04x18 - Feeling Destined

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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04x18 - Feeling Destined

Post by bunniefuu »

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

This is wrong.

I'm going to Paris.

Garrett's sending you to
cover the hacking story?

I asked to go.

It has been years
since I laid eyes on Frank,

and when you re-enlisted,
I was in a bind.

- Pregnant?
- Frank is your blood.

These came for you after you left.

Did Aaliyah send them?

No, they're from Justin.

Ah! [LAUGHING]

HELEN: Please, don't go.

I'm not goin' anywhere.

This is for you.

[TELEPHONE RINGING]

MAN'S VOICE: Somebody
answer the phone, please.

[TELEPHONE CONTINUES RINGING]

Hello? This is Pauletta. Who is this?

[TELEPHONE DISCONNECTS]

It keeps not ringing.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

[RINGING STOPS]

[SIGHS]

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

She ain't here anymore, Frank.

- You can stop calling.
- [SLAMS RECEIVER]

[DOG BARKING OUTSIDE]

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

[QUIETLY] Damn it.

[TELEPHONE CONTINUES RINGING]

Damn it, I said stop calling this house!

Whoa, Dad, hey, it's me.

What's got you worked up so early?

Pauletta...uh...

oh, some...pranksters keep
calling and hangin' up.

What's goin' on?

Yeah, no, I was just checking in.

I hadn't...spoken to
you in a couple of days.

I was hoping you weren't
getting cold feet.

Why would I be getting cold feet?

Because you're about to
share your famous rib recipe

with the entire world.

Oh, you're talkin' about your show.

Of course, I'm talking
about my show, Dad.

Everyone else has paraded
their parents around,

talkin' up their summer traditions.

It's time the Pattersons
show 'em how it's done, right?

Right. Right.

You know the car's picking
you up this afternoon, right?

Of course. Of course.

Uh, you know your mother.

She's already got her suitcase

sitting by the door ready to go.

Not to worry.

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

- Frank.
- So, it's true.

Paul did ask you to leave the house.

Why didn't you tell me, Helen?

Don't take it personally, Frank.

I just...needed time.

I know.

You and Paul have been
together for a long time.

A lifetime.

But we aren't gettin'
any younger, Helen.

I agree. I...I just
need a couple of days.

That's all I'm asking for.

Okay. Fine.

But at the end of the week,

I want you to come to
New Orleans with me.

New Orleans?

I want us to be together...

finally...

after all these years.

Uh, well...

at the time, there was nothing
I wanted to hear more, but...

Oh, Frank, I can't talk
about this right now.

I'm trying to get out
of here to go to New York

to Pauletta's morning show. I just...

I understand. I understand, Helen.

I won't wanna make things
more difficult for you.

I'll give you your space.

But when you get back from New York,

I want you to think about
starting a new life with me.

Yeah, I'll talk to my agent.

KARA: [SLAPPING ARM]

Okay.

Yeah, it was great talking to you, too.

Okay, thanks.

Weren't those Gumbel's producers?

What did they say? Huh?

The official call's on Monday,

but they want me to host

a new sports show they're developing.

Oh, my God!

I get to finish out the season,

but, uh, once I make
my retirement official,

they're gonna make the announcement.

Oh, my God, congratulations, papi!

[COVERING IN KISSES]

ORLANDO: Ah!

I'm so happy for you! [LAUGHING]

But, wait, this means
I'm not gonna have you

as a producer to coach me anymore.

We'll still prep together,

and you'll have a new EP.

Come on, it's good.

But I want someone like "Hamptons."

- You mean Garrett?
- Yeah.

I mean, he's like you. He gets me.

He loves sports... Oh, my God...

[GASPS] What?

That's genius.

Oh, my gosh.

Getting Garrett as your new show runner.

He'd never leave "GDU."

That'd be crazy. You don't know that.

I mean, you could put
that out to the producers

and see what they say.

[LAUGHS] You're miles ahead, aren't you?

I'll explain it over breakfast.

We're gonna have some...
[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Come on, why not smoothies?

A smoothie? No.

Come on, you don't want "Big Papi"

rollin' into the new show, do you?

No, no, no. When you
get back to your place,

you can blend all the
smoothies you want.

This is Kara's kitchen, papi, okay?

We're gonna have some leftover...

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

- We've gotta celebrate!
- ORLANDO: [LAUGHING]

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

Don't look at me that way.

We've got a plane to catch.

Your suitcase packed and ready?

No, my bags are not packed and ready.

What with what's goin' on, I just...

I just forgot.

Well, if you'd answered my calls,

I would've reminded you.

- I'll pack your bags.
- Oh, no, no, no.

I'll pack my own damn
bag, thank you very much.

Fine.

But before you do,

we need to speak with Patrick.

No, what we need to do

is forget the whole damn trip.

But Pauletta is expecting us.

[SCOFFS]

We can't go on national television

pretending that we're a
happily married couple.

That's a farce!

So, you want our daughter,

the one Black woman on the entire show,

to be the only host that
doesn't have family coming in?

Oh...

This is a big deal to Pauletta.

Patrick is on very shaky ground.

We've rocked the very foundation

that he's worked so hard to build.

But that's the reason
we need to talk to him.

- [DOOR OPENS]
- Oh. Patrick.

[SCOFFS] Y'all still goin' to New York?

Pauletta ain't dumb.

She's gonna smell this
bullshit a mile away.

Probably already does.

Patrick Patterson, you watch your mouth

while you're in this house.

I don't care how mad you are.

Now we're going to
tell her when we arrive.

Son, we just wanna know

that you're all right while we're gone.

Don't worry about me.

- I know this is a...
- I said don't worry.

Y'all go and have fun in New York.

Patrick.

Uh...





♪ There were times when
I was unsure that we ♪

_

♪ Gonna last beyond the sunset, babe ♪

_

♪ But after years it's
clear we were meant to be ♪

_

- ♪ But something's been lost along the way ♪
- _

♪ Okay ♪

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

♪ Remember times we just
laughed for no reason at all ♪

- Mom, you're here!
- HELEN: [LAUGHING]

- Oh...
- Come on in.

Oh, I'm so glad to be here.

Oh, I'm glad you're here.

Oh, my...

Oh... [LAUGHS]

Look at this fancy place.

Mom, um, where's Dad?

And why didn't you leave
your luggage at the hotel?

Oh, your show wouldn't
pay for two hotel rooms.

And why would you and Dad
need two hotel room, huh?

You guys have an argument on
the flight in or something?

No, nothing like that.

Okay, so, then what is it, exactly, Mom?

Pauletta...

your father is asking for a divorce,

and I've decided to give it to him.

-

For the first time in
my life, I'm speechless.

I just...your mom cheated on your dad?

And your dad wants a divorce?

And Patrick has a
different father. Yeah.

Oh, God, none of this makes any sense.

I can't help but feel
like I'm partly to blame.

What? What do you mean?

The way my mom describes Frank...

oh, he's like an addiction,

and then here I go breaking
up with Lee for Justin?

My mom fell off the wagon.

Okay, girl, how did you just manage

to make this all about you?

You and your mother
are two grown-ass women

making your own life choices.

Maybe you're right.

But, silver lining... Mmhm.

I have an idea for
the prime time special.

I'm listening.

- Black women...
- Mm-hm.

..are they destined to be alone,

and is it their fault?

It could be a hard sell for the network.

Oh, Jesus, don't sh**t me when I'm down.

I'm not sh**ting you,
I... and you're not down.

Keep your chin up and
we'll keep discussing.

I've got a conference call.



[CELL PHONE BUZZING]

- Helen.
- Hello, Frank.

Aren't you due to go on
the, uh, morning show?

I'm on my way to the studio now.

Everything okay?

Frank...

there's something you should know.

[LAUGHS]

You're not gonna wanna
take me to New Orleans

with you when you hear it.

What is it, Helen?

I lied to you, Frank.

Years ago, when you asked
me about my eldest son,

Patrick, I didn't tell you the truth.

Patrick?

What you're saying is...

is Patrick...

Yes, Frank.

Well, see, after you left town, I...

I found out I was pregnant.

Now my plan was to leave Hattiesburg.

But you know yourself,

a pregnant Black woman,
unwed, in the South,

it was just not a good time.

Now I know why you and Paul

were in such a hurry to get married.

Well, I knew that he fancied me and...

I wanted my child to have a father.

And you knew I wasn't ready for that...

to be a father.

Does Patrick know?

[SCOFFS]

Well, he does now.

He also knows about your
troubles with drinking.

[TSKS]

So everything is out in the open.

[SIGHS]

It's been a terrible burden to carry

for so many years.

I guess you're not gonna want to

have anything to do with me now.

No, no, no, on the contrary.

I'm happy.

We have a son.

We have a son together.

That makes me want you more than ever

to come to New Orleans with me.

[LAUGHS]

Hey, Hop, can you keep
an eye out for my family?

They should be here any minute.

[CELL PHONE BUZZING]

Hi, this is Mary Jane Paul.

Hello, Ms. Paul,

this is Dr. Taketa from
Fertility Institute.

Oh, hi, yeah.

I wanted to go over a couple of things

before today's appointment.

Appointment?

We can reschedule if today doesn't work.

But if you and Lee wanna do
the frozen embryo transfer

before the end of summer...

That was the plan, wasn't it.

DR. TAKETA: We can wait,
if now isn't a good time.

No, no, it's not that. It's, um...

my boyfriend, Lee, and I, we...

we broke up. I'm sorry to heart that.

Did the two of you determine
what you wanted to do

with the two embryos you have stored?

It was sort of abrupt,
you know, the break-up.

We can continue storing them.

We would just need both
of you to agree to that.

Yeah, I don't know

if Lee has this
appointment in his calendar.

We'll follow up with him.

- Great. Yeah.
- I'll see you this afternoon.

- All right.
- [PHONE DISCONNECTS]

PAUL SR: Pauletta,
somebody by the name of

Hippity-Hop told me
this was your office.

- BOTH: [LAUGHING]
- There's my girl!

MARY JANE: Oh, God...

I am so glad that you came early.

Yeah, I wanted a minute alone

before your mother arrived.

How are you handling the news?

To be honest...

I'm shocked.

I feel numb.

Yes, there's a lot to think
about, and a lot to process,

but, darling, to tell you the truth,

it's for the best.

That can't be true, Dad.

Yes, it really is.

HELEN: Good morning.

The Pattersons are all here now.

- Hi, Mom!
- Ah, yes.

My goodness, look at this office.

Pauletta, it's just gorgeous.

Yeah? Yeah?

Okay, well, now that
I have you both here,

I have to ask, given
everything that's going on,

are you guys gonna be okay doing this?

Well, of course.

Your father and I have discussed it,

and we're all ready, right, Paul?

Yeah, yeah, I'm ready.

'Letta, we are so proud of you,

and I'm just so happy
that we can do this

as a family, together.

Oh, speaking of family.

Have either one of
you heard from Patrick?

I tried to text him last
night, this morning. No reply.

Well, I did call him last night

to let him know that we arrived safely.

Me, too. I haven't heard anything.

Huh.

- Atlanta in the house!
- ALL: [LAUGHING]

Gosh, it's been a long time.

Good to see you, too, girl,

and I love this jacket. It's gorgeous.

Thank you. Thank you.
You guys look amazing.

Are you ready for
your national TV debut?

I'm ready as I'll ever be.

Good. Okay.

Well, at least Paul will be cooking.

I'm gonna be standing around
trying not to look like a fool.

Nah, it's gonna be a great segment.

And I will see the two of
you after the show, okay?

HELEN & PAUL SR: Okay.

Excuse me. Mary Jane, it's
time to start the show.

Okay, uh...

all right, well, don't worry.

Um, I'm gonna be doing
most of the talking,

and asking all the questions.

You do what you do.

We'll follow your lead.

MARY JANE: Here we go.

MAN: Hey, g*ng, thanks
for a great session.

That's what has to be done.

You throw it up onto the
table and I appreciate it.

Let's end with a bit of our mantra.

ALL: Grant me serenity
to accept the things

that I cannot change,

courage to change the things that I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Give yourself a hand.

ALL: [APPLAUDING]

[MIXED CONVERSATIONS]

Patrick?

I hope you don't mind me, uh,

dropping in on you like this,

but these are unusual circumstances.

I thought maybe we could, uh,

grab a cup of coffee, have a chat.

You wanna talk and you
chose to show up here?

Your mother broke your anonymity.

Yeah, mom thinks the
rules don't apply to her.

You know you can't
tell Helen what to do.

You got that right.

But I'm not some school boy
lookin' for a pat on the back.

Yeah, but neither am I.

So, what do you say?

PATRICK: [SIGHING]

Mary Jane, green room, - - .

PAUL SR: We should never
have left Patrick alone.

Even Niecy hasn't heard from him.

- Listen to you?
- Yes, listen to me!

Mom, Dad, please, stop!

[MUG SHATTERS]

Have you lost your damn mind?!

- Yes! Yes!
- Mary Jane!

- You're driving...
- You're acting crazy already.

Mary Jane, you cannot put
your parents on TV like this.

HELEN: [SOBBING] Oh, my goodness...

Oh, Mom, Mom, Mom, are you...

No, no, no, no. Mary Jane, listen.

No, no, no. Look at me.

Your dad needs to do this segment alone.

Do you want me to go in
and break the news to him?

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

Dad?

- GARRETT: Kara?
- Yeah?

Everything okay?

Oh, yeah, everything's perfect.

I was just going over some
details with the Pattersons.

Should I go in and meet them?

No, no, no, let's wait
until after the show

because Mrs. Patterson, she's
got a little stage fright.

Ooh.

And Mary Jane's dad's gonna
do the segment by himself.

Oh, good call.

Hey, um, have you heard Orlando's news?

- Isn't it amazing?
- What news?

Oh, well, it's not official yet,

but Gumbel's producers want him to host

a new show they're developing.

- What?!
- Yep.

Does this mean now they know, um...

[CLEARS THROAT] ...he's retiring?

Mm-hm. He's gonna announce
it at the end of the season.

Here? On "GDU"?

Absolutely. Do you think I'd let him

announce it anywhere else?

- That's amazing!
- I know.

- Congrats.
- Thanks.

- Are you ready?
- Let's do this.

All right.

How are you doing, mama?

[HEAVY SIGH]

Okay, that's my girl.

We're live in five.

In five, four, three...

["GREAT DAY USA" THEME MUSIC]

Welcome back, everyone,
to "Great Day USA."

I'm Mary Jane Paul and this
is my father, Paul Patterson.

Hello, everybody!

MARY JANE: One of my fondest memories

of those hot Atlanta summers
were our backyard barbeques,

and a key component were
my dad's baby back ribs.

Ah, the barbeque sauce
is what made it special.

It was something I perfected
over many, many years.

My father is being modest.

This is the best barbeque
sauce in the South,

and trust me, I've had ribs up
and down the Eastern Seaboard.

PAUL SR: [CHUCKLING]

Isn't she sweet? Uh, we're related.

MARY JANE: So, Dad, tell our audience

how you came up with this recipe

that is impossible to duplicate.

Trust me, I have tried
unsuccessfully many times.

I got married young,

and my wife and I
didn't have much money,

but we had mouths to feed,

so, I started experimenting
in the kitchen,

while she took care of the little ones.

[SIGHS]

I'm sorry, that's not exactly true.

I came up with a recipe
for the sauce that was...

mediocre, at best.

What made it legendary
was a secret ingredient...

my wife, Helen.

She would sneak into
the kitchen every night

and add a dash of this, a dash of that,

to every batch I made.

I can't even imagine ever
making this recipe without her.

You did a really great job, Dad.

PAUL SR: [CHUCKLING]

Everyone was really moved
by your story, including me.

