The Photograph (2020) - full transcript
A series of intertwining love stories set in the past and in the present.
Billy, why are we doing this?
Oh, it's just
a couple of questions
for posterity's sake.
And you know how much work
I got to do.
Just play along, Christina.
Well...
Fine. Go ahead.
Now, are you glad
you came to New York?
Yes.
Do you miss Louisiana?
- Parts of it.
- Hmm.
- What parts?
- The good parts.
And what do you like
about New York?
I like my work.
I like being a mother.
What are you thinking?
That I wish I was
as good at love
as I am at working.
I wish I didn't
leave people behind so often.
♪ Darling, I have to be
moved from afar ♪
♪ The truth is the only thing ♪
♪ Worth holding on to anymore ♪
- ♪ Anymore... ♪
- ♪ Untie me ♪
♪ Let me loose from the cord ♪
♪ I'm so gone, so far ♪
♪ I deserve more ♪
- ♪ More, I deserve more ♪
- ♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I'm begging you ♪
- ♪ I beg ♪
- ♪ I'm begging you ♪
♪ Please come home ♪
♪ No one even begs anymore ♪
- ♪ I'm begging you ♪
- ♪ I beg ♪
♪ I'm begging you,
please come home... ♪
- Hello?
- Hey.
- Uh, Isaac?
- You the reporter?
Yeah, Michael Block
from The Republic.
Come straight back
to the kitchen.
All right.
Hey. Thank you, again.
Yeah, sit down.
- All right.
- Mm-hmm.
This will likely be the best
boiled crab you ever eaten.
Oh, no, I'm all right.
I ate on the plane.
I just offered you crab.
That's not
the correct response.
Hey, um, do you mind
if I record?
Your story's about BP?
Pointe à la Hache.
Uh, Katrina, the oil spill,
how it kind of
affected things there.
So, did you always fish?
Well, I'm third generation,
but I was in the military.
Before that, I was working on
an oil refinery for Gulf Oil.
Well, what was it like
working for Gulf Oil?
- They fired me.
- Why?
I refused to pump dirty water
into the river.
It took us generations
to go from sharecropping
to independent.
They destroyed us
with the oil spill.
This was my wife.
Whoa.
- You married?
- Uh, I...
just got out of something.
She, um... she called
while I was flying, man.
She's... she told me,
"Don't even bother
stopping by."
Well...
She probably doesn't mean that.
Ah, she's probably right.
Who's this?
Christina Eames.
She took these other photos.
That was me in '84.
- She's great.
- Yeah.
- She from here?
- Yeah.
She moved to New York.
She's a photographer.
Hmm. That was...
Does she have more like this?
Um, I'm sure she does.
We lost contact, uh,
after she took off, or...
I let her leave.
30 years later, still trying
to figure that out.
Why don't you just look her up?
Too much time done passed.
- Hmm.
- I don't recommend getting older.
Less people to talk to,
more time to go over
every regret.
My Mae,
There are two letters.
Please read yours first
before sharing the second
with your father.
Love, Mom.
My Mae,
Cancer is a creature
lurching through my body.
I waited far too long
to face it squarely.
I need to write my way
out of the mess I've made.
I hope you won't
judge me too harshly.
Sometimes the heart
can be so full of love,
it's like a weight
on your chest
making it impossible to move.
That's how I felt
when I was with him.
♪ I don't want
to write this down ♪
♪ I want to tell you
how I feel right now ♪
♪ I don't want to take no time
to write this down ♪
♪ I want to tell you
how I feel right now ♪
♪ Hey... ♪
What's up?
Get those photos I sent you?
- Yeah, I got 'em.
- All right.
♪ For you or me,
life is not promised ♪
♪ Tomorrow may never appear ♪
♪ You better hold
this very moment ♪
- ♪ Very close to you ♪
- ♪ Right now ♪
♪ Very close to you,
so close to you... ♪
Oh. How was Louisiana?
Good.
And how is the girl?
Huh.
- It didn't work out.
- Don't... No.
♪ Shine your light
for the world to see... ♪
Oh, coffee for me.
Look at you sucking up.
Hey, have you ever noticed
how ugly this place
actually is?
- Mm-mm.
- It's-it's bleak.
And confining.
It's claustrophobic.
It don't look that bad to me.
I mean, actually, it's fine...
it's a really nice building...
but look, they won't give me
anything to write.
Yeah.
Well, why don't you
do me a favor and, uh, look up
this photographer
named Christina Eames.
- Cool?
- Oh, all right.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Mae?
- Yeah.
- Hey.
Michael Block
from The Republic.
Hey.
Uh, after you called,
I pulled all my mother's photos
from Pointe à la Hache.
Oh, thanks.
Yeah, since she died,
I've been going through
all her things.
We weren't expecting it.
She didn't tell anyone
she was sick.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I saw some of Christina's work
in New Orleans.
Um, the guy I was profiling
showed me a picture of her.
- She hated when people took photos of her.
- Oh.
He said the relationship ended
after she left Louisiana.
Well, she wasn't good
at staying anywhere.
Or with anyone.
- Just ask my father.
- Mm.
Um, maybe we shouldn't be good
at staying places.
That sounds very mobile.
Well, maybe.
So I take it you're not walking
down any aisles anytime soon?
Nope. Uh, what about you?
Me? I broke up with my last
boyfriend after he proposed.
You got commitment issues?
Wow.
Tact.
You from the City?
- Yeah.
- Oh, okay.
And how long have you been
at Queens Museum?
I've been assistant curator
for two years.
What about you?
How long have you been
at The Republic?
Uh, too long, probably.
Like, four years.
Oh, wait a minute.
This is, uh, Isaac.
You know him?
I don't know. I...
I went to Louisiana once
as a child, but...
Yeah.
You know, uh...
Uh, maybe we should talk more.
You know, I mean...
maybe you could talk...
tell me more about Christina
and, uh, Pointe à la Hache.
Uh, I could call you.
On your one day off,
why would you choose
to come back here?
This was supposed to be a date.
We should go to New Orleans
this weekend.
Why?
You question anything
that's fun.
What's so fun
about New Orleans?
The people are different.
And we could dance.
♪ Until I had them
memorized... ♪
We could dance right here.
If you don't want to go, I'll
just go with Denise and Peter.
You can stay here
with Ashley Prentiss.
Why are you bringing up Ashley?
Because she is always
hanging around the harbor
for no reason,
trying to get your attention.
That's not true.
I'm sure she'd be happy
to stay home.
♪ How much I do ♪
♪ Do love you... ♪
When do you want to go
to New Orleans?
Christina.
Why are you slamming my door?
Sorry.
I... I didn't mean to.
You look pretty.
Thank you.
You should wear more dresses.
Where'd you go?
To the harbor, with Isaac.
Isn't that exciting?
I told him
he needs to do better.
He's just like his father.
What's wrong with his father?
He ain't got nothing.
Ain't never gonna have nothing.
How many times
I got to tell you that?
We're just friends.
"Just friends."
"Just friends."
Aren't you sick of telling
that sad story?
What's so sad
about being friends?
You being rude to your mama?
No, ma'am.
Violet.
I'm not gonna sit out here
by myself all night.
I'm talking to my daughter.
Trying to teach her something.
Night, baby.
You know, it's so hard being in
her apartment right now, Dad.
I just remember being there,
desperate for her attention,
not getting it.
Thank God that you were there
to make my lunches,
'cause she didn't even notice
when I started smoking weed.
Well, I noticed.
- You did?
- Yeah.
- You never said anything.
- How could I say anything?
You were stealing it from your mother.
What if I'm just like her?
You're not.
Did you read the letter?
I couldn't at first.
I just don't understand
why she couldn't tell me
about her life
when she was still alive.
Maybe to help you look at her
in another way.
What other way?
She wasn't just your mother.
At some point, you're going to
have to forgive her
and realize
she was just a woman...
with flaws.
A lot of flaws.
Yeah.
I'll get it. I'll get it.
- Uncle Michael!
- Whoa. Hey.
Look, we'll be just fine.
Yeah, Harlem won't get
that much landfall
from the hurricane.
Uh, I did that job interview.
Feel like it went well.
I might get it.
Wait, what job?
Man, do you listen
to anything we ever talk about?
Brother, I'll be trying to,
but you know I have
two kids under ten.
Come on, now.
Associated Press in London.
Oh.
You guys know how it is
in the City.
It's... I'm feeling caught up,
you know?
Sometimes it feels
like an accomplishment
just to get to the subway.
Plus, Tessa is saying
I'm incapable
of any kind of change.
Wait, I'm sorry, so...
so you want to move
- because of Tessa?
- I'm not saying that.
I mean, it kind of sound
like that.
You hungry?
Why would you ask him that?
Don't give him no food.
We don't need to feed him.
- Why not?
- What you mean, "why not?"
First of all,
he's a grown man, okay?
And groceries are expensive.
Mike, let me ask you this.
All right?
And I'm serious.
Are you actually done
with Tessa?
Are y'all finished?
Oh, we're finished.
Yes, finished-finished.
Good.
- Kyle.
- What?
Okay, he was wasting her time.
I wasn't wasting her time,
was I?
Definitely. You was
definitely wasting her time.
- Mom! Dad!
- Mom, she took my book!
Sandrine and Sofia.
Okay, look, look,
how's the story coming?
I interviewed this man
named Isaac.
He reminds me of Dad.
Uh, he kind of introduced me
to this woman.
- Kind of?
- Yeah.
She, um... she's the daughter
of somebody that he knew.
Um, she's a curator
at the Queens Museum.
- Come on, now. Already?
- "Already" what, man?
You know what
I'm talking about, man.
Already?
You, like, like her already?
You trying to date
somebody again?
It ain't my fault
I meet people while I work.
And, uh, she's interesting,
you know?
Oh, so-so-so she's interesting.
Yeah.
She's got a lot to unpack.
Her mom just died.
So, you're attracted to her
'cause her mama died?
- Look...
- No, I...
Beside the point. Turn around.
Let me... let me talk to you.
W-Why don't you do me
a favor, okay?
Take some time
to yourself, okay?
Figure out what you
really want to do
instead of jumping
into something again.
I don't know,
I'd like to see her again.
Oh, those girls
are gonna drive me crazy.
I didn't
know much about photography
when she started
taking pictures,
but I knew I liked
the way she saw me.
Better than I really was.
- Hi.
- Hi, baby.
My ego probably
held me back the most,
why I couldn't make it work
with Christina.
I didn't know how to be
with a woman
that I had to keep up with.
What would you
have done differently?
I would've gone after her.
- Yo.
- What's up, man?
Uh, you want to see a movie?
- Yeah. Yeah.
- Yeah, you.
All right.
Let's do it.
♪ Thinking ahead of time ♪
♪ Why don't you spend
the night? ♪
♪ I know you love me ♪
♪ Pick up and roll the dice ♪
♪ Reading between the lines ♪
♪ I know you love me ♪
♪ We can book a flight ♪
♪ Wake up in paradise ♪
♪ Sun up above us ♪
♪ Tell me you down to ride ♪
♪ And you can bet your life ♪
♪ No one above you ♪
♪ Said hold on ♪
♪ Can't stop love... ♪
Oh, I see what you're here for.
Nah, you don't see nothing.
- What you talking about?
- Mm-hmm.
What's he doing here?
Who?
Well, now, hold on.
Be right back.
Yeah, I'm gonna
go talk to her.
- I'll meet you upstairs.
- All right.
Hey, Mae.
♪ Can't stop love ♪
♪ And as long as
you're with me ♪
♪ I'm definitely... ♪
I was blown away.
Are you being sarcastic?
Oh, he's got some
follow-up questions.
You gonna help me out?
Uh, as long as I don't
have to talk to his friend.
So, you're not
gonna help me out?
Fine.
He's cute in
an innocent-looking way.
He's kind of dewy.
It's refreshing.
What is wrong with you?
I'd rather be here.
- Yep.
- Oh.
I need a drink.
Are you coming?
Yeah.
I didn't know you were coming.
Well, you were supposed
to invite me, right?
I'm sorry.
- Next time.
- Uh-huh.
How's your article coming?
It's all right, you know.
It's kind of moving slowly.
- How come?
- 'Cause, uh, well, you know,
sometimes good things
take time to develop.
How do you know Michael?
We work together.
Are you a writer?
Kind of.
Why "kind of"?
I'm an intern.
An intern.
Yeah, for now.
How old are you?
Why does it matter?
Of course it matters legally.
I'm a solid 25...
in a few months.
How old are you?
That's none of your business.
What did you think
about the movie?
Uh, to be honest,
I was a little distracted.
- What?
- I...
So I... so I kept
running back in my mind
how you might respond,
uh, to me asking you
for a drink after.
So, that was you asking me?
That was elaborate.
Well, in-in my mind,
it wasn't that forward.
You know what I mean?
It was more...
smoother than-than that.
I was supposed to call you,
I thought.
Yeah, you were supposed to.
But you didn't.
Well, I can't leave
my girl Rachel behind, so...
Ah.
Oh, it look like
Rachel already left.
Wow.
- She's a great friend.
- Oh, yeah. Yeah.
- She just disappear when you need her to.
- Just... Yeah.
I-I like Kanye.
- Yeah?
- But I'm just concerned
that he don't care
about music no more.
He does not. That's not a...
- He don't care about us.
- That's a valid...
- He does not care about us anymore.
- Uh-huh, uh-huh.
He cares about interior design.
Like, when did he get into it?
Like, I'm not trying to buy
Kanye pillows, you know?
- That would be fine, actually.
- That would be.
- I-I actually wouldn't mind.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Oh, okay, what about Drake?
Drake, okay.
See, Drake, for me...
Drake is like the homey.
- Yeah.
- Like, you know, he's like
a friend at school
who you know and...
- And who knows us. That's what...
- Who knows us.
That's what I like about him.
He's just in tune.
- Yeah.
- You know, he's, like...
in tune with his feelings
and-and my feelings,
your feelings...
Oh, no, you didn't.
- Sorry. I...
- No, you didn't.
I'm just bored by
the sentimentality, all that.
- Okay, who... who do you like?
- But, uh...
- Kendrick.
- Oh, no.
Kendrick is my dude, for sure.
- I mean, he's...
- I'm so sorry.
What? You're telling me
you don't like Kendrick?
No, that's... No, I-I love...
No, I think he's great.
I just...
Man, I'm about to flip
this table over.
I just... No, hear me out.
I just...
He makes me feel guilty.
- Wait, how so?
- 'Cause I can't...
I just feel like, uh, everybody
can't be a change in the world.
- Everybody can't do that.
- Oh, okay.
- It's too ambitious.
- All right. Mm-hmm.
- You know?
- You know what?
Now that I think about it,
that is kind of ambitious.
- Right?
- Talking about, we gonna be all right.
- It's unfair.
- Yeah.
- What if I don't want to be all right?
- Right.
- Who knows if we're gonna be all right?
- Who knows that?
Mm. Wow.
Uh, see, I'm trying
to think of how to...
trying to say something that,
you know...
Uh, just trying
to be honest and...
Oh, uh, being honest
is hard for you?
Mm-mm.
It's just, I don't want
to say the same thing
that I've said
to another woman.
You know?
Are there a lot of other women?
No, there's a lot
of first dates.
Yeah, I'm terrible
at first dates.
- I just...
- Huh.
No, I just don't know
whether to be
vulnerable, aloof, funny.
Why don't you just be yourself?
I don't know who that is.
- Fair enough.
- No, I-I mean,
maybe I'm just a collection
of wrap dresses
and Kehinde Wiley prints.
I don't think so.
You ever wonder
if we're just...
if we're just who we're around
in the moment?
I would think that it's
important that we pay attention
to who we surround
ourselves with, then.
True.
Yeah.
What?
I'm wondering if it's not too
early in the night to kiss you.
It wasn't too early.
Ah. I see.
What was it like?
I don't know.
It felt like we...
kissed before.
Yeah, and he called me
right after.
To say what?
To say that he thought
that I was...
Thought that you were what?
Special.
See? This is why
I can't tell you anything.
I knew I shouldn't
have told you.
- Why do you keep doing this?
- Doing what?
You know. You-you act
like you all in, right?
And it don't even last longer
than what, 12 weeks?
All right, well,
what about Tessa?
What do you mean,
"What about Tessa?"
Come on, bro, that only lasted
'cause you didn't have
to see her every day.
- Here you go.
- Thank you.
And by the way,
thank you so much
for bailing on me
after the movie.
Oh, Andy and I were
just pawns last night.
We ditched you,
and then I ditched him.
Okay.
Where are you going?
New Orleans.
With who?
Denise and Peter.
Who else?
Who else is going?
Isaac.
I'm spending the night.
What are you planning to do?
- In New Orleans?
- No.
Christina, I'm asking what you
planning to do with your life.
You can't just walk around town
taking pictures.
How you plan to make money?
Isaac can't take care of you.
I don't want him
to take care of me.
- You expect me to keep taking care of you?
- No.
You're getting too old
to live with me.
Are you telling me
I need to leave?
I'm saying you'll probably be
more comfortable living alone.
You should start looking
for a place that's yours.
Come on, Christina.
Why are you yelling at me,
Denise?
'Cause you late.
Nice to see you, too, Peter.
♪ But it's making me weak ♪
♪ I'm not your superwoman ♪
You okay?
♪ I'm not the kind of girl
that you can let down ♪
♪ And think that
everything's okay ♪
♪ Boy, I am only human... ♪
What's up with you, baby?
- ♪ Ain't nobody ♪
- ♪ Nobody ♪
- ♪ Loves me better ♪
- ♪ Loves me better ♪
♪ Makes me happy,
makes me feel... ♪
Marry me.
We've had this conversation.
We're having it again.
- Here?
- Yes.
It's time.
I told you I'm not ready.
If you're not gonna marry me,
then I have other demands.
What kind of demands?
You've had too much to drink.
I'm just getting started.
♪ I feel like no one
could feel... ♪
♪ If this world were mine ♪
♪ I would place at your feet ♪
♪ All that I own ♪
♪ You've been so good to me ♪
♪ If this world were mine ♪
♪ I'd give you the flowers ♪
♪ The birds and the bees ♪
♪ And with your love
beside me ♪
♪ That would be all I need ♪
♪ If this world were ♪
♪ Mine ♪
♪ I'd give you ♪
♪ Anything ♪
♪ Oh... ♪
♪ Every sky would be blue ♪
♪ As long as you're ♪
♪ Loving me ♪
- ♪ Baby ♪
- ♪ Baby ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh ♪
♪ It would be yours ♪
♪ If you'll believe. ♪
We are in
the financial district
downtown, and this storm
is promising to be
a major event.
This is a transitional
storm system,
which means it's guaranteed to
be an absolutely perfect storm.
A tropical depression that
morphs into a severe storm...
Whoa.
Yeah. All right.
What?
Nothing.
Then why you just look like
you pulled out a win
in overtime?
Where you going?
Downtown.
Mary's about to make landfall.
Yeah, I don't think it's as bad
as people are saying.
You know, it's probably closer
to, like, Hurricane Irene.
Yeah.
What?
Rachel wants me
to come over later.
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah.
See, there's something
about these hurricanes...
I think they just cause people
to make rash decisions.
I hope so.
Thirsty.
You are thirsty.
Hey, somebody get him
some water.
I'm good.
I've been here all day.
You know they closed
the museum,
told us to stay home
until the storm clears tonight.
Huh.
Al Green,
I'm Still in Love with You.
Oh, I love that album.
Yeah.
All right,
we should bust a move,
so that way we don't end up
being stuck.
Trains might stop running.
I thought you were brave.
We're in an
evacuation zone, so...
Yeah, so why'd you come?
'Cause you're in
an evacuation zone.
I'm gonna grab some things.
Let's go.
What, you, um...
you need a little help
with that?
Getting it into your spot?
Oh, so you're actually
trying to help?
You know, I can do
a little bit of something.
Okay, do a little bit of this.
Here. It's nothing.
It's nothing. Oh, it's...
Oh.
We cannot forget
the essentials.
- I like the way you think.
- Now, you already know.
Thanks.
Wow. This is a nice place.
- I'll take that.
- Oh, thank you.
You know, uh,
Andy and Rachel got together.
No, they didn't.
Yes, they did.
She's a liar.
Do you want something to drink?
Yeah. Whiskey, please.
- You want ice?
- Put them rocks on that.
Thank you.
Sure.
Oh, this is cool.
Oh, I never use it.
Then why do you have it?
Uh, my dad gave it to me.
Mm.
Does it work?
It should.
Okay.
Let's see what I can do.
Yeah.
Al Green, my guy.
Oh.
That's a bad boy right there.
Mm-hmm.
♪ Lay your head ♪
♪ Lay your head... ♪
Oh, yes. Good idea.
- You, too?
- Yeah.
Hit me with a little...
Da-da-da-da.
- Ah.
- Right there. Yeah.
♪ Hold your warm... ♪
Have you ever cheated
on anyone?
No.
But I did date a woman that was
in a relationship once.
- Not with you.
- No.
Well, so it's not as bad
as cheating, but dishonest.
Hmm.
Yeah. She was much older.
- How much older?
- Yeah, she was 42.
- Wh... How old were you?
- 23.
Oh, yeah. Don't do that.
'Cause she pursued me,
all right?
Oh, so that's the sole reason?
Well, and she could cook,
you know.
- Cook?
- Mm-hmm.
Cooking what?
What was she cooking?
Anything I wanted.
And the sex, too.
I mean, she wanted it
all the time,
no matter where we were.
Anytime, anyplace.
But one time, I had to
fight her off in an alleyway.
'Cause I don't do outdoors
like that.
- Oh.
- I'm not...
Whatever.
Yeah, she couldn't
get enough of my youth.
- Shut up.
- I'm serious.
Okay.
Ooh.
Oh.
Okay.
Yeah.
♪ Baby... ♪
Come over here
and dance with me.
Mm. Nah.
Really?
Nah, you come back over here.
Please come back over here.
♪ Whoa, baby ♪
♪ Why did it take so long? ♪
♪ Whoa, baby ♪
♪ Only made my love
grow strong ♪
♪ Baby ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ I'm so glad you're mine ♪
♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey ♪
♪ When darkness
gather round me... ♪
Why you got your head down
like you praying?
'Cause I might need to.
What would you pray for?
♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey... ♪
Willpower.
Why don't we just
blame it on the storm?
♪ Whoa, oh, whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Needed some Ricolas ♪
♪ Stepped in CVS ♪
♪ Saw you in the corner ♪
♪ I was looking a mess ♪
♪ You didn't notice ♪
♪ Jason was instigating ♪
♪ I wanna bring you closer ♪
♪ Tired of waiting ♪
- ♪ Tired... ♪
- ♪ Tired of waiting ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Ooh. ♪
What?
Excuse me. Excuse me.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa!
- Aah!
Hey.
Going uptown.
- Good?
- Get in.
- Ooh. Ah.
- Come on, come on.
Hey.
Oh.
What's up, boy? Hey.
- Hi.
- Hi.
This is Mae.
- Hi, Mae.
- Nice to meet you.
- Hey, baby.
- Hi.
- Let me take your jackets.
- Yeah. - Hi.
Yeah, yeah, come on, y'all.
Give me your coats.
Stay on the stairs.
They-they...
- Go get a towel, baby.
- Yeah, they're very wet.
- Okay.
- Yeah, get-get a towel.
- It's right here.
- Thank you.
You're welcome.
How about some wine?
- Oh.
- Yes, please.
I am talking to Miss Mae,
thank you.
I would love some. Thank you.
Okay.
- What is that?
- A flying pig.
Hey, man, look what happened.
Man, you-you were
supposed to be here earlier.
Yeah, I got stuck at her place.
I'm sure.
She's so nice.
Why do you look like that?
Look like what?
Like you have a concussion.
Or-or, like, she's Yoruba
and knows voodoo.
Okay.
Look at him, baby.
He's in love.
I-I... I never said that, all right?
Brother,
you ain't got to say it.
I can see it all over your face
with that sappy-ass look.
- It's embarrassing.
- Leave him alone.
Yeah, leave me alone.
What? What?
Baby, you're the one that said
that she's Ya-rooba,
uh, Yor-ooba...
- Yoruba.
- Yoruba.
First of all, uh,
she's not Yoruba.
And-and what's that
got to do with anything?
I was... I just meant
that she was really nice.
- Yeah. Okay.
- And you seem smitten.
- Look at her with the babies.
- All right.
Don't gas him up, 'cause he's
probably gonna fuck it up.
Ah, maybe I won't.
You don't know that.
I'm pretty sure about that.
You guys are so pretty.
Tell me your names again.
- Sandrine.
- Sofia.
Well, I'm Mae.
Great to meet you.
I thought your name was Tessa.
You did?
Uh, who's Tessa?
Uncle Michael's girlfriend.
She lives in New Orleans.
It's not his girlfriend
anymore, Sofia.
I forgot.
I thought they were
gonna get married.
What makes you say that?
Because that's what
Uncle Michael said.
You do look like her, though.
So he has a type?
What does that mean?
Uh, when's the last time
you saw Tessa?
Sandrine,
go read to your sister
- until she falls asleep.
- Okay.
But I can read, too.
Okay, well,
y'all can read to each other.
Thank you.
I don't want to hear anything
up there except reading.
Okay.
That deep sigh, little girl.
So, we're at the reception,
and everybody is
looking for Michael.
Like, where is he?
He's supposed to do the toast, and...
So, who...
Did he do the speech?
- No!
- No, he didn't do the speech.
Our cousin...
our cousin Larry did it,
and he stutters a lot,
and he was
real nervous
'cause he didn't know he was
gonna be talking anyways,
so now he extra stuttering.
Well, I got
stage fright. I didn't know...
Yeah, stage fright. But then
you put Larry up there?
There's so many
good things to say
about you,
I didn't know, you know...
We had to edit it
out the wedding video.
- Wasn't even that hard to find.
- It was terrible.
- What did you wear?
- Where were you?
I had a top hat on, like...
You... I mean...
- A top hat?
- Yeah. I don't even know what I...
Oh, gosh, the top hat.
He wore a top hat.
What was the theme of the...
- It wasn't no theme.
- There was no theme, Mae.
- There was no theme.
- He wore a top hat.
- Like, the wedding photos look crazy
- Oh, God.
'cause everybody else got
a regular fade,
but he got on a Monopoly hat.
- And I was trying to be nice.
- I just thought it was cool.
It looked cool. It was...
No, it didn't look cool.
The kids kept asking you
to take a rabbit out of it.
You know what I mean?
- Like, you looked stupid, man.
- Okay. - Oh, God.
People started playing
♪ Hi-de, hi-de, hi-de, ho. ♪
That's what he
looked like he was
- supposed to be singing.
- Oh, man.
Oh, gosh. Oh, goodness.
I-I can laugh now,
but it was... it was not
- very funny on the day of.
- She was really upset.
I mean, I laughed at the day,
'cause I know you,
and this is how...
It's our dynamic.
Yeah, he-he does
stuff like that.
He's very smart,
but he do dumb stuff.
So, how about you tell me
what you do
to keep, you know, whatever
- you got going on, going.
- I mean, listen.
We talk about other people.
- That-that makes us happy, actually.
- Ah, clearly.
We go people watching.
That's what we do.
He keeps me laughing.
And really,
if it weren't for streaming,
divorce would be
right around the corner.
Wait, you would leave me
if we couldn't stream movies?
Baby, I'm joking.
I'm joking.
I'm joking, I'm joking.
All right, I was, like, damn.
I'm an interesting guy,
you know what I mean?
Baby, you are interesting.
- That's right.
- I-I was only joking.
I didn't mean that.
- You know, don't worry.
- Wow.
Y'all came in that storm?
That storm is crazy.
Look, what-what did y'all do
when the power went out today?
Um...
- Uh...
- Oh.
- Okay, well, next topic.
- Okay.
What is all
those sounds about?
Yeah, I mean, you know, once...
You know, she did the little
sip and smile thing, like...
Leave her alone.
No, but we're all grown.
Look, if y'all did it,
y'all did it.
- It ain't a big thing.
- Stop.
- People do it all the time.
- Mae...
- This is the best do-it weather.
- Ooh!
Mommy?
Yes?
Can we sleep in your bed?
Daddy?
Y-Yeah, w-we'll be up there in
a second to-to tuck y'all in.
Stop listening to
the grown-up conversations.
Do not turn that TV on.
Do not turn the TV on.
That's also marriage...
I just repeat what she says.
I don't even know what to say
half the time.
- All right, we're going.
- Know what I mean?
- Good night, guys.
- Bye. Good night.
- If you need anything...
- Good night.
- Good night. - Good night.
- No, I don't want y'all...
- Now, don't be angry.
- Come on, sir.
I'm just saying,
they-they already did...
- Let's go.
- Good night.
Don't be doing that
in here, okay?
- Sandrine!
- There's children here, okay?
- All right.
- All right.
- See y'all tomorrow, okay?
- See you in the morning.
It's open.
Smell good in here.
What you cooking?
Red beans and rice.
Put that down.
You are always
taking pictures of me.
I want to have one of you.
Don't you want more than this?
What you mean?
More... than what we have.
No.
I want you.
I want to be married to you.
I'm not ready to get married.
What more do you want?
I want people to know who I am,
admire my photographs.
I love you, but my greatest
accomplishment each day
cannot be cooking your dinner.
I have never understood
how to make you happy.
What if we moved?
- Where?
- New York.
I can't see myself there.
I can't stay here anymore.
And where does that leave us?
Hey.
Hey.
- I think it stopped raining.
- Yeah?
You want to go outside?
Do you want to go outside?
Yeah.
- We survived.
- Yeah.
Now we got the whole street
to ourselves, too.
Who's Tessa?
Your nieces had a lot to say.
Yes, she's a girl
that I used to date.
When?
Uh, a few months ago.
A few months ago?
Uh, few-few weeks ago,
actually.
Which is it?
See, now I sound
like I'm lying.
- Are you?
- No.
So...
So, I...
We broke up before I met you.
She lives in
a different city, so...
Why didn't you tell me?
Because we're not together.
And because I'm here
with you right now.
So, what about you?
What about me?
Who are you talking to?
Nobody, really.
"Nobody, really."
What does that mean?
Nobody anymore.
Hmm.
Listen, I, um...
Maybe this
doesn't matter, but...
What? What is it?
I applied for a job...
in London.
Oh.
And, you know...
It may not mean anything
because we just met.
Right.
But I think it matters.
Why London?
Well, I felt like
I needed a change.
And you want a change
right now?
Well, not tonight, but...
See, my-my brother
got me scared to say
anything of consequence
to you, but...
I want to continue
getting to know you.
I want to get to know you, too.
- Mommy. Come on!
- Sandrine!
- All right, Kyle.
- Okay.
- Guys.
- What do you want to eat?
I love you.
I'm-I'm gonna bring it back
in two pieces for you, bro.
What do you mean, "two pieces"?
Okay, don't play with me
like that, all right?
Put some gas in there if you get a ch...
Wait, what? You want what?
Pancakes!
Why are y'all yelling at me?
- You in the kitchen with your mama.
- Pancake!
♪ When we met ♪
♪ Always knew ♪
♪ I would feel... ♪
I've been in New York
for three months.
♪ On my mind constantly... ♪
Why would I hire some girl
who just got off the bus
as my assistant?
Because I'm talented.
Did I say that?
No. Uh, no, sir.
♪ Here by me, baby ♪
♪ You let my love fly freely ♪
♪ I want you in my life... ♪
Because I'll work harder
than any of those silver-spoon,
Upper East Side debutantes
waiting in line outside...
...whose daddies
got them this interview
and will quit as
soon as they husband arrives.
♪ Nothing else can compare... ♪
Hmm.
Hmm.
Pack it up.
♪ I'm... ♪
♪ Caught up in
the rapture of love ♪
♪ I'm... ♪
- Hello?
- Denise.
Christina?
Why haven't you called?
I just got a phone at home.
I wish you was here.
Christina,
you have to come home.
I know.
He must be furious at me.
But I needed some time.
I'm gonna talk to him,
and he'll understand.
Hell, he might even
move here with me.
How is he?
Your mother.
What about my mama?
Denise?
Is she okay?
She died.
I think she asked me to leave
because she knew she was sick.
She didn't want me
to see her weak.
I'm sorry, Christina.
I thought he'd be here.
He's angrier than I thought.
I'm gonna go see him.
There's something
you should know.
What?
He got married.
Married to who?
Ashley Prentiss.
That's not funny.
That's impossible.
I've been gone three months.
You should've said something
before you left.
After the second month,
he was hung up on the idea
that you weren't coming back.
Let's do one more of those.
All right.
Good job. Move this way.
Yeah, let me get you
right here.
Look off out
into the window for me.
Yeah, right there.
Come here, Mae.
Peter said you were here.
I sold Violet's house.
It only took you four years
to come back.
Hi, Isaac.
How's New York?
I like it.
Who's this?
My name's Mae.
You look exactly
like your mother.
She's beautiful.
Thank you.
Heard you got married.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Why...
What?
Why don't you
come over for dinner?
Ashley would be
more than happy to cook.
No. That's kind.
No, really.
No, we have a bus to catch.
Can I drive you to the station?
I didn't get a chance
to take you last time.
Okay.
Please don't get out.
Can I help you?
Hi. I'm Mae Morton.
I'm Christina Eames's daughter.
Is she here?
She passed away.
I'm sorry to hear that.
When?
About a month ago.
She, um...
left this for you.
She asked me to give it to you.
Do you know what it says?
No, I didn't read it.
I wasn't sure
she'd remember me.
She did.
She left me a letter, too.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
It said I was your daughter.
I was too afraid to ask.
Ask what?
When she brought you home,
I wanted to ask
if you were mine.
Why didn't you?
I was married.
She had a life in New York.
I don't know, I had to believe,
if you were my daughter...
she would've told me.
She thought it would be
easier for you...
not knowing.
It would've been easier
if I just would've asked.
Can you stay
for some boiled crab?
Yeah.
Hey.
I need to talk to you.
You're making me nervous.
When are you ever nervous?
When someone's like,
"I need to talk to you."
What is it?
I just found out I got the job.
Oh, I can't believe you.
I think the words
you're looking for are:
"Congratulations. Good job."
Congratulations.
There you are. Thank you.
I hope it doesn't work out.
When do you start?
Uh, a couple weeks.
You still owe me a story...
before you go.
Yeah.
You sure you don't want me
to find you something else?
- You know what you could do?
- Hmm?
You could promote Andy.
- Right?
- I'm not... I won't do that.
Maybe. Maybe.
- Yeah.
- Unlikely.
Maybe I
moved on because I was scared
I couldn't make
Christina happy.
What happened?
I was afraid of failing her,
that she'd resent me
eventually.
Okay, look, man,
you sure you want to do this?
Yes. Yes.
- Yeah.
- London, Michael? Huh?
Like, for real,
you want to move to London?
You understand
there's a five-hour
time difference, right?
Of course I know that.
Yes, I know that.
Well, if you know that, then
have some respect for me, okay?
What, you want me to change
my schedule around for you?
Waking up in the middle
of the night,
answering your phone calls?
I don't want to be
doing all that.
What's this look
I'm-I'm see...?
Is this...
Oh, you're gonna miss me, huh?
- Nope.
- You're gonna miss me.
I ain't gonna miss...
No, I'm not.
I'm not gonna miss you.
Stop playing with me.
Okay, yes.
Maybe a little bit.
- Oh, there it is, see.
- All right?
Man, I don't know, I just...
I have to do this.
I need this.
You're not gonna talk to
this girl before you leave?
- I don't know. I don't know.
- I think you should do that.
- You're not gonna do that?
- I mean, she called,
but I didn't call her back.
Wait, you ain't
called her back?
That's not like Michael.
Well, I didn't...
I just didn't know what to say.
And that's your plan, right?
Just gonna act funny?
- Well, now, why you doing this?
- What...
You're the one who told me
not to get involved, remember?
You said...:
"Don't get involved."
Okay, I didn't...
First of all, I don't sound
like a mad scientist,
all right?
That's not how I talk, all right?
And look, look,
I know what I said.
I said don't get involved
too quickly.
All right. Well, okay.
Semantics.
'Cause that's what
you usually do.
No, you always move
into this stuff fast, aight.
That's all I was doing,
just being honest with you.
Okay. Yeah.
- Text her or something.
- Whatever. All right.
DM her on Instagram.
I don't know.
Well, I mean, look,
you're-you're a grown man,
and you got to do
what's best for you.
Yeah.
When do you leave?
Uh, I'll go back to Louisiana
a couple days, finish up work.
Then I'm packing.
And don't make this
all dramatic.
Come on,
give me some toast, huh?
Come on, meet me over here.
Get over here.
Boom. There we go.
♪ Please don't push me,
I'm on the edge ♪
♪ I don't care too much,
but you want it, baby ♪
♪ Let's go through it
together ♪
♪ Maybe it's for the better ♪
♪ 'Cause you'll let me be ♪
♪ Oh, babe, I let you go there ♪
♪ To roll up and then go back ♪
♪ Meet me at the corner,
baby, you know where ♪
♪ Is it cruel of me ♪
♪ To pretend I can't see... ♪
- Hey.
- Hey.
What you doing here?
Another interview.
You almost done?
Almost.
I wasn't expecting that at all.
I tried to call you
to tell you.
You didn't call me back.
Right.
"Hi, Mae. Hello.
It's Michael.
I'm calling you back."
I could've said that.
"Things were awkward
the morning after the storm,
but that doesn't change
what happened between us."
Oh, you're good.
No, I like that one.
Thank you.
Getting to know each other
was good.
Yeah, well, I liked
getting to know each other.
Yeah.
So, what, you just leaving
New York and trading in
the Kerry James Marshall
for the Bywater?
Do you see me living here?
Ah, I don't know.
I like this casual you.
So, you're saying
I'm uptight in New York?
Nah, I mean,
you just seem relaxed.
I'm going to Christina's house
at Pointe à la Hache later.
Mm.
Do you want to come with me?
Yeah.
Yeah, I'd love to come.
What you trying to listen to?
Drake.
I... I cannot stand Drake.
You know I don't want
to hear no Drake.
All right,
put some Kendrick on.
Not in my car. Come on.
I'm not putting on Kendrick.
That is a fact.
Depressing car ride.
We're gonna get pulled over
by the police
listening to Kendrick.
It's...
Did you say your ex-girlfriend
lived in New Orleans?
I never said that.
- You didn't?
- No.
Okay, you know what,
you're right.
It wasn't you.
It was... it was Sandrine.
- Oh, my God.
- Or Sofia. Was it...
Sandrine and Sofia again.
All right, could you just
tell me everything they said?
You just tell me now,
word for word.
Why would I violate
the sister code?
- Wow.
- No, I...
Why don't you just
answer my question?
Did you... did you happen
to see her while you were here?
- See who?
- Your ex-girl.
No.
I have not seen her.
Okay, you don't have to get
all defensive.
- I'm not defensive.
- I'm just asking a question.
I feel good.
Do I look defensive to you?
Defenses are down.
I guess no one's home.
Uh, didn't you say, uh,
Christina had a darkroom?
Yeah, in the back,
but I doubt it's there now.
You want to check?
Two champagnes, please.
Two? Okay, coming right up.
- For you, ma'am.
- Thank you.
We should move here.
Or at least come back.
When are you going back
to New York?
'Cause I have a show
next Tuesday.
I've been meaning
to tell you...
What?
I'm moving to London.
- What?
- Yeah, I...
I got the job.
When?
Could we just...
I just... I just found out.
Well, we were together all day.
Why... why didn't you say
something?
I-I know. I just...
We were having a good time.
You know, I didn't want
to, uh, mess it up.
So, what do we do now?
I don't know.
Figure it out.
- How?
- Well, I can go to...
I can come to New York,
and you can come to London,
and we could go back and forth
and we figure it out.
It's not practical.
I know. I'm not trying
to be practical right now.
I... I want to be with you.
Long distance never works.
- What?
- It never works.
Well, be optimistic.
Come on.
I don't want to get together
just to break up.
- I'm being honest.
- Honest?
Yeah. I-I forgot,
you have trouble being honest.
Okay, uh, so what...
what is that supposed to mean?
Aren't you always searching
for something honest
to say to a woman?
Well, that's what
I'm doing right now.
All right?
I'm being honest,
and I'm saying
I want to try to be together.
Maybe we should just
enjoy being here.
Michael still in town?
No, he left last night.
Well, why you didn't
leave with him?
'Cause I wanted to stay longer.
I feel like that's not
the whole story.
It's most of it.
I guess you more than look
like your mother.
Yeah, I'm...
probably more like her
than I'd like to be.
Well, that's not a bad thing.
She was unwavering
in everything she wanted.
How could you say that,
after everything?
I don't blame her for leaving.
What did she say?
What did the letter say?
She apologized.
She kept you from me
for so long,
she didn't know how to go back.
How to tell me.
She asked me
to take care of you.
I keep rereading mine.
She wrote over and over again,
"My Mae."
I keep reading those two words
like they're evidence
that she loved me.
She did.
Very much.
My Mae,
I didn't know how to love you
except by showing you
the arc of a woman,
by being a good provider.
I put my love into work,
my photographs.
Pictures took space
in my heart instead of people.
It was the only way
I could love.
I was stumbling
through my own life,
trying not to break apart.
I wish I had put as much
courage into being your mother
as I was able to put
in my work.
Evening, Mr. Morton.
I told her
to tell you about Isaac.
What did she say?
She made me promise
never to tell you.
She thought it would
just confuse you
and make his life harder,
so I agreed.
Maybe I was wrong for that.
And if I... if I am,
I'm sorry.
When I first met her,
she was three months pregnant.
And that didn't bother you?
No.
I couldn't look away from her.
But she...
she turned me down at first.
- Why?
- She thought I felt sorry for her. I...
And she-she told me
she didn't feel
the need to be an honest woman.
But I know
she was just hung up on him.
So, why would she tell me now?
Maybe it was her way
of explaining...
Explaining what?
Why she was the way she was.
And why she was never
very good at...
being your mother.
Do you remember when
you were leaving for Chicago,
for school?
Yeah.
Mom didn't come to the airport
'cause she said
she had to meet somebody.
Like I wasn't moving
across the country.
Like I wasn't more important.
She didn't have to meet anyone.
When I came home,
she was sitting
in the back
of the house crying.
Your mother wasn't
very good at goodbyes.
I'm not a sentimental person,
as many of you know.
I don't like
getting attached to people.
It makes it harder to fire them.
And it makes it
that much more annoying
when they abandon you.
I'm not abandoning you.
He's leaving, and he thinks
he's better than us.
Well, let's all pretend
to wish him luck.
- Good luck, Michael.
- Good luck, Michael.
Thank you.
We got more negatives
from Billy Wasko's archives
for Christina's retrospective.
Thanks.
Are you heading out?
Yeah. Dinner with Andy.
I'm uncomfortable
with how happy you are.
How do you think I feel?
Being unhappy and jaded,
it's comfortable, but...
But?
I like him, and...
maybe I'm not
who I thought I was.
Maybe I'm different with him.
So, you're choosing to be
a different person?
I don't know. I'm just
choosing to be with him.
What about you?
I think I messed that up.
It's like I said the opposite
of everything that I wanted
to say to him.
Well, what did you want to say?
That I wanted him to stay.
Can you still tell him that?
I don't know. I...
He looked at me
like he was so disappointed.
I don't know, I-I felt like
I couldn't ask him
to rearrange his life for me.
It's too late. It's...
Whatever.
Have you selected
the final photos?
Uh, almost.
I'm just gonna go through
the rest of her archives
and see if there's
anything else I want to show.
Okay.
Bye.
- Yo.
- Yo.
What's up?
So, uh, did Sara tell you?
What?
I'm not an intern anymore.
I'm a paid employee.
- Boom.
- Boom.
Oh, congratulations. Wow.
Did you tell her to promote me?
- No.
- Hmm.
Thank you.
Whatever, man.
Um, I'm gonna miss you, man.
Oh, man, don't miss me.
Oh, all right.
All right.
I read your, um, article
on Pointe à la Hache.
- What'd you think?
- It was...
- It was personal.
- I-I know.
Probably too personal.
It became all about me
and my stuff.
It's not often you meet
someone like that.
Yeah, I know.
Christina and Isaac, man,
that's an anomaly.
I'm talking about Mae.
The office is gonna be bleak
without you, man.
Do you miss Louisiana?
Parts of it.
Hmm. What parts?
The good parts.
And what do you like
about New York?
I like my work.
What are you thinking?
That I wish I was
as good at love
as I am at working.
I wish I didn't
leave people behind so often.
Mr. Williams.
Michael Block?
Yeah.
Sorry, bro.
Want tickets
to Kendrick Lamar, anyone?
- Hey.
- Hey.
I just really felt like
seeing Kendrick.
No, you didn't.
I-I guess I'm lucky that,
you know,
he was performing here tonight.
And I-I really wanted
to see you.
I've been wanting
to see you, too.
I'm sorry for not...
for not knowing what to say
before you left.
I just didn't know
how to tell you how I felt.
And I think I'm not
used to needing anyone.
Yeah. I get that.
But I need you.
And I don't care
where you live. I...
I just want to be close to you
as much as possible.
I don't want to be practical.
I want to figure it out.
And I don't want
so much time to pass
that we...
that we can't come back.
- Yeah.
- And I... I don't want...
You know,
we will always come back.
Really?
You know that.
How's London?
Uh, I-I've just been out here
being pathetic,
thinking about you.
That's good.
You want to go hear some music?
- Yeah.
- Come on.
We have a show to see!
♪ Set the tone ♪
♪ When it's just me ♪
♪ And you alone, never lonely ♪
♪ In the room,
breathing slowly ♪
♪ Oh, you know me, yeah ♪
♪ Meditate, you can take me ♪
♪ To a place ♪
♪ Where we can be all alone ♪
♪ I let you hold me ♪
♪ 'Cause you know me ♪
♪ Me, yeah ♪
♪ Lay your head on my pillow,
say ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Touch is making me feel
a way, ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Whenever I get around you ♪
♪ I lose it ♪
♪ Lose it ♪
♪ 'Cause I feel ♪
♪ So comfortable with you ♪
♪ You make me ♪
♪ Comfortable with you ♪
♪ You ♪
♪ You make me ♪
- ♪ Wanna get ♪
- ♪ Wanna get ♪
- ♪ Wanna go deep ♪
- ♪ Go ♪
- ♪ Intimate ♪
- ♪ Intimate ♪
♪ Let you in me ♪
- ♪ Inside ♪
- ♪ Inside ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ On my mind ♪
♪ My mind, yeah ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Lay your head on my pillow,
say ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Touching ♪
♪ Way you're touching,
know it's okay with ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh ♪
♪ When I get around you ♪
♪ I lose it ♪
♪ Lose it ♪
♪ 'Cause I feel
so comfortable with you ♪
♪ You make me
comfortable with you ♪
♪ Mm ♪
♪ You make me ♪
♪ Baby ♪
♪ Lay your head on my pillow,
say ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Way you're touching my body,
say ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ I ain't loving nobody
but you ♪
♪ You ♪
- ♪ You make me ♪
- ♪ 'Cause I feel so ♪
♪ Comfortable with you ♪
♪ Mm ♪
♪ I feel so comfortable
with you ♪
♪ With you ♪
♪ You make me ♪
♪ You make me, baby ♪
♪ You make me ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ You make me ♪
♪ You make me, mm ♪
- ♪ You make me. ♪
- ♪ Ooh... ♪
Oh, it's just
a couple of questions
for posterity's sake.
