Queen Sugar (2016–…): Season 4, Episode 6 - By the Spit - full transcript

Nova and Octavia enjoy one another's company as Nova prepares for her press day. Meanwhile, Ralph Angel and Darla grow concerned for Blue, and they agree to bring him to a counselor. ...

[woman]
Previously onQueen Sugar:

My mother taught me
to believe in what's good.

You're good.

-What's wrong, baby?
-That's Nova's doing.

She spit in my face.

I'm never going to forgive her.

If you decide to run
you'll discover the Landrys

are just the tip of the spear.

This isn't allowed.

You made more enemies in a day

than I've made in a lifetime.



My pops is my daddy.

But she says he ain't
your real one.

Is that why I look different
than you?

As long as my heart is beatin',
Blue,

I'm gonna be your daddy.

I chose you.

[Octavia]
Oh!

Beautiful, as usual.

It's not too buttoned up?

It is a serious suit
for a serious woman.

[sighs]

Packed press day tomorrow.

Hopefully my feet
can take it.

Oh, comfort is overrated



when you look as amazing
as you do right now.

Oh, I've connected with some
colleagues here in Atlanta

to help drum up more
highbrows in the press.

And there's a shindig this week
at that new social club.

Lots of notables
should be there.

You stay plugged in.

I can give my publicist a call
to get us on the list.

Oh, but we are already VIP,
my queen.

♪ Dreams never die

♪ Take flight
As the world turns ♪

♪ Dreams never die

♪ Take flight
As the world turns ♪

♪ Keep the colors
In the lines ♪

♪ Take flight

♪ Dreams never die

♪ Keep the colors
In the lines ♪

♪ Keep the colors
In the lines, take flight ♪

-[laughing]
-I thought you might like that.

I loved it!

[cell phone vibrates]

Hey, Deborah.

Yeah, sure. I could always
use good news.

What?

What do you mean?

I can't believe this.

Wow.

Thank you.

Okay.

Talk soon.

I've been shortlisted
for the National Book Award!

I can't...

I can't even
believe this!

Congratulations, Nova.

This could get my book
in front of so many more people

who need help.

And I think it could really
help my family

see the value and reach
of our story.

I mean, I can't believe this.

This is incredible.

Yes. Yes, it is.

But remember, Nova,

you don't need an award
to help people.

You don't need an award
for validation.

Yes. I-I know that.

I don't mean to rain
on your parade.

I'm just being real with you.

Reminding you
of who you are,

and to keep it all
in the proper perspective.

Baby, you are worthy
right now, period.

Point-blank. The end.

[Darla] Maybe I should
take him to school,

so he doesn't miss
the whole day.

I don't know.

Maybe we should let him
take a break today.

Did you make
the appointment?

I didn't get around
to it yet.

I'm working on it.

Ralph Angel,
he just found out

about you, about us.

He's a kid.

We need to make sure
that he's going to be okay.

They even said
they'd come to us.

There it is.

It's official.

[sighs]

Is it the right decision?

If you believe in it,
it's the right decision.

Candidate Bordelon,
I'm with you all the way.

You got this.

[Micah] All right,
so we're all going to pair up

and each take
a neighborhood.

[Charley] Yeah, we actually
don't have much time

to get this on the ballot,
so we've got to talk

to every registered voter
in St. Jo

and get them to back
our anti-highway proposal.

We can get it done.

We hit the pavement every day
until we do.

That's right.

I'm from across the way,
in St. Thomas.

We've got skin
in the game too.

I heard you were
announcing soon.

I don't waste much time.

I like that.
I like that a whole lot.

So I'm here to lend you
a hand, young lady.

Wow. Thank you.

I love your enthusiasm.

And I'm so happy that
St. Thomas is joining the fight.

Your name, ma'am?

This is Lady Genevieve.

Leon Durand's
baby sister.

Baby sister?
I'm a grown woman, Mr. Prosper.

But it's good
to see you again.

It's good to see you too,
Lady Genevieve.

Okay...

let's do it.

Let's get to work.

Yeah.

So, how have you been?

Very well,
thank you for asking.

Thank you for showing
your respects to Leon.

Yeah, well,
the least I could do.

For him and so many others,
unfortunately.

How many has it been for you
this year?

Funerals?

I stopped counting
after the fifth one.

Time does slip on by,

whether we ready
for it or not.

Yes, it does.
Yes, it does.

Come on over here.

I'm happy to canvas
the Latinx neighborhoods,

but they're going to want
to hear from you directly.

Of course. I'm planning to make
some inroads later this week.

Councilwoman Barrera
will be campaigning

a lot there for us
as well, so...

