[M'Dear scatting, singing] ♪ A Netflix Original ♪
♪ I want y'all to meet my family ♪
♪ They're coming down south To stay with me ♪
-[Moz] ♪ Big Moz! ♪ -[Cocoa] ♪ Do you love me? ♪
-[Moz] ♪ Yep ♪ -♪ I'm Cocoa! ♪
♪ Jade in the house, I've got a lot to say I'm a big sis, can't-miss renegade ♪
♪ Call me Shaka now I'm the, I'm the chief rocker now ♪
♪ Mazzi, Mazzi, Mazzi, Mazzi, Mazzi That's me ♪
♪ Little mommy, I'm Ami ♪
[M'Dear] ♪ Singing loud and having fun ♪
♪ It's Family Reunion ♪
[M'Dear laughing]
[upbeat music playing]
Okay, eat. I'm done workin'. Cocoa can put away her honey-do list.
I'm not doing any yard work or cleaning gutters today.
I have a date with my new hammock.
Where is Ami? My favorite lip gloss is missing.
Grace took her to the aquarium in Atlanta.
Okay, well, I hope she has fun with the fishes
because when she gets home, she's sleeping with them.
Sounds good. Bye-bye. Whoo!
[Austrialian accent] What news from the Outback Steakhouse, Crocodile Dundee?
Excuse me? This is safari-chic, baby.
They ain't wearing threads like this slinging bloomin' onion.
[scoffs] Besides, you are looking at the newest assistant
to the assistant manager of The Macambo Room.
The Macambo Room? That's the hottest escape room in Georgia!
-[Daniel] Mm-hmm. -Hey, can you hook a nephew up?
Oh, absolutely. But you need an adult chaperone though.
Ah, don't look at me. Already got plans.
You can just call me Señor McHammock-o.
I'll take you, Mazzi. Now, exactly what is an escape room?
You get locked in a room, and you have to solve puzzles to escape.
And how much do they pay you?
You pay them.
Well, that's a hustle if I ever heard of one.
Well, I got to head off to work. Don't wanna be late.
Mm-hmm.
-Sure wish I had a car to drive. -[M'Dear] Mm.
I gotta walk so slow, 'cause I sweat so much--
Mm-hmm!
Here! Now get off of me!
Thanks, Moz!
Wait, you gave him my car keys?
Well, you're not going anywhere, remember, Señor McLazy-o?
Hey, Shaka, you wanna go to The Macambo Room?
Can't. Morgan's coming over. Told her Dad's gonna barbecue.
-Dad who? -Ooh, a barbecue sounds fun.
I could invite Deon.
Oh, and you need to invite a chef, 'cause I don't plan on cookin'.
Come on, Dad. You're the best on the grill.
Ah, perfect timing, 'cause if you're lookin' for the best,
I mean, the original secret sauce, that would be your grandpa.
What?
You're making your world-famous ribs for your grandkids this afternoon.
What if I had plans?
Which I don't.
But I could have.
All right, yeah, I-I'll do it.
[gasps] Awesome!
Hey, could you throw on some tofu steaks for me? I've decided to become a vegan.
[all laughing]
Guys, I'm serious.
A plant-based diet is healthier for you and way more humane to animals.
Deon showed me in this documentary, Cows Cry Too.
[crying] Moo.
I love animals… [chuckles]
…between two slices of bread!
[laughing]
Oh… Jade… [scoffs]
…you can't even stick to a new hairstyle, let alone a new lifestyle.
Really, M'Dear?
Okay. Well…
Well, let's bet on it then.
If I prove all of you wrong and don't eat meat for a month,
then you let me carry your vintage Birkin bag for homecoming week.
And what if you lose?
[scoffs] Well, if these lips touch dead flesh,
then I will wash the dishes and clean the house for a month.
All right, you got yourself a bet. [laughing]
All right.
Moz, keep an eye on her while Mazzi and I go play Escape from Alcatraz.
So, Dad, when should I tell Morgan to come to the cookout?
-What cookout? Who's Morgan? -My girlfriend.
Girlfriend? Shaka has a girlfriend? Did you know Shaka had a girlfriend?
-Oh yeah. I knew all about her. -[Jade] Me too.
All right, Mom, is three o'clock okay?
Yeah, sure. Whatever.
Tell me more about this Morgan.
-Did you know Shaka had a girlfriend? -Yeah.
Why doesn't anyone keep me in the loop?
Shaka said he was gonna tell you, but you'd ask too many questions.
[scoffs] No, I wouldn't.
How old is she? Where does she live? Is she Black?
Honey, I still can't believe Shaka told you about this girl
and he didn't tell me!
I can't believe you're wearing that old Mother's Day gift.
-Where'd you dig that up from? -[sighs] I love this shirt.
My baby-boo got it for me. It's me and my boo when he was a baby.
Back then, my boo-boo used to tell me everything.
Hon, Shaka's a teenager now.
There's things he only wants to talk to his dad about.
Well, honey, we're not talking about how to put on a jockstrap.
This is a girl. What do you know about girls?
-Uh, I think I know-- -You don't know more than me.
I'm glad he's confiding in me and trusts me with his secrets.
Spill it! What other secrets did he tell you?
[Cocoa] Oh!
-Uh, let me help you. -Oh my gosh!
-I'll just-- I'll just get out your way. -Okay.
Ooh!
Honey…
-Hi, everybody. -Hey, Deon.
Oh, honey, you didn't have to bring anything. You're our guest.
-This is for me and Jade. -Yeah.
We're vegans now.
[both laughing]
Uh… I thought you were grilling.
Uh, there's been a change of plans.
Okay.
How long am I supposed to grill a bean-curd hot link?
Till it turns to pork.
Oh, Mom, thank you for making your world-famous deviled eggs!
Well, not to brag, but I can't even get through TSA with that recipe
because it's the bomb!
[gasps] Hey!
Vegans don't eat eggs.
Well, this is just between you and me. [chuckles]
M'Dear doesn't need to know.
I'll remember that.
[upbeat music playing]
[laughs]
Wow, Uncle Daniel, you always find the coolest jobs.
When I grow up, I want to be just like you.
No, you don't.
Well, dang, M'Dear. Now, I'm running the hottest escape room in Georgia.
I bring home unlimited onion rings.
Talk about hard to impress.
What do we do, Uncle Daniel?
Follow the clues that will lead you to the key
that will release you from the room. You have one hour.
What happens if we don't solve it in an hour?
Or if I need to escape to the ladies' room?
I'll just let you out.
[roaring]
What's that noise?
That's the mummy in the coffin over there.
If you open the wrong door, he'll snatch your soul!
-[laughs] Cool! -Well, bring it on.
Because I am sanctified and armed for the battle!
Is that a ninja star?
New. Like it?
Yah!
I'm just glad I'm on your good side.
And you'd better make sure it stays that way.
Hey, everybody. This is Morgan.
Hi!
Nice to meet you, Morgan. What did you bring us?
I love to cook, so I made deviled eggs.
Ooh. Ah. Messy. [chuckles]
-[Cocoa] Mm. -All right.
[Grandpa] Why, thank you.
Mm. Morgan, these are delicious.
-Thank you, sir. -Aren't they the best you've ever had?
They're almost as good as my deviled eggs.
Almost. Don't forget, my deviled eggs were my secret to landing you.
That's right, sweetheart. Your beauty and personality had nothing to do with it.
Well, Melly got me with her sweet potato pie.
And her mac and cheese.
Pretty much everything. You've tasted her cookin'.
I didn't know what you wanted to drink, Mrs. McKellan, so I brought a selection.
Aww, aren't you a dear?
Thank you.
Such a kiss-butt.
-Okay. The first clue is… -[insects chittering, birds hooting]
"What has hands and a face but cannot smile?"
Hmm.
I'd say a clock, but I don't see one around here.
Look! It's a sundial.
Well, why wouldn't they just say that?
The answer must have something to do with it.
Oh!
[screams] A spider!
-Ohh! -M'Dear, look, it's just a little one.
You're way bigger than it. Just stomp on it.
I'm way bigger than you too. Maybe I should just stomp on you.
Daniel?
Daniel, baby, get us outta here!
-[door rattling] -[Daniel grunting]
I'm trying to let you out, but the system seems to be malfunctioning.
Well, un-malfunction it and get me outta here!
[grunting]
I'm sorry, it won't work, M'Dear.
You're gonna have to solve the puzzle, find the key,
and use it to open the door from the inside.
But there's, like, 40 clues in here. That could take hours!
Call your boss and tell him we're stuck.
Well, yeah, I-- I could, but then he might blame me for the malfunction and fire me.
So what? You're used to that!
[grunts]
Trust me, I'm trying as hard as I can! [grunts]
[whimpers] We're trapped. [breathing heavily]
We're trapped.
[M'Dear groans]
I-- I'm-- I'm feeling so hot.
[panting] I can't catch my breath.
-M'Dear! It's okay. Just breathe. Breathe. -[panting] I'm not breathing?
Did I stop breathing? Oh! Get me a doctor!
[moans] Mama, Daddy, is that you?
No, no, no. You're okay.
-Breathe in, in, in. Out. There you go. -[panting]
-Thank you. -You're welcome.
Shaka and I picked these for you, Mrs. McKellan.
Uh…
Okay. [chuckles] Thank you.
Why is she trying so hard to be nice to me?
[chuckles] She wants to make a good impression.
-I do the same thing with Deon's mom. -Yeah.
And she hates it too.
What? She does? Why wouldn't you tell me that?
I want your mom to like me. How do I make her like me?
Well, I-- I could dump you.
-[scoffs] -All right, everything's ready!
Bring me a plate. I'm gonna eat here in the hammock.
This thing is so comfortable.
I know. I can't wait to get back in it.
Yeah, okay.
[Dean] Mm. Ooh.
Mr. McKellan, you really outdid yourself with our vegan barbecue.
You can hardly tell the difference between this and real meat.
Mm. [chuckles awkwardly]
Yeah. You can, um…
really taste the humanity.
I'm not even missing meat.
Are you sure about that?
Are you sure you don't want a bite--
[Jade and Deon laughing]
Oh, well, it's like M'Dear says, "God don't like ugly."
Well, I'm sure he likes ribs.
That's why he invented the five-second rule.
♪ Yeah, yeah, uh ♪
Okay.
"Locate the snake that protects the sarcophagus."
"As it sheds its skin, use the skin to tie a knot."
Tie a knot with snakeskin?
[scoffs]
I'd rather make a belt.
[screams]
A spider! [screams]
No, no. M'Dear. Look. It's just a piece of lint.
I don't know why. I just keep feeling like there's another spider on me.
-M'Dear, the spider was never on you. -[sighs]
Why are you so scared of them?
It's a long story.
Well, I've got time.
And I love your stories.
Well, since we're stuck in here.
You know who Ruby Bridges is, right?
Yes. She was the first Black kid to integrate a white school in New Orleans.
Right.
Well, here in Columbus,
I had my own integration story.
-Really? -Mm-hmm.
[sighs]
I went to an all-Black school in an old, run-down building.
We didn't even have a library.
[sighs] Just a corner in a room
with a few raggedy books.
And I was such a big reader. [chuckles]
A friend of my father's, a pastor,
arranged that I could have privileges
where I could attend the white school's library.
[sighs]
It was large and modern, and filled with a thousand books.
-[chuckles] -[gasps] You must have loved going there.
I did.
But
some of the white folks, they didn't like it.
[sighs]
And that put me on the radar of this low-down son of a gun.
Oh…
Jimmy Ballard.
In 1960, I was a smart, obedient child.
I rarely ate sweets.
So, this particular afternoon, I was enjoying a special treat.
A small cone of vanilla ice cream.
Well, lookee here.
You're that colored girl everybody's talking about so much.
Hi. I'm Amelia Williams.
I'm Jimmy.
Ballard.
Hey! That's not nice!
Ohh.
What you gonna do? Tell on me?
[laughs] Nobody's gonna care.
[laughing]
[Mazzi groans]
I can't stand bullies.
Me either.
And Jimmy, he was the worst kind of bully.
Dumb, racist, and untouchable.
His daddy was the police chief!
You got no business in our library.
Colored folks is ignorant.
You probably can't even read good. [laughs mockingly]
Please just leave me alone.
Ow.
[laughing]
[knocking on door]
-[Daniel] M'Dear? -[knocking continues]
It's me, Daniel!
Is the door lock fixed?
Uh, n-no, but…
Well, your favorite son is starving. Can you spot me for lunch?
How can you give him money when we're locked in here?
Watch this.
Baby, just stick your fingers under the door.
[Daniel] Oh! Okay. You see 'em?
-Yep! -[stomping]
-Yep! -[Daniel screaming]
[upbeat music playing]
[utensils clanging]
[Morgan] Ow!
[stifled laughing]
-[Cocoa yells] -[gasps]
I am so sorry, Mrs. McKellan! I did not mean to hit you.
No… no, it's fine.
It's fine.
It's just a priceless piece of art from my son's childhood. [sighs shakily]
It should be easy to replace.
I'll go get some paper towels.
It's just a shirt, Mom. Calm down!
Calm down? What is he talking about? I am calm.
[chuckles softly]
Ah.
Well, look who's finally awake. What's so funny, Pop?
[Grandpa sighs]
Cocoa is behaving like somebody we know very, very well.
[scoffs] Who?
It starts with an "M" and ends with an "ear."
M'Dear?
Oh no. I am nowhere near that bad.
[chuckles, imitating M'Dear] "Moz may be 6'5",
but he'll always be my wittle, wittle baby."
"Even though my Shaka-boo's head was too big to birth,
everything about my boo-boo is perfect."
"Even his boo-boos."
[scoffs]
Look, M'Dear has always been threatened I'm taking Moz away from her.
Shaka is 15!
He is not gonna marry Morgan.
Right?
Hey, Siri, how old do you have to be in Georgia to get married?
-[phone beeps] -[Siri] Seventeen.
Are they crazy?
That is way too young.
No, no, no, no, no.
There is no way I'm gonna let that little fast girl take my…
Oh my God!
I am acting like M'Dear.
[laughing]
Right. But the question is, are you gonna continue acting like M'Dear?
Uh, actually, the question is, when are you getting out of my hammock?
Oh no, my brother. You're gonna have to get your own.
[upbeat music playing]
♪ Hey, hey! ♪
Now, see, I knew if I hit that Jimmy Ballard,
a lot of trouble would have fallen on my family, so…
I just tried to avoid him.
But that minion of Satan always managed to find me.
[screaming]
-[Mazzi] No wonder you don't like spiders. -[laughing]
[M'Dear] That wasn't the worst part.
After he laughed at me, he said,
-"Look, I made you dance." -[ominous music]
And then he called me the nastiest word in the English language.
-He called you the N-word? -Mm-hmm.
-This story's making me really mad. -I know. That's why I don't tell it much.
I don't know what I'd do if someone called me that. That would make me want to fight.
Well, Mazzi, unfortunately, you might have to fight a lot.
And we know that that is not really who you are.
-But I couldn't let them get away with it. -True that.
I mean, it will cut through your soul and crush your spirit.
I mean, all these years, I've been trying to bury my hurt,
but you can see from these spiders that it still lingers.
So what can we do about it?
-[sighs] Mazzi! -[object crashes]
[Daniel] Y'all paying for that!
Come here.
Now, you listen.
There are some mean and damaged folk in this world,
and they will use that word to try to tear you down,
and make you feel less than you are.
But in truth, they know that you are great.
And they hate you for it.
M'Dear, how did you get so wise?
At this ripe old age of 42?
I am just so thankful that, from talking to you,
I've been able to realize
that no one,
and certainly no word, and not that word…
…is more powerful than I am.
I heard that.
[both chuckling]
-M'Dear! -[gasps] Oh, what? I need a breath mint?
No, no. I-I see the spider. But don't worry, I'll get it. I'll get it.
No, no, no, no. Just leave him alone. He's just a spider.
Wait.
So you're not scared of spiders anymore?
Well, I don't like 'em.
But I'm done bein' afraid.
I'm far more powerful
than that little thing.
Or folk like that Jimmy Ballard.
We can't be broken.
No way, no how.
[chuckles]
[Daniel] Whoo!
Daniel to the rescue! [chuckles]
Everything's under control. I found the key. [chuckles]
Excuse me?
We were trapped in here because you
misplaced the key?
-Boy! -[Daniel spluttering]
You said it was a mechanical error!
Well, i-it could have been.
But don't sweat it, fam, okay? I'm not charging you for the extra time.
Get my scarf. Over there, on that chair.
Ain't no chair ov-- Wait. M'Dear, I don't see a scarf.
-Uh… -[door closes]
[Mazzi] You know how it works, Uncle.
[mockingly] You just have to solve the puzzle to find the key.
Very funny. Very funny! [chuckling]
But you forget, I got the key! [chuckling]
Oh, G--
That only opens from the outside!
M'Dear? Mazzi?
Somebody?
Please help! [panicked breathing] There's not enough air in here!
Look, Mom. Morgan got all the stains out.
She's even better at doing laundry than you.
That's…
…really great.
I am really sorry, Mrs. McKellan.
[sighs]
Look, you have nothing to apologize about.
You are a sweetheart, and I am so glad that my boo…
I mean, Shaka's
with such a nice girl.
Aww.
-[grunting sounds] -[leaves rustling]
Oh no!
-I hope we don't have hedgehogs again. -Hedgehogs don't grunt like that.
Honey, be careful! Maybe it's a wild boar.
Oh yeah, it's definitely some pigs.
And pigs don't carry Birkins. M'Dear wins.
[Cocoa laughing]
Now, that's a hammock.
I feel like I slept for a week.
Must be nice. I tried to get another one, but it's on back order for six months.
Oh well. You could blow up an air mattress
and stick it in the backyard next to my hammock.
[Grandpa chuckles]
[M'Dear laughing]
Oh, Miss Vegan-Diva is bustin' suds. I guess I won the bet. [chuckles]
Kind of. I broke down and I had a rib.
Uh, Jade, you had 12. They call that a rack.
[laughing]
-How was the escape room? -Oh, M'Dear made it interesting.
Oh, please!
I enjoyed the company. [laughs]
Hey. Whatever happened to that creep Jimmy Ballard anyway?
Well, I heard he was in a mysterious accident
and ended up with a wooden leg.
But he is a much nicer person today.
What kind of accident?
How should I know?
I wasn't there.
And even if I was,
no one can prove it.
[laughs]
[closing theme music playing]
-Diva out. -[snaps fingers]