Pose (2018–…): Season 2, Episode 10 - In My Heels - full transcript

(Blanca clears throat)

All right, lady,
it looks like you're all set.

(clears throat)

Thank you.

(coughing)

(door opens, shuts)

I'm sorry, I don't think I have
you down for an appointment.

I hear you take walk-ins.

I missed you.

I missed you, too.

BLANCA:
Wait, so how long has it been?



Eight and a half months.

Damon's graduation.

Wow.

How's business?

Better than ever.

It may not have
the glamour of a storefront,

but it also don't have
the extra rent and in-insurance,

and the hassle of that
wicked witch Frederica Norman.

-(Pray Tell chuckles)
-Besides...

...this house has felt empty
with all the children gone.

Nothing more dangerous
than being left alone

with your own thoughts.

No. All of them are doing good.

Damon sent me a postcard
from Paris.



(chuckles)

And he's having
the time of his life.

And Angel?

Angel and Papi are like
Lucy and Ricky.

(laughs)

How are you?

You still with that young one?

(scoffs)
Ricky?

(sighs):
Oh, yeah, we're-we're...

we're taking it slow.

He moved in yet?

Hell no.
(laughs)

But he does have
his own set of keys,

and he comes and goes
when he pleases,

and that works for us.

I give him wisdom,
I guess, and he...

keeps me young.

Well, is he keeping you moist?

(laughs)
Yes, ma'am.

The sex is fucking fantastic.

You know... that just because
your kids aren't here

to walk the balls with you
doesn't mean

you can't come to the balls.

The whole point of the balls
is to remind you

that you're not alone.

I know.

Just walking without my...
my children, though...

...without my house...

I just think that would be
giving the opposite effect.

(coughing)

Baby, when was the last time
you went to a doctor?

(coughing)

(monitor beeping)

(woman speaking indistinctly
over P.A.)

(groans)

Hey.

You get a little sleep?

No.

I was just thinking.

About?

I'm just sad
I'm going out this way.

I'm sad for my children...
and my house.

Can you go into my purse?
There's a little notebook.

Yeah.

(exhales)

What's this?

It's my will.

I need you to make sure

nobody fights over anything
when I'm gone.

Death makes people
kind of crazy, you know?

Can I see?

"My jewelry and my clothing
shall go to my daughter Angel.

"My books, tape collection,
and boom box..."

"...to my brother Pray Tell.

"My mother's cookbook shall go
to my son Damon.

"That little Shake-N-Go wig
I wore the night we met

(laughing):
"shall go to my mother Elektra.

"My salon supplies shall go
to my sister Lulu.

"My furniture shall be donated
to anyone in need

"from the ballroom.

And for my dearest Papi,
take care of Tippy."

Tippy?
Who the fuck is Tippy?

(chuckles)

That's the puppy I was planning
on getting this summer.

You better leave him
something real.

To my little Papi,

I leave with you
my life's journals.

(chuckles)

Use your hustling skills to...

to write my life story.

(sobs)

Don't let 'em forget me.

You got to fight, Blanca.

My whole life's been
a fight, Pray.

I need a chance to know peace.

You shouldn't have to die
to know what peace feels like.

(sniffles)

What are you doing?

I am finding your address book,

and I am gonna call every single
person in our family

to make sure that somebody's
right here by your side

the entire time
that you're here.

I'm fighting for you
this time, baby.

(door opens)

(footfalls approach)

PRAY TELL:
The category is...

Live...

Work...

Pose!

*

Girl, would you stop fussing
with the lights?

You are not an electrician.

This ward is grim enough
as it is

without wasting our beauty away
on bad fluorescent lighting.

Maybe if I check the wattage,
I can get a bulb

that will cast an amber glow.

-Girl, you're gonna
get electrocuted.
-(laughter)

I see you're giving me
the Red Door Spa treatment.

Yeah.

Miss Ford got you the cover
of Essence magazine yet?

That would make the girls gag.

I haven't booked anything
for a couple of months now.

Thank God I listened to Papi
and opened up

that savings account
a while back.

But we'll be all right.
We staying afloat.

It's the recession, things will
pick up by the summer.

-You'll see.
-PRAY TELL: Hey.

No, no, no, turn back around.

This ain't for you.

I got you some sweet
and sour soup, Ma.

PRAY TELL:
Mwah!

These cheap bodega flowers
attract insects.

Insects carry disease.
Blanca's ill enough.

Will you calm your
bougie ass down, please?

You haven't walked a category
in months.

You know what,
as a matter of fact,

I ain't seen none of y'all
at the balls recently.

I have better things to do
than to watch

category after category
of boring butch queens.

You-- The women always
take center stage.

You have Face, you got Runway,
you got Realness.

And everybody comes
to see you all.

And never forget it.

We built ballroom, yet all we
have are three categories

and no rightful place
on the council.

It's a boys club now,
run exclusively by you

and the other male emcees.

-That's right.
-That ain't right, Pray.
That ain't right.

You don't know what it's like.

-(cheering)
-You put your best foot forward

in your most coveted finery,
only to be met

with the glaring eyes of men.

Serving us
Totem Pole Origami Realness.

ELEKTRA:
Sitting on their perch,
squinting and inspecting

and tallying.

PRAY TELL:
Judges, your scores.

Why do they have the right
to pass judgment

when they've never
walked a day in our heels?

I didn't join ballroom
for a row of flaming homos

with no style
to look down on me.

We're judged enough
by the outside world

to be judged so harshly
by our own.

LULU:
The balls are tired, anyways.

You know, I used to roll
my eyes at Candy

when she went on and on
about how the girls

been pushed to the side.

But as soon as "Vogue" hit,
who became stars, Pray?

The boys.

Who learned how to dance on
ballroom floors that we built.

(sighs)
Okay.

Well, I think I have some stuff

to talk to the council about.

Damn skippy.

MANHATTAN:
The children are finally
paying their dues on time.

We have $5K in our savings.

We are officially
out of the red.

-(laughs)
-Awesome.