And you know how much work
I got to do.
Just play along, Christina.
Well...
Fine. Go ahead.
Now, are you glad
you came to New York?
Yes.
Do you miss Louisiana?
- Parts of it.
- Hmm.
- What parts?
- The good parts.
And what do you like
about New York?
I like my work.
I like being a mother.
What are you thinking?
That I wish I was
as good at love
as I am at working.
I wish I didn't
leave people behind so often.
♪ Darling, I have to be
moved from afar ♪
♪ The truth is the only thing ♪
♪ Worth holding on to anymore ♪
- ♪ Anymore... ♪
- ♪ Untie me ♪
♪ Let me loose from the cord ♪
♪ I'm so gone, so far ♪
♪ I deserve more ♪
- ♪ More, I deserve more ♪
- ♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I'm begging you ♪
- ♪ I beg ♪
- ♪ I'm begging you ♪
♪ Please come home ♪
♪ No one even begs anymore ♪
- ♪ I'm begging you ♪
- ♪ I beg ♪
♪ I'm begging you,
please come home... ♪
- Hello?
- Hey.
- Uh, Isaac?
- You the reporter?
Yeah, Michael Block
from The Republic.
Come straight back
to the kitchen.
All right.
Hey. Thank you, again.
Yeah, sit down.
- All right.
- Mm-hmm.
This will likely be the best
boiled crab you ever eaten.
Oh, no, I'm all right.
I ate on the plane.
I just offered you crab.
That's not
the correct response.
Hey, um, do you mind
if I record?
Your story's about BP?
Pointe à la Hache.
Uh, Katrina, the oil spill,
how it kind of
affected things there.
So, did you always fish?
Well, I'm third generation,
but I was in the military.
Before that, I was working on
an oil refinery for Gulf Oil.
Well, what was it like
working for Gulf Oil?
- They fired me.
- Why?
I refused to pump dirty water
into the river.
It took us generations
to go from sharecropping
to independent.
They destroyed us
with the oil spill.
This was my wife.
Whoa.
- You married?
- Uh, I...
just got out of something.
She, um... she called
while I was flying, man.
She's... she told me,
"Don't even bother
stopping by."
Well...
She probably doesn't mean that.
Ah, she's probably right.
Who's this?
Christina Eames.
She took these other photos.
That was me in '84.
- She's great.
- Yeah.
- She from here?
- Yeah.
She moved to New York.
She's a photographer.
Hmm. That was...
Does she have more like this?
Um, I'm sure she does.
We lost contact, uh,
after she took off, or...
I let her leave.
30 years later, still trying
to figure that out.
Why don't you just look her up?
Too much time done passed.
- Hmm.
- I don't recommend getting older.
Less people to talk to,
more time to go over
every regret.
My Mae,
There are two letters.
Please read yours first
before sharing the second
with your father.
Love, Mom.
My Mae,
Cancer is a creature
lurching through my body.
I waited far too long
to face it squarely.
I need to write my way
out of the mess I've made.
I hope you won't
judge me too harshly.
Sometimes the heart
can be so full of love,
it's like a weight
on your chest
making it impossible to move.
That's how I felt
when I was with him.
♪ I don't want
to write this down ♪
♪ I want to tell you
how I feel right now ♪
♪ I don't want to take no time
to write this down ♪
♪ I want to tell you
how I feel right now ♪
♪ Hey... ♪
What's up?
Get those photos I sent you?
- Yeah, I got 'em.
- All right.
♪ For you or me,
life is not promised ♪
♪ Tomorrow may never appear ♪
♪ You better hold
this very moment ♪
- ♪ Very close to you ♪
- ♪ Right now ♪
♪ Very close to you,
so close to you... ♪
Oh. How was Louisiana?
Good.
And how is the girl?
Huh.
- It didn't work out.
- Don't... No.
♪ Shine your light
for the world to see... ♪
Oh, coffee for me.
Look at you sucking up.
Hey, have you ever noticed
how ugly this place
actually is?
- Mm-mm.
- It's-it's bleak.
And confining.
It's claustrophobic.
It don't look that bad to me.
I mean, actually, it's fine...
it's a really nice building...
but look, they won't give me
anything to write.
Yeah.
Well, why don't you
do me a favor and, uh, look up
this photographer
named Christina Eames.
- Cool?
- Oh, all right.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Mae?
- Yeah.
- Hey.
Michael Block
from The Republic.
Hey.
Uh, after you called,
I pulled all my mother's photos
from Pointe à la Hache.
Oh, thanks.
Yeah, since she died,
I've been going through
all her things.
We weren't expecting it.
She didn't tell anyone
she was sick.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I saw some of Christina's work
in New Orleans.
Um, the guy I was profiling
showed me a picture of her.
- She hated when people took photos of her.
- Oh.
He said the relationship ended
after she left Louisiana.
Well, she wasn't good
at staying anywhere.
Or with anyone.
- Just ask my father.
- Mm.
Um, maybe we shouldn't be good
at staying places.
That sounds very mobile.
Well, maybe.
So I take it you're not walking
down any aisles anytime soon?
Nope. Uh, what about you?
Me? I broke up with my last
boyfriend after he proposed.
You got commitment issues?
Wow.
Tact.
You from the City?
- Yeah.
- Oh, okay.
And how long have you been
at Queens Museum?
I've been assistant curator
for two years.
What about you?
How long have you been
at The Republic?
Uh, too long, probably.
Like, four years.
Oh, wait a minute.
This is, uh, Isaac.
You know him?
I don't know. I...
I went to Louisiana once
as a child, but...
Yeah.
You know, uh...
Uh, maybe we should talk more.
You know, I mean...
maybe you could talk...
tell me more about Christina
and, uh, Pointe à la Hache.
Uh, I could call you.
On your one day off,
why would you choose
to come back here?
This was supposed to be a date.
We should go to New Orleans
this weekend.
Why?
You question anything
that's fun.
What's so fun
about New Orleans?
The people are different.
And we could dance.
♪ Until I had them
memorized... ♪
We could dance right here.
If you don't want to go, I'll
just go with Denise and Peter.
You can stay here
with Ashley Prentiss.
Why are you bringing up Ashley?
Because she is always
hanging around the harbor
for no reason,
trying to get your attention.
That's not true.
I'm sure she'd be happy
to stay home.
♪ How much I do ♪
♪ Do love you... ♪
When do you want to go
to New Orleans?
Christina.
Why are you slamming my door?
Sorry.
I... I didn't mean to.
You look pretty.
Thank you.
You should wear more dresses.
Where'd you go?
To the harbor, with Isaac.
Isn't that exciting?
I told him
he needs to do better.
He's just like his father.
What's wrong with his father?
He ain't got nothing.
Ain't never gonna have nothing.
How many times
I got to tell you that?
We're just friends.
"Just friends."
"Just friends."
Aren't you sick of telling
that sad story?
What's so sad
about being friends?
You being rude to your mama?
No, ma'am.
Violet.
I'm not gonna sit out here
by myself all night.
I'm talking to my daughter.
Trying to teach her something.
Night, baby.
You know, it's so hard being in
her apartment right now, Dad.
I just remember being there,
desperate for her attention,
not getting it.
Thank God that you were there
to make my lunches,
'cause she didn't even notice
when I started smoking weed.
Well, I noticed.
- You did?
- Yeah.
- You never said anything.
- How could I say anything?
You were stealing it from your mother.
What if I'm just like her?
You're not.
Did you read the letter?
I couldn't at first.
I just don't understand
why she couldn't tell me
about her life
when she was still alive.
Maybe to help you look at her
in another way.
What other way?
She wasn't just your mother.
At some point, you're going to
have to forgive her
and realize
she was just a woman...
with flaws.
A lot of flaws.
Yeah.
I'll get it. I'll get it.
- Uncle Michael!
- Whoa. Hey.
Look, we'll be just fine.
Yeah, Harlem won't get
that much landfall
from the hurricane.
Uh, I did that job interview.
Feel like it went well.
I might get it.
Wait, what job?
Man, do you listen
to anything we ever talk about?
Brother, I'll be trying to,
but you know I have
two kids under ten.
Come on, now.
Associated Press in London.
Oh.
You guys know how it is
in the City.
It's... I'm feeling caught up,
you know?
Sometimes it feels
like an accomplishment
just to get to the subway.
Plus, Tessa is saying
I'm incapable
of any kind of change.
Wait, I'm sorry, so...
so you want to move
- because of Tessa?
- I'm not saying that.
I mean, it kind of sound
like that.
You hungry?
Why would you ask him that?
Don't give him no food.
We don't need to feed him.
- Why not?
- What you mean, "why not?"
First of all,
he's a grown man, okay?
And groceries are expensive.
Mike, let me ask you this.
All right?
And I'm serious.
Are you actually done
with Tessa?
Are y'all finished?
Oh, we're finished.
Yes, finished-finished.
Good.
- Kyle.
- What?
Okay, he was wasting her time.
I wasn't wasting her time,
was I?
Definitely. You was
definitely wasting her time.
- Mom! Dad!
- Mom, she took my book!
Sandrine and Sofia.
Okay, look, look,
how's the story coming?
I interviewed this man
named Isaac.
He reminds me of Dad.
Uh, he kind of introduced me
to this woman.
- Kind of?
- Yeah.
She, um... she's the daughter
of somebody that he knew.
Um, she's a curator
at the Queens Museum.
- Come on, now. Already?
- "Already" what, man?
You know what
I'm talking about, man.
Already?
You, like, like her already?
You trying to date
somebody again?
It ain't my fault
I meet people while I work.
And, uh, she's interesting,
you know?
Oh, so-so-so she's interesting.
Yeah.
She's got a lot to unpack.
Her mom just died.
So, you're attracted to her
'cause her mama died?
- Look...
- No, I...
Beside the point. Turn around.
Let me... let me talk to you.
W-Why don't you do me
a favor, okay?
Take some time
to yourself, okay?
Figure out what you
really want to do
instead of jumping
into something again.
I don't know,
I'd like to see her again.
Oh, those girls
are gonna drive me crazy.
I didn't
know much about photography
when she started
taking pictures,
but I knew I liked
the way she saw me.
Better than I really was.
- Hi.
- Hi, baby.
My ego probably
held me back the most,
why I couldn't make it work
with Christina.
I didn't know how to be
with a woman
that I had to keep up with.
What would you
have done differently?
I would've gone after her.
- Yo.
- What's up, man?
Uh, you want to see a movie?
- Yeah. Yeah.
- Yeah, you.
All right.
Let's do it.
♪ Thinking ahead of time ♪
♪ Why don't you spend
the night? ♪
♪ I know you love me ♪
♪ Pick up and roll the dice ♪
♪ Reading between the lines ♪
♪ I know you love me ♪
♪ We can book a flight ♪
♪ Wake up in paradise ♪
♪ Sun up above us ♪
♪ Tell me you down to ride ♪
♪ And you can bet your life ♪
♪ No one above you ♪
♪ Said hold on ♪
♪ Can't stop love... ♪
Oh, I see what you're here for.
Nah, you don't see nothing.
- What you talking about?
- Mm-hmm.
What's he doing here?
Who?
Well, now, hold on.
Be right back.
Yeah, I'm gonna
go talk to her.
- I'll meet you upstairs.
- All right.
Hey, Mae.
♪ Can't stop love ♪
♪ And as long as
you're with me ♪
♪ I'm definitely... ♪
I was blown away.
Are you being sarcastic?
Oh, he's got some
follow-up questions.
You gonna help me out?
Uh, as long as I don't
have to talk to his friend.
So, you're not
gonna help me out?
Fine.
He's cute in
an innocent-looking way.
He's kind of dewy.
It's refreshing.
What is wrong with you?
I'd rather be here.
- Yep.
- Oh.
I need a drink.
Are you coming?
Yeah.
I didn't know you were coming.
Well, you were supposed
to invite me, right?
I'm sorry.
- Next time.
- Uh-huh.
How's your article coming?
It's all right, you know.
