04x06 - Seeing Double

[bunniefuu]

[Zac] Just relax and eat.

sh*t, Zac!

My, my... I'm sorry, my fault.

You need to clean that sh*t up.

[Fatima]Previously onZatima.

Zac is not on the birth certificate

and he has not been legitimized as the father

through the courts.

Mr. Taylor, do you question Michael's paternity?

I do.

-That was a low move. -No, that was the right move.

-Michael is your son. -You just wanna get paid.

[Woman] Hey, young man, who are you?

-Hey, Stephanie. -Hey.

Hey, have you seen Fati...?

She...

Girl, I see her.

-All right. Thank you. -You're welcome.

[soft music]

[knocks on door]

Hey, Fatima girl.

Oh, you busy? You on the phone or something?

Oh, okay.

I guess call me when you're free.

[soft music]

What that hell?

Hey, girl.

Hey.

Girl, what the hell? Where are you coming from?

Uh, the break room?

No, you are not.

Yes, I am, what the hell are you talking about?

Fatima, I just saw your rude a*s in your office.

Uh, okay.

You must have made a mistake.

I don't know what you're talking about.

No, I said your name and she put up her finger like she was you.

But I guess her hair was a little different though.

I don't know, girl. It's been a long day.

Boy, don't I know it.

Are you ready to leave?

I want us to walk out together

so I can give you a Bryce update.

Yeah, that's gonna have to wait.

-I gotta work late tonight. -Damn, girl. I'm sorry.

It's not bad.

It's actually really good.

Okay, what happened?

Well, I can't give you all the details right now,

but, are you ready?

I'm ready.

-I'm working with Sage. -[Angela] What?

-Yes. -Fatima, seriously?

No, seriously. I just had a meeting with her.

-Oh, my gosh. -Wait, wait.

You had a meeting with her here?

-Okay, calm down. -Wait, Sage is here?

[Fatima] Calm down, Angela. Calm down.

-Where she at girl? -[Fatima] She gone.

Look, she's not here,

but I promise you, you'll get to meet her. Okay?

Don't act like that.

I'll be chill. But congratulations, Fatima.

-That is big. -Thank you.

[Angela] She's gonna be so impressed by you,

especially when she finds out that you can sing.

Okay, look.

I'm just doing my job, okay? This is not an audition.

Fatima, you better seize this opportunity.

Angela, I'm just doing my job.

Okay, Ms. By The Book.

Girl. Oh, I forgot. I gotta put these in.

-[Angela] Okay. -Come on.

[Angela] Yes.

-This is so exciting. -I know.

-She's my favorite. -[laughs]

All right. I'll see you later.

-[Angela] I'll see you. -You too. Bye.

-See you. -[Angela] Okay.

How you doing?

[tense music]

[music continues]

♪ Love ain't perfect, but we still workin' ♪

♪ May not be what we see on TV ♪

♪ But it's damn sure worth it, uh-huh ♪

♪ Love ain't perfect, but we still workin' ♪

♪ Don't gotta be what we see on IG ♪

♪ 'Cause we still worth it, uh-huh ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do ♪

♪ We still workin' ♪

[soft music]

So Fatima is working with Sage now.

Yeah, she's supposed to talk to me a little about it later,

but, my baby is doing big things, you know?

You think she's gonna start traveling with Sage?

Like her full-time lawyer?

I don't think that's what lawyers do,like,

they don't become part of the entourage,

you know what I'm saying?

At least I don't think.

Plus again, she's gonna have a baby soon anyways, so...

Yeah, but Fatima doesn't seem like the type to slow down.

No, I, don't, I don't really want her to slow down,

I just want her to know how to balance, you know?

Between work and the baby, you know, but it's, it's a lot.

No, I get that, but you know, they want it all.

I don't think Angela would stop working to be a mom.

I don't think Angela even wants to be a mom.

Yeah, there's that.

You know, I want Fatima to want it all,

you know what I'm saying?

She's crazy talented, I just...

I don't really know if she's doing,

what she wants to do.

You know?

You don't think she wants to practice law once she graduates?

Bro, as of late, she's not feeling it.

Oh, damn.

Maybe this entertainment law thing would change her mind,

because she loves music.

Yeah, I mean, that sounds perfect for her.

Just don't try to force her to do anything, Zac.

You know? That's usually when things tent to go off the rails.

Yeah, she'll figure it out. She'll come to you.

-You're the man. -You right, you right.

-[Bryce] Yeah. -Yeah.

And you should feel good knowing

that whatever she decides she needs,

you can make it happen.

