04x01 - Getting Nekkid

[bunniefuu]

MARY JANE: Previously,
on "Being Mary Jane"...

Please, God, if he's
mine, just give me a sign.

[gasps]

How do you forget about a wife?!

Did you know that me and your
husband have been sleeping together?

Do you want me to just stop working
so I can chauffeur the kids around?

I think they should come
live with me full-time.

All I do is work.

- GREG: She came to me.
- KARA: Yeah?

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

for intimidation,

- publically disparaging her character...
- [gasps] What? No!

...and accusing her of having an
affair with her superior... me!

I want to win an Emmy for
producing "Nightly News."

You have two kids by two different men.

NIECY: Get off of me! What
the hell is wrong with you?!

OFFICER: Just calm down.

nd OFFICER: Tase her! Tase her!

NIECY: [groans]

[head thuds]

I'm seeing someone.

Oh.

I just feel like I need closure.

Like if I knew why,
then I could let him go.

KARA: He's with somebody else, that's why.

PAUL: Go out there and get your
happiness, and if it's not David, move on.

MARY JANE: You're not on
dr*gs, are you, Patrick?

PATRICK: I take a little something to
help me focus, but it's far from coke.

I swear I'll never do that again.

PAUL: You also swore you'd never do
any drug, but you broke that promise.

KARA: I've gotta hear this.

You are telling me that you
have never, ever, ever, ever

- been with a White boy?
- MARY JANE: Never.

- Seriously?
- Ever.

KARA: All right, all
right. Well, what ya think?

MARY: He definitely exceeded
my stereotypical expectations.

- KARA: Oh?
- One stereotype that was true...

Mm-hm?

They do love to "chomp the box,"
and you should have told me.

KARA: Yes, they do.

I like Black men.

I want Black love.

♪ Let me love ♪

♪ Let me touch, let me love ♪

♪ So you can give it up ♪

♪ Let me drink ♪

♪ From the fountain ♪

♪ In the car ♪

♪ On the street ♪

♪ In the dark, baby ♪

♪ On the beach ♪

♪ In the back of the car ♪

♪ Let me ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ I'm ready ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ Don't stop ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ I'm ready ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ Don't stop ♪

MARY JANE: Can you give me just one minute?

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ I'm ready ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ Don't stop ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ I'm ready ♪♪

♪ All I want ♪

- ♪ All night ♪

♪ Keep going ♪

♪ All I want ♪

♪ All night ♪

♪ Keep going ♪

♪ All I want ♪

♪ All night ♪

- ♪ Keep going ♪♪
- WOMAN: You've never had

a successful, committed relationship.

That's what I'm getting.

I suppose that depends on
what you consider "successful."

I have had a couple of men propose.

One was married.

Uh, I didn't know it.

Why do you think a matchmaker can help you?

You're the best, right?

But I'm not a miracle worker.

The high-achieving professional
men and women that I work with,

they must be willing to do
something that isn't easy.

They must get past the surface and
find out what's really goin' on.

Absolutely, and I will.

You've been in New York, what?

- Two days.
- To start a big, high-profile

new job, no less.

Yes.

I suggest you wait a few months.

No, no, this is my
opportunity for a fresh start.

I mean, not just with my
job, but with... everything.

The questionnaire and
self-assessment are just a start.

There are rules.

Whatever it takes.

KARA: Come on, baby, we
rose from the ashes to get

to where we are right now, okay?

We've gotta acknowledge it, mama.

Here's to your new kick-ass
job in the number one market

in the country... New York City, baby!

And to the woman who got me the job.

Oh, I got you the interview, mama.

You got the job. [laughs]

Oh. Oh.

Okay, it looks like we have a
different kind of celebration

in mind for tonight.

Do you think he's a good lay?

I mean, I know that it's not like I could
tell, but if you had to take a guess.

- Why?
- This is my last chance to have sex.

It could be months before
there's another opportunity.

What? Wait a minute.

This is New York City, mama.

There's an endless supply of men here.

- I took a pledge.
- Oh. Okay.

Yeah, starting tomorrow, no
more auditioning boys in my bed.

It's time for the professional matchmaker.

- A matchmaker?
- Mm-hm.

Was this one of your
White friend's suggestions?

It was Molly, wasn't it?

No, she caters to diverse,
professional women, like me.

How does that differ from a dating app?

- It costs grand.
- What?!

