. ‐ Man, hindsight is 20/20. Faith is blind.
It's hard moving forward
when you can't get over what's been left behind.
At times, my purpose has become harder and harder to find.
It's wild in the wilderness,
but Black, man, Black is a vibe.
Black is dope.
Black is doing the impossible
while balancing a tightrope.
Black is feeling so low
but still having high hopes.
Black is the love and beauty that's often forgotten.
Black is dreaming of your ancestors' strength.
And knowing that giving up is never ever...
an option.
‐ ♪ Whoo, whoo
♪ Cabernet and sauvignon
♪ The team is here and now it's on ♪
♪ Carry on and carry on, sippin' on Pérignon ♪
♪ Fine wine got notes like a cello ♪
♪ Pull up in the spot like, "Hello" ♪
♪ If I got me, then I got you ♪
♪ This is the vibe, this is the crew ♪
♪ Grand Crew, Grand Crew, oh
♪ Grand Crew, Grand Crew, Grand Crew, oh ♪
♪ Grand Crew
[ambient music]
‐ So anyone need another glass of wine
to deal with this crappy news day?
‐ Yes, please.
You talking about that thing with that Black dude in Texas?
‐ Oh, no, I was talking about the mom in Florida.
‐ I thought you were talking about the verdict
in the Fresno trial.
‐ What was the verdict? ‐ What do you think?
‐ Oof. ‐ You know what?
I'm gonna get us each our own bottle of wine.
‐ Yes, please. ‐ Yes.
‐ I'll never say no to a bottle.
But y'all would be doing a lot better
if you just tuned out the news like me.
The only thing on my feed today was this cat
that they taught to use chopsticks.
You would not believe what chopstick cat can grab.
‐ I'm not sure that's the best way to deal.
But it's cool‐‐we all have our own ways of coping.
For me and Noah, we have Bad‐Black‐News brunch.
‐ Bad‐Black‐News brunch?
Y'all start a podcast? ‐ No, it's just‐‐
when the news gets like this, I take Noah out to a big brunch
to help him cope. ‐ Yeah, and it's the best.
I'm talkin' big mimosas, big pancakes,
and teeny tiny oysters.
And it's all courtesy of Nicky.
And it honestly helps.
‐ And that's where y'all record the podcast?
‐ What? No, guys, there is no podcast.
It's just a brunch.
‐ Anything can be a podcast.
Just bring a mic with you. ‐ He's right.
And if y'all don't record it, somebody else will.
But it's cool that y'all do that for each other.
Usually the older sibling takes care of the younger one.
‐ Nah, it's just what our family is like.
Noah takes care of our dad, I take care of Noah.
‐ And who takes care of you? ‐ No one.
Our family's like a Black Russian nesting doll
where the only solid piece is that little one.
And that's me! I'm the baby.
‐ I mean, come on.
You have your vulnerable moments too.
Just last week you were balling
your eyes out when I was at your place.
‐ Yeah 'cause I was chopping onions
to make your dinner because you stubbed your little toe.
‐ It really hurt and it ruined my day.
‐ Well, look, I'm glad you guys have your ritual.
I usually cope at work, but things at the office
right now aren't so great.
‐ They're being insensitive?
‐ Nope, kinda the other way around.
[upbeat music]
‐ Hey.
Just checking in to see if you're doing okay.
‐ We all wanted to make sure you were doing okay.
‐ I'm okay.
I spent the entire day telling people I was okay.
I didn't get any work done.
I mean, I know it comes from a good place,
but it's too much. ‐ Mm‐hmm.
So I guess I'll have to cope here at the bar.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I got some numbers to crunch.
Peace. ‐ Peace out.
‐ Wyatt, how do you cope?
Wyatt?
‐ Guys, I am in no mood to casually talk over wine
like everything is fine!
And y'all shouldn't be either.
Have y'all not seen all this bad news?
‐ The [bleep], bro?
That's literally all we've been talking about.
‐ Oh, sorry, I guess I've been distracted.
But I can't look away.
