¶ ¶
If I wanted to eat in silence, I would have dined alone, baby.
-What's happening? -I'm sorry.
It's just...
Girl, I'm elsewhere.
Clearly. What's up?
It's Pray Tell.
He's been drinking.
A lot.
Popping pills. You haven't noticed
-a change in his mood? -Well,
I haven't talked to him in weeks.
Correction: he hasn't talked to me.
Why's that?
-PRAY TELL: Hey. -Oh.
Look who finally decided to show up.
(Pray Tell groans)
This is my thousandth memorial.
I was picking up my toaster.
-I won the prize, bitch. -Ugh. You need
some water and a Mentos.
-And take off those shades. -(mutters)
We're indoors.
Are you high?
Okay, girl, don't start.
This is a funeral. Do you know
how disrespectful it is to be drunk and high?
I don't need an etiquette lesson.
-Especially not from you. -Fuck etiquette.
How about basic manners?
That man in the coffin.
Corey.
Did you ever date him?
Well, I did.
NURSE JUDY: There's only
-one solution. -Girl, he is going to hate me.
But Pray needs an intervention.
(door opens)
(footfalls approach)
PRAY TELL: The category is...
Live...
Work...
Pose!
¶ ¶
-LULU: Girl, what's this about? -Some kind of family meeting.
-About Pray, I think. -Ah, girl, uh-uh.
See, we too busy to be convening for some old retired queen
who can't handle his fucking liquor.
So sad when people can't handle their own shit.
It's tragic.
(Lulu mutters)
-Lulu, what are you doing? -Wait. What you doing?
You can't be doing this shit out in the open. We just got high
-before we left my place. -All right, all right, all right.
LEISA: I'm not gonna bullshit you.
This intervention won't be easy.
Queer people deal with an unfair amount of trauma.
LULU: Uh, w-who the fuck you calling queer?
I am a proud transsexual woman, all right?
Lulu, Leisa is the best harm reduction counselor
in our community.
I've seen her in action at the hospital.
And she's our last chance at saving Pray.
We all carry our pain. You don't see me
-drinking my sorrows away. -You sure do
shop 'em away, though.
LEISA: We all cope in our own ways.
Anxiety, stress, depression.
But all that goes away when an addict takes a drink
or a hit off a pipe.
Their pain is so intense that they would do anything
to keep the pain at bay.
So you're saying to me that the person that's been hurting us
this entire time with his actions is now the victim?
Bullshit.
You're gonna have to approach Pray and this process
-with love and compassion. -How is this different
-from the last time we tried to get him to stop drinking? -Yeah, that's true.
'Cause Pray don't really be listening to nobody.
Each of you will write a letter to Pray.
-And what's this letter supposed to say? -Address your concerns.
Talk about how Pray Tell's drinking
has negatively affected your lives.
-Blanca? -Hmm?
Did you write the practice letter I asked you to?
-Yeah. -Would you mind reading it to us?
-I'll pretend I'm Pray Tell. -Wait a minute. Wait, wait, wait.
So now you want us to, like, role-play this
like we in a drama school or something?
This is a fucking mess.
Lulu, girl, if you don't want to be here,
you already know where the door is.
"Dear Pray,
"your friendship has meant the world to me,
"and everything I'm about to say comes from a place of love.
-I understand this..." -Love? Bitch, please.
PAPI: Hey, hold on, now. Hold on, now.
Please don't be talking to my mama like that, okay?
I'm-I'm playing Pray Tell.
Yo, Papi, are you always a moron or what?
Quiet down, fiend. Matter of fact, how 'bout we do
-an intervention on your ass? -What the hell is wrong with y'all?
-I already lost Damon. I don't want to lose Pray. -RICKY: Wait.
What happened to Damon?
He relapsed.
-What? -Fuck.
He went to live with his cousin in Charleston.
He's gone.
For good.
I feel like a failure.
-I couldn't save my son. -ELEKTRA: No, baby.
You did save him.
You taught him the greatest lesson of all.
How to take care of himself.
Now, Leisa, your donors must have some pretty deep pockets
to be extending their generosity to our sad and pitiful friend.
Donors? No. We don't have anyone paying
for Pray Tell's rehab. The bill is on you.
-Say what now? -I'm just here to help you
get Pray Tell to acknowledge that he has a problem.
It's $2,500 a month for a shared room.
-Is this rehab at the Four Seasons? -You could send him
to a state-run hospital, like Bellevue.
-No, we can't let Pray go to Bellevue. -Why not?
Bellevue got bars on the windows, but they also got
three meals a day-- it can't be that bad.
-Wait, I know how we can get the money. -How?
The cash prizes at this weekend's ball
are $500 per category.
We could cover all of Pray Tell's expenses
if we work together to sweep the ball.
Yo, actually, that's great, 'cause matter of fact,
Ricky, you can do Vogue, so that you can walk face...
Esteban, darling, I wouldn't trust you
to organize my bathroom drawers.
I am going to get this family back into ballroom shape.
("Show Me Love" by Robin S. playing)
Five, six, seven, eight.
¶ Oh...! ¶
You're weak.
-Faster. -¶ Yeah, yeah ¶
¶ You've got to show me love... ¶
A'ight, what are you doing here, a'ight?
My Lil Casablanca, Glam-Ma needs your help.
Okay, what can I do for you?
I need you to sweet-talk some of your designer friends
into lending Angel some high-fashion attire.
Think you can pull some looks for Friday night's ball?
I got you. Let's go over here.
¶ You've got to show me love... ¶
The category is not
-Dictator Realness. -What?
Go change for me. Please, go change for me.
You're kidding me, right?
¶ You've got to give it to me, give it to me, give it to me ¶
¶ Yeah... ¶
Appalling.
Is that the move?
¶ I need your love... ¶
If you don't like this dress, I'm-a just go to the ball naked
with my toto out.
Well, she's no virgin,
but who could say no to that face?
The face of a true angel.
¶ Guaranteed ¶
More. More.
-More! -¶ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. ¶
-Whew. -I don't know, something's missing.
Yeah.
Air conditioning.
I'm so hot and out of breath.
And my knees are killing me.
Oh, stop complaining.
Let the hellish temperatures fortify you.
We need something bold
to snatch these cash prizes.
We've got five shots at capturing $2,500.
What do you suggest I do?
Listen here. I am creative director,
lead choreographer and star
of Operation Get Pray Off That Brown Liquor.
And I refuse to take lip from you,
so take the notes and do better.
Do you hear?
Good. Back to your ones.
Chop-chop.
¶ The time has finally come to save my beats ¶
¶ With the funky hip-hop swing... ¶
I would have been just fine.
(chuckles) My brain is good with the numbers.
And homework and tests were a breeze.
But how the hell am I supposed to make it through school
when the damn teacher won't call on me
on account of her clocking me, hmm?
ANGEL: You don't know that's why.
-(scoffs) -And, bitch,
you were missing classes a week at a time.
That's 'cause it was an unsafe learning environment.
You know what?
I'm thinking about calling the UCLA on them. (chuckles)
UCLA?
That organization that be fighting for people's rights.
Know what I'm talking about?
You mean the ACLU?
(laughs)
Bitch, it's the same fucking thing. Shit.
It's the same letters in different order, that's all.
No, it ain't. It's different.
-Ooh. -What?
Bitch, you look chapped.
You lookin' chapped. You should look at yourself.
-(makeup case clatters) -Hey, um...
you think anybody knows what we've been up to?
-That we on the rock? -Uh-huh.
I don't know.
-You know what? -What?
I think Elektra was looking at me kind of funny yesterday.
She was?
-Wait, you think we need an intervention? -Hell no.
We're not doing it every day.
I-I could stop tomorrow if I wanted to.
-Mm-mm. -I just don't want to.
-(door opens) -PAPI: Hey, babe?
-(whispers): That's Papi. -You home?
Shh!
-Hide that. Shh. -Okay.
¶ And if you want some more of the flower ¶
¶ Throw your hands up. ¶
Hey, baby.
-What's bugging you? -You bugging me.
The two of you sitting in here all day bugging me.
You know what, how about we open up a window
so it don't look like King Tut's tomb in here, huh?
Ooh... that's nice.
See, I know y'all don't like so much light
'cause you're starting to see how broke your face look.
Excuse me?
Yo, you pay rent here? Nah, right?
If you want to end up sucking dick at a crack house,
that's on you, but do me a favor, stop.
Well, so much for family, huh?
You know what? Fuck off, Papi.
Goodbye.
(door slams)
-I'm not smoking. -(scoffs)
I'm your fiancé, right?
-Yeah. -And so you think I don't know
everything you're up to? Yo, matter of fact,
I was inspired by that counselor.
We're gonna have your intervention
right here, right now.
-(scoffs) -You don't understand that
we so lucky we avoided getting AIDS?
That we have careers?
We found love in each other.
-Don't throw that away chasing some dirty rock. -Mm-mmm.
Had a career. I haven't booked a job in months now.
Yo, baby, is that what this is about?
Baby, we in the entertainment industry.
You hot, then you dip, then you hot again.
But you ain't never gonna book another job if you cracked out.
And I'm never gonna marry you if you are.
I knew it.
You're leaving me.
Who said that?
You're f-fucking other people!
You out all the time!
Yo, I'm out hustling for you, Angel!
I never even looked at another woman
since I been with you.
These drugs is making you paranoid.
¶ ¶
I love you.
I'm j...
I'm just trying to help.
We not married yet, but it's still...
it's still for better or for worse with you and me, baby.
We got a chance at a good life.
But you got to choose us instead of that pipe.
Know what I'm sayin'?
¶ Now it's gonna take some workin' ¶
¶ But I believe you're worth it ¶
¶ Long as your intentions are good ¶
¶ So good ¶
¶ And I will not be forsaken ¶
¶ And I hope there's no mistakin' ¶
¶ So tell me that you'll always be true ¶
¶ 'Cause you mean the world to me ¶
-Cut the tape. -¶ You are my ev... ¶
What are you doing? I was just getting started.
-I don't care. It's boring me. -Well, damn.
-Girl, you chose the song. -And you see she done spent
her last two dollars on this Toni wig.
What more do you want?
I've got it.
Pray Tell will perform.
What?! No.
(breathing heavily) No.
Pray Tell does not have the bone structure or the beauty.
I have obvious talent here.
This is not a brainstorming session.
I have a vision, and it does not include you lip-syncing
in a bad wig to a sad song,
-sweating profusely like a washerwoman. -(chuckles)
Pray Tell should earn his keep.
What am I gonna do then?
Scuse us, gentlemen.
Daughter,
mop your sweaty brow.
We need to have a heart-to-heart.
I haven't lost that much weight.
It's just five pounds.
On diet and exercise alone?
Mm-hmm.
Who do you think you're fooling, Chunkarella?
You think I don't know you've been seduced by the pipe?
You look like you're deficient in vitamin D and shea butter.
(sniffles) I don't have to take this.
Are you gonna pay for my upkeep?
I'm saving for college.
Stop with the excuses!
You're a mess! So I suggest
you throw away the pipe.
Am I being heard?
Y-Yes, Mother.
What category am I walking?
The category is Seamstress.
You're going to be a behind-the-scenes bitch
on this one.
Mother knows best.
(sniffles)
(door closes)
-Try this. -Mm. I don't want nothing too obvious.
Mm, you're right.
We don't want them thinking you're a retired ho.
-Uh-uh. -You being a transsexual
will already be enough for the Huxtables, girl.
-Huh. -You know how it is.
Here. Very little goes a long way.
-I like this. -Mm-hmm.
You think I look professional?
Is that what you're going for?
Girl, I'm meeting Cliff and Clair.
How would you feel if your son was a doctor
and he brought me home?
-Chris knows you're T. -Yeah, but they don't.
A transsexual hospital aide
who barely graduated high School at 21.
Uh-uh. Chris loves you.
That should be enough.
You hear me?
Yeah, you right. I am spinning out of control.
-Little bit. -Speaking of which,
what was up with Lulu the other day?
-What do you mean? -She seemed a bit out of it
when we talked to Leisa.
And she looking a little thin, too.
Uh, modeling.
Papi's working o-on getting her some bookings.
Yeah, well, how come y'all ain't tell me that?
It just came up.
I think I should start getting home and make dinner for Papi.
Where you go...
Well, make sure you grab yourself a plate.
And you looking a little thin, too.
(door closes in distance)
Oh.
-Oh, they're here. -Oh...
-Son. -CHRISTOPHER: Dad.
-(laughter) -Good to see you.
-Mom. -Hey, baby.
Ma, Dad, this is Blanca.
It's nice to meet you.
It's a pleasure to meet you, Blanca.
It's nice to meet you.
(laughs): Please.
Aw.
ANGIE: Christopher was too smart for his own good.
-(laughter) -You couldn't lie to him.
Right. He'd see right through it.
-(laughs) -Yeah, I mean, he knew
that Santa wasn't real by the time he was six.
BLANCA: Oh, I knew by the age of six, too,
when Santa sent me a note apologizing
for not bringing me an Easy-Bake Oven
in my mama's handwriting.
(chuckles)
Where did you grow up, Blanca?
Um, Castle Hill projects in the Bronx.
-That must have been colorful. -Every crayon
in the box, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
THOMAS: So, why don't you tell us
how you two met?
And provide all the details.
W-We met at work.
(elevator bell dings)
¶ ¶
-I was on rounds. -Mm-hmm.
CHRISTOPHER: I saw Blanca down the hall with a patient.
Once we started talking...
we couldn't stop.
It was an instant connection.
-(laughs) -So, how did y'all meet?
Christopher told me y'all were college sweethearts.
We met sophomore year
and have been inseparable ever since.
When we were seniors, I was sure that I was gonna
get shipped off to Japan with the Marines,
so I, uh, I asked her to marry me.
We waited to have kids, though.
We wanted to take time to enjoy life a little.
Everyone gave us a hard time about it,
but we never cared much for the opinions of others.
Do you want kids, Blanca?
-Whoa, Ma. -THOMAS: Um...
(clears throat) Apologies, Blanca.
Angie is what we like to call curious.
-(chuckles) -ANGIE: No, the word is "nosy,"
-honey, and I own it. -(laughter)
I think it's a fair question.
Well, I already have kids. Four of them.
CHRISTOPHER: Blanca's a house mother.
It's just an expression, Ma.
-ANGIE: Oh. -Kind of like how I call Miss Cindy "Auntie"
even though she isn't a blood relative.
I see. It's like you're playing house?
So these children are just friends of yours?
CHRISTOPHER: Blanca is also an entrepreneur.
She had her own business and recently pivoted to medicine.
THOMAS: Oh, okay.
What were you doing before?
I owned a nail salon.
Well, that sounds stimulating.
Well, call me.
I'll have your cuticles looking healthy in no time.
(footsteps approaching)
Can I get you anything else?
Just the check.
-(indistinct chatter) -ANGEL: So,
how was dinner with the Huxtables?
BLANCA: It was fine, I guess.
It was all going well until he just...
They clocked you and you were scandalized, forever scarred
because their precious doctor was nibbling on forbidden fruit.
I wasn't clocked, actually.
Were they elderly? Their vision compromised?
-Elektra, girl... -You tried it.
Wait. You preach that we have nothing
to be ashamed of, and that we're special
because we had to fight for our womanhood.
-Why didn't you tell them? -Because I shouldn't have to spill all of my tea
the first time we meet.
(smacks lips) You're right.
And we're not judging you.
I am. Ever since you were a starving streetwalker
in a store-bought Shake-N-Go wig,
you had an inner confidence.
Well, I may have to relearn it.
What do you mean?
Well, his mother was not impressed, and look, I get it.
She worked hard to raise a child who'd become a doctor.
I grew up thinking if I worked hard enough,
maybe I'd become a manager at Wendy's.
He's too good for me.
No. Don't let his bougie-ass parents
make you question who you are.
You listen to me right now.
You were given nothing and made everything.
If they were giving away college degrees for truly living,
you would have a doctorate.
You are my daughter. You are every fucking thing.
You know what? You're right.
I always am.
And I shouldn't have to prove anything.
I may not have a degree at some fancy college
or high-class connections,
but Christopher knows that and he knows me.
-And he should've defended me at that table. -Exactly.
Now you need to confront him and tell him that.
Nip that shit in the bud. Hi-ya!
God, I love y'all.
-Thank you. -That's what we're here for, Ma.
To remind a bitch of her worth.
CASTLE: What are you doing here?
I came to take you to a ball.
You can't spend the rest of your life
withering away in this apartment.
Oh, I can't?
Nope. Bitch, you ain't dead yet.
And I'm sick of making excuses for you about where you are.
So, get your little ass up,
beat that face...
(laughs) ...and let's go.
You a pain in my ass. You know that?
-Yes, I do. -And not the good kind.
Well...
-I ain't scared of you. -(scoffs)
-You need to be. -(both laugh)
Crazy-ass.
(grunts)
MAN (over radio): ...cookies, marshmallows, sugar cubes,
and other nutritional pieces of candy.
-Now, this is cereal that... -(radio turns off)
(Castle brushing teeth)
You got a lot of sleeping beauties in here.
Don't you take my stash.
(laughs, coughs)
Why ain't you taking them?
Saving them for a rainy day.
Bitch, don't you make me come up in this apartment
and find you OD'd.
You know I would go to the Plaza Hotel
if I was gonna off myself.
I'd run a bath, order room service.
But that ain't happening.
I need to be around to finish my favorite show.
-Young and the Restless? -The O.J. trial.
I need to know if he get away with it.
(both laugh)
(coughs)
(pills rattle)
Methadone.
Take it.
It's a nice buzz.
(closes bottle)
How do I look?
Perfect.
(both chuckling)
¶ ¶
(crowd cheering, clamoring)
TYRONE: Yes, spin it, bitch!
Spin it like a motherfucking flamingo!
This bitch think she Spinderella,
and I am here for it!
-Yes! -I'll have a vodka soda.
-He'll have a soda water, sans the vodka. -TYRONE: Uh-huh!
-That's it! -I got to go get ready.
-Don't do nothing I wouldn't do. -TYRONE: I need y'all bitches ready,
'cause we about to start this mess. Cut the cord!
-Add the vodka, baby. -The next category is...
-And make it a double. -Got you.
TYRONE: ...Femme Queen Runway! All right,
we got Nefertiti Khan!
Yes! With the black-and-white stripes.
¶ A deeper love... ¶
Pull them braids up! Uh-uh.
Uh-uh, you gonna have to come harder than that.
Work it, yes.
Come on...
She look cheap.
She ain't doing nothing, but that's all right.
The icon!
The legend!
Elektra Evangelista!
Yeah!
Elektra got that cage in her hand.
Yes, ma'am! Yes, ham!
Yes, turkey, bitch!
Love!
Oh, oh!
Elektra is giving it to her!
Yes, ma'am!
¶ A deeper love ¶
¶ Whoa, whoa, whoa... ¶
TYRONE: Yes!
That's a bad bitch right there!
Now that is a diva walk!
Oh!
-(cheering and whooping) -Yeah!
All right, all right, all right!
Judges, your scores for Nefertiti Khan?
Six, six...
six, six, six, six.
Demonic, satanic!
(groaning and clamoring)
Hold on, you came in here with big-wig couture
and your ensemble ain't cute, I'm sorry.
-I'm sorry. Say goodbye. -Honey, now she is mad.
All right, scores for Elektra Evangelista.
Ten, ten, te-te-te-ten, ten.
Tens across the board for Elektra Evangelista!
-Oh, Elektra! -(cheering and clamoring)
Grand prize,
Elektra Evangelista!
Oh, you know I don't do little things.
¶ I've got a deeper love ¶
-¶ A deeper love ¶ -That's more like it.
¶ A deeper love... ¶
TYRONE: Now it's time for y'all to quiet down...
and get your asses on up...
for my favorite category,
Candy's Sweet Refrain!
All right, all right, y'all know this is a lip-sync category...
When did they start letting senior citizens perform?
Around the same time as dumb and ugly.
-(chuckles) -TYRONE: So who next? Who next?
Look in the mirror, bitch.
TYRONE: All right, we got Lemar.
Lemar Khan, he's in The House of Khan now, y'all!
Come in here looking like Jailhouse Rock.
("If" by Janet Jackson playing)
-¶ Sitting over here, staring in your face... ¶ -Come on, Lemar!
-Yes, Miss Jackson! -She trying too hard.
¶ Run free to a place no one dares to... ¶
TYRONE: He's giving us Janet!
He's giving us Rhythm Nation.
¶ Day and night, night and day... ¶
Oh... shit!
Roll that body!
Do the body roll!
¶ I'd make you call out my name ¶
¶ I'd ask who it belongs to... ¶
"Miss Jackson" if you're nasty! All right!
¶ But I'm not so I can't ¶
¶ Then I won't, but if I was your girl... ¶
Whoa, that bitch is limber!
You see that?
¶ I'd make you call out my name ¶
¶ I'd ask who it belongs to ¶
¶ If I was your woman ¶
¶ The things I'd do to you ¶
-¶ But I'm not. ¶ -Yes!
-Come on, Lemar! -(cheering, applause)
All right, now.
Our scores for Lemar-- ten,
ten, ten, ten, ten,
nine.
Nine?
Someone's lazy eye is out of focus.
(crowd groaning, clamoring)
Again.
TYRONE: You're wrong for that! I'm sorry...
Good luck, bitch.
TYRONE: That was uncalled for.
Pray Tell!
¶ Ooh, bop ¶
¶ No, you're never gonna get it ¶
¶ Never, ever gonna get it ¶
¶ I remember how it used to be ¶
¶ You never was this nice, you can't fool me ¶
¶ Ooh, bop ¶
¶ Now you talking like you made a change ¶
¶ The more you talk, the more things sound the same ¶
¶ The more things sound the same ¶
¶ I just sit back and watch you make a fool of yourself ¶
¶ Ooh, ah ¶
¶ 'Cause you're just wasting your time, oh ¶
¶ No, you're never gonna get it ¶
-¶ Not this time ¶ -¶ Never ever gonna get it ¶
¶ My lovin' ¶
¶ Never gonna get it ¶
¶ Had your chance to make a change ¶
¶ Ooh, bop ¶
¶ Never gonna get it, never gonna get it ¶
-¶ Never gonna get it, never gonna get it ¶ -Yeah!
-¶ Never gonna get it ¶ -¶ Whoa, whoa, whoa-whoa ¶
¶ Never gonna get it, never gonna get it ¶ -TYRONE: Watch out!
¶ Never gonna get it, never gonna get it ¶
¶ Never gonna get it, never get it. ¶
(crowd cheering, clamoring)
Pray Tell, Pray Tell, Pray Tell, give it up!
Give it up! Give it up!
All right, scores for Pray Tell?
Ten, ten,
ten, ten, tens across the board
for Pray Tell!
Pray Tell, Pray Tell, Pray Tell!
(crowd cheering, clamoring)
LEMAR: ¡Coño, me cago en su madre!
What the fuck, Tyrone?
There's no way the Evangelistas
have been better than Khan all night.
I want a recount!
It's not an election, dumbass.
Call me dumb one more time and I will cut you, bitch.
-All right? -Oh, so you're gonna stab me now?
-You gonna fucking stab me? -TYRONE: All right, now, stop that!
PRAY TELL (fading): Ain't nobody standing here!
Oh, you, you're...
We need an ambulance! Castle fainted!
(shouting, clamoring)
He's having a seizure! He's having a seizure!
Somebody call an ambulance!
He took methadone a couple hours ago.
And somebody said he had a few drinks.
-I told him not to. -How long's he been HIV positive?
Five years, I think.
You know you can't catch it simply
-by breathing the same air. -Sir?
-I need you to calm down. -And I need you to tell
your guys to be more careful!
-You know what, I'm coming with him! -Sir!
I need you to take another vehicle.
This is...
this is bullshit!
(ambulance doors close)
Look, Pray.
He's gonna be all right. I spoke to Judy.
She's at the hospital waiting for him.
Now pull yourself together.
We got one more category to win.
Fuck the category and fuck this ball.
You're really gonna let Khan take the victory?
You got to do this.
For Castle.
He wouldn't want you to quit, right?
Come on.
TYRONE: This is Ricky Evangelista!
Giving us Vogue!
("Move Your Body" by Marshall Jefferson playing)
Get it, get it, get it, get it, get it,
get it, get it, get it, hey!
Pow!
Yes!
¶ Move your body ¶
(Tyrone scatting)
¶ Move your body ¶
And turn, yeah!
-Hey, ow! -¶ Sexy body ¶
Ow! Ow! All right, y'all!
Give me my tens.
TYRONE: All right, okay!
All right, and your scores for Ricky Evangelista?
Tens, tens, tens, tens, tens across the board
for Ricky, Ricky, Ricky, Ricky!
All right, y'all, he's getting his trophy.
All right, take that home and be proud of yourself.
You deserve that trophy, boy.
Go ahead, take that home.
-¶ Move your body ¶ -All right, y'all, that is it...
LEMAR: Pray?
You know I wasn't really gonna cut you.
I'm sorry about Castle.
It's got to be hard to watch
somebody you love slowly wilt away.
And to see your own future.
(chuckles) On the bright side,
at least you'll know you'll have a snatched waist, vieja.
For all those little butch queens you be gawking at.
I see you.
¶ Rock your body, rock your body ¶
¶ Rock your body ¶
-(exclaims) -(crowd gasping)
¶ Rock your body, rock your body ¶
-¶ Rock your body ¶ -¶ It's gonna set you free ¶
¶ Rock your body, move your body. ¶
PRAY TELL: I don't know how y'all
can be stuffing y'all's faces
when Castle is all alone in the hospital.
Visiting hours are over, Pray, relax.
You want me to relax? Pour me some wine.
How about having something to eat?
I told you I don't eat after 9:00. I drink wine.
For the antioxidants.
-Excuse me! -You're getting sloppy, baby.
And have you looked at your complexion?
Think of your skin care routine if nothing else.
Gray is not a skin tone!
You have hit epidermal rock bottom.
Okay, Pray?
We need to talk.
We noticed that you...
have been under a lot of stress lately.
So we've arranged...
a getaway for you.
For me? It's not even my birthday.
Where am I headed, the Bahamas?
-Rehab! -Rehab?
Yeah, look, we understand why you're self-medicating
and all that stuff, and-and nobody here is judging you.
That's 'cause life is fucking hard, actually. (chuckles)
I think what she's trying to say
is that we just want you to be happy.
Right, think of this as a reset button.
A time to reflect.
Well...
I could use a reset. Where is this place?
Upstate New York.
That don't sound so bad.
And who's paying for this?
Oh!
Now I see why y'all were so determined today.
I'm touched, truly,
but please don't waste all that money on rehab.
ELEKTRA: The reservation has already been made.
You're going next week
-whether you like it or not. -PAPI: Whoa, Mama.
-Suave. Remember what Leisa said? -(whispers): Papi.
Who's Leisa?
Leisa's just a friend who gave us some advice.
She told us to write you letters so that we can get our feelings
-out into the open. -Letters?
(paper shuffling)
Papi. Ricky.
I'll start.
"Dear Pray, your friendship has meant the world to me,
"and everything I'm about to say comes from a place of love.
"I understand that substance abuse is a disease,
"and over the past two years, I feel like
"the person I used to rely on for positivity and encouragement
"has become bitter and jaded.
"Yes, we still laugh and carry on,
"but your drinking has made you unreliable, unpredictable
"and unreachable.
I miss my old friend."
"Please accept my help as an act of love.
"I will always love you, no matter what.
Love, Blanca."
I don't even know what to say. It's like...
I'm listening to gibberish.
-"Unreachable"? "Unreliable"? -I'll go next.
(clears throat)
"Pray Tell, you've taught me how to love,
"and for that I will always be grateful.
My heart has opened because of you..."
"...but lately,
"my heart has felt stepped on and overlooked.
Your short temper has me walking on eggshells..."
"...and if you won't get sober,
I'll have no choice but to leave this relationship."
Are you fucking kidding me?
You're going to set an ultimatum on our relationship?
-Really? -Be easy.
PRAY TELL: Where are you going?
To find Damon?
I know you've been looking to bob
up and down on that dick.
But nobody wants to fuck somebody who's too old
to be a twink but too stupid
-to become a man! -Pray, stop it.
-ANGEL: Wait, wait, wait, hold on. Have some water... -Know what?
-I'm out. -ANGEL: Pray, please. Please?
-Just listen... -No, no, babe, I'm better
-at speaking from the heart. -PRAY TELL: Please stop.
If I wanted advice from a crackhead,
I would go out on the street and ask for it.
-I'm not a crackhead. -Okay. -ELEKTRA: All right, Pray.
If you won't take advice from the young'uns, I'm up.
"Dear Pray Tell, I understand that you are
"a traumatized person because of how poorly
"your life has turned out,
"and that the pain of being a disappointment to the world
has made you psychologically distorted..."
You of all people want to talk about
somebody being psychologically distorted?
'Cause you're a short-tempered, insecure narcissist.
A narcissist who glows, bitch.
Who suffers from the most severe delusions of grandeur.
Queen of the Nile? No.
Aging granny with dusty furs and an empty bed? Yes.
-Don't you ever talk about me! -Stop, stop.
-This is enough. This was a mistake. -No shit.
Just because you let these dimwits
work out their mommy issues on you
does not make you a selfless person.
The only reason why you keep these children around
is to distract you from your own sad-ass life.
Oh, I know you got a doctor now.
But let's be clear, he's only keeping you around
because you're an HIV charity case.
Yo, that's fucked-up. Take it back.
What the fuck do you know?
The truth hurts, little man.
And why don't you go out and get yourself a real job
instead of riding the coattails of your crackhead fiancée?
-Yo, that's not nice, bro. -I'm not trying to be nice!
You keep your goddamn money!
I'm not going to rehab.
Maybe I do drink too much,
but y'all need to make sure that you get your shit together
before you ever come trying to take my inventory!
Pray. Pray, wait.
Pray Tell, wait.
Let him drink.
PRAY TELL: I don't want to hear about it.
Your drinking is a problem.
You're an addict and I'm scared for you.
I've been working at the hospital and I know
-what addiction can do. -Girl, stop. Please.
You are not a nurse.
And who are you to come for me when you have half the wisdom
and half the brain cells?
That ain't fair. I wanted to help.
You know what I'm going through, and this is how you do me?
(elevator bell chimes)
You want a project?
Focus on your own damn life for once,
and leave my name out your mouth.
(Blanca crying)
¶ ¶
I'm making a cocktail. You want one?
-Hello? I'm talking to you. -No.
And you definitely shouldn't be having one, either.
It's one drink.
Where you going?
I'm leaving.
Leaving you.
You're an alcoholic, Pray.
And I refuse to be my mother, staying in a toxic relationship
because I'm too afraid to be on my own.
I love you.
But you're a sinking ship, and I don't want to drown.
I don't need your judgment on how I choose to cope.
Not in my own home.
I got enough of that when I was a kid.
Being told I was a worthless piece of shit
who would never amount to nothing.
You have to do something with that pain.
I do.
I drink it away.
Wasn't it clear to you at the intervention
that we love you?
-We want to help. -Wasn't it clear to you
that I like drinking?
I like the way it makes me feel.
You know what I won't like?
Rehab.
And having to deal with withdrawal
and then being forced to talk about it
with a group of strangers.
Who am I hurting? Huh?!
(scoffs) Where you going?
-I'll figure it out. -Yeah, right.
Well, who's gonna love you like I do? Huh?
Nobody. You ain't got no education,
you ain't got no job, no money, no home,
no skills.
And worst of all, you are positive.
That's why your ass came to me. Don't nobody want us.
I will not let you hold me hostage
-because of HIV. -You ain't going nowhere.
-I'm leaving. Let go of the bag. -You ain't going nowhere!
-Let go of the bag! I'm leaving! -I will not let you leave!
-You, you gonna leave me like everybody else? You gonna -Pray! Pray! Pray, Pray.
-leave me like everybody else? You gonna leave me -Stop it. Stop.
-like everybody? -Stop it.
-Pray, stop. -(crying): Everybody leaves me.
(quietly): Stop it.
-Everybody leaves me. -Stop it.
Okay. Okay.
-I need you. -Okay.
(sniffles)
I need you to stay.
I want you to stay.
I need...
-I need you to stay. -Okay. It's okay.
It's okay.
Please.
-Please. Please. -Okay, okay...
Pray, Pray.
I can't.
Then go.
Get the fuck out!
Leave!
(crying softly)
(lock clicks)
(exhales)
¶ What I feel ¶
¶ Sometimes it's hard to tell you so ¶
¶ You may not be... ¶
-Baby? -Mm?
-What's all this for? -(scoffs)
To eat.
What did you do?
You tripping, girl. Can't I do something nice for my woman?
It's been a little minute since I had you all to myself.
¶ You want to keep yourself from me... ¶
Where you find time to do all this?
I got my ways.
We got to celebrate.
Calvin Klein wants you for its new fragrance.
-What? -Mm-hmm.
That's not really the reaction I was expecting.
Baby, you did good.
-Mm-hmm. -I just wasn't expecting
to get back to work so soon.
-I made other plans. -What could be more important
than getting you back out there, working again?
My sobriety.
I spoke to Leisa.
The drug counselor.
I told her everything.
About the drugs, about lying to you.
About how bad it's really gotten.
I was afraid, Papi.
I was afraid that if I told you everything,
you wouldn't want me anymore.
Baby, come here.
I'm not going nowhere.
Hmm?
-Really? -Yeah.
I'm so proud of you.
You out here owning your shit, facing your demons, mama.
I signed up for Leisa's outpatient program.
I want to get better.
Because...
when I walk down that aisle...
...I want to be clean.
Whatever you need, baby.
I got you, gorgeous.
I got you.
Come here.
Hey. How was your day?
It was fine.
You didn't come home last night.
How'd it go with Pray?
You can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped.
Well...
you offered to help, now it's ultimately his choice.
I've got some patients who are addicts, and, boy...
This issue with Pray is not something you can diagnose.
Right.
I was just trying to help.
Oh, well, where was that helpful energy the other night
when your mama was out of pocket?
Okay, I know my mother can be assertive...
No, she's hostile.
I already have a voice of doubt in my head
telling me "You're not good enough or smart enough."
I don't need your mama's voice in there, too.
-My mother's opinion of you doesn't matter. -It doesn't.
And that's what I need you to tell her.
You're right. I will.
Tonight.
My parents invited us to dinner.
No, thank you. My day's been long enough.
Consider it a do-over.
Nothing's gonna happen.
Do it for us.
Bonsoir. May I take your order?
Ah, we're gonna need a minute.
Uh, we're waiting for our fourth.
Merci.
Where is your father?
-He said his appointment might likely run over. -Oh.
What looks delectable, Blanca?
It all looks like chicken scratch, to be honest.
Were you not required to take a language in primary school?
-I took Spanish. -Oh.
-Are you fluent? -Conversational.
My mom spoke Spanish, but she preferred
we speak English at home.
Well, certainly she could have enrolled you in a French class.
Why wouldn't she want you to be trilingual?
Well, when you're just trying to survive,
you're not trying to learn a language to read
from some fancy menu.
Blanca isn't on the witness stand.
I can tell you there are other benefits.
And I'm sure that you've benefitted from them all
in ways I clearly haven't.
Is that why you don't think I'm good enough for your son?
Or is it because I was raised in the projects?
Or no, wait, is it because I'm transsexual?
I knew it.
-Mom. -And I knew you were
a bougie bigot.
I can assure you I am not a bigot.
My husband is a psychiatrist. He treats transsexuals.
I'm not one of your husband's patients.
I want some wine. Y'all want some wine?
-Can we get some wine? -Yes, let's have some wine,
because this is a lot to take in.
But you've always wanted a family.
How do you plan to have kids when Blanca can't be a mother?
You are out of line.
Is it not reasonable for me to have questions?
I mean, it's not every day that your son brings home a...
A what?
Say it.
(stammers)
(scoffs)
-(scoffs) I'm leaving. -Babe...
No.
Babe, please. Blanca... just wait, please.
Mom, all of the questions
and judgment and snide comments have to stop.
I know you've always had a vision for my life,
but Blanca... is my life.
I love her.
And if you can't accept that...
you're gonna lose me.
Tell Dad to call me
if there's any confusion on where I stand.
¶ ¶
Surprised to see you here.
I know, it's been a minute.
It's good to see y'all.
I came to apologize.
I've been working on myself, and...
I think I'm ready to rejoin the council.
(chuckles) And who said we were ready to have you back?
I know that I fucked up,
but, um...
but I barely had anything to drink this week.
I've been working on my sobriety.
Sis, what you need to be working on is your wardrobe.
Coming in here in this tired-ass outfit.
(both laugh)
(chuckles, sobs)
I'm so sorry.
We know, girl.
But you got to start taking care of you.
-Yes. -We all do.
Agreed.
Speaking of us, where's Castle?
No one's seen him since he was released from the hospital.
Y'all didn't check up on him?
Yes, bitch. We popped in to, uh, clean up,
drop off groceries, but he wasn't home.
Yeah, I assumed he went to see family.
Everything was as we left it.
The bed was made, the meds were gone.
(knocking on door)
Oh, my God.
Bitch, you gave me a heart attack.
Thank you. Thank you, sir, I'll-I'll take it from here.
(indistinct chatter over TV)
How did you find me?
Manhattan told me all your meds were gone,
so I figured you came here.
(chuckles quietly)
Did you take 'em all?
-You want a glass? -Castle,
did you take the pills?
I planned to.
(voice breaking): But I couldn't do it.
-I want to live, Pray! -I know.
(sobbing): I'm not ready to go.
I know. Me too.
Me too.
Oh, honey.
You should get rid of the pills.
That would be best.
Are you gonna get rid of the alcohol in your apartment?
I'll keep fighting
if you promise me you'll do the same.
¶ ¶
I'm tired, Blanca.
I've performed for too many years...
...trying to be what the world
wants me to be.
(exhales)
I drink...
because I hate myself.
And I hate myself because I drink.
And I don't want to feel like this anymore.
(exhales)
¶ ¶
¶ If you're lonely ¶
¶ And need a friend ¶
¶ And troubles seem like ¶
¶ They never end ¶
¶ Just remember ¶
¶ To keep the faith ¶
¶ And love will be there ¶
¶ To light the way ¶
¶ Any time you need a friend ¶
¶ I will be here ¶
¶ Never be alone again ¶
¶ So don't you fear ¶
¶ Even if you're miles away ¶
¶ I'm by your side ¶
¶ So don't you ever be lonely ¶
¶ Love will make it all right ¶
-RECEPTIONIST: Sign here. -PRAY TELL: Thank you.
¶ When the shadows ¶
¶ Are closing in... ¶
Thank you for always being my sister.
¶ And your spirit ¶
¶ Diminishing... ¶
For never giving up on me.
I got you, Pray.
Always.
¶ And love will be there, yeah ¶
¶ To guide you home... ¶
I love you.
I love you, too.
¶ I will be here ¶
-¶ Never be alone again ¶ -¶ Never ¶
-¶ So don't you fear ¶ -¶ No, no, no ¶
¶ Even if you're miles away ¶
-¶ I'm by your side ¶ -¶ I'm by your side ¶
¶ Don't you ever be lonely ¶
-¶ It's all right, it's all right ¶ -¶ Yeah ¶
-¶ Any time you need a friend ¶ -¶ Any time ¶
-¶ I will be here ¶ -¶ Oh ¶
¶ Never be alone again ¶
-¶ You'll never be alone ¶ -¶ So don't you fear ¶
¶ You never will ¶
¶ Even if you're miles away ¶
-¶ I'm by your side ¶ -¶ I'm by your side ¶
-¶ Ooh ¶ -¶ Don't ever be lonely ¶
¶ It's all right, it's all right. ¶
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH