Okay.
Hi, what's up, Dad?
[Lisa] Good morning.
I don't know about the "good" part.
[Lisa] Huh?
What happened to every day, you wake up
with breath in your body is a good morning?
Remember you used to say that to Malik and me?
Yeah, I say some pretty prolific stuff.
I mean, rarely, but every once in a while,
you did a little something.
Yeah, I said, what is this?
Uh, I'm making Malisa some homemade baby food.
Green beans, squash, and bananas.
So, uh, I need to get in here and fix breakfast for the twins.
Oh, my bad.
I'll clean this up.
Guess who has an interview to be a part
of Councilman Dustman's campaign team.
Go head, big bro!
That's what I'm saying.
[Lisa] Really, Malik?
Yeah! I mean, this is a dream come true.
Sylvester Dustman.
I mean, he is amazing.
You know, he's one of the biggest supporters
of legalized marijuana.
He even used his own money
to fund research to find out the medical benefits.
So he's a pothead?
No. He's amazing.
I hope that's not the only reason
you think he's amazing.
No, Dad, of course not.
Good.
Because I...
[all exclaiming] [Malik] Dad!
-[Lisa] Are you okay? -You all right, man?
Pshew, yeah. Yeah.
What's...
[C.J.] Um.
[Jazmine laughing]
I guess that basket of baby stuff
just hopped out in front of you, huh?
Why is this here?
Uh, well, we ran out of space in our room
and also the hallway storage closet.
And, besides, that's Malisa's downstairs baby stuff.
Downstairs stuff?
Yeah, you know. Just diapers, wipes.
Tushy Cream.
Mm-hmm, yeah, oh, my God, she uses the bathroom so much.
It'd be way too much to take her upstairs
and downstairs all the time.
Yeah, it's easier this way.
But you all right?
Yeah, just, uh, put that
somewhere in a corner or something.
Okay.
[C.J.] No, on second thought,
I think the twins and I will grab breakfast
on our way to school.
-And, Malik... -[Malik] Mm?
I'll come back and help you with that interview.
Oh, well, thanks, Dad.
Oh, and look, man, I'm sorry.
Yeah.
Love you, Daddy.
Be careful up them stairs.
Your father does not look happy.
[chuckles]
See, Malik, this is what I'm saying.
We need our own place.
Oh, yeah, y'all do.
'Cause I've outgrown my space.
I could use y'all room.
[Malik] Okay, will you slow your roll?
But, babe, I do agree with you.
It is time for us to have our own space.
[scoffs] You think? I mean, we're completely out of space
and Malisa is only getting bigger.
No, I hear you and that's why
I'm so excited about this interview.
I mean, that could be the first start of us
finally getting up out of here.
-You think so? -[Malik] Yeah.
Wow, so y'all really moving out, huh?
That's great news.
You got, like, a date or something?
Can I get the job first?
Well, hurry up.
I mean, just think about it, babe.
I mean, we will have our own master bedroom.
Our own bathroom.
Don't play with my emotions, Malik.
Walk-in closets.
-Are you serious? -Maybe.
The toilet paper that always goes over.
Wait a minute, that's been you
that's been putting the toilet paper on backwards?
It's supposed to go under.
It's easier to tear that way.
But it makes the most sense to go over, though.
I mean, it's easier to see the end.
You know what? Maybe I was just raised right.
No, you definitely was raised wrong.
That's not how you do it.
[music]
Tell me more about Councilman Dustman.
Yeah, I remember when he changed the hours
the strip club could operate.
I was so happy to get off early.
Uh, yeah, there's that
and, uh, [chuckles] and also his efforts
to revitalize overlooked parts of Atlanta.
But wasn't it his contractors that got those bids, though?
Okay, that's neither here nor there, okay,
but the job got done and it looks amazing.
It sure did, babe.
I'm gonna go check on Malisa.
Okay.
Uh, I don't know, Malik.
His stance on education leaves a lot to be desired.
Not to say it isn't a wonderful opportunity for you.
Well, thank you, Dad. I mean, it's a real job, man.
I'm about to get paid.
[C.J.] Whoa, slow down, Malik, all right?
You don't have any professional experience
on campaigns. You sure you ready for this?
Uh, no worries.
I got you.
Well, thanks, Dad.
I remember him mentioning his efforts
to increase voter turnout.
I'll give you that. [scoffs]
Give me that? Dad, it actually increased
by 56% in that district.
It's a pretty huge thing.
Then why you arguing?
I'm not arguing.
Sounds like you arguing.
-Be quiet, Jazz. -See?
See, that doesn't change that he voted against
the overhaul of the county's board of education.
You have to agree. That's long overdue.
I'm with you on this one, Dad.
-Thank you, Jazz. -[Jazmine] Mm-hmm.
Look, I do agree that there needs to be
some changes to the board of education,
but, come on, Dad,
you know it was so many poison pills
in that legislation?
Pills too?
He already supports weed.
Pills is a little much, don't you think?
Poison pills, Jazz.
Uh, not actual real pills.
Oh.
So what are you even talking about?
Like a freeze on increased wages.
Yeah, until the audit was completed, so...
Look, Dad, teachers, faculty, and staff
should not have to struggle
due to the incompetence of upper management.
I'm with you on this one, bro.
Uh, Jazmine, I'mma need you to pick a side, baby.
[indistinct]
Okay, son, I see you been doing your research.
See, I told you, Dad,
I'm really into politics.
It's about time you got into something.
Malik, I see your commitment.
I see your passion.
And it takes some adults decades
looking for what they passionate about.
Yeah. I mean, you seem
pretty passionate about this stuff too.
Yeah, well, you know me.
I've always been a man of the community.
Oh, I know. I heard a lot of it, growing up.
I didn't know you were listening.
You didn't know he used to sit outside of you and Mom's door,
and listen why y'all were arguing?
You used to do that?
Why are you snitching?
[C.J.] Why you...
Look, Dad, you used to take me to campaign events, protests.
I mean, you even take me and Jazzy with you
every time you go vote.
I remember that.
Got me out my bed all early.
Yeah, and I remember when you and Jazzy
used to steal my peach voting sticker.
[chuckles] Yeah, we definitely did that.
You really think I got a shot at this?
Any campaign would be lucky to have you.
All you need to do
is know your worth, add tax, and others will see it too.
I got you.
Now, after prayer,
cleaning is a great way to deal with your stress
and that anger.
Hm, no wonder this place is always immaculate.
[Ella chuckling]
[Ella] Now spray a little bit.
Spray a little bit on that problem spot.
Uh-uh-uh!
Spray and let it sit for a minute, baby. Spray.
Grandma, I think this might have to sit for a few days.
What even is this?
[Ella] What?
It's barbecue sauce from a cookout 50 years ago?
Ha, ha, ha, I assure you
that is not barbecue sauce from 50 years ago.
Although, your grandfather really does
put a lot of molasses in his sauce.
And it sometimes turns into...
Cement.
-Ooh. -[Curtis] Ella!
You better not let him hear you say...
Yes, baby, we're in here.
-[Curtis] Ella! -Yes, Curtis.
You not gonna believe this, Ella.
What is it, baby?
1990 called and asked for their shirt back.
You ain't too big to get your butt whooped, boy.
You better ask your daddy.
Gotta ask your daddy about it.
Curtis, what happened, baby?
They shut me down, Ella.
Shut down? By who?
They shut me... Eh, the health inspector.
Not surprised.
Okay, Curtis, why?
Because the "Man" don't wanna see me successful, Ella.
The man from the health department?
What is it, Curtis? You ran out of brisket again?
No, baby. The "Man." The "Man."
Every time they see an accomplished black man
being running a successful business,
first thing they do is shut him down.
Curtis, I'm sure that that is not what he put in that report.
Come here. What exactly did he say?
Um, apparently, they had a problem
with me cleaning everything with Comet.
[scoffs] Racist.
What else was the problem?
Well, I guess they had a problem
with my country crock containers
that I store my stuff in.
I mean, that's racist, super racist, Ella!
-Hm-hmm. -Black folks been storing stuff
in them containers for hundreds of years.
I don't know about that, Curtis. I don't really know about that.
My momma had containers for 35-plus years, Ella.
I still got a few of them.
Don't I know?
Ooh!
And you know what's worse than that?
[Ella] What, Curtis?
You know, that man had the nerve to tell me
that I need to revamp my barbecue sauce, Ella.
Curtis, we will get through this.
We will get through it.
We will.
You right. You right. [grunts]
-Hey, baby. -Yes, Curtis.
Tell me the truth.
Is my shirt outdated?
[chuckles] Yes.
Last time I ask you something.
Whoa. [Lisa gasps]
Wait, okay, look, before you say anything,
this mess is to decrease the overall mess.
Huh?
I'm trying to get rid of some things that we don't need.
Look, just make sure that you...
Everything's cleaned up.
-I know. -Yeah.
Whoo.
Malik, how was the interview?
Yeah, how'd it go?
You got the job with the pothead?
Okay, he's not a pothead.
Well, at least not during work hours,
but it went great, yeah,
and went over all the points that we discussed, Dad.
Yeah, stats, issues, his voting record.
Yup, I hit on everything.
That's great, babe.
Wow, I feel much better, Malik.
For a second there, I thought
you weren't gonna amount to much.
[chuckles] Well, I had to prove my haters wrong.
So when will you know if you got it?
Well, I already know.
And?
I got the job.
[Lisa screams] Congratulations, man.
-Thank you, Dad. Uh. -Is that my suit?
Your mom's gonna be thrilled. I'm gonna go call her.
-Okay. -[Jazmine] Wait, hold on.
[Jazmine] I need your help measuring their room.
Okay, babe, come here, come here. Sit.
I been looking at apartments
and I already bookmarked some spots
that I think are really promising.
Oh, um... [chuckles nervously]
Yeah, about that.
Too expensive?
Okay, okay, I got other ones.
I mean, no, no, it's not that.
Um, [chuckles] I mean, it is, but...
Malik, what is it?
I'm not gonna be able to take the position.
What? Why?
It doesn't pay enough.
Well, how much does it pay?
[scoffs] Not enough for his and hers closet.
Dang, I was looking forward to that.
I know, babe. Look, I'm sorry.
No, look.
It's not your fault.
I mean, I could get a job too.
No, babe, I don't want you to have to get a job.
But, Malik, if we can't...
Look, it's, it's gonna be all right.
We'll just have to, I guess,
stay here for a little bit longer.
Uh-uh, you can't turn this down.
Look, I have to.
I mean, I won't be able to make a livable wage
for, uh, God knows when.
And? I mean, this is your dream.
But this could be the start
of something amazing for us, babe.
This could launch your career.
Look, I fully understand that, babe. I do.
Hey, look, I know I don't got all the work experience,
but I could find something.
I mean, I don't know what I'd be good at
outside of stripping, but...
[chuckles]
I mean, you is a very good dancer, now.
You know.
But, babe, I'm sure you will be good at anything
you decide to do,
and I tell you that all the time.
You know what I saw in you
when I saw you up on that pole?
Mm, you mean besides this lusciousness?
Yeah, there was a lot of lusciousness.
No, um, I saw the potential.
I saw you.
[sighs] Look, I know if you went back
into the workforce, you would do amazing.
But it's gonna be all right.
I'll just have to find something else.
Sorry, babe.
It's all right.
Number 16!
Egh, needs more vinegar.
No! What are you doing? No!
Needs the white vinegar.
Yeah, not the apple cider vinegar.
My bad, Grandad.
Yeah. [grimaces]
Man, son, you got to slow down, man.
You messing stuff up, man.
Taste [indistinct]
[surprised] Mm.
Actually, that's pretty good.
Mm.
Look, make a note of that.
[Ella] Ah-ha!
What's going on, chefs?
-We getting there. -[Ella] Okay.
But a little something is missing
and you know I know what it is.
Curtis, don't you start talking about no "dregs" again.
What are dregs?
Dregs, okay, whenever a batch is running out,
I take the last little bits that's left,
the dregs, [Ella grunting]
and I mix it into the batch.
Huh? I've always done that.
So you mean there's still bits
of the first time you made the sauce in there?
Hello! I like to call it my little bits of magic.
Sounds more like little bits of food poisoning.
[Ella laughing]
Curtis, don't.
You just encouraging him.
Aren't you supposed to be my sous chef?
Well, go sous something.
Sous chef, get your pot out of my sink.
Curtis, what doesn't bend will break.
Lord, here she go with them scriptures.
The hell that supposed to mean, Ella?
It means that this is what's happening.
Running a few plates out of the backyard
and having your own real business
are two different things.
You know that.
Yes, I do know that, Sherlock.
There's so many regulations when you go legit, okay?
So you gonna have to learn how to be more flexible.
But at what cost, Ella? Huh?
Here, taste these.
Shut your flap and taste them.
Tell me which one is better.
Mm-hmm. Curtis, that's good.
Yeah, this is good too. Both of them are good, Curtis.
But now there is something,
ooh, there's something about this one.
Thank you. That's the one with my little bits of magic.
From the OG.
-Okay? Sauce, baby. -Okay.
Just 'cause my method is different,
that don't mean my food is bad or unhealthy.
-Come on, now. -Okay, well, Curtis,
what are you gonna do?
I'm gonna find a way to deal with that health inspector.
You could force feed him dregs.
I bet he'll never bother you again.
[Ella laughing] [Curtis laughing sarcastically]
He's brilliant.
-[Curtis] Why's he here? -I love him.
[indistinct]
-Malik. -Yeah.
Lisa told me about that position being low pay.
Look, Dad, I'm not gonna take the position.
Give me all the reasons why you not gonna take it.
Well, it doesn't pay enough.
Oh, and with all of your experience,
you deserve a higher-paying position?
Look, Dad, that's not what I'm saying. Okay?
Look, I have a family to take care of.
You also have a family that wants to support you.
I know that, Dad, but I'm a grown man.
I can't live off you forever.
God, I hope not.
But this is not forever.
There's more to it, isn't there?
Well, Dad, you told me to know my worth
and add tax to it.
I think I deserve more
than the salary that they're offering.
It's pride. It's a pride thing.
Yeah, I planned and prepared for this for a long time.
I know my stuff, and I wanna serve my community.
Then serve it.
Take it from someone who has spent years
serving the community.
Don't have nothing to do with money.
Look, Dad, I can't ask Lisa to go back to work.
You didn't ask her to do anything.
I know, but I don't want that for her.
I mean, she doesn't even know what she'll be good at.
Lisa's gonna find her way, okay?
And I know you two are anxious
to start your own home and all of that,
but sometimes you gotta take a step back to move forward.
How so?
Think of an archer, right, shooting an arrow.
What does he have to do to make the arrow go far?
Pull it back as far as he can.
Exactly.
There's honor in recognizing that, see,
because this is a position
that's worth making the initial sacrifice, isn't it?
Yeah, no, you're right.
Then what you gonna do?
Guess I'll take the job.
My man.
So tell me,
how did you like cooking with your grandfather?
I mean, he's pretty bossy,
but, overall, it was fun.
Oh, oh.
Now I know how to make barbecue sauce.
Good.
And you're right. There's a ton of molasses in it.
Don't tell him we said that. Okay?
Now I want you to get up off me,
and go in there and finish your homework
because your dad will be here to pick you up.
Hey, y'all.
Ooh, Curtis, tell me, how did it go?
If the glove don't fit,
you must what? Acquit!
Curtis, tell me, baby, what you talking about?
[Curtis] Baby, I was cleared of all charges.
[Ella] But how?
I'll leave it down there.
Just fixed everything.
Now, Curtis, you didn't trick the inspector, did you?
No, I'm a man of conviction, is all.
Come on, sit, baby, and tell me what you did.
-Oh, okay. -Exactly what you did.
Well...
All I did was I went and I showed him
all my new beautifully labeled containers.
-Nice. Nice. -In the freezer. Okay?
-They like, "Check." -And then?
And then I showed them all the new
industrial-strength cleaning stuff
I got for the kitchen.
I ain't gotta do nothing but mix it with the Comet.
Easy fix.
-[Ella] Now, Curtis. -Mm.
You really need to be careful mixing those chemicals, baby.
You gonna have bigger problems than a health inspector.
Come on, baby. [indistinct] careful.
How did you get the sauce passed him?
I just leveled with the man, baby.
I mean, I told him,
"I know my sauce is a little unorthodox,
but I been making it this way for decades."
And that's all it took?
No, I had to convince him to taste it.
And he loved it.
And, well...
No, no, no, "Well," what?
Okay, so maybe I greased the wheel a little bit.
I offered him a free lunch once a week.
-I'm proud of you, Curtis. -Thank you.
I really, really am,
for sticking to your guns.
-I did. I did. -You did that.
So you saying I was right?
Now don't go too far.
I wouldn't say that.
What's for dinner?
What'd you cook?
Nothing.
Are we on a diet?
Wait, I've got two slices of pie saved. Ow!
Don't you be teasing me, girl.
Curtis, I am so proud of Junior.
-Boy good. -Yeah, he's getting better.
-[Curtis] He doing good. -I really appre...
Curtis!
Curtis.
Curtis, why are my leftovers in these butter tubs?
What is this?
Where are my good glass storage containers?
You know what, baby?
I think I might've taken those back to work.
And then I brought the tubs back home
'cause I knew you want more space, more stuff.
Curtis, I know you didn't.
You too good for butter tubs now or something?
[indistinct]
Well, what you gonna do? Just leave the refrigerator open?
Where's the pie?