Original subtitles

He was a meteor that hit my life I didn't see coming.

He blew up my world and my plans.

He unearthed the truth in me, made me

take off this mask I've been wearing

so that you can see the real light in me.

So that I could see the real light in me.

Let me get this straight.

The women draw.

The future.

Don't believe me. That's like saying men's socks is the next billion dollar

business. Look, everybody got to eat. And so everybody got to go to the

bathroom. Which is the opportune time to realize you need new underwear.

I thought you brought me here to meet some girl you like.

She's usually here by now, sure.

Hey, brother, I'm telling you, man. You know, she's beautiful.

Sweetened up top, North Africa at the bottom.

With light skin and long curly hair. I bought in, bro. I bought into America's

image of beauty.

What? I did. It was a sale. Buy the light skin and get the long curly hair

free.

You get me? No, I don't.

You got jokes. Okay. All right. Just wait till you see it. I'm telling you

now. Wait till you see it.

Oh, snap.

Yo, there she is.

Nigga, she walk right past you. I said I wanted you to see her. I never said I

knew her.

Need a refill?

Nah, I need my hour back.

Man, stop playing.

Excuse me.

Hi.

Do you need a share of plus? No, I came over just to meet you.

Oh. Okay.

Yes, sir.

Nuri.

Nice to meet you, Nuri. Where you from?

L .A.? By way of Kansas City.

Oh, so you from Kansas City. And L .A.? If you say so.

I do say so.

What about you?

Where are you from?

The Bay.

But you live here now.

No, I drove a friend down for some California dreaming.

We come in by the boatloads.

You're a writer.

Yes.

Although I'm not getting paid as, but yes.

I am a writer. You sure about that? I am positive. Okay, so you're practicing

the power of positive thinking.

Yes. I am.

You read that book?

No.

I think it's easier to pretend that dreaming is for losers.

Huh.

Okay.

Well, what if you were a loser?

What dream would you be chasing?

Directing.

Writing, telling our stories.

Well, we have that in common.

It was nice meeting you.

Yeah, you too.

Sing us a little bit.

You good?

Yeah, I'm good.

My name's Nuri.

What the hell are we doing here again?

We're documenting your 20th anniversary. Who said it's our 20th? It's been 21

years. What?

Nori said it was 20.

He's getting seen now in her old age.

Oh, goody. Now I can ignore half of what you say.

I'm ready. What the hell do you have on?

Clothes.

You better go put that solar panel back up on the roof. We could use some heat

up into here.

Says the man who wore his Gromangor animals.

Nori, for real.

No.

You notice the blue wall?

He's got a tractor's eye like you.

And he's demanding like you.

You promised our whole story.

Why else do it?

You should get started, too. Of course.

So how exactly do you get to 20 years of life together?

Tequila and weed.

Wait, time out.

We are not going to do the R .A. depression.

Then why the hell am I here, woman? Look, just behave yourself and promise

get through this. Oh, if we're going to be negotiating, then we need to revisit

me having my own cow.

You see, the city says that we are not zoned for a cow.

So I can rescue a dog, but I can't rescue a cow?

Why do you want a cow?

Stop. Do not engage him.

My man, it's about sovereignty.

Fine. I'll change.

An aluminum foil went out of style last year. Whatever.

How'd you reconnect a year later?

I think we found our way back to each other when... When I finally accepted I

wanted the dream.

Yeah.

You know, after that first time he met me, he actually read The Power of

Positive Thinking.

Then I moved to L .A. And in with Ruby.

Who was that?

Yeah, you see, who's that?

I think I figured out the ending.

I think I did, too.

If you don't get a job soon, we're done.

Ruby, I'm on my third interview at the bookstore.

What happened to your lead on rewinding tapes at Blockbuster? You can't get that

job? We're fine. I have two more unemployment checks coming.

And these.

Concert ticket.

Yeah, we need a night out.

Please tell me that if I rub these two tickets together, they will turn into

kind of paper my landlord accepts?

Our landlord.

My name is the only one on the list. Ruby, stop trying to push me away, and

let's celebrate our accomplishments.

What have we done?

We made it out of our hometown, and you have a yoga business.

I have business cards and leotards. When nothing happens overnight, I'm tired of

you making me feel like I'm doing something wrong by going after what I

It's figured out to end it to my third script, and I want to celebrate that.

