It's Mitchell.
I can pick you up in 10 minutes.
I told you I wasn't going.
The weather is just right.
I got the Belgian chocolates you love
and full use of the yacht.
Livingston, it's over.
It doesn't have to be, come on.
It's not normal to have to schedule an appointment
to see your boyfriend with his assistant
or find said assistant on all fours.
I love you so much, Mitch,
and I wanna change.
I'm headed to therapy.
I'm going there now.
Listen, Liv, I'm proud of you for going to therapy.
You know, as black men, it's important that we act...
Are you on Jacked?
What?
Are you on motherfucking Jacked right now
as you're pouring your fake ass heart out to me?
Here come crazy jealous Mitch again.
You know what?
I'm tired of being the bad guy.
I got multiple degrees, seven figures,
and a 9.1-inch dick, and you're still not satisfied?
I think it's best we take some time apart.
You raggedy ho!
You can't take time apart
from somebody who already broke with you!
But you know what you can do?
Take your dick, your bank, your cottage, your yacht,
and your assistant and shove it up your fucking ass
if you already haven't.
♪ Ooh ooh ooh
♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Love.
What is love?
We write about it, dream about it.
Is it an emotion, a feeling?
Is it even real?
Love.
It can make you feel like
there's nothing in this world you can't conquer,
but that same love will wrap you up
and take over your entire existence.
I've been there.
So although I love love more than anyone you'll ever meet,
I've decided to take a love sabbatical.
I wonder if the same gender-loving greats before me
had to deal with this bullshit, these trifling mother...
Let me stop.
Anyway, I digress.
My career and my bank account will thank me later.
So do me a favor.
Don't play that song for me because my house is a home
but love don't live here anymore
because it's all about control, and I got lots of it.
♪ And you be breaking down the wall ♪
So tell me about this cover.
Well, since we're doing the feature on TV families,
why not a hodgepodge of stills from those already discussed?
Mm-mm, that's not an original way to package the issue.
The TV feature is just one element.
When readers see our cover,
do we want them to say, "That's me and my family,"
or, "I love that show."
Marketing will have an easier time
selling I love that show.
Sell it to who?
We aren't TV Guide.
Michi, let's continue the search on yours, all right?
Gordon, you know what to do.
I'll get right on it.
It certainly pays to have a father
who plays golf with the head white man in charge.
You have been hanging around me too long.
I just pray the head white man in charge doesn't fire me
after we tell him
that we can't keep Gordon after this summer.
Please, you know the legacies always have a place to land.
That part,
I don't wanna say anything while Gordon was down here,
but I secured Bey and Solange for the Chloe and Halle cover!
Oh, get the fuck out!
This will coincide with Chloe's acoustic album,
Halle's mermaid release.
And the fact that we have
Bey and Solange interviewing them.
Black girl magic to the fourth power.
Let 'em know.
I have 13 weeks to pull this all together.
We're talking next level, Michi.
No doubt.
Look, I see VP in somebody's future.
Your lips to God's ears.
Lord knows we need more melanin in senior positions here.
Well, no other editor has risen as quickly.
These hoes ain't pullin' 16-hour shifts like you.
The head white man in charge may even invite you to tee off.
Hell, no.
They ain't teeing off with your black ass.
Yeah.
It's Mitchell.
You don't say.
Are you going to the vineyard?
Well, hello, Gene.
So happy to hear your voice too.
And no, you know I'm not.
After all that drama,
a weekend getaway is the least he can treat you to.
If I went, I would just be leading him on.
Even more reason for you to go.
That smug-ass snot needs a taste of his own medicine.
And besides, you haven't been outside your apartment
or your office in months.
I am literally outside as we speak.
Don't make me hurt you.
You need to go out.
I'm not talking about a lunch break.
Tonight is Thirsty Thursdays at Alibi.
Gene, let me run.
That's the office.
See you tonight at nine.
Ciao.
This is Mitchell.
Mitchell, there's a package here
that I need your signature for.
Just sign for me.
Uh-uh.
Normally, I would,
but you'll wanna sign for this one yourself.
Michi, what's wrong with you?
Stop smoking that stuff at work.
It's a big ass package.
What are you talking about?
I don't even understand.
Big ass package.
A what?
It's a big ass package!
You can wait over there.
Yeah, I don't even know.
Yeah.
They got me waiting for a dude to sign for it.
I don't know.
She was mad insistent though.
I ain't finna wait too much longer.
I got photo shoots going on.
Excuse me.
You have a package for Mitchell Crawford?
♪ Water
♪ Let me keep you drippin' like a sauna ♪
Do you have a package for Mitchell Crawford?
Uh, yeah.
Sign here.
You ever delivered here before?
A few times.
I've never seen you before, that's why I asked.
Guess I get seen when I'm supposed to get seen.
Sometimes you find love
in the most unlikely place with the most unlikely person.
♪ Find 'em and suck 'em
♪ Lick 'em and fuck 'em then I tuck 'em ♪
♪ Trying to keep it cool
You didn't see that cutie
staring at you outside?
Of course I did.
So why didn't you follow up?
It is too early in the game
with all these fine ass spe-ci-menz to choose from.
Mmm.
Mmm mmm mmm.
The usual?
Of course.
Grab our spot.
I'll be back, bitch.
That's right, we have our own spot.
Gene's been holding court for over 20 years.
Me?
Just over six.
♪ Where were you when I was going down ♪
Let me save this ho.
It's about time you got here.
So sorry, James, he's with me.
Uh, thanks for that.
You can thank me in about a minute
with another one of these.
Your first time here, huh?
Yeah, you can tell?
It's written all over your face,
and that outfit.
What's wrong with my outfit?
Love the shirt, although ill fitted.
Like the hair, hate the pants.
But that conversation cannot be had further
without a refill.
What are you drinking?
Long Island iced tea.
And what's your name?
Eugene Roberts, but everyone calls me Gene
or head bitch in charge.
And I am Mitchell Crawford.
Nice to meet you, bitch.
I like you.
I guess you could say from that moment,
Gene's been showing me the way of the life,
and he's become my very best friend.
Hey, best friend.
I never met anyone like him.
That's your type?
And I don't think I ever will.
Mazel tov.
Mmm.
Mmm mmm.
Wait, whoa.
Damn.
I needed this.
I see.
So do you see any other prospects tonight?
Silly question.
Carl, 42, Detroit native, lives in Gramercy Park,
private detective who moonlights as a bouncer
and has a butt I would hump any day of the week ending in Y.
Ah, the latter, I see.
Mm-hmm.
How do you know about all this random tea?
Are you forgetting that I am the eyes, ears, nose,
and throat of this place?
There is nobody I don't know.
And if I don't know 'em, I damn sure know somebody who do.
Do you see any prospects?
Who's that?
I don't know.
But I know somebody who does.
♪ 'Cause you had me roll the dice ♪
♪ 'Cause you be different but something's missing ♪
♪ Something's missing
♪ You got me twisted, yeah, you do ♪
♪ You played the game but now you lose ♪
♪ I ask myself why I feel this way ♪
♪ You wanted my heart but you didn't deserve it ♪
♪ Going round and round and round ♪
Name, Raheim.
Very manly.
Age, 24.
Residence, Harlem.
Occupation, banging compact cuties like you.
That is not his occupation.
According to Wikipedia Wilkins, yes.
Just make sure you get with it,
hit it, and quit it this time.
What are you talking about?
Your fascination with thugs is tired
and needs to be retired.
You starred in too many versions of Boyz Under My Hood.
I know.
I just can't help myself.
They're just so irresistible.
Well, you got on
your tighter-than-the-skin-on-a-congm jeans.
You see it.
I see you over there.
Nasty.
Well, I'm gonna go let Carl think he's getting to know me.
Well, go ahead then.
I'm going real quick
'cause I see something worth checking out in the corner.
You looking for me?
Now, why would I be looking for you
when I don't even know you?
I beg to differ.
And anyways,
you do now.
I'm Raheim.
I'm Mitchell.
Nice to meet you.
I remember.
Crawford, like Randy, right?
That's right.
So what's going down?
Nothing much.
I can tell you're killin' me wit' them jeans.
And the rest you lookin' mighty crispy too.
Crispy?
Yeah, nice and tight.
