[music]
Baby.
Ooh, Curtis, pshew, not now, baby.
I need some lemonade or something
to take this aspirin.
What's wrong, baby? You got a headache?
Yes.
Squinting at that doggone little TV in there.
That thing is so small,
feeling like I'm watching ants play football.
Curtis, that TV is not that bad.
Tell that to my throbbing eyeballs.
[Ella exhaling loudly]
Look here, when are those crispy crowns
gonna get out of my living room, Ella?
The Incomparable Crows, Curtis, please?
Don't talk about the ladies of my social club like that.
What, "ladies"? More like cluckling hens.
Cluck, cluck, cluck.
You know, with this heat, Curtis,
I would say more like fried hens.
That's a good one.
So, please, the next time you get it in your mind
to "fix" the thermostat,
please do me a favor and don't.
Why you act like it was my fault?
Mm, well, let's see.
You touched it
and it became an ice box in here.
You touched it again
and it became a sauna.
Baby, didn't you say you always wanted one of those?
No, no, no. Curtis.
Okay, look, I'll go look at the little thermostat again.
No, no, no, you will do no such thing.
A repairman is coming.
A repairman?
What a repairman have that I don't have?
Expertise, Curtis. Okay?
Now, if you wanna help,
go in there, baby, and undo that door.
-Door stuck again? -[Ella] Yes, it's stuck again.
I'll get it.
Ella, if I had known this was gonna be a luau,
I'd worn a swimsuit.
Uh, you will not be freeing willy in my house.
Curtis. Bye-bye.
Ooh, God.
How are the ladies, how are the ladies doing?
[scoffs]
They said their hot flashes are having hot flashes.
Child, Sister Baker has removed both her crown and her wig.
No!
They're doing fine, Ella.
Just thirsty.
Oh, Lord, I think I may take a page
out of Sister Baker's book.
Yeah, maybe I need to too.
Just for a little moment.
Oh, my goodness.
Ooh, Lord. Ooh.
I'm doing all right.
Remember, I'm from Miami
where heat is a constant.
-Oh, okay. -[Ella] Is that right?
Okay, baby, I got it. Got the door unstuck.
Thank you.
And thank God
'cause your old lady friends have started taking off layers
and smells like a mothball convention in there.
[ladies grumbling]
Curtis.
I'll go get the other one.
No, don't go back in there.
[music]
[Janine] Okay, I get it.
I have looked everywhere and I just can't find the matches,
so since they wear mismatch socks on purpose anyway,
we're just gonna save them a little bit of time.
[Reporter] The mayor has responded
to falling standards in the school district
and he's calling for more oversight.
Here's a list of the schools cited.
Hey, you know, the twins' school is on that list.
Wait, what the heck?
Their school is at the top of the charts.
What happened?
Oh, you know, there was that big mix-up
with the administration.
Yeah, the principal doing their thing
with the head lunch lady and the school mascot.
It's a damn shame what she did to that dog.
That fight was on the top of the Internet
-for, what, six, six weeks. -Six weeks.
-Yeah. -Yeah.
So the twins haven't mentioned anything
about anything going on in the school?
No, you know, getting them to talk about school
is pulling teeth.
Okay. All right.
Hayden, Jayden, come down here.
Have a seat, you two.
So how are things going on at school?
-Fine. -Fine.
So, uh, you haven't heard anything?
No changes? Everything is...
-Fine. -Fine.
Can you two say anything other than fine?
-Fine. -Fine.
Okay, so, uh, we have heard otherwise.
Yes.
[overlapping jabbering]
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Whoa, we just saw a news report
that said that your school was performing poorly.
And we wanted to know what you've noticed.
Oh, well, I mean, school is pretty boring.
It's boring?
Yeah, I agree. We keep having to go over
the same stuff
because the teachers keep having to stop
and deal with the other kids acting a fool.
It's not you, right?
Of course not me.
-It's not you. -No, no, it's not him.
-No. -Okay.
Yeah, I heard one of the teachers
say that the new principal wasn't doing enough
to support the teachers.
A lot of kids have actually left.
They've left?
Yeah, their parents put them in a new charter school.
Elite something or other.
Well, babies, why didn't you say something?
Elite Minds Charter School?
Yeah, they killing the game.
Look, their scores are off the chart.
Even Oprah tweeted about it.
Dad, our school has its problems,
but we still love it.
We've been going there since pre-k.
Yeah, that place is like our second home.
Graffiti and all.
Not anymore.
-Huh? -Huh?
Yeah, I just put them on the list
for the lottery
of the Elite Minds School.
Oh, no, no, wait, um...
I like that.
Yeah, no, no. You two stay here.
Thank you all for coming.
Thank you so much. Enjoyed it.
Ooh-hoo-hoo, ladies.
I just finished all those dishes.
And I think it's time for us to have a drink.
I'll go get the wine. [cackling mischievously]
That was not what I was talking about.
Have a seat, please.
The bible says
do not get drunk on wine
which leads to debauchery.
Instead, be filled with the spirit.
Spirit? Okay.
Well, I've got vodka, rum, and tequila too.
I don't think that's what the bible meant
when it refers to the spirit.
Right.
Fine!
I guess lemonade will have to do.
Ella, that lemonade is so good.
You have to give me the recipe.
What's that I taste?
Uh, that's my secret ingredient.
Honey, honey.
-Ah. -[Ella] Yes.
I have to make that for Bobby sometime.
I will not get used to you calling him Bobby
because we refer to him as Deacon Thornton.
Or as I call him, Deacon Tall, Dark and Handsome.
Gloria. That's her husband.
She know he tall, dark, and handsome.
Regina, you have to tell Glo how you all met.
It is so romantic.
Yeah, it was... Is.
Oh, well, now, I like a good romance, come on with it.
Well, Bobby was in Miami for the wedding
of his cousin and my best friend.
We met there.
They were on the dance floor
and their eyes met across the dance floor.
He was so handsome and funny!
He had me laugh all evening long.
We kept in touch when he went back to Atlanta.
And he would send me flowers and chocolates,
and surprise me with candle-light dinners.
Ooh, yes, Lord!
One day, when he came to visit
and was getting ready to head back,
he told me that he despised
all the tomorrows that didn't have me in them.
He said, "Regina, I wanna have you for my todays,
my tomorrows, my forever."
Yeeh! Yes, yes, yes.
That is a romantic story.
[overlapping chatter]
Wait, hold it. Regina.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
-You okay? -I don't know.
Sit back, just sit back, sit back. Curtis!
Sit back. Curtis!
Just fan her, Glo.
Baby, I don't know, she's fainting.
What's going on?
What, she caught the Holy Ghost?
Curtis, no, she didn't catch the Holy Ghost.
No, I think she's overheated.
-[Curtis] What, she need the... -No, no, no.
-Don't, don't, don't... -[Curtis] Oh, Gina. Damn.
Are you sure you're okay?
Of course she's not okay, Ella.
Which one of y'all clocked her in the head?
-Us? -Uh, Glo, please,
don't pay him any mind.
I just got a bit warm, but I'm okay now.
This was just a hot flash?
Curtis. Thank you. You can go back now.
Thank you so much.
Oh, you done with me now? I can go?
I know there better be some more lemonade left.
-It's some, baby. -[Curtis] Thank you, baby.
Oh, this is so embarrassing.
-Oh, no, honey. -[Ella] Hm-hmm. Hm-hmm.
Honey, we're just concerned.
Oh, [scoffs] that?
I'm such a klutz. Really.
I was bending over to get something out of the cabinet
and banged my head. [laughs]
[Gloria and Ella chuckling sheepishly]
Of course you did.
Right, right, mm-hmm.
Are you sure everything is okay?
Yes.
The lemonade and the fan really helped.
She means at home, love.
What?
That, egh...
Yes, of course.
Bobby was fussing over me too.
Of course he was.
Yes, he was.
So, just so you know,
Regina, you really can always tell me
anything.
Thank you, Ella.
And you too, Glo.
It has been really nice meeting you.
Okay, you sure you're ready to drive home now?
Yes, there's really no rush.
I'm fine. I need to be headed home.
Okay. Um.
Your hat. [chuckles]
I'd appreciate it
if you two would keep this silly bruise business
between yourselves.
-[Gloria] [mumbles]. -Thanks.
See you next time.
I'll call you.
[Gloria] Get home safe.
Are you...
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
That the cabinet is actually Bobby?
C.J., this is just moving fast.
Yeah, I mean, but it's just an interview.
They don't have to go.
-We don't? -Thank goodness.
Hey, hey, hey, I was talking to your mother.
Why don't you two give us a moment?
Go sit in the living room.
I'll let you know when dinner's ready.
Yeah.
I mean, I'm, I'm, my bad. I'm sorry
'cause, uh, I didn't mean to jump the gun.
I just was trying to give us options.
[Janine] Mm-hmm.
Did you read the thing I sent you?
I did, and it is a shame
that all the resources and funding
are going to the schools in the north
and the south just gets the scraps.
Exactly.
Yeah, but I don't know, C.J. Maybe the school
is what the community and the people of the community
make of it.
Maybe we need to get more involved, you know.
What... Can we really complain about the state of their school?
Uh-huh.
When was the last time you went to a PTA meeting?
Look, between work and family...
See. Uh-uh. Exactly.
So it's gonna take more than us, anyway, you know.
Even if we do go, right,
what, it's, what, 20, 20 parents
out of 500 students?
Something like that, yeah, you're right.
Yeah. At the charter school,
it's more like-minded parents there,
give us an opportunity, you know?
It did look really nice.
-It looked amazing, you know? -[Janine] Yeah.
How about we get the kids
prepped and ready for their interview?
Okay.
Fine.
I don't wanna switch schools. Do you?
And leave all my friends behind?
Okay, my two friends,
but, no, I don't wanna switch schools.
What do you say we don't put our best foot forward
into this interview?
I like the way you think, sis.
So at the last Incomparable Crowns meeting,
we decided to have a charity event
for the homeless.
And our part is creating care bags.
Uh, so we have socks,
personal hygiene kits, ponchos,
lotions, everything, all kinds of different things.
What a great idea.
Most people just give food.
I know.
But now you do know
that I work at the help center for the church?
I make it a point
to always meet people where they are.
So whenever a person's in need,
I always listen.
And I'm always there for them
no matter what they need.
Maybe I'll come volunteer down there.
You know what? You would always be welcome.
[chuckles]
I'm very grateful to you, Ella.
You know, I left most my family and friends
behind in Miami
and Bobby gets pretty possessive of me.
Worries they're a bad influence,
so no visits, no calls.
-Really? -Yeah.
It's gotten to be pretty lonely without my family.
I bet it is.
And I know it's not the same,
but you do have a church family here.
Yeah.
I know you and everybody at the church
just adores Bobby.
Yeah. [chuckles]
But I'm not blind, Regina.
What do you mean?
Tell me,
tell me what is going on.
[cries] It's been a nightmare, Ella.
Once he got this ring on my finger,
Bobby changed.
He went from being this loving romantic
to being a bully.
I'm sorry.
I am so sorry.
So is he responsible
for this knot on your head?
Yeah.
We got into it about visiting my mama.
He always says, "Wives,
be subject to your husbands
as to the Lord."
And I try to be a good wife, Ella,
to be a good Christian woman.
But all he does is punish me
for all the ways I fall short,
all the ways I'm wicked.
Okay, okay, okay, listen, listen.
The Lord, in no way,
condones this type of behavior.
And abusers will use whatever tool
they have in their box
to justify their bad decisions.
What am I gonna do?
All my family and friends told me
I was stupid to marry a man I barely knew.
How can I face them?
Oh, I tell you what.
However you face them,
you won't face them alone. I can promise you that.
You got me.
And you got a whole church family
supporting you.
Nobody's gonna be on my side.
Bobby is a saint at the church.
Regina, right is right.
And wrong is wrong.
You just gonna have to trust us, baby.
You have to trust us.
All right?
Trust us.
Okay, what is the plan?
I don't, I don't have one.
-Okay. -This was your idea.
No, but listen.
Would really appreciate for you to do this part too.
No, we got it, we got.
[Janine] We got it now.
Okay, so here, you know we gotta be united.
We gotta do this on a united front.
All right, kids, y'all go ahead
and have a seat in the kitchen.
You know these kids are crafty.
Yes, I do. Yes, yes, they are cut
from a whole different cloth than the other two.
-[C.J.] Right. -So what do you wanna do?
-What's the game plan? -Listen.
Uh, do we go with the old-fashioned
shock-awe in discipline
or do we do the new talk it out?
[children] We have no regrets.
[Parents] Shock and awe.
Wait a minute, Mom and Dad.
Don't you wanna know why we did what we did?
Oh, [both laughing sarcastically]
we know why you did what you did.
-Uh-huh. -You don't wanna switch schools.
But what exactly did we do, Dad?
Other than be honest.
Abort. No, let's abort this mission.
-No, no... -We gotta regroup over here.
No, no, no, listen. Stay united. Stay united.
-I need to hear this. -It's not a good idea.
I promise you it's not.
-She got the look. -[C.J.] No, come on.
So you thought it was a good idea
to tell everyone
about you and your brother's discipline record
like it was a rap sheet.
And, Jayden, you thought you should
tell everyone in sight
about how boring school was,
trying to frame like it was honesty
when, really, it was sabotage.
I mean, you really just shouldn't try it.
Well, all those things we said are true.
Yeah, shouldn't they know what they're getting?
Isn't that fair?
Told you. Abort mission.
No, no, see, they crafty. These kids, you gotta watch them.
I told you, abort mission. I told you we shouldn't do this.
Let's get the plan together. Right.
So, uh... [cellphone ringing] Oh, hold on.
It's them.
[chuckles] Oh.
-Yeah. -So much for charter school.
Hello.
Yes. Okay.
[laughing] All right.
They wanna talk to Hayden.
[chuckling] They're gonna tell you themselves.
Wow, wow, wow, that is cold-blooded.
That is cold.
Hello.
Yes. He can hear too.
Really?
That actually sounds awesome.
Yeah, the school was pretty cool.
Okay. Thank you.
Hello.
Yeah.
Uh-huh.
Okay.
Yeah. I'll check the email. Yeah.
All right.
What was that?
Hayden, Jayden.
They said they were impressed by our honesty.
And our big hearts.
[Hayden] Yep, they said they were looking for kids
with integrity and desire to learn.
They also promised that we'd never get bored there.
They got in.
And how do you two feel about that?
-Fine. -Fine.
Yeah, I guess I could see all my friends over the weekend.
Fine, my two friends.
You made us lose that round.
-No, no, no. -Yeah, they finished us.
-No, we... -Full-on Mortal Kombat.
-We was right in there. -[Janine] No, we wasn't.
[music]