Seriously, just scalp them and give me the rent money instead.

It could all be so simple But

you'd rather make it hard

Ruby! If you want me to move out, just say that.

But if I'm going to be here, at least be nice to me.

Aw, hell.

You got a new haircut, a new job. Nobody can tell you nothing, huh? I'm sorry.

I'm educated.

I'm bringing a career, not a job, to the table.

Student loans pretty much paid off.

Homeowner. Yes.

Why am I wrong if I require a brother to match my efforts as a prerequisite to

marriage? Listen.

Exactly. He got a house. He got a car.

He got a career. Yes, please. I'm saying he got a couple little kids running

around, a couple blessings.

Now there's more than one?

Nope. I don't even see men with kids.

They're invisible.

Kids equal debt. Kids equal less time for me.

I'm not bringing baggage. He can't bring any to the relationship either.

I'll take, I can do battle by myself, Alex, before I take on baby's kids.

You can have sex all by yourself?

Happily.

Yo, he's in there.

So when the store manager sees that Marvin checked felon on his job

Marvin says, well, that was just research so I could help stop theft by

stealing a few things myself.

Booyaka. That's kind of not funny.

Next. What if the store manager sees he marked felon and off his judgmental

reaction, Marvin says, April fools, but it'll be March.

And we can show that with a calendar on the wall or something.

Had it.

Come on now. What else you got?

Give me something good. Let's go. Come on.

Norman. Lori.

What if we lost the prison joke?

Oh.

So now you want to cut jokes.

It's not just a joke.

It's the choice that now defines our main character as a convict.

Anybody else in here agree?

I wouldn't have been to jail.

Oh, so I'm the only one, Nick? Forget you higher learning two -parent home

kids. Young Nuri here thinks my joke area is whack.

No, no, I wasn't saying that. No, no, I heard what you said. I was right here.

So what joke replaces it? I know you agree that we need to have some jokes in

this little comedy we're doing, right? I don't have one right now, but... Oh, I

don't have your check right now, but... How about that?

This morning, Angela and I were saying that. Angela who? Because Angela Brown

can speak for herself.

And let the record show, she is currently working on some ideas.

Okay, I was saying... Absolutely nothing.

If all you're doing is pointing out problems with

no solution, then you're a critic, not a writer.

And this is a writer's room.

Yeah, that house you bought just to flash before your eyes, didn't it? I saw

Fannie Mae called and was like, you better get some clarity, Halle Barely.

Hey, hold on now. Why am I the one popping all the yuck yucks up in here?

Nice to see you finally move something in here.

Well, I certainly picked the perfect mattress. You two barely move when we

the door.

We? Hi, Nuri.

Congratulations. I love your house.

Where should I put this?

Mom, what are you doing here?

We'll get up.

I can't.

I don't have on any drawers.

Why not?

All we did was dry hump.

That's all you did.

Go wait outside.

Oh, look around, Pearlie, and then we'll leave.

Give

me

your key.

Clearly you've abused your privileges.

Oh, I'm just showing you off. Plus, she's your neighbor. You need to know

What are you doing here, anyway? Why aren't you at work?

It's MLK Day.

Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. All right, I'll clear it.

So?

Who are you?

Don't tell her anything.

Will. My name is Will. We work together.

Oh, gosh, yeah. You're the young guy at her job that gets lunch for everybody.

Yeah, so I do other things, too. When's your birthday? Mom?

February night. Oh, honey, he's an Aquarius.

He's already in love with you. I told you no Aquarius, man, unless you're

serious. He's not in love with me.

Well, actually, I told you this would happen.

I told you not to fall in love with me.

She's a Gemini.

Nuri, love is not something that you can control.

And it's also something you will never have if you don't make room for it.

Does he know about the other guys? Mom, give him a break.

How many other guys are there?

Two.

Three, including you.

So this is why you won't sleep with me because you sleep with other dudes?

No, no. My daughter doesn't owe you an explanation.

This is her body, her choices.

Nuri, be honest with me.

Am I just your errand boy?

We never go out. All I do is pick up your takeout order.

I buy you dinner, too.

And I buy you things, too. I just got you the Cassandra Wilson CD.

Um, sweetheart, I suggest you call your mother for further direction.

Okay?

Okay.

I'll see you at work tomorrow.

And you.

Work is making you emotionally unavailable, which makes you look like a

I am not a user. I give him gas money all the time. In honor of Martin Luther

King's birthday, I would like my daughter to expand her dream to include

outside of work. Hello.

I just bought this house that I have to pay for, which is why I work so much.

All right. Get over here.

I know you don't like this, Nuri, but this is what love looks like.

Me making you look in the mirror.

If you had one.

Because you don't have any furniture in your house, Nuri.

I'm about to play out a crush a lot.

I'm about to play out a crush a lot.

Yo, yeah.

There goes that girl.

What girl?

Light -skinned, long, curly hair.

From insomnia?

Cut off her hair. She clearly don't squat. Damn.

Come on, man.

Yep. That's her.

Light -skinned, long, curly hair. Mind if I do some long, curly hair?

You gotta appreciate any woman that's brave enough to cut her hair.

But when a light -skinned woman cuts her hair, it's basically a rejection of her

light -skinned privilege and a public pledge aligning her identity closer to

blackness. Or she may have just wanted a haircut.

Mia, don't let these men put you in a box or play with your box. Come on, man.

What? You got to let them know early otherwise she wouldn't look like her

mother.

Not on my watch.

Hey, Nuri.

Hi.

We met a year ago.

Oh, yeah?

Insomnia Cafe.

Oh, yeah.

Yes, sir.

Hi.

Hi.

Oh, that's my friend Sean.

Yeah. I see him at Insomnia a lot.

What you been up to?

I just bought a new house.

Whoa, new house.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Shopping for new furniture.

Cool.

You still writing?

Yeah.

I'm a staff writer on that new TV show, Marvin.

I don't watch much TV.

That's what people say when they don't like your TV show.

It's okay. It's not for everyone.

You're right.

I don't like the show.

Yeah, I know.

You like jazz?

Oh, yeah.

Of course.

I have two tickets to see Wynton Marsalis' jazz opera, Blood on the

Would you like to go?

To the concert?

They got a great lineup.

Cassandra Wilson.

Oh, my God. I just got her CD.

How random is that?

I don't think it's random at all.

Yeah.

Here's my number.

Okay.

Give me a call soon so we can make some arrangements.

Oh, okay.

Have a nice day.

Thanks.

I look forward to your call.

Was he wearing underwear?

Yeah. I'm pretty sure those were Calvin's.

He was way too confident to be broke, right?

Fingers crossed he's a trust fund kid.

They come in here all the time.

Yeah.

Trust fund kid.

So?

What are you telling the evil woman back home who's expecting you to get the

magic beans back and bring home the cow?

Tell her that someone was finally nice to me.

I understand that Ruby's frustrated with me. I'm frustrated with me. Man, stop.

You're writing about an R &B song. I'm about to throw panties at you. That girl

in there was broken chasing a dream last year.

Today she's working at Hollywood.

Just bought a house and buying furniture.

It can happen.

The dream is real.

You know what you need?

What I need, Sean. Tell me what I need. You need a girl between the ages of 19

and 22.

They're still bubbly. They love when you guide their opinions.

And they consider Taco Bell dinner.

I don't need another woman. I need a win, man.

But something don't happen soon.

I'm 33 years old, and I ain't got a pot to piss in.

Walking around Melrose in my drawers in a tight -ass T -shirt. Is Ruby worth it?

An insult?

Struggle? Pain?

Because if not, you need to move on, brother.

So y 'all both can find what you're looking for.

Is Camille worth it?

Man, I don't know. I don't know her.

Shoot.

We just got a baby together.

The most beautiful baby in the world, too, right?

My baby Mia right there.

My baby Mia right there.

There you are.

Hey.

What are you doing over here, slumming in with the surf?

Looking for you, since I haven't seen you at church in weeks.

God knows my heart.

Well, look, good news. My frat brothers and the girls are all going skiing this

weekend in Mammoth, and there's an extra room for us. I know it's short

notice, but I also know you've never been, and you've always wanted to go.

As long as I'm not assigned a script.

Okay.

Well, that'll give me something to pray for, then.

Why would you pray for that?

You don't want me to write a script?

Look, no more talk about work, okay?

Well,

hey, I, uh... I got something for you.

I'll have my assistant messenger it to you.

You wouldn't messenger over a ring, would he?

You think real highly of yourself.

I'm having that kind of week.

Got mail.

Thank you.

Was that sexual tension between you two? No. Just tension.

I've been a bad kitty.

And you're going on a couple's vacation with Keith.

I've been a really bad kitty.

And aren't you going to New York to see your boyfriend at the end of the month?

Okay, I'm a temptress.

Look, I know Derek has his other girls out there, and I'm dating until he gets

his shit together.

I'm not sleeping with all of them. And all dry humps and hand drops happen at

least two days apart.

I should probably be taking notes.

Look, I'm no hoe, but I'm not a hermit either.

This is not about me. I'm trying to understand the guidelines of your hoe

Will is my TV takeout chill guy.

Keith is my church first communion brunch guy, and Derek is my whirlwind

until he's my happy guy.

Really?

Figured I missed your call. Look forward to seeing you on Thursday.

Oh my God, and then there's this guy.

What? This super romantic new guy.

I forgot that I said I'd go out with him.

Who?

Oh.

It's here.

This negro sent you a press clipping to the one -night -only sold -out concert,

a handwritten note, and a ticket note invoice?

Yeah. Bitch, this is effort!

This is not an effort Essence Magazine imagines for us. And you don't know his

name? And you forgot you had this incredible date. His name is...

Yaseer. And I am very appreciative of the reminder.

No.

No. Throw him back.

Enough already.

It's dingy women like you who ruin our men and make them run to white and Asian

women. Which is exactly Will's next move. He's definitely going Filipino.

She's going to say sorry to him. And you're calling this guy right now.

And backing out.

Fine.

Got me feeling like I should go to church on a Tuesday.

You need to go to church.

You trying to tell me that I'm wasting my time? No one is paying you to write.

You need a job, you see, a real job.

Did you look for a job today?

I look for a job every day.

And yet, every time I get home, you're writing another script that no one will

ever read.

Sorry. Mr. Call, please leave a message at the beep.

Hey, it's me.

Looking for you to say hi.

See how you're doing.

Didn't want anything.

Just wanted to see how you're doing.

And by me, I mean Nuri.

Just in case you met any other me's out there in NYC.

Okay, call me later.

So who shot your AR?

How do you know something's wrong?

Son, you're on a pay phone.

I can hear the choppers, spot the po -po, and smell the stench of the

through the phone.

What am I doing?

What am I doing out here, ma?

Ma, for real.

Boy, what?

I'm thirsty.

Now, I know you're hanging on by a thread, but that don't stop me from

parched.

My bad.

So she getting tired of you?

I know you told me so.

My told you so is in the way and you in it now.

Tell me about it. I don't know why she rolling her eyes, huffing and puffing

and... Gone on like that, she knew you. Was strange when she met you that you

like to go in a room, turn the light out, and fold up your legs.

It's called meditation, woman. It's called not having anything to do because

don't have a job.

One day. I just need one day, Mom, before you hit me with all them jokes.

I heard you're walking around town in your drawers.

And although that looks like depression, it tells me, and it should tell you,

that you are definitely dedicated to your dream.

But don't let your pipe slip out the bottom, because then that's breaking the

law.

You move to L .A. after something.

If it's Ruby, make it right.

If it's making movies like you've been wanting to do, stay there and figure

it out.

What do you think that I can make it? I've told you.

I've already seen it.

But it don't mean nothing.

If I'm the only one who believes it.

Thanks, Ma.

Baby, hang up my phone.

This is collect.

I love you, too.

I love you, too.

Bye.

Just like you said.

And why was I born with this curse of always being right?

Yeah, I guess.

It's not like she's always been there for me.

Hello?

Yeah,

this, right? Hold on a minute.

Yes, sir, it's for you.

Nori?

Thank you.

Hello?

Thanks for coming out.

Thanks for getting me out of the house.

I was wrong for accepting this.

You see, I have daddy issues.

So anytime a guy tries to do something nice to me, I have this desperate reflex

to say yes.

But, according to LA Times, they say you should take someone special.

And I'll qualify.

An in -person rejection.

Wrapped up in self -deprecating self -pity.

Excuse me, I... He just shared a very vulnerable truth about me.

