** Apologies for the delay on this one. I'm in Brazil. And my laptop wouldn't charge, then I was locked out of my site, which is having... issues. Bear with me. I'm re-launching soon. (I think a lot of you know that I'm ending ABelleinBrooklyn.com.)**
I've lost track of how time moves on this show. But it's well beyond MJ's physical scars healing and her boss, Greg, still isn't letting her back on the show. He says Marisol is better at handing immigration issues. MJ argues that she can cover it better, and "in espanol".
MJ hits back: "it's my show and it's my audience."
Greg: "it's SNC's show; and SNC's audience".
She says, "you've made your move; I'll make mine" and walks out of the office. Greg calls after her, "is that a threat?"
MJ stomps from Greg's office to the elevator, in the most adorable drop waist pink dress. Ugh. And she is pissed.
At home, MJ makes a $5000 donation to Rainbow Push, then calls the organization and asks to speak to Jesse Jackson.
Awww, hell.
MJ shows up at SNC sometime later with a team of civil rights lawyers in tow. Greg tries to leverage press time to get the org to back down. They're flattered, but not budging. The leader of the group, not Jesse Jackson, asks for a specific date that MJ will be back on the air "or we'll be forced to take this issue public." Greg says that won't be necessary. The group asks that MJ return in 3-6 weeks. She clears her throat. She wanted to be back sooner. Greg says he will think it over.
In the hallway, MJ says to the leader of the org that he didn't press hard enough. He cautions her "this is a process, Ms. Paul." To the sound of a song with the chorus "Raise Hell", MJ says she's been nothing but patient.
MJ leaves the building with the organizer in tow. There are cameras waiting for her, asking why Rainbow Push was present at SNC. Before hopping into a waiting SUV, MJ announces that she'll be back on the air on Monday.
Oh.
MJ is on the phone trying to reverse a charge, her donation to Rainbow Push. Lol. Mark points out that Rainbow Push is funded by corporations and until Black folk start funding organs such as Rainbow Push, their power will always be limited
That was A Word.
MJ realizes she may have gone too far with SNC. Um. You think?
Over at the family house, MJ's mama is in a fabulous wig and caftan, and having a coughing fit while she washes dishes. Niecy comes to assist but Mama being Mama insists she is fine. She don't sound fine.
Patrick pops by the house on his lunch break. He's working a new job, the one his dad hooked him up with. He's a distribution salesman for a beverage company. He seems enthused. Mom says she's proud. And she asks him about "my car" that she gave him. She can't even help being shady.
Niecy wanders back into the kitchen. Unmoved by her father's enthusiasm, she brushes him off. Patrick goes after her demanding some fatherly respect. Niecy hits him with, "you gotta earn respect to get respect."
Patrick cautions her "don't think you're grown after one week of work, little girl." He adds that she's rude and ungrateful.
Welp.
Patrick storms out, and Niecy plops out the couch. There's a voice over of a woman promising that though she missed her flight, "I'm coming, I'm coming." Harpo? Who that woman?
Patrick's back at the job when his boss approaches him to say he's late, an hour behind. Boss says, "I don't care who your father is. If you want to work at KO Cola, you have to perform."
Welp.
Mama is on the phone with MJ giving her the exaggerated version of what went down with Niecy and Patrick. She lying, but she says, "hand to God" anyway. Oh, and after all that ish, Niecy asked for a ride to work. Lol. But that ain't what mama really wants to talk about. She heard via Nicey that the gossip shows say MJ is headed back to work. MJ says it's gonna happen. Her mom tells her she sounds ungrateful.
Sigh.
MJ has a call from work, and abruptly gets off the phone.
It's Kara, who is on speaker phone with Greg who is overheard MJ call him a "fat ass". Greg wants MJ on his office now. Kara, who we know from last week is stressed out, looks mortified.
Greg plays the footage of MJ's parking lot interview where she said she's returning to work on Monday. He tells her that she walks around with a chip on her shoulder and doesn't recognize that he is her "greatest ally". He says he is "constantly advocating" for her. He adds that he is not a racist.
Word?
Greg has notes. Apparently, MJ is always late, sassy, borderline insubordinate and always strolls in right before she has to go on air.
Oh.
He tells he she's a pain in his ass... But she's also back on the air on Monday. Oh, and he kicks her out of his office.
MJ is unfazed. At home, she's on the phone with her hair stylist, thinking about going shorter for her return to air
Across town, the doorbell rings and Niecy sprints down the steps. Mom is at the door. Holy crap! It's Jill Scott!!
Fast forward: Niecy's in the sitting room with Mom who brought her two purses. Niecy says she wishes her mom was around more. Mom says it's her work schedule. Niecy says she calls, but never gets a call back. Mom says she doesn't leave a message. Well. That escalated quickly. Mom says she'll work on it.
Mama wanders into the room. Here we go. She says Niecy's been keeping her up to date, and she's heard Niecy's mom "does hair for a stripper." Niecy corrects her, "Nicki Minaj!"
Oh.
Mama is being horrible, but apparently this is an improvement to Niecy's mom aka Jackie because at least Mama spoke.
Anyway, Jackie does hair and wants Niecy to get in the business. Niecy has skills, but is too lazy to put together a portfolio. Ugh. "You have to help me help you, honey", Mom says.
MESSAGE!!!
Niecy says she has a job.
Ma'am. You work PT making $7 an hour. Mama says she is talking about a lucrative career where she can support her kids.
MJ got a haircut. Eh... Not my favorite, but she's a pretty girl, so.... She's meeting up with Mark at some club where folks do lines of coke. MJ spots a cutie who she declares is in "great shape". Mark counters, "he's not in gay shape." Apparently, the gay standard is higher.
At the bar, MJ switches the subject to Cutty Buddy. She realizes he's been there for her and is nice. "Maybe I should stop looking for the right one, and consider the nice one," she muses. Mark says no, "let him be the scratch for the itch, but don't confuse that." He says MJ is settling and she should let the one find her.
They move to the couches.
"Does anal hurt?" MJ asks.
Mark wouldn't know. He's a top. "We're not all receivers". Lol.
On Monday, MJ is back at work. Her TelePromter goes dark midway thru her segment and she keeps rattling like everything is as it should be. Well done.
At the family home, Nicey and mom return from dinner, late. Patrick is at the house watching the kids and is annoyed Niecy didn't pick up when he called. Niecy tries to brush it off, but her mom admonishes her that she should never be late especially when people are trying to help her. "You're not a child anymore and this isn't cute," Mom says.
Welp.
I like Jill Scott on this role.
Niecy sulks off, leaving her parents in the room with each other. I get the feeling they haven't been around each other in a very long time. Mom suggests to Patrick that they grab dinner and catch up.
At the office, MJ gloats to Kara about how well she did on-air. She suggests they get drinks to celebrate. Kara declines. She actually did move back in with her ex and the kids and she's still unpacking.
MJ heads home and checks her social media. There's a heap of praise for her return and her new cut. And her fam says about the same. MJ crawls into bed and Greg's criticism plays on her head.
She shows up the next morning when the office is empty, then does her show. Kara congratulates her on another dope show after, and says she is kid-free and can hang out.
MJ is worried about her performance, and is second guessing herself. Kara ain't trying to hear that, she has the night off Mommy duty. She tells MJ to hit her with the deets of where they're hanging out.
Somewhere in Atlanta, Jackie and Patrick are in Patrick's place. Jackie says it's "fine", he just needs decorative touches. Jackie is wandering around the apartment and finds a ticket stub from when she and Patrick saw Prince. I know where this is going...
But she has more to say: she wants Patrick to stop letting Nicey walk all over him. "You keep babying her," she says. "You're going to stunt her growth." Patrick fires back that Jackie needs to come around more.
There's a lot to unpack here. Jackie kinda apologizes for "snatching the girls up" and running off to California when Patrick got into drugs. Patrick points out that it worked because now she does Nicki's hair.
Jackie has a confession: she does, in fact, NOT do Nicki Minaj's hair. She does hair for the dancers. Jackie says she loves what she does, but she spends most of her time on planes and in uncomfortable seats. I've been on tour. Sounds right about right. And worse, Jackie thinks she messed the girls up. Oh, man.
Patrick comforts Jackie by kissing her. I called it!!! Now she's undressing him as she tells him, "brothers always thinking because they hit it once, they can hit it again." Patrick is proving this to be true.
MJ's is at the club, Kara ain't gonna make it. She's texting when a attractive white stranger comes by to keep her entertained. She tells him he's cute. She ain't lying. He says, "you're beautiful." They dance and make out at the club. Hold up. Is he finger popping her in the club? She seems way too open off a kiss.
Nicey's mom is heading out. She wants pics of the grandkids. Nicey wants more phone time. It's a sweet goodbye. Her parting words: you are the architect of your dreams.
Message!
MJ tells Mark that she kissed her first white boy. "I kinda feel like I let the ancestors down", she says. Oh, MJ.
Mark says he's proud.
Kara swings by with last night's numbers of MJ's show. They're in last place, which they always are, but they are "competitive with the key demos". MJ walk off in frustration.
Kara stops by the office to clarify: "it's a small drop" and they're "settling in". She reminds MJ that she fought and she won.
MJ takes a moment at the office to be happy. At home, she smokes a cigar in her pool and revels in her moment.
I like this MJ.
What did you think of Episode 5?? (And again, sorry for the delay.)