Once in a Valentine (2024)

[bunniefuu]

- No, no, no, no, no.

No, please, don't hurt me.

Please, please, please, please, don't.

No, no, no, please.

- Mommy?

Mommy?

Mommy, it's time to get up.

Mommy, mommy, mommy.

You wasn't breathing.

- I'm fine, baby.

Mommy's fine.

- You have to go to the store

and get my Krispie treats.

- Your Krispie treat?

Oh, yeah, for the party.

Okay.

- I'm gonna save something

for you, grandma, Papa.

- That's nice, Aila.

Yeah, that's really, it's really nice.

- My teacher said when

you have bad dreams,

tell God about it and

the bad dreams go away.

- Aila, I wasn't having a bad dream.

Yeah.

Yeah, your teacher's right.

- I know, now, get ready.

I'm too cute to be t*rd for the party.

- Oh, you too cute?

- Mm-hmm.

- Uh uh.

You think you too cute?

I'm fine.

Mommy's fine.

Go get dressed.

I'm fine.

Jesus.

- All right, now, when

grandma picks you up,

you make sure them Krispie treats

are only things she gets outta you.

- I know, I know.

What happens in your

dreams, stay in your dreams.

- That's right.

- Even though

you talk about it in your sleep.

- I don't talk in my sleep.

- You don't be quiet either.

- All right.

Hi.

- Good morning.

- Love you, Mommy.

- Love you.

- Miss Doman, don't forget

about the Valentine's Day dance.

- I won't.

Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Good morning, Ms. Doman.

- Good morning.

- Look down, slow it down, slow it down.

What's the rush?

- Not now, Marquis, I have meetings.

- Okay, well, I'm here.

I am here.

Hmm.

Alright.

What you need me to do?

What you need help with?

You know, I'll do anything for you.

- I'm good.

- Come on, what do you need help with?

What you need me to do?

- I need you to get out my office.

- Well, I got you this job.

So, technically this is my office too.

- Seriously, we're going tit for tat?

- Mm.

- Like we're back in high school?

- Yeah, well, you know,

back in high school

you had a set of pompoms

and a lot more cheer.

Now, you just salty and

sexy at your old age.

- Old age?

- Yeah.

- Did you not notice that your

hair line's not in 12th grade

anymore?

- Oh, okay, so, we going

below the belt, huh?

God, what happened to you, girl?

You was a lot less rigid back in the day.

- I grew up.

- Yeah, I can see that.

Relax, C, relax, God.

You know, Valentine's

Day around the corner,

hey, let me take you out to dinner.

- I don't do Valentine's.

- Whoa, what?

Since when do you not like to be pampered

and catered to on Valentine's Day?

You do know Valentine's Day

is a woman's holiday, right?

- Don't care.

May I have my office?

- Uh uh, no, no, no, no,

no, no, no, no, no, no.

You've been here for a few months

and you got every man's head spinning.

But not one of us has gotten

you to let your hair down.

What's the real deal?

- There is no deal.

I'm just not interested.

Now, go.

Go, get out

- All right.

One day.

- Get out.

- One day.

- Sheila, I'm at work.

- Oh, hey girl, how's that going?

- Busy.

- Mm, well, we

gonna take care of that.

Get your g-string ready.

We're backing that thing up tonight.

- I'm not getting my g-string

and I'm not backing anything up.

- Of course you are.

Nine o'clock.

- No, I'm not.

- Cece, it's my birthday.

And you've missed the last five.

- No, I didn't, I spent

like half the day with you.

- Yes, in my house.

But this year will not be Uno

and stepping in the name

of love in my living room.

This year we are stepping out.

- Negative.

You know, I don't like parties.

- It's not a party.

Okay, well, it is a party,

but it's not a party, party.

- No, Sheila.

- Girl, it'll

be totally fun and safe.

You will be fine.

I'll text you the details later.

Trust and love me.

I said love me.

- You love me.

- You know I do.

See you tonight.

- Wait, I didn't say that I would.

- Hi mom, how are you?

- Oh, blessed and highly favored.

How is my big baby?

- Your big baby is not a big baby anymore.

In case you haven't noticed.

- Trust me, I notice everything.

Like, all that tension up

there in your shoulders

make you look like you walking around here

like a linebacker.

- Okay.

- I told you, Cece.

- Mom, I'm fine.

- I knew it was a mistake.

You have to quit the job.

- And do what?

Sit around all day and talk

about how I can't sit around

all day for the rest of my life?

- Look, sometimes you have to

take the bull by the horns,

but when the ride gets too rough, baby,

you just gotta hop your little a*s off.

- And land right back

here in my parents' house.

I think not.

- Well, I ain't ask about how you think.

- Of course not.

- But I do wanna know

about those bad dreams.

- Bad dream?

- Mm-hmm.

- Aila?

- Don't you said a word to my grand baby.

She's a smart girl and

she knows what's going on,

and she's worried about her mother.

I just wanna know about those nightmares.

I thought they were coming

a little less frequent.

- Well, they were, they are.

- You know, I think you need

to schedule another session.

- I don't need more therapy.

- Well, you know how you

get this time of year.

- Mom, please, for once in a Valentine,

I don't wanna think about my past

and just have some peace

of mind for a change.

Aila?

- Oh, don't yell at that girl like that.

She's going to think she's

in trouble or something.

- Okay, I'm ready.

- Hi, baby.

Here.

Here, baby.

- Oh, Jesus.

- Work?

- Sheila.

I almost forgot it was her birthday.

- Oh, well, let me go get the Uno cards.

- Well, actually, she wants to go out.

- Out?

- Do you mind if I bring Aila by later?

It should only be a few hours.

- What you mean, out?

I mean, really, out where?

- Hey, everybody.

How's my family?

- Hey.

- Papa.

- Hey, look at my little sugar plum.

Ah, come give your grandpa some sugar.

How was school today?

- Good.

- Good, you doing good?

Yes.

Hey, baby.

- Hey.

Good thing I didn't cook dinner.

- Well, it wouldn't change nothing.

- Hi, Dad.

- Hey, Cece.

- Papa.

- Yeah.

- Is that chicken wings?

- What else do papa eat?

Go get papa some hot sauce

and some bread.

- Oh, no.

Uh uh, because you know you

not supposed to have that.

- Wait a minute now.

Now, this is my granddaughter.

The food I eat is good for the soul.

That's why they call it soul food.

- Yeah.

- Okay?

She gonna grow and be big

and strong like her Papa.

Ain't that right?

Gimme a pound.

- Yeah, big all right.

- Whatever.

- All right, I need to go.

I'll bring Aila back in a few hours.

- Few hours?

- Yeah, go get your stuff, Aila, let's go.

- What's going on?

- I'll tell you.

We gonna talk about this.

- No, you need to give me-

- Come on here, come on.

You ain't getting this chicken though.

I'm gonna eat this.

- That's right, let's

keep this party popping

for Miss Sheila grand baby.

- Chris, can you tell her

to get down from there?

- Hell no.

We're married.

I wouldn't get to see all

of that like once a year.

I got to enjoy this while I can.

- All right, Sheila, Sheila,

honey, you're embarrassing us.

Come on down.

