Queen Sugar (2016) s04e04 Episode Script

1 Previously on "Queen Sugar" You believe everything you read? This book was written by somebody I trust.
- Jimmy Dale.
- Oh, hi, Nova.
Nice to see you again.
What's he talking about? Did she write about our past? You gonna show our face in our house? But I ain't the one, boy.
- No! - You're gonna kill him! There are things going on that shouldn't be, Charley.
My intention wasn't to hurt anyone.
This is the last I let you in this house, Nova Bordelon.
Be sure to check the mail every other day.
And water the plants once a week.
And no wild parties with the friends.
Or private parties with Keke.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
No.
No worries about that.
Keke ain't been answering my texts lately.
Seems like I can't do anything right.
Are you sure you're up to doing this? I don't want to cause more problems - between you and your mom.
- No, it's all good.
The drive up will give me time to think About what I'm doing with my life.
There's been a lot going on since since I got back.
Well, if it makes you feel any better, I don't know what I'm doing with my life right now either.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Right.
They're really not coming to your book signing tomorrow? I don't know.
I hope they do.
I don't know why they think the silent treatment is gonna solve anything.
There was a lot of anger in the moment, but It'll pass.
I don't know.
It's like, when my mom and dad broke up.
I didn't think that we would get to where we could be in the same room again.
But y'all got through it.
It wasn't overnight.
But you got there.
It's the same with this.
All I can do is let everybody know I love them, and how important they are to me.
In time, this will blow over.
Hopefully.
Well, I love you.
You're important to me.
Shoot.
Oh, Micah.
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 Baby, you been up since the middle of the night.
You feeling okay? I couldn't sleep.
I was Got all these recipes running through my head.
I'm sure you ain't got to do it right now, but that's not the point.
We need to talk about it.
Talk about him.
Don't waste no time thinking about no Jimmy Dale, 'cause I'm not.
Really? Val, you and the whole family ain't talking to Nova 'cause of him.
Mm, not supposed to mention her neither.
And as for that fool You got rid of him, which I do appreciate.
And I can't tell you how much.
And that's all I'm thinking about.
You know I got you.
No matter what.
So why don't you come on to the back and be with me? Okay.
I'm gonna be back in a minute, okay? [INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
Your team set up fast.
This space is ideal.
Hmm.
- All right? - No bugs.
More sanitary and private.
Way back here, deep in the barracks.
It's perfect.
Thank you.
I'm just glad it worked.
You made it work.
So, bravo to you.
It's not too busy, though.
No, no, it'll take some time for people to start feeling safe to come in.
But we've spread the word that we're a designated safe zone, a sensitive location, right? No I.
C.
E.
Raids allowed.
I know, but with all the hate in the air, people are afraid of I.
C.
E.
, regardless.
I mean, they're raiding schools and churches.
- Oh, God.
- No area is truly safe.
We have a visitor.
Hey.
What's what's going on? Uh, what's going on is, we opened our old home as a word-of-mouth clinic for migrant workers.
We? Oh, let me introduce.
Romero Rodriguez, my son, Micah.
- Pleased to meet you.
- Yeah, good to meet you.
Romero works as a physician assistant at St.
Josephine's hospital, and he also treats migrant workers at the border and throughout the parish.
Oh, wow.
That's dope.
Your mom is providing a great service to the community.
Okay, well, Romero and his team will be running the clinic.
I just provided the space.
Excuse me.
It was great to meet you, Micah.
Yeah, you too.
[CELLPHONE CHIMES.]
Everything okay? This is the, uh, the investigator that I hired to look into those letters.
Did they figure out who it was? Yeah, the police have him.
Thankfully, it wasn't tied to anything organized.
One of those bored, hateful men spending too much time in basements.
Then why did he come after me? 'Cause you're out there trying to change things.
I mean, you're not the only one he's done this to.
Thank you for taking care of it, mom.
Not everyone could have handled this.
But you did.
I'm proud of you.
You're needed out front, baby.
I got to get this order for Ralph Angel ready for his new program.
Oh, baby, let Rhonda take care of that.
The place is called Vi's Prized Pies and Diner.
Folks came to see Vi.
Ohh! [CLATTERING.]
I don't you got to watch what the hell you doing! I'm sorry, Miss Violet.
I was just trying to just don't have time for no mess today! I'm the one who's sorry.
I just didn't sleep well last night, so I'm a little on edge.
- Forgive me.
- Look here, baby.
You go ahead and handle back here.
I'll take care of up front, all right? We're a team, right? - What up, bud? - All right.
What's up, aunt Vi? Hey, baby.
