04x15 - Feeling Ambushed

[bunniefuu]

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

Snooping. How far is too far?

Oh, Lord, what did you do?

MARY JANE: I may have taken a box

of keepsakes from Justin's apartment.

I really wish that I could
make a simple observation

about a person of color and
it not be labeled as r*cist.

Bullshit!

Garrett wants me to get a photographer

from "Entertainment Weekly" to be there

to promote the "GDU" family thing.

So, it'll be a party full
of people that I don't like.

I found this under your couch.

Justin's worth $ million?

KARA: It's my dad.

Kara, it's okay.

[sobbing] It's the end for him.

♪

[vehicle horns honking]

WOMAN: Taxi!

[mixed conversations]

- Thank you.
- Check.

You like the show?

Look, watching you on TV is one thing.

But I'm ready to see you.

In the flesh.

I'm ready, too.

More than ready.

You sound a little distracted.

Well, you know, I was thinking, um...

we haven't done this
before, uh, you know,

but what about us
taking a weekend getaway?

Like, just the two of us.

That sounds enticing,

especially after being
here in Vancouver.

What are you thinking?

Necker Island? Richard Branson owns it.

The Obamas love it.

We could fly in and, you know,
go first class the whole way.

A villa there runs about $ , a week,

and I am all for romance, but I...

I think that's a little bit steep.

Okay, Buzzkill, what
about the, uh, Hamptons?

Much better.

You're lucky I'm easy to please.

Mary Jane Paul, you are about
the most un-easy to please

woman that I have ever met.

Maybe you are getting to know me.

I know. I know.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

I'll see you soon.

- Not soon enough.
- [laughs]

♪

WOMAN ON TV: ♪ Well... ♪

♪ Rock the top ♪

♪ Woop, ba dum ba ♪

♪ Low! Low! ♪

Come on, every time you repeat this,

get it a little bit bigger.

♪ That's it, uh-huh ♪

♪ The bigger the roll of the hips ♪

♪ The bigger the waist, hug it ♪

♪ Roll it, now give it... ♪

Uh, Grandma, did you teleport

that leotard and matching
headband from the ' s?

You need to be joinin' me

instead of mockin' me.

And what's got you exercising all fierce

all of a sudden, anyway?

I saw Bonetta in church the other day,

oh, lookin' all young and spry, Lord,

and wearin' high heels.

That woman's older than me.

Got me inspired.

- [grunts
- NIECY: Ooh!

Don't hurt yourself.

Baby girl, I was doin' aerobics

long before you learned to be sassy.

- [grunts]
- NIECY: Uhhuh.

You hangin' in there?

Oh... [sighs] I'm okay.

I haven't been sleeping much
since my dad passed away.

And Orlando's on his -game road trip.

Ooh, so no... [clicks tongue]

Oh, not even.

Well, I know you're sad, but, um...

Hi.

Any interest in a little piping hot tea?

- Oh.
- Oh.

Anything to occupy my mind.

- Right this way.
- Yes?

So, what would you do
if someone that you knew

was worth a crap ton of money?

Be happy for them?

What if they were keeping it a secret?

Is this a story idea, Mary Jane?

What if it was Justin?

Oh, no, no, no.

Justin is worth $ million.

- What?!
- Yes!

- Yes!
- Wha...?

- Get...
- Oh, geez!

AALIYAH: Mary Jane?

Oh, give me just two...
two seconds, okay?

Just two seconds. Okay.

So... how did you learn this?

I accidentally read
his financial statement.

Accidentally?

Yeah, um...

it sort of fell out of a box

in his apartment in
the back of his closet.

Mary Jane, what did you do?

Look, I... I returned it.

Eventually.

Are you sure about this info?

Oh, hold, please.

Mm-hm.

Hello?

- She took a picture.
- Mmhm.

[laughing] You know what?

I've been missin' the old Mary Jane,

and she is back with a vengeance.

- I know. Right?
- Yes! My gosh.

But how does a news producer
have that kind of money?

I don't know.

It can't be family money because
his dad was a car salesman.

Well, why don't you just
come right out and ask him?