I guess you're looking
kinda crispy creamed yourself.
That was a jood one, yo.
Jood?
What's that mean?
Yeah, better than good.
Ah.
What poet came up with that?
The one and only.
So you think you got a way with words?
I got a way with a lotta things.
Maybe one day I could, you know,
I could find out.
Pass me your digits and maybe you will.
You just met me a minute ago
and you;re trying to get my number?
I met you nine hours ago.
And stop frontin'.
You know you wanna give it to me.
You on BlackPlanet?
Yeah.
I'm under Better than Jood.
That's your name?
Yeah.
I'll look you up.
So are you gonna show me some love or...
So
You keep it jood and crispy.
It was jood to meet you, Raheim.
♪ I don't give a fuck
♪ It ain't adding up
♪ And you stilL think the same rules will apply ♪
♪ Tired of tryin'
♪ You used to keep on lyin'
♪ You're so typical
You gave that boy your number.
I did not.
He wanted me to, but I suggested that we link on BP.
Well, do not friend him.
Why not?
Because "friend" and "rough trade" are not the same thing.
But look, he friended me.
Jood?
Mm-hmm.
The boy don't even know how to spell good.
Jood means better than good, thus...
That word is not in the dictionary.
He made it up.
Of course.
What will these ghetto, unfabulous children think of next?
I gotta piss.
♪ Telling yourself that it was worth it ♪
♪ You wanted my heart but you didn't deserve it ♪
This is so good.
I'm sorry, Jackie, hold one.
This is Mitchell.
Someone's here to see you.
Who?
Just sign it for me.
Nope, I'm not doing this with you again.
Bring that ass.
What's wrong?
Cat got your tongue?
Uh, no.
I'm just surprised to see you.
I told you I was gonna check on you.
I got a special delivery.
Where's the package?
Are you blind?
I know you wanna grab some grub or catch a flick tonight.
Yeah.
Sure.
Okay, so I check with you in like an hour
and I'll let you know when, where and what?
Okay.
Stay sweet, sweetheart.
Mm-hmm, I will.
Don't hurt nobody out there now.
I'll try not to.
That's the kind of man you not only write bad checks for,
but you steal somebody else's ID for him to use.
A messenger?
And you already knew?
Mitchell, really?
Yes.
Something wrong with that?
No, but there's nothing
exactly right with it either.
Bottom line is he's a BMW.
Huh?
Black man working.
You call that work?
Looks more like exercise.
He's earning a paycheck.
And he looks fine as hell in his uniform.
And you can't wait to see him out of it.
Where are you two going?
A movie then dinner.
Is he paying?
He invited me.
So?
You know how triflin' these boys can be.
Besides, he's a bike messenger.
Chances are his favorite restaurant is corner bodega.
Well, if he forgets his wallet at dinner,
I'll just have to provide me with dessert later on.
Uh-huh.
And I will be calling you at exactly 11 a.m.
If I don't get an answer, I'll be over with the po' po'.
Don't be silly.
I'll talk to you tomorrow.
11 a.m., on the dot.
Okay, bye.
Yo, they make a jood-ass turkey lasagna here too.
Really?
You know, I make a mean turkey lasagna also.
Yeah?
For real.
Maybe I get to taste it.
Maybe.
So I wanna know,
why'd you choose the book session?
Oh, Elijah grew up not too far from me.
It's jood to see a brother in the hood do his thing.
He's like the new Michael Eric Dyson and shit.
Hmm.
You know, it's funny because the same type of movie
he believes is destroying the image of our people
was literally playing next door.
Yeah?
Yeah.
You've got to be kidding me.
And those 10 commandments, like the second one
reminded me of something my friend, Gene, would say.
"Mmm, black people ain't never gonna be free
"as long as we praying to the white man Jesus
"and clinging to the white man's Bible"
"like a junkie trying to take a hit."
Well, I see you've really enjoyed it.
I did.
Thank you for taking me.
Yeah, I knew.
Oh, really?
How so?
I don't know.
With you being a writer,
I figured you might wanna interview him and shit.
That's actually not a bad idea.
We have a social justice issue coming up
and he would actually be perfect for it.
You could thank me in the masthead.
Masthead?
Look at you trying to take my job.
Nah.
I'm just standing right next to you.
You want a drink?
Aight.
Hey, your place is sick.
And you got my favorite book here.
Yeah, what's that?
Just Above My Head.
That's my favorite book too.
Shit, I can't tell.
And you got three copies.
Shut up.
That's for me?
It is.
I'm sorry.
Cheers.
Mmm.
Damn, this shit is jood.
Glad you like it.
Mm-hmm.
Hell, we gots to turn this up.
What would you know about that?
You're too young
to know anything about that, you know.
You feel so jood.
You too.
Oh.
Was that your move there?
A little bit.
I like it.
Damn.
Your lips tastes like honey.
And yours taste like Hershey Kisses.
I got something else for you to taste.
Oh, really?
♪ I think I'm in love
♪ I know you're the one
♪ Trying to face my life in the day too ♪
♪ You should play cool
♪ Everyone think I'm unavailable ♪
♪ I don't wanna fight
♪ I just wanna look at the moon ♪
♪ In my bed where you've been
Baby, why would you cut the music off?
I thoughts you had left.
Why would you think that?
Aren't you gonna kiss me jood night?
Jood morning.
Hmm, jood morning.
You know what time it is?
Mm-hmm.
It's quarter past eight.
No.
No?
It's time for some more
of that rooty tooty fresh and fruity booty.
I can make you something for breakfast.
Shit, I just had my breakfast.
I had to be somewhere like a half hour ago.
How about tonight?
Tonight?
What, you got other plans?
No!
What do you want for dinner?
Surprise me.
It's time for me to go.
I gotta go.
Okay, okay, fine, you gotta go.
Hello.
Good.
Glad I don't have to trek to Crooklyn.
And I can tell by that jingle in your voice
he pummeled that pusswah.
Uh-huh.
So how was it?
As if I don't already know.
Better than jood.
Ooh, I see we have officially adopted his term.
And I suppose it made up
for the chili dog and cheese fries
at Chuck E. Cheese.
We went to Emilio's.
Really?
And how much did this meal cost you?
Nothing.
He paid.
He paid?
Including the tip?
Yup.
Well, a thug who knows that fine dining
isn't a two-piece and a pack of plantain chips.
Good for him.
Ugh, it was such a perfect night and morning.
And it's not over with yet because he's coming back later,
and I'm so excited about it.
Well, I'm happy you're happy.
No, you're not.
I am, Mitch, just like I was happy for you with Royal,
and Ramone,
and Raykwon.
Bitch, what's your point?
The point is that a thug gives it to you, uh, jood
and you lose your damn mind.
I'm not.
I hope not.
Homie smells of player.
Well, he certainly doesn't act that way.
Slow dancing with me, surprising me at my job.
And his lips,
they make me melt.
A romantic roughneck, who knew?
Just don't get caught up.
A man will do and say anything to get some.
So don't be surprised when he bangs your brains out
this weekend and you never hear from him again.
Um, I'm a big boy, and unaffected is my new middle name.
Besides, if I'm gonna get fucked over,
I might as well get fucked down in the process, right?
Okay, fucky fuck down, all right.
It sounds like rectal gonorrhea in the making to me.
Nasty.
Son, this is your mother calling.
Please call me back.
I called several times and I never heard back from you.
Please call me back.
All right, I love you.
Nephew, let me find out you up to no good.
And I spoke with your mama.
She said she ain't heard from you.
You know Adam can't hold water.
He said he ain't heard from you.
You better hit me back, nephew.
Holler.
He ain't gonna pick up.
I done called him three or four times already.
Yes, he will, girl.
He answers for me, not for you.
Oh, really?
Watch, watch.
Hello.
Well, we finally get a live voice.
Hey, B.D.
I'm sorry, I haven't gotten back to you.
And I take it you're also sorry
you stood me up three times.
Aren't you used to that by now?
Don't get cute.
You'll get cut.
I'm sorry, Gene.
It's been a crazy few weeks.
But we know you ain't sorry about being dick-matized.
Now, who would be sorry about that?
Listen, I promise I'll make it up to the both of you.
I've heard that before.
Well, you can make it up to us
by buying the first round of drinks today.
Today, what's today?
