- 14 minutes ago
Mary J Blige Presents Be Happy
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TVTranscript
00:00:05Oh, man.
00:00:07What do you want to do?
00:00:09Get back up.
00:00:15Now, y'all know y'all crazy.
00:00:17Leaving this door open, letting my air out.
00:00:27Hey, hey, hey, hey.
00:00:28Hey, listen to my mojo.
00:00:30Gosh, is it that serious?
00:00:34Kayla, how long are you?
00:00:39I am almost seven months.
00:00:41Ooh, and you still got that cute little shade.
00:00:43That's why I know it's gonna be a girl.
00:00:46Well, we don't know that yet.
00:00:47Girl, you want girls,
00:00:48because when I had them boys, they gave me vertigo.
00:00:51Damn, you ain't got vertigo. Your ass drink too much.
00:00:53Mama, did you bring out your ribs yet?
00:00:55Uh, here you go, babe.
00:00:56Oh, thank you, baby.
00:00:58There you go.
00:00:59Mwah.
00:00:59Mwah.
00:01:00That's a good man, Savannah.
00:01:02Kayla, you really need to go sit down somewhere.
00:01:04It's not good for a pregnant woman to be on her feet like that.
00:01:06Mama, the doctor said in moderation, okay?
00:01:09As long as I'm listening to my body.
00:01:11Okay.
00:01:12Micah's not gonna wanna rub them feet if they're swept up like ham hocks.
00:01:16Mm-hmm.
00:01:17Yeah, that's gonna get you a seat.
00:01:18Come on.
00:01:18That's right.
00:01:19That's right.
00:01:21Whew.
00:01:22Ain't nothing like a man loving on his woman.
00:01:24Mm-hmm.
00:01:24I remember those days.
00:01:26Me too.
00:01:27Mine was living on the barber, the dog walker, the trainer, all my...
00:01:31Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
00:01:32So, Val, what did you and Ross do for your anniversary?
00:01:36Mm-hmm.
00:01:3627 years.
00:01:37I just know it was something special.
00:01:39Mm-hmm.
00:01:40So, um, Ross upgraded our cable and we watched a marathon of Unsolved Mysteries all night long.
00:01:47Okay, wait a damn minute.
00:01:48Okay, hold on, hold on before y'all even get started.
00:01:52Jeremiah is spending the night at somebody's house, and, uh, I already have the champagne
00:01:57and the whipped cream chilling in the refrigerator.
00:02:00Ooh!
00:02:00You're nasty.
00:02:02Oh, crazy.
00:02:03Excuse me, Mama.
00:02:04What?
00:02:04I think it's time to shut the party down on Cheryl's outside talking to Luther Vandross.
00:02:08Okay?
00:02:08It's disgusting.
00:02:09Dad's about to beat somebody up on dominoes.
00:02:10Oh, look at our big college boy.
00:02:13Acting just like his daddy, walking around here like he running things.
00:02:16Listen.
00:02:16Not for long, Aunt Donna.
00:02:18I'm sure Mama and Pops can't wait for me to get out the house and have it to themselves.
00:02:21Uh, boy, you have no idea.
00:02:23Stop it.
00:02:24What is that?
00:02:25I gotta go get your father up here.
00:02:27What?
00:02:28How you think you got here?
00:02:29Mmm.
00:02:32Hold, hold on.
00:02:41Oh you didn't know that I was fucking telling.
00:02:45Do that.
00:02:45Hold.
00:02:51Hold up.
00:02:52Hold on the latest yourself.
00:02:57Woo!
00:02:58Crazy.
00:02:58Ooh.
00:03:00Ross.
00:03:05Hey.
00:03:14Um, I'm not feeling well.
00:03:21Oh, um, I thought...
00:03:24Yeah, all that food.
00:03:26That beer got my stomach acting crazy.
00:03:28I think it was some collard greens.
00:03:33Collard greens?
00:03:34Yeah, yeah.
00:03:35Go on upstairs.
00:03:36Don't wait up for me.
00:03:57I don't know.
00:04:04It's okay.
00:04:07I don't know.
00:04:08It's okay.
00:04:18I don't know.
00:04:20I don't know.
00:04:23Hey, good morning.
00:04:25Do you still plan on fixing the refrigerator?
00:04:27It's been two weeks.
00:04:28I've got somebody coming to look at it later this week.
00:04:32You said that last week.
00:04:37Okay, look, there's a, um...
00:04:40There's a new exhibit at the Museum of Art
00:04:43that I really wanted to see,
00:04:44and I was hoping that maybe you would want to go tonight.
00:04:50Will you get the tickets? I'll be there.
00:04:51What?
00:04:55Between you and Jeremiah,
00:04:56I don't know whose phone I got to compete with more these days.
00:04:59It's Micah letting us know that he and Kayla landed home in New Orleans.
00:05:04Oh.
00:05:06Thank God.
00:05:07I was really worried about Kayla flying in almost seven months.
00:05:12Leave it to you to stress and worry about stuff you can't control.
00:05:18What's wrong with you?
00:05:22Baby, you know I don't like blueberries in my pancakes?
00:05:29That's all right.
00:05:30I'll stop and get me a breakfast sandwich on the way to work.
00:05:38Later, Pops.
00:05:40Boy!
00:05:41Hey!
00:05:42Oh my gosh.
00:05:43Blue grape pancakes.
00:05:44Use your fork!
00:05:46Mmm.
00:05:47Can I get some syrup, please?
00:05:48Yes.
00:05:49Here.
00:05:50I'm looking forward to a lot.
00:05:51But trading your cooking for ramen noodles every day feels crazy.
00:05:57Mmm.
00:05:58What are you looking forward to?
00:06:01Maybe I'll find my girl at tech like Dad did.
00:06:03Well, I don't know if these new age tech girls got anything like, you know, your mama had.
00:06:09Oh, right.
00:06:09You know, not as bad as your mama that was.
00:06:11Two kids ago and that's when your daddy had a high top fade, but okay.
00:06:20I like seeing you happy.
00:06:24You know, it's kind of like a new chapter for the both of us.
00:06:27Think so?
00:06:28Yeah.
00:06:29Hmm.
00:06:30Maybe you can spend the time doing something you've always wanted to do.
00:06:33And not spend the next four years worrying about me.
00:06:36I'm your mama.
00:06:38I'm gonna worry about you whether you like it or not.
00:06:42Okay, I'm gonna remember that.
00:06:43Cause I started sending me 500 every month.
00:06:45I think I can take it from here.
00:06:46500?
00:06:47500 what?
00:06:48Dollars?
00:06:48Oh no, boy.
00:06:49Try 250.
00:06:50250, I can work with you.
00:06:51Okay.
00:06:52I'll work with you.
00:07:00Oh.
00:07:01Hey, Ross, honey, don't worry about parking.
00:07:03There's a garage on 8th that-
00:07:05Well, I'm not gonna make it.
00:07:07There's some emergency maintenance that's keeping me stuck at work.
00:07:11Ross, I was really looking forward to this.
00:07:13I-
00:07:13You should still go and enjoy it, baby.
00:07:16I'm sorry, but I gotta run.
00:07:30No more, no more clippin' my wings down.
00:07:37No more holdin' me low down, low down again.
00:07:47No more, no more keepin' me boxed in.
00:07:54I'm done blockin' my blessings.
00:07:58It's time to let them in.
00:08:11It's like she's becoming, or maybe she's exploring herself, her solitude, her softness.
00:08:31The version of herself that doesn't have to perform, or prove herself to anyone, blooming
00:08:40in her own time, in her own way.
00:08:54Exploring the places helps you remember who you are, and sometimes, who you're still becoming.
00:09:04It's like the theme of the day.
00:09:08Damn, Kim, what'd you say you put in this hot girl's summer drink?
00:09:11Some of this and some of that.
00:09:13Oh, see, I'm not messing with Kim.
00:09:14I'm not doing it.
00:09:15No.
00:09:15Here.
00:09:17Cheers to 30 years of friendship, and a new chapter in this book, and a new chapter in Val's
00:09:23life.
