02x01 - A Dream Deferred

[bunniefuu]

I married
a private equity manager,

not Ja Rule's former intern,
for a reason.

Apparently he's been floating
the entire band,

paying for studio time,
equipment, all of it.

No! My marriage is over.

We'll be pitching L'Oréal.

Keith Mumford will run point.

I quit.

Start your new company

and pitch L'Oréal.

It'll be your first act
as CEO of your own firm.

I'm f*cking my thesis advisor,

which could get him fired
and me thrown out of school,

which makes our communication
about me

fake step-parenting his
daughter easy and effortless.

Yeah, I kept my apartment.

Matthew's place is great,

but this is the Holy Grail
of university housing.

You plan on telling Matthew
about this?

- f*ck no.
- So you're here

because you need a new advisor

or you're going to have
to leave the program, correct?

There's a big difference
between being an influencer

bloggy-person
and an actual author.

This is my job, and I'm
trying to be good at it.

Yeah, and your job is wack.

You know that.
You're better than this.

I love Ola so much.

I didn't cheat on him

because I have doubts
about him or us.

It's just Ola is literally
the only person

that I have ever been with
before this.

I can't stop thinking about it.

You have to tell him.

I slept with someone else.

But I... I love you so much.

You... you f*cked
some other dude.

That's betrayal.

Ola, you asked me
to show you my whole self,

so here I am just begging you

to forgive me for making
one terrible mistake.

Please don't call off
the wedding.

To be honest with you,

I wasn't sure we'd make it here.

Well, life can test your faith
in yourself,

in others, in love,

but there is no one else

I'd rather spend
the rest of my life with.

You are my perfect girl,
and I will love you forever.

So I do.

By the power vested in me,

I pronounce you
husband and wife.

Ready? One...

Two, three.

No!

Oh, my God.

Are you okay?

Well, I thought I was,

but I'm coming home
from a girls' trip

instead of my honeymoon.

And I just had the dream again.

- Uh-oh.
- Our greatest fear.

Sending a brother off
to the land of the Beckys.

And I woke up
just after he jumped the broom.

With a white woman.

Dream Ola ain't sh*t.

One time, I dreamt
that Jason got married

to the Progressive chick,

and I changed to GEICO
the next day.

I'm not ready to go back.

Ella had the right idea.

I should've stayed with her
in Tulum.

- Mm-mm.
- Let's be clear.

Ella is staying an extra week
to work on her book,

not escape reality.

I'm not escaping.

Taking time off to be inspired

is Ella's bag, not yours.

But we are not gonna pretend
like this isn't hard.

You're not alone.

We got you.

Hey.

I missed you and Amari so much.

And I have the greatest news.

Baptiste agreed
to be my thesis advisor.

At first I was scared
that it wasn't gonna happen

because the notes on my paper
were so much longer

than the actual paper itself,
but I honestly...

Love that.
That's amazing, baby.

But listen, there's something
I gotta tell you.

Mommy's back!

Oh, my God.

Amari's never called me "Mom"
before.

- Sondi, wait.
- Amari, hi.

Hey, Sondi.

Welcome back.

You too.

Mommy got a house in New Jersey,

and I'm getting another room!

A-a new assignment?

Mommy quit the Navy.

We're not quitters, sweetheart.

I was honorably discharged.

Yeah, her assignment is over.

Found a place in Ridgewood.

Well, um, congratulations.

Yeah, that's...

That's what
I wanted to tell you.

Hey, surprise!

Thanks for letting me
crash here.

I just don't want
to go home yet.

Of course, girl.

Hey, you can't keep it off
forever.

And I don't know
what Mama Gwynn could say now

that she didn't say
two weeks ago

when Ola called off the wedding.

I never heard a woman over 50
say "f*ck" that many times.

Okay, turn it on.

Oh. Oh.

Um, it won't stop.
It won't stop!

- Make it stop!
- Damn.

I ain't never seen
a three-digit text count.

How long you had it off?

Since the flight to Tulum.

Okay.

Ola says he's staying
with a friend

and to let him know
when you're back.

Oh. Okay.
Well, that's encouraging.

