04x09 - Lowkey Trying

[bunniefuu]

Hey.

Have you called Molly yet? Uh-uh.

Why not? Beause she hasn't called me.

I know you're upset right now, but maybe if y'all sat down and talked face to face, you could work it out.

♪ [Hip hop music plays]

♪ Molly Carter: I just saw Issa.

That bitch ran away from me like I was an actual job.

Well are you gonna reach out to her? I'm not gonna do anything.

It was her fault!

I guess I just been thinking, about us.

Us? What would have happened if we stayed together? The towel lady's just being intense about her job.

Yeah, in a selectively r*cist way.

Do you really think it was about race? Dude, don't be dumb, you know it was.

I'm done.

Oh, come on!

It's an interesting conversation!

Not for me it's not.

What if I wanted to stay? I don't know.

I'm not ready for the night to end yet.

So...

stay.

♪ [Music concludes]

♪ ["Velvet" by Kirby playing...]

♪ ♪ ♪ If I was the president, I would tax it ♪ ♪ If I was a dealer, I would bag it ♪ ♪ Get it crackin', I ♪ ♪ He wanna leave a stack on the table ♪ ♪ My man ain't used to being catered ♪ ♪ He say, that for me? ♪ ♪ All that and it's free? ♪ ♪ They don't make 'em like this ♪ ♪ Can't find this on the gram ♪ ♪ 'Cause I...

♪ n*gga, I just got clean.

♪ Keep mine private ♪ ♪ Bae, I can't help it ♪ ♪ It's just high, high priced velvet ♪ ♪ Ooh, the type that you blessed with ♪ ♪ Yeah, it's high, high priced velvet ♪ Yo, this is wild, right? I know.

I guess I'm just irresistible.

Yo, relax.

All right, relax.

[smooth r&b music playing]

Hey, who is this? Uh, let me check.

Hey, uh, did I ever tell you about my friend Nathan? The song is by your friend, Nathan, or is the artist called My Friend, Nathan? Damn, I sound old.

No.

[scoffs]

Nathan is a guy I used to date a while ago but we're just friends, and he asked me to help him move into his new spot this week.

Oh.

But I don't have to if it makes you uncomfortable.

I got you turnt out like that? Okay, now you relax.

[laughs]

I just...

I wanna be honest.

'Cause I don't wanna mess this up.

Whatever this is.

What is it again? What do you want it to be? I don't know.

Are you still wrapped up? Any loose ends dangling? Any loose vaginas flappin' about? What the f*ck? You asking about Condola? Oh, I mean, since you brought her up.

Yeah, we talked and it's done.

Oh, okay then.

So you gonna move to San Francisco and be a trolley n*gga? 'Cause I can't f*ck a trolley n*gga.

Well, I still gotta nail the interview.

So no need to put the trolley before...

the horse? Oh, this nani got you so confused.

I'm confused? Okay, all right.

Well, come here then.

Un-confuse me.

Oh, I gotta un-confuse you now.

Yeah, come on.

Oh, so much work.

Oh, poor you.

["World We Created" by Giveon playing]

♪ ♪ ♪ I just wanna stay in the world we created ♪ ♪ I just wanna sink in the plans that we makin' ♪ I have enough anxiety about f*ckin' up my love life without her adding to it.

You know, this is the longest relationship I've ever been in and it is harder than I thought it would be.

I just thought that my best friend would respect that.

I can see how much this has affected you.

This stress with Issa and Andrew, his brother.

What was his name again? Who cares? Victor.

It was Victor.

So what is all this bringing up for you? I don't know.

I just been feelin' so tense all the time.

Like I'm dreading something but I don't know what.

And you think this stems from Issa.

She crossed the line by going behind my back with Andrew.

Is there anything you feel like you could have done differently in the moment? Honestly...

no.

She has to apologize.

[chuckles]

Okay, I'm gonna draw your attention to a pattern that I've been noticing.

Someone angers you, you put up the walls, and then you shut down.

But Issa was out of line.

The same could be said of Victor and Taurean and Dro and...

your dad.

