Original subtitles

Previously on Love Is... What am I doing out here, ma?

You moved to L .A. after something.

If it's making movies, stay there and figure it out.

I know what it's like to feel suffocated. Thank you for coming out

It turns out that black women are our biggest audience and they want more of

Wendy. Which is why you guys are here. Because I know sometimes you get drowned

out in the room. If I had my way.

I'd focus on a drama pilot for staffing season.

On June 21st, 1964, I was born Earl Wallace Green.

I've been married and divorced once. And I have a son named Beyonce.

He's six now. And it tears me up every second that I'm not with him.

You're saying that the monkey kicked the ball from you like he was being a

bully?

Yep. And then when I tried to get it back, he pushed me to the ground and

started beating me up.

Yesir, you're lying right now.

I'm not lying.

You don't believe me?

No, I don't believe that you got beat up by a monkey.

No! Can I make a long distance call?

To who?

My mom. She can confirm my story.

Yes.

Please do.

But no leading question.

No leading question.

Okay?

You did not get beat up by a monkey playing kickball.

Okay, we'll see.

Hello? Hey, Ma.

Hey, you all right?

Yeah, I'm all right. What are you calling for? What do you want?

I'm turning greens.

Look, tell my friend that the neighborhood monkey beat me up when I

Yes. How many people are you going to tell this story to? My Lord, but I'm

you're making friends, though.

Are you guys joking?

He said that you told that... Told you that I what? I whooped a monkey's butt?

Yes.

No. No, honey, I did not whoop the monkey's butt. I beat that monkey's ass.

Tell that son of mine that I got to go. Call me later. I love you, all right?

I love you too, ma.

Bye. Bye.

Oh, my God.

I told you I got beat up by a monkey.

Oh, God.

You didn't mess up your handsome face.

I'm all right.

Yeah, what do I know?

Where on the street is, I'm still just a friend.

Hello?

Sorry, I saw 690.

It's okay. Can I speak to my son real quick? I got something to tell him.

Okay. Your mom.

Who? It's your mom.

Hey.

You all right?

Yeah. You see, our black president launched his youth anti -drug campaign.

Yeah, I saw that. They're just trying to get our super -predator babies in the

jail for smoking weed. You know that. Yeah, you know. I know. The Bushes made

their millions on war on oil, and the Clintons are going to make their

on that prison pipeline money. Puff, puff, and pass your ass to jail.

black president's picture next to jesus in our jail cells that's because we just

fall asleep and blindly vote democrat because he played the saxophone on

and ate some damn soul food in arkansas oh shit you're a republican i knew it

hang up my damn phone you call me damn how i raised a damn republican

at first glance he feels like a mama's boy

but when you step Back, you see so much layered love between this mother and

son.

They are each other's confidants, best friends, therapists.

Rose used to say that they were each other's six -bit even chains.

That means equal.

They were attached by this invisible thread from her heart to his.

Hello? Turn on channel five. Okay, got it. Okay, bye.

That thread often looked like a telephone cord.

But that's when you're not looking close enough.

You got it? Yeah. Okay, bye.

Bye. They say to pay attention to how a man loves his mother.

It is a clue to how he will love you.

That's my mom.

Again? She just called you. Yeah, but her soaps are off and she knows that I'm

here. Oh, well, you better answer her then.

What you want now, woman?

Lord have mercy, Jesus. These crazy white folks have made a scary movie

tornadoes.

They must be running out of ideas in Hollywood.

Speaking of which, I got some bootlegs from Chuckie.

Two for five dollars. You want me to get you some?

Nah, ma. I'm gonna support the industry, I mean, if I'm buying movies on

bootleg. Okay.

Republican. Bye.

Bye. Bye.

They just sucked a cow up into the sky.

Bye, Ma.

What?

You two have such a great relationship.

Ma. Hold on. Hold on. Mom, I'm sitting here talking to you.

Hey, man.

How are you? I'm great. Grandma got you watching that tornado movie?

No, I'm playing with my toys.

Do Daddy a favor and read those books that I sent you from my new job.

Oh, man.

Deontay, you know you like to read.

Not right now.

I thought you were going to tell your dad about your missing tooth.

Guess what?