Who the hell is she introducing you to?

Is Barack leaving Michelle?

So, tonight's about gettin' your
freak outta your system, huh?

The last casual encounter
before my husband comes.

Well, if you don't find your husband,
at least you'll have a few laughs.

Oh, off the charts in bed, I'm sure.

Hi. You're Mary Jane Paul, right?

- Yep.
- Can I buy you a drink?

You know, I think this is more like
a... like a girls' night kinda thing.

- Some other time, then.
- MARY JANE: Sure.

I know I'm buttin', but that boy was fine.

And he also knew my name and who I was.

So what?

So, I didn't bring any
non-disclosure agreements

and I'm not trying to be held
accountable for my actions tonight.

You are so damn scandalous.

[laughing]

This is... [laughing]

- Kara?
- What?

Don't look now.

I'm not the only one with
a potential for scandal.

Girl, don't tempt me, 'cause I'm
drunk enough and I don't give a damn.

Go.

He is primed and ready.

Now he probably had to get home
to his mama before the street

lights come on, but he's good to go.

All right.

I will see you mañana.

That's my girl.

KARA: Right now.

MAN: [laughs]

MAN # : [British accent] Like
a pub back home in London.

[silently] Come here.

Thank you.

I'll give you that.

[mixed conversations in background]

[British accent] Hello.

Did I overhear you say
that you were from the UK?

Yeah, London.

- Primrose Hill area.
- Hm...

- I moved here three weeks ago.
- Mm-hm.

I'm...

No name?

No, I like to keep things mysterious.

Ah...

Are you a fugitive?

- You're not a wanted woman?
- Unh-unh.

Okay.

No, I'm just searching for a
little... escape before reality

bites me in the morning.

So... "London"...are you in?

Can you give me just one minute?

Okay, okay, Kara, Kara...

[dialing phone]

[phone ringing]

- Okay...
- It's Kara. Leave a message.

Kara, hey, it's MJ.

Yeah, um, I know my plan, uh,
sounded really great in theory,

but, uh, there's a strange man
with a hard-on in my hotel room

right now and it just feels a little crazy.

It's crazy, right?

Okay, look, if I happen to die
tonight, just know that, um,

I made it a point of walking
him past the security cameras.

Pray for me.

Whew!

There she is.

"LONDON": Everything okay?

Fine.

Can I fix you a drink?

I've already had a couple.

But you can slip this on.

- On...?
- Your wrist.

I thought I'd be slipping
on something else.

Oh, I have that, too, but
we're gonna start here.

So... when I want more...

More...?

[elastic snaps]

Faster.

[elastic snaps]

Harder.

Take your clothes off.

♪ Let me love ♪

♪ Let me touch ♪

♪ Let me love ♪

♪ You should give it up ♪

MARY JANE: [gasping]

♪ I need a break ♪

♪ From myself ♪

♪ And from my past ♪

MARY JANE: [moaning]

[kissing]

Is this not what you want?

I can stop.

No. No, don't.

I can't carry on unless you tell me to.

Damn it, I had plans.

[laughs]

It's a fantasy, I'd been imagining...

Probably got the idea from
a movie I saw in the ' s.

What is it?

I don't think I want that.

What do you want?

Hey, I'm just here for you, okay?

Tell me what you want.

Tell me you love me.

I love you.

♪

♪

♪ I never wanna go there ♪

♪ I'm never gonna lay ♪

♪ Only when I gotta know ♪

♪ Just need a little touch ♪

♪ A little on the gray scale ♪

♪ I'ma get in there ♪

♪ And I don't even know ♪

♪ If you want to stay ♪♪

MAN: Anybody got a line on Mary Jane?

I need her out here. Anybody?

- WOMAN: Try the green room.
- MAN: Show me that in .

KARA: [snapping fingers]
Mary Jane! Mary Jane!

Good morning, mama. Come
on. Hurry up. Let's go.

Listen, we're gonna start
with the fans outside.

The floor manager's got
the whole thing goin', okay?

I'll be right there. Just a minute.

Ronda and Aaron are on their way in.

Isn't this beautiful, mama? That
could be your future right there.

That's gonna be your desk, you hear me?

I need the mic for Mary Jane, please?

Let's get moving here, thank you.

Give me that mic. Thank
you. Thank you. Are you okay?

Talk to me. What's wrong? Huh?

What's the matter?

- MARY JANE: Kara, um...
- What?

There's something I...

I haven't told anyone, not even you.

I tried to tell you last
night, but it just...

Okay. What?

- When I left SNC...
- Mm-hm?

It wasn't because I wanted to.

I mean, they let me resign,
but, really, they fired my ass.

Oh, because of the Niecy stuff?

I knew when I was defending
her, it was rough on all of us,

but when I started really
railing about police brutality

and racial profiling, it was...

The only difference between you and me
is I left before it got to that, okay?

But you're here now.

God, the last time I was
on camera, Kara, it...

it felt like it was... that
was it, like I was done.

MJ, the forced cheerfulness
of morning TV is gonna strangle

all of those doubts, okay?

I know this is cheesy, but...

that is the job I wanted when
I graduated college... that.

You got this, okay?

- I got this.
- You got this. Trust me.

Take this mic, okay?

Ready? Let's go.

FANS: [cheering]

[shouting, cheering, applauding]

Live from New York City,
this is "Great Day USA."

I'm Mary Jane Paul.

FANS: [cheering, shouting]

- MARY JANE: Oh, it's cold!
- KARA: Yes, I know.

- Here. Here.
- Oh! Thank you.

I'd tell you that you're
gonna get used to it,

but I never could lie to you.

Oh, the Cory Booker interview.

RONDA: Do you think it's possible
to get anything done in Washington?

SENATOR BOOKER: I absolutely do.

She's about to hit him with the
Ronda Sales' surprise question.

- There she goes...
- ...the Democrats keep bringing up

because it seems to me
that it is inevitable...

MARY JANE: Wait for it...

She's gonna lean...

KARA: [gasps]

How did you know that?

I spent the better part of my first
on-air job just trying to imitate her...

recorded all of her newscasts,
studied her delivery.

Mm.

I might have even used a
couple of her tricks when

I interviewed for this job.

Well, it worked because they're
grooming you for her job.

Come on, let's go in here.

SENATOR BOOKER: Nothing
worthwhile is achieved

by shirking the challenge.

Mary Jane, welcome to the show.

Thank you so much for having me.

Of course.

- [pager beeping]
- Hello? Yes.

Oh, excuse me.

You're a progressive champion,
but you work alongside

conservatives like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul.

I mean, I can't imagine it always
being easy to find common ground.

No, it's not easy, but
nothing worthwhile is easy.

It's important. It's
necessary for the work I do.

KARA: [chuckles]

Tell her to ask him about
his School Expulsions Bill.

- Really?
- Yeah. Do it.

Okay.

Ronda, ask him about his
School Expulsions Bill.

Okay, then tell me this.

Your School Expulsions Bill.

Is that an example of
some of those challenges?

Look, the Supportive School
Climate Act is an important bill

- because...
- Oh... [laughs]

That was a good "got ya" moment.

What most people don't know

is a Black kid and a White
kid, for the same infraction,

the data shows that the
Black kid is more likely to be

expelled and get a more
serious punishment in school.

- Right.
- The data also shows that

doing the same crime, Black
and White, the Black person's

gonna get the longer sentence,

and this makes for higher rates of
Black incarceration in our country.

How high is higher?

- Here we are in .
- Mm-hm.

There are more African-Americans
under criminal supervision now

than all the slaves in .

And that's a scandal.

We say we're a country of
liberty and justice for all.

This is an injustice and it must stop.

["Great Day USA" theme music]

Ronda. Nice job.

Thank you.

The powers that be, I have
to ask, how did you know that?

Actually, that was Miss
Mary Jane Paul's idea.

Yeah, I've been wanting to
interview him for a long time

and I just researched like layers deep.

Our new correspondent.

A great way to get acquainted.

God, the pleasure is all mine.

Sometimes it's tough to find
a connection with a subject.

But you made that possible.

Happy to help.

- That's my girl.
- RONDA: [chuckles]

Hey, Mary Jane, you've gotta
get touched up because you've

gonna go back on soon, okay?

- Right.
- Uh, who do they have doin' her, Becky?

KARA: Yeah, I think so.

Becky's well-meaning, but
you're going to want Ty.

Ty is my, uh, personal
stylist, and we agree that, uh,

he must do your hair, too.

- Wow, thank you.
- Welcome to the show.

Follow me to my lair.

- Thank you, Ty.
- Take good care of her, boo.

Bye.

Hey, Ronda, do you have a minute?

I wanna see if we can go
over some ideas I have for the

Supreme Court justice story.

Gosh, honey, you should
just talk to Garrett.

Well, I've tried to talk to
Garrett, but, uh, it's kinda

hard to get in his ear.

Oh, that doesn't surprise me.

I still can't believe
the network... [laughs]

...hired a toddler to run this show.

I have regrets older than Garrett.

So, will you talk to him?

Honey, I'm not certain I'm
gonna be covering the story.

But Garrett said "all hands on deck."

Garrett says a lot of things.

- [door closes]
- Nice work with Cory Booker,

and great job gettin' on Ronda's
good side on your first day.

Of course, now you've gotta
interview that hip hop artist.

I know, it's not gonna win any Peabodies.

Welcome to morning TV.

And we're back with "Great Day USA."

And we're checking in on
those New Year's resolutions.

A few weeks in, how are we all doing?

How many of us started a diet?

Patrick! Patrick!

Here she is! Come on!

HELEN: She looks cold, baby.

Of course, she looks cold.

It's wintertime in New York City.

HELEN: Mm-hm.

And back to the studio.

PAUL: Oh, she's gone again.

Hey, Patrick, what are
you doing? You missed her.

The press wants a statement
from Niecy about the cop

returning back to work.

I'm trying to get it together.

Niecy should write her
own statement, Patrick.

Mary Jane always did it for her, Mom.

- Oh, hi, sweetie.
- NIECY: Hi.

Put this on, babe.

Hey, Niecy.

Niecy, can you read this?

My hands are kinda full right now.

It's important, all right?

I don't really wanna
talk about that right now.

I'll see you guys later. Come on.

Say bye.

- TRAYVION: Bye.
- See you, little man.

NIECY: All right, bye, Dad. See you later.

All right, darling.

[heavy sigh]

MARY JANE: At the top of the
hour, we've got a surprise

hip hop artist who'll be
dazzling the crowd with one

of his hit singles.

Hey, guys, looking good.

Everything looks real good.

It's my understanding that

everyone here is
celebrating a birthday today.

Am I right?

Mary Jane, we have
someone for you to talk to.

It's the guy on the left
with the broad shoulders.

- We all like him.
- MAN: [laughs]

Women are percent of our audience.

Birthday! Birthday!

Yes, Happy Birthday!

So, that's right, all of these
strangers here have one thing in common.

They were all born on the same day.

So, what's your name?

Well, some people call me "London."

But my name's Lee. Lee Truitt.

So, is it really your
birthday, Lee, or did you just

wanna be on camera?

Well, it certainly feels like my
birthday, standing here with you.

- FANS: Oh...
- Oh? [chuckles]

- MARY JANE: How old are you?
- KARA: I love it.

Too old to know anything about
your, uh, surprise hip hop

act, but I'm gonna stick around and listen.

Oh, my goodness.

How adorable is he?

So, to all of our birthday
boys and girls here, and out

there, Happy Birthday!

More to come on "Great Day USA."

So, like a tight sh*t. That should be okay.

Hey. Mary Jane.

Hey.

I honestly didn't wanna
turn up like this, but I was

- compelled to.
- Compelled?

Look, I don't usually wake up
this early, but for some reason,

today I did.

If I wake up early, I'm not
gonna watch TV, but today

I turned it on.

If I turned on the TV, look,
I wouldn't watch this show.

But there you were.

I mean, it's a lot of
coincidences just to get me to

see your face on the TV screen.

I probably should have been
a little bit more clear.

Last night was supposed to
be like a photo on Snapchat.

We have a moment and then, poof, it's gone.

You don't wanna see me again?

No, absolutely not.

There will be no repeat performance.

Okay, let me take your
number just in case you change

your mind.

I won't.

I've gotta get back to work.

Look at you. Two minutes in New York and

you've already got the men
crawling out of the woodwork.

That was him, Kara.

The one I told you about from last night.

- The Brit guy...
- Yes.

...that you brought to the hotel? What?

Yes.

- Are you gonna see him again?
- No.

- Why?
- Absolutely not.

That was the old Mary Jane.

The new Mary Jane, well,
that bitch, she got a $ ,

- matchmaker searchin' for her husband.
- [laughing]

You know what?

Do you really need a $ , matchmaker?

I mean, he's got a lot
of potential and he's hot.

You already know he's good in bed, right?

