01x07 - Making Moves

[bunniefuu]

[tense music plays]

[tapping keys]

I… I'm gonna say it's not me.

Someone wrote it

to make it look like it was me.

But it is you.

-[Sid sighs]

-She just wants to know you're OK.

She loves you.

Why did I write that sh*t?

If I'd left the essay alone,

none of this would've f*cking happened.

But maybe you would have had

less of a shot at Harvard.

And you'd still be g*y.

[Sid sighs]

You think some part of you, like…

wanted this to happen?

What the f*ck?

-[Meera] No, like, subconsciously.

-No.

This is my worst nightmare.

There are, like, 100 out kids at school.

So? None of them is on the swim team.

They're all drama club kids,

and they're part of your pleasure play.

-That doesn't even make sense.

-Not me.

No one's gonna give a f*ck.

And if they do,

I'll beat the sh*t out of them.

I can't go back there.

You have nothing to be ashamed of.

Don't make this a thing, and it won't be.

[distant clattering]

[Sid sighs]

[Sid] This will k*ll 'em.

They'll think they failed as parents.

[Meera] They won't find out.

You weren't tagged in the post,

they have zero social media,

and he uses a f*cking flip phone.

How come you felt like

you couldn't tell me?

I feel like I wasn't there for you,

and I don't know

what to do with that right now.

I couldn't tell anybody.

[mom in Creole] My baby.

What time is it?

Go back to sleep, Mummy.

[mom] It's already after five.

You stayed up all night?

Huh?

You can't keep going on like this.

It's too much for you.

I'm good, Mummy.

It's not forever.

[mom] What about the interview?

It's at eight.

I'll have enough time to get to school

to take my math test.

I just need to close my eyes

for a few minutes.

Aye, aye, aye.

Let yourself sleep

for a couple hours, at least.

I'll get the kids to school.

[Dom] Mm-hmm.

[mom] Before I take your sister

to the doctor. You need to rest.

No. Just a few minutes.

'Cause I'm really fine.

[guard] Welcome to our first

random bag check day, folks!

Have your bags open for inspection.

I went to see Owen.

OK.

It's like a f*cking prison in there.

And now they want me to go to All-State.

You got in?

I'm taking Owen's seat.

f*ck.

What'd he say when you told him?

It's not your fault, Jay.

It's not.

And you wallowing in sh*t

doesn't help anything.

You know, you didn't even say anything

about these stickers,

which are dumb valid,

'cause guess who designed them.

-Yeah, with my slogan.

-Thank you.

You come to one meeting.

Exactly, my first meeting,

and it's my slogan on the sticker.

-Oh word? OK. Here.

-Yeah.

[chuckles]

Yo, yo, yo. BSU happening tonight.

I got tickets for everybody.

You get one. You get one. I got…

[hip-hop music plays]

I'll let you know.

[indistinct chatter]

-I have to do that right now.

-Here, take this.

-[Sonia] Tonight.

-Yo, hook me up, bro.

Yeah, bro.

You gonna be there?

'Cause if you go,

I guess I gotta go.

Yeah, nah.

[Meera] f*cking Orlov f*ck.

What? I'm not allowed to make a mistake?

[Sid sighs]

Yo, you should come

to this BSU thing with me.

[Sid] No.

[guard 2]

We got two lines going here, guys.

Bags open. Have 'em ready.

[boy 1] If I was a t*rror1st,

I swear to God, I'd set a b*mb right here.

[boy 2] Like just wipe us all out.

Yo, we're done.

You know, wouldn't even give them

the time to check our bags, you know?

Smart. Keep saying that sh*t

right in front of security.

I'm sure they're down

with b*mb talk from the brown kids.

f*cking idiots, I swear to God.

Where you going?

[Sid] Hey.

Hey, man.

-How you doing?

-Come here for a sec.

You doing OK

with all this sh*t?

I meant what I said in my text.

If you wanna talk about anything--

Was it you?

Did you post that sh*t?

What?

-Dude, no. Why would I post--

-You were at my place.

You had my bag the day of the arrests.

You really think I would do that?

-This your way of forcing me to own my--

-Whoa! OK, no.

I would never out someone.

[Meera] Hey.

[girl giggling]

[guard 3] All right, good to go.

[Leila] Hey.

Can I talk to you?

Sure.

I just wanted to, um…

You know, you were so right

that things have been weird,

and I just feel like…

I don't know. Um…

I've been talking to Rabbi Schultz, and--

Wait. You've been talking to my Rabbi?

Yeah, and she's been

giving me all this advice,

and it totally made me realize that, like…

I'm on a journey.

And, like, everyone's on a journey,

and sometimes we don't know where to go,

or we go down the wrong path, but, like,

we have to be there for each other. And…

I wanna be there for you,

and I want you to be there for me.

Just like we always were.

Yeah, I mean…

I want that too.

Yeah, it's just, like, you haven't really

been there for me lately.

Like, at all.

And that's really hard for me

with everything going on right now.

And I think that's why

I've been acting like such a b*tch.

And I know that's not fair, but…

I've just really needed you.

Wait. I haven't been there for you?

Can we just, like, hang out, like before?

Like, do you wanna go to the BSU thing?

I'm gonna go with them.

OK. Yeah.

[tense music plays]

The f*ck?

P.m.?

You set it to f*cking p.m., you stupid…

[sighs]

Hi. Excuse, I'm really sorry.

I was supposed to be

in an interview earlier today.

-Is there any way I can still…

-Hold on, baby.

-Slow down. What's your name?

-Dominique Pierre.

Oh wow. You're legit late.

You have a good excuse?

I'm just late.

[receptionist] OK then.

Let me see what I can do here.

[tapping keys]

Looks like I can squeeze you in at 11:30.

Can you come back?

In an hour?

Of course. Yes. Thank you.

[Dom sighs]

So f*cking stupid.

So then I just lied,

said I could wait around all day.

But I gotta be back for our test.

Girl, stop stressin'.

Can't believe I f*cked this up.

[Tamika] Want me to pull the fire alarm

or something?

Listen, this place is crazy jumpy.

All you gotta do is be like…

[whispers] "…b*mb!"

-And they'll shut down the whole school.

-Girl, don't even joke.

I'm about to call in a threat myself.

[school bell rings]

All right. I gotta go, Mommy,

but you're gonna k*ll it, OK?

Just remember, vulnerability is power.

OK.

Bye, Mika.

[chuckles]

Dominique, thank you for being here.

Thank you very much for having me.

And accommodating me.

Again, I apologize.

Why don't you start

by telling us a little bit about yourself?

OK.

Yeah.

I'm currently a junior

at Grand Army High School.

And, um…

I first got interested in mental health

when I took AP Psychology last year,

which was…

the first class I ever took

where I actually wanted

to go home and do the homework. [chuckles]

Can you tell us why you're interested

in interning with us?

How do you think you fit into our mission?

Well, um…

you're trying to make

mental health care services accessible

to people who don't have that support.

And… I know we need that in this city.

We need that in my community.

I see that need every day.

To be honest,

I'm the person you're trying to help.

[woman 1] What do you mean by that?

Can I, um…

Can I be vulnerable

with you all for a second?

[woman 2] Please.

I think we'd appreciate that.

I think…

most people…

even people who want to help,

they don't always understand

what some people are up against.

I think, for example, when…

we talk about self-care in this culture,

for a lot of people,

self-care is a luxury.

How do you think we can change that?

By doing what you're trying to do.

I mean…

I don't have all the answers.

What I know is my own experience, but…

OK, like, I was late today.

I accidentally set my alarm for p.m.

instead of a.m.,

which was careless. I own that. But…

see…

I went to bed at 5 a.m. this morning.

Same thing yesterday

and the day before that.

Because there's just not enough time

to do all the things I have to do

to go after the life I want.

And… [exhales]

I'm tired.

And if I'm telling the truth,

it makes me angry.

But see, that's the one thing

I can't allow myself to be because…

then…

I'm just what they…

what they expect me to be, right?

And…

they don't wanna see my anger.

Because…

who's actually allowed to be angry?

That's a privilege like everything else,

and my anger doesn't count.

But…

all those feelings,

they're still there,

and they have nowhere to go.

There are all these girls

and women out there

like me,

with no one to say these things to.

So…

we just push them down.

Keep them inside or whatever.

But…

it's there.

[voice catches] It's painful.

And…

we need someone to hear us.

And I know you all know this already

because that's why you're here

doing this work, but…

95% of mental health care workers

in this city are Caucasian.

And…

nothing against them, but…

it matters who you talk to.

It matters…

who you're comfortable with.

It matters who hears you, who says,

"I understand."

It just matters.

I don't know the technical steps

for how this changes, but…

you all are training Black women

to be counselors, right? [chuckles]

That sounds amazing to me.

And…

I wanna be part of that.

And…

to be honest,

I wanna rock a suit like that one day.

[chuckles]

I want to sit at this table

with y'all, and…

I want to make sure I do what I can

to make sure my people

get the things that they need.

Also,

I must add,

I'm very proficient in Excel,

and I've built my own brand…

[chuckles] …on social media,

and I'm really reliable,

and also punctual.

Except for…

today, obviously.

So…

yeah.

[sighs]

[bell rings]

[boy] What's up, man?

Hey. I um… I saw your essay.

That's good sh*t.

Big step. Congrats.

How's it feel to be out?

What's cool is that…

once you come out, there's instantly

this community here for you.

You should, uh…

You should come to a meeting.

g*y-Straight Alliance, Tuesdays.

You should definitely come out.

Us q*eers gotta stick together.

[Sid] Yep. Thanks.

[Leila] Sid!

Hey.

[Sid] Hey.

How are you?

I just can't imagine how…

you're feeling right now.

Just…

being exposed like that.

And…

I just wanted to say that…

when the b*mb went off in our lives,

you were there for me.

And I feel like

a b*mb went off in your life,

and I wanna be there for you.

[Sid scoffs]

[Dom] Mr. Blumberg.

I'm really sorry.

I had an internship interview

this morning, and I got in 30 minutes ago,

but Dolores had me wait in the main office

till the end of the period.

John, Becca, I need your tests.

Is there any way I can take it

after school or during my free?

You know I can't let you do that,

Dominique.

[Dom] I know, but I didn't think

I would be gone that long.

[Blumberg] I appreciate that,

but I got 38 students in this class.

And I'm not trying to be harsh,

I'm trying to be consistent,

and if I let you make this up,

I gotta let everyone else make it up

at some point.

And you got a strong average,

so it brings down your grade a bit.

That's life.

This f*cking day.

He wouldn't let you retake it?

f*ck.

Yo, what's your interview? Tell us.

I wanna work there so bad.

-Aww!

-[Tor] Yeah?

I mean… [chuckles]

these women were amazing queens,

you know?

I feel like they liked me,

but who the f*ck knows?

I talked about AP Psych. I was like,

"Self-care is a luxury."

Does that sound dumb?

-Mm-mm.

-[Tor chuckles] Look…

I'm a f*cking self-care expert.

-I self-care every f*cking night.

-[Tamika] Me too.

And it is luxurious.

Oh my God! Shut up! [Dom chuckles]

[Dom groans]

I'm so stressed. It's like I got whiplash.

[Tor] OK, you know what you need?

Twenty-eight hours in a day?

No, you need to take a night off.

Wild out a little bit. Chill.

That is deadass.

I got my APUSH test tomorrow,

and I haven't even started studying.

Dude,

it's a "fun-raiser,"

which your man

and Sonia are putting together.

-And it's early, so you can study after.

-[Tor] Right.

Come on. I know you want to.

Come on. [snaps fingers]

Take the sticker, babe.

Come to the dance.

-Fine.

-Get funky.

-[Tor] Duh-duh-duh-duh.

-[Tamika giggles]

[Tamika] Hey, yo! Let's go!

[Gonzalez] Hey, Sid.

Have a seat.

-That's OK. I just wanted to…

-No, sit down.

What's on your mind?

You heard about…

Yeah.

Are you OK?

How'd your parents take it?

They're basically the last people

I'd ever expect to be on Instagram,

-so…

-Well, have you thought about

how you might wanna…

approach that conversation

if they do end up somehow--

Do you know how it got out?

No.

Do you?

It would have to be someone

who obviously had access to it.

Yeah, you know, I think it might be worth

officially reporting this to Mr. Burley.

[clicks pen]

You basically had the only copy.

Look, Sid, you have every right

to be hurt…

and angry.

And I wanna support you.

But when you say that,

it sounds like you're implying

that I had something to do with this.

Look, this was a clear violation

of your privacy,

and I don't know how it got out.

But I think that, for now,

you should concentrate on

what you need moving forward.

I need to go back in time.

Just please, don't…

push away the people

who care about you, Sid.

[girl] Destroy, crush, pound.

Hey, girl,

I'll do you so hard. Enough!

Stop talking.

-All the things you say you're going to--

-Hey.

Can you read this text

and tell me if it's OK to send to Joey?

Uh…

I can't right now.

I just want her to know

that I'm, like, supportive, you know?

[girl] Who told you

I want your aggression?

-Caress, lick, attend to--

-[Meera] Hold, please, Maya.

Leila,

you know the ASL for this, right?

Most of it.

And the blocking?

Why does she walk downstage

on "rinse and repeat"?

[mouths] Empowerment.

Empowerment.

[Meera] Empowerment.

Upstage is shame,

downstage is empowerment.

Can you focus, please?

Yeah, totally. I am.

Can we take it back?

Top of that section. Sorry, Maya.

And if there are people talking backstage

right now, seriously, shut the f*ck up.

Dominate, destroy, crush, pound.

Hey, girl, I'll do you so hard.

Enough!

Stop talking.

All the things you say

you're going to do to my body

are actually just for your…

body.

Who told you I want to be ravaged?

Who told you I want your aggression?

Caress, lick,

attend to.

Please.

Rinse.

Repeat.

What happens if I'm just direct

about what I like and what I want?

What if I dared to say the words?

The answer is easy.

You'd call me a freak.

You'd call me…

aggressive.

[Joey sighs]

You wanna take Grammy's quilt?

Why?

I don't know.

-You love it.

-Yeah, I do. But…

the fact that you want me to take it

makes me think that you think

that I'm not coming back.

Of course you're coming back.

[Joey] Mom,

how are you and Dad affording this?

It's $48,000 a year.

[Joey taps keys]

Well, it's not the whole year.

So it's prorated.

And Grammy and Grandpa are helping out.

This is a mess.

So pathetic. It's like running away.

[Rebecca] That's not what this is.

You don't have to do anything

you don't want to.

You don't have to leave.

You can stay here.

So you protect yourself

by removing yourself.

That's not running away.

Yeah, but they get to do

whatever the f*ck.

What about these?

Do you wanna take these?

-I don't need any of those.

-[door opens]

[Frankie] Hey, Mom!

-Hey!

-[door closes]

We're in here.

-[Nina] Hi, guys.

-Hey, baby doll.

Come here.

Give me some lovin'.

Get over here. Hmm.

[Frankie] What are you guys doing?

-I'm gonna stay at Dad's for a bit.

-[Frankie] Are we going too?

Nope. Just Joey, and not for long.

[Joey] I'm still gonna see you guys,

like, all the time.

Yeah, and we're gonna go to Dad's tonight

for dinner, OK? As a family.

But why are you going?

[Joey sighs]

So she won't

have to run into George, babe.

[Frankie] Then I wanna go too.

I don't wanna see him either.

Are you taking your Bikini k*ll poster?

'Cause if you're not,

I'll just hang onto it.

Well, it better be pristine

when I get back.

If she gets something,

I want something.

Oh my God, you guys, I'm coming back.

OK, fine, Frankie.

You can have one thing.

OK. Let's go.

-Get your coat. Let's get out of here.

-Come on, Mom.

-[Rebecca] Come on.

-[Frankie] I…

Hey, Martin, I thought all your Coltrane

was over here.

Can't contain Coltrane.

His other Coltrane section

is hidden over here

when he was signed to Impulse.

You got a weird system.

[Hank] Nah.

He just likes when people got to ask

for what they're looking for.

-[Martin chuckles]

-Start a conversation. [snaps fingers]

That's the whole point of jazz.

[Hank] Oh, here we go.

Live at Birdland.

You know where to go

if you wanna listen to it.

[Hank] Yes, sir. Thanks, my friend.

Now, of course,

-Alabama wasn't actually live.

-[somber jazz music plays]

[Hank] Now, this is take five

at Van Gelder Studio

just over in Edgewater.

[chuckles] Story goes,

Coltrane didn't tell anybody

what it was about, not even his quartet.

Sheet music didn't even have a title.

But…

[exhales] even if you didn't know

why he wrote it,

you listen to this,

you know what it is.

You feel it.

It's a eulogy.

You know

about the 16th Street Baptist Church?

In Birmingham.

It got bombed, right?

Yeah.

That was two months before he played this.

See, the sax is lamenting.

It's singing the sorrow,

but underneath,

you hear the percussion, right?

It's building, rising up, threatening.

It's the tension

what makes this piece so…

powerful.

It's about…

the moment that sadness turns to anger.

It's a memorial.

Yeah.

But it's a protest.

[somber jazz music continues]

[John] There's a history in the country

of folks packing on the buses

and riding off into the sunset

to make change happen.

And that's what we're gonna do

with the dollars we raise here tonight.

[Dom] Yes, baby!

Y'all better give my man some money!

[cheering]

[John] Because

while we celebrate our history

and reflect on our history,

you know we gotta fight for our future.

[cheering]

Grand Army coming to enlist ya!

[cheering]

We gonna go to Pennsylvania,

and we're gonna spend a weekend

registering voters.

What's goin' on?

Having a party at this party?

-You are late.

-[John continues talking]

So what? I'm late.

[John] Yo, so look. Look.

People are saying

if this election goes our way,

it's gonna be

on the backs of Black Americans.

And young Americans.

'Cause until everyone else

gets their sh*t together, we gotta lead!

[cheering]

[Sonia] Where those votes at?

We're gonna swing that state!

[cheering]

Let me hear you!

[cheering, whistling]

Sonia Cruz. Where is she?

[chuckling]

Yo, she's got the sign-up sheet.

Join us on the bus!

[cheering]

Oh damn, y'all. This girl just got woke.

-[John] Do something.

-I have an idea.

-What is it?

-I'll tell you in a second.

Show some love

for the Grand Army Step Corps!

[cheering]

Amanda!

You go, Amanda!

You so good!

-You so smart.

-Uh-huh.

What you been drinking?

[Dom giggles]

Oh!

[cheering]

[Sonia] Tell us your idea!

-You blowin' me up!

-What are we talkin' about?

It's all Black kids

at Owen's suspension center.

[Tor] That's that new Jim Crow sh*t.

Well, we gotta do something

to show how f*cked up that is.

Yo, I'm thinking we go old school

and do like a sit-in for Owen.

I like that.

-Eh!

-[Dom] This kid…

Coming here with ideas.

I see you been training your boy.

Girl, you know

it ain't even like that, OK?

Girl, you know it could be like that.

Oh wow!

That's how you show up.

Even when people tryin' to take you out.

[clapping, stomping on stage]

Hey, you made it.

Is Flora here?

No, I don't think so. Did you text her?

[Sid] No. I just thought

maybe in person it would be…

I don't know.

Well, it's good that you came anyways.

[clapping, stomping continues]

-I feel like everyone's staring at me.

-They're not.

[stomping]

[cheering]

[cheering]

[John] So I don't know about you,

but I'm ready for some Philly cheesesteak!

-[cheering]

-[hip-hop music plays]

I think I'm gonna go.

[Meera] Dude, you just got here.

[Orlov] Hey, man.

Well, what's goin' on?

The f*ck's your problem?

I'm so f*cking stupid!

-That piece of sh*t!

-[Meera] Sid!

[Sid] Bo!

It was you, wasn't it?

-I know it was you, m*therf*cker!

-Yo, don't come at me.

[students] Oh! Whoo!

What the f*ck? Are you OK?

[laughter in background]

[Meera] Are you OK?

Let me see. Let me see.

[woman over PA]

Dr. Kimoto to inpatient fittings.

-Dr. Kimoto to inpatient fittings.

-[sniffs]

Hey, what'd they say?

Ice is my friend.

[Meera] What about your nose?

I'm fine. I just wanna go.

-[dad] Meera?

-Dad, over here!

Siddhartha.

-[dad] What happened?

-I'm good. It's nothing.

Who did this?

Just some dumb thing

with this kid from school.

-He attacked you?

-[Sid] No.

-[dad] Why didn't the police come?

-It wasn't like that.

Your school authorities,

they need to be notified.

-This boy will be held accountable.

-[Sid] Dad.

Your sister said he was a white boy.

You were targeted.

-Nobody was targeted.

