Love Jones (1997)

[bunniefuu]

["HOPELESS" PLAYING]

[TRAIN MOVING ON TRACKS]

♪ Hello, morning ♪

♪ Now, when does the fun begin ? ♪

♪ Goodbye, morning ♪

♪ Sorry it had to end ♪

♪ But, see, I cried
Just a little too long ♪

♪ Now it's time for me to move on ♪

♪ They say I'm hopeless ♪

♪ Mm-mm-mm-hmm ♪

♪ As a penny with a hole in it ♪

♪ Penny with a, penny with a hole in it
Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ They say I'm no less ♪

♪ No less, no less, no less, no less ♪

♪ Than up to my head in it ♪

♪ Bye-buh-bye, buh-bye, buh-bye, buh-bye
Buh-bye, buh-bye, buh-bye, buh-bye ♪

♪ Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Hello, yesterday ♪

♪ I sure need you now ♪

Nina.

Nina.

Hmm.

Um... [SIGHS]

You want me to start moving
the rest of this camera stuff?

No, that's all right, I'll get it. Thanks.

- [NINA EXHALES]
- Um... [CLEARS THROAT]

When you gonna give Marvin back his ring?
Just curious.

Girl, please.
I would if I knew where the hell he was.

Or maybe I'll just keep it as a reminder...

[SIGHS]

...never to make the same mistake twice.

Getting engaged?

- No, falling in love.
- Oh, sh*t.

Because that sh*t is played out
like an eight-track.

Hello, hello.
Don't leave me hangin', please.

- I'm sorry.
- Thank you. A cynic is born. Hallelujah.

- [POET] Resurrected from the tomb.
- [BONGO DRUMS PLAYING]

Can we talk, Nappy Head?

I mean, really, really talk, Nappy Head.

I ain't talkin',
talkin' in them tediously taut tones

of tortuously tangled
and toughed-up tongues.

But can you speak to me
in your language of divinity?

With your miracle of ritual
and spiritual drum, can you--

[VOCALIZING]

[AUDIENCE CHEERING, EXCLAIMING]

- Am I talking to you?
- No, but I'm in your conversation.

- No, am I taking to you?
- Why is she always like this?

Sheila, what you need
is a man to get in a conversation with.

Excuse me, Ed,
but I have a man, thank you.

- [ED] And where is he?
- He's not here.

Well, Sheila, I know what you need girl.

You need some romance in your life.

And I'm sure
you're an expert on that, hmm?

Oh, yes, indeedy, I am.

Wood, you are
the least romantic man I know.

I think that I am Mr. Romance.

You know, I believe in that sh*t
like flowers, candy, all that.

Just not every day.

- That's not me.
- [SHEILA LAUGHING]

- It could be cold. Know what I mean?
- That's what I'm talking about. Oh!

Can we...

love?

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING, CHEERING]

"'Romance is dead' is what they said
while sitting around, cheating at pool.

At the very last frame
of this nine-ball game,

the cat who had the date
on the top of the Empire State

is the one who got hustled like a fool."

- Ooh.
- [HISSES]

- [ED] You watch too many movies, Sheila.
- Step off, Ed. All right?

What's up? [CHUCKLES]

Romance is about
the possibility of the thing.

You see, it's about the time between
when you first meet some fine-a*s woman

and when you first make love to her.

Or when you first ask a woman to marry you
and when she says, "I do."

When people who have been together for
a long time say that the romance is gone...

Mm-mmm.

...what they really saying is

- they've exhausted the possibility.
- Mm-mm-mmm.

- Savon.
- Now you're talking about my thing.

- [HISSES]
- They won't hear me, bruh.

- [LAUGHS] Go on.
- [ED] It's like poetry

is the possibility of language.

- Please.
- [DARIUS] Ooh.

Give me a break.

- Where you want it at?
- Hey, Von, let me get my lighter, man.

- [SAVON] Here you go.
- Thank you.

- I said Savon.
- [SHEILA] I know what you said.

- I don't know what's wrong with that girl.
- No, he doesn't need to be smoking.

- Thank you, Mom.
- You're welcome.

I thought we left our mothers at home.

- [NINA] Do you want another drink?
- Actually, I am okay for now.

[NINA] I'm going to get one.
I'm bringing you one anyway.

Thank you,
'cause I'ma hit this off real quick.

Hey, Will, let me get another one, man.

Cool.

White wine, please.

[WOOD] Who's that girl with Darius? Damn.

She does have
a little somethin'-somethin'.

- Uh, excuse me, Mr. Married Man.
- I am married, I am not blind.

Brother, can you see through these,
please? Can you see —

- Everything is checking out.
- That's what I'm talking about.

- n*gg*s just ain't right.
- n*gg*s?

- Why we gotta be ni —
- Because that's what y'all are.

Deep in thought, huh?

Yeah.

What are you thinking about?

A woman I saw once.

She must have been fine.

Savon, you can't tell me that these babes

can't see that cool pose sh*t
coming a mile off.

You know, brother, jealousy is a sickness.

- Let it go, man.
- [SAVON] Sickness.

[ED] Let it go.

- And just walk away.
- [LAUGHTER]

[WOOD] f*ck you, Ed.

Darius Lovehall.

Nina Mosley.

- [BARTENDER] That'll be $4.00.
- [NINA GASPS]

Fumble, just like I told you.

- [DARIUS CLEARS THROAT] Excuse me.
- Mm-hmm.

- Will, put this on your tab.
- [WILL] Yeah, right.

- Put that energy out there.
- [SHEILA] Say "thank you."

You put it out there.

That's a fumble, bro.

- You put the energy out —
- [SHEILA LAUGHS]

- Anybody in here can see that.
- Oh, please.

- Sorry about that.
- [WILL] Here you go.

Try not to knock this one over.

Maybe you should quit smoking.

[AUDIENCE CHEERING]

All right, all right. Get settled.

We're back.

This next brother up on the mike
writes for New City

and is regularly here on Monday nights.

So please, give it to Mr. Darius Lovehall.

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING, WHOOPING]

- Thank you, brother Ed.
- All right.

All right, this is a little something
I've been working on.

It's new.

I call it, uh...

"A Blues for Nina."

[PERSON IN AUDIENCE] Yes, baby!

- [PERSON 2] All right! Uh-huh.
- [PERSON 3] Yeah. Take your time.

[BAND PLAYING JAZZ BLUES]

[PERSON 4] My man!

[SAXOPHONE PLAYING]

Say, baby.

Can I be your sl*ve?

[AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING]

I've got to admit, girl,
you're the sh*t, girl,

and I'm digging you like a grave.

Now, do they call you daughter
to the spinning pulsar?

Or maybe Queen of 10,000 Moons?

Sister to the distant, yet rising star.

Is your name Yemaya?

- [MUSIC STOPS]
- [AUDIENCE CHATTERING]

Oh, hell no. It's got to be Oshun.

- [MUSIC CONTINUES]
- [DARIUS] Ooh.

- [CHUCKLES]
- [AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING]

Is that a smile
me put on your face, child,

wide as a field of jasmine and clover?

Talk that talk, honey,

walk that walk, money,

high on legs that'll spite Jehovah.

- [CHUCKLES] sh*t.
- [AUDIENCE WHOOPING]

Who am I?

It's not important.

- But they call me brother to the night.
- [PERSON] Well, all right!

And right now,
I'm the blues in your left thigh...

tryin' to become the funk in your right.

Who am I?

I'll be whoever you say.

But right now I'm the sight-r*ped hunter

blindly pursuing you as my prey.

And I just wanna give you injections
of sublime erections

and get you to dance to my rhythm,

make you dream archetypes
of Black angels in flight

upon wings of distorted, contorted,
metaphoric jism.

Aw, come on, slim.

f*ck your man. I ain't worried about him.

[AUDIENCE LAUGHING, EXCLAIMING]

It's you who I want to step to my scene.

'Cause rather than deal with the fallacy
of this dry-a*s reality,

I'd rather dance and romance
your sweet a*s in a wet dream.

Mmm.

Who am I? [CHUCKLES]

Well, they all call me
brother to the night,

and right now
I'm the blues in your left thigh...

tryin' to become the funk in your right.

♪ Is that all right? ♪

[PERSON IN AUDIENCE]
Oh, that's all right, baby!

[AUDIENCE CLAPPING, CHEERING]

Bravo!

Darius Lovehall.

[CHUCKLES]

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

No, no, no, come on now, Wood.
You gotta give him his props for that one.

You gotta give it up, Wood.
Give it up. Come on, give it up.

Yeah, whatever.

But I'll tell you one thing —
I don't need poetry to get women.

- No, you need a personality to get women.
- Mmm. Mmm.

- Try a breath mint and a Visa.
- [ALL LAUGH]

Played out like an eight-track.

You did say that, didn't you?

