Queen Sugar (2016) s04e03 Episode Script

1 Previously on "Queen Sugar" NOVA: My family is having trouble with the book.
I just need some more time to smooth things out before the book tour.
This story is gonna help so many people I don't give a damn about so many people, Nova! He trusts you.
When he reads this, he'll believe I'm a monster.
This book ain't just about Earnest.
"My aunt Violet, broken more times than she can count, by my uncle Jimmy Dale.
" No, she didn't.
[VOICE BREAKING.]
You have to put the brakes on it.
I can't.
It's going to print.
[LAMP CLICKS.]
[EXHALES DEEPER.]
[QUIETLY.]
Get it together, Vi.
[SIGHS.]
You are stronger than this.
[KNOCKS ON DOOR.]
HOLLYWOOD: [MUFFLED.]
Everything all right in there? Fine.
I'll be out in a minute.
Don't give me that look.
Well, you don't seem fine.
Ain't seemed fine all morning.
If I say I'm okay, then I'm okay.
Well, what you say and what you are can be two totally different things.
Now, baby, I begged you don't stay up all night reading that book.
Called her three times this morning.
Ah, she too scared to answer.
Hell, I would be, too.
Well, then she shouldn't have put my life out there.
For the world.
I told her she better come look me in my face before the sun goes down because I have to go to the 9th ward looking for her, I will.
[MAKEUP CLATTERS.]
How could she do that? How could she? RHONDA: Morning, Ms.
Vi.
Morning, Rhonda.
Everything copacetic? Oh, yes, ma'am.
Oh, we're running low on napkins and to-go containers.
Can y'all grab some from the back? Got you, baby.
Baby, just go on and take a seat and I'll be right with you.
Of course.
Thank you.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS.]
It's good to see you, sweetheart.
It's been a while, huh? It's been a while.
Dreams never die Take flight as the world turns Keep the colors in the lines 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 - Here you go.
- Vi? Thank you, brother.
Come on.
Vi? I'll go get another towel.
You okay, baby? You need a doctor? VIOLET: What happened? You passed out.
Here, drink this.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Mm.
Wait.
Wait, where - What happened? - Shh, baby, you okay, all right? You just got a lot on your mind right now.
The opening harvest, Nova, and all that stuff.
That's it, okay? But you got to start taking it easier.
Hollywood, uh, let's, uh Let's go home.
I just need a little rest, okay? Okay.
[MUFFLED MUSIC PLAYS FROM EARBUDS.]
Micah? Maybe after school, we should talk about some of the things that you're reading in that book.
I know dad did what he did but you paid Melina Galoudian millions of dollars to keep quiet? I did it for you.
For us.
For our privacy.
Nova's book is not how I wanted you to learn about that.
All I ask is that you remember that what's black and white on the pages of a book is often very Gray in in real life.
People say stuff like that, but never what they really mean.
I'm on the board of Landry Enterprises.
You think it's because I want to be in business with the family that enslaved our ancestors? That I love money that much? Or is it because I need to know what they're up to? I'm not judging you, mom.
I just don't [SIGHS.]
Understand you sometimes.
So, you believe everything you read? No.
But this book was written by somebody I trust, so [QUIETLY.]
"Trust.
" Wow.
So you don't trust me? Can we talk about something else, please? [LAPTOP CHIMING.]
Hey, Deborah! Perfect timing.
I can't decide what outfit to wear for my interview with Dr.
Hall.
I heard you should avoid red, black, and white - while on camera.
- Good to know.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- [HANGERS RATTLE.]
Even if the only folks who are seeing this are psychology students or therapy centers, I, uh, want to present myself right.
That may all be about to change with the news I've got for you.
So, we got an advance on your New York Times book review, and, Nova, - it's a love letter.
- A love letter? From the times? Well, when does it come out? This afternoon.
I wasn't expecting this.
Well, we were.
We've believed in you from the start.
Thank you.
What did they say? Well, it's in your inbox, but here's an appetizer.
"'Blessing and Blood' is a near-virtuoso-level memoir that speaks in both the intimacy of a whisper and the roar of an urgent call to action.
Nova Bordelon's writing feels as if it's fueled by both fire and fear, a potent combination that catapults this journalist- turned-author to the upper echelons of writers exploring race, culture, and identity in America.
" I know, right? Are you there? Oh, my God.
I don't know what to say.
Your work says it all.
It's moving now.
It's connecting with people, just like you wanted.
[SIGHS.]
Generator ready to go? Alternator's still busted.
Meant to call you before you came.
My bad.
[TRAIN HORN BLOWS.]
Today just ain't going my way, Mr.
Prosper.
Ah, you're doing just fine, Ralph Angel.
So, what's on your mind? I don't know.
Nova.
The book.
She's going in on everybody.
Charley, aunt Vi, Blue.
Everybody? Something I need to be concerned with, too? I doubt it.
But knowing Nova, you never know.
So, what does she got to write about Blue, other than the love she got for him? She telling the world he ain't mine, prosper.
That he ain't my kid.
'Fore he even know.
I see.
You don't seem surprised.
By now, I've learned that life is full of surprises.
Plus, I've seen this kind of thing before.
My father wasn't my father, either.
I mean, if you mean it in the biblical way.
For real? Didn't find out till I was in high school, and by then, I didn't care.
Now, he was good to me.
That's thicker than blood.
Sound like a good man.
Yep.
He wasn't my father, but he was my Daddy.
[CHUCKLES.]
[SIGHING.]
Yeah.
So, the way I look at it is I won.
And Blue did, too.
A book don't change that.
And make sure your boy knows it.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING.]
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
Okay, slow down, slow down.
Say it again.
Ignacio.
Enfermo.
Uh, sick.
HOST: Now, Nova, we're fortunate to have two families that read an advance copy of your memoir, and they're here to share their experiences after reading your book.
WOMAN: For a long time, my mother and I refused to address our issues.
Kind of like you and Charley.
Can I ask how you were able to break through all the hurt feelings and the trauma to get to a healthier place with her? I finally had to let go of the fear that stopped me from thinking about anything in my relationships that saddened me, let alone alone deal with them.
I realized I was suppressing everything.
But that's just putting it in a drawer.
It's not gone.
It's just Away.
And some day, somebody's going to open that drawer, and the pain will still be there.
So, I decided to clean out the drawer once and for all.
Writing this was therapeutic in that way.
And it's an experience I hope those who read it will have, as well.
[CELLPHONE DIALING.]
MAN: Frances Boudreaux's office.
Hi, this is Charley Bordelon.
Ms.
Bordelon, Mrs.
Boudreaux is not taking calls at this time.
Care to leave a message? Yes.
My message is that I want to know how Jacob Boudreaux gets to attend board meetings and I don't.
Especially since we have the same amount of shares in Landry Enterprises.
Tell Frances I expect a call back.
Soon.
[SIGHS.]
[LID CLOSES, TOILET FLUSHES.]
What's going on, Vi? Baby, you ain't say a word on the way home, and you don't want nothing to eat.
I'm scared for you.
I saw Jimmy Dale at the diner.
Saw who? Bald-head guy with the white beard.
Old boy with a yellow shirt? Said he caught you when you passed out.
He put his hands on you? - And he ain't even say who he was? - Hollywood Trying to play the good samaritan and shit, he gonna tip on out the front door? Oh, hell no! I didn't know what to do.
I didn't know what to say.
When I realized it was him, - something just happened.
- [CELLPHONE DIALING.]
Who are you calling? Hey, Rhonda, this is wood.
RHONDA: Hey, Hollywood.
Hey, you remember that customer? Which one? Yeah, the new guy with the yellow shirt.
Oh, yeah? Let me know if he come back in.
- All right.
- [CELLPHONE BEEPS.]
Hollywood, I don't want you to get mixed up with his nonsense.
He's good at that.
Oh, baby, St.
Joe's ain't but so big.
He around here somewhere.
Worst thing in your life coming to your new place of business after 30 years? Nah, he here to get something started.
But I'm-a finish it.
[CELLPHONE RINGING, VIBRATING.]
Hey, Ralph.
Say, I got a little situation over here at the farm.
Might make me late to my office slot this week.
That's gonna back me up.
Yeah, well, I got circumstances.
What's the problem? Ignacio.
My top worker, he got sick.
Can't go to a hospital, if you know what I mean.
I may actually know someone who can, uh Who can help with that.
Let me call you back.
Keke.
Can we talk? - I'm-a catch you later.
- All right.
I don't know.
Can we? I've been trying to.
You haven't answered any of my texts.
We're at the same school.
We have to talk at some point.
All right, let's talk.
Why are you acting all brand-new on me, huh? Fighting a guy like you some new-age thug? You think that's cute? You know he had it coming to him.
If it wasn't me, it was going to be someone else.
I'm not with someone else.
I'm with Micah west.
You You're right.
Okay? It was stupid of me.
I need to be more wise about things.
You're important to me.
What you think about me is important to me.
Just promise me that it won't get there again? You need channel that anger some other way.
I know.
I'm working on it.
I can't say I won't disappoint you.
I'm not perfect, but I can promise you I will never disrespect you.
Mama taught me better than that.
Want to tell me what's going on, Jacob? Could you give us a moment, Hank? Ms.
Bordelon.
I'll wait just outside.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
Who's he? And how does he know my name? One you're kind of famous, so lots of people know your name.
And two He's a new consultant.
Hank Miller.
What's with all the consultants? Mark kryger, Hank Miller Businesses hire consultants, Charley.
It's their job to know all our primary shareholders.
Well, I'm not exactly primary anymore, and neither are you.
Yet you're able to attend board meetings without possession of the proper number of shares Sam combined his shares and voting power with me.
He passed new bylaws so family members can attend, even if we don't have enough shares.
And to think I gave you the benefit of the doubt that you gained an ounce of dignity.
[CELLPHONE CHIMES.]
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS.]
What's this all about, Jacob? JACOB: You know how much I like you, Charley.
I need to let you know.
I think it's best if you don't ruffle anymore feathers.
[CHUCKLES.]
I don't respond to threats.
You know what my family is capable of.
They're like a freight train.
They stop at nothing in their way.
And you shutting down the prison, it didn't exactly slow things down.
That's all I'm at Liberty to say.
So now I'm supposed to trust that you care about me? My family? Where's your mama? She claimed to have my back, but now she's nowhere to be found.
She's in DC taking meetings to expand Landry Enterprises.
Expanding to do what? That's all I know right now.
Oh, that's all you know? So, you're gonna make me work to find out? Fine.
I actually know how to work.
That's what you think of me? I've just been high on the hog since birth.
Silver spoon in my mouth, never worked for nothing.
That's what you think? You've had a family.
Love.
Camaraderie.
I never had that.
To get anything close to love with us, you got to break skin, show blood, and be happy about it.
I was never wired for it.
I always hoped you'd see that.
I still do.
There are things going on that shouldn't be, Charley.
I'm trying to look out for you.
Why can't you just sit back and enjoy your dividends? For the same reason you can just sit back and enjoy your privilege, Jacob.
At some point, we all make our own choices.
Your family made theirs, and you've chosen to go along.
You telling a sad story about it doesn't change it.
HOLLYWOOD: Coffee hot enough for you? Well, it sure is.
Now, you must be the manager.
I didn't get to meet you earlier, proper like, what with all the commotion.
I sure do hope Violet's doing okay.
I know who you are, Jimmy Dale, and I know what you're all about, so you can save "the showtime and the Apollo," skinning and grinning, 'cause I know what's behind it.
So does my wife.
[CHUCKLES.]
Oh, I see what's going on here.
But you got this all wrong.
See, me and Violet, things just didn't work out.
That's all.
But that's old water under an old bridge, my friend.
I ain't your friend.
I'm Hollywood Desonier.
And I'm-a tell you this one time and be noble about it.
You need to bounce.
Excuse me, young blood? She don't want you around here, and neither do I.
So go ahead and raise on up.
[LAUGHS.]
Ah-ha, hell.
You remember Earnest Bordelon? Yeah, Earnest.
So, if you want to par to with that ass-whipping, think I'm playing with you.
So, go ahead and pay your tab, get your little goofy ass in the car, and get the hell up out of town before you catch these hands.
Well, I don't stay where I'm not wanted.
I mean, I was just driving through.
I just wanted to wish Violet good luck with her little diner.
That's all.
I don't want no trouble.
Didn't mean no disrespect.
Yeah.
But, uh The Bordelons was my family too for a long time.
But that time done passed, but the past don't change.
I didn't get into it with him, baby.
Didn't have to.
He gone.
Well, how'd you manage that? 'Cause Jimmy don't back down easy.
Maybe he getting wise in his old age, but I followed his ass all the way to the end of St.
Jo's parish line, watched him hop on the freeway headed west.
And all you did was talk.
That's all.
But he was getting up out of here come hook or by crook.
RALPH ANGEL: Yeah, I never take no real lunch break, especially not late like this.
I could get used to it.
The one thing about working in the bureaucracy of the United States government I don't mind - Hm? - Is people clock in, take their breaks, and clock the hell out.
While we was on the phone the other night, said you was working from home, right? I'm never gonna let my cases suffer, but I am gonna eat my damn lunch, too.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Mmm.
I, um I know it's harvest time.
I didn't I didn't think you'd make it.
- Needed a little break.
- Mm.
Working around the clock, you know? Besides I wanted to see you.
CHARLEY: Vicky, I need you to look into something for me.
I-I received the minutes from the board meeting, and I saw a $1.
5 million purchase of unidentified land, oddly tucked under "operational expenditures," and I have no clue what that's for.
Yeah, I'm just trying to Trying to get up to speed.
Um Could you look into it if I e-mailed it for you? Yeah.
Yeah, okay.
Thanks, Vicky.
You're the best.
Hi.
Wow.
Thank you.
This is so On time.
You are very welcome.
It's good to break up the work day every once in a while, yeah? Yeah, it is.
And you'll be pleased to know that your brother's work here will be fine.
- Glad you called me.
- [SIGHS.]
Thanks for making the time.
Yeah, your brother's, uh, doing good by his men, taking good care of them.
That's nice to see.
- You don't see that very often.
- Hm.
Some of the things I've heard I've seen some, uh, pretty messed up stuff in St.
Jo that you wouldn't expect.
What do you mean? Stuff that, uh, just stays with you.
Like, um, those two migrant workers, the ones that were, uh, killed on one of the farms a few years back.
Because they were forced to work in the storm.
That's just not giving a damn.
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYS.]
But you give a damn.
I mean, the work that you're doing at the border makes a difference, right? I'm just one man.
Well, if you could do more, what would it be? More.
Just just more.
Set up the stations for people who need it.
Anonymous, safe, clean.
What would it take to get something like that up and running? Volunteers and a safe, clean space that's not visible from the street.
But, uh, that gets expensive.
Hm So, I have a space The former barracks in the back of the mill.
It's vacant.
I mean, if you can get the volunteers, and I'd pay for the supplies.
We could just do it there.
[CHUCKLES.]
Are you serious right now? I-I mean, 'cause that That could work.
We can do, uh, maybe a P.
O.
P.
Clinic once a week.
For now.
Are you serious? Very.
[CHUCKLES.]
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS.]
[INHALES DEEPLY.]
You can't hurt me again.
Yeah, Blue mama and I We just got on good terms, so it's not happening overnight, tell you that much.
- It's a process.
- Yeah.
I'm still not there with Joie's dad yet.
Just found it best to stay as far apart as possible.
He doesn't come around much, so it works.
Listen, uh I just want to keep it real with you.
I did some things in my past that I had to pay for.
- I was - I know.
I ran your background.
Old habits die hard when you're a public defender and dating and have a kid.
I respect that.
I read your file.
But my work has taught me people aren't their files.
You're certainly not.
Ah, this pie is so good.
I feel like I'm doing something wrong by eating it.
[CHUCKLES.]
Well, let me help you out.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Feels good in here.
Help yourself to whatever.
Yes.
Water's fine.
Water.
So healthy.
[REFRIGERATOR DOOR CLOSES.]
What's wrong? "Micah West, close your big, loud mouth, or we will fill it with your blood and our bullets.
" - What? - "Keep stirring up trouble in St.
Jo, and we will put you down like the filthy mutt you are.
" Oh, my God.
We need to take this to the police.
What are they gonna do? [FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING.]
I'll deal with this.
Just let me fix it.
How do you fix a death threat? I'm on it.
Why does it seem like I can't do anything right by you lately? I don't know.
I think I'm just accepting the fact that we're two different people with two different views of the world.
[DRAWER UNLOCKS, OPENS.]
You received the first one a week after your speech at the prison rally.
And this one came Two days later.
So I sent you to Paris for the summer and hired you a security detail you never knew about.
What? This one came The day that I took you to the airport to go to Paris.
These came the day after you left.
Micah, what do you see? Letters threatening to kill me.
And how do you feel now that you've seen them? Angry.
Well, I don't have time to be angry.
I'm too busy being afraid for you.
So if we see the world differently, it's because I am committed to doing whatever I have to do to keep you safe.
If that means sending you to Paris for three months [DRAWER CLOSES.]
I'm fine with that.
If that means asking you to trust me I'm fine with that.
If that means Let me protect you.
It's my job.
- Mom! - Hey! Where'd you guys go? I texted you.
Dad surprised me after school.
We went to the roller rink, and me and Joie got ice cream.
I got chocolate mint.
Super good.
Joie.
Who is that? RALPH ANGEL: New friend he met after school.
He wanted to do a little play date at the playground.
I see.
Hope it didn't ruin your appetite.
It was only two scoops.
RALPH ANGEL: Alright, go wash that outside off you, Blue.
Take your backpack off.
[SIGHS.]
I got to talk to you about something.
Okay.
Nova wrote about Blue in her book.
What do you mean? What did she write about him? What the hell did she write about him? That I ain't his biological father.
Why would she do this? [SIGHS.]
[SCOFFS.]
Why would she [EXHALES SHARPLY.]
I am so Sorry.
Ain't your fault.
I ain't blaming you.
Did she write about our past? I mean [EXHALES SHARPLY.]
How how can she get into Blue without writing about us, too? I ain't read much more after that part.
I I couldn't.
Why would she do this? You know Nova.
She gonna do what she want, how she want, and it's always right for Nova.
Does she even consider other people's feelings? This hurts you.
[SIGHING.]
Oh, God.
And it's gonna hurt Blue.
Not let that happen.
Can't let that happen.
I know it might take some time, process this, but, time's right Let's speak to him together.
Alright? Alright.
- [DOOR OPENS.]
- VIOLET: There he is.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
- He is gonna love that I made this chicken pot pie.
[OMINOUS CHORD STRIKES.]
So, you do still live here.
Good to see you, Violet.
You look good, baby.
Why are you here? Why why don't you open the door? Let me come in proper so we can set for a spell, talk things out.
We due for a talk.
Like adults.
No, you need to leave now.
I done came all this way to see you, Violet.
Don't turn me away.
We are grown.
We are grown past all that childish nonsense, and we both changed.
So I'm just here to get back on the right track with you.
That's all.
Come on, sweet cakes.
I see you made some changes.
Still feels like my house, though.
Smells like you and your cooking, and I do Miss both, I will tell you.
But I didn't marry you for your cooking, now.
So how you doing? Violet, I'm talking to you.
Not your house, Jimmy.
My house.
I see you got yourself that boy.
Your, uh, new husband.
Hollywood? Is that it? He ain't a boy.
[LAUGHS.]
I ain't never met no man allow himself to be called that.
No, that ain't no man.
That's the name of a boy with stupid dreams.
I didn't come here to talk about him.
I came here to talk about us.
Listen, I am sorry how we left things.
I was just A young, dumb man back then.
Everybody makes mistakes, but not everybody's man enough to admit to them.
Some come to they dignity later in life.
You the last person who can ever talk about dignity, Jimmy Dale.
Get out of my house.
So that's how you gonna do me? After all this time? You're damn right.
There's the door.
- Use it.
- [VEHICLE DOOR CLOSES.]
Still got that spice in you.
Jimmy Dale.
What are you doing here? He's just leaving.
Oh, hey, Nova.
Good to see you again.
Excuse me "Again"? What's he talking about? I can explain.
I can explain.
VIOLET: Whatever you did to bring this to my doorstep, you can't explain it.
Well, she ain't got to explain nothing.
I'm just here to see how the years treated you, and, from where I'm standing, the years done good by you.
Just a little pooch Don't you get near her!! - Get your hands off me! - Get out! Get out! Get out! Go! Get out! You want to show your face at our house man, is you out your damn mind? I was trying to be nice to you, but I ain't the one, boy.
I'm trying to tell you.
- Aah! - VIOLET: No! Hollywood, no! Stop! - You're gonna kill him! - [GRUNTING.]
Hollywood, stop! [OUT OF BREATH.]
I see why you held onto your anger all this time, Violet.
'Cause I took something from you that you ain't never gonna get back, but I just came here to say I was sorry.
But you know what? I ain't sorry at all.
I ain't sorry about a damn thing.
You are what you always were Earnest's little sassy sister, but you were one hot piece of ass.
[HOLLYWOOD GRUNTS.]
I never should've tried to make you a wife.
VIOLET: He doesn't matter.
He doesn't matter.
He's not worth it.
I never meant for things to come to this.
Yeah, you never do.
Well, I'll start with the truth.
I did go talk to Jimmy Dale for my book.
I thought it was for a good reason at the time.
I wanted to get all sides of the story.
I was hoping to explore whether redemption was possible Even for the worst of us, for those with unforgivable pasts But I realized after talking to him that he was the same piece of trash you always said he was, and that's why I left his point of view out of the book.
I didn't know that visiting him would make him come stir up trouble in St.
Jo.
All I wanted to do was celebrate your Triumph.
Everything that you've been through What so many have been through.
I didn't feel like I could do that if I leave half the story out.
My intention wasn't to hurt anyone.
You have done some things in your day, child.
But this your Daddy would be ashamed.
Your mama Your mama would do what I'm about to.
You need to leave right now.
- I didn't tell Jimmy - Stop it.
I don't want to look at you.
I don't want to talk to you.
Not right now, not tomorrow.
Way I'm feeling, even ten years can't put enough distance between us.
- Aunt Vi - Don't knock at my doorstep.
Don't bring no flowers to my grave.
I don't need you disturbing any more of my peace.
This is the last time I let you in this house, Nova Bordelon.
[BREATHING SHAKILY.]