04x07 - Stronger Together

[bunniefuu]

Hey, Fatima girl. Okay...

[Fatima] Hey, girl.

Fatima, I just saw your rude a*s in your office.

[Zac]Previously on Zatima.

-Hey, girl! -Hey.

I'm sorry, I thought you were somebody else.

[tense music]

-I really want to hit you. -And that's fine.

My mama came to me the last time I got high.

Maybe if I get high again,

she'll come back and take me with her.

Okay.

Yo, baby, let me help you. Let me help you.

-Let me help you. -Thank you. Phew.

Thought you said you wasn't wearing heels no more.

Don't start. They go with the outfit.

-I'm not starting. -[Fatima] Thank you.

Just saying... you could fall on these.

-[Fatima] [sighs] -The way that a*s is set up.

Probably perfectly balanced between a*s,

-stomach, so you good. -Shut up, boy.

[both laughing]

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. I got you, I got you.

-[Fatima] I got it, I got it. -No, no, no, no, no.

-I got you. -I--I-- No!

Look, you dropped me the last time. I'm good.

Come on, I got you. Come on. Come on.

-Go slow. Slow. -Let me check. Come on.

-You play too much. Come on. -[laughs] I got you.

That was one time I lost my balance.

You gonna keep throwing that in my face?

Baby...

Listen, I really appreciate you trying to help and everything,

but I need you to back off just a little bit.

What? All I'm trying to do is help.

Yeah, and you can help me by doing what I ask.

You talking about the laundry and the garbage again? Like...

Zac, I just need you to back off, okay?

How am I gonna help you if I back off?

Zac, if you don't give me some space,

I'ma scream, okay? Seriously!

-Okay. All right. -sh*t.

Okay. I'm gonna back off. Okay?

-Thank you. -But if you need help, just ask.

That's exactly what I just said. Okay?

Thank you. Thanks.

All right. What is the other thing...

You know what?

I got my own sh*t to worry about anyways.

-Okay. -I got a lot of stuff.

-This shower was a lot. -A lot?

Why is it a lot, Zac?

A small, intimate gathering with just family and friends?

A very select few family and friends.

-How is it a lot? -[nervous laughs]

-Hm? -It kind of grew.

-Zac? -But relax. Bring it down.

We only got one ice fountain.

-And I told your mother no. -No, no, no.

-I told her no. -That's it.

That's it. I'm taking over the shower. That's it.

-No, you're not. -Yes, I am.

Don't you gotta go to work?

sh*t, I'm about to be late. Look, don't be late for

the sh**t tonight fooling around with Tony and Nathan.

I won't, but can you stop cussing around the baby, please?

Zac, shut the f*ck up.

I love you.

[upbeat music] * Love ain't perfect *

* But we still workin' *

* May not be what we see on TV *

* But it's damn sure worth it *

* Uh-huh, love ain't perfect *

* But we still workin' *

* Don't gotta be what we see on IG *

* 'Cause we still worth it, uh-huh *

* Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah *

* Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do *

* We still workin' *

[upbeat music]

-[gasp & whispering] Oh, sh*t! -What? Hey, girl.

Girl, you scared me.

Um, what the hell got you so jumpy?

I'm just... It's nothing.

Fatima, it's not nothing.

You almost jumped out your damn shoes.

-I'm alright. -Fatima, what's going on?

Angela, I don't want to talk about it.

So there is something to talk about?

No, it's not.

Then what is it you don't want to talk about?

I don't want to talk about nothing, okay?

Fatima.

-Wait. Is this... -What?

That rude chick that was in the conference room yesterday?

-Angela. -Fatima!

-Is that that Leslie b*tch? -Look, I don't know, okay?

Yes, you do know.

You the one who said she was all up in the bed

-with Zac with a Fatima mask on. -I did not say that.

I said that she dresses like me,

she gets her hair done like me and everything.

Ooh. I should have beat her a*s

when she broke into your house that night.

-Wait, what? -Yeah.

She said that you gave her a key.

Angela, when did this happen?

Back when all the repast mess was going on.

And when were you going to tell me about that?

Fatima, there was a lot going on.

And besides, you introduced her to me as your friend.

No, that psycho b*tch is not my friend.

-sh*t. -Oh, my God.

-What you going to do? -I don't know.