You might want to be there
yourself more often than not.

I mean, no disrespect,
but they already know her.

They'll want to know you.

Does "they" have a name?

It sounds like you're talking
about someone specific.

Well, yeah, yeah.

I would start
with Angel Martinez.

He's a pastor
of St. Jo's Episcopal Church.

Across town.

You know it?

Not yet.

But I'm just getting started.

Hey...

are you sure
you want to do this?

I know you've
thought this through.

But the Landry/Boudreaux family,
I mean,

they're a lot.

I'm a lot.

Whatever I have to do,
whomever I need to talk to,

I'll do it.

For St. Jo.

And for my daddy.

I can't lose his land.

I know.

Baby, I ain't blaming you.

I just want to make sure
you okay.

I'm fine.

Don't make a big deal
about it.

It just doesn't happen
every time.

Not for us.

Usually, I'm the one
that got to catch up,

and you ready to go.

[sighs]

I'm tired, that's all.

Are you sure?

I'm sure, baby.

[clears throat]

Sorry.

Just a bit keyed up.

Still getting used
to being the one

who's being interviewed.

-Thank you.
-You are a natural star.

You always were.
I'll be right outside.

I'm sorry.
Dr. Laurent, right?

I didn't catch how you two
were associated.

Oh, I'm Nova's
former professor.

Just tagging along
for the day,

doing a faculty write-up
for the alumni magazine.

You know, I've had the pleasure
over the years

of watching Nova grow
as a writer and an activist,

so it's gratifying to see
her recent success up close.

You probably have
some great stories.

Those would probably
have to be off the record.

[all laugh]

Let's get started.

Why a story
about your family?

What were you trying
to uncover?

First and foremost,

I was trying to uncover
the truth.

And then use that truth
to make connections

to a broader
American narrative.

How has sharing the truth
with the world

impacted you
and your family?

The truth can be difficult
to face sometimes.

But on the other side of that
confrontation is healing.

And healing takes time.

Let's switch topics
for a bit.

I want to make sure
we cover this.

Your sister Charley

is preparing to announce
her run for city council

in your hometown.

Would you say your activism
has rubbed off on her?

Black women's influence
on one another

is such an overlooked
tradition.

Of course Nova's activism

has influenced her sister's
budding interest,

just as my work has influenced
Nova's intellectual curiosity.

Black girl magic is more
of a continuum.

Blue, can you tell me
what happened at school?

Friend told him that--

Please, Mr. Bordelon,
I'd like to hear from Blue.

What's your doll's name?

Kenya.

Does Kenya know
what happened?

Maybe she could tell us?

Kenya says that Marcus said...

that my pops
isn't my real pops.

Thank you for sharing that.

The first thing
I want you to know

is that none of this
is your fault.

You didn't do anything wrong.

Everyone's family
looks different.

What's most important
about family

is that it's made up
of people who love you.

Let's take a break.

Blue, you want to go play
for a bit?

-Yes.
-All right, come on.

Okay.

I think this is going to be
really good for Blue.

Yeah, I hope so.

[sighs]

Blue's a great kid.

It may not seem like it now,

but Blue's processing this
in a fairly normal way.

That may also be because he's
yet to grasp what it all means.

What can we do
to help?

Be patient.

Acceptance takes time.

This can be a lot
for co-parents to handle.

Let's try an exercise.

I want each of you
to write a list of the dreams,

big or small,

that you have
for you and Blue.

Okay.

It's important for you
to visualize the future.

And Blue needs to understand

that his future is more
important than his past.

That starts with both of you.

Everything's in range,
Violet.

-Normal.
-I sure don't feel normal.

Whatever symptoms
you're experiencing,

they're not related
to your lupus medication.

Well, if it ain't got nothing
to do with my medication,

I don't know
what's going on.

Quite honestly,
for the last few weeks,

you know, I've been having
trouble in the bedroom.

I just haven't been
in the mood,

and that ain't me.

I mean, that ain't me.

You said this started
a few weeks ago?

Any major life events recently?

Something unexpected
or traumatic?

Unexpected or traumatic?

Try both.

Jimmy Dale,
my ex-husband,

is definitely both.

Still looking at that?

It wasn't fair of him
to spring that on you.

It's a big deal that Charley
is running.

If she wins, she can bring
real change to St. Jo.

And I'm here...

giving fluff interviews.

One, you're a star now.
Goes with the territory.

And two, so what?

So what?
I'm talking about my family.

They're important to me.

[sighs]

You know how I feel
about family.

They're just biological
accidents.

I hate it
when you say that.

-[sighs]
-It's not true.

At least not for me.

Would you and your sister be
friends if you weren't related?

-I'm not sure we're friends now.
-Exactly.

Sometimes we have to put family
in the rearview

to get to where
we want to go.

-Hey.
-Hey.

Thanks for dropping
this off.

You're welcome.

Want to come in?

I would have
picked it up myself,

-I just--
-It's no big deal.

I mean, I was
heading out anyway.

Well, I'll see you later.

Keke, I'm going to see Ant
again later.

I was hoping that you
would come with me.

Only immediate family
can see him in juvie.

The warden checked me out,

and thought I could be
a good influence on Ant.

Of course you are.

I'm happy that you're going
to see him.

It's good for Ant
to see a friendly face.

Keke, I was hoping
we could talk.

I don't feel like it
right now, Micah.

Maybe later.

Okay.

See you.
Give Ant my love.

[door closes]

[Ralph Angel]
That was quick.

[Hollywood]
Wasn't no lines.

A couple of the workers was
talking about that highway.

Wondering if Charley's
going to be able to stop it.

[Ralph Angel]
Yeah, me too.

Say, bro,
you all right?

Just tired, man.

Ain't been sleeping.

Between the highway
and Nova's book...

-[scoffs]
-...been hella stressed.

We should've burned
that damn book all the way up.

Me and Darla getting Blue
therapy over it.

-Say what?
-Yeah.

Damn.

But did it help?

I don't know yet.

Got us doing, like,
a dream list or something.

What's a dream list?

Me and Darla supposed
to think about Blue's future.

What we want it
to look like.

I'm just thinking
about today.

I'll think about tomorrow
tomorrow, feel me?

You ever ask yourself

if tomorrows
are for other folk?

Me and Vi, man,
we supposed to be living in up.

We got love.

A little bit of money.

Doing it.

But stuff that happened before
we was even a "we", man,

is just hanging onto us
like a bad cold.

Bedtime's even chilly.

But shit, man,
that ain't no way to live.

Sitting around,
scared that your past

is going to snatch up
your future.

Y'all meant to be, though.

Everybody knows that.

So don't give up.

How often do you all
get together like this?

The church does this
every so often.

We call it a carne asada.

It's like our version
of a barbeque.

It's always great people,
great music,

great food.

Let me get you
more tamales.

-Yes, please.
-Okay.

Excuse me.

Thank you for coming.

You know it means a lot to me

that you are getting to know
Romero a little.

You really like him, huh?

-I do.
-[both laugh]

I mean, I don't--
I don't know where it's going.

All I know is I feel happy
when I'm with him.

That's all that matters.

You deserve to be happy.

-Okay...
-Thank you.

[Charley] So tell me
about Pastor Martinez.

I thought it'd be a good idea
to meet him

and his members
on his own turf.

He respects that.

Thank you.

Of course.

Okay. Um...

I'm going to head to Malik's,
but I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?

-Okay.
-[Micah] Okay.

Peace.

Time to make friends.

Hi. Pastor Martinez?

Miss Bordelon.

Uh, you know me?

Everyone knows you,
Charley Bordelon.

And I hear the same is true
of you, Pastor.

So, what brings you to our side
of the tracks?

[laughs]

Just enjoying a neighborhood
party in our community.

"Our"?

I see. Well, while you're here,
try the flautas.

My mother made them.

I already did.
They were delicious.

Thanks so much for allowing me
to be here.

I'd love to visit more.

I hope to see more
of your parishioners very soon.

Good.

But you should know,

I'm not one of those
so amazed

that you can dance
a little merengue

that you automatically get
a permanent invite to la fiesta.

You don't trust me.

Before today,

I've never seen you
in our neighborhoods.

Why should I trust you?

Understood.

I hope that you'll
give me the chance

to prove myself
worthy of your vote,

of your parishioners' votes.

I want you to vote for me,

not because I'm the lesser
of two evils,

but because you believe in me

and my desire for all of us
to rise together.

Thank you for your time, Pastor.

[woman]
So did your father really--?

[Nova]
As I wrote in my book,
I don't know for sure.

I simply ask the question.

I care more about all of us
living with so many secrets

more than anything else.

I got to tell you, though,

I was rooting for you
and that white guy.

-What's his name again?
-Calvin.

Yes. Calvin.

Now come on, girl.
Real talk.

You knew that wasn't going
to work with a married man.

But who hasn't dated
a white married man?

Am I right, ladies?

[all giggle]

Excuse us.

[Nova]
Wow.

[Octavia]
Don't worry about them.

They don't mean anything.

I don't know how you do
this scene so often.

It feels so superficial.

You get used to it.

Think of it as a game

where the goal is to stay in it
as long as you can.

There's only one problem
with that.

I was never one
for playing games.

Well, we all have to play
at some point

if we want
any real success.

There's Lisette.
I should go say hi.

Hey!

-Hi.
-[lips smack]

[Lisette] I thought
the book was brilliant.

I'm thinking of asking Nova

to edit a collection of essays
on race.

That's not really
Nova's forte.

But I have been looking
for my next project

and it sounds
absolutely perfect.

[Lisette] Your past work
is still important.

But the series I'm launching
is called Fresh Voices.

It's specifically
for emerging writers.

Maybe you could write
the foreword.

The foreword?

-Mm-hmm.
-[cell phone vibrates]

Oh, excuse me.
I have to get this.

Take care.

What was that all about?

I was just singing
your praises.

And I set us up
a lunch date for tomorrow.

The new Dean of Faculty
at Princeton is in town,

and he wants to meet us.

[giggles]

Oh, I'll be right back.

[dance music playing]

So how did things go
with Pastor Martinez?

No, not really.

Not yet.

But I'm happy.

Why is that?

Because you brought me
into your world.

No strings attached.

Tried to do something for me.

I can't remember the last time
a man added to my life

without taking from it.

Or tried to change me.

Thank you.

You deserve good things,
Charley.

So do you.

And I think you've waited
long enough.

We both have.

[cell phone chimes]

[sighs]

You look like you're seriously
over it.

Some of it or all of it?

What can I start you with?

Something strong.

Anything, really.

-You coming or going?
-I came, I saw,

and now I'm blowing this joint
tomorrow morning.

Oh. Doesn't sound like
the best trip.

Sometimes the bar is higher
than your reach.

This one's on me.

Thank you.

This is fantastic.

I call that one,
Drop It Like It's Hot.

[both laugh]

Okay.

I'm Terrence.

[sighs]

Nova.

Now, Nova,
why are you--

As beautiful as organic brown
sugar, the whole package--

Alone here in this hotel bar?

Currently I'm being accompanied
by an old friend

for my book tour.

An old friend who I should've
left where I found her.

So now I'm here,
all alone...

trying not to make the same
mistake I made last time.

I mean, if you're
up to it later,

there's a lounge nearby
with a DJ

where you can sweat out
all your problems.

That all sounds lovely.

But you've done enough.

Thank you for the conversation.

I appreciate it.

Hey. Absolutely.

[Blue] Did you know that beaks
are also called bills?

I knew that.

[Blue]
And a black skimmer

uses a longer bill
to skim food

out of the water.

Interesting.

Are there other animals
besides birds that can talk?

Hmm, I don't know.

That's a very good question.

I guess you could say
a lot of animals talk,

just in their own way.

Like how dogs bark.

-And cats meow.
-Yeah. [chuckles]

[gasps]

Have you ever seen
a flamingo?

They're really tall.

-Taller than me?
-They're not that tall.

-[laughs]
-Not that tall.

"After the mother penguin
lays the egg,

"it's the job of the father
penguin to stay with the egg

"and keep it warm and safe

"until the baby penguin
is ready to be born."

Like how you
keep me safe, Pops.

Yeah.

Just like that.

[Blue]
A rainbow.

Pastor?

Your words last night
really touched me.

I want you to know

I'm serious about building
bridges between our communities.

We should all be serious
about that.

All the time.

My commitment
to all of St. Jo is real.

Black and Latinx residents
should work together and pool--

You say that as if
it's easy to do.

There are forces that prey on
our fears and use it against us.

Sometimes we do it
to ourselves.

You know, I think...

I think some black people
feel like we're still fighting

for basic equality,

even though we're the ones
who built this country.

And we're often the ones
who maintain it,

by doing jobs others won't.

I see that.

They keep us fighting each other
while the powers that be

are at the bank,
cashing checks.

I need you to know...

I am in this
for the long haul.

Well, nothing's going
to be fixed overnight,

and certainly not in time
for the city council election.

But I welcome a continued
conversation between us.

[engine rumbling]

[engine turned off]

What in the world?

I know you did not
just buy that death trap.

Well, hello to you too.

And I most certainly did.

You know it's always been
a dream of mine.

Well, I am not riding
on that thing.

I got this idea of you
just leaning on me,

holding on to me while the wind
blows in our face.

[laughs]

Baby...

I know I ain't been myself
with you lately,

but it ain't got nothing
to do with you, baby.

-Nothing.
-I know something is wrong.

Could you please
just tell me?

