03x10 - Some Things Are Black and White

[bunniefuu]

- Auntie, I'm looking for a car.
- We're shopping for cars now?

Yeah, how else am I
supposed to get to work?

Being an ugly black woman
has absolutely nothing

to do with appearance, it's about people

who feel that their voices
have been stifled by society.

An appearance from you
would bring some much needed

business to the bookstore.

I mean this could
just be two friends

doing each other a favor.

What's going on in here?

'So what's the format?'

You going straight news, panel?

It feels good to know that I
contributed to your success.

What kind of compensation
might a woman expect?

Did I miss the memo about the meeting?

No, no, Marisol was simply
telling me her ideas.

Here at SNC you don't go
pitching stories to the boss

without coming to me first even
when you're sleeping with him.

Excuse me?

You are telling me that you
have never been with a white boy?

- 'Never.'
- 'Seriously?'

(Mary Jane) 'Ever.'

(male # ) 'You know, I like your house'

but I also like the
outside world and fresh air.

Do you like restaurants or
movie theaters or like...

- My schedule is really crazy.
- Secret, huh?

Give me some dates and I'll
make a plan for us, alright?

Okay.

You want some water?

Sure.

Wait for me until I know if she's here.

(male # ) What if no one's here?

Look, clearly someone's here,
but I don't know if it's her.

Just, you'll get your tip, wait for me.

(male # ) Okay.

[doorbell rings]

Uh uh uh uh uh.

Who's that?

My ex's mother is in my driveway.

I take it you weren't expecting her.

No.

You know, you should
really get that gate fixed.

[sighs]

You alright?

Maybe she'll just leave.

[doorbell rings]

[knock on door]

She seems like a
pretty determined woman.

You're right.

[doorbell rings]

[knocking continues]

Don't come out and just...

... be quiet.

[knocking continues]

[knocking continues]

Simone!

Mary Jane!

This is terribly presumptuous
and a little off etiquette

but I... I just had to see you.

Yeah, well to say I'm surprised
would be an understatement.

Well, just because you and
David aren't together anymore

and don't get me started on that

it doesn't mean that you and
I can't have a proper hello

when I'm in town.

Right. How are you? I
mean, it's great to see you.

How long are you in town for?

Oh, well, um, two weeks, maybe three.

You might not know that
I've-I'm a grandmother finally.

Little girl, Leah Beckett Polk.

Congratulations.

Yeah, it's kind of a pretentious name.

You kind of feel the mother's influence.

Okay. No, no, I can't do it.

I can't, I cannot do this with you.

Simone, I, I was
actually kind of curious

why you came over here,
but I... I don't care.

I ca-I can't do it. I cannot
do this with you. I am sorry.

I know, this, this is, you've
been through an awful lot.

And you're just gonna make
me... Aren't you? Okay.

Look, David still loves you.

He never stopped.

You know... life is short
and-and I don't expect you

to recover from your situation overnight

but David knows he messed up

and this-this... this Lisa thing

oh, honey, I-I... What
do you say about that?

I mean, what, what do you say?

But David still loves you

and he is beyond sorry

and-and neither one of us
wanted to see you end this way.

But, you know, we know that
maybe you won't get together

again, but I don't want
to see it end in anger.

You know, don't move on just
thinking the worst of him.

He-he messed up, I keep
saying the same thing

Mary Jane because that's,
that's-that's all I have.

Yeah, but this groveling
mother just wants you

to forgive her son.

- Would you?
- Hm?

Forgive your son, if you were me?

- Would I...
- No, you wouldn't.

Simone, at, at no point in your
drive over here did you just

stop and think, maybe I should
leave this woman alone because

she's been through enough.

'No, you just want what you want'

'and to hell with anyone else's pain.'

Screw me, right?

Okay, well, I guess I'll go.

I'll let you get back to your company.

You know, David didn't
drive you to women, did he?

Because that's kind of a girly car.

Really?

Look, you don't have
to insult my intentions!

