03x04 - No Haven In My Shadow

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Queen Sugar.

I sold the mill for % equity
in Landry Enterprises.

Everything those people
put you through, put us through?

It's what Daddy would have wanted.

- They k*lled him.
- And I'm gonna make them pay!

So why are you here?

Do you miss being around
your people that much?

I've never really been around my people.

All of the articles we discussed,

they're no longer available
for your book.

You could write about the black
farmers and their struggles.

If you wouldn't mind, I splurged on this.

No more Remy.

No more Darla.

- Mommy!
- Yes, yes?

- Look what I made you!
- [GASPS] Oh, my gosh!

- It's a coloring book.
- This is amazing.

- You made this for me?
- Yes.

That's Pickles, the gerbil
from our classroom.

- So cute!
- That's him when he's swimming.

And there's Papa working on the farm.

Oh, we're making a bonfire on Friday.

A bonfire? Why?

Blue set up a commemoration,

celebrating Daddy's life.

So we write messages to Papa,

we put them in the fire
and then send them to heaven.

- Oh!
- Are you coming?

I can't make it this time.

But...

I made sure to get here
for your birthday party.

Can you go grab some crayons
so we can color it?

- Sure.
- Thank you, thank you. Love you much.

You cut your hair.

I needed a change.

Fits you.

Thanks.

So, how long you here for?

I'm here to stay.

So what's happening with the party?

I don't know. Are we supposed to do this?

I could start by
picking him up in the morning.

No, I'm talking about...

I don't know how it's supposed to work.

As long as Blue's in St. Jo,

I'm staying in St. Jo.

I'm going to be in my son's life.

And I'll do whatever
I have to to make it work.

♪ Dreams never die ♪

♪ Take flight As the world turns ♪

♪ Dreams never die ♪

♪ Take flight As the world turns ♪

♪ Keep the colors In the lines ♪

♪ Take flight ♪

♪ Dreams never die ♪

♪ Keep the colors In the lines ♪

♪ Keep the colors
In the lines, take flight ♪

- Hey, Aunt Violet.
- Hey, Charley.

So, um... Hold on.

Uh, I made an appointment

for Prosper to see the doctor
tomorrow morning.

But now I am up to my eyeballs
in cherry pies,

and I know if one of us don't
take that man,

he ain't going, so I need you to step in.

I would, uh, but tomorrow

I've got a maintenance guy coming

- to upgrade the turbine, so...
- Charley?

Can't somebody else
over there at that mill

meet with the maintenance guy?

Well, why can't Nova do it?

Because Nova is shopping and preparing

for your daddy's commemoration.

If you two were talking,

and you came down off your
high horse, you'd know that.

So, back to Prosper.

I need you to pick him up by : ,

'cause he has to be at
Westside Memorial by : .

All right?

Thank you, and I love you, baby.

[BEEPS]

♪ This bitter bird ♪

♪ What fruit it bears ♪

♪ What good is love ♪

♪ That no one shares? ♪

[CONTINUES, INDISTINCT]

♪ The glow of a rose ♪

♪ What good am I? ♪ _

♪ I'm only close ♪

♪ This bitter bird ♪

♪ It feels so good ♪

We are out of pie boxes.

No, there's more in my trunk.

My keys are over there next to my purse.

- Okay.
- [PHONE BUZZES]

- Hey, Nova.
- Hey.

What are you doing,

besides staring at that
beautiful ring on your finger?

[CHUCKLES]

I'm getting a batch
of cherry pies out the door.

How's it going? You got
everything for Friday?

Yep. I was just seeing
what you were up to.

- What you need, baby?
- I could use some Aunt Vi wisdom.

I don't know what this book
is supposed to be about.

Now, they gave you this book deal
'cause they want to know about you.

What's there to figure out?

I know. It...

It's just a case of writers' block.

Girl, I ain't got no time
for writers' block.

Too much to say
and not enough time to say it.

Here's what I know:

You're the only writer
I know from St. Jo.

That means something.

sh**t, you got stories
up and down this land.

- Uh, got to go.
- [PHONE BEEPS]

Hey, Miss Effie.