Right.

I can too, you know, that's what it's all about.

I wish it was the same with Angela and me.

Bro, you got to give it time, man.

Angela's hurt.

Yeah, man, but, you know, I keep apologizing,

and I don't know, I just don't know how to fix it.

So why don't you don't fix it? Just not fix it.

Like, what you mean?

Bryce, she told you she was emotionally unavailable

in front of everybody.

-Yeah...I feel bad for you. -Yeah.

In any event, you gotta think of it like this, right?

The more you push, the more you push, she gonna fight back.

Even if it means she got to fight her own feelings.

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

You know, that's, uh, that's kind of deep, Zac.

That was deep. That was a mic drop.

I tend to get deep sometimes.

Oh...as I heard it, I paused. I didn't mean it like that.

That's it.

No more platonic sleepovers and manual labor.

You was doing platonic sleepovers?

-Like, why did you do that? -Yeah, man, I did that.

Not anymore.

All right, she knows I love her.

She wants me.

-She'll come to you. -I'm right here.

Cheers, boys.

Come on, now.

Okay, um...

platonic sleepovers aside, what am I gonna do about Deja?

[Both] Move.

[laughs]

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪

So basically, you all keep doing the treatments.

Yeah.

[talk continues]

-Hey, girl. -Hey.

I'm sorry. I thought she was somebody else.

Oh, it's fine, I get that a lot.

Okay. You here to see somebody, or...?

Um, I don't have an appointment yet,

but I really need a touch-up on my curls and a wash.

Yeah, uh, let me just get her under the dryer.

-Okay. -I'll take care of you.

-Okay. I'm sorry. -No, you're good.

Okay.

All right.

Okay, so can you do it like this?

Girl, actually, I did that style on one of my homegirls.

Um...

You think it will fit your face, though?

You don't think it will look good on me?

[Belinda] No, no, no, I think it will look good,

I was just, you know,

I'm just seeing that style on a lot of people,

so I was thinking, you know, what if we added a little cup...

No.

Don't spray me when I can't get color.

Um...

What if we shorten it up in the back a little bit and, like...

You know, I'm just very, very particular,

and I really just like this style.

So, if you could just curl it for me, please.

Okay, yeah. Um, come on. Let's get you washed.

Okay, thanks, girl.

-Okay? -Yeah.

Girl, this baby.

-[laughs] -[Belinda] It's okay.

-There it is. -Oh, my God. It's perfect.

Oh, it looks amazing. Thank you so much.

You're welcome. I'm so glad you like it.

[Leslie] I did.

Yes, you must be getting all done up for your baby shower.

I am, my fiancé's planning it.

-That's a good fiance. -He is, girl.

We gonna do just something small and intimate.

You know, close family and friends.

Maybe a few people from the law firm I work for.

Oh, okay, nice. You're a lawyer?

Close, girl. I'm still in school.

Okay, and your fiancé? I don't remember.

He's in real estate.

-Okay, this is weird. -[Leslie] What?

It's just that you really, really remind me

of one of my homegirls.

Um, some kind of doppelgangers or some sh*t.

You talk about her a lot.

I'm sure she's a really good friend to you.

Yeah, well, I mean, we had a falling out,

but you remind me so much of her a*s.

I miss her.

Mm. Well, maybe you should apologize.

Apologize?

[Leslie] For what you did to her.

How did you know it was me?

Oh, I just assumed.

You make it sound like the friendship breaking up

was your fault.

No, I mean, it wasn't my fault.

I mean, maybe I went about it the wrong way, but...

At some point, Fatima, you just gonna have to...

Okay. This is weird.

Um, I could take your payment.

[Leslie] Yeah, yeah, no problem.

You know, if you don't mind, I would love to come back.

Um, sure.

Just, you know, make an appointment next time.

I got you. Oh, it looks so good.

Leslie.

[Leslie] My husband's gonna love it.

-Thank you. -You're welcome.

-Did you want a receipt? -No, it's fine.

-I'll see you later. -[Belinda] You got it.

Yeah, girl, I'm sorry.

-See you. -[Leslie] All right.

[tense music]

[phone vibrating]

[sighs]

-Hey, Belinda. -Hey, Fatima.

Uh, you got a minute?

No, I'm actually at work right now.

Well, it's not gonna take long. I just...

I know you won't, because I'm at work.

I was just wondering if you ever met a lady named Les...?

See, that's why I shouldn't have answered the phone.

-I knew it. -Fatima, what'd I do?

Like, we just got on the phone. I didn't even say nothing yet.

[Fatima]You don't have to. I already know.