- Embarrassing who?

Can't you see we're the only ones in here?

- Exactly.

Who buys out an entire lounge

to throw a birthday party

and only invites two people?

- I do.

It's a new year for me, and

I'm not gonna let my BFF

spend another year stuck in her past.

It's been too long.

- And too expensive.

- And it's too many potentials in here

for you to be looking this

fine and still single.

- Potentials, where?

Sheila, we're literally

the only ones in here.

- Well, it looks like Mr.

Potential just crashed the party.

- Wait, is he?

Oh.

Oh God, no, no.

- Oh, baby, let's take the dance floor.

That's my song.

- No, no, no, yeah.

Let's hit the dance floor together

because you're not

leaving me here by myself.

- Potential, potential.

- Hi, this is hell of a party.

Is anybody sitting here?

- Yes.

- I'm Noah Robinson.

You are?

- Not interested.

- Not so nice.

Not so nice.

- Look, I'm really just

here for my friend.

- That's okay.

I'm sure your friend wouldn't mind

if you made another friend, right?

- I sure do not.

Ain't that right, Cece?

- Cece, that's nice.

- It's Celeste.

- Well, even better.

- How are you?

- I'm Noah Robinson, I own the place.

- Oh, so you're the one

stealing all of my money.

- Our money, and stop that.

- Okay, I'm sorry, I

didn't mean to oppose,

I just wanted to get to know

this beautiful young lady,

but I'll let y'all get back to it.

Enjoy your party, drinks are on me, okay?

- I mean, it's not, it's not a party.

The real party's at the live Lava Lounge.

You know, this fake party here?

- Fake party?

Wait, Sheila, is this not real?

- Of course it's real,

okay, well, you don't like people,

so, I'm just having a little after party

after I celebrate with my BFF

who likes to spend a life

in a cave, that's all.

- It's not about what I like.

And you know that.

- Well, I told you it

wasn't a party party.

- Sheila

- Look, Cece.

- This was a bad idea.

- Is the night ending so soon?

- Yes, party's over.

Now, excuse me.

- Wait, are are you sure I

can't get you another drink?

It's on the house.

- Thank you, but I really

wanna get outta here right now.

- That's not a problem.

Can I get your number at least?

- No.

- Yes, yes.

Excuse us for a minute.

Girl, just talk to him.

Feel him out.

- Feel him out?

- Yes.

- You invite me to your

fake birthday party.

Now, you wanted to play matchmaker?

- Look-

- Look what?

I'm not ready for this.

- Okay, it's not that serious.

Just let your hair down for once.

Talk to him.

If it's not all right,

then it's okay, okay?

- Okay.

- Okay.

Nice meeting you, Noah.

- It's nice to meet you.

- Yeah, have a good night.

And lower your rental fees.

I had to write a bad check

just to rent this place out.

- He's lying.

He's crazy, don't listen to him.

- I got you, it is nice

to meeting you both.

- Me and Chris

we'll wait for you outside

in the car.

- I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean

to make anything weird.

Can we try this again?

- Celeste Doman.

- Nice to meet you, Celeste Doman.

- Noah, I really didn't

expect to meet anyone tonight.

- Neither did I, but I'm

certainly glad I met you.

Are you okay?

- Yeah, sorry.

I don't know what this is,

but I believe in fate,

so, let's not exchange

contact information tonight

and just leave things the way they are now

and let fate decide what happens next.

- Fate?

- Mm-hmm.

- You kidding, right?

What does that even mean?

Fate.

Fate.

Okay.

- Look at the little sachet over here.

- What?

- So?

- Uh uh.

- Hold on, girl.

Girl, wait, wait, wait.

Okay, hold on.

Open the door, just open the window.

Thanks for taking the lead

tonight, I'm proud of you.

- Thanks for getting on my nerves.

It wasn't that bad.

- Mr. Noah, wasn't that bad either.

- Don't push it.

- Girl, seriously,

Valentine's Day is coming up and-

- I'm not looking for a Valentine.

Sheila, are you serious?

- I know, I just think that maybe-

- Sheila!

- Look what happened, happened.

It doesn't mean it's gonna happen again.

- You don't know that.

- What I do know is that

people get what they deserve

eventually.

He's probably a prison wife somewhere,

or in hell where he belongs.

He doesn't matter anymore,

but your life does.

Stop letting him win.

You hear me?

- Yeah, okay.

I hear you.

- Honk again,

honk again.

Girl, let me get outta here

before I become a guest star

in "First 48."

- Yes, please go.

- And you sleep well tonight, okay?

- I will.

- No bad dream.

- Right.

- Honk at me again and see what happens.

No, it's no,

I had a moment there.

You messed up the whole moment.

We was here.

- Mom, don't ask about

last night, I was fine.

I'm at work right now,

so I can't really talk.

Wait,

he what?

- So, we assumed that

our consumer line will...

- Mr. Carter, you okay?

- Yeah, I'm fine, thank you.

Yeah, so, we assumed that our

business line will supersede.

- I'm fine, told you, huh, doc.

Tell 'em, doc, I'm fine.

- Mom, mom, where is he?

- Celeste he's right here.

- Dad.

- Right here.

- Oh, Lord.

- He's okay though.

- Oh Lord, Diane.

- Well, I know you

told me not to call her,

but I had to tell her.

- Why?

- Because I'm your daughter.

I have the right to know

what's going on with you.

- We almost thought he had a heart attack.

- A heart attack?

- Yes.

- Don't worry, it's just

a little indigestion.

He just needs to relax and

cut out the fried foods.

- Yeah, yeah, I hear you, doc.

I'm gonna do better, I promise you.

- If anything comes up, gimme a call.

Otherwise, William,

you're gonna be just fine.

- See, I told you, I told y'all already.

I'm fine.

Celeste, please, please

don't look at me like that.

- Dad, how many times

do I have to tell you?

- Listen to me, Cece.

I'm 60 years old.

I know what I'm doing, okay?

- Not when you act like a little child.

- You know what, Diane?

Do me a favor.

Go get my belt.

- Daddy, please.

- William, come on.

You know she's right.

- So, what if she's right?

Look, there are a thousand ways to die.

You understand that?

Faith is the key.

God is the creator.

God says when you go,

and if he wanted to take me,

he would've taken me already.

God moves in mysterious ways.

The God that I serve created the earth.

He created the universe, and

guess what else God created.

God created chicken.

- Oh.

- God created chicken.

And guess what else God did.

The creator of the universe,

he put it in our minds to do what?

Hmm?

To do what?

To fry it.

You can bake it.

You can saute it,

but it ain't nothing like a

good piece of fried chicken.

You understand?

So, if God did that,

I'm gonna be obedient.

So, I'm going to enjoy me

a piece of fried chicken

with some lemon pepper seasoning

and some good old hot sauce

tripping off of that thing.

- Dad, just because it's good

doesn't mean it's good for you.

- Man, y'all k*lling me.

Look, we all on the clock

and don't none of us know

when it's gonna stop ticking.

So, I'm not going to

spend every waking moment

walking around scared like

something gonna happen to me.

I've had a great life,

I got a great family.

Got a great job, I'm not gonna do that.