I know it's a mess, but it'll
all be clean in about an hour.

It's not about the mess.

Your time's up.

The Wednesday Supper Club is
out there pouting like puppies.

I have the kitchen from :
to : on Wednesdays.

It's on the calendar. I've got
another two batches to go.

Well, there must be some sort
of misunderstanding,

because they've been
doing their supper club

for as long as I've been here.

Good, churchgoing people.

Miss Effie, we have an agreement.

It seems that the checks

I've been writing the church
are clearing just fine.

I'm sure the good Lord appreciates that,

but they'll still be coming in
on Wednesdays at : p.m.

So, whatever you need to do
to finish up...

"Good Lord," my ass.

Right, so with Sam at %

and his sister Frances at ,

you'd better believe that % divide
put a rift between those two.

There's a history of tension
on both sides of that family.

That pool of investors at %...

one of them makes more money
than he reports,

and, surprise, surprise, another one

has a propensity for prostitutes.

Of course they do.

Oh, and, um, Frances' sons,
Jacob and Paul,

they're splitting their %.

I mean, you know that already.

I don't know. Those Boudreaux
boys, they keep it clean.

Well, when it comes to Jacob,

there's no way he has a spotless record.

I'll keep digging on my end.

What else you got on Sam's son?

Ooh. Colton Landry,

Sam's only son, with %.

He's this hotshot
patent lawyer in Houston.

Ivy League. Wife and kids.
Goes to church every Sunday.

Oh, and he also has a really nice

piece on the side
for the last five years.

- What a piece of work.
- Mm.

But everything else
seems to be pretty legit.

No, there's got to be more.

This family's dirty. I've seen it.

Four stories in, and he's finally asleep.

He was, uh, telling me
about his field trip,

asked if I could chaperone.

I already told his teacher I'd take him.

He's got plastic under his sheets.

He started wetting the bed

a few weeks after you left.

Why didn't you tell me?

He didn't want nobody to know.

- He embarrassed by it.
- That's something I should know.

Yeah.

Blue didn't want
to celebrate his birthday

because of what happened to Pops
and his party last year.

But I suggested we do this
bonfire thing for Pop instead.

It's got a spiritual meaning to it.

Something like that.

Said it'd help to make his birthday feel

happy again.

I know that this is been...

hard...

for you and Blue.

I want to make things right.

I want to figure this out.

- You could've told me you was coming.
- I tried.

You wouldn't listen.

We'll figure it out.

They're here somewhere. I...

I, uh, I...

found my insurance card
with the medical records.

Well, we've got about half
an hour to get on over there.

Claire had this system...

but I never understood it.

I mean, it's got to be in here somewhere.

Mr. Prosper, you play?

Yeah.

Yeah, your daddy used to find me
down on Frenchman Street

jamming with the fellas.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's been a while now.

A long while.

I don't mean to rush you, Mr. Prosper,

but I will face Aunt Vi's wrath if we
don't make it to this appointment.

We really should get going.

Can I have just a second?

Yeah.

Your aunties always used to talk about

about you were so headstrong,

and nothing could stand in your way.

Used to sing your praises
to anybody that would listen.

I miss her.

Me too.

Now all I've got is...

a cane and a bad back.

Maybe we can reschedule for tomorrow,

and I can come over early

and help you find that paperwork.

I'm sorry to waste your time.

It's all right.

Marvin's in the freezer section.

I'll be right behind you.

I'm telling you, Vi, there's got
to be a better way than this.

We're doing fine. Just don't worry, now.

You need a real delivery truck.

I can't be spending that kind of money.

You ain't got to spend nothing.

[GRUNTS]

Vi, some of these pies look smushed.

- You want me to take them all in?
- No. No, no.

I'm coming. Let me see.

[GROANS]

My belly hurts.

How many slices did you eat?

[SCOFFS] That's why.

Mm-hmm.

I'm going to the bathroom.

Pop, I can do it myself.

Wash your hands.

I want to go on the field trip.

I already told you,
I talked to his teacher.

Why can't we both go?

Like I said, I already
talked to Miss Santiago.

I shouldn't have to ask permission

to spend time with my son.

Our son.

I'm still his mom.