It's not, "I overreacted
and made a huge mistake,"

but I'll take it.

Well, have you watched
Love in Escrow?

I got hooked on this sh*t

that one day it rained
in Mexico.

Mm.

It's real estate porn
with Black women running sh*t.

You'll love it.

Hey, y'all...

I don't think I can do it.

Look, I know
Black women bickering

for the camera
can be a little cringey,

but the petty in this show
is pretty mild.

And no one's sleeping
with anyone's man.

- Yet.
- No, no.

I'm... I'm talking about work.

I... I don't think I can do

the... the looks, the stares,
the questions.

You don't have to answer sh*t.

I've never f*cked up this big.

I've... I have a goal.

I make a plan.
I stick to the plan.

What's the plan
for leaving the office engaged

and coming back
without wedding photos?

Well, just come up
with a new plan.

But the first one was perfect.

Okay.

Okay, I get it.

Starting over in our 30s.

No man, no job.

It's gonna take some time

to get back what we lost.

I just don't want
anyone thinking I'm sitting

at home on my couch,
sad and pathetic.

Well, you're not.

It's my couch.

If you need more time, take it.

And don't feel guilty about it.

Everyone's always making
Black women feel bad

about taking a break.

Don't do it to yourself.

You're right.

Put on the damn show.

There we go.

Nuh-uh.
I'm not doing it.

Go back with a better offer!

I can't believe it.

Where else are you gonna find
another claw-foot tub

on heated floors
next to a built-in vanity?

Down the street.
It's Georgia.

Don't give up.
Write a letter.

They love letters.
That's yo' house!

This is scripted, you know?

Tamika's gonna get a house.

She should give up
on her dream home

because somebody's
gonna outbid her?

That's bullshit. Bullshit!

Ugh. I'm hungry.

- 100k...
- You got any more chips?

Um, no, but I can go get us
some food.

Oh, Thai.

50k but...

If it isn't too much trouble.

Nuh-uh.
I ain't doing that.

No. No trouble at all.

But let's be real.

I can paint my room
any color I want.

I was thinking...

Lavender.

No matter what color you choose,

it's gonna be perfect.

We almost done?

Yep.

Now, don't stay up to late
while I'm gone.

Yes, ma'am.

I promise we are gonna go
straight to bed.

You ready?

Yep.

Bye, Daddy. Bye, Sondi.

Bye, baby.

Come on.

Hope you two have a great night.

Muah! Let's go.

Nice little setup.

Don't hit me with the "little."

I just want to see
where my savings went.

Uh, where's the little button
so I can talk to the singer?

Right here?

Hi. Uh, what's your name?

Brandon.

You might need a vocal coach.

You're pitchy.

Enough.

Are you always
this cranky at work?

Mm.

Just trying to help him out.

Damn.

You kicked me out
through a text,

don't ask how I'm doing,
where I'm staying,

and now you show up to my job,

which you only
halfway care about,

to talk about someone else's
relationship problems.

Not just someone.
Our best friends.

They can't end up like us.

What, single and petty?

Who's petty?

You dropped me
from your health plan.

You know I can't get the good
inhaler without insurance.

You and that damn asthma.

Shh.

I'll see what I can do, okay?

That's not why I'm here.

I'm worried about Whitney.

What's Ola saying?

Not much.

We haven't talked about Whitney

since he pulled the plug
on the wedding.

Are you serious?
What do y'all talk about?

Basketball, mostly.

Well, Ola is the only thing
on Whitney's mind,

and she's crashing on my couch
'cause she's scared to go home.

Can Ola stop ignoring her
and talk to her?

Should we get involved?

How can you say that?
You were his groomsman.

How he handles this
is his business.

Well, she still loves him.

I can tell by the way she's
yelling at Love in Escrow.

I love that show.

Did Tamika get her dream house?

Wait. Yeah, don't tell me.

Jason, please.

Can you talk to him?

Fine.

Maybe I'll hit up Anderson.

We can see what's up together.

Whatever you gotta do.

Thanks.

Is that it?

Yep.

Thanks.

Let's go again.

