01x10 - If You Love Me

[bunniefuu]

Previously on

Beyond Black Beauty

- Alvin!

- Dad?

If he knew how much

you loved bull-riding,

wouldn't he invest

in your dreams?

He's got dreams of his own.

It's just some leftover pain

from the rodeo.

Will you

go on a ride with me?

Like a date?

He brought a g*n onto the ranch.

Lemond messed up.

Maybe it's time for

him to come home.

The group of

Stonepoint benefactors

have chosen to support you.

You should be

grateful that we've

shown a special

interest in your ranch.

You can take your people and

your horses and your money

and get the hell off my land.

Good luck getting to Belgium.

Watch me.

Yeah, that's Thrasher. Only the

best cowboys in

the world ride him.

Or at least try to.

Put on your cape,

Superman.

No matter what,

I'm proud of you.

- Yeah?

- Of course. Who wouldn't be?

What is wrong with you?!

You never listen!

I am sick of this!

You were never happy, I'm

done with this!

You're on your own!

I should have never

listened to you! Ever!

Okay.

Woo!

Yes! Yeah!

You stayed on for the

whole eight seconds!

How do you feel?

Like I have everything

I ever wanted.

I love you.

I

I am an original individual

That's what I am ♪

I'll do the impossible

Ain't no obstacle ♪

That's who I am ♪

- Steppin up to the plate ♪

- Boom!

- I am an original individual ♪

- So, it's Pride tomorrow.

I was gonna ask you

if you wanted to come.

Um

Pride? I've always wanted to go.

Oh, how you know about Pride?

Duh, school. It sounds fun.

It is. I'm a part of

the city's "Ride with Pride."

My family and I, we ride our

horses in the parade every year.

Hey, I know that club.

Our Great Uncle Willi

was one of the founding members.

OG artist. Man, he used to

press me to add to this mural.

I'm not sure why he

stopped coming around.

Well, we should all go to Pride.

You know, honor Uncle Willi.

Yeah, man, I'm down.

Uh, it's a little last minute.

Step up to the plate

And watch me bend ♪

I don't break, I don't break ♪

I am the original individual

That's who I am. ♪

Oh! Look at this. Oh, the

website is workin', y'all!

I just got a message

from a potential donor, Ana.

She wants to come by tomorrow

to tour the ranch.

Ma'am, that doesn't mean

that she's gonna donate money.

Remove your head

from the clouds.

Have some faith.

I'm gonna be my

niece's fairy godmother.

I thought we were going out.

Yeah, sorry, I didn't get a

chance to go home and change.

Can we swing by mine

so I can take a quick shower?

Maybe you can wait in the car.

Don't want me meeting

your parents, huh, Alvert?

My dad's been

smoking brisket all

day, he'll talk your

ear off about it.

I'm doin' this out of love

Don't worry, you can say it

in your own time.

All right?

What are you doing?

We're just hanging out.

Why don't you turn around,

I want to talk to you.

What for?

We got a call. Plaid

shirt, dark jeans backpack.

That describes half the people

in the neighborhood.

Yeah. I'd like you to

put the backpack on

the ground, take two

steps away. Okay?

I do not consent to a search.

Who do you run with?

I don't I don't

run with anybody.

What are you doing?!

I do not consent to a search.

Calm down.

I can't believe this!

On the ground! Now!

Alvin?

Do not move!

Okay, come on. Get him up.

- Let's go.

- Come on.

Let's go.

Watch your head.

Alvin Shipp. S-h-i-p-p.

The person I spoke to said you

don't have a

record of his arrest.

Do not put me on hold again!

Oh, come on!

Hello? Mr. and Mrs. Shipp?

Hello?

Imagine my shock when I realized

that we picked up Coach's kid.

I take full responsibility.

You see, I told my son to

surrender the

g*n at the station.

It's registered to me.

So, I should've done it myself.

Yeah, I knew there

was an explanation.

Hey, I appreciate you

looking out for him, Barker.

He's a good kid.

Oh, you gonna introduce us, son?

Uh, yeah. Mom,

Dad, this is, uh

This is Jolie.

Good to finally meet you, Jolie.

So, tell me, y'all like brisket?

Now, I been up since

3 A.M. smoking it, so

What do y'all say?

You stay for dinner?

Well, you don't

have to ask me twice.

This is starting to

feel like old times.

This man here, he is not just

a legendary football coach,

no-no-no, this

man is a pit master.

All

because of my better

half and her secret

sauce.

Hey, when you find the one,

you make sure you hang onto her.

Come on, let's go eat.

So, when do we get to see

this masterpiece?

Uh, mañana. Do me a favor

and don't peek.

Remember back when you gave

him hell for coloring

on the walls?

The way he'd deny it with

the crayon still in his hand.

Will you be finished

before the parade tomorrow?

Ooh, parade?

Isabel invited us all to ride in

Pride tomorrow. Want to come?

Love to. Right, family?

- Mm-hmm.

- Wouldn't miss it, son.

Nana? Pop-Pop?

Not this year, little man.

Well, I'll be there.

What? I don't have to be

attached to my husband's hip.

I'm an independent woman.

Besides, he can fend for himself

for a few hours.

Don't worry, Pop-Pop,

I'll stay and keep you company.

Thank you, sweetie.

Your loss.

Hey, Alvin, be a gentleman

and drive her home.

Good

night.

So

Hey, that's not the kind of date

I had in mind.

I'm still shaking.

You're lucky your

father's so well

connected like that.

It could've gone worse.

Yeah.

That story about

the g*n. Was it true?

You know you can

talk to me, right?

About anything.

Yeah, some of it's true.

It was my dad's g*n.

And I was trying

to get rid of it.

Not because he told me to.

I took it.

Why?

To protect my mom.

From what?

He doesn't know how

to control his anger.

You'd think if I can ride a

bull, I can stand up to him?

Make him stop hurting her.

Those bruises you said

were from the rodeo.

Were they from him?

Between football

and bull-riding,

I'm always black and blue.

You were afraid he was gonna

use that g*n.

You need to tell someone, Alvin.

No.

Look, this is my fault.

I upset him.

He didn't want me riding bulls

and I didn't listen.

Look, you don't

know him like I do.

What you saw in

there wasn't an act.

He does love us.

- But that doesn't

- No, Jolie, but nothing.

Look, you don't tell anybody

about this, not even Ronnie.

Do you understand

what I'm saying to you?

It will rip

my family apart.

Promise me.

I promise.

And these are our stables.

Oh! Here she is

Jolie, this is Ana Shields.

She's here for the tour.

Right, the tour.

I was actually hoping I

could meet Beauty, was it?

Hi.

It really is you.

My Jackie.

Jackie? Who's Jackie?

I'm sorry, let me

start over. My family

owns a horse-breeding

ranch in Virginia.

That's where Beauty was born.

Except we used

to call her Jackie

I guess there's

no denying it's her.

She usually doesn't warm

up to people this quickly.

She was my only friend during a

time when I was

struggling to fit in.

I get that feeling.

The article mentioned that

you rescued her from slaughter.

It's taken some time and

a lot of patience,

but she's in a great place.

You're welcome to come back

and visit Beauty, anytime.

I would love that.

I think Beauty would too.

Yeah.

Hey, Jo.

We're almost ready.

Alvin on his way?

Jo.

No.

I I think he's in trouble.

The cop threw him on the ground.

It turns out the g*n

belonged to his dad.

And he was just He was

just trying to protect his mom.

And he made me promise

not to tell anyone.

Oh, honey. You

did the right thing.

They just seem like

such a loving family.

I guess you just never know

what's going on

behind closed doors.

I'm sure there's love there.

Domestic violence survivors are

often reluctant to

report the abuse.

Most of the time

they're very protective.

And scared. I mean, who knows

how long this has been going on.

I mean, what do we do?

We have to call the authorities.

No way.

You should have seen how quickly

those cops believed Mr. Shipp.

We could contact

Child Protective Services.

No.

It's anonymous.

They'll send two caseworkers

to the home for an interview.

And hopefully, some

truth will come out.

Are we sure we want to do this?

You can't un-make that call.

If things are this volatile,

and there's a g*n involved?

Maybe him opening up to you

means he's ready to talk.

I'm scared.

Oh, honey. It's gonna be okay.

It's gonna be okay.

How come you never

talk about Uncle Willi?

He was the first person

in our family to come out.

No one knew

how to talk about it.

That was a different time.

I was a different me.

So, I guess you never got a

chance to ride with

him at Pride, then.

My brother's no longer here.

I never got to apologize.

Going to Pride would make me

feel like an imposter.

So, now you know why I'm

not there. Why aren't you?

I've always been

honest about who I am. I

like kind people,

guy, girl, or otherwise,

but that doesn't

stop some people

from trying to put you

in a box, you know.

I've never been in a

relationship,

especially with a girl,

so, am I q*eer enough

to go to Pride? I just

I just feel like I'd

constantly have

to keep justifying my presence.

Uh, it's exhausting.

It's easier to stay home.

Easier, sure, but

you've gotta try

or you're gonna miss out.

Trust me, regrets are no fun.

Hmm.

I'm willing to try if you are.

Know you got a thing to do

instead But it's running away ♪

Away ♪

Hold you to my

heart and to my chest ♪

Ronnie! Pop-Pop!

Oh, my gosh! Sorry we're late!

So, we've changed our

minds about parades?

Ugh, I've had my walls up.

Maybe you've noticed.

Yeah, I know that you go at

your own pace.

Even if it's a snail.

Doesn't mean it didn't hurt

when you called me a friend.

Well, I've never

been into labels,

but I wanted to share this

moment with my girlfriend.

Wait, is

that you asking me?

Well, will you be my girlfriend?

When did you

turn so sensitive? ♪

And I want you all

Baby, please ♪

Why would you

go and turn it down? ♪

Yeah, everything you want

Is everything I need ♪

So why you walk away?

This love is like a dream ♪

But baby, turn around

You had me from the start ♪

I'm losing all control

So go and break my heart ♪

I was reluctant at first.

But I guess some change is good.

Mm. Some change is good.

Uhh

I-I'm

sorry, Ma.

For what I put you through.

I know I can't come home, but

I love you.

I love you.

We gotta start slow.

- Dinners for now, okay?

- Yeah.

I couldn't have imagined this

a few weeks ago.

It just makes you wonder

what's on the horizon.

I'm gonna take the bar.

Hearing Alvin's story

He has a long,

challenging road ahead.

Maybe less so if more

people using the law

would use it to advocate

for those like him.

Oh.

What is it?

Ana?

She wants to help Beauty

and Jolie get to Belgium.

Help?

Cash. All expenses paid.

Didn't we just go

through this with Stonepoint?

People are not that generous.

What does she want?

Beauty.

We've been best

friends for ten years.

I mean, I knew his

dad had a temper.

I never realized

how bad it really was.

Jolie?

Jolie!

Alvin

Look, I'm not stupid.

I know you're the reason

CPS showed up at my house.

What were we supposed to do?

We care about you.

You weren't supposed

to do anything

because you weren't

supposed to know!

Look, go. I need to

talk to Jolie alone.

I know you feel betrayed

Being betrayed

will do that to you.

I wasn't trying to hurt you.

I was scared. You needed help.

I told you what I needed and

you didn't listen to me!

I told you what I needed and

you didn't listen!

I don't think I can

see you anymore.

Are you breaking up with me?

You and I we're just

from two different worlds.

You don't understand,

and you never will understand.

Alvin, please! I need you.

I need you.

I need you.

I love you.

I love you.

I'm here. I'm here, okay?

Please, Alvin