04x08 - Getting Risky

Episode transcripts for the 2013 TV show "Being Mary Jane". Aired January 2014 - September 2017.*
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"Being Mary Jane" follows the professional and personal life life of a young black woman, and the popular talk show which she hosts, while she searches for "Mr. Right".
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04x08 - Getting Risky

Post by bunniefuu »

MARY JANE: Previously,
on "Being Mary Jane"...

Meet Lee's baby mama.

- KARA: Oh?
- Zoe Sky.

He's got two kids already anyway.

He's a year old man.

If he ain't got some
kids and some hot exes,

we'd be worried.

Mom didn't tell me my new
babysitter would be so cute.

[laughs]

Your post with Orlando
Lagos was so cool.

I showed it to everyone at school.

Really?

He's one of our favorite players.

- How do you know him?
- Oh...

He's just a friend I met at work.

You are both on internal suspension.

You get to decide
which you wanna keep...

your word or your job.

♪ So good, so good, so good, so good ♪

♪ You know my love is ♪

♪ You be, stuck on it
'cause my love so good ♪

♪ So you, keep comin'
back to get some more ♪

♪ Got you in your
feelings, all emotional ♪

♪ My love, my love ♪

♪ So good, so good, so good, so good ♪

♪ You know my love is ♪

♪ So good, so good, so good, so good ♪

♪ You know my love is ♪

- ♪ My love ain't running out ♪
- Just don't tweet.

- I know.
- I'm just saying.

- Please, Zoe.
- Oh, Mary Jane.

I hope you don't mind. We
got a head start on you.

- [kissing]
- How are you doing?

- MJ, this is Zoe.
- ZOE: The ex.

You both know everything
about each other, so...

ZOE: Sit down. Sit down.

Oh, God, is this real?

Yeah.

I haven't felt real leather in years.

You know, Lee was just
telling me how you met.

- Well played.
- You told her that.

We... tell each other most things.

Lee always does like it
when the woman is in charge.

- [laughs]
- Oh, well, that's good.

I don't mind being the
boss in this relationship.

You know what? His skin is glowing.

You two must be having a lot of sex.

Okay, let's change the subject.

Yes, please, Jesus.

Uh, where are your kids?
What are they up to?

Oh, Katherine's at the ballet workshop

and Aiden's back at the
hotel watching videos.

I'm sure the p*rn bill
will be astronomical.

I'm sure he'll be telling his friends

how New York City was amazing.

LEE & ZOE: [laughing, palm slap]

- That boy.
- ZOE: Ooh.

That's perfect. Yes.
Good timing. Thanks.

Thank you.

Mind the sodium, Lee.

Oh, no, it's all good.

Has he told you about

his little high blood pressure problem?

MALE SERVER: Anything else
for you two and your friend?

LEE: [chuckles]

Okay, so how serious is this
whole blood pressure thing?

It's one small pill
every day, that's all.

Okay, then why didn't you tell me?

I'm telling you now, okay?

Okay. Well, for the record,

I don't have any medical issues.

But you obviously have some issues.

Yes, I am in the
doghouse at work, but...

Look, I know. I get it.

Zoe can be a handful for anyone. I know.

Especially meeting her
under these circumstances.

Okay, there's this
question that is just

shouting at me so loud in my mind.

Now I'ma ask it exactly
the way I'm hearing it.

Why the hell aren't you two together?

- Oh, come on.
- No, no, no, no.

I've heard about this whole
conscious uncoupling thing,

but y'all take this to
a whole nother level.

Put to one side for one second

the fact that I love you,

the explanation is very simple.

She cheated on me.

So, she stepped out on you
and you just drew the line.

Look, commitment's
very important to me.

Once that trust was broken...

- Is it really that simple?
- Yes, it is, for me.

Do you still have feelings for her?

Look, in a way, of course.

She's my best friend.
We've got children together.

And, no, it wasn't easy,

but, look, I'm just
not interested in her.

Does she have feelings for you?



LEE: [sighs]

PJ: You have photos of me
and Sunitha in bed together?

Ava, why did you send me this?

You wouldn't answer my texts.

And, besides, you two were so cute.

Ava, I don't know what
you think you see in me.

I see the child my mother
wishes she had instead of me...

the one taking my place in her business.

Cut to the chase, all right?
What do you want?

I wanna throw a kick-ass party

and I wanna use my mom's place.

And, for that, I need your help.

This is such a bad idea.

We need to get the doorman on board

and codes for the elevator.

Ava, you and I both know

your mother would never go for this.

That's the whole point.
She's never gonna find out.

You planned this.

Yeah, but that's gonna sound so lame

when you explain it to my mom.

Yeah? Well, I'll take my chances.

- Really?
- Yeah.

No way I'm helping you throw a party.

You don't want me to
show this to her, right?

No, I do, and then she'll figure out

just how crazy you are.

PJ, you can't be that naive.

My mom is in love with you.

[laughs] You're funny.

You really think that Rolex
is about your business potential?

If I show her these photos, it's over.

I don't care. Send them.

Okay.

Wait. Wait.

I thought so.

Now, what time should
I put on the invite?

Coming up after the break, Ronda,

we'll hear about how
driving that old gas guzzler

might actually be good for the planet.

MARY JANE: Hey! Hey! Hey!

KARA: What? What? What?

- I've been texting you.
- You have?

Are you sure, honey?
My phone's been quiet.

What are you talking about?

- Yeah.
- It's dead. Oh, my gosh.

Ronda's got me running around
on this McAlister thing.

- I bet.
- What's that?

Oh, bookings I'm logging in.

That's only half the pile.

Justin's got the rest.

I'm sorry, honey. Nah, I'm sorry.

- Wait. Wait. Wait.
- What?

I haven't even had a
chance to tell you about

- Lee's uber-hip baby mama.
- Oh, okay.

Well, I promise we'll go out for drinks.

We'll catch up once this
craziness is all over.

All right, and I'll answer your text

once my phone wakes up.

I've gotta get these done.

- RONDA: Kara!
- What?

I'll be right there.
You see what I'm saying?

_

Oh.

How long have you been
chatting with my kid?

Uh, I dunno. Uh...

He sent me a funny meme
and we started chatting.

What do you talk about?

Mostly just about how great you are.

- Right. Yeah.
- ORLANDO: [laughing]

Right. Let's see.

Oh?

I can barely get my son
to return a text message,

but you guys talk so
much, you get a fire emoji.

That's... that's nice.

Isn't this a good thing?

No. See? He sees that.

The women in the hoochie
mama dresses, the drinking.

Orlando, he sees that. [tosses phone]

- Everybody sees that.
- Isn't that the point?

You told me that I should
be seen at these places

because it's good for my brand.

What's good for your brand

and what's good for my
son is not the same thing.

Scott reached out and I responded.

Scott knows we're
having sex, Orlando.

He thinks we're a couple.

Is that a bad thing?

Yes. How do you think he's gonna feel

when he sees this stuff?

What do you think his
friends are gonna say?

I don't know.

You don't know. That's your...

well, that's your answer, okay, well...

I don't know.

I was just trying to treat
him like one of the guys.

What would you like me to do?

[heavy sigh]

Do not talk to my son
on social media at all.

LEE: I just started
dating this beautiful woman,

but some things I just don't get.

For example, my girlfriend,

she's a grown-up, you know?

She's mature, she's beautiful,
she's very accomplished.

I don't think she'd mind
me saying she's almost .

AUDIENCE: [laughing]

That's what we call a grown-up.

AUDIENCE: [laughing]

But her mother insisted I
sleep in the guest bedroom.

- WOMEN: Awww...
- And not with her daughter.

And, yet, her mom felt the need

to protect her daughter's innocence,

whilst her granddaughter

is sleeping in the house,
living there rent-free

with her two children

who she had with two different dads...

[voice fading away]



Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

I'm Lee Truitt. I appreciate you guys.

Thank you.

AUDIENCE: [applauding, cheering]

MALE HOST: All right, Lee
served you up something funny.

Give it up for my man, Lee Truitt.

Good style, brother. That was great.

Grab a drink and get
yourself comfortable.

Up next, we have one of
the Alley's favorites...

Hey, what's up?

You didn't like the set.

Come on, the audience
loved it, admit it.

You popped off about
my niece and her kids?

I didn't say anything
Niecy would object to.

No, if she was here,
she'd be real salty about it.

Why? I didn't call her kids bastards

or illegitimate or anything.

No, you might as well have.

No, I'm very careful about that.

All kids are legitimate. They are.

There are so many born out of wedlock,

we ought to stop stigmatizing them.

If you ask me, it's
the bloody institution

of marriage that's illegitimate.

I thought commitment
meant so much to you.

It does. It's not the
same as marriage, though.

I didn't realize
you were so against it.

Well, until now.

Okay, so, what exactly do you believe?

The institution of marriage
is dated and hypocritical.

Hypocritical.

- I see...
- Come on.

Look, how often does
'til death do us part

actually mean until
the divorce is final?

- [laughs]
- What?

First Zoe and now this?

This is... this is a lot, Lee...

all at once.



So, anyone who worked
with McAlister and Elmore

during that time is
suddenly unavailable.

Mary Jane's interview the other day

send off warning flares
to anybody in the know.

Yeah, and I'm sure McAlister

got to a few of them as well, so...

It's tough not
having Justin's source,

you know, to help us make sense
of these facts and figures.

Maybe we should try
a different angle...

like a statistician.

You don't give up, do you?

No.

I really appreciate
your professionalism.

Don't try to sweet talk me.

Make no mistake...

I know where your allegiance lies.

I'm just here to do my job.

[sighs] And your side
keeps growin' every day.

What do you mean?

I'm afraid having
Justin join the team

may have been a mistake.

I now see that he's the type of guy

that would sell out his
own mother for a story.

Yeah. Well...

KARA: Check out what I just sent you.

Should I be worried?

MARY JANE: Okay, hold on.

It was taken two minutes ago

and he's drunk off his ass.

It's not even cocktail
hour yet, you know?

Kara Lynch, as I live and breathe,

are you jealous?

Girl, please, please.

No, absolutely not.

I just have two boys that follow

every single move this guy makes

and they think their mom's involved

in some kind of fairytale
fantasy romance with him.

- That's all.
- Then cut 'n run.

[heavy sigh]

I don't think I can.

Well, I think I may have some news

that can distract you.

I think I may have
found Justin's source.

Yeah, a clerk that used to
work for Judge McAlister.

Oh. Okay.

Well, are you gonna give it up

when you find out who it is?

Absolutely. I've gotta save myself,

'cause Justin's not going to.

Oh, wait, Kara, I've
gotta go. I've gotta go.

[mixed conversations]

- Hey. Hey.
- What?

She is not gonna talk to you.

Justin, what the hell?

How did you even know
I was gonna be here?

Are you keeping tabs on me?

Maybe.

Look, my source gave me a lead.

I can share it.

I've just gotta know you're not gonna

- share it with Kara and Ronda.
- [cell phone buzzes]

What's it gonna be?

I'm in.



What? You have a
problem with this hotel?

You said that this would
be a mutual meeting spot.

You... you live here.

Is there a problem with that?

No, I, um... I just
thought maybe, you know,

you'd find something
more permanent by now.

Do you have something permanent?

I closed escrow three weeks ago.

Of course, you did.

Well, you know, we should
just focus on the matter at hand.

- Don't you think?
- Okay.

My... my source was a
legal clerk for McAlister

back in the Charlotte days.

Now it took her a while,

but she was able to
track down the ex-convict

who was railroaded by McAlister...

who's also on his way here.

You invited a convict here?

I didn't know it was your suite.

And he's not a convict, all right?

He's a wrongly-convicted man.

McAlister is the one
with implicit bias, not me.

- Are you sure?
- [heavy sigh]

Let me do the talking and you'll see.

I don't know.

Do you think he's the kind of guy

that can relate to a
woman with a $ , purse?

Justin, you knew
how much my purse cost,

and you somehow think you're
more relatable than me.

Really?

With your tailored shirts
and your designer shoes.

Don't come here frontin'
like you're from the projects.

I actually did live
in public housing.

I also lived in a four
bedroom house with a pool.

My father was a car
salesman. It was boom or bust.

We lived all over the damn place.

I pride myself on being able to

talk to just about anybody.

Lecturing people isn't the same

as talking to them, Justin.

I don't lecture.

I strive to listen more and speak less.

We can't agree on anything...

certainly not that.

I bet we can't agree on
the color of the walls.

I think... aubergine.

It's more of a boysenberry.

I just proved my point! [laughing]

Thank you. Thank you.

We cannot agree.

This is insanity. This
guy's not gonna show.

[sighing]

Well, I think that's something that, uh,

we can both agree on.

[knock at door]

- I'm fine.
- I'm not afraid.

You the reporters?

Come on in.

How did you wind up getting arrested?

I wasn't no saint as a teenager.

I did what I had to survive...

which, at the time,

meant hooking up with the wrong crew.

So, suffice it to say,
the cops knew who you were.

And I knew them, too.
All of 'em. By name.

There come a time a kid
got served on my block.

A regular kid.

Just happened to be
wearing the wrong jersey.

He got k*lled.

Took a b*llet to the head.

The cops put my photo in a
line-up and she picked me out.

She sh*t tears out of her
eyes on the witness stand.

And that's when I knew...

I was goin' to prison.

So, you didn't do the sh**ting,

but you were prosecuted for it.

She was straight up wrong.

But she wouldn't let it go.

A lot of people are in
prison for similar crimes,

who, as you know, say the same thing.

I wasn't even there.

I was with a friend.

I had a solid alibi witness
and Judge McAlister knew it.

But they made up some felony
charges against my friend

and then threatened to prosecute him

if he testified on my behalf.

Can anyone else corroborate this?

My witness.

But he's dead now.

He was sh*t in a cr*ck
house years ago.

Is there anyone else?

Yeah, McAlister
bragged to my attorney

that he knew my witness was solid.

But he was determined to put me away

for everything else I had done.

Let me get this straight.

The man that's about to be
nominated for the Supreme Court

knew there was exculpatory evidence,

but chose to prosecute you anyway?

He was happy to
finally find something,

anything to put on me,
whether it was true or not.

You know what I feel like?

Like I was in prison for who I was,

not for what I did.

Why didn't you come forward earlier?

Coming forward is risky.

I did my time straight through.

I went for unconditional
release over parole...

which meant I could have a new start.

Now I've got a job,

a young family,

I've got a church community.

Not many people other than my wife

know about my past.

So, I've got a lot to lose.

Linger on his face
just a little longer.

Not many people other than my wife...

- JUSTIN: That's nice.
- ... know about my past.

- MARY JANE: Yeah.
- I've got a lot to lose.

MARY JANE: Too bad it's all for nothing.

JUSTIN: What do you mean?

You know Garrett's gonna
give this story to Ronda.

He almost said as much.

You've gotta stand up for yourself.

How?

That's for you to decide.

But I will tell you this...

you've gotta make your
own luck in this business.

You read Ronda's autobiography, right?

I did. She said she never
got anywhere playing it safe.

Exactly.

What? I can't push Garrett that hard.

I need this job.

Okay.

What do you need more?

A job or a seat at the table?

It's for you to decide,

but whatever you
choose, I'll back you up.

- Oh.
- Hey.

Please tell me you're
not using the back door

because you're hoping
not to run into me.

I'm using the back door
because I'm on suspension,

and I hate running the
gauntlet on the way in.

Okay, then, let's
get you off suspension.

Tell me, how did it go
with, uh, Justin's source?

- Oh, good.
- Yeah? Okay.

Great, actually. Yeah.

- Oh, boy...
- I know you, MJ.

Here comes the crazy. What is it?

Justin and I are
working the story in secret

and we're gonna take
it straight to Garrett.

So, you're not gonna
give me the information?

- No.
- Was this your idea?

- It was Justin's.
- Justin? Justin?

So, what? Now you're following his lead?

What about your promise
to me, Mary Jane?

What choice do I have, seriously?

I either go along with Justin,

or I watch Ronda use my material
on air and win another Peabody.

The two of us could have come up with

a solution together, Mary Jane.

I'm sorry.

I'm on suspension and
it's screwing with my head.

Watch your back.

Don't trust him.



MARY JANE: This place is ridiculous.

You heard about it
all the way in London?

My photographer friend, Dario,

sh*t these designers
for "Italian Vogue."

They'll be all the rage in a few months.

- Do you hear that?
- ZOE: What?

It's the sound of my credit
card screaming for mercy.

ZOE: [laughs]

- MARY JANE: Oh, wow.
- ZOE: I know. Right?

Oh, God... I want all of them.

What did... what did you get?

- Oh, cute, right?
- Yes.

- I'm trying.
- I'm gonna try these on.

Yes, you must,

and I'm gonna try it on
if you don't want them.

- [phone camera clicks]
- Wait! Hey! Hey! Whoa! Whoa!

Don't worry, I'm
only sending it to Lee.

You know what? Look. Let's try this.

- [phone camera clicks]
- Ahhh. Yes.

Hold up one sec.

Oh, my God, look. [laughing]

I used not to shave.
Allergic to stubble.

_

Okay, okay, I don't get it.

I don't get it. You are beautiful.

Your body of life.

You are the hippest Black
woman I've probably ever met.

You're successful.

You and Lee should be together.

- I'm just a...
- [kisses]

That's why Lee and I are
not getting back together.

Don't worry, I'm not into you, you know?

That would be too
stereotypical, wouldn't it?

But it was either
that or slap you, so...

Come see some photos.

Gee! Wow!

ZOE: I fell in love with a woman.

MARY JANE: Oh, my God. She's stunning.

ZOE: Isn't she, though?

I recognize her. She's a model.

You're dating a model.

I wouldn't care if
she were a waitress.

This relationship is like
nothing I've ever had before.

Really?

Have you ever felt like
you've found your soulmate?

Like the other person knows
everything about you already

and is still willing
to explore new things

and grow with you.

I think so.

I finally found that person.

And I'm delighted that Lee
seems to have found his, too.

Well, that deserves another round.

- I agree.
- [cork pops]

Yes, yes, more, more.

You've gotta let a bitch know

when you're gonna kiss 'em, though.

That's... that's some sh*t.

Now I've got a job,
I've got a family,

a church community.

Not many people other than my wife

know about my past, so,
I've got a lot to lose.

So, uh, there it is.

- Ronda, Kara, get in here.
- Wait a minute.

Not a word.

- What's up?
- Yup?

Mary Jane and Justin
have interviewed a gentleman

who Judge McAlister wrongly convicted.

While on suspension?

It's a bombshell of a story.

We can't have our team
working at cross purposes.

It's unprofessional.

Weakens us all.

GARRETT: I tend to agree.

The network will pull out all the stops

and will make sure that
this story goes to air

in a major ratings boosting roll out.

It'll be a major scoop
which reverberates

throughout the Congressional Committee,

and Ronda will present every word.

Okay, wait a minute. This
is very awkward for me.

I know you and Mary Jane are close.

If you want to step aside,
I can find another producer.

- No, I'll do it.
- No.

You don't have a
choice in the matter.

I do have a choice.

You give Ronda this story...

I resign.

Immediately.

Wait a minute, Mary Jane, come on.

This is our story, Kara.
Mine and Justin's.

From the beginning.

You planned this? This was your idea?

Not all of it.


Is there anything else
you wanna say for yourself?

If Mary Jane walks, I walk, too.

Today, it's one surprise after
the next with you guys, huh?

Maybe I was too hasty.

Taking into account

the unexpectedly strong
feelings involved...

That is crap!

...I think the team
that landed this whale

- should take it to air.
- Oh, come on now.

I mean, what do you have?
Just what? One case here?

That does not a pattern make.

Come on, it's not like, you know,

it's gonna dent McAlister.

Please, Ronda, don't demean yourself.

A minute ago, you were panting

to be the one to take this out.

MARY JANE: By the way, Ronda,

in this era of Black Lives Matter,

one hint of bias is enough
to make a difference.

Mary Jane and Justin
will do the story,

and that's final.

Wow! Oh!

GARRETT: [clears throat]

And, guys, that trick
works once with me.

You pull that again and you
are both out on your asses.

- KARA: Gir-r-r-r-l!
- [laughing]

MARY JANE: [laughing]

I was so worried about
you for a minute there.

It's about time I scored
a win against Ronda, right?

That was a frickin' great move.

- Oh, my God.
- That was brilliant.

- Hah!
- BOTH: [laughing]

Are you sure you're
okay with us doing it?

Yes.
Please, girl.

A win for you is always a win for me.

Good. I'm glad you're with me.

Of course. Come on.

So, what about you? What's up?

What?

Have you solved your
problem with the ballplayer?

Oh. He's comin' over later.
I just... you know what?

I'm gonna have it out with him.

I... I... I don't wanna talk about that.

I don't wanna talk about
that. What about you?

Did you pass the baby mama test?

I just have to survive
one more going away dinner,

but the kids have signed off on me.

Ooh. And then all your
hurdles are behind you.

Except for one.

I still don't know where he
stands on having more kids.

Oh. Well... where do
you stand on that subject?

Where do you think?

Do I have to draw you a
picture of my shriveling uterus?

I don't know, MJ.

You should really think about that one

because having some kids
will make you think twice

about pulling that move
you just made in there.

True. True. True.

But the relationship is moving along.

It's nice to talk about these things.

Wow. You have changed.

I know. I have.

And I'm not done yet.

RONDA: Justin.

I'm very disappointed in you.

Somehow I knew that
might be the case.

I brought you here.

And you completely let me down.

You took your big
foot and you stomped on

what could be the biggest
moment of my career...

It wasn't your moment,

it's not your story, and you know...

No one does that to
me and gets away with it,

do you understand me? No one.

Oh, you picked your side, huh?

Well, you'd better
hope it's the right one.

[electronic dance music]



♪ Call me up ♪



♪ I got the green light mami ♪

♪ And you know what that means ♪

♪ That we could do anything,
anything that you dream ♪

♪ I wanna make you ooh,
ah, until you scream ♪

♪ And I practice what I preach,
if you know what I mean ♪

♪ I'm about that mami ♪

♪ Yeah I got the key
and I'ma lock that mami ♪

Yo. [laughs]

Wow, it's totally quiet.

Yeah, your silent
disco is pretty hot.

You can rock the house

and the neighbors would never hear it.

A totally chill idea, PJ.

I knew you'd get in the swing of it.

- Now have some fun.
- [laughing]

♪ Give me the green light, oh yeah ♪

- ♪ 'Cause I'm ready to go ♪
- Oh, my God...

♪ Give me the green light ♪

[knock at door]

[sighing]

- Hi.
- Bonsoir.

What are you doing here?

What? What are you doing here?

- I live here.
- Yeah?

- Yeah.
- ORLANDO: [laughs]

- [kisses]
- What's up?

Uh...

- Scott.
- Yeah?

He keeps sending me snaps. Um...

I feel bad not returning them.

So, tell me, why
aren't we talking again?

My kids are falling for
you a lot faster than I am.

- And that's not good.
- No, that's not good,

because the more you talk to them,

the more they're gonna
think we're an item,

and then the more
confused they're gonna be

when you decide to... [sighing]

...move on.

And what if I decided not to move on?

You know, what if we
try to be, you know?

What's the word? Unanimous.

Monogamous?

- Are you kidding?
- Yes, I'm kidding.

- Are you kidding?
- Yes.

Oh, God... [laughing]

- Let's do it.
- What?

You could never!

- No?
- No.

- Absolutely not.
- I am a quick learner.

Anh.

I couldn't get a change
up once before, too.

Yeah, well, I'm not
a change up, papi, so...

[clicks tongue]

No, you are definitely a
fast ball straight inside.

- Yes, I am a fast b...
- [kissing]

I've got work to do.
What are you doing here?

- I'm a professional.
- Oh, God, Orlando, stop it.

Oh, God, you crazy man. Stop
it! [squealing, laughing]

♪ Hatch back color bourbon ♪

♪ Double backing snow at circus ♪

♪ Scrap that at that nostrils burning ♪

♪ Pass that pass that bobby burning ♪

Hey. Y'all.

So, this is how you
party in Manhattan, huh?

- Yeah, listen...
- It is lit.

Look, you're not
messin' with Ava, are you?

Listen, man, she's the
one you oughta talk to.

She's the one all up in me, bro.

WOMAN: My God, help me! My sister!

MAN: Someone call - - !

PJ: Move. Move. Move. Move.

- WOMAN: My sister.
- Call - - !

PJ: Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Oh, hey, hey, lady! Um, somebody help!

Ava, come over here! Call - - !



So, given the personal cost to you,

why did you decide to come forward now?

I knew I would have to speak up

when I heard that man's name

being mentioned for the Supreme Court.

Why?

Someone like that shouldn't sit

on the highest court in the US...

not after what he did to me.

GARRETT: [heavy sigh]

RONDA: Mary Jane.

I want to, uh...
congratulate you on the win.

Your interview was flawless.

Thank you.

Oh, and, uh, word just
came in from the White House.

McAlister has called a press conference

for tomorrow in Charlotte.

- He withdrew his name?
- RONDA: [laughing]

That's what one powerful story can do.

Your story was powerful...

so powerful it cost me money.

I don't follow.

Your victory motivated me

to stop futzin' around with my contract.

My agent and I had to leave

a little money on the table, but...

mmm, what's a few dollars

against the security
of a five-year contract.

- So, it's done.
- Mm-hm.

I just signed it while
you were on the air.

Mmmm... mmmm...

Poetic, isn't it?

Mmmm, great job, though.

- [sighing]
- [rapping on door]

Congrats.

Thank you for, uh...

pushing me to stand up to Garrett.

You did what needed to be done.

Now Garrett can never
look at you the same.

Well, neither can Ronda...

for better or for worse.

You hear she signed her contract?

Yeah, that's because
she's scared of you.

It's not me she's scared of.

It's irrelevancy.

But who brings that out?

Natalie?

Sylvia?

No.

It's you.

You'd think I'd be better
prepared for these situations.

Stay ready, so you
don't have to get ready.

After everything that
happened in Atlanta...

Oh, yeah.

You're still stuck back there, huh?

Yeah, you know, losing
your first big job...

kinda hard to get over.

I think you misunderstood

where I was coming from back then.

So, you didn't have
a problem with me.

[clears throat]

No. No, I did have a problem with you.

Why? Because I stole your spot

as the "star n*gro" at the network?

[chuckles]

Because I hate to see talent wasted.

It sure didn't feel that way.

- Look, I, uh...
- [sighing]

I never tried to thwart you.

I was trying to push you to excel.

- The push part, I got.
- Yeah.

Is that why you had to push back?

Get at me, first?

You didn't think I knew about that.

I was only trying to protect myself.

But you didn't do a very good job.

You know why? [sighing]

Because you didn't have
anybody to watch your back.

But now you do.

Do I?

I think you can go all the way.

With your help.

[sighing]

Yeah.

With my help.

I am on the hook for a
sixfigure hospital bill

for that poor girl who overdosed.

At least she's okay, thankfully.

And the cleaning fee. That
was another few thousand.

Olivia, I'm really, really
sorry about all of this,

and I know money will not make
up for your lost trust in me.

But I really hope this will be a start.

You think you can buy
your way out of this one?

I don't. No.

I know this stunt wasn't you.

[rips up check]

Now then, it has Ava
written all over it.

Olivia, I'll take
full responsibility.

Ava didn't put you up to this?

Because I know she can be persuasive.

Olivia, I put myself
in this situation.

I'm sorry. I...

Why can't Ava be like that?

I thought things were
getting better with her

and now...

I'm even more worried.

I think she's using you to get to me.

[sighs] I'm sorry.

[sighs] Don't be.

- Oh.
- PJ, I...

No, wait, is this why

you've been helping me
out this entire time?

It didn't start out that way.

I wish I could believe that.

I mean, all this talk about the...

the invisible barriers that
we're gonna break down...

Can't both be true?

Can't I like you and
also wanna help you, too?

Look, all this time,

I thought it was Ava
that I had to worry about.

This doesn't have
to change anything, PJ.

Sadly, it does.

I'll have Clint Olson
take over your account.

He's a senior partner

and you will be very,
very happy with him.

Here...

I appreciate your help.

I'm very grateful for everything
that you've done for me.

But I think it's time for me to move on.

I'm sorry.

PJ, wait. Don't...

Gluten free soy mac & cheese,

or broccoli noodles?

MARY JANE: Tough choice.

All right, cut it out, you two.

Wait. Did we just have a moment

that Zoe could not relate to?

- Oh, major win for Mary Jane.
- [palm slap]

LEE: [laughs] I agree.

Do you know... do
you know the best thing

about my trip has been to find you

so chill in person, Mary Jane.

Well...

It's so different from
the way you are on TV.

Well, you have
opened my mind as well.

I mean, you know, I can only hope

that one day Lee and I

can actually get as
comfortable as you and Lee.

- LEE: Oh, stop it.
- ZOE: [laughs]

Well, that's worthy
of a toast, huh? Yes.

- Hear. Hear.
- Hear. Hear.

[glasses clink]

ZOE: It's great you
can sense how comfortable

Lee and I are because I'm going to

really open up myself here
and ask for a huge favor.

We're not having a threesome.

I'm serious, Lee.

So, Karen and I want to
have a child together.

- Congratulations.
- ZOE: [laughing]

We'll use her egg, which she has frozen,

and I will carry the baby,

so I can participate in the birth.

LEE: Oh.

And we really want this new baby

to be connected to their older siblings

in a special way, so...

Karen and I would like to know, Lee,

will you be the sperm donor?





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