Zac is going to flip his sh*t when he finds out

that she showed up to your job.

Look, Zac cannot find out about this, okay?

-Fatima. -No, look, I just got him

to calm down and stop following me every damn where.

If he finds this sh*t out...

He gonna be on you like white on rice.

Exactly. And that's why he can't find out, okay?

sh*t. Look, girl, you got to do something.

-This chick is unhinged. -Yeah, she is.

But I got something for her a*s.

Oh. Okay, Cleo.

Can we just talk about something else?

I'm just trying to make sure

you don't set it off up in this law firm.

As long as she stay gone, we good.

This is crazy. So you got a stalker now?

I don't have a stalker.

[scoffs] Fatima, yes, you do.

Just because you don't admit it doesn't make it not true.

Look, Angela, can we please just talk about something else?

Like what?

Like this stylist that don't call me back.

-For real? -Yes.

And the damn pregnancy sh**t is this evening.

And I cannot wait.

If it still happens.

She keeps sending me to voicemail.

Did you already send her that deposit?

[sighs] I did.

[Angela] Fatima...

Oh. And to make it worse,

it's Chelsea's cousin.

She the one that recommended her.

Okay, well, just tell Chelsea.

Girl, I gotta cool off first.

Well...you know you could always call Belinda.

Yeah, I know.

Uh, you in a bind, girl.

Look, let's just chill. She gonna call.

And if she doesn't?

If she don't, we'll figure it out, all right?

Let's just get to work before we late.

-Just standing at work. -Great.

And I'm going to make sure I stop at y'all break room

because y'all always got the best snacks and coffee.

All right, girl. Come on.

[upbeat music]

Oh, hey, Stephanie.

-Hey, good morning. -Good morning.

I meant to tell you the other day.

-You look great. -[chuckles]

Have you been losing weight or something?

-Girl, I lost a g*ng of weight. -How did you do it so fast?

I've been taking that new weight loss drug.

-Finitril? -Oh.

I've been hearing a lot about that.

Isn't it for diabetes or something like that?

Yeah, but hell, it helps you drop pounds like crazy.

Ain't that dangerous?

Not if you eat healthy to begin with.

Look, I don't take it that much.

And I changed my diet. I went keto.

-Oh. -Girl, I'm working out more.

Not drinking. I'm doing good.

And I feel good, too.

-Well, that's great. -But the n*gg*s? [laughs]

Girl, I ain't never had so many n*gg*s checkin' me.

Girl, these n*gg*s are a dime a dozen.

Yeah, but we want those dimes, too.

Yeah, but honestly, I love that for you.

Thank you.

And if you need to hook up on Finitril,

-I got you. -Nah, I'm good.

Look, you can give that diet and exercise

a little boost.

No, I'm good. I promise.

Well, if you change your mind, you know what to find me.

Okay.

[calm music]

[phone buzzing]

Hey, Zac.

Hey, we're still on for that baby shower meeting?

Yeah, um, I have an hour for lunch.

-Where did you want to meet? -Uh...

-Oh, can you do Olive's? -Oh, cool.

I haven't been there in a while.

-How about noon? -Bet.

[Angela]Bye.

-Hey. -What's up?

I'm about to get that LOI.

-Really? -Yeah, really.

Look, I actually thought it would take longer.

I didn't even know we were being considered.

Oh, f*ck. Yes, okay, okay.

So, um, what's next? What we do now?

Well, the owner wants to meet for lunch today.

Today. f*ck.

-Can we move that? -Look, don't sweat it.

Me and Bryce can represent us.

-You can meet him later. -You sure?

-Yeah, I'm sure. -Okay.

But do you think you can handle getting the inspector lined up?

You know, I want to try and get ahead of things.

Yeah, I can do that. I can definitely do that.

-I got you. -All right. Thank you.

-It's a good deal. -Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

-Baby shower coming up. -Yeah, it's coming up fast.

-You're ready? -I'm ready.

-I'll catch you later. -All right.

f*ck.

[phone buzzing]

Hey, Fatima.

Hey, I didn't catch you at a bad time, did I?

Girl, you know I don't mind taking important calls

while I'm in the booth. What's up?

Well, I just wanted to check to see if you had time

to look over the documents I sent you.

Yeah, I haven't had a chance to look at them yet.

Girl, I've been busy recording in the studio.

