01x06 - Redemption Song

[bunniefuu]

- Previously on "Twenties"

- Quintrell actually

gives a shitthat's why

I don't wanna mess this up.

- I been taking

a lot of these meetings.

This is the first one

I really like.

- I don't wanna date someone

I can't get in contact with.

- I like you.

Why ain't that enough?

- It is.

- Do I make you feel

happy and content?

- You make me feel alive.

- It sounds like

y'all were on a date.

- Don't fall under her spell.

- Too late.

- Well, the only person I want

exploring this body is Chuck.

- No wonder you look

so bored all the time.

- Don't get in your head

about it.

- Too late.

[bright, cheerful music]

[tinny hip-hop playing]

♪

- Every little step

I take ♪

You will be there ♪

Every little step I make ♪

We'll be together ♪

Every little step I take ♪

You will be there ♪

Every little step I make ♪

We'll be together ♪

- Ah, ah, ah, ah.

- She's so happy.

- For now.

- Can't believe

you called my home ♪

And as a matter of fact,

it blows my mind ♪

You would even talk to ♪

[music stops]

- Good morning!

- Why are you so chipper?

- Uh, just happy to be here.

You good?

- No, I'm annoyed.

- What's wrong?

- Our writer's assistant

picked a fine time to get

hit by a semitruck.

- Damn, is she a'ight?

- It's so hard

to find someone

who is actually committed.

- I could be in a coma

and still come to work.

- Well, that's good,

because I'm gonna need you

and Lauren to step up

while she's out.

- Whatever you need.

- Right now,

I need you to back up.

- All right.

- Come on, Courtney.

[dramatic musical sting]

- Congrats, Queen!

- I want you to sit

right next to me.

- Ida develops really close

relationships with people,

particularly women.

She takes them on trips,

calls them

all hours of the night,

tells them

her deep, dark secrets.

Things get really intense,

and then out of nowhere,

she gets bored and never

talks to them again.

- [muffled]

Hattie.

Hattie!

- Yeah.

- And I'ma make your head

nod back ♪

This the type of beat

that make you red ♪

[thunder booms]

I'ma make your head

nod back ♪

[garbled voice]

- Whoop!

This is all the stuff

for Ida's Easter baskets.

- Why is she sending out

Easter baskets?

She don't know Jesus.

- It's a thing she does.

Every year,

she sends out gift baskets

to all the people in

the industry she cares about.

- She don't care about

nobody.

- I know.

This is a chess move.

She only cares about

the people

who have the ability

to green light her projects.

- I thought the whole point

of being successful

was that you didn't have to

kiss people's asses anymore.

- Oh, noshe kisses

people's asses all the time.

That's why

she's so successful.

- I'm so confused.

[dramatic chords]

- Now you have to

replace that.

[dramatic, sweeping

orchestration]

♪

Excuse me, guys'scuse

thank you.

Gosh! 'Scuse me!

Everyone just stay calm!

I know things

didn't go as well

as we had hoped

with Quintrell,

but he hasn't signed an overall

deal with anyone else yet,

so there's still hope.

Now, give me your bright ideas

so I can pass them off

to my boss as my own.

- Let me take him to Miami

for the weekend.

Just because he's a film snob

doesn't mean

he doesn't like fast cars

and loose women.

- Actually, he doesn't.

- I think I know

what black men are into.

- I think you know

what basic black men are into.

- I'm a lotta things,

but basic isn't one of them.

- I just read a piece in "GQ,"

and apparently, his mom died

while he was in college

so he got super religious,

and he's saving himself

until marriage.

And, he was born and raised

in New York City,

so while he might like

fast cars,

he sure as hell

don't know how to drive one.

- Who doesn't love the beach?

- He doesn't know how to swim.

- Are you a detective

now?

- I'm just doing my job.

- Okay, what would you

suggest, Marie?

- Well, if you really

wanna impress him,

you should go with him

to church.

[angelic choir harmonizes]

- That's brilliant.

You set it up.

This Sunday

we'll all go together.

- Whoa, no, I thought it would

just be the two of you.

- It was your idea.

We'll make it a field trip.

- Wait, but I don't

wanna go to church.

I hate church.

- Really? I didn't know

you were an atheist.

- I'm not.

- You pitched it.

- Where we going?

- He worships

at Star of the Redeemer.

All the black celebs go there.

- Great, maybe we'll run into

someone else we can

do business with.

