Brianna and Jamie butt heads over baby names, sparking deeper questions about their future. Hope heads to a writer’s retreat in a last-ditch effort to overcome her creative block. Meanwhile, Chanise makes a bold move by confessing her feelings to Mikal—and ends up suspended from work.
SEASON 3: EPISODE 21 ( Disconnect & Reset)
Written by: Bili Sarafina & Tanisha Williams
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Episode 21: Disconnect & Reset
Written by Tanisha Williams & Billi Sarafina
SCENE 1
INT. CAR - DAY
FX: SNORING AND A CAR BEEPING. A CAR DOOR SLAMS SHUT AND THEN WE HEAR TAPPING ON THE WINDOW.
CHANISE: (V.O.) Shit, I just wanted to rest my eyes for 5 minutes. I’ve been so tired from school, studying, and sexing. When I tell you I need this nap. Now, this lady is knocking on my window like I owe her some money.
FX: CHANISE ROLLS THE WINDOW DOWN.
RESIDENT: It looks like you were sleeping on the job.
CHANISE: No, I was praying.
RESIDENT: Hmph. Your mouth was wide open.
CHANISE: And?
FX: CHANISE STARTS OPENING HER TRUCK AND GATHERING MAIL.
CHANISE: You’re the new resident at 2630?
RESIDENT: Yes, we paid cash.
CHANISE: Ching, ching. How can I help you?
RESIDENT: Are you our regular mail carrier?
CHANISE: The one and only.
RESIDENT: Can you see to it that we don’t receive the last owner's mail? Only mail for McCaleb, please. Also, Little is my maiden name.
CHANISE: (snarky) I can’t make that promise.
RESIDENT: Well, if you don’t see to it that my request is honored, I can promise a few things, and one being that you won’t be the one and only.
CHANISE: Are you threatening my job?
RESIDENT: (Snidely) You insult me? (beat) I’m telling you that I have been having issues with my mail. I’ve also noticed some of my packages have gone missing.
CHANISE: Lady, I’m not lost and found.
RESIDENT: (BEAT) Well, I can be your worst nightmare. Maybe I need to get your supervisor on the line. My husband is a huge financial supporter of this county, and I believe we donated to the Hidden Hills post office on behalf of Post General Master Dickie’s recent passing. May he rest in peace.
CHANISE: So, Little and McCaleb, you said? What’s missing?
RESIDENT: That’s more l like it.
CHANISE: (V.O.) I don’t need this bougie-ass bitch messing up my payday.
FADE
SCENE 2
INT. SUNSET HOTEL
HOPE: (V.O.) I decided to come to the Queen Acres writing retreat in Palm Springs. The two-hour drive here alone puts you in a mindset of peace and tranquility. All the way here, I kept hearing that defeatist voice in my head saying, ‘just give it up, Hope.’ But I’m not; I’m going to push through my doubts and fears and use this time to get my script into the best form ever. Pulling up to this oasis in the middle of the desert is so surreal.
HOTEL EMPLOYEE: Hi, welcome to the Sunset Hotel. You must be Hope Jones.
HOPE: How did you know? Have we met?
FX: HOTEL EMPLOYEE LAUGHS.
HOTEL EMPLOYEE: No, but we do require a photo of all attendees to be submitted with the application, and I believe this is the photo.
HOPE: Oh, I’m holding my phone.
HOTEL EMPLOYEE: So, let’s switch. I’ll trade your phone for a refreshing sangria. Alcoholic or Non?
HOPE: Oh, you’re taking my phone?
HOTEL EMPLOYEE: Yes. See right here? In the small print, it says attendees must be willing to leave cell phones with us. We want you to be fully present and distraction-free during this retreat. Creativity thrives best without interruptions.
HOPE: I missed that part. I promise I won’t be distracted.
HOTEL EMPLOYEE: Don't worry; it’ll be safe with me. (BEAT) Here is your attendee packet. Your key is inside. If you would like a tour of the property, you can use the app mentioned in your packet or meet us down here for a mixer at 7 p.m.
HOPE: Will do. Thank you so much. Ummm, do we get phone breaks?
HOTEL EMPLOYEE: It’s all in the app.
FRANCESCA: Excuse me, are you here for the writers' retreat?
HOPE: Yes, I am.
FRANCESCA: Oh, thank goodness. I thought I was going to be the only person in their twenties here. You know, most people our age can’t afford these retreats. I thought I would be stuck discussing midlife crisis stories with a bunch of forty-year-olds.
HOPE: (V.O.) Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? Because you look forty—heck, fifty. Meanwhile, I’m floating on 28 because Black don’t crack.
HOPE: I know what you mean. Ugh.
FRANCESCA: I’m Francesca. I arrived yesterday to get the lay of the land.
HOPE: I’m Hope.
FRANCESCA: Nice to meet you. Are you going to the mixer?
HOPE: I think I’ll make it.
FRANCESCA: Great, let’s meet at the bar at 6.
HOPE: (cheeky) Sounds like a plan, Fran.
FRANCESCA: What room are you in? Maybe we’re neighbors.
HOPE: (V.O.) God, I hope not.
HOPE: 217.
FRANCESCA: I’m 215! Hey, neighbor! Let’s walk and talk. So, what are you looking to get out of this?
HOPE: I just hope I’m able to get my creative juices flowing and leave with my first full draft of a show I’m working on.
FRANCESCA: Oh, my God! Tell me all about it.
HOPE: Well, actually, it’s not a huge deal, but...
FRANCESCA: (INTERRUPTS) Well, I’m from Denver and landed a writer’s assistant job last month. I’ve only been in Los Angeles for a month. I was so excited, but soon realized that these writers knew their stuff. I’ve been having concerns about my level of writing, and my dad suggested I go to a writer’s retreat. His friend runs this one, so that’s how I found out about it. I was thinking about bringing my dog because I thought I wouldn't have any friends, and then I met you. So, where are you from again?
HOPE: Oh, this is me. (V.O.) Saved by my room.
FRANCESCA: And I’m right over there. So, if you need to borrow a cup of sugar, just holla.
FX: FRANCESCA LAUGHS.
HOPE: Okay, see you down there.
HOPE: (V.O.) Wow! Must be nice to have a daddy who has friends in high places. The only person my dad ever introduced me to is the shoe-shine guy in his building. I definitely feel this is a perfect place to rub shoulders. Or elbows?
FADE.
SCENE 3A
INT. BRIANNA’S HOUSE - DAY
BRIANNA: (V.O.) Jamie and I interviewed our midwife today, and I think we’re actually going to birth our babies at home. Jamie came so prepared; he was asking her every question in the book about her training, her emergency plan, and even what his role would be. I’m still not sure about this natural thing, but then I thought our ancestors. But when I think of doing this with no epidural, I get stuck. Well, we still have some time before we confirm, but the clock is ticking. And now Jamie keeps bugging me about baby names. The past few days, he’s literally hung up baby names all around the house—on the bathroom mirrors in the morning when I get up, on the refrigerator, you name it. So now he’s ready to debate.
BRIANNA: What about Levi and Luna?
JAMIE: You know these are Black children, right?
BRIANNA: Don’t even start with that. Those names are racially ambiguous.
JAMIE: Those names will get them bullied. I knew a Levi, and people wore him out like a pair of jeans. (laughs)
BRIANNA: You’re not funny.
JAMIE: What about Jamie Junior and Jamisha?
BRIANNA: (laughing) Jamisha, really? You have lost your mind. How about Jayden?
JAMIE: Elizabeth.
BRIANNA: Didn’t you just say these are Black babies?
JAMIE: (chuckles) It’s my grandmother’s name. At least name my son after me.
BRIANNA: I thought you said you hated your name because it was unisex. You said you were bullied over your name too.
JAMIE: Yeah...
BRIANNA: (sultry) Besides, the way I scream your name, I want you to be my only Jamie.
JAMIE: Feel like screaming my name right now?
BRIANNA: Oh my God, Jamie! I’m as big as a house.
JAMIE: I like houses.
BRIANNA: Seriously, we can’t get through any conversation without you bringing up sex.
JAMIE: I’m kidding.
BRIANNA: Pass me my phone.
JAMIE: What? What did I do?
BRIANNA: I have to call my girls. They need to weigh in on this.
FX: FACETIME RING
CHANISE: Girl, you won’t believe what happened to me at work today! This Karen had the nerve to attack me over some mail coming to her house. Like I’m the reason other people’s mail is coming to her.
BRIANNA: What did you say?
CHANISE: I told her to kiss my Black ass.
BRIANNA: That’s my girl. I tried to add Hope, but she’s not answering.
FX: FACETIME RINGING
CHANISE: You know Hope is at that rehab.
BRIANNA: She is not at rehab; she’s at a writer’s retreat.
CHANISE: Same thing.
FX: ANSWERING FACETIME
HOPE: Hey y’all.
BRIANNA: There you are!
HOPE: Yeah, girl, I saw you calling. I had to sign in on my computer. They took my phone.
CHANISE: Where do they do that? Rehabs.
BRIANNA: Girl!
HOPE: What’d I miss?
BRIANNA: Jamie and I are butting heads over names for your niece and nephew.
HOPE: Oh, Naya and Noah. Problem solved.
CHANISE: I like Kyla and Kyle.
BRIANNA: That’s so cute.
JAMIE: What’s cute about that?
HOPE: Zane and Zara.
JAMIE: We’re raising superheroes now.
FX: LAUGHTER
BRIANNA: Let’s be serious, guys.
FX: THERE’S A KNOCK ON THE DOOR
HOPE: I have to jump. Brianna, just let them pick their own names. You don’t have to actually name them right away these days. Just let the name come to you. I gotta go.
CHANISE: Don’t do that.
FX: HOPE HANGS UP
BRIANNA: So, I guess that just leaves us, Chanise.
CHANISE: Sorry, sis, I’m having company later and need to prepare. You got this.
FX: CHANISE HANGS UP
BRIANNA: I guess it’s just you and me.
JAMIE: Let’s rock, paper, scissors for the final four.
BRIANNA: Deal!
FADE
SCENE 4
INT. SUNSET HOTEL - WRITER’S RETREAT
FX: THERE’S A KNOCK AT HOPE'S DOOR IN THE BACKGROUND
HOPE: Coming!
FX: HOPE OPENS THE DOOR
FRANCESCA: Wow, your room is way bigger than mine.
HOPE: My sister splurges.
FRANCESCA: I brought you a little pick-me-up.
HOPE: What is it?
FRANCESCA: It’s an edible. It’ll keep you up when we get to the boring intro speeches.
HOPE: I don’t know...
FRANCESCA: Here, take half of it, and I’ll take the other half.
HOPE: Just don’t let me act a fool. I hope I don’t regret this.
FRANCESCA: Of course not.
FADE
SCENE 5
INT. CHANISE'S HOUSE
FX: BATH WATER RUNNING. SOFT MUSIC. CHANISE EXHALES.
CHANISE (V.O.) Ohhh, I’m finally done with all my tests, and thanks to Mikal’s support, I passed all of them with flying colors. So, tonight Mikal is coming over, and we are not talking about work or school. Tonight, I’m going to tell him how I feel. If my instincts serve me right, he feels the same. I was the one who wanted to take it slow and make sure he wasn’t doing anything I didn’t feel comfortable with, and he’s assured me that he isn’t. Oh, I think I hear him coming.
CHANISE: Coming!
FX: KNOCK ON THE DOOR. DOOR OPENS.
MIKAL: Just the lady I was looking for.
CHANISE: (blushes) Come on, silly. I’ll take your clothes.
MIKAL: You move fast.
CHANISE: I’ve prepared a pamper night for you. So, follow me to your bath.
FX: DOOR CLOSES.
MIKAL: I’m right behind you.
INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
FX: GETTING INTO THE BATH.
CHANISE: (V.O.) Lawd. As Mikal undressed, I wanted to pass go and collect what’s mine. I really want to take my time with Mikal tonight and just pour into him. I don’t get to reciprocate as much, and I think it’s time that I do. As Mikal slid into the bath...
FX: MIKAL GETS IN.
MIKAL: Will you be... Oh, sh! This is hot. HOT!
FX: MIKAL JUMPS OUT AND FALLS. CHANISE TURNS THE WATER ON.
CHANISE: Oh no. I’m sorry. I didn’t know the water was that hot.
MIKAL: It’s okay, just a few layers of my skin burned off.
CHANISE: Okay, let me cool the water some.
FX: CHANISE TURNS THE WATER DOWN.
CHANISE: Get in, babe, and I’ll bathe you.
FX: MIKAL GETS IN. CHANISE BATHES MIKAL.
MIKAL: I needed this more than I thought.
CHANISE: Well, you’ve really been taking time out for me. So, I wanted to do something special for you.
MIKAL: I love this side of you. You’ve been the sweetest, and I feel like you trust me again, finally.
FX: CHANISE STOPS BATHING HIM.
CHANISE: So, why haven’t you asked me to be in a relationship with you?
FX: CHANISE CONTINUES.
MIKAL: We are in sync. I like what we have.
CHANISE: What do we have? What is that?
MIKAL: Each other.
FX: MIKAL KISSES HER.
CHANISE: So, you’re comfortable with what we have? Like, no more?
MIKAL: I like how it is.
CHANISE: How is it?
MIKAL: Ummmm... (he gulps, nervously)
CHANISE: No commitment?
MIKAL: Can I get a towel?
FX: CHANISE GRABS A TOWEL FROM THE BATHROOM SHELF AND THROWS IT.
CHANISE: Here. (beat) So, you just want to continue to play the field and have me out here guessing what this is?
MIKAL: Guessing? You were the one that told me you wanted to go slow.
CHANISE: It’s been 60 days. How slow do you want to take it?
MIKAL: Ssshhh. Let me show you.
CHANISE: Show me?
CHANISE: (V.O.) Mikal pulled my robe open and began to pleasure me in all ways imaginable. I forgot what I wanted to fight about. Damn, Chanise, you have to learn to stand your ground. It’s hard to do when he picks me up like this. Oh damn, not the hair. Why am I like this? Fuck it, I’m going to let him slide on this one.
FX: WATER SPLASHING.
FADE
SCENE 6
INT. LOUNGE
HOPE (V.O.) I don’t know where Francesca ran off to, but those edibles kicked in. Now, here I am looking down at a crowd of strangers dancing on the bar as they cheer me on. Francesca introduced me to Nicholas, a television producer. We talked about story and structure and also the fears of not really having it all in the first draft. But we all know that writing is rewriting. (beat) If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that. As a matter of fact, the next person that says that to me, they owe me a dollar. From what I remember, he offered to read my work and give me notes. I got so excited; I think that’s how I ended up here. Who knew a retreat could be so magical and inspiring to my creative process? Before I arrived, I had writer’s block. Now, I have finished writing my script in my head. The freedom I feel here is amazing—just a bunch of writers working on their craft. I mean, it’s not every day an experienced producer wants to read your work and not try to get into your pants. Did that guy just throw a dollar at me?
FADE
SCENE 7
INT. BRIANNA'S BEAUTY BOX
FX: PHONE RINGING AND BEAUTY SALON SOUNDS.
BRIANNA: (groggy) Brianna’s Beauty Box.
CUSTOMER: I need to cancel my reservation.
BRIANNA: Oh, okay. Well, would you like to reschedule?
CUSTOMER: Not a chance. What I just read on your Yelp review is shocking. You should be ashamed of yourself.
BRIANNA: Excuse me?
FX: DIAL TONE. BRIANNA HANGS UP.
EMPLOYEE: Another cancellation?
BRIANNA: Yeah. She mentioned...
EMPLOYEE: The Yelp reviews? (beat) Yeah, we didn't want to worry you, but we've been getting a lot of cancellations around some dumb-ass customer's crazy reviews. We haven’t been able to figure out whose customer it is, though.
BRIANNA: (panicked) When it’s something like this, you HAVE to worry me! (beat) Diana!
FX: BRIANNA HURRIES OFF TO FIND DIANA. THE PHONE RINGS, AND THE EMPLOYEE ANSWERS.
INT. OFFICE DOOR - CONTINUOUS
DIANA: (panicked) Honey, what? Is it time?
BRIANNA: No, we’re under attack. I just received five cancellations in the last hour. Do you know how this could affect our business long-term if this isn’t resolved?
DIANA: Darling, there’s no need to panic.
BRIANNA: So, you knew and didn’t tell me?
DIANA: I didn’t because I didn’t want you to panic. Like you are now.
BRIANNA: Pull it up! What does it say?
DIANA: I SAID I am on it.
BRIANNA: PULL IT UP!!!!!!
FX: DIANA TYPES QUICKLY INTO THE COMPUTER.
DIANA: It’s obviously some psychopath. It says, "Brianna’s Beauty Box is a hellhole. My hair fell out in clumps the last time I got it shampooed there. The stylists all talk on the phone constantly, and I even saw roaches running around. The dryers are broken, and most of the stylists share supplies. And let’s talk about the owner herself—she’s barely ever there. Maybe because she’s busy taking advantage of men half her age. She got knocked up by a man 18 years younger than her. How pathetic. If the roles were reversed, it would be a big issue."
BRIANNA: (hurt) Stop. (beat) That sounds personal.
DIANA: I have someone working on it. They haven’t been able to make direct connections to anyone at the salon. However, they should give me an update by the end of the day.
BRIANNA: Okay, I need to go home and talk to Jamie. This is my reputation we’re talking about. Call me the moment you hear anything.
FX: BRIANNA WALKS OUT.
BRIANNA: (V.O.) I can’t believe this. I don’t bother anyone, and I’m never in anyone’s business. So, who is this? Why would someone say such cruel things about my business? You can eat off my salon floor. My stylists are some of the top in the game, and it’s nobody's business what I do in my personal life. But when I rack my brain, the only person that comes to mind is Jamie’s mother. We’ve definitely been at odds. If there’s one thing I’m not going to tolerate, it’s defamation of my business or my character.
FADE