[LAUGHS]

Here come your boy. Here come your boy.

- [SAVON] What's up, D?
- [SHEILA] Hey.

- D, great poem.
- Y'all liked that, huh?

- It was fascinating.
- [SAVON] Be nice.

- Thanks.
- [SHEILA] Look at that.

- [SAVON] Who's Nina?
- [WOOD] I loved it, Darius.

[SHEILA] Green glob just
coming all out your mouth.

[WOOD] You don't know me like that.

[SAVON] We need to embrace this brother.

You're a bad influence.

- Every last — Especially you.
- Why?

- You're the worst influence of all.
- Oh, don't even try. Don't even —

[CLEARS THROAT]

Thanks for my poem.

It was, um... interesting.

No problem.

Everybody, this is, uh, Nina.

- Hi.
- [DARIUS] Sheila. Ed.

- Savon. And that's Hollywood.
- How you doing, Nina?

- This is my girl, Josie.
- Hello, hello, hello, hello.

So, maybe next week
you could write something for me.

Maybe.

But it won't be about sex.

- [DARIUS] What's wrong with sex?
- [SHEILA CHUCKLING]

Mmm. Mm-mm-mmm.

There's nothing wrong with sex.
There's just other topics.

Like what?

[SHEILA] Oh, God. [LAUGHS]

[ED] Where did you go?

[ALL CHUCKLING]

But you probably
wouldn't know anything about that.

Ooh.

- [NINA CLEARS THROAT]
- [CLEARS THROAT]

Good night, Black people.

- Good night.
- Good night, sister.

Oh, man!

[ED] Well, damn.

Yo, man, if that was me,
I'd be in her car right now.

- Okay?
- You know.

- Whoo!
- Get back.

[SAVON] You got your hand pulled there,
like, so smooth.

Maybe if your hand was a little bigger
she could write your number down.

Close your mouth.

Y'all just mad
'cause somebody approached me.

- No. What is the secret?
- [SHEILA] Oh, oh, oh, come on.

- [ALL CHATTERING]
- Oh, Pookie, come on, man!

- [CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING]
- [PHOTOGRAPHER] Yes. Come on, more. Yes.

More. Bigger. Yes!

That one's a cover.

- Okay. Now...
- [SHUTTER CLICKING]

Um... this isn't curried chicken,
and they were out of baguettes. Sorry.

[SIGHS]

Roger, come on, give me a break.
This is only lunch.

It isn't about the bloody lunch, Nina.

I don't think
this, uh, assistant thing is working out.

I suspect you don't have
the temperament for it.

Perhaps you'd be better off on your own.

[SCOFFS]

Yeah, man, I'ma head on back over
to the office, get the rest of my things.

[CHUCKLES] Man, I can't believe
I'm finally up out of there.

Hey, but y'all don't worry about me.

I saved up enough cash
to hold me for a while, all right?

Cool. Just hook us up in the dedication
for the book, man.

Man, look, just because you been there
for me in the times I needed you,

don't mean I got to put you
in my book, all right?

- Hey —
- No shout-outs, baby, no shout-outs.

[SPEAKERS: FUNK PLAYING]

- Hey!
- Hey.

- Nina.
- Sheila?

Yeah. [CHUCKLES]

- How you doing?
- Girl, I need an Isley Brothers CD badly.

Mm-hmm, I hear you.
The CDs are in the back.

- Thank you.
- Oh, you're welcome.

- Yo, She. What's going on, girl?
- Hey. What's up?

- Chillin', man. What's happening?
- Not much.

- Y'all slow as hell up in here today.
- But it'll speed up.

What you talkin' about?

Oh, sh*t.

Hey, um, would you hold this for a second?

- Why you gonna give me your junk?
- Just be cool, cool.

Ah, Al Green.

You know you can't go wrong
with my man Al Green.

Darius, right?

[SPEAKERS: SONG FADES OUT]

Say, uh, y-you mind if I play you
a little something real quick?

I don't know.

The last time you went on an impulse,
you embarrassed the sh*t out of me.

Look, this will be easy.

I promise. Watch.

[EXHALES]

Yeah.

[SPEAKERS: SLOW JAZZ PLAYING]

[SPEAKERS: SAXOPHONE PLAYING]

Charlie Parker.

- I've never heard this particular —
- Shh.

[SPEAKERS: JAZZ CONTINUES PLAYING]

It's kinda sad.

Melancholy, maybe, but, uh, not sad.

There's a difference, I think.

Maybe you're right.

My new information's on there.

Okay, great.

Here you go.

Dr. Wax will have that Isley Brothers CD.

- Thanks. See you later.
- Yeah, all right. Bye-bye.

Say, uh, you know, you and I
should, uh, get together sometime

and, you know, have some drinks.

Um, I don't think
that'd be a very good idea.

Well, why not?

It's just bad timing. Nothing personal.

[CHUCKLES] I understand.

- [STAMMERS]
- Thanks for the record.

Damn.

- Messed that sh*t up.
- [SHEILA LAUGHS]

- [SIGHS]
- When are you gonna learn?

You move too fast.
See, women like it slow and easy.

Didn't I school you?

[SIGHS]

Yo, why don't you let me
get her little address real quick?

How would I do that?

'Cause it's on the check, man.

- Why would I do that?
- Because you're my girl.

You supposed to be looking out —
Come on, stop playing. Hook me up, man.

- I'm not playing. No.
- Why?

Look, what if her man comes to the door?

Her m —

[WHISPERS] Her man.

Damn, I ain't think about that. Her man.

Yeah, you right. I'm buggin'.

- [CLEARS THROAT]
- [SPEAKERS: UPBEAT R & B PLAYING, FAINT]

[CLEARS THROAT]

[SCOFFS]

Hey.

Wh — W-What are you doing here?
How did you know where I live?

Look, I know it's a little strange for me
just to show up to your place like this.

Yeah, what did you do? Follow me home?

No! No, no, I — Nothing like that.

Well, um —

Well, actually, I, uh —

I got your address from the check
that you wrote down at the record store.

- [SIGHS]
- Look, I know that wasn't very cool,

and I apologize.

But I got that CD you were looking for.

Isley Brothers, right?

Yeah.

This — This is the one. Thanks.

No problem.

Wh-What? You trying to come in?

Yeah — I mean, no, no.

Yeah — Uh, sure. I mean, if—
if you're not busy or doing anything.

Um, well, y-you can come in.

- You sure?
- Yeah.

- Hope I'm not intruding.
- [NINA CHUCKLES]

[SPEAKERS: R & B CONTINUES PLAYING]

Nice little pad you got here.

[NINA] I'm just house-sitting.

Oh, a photographer.

[NINA] Yeah.

Dig that. It's nice.

Um...

why are you here?

Said it was bad timing.

And I figured if I asked again
maybe you'd say yes.

And if not that time,
then maybe the next time.

Till the next time became the right time.

Ah.

Persistence.

You'd be surprised how far it can get you.

[DARIUS] Reminds me of stuff Gordon Parks
was shootin' for Life magazine.

[NINA] Do you know a lot
about photography?

[DARIUS] A little somethin'-somethin'.

I know that you have a great eye.

So you're just like, uh,
a Renaissance Black man?

Poetry, music, photography.

Think it was somebody that said
something about Mozart.

"The goal of an artist is to create the
definitive work that cannot be surpassed."

Guess you can say I kinda live like that.

Well, that was actually
George Bernard Shaw.

- Now you trying too hard.
- [CHUCKLES]

Mmm. Okay.

I'm beginning to like this.

- Um, well, uh, don't like it too much.
- [CHUCKLES]

Check it out.

Couple friends of mine are having
this get-together tomorrow night and,

well, I want you to come hang with me.

Maybe we can start to like this together.

Hmm. So, what, are you
asking me out on a date?

- Again? [LAUGHS]
- [CHUCKLES]

I guess that's about the size of it, yeah.

- So...
- I don't — I don't know.

Aw, no, no, no, no, no, no. Look.

Don't make me start
bringing more CDs up here, okay?

'Cause I'll start bringing you Prince CDs.

And you know how that brother likes to
pump out four, five albums a week.

- Oh, please.
- I mean, I'll be here up every day

- just all in your face.
- Okay, okay, all right.

- I'll save you the trouble.
- [DARIUS CHUCKLES]

Yes.

I'll just come by
about 8:00, 8:15 tomorrow and get you.

- Okay.
- Cool. Hope you enjoy your CD.

Thanks.

Hey, um,

the next time you decide to just,
um, stop by, you should call first.

'Cause I know you wrote
the phone number down.

Yeah, you right. I got your number.

Listen, the last time we was over here,
no disrespect, the food was crazy.

Those constant and annoying references
to my wife's cooking —

[ALL CHATTERING]

Here she comes. Be quiet.
Here she comes. Here she comes.

