[upbeat funky music]
- * Yeah *
- * I don't wanna think about nothing *
* Just watching you dancing *
* Feel like the beginning of something *
* In the end, in the end *
* All I wanna do is just fall in *
* I don't wanna think about nothing *
- Obama out.
* *
- * Every time we push it away *
* Every day a new reason to stay *
* 'Cause we got a big love *
* Won't ever give it up *
* We got a one-way ticket love *
* We ain't going no place but up *
* Nothing can stop this *
* No one can top us *
* We got a big love *
- Ladies, dinner.
- I'm so hungry.
- Me too.
- All righty. - Thanks, Dad.
- For you. - Thanks!
- Morning, ladies. What can I whip up?
Eggs? Pancakes?
- I'm good. Got a granola bar.
- Pop-Tart. But thanks.
- Okay.
- * 'Cause we got a big love *
* *
* Won't ever give it up *
* We got a one-way ticket love *
* We ain't going no place but up *
* Nothing can stop this *
* No one can top us *
* We got a big love *
* *
* 'Cause we got a big love *
* Nothing can stop this *
* No one can top us *
- COVID-19 can be characterized
as a pandemic.
- * I don't wanna think about nothing *
* The world feels like it's crumbling *
* Every day another new something *
* But in the end, in the end *
* Can't nobody do us in *
* I just wanna think about loving *
* 'Cause we got a big love *
* Won't ever give it up *
* We got a one-way ticket love *
* We ain't going no place but up *
* Nothing can stop this *
* No one can top us *
- Stephen, you don't even know what you talkin' about.
Ain't never set foot on a football field
except to jock other players for information.
And now you want to play Monday morning quarterback.
Get the [bleep] out of here, man.
- Look like some people need to go
back to broadcast school.
By the way, did you finish school?
- Well, have I finished-- yeah, I finished school, yeah.
This--you know, this is easy. - Really?
- I could do your job. I got the rushing record.
- Then what you here for?
You're the one looking for a job.
- * We got a big love *
* One that will give it up *
* We got a one-way-ticket love *
- Oh, my God.
[indistinct chatter]
- These Bumper G books are the best beach reads ever.
- Right?
- I read this in two days. When's the next one coming?
- I mean, I don't know.
- These books are almost as hot as the author.
- * No one can top us *
* We got a big love *
[upbeat funky music]
- Do you have any threes? - So there you go.
- [chuckles] Yo. Man, thanks for this, Harp.
[sighs] It never gets old having a best-selling friend.
- Aw. - I can't wait to read it.
- Thanks, Murch.
Um, this is the last of Bumper G, though, for real.
- What, really? Why?
- Yeah, well-- - I-I thought I read
that this new one is selling
even better than the last one.
- Yeah, no, it did.
Bumper G is just not where my head's at these days.
I'm here. Next time I write a book,
I want to be on a panel like tonight's lecture.
- Mm. Heavy hitters.
- I know. - Yeah.
- Wait, are you-- are you saying
that I can't hang-- - No, no, no, no.
It's not that at all. Not that.
It's-- branch out, for sure.
You definitely have it in you. - Right?
- But there is nothing wrong with the populist stuff.
I mean, you own this lane, Harp.
- And don't get me wrong,
I mean, the royalties are great.
Those and all the movie money,
they have me checking out this-this crazy listing
on the Upper West Side.
- Wait, you're leaving Harlem? - Well, maybe.
Obviously, I gotta check it out with Robyn, but...
- Right. Of course, of course.
- Go fish. Who has a two?
- Dang. Gosh.
Here, look. Another one.
- I win. Can we play again?
- Boom - Ha.
- Listen, thank you two for watching Mia tonight.
We appreciate it. - No problem.
We're gonna play more games and make some cupcakes.
- Cupcakes. - Cupcakes? Yay!
- [giggles] - One cupcake.
But only after you finish your dinner, Mia.
- Save one for me. - So sorry. I'm ready.
I got caught up on the phone with my dissertation advisor.
She just keeps trying to steer me
away from my proposal.
- Mm. Is this the medical cannabis thing?
- Yeah, well, it's not just cannabis, you know.
There's a whole slew of other plant-based medicines
and research out there that I-I really believe
are worth exploring. - You know, every time
you talk about this you seem stressed?
Is it worth battling your advisor over?
- Well, yeah. I want to find alternative and natural--
really, natural ways to just treat social disorders.
Maybe you can meet in the middle.
Compromise. - We better.
Otherwise I won't be getting a PhD.
[all chuckle]
But, silver lining,
I got accepted into Dr. Temple's class.
- What? - Yeah, I know.
He is an academic, whoo, rock star.
[laughter]
So at least now I have an excuse
to go and introduce myself tonight.
- Hey, Mom,
I still need all my supplies
for my Ancient Egypt project due tomorrow.
Will you be back in time to take me?
- Baby, it's due tomorrow?
How come you didn't remind me?
- Now, don't worry about it.
Listen, you go introduce yourself to Dr. Temple.
And I'll come back and take Kellie.
- Uh, after my violin lesson?
- Oh. - Right.
After her violin lesson. Yes, of course.
- Uh, you got this? - I got this.
- Oh, my God. - I got it.
- Thank you, baby. - Yes.
- I owe you. - I got it.
- Yeah. - All right, should we go?
- Yeah. - Yes.
[sensual music]
- Lance.
Oh, Lance.
- When it's time to play night games,
Passion by Dior is always in my playbook.
- Uh, but Lance-- - Yeah, I--
- Lance, use your other hand. You're block--
[clapper snaps]
- Passion by Dior is always in my playbook.
Yeah. Oh--
[clapper snaps] Always in my playbook.
* *
[clapper snaps] Oh, wait. I'm sorry.
I'm so--I-I'm sorry. I sp--it got in my eye.
[clapper snaps]
When it's time for night games--
when it's time for games-- when it's time for--
[clapper snaps] They normally don't use lines
on the-- on the cologne commercials.
Look, can I just do one where I don't--I'm sorry.
[clapper snaps]
* *
Lance will help you score.
* *
- Oh, Lance.
- Well...I-I'm gonna--
I'm gonna say this to you with love,
but you're not an actor.
- Yeah, well, that's why-- that's why I'm not--
I-I don't act, right?
Yeah, see, with that I was just letting the, uh--
letting the smolder put in the work.
- The problem is, is, it doesn't even seem
like you're having fun doing this.
- Well, look, it keeps me busy, pays the bills.
- Lance, you do not need money. You already have money.
But speaking of smoldering, how's the, uh--
how's the dating life going?
- It's all right. - Mm.
You know what you need? - Hmm?
- You need to find something you're passionate about.
Like, redefine your purpose.
And I promise you the minute that you do,
you're gonna feel it like this.
- Hmm. - Because this, my brother,
is not it.
- Purpose. - Dad! What are you doing here?
- Uh, yeah, and it's good to see you too, son.
- Hey! Coffee right on time.
- I mean, I'm just surprised.
- You know, my godson has only been here a week,
and he's killing it.
- Of course he is. He's my son. What'd you think?
[both chuckle] Well, listen, son,
I-I came to grab you because the trainers
are at the house.
Want to get those reps in we talked about.
- Well, I'm supposed to be here till 6:00.
- Well, you know, we'll beat the traffic.
- Exactly. And it's fine for me.
You've been doing great. Keep up the good work.
And I will see you next week.
[funky music]
- Passion, huh? - Exactly.
Passion, purpose, with a little bit of smolder.
- I'm on that. Thanks, Jordan.
[phone buzzing]
- Anita, hi. How's it going?
Nope, absolutely. We are definitely still on.
[chuckles] No, you are--
you are a huge priority.
[whistle tweets] - All right, let's go.
* *
- Here, here. Right here. Right here.
Ohh.
- Yeah. Way to go, LJ.
Way to get the ball at the highest point.
- Hey, come on, man.
- Good work, man. - All right.
- I'ma see you at practice. I'ma see you at practice.
[chuckles] - Appreciate it, Coach.
That was a good practice, son.
But you need to work on that pass coverage.
- Come on, Dad. My last game I had
two interceptions and a touchdown.
- Yeah, but you still have some work to do.
Okay, you gotta drill down on your footwork
like we talked about.
That's how you get to the next level, okay?
All right? Give me some.
[both chuckle] Let's get something to eat.
[gentle piano music]
* *
[car horns honking]
- Just check back in later.
- Okay, great.
- Wow.
- I know, right?
Wow.
Four large bedrooms. A den.
Gourmet kitchen with an island.
And, baby, a pasta faucet.
I don't know what a pasta faucet is,
but it sounds dope, don't it?
- It's definitely a lot.
- You worried about the price?
- For starters.
And it's the Upper West Side.
You know how much I love Harlem.
- I know. I know. I do too, baby.
But the schools over here, tops in the city.
And if you're worried about the money,
one Hollywood paycheck alone
takes care of the down payment.
This is, like, the house
that "Unfinished Business: The Movie" bought.
- I love seeing you so excited, Harper,
but this is a big change.
And I'm gonna need more than five minutes to decide.
- Of course. Of course, baby.
I know.
I want you to love it the way I love it.
So take your time.
Sleep on it.
Enjoy the-the pasta faucet.
There's a court-courtyard.
Come on, you want to see?
- Okay. - Yeah.
- [inhales]
* *
- I wined and dined Anita, made her feel appreciated,
and explained to her why we had to cancel her show.
But the time we got to dessert...hmm.
She was thirsty for the fourth seat
in "From the Culture."
- Great. Great.
So you're confident you'll still meet
your new slate target dates?
- Oh, absolutely.
I'm gonna renegotiate her contract, shoot the pilot,
and follow suit with the rest of the slate
in Q1 as planned.
Beautiful job, ladies. Thank you.
Ooh, I love that. - Sounds great, Jordan.
There's a lot riding on this. Make it happen.
- Oh, come on, Patrick.
You do know that that is what I do.
[laughs]
I'll talk to you later.
- Wow. You are so chill and boss at the same time.
How can I be you?
- Oh, Nicole, you just have to work hard,
believe in yourself, listen, learn,
trust your gut, and follow your vision.
[phone buzzes] Ooh.
Uh, okay, I need to take this call.
Do you mind go finding us a delicious latte somewhere?
Add some vanilla. I'm feeling a little spicy.
- You got it. - [chuckles]
Hey, Shelby, what's up?
- Have you been following
this clapback hashtag on Twitter?
[laughs] Megan Thee Stallion is a beast.
I love her. All righty.
Pitch me some names on my new exercise app.
- I am in the middle
of preproduction craziness, Shelby.
- Stop. Stay on topic.
- Oh, I don't know. How about
"Move Like You Got Too Much Time on Your Hands"?
- Okay, hate is not help, Jordan.
Hate is not help. We've discussed this.
[sighs]
- What? Did Megan clap back already?
- Not yet.
But you should on this one. - Are you--
- These people are dragging you all up and down Twitter
over this Anita Roberts thing. - Oh, my God.
"Jordan Armstrong is just another self-centered,
"corporate token willing to sell a sister out
to make her own star shine."
Part one of 12? - Oh, boy.
Black Twitter has memed you in a bonnet on a pancake box.
- Ugh! Oh, no!
- Calm down, Jordan. It's not that bad.
- Oh, God. No, no, no, no, no!
- Okay, all these are going to Harlem's women's shelter
and Meals on Wheels.
Scotty, Amir, you want to take that run?
These are for the voter suppression protests.
- Oh, and that reminds me, Christopher asked
if we could bring signage like last time
and volunteer for on-site voter registration
after we march?
You down to hang with me and do that?
- Robyn, you know I'm always down for the cause.
[both chuckle]
- Harper. [laughter]
What are you doing here? Hi! I didn't see you.
- What's happening? - You been here long?
- A minute.
Watching you do your thing is kind of a turn-on.
- Here you go. - Good-lookin', Harp.
- Thank you... - Mm-hmm.
- For dropping Mia at her playdate.
And the Tsion Café-- - Um, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You never have to thank me for being that girl's daddy.
And you know I like to support local businesses, so--
Um, speaking of local businesses,
I noticed that you upped our community contribution
quite a bit.
- We make more. We can give more.
- Oh, is that so?
- That "Unfinished Business" money.
- Okay. I hear you. - [chuckles]
- Um, have you given any more thought
to the-the new house?
- Uh, some.
But I don't want to get into it at work.
It's not about that place.
That place is beautiful.
It's about any new place.
I-I don't-- I'm not trying to move, Harper.
- Okay. But just why not?
- My kitchen is here.
The community we serve is here.
I don't want to abandon all that
just so we can play George and Weezy somewhere.
- Okay. Okay, I hear you.
We can serve our community from anywhere, all right?
But why not do it from a beautiful spot
that has top-notch schools?
- I like being around my people.
- I do too. Black people are everywhere.
And I'm sorry, but gentrification is
here in Harlem now.
I mean, look at all these Beckys and Liams.
Baby, we need a new spot.
- Need or want?
- I ain't allowed to want to give my queen a castle?
Can't I want that?
- Your queen is fine.
- Fine. - And what's driving this?
Harper, what--why do you all the sudden want
a fancy new home or to be
a MacArthur Genius-type writer?
- Because I want more.
I want more space. I want more respect.
I want--isn't that okay?
- Yeah, that's fine.
But why can't we just be happy?
- I'm-- - Instead of always chasing
after some elusive "better"?
* *
- [sighs] - I, um--
I'm headed to Candace's for book club.
- All right, talk more later. Love you.
- Okay.
* *
[laughter]
- Okay. - Oh, my goodness.
Thank you. - Is everybody excited
to dive in? - Oh, my God.
I cannot believe that Black Twitter
is still dragging me like this.
This is craziness.
People are really lucky I keep it classy,
'cause I could really go in on these coward-ass,
clapbacking, Twitter finger wannabes.
- Ooh, now that is some tweetable shit right there.
Come on, let me do it. - Shelby, don't.
- Don't what?
During my "Housewife" days I was dragged more times
than the East River. I know how shitty it feels.
I think you should respond.
- I am not gonna say anything.
You know why?
I am not gonna give her that satisfaction.
And I don't have to, because I am the fucking boss.
- Well, maybe discussing the book
will help get your mind off it--
- That saditty schoolmarm was all pontification, no punch.
Look, love us or hate us,
at least "Housewives" know how to keep eyes on screens.
Cheers. - That part.
Okay, Candace. I know you.
What you over there thinking about?
Because you are sitting in judgment.
- Well, look.
You know how important her show was to the culture,
and you-- you didn't save it.
That's why people have questions.
- I have questions. Discussion questions.
- Do you not understand?
Candace, I gave her the perfect segue.
I invited her to a new show
with three Black female co-hosts.
And now I am scrambling to try to find
a fourth personality that's relevant
and that can move the needle.
- Loyalty. - Oh, boy.
- Betrayal. - Mm.
- Community conflict. - Please.
- All themes touched upon in "The Sum of Us."
Can anyone besides me find some connections here?
- Don't just read the book, Robyn.
Read the room, boo. You're flying solo here.
- Is that true? - Kind of.
- Well, I--the kids and, you know, my dissertation.
And the weather--it's so cold.
- It's, like, 3,000 pages, okay?
And maybe activists will, like, cancel me for this,
but...say less.
- It's 300 pages.
As the one who's been to more protests and rallies
than any of you, I'm not lettin' y'all
off the hook from at least reading about the issues.
- Okay, fine. Let me get my little gold star from you
so I can drink in peace.
Okay. What do we have here?
- Oh, God.
- "Black people, white people,
wage stagnation, no healthcare."
What she's basically saying is
that racism fucks up everybody's bag?
- [chuckles] Okay, it's-- yes, with way more nuance...
but essentially yes. [laughter]
- Okay, well I can tell that to my 1.3 million followers
in one tweet. Okay?
Fuck a book club. Join my tweet club.
Boop.
- Hold up, how many followers you got?
* *
[indistinct chatter]
Maybe it's just the stress of all of this.
- Is it one of those headaches again?
I-I can get you something.
Do you--do you need anything?
Water? Coffee? Lunch?
- All I need is Advil and for this to go well.
- It will.
The concept is amazing
and your casting is brilliant. [phone buzzing]
- What's up, Lance?
- Hey, yo, Jordan, you got me messed up
with all this "find your purpose" shit.
Like, all the Google searches yield
are adult coloring books and Pinterest boards
with "Live, Laugh, Love" pillows on them.
That ain't me. - Lance...
- I've been praying. I've been doing yoga,
meditation. I even tried pickleball.
Pickleball, Jordan. - Lance!
I am not Iyanla Vanzant.
Is there not anybody else
that you can use as your sounding board right now?
I am in the middle of production.
Jordan, you made a suggestion, and this time I agree with you.
Okay? I-I need to--
I need to get back into that zone.
Need to get that feeling back.
- Okay, Lance. I've been listening
to this new podcast. It's wonderful.
It will help you find and get into your zone.
I'll send it to you. - A podcast? Really?
- Yes, a podcast. Bye, boy.
- Jordan, li-- J--
- First team headed in for intros.
- Fantastic. Let's go, ladies.
- Okay, we're in places.
- Whoo!
Yes! Whoo!
- Pull back. I want to go to a two box
with Harris on the left.
Nice. Okay.
- Watch me work.
- I see you, girl.
- Counting down in five, four, three--
- This has to work.
- Uh, a'ight, look. A'ight. So black queens are wild.
- [chuckles] - The best ones always are.
- And stubborn, too.
- [chuckles] - Took Robyn to see
this bomb-ass apartment on the Upper West Side.
Beautiful bathrooms, four big bedrooms,
even a-a pasta faucet.
- Pasta faucet? - Mm-hmm.
It's like a bidet for noodles.
- No. No thanks. - Mm-mm.
- [laughs] - It's fancy--
it's some fancy shit.
But she's trying to tell me it's all about my ego.
Talking about some "why now?"
But I'm like why now? Why the fuck not now?
- Robyn don't just say shit, dawg.
Now, she been down with you from the jump.
You might want to consider her POV on this one.
- Shit, you better.
I mean, I wish y'all had shared with a brother years ago
about those six perfect syllables
to keep you in a good marriage--
"happy wife, happy life."
- Nah. No, no, no, no doubt, but I do understand
wanting to be the man of the house.
Protect and provide for the family.
It's job one. - Thank you.
I mean, between Robyn and my agent,
it's, like, they got a brother feeling a little insecure
about his shit.
Look, I want to write--
I want to write something that matters.
Richard Wright. Baldwin.
Look, is that so wrong?
- Well, not if you want that house.
I mean, those cats,
they didn't make their money selling books in Costco.
And if Costco is keeping your pockets fat,
do what works, man.
- Yeah, but maybe Harper wants to express something
that's burning deep inside, and he needs to get it out.
- That part. - Nigga, please, man.
Those cats paved the way for talented writers like you
to tell stories about us for us.
If you've got success taking this particular walk,
stay where you at, man. Stay in your lane.
- But that's why I want to change.
- Look, you know what?
I'ma tell you a story about change.
I changed my father's business plan
because I wanted to expand
into all these other territories.
COVID hit. We damn near go bankrupt
because of my changes.
Now we've gotta work twice as hard daily
just to get to half of where we were before.
- Wow.
I-I didn't know that, Q. - Yeah, man.
I didn't know that either. - You know a brother gotta keep
some mysteries. [laughter]
But I'ma do whatever I gotta do
to rebuild my pop's legacy back to where it was before.
Yeah. - I get that, dawg.
And you too, Harp. I get it, man.
I wish I had something
that was driving me on the daily.
Know what I mean? 'Cause I still just--
I'm out here, man, I'm just trying
to find my purpose.
- I thought you found your purpose
with that perfume commercial.
That shit was--[chuckles]. - When you were selling
the cars. - Wait, wait--
- Or choking out Stephen A. Smith.
- [chuckles] - National TV.
- Right. So how about a fuck all y'all?
How about that, right? [laughter]
Hey, look, okay, that wasn't my calling.
Okay? I get that.
But, look, raising the kids, man, I--
I don't know. It's good, but it's just weird
not having something that's just--
that I'm passionate about every single day.
- It looks like taking an ass-whoopin'
is your passion.
[chuckles] - Oh!
- A boat for your moaning ass
- Shit. - [laughs]
- Q, you had the cards down here.
- No, I did not. No, I did not.
- I saw you. - No, I did not.
He gave me these two straight up.
- That was some light-skin shit.
- I gotta go get the girls dinner, all right?
- Oh, so soon, so soon?
- Yeah, Candace's study group is tonight.
- Yeah, well, "Happy wife..."
[together] "Happy life."
- This was good, fellas.
We should put this in the regular rotation.
- All right. - I mean, it's
a little more challenging than a quarantine Zoom,
but I think it's worth it.
- 100%. - Yeah.
Even if I'm gonna take your little lunch money.
- [chuckles] Take all your money.
Take it back. - No, he went all-in
with, like, $2.50. - Later, fellas.
- Be safe. Be safe. - You got bus fare?
- Outsourcing allows third-world workers
to stave off poverty and Americans
to afford basics.
Should toasters cost us $200 just to keep
unskilled jobs in the U.S.?
- Well, I'd pay the Orkin man $200 to zap
that bug up your ass, so--
- Shelby, let's not do that.
- These are the numbers? - Data doesn't lie, Jordan.
The African American demo loves the show's concept
but hates Shelby.
And the white demo is confused, amused, or offended by Shelby.
- Points for trying something, but it's a fail.
Maybe get ahead of it? Recast and reshoot?
Or Patrick might rethink the whole slate.
- The metrics are not good.
[light piano music]
- [clears throat]
- Probably not the best time
for our mentor/mentee dinner?
I'll reschedule.
- Shit.
- So early testing on the movie
went well for the most part.
The director needs to tweak a few scenes.
Studio's already approved the reshoots.
- They want to make changes?
So do I-- - No, no. It's tiny.
Director's got it covered.
Something about the Cleavon character.
- Murch. - Look, all anybody needs
from you right now is another Bumper G.
And your publisher has offered a six-figure bonus
on top of increased royalties
if you deliver by next holiday cycle.
- [groans] I mean, it's flattering, but--
- Dude, just crank it out. [chuckles]
I mean, look, do you even have an idea
for this "serious" opus of yours?
- It's a concept.
Like-like a feeling.
I'm still noodling around, but--
- Harpie, this new deal will make you
set-your-family-up-for-life rich.
I mean, are you really gonna leave that on the table?
[telephone rings]
Yeah, go for Stan. - [sighs]
- Take another deep breath.
Hold it, and now...
- Okay. - Exhale
sighing the biggest sigh you've sighed all week.
- [sighs] What-fucking-ever.
[inhales]
[exhales]
Oh. - Auntie Jordan, you okay?
- Should I call a doctor?
- Uh, hi. No.
No, you don't need to call a doctor.
[sighs]
Um, Nicole, take LJ to the concept meeting.
Please teach him how I like my notes taken.
And, LJ, you don't need to wear your school uniform to work.
You can wear whatever you want.
- We're on it. - Thanks, guys.
[phone buzzes]
[groans]
[sighs] Okay.
All right, you need to pull it together, sister.
- Police clashed with protesters today
in Union Square. - I-I could do
100 things right, and that's a feather in my hat.
And I do one thing wrong, and it's tar and feathers.
Harper, "From the Culture" has to work.
Do you understand me? It has to work.
Otherwise I-I just--
I don't know. I feel like I could be done.
- Oh, that's not gonna happen.
No Black woman gets to where you are
without great instincts.
So whatever your next move is gonna be
will be the right one.
- Well, thank you for that. - Yeah.
- So what's up with you? - Hmm?
- I don't know. You seem stressed.
You seem like you signed a deal with the devil.
- [sighs] This sounds nuts, but my publisher wants
to pay me crazy dollars
for shit that I don't want to write anymore.
Like, I want to--
I want to write something meaningful.
Like--I need to write something meaningful--
something important. You know what I mean?
- Yeah.
Well, no one-- no one wants to feel stuck.
What does Robyn think?
- Oh, she wants me to figure out
if it's coming from a place of ego.
- [chuckles]
- Or if I--if I need, you know, "external validation."
- Well, do you?
- I don't know. Maybe.
But every fiber in my body
is pushing me towards this thing.
- Well, then Harper, that's what you have to do.
- Right? - No one thinks
the way you do but you.
- Besides you. - Well...
- The fewest number of arrests thus far
out of any of last week's demonstrations.
They mayor's proposed curfew may increase that number.
- I might need something stronger.
They all hate me? Black? White? Everybody?
- Uh, pretty much.
Sorry.
- [sighs]
Well, I guess haters are part of the game.
- Shelby, this isn't a game.
But I do have your back.
I mean, my team is basically telling me
that I have no chance of salvaging the show
if I don't replace you.
- Okay then.
I guess it was nice while it lasted.
- I'm not firing you.
I don't want to fire you.
Because I really believe that you can do this.
It's just that "From the Culture" needs
less "Housewives" Shelby
and more college debate team Shelby.
You know, like, less Bravo, more BBC?
You gotta trust me on this.
- Okay, fine. I trust you.
And obviously I can do that,
but who is really gonna tune in to see that?
- If you want this thing to work,
you're gonna have to make an adjustment.
I mean, would you wear a bikini to the Oscars?
[upbeat funky music]
- Who's the designer?
- [laughs]
- [sighs]
Robyn!
Mia! Y'all home?
[phone buzzing]
Hey, baby. You must have heard me,
'cause I was--
Janet? Okay.
Well, I understand that.
Why are you on Robyn's phone, though?
Okay, hold up. Why would you tell me
that Mia's fine? Why wouldn't she be fine?
Where's Robyn?
The police station?
Wait, wait. Slow down. Slow down!
- It's okay. - They hurt people
who weren't doing anything wrong.
- Mm-hmm. - Even Mommy. Why?
- That's okay.
Ohh.
You're okay. - [weeping]
- All right? - Yeah.
[indistinct chatter]
- [whimpering]
- I'm sorry.
[indistinct chatter]
I'm doing my job.
- Thanks for helping with Mia, J.
Yeah, I--it was going great before the cops came.
[sighs] But we'll be back.
Okay. See you tomorrow.
Be safe.
[exhales]
- What were you thinking? - Excuse me?
- As soon as those cops came
you should have had Mia out of there.
Robyn, you can't be out in these streets.
You are a mother.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa. We had every right
to be there and to resist unlawful intimidation.
In fact, it's kind of our duty
if we want to live in a democracy.
- Not if it puts you and Mia's life in danger.
- Hey, enough.
I made sure Mia stayed safe.
And I'm also making sure she knows how to stand up
and make a difference. - Well, we gotta figure out
a better way to teach her than you getting hauled off
in handcuffs by cops in riot gear.
- [sighs]
- She was terrified.
She's probably traumatized.
- Well, then enlighten me, Mr. Hotshot Hollywood Writer,
how should we teach her?
By clout-chasing? Or by moving
into multimillion-dollar brownstones?
- There it is.
I knew it.
- Mm-hmm. - Don't you ever have
my daughter out in those streets
like that again.
- And don't you ever tell me
what I can and cannot do with my daughter.
- All right.
- Damn. What you stressing over there about?
- Ugh. I'm elevating.
- [chuckles]
- Don't laugh. I'm being serious.
- Look, baby, you got this.
I mean, if--and if they don't like the redo, fuck 'em.
It's just their loss.
- Quentin, I'm not like you.
I can't just say "fuck it."
I want this.
I didn't know that I did, but I do.
And that kind of scares me.
I mean, what are people gonna think?
Men only want me hot, not smart.
And women only love when I stir shit up.
- [chuckles]
- What if people don't love or--
what if they hate serious Shelby?
- Ain't nobody gonna hate you. - Oh. [scoffs]
They love to hate me.
I just--
I just want to be good.
- You are Shelby Victoria Taylor Spivey.
The baddest bitch in the whole damn game.
Because you're the only woman
that could've gotten me to marry her.
- Aw, babe.
Just Taylor though. - [chuckles]
- Shelby Spivey? Yuck.
- Well, you are fierce, fine, fabulous,
and fully educated.
You play to win.
You always come back with the W.
You go in there and remind them of who you are
and then surprise them with what they don't know
about you. Okay?
- Thank you. - You got this.
You got this.
- [sniffles, sighs]
- The Giants' Davion Goodwin?
This brother's the truth.
He's gonna dust all the dinosaurs--
Sanders, Smith, and yes, Lance Sullivan, too.
Them old records about to be buried
under the cleats of this youngblood.
He is that special.
- Shut the fuck up.
Talking heads. You never even played
a down in the league.
And Goodwin--
Goodwin and all these highlight generation cats,
y'all need to stop worrying about breaking records
and how about winning some championships?
Some bullshit. [remote clatters]
[indistinct chatter]
[light funky music]
* *
- Which is why it's so specious
to read the data that way, Harris.
- Oh, hard agree, Simone.
The Stockton study proves
that when adults received a universal income,
unemployment rates went down,
health and wellness rates went up.
It's literally the opposite of the Biggie song--
mo' money, less problems.
- Exactly. [laughter]
- Shelby Taylor scored 93%
in the top two boxes as did the show.
- The data doesn't lie.
- Well done.
- Thank you, Patrick.
- Congratulation, Jordan.
We will buy across the board--
line up "ET," "O," maybe "Time" for February...
- Black History Month blitz for sure,
and prime slots all quarter.
- * Feds can agree, paper on green *
* She a whole product watch how she move it *
* Don't see you, I CEO *
[indistinct chatter]
- What are you doing here?
I said I would call you. - You took too long.
What happened? - We did it.
[sighs] They loved you.
- * Who is you? I CEO *
* You can't see me I CEO *
- Shh. Stop, stop.
- Of course they did. I did smart girl all day long.
Okay, now, first priority--
we need to triple my wardrobe budget.
- Okay. - Second, you need to fire
your assistant. It was way too easy
for me to get up in here. - Okay, you need to calm down.
- * I CEO *
* *
[gentle music]
- "He tried to express the depth
"of his feelings for her.
"All she heard was fear disguised by anger.
"How could his words describe the space in him
"that goes beyond emotion, beyond definition.
"The space where he holds her ever sacred, ever protected,
"where the outside world could never touch
"until she was taken.
"He was powerless.
"All he could do was wait, hope, and pray
"she'd hold that space again."
Did you lose your charger again?
- Harper...
this is beautiful.
You gotta keep going on this.
- Thank you. I, um--
I needed to hear that.
- Is this why you wanted to move?
- Well, yeah, to be sure that you and Mia are
safe and protected and provided for.
That's-that's all I ever--
- When you show your heart like this,
all I want is to live wherever that energy is.
Now, I know you get all weird and ritualistic
when you're vibin' something,
but I want to hear the rest of this story.
Do you think that you could keep writing it
in our new brownstone?
- Are you being serious?
Uh, yeah. Yes.
[both chuckle]
I love you. - I love you too.
* *
[phone buzzes] - Hey, pal.
- Stan, listen up,
because I'm only gonna say this once.
My next book is going to be
cultural, topical, and meaningful to me.
- Yeah, Harp, wait just a--
- No more fluffy Costco reads. You understand me?
Harper Stewart has something to say,
and I'ma say it. Cool?
- Yeah. - Thank you.
It's been a good talk. Bye.
- [sighs]
- Even when you're in a position of power,
there's always gonna be someone that you have to answer to.
So your word has to be impeccable.
You've gotta do your research.
And always have an answer.
"I don't know" is not in your vocabulary.
Okay? I'm so sorry, Nicole.
I'm here. Hi.
Are you catching these pearls I'm dropping,
because you seem completely preoccupied right now.
- Yes, I'm catching all the pearls.
I just-- - Okay.
[squeals] - Hi there.
- Hi! - What's happening?
- How are you? - What's all this...
- Hi. - About pearls?
- Oh, my gosh, what are you guys doing here?
- I invited them as a surprise. - Mm-hmm.
- Okay, well, number one, I hate surprises.
Number two, thank you. This is the perfect time
to celebrate with my boys.
- Hey, you ain't never lied to me.
I mean, Shelby's out in the valet
talking to one of those girls from "Housewives"...
- Oh, boy. - That she ran into
bragging about the new show.
- Look...
[laughter]
- I might as well throw me and Robyn's new place
on the celebration list as well.
- Wait, hold up, you're moving?
- Mm-hmm. - Where?
- Deluxe apartment in the sky.
- [laughs] - Mm. Apparently.
[laughter]
It's about time.
- [laughs] - It's about time.
- I see you are still drinking Old Fashioneds.
Good to know some things never change.
- Oh, Demetrius. Hi.
How are you? - I'm well. How are you?
- You can't speak? - Did you say hello?
- Hey. - The man don't--
the man don't speak? - He always ignoring is anyway.
So go on, go on back to school.
- It's been a long time.
- Too long.
- Hold up, is that Lance?
- My IG family, you guys are gonna be
the first to hear this.
Now, I've discovered that the game that I love
is a game that I have unparalleled passion for.
So mark this day as the day
Lance Sullivan officially returns to pro football.
I am back, baby. I'm back.
- Oh, my God.
- Oh, my God, my dad loves him.
He'll be so happy.
- Did I send him the right podcast?
- * Movin' on like I should *
* Should *
* I just wanna feel good *
* I've been down, I'm gettin' on with that *
* Going up till I'm over that *
* Movin' on like I should *
* Should *
* I just wanna feel good *
* I've been down, I'm gettin' on with that *
* Going up till I'm over that *
- * Tight body girl, out of sight, out of world *
* Mind like, honor roll *
* Talk like, she can get me hot with the convo *
* Fuck then we fight like Battle of the Alamo *
* What you do? I don't know *
* Here we go skin caramel, fine like baby hair *
* Cute but she gon' raise a lotta hell *
* Truth is I'm running out of lies to tell *
* New chick after new chick, I done lost count of excuses *
* 'Bout why we can't be exclusive *
- * Yeah *
- * But I'll be damned if I lose it *
- * Yeah *
- * I can't say I never knew it *
- [giggles]