02x05 - Caroling Dusk

[bunniefuu]

Man: Previously on "Queen Sugar"...

- Robert DuBois.
- Nova Bordelon.

I found a letter a couple months back.

All this, Pops left it to me.

You can let your pride write
that check if you wanna,

but you best be ready to cash it.

This job is part of my recovery.

You're fired.

Yah!

What the hell is wrong with ya, huh?

- Stop!
- Get off of him.

You and Davis messed him up.

It's your fault raising him like that.

(line ringing)

♪ It's been cold ♪

♪ It's been a real hard winter ♪

♪ Don't know which one's
the real good-bye ♪

(cell phone vibrates)

- Hey.
- Please tell me you're parking.

- (sighs)
- Micah?

I'm in New Orleans with Aunt Nova.

It's a Habitat for Humanity build day.

Did you forget about our session
with Dr. Thompson today?

I mean, you're always saying

I should do more community service

for my college apps.

She invited me.

- Well, I guess that's that.
- Sorry.

Okay, have a great day, honey.

Sounds like Micah
won't be joining us then?

He got his dates mixed up.

So he's now at a service project.

- Hmm.
- Sorry to have wasted your time.

Why don't you stay, Charley?

We can take this opportunity

to get to know each other
a little better.

I actually do quite a few
solo sessions with parents.

I just think it's pointless
to not have Micah here.

Well, you're here. We're on the clock.

And some time with you will help me

do my job better with Micah.

(theme music playing)

♪ Dreams never die, take flight ♪

♪ As the world turns ♪

♪ Dreams never die, take flight ♪

♪ As the world turns ♪

♪ Keep the colors
in the lines, take flight ♪

♪ Dreams never die ♪

♪ Keep the colors in the lines ♪

♪ Keep the colors
in the lines, take flight. ♪

Mm, he looks so peaceful and yummy.

I'll hate to wake him.

Yeah, well, thanks for coming early.

Quicker I lay them soybeans down,

quicker I'm done.

You don't have to thank me.

I love being here when Blue wakes up.

And I love you being here
when Blue wake up too.

Ah! Babe! That's so sweet!

- Come on, sit down.
- Thank you.

- You like it?
- I love it.

We could have this
every morning, you know.

Move in with me and Blue.

We talked about this.

Yeah, that was before you lost your job.

I'd be lying if I said
I ain't been worried

these last two weeks,

how you're gonna get by,
and, you know...

I'll be fine.

Bills don't stop 'cause a job does.

But, you know, you move in with us,

that takes some of the pressure
off your back.

And puts it on yours.

But it's a good kind of pressure.

Them soybeans'll be ready to sell
in a couple months' time.

I'm harvesting my cane soon.

Look, money coming to find me.

You don't have to do this
all by yourself.

I love... that
you're looking out for me.

But I have to take care of myself.

- (clears throat)
- I don't want you to worry.

I'm gonna find something soon.

Do I still get
to eat my breakfast, though?

Nah, gimme that bad boy. (laughs)

(whistles, chuckles) Is that bacon?

Twist on my maple pecan. Like it?

Woman, your hands are blessed.

This supposed to be a tasting, right?

You got me my notebook for me
to write down my thoughts.

But you all deep in yours.
Now, what's going on?

Baby, I'm just nervous.
I want these to sell.

Nah, that ain't it. What's wrong?

(sighs) Ralph Angel...

found a letter.

From Ernest.

Leaves the farm to him and him alone.

No Nova. No Charley.

Damn, Ernest.

Well, Rah was working the land

when they was off living they lives.

That's not fair.

Well, maybe not, but it's what happened.

Yeah, well, regardless, I told him

to keep this to himself for a while.

Good advice.

This just might not be the right time

to take up all this, Hollywood.

- What, the business?
- Yeah.

You stop right there.

God did not mold you
to be no peacekeeper.

They grown. You grown.

And you deserve to live
the life you want to live.

So, we gonna make
that happen, you heard me?

Dr. Thompson: It can difficult
to pinpoint a time line

for these sorts of things.

He needs to feel comfortable
in his own skin again.

I just hate that some thug
with a badge can get in the way

of all we've worked for.

I just don't want to see him fail.

Do you feel that there was
a lot of emphasis

on failure when you were Micah's age?

I'd like to keep the focus on him.

Mm, well, it can be helpful

to establish generational
patterns sometimes.

Chances are, something that
was important to your parents,

is important to you, too.

And potentially important to Micah.

I hear you,

but I'm not raising Micah
the way I was raised.

Is there a reason for that?

It's not that I don't
appreciate my parents.

I just want Micah to know
that he can come to me.

Can I ask, did you feel
that you couldn't

talk to your parents
when you were growing up?

Well, my mother brought me up mostly.

And I love her. Don't get me wrong.

But... she wanted me to be perfect.

And we didn't talk about things

that fell outside of those lines.

But believe me, I know the line

between excellence and perfectionism.

I'm not forcing that on Micah.

And he knows that?

And I wanna make sure that
everyone is paying attention

to the safety guidelines
we went over in orientation.

And please be nice to the tools.

(scattered laughter)

So how's Keke?
She keeping you on your toes?

(scoffs) You know, sometimes
I think I got her all figured out.

A minute later and I'm lost again.

Better get used to it.

Excuse me, shouldn't you
be wearing gloves?

What?

What are you doing here?

I saw your tweets asking
people to lend a hand.

Thought I'd lend mine.

Atlanta to NOLA is a long way

to lend a hand, doctor.

How about two hands?

Cute. Micah, meet my colleague,
Dr. Robert DuBois.

Robert, meet my brilliant
nephew, Micah West.

- Pleasure.
- Micah: Yeah, you too.

- How can I help?
- (chuckles)

Yeah. Uh-huh, thank you.

- Charley.
- Darla.

I was hoping I could get
your advice about something.

Yeah.

I don't know if Ralph Angel's told you,

but I'm trying to find a new job,

and I was hoping, that maybe,
I don't know, you could help me?

- Me?
- I mean, if now's not a good time...

No, no, it's fine, really.

It's a little all over the place, but...

- Six months as a parking attendant.
- Bartender.

Administrative assistant
for a year in college.

I'll be honest, the gaps are concerning.

And I think you're past the age

where internship experience is relevant.

Though the companies are impressive.

- My parents knew a few people.
- Well, maybe they can help.

They won't.

How do you know unless you ask?

Um... they were through with me
a really long time ago.

Sometimes things
can get lost in translation...

and spiral.

You never know where people are at.

You know what? I'm sorry.
I'll figure this out myself.

I'm sorry to just, like,
drop in like this.

- No, Darla...
- It's really okay. Thank you, though.

So, what's going on?

Are we on the edge or over the cliff?

Mm, well, these last couple
weeks have felt so long.

(chuckles)

Well, that's the hardest part
of staying sober, isn't it?

The bad days go by
much faster when you're numb.

Last year of my marriage
felt like a week.

(chuckles)

Ralph Angel asked me to move in.

- And what did you say?
- I said no.

He's just trying to be there
for me, and I know that.

But... it just makes me feel worse.

Like... like I can't do for myself

or like I'm always gonna need
someone to rescue me.

But you know that's not true.

You're right.

(music playing)

I'm telling you, you haven't had

a sugar cream pie
till you had Aunt Vi's.

It's sweet and light and...

What other kinds of pies do you make?

Well, Dutch apple, raspberry chiffon,

chocolate silk, black bottom cherry.

I make a lemon supreme

that'll make you
ask God for forgiveness.

(laughs)

I'm not really looking to take
on new expenditures right now.

Let me know if things
work out someplace else.

Might give it a sh*t then.

- Thank you.
- Sure thing.

For me, right?
And everything's been great.

You think you can hold it flush?

Nova: You know I'm country, right?

Mama and Daddy taught me some things.

I'm not like those delicate
city girls you grew up with.

Wasn't anything delicate
about the girls I grew up with.

Can you hold it from this side?

My granddad was a carpenter. His hands?

My sister and I, we used to make a game

out of counting his calluses.

I wanted hands like his.

My daddy spent his life farming,

used to say how you could
tell the worth of a person

by the good they did with their hands.

What's up, man?

- Hey.
- Nova.

Look, thanks for bringing Micah.
We're heading out.

You're welcome.

Robert DuBois.

He's a doctor. Epidemiologist.

And he studied at Stanford.

And now he's doing some interesting
stuff to help our people.

All right, it was good to meet you.

Robert: Actually, we've met before.

You blocked my sole pass
in a game in college.

Fourth quarter where they
bring in the guys like me.

- Good but not good enough.
- Right.

I made a pass,
and it would've been beautiful

if only I hadn't been playing

against the college player
of the decade.

- (laughs)
- How many lives have you led?

Oh, I'll tell you all
about them, don't worry.

- Look, we should get going.
- Pleasure to meet you, man.

Good luck on the season.
I hope you get that fifth ring.

Thanks, man. Thank you.

- Love you.
- Love you back.

- Good meeting you. Yeah.
- Nice to meet you, young man.

I'm also pretty good at botany.

- Oh, really?
- Yes, ma'am.

- What do you grow?
- Lettuce.

- Yeah, no, it was good.
- Yeah? Tired?

Man: Davis West, Davis West.

- Ah, nice to meet you, man.
- How you doing? All right.

Oh, my God, that's Davis West!

How you doing, man?
You good? Who's this?

Micah: Tamar Judith.

Her new album is everything.

I saw her last summer at the Ace in LA.

I grew up in a house built
by Habitat for Humanity.

And I know what it does
to have a home of your own

built with the love
and care of a community.

Man: I love you, Tamar!

Hey. So as much I can,
I come out and I support.

Now, I can't swing a hammer
worth a damn.

(laughs) But I believe that showing up

is just as important.

Well, it looks like you're not
the only star here for the cause.

Davis West, a word on the project?

Yeah, sure, well...

- Man: Yo, Davis!
- Hey.

I'm here because my son Micah

has made a commitment to do exactly

what Ms. Judith so eloquently expressed,

build a community
with love for each other.

I mean, guys, look, when great artists

and advocates join hands,
we can do anything

as long as we do it together.

I mean, together we are stronger.

(crowd murmurs)

♪ I live in a church for all... ♪

Robert: Much hasn't changed
since the last time I was here.

It's been years.

_

You know, they actually have bus tours

rolling through here now?

- (chuckles)
- Four or five times a week.

Bunch of curious folk pay
like $ a pop to come by...

and look.

And go back to their regularly
scheduled lives.

That's why I carry this city with me.

Always. I never want
to forget what happened here.

I know how much strength that takes.

- I couldn't do it. Honestly.
- (church bell tolling)

♪ It's been a long ♪

♪ It's been a long, long ♪

♪ It's been a long, long, long ♪

♪ Lonely road... ♪

(Darla laughing)

Hi, my love.

Just came out to make sure
you have all your fingers.

- What's up, boy?
- Hey, Pop.

And bring you snacks.

Appreciate it. (sighs)

How much longer you think you'll be?

Maybe an hour or two.

Went faster than I thought it would.

Have you been lonely out here all day?

- Kind of felt at home.
- Hmm.

(chuckles)

(both laughing)

I'm saving the day now!

- You are? Okay, let me see.
- Watch.

Watch?

Oh! Saving the day!

(sings fanfare)

Both: Victory!

Blue?

What do you like about Kenya?

Her hair is soft just like mine.

She's my best friend
and she's good at whispers.

That sounds pretty wonderful,
but... you know what?

(whispers)
Mommy's good at whispers, too.

Psst.

Are you...

are you happy that Mommy's
been around more lately?

Can we get out of here?

(singsong) Wrinkles.

Wrinkles? Okay. Love you.

Love you, too.

All right, stand up.

So, you still in touch with Too Sweet?

I am. He's thriving.

You read my article.

I did. I did.

Just trying to piece together
the Nova Bordelon puzzle.

Your work is fantastic.

You're gonna make my head swell.

What's wrong with that? (chuckles)

I hope I'm not being too forward, um...

but I like you, Nova.

(cell phone rings)

Sorry.

I have to take this. (clears throat)

- Hello?
- So, is it me

you don't respect or just boundaries?

You helped Micah blow off therapy today.

Sorry. I had no idea.
He mentioned school.

Said he could use the service hours.

Well... Thank you for your apology.

I, um... didn't mean to come in so hot.

- What's going on with you?
- Nothing. Nothing. I'm fine.

I should go. I have a lot
of unpacking to do.

So... trying to make this place livable.

Okay.

Sorry.

- Okay.
- Okay. Bye.

So, now that I've got you
hopped up on sugar...

(chuckles) do you want
to go have some dinner?

I wish I could.
I have to help my sister.

- That was her.
- I understand.

Thank you for a wonderful day.

Yeah.

(knocking on door)

Sounded like you need some company.

The food's gonna get cold.

Don't get distracted.

Allow yourself to be still.

Think of all the things
you want to invite

into your new home.

Keep your eyes closed.

♪ Radiates around me ♪

♪ Taking control... ♪

Hmm. Felt it as soon
as I walked in here.

This place needs to be lifted up.

I don't know if I feel a difference.

You will.

Especially once I leave.

♪ I get angrier ♪

♪ No one can ♪

♪ Complications by my side... ♪

So, you got Micah in therapy?

Well, it was supposed to be
his first day today.

I'm sorry.

No, no, if he'd wanted
to be there, he would've.

We're sort of a mess right now.

- Micah is a beautiful person.
- And you made him that way.

And then I dragged him
across the country.

Never took the time to figure out

if it was what was best for him.

Now he's not the same.

You're having growing pains.

Y'all just gotta lean on each other.

Remember when I used to play piano?

I remember you banging
on some... some keys.

No, I was good. I was.

I practiced every day for years.

But then when I had to play
recitals, I couldn't do it.

My hands would shake so badly.

And one day, I just...

I stopped right in the middle of it,

got up, left the auditorium.

And my mother suggested
that I find a new activity.

We never talked about it again.

Charley, I say this out of love.

But your mama made you a control freak.

- (chuckles)
- She did.

But you have a blank slate.

With yourself and with Micah.

Color it how you want.

Mm. You make it sound so easy.

Nah. It ain't easy... ever.

Well, your slate is blank now, too.

And I am not the only
control freak in this family.

This I know.

You must be talking about Aunt Vi.

- (laughs)
- Don't play me.

You know she crazy in that kitchen.

- Don't touch nothing!
- Nothing.

(both laughing)

- Thanks.
- Mm-hmm.

What are we doing here?

It's been a minute
since we played, right?

- Yeah.
- Come on.

For every sh*t I make
past the three-point line,

I get to ask you a question
and you have to answer.

- (clucks tongue) No thanks.
- Hold on, wait, hold on,

the deal works in reverse, too.

You sink a ball, you ask me a question.

Everything's on the table?

Mm-hmm.

Your three-point game is weak, though.

- Oh, is it?
- Yeah.

I gotta make it a fair fight, right?

- And I do have four rings, man.
- (chuckles)

Nice! Right out of the gate, huh?

Are you a sex addict?

So, we're jumping right in here.

No. I'm not.

I just think...

something's wrong with me.

You know, as long as I can put
a ball over that rim,

everybody gave me what
I wanted when I wanted it.

And I got used to that.

But I'm trying to be somebody else now.

And... it's hard.

I had a lot of years
practicing being me, you know?

My turn.

Those cops rough you up?

No.

The whole thing was just a lot, like...

I've never, ever felt like that.

Out of control, at someone else's mercy.

And I was scared. Real scared.

- Can't stop thinking about it.
- Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, well.

Fear is a rite of passage for us, right?

Question is how do you use it

to make yourself smarter and better.

- All right?
- Yeah.

- Think fast.
- (both laughing)

Let me see you sink
another one of those,

come on, since my three-point
game is so weak.

(laughs)

- Hey, guys.
- (Blue crying)

What's the matter, baby?

What happened? What's going on?

- He didn't sleep good last night.
- Kenya's missing!

We was up tearing up his room all night.

Hey, hey, it's all right, buddy.
We gonna find her.

I have to tell you something.

(crying continues)

What?

- I took Kenya.
- Why?

I don't know.

- (grunts)
- You bring her back?

No.

I threw her away.

- You th...
- (voice breaks) I'm sorry.

Wh... why would you...
what am I gonna do with sorry?

I don't get you.
You had to have a reason.

Oh, so you just gonna play
that selfish, mysterious act again?

- I'm not selfish.
- (sighs)

And I'm not being mysterious.

Where you throw it out at?

- Does it even matter?
- Just tell me!

The Arco near my house.

- (door slams)
- Okay.

♪ I never, ever thought
I live to see the day ♪

♪ That I'd be running after a man ♪

♪ This way ♪

♪ Baby, you don't know... ♪

Chère? You gonna get out of bed?

- I'm staying here today.
- Not without me you're not.

I don't feel like
folks today, Hollywood.

Every place said no. Every single one.

So, you just gonna lay here
feeling bad for yourself

listening to sad songs?

- (click, music stops)
- That ain't the Vi I know.

Well, that's the Vi you getting today.

I deserve a day in bed.
I don't feel good.

Chère, it was one day,

one very hard, bad day.

But you ain't gotta let it
turn into two.

They still hurt my feelings, Hollywood.

I hate to say it. But that's how I feel.

Sometimes, you just have to see
the sign for what it is.

For what it is
or for what you want it to be?

Now, baby, you had a funny feeling
about this ever since you set out.

You can't let your mind
trick you like that.

You're gonna work it out.

How is it that you're
always so sure, Hollywood?

'Cause I believe in you.

Because everything you want in life,

I want it for you just as much.

But you got to keep working.

Either way,
you ain't in this by yourself.

(music playing)

♪ I hear nothing but problems ♪

♪ Listening to the news ♪

- ♪ And feel nothing but heartbeat... ♪
- (sighs)

♪ ...But I sing more than Blues... ♪

- sh*t.
- ♪ ...Well, at the hand of a man ♪

♪ Who has trouble overseeing ♪

♪ The pike and the coals, yes. ♪

(siren beeps, whoops)

Man: You in the red shirt!
Stop where you are!

Put your hands up.

All right, don't move!
What do you think you're doing?

I lost something, officer.
I'm just trying to find it.

This is private property.

I'm just trying
to find something, officer.

I lost something.

I know him.

We good.

You was always
getting me out of trouble.

Hey, look like some things
never change, huh?

Hey, you had your fun back in the day.

- Me?
- Yeah.

Man, you wasn't too far behind.

- What?
- Like that time you got detention

for getting with that girl
in the broom closet.

No, that was a rumor, man.
Ain't no receipts for that.

You was in detention with her!

- (laughs)
- Oh, man.

Look, I appreciate today, Toine.

- Nah, man.
- No, for real, straight up.

I'd be getting processed right
now if you ain't come along.

It's the least I could do.

Man, the way you had my back growing up?

(sighs)

I want it all with this girl, man.

House, farm, kids, whole nine.

All of it.

So what, man, you got
a soft spot for your son.

Period point blank?

Darla shouldn't have
thrown away that doll, man.

I don't know why he hang
on to Kenya, but he does.

I know how it was for you.

sh*t, I saw it.

And I don't know
everything about it, but...

I'm gonna keep him close.

Just let him, you know,
do whatever he wants...

be whoever he wanna be.

Man... I really can't let
this moment go by

without saying thank you, man.

- We good.
- No, man.

I never really did.

(sighs) Just, you let me be me,

even when I didn't know who I was.

And the best part is, you let
me be me when I did know.

Girl, why your voice so deep?
Come over here, Antoinette.

I'll remind you how to be a girl.
Man, sh*t, man.

I would've d*ed or k*lled somebody

up in that piece if you
didn't keep my head on tight.

(sighs) I feel ya.

I remember that time
I saw you in parish lockup.

Man, I so scared somebody
on the force was gonna find out.

I remember praying, "God,
I hope Rah's still my boy.

Or is he gonna out me right here
in the middle of the station,

wreck all my sh*t?"

But all you did was nod
and say, "What up?"

- (both chuckling)
- Man...

you know I was always
gonna do right by you.

Well, do right by your girl, too, man.

Everybody out here trying
to do the best they can.

Ain't easy for nobody.

Dispatcher: Assistance is needed
at the bouje marketplace.

Yeah, this is . Officer
Antoine Wilkins responding.

- We got a in progress.
- I'm on the way.

- Well.
- All right, man.

It's good seeing you, Toine.

You know it, man.
Stay out of the trash, bro.

(sighs)

(car door opens, closes)

How's Blue?

I finally got him down for a nap.

Um... I'm gonna go.

Nah, don't go.

I thought that Blue needed
Kenya for when I wasn't...

good.

But now I am.

And he still wants her.

That's what you thought?

You and Kenya ain't got nothing
to do with each other.

The one thing...

I know that I am good
at... is being his mother.

Even if everything else is upside down.

But yesterday was a really long day.

And I...

- (sighs)
- Darla...

I saw him playing with Kenya
and I just...

Darla, he knows you his ma.
He know that.

Excuse me. Owner in?

- Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.

Well, how y'all doing today?

Whatever you're selling,
save your breath.

I have the AC down, and it's too hot
to be talking about anything else.

Well, I'll be happy to look at your AC.

Maybe while I'm fixing it,
you can listen

to what this lovely woman has to say.

- All right.
- It's out back?

- Yeah.
- Okay.

- So whatcha got?
- A cash cow.

Easy way to double your investment
from week to week.

But you're right.

It is too hot for song and dance.

Yeah.

So, why don't you just let
the pies talk to you?

All right, let's see what you got.

(clears throat)

Mm. (chuckles) Pretty good.

Mm, that's delicious. Yes, it is.

Try this one.

- Don't mind if I do.
- Get some of that crust.

(TV chatter in background)

Wanna see a movie
in the city with me later?

Yeah. I would love that.

♪ And if you're still breathing ♪

♪ Whatever you're looking for ♪

♪ It's most alive ♪

♪ 'Cause I can't go through the course ♪

♪ Send me far ♪

♪ Into far inside the truth... ♪

- Coffee?
- Thank you.

I'm glad you called.

I hope I'm not pulling you
out of your day.

No. I don't mind.

In case you couldn't tell
from how I acted this weekend,

I'm glad you came out.

And I like you, too.

- Was that hard for you?
- Do you have to rub it in?

I'm just saying. A little bit, maybe.

Just... just a little bit.

- God, you're beautiful.
- Thanks.

♪ And if you're still here ♪

♪ Whatever you're looking for ♪

♪ It's most alive in here ♪

♪ You caused me to stay... ♪

You know, Blue and that doll
were attached at the hip.

He gonna know something different.

Or he will be so happy
to have Kenya back,

- that he won't notice a thing.
- We'll see.

(groans) As soon as I can get her
to stop looking so shiny and new.

(cell phone vibrates)

- Hello?
- Darla, it's Charley.

Hi.

So, I went over your resume again.

- You didn't have to do that.
- Well, I wanted to.

And I thought of a job
you could be right for.

Okay.

Would you be interested
in being my office assistant?

I'm sort of drowning here,
and I could use the help.

Yeah, thank you.

Well, the mill's opening
in a couple of weeks,

so it'll be late nights, early starts.

It's pretty intense.

- You can handle that?
- Absolutely.

- And you can start tomorrow?
- Yes, I can.

- Okay, see you then.
- Thank you so much, bye.

I just got a job.

I had a feeling.
Come on, tell me about it.

It's with Charley.

Working for her at the mill.

♪ I just want to be left alone ♪

♪ Can't you see ♪

♪ I'm trying to find my way home? ♪

♪ I just want to be left alone ♪

♪ Can't you see ♪

♪ I'm trying to find my way home? ♪

♪ Please don't bother me. ♪

(music playing)