[SPOUSE] Don't be talking about me
with your microwave-cooking a*s.

[ALL LAUGHING]

[HOLLYWOOD] Troy, and then she
gon' come out here with carrots.

- [SAVON] That's right.
- Do I have two big front teeth?

- Is there somebody —
- Get you some better carrots.

- [ALL EXCLAIMING]
- You can't see as it is.

f*ck y'all.

I'm about to bang out
some wickedness out of you, boy.

- [DRUMMING]
- [ED] Bring the levity back.

- We gotta get something going up in here.
- [SAVON] Oh, don't start it up.

Come on, now, Savon.

- [ALL CHATTERING]
- [ED] Bring it back. Exercise that.

- [CHATTERING CONTINUES]
- Come on, man.

- No, Sheila, Sheila, Sheila.
- [CHATTERING CONTINUES]

[ED] Oh, man.

[ALL EXCLAIMING, LAUGHING]

[SHOUTING, CHATTERING]

- Don't come over here with that.
- Whoo!

[HOLLYWOOD] That's enough. Go over there!
Quit! Get out of here. Quit it.

Quit f*cking around with them spirits.
You gonna get everybody in here pregnant.

You f*ck around and get us pregnant
with that sh*t.

- Take that sh*t to Flynn, Sheila.
- Baby, Flynn get it on!

- Don't worry about Flynn.
- He can — He can keep it on.

[ALL LAUGHING]

You scared?

- Scared of what?
- God.

- I know Jesus.
- [LAUGHING]

- God is a woman, honey.
- [ED] Ooh.

[TROY] Okay.

[HOLLYWOOD GROANS] All righty, then.

No, no, no, no, hold up, hold up.
God is a woman.

Look, D.

- We don't get it. Know what I mean?
- [LAUGHING]

- We with you and everything, but, damn.
- No, no, hold on.

If you ever chased a woman,
you know that women have a certain power,

a certain sexual thing that renders men
totally incapable of functioning.

- Am I right, Von?
- That's right.

[DARIUS] I mean, that sh*t
drives us to distraction.

That's right.

- Destruction. Look at that kitchen.
- [DARIUS] Okay.

- Go look in that kitchen.
- [ALL LAUGHING]

A male God would never allow
a creature made in his own image

- to get jammed up like that.
- Uh, wait, excuse me.

But why are you trying to
impress your date?

- [LAUGHING]
- I ain't trying to impress no one.

[SHEILA] 'Cause you know
you wouldn't even believe that.

He's just telling the truth.

Savon, break it down for those who
don't understand what I'm talking about.

Oh, hold on. Hold up.

Let me break it down so it can forever
and consistently be broke.

- [DARIUS] Okay.
- [TROY] Oh.

- All right?
- [SHEILA] Speak on it. Go ahead.

Now, when a man gets a hard-on,

you know where
the blood comes from, right?

Know where the blood comes from, right?

- His brain...
- Mm-hmm.

- ...and his feet.
- And his feet.

- True.
- So, A... he's stupid,

and B, he can't run.

[ALL LAUGHING]

Only a woman God
thinks about sh*t like that.

- [SCREAMS]
- Whoa!

That's how she got you, right?

- That's it. That's what happened.
- That's it.

[CHATTERING, LAUGHING]

- [ED] Damn!
- But no, see, that's some bullshit.

'Cause I got it now. I got--
I figured it out, I figured it out.

- [SAVON] This has become a regular forum.
- What, what? I'm for real.

[TROY] We getting ready to have
some Hollywood philosophizing —

- Yes!
- I can't wait.

Think about this. Anatomy.

Now, if God was really a woman...

y'all know how God think.

She'd have put the d*ck
right under the chin.

[ALL LAUGHING]

- Take care of her business —
- [TROY] You are sick!

- What? Aw, man!
- [CHATTERING CONTINUES]

Hey, it ain't — Hey!

Yo, yo, can you get some chips, man?

I'm sick of y'all. Y'all trippin'.
Y'all sure know how to treat a person.

I was 15 and my dad gave me
this old Topcon when he was in the navy.

- And ever since then I've been hooked.
- [CHUCKLES]

You sh**t,
but what you know about writing?

"I gather up each sound you left behind
and stretch them on our bed.

Each night I breathe you and become high."

h*-h*!

- [LAUGHS]
- Check you out, girl.

That's yours?

- No, it's Sanchez. I'm a lifelong fan.
- Mmm.

She makes me wanna burn my notebook.

Aw, no. See, it's about
reaching your level, not hers.

I thought it was about
the definitive work.

Yeah, well, Mozart was the exception.
Like Bird.

- You have all the answers, don't you?
- Mm-mmm.

Just all the questions.

- You're c*ck.
- [LAUGHS]

- It's cute.
- Aw, cute.

[LAUGHS]

So, uh, check it out.
Do you like reggae music?

Yeah.

Well, let's go to the Wild Hare.

[IN JAMAICAN ACCENT] I wanna see
the little Yankee girl dancing tonight.

[CHUCKLES] You wanna drive all the way up
to the north side tonight?

[IN JAMAICAN ACCENT] Tonight, man!
Me wanna feel a little bump and grind.

[LAUGHING]
What if it starts raining again?

[NORMAL ACCENT] Aw, don't tell me you're
afraid of getting a little wet tonight.

[BAND PLAYING REGGAE SONG]

♪ No one fits your shoe ♪

♪ And I'm so proud to tell you ♪

♪ Number one ♪

♪ You have heard me ♪

♪ I've met lots and lots of pretty girls ♪

♪ From my traveling all around the world ♪

♪ No one comes close to you ♪

♪ And if you should count
From one to ten ♪

♪ You'll find them at the very end ♪

♪ And it's God's truth
I been telling you ♪

♪ That's why you are my lady ♪

♪ I'm crazy about you, baby ♪

♪ Come on ♪

♪ And I'll never, never, never ♪

♪ Never stop loving you ♪

♪ I'll never stop loving you ♪

♪ Oh, baby ♪

♪ Mm-mmm ♪

[SONG FADES]

[ENGINE OFF]

- Thanks.
- No thang.

I had a really good time.

My pleasure.

Mmm.

[EXHALES] I'm — I'm sorry.

Look, uh, I should go.

Darius, look.
I-I had a really good time. I really did.

It's just that, I can't go out like that
on the first date. I mean, come on.

I understand.

I mean, we just got a chance
to know each other.

- We just getting honest and —
- Right.

- Wait, look. I should go. All right?
- Yeah, 'cause — [LAUGHS]

- It's getting late, so, uh —
- Mm-hmm.

- Maybe I — I'll call you.
- Okay.

- That's cool.
- All right.

- Thanks.
- Good night.

[SIGHS] Look, Nina.

I just wanna come up and talk.

[LAUGHS]

You heard that all right?

Come on.

["SUMTHIN' SUMTHIN' (MELLOSMOOTHE)"
PLAYING]

♪ Sumthin' ♪

♪ Let me break you off, baby ♪

♪ Break you off ♪

♪ Sumthin' ♪

♪ So if it's cool ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ I want you ♪

♪ I want you ♪

♪ I'll love you until you're blue ♪

♪ Until the police come through ♪

♪ Ooh, oh, baby ♪

♪ Do a little sumthin' ♪

♪ With you, yeah ♪

♪ Sweet lady ♪

[GROANS]

[DISTANT CHATTERING]

Good morning.

Morning.

[SIGHS] I see you, uh...
found your way to the kitchen.

Oh, yeah.

Hope you don't mind.

Nah, it's cool.

Got some omelets happening.

- This is for me?
- Yeah, this is for you.

Thank you.

[EXHALES, CLEARS THROAT]

[CLEARS THROAT] Look, uh...

I really dig you, Nina.

And I hope we didn't move too fast,
you know.

Nothing happened
that I didn't want to happen.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

- It's a great thing.
- Oh, it's great.

- [LAUGHS]
- Oh, good. Cool. All right, yeah.

So, uh, guess we can hook up again, right?

Mm-hmm.

Now, wait a minute.
Now, you ain't gonna fade me out, are you?

Mm-mmm.

Good. Whew!

I tell you,
I can't stand to sleep with a woman

and afterward she just dog you out.

You know how y'all do.

Don't return any of your phone calls.

Play me off in front of your friends
like you don't know me,

like nothing ever happened.

[CHUCKLES] Look, I'm gonna get myself
an omelet. You want anything else?

Don't ask that question.

Uh, would you, uh, like anything else?

[JOSIE] What you gonna do?
You gonna have him or what?

[NINA] Girl, please. I-I — No.

I would hurt him too badly.

You f*cked him, didn't you?

[SNICKERS]

And you weren't even gonna tell me.

You ain't slick.

You can't keep that kind of sh*t from me.

I can't believe you f*cked him
on the first date.

h*!