Let's hope it stays that way.
Anything else to report?

-No.
-I actually have
something to share.

-Your hemorrhoids are back.
-(laughter)

Funny, bitch,
but I'm being serious.

So, it's come to my attention

that the women of the ballroom
are feeling judged.

Oh, please, if you don't want
to be judged, don't walk.

-Yeah.
-I hear you.

But we got to be honest.

All of the emcees are men,
and recently it's mostly men

that are walking the categories.

-Well, that's not our fault.
-But it's our responsibility.

Well, every year we announce
Mother of the Year.

What else would a bitch want?

You know that's not enough.

I know what it feels like
to be judged.

I went from being called
a sissy

to a girl to a fag.

So what do you suggest
that we do?

We have to show our support
and solidarity.

Well, any ideas on how?

(clicks tongue)

We got to figure that out.

Mm-hmm.

(gasps)
I got it.

We pull a stunt, y'all.

We pull a stunt.

We, the council, we should walk

Butch Queen First Time
Up in Drags.

-Ooh, yes!
-Oh, girl, no.
No, I'm not shaving my legs.

Listen, Sasquatch, you need
to invest in some Nair

and prep your meaty tuck,
because you're walking.

It's mighty meaty.

-Ew!
-Yuck!

(laughter)

Ew!

-So nasty.
-Nasty.

You're quiet.

What you think?

Aren't we just gonna look
like a bunch of men in wigs?

I don't want to trivialize
what these women go through,

how they live, who they are.

It will humble us
and create empathy.

This will help men realize
the pressures we put on women.

It's about sisterhood.

It's about solidarity,

and if I can shave,
you can wear a wig.

-Mm-hmm.
-Okay.

-So get over yourself, bitch.
-Mm-hmm.

-* And pass the motion, bitch *
-Oh.

-* Pass the motion, bitch *
-Ah.

-* Pass the motion, bitch *
-* Break it down, uh *

-* Pass the motion, bitch *
-* Pass it, pass it *

-* Pass the motion, bitch. *
-(laughter)

-Motion passed!
-(cheering, applause)

Yes. That was the beat.

(elevator bell dings)

(mouths)

DANNY:
Oh, shit.

-Hi. Is Miss Ford in here?
-Uh, yeah, she's just,

-um, let me, let me just, uh...
-Great. Sorry...

(indistinct chatter)

-Sorry.
-MISS FORD: Danny.

Will you escort Carol and Joanna

to the conference room
for some tea?

I'll join you shortly.

(quietly):
I'm sorry.

Miss Ford, you haven't called me
in-in-in, in weeks.

I didn't want to call
till I had all the information.

Well, what information?

Someone has taken it upon
themselves to tell your story.

Angel, the vibe
is very Sophia Loren.

Sultry, mysterious.

It's just a pantyhose campaign.
Don't overthink it.

(chuckles softly)

-I am a huge fan.
-Thank you.

When you used to walk realness,

oh, the children gagged.

I knew you was going someplace.

Now look at you.

(whispering indistinctly)

MISS FORD:
I got a call from set.

The creative director
accused me

of pulling a publicity stunt
on her dime.

I didn't know
what she was talking about.

She said, "I asked for a girl,
not a drag queen."

I swore to her these were lies
meant to tarnish the Ford Agency

and diminish your stardom.

But word has spread.

-Everyone has pulled
your contracts.
-(crying): No.

They're claiming
misrepresentation, fraud.

I'm not a fraud.
You think I'm a fraud?

No.

Look at me. Angel.

You came to me as you are.

But the world isn't ready yet.

No. No.

(moans, crying)

(keys jangle)

Uh-oh. I see you got happy hour
going on without your man.

I'm-a join you.

(cap clatters)

What's going on?

(Angel sniffles)

-I saw Miss Ford today.
-Yeah?

-Mm-hmm.
-She got some work for you?

Ain't gonna be
no more work, Papi.

-What you mean?
-They found out.

(sniffling)

Everybody knows my T.

Mm.

There was some boy
from ballroom that...

that worked on one of my shoots
and he ran his mouth.

And now the whole
fashion industry...

(sniffles)
thinks I'm a fake.

*

They pulled my contracts.

-I'm done, Papi.
-Nah, baby girl.
You just got in the game.

You're 24, you got at least ten
more years left in the industry.

Papi.

I'm a transsexual.

I wasn't supposed
to last one day,

let-let alone one whole year,
working as a model.

The whole world thinks
we ain't nothing but freaks.

We're supposed to be lurking
in the shadows somewhere.

And if anybody's looking at us,
they laughing.

-They don't want to see us.
-Hey.

I do.

You're a star.

Ain't-- I don't, I don't care

what other people think
or say about you, Angel.

You supposed to be seen
by this world.

It ain't over, trust me.

-Yes, it is, Pap...
-Baby.

Come here. Come here.

Come here. Come here. Come here.

It's okay. It's okay.

It ain't over.

Trust me, I got you.

I got you.

(inhaling, exhaling)

(inhales deeply)

(wheezing exhale)

You hear that? No cough.

You may not be coughing,

but there's still
an infection in there.

How long until this thing
clears up and I can go home?

(sighs)

Well, maybe a...
at least another week.

Judy... be real with me.

How much time you think
I really got left?

(sighs)
There's no way of knowing.

AIDS is so unpredictable.

Depends how well
you take care of yourself,

and your surroundings.

Do you think the chemicals
from my salon

had something to do
with me getting pneumonia?

They sure didn't help.

You might want to reconsider
your trade, maybe even retiring.

With your low T cell count,
you'll qualify for a disability.

Disability?

(exhales)

Sweetheart,
your body's the boss now,

and you have to do
what it tells you,

not necessarily
what you want to do.

I'm only 30 years old.

What kind of life is that?

Sweetie, I know this isn't easy.

It ain't never been easy
for a girl like me.

I don't know why I fooled myself
into thinking

that if I fought hard

and stayed... positive
and did right by people,

I would be the one
whose life was spared.