00:09:24Yes.
00:09:24Sis, I hope you get everything you want and deserve.
00:09:27To life after motherhood.
00:09:30Yes.
00:09:30Life after motherhood.
00:09:32Yes.
00:09:33Yes.
00:09:34Mm.
00:09:35Okay, you guys, I am so excited about this book.
00:09:37Girl, forget about that book.
00:09:38Tell us what happened the other night.
00:09:39Yeah.
00:09:39Oh, right.
00:09:42So, yeah, it didn't happen.
00:09:44What?
00:09:44Why?
00:09:45He decided to spend his night with Betty instead.
00:09:48Who the hell is Betty?
00:09:49Whoa, whoa, whoa.
00:09:49You mean that old hunk of junk in the garage?
00:09:52Mm-hmm.
00:09:52I see Ross done lost his damn mind.
00:09:54Have you tried talking to him?
00:09:56Talk?
00:09:57Oh, my gosh.
00:09:58I...
00:09:58We don't do anything like we used to.
00:10:01We don't laugh like we used to, and we definitely don't have sex like we used to.
00:10:05Okay.
00:10:05The Browns across the street from me started couples therapy when they hit a rough patch,
00:10:09and they seemed to be doing just fine.
00:10:11You talking about that white lady with her white husband?
00:10:12Hold on now, Donna.
00:10:14Kim, didn't you and Lee try counseling before you got a divorce?
00:10:18Yeah.
00:10:18And it was going well, too, until he tried to hump the damn therapist.
00:10:22Oh, hell no.
00:10:23Oh, hell yeah, honey.
00:10:25Lee was a certified freak, but at least therapy let me know why.
00:10:28Mm.
00:10:29Well, I want to know why.
00:10:31Well, sis, it's not your fault, okay?
00:10:33It's called male menopause.
00:10:34Girl, what?
00:10:35You know what?
00:10:36Okay, listen.
00:10:37The brain is the first to go, and then they start wanting to hump everything they see,
00:10:41or their stuff just stops working completely.
00:10:45Is that a real thing?
00:10:46Hell yeah, girl.
00:10:47Yeah, honey.
00:10:48The mood swing, the midlife crisis, them buying cars they can't fit into,
00:10:52and dating women, they know they can't satisfy.
00:10:55Mm-hmm.
00:10:55Mm-hmm.
00:10:55Now, how long that meep stopped working?
00:10:57Kim!
00:10:58Mom!
00:11:00It's...
00:11:01Okay.
00:11:02It's been, um, three years and 22 days.
00:11:06Bitch!
00:11:07I know!
00:11:08Years?
00:11:08The problem is the man is my husband, and the father of my children, and the one person
00:11:15that I just do not understand right now.
00:11:19Mm.
00:11:20Well, sis, it sounds like you're not happy.
00:11:22I don't think any of us were raised to be happy wives.
00:11:25We were raised...
00:11:26To work it out.
00:11:27Mm-hmm.
00:11:28My mama used to say, as long as he's not in and out of jail and knocking you upside your
00:11:32head, you got something to be thankful for.
00:11:34Your mama's a liar.
00:11:36Hey, don't...
00:11:37That's exactly why I walked up out of my marriage.
00:11:39Well, I wanna water my marriage, you guys.
00:11:42I don't wanna burn it down.
00:11:44Well, Val, if you want him to change, then you're gonna have to bring the ideas to him.
00:11:49So what should I do?
00:12:25Even though I'm shined up, I've been trying to shake this...
00:12:28Honey, why you gotta hold the camera at that angle?
00:12:30Val, do you wanna take the picture?
00:12:32Let's just take the picture.
00:12:33Okay.
00:12:33All right, everybody.
00:12:34Say tag!
00:12:35Tag!
00:12:36Aw!
00:12:39Babe, can you at least take one pic without that hat?
00:12:41No, I've had this hat since I graduated from this school.
00:12:44Yeah, well, while you're here, maybe you can get a new one.
00:12:47Mom and Dad.
00:12:48Oh, baby.
00:12:49Bye, my baby.
00:12:51All right, now?
00:12:52Bye, Blake.
00:12:53There you go.
00:12:54Bye, baby.
00:12:55Bye.
00:12:55Mommy loves you.
00:12:57Okay.
00:12:57Okay.
00:12:58Call mommy.
00:13:01We really have another tech man in the family.
00:13:04We do, we do, we do.
00:13:05Hey, you wanna go over to the Fine Arts Building and see if our names are still on the wall?
00:13:11Val, that was 30 years ago.
00:13:12You know they painted over that by now.
00:13:17Door's open.
00:13:21And here we are with another timeless army classic.
00:13:25I love myself enough to know when it's time, time to let go.
00:13:38Sing.
00:13:39All I really want is to be happy.
00:13:43Find an honest life.
00:13:45It'll be so sweet.
00:13:49All I really want is to be happy.
00:13:54Find an honest life that could be so sweet.
00:13:58Come on, baby.
00:13:59Remember I used to blast the radio to stay awake driving home for the holidays?
00:14:02Oh, my God.
00:14:03I miss this.
00:14:05Yeah.
00:14:05Folks be sleeping on the radio.
00:14:07They still play good music.
00:14:09No, Ross.
00:14:10I mean, us.
00:14:11I miss us, you know, feeling, you know, like a real marriage.
00:14:1527 years feels like a real marriage to me.
00:14:24Ross, when was the last time you touched me?
00:14:27What kind of question is that?
00:14:30You just said it's been 27 years, right?
00:14:32For the last seven, I feel like I've kind of been living with a roommate.
00:14:36Yeah, a roommate who pays the mortgage and all the bills.
00:14:38Uh-uh.
00:14:39Now, I have tried to get a job for years and you know that,
00:14:42but you're the one who wanted me to stay home with the kids cooking and keeping house.
00:14:46Yeah, a lot of women would have called that a good life.
00:14:48A life without intimacy?
00:14:51Is this about the other night?
00:14:52No, it's not about the other night, Ross.
00:14:55It's about us.
00:14:57It's about you never wanting to do anything that I want to do.
00:15:00I can't even express to you or share with you how I feel,
00:15:04and I have no idea how you feel about anything either.
00:15:07Well, I feel like this conversation is ridiculous.
00:15:11Our kids are finally out of the house and you and I should be together somewhere,
00:15:16enjoying each other, just traveling or sipping on piña coladas at some beach or something.
00:15:22What are you talking about?
00:15:23I don't even have a passport because I'm working.
00:15:25And that's another thing.
00:15:27We've had extensive conversations about early retirement.
00:15:30Oh, no, no, no.
00:15:31We just dropped Jeremiah off in his freshman year of college and you're talking about early retirement?
00:15:35Oh, this conversation is over.
00:15:38Why is it so hard for you to talk to me?
00:15:41Why?
00:15:43You know what?
00:15:44I really, really think we need to see couples counseling.
00:15:49Oh, you've really gone off the deep end now.
00:15:52What else do I ask you for?
00:15:54You asked for that damn expensive-ass refrigerator?
00:15:56That you used too.
00:15:58Well, if I can't do anything right, why are you still with me?
00:16:14You all right?
00:16:17And he got so defensive, he almost wrecked the car.
00:16:21Oh, God.
00:16:22Ugh.
00:16:24It's like he doesn't care.
00:16:26He could live like this for the rest of his life and be perfectly fine.
00:16:30Ugh, Charmaine, girl.
00:16:33It's frustrating, girl. I know.
00:16:36Do you think you could change a marriage?
00:16:39You know, I've been thinking about what Donna said, that if we want change, we gotta bring it to our
00:16:45husbands.
00:16:46But I don't know if I believe that. Because you marry who you marry, right?
00:16:50There isn't anything you ever wanted to change about Charles.
00:16:54Of course there is. But you can't change nobody. You can only change yourself.
00:17:01Look, girl, I gotta go.
00:17:03Oh, okay. Bye.
00:17:05Bye.
00:17:05Love you.