A scared man is a dead man.

So, you know what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna walk in them pearly gates.

I'm gonna have me a sweet tea.

And in this hand, I'm

gonna have a big piece

of fried chicken

with the hot sauce just dripping

off in the chicken grease

just going down my arm.

And I'm gonna, suck the,

- This man is gonna drive me,

- Chicken grease.

- To the loony bin.

I'm gonna go get my granddaughter.

- Actually, see, mom, if you don't mind,

can you keep her for

a little while longer?

- Why?

What's wrong?

- Nothing.

I just, I have some things at work

that I need to take care of.

Love you, dad.

- Love you too, baby.

- Okay, baby, be careful.

- Hey, Cece,

do me a favor.

Bring me back a ham hop,

one of the, not a big one,

a small one, and some beef jerky.

Couple of pork chops

and a thing of chitlins.

Like the little can of chitlins

and a Hennessy and Coke.

A bottle of.

Maybe.

- Alright, ma'am, there you go.

You be blessed on the day.

Thank you so much.

Alright, now, drive safe.

Why don't you just,

Why don't you just call her?

- I don't have her number.

She says she wants fate

to bring us back together.

- Fate?

Useless sh*t like you?

- What?

- I mean, I'm just saying,

it's not like she don't

know where you are.

- Okay, what's,

what's that supposed to mean?

- Not my job, boss,

but I can't make you one hell of a drink.

What's the point?

- I'll take a dirty martini with a twist.

- Well, damn.

- It's okay.

I got it.

- You got it?

Okay.

- All right, well, dirty

martini coming right up.

Would you like vodka or gin?

- Absolute.

- Absolute, okay.

Okay.

How is it?

- It's a start.

- A start?

I actually didn't think

I'd see you again so soon.

- Since when is fate that predictable?

Sorry about last night,

I was having a bad day.

- Oh, it's okay.

Well, hopefully coming in

here will make it better.

- That depends.

What do you want from me,

Mr. Noah Henry Robinson?

- So, you know my whole name?

- Originally from Washington, DC,

mother passed a few years back.

You moved to Atlanta

with your grandmother.

Dropped out of Georgia Tech University,

but still managed to open this restaurant.

No marriage, no arrests,

no baby mama drama.

- So, you've been spying on me.

- Google comes in handy

and you talk a lot on your social media.

- Okay, that's business purposes.

That's no fair, I couldn't find yours.

- I'm a private person.

So, what do you want?

A side piece?

A one night stand?

Friends with benefits?

Or you just looking have a little fun?

- Wow, wow, you just go straight

for the jugular, don't you?

- Why beat around the bush

when the bush is right in front of you?

- That's an interesting choice of words,

but no, I'm not, I'm not

interested in one night stands.

But I do like to have a little fun.

- Really?

- Yeah, of course.

What good is life if

you're not having fun?

- I see.

- Don't, Celeste, you don't

have to worry about me, okay?

I'm not one of those guys.

- And what kind of guy is that?

The kind Who drops outta college?

- The kind who had to take

care of his sick grandmother.

Okay, you know, college is cool and all,

but you know, life had a

different route for me.

Fortunately, my grandmother

taught me everything I needed

to know about food and drinks.

And when she passed,

she left me enough money

so I can start my own business.

- My condolences.

- It's been a while, but thank you.

- But no woman.

Are you on the DL?

Or you used to be one?

- God, are you serious?

- It's the new 20s and we're in Atlanta.

Yes, I'm very serious.

- Okay, trust me, I have

not, and never have been.

- A handsome man.

A successful business owner.

No kids, no wife, almost 30.

- Okay, I know, I know.

Women get weird about it.

They wanna find a good man,

but when they find one that

seems a little too perfect,

they wanna find a flaw.

- So, you think you're perfect?

- No, okay?

I think I'm just like you.

You know, a little confused

about how I'm feeling

at the moment, but, but

brave enough to ask you

to spend some more time with me

and give me a chance to figure it out.

- Hello?

- Hello, beautiful.

I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time.

- No, no, no, it's fine.

I'm actually surprised you called.

- Why, we had such a

good time the other day.

- Yeah, yeah, but I was a little,

- Unsure?

I mean, so, it's okay to be

cautious and taking your time

and I don't mind waiting

for the right one.

- Oh, so, you think I'm the right one?

- I think you should let

me take you to lunch.

- To lunch?

- Yeah, I know this cute little place.

You know, we can hang out,

you can go back to work.

If you don't have any plans, of course.

- Yeah, well, I'm pretty busy,

so, I might have to get

back to you on that.

- Alright, well, you have my number.

- Yes, I do, don't I?

- Well, you enjoy your day, Ms. Doman?

- You too, Mr. Robinson.

- Hmm?

A new client.

- Do you ever knock?

- I did,

but obviously you were too

consumed by your client.

- What do you want?

- Oh, I don't know.

To drop off this paperwork

and maybe that dinner

I've been asking for.

A walk in the park.

A fair shot.

Or maybe even a nice little

cozy Netflix and chill

for Valentine's Day.

But I see you're already making plans.

- Okay, listen, you and I

are friends, we're coworkers,

and I thank you for hooking

me up with this job.

But there's a line you're trying to cross

and I'm not ready for it.

- You're not ready for it?

Yeah, you know what?

Maybe you right.

- You know, you haven't said much that,

did I make a bad choice?

- No, no,

this isn't quite what I was

expecting, but it's nice.

- But?

- Why do you think there's a but?

- I don't know.

Maybe the fact that you're on

your second bag of popcorn.

You barely open your mouth.

- I can't eat if I don't open my mouth.

- You also can't talk with

your mouth full either.

Come on, I was hoping we

can get to know each other

even better.

- Sorry, this is all just

really new for me right now.

- What's new?

You gonna say you've never

been on a date before?

Celeste, okay, can you just

open up, just let me in.

Okay, I could see you

have a lot of closed doors

and I keep knocking, but it's-

- I haven't been with a man in years.

- Whoa.

Did we, did we just skip some steps

or did I just like pass

out and miss something?

- I'm just getting straight to the point.

It's obvious you like me and I like you,

but some of those doors are closed forever

and for good reasons that

I'd rather not discuss.

- I see.

- Well, now, that I've

completely ruined this snack.

- Look, hey, look, you

don't always have to run

when things get uncomfortable.

- I'm not running.

I just know when to walk away.

- But do you know what

you're walking away from?

Look, listen, whatever

you've been through.

Nobody's perfect, trust

me, I mean, I know.

I mean, I've been through some things

I've had to overcome and

doors I never wanna see

reopened either.

But that doesn't mean I turn

my house into Fort Knox.

- Hmm.

And entrepreneur and a therapist.

I must have missed that in my research.

- All I'm saying is will

you just let your guard down

for just one second

and see that I'm just trying

to be here for you, okay?

No matter what happened in your past

has only made you better for me.

- For you?

That sounds like a problem.

- And why is that?

- I'm not yours.

- Well, I don't want you to be mine, okay?

I want us to be ours.

You never know, Valentine's

Day is just around the corner.

- I don't do corners.

I like to see what's coming.

- And what do you see?

What do you see right now?

