This Christmas Page #7

you're welcome to stay here.

We have plenty of room.

That's very kind of you, ma'am.

Thank you.

Make the two of these gentlemen

a plate.

- Appreciate it, ma'am.

- Mama, you gonna eat too?

- I seem to have lost my appetite.

- First time I cook...

...you're not gonna eat?

- It's not the first time you've cooked.

- Probably why she lost her appetite.

- I lost my appetite.

How long did you guys think you were

gonna be able to keep this a secret?

It wasn't a secret. It was a surprise.

Yeah, I think we kind of covered that.

Why is Claude AWOL?

Because his leave was denied.

He didn't inform his superiors

that he was getting married.

But Claude wasn't

gonna change his mind.

He told me that he knew

he was gonna marry me...

...from the first moment

he laid eyes on me.

He knew, just like that?

He said some things

you can't control.

- Like marriage?

- And children.

You're pregnant too?

- Did I just say that?

- Do your parents know?

They're not fans of Claude.

- Because he's...

- Black.

Okay, let me get this straight.

You're a newlywed, pregnant...

...your husband's AWOL and in jail...

...and your parents don't like him

because he's black?

- Damn, girl.

- And all I want is a stiff drink.

But I can't because I'm pregnant.

Look, you with family now, it's okay.

It's okay.

I'll drop this stuff off with Claude

and I'll be back.

I'll go with Joe and let Claude know

that his wife's here.

Give him my love.

I know a first sergeant in the Corps

who owes me a favour or two.

I'm gonna see if he can work it out

for us to see Claude...

...before they take him back, okay?

I know the Lord will make it happen.

I put my money on Joe first.

- Baby.

- He'll be all right, Ma.

Mama, I think we need to talk.

I still can't believe it.

What, AWOL or married?

Both.

I know, he's a decent kid.

Raised right.

I should know.

I practically raised him myself.

- Why do you do that?

- What?

Make everything about you.

Trust me, it's not about me.

I'm the last person it's about.

Then why are you constantly reminding

everyone what you do for them?

Because when I look down

the list of everybody I take care of...

...I'm not even on it.

You chose to work at

the dry cleaners.

You chose to get married,

you chose to have kids.

Like you chose to raise Claude.

Now you want us to feel guilty?

Somebody had to stay here

and help Ma'Dere when you left.

You think I wanted to stay here

and work?

You took away my choice

when you left.

I'm selfish. I'll own that.

But you deserve better, Lisa.

What are you really trying to say?

Because I've heard it all before.

What? I'm bossy,

my kids are spoiled...

- I shouldn't have married Malcolm...

- He's cheating on you, Lisa.

I know.

You know?

I didn't have to go to college

to know that, okay?

What do you want me to say?

- I got two kids, no degree...

- So?

So it doesn't make me particularly hot

on the dating circuit.

Plus, I'm not trying to start all over.

Sharing your husband with another

woman makes you pretty pathetic.

Pathetic? You know,

you would say that.

Since you don't have responsibilities

and don't care...

...about anybody but yourself.

- Yes, pathetic.

You know what?

When it comes to this family...

...you'll go 10 rounds just to satisfy

some deep damn insecurity...

...because you didn't go to college. To

prove to everybody how smart you are.

But when Malcolm says jump...

...your Oprah alter ego runs

for the nearest exit.

You let that fraction of a man run you

because you're scared to start over?

Women do it every day,

so stop marking time.

Drop by a magazine rack,

deal with the issues in your marriage...

...and stop taking this sh*t out

on the rest of us, sister.

Get out of my face, Kelli.

Come here!

- Let go!

- Hey!

Stop! Stop! Stop!

What are you doing?

Get away from me, Mel!

Forget you

and the rest of this family.

- Oh, my hair!

- What just happened?

We just had a discussion.

So dumb!

Senior was a good man.

But he was a terrible husband

and father.

But did you love him?

At one point, more than life itself.

Yeah, but he still left, didn't he?

Quentin, he left

for the same reason you left.

Senior had a calling with his music.

It broke my heart...

...but it would have killed him

if he'd stayed.

See, some men aren't fit

to be married.

They're just too selfish.

Now, Joe, he came much later,

and he has helped me.

He has respected me in ways

that you cannot even imagine.

I got better things to do with

my imagination than think about Joe.

Quen, I brought you into this world,

and I will take you out...

...if you ever use that tone

against Joe again.

- Now, you understand?

- It ain't gonna happen again.

By the time you wake up

in the morning, I'll be gone.

"When you wake up

in the morning, I'll be gone."

You are truly your father's son.

You know what?

Baby was right about you.

- It's kind of sad, Mama.

- What are you talking about?

Your hatred for Senior,

your resentment for me.

It makes it impossible for that boy

to be honest.

Honest? Honest about what?

That's something you're gonna

have to talk to him about.

I'm just sorry that I was

such a disappointment to you.

You know?

Merry Christmas, Mama.

What does "discussion" mean?

We got in an argument, one thing led to

another, we started acting real stupid.

Where's your new sister-in-law?

- She's asleep.

- It's early.

You sleep a lot when you're pregnant.

- She's pregnant?

- Six weeks.

Jesus.

That's why Claude married her.

Nope.

Claude doesn't even know

about the baby yet.

Poor thing, she must be so scared.

Okay, look, let's get out

of these wet clothes.

Hey, man, look what I found.

Some sock-it-to-me cake, man.

Wack.

- Appreciate you, man.

- It's all good, man.

Y'all comfortable, man?

Look, man, you talk

to your moms yet?

Man, you'll get your money.

You think you could

hook me up with Lisa, man?

Man, she may have low standards,

but she ain't stupid.

Hey, man, her husband ain't here.

And if she don't holler,

I definitely won't scream.

You don't get to disrespect

my family. Understand?

- I'll tell you right now.

- You said, he heard.

Now, you owe us 25 G's, man.

We want it.

Tomorrow's Christmas,

the banks are closed.

The day after that,

you'll get your money.

Looks like we spend Christmas

here with you and your sisters.

Hey, what's going on, y'all?

Nothing, man. It's good.

I haven't had the opportunity

to formally meet you gentlemen.

Oh, that's Mo and Dude.

How you doing, sir?

I'm Mo. Good to meet you.

I'm Dude. Nice to meet you.

Mo and Dude.

Ma'Dere's asleep, you know, so...

Yeah, you go on up, man.

I'm gonna come say good night

to you guys in a minute.

You gonna come upstairs

and say good night to Joe and Mama?

Yeah.

In your mother's room?

Yeah, that's what I said.

Okay.

Well, then, let's shut it down.

We all get some sleep.

You know, we got a big day

ahead of us tomorrow.

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