You a h*!

sl*t puppy!

Girl, I didn't — I didn't plan to.
It just sort of happened.

You just sort of slipped
and fell on his d*ck.

Yeah. [LAUGHS]

Well, all right. Okay, okay, okay.

All right,
so I wanna know all the details.

How big, how long, everything.

Girl, look at you!

Well, unfortunately,

I have to live vicariously
through your sex life, Miss Nina.

[LAUGHING]

All right, okay.

I ca — I can't even describe it.
'Cause — [SIGHS]

It was like...

It was like his d*ck just...

talked to me.

Mmm.

- [SIGHS]
- What it say?

Just...

"Nina."

Whoo-wee! Mmm.

Damn.

- Damn! [LAUGHS]
- Oh, girl. I'm telling you.

But look, don't even —
don't even get all geeked up.

'Cause this is nothing serious.
This is no love thing.

Me and Darius, we are just kickin' it.

[SAVON] Troy.

Troy.

Savon, I am so tired of your bullshit.

- Troy. Would you just wait a minute?
- Stop.

[TROY] You always said you never wanted
to be labeled as trifling or tired —

- Trifling?
- Guess what. You fit the bill.

Does this house
bespeak a person who is trifling?

- Darius. Go get your tired-a*s friend.
- [SAVON] No, you keep Darius out of it.

How you doin', Troy?

Don't wait by the phone, n*gro.

If you would stop being selfish
and save some money,

we wouldn't be going through this sh*t!

Savon, get it together!

- What?
- [VEHICLE DOOR SLAMS]

We were supposed to
go play some pool, remember?

I know that.

Ooh.

Let me ask you something, bruh.

Think you with the woman
you supposed to be with?

[LAUGHS]

That question implies a belief in destiny,
like some cosmic love connection.

I'm not convinced anymore.

Come on, just answer the question.

- You asking me if I married my soul mate?
- Yeah.

[SCOFFS] Depends on which day you ask.

I dig that.

It doesn't really matter anymore, man.
You're with... who you're with.

You just gotta try to make it work.

[SIGHS] Yeah.

Real deep, Von. Real deep, man.

Well, you know, people with profound
insights on life know not to get married.

And those who do...

ought to know that
marriage is what you make it.

Fly. Fly.

Wait a minute.
This is about that girl, Nina, isn't it?

- What you doin', man? Can I get my shot?
- No. This is about that girl, Nina, right?

[CLEARS THROAT]

She jacked you up, didn't she?

Yeah, she jacked me up.

Ooh, man!

Dude.

I mean...

it defies description.

She put the Vodun, the Santería,
the Yoruba, all of it.

- She put it on me, man.
- [LAUGHS]

Next morning, I got up and made breakfast.

You made breakfast?

Yeah. I was in there cooking.

Wait a minute. You cooked what?

- Cheese omelets.
- A cheese —

- A cheese omelet?
- Yeah.

You better put your name on that. That's
better than Michael Jordan's comeback.

Best thing since Michael Jordan's return.
I'm serious, man.

So what are we talking about?
Think she's your soul mate?

No. Mm-mmm.

I just said the sex was good, that's all.

[GRUNTS]
You know, this ain't no love thing.

- Just kickin' it.
- Okay. [CHUCKLES]

Yeah, well, uh, one truism in life,
my friend...

when that jones come down...

it be a m*therf*cker.

[CHATTERING, SHOUTING OUTSIDE]

- I hope you cleaned up.
- Why?

I'm not tryin' to find any bobby pins
and stockings and some old makeup.

Girl, please.

Rarely do I divulge the location
to the secret bat cave.

You lucky I ain't knocked your a*s out
with some spray.

- [LAUGHS]
- Come on.

It definitely looks like a bachelor's pad.

- [CHUCKLES]
- Yeah. [CHUCKLES]

So, what, you just don't believe in CD's?

It's from my DJ-ing days.

Yeah, I still like that vinyl sound.

[CHUCKLES] Okay.

[DARIUS] Mmm.

Oh, wait, wait. This my fashion spread?
Hold on, hold on. Let me get my pose.

[SHUTTER CLICKS]

Just be natural, silly.

[SHUTTER CLICKS]

One more.

[SHUTTER CLICKS]

All right, that's enough
with the camera, all right?

Take off your clothes.

Excuse me?

- Take off your clothes.
- [SHUTTER CLICKS]

[CHUCKLES] Take off my clothes.

Aw, man. [CHUCKLES]

Hold up, hold up.

I've already seen what you got.

[SIGHS] All right.

[CHUCKLES] You crazy.

[DARIUS LAUGHS]

[SHUTTER CLICKS]

[SHUTTER CLICKS]

Mmm.

[SHUTTER CLICKS]

[DARIUS] Mmm. Yeah.

[SHUTTER CLICKS]

Now, uh, this wouldn't happen to...

wind up in somebody's... magazine
or book or something, would it?

No, no, baby. This is strictly
for my private collection.

[SHUTTER CLICKS]

- That's enough with the camera.
- Why? You don't trust me?

I didn't say that.

[SIGHS]

I think that you're incredibly beautiful.

- Really?
- Really.

[CHUCKLES]

[KNOCKING]

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

Hey, baby.

Marvin.

[SIGHS]

If this is the part where you try
to get me back, you can forget it.

Oh, come on now. Hear me out.

Look, baby, I know
I made some mistakes and I'm sorry.

All right, I just...

sh*t.

You know I'm no good with this sh*t.
I'm no good with words. You know that.

Bang.

[SIGHS] What is that?

It's a train ticket to New York.

I want you to come and stay with me.
I want us to be together.

Marvin, you had all of that
and you didn't know what to do with it.

Well, I want it again.

How are you gonna just do this to me?

How are you gonna just show up,
come out of nowhere--

Don't you understand that what you want
doesn't matter anymore?

What's the deal? Are you working?
Are you seeing somebody?

I don't think that's any of your business.

- Look, think about it, all right?
- [TICKET SETS ON COUNTERTOP]

You owe me at least that.

I don't owe you anything.

Okay, I gotta go.
I'm meeting my mother for lunch.

Well, you tell her I said hello.

I'll do that.

[WHISPERS] Okay.

[TAPS ON COUNTERTOP]

[SIGHS]

I need to know if I still love him or not.

[JOSIE] Oh...

What are you shaking your head for?
Don't shake your head. This is serious.

Okay, you're not gonna tell Darius,
are you?

Well, I don't wanna lie to him.

Tell him.

Think so?

If he snaps, then you got him.

And there's no need to go, is there?

But if he tries to act all cool and sh*t,
then, hey, you just gon' have to go.

- Teach his a*s a lesson.
- [NINA LAUGHS]

Hello, do your thing, girl.

Do it.

[REFRIGERATOR DOOR CLOSES]

Did you want one?

No. No, thanks.

[SIGHS]

You know I've had a really good time
these past couple weeks, right?

Well, we aim to please.

- [CHUCKLES] I'm serious.
- Me too.

I'm... going, um, away next week.

To New York.

Oh, yeah?

For how long?

Uh, I don't know.
Just, like, a couple weeks.

I don't — I don't know.

Well, what's going on?

I have a couple contacts and I'm gonna
poke around and see if I can find a gig.

And I also have some...

other unfinished business
that I need to take care of.

[SCOFFS]

Some dude.

We used to, um, be in a...

We used to be in a relationship
and I just haven't seen him in a while.

Hey, uh, that's cool.

We were close once. You know?

Um...

Darius, the only reason
I'm telling you this

is because I really care about you and...

I'm not trying to play you.

[SIGHS] Hey, I understand.

And I appreciate your honesty.

But we just kickin' it, right?

So it's cool. I mean, go to New York,
do whatever you have to do.

I ain't got no ring on your finger.
[CHUCKLES]

- So you're not mad?
- [CHUCKLES]

Hell no, I'm not mad.

I'm mean, it's cool.

We just friends, right?

Yeah.

Because if old boy was doing his job
in the first place, why am I doing it?

- I'm hip.
- Why am I hitting it?

- [EXHALES]
- Let me tell you the real deal.

The real deal is,
I don't think she can hang.

- [CHUCKLES]
- Von, I put it on her, boom!

- Put it on her.
- Now she gone.

- Gone?
- I steal, I don't get stole on.

I feel you, D.

These women, man,
they're k*lling me slowly.

So, wait a minute.

I thought you guys were just...

you know, um...

kickin' it.

That's not the point, Savon.

So what's the point, Black man?

I'll tell you the point.
Have you been listening?

I'ma tell you the point.
I'ma feed you the point.

The point is...

- I don't know the point, all right?
- [LAUGHS]

[SIGHS] It wouldn't be so bad, man,
if I didn't think she was the one.

[COUGHING]

[STAMMERS]
What you talking 'bout, the one?