Because then he'll know I was snooping.

Oh [sighs].

Look, I'm sure he's gonna
mention it in his own time.

But what if he doesn't?

Girl, please, you're
gonna get it out of him.

This is too big a deal not to mention.

Come on. It's a lot of money.

- It's weird, isn't it?
- What?

We could both end up
with multi-millionaires.

- Oh, my God!
- MARY JANE: [laughs]

I don't call that
weird. I call it winning!

BOTH: [laugh, palm slap]

♪

- NIECY: Hey.
- AMIKA: Hey.

ISABELLE: [fusses]

NIECY: Go find Marquis, y'all.

Go ahead. Go to his room.

[laughs]

I'm gonna put their lunch bags in here.

- Don't open the fridge.
- Why not?

They shut off the power.

Amika, are you serious?

I ran outta cash.

I had to choose between bills.

I got a cooler. Put
those lunches in there.

Girl, I cannot leave my kids in a home

with no lights.

How could you let this happen?

I was looking for work at Home Solutions

because the doctor said I
need to be with Marquis more.

He still ain't talkin'?

He will when he's got somethin' to say.

How much is it to turn the lights on?

Look at that wad of cash!

It's tips.

It only looks like a lot
because it comes in ones.

Thank you.

I'm not doing this out of
the goodness of my heart.

I'm not.

I'm doing this because I need
this child share thing to work.

Still...

thank you.

I've got to go.

I don't have time for this.

Treyvion?

Come on, let's go.

This is not my usual eggs and bacon.

It's quinoa and egg whites...

high in protein and low in calories.

Keen what?

- It smells like burnt tire.
- Oh.

Dad, can you please
watch the kids for me?

[sighs]

Amika flaked and I've gotta get to work.

I have a lot of work
calls this afternoon. I...

Please? You know how my
boss is about being late.

Mmm, maybe I can
reschedule a few things.

- Oh, thank you!
- PATRICK: [laughs]

- Here, go to Grandpa.
- PATRICK: All right.

The biggest reason I'm saying yes

is it's great to see you
so caught up in the job.

Ah, it's a blessing.

Oh, well, take some
strawberries before you go.

Grandma, what's on these
strawberries... dirt?

No, it's chia seeds.

More fiber, more protein.

This healthy kick has gone way too far.

Dad, why don't we take these
kids to the Waffle House?

Yeah, there you go. Now you're talkin'.

Give my babies some real food, please?

It is healthy!

Hello?

Oh, yeah, you wanted to speak with me.

Yeah. So, the stuff we've been doing

to improve your Q rating is helping.

The feedback is all positive.

Why am I sensing a "but"?

But there has been one
unintentional consequence.

Mary Jane Paul hosted her colleagues

to celebrate the big, happy
"Great Day USA" family.

But the belle of the ball
was conservative blogger.

turned-correspondent, Dani Hollins,

whose bubbly sense of fun
has captivated viewers.

And according to insiders,

it's Hollins who will be
the network's big star.

That's the unintended consequence.

All of the coverage is about Dani.

Which is nothing to worry
about. It will blow over.

Mary Jane, come here, look at this..

CROWD: [angry shouting]

KARA: This school board
just slashed the budget

for this high school for
the third time this year.

They're diverting funds

to a for-profit private charter school

and the students and parents are
planning a big protest tomorrow.

Let me guess.

The school that they're
slashing is poor and Black.

The people that orchestrated
it are making bank.

It's disgusting they're
taking advantage of kids

who have it hard enough
already, you know?

This totally ties in
with all the controversy

swirling around the
new Education Secretary,

who is a big supporter of school choice.

- Yeah.
- We should send a team.

Oh, I'm one step ahead of you, mama.

I already convinced Garrett to send you.

So, I'll get to be doing

the hard-hitting stories that I want!

Exactly and you're gonna love this.

Justin is cutting Vancouver short

so he can be back in
time to handle the story.

Oh, hallelujah! Praise Jesus!

- KARA: [laughs]
- Oh, my God.

Wait. Wait. If I'm out in the field,

who's gonna be taking
my place in my chair?

That's it for "First
Page Entertainment."

We'll see you tomorrow.

♪

MARY JANE: Dani has been
here all of five minutes

and now she's already
filling in at the anchor desk?

Wait a minute. Slow it down.

Because aren't you being

just a little hypocritical right now?

Unh-unh. Remember?

I was promised that chair
when I signed my contract.

Mary Jane, this is a good thing.

I pushed really hard for
you to get this story.

Yeah, keep going because
you're gonna help them

push me right out the door.

I'm surprised at you.

We've gotta think
about your brand, honey.

We've gotta move you past

fashion tips and the movie premieres.

That is morning television.

Yes, it is. But that is not who you are.

So, if you wanna rise to the top,

you've gotta stay true to yourself.

The country needs you,
mama, especially now.

Well, damn, if somebody's
gotta save the world...

[glasses clink]

...it might as well be me.

That's my girl.

[quiet knock at door]

- Frank Pearl?
- Hey, Paul.

Well, I'll be damned.

The last time I saw you
was... Fortyfour years ago.

And don't remind me, man.

Forty-four long-ass years ago.

So, tell me, what brings you
to my door after so much time?

Hey, man, I'm not here
to create any problems.

I figure maybe we could just sit down

and have some conversation.

[sighing] Okay.

[door closes]

FRANK: [laughs] It's a damn shame.

I spent most of my life in this city

and I barely recognize it.

PAUL SR: It's changed, hasn't it?

FRANK: Hey, tell me about it.

It sure has. Haven't we all?

As long as I'm here in this city,

I might as well poke around
a little bit, check it out.

Go see if some of our
old spots are still there.

Stir up the pot a little bit.

You know what I'm saying?

Is that what brings you to town?

No, I'm here because of my sister, man.

Uh, she's not feeling well,

and so I'm here to help her

get settled in assisted living.

Is she reluctant to make a change?

Not really. She's been
living on her own since ,

piling up a whole lot
of junk over the years.

Well, it sounds like a
big job on your hands.

I came here to talk to
you about making amends,

patching up our friendship.

You mean that?

Hey, man, remember back in the day, huh,

when I was raisin' all that hell?

We were tight.

I feel I owe you.

PAUL SR: [chuckles]

That was a long, long time ago.

It's all in the past.

Hey, Helen, come on in here.

Guess who showed up at our doorstep?

Glory be, is this Frank Pearl?

Hello, Helen. Nice to see ya.

Nice to see you, too.

Frank's in town for a
spell to help his sister.

Oh.

I just dropped by to catch
up with an old friend.

- Mm-hm.
- See you guys.

I've got some runs to make.

Oh, you'll do no such thing.

Don't let me interrupt you.

I mean, I'm sure you two
have much to talk about.

[sighing]

Don't bother.

All that's in there is Grandma's
six pints of homemade yogurt.

- PATRICK: [groans]
- NIECY: Yes.

She threw all the good stuff out.

- But I have a secret stash.
- PATRICK: [laughs]

- [clicks tongue]
- All right.

So, uh, who's that super fly guy

Grandpa's in there with right now?

Oh, an old friend of Dad's.

I think they grew up together.

All I know is they had a falling out

and haven't talked in years.

I'm glad they found each other again.

- [swats bottom]
- HELEN: Oh.

You know, Frank is looking well.

- Is he?
- Mm-hm.

[laughing]

He's always had a bit of a swagger.

Mm-hm, if you're trying to get me

to say something,
it's not going to work.

[laughing]

Okay. I'll just come
right out and ask you.

Did you know that your
ex-lover was in town?

Is that what's behind
this health kick you're on?

Paul.

Frank and I...

it's water under a -year-old bridge.

Oh...

Well, he's invited me

to have lunch with him while he's here.

Well, are you gonna take him up on it?

I prefer to let sleeping dogs lie.

MAN ON TV: That story coming up.

CROWD: [chanting] Stand up, fight back!

WOMAN: The school board may decide

that the school's closing.

But no more!

We're gonna stand up and fight back!

CROWD: Stand up, fight back!

Jacy, you're graduating this year.

Tell us why you care
about the budget cuts.

Well, I'd like to be graduating,

but the board stopped funding
the upper-level classes I need.

They cut and they keep cutting.

This is happening in
districts across the nation,

where they cut arts
and foreign languages.

You don't understand.

Look at my class schedule.

I have three hours for lunch.

Five out of seven periods
are lunch or study hall.

MARY JANE: So, you're
showing up to school,

and not a lot of learning is going on.

It's gonna take my friends
and I five years to graduate,

just because the classes aren't there.

Five years?

All I want to do is finish
school, go to college,

and make something of myself.

I don't understand

why the school board
doesn't want that, too.

We'll get the answers
to those questions, Jacy.

Thank you so much for
sharing your story.

CROWD: Stand up, fight
back! Stand up, fight back!

We'll be following up
with updates on Jacy

and her fellow protestors
during the rest of the hour.

Back to you.

CROWD: Stand up, fight
back! Stand up, fight back!

Stand up, fight back!
Stand up, fight back!

Stand up, fight back!

So, how much of that did you catch?

Enough.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

We can reference that student later

when Dani interviews
the school board member.

That's a great idea.

I... I'm really glad you're back.

Me, too.

CROWD: Stand up, fight
back! Stand up, fight back!

Now, are you ready to
interview these parents?

- I am.
- Good.

You know, Kara's right.
I did miss all of this.

Almost as much as I missed you.

Hmmm...

Almost.

CROWD: Stand up, fight
back! Stand up, fight back!

Stand up, fight back!
Stand up, fight back!

Stand up, fight back!
Stand up, fight back!

Stand up, fight back!
Stand up, fight back!

Hey, Kara, the school
board's been taken over

by a local group that's
pushing a low-tax agenda.

Yeah, and according to these bios,

they have zero experience
in public education.

MARY JANE: No, it's all about
the bottom line for them.

They've consistently been

diverting funds away from the school,

which is already struggling,

and now conditions are so bad,

they can make a case for closing it,

and replacing it with a
for-profit charter school.

Which is what they wanted all along.

It's criminal.

Do you know what happened with that
school board member? Where is he?

KARA: Oh, we have him
here in the studio.

And now I know what
I'm gonna hit him with.

Hey, Cashea, are you all right?

I'm so late. I'm sorry.

Well, don't worry. Claudia
held your appointment.

Let me get you started.

Sit down in this chair.

Hi, baby. Hi.

You wanna sit down in
this chair, big boy?

Oh... [sighing]

So, girl, what happened?
Why are you late?

The bus never showed.

So, I borrowed my sister's
car and wouldn't you know it...

I get pulled over for not
having Samir in a car seat.

Mmmm... and the cop gave you a ticket.

A $ ticket. It don't make no sense.

I don't have no $ .

If I did, I would've
bought the damn car seat.

Exactly.

And those things are too expensive,

and the kids outgrow 'em so fast.

I barely paid off the other one

- before I had to buy a new one.
- I'm sorry, girl.

WOMAN FLOOR DIRECTOR:
Four, three, two...

["GDU" theme music]

Mr. Russo, what do you say to the claims

of an illegal takeover
of the school board?

[laughs] That's crazy.

My group raised money
from local businesses

and property owners
fed up with rising taxes

and failing schools.

We put forward a slate
of qualified candidates

committed to improving our schools.

DANI: So, your group represents

"the will of the
people," in other words?

We won, didn't we?

Ask if any of their qualified candidates

have kids in public schools.

Tell me what's happening
at Leland High School.

What's happening is the best students

and teachers have voted with their feet.

That's what school choice is about.

And what's left behind
is a failing institution.

Dani, enough with the softball.

Ask him if his group took campaign money

from for-profit charter
management organizations.

So, why not invest money
to turn the school around?

Is she for real?

But, meanwhile, the
kids who are stuck there

don't have time to
wait for that to happen.

We need a solution now.

KARA: Stick with the script, Dani.

And what about those who say that

school choice and charter schools

are bad for public education?

I say a little competition

might be the best thing
for public schools.

Injecting the discipline
of the marketplace

can be the remedy for
all kinds of problems,

and that's why the
school will be closed,

and that's also why
the location will become

a De Novo charter school site.

Damn it, Dani.

The school board denies that it...

Frank called [sighs]

He insists that I go

to the classic car
show with him tonight.

Hm, he's coming here?

Wouldn't take no for an answer.

Well, it sounds to me like

he genuinely wants his old friend back.

The way you two used to
tinker with those old cars.

PAUL SR: [chuckling]

What's the harm in that?

Yeah, well, I suppose you're right.

And that's why the
school will be closed,

and that's also why the location

will become a De Novo
charter school site.

CROWD: Stand up, fight
back! Stand up, fight back!

That's just not right! I'll be damned!

They are closing our school!

CROWD: [angry shouting]

Stand up, fight back!

That reporter on your show didn't even

call the board member on his decision.

She made it sound like a good thing.

I thought this protest
was gonna fix things.

Jacy, we're gonna make sure
your voices are being heard.

When? When they board up the doors?

I thought you were gonna tell our side.

CROWD: Stand up, fight
back! Stand up, fight back!

Stand up, fight back!
Stand up, fight back!

Stand up, fight back!

The anger of the crowd just boiled over

into outright hostility.

The protestors feel the board

simply does not represent their views.

This is our school! You leave!

CROWD: Stand up, fight back!

MARY JANE: Get this! Get this!

Get in there! Get in
there! Get in there!

CROWD: Stand up, fight back!

Officer...

Sir, I need you to stay back, please.

Why?

Because we have more units
moving in. Sir, please.

JUSTIN: Mary Jane, what's happening?

MARY JANE: I'm fine.

OFFICER: Watch out! Make way! Make way!

JUSTIN: Okay, get ready to pull out.

- CROWD: Stand up, fight back!
- [head thuds]

CROWD: [gasps]

WOMAN ANNOUNCING: This
is a non-violent protest!

It's our constitutional
right to have it!

[siren wailing]

I just heard from Justin.

We've got some realtime developments.

Dani, throw it to Mary Jane.

WOMAN: Get out of here!

JUSTIN: Mary Jane, are you okay?

Mary Jane!

Mary Jane!

CROWD: [angry shouting]

MARY JANE: [gasps] Justin!

CROWD: [angry shouting continues]

MARY JANE: Justin!

Justin!

CROWD: [angry shouting continues]

MARY JANE: Justin! Jus...

Oh! Cut to commercial
now! Go to commercial.

WOMAN ON TV: Our new
multiple cat formula...

Justin? Justin, can you hear me?

Are you injured?

Justin?

Justin, can you hear me?

Sir, sir, I need you to stay back.

You don't understand.
My girlfriend's in there.

OFFICER: Did you not hear me?

Oh, God...

OFFICER: Stay back!

JUSTIN: Mary Jane!

I'm gonna go!

All right, I'ma get her outta there.

CROWD: [angry shouting continues]

♪

MARY JANE: Oh, God...

♪

MARY JANE: Yes, I'm okay.

I want to let our viewers
know that our team is okay.

We have moved a few dozen
yards from the conflict

where irate students and parents

are attempting to prevent the
closure of a local high school.

I repeat, we are fine.

Thank you. Thank you.

Wha...?

Who is Justin?

♪

Hey.

What are you doing here so early?

Don't get fired again.

Girl, I'm on my break.

What's that about?

It's my old car seat.

Thanks, but it's too small for Marquis.

I know.

Do you still have the other
car seat he outgrew, too?

I don't know. Somewhere around here.

All right, so you have two extra seats.

Now you're gonna start a
work-from-home business.

With car seats?

Yeah, I'ma help you rent 'em out.

You could potentially make $ a ride.

Okay, why would someone want to pay

$ to rent a car seat...

especially if they can
afford one of their own?

Girl, because people would
rather pay $ for one

than pay $ for a ticket.

A good point.

But how do we let 'em know?

Go get your phone.

Go.

_

That'll get their attention.

Mm-hm, now you tweet

everybody that you know to advertise.

- This is fun.
- Mm-hm.

Thanks for helpin' me.

Girl, we help each other.

Hey! I got a taker.

Keisha needs to take her kids

to their daddy's house across town.

See? There you go. I told you.

Now we're in business.

AMIKA: [laughs]

What the hell was that?

Must you be so hostile?

You didn't even ask about
the student's schedule.

Because it was obviously fake.

Thank you.

You cannot ignore facts
you don't like, Dani.

That's why we give people scripts,

so they're not caught spouting

their own personal opinions.

My opinions are what got me here

in the first place, so...

Which can be misconstrued
as representing the...

Excuse me!

...as representing the
views of "Great Day USA."

So, not only did you put
forward your own agenda,

but you did it at the
risk of two of our people.

It's my face and my
reputation that's on the line,

and if I'm in that chair,

it's my responsibility to
report what I believe in.

It is your responsibility
to report what we give you.

That is your responsibility.

Well, my audience would think otherwise.

Really? Well, let's see how long

before you get in front of
that audience again, huh?

[door closes]

- Who is Justin?
- Huh?

Don't "huh" me.

Now Pauletta has been
all concerned about

somebody named Justin.

Now who is he?

Grandma, I don't know.

Now I've got ten minutes to freshen up

and eat something before class.

I have raised three kids

and I know when somebody is lying to me.

I don't appreciate it,

especially since I spent all that money

sending you to New York.

He's a producer at "Great Day USA".

Is he Pauletta's boyfriend?

I think so.

Is he the one she left Lee to be with?

That girl is being
reckless with her heart.

Givin' up a sure thing,

and foolishly doing this
thing with somebody at work?

Oh, Niecy, I wish you had told me sooner

so that I could just sort of talk

some sense into her hard head.

What is this?

That's Justin.

Oh?

Yeah.

ALL: [applauding]

Is that all it takes to get a
little recognition around here?

- Almost get k*lled?
- ALL: [laughing]

See ya.

TY: Congratulations on the segment.

"GDU" is now trending.

Yeah, of course, we're trending.

The police used force against kids.

No, girl, that's not the
reason why we're trending.

- It's you.
- Me?

Well, no, him.

"Who is Justin?"

Seven million people heard you

scream his name live on
TV... like Whitney Houston

yelling for Kevin Costner
in "The Bodyguard."

The emotion in your voice.
That sh*t was powerful.

It's gone viral and now

everybody wanna know who "that" man is.

JUSTIN: I don't know what happened.

TY: [laughs]

I can't believe this is what
people are talking about.

I mean, it's like they've set the clock

to two minutes to midnight,
and now, all of a sudden,

everyone wants to hop aboard
the latest gossip train.

Embrace it.

Social media buzz, good or bad,

is great for the show.

Right now, Dani is
beatin' us at this game.

How so?

I'm like an agent behind enemy lines,

and big city media elite
is trying to silence me.

I know that school choice
makes sense, so do you,

and I'm sick and tired of liberal media

trying to censor what we already know.

Isn't she barred from
doing this kind of stuff

now that she's at "GDU"?

She can't do her internet show,

but there's always a
new app, a new site,

that falls outside the
purview of her contract.

That sneaky bitch.

How did she even get
the video up so fast?

It doesn't matter.

What matters is us b*ating her,

and the way to do it is
to answer the question.

"Who is Justin?"

Uh...

Ooh...

I don't know if Justin's
even ready for all that.

It's happening, girl,
with or without him.

MARY JANE: [sighs]

All right, if we do this,

I'm gonna need to ask
your help for something.

Okay.

It's gotta be completely
on the hush-hush.

I work in PR.

I'm pretty sure keeping secrets
is part of the job description,

and we're friends, right?

I need you to look
into Justin's net worth.

Um, does he owe back taxes or something?

Oh, no. No, no, no.

Uh, funny, really. Um...

I have reason to believe that Justin

may be, like, a multi-
multi-multi-millionaire.

Reason to believe? He hasn't told you?

No, it kind of like has never
come up in conversations.

Which makes you suspicious.

A little bit, yeah, yeah.

And before we... [laughs]

bare our souls on Instagram,

we wanna make sure everything
is on the up and up.

You know, 'cause there's gotta be, like,

a logical explanation for it all, right?

[laughs] I'll look into it.

[sighs] Great.

♪

[door opens]

- Hey, girl.
- Hey.

- How was class?
- It was good.

The kids sound like they're
having fun back there.

Oh, they about wore me out,

so I let them have their screen time.

[laughs] Yeah, I'm sure.

Girl, check this out.

You booked seats for next week?

Mm-hm.

Girl, I have to thank you.

I've never had a friend

willing to help me in
a real way like that.

You should be thankin' that single mom

that gave me the idea.

I mean, she was squirtin'
out tears and all upset.

You must hear a lot at work.

Yeah, I feel like I listen to problems

more than I actually fix hair.

A good thing you're good at both.

But you know what else?

I feel like there's a
solution to every problem,

and I have more ideas for
my baby mama life hacks.

You should share them
with other moms like us.

I should, huh?

Like you said,

nobody will help us, if
we can't help ourselves.

And I actually have
another idea for you.

_

It's time to expand, girl.

_

Oh, I love the way you think.

Where are you? I don't see you.

Kara, are you all right?

Yeah. No, I was just expecting a package

and tracking said it
was delivered, so...

It's no big deal. What
do you have for me?

You know that student that
I interviewed, Jacy Davis?

I was wondering if you
could reach out to her

and try to convince
her to come on the show.

Is she not returning your calls?

Maybe you'll have better luck.

I will try.

- Thanks, mama.
- Sure. Okay...

[vocalizing]

PAUL SR: What's all this?

Oh, I thought you and Frank

might like some dinner
before you go to the car show.

He's not coming, Helen.

Oh. Did Frank cancel?

Actually, I did.

I thought it best that way.

Oh.

I understand.

I'm glad you agree.

♪

JUSTIN: [sleepily] You'd better hurry up

before jet lag takes over.

♪

MARY JANE: Maybe this'll wake you up.

♪

Okay, get your face
outta the phone, please.

I'm just fixing the music.

No. No, you're not.

Come here.

♪ Oh lover ♪

MARY JANE: And just so you know,

# WholsJustin got
, more likes today.

You're so fascinated
by this #WholsJustin,

don't forget you've got the real thing.

Yeah, like you have your own hashtag.

[laughs]

Honestly, it's already
interfering with our lives.

I haven't been home for weeks

and this is what we're talking about?

No.

No, I've missed you.

What? You what?

Oh, I've missed you.

Show me how much you've missed me.

♪ Music still playin' in the background ♪

♪ So close from here ♪

♪ Baby I'ma be your motivation ♪

Mary Jane, I got you another
sh*t on the school board story.

I didn't get Jacy,

but you're gonna be interviewing
a school board member, so...

- Russo agreed to come back?
- Yeah.

Well, what happened to Dani?

Yeah, she was sidelined.

BOTH: [laughing]

- So much for rising star.
- Yeah.

Thank you, seriously,

for understanding how
important this issue is.

Well, I'm not on this
by myself, you know?

Just and I are co-producing it.

- Really?
- Yep.

Maybe I'm starting to see
Justin in a better light.

You know, the other morning,
I was live on the line.

I know.

And I have to say, if
I was in trouble, I...

I would want Justin to
be the guy looking for me.

My God, you're starting to come around.

I'm... I'm not there yet.

But I do know the one thing
you've wanted your whole life

is a man who claims
you as his own, so...

if Justin really cares about you,

then he should be out there doing it.

[laughs] Go kick booty.

MARY JANE: We brought
you back, Mister...

You know I'm gonna
catch hell from Garrett,

if this story is a dud.

It won't be,

and if it is, I'll back you up.

...I might add, money that is no
longer available to fix our school.

But have you already
decided to close the school

and hand it over to De Novo,
a for-profit charter school.

Well, after careful consideration,

the school board decided, unanimously,

that it was in the best
interest of the students.

Best interest of the students,

or the best interest
in your bottom line?

I... I ask because I did some research

and found that you made an investment

in the initial round of funding
for De Novo charter schools.

How...

A small investment which, today,

is worth several million dollars.

I'd say that is quite a stake,

and, also, a conflict of interest.

Was that investment the reason you opted

to run for the school board seat?

I have nothing more to say to you.

I think the students at Leland High

deserve an explanation, don't you?

[sighing]

Kara, a package came for you.

Thanks, Huff.

♪

[sniffles]

[exhales]

♪

[sniffles]

It never ceases to amaze me.

That guy had every reason in the world

not to come back here and
make a fool of himself.

Oh, never underestimate
the power of being on air.

[laughs] It's like a drug.

Still, what was he thinking?

I don't know. Maybe,
it was a run for mayor,

or state senator, figured he
could get some free publicity.

Well, everybody knows his name now.

Do you think kids like
Jacy, who's in the process,

do you think they watched?

- Of course.
- Yeah?

REPORTERS: [shouting mixed questions]

MARY JANE: Oh...

Okay.

JUSTIN: [sighs]

Well, uh...

everybody knows your name, too, now.

I think keeping our lives
private may not be possible.

Okay, what if I have
a problem with this?

Do you have a problem with this?

Okay, I am a journalist.

I live by the mantra
that I cover the story,

I don't become the story.

I want to do serious news,

I don't want to be a sideshow.

I'm right there with you.

But, facing the limelight, honey,

that comes with the territory.

All right.

All I'm asking is
that maybe, just maybe,

we can do both.

Is that all right?

Yeah.

Let's do both.

Now, can we order lunch in today?

Italian?

♪

[dialing cell phone]

[phone ringing]

[sighs]

MARY JANE: Hi, Mom.

I'm not going to b*at around the bush.

I'm calling because Niecy
told me about you and Justin.

- Justin?
- HELEN: Your new boyfriend.

The one you left Lee for.

And don't go blaming
Niecy for spilling the tea,

because, well, you screamed
the boy's name on live TV.

Pauletta, why did you do it?

Mom...

Justin lit a fire in me

in a way that Lee just didn't.

And I know you told me not to
go mucking things up with Lee,

because he's loyal,
and husband material,

and yadda, yadda, yadda, and I agree.

But when push comes to shove,

I just don't want to
spend the rest of my life

with someone who doesn't...

light that fire in me, you know?

And... and, besides, I
just kinda feel like...

like Justin and I are more compatible.

You know, he's... Complicated.

Like you.

Yeah.

Yeah, but he's... I understand.

You don't have to explain any more.

Wow, that is not the
response that I was expecting.

HELEN: I just wanted to know

the truth... coming from you.

No lecture? No judgment?

HELEN: Not from me.

Not today.

And thank you.

For what?

HELEN: For your honesty.

You're lucky that you
know yourself so well.

Not all of us are so fortunate.

MARY JANE: Are you okay, Mom?

You sound... different.

[laughs] Oh, yes, I'm fine, sweetie.

Uh, you take care and
have a beautiful day.

♪

[knocks on door]

♪

You're a straight out son
of a bitch, Frank Pearl.

You show up at my house,

and barely say two words to me?

[scoffs]

I figured that's what you wanted.

What I want is an apology.

I was all set to start a
life with you years ago.

Oh, come on, Helen.

We both know why that didn't happen.

Damn, woman, what do you want me to say?

[scoffs, laughs]

Nothing.

I've said my peace,

and it's probably best to
leave it all in the past.

They still out there?

You wanna take separate doors or...

Tell me, this #WholsJustin thing,

is it still trending?

Yep.

And the crazy video with Dani?

That, too.

If we do this,

can we turn the focus
back to the protest,

to what happened at the school?

Possibly.

But we'll have the spotlight,
so we can take it there.

So, we go out together.

Are you ready?

Yeah. Are you?

We can use this for good, Justin.

Yeah.

You're playin' with my career,

and it takes a lifetime
to build a reputation,

and five minutes to ruin it forever,

and this is... this is my livelihood.

I promise you, whatever happens,

I take full responsibility, okay?

Okay.

♪

REPORTERS: [shouting mixed questions]

♪