Pose (2018–…): Season 2, Episode 2 - Worth It - full transcript

(cheering, applause)

PRAY TELL: Yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yes.

Pay attention!

Okay. Okay, goddamn it.

Fashionable Femme Queens, honey.

This is the category
of the hour.

These fanciful fashionistas
are showing you

exactly what they are worth.

Maybe you might be moved
to step your look

all the way up.

Oh! Oh, shoot!



Oh, come on, Miss Lulu Ferocity.

What you got yourself
cooking up on tonight?

I can tell something's going on.

She said "Oh, oh,"
she said, "hold on a minute."

She said "Hold on a minute,
I got a thing to do."

What are you doing?
What are you serving us?

Oh! Oh!

- Oh!
- (cheering)

Yes, mama!

Yes! Just a vision in lavender.

Realness.

Uh-huh.

Come on, now. Oh.

Spin-da, Spin-da, Spin-da-rella.



Spinning that into butter.

You know what? She don't need
no scores tonight.

Just give that bitch her trophy,

and go on and collect that skirt
for my closet.

That's my sister!

- Ow!
- Look at Miss Candy.

She all happy.
Good for you, girl.

Ferocity got themselves
a trophy.

That's a good thing.

Now, this is the level
I'm-a need y'all to bring

to the inaugural Eros Ball.

Eros is the god of love.

So house mothers and fathers,
I need you to tell your spawns

to spread L-O-V-E

in the form
of some sickening looks.

Y'all like that, right?

And Miss Elektra, bravo.

You certainly know
how to upgrade a house.

- Ha, ha.
- Uh, quit it, bitch.

You only been here a few weeks.

A praise for one
is a praise for all.

Even that wardrobe? You know,

that fur collection has expanded
since our Abundance days.

CANDY:
Where the coin coming from?

Indochine don't pay that much

for you to walk your ass
to a table.

Speaking of work,
I'm covering the late shift.

Girl, it's midnight.

Doesn't Indochine close
at 11:00?

How would you know?

We'd never let
the likes of you in.

Love you, too, bitch.

[♪♪]

- Congratulations, girl.
- Save your well wishes

for someone in need
of validation, hag.

[♪♪]

(indistinct chatter)

[♪♪]

♪ Shiny, shiny ♪

♪ Shiny boots of leather ♪

♪ Whiplash girl-child
in the dark ♪

(whips cracking, grunting)

♪ Comes in bells ♪

♪ Your servant,
don't forsake him ♪

♪ Strike, dear mistress ♪

♪ And cure his heart ♪

PAUL:
Mistress Elektra, is that you?

Who the fuck do you
think it is, Paul?

Of course it's me.

Ow! Ah!

I'm sorry, Mistress.
I'm an idiot.

I'm a... I'm a worthless piece
of shit.

(pants)

Yes, you are.

And you appear to have helped
yourself to my wardrobe.

Uh, the panties are mine.

I just couldn't resist
trying on your heels.

(groans)

You like giving your power
to women,

- don't you?
- Uh-huh.

You disgust me!

I disgust myself, Mistress.

(moaning)

I bet you wouldn't last a day
in my pumps.

The adversities I've faced
would cripple you.

- Get up!
- (grunts)

You can't even stand,
you pathetic creature.

Stay right there.

What is that?

Amyl nitrate.

You wanna try?

I do not do drugs,
nor do I approve of them.

No, no, no, this-this and
a little coke... (sniffs)

it'll keep me going all night.

You charge by the hour,
don't you?

Fine.

Holy shit!

I can't believe I finally found

a career that truly fits me.

Four days a week
and I'm already making more

than I've made
in my entire life.

So does that mean
you're finally gonna ditch

that job at Indochine?

I don't see why I can't do both.

Working here brings in
the money,

and working there keeps my name
on the lips

of the rich and famous.

Business is booming since AIDS.

ZEDLEY: She's right.
Hand jobs replaced blow jobs.

No one could pay their bills.

Sometimes I feel bad
for these guys.

Too scared to feel pleasure,
so they turn to pain.

I never feel bad for a man.

All I know is for the first time
in a long time,

I feel great.

Keep that attitude.

- It'll make you rich.
- (Elektra laughs)

Amen.
(imitates whip cracking)

(door opens)

(footfalls approach)

PRAY TELL:
The category is...

Live...

Work...

Pose!

[♪♪] *POSE*
Season 02 Episode 02

Episode Title :
"Worth It"

Sync & Corrections done by srjanapala

(chuckles)

What?

Angel, don't try me.
This is my primo look.

Exactly.

- Come sit over here.
- (scoffs)

You tryna get into
the beauty industry.

- And?
- Uh-huh.

Ain't no way you getting anybody

to give you a storefront
if they clock you.

You know that.

You're selling a fantasy
right now.

Well, not everyone
is lucky enough to be born

with perfect bone structure,
honey.

I appreciate my privileges,
but that don't mean

you gotta make things harder
for yourself, ma.

