[soft upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- So how was Hong Kong?
- Oh, my God, you know,
it's like another billionaire,
another impulse purchase
to add to his collection of hundreds of bags
that he's saving for his future wife.
- Hundreds? - Yeah.
He hasn't even spoken to her yet.
He's hoping the bags will help
"jumpstart the conversation." [both chuckle]
- You know, I should hook you up with my friend Kian.
He's rich; I could see him doing some shit like that.
- Wow, like, hook up-hook up? - No, no.
I mean, like, connect, business-wise.
- 'Cause I was gonna say, I'm, like,
seeing somebody right now.
- Oh? Cool.
- Come on, dude. - What?
- Don't be like that. We're friends now.
We're supposed to be able to, like,
have this conversation.
- Yeah, of course--it is. We are.
- Besides, you'd like him.
He's chief of staff for De Blasio.
- Man, fuck de Blasio.
- Are you seeing anybody now?
- Nothing serious.
- It's really sad that you and Ola broke up.
We, as a collective,
were really excited to have you back in the fold.
I mean, this is a huge loss for us.
You're probably gonna hook up with some white girl next.
- Nah, nah.
Nah, I'm--I'm off that.
[both breathing heavily]
narrator: Marcus first met Becca Evans
at the bar at the Palace Hotel
while he was waiting on one of his authors
to talk about their book.
Subsequently, Becca and Marcus started
meeting up every few weeks to spend the night together
at that same hotel.
For the first time in his life,
there was no pressure, and there were no stakes.
It was a relief that this woman,
recently divorced for the second time,
wanted exactly what he wanted:
nothing.
♪ ♪
- Okay.
How do I look?
- You look good. - You're a liar.
Oh, my--"you look good." - No, no, I'm serious.
I mean, you kinda look like a--
- What?
- White girl Prince.
But you look great.
- Fuck you.
I mean, I'm meeting my daughter for lunch.
She's back from boarding school.
She's introducing me to a new boyfriend.
- Ooh. - Yeah.
Apparently, this one's name is Jadd.
Like, literally, J-A-D-D,
which I had never heard before.
- Right, because it's not a name.
- [laughing] Not a name.
I don't know.
Maybe she just wants
a mom stamp of approval.
- Mm.
Wonder what she'd think of me.
- You never have to worry about that.
- Oh. - Oh.
Call me?
- Yeah. - Great.
- Bye. - Bye.
- We're promoting you.
Executive editor, what do you think?
- Oh, wow.
Uh, that's--that's great.
I didn't even know I was up for this.
- Well, your exceptional taste and tenacious work ethic
gave me no other choice, my friend.
- Awesome.
So does the promotion come with a salary bump?
- Yeah, I mean, I'm still waiting on HR
to sign off on that one.
The salary freeze, it is killing me.
But I'm almost positive
that we can probably work something out.
But in the meantime,
this little token of appreciation
for all of your hard work.
[muffled robotic noise]
It's the "Paris Review" dinner.
Everybody wants these babies,
but I am giving them to you.
They're honoring Nikki Giovanni.
Figured if anybody wants to see Nikki Giovanni, it's you.
- Are you giving me these tickets
because of the promotion
or because I'm the only
Black editor in the office?
- Because of the promotion, of course.
I mean, I love Nikki Giovanni. I wish I could go see her.
I love her. I love Black poetry.
I love poetry, you know?
You know what, give me the tickets back.
Gimme 'em back. I wanna go see her.
I mean, you can have them. You deserve them.
- Let me know about that bump.
- Yeah, no problem.
Congrats, Marcus. - Hey, thanks.
- Yeah. - All right.
Yeah, yeah, it's pretty cool.
I even got invited to this "Paris Review" dinner
for Nikki Giovanni.
- Oh, honey, I'm so proud of you.
Kirby, get in here.
- Oh, Mom, you don't have to get--
- Kirby!
Kirby, get in here!
Oh, here's your dad. I'm gonna put you on speaker.
- Hey, Dad.
- Oh, hey Marcus.
- Marcus got a big promotion.
Executive editor.
- What kind of raise did you negotiate for yourself?
- Uh, we're still working on that.
- You accepted a promotion without a raise.
- Kirby.
- Black men make 87 cents on the dollar.
If we don't advocate for ourselves, I mean, who will?
- I'm getting a raise, Dad.
- Next time, get it in writing first.
- Wait, Marcus forgot to tell you the best news.
He's got this big invitation to a dinner
honoring Nikki Giovanni.
That's your dad's favorite poet.
- I know, I'll, uh, I'll be sure
to snap a picture with her for you, Pop.
- Wait, I have an idea.
Kirby, why don't you go? - What?
- You have a plus one, right?
- Uh, I--I--I do,
but I'm sure Dad doesn't wanna come all this way
for one night.
- Then he can stay the weekend.
- So now Dad's flying out next month.
- Mm-hmm, that's Donna Watkins for ya.
- Okay, well, he's staying with you.
- Ooh, no. - What, why not?
You and Dad are, like, best friends.
- I can't have house guests right now.
My therapist says
that I am giving too much.
- You're back in therapy?
- I am back with Jaleesa.
- No, Ida.
- Listen, I can take care of me.
You take care of Dad.
- But Dad can't sleep on my couch.
It doesn't fold out, he's got that CPAP machine.
- I can't do it right now, all right?
I need my space. - For Jaleesa?
- Come on, bro. - Okay.
- Let him sleep in the bed
and you sleep on the couch.
- [sighs] I just--I just think
that you and Dad have a way better thing going on.
I mean-- - Oh, here we go
with the daddy issues.
You want the number to my therapist?
- Your therapist? No.
Look, it is not my fault
that you get along better with Dad.
- Look, I just talk to him more.
I call him once a week.
- Once a week?
- Yeah, see, the problem is,
you treat Dad like he's some type of a chore.
Just open up to him if you wanna get closer.
- Well, I don't wanna get closer to him.
I want him to want to get closer to me.
- Oh, the Y chromosome is a curse.
- What, am I wrong?
- Fine, whatever.
He can stay with me, but you owe me.
And get the fuck outta my fridge.
- All right, damn.
[phone buzzes]
[soft upbeat music]
♪ ♪
[knock at door]
- Hi. - Sup?
- Come in. - All right.
- You look good. - You look good.
- Thanks. - Yeah.
- I'm glad you made it. - Yeah, me too.
- Marcus, Gigi. Gigi, Marcus.
- Hey. - Hey.
- How are you? - I'm good.
How--how you doin'? - Good.
We just opened up the mini bar Patrón, if you want some.
- Oh, please, yeah,
yes, yeah. - Yeah, yeah. [chuckles]
- Come on, sit down. - All right.
Wait, wait, wait, so how do you--
- [giggles] Sorry.
- How do you two know each other?
- Well, back when I was still stuck with fuckin' Len.
- Wait, Len was fucking bald.
So fuck Len. - That was a bait and switch.
When I met Len,
he looked like Chris Isaak. I mean, he did.
So don't listen to her, okay? - Okay. All right.
- So back when I was still with Len,
I decided to start taking singing lessons.
Don't laugh. As an outlet.
And Gigi was my vocal coach. - And she's amazing.
- No, I'm not. - She's amazing.
- Stop, oh, my gosh. - She's incredible.
- But the truth is, this one has the voice of an angel.
I mean, Marcus, you have to hear her sing.
- What I think we should do is,
I think that we should finish this bottle,
and then I will fucking sing "Wicked Games" for you.
- See, now we have something to work towards.
A plan.
- Maybe we could even serenade him.
- Yeah, yeah, that sounds good to me.
Yeah.