00:17:35Here you go. Just like the ones you grabbed on the way to work.
00:17:37Thank you, honey.
00:17:39Oh.
00:17:45So, I scheduled us for a consultation for couples therapy.
00:17:51I really think that this will be good for us, Ross.
00:17:55Where's all this coming from?
00:17:57Look, Charmaine told me about this couple.
00:17:59Charmaine needs to worry about why Charles would rather sit at a slot machine than sit at home.
00:18:05I scheduled it for when you get off work today.
00:18:08Then you need to cancel it.
00:18:10I wanna go, Ross.
00:18:11Then go alone.
00:18:15I'm not going to therapy.
00:18:16I'm not going to therapy.
00:18:18That's for crazy people, and we're not crazy.
00:18:26I kind of figured you would say something like that.
00:18:37You wanna know what's really crazy?
00:18:41Staying here.
00:18:44Knowing that you're okay with where we are in our marriage.
00:18:51And I know I'm not crazy.
00:19:01I'm not crazy.
00:19:17I'm not crazy.
00:19:19I'm not crazy.
00:19:27I'm not crazy.
00:19:33I'm not crazy.
00:19:39I'm not crazy.
00:19:47have you spoken to your father he called and asked about my last appointment look i'm really sorry
00:19:53i don't want to scare you about any of this mom what are you apologizing for look i love you
00:19:58and
00:19:58daddy together but i want you both to be happy plus i'm a big girl now you are a big
00:20:05girl now
00:20:07who can use all the help she can get now that i'm here we can deep clean the house personalize
00:20:11the
00:20:11nursery with pictures and knitted knitted uh blankets why are they so loud
00:20:22mom that's how the city gets down oh well since you have all these ideas maybe you can pencil in
00:20:29some time to explore the magic of the city what does that mean it's what they say around here mama
00:20:39let the good times roll you don't need to roll anything else but that's how you got into this
00:20:45predicament stop it you get yours and you do it too come on yeah yeah yeah
00:20:57morning you hungry i made eggs and dewey sausage and homemade biscuits whoa mama v that looks amazing
00:21:02but i got my own meal prep for breakfast fitness goals oh all right well don't mind me then
00:21:08uh do you know what happened to the blue containers i went here yeah you know what the food was
00:21:12going
00:21:13bad and all i threw all that out well v that was my meal prep oh well in that case
00:21:21i'll just refill
00:21:22it with the food i made see look at that micah have you seen my yoga mat i can't find
00:21:28it anywhere
00:21:29you know what baby i called myself throwing it in the washing machine and it crumbles into pieces
00:21:34i'll just get you one of those beach towels i saw in the garage might be better for your back
00:21:38anyway
00:21:43where did that painting come from
00:21:51do you think she's going through a midlife crisis
00:21:53i mean it's all she's ever known for the last 27 years wouldn't you
00:21:59i'll probably be out on bourbon street drunk calling you just to take me back
00:22:02yeah well she's the one who left i talked to dad and trust me he is going just as crazy
00:22:10oh yeah i'm sure he misses her folding his underwear into tiny little squares just like she does mine
00:22:15i don't think she knows what else to do with herself right now
00:22:19i think this is the only thing keeping her going
00:22:21oh baby that's sad
00:22:23yeah it is
00:22:31oh
00:23:32Show me how good times rising, let them rise, joy feels sweet, sugar on your spine.
00:23:49That's so dumb.
00:24:01Hello.
00:24:03Bam.
00:24:06Hey.
00:24:08Hello.
00:24:09How you doing?
00:24:10Uh, I'm doing all right.
00:24:15You okay?
00:24:18Um, yeah, I'm doing just, you know, I'm doing okay.
00:24:22Uh, when you coming back?
00:24:24After Kayla has the baby?
00:24:28Something like that.
00:24:29That should give you enough time, right?
00:24:32Enough time for what?
00:24:34Well, uh, figure yourself out and come on home.
00:24:44Yeah, so, Ross, I don't know if I can.
00:24:48Can what?
00:24:50Come back.
00:24:51I gotta go.
00:25:02Whew.
00:25:04Good morning.
00:25:10Oh.
00:25:13Oh!
00:25:17Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
00:25:19I want them to be together.
00:25:21Let's let them stay together.
00:25:24I need to stay together.
00:25:25You're doing all right over here.
00:25:27Oh, yeah, yeah, totally.
00:25:29I think I want another one,
00:25:33but I'm not totally sure that I could feel my legs.
00:25:37Let me get you some water.
00:25:40Okay.
00:25:40You know, people come to New Orleans for all kinds of reasons.
00:25:44To heal, to lose themselves,
00:25:48or to find something they didn't even know they was looking for.
00:25:51What you came for?
00:25:53This is not what it looks like.
00:25:56Hmm.
00:25:58It looked like a woman not from here,
00:26:03going through it in her marriage,
00:26:05and she came to New Orleans to figure some things out.
00:26:10Is it tattooed across my forehead?
00:26:14Does it also say I haven't had sex in three years?
00:26:17Oh, baby, most of us could get that tattoo.
00:26:21Big Kenny,
00:26:23when's the last time you had some?
00:26:25About six, seven years.
00:26:27Oh, Kenny, no.
00:26:29Oh, I thought I had it, man.
00:26:31Next round's on me, Kenny.
00:26:43Oh, come in.
00:26:48Oh.
00:26:50You have a Horus Imhotel.
00:26:54Oh, yeah, we do.
00:26:56There is something so sacred about the way he sees us.
00:27:02Black people.
00:27:04It's not just pain.
00:27:07There's dignity and humanity.
00:27:11The lines feel very intentional.
00:27:16Wow.
00:27:17That's what's up.
00:27:19And you have an Aaron F. Henderson.
00:27:22Oh, my God.
00:27:23He is my absolute favorite.
00:27:25I love how he exposes the ways in which history continues to shape our understanding of race and identity.
00:27:34Oh.
00:27:36Yeah, he was my mom's favorite, too.
00:27:40Well, your mom has very good taste.
00:27:43Do you and your mom run this gallery together?
00:27:47Uh, no, this was, um, her thing before she passed, so I've been just, you know, trying my best to
00:27:53hold things down.
00:27:54Guess it's my way of keeping her legacy alive.
00:27:56Sorry.
00:27:57Hmm?
00:27:58I'm sure she's very proud of you.
00:28:07Oh, wow.
00:28:10Look at the sadness in his eyes.
00:28:13Really?
00:28:14He always looked happy to me.
00:28:18Sometimes joy is the mask you wear when the weight gets too heavy.
00:28:25Who are you?
00:28:26Where are you from?
00:28:27Oh, sorry.
00:28:29North Carolina.
00:28:30Okay.
00:28:31I'm Valerie.
00:28:32Okay, Jacoby.
00:28:33You're Narwhal?
00:28:34Oh, no, I wouldn't say all that.
00:28:36I did major in art in college.
00:28:40Okay.
00:28:40But, you know, life was lifing.
00:28:42It took me in a different direction.
00:28:44But the love, the love is, the love is still there.
00:28:48Yeah.
00:28:48So, are you thinking about jumping back in?
00:28:52Sometimes.
00:28:53But I really wouldn't know where to start, so.
00:28:56Well, um, I've, you know, I've been trying to do my best to make sure this place reflects
00:29:00the new New Orleans box, the new New Orleans box, scouting local, new talent.
00:29:04But, um, this whole curating art thing, I just feel a little out of my league.
00:29:09No, no, no.
00:29:10You did a beautiful job.
00:29:11This place really feels like it has soul.
00:29:14Yeah, yeah.
00:29:15But the soul, it just needs, it needs structure, you know?
00:29:18Like a vision, an expert.
00:29:24Are you offering me a job?
00:29:34And now here we have a Peter Mosley.
00:29:37And although I'm not deeply familiar with his work, you can see that he definitely has
00:29:42a special way of capturing black women.
00:29:45It doesn't feel like he's just taking a photo.
00:29:48It feels like he's bearing witness without trying to be too radical.
00:29:52I actually find him to be very radical.
00:29:55In a world that either overexposes or erases black women, showing them in their natural
00:30:01state without spectacle, seems pretty radical to me.
00:30:07Well, hearing the word radical makes me feel like you're saying that Mosley is trying to
00:30:13convey sex, and it's much, much, much more subtle than that.
00:30:17Yeah, but subtlety is extremely sexy.
00:30:21You actually strike me as someone who understands exactly how powerful that can be.
00:30:28That's good for you.
00:30:29So, for those of you who actually paid for this tour, please, go into the other room.
00:30:35There's refreshments, and we have so much more to see.
00:30:44Um, you know your boy's coming back tonight, right?
00:30:47My boy.
00:30:48Who's my boy?
00:30:49Oh!
00:30:50Yeah.
00:30:53Something tells me you're going to be into this.
00:30:59It was really that Chicago 95 collection.
00:31:02It was, that was amazing, right?
00:31:03Like, that's when I was like, I am a fan of Mr. Mosley's work.
00:31:06It's incredible.
00:31:07Much obliged, much obliged.
00:31:08Yeah, so, what draws you to a subject?
00:31:14Wow, that's a damn good question.
00:31:18But my portraiture work is only about connection.
00:31:22When I lock eyes with someone, and we have this, I don't know, unspoken understanding, that's when I know.
00:31:35And if they let me in only for a moment, that's the shot.
00:31:44Oh, he is everything.
00:31:46So, when you say let you in.
00:31:47Uh-huh.
00:31:49Nice to meet you.
00:31:49Pleasure.
00:31:55Hi.
00:31:58Valerie Matthews.
00:32:00Peter Mosley.
00:32:01Of course you are.
00:32:03I just wanted to apologize for earlier.
00:32:06No, no, no, no, look.
00:32:09I'm apologizing for earlier.
00:32:10I didn't mean to interrupt you like that.
00:32:12But listen, there's no need to apologize, okay?
00:32:15My work is meant to be spoken about.
00:32:18And you challenged my eye.
00:32:20But I like that.
00:32:21Okay.
00:32:22Mm-hmm.
00:32:22Well, I just came over to, you know, tell you how much I love the conversation tonight.
00:32:28Mm-hmm.
00:32:28Especially how you find your subjects.
00:32:31Oh, connection.
00:32:33Oh, yeah, the connection.
00:32:34Yeah, yeah.
00:32:35That is so powerful.
00:32:36And I bet that connection takes you all over the place as a photographer.
00:32:42Where are you from?
00:32:44What?
00:32:44You don't hear the Nola accent, baby?
00:32:49A little bit of that, but no, I haven't seen you before.
00:32:52Oh, so you remember all your fans.
00:32:54I get it.
00:32:54Oh, wow, she's a fan.
00:32:56Oh.
00:32:56Oh, now I've made it.
00:32:58Forget about it.
00:32:59No.
00:32:59I got fans for you.
00:33:01Okay, okay.
00:33:02I'm actually from North Carolina.
00:33:04Right.
00:33:04I'm just here for about a month, hanging out with my daughter, helping her out, because
00:33:08she's going to make me a grandmother.
00:33:10Really?
00:33:11Yeah.
00:33:11Wow.
00:33:12All right.
00:33:12Well, congratulations on that.
00:33:14Thanks.
00:33:14And I'm assuming that her father is still back in North Carolina?
00:33:20He is.
00:33:21Oh, okay.
00:33:23So, uh, how are you enjoying New Orleans so far?
00:33:26Oh, I've eaten my way through the French Quarter, and I drank so many daiquiris, more than I have
00:33:33in my entire life, and I found this gallery that has helped me remember how much I love
00:33:40art.
00:33:40Right.
00:33:41Yeah.
00:33:43I don't know if it's the history or the liquor, but this city definitely has a way of helping
00:33:49you find yourself again.
00:33:51Well, let me tell you something.
00:33:52You're going to have to get your behind out of the French Quarter in order to really see
00:33:56how this city gets down.
00:33:59Is that right?
00:34:03Do you like crawfish?
00:34:12All right.
00:34:13Nice.
00:34:14Oh, gosh.
00:34:15Oh, I'm sorry about the wind.
00:34:18It's okay.
00:34:18It's okay.
00:34:18I got something for you.
00:34:20Hold on a second.
00:34:20Hold on.
00:34:21I got you.
00:34:21Don't worry.
00:34:22Don't worry.
00:34:23Yeah.
00:34:23Oh, no, no, no, no.
00:34:24I can't take your hat.
00:34:25No, it's okay.
00:34:26I'll buy another one.
00:34:27It's yours.
00:34:28That's you.
00:34:30My gift to you.
00:34:31Oh, thank you.
00:34:32All right.
00:34:33My brother, good to see you as always.
00:34:35I'll see you next time.
00:34:38You know, when I first got here, I went looking for the best crawfish in town all over the
00:34:44city.
00:34:44I happened to stumble upon these old heads sitting in front of a corner store playing dominoes.
00:34:49They told me about this cat.
00:34:51Oh, okay.
00:34:51It's beautiful.
00:34:53I knew you'd like it.
00:34:57Anyway, you moved here from Chicago, right?
00:35:01Yeah.
00:35:02Well, I grew up on the south side, but I lived in Brooklyn, Miami, Berlin, Johannesburg, among
00:35:09other places, and now I'm here for now.
00:35:13What are you laughing at?
00:35:14What's that giggling about?
00:35:15No, you know what?
00:35:16I just got this new book, Art and Travel, right?
00:35:20And it mentions all the cities that you just talked about.
00:35:23And it's just, you know, you artists.
00:35:25You live like nomadic lifestyles.
00:35:28What a life.
00:35:29Well, I love capturing the beauty in the world, you know?
00:35:32I don't like to feel like I'm missing out on anything.
00:35:34Okay.
00:35:38This smells delicious.
00:35:40I could eat ten of these.
00:35:42Mm-hmm.
00:35:45And you have no idea what the hell you're doing, do you?
00:35:49You don't see these skills?
00:35:50I see you struggling.
00:35:51Give me this thing.
00:35:52Let me show you how to do it.
00:35:53Fine.
00:35:53Now look at this. This is very simple.
00:35:55You just grab the head like this, okay?
00:35:57Then you just do a nice little simple twist and pull.
00:36:00You see that?
00:36:01Okay.
00:36:02Professionals like me, we suck the head.
00:36:04Okay.
00:36:05Oh, damn.
00:36:06Look at you dribbling.
00:36:07Look what you made me do.
00:36:08I'm trying to teach you some stuff, man.
00:36:10Look what you made me do.
00:36:12That's you.
00:36:13You're crazy.
00:36:14Aw, man.
00:36:15You got me jammed up out here.
00:36:17Looking crazy.
00:36:21Well, listen, while we're making a mess,
00:36:23I got another question for you to answer.
00:36:24Oh, boy. What?
00:36:26How long have you been married?
00:36:29Um, a long time.
00:36:32Would you care to elaborate?
00:36:35I'm sorry. We don't have to talk about this.
00:36:37No, it's cool. It's cool.
00:36:39You know, marriage could start out with all the spark
00:36:42and plans and dreams, and then life happens.
00:36:47Hmm.
00:36:48And then here come the kids and the bills and the routine.
00:36:52And then silence.
00:36:57Hmm.
00:36:58But my husband is, my husband's a good guy.
00:37:02Oh, I'm sure.
00:37:02That's not what I mean.
00:37:03I'm sure.
00:37:04Like, he is an amazing father, and he's a hard worker.
00:37:08Mm-mm.
00:37:08And he gave me the best job in the world,
00:37:11being somebody's mother.
00:37:12I bet you're a great mother.
00:37:15Yeah, you know, my kids are terrific kids.
00:37:18I don't know.
00:37:18I don't think I'm much of a family guy.
00:37:21My work and my career, they keep me pretty fulfilled.
00:37:25That doesn't ever get lonely?
00:37:27It does not.
00:37:28Oh.
00:37:30Well, I have friends and extended family all over the world.
00:37:34Ah.
00:37:35Women friends.
00:37:37Oh.
00:37:42Of course I do.
00:37:44Well, I mean, you know, I asked because you're the one who said
00:37:47you don't like missing out on things.
00:37:48Yeah, I don't like missing out on things because I have time for everything.
00:37:53I like to focus on the freedom of time and not the stress.
00:37:56The stress of time is what makes people buy into the whole happily ever after type of thing.
00:38:03I don't think it's real.
00:38:04Seriously?
00:38:05I don't.
00:38:06No, I feel like people that feel like-
00:38:08I don't think it is.
00:38:08Listen, I feel like people who think that it's not real are actually just scared.
00:38:13It's a lot of work.
00:38:14It's a lot of work.
00:38:16Look, I was reading this book.
00:38:18This other book.
00:38:20And the main character compares love to a roller coaster.
00:38:24Some people are afraid to get on.
00:38:26Some people are afraid to let go.
00:38:28And then there are some who just are afraid to fall.
00:38:33All right.
00:38:35I feel that.
00:38:37Okay.
00:38:38But you know, in this short conversation we've had, this is the second book you've brought up.
00:38:41Yes, I'm quite astute.
00:38:43Are you a nerd?
00:38:43Are you a nerd?
00:38:44I'm talking to a nerd.
00:38:46Hold on.
00:38:46You are.
00:38:47No, go ahead.
00:38:47Go ahead.
00:38:48Sorry.
00:38:50Oh, it's-
00:38:52Hey, Jeremiah.
00:38:53What's up?
00:38:53No, I just put money into your account two days ago.
00:38:57What are you talking about, big?
00:38:59Well, you gotta ask your father.
00:39:03No, I'm not putting him on three-way.
00:39:04I'm on a di-
00:39:06I'm in the middle of something.
00:39:08Yeah, so you call him and then text me and let me know what he says.
00:39:13Okay.
00:39:15Love you too.
00:39:16Bye.
00:39:17Sorry.
00:39:19Everything good?
00:39:22Everything's great.
00:39:22Hmm.
00:39:24You know, I'm starting a new exhibition.
00:39:26Something that's a little bit more personal to me.
00:39:28Really?
00:39:28Yeah?
00:39:28Yeah.
00:39:29Okay.
00:39:30Tell you the truth, I'm kind of stuck on a couple of pieces.
00:39:32So I figured that maybe after this beautiful sunset, we could go over to the studio and you can give
00:39:38me your thoughts.
00:39:41Because you've got a good eye.
00:39:43All right?
00:39:44And even better than that, you mean what you say.
00:39:49And I respect what you have to say.
00:39:55Okay.
00:39:56Come on in.
00:39:57Take it all in.
00:39:58Take it all in.
00:39:59Make yourself at home.
00:40:01I'm gonna go and change this shirt because I got the, you know-
00:40:04Oh yeah, the progress juice.
00:40:06Make yourself at home.
00:40:07I'll be right back.
00:40:07Okay.
00:40:24Wow.
00:40:27Did you shoot this on film?
00:40:29Oh yeah, absolutely.
00:40:31That was a completely spontaneous shot of a mother's son walking on Biloxi Beach.
00:40:40Something special about the way she's holding his hands.
00:40:44It's not just about motherly love.
00:40:47It's-
00:40:47Her guidance.
00:40:48Exactly.
00:40:49Yeah.
00:40:52This picture's special to me.
00:40:54You know?
00:40:56I didn't really grow up knowing about this kind of love.
00:41:01My relationship with motherhood was more about abandonment than anything else.
00:41:10I grew up in the foster care system.
00:41:14That's where I got my first camera.
00:41:17Wow.
00:41:18I wondered where it all began.
00:41:21Huh.
00:41:22My social worker gave it to me.
00:41:25Tell you the truth.
00:41:29It's probably saved my life.
00:41:31I know it definitely changed it.
00:41:34Hmm.
00:41:35So, let me show you something.
00:41:37Let me show you something.
00:41:38Okay.
00:41:40This is part of a series that I'm showing at the New Orleans Museum of Art to close out my
00:41:45residency.
00:41:46The edit, the sequence, everything that I'm trying to convey is so important here.
00:41:51Yeah, I see it.
00:41:52The connectivity that you talked about.
00:41:55Absolutely.
00:41:55It's not exploitative.
00:41:57It's more celebratory.
00:41:59Right.
00:42:00You see, the goal is to capture the beauty that most people might not see.
00:42:03Yeah, you're really good at that.
00:42:05Why, thank you.
00:42:10Look at that.
00:42:15What do you see when you see me?
00:42:20How do you do what you do to me?
00:42:29Come here.
00:42:30Okay.
00:42:30Come on.
00:42:31Come here.
00:42:33Okay.
00:42:34All right.
00:42:38Well, it started with your eyes.
00:42:42And as beautiful as they are, they seem to be carrying a weight of sadness.
00:42:54Do you see what I see?
00:43:01Oh, you're shaking.
00:43:02You all right?
00:43:03Are you cold?
00:43:04You gotta go.
00:43:04Can I get you something?
00:43:05I gotta go.
00:43:05Hey.
00:43:21What's going on here?
00:43:24I practice corporate law.
00:43:26It's divorce.
00:43:26It's a whole little beast.
00:43:28And why are you looking into that?
00:43:31Oh, baby, come on.
00:43:32It's not for me.
00:43:33It's for your mom.
00:43:37Mom, why are you talking to Micah about divorce?
00:43:41Nothing is definite, okay?
00:43:43I'm just trying to understand my options.
00:43:46Since when did divorce become an option?
00:43:48Have you and Daddy talked about this?
00:43:50Oh, my God.
00:43:50You really should have been a lawyer asking me all these questions.
00:43:53Your father and I haven't decided anything, okay?
00:43:56I just asked Micah if he could help me understand what it would look like if we did.
00:44:02All these years, and I don't think I have ever seen you without a roller set.
00:44:07Curl!
00:44:09You know my curls won't hold up in this swamp heat.
00:44:12Oh, so that's why you got your shoulders and your back out, too?
00:44:15Mom, what?
00:44:15You don't like my dress?
00:44:17I bought it in a store in a quarter.
00:44:21I mean, you cute or whatever, but...
00:44:23Who are you trying to impress?
00:44:25Nobody!
00:44:26Oh, my God.
00:44:26I gotta go.
00:44:29Micah, thanks for this.
00:44:30Yes, ma'am.
00:44:40No, it's still crooked.
00:44:42Micah, I have moved this painting like three times.
00:44:43You sure it's the painting and not your neck?
00:44:47Oh.
00:44:48Hey.
00:44:49Hey.
00:44:51Hey.
00:44:52Hey.
00:44:53As a continuation of helping you explore the real New Orleans,
00:44:56I thought I'd try to excite your taste buds once again.
00:45:00What is this?
00:45:02Beignets?
00:45:03No, they're called calas.
00:45:05It's a popular street food made from the enslaved Africans to purchase their freedom from Spanish.
00:45:09Now, we can't talk about New Orleans food history without talking about those.
00:45:13And Cafe Du Monde could never.
00:45:15You ate that, okay?
00:45:16Why?
00:45:16He told that story, okay?
00:45:19Mmm, this is so good.
00:45:22Oh, that's good.
00:45:32Well, you have a good morning.
00:45:37Peter.
00:45:43Hmm.
00:45:44Yes.
00:45:45I want to explore more of New Orleans with you.
00:45:52Really?
00:45:54Yeah.
00:45:58So, I'm just staring at this Bob Barker looking type dude.
00:46:02Uh-uh.
00:46:02Like, what the hell are you gonna do with a five foot image of a brother from the ninth ward
00:46:07with gold fronts and a pit bull named Nipsey?
00:46:09Exactly!
00:46:11See, sometimes these white collectors who are drawn to black aesthetics completely ignore the history and the context.
00:46:17And that's why sometimes I had a little reparations fee on the hands.
00:46:21I know, that's right.
00:46:23You know, I wanted to ask you, um, what made you walk away from the art world?
00:46:28Oh, okay.
00:46:29Well, during my last year, college, I got pregnant with Kayla.
00:46:32And after that, the closest thing I ever came to the art world was working at the framing department at
00:46:39my local craft store.
00:46:42But then, I quit once I had the baby, because my husband thought it was a better idea for me
00:46:48to stay at home while he brought home the money.
00:46:50Hmm. And how'd you feel about that?
00:46:52I was completely fine with it at the time, because I've always wanted to be a mother.
00:46:57But I just didn't know what kind of a full-time job it was gonna be.
00:47:01I mean, what girl knows that at that age, though?
00:47:04And look at you now.
00:47:06Yeah, see, look at me now. I'm working at the gallery. I feel like I'm getting that old thing back,
00:47:11you know.
00:47:15So, over the years, did you find yourself longing for anything else?
00:47:22I mean, of course. But when I made the decision to be a wife and a mother, all the other
00:47:30choices just seemed selfish.
00:47:33Oh. So you chose to abandon your wants and desires because they felt selfish?
00:47:43I chose to make the best decision for me and my family and my marriage.
00:47:53No, I feel you. I feel you. I'm just saying. You being here, though, it's kinda like you're starting to
00:47:58awaken those abandoned wants and desires.
00:48:02Yeah, in a way. I never got a chance to travel. So I really want to explore art all over
00:48:14the world.
00:48:16What else do you want?
00:48:19What are you really trying to ask me?
00:48:23When was the last time someone made love to you?
00:48:35It's been a while.
00:48:38Look, if you want me to stop, I'll stop, okay? I don't want to be invasive. I'll stop.
00:48:42I said that.
00:48:52It's been about three years and some change.
00:48:59Who was the position?
00:49:02Missionary.
00:49:06Were you satisfied?
00:49:12It was fine.
00:49:15Dance with me.
00:49:18Okay.
00:49:22Bye.
00:49:42I'll close.
00:49:44You know I love the real body feelings.
00:49:51Don't be gentle.
00:49:51Babe, I'll be the water.
00:49:53You can be the light.
00:49:55Send them lipos to my body.
00:49:57I want to photograph you.
00:50:00Don't be gentle.
00:50:02Mhmm?
00:50:04Don't be gentle.
00:50:07We'll see.
00:50:08Oh, oh, oh.
00:50:14Mark, you can just hit that mark.
00:50:16OK.
00:50:17OK.
00:50:18And just relax.
00:50:19Just take it easy.
00:50:22Photography, as you already know, is all about trust.
00:50:35Only if my subjects feel safe, do they
00:50:42truly let their essence shine through?
00:50:53So the question is, do you trust me?
00:51:06Hey, do you trust me?
00:51:23You make me want to live again.
00:51:27You make me want to try again.
00:51:29You make me want to love again.
00:51:33And again, and again, and again.
00:51:36You make me want to live again.
00:51:39You make me want to try again.
00:51:42Beautiful.
00:51:43You make me want to love again.
00:51:46All right.
00:51:49All right.
00:51:49I'm going to go get a couple of things, OK?
00:51:51Just relax.
00:51:52I'll be right back.
00:51:57Just try a little something like this.
00:52:00Very nice.
00:52:01Very nice.
00:52:02Let me just move.
00:52:04Your hair there.
00:52:05Looks beautiful.
00:52:07Put this on you.
00:52:09Just size this up here.
00:52:11Make sure that, uh...
00:52:19You make sure that it fits pretty good.
00:52:22It's bad, does it feel?
00:52:24I'll be right back.
00:52:24And you should be on your head.
00:52:28And you've been on my mind.
00:52:34I wrote letters in my head to manifest you.
00:52:40You make me want to live again
00:52:43You make me want to try again
00:52:46You make me want to love again
00:52:50And again and again and again
00:52:53You make me want to live again
00:52:56You make me want to try again
00:52:59You make me want to love again
00:53:02And again and again and again
00:53:16mom oh hey what are you what are you still doing up well baby girl here decided to start doing
00:53:23the
00:53:23electric slot as i was trying to go to bed so micah ordered us some food and we watched a
00:53:27couple
00:53:28episodes of real housewives that's nice yeah that is nice hold on you look mighty snazzy
00:53:34what did you have going on tonight oh that was an event at the gallery must have been some kind
00:53:40of event doesn't feel like you were five inch heels which is why i need to go lay down so
00:53:46good night
00:54:09morning morning i uh picked you up a little something because i was uh wondering about
00:54:18how you felt about last night because i know things are a little complicated right now so
00:54:25they are i know um but i um i thought last night was a perfect evening
00:54:47it's all right it's all right to love on you it's all right it's all right to just be true
00:54:58going on a ride i want to feel the sun on my nose feel my inner light
00:55:08feel the freedom all in my soul got my hair flowing got my mind free music stay bumping
00:55:17off of me don't let the day go away without a thinking to yourself baby yeah yeah
00:55:25it's all right it's all right to love on you
00:55:32it's all right it's all right it's all right it's all right it's all right to love on you
00:55:43and just be you
00:56:09oh my goodness this is so cute aunt shermaine and it's by black owned company okay come on
00:56:16yes yes yes yes i gotta think okay okay okay
00:56:21hold on
00:56:25hey daddy i miss you i miss you guys too i know your mama's over there holding it down
00:56:32uh yeah hi russ
00:56:36hi valerie look at you you've always been the hostess with the mostest
00:56:41yeah well you know me i do
00:56:47all right then uh listen i'm gonna get ready to go to the gym um okay daddy enjoy your workout
00:56:54i love you i'll call you later bye ross hold on are those biceps and triceps i see
00:57:14val are you okay
00:57:19i'm having an affair
00:57:23what i knew it with whom this this man this photographer i met out here when did this happen
00:57:31and where did you meet him at the gallery i met him at the gallery and it's very new and
00:57:35oh my god
00:57:36i'm just so happy i could finally tell someone okay okay but i just want to know how did we
00:57:41go
00:57:41from moving out here to help kayla to laying low and spreading it wide shut up okay i just want
00:57:47to know
00:57:48how low did you go and i want to know everything about it um can we start with the photo
00:57:52of this man
00:57:53yes look look look look look oh baby he paid rent oh god it's been amazing
00:58:05i never knew my body could feel like this and you guys this man this man can go all night
00:58:11whoa is he on the pill he doesn't need it
00:58:18and it's not just a sex you guys it's not just a sex
00:58:21he sees me he makes me feel like i exist outside of just being a wife and a mother
00:58:30and the more i'm around him the more i remember who i am and who i was before and it's
00:58:38and it's not
00:58:39just that it's the city it's new orleans and it just makes you feel alive and it's the music and
00:58:45the art and the and the people and the joy okay i hear you sis but what you gonna do
00:58:50when ross finds
00:58:50out or the kids donna what can you please stop being a hater no i am being a friend look
00:58:57if any
00:58:57of her friends should be traumatized by her having an affair it should be me men do this all the
00:59:02time
00:59:02and get away with it okay if van want to be selfish for once in her life that'll be it
00:59:07and damn them
00:59:08kids are you still considering a divorce
00:59:14i don't know i'm not sure okay well good so at least you also don't see this affair going anywhere
00:59:21can i just live in a moment for once donna damn sis i am not trying to talk you into
00:59:27an empty bed
00:59:28but what you're doing is dangerous look i just want you to be careful
00:59:35are you scared at all about this of course i'm scared
00:59:43something okay oh okay
00:59:48yes yes right on time so give me a second let me go get my jacket
01:00:07all right
01:00:08let's put those in the exhibition tonight no you didn't take it easy those are for my personal
01:00:13archives come on help me out here please i am i am i am oh boy what's going on are
01:00:19you nervous
01:00:19i'm always nervous before these what yeah the great peter mostly is nothing yeah that guy
01:00:28god you're just so i don't know i'm just not used to a man being vulnerable about his feelings
01:00:37what oh yeah you talking to a thug from the south side of chicago you better recognize
01:00:46no but seriously i'm looking forward to uh introducing you to quite a few people tonight
01:00:52especially the museum director they're always looking for strong curators such as yourself
01:00:56thank you i appreciate that no thank you for being my date tonight
01:01:02it's my honor it's me too come on thank you let's get out of here you look beautiful
01:01:13i fell in love with you
01:01:22here we are excuse us pardon me thank you
01:01:25hey how you doing there wow are you impressed yet i am very impressed
01:01:30ah that's what i want to hear this is amazing i know that guy oh you do i do
01:01:34me too cool dude
01:01:39oh hey excuse me all right oh hey how you doing baby just give me one minute no okay i'll
01:01:48be right
01:01:53oh you got to be so great i'm so glad you're here oh my god uh you look amazing thank
01:02:01you
01:02:01i like that hat so you have a hat for every occasion i actually do you know because at a
01:02:06event like this a good hat shouldn't just compliment the look it should start the conversation
01:02:09like that i know my husband likes hats too oh okay well shout out to him yeah so uh who
01:02:16you came
01:02:16here with oh um yeah mr mosley invited me i know that's right oh by the way so we might
01:02:27have
01:02:27secured this like painting that my mother really loved from this artist out in treme so oh fingers
01:02:31crossed i don't know that to the gallery i just that's incredible i know how much that means to
01:02:37you yeah yeah uh-huh yeah yeah you're good okay go ahead sorry sorry sorry sorry no go ahead
01:02:46and go oh thank you but you know i'm glad you showed up oh look hey danny kenya this is
01:02:56my new
01:02:56intelligent art friend valerie hi uh yeah i'm the intelligent art friend uh how do you guys know each
01:03:06other we used to date okay um at the same time technically but danny and i didn't know um now
01:03:19we're
01:03:19together oh oh hey glenn what's up man how you doing good to see you oh yeah let's do that
01:03:32let's
01:03:33knock it out good to see you brothers yeah thank you once again it's a beautiful event thank you oh
01:03:41sorry
01:03:41baby and once again i'm sorry i couldn't introduce you to glenn you know these things get a little crazy
01:03:47but i'm sure i can set up some coffee or lunch or something like that sure i'll tell you the
01:03:51truth
01:03:51i really don't even like this stuff the photos the smoozing it's not really my style okay do you
01:03:56always date multiple women at the same time hey thank you for coming
01:04:06all right listen listen listen listen hey wait a second wait a second
01:04:11if you're asking me if i practice non-monogamy then the answer is yes i guess i shouldn't be so
01:04:19surprised coming from the man who doesn't like to miss out on anything is this this this right here
01:04:26really isn't going anywhere is it look let's just side let's talk am i right it's not going anywhere
01:04:35why don't you answer your own question you're the one that's married don't act like you care now
01:04:41don't i don't appreciate you coming at me like this because i haven't judged you really really let me
01:04:46tell you something i'm surprised you're still allowing this trauma to lead your life trauma trauma you can't
01:04:52even commit to one city let alone one woman because the little boy inside feels abandoned by his mother
01:04:57and you're too grown and you're too old to act like that this coming from a woman who can't decide
01:05:02whether to mail off divorce papers or keep writing me you know what the difference is between
01:05:07you and i no listen do you do you know what the difference is the difference is i know who
01:05:11i am
01:05:13and you're too damn old to be deciding who you are right now
01:05:26yes micah hello hey mama v what is happening baby's coming oh my god okay i'm on my way to
01:05:31the
01:05:31hospital right now okay okay bye all right look let's let me take you to the hospital we can talk
01:05:37about this no no no no no no no no no no no this old lady can call her own
01:05:41car good night val
01:05:51yeah sorry i'm late i thought the first thing smoking so that is okay
01:05:59mom will you hand her to him oh yeah
01:06:04anaya meet your granddad
01:06:10hi anaya
01:06:38i know you don't really want any of that joe
01:06:43well i this is about as good as it gets since i plan on staying here overnight
01:06:48there's gotta be someplace right here still open
01:06:54of course god jeez
01:07:00go ahead thanks
01:07:10okay
01:07:13thanks i guess all that time in the gym is working out for you huh yeah
01:07:18you know that haircut look nice on you oh thanks i see you got a new tech hat
01:07:26yeah i had jeremiah give me a new one i know you didn't like the other one yeah that thing
01:07:30was awful
01:07:33okay
01:07:34okay listen them chips can't do nothing for you let me take you to get something to eat
01:07:42okay
01:07:44okay
01:07:48let's go downstairs thanks
01:07:54we drove all over this city just to end up in some greasy junk food spot on bourbon
01:07:59what the hell is a boudin ball
01:08:02i don't know you picked this place it was the only place that was open and can you please cut
01:08:10a
01:08:10brother some slack that means we all celebrate what are we celebrating ross
01:08:19being grandparents
01:08:24well in that case can we have two hand grenades please
01:08:29when the hell you start drinking like that
01:08:31it means that the cathedral
01:08:37that was kind of sexy
01:08:39what no wait you know i told jeremiah about that hot top face he used to rock
01:08:46and then two weeks later i tried to put a texturizer in that thing
01:08:50oh and and it was awful it was awful do you hear me oh my hair fell out because i'm
01:08:55trying to impress
01:08:56you oh uh-huh do not blame me for that i'm not taking a blame that was the same line
01:09:02as the mary j
01:09:03blige concert oh my 19th birthday i picked you up in betty betty and she broke down on the side
01:09:11of the road
01:09:11hey hey now i bought that cassette in the deck and i gave you a concert
01:09:18on the side of the road you did you did get it all i really want to be happy get
01:09:26it to find the love
01:09:28they all looking at you look at everybody looking at you
01:09:32just don't take no pictures
01:09:36and that night i told jamie do whatever i can to get this girl
01:09:48how is your brother him and stephanie getting a divorce oh no yeah he uh he stayed at the house
01:09:57for a few weeks i had enough room
01:10:03well i'm glad that you were there for your brother i'm sure you guys got some bonding time and
01:10:11broke open a couple of beers worked on betty actually
01:10:16i ain't touched betty since you left
01:10:21divorce seems so sad
01:10:25it's like losing a leg
01:10:30and waking up in the morning and reaching for it and it just ain't there no more
01:10:39i think we need another hey can we have two more you don't drink more than me you might i
01:10:44might have
01:10:45do it easy like oh shut up
01:10:50just shut up wait wait wait wait wait i need help okay come on
01:10:57okay okay okay what's all it is you know i've been in the gym
01:11:16i speak your love language
01:11:27What are you burning?
01:12:13Mom, are you okay?
01:12:15Oh, yeah, honey, I'm fine.
01:12:17The nurse came in while you were asleep.
01:12:21That man is driving you nuts, huh?
01:12:26Your father and I, we're still figuring out our stuff.
01:12:30I'm talking about the photographer, Mom.
01:12:36How did you know about that?
01:12:40Well, after watching you stumbling in the house all hours of the night, I had to see what was up.
01:12:45So I asked that guy you work with at the gallery.
01:12:47Oh, my God.
01:12:49Mom, he didn't want to say anything.
01:12:51I just...
01:12:52I made him.
01:12:54I'm sorry.
01:12:57No, no.
01:12:59Oh, no.
01:13:03I'm really sorry.
01:13:05No, don't do that.
01:13:06Okay.
01:13:07You have nothing to be sorry for.
01:13:10Or ashamed of.
01:13:18I think it's only fair that I share a secret of my own.
01:13:23I never told you this, but during that first year, we split up for a bit.
01:13:32And during that time, I received the most random message on social media from Christian Mitchell.
01:13:41Oh, my God.
01:13:42Yes.
01:13:45I haven't heard that meme in a long time.
01:13:47Exactly.
01:13:48Yeah.
01:13:50He started liking all these pictures and telling me how good I looked.
01:13:56But then I went to his page, and he was looking good too, Ma.
01:14:04After a few messages, I ended up meeting up with him.
01:14:09We started talking about high school and life after.
01:14:14Before I knew it, I was feeling 16 again.
01:14:18Christian felt like the perfect escape from the chokehold I felt my marriage was.
01:14:26But then I started having doubts that this spontaneous rekindling would survive over time.
01:14:33But eventually, the issues I was dealing with with Micah would show up with Christian.
01:14:40Yeah.
01:14:42Then I remember my therapist comparing the situation to a theme park.
01:14:48Sure, it's exciting.
01:14:51But you can't live there.
01:14:54You cannot substitute romance for true love.
01:15:01I believe that learning how to love yourself will make it easier to love the one you're with.
01:15:11Whoever that is.
01:15:16Come here.
01:15:22Oh, God.
01:15:29Hey, when did you become the mother?
01:15:38Hey, Strawberry Jackson.
01:15:41You made it back, huh?
01:15:42Yeah.
01:15:43Nice top.
01:15:46You too.
01:15:48This city really got a hold of you, huh?
01:15:50Yeah, it certainly has.
01:16:03Yes, Indy.
01:16:05I guess that three year drought is over, huh?
01:16:07Oh, God.
01:16:09Hey.
01:16:12All right, now.
01:16:16Val, let me just start by saying-
01:16:17Wait, wait, wait, wait.
01:16:18Can you just give me a sec?
01:16:19I just have to say one thing, okay?
01:16:22Okay.
01:16:23Okay.
01:16:26So, the other night was a culmination of a few things, but mostly it was like the woman that I
01:16:35was running away from and the woman that I'm becoming collided at that event.
01:16:43And instead of fighting with you, I really should have been thanking you.
01:16:50Look, I came here to be with my daughter, and then here you come.
01:16:57And you showed me a part of me that I didn't know was still there.
01:17:03You gave me the space to remember who I was.
01:17:07It has been such a gift to me.
01:17:11Val, um, you have to understand that you've been a gift to me, too.
01:17:19You know, I haven't been able to shake what you told me.
01:17:23You told me that, um, some people were afraid to fall.
01:17:30I don't want to be afraid with you.
01:17:43I don't want you to come to Paris with me.
01:17:48Why not start the journey now?
01:17:51Think about it, it'll be just like here.
01:17:54The art, the, uh, the food, the culture.
01:17:57What about my family?
01:17:59Like, I can't just move across the world.
01:18:02And why can't you?
01:18:04I mean, look at what you're building for yourself.
01:18:07You yourself said that you've never traveled before.
01:18:11Think about it, this is the beginning.
01:18:15You're doing something that's just for you, finally.
01:18:24Let's explore another magical city.
01:18:28Together.
01:18:49Now come home with me.
01:18:52Look, there's a lot I didn't say last night.
01:18:57You know, it could have been the, um...
01:19:00Hand grenades.
01:19:01Those.
01:19:02Yeah.
01:19:05And when you mentioned Betty last night,
01:19:08I didn't tell you a thought I had about her.
01:19:13I've been working on that car for almost 30 years.
01:19:17And it seems like every time I would fix something on it,
01:19:21something else would break.
01:19:24And after all those years, no matter what, I didn't give up on it.
01:19:28I didn't get rid of it.
01:19:29I just, I just kept working on it.
01:19:32Val, I don't want to give up on you.
01:19:35And I really don't want you to give up on me.
01:19:39I mean, I, I, at my age,
01:19:42I didn't know how to tell you what was going on with me,
01:19:47regarding my...
01:19:49Oh my God.
01:19:50Ross.
01:19:52This isn't just about sex.
01:19:55I wanted love.
01:19:56I wanted you.
01:19:57You know what it was like?
01:19:58It was like, it was like I was grieving you.
01:20:01I was grieving the old you.
01:20:02You didn't want to fix any of the issues in our marriage.
01:20:05And you know what else?
01:20:06The day that I left you,
01:20:08you didn't even ask me to stay.
01:20:10Val, do you hear me?
01:20:11I...
01:20:12I am here.
01:20:16And I'm sorry.
01:20:20Listen.
01:20:23When you stood in front of that vending machine,
01:20:27my life flashed before my eyes.
01:20:31I mean, even, even now,
01:20:32seeing the version of the woman you always wanted to be.
01:20:37And I always thought we were too old to be anything other than who we were.
01:20:41Oh my God, here we go.
01:20:42No, but literally, I was wrong.
01:20:47I was wrong about a lot.
01:20:50But I am not wrong about us starting over.
01:20:55I can't start over.
01:20:57I'm not building a relationship in a graveyard.
01:21:01You said it yourself.
01:21:02I'm not the same woman that you married.
01:21:04I still believe you are.
01:21:06No, I'm not.
01:21:07I'm not.
01:21:10And you gotta understand that, Ross.
01:21:12I'm not starting from scratch.
01:21:16I'm starting with all the things that I've learned.
01:21:21And that I accept.
01:21:23And that I love about myself.
01:21:28And if you really wanna make this work,
01:21:30you gotta be willing to love the woman that I am now.
01:21:35What do you need from me?
01:21:51Baby.
01:22:03I don't wanna give you directions on how to love me.
01:22:10I want you to find your way to me.
01:22:36Wow.
01:22:37Mm-hmm.
01:22:39She would have loved this.
01:22:41Mm-hmm.
01:22:42I wanna thank you, Valerie.
01:22:45Now, um...
01:22:47I know I've said this before, but you...
01:22:49You have been an angel.
01:22:51No, no, no.
01:22:53You and your mother are the angels.
01:22:56Look, you helped a 50-something-year-old woman.
01:23:02I remember a dream that she forgot she had, so...
01:23:07I'm the grateful one.
01:23:13How old you say you were?
01:23:14Uh-uh.
01:23:16Have you lost your mind?
01:23:21Okay.
01:23:22But I see you still learning French.
01:23:24You never know.
01:23:26Well, speaking of, what are we gonna do about this box that we have in Paris?
01:23:33Paris?
01:23:33Mm-hmm.
01:23:40You got it?
01:23:41I got it.
01:23:42Okay.
01:23:42Here we go.
01:23:44All right.
01:23:45I mean...
01:23:51Oh, my God.
01:23:53I mean, have you ever looked more beautiful?
01:24:07Sweet.
01:24:10Wow.
01:24:12Yeah, so...
01:24:14We're definitely gonna have to add this to the gallery.
01:24:31Wow.
01:24:33I don't think I've seen you more beautiful.
01:24:40You drove all the way down here on a Wednesday?
01:24:44Don't you have work in the morning?
01:24:46I retired, pal.
01:24:54All his time.
01:24:56And you finally did it.
01:24:59At this point in my life, it felt more important to spend my days with someone I care for more
01:25:04than anyone else in the world.
01:25:07Not just because I want to, but because she deserves it.
01:25:16Life wouldn't be life without you.
01:25:20And when I think about spending my life with you, at this age, my only regret is it won't be
01:25:29long enough.
01:25:33I want this next chapter to be something we cherish together.
01:25:42I got my passport.
01:25:44What is that?
01:25:49Oh, my God.
01:25:50I don't know. I mean, I thought maybe we'd go somewhere you always wanted to go, like...
01:25:55Like pass or something.
01:25:58Yeah, sure. We'll figure it out.
01:26:03Yes.
01:26:05We'll figure it out.
01:26:08You want a ride?
01:26:10Yeah.
01:26:12Let's do that.
01:26:17I saw that Mary's performing tonight.
01:26:19You still like Mary, right?
01:26:21Oh, come on. Mary J. Blige, you know that's my girl.
01:26:25I know. I know.
01:26:26No, wait. Is Betty going to make it?
01:26:28Because you know, she likes to break down.
01:26:30It's only a mile away. She better not.
01:26:32She better not.
01:26:33Time to let go.
01:26:41Sing.
01:26:42All I really want is to be happy.
01:26:47Okay.
01:26:47So if I don't know my surprise, if I'm really so sweet.
01:26:52All I really want is to be happy.
01:27:25Make it
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