[sighs]

So I talked to Dr. Badami.

And today I realized

that Jimmy Dale
coming back

stirred up a lot
of stuff in me

that I didn't know
was still there.

It's taken everything I got
to just get through each day.

It's messing with my mind,
and I'm mad as hell about that.

So I'm asking
for your patience.

Please.

And for a little bit
of space.

-From me?
-Just for a little while.

I know it ain't fair.

What is it they say?

In sickness and in health...

for better or for worse.

What I did
to ever deserve you,

I will never know.

[door closes]

You blew off
our lunch.

Your lunch.

[scoffs]

All I've done for you
on this tour.

You invited yourself
on this tour.

Being with you,

consoling you,

keeping your spirits up.

Emotional labor
is still work, baby.

I refuse to be treated
like an afterthought.

You want to talk
about respect?

You tried to take that book
opportunity from me.

How could you?

You're not qualified to do that
kind of work and you know it.

They only want you
because you're hot,

which, believe me,
cools quickly.

When you've sustained
a 20-year career,

then you come question me.

You can keep your 20-year career
if it means lies and deceit.

Says the woman who threw
her family under the bus

for her book.

I'm not your student anymore.

You do know
I made you, right?

You were so green.

I found you, saw you,

spit-shined you

until I got the backwoods stink
off your thinking.

Wow.

This is a sad day.

I suspected it,
but now I know.

I've outgrown you.

The doors I kicked down
to make it possible for you.

You don't even know
the half of it.

All I had to choke down
just to be seen!

I have tremendous respect
for you

and all that you've done
for women like me.

I'm beyond grateful.

But I've always charted
my own path

and I will continue
to do so.

Nova...

you were always the one.

Others tried to get close,

but I never crossed
that line again.

You were my first
in so many meaningful ways.

I'll always remember that.

[luggage wheels rumble]

[doors close]

We got a good little system
going here.

That's because we make
a good team.

[laughs]

Yes, we do. Yes, we do.

I know it's getting on
about lunchtime,

but for dinner,

I'm grilling some steaks

and I have extra
if you want one.

Free steak?

I'll bring the wine.

[both laugh]

Okay.

Let me show you
something.

-Oh...
-Hmm?

Does this say "fighter"?

It says "winner."
Relatable.

But still muy hermosa.

Gracias, mi amor.

[laughs]

I just--I don't know.

I feel like
the campaign is...

it's coming together.

I know I still
have a lot of work to do,

but I just...

I feel good about
tomorrow's announcement.

I-I do.

Aah!

[Charley gasps]

Is everyone okay here?

Okay. A little shaken.

Charley, let me help you.

You're bleeding.

-What?
-Sit down.

What if the brick
had hit Prosper?

Or Genevieve?
Or-or-or anyone?

I didn't think
this campaign

would be putting people's lives
in danger.

You're not putting
anyone's life in danger.

The Landrys are.
This is on them.

-I know, but--
-This is why you're running.

To protect St. Jo
from people that would do this.

People who think they can
just push us around.

Exactly. You're in the midst
of a proud tradition.

Fight.

♪ Out of the ???

♪ I'm stronger today

♪ I take a deep breath
There's no holding back ♪

♪ Headfirst
Yeah, I drive right in ♪

♪ I am who I am
I'll give you all I have ♪

♪ If you take
What I got to give ♪

♪ You get the best

♪ You get the best

♪ You get the best

♪ Of me

♪ You get the best

♪ You get the best

♪ You get the best

♪ Of me

Hi, Charley.

It's Nova.

I was hoping to catch you.

I just wanted
to congratulate you on running.

It's just...

Charley, it's fantastic.

It's really incredible to see
you looking out for St. Jo

in all the ways that you have
since you've been home.

I've always admired
how you know what you want

and you go after it,

no matter what.

I'm really proud of you.

I miss you.

I love you.

Give my love to Micah.

Night.

[cheers and applause]

Today, in the place
that I'm proud to call home,

I am officially announcing
my candidacy for city council,

and letting everyone know

that it will take more
than a brick through my window

to stop me from doing
what's right for our parish!

[all cheer]

Before I continue, I must thank
Councilwoman Isabel Barrera

for her service to St. Jo
and for her gracious support.

[applause]

To our victory!

We are not expendable.

We will stop the highway.

We will flourish
on our farms.

We will protect
our community.

Together, we will reclaim
our parish.

We are St. Josephine's Parish

in the grand state
of Louisiana,

and we ain't going anywhere!

[crowd cheers and applauds]

[cheering continues]

♪♪♪

[woman]
Go, Ree-Ree.