And you're still his dad.

- That hasn't changed.
- Everything changed.

Everything changed.

Hey. What you got there?

Wait, hold on. Let me help.

- Food for the bonfire.
- All right.

We're supposed to have
some folks come build it.

What are you doing here?

Today the farm is my classroom.

I got some students coming out.

I'm gonna teach 'em all
about fertilization.

Fascinating.

I'm sure that'll keep 'em awake.

Oh-ho! You got jokes!

Oh, wait a minute. I'm as
fascinating as Professor X.

Okay? My students love me.

- You keep telling yourself that.
- Wow!

I know you're a great teacher.
Ra even told me so.

Oh.

Wasn't that long ago, your
brother was sitting in my class.

Now look at him. Almost looks
like your daddy out there.

All right, lady.

I'm gonna head over there.
I'll see you tonight.

- All right, now.
- All right.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

- Micah, your dad's here.
- Okay.

- [DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
- [DAVIS] What's up?

- So what's the plan?
- It's a surprise.

Okay.

Actually, I'm gonna grab
my phone right quick.

- Be right back.
- Okay.

Hey, Charley.

How are you, Davis?

The work never stops for you, huh?

No, it does not.

You really added
a nice touch to the place.

Nothing's changed since
the last time you saw it.

Say, what's going on
at Ralph Angel's place?

Micah said you guys
were doing something over there?

Yeah, Grandpa's commemoration.

Oh.

Well, you two better get going.

- Have fun.
- Thanks. Bye.

- Ready to go.
- All right.

What's all this? What you doing in here?

Just one of Nova's healthy recipes.

Ooh, ooh, ooh. Now, check it.

Boogie was telling me about this
old delivery truck in a junkyard.

Says all it needs is a couple
hundred dollars to fix it on up.

Put a refrigerator unit in there.

No more smushed pies,
no more lost inventory.

I hear what you're saying,

and I appreciate all this effort,

but I want to do this my way,

and I ain't ready to buy
no delivery truck.

No, baby, I'm buying it.

Oh, no, no, no.

I mean for you to keep
your wallet it in your pocket.

Uh-uh. See, I already got a guy, right?

He going to put the logo on a magnet.

Slap that sucker
on the side of this thing,

and the whole world will know

that Vi's Prize Pies have arrived.

Well, I appreciate it.

But I started this business myself,

and... that's the way I want to keep it.

Ain't no shame in letting
loved ones pitch in.

It's all beautiful, baby.

Really is.

But at this point in my life, I
don't want to owe nobody nothing.

"Owe"?

[SCOFFS]

You know Jimmy Dale bought this house,

and he let me know it every time

I stepped foot through that door.

Held money over my head like he owned me.

Yeah, but me and Jimmy Dale are like
night and day, so don't go there.

Now, look, all I'm trying
to tell you is that this truck

is going to do a whole lot of...

Baby, I see you out here.
You're doing some great things.

I also see that you need
to take care of yourself.

Vi, you're gonna have to
slow down somewhere,

or you're going to have to
let somebody help.

I seen Ernest work himself
into the ground.

I just can't have you do the same thing.

Many people look at this land and think,

"Long hours and hard labor."

But actually, farming is
a soul-enriching process

that can be a viable career option.

I mean, there are million
acres of farmland in the U.S.

.

Now, what percentage of that
is owned by black farmers?

%?

Try . %.

Not %, . %.

And you're standing on
part of that . % right here.

Now, this sister here is Nova Bordelon.

Hi, guys. [CLEARS THROAT]

Her father, Ernest Bordelon,
may he rest in peace,

is one of the finest farmers I've
ever known, and he owned this farm.

Now, Nova, her brother, Ralph Angel

and her sister Charley
continue that tradition.

How long has your family owned the land?

My daddy worked it
from the time he was a kid

till last year, when he passed.

- You work on it?
- No, my brother over there,

Ralph Angel, he runs the farm now.

You didn't want to farm?

Farming's my brother's calling.
I got my own thing.

How many of you want to be farmers?

Well, maybe you are a good teacher.

[CHUCKLES]

Whoo! I'm telling you,

you couldn't touch me on this
back when I was your age.