-You know how it gets. -No, I totally understand.

Um, do you think you would have time either today or tomorrow?

I mean, not really.

I trust you, though. I'm sure they're fine.

No, I think you really need to read over these.

I mean, [scoffs] I never really look over anything.

You didn't? I didn't know that.

Y'all get paid the big bucks to look at the boring stuff.

-No shade. -All right.

I hope this does not come off mean,

but you not reading over your legal documents

is what got us here in the first place.

-Damn. -Too far?

No. You're a straight sh**ter.

I don't know the other way to be.

Honestly, I need that in my life.

Well, you got it now.

I guess I'm just so used to handing over

the business stuff so I can just focus on my art.

Well, I think you should start

looking at the business as a part of the art.

That way you win all across the board

and no one can get over on you.

[Sayge] I know that's right, but, um,

I'm just not really good

at understanding this type of stuff.

Okay, well, um, how about we meet and I can go over with you?

I leave for L.A. in the morning.

Something came up.

Can you meet me in a couple hours?

Really? Um, okay, I tell you what.

How about we meet at the venue? You can check that out

and then we can go over all the documents there.

We k*ll two bears and one stone?

-That's perfect. -[Fatima]Okay, cool.

So I will send the address to your assistant.

Thank you, Fatima.

[Fatima]You're welcome. See you soon.

All right, let's take it from the second verse.

Pick up, pick up.

Son of a b*tch!

-Hey. -Hey.

-How's it going? -It's going good.

I just got off the phone with Sayge.

She's eager to file.

She is, and I just want to make sure I

have all my ducks in a row so I can really slam dunk this case.

You gotta do what you gotta do, then.

Yeah, I'm actually about to go meet her real quick before

she heads off to La La Land.

You need me to take care of it?

I know you have your photoshoot.

No, no, it's okay. I got it.

-You sure? -Yeah,

I mean, this comes along with it,

-so I gotta get used to it. -Okay.

Well, call me if you need anything.

Um, actually, I do.

I'm trying to get a hold of your cousin.

-What? -Yeah.

-She ghosted you? -Kinda.

I'm so sorry. See?

Try to help out family. This is what they do.

I'll try to get a hold of her right now.

Oh, it's too late.

I'm gonna have a homegirl of mine,

or actually an ex-homegirl of mine do it.

-Damn. I'm so sorry, Fatima. -It's fine.

Um, I'll have to make it up to you, for sure.

No, listen, it's okay. You can't control people.

[chuckles] You ain't never lie.

[laughs]

[tense music]

I know this b*tch ain't.

[tense music]

-I'm sorry? -Nothing.

Fatima, are you all right?

Mm, over here.

-Hey. -What's up?

-Hey, how are you doing? -Chillin', friend.

-How you doin'? -Good, good.

-You want something? -No.

I'll probably get something after.

-Yeah? -Yeah.

But I need to know why you called this

emergency baby shower meeting.

This whole thing?

It's a lot.

Oh, you need my help planning a big surprise?

A big surprise? This whole thing has been a big surprise.

What? What do you mean?

I think I'm doing too much.

But Fatima said...

Fatima said she wanted something small.

Yeah, I know. I know what she said.

Okay, then why didn't you just do that?

Okay, I just... This is our first baby.

It'sher first baby.

-Mm-hmm. -Correction.

Yes, it's her first baby.

But I just wanted to make it special for her.

-Just for her? -Okay, let me...

Let me take that back.

I want it to be special for both of us, but...

it was kind of awkward at Karen's shower

because it was two baby daddies.

-Right. -I ain't trying to have that.

-Mm-hmm. -And, um...

I don't even think Heather had a shower for Michael.

No. Heather had a shower.

-A weird shower. [scoffs] -How did you know?

Well, when Fatima found out that you had a baby mama,

we did a deep dive on her social media. [chuckles]

-Mm-hmm. -Yeah.

She had a small little creepy weird one.

-Yeah. -And we want to do some...

-the opposite of that, right? -Yeah, I guess.

-You guess? -I mean...

You mean what? Like, what?

Come on, Angela, come on.

Fatima wanted something small just

because she thought maybe she'd be planning it on her own.

Why would she think that?

You know our girl is mad independent.

She's used to doing things herself.

Yeah, but we together now.

She don't got to think like that.