I think she's the one, Savon.

[LAUGHING]

[SNORTS] I got your a*s!
You know I had you going!

- You got me.
- Check you out.

- Why was you giving me that look, man?
- Oh, yeah, you got me. Mm-hmm.

- Nah, man.
- I ain't the only one in here got.

- You slippin' on your boy.
- I slipped.

I had you.
Did you really think I was gon' —

Mm-hmm.

- The one?
- The one.

Please, man.

I'm like a thief in the night.
You know what I mean?

FBI still on my tail
but they can't get me.

I slipped. I'm sorry.

- You done slipped on me.
- I slipped.

'Cause I... [GRUNTS] I be hittin' that a*s
and I'm out. I'm gone.

- What?
- Let me see your wallet, brother.

'Cause there gotta be
"bad m*therf*cker" on it.

"Bad m*therf*cker" on it. A'ight?

- Slipped on me. But it's cool.
- Slipped.

[SAVON] Let me see your wallet.

- Hey, John.
- Yo.

Let me get another one.

Coming right up.

[SIGHS]

♪ Just like a hurricane ♪

♪ And it feels like rain ♪

I think — Yes.

[LAUGHS]

♪ And it feels like rain ♪

♪ Lying here ♪

♪ Underneath the stars ♪

♪ Right next to you ♪

♪ And I'm wondering who you are ♪

[ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]

♪ And how do you do ? ♪

Hey, dude. What's up ? It's Eddie.

Dude, you need to call Savon.
That brother's all strung out over Troy.

Look out.

- [ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS]
- Hey, Darius, um, it's Nina.

I don't know
when you're gonna get this message,

but my train leaves tonight
at 9:30 and, um...

I don't know, maybe if you're
around Union Station, you'll come down.

[SIGHS] Listen, uh, I guess
I'll just call you when I get back. Bye.

♪ And it feels like rain ♪

[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

Is there any way you could be a...
a bit slicker in your approach?

[SIGHS]

- What exactly do you mean?
- Slicker.

Just, uh, comparatively slick.

- Less raw.
- [LAUGHS]

I think you'd have a better chance
of being published

if your work
were just a bit more polished.

You have a nice day.

[GROANS]

[GROANS]

Hey.

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- Hey.

Where are my toasted oats?

Oh, I finished the box this morning.

Oh, you couldn't eat
the damn Cap'n Crunch, could you?

Oh, please.

Look, I'm sorry. I had a bad day today.

Well, I had a bad day too.

So, you wanna tell me about it?

No.

Baby.

- I hate to see you, you know —
- Wasting my time?

That's not what I meant.

I mean, I can take care of us.

I mean, I just don't want you
to worry about —

Getting a job, right?

Rejection.

And stop finishing my sentences.

[SIGHS]

I don't even know why I'm here.

Wait a minute. What'd you say?

I don't even know why I'm here.

After all these years together,
you don't know why you're here?

All we have, Marvin,
is all of these years.

And it's just not enough...

anymore.

Oh.

I'm going out
for some m*therf*cking toasted oats.

You're trippin'.

For real.

You be talkin' 'bout you're the one
who ate all the cereal.

- [DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
- [SIGHS]

["HOPELESS" PLAYING]

♪ Hello, yesterday ♪

♪ I sure need you now ♪

[ALARM BEEPING]

[BEEPING STOPS]

♪ Goodbye, yesterday ♪

♪ I just can't stay around ♪

♪ Bye-buh-bye, buh-bye, buh-bye, buh-bye
Buh-bye, buh-bye, buh-bye, buh-bye ♪

[SINGER VOCALIZING]

[JAZZ PLAYING]

[HOLLYWOOD]
I already know what I want. Mmm.

Oh, no. Stop.
Right now, stop looking at the girl, man.

See, Ed, I have these amazing powers
over women.

I just can't explain it.

Sort of like a curse or something.

But lucky for you mere mortals,
I use my powers for good.

And not for evil. Know what I'm saying?

The world is truly a safer place.

Girl, I am tired. I'm so sorry.
I gotta get outta here.

I have this interview tomorrow.

It's kinda dead tonight anyway.

There's no cuties in the house.
Not one cutie.

Is there ever a night
when you don't have p*nis on the brain?

Don't even try it.

You know you came
straight from the station

'cause you wanted
ol' what's-his-name to be here.

Excuse me, but I happen to enjoy poetry.

Oh.

[LAUGHS] Don't look at me like that.

I — What?

Save your money. Save it.

- [LAUGHS]
- It's not happening there.

Ladies, ladies, ladies, ladies, ladies.

- Why are y'all leaving?
- Wood. I didn't even see you down there.

- [NINA] Hey.
- Oh. Where y'all going?

Well, you know, we going home. We tired.

Well, uh, I'd like to, uh,
offer you a ride.

I mean, my car is right there.

Oh, that's your car, right?

Oh, no, no. The hearse, the gray one.
That's my car.

That's not like a —
[CHUCKLES] a working hearse?

No, no, ain't been no dead m*therf*ckers
in there since I bought it.

Girl, we might —

Um, I just remembered that, um, I —
I parked my car down the street.

So what we're gonna do is, um —

- Go.
- Mm-hmm. Thank you.

Bye-bye.

- Girl, he has —
- It's a Cadillac.

[LAUGHING]

He's k*lling me.

Oh, my God.

He's so cute, though. He's really cute.

Okay, then you should go out with him.

Please, girl. You know he is not my type.

But I think maybe I should try
to hook you two up.

- No.
- Yes.

No, I'm not trying to
get hooked up by anybody.

Oh, please.
Marvin is officially Black history.

- Wood is very, very cool.
- Wait a second. Don't even try it.

Because I know you. Do not even try—

You try to hook us up
and I'ma... knock you out.

Don't let me have to bring out
my karate, girl.

- Stop. Yeah.
- Pshh.

I'm just saying that — All right, go on.

Go home and call Darius.
It's what you really wanna do anyway.

Why you trying to
make it seem like I'm desperate?

I'll just... call him tomorrow.

Mm-hmm.

[NINA CHUCKLES]

- What are you doin' here?
- You the sh**ter, ain't you?

- Yeah, but —
- Then sh**t me, g*dd*mn it.

Immortalize my sh*t.

How's my light? Hold on.

Is this good for me right here,
this light?

Is this all right? Hold on, wait. Uh...

I can't have you making me look bad,
you know?

Although, you would have to sh**t
like my moms to make me look bad,

and she got cataracts.

- n*gro, what do you want done today?
- sh*t.

I want everything. I want postcards,
wallet sizes, 8-by-10s.

I want the whole nine.

Oh, so you just gonna come up in here
and spend all your money?

Yep. I will if you let me buy you dinner.

[CHUCKLES]

Okay, the Billy Dee thing
is a little played out,

but I will give you ten cool points
for nostalgia's sake.

Nina, I'm serious.

Wood, what do you want from me?

One dinner.

- One dinner?
- It ain't algebra, girl. Come on.

No way. Don't tell me that, please.

- Not bloomers.
- Why?

Bloomers are for,
like, you know, big girls.

What do you mean, they're for big girls?
I like bloomers. They're comfortable.

I mean girls that have a*s everywhere.
You got a cute little shape, you know.

And I think you should —
You would look great in, like, a thong.

Not that I was thinking about that.
I'm just saying.

- I'll have to keep that in mind.
- Yeah, I'm serious.

You know, that lady over there,
she wearing bloomers.

- Look how big her a*s is.
- Leave that woman alone.

Seriously. She done just knocked
my man's shrimp on the ground.

- [LAUGHS]
- I'm serious. Look.

- So what kind of underwear do you have on?
- I don't wear drawers.

- You don't have any on right now?
- No, I just let it hang.

[BOTH LAUGH]

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

[PHONE RINGS]

Yeah?

[SAVON] Hey, what's up, cat daddy?
How's the book coming ?

Masterpiece of minimalism.

[SAVON LAUGHS]

What's going on?

Ain't nothing.
You know your girl's back in town, right?

Yeah, I heard.

And for the last time, man,
she's not my girl. Okay?

Well, all right.
Well, that's good to hear, my brother.

Because there 's something
I bet you didn't know.

Look, you coming to my party?

No, no. I can't mess with y'all's parties.
Y'all don't serve no food.

- Oh, ain't you something.
- Carrots.

I need some food that had parents, man.

- You know what I mean?
- Uh-huh.

- Give me some cow up in there.
- [LAUGHS]

You know what I'm saying?
Some ribs, something.

- Right. [LAUGHS]
- Chicken fried chicken.

I'll come through, though.

- [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING, WHISTLING]
- [GROUP CONTINUES PLAYING JAZZ]

Um... you know, I heard about Wood and Nina.

[CHUCKLES] Oh, yeah.

Figured you had.

Just be cool, okay?

Always, girl. I ain't trippin' now.

What's up, D?

What's up, Wood?

[HOLLYWOOD CLEARS THROAT]

So what you been up to, man?

You know. Just putting in work, man.

- Really?
- Really.

See, I got this new gig, keeps me up.

Working all through the night.

The late shift.

- Yeah.
- [DARIUS] Mm-hmm. Yeah.

- I know all about that kind of job.
- Mm-hmm.

Used to work the hell out of it.

You sure you can hang with it?

[PAGER BEEPING]

[HOLLYWOOD] I tell you,
I hate when this happens, you know?

[SIGHS]

I think so.

Moms keep on paging you, huh?

- [SCOFFS] Not this time, D.
- Mmm.

Well, we all know that you ain't too good
at staying employed, though.

This might be different.

You know, and, uh, as I heard it,

you ain't too good
at staying employed either, partner.

Well, you see, the difference is,
I usually quit my job.

You? You usually wind up fired.

But it's okay.

You can't help it.

Yo, Sheila, I'ma talk to you later. Yeah.

[CHUCKLES]

- Take it easy, Darius.
- [DARIUS] Whatever.

[LAUGHS] He a trip, ain't he?

Can't believe that boy.

Aren't you a little old
to be fighting over some babe?

You ain't never too old.

Besides, I can't help it
if I'm the chosen one.

Oh, okay, I get it.
So it's your turn to hit the skins, right?

Damn, Sheila. Look, why does it
have to be about sex all the time?

I really like this girl.

Okay, we went out, we kicked it. Dinner.
Everything is smooth.

It's so convenient for women to think
that all we wanna do is bone.

But sometimes a man
just wanna be held, you know.

Cuddled a little bit.

"Hold my back, I'll rub yours." You know?
A little massage or something.

What's wrong with that? Ain't you
progressive enough to understand?

n*gga, I got your progressive.

You a trip. You know, you need a massage.

[LAUGHS]

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING, CHEERING]

- [SPEAKERS: UPBEAT R & B PLAYING]
- [LAUGHING, CHATTERING]

- [DOORBELL RINGS]
- [SPEAKERS: R & B CONTINUES PLAYING]

Hey, baby.

I want you to meet a friend of mine.
Tracey Powell.

Tracey Powell, this is a very,
very good friend of mine, Sheila Downes.

How you doin'?

Hi.

Come on in. Make yourself comfortable.

Food's in the dining room,
beer's in the fridge.

[TRACEY] Thank you.

There's a lot of special things going on
when you ride around in this.

Like for instance, you know, on a Sunday,
I always go through all the lights.

- Don't nobody stop me.
- [BOTH LAUGH]

There's some benefits to this car.
I'm telling you.

For instance, when I wanna go to church,
I always get up front. Every time.

Yeah, because they probably think
you going to a damn funeral.

That's what I'm saying, but I ain't.
I'm just rolling.

Who's your friend, man?

- [SAVON] Tracey?
- [DARIUS] Yeah.

Oh, she teaches the class next to mine.
English. Yeah.

- English.
- Mm-hmm.

What? What? I work with her.

[SCOFFS] "I work with her." Okay.

Darius, she isn't my girlfriend
or anything. I work with her.

Mmm.

All right.

What?

Come on, man. You know what.

I mean, you married.

What are you,
the f*cking Moral Majority now?

- No, I'm just saying —
- What's this about?

I mean, Troy's a good woman.

If my memory serves me correctly, you were
the one who told me not to get married.

All of y'all told me not get married.

- Who? I said that?
- Yeah, you. Don't be saying who. You.

Damn, I did say that. But I also said
the Commodores would get back together.

- I mean, who knew, man?
- Look, man. Let me tell you something.

[SIGHS] People grow apart, right?

People change.

But, see, you wouldn't know
anything about that.

- What you talking about? Yes, I would.
- No, you wouldn't, Darius.

Because the last relationship you been in
that lasted longer six months, my brother,

was — was, um... was never.

- Are you ki — Felicia.
- Ne —

- Felicia, yes, Felicia.
- Ne —

All right, Felicia.

So, I maintain, when you get your wife,
you advise me on mine.

That's just it — all y'all running around,

jumping, hopping, skipping, diving,
falling in love and sh*t.

Falling in love ain't sh*t. Somebody talk
to me, please, about how to stay there.

Do I love my wife? Hell yes.

Is she here? Hell no.

All right, man.

All right? As far as I'm concerned,
all of y'all can step.

Hey, man.

- I think you need a hug, Savon.
- [SAVON LAUGHS]

So, where are you taking me?

A little set. You know.

Whose set?

Some friends.

It'll be cool, trust me.

- [SPEAKERS: DISCO PLAYING]
- [CHATTERING]

Go, girl! Go, girl!

- Don't let it go.
- [LAUGHING]

It's gonna come back.

- It's gone —
- Yo, yo. Wait, wait, wait.

What about the Slop?
Y'all know how to do the Slop?

- [ALL] "The Slop"?
- [LAUGHING]

Is this a choir? Yeah, I said "Slop."

- Come on. Do it.
- [DOORBELL RINGS]

- I don't know how to do it.
- 'Cause you made that sh*t up.

I'm 'bout to go find somebody
who can do the Slop.

On TV, right?

[SHEILA] No, I got one.

[TRACEY] Yeah, I can do that. Yeah.

See, my uncle Terry
had to get on his horse.

- There you go.
- [LAUGHING]

What's up, Black people?

- Where's your bathroom?
- Up the stairs and to the left.

Thanks.

So what's up, Ed?

You are so foul.

Look —

You know it's f*cked up,
what you're doing.

- You know that's f*cked up.
- Whatever, man.

- Whatever?
- Don't.

[HOLLYWOOD CLEARS THROAT]

Ha-ha! I told you I know...
h-how to do the Slop.

- What's up, D?
- Hey, what's up, man?

[DARIUS] Now I'm starting to see
how the Slop was done.

- Mama showed you?
- Yeah.

- [DARIUS] True professional.
- [ED] Go ahead and break it down, man.

[DARIUS] Nah, I don't wanna
put too much hip into it, you know.

I need to talk to you outside.

- [HOLLYWOOD] Right now?
- Right now.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Uh, I'll be right back.

Nina.

Nina.

[NINA] Take me home now.

Nina, what's wrong?

You embarrassed the sh*t out of me
and I don't appreciate it.

If you and Darius wanna see whose d*ck
is bigger, you can do it without me.

Look, I'm sorry.

Don't say sh*t to me.
Just get in the car and take me home.

Like you didn't think for one second
he was gonna be at this party?

Are you gonna take me home or not?

[SIGHS]

Hell no.

[SIGHS] Unbelievable.

Walk.

- [SPEAKERS: DISCO CONTINUES PLAYING]
- Nah, nah, I —

- Hey, yo, where Nina at?
- [SIGHS]

I don't know, man.

You just left the woman outside, Wood?

What? You got something to say, Sheila,
why don't you just say it?

I ain't got nothin' to say to you.

- Nina, slow up.
- I don't wanna talk right now, Darius.

Hey, if you slow up, I'll call you a cab.

- Just leave me alone.
- Man, slow up.

- What?
- Now first of all, calm down.

You and I both know you don't wanna be
out here this late by yourself,

stomping up and down the street like
somebody done stole your f*cking bike.

Now, all I wanna do is try to make sure
you get home safely. That's it. Trust me.

We gon' walk up to this pay phone
up here, I'll call you a cab,

I'll wait, you get in and boom,
you can be on your merry way.

What?

What the hell you doin',
running around with my boy?

First you carry your a*s off to New York.
Then you come back and don't even call me?

All you had to do
was tell me you were seeing somebody.

What are you talking about?
I ain't seeing nobody.

I saw you at the bookstore with a girl.

I'm always at the bookstore.
What are you talking about?

You know what I'm talking about.

Oh, sh*t. Lisa. Damn.

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS] Damn.

- [NINA] Hello ?
- Hello?

Nina?

Yeah.

Damn, hey.

Hey. I just wanted to call and apologize
for the other night.

I honestly didn't know
you were gonna be there.

Look, uh, no apology is necessary, okay?

Darius?

Yeah?

I, uh...

I have two tickets to the VON
stepper set tomorrow night and, uh...

I was just wondering if you could step?

[CHUCKLES]

Yeah.

- [SPEAKERS: R & B PLAYING]
- [CHATTERING]

♪ Can't do without it ♪

♪ You know I love it ♪

♪ Hey, hey ♪

♪ Hey! ♪

♪ Hot pants ♪

♪ When I need 'em ♪

♪ Hot pants ♪

♪ When I want 'em ♪

♪ Hot pants ♪

♪ Gotta have it ♪

♪ Ow! ♪

♪ Ow! ♪

♪ Uh! Get goin' ♪

♪ Gotta have it ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ Can't do without it ♪

♪ Stronger lovin' ♪

♪ Finer lovin' ♪

♪ I need it, I need it, I need it ♪

♪ A two-faced woman and a devil's man ♪

- [DARIUS] Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- I didn't know you were that good.

[DARIUS] Yeah, I'm the groove man.
I do my little thing.

- You didn't know I had it, did you?
- Now that's what I call a real date.

"A real date"?
What you talking 'bout, "a real date"?

Are you saying
we've never been on a real date before?

Baby, bumping and grinding
at the Wild Hare hardly qualifies.

Oh, well, uh, you seemed to like
all that bumping and grinding.

You know, I wanted to call you
when I got back from New York.

But when I saw you with that woman...

- I know, I know.
- ...I didn't know what to think.

Look, that was absolutely nothing.

Trust me. It was — It was nothing.

Sometimes I just wonder
if I'm going too far with you.

Well, there's no such place.

This is a destiny-type thing, babe.

- What am I gonna do with you?
- Oh, I got a few ideas.

But, uh, tell me
what you got in mind, huh?

[LAUGHING]

Fountain? What's up? What you got?
What you wanna do?

- This is a joke, right?
- No.

It's — It's not a joke.

W-What's with the pillow with the blanket?
What's all that?

I know, I know, it's a little bit awkward,
but I was thinking that, um —

Well, I don't know, we had such —
We had a perfect date and I just —

I just wanted to feel like I was
saving something for later.

Saving something for later?

Baby, you ain't gotta save mine for later.
I'd rather have it right now anyway.

Nina, we've already done it before.
I mean, we done already repeatedly —

So what's with the couch?

- Don't be like that.
- [SIGHS]

Come on. Don't do this to me.

I mean, it's gonna be cold out here.

You'll be fine.

All right, cool.

You right. I'll be fine.

- Yeah.
- Okay.

- Good night.
- Yeah, good night.

Do you think you could just help me
with the zipper?

- 'Cause sometimes it gets stuck.
- Yeah, yeah.

See, now you playing.

See, all we gotta do is just go upstairs
and I can take off all your clothes.

- Thank you.
- [CHUCKLES]

You know you ain't gotta do this, right?

I don't know why you playing like that.

Good night.

Good night.

[DARIUS] It's gonna be
mighty cold down here.

Mind turning up the heat?

She's wrong, man.

- ["JELLY, JELLY" PLAYING]
- Jesus.

♪ Oh, jelly, jelly, jelly ♪

♪ Jelly stays on my mind ♪

sh*t.

♪ Well, well, well, well, well ♪

♪ Jelly, jelly, jelly ♪

[MUTTERING]

♪ Jelly stays on my mind ♪

[EXHALES]

♪ Ohh ♪

♪ Jelly roll k*lled my papa ♪

♪ And drove my mama... ♪

Can you feel the heat?

No, not yet.

Ooh, sh*t, I can. [SIGHS]

♪ Yes, he did, yeah ♪

[SONG CONTINUES PLAYING]

[SIGHS]

♪ Ohh ♪

♪ Jelly roll k*lled my papa ♪

♪ And drove my mama stone blind ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Oh, yes, it did, yeah ♪

[EXHALES]

Hey, Nina.

[GASPS] Yeah?

Um...

you mind if I play something for you?

N-No. Not at all.

[SLOW JAZZ PLAYING]

- [SAXOPHONE: JAZZ CONTINUES PLAYING]
- [NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[JAZZ CONTINUES PLAYING]

[JAZZ CONTINUES PLAYING]

[PERSON SHOUTS IN DISTANCE]

Yes, I know this is a Black neighborhood.

[SCOFFS] Well, send somebody down
who can handle themselves, man.

[SCOFFS] You know, you guys are terrible.

All I want is my mail.

Look, don't — don't put me on hold.

[SIGHS]

What's wrong with you?

- No, no, no, no — [GRUNTS]
- [RECEIVER HANGS UP]

[SIGHS] They had me on hold.

What's wrong?

Hello. How you doing?

[NINA] Hi.

[NINA MOANS]

[PHONE RINGS]

[GROANS]

Yeah?

Lisa?

Do you know what time it is?

[FAINT] Why you calling?

I told you not to call me.

[TYPEWRITER TYPING]

Want a beer?

[NINA] Do you think I slept with Wood?

[SIGHS]

Well, I learned a long time ago
not to ask a question

I didn't wanna know the answer to.

- Why don't you wanna know?
- 'Cause I don't.

- Why?
- You wrecking my flow, okay.

Excuse the f*ck outta me.

Well, I didn't. [SCOFFS]
Wrecking your f*cking flow.

[SIGHS]

- Take off your clothes.
- [SHUTTER CLICKS]

[CLICKS TONGUE]

[EXHALES] Quit playing.

Who's playing?

What's the matter?

[SHUTTER CLICKS]

I've already seen what you got.

Will you stop? What are you doing?

You don't trust me?

No, I don't.

- You don't?
- No.

This is about Lisa, isn't it?

I can't believe you, man. [SCOFFS]

You still on that Lisa sh*t.
That amazes me.

Look... [SIGHS]

[EXHALES]

We've talked about this a thousand times
and I explained to you.

She and I are over.
That is history. The past.

Okay?

We're together.
So tell me, what is your f*cking problem?

- How am I supposed to know that?
- Know what?

- That you're not still seeing her.
- 'Cause I just told you for the last time.

Well, that's not enough, Darius,

because you have not given me any reason
to trust anything that you say.

W-What are you talking about?

I'm talking about the blackboard
with her number on it,

the phone calls at 5:00 a.m.,
trying to read your mind every day.

You don't know sh*t about trust.
Okay? You don't.

You the one who went to New York
and f*cked old boy.

Came back here and hung out with my boys,
partying and sh*t.

What is that? You wanna talk about trust?

You acted like you didn't care
that I went to New York.

[SCOFFS]

This sh*t is for the birds, man.

Really, it is. I don't even know
what the f*ck you talking —

Look, you know what?
You can do both of us a real big favor.

Just come over to my crib
and get your sh*t.

Why would you wanna be
with somebody you don't trust?

Don't gotta deal with this sh*t.

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

[NINA SIGHS]

I guess that's everything.

[SIGHS] Shut my door all the way
when you leave.

[SCOFFS]

[ED] You get any work done
on that novel, man?

[DARIUS] Not in the mood
to write anything right now.

Let me ask you a question.

If you were stranded on a deserted island

and could only take one of your ex girls,
who would it be?

- sh*t, I don't know.
- [SIGHS] That's the thing, man.

With the exception of Felicia, man,

I can't stand to be around any of them
for more than a few hours at a time.

Ooh, now that's a name
I ain't heard in a while.

Yep. I messed that up, man.

Trying to be a m*therf*cking player.

[EXHALES]

I actually loved that girl, man.

You only get one. Two tops.

- One what?
- Mmm.

- True love.
- True love, my a*s, man.

Love is what you make
and with whom you make it.

- That's it.
- [CHUCKLES]

Yeah, well...

I think I messed up twice.

You'd think by now I'd have
a little more insight, man, but...

I don't know, man.
I don't know what to think.

That, my friend,
is your problem right there.

Physics, this sh*t ain't.

It ain't supposed to make sense.

Love, passion, it is what it is.

["YOU MOVE ME" PLAYING]

♪ Rememberin' moments ♪

♪ So precious and real ♪

♪ The thought of you ♪

♪ Kissing me there ♪

♪ You know my secrets ♪

♪ You know the curve and the line ♪

♪ One touch ♪

♪ And I know you are mine ♪

[DARIUS]
Savon, you and your wife both love to--

- See, that's my joker.
- Can I get my book?

- [SHEILA] No.
- Thank you.

- [PHONE RINGS]
- [DARIUS] Y'all both cheaters, man.

- Hey, give me my book.
- Speak to me.

[JOSIE] Darius, it's Josie.

Oh, hey. What's happening?

Look, um, Nina told me
not to tell anyone this, but... f*ck it.

- What is it?
- I thought you should know.

She did a sh**t for Vibe magazine
and it worked out really well.

Well, good for her.

- And since you--
- Look, why you calling me anyway?

Look, she 's on the noon train tomorrow.
I thought maybe you should see her off.

- Well, maybe not.
- Well, you do what you wanna do.

I just thought I should tell you.

Yeah, well, thanks for your concern.

- [SCOFFS]
- [RECEIVER HANGS UP]

[LAUGHING, CHATTERING]

- Stop.
- [TROY] You can't play.

Hey, Darius, who was that?

[SIGHS]

Oh.

[SIGHS]

[TIRES SCREECH]

[PA ANNOUNCEMENTS, INDISTINCT]

sh*t.