That's probably because it's
the only thing you had to play.

And you're not even close to my score.

- So what?
- Just give up.

[VIDEO GAME BEEPING]

- See?

[EXASPERATED GROAN]

- That's just a warm-up.
- Oh, now it's just a warm-up?

Yeah, now I'm about to start playing.

[PHONE BUZZING]

Look, I'm about to go grab
some soda. You need anything?

Oh, no, I'm going to stay here
and b*at your score.

[ALARM CHIRPS]

My jacket's back in the kitchen.

You know, I can get it. I can get it.

It's on one of the chairs.

Okay.

Are you good to...

_

All right. I'm heading out.

I just wanted to say goodbye
before going to wash up.

Look at this.

Oh, man.

- Is it Ernest's?
- It was the family's.

We used to go fishing when I was a kid.

Nova Bordelon,

activist, journalist and fisher woman?

Ra was just a baby, and Charley
didn't want to get dirty.

So it was me and Daddy.

I remember the last time we went out,

I was... maybe ?

We were on our way to Lake Verette.

We stopped at this Podunk
gas station to grab bait.

He left me in the truck,

and when he comes back, Daddy
walked up with a busted lip.

He didn't have to
say nothing, 'cause I saw

three white men watching
as he left the store.

I still remember the smug look
upon them faces

and how Daddy looked like
he wanted to k*ll them.

He never said nothing about it that day.

Just...

Just wanted me to feel special,

like nothing ever happened.

I remember sitting there so angry.

I, uh,

I stopped fishing after that.

Sorry about that.

Yeah.

Me too.

So when you go in for surgery,

do you have someone to look after you?

Oh, I can call my daughter.

You haven't told her yet?

She's, uh, she's busy

with work and the kid,
but I'm going to call her.

Does she know about your eviction?

That's nobody's business but my own.

I'm sorry. I just, I saw it
on your kitchen table.

I've got it under control.

I thought you owned the land.

I've been leasing it for decades,

until they cut my land lease.

Sam agreed to let us stay in
the house for all those years.

I'd appreciate it
if you kept this to yourself.

- [DOOR OPENS]
- Yeah.

[MAN] Prosper Denton?

They've got your number
back there, Mr. Denton.

You know the drill.

I'll knock in a few minutes.

- Hey.
- You work here.

Yeah, for a few years now.

Is Mr. Denton your father?

- No. A family friend.
- Oh.

It's very nice of you to bring him in.

- Please don't think that I-I...
- You don't have to. Really.

I didn't want you to think
that I didn't want to call.

Things have just been a little crazy.

It's okay, really.

I just haven't had a chance

to think about me, you know?

Yeah.

Well, if things get less crazy,
and you, um,

have time to think about you,
the offer still stands.

If you ever want to get a slice
of pie or a cup of coffee,

I know a great place.

It's an all-night joint, so...

But, seriously, they've got the best pie.

You really have your food spots down.

I do. I do, so... so anytime.

I will... consider that.

- Thank you.
- All right.

I should, uh... I should go then.

- Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
- Okay.

Okay.

- I'll be here.
- All right.

[DOOR SHUTS]

You got your grandpa's commemoration?

Yep.

You know, Ernest meant more to me

than most anybody realizes.

He came to all my big games.

And he would just call,

just to sh**t the breeze sometimes,

or offer advice...

you know, just about life, love...

everything.

And I'd never experienced that.

Treated me more like a son
than my own father.

Hey, Dad, what's up?

[SIGHS]

You have a sister, Micah.

I have a daughter.

What are you talking about?

Her name's Tia,

and, uh,

her mother is a woman I was
involved with a while ago.

- She passed away recently, and Tia...
- How old is she?

Thirteen.

Thirteen?

Yep.

Did you know about her the whole time?

Yep.

Look,

I'm ashamed of what I did, Micah.

Okay?

But I'm not ashamed of her.

And I want you to know about her.

I want you to meet her.

Does my mom know?

Not yet.

Come on, man. Micah, come on.

We can at least talk about it.

Micah.

Come on.

Why are farmers who are leasing
your land being kicked off?

The Johnsons, Gibsons,
Donald Hayes, Prosper Denton.

This is about the EPA, Charley.
This isn't us.

- Have a seat.
- I don't want to sit.

Why would the Environmental
Protection Agency

want to kick people off of your land?

Those two hurricanes last year

flushed runoff from
the Watkins Mill that shut down,

all the runoff, onto our farmland.

Hundreds of acres.

EPA said they found mercury in the soil.

They're having us move tenants off the
farmland so they can do more testing.

We're victims here too.
This hurts us financially.

Why wasn't I notified?

Two of those families who are milling
with me just broke their contracts

but were too prideful to say
what was really going on.

We'll make that cost up.

It's not about the cost, Jacob.

It's about the people. Prosper Denton.

A family friend is on that list.

He's lived in that house for decades.

Your family broke his land lease,

and now the man is just
hanging on by a thread.

And we're trying to make good
by compensating the farmers.

I don't know if five grand

is compensation for being
kicked out of your house.

[PHONE RINGS]

Excuse me.

Hey, Nancy.

Yeah, I know. She's here.

- Thanks.
- [PHONE BEEPS]

Have a seat, please.

I want to help take care of this.

Charley, please, sit.

You're part of this too now.

Me and Papa would write messages
to Grandma too in heaven.

What was she like?

Made the best cinnamon waffles.

[CHUCKLES]

She would play with me
and my stuffed animals for hours

in this very room.

Which used to be my room.

How did she die?

She got sick.

Like Mommy?

Different kind of sick.

Do you miss her?

Every day.

Yeah, I miss them both.

This one's gonna be mine.

I'm telling Papa thanks.

For what?

For bringing Mommy home.

I missed her every day too.

Yeah.

We'd always spend Christmas Eve

at the bonfire at the levee.

The whole town would come out
to celebrate.

They told us kids that

the fire would light the way

for Santa Claus to come find us

and bring us presents,

but Mama said

the fire was how we talk
to our ancestors.

Create a pathway,

send them messages in the flames.

And when our own granddaddy d*ed,

Ernest hugged me and said

that a bonfire would light
his way to heaven.

He always knew how
to make you feel better.

Blue, baby, come here.

So it became a tradition that we
passed on to this beautiful young man.

Him and Ernest would come out here

every winter and build a fire.

Send messages to heaven.

With all those beautiful
embers rising up.

You want to take it from here, Blue?

This is how I'm celebrating my birthday.

By celebrating my papa.

We miss you, Daddy.

We miss you.

All right, everyone.

Go put your messages in now.

They'll go up to Papa.

Put your message in now.

[THINKING] Grandpa,
I wish we had more time.

[DAVIS] Family means everything to me.

Every night I come home
to this beautiful woman,

this incredible young man.

I'm just thankful each day that
God brought them into my life.

You know? I'm grateful, man.

- Family's everything.
- [KNOCK AT DOOR]

I just wanted to say good night.

Good night, Mom.

Don't stay up too late.

♪ All this stress Ain't helping at all ♪

♪ Best way I know how ♪

[THINKING] Daddy, our story will live on.

♪ Just stick to the rivers
And the lakes ♪

♪ That you're used to ♪

♪ I know that you're gonna
Have it your way ♪

♪ Or nothing at all ♪

♪ Your way ♪

[THINKING] Thank you
for always taking care of me.

What's on your mind?

I'm gonna take you up
on that delivery truck.

But it ain't easy for me, baby.

I guess you're gonna
have to let me figure

some of this out as we go along.

Are you okay with that?

[THINKING] Mom and Pop,

I'll raise him in your name.

♪ We will all find peace ♪

♪ In our final Resting place ♪

♪ Don't go chasing Waterfalls ♪

♪ Just stick to the rivers
And the lakes ♪

♪ That you're used to ♪

♪ I know that you're gonna
Have it your way ♪

♪ Or nothing at all ♪

[THINKING] Dear Daddy,

I'll take care of him.

♪ Don't go ♪

♪ Don't go chasing Waterfalls ♪

♪ Just stick to the rivers
And the lakes ♪

♪ That you're used to ♪

♪ Don't go ♪