Oh, I've missed you.

Oh, sh*t!

She is gonna be pissed.

What now?

Ooh, Misty just found out

that the buyer for her listing

is Alex's client.

This is about to get good.

Oh, my bad.
Were you sleeping in?

Are you?

Uh, today's Monday.

I thought you were gonna go
back into work.

Uh, yeah, I had a few more
sick days to use.

Well, um, it's been nice
hosting you

these last few days,

and you know how much
I love you,

but, um...

No! Were you trying to get off?

Well, two things can be true.

Okay.

Look, I'm not gonna pretend

to know what this is like
for you,

but you gotta go there
are reclaim that space.

Make it yours again.

You're right.

I can't expect you
to host me forever.

Sorry.

Well, look,

if it gets weird,
you can always come back.

But in the meantime, you know,
maybe you want

to go get yourself a smoothie
or something?

I'm a multi-o girl.

Okay.

Okay.

- Oh, like right now.
- Mm-hmm.

Okay.

I cannot believe
that place delivers mimosas.

There is nothing that
you cannot get in Harlem.

And this is why everyone
is moving here.

It has been a while

since we've had
some alone time together.

I know, right?

I love this for us.

Knock-knock.

Oh.

Hope I'm not interrupting.

We just came by for her...

Swim goggles. Right.

How did you get in?

Amari's key.

Do you know where my...

- Under your bed.
- Thank you!

I was thinking
about enrolling her

in summer swim classes.

Oh, nice.
Yeah, she'd love that.

I'll let you know the schedule

so we can coordinate.

Sounds good.

Found them. Thanks, Sondi!

Thanks again.
See you later.

Mimosas. Hmm.

All right. Another round?

Thank you for finding
this place,

the movers, all of it.

You're welcome.

I mean, I don't know.
This...

this just feels different.

Feels like home.

Why, 'cause you got
your own sink?

I love you,

but your beard products

needed their own time zone.

Okay.

Like you don't have
more skin creams

and face masks than Sephora?

Our song is on.

Come here.

- Mm.
- Oh.

Yeah. Hmm.

Hey, the offer still stands

for you to take
those piano lessons.

And if you climb up on
that thing like she did...

- Calm down.
- ...I'm gonna... I don't know.

I don't know.

This is nice.

- Yeah.
- Our song.

Our song, our sinks...

our life.

Doesn't get any better
than that.

So are you just gonna hold
that cigar,

or are you actually
gonna light it at some point?

I don't even smoke.

Ola picked this spot.

Well, you wanted to see
what I've been up to.

This is it.

How you doing?

I... I'm okay.

At least she stopped
texting me, man.

I don't know what...

What does she even
want me to say?

Well, you know
she's back from Mexico, right?

You talk to her?

She cheated on me.

There's nothing to talk about.

So you're done with her
completely?

Yo, part of me wishes
she never even told me.

There are a lot of happy dudes
out there living a lie.

Look at that guy from
Family Matters

that married Superhead.

That n*gga's always smiling.

Hey, look.

I know how it looks, you know?

But men cheat all the time,

and women take them back
all the time.

You know, maybe you two
could push past this.

Okay, Anderson,
would you marry Ella

if she cheated on you?

I mean,
I didn't say all that, but...

Yeah, yeah, that-
and that's what I thought.

That's what I thought.

We're not here
to tell you what to do.

We just want to make sure
you're good.

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm good. I'm good.

I have to say,
there is something special

about a woman who wants
to be honest with you.

Renee never cheated,
but if she had,

she definitely
wouldn't have told me.

My whole life,
I have never been this mad...

...and I hate it.

I hate being this mad at her.

Sounds like you still love her.

About damn time.
So how'd it go?

Whose apartment is this?

It's Sondi's grad apartment.

Whitney's attached herself
to my couch,

so that's why I couldn't
meet you there.

Does Matthew know
about this place?

Jason, please,
we don't have time

to explain all that.

How'd it go?

Well...

I think he still loves her,

but I don't know
if it changes anything.

He's still pretty heated.

Are you okay?

Yeah. Fine.

Any luck with the insurance,
though?