Have you seen this new info about‐‐
‐ [sputtering gibberish]
I don't wanna hear it! I'm blocking it out
at all costs. ‐ That doesn't sound healthy.
‐ It's healthier than just doom‐scrolling all day.
Look at him‐‐he's not even paying attention to me anymore.
‐ Huh? ‐ That's it.
Gotta get you off that phone
and away from those headlines.
We're hanging out tomorrow.
‐ Sure, what you wanna borrow?
Ay! ‐ Why'd you come to the bar?
‐ Sherm.
♪
‐ Just so you know, my boss is not a fan of this whole setup.
So I told her you're writing a new "E. T." movie.
‐ Figures, no one respects accountants in this town.
Meanwhile, none of these movies get made
without us behind the scenes.
And don't forget, we tally the Oscars.
‐ Wasn't it accountants who messed up the whole
"Moonlight"‐"La La Land" thing?
‐ One mistake in 94 years?
That's a great batting average.
‐ Wow, didn't mean to hit whatever nerve I just hit.
‐ Sorry, I'm clearly stressed from all the news.
How you holding up?
‐ Mm, not great.
But I am taking a mental health day tomorrow,
which'll be nice.
But I'll probably just be sitting at home
because there's nothing to do.
‐ Nothing to do? In LA?
This city has it all!
‐ That's what I hear, but I'm new,
and I haven't cracked it yet.
‐ Then let's get it crackin'.
I'll take you on a tour. How 'bout this weekend?
‐ How 'bout tomorrow?
Take the day off with me.
‐ Whoa, a day off?
At the last minute?
My boss would not be cool with that.
‐ Just tell him you need a day off
to process everything that's going on.
Do it. ‐ Okay, fine.
I'll ask, but I'm telling you,
you do not know my boss like I do.
[notification chimes] And I stand corrected.
You were right. He immediately got back to me
and is more than okay with it.
Wow. ‐ Mm‐hmm.
♪
‐ Thanks for coming with me today.
The gym provides the ultimate distraction
to everything that's going on in the world.
Some people do yoga.
I myself prefer to call it "swole‐ga."
‐ Oh, man, it looks like there's an update
with the situation going on‐‐
will you stop snatching my phone?
‐ I promise to never snatch your phone again.
‐ Thank you. ‐ Because I'm not giving it
back to you. ‐ Damn it!
‐ Go ahead and pick up some weights
and proceed to clear your mind
from the perils of this tumultuous world.
Go ahead. ‐ [sighs]
‐ Go on now, go on now.
‐ [grunts]
[wild grunt‐screams]
Oh!
[strained grunt‐screams]
‐ [laughs] Hey, you all right, big dog?
‐ Yeah, this feels great.
[continues to grunt‐scream]
‐ All right.
‐ [shrieks]
‐ House, house. ‐ Two‐bedroom‐‐
‐ House, house, house. ‐ Mortgage.
‐ House, house. ‐ Down payment.
Perfect, this is officially a business breakfast
and I'm writing all of it off.
‐ Pleasure.
[laughs]
So how you holding up?
‐ I mean, the news sucks, but I'ma keep it pushing.
I have a mani‐pedi later though that I am truly excited about.
‐ Mani‐pedi? Really?
‐ Yeah, why?
‐ I just don't remember the last time
you went and got a mani‐pedi.
I thought you did your nails yourself.
‐ I usually do, but I thought it was the perfect time
to treat myself to something.
How are you though? You okay?
‐ I mean, I'm doing all right.
Also trying to keep it pushing. ‐ Mm.
‐ I have a date lined up for later today.
Wh‐‐oh, sorry.
Correction: had a date planned for today.
‐ Aw. ‐ She just canceled.
So I guess I'll just be...
spending the day alone.
You know, unless, I mean, unless you‐‐
unless you have some extra time or something, I don't know.
‐ I knew you'd need me past this brunch.
Of course I'll spend the day with you.
‐ Are you sure? I don't wanna
mess with your plans. ‐ Oh, come on!
You're my little big bro!
All that can wait.
This is what I do.
Let's go to the bar, drinks on me.
‐ Oh. ‐ We have more house stuff
to talk about, right? ‐ Oh, yeah, for sure.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. ‐ Home, house.
‐ House, house, house. ‐ Home, house, home.
House, home, house. ‐ House, home, home.
[knock at door]
[upbeat music]
‐ Hey. ‐ Hey.
‐ Come on in.
You ready for today's adventure?
‐ Wow, I've never seen you in shorts before.
And they're very short. ‐ Thank you.
These thighs are the first LA landmark of the day,
but there are many other sights in store.
‐ This is a very thorough schedule.
And I see you even worked in bathroom breaks.
‐ You're gonna be happy that I put so much work in.
We have a lot of spots to hit.
Some art downtown at the Broad,
little Jamaican food in Inglewood,
rooftop drinks at the Sunset Tower Hotel.
But first up...
we have the quintessential LA experience:
a scenic weekday hike. ‐ Cool.
This is great, but I don't have clothes for a hike.
‐ Oh, but I got you clothes for a hike.
And they're all from local LA stores.
‐ You don't know my size.
‐ I got all the sizes.
Why? Because LA has it all.
This mental health day's about to be poppin'.
Let's roll, baby. ‐ Oh, okay.
. ‐ These clothes make us look like we're in an indie band. ‐ The Fay and Anthony band.
I like it.
‐ Nah, everyone knows that your indie band
is your grandma's first name
plus what you had for breakfast this morning.
‐ Phyllis and the Fake Bacon.
Huh, not bad.
What's yours?
‐ Doris and the Cheeseburger.
‐ Wait, you had a cheeseburger for breakfast?
‐ I'm stressed.
‐ True, true.
Oh, we are a couple minutes behind schedule.
Let's pick up the pace!
‐ Dude, we came here to decompress.
You're making this day off feel like work.
‐ What's wrong with that?
The world is unpredictable
and work gives me structure.
Some kids like drawing outside the lines,
but for me all drawing was hard.
I just loved the lines.
‐ I knew a kid in college who loved lines.
Nearly bankrupt him.
‐ Cocaine gives lines a bad name.
Every other line is great.
‐ What about waiting in line?
‐ I love waiting in lines.
The more people, the better.
‐ You are such a nerd.
Hey, why don't we go this way?
‐ Mm, nope, that path is not the path.
This path goes to a crazy view.
‐ What if that way leads to somewhere better?
Come on, it'll be fun.
Is it really that hard for you
to do something unplanned?
‐ Fine, we'll go down your path
for an unspecified amount of time.
But I'm telling you, it's not gonna be nicer
than where we were going.
[serene music]
You were right.
Okay, touché.
♪
[melodic music]
‐ [screams]
[screams]
Whoo.
Whoo!
Let's go!
Well, you were right.
This is helping.
‐ Yeah? Thanks for joining me
at the gym today at that volume.
You ready to get out of here?
‐ Oh, that's it? I thought that was a warm‐up.
‐ Nah, man. I'm good.
You've been doing too much. ‐ What you mean?
[screaming]
Look, I'm just...sad, angry, and frustrated at it all.
I'm just trying to face it and feel it
so I can release it.
No pain, no gain.
That is what the gym is all about, right?
‐ Not like that, sir.
For me, it's ignore pain, stay sane.
Letting all that anger consume you is not healthy.
That's how we got Darth Vader, bro.
‐ That is a fictional movie.
‐ Science fiction!
With real‐world motifs.
‐ Look, everyone has pain,
but when you ignore it, you're only making it worse.
Now take this and let out your pain.
‐ Bro, I brought you to the gym to help you.
‐ And yet here we are at a crossroads.
Now lift this and don't ignore what happened
in the news yesterday.
‐ Ah, there. Let's go. ‐ No, no. Again.
There is something in there, I know it.
‐ Stop pushing me, bro!
‐ That was something, okay!
Now you can tell me what it is.
‐ No! ‐ Then put it into the weights!
‐ [grunts] ‐ There we go.
‐ [grunts more intensely] ‐ All right!
‐ Let's go! ‐ Yeah!