I know. And... she's learning, but...

you got to give our girl some grace and some space.

I mean, she wanted something small just in case.

Just in case what?

She wasn't expecting you to pick up and take over like this.

[chuckles] I mean, you know how men are.

Actually, no, I don't.

I have not had many men in my life, so I don't.

And I don't want to deal through stereotypes.

Well, you're definitely defying a stereotype by taking this on.

I mean, most baby daddies

wouldn't even be at their baby shower.

-That's true. -Yeah.

So I guess she just wanted to manage her expectations

so that she didn't get them too high.

-We're having a baby, though. -I know.

And you got to be patient with her, okay?

Just keep showing up.

Okay. Well, you want me to show you what I got?

Yes, please.

-So this is the venue. -Oh.

It's kind of expensive, though.

-This is lovely, Zac. -Yeah.

-How much is it? -Price to the bottom.

-Oh, sh*t. -Yeah, I know.

It's a lot, but it's anything for my baby.

You know how I am.

Your baby going to kick your a*s when she sees this receipt.

But I have an idea.

Maybe we can do it at the law firm lobby?

The law firm?

It's free, and it's closed that day.

Plus, it looks a lot like your venue.

-Yeah? -Yeah.

Do you think the decorations can work at the law firm?

-Let me see. -Let's see.

-Oh, sh*t, Zac! -Right?

Yes, that is just her style.

Yeah, see, so I got the ice fountain.

-Uh-huh. -And I got the moat there,

-and I got a throne. -Oh, okay. See.

Now, you're doing too much with that throne, Zac.

-That's a lot. -Really?

Yeah. You know Fatima?

I mean, she's bougie, but she's not Dubai royalty bougie.

You know, you got to meet her somewhere in between

weird and small and big and flashy, you know?

No, I hear you, but I just kind of like the throne.

Okay, fine, boy.

You can have your damn throne, okay?

But I know that she would like a balloon backdrop.

And we can carry that throughout all the centerpieces.

Okay? Right?

See, I would have never thought about that.

-I know. -Dang.

-Yeah. -Thank you, Angela.

Of course, of course.

And we need to get all the staff to wear masks.

Masks? Why masks?

Because you know Fatima don't like strangers breathing

-all on her, germs and sh*t. -You're right.

Mm-hmm. Don't worry.

We're going to give this baby shower a woman's touch.

Ha-ha.

-Can you do me a favor, though? -What?

Can you keep that woman's touch to yourself,

and then she can find out

that you helped me after the shower, please?

Y'all and y'all damn secrets. sh*t.

What you mean, y'all and y'all secrets?

-You people. -No, no, no, no.

-What she got going on? -Who?

Who are you talking? I didn't say nobody.

I don't actually know what you're talking about.

-Zac, you know. -Okay, okay, okay.

Calm down. I ain't trying to get you all--

See, you're going to get enough of telling women to calm down.

Right. I got to get a hold on that.

-I will. -Yes, you do.

-I will. -Mm-hmm.

-Yes. -Okay.

Well, I got some other shots to show you.

-Okay. -I've been saving stuff...

Okay. So, if we put this on the right.

Oh, that's nice.

[upbeat music]

[knocking on door]

Hey, sh*t.

Nathan? n*gga, what you doin' here?

Hot as hell out there, man. I came to bring back your stuff.

Stuff? What is you talking about, n*gga?

Okay. Stuff I stole from your apartment.

Why would you take a dildo?

That was already in there.

-I did not. Wrong. -What is this sh*t?

-Take a can opener? -I needed it.

Because I've been sleeping in my car since you kicked me out.

Okay. And?

Okay. And?

I'm about to go home, so I don't need it no more.

-Oh. You about to go home? -Yep.

Lori and I are going to work on our marriage.

Is she taking you back?

Yeah. We're working on it.

Hmm. So, you want to be with her?

She's my wife, remember?

She was your wife when you was in my bed.

When I was in your bed, we were separated.

Oh.

You know what I think, Nathan?

I think you don't want to be with that hoe.

I think you at my house, making up reasons to be here and sh*t,

'cause you love me.

And that's okay.

-I know what you want. -Yeah?

-Hmm, you all right? -Yeah.

No, I'm good.

[scoffs] What do you mean you good?

Oh, yeah. You can lose my number.