I am sorry your friend
committed su1c1de, I am

but David is alive and-and
we all deserve forgiveness.

You just can't stop, can you?

And you can't see that I'm
trying to bridge a gap here.

And you can't see that it's over!

It's over, Simone, okay?

And, and the painful
thing about break-ups

is you gotta let go of people and dreams

and plans and behavior.

'So if you really, really want to'

help David...

... beg him not to be like you.

♪ No drama ♪

♪ No more drama in my life ♪

♪ No one's gonna
make me hurt again ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Why'd I play the fool ♪

♪ Go through ups and downs ♪

♪ Knowing all the time ♪

♪ You wouldn't be around ♪

♪ But maybe I like the stress ♪

♪ 'Cause I was young and restless ♪

♪ But that was long ago ♪

♪ I don't wanna cry no more ♪

♪ No more pain ♪

♪ No more pain ♪

From the foods that we eat
to the books that we read

to the history that
we choose to embrace...

... if we truly want
to change the future...

... then we need to start
learning from our past.

- You are truly a blessing.
- Mm-hm.

You know you're lucky
I even came, right?

After how you came at me the other day.

Your handout talking about,
oh, ain't nobody that friendly.

[chuckling] Why'd you come then?

'Cause you're not the only person

that cares about the black community.

I know many of you have had some
thought-provoking conversations

with Miracle's own beloved Cece Briggs

and I'm sure those
conversations were one-sided

because we all know how
much that lady loves to talk.

Well, I am beyond grateful.

- Thank you.
- Mm-hm.

The sad thing is even with all this

I don't know if I'm gonna be
able to keep this place open.

Can you please stop trying to turn me

into your own personal ATM?

Alright, I'm working on it.

But for real, I mean,
this is a genuine

thank you unattached to the hustle.

But Cece... she has information
that she is compelled to share

about the many injustices that
our communities are still being

confronted with on a daily basis

Speaking of, I think I might've

stumbled upon a payday
for the both of us.

- What's the catch?
- No catch.

I-I met with a publisher the other day

and they want me to write a book.

Oh, congratulations.

Yeah. Hi.

Yeah, they want a, a memoir of sorts

something, you know,
personal from my life...

Ah, thank you.

... that targets the black demographic.

Oh, well I don't see how
I come into it, but...

What could be more
personal than how we met?

I mean, granted, extortion is
not the most common way into

a friendship, but I mean if you
think about what led us to that

pivotal moment, the hardship,
the despair, the, the heartache.

- Uh.
- Right?

We've spoken a lot today about the need

to take back control of
our communities, right?

But in order to do that we need

the tools to inspire...

... not only for ourselves,
but for, for generations

of black children to come...

... and we need to look no further than

the books on these
shelves from Dr. Kunjufu to

Asada to Richard White,
Langston Hughes to Bell Hooks

Kadir Nelson, James Baldwin.

This store is filled
with books written by us

for us and about us.

When I was driving over
here today I was like

our story makes a great book.

[chuckling] A book?

- Yeah!
- Are you serious right now?

Yes.

- Sure, why not.
- Sure, why not?

I am giving you the
opportunity of a lifetime.

Okay. Yes.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!

[all cheering]

♪ Now what you hear is not a test ♪

♪ I'm rappin' to the b*at ♪

♪ And me the groove ♪

♪ And my friends are gonna try ♪

♪ To move your feet ♪

♪ You see I am Wonder Mike ♪

♪ And I'd like to say hello ♪

♪ To the black to the white ♪

♪ The red and the brown ♪

♪ The purple and yellow ♪

♪ With a hip a hop the hippie ♪

♪ The hippie to the
hippie the hip hip hop ♪

♪ And you don't stop the rock it ♪

♪ To the bang bang boogie ♪

[gibberish]

- There we go.
- Aah!

[crowd cheering]

(male announcer) 'Alright,
everybody, let's give a nice'

'round of applause for
our next performer.'

- You know what I'm saying.
- Mm-hmm.

'This guy's gonna blow your socks off.'

[crowd cheering]

Ah!

- That was fun.
- Hm!

Cheers.

So you guys remember when Mary Jane Paul

one of SNC's top anchors
was goin' off about

how the brothers weren't checkin'

or speakin' up for black women?

So she went from callin'
herself a ugly black woman

to dating a gorgeous white guy?

I see, Mary Jane.

Alright, now this picture has gone viral

and not everybody is feeling her.

Hypocrite is a term
that they're using a lot.

Personally, I think
black women always get

the shorter end of the stick on this.

Brothers have been datin'
outside their race for years

and although we give a
little... that makes sisters too.

I mean, nobody gets the
flack like a black woman

when she steps out on the race.

[applause]

Tamara, I wanna ask you 'cause I know

'you've been very vocal
about your relationship.'

Do you think that black
women are judged more harshly?

Well, as you guys know, I'm a product

of an interracial relationship, and...

- Would've never guessed it.
- 'Right.'

[laughter]

And I'm a partner in an
interracial relationship.

You know I love Adam. Hi, Adam.

'I definitely had, you know'

people unfairly pass judgment

but I, I don't wanna
be the resident expert

on interracial dating. I
mean, I don't know everything.

So audience, what do you guys
think? Let's hear from you.

Are we still tripping on
interracial relationships?

You want me to do what?

Come on, I think it's a good thing.

Need I remind you of my failed
egg freezing on national TV.

That was different, this is now.

It's still my personal life. No.

The show's not even ready anyway.

Yes, it is.

You're just happy they said SNC on air.

Oh, I am and you, as in we

need to respond with an in-depth
look on where we are with

interracial relationships
in this country.

'They basically posed the
question for you, Mary Jane.'

Oh, and their social
networking tracking on this, oh!

It was bananas.

Look, Greg, a show like this
down the line, absolutely.

But I do not want to relaunch "talkBACK"

with my personal life. I'm
sure you can respect that.

Okay, I wanted to avoid this,
but I figured since I gave you

your show back to you you owed me

a few favors so I am
pulling one of my cards.

One of your cards?

- Mm-hm.
- Caught that.

Hey, we've been handed a gift here.

I want you on the air addressing
this to relaunch "talkBACK."

Okay.

Thank you.

I read it's not good for women to stand

in front of the microwave.

Hurts our ovaries.

- Hey, Marisol, I...
- All yours.

What's up, crusaders?

I'm telling you the NFL,
NBA, NHL, MLB, they're beasts.

They are masters of extorting

taxpayers to build their stadiums.

The numbers are astonishing.

I'll have it ready by
the next staff report.

Oh, and I've just been
counting dead black bodies

at the hands of police.

You know, I got Rashad Robinson from

Color of Change on the hook.

Now, he is crazy busy, but I'm sure

we can make it happen
for the first show.

About that, uh...

... we gotta switch it up.

Greg wants to relaunch
"talkBACK" doing a...

... a State of the Union on
interracial relationships.

Because you're dating that white guy?

Don't start. Look, I know, we just...

- We just have to do it.
- Wow. Okay.

You know, I didn't sign
up to do the fluff pieces.

And anyone else would've fired
your ass for what you just said.

But I have decided that
mentoring will be, uh, the means

to supplement your meager paychecks.

Lesson number one.

This is life. Deal with it.

'When someone gives you a
paycheck, you figure out'

how to give them what they
want by saying what you want.

So what do you want to say
about interracial relationships?

Seven-one thousand.

Eight-one thousand.

[chuckling] Nine-one thousand.

Ten.

Where's my baby?

There's my baby.

You suck at hiding, kid.

You suck at hiding! Come here!

You suck at hiding! You are so bad!

(Paul) 'Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!'

What did I tell you about
running in the house, huh?

(female # ) 'Come here.'

- You hear grandpa?
- Hmm.

No running.

I'm sorry. I know you're trying
to keep it quiet for grandma.