[PA ANNOUNCEMENTS CONTINUE, INDISTINCT]

All aboard!

What's goin' on?

[GROANS]

[GASPS] Are you all right?

Nina!

- [CAMERA WHIRRING, CLICKING]
- [NINA] Very nice.

Give me that smile.

There it is.

Nina, here's your, uh, tickets
and itinerary for the Chicago sh**t.

- Great. Thank you.
- Don't worry about it.

- There you go. [GROANS]
- All right, cool.

- Thanks.
- You're very welcome, sir.

So, let's see this — this masterpiece.

- Stand back.
- Mm-hmm.

- You might hurt yourself, bruh.
- Oh.

That's it right there.

And you know the book-signing party
is gonna be real nice.

[CHUCKLES] Oh, sookie sookie sookie, now.

- [DARIUS CHUCKLES]
- Man, this...

That's a jacked-up picture, though.

Why you gotta talk about the picture, man?

Jacked-up picture. [LAUGHS]

Why you gotta say something
about my picture?

Congratulations. Mmm?

- Thanks.
- I know it's a dream come true.

Mm-hmm.

And an old one, man.

An old one.

That's a nice dedication.

Yeah.

So how come, uh —
how come you never called her?

Well...

I wrote a bunch of letters, but...

I thought it made me look like a fool.

Never mailed any of them off.

Yeah, well, I —

I would have paid some mad money to see
your a*s running through Union Station.

Yeah.

[SIGHS] Damn, man.

Had you not been sucking on them
cancer sticks, you'd have caught her.

I'm cool, man.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

[SPEAKERS: FUNK INSTRUMENTAL PLAYING]

Excuse me. Can I see that?

Sure.

Thanks.

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]

Hey.

Next up, our next poet is...

Our next poet is a virgin to the mic,

but I'm sure you'll feel her
just the same.

Sanctuary, welcome Ms. Nina Mosley.

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]

[SIGHS, CLEARS THROAT]

This is, um...

something that I've been working on
for a while

and I was hoping that a certain someone
would be here tonight.

But I don't see him, so...

I guess I'm gonna get it out anyway.

It's funny what you can do
in front of a room full of people

that you can't even seem to do
in front of one person.

"It is the color of light,

the shape of sound high in the evergreens.

It lies suspended in hills...

a blue line in a red sky.

I am looking at sound.

I am hearing the brightness

of high bluffs and almond trees.

I am tasting the wilderness
of lakes, rivers and streams

caught in an angle of song.

I am remembering water

that glows in the dawn,

the motion tumbled in earth,

life hidden in mounds.

I am dancing...

a bright beam of light.

I am remembering love."

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]

[CLEARS THROAT]

Look, Reg, I'ma gonna talk to you, man.
All right, cool.

Thanks. [SNIFFLES]

- Nina Mosley.
- Give it up!

[CHEERING]

Nina!

[CHUCKLES]

Long time no see.

Yeah.

I, uh, enjoyed your poem up there.

Look, I know that
there's been a lot of mistakes,

and we both made 'em.

I apologize for my part in that.

And all that — that nonsense in the past,
I don't give a sh*t about that anymore.

[SIGHS]

I never stopped thinking about you.

I want us to be together again.

For — For as long as we can be.

As usual, your timing couldn't be worse.

You always want what you want
when you want it.

Why is everything so urgent with you?

Let me tell you something.

This here, right now,

at this very moment
is all that matters to me.

I love you.

That's urgent like a m*therf*cker.

Yeah.

- How do we do this?
- I don't know.

- I live in New York.
- I don't care.

All right, so...

what's the first step?

We can start by getting out of this rain.

- Ooh, yes.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]

I love you.

["THE SWEETEST THING" PLAYING]

♪ The sweetest thing I've ever known ♪

♪ Was like the kiss on a collarbone ♪

♪ The soft caress of happiness ♪

♪ The way you walk, your style of dress ♪

♪ It was the sweet ♪

♪ Sweet ♪

♪ The sweetest thing I've known ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ I try to explain ♪

♪ I can't explain it, I can't explain it ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ But, baby, it's vain ♪

♪ Ohh ♪

♪ Ahh ♪

♪ Speaking on my mother's phone ♪

♪ The touching makes me think I'm grown ♪

♪ You ain't grown ♪

♪ Sweet prince of the ghetto ♪

♪ Huh, that sweet prince of the ghetto ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Your kisses taste like amaretto ♪

♪ Intoxicating, intoxicating ♪

♪ Oh, so intoxicating ♪

♪ Intoxicating ♪

♪ How sad, it's so sad ♪

♪ How sad ♪

♪ That all things come to an end ♪

♪ Huh ♪

♪ But then again ♪

♪ I, I'm not alone ♪

♪ It was the sweet ♪

♪ Sweetest thing I've known ♪

♪ Yeah, baby ♪

♪ Sweetest thing ♪

♪ It was the sweet ♪

♪ Sweetest thing I've known ♪

♪ Sweetest thing ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ Take time to watch you in your sleep ♪

[CHUCKLES] ♪ Yeah, I remember that ♪

[SONG FADES]

["LOVE JONES" PLAYING]

- ♪ I got a love jones ♪
- ♪ I got a love jones ♪

♪ I got a love jones ♪

- ♪ For you ♪
- ♪ I got a love jones ♪

[SINGER 1]
♪ Every night before I fall asleep ♪

♪ I think of you ♪

♪ Wishing that someday
You'll lay with me ♪

♪ The whole night through ♪

♪ Ever since the day I ♪

♪ Saw your pretty face, I ♪

♪ I'm in the zone ♪

♪ I guess I caught a love jones ♪

♪ I got a love jones ♪

- ♪ I got a love jones ♪
- ♪ I got a love jones ♪

♪ I got a love jones ♪

♪ For you ♪

- ♪ I got a love jones ♪
- ♪ Come on ♪

♪ Love jones ♪

- ♪ I got a love jones ♪
- ♪ I got a love jones ♪

♪ I got a love jones ♪

♪ For you ♪

[SINGER 2]
♪ Me and Mrs. Jones got a thing goin' on ♪

[SINGER 1] ♪ There is no denying ♪

♪ What I feel for you is real ♪

♪ Baby, close your eyes ♪

♪ And let me show you how it feels ♪

♪ I'm calling out your name, baby ♪

♪ You know that I am lonely, baby ♪

♪ Oh, no, ooh ♪

♪ I guess I caught a love jones ♪

♪ Love jones ♪

- ♪ I got a love jones ♪
- ♪ I got a love jones ♪

♪ I got a love jones ♪

♪ For you ♪

- ♪ I got a love jones ♪
- ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Love jones ♪

- ♪ I got a love jones ♪
- ♪ I got a love jones ♪

♪ I got a love jones for you ♪

[SINGER 2]
♪ Me and Mrs. Jones got a thing goin' on ♪

- ♪ I got a love ♪
- [SINGER 1] ♪ I got a love for you, baby ♪

- [SINGER 2] ♪ I got a love jones ♪
- [SINGER 1] ♪ I got a love jones ♪

- [SINGER 2] ♪ I got a love ♪
- [SINGER 1] ♪ I got a, I got a ♪

[SINGER 2]
♪ Me and Mrs. Jones got a thing goin' on ♪

[SINGER 1]
♪ You know that this is your destiny ♪

♪ I fulfill all of your fantasies, sugar ♪

♪ I got the love you need ♪

♪ Honestly ♪

♪ Honestly ♪

♪ I'm guaranteed to satisfy ♪

♪ Baby, taste my love ♪

♪ And you won't deny it ♪

♪ Feel it, feel it
Comin' down your bones ♪

♪ 'Cause we got a case of the love jones ♪

- ♪ I got a love ♪
- ♪ I got a love ♪

- [SINGER 2] ♪ I got a love jones ♪
- [SINGER 1] ♪ I got a love jones ♪

- [SINGER 2] ♪ I got a love ♪
- [SINGER 1] ♪ I got a love ♪

[SINGER 2]
♪ Me and Mrs. Jones got a thing goin' on ♪

[SINGER 1] ♪ Love jones ♪

- ♪ I got a love jones ♪
- ♪ I got a love jones ♪

♪ I got a love jones for you ♪

[SINGER 2]
♪ Me and Mrs. Jones got a thing goin' on ♪

[SINGER 1] ♪ Love jones ♪

- ♪ I got a love jones ♪
- ♪ I got a love jones ♪

♪ I got a love jones for you ♪

[SINGER 2]
♪ Me and Mrs. Jones got a thing goin' on ♪

- [SINGER 1] ♪ Love jones ♪
- [SINGER 2] ♪ Me and Mrs. Jones ♪

- [SINGER 1] ♪ I got a love jones ♪
- [SINGER 2] ♪ Me and Mrs. Jones ♪

♪ I got a love jones for you ♪

[SONG FADES]