See, I told you he forgot.
Forgot what?
It's my man's birth-gay weekend.
If he had never been born,
I would still be a rundown, confused little ho, amen.
You are still all of those things,
minus the ho part, of course.
Oh, okay.
Move.
Damn, I'm sorry, I did forget.
Brunch at Boulevard Bistro.
Chef Carlos will let us have the spot from five to nine.
Uh, I don't know.
Ho, what don't you know?
You forgot the address?
You deleted your Google app?
You need a smoke signal in the sky?
What?
No, I know the time and the place,
it's just I gotta get groceries.
I gotta do laundry.
You can tear yourself away from Thugalicious
for a few hours.
Hell, why don't you bring him?
I wanna see why you've been neglecting your bestest friends.
Raheim probably has some things to do.
Yeah, like you.
You two have to come out, pun intended.
This will be the perfect time to show off your new man.
He's not my man.
Oh, no, what is he then?
He's,
we're just having a great time.
Uh uh uh.
I have no doubt.
And I doubt very seriously that a boy like that
would want to have an afternoon like this.
Why?
Trade from uptown?
Banging in Brooklyn, yes.
Hanging in Harlem, no.
Puh-lease.
Don't assume.
You just make an out of um.
Come again.
Just ask him.
Okay, I will.
Fagulous.
See you in a few.
Love you both.
Bye.
♪ Yeah yeah yeah
♪ I'm insane
My friend like me better, bitch.
Ha!
♪ But you obvious, I ain't got to say it ♪
♪ Blessed insurance
♪ Jesus, Jesus
B.D.
♪ Jesus is mine
B.D.!
What the hell are you singing?
A church hymn.
But you wouldn't know about those things, you hedonist ho.
My Lord, now.
Chile, even an atheist knows it's blessed assurance,
not insurance.
Really?
- Assuredly. - No.
♪ Blessed insurance
Insurance.
That's right, Gene.
♪ Blessed insurance
♪ Jesus
You better watch it, mister.
My man will be here any minute
and won't like you being all up on me.
No?
Well, let's give that gorgeous man
something to be angry about.
Hi.
Will you two quit?
Aw, I love you too, Gene.
Blech.
Hey, Mitch.
Hey, Babyface.
Happy b-day, old man.
Hey, hey, watch it now.
I'm still getting carded.
Have y'all been waiting long?
Long enough.
I guess homeboy can't tell time either,
but he has an excuse.
He's only 24.
He don't even know how to pee straight yet.
Hey, Little Bit.
Hi, Pooquie.
You look surprised to see me.
No, I'm just surprised to see so much of you.
You wasn't saying that a few hours ago.
Pooquie.
I'm Gene, and I'm sure Mitchell has mentioned me.
He actually hasn't.
Was it John?
You got jokes.
Now, dearest.
Just one joke, and you're it.
Raheim.
And you must be B.D.
Uh-huh.
Which stands for brain dense.
Mitchell has told me so much about you.
Well, believe nothing you've heard
and only half of what you see.
This is my man.
Hey, Raheim.
I'm Courtney.
They call me Babyface.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too.
Happy birthday.
Thanks, man.
Well, now that our entire party is here
and the introductions are out of the way, can we please eat?
Come on.
Oh, chocolate.
Baby, feed me.
♪ I can see it on your face
♪ You got that look in your eyes ♪
♪ You need some space
That's all right, that's all right.
♪ So I'ma let go before you explode ♪
Oh, hey!
Carl's here!
Aw!
Hi, Carl.
To Babyface!
It'll be all right.
And just like that,
he was a fixture in my world.
His morning kiss is the only way to start the day.
After a long hard day, his smiling and fine form
are the best things to come home to.
Everything we do comes so naturally.
He can be so thoughtful,
and sometimes a distraction,
a welcome distraction, nonetheless.
And he does these things that drive me crazy,
but they never matter at the end.
I promise you I'm trying to keep my cool,
but it's becoming more and more difficult every day.
I love you.
♪ Holding out on me
Hello?
Hey, the next showing is at two.
Shit, baby.
I'm sorry, I'm working till three,
and if I forgot I'm supposed to meet up with the boys today.
I can come through later though.
Are y'all doing something special?
Nah, just chillaxing.
You wanna chillax here?
Shit, I don't know.
I'm already in your grill heavy.
I don't want you to get sick of me.
No, no, never, never.
And I'd love to meet them too.
I could cook something.
It'll be a jood time.
Yeah, a jood time.
Good.
Yay!
Yay.
Man, I'm full for the rest of the weekend.
Man, this deal hustler nigga
ain't even got no Xbox or nothing.
Yo, what the they doing up in here, y'all?
You just said it.
Fuck.
And next up in worst of fag cinema,
To Wong fuckin' Foo,
crackers fuckin' in the city and them golden bitches, nigga.
Can you say punk with a capital P?
Hey, kill that noise, all right?
Yo, just checking out your boy's crib.
No, you been showing your ass
ever since you got in the crib.
I ain't the one with the ass to show.
Now I see why you been MIA.
Nigga could pick up a whole cherry by the stem.
Nigga, if you don't shut the entire fuck up.
Hey, man, I'm just keeping it real.
Nah, you been keeping it rude.
Rude?
You gentlemen ready for some pie?
- Nah, I'm good. - I don't think
I could have another bite, Mitch.
But since you went through the trouble.
Mm-hmm.
Man, this is jood as fuck.
And I don't even like blueberries.
Well, I told you my baby can cook.
Mm-hmm.
You fellas wanna watch a movie?
Nah, not from what I see.
What does that mean?
Too many pink people and trannies on that wall.
Come again.
What?
Just joking.
I know they drag queens, not trannies.
I'd appreciate if you didn't use that word.
What word?
Tranny.
What, you a tranny or something?
If what you mean is am I transgender, no.
However, I don't feel you have to be to show some respect.
That's all.
Ease up a little bit, baby.
Damn.
No offense.
Changing formats.
Nigga do got skiLls in the kitchen.
I'm glad you liked it
but I'd appreciate if you didn't call me that either.
Call you what?
Nigger.
Bruh, I ain't call you no nigger.
I called you a nigga.
Same thing.
No, it ain't.
Nah.
No, it ain't.
It's really not.
It is to me.
To you, it will be.
What does that mean?
You ain't down.
I ain't down?
Yeah, nigga.
Hey.
You ain't down like that.
No, that's okay.
D.C.
You ain't down like that,
and you don't get down like that.
I guess I'll never be down with any black person
choosing to disrespect themselves or other oppressed people.
Any person that's choosing to get down like that
must believe what white and hetero folks say we are,
my brutha.
Mmm, just like that.
You just walked with my soul.
Brutha man.
D.C., you don't have to leave.
No, fuck that.
Nigga, nigga, nigga, nigga, nigga, nigga, nigga,
nigga, nigga, nigga, nigga, nigga, nigga.
I'm sorry, Mitch.
Jood to meet you.
It was nice to meet you too, Angel.
You ain't have to crack on my brutha like that.
Crack on him?
He's being disrespectful as hell.
You took it the wrong way.
There was a right way to take the bullshit he was spewing?
Brutha man was right.
You ain't down like that.
That's why you should have just kept your mouth shut.
I see.
So I can't speak my mind in my own house?
You gonna say stupid like that?
Stupid?
Yeah.
It ain't a big deal.
It is a big deal to me, and it should be to you.
Oh, so you gonna tell me how to think now?
I'm not.
I also didn't tell him how to think either.
That's not what I heard.
You know what?
Now that we on the subject,
what do you think about these issues?
It don't matter what I think.
That's not the point.
It matters to me what you think.
It ain't about me, Little Bit.
So what is it about?
Nothing!
Maybe everybody don't wanna wave a rainbow flag
all the goddamn time.
Thanks for answering the question.
Don't even do it.
Okay, so I was a little flippant.
Flippant?
Negro, what year are we in again?
And you should have been.
There is no debate.
And Dr. Feelgood has no right telling you
what you can and cannot say in your own house either.
I don't know why motherfuckers feel like they can run you
just cause they turn you out every which way.
Well, he was just sticking up for his friend.
I can't blame him, Michi.
Uh, yes, you can,
especially when he was sticking up for stupidity.
You invited them over to get to know them,
not to be disrespected.
