Atlanta

Oh...

Shit.

Are you coming back tonight?

Um...

No...

Thanks.

Are you high?

Not really.

Jesus.

You have to put it up. My hair.

Leave it.

This is really important, okay?

- I got it. - I'm being serious.

I got it.

Monique is really good for me.

She knows people, and they're all gonna be there.

I got it.

It's also good for Lottie.

Why else do you think I'd be here?

Oh, happy Juneteenth!

Oh, Vanessa. You look amazing.

Oh, thank you so much for having us.

And hello. I'm Monique.

You must be Mr. Hubby?

This is Earnest.

Yeah. Me. Mr. Hubby.

Oh, well, come inside, come inside.

Are they up for auction after the party, or...

Uh-uh-uh.

So, to the left, we have the bar.

To the right, we have the bathroom.

Oh, we have bathrooms upstairs, downstairs...

Many, many bathrooms.

And where is Craig?

Happy Freedom Day!

Mm, mm, mm.

Welcome.

Craig, Monique's husband.

You're familiar.

Cherokee?

Uh, no. Just black.

No, Cherokee Town and Country Club.

You're a member, right?

Uh, no, no, no.

- You sure? - Yes.

You must be confusing me with some other black guy.

You don't think I'm capable

of telling African-Americans apart?

N... no.

Just messing with you, man.

Welcome.

God, it is so great to meet both of you.

So, do you want to get me a drink?

Anything? Like a vodka cranberry?

Anything for you.

- Hey, could I get a, uh... - Sir.

I'll be right with you soon as you take your place

in the queue... The line?

I know what a queue is.

Thank you.

How can I help you, sir?

Yeah, I'd like, uh, a vodka cranberry.

I'm sorry, sir, we aren't equipped to make that drink.

- A screwdriver, then. - Sir.

We have a fixed cocktail menu for the evening.

Please make a selection.

"Juneteenth Juice. Frozen Freedom Margarita.

Emancipation Eggnog." It's June.

Nigga, do I got to explain alliteration? Hmm?

I'll have the Plantation Master Poison.

- So sorry about Earnest. - Princeton...

He just thinks he's so funny...

Oh, don't be, girl.

I like him.

Ramon! Mm!

Smile.

This is a celebration. Not an orphanage.

Hmm?

I'm glad you came. Mm-hmm.

I know we haven't known each other for a long time,

but I mean it when I say...

you remind me of me.

And we're gonna make sure you get everything you want.

Still want to be a teacher?

The principal of Pace University is here.

Easy... want to be a designer, an event planner,

- a real housewife? - Girl, quit playing...

Shh!

You can have anything that you want.

You are a smart, beautiful,

and determined lady like me.

And your fancy Ivy League husband is here,

so there's no problem there.

Thanks, Mo.

Glad you came.

What the fuck?

Nobody can give you freedom.

Nobody can give you equality, or justice, or anything.

If you're a man, you take it.

Malcolm X quote that inspired that painting.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...

Stop, stop. You're fine.

You... you want a real drink?

- Sure. - All right.

That's a... interesting interpretation of that quote.

It's the only interpretation.

It accurately depicts the plight of the contemporary black man.

That is why I painted it.

Wow.

So, Earn.

What kind of business you in?

Music management.

- Yes. - Yes?

No, it's just... it's nice.

A brother on the business side of music.

- What do you mean? - Mm.

Please.

Well, music is such an integral part

of the African-American culture.

It's expression. And it's been stripped from you.

Black music artists are products

for white American consumption and appropriation.

Mm. Is this Hennessy?

Mm-hmm.

Are you an archaeologist in African studies?

I'm an optometrist.

I see a picture of you in Africa over there.

Oh, that.

Yeah, that was... whew.

That was a pilgrimage.

Needed to pay my respects.

Ask for forgiveness... Well, you know, right?

I don't. I really don't.

What, you... you've never been to Africa?

No.

You got to go!

Man, it's your motherland. What are you thinking?

Missing... what are you?

Huh? What?

Where are your ancestors from?

Congo? Ivory Coast?

Southeastern Bantu region.

I don't know... this spooky thing called "slavery" happened,

and my entire ethnic identity was erased, so...

Exactly.

Where have you been?

You sure you want to...

stay here the whole time?

Yes.

Are you sure, though?

Earn.

It doesn't feel like you're in

a Spike Lee-directed

"Eyes Wide Shut" right now?

Hmm?

Are these slave ships?

Do you think that I am happy here,

having to prostitute myself for an opportunity?

Maybe.

Do you think that I'm happy that I need you here

in order to do that?

Maybe.

Can we, for once,

just pretend that we aren't who we are?

I mean, because we both know that you're good at pretending.

Mm.

I prefer Craig Mack.

If you... if you're gonna ask.

I have to say this.

You remind me of a character in my new play.

- Really? - You do.

- Oh. Mm. - You really do.

So comical.

And handsome!

- Oh! - Ooh.

Vanessa, you must be in stitches every day,

married to such a funny man.

Mm.

Well, as I always say,

you have to laugh to keep from crying.

Yeah, she always says that.

- Yes. - You should slow down.

We're going up at the Rialto next month.

My play, "With Tail Between Legs."

- Mm, good title. - I wrote and directed it.

It all takes place at a strip club.

Two gangbangers hold a pastor, a drug dealer,

and a pregnant teen hostage

in the middle of Hurricane Katrina.

- That's a real situation. - Mm! Sad.

I'm glad that story's being told.

We've already adapted it into a movie.

- We would love to read that. - Love.