Smells good in here.
- They almost ready? - Just about.
What you doing, coming through the back door? Your niece out front again.
Rhonda? Handle that.
Yes, ma'am.
Miss Nova, I love you, and I'm so sorry, but Miss Violet ain't changed her mind about you visiting.
Same as yesterday and the day before.
Okay, I hear you.
But could you please tell aunt Vi or Hollywood that I it's no use.
Soon as I say, "Nova said," I got a hand to the face and a frosty attitude.
She ain't ready to hear from you.
I'm sorry.
- Welcome.
- Excuse me.
Come on in.
- How you doing? - MAN: All right.
I was like y'all.
Fresh out.
Looking for a second chance, something different.
That's what made me want to do this program.
Named it after my Daddy.
That is my life savings.
Same way this farm could be for you.
Y'all met Benny.
It's hard work.
He'll tell you.
Early mornings, sweat.
For sure.
Got to get your hands dirty.
It's hard labor, but out here, you ain't working for the man.
Ain't nothing but space, feel me? So make it beautiful.
Is it steady pay, though? I mean, I hear that farmers' pay is irregular.
If you looking for an office job, you ain't gonna find that on the farm.
Y'all look around.
We got, like, about 10 of y'all, huh? Statistics say, what, half of y'all will be back in six months.
My job to make sure y'all ain't part of that half.
All right, then.
Got pies and paperwork, some coffee inside.
Y'all fill that out, let's get this thing started.
You said you got pies, man.
I'm with you.
- I got pies right there.
- Come on, now.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
So, am I right? Is something off? Yeah, something's real wrong.
That worthless land purchase in the Landry board minutes? So, the permits were misfiled on purpose, I'm sure to hide their plans to develop a business center on the site.
But it's in the middle of nowhere.
Not for long.
That new highway? Yeah, the one riding through St.
Thomas.
Not anymore.
The new route will cut right through St.
Jo.
So, word is, they're putting everything behind Jacob Boudreaux taking Barrera's seat on the city council.
Jacob? Why would they Of course.
To make sure the city council doesn't fight back.
[SIGHS.]
Wait.
Am I reading this right? This route guts most of the black farmers' land.
It guts our land.
I should have known.
[LINE RINGING.]
This is Ralph Angel.
Can't get to my phone right now.
- Leave a message.
- [BEEP.]
I leave in two days, Ralph Angel.
Please call me back.
I love you.
[CELLPHONE THUDS.]
[SIGHS.]
[CELLPHONE RINGS.]
[BEEP.]
Hey, Deborah.
How are things going? DEBORAH: Are you sitting down? Yes, I'm sitting.
Uh, what's up? That glowing New York Times review? It's now a six-week national tour.
Six weeks? Seriously? First stop Houston, then the big apple, Nova, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Atlanta.
Are you still there? Yes.
I'm here.
Give me a minute.
[SIGHS.]
All this from the times review? Yes, Miss soon-to-be best-selling author.
Wow.
A national tour for a debut book? Deborah, I just don't have the words.
Thank you.
This is wonderful.
[CHUCKLES.]
Enjoy the moment, Nova.
- See you soon? - Yes, see you soon.
[CELLPHONE BEEPS.]
Wow.
You have been working real hard this morning.
And I appreciate it.
Now, you go take a break before the lunch hour gets here.
MAN: I didn't marry her for her cooking, you know? Now, in the beginning, I was the only cook in the house.
[LAUGHS.]
She didn't like that.
Mnh-mnh, no.
So she learned.
[LAUGHS.]
That out there, that's what love will do.
Hey, hey, Vi, am I right? My Claire learned to cook almost as good as you.
Good enough to make him a stranger at the high yellow.
We couldn't compete.
Yeah, yeah.
I I Miss that woman.
See y'all later.
Take care of yourself, baby.
Thank you for meeting me.
Not a problem.
So, you've heard that news.
About Jacob running for your city council seat? I swear, these people.
It was a hard decision to step down.
Wait, you're Isabel, please don't.
Hold your seat.
Help me stop this highway.
It's just not worth running up against Jacob Boudreaux and that family.
We could form a coalition.
I will fully support your campaign.
You're barking up the wrong tree, Charley.
I'm stepping down because I know a brick wall coming at me when I see one.
You didn't choose this.
He got to you somehow, didn't they? That highway can't be stopped.
There's too many deep pockets that want to get deeper that are fully invested in ensuring that it happens.
That's what they said about the prison, but we stopped that.
The prison was a state project.
The highway is federal.
It involves more money and more stakeholders who are willing to sell their mother down the river to see this happen.
Why do you think the Landrys let go of the prison so easily? They already had a back-up plan to cash out.
A bigger plan.
The prison fight didn't seem so easy to me.
Oh, it'll seem like child's play if you try to stop this highway.
We can do this, together, from a solid grassroots campaign.
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
Choose your battles and know when to throw in the towel.
We can't win them all.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[CELLPHONE CHIMES.]
Charley, good to see you.
And you.
Good to have you back in town, Frances.
Aww.
I took the Liberty of ordering for you.
No thank you.
All right.
I don't appreciate being handled.
The board minutes I've received are a farce.
A smokescreen.
If there was an error, I'm sure it was a clerical oversight.
Omitting your highway proposal to gut St.
Jo and take over half of Bordelon land is not an oversight.
Please, stop taking everything personally.
My family is losing land, as well.
In exchange for a lucrative business enterprise.
And as a Landry shareholder, you will profit, too.
Land is the only thing God is not making any more of, so it's a blood sport.
And you know it.
Which is why I will not see my family and the black farmers of St.
Jo thrown away like trash.
40 years ago, you'd be lucky to be allowed to clean toilets here, and yet, you just walked across these grounds like like you owned the damn place.
You're not one of them.
I read your sister's book.
You conquered the league and turned a basketball player into an empire.
[CHUCKLES.]
Only a stone cold capitalist knows how to do that.
We're more alike than not.
You think my sister's sentimental drivel has given you insight into who I am and what I've done? You don't know the half.
So let me fill you in.
You wouldn't make it one day in Hollywood or professional basketball.
And as you said, I conquered them both.
So what do you think I'm gonna do to Jacob when he tries to run for office for you? Yeah, yeah, I know about that, too.
I really appreciate you getting me all of this, but why not just make me a play list? - Play list? - Yeah.
- [LAUGHS.]
You serious? - Current time.
Yeah, you're clearly not a musician.
[CHUCKLES.]
Digital just can't capture - the full sound like vinyl.
- Mm.
Music deserves a fully immersive experience.
You got to let yourself be transported.
- Vinyl is the key.
- Okay, okay, I got it.
We will test this theory when you're finished.
Okay.
I'm telling you, when the needle hits the groove, ooh-whee, it's like magic.
You'll see.
Voilà.
- [MUSIC PLAYS.]
- Turntable for my lady.
- Turn it off.
- Huh? Turn it off, quick.
There you go.
Stop it right here.
[ENGINE STOPS.]
- That's how you roll.
- Pop! Mr.
Benny let me hold the wheel, and it's like riding a dragon.
What you know about riding a dragon, huh? I know everything about dragons.
[CHUCKLES.]
Go inside and get some lemonade.
Let me talk to Mr.
Benny.
- All right, I'll be back.
- Come on, player.
There you go.
Wash your hands.
- I will.
- Nasty.
What you think? This thing gonna work? I think so.
Feel good helping out our people, huh? It does.
And I appreciate you helping me out, man.
Man, ain't no thing.
I got you.
Hey, man.
You mind if I ask you something personal? What's up? I don't mean to get into your business or nothing like that, but is it true what I'm hearing about, you know, you and Blue? What you hear? Now, listen, I don't mean no harm by what I'm saying.
I just want to give props to you for being a father.
My biological never stepped up for me the way you do for your son.
That's all I'm saying.
I'm proud to be working for a brother doing the right thing.
Nothing but respect, man.
Keep it up.
Appreciate it.
[DOORBELL RINGS.]
Micah! It's your dad! [FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING.]
- Hey.
What's up? - Hey, man.
Come on in.
Hi.
Hey.
Oh.
Hey, Charley.
I Micah didn't mention you were home.
Yeah, I didn't I didn't hear you come in.
Yeah.
Um well, I said I had a surprise for you.
Let me introduce you to my daughter, Tia.
Micah's sister.
Well, this is a surprise.
Tia? What a pretty name.
Thank you.
I like your name, too.
Well, it's a nickname for Charlotte.
So, Micah, um Now that you've met your sister, perhaps you two could get to know each other better.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Charley, look, we're planning a breakfast together.
How about if you joined us? You know, have a nice family gathering, and I can tell you about some news I need to share.
I think you've shared enough, Davis.
Tia, let's, um You want to grab a soda? Go ahead.
It's fine.
So, Tia I don't know what your news is, Davis.
But I will not be whatever it is you want me to be.
Some kind of surrogate mom for that child.
Okay, I get that.
Charley, you're gonna have to face the truth.
That child is innocent and here to stay.
I know that.
What I wanted to tell you is that I'm retiring from playing basketball.
I'm taking the head coaching job at bayou state university, and it'll be announced soon, so Good for you.
Tia will be welcome here any time to visit Micah.
But I won't be backdoored into raising your kid, Davis.
This is on you.
You kept this secret for 13 years.
You laid with Tia's mom.
You led a double life, not me, so this all this is your responsibility.
Right.
And she is Micah's sister.
Yes, I know how biology works.
Enjoy your time with your children, Davis.
I wish you well, and God help that poor girl.
Ladies and gentlemen, the woman the New York Times calls "A Luminous New Voice," the incomparable Nova Bordelon.
[APPLAUSE.]
Thank you.
I'm happy to share this work of uncompromising love.
What I will be reading today is actually a last-minute addition to the book.
I wasn't sure if I was brave enough to include it.
Still not.
It asks tough questions about what good people have to do in order to carve out a safe place in a dangerous world.
From the chapter "Buried Memories.
" "I love my father beyond measure, and I learned to love whatever he loved, so any time we spent together would become glorious time.
Often that meant just the two of us at the lake.
This one morning, we went to get bait at a gas station near lake verret.
I waited in the truck in eager anticipation of our day, but when my father returned, he didn't have any bait.
But he did have a busted lip and a look of anger and humiliation on his face.
I saw three white men smiling.
I didn't get it then, but as an adult, I now understand the veiled catcalls they uttered that day.
There were threats of sexual violence of what they planned to do to me, a 10-year-old black girl when her father wasn't around.
Daddy kept a close watch over me after that.
But I had a secret.
I liked to wander through the cane at night.
I loved the richness of the land.
It was me alone and safe in my world.
It was about a week after that aborted fishing trip.
I was out in the night and saw Daddy digging a deep hole in the field.
I couldn't tell what was happening until he pushed a dark mound of something I couldn't quite see into the hole and began to shovel the land back in place.
Daddy never saw me standing watch, and I never asked him about that night.
I was too scared to know what it might have been.
That was the last time I went out into the cane at night.
My natural connection to the land, my birthright, was buried with whatever my father put in the earth.
All I know for sure is, I never saw those white men again, and my Daddy never again took me fishing.
" [APPLAUSE.]
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS.]
Thanks.
Chantal.
- Wow.
- Nova.
[LAUGHS.]
I wasn't expecting to see you.
- Wow.
- Aww.
I'm really happy to see you.
I'm really glad you came.
Of course.
I wouldn't have missed this for the world.
You know, I know just because things didn't work out between us doesn't mean that I'm not still happy for you, Nova.
And I am.
Your words are so beautiful, and they're so powerful.
I'm so proud of you! That means a lot to me.
I'm not used to this.
I mean, it's It means a lot.
Yeah, well, I have been working on myself, so I'm able to say that now.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
I mean, we all got to grow, right? Right.
It's hard, though.
Oh, but it's so worth it.
- Indeed.
- Mm.
So, listen.
Did you come alone? I didn't see your family.
Are you good? My nephew Micah is here.
Things are good.
Just complicated.
Understood.
Well, if you want a little company later, so you know, I can be a friendly ear if you want to talk.
Or anything.
Or come by my place.
That's a tempting offer.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
But I got plans later.
Well, you enjoy your moment.
Maybe next time.
[DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE.]
NOVA: "It was the kind of place that only rents rooms by the hour.
Star, in her drug-fueled haze, was splayed out on the bed, eyes rolled toward the ceiling, drifting in and out of consciousness.
All the way, a snaggle-toothed John stinking of stale cigarettes and cheap whiskey, was on top of her, sweating and pumping away.
There was no tenderness, only the stench of desperation and soiled sheets.
Discarded in the corner was her baby, sleeping fitfully.
" [BOOK CLOSES.]
- Darla! - How could you do this? - Wait a minute, Darla.
- How could you write - about my past?! - Let's talk.
I did things differently with you.
I didn't use your name and changed identifying information.
The world won't know it's you.
Do you think I'm worried about the world? Anyone in St.
Jo with half a brain will figure out that you're talking about me.
This will expose my old life to my new world.
I really took pains to protect you, Darla.
And if someone does find out, think about it.
Your story of resilience, strength, and honesty - is one to be proud of.
- This will destroy the life that I have worked so hard to build.
People need to hear that someone in your situation can thrive.
I hoped you, of all people, would understand.
Why me, of all people? Because you told Ralph Angel the truth about Blue despite the pain you knew it would cause.
It's an inspiration and example of the power of truth to heal the past.
Did you even consider my son hearing these things about his mother? What I used to do.
Who I used to be.
- Your identity is safe, Darla.
- No.
You wrote that I used to steal to feed my addiction.
But you just published a book full of memories that you have stolen.
You're a thief.
Do not touch me.
Don't ever come near me or Blue again.
You are lower than I ever was.
I've been trying for so long To read the writing on the wall Everyone to blame but me And now I see - [DOOR OPENS.]
- it was my neglect That let the splinter bury in so deep Hey.
You look happy.
[KEYS JINGLE.]
Guess you had fun.
It was cool.
You can tell me, Micah.
It's all right.
You should've been there.
There was this, like, um, promotional film.
It was two families who had the read book who were inspired to work through their differences.
You should see it.
Whole family should see it.
I'm glad you found value in it.
I did.
The best part was, um, when aunt Nova read a passage about granddad, though.
But you know about Daddy's depression from the new yorker piece.
Well, no, this was different.
Sounded like, you know, granddad had to protect aunt Nova when she was a kid.
What are you talking about? Well, I guess it wasn't in the manuscript.
Aunt Nova wasn't sure about adding it, but Just shows how sometimes justice has to be taken.
[LINE RINGING.]
CHANTAL: Hi.
Hey, Chantal.
Uh, I hope it's not too late to call.
No.
But it depends on why you're calling.
Just wondering if you wanted to get together after all.
Come over? Wow.
Do you know where I'm at, Nova, right? Yes.
Then why didn't you just come here? To me? So, now you want to call late, have me leave, and come to you like we're Tinder buddies or something? [SCOFFS.]
No.
You always did want everything done on your terms, Nova.
That's not what I'm doing.
Look, I've been working on me.
Now it's time for you to work on you.
If you want me to be a friendly ear to listen to you, I can do that.
Do you want to talk about what's been going on with your family and why they weren't at the book launch? You know I think I'm good.
I'll just Call it a night.
Early flight tomorrow.
Thanks, Chantal.
[SIGHS.]
I thought we agreed to leave Nova alone.
What makes you think I need to hear anything that girl has to say? Because it's about Daddy.
Micah heard Nova read a story at the book launch tonight that wasn't in the copy that she gave us.
It's it's about a fishing trip.
They were hassled by some white men.
I don't need to hear this.
Aunt Vi, what do you know? I don't know nothin'.
Except God don't like ugly.
And he don't need my help, yours, or Ernest's to take care of business.
Okay.
What do you suspect? Lord, have mercy.
I never knew for sure, but I suspect that something happened to those Wretched men.
You saying that he did something to them? Or somebody else they hurt or did wrong.
And you never said anything? I don't think you need to know every damn thing.
Just like Nova.
Think you got a right to what everybody holds in their soul.
You don't.
All I know is, is that after that fishing trip, Ernest wouldn't take his eyes off Nova, he was so worried.
And one day, he wasn't worried no more.
Do I think that my brother carried a burden to his grave? Yes.
Do I know what it was for sure? No.
And I don't want to know.
Yeah, well, maybe he didn't need to carry all that alone.
Maybe he wanted to carry it alone.
Not all dark corners need light.
Sometimes I think that Jimmy Dale is my dark corner.
Maybe this was your Daddy's.
Way I see it, as long as you ain't hurting nobody, everybody got a right to keep some things between themselves and God.
You need something to be able to talk about on judgment day.
[SOBBING.]
She wrote about it.
About me.
She wrote about all of it.
[SOBS.]
- [WATER RUNNING.]
- Baby, you coming to bed soon? VI: I'm gonna take a quick bath.
[SOBS.]
If I leave, will you promise me that you won't follow? You treat your lies like performances at the Apollo All the schemes and the plots And the games make me crazy Like our love story's written by Martin scorsese Make your bed and you lie in it That's just what happens - [LINE RINGING.]
- took the life of our love It's Ralph Angel.
Can't get to my phone right now.
Leave a message.
I hate that I still dream about us together [BEEP, LINE RINGING.]
I was foolish to think that this could be forever CHARLEY: Hi.
You've reached Charley Bordelon.
I can't get to the phone right now, so please Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Dreams of letting go VI: You've reached Violet Bordelon.
I'm unable to answer the phone right now, so please leave your message, and I'll return oh, oh, oh, oh You do whatever you want, and you blame it on heaven [ENGINE STARTS.]
Can we go separate ways in an orderly fashion? Do I have to explain why we can't be together? 'Cause the list is so long, it would take me forever I hate that I still think about us together I was foolish to think that this could be forever Oh, oh oh, oh, oh Dreams of letting go Oh, oh oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh