Queen Sugar (2016) s02e01 Episode Script

1 Nova: Last season on "Queen Sugar" Charley: "To my children I bequeath 800 acres.
" Why can't you do what Daddy wanted? He wanted to win! You're the one taking care of this place.
"I'm revising my last will and testament.
" I need to move on, and you're not mine to have.
- Violet: I just needed time.
- Now I need time.
Davis on recording: I pay you to do shit my wife won't do.
(crying) The only thing you care about is yourself.
Charley, you're an incredible woman.
Nova: Can you imagine a black woman owning and operating her own mill? (music playing) Hold up, wait a minute Baby, baby, are you listening? I go and you go But I don't ever wanna see your face No, no, no second, third chances In my hands I hold your life span 'Cause no one does it better Keep that tight, hold it down Storm the weather Now we at a crossroad, now we at the break All this back-and-forth , we gonna lose our way All I got is one life and one life to live You dig? You dig? If I told you I'ma ride, then you know I'm down to drive, drive, drive And, baby, we can do it all night, night, night So, I had a good time last night.
Me, too.
Maybe maybe we can get together again one of these days.
Yeah.
Have a good day.
Okay? Yeah.
Y-you, too.
Okay.
(theme music playing) 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 Which bring us to the key data set.
Operating income before depreciation plus cash and non-cash expenses all the way down to profit after taxes.
Now all I need is your loan to make the necessary upgrades.
Remy: Two-thirds of the black farmers have already agreed to mill with Queen Sugar, and another 32 are willing to make the switch upon the mill securing this loan for future improvements.
In other words, I already have more than enough farmers milling with me to put me in the black in year one.
And don't forget, I also have a guaranteed stream of income from my own cane farm.
Very impressive.
We're in.
We'll send over the proper paperwork for you and Davis to sign.
Actually, this is my business.
Davis has nothing to do with it.
Uh, we thought you were partners in all your ventures.
Without his involvement, I'm not sure we can underwrite the full amount.
It's his brand.
That's what's most attractive to our partners.
I see.
Then we will make it happen.
(chuckles) Look forward to doing business with you, Mrs.
West.
- Absolutely.
- We look forward to working with you.
- Thanks for coming out.
- Thank you so much.
- Yeah.
- Remy, thank you.
Thank you.
- It's been a pleasure.
- We'll be in touch.
Thank you.
- Thanks for your help.
- Mm-hmm.
Wanna grab a drink and celebrate? Celebrate? Charley, you just got blindsided.
I guess I should be used to people thinking there's no me without Davis.
Well, can you blame them? I mean, you two are still together as far as the world knows.
Not for long.
(sighs) Our lawyers are working on terms right now, and And once it's safe for you to be seen drinking with another man, then we can toast to that.
But for now, I For now, I think it's best for both of us if we just keep things professional.
Excuse me.
- (music playing) - (chatter) - Hey, hey.
- Hey, Prosper.
How was your breakfast this morning? Well, it ain't your cooking, but it damn sure getting better and better as the week go by.
(laughs) What are doing to them boys back there? Ah, no boys.
I'm training these ladies from over at the halfway house.
They're picking it up real nice.
You don't say.
That's good of you, Vi, real good.
Well, Ralph Angel taught me about second chances.
We all deserve 'em.
There you go, baby.
Amen to that.
Well, I'm gonna get on.
We're gonna be tuning the bells for Juneteenth.
Mm, my favorite part of the summer.
Yes, indeed.
- You have a blessed day.
- You, too.
Blue: Faster, Pop! Ralph Angel: Hey, I'm going fast as I can, Blue.
All right.
- (groans) - That was fun.
I told you.
Come on, man.
Come on.
(grunts) You got it? Come on, boy.
Where you at? Come on.
- I'm here to show this.
- (laughs) You know what that is? - Mm - Hmm? Dirt? I guess you could call it that.
I call it Blue's Corner.