[Belinda]Fatima.

No, you always call with some messy-a*s sh*t, Belinda.

Let me guess.

This time, some woman said she's talking to Zac,

and you know she's not lying,

because she describes his d*ck perfectly.

Huh?

Yeah, and we know because you've told us over and over

that you remember what his d*ck looked like, okay?

sh*t.

Fatima, it ain't even nothing like that.

Belinda, you know what the problem is?

Every time you call me telling me what someone said

or what they did,

it's why were they so comfortable telling you?

[complains]

Oh...

Fatima, you okay?

-Yeah, yeah, I'm okay. -[Belinda]What was that?

[breaths deeply]

Nothing.

This baby is kicking the sh*t out of me.

-You sure that was a baby kick? -Yeah.

I don't know. I ain't never been pregnant.

b*tch, stop lying. I know you.

Well, not more than a couple of weeks.

[Fatima]Exactly.

But to my point, that didn't sound like no baby kick.

Well, I'm the one that's pregnant.

-I know what it was. -Okay, well, you know what?

Never mind why I called.

I was just calling to make sure you was good.

-I'm good. -[Belinda]Okay.

Um, you know I miss us, Fatima.

I miss us, too.

You think we could get back to what we were?

Look, Belinda, I don't want to.

And we're not there for a reason.

Oh, okay.

But I'm willing to see what it could be now.

But slowly.

Okay. That baby got your gloves off.

-You see? -I'm joking. I'm joking.

I'm open to that too.

All right, well, look, I gotta go.

All right.

Look, I'll just call and check on you later.

-Okay? -All right.

[breaths deeply]

-Zac, hey, baby. -What's up?

I thought I told you I was working late.

Yeah, you did.

But I had to make sure my baby and my baby eat.

So I bought you something from Olive's.

-Oh, so sweet. -Yeah, it's my leftovers.

-Thanks. -I'm just kidding.

Yeah, so I'm getting ready for my anger management.

-Are you ready for that? -No.

But I'm gonna do what I have to for my son.

Yeah, I know you will.

Well, how long are you gonna be?

Probably like another hour or so.

It's gonna be dark by then.

You sure you don't want me staying to escort you?

-Because you know I will. -I know, babe.

No, I'm good, okay?

And I promise you,

I'll have a police officer escort me out to the car, okay?

Okay.

[Fatima] All right. Thank you so much.

-For bringing me food. -Yes.

Be careful now. You getting up real fast.

[Fatima] I appreciate you.

-Oh, I love you. -I love you, too.

Hey, when you get home, I got a rub for you.

-A foot rub? -A body rub.

Oh, okay.

Let me get finished so I can get home.

-All right. I love you. -I love you, too.

[Fatima] Thank you so much.

-All right. Eat that food. -I will.

-You promise? -I promise, babe.

[Zac] All right.

All right. Thank you.

[soft music]

sh*t.

-Lori? -Zac, what you doing here?

Court order.

I gotta get my son back, so they sent me here.

What you doing here?

It's court order, but I don't wanna talk about it.

No, that's fine.

What?

The way you've been acting now with Nate,

it's all starting to make sense.

Shut up.

No, I'm just saying, like, you've been chill.

Like, kind of scary chill, but you've been chill.

Yeah, well, I've been coming to the meetings

for like a month now, so.

A month? Whoa. I guess they're working.

Don't be funny.

[laughs]

But no, Dr. Reid is good at what he does.

-Dr. Reed? -Yeah.

-Zac? -Dr. Reed. You everywhere.

-What you doing here? -What's good, brother?

Chilling. Chilling.

What makes you come to these parts?

It's my way of giving back to the community.

Ah.

[Dr. Reid] How you doing, though?

I'm doing good. You know, everybody good.

Fatima's coming along.

You know, she's taking up all my time, so.

-So the pregnancy's going well? -[Zac] Yes.

-Well, I'm happy to hear that. -Yes.

Well, have a seat.

Yeah, I was just coming to, um,

I just wanted to check it out real quick.

Grab a bite, then I'm gonna head back.

I'm gonna, you know.

Have you been to anger management before?

Me? Nah. Nah.

Have a seat.

-Lori? -What?

I'm just trying to be encouraging.

-Oh, let me do that. -Okay.

[whispering]

[Dr. Reid] [clears throat]

You guys okay?

Okay.

Well, first, I just want to go around the circle

and talk about everybody's progress.

I know last week we had the discussion

of shifting blame.

Lori, I know you had a bit of homework to do.

Yeah.

Okay, well, don't be shy. How'd it go?

No, I talked to my husband.

[laughs]

Well, I pre-talked to him.

Basically, I was asking his goofy a*s for a conversation,

and you know, what he had the nerve to say?

Probably what he should have said a long time ago.

Zac, you got something you wanna say?

Oh, no, I'm good. She's gonna get to it.

Anyway, he's gonna say it had to be on his mother--

I'm sorry. On his terms.

Okay.

So how'd you deal with that?

I said okay.

So you didn't threaten him?

Nope, she didn't. She was crazy.

-Wait a minute. -[Lori] How do you know?

-You weren't even there. -Nathan told me.

Oh, my God, fool can't keep nothing to himself.

Wait, so you two know each other?

Unfortunately, yes.

Zac is Nathan's best friend from his little playground days.

Oh, okay.

And I know everything.

[Dr. Reid] Okay.

Well, in your opinion, according to your friend,

how did Lori do?

She did good.

Um, he said she didn't scream.

She didn't swing the bat.

She ain't hit him with the car, nothing.

[Dr. Reid] Lori, that's really great.

[Lori] Thank you.

I was just trying to understand where he was coming from.

-And I kept my cool. -It was really good.

So whatever you're doing, you should just keep her here.

Zac, everybody here is going to

eventually graduate this program.

My hope for you is that you leave here

with the tools to not only comply with the court order,

but to navigate life in an emotionally healthy way.

Well, you did a miracle with Lori.

-What do you mean? -Lori.

What?

Can you please just wait your turn, Zac?

Wait your turn.

Well, Lori, the group is proud of you

for approaching your husband in a way

to where he can feel safe and honest

about talking about your marriage.

Yeah. Thank you.

But we haven't had that conversation yet.

So we'll see how it goes.

And remember, the next step for you two

is marriage counseling.

[tries to stifle a laugh]

I'm sorry.

Ouch.

That did not hurt.

-Lori, very good. -[Lori] Thank you.

-Zac. -Hm?

Oh, no.

Today was just like an observation day for me.

I just wanna see how like everything works.

-So I'ma just watch. -No, no.

Jump right on in here. This is your first session.

So why don't you introduce yourself to the group

and let everybody know what you plan to get out of this?

-What's up, y'all? -Stand up.

-Why I gotta stand up? -It's a formality.

-I gotta see this. -Lori.

Sorry, I just wanna be supportive.

Hi. My name is Zachary Taylor.

I don't have anger management issues.

Uh, but, I am a manager of my own business.

It's a pleasure to meet all of you.

-[Dr. Reid] Zac. -Yes?

Are you going to take this seriously?

Oh, I'm taking this seriously.

What are you writing down?

Whatever's about to happen here.

References for the judge.

Okay.

[coughs] Snitch.

Sorry, something in my throat.

-Course. -It's quite all right.

-Continue. -[exhales]

My name is Zachary Taylor.

As Dr. Reid knows,

I don't come from the best family.

My mother was an addict and my brother is a piece of sh*t.

And sometimes they like to do things to f*ck with me.

So every day I wake up feeling like I'm fighting for my life.

And sometimes I get upset.

Thank you.

So it's somebody else's fault that you're here?

Yes.

And you have zero accountability?

I mean, technically, yes.

I gave my brother the beats.

That's why I'm here.

But if people would just keep their f*cking phones down

and mind their business, nobody would know.

And I'd be straight.

So it's the people with the phones' fault?

No, I'm not saying that. It's Jeremiah's fault.

That's whose fault it is.

Remember when I said we were gonna talk about

shifting blame?

Yeah, I remember that. But what that gotta do with me?

What you don't seem to see

is the common denominator in all of your anger issues.

You.

Um, no.

If people wouldn't get me angry, then I wouldn't be angry.

-Thank you. -[Dr. Reid] Lori.

What? I didn't say nothing.

Do not go back on your progress.

What you seem to be encountering, Zac,

is the inability to take the power of your emotions

out of other people's hands.

Yes, people are going to mess with us.

They're going to do things we don't like.

Things that we deem are bullshit.

-[Zac] Yes. -Really?

What? I'm serious.

People are going to push our buttons.

-They don't give a damn. -Right.

They don't care about how we feel.

They don't care about what we want.

All of them just walking around, selfish as hell.

-Exactly. -They're gonna poke at us.

They're gonna push us over the edge.

-And what? We gotta react. -Yep.

Wrong.

How is that wrong?

What I'm saying is we don't have to react, Zac.

We don't have to let people have power over our emotions.

Stand up.

Why I gotta stand up? I don't got nothing else to say.

-Just stand up. -I think you should stand up.

I think you should mind your own business.

-Come on. -[angry whispering]

Power over our emotions.

Man, what the f*ck?

I pushed you.

Yeah, I was there.

-[Dr. Reid] Okay. -I wouldn't...

Yo, I wouldn't do that sh*t again, bro.

On everything.

Dr. Reid, I think you should just...

[tense music]

[Lori] Zac!

You didn't even flinch.

Because I know you're not gonna hit me, Zac.

How do you know?

Because right now, you just controlled your emotions.

You know you can't blame me for you hitting me

despite the fact that I literally pushed you.

You just controlled your emotions.

I really wanna hit you now.

And that's fine.

I've been wanting to hit you since I met you.

Well, that hurts my feelings. But don't you see, Zac?

This is not the only scenario where you have this control.

It is in your hands every single day.

No matter what anyone does to you.

We cannot blame others for their actions.

But we can blame ourselves for how we react.

You got it?

Heard.

Okay.

Now you can have a seat.

-He be pushing you like that? -No, I be paying attention.

-All right. -[Lori mutters]

-Okay, okay, okay, okay. -[arguing]

[clears throat]

All right.

So who would like to share next?

[crickets chirping]

[tense music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[car starting]

[soft music]

[crickets chirping]

Jeremiah.

Jeremiah, I know you can hear me.

-What you want? -Where you been?

-I've been here. -[Connie] You ain't been here.

-I ain't seen you in a minute. -I've been here.

I've been everywhere.

Jeremiah, I was worried about you.

-Why? -You know why.

-What you on? -I ain't on nothing.

Jeremiah, what you high on?

I ain't high, but I'm looking, to get high.

You got something?

[Connie] No, I ain't got nothing.

And you don't need anything to be getting high on anyway.

-Yes, I do. -No, you don't.

You need to get sober.

-I can't. -[Connie] You can.

Why don't you let me help you?

-You can't help me. -[Connie] How you know?

-I just do. -Why don't you let me try?

No, because I don't want you to help me, man.

You just gonna get high until you k*ll yourself?

Is that the plan?

Maybe.

Yo, I can't believe you saying that.

If that's what it take for me to see her again.

Jeremiah, come on.

-Let me help you. -You can't help me.

I need a hit.

Now!

Jeremiah, you scare me. Get off me.

She came to me.

What?

My mama came to me the last time I got high.

Okay.

I wanna see her again.

Jeremiah, your mother's gone.

-Your mother passed. -Man, I know that!

So then what are you talking about?

Maybe if I get high again,

she'll come back and take me with her.

[Connie] No.

And I ain't got to worry about life anymore.

No. Jeremiah, don't say that.

Don't say that.

Hey! You okay?

Yeah. Yeah.

-What's wrong? -Just got a little light headed.

I'm gonna go lay down.

Go lay down, Connie. Don't worry about me.

It's too late for me.

Mama?

[crickets chirping]

There goes my baby.

-Baby. -[Zac] Yes.

You got me roses?

Yes, I did.

And I made you a little nighttime snack.

What?

It's a little something.

But not everything all at once, like this morning.

-Thank you, babe. -[Zac] Yeah.

It has been a long day.

I know them feet hurting from them heels, huh?

Listen,

I think it's finally time for me

to wear flats for the rest of this pregnancy

because, oof, it hurts.

-It hurt that bad? -Bad.

[Zac] Yeah.

Thank you for my flowers, baby.

Of course.

So, um, maybe I owe you an apology for earlier,

when I was yelling at you.

I know you're just trying to help.

I'm sorry.

I get an apology?

-I get an apology? -Shut up.

No, no, no, no, no. Come here. Come here.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

-For real. -No.

I owe you an apology, too.

I know I've been a little overbearing.

You know how I get.

But I promise I'll be here, but I won't take over.

I'll stay out of the way.

-Okay? -Thank you.

-So, tonight is ladies' night. -Yeah.

What do you wanna do?

Can we just cuddle?

-You wanna just cuddle? -Yeah.

Okay.

-Can I rub on your booty? -Yeah.

[laughs]

[unsettling music] [crickets chirping]

[rustling]

I told them,

ever since I lost everything...

I lost my self-respect.

I lost my children.

I lost everything.

My kids.

I don't know.

I told them,

this was my god.

[tense music]

And the pain began to go away.

I lost my babies.

I lost my wife.

I lost my self-respect.

Oh...

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God!

[trembles]

[music]

[outro music]

[music]

[music]