Maybe my body is telling me
I should just stop.

(over TV):
I'm so proud
of my little one and only.

She came up with our prom theme
all by herself.

You go ahead and tell him,
honey.

The Civil War:
Gone with the Wind...

LIL PAPI:
Yoo-hoo! Hey.

-Baby.
-That's great.

It's very hot right now.

-Yeah...
-Uh, yo! Wha-- can you relax?

Can you take it down
a few million notches?

-Nah, I'm gonna take it up
a few levels.
-Oh, my God.

Look at this.

"Esteban Martinez,

"Talent Manager Extraordinaire.

Models, actresses,
singers, dancers."

Hmm.

-Hmm.
-So you're trying
to be a manager now?

You know how good
I look after you.

Y-Yeah, I know, but what jobs
have you booked me?

First of all, managing ain't
just about booking jobs.

-So then, what is it about?
-Second of all,

I got a Rolodex full of
modern photographer assistants

-and junior people
from every job you ever been on.
-What?

They're moving up, and we're
gonna be right there with 'em.

But so much of-of-of managing
is making sure

your talent feels
taken care of, confident,

and picking them up
when they need it.

-That's my specialty.
-I know it is,

but ain't none of these models

gonna want to work
with a Dominican from the hood.

I don't want to work with them.

I want to work with girls
like you, girls from the scene.

All the neglected but beautiful
members of society.

I don't want anyone
to get hurt the way you did.

Aw.

Babe.

You're too sweet for this world.

But you know
what happened to me.

I'm telling you, don't bother.

Don't nobody want us,
don't nobody want to see us,

don't nobody want nothing
to do with us.

All right.

-Just watch me.
-Mm.

Yeah, so that is the story.
Look, I'm-I'm starting an agency

-and I'm looking for girls.
-GIRL: I already got a pimp.

And if he sees you trying
to steal me away,

he'll beat your ass.

Well, good news, I'm not a pimp.

I'm a talent manager.

My goal is to have
my own company

with managers working for me,

like my hero John Casablancas.

I could get you real,
legit jobs.

I did some modeling
for a porno mag once.

-(chuckles)
-LIL PAPI: Picture it:

an Oil of Olay campaign
starring Elektra.

-I can see it.
-Me, too. That's what
I'm talking about.

Elektra, I just need
one girl to say yeah.

Help me show these girls
I'm for real.

JAZMINE:
Don't you represent Angel?

-Mm-hmm.
-How are you gonna do right
by both of us?

What's she gonna say
when I start

booking more jobs than her?

You're a charming boy,
and you've got a silver tongue

with plenty of ambition.

But look no further than your
recently-clocked girlfriend

to know that you may as well
be looking to

train the girls
to be astronauts.

-You know I'm better looking.
-Well...

I-I wouldn't say that.
Y'all just different types.

You want to be my manager
and you think another girl

is prettier than me?

(chuckles softly)

No, no...
(stammers)

-Boy, bye.
-Right. Cool.

-(scoffs)
-Child...

You ain't got to throw 'em.

ELEKTRA:
Try selling something
that people actually want,

like insurance or Big Macs.

Big Mac...

(laughs)

Hey. Y'all trying to be models?

Ooh. Ooh, listen to this.

"A female real estate mogul
was arrested Thursday morning

"in connection
to a Harlem building fire

-"that erupted last August.
-(cameras clicking)

"Frederica Norman, 62,
was charged

"with felony first-degree arson
for the fire

"at 794 East 116th Street,

"where two firefighters
were injured

"and a nail salon owner
lost her business.

"Ms. Norman is believed
to have set the blaze herself

"in order to profit by filing

fraudulent insurance claims
following the fire."

When am I getting out, Asher?

-The judge revoked bail.
-What?

He feels with your wealth,
you're a flight risk.

(laughs)
They are so goddamn predictable.

It's because I'm a woman.

You're in here because
an eyewitness saw you

leaving a building.
Now if you just f...

I'm in here, Asher,

because they want
to make an example.

To put me in my place.

To put all women in their place.

We are not allowed to have
empires or emotions.

We are expected to sit
at home patiently waiting

for our husbands,
cook their meals,

supply unpaid emotional
and physical labor

to aid in the fulfillment
of their dreams.

We are not supposed
to have dreams of our own.

The only thing I feel bad about,

if I have anything
to feel bad about at all,

is that I ended
another woman's dreams.

For that,
I will proudly serve time.

But I will not be penalized
for having a dream of my own

and doing what I had to do
to make it a reality.

I refuse to be shamed
for my ambition!

(phone clatters)

"Ms. Norman could face
five years in prison,

-according to state officials."
-(chuckles)

-1996 seems like
a lifetime away.
-Mm.

Frederica being locked up
is further proof

-that my work here is done.
-Shush with all that talk.

Look at you.
You ain't got no fever no more,

-you off that oxygen.
-One loop around the ward

and I am completely
out of breath.

They got to put me
right back in my wheelchair.

That's good. You're getting
your heart rate up.

And pretty soon,
you'll be back in those heels

and stomping the ballroom floor.

You'll be out just in time
for the Mother's Day ball.

Pray, I am not thinking
about no balls.

Your presence is needed.

You are a Mother of the Year
titleholder.

My children are grown and gone.

-I ain't nobody's mother
no more, Pray.
-Listen.

Once a mother, always a mother.

And the children
need to see you there.

And besides, I got a special
surprise I'm cooking up

upon your grand return.

Okay. Whatever, Pray.

Could you get me some water?

-What you got up your sleeve?
-None of your business.

*

Now, the trick here is balance.

Shift your weight on your foot,
walking heel, toe, heel, toe.

See?

("Boogie Shoes" by
KC & The Sunshine Band playing)

Now it's your turn. Jack?

* I want to put on... *

Jack, you look like
you're about to topple over.

Use your stomach muscles
to keep you upright.

* Yeah, I want to put on... *

Castle, aka Bowlegged Lou,

straighten out
those knocked knees.

* Uh-huh, girl, to be with you *

* Is my favorite thing *

And, Manhattan, look forward,
eyes on the prize.

* Until I see you again *

Appalling, I would give you
all losing scores.

Next!

* I want to put on
my-my-my-my-my boogie shoes *

(sighs) My darling Lemar.

* Boogie with you... *

You always make Mother proud.

I have no notes.

* My-my-my-my-my
boogie shoes... *

Cubby, your walk is impeccable.

Now fix your face.
You shouldn't look constipated.

Good, Ricky.

Push your shoulders back.

Yes.

Now lengthen your neck.

* I want to do it
till the sun comes up *

* Oh, yeah, uh-huh *

* I want to do it till
I can't get enough... *

Oh, Pray Tell.
Do you not carry

a single graceful bone
in your body?

Lean back a little.

These heels are too fucking high

for me to be concerned
about posture.

I am in six-inch heels.

You're in the sort of heel
I wear when I'm asleep

or suffering
from food poisoning.

Take tinier steps.

I can't. Maybe...
maybe if the heel was wider

or-or shorter, something
to hold my weight better.

Mother, just chop her already.

You know what?
Shut your skinny ass up.

Pray Tell, if your heels
were any wider,

you would be in clogs.
Aren't you the one always

reading the girls for wearing
anything less than four inches?

She does have a point.

You want to try mine, babe?

ELEKTRA:
No. Pray needs to try harder.

I am not the one that came up
with this idea, you did.

You wanted to know
how it feels to be us,

to see what we go through.

Now take the damn critique
and try harder next time.

You know...

I don't have time for this shit.

Come on, Pray. Just do it.

Wh-Where you going?

-I am not a woman.
-Obviously.

For someone who ain't a woman,

she sure acting
like she's on the rag.

-(laughs)
-You know, boy,
you always got...

ELEKTRA:
Enough cackling.

Back to your ones, hyenas.

* Hey, you. *

Hey.

If you're coming out here
to have a heart-to-heart,

you can just take your ass
right back inside.

Baby...

I'll lay it on thick, then.

You need to practice
what you preach.

-Who are you talking to?
-You.

Aren't you the one who told me
I needed to...

walk with my head held high,

that I shouldn't have any shame
about being positive?

I don't have any shame

-about my status.
-Yeah, but you are ashamed

of expressing your femininity.

You don't know
what you're talking about.

Actually, I do.

You know, the first time
I danced Vogue femme,

it was scary because
I was so used to being praised

for my masculinity.

You know, I was afraid of...

showing a different side.

But shit, sometimes I want
to queen out, too.

Then I realized
I could be butch...

...and femme at the same time.

My father, he...
(clears throat)

He used to tell everybody,

my mom and my aunts
and everybody,

"That boy's too soft."

He hated my sissy ass.

He would just walk past me

and push me to the ground.

And then the pushes
became slaps,

and the slaps became punches.

He was determined

he was just gonna beat the man
into me.

His son
wasn't gonna be no faggot.

(exhales)

I'm sorry that happened to you.

But you got to let that go.

It's time for you
to embrace all of you.

(sniffles)
Yeah.

Well, looks like Daddy's
not the only one

-serving wisdom
these days, is she?
-(chuckles)

-No, she's not, honey.
-(laughing)

Well, it's funny you ask,

'cause I was actually gonna call
my company Fidelity.

There used to be this drag queen
named Fidelity Free.

(chuckles): And, uh, I asked her
what fidelity meant.

She said loyalty
and faithfulness.

And those are the things I think
make me special as a manager.

And th-there was the bank,

you know, or the...
or which business was it?

-Yeah.
-That had the same, you know,
the same name, so...

Yeah, I-I don't want to deal
with those copyright issues.

But the name still stands,
just on the inside.

Look, I-I signed two girls
from the balls besides Angel,

and I would kill or die
for them.

If they wanted a job,
I got no shame.

I'll go knock on somebody's door
while they're eating dinner

just to tell them,
"Hire one of my girls."

Well, I would not recommend
that strategy.

You have a wonderful style,

but you're living in a fantasy.

You saw what happened to Angel.

The world is still prejudiced.

There are fashion designers
and editors in the closet

-for fear of being ostracized.
-That's cool, though.

All my models are straight.

What about Tula?

She got clocked
by that reporter, what,

about ten years ago?

There was all kinds of stories
about her

but she was still in Playboy.

And she was booking all kinds of
liquor campaigns and everything.

Yeah, remember,
we saw her on Arsenio.

-Exactly.
-That's one example.

In the UK.

Yeah, but Tula's
changing the game, Miss Ford.

I don't understand
what you want me to do.

Take me under your wing.

Let me be a business
inside your business.

'Cause when I come calling...

...and I say you got my back,

I'm not no asshole
off the street no more.

I'm with Miss Ford.

I'm real.

The world don't change.

People change it.

This business is brimming

with beautiful girls
and ambitious men,

but it's lacking in fidelity.

Okay.

I'll give you a cubicle,
a phone line

and my watchful eye. That's it.

But if you book a job
in the next two weeks,

I will consider an arrangement
between the Ford Agency

and Esteban Martinez Talent.

-Deal?
-Deal.

But no knocking
on people's doors

-when they're having dinner.
-Who, me?

Nah, girl,
I would never do that.

-I would never do that!
-Come on. Yes!

I'm sending you home
with a wheelchair,

but I want you
to get up and walk

whenever you have the energy.
You got it?

I'll try.

You know,
your presence on this ward

has touched so many, Blanca.

The people coming to visit you

have really inspired
a lot of people.

Given a lot of people hope.

I didn't realize
I had that much love.

I'm grateful to be alive
and to be loved.

*

(chuckles)
Damon.

Baby, what are you doing here?

Oh, Angel told me what happened.

I'm so sorry
I couldn't get here sooner.

You came just in time.

I'm being discharged
this afternoon.

Okay.

-Come on, help your mother pack.
-Okay.

Hey, sweetheart.

Now take it easy.

I leave you here
for two seconds...

BLANCA:
Oh, I was in the hospital.

I'm so happy you're here, baby.

I'm sorry you had to fly out
all that way.

Don't ever apologize.
You're my mother. Okay?

Well, as a mother,
I need to know

if you got tested over there.

Don't worry. I'm negative.

I found out in Paris.

(whispers):
Thank God.

Now tell me everything.

How was
the Malcolm McLaren tour?

Was it everything
you dreamed of?

More, actually.

He wants me...

to choreograph
his next music video!

-What?
-Yes.

-Damon,
you are living the dream.
-(chuckles) Yeah.

I am.

Traveling the world
for the both of us,

like you said I would.

And I have news.

Mm-hmm. Here you go.

I took...

-Evangelista over
to Paris. (chuckles)
-What?

I'm a house father now

with kids of my own
that won't listen to me.

-Uh-huh.
Karma's a bitch, ain't she?
-Mm-hmm.

Yes, she sure is.
(chuckles)

You know, you taught me
everything that I know.

And I'm paying it forward.

You know, taking a little bit
of you overseas with me,

passing all the lessons
that you taught me to my kids.

I mean,
I'm doing my part over there,

and you need to do
your part here.

-What are you talking about?
-I heard you closed Evangelista.

But you're a mother.

(voice breaking):
Without you,

where would I be?

There are so many more Damons

in the world that need saving.

Your work isn't done yet.

Mm-hmm.

-How long I got you here for?
-(chuckles)

Long enough

to be your date
at the Mother's Day ball.

-Mm.
-Mm-hmm.

Well, let's get
the hell up out of here.

Yes, please.

Come on, sneakers.

Oh. Oh, here they are.

I want my sneakers.

I love you.

I love you, too.

PRAY TELL:
Happy Mother's Day,

-bitches!
-(cheering)

Now, in honor of the matriarchs

in our lives,

it's time for the best
and the brightest

to show up and show out!

It is time

for a house versus house
showdown

featuring Ferocity
versus Pendavis

versus Wintour.

The category is...

Runway!

(cheering)

Oh!

Come on, now!

Mm-mm. Y'all know
I'm strictly dickly.

If I had to define
my sexual orientation,

it would come in the form

of a leggy beauty
in a ball gown.

* Mighty real... *

Yes, I see you, Jazmine.

Looking gorgeous and fabulous.

All right. Ooh!

Ooh! Miss Kiki's baby "B,"

the crown jewel

of the Pendavis family.

The baby with all her legs
all the way out.

She ain't no baby no more,
goddamn it, I know that.

Oh! Oh!

(singsongy):
Aphrodite!

The living embodiment
of her namesake.

Serving us love,
beauty and passion,

all wrapped up in gold lamé.

Judges, your scores
for Aphrodite.

Ten, nine, nine, ten, nine.

For Baby B,
nine, ten, eight, nine, ten.

Work it out.
And your scores for Jazmine.

Ten, ten, nine, ten, ten.
Grand prize.

Jazmine Wintour.

Come on up here
and get this trophy, baby.

Come on up here.
Thank you, thank you very much.

All right, now.

The category is... Realness.

All right,
here we got Lulu Ferocity,

mother of The House of Ferocity.

Roses are red, baby.

Oh, come on, Kiki Pendavis.

Come on, now.
Kiki has stepped on out.

She's giving us sequin realness.

Come on up here.

* I feel real, I feel real... *

And emerging from the shadows,
Miss Elektra Wintour.

Come on, come on, girl. Come on.

-(cheering, applause)
-Yeah.

Each and every one
of these women is stunning.

We all know that.

But will they pass
our panel's arduous inspection?

How supple is her skin?

Is she taking her biotin,
my darlings?

What's the wattage
of that smile?

Is it Colgate-worthy?

All y'all know
what I'm talking about.

Judges, your scores
for Miss Kiki Pendavis.

Eight, eight,
eight, eight, eight.

Judges, your scores
for Lulu Ferocity.

Nine, nine, nine, nine, nine.

Hold up!
You old bitter bitches know

that my mother Lulu
is the realest of them all.

Uh-uh! They fucking bricks!

Okay. Thank you.

Um, and for Elektra Wintour.

Ten, ten, ten, ten, ten.

Tens across the board.

Grand prize, Elektra Wintour.

We see you. We see you, Wintour.

Wintour hath come.

Y'all done snatched
two of the three

house versus house trophies.

Let's see if it's gonna be
a clean sweep.

I'm not certain, but we gonna
find out right now,

because it's time for Vogue!

(cheering, applause)

Uh, uh, yeah!

Without a shadow
of a motherfucking doubt,

Elektra's chocolate drop
brings it every time.

Why are you gabbing?

Why are you gabbing?
This bitch brings it every time.

But don't discount
Miss Florida Ferocity, honey.

She's giving me all
of the things that I need.

Bitch, stop playing with me.
Stop playing with me now!

I can't stand y'all.
Oh, she's lolling,

lolling, my goodness,
lolli-lolling her head.

Oh! Whip it, whip it, whip it,
whip it, whip it! (whoops)

Child, y'all gonna
break my ass tonight.

Oh, shit.
And here comes Demetrius,

serving up angles
with precision.

Skill, darling.

Y'all better learn it. Oh, oh!

Ah, schwing!

(grunting rhythmically)
Shablam!

Yes, keep going.
I'm just gonna make y'all

keep going tonight. Keep going.

(laughs)
All right, stop.

(laughs)

Baby, what's it gonna be?

Judges, y'all got
your work cut out for you.

Let me see you deliberate.

Just one moment,
the judges are deliberating.

(crowd chanting)

Okay. All right.
All right. All right!

We have a winner.

The grand prize goes to...

-Miss Florida Ferocity.
-(cheering, applause)

Come on, girl. Congratulations.

Yes, baby.

This is for my mother, Candy.

Honey, we miss Miss Candy, too.
Mwah. Mwah. Mwah.

-* What are we gonna
do with it? *
-(chanting)

All right, we about to do
what we came here to do,

which is crown
Mother of the Year!

(cheering, applause)

Come on, let us welcome
our legendary mothers.

Come on, mothers.
You're looking gorgeous.

You're looking beautiful,
as always.

You know, this year was arguably
our hardest, so I have to say,

mothers, you should
all be very, very proud.

To be a mother worthy
of the title Mother of the Year

is to encourage your children
to live their best life,

to soldier on through
the good and the bad with grace,

courage and poise.

So, the nominees
for Mother of the Year are:

from The House of Pendavis,
Kiki Pendavis.

A vision in lilac,
looking at you. Look at you.

From The House of Ferocity,
Lulu Ferocity.

Come on, baby.
Looking good tonight.

Keeping that roses theme going.
Yes, honey.

And from The House of Wintour,
Elektra Wintour.

Come on, bitch.

* Outstanding... *

Come on, mothers.
Okay, so listen.

This award always comes with
a little bit of controversy.

'Cause no matter who wins it,
somebody's always like,

"Well, how did she win that?

-(laughter)
-"My mama should've won that.

Nyah, nyah, g--"
We ain't doing that tonight.

'Cause I'm gonna let y'all know,

that this year,
the votes were unanimous.

This glamazon built her house
out of thin air

and stormed this stage

like an impeccable
couture collection,

leaving us awed,
and our mouths agape

any time one of her children
hit the floor.

The 1991
Mother of the Year award

goes to...

Miss Elektra Wintour!

(cheering, applause)

There you have it.

* You're so outstanding, yeah *

* Girl, you knock me out... *

(Pray Tell
grunting rhythmically)

(whoops)

CROWD (chanting):
Wintour!

Wintour! Wintour!

* It makes me want to shout... *

Wintour! Wintour!

*

I miss walking these balls.

Girl, everybody would be okay if
you decide to sit this one out.

I am not sitting this one out
tonight. Sorry, Damon.

How the hell you gonna walk
a ball if you can't even get out

of this chair without losing
your breath, huh?

I got a plan. Watch me.

(strains)

-Gir... Easy.
-Okay, then, you got to help.

-Don't overdo it. Relax.
-Ooh.

-Okay?
-Yeah, um, step on it, please.

-All right. Here we go.
-(whooping, laughter)

LEMAR:
The models always look good
when they be smoking.

ANGEL:
But that's why the models
looking real old real young.

CUBBY:
It's messing with their skin.

-LEMAR: Look it, Nancy.
-Oh...

Oh, my God. Did you get these?
They're so beautiful.

(chuckles) Two glasses of
your finest champagne, please.

Bitch, where do you think
this is, the Plaza Hotel?

-(chuckles)
-Two of anything with bubbles.
Damn.

-We celebrating.
-What we celebrating?

Esteban Martinez Management
just booked

its first job for a client.

-You're shitting me.
-Yeah, girl.

-Who?
-You.

-What?
-Yeah.

I asked Miss Ford to send me
a list of all the projects

she thought the agency
was too good for.

Angel, there's pages and pages
of, like, infomercials

and car shows
and foreign companies.

All that kind of stuff.

-Oh, my God.
-Mm-hmm.

-So, what is it, babe?
-Well...

-Let's-let's go over there.
-Damn.

-Nosy asses.
-Oh, my God.

-Wait, so which one is it?
-It's Blachen Cola.

-It's a new soda out in Berlin.
-What?

Yeah, they was, they was looking
for a girl with color

and personality to be
in a German commercial.

I sent them your photos
and they flipped out, baby girl.

-What?
-Angel, we're going to Berlin
tomorrow, first class.

-Tomorrow? Oh, my God.
-Tomorrow. On one of them 747s

with the, um,
with the stairways,

-with the piano and bar
and shit.
-Wait.

-Oh, my goodness.
-Yeah.

Tomorrow.

* I wasn't trying to lead you on
like a friend... *

But babe...

* I didn't mean
to turn you on... *

But what if when we get there,
they find out?

-Did you tell them everything?
-They already know.

-What?
-Yeah. Fidelity, remember?

I tell the truth
and let the chips fall.

They kind of liked it,
thought it made you edgy.

I don't got to hide no more?

-Mm-mm.
-Oh, my God.

I thought it was the end.
I almost gave up.

Babe, I lost all faith.

That'll happen when you get hit
so many times like that.

It can knock a person down.

You know the first thing
I noticed about you?

Your feet don't really touch
the ground when they walk.

You be floating up,
high above, baby girl.

(voice breaking):
You know you're my angel, right?

You always been.

And when I'm with you,

I get to be up there
for a little while. (chuckles)

I'm always gonna
stay close to the ground,

waiting to catch you,
just in case

life knocks you down again,
you know that?

-I love you.
-I love you, too.

-I love you, too.
-Mm.

I learned very early on not
to show nobody who I really am.

-Hmm.
-Because nobody...

nobody would see me and love me.

But then I met you.

Papi, your heart is so pure,

and your belief in me
never shakes. (sniffles)

You-you taught me
how to feel safe.

You know, in the world,
where tomorrow's not guaranteed

-for us girls,
safety is everything.
-Mm.

You've shown me
how to feel love.

I don't ever want to be
without that feeling.

Like I'm gonna stop.

I don't ever want to be
without you.

Will you...

Fuck yeah. Mm.
(sniffles)

-I'm not finished yet.
-I don't care.

-I want to say it, too.
-(chuckles)

-On three?
-On three.

BOTH:
One, two, three.

Will you marry me?

-Duh.
-Yes.

(cheering, applause)

Oh, my God, we're gonna go
to our first wedding!

(indistinct chatter)

Hey, superstar.

-Bitch, don't act brand-new.
-(both chuckle)

Oh...

Ah, I hear you out there
hustling overseas.

Teaching classes every town
you stop in.

Mm, not every town, but just,
um, Paris and Amsterdam.

I mean, London's been calling,
as well.

Uh, just Paris,
Amsterdam and London?

Come on, man, that's incredible.

I guess I'm not doing that bad,
but enough about me.

What about you?
I heard you're still dancing.

I, um, I just booked
the new Paula Abdul tour.

-I haven't heard the music yet,
but it should be pretty dope.
-Paula?

-Yeah. (chuckles)
-Wow! That's incredible.

Look at us.

Uh, how you doing?

You know...

...health-wise?

I'm negative.

I tested back in Paris.

Thank God.
(exhales)

I've been so worried,

but I didn't have a number
to call you at.

I'm-I'm so sorry, Damon.

You are forgiven.

And to be completely honest,
it woke me up,

made me more responsible,
or as Blanca would say,

-more adult, so...
-Hmm.

we're good.

I feel that.

You know, being with Pray has
helped me to grow up a lot, too.

Mm-hmm.

Being with that old queen,
you'll end up turning into one.

-(both laugh)
-Hey.

You know, he's got me
wearing eye cream now.

-(laughs)
-Bitch, no.

But for real, I'm-I'm just happy
to know you're doing okay.

-Shit, better than okay.
-(both laugh)

PRAY TELL:
Last call for submissions
for Candy's Sweet Refrain!

Oh, I'm so sorry,
but I got to go, Ricky. Okay?

It's good seeing you.

-Good to see you, too.
-Really.

-(sighs)
-PRAY TELL: All right.

All right, so tonight
marks the first time

that we are offering a cash
prize for Candy's Sweet Refrain.

I believe that this
will very soon be a...

a ballroom tradition.

Okay, um...
it has come to my attention

that we have a very special
performer in our midst.

She hasn't been feeling
very well lately,

so we're gonna move her
to the front of the line.

*

(chuckles softly)

So, back from a brief
leave of absence,

please give it up
for our very first contestant...

("The Star Spangled Banner"
by Whitney Houston playing)

-* O say can you see *
-(applause, cheering)

* By the dawn's early light *

* What so proudly we hailed *

* At the twilight's
last gleaming *

* Whose broad stripes
and bright stars *

* Through the perilous fight *

* O'er the ramparts we watched *

* Were so gallantly streaming? *

* And the rockets' red glare *

(loud cheering)

* The bombs bursting in air *

* Gave proof
through the night *

* That our flag
was still there *

* O say does that *

* Star-spangled banner *

* Yet wave *

* O'er the land *

* Of the free *

* And the home *

* Of the *

* Brave? *

(holding final note)

*

(song ends)

(loud cheering)

PRAY TELL:
I'm calling it.

I'm calling it right now.

I'm calling it. Grand prize--
Blanca Evangelista.

The rest of you hos can go home
and come on back next week.

God bless you,
and God bless America.

(indistinct chatter)

(microphone feedback)

For tonight's
closing festivities,

we've set a challenge for
the beloved men of our scene.

One that requires them
to find out what it's like,

just for one night,
to walk in our heels.

-(applause, cheering)
-For a category so special,

we have a panel of judges
who intimately understand

what it feels like
to be judged day in and day out.

This panel is made up
of our legendary women.

Come judge for me.

Angel Evangelista.

(applause, cheering)

Come judge for me.
Come judge for me.

Yeah, come judge for me.
Come judge for me.

Lulu Ferocity,
come judge for me.

Come judge for me.

Uh-huh, come judge for me.

* Sinia-ia-ia-ia Ebony. *

Come judge for me.
Uh-huh, come judge for me.

Yeah, come judge for me.

Uh-huh, come judge for me.

The legendary... Kiki Pendavis!

Come judge for me.
Oh, yes, come judge for me.

Uh-huh, come judge for me.

And our final judge
for the evening is the woman

who I believe is the rightful
winner of Mother of the Year.

In the midst
of starting her own business,

she battled a demon silently,

struggling to stay alive
to be here

for her children, for us all.

This woman pushed her daughter
to great heights in fashion.

She inspired her son
to become a businessman.

She supported her baby boy,

who is now a world-renowned
dancer and choreographer.

(applause, cheering)

I don't know a better person.

I am proud
to have her in my life,

and to call her my daughter.

Our final judge is my heroine,

my heart,

Blanca Evangelista!

(applause, cheering)

Come judge for me.
Come judge for me.

Yes, come judge for me,
daughter.

We love you, Blanca!

Okay.

Enough with the emotions.

It's time
to judge some bitches.

("I'm Every Woman"
by Whitney Houston playing)

Don't get it twisted.

These men are not trying
to be women.

These linebackers are tapping
into their inner femininity,

and letting that inner queen
come out to play.

The category is:

Butch Queen Up in Drags
First Time at a Ball.

-(applause, cheering)
-Yes, bitch!

Yes! Look who it is.

Ricky Wintour, serving us
fierce pop diva Janet Jackson.

Ah, he's in control.

The pleasure
and the principle. Uh-huh.

What have you done
for him lately?

Now, watch him get nasty.

(cheering continues)

Unlike Pray Tell,
I will not play favorites.

But I will say that beauty
does indeed run in my family.

Judges, your scores.

Eight, nine, ten, nine, nine.

Well done!

Ah.

And look who we have here!

The Dreams have decided to grace
us with their stunning presence.

Come through, Castle.

A crab in heels
would have better poise.

But she's going places,
and she's on a mission.

Full of confidence.
Your scores.

Eight, seven, eight, seven, six.

All right, all right.

Is she the Loretta
of the group?

I can't tell because she keeps
looking at the damn floor.

She's walking
like the old deaconess.

Pass up the offering, baby.
Pass it up. Pass it up.

* I can sense your needs... *

Oh, my God.

She seems to have found
what she's looking for.

Her confidence!

Judges.

Six, eight, eight, six, six.

-(laughs)
-Ooh righty!

If there's any question who's
the Effie White of the group,

she sure is blind.

Oh, Jackie O.

The dragon has returned.

I know you have two faces,
but three chins is remarkable.

Chins up, old gal.

She is full-figured,
fierce and ready to fight.

Uh-huh,
give Jack your scores, ladies.

Nine, eight, ten, nine, nine.

(applause, cheering)

All right. Whoo-wee!

Uh-huh. Ms. Cubby Wintour is
serving us realness, darling.

Realness.

The prettiest, fairest
and most stunning of them all.

I didn't know grilled tilapia
was on the menu tonight.

Come on, vanilla wafer.

Mother might have
to start mourning you soon.

Mmm. Okay, feast your eyes.

Judges. Nine, ten,
ten, nine, ten.

Looks like Vanity decided to
join us for a solo performance.

(applause, cheering)

A once-in-a-lifetime engagement.

Ah, my sassy daughter.

Pump for Mother, darling.

Yeah. Looks like
she was born in those boots.

Yes. Brava, Lemar Wintour!

Making Mother proud!

I don't know
if we need to see scores,

but, judges,
give me what you got.

Ten, ten, ten, ten, ten.

Across the board.

And here we have
the one and only Pray Tell.

Oh, she's shy now--
Ms. Timid Tell.

(forced laughter)

There's a woman in there.

Let her out. Let her out.
Show it, girl.

-* I'm every woman... *
-Feel it!

If you girls squint hard enough,

you'll feel the presence
of Diana Ross,

The Boss, Ms. Mahogany.

Yes, bitch!

That's my man!

* I'm every woman *

* I'm every
woman *

* I'm every woman... *

It takes guts to do
what these men are doing.

Stepping out
of their comfort zone,

and into the shoes of another.

We should all do this more.

If we did,
we would make a better world.

-(applause, cheering)
-Judges, your scores for Pray.

Ten, ten, ten, ten, nine.

Come on, Kiki!
You see these?

Payback's a bitch, Pray,
isn't it?

PRAY TELL:
That's all right.

I know my pump is high enough

to be in the competition.

Getting heel revenge, bitch.

PRAY TELL:
It is getting heel revenge.

ELEKTRA:
Okay.

Grand prize goes to my baby,
Lemar Wintour!

(applause, cheering)

* I'm every woman *

* I'm every
woman *

* I'm every woman *

* I'm every
woman *

* I'm every woman *

* I'm every woman... *

BLANCA:
Ooh, fiancé.

Ooh, I like the way that sounds.

So, where are my two fiancés
going to celebrate?

IHOP.

Then I'm taking this one
straight home,

so that we could pack
for the trip tomorrow.

I'm so proud of y'all.

You know how good it feels
to know

your children have each other
till death do them part?

LIL PAPI:
Hey, don't do it, Ma.

I don't want to start crying.

Ah, you're such a drama queen.

I got feelings.

ANGEL:
So, you coming with us

-to get pancakes?
-Nah. Your mother is worn out,

and Pray Tell is in there,
washing his face

and putting on
some sensible shoes to wear.

And then he's taking me home.

Well, madame, we'll be having
a Tooty Fruity Fresh 'N Fruity

-in your honor.
-(laughs)

Oh.

-Love you.
-I love you, too.

-I love you.
-I love you, too.

Y'all get home safe.

-We will.
-Okay.

Pray, hurry up!

-Tell him I said bye.
-I will, and hey,

make sure y'all don't forget to
send me a postcard from Germany!

Yup.

Hey.

Come over here.

What are y'all names?

I'm Quincy, and this is Chris,
but she goes by Chilly.

-Well, does she have a voice?
-Yeah.

Then use it. You want
to get ahead in this world,

you're gonna have to learn
to speak up for yourself.

How old are you two?

14.

Um, 14.

We just got here a month ago.

I'm from Denver.

CHILLY:
We both got kicked out
of our houses.

We met out on the piers.

The piers?

Is that where y'all sleeping?

What about food?

Y'all stealing?

Come on, talk to me.
There's no shame in surviving.

Sometimes.

Or dumpster-dive
or find ways to get money.

You like this?

You want one of your own?

Yeah.

You sang real good tonight.

I mean, I know
it wasn't really you singing.

Okay, well, listen, the only way

to win a trophy is
if you work really hard.

Now, I got some tricks
up my sleeve.

I can teach you if you want.

Y'all hungry?

Yeah.

Good, 'cause I know
a good place we can eat.

Oh.

Who do we have here?

-Well, this is Quincy.
-Hi.

-Nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you, too.

-And I'm Chilly.
-Hi. I'm Pray Tell.

Nice to meet you, too.

-Y'all coming with us?
-Yeah.

Let's go home.

PRAY TELL:
You hungry?

Mm-hmm.

Well, let's get you
something to eat.

-Yeah.
-What you want to eat?

QUINCY:
I don't know. Anything.

PRAY TELL:
What you got a taste for?

CHILLY:
Anything.

PRAY TELL:
You got to be specific.

-QUINCY: A burger.
-PRAY TELL: A burger?

-QUINCY: Some fries.
-A burger and some fries.

-Yeah.
-Well, we got to get you
some vegetables, too.

-BLANCA: Right.
-You can't just have the...

you know, fattening stuff.

You have to have the stuff
that's good for you, too.

-QUINCY: Nobody having
no vegetables.
-(Pray Tell laughs)

BLANCA:
Oh, you got
to eat your vegetables.

(continues indistinctly)

Captioned by
Media Access Group at WGBH

This is business.
Let's make some money.

I will bring you all down,
one... by... one.

FRANKLIN: Playin'
a different game now.

-We have to talk, Angel.
-There's nothing to talk about.

-(gunshot)
-What we did was personal.

We broke the rules.

-(rock music) * Yeah *
-(gunfire)

(sirens wail)

You can't make people
like you,

but if people
don't respect you,

you can make 'em fear you.

(chattering)

(breathing heavily)

(screaming)

-(recorder playing theme song)
-(babbling)

Pink eye!

(grunting)

(babbling)

Pink eye!

FRANK: Don't judge me!
This is art!

(recorder hits sour note)