That's why you haven't seen him in a week.
He know his ass was wrong.
I know.
But it'd be a shame to let things end like this, Michi,
and I just wanna give him just one phone call.
Yeah.
You wanna do more than talk.
I do not.
You're going through withdrawals.
The big D was, well, jood.
Don't sweat him.
He just one man, one.
Let's go.
We gotta head back to the plantation.
Hmm.
Oh, my gosh, come on.
I'ma take you by the FedEx station.
You know you like a big D in a uniform.
Let me upgrade you.
Hey.
How long you been out here?
Since six.
Wanna come up?
If you want me to.
Mm-hmm.
♪ There's something between me and you ♪
♪ Deep down I experience
♪ From the way you
Little Bit.
Yes?
I'm sorry I came outta pocket like that at you.
I know.
I gotta pay attention to what really matters to you.
That way, I can properly pounce on these fools
and keep them in check.
You're so silly.
Nah, I'm serious.
You mean something to the people.
You mean even more to me.
And you mean just as much to me.
Little Bit.
Hmm?
I gotta bounce,
but I'll be back like around 11.
What for?
A surprise.
All right?
All right.
You got me a truck.
No.
It's D.C.'s.
Surprise inside.
Okay.
Hi.
Hi!
What's your name?
Raheim Junior.
Well, hi, Raheim Junior.
My name is Mitchell.
Oh.
The man at my camp...
Uh-huh.
His name is Mr. Mitchell.
Do you know him?
Well, I can't say that I do.
Oh.
You know anybody with my name?
At least one other person.
All right, little man.
We got a lot to do today.
Sit back and be still, all right?
Okay, daddy.
All right.
Mitchell.
- Yeah? - Please
put the seatbelt on.
I'm sorry.
Let me put my seatbelt on.
Daddy, let's go!
♪ So many things on my mind
♪ A lot of girls were made to cry ♪
♪ They don't deserve it
♪ I can't ignore it
♪ 'Cause I'm constantly reminded ♪
♪ Of all the times in the past
♪ But since he said I wasn't beautiful ♪
♪ Sticks and stones may break my bones ♪
♪ But words are everlasting
♪ You give life to what you speak to yourself ♪
♪ U-G-L-Y
♪ Start with what's on the inside ♪
♪ You gotta love yourself
♪ U-G-L-Y
♪ Now's the time for you to redefine ♪
♪ You gotta love yourself
♪ You gotta, you gotta love yourself ♪
♪ I saw a girl the other day
♪ In the reflection that made me say ♪
♪ You got a story
♪ You're more than worthy
♪ It took a while for me to see the queen in me ♪
♪ And all my presence lost its beauty ♪
♪ So I no longer speak negativity ♪
♪ When I'm looking back at me
♪ Sticks and stones may break my bones ♪
♪ But words are everlasting
♪ You give life to what you speak to yourself ♪
♪ U-G-L-Y
♪ Start with what's on the inside ♪
♪ You gotta love yourself
♪ U-G-L-Y
♪ Now's the time for you to redefine ♪
♪ You gotta love yourself
♪ You gotta, you gotta love yourself ♪
So why didn't you ever tell me?
You never asked.
Funny.
I didn't know how to tell you.
So you decided to let him do it?
Yes.
You were surprised?
That's an understatement.
Was he a surprise to you?
Oh, yeah.
I mean, I ain't plan to have no baby at 19.
Shit, I remember like yesterday
when Sunshine told me she was pregnant.
Sunshine?
Yeah.
That's what I call little brutha's man's mom, Crystal.
When she smiles, it's like sunshine.
Do you give everybody a nickname?
No, not everybody, just special peeps.
Hmm.
So that's where you usually have to go
when you have to be somewhere in half an hour, huh?
Mm-hmm.
So you're bisexual.
Nah.
No?
But you've had sex with women.
Yeah, I had.
That's past tense.
So you don't anymore.
Not today.
So tomorrow, you will?
No, unless you're trying to tell me
you ain't gay all the way
and you trying to have a threesome with some chick.
I'm not attracted to women, but you are,
which means you're bisexual.
No, it don't.
No?
So what do you call yourself?
Nothing.
I mean, I don't like how folks try to box you in and shit.
I like females, but that ain't what I got my eye on.
They don't make my shit jump
and don't nobody make my shit jump like you.
Mm-hmm.
We should stop.
Why?
Because your son is in the other room.
So?
He out.
He ain't gonna hear us.
We can be quiet.
Be quiet?
Since when?
No, you can get some after you drop him back off home.
And thank you.
For?
Trusting me enough to meet him.
I don't know if I can handle the two of you but
I'm down to try.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Aw, ain't he precious?
Uh-huh.
Don't be jealous because no one wants to play house
with your bitter ass.
If I did wanna play house, my bitter ass
wouldn't be pulling a 737 full of baggage.
Too late.
Ha-ha.
Where there's a baby, there's a baby mama.
And where there's a baby mama,
there'll be nothing but baby mama drama.
Raheim has told me all about her.
Does she know all about him?
She doesn't know he's attracted to men, okay?
You mean she doesn't know that he is fucking men.
And since when does sleeping with men and women
not make you bisexual?
Oh, maybe he's a try-sexual.
If he tries it and likes it, he sticks with it.
Raheim hasn't been with a woman since Junior's mom,
and that was over five years ago.
So he said.
You're getting too involved
with mister fluid and his fluids.
I think what he did was very...
Manipulative?
No, romantical.
That's not a word, B.D.
He didn't have to come back
or even mention his chocolate chip off the old block.
Don't come crying
when you're paying his back child support.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
God bless mommy, and daddy, and Grammy Grace,
and Grammy Gloria, and Uncle D.C., and Uncle Angel,
and my three cousin, Derricks, and my cousin, Anjelica,
and Mitchell.
Amen.
That was a good prayer.
You want me to leave the light on?
No, I'm not afraid of the dark.
Okay.
Well I'm gonna leave the lamp on
just in case you have to use the bathroom, okay?
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Okay.
Good night, Mitchell.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
Oh, jood night.
Yeah.
Most of these are not even finished yet.
They look finished to me.
Why didn't you tell me?
And don't say it's 'cause I never asked either.
It's just something I do.
It's no big deal.
This is a really big deal.
How long have you been doing this?
Since I was eight.
It doesn't have to be something you just do.
It could be something you pursue.
Word?
Yeah.
Animation and anime is really big right now,
and you already love comics,
and you could create your own.
You think I could?
Yes.
Come on, magic hands.
This is nice.
This is real nice.
Hey, what's up?
I'm about to head into work.
How'd the call go with the head white man in charge.
Well, our web traffic has doubled since the last quarter,
and we've gotten subscriptions
from over a thousand more schools, so.
Yes.
We know who's responsible for that.
Yeah, let's just hope he knows that.
What's wrong?
Did we get any messages?
Yes, from a tall, dark, handsome gentleman.
Your brother, fool.
My brother?
Well, he is a tall, dark, handsome gentleman.
Speaking of, what's up with them dark circles.
I'm ignoring everything you're implying.
All I'm saying is Chloe and Halle are three weeks out
and there are some undotted Is and some uncrossed Ts.
And none of this would've been happening
in the Mitchell world that I was brought up in.
Have I ever neglected a cover before?
Touche.
Look, I apologize if I overstep,
they're waiting on you in the office
to get those sketches approved.
And then once we get that done,
we can fit Halle in London and Chloe in LA.
You seem a little preoccupied.
You gonna be on time, right?
Easy, breezy, beautiful cover boy.
What's poppin', 'chelly?
You, what else?
You wanna come to lunch with us?
My treat.
No, boo.
We got so much work to do.
Mitch.
Pooquie, we can't.
We have a lot to do.
Come on, Little Bit.
You gotta eat something.
Yes, at your desk.
No, I'll just order something when I get in the office.
Come on, it's such a beautiful day.
Michi, can you tell the team I'll be in by three?
Okay.
Y'all have a jood...
Adam?
Well, you didn't forget my name?
What are you doing here?
I wanna check on my little brother.
Actually, you're my little brother.
Yeah, I got the size that says otherwise, boy.
Come here.
Adam, this is Raheim.
Raheim, this is Adam.
Yo.
What's up, man?
Finally jood to meet you, big dawg engineer.
Heard jood things about you.
Jood means better than good.
Ah, ah.
Thanks.
You know, unfortunately, I haven't heard a thing about you.
But, but then again, how could I?
Don't start.
Look, I was on way to the courts on Sixth.
Just figured I'd pop in, say what's up.
I mean, I ain't been there in a minute.
Well, if you don't have any plans.
Uh, that's mister slow guy.
Oh, oh, with the cross, with the lay!
♪ You're a counterfeit
I'll take you.
You go over there.
♪ Hope it's not allowed
♪ Facts, big facts
♪ I help build this shit
♪ And now, you don't want me around ♪
♪ It does not matter
♪ Spend my life, never
♪ We bleed the same, I ain't no different ♪
Look who I found.
Oh.
Come here, honey.
Give me a hug.
Hi, baby, my baby who sees me all the time
like he's supposed to see his mom.
Look at that blue, it brings out your eyes.
Are those the earrings I got you?
Yeah, you know, I got to hook it.
We gotta get you some more pants.
You're too small for those. You know I look good.
And you, do I know you?
Funny, mom.
I haven't seen you in months.
I was about to file a missing persons report.
Don't do that.
Let me see you.
You look good.
Oh, my god, have you lost weight?
And then them jeans, they're a little skinny, honey.
- Yes, yes, yes, yes. - A little tight.
They're real tight.
I think you should try something else.
I know I don't come by often, but I'm just saying.
There'd be food if we're used to seeing you.
So she cook for you then?
Oh, yes.
You're the favorite son since you come here so much?
No, the most visiting son.
That's the thing.
I actually come.
So son, tell us about Raheim.
What hasn't he told you already?
Well, he only gave us an abbreviated bio.
Look, I said he was a cool brother,
but obviously, nothing to write home to moms to
'cause, well, you don't write home to mama no more.
He ain't telling no stories.
And I don't know why you've been hiding him.
But I haven't been.
Yeah, okay.
Well, look, I could see why you would
given your track record, right?
You know, I was surprised to learn
he was a bike messenger.
And why is that?
Well, you know, you look a little different,
and you know, normally, the others that you're with,
it's like...
Well, Ann, please.
What your mama's trying to say is that
you ain't never dated nobody who just drove two wheels,
or who don't have a college degree,
or that wasn't some corporate, head up in the cloud,
self-congratulatory Negro.
Rude.
Wow, that's how you see it?
She ain't telling stories.
Listen to me.
First, there was Kyle.
How are you a fashionista and don't know who Dapper Dan is?
Facts.
Then there was Livingston.
Oh, honey.
Oh, I wanted to punch him so hard in his lockjaw mouth.
Listen though, bro.
It looks like you finally found a boyfriend that's a winner.
Congratulations. Raheim is not my boyfriend.
And so you say.
What's so funny?
But mama, Raheim not my boyfriend.
I haven't seen you
spend this much time with anyone before.
This is new.
Well, it's to hanging out with the little son too for me.
Damn, isn't there not a brother code anymore?
Listen, I have to agree.
You know, I think it's too early for you
to have met his son.
I mean, Anderson didn't meet you and Adam
until we were dating for six months.
Well, in gay dating years,
that's like three months, right?
Right, nephew?
Expedited.
But me and Raheim are not together.
Still.
I am serious.
Are you still stuck on that?
Don't.
Honey, listen.
Isn't he a little younger than you though?
Isn't Anderson a little younger than you too?
And Anderson and I were full grown adults
when we were dating.
Why you all up in my business?
But see...
This is about him right now,
not about me. But see,
see, Ann, no.
See, this is how people get it twisted.
Just because that man is 24 years old,
it don't mean he ain't mature,
and it definitely don't mean he ain't taking care business.
Oh.
He's taking care of it, ain't he though, nephew?
- Are you telling my mama? - Don't answer that.
I don't wanna heart that.
'Cause you're all about the business, auntie.
You're all about the business.
I didn't say that.
And he ain't got to answer it.
It's written all over his face.
Why didn't you bring him?
I mean, you know your date's welcome here.
I know, mom.
He's in Harlem with his son.
He'll be over later.
Good.
That's when the real interrogation will begin.
Don't even listen to them.
Get outta here.
Out, out.
Y'all a mess.
See, why, Ruth, why you always starting stuff?
Out, out, out.
All of y'all, get out.
Auntie, you know I'm about to be famous, right?
I had three auditions last week.
Okay, rude.
Why is she rude?
She just a little mad,
all the time.
Babe, they take a picture with me.
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.
Loving that black love, baby.
Cause y'all know I'll be turning up.
It don't matter if I'm your mama or not.
We gonna get it turned.
The last time, we got 16 likes.
♪ It's always a party
♪ Even with your mama, it's always a party ♪
♪ Even with your mama
You don't know about this here?
Yes, I do.
You want me to teach you?
Okay, look.
So you go in, you go, "Hi."
You see that?
Do it!
You are so good.
Do it!
I could see it.
You don't wanna do it?
It was so great talking to you though.
You are so talented.
Adam, I don't know where you found her
but this is the one.
Yeah, she's great.
He likes me, babe.
He said I'm gonna be famous too.
Yeah, you just come and sit right here.
You want something to put in your mouth?
Boy, you done wolfed it down already?
Hell, yes, man.
Everything is so good.
Technically, I'm your oldest son.
So if the recipe should go to anybody, it should be me.
No, no, no, look.
You are my oldest son.
Mm-hmm.
Yet, still, I'm gonna die with it.
Yoo-hoo!
Everybody, this is Raheim,
the guest and companion of our dearest Mitchell.
And as you can see, he did not come empty handed.
Now look, look, over here.
These are my sons, Alvin and Calvin.
What's jood, y'all?
Jood?
Jood, jood.
Jood means better than good.
I mean, come on, what's with y'all?
They're corny.
Those kids are corny.
Thank god they got good skin.
Of course you know Adam,
and that's his girlfriend Tisha.
Uh-uh, it's Tesha, with an E.
And this is my sister, Mitchell's mom, Mrs. Walker.
Nice to meet you, Raheim.
Who the fuck's hand this nigga kissing?
Same here.
You didn't tell me your mother was so fine.
Oh.
Oh, he's so sweet, and he brought my favorite.
Oh, and this is my husband, Mr. Walker.
What are you doing?
Raheim, my jood brother,
how about we go Play some basketball real quick?
No, he just arrived.
He might want something to eat or drink, right?
I just ate not too long ago.
I mean, I can work up another appetite.
Girl, did you see him?
Girl, mmm mmm.
Ooh, I think he's just the chocolatiest thing
I ever seen in my life. Girl!
Makes me want a bite.
Ooh!
I know he better get up off my woman's face.
A man can't even barbecue in his own house
without these young suckers pushing up.
Oh, god.
Why I don't bring these knuckleheads up here anyway!
- It's Mitchell's man, fool. - Anderson.
That's the dude with Mitchell?
That's his man.
I mean, he don't look like he's,
I mean, what? You know what, uhuh.
Don't even, don't... Wait, wait.
Look, I didn't know he didn't,
you won't tell me you gonna look at a brother like that
and think he's...
- Ooh. - What?
I just know that nigga
better watch who he kissing.
Since the party this Saturday is close to here
and D.C. and Angel are going as well,
I just thought that maybe you could call them too.
You must have bumped your head.
If I did, it was on yours.
I'm telling you, Little Bit, just leave it alone.
Come on, we have to clear the air.
You get along with my family and friends.
That's 'cause I make it so easy to be loved.
Gene would definitely disagree with that.
He would say that,
but he just don't like the fact that he do.
Come on, Pooquie, you can call them.
You call 'em.
It ain't that bad.
Angel?
Yeah, who this?
It's Mitchell.
Mitch.
Something wrong with Rah?
No, he's fine.
He know you calling me?
I don't want that brother thinking
I'm trying to push up on you.
You're silly.
He's sitting right here.
I was calling to see what you're doing
before the party on Saturday.
Nothing.
I thought maybe you can come hang out here.
I'm down.
D.C. coming?
I hope so.
I'm gonna call him next.
All right, just let him know I'll be there.
He don't like to be left out.
All right, hurry up.
Nigga, where your ass at?
Like I don't know.
Uh, D.C., it's Mitchell.
Yeah.
I was calling to see what you were doing
before the party on Saturday.
Why?
Because I wanted to invite you to my house.
For what?
You obviously don't like my movies,
so play some games maybe.
We got Scramble.
We could play some cards.
What kind?
Spades, spades.
What kind do you like to play?
Spades all the way.
I haven't played in a while,
but I guess I could probably...
I ain't conducting no workshops, man.
What does that mean?
The MVP don't play no wannabes.
The MVP?
So I guess that's supposed to be you.
Well, your crown is about to be taken.
By who?
Me!
Oh, you got me scared, yo.
There will be no coughing, no waving,
no talking across the board.
No whispering, no finger tapping,
no knuckle cracking, no foot stomping.
And one you all find very hard not doing, no dick tugging.
Damn.
Can we breathe?
Hey, baby, what, you don't trust me?
If you're his partner, hell to the nah.
I told you he ain't shit.
You know, we getting this party started off right.
I got six.
Six?
Nigga, this aint UNO.
My bad.
We're gonna go board.
Yeah, baby, I think you should take board.
Play your own hand.
What you got?
Thank you.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, no.
No, no, no, no, no.
Let's go.
Come on, let's go.
The guy won.
Give me my money.
Here we go, here we go, here we go.
You're talking a lot.
Uh-huh.
Let's go.
Let's go, Angel, it's your turn.
Yeah, yeah.
I still think the deck was tagged.
I guess it would have to be
for you to lose all three games.
And I expect for you to hand that crown over
by the end of the night.
What?
Mm-hmm.
Nah, you're not getting my crown, bruh.
It's not yours anymore.
I'm the MVP now.
Not the MVP.
A MVP.
Okay, I can roll with that.
You can roll with that.
Hard to believe you can do or die.
Not everybody from Bed-Stuy is gangster, D.C.
You the proof.
Let me go check on him right?
Now,
don't tell me you're a sore loser.
How you gonna play me like that,
kissing and hugging on Angel and shit.
Beat us in spades, come on.
What?
Pooquie, we were just celebrating our victories.
And I didn't kiss him.
We just hugged.
I don't like that shit.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean anything by it, okay?
All right?
Come on.
I wanna go dance with my Pooquie.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm, come on.
All right, I'll see y'all in a second.
Man, leave that all the way alone.
♪ Fuck around and get your head tap ♪
♪ Coming out of your face
♪ Get your cracked
♪ I'm from a place
♪ If we take it, you never get your head back ♪
I know these motherfuckers heard me tell them
don't use my glasses.
Oh, funky motherfuckers wanna act
like they ain't used to plastic.
♪ Yeah, that's a head crack
♪ Don't fuck around and get your head tap ♪
♪ Coming out of your face
♪ Get your head cracked
It's not that deep.
♪ Tell me why love feels so much like tryin' to ♪
Hey, yo.
Hey, yo, Jazz in his spot.
Pardon me,
but I see some ch-ch-ch-ch ass with my name on it.
Have you seen Raheim?
He probably in the bathroom.
Yeah, I'm gonna go check.
Don't sweat it, Mitch.
They just dancing.
Yeah, just dancing.
Raheim ain't even feeling him no more.
What do you mean no more?
I meant no more than like anybody else
that could like dance.
So they used to be together or something?
Uh, but that was a minute ago.
You want more jungle juice?
Yeah, I guess.
♪ Dig for your nigga
♪ You work for your nigga
♪ You drop for your nigga
♪ You cry for your nigga
♪ You bust it for your nigga
♪ You rock for your nigga
♪ You can wiggle for your nigga ♪
♪ You wait for your nigga
What's up, shorty?
Hey.
Nothing much.
Now, we both know that's not true
'cause this tight little body you got
is poppin'.
Uh, thanks.
You're welcome.
So what's up?
You wanna dance?
Um, no, I'm with someone.
Well, word.
So where is this someone at?
Come on, just one dance.
Okay.
♪ And you surprise me every time you call my phone ♪
♪ I'm not the type to say I touch it all night long ♪
♪ You're all that I want
Now, what the fuck you think you doing?
Yo, who the fuck is you running up on like that, man?
Man, you ain't got no business
putting your motherfucking hands
where they ain't supposed to be.
So you just gonna claim everybody in this spot, huh?
Bitch-ass nigga.
Get out of my...
What you holding, nigga?
What you holding?
You bitch-ass.
You better step aside before you get fucked up!
Fucked up by who, nigga?
I know you motherfuckers ain't fighting
in my motherfucking party in my motherfucking house.
Now, you bitches got two minutes to get out
before I call them or I call me.
Take your pick, 'cause either way, you gonna die.
That's why I don't come uptown, nigga.
You're from Harlem.
Up-uptown, nigga.
Quit stealing my shit!
Are you okay?
Don't fucking talk to me.
This is all your fault.
My fault?
So you just gonna try to play me in front of this punk?
I didn't bring you this motherfucking party
to dance with any you niggas you want to.
So did you try to take him home and shit?
Oh, so I was supposed to stand to the side
and watch you dry fuck, oh, I'm sorry, dance with your ex?
You know, you got a big fucking mouth.
Man, I didn't mean to say nothing.
Man, shut the fuck up.
Hey, hey, don't blame Angel and me!
This blew up in your face because of you.
You played yourself with your weak ass.
Oh, shit, man.
Oh, so you trying to man up and shit.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Bro, chill!
Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo.
Bro, chill, chill.
I'm gonna fuck this nigga up, man.
You better get...
Get in the car or they're gonna call 5-0.
I'm sorry.
Hey, yo, A.C., you better come the fuck on.
All right, all right.
A.C., come the fuck on!
Stop screaming, man.
Sometimes life will have you writing
your own Toni Braxton songs in your head.
♪ Yeah hee hee hee hee
So have you thought about what you'll do?
Do?
There's nothing to do.
Homie has once again shown he's trash.
Well, hold on now.
Next time, there may not be a friend to pull his ass back.
Absolutely true, all right.
But before we just throw him away,
let's not forget we're all a work in progress.
Nope, not in this case.
Raheim is a little rough around the edges, but who isn't?
Rough around the edges?
Don't you mean ghetto?
Careful.
I grew up in the ghetto.
There are exceptions to every rule.
That kind of behavior
has nothing to do with the ghetto, all right?
I grew up in the right so-called neighborhood,
went to the right so-called schools,
but I wasn't always the sensitive, considerate,
secure man I am today.
If you do say so yourself, counselor.
I was pigheaded, stubborn, reactive.
I even got into a few scuffles back in the day.
My man was a G, baby.
A wannabe, all right?
But I thought that was the way to be a man.
Raheim's young.
He's got room and time to grow.
I never thought I'd be with a man like B.D.
Now, I couldn't imagine being with anyone but him.
Oh, babe.
Oh, my pumpkin pie.
Come here.
Come here, baby.
Ugh.
Gene, you know deep down, you understand.
And dare I say it, you want love just like the rest of us.
You know better than to even say that word to me.
This shit is why I'll never go there again.
Never say never.
You have to keep your heart and mind open
for the right kind of man to come.
There's only one kind of man,
a dog.
We will all have one, or maybe even be one in this life.
Well,
I believe there are three types of men,
mister right, mister all right, and mister right for you.
Oh, really, Lucy?
Explain.
Mister right is the one you dream about.
He's perfect in every way, but...
He doesn't exist.
Correct.
Now, mister all right is the guy you usually fall for,
but nine times out of 10, he's a dog
but knows exactly what to say and do.
I've known a few of those.
Mm-hmm.
Then there's mister right for you.
He may not be cultured, conscious,
or as together as you may want him to be,
but he's a good man.
And we know where they finish.
Indeed, so we bypass him from mister all right
and the never-ending search for mister right.
You will sometimes say something
that confirms there's more than cotton between your ears.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
Don't get cute.
You'll get cut.
My man's still a G.
The spirit of truth, baby.
I'm a truth teller.
I'm a soul journeyer.
I'm a pioneer.
Exactly.
Gene, everybody knows.
I know you miss your little pluggy pug.
I know you miss thuga-thuga-rugga.
Babe, you have shirts in your size.
I bought it for him, so it looks good.
Fugga lover rugrat fuggy.
You're saying I'm fat?
You're not fat, babe.
Because you bought it.
Where's my drink?
It's crazy how quickly life can change.
Bruh, I'm telling you, it's a new technology company
and they're coming after Tesla.
$11, now it's 23.
Nigga, every time you tell me that shit, I get mad tight.
Hey, yo.
Ain't that the motherfuckers right there
that threw hands at the party?
Bruh, I can give you a ride...
I'm just trying to get
me a patty.
Are you shitting me?
Hell yeah, that's them niggas, man.
Look at those soft, baby bottom ass, niggas, man.
Those niggas ain't want to smoke with Kareem, nigga.
Nah, real shit, bro.
I gotta get home, man.
I should have popped that nigga when I had the chance.
All right.
I'll call you tomorrow.
- All right, sure. - All right?
You be bugging, yo.
Pop pop, nigga.
Fuck, fuck.
No, man.
For real, man.
Come on.
Come on, bruh, you're good.
You're good, bruh.
No, you're good, yo.
Come on, man.
D.C. is dead.
♪ In his will
♪ In his will with my soul
♪ In his will
♪ With my soul
♪ In his will
♪ With my soul
♪ In his will
♪ In his will with my soul
My baby!
You got this.
Come on, bruh, you're good.
Where you at?
I need you.
I wanted to say a few words about D.C.
We wasn't related but
he was my blood.
I don't know.
I just felt like I was rambling.
No, no you were speaking from the heart.
You okay?
I just wish everybody would stop asking me that.
I'm sorry.
No.
That's my moms.
You gonna make it back to Brooklyn tonight?
Mitchell!
Hey.
I'm so happy to see you. Raheim!
Junior!
Hello.
Hi.
Mommy, this is Mitchell.
Oh.
So this is Mitchell.
I'm Crystal.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
You too.
Yeah.
You know, I should thank you.
What for?
Well, because of you, he now likes spinach.
Oh.
He said he had a jood time at your house.
I do!
Hopefully, he can come visit again soon.
Yeah, of course.
They're waiting for us.
All right.
Come on.
Thanks for coming.
Oh, you don't have to thank me.
Tonight?
Thank you.
Anytime, Pooquie, anytime.
What's up, little brother man?
Love you, Rah.
♪ Standing on the edge
♪ Got nothing left
♪ I dive off
♪ I dive off it with you
So how is he taking it?
He didn't sleep at all last night,
and he won't eat.
They were best friends since they were five
and he died in his arms.
Truly sad.
We gotta do better.
Have you two talked about the party?
Now would not be the right time
to ask about that, Gene.
Just don't get sucked back in
without him knowing how you feel.
Your shoulder don't come easy.
I know.
♪ Freedom
♪ Be here with me
Where are you going?
To make you something to eat.
Please don't go nowhere.
Okay.
♪ Yeah
♪ Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Thank you, Little Bit.
Anytime, Pooquie, anytime.
♪ Ooh, I dive off, yeah
♪ Yeah
Hey, Michi.
I don't have to ask where you are
because you're not where you're supposed to be, here.
I got sidetracked.
I'm so sorry.
You know I'm down with Pooquie,
but now you're seriously fucking with your paper,
which means you with mine.
This cover's your baby.
How you gonna let it happen without you?
I know, but I would never ever do this
if I didn't think you could handle it.
Bullshit, Mitch!
Get here!
I can't.
What?
Is he holding you hostage again?
No.
His son is.
I thought he had a birthday party to go to.
He did.
He does.
We are.
You're at a party?
Yes, I brought him.
Raheim was gonna...
Is missing in action again.
He said he would be back.
Oh, excuse me, black in a half hour,
but that one's last night at eight
and I haven't heard from him since.
Even Junior called and got no response.
I hope nothing has happened to him.
Yeah, something has happened to him.
He done lost his damn mind and he out trying to find it.
What he you think, you running a daycare?
I don't mind watching Junior.
And she's not familiar with my part of Brooklyn
so I saved Crystal the trip.
You don't want your boyfriend
looking bad to his child's mother.
I planned to just drop him off, but he begged me to stay.
And god forbid you say no to anyone
with the name of Raheim,
even if it fucks with your livelihood.
I know, and I'm so embarrassed,
but can you please just cover for me and represent?
You know I got you.
But just think about what you give up for him
and ask yourself what exactly does he give up for you.
Yes.
Come on, Mitchell.
They're gonna sing happy birthday.
Coming.
Yes?
Yo, open up.
Damn, what took you so long?
Nice to see you too.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Damn, you ain't got no beverage?
Raheim, forget the beverage.
We need to talk.
Man, you supposed to be taking care of shit around here.
Yeah, I take care of shit while you don't do jack shit.
Huh?
Look, I know you going through a lot right now,
taking care of Miss Carter, going to court,
but you could show me a little consideration.
Consideration?
Either you say you're coming by
or don't have enough courtesy to let me know you're not,
or you just drop by out of the blue
like I don't have a life.
So I can't just drop by?
What, you hiding some other niggas around here or some shit?
Since when I gotta call?
Since I can't depend on you and nor can your son.
Say what?
You dropped him off over here like a bag of dirty laundry
and forgot to pick him up.
He was coming here to see you.
What the hell are you talking about?
He came to see us!
It didn't fucking matter who took him.
It mattered to him!
You were supposed to take him.
It certainly was not my responsibility!
So you gonna tell me how to raise my son?
No.
But if the Timbs fit, rock 'em.
Get the fuck out of my face.
Oh, so you got jokes.
What a punk like you know about being somebody dad?
Stop disrespecting me in my house!
Back up, back up.
What the fuck is you talking about?
Stop calling me a fucking punk!
Oh, here you go again, telling other niggas how to talk.
Get outta my house.
Don't touch me.
What's wrong, 'cause I'm speaking the truth?
The truth?
- You pussy ass. - Get the fuck out!
- You're a punk-ass... - Get out.
The truth is we have been sharing the same bed
for the past four months!
So if that makes me a punk,
what the hell does that make you?
What you trying to say?
Hey, I'm a man.
I ain't no fucking punk.
Oh, oh, you a man?
If you're such a man, right, get the fuck out!
Do something to make me get out.
Get out.
Get out of my house, Raheim.
Get out. Don't touch me.
Get out of my house.
Don't touch me.
Exactly. Go be a man out there.
And I ain't gonna put my hands on a bitch.
Get the fuck out of my house!
Get the fuck out of my bed!
Get the fuck out of my bed, out of my fucking kitchen!
I don't want you to come here anymore!
Don't put your hands...
Get out of my house, man.
Get out of my house, bruh.
Don't bring your son.
I don't give a fuck!
Little Bit.
Get the fuck out!
Listen to me, Little Bit.
Get the fuck out of my house!
Are you gonna file a police report?
No.
Why?
What's the point?
This.
All of this.
I've been called a punk all my life,
But you clock somebody and then break?
That's a real punk.
I don't wanna get the law involved.
Besides, I can already hear the officers
laughing at our so-called gay lovers' quarrel.
So?
We pay these motherfuckers' salaries.
Our lovers' quarrels deserve the same due process
the heteros receive.
And?
He'll just be another black man with a record.
How do you know he doesn't already have one?
He doesn't.
I looked him up on jailbirds.com.
What?
Somebody had to.
This water?
Yeah.
I mean, I gotta check with you.
I'm staying with you tonight.
No, no, I'm fine.
I know, but just in case.
He won't come back.
And if that father-fucker does come back,
I got a few things for his ass.
I ain't playing.
It was nice of Carl to drive you.
Yeah.
Nice.
I didn't know you two were...
We're not.
Gene, it's been over a decade.
Sean would want you to be happy.
Now, who are you, the Ghost Whisperer now?
What makes you think I'm not happy?
Happy with someone.
You know,
I could get Carl to track his ass down
and give him an interrogation that he will never forget.
Just say the word.
Thank you.
Thank you for having my back.
Now, you know I detest cheap sentiment.
But as B.D. would shriek,
that's what Judys are for.