Because no matter how much

you wanted to walk away,

you're still sitting

here looking in my eyes

and I'm looking into yours.

So, how's that popcorn?

- Wow.

Want some chips?

- Yeah.

- Just one.

I'm just playing.

- A good one there.

- Girl, it is been weeks

and you just now bringing him over here?

You know we have to vet him.

- I know, I know.

I just don't wanna rush things.

What do you think about him?

- I like him.

- Really?

- I mean, the jury's still out,

but so far he all right with me.

- Chris seems to be okay with him.

- Yeah, Chris will enjoy anybody

that'll talk sports with him.

- Yeah.

- So, it's getting serious?

- I think so.

I can't believe we're still

getting to know each other

and I'm already feeling things

I haven't felt in years.

- Okay, so, you feeling things?

You two been?

- No.

And that's the thing.

I don't know if he wants to.

- Girl, he g*y?

- No, he's a gentleman.

A gentleman and everything

feels so genuine.

It makes me nervous that

there are no red flags.

- Maybe you need to stop looking for one.

- Sheila.

- Well, I'm just saying,

if you keep looking,

eventually you're gonna find something

even if it's not there.

- Yeah, you're right.

- I know I'm right.

I know how to pick 'em.

- You what?

- Huh?

- What'd you say?

- I didn't say nothing.

- Yes, you did.

You said, you said you

know how to pick 'em.

- I said that?

- Sheila?

- Okay, okay, okay.

I couldn't keep this

from you for too long.

Look, I have a confession.

- A confession?

- Yeah.

I kind of knew him already.

- What do you mean you knew him already?

Like, like you two used to date?

- No, nothing like that.

- Then what was it?

- Okay, first of all, calm down.

Second of all, no matter what I say,

just remember we're best friends.

- The jury is still out on that.

- Okay, so, when he needed

help looking for a location

to open his restaurant a few months ago,

I kind of was his realtor.

- You were?

Why are you just telling me this now?

- Well, I had to see if

it was gonna work first.

- I can't believe this.

- Shh.

- Everything okay in here?

- Yeah, everything's good, baby.

You know, we good.

We good, we good, we good.

- Y'all missing a good game.

- Yeah, yeah, it's good.

Okay, all right, bye.

I'll see you later.

- I get it.

You set this whole thing up.

- Okay, yes, but it was for your own good.

So, don't get upset about it.

- Oh my.

So, all that, this year

is not gonna be Uno

and stepping in the name of love,

that was just a ploy?

- Yes.

- To get me to meet him.

- Yes, yes, okay?

But that was only because

I knew he was single,

extremely motivated, professional,

and just a really good guy.

- Sheila.

- Huh?

- Why would you do something like this?

- Because every year

around Valentine's Day,

you are always emotionally

depressed and unavailable.

I mean, last year you were so depressed,

you had me in my own house

crying over a peanut

butter and jelly sandwich.

And I'm on no carb diet.

You know how much weight I

gained stressing over you?

- That's not my fault.

- Okay.

- You know why?

- Lower your voice.

- This time I think I'm

stepping out on faith

and you're secretly

manipulating the universe.

- But, girl, it worked.

I mean, look at you.

You are more excited and alive

than I've seen you in years.

- Sheila, I wasn't dead.

- Yeah, but you wasn't living either.

Look, I'm sorry, I didn't tell you,

but if there was any chance

this was gonna actually work for you,

then that's what I wanted.

So, you to put your little

attitude with me away

and let this very nice guy

just bring back that, that

feisty and rambunctious Celeste

that we all used to know and love.

Okay?

Now, tell me you love me.

- You know you make me sick, right?

- Yeah, I know, I love you too, girl.

Lets do this together.

- You did okay.

- Oh God, I know.

- Finally.

I thought we were gonna

have to call Uber Eats

with all that gossip going on in there.

- Oh, hush, we were not gossiping.

We are being perfect little ladies

serving our perfectly handsome, lazy men.

So, what are you two lovebirds

doing for Valentine's Day?

- I don't know.

That depends.

- On what?

- Will you be mine?

- Noah and I are taking it slow.

- We're taking it slow.

- Taking it slow.

- We still got some time.

I'll have something special planned.

- Hey, how does your dad feel about this?

- About what?

- My daughter told me you

dropped outta college.

- William.

- I'm just asking a question, Diane,

the boy dropped outta college.

I want to find out why he's so stupid.

That's all I'm trying to find out.

Hey, hey, hey, it's, it's not funny.

Stop.

- I'm sorry about, Papa.

- I've had some difficult

situations in my life, sir.

- Like what?

- Dad, don't you think you're

being a little forward?

- No, I don't, Celeste,

I don't at all.

This young man is sitting in my house,

one of my chairs, at my

table, eating my food

and fornicating with my daughter.

- Dad.

- Don't you

think that's too forward?

- We are not fornicating.

- You are, you are.

- What does fornicating mean?

- Nothing, baby, just.

- Hey, hey, hey.

- Stop.

- That's enough.

Cut it out.

- Respectfully, sir, I respect

and really care for your daughter.

- Really?

- Yes.

Yes, sir.

- Do you love her?

- Dad?

- I'm asking-

- Okay, William,

that's enough.

- I'm just asking a question.

That's all I'm doing.

I'm asking questions to a young

man who's eating in my house

and sleeping with my daughter.

- We're not sleeping together.

- You are sleeping

together, don't lie to me.

I just wanna find out what

this young man's intentions are

with my daughter, because I

don't want to go back through

that same crap again.

- I said that's enough.

- No problem.

- Mama D, this is so delicious.

- Thank you, honey.

- Yes, Mama D, I can never get enough.

I'm gonna need an extra plate to go.

- Can I add another piece of cake?

- No, you don't need all that sugar.

- I think another piece won't hurt.

- Noah, I just told her, no.

- I know, but I'm not getting

much traction here, okay?

It's just gimme a little break

and let me do something nice.

- Nice?

- Yes.

I don't think there's

anything wrong with her

having one more tiny little slice of cake.

- Yes, there is.

Because I'm her mother and I told her, no.

- She'll be fine.

She'll be fine, relax.

Lemme get you another piece.

- Noah,

I don't appreciate the way

you're talking to my daughter

about the way she's

disciplining my granddaughter,

sitting at my table.

- William.

- Diane, stop it.

Every time I say something,

you shut me down.

I don't wanna go through another six years

of depression and anxiety, okay?

I'm trying to protect my daughter.

And if I can't do that, then

I'm not the man of this house.

Jesus Christ.

- Excuse me.

- It's okay, mom.

I'll check on him.

- Ms. Doman, I didn't realize.

- Come on, Aila, let's go help Mama D

with the dishes, all right?

Okay, all right.

- You don't think he went

to get a shotgun, do you?

- I think you should probably go.

- Whoa, Papa D, put that down.

- Move.

- You don't wanna do that.

- Now.

- Listen, if there's

something going on with you

that I don't know about.

- Why would you come to my parents' house

and tell me how to raise my daughter?

- Okay, that's the last thing

I was trying to do, okay?

I was only trying to be nice.

- It was rude.

- And I apologize for that.

- After the damage was done.

- What damage?