What? My tooth fell out today.

Wow. You're getting big, huh?

That's cool, man.

Yeah, and the tooth fell out. is coming and she's gonna give me five dollars

five dollars for an old sneaky tooth yep huh granny yeah but she ain't gonna be

able to come if we stay on this phone running this phone bill all up gotta

your daddy you gotta go tell him bye okay bye daddy love you i love you too

man

He lost a tooth.

Sounds like the tooth fairy needs to make a visit.

My mom got it.

Sounds like something Daddy wants to do.

I'm gonna go take a walk.

Oh, okay.

Yaseer was both a dad and an absentee father, although it's certainly more

nuanced than that once you get beyond the label.

I have my own issues with a dad who left and never really came back, and

although I have compassion for him now, I didn't then, which is why I was that

woman who said, I would never date a man with children.

When Yaseer's heart broke a little on that phone call,

So did mine.

Where you going?

I've been recruited by Tooth Fairy Incorporated.

I have a crisp new $5 bill and an official note from headquarters for you

deliver.

No, Nerdy.

You've done enough for me. Well, now do something for me.

I want to meet your mom and son.

Until I know them, I don't really know you.

You sure you're ready to meet all of me?

All of you.

I'm a complicated man.

You got something to hide just there?

I should have said yes.

But when you have a woman like this

rooting for you, you

pack your bags and you hit the road, Jack.

Look good. Oh, you ain't even in the dough yet. You lying.

Hi.

This is the friend?

Girlfriend.

Well, come on in. Gotta get a drink in my hand. Come on in. What you been up

woman? Oh, just missing you.

Hey, Norman.

I'm here. Hey.

Yeah, well, let's, uh...

Let's rip this band -aid right off.

Angela.

Your script was shit.

Wow.

Okay. Yeah. First draft was too dramatic. What happened?

I told you it needed to be funny.

Well, you also said you wanted the episode to be rich enough so it could be

considered a backdoor pilot.

But it still needed to be funny. I thought it was. I chuckled once.

Maybe twice.

Okay, I paused there so you could say something that might save your job.

I'm currently crunching my butt cheeks so I don't mess with these fine chairs

you have here.

What?

Okay, you see, right there, that was funny.

I wasn't pitching a joke. I was just telling you the truth.

I'm nervous as hell over here.

Oh, okay, well... Truth?

When I read your script, I vomited inside.

So... Now that we've gotten our bodily fluids out of the way, let's get to

You're not firing me.

What good would you be doing me sitting at home collecting a check?

No, no, Miss Thane. Get your mop and your broom. You are going to help me

up this mess.

Hey, listen.

I know you're a talented writer who's trapped in a four -jokes -a -page

style.

But that's... the deal, okay?

I'm going to take some responsibility in this in that perhaps I led you to

believe that you have carte blanche, but you don't, Blanche.

Now, this next draft is on you and determines your future.

Look at you. You're so pretty.

Thank you.

Oh, what a big smile.

You like using it too, huh? To be honest, I smile a lot when I'm nervous.

Not that I'm never happy. I'm happy a lot. Right now, I'm smiling because I'm

mostly nervous.

And happy to meet you.

Sorry we just popped in on you, Ma.

But Nuri couldn't wait to meet you, and I was really missing you and Deontay.

It's fine, baby.

You know, it's fine.

It's just next time call before you come.

I like to have my face on. First impressions, very important.

And I would like a swing at looking as cute as Nori here.

Oh, there he is again.

That smile. You know, I'm going to call you Smiley.

I'll be back.

Okay, Mom.

I think your mother is mocking me. It's because you're sitting in her chair.

Oh, shit.

sends Marvin and Leroy to the grocery store with Lyft. And when they get to

part of the Lyft that says, They do everything they can to avoid getting

Three hours later, they sit in the aisle, flipping a coin to see who gets

them in the basket.

That's funny. That's funny.

Can you imagine?

They just keep raising their eyes.

Two out of three.

Three out of five.

256 out of 390.

Oh, wow.

That's good.

I got one.

How about Marvin, Leroy, and Wendy had an eating contest?

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Even better, even better.

What if Marvin, Leroy, and a pig had an eating contest and Wendy was the judge?

A pig?

Yeah. Oh, you know, okay, one of those charismatic ones like, um...

What's his name? Wilbur from Charlotte's Well.

So you writing in a spider, too?

Ooh, that could be good.

And funny.

Spider to eat and cut.

Funny.

Yes. Okay.

I think we have a winner.

Let's break it before we forget.

But... No, no, no, no. Go on and write it now before I have a new thought that

you'll like even less.

Go on.

We'll call him the Notorious P .I .G.

On the plus side, your mother gave me a nickname.

I'm winning.

Yes, you are.

Oh, that's great.

Then Papa Bear said, come here and give Daddy some sugar.

Hey, big man.

What's up?

I came to see you and this missing tooth you got.

See? Ah, it's gone.

You excited for the tooth fairy to come?

What if she can't find me?

You worried because sometimes you sleep here with Granny and Bill and sometimes

you sleep at home with Mom?

Well, tonight we'll make sure we put that in the pillow here.

Okay. Okay.

All right.

Hey, man, it's good to see you.

Good to see you, too.

Hey, I want you guys to meet someone.

Deontay, here's my really good friend, Neri.

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you, Deontay.

And, Neri, this is Bill. Hi, Neri.

Pleasure to meet you.

Hey,

let me get you guys something to drink, okay? They're in there on the counter,

baby. Okay.

Okay, good. No sense in all y 'all standing up when the queen reenters the

Have a seat.

You look pretty.

I already like you, so stop lying.

Okay.

Now, if that's not sweet enough, just let me know because we have more sugar.

No, it's just fine.

How's it been going?

Just surviving.

Well, she might be thriving if she went to a doctor's appointment. Oh, hell,

don't be telling on me.

Ma, you laying off the sodas and doing more walking?

What about you, big man, huh?

How are you?

I'm great. You're great.

Hey, aren't you supposed to be in your tutoring classes?

You talking about those piano lessons?

Yes, and the karate they do after that, and the writing lab they do after that.

Ma, why isn't he there?

Lucky for us, he isn't today, right?

Ma, why isn't he there, Ma?

Okay, Deontay, why don't you come go with Grandpa, and we'll clean up my

box. Okay.

I'll be right here.

Okay. Go ahead, go with Bill.

Let them talk.

Love you.

Love you.

Okay.

Ma. I don't know.

You know how hard it was to get them in that class.

They have a 100 % rate of getting their kids placed in the top private schools.

Destiny feels like it's too much.

What, learning the piano?

Or getting off her ass to take them? Now you know that's not fair.

What's fair about me spending my last dime to make sure that my son has the

opportunities as the majority in this country?

Why is it, generation after generation, we always trying to play catch -up?

Listen, she feels that it's not fair that he has to go to school on Saturday

when he could be outside playing with other kids. But he's not outside playing

with other kids his own age, Ma. He's in here cooped up with y 'all.

Deontay don't even like those piano lessons.

He said it's too hard. Of course they are.

Everything's hard when you're just learning.

But if he keeps going, he will get better and it will get easier.

It's just one Saturday.

You know how much one lesson cost me.

I can't even pay the damn rent.

And if it wasn't for Nuri being... He's only

missed one?

That's what I thought.

Where are you going? Let me get the keys to the rental car, please. You don't

have to. Nuri, let me get the keys to the rental car, please. You can see he's

hot -headed.

And he don't need to be going to Destiny's house. Can I have the keys to

car, please?

Thank you. I'll be right back. Earl, don't do this.

Don't do what, Mom?

Come up here, ruining shit.

I ain't ruining nothing.

Yeah, you're ruining shit. Yeah, dear.

Destiny doesn't care or respect anything I do to enrich my son's life. Maybe

just cool off a little first.

I'm sorry I brought you here to see this ghetto shit.

Well, at least now you know what you're getting into, smiley.

Marvin ties on Leroy's bed and takes bed

before realizing there are no more beds left for him.

I hear you write for that show Marvin.

Yeah.

I mean, yeah.

Yeah, I read a few of my son's scripts.

I guess he's good.

Oh, he's really good. I'm reading one of his scripts right now.

Honestly, he deserves to be in this business.

Well, he has loved movies ever since he was Deontay's age. You told me how you

used to drop him off at the movie theaters and then he would sneak to all

other movies until you could pick him up after work.

So he's told you a lot.

Yeah. We're 10 and 2.

Y 'all 12?

Yeah, we're complete like a dozen.

Eggs, I guess.

You mean 98 and 2, like in 100, like 100%. Oh, my

God, I'm an idiot.

Oh, hell, girl, you are trying, and I appreciate that.

Thank you.

But are you trying too hard?

Excuse me? Hello?

I've met a couple of you before.

Privileged. Cute girl from across the bay. Curious about the hood boy you just

met because he can string a few words together, spin them to make you laugh

think deeper. I was born in Compton. This isn't new to me. Oh.

So you the motherfucker.

Yeah. I'm that motherfucker.

A lot less R and a lot more attitude.

Motherfucker.

Motherfucker. Okay, let's just stop.

We can come back to this, okay? I need to get back to my point.

I'm not thrill -seeking with your son.

I love him.

And I know this morning you knew me as a friend, and now I'm the girlfriend.

But I love him, and I'm hoping that's forever.

Honey, listen.

He doesn't have the privilege to be distracted or heartbroken.

A lot of us here have invested a lot of time in him getting where he's trying to

go.

Now, whether he's a director or not, he has got to find some kind of success out

there in something.

Some of us are really counting on that.

Time will be your measure for me.

And how I show up for your seer.

And I hope you put today's visit in the bank, Mrs. Wallace.

Call me Rose.

Rose.

Norman.

Hey.

Can you help me understand the left turn we took?

Yes.

Yes, I certainly can.

As much as I love your story about the feminine protection, I can't shoot in a

grocery store and I can't build another set.

All I have is a house and a barbershop. Those are the only two sets where these

black people can have a life.

Well, maybe I can figure out how to put the scenes in the house.

Uh, how can I help you with that? Uh, no.

It's just that I got so excited thinking we were going to be doing something

different. A story that allows us to shade in more of their humanity.

I know that. And that's why I didn't fire you. And instead, I am here, deep

the night, trying to help you break a funny yet poignant pig story.

Okay, I have another idea.

Go. What if Marvin and Leroy help Wendy to start a movement that supports the

woman's right to choose? And because Marvin and Leroy don't have a clue about

women, they struggle through the entire process... Okay, Angela. Angela, Angela.

What kind of show do you think we're doing here?

Huh? Civil and social strife? Women's rights?

What part of Wendy not having a right to choose is funny?

The part where Leroy tells her what she should be doing with her own body.

Maybe not ha -ha funny, but more like, Negro, have you lost your damn mind,

funny?

I'm sorry.

You were talking about a pig story.

Exactly!

And it's simple.

You see, since the guys are new to the shop, they want to throw a big old

barbecue.

The humanity in that is that they're trying to make new friends

at the shop.

Meanwhile, Wendy is off trying to be a vegetarian.

Groundbreaking. A Negro woman is on television trying to eat vegetables.

Now go write it.

Hey, buddy.

Great minds, huh?

Yeah. That's why I love working with you, Norman. You work hard, you keep

eye on the ball. Yes, I do. What are you doing here, man? I got three pilots

feeling behind in all of them. Really? You have a show on the air called

huh? You're behind on that, too. We haven't gotten script notes from you in

last five episodes.

Come on, you got this.

That's why you got the big office.

This is yours, baby. Nah, it's mine.

All right, let's go. You ready for Angela now?

Oh, I hate firing people.

Let us wait for another ten minutes.

Martin, don't look at me like that. Just do what I said. Thank you.

Okay.

Hey.

One of my pilots.

Top black actress. I don't want to mention her name yet, but huge.

Says she needs a black woman on this project.

Conundrum. Not many high -level black writers, let alone black women writers.

You know anyone?

Man, I'm going to lose this project because we can't find anybody.

Well, who's the star?

Whitney Houston.

Say word.

Word.

Yeah, I know someone. I mean, I know someone who could partner with me if

interested. If I want to dance with somebody who wants to dance with you,

interested. Okay.

Wake up, girl.

Norma's ready for you.

You're good, right? Mm -hmm.

Norman, I know you think I haven't been trying.

