Queen Sugar (2016) s02e06 Episode Script

1 Hollywood: Previously on "Queen Sugar" Give it to me.
Bitch, I said right now.
I saw your face! Ralph Angel found a letter.
Leave the farm to him alone.
No Nova, no Charley.
I just don't want to see him fail.
Do you feel that there was emphasis on failure when you were Micah's age? Micah: I never felt like that at someone else's mercy.
Can't stop thinking about it.
Would you be interested in being my office assistant? I just got a job.
It's with Charley.
(bell tolls) Don't run Don't hide yourself Our family.
- Love will comfort you - (Ralph Angel sighs) Comfort you I will comfort you Comfort I'll send a picture to Charley.
- (clicks) - Why? So she could see it.
Trust yourself Uh-huh.
If she wanted to come, she would've made time.
Our sister's making history today.
Here, sign this so we can go.
Love will comfort you Comfort you I will comfort you.
(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 Keep the colors in the lines Keep the colors in the lines, take flight.
(machine whirring) Micah: Grandpa would be so proud.
Thanks, honey.
I just want everything to be perfect today.
Oh, really? Just today? (laughs) Go get dressed.
Do you know where the certificate is, Rah? (sighs) Groceries supposed to go inside the fridge.
Ain't that right? Pops should've been had a new refrigerator a long time ago.
You hear of Stratto Enterprises? They sent Daddy a paycheck.
- It's for $600 and change.
- No.
Don't know nothing about it.
Except it's enough for a new fridge.
- Rah.
- I'm just saying.
(knocking on door, door opens) Darla: Charley, your appointment's here.
Thanks.
Ben Harrison.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
I I'm sorry.
I was expecting Adam.
Right.
Right.
Well, Adam's in San Francisco profiling some tech billionaire.
I can see you're disappointed.
No, I'm just, um Adam wrote a piece on my husband for "Esquire.
" We have a shorthand.
Look, Mrs.
West, I'm not Adam, but I'm good at what I do.
My editor wants to run you in the next issue.
Okay.
You mind? - Fire away.
- (recorder beeps) St.
Josephine Parish is a long way from Los Angeles.
(chuckles) Why the abrupt change? Why flee LA for rural Louisiana? You're direct.
I like that.
My father, Ernest Bordelon passed away unexpectedly.
I made a promise to him.
That's what this is about.
His death coincided with your husband's involvement in a sexual assault.
That's a lot to handle.
It was a difficult time.
But my being here is about my father and my family.
It's about legacy.
And for the record, Davis was never charged.
But you know that.
- Of course.
- Mm-hmm.
But you did settle the civil case with that woman? Melina Galoudian.
Yes, we did.
It was tough, but we came out of it stronger.
So, now a fresh start.
- (chuckles) - New team, new city.
How's your family handling the transition? Well, we have a place in New Orleans and we're renovating the old barracks here on this property.
Hmm.
Where's Davis? He's in Miami at an endorsement appearance.
It was booked before we knew what today would be, so That's too bad.
The opening, all the work you've put into it.
Such a shame your husband has to miss it.
(knocking on door, door opens) Sorry to interrupt.
They said they can't bring the evaporator.
(continues indistinctly) I can clear out.
Yeah, would you mind us picking up a little later? - That's fine.
- Okay.
- Thanks.
- Yeah.
(recorder beeps) Mrs.
Bordelon-West.
Hi, there.
(music playing) (Hollywood sighs) Violet: Hey, hey.
Did you get everything? Woman, who is you talking to? Now, when was the last time you sent me out to get you something you need and me come back empty-handed? All right, now.
You can talk that talk if you can walk that walk.
- Oh, I can walk it, now.
- Mm-hmm.
Three bottles of almond extract.
- All right.
- Three bottles of lemon.
- Mm-hmm.
- And three bottles of vanilla.
What about the rum? - Ah! - (both laughing) What, you nip into it? And face Pearl and her church ladies? I ain't that brave.
(laughs) That's right.
I think chocolate rum pie is how they get they fix.
Well, since y'all going to mark Ernest's grave, I can deliver them for you.
Nope.
I can do it.
That'll take half a day.
I said I can do it 'cause I'm not going to the cemetery.
Chère.
Now, what's this about? You need to go and pay your respects.
Yeah, well, we buried him once.
I don't see no need in doing it again.
I called Stratto Enterprises, the payroll service.
They gave me your number.
Mr.
Ernest had the respect of the men he worked with.
No one knew what to think when he stopped turning up.
I found his things.
There wasn't much in his locker.
What was his job here? He was a custodian.
I didn't know.
(sighs) It's called imbibition.
And it's where we made our biggest investment.
It increases the yield 20%.
