Is to be happy
*

*
Find a love that's mine
*

-*
It'll be so sweet
*
-*
It'll be so sweet
*

-*
All I really want
*
-*
All I really want
*

- Ooh!
-*
Is to be happy
*

-Yeah! Aah!
-*
Find a love that's mine
*

- *
It could be so sweet
*

-Go on, baby.

Remember I used to blast
the radio to stay awake

driving home for the holidays?
-Oh, my God.

I miss this.
-Yeah.

Folks be sleeping on the radio.
They still play good music.

-No.
Ross, I mean us.

I miss us, you know, feeling,
you know, like a real marriage.

-Twenty-seven years feels like
a real marriage to me.

-*
Oh, I cannot hide
the way I feel inside
*

-Ross, when was the last time
you touched me?

-What kind of question is that?

-You just said it's been
27 years, right?

For the last seven, I feel like

I've kind of been living
with a roommate.

-Yeah, a roommate who pays
the mortgage and all the bills.

-Unh-unh.

Now, I have tried to get a job
for years, and you know that.

But you're the one who wanted
me to stay home with the kids,

cooking and keeping house.

-A lot of women would've
called that a good life.

-A life without intimacy?

-Is this about the other night?

-No, it's not about
the other night, Ross.

It's about us!

It's about you never wanting to
do anything that I want to do.

I can't even express to you
or share with you how I feel.

And I have no idea how you feel
about anything either.

-I feel like this conversation
is ridiculous.

-Our kids are finally
out of the house,

and you and I should be together
somewhere, enjoying each other,

just traveling
or sipping on piña coladas

at some beach or something.
-What are you talking about?

I don't even have a passport,
'cause I'm working.

-And that's another thing.

We've had extensive
conversations

about early retirement.
-Oh, no, no, no!

We just dropped Jeremiah off
at his freshman year of college,

and you're talking about
early retirement?

Oh, this conversation is over.

-Why is it so hard for you
to talk to me? Why?!

You know what?

I-I really, really think we
need to seek couples counseling.

-Oh. Oh, you-- you've really
gone off the deep end now.

-What else do I ask you for?

-You asked for that damn
expensive-ass refrigerator.

-That you use too.

-If I can't do anything right,
why are you still with me?

Ross!

Oh, my God.

**

-You all right?

-And he got so defensive,
he almost wrecked the car.

Oh, God.

-It's like he doesn't care.
-Mm.

-He could live like this
for the rest of his life

and be perfectly fine.

Ugh!
Charmaine, girl.

-It's frustrating, girl.
I know.

-Do you think you could change
a marriage?

-You know, I've been thinking
about what Donna said --

that if we want change, we got
to bring it to our husbands.

But I don't know
if I believe that.

Because you marry
who you marry, right?

-There isn't anything you ever
wanted to change about Charles?

Of course there is.

But you can't change nobody.

You can only change yourself.

Look, girl.
I got to go.

-Oh. Okay.
Bye.

-Bye.
-Love you.

*

*

**

**

Here you go. Just like the ones
you grab on the way to work.

-Thank you, honey.
-Mm-hmm.

So...

...I scheduled us
for a consultation

for couples therapy.

I really think that this will be
good for us, Ross.

-Where's all this coming from?

-Look. Charmaine told me
about this couple --

-Charmaine needs to worry about

why Charles would rather sit at
a slot machine than sit at home.

-I scheduled it for when
you get off work today --

-Then you need to cancel it.

-I want to go, Ross.
-Then go alone.

I'm not going to therapy.

That's for crazy people,
and we're not crazy.

**

-I kind of figured you would say
something like that.

*

**

You want to know
what's really crazy?

Staying here.

Knowing that you're okay...with
where we are in our marriage.

And I know I'm not crazy.

**

*

Ladies and gentlemen,

welcome to New Orleans.

*

*

*

**

**

*

-Have you spoken to your father?

-He called and asked about
my last appointment.

-Look.
I'm really sorry.

I don't want to scare you
about any of this.

-Mom, what are you
apologizing for?

Look.
I love you and Daddy together.

But I want you both to be happy.

Plus, I'm a big girl now.

-You
are
a big girl now.
-Hm?

Who can use all the help
she can get.

-Now that I'm here,
we can deep-clean the house,

personalize the nursery
with pictures and knitted --

...knitted, uh blankets.

Why are they so loud?

**

-Ma, that's how the city
gets down.

-Ah.
-Well...

since you have all these ideas,
maybe you can pencil in

some time to explore the magic
of the city.

-Mm.
-Laissez les bons temps rouler.

-What does that mean?

-It's what they say
around here, Mama.

Let the good times roll, girl.

-You don't need to roll
anything else.

'Cause that's how you got into
this predicament.

-Stop it. You get yours,
and you do it, too. Come on.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

**

-Morning.
You hungry?

I made eggs, andouille sausage,
and homemade biscuits.

-Wow, Mama V.
That looks amazing.

But I got my own meal prep
for breakfast.

Fitness goals.
-Oh. All right.

Well, don't mind me, then.
-Uh, do you know what happened

to the blue containers
that were in here?

-Yeah. You know what? The food
was going bad in those.

I threw all that out.

-Mama V, that was my meal prep.

-Oh!
Well, in that case,

I'll just refill it
with the food I made.

See?
Lucky guy. Ha!

-Micah, have you seen
my yoga mat?

- I can't find it anywhere.
- You know what, baby?

I caught myself throwing it
in the washing machine,

and it crumbled into pieces.

I'll just get you one
of those beach towels

I saw in the garage.

Might be better for your back
anyway.

*

-Where did that painting
come from?

Do you think she's
going through a midlife crisis?

I mean...

it's all she's ever known
for the last 27 years.

Wouldn't you?
-Ah.

I'd probably be out
on Bourbon Street,

drunk-calling you
just to take me back.

-Yeah.
Well, she's the one who left.

I talked to Dad, and trust me,
he is going just as crazy.

-Oh, yeah. I'm sure he misses
her folding his underwear

into tiny little squares,
just like she does mine.

-I don't think she knows
what else to do with herself

right now.

I think this is the only thing
keeping her going.

-Mm.
Baby, that's sad.

Yeah. It is.

*

*

*

*

**

*

*

*

-*
You ready to roll?
*

*

*
Oh, we ready
*

**

*
Feel that vibe
*

*

*
Roll with me
*

-*
Roll with me now
*

-*
Down these streets
*

-*
Show me how
*

-*
Good times risin'
*

-*
Let 'em rise
*

-*
Joy feels sweet
*

- *
Sugar on your smile
*

*

That's so dumb.

*

Hello?

Val?

-Hey.
Hello?

How you doing?

-Uh, I'm doing all right.

You okay?

-Um, yeah.

I'm -- I'm doing just...
You know, I'm doing okay.

-Uh, when you coming back?
After Kayla has the baby?

Something like that.

-That should give you
enough time, right?

-Enough time for what?

-Well, uh, figure yourself out
and come on home.

Yeah.
So, Ross...

I don't know if I can.

-Can what?

-Come back.

I got to go.

*

**

Mm!

Ooh.

Oh, wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait!

I want them to be together.

Let -- Let's let them stay
together.

You need to stay together.
-You doing all right over here?

-Oh. Yeah. Yeah.
Totally.

I...think I want another one.

But I'm not totally sure
that I could feel my legs.

-Ah.

Let me get you some water.
-Okay.

-You know,
people come to New Orleans

for all kinds of reasons.
-Mm-hmm.

-To heal, to lose themselves,
or to find something

they didn't even know
they was looking for.

What you came for?

This is not what it looks like!

-Hmm.

It look like...

...a woman not from here...

going through it
in her marriage

and she came to New Orleans
to figure some things out.

-Is it tattooed
across my forehead?

Does it also say I haven't
had sex in three years?

-Oh, baby. Most of us
could get that tattoo.

Big Kenny!

When's the last time
you had some?

About six, seven years, huh?

-Oh, Kenny!
No.

Oh, I thought
I
had it bad.

Next round's on me, Kenny.

**

-Welcome in.
-Thank you.

*

Oh.

You have a Horace Imhotep.

-Uh, yeah, we do.

-There is something so sacred
about the way he sees us.

Black people.

It's not just pain.

There's dignity and humanity.

The lines feel very intentional.

-Wow.
That's what's up.

And you have
an Aaron F. Henderson!

Oh, my God!
He is my absolute favorite!

I love how he exposes the ways
in which history continues

to shape our understanding
of race and identity.

Ah!

-Yeah. He was, uh, he was my --
my mom's favorite, too.

-Ah. Well, your mom has
very good taste.

Uh, do you and your mom
run this gallery together?

-Uh, no.

This was, um, her thing
before she passed.

So I've been just, you know,

trying my best
to hold things down.

I guess it's my way
of keeping her legacy alive.

-Sorry.
-Mm.

-I'm sure she's very proud
of you.

**

Oh, wow.

Look at the sadness in his eyes.

-Really?

He always looked happy to me.

Sometimes joy is the mask
you wear

when the weight gets too heavy.

-Who are you?
Where -- Where are you from?

- Oh! Sorry!
- North Carolina.

-Okay.
-I'm Valerie.

-Okay. Jacoby.
You in the art word?

-Oh.
No, I wouldn't say all that.

I-I did major in art in college.

-Oh. Okay.

-But, you know, life was life,

and it took me
in a different direction.

But the love -- The love is...
The love is still there.

-Mm-hmm. So, uh, are you
thinking about jumping back in?

Sometimes.

-But I really wouldn't know
where to start, so...

-Well, um, I...You know,
I've been trying to do my best

to make sure this place reflects
the new New Orleans

by scouting local, new talent.

But, um, this whole
curating-art thing,

I just...just feel a little
out of my league.

-No, no, no!
You did a beautiful job.

This place really feels like
it has soul.

-Yeah, yeah.
But the soul, it just needs --

It needs structure, you know?

Like a vision.

An expert?

*

-Are you offering me a job?

-And now here we have
a Peter Mosely.

And although I'm not
deeply familiar with his work,

you can see that he
definitely has a special way

of capturing Black women.

It doesn't feel like he's
just taking a photo.

It feels like...
he's bearing witness

without trying to be
too radical.

I actually find him
to be very radical.

In a world
that either overexposes

or erases Black women,

showing them in their
natural state without spectacle

seems pretty radical to me.

Well, hearing the word "radical"

makes me feel like you're saying

that Mosley is trying to
convey sex,

and it's much, much,
much more subtle than that.

Yeah, but subtlety...
is extremely sexy.

You actually strike me
as someone

who understands exactly
how powerful that can be.

-That's good for you,
so for those of you

who actually paid for this tour,
please, go into the other room.

There's refreshments,
and we have so much more to see.

-Okay.
Mm-hmm.

Um...

you know your boy is
coming back tonight, right?

-My boy?
Who's my boy?

Yeah.

Something tells me
you're gonna be into this.

Hmm?

It was really
that Chicago '95 collection.

That was amazing, right?
Like, that's when I was like,

"I am a fan
of Mr. Mosley's work."

-Much obliged. Much obliged.
-Yeah. So...

what draws you to a subject?

-Hmm.
Wow.

That's a, uh,
damn good question.

My portraiture work
is only about connection.

When I lock eyes with someone

and we have this --

I don't know --
unspoken understanding,

that's when I know.

And if they let me in
only for a moment...

...that's the shot.

-Oh, he is everything.

So when you say
let you in...

Uh-huh?

Nice to meet you. Pleasure.

**

Hi.

Valerie Matthews.

- Peter Mosley.
- Oh, of course you are.

I just wanted to apologize
for earlier.

-No, no, no, no.
Look...

I'm
apologizing for earlier.

I didn't mean
to interrupt you like that.

But, listen, there's
no need to apologize, okay?

My work is meant
to be spoken about,

and you challenged my eye.

But I like that.

- Okay.
- Mm-hmm.

-Well, I-I just came over to,
you know,

tell you how much I loved

- the conversation tonight...
- Mm.

...especially
how you find your subjects.

Loved it.
-Oh. Connection.

-Oh, yeah. The connection.
That is so powerful.

And I bet that connection
takes you all over the place

as a photographer.

-Where are you from?
-What?

You don't hear the NOLA accent,
baby?

A little bit of that,

but no,
I haven't seen you before.

-Oh, so you remember
all your fans. I get it.

-Oh, wow. She's a fan now.
-Oh!

-Oh, now I've made it.
Forget about it.

- No.
- I got fanfare here.

-Okay, okay. I'm actually
from North Carolina.

- All right.
- I'm just here

for about a month,
hanging out with my daughter,

helping her out 'cause she's
gonna make me a grandmother.

-Really?
-Yeah.

-Wow. All right, well,
congratulations on that.

-Thanks.

-And I'm assuming that, uh,

her father is still back
in North Carolina?

- He is.
- Oh. Okay.

So, uh, how are
you enjoying New Orleans so far?

-Oh. I've eaten my way
through the French Quarter.

- Mm.
- And I drank so many daiquiris.

More than I have
in my entire life.

And I found this gallery
that has helped me remember

how much I love art.
-Right.

-Yeah.

-I don't know
if it's the history

- or the liquor...
- Mm. Mm-hmm.

-...but this city definitely has
a way of helping

you find yourself again.

Now, let me tell you something.

You're gonna have to get your
behind out of the French Quarter

in order to really see
how this city gets down.

-Is that right?

-Do you like crawfish?

*

- Nice.
- Oh. Gosh.

-Oh, I'm sorry about the wind,
okay?

-It's okay. It's okay.
-I got something for you.

Hold on a second.
-Oh, wait. Hold on.

-I got you.
Don't worry, don't worry. Here.

-Oh, no, no, no, no.
I can't take your hat.

-No. It's okay.
I'll buy another one.

It's yours. That's you.
My gift to you.

- Oh! Thank you. Mm-hmm.
- All right?

- My brother.
- Good to see you as always.

I'll see you next time.

You know, when I first got here,

I went looking for
the best crawfish in town

- all over the city.
- Mm-hmm.

I happened to stumble
upon these old heads sitting

in front of a corner store
playing dominoes.

They told me about this cat.
-Oh, okay. It's beautiful.

-I knew you'd like it.

-Anyway...you, uh,
moved here from Chicago, right?

-Yeah. Well,
I grew up on the South Side,

but I've lived in Brooklyn,
Miami,

Berlin, Johannesburg,
among other places.

And now I'm here for now.

- What you laughing at?
- Nothing.

-What's that giggling about?
-No. You know what?

I just got this new book,

- Art and Travel, right?
- -Mm-hmm.

-And it mentions all the cities
that you just talked about.

And it's just,
you know, you artists --

You live, like, nomadic
lifestyles. What a life.

-Well, I love capturing the
beauty in the world. You know?

I don't like to feel like
I'm missing out on anything.

-Mm.

This smells delicious.

I-I could eat 10 of these.

Mm-hmm.

-And you have no idea what
the hell you're doing. Do you?

-What,
you don't see these skills?

-I see you struggling.
Give me this thing.

Let me show you how to do it.
-Fine.

- Now, look at this.
- This is very simple.

You just grab the head,
like this. Okay?

Then you just do a nice, little,
simple twist and pull.

You see that?
-Okay.

Professionals like me,
we suck the head.

-Okay.
-Oh, damn. Oh!

-Look at you, dripping.
-Look what you made me do.

I'm trying to teach
you some stuff and...

look what you made me do.
-That's you!

This is crazy.
Oh, man.

You got me jammed up
out here...looking crazy.

Well, listen,
while we making a mess,

I got another question
for you to answer.

Oh, boy. What?

-How long have you
been married?

-Um, a long time.

Would you care to elaborate?

I'm sorry. We don't have to talk
about this.

No. It's -- It's --
It's cool. It's cool.

You know, marriage could start
out with all the spark

and plans and dreams,
and then life happens.

- Mm.
- And then here come

the kids
and the bills and the routine.

And then...silence.

- Hmm.
- But my husband is --

My husband's a good guy.
-Oh, I'm sure.

-That's not what I mean.
Like, he is an amazing father.

- Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
- And he's a hard worker.

And he gave me the best job
in the world --

being somebody's mother.

- I bet you're a great mother.
- Yeah.

You know,
my kids are terrific kids.

-I don't know. I don't think
I'm much of a family guy.

My work and my career,
they keep me pretty fulfilled.

- That doesn't ever get lonely?
- It does not.

Oh. Pbht!

I have friends
and extended family

all over the world.
-Ah. Women friends?

Ahh.

Of course I do.

-Well, I mean, you know,
I asked because you're the one

who said you don't like
missing out on things, so...

- No. No words.
- I don't like missing

out on things because
I have time for everything.

I like to focus on the freedom
of time and not the stress.

The stress of time
is what makes people

buy into the whole "happily
ever after" type of thing.

- I don't think it's real.
- Seriously?

-I don't.
-No, I feel like people

- that feel like...
- I don't think it is.

-Listen, I feel like people
who think

that it's not real
are actually just scared.

It's a lot of work.
It's a lot of work.

Look, I was reading this book --
this other book...

and the main character compares

- love to a roller coaster.
- Mm-hmm.

-Some people are afraid
to get on.

Some people
are afraid to let go.

And then there are some
who just are afraid to...

fall.

-All right.

- I feel that.
- Okay.

But, you know, in this
short conversation we've had,

this is the second book
you've brought up.

- Yes, I'm quite astute.
- Are you a nerd?

I am a nerd.

- I'm talking to a nerd.
- Hold on. You are.

- No. Go ahead, go ahead.
- Sorry.

Mm-hmm.

Oh, it's him.

Hey, Jeremiah. What's up?

No, I just put money
into your account two days ago.

What are you talking about,
babe?

Well, you gotta ask your father.

No, I'm not putting him
on three-way. I'm on a dat--

I'm in the middle of something.

Yeah. So you call him
and then text me

and let me know what he says.

Okay. Love you, too.

Bye. Sorry.

-Everything good?

- Everything's great.
- Mm.

You know,
I'm starting a new exhibition.

Something that's a little bit
more personal to me.

-Really? Yeah? Okay.
-Yeah. Mm-hmm.

To tell you the truth, I'm kind
of stuck on a couple of pieces,

so I figured that maybe
after this beautiful sunset,

we could head over to the studio

and you can give me
your thoughts.

Because you've got a good eye.

All right?

And even better than that...

you mean what you say.

And I respect what
you have to say.

**

Come on in. Take it
all in. Take it all in.

Make yourself at home. I'm gonna
go and change this shirt

because I got the, you know.
-Oh, yeah, the crawfish juice.

Make yourself at home.
I'll be right back.

*

**

*

*

Wow.

Did you shoot this on film?

-Oh, yeah. Absolutely.

That was
a completely spontaneous shot

of a mother, son
walking on Biloxi Beach.

Mm.

-Something special about
the way she's holding his hand.

It's not just about
motherly love.

-It's...
-Her guidance.

- Exactly.
- Yeah.

-This picture's special to me.
You know?

I didn't really grow up
knowing about this kind of love.

- Mm.
- My relationship

with motherhood was more about
abandonment than anything else.

Hm.

I grew up
in the foster care system.

That's
where I got my first camera.

-Wow.
I wondered where it all began.

Huh.

My social worker gave it
to me.

To tell you the truth...

this probably saved my life.

- I know it definitely changed it.
- Mm.

So let me show you something.

Let me show you something.
-Okay.

-This is part of a series

that I'm showing
at the New Orleans Museum of Art

to close out my residency.

The edit, the sequence,

everything that I'm trying
to convey is so important here.

No, I see it.

The connectivity
that you talked about.

-Absolutely.
-It's not exploitative.

It's more celebratory.
-Right.

You see, the goal is
to capture the beauty

that most people might not see.

-Yeah,
you're really good at that.

Why, thank you.

Ah. Look at that.

-What do you see
when you see me?

-*
How do you do
what you do to me?
*

- Come here.
- Okay.

Come on.

Ahh!

-All right. Uh, well...

...it started with your eyes.

And as beautiful as they are,

they seem to be carrying
a -- a weight of sadness.

-*
Selfish
*

*
I'm so selfish
*

*
When you walk in the room
*

*
I can't help it
*
-Do you see what I see?

-*
Oh, to hell
with everyone else
*

-Oh. You're shaking.
You all right?

Are you cold or...
-I gotta go.

-Can I get you something? Hey --
-I gotta go.

- *
I'm so selfish
*

*
You make me selfish
*

What's going on here?

-I practice corporate law.

Divorce is a whole
different beast.

-And why are you
looking into that?

-Oh, baby. Come on.
It's not for me.

It's for your mom.

- Okay.
- Mom, why are you talking

to Micah about divorce?

-Nothing is definite, okay?

I'm just trying
to understand my options.

-Since when
did divorce become an option?

Have you and Daddy
talked about this?

-Oh, my God, you really
should have been a lawyer,

asking me all these questions.

Your father and I
haven't decided anything. Okay?

I just asked Micah
if he could help me understand

what it would look like
if we did.

-All these years,

and I don't think
I have ever seen you

- without a roller set.
- Girl!

You know my curls won't
hold up in this swamp heat.

-Oh, so that's
why you got your shoulders

and your back out, too.
Mom, what --

-You don't like my dress?

I-I bought it in a store
in the Quarter.

I mean, you cute
or whatever, but...

-Oh.
-...who are you trying

to impress?
-Nobody!

Oh, my God. Okay, I gotta go.

Micah, thanks for this.
-Yes, ma'am.

-No. It's still crooked.

-Look, I have moved this
painting, like, three times.

Are you sure it's the painting
and not your neck?

-Oh.
-Hey.

Hey.
-Uh...hey.

Hey.

As a continuation of helping you
explore the real New Orleans...

- Uh-huh.
- ...I thought I'd try

to excite your taste buds
once again.

What is this?
Beignets?

-No, they call calas.

It's a popular street food
made from the enslaved Africans

to purchase their freedom
from the Spanish.

Now, we can't talk about
New Orleans food history

without talking about those.
And Café du Monde could never...

-You ate that. Okay?
-Right. He told that story.

Okay? Mmm!
This is so good.

Oh, that's good. Hm.

-*
I want you right now
*

*
I love the way
your heart beats
*

-Well, you have a good morning.

Mm.
-*
When I lay you down
*

-Peter.

-Yes?

-I want to explore more
of New Orleans with you.

-*
I love the way
your heart beats
*

-Really?

-Yeah.

-So I'm just staring at this
Bob Barker-looking-type dude...

- Unh-unh.
- ...like, "What the hell are you

gonna do with a 5-foot image
of a brother from the Ninth Ward

with gold fronts
and a pit bull named Nipsey?"

-Exactly. See, sometimes
these white collectors

who are drawn
to black aesthetics

completely ignore the history
and the context.

-And that's why sometimes I add

a little reparations fee
on their ass.

No, that's right.

You know,
I wanted to ask you, um --

what made you walk away
from the art world?

-Oh, okay. Well, during
my last year of college,

- I got pregnant with Kayla.
- Right.

-And after that,
the closest thing I ever came

to the "art world" was working
at the framing department

at my local craft store.

But then I quit
once I had the baby,

'cause my husband thought
it was a better idea

for me to stay at home
while he brought home the money.

-Mm. And how'd you feel
about that?

-I was completely fine with it
at the time

'cause I've always
wanted to be a mother.

But I just didn't know
what kind of a full-time job

it was gonna be.

I mean, what girl knows that
at that age, though?

-And look at you now.

-Yeah. See? Look at me now.

I'm working at the gallery.

I feel like I'm getting
that old thing back. You know.

-So over the years,
did you find yourself

longing for anything else?

-I mean, of course.

But when I made the decision
to be a wife and a mother,

all the other choices
just seemed selfish.

-Oh, so you chose to abandon
your wants and desires

because they felt selfish?

-I
chose
to make
the best decision for me

-I
cho
to make
the best decision for me

- and my family...
- No, I feel you.

- ...and my marriage.
- I-I feel you.

I'm just saying --
You being here, though...

it's kind of like
you're starting

to awaken those
abandoned wants and desires.

- Yeah, in a way.
- Mm.

-I never got a chance to travel,

so I really want to explore
art all over the world.

-What else do you want?

-What are you really trying
to ask me?

-When was the last time
someone made love to you?

**

-It's been a while.

-Look, if you want me to stop,
I'll stop, okay?

I don't want to be invasive.
I'll stop.

-No one said that.

*

**

It's been about three years
and some change.

-What was the position?

-Missionary.

-Were you satisfied?

*

-It was fine.

-Dance with me.

-Okay.

Fine.

-*
Oh, oh, oh
*

*
Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
*

*
Dig my diamond fingernails
into your gold skin
*

*
Till we explode like Krakatoa
into beautiful sin
*

*
Don't be gentle
*

Mm.

You know I love the way
your body feels.

-*
Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
*

-*
Babe, I'll be the water,
you can be the wind
*

*
Send them ripples
through my body
*

-I want to photograph you.

- *
Don't be gentle
*
-Mm-hmm.

-*
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
*

-*
Don't be gentle
*

-We'll see.

-*
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh, oh, oh
*

You can just hit
that mark. Okay?

And just relax.
Just take it easy.

Photography,
as you already know...

...is all about trust.

*

Only...

...if my subjects feel safe...

do they truly...

...let their essence
shine through.

*

So the question is...

...do you trust me?

*

Hey.

Do you trust me?

*

*

**

-*
You make me wanna live
again
*

*
You make me wanna try again
*

*
You make me wanna love again
*

*
And again and again
and again
*

*
You make me wanna live again
*

*
You make me wanna try again
*

Beautiful.

-*
You make me wanna love
again
*

All right. All right.

I'm gonna go get a couple
of things, okay?

Just relax.
I'll be right back.

Ah.

Let's try a little something
like this.

Very nice, very nice.

Let me just move
your hair there.

Looks beautiful.
Put this on you.

Just size this up here.

Make sure that, uh...

-*
I've been
*

-Make sure
that fits really good.

How's that?
Does that feel...

-*
And you've been
*

*
On my mind
*

*
I wrote letters in my head
to manifest you
*

-*
You make me wanna live
again
*

*
You make me wanna try again
*

* Y
ou make me wanna love
again
*

*
And again
and again and again
*

*
You make me wanna live again
*

*
You make me wanna try again
*

*
You make me wanna love again
*

*
And again and again
and again
*

*

-Mom?

-Oh, hey. What are you...

What are you still doing up?

-Well, baby girl here
decided to start doing

the Electric Slide
as I was trying to go to bed.

So Micah ordered us some food,

and we watched a couple episodes
of
Real Housewives.

- That's nice.
- Yeah, that is nice.

Hold on.
You look mighty snazzy.

What did you have
going on tonight?

-Oh, there was, uh, an event
at the gallery.

-Must have been
some kind of event.

Doesn't feel like you wear
5-inch heels.

-Which is
why I need to go lay down,

so good night.

- Good morning.
- Morning.

I picked you up a little
something 'cause I was, uh...

wondering about
how you felt about last night.

'Cause I know things are
a little complicated right now,

so...

-They are.

I know.

-Um, but I, um...

I thought last night...

was a perfect evening.

-*
Yeah
*

-Oh, yeah?

-*
It's all right
*
-Yeah.

*
It's all right
to love on you
*

*
It's all right, it's all right
to just be true
*

*
Going on a ride
*

*
I wanna feel the sun
on my nose
*

*
Feel my inner light
*

*
Feel the freedom
all in my soul
*

*
Got my hair flowing,
got my mind free
*

*
Music stay bumpin'
all for me
*

*
Don't let the day go away
*

*
Without a thank-you
to yourself, baby, yeah, yeah
*

*
It's all right,
it's all right to love on you
*

*
It's all right, it's all right
to just be true *

*
It's all right,
it's all right to love on you
*

*
And just be you
*

*
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah
*

-Okay, then.

-She been out here
messing with that boob tube.

-Mm-mmm!
-Come in here.

Aww!
These are so cute.

This is our last one.

- Who got you that?
- Joy.

Oh.
I love Miss Joy.

- Here you go, baby.
- Ooh!

Oh, my goodness, this is
so cute, Aunt Charmaine!

-And it's
by a black-owned company.

- Okay. Come on. Yes!
- Precious.

-I got it. Thanks, honey.
-Okay. Okay.

Okay.

Oh! Hold on.

Hey, Daddy!
I miss you!

Miss you guys, too.

I know your mama's over there
holding it down.

-Uh, yeah.

- Hi, Ross.
- Hi, Valerie.

Look at you.

You've always been
the hostess with the mostess.

-Yeah, well, you know me.

I do.

All right, then. Uh, listen,

I'm gonna get ready to go
to the gym.

-Okay, Daddy.
Enjoy your workout.

- I love you. I'll call you later.
- Bye.

-Bye, Ross.

-Hold on. Are those biceps
and triceps I see?

-Val, are you okay?

Uh...

I'm having an affair.

- What?!
- I knew it.

-With who?
-This...

This man, this photographer
I met out here.

-When did this happen?
And where did you meet him?

-At the gallery.
I met him at the gallery.

And it's very new. And, oh,
my God, I'm just so happy

I can finally tell someone.

-Okay, okay,
but I just want to know --

How did we go from moving
out here to help Kayla

to laying low
and spreading it wide?

-Shut up, okay? I just want to
know -- How low did you go?

And I want to know
everything about it.

-Uh, can we start
with a photo of this man?

-Yes. Look, look, look, look.

-Oh.
-Oh, baby!

He look like he pay rent.

-Oh, God. It's been amazing.

I never knew my body
could feel like this.

And, you guys, this man...
this man can go all night long.

-Is he on the pill?
-He doesn't need it.

Bitch!

-And it's not just the sex,
you guys.

It's not just the sex.
He sees me.

He makes me feel
like I exist outside

of just being a wife
and a mother.

And the more I'm around him,

the more I remember who I am
and who I was before.

And -- And it's not just that.
It's the city.

It's New Orleans.

And it just makes
you feel alive.

And it's the music and the art
and the people and the joy.

-Okay, I hear you, sis,
but what you gonna do

when Ross finds out?
Or the kids?

-Donna. Can you please stop
being a hater?

- No, I am being a friend.
- Look,

if any of her friends
should be traumatized

by her having an affair,
it should be me.

Men do this all the time
and get away with it, okay?

If Val want to be selfish
for once in her life,

let her be it,
and damn them kids.

Are you still considering
a divorce?

- I don't know. I-I'm not sure.
- Okay. Well, good.

So at least you also don't see
this affair going anywhere.

-Can I just live in a moment
for once, Donna? Damn.

-Sis, I am not trying
to talk you into an empty bed.

What you're doing is dangerous.

-Look,
I just want you to be careful.

Are you scared at all
about this?

-Of course I'm scared.

- That's something.
- Okay. Oh, okay.

There she is.
Right on time.

Just give me a second.
Let me go get my jacket.

All right.

-Wow.

Uh, hold on a second.

Having a wardrobe malfunction.

You know, I almost put those
in the exhibition tonight.

- No, you didn't.
- Take it easy.

Those are for my personal
archives. Come on.

Help me out here, please.
-I am, I am, I am, I am.

-Oh, boy.
-What's going on?

Are you nervous?

-I'm always nervous
before these.

-What?
-Yeah, man.

-The great Peter Mosley
is nervous?

Yeah, that guy.

-God, you're just so...
I don't know.

I'm just not used to a man being
vulnerable about his feelings.

-What?
-Oh, yeah.

-You talking to a thug from
the South Side of Chicago.

You better recognize.
-Shut up.

Mwah.

No, but seriously,

I'm looking forward to, uh,
introducing you

to quite a few people tonight,
especially the museum director.

They're always looking
for strong curators

such as yourself.

-Thank you.
I appreciate that.

-No, thank
you
for being my date tonight.

- It's my honor.
- Me, too.

-Come on. Let's get out of here.
-Thank you.

You look beautiful.

-*
I fell in love with you
*

- Here we are.
- Excuse us.

- Pardon me.
- Thank you.

- Hey. How you doing, man?
- Wow.

-Are you impressed yet?
-I am very impressed.

-Ah, that's what I want to hear.
-This is amazing.

-I know that guy.
-Oh, you do?

-I do.
-Mm, me, too.

-Cool, dude.
-Mm-hmm.

I know him well.

-Oh, wait.
-Oh.

Excuse me.

-All right. Oh. Hey.
How you doing?

Baby, just give me one minute.
-No, no, no, no. It's -- It --

-No. Go. Go, go, go, go.
-Okay? I'll be right back.

-Go.

-Ooh, you got to be
seeing green.

Ah, Jacoby,
I'm so glad you're here.

-Oh, my God.
Uh, you look amazing.

-Thank you. I like that hat.
So you have a hat

for every occasion?
-I actually do.

You know,
'cause an event like this,

a good hat shouldn't just
complement the look.

It should start
the conversation.

-I like that hat.
-I know.

-My husband likes hats, too.
-Oh, okay.

-Yeah.
-Well, shout out to him.

-Yeah.
-Mm-hmm. So, uh,

who you came here with?

-Oh, um...yeah,
Mr. Mosley invited me.

I know that's right.

Mm. Oh, by the way,

so we might have secured this,
like, painting

that my mother really loved from
this artist out in Tremé, so...

-Oh, wow.
-...fingers crossed

we get to add it to the gallery.
-No, no, that --

that's incredible.
-Yeah, yeah.

I know how much
that means to you.

- Yeah. Uh-huh.
- Yeah.

-Yeah.
-Yeah.

-Mm-hmm.

-You're good. Go ahead.
-Okay. Sorry.

Sorry, sorry, sorry.
-No, go ahead and go.

- Mm-hmm.
- Oh. Thank you.

-But, you know,
I'm glad you showed up.

Oh, look. Hey.

-Hi.
-Dani, Kenya,

This is my new
intelligent art friend, Valerie.

-Hi.
-Hi.

-Uh, yeah.

I'm the intelligent art friend.

Uh, how do you guys
know each other?

-We used to date.
-We used to date.

-Really? Okay.
Um, at the same time?

-Technically.
But Dani and I didn't know.

-And now
we're
together.

- Mm.
- Oh.

Oh, hey, Glenn.

- What's up, man?
- Hi.

How you doing?
Good to see you.

-Oh, my gosh, we need a photo.
-Evening, ladies.

-Let's do that.
Let's knock it out.

Good to see you, brother.
Yeah.

-Thank you once again.
It's a beautiful event.

Thank you.
Oh. Sorry, baby.

And, once again, I'm sorry I
couldn't introduce you to Glenn.

You know,
these things get a little crazy,

but I'm sure I can set up
some coffee or lunch

or something like that.
-Sure.

-To tell you the truth, I really
don't even like this stuff.

The photos, the schmoozing --
it's not really my style.

-Okay, do you always date
multiple women at the same time?

-Uh...
Hey, thank you for coming.

All right. Listen, listen.
Listen, listen. Hey, hey, hey.

Wait a second. Wait a second.

If you're asking me
if I practice non-monogamy,

then the answer is yes.

-I guess
I shouldn't be so surprised,

coming from the man who doesn't
like to miss out on anything.

- What is this?
- This --

This right here really
isn't going anywhere, is it?

-Val, look, let's go outside...
-Just...

-...and let's talk about this.
-Am I right?

It's not going anywhere.

-Why don't you answer
your own question?

You're the one that's married.

-Don't act like you care now.
Don't -- Don't do that.

-I don't appreciate you
coming at me like this

because
I
haven't judged
you.
-Really?

-Really.
-Let me tell you something.

-I'm surprised you're
still allowing this trauma

to lead your life.
-Trauma?

-Trauma.
-You can't even commit

to one city,
let alone one woman

because the little boy inside
feels abandoned by his mother.

And you too grown...
-My mother?

-...and you're too old
to act like that.

-This coming from a woman
who can't decide

whether to mail off divorce
papers or keep writing me.

You know what the difference is
between you and I?

No. Listen. Do you?

Do you know what
the difference is?

The difference is I know
who I am.

And you're too damn old to be
deciding who you are right now.

-God.

- Yes, Micah?
- Hello? Hey, Mama V.

Hey, it's happening.
The baby's coming.

-Oh, my God.
Okay, I'm on my way

to the hospital right now, okay?
Okay, bye.

-All right. Look. Let's --
Let me take you to the hospital.

We can talk about this
in the car.

-No, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no.

This old lady can call
her own car.

Good night.

-Val.

-Sorry I'm late. I caught
the first thing smoking, so...

-Daddy, it's okay.

Mom, will you hand her to him?

Oh, yeah.

Anaya, meet your granddad.

-Hi, Anaya.

**

**

**

*

-I know you don't really want
any of that junk.

Well, uh,
this is about as good as it gets

since I plan on staying here
overnight.

-There's got to be someplace
around here still open.

Of course.

God. Geez.

-You --
-Go ahead. Go ahead.

Thanks.

-Ah.

-Okay.

Thanks.
I guess all that time in the gym

is working out for you, huh?

-Yeah.

You know, that --
that haircut look nice on you.

-Oh, thanks.
I see you got a new Tech hat.

-Yeah. Had Jeremiah
get me a new one.

I know you didn't like
the other one.

-Yeah, that thing was awful.

-Hey, listen, them chips ain't
going to do nothing for you.

Let me take you
to get something to eat.

-Okay.

Okay.

-Hold on.

It's cold outside.

-Thanks.

-*
Nothing but,
nothing but you
*

We drove all over this city

just to end up in some greasy
junk-food spot on Bourbon.

-What the hell is
a boudin ball?

I don't...

You
picked this place.

-It was the only place
that was open.

And can you please cut
a brother some slack?

I mean,
we
are
celebrating.

-What are we celebrating,
Ross?

-Being grandparents.

-Well, in that case, can we
have two Hand Grenades, please?

-When the hell
you start drinking like that?

-Laissez les bons temps rouler.

It means,
"Let the good times roll."

-That was kind of sexy.

What? No way.

You know, I told Jeremiah
about that high-top fade

you used to rock.
Whew!

-Then two weeks later,

I tried to put a texturizer
in that thing.

-Oh, and -- and it was awful.
It was awful.

Do you hear me?
-All my hair fell out

'cause I'm trying
to impress you.

- Unh-unh.
- Do not blame me for that.

I'm not taking the blame.
-Mm.

That was the same night
as the Mary J. Blige concert.

-Oh, my 19th birthday.

I picked you up in Betty.

-Betty. And she broke down
on the side of the road.

-Hey, hey, hey, now.

I popped that cassette
in the deck,

and I gave you a concert
on the side of the road.

-You did. You did. Get it.
-Whoo!

*
All I really want
*
-Hey, hey!

-*
Is to be happy
*
-Get it!

- *
Is to find the love
*

-Whoo!
They all looking at you.

Look at everybody
looking at you.

Just don't take no pictures.

-Ain't going to take
no pictures.

-Whew. And that night...

- Whew.
- I told Jamie...

...I'm going to do
whatever I can to get this girl.

How
is
your brother?

-Him and Stephanie
are getting a divorce.

-Aw, no.

Yeah, he, uh --

he stayed at the house
for a few weeks.

I had enough room.

-Well, I'm glad that
you were there for your brother.

I'm sure you guys got
some bonding time

and broke open
a couple of beers,

worked on Betty.

-Actually...

I ain't touched Betty
since you left.

Divorce seems so sad.

It's like...

losing a leg...

...and waking up in the morning,
reaching for it,

and it just ain't there no more.

*

-I think we need another.
Hey, can we have two more?

-You done drank more than me.

You might --
I might have an easy night.

-Oh. Oh, shut up.

Just shut up.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
I need help.

-Okay. Come on.

Okay.

Okay.
What's all of this?

-You know I've been in the gym.
-Aah!

*

Mm.

-*
I speak your love language
*

*
Shh
*

Where you learn that?

-*
I speak your love language
*

*
Shh
*

Unh-unh.

-*
Ooh, unh
*

*
Ooh, unh
*

*

*

-Mom, are you okay?
-Oh, yeah, honey, I'm fine.

The nurse came in
while you were asleep.

-That man is driving you nuts,
huh?

Your father and I, we --

we're still figuring out
our stuff.

-I'm talking about
the photographer, Mom.

-How...

How did you know about that?

-Well, after watching you
stumbling in the house

all hours of the night,
I had to see what was up.

So I asked that guy
you work with at the gallery.

-Oh, my God.

-Mom,
he didn't want to say anything.

I just...

I made him.
-I'm sorry.

- No, no.
- Baby.

-Oh, no.

-I'm really, really sorry.
-No, don't do that.

-You have nothing
to be sorry for or ashamed of.

**

I think it's only fair
that I share a secret of my own.

I never told you this,
but, um...

...during that first year...

we split up for a bit.

And during that time,
I received

the most random message
on social media from...

from Christian Mitchell.
-Oh, my God.

I haven't heard that name
in a long time.

Exactly.

He started liking
all these pictures

and telling me
how good I looked.

But then I went to his page,

and he was looking good, too,
Ma.

After a few messages,
I ended up meeting up with him.

We started talking about
high school and life after.

And before I knew it,
I was feeling 16 again.

Christian felt like
the perfect escape

from the choke hold
I felt my marriage was.

But then I started
having doubts

that this
spontaneous rekindling

would survive over time...

...that, eventually,
the issues I was dealing with

with Micah
would show up with Christian.

-Mm. Yeah.

-Then I remembered
my therapist

comparing the situation
to a theme park.

Sure, it's exciting...