-I'm good. -Lose your number?

n*gga, come back here! Who the f*ck you think--

I'm not... Okay.

Don't think I give up that easy.

I miss my n*gga! [sobs]

[whispering] No, don't let this n*gga break you.

[phone buzzing] No. Okay.

Oh, sh*t. Fatima.

Hey, girl. Um, no, I'm not busy.

I was just in here working on a wig.

[nervous laughs]

[upbeat music]

-Young lady? -Hmm?

Excuse me. I don't mean to pry,

but, uh, you're shaking your feet an awful lot.

Is this your first treatment?

-No, I've been here before. -Oh.

I'm sorry. I'll stop.

No, no, no. You do what you have to do.

Yeah, this cancer is nerve-wracking.

I get it. And you're a young'un.

I'm not that young.

Well, you're not as old as me, so you're a young'un.

[chuckles] Okay.

[chuckles] Look, I got you to smile.

And your feet stopped shaking.

That was a nice distraction.

Oh, well, sometimes a distraction

is just what we need.

You got any friends or family members

who can distract you from this mess?

-My kids. -Oh, how lovely.

Yeah. They little, though.

They don't understand what's going on.

Oh. Hmm. So, who is your support system?

-Oh. -Oh, oh, oh, oh, no, darling.

You gotta have family members or friends to support you.

Nah. I don't really like to bother people.

Bother? What's a bother?

-You know, like, like this. -Oh, no.

This is only a bother to people who don't care about you.

No. I don't know what I'd do without

my kids or my sister and my husband.

Yeah, well. This is just me.

Is it really?

-Yeah. -Mm-hmm.

I got the feeling that you want it to be that way.

I ain't no bother to nobody.

Oh, darling, you can't think that way.

I'm not, though.

Well, I know you're not, but when did you ever stop

to think that if something should happen to you,

God forbid, you'd be leaving people

with the burden of unknowing grief?

-Huh? -Imagine that if I was

your friend and I passed away from this here cancer

that you didn't know I had. How would you feel?

-I'd be mad. -Why?

Because why the hell you ain't tell me you had cancer?

I know. Why you want to go

and do your family and friends that way?

-It's different. -How?

You won't understand. It's just, it's different.

Do they even know, darling?

I don't want to tell them.

I told one person, but I made him swear

he wouldn't tell everybody else.

Oh, sweet Jesus. [sighs]

My kids don't even know.

No, you got to change that, child.

What if something happens to me?

They gonna be mad at you,

because you didn't let them know.

I know. I know.

I just don't want to tell them.

I've been the only one hurting from this.

Hmm. You've been the only one fighting this.

And you don't have to fight this alone.

[phone buzzing]

Hold on.

Excuse me.

Hello? Yeah, this Connie. Wait, hold up.

Jeremiah? What happened?

Yeah, I'm at the hospital. For something else.

Yeah, I'ma check on him. All right.

Thank you for calling.

Doc!

[Connie] How much longer do I have?

About more minutes.

-Could you do me a favor? -Yes.

Could you tell me where Jeremiah Matthews' room is?

Sure thing.

I'm all right, Miss Betty. I'm going to be here.

[melancholy music]

Jeremiah.

-Jeremiah. -Connie.

What are you doing here?

Jeremiah, what did you do?

I fell.

So you really tried to k*ll yourself?

I don't know.

-You know I got to tell Zac. -Why?

He don't care.

Don't say that. You don't know that.

Man, he want me dead.

-Nobody don't want me here. -That's not true.

Why am I alive, hm? Why am I here?

You know, I ask myself the same question sometimes.

But there's a lot to live for.

-Like what? -Like the fact that you...

Like nothing. Like nothing.

-And I ain't got nothing, man. -Jeremiah, you got me.

And I knew you before you was like this.

And you used to hold me down.

So I'ma do the same thing for you.

I don't want to see you go out like this.

All right.

[melancholy music]

Why you got that patch on your chest?

Because I came down here for my monthly birth control.

[chuckles] You know I don't want no more kids.

-[chuckles] -Yeah.

You know, I've been on this sh*t a long time.

It can f*ck with your head in a lot of ways.

But you know one thing that'll never change about me?

What's that?

I know when someone's lying.

And you're lying about something big.

[melancholy music]

[music]

[outro music]

[music]

[music]