-[dad] Then why did he attack you?

Because I came after him, OK?

I pushed him.

[dad] Why?

Because of me.

He was defending me.

-[dad] What's going on?

-Stop. You don't need to lie for me.

Who's lying? Tell me the truth.

What happened?

This kid posted my college essay online

to embarrass me,

and everyone read it.

To embarrass you about being Indian?

This is a hate crime.

Excuse me, ma'am.

-I saw a police officer downstairs.

-[Sid] Dad!

-[dad] I need him here.

-Stop. Listen.

-[nurse] What do you need?

-To file a report.

-[Sid] Stop. We're fine. Sorry.

-[Meera] Dad. Sid doesn't want…

My son was beaten.

I'll have to call NYPD.

Would you like me to do that?

No. No, no. Can I just please

have a second with my family? Please?

You're not listening to me.

No. You need to listen to me.

I will not let you be treated this way.

My essay was about me being g*y.

Why would you write about that?

Because I'm g*y.

That's ridiculous.

You're not g*y. [chuckles]

[Meera] Dad.

Dad.

[Frankie] The last time I checked,

that wasn't

-[Rebecca] Yeah. Here.

-[Matt] Thank you.

[Rebecca] Have some vegetables.

[pop music plays]

You have no vegetables on your plate.

[Rebecca] Mm.

Put some vegetables on your plate

right now.

-Are these salted?

-[Matt] Put on some hot sauce.

She can't handle any type of hot sauce.

[laughter]

-I have a question.

-[Matt] Mm-hmm?

-What do you do at Catholic school?

-Same thing you do at regular school.

Yeah. Except there are religion classes,

and you go to chapel.

And there are nuns.

-It's different now.

-[Joey] Everywhere.

I'm sure there are

nowhere near as many nuns

as when we were in high school.

Holy Ghost.

Bec, you remember?

Oh my God.

[chuckling] Oh my God!

-What in the world

-[Nina] What's the Holy-f*cking-Ghost?

are you doing with your body right now?

-Why is that so funny?

-[Matt] Oh.

You know, at school dances,

especially the slow dances,

-the nuns would patrol the crowd…

-[chuckling]

…and make sure

there was enough room for the Holy Ghost.

Oh!

I don't get it.

Yeah, well, you had to…

You had to leave enough space

in between your bodies for…

-For Jesus.

-[Matt] Basically, yeah.

Oh, it was total insanity.

-All these pathetic

-[Matt] Awkward.

high school kids just, like…

Here, Franks, come. I'm gonna show you.

[Rebecca sighs]

Uh! No. Not closer. Just right there.

-All right.

-[Nina] Oh my God.

Was it actually that bad?

-It was that bad.

-[Matt] Worse. Worse. Awful.

[Rebecca and Nina laugh]

-[Joey chuckles]

-[Nina] Oh my God.

Frankie needs the spotlight, everyone.

That is so f*cking mean.

She's just having fun with Mom.

[Rebecca giggles]

[Frankie] Come on.

Come dance with me. Please.

-Please!

-No. I'm just gonna watch you dance.

-[phone rings]

-[Joey] I'll watch you.

-[Frankie] No. Come on. Please?

-[Joey] Just go--

-Hello?

-[Joey] No!

Fine.

[Joey] Mom, who is it?

Mom, who's on the phone?

-Please get--

-[Joey] Frankie, f*cking stop.

Nina's gonna dance with you.

-[Matt] Who is it, Bec?

-[groans] Uh-huh.

-Mom!

-[Rebecca] Uh-huh.

One… one second.

Uh-huh.

And what is this based on?

-OK, but who's decided that?

-Who's decided what?

[Rebecca] I have Joey and Matt here.

Just one second.

It's the DA's office.

They're not moving forward with charges.

-What does that mean?

-[Matt] Wait. How are they coming to this?

Lack of evidence.

What? So that means

they're gonna do nothing?

They didn't feel

like they had enough to make a case.

-What?

-And we have no say in this?

Well, we're all obviously very upset.

-Ask them! How is this possible?

-I'm trying to!

[yells] Tell them

I wanna talk to them, Mom!

Tell them I wanna talk to them!

[sobs]

[sniffles]

[sobs]

We'll talk to them.

Oh my Lord. I needed this night. For real.

You know the last time

I did something like this?

When?

No, I'm asking.

'Cause I don't f*cking remember.

-Yo. [John chuckles]

-[laughs]

-Yeah, I never seen you this f*cked up.

-I'm not f*cked up!

Look at me.

-Yo! [John laughs]

-I got this!

[snickers] You're messy.

You try doin' what I'm doin'.

Feed a family on eight dollars per person.

Eight dollars…

for a whole f*cking day.

You try it.

Get a chicken nugget meal.

That's six bucks…

for one meal.

So what, you're gonna live

off butter rolls? [giggles]

You know it takes three days in New York

after rent's due for them to evict you?

Deadass.

Three days.

And I'm like,

"b*tch, if I don't have rent

for you when it's due,

three days is not gonna change sh*t."

[giggles]

-What? I'mma go rob a bank?

-Right.

[giggles]

But see, I've been looking into it.

And if the landlord's been neglectful,

like our toilet clogs all the f*cking time

and they never fix that sh*t,

so I'm documenting everything now,

just in case.

-Mm-hmm.

-But…

my landlord's the city, so…

But if you can show neglect,

the court might let you stay,

even if you're behind.

Oh sh*t.

I'm running my mouth,

and now you're probably like,

"Uh… gotta go." [giggles]

I didn't say anything.

[Dom] Well, you're thinking that though.

Come on. Give me some credit.

A'ight. What are you thinkin' about?

Just that I didn't know

that you had to hold on to all that.

That's a lot to carry.

You make it look like nothin'.

That's 'cause I'm my own

magical superhero-superstar.

Except, lately, I'm not.

You don't have to be magical.

But you are incredible.

You just made that up?

Just now?

Just now.

-[chuckles]

-Just for me?

Just for you, baby.

You're, like, mad corny.

[both chuckle]

[romantic music plays]

You wanna come upstairs for a minute?

-Hell yeah.

-[giggles]

[Dom giggles]

-[John chuckles]

-[giggles]

-I'm not gonna lie. I'm so lit right now.

-[John] Word. You look good though.

[both chuckle]

Table is set up.

[Dom and John giggle]

[indistinct chattering]

[mom] Dominique!

[in Creole] I was getting worried.

[woman] Ah!

[mom] Good evening.

Good evening.

[mom] Hello, darling.

[whispers] We have company.

[clears throat]

-[in English] I'm sorry. I can…

-No. It's OK.

-Just making sure she got home OK.

-[mom] Mm-hmm.

Sorry. I didn't know anybody was here.

It's cool. I'm good.

You have a great night.

[mom in Creole] Good night.

[women] Good night.

That's her friend from school.

She's very studious.

[Dom in English] Sorry.

That's all right.

[woman 1] Oh!

[giggling in background]

[mom speaks Creole]

I was just telling them how smart you are.

Um…

Excuse me a minute.

[mom] Mm-hmm.

Pardon me.

[door opens, closes]

[knocking on door]

[mom] Dominique, open the door.

[knocking on door]

[distant laughter]

Where have you been?

At a school thing.

Are you drunk?

No.

[mom] Mm-hmm.

Who is that out there?

Francine wants

to introduce you to her nephew.

He's a nice boy.

I told you I wasn't.

No, Mom! Why would you?

We can't go on this way.

You can't keep going like this.

It's too much.

Honey…

I'm worried about you.

Just meet him.

You don't have to make any decisions now.

Don't take too long.

-OK.

-[door opens]

[sighs]

[distant chattering]

[inaudible]

[inaudible]

[laughter]

Ah, darling!

Finally! Hello!

-Are you doing well?

-Yes.

[chuckling]

[in English] Uh… Hey.

It's nice to meet you.

Hey.

[in Creole] Ronald,

this is my daughter, Dominique.

Dominique, this is Ronald Toussaint

and his mother Perla.

-[speaking in Creole]

-[chuckling]

[Francine] Ronald is my favorite nephew.

[chuckling]

That may be true.

Because I'm actually her only nephew.

All right. All right. Who's hungry?

[excited exclamations]

[speaking in Creole]

[chuckling]

-[sighs]

-[Sabine speaks in Creole]

[Haitian music plays]

[Haitian music continues]

[tapping keys]

[Haitian music continues]