♪ My Lord now
♪ Some folk need a lot of money ♪
♪ But all I need is you, honey
♪ I need you to make me strong
♪ And to help make me carry on
♪ 'Cause I, I, I
♪ Baby, I need you
♪ My friends, they say I'm crazy ♪
♪ Lovin' you this way, baby
♪ But baby, they don't understand ♪
♪ How a love can be so grand
♪ 'Cause I, I, I
♪ Baby, oh yeah, I need you
♪ Some folks were born to be kings on a throne ♪
♪ And some folks were born to be all alone ♪
♪ But baby, I was wrong to love you this way ♪
♪ And that's why I need you everyday ♪
♪ Oh yeah
So?
Were my sources correct?
Yeah.
Come on, mister black-ass vice president!
What?
Please don't tell me you turned them down.
No, no, I accepted.
Try not to be so excited.
I'm excited.
Your blues are giving me the blues.
You need to get away and clear your head.
Don't you have some vacation time you haven't used?
Yeah.
Yeah, I do.
Use it, please, for both our sakes.
♪ I'm gonna be all right
♪ I love you, baby, oh yeah
♪ I love you
♪ Everyday
♪ 'Cause I, I, I
♪ Baby, I need you
What's wrong with you, nephew?
Mitchell Sylvester Crawford,
you could fool most of the people most of the time
but you can't fool your Auntie Ruth.
You ain't spent the night home in six years.
And this is the first time
you haven't straight up devoured my peach cobbler.
That ain't never happened before.
And your mama, you know she told me
you been moping around here singing Aretha,
singing Phyllis, singing Mary.
Nephew, what's wrong?
Nothing.
I'm fine.
This Raheim?
Hmm, y'all had the fight,
the big one.
And you can't get over him,
and you're trying to forget him,
and you're trying to forget it, right?
There's a very jood reason for that.
Yeah, you're in love.
I can't be in love.
Why not?
Because I've been in love before.
It's never felt like this.
Oh, that wasn't love.
I saw it.
You had that glow.
It was all up in your eyes.
And your mama, she saw it too
but she just didn't know what it was.
I knew.
See, you didn't expect it.
You didn't expect it to happen.
You didn't think it could happen.
But love don't always come when you want it,
and it don't always come in the package
that you want it packaged in.
And it damn sure don't come easy.
But nephew, when it comes,
you better name it
and claim it.
So, what do you think?
It's nice.
You sure you wanna leave Ailey though?
No,
but I know it's what I have to do.
I'm not gonna win my dozen Tonys
being a part of someone else's ensemble.
Besides, I have the perfect team in my corner
to make that dream come true.
I think you're right.
It needs a little work.
That's where my jood Judys come in.
If you can get Gene to do some manual labor,
you are a miracle worker.
Hmm.
Too bad Pooquie isn't still around.
We definitely could put those mus-cles to use.
That name still gets you, huh?
Indeed.
If y'all get another shot,
you've got some inventory to take too.
What do you mean?
You fetishize that man, if that's a word.
Keep going.
Too many black men go through that, even with each other.
You think it would be so easy to snag yourself a thug
and get a no strings plug 'cause you know it isn't real.
You can't take that home to mama, right?
Wrong, 'cause you did take him home to mama.
And you played the role, let him run things,
run you, be the man.
And ain't nothing wrong with that if that's what you want.
I have no problems letting Babyface take the lead role.
But roles can be an illusion, an illusion set up
by the patriarchy of the white, male, heteronormative.
So don't get it twisted.
You decided not to rock the boat
so he wouldn't stop rocking yours.
But look what happened.
You didn't fall in love.
You rose in it.
Is that Toni Morrison?
Jazz, yes.
The ditzy one reads too.
Well, you better come on.
You know though, there are a lot of things I don't know.
But when it comes to the art of dance and the art of men,
I can write the books.
Where the book at, bitch?
I wanna know where the book at.
Write the book. Paper, pen, thank you.
Hi, Mitchell.
Hey.
Can we come in?
Yeah, you can come in.
Now we in the building.
How was your vacation, Mitchell?
My vacation?
Daddy says you were out of the country.
That's why we couldn't come see you.
All right, little brother man.
Can you just take our coats in the room and go watch TV?
But I wanna talk to Mitchell.
I know.
I wanna talk to him first.
You can talk to him later, aight?
Okay, daddy.
And don't drag 'em.
Okay.
I mean, okay.
I still don't know why I can't hang with Mitchell.
I guess you think I won't curse your ass out
because Junior's here.
Go ahead.
I'm a man,
just like you.
But that doesn't mean I will be another man's punching bag.
If you ever put your hands on me again,
not only will you never speak
or hear from me,
but I will also get my entire family to whoop your ass
'cause I will not, I will not,
I will not fight with the man that I love,
because all I ever wanted and needed
was for you...
Little Bit.
Yes.
I love you so much.
I love you just as much.
After what I did and what I said.
I'm so sorry I hit you.
I don't even know how to make that right.
We've got work to do,
but we can start somewhere.
I ain't never felt like this before.
Me neither.
So what now?
We handle it.
Together.
♪ And let yourself go
♪ Let yourself go
♪ And let yourself go
♪ Let yourself go
And you believed him?
Yes, Gene, I believed him.
Why?
Because I saw it in his eyes.
Is this a road you really want to travel?
If the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior,
then you're in for a lot more heartache.
It was a mistake.
A mistake is forgetting to put the toilet seat down
when your mom is visiting.
We all do and say fucked up things.
Don't people deserve second chances?
Second?
By my count, homie is on his third or fourth.
Don't let your feelings cloud things.
I'm not.
Uh-huh.
He returns to the scene of the crime
two months later to apologize.
But he doesn't come alone.
He brings the sequel.
How convenient.
He knew you wouldn't slam the door in his son's face.
He brought Junior as a security blanket, yes,
but for us both.
Look.
I don't want you to get hurt again,
physically or emotionally.
It's gonna take a hell of a lot more than you know what
to bring this thing out.
I know.
Does he know?
Most people think the magic ingredient is I,
but the lucky few know it's I-N-T-E-G-R-I-T-Y.
Right, but the fact that he came back
tells me he knows it and he's got it.
Right, his reappearing act.
Break up to make up, that's all you two seem to do.
Does anybody wanna change this tune?
'Cause it's skipping.
It's skipping.
The only thing skipping is my heart.
That's heartburn.
No other boyfriend's ever given me butterflies.
Bitch, that's gas!
But I'm telling you,
Raheim's gonna make a believer outta you.
It's not me he has to convince.
I am gonna finish talking some sense into you later.
I know you weren't asleep through all that.
♪ I got just about a million things to do ♪
♪ Right now, I with that you're included too ♪
♪ Sangria caramel, your body in a powerful cloud ♪
♪ Don't fight the urge
♪ And let your body feel free to get loud ♪
♪ I said there's some things that I simply cannot do ♪
♪ No oh oh
♪ No oh
♪ Without you
♪ No oh oh
♪ I said there are some things that I simply cannot do ♪
♪ No oh oh
♪ No oh
♪ Without you
♪ No oh oh
♪ I said there are some things that I simply can't ♪
♪ Dancing in the dark, feeling all body parts ♪
♪ It's true ooh ooh
♪ And I ain't never fought the feeling ♪
♪ 'Cause I don't have to when I'm with you ♪
♪ Hell nah
♪ Ooh ooh
♪ It's got me feeling like a junkie in a crowded room ♪
♪ Crowded room
♪ No solo work, just me and you under a silver moon ♪
♪ Silver moon
♪ There are some things that I simply cannot do ♪
♪ No oh oh
♪ No oh
♪ Without you
♪ No oh oh
♪ There are some things that I simply cannot do ♪
♪ No oh oh
♪ No
♪ No oh
♪ Without you
♪ No oh oh
♪ There are some things that I simply can't ♪
♪ No oh oh
♪ Hey
♪ No oh
♪ Without you
♪ There are some things that I simply cannot do ♪
♪ No oh oh
♪ No oh
♪ Without you
♪ No oh oh
♪ There are some things that I simply can't ♪
♪ No oh oh
♪ No oh
♪ Without you
♪ There are some things that I simply cannot do ♪
♪ Without you
♪ There are some things that I simply cannot do ♪
♪ No oh oh
♪ And I won't do
♪ Without you
♪ There are some things that I simply cannot do ♪
♪ No oh oh
♪ Without you
♪ No oh
♪ Without you