- My own corner? - Mm-hmm, that's right.
This is your land, son.
A little piece of the world.
No matter what happens, good things, bad things, happy things, sad things, you can always come here and smile and know that Pops and Mama love you.
- All right? - Okay.
All right, go check it out.
You talk to your sisters yet? (sighs) Soon as I tell 'em, they'll try and take it from me.
You don't know that.
Look, let's just enjoy this while we can.
Okay.
I'm glad you're here.
So am I.
Feeling it like I just need to speak my brain Yes, I know it might seem like I'm going to cause you pain Boy, you've got to realize I've got to get all this - You having a good time? - I am.
You know, this is so dope.
I've got to lose my cool, yeah Feelin' it like - (music playing) - (chatter) This place has an incredible art collection.
- Mm.
- Yes, ma'am.
I'm hoping to get something on these walls one day.
Wait, I didn't know you painted.
Just means there's more to me you have to get to know.
Oh, yeah? Well, um I just wanted to thank you both for lunch.
It's definitely one of the best birthday presents I've gotten this year, so thank you.
Um (laughs) Pardon me.
I love me some Creole food, but ain't nothing better than that car we just pulled up in.
No, that car is not just a car, though.
It's my dad trying to buy me or apologize, feel better about himself.
It's a lot of things, but it's definitely not just a car.
Don't let your father's issues spoil your special day, okay? I love you, Micah.
Love you, too.
(TV playing in background) (beeps, line rings) This is Hollywood.
Can't get to the phone right now, but you know what to do.
(phone rings) Hey, Nova.
- Aunt Vi! - Uh-huh? I'm on the run, but I wanna take Charley out for Micah's birthday.
You wanna take Charley out for her son's birthday? Hell, yeah, 16 years ago, we were all waiting for that little sucker to come into the world while she was screaming up a storm, remember? - I do.
- Calls for celebration.
You just wanna man-hunt.
You ain't fooling nobody.
Are we rolling or not? (laughs) Okay, good.
I'm gonna see you tonight.
- (squeals) - Oh, my God, wow.
- You look so - Huge? You can say it.
You've never been one to mince words.
- (both laugh) - Sis, you look radiant.
These are for the twins.
Oh, it's so beautiful! Did you do this yourself? Can I open 'em now? Wait until their birthday.
Promise? Once you see what they are, you'll know who gets what.
All right, promise.
(laughs) Girl, look, my mom is so happy I'm finally giving her some grandbabies, she went overboard.
- You could paint a onesie - Is that Carmella? - Mm-hmm.
- I haven't seen her since our last reunion.
- Nova! - Asantewa! Yes, girl.
Ladies, look who just arrived.
But aren't you scared? I mean, doing it without a partner? - Takes guts.
- It does.
Yes.
I mean, you know, it is scary, I can't lie.
But a good scary, even if, as my mama would say, I'm doing it out of order.
Who says it has to be in order? I mean, no offense to your mama, but that idea's outdated, just like the idea that we're incomplete without a partner and kids.
- Yeah.
- Carmella: I guess.
To each her own.
But I'll be honest with y'all.
I never thought I'd be single at this age.
And even though my clock is ticking, I want my man first and then my family, no offense, Sisi.
And if that makes me old-fashioned, then so be it.
We're all doing things folks thought we couldn't do.
- We defy the odds.
- Mm, say that.
- Defy? (laughs) - Yes, ma'am.
Statistics say you can't make partner.
You can't have your own business.
You shouldn't have a PhD.
- A what? A-but you do.
- I do.
Now you gotta carry that black girl magic into your love life.
Listen now, come on.
Come on.
Think of the other possibilities other than brothers.
- Like date a Latino man.
- Okay, Latin lover.
- Or white women.
- Uh okay.
Or other sisters.
Okay, everybody ain't as adventurous as you, Nova.
- Too far.
- Y'all so dead set on finding a brother, why not come out to the community bail fundraiser I'm hosting this week? - Okay.
- You never know.
You might just find a Barry you can spit-shine into a Barack.
(laughter) Okay, now, I'm about that one.
- Yeah.
- I about that one.
(cranking) It was working just fine this morning.
Yeah, it's old.
It's bound to happen.
Know anybody who could fix it cheap? Look, I just wanna fix this up fast, Mr.
Prosper.
If I don't finish getting that land ready this weekend, I'll miss out on having soybeans this harvest.
They gonna bring in extra money.
I got it all figured out.
- So, yeah.
- Soybean, huh? Yeah.
You know, that's a good idea, Ralph Angel.
Real good.
Yeah, new ideas, man.
Ernest would be proud.
Thank you, Mr.
Prosper.
Yeah.
(phone rings) - It's Wood.
Excuse me.
- (chuckles) Wood! What you say? What you say? Just working, you know? What's going on with you, man? How's Blue? He good.
How you doing? Y'all doing the Juneteen dinner? Yes, sir, like always.
Except Darla gonna be there this year.
Oh-ho! Y'all back for true, huh? Yeah.
Things been good.
Good for you, man.
You deserve it.
How's Charley and Nova, the harvest? The harvest, Wood? What, you gonna ask about the porch, too? Come on, what's on your mind? I I missed a call from Vi.
Any idea what it's about? She okay? Oh, see, I ain't getting caught in that trick bag again.
I learned that lesson the hard way.
Look, Wood, you wanna know how Vi doing, you need to ask her.
- (music playing) - I mean, he doesn't return my voicemail.
And he ain't even posting on Facebook.
- It's like he just forgot about me.
- Impossible.
He might be trying to forget, but you, lady, you are unforgettable.
- And you are unforgettable.
- Thank you! And we are here! And we are beautiful! And we are about to go dance! - Oh.
Oh - Like now.
- Mm, okay.
- Get up! Come on, up! Aunt Vi, we gotta go.
We gotta go.
Kill them all and then I peel off in the Mustang ain't but a toilet bowl stain Death to the label, disappointing y'all lames an AK, I'll probably stick a fork in your brains Excuse me, , while I powder my nose (song continues) Boo.
(indistinct chatter) I'm like wherever, however, whatever We like whatever (music playing) What do you think you're doing? What? You know, I don't know what upsets me more, the fact that you're with this instead of with your son on his birthday like you're supposed to be or that you're with this in public when we have worked so hard to control the press about our situation.
First of all, our son is 16, and he wanted to hang with his girlfriend.
He blew me off.
Second, come on, Charley, give me some credit, okay? I mean, look around.
Do you see any phones or cameras pointed at us? They know me here.
They got my back.
Who do you think you're talking to, huh? After all that Charley has done for you, how she protected you, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, parading around with some little lowlife hussy, barely out of Pampers! Don't.
Don't.
Everything okay, Mr.
West? Everything is just fine if you would just get outta my face, if you know what's good for you! I think you've had enough, ma'am.
Oh, I have had enough! Of you, thank you very much! - I'm gonna have to ask you to leave.
- Oh, you did not touch me! Don't touch me! You don't know me well enough! - Let me walk you out.
- You should be ashamed of yourself! - That's what I say! - Don't.
Stop! Violet: That's what I say! How do you look yourself in the mirror? (TV playing in background) You wanna talk about it? We used to sit and talk for hours when he first got drafted.
He'd come back from an away game tell me everything, like a book report.
And I'd sit on the couch with my back against him.
Our chests rising and falling together.
I felt so safe in his arms.
Like nothing could touch me.
And to see him put his arm around that girl Why can't we get it together? Even Hollywood and Vi didn't last.
I know.
I thought they were forever.
(sighs) Me, too.
(sighs) Marlene: It's good to see so many faces today.
Okay, so who would like to kick us off? I will.
Um I, um haven't been here for a while, because deep down, I was hoping I wouldn't need to.