No.

Come on, Ren.

I thought we were better
than this.

I left Eclipse.

Oh.

New agency?

Yes.

Mine.

And I know you're thinking
this is the same thing

as you quitting your job
to pursue your dream,

but it's not.

How?

How is it not the same?

I couldn't actually grow
at Eclipse.

I had to go out on my own.

Well, good luck.

For real.

Oh, I'm not gonna do you
like you did me.

Nah, I hope
your company thrives.

I hope you make millions.

And I hope you find people
who support you,

because it's really
f*cking lonely

when you have to do this
on your own.

He didn't take
all of his things.

- Who?
- Ola. Are you okay?

I need a shot.

I don't know
why you need a shot,

but I need one too.

Naomi is back.

- Amari's mom?
- What?

For how long?

For life.

She quit the Navy,

and now she's over me
playing mom to Amari.

Wait, can you quit the Navy?

Or got kicked out.
I don't know how it works.

Mmm.

So what does it mean
that he took

some of his clothes,
but not all?

I'm not sure.

This is where Ella would say
something esoteric.

Yeah, when is that b*tch back?

I need her here.

Oh, my God. It's him.

I gotta go. I gotta go!

- Okay, okay.
- Oh, okay.

You're not good
at running in heels.

Gather yourself.

I am honestly terrified for her.

Me too.

I'm gonna eat her wings.

Hi.

Hi.

I missed you.

If you want to go back
to the pastor

or do couples therapy, whatever.

I want to know why.

I don't know.

I know that
it won't happen again.

How?

If you don't know why?

Because I don't want
to hurt you.

All that time in Tulum,

that's the best
you could come up with?

You're gonna have
to do better, Whitney.

I... What else do you want?

I mean, I...

I gave you time and distance,

and you canceled the wedding.

I... wasn't that enough?

You... you think
that makes us even?

I'm not gonna beg again.

Well, I'm not gonna
speed past you not knowing

why you f*cked another dude

just 'cause you're trying
to move on.

I apologized.

And I meant it
with everything in me.

That should be enough.

After ten years,
that should be enough.

It's not.

What are you doing?

I'm moving out, Whitney.

I-I'll let you know when I can
come back for the rest.

"...formally submit
my resignation

"to the Hot Tea Digest.

"I could not be more grateful

for the opportunity
you gave me when I needed..."

I knew it.

I knew that b*tch
was gonna quit on me.

My God.

As soon as that caramel Casanova

came back into the picture,
it was just a matter of time.

Ooh, this generation is doomed.

Doomed.

They worried
about climate change?

f*ck that.

These Millennials
and their f*cking dreams.

She couldn't find
one coffee shop in Harlem

to write her
Black girl magnum opus?

She gotta finish it in Tulum?

Mm.

Oh, where are her strappy flats?

Got us packing up her sh*t
like the help.

You know, I knew Ella
could be selfish sometimes,

but damn.

Oh, did you remember to pack
her vitamin C sunscreen?

Six months on a beach.
You know what?

This book better be
f*cking best-seller.

- Mm-hmm.
- I'm talking Oprah's list,

Michelle's list.

Oh, should we pack
her Nikki Giovanni?

Good idea. Pack that.

And at the worst
f*cking time too.

Is there really a bad time
to choose yourself?

Thanks, ladies.

I tried to help,

but I didn't know
what jeans she wore

to that spring break you
lost Sondi at Señor Frog's.

Do I want to know?

- No.
- No.

Take care of our girl, okay?

I will.

All right,
that's the last of it.

So you're just gonna go
to Mexico?

What about your job?

I let my job get in the way
the last time.

Not gonna let that happen again.

That was a good answer.

All right, I'll hug you.

It's never gonna be the same.

You talking about Ella or Ola?

You gonna tell us what he said
when he came over?

Basically,
he didn't like my answers

to his questions.

- Sorry, Whit.
- Sorry.

We need a toast.

We need a drink.

Yes.
We've been through too much.

Okay. All right.

To Ella.

To us.

No matter how we move

or when we move,

there's only one direction.

Straight ahead.

Whoo-hoo!