[Exhales]
Thank you, God, for another day.
[Cell phone vibrates]
[Places phone on nightstand]
[Knock on door]
OK. Based off the look
you're giving that portfolio,
I assume something is up
with your photography class...
That's a good assumption.
and I'm guessing it has
something to do with your finals...
Another good assumption.
and you don't want to talk about it...
Wow. You're 3 for 3.
but you know I can get you to talk
about it by hitting you with some
of that Coach Marcus energy,
followed by some dope advice,
and you'll thank me later.
Well, you look like you're in a hurry,
so I guess you're just gonna tell me
why you're here instead.
I'm here because I need a favor.
[Ringtone]
Hey, you on your way?
Promise not to be mad at me?
You can't take me to my radiation appointment.
I got pulled into a study session
for the engineering final.
Sorry.
It's OK, really.
I'll just drive myself.
What, and have Nate come for me in my sleep?
Please. Look.
Your village committed to driving you
to every appointment.
I know, but Nate and Keisha are in New York
with Cam and Ryan because they finished finals early,
and Thea's at a match out of town.
Yeah, but there's one member of the squad
you forgetting about.
[Knock on door]
J.R., don't play with me. Who's at my door?
You'll see in a second.
I'll check on you later, all right?
[Chuckles]
You sure you're OK?
What do I have to say
to make you stop asking me that?
The truth. Give me this. Thanks.
Uh. Am I fatigued? Yes.
Do I usually crawl into bed
after a radiation treatment? Yes.
Well, then we should get you--
Get some wrapping paper so I can wrap these toys
for the KEK/PKZ toy drive?
I completely agree.
So you taking a beat to rest.
Not a thing, at least not
until I spread some holiday cheer
and turn the loft into a winter wonderland
for Keisha and Nate.
When are they getting back from New York?
Tomorrow.
I'm actually really excited to surprise them.
I got some decorations
that I will eventually put up,
a tree, and I'm even gonna bake some cookies.
OK, Marqeesha Stewart.
Oh, they deserve it.
You've all met the assignment
in terms of supporting me through my cancer,
but Nate and Keisha,
they've really gone above and beyond, man.
There's no need to explain.
You're celebrating your friends.
You're celebrating life.
You deserve that.
Thanks.
But I bet you're the type of person
who leaves their Christmas tree up
until the end of January.
There's nothing wrong with that.
Oh, there's everything wrong with that.
What are you talking about?
Christmas is, like, the best holiday.
Well, you clearly haven't done New Year's right.
Well, you clearly don't know me
because every holiday I do is lit.
And besides, New Year's is just a'ight.
Oh, that's cap.
Holiday about
leaving behind the pain of what was
and embracing what could be is dope.
Simone: According to Nate's astrology chart,
I'll be in my era next year.
-Nate's into astrology? -Mm-hmm.
I would not have guessed that.
She always says, "If the moon can affect the tides,
is it so crazy to think that it can affect us, too?"
-Yes. -Ha!
I was a skeptic, too, but you got to admit,
there's something to things like zodiac signs.
-Do I, though? -You know what?
What is your sign?
What about me says I know?
OK. Then I will tell you your sign.
Your birthday's August 24th, right?
Oh. Oh, so you do remember,
and yet no gift, no card,
not even a "Happy Born Day, Lando."
Yeah. You was the one who was
in your "can't be friends" bag, so--
[Scoffs] I'm never gonna live that down, am I?
-Nope. -Mm.
OK, so you're a Virgo...
Mm-hmm?
and it says, "Virgos are reliable,
"hand-working, kind, perfectionist,
intelligent, and artistic."
Yeah. Stars kind of read you a little bit.
All right. Fine, fine.
I can concede that there are things out there
greater than us.
You know, since my diagnosis,
I've been thinking a lot about spirituality,
if there's some sort of mind, body,
and spirit connection to our craft,
whether it's sports or art.
I think there is a connection,
but people romanticize it.
Inspiration takes work.
It doesn't just come naturally to everybody.
Yeah?
I had a nice long argument about this
with my T.A. today.
[Bell ringing]
Ho ho ho!
Ho ho ho...
[Lando chuckles]
Why is Black Santa giving us the evil eye?
Probably because we passed him 5 times
and haven't put anything in his donation bucket.
Wait. How long have we been talking?
Over an hour.
I'm so sorry.
Let me let you get back to your day.
Or we could go back to the KEK house,
wrap gifts,
and hang out.
You're only suggesting that because you think
I don't want to be alone at the loft.
Am I wrong?
Lando, I'm a grown woman. I can be alone.
Oh, I know you can,
but the question is, do you want to?
Look. We're having a good time.
Let's just spend the day together.
-A whole day? -Why not?
Who knows what can happen?
Does the KEK house have ribbons?
It does.
Should we go back and make a donation?
I feel bad now.
After the look Black Santa gave us?
Nah. I can't give him the dub.
We can donate online.
Come on. Come on. Our day date awaits.
I have never seen the KEK house this empty.
Where is everybody?
At the PKZ house for the gift-wrap brunch.
Oh, my God. I totally forgot.
Que Derry: ♪ Stockings on the wall... ♪
Guess the only events on my calendar right now
are radiation treatments.
How's that been,
going through treatments during finals?
I finally told my professors.
They let me take my finals early,
so by the time I got
to the most intensive part of my treatment--
You could just focus on you.
Thankfully, my cancer's only stage one,
so the rest of the treatment
is just radiation.
I'm on week two of 3,
and it's already putting me through it.
Week 3 is definitely gonna be rough,
but I got this, right?
Yeah.
Cancer you definitely got,
but this you definitely don't.
Sorry.
I don't think it's that bad.
This is all the bad. I can't even. No.
Lando, that is high-key rude.
[Clears throat]
You know, I don't know how many times
I've been here, but I have never noticed
the awards and photos on the walls.
Well, it's understandable.
When you come to a frat, it's not for the decor.
Hmm, very true.
There's so much history here.
Yeah, decades of purpose, discipline,
brotherhood, and service,
all passed from one man to another.
Is that why you pledged KEK?
That was part of it, yeah,
and Cam made the hard sell last year.
Oh, Cam loves his frat.
I do, too, but, like Cam,
I originally pledged for other reasons.
My dad, grandfather, and great-grandfather
all went to Bringston,
and they all played baseball here.
Yeah. I remember you told me that.
Continuing their legacy is cool,
but I wanted a part of Bringston
that was just mine.
I did the one thing they didn't do--
pledge a frat.
How did I not know that?
Well, we weren't exactly
in each other's lives last year.
Well, we are now, so we have
a lot of catching up to do, apparently.
All right. You're up.
What have I missed in the world of Simone Hicks?
Hmm.
I started cooking classes online
because I got tired of people
saying I couldn't cook.
Can you believe that?
Uh, yes. You're not great.
Don't even. You never complained
about the food I made for you.
Well, yeah, because at the time,
we were friends... with benefits, uh--
High-key rude.
Hit me with something else.
I might get a lumpectomy tattoo.
That's amazing.
Hmm.
Your turn. What have I missed?
Uh, well,
I started selling my photography online.
Oh, nice. How's that going?
Yeah. Great now,
but when I first started, not so much,
but then somebody started buying
a lot of my prints, and that and the comments
they made really put me on the map,
so now my website is a lucrative side hustle.
Do you have any idea who the customer was?
No.
They purchased from an anonymous account,
but I think it was my mom,
her way of trying to reconnect with me.
Wait. I thought you guys were close, though.
We were when I was younger,
but when she started her plastic surgery practice,
the dedication it took to make that a success just--
Left little time for you.
Yeah.
Do I want us to be closer?
Sure, but I can't take her away from her work.
She's helping breast cancer patients
get the care they need.
I get it.
You don't want to keep your mom from her purpose.
I know what that's like.
I'm hungry.
You know, ever since my radiation treatments,
my appetite's been MIA, but I could actually eat.
You up for Italian?
No. Hard pass.
I could do Chinese, though.
Oh, nah, but the Chinese places
around campus ain't it.
And the Italian place you like is?
All right. Look.
We need a way to decide because you and I
can go back and forth on this all day.