And it's true. I haven't.

Are you sick?

No, I'm just thankful.

For what?

Because it sounds like you're about to disappoint me even more right about now.

I'm thankful for everything.

This job, my career, your tutelage.

Where are you going with this?

I don't know, but somewhere else.

I don't know if you're even bringing me back, but...

I can't do Marvin anymore.

No, no, no.

You don't get to quit. I was going to fire your ass.

Oh.

So it's like that?

You're going to hit the eject button while I'm still in the cockpit?

I'm sorry, Norman, but I can't write these words.

I'm not feeling this story. I'm not feeling any of these stories.

And I'm done settling.

I need to take a leap and try something new.

Because if I don't love what I'm doing...

I may as well go get a regular 9 to 5.

Hmm.

I only got one name.

And it's not going on any more scripts. I can't get behind.

You have a lot of nerve, Angela.

You really do.

Do you think you're the only person in this business who's settled?

Hmm? This entire industry is all about settling.

Hell. I had to settle the first time I hired you.

Yeah. The higher -ups told me that I needed to have a woman in my writer's

Did I want to do it? No!

I wanted another comedian, but I had to hire you.

And you know what?

Hiring you?

Best damn decision I ever made.

Because since day one, you challenged every pitch I ever had.

Every pitch.

You see...

It's easy to keep a yes man around.

But a no woman?

That takes guts.

Guts I've found because I've settled.

But since your time at Marvin is almost up, I just want to say,

been a great run.

If it makes you feel any better,

You can pretend to fire me.

Okay, I'm ready.

Actually, I want to hire you on something else.

Have you ever heard of Whitney Houston?

Yeah? Yeah.

ABC pilot, me and you.

Boom. What? Yes.

What? Norman, no. Whitney Houston.

Ah! Yeah. Oh, my God.

I told you.

The lights coming on all over the city reminded Darnell of his favorite page in

his favorite book.

He felt like it was just he and Mama in the big city.

Deontay, get your things. Your mother's on her way to get you. Everything okay,

Mom? Deontay, now, son, get your things. Get your boat. Get your book.

Come on.

Here.

You need to calm down.

What's going on?

Hello?

That's what.

It's open.

Are you serious?

You came for our son. He'll be out shortly.

Wow.

Okay. Let's see what's going on here. This isn't even about Deontay. This is

about you showing off in front of your little girlfriend.

Destiny, ain't nobody showing off.

Hi, I'm Destiny.

Nuri.

So you got Nuri up and around my child. What happened to Ruby? Hey, Destiny, get

out of his face like that. Maybe you got some answers for me. Destiny, you

better... Don't fall for it. She's trying to make you do something stupid.

fall for it. Yeah, listen to what your mommy says.

All right now, Destiny, that's enough.

How come you don't ever get on him, Rose?

You're the reason he like this.

Spoiled. Everything goes your seer's way.

Everything.

Deontay missed two or three classes, and you want to march over to my house?

Nigga, march over to my house with a chance! I'm telling you, Ma!

I'm telling you!

I'm telling you!

He done ran through Ruby's money. He gonna run through yours, man.

All right, now, you and me, we gonna fight. I said get out of her face! Just

out of her face!

If you had acne...

Why I took him out of those classes is because those kids are far more advanced

than he is.

They have pianos at home and extra tutors.

But no, you didn't ask me.

You assumed I was trifling.

He's not going back there. He's not going back there to feel stupid and bad

about himself every weekend. Why didn't you tell me about the things that he

needed? Because you can't do shit about it.

Ysir, maybe you can call the church here and they'll let him borrow the piano.

A girlfriend with solutions.

Or you can call the piano store.

Come on, Nerdy. They're more accommodating than you think. No one's

there. You know, I say I do take the little girlfriend's advice. Who is going

shuttle him back and forth between all these classes and practices?

My mom.

Your mama?

Yes, my mom.

Have you seen your mom?

She's not well, Ysir.

I feel bad enough asking her for the help I need.

But you can't see that.

Because you're so busy banking on these stupid little classes to make up for the

fact that you're not here.

You think it's okay to have my child around any old body?

But you want to jam me up about some stupid little classes. You got to put

hands on me. Ain't nobody jamming you up. You keep talking about your kid, my

kid. It's our son.

Ain't nobody give none of y 'all permission to have my son around any of

bitches.

I did not bring you up that way.

I raised you better than that. You know he ain't gonna do nothing wrong.

You keep running your mouth and I just might let him.

I done had it.

All this bullshit up in my house.

I'm gonna translate for you.

She's mad.

Because every six months you want to roll up in here and tell people what to

Well, this is a 24 -7 job.

Do you understand me?

I don't care what you think about her. This woman, the mother of your child,

is a damn good mother. Whether she's sick, when she's tired, when she just

old don't feel like it. She don't have anybody to pass the baton to.

Nobody here to pass it to.

She's the first one up in the morning and the last one to go down at night.

She's the mother, the father, the doctor, the nurse, the chauffeur, the

therapist. And if she decides to leave her son behind and go

chase after her dream, well, don't take me off.

So you may not like her, but you damn sure gonna respect her.

And you are going to thank her because without her, you couldn't do what you're

doing.

And you, destiny, having that baby didn't keep him.

Yelling and screaming and embarrassing yourself in front of people, that's not

going to bring him back.

Baby, he gone.

He don't want you no more.

You got to let him go. You need to think about.

with what you got right now.

This is it.

Figure it out. Hell, use the girlfriend solutions.

Those were not bad ideas. Yes, me and Bill, we'll take him. And don't be mad

because he can't take him. He's not here, but we are.

And that is our deal.

Baby, I know you're mad.

You got every right to be mad.

You are aiming it at the wrong.

You're aiming it at the wrong people.

That's it. That's it. Okay. That's enough. That's enough. Bill, I need to

lay down for a minute. Come on.

I'll go and get Deontay.

I'll be outside.

It's going to be okay.

Hey, big man, you ready?

It's not going to come, huh?

What's not going to come?

The money from the tooth fairy. I was supposed to sleep here tonight.

You think she's confused because you're sleeping at your mom's tonight?

Mm -hmm.

Tooth fairy must be really confused because look what I found under this

Hey, look.

You want me to show you? Look, I saw.

Your name's on it.

Deontay. Mm -hmm.

Daddy, come look at this.

Yeah. Mm -hmm.

$5!

You want to read it?

Dear Deontay, you have a $5 tooth because you brush your teeth every day.

Congratulations.

Just remember, if you brush them twice a day, you will get $10.

Any toothbrush twice daily and flossed every night gets $20 a tooth.

It also says, um, please mail any tapes to this address.

Ooh, looks like you can make a lot of money.

Hey, are you my daddy's girlfriend?

No, I'm your daddy's friend.

Come on. You ready, big man?

Yeah. All right, let's go.

I

had

seen Yaseer's anger before, and it never scared me. I just always felt like it

was part of his fiery passion.

depth of his anger.

One time this therapist told me that it was me trying to save my father.

My attempt at making him stay.

I made a wise choice.

My whole prayer on the way back home and my whole prayer the next morning

was that one day Yaseer would return home to get his son on his own terms.

And I wanted to be his witness.

I think that's what love is.

Being a witness for the one you love.

Their complete journey.

Defeats and victories.

You still want to be in this with me?

funny because I never wanted to fall in love with a man with kids.

I didn't want the drama.

But after seeing how much you love him and what a sacrifice it must be for you

to walk away from that child and worry that he may never understand why you

must be unimaginable.

I don't want to lose him, Neri.

I don't want to be the thing that he grows up to hate.

Then you better get to it and get back to him.

and help her out more.

Come here.

Do you have an idea?

Use this as your writer's room until I remodel.

All right. And then I'll finish your script.

And send it to Norman and my agent and maybe even Keith.

I don't know what to say.

Say thank you.

Women.

Their strength astonishes me.

How they soften and wrap themselves around your bruised heart to heal you.

How they damn your shortcomings.

To raise your level.

I owe it all to them.

Destiny was right. I was, I am, spoiled by the women in my life.

Destiny, Ruby, my mother, Nuri.

I stand because they stood up for me.

I know people were talking about me for thanking them.

at the Image Awards, but... That was Nori's idea.

I still don't know what I did to deserve her.