Which means farmers get more in their pockets.
They're already getting a higher return, thanks to Charley breaking up the monopoly.
This is a big deal, for black farmers in this community especially.
Boy, you two have your act down.
It's an exciting time.
So, Remy, have you been involved from the beginning? - With the mill? - Well, you tell me.
Sounds like Charley and her husband don't have a lot of experience in the endeavor.
So I just want to make sure I understand who does what.
Well, I'm more of a consultant.
Remy's a professor in LSU's Agricultural Department.
So, you met professionally? - Well, actually - We met through the family because Charley's daddy, Ernest, was one of my best friends and kind of a father figure to me.
Mmm.
Got it.
So, you're more like siblings.
- Yeah.
- Something like that.
(music playing) Gotta have your milk today.
- How much is it? - It's two-dot-one-nine.
That's right.
Come on.
My teacher says I'm so good at numbers - Oh, yeah? - that I can go to Mars.
Yeah, just don't leave me yet.
(laughs) Oh, my God.
I lost my job because of you.
I I ain't never met you before.
Don't lie! (gasps) Come on, Blue.
Come on, come on.
Can you at least try? (man mumbles on phone) Right, okay, look, but you just said I'm not trying to hassle look, just let me check.
One shit.
Shit! (sighs) I'm sorry, no, no, no.
No, sir, I wasn't I wasn't talking to you.
Ugh.
I'm really sorry.
We'll get back to you about that, all right? Shit.
I noticed you didn't say anything about divorcing Davis.
We won't announce the divorce until it's final in a couple months.
In the meantime I got some advice from a friend.
Hmm.
Before I get too wrapped up in anything or anyone else I should take some time.
So, I took my friend's advice to heart.
I've even seen a therapist.
- Wow.
- Mm-hmm.
It's good to have friends.
(door opens) - Darla.
What's up? - Hi.
Congressman Cartwright's office is on your phone.
Go to the barracks and find a change of clothes.
- No, Charley, these clothes are - Don't be silly.
Go.
Thank you.
(door closes) (footsteps approaching) - Sorry.
- Your mom sent me to change.
She's telling you what to wear, too? She's helping me out.
How do I look? Not bad, but hold on a sec.
This.
Ooh.
Where'd you learn how to tie a tie? My escort to cotillion one year.
(chuckles) Cool.
- (phone buzzing) - Um Mom.
She's probably wondering where I am.
Probably.
- Thank you.
- Of course.
Thanks.
Hello? Hey, Mom.
Yeah, I'm on my way.
Ben: Let me ask you something that might be thorny.
There've been no black male owners in this state.
How do the other male owners feel about you? I don't concern myself with that, but I do know how my father would feel, and he'd be pleased to have a choice on where to mill.
Okay, let's try this.
In LA, you had it all.
Celebrity, power, image.
Call me crazy, but is this really enough? Honoring the memory of my father? (scoffs) It's more than enough.
So, this is how it's gonna be? I'm not sure I follow.
No matter what I ask, you steer me back to the party line you're spinning about your father.
There's no party line.
I'm just speaking my truth.
(chuckles) There's more.
I really am opening this mill to honor him.
That's the story.
(music playing) Hollywood: Have you told them you're not going tomorrow? Not yet.
Too busy for the dedication, but not for the mill opening, huh? Would you stop minding all of my business and mind your own? Have you even thought about what this will do to the kids? I am not their mama.
And they ain't kids, they grown.
You said so yourself.
I know you're not their mama, but you are Ernest's sister.
Remember that.
(mumbles) (chuckles) These just came for you.
They are so gorgeous.
Charley: Are these from my mom? - Her apology for not being here.
- (scoffs) "Welcome to the club.
Sam Landry"? - Mm, mm, mm.
- Man, Charley.
Oh, always exciting when the first crop comes in.
Yeah, well, I hope mine come in good.
Oh, you don't worry about your (both chuckling) - Nova.
- What's going on? Hey.
Y'all need a minute? - Uh - No.
It's okay.
You were Daddy's friend.
Did you know Daddy was working as a janitor? Janitor? That's where the check came from.
But why didn't he tell us? You were living with him, Rah.
How could you not know? How am I supposed to know? It ain't no It's not Ralph Angel's fault.
I knew Ernest was moonlighting, but he wouldn't tell me where.
He was ashamed not to be farming.
(scoffs) (exhales) (crowd chattering) A mill doesn't run without cane.
And cane doesn't grow without farmers.
I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for one special farmer my father.
(women vocalizing) Ernest Bordelon.
And now I and my sister Nova and my brother Ralph Angel carry the torch by farming the land he left us.
And you will see 4,000 years before I grow I know he's looking down on us.