This is America, the home of divorce and unwed births. You're not alone.

I could have told you over the phone.

I was trying to be nice.

Are you interested in buying this ticket?

I don't like jobs that much.

That's more the reason why you should go.

Keep the ticket.

Well, who will be using the other ticket?

Me.

Look. We don't have to go together.

We'll be sitting together.

But we don't have to talk. In fact, people prefer that you don't at a

Prize award -winning concert.

Please.

Take your ticket.

I'm more interested in what will happen when I don't.

Take it.

Please.

I feel bad.

Maybe you can take your roommate.

I already asked if she doesn't want to go.

You have a beautiful name.

What does it mean?

It means the light. The light.

Yeah.

As in see the light and take your ticket back.

My parents told me I'd never be lost if I allow the light within to guide me.

That's beautiful.

My name's Yasir.

It means rich.

You know all the right things to say.

It's Islamic.

I chose it because I want to be rich in life, in knowledge, in health, and

in relationships.

I guess I went straight to money.

No, I want some of that, too.

I was born in the Nation of Islam.

And after my parents' divorce, my mother journeyed us through all of the

religion. I grew up in a church.

I converted five years ago.

I like going to church. The singing is nice, and they have an open bar once a

month. You drink?

Is that a trick question?

I mean, everybody got vices. I smoke.

You do?

Sometimes. It's almost 10.

I better get going.

Runners are never off the clock.

What do you make time for?

I threw the towel in. I was like, forget it.

I had my Teach for America gig.

Then I heard myself telling these kids to follow their dreams, and I wasn't

following mine.

So I quit the next day, wrote a better script, stopped going to the clubs and

these networking parties, and I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote and ate

ramen. Here we have the sandwich and the soup. I think this is for the lady.

Yeah.

Like I said, I eat a lot of ramen.

What I'm saying is, yeah, go back home.

Dig it out.

Get your scripts written.

I'm happy to read them and send them to my agent.

Don't give up. Hang in there.

Thank you.

It's almost midnight.

I know you got to get home to work.

You also got to eat.

I once met Muhammad Ali.

Really? Muhammad Ali?

Yes. Wow.

Muhammad's one of my greatest muses.

There's a picture of me and him in Ebony magazine.

Well, me and a bunch of other kids.

But I'm closest to him.

Sly Stone used to babysit me.

No way. Yeah, my mom used to open up for him, James Brown, and Ike and Tina.

Really? Wow.

Do you still think?

No.

But all that stopped when she went to prison.

I don't think that makes you special.

Prison isn't particular to your family.

My father's been in and out of prison since I was a little girl.

My eyes are sweating.

I've never told anybody that before.

Hell.

Getting locked up is like Club Med for black people.

All -inclusive packages that include round -trip transportation, meals,

accommodations, and a meditation room.

Hey, guys. I'm glad you're having fun, but it's about 4 a .m. I gotta close up

soon. Thanks.

I'm glad you came out.

Even if it was to reject me.

Life is funny.

I mean, here we are, a year after we first met at the same cafe.

I can only help and wonder what our lives would be like if we'd done this a

ago.

Maybe we weren't ready a year ago.

Since we're in the theme for a year from now, what if?

What if we was together for a year already?

And it was time to say goodbye, what would you say to me?

I can't say that.

Yes, you can and you should.

Because I feel exactly the same way.

I would say...

I'm you too.

So just cut the bullshit.

And get on with living this life together.

Okay.

Let me help you get on with that life.

Oh, my God.

I'm sorry. Yes, sorry. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Hey. Hey.

Sorry I didn't mean to wake you.

No.

You can sleep with me if you want.

No, I'm okay.

Thank you.

You know, I only offered because you came in so late.

And it's almost time for me to get up anyway, so you basically have the bed to

yourself.

I appreciate it.

But I'm going to stay here and listen to some music anyway.

Good night.

Did you say something?

I said I hope Nui doesn't mind that you have a kid, no job, and no place to

stay. Because I do think it's time you leave.

Cool.

Let's see how cool it is.

Look, what's for you is for you.

God knew that if Sean got her number that day, we wouldn't be here now.

So whether I knew it or not, or whether she knew it or not, she was already...

I'd rather be with you until I'm through.

Oh, yes, I do.

I'd rather be with you until our debt will fly away.