01x08 - Living The Dream

[bunniefuu]

- Previously on "Twenties"

- Yo, guess who walked

into the coffee shop

with a Todd today?

- Lorraine.

- We don't know each other

like that?

- We don't.

- Bye, Hattie.

- Ben got the promotion.

What if I quit?

- You're not gonna quit.

- What were you talking

to that waiter about?

He handed you

his business card.

- Babe, I don't even know

where that card is at.

- We have to let it be.

We can't raise this baby.

I love you.

This is not our time.

- I know you're getting back

into acting,

and I want to help.

I'll make sure

you're on Joseph's list.

He's the head of casting

at the studio.

- And scene.

[romantic orchestral music]

- Okay, you got

your clothes pressed,

your smoothie

whey protein, extra ginger

and they were holding a package

for you downstairs

at the front desk.

- May I ask you a question?

What do you think of me?

♪

- What do you mean?

- Well, you've worked here

for some time now.

You must've formed an opinion.

- I think you're great.

- Do you know I have

a drinking problem?

- Uh, okay, what?

This conversation

is getting a little strange.

And is that my vape?

♪

I should get back to my desk.

I'm sure the writers

will be back any minute now.

- I gave them

the afternoon off.

We have the whole office

to ourselves.

- Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no,

no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

- What?

- Un-uh, nope.

Not falling under your spell.

- Excuse me?

- I know all about

your spell, okay?

I shouldn't even be looking you

in the eye right now.

- I like looking you

in your eyes.

Makes me feel alive.

- Why are you doing me

like this?

- Like what?

- You know what.

- No, I don't.

Tell me.

- You had me at your house,

offering me wine and sh*t.

We smoked on your couch

while watching a documentary

about dumb rich white people.

You opened up to me

about the time you gave

your baby up for adoption.

I didn't know whether to

comfort you or go down on you.

And now you're sitting here

smoking my vape,

looking as good as you want

to look and telling me

we got the office

to ourselves and sh*t.

- So?

- Ida B, you are trying

to seduce me.

♪

Aren't you?

♪

- Is it working?

[music swells]

♪

♪

- Doin' too many

gangsta talk ♪

I pull up and see

if that gangsta talk ♪

Too many []

be on my [] ♪

Got [] in her mouth,

let her babysit ♪

You plastic [],

you a'ight ♪

- That part where you

- You mean Tre?

- Right, the part

where Tre's mom

sees her for the first time

after she cuts off all her hair

and starts crying

Wow, powerful stuff.

- It was so moving.

It's like, as you stepped

into your true self,

your mom felt like she was

losing her daughter.

- Well, it's not me.

It's the character.

- It was really strong.

- Yeah, you went there.

- I just wanted to keep it 100.

- Truth is always

better than fiction.

- You know, when we first met,

I could tell you had feelings

for me, but I never knew

how hard it was

for you to get over me

until I read

your beautiful script.

- b*tch, I don't like you

like that.

- Well, then who was Sienna

supposed to be?

- Do you want to tell her,

or should I?

- Tell her what?

- Sienna is obviously me.

The characters live together,

and she's dating a handsome man

that loves her to a fault.

- Both of y'all are crazy.

I don't like either one

of y'all like that.

Wow.

- You don't have a crush on me?

- No.

- Are you sure you've never

lusted after me?

- Positive.

Now what did y'all think

about the ending?

- Oh, I didn't get past act two

because I was trying

to figure out

how to let you down easy.

- Yeah, I started to wonder

if I wanted to play a role

that was based on me.

I don't want to do anything

that's too meta.

- So, basically,

y'all didn't finish the script.

- To be fair,

it's a little long.

- Yeah, you need to cut

at least 10 pages.

- You just mad because

I don't like you.

- If this goes,

do I have to audition?

- It's her first real script.

Let's not get her hopes up.

- You have to speak things

into existence.

- Thank you, Ni.

- You're welcome, sweetie.

- What are you doing?

- I felt a little chemistry

between us just then.

Was that just me?

- You're a mess.

- So are you.

[gentle music]

- Get the Valentina sides

ready.

Casting needs them by noon.

- I'm on it.

[percussive music]

♪

- Happy birthday.

- My birthday is tomorrow.

- I know.

I'm gonna be out of town,

so happy early birthday.

It's a Ballet Russe program

signed by Raven Wilkinson.

I found it on eBay.

- Wow, I can't believe

you did this.

- Well, I hope that you have

a wonderful birthday.

- It's already off

to a good start.

[smooth music]

- Where all the boss girls

getting money for show ♪

Teach you how to stunt

and how to get that dough ♪

- Look, Valentina, you can't

work here with this attitude.

If someone walks

out of your chair unhappy,

you got to fix it.

Black women deserve better.

- And what about me?

I'm a black woman.

Don't I deserve better?

You right.

I'm hurting right now, sis.

My man said he's moving out,

going back to the D,

and I came him here for him.

I started a new life here

for him.

He don't give a damn.

He's crawling right back

to his ex

and her three kids

that ain't even his.

- Valentina, you will get

through this.

Now come here

and give Coco a hug.

Get it, girl.

I can't believe

you memorized all this already.

You're good.

- Professional.

- I know that's right.

[cell phone rings]

- Hi, daddy.

- Hello there, baby girl.

I hope you're feeling

blessed this evening.

- She is blessed

because I got her an audition.

- Yeah, tomorrow.

It's for the show

she works for, "Coco's Butter."

- My goodness, you young ladies

are doing big things.

- We just trying to make

an honest living.

- Don't you be worrying

about nothing.

You're a natural.

- Thank you, Daddy.

- I'll be saying a prayer.

Bye now.

[cell phone chimes]

- You so lucky to have a daddy.

- Well, you have one too.

- Yeah, but he ain't sh*t.

- Do you think that's why

your life is such a mess?

- My life ain't that messy.

It is a little messy,

but I'm in the process

of trying to clean it up.

- And you're doing a great job.

- Get off me.

[quiet music]

[chatter]

- Who do you think

you're talking to, Coco?

I'm from Detroit, heifer.

- Now listen here, girlfriend.

I don't care

where you come from.

That is no way

to treat a customer.

- I don't know

what I'm doing here.

- I think you skipped a line.

- No, I mean

I'm sorry.

I don'tI don't know

what I'm doing here.

These aren't the pages

I was given.

- Well, scripts change

all the time.

It's part

of the writing process.

- Okay.

Can we start over?

- Of course.

You know what?

Forget the pages.

Do you have

a monologue prepared?

- I'm West Indian.

Of course I'm prepared.

- Wonderful.

All right, go for it.

- I know you love me,

Michael, I do.

and yes, I love you.

I wouldn't be standing here

if I didn't,

but sometimes love

is about timing.

You talk about what God wants

and reading the signs.

I don't see signs.

I see you

and me and this choice.

You want a miracle.

Well, I can't turn this water

into wine,

and neither can you,

but God can

if we let him.

We have to let it go.

We have to let it be.

We can't raise this baby.

I love you, but this

This isn't our time.

- Thank you, Nia.

That was really, really good.

Hattie, could you

step outside with me?

- Who wrote that?

- How dare you?

- Hold up.

- You had no right.

- First of all, I didn't know

she was gonna do that.

- That is a violation

of my privacy.

- I am so sorry.

I would never want you to feel

like you can't trust me.

I just thought

it was really good,

and you have

this amazing voice,

and nobody gets to hear it.

- Go to your desk and pack up

all your sh*t.

I never want to see

your face again.

[percussive music]

♪

- Damn.

[soft rock music]

- Hey, wasn't it me

who said ♪

That nothing good's

gonna last forever ♪

And wasn't it me who said ♪

Let's just be glad

for the time together ♪

It must have been hard

to tell me ♪

That you've given

all you had to give ♪

I can understand

your feeling that way ♪

[quiet chatter]

- Hey.

- Hi.

- I just wanted to apologize

for what happened

the other day.

You didn't deserve that.

You don't even know me like

that, and every time I see you,

you're always

encouraging me and sh*t.

I mean, I'm grateful for it.

Look, I totally get it

if you don't want to,

but I think it would be dope

if we could link up some time

and just chill.

- Like Netflix and chill?

- Nah, not like that.

Look, I'm surrounded

by straight people,

and it would be nice

if I could have

at least one q*eer friend.

- Look, I get it.

It's cool.

- It is?

- Yeah, I'm not your type.

It's fine.

- I just feel like

we're the same, you know?

We're both "soft studs."

- I'm not soft.

- Well, we're the aggressor.

- What makes you think

I'm aggressive?

- Stop playing with me, man.

- I'm not playing with you.

- I'm just saying,

I think of you more

as a wing-woman

than actually being my woman.

- Hattie, I'm a l*sbian.

- I can see that.

- Which means I like women,

all kinds of women.

I like soft women,

feminine women,

masculine women,

trans women, black women,

Asian women, Cameroon

- I get it.

You like women.

- So if you want to limit

yourself to the type of women

you date, that's cool,

but I do think

you should reconsider,

because I know you see me out

in the world

with my locks

and baggy clothes,

but you have no idea what

I'm like behind closed doors,

when I take my clothes off,

when I let my hair down,

you don't know if I'm dominant

or submissive,

if I like it rough,

or if I like to take it slow.

We got the same anatomy,

and I'm pretty good

at taking care of myself.

What makes you think

I can't take care of you?

That's why

you shouldn't be afraid

of trying new things.

You just might like it.

- Look, I was just trying

to come in here and apologize

and ask if we could be friends.

I don't need

all this extra sh*t.

- Your apology is accepted.

And I got enough friends.

[spacey music]

♪

[lively mid-century

orchestral music]

- I hate assigned seating.

- There's my angel.

- She is angelic, isn't she?

- You dropped down

straight from heaven.

- Yeah, you look stunning

as always.

- I'm so glad you guys

could be here.

- We wouldn't miss it

for the world.

- You're the daughter

we wish we always had.

- That means so much to me.

- Richard.

- Yes.

- Now, I know the email said

you're not opening gifts

until after dessert,

but I can't wait.

- Okay.

Oh, my God.

[gasps]

- Ooh.

- Thank you.

I don't even know what to say.

This is too much.

- Oh, it's never too much.

Never too much,

never too much ♪

Never too much ♪

- Happy birthday.

- Oh, sh*t.

- What?

- There's my offspring.

- Oh, my god.

Mom, what are you doing here?

- Well, it's nice

to see you too.

- Shirley, I want you

to meet my parents.

- Hi, I'm Richard, Chuck's dad.

- Shirley, Marie's mom, obvi.

And now I see where Chuck

gets his good looks from.

- Thank you.

You're welcome.

And this is my wife, Angela.

- How do you do?

- Lovely to meet you.

- So nice to finally meet.

- It looks like they're taking

their assigned seats.

Shall we join them?

- I guess we'll have to find

an extra chair for me.

- No worries.

You can sit with us.

- [quietly] It's okay.

- Why is she here?

- I don't know.

- Somebody had to invite her.

- Well, it wasn't me.

- She's like

one of those pouched rats

trying to sniff out land mines

in Tanzania.

Animal Planet.

- I'll keep her at bay.

- Please do.

- Here's the power couple.

all: Happy birthday.

- I got the part.

I'm gonna be Valentina

on "Coco's Butter."

- Hey!

Go, Nia. Go, Nia.

I knew you were

gonna get it.

Look, we already

saved you a seat.

- Who is Valentina?

- She's a broke hairdresser

from Detroit.

[overture from

"The Marriage of Figaro"]

♪

- You, on a motorcycle?

- Oh, yeah.

1957 Harley-Davidson Hummer.

- I'd ride on the back of

your bike any day of the week.

- Mom!

♪

[clinks glass]

- My dearest Marie,

from the first moment

Richard and I met you,

we knew our son had found

a gem.

You are intelligent.

You're kind.

You're full

of preternatural grace.

And we are just so blessed

to have known you

for these past two years.

Ladies and gentlemen, to Marie.

- Here, here.

- Cheers.

- To Marie.

[chatter]

- Thank you, Mama Chuck.

Um

So you know

you're my best friend,

and we've been through

a lot together.

Right now I'm sleeping

on your couch.

Thank you for that.

I, uh

I'll probably need to stay

on your couch a little longer,

because I am unemployed again.

But don't

don't worry about that now,

'cause we here, okay?

We here.

Don't worry about that.

So yeah, um

happy birthday, b*tch.

all: Happy birthday.

- Marie, I met you

in college sophomore year.

We were waiting in line

at the campus Jamba Juice,

and at that moment,

I said to myself,

"There's a girl that needs

her chakras cleansed."

And you let me clean them.

You are

the strongest person I know.

Thank you for being our rock.

I love you so much.

Happy birthday.

- Happy birthday.

- You all may have noticed

that when I got here,

there was no place

at the table for me.

That's because

I wasn't invited.

It's no secret that Marie and I

aren't exactly close.

And that's because

I was a terrible mother.

Yes, it's true.

See, when you're a woman,

people assume

it's just something you can do,

raise children,

wipe their little noses

and their little bums

and make every sacrifice

so you're there

whenever they need you.

But I never got it right.

I haven't gotten much right

at all in my life, except you.

Thank you for being the best

that I have to offer.

Happy birthday.

- Cheers to that.

- Happy birthday, b*tch.

- Happy birthday.

- Because all of me ♪

Loves all of you ♪

You're my end

and my beginning ♪

Even when I lose,

I'm winning ♪

'Cause I'll give you

all of me ♪

And you give me all of you ♪

Baby, I mean every word

of that song,

and you'd make me

the happiest man in the world

if you'd be my wife.

[uneasy orchestral music]

Will you marry me?

♪

- Yes.

- Meet me at the altar ♪

In your white dress ♪

Girl, let's just

get married ♪

I just wanna get married ♪

- Hey, I hate to trouble you,

but we need

to settle the check.

- Oh, my fiancé will handle it.

You know what?

I'll get his card.

- Why do I want ya ♪

And tell me why

can't you want me too ♪

Here you go.

- Thank you.

[spacey music]

♪

- Congratulations.

Congratulations.

- Are you really happy

about this?

- Are you?

- What's that supposed to mean?

- I mean, look,

don't ask questions

you don't want the answer to.

- I'm not taking

relationship advice from you.

- Ain't nobody trying

to give you advice.

I'm just stating facts.

- Oh, is that right?

- Yeah.

- Well, since we're

stating facts about people,

let me state a few about you.

- Here we go.

- You feel like you have

to earn your keep,

like you have to tap-dance

for people's affections

because you've been doing that

your whole life with your mom.

- Don't talk about my mama.

- And I know that you think

being in love

is all fun and games,

but the truth is,

it's hard work.

It forces you to look

in the mirror,

to work through your sh*t,

and you obviously have

no intention

of doing that anytime soon.

["Bound"

by Ari Lennox playing]

♪

- Aren't you glad we're not

in our 20s?

♪

- I was so high in my 20s.

♪

- I'm bound

I'm bound ♪

I'm bound

I'm so in love now ♪

- What are you doing here?

What's wrong?

- I'm down

I'm down ♪

When you're not around ♪

♪

Oh ♪

Stay here ♪

Stay here ♪

I need you around ♪

♪

Stay here

stay here ♪

Stay, stay ♪

Oh, yeah ♪

Ah ♪