Why are you still closing doors on me?

- Because really, I don't know you.

- Yes, you do, okay.

Can you stop looking at me with fear

and realize I had the same pain?

- You don't know anything

about what I feel.

- Hurt is hurt, Celeste, okay?

And I'm not the only one scared as hell,

but I'm willing to hurt one more time

if that's what it takes to

convince you that I love you.

- You what?

- You heard what I said.

I said that I...

- Oh, sorry, I didn't know you too were-

- No, it's fine.

Noah was just leaving.

- Yeah, I think that's a good idea.

I don't have anything left in

my arsenal to keep him calm.

- I understand.

- You okay, sis?

- Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.

- I'll wait in the car.

- I don't wanna start off by

saying I know how you feel,

- Then please don't.

- But you know how your father is.

- I know this was a mistake,

so, please just, just go home.

- You know, when you

said you wanted to talk,

I thought you meant with words.

That's okay.

It's okay.

I know if I was a father and

I had a daughter like you,

I would, I would look for my g*n too.

- I'm sorry.

- That's okay, it's okay,

you don't need to be,

I mean, I obviously did

something wrong, right?

- No, no, it wasn't you.

- Look, if you're not

comfortable right now,

you don't have to-

- Did you mean it?

- Mean what?

- You said you were willing

to hurt one more time,

if that's what it took to

convince me that you loved me.

Did you mean that?

- I meant everything.

All you gotta do is say yes.

- Yes, to what?

Are you?

- Yeah, I am.

- Are you crazy?

- Yeah, yes, okay.

This is crazy.

And I never thought I'd

fall for someone so quick,

I barely even know.

- Wait, no, no, no, no, we can't do this.

- Look, okay, look, I

have been walking around

with this thing for the past few days,

trying to stop myself from

trying to put on your finger.

- Then you shouldn't.

We barely know each other.

This isn't normal.

- And what is normal?

- Nothing, nothing's normal.

- Noah.

I have to go.

- Celeste.

- No, I have to go.

- Celeste, do you love me?

If you say no, then I'll take this back

and stop making a fool of myself.

And we could forget this ever happened.

Okay, but love doesn't make sense, ever.

And right now it doesn't.

So?

- What about my parents?

- If they disagree, will you?

- Over my dead body?

- Dad!

- William.

- You barely know this boy.

What are you thinking?

- Celeste, when do you plan on doing this?

- Valentine's Day.

- Valentine's Day.

- Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is

right around the corner.

- Goodness.

Celeste, baby, listen.

- My God.

- That's not a lot of time.

- Is there some rule or law

that says when I'm

supposed to get married?

- Yeah, it is.

When I first met your mom and

laid eyes on her, we waited.

We put our love to a test to make sure.

Yeah, there's rules.

- No, no, no, no, there are no rules.

But you do have to get to know each other.

- Mr and Mrs. Doman, if I may,

I know that this is a bit unconventional,

but what I feel for your

daughter is real, okay.

I truly love her.

- And I love him.

And I hope one day you

can see what I feel.

- I ain't gonna see a damn thing.

'Cause I already know he's

a*usive and he's a manipulator.

I knew it from the first

time I laid eyes on him.

- You judged him before

getting to know him.

- I don't need to get to know him.

I've already seen his true color.

- Sorry if I-

- I'm talking to my daughter.

- Daddy.

- Come on now.

- I said I don't give a

damn what he has to say.

- Okay, that's enough.

- Daddy, stop it.

- Don't you see it?

- That's enough.

- Celeste, we should probably go.

- No, see, controlling.

It's controlling.

You see what I'm talking about?

- You know what, you need to stop it.

You need to stop it.

- Cece, let me tell you.

- Go sit down.

- I'm not done.

Lemme tell you something.

You jumping into a marriage with this boy,

trying to put a bandaid on

what you've been going through.

It ain't gonna work.

It's gonna be more pain

than you can imagine.

- William, stop it.

Come on, now, sit down.

- I'm done no, Celeste.

- Diane, leave me alone.

- Celeste?

- Excuse me.

- Diane, listen to me.

- Well, that went well.

Are you okay?

- They just really make it

so hard for me sometimes.

- Yeah, well, they're parents, so.

- I don't need them to

be parents right now.

I just need-

- You just need what?

You sure you don't wanna wait?

- I can't.

- Just breathe.

- No, no, please, please, please don't.

No, no, help.

- Hey, it's getting

late, we should get up.

Hey, Celeste?

Celeste?

Hey, Celeste, hey.

Hey, hey, can, hey, hey, hey.

Can you hear me?

Hey, Celeste, can you hear me?

Hey, wake up, wake up.

Wake up.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, it's okay.

It's me, it's me, it's me,

it's me, it's me, it's me.

It's Noah,

just, just breathe.

Just, hey, just breathe.

Just breathe.

Yeah, just good.

Good, good, good.

- Oh God.

- It's okay, it's okay.

- I'm so sorry.

- No, you're okay, it's okay.

- All right, I have to go.

- No, no, you can't-

- I shouldn't have come here.

- No, you can't, no, Celeste, please.

- No, please, just let me go.

- No, I can't do, I know I can't do that.

- Noah, this is embarrassing.

- Hey, we're in this together, okay?

Okay, you can talk to

me and just trust me.

Just trust me, okay?

- I don't wanna change

how you feel about me.

- You're gonna be my wife, okay?

That's, there's only gonna be one way

I'm gonna feel about you.

Just talk to me.

It's okay, just talk to me.

- Don't answer, don't answer.

- I have to.

- Baby.

- Trust me.

You don't want her to come out here.

- Sheila, are you really

Face Timing me right now?

While I'm on my date.

- Yes, I am.

What's taking you so long

to get outta this car?

It's been 30 minutes.

Did I just see him kiss on your neck?

- No, you did not.

- Oh my God.

Jerod, put him on the phone.

- Hey, Sheila.

- Don't, hey, Sheila, me.

Put your lips on her again.

- Sheila, why you tripping?

We on a date.

- A date that is over, okay?

Don't make me come down there.

- Girl, you better not come out here.

Just gimme like, gimme five more minutes.

- Girl, hurry up.

- Okay.

- Mm.

- Okay, bye.

- But yo, your girl be on one for real.

- She's just really protective.

- We in college.

She acting like you a virgin or something.

Wait, are you?

Damn, my bad.

- I should probably go now.

- I didn't mean anything.

- No, no, no, it's fine.

I had a great time at the dance.

And dinner was great too.

- So did I.

You're a beautiful Valentine.

- Thank you.

Aw, thank you.

- I'll walk you to your dorm.

- No, no, it's fine.

Sheila's already on a w*r path.

You should leave peacefully

while you still can.

- All right.

- Thank you.

- For sure.

- Bye.

- Bye.

- Sheila, I'm coming.

- Girl, you better be,

'cause I was on my way down.

- I swear.

Oh, sorry.

- Hm, Cece, who was that?

- Jerk.

I don't know.

This balloon's got me

walking blind out here.

- Okay, I'll come help.

- No, it's fine.

I'm actually almost at your door.

- Okay.

- God dang it.

- What's wrong?

- Nothing, hold on.

- Girl, hurry up,

Chris brought me some

chicken Puerto Rico,

you're probably-

- Hold on.

- No, no, please don't hurt me.

No, no, no, no, please,

please, please don't.

No, no, no, please.

No, help.

No, please.

Why are you doing this?

- Celeste, girl, stop

playing, answer the phone.

Celeste?

Celeste, girl, stop playing.

Celeste?

Celeste?

Celeste?

Celeste?

- I tried to run,

tried to scream, but I was so numb.

I just lay there wondering how would,

why something like that

could happen to me.

And being so angry that

I couldn't stop it.

- Hey, don't say that, it's

not, it wasn't your fault.

- I know you mean well,

but I'm so sick and tired of hearing that.

No one was there.

No one really knows how I truly felt.

- Celeste-

- With all due respect,

you're not my therapist.

And I don't need another pep talk.

- That's not what I mean.

That's not what I mean.

Okay, honestly, I don't

really know what to say

or do right now.

Okay, all I can really say is that-

- No woman deserves to

be treated like that?

There's nothing you can say, Noah.

I've heard it all.

- Is that why you stopped us from?

- I thought I was ready.

- Why didn't you just tell me that?

- 'Cause things were going good.

I didn't want my past to come between us.

I just wanted to forget

about that time in my life.

- Did they catch him?

I mean, he's in jail, right?

- I didn't get a good look at him.

They questioned everyone.

Even Jerod.

But everyone was cleared.

- Is this what your

dad meant when he said,

marrying me won't put a bandaid

on what you've been through?

Are you using me, Celeste?

- What?

- Am I, am I the bandaid?

- No, you're not.

- It kind of feels like it.

- Noah, I want you, I want us,

please tell me I didn't make a mistake

trusting you with this.

We can get through this, right?

- Yeah, yeah.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

- Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, oh, all right.

Black, no sugar and three creamers

and bow.

Can I get a smile with that?

Can I get a smile?

Where you going?

What about the coffee?

Hey, Celeste, when we gonna talk

about that ring on your finger?

- Before you think the worst,

let's give him the benefit of the doubt.

- Benefit of the doubt?

It's been three days,

Sheila, that's not like him.

- You guys are still

getting to know each other,

which is probably why you

shouldn't jump into marriage.

- You're the one who set all this up.

You pushed me and told me

to take a leap of faith.

- Yes, I said

take a leap of faith.

I didn't tell you to jump the broom.

- I knew I should have kept my mouth shut

and not been so open with him.

- Look, it's

almost Valentine's Day.

Maybe he's gotten busy with his restaurant

or he's just focused on

whatever this something

special is he has planned for you.

Remember?

- Yeah.

Whatever it is, I'm gonna find out.

- Coast's clear.

Yeah, you need to learn

how to be a player, my boy.

- I'm not a player, okay?

I just chose wrong.

- Yeah, you did, you did.

Who is there?

What's going on?

- New car?

Are you stalking me?

Look, Celeste, I know you're upset.

- Upset?

Is that really what you

wanna say to me right now?

Why are you hiding from me?

Is it about what I told you the other day?

You think I'm crazy?

- I wouldn't, I would never think that.

I think that that never

should have happened to you.

- Well, it happened.

And I don't need to be treated like

there's something wrong

with me for sharing it.

- You don't understand.

That shouldn't have been you.

- Something in my gut told me

I shouldn't have said anything to you.

- Yeah, I kind of wish you didn't.

- What are you saying?

You asked for my truth.

- Look, Celeste, these past few days

have been extremely difficult for me.

- Try living in fear

for the past six years,

then taking a chance on someone,

only to sit here looking

in his eyes right now,

feeling like fate made the

biggest fool outta you.

- You're not a fool.

But maybe I am.

- What's that supposed to mean?

- Celeste, I'm so sorry.

- You don't have to apologize.

It's not your fault.

My past has nothing to do with you.

- No, but that's the thing, it does.

- Why would you think that?

- Because it was me.

- What?

- It was me, Celeste.

It was, it was me.

- What do you mean it was you?

You what?

Do you know what you just said to me?

- Yeah, I do.

- Noah, if this is some sick joke-

- It's not a joke.

It's not a joke.

I saw you that night with your boyfriend

and I watched you two kiss

and I bumped into you

and I pulled you into the woods.

- No, no, no, no, no, no,

no, I told you all of that.

I told you all that the other day.

You already know that.

Why are you doing this?

- You had on a red dress,

you dropped your shawl,

you struggled.

And some scars just don't go away.

- Oh my God.

- Celeste, I-

- Oh my God.

- I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

- I need you to get out.

- Celeste, I don't wanna

I don't wanna leave.

- Get out.

Get out, Noah.

Noah, get out.

- Cece?

Cece, open this door, I've

been calling you all night.

- Hey, Cece.

She asleep?

- No, she's not asleep.

Girl, I can see your

eyes open, open the door.

Cece.

- Hey.

I think she might be high

or something, I don't know.

- You know she don't get high.

Something's wrong.

Cece.

Cece, open the door.

- Wait, girl, damn, hey.

- What?

- You gon' tear my car up.

I got the spare.

- Why you aint just say that?

Open the door.

Cece?

Cece, can you hear me?

- Hey.

- Well, she's not breathing.

- There's a bottle

of water in your car.

- Hurry up, go get it.

Cece?

Cece, breathe.

Cece?

wait, Cece?

Cece?

- Here, baby.

- Cece.

- Oh, okay, okay,

take this.

Okay, okay, okay, breathe.

- You good?

- Breath.

- Okay, it's okay.

- Cece.

- Okay, you okay.

- Let's get here out the car.

- You okay.

- She needs medical.

- Okay, okay.

All right, all right.

- Come on, Cece.

- Take your, time,

take your time.

Take your time.

- You're okay, you're okay, you're okay.

- Okay, breathe,

breathe, that's it, slow it down, breathe.

Deep breath.

- It's okay.

- Oh my God.

- Where am I?

- Girl.

- What happened?

- I don't know, you tell us,

you've been out here all night.

- I don't know.

I was talking to Noah and

then I guess I blacked out.

- Oh, so, you saw him.

What happened?

- It was him.

- Him what?

- Six years ago on Valentine's Day,

Sheila, it was him.

- Are you sure?

- Yes.

- How do you know that?

- He's been acting funny since I told him

what happened to me.

- Cece, this is serious.

You have to be sure about this.

- You think I would be

saying this if I wasn't?

He showed me the bite mark.

You don't believe me?

- I believe you.

- We both do.

- I'm so sorry.

- I am sorry too.

- We need to call the police.

- No?

- Yes, what do you mean, no?

- No, I don't,

I don't wanna talk to anybody about this.

- Girl, he needs

to pay for what he did.

- No, no, please.

Just back off for a minute.

- What about Aila?

I mean, if Noah's the one who, you know,

if he's, then that means that.

- Okay, all right, all right.

Okay.

Okay.

- Hey, how you feeling?

That good, huh?

- And how long have I been asleep?

- Long enough for Marquis to

ring your phone off the hook.

- Vanilla or hazelnut?

- Did I say anything in my asleep?

Did I?

- It doesn't matter what you said.