Once dependent, always dependent.
When, um when I was a little girl, I had this T-shirt with a little ballerina on it.
I loved it because she had a tiara with a rhinestone and a tiny pink tutu made of tulle.
(laughs) I God, I wore it everywhere.
Drove my mother crazy.
She was always washing it.
And then one day, I spilled cranberry juice on it.
My mom, she scrubbed it, she soaked it, she even squeezed lemon juice on it.
Still, she couldn't get that stain out.
I've I've been spending a lot of time with my son and his father.
It's been amazing.
It has been rhinestones and tutus.
But there's this family dinner today, and I don't wanna go.
Because even though I'm just a couple months shy of my two-year anniversary I'm afraid that all I'll see is that stain.
Thank you for letting me share.
Thank you.
Okay, who's next? Micah, you and that fancy car of yours better be on your way.
Leave that boy be.
He's 16.
He's supposed to be joyriding.
- Ah! - Aunt Vi! Hey, baby.
Mwah! How's my favorite person? - Where's your mama? - She's coming after work.
(whispers) Did you make me a pie? Of course I did.
Your favorite.
- Blueberry? - Yes! (laughs) It's already in there on the counter, cut.
Go get a piece.
Wait, wait.
Dessert before dinner, Aunt Vi? Lord, this is Freedom Day.
Y'all let these boys be free! - I ain't saying nothing.
- How are things at the farm? - Things good.
- I've been meaning to swing by.
We good.
I should say till the tractor broke down yesterday.
What happened? I was tilling some fallow acres for soybeans.
Soybeans? Wait, you know about this? No.
We're partners, Ralph Angel.
We've talked about this.
You can't just make unilateral decisions.
I figure we might as well make some money on that land.
I thought you liked money, Charley.
Nova: Well, now that we know, what do we do about the tractor? Look, I know you're sentimental about it because it belonged to Daddy, but we should just buy a new one.
That costs $15,000.
- And repairing this one? - Normally 6.
But the mechanic only charged me 5 since I did some of the work myself.
So it seems like your fast thinking paid off.
Nova: For us all.
Ralph Angel: I guess so.
I get it.
We're all happy Rah saved some money.
But just to be clear if we had gotten a new tractor, we could write off the depreciation and save more in the long run.
Fixing an old tractor that's outlived its value is like stepping over a dollar to pick up a dime.
How much longer until Mommy comes? Soon.
Let's go get washed up.
My flow like a ponytail So when I spit on a skinhead, he becomes a Hare Krishna - Keep up with your feet or get them blisters - (siren wails) Like you're on the Tawaf by the Kaaba, that's the mission Yo, call the feds, call the papers My youth's gone missing, he's gone Iraq He's gone to Syria, he didn't listen You got your mom in tears in Sajda, Quran kissing The politicians at the mic all bayaan giving I pray for my nephew, I pray you're not antagonized By all the hating and news and the shit they sanitize Look, Zayn Malik's got more than eighty virgins on him There's more than one direction to get to paradise - (beeping) - Officer on P.
A.
: Turn off your engine.
(music stops) (ringtone playing) (ringtone stops) (police radio chatter) (knock on window) Roll down the window.
I gotta turn the car back on first.
Roll down the window! (engine starts) Hey, I wasn't I wasn't speeding or anything, right? You mind telling me what this is all about? You live out here? Uh, yeah, yeah, I guess.
You guess? New car? Yes, sir, a birthday present.
Let me see your license.
You know what, I think I think I left it back at home.
Not this home, the one in New Orleans.
Let me see your registration, now.
Get out of the car! Put your hands up where I can see them! Get out of the car now! You see what you want to see, but the rest of us? We see Ralph Angel busting his butt trying to make this farm work.
So am I.
I know that, baby.
But you got multiple degrees behind your name proving what you already know, that you can do this.
So all I'm saying is it wouldn't hurt to affirm it every now and again.
"Thank you, yes.
Good job.
" Instead of keeping him under your thumb.
No, that that's not what I'm doing.
Trust me, I know exactly what it feels like to be under someone's thumb.
What are you talking about? Charley: Those Wall Street guys, they won't give me the loan for the mill unless Davis signs off on it.
Oh, hell, I wish I had known that last night.
Just ask Davis to do you this last favor.
He owes you that much.
- Mama! - Hi! I'm sorry I'm late.
My NA meeting ran over.
(mouths words) Violet: Well, we're just happy you're here, baby.
(chuckles) Come on, let me talk to you outside for a second.
I really am sorry I'm late.
I it's been a while since I talked to Marlene.
- And I had a lot on my - Marlene? My sponsor.
You still need all that? Sponsors? Meetings? What, you're not slipping back, are you? I'm trying to make sure I don't.
By hanging out with other addicts talking about when you was using.
I'm working my steps to stay clean.
I mean, don't all that looking back make it hard to put behind you? (sighs) I want Charley to take me serious.
I don't talk about when I was inside.
It's different, though.
You went in for something you did.
This is who I am.
It'll never be behind me, Ralph Angel.
There's no cure for my disease.
The meetings, my sponsor? They help.
It's too much for anyone to do alone.
Hey.
You ain't gotta do it alone.
Violet: Okay.
Oh, baby, no, you sit here in your daddy's old seat.
Darla, you sit next to him.
(clears throat) And are we waiting for our little joyrider? - No.
- (laughs) Okay.
Violet: All right.
Blue, close your eyes.
(sighs) Thank You, Lord, from each and every one of us at this table, for without Your love, without Your guidance - (phone buzzing) - and Your protection, we might not be here today.
We ask that Your blessing over this food will nourish our bodies and we ask that You nourish our souls and make us strong to carry on this Juneteen tradition without our beloved Ernest, father, brother, grandfather.
- Amen.
- All: Amen.
I miss Papa.
Me, too, baby, every day.
(phone buzzing) Excuse me, all.
- Violet: Okay, dig in.
- Hello? What's up with everybody ignoring my phone calls? Can you put Micah on, please? He won't pick up.
I'm not ignoring your calls.
We're in the middle of dinner.
I'll have Micah call as soon as he gets here, okay? - Charley, he left my place hours ago.
- Maybe he's with Keke.
I'll call her, and I'll call you back.
- Well, now, he - (clicks) Charley: Yeah.
Okay.
Yeah, thank you, Keke.
Can you call me if you hear from him? - Violet: Don't use your hands, baby.
- (chattering) Micah should have been here by now.
And he's not with Keke.
I just tried calling him.
There's only so many routes from New Orleans to St.
Jo.
Maybe he ran out of gas and his phone died.
(line rings on speakerphone) (softly) Oh, come on.
Come on, pick up.
Hollywood: Vi.
Hollywood.
What's wrong? I just, um really needed to hear your voice right about now.
Well, I'm here.
What is it, chère? It's Micah.
We can't find him.
It's going on several hours now.
I'm so worried.
Probably just out with his friends.
You know how these kids are when they get caught up.
- He's still chasing after Keke? - Yeah.
Ain't no telling what they doing.
Yeah, that boy just fine.
(laughs) (sniffles) Just hearing you say that makes me feel so much better.
Uh, I'm so glad you picked up.
I didn't know if you would.
Things didn't end right between us, Hollywood.
I wanna see you.
Me too, baby.
Me, too.
I don't have service.
D-do you have service? Yeah.
(ringtone playing) Micah?! - (phone ringing) - Micah! Hello? - Yes.
- What? - Oh, my God, thank you.
- They found Micah? Okay.
Thank you.
(men shouting) (door buzzes) He's all yours.
Excuse excuse me? Can I make a phone call, please? Sure.
Just gotta wait your turn.
There are about 400 others in front of you.
(door buzzes) (lock clicks) You have my son in custody Micah West.
I need to see him right now.
We were told that her son, my nephew, was arrested and brought here.
Do you mind checking the system just to see if it's correct? His name's Micah West.
I'll take a look.
(typing) - No Micah West in the system.
- There must be some mistake.
- Hey, what's going on? Where is he? - I don't know.
I don't know.
Somebody just better give me some answers real quick! Listen.
Charley, calm down.
Hey, hey, Charley? Let me handle this, okay? Hey.
- Officer Newsome, is it? - Yes.
And can I just say on behalf of everyone, we're all hoping you get that fifth ring for the Stingers, Mr.
West.
Thanks, man.
Me, too.
Me, too.
Hey, listen, I'm looking for my son Micah.
We were told he's in custody here.
He's about 5'9", brown eyes, dark brown hair.
I've been told he looks a lot like me.
I'm sorry, but I checked the system.
- We don't have him.
- Okay, all right, listen.
You mind checking the holding cells? You know, just to be sure.
- Be happy to, Mr.
West.
- Thank you.
Go ahead.
(door buzzes) - (whispering) Get your selfie.
- Yeah, I know.
Hey, do you think I could get a quick selfie? (clicks) Thank you.
- Mom.
- (gasps) Micah.
Micah.
(sighs) (sighs) You okay? You okay? I know you must be tired.
Ain't nothing to be ashamed of.
Davis: I know you're not trying to blame me for this.
Charley: This is your fault.
Micah never would have been pulled over if you hadn't bought him that car! He's my son.
It was a present, okay? Charley, we can't protect him from everything.
- These things happen.
- These things? He was arrested for driving while black, and then you go and you make it worse with your Stepin Fetchit act! You know what your damn problem is? You can't stand that for once just once you don't have control, that you don't have the answers.
Yeah, I have may have danced for those white boys in there, okay? But it was my damn dance! I'm the reason he's free.
Hey, Micah.
(thunder rumbles) Davis: Look you're gonna be all right.
You hear me? Listen, hey, look at me.
Look.
Whatever went down, whatever happened in there, we're gonna get through this together.
Come here.
Did Charley say how Micah's doing? Didn't have to.
He been in jail.
Ain't no way he doing good.
You okay? I'm fine.
I'll go get Blue.
I'll see you at the house.
I can't.
What, you gotta work early? No, it's, um What? It it just feels like all of this has been moving really, really fast.
Fast? (chuckles softly) I mean, it took us a long time to get to a place that's good.
I've I've been wanting this so badly for so long that I let us skip a bunch of steps.
And I can't play house anymore.
It's dangerous.
At least for me.
You're breaking up with me? I don't think so.
We need to be able to stand on our own before we move forward together.
Do you understand? As long as we not breaking up.
We're not breaking up.
We're just slowing it down.
(sniffles) - (bell tolling) - Pray Pray for me 'Cause I'm out here on my own Need to find my way back home So pray (bell continues tolling) - Pray - Pray Daddy, wake up! We need to make breakfast! - You hungry? - Yeah.
When's Mommy coming over? Soon.
'Cause the wolves are out tonight Won't go down without a fight - Gonna make breakfast today? - Um - Huh? - Don't do it! I'm ticklish! - (laughs) - I knew you was coming for that! (music playing) (bell continues tolling) Oh, pray Pray Pray - You should go.
- Pray for me Pra-a-y Now you've got me on my knees Holding out for sympathy So pray Pray (door opens, knock on door) Charley: Hi.
Just, um just checking in on you.
You wanna talk about what happened yesterday? No.
Found the strength, the strength I will have my day - Okay.
- Pray - Pray for me - (door closes) Yeah, the wolves are out tonight Won't go down without a fight, so Pray Pray for me 'Cause I'm out here on my own Need to find my way back home So, pray Pra-a-y Pra-a-y Pray, pray, pray.