And I'm a lost cause as far as causes go And I dedicate the opening of this mill to him and thank him for this journey of the heart that has brought our family together.
- Man: Amen.
- (applause) I see the beautiful faces of my daddy's friends.
Farmers who worked the land with dignity.
We honor you by creating a place that treats you fairly.
Man: Whoo, yes! Louisiana Congressman Cartwright and Parish President Thomas Arthur, I invite you to cut the ribbon with me.
(mouthing words) And I'm a lost cause as far as causes go - Open my heart, I need to show - (cheering, applause) I'll never get there without you dear Been on my own so long I have asked our farmers to bring some of their crop to put in the hopper as a symbol of unity.
And mingled together, the fruits of our labor - will launch this mill.
- Man #2: Hear, hear! My brother Ralph Angel and his son Blue will start us off.
You excited, Blue? (laughs) - Excuse me.
- I can see the time run out I can see my soul escaping They will always hunt you down Can you be my salvation? I can see the time run out - I can see my soul escaping - Let's fire it up! (crowd cheering) (music playing) - Really appreciate it.
- Thank you.
Oh, I remember when you were just a little girl running through the summer grass.
Look at you now.
Mm, mm, mm.
(both chuckling) (gasps) Hello! Can I have a balloon? Yes, you can have a balloon.
It's right over there.
What? You're working for her and now you're wearing her clothes? Ralph Angel I spilled coffee on myself.
I had to change.
She was just helping me.
You do look good.
(chuckles) Come on.
(laughing) Your daddy would've been proud.
Thank you, Mr.
Prosper.
- (mouths) Yeah.
- (chuckles) (alarm blaring) (crowd murmuring) - What is it? - Pressure feeder.
And? Remy: Too much cane went in the grinder.
- We have to shut down.
- (machinery stops) We have over 100 guests out there.
Press from all over the state.
We can't shut down! Charley, it's just a choke.
It happens.
Not today.
Give them time, they'll clear it.
Man: We're just gonna have to clear it up by hand.
Fine.
Fine.
- Let's do that.
Let's do it.
- Charley, no.
No.
(panting) Remy: Charley, come on.
Hey, this is off-limits.
Sure.
- (whining) - Let them do their job.
Don't tell me what to do.
(crying) Listen.
Come on.
Come on, sis.
They got this.
Come on.
Okay.
(gasps) Everything was supposed to be perfect for Daddy.
You know how he didn't like to ask for help? But he did.
Last time I talked to Daddy he asked me to come.
And I didn't come.
You were dealing with your own life crisis with Davis.
I was so stuck in the middle of his mess, I didn't even get to say goodbye to my own father.
You didn't know.
I thought if I could just I could just put together this mill, then then maybe I could just I could make it right.
I don't remember the last time Daddy and I spoke.
When I got there he couldn't talk no more.
(footsteps approaching) She okay? Man, she just lost it.
(sighs) This isn't just another business project for her.
This is about you and your grandpa, the farm, all of us.
She put her heart in it.
And you know your mama.
Failure is not an option.
Yeah.
But she did it.
First black woman to own a mill in the state of Louisiana.
Hmm.
I feel that I can reach out and touch his skin like he's for real.
I miss him.
I do, too.
But he's not your papa.
That's right.
He's my brother.
(band playing) - Doing okay? - Absolutely.
(sighs) Why don't you have a drink in your hand? Let's, uh let's fix that.
Are you sure? You saw that? It was a little more private than marching into the middle of a basketball game, but It was private.
And it's off the record.
It happened, and I witnessed it.
Okay, this is a big day for my family.
Can you just stop being a reporter for a moment? No more than you can stop micromanaging every aspect of your image.
I told you that I made my father a promise.
What I didn't tell you is that I did it after he died, to make things right.
Which is why today is so important.
That is my story.
No, that's a story.
What I see is a woman who's used to projecting perfection and control but is actually putting her family back together without either.
It's human, and that's what I wanna write about.
Tell the story of the mill, of my father without the choke and I'll give you something else.
I'm listening.
I'm divorcing Davis.
Do a story on the mill and I'll give you the exclusive.
(door closes) Everyone's been paid.
Did you have dinner? There are some leftovers from the caterer.
I'm fine.
Today was good.
I don't know.
That choke threw me off.
I really lost it.
Everyone does sometimes.
- It's okay.
- You haven't met my mother.
You haven't met my dad.
Well we did it.
(both chuckling) Darla, I'm sorry.
Uh, I'm so tired, I I forgot.
- You want some iced tea? - That'd be great.
Okay.
I'm I'm coming up on two years clean and sober.
There's gonna be a little ceremony.
Ralph Angel's coming.
Would you be able to? I'm flattered you'd ask.