- It's Easter, so if we wanna

get a seat, we're gonna

have to be there super early.

And they have a bouncer.

I don't even know if

we're famous enough to get in.

- If you can't handle it,

I'm happy to take the lead.

- I can handle it.

I am just making sure

our boss has

all of the information.

- I'm well-informed.

Thank you.

What time should I be there?

- 6:00 a.m., sharp.

- Hi!

I'll be therelet's do this.

I may even rock these

for a little pop of

Easter color, huh?

Ying, you got all that?

- Mm-hmm.

- She is so good. Let's go.

Come on, baby.

In, in, in,

In-in-in-in-in!

Here we go!

[phone chiming]

- Oh, sh*t, I didn't mean

to call your a*s.

- Love you too, Ma.

- Oh, well,

since I got you,

don't forget to get me

some edibles for the concert!

- Nah, the last time

you did edibles,

you woke up in the trunk

of your own car.

- Okay, you know what?

Just get the edibles, okay?

And throw in one of them

little vape pen things.

I could sneak it in.

I can sneak that.

- Ma. [chuckles]

I don't think

you wanna get too turnt

at the Anita Baker concert.

- [laughs] Oh, yes, I do!

The more turnt I am,

the harder them lyrics

hit my soul

and my hips and my joints.

And then your mama

can dance in the concert.

- That's what I'm afraid of.

Ain't nobody

trying to watch you

catch the holy ghost

to "Body and Soul" again.

- Oh, look, don't be mad

'cause my sh*t went viral.

Remember that little young dude

hollered he'd be slid

in my DM.

Ain't that what they say

they slid in?

- [laughs]

Bye, Ma.

She crazy.

- sh*t, this ain't even

real MAC.

This gonna break me out.

Mm.

- Here, Courtney.

- Thanks.

Is there mango in this?

- Probably.

- I'm allergic.

- Hattie, what the hell?

- What?

I didn't want her to die.

- Go get her another one.

- I wish I could,

but I gotta head out.

- It's 4:00.

- I know.

My mom and I have

a trip planned, remember?

- I don't.

- Yeah.

We got tickets

to see Anita Baker.

I emailed you about it

two weeks ago.

- I can't be expected

to remember that.

- Okay, well,

I'm gonna go.

- Bye.

- I'm sure I'll be missed.

- Okay, where were we?

- Yeah, we thought maybe

- Thinking about bringing in

a new characterwhat do you

think about the new girl?

- Hey, Nia, whatever happened

to that religious dude

you used to date?

- That could be

one of seven guys.

You gotta be

more specific.

- What up, Marie?

- Hey, Hattie.

- Don't be dismissive.

- Hattie, I really don't have

time for your sh*t right now

because I'm currently

trying to get me and my boss

into Star of the Redeemer

this Sunday,

and all of my contacts

are dried up.

- You hate church.

- I know, but this is for work.

- You can't sneak your way

into that church last-minute.

- Yeah, I heard they turned

Cuba Gooding Jr. away.

- I heard he was at the door

screaming, "Ricky!"

at the top of his lungs

for like 15 minutes

and the usher still

didn't let his a*s in.

- Yeah, they're cold-blooded

over there.

- I know,

which is why I'm calling you!

- My only connect was Bible

Boo, and he's dead to me, so

- Well, he might have to

have a resurrection,

because if I don't get

into that church on Sunday,

then I'm going to lose my job.

And y'all really don't wanna

see what

unemployed Marie looks like.

- Yeah, I've seen it.

And it ain't cute.

At all.

It's ugly.

[beep]

b*tch hung up!

[mellow hip-hop

playing on radio]

- I can't believe

she's trying to make me

text Bible Boo's old dusty a*s.

He was nuts!

He just stopped texting me

Bible verses in my DMs.

- Sometimes you gotta take

one for the team, though.

- Why is no one

ever on my side?

- What are you talking about?

Y'all double-team me

all the time.

- I always have your back.

You never have mine.

I'm constantly telling

Marie to be nice.

- True story.

- I know it is.

- Work stuff

is different, though.

If I can do something

to help you live your dream,

then I would do that.

- Well, next time she needs

to at least say "please."

- I'll give you that.

[phone chiming]

Oh, sh*t, it's Ida.

Hold on.

[turns radio off]

This is Hattie.

- Courtney cracked

under pressure.

You need to come in.

- Wait, what?

- I'm not repeating myself.

- Ohoh, okay.

Let me flip a b*tch.

I'll be right there.

- Thank you. Bye.

- Are you seriously

about to ditch your own mother?

- Hell yeah!

- Your mother has been

planning this trip for months!

- I been waiting for

this opportunity my whole life.

Nee, please!

[tires screeching]

- This is for my gangters ♪

And this is for my th*gs ♪

[car horn honking,

tires screeching]

And this is for my sisters ♪

I know you need some love ♪

♪

I laughed in the faces

of all these people♪

- b*tch, I am precious cargo,

okay?

I am on my way to my destiny.

Can I make it to my destiny?

- Please stop complaining.

I'm getting you there.

I'm getting you there.

- Can I get there safely

alive?

- Okay, I get it.

- Well, damn it.

- I'm

- I'm scared.

Let me call my mama.

- I got faith in

my scatting because I ♪

- Hey, Ma.

- Do you have my edibles?

- Uh, no, but I got

some good news.

- You gonna take me backstage

to meet Anita.

- No.

Ida wants me to come

and fill in

for the writer's assistant.

- That's it?

- What do you mean, that's it?

This is a big deal.

If I do a good job,

she might consider

staffing me one day.

- I swear, you get excited

'bout the silliest sh*t.

- Look, Nia is gonna take you

to see Anita, okay?

- No, no,

I didn't plan this trip

for me and crazy-a*s Nia.

She got on those chakras

and she do the little yoga

and stuff.

Iwe ain't even got nothing

in common.

- I know,

and I already feel bad.

- No, you don't.

- Yes, I do.

- Ooh, you love worshiping

at the altar of Ida B.

- That's not true.

- It's cool.

You ain't sh*t.

- Come on!

- [grunting]

You know what?

I'm gonna enjoy Anita

without you,

and don't be mad

if I get backstage.

- Okay. Okay, Ma.

Bye.

Love you.

- [muttering]

Nia's a*s.

- She's been planning this

with you for months.

Why am I the one to go

with her?

I don't understand.

- ThisNia, Nia.

Nia, Nia, Nia, Nia.

- No, Hattie, Hattie, Hattie.

[percussive music]

♪

- No,

I didn't come to play ♪

He's full of tea

and pass the ♪

- I'm so sorry

about my outfit,

but you said it was urgent,

so I just came

straight from my daughter's

Easter egg hunt.

- I didn't know you had a kid.

- I have two, actually.

I named my youngest

after you.

- Oh.

Anyway, I hope no one has

any other pressing issues,

because we are going to have

to re-break our latest episode.

- Why?

- The plot's too similar

to a "227" episode, ain't it?

- Yeah.

How did you know?

- I happen to be

a "227" aficionado,

and I peeped it at

at the last table read.

- Why didn't you say anything?

- I didn't want to be a pest.

- You can pester me

whenever you want,

especially when you're right.

- Okay.

I'll remember that.

- Okay.

[hip-hop music]

Ideas.

- Well, what about

- What about changing

the character?

- So move it away from

- [clears throat]

- [yawns]

I am so ready to go home.

- Excuse me?

- I ain't say nothing.

- Please start

the proofing process,

and have it in my inbox

before I wake up.

If I see one typo,

you're fired.

- Are you being sarcastic

or nah?

- Nah.

- Then it'll be typo-free.

- I'll see you in the morning.

- Why is her life so amazing

and mine so shitty?

- Hattie, she has no friends.

Her husband left her

for an Instagram model

and her dad just wrote

a tell-all book about her

that's coming out

later this month.

- I know.

"Jesus Loves a Daughter

Who Makes

Her Daddy's House Payments."

I preordered it online.

- All I'm saying is that

if you look closely,

your life looks better

than hers.

["Blessed Up"

by Wande playing]

- Yeah, it's me ♪

I've been blessed up ♪

I've been broke down ♪

Gotta catch up ♪

I can't slow down ♪

Gotta catch up ♪

Gotta shine now ♪

[Hattie laughs,

talks indistinctly]

- What the hell?

- Oh, my God.

Is this it?

Is this the end of the world?

Of course this happened today.

I knew I should've finished

the documentary

about the majestic honeybee

last night.

I knew it.

Now it's all over.

I knew it.

- b*tch!

It's not the end of the world.

It's just my mom.

- Oh.

Wow. Excuse me.

I have a weird fear

about the apocalypse.

[laughs]

- I see.

- What would be

more comforting right now

than a warm black bosom?

- You better stay away

from my mama's bosom.

This ain't no plantation.

- Well, if it was,

I would definitely be the one

sneaking into the sl*ve

quarters late at night

teaching everybody

how to read.

- You are a true ally.

Thank you.

[door opens]

Hattie.

- Oh, look-it.

This where the magic

be happening.

Oh, y'all got the stuff

on the board and

- How'd you get past security?

- Oh, hello, first,

but you know,

my girl Cliché

she works security

over here.

- She's not supposed

to let people on the lot

unless they have

an appointment.

- Uh, please,

as much money as she owes me,

I should have

a lifetime pass.

[laughs]

- Ma,

it's great seeing you,

but I have a lot of work to do.

My colleagues have

a lot of work to do.

And more importantly,

Ida B.

Ida B., you got a lot of work

to do, right?

- It's fine.

- WhatwhatIda B.?

Oh, me and her,

we cool now.

We friends.

Oh, I was just telling her

about how my friend Martha

said that "Cocoa's Butter"

changed her life.

She said that season finale

gave her the strength

she needed

to divorce her husband.

- Wow.

- Oh, he had been cheating

on her a*s for years

with a whole bunch of b*tches,

but it wasn't until

she saw that episode

where they confronted

their boyfriends

and burnt their clothes up,

just like

in "Waiting to Exhale."

- It was nothing like

what happened

in "Waiting to Exhale."

- I'll be honest with you.

I don't really watch the show,

'cause it's boring as hell.

- [laughs]

You serious?

- But all I know is,

it helped my miserable friend,

and there you have it.

- I am just glad that we made

a positive impact

on your friend's life.

- But you know,

her timing wasn't good.

She caught that leukemia,

and let me tell you something.

This heifershe sure enough

gonna die by her damn self.

- Oh, my God, that's awful!

- You gotta be responsible

with the power of television.

- Ma!

- Keep talking back.

- Can I talk to you

real quick?

- You wanna

- Yes.

- Okay, all right.

- I'll be back.

- Bye, Hattie's mom!

- Bye, little colonizer.

- So sorry about that.

- Look at her!

- Are you crazy?

- We all crazy.

- True, but I'm starting

to think

you need some real help.

- What are you talking about?

- It's not cool for you

to just come up to my job

whenever you want

and embarrass me

in front of my boss.

This ain't a joke.

This is my life.

- Well, I didn't appreciate

you canceling our trip

like I don't mean sh*t.

- Of course you do,

but this is my dream.

It's all I have.

- What about me?

- What about you?

You lived your life.

Let me live mine.

- I didn't have no life!

I was too busy

raising your a*s!

- Well, whose fault is that?

- Your punk-a*s daddy.

It's not my fault

he failed sex ed.

[somber music]

- Ma, I don't have time

for this.

- See, that's your problem.

You never make time for me.

- Because I'm grown now.

I'm not a kid anymore.

- Just 'cause you're grown

don't mean

you don't need your mother.

- Well, when I do,

I'll call you.

♪

Ma

♪

- It was so nice meeting you.

- The pleasure was all mine.

[elevator dings]

♪

- I'll talk to you later.

♪

[bright piano music]

♪

- You owe me.

- I know.

- Got me,

got me feeling good ♪

♪

Kept the faith and praised

right through it ♪

♪

Happiness is here at last ♪

- Hey, Zach.

- Oh, Jenifer!

- Oh, my goodness.

Look how you've grown up!

Oh, your a*s tasty.

- I

- Listen, hey.

You tell your daddy

to call me, all right?

- All right.

- Yeah, he got the digits.

- [laughs] I know he does.

- Praise His name! He's risen!

- Yes, He is risen, darling.

Yeah.

- Ah, friend of the family.

- If you know the black mama

of Hollywood,

why did I have to make

a deal with the devil

to get us in here today?

- I'm sorry.

Was it tough?

- Yes!

- Hey, guys.

Long time, no see.

- Good to see you

in the house of the Lord.

- Yes!

This place is like

a home away from home for me.

- Funny, I've never seen you

here before.

- Is that right?

- He usually sits in the back.

- Oh, yeah, no.

I like to keep it low-key.

I'm just here to service Him

and that is all, you know?

- For real?

♪

- Yeah.

[clears throat]

- Excuse me.

- Oh, well, we'll just

- I don't

- Let it just

take over you ♪

Here's what you gotta know ♪

- Good seats, Quintrell.

- Oh, hey, Quintrell.

Excuse me.

I'm sorry,

but you're in my seat.

- Oh, this is your seat?

Oh, I'm so sorry.

I didn't realize

it was assigned seating.

- Yeah, we just wanted

to sit together.

- Do you mind?

- Look.

I don't know y'all two

very well,

but I know you're not

gonna come up in here

and gentrify the Lord's house.

- I'm black.

- Well, I can't tell.

- So good ♪

G-g-g-good ♪

So good ♪

Never been happier ♪

How good? ♪

So good ♪

[jazzy piano music]

- Praise the Lord!

- Whoo!

- Come on!

- Ooh!

♪

- He's alive ♪

- He's alive ♪

- And I know it ♪

- And I know it ♪

- Jesus died ♪

- Jesus died ♪

- And rose again ♪

- And He rose again ♪

- He's alive ♪

- He's alive ♪

- And I know it ♪

- And I know it ♪

- Jesus died ♪

- Jesus died ♪

- And rose again ♪

- And He rose again ♪

- Who's your favorite disciple?

- What?

- Just curious.

- Uh, Saint John, I guess.

- Interesting choice.

Why?

- Because he's the only one

of Jesus' disciples

that lived a long life.

He knew that just because

he was faithful,

it ain't mean he had

to be a martyr.

- Hmm.

- What?

- Just reminds me

of a book I'm reading.

♪

- What's it called?

- It's called

"The Black Count."

I'll get you a copy,

but if you're not floored

after the first few pages,

I don't think

we should work together.

- Please.

Only reason you're here

is to be in business with me.

- No, my boss wants

to be in business with you

because you're

low-hanging fruit.

I wanna be in business

with people

that have good taste.

- My taste is impeccable.

- We shall see.

- Praise the Lord.

Can I get an "amen"?

- Shh.

- Amen.

- It's truly a blessing to be

in the house of the Lord

one more time.

Let's give God some praise.

- I'll text you

when I get the book.

- Text me

once you've read it.

- Oh, you have

a blessed day, Pearl.

- You know, you guys

are lucky to have her.

- Ah, you are preaching

to the choir,

and by that, I mean,

the white Methodist choir

that can't sing.

Ba-dum-tish!

[laughing]

You know what I'm saying?

They're trying, but

Ah.

[clears throat]

- I'll be in touch.

- Yeah.

God!

Slam dunk-aroo, baby!

- Don't do that again.

- Oh, my

Yo, what'd you say to him?

- I basically told him

that if he wants

to work with me,

he needs to earn it.

- What do you mean you?

- I'm sure if he signs with us,

I'll be his day-to-day.

- That's correct.

- And the truth is,

he's not talking

to anyone else,

which means we have

the upper hand.

- Huh. I didn't really think

of it that way.

- Of course you didn't.

- Okay, relax.

I'm still your boss.

- For now.

- [chuckles]

Okay, so now what?

- Well, I'll send him

some material.

Hopefully he reads it quickly

and circles back.

- Okay, and why are you so sure

about all this?

- I have a feeling he left here

a little excited.

- Yeah, I'm sure he did.

- [clears throat]

Marie, Chuck's waiting for us.

- Mm-hmm.

- I hope you ladies enjoy

the rest of your Sunday.

- Oh, we will.

- See you tomorrow.

- See you tomorrow.

- Throw me the rock.

Alley-oop!

Bam!

[grunts]

- You know it's a sin

to flirt in church.

- Ain't nobody flirting.

- Mm-hmm.

[Anita Baker's

"Caught Up in the Rapture"]

♪

When we met ♪

- Hey, can you hear?

- Hell, yeah.

She sounds

just like the record.

- [harshly]

Da-da-da-da ♪

Caught up in the rapture

of love ♪

Nothing else can compare ♪

Girl, you want a gummy?

Oh, I said one.

I said one.

- Ma, stop being stingy

with the gummies.

I got you the big pack!

Let the lady have some.

- See that?

Uh-huh.

Mama's daughter.

You're missing it.

- They cute.

Whatever, but, you know

- [harshly]

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da ♪

- Uh-uh, uh-uh.

Please don't make it a duet.

Let Anita sing it.

Let Auntie Anita sing it.

I don't know if that's Anita

or Gladys Knight.

[shouts indistinctly]

- Caught up

in the rapture of love ♪

Nothing else can compare ♪