All language subtitles for Braxton Family Values - S05E14 - Broadway or Bust (1080p YTTV WEB-DL AAC2.0 H.264)-FFG_track3_[eng]

Previously
on "Braxton Family Values."

We've done a couple
of performances now

and the next one
is gonna be a monologue.

I'm gonna want you
to really immerse
into that character.

It's just so hard
juggling school,

my kids,
and all the traveling.

But what I'm looking for
is a sign of more commitment.

- Look who's here.
- What's going on old man?

- What's up?
- What's up?

Gabe and Eric
haven't seen each other
in at least a year,

and it's not right or fair

because Gabe divorced me,
not the boys.

And I'm not happy,
because he cut them
out of his life.

Wouldn't it be great
to have us on Broadway?

We should have
been up there

in New York with her
in the meeting.

I cannot say
that I'm on board.

We want to do a Broadway show
with The Braxtons

and y'all looking at me
like I done told you

I stole your bike.

♪ We are the Braxtons
and you'll see ♪

♪ That we are not like
an ordinary family ♪

♪ Toni, Traci, Towanda ♪

♪ Trina,
Tamar, and Ms. E ♪

♪ Will teach you
a thing or two ♪

♪ On Braxton Family Values ♪

'Wanda...

-Toni!
- Is that you?

Hey, I'm in the kitchen.

I'm making
Mommy's biscuits.

You're making them?
Mommy gave you the recipe?

- She did.
- That's cute.

But I think I'm doing
biscuit cakes.

What else you put in it?
I smell something else.

Why would you do that?
You knew I was coming over.

Okay, this--
Okay, let me
tell you the truth.

I tried
to do Mommy's biscuits
and they came out flat.

Oh, they're flat.

I can't believe that Toni
is trying to add stuff

to Mommy's
famous biscuits, okay?

I cannot believe
she put almond extract in it

and she knows
I don't like nuts.

I don't like
the flavor of nuts.

I just don't like it.

What are you doing
over this side of town?

Well,
because I got an apartment.

- In L.A.?
- Yeah.

For?

My acting stuff.

Oh, you serious.

- Uh--
- You know, I'm just saying,
like, serious-serious.

Well, of course.
I have to do something else

since I've retired
from being a background singer.

Ha, ha.

Now that I've temporarily
moved to L.A.

to focus on my acting career,

it is so important
that I continue to progress

so I can ultimately
get an agent

and start working
as an actor.

I have a monologue, right,
that I have to do...

Mm-hmm.

And... I don't know

how I'm going to do
this monologue, because--

I'll help you.

What do you want to do?
We'll read. Wanna read it?

- No, no, I mean--
- Oh, it's a monologue.

It's a monologue,
it's not-- yeah. Mm-hmm.

My acting coach, David,

gave me a monologue,
and I have to create

the character's entire world.

But, I am feeling
a little stuck--

just a little bit--

with the creative details
right now.

So...

she's Spanish--

This is the one
that David--

Like, "Papi, I need to talk to
you about this."

Or, like,
"Stevie, yo, Stevie, why you
ain't call me the other day?"

No.

There's lots of dialects.

Okay, see,
you're making it

a little more complicated
than it needs to be.

Let me tell you something
about my teacher, David.

He's, uh, very strict,

but he's good.

How does that work?

He doesn't tell you
what you want to hear.

- Okay.
- He just tells it like it is.

So, he's like
the Simon...

...of acting.

- Absolutely.
- Okay, like Simon
on "American Idol."

- Okay.
- You should come to my class.

- Okay, I can come.
- Good.

- Can I be Paula?
- No, you cannot.

You can't be Paula,
you can't be--

I can be Paula.
"Towanda, you were
absolutely wonderful.

I loved it.
I thought you were great..."

I need you to sit down
and not say anything.

Uh... Toni better not

embarrass me
in front of David.

I promise.
She better not.

I'm still new at this school
and I want to show him

that it's not too late for me
to start my acting career.

Maybe asking Toni to come
with me was a bad idea.

But I can't
take it back now.

I'm thinking about
getting props.

You know, to help me
dive into the character
just a little bit more.

Like, dressing like that.

- And that'll help--
the visual part of it.
- Okay, let me see.

I don't have clothes yet.
I'm gonna go to a costume place.

I'm gonna make
Traci and Trina go.

I don't think you should
dress, like...

Spanish.

Why?