It's kind of moving slowly.
- How come?
- 'Cause, uh, well, you know,
sometimes good things
take time to develop.
How do you know Michael?
We work together.
Are you a writer?
Kind of.
Why "kind of"?
I'm an intern.
An intern.
Yeah, for now.
How old are you?
Why does it matter?
Of course it matters legally.
I'm a solid 25...
in a few months.
How old are you?
That's none of your business.
What did you think
about the movie?
Uh, to be honest,
I was a little distracted.
- What?
- I...
So I... so I kept
running back in my mind
how you might respond,
uh, to me asking you
for a drink after.
So, that was you asking me?
That was elaborate.
Well, in-in my mind,
it wasn't that forward.
You know what I mean?
It was more...
smoother than-than that.
I was supposed to call you,
I thought.
Yeah, you were supposed to.
But you didn't.
Well, I can't leave
my girl Rachel behind, so...
Ah.
Oh, it look like
Rachel already left.
Wow.
- She's a great friend.
- Oh, yeah. Yeah.
- She just disappear when you need her to.
- Just... Yeah.
I-I like Kanye.
- Yeah?
- But I'm just concerned
that he don't care
about music no more.
He does not. That's not a...
- He don't care about us.
- That's a valid...
- He does not care about us anymore.
- Uh-huh, uh-huh.
He cares about interior design.
Like, when did he get into it?
Like, I'm not trying to buy
Kanye pillows, you know?
- That would be fine, actually.
- That would be.
- I-I actually wouldn't mind.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Oh, okay, what about Drake?
Drake, okay.
See, Drake, for me...
Drake is like the homey.
- Yeah.
- Like, you know, he's like
a friend at school
who you know and...
- And who knows us. That's what...
- Who knows us.
That's what I like about him.
He's just in tune.
- Yeah.
- You know, he's, like...
in tune with his feelings
and-and my feelings,
your feelings...
Oh, no, you didn't.
- Sorry. I...
- No, you didn't.
I'm just bored by
the sentimentality, all that.
- Okay, who... who do you like?
- But, uh...
- Kendrick.
- Oh, no.
Kendrick is my dude, for sure.
- I mean, he's...
- I'm so sorry.
What? You're telling me
you don't like Kendrick?
No, that's... No, I-I love...
No, I think he's great.
I just...
Man, I'm about to flip
this table over.
I just... No, hear me out.
I just...
He makes me feel guilty.
- Wait, how so?
- 'Cause I can't...
I just feel like, uh, everybody
can't be a change in the world.
- Everybody can't do that.
- Oh, okay.
- It's too ambitious.
- All right. Mm-hmm.
- You know?
- You know what?
Now that I think about it,
that is kind of ambitious.
- Right?
- Talking about, we gonna be all right.
- It's unfair.
- Yeah.
- What if I don't want to be all right?
- Right.
- Who knows if we're gonna be all right?
- Who knows that?
Mm. Wow.
Uh, see, I'm trying
to think of how to...
trying to say something that,
you know...
Uh, just trying
to be honest and...
Oh, uh, being honest
is hard for you?
Mm-mm.
It's just, I don't want
to say the same thing
that I've said
to another woman.
You know?
Are there a lot of other women?
No, there's a lot
of first dates.
Yeah, I'm terrible
at first dates.
- I just...
- Huh.
No, I just don't know
whether to be
vulnerable, aloof, funny.
Why don't you just be yourself?
I don't know who that is.
- Fair enough.
- No, I-I mean,
maybe I'm just a collection
of wrap dresses
and Kehinde Wiley prints.
I don't think so.
You ever wonder
if we're just...
if we're just who we're around
in the moment?
I would think that it's
important that we pay attention
to who we surround
ourselves with, then.
True.
Yeah.
What?
I'm wondering if it's not too
early in the night to kiss you.
It wasn't too early.
Ah. I see.
What was it like?
I don't know.
It felt like we...
kissed before.
Yeah, and he called me
right after.
To say what?
To say that he thought
that I was...
Thought that you were what?
Special.
See? This is why
I can't tell you anything.
I knew I shouldn't
have told you.
- Why do you keep doing this?
- Doing what?
You know. You-you act
like you all in, right?
And it don't even last longer
than what, 12 weeks?
All right, well,
what about Tessa?
What do you mean,
"What about Tessa?"
Come on, bro, that only lasted
'cause you didn't have
to see her every day.
- Here you go.
- Thank you.
And by the way,
thank you so much
for bailing on me
after the movie.
Oh, Andy and I were
just pawns last night.
We ditched you,
and then I ditched him.
Okay.
Where are you going?
New Orleans.
With who?
Denise and Peter.
Who else?
Who else is going?
Isaac.
I'm spending the night.
What are you planning to do?
- In New Orleans?
- No.
Christina, I'm asking what you
planning to do with your life.
You can't just walk around town
taking pictures.
How you plan to make money?
Isaac can't take care of you.
I don't want him
to take care of me.
- You expect me to keep taking care of you?
- No.
You're getting too old
to live with me.
Are you telling me
I need to leave?
I'm saying you'll probably be
more comfortable living alone.
You should start looking
for a place that's yours.
Come on, Christina.
Why are you yelling at me,
Denise?
'Cause you late.
Nice to see you, too, Peter.
♪ But it's making me weak ♪
♪ I'm not your superwoman ♪
You okay?
♪ I'm not the kind of girl
that you can let down ♪
♪ And think that
everything's okay ♪
♪ Boy, I am only human... ♪
What's up with you, baby?
- ♪ Ain't nobody ♪
- ♪ Nobody ♪
- ♪ Loves me better ♪
- ♪ Loves me better ♪
♪ Makes me happy,
makes me feel... ♪
Marry me.
We've had this conversation.
We're having it again.
- Here?
- Yes.
It's time.
I told you I'm not ready.
If you're not gonna marry me,
then I have other demands.
What kind of demands?
You've had too much to drink.
I'm just getting started.
♪ I feel like no one
could feel... ♪
♪ If this world were mine ♪
♪ I would place at your feet ♪
♪ All that I own ♪
♪ You've been so good to me ♪
♪ If this world were mine ♪
♪ I'd give you the flowers ♪
♪ The birds and the bees ♪
♪ And with your love
beside me ♪
♪ That would be all I need ♪
♪ If this world were ♪
♪ Mine ♪
♪ I'd give you ♪
♪ Anything ♪
♪ Oh... ♪
♪ Every sky would be blue ♪
♪ As long as you're ♪
♪ Loving me ♪
- ♪ Baby ♪
- ♪ Baby ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh ♪
♪ It would be yours ♪
♪ If you'll believe. ♪
We are in
the financial district
downtown, and this storm
is promising to be
a major event.
This is a transitional
storm system,
which means it's guaranteed to
be an absolutely perfect storm.
A tropical depression that
morphs into a severe storm...
Whoa.
Yeah. All right.
What?
Nothing.
Then why you just look like
you pulled out a win
in overtime?
Where you going?
Downtown.
Mary's about to make landfall.
Yeah, I don't think it's as bad
as people are saying.
You know, it's probably closer
to, like, Hurricane Irene.
Yeah.
What?
Rachel wants me
to come over later.
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah.
See, there's something
about these hurricanes...
I think they just cause people
to make rash decisions.
I hope so.
Thirsty.
You are thirsty.
Hey, somebody get him
some water.
I'm good.
I've been here all day.
You know they closed
the museum,
told us to stay home
until the storm clears tonight.
Huh.
Al Green,
I'm Still in Love with You.
Oh, I love that album.
Yeah.
All right,
we should bust a move,
so that way we don't end up
being stuck.
Trains might stop running.
I thought you were brave.
We're in an
evacuation zone, so...
Yeah, so why'd you come?
'Cause you're in
an evacuation zone.
I'm gonna grab some things.
Let's go.
What, you, um...
you need a little help
with that?
Getting it into your spot?
Oh, so you're actually
trying to help?
You know, I can do
a little bit of something.
Okay, do a little bit of this.
Here. It's nothing.
It's nothing. Oh, it's...
Oh.
We cannot forget
the essentials.
- I like the way you think.
- Now, you already know.
Thanks.
Wow. This is a nice place.
- I'll take that.
- Oh, thank you.
You know, uh,
Andy and Rachel got together.
No, they didn't.
Yes, they did.
She's a liar.
Do you want something to drink?
Yeah. Whiskey, please.
- You want ice?
- Put them rocks on that.
Thank you.
Sure.
Oh, this is cool.
Oh, I never use it.
Then why do you have it?
Uh, my dad gave it to me.
Mm.
Does it work?
It should.
Okay.
Let's see what I can do.
Yeah.
Al Green, my guy.
Oh.
That's a bad boy right there.
Mm-hmm.
♪ Lay your head ♪
♪ Lay your head... ♪
Oh, yes. Good idea.
- You, too?
- Yeah.
Hit me with a little...
Da-da-da-da.
- Ah.
- Right there. Yeah.
♪ Hold your warm... ♪
Have you ever cheated
on anyone?
No.
But I did date a woman that was
in a relationship once.
- Not with you.
- No.
Well, so it's not as bad
as cheating, but dishonest.
Hmm.
Yeah. She was much older.
- How much older?
- Yeah, she was 42.
- Wh... How old were you?
- 23.
Oh, yeah. Don't do that.
'Cause she pursued me,
all right?
Oh, so that's the sole reason?
Well, and she could cook,
you know.
- Cook?
- Mm-hmm.
Cooking what?
What was she cooking?
Anything I wanted.
And the sex, too.
I mean, she wanted it
all the time,
no matter where we were.
Anytime, anyplace.
But one time, I had to
fight her off in an alleyway.
'Cause I don't do outdoors
like that.
- Oh.
- I'm not...
Whatever.
Yeah, she couldn't
get enough of my youth.
- Shut up.
- I'm serious.
Okay.
Ooh.
Oh.
Okay.
Yeah.
♪ Baby... ♪
Come over here
and dance with me.
Mm. Nah.
Really?
Nah, you come back over here.
Please come back over here.
♪ Whoa, baby ♪
♪ Why did it take so long? ♪
♪ Whoa, baby ♪
♪ Only made my love
grow strong ♪
♪ Baby ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ I'm so glad you're mine ♪
♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey ♪
♪ When darkness
gather round me... ♪
Why you got your head down
like you praying?
'Cause I might need to.
What would you pray for?
♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey... ♪
Willpower.
Why don't we just
blame it on the storm?
♪ Whoa, oh, whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Needed some Ricolas ♪
♪ Stepped in CVS ♪
♪ Saw you in the corner ♪
♪ I was looking a mess ♪
♪ You didn't notice ♪
♪ Jason was instigating ♪
♪ I wanna bring you closer ♪
♪ Tired of waiting ♪
- ♪ Tired... ♪
- ♪ Tired of waiting ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Ooh. ♪
What?
Excuse me. Excuse me.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa!
- Aah!
Hey.
Going uptown.
- Good?
- Get in.
- Ooh. Ah.
- Come on, come on.
Hey.
Oh.
What's up, boy? Hey.
- Hi.
- Hi.
This is Mae.
- Hi, Mae.
- Nice to meet you.
- Hey, baby.
- Hi.
- Let me take your jackets.
- Yeah. - Hi.
Yeah, yeah, come on, y'all.
Give me your coats.
Stay on the stairs.
They-they...
- Go get a towel, baby.
- Yeah, they're very wet.
- Okay.
- Yeah, get-get a towel.
- It's right here.
- Thank you.
You're welcome.
How about some wine?
- Oh.
- Yes, please.
I am talking to Miss Mae,
thank you.
I would love some. Thank you.
Okay.
- What is that?
- A flying pig.
Hey, man, look what happened.
Man, you-you were
supposed to be here earlier.
Yeah, I got stuck at her place.
I'm sure.
She's so nice.
Why do you look like that?
Look like what?
Like you have a concussion.
Or-or, like, she's Yoruba
and knows voodoo.
Okay.
Look at him, baby.
He's in love.
I-I... I never said that, all right?