They were all out of line at some point.

You're absolutely right, but...

you wanna be right or do you wanna be in a relationship? Damn, Dr.

Rhonda, read me then.

[chuckling]

Look, I'm not saying you have to make up with Issa.

I'm simply asking the question, "Does the relationship with her still serve you?" [exhales]

I mean, it's Issa.

She's my best friend.

Okay, we'll frame it a different way.

Given everything that's happened, do you want to do the work of repairing the relationship? [PJ "Element" playing...]

♪ ♪ ♪ Can't f*ck with me with I'm in my element ♪ ♪ Element, every day, man, I've been hustlin', hustlin' ♪ ♪ Smiling for the times that I been struggling ♪ ♪ Struggling ♪ [phone buzzing]

[phone clicks]

♪ ♪ [line ringing]

Kelli [on phone]: Thank you for calling Kelli Prenny.

I'm unavailable to take your call right now.

Please leave a message at the sound of the tone.

[Repeats message in Spanish...]

Thanks!

[beep]

Hi, girl.

I know you're working, but I was just calling for some advice.

Uh, call me when you can.

Thanks, bye.

♪ Element ♪ ♪ Element ♪ ♪ Element ♪ ♪ Element ♪ [phone buzzing]

What's up? Stanley dead? No, Ahmal, I just need advice.

Uh, long story short, Lawrence and I are back.

Oh, sh1t, really? Does he know? Yeah, he knows.

We're tryin' again.

Well, that's nice.

But I'm still friends with the other guy I used to talk to, Nathan.

Ahmal: Oh, the redbone? Yeah.

I like to keep me a light- and dark-skin n*gga too.

Issa: No, we're just friends.

My n*gga, I warned you.

Issa: But if I'm seeing Lawrence, I should maybe stop hangin' out with Nathan, right? That's messy.

Yeah, it could be a little messy.

Issa: But I'm trying to be a good friend, and Lawrence seems cool with it, so it's probably fine.

Yes, girl, it's probably fine.

I should chill on Nathan, though.

Am I over-thinking it? Maybe I'm over-thinking it.

Yeah, you could be over-thinking it.

Okay, this has been very unhelpful.

Thanks.

Whatever, you get what you pay for.

Bye.

[phone disconnects]

[phone ringing]

[beep]

Hello? Hey, girl, you busy? No, just in the car.

♪ Rollin' with the homies ♪ You not with the homies.

You probably alone.

Anyway, I was wondering if we could meet up and talk.

'Cause I really wanna make this work if you do.

And there's a lot of sh1t going on with work stuff.

And...

I started seeing Lawrence again.

And the only person I want to talk about any of this with is you.

[chuckles]

Wow.

Typical Issa.

Calling to talk about yourself.

Why am I even surprised at this point? You are still the same selfish-ass, messy-ass, using-ass bitch!

[echoing]

[SOTJ "Things I Should Have Said" playing...]

♪ ♪ ♪ As I began my day ♪ ♪ Started my hustle and bustle ♪ [line ringing]

Voicemail: You've reached the voice mailbox for...

Molly: Molly Carter.

Voicemail: Please leave a message.

[beep]

Hey, Molly.

It's Issa.

Can we meet up? ♪ Forgive me ♪ ♪ And hear my plea ♪ ♪ As I sing these things I should've said to you ♪ You sure I can't get anything started for you? Oh, I'm okay.

I'm waiting for someone.

A friend.

Well, we used to be friends.

We kinda still are.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

She might hate me.

You don't care.

Y'all have smoked salmon? Can I get you some alcohol, sis? Yes, two mimosas, please.

Very light on the orange juice.

Thank you.

[loudly]: Hey!

So sorry, that was so loud.

Both: Hey.

[chuckles]

I saw your vacation pics.

You looked so good.

Thanks, yeah, we, uh...

it was fun.

Nice.

Mm-hmm.

How's your nephew doing? Which one? What do you mean? Oh, Jerome's ex had the baby and then left him with it.

But it's not even his.

No.

Girl, we got a whole-ass stranger living in our house.

But I guess it's kind of brought our family together.

Wow, I guess a baby's always a blessing? Mm, it came out with a mustache, so now my grandmama thinks it's cursed.

[laughter]

[exhales]

I ordered you a light-skinned mimosa.

You still like it like that, right? Yeah.

One drop, it is still a mimosa.

[chuckles]

How's work? Good, yeah.

It's good and busy.

You know Taurean popped up on my Explore page? That n*gga loves to rollerblade.

Wait, what? Yo, that must have been how he sprained his ankle.

[laughing]

Yeah, he was wearing knee pads and everything.

Lookin' like a Ninja Turtle.

What!

[laughter]

Hysterical.

Both: Thank you.

Uh, cheers.

Yeah, cheers.

[R&B music playing...]

[laughs]

Wait.

Them b*tches really dined and dashed on you? Yes, never trust East Coast hos.

I do kind of miss 'em though.

[chuckles]

Yo, what they look like? The next time I'm in DC, I'm gonna pull up.

Oh, no, I got it, I got it.

What? Girl, you sure? I mean, I can get the tip.

No way.

I probably owe you like a decade's worth of brunch.

Okay, you got it.

Thanks for meeting me.

I love you, girl.

I love you, too.

Thank you for brunch.

Actually, if you're around later this week, I might help Nathan out with his move.

Oh!

Wow, that's really nice of you.

Yeah, I told him I have weak arms but a strong disposition.

I don't know what I meant by that, but he took me up on my offer, so...

Okay, cool.

Cool.

♪ When you say you ride for me, ride for me ♪ ♪ When you say you'd die for me ♪ ♪ Die for me, is that a forever thing ♪ ♪ Ever thing...

♪ [Speaking Chinese...]

Yeah, I'll...

I'll call you back.

Hey, you.

Hey.

How was brunch? It was...

fine.

Yeah, I mean, we laughed and joked like nothing happened.

Hm, oh, so you guys talked it out.

I mean, not about the block party or any of the other stuff that's been going on.

I mean, it actually felt kind of superficial.

Well, did you try to bring it up? It didn't feel like she wanted to talk about it.

Coulda just at least said something.

I showed up.

Okay, I made myself open for whatever she wanted to say.

I mean, what else was I supposed to do? I don't know, I...

Well, maybe meet her halfway.

I...

What? I mean, obviously, I am on your side.

I just know you miss her.

The only person I miss is LaToya, okay? 'Cause we are about to be best friends.

Oh, actually, before you get too comfortable, remember Victor's in town.

Hey, he got us tickets to see the Clippers tonight.

Oh.

I mean, I figured you might be down seeing as you've told me several times now that Kawhi Leonard can get it.

'Cause he can.

That's actually really f*cked up you say that to me.

[laughs]

Come on, it is a peace offering.

I...

You should go.

Yeah.

I don't wanna get in the way of you guys having fun.

Mm-hmm.

You can make it like, um, a little guy's night out.

Okay.

Thanks, babe.

Man [on TV]: I knew something was up when she came in with the white boy.

Mm-hmm, her acting coach.

So are you saying she was having an affair? I ain't no damn snitch.

Hm.

[Groovy music playing...]

♪ Always fade on sight ♪ ♪ If you do come right ♪ Issa: That place is so cute.

Quoia: Right? I'm so glad they're down for our wellness pop-up.

Signed, sealed, delivered.

Now, I just gotta learn how to ride a bike.

Wait, no, I don't.

Those bikes don't move.

[chuckles]

I don't mess with bikes.

I broke my pubic bone when I was 15 and I had to wear a diaper cast all sophomore year.

Ouch.

Yeah.

Did you just pull those out your purse? Yeah, I'm on a high-gluten diet.

I'm tryin' to get thick for the weekend.

You want one? No, thanks.

Actually, yeah, they smell good as hell.

Okay, girl, come on now.

How are they still warm? Hand warmers.

It's like a little Easy-Bake Oven in here.

You know I'm just excited to get this next event going.

I mean, we don't have a name yet.

Or a space.

Or...

But we got two juiceries and we just booked the cycling studio.

We in good shape.

These blacks about to be well as hell.

They are!

Okay, I'll talk to you later.

All right, girl.

[phone beeps]

Hey, Rice-A-Roni.

[laughs]

Hey.

What? [singing]: My San Francisco treat.

See, no, that don't fly with me.

We were a Hamburger Helper family.

Oh, well, it's Roni g*ng all day over here, cous.

So you better eat with one eye open, homie.

[laughs]

All right.

So how did it go? It went really well, actually.

Oh, sh1t.

That's...

great news.

Yeah.

So, uh...

how's things with you? What's good in Hollywood? [laughs]

Hollywood's good.

It's eventful.

Um, I actually met up with Molly for brunch.

Whoa.

Really? How was that? It went really well.

I mean, we didn't really get that deep into stuff, but I know how she is.

She's still coolin' off.

In a couple weeks, I invite her to Self-Care Sunday and boom, we back.

So you feel good.

Yeah, it felt really good to reconnect, and I missed her.

Yo, that's great.

Maybe you just needed some, uh, some space before trying again.

Yeah, I guess so.

Look, um, I gotta go, but, uh, I'll see you soon.

♪ Your San Francisco...

♪ You can chill with all that.

You made your allegiance clear.

[chuckles]

All right.

♪ Take a look, unsung, take a look at me ♪ ♪ Take a look at two songs, take a look at streams ♪ ♪ Take a look at g*ng g*ng, take a look at teams ♪ ♪ Pooty tang, Tat hand chain hang, real dreams ♪ [beeping]

Nathan [on speaker]: Hello? Hey, I'm outside.

Nathan: All right, I'll buzz you in.

[buzzes]

"Hello, Nathan." What am I, a serial k*ller? "What up, pal?" What is he, my white child? "Hey, buddy." He's not a dog.

"Konnichiwa." No, that's appropriation.

My n*gga!

Hey.

Hey.

Come on in.

What up? What it do? Still getting everything in order, but, uh, it's coming together, I think.

Nice.

I see the vision.

All right, put me to work.

I mean, I could use some help unpacking the rest of these boxes.

Okay, that's what I'm here for.

[exhales]

Oh, I have this book.

You know what, I'm gonna start with that one.

Over there.

All right, cool.

So what's new with you, bruh? Well, the owner from the shop where I cut at is retiring, so me and my boys are buying out the shop.

What? Nathan, that's incredible.

Yeah, thanks.

You know, your hustle invigorated my hustle.

Please.

So I'ma need you to get your sh1t up and running ASAP 'cause I need a shout out 'cause suddenly I got way more bills to pay.

Well, I'll send you my rates.

And let me warn you, they are not set yet.

Wow!

Can I cut a deal? Mm.

I mean, we got a space in the back if you need it.

I'll earn it.

[chuckles]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[laughs softly]

Hey, I don't know if this is weird to say, but I feel like I should tell you.

Me and my ex kind of started seeing each other again.

Wow.

Okay, cool.

The one you cheated on? Uh, yeah.

It's still new.

We're figuring it out.

Oh.

[chuckles]

What's funny? Nothing.

I just thought you was over that sh1t.

He seemed sometime-y.

He's not.

We talked it out and we're in a good place.

Okay, my bad.

Just hope he keeps his sh1t together this time.

Yeah, at least he knows how to use his words and doesn't disappear.

I didn't just disappear.

I found out I'm bipolar.

Oh, sh1t.

I know...

I just told you that I was feeling depressed, but when I went back to Houston, I found out for sure.

And, um, honestly, that was a relief.

I'm...

so sorry you went through all that.

And that I didn't see it.

No, I didn't know how to talk about it.

You know, I was scared people wouldn't understand, or they'd call me crazy.

But...

I had to get comfortable with it.

That's...

Thanks for telling me.

I'm just glad you're doing better.

Yeah, I mean, I had to sort through a whole lot of bullshit, but, you know, I got some clarity on the type of people I want in my life, and you one of 'em.

No, for real.

I appreciate you.

Thank you.

I appreciate you, too.

All right, I mean, don't stop unpacking just 'cause I got all sincere and sh1t.

You know, you still got work to do.

You on the clock, girl.

Okay, Master Nathan.

[laughter]

♪ Who can I love when they tell me ♪ ♪ I can't love myself ♪ ♪ How in the hell could I possibly love someone else ♪ [door opens, closes]

Molly: Hey, babe.

Andrew: Hey, baby.

We got bonus Rangoon again, and a bitch is pleased.

Oh, I thought we were doing Indian now.

Yeah, I know you really like that place, but last time, their naan was like, nah.

How was the game with your brother? Oh, the seats were so good.

Yeah? I was right next to one of the Migos.

No idea which one.

[laughs]

I mean, I work in music.

I should know.

You should.

Yeah.

It was kinda awkward you weren't there though.

Really? Why? I mean, he invited us.

I lied and said you had to work.

Well, I didn't ask you to lie.

Uh, well...

are you just never gonna see him again? I mean, he's my brother.

Okay, I know, but...

I mean, honestly, I don't know why you would ask me to do something that would make me uncomfortable.

Well, you could at least try.

I...

[door opens]

Hello? Hey.

Hey.

Hey, man, sorry.

We came a little early.

Oh, no, it's totally fine.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we were...

we're just chillin'.

Knew it.

♪ It's so cold in the D ♪ ♪ How the f*ck we supposed to keep peace ♪ [Andrew chuckles]

Yeah, we'll be real quick and be out your way.

[grunts]

Why you pack it like that? Nathan: You all right? Issa: I thought these were pillows.

Nathan: They're not pillows.

You guys don't have to rush out.

Uh, we don't wanna...

Guys, it's totally fine.

I have tons of takeout.

Yeah, I mean, stay for dinner.

It'll be like a farewell celebration.

Oh, that's okay.

We are super full.

We ate...

nothing.

I'm mad hungry.

I would actually love to stay.

Yeah, I, I don't know what the hell she was talking about.

I'm starving.

I'm about to eat.

Andrew: Okay.

I'll pop some bottles.

Pop 'em!

[smooth music playing]

Issa: Are you kidding me? [laughter]

You've never had guacamole.

Nathan: I mean...

No, I got questions.

You are literally from Houston.

How? That sh1t look like baby food.

Andrew: Oh, man.

I f*cks with salsa, though.

Basic.

Andrew: Yeah, actually, this is the perfect time for you to move out.

[laughter]

Y'all are rude.

Wait, but Nathan, how is the new place? It's small but, you know, I'm making it work.

I don't know why he's being all modest.

His place is hella nice.

Yo, remember my first smelly-ass apartment? Girl, yes.

Can we forget it? [laughs]

It had a window above a dumpster, but it was really easy to take out the trash.

She had this one mystery stain on the carpet that kept growing.

We were all convinced it looked like a face.

It did.

Both: Suge Knight!

Oh, my God, yes.

Oh, we had fun at the stink spot.

The game nights, the wine downs.

Oh, my God, all those silly games we used to play.

Like what, "Mafia." And what was the other one? Ooh, "Celebrity Heights." What? What is that? Just the most fun drinking game ever that I made up.

You just think of a celebrity, you guess their height.

When you wrong, you drink.

All right, let's do it.

Yes!

Oh, okay.

Oh, well, if you guys are tired, we don't have to.

No, no, I think they got to experience it.

Molly: Let's totally play it.

Okay, I'ma go first.

How tall is Bernie Sanders? Nathan: 5'7".

Andrew: 5'9".

Mm-mm, he's 5'6".

Issa: Okay.

I win.

All y'all drinking.

Bernie Sanders is six feet tall.

Get the f*ck outta here.

Andrew: Not possible.

He screams like a very short person.

[laughs]

I'm seriously rocked by this.

I'ma measure him next time I see him.

Issa: Okay.

How are you gonna measure him? I'ma get up on him.

I'ma measure his ass.

'Cause y'all run in the same circles? He comin' to get this drink.

[laughter]

Bernie Sanders turned up.

Mmm.

That is not enough.

There's another bottle in the fridge.

Alright, I'll grab it.

Okay.

Who's next? Molly: I'll go.

What about Niecy Nash? Ooh, I don't know how tall she is, but she fine as hell.

[Issa laughs]

Nathan: sh1t, that's my guess.

Fine-feet-eleven.

Oh, my God, her body is unfair.

[phone buzzes]

I feel like she did something great in another life.

Nathan: She did something right in this life.

She did a whole lot of right in this life 'cause she looks blessed and highly favored.

Molly: Yeah, I swear, she looks like Jessica Rabbit.

Nathan: She's black, so Jessica Black Rabbit? Molly: Looks like her.

And you know it's real 'cause her thighs match.

Nathan: Match what? Each other? [phone buzzes]

Like, in color or size? Andrew: And we're back in business.

I just...

I think I'm gonna go.

Nathan: Peace? [scoffs]

No, hey, I got it.

Issa, hold up.

Issa, wait.

Issa.

Issa, hold up.

Yup.

[scoffs]

I'm really sorry you saw that.

That wasn't meant for you.

Yeah, no sh1t.

Okay, but that's the way I've been feelin'.

I mean, this whole thing feels so forced.

I was trying to get us back to where we were, but I didn't realize it was so hard for you to be around me.

And you say you're trying, but it feels like I'm the only one who's putting in any effort.

By inviting me to brunch and playing old drinking games? Girl, we haven't even talked about what's really going on.

Because I didn't know you wanted to talk about it.

But okay, let's talk about the block party then.

This is bigger than that.

We have been off for months.

Yeah, I know.

That's why I reached out.

But I can't be the only one who wants to make this work, Molly.

I don't know, maybe who you are now, and...

who I am now just...

don't fit anymore.

[wistful music playing]

Okay.

Okay? I mean, there really isn't much more to say.

Yeah.

Okay.

♪ I've been trying to be where you are ♪ ♪ Could it be that I'm searching too hard ♪ ♪ I wish you'd come and find me ♪ ♪ Won't you come and find me ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm down when you're far away ♪ ♪ When you're gone, I don't sleep for days ♪ ♪ I've been stuck in the darkest age ♪ ♪ Can't you see what I'm tryin' to say ♪ ♪ I'm nothing without you ♪ ♪ I'm nothing without you ♪ ♪ I'm nothing without you ♪ ♪ I'm nothing without you ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ You're my missing piece ♪ ♪ I don't wanna live without you ♪ ♪ You're my missing piece ♪ ♪ I don't feel at home without you ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm nothing without you ♪ ♪ I've been chasing the moon ♪ ♪ I've been chasing the moon ♪ ♪ And chasing the moon and the stars ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm trying to be where you ♪ ♪ Trying to be where you ♪ ♪ Trying to be where you are ♪ ♪ Chasing the moon, and chasing the moon ♪ ♪ Chasing the moon ♪ ♪ [Old school hip hop music plays]

♪ What makes a flower a funeral flower versus a fun flower? I'm mainly asking for the price difference.

♪ Get it, get it Got it, got it ♪ I just wanna surround myself with things that make me happy.

Everybody, Issa.

Issa, everybody.

Hey.

Okay, they're tired.

I let sh1t go all the time!

I wanna be honest about how I felt.

So, what's the deal? ♪ [Music intensifies]

♪ Hey.

♪ [Music concludes]

♪ We are back with a new episode of the Wine Down.

And today we are joined by Kendrick Sampson who plays Nathan, to discuss, "Lowkey Trying." ♪ [Upbeat music plays]

♪ So Issa and Nathan have a big heart-to-heart this episode.

Do you think Nathan still has lingering feelings for Issa? Yeah, yeah.

[All laughing]

I mean, you know, he...

He also has like guilt, you know? He went away for a minute to figure his sh1t out and then all of a sudden he's back.

And he's in an intimate space with her.

Is it unreasonable of him to expect that she wouldn't move on? Like the reaction to hearing that she was back with Lawrence was mad shady.

Nah, I think it's one of those things, especially since he thinks he has everything together, where you like, "I'm good, you know, whatever happens happens." You know, and when it actually comes face-to-face you're like, "Hold up, you for real?" Yeah.

"Oh, so you're just gonna move on like that?" But it's also a very dude thing to put him down immediately.

[All laughing]

It's like...

Kendrick: 100 percent.

"Oh, like the dude that, like, ain't got no shoes.

Like, yeah, well that's who you're with? Like..." You know, even if you're like over it, you still gotta be like, "But I'm better." Also, from Nathan's perspective, you guys have been starting to kick it a little bit.

So like in his mind it's like, "Okay, I helped you with the block party, I called you afterwards, you came by my shop, we kicked it at the game night." You know what I mean? So it's like...

There's some hope.

There's some hope that like, "Oh, maybe us kicking it is like going somewhere." So it is like a little bit of...

Like, "I ain't doing this for you to reciprocate, but if you do...

I ain't gonna be mad at it." You know? But it was also like Nathan was like dropping little things, like, "Well I did give you the idea." [All laughing]

For the block party, you know? He's definitely just reminding her, yeah.

Just gently reminding her how dope he was.

Like...

[Chuckles]

"I was just playing, but for real, you know...

I did give you the idea." How does Issa's perception of how he ghosted change once she learns the reason why is he's also bipolar? Yeah, I think that that puts so much in perspective.

I think it goes from a typical millennial dating experience of a man not being able to use his words and then coming back around, all of a sudden, to be like, "We good, right?" [Chuckles]

Right.

To like, "Oh, he actually had personal mental health issues that he needed to deal with.

And he needed to take the time to do that.

You...

You become more understanding because, you know, we start off this season in a very self-reflective way, with Issa being like, Self-care Sunday" and I think in some ways that might have been a bit superficial, and here's, you know, someone who's dealing with something where he actually needed to take care of himself.

Real self-care.

Is that superficial? I mean self-care Sunday...

Like, we actually do have to take care of ourselves, and sometimes that's kind of the debate that I'm going back and forth with.

Like, should she be with him, or not? You know, um, what would I do in this situation? And all that kind of stuff is just like, people have mental health issues and it's not necessarily as scary as a lot of people would think it is.

Um, there's a full spectrum of...

of mental health issues.

But at the same time, we have to factor in our own health, and how we deal with people.

And just realize it's just another thing, you know? True.

How do you approach, and how does it feel playing a char...

A Black man, with...

With mental health issues? I mean the way I...

I see it, you can't grow up in America and be Black and not have some sort of mental health problems.

Whether it's PTSD, or something.

So it was important for me to play this.

It was important for me to have this as a discussion, a conversation starter, and also to amplify those...

Those issues that are important to me.

You know you and I had conversations, we had conversations in the room about, you know, how do we reveal this, how do we do this, or does it feel like a...

[Imitates gloomy music]

You know what I mean? As a...

as a thing, and how do you honor it, how we do de-stigmatize it? How do we play it as like, "This is one thing I'm dealing with, but it doesn't, you know, define me." You know what I mean? And I believe we did a good job in terms of how it comes out, and how we talked about it.

Um, at least on the page, and I believe in the performances as well.

So it doesn't feel like we're doing a mic drop of a thing.

That we're just saying, "Hey, this isn't a thing that we need to like make you just...

You know, it's an issue, but it's not, yes, this giant plot point in that way.

And it's a part of his life that he's dealing with like a lot of us are, you know? Yeah.

Yeah.

It provides some nuance.

And y'all did a good job with that, you know...

Issa: Thank you for your help.

[All laughing]

But...

Well thank you so much again for joining us for another episode of the Wine Down.

Please join us next week for the final episode of the season.

You don't want to miss it, see you soon.

Cheers.

One more.

Cheers!

Penultimate!

♪ [Music concludes]

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