...but you can't live there.

You cannot substitute romance
for true love.

I believe...

...that learning
how to love yourself

will make it easier
to love the one you're with...

...whoever that is.

Come here.

-Oh, God.

-Hey, when did
you
become
the mother?

-*
Hey, come on
*

-Hey, strawberry daiquiri.
Hey, you made it back, huh?

- Yeah.
- Nice top.

Uh...you, too.

-The city really got a hold
of you, huh?

-Yeah, it certainly has.

**

*

-Yes, indeed.

I guess that three-year drought
is over, huh?

Oh, girl.

All right, now.

-Val, let me just start
by saying --

-Wait, wait. Wait, wait.
Can you just give me a sec?

I just have to say one thing,
okay?

-Okay.
-Okay.

So...

the other night was
a culmination of a few things,

but mostly it was like...

the woman
that I was running away from

and the woman that I'm becoming
collided at that event.

And instead of fighting
with you...

...I really should've been
thanking you.

Look, I came here
to be with my daughter,

and then here you come.

And you showed me a part of me

that I didn't know
was still there.

You gave me the space
to remember who I was.

It has been such a gift to me.

-Val, um...

...you have to understand that
you've been a gift to me, too.

You know, I haven't been
able to shake what you told me.

You told me that, um,
some people were afraid to fall.

I don't want to be afraid
with you.

**

I want you to come to Paris
with me.

-Why not start the journey now?

Think about it.
It'll be just like here.

The art, the, uh --
the food, the culture.

-What about my family?

Like, I can't just move
across the world.

-And why can't you?

I mean, look at what
you're building for yourself.

You yourself said that
you've never traveled before.

Think about it.
This is the beginning.

You're doing something
that's just for you, finally.

**

Let's explore
another magical city...

...together.

-Val, come home with me.

Look, there's a lot
I didn't say last night.

You know,
it could have been the, um...

-Hand Grenades?

- Yeah, those.
- Yeah.

-A-And when you mentioned
Betty last night...

...I didn't tell you
a thought I had about her.

I've been working on that car
for almost 30 years...

...a-and it seems like
every time

I would fix something on it,

something else would break.

And after all those years,
no matter what,

I didn't give up on it.

I didn't get rid of it.
I just --

I just kept working on it.

And, Val, I don't want to
give up on you...

...and I really don't want you
to give up on me.

I mean, at my age,

I-I didn't know
how to tell you

what was going on
with me...

regarding my...

-Oh, my G-- Ross...

this isn't just about sex.

I wanted love, I wanted
you.

You know what it was like?
It was like...

It was like
I was grieving you.

I was grieving the old you.

You didn't want to fix any
of the issues in our marriage,

and you know what else?

The day that I left you,
you didn't even ask me to stay.

-Val, do you hear me?
I...

I am here.

And I'm sorry.

Listen...

...when you stood in front
of that vending machine...

...my life flashed
before my eyes.

I mean, even -- even now,

seeing the version of the woman
you always wanted to be.

And I always thought
we were too old

to be anything other than
who we were.

-Oh, my God, here we go.
-No, but -- but I was wrong.

-I was wrong about a lot.

But I am not wrong
about us starting over.

-I can't start over.

I'm not building
a relationship in a graveyard.

You said it yourself.

I'm not the same woman
that you married.

-I still believe you are.
-No, I'm not.

I'm not.

And you got to understand that,
Ross.

I'm not starting from scratch.

I'm starting with all the things
that I've learned

and that I accept

and that I love about myself.

And if you really want to
make this work,

you got to be willing
to love the woman that I am now.

-What do you need from me?

-Baby.

I don't want to give you
directions on how to love me.

I want you to find your way
to me.

*

**

*

*

-Wow. Hm.
-Mm-hmm.

-She would've loved this.
-Mm-hmm.

-I want to thank you, Valerie.

Now, um,
I know I've said this before,

but you --
you have been an angel.

-No, no, no.

You and your mother
are the angels.

Look, you helped
a 50-something-year-old woman...

...remember a dream
that she forgot she had, so...

...I'm the grateful one.

-How old you say you were?
-Unh-unh.

- Have you lost your mind?
- Okay.

-Well, I see you're
still learning French.

-You never know.
-Mm. Well, speaking of,

what are we going to do
about this box

that we have from Paris?

-Paris?
-Mm-hmm.

-You got it?
-I got it.

-Okay.
-Yep. Oh. Here we go.

-Oh.
-All right.

Oh, my God.

I mean, have you ever looked
more beautiful?

*

*

Sweet.

-Wow.
-Hm.

Yeah, so...

we're definitely gonna
have to add this to the gallery.

*

*

*

-Wow.

I don't think I've seen you
more beautiful.

-You drove all the way down here
on a Wednesday?

Don't you have work
in the morning?

-I retired, Val.

*

-All this time...

and you finally did it.

-At this point in my life,
it felt more important

to spend my days
with someone I care for

more than anyone else
in the world.

Not just because I want to,
but...

...because she deserves it.

Life wouldn't be life
without you.

And when I think about
spending my life with you,

at this age...

...my only regret is
it won't be long enough.

I want this next chapter
to be...

...something we cherish
together.

I got my passport.
-What is that?

Oh, my God.
-I don't know.

I mean, uh, I thought
maybe we'd go somewhere

you always wanted to go,
like --

like Paris or something.

-Mm.

Yeah, sure.
We'll figure it out.

-Yes.

We'll figure it out.

You want a ride?

- Yeah.
- Let's do that.

-Ah.
-I saw that

Mary's performing tonight.

You still like Mary, right?

-Oh, come on. Mary J. Blige?

You know that's my girl.
-I know, I know.

-No, wait.
Is Betty gonna make it?

Because, you know,
she likes to break down.

-It's only a mile away.
She better not.

-She better not.

-*
Time to let go
*

-*
Time to let go
*

*
Sing, all I really want *

*
Is to be happy
*

*
And to find a love
that's mine
*

*
It would be so sweet
*

*
All I really want
is to be happy
*

*

**

*

**

*

*

**

**

**

*

**