I thought you were supporting me in this.

I am supporting you in this.

WOMAN: Here you are. We're
ready for you, Mary Jane.

Thank you.

I know this job is supposed to
be my primary focus, but I just

can't help but feeling like I'm hurtling
towards the title of like news widow.

Like being anchor was always
just supposed to be part of

the picture and I think it's time
to sort of complete the full picture.

Mm-hm?

You know what? Are you listening to me?

Yes, I am.

Listen, do what you want
with your matchmaker.

Spend $ , on her, if you want.

All I'm saying is I'd better
have a wedding invitation this

time next year.

- Here you go.
- Your lips to God's ears.

Oh, yeah.

Said hip hop artist's likes and dislikes.

Lemon pepper wings or barbeque?

I'm over it, Dante. It's a circus.

Everyone in my family wants me to
talk about what happened... again.

That cop going back to work
is all over the news now,

but it's gonna die down.

Protests are being planned.

That's just gonna put
it out there even more.

Treyvion's having nightmares. It's a mess.

I'm ready for it to be over.

It will be.

You're getting that lawsuit money, right?

[heavy sigh] Yeah.

Once you get that paper, you'll be good.

KARA: Ty? Ty?

Ty? Ty? Ty?

Listen, is, um, is something up
with Ronda because she's being

really cagey about covering
the Supreme Court justice story.

We have more than one anchor here.

Maybe Aaron's on it.

Yeah, but, come on, you know
Ronda'd be all over that.

It's a big story.

All right, what's it gonna take?

How about some tickets to Fashion Week?

First row, Kanye West clitch.

Come on. Whoa, whoa, wait a minute.

What about a travel assignment?

Miami, South Beach Food and
Wine Festival, in February.

I'm listening.

And your husband can come, too.

Yes? Yes?

Thanks.

[door closes]

Ronda's acting coy because
she doesn't know if she's gonna

- be working here.
- What?

But she just signed a multi-year
contract for Katie Couric money.

The deal didn't close.

So, that means that Garrett
could be looking to replace

Ronda sooner than later.

Look, it's risky as hell.

But this place could use a
fresh face, don't you think?

♪ I beg your pardon ♪

♪ I ain't after g*ns ♪

♪ I'm a Harlem... ♪

♪ My men dead men ♪

♪ My favorite sh**t ♪

♪ At the swiss stage ♪

♪ Tryin' to stay low ♪

♪ From indictments ♪

♪ I've been the same... ♪

♪ Since diapers ♪

♪ Same... with no license ♪

♪ Same... with a dream ♪

♪ Now I'm gettin' ♪

♪ Drained from your wifey ♪

♪ You need a pass ♪

♪ Just to come around ♪

♪ And I need that ♪

♪ Rolly-faced butt stamp ♪

♪ I'm tryin' to chill ♪

♪ 'Cause it's Ramadan ♪

♪ But I k*ll it ♪

♪ When that sun down ♪

♪ I play ball ♪

♪ And I play the trap ♪

♪ I could tell you 'bout ♪

♪ Some cells like ♪

♪ Had a cell-y ♪

♪ With a bunkbed ♪

♪ I could tell you ♪

♪ About what them jails like ♪

♪ Trace me, I'm Mr. Dave E ♪

♪ Trace me, I'm Mr. Dave E ♪♪

AUDIENCE: [cheering, applauding]

Remember, Mary Jane, this is his
first time on a big morning show.

He's not used to this kind of spotlight.

- Dave East.
- How're you doin'?

Thank you for coming on the show.

- Thank you.
- An amazing performance.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

You just got signed to Def Jam, you've got

collaborations with the
hottest names in music.

This is a dream.

It is dope.

- Yeah.
- Do whatever you can to draw

him out, okay?

MARY JANE: So, I mean, a lot
of our viewers don't know...

you had a pretty big basketball
career all the way through college.

Yeah, but it was just at that
age, and , I couldn't

really be coached or talked to.

I mean, I had a hot temper.

My life had to make a big
transition from me doing that,

to that not working, and
then getting into the music.

So, hip hop was your saving grace.

Yeah, it definitely was.

So, you're also a new father.

Yeah, I just had my daughter, Karisha, now.

What of your life experiences
go into your lyrics?

All of it.

Everything I'm talking about
is something I'm either aspiring

to do or I've done.

Do you ever rap about your relationships?

Um, some of them.

I'm not gonna say they shaped
me, but just my experiences

with women definitely matured
my thought process in just how

I deal with women today.

Is there a woman that's shaping you now?

Yes, she's goin' in for
the k*ll. That's my girl.

DAVE: My daughter's shaping
me, but... [laughing]

With a new baby, women wanna
know if he's off the market.

MARY JANE: Our female
audience is dying to know.

DAVE: You're gonna get me in
trouble to even talk about this,

but I'm... I'm single.

Yes! Yes!

- MARY JANE: You're single?
- Yeah, I'm single.

But I'm not really like on the hunt.

I'm more focused on my daughter,
my music, my family, you know,

and where I'm gonna be in
the next five to ten years.

Like that's my main focus,
but I'm always down for

a conversation or, you
know, a good movie or dinner.

That's cool with me.

- So, you're open to dating.
- [laughs]

- This... this is news.
- I didn't say that.

- You said that.
- BOTH: [laughing]

No, you said that.

Conversation, dinner. That
sounds like a date to me.

- Yeah.
- KARA: Yes!

Ha! Take that, TMZ!

We'll be right back with
more from "Great Day USA."

["Great Day USA" theme music]

- Love it!
- CREW: [applauding]

Yes!

You know what, people?

It's not curing cancer, but we

did scoop the tabloids, and in
our world, that is worth something.

Fist pump! Woo!

Nice interview.

Hip hop's not my thing, but
those were some pretty slick

- moves you had.
- MARY JANE: Well, thanks, Aaron.

That's a huge compliment
coming from you. Thank you.

I'm Natalie. Some of the correspondents

and I are grabbing drinks
later, if you wanna come.

Wow. Yeah, thanks. Appreciate it.

All right, see you tonight.

Mary Jane, is she liking New York?

Yeah, she loves it, actually.

Hm...

Why do you ask?

MAN: Two minutes.

- I did all right out there, huh?
- Yes.

Look, my cheeks are hurting

from all the smiling I had to do.

- Listen to me, listen to me.
- Huh?

- See that poster right there?
- Yeah.

That could be your face.

- I know. That's why I'm here.
- No, no, listen...

Um...

I'm not talking about in two years.

I'm talking about like now.

I'm serious.

Ty told me that Ronda
has been fielding offers.

- She's leaving the show?
- Yes.

[laughing] She's not even committing
to a story a month from now,

Mary Jane.

Okay, I want you to focus on this.

Garrett wants to take you to
lunch to talk about your future

- on the show.
- Okay.

If you play your cards right,

you can be in that anchor chair by Spring.

Hey.

- Hey.
- Hey, Natalie invited us out for drinks.

- Are you coming?
- No, a breaking story.

Another frat boy charged with
r*pe and I have to prepare

a package for tomorrow.

Oh, no, I thought you were going
to Atlanta to see the kids tomorrow.

No.

- Oh...
- I'll have to make it up to

them another time, hopefully.

Go, have fun.

- Hey, Mary Jane?
- Yes.

This came for you...

- from a guy named Lee.
- _

Thanks.

_

_

- NIECY: Hey.
- PATRICK: Hey.

You missed your dinner.

Yeah, sorry. I just
needed to clear my head.

Goodnight.

I finished the statement.

Do you wanna hear it?

NIECY: I don't wanna keep
reliving getting tased.

My family lives it every night, so...

Niecy, sit down.

You need to hear this.

PATRICK: "As a Black man,

"I've been stopped and pulled

"over by the cops countless

"times for no reason.

"But I knew the rules.

"I learned the drill.

"I never imagined my daughter,

"my little girl, would have

"to go through the same thing.

"Almost every week there's
another story about an unarmed

"Black man being sh*t
and k*lled by the police.

"But what we don't realize is
that it can happen to our young

"women as well.

"Nobody in our community is safe.

"What happened to her that
day was just the first of many

"att*cks on our entire family.

"Afterwards, when we sought
justice, we were put on trial.

"Our name was scrutinized
and dragged through the mud.

"It was an as*ault on all of us,
and I was to blame for a lot of this.

[sighing]

"I haven't exactly been a model
son or father... drug abuse,

"broken promises.

"My past doesn't always look pretty.

"When the incident happened,

"my father wasn't even talking to me.

"My whole family was
fractured and in disarray.

"But the amazing thing is

"all the vicious att*cks and
scrutiny forced our family

"to stop fighting each other.

"This tragedy showed us that

"we're stronger together...

"and this goes for all of us.

"As a community, we have to be

"a united front in the face of injustice
if we ever want things to change."

PAUL: [heavy sigh]

That was beautiful, son.

Our letter couldn't have said it better.

NATALIE: [laughing]

MARY JANE: No, I got the
impression that they were fairly

democratic, right, the story meetings?

Ronda gets the first pick on
most stories, interviews, too.

But if it's foreign affairs or
sports, Aaron usually steps in.

He's a man's man.

Right, a man's man.

He's gay, right?

- Gay?
- Yeah.

My God, no.

When I first got here, we had
one drunken night, too much

tequila, and I thought it would

be fun to see what his
bedroom ceiling looked like.

And?

Let's just say that thing

about workplace romance...
sometimes the most

boring clichés turn out to be true.

- MARY JANE: [laughs]
- But where else are we gonna meet people?

Wow, you are a great interviewer.

You heard my whole life story. [laughs]

Oh, this is perfect.

Thank you.

- MARY JANE: Hello?
- WOMAN: Mary Jane,

Felicia Vades, the matchmaker.

Oh, hi, hi. Just a second.

Yes. Yes.

I just emailed you my self-assessment
and the dating criteria.

Yes, I got everything.

Listen, Mary Jane, I don't think
I can work with you, after all.

What?

But, no, why? I...

I signed a contract. You cashed my check.

You'll get a full refund.

No, no, honestly, I don't want a refund.

I want your help.

Look, in my line of work,

when I see red flags, it's
unwise for me to ignore them.

I... I'm so confused.
What... what red flags?

Oh, you've got some blind spots
when it comes to self knowledge.

Okay, maybe I rushed through
the assessment, but I...

I've been busy, you know,
I... I started a new job.

You... you know that.
I told you about that.

Yeah, I got enough to get a
true sense of what's going on.

Bottom line is... for this
to work, it requires more than

just writing a check.

You've got work to do on yourself.

Are you breaking up with me?

I just sincerely hope you find love.

Best of luck.

♪ I think it's about time ♪

♪ To have a discussion ♪

♪ About us ♪

♪ I don't wanna be alone ♪

♪ I just wanna have someone ♪

♪ I don't wanna be alone ♪

♪ I just wanna have someone ♪♪

LEE: [British accent] Pop
music used to be so lovely

and poetic.

But there's no more metaphor
in music, because you, America,

- k*lled it.
- AUDIENCE: [laughing]

No, I'm being serious.

Take Ariana Grande, for example.

Now she's this beautiful, cute,
dizzy princess, and she sings

this ballad with, uh, the
Weeknd called "Love Me Harder."

Now, in this beautiful ballad,

you'd think it was this female
empowerment anthem where she's

just pleading with her partner

to open up his heart and love her more.

- Oh, no!
- AUDIENCE: [laughing]

No, she's literally asking
him to... Pound! Her! Harder!

AUDIENCE: [laughing, applauding]

I've been Lee Truitt.

Ladies and gentlemen,
you've been great, thank you.

I'll see you next time.

AUDIENCE: [cheering, applauding]

MALE HOST: Well, let's hear it one
more time for Lee Truitt, everybody.

AUDIENCE: [applauding]

HOST: Lee Truitt.

MARY JANE: Oh. Lee.

Were the jokes that bad?

No, quite the opposite, actually.

I honestly wasn't expecting
you to show tonight.

I honestly wasn't gonna come.

So, what made you change your mind?

You know, my previous plan

sort of went to Hell in a
handbasket and I thought, why not?

But I really wasn't expecting...

What?

Me being more handsome than you remembered?

...such complexity.

Is that a bad thing?

No.

It kinda makes me wish we could
have started with, I don't know,

names being exchanged first.

We still can.

Consider this a do-over.

Lee Truitt. Nice to meet you.

Mary Jane Paul.

Listen, Mary Jane Paul,

there's a nice, quiet bar
just around the corner.

What do you say we check it out?

I don't normally take home strange men.

What do you normally do?

MARY JANE: Uh, I google them,

then we go out on a date, and
I pretend like I haven't seen

every last one of their posts.

LEE: Well, you should know,

I don't normally go home
with strange women, either.

So, why did you?

I'm a sucker for a damsel in distress.

You think I was in distress.

Weren't you?

Oh, it looks like there's
a party starting without us.

Come on.

♪ Give me the light ♪

♪ I don't want dark ♪

♪ Give me the light ♪

Well, this is a little
livelier than I had in mind.

Well, you can dance, can't you, Lee Truitt?

- Oh, you watch me dance.
- ♪ Give me the light ♪

♪ Give me the light ♪

♪ Give me the light ♪

♪ Give me the light ♪

♪ Give me the light ♪♪

♪ Why not the... ♪

♪ Why not the... ♪

♪ Why not the... ♪

♪ Why not the... ♪

♪ Why why why not the... ♪

♪ Why not the... ♪

♪ Why not the... ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why why not the dance ♪

♪ One two three ♪

♪ Why why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance ♪

♪ Why not the dance... ♪♪

♪

[sighs]

♪

_

[sighs]

♪

MARY JANE: Later in the hour,

we've got this psychic who
correctly predicted last year's

election results, here, making
some bold predictions for .

Stay tuned for that, and
more. I'm Mary Jane Paul.

What do you think of that link I sent you?

It could be good for a
personal finance story, right?

Where are you going?

My lunch with Garrett.

Oh, right, right.

You got this, remember that.

Come on, rock it out!

- MARY JANE: [groans]
- [laughing]

Find me when you get back.

GARRETT: Mary Jane.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Thanks for, uh, for joining me today.

No, my pleasure.

- Oh. Uh...
- Uh... right.

Right. [laughs]

- Please, have a seat.
- Thank you.

So, uh, how's... how's New
York treating you so far?

- Great. Great.
- Yeah.

- Yeah, no complaints.
- Oh, good.

Mary Jane, let's cut to the chase.

You know it's no secret why
we brought you here, so, uh,

let's talk about the next steps.

How'd it go?

[quietly] You're looking at the
newest anchor of "Great Day USA."

That well?

I'm pretty sure Garrett's
talking to my agent.

I told you this move to New
York would be great for us.

I told you.

Once I'm in that anchor
chair, it's just a matter of

time before you can move Garrett
out of that corner office.

- Yes!
- [palm slap]

Mary Jane, may I have
a word with you, please?

Of course.

RONDA: Come on in.

I like you, Mary Jane, I do.

That is why I'm gonna be frank.

Garrett, um, has no intention
of making you co-anchor.

Excuse me?

I know that it probably seems

that he is, given what
transpired at Medejare's.

It was Medejare's, wasn't it? [laughs]

Oh, of course, it was.

Garrett's favorite booth in
the back against the wall,

a bottle of Pinot, dessert.

In fact, I fear the seduction

started weeks ago when you
were being interviewed, and

undoubtedly he led you to
believe that you were being

groomed for my spot.

He alluded to that, yeah.

And now he makes it seem
that my departure is imminent.

You're not fielding other offers?

This is my home.

So, why am I being led to

believe that I have a
future here, if I don't?

Garrett's trying to pit
us against each other.

He's the EP. Why would he do that?

RONDA: [laughs]

Telegenic rivalry between two Black women?

Drive his ratings.

It's morning news, not a reality TV show.

It's all about reality TV nowadays.

I know you don't believe me.

But you'll soon see that I'm right.

So, this is all just a ploy,

an act, to get the rivalry going?

Once sweeps are over with,

and my contract is renewed,

I'll be in the anchor chair
for another five years.

You'll be outside that glass
in the middle of winter.

GARRETT: Mary Jane!

Everything okay?

Yeah, I just wanted to give you a heads up.

My agent is really excited to talk to you.

[laughs] I am, too, so excited.

There's just uh...

I probably should have seen this coming,

but Business Affairs is
advising me to slow things down.

Really?

They wanna wait until you're
out of your probationary period

on your current contract...
which is totally understandable.

Of course, it is.

But not to worry.

The offer will come... in time.

Okay. [clears throat]

Kara, they had no intention of
ever grooming me to be anchor.

KARA: Okay, don't... don't get
your suitcase out just yet, okay?

Let's at least sleep on it.

MJ? MJ?

- Yeah, no, I'm here.
- KARA: Promise me you won't

make any rash decisions.

I wanted this, Kara.

And you can still have it.

We've just gotta be smart. We've
gotta find a strategy, okay?

How does that sound?

♪

It sounds like I'm gonna
be in for a crazy ride.

♪

♪