You're okay.

You're here and you're safe.

I'm just worried about Aila.

- Aila, oh my God, is she okay?

What happened?

- Nothing happened.

- Well, where is she?

Did he do something to her?

- No, relax, okay.

I told your parents that you

had a really bad migraine

and stayed here last night, all right?

- So, she's okay?

- Yeah, she's okay.

Your mom took her to school.

All right, so, just drink up.

Okay, and Mama D said you

can pick her up anytime

after work.

- After work?

- Mm-hmm, yes.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no,

no, no, no, no, no, no.

I'm not gonna let you lay

here and do this again.

- Do what?

I can barely move.

- No, you can't go back

to that dark place.

You know how bad it is

when you're triggered.

- I'm not triggered.

- You can't let this stop you.

And I don't wanna go through this again.

None of us do.

You gonna have to tell 'em.

- Tell who, what?

- Your parents.

- No.

- You can't pretend this didn't happen.

You're engaged to the-

- I'm not engaged to anyone.

I don't wanna hear that.

- How long do you think you

can keep this from your family?

- I just, I just need to

deal with this on my own.

- You don't know how

dangerous this man is.

And if you don't wanna go to the police,

then how are you gonna

protect yourself or them?

You've been hurt long enough

and Aila's been fine without

knowing who her father is.

You should just put this man away

and this will be a lot less to deal with.

- Less to deal with?

- Yes.

He'll be arrested.

And the only thing you

lose is an engagement

that never should have

happened in the first place.

- How can you say this to me?

My heart opened up and I

trusted it because of you.

And now you're blaming me for it?

- No, I never should have introduced you

or forced you to do something

you didn't wanna do.

- Then stop trying to fix

something you messed up

by doing what you did in the first place.

Just let me fix this how I need to.

- You know what?

You're right, it's your life.

I should just mind my business.

- I didn't mean it like that.

- No, you're right, it's my fault,

I overstepped.

And I'm so sorry.

I just want you to be happy.

- I know.

- And I'm so sorry.

- You already said that.

- And I want you to go the police.

- You said that too.

- Third time's a charm.

- Stop.

Don't push it.

Just trust me and love me.

I said-

- I know.

Okay, you know I do.

- And promise me you won't

say anything about this

to anyone, especially my parents.

- Celeste.

- Promise.

- Okay, fine, I promise.

Come here.

I love you.

- Love you.

- Okay, okay.

You gonna get up, gonna

get yourself together.

You gonna go to work, okay?

- Mm-hmm.

- Okay, love you.

- Love you.

- Love me.

Love me.

- I do.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

Get out, Noah, get out.

Please, please.

Please don't.

- What do you mean, she

didn't come to school today?

Huh?

Well, no, no, no, no, thank you.

Thank you very much for calling.

- What's going on?

- That was Aila's school.

She didn't go to school today.

- Aila never misses school.

- No.

- Where's Cece?

- That must be her right now.

- It better be her.

Cece-

What's going on, mm?

- Mama D, Papa D, we need to talk.

- Come on in.

What this all about?

Come on.

- Mommy, mommy, mommy.

Mommy.

- Cece?

Aila?

- Papa, grandma.

- Cece.

Cece wake up, wake up.

- Stop screaming.

- I'm just trying

to get her up, Diane.

- Come on, baby,

come on, baby, wake up.

- Jesus Christ.

- Cece, wake up, it's mama.

How long she been sleeping?

Huh, you don't know.

Oh God.

Look, look.

- What is that?

- William, look at that.

Oh my God.

- How many of these

did she take?

- I don't know.

- Wake up, baby, wake up.

Okay, Cece, Cece, wake up.

- Mommy, mommy, mommy.

- Oh my God.

- Okay, come on.

- Oh my God.

- Come on, baby.

It's mom.

- Let her get up.

Let her get up.

Take your time.

- Come on now.

Breath.

- Breathe.

- We right here.

We are right here, baby.

Relax.

Just relax.

Just relax.

Just relax.

Let her get up.

- Baby, what have you done?

- Mom, I'm fine.

- Look, how

many pills did you take?

- I don't know.

I don't know, just enough to sleep.

- Oh my God.

- What about Noah?

- William!

- Listen, we gotta get straight to this.

- Straight to what?

- Okay, listen, Sheila

and Chris told us, okay?

Told us everything.

- Listen, we don't have time for that.

We don't have time.

We need to go to the police.

- No.

- No?

You missed work today.

She missed school.

You laying in here in this dark.

Looks like a damn cave in here.

I don't wanna go back through this again.

Oh my God.

I see him.

- What?

- I'll be right back.

Stay here.

- William?

- Stay here, I said.

- It's okay.

- I know I have no right being here.

- Get off this property, man.

- I just came to apologize to Celeste.

- You don't have anything

to say to my daughter.

You hear me, you hear me?

- I just came to apologize to her.

- You have nothing to say to my daughter.

- Yes, I do, just lemme talk to her.

Huh?

- Just let me talk

to her.

- You got nothing to say to my daughter.

- William.

- Stop.

- William.

- Stop, stop.

- William.

- Leave me alone, Diane.

- Wait, wait, William, no, stop.

- You gonna get up?

Go ahead, get away.

I'll k*ll you, man.

You playing with my daughter.

- Celeste.

- Cece, where did you get that g*n?

- Mommy?

- Get back in the house.

- Put that g*n down, baby.

- Don't get in my way, daddy.

- I did not mean

to hurt you, Celeste.

- You have caused

my family and me so much pain.

- I know, and I know that, okay?

I just want make it right to you.

- You can't

make what you did right.

- Cece, Cece, please.

I'm not gonna stand here

and let you sh**t that man.

- You call him a man after

what he did to your daughter.

- Look, he is a human being

and you are not a m*rder*r.

Put that g*n down.

- Put it down.

- Mommy.

- Go back in the house.

- It's papa.

- Oh my God, William.

William?

- Daddy?

- William?

- Daddy, wake up.

- William, William, wake up.

- Daddy, please.

- Come on.

- Daddy?

- Oh, no, William.

- Dad?

- Is he breathing?

- Dad?

Dad?

Dad?

- Oh, come on, William.

- Daddy!

- William, wake up.

- Dad!

- Hey, everything all right?

- Everything's fine.

- You sure?

You've been a little distant lately.

- Just busy.

Need to get these reports done.

- Is that why you packing

up your briefcase?

- What are you doing?

- I know you, Celeste.

I thought we were cool and

you know I got your back.

So, what's on your mind?

- Marquis, I don't wanna

be in the office today.

I just need to work from

home right now, so, please.

- Please, what?

Stop being your friend?

- Marquis.

- Celeste, sit.

Celeste Doman.

Now, what is it?

Sheila said that you was

gonna need some time off

when I called.

Does this have anything to do with me?

- No.

- All right then.

I mean, I don't wanna

pressure you in any way.

- You're fine.

I don't really take you seriously.

- What?

- I didn't mean it like that.

- Then how did you mean it?

- Can we not do this?

- This is about him.

- Who?

- Come on, Celeste, I saw

the ring on your finger.

You could have told me that

you was seeing someone.

- I'm not.