Oh, come on, stop.

Seriously.

You turned a silly food segment
into something meaningful.

I appreciate that, 'Letta,
but I've got an apology to make

for upsetting your mother to the point

where she couldn't do
the segment with us.

Everything turned out in the end, right?

Yeah, well, I still feel awful about it.

I haven't seen the two of
you argue like that in years.

Are you okay, Dad?

[CHUCKLES]

I'll tell you it's a
bitter pill to swallow

knowing after years
of being together,

I'm still not enough.

Well...

before you decide to end the marriage,

you owe it to each other to
have a serious conversation.

We've had plenty of conversations.

I just don't believe it'll do
any good to have another one.

It can't get any worse, Dad.

[LAUGHING]

Amen to that.

So, you'll talk to her?

[TSKS]

FRANK: Now this is a real man's car.

PATRICK: It's a .

No, no, no, not just a .

It's a Oldsmobile Nugget Gold .

PATRICK: Oh... [LAUGHS]

FRANK: No, I'm telling ya,

I've been into vintage
cars most of my life.

I've always wanted one of these.

You know, maybe it was
a good thing that, uh,

I never got one.

I probably would've
totaled it and hurt myself,

not to mention hurtin' other people.

But after years of being sober.

maybe it's time.

For real. Twenty years, huh?

- Yeah.
- [KICKING TIRES]

[LAUGHS] Twenty years.

And you?

PATRICK: [SCOFFS, LAUGHS]

No judgment, man.

A little over a year.

It coulda helped to have
someone who spoke the language

back when I was really goin' through it.

Yeah. I can feel ya on that.

[CELL PHONE BUZZING]

Don't hold it against Helen, man.

Well, you were in the dark, too.

You don't have a problem with that?

I don't harbor grudges anymore, Patrick.

She did the right thing.

What? Lying to a man
about where he comes from?

That was the right thing?

Listen, back when
Helen and I were young,

she gave me an ultimatum.

She wanted me to stop drinking.

Well, what'd you do?

[LAUGHING] I guess what any
respectable alcoholic would do.

I left her.

Yeah, it sounds about right.

Look...

I didn't know she was
pregnant at the time, man.

I had my suspicions, but truth be told,

even if I had known,

it probably wouldn't
have changed anything.

I knew when she got married,

she wasn't in love.

But she loved you.

She figured Paul could
give her more of a life

than I could at the time.

She was right.

[CELL PHONE BUZZING]

Oh.

Hello, Frank.

Helen, how's New York treating you?

The city is treating me fine,

and the weather is hot and humid,

just like Atlanta.

How are you?

FRANK: Hey, it's all good here.

I had a talk with Patrick today.

I hope you don't mind.

Well, I'll be. I've
been trying to reach him.

You can blame me for that.

I've been talking his ears off.

You always did love to talk.

I haven't had a new
audience in quite a while.

You've been a good mother, Helen.

You have raised a good man.

I appreciate that, Frank,

and I'm happy that you two are together.

It warms my heart that you're
getting to know one another.

Well, that should make
your decision a lot easier

to come to New Orleans with me.

I still can't give you
a definite answer, Frank.

I need more time.

I do hope you understand that.

I've waited all these
years for us to be together.

I suppose I can wait
a little while longer.

Thank you.



[HEAVY SIGH]

Hey, so, what did "Hamptons" say?

He has an idea for a show for you,

and he wants to run it by you.

- Really?
- Mm-hm.

Actually, I thought he'd be making

a gazillion dollars at "GDU".

Do you think he'd
actually consider leaving?

If you get your producers

to make him a development
deal, he might.

Is that just something I
bring up in a phone call or...?

Papi, please, I will coach you.

You know that's what I do.

So, I'll admit it.

It's about a /
chance Lee actually shows.

I just spoke with him.

You did?

He preferred not to come in today.

Yeah, that's not surprising.

[LAUGHS]

He also does not want to continue

storing the embryos.

Also, not surprising.

That leaves only a few options...

which I can share with you now.

Yeah. Yeah. Please.

You have two viable embryos.

You can donate them to another couple,

make them available
for medical research,

or have them disposed.

Mr. Truitt was only comfortable
with one of these options.

Disposing them.

He faxed over his signature.

Unfortunately, on this matter,

you both have to agree.

If you're willing to have them disposed,

all we need is your signature.

HELEN'S VOICE: You missed
my doctor's appointment.

If you are not committed to this, to me,

why are we having another baby?

PAUL SR'S VOICE: Helen Patterson,

you're just looking for a fight

and I will not give it
to you... not tonight.

Ms. Paul?

Ms. Paul?

I'm sorry. Can you repeat that?

You can sign here.

Only the embryos will be destroyed.

If you like, you can keep the two eggs

you have frozen in storage.

Would you like to do that?

Yeah.


Uh...that'd be great.

Um...

can we also discuss
sperm donors, please?

Where have you been?

Between you and Patrick,
I've been worried sick.

I've been at the fertility clinic

flushing your grandchildren,

the children I made with Lee.

Flushing my grandchildren?

Yeah, I mean, I didn't want to,

of course, you know, but
Lee and I aren't together,

and now I'm with Justin,
so, what could I do, Mom?

You know, geez, it was a pickle.

I'm sorry, can you speak plainly?

You were right, Mom!
How's that for plainly?

I sabotaged things
with Lee! You're right!

He was a perfectly fine Black man

who was madly in love with me.

Oh, we could have...we could
have had a future together.

But, Pauletta, I thought
you were happy with Justin.

I am happy with Justin, Mom!

I am...I am...I am
wildly happy with Justin,

and yet I just picked out a sperm donor

for my future children
and do you know why?

I don't know, I guess insurance, maybe,

in case things don't work out.

But both of us really know what this is.

I'm looking for ways to sabotage
this relationship as well,

and do you know why, Mom?

Because sabotage is my jam...

and I learned from the best...

- ...you.
- Pauletta Patterson...

Don't you... Don't! Don't!

You do not get to roll out
your motherly indignation,

not...not...not... not today, Mom.

You know, I've been thinking
a lot about those, uh...

fights that you and Dad
would have when I was little.

Oh.

They were about Frank.

Yes.

Why wasn't Dad enough?

For the same reason...

Lee wasn't, I suppose.

In my mind, I just always thought that

love was fireworks.

I just didn't trust that steady
burn your father offered me.

So, you pushed him, and you tested him,

until he just couldn't
take it anymore, right?

Yes.

Jesus, that's what I
have done with every man

I have ever been with.

Oh, Pauletta, I'm so sorry. I...

- Kara?
- Yeah?

- Guess what?
- What?

You were right. None
of this is my fault.

What's not your fault?

Me driving my mother
to cheat on my father.

Oh, God, are you still harping on that?

No, listen, everything I've
learned in the last hours

has shown me that my parents,

who I previously thought were immune

to relationship woes, are victims, too.

See, crazy runs in the Patterson DNA.

Oh, honey, I'm so sorry.

I know this divorce has brought
up a lot of stuff for you.

No, don't be sorry, because
I've had a revelation.

We have been looking
for an interview topic

in all the wrong places.

- We have?
- Yes.

See, originally, I wanted to
do a piece about Black women,

more specifically, I
wanted to talk about

how Black women hold the key

to everything that ails us right now.

Okay.

We bear the burden of America.

Now that America is crumbling,

we can provide the pathway out

because we have been there.

Right?

We know all about the
decline in marriage rates.

We know all about the
increase in drug addiction.

We know all about limited
access to reproductive care

because we have been dealing
with this sh*t for decades!

True, but...

I don't think Garrett'll sign off on it

because it's not global enough.

Here's where Garrett would be wrong.

Now White women, they're
facing the lash, too.

See, they think that
Tr*mp is the answer.

But we are.

That is my angle.

- Oooh.
- Mm-hm.

Okay...

well, maybe we can get it through

if we get some kick-ass
Black women to speak on it.

- Hell, yes!
- [GASPS]

Girl... Mmhm?

Forgive me for being bold,

but what about Beyoncé?

Or...or...or... Michelle Obama?

- Nothing is off the table.
- BOTH: Right?

- Just sh**t for the sky.
- Yes! Absolutely.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Our daughter insisted that we talk.

Then I guess you'd better come in.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Helen, I owe you an apology
for making you so upset

you couldn't do the segment.

That was wrong.

Paul, I...

I know I have hurt you deeply...

and it isn't the first time.

The first ten years of our marriage

I spent pushing you away,

just to see if you
would keep coming back.

For that, I'm sorry.

[CHUCKLING]

Well, what...what makes that so funny?

I never expected you to
own up to any of this.

[LAUGHS] I guess I'm surprised.

I guess I never realized
the damage I did until...

I saw how it affected Pauletta.

You know, I always thought
the kids were protected,

as long as I was never with Frank.

But I was still in love with him,

testing you, despite my feelings.

[SIGHS] Paul...

we aren't the cause of our problems,

I am.

You've been in love with
Frank all these years?

No, I wasn't.

When I decided to stay,
and we had Paul Jr...

I made that decision because
I was deeply in love with you.

I hope you understand that.

[SIGHING]

I do.

And I accept your apology.

[CHUCKLES]

Better late than never.

Hearing what you said on
the show moved me deeply.

Paul, I want the damage to stop here.

[SIGHING]

I'm not going to be with Frank.

[QUIET CHUCKLE]

Thank you for sharing, Helen.

But that doesn't change anything for me.

I still want the divorce.



- Yes.
- [RAPS ON GLASS]

Can I...can I call you right back?

Thanks.

Kara!

Just the bitch I've been wanting to see.

Oh, have a seat.

I have no idea. What'd I do now?

Aaliyah, she says that there's
rumors just flying all around

that Garrett is considering EPing

Orlando's new sports show.

[CHUCKLES]

I don't know anything about that.

No, no, no, no, no.
Spill the tea, bitch.

I didn't say anything
because if this works,

and Garrett leaves "GDU",

I wanna be considered for his job.

And I know Justin will, too.

Well, I appreciate you
looking out for our friendship.

Well, after everything we've
been through, we have to.

- Of course.
- Yeah.

But the good news is I
will have absolutely no say

in who replaces Garrett, so...

So, let's just hope he's out,

and whatever happens after that...

Is on you and Justin.

[PALM SLAP]

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Patrick. I thought it was room service.

When you were a no-show at the meeting,

I thought I'd come by and check on you.

You good?

Yeah, uh, your mother
called about an hour ago,

and said she wasn't coming
to New Orleans with me.

I didn't know that was on the table.

Yeah, well, not anymore.

Do you need to talk to your sponsor?

No. The program works,
if you work it, right?

WOMAN: Frankie, baby, get back to bed.

I know that look...

silent judgment.

No, no judgment here, Frank.

I just know where you're at.

I've been there more times
than I care to remember.

You think you know where I'm at, boy?

This is about me and your mother.

Damn woman.

What happened to not harboring grudges?

This time it's different.

How so?

Before there was
always a sliver of hope.

But now I know I'm gonna die

without ever knowing what
it's truly like to be with her.

That's where I'm at.

You hangin' in, big bro?

Oh, I'm just a half-brother now, 'Letta.

Are you serious? You
have been my big brother

for years, and if you
think Frank coming to town

is gonna change that, boy, you're crazy.

How are you handling everything?

I don't know. It changes by the hour.

Is there anything I can do?

Well, I was gonna loop PJ in.

Yeah, our little brother
is going to freak.

Yeah.

I don't think I wanna be the messenger.

I'll talk to him.

How, uh, Mom and Po... uh, Dad?

What was it like
having them in New York?

Not gonna lie. There were
some bumps in the road.

I refereed a good old
Patterson smack down

right before the segment,

and had to have Dad
do the show by himself.

Yeah, I saw that. [QUIET LAUGH]

That was a good call.

So, you don't wanna change Mom's
mind about being with Frank?

You know... I'm not sure.

Let me tell you what I am sure of.

Our troubles, my need to create drama

in every relationship,
and your substance abuse,

they're rooted in our family dynamic.

There's some truth to that.

We're not our parents, Patrick.

All our drama, our baggage,

we can say it ends
right here, right now.

You're saying I have
control over my situation?

Well, aren't you the
one who always said,

"awareness is just the first step."

Yeah, I did.

And now comes the hard part...

putting that awareness into action.

Yeah.

[SPANISH LYRICS]

Oh! Oh! [LAUGHING]

Somebody's in a good mood.

What the heck is that about?

Ooh, it looks like the
show is really happening.

[LAUGHING]

- But not with Garrett.
- What?

Well, there's still a lot to celebrate.

When CTS heard rumors that
Garrett might be leaving,

they offered to promote him.

You're kidding?

[LAUGHING] He's gonna make it official

in a few weeks, but yeah.

Oh, my gosh, and when Garrett announces,

I'm gonna go after his job big time.

I love it.

Hey, there's no way
you're not gonna get it.

- No.
- [PALM SLAP]

You know what? I've
been working my ass off

trying to get a great guest for MJ,

so, stars all align.

Who are you gonna get?

I don't wanna jinx it.

Let's just say, though,

that this'll be the
biggest "get" of my career.

Girl, you are such a mover and shaker.

KARA: [LAUGHING]

This is yours. I can feel it.

Yep. Yep. Yep.

[SHAKING CONTAINER]

Oh, unh-unh, unh-unh.

No more of this green mush. No.

We're gonna have some good
food to celebrate with.

Baby, what about my diet?

Yeah, your diet...

Oh...

Screw your diet...

for one night.

[WHIPPED CREAM SPRITZING]

Mmm...

[WHIPPED CREAM SPRITZING]

[SPANISH LYRICS CONTINUE]

[SIGHS]

[LAUGHING]

Oh!

[LAUGHING]

Orlando... [LAUGHS]

All set.

I'll be outta your hair
in the morning, 'Letta.

MARY JANE: [SIGHING]

Mom, what are you gonna do?

Are you just gonna go to another hotel?

I am going to have some alone time.

And it's not a bad thing.

I haven't had it in years.

Oh, Pauletta, come, sit here.

Your independence,
well, it's a blessing.

I mean, oh, I know I've been
overly critical at times.

But, secretly, I admire the way you just

navigate your life
through the bumps and all.

[SIGHING]

I wish I could've
lived my life like that.

It's funny because I
always wanted your life.

[LAUGHS] Oh...

Amazing, supportive, good husband,

the house, the kids.

But you have a chance
to make all of that...

and with a man you're passionate about.

But maybe it doesn't work when
there's that kind of passion.

Well, you're never gonna
know if you don't try.

Let me live vicariously through you.

Mom, what are you saying?

I'm saying, go get your man!

[LAUGHING]

My baby.

Oh...

- Girl, I did it!
- You did what?

I did it! I did it!

I milked every
connection I've ever made.

I did everything but get on
my knees and beg and plead.

I even tapped that Old Girls' Network.

What did you do, exactly?

Okay, focus. Listen to me.

I just booked our dream
guest for the prime time show.

- Holy sh*t, you got Beyoncé!
- Better!

Beautiful Mary Jane Paul,
you will now be interviewing

the former First Lady, Michelle Obama.

Did you just say Michelle Obama?

Yes, I did. I did. Yes, I did.

Only the baddest,

most beautiful Black
woman on the planet!

That Michelle Obama?
Yes, that Michelle Obama!

- I'm about to meet...
- Yes!

The Black goddess here!

Yes, the beautiful Black goddess here!

Oh, that's so crazy!

KARA & MARY JANE: [CHATTERING EXCITEDLY]

KARA: [LAUGHING]

♪ Happiness ♪

♪ I don't know ♪

- ♪ Where have you been ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

- ♪ Happiness ♪

- ♪ Oh where have you been ♪
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