[Trick Daddy's "Let's Go"] [both screaming]
‐ ♪ Let me know, let me know ♪
[both grunting furiously]
‐ ♪ Let's go, let's go
♪ If you want it, you can get it ♪
‐ Thank you so much for canceling your plans
and spending the day with me.
I would've been so awful on a date anyway
with everything that's going on.
‐ Of course, I'm here for you.
The world is a mess and half,
but at least we have each other and bottles of wine.
‐ Hey, hey! I will drink to that.
I love wine.
‐ Mm, we should drink to more things we love.
You know, to get more drunk.
‐ I love that idea.
‐ If you love it, you gotta drink.
Those are the new rules of the new game I just made up.
‐ Ay. [laughs]
Mm.
What do you love?
‐ Thank you so much for asking me, Noah.
I love, um, naps.
‐ Oh, long ones, short ones.
I mean, shout‐out to sleep in general.
‐ Mm‐hmm. ‐ [laughs]
Mm!
I love concerts.
‐ Oh, yeah, you've heard the song 100 times,
the sound quality is awful.
But the energy? Ooh, electric!
‐ Mm‐hmm. [laughter]
Mm. ‐ Okay, you know I'm gonna say
this, so let's just get it out of the way.
I love butts. ‐ You love butts.
Yeah, mm‐hmm. ‐ Mm‐hmm.
Yes.
‐ I can't front.
This view is spectacular.
I've never seen this part of the park before.
‐ Exactly.
Don't forget these gems I dropped on you
when I leave LA. ‐ Wait, what?
You're leaving?
‐ I'm all about going where life takes me
and living in the moment, and...
that's why I moved here from New York with my ex.
But now that we're divorced, the moment is telling me
there's not much left here for me.
‐ But LA has anything you could want.
The beach, the art, the food.
‐ I'm sure that's all true,
but the way you feel about LA is not about the city.
It's a deeper connection.
Like that greasy burrito spot you like off of Vermont?
That's just greasy to me.
‐ You can order it without the grease.
That option's on the secret menu.
‐ I'm just saying I'm not from here like y'all.
My greasy burrito's on the East Coast‐‐
except it's a pizza and it's perfect.
‐ Okay, I feel that.
Well, I guess we gotta take a hike pic for the 'Gram
to commemorate your time here in LA.
‐ No, I think I'm good.
We were in the background of enough people's 'Grams
on the way up here.
[camera clicks] ‐ Got it!
‐ No, gimme that! ‐ Nope, nope! Not enough time.
We need to make our lunch reservation.
‐ Oh, right, 'cause we're on a tight schedule.
‐ Do you not wanna eat lunch?
‐ No, I'm sorry. I'm very hungry. Let's go.
After you. ‐ After me? After you.
This is your path. ‐ This is your tour.
‐ I was following you. ‐ No, I was following you.
♪
‐ Are we lost?
. ‐ So now we're lost and we have no phone reception. See, this is why you don't go down uncharted paths.
‐ The path is plenty charted.
There's footprints right there.
‐ Those are mountain lion footprints.
‐ Mountain lions don't wear shoes.
‐ But they nibble on people that do
until they're dead. ‐ Okay.
Clearly, anything I say is gonna make you spiral.
‐ Spiral? I only do lines.
I told you I like lines.
‐ Anthony, relax!
Okay, let's just go in every direction
until we see something we recognize.
‐ Okay, word.
Process of elimination.
I'm with it.
[upbeat music]
‐ [grunting]
‐ [yells] Ah!
All right.
Good work today.
I think we should call it.
‐ What you mean, man? We can't leave now!
‐ We've been here for a while. It's dark outside.
‐ Yeah, but I'm all juiced up.
And this is a 24‐hour gym.
You're the one that let this lion out.
Why you trying to tame me?
‐ I ain't trying to tame you.
All right, let's go!
‐ [grunting]
[bones cracking] both: Oh!
‐ Sounds like you tapped into a new kind of pain.
‐ I did.
I threw my back out.
‐ Oh, oh, no! ‐ Don't touch me!
I am not to be touched.
Help me, please. Don't touch me!
‐ What?
‐ Help me, Wyatt. Why you just stand‐‐
don't touch me!
‐ I'm trying to help you, Sherm. ‐ Do not touch me.
Help me, Wyatt. ‐ Just‐‐just‐‐just relax.
‐ Wyatt, please help me. ‐ Lengthen‐‐
‐ Don't touch! You're touching me.
‐ Lengthen and widen.
[both scream]
[Sherm's pitch gets higher]
[bones cracking]
‐ Okay, you're good?
‐ [groans weakly] ‐ Yeah.
[owls hooting] ‐ This isn't what
I had in mind for my mental health day.
What's the plan now?
‐ The plan was to be at Sunset Tower
drinking bloody marys.
‐ That was your plan?
Who drinks bloody marys at night?
‐ They're an anytime drink.
Also, you could've ordered whatever you wanted.
‐ I'm sorry, I'm just hungry
'cause you didn't plan to bring any snacks.
‐ There was so much food built into the plan today.
Food we never got to eat because of you.
‐ Don't blame me.
Blame your city.
I was lost before we got here
and now we're both lost.
‐ Enough with that, okay?
You and I both know LA is not the real issue with you.
‐ What is that supposed to mean?
‐ Nothing, forget it. ‐ No, no, no.
I wanna hear this.
‐ Okay. ‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ Fine. ‐ Mm.
‐ Your whole "Go where life takes me" mentality
feels like a defense mechanism to me.
From what I see, you're just hopping around from moment
to moment because if you keep moving,
you don't have to commit to anything
and you don't have to ever get hurt again.
‐ You're one to talk about defense mechanisms.
You plan every moment and you bury yourself into work
so that you don't have to face the real world.
At least I take chances with my life.
[low growling] Did you just growl at me?
‐ Nope.
[branches snapping] [dramatic music]
[upbeat music]
‐ Mm, I love tables.
‐ [gasps] Oh, my God, yes!
You can sit things on them and then they stay there.
How?
‐ I wasn't even thinking about that.
I was thinking about them four little legs they got.
‐ Okay now. [laughter]
Mm, mm. ‐ Mm.
‐ I tell you what. ‐ Hm?
‐ I am so happy I canceled that date
because I'm having such a better time here.
[laughs]
‐ Wait, I thought she canceled on you.
‐ [high‐pitched] Hm? Oh, right.
[normal voice] Oh, oh, right.
Yeah, she did...not.
Oh, I'm a bad liar when I drink.
Do you love that? If so, let's drink.
‐ No, no, no, no. Why did you cancel your date?
‐ Because you seemed like you were having a tough day
and like you needed company.
‐ Seriously? You know me.
I don't need anything from you.
I'm good. ‐ Wait, where are you going?
‐ To the mani‐pedi that I was going to
before I cleared my whole day to take care of you.
‐ But I love it when you don't leave.
Nicky!
The game!
‐ Hm.
[growl] ‐ The sound's getting louder.
This feels like the end of a scary movie
that I do not want to be the star of!
‐ Well, then if you're not the star of it,
you're definitely going to die.
‐ I don't wanna be in the movie at all!
I'm an accountant. We make the movies.
We don't act in them.
‐ Okay, this is ridiculous.
Accountants are not that vital to the movie‐making process.
‐ You don't know anything about Tinseltown.
You're not from here! [rustling]
‐ Shh! It's getting closer.
‐ Okay, okay, shh! [eerie music]
Here it comes! [rustling grows louder]
‐ Hello? Is someone there?
You guys okay? ‐ We are now.
Sorry, we've been lost for a while
and we thought your dog was a hungry mountain lion.
‐ But also you guys are roaming late at night in the woods?
Are you...chill?
‐ Oh, yeah, yeah.
We're all just on a night hike.
We do this every full moon.
We head up to the highest point in these woods
to eat couscous, and drink beer,
and just bask in the moonlight.
You two are welcome to join us if you wanna come.
‐ They do have couscous and beer.
And the moon is a lot less haunting
now that we're not alone.
What do you say, Fay?
Be a little spontaneous?
‐ [laughs] Wow, hearing you say that is a big moment for me.
But also absolutely not.
We need to get the hell out of these woods.
‐ You're right. That's probably a good call.
. [upbeat music] ‐ Hey, sis.
‐ Noah? What are you doing here?
‐ I'm your big bro,
and I know this is where you like to come
whenever you're feeling down.
I also know you hate mani‐pedis
and you would never do that to relax.
‐ That is true.
If you don't know me, get your hands off
my hands and my feet.
I guess I didn't hide my feelings
as well as I thought.
You didn't have to come here though.
‐ I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to.
I'm sorry I lied to you, but I also knew
that you would never ask me to be there for you.
‐ I've just never seen myself as a person who needed that.
But today I did, so...
thanks.
I love you, bro‐bro.
‐ I love you too. [chuckles]
both: Mm.
‐ And you know what that means.
‐ [squeals]
[laughter]
‐ Cheers. ‐ Cheers.
Mm. ‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ You know what else I love?
Astronomy.
Space is so crazy.
‐ Yeah, it is. It's so...big.
[laughter]
both: Mm.
‐ I love the movie "Big."
‐ Yes, giant keyboard, little boy, big body.
[laughter]
Oh, my God, I'm still so drunk.
[laughter]
‐ [Sherm groaning]
Oh.
Oh, thanks for helping me get home.
‐ Oh, it's the least I could do
for pushing you so hard at the gym.
‐ No, no, no, it's not your fault.
You were right.
I got a lot of pain in there
[strained] that I never talk about.
[groans]
‐ Well, you don't have to talk about it.
‐ No...
I want to.
When I was a kid,
we used to have this unwritten rule
that we would...
never ride in the car more than three deep.
And if you did...
make sure to take your hat off
or else the cops would think you was in a gang.
One day we was hooping and we was five deep
and we only had one car to get home in.
Of course that was the day we got pulled over.
Seven cop cars.
Helicopters.
Face to the pavement.
Guns drawn.
[sighs]
We were 17 years old, bro.
We could've died that day.
They said we fit the description
of some robberies going on in the neighborhood.
Guess they was just looking for...
five musty teens with messed‐up shoes.
Or just a car with five Black people in it.
‐ I'm sorry to hear that, man.
We've all got our pain.
And...
I guess I could stand to not focus on mine so much.
‐ Yeah, and I could stand to not ignore mine so much
that when it all comes out at once,
it breaks my back!
[bones cracking]
‐ I would hug you right now,
but I think I just pulled my back too.
Oh, yep. Mm‐hmm.
‐ Oh, well.
You live here now.
♪
[indistinct chatter]
‐ Oh, man.
It feels so good to eat and drink and be inside.
‐ Mm‐hmm, indoors are so nice.
Why does anyone ever go outside?
‐ I have no clue.
Inside is where it's at. ‐ Mm‐hmm.
‐ Well, I guess this is the best part of the tour.
The part where it's over
and we're back where we always are.
‐ I don't know.
I mean, it might sound crazy,
but this was one of the most fun days I've had
since I moved here.
And definitely beats sitting at home
just watching the news.
‐ I agree, taking the day off of work
was the most healthy way to cope with this stuff.
‐ Mm.
‐ I guess you were right
about my defense mechanism. ‐ [laughs]
Well, you were right about mine too.
And I was thinking about it, and...
I might need to give LA another shot.
[chill music]
‐ I'm happy to hear that.
♪
‐ Well, maybe I'll even make some plans
or even stand in some lines.
‐ Ay! [laughter]
Now, if you find a dope line, you better hit me up.
The longer the better.
♪
‐ Good night, y'all.
Both: Good night.
♪
‐ I'm Louis. ‐ And I'm Lola, and this is...
both: Bad‐Black‐News Brunch.
‐ Where we digest the headlines
with a side of big old pancakes.
Let's cope, y'all.
‐ Dang, anything can be a podcast.
[saxophone note] ‐ Yah.
‐ Not a doctor. ‐ Shh.