Brother,
you ain't got to say it.
I can see it all over your face
with that sappy-ass look.
- It's embarrassing.
- Leave him alone.
Yeah, leave me alone.
What? What?
Baby, you're the one that said
that she's Ya-rooba,
uh, Yor-ooba...
- Yoruba.
- Yoruba.
First of all, uh,
she's not Yoruba.
And-and what's that
got to do with anything?
I was... I just meant
that she was really nice.
- Yeah. Okay.
- And you seem smitten.
- Look at her with the babies.
- All right.
Don't gas him up, 'cause he's
probably gonna fuck it up.
Ah, maybe I won't.
You don't know that.
I'm pretty sure about that.
You guys are so pretty.
Tell me your names again.
- Sandrine.
- Sofia.
Well, I'm Mae.
Great to meet you.
I thought your name was Tessa.
You did?
Uh, who's Tessa?
Uncle Michael's girlfriend.
She lives in New Orleans.
It's not his girlfriend
anymore, Sofia.
I forgot.
I thought they were
gonna get married.
What makes you say that?
Because that's what
Uncle Michael said.
You do look like her, though.
So he has a type?
What does that mean?
Uh, when's the last time
you saw Tessa?
Sandrine,
go read to your sister
- until she falls asleep.
- Okay.
But I can read, too.
Okay, well,
y'all can read to each other.
Thank you.
I don't want to hear anything
up there except reading.
Okay.
That deep sigh, little girl.
So, we're at the reception,
and everybody is
looking for Michael.
Like, where is he?
He's supposed to do the toast, and...
So, who...
Did he do the speech?
- No!
- No, he didn't do the speech.
Our cousin...
our cousin Larry did it,
and he stutters a lot,
and he was
real nervous
'cause he didn't know he was
gonna be talking anyways,
so now he extra stuttering.
Well, I got
stage fright. I didn't know...
Yeah, stage fright. But then
you put Larry up there?
There's so many
good things to say
about you,
I didn't know, you know...
We had to edit it
out the wedding video.
- Wasn't even that hard to find.
- It was terrible.
- What did you wear?
- Where were you?
I had a top hat on, like...
You... I mean...
- A top hat?
- Yeah. I don't even know what I...
Oh, gosh, the top hat.
He wore a top hat.
What was the theme of the...
- It wasn't no theme.
- There was no theme, Mae.
- There was no theme.
- He wore a top hat.
- Like, the wedding photos look crazy
- Oh, God.
'cause everybody else got
a regular fade,
but he got on a Monopoly hat.
- And I was trying to be nice.
- I just thought it was cool.
It looked cool. It was...
No, it didn't look cool.
The kids kept asking you
to take a rabbit out of it.
You know what I mean?
- Like, you looked stupid, man.
- Okay. - Oh, God.
People started playing
♪ Hi-de, hi-de, hi-de, ho. ♪
That's what he
looked like he was
- supposed to be singing.
- Oh, man.
Oh, gosh. Oh, goodness.
I-I can laugh now,
but it was... it was not
- very funny on the day of.
- She was really upset.
I mean, I laughed at the day,
'cause I know you,
and this is how...
It's our dynamic.
Yeah, he-he does
stuff like that.
He's very smart,
but he do dumb stuff.
So, how about you tell me
what you do
to keep, you know, whatever
- you got going on, going.
- I mean, listen.
We talk about other people.
- That-that makes us happy, actually.
- Ah, clearly.
We go people watching.
That's what we do.
He keeps me laughing.
And really,
if it weren't for streaming,
divorce would be
right around the corner.
Wait, you would leave me
if we couldn't stream movies?
Baby, I'm joking.
I'm joking.
I'm joking, I'm joking.
All right, I was, like, damn.
I'm an interesting guy,
you know what I mean?
Baby, you are interesting.
- That's right.
- I-I was only joking.
I didn't mean that.
- You know, don't worry.
- Wow.
Y'all came in that storm?
That storm is crazy.
Look, what-what did y'all do
when the power went out today?
Um...
- Uh...
- Oh.
- Okay, well, next topic.
- Okay.
What is all
those sounds about?
Yeah, I mean, you know, once...
You know, she did the little
sip and smile thing, like...
Leave her alone.
No, but we're all grown.
Look, if y'all did it,
y'all did it.
- It ain't a big thing.
- Stop.
- People do it all the time.
- Mae...
- This is the best do-it weather.
- Ooh!
Mommy?
Yes?
Can we sleep in your bed?
Daddy?
Y-Yeah, w-we'll be up there in
a second to-to tuck y'all in.
Stop listening to
the grown-up conversations.
Do not turn that TV on.
Do not turn the TV on.
That's also marriage...
I just repeat what she says.
I don't even know what to say
half the time.
- All right, we're going.
- Know what I mean?
- Good night, guys.
- Bye. Good night.
- If you need anything...
- Good night.
- Good night. - Good night.
- No, I don't want y'all...
- Now, don't be angry.
- Come on, sir.
I'm just saying,
they-they already did...
- Let's go.
- Good night.
Don't be doing that
in here, okay?
- Sandrine!
- There's children here, okay?
- All right.
- All right.
- See y'all tomorrow, okay?
- See you in the morning.
It's open.
Smell good in here.
What you cooking?
Red beans and rice.
Put that down.
You are always
taking pictures of me.
I want to have one of you.
Don't you want more than this?
What you mean?
More... than what we have.
No.
I want you.
I want to be married to you.
I'm not ready to get married.
What more do you want?
I want people to know who I am,
admire my photographs.
I love you, but my greatest
accomplishment each day
cannot be cooking your dinner.
I have never understood
how to make you happy.
What if we moved?
- Where?
- New York.
I can't see myself there.
I can't stay here anymore.
And where does that leave us?
Hey.
Hey.
- I think it stopped raining.
- Yeah?
You want to go outside?
Do you want to go outside?
Yeah.
- We survived.
- Yeah.
Now we got the whole street
to ourselves, too.
Who's Tessa?
Your nieces had a lot to say.
Yes, she's a girl
that I used to date.
When?
Uh, a few months ago.
A few months ago?
Uh, few-few weeks ago,
actually.
Which is it?
See, now I sound
like I'm lying.
- Are you?
- No.
So...
So, I...
We broke up before I met you.
She lives in
a different city, so...
Why didn't you tell me?
Because we're not together.
And because I'm here
with you right now.
So, what about you?
What about me?
Who are you talking to?
Nobody, really.
"Nobody, really."
What does that mean?
Nobody anymore.
Hmm.
Listen, I, um...
Maybe this
doesn't matter, but...
What? What is it?
I applied for a job...
in London.
Oh.
And, you know...
It may not mean anything
because we just met.
Right.
But I think it matters.
Why London?
Well, I felt like
I needed a change.
And you want a change
right now?
Well, not tonight, but...
See, my-my brother
got me scared to say
anything of consequence
to you, but...
I want to continue
getting to know you.
I want to get to know you, too.
- Mommy. Come on!
- Sandrine!
- All right, Kyle.
- Okay.
- Guys.
- What do you want to eat?
I love you.
I'm-I'm gonna bring it back
in two pieces for you, bro.
What do you mean, "two pieces"?
Okay, don't play with me
like that, all right?
Put some gas in there if you get a ch...
Wait, what? You want what?
Pancakes!
Why are y'all yelling at me?
- You in the kitchen with your mama.
- Pancake!
♪ When we met ♪
♪ Always knew ♪
♪ I would feel... ♪
I've been in New York
for three months.
♪ On my mind constantly... ♪
Why would I hire some girl
who just got off the bus
as my assistant?
Because I'm talented.
Did I say that?
No. Uh, no, sir.
♪ Here by me, baby ♪
♪ You let my love fly freely ♪
♪ I want you in my life... ♪
Because I'll work harder
than any of those silver-spoon,
Upper East Side debutantes
waiting in line outside...
...whose daddies
got them this interview
and will quit as
soon as they husband arrives.
♪ Nothing else can compare... ♪
Hmm.
Hmm.
Pack it up.
♪ I'm... ♪
♪ Caught up in
the rapture of love ♪
♪ I'm... ♪
- Hello?
- Denise.
Christina?
Why haven't you called?
I just got a phone at home.
I wish you was here.
Christina,
you have to come home.
I know.
He must be furious at me.
But I needed some time.
I'm gonna talk to him,
and he'll understand.
Hell, he might even
move here with me.
How is he?
Your mother.
What about my mama?
Denise?
Is she okay?
She died.
I think she asked me to leave
because she knew she was sick.
She didn't want me
to see her weak.
I'm sorry, Christina.
I thought he'd be here.
He's angrier than I thought.
I'm gonna go see him.
There's something
you should know.
What?
He got married.
Married to who?
Ashley Prentiss.
That's not funny.
That's impossible.
I've been gone three months.
You should've said something
before you left.
After the second month,
he was hung up on the idea
that you weren't coming back.
Let's do one more of those.
All right.
Good job. Move this way.
Yeah, let me get you
right here.
Look off out
into the window for me.
Yeah, right there.
Come here, Mae.
Peter said you were here.
I sold Violet's house.
It only took you four years
to come back.
Hi, Isaac.
How's New York?
I like it.
Who's this?
My name's Mae.
You look exactly
like your mother.
She's beautiful.
Thank you.
Heard you got married.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Why...
What?
Why don't you
come over for dinner?
Ashley would be
more than happy to cook.
No. That's kind.
No, really.
No, we have a bus to catch.
Can I drive you to the station?
I didn't get a chance
to take you last time.
Okay.
Please don't get out.
Can I help you?
Hi. I'm Mae Morton.
I'm Christina Eames's daughter.
Is she here?
She passed away.
I'm sorry to hear that.
When?
About a month ago.
She, um...
left this for you.
She asked me to give it to you.
Do you know what it says?
No, I didn't read it.
I wasn't sure
she'd remember me.
She did.
She left me a letter, too.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
It said I was your daughter.
I was too afraid to ask.
Ask what?
When she brought you home,
I wanted to ask
if you were mine.
Why didn't you?
I was married.
She had a life in New York.
I don't know, I had to believe,
if you were my daughter...
she would've told me.
She thought it would be
easier for you...
not knowing.
It would've been easier
if I just would've asked.
Can you stay
for some boiled crab?
Yeah.
Hey.
I need to talk to you.
You're making me nervous.
When are you ever nervous?
When someone's like,
"I need to talk to you."
What is it?
I just found out I got the job.
Oh, I can't believe you.
I think the words
you're looking for are:
"Congratulations. Good job."
Congratulations.
There you are. Thank you.
I hope it doesn't work out.
When do you start?
Uh, a couple weeks.
You still owe me a story...
before you go.
Yeah.
You sure you don't want me
to find you something else?
- You know what you could do?
- Hmm?
You could promote Andy.
- Right?
- I'm not... I won't do that.
Maybe. Maybe.
- Yeah.
- Unlikely.
Maybe I
moved on because I was scared
I couldn't make
Christina happy.
What happened?
I was afraid of failing her,
that she'd resent me
eventually.
Okay, look, man,
you sure you want to do this?
Yes. Yes.
- Yeah.
- London, Michael? Huh?
Like, for real,
you want to move to London?
You understand
there's a five-hour
time difference, right?
Of course I know that.
Yes, I know that.
Well, if you know that, then
have some respect for me, okay?
What, you want me to change
my schedule around for you?
Waking up in the middle
of the night,
answering your phone calls?
I don't want to be
doing all that.
What's this look
I'm-I'm see...?
Is this...
Oh, you're gonna miss me, huh?
- Nope.
- You're gonna miss me.
I ain't gonna miss...
No, I'm not.
I'm not gonna miss you.
Stop playing with me.
Okay, yes.
Maybe a little bit.
- Oh, there it is, see.
- All right?
Man, I don't know, I just...
I have to do this.
I need this.
You're not gonna talk to
this girl before you leave?
- I don't know. I don't know.
- I think you should do that.
- You're not gonna do that?
- I mean, she called,
but I didn't call her back.
Wait, you ain't
called her back?
That's not like Michael.
Well, I didn't...
I just didn't know what to say.
And that's your plan, right?
Just gonna act funny?
- Well, now, why you doing this?
- What...
You're the one who told me
not to get involved, remember?
You said...:
"Don't get involved."
Okay, I didn't...
First of all, I don't sound
like a mad scientist,
all right?
That's not how I talk, all right?
And look, look,
I know what I said.
I said don't get involved
too quickly.
All right. Well, okay.
Semantics.
'Cause that's what
you usually do.
No, you always move
into this stuff fast, aight.
That's all I was doing,
just being honest with you.
Okay. Yeah.
- Text her or something.
- Whatever. All right.
DM her on Instagram.
I don't know.
Well, I mean, look,
you're-you're a grown man,
and you got to do
what's best for you.
Yeah.
When do you leave?
Uh, I'll go back to Louisiana
a couple days, finish up work.
Then I'm packing.
And don't make this
all dramatic.
Come on,
give me some toast, huh?
Come on, meet me over here.
Get over here.
Boom. There we go.
♪ Please don't push me,
I'm on the edge ♪
♪ I don't care too much,
but you want it, baby ♪
♪ Let's go through it
together ♪
♪ Maybe it's for the better ♪
♪ 'Cause you'll let me be ♪
♪ Oh, babe, I let you go there ♪
♪ To roll up and then go back ♪
♪ Meet me at the corner,
baby, you know where ♪
♪ Is it cruel of me ♪
♪ To pretend I can't see... ♪
- Hey.
- Hey.
What you doing here?
Another interview.
You almost done?
Almost.
I wasn't expecting that at all.
I tried to call you
to tell you.
You didn't call me back.
Right.
"Hi, Mae. Hello.
It's Michael.
I'm calling you back."
I could've said that.
"Things were awkward
the morning after the storm,
but that doesn't change
what happened between us."
Oh, you're good.
No, I like that one.
Thank you.
Getting to know each other
was good.
Yeah, well, I liked
getting to know each other.
Yeah.
So, what, you just leaving
New York and trading in
the Kerry James Marshall
for the Bywater?
Do you see me living here?
Ah, I don't know.
I like this casual you.
So, you're saying
I'm uptight in New York?
Nah, I mean,
you just seem relaxed.
I'm going to Christina's house
at Pointe à la Hache later.
Mm.
Do you want to come with me?
Yeah.
Yeah, I'd love to come.
What you trying to listen to?
Drake.
I... I cannot stand Drake.
You know I don't want
to hear no Drake.
All right,
put some Kendrick on.
Not in my car. Come on.
I'm not putting on Kendrick.
That is a fact.
Depressing car ride.
We're gonna get pulled over
by the police
listening to Kendrick.
It's...
Did you say your ex-girlfriend
lived in New Orleans?
I never said that.
- You didn't?
- No.
Okay, you know what,
you're right.
It wasn't you.
It was... it was Sandrine.
- Oh, my God.
- Or Sofia. Was it...
Sandrine and Sofia again.
All right, could you just
tell me everything they said?
You just tell me now,
word for word.
Why would I violate
the sister code?
- Wow.
- No, I...
Why don't you just
answer my question?
Did you... did you happen
to see her while you were here?
- See who?
- Your ex-girl.
No.
I have not seen her.
Okay, you don't have to get
all defensive.
- I'm not defensive.
- I'm just asking a question.
I feel good.
Do I look defensive to you?
Defenses are down.
I guess no one's home.
Uh, didn't you say, uh,
Christina had a darkroom?
Yeah, in the back,
but I doubt it's there now.
You want to check?
Two champagnes, please.
Two? Okay, coming right up.
- For you, ma'am.
- Thank you.
We should move here.
Or at least come back.
When are you going back
to New York?
'Cause I have a show
next Tuesday.
I've been meaning
to tell you...
What?
I'm moving to London.
- What?
- Yeah, I...
I got the job.
When?
Could we just...
I just... I just found out.
Well, we were together all day.
Why... why didn't you say
something?
I-I know. I just...
We were having a good time.
You know, I didn't want
to, uh, mess it up.
So, what do we do now?
I don't know.
Figure it out.
- How?
- Well, I can go to...
I can come to New York,
and you can come to London,
and we could go back and forth
and we figure it out.
It's not practical.
I know. I'm not trying
to be practical right now.
I... I want to be with you.
Long distance never works.
- What?
- It never works.
Well, be optimistic.
Come on.
I don't want to get together
just to break up.
- I'm being honest.
- Honest?
Yeah. I-I forgot,
you have trouble being honest.
Okay, uh, so what...
what is that supposed to mean?
Aren't you always searching
for something honest
to say to a woman?
Well, that's what
I'm doing right now.
All right?
I'm being honest,
and I'm saying
I want to try to be together.
Maybe we should just
enjoy being here.
Michael still in town?
No, he left last night.
Well, why you didn't
leave with him?
'Cause I wanted to stay longer.
I feel like that's not
the whole story.
It's most of it.
I guess you more than look
like your mother.
Yeah, I'm...
probably more like her
than I'd like to be.
Well, that's not a bad thing.
She was unwavering
in everything she wanted.
How could you say that,
after everything?
I don't blame her for leaving.
What did she say?
What did the letter say?
She apologized.
She kept you from me
for so long,
she didn't know how to go back.
How to tell me.
She asked me
to take care of you.
I keep rereading mine.
She wrote over and over again,
"My Mae."
I keep reading those two words
like they're evidence
that she loved me.
She did.
Very much.
My Mae,
I didn't know how to love you
except by showing you
the arc of a woman,
by being a good provider.
I put my love into work,
my photographs.
Pictures took space
in my heart instead of people.
It was the only way
I could love.
I was stumbling
through my own life,
trying not to break apart.
I wish I had put as much
courage into being your mother
as I was able to put
in my work.
Evening, Mr. Morton.
I told her
to tell you about Isaac.
What did she say?
She made me promise
never to tell you.
She thought it would
just confuse you
and make his life harder,
so I agreed.
Maybe I was wrong for that.
And if I... if I am,
I'm sorry.
When I first met her,
she was three months pregnant.
And that didn't bother you?
No.
I couldn't look away from her.
But she...
she turned me down at first.
- Why?
- She thought I felt sorry for her. I...
And she-she told me
she didn't feel
the need to be an honest woman.
But I know
she was just hung up on him.
So, why would she tell me now?
Maybe it was her way
of explaining...
Explaining what?
Why she was the way she was.
And why she was never
very good at...
being your mother.
Do you remember when
you were leaving for Chicago,
for school?
Yeah.
Mom didn't come to the airport
'cause she said
she had to meet somebody.
Like I wasn't moving
across the country.
Like I wasn't more important.
She didn't have to meet anyone.
When I came home,
she was sitting
in the back
of the house crying.
Your mother wasn't
very good at goodbyes.
I'm not a sentimental person,
as many of you know.
I don't like
getting attached to people.
It makes it harder to fire them.
And it makes it
that much more annoying
when they abandon you.
I'm not abandoning you.
He's leaving, and he thinks
he's better than us.
Well, let's all pretend
to wish him luck.
- Good luck, Michael.
- Good luck, Michael.
Thank you.
We got more negatives
from Billy Wasko's archives
for Christina's retrospective.
Thanks.
Are you heading out?
Yeah. Dinner with Andy.
I'm uncomfortable
with how happy you are.
How do you think I feel?
Being unhappy and jaded,
it's comfortable, but...
But?
I like him, and...
maybe I'm not
who I thought I was.
Maybe I'm different with him.
So, you're choosing to be
a different person?
I don't know. I'm just
choosing to be with him.
What about you?
I think I messed that up.
It's like I said the opposite
of everything that I wanted
to say to him.
Well, what did you want to say?
That I wanted him to stay.
Can you still tell him that?
I don't know. I...
He looked at me
like he was so disappointed.
I don't know, I-I felt like
I couldn't ask him
to rearrange his life for me.
It's too late. It's...
Whatever.
Have you selected
the final photos?
Uh, almost.
I'm just gonna go through
the rest of her archives
and see if there's
anything else I want to show.
Okay.
Bye.
- Yo.
- Yo.
What's up?
So, uh, did Sara tell you?
What?
I'm not an intern anymore.
I'm a paid employee.
- Boom.
- Boom.
Oh, congratulations. Wow.
Did you tell her to promote me?
- No.
- Hmm.
Thank you.
Whatever, man.
Um, I'm gonna miss you, man.
Oh, man, don't miss me.
Oh, all right.
All right.
I read your, um, article
on Pointe à la Hache.
- What'd you think?
- It was...
- It was personal.
- I-I know.
Probably too personal.
It became all about me
and my stuff.
It's not often you meet
someone like that.
Yeah, I know.
Christina and Isaac, man,
that's an anomaly.
I'm talking about Mae.
The office is gonna be bleak
without you, man.
Do you miss Louisiana?
Parts of it.
Hmm. What parts?
The good parts.
And what do you like
about New York?
I like my work.
What are you thinking?
That I wish I was
as good at love
as I am at working.
I wish I didn't
leave people behind so often.
Mr. Williams.
Michael Block?
Yeah.
Sorry, bro.
Want tickets
to Kendrick Lamar, anyone?
- Hey.
- Hey.
I just really felt like
seeing Kendrick.
No, you didn't.
I-I guess I'm lucky that,
you know,
he was performing here tonight.
And I-I really wanted
to see you.
I've been wanting
to see you, too.
I'm sorry for not...
for not knowing what to say
before you left.
I just didn't know
how to tell you how I felt.
And I think I'm not
used to needing anyone.
Yeah. I get that.
But I need you.
And I don't care
where you live. I...
I just want to be close to you
as much as possible.
I don't want to be practical.
I want to figure it out.
And I don't want
so much time to pass
that we...
that we can't come back.
- Yeah.
- And I... I don't want...
You know,
we will always come back.
Really?
You know that.
How's London?
Uh, I-I've just been out here
being pathetic,
thinking about you.
That's good.
You want to go hear some music?
- Yeah.
- Come on.
We have a show to see!
♪ Set the tone ♪
♪ When it's just me ♪
♪ And you alone, never lonely ♪
♪ In the room,
breathing slowly ♪
♪ Oh, you know me, yeah ♪
♪ Meditate, you can take me ♪
♪ To a place ♪
♪ Where we can be all alone ♪
♪ I let you hold me ♪
♪ 'Cause you know me ♪
♪ Me, yeah ♪
♪ Lay your head on my pillow,
say ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Touch is making me feel
a way, ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Whenever I get around you ♪
♪ I lose it ♪
♪ Lose it ♪
♪ 'Cause I feel ♪
♪ So comfortable with you ♪
♪ You make me ♪
♪ Comfortable with you ♪
♪ You ♪
♪ You make me ♪
- ♪ Wanna get ♪
- ♪ Wanna get ♪
- ♪ Wanna go deep ♪
- ♪ Go ♪
- ♪ Intimate ♪
- ♪ Intimate ♪
♪ Let you in me ♪
- ♪ Inside ♪
- ♪ Inside ♪
♪ You deserve it ♪
♪ On my mind ♪
♪ My mind, yeah ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Lay your head on my pillow,
say ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Touching ♪
♪ Way you're touching,
know it's okay with ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh ♪
♪ When I get around you ♪
♪ I lose it ♪
♪ Lose it ♪
♪ 'Cause I feel
so comfortable with you ♪
♪ You make me
comfortable with you ♪
♪ Mm ♪
♪ You make me ♪
♪ Baby ♪
♪ Lay your head on my pillow,
say ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Way you're touching my body,
say ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ I ain't loving nobody
but you ♪
♪ You ♪
- ♪ You make me ♪
- ♪ 'Cause I feel so ♪
♪ Comfortable with you ♪
♪ Mm ♪
♪ I feel so comfortable
with you ♪
♪ With you ♪
♪ You make me ♪
♪ You make me, baby ♪
♪ You make me ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ You make me ♪
♪ You make me, mm ♪
- ♪ You make me. ♪
- ♪ Ooh... ♪