- Oh, that's why you

not wearing it anymore.

- That's none of your business.

- What about your daughter?

Does she like him?

- You are really crossing a line.

- You right, you right.

But I'm not going to sit here

and let you gimme attitude

because the Celeste I

once knew would've told me

if that ring was real.

Look, I don't know what you going through,

but I know you not being honest.

Celeste, you too calculated.

You too calculated.

You do everything by the numbers.

That's why you're so good at this job.

If it doesn't add up,

you don't make a move.

But the numbers don't

tell the whole truth.

And the heart ain't nothing to play with.

Fear.

Fear will lead you to bad decisions

and make you miss out on

the most important things

in life if you don't face it.

- Marquis.

- I know, I know, you're

not gonna be my valentine.

But when I saw this chocolate,

a broken heart, huh?

Love might not always feel good,

but I mean, you can still enjoy it, right?

Celeste?

Celeste?

Come on, again?

Celeste, Really?

- Stand over here.

Stop right here.

I'm doing this for her.

Not for you.

- Mm-hmm.

- Have a seat.

- Hey.

When they told me I had to visitor,

I just didn't realize it was, it was you.

How's Mr. Doman?

I didn't mean to cause so much harm.

I just want to talk to you.

- Why did you do it?

- What do you mean?

- Why did you do it?

Why me?

Why?

- Celeste.

I'm sorry, I, just please, just,

I don't know what to say.

- Stop apologizing and

begging and tell me why.

- Celeste, there's nothing I can say

that's gonna justify what I did.

I all I can say is I was,

I was a messed up person back then.

- And you don't think I was messed up?

That you didn't ruin my life?

- And I regretted that.

Okay, ever since that night,

I've been trying to get help.

- Help?

- Yeah.

- So, you've done this before?

- No.

No.

Celeste, you gotta you gotta believe me.

I've never done that before.

- Then why did you choose me?

- I didn't, I didn't choose you, okay?

I wasn't in my right mind back then.

- What mind do you need to be in

to know you don't have the

right to take a woman's body?

- In the same mind that

took my body from me.

Celeste, I never should have

been out that night, okay?

I was hurting, and-

- You were hurting?

- Something I never told you.

I was born in foster care

and adopted at six months old.

My mother, my adopted mother,

she violated me for years.

- What does that have to do with me?

- So, on Valentine's Day, six

years ago, she passed away.

And I don't know, I guess, I snapped

and I had so many emotions,

so many feelings going on.

And I was confused, I was angry.

I just didn't understand

how God could let her die

without facing what she did to me.

Okay, all I wanted was for her

to say she was sorry, but she never did.

So, I was also alone.

I was, hurting, and I

got drunk and I went out.

I didn't care who it was,

I just wanted somebody,

for one time in my life,

there was someone to hurt

more than I did.

- And that somebody was me.

- Yeah, it could have been anybody though.

It could have been anybody.

But I'm not that person.

I'm not that person.

She made me that person.

- Your mom didn't chase me

down with a pocket knife.

- And I know that, I know, I know that.

But that night changed me too, okay?

I hating myself for what I did.

- Why did you take all these

years to turn yourself in?

Did you think hating yourself

was punishment enough

to make up for all of this?

- No, it wasn't enough.

I should have turned myself in back then.

But when my grandmother came into my life,

I started to get professional help.

And God gave me a second chance.

You know, it's an amazing

feeling to get the love

and support that I didn't

get most of my life.

Please, don't do that.

Celeste, I never meant to hurt you.

I never meant to hurt you.

Hey, look at me.

Please,

look at me.

I never meant to hurt you.

And I promise, and I'll

never hurt you again.

- Why should I believe that?

- Because I'm not my past.

I turned myself in now to show you that.

And I don't know why,

I don't know why I'm about to ask you this

'cause I know the answer.

All I ask is that if you

could just forgive me.

I know.

- You can't forgive your mother,

but you want me to forgive you?

Noah.

- I'm sorry.

- I'm done.

- Celeste, Celeste.

- I'm done.

- What about Aila?

- What about Aila?

- Is she my daughter?

Look, I know this may

not be what you want.

- Don't, don't.

- Celeste, she's six years old.

She's six years old.

She doesn't need to pay

for what I've done to you.

Is she my, is she-

Celeste?

- Let's go, stand up.

Stand up.

Stand up.

Hands behind back.

- Yeah, baby, I know, I know.

Okay, well just warm it up for me then.

Oh, okay, that's Celeste.

I gotta go, I'll be home soon.

Okay, bye.

Hey.

- Hey.

- Did you get the answers you needed?

- Yeah.

- Good.

Now, it's behind you,

you can live your life

and let him rot in jail.

- Hm.

Thanks for watching Aila for me.

- Oh, anytime.

She's asleep, okay, I gotta go.

Love me.

Okay, bye.

Aila?

Aila?

Aila?

Aila?

Aila, come on out.

Aila, what's wrong?

- I don't wanna go back out there.

- Then you don't have to.

I'm right here.

- But you're scared.

- I'm what?

- You're scared of the man who hurt you.

I don't want him to hurt me.

- Aila, who told you that?

- I heard you and grandma talking.

Is my daddy the bad man in your dreams?

- No, no, no, no.

He's not, he's not.

- I don't wanna go to sleep anymore.

I don't want him to hurt me.

- Look, Aila I promise,

I will never let anything

happen to you.

Nobody's gonna hurt you, okay?

Come here.

It's okay.

- Hey.

You know when you messaged me to meet,

I never thought it would be here.

Is this why you bailed me out?

You want me to face what I did,

so I wouldn't forget what

a terrible human being was?

But you're about six years too late

because I tortured myself

coming out here over and over

and over again,

just looking for, looking for answers.

Just looking for God.

Just, just looking for

anything to make me understand

how I even got here, okay.

Nobody's gonna punish me more than I have.

- I didn't bail you out to punish you.

I bailed you out to stop punishing myself.

A friend of mine told me that

I wasn't honest with myself.

And that fear will lead

you to make bad decisions

and make you miss out on

the best parts of life

if you don't face it.

I have spent the last six

years giving this place

and what you did power over

my mind, my body, my emotions.

But today, today, I looked

in my daughter's eyes

and I saw that same fear.

I felt her tremble in my arms

and I knew I was responsible for this.

I can't let her continue

to see me live my life

looking over my shoulders,

afraid to turn corners.

I have to face you, I have to face this.

I can't allow you to have

power over me anymore.

I will be at court and

every trial possible

to make sure you get what you deserve.

- I'm not afraid to do my time.

- And I'm not afraid to

start taking mine back.

This stops now.

- What about Aila?

I just want a chance to be her father.

- Aila will know who her father is,

but she won't know you behind bars.

She doesn't deserve that.

- Okay, what about fate?

Fate has a twisted way of

bringing you back into my life.

I feel like we're here for a reason

and this doesn't, this

doesn't need to destroy us

because Aila's a blessing.

And I feel like how I feel for you,

stronger than all of this.

- You're right.

Aila is a blessing, but

so was my virginity.

You took way more than my body that night.

If fate has anything to do with this,

then my tomorrow starts right now.

Happy Valentine's Day.

- You good?