- ♪ Always with the gang, gang ♪
♪ Always rep the gang ♪
♪ Gang, gang, gang ♪
- [chuckles]
- ♪ Always rep the gang ♪
♪ Gang, gang, gang ♪
♪ Whole lot of gang shit, gang, gang, gang ♪
♪ Whole lot of gang shit ♪
♪ Gang, gang, gang ♪
- ♪ She froze up when that Ghost came ♪
♪ Big body Rolls, it be hoggin' up both lanes ♪
♪ She lift her nose up when she want that cocaine ♪
- Kiss. Kiss, kiss.
- Oh!
- Come on. - All right.
- [chuckles]
- Do you wanna watch? Take them off.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [laughs]
- ♪ And all I want is Huncho ♪
- Oh. - I'm coming, coming.
- ♪ Pulls strings like a banjo ♪
♪ And the keys, a piano ♪
♪ Take me back to the back door ♪
- I want you to fuck us.
- All right. [both chuckle]
- [groans] - Mm-hmm.
narrator: Marcus had borne witness
to so many threesomes over the years--
in pornography, in bad teen comedies.
- Ah, fuck, you feel so good.
narrator: But it was surreal to finally participate
in one himself.
It had been built up so much in his mind
that it now all seemed
to be happening in slow motion.
- Oh-- - I want you to fuck Gigi.
narrator: Though, not as slowly as he hoped.
- Nah, I'm not done. Not done with you yet.
- Uh-uh. - No, fuck Gigi.
- Just give me one second.
[both giggle]
♪ ♪
- ♪ Won't look down, won't open my eyes ♪
♪ Keep my glass full ♪
both: ♪ Until morning light ♪
♪ Till morning light ♪
- ♪ Till morn-- ♪ Get it?
- Hi. - Hey.
- We ordered breakfast.
- I actually
gotta get outta here.
- Oh.
- This, uh, this was fun.
- This was fun. - This was fun.
- I'll see you later. - I'll see you.
- Good to meet you. - Yeah, I'ma dip.
Nice to meet you. All right.
- All right. Okay.
Bye. - Bye.
- We'll serenade you out!
both: ♪ One, two, three, one, two, three, drink ♪
- No, no. No, no, no.
I'm not talking about that. - Oh, bro, come on!
You flew out to LA for a date with Minka Kelly,
and you're just not gonna tell us about it?
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, you flew to LA
for a first date? - Mm-hmm.
- Wha--that's thirsty as hell. - No, no, no.
But with Minka Kelly. - Thank you.
- Oh, okay, with Minka--
that's thirsty as hell.
- My father came from Iran
to this country with nothing,
and now his son can get blown off by Minka Kelly,
so that's the American dream
if I've ever heard it. - Is it?
- Anyway, it's a good story, so.
- I had a threesome.
- What? - Yeah.
- Two chicks? - Yeah.
- Same time? - Yeah.
- Gimme some details. - Wow.
- Yeah, um-- - Details, details, details.
- Honestly, um,
I came in, like, a minute,
and, um, just kinda kept going
'cause they didn't-- they didn't realize it, so.
- How's that even possible, bro?
- Oh, come on, don't tell me
that you've never pretended not to finish.
- You saying it like it's a badge of honor.
I can't believe you so proud. What are you--what are you--
- Listen, listen, listen.
Premature ejaculation aside--
and you should keep that story to yourself--
I'm happy for you, Marcus. - Thank you.
- Getting out there, I love it. - Thank you.
- Ugh, y'all stories, man,
it's making me happy I got a family, bruh.
I just wanna go home and just be the man I'm 'posed to be.
Like I'm Simba or something.
- You're welcome. - Mm-hmm. Thank you.
- You wanted to talk with me, right?
- Oh, yeah, yeah, wanna sit?
- This gonna be a real talk? I mean, I really--
I actually have to get going.
- Okay, well, you don't have to sit.
- I'm already sitting. - All right.
I just wanted to follow up about the raise.
It's been about a month now, so--
- I know, I'm sorry.
It's just, we're gonna have to table this conversation
till the end of the quarter, unfortunately.
- This is the end of the quarter.
- Uh, um, next quarter.
- Here you go. Oh, and he landed.
He's in a car service now, headed for Ima's.
- Uh, it's Ida's.
And you put my dad in a car service?
I told you, he could just take a cab.
- He's your father, not a hooker.
Show some respect.
When did you get a new assistant?
- Six months ago. - No, that's impossible.
All right, have a great time.
And, um,
you should really invest in, like, a real tuxedo.
Everybody can tell when you wear a rental.
- [muttering] Why don't you pay me?
Then I can go ahead and buy a tux.
- Boy, you just on time. I was craving a grape Fanta.
- You hush. I look good.
Hey, Dad. - There's my boy.
I'll stay seated it it's all right with you.
The flight made my knees seize up.
Oh, son, you don't wear a burgundy
to a black tie event.
- Dad, this is black tie.
- Not in my day, it wasn't.
But like the kids say, you do you.
- Marcus, you want some? - Uh, no, no.
We should probably head out. Traffic is gonna be rough.
- Fuckin' narc. - All right.
- Well, at least have some wine.
- Yeah, and if you spill it on your suit,
no one will be able to tell.
[both laugh]
Oh, Lord, Daddy choking.
You look like you could be a decorative pillow on my sofa.
- Oh, stop.
[soft piano music]
♪ ♪
- Hi, uh, Marcus Watkins, Sutton Court.
- Mr. Watkins and your guest, you're gonna be table two.
- Thank you.
[soft jazz playing]
♪ ♪
- Not bad.
You don't think we too close, do you?
- Dad. - Just asking.
So where can we get some of this wine
I keep seeing everyone with?
I guess you gotta go find 'em, huh?
- Hey.
He's right there. - Oh, thank you.
- Thanks, man.
- Is that James Patterson?
- Where?
Oh, yeah, yeah, that is James Patterson.
- He's a fucking hack.
- [chuckles] Yeah, he's a total fucking hack.
[both chuckle]
- "The heat you left with me last night still smolders.
"The wind catches your scent
"and refreshes my senses.
"I am a leaf,
"falling from a tree,
upon which I was impaled."
[applause]
- Thank you so much.
Such a fan.
- Thank you so very much.
Thank you, thanks a lot.
- Come on.
It's on our way out.
Ms. Giovanni, that was phenomenal.
- That's very kind of you. - Ms. Giovanni, Kirby Watkins.
It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
- I appreciate that.
- You mind if I take a selfie
to freeze this moment in time?
- Oh, I'd be delighted.
- Get in here, son. - Oh, no, no.
This is your moment.
Enjoy.
- Thank you so much. - Oh, it's my pleasure.
And thank you for coming. - The pleasure's mine.
- Thank you, thank you so much.
- Oh, Ms. Giovanni.
- Can you send these pictures to your mom?
To post on the Instagram, will you?
- Oh, yeah, yeah.
Done.
You good? - Yeah.
You know, you don't brag on yourself enough.
- God, it's amazing how you can
compliment me and criticize me in the same breath.
- It's just, I had no idea you was doin' so well.
- Dad, I literally called you the second I got the promotion.
- No, you called your mother.
Look, Marcus, I know it seems like I been really hard on you.
- No, Dad, it's fine.
You know, I'm just glad that you're here,
that you're having a good time.
- No, no, it's not fine. And I'm sorry.
But I do worry about you.
- I'm--I'm okay. - No, no, let me finish.
Does Sutton Court know how valuable you are?
Do you know how valuable you are?
It's important to know your worth, son.
Nobody's gonna give it to you.
And you didn't get defensive.
This is progress.
- I gotta joint in my pocket if you wanna hit it real quick.
- So you're not a narc? - Hell no.
- Well, let's do it. - All right.
- ♪ Pay no attention ♪
♪ Disbelieve them what they say ♪
♪ As for me, it could only be one way ♪
- Hey, I had a great time. - Yeah, man, me too.
- I'll talk to you in the morning.
- All right, all right.
Get home safe, all right?
- ♪ Heart full of love ♪
♪ Heart full of love ♪
♪ For you ♪
♪ You ♪
♪ Got a heart full of love for you ♪
[phone buzzes]
[thunder rumbling]
[phone buzzes]
- Hey. - Hi.
Uh, come on--come on in. - Yeah.
- Um-- - Wow.
- Yeah, like, welcome to my crib, or, uh--
Everything okay?
- Uh...
God, there's no easy way to say it,
so I'm just gonna say it.
I'm pregnant.
- Really? - Yeah.
I guess it must've happened
that night with Gigi.
- And it--it's mine?
- Yeah.
I mean, I haven't been with anyone else,
unless it was Gigi who came in me that night.
- Wow. Uh. [chuckles]
Whoo, okay.
Um, okay.
[chuckles]
- Okay, listen, I'm sorry.
I--I--God, I know it's a lot.
Um, I didn't want to tell you over the phone.
- Yeah, this is--this is crazy.
- It's crazy, right? - Yeah, um--
- Yeah, it is, I know.
I didn't think it could happen at my age.
- Yeah, me either.
- Um, my doctor called it a miracle.
- Yeah.
- Can I sit down? - Yes, please.
Yeah, sorry. - That's okay.
It's a little stressful because there are
complications at my age. - Of course.
- I mean, I've done it twice before,
so I'll just-- I'll figure it out.
- Yeah, I mean, well, you know, whatever you wanna do, like--
I mean, I'll-- I'm more than happy--
- Thank you. Yeah, to, like, come with you.
And obviously, I'll pay for anything that you--
- Oh, no, Marcus, I'm keeping the baby.
But I don't need anything from you, I'm set.
- Uh, um--uh, oh, God.
Oh, my God, how could I let this fuckin' happen?
- I'm totally fine with you being involved
as much or as little as you want.
It's really, I mean, it's not that complicated.
- Well, I mean, it is.
For me, it is kinda complicated.
- Why?
- Okay, Becca, you can't tell a Black man
that he doesn't have to be involved with his kid.
- Okay, well, that seems ridiculous.
What does race have to do with anything?
- 'Cause people are gonna judge me
differently than they do you.
Like, that's just-- that's just facts, so--
- Neither one of us wanted this to happen.
It's gonna be okay.
I mean, come on, Marcus.
It's gonna be a little mixed baby.
Mixed babies are so cute.
- You know, I don't-- - Better be cute.
- No, no, no, I don't think that's--
I don't think that's funny, like--
- Okay. - I'm just gonna say it.
I mean, like, is that the reason
why you wanna keep this baby?
Do you want, like, this trendy little,
you know, frizzy haired accessory
to, you know, walk around town with?
You get to be Sandra Bullock or Angelina Jolie.
You get your progressive street cred,
like, just fuckin' cemented.
I mean, like, is that-- is that what this is about?
- Fuck you, that's not what I meant.
I didn't even have to tell you, Marcus.
I did you a courtesy.
But you do not get a say
in what I do with my body.
- It's your body, but half of what's happening in there,
that's--that's me.
And I don't get any say in that?
Like, none?
Come on, Becca, that's fucked up, man, you know it.
Like, this isn't supposed to be a thing.
Like, I don't wanna be tied to you for the rest of my life.
- What do you want? I'm giving you an out.
- No, I don't-- I don't want an out.
- Then what do you want, Marcus?
[pensive music]
I am going to have this baby,
and it's my decision,
and I'm sorry if it's not what you want.
[Aldous Harding's "Imagining My Man"]
♪ ♪
- ♪ I'm going to answer ♪
♪ Protecting ♪
♪ ♪
♪ It can be so hard to forgive ♪
♪ ♪
♪ It's not what I thought ♪
♪ ♪
♪ And it's not what I pictured ♪
♪ ♪
♪ When I was imagining my man ♪
♪ ♪
♪ You are so nervous all of the time ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Giving the classics ♪