Of course I'll be there.
You gave me this chance.
This job.
Having a regular schedule really it really helps with my sobriety.
Thank you.
I'm glad you're here.
Sounds like it's a win for both of us.
(birds chirping) Hello, Mama.
I know you're here.
(singers vocalizing) Yeah - Yeah - Mama didn't want a stone.
She's free.
I miss her, too.
I will be true - And I will seek - (bell pealing) - Yeah - Gave away my pain - Yeah - And all their chains - Yeah - 'Cause I'm no slave - Yeah! - Yeah Pastor: We bless this stone at the final resting place of your servant, Ernest.
For all I am My ancestors tell me May perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
- All: Amen.
- it tells me so My being tells me so For all I am For all I am My ancestors tell me so My blood, it tells me so We are all here, Daddy.
- Yeah - For all I am My ancestors tell me so We've respected your wishes done as you asked.
My being tells me We will pour our labor and love into the land and keep the farm going.
For all I am - For all I am - You can rest in peace.
(bell ringing) Because we will live out the legacy you left us.
Yeah (door opens) Blue.
(door closes) Blue.
(chuckles) Blue.
Hey.
You ain't hear me callin'? This isn't Kenya.
It look like Kenya to me.
She had a birthmark here.
I gave it to her myself.
But now it's gone.
(sniffles) You sure about that, buddy? Do you know where she went? (sighs) Kenya got thrown away.
- (gasps) - So we got you a new one.
I'm sorry, Blue.
- Did she she do something wrong? - No.
No.
It was just a mistake.
Did I do something wrong? No.
You ain't do nothing wrong, you hear? Come here.
Come here.
- You good.
- (sniffling) Okay? Why did the lady at the store call you a liar? I I ain't lying no more.
I ain't lying no more.
- Nova: This redfish looks so good! - (all chuckling) Vi, you never disappoint.
- Charley: So true.
- Violet: Thank you.
Well, this is a feast fit for Daddy.
Mm.
Ralph Angel, you wanna say grace? I'm good.
Ralph Angel, please? Violet: Come on.
All right.
(all exhaling) Ralph Angel: Um (clears throat) Lord, we thank You.
We thank You for this food we're about to receive and for the nourishment of our bodies.
You remember Pop.
A good man.
An honest man.
Every time I looked at him I could tell he wanted me to be a better man.
And that's what I'm gonna do now.
(exhales) I ain't been telling y'all the truth.
Ralph Angel, finish saying grace.
Truth about what? Daddy had a lockbox hid up in his closet.
There was more to the will.
He wrote it by hand.
More? The farm he left it to me.
Just me.
I I mean, it's all in the letter.
Y'all could read it for yourselves.
He said it's 'cause I needed it most.
So you've been lying to us.
Mycah, ahem, take Blue outside, please.
Go on, now.
Come on, Blue.
Let's go outside.
You knew, too, Aunt Vi? How long have you known? Baby, it wasn't like that.
When did you find this letter? A couple of months ago, after Pops died.
I uprooted my life, my son all because of a lie? And now with the mill Do you have any idea what I did to get that mill? You act like I knew from the start, Charley.
Well, I didn't.
Well, you were more than happy to use my money.
You see? (scoffs) There she go.
- All right.
- Don't turn this around.
You were using me.
- I ain't using you.
- That's not fair.
It's not what he's been doing.
You knew about this, too? It's best we stay out of this.
Daddy cleaning floors and scrubbing toilets to keep your son in clothes and food.
What? He was working as a janitor before he died.
What are you talking about? I found out yesterday.
I didn't tell you 'cause I didn't wanna rain on your day.
Dear Ernest.
He worked himself into the ground gave up farming to clean up after other folk for you Ralph Angel.
So y'all are just gonna put this on me? Huh? You was living large in LA.
Yeah, and, Nova, you was only 20 miles away, - but you hardly ever passed by - How would you know?! Most of those years, you weren't here neither! - Yeah.
- Violet: All right, y'all.
Okay.
Yeah, you fighting for every brother in prison except your own, huh? You're the one who put yourself in prison.
- You can't blame Nova.
- All right.
I know y'all ashamed of me.
- Okay, no.
- The truth is out now.
I'm trying to make this right.
- That's what you're doing, huh? - Violet: Okay, stop it! Stop it! - I think we just did.
- Violet: No, uh-uh.
Nova! Uh-uh.
Nova, no! No! You are not leaving yet.
You can't stop me, Aunt Vi.
You're not leaving.
Nobody is leaving until we settle this mess.
To the feet of swine It need not cast its pearls Lonely, lonely, lonely Lonely, lonely world (singer vocalizing) Lonely, lonely, lonely Lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely