"Busted on Brigham Lane"

Girl: ♪ I've been so many places in my life and time ♪ ♪ I've sung a lot of songs ♪ ♪ I've made some bad rhyme ♪ ♪ Acted out my life in stages ♪ ♪ Ten thousand people watching ♪ ♪ But we're alone now ♪ ♪ And I'm singing this song to you ♪ [ Up-tempo music playing ] Young woman: Momo, what's up with your birthday?

Momo: Mina's planning something.

Young woman: Purple is just like, bam.

Like, you want it, you know?

[ Laughs ] Mm.

Which one?

Momo: I'd go with the bam.

[ Music continues ] Man: Oh, sister, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Quarters, nickels, dimes -- whatever.

We're spending.

Thank you, thank you.

Sister on the phone don't want to contribute.

Oh, wow.

Look at this beautiful girl right here.

All right.

You have a blessed day.

Take care.

But take you some chips.

♪♪ [ Film projector clicking ] All right.

Thank you.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Have a blessed evening.

See you later.

Take care.

Woman: Mr. Gregory.

Gregory: What's happening, hot mama?

-Woman: How you doing?

-Gregory: How you doing?

Woman: Oh, Lord have mercy.

Always the flirt.

Gregory: One day I'm gonna find out what's under that quilt.

[ Laughs ] Momo: Oh!

Pshh.

Mina: And mama's baby?

Say, "Yeah."

Aww, baby.

Got you smelling like the funky outdoors.

Give her the groceries, Scooter.

Momo: Why can't Scooter put the groceries away?

Mina: He's not staying.

He's my man.

He's not my maid.

Now, get to the groceries.

You rolled your eyes?

Momo: No.

Mina: All right.

Momo: ♪ I know your image of me ♪ ♪ Is what I hope to be ♪ ♪ You treated me unkindly, but, darling -- ♪ Mina: Stop singing that song in my house.

[ Exhales deeply ] Where's my stroller?

Hello?

Mo?

Momo: What you think Pop's been up to?

Mina: I don't know.

He's probably dead.

[ Chips crunching ] Stop trying to change the subject.

Where's my stroller?

Momo: You really want to know where it is?

Mina: What do you think, Mo?

Momo: Okay.

I was at the park, and Kita and them from school showed up.

-Mina: Kita?

-Momo: Yes.

Nikita and her mannish friends come to the park, and they start swinging on the swings and smoking.

-Mina: Around my daughter?

-Momo: Weed!

Mina: Mnh-mnh.

That's a wrap.

Give me her number.

-I'm calling her mama.

-Momo: Whoa, whoa.

No, no.

I'm not finished.

I'm not finished.

I decided to be the bigger woman and get out of there.

And she snatched the stroller from me, almost knocked Pernell out of my hands.

Mina: What?

You didn't fight?

-Momo: No.

-Mina: What do you mean?

-Momo: No, no, no.

I mean -- -Mina: That's two paychecks!

What you mean you didn't fight?!

-Oh, my God!

It's a wrap.

-Momo: And then -- -Can't we just call the police?

-Mina: What the police gonna do?

I can get got for my daughter, and Kita's gonna find out, too.

Momo: Yo, don't we just have a baby stroller in the basement?

Mina: I don't want that raggedy stroller!

-[ Baby crying ] -Stop playing with me, Mo.

Momo: [ Sighs ] You really think Pop is dead?

Mina: What the -- Who cares about Pop?!

I want my damn stroller!

I said stop playing with me!

[ Train passing ] Man: I have your money, man.

That's what I do.

Stack cake, baby.

Gregory: You need to hurry up and get my money.

You said you was gonna have it two weeks ago.

For real?

-Man: Yeah, dog.

What?

-Gregory: So it's like that?

Man: You gonna get your money when you get your money.

That's what it's gonna be.

[ Indistinct shouting ] Gregory: What?!

Tell you what!

I run this!

Better have my $500 tomorrow!

Keep running!

Run and get my money!

[ Indistinct shouting, basketball bouncing ] [ Mailbox rattles ] Momo: [ Grunts ] Young woman: Raspberry.

I like it, though.

Young woman #2: Right?

-Young woman: Cheers.

-Young woman #2: Cheers.

Young woman: Mo, you sure you don't want one?

Momo: No.

I'm good.

Young woman: Oh, you're sure?

Hmm.

Young woman #2: They're good, though.

Young woman: Why you always eating those candies?

-Momo: 'Cause they're good.

-Young woman: Oh.

Well... [ Laughs ] ...I don't like them.

[ Laughs ] [ Telephone ringing ] Mina: Hello?

Momo: Mina.

Mina: Yeah.

Yeah.

Where are you?

You're supposed to be here already.

Momo: Um, I am -- I'm in the Bronx.

Mina: What are you doing in the Bronx?

Momo: Brigham Lane?

Does that -- Mina: Okay.

So are you on your way?

Momo: Doesn't matter where.

Something came up.

Mina: You need to be here because I need to leave.

These tickets are nonrefundable.

I alrady bought the tickets.

You know that, right?

Momo: I'm really sorry.

I know you bought the ticket.

I will buy you new tickets.

Mina: Why are you in the Bronx?

Did you find my stroller in the Bronx?

Huh?

Did you find that?

I hope you find some sense in the Bronx.

Momo: Mina, I found him.

Mina: You need to -- Who?

Momo: Pop.

I found him in time to ask him to come to my party.

Mina: No, you are not gonna invite him to my house on your birthday party that I am throwing you.

-Momo: It's my party.

-Mina: ...stop playing around.

Momo: What is wrong with you?

People can change.

And I'm gonna give him a chance.

I just need you -- Mina: Let it be.

You're gonna wish you listened to me.

Are you coming here?

Hello.

Hello!

-Momo: Mina, I'm gonna do this.

-Mina: Unh-unh.

-I need you to let me -- -Mina: Unh-unh.

Momo: I need you to let me do this, okay?

-Mina: Stop playing with me.

-Momo: I got to go.

I got to go.

Mina: Momo!

[ Baby crying ] Gregory: Now, what's all this?

Huh?

Look, I ain't here to play no games.

I want my money.

Momo: You don't recognize me, Pop?

Gregory: Monifah.

Momo: It's been a long time since anybody called me Monifah.

You, uh...you look the same.

Gregory: You got a little thicker.

Momo: Wow.

Okay.

No, you couldn't even wait for, like, the second round to get that jab in?

You couldn't wait?

Okay.

So...what you been up to?

Gregory: Chasing down progress, improving myself.

Momo: Mm.

You got to be in isolation to do that?

Gregory: Some would say.

Momo: Cool.

Gregory: You wouldn't happen to have my money, now, would you?

Momo: Maybe I do, maybe I don't.

Gregory: Maybe you do, maybe you don't?

Either you have it or you don't, little miss.

Momo: I learned to hedge my bits, strategize a little bit.

I learned it playing chess.

Gregory: I know.

[ Chuckles ] Momo: Can I ask you something?

Gregory: Hmm?

Momo: Why do you have my name tattooed on your wrist?

Gregory: I had to find something to cover up some old evil names.

It was either this or Foxy Brown.

Momo: You got Momo 'cause it's fly.

Have all them dudes in the chess league looking for that Momo step.

Gregory: Taking all that.

Oh!

Oh, oh, oh!

-Momo: Right!

-Gregory: They were like, "I need to get one of them Momo stairs, brother."

[ Both laugh ] You still playing, baby?

Momo: No.

Gregory: You ain't playing chess?

Momo: Who am I gonna play chess with?

Gregory: Really?

Momo: Listen.

Um, I know you came for your money.

But, uh... Well, that's for you.

Gregory: There's $500 in here?

Momo: Why don't you look at it?

Gregory: Oh, it's not my scene, Mo.

Momo: Not your scene?

Gregory: You know what I'm talking about.

Momo: Yeah.

Yeah, I know.

[ Siren wailing in distance ] I got to go.

[ Train passing ] Gregory: Monifah.

What time is it at?

Momo: 6:00 Gregory: I don't know where you stay.

Momo: That's okay.

I can come meet you.

Gregory: Yeah.

All right.

Momo: Say what?

I... Gregory: All right.

Momo: All right.

Gregory: So I'll see you there.

And don't be late.

Momo: Look, Mina.

I'm sorry.

Mina: I'm not even speaking to you right now.

Did he tell you what you wanted to hear?

Momo: I-I thought you weren't speaking to me.

Mina: Shut up.

Scooter: [ Chuckles ] Momo: He said he's coming to the party.

[ Film projector clicking ] [ Down-tempo music plays ] Momo: Hey, Pop!

[ Chuckles ] Uh, yeah.

This one.

Gregory: [ Exhales deeply ] Momo: What happened?

You okay?

Okay.

Um, let me get you some ice, all right?

Gregory: Yeah.

I got it.

I got it.

Oh, no, no, no.

I got it.

Thank you.

[ Exhales deeply ] Momo: You want one of these?

Gregory: One of what?

Momo: You still eat these?

I still remember the first time you gave me one.

Hell, this has been my favorite -- Gregory: Hey.

Watch your mouth.

And no, I don't eat that.

It's bad for your teeth.

Momo: Okay.

Gregory: Hey.

Look, I'm sorry, Mo.

Momo: It's fine.

It's fine.

Listen, if I get you something to wear... you'll still come?

Gregory: You're just -- You're just never gonna give up.

Momo: No.

Gregory: I see you grew into those eyes just like your mama.

What's that evil up to?

Momo: She passed.

Last year.

I'll wait for you.

Gregory: How did she die?

Momo: Diabetes.

We just didn't know she had it.

[ Chuckles ] Gregory: Oh!

Momo: What?

Gregory: Mo, I can't wear this.

You see these things under my... -Momo: It's fine.

-Gregory: You see this?

Mo, I can't wear this.

Momo: I'll get you something else.

Gregory: Don't worry about it.

I ain't going.

Momo: You said you were going.

Gregory: Monifah, look.

Go to your party.

I ain't going.

-I ain't going.

-Momo: You pr-- You promised.

-Gregory: [ Groans ] -Momo: Fine.

I can't remember that song we used to sing.

I tried, but I can't.

Will you sing it with me?

-Gregory: I don't sing.

-Momo: That's not true, Pop.

-Gregory: That is.

-Momo: That's not true.

Everyone used to want to sing like you.

-Gregory: I said I don't sing.

-Momo: I still talk to people who remember hearing you outside their window.

Come on.

Sing.

♪ I've been so many places in my life and time ♪ ♪ I've sung a lot of songs ♪ ♪ Made some bad rhymes ♪ ♪ I've acted out my life in stages ♪ ♪ With 10,000 people watching ♪ Gregory: Stop!

Momo: ♪ But we're alone now ♪ ♪ And I'm singing this song for you ♪ Gregory: Monifah, please don't provoke me.

Momo: Um, and then... ♪ I know your image of me ♪ ♪ Is what I hope to be ♪ Gregory: Mo, I asked you nicely.

Momo: ♪ You treated me unkindly ♪ ♪ Darling, can't you see?

♪ -Gregory: I said stop singing!

-Momo: I'm sorry.

No, no, no.

This is your part.

Gregory: Mo, I don't want to hear this!

Momo: I remember.

I remember.

♪ I love you in a space where there's no place or time ♪ [ Voice breaking ] ♪ I love you ♪ Gregory: Mo!

Shut up!

Momo: [ Sobs ] -Gregory: Aah!

-[ Clattering ] [ Dog barking ] [ Film projector clicking ] [ Footsteps ] Mina: Hey.

That party ain't going nowhere.

Sit down.

You okay?

It's okay.

It's okay.

Go ahead and cry.

Go ahead.

Momo: He just wouldn't... Momo: He just... Mina: Just let it out.

It's okay.

It's okay.

All right?

Just let it out.

I'm here for you.

Momo: I know, Mina.

I... Mina: I'm here.

It's okay.

Momo: I just... Mina: Shh.

Momo: [ Sobs ] Mina: Shh.

[ Down-tempo music plays ] Mina: So you get the money from for a new stroller?

Momo: Consider it a gift from Willie.

Or from Pop.

Whichever.

Man: Hey!

Whoo-hoo!

Mina: Did she just roll her eyes at me, sucking that pickle like a skank?

Momo: 'Cause she is a skank and a scary skank.

Mina: You better tell your little skanky friend to leave me alone.

I done lost one stroller, but I'm not losing another.

I'll tell you that.