It's okay, it's okay.

Just kids giving us
something else to do.

Yeah.

Hey, why don't you go
get ready for your nap.

I'll bring up some apple juice, okay?

- Okay.
- Okay.

You suck at hide and seek, kid.

'Mm-hm.'

You silly.

[sighs]

Um... has he talked to my dad at all?

- No.
- Are you, are you sure?

Have you talked to my dad at all?

[whispering] No.

The only thing I got was
a text saying I love you

and that was it.

You want the car section?

I heard that your uncle
is going to buy you one.

Yeah, he is.

Well, make him do it.

Pops, I said I'd get her a
car before I went back to LA.

Before is now.

Yep, there's no time
like the present, unc.

Well, I'm gonna go lay her
down since she's asleep.

I'm ready to go.

I'm proud of you, son.

For what?

Well, she deserves to know how it feels

to have a man show up for her.

Dad, Patrick's there for her.

You just can't see it.

Well, for now...

... let her see you. How about that?

I'll see you later.

[sighs]

- Hi, Greg.
- I need to talk to you.

Yeah, sure. You want some popcorn?

There's no butter, but
it's still good anyway.

We should meet in private.

'So what's going on?'

Am I about to be fired or something?

Not at this point... yet.

Yet?

Did you or did you not
accuse Marisol of having

an affair with me?

What? Wh-what are you talking about?

Did you or did you not

accuse Marisol of
having an affair with me?

No! No!

Greg, wait a minute, Greg.

Greg, you know, you know this is crap!

- What the hell, Kara?
- I'm sorry!

- Sorry?
- Yes.

- I don't need I'm sorry.
- Wait a minute.

I need you to go down to HR
and clear my name of this.

- You are smarter than this.
- This is not how it went down.

Listen to me. What did she say?

- She came to me.
- Yeah.

Because she wants to file a
complaint against you to HR.

She's ensigning you for intimidation

publicly disparaging her character

and accusing her of having
an affair with her superior.

- Me!
- No!

To better her standing with the company.

Oh, my God, no!

You need to fix this... now!

I know you don't wanna
hear it, but I think

you should just sit
down and talk to her.

- Talk to her?
- Yeah.

Hell, no. She broke the code.

She did not have to take this to Greg.

Man, when I was working my
way up, you know how much crap

I had to put up with from
male co-workers and supervisors

and this bitch, Karen, who
thought I was after her.

'If I would've gone to HR every
time something inappropriate'

went on, do you actually think

they would've ever taken me seriously?

(Mary Jane) 'I know,
I know, but these kids'

they're of a different generation.

They, they have no boundaries at all.

I-I hired this girl, Nina,
and, man, she says stuff I would

never have the guts to say

which is probably why
I like her so much.

'Yeah, they, they have no filter.'

They just... blh-lh-lh,
they say whatever.

No, what they don't have is loyalty...

... and they don't know
anything about paying dues

'and working stuff out
like adults, you know?'

If she had an issue with
me, she should've came to me

like a grown-ass woman.

So... what does she
have on you exactly?

It's just... one thing.

One thing.

Weeks ago.

And I regret it.

I regret it.

She's gotta come up here with
her sexuality... even flirting.

Oh, she made me so mad...

... so mad!

Man, I even said to
myself, you know what?

Maybe I shoulda teased a little ass

and gotten myself a little
further a hell of a lot faster.

- You know what I'm saying?
- I do.

- sh**t.
- And you should tell her that.

Tell her exactly that,
just tell the truth.

Apologize and see, see if the
whole thing just goes away.

I hate to grovel.

It's been years since the
historic Supreme Court decision

Loving versus Virginia
ruled anti-misogynation laws

state sanctioned bans
on interracial marriage

unconstitutional.

Some might say interracial
dating is no longer taboo.

There are plenty of examples of
interracial couples in society.

And in most American cities
walking down the street with

a partner of another race won't
pose the same degree of a thr*at

as it might have years ago.

In fact, a recent Gallup
poll estimates that % of

Americans now favor marriage
between blacks and whites

up from just % in .

But have attitudes truly
changed or have the spaces for

controversial conversations
simply shifted?

You are the second black
woman I've ever dated that

over-analyzed every
move she makes at work.

Or her entire life for that matter.

- You understand why, don't you?
- No.

It's exhausting and draining
and a complete waste of time.

You don't understand.

Please enlighten me.

I don't want to.

I don't wanna have to explain to you

why as a woman of color I
have to over-analyze everything

that I do at work or
explain what my kitchen is.

Not that kitchen which
is precisely my point.

In , Cheerios released a
commercial where an adorable kid

'poured cereal over her sleeping
father's chest because her'

mother had told her Cheerios
were good for the heart.

That seemingly innocuous
commercial was considered

controversial after YouTube was
flooded with r*cist comments.

'The child was bi-racial,
the father was black'

and the mother was white.

I take no pleasure in saying
this which is maybe why I tried

to delay us going out in the first place

but I can't date you anymore.

- What?
- I'm sorry.

- Are you serious?
- 'Yeah.'

- Wow.
- Yeah.

Wow.

In , popular British
singer FKA Twigs became

engaged to Twilight
actor Robert Pattinson.

'Twigs, who is mixed race, faced
online harassment via Twitter'

from those who claimed to
be Pattinson's biggest fans.

In an interview with the
New York Times, Twigs spoke

of the experience,
saying it's relentless.

'There's no amount of
songs I can sing or dances'

I can dance that will prove
to them I'm not a monkey.

Just because you did a bid in
the Peace Corps or you've got

some black friends doesn't make

you any more understanding or cultured.

At what point do I get an understanding?

I mean that's just it, you can't.

I mean not fully.

We spent an hour debating
why the black couple

at the karaoke bar bothered me so much.

You don't even know if
they were judging you.

You're right, I don't, but
I cared and it consumed me

and it was exhausting, and
I am exhausted right now.

I can't always be the person
that explains this stuff to you.

But yet in your job you
spend all day explaining it.

I have a lot of struggles in my life

that I did not ask for
and I did not create.

You and I is not a struggle

that I'm gonna choose for myself, okay?

The relentless of the Internet

allows for hate to flood timelines.

Some just call it trolling.

Others call it truth without a filter.

I like black men.

I want black love.

Well...

... I surrender.

I can't give you that.

The same technology that
allows us to hide behind our

smartphones and online aliases
also connects those looking for

'a global community.'

'It's time to take a deeper look
into the public versus private'

'nature of social media and
how much online forums reflect'

'American attitudes and shape
the way we participate in'

'controversial conversations.'

So join our panel of experts
as we discuss this and much more

including my own dating
life coming under fire

when we return on "talkBACK."

[sighs]

Oh, my God, girl, girl where did

you get those freakin'
fabulous shoes? I love them!

They're amazing.

Um... I don't really remember.

Well, if you do, you have to let me know

'cause I have got to have those.

They are fierce.

[sighs]

Um, Marisol, Greg said that, uh

you were upset about something

that I had said and I
just, girl, I am so sorry.

I... you know how us fiery
Latinas can be, you know?

Fiery Latinas is a tired
stereotype I don't ascribe to.

[microwave beeping]

Noted.

Which is exactly what
I'm talking about actually

you know, like, if you ever
feel upset or you're, you know

you have some kind of an
issue about anything, you know

you could always come straight
to me and we can work it out.

You know what I mean?

We're good, right?

We're-we're alright, right?

[chuckles]

Marisol...

... girl, I really need this to go away.

I really, really do.

Offer me the anchor
spot on your new show.

[laughs]

Wow.

[laughs]

Yeah, yeah.

I know I keep talking about
it, but I just can't believe

that I still have to
work with that girl.

Two smoked sausage sandwiches!

[cell phone beeps]

Can you grab those?

My son is texting me where
are you like he's my man.

Yeah. You want, uh, spicy or original?

[snaps fingers] Spicy.

[Kara laughing]

Uh, that's us.

(male # ) 'Anything else?'

(Mary Jane) 'Can I get
extra spicy barbecue sauce?'

'Yeah.'

- And napkins?
- 'Right down at the end.'

Thanks.

[exhales]

Oh, my God, are you okay?

That must've been so hard for you.

Yeah, but honestly I don't
think there's anything that can

break me after the year I've had.

I'm... actually proud of myself.

Still standing, still smiling
and still eating barbecue.

- Well, I'm proud of you, too.
- Okay.

sh**t.

I don't know how you do it, girl.

The same as you.

- You've had a rough year, too.
- Oh!

Yeah, but I think your year
beats mine, that's for sure.

You know I miss her.

I know.

I still have a lot of guilt.

Mary Jane, you know it's not your fault.

I know that, but...

Look, a lot of time

karaoke and barbecue will help.

[laughs]

You know... I've been thinking

a lot about my car accident lately.

Mm-hm.

I'm thinking... thinking
it was a blessing.

- Really?
- Yeah.

It's like I was on a
path and... just got off.

Getting extorted sort of
opened me up, you know?

Cece had kind of reminded me of
why I became a journalist in the

first place because I wanted to
tell stories about my America.

Look at me now, I mean I'm
in a good emotional place.

I'm dating for fun again.

And just when I thought I
was gonna lose prime time

I've got two shows.

- Yeah.
- 'Maybe... '

'Marisol is your car accident.'

'Okay, wait a minute.'

I was following you and
then you turned left.

You keep trying to settle

and run away from your
dream of nightly news.

So maybe this is the universe's
way of just pushing you up.

'Forcing you to do what
you're supposed to do.'

Forcing you to do what you
want to do, not what's easiest.

Eight more Yazidi girls
from northern Iraq have

managed to escape the clutches
of their !sis captors and flee

to Germany prompting some
pundits to wonder if this is

progress against the radical
group or merely a band-aid

on a b*llet hole.

US Officials see this
as a sign of progress.

[knock on door]

What?

Come in.

- Who's this?
- 'My name is Barbara.'

I'm with SNC's HR department.

Marisol Esparza has filed
a complaint against you

for sexual and racial harassment.

What?

The eight young ladies have
relocated to the German city of

Stuttgart where they'll receive
permanent residency, education

and psychological help for their trauma.

During this time you will be
asked to be interviewed by HR

but otherwise you will not be
allowed to have direct contact

'with Ms. Esparza.'

Well, uh...

Okay, how is that supposed to
work given she's the talent on

the show that I produce?

If you remember, in
April of there were

two Yazidi girls, Amel and
Duan, who managed to escape.

I understand that makes
the job challenging

but in partnership with management

we'll figure that out.

[sighs]

[indistinct chatter]

Oh, sh**t.

Cece's ready to sell a book,
got the vintage kicks on.

[chuckling] The revolution
will not be televised

but I'm gonna look good doing it.

Come on, let's get this paper.

Alright, now remember they
already know our story.

- Uh-huh.
- So we just act natural.

- Phew.
- Keep the conversation going.

- Uh-huh.
- You know, keep the energy up.

They like that. You know
white folks like that.

You know I get nervous.

Mary Jane. Come on in, come on in.

You must be Cece. Here, have a seat.

Sit, sit, sit, sit, sit.

So I'm assuming that
they've already offered

you coffee, water, et cetera.

Oh, they did, we're good.

I am two days into a master cleanse.

They call it lemonade, but
really it's just lemon, water

cayenne pepper and a
dash of maple syrup.

It's disgusting, believe
me, but what can I do?

I'm in Cabo next week and
they say pounds in ten days.

We'll see.

So, Scott and Nora, you
met Mary Jane the other day.

This is Cece.

- Hi, Cece. I'm Scott.
- Oh, nice to meet you.

- Good to meet you.
- Both.

So let's just dive right in.

We are so excited to hear your story.

And we are excited to tell it.

So once the two cars go boom

then it all started with a check?

Yes, that's right, so...

No, it actually all
started in the ER hallway.

I, like most entrepreneurs in
this country trying to scrape

together a living, was putting
every dollar I had back in

my business to keep it afloat.

So, unfortunately, I had to
let my health insurance lapse

so there I was, no insurance

no room, no solution to the situation.

Had it not been for Mary Jane Paul

[chuckling] I might be still
waiting in that hallway.

Why, I just knew that the check
would mean more to her than it

does to me, so I thought it
was the right thing to do.

And then SNC tried to buy my silence

but I knew once that
non-disclosure agreement

did not include Mary Jane Paul

that it was a classic example of

corporate America trying to set up

the black man, in this case woman

for a fall and I was not
gonna let that happen.

So why'd you let her do it, Mary Jane?

I mean, you weren't legally drunk.

Why? I know why.

'The thought of a black
woman losing her job'

she'll do damn near anything.

[chuckles]

That's her identity.

Well, I-I justified
it like buying a table

at a charity function.

You know, but it was really my
financial restrictions that...

She helps out several
members of her family.

Yeah, it was that, that was the reason

this process dragged on so long.

I believe that had it not been for

that series of smaller payments...

But they were $ a piece.

Yeah, but because of the extended time

we were able to bond as women

'give each other advice... '

Ultimately, become friends.

She just spoke at my
bookstore and a few weeks back

I helped her set up the format
for her news show "talkBACK."

[laughing]

- [indistinct]
- I am fascinated.

I mean, this could be a
bizarre memoir of friendship.

'I mean, the irony of
you two potentially'

writing a book together
after she extorted you

for her bookstore, I mean, it's absurd.

Why not a bookstore?

- Why?
- Uh, it's simple. The kids.

This next generation
is beggin', screamin'

marchin' for their humanity.

They don't have nothing.

No hope, no jobs, no
school to teach them.

My bookstore is knowledge.

I've got to keep it open,
it's their university.

I'm sorry.

I just know I need to stay afloat...

... until they wake up and realize...

... they're hungry, so I
can feed them their freedom.

So, yes, by any means necessary,
we do what we have to do.

Hm.

But, uh...

... we lookin' at this as a blessing now

so it's all good.

- Do you have enough?
- Plenty.

So we sold it, is that it?

Cecilia Cece Briggs...

... you're being charged
with five counts of extortion

as well as multiple counts of fraud

tax evasion, and money laundering.

You set me up!

'After all I've done for you'

advice, helping you with your show...

You slutty, drunk bitch!

You're the one that should
be getting locked up, not me!

I'm a community leader, bitch!

I almost let you get away with it

but you got too damn greedy.

Damn, I almost let myself
believe we were friends.

sh*t, I'm probably the
only friend you have.

You k*lled the last one!

You just-you just take it too
far. You just take it too far.

You came to my house, you ask
for more money trying to take

credit for something I built.

I am sick of people
taking it too far with me!

[laughs]

Somebody, tip my hat to this young lady.

Please! I'd do it myself, if I could.

Just tip my hat to her.

It's a sign of respect.

Put my hat back on my head.

I'm gonna go and write this
book while I'm locked up.

Alana, when I get out,
I'mma come check you out.

♪ No more drama in my life ♪

[laughing]

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Oh oh oh ♪

♪ Why'd I play the fool ♪

♪ Go through ups and downs ♪

♪ Knowing all the time ♪

♪ You wouldn't be around... ♪

(Mary) Lisa, I have
been tip-toeing

around your feelings
since the third grade

and ever since I have put your problems

on my back, but I'm done.

I'm out, I can't handle this anymore.

♪ No more pain... ♪

I'm Mary Jane Paul...
and this is prime time.

You think the world sees
you as an ugly black woman.

Always the victim, always misunderstood

and you're really just a broken record.

When it comes to prime time

I will need you to tone down

the all-black agenda.

You have no idea what you've agreed to.

♪ No more fears I
really don't wanna cry ♪

I'm taking care of my kids.

No, I am taking care of your kids!

You love kickin' me, don't you?

♪ Wanna speak my mind ♪

♪ Wanna speak my mind ♪

Mm.

I love you.

But I can't be in this relationship.

Goodbye, I'll see you later.

Goodbye.

Are you with her because
you love her or...

... are you with her because
she's having your baby?

♪ Only God knows where
the story ends for me ♪

♪ But I know where
the story begins ♪

(Simone) David still loves
you, he never stopped.

♪ And I choose to win ♪

♪ No more pain ♪

♪ No more pain ♪

♪ No more pain ♪

♪ No more pain ♪

♪ I'm tired of you playin'
games with my mind ♪

♪ No more drama in my life ♪

♪ No more no more ♪

♪ No more ♪

♪ No more no more ♪

♪ No more tears ♪

♪ No more tears ♪

♪ No more cryin' every night ♪♪

[police siren wailing]

Ah, hell.

No worry, babies, mommy's gonna

'talk to the nice police officers.'

License, registration,
and proof of insurance.

- Why did you pull me over?
- I'll answer that in a second.

License and registration.

I'm sorry, I need to know

why you pulled me over first.

Your music was too loud.

Is that against the law?

License, registration

and proof of insurance.

So you mean to tell me

y'all pullin' black people over

and giving tickets...

'You sound irritated.'

I am irritated because you're
pullin' me over for no reason.

And my kids are in the back.

Calm down.

Is it against the law or not?

You also don't have plates.

That's because it's a
new car, obviously. Duh!

Why are you irritated, huh?

You hidin' something?

You know what, you have a good day.

I'm over this.

Do not raise that window.

Don't pull me over for
listenin' to loud music.

Get out of the car.

I'm not getting out of the car.

I am not getting out of the car.

I said, get out of the car.

Don't touch my door.

This... You can't do this.
What is wrong with you?

- Ma'am, get out of the car.
- Don't touch me.

- Don't touch me.
- Get out of the car.

- Why are you touchin' me?
- Ma'am...

I'm gonna get your badge number.

Get off of me! Get off of me!

What the hell is wrong with you?

Ma'am, calm down!

Taser! Taser!

[crackling]

[gasping]

Mommy?

(male # ) 'Alright, go.'

Roll over! Roll over!

Stop!

Somebody help me, please.

- 'Mommy!'
- Get off of me!

- 'Calm down, ma'am.'
- My kids are in the car!

My kids are in the car! Get off of me!

'You're hurting me! Get off!'

- 'Get off of me!'
- 'Just calm down, ma'am.'

'Calm down.'

- Oh, my God!
- 'I've left this tape running.'

- Oh! Oh!
- Oh!

- Oh, my God!
- Oh! Oh, my God!

(male # ) 'It's too
much excessive force.'

This is disgusting.

Where's Lance?

(Young Jin) 'He's in the booth.'

You guys watching more of those videos?

(Young Jin) 'Yep. It's
a new one. It's nuts.'

I can't watch any more of those.

(Nina) 'It's our job to watch them.'

(Niecy) 'Get off of me! What
the hell is wrong with you?'

(male # ) 'Ma'am, calm down!'

(Niecy) 'My kids are in the back!'

Now, Mary Jane, you have

to check this out, alright?

This is what I'm talking about.

Black women need to be a
part of the conversation.

'She's being dragged out, tased... '

'She has her kids with her.'

'These are the stories we
should be reporting on.'

Come on, you have to give me something.

You have to admit these things are

are disgusting.

We can't do fluff pieces anymore.

We have to get to the people.

We have to give them back their voice.

We have a right to do
that, you understand?

But no, instead we're doing
fluff pieces left and right.

Do you understand what I'm
tryin' to get at right now?

Mary Jane?

(Niecy) Somebody help!

[instrumental music]