- Look at this, girl. Come on.
- What?

Not to be rude,
but you got shit style.

It's easy for you to judge.

How many ladies' dressing rooms
you been kicked out of?

I grab what I can off the rack
and get out of Dodge

before someone calls security.

I don't know if anything
fits right or looks good

until I get home,
and by then it's too late.

- I never thought about that.
- Yeah, well,

I gave up being fashionable
a long time ago because of it.

A woman don't need
to walk in a room

and tell everybody that she
a woman. Less is more.

I'm gonna show you how
to do your makeup.

We are throwing...

- these rags...
- What?

- Away.
- This is my good shirt.

And we are getting you...
proper high fashion.

(chuckles)

And you're gonna get yourself
that storefront.

Mama's gotta pay the rent, girl.

You are gonna make
an excellent mother.

Oh, I know.

Clark, keep the car running;
this won't take long.

- Hi, Ms. Norman?
- I'm Blanca Rodriguez.

I'm...
I'm the prospective tenant.

- Are you a PR? Puerto Rican?
- No, I'm American.

I'm sure, but where is your
family from? Your lineage?

I'm Dominican.

Good.

Let's go in.

I don't normally rent to anyone
darker than my Aunt Lilly

after a week's vacation
in Palm Beach,

but I've had good luck
with Dominicans.

Hard workers for the most part.

Well, that's me in a nutshell,
Mrs. Norman.

I plan on making this into
my own nail salon. I... Oh.

I already got a-a-a loyal
customer base from my last job.

May I say whoever does your
nails does an excellent job.

It's Ms. Norman.

I'm recently divorced.

He was half a fag.

I walked in on him bent over
a Vitra Grand chair

getting plowed by our doorman.

It must have been very painful.

Life is pain for women.

That's why we're tougher,
and better

at being mean when the time
comes, and I was mean.

Whatever that doorman did to him
was nothing compared

to the reaming I gave old
Randy Norman in divorce court.

This building is one of many
that ended up in my pocket.

It's very special.

I got plans to maybe even
put a tanning bed

in back once I save up enough.

It's not special,
it's a shithole.

But I see the future:
gentrification.

Do you know what that means?

I'm up on most of the newest
beauty techniques,

but I'm not sure
I've ever heard of that one.

- New York is changing, Brenda.
- Blanca.

By the year 2000, there won't be
a neighborhood in this city

where a normal person feels
uncomfortable walking.

When you make a neighborhood
safe and desirable,

good people move in
and make it too expensive

for the troublemakers
so they move out.

Property values go up.

Everybody wins.

Well, I like winning.

(Blanca clears throat)

First and last month's rent

- plus a security deposit.
- Okay.

(clears throat)
Do you take cash?

Preferred, actually.

For tax purposes.

Where did you come into
that much cash?

You're not into crack, are you?

No. I told you,
I have a loyal customer base.

I've been saving for this for
over a year. It's my dream.

Wait, I...

Don't we need a contract
or something?

Best if we just do it
all over a handshake.

You will save plenty in taxes
and insurance, trust me.

I'll come by at the end
of the month for my envelope.

I prefer larger bills.

Wait, so you mean this is mine?

No. It's mine.

Never forget that.

No, I'm sorry. I mean,

is the storefront mine
to use as my salon?

Yes. Are you dumb?

You didn't strike me as dumb.

No. No, I'm not dumb.
I just...

This was a dream of mine
that I didn't dare

speak out loud
and now I'm too scared

- to believe that it's even real.
- It's real.

- Don't blow it.
- Oh.

(exclaims, laughs)

(chuckles)

What the hell? Damon?

DAMON:
Over here.

(laughs)

Mm.

What's with all the hearts?

Valentine's Day
was two months ago.

I'm testing out these
decorations for the Eros Ball.

What? Hmm?

I need an excuse
to make love to you?

No. Mm-mm.

And what's with the,
the curtains?

'Cause I knew we needed...
privacy.

I'll be quick then.

(chuckles)

No, I mean, you know...

Oh, I am so sorry, boys.

Hey, Ricky, welcome back.

- (chuckles) Hi.
- Can you knock?

BLANCA: Can y'all go
put on some clothes?

I need ya to come into
the living room.

It's a family meeting. Now.

DAMON:
Can it wait?

No. Derek died.

(exhales)

[♪♪]

Oh, my.

Are you trying to wake
the dead from their slumber?

Angel has been helping me
with my new look.

- Stop it.
- (chuckles softly)

What you think?

If I liked it any more,
I'd be straight.

- Ooh.
- (laughter)

Then the dead would awaken.

(gasps)

NURSE JUDY: You haven't come in
for your follow-up visit.

Are you doing okay
on those meds?

Blanca?

Why aren't you taking
those meds?

I'm afraid of the side effects.

I told you... we're gonna
monitor you very closely.

I don't know what it is, okay?

I've been studying
that bottle every day.

I've been looking
at the pills in my hands,

- and I...
- (sighs)

But I just can't take them.

Is part of the reason
you're not taking them

'cause you feel
like you don't deserve them?

No.

Part of me feels like maybe
I deserve this disease, you know?

I sound crazy, right?

No. When you're surrounded
by all this death,

of course you might feel guilty
about surviving.

But you can't give in.

All right, can you two stop
keeping secrets?

Now, Angel told me
that you went uptown

to meet
that real estate man-eater.

How did it go?

Bitch is in the Post every day.

Does she really have fangs
like everybody says?

(chuckling) - No,
but she got a set of claws on her.

That woman is scary as all hell.

But...

she gave me the space anyway.

- Oh, my God.
- We'll be open for business

- by the end of the month.
- (Lil Papi chuckles)

Listen, I don't know
if it's because I passed,

but I didn't dare question it.

I just accepted terms
on a handshake.

You shook on it?

What?

- Now what'd I do wrong?
- Nothing.

Congratulations, sweetheart.

I'm proud of you.

Thank you, Pray.

Now,

where the hell are my boys?

ANGEL:
Not worth it, Mother.

- (door opens)
- RICKY: "Oh, my God!

You guys are so cute!"

"Oh, my God.
Like, how do you move -(laughing)

your hands so fast?
You got to teach me."

(laughing)

How fucking dare y'all
not show up to Derek's funeral.

Y'all are mad disrespectful.

And where were y'all?!

You know what, don't tell me,

'cause I can smell the liquor
from your breaths over here.

We were downtown socializing
like you wanted us to?

So we can get discovered.

Bullshit. Y'all just didn't want
to deal with the reality

of seeing one of y'all peers
lying in a coffin.

I mean, you told us to take
advantage of this moment,

and that's what we did.

Yeah, we went down
to the Palladium for Sunday tea.

And, like usual,
nobody paid us any mind.

But then I started Voguing.

You know, nothing special.
Just how I do at any ball.

RICKY: And then, like,
this crowd formed around us.

And the rest of us joined in,
improvising. And, suddenly,

it was like we were celebrities
or something.

The whole club went nuts.

CUBBY:
Mother, you were right.

Times are changing.

LEMAR:
Miss Thing, those blanquitos

were living.

We drank for free all night.

Yo, they recognized
what we were doing,

and it was like they saw us
for the first time.

- We ain't invisible
- (grunting)

to white folks no more.

- Uh!
- (laughing)

Ballroom is about to be more
popular than Studio 54 ever was.

Ballroom is not a trend,

nor is it
about some flashy dance moves.

Ballroom is about family,

something y'all
didn't show up for today.

You know what?

I'm tired of looking
at y'all faces.

Go to y'all room.

And drink some water.

(indistinct chatter)

(sighs)

- ♪ Talk to me, baby ♪
- CANDY: You and Florida can dance.

Elektra and Aphrodite
serve realness.

Veronica... Uh,

Veronica...

She's a seamstress, girl.

That takes skills.

You know what, you right.

I can't be measuring
everybody's worth based

off what they can do
under the ballroom spotlight.

A behind-the-scenes bitch
is necessary to every house.

And, um, what exactly
are your strengths?

Fuck is that supposed to mean?

♪ 'Cause you know you're... ♪

Enough with all that stomping.

I'm sure you girls
have worked up an appetite.

- (music stops)
- What do we have here?

This is a menu fit
for the runway.

This absolutely will not do.

There better be
some Chinese takeout on the way.

We don't do MSG.
We're dieting.

Then why is she serving
milkshakes?

LULU:
It's SlimFast.

You've seen the commercials.

"Give us a week
and we'll take off the weight."

CANDY:
Our house,

our menu, our rules.

It truly is a lovely house.

Thank you, bitch.

Our cuisine should be as equally
impressive, don't you think?

The rent broke
my little piggy bank's back.

I spent what was left
on some Orville Redenbacher,

some SlimFast, and a manicure.

My nails were ravaged
after all these errands.

Any of you hos got
any complaints?

They do look good, Mama.

Look, it's not about what's
on the plate.

Hmm? It's about communion,

conversation,

and the sisterhood.

Here.

It's good for your metabolism.

(exhales)

(clicks tongue)

ELEKTRA:
Well, sisters,

I must bring up the fact

that I'm in need
of more closet space.

That broom closet you gave me

can only store
my hatboxes and gloves.

Where am I supposed to put my
clothes, my coats, my jewelry?

There's only one other closet.

It's in my room,
and I share that with Lulu.

You gonna share
your fine luxuries with us?

Huh. Use the space
under your bed for storage.

That is no way to store luxury.

- Candy, wait, I think...
- Uh-uh. This is

my house.

It's my closet,
and it's allocated.

You are a guest.

You ain't talking to Blanca,
bitch.

Remember that.

You're right.

This is your house.

Glad you recognize that.

You've made me realize
something.

I've gone about this all wrong.

I keep making space for you,
Candy,

for Lulu, for Blanca.

Something in me keeps bringing
me back to those girls I raised.

But why?

Why do I keep lowering myself
by associating

with you tired,
old, raggedy reminders

of my failure as a mother?!

You ain't got no business
calling anybody old.

You ain't nothing
but a over-the-hill,

homeless sex change.

- (gasping)
- ELEKTRA: That's it.

That's where it all started.

I got my operation

and Mr. Ford left me
and I got soft.

I became weak, insecure.

But no more.

What I now realize

is I am the one and only

Elektra.

- (gasping)
- What the fuck?!

Bitch, what is this?!

("Bad Girls"
by Donna Summer playing)

It's called
my new signature move.

I'll send for my things.

ELEKTRA:
Hello, my dear.

Sorry. We're closed, hon.

I'm starting a new house,

and I need a girl like you.

Ain't no white girls
in ballroom.

Consider this
affirmative action.

I am building the fiercest
house ballroom has ever seen.

I dominate runway.

But dance is the future.

♪ Beep beep ♪

And if I want
to snatch trophies,

I need children
who will Vogue the house down.

The legendary and iconic
Madonna has seen to that.

Her song's number ten this week
with a bullet.

You're better than this,
Jazmine.

Only a fool would count out
a beauty,

a talent like you.

Stand by my side,
and I promise

I will unleash
your fullest potential.

- ♪ If the price is right ♪
- ♪ Beep beep. ♪

- (cheering)
- It's story time, children.

Mother Goose
is about to tuck...

you... in

with fairy tales dripped
in romance

- and drama.
- (whooping)

All right, up first,

Evangelista.

("Fly Robin Fly"
by Silver Convention playing)

Romeo, Romeo,

where art thou, Romeo?

(whooping)

My Juliet!

- CANDY: Drink!
- (shouting)

Drink! Drink!

(exclaiming)

♪ Fly, robin, fly ♪

(high-pitched crying)

Romeo!

♪ Fly, robin, fly ♪

(exaggerated crying)

♪ Up, up to the sky ♪

MAN:
You better die, bitch!

(gasping)

(exaggerated choking)

(cheering and applause)

All right.
Well, Lil Papi

is certainly putting that GED
to good use, y'all.

Y'all gonna learn
y'all Shakespeare on tonight!

Give them a hand

for that fabulous,
fabulous interpretation.

Y'all take a bow!

Now, what story
is Ferocity telling?

- (cheering)
- Oh, I think I know

what this one is...

From rags to bitches, y'all.

I think somebody wants
to go to the ball.

(whooping)

FLORIDA:
And who are you?

It's me, your fairy godmother,

here to get you ready
for the ball, Cinderella.

(cheering)

PRAY TELL:
Oh!

Oh...!

Who brought Shabbat shalom?!

She's going to the goddamn ball!

All right,
bibbidi-bibbidi-boo, bitch!

Yes! Oh!

House of Ferocity is not playing
with these Disney classics.

- I s... Oh!
- (gasping)

- What on earth is going on?
- (indistinct chatter)

Who did not pay the light bill?!

(murmuring, whooping)

Elektra, we're in the middle
of a category.

We're not here to walk.

(whooping)

Then why are you pulling stunts,
bitch?

- (gasping, murmuring)
- We're making an entrance.

May we introduce ourselves?

BLANCA: Pray Tell,
they can't be storming balls like this,

interrupting festivities,
just to make a statement.

They not welcome
with Snow White in tow.

- (gasping)
- Shush, mongrel.

- (gasping)
- Enough of your lip, Elektra.

(shouting)

It's hammer time, bitch.

(shrieking, shouting)

You about to get
that fourth face-lift, bitch.

I've come prepared to gut you
like the fish you'll never be!

(gasping)

Security, come out here
and break this shit up.

- Break it up!
- (shouting)

Break it up!

This is a ball, not a brawl!

All I wanted to do
was introduce my house.

Aren't I worthy of that,

considering all the glory
I brought to ballroom?

The council has spoken.

No, bitch.

- (cheering)
- Bye, Elektra.

Get your paws off me, beasts.

(booing, hissing)

We are the House of Wintour,

named after the legendary
editor in chief

of the sacred text
that is Vogue.

(light cheering)

Quake in fear, children.

Wintour is coming.

(whooping, gasping)

- LEMAR: Mother.
- Mother?

Mother.

That house is banjee.

- Take us back.
- BLANCA: What?

(indistinct chatter)

PRAY TELL:
Those two house-hopping bitches.

This shit is above my pay grade.

- I need a break.
- (microphone feedback)

- ♪ You better watch your man ♪
- ♪ You better watch your man ♪

♪ 'Cause, girl, he's doing ♪

You look like you could use
a drink.

No, I'm good.

And I'm Chris.

Have a drink with me.

I'm looking for true love.

(chuckles softly)
Sorry, I'm not available.

Mm. They never are.

(chuckles)
At the start.

You're cuter than I imagined.

Don't tell me...
You've seen me in your dreams.

No. In photos.

I was Ricky's bunkmate on tour.

- Chris, you said?
- Mm.

He never mentioned you.

(chuckles) Course not.

Can't be guilty of a crime
no one knows you committed.

You know what? You're a liar.

I trust Ricky.
I don't have no reason not to.

I am your reason.

I fucked your man,
and everybody knows it.

You know what?
You got a lot to say,

and you need to just squash it,
okay?

- I don't really understand...
- She claims she didn't suspect,

but, uh, that gut
tells a different story.

- What?
- Is it true? Did you sleep with him

- while you were on tour?
- What? Babe, no.

I... Sleep with Chris?
I would never do that to you.

That's not what you were saying
all summer.

- Will you back the fuck up?
- Oh!

Don't be mad at me.
Don't be mad at me.

You're the one in denial.

What'd you think he was doing
every time you called

- and couldn't reach him?
- Hmm?

Playing cards?

Know what, can you shut
your fucking mouth?

Why don't you drop ten pounds?
Hmm?

Move out the fucking way.
Keep talking!

(indistinct shouting)

Is this really
fucking happening again?

Another fight?
I'm shutting this ball down

until you bitches learn
how to act.

Get out of here
and get some common sense.

Get out! Get out!

We got other shit
to worry about right now.

Y'all fighting each other.

Fuck!

BLANCA: Y'all have been going
back and forth about this

for hours.
Why don't y'all just go to bed

- and talk about it tomorrow?
- No, we're not gonna do that!

No, we're gonna talk
about it right now!

Now swear to me.

Swear it's a lie.

Tell all the Evangelistas
that you're not a cheater.

- Go ahead!
- It's not true.

- I would never do that to you.
- Why wouldn't you tell me

that there was another gay guy
dancing with you?

I mean, it's a concert tour.
Aren't all the dancers gay?

Can you please give them
some privacy?

- Why you staying?
- So they don't murder each other.

And then to think you told me

that all the guys you were
dancing with were straight!

So you lied to me now?!

I didn't tell you about Chris
because if I did,

you would just jump
to conclusions.

You always so jealous.

Oh, so now I'm always jealous.

- When have I ever been jealous?!
- RICKY: You right.

DAMON:
What the fuck you laughing at?

- Huh?!
- You right.

You ain't never jealous.

(chuckles): You don't ever jump
to conclusions.

- I'm the crazy one.
- You know what?

I don't even trust
your ass anymore.

And to think I let you talk me
into not wearing a condom!

- Again!
- Excuse me?

I thought we had a conversation
about safety.

No, well, I thought
we were being monogamous.

(exhales)

(door closes)

(dog barks)

ELIZABETH:
What are the dogs' names?

This one is Cash,

and the one on my left
is Credit.

Make sure that makes it
in the story.

I'll do my best.

(growling)

I told your editor

the only way
I'm agreeing to this

is if I have
some editorial control.

I'm not letting you write

- some torpedo piece.
- My angle

was going to be that
powerful women can have it all

- even after a tough divorce.
- Oh.

- Well, I like that.
- (door opens, closes)

Jonas, where have you been?

And why can't you wear a suit?

- You're an executive now.
- (barks)

My portfolio is the largest

of any female real estate owner
in the city,

probably the world.

But I like to keep
the organization streamlined.

Efficiency.

Jonas is
the executive vice president.

- I was out making collections.
- (dog barks)

He personally oversees
the collection of rents.

It gives him a chance
to check in on every property.

A personal touch
that can only happen

in a family business.

This is Umbro.

It's more expensive
than a Ralph Lauren suit.

(dogs growling)

Let's take a break, Elizabeth.

Would you excuse us a moment?

Don't ever flash cash
in front of a reporter again.

Do you want the IRS
on our asses?

And stop using
the word "collections."

You sound like a mafioso.

You know that storefront
you rented out yesterday?

I went to check
with the electrician,

and I ran into the new tenant.

You know it's a guy, right?

The Dominican?

(laughs):
You're out of your mind.

You're too busy
being superior to people

to actually look at them.

I'm telling you,

that's a man.

(growls)

If that's true, he has to go.

JONAS: Excuse me,
what's your name again?

- Uh, Blanca.
- Blanca, yeah. How you doing?

Listen, I hate to be the bearer
of bad news,

but this ain't gonna work out.
You got to go.

- What are you talking about?
- This is your money. Thank you very much,

- but my mother wants you out of here.
- Are you kidding me?

- Your mother?
- I don't want to hear it. You're out.

You know, I'm gonna have...

JONAS:
You have to the end of the day.

End of the day.

BLANCA: Got a landlord
and her ogre spawn.

He said he wasn't renting
to me no more.

- I got clocked.
- That's a damn shame.

You ain't even polished a
fingernail up in that dump yet.

Girl, I'm sorry.
I'm just saying.

I'm just saying

they can't be evicting you
like that. It's illegal.

Since when a poor, brown
transsexual got any rights?

Plus, there ain't no paper trail
to even prove

I was even there.
I paid her cash.

She didn't make me sign nothing.

- (sighs)
- How could I be so stupid?

And you don't even want to know

Damon's drama.
Not only is he accusing Ricky

of sticking his penis
in anything that walks,

but he just admitted to me
that they doing it raw.

- Oh, girl.
- What the hell

do I have to do
to get through to him?

To make him see
that he is way too valuable

- to be taking risks like that?
- You know,

gay black boys
ain't never been trained

to have a dollop of self-belief.
You know that.

And even if he did value himself
enough to use protection,

he ain't thinking about tomorrow

when he's laid up there
with Ricky.

- Well...
- You and I have both been where they are.

How you think we got here?

Wait, that's it.

They need to know that I've been

where they are, that
I understand their struggle.

Shit, if I would've known
my worth at their age,

maybe I would've made
some smarter choices.

Yes.
Listen.

You are their mother.

Set an example.

They need to see you out there
righting them wrongs now, too.

If you're not willing

to go defend yourself
against that landlady,

how do you expect your children
to ever fight for themselves?

BLANCA (whispers):
Oh, God.

You are trespassing.

I paid you first and last.

This is my place
for at least two months.

You deceived me.

I can work with thieves
and murderers,

but I cannot do business with...

a liar.

Norman Properties

reserves the right
to evict tenants

- at any time.
- Wait, I'm sorry.

Was that written
in my rental contract?

The one you told me
we didn't need?

You know,
I talked to those nice people

at New York City Commission
of Human Rights.

They're in charge of making sure
people like you

don't discriminate
against people of color

when renting to us,
and they set me up

with a nice lawyer pro bono.

And she said without a contract,

I've got squatter's rights,
and I should stay put

- until I have my day in court.
- Sweetheart,

I've got an entire law firm
on retainer.

I've got the best Jews
from Harvard and Yale

- ready to squash you like a bug.
- You know,

for the first time in my life,

I'm fighting back
to the bitter end.

I'm not here
to gentrify neighborhoods

so white ladies like you
can feel comfortable

walking down the street.

I'm here for me.

It's not just Jews I have
in my Rolodex.

I've got Italians, Russians.

Ones that can be
very persuasive.

- Are you threatening me?
- Only your kneecaps.

You think I'm scared
of a beating?

I've had more beatings
than you've had breakfast.

Now shoo.

I have a grand opening
in two days.

- You'll hear from my lawyers.
- (gasps)

Good. It's on.

DAMON:
It feels so good

to have Cubby and Lemar

and Elektra out of this house.

It was getting too crowded
in here.

You're not gonna be saying that

when they dancing
for another house

at the next ball
and we on the bottom again.

I've seen plenty of bottoms flip
and become tops.

- It's not that hard, so work it out.
- (all laugh)

All right, all right,
enough playing.

Enough playing around.

I got to talk to y'all
about something serious.

Ricky, Damon,

I was stunned to hear
that y'all two are still having

unprotected sex.
I thought all those funerals

we've been going to would scare
you into being responsible,

but apparently...

I need to take
some more direct action, so...

- This is not happening right now.
- Uh-uh. No.

- No, no, no, no, no, no.
- A cucumber?

- No. No.
- We are going to take

- some proper condom application, so...
- That's so embarrassing.

- All right.
- Now, I recommend pre-lube

when putting it on
so it doesn't break

and during penetration.

During penetration.

LIL PAPI:
Hey, remind me to skip the salad

for dinner tomorrow,
you know what I'm saying?

- (hits table)
- Shut your mouths!

You think you're so special,

this thing is just gonna
skip on over you,

but you're not.

Tell them.

All right,
I'm-a tell y'all the hard truth.

You boys are young, black,
gay, and poor.

This world despises you.

You get this disease, you die,
they feel relieved

that you're getting
what you deserve.

And living in a world like that

can make you feel desperate
for love.

Now, if you want to be healthy
and do it the healthy way,

you can do it like
how our community does

by forming houses.

But it is much faster

if you do it
in an unhealthy way.

And that's what I did back then
when I started in this world

in '83 or so, when none of us
understood this plague.

(sighs)

I thought the only way
to find love was with my body.

So I would go out to a club,
get a little drunk,

find me a man
that would love me for a while.

And even in those moments

when his arms were around me,
I believed he loved me.

We didn't know

each other's names.

I just would convince myself

that it would feel like that
forever.

But it didn't.

So I would find another
and then another.

None of them ever even gave me
their name.

I would completely debase
myself

for these men.

I just wanted love.
I just wanted

to be somebody's precious thing.

What girl doesn't want that?

You know? Anyways,

that happened
a couple of years back,

and I stopped drinking
and doing that,

but by then it was too late.

I had let those guys
inside of me.

Inside my heart, inside my body.

I wanted to please them.

I wanted
to make them feel so good,

so I didn't use any condoms.

And now...

And now I got AIDS.

(exhales)

Listen, I'm sorry.

I-I didn't mean
to hide it from y'all.

I just wanted to protect y'all,

and me telling the truth
is the only way I could do that.

Look at me. I am fine.

Y'all hear me?

You are one brave woman,
you know that?

You looked after me

when no one else would,

and I promise
I'm gonna look after you.

All of us.

Hmm?

We're not gonna let a single
bad thing happen to you.

(crying):
You get one little sniffle,

and you come straight to me.

I'll do whatever it takes

to keep you healthy, huh?

- I'll steal cold medicine for you.
- (chuckles)

I love you, Ma.

BLANCA:
I love you, too. Listen,

I don't want none of y'all
to not love y'all selves.

That was my problem,

my mistake,

and sometimes it still is.

But no more.

No more. Which is why

I'm-a fight this disease,

and in doing so,
I'm-a fight Frederica Norman

and get my salon back.

(Blanca and Lil Papi chuckle)

(woman speaking indistinctly
over P.A.)

Number 27.

- (singsongy): Negative.
- Number 29?

I thought you'd be happy.

(sighs):
Ricky...

Ricky, I love you.

And maybe that's the reason
why I'm willing to turn

or look the other way,
but I-I just need honesty.

I told you,
nothing happened with Chris.

Wait, where is this coming from?

You know, you...

just, you-you're touring
the world, you're in videos,

you got all this attention...
What am I doing?

School. The balls.

That's something.

All right?

I'm lost. I...

(sighs)

I just really don't have a good
feeling about myself right now.

You're my good feeling.

I, uh...

I... I have to go.

I'm sorry.

Um, I'm gonna be late
for a rehearsal.

But I promise

we're gonna finish this
later, okay?

Hey.

(chuckles)

Go to rehearsal.

All right, all right, y'all,
welcome to the Eros Ball.

Welcome to the Eros Ball.

- (cheering)
- Yes! Yes!

Tonight we're
celebrating passion...

and reveling in love...

and sex.

And I'm talking about lust.

You know, that sweet smell

of new passion.

And I'm talking about...

desire.

- (cheering, whistling)
- And however that comes to you,

I need you all to understand
that you must treat yourselves

with dignity,
because everyone in this room

is deserving of love.

Y'all understand me?

- (cheering)
- Everyone in this room

is deserving of love.

All right?

And love should
feel good. Right?

And love should also be safe.

Y'all see what
I'm passing out here tonight?

Take a few of 'em with you.

With y'all bein' nasty.

(Pray Tell chuckles)

Now...

let's get this ball started.

- (cheering)
- The category is...

High Fashion...

in Feathers.

And I want to see

all my ladies stomp this bitch
to the ground.

First up,

House of Evangelista.

- Come on up!
- (cheering)

Oh! All right!

Carrying the Mother
of the Year, darlings.

All right, that chair's
a bit precarious.

Please don't drop her.

That would be
a devastating fall from grace.

Come on, come on,
come on with it.

I ain't mad at you.

I ain't mad at you.
Are you hot?

Do you need to be fanned, baby?

Chocolate-y smooth!

Give me your fuckin' wings!

Come on, give Miss Blanca
Evangelista her scores.

Eight, eight, seven,

- eight, eight.
- (crowd groans)

All right.
You're gonna have to do

a little better than that,
I think.

- But you look good today, girl.
- CANDY: Excuse me.

- PRAY TELL: Huh?
- You got your scores. Move.

Really, Miss Candy?
Did I not... just say

the category is High Fashion

in Feathers?

Are you blind?
These are fucking feathers.

Honey.
Could somebody please

take this bitch back to
kindergarten, so she can learn

the difference
between feathers and foam?

Talking big talk now 'cause
I ain't got my other purse.

(groans)

Ferocity is chopped!

(jeering, shouting)

Girl, bye.
Thank you very much.

Who's next?

All right, House of Wintour
has entered the floor.

(Pray Tell vocalizing)

Oh, I'm living!

All right, y'all bring it in.

Y'all bring it in.

Ah, ah,

y'all bring it in.

To the floor, to the floor.

Y'all bring it in to the floor.

Yes, thank you. Thank you.

Love you.

Oh...

The House of Wintour

is serving us down boots,
babies.

I live... I live
for the production values.

We got clams on a half shell
up in this bitch tonight.

Well, actually,
it looks like a full shell!

Crack that bitch open.

Release the kraken!

The Wintours are out for blood.

- (cheering)
- Oh, sookie-sookie now!

Deep out of the sea...

it's black Aphrodite.

The icon Elektra...

dropped from the heavens, honey.

Sometimes she's a mother,

and other times
she's just a mother...

- (cheering)
- Shut yo' mouth!

The House of Wintour

didn't come to play
with you hos tonight.

They came to slay
you hos tonight.

Good work. Your scores.

Ten, ten,

ten, ten, ten.

Across the board!

- [♪♪]
- (cheering)

Those aren't fuckin' feathers.

I know, baby, but they better
than yours would ever be.

I know that's hard to take.

(cheering, whistling)

And Miss Elektra takes
another trophy.

I don't know
where you put 'em all.

All right, all right!

Yes, yes, yes, Mother Blanca,
listen here, listen here.

Looks like Mother of the Year
is gonna be a bit more elusive

this evening, but I want
to let y'all know something.

There is an award that I know
that you can snatch with ease...

and that's
Businesswoman of the Year!

See, you bitches
don't know nothin' about that!

Our Mother Blanca

is an entrepreneur.

Okay?

You see, and she's
been discriminated against.

But she's been standing up

for her rights.

And not just for herself

but for everybody in this room!

We got to fight for our rights.

We got to fight for each other.

So you may not have taken
the trophy home this evening,

but, Mother Blanca, you are
a shining example of excellence,

and you are always a champion...

to me.

Stand tall, stand proud.

Ah, cha-kah-kah-kah.

Hey, can I talk to you?

♪ Baby love. ♪

What's going on?

You okay?

Yeah. I've, um, been doing

- some thinking about us and...
- Mm-hmm.

What I said to you
when we got tested.

Mm-hmm?

I love you, Ricky.

I do.

Um, but...

somewhere along the way
I've stopped loving myself,

and I need to... try to figure
out how to love him again.

What are you saying?

We need to take a break.

A break?

Nah.

I'm way too young to...

have somebody
already be my everything.

I...

So... you're
breaking up with me?

(chuckles)

You can't be surprised.

I mean, you can deny it,
but I know that you slept with Chris.

- (exhales)
- And-and-and that is okay.

I want you to be able
to pursue that.

Don't-don't do this.

Babe.

Fight for us!

Damon.

Please.

Please.

I don't know what
I'm gonna do without you.

- I-If you...
- Oh, wow.

Want advice,
than you can go to Blanca.

(sighs):
I...

I-I can't help you.

I'm sorry.

(sniffles)

I'm so happy you came to see me.

Ha. For free booze?

- Anytime, honey.
- Mm-hmm.

I know why you invited me here.

And why is that?

For you to tell me to stop
pushing my medicinal agenda.

You don't want Western medicine.

You want to fight it your way.

I get it.

I'm not a pusher.

I'm just an advocate.

But we can still be friends.

- (laughs)
- Can we? You want some wine?

No, I'm good.
I'm just gonna have some water.

Oh.

We're on a health kick now?

Yes.

Hmm.

I think I'm gonna start
taking them.

It's about time, Blanca.

They're gonna save your life.

I'm scared.

To die?

Or to live?

♪ Ooh, ah, ooh ♪

- ♪ Ooh ♪
- (Blanca sighs)

♪ Ah, ah, ah, ooh ♪

♪ Ain't there something
I can give? ♪

Oh, my God,
you're my first customer.

Welcome to Vogue Nails.

Y'all got acrylics?

Uh, yeah. How long you want 'em?

- Long.
- Oh. Okay, well, come on.

I'm gonna take good care of you.

She said, "Long."

What kind of nails do you want?
You want 'em like mine?

♪ The scales are
sometimes unbalanced ♪

This...

- is called the Naomi.
- Oh!

- It's all about the bawdy.
- (laughs)

You gotta...

Them legs
gon' get you far, girl.

Hit, strike and work.

Ooh.

Oh! Hold on now.
You hittin' me with the hips?

Gotta hit you with a pose.

(laughs)

♪ And so unselfishly ♪

♪ And I tell you now ♪

♪ That I made a vow ♪

♪ I'm giving you
the best that I got ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ Yes, I tell you now ♪

♪ That I made a vow ♪

♪ I'm giving you
the best that I got ♪

♪ Honey ♪

♪ Everybody's got opinions ♪

♪ About the way they think
our story's gonna end ♪

I'm Damon Evangelista...

and this is Vogue...

one...

oh...

one.

♪ We love so strong ♪

♪ And so unselfishly ♪

I said, in alphabetical order.

Chanel, Dior, Fendi.

Get it right.

♪ Baby ♪

- Oh, no, thanks. I'm not hungry.
- Mm!

And I need to be
in fighting shape, anyway.

Every day they have more
and more auditions for Voguers.

You're focused.
I like that.

♪ Listen, baby ♪

I'm-a just say it.

It don't feel right
that Ricky's not here.

I respect that
you chose yourself,

but we loved him, too.

Let's see how much
y'all love him

when y'all hear
he a Wintour now.

What? Who told you that?

You know what?
I'm not even worried.

You should be.

Elektra don't play fair.

Well, guess what,
life ain't fair.

Evangelistas have been
the underdogs before,

and that ain't stopped us
from getting what's ours.

We won against Elektra.

I went toe-to-toe with Frederica

and got my own salon open.

And, shit,
I'm fighting against AIDS.

- Yas, Motha.
- Thank you.

So we can do anything
as long as we got each other.

Well, that deserves
a goddamn toast.

- Yeah!
- To family!

- To family!
- To family!

Captioning sponsored by
20th CENTURY FOX

Synced & Corrections done by srjanapala