It's gonna be Spain?
Native... Spain? Spanish?

I don't know, Toni,
that's why I'm asking you.

- I asked you.
- I don't think a costume--

Let me read. Okay.
What is she doing?

What is your character
doing?

Read it.
It doesn't give
any "prelogue," nothing.

- But you gotta
know it yourself.
- I did make it up in my head.

- What did you make up?
- I wanna know what you think.

Listen, I wanna know
what you think.

I don't think Towanda
should dress Spanish.

I think that's a cliché.

I think do opposite of what
you think it should be,

or don't make it so obvious.

Mm. I have reservations
about that.

I don't know
what to tell you

because you have to talk
with a Spanish accent.

Well, you've been
a lot of help.

I thought I was helpful.

- Let me see you
try something.
- No.

- One thing?
- I'll figure it out, girl.

Doña, I need to talk to you, okay?

I made these biscuits.
You want one?

No, because you put
almond flavor in it.

They do taste better, though.

-Hey, guys.
How you doing?
-Hey, good to see you.

Come in.
Tamar's over here.

Hello, hello!

- Hi!
- How are you?

- So good. How are you?
- Good!

Good to see you.

Hello.

David and James
are the producers from New York

who wants to do the Broadway
show with me and my sisters.

They're in town
working on another show

but they asked to stop by
to talk about our project.

Now, I have to tell
the producers that my sisters
don't want to do the show.

I'm hoping the producers still
want to work with just me

because this Braxton
right here

deserves and wants
to be on Broadway

and she will get there, honey, okay?

It's good to see you?
Did it take you long enough
to get out here?

A long flight but well worth it
just to see the two of you.

Oh, why, thank you.
That's so sweet.

So, I was excited
to talk to the girls

about what we talked about
in New York,

and unfortunately...

I don't think they totally
understood what I was
trying to say.

Or they, I don't know
if they didn't understand me

or if it's not
a good time for them.

But I definitely feel like

we should continue working
on a show,

if that's something
you guys are open to.

So, at this point
they said,
"No, not now"?

Well, they just looked at me,
so I don't think they got it.

- Right?
- Yeah.

Yeah.

But I definitely feel like,
you know,

we should continue on
if you guys are interested

because I do have
so many ideas

and this is something
that I've always
wanted to do.

I'm feeling a little anxious
right now

because...

I don't know what
they're gonna say.

I'll tell you,
Broadway is the place
to be right now.

Absolutely.

You know, it's, like,
in the best place it's been
in years. But--

We don't want to lose out
on the opportunity

to work with someone like
yourself, who is so great.

Yes.

That-- that would be great.

Oh, my God, that's such
good news, Vince.

I'm just really relieved
that David and James

still want to do
this project with me,

because, you know,
this is a huge opportunity.

But it's just so much pressure
to make sure it's successful.

- Where do we go
from here now?
- Yeah.

Well, all right.
You need to

really think about,
what are you passionate
about

both in terms of stories
and in terms of
what you wanna do,

and come back with
at least three or four
different ideas

that are either original
or shows that you'd want
to be in.

I can do that.

Okay, perfect.

Excited about
the possibility

of bringing Tamar
to Broadway.

Just get back to us
as soon as possible

because we wanna
get this train moving
to Tamar Station.

Absolutely.
Choo-choo!

The last time I had
gelato was in Italy.

Gotta be careful.
Last time I gained
nine pounds in 11 days.

Since my boys,
Eric and Caleb,

are on summer vacation
right now,

the three of us are in L.A.
visiting my sisters

and enjoying some
family time together.

- Guess who's here in L.A.?
- Who?

Pops.

He knows I'm here.

We've been talking, actually.

We've been to
a therapy session,
a couple of them.

I've been working
through my issues

to find closure
with Gabe,

and not just for myself
but for my boys as well.

Gabe was the only
father figure that
Caleb and Eric

really had in their lives.

so I think it's really
important to consider

that they might
need some closure, too.

He said that
he is upset with himself

because he dropped the ball
with you guys.

And he'd like to rekindle

the relationship
that you guys had

for the past,
you know, 14 years.

Okay.

Why-- Why is your face
scrunched up?

You know,
I've never really
liked him...

at all.

Coming up
on "Braxton Family Values."

I am not coming--

I ain't gonna be swindled
into anything.

Get out.

All the men flock to her.

Not that this should be
an issue, Vince.

Oh, he can't stop
all of this greatness.

the relationship
that you guys had

for the past, you know,
14 years.

You know,
I've never really
liked him...

at all.

In 14 years,
you have never
told me that.

I made it pretty obvious.

I don't like the way
he treated you

- in your guys' relationship.
- That's fair.

Caleb is upset with Pops

because of the way
Pops treated me.

Caleb was very upset with,
you know, the infidelity,

and seeing things
that, as adults,

we think we're hiding,

and they see more
than we think they do.

So, that made me realize
I need to be very careful

in the way I choose
relationships in the future.

- Let me ask you a question.
-Uh-huh.

How did you feel

when you saw Pops
at the bar?

What's going on,
old man?

It was a little peculiar.

What do you mean?

I just-- I wasn't aware
that you guys were talking

and stuff like that.
I feel like...

I guess it would have
been nice to know

that you guys were
still in communication.

It was very new at the time.

Okay.

We've made our peace.

I mean, we're not gonna...

start dating
or get back together.

We're not gonna reconcile
or anything like that,

but we're no longer enemies.

Do you guys wanna
sit down and talk
to him while he's here?

I'm open to conversation.

Do you guys feel like there's
something that you wanna do?

I'm willing
to talk to him.

But you're still angry?

Yeah.
To put it lightly.

I think it's important
for you, Caleb,

to express...
all of your feelings.

Oh, I'm going to.

I'm really worried about
my sons right now because

they don't really
have a close relationship

with "bio dad."

And to have another father
taken away from them

might really kind of
screw them up in some way.

So, I just really
wanna make sure that

they're able to talk through
whatever issues they have

and be okay with it.

Okay, well,
I'll let him know.

And, uh, we can
set something up.

Come in!

Heya!

♪ Come to my house! ♪

Traci and Trina
are still in town,

so they are stopping by
my L.A. condo

to hang out.

Even though I'm loving
being a California girl,

I'm already
missing my kids,

like crazy missing my kids,

and I can't wait for them
to come out soon.

-
- My kids are texting me.

Sorry, but let me call them.
You know Brooke: "Mom!"

Trina, really?
You eating it
like you eating ice.

I'm trying to chew
real quick first,

you know, so that
I don't interrupt the babies.

Okay, I have time for one more.
This dill right there.

-Hey, Mommy.
- Hey, Poo.

-What you doing?
- Hey, Brookie Poo Poo.

That's Aunt Traci
and Aunt Trina.

- Okay.
-Sorry.

Well, you know you have to
come to L.A. to see me.

Yes!

You hear Brooke? "Yes!"

Woo-hoo!

I miss you guys so much.
Mommy loves you guys so much,

-I love you too, Mom.
- Okay, bye.

Bye!
Bye!

I can't be away from my kids
for so long.

I'm here in L.A. to focus
on my acting, which is for me,

But I also want to show my kids
that I can achieve my goals

and they can too someday.
I love my babies.

Speaking of children,
I know mine are grown,

but they are actually
having dinner with Gabe.

No!

They're very open to it.
They said they had some
questions themselves.

- It's a good thing.
- There's a lot more to it

but I don't want
to get into all of it.

But I just hope the boys
get their answers,

- what they're looking for.
- That's what matters.

I wasn't much older
than Eric

when my parents was going
through their divorce,

and I can only imagine
how he's feeling right now.

You know,
you kind of feel alone

and you want to lean
on your brothers and sisters,

and there's only
two of them.

Thank God it was six of us
to lean on each other.

What's been up? What's been
going on with your acting
and stuff?

I have a new scene
that I have to do.
I have to do a monologue,

memorize a monologue.

It's quite long.

It's not that it's
challenging, it's just long.

What happened?

I am not coming...

I ain't gonna be
swindled into anything.

'Cause next think you know,
we're part of the scene,

and we're part of the props.
"Trina, be a tree."

Traci...

And I'll be the mannequin.

Y'all got jokes...
and they're not even funny.

Yes it is.

The last time I went to
Towanda's acting class,

I felt very uncomfortable.

And then I have an assignment
for some of you guys
to come back with.

I didn't sign up for this!
I want to enjoy watching her.

Not being in it.

I feel bamboozled.

- How do you feel bamboozled?
- 'Cause I--

Towanda bamboozled us twice.

I didn't know!

That's fine.
I didn't want y'all
to come anyway.

But you can go shopping
with me. I gotta get
some props and costumes.

I just don't wanna...

Trina, you're not a tree.
Drink.

Get out.

At least let me finish
the champagne.

Great, I really
appreciate that, guys.
That was good.

Thanks for coming in,
I appreciate it.

- Thank you.
- I'll be back in touch.

Hi, how are you?

Thank God David and James
are still in town

auditioning for
their other project because

I have a great idea
I want to share with them.

But I'm a little bit
nervous because people
might not like it,

although I really,
really love it,

and I might not get
another opportunity

to do this, ever again.

How's it going?
You find some good actors?

- Yeah, absolutely.
- Great.

Well, you know,
after we were last together

we talked about
thinking about different
potential vehicles.

I expect you have some

that you're excited about, maybe.

Yeah, well,
I looked at is as, like,
what haven't I seen?

And what would I want to see.

- Good call.
- You know?

And... the story hasn't
really been told about
The Jackson Five,

but from a female
perspective.

And that's how I see
me and my sisters.

And, I don't necessarily
have to be the Michael,

because everybody knows
what happens with Michael, right?

- Mm-hmm.
- But, did anybody know

that Jermaine Jackson
had a huge career
before Michael?

Did anybody know that?
I didn't know that.

I didn't even--

I did research
and I didn't know that.

- Okay.
- And it was just
so amazing to me

that just because one person
in your family might have,
you know,

the same aspiration
and goal,

you automatically feels like,
okay, then I can't do that, right?

- Mm-hmm.
- Well, I would love
to tell a story

about five women

who are singers,

and-- and go through
each part of our life.

And then you see
the evolution of Tamar,

with, you know,
my hopes, my dreams,

my downfalls.

I want people
to leave inspired,

and feeling like they can
do and be anything.

when they leave the show.

So, in that approach,

we would be developing
something, in your mind,

from the beginning,
I suppose,

and developing a new story,

which is a longer process.

- Yeah.
- Did you look at any shows

that you've, like,
always loved

or would want to be in?

I probably could have
played the role...

Uh-huh.

of Celie
in "The Color Purple,"
I think.

- Okay.
- I could have always
done that.

Of course, "Dreamgirls."

- Okay.
- Yeah.

You mention
that you love...

- "The Color Purple,"
- Yeah.

and playing the Celie role.

I could also see you playing

Shug Avery.

Absolutely.

which is, you know,
the consummate diva,

great singer,

but it's also
a phenomenal acting job

because she shows
her vulnerability

and her insecurity
and her prowess,

and all the men flock to her.

Not that this should be
an issue, Vince.

But, um--

Oh, he can't stop
all of this greatness.

No, I'm joking.

Now, I'm just gonna be
honest about it,

when I first saw
"The Color Purple,"

Shug Avery was not
the main character,

it was Celie.

But Jennifer Hudson
came to do Shug Avery
and turned it out.

She was amazing,
she sang her face off...

Of course I'm here for it.

Okay?

- Obviously there are steps...
- Of course, of course.

that we would
have to go through,

but this is something
that could be a possibility.

I just don't wanna leave that--
the big picture--

On the backburner,
you mean?

No, well,
I think those two things
could be done concurrently.

If we're developing
something from the beginning,

it's a process
that takes some time.

Absolutely.

But, if in the meanwhile
we build the steps,

so that by the time
that that is ready to go,

there's some other things that
have happened in this medium--

I'm right here with you.
I was just thinking
the same thing.

So, as I'm talking to David
about my show on Broadway,

he just mentions that,
"You know what, Tamar,

you should do some things
on your own

on Broadway,
just to get your feet wet,

so people become acquainted
with who you are,

so it would be very easy

to open up your own show."

'Cause they already know
who she is.

Ultimately the process,
if it were to move forward,

would be that they'd
probably have you come in.

You'd need to audition
for them.

And I don't want to put you
totally on the spot,

but if there are certain things
that show off that range,

or something like that--

If-- if you want to--

When?

I was just talking about...

10 or 15 seconds.

Coming up
on "Braxton Family Values."

She better (bleep)
figure it out.

I heard that. Come on, y'all.
I need y'all to behave.

We can kind of clear the air
about some things.

At this meeting,
I can let him know
exactly what's what.

The one thing
about being a man...

Oh, yeah?

It might be fun,
if you want,

to maybe have you
do a couple bars.

I don't know what song.

"Love and War"
is actually in the same range

as "Push Da Button"
from "Color Purple."

- Oh, really?
- Yeah.

Okay, um...

Let's see.

♪ We stay ♪

♪ On the front lines ♪

♪ Yeah but we're still here ♪

♪ After the bomb drops ♪

♪ We go so hard ♪

♪ We lose control ♪

♪ The fire starts ♪

♪ Then we explode ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ When the smoke clears ♪

♪ We dry our tears ♪

♪ Only in love and war ♪

Yeah, absolutely.

You would so
totally kill it.

- Really?
- Yeah, yeah.

Why, thank you.

I'll make a phone call
and let's see where that goes.

And then let's brainstorm
about putting that story
together

and thinking about writers
and people who would be involved
with that process.

Cool beans.

I'm just so super uber excited
and blessed right now

because the meeting
was amazing.

You know,
while I'm doing my research

and doing my own thing
on Broadway,

it's just really good to know
the ins and outs

of, you know, what's happening
behind the scenes

and, you know, what the audience
likes and what they expect,

so I will know how to write
my own show.

- All right, okay.
- Fabulous, thank you.

- All right, thanks.
- Bye-bye.

- Hi!
- Hi!

- Towanda, how are you?
- Stephanie. Good how are you?

These are my sisters,
Trina and Traci.

- Hi. Stephanie.
-Nice to meet you.

-Hi, Stephanie.
- Hi.

My character is--
she's a grandmother.

Uh-huh.

And she's Spanish.

We can do 50s,
we can do a full skirt.

We can do 60s, we can do...

- pretty much anything
you'd like.
- Okay.

Every time, David,
my acting coach,

gives me an assignment,

it's a test to see
if I'm still gonna be

in this school or not.

He can say to me,
"Towanda, that was horrible,

and don't come back, okay?"

I don't want that
to ever happen.

And this script is really
light on details.

Like, it gives me nothing--

nothing to go on.

I'm just hoping
that I can be inspired

by the thousands of costumes

and props that they
have in this place

so that I can fully embrace
my character.

Well, let's get
the dress first.

Okay, for sure.

Can you pull
some stuff for me?
I hate shopping.

All right,
I'll see what I can find.

-Oh, that's too big.
-Oh, yeah.

You don't even have
any cleavage up in there.

Grandmothers
back in the day had...

- Yeah, they kind of fell
a little bit.
- Yeah.

Hello.

Yes, that's more
grandmother-ish.

- Didn't Mom used to have
a dress like that?
- Yes, she did.

Take it off.

None of these outfits

are feeling right.

Memorizing my monologue
is only a small part
of this assignment.

But when I saw
my acting coach, David,

he asked me to really commit
to this process.

She better (bleep)
figure it out.

-I heard that.
- Well, she'd better
(bleep) fake it.

Are you--

Let's go.

Without owning this character

and knowing anything
about her,

I'm afraid that I'm gonna
disappoint David.

And you know what?

That's not an option for me.

I really have to go home

and focus on creating
this character in my head

or this monologue
is going to be an epic fail.

Now, I'll go over
my lines.

I am feeling great.

I went home
and finally connected
with this character.

I was totally
overthinking before,

but now
I've simplified my approach,

and I'm gonna nail it.

I hate to say it,
but Toni was right

when it came to the subtleness
of the approach.

- Hey!
- Hey, um...

Come on in.

What's up
with the pajamas?

- Come on in.
- And the shower cap.

- Come on in.
- That's not--

Hi. That's not what?
Tell me. That's not what?

You said you were
going Spanish.

Okay, but let me tell ya.

This is a grandmother
who's in an old folks' home.

And she's talking
to her granddaughter.

How old
is the granddaughter?

In her 20s.

Am I playing
a 20-something-year-old?

No, you're not.
You're sitting--

- I can play the 20-something--
- I don't need you to do that.

Parts of me are 20.

Yeah, but I need you
to 20 yourself in the seat.

All right.

All right.

I invited Toni Braxton
to come support me today,

but she is tap dancing
on my last nerve.

But why you
got the shower cap?

You taking a shower?

I put a lot of though
and energy in this performance,

and I don't wanna start
second-guessing myself

at the last minute--
I need to stay focused.

- Hey, David!
- Hello, there.

- Hello.
-

- How are you?
- Hi! Good.

This is my sister, Toni.

- First a hug for you.
- Oh, of course.

- And this is Toni.
- How are you?
Nice to meet you.

- It's great to meet you, also.
- Likewise, you too.

-Well, take a second.
- Thank you.

So, get yourself
where you need to be.

Wait a minute.

You feel... focused?

Uh...

Yes.

Those half-answers
concern me a little bit, right?

The "yes"

sounds like a no, actually.

Like, the half-answer...

- Um, yes.
- If you were really foc--
if you were like,

"The light's on,"

- there wouldn't be
hesitation.
- Right.

Okay, at first
I was really prepared

and I was really excited,

and then David
walked in

and I'm feeling
kind of thrown off.

I need to pull it together.

What have you--
like, what are you
preparing right now?

- What's happening?
- Okay.

I am in a old folks' home.

I have a hint of Alzheimer's.

- Oh, interesting.
- And I'm talking
to my granddaughter.

My granddaughter
is going through...

a situation maybe
with her fiancée,

that she called
the wedding off.

Uh-huh, all right.
So, it's thorough.

I like your thoroughness
in this.

Like, you've set it up,
like, you know what's going on.

Alzheimer's--
personal attraction?

Okay, my mother
had a mini-stroke.

- Uh-huh.
- There's some things
that she kind of forgets.

- Simple stuff.
- Yeah, yeah.

Like one time she forgot
how to get to my house

and it took her an hour

and it should have only
taken less than seven minutes

from where she was
to get to my house.

Now I need you to make
that specific in the moment.

- Okay.
- You know, what's your mom's
voice sound like

when she talks to you
when she's lost?

When she forgets?

Um, hers is like,

I went down this street
500 times!"

- Good. Right.
-It's like that.

So, where's that?

Okay.

Let me try something.
Are you up for helping?

Oh, no! Okay.

David's like my
favorite person right now.

- Okay, can I ask you
a question?
- Yeah, of course.

I'm just asking.

- I gotta be her sister?
- Yeah, you're her sister.

I couldn't be her
lesbian granddaughter

- and my lesbian lover
left me...
-

so I came to talk
to my "gamma" about it?

I can't do that? No?

No, no, actually.

That would probably
kill me.

- All right, here we go.
-Here we go.

Oh, my God!

Toni Braxton. No!

Towanda's monologue.
Towanda's monologue.

You're just a prop, okay?

Here we go.

I was so jealous

of every woman

my first husband looked at.

And he was a portrait painter.

And my second husband,

he tortured himself

from-- from jealousy
of your grandfather.

Look at Toni, there.
You're kind of avoiding her.
Stay with her.

At the time,
he would look at me
from his balcony.

And then he used to get
jealous-- he got jealous.

I'm gonna stop us here, actually.

My thought for you is...

I think there is--
there is commercial stuff
available for you.

There's someone
who I work with here,

someone who my students
go in front of,

to get
a commercial opinion,
so to speak,

an industry opinion.

And... he's a manager,
an agent.

Um, and I'd like
his opinion on whether

he'd consider signing you
or someone like you.

What... the.. (bleep)?

No pressure.

Like, what the (bleep)?

You wanna be an actor,
you gotta hang yourself
out there every day.

Coming up
on "Braxton Family Values."

Is Towanda someone you would
consider working with?

...not going
to jail tonight.

Not tonight?
How about tomorrow?

It's gonna take
a lot more growing up

till you get away
from your Disneyland views.

So, I have exciting news.

-Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.

When we were in New York,

these producers that Vince
and I met like four years ago

They want us to create
a Broadway show.

Whoa.

I call that "z money."
You know what "z money" is.

No, I don't know
what that means.

"Z money" is money you make
when you catching your z's.

Ka-ching!
Ka-ching!

- Oh, okay.
- Yeah.

All right, let's go eat.

Welcome to being an actor.

All right?
Like, you wanna
be an actor,

you gotta hang yourself
out there every day.

He's bringing an agent

to give feedback
on my monologue.

and I'm extra
super-duper

duper nervous.

First of all,
Toni Braxton is a prop.

It's just so much pressure.
So much pressure.

I'm gonna go bring in
Phil Brock.

I'll be back in a minute.
Concentrate, prepare.

You just relax.
And stay quiet.

-
- It'll help her prepare.

Thank you, Dave.

I'm gonna be the big sister
and just sit.

I'm not gonna give Towanda
any tips,

I'm not gonna give her
any advice,

I'm just gonna let her
do her thing.

What, Toni?
What?

Not... really.

I can't help myself.
I need to give her
a little advice.

- I just have one suggestion.
- What is it, Toni?

It's a good one.

"I went to the river
to get a drink of water."

- Harriet Tubman.
- Jane Pittman?

Do a Jane Pittman!

Just being honest.
Just---

I think you should
just talk.

Think about it.

If I fail...

I am--

I'm not gonna be pleased, okay?

And I didn't expect for this
opportunity to be here so soon,

but now that it's here,
I'm just gonna have to kill it,

I'm just gonna have to
just kill it.

And kill the prop.

Okay, shh.

- Hello!
-This is Phil Brock.

-Hello, there.
- Hi!

Phil, this is
Towanda Braxton.

Hello. It's a pleasure
to meet you.

- Hi, Towanda,
how very nice to meet you.
- How are you? Likewise.

-Toni Braxton.
- Nice to meet you.

Hi,
how are you doing?

I've been working
with Towanda and she
has a monologue for today,

and we're gonna see
what you think.

A little reality check there
from an industry person...

- to figure out
what's gonna work.
- Fantastic.

All right, I look forward
to it. Let's do it.

Let's have a seat
and we'll get going.

I was so jealous...

of my first husband,

because he was
a portrait painter.

And every woman he looked at
in the face I was jealous.

And my second husband...

he tortured himself

because he was so jealous
of your grandfather.

Your grandfather...

he was our neighbor.

And he used to look up
at me...

Ooh, that man was fine.

He was fine.

Scene.

You freaking out?

A little bit, yes.

I'm exhausted though,
I have to tell you that.

So, Phil, what's your
first reaction?

I would love for
you to start off...

with a little bit more
forcefulness.

A little bit stronger, maybe,
at the start of the
conversation,

because I never
wanna see someone one-note.

Okay.

I think I'd like to see
one part of the scene...

where you show more passion.

Phil, I'm gonna put you
on the spot because I trust
your opinion.

Is Towanda someone
who you would consider
working with?

If...

you show more
improvement.

If-- If you're working
with David...

If you find a way to fly.

Because that's
what acting is about,

finding that way to fly.

So, I would be happy
to talk to you later on.

I'd be happy
to look at your progress,

and see where you are.

I have to say,

that by hearing the things
that he said to me

and being honest with me,

it has really helped me
move forward

and understanding
that I need to keep pushing

and progressing
and studying hard

to be the actress I know
that I know how to be.

-Thank you.
- Thank you.

So, you're done
working today.

And Toni, you're done
with your part, too.

- Yeah, you did great.
- As the prop.

You deserve an Emmy for that.

This looks like
a good little spot.

So...

Y'all wanna get a drink?
Minus you?

Yeah,
I can totally drink.

You're not going
to jail tonight.

- Right.
- Not tonight.

How about tomorrow?

I felt just a little bit
nervous

about going into the lunch
with Eric and Caleb.

I hadn't seen them
in a while.

It'd be a good opportunity
for us to sit down

and get things off our chests.

There were a lot of things
that happened

that I'm pretty sure
they were upset about.

So, listen, boys.
I mean, I really wanted
us to come out here...

We can kind of clear
the air about some things
that happened.

Like, after the divorce
and stuff.

I would like to know
how y'all feel, you know.

Just man-to-man now.

So.

No crickets
in the air.

I don't...

I got a pretty thick skin,

so I mean whatever
you want to say is cool.

I mean, I'll accept it.

I'm not gonna
really interrupt y'all

and let y'all talk.

Say what y'all need to say.

I don't feel like
I should be put in this
situation at all.

I'm hoping at this meeting

I can let him know exactly
what's what

and keep him from ever
trying to talk to me again.

What do you think, Caleb?

You never expressed
your feelings,

so I would love
to hear it.

I will say...

I'm not exactly happy
about the things that went on

with you and my mom.

The one big thing

about being a man

is being faithful
to the woman that
they're with.

Oh, yeah?

It's gonna take
a lot more growing up

until you get away
from your Disneyland views.

Do you feel like...

she was faithful to me?

Coming up
on "Braxton Family Values."

You think you know
all your side,
but you don't.

You guys okay?

The one big thing
about being a man

is being faithful
to the woman that
they're with.

Oh, yeah?

It's gonna take
a lot more growing up

until you get away
from your Disneyland views.

The world isn't
all perfect and roses.

You're gonna
get in a relationship
with some woman

and you're gonna be
in with them for
many years...

I'm not trying
to mess you up here,

but it's gonna take
a lot of moral fibers ...

and background in your life
in order for you to stay
faithful to that woman.

I guarantee it.

I feel like if you can't,
then you shouldn't be
in that relationship.

Well, maybe that's why
I've been single
for a whole year.

But he says
he doesn't feel

it's possible to be monogamous
towards one person.

You know, I--
I call shenanigans on that.

I mean, I've done it
in every relationship
I've been in.

Me and all my friends,
most people that I've known

have had no problem with it.

So, I think it's more
of a personal thing for him.

Gonna say all I have
to go on is what I've seen.

On her side.

To every divorce,
there's always two sides
of the story.

-I know.
- You think you know all
your side, but you don't.

There's another side.

I was ready to answer anything
they asked me honestly.

Um, and kind of
no-holds-barred

because for me, I mean,

they're pretty much,
they're not little kids anymore.

So, I'm able to actually
tell my side of the story,
which was good.

I'd be pissed.

I still can't believe
we have to say goodbye

to our home after 12 years.

Thanks, Gabe.

I was--
I was a little angry--

For a little bit.

All right.

That's understandable.

'Cause we were--
we were comfortable--

You mean,
where y'all are at.

Where we were, you know?
I had my group of friends.

And, you know, that was--
that was my life.

I was angry for a while,

but that now that,
in growing up,

in understanding,
you know--

I forgive you.

I appreciate that.
I appreciate that a lot.

I mean,
it takes a lot to...

move on from a situation,

and I mean, y'all are not
little kids anymore.

You know what I mean?

Whatever y'all decide
y'all want to do,
y'all are gonna do it.

It's just, I mean,
if you wanna grab a beer,

call me up,
we'll grab a beer.

What do you think, Caleb?

Because of how
my mother was treated,

which I feel
was completely undeserved,

I'd rather not...

uphold a relationship
after today.

I mean, yeah.

But I get that,
I understand that.

If that's the way
you feel.

You're a man.

That was very surprising.

It threw me off guard.

I actually expected
to hear that

from Eric,
not from Caleb.

So, whenever he told me that,
it was kind of like, "wow."

And it was actually kind of
like a dagger to the heart,

but I get it
and I understand it, so...

and I respect his,
you know, his decisions.

Well, you know what?
I'll glad y'all told me
how y'all felt.

We got the chance
to be together and hang out.

It's pretty cool.

I mean, some of it's positive
and some of it's negative,

but it's all right.

I could have
communicated more

and I could have
been there more.

But through time comes growth,

so, it's good.

Hey, everybody.

-Hey, Mom.
- Who's here? Hey.

- Hey, guys.
- Wanna sit right here?

- No, I'm good right here.
- You all right right there?

- You guys okay?
- Yes, ma'am.

Eric, Caleb and I decided

that I would come to the
restaurant towards the end
of their meeting,

and I'm walking to the table
and I'm sensing

that there's an awkward
kind of vibe going on here.

Just wanted to make sure
everybody was good.

Came to pick up the boys.

Well, since you're here,
I'll go ahead and--

I'll go ahead and leave.

-I'm gonna let y'all...
-I appreciate it.

...take care of the bill?
I'm just playing.

No, you can pay it
on your way out.

All right.
Later, man.

I'm gonna give you a hug.

- Come on. Bring it in.
- All right.

- Can I give you a hug?
- Yeah, sure.

Or you can figure out
if you wanna give me a hug.

- See ya. Bye.
- All right.

I would really like to...

have a relationship
with the boys.

Even if it's just drinks,
you know, once a month,

or meeting up for dinner.

I would still like to be,
you know, a part of their life.

What you guys need in your life,
that's my biggest priority.

You know what I mean?
So, it was important
for you guys

to have the same opportunity
for closure that I had.

Nobody's trying
to force you guys

to have a relationship.

It's on you guys.

You're old enough
to make those choices
for yourself.

You know? And of course
I wanted to make sure--

that I didn't want
something for you guys

that you guys didn't
want for yourselves.

You guys had to make
that choice and decision.

At this point
I'm feeling like

I wanted something for them
that they no longer needed.

And...

I was actually--
I'm enough.

And never realized it
until this moment right now.

I'm proud of you guys.

-Thanks, Mom.
-I know, I'm wonderful.

Yeah, you guys
are wonderful.