Why don't we play for it?
Winner gets to choose.
[Laughs]
Bet, but you better get in the mood for pasta.
Yeah. We'll see.
Woman: ♪ Woke up this morning ♪
♪ Tried to remember where I've been ♪
♪ Is my young friend ♪
♪ Falling in love with me again? ♪
Ha ha!
Woman: ♪ Take it step by step ♪
♪ I grew up feeling sorry for myself ♪
You forgot to mention you became
a pool shark last year.
Did I?
Your teacher did a good job.
Well, I will...tell them.
You can say Damon's name.
I just didn't want to make things awkward.
Look.
You dated Damon, and now I'm with Eva.
There's no need to pretend like
we didn't move on with other people.
Cool?
Works for me.
Since we're being so open...
how are things with you and Eva?
Did you get her a Christmas gift?
That's the cool thing.
She doesn't want to exchange gifts.
Oh, Lando. Every woman wants
a Christmas gift from her man.
Even when they say they don't?
Sometimes especially when they say they don't.
Then why not just say that?
Some things just shouldn't have to be said...
and some things should.
Excuse me.
8-ball, corner pocket.
[Lando laughs]
And don't say you let me win, either.
No. That kind of mercy isn't in me.
Thanks for not treating me with kid gloves
like everyone else.
[Exhales]
Damn it.
Maybe you should go lay down.
Yeah,
and while I'm doing that,
uh, you know what you should be doing, right?
Order Chinese.
How you feeling?
Better.
I just hate that fatigue
lives rent-free in my body.
I was having such a good day.
Well, it is my job to make sure that continues.
The day is not over yet.
Oh, and your mom called, by the way, a few times.
Thanks.
Are you not gonna call her back?
I already know why she's calling.
Is it to talk about why you've been dodging her calls?
Can we just eat, please?
You still haven't told your mom
about your cancer, have you?
You know what else I hate?
You living rent-free in my head.
If that were true,
we'd be having Italian right now.
Look. I stand by my decision
not to tell my mom about my cancer.
She would literally put her career on pause
and come to Atlanta, but she's already
worked too hard to get to where she is.
But there's something else getting at you.
What are you not saying, Simone?
I'm tired of lying to her.
When she calls and asks how I'm doing,
I have to lie and say that I'm good.
I didn't realize how hard that would be.
Can I offer a suggestion?
Stop. Tell her what's going on.
Lando, it's not that easy.
I made decisions that gave my mom grief.
I thought I was past that.
I don't want to still be this helpless child
that she has to come and rescue.
Simone, you are many things.
Helpless ain't one of them.
You didn't give yourself cancer,
and you're forgetting a few things.
Such as?
She's your mom.
It's her job to be there for you no matter what.
Maybe it's time you let her.
And what's the second thing?
You're a mom.
How would you feel if one day,
Shay kept something this big from you
because he didn't want you to leave the pro circuit?
What if my mom can't forgive me
for lying to her?
It's been months.
So you wouldn't forgive Shay?
My guess is that you would,
just like how your mom will forgive you.
You know what else I hate?
That you're actually right.
OK, shade and shine in one comment.
No, seriously.
Your advice is just really, really good.
OK. Thank you.
"Talk to your mom." It's so basic.
All right. This is about to take a turn, isn't it?
I think your advice is so good
that you should take it.
What? Why is this about me now?
Because I'm not the only one that acts
like their mom's career is more important than them.
Not the same thing. I'm not sick.
OK, so if you were I'm my shoes,
you would tell you mom?
[Sighs]
All right.
I kind of have a history
of not letting her in when I need her most.
I guess that's why she resorted
to making anonymous purchases on my site.
These photos on the wall are
from the first set that I took.
She bought duplicates of all of these.
Wow. They're really beautiful.
Have you ever shared your art with her?
Not really.
Lando, your mom's an artist.
It would probably be a great way for you guys to connect...
and you're really talented.
[Sighs] Thanks, but...
not everyone agrees.
OK. Who is trash-talking my friend,
and where do I find them?
My photography class T.A.
I showed him a preview of my portfolio for my final.
He said that my photos have good composition,
exposure, light, focus, timing...
OK. That all sounds good to me.
but that they're uninspired
and lack emotional depth.
He low-key said to start over.
Well, he's just the T.A., right?
Who cares what he thinks?
Yeah. Right, right. He's--just his opinion.
I just need to keep doing what I do
and learn all I can about my craft.
Is that why you have all these
photography books laying around?
Something like that, yeah.
Wow.
She's definitely giving queen...
feminine power, elegance, strength.
Yeah. She's beautiful.
Do you think you'd ever pose
for something like that?
Oh, no.
I don't think I ever had
the confidence to pose like that,
and I doubt I ever will.
You're tripping.
You're everything this model is and more.
No. I'm a big glow down.
Hold up. Wait.
No one trashes my friend, even when it's her.
Can we just drop it?
Not until you realize how amazing you are.
Can you stop saying that?
I will when it stops being true.
Simone, what is going on with you?
Just a minute ago, we were--
Lando, this was a mistake.
I got to go.
[Cell phone rings]
[Ring]
I come with an apology and a peace offering.
The peace offering is not necessary,
and what's the apology for?
I have no idea.
Then why are you apologizing?
It's what guys do. I just--
-Boy, get in here. -OK. Heh!
Um...I got here just in time.
The loft is not giving winter wonderland.
Yeah, just... been caught up.
Well, let's get it. It'll be fun.
Is--is something burning?
No!
[Coughing]
Aw.
Were these supposed to be cookies?
Yes, for Nate and Keisha.
Didn't you hear the timer go off?
I forgot to set one.
Cooking classes-- time well spent.
OK, smartass.
Guess who's helping me make another batch.
Woman: ♪ Bug me, bug me, bug me, bug me, bug me ♪
♪ Oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh ♪
♪ Bug me, bug me, bug me, bug me, bug me ♪
♪ Just tell me what you want, what you want ♪
♪ Bug me ♪
♪ Just tell me what you want, what you want ♪
♪ Bug me ♪
♪ Just tell me what you want, what you want ♪
♪ Bug me, bug me, bug me, bug me, bug me... ♪
Do you think you, Keisha, and Nate
will still be tight after y'all graduate?
What? Of course.
We are fam
for life.
You know, they say people are in your life
for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
Which one do you think applies to us?
I don't know.
Why don't you ask your star charts?
Oh! Ha ha ha!
See, I'm over here trying to have
a serious conversation, and you playing.
[Cell phone alarm chiming]
Wait. Do you hear that?
It's your phone, but where is it?
And how long has it been going off?
[Chiming continues]
[Coughing]
[Chiming continues]
How did your phone end up in here?
I don't know, Lando.
Simone: I definitely agree.
I think Christmas is overcommercialized, for sure.
And what is with some of those songs?
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"?
Like, why would you make a song
about Santa's side piece?
I can't with you.
The song is about a kid seeing his mother
kiss their father in a Santa suit.
So the song is about cosplay between parents?
That is worse. Wow.
OK. The song is now ruined for me.
Derry: ♪ In sin and error pining... ♪
Lando: Guess what else is ruined.
[Coughing]
You didn't set an alarm?
No, because, according to you,
I can't be trusted.
Ohh. God.
Well, I feel like a failure.
Yeah.
We should've been able to bake a dozen cookies.
Uh, no.
We should've ordered cookies to begin with.
I don't know what I was thinking trying to bake.
[Exhales]
Aren't those for Nate and Keisha?
Yes, but I'll order more. We deserve this. Come on.
[Laughs]
Oh, wow. You are a fast learner.
You are a great teacher.
So are you.
After you left,
I...went out and got a Christmas gift for Eva.
Look at you.
I got you something, too.
Fake tattoos?
[Chuckles] Yeah,
so you can try out different designs
before committing to a tattoo
to hide your surgical scar.
That's really sweet, Lando. Thank you.
You know, you've really shown up for me today.
Why do you sound surprised?
Because a few months ago, we weren't even speaking.
Well, a cancer diagnosis tends to make hurt feelings
and drama trivial, so--
That explains today,
but not why you let me back into your life
before you knew I had cancer.
[Breathes deeply]
Heh.
Um, when it comes to you,
there are two kinds of pain--
bad pain from not having you in my life
because you chose somebody else
and good pain from having you in my life,
even though you chose somebody else,
and I knew that eventually,
the good pain would go away
and I would be left with this
amazing person in my life...
and I was right.
You wanted to know if we're in each other lives
for a reason, a season, or a lifetime, right?
It's all 3.
You're the reason I found photography again.
During the season we didn't talk,
I was better for having known you.
It's why I believe that...
one way or another...
we're in this for a lifetime.
Would you, um, help me try these out?
Are you sure?
Aren't you sore from the surgery
and radiation treatments?
Yeah, very sore,
but we would do it on the other side,
and, yeah, I'm sure.
[Chuckles] Yep.
Rania Woodard: ♪ I think I'm falling in place ♪
♪ I feel the wheels in motion ♪
♪ It's like I'm finding my way ♪
♪ I'm moving forward, I've outgrown ♪
♪ Sometimes it feels like I'm holding ♪
♪ On something I know I'll let go... ♪
[Clears throat]
This was hanging in your room.
It's from my website, the website that you
pretended to know nothing about.
Lando, I can explain.
See, the thing is, I see the names
of every customer who purchases from my site,
and I have never seen your name,
so either somebody purchased the print for you
or you bought it anonymously.
My mom wasn't the one who blew up my site.
It was you.
You wanted to explain, so explain.
I heard about your site
and that it wasn't doing well,
so I wanted to help,
but things were really messed up between us.
So you decided to pity me?
No. I was encouraging you.
I believe in you.
I always have, always will.
All right. Well, your belief in me is expensive.
I'll refund your money.
I don't deserve this kind of support.
Wait. Why are you saying something like that?
Just let it go, Simone.
No, not until you tell me
why you're doubting yourself.
Is this because of your T.A.?
Who cares if he says your work
lacks emotional depth?
You shouldn't let him shake you.
Hey, I'm not shook because of what he said.
I'm shook because I--
[Sighs]
He didn't say anything I don't already know.
A good photographer
uses their camera to share their beliefs,
emotions, and views of the world.
With a single image, they can make people
feel what they feel.
I don't know how to do that,
and I have tried.
Lando, you are so wrong.
Out of all the photos I bought,
I kept the waterfall print because you
managed to make that mountain
look like it was crying.
I felt the purging of its tears...
so can you tell me what inspired you to take it?
[Exhales]
[Places photo on table]
[Exhales]
It's the first picture I took
after you picked Damon.
[Exhales]
You captured your sorrow in nature,
and you made me feel it.
You made me see you.
Lando, you are a good photographer.
Well, it's one thing
doing that when I'm in my feelings,
but on the regular--
Well, pick a subject you care about
and let your feelings shine through.
Then we will see what you see.
-You really believe that? -Yeah.
Because I need your help with my next subject.
OK. What is it?
Not what. Who.
I want you... to be my next subject--
photo shoot, the whole 9--
because if I'm the photographer
that you say I am, I should be able
to make you see what I see--
a woman who is beautiful,
captivating, and strong.
If you had my view,
you would think very differently.
So, no, no photo shoot.
Simone.
I believe in you.
I always have, and I always will.
Cancer can only take who you are if you let it.
Please... don't let it.
Lando, you don't understand
how hard it is to feel desirable
with a surgical scar on your breast,
a breast that no longer looks the same size
or color as the other one,
so when I look in the mirror,
I don't see a sexy woman
in her feminine power.
I see a body that has betrayed me...
and if this is how I feel,
why would any man want me like this?
So there's nothing you can do to help me.
You're wrong. There is something.
Who are you calling?
A plastic surgeon who specializes
in helping cancer patients reclaim their power--
my mom.
You said if I need her help, I should call her.
This counts.
Hey, Mom. Hi.
Uh, do you have a minute?
It was nice talking to you, too, Dr. Johnson.
I'll think about everything you said.
I'll tell him. OK.
Have a nice night. Bye-bye.
She didn't want to say good-bye?
No. Because she said you'll call her tomorrow.
Of course. So how'd it go?
Your mom is a really remarkable woman.
She said she's gonna connect me
with a support group of cancer survivors my age,
and she even offered her services pro bono.
That's my mom.
[Chuckles]
I want that photo shoot.
What did she say to change your mind?
She said that patients need to lean
on the wise counsel of their village
because they'll see things
that patients don't because--
They're not the ones with cancer.
Then she asked if I trust you.
Clearly, I do, so, Lando,
if you think that this photo shoot
is a good idea, then...
I trust that it is, too.
You're not gonna regret this, all right?
Um, meet me at the photo studio
in...an hour.
Just bring yourself.
I'll take care of the rest. All right.
OK.
[Exhales]
Maybe he's right about something else, too.
[Sighs]
[Breathes deeply]
[Beep]
Hey, Mom, it's me.
I know I've been avoiding all of your calls.
Um, can we talk in a few hours?
Uh, there's something really important
that I need to tell you.
Love you.
Woman: ♪ It's over... ♪
Lando: Nice. And Chin down just a touch.
Chin down right into the clutch. Nice.
Uh...
Nice.
when you said photo shoot--
I meant photo shoot. Heh! We don't play.
"We"?
This wasn't all me.
Somehow J.R. found out that Keisha
had a hook-up with the drama department.
Uh, Nate called in a favor with a friend
who does makeup and hair,
and Cam rallied in the bros, who helped me
to bring in sheets, backdrops,
and posing blocks.
So y'all did all this in an hour?
Your village knows how to village.
Now it is time for you to have some fun.
OK.
Angie Rose: ♪ All right, vibes ♪
♪ I just met a guy with the eyes ♪
♪ Of a city that'll never see sleep ♪
♪ I try to never come alive ♪
♪ From a vibe, but this guy kept his eye on me, ay ♪
♪ Don't you go dancing round through my mind ♪
♪ If you know me, we ain't stepping on the same timeline ♪
♪ Acting like a guy that blew my mind, huh-huh ♪
♪ Oh-oh, ooh-oh ♪
Lando: It's perfect.
Woman: ♪ 10 months at third point ♪
♪ From the garden ♪
Chorus: ♪ Ooh... ♪
♪ Shed from the shape I'm in ♪
♪ Ooh... ♪
♪ Starting over, starting over ♪
♪ Ooh... ♪
♪ Let me begin again ♪
Simone: So? How'd they turn out?
Why don't you have a look for yourself?
[Click click]
Lando, these are--
Simone: The lights and the camera did their thing.
Lights and cameras
are nothing without a subject.
These photos are what they are
because of you.
And because you touched them up.
Simone, heh, I swear to you,
I've not done anything to these photos.
What you're seeing is just...you.
You got it wrong.
What?
These photos are bomb not because of me.
It's because of you...
and how you see me.
I can't thank you enough for this, Lando.
Come here.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
[Chuckles]
[Sighs]
I want you to use these for your final.
-Are you sure? -Yeah. I'm sure.
[Laughs]
Show these to your professor.
Let them see the kind of photographer
you actually are.
A'ight. Bet. I will.
And do me a favor.
Show these to that snotty-ass T.A., too.
Copy that. Ha ha ha!
[Birds chirping]
Mm...
[Cell phone ringing and vibrating]
Hey, you on your way?
Promise not to be mad at me?
You can't take me
to my radiation appointment again?
Well, good reason, though, I promise.
It's all good. I'll just drive myself.
No. I got somebody coming to scoop you up.
Who? Everyone's out of town,
and Lando has a final.
[Knock on door]
J.R., who is at my door?
You'll see in a second.
I'll check on you later, all right?
All right. Bye.
Mom, what are you doing here?
Ohh...ohh...
I got your message, and--
I don't know, baby-- it was just something
in your voice, so I called your aunt,
who told me everything, and then she put me
in touch with your friends, so here I am.
Mom, I'm really sorry.
I didn't mean for you to find out like that.
No, no, no. You are my daughter.
I love you. That's all that matters.
[Sniffles]
Oh...
Greg, move your head.