"Previously on single ladies..." "Raquel?" "Charles?" "So now we've reconnected." "Let's talk about getting together." "Well, I'm kind of in a situation." "Hi." "Raquel, I really like you." "I really like you too, but it's just not our time." "I just booked Bobby at club elegance." "The only thing is, he has a bad reputation for not showing up at his own concerts." "If I deliver him, April goldberg entertainment will own Thursday nights at that club." "Do you know how huge that'll be for me?" "All hail the queen of Thursday nights." "Thank you, Artie." "I'm cutting off all communication with you." "What?" "Malcolm, if we never speak again in life, it'll be too soon for me." "Hey." "Hi." "Keisha Greene and Raquel Lancaster, April Goldberg's list." "Hey, Raquel." "Hey, Reggie." "Glad you could finally make it out to my club." "Congratulations." "Thanks." "I just bought it a couple months ago when I moved back here." "North Cackalacka was cool, but Atlanta's the place to be right now." "The place I'd like to be right now is inside." "Well, you're doing all right." "Yeah, April's the one who put chilli on to my spot for her listening party." "Thanks again for introducing us." "Hey." "Hey, there you are." "Chilli's been asking for you." "Table eight just bought five bottles." "Nice work, beautiful." "We on for later?" "Yeah." "Me and April started a new tradition--we always go out to eat after the club." "You guys should join us." "Mmm." "What's all this "us" and "we"" "stuff about?" "Oh, nothing." "Reggie and I are strictly friends." "Aw, I thought the two of you would be so cute together." "Girl, there is nothing cute about him still living with his ex-girlfriend." "Yeah, found that out on our first date." "Ooh." "Which obviously made it your last." "Well, maybe he couldn't afford to move out yet because he just bought this place." "Stop." "You're making him more and more unattractive." "Supposedly the situation is, they're both still on the lease." "He can't get out of it, yada, yada, yada." "I've seen less baggage at the airport." "I mean, besides, we work together." "It's just--it's just easier." "I'll be right back." "Is that Charles?" "Who's Charles?" "Remember that guy I met at the boule ball?" "Last time I saw him, I was dating Scotty." "I'm so embarrassed." "Well, apparently you dating a toddler didn't turn him off because here he comes." "I hate to interrupt your conversation, but I'm going to go find chilli." "What are you smiling about?" "You broke up with your boyfriend." "He was never my boyfriend, and how do you know that?" "Uh, well, one, I didn't see any skateboards parked in valet." "And two, our getting together has been written in the stars, or at least on this napkin." ""Raquel Lancaster." "I will spend time with this beautiful spirit again before the month ends."" "Aw." "And now I'm smiling 'cause here you are, and the month hasn't ended." "So will you go out with me tomorrow night?" "Well, if the napkin says, then the napkin says." "I would love to go." "Shall we?" "Hey, mama." "Hey, hey, hey, hey!" "Damn, baby, even a dog will wag its tail when you speak to it." "What did you just say?" "Come on, I'm just trying to put a smile on your face." "Let me buy you a drink." "I think I'm covered on the drinks tonight, but thank you." "Okay, well, well, I don't give up easy." "I'm just here with my friends tonight." "I'm not trying to meet anyone." "You girls kill me." "Looking all sexy and available but don't want to meet anybody." "Excuse me." "Excuse me." "Okay, so what happened to kobe is a shame, but it's also a cautionary tale." "Well, he shouldn't have cheated." "Well, either way, when I get married, I'm going to have one." "Every man should protect himself." "So you're saying that you need to ask me for one?" "Absolutely, darlin'." "Hmm." "Oh, I see one of my boys." "I'll be back." "Hmm." "Hey, chilli." "He's cute." "Mm-hmm." "He's fine." "But can you believe he's trying to nup up on me?" "As long as he uses a condom, girl, what's the problem?" "No, fool." "A prenup!" "Well, I didn't even know you were engaged." "I'm not." "We've only been together for, like, three weeks." "But a girl needs to clarify certain things before she commits, like, do you want a prenup?" "Do you want babies?" "Is your mama nosy?" "I hadn't even gotten to the mama part yet." "Well, at least now finally you have a man to ask all these questions." "I know." "Progress!" "Ting!" "Uh, April's giving me the look." "Gotta go." "Okay." "Enjoy the show." "Yes, all right." "Get ready." "Oh." "I've got your back." "Mistress number nine." "Still nothing to say, huh?" "I am so sorry." "Not a day goes by that I don't think about how wrong I was, and if there was any way to make amends, I would, but-- girl, calm down." "I'm over it." "Jennifer, thank you so much for saying that." "No, hold up." "Don't get it confused." "We will never be friends." "But I found it in my heart to forgive all of you." "Plus, I've met someone." "And he's the love of my life." "I'm really happy for you." "You deserve it." "And I will send some champagne over to your table." "Thank you." "That's the least you can do." "Oh, that was intense." "Make sure you send top-shelf because I really don't feel like fighting tonight." "What happened?" "Wasn't that the mayor's wife?" "Did she go to get backup?" "Should we?" "It's all good, Raquel." "Peace has been restored." "I've got to visit the ladie"" "room." "I'll be back." "Oh, no, the line is crazy in here." "It'd be quicker if you go to the one in the lobby." "In case you hadn't noticed, I'm persistent." "Look, I can appreciate a good chase, but really, I'm just not interested." "I guess no one taught you any manners either because you haven't given me the time of day." "And I've been nice." "I've given you too much time as it is." "The lady said, "no, thank you."" "Now piss off." "Men, I do apologize." "I'm going to stand here and see that you make it out of the bathroom safely." "Thank you." "It's nice to see that chivalry is still alive." "When I come out, would you like to join me for a drink?" "I would be honored." "You've been to all those countries this year?" "Yes, but this is my first time to Atlanta." "Oh, and what brings you here?" "Biochemical weapons conference at the center for disease control." "But while I'm here, I want to visit the Martin Luther King," "Jr. library, centennial park, botanical garden." "I want to see it all." "I love the garden." "It's beautiful, especially this time of year." "I'm in conference all day tomorrow, but the next day, will you take me?" "I would be honored." "Excuse me." "Your car will be ready in one moment." "Thank you." "Actually, I'm not sure if that's true." "Just seemed like the only way to get your attention." "But you do work here?" "Yes." "Nate." "Raquel." "No ring?" "Not married." "And according to this article, I'm gonna die single, lonely, and depressed." "They got you like that?" "Mm-hmm." "Listen to this, "marriage-minded African-American women's choices are narrowing between deadbeats or playboys."" "Hopeless!" "That's just a scare tactic to make sisters think that you don't have options." "Mm, I don't know." "I've got a lot of single friends, so something's not right in the universe." "No, they're single because they're too picky." "They're looking for a will Smith and Jay-Z, ignoring reality, which is, nine out of ten dudes are like me." "Regular guys with regular jobs." "Okay, well, I didn't write the article." "And I agree, there are some good, overlooked brothers out there." "Yes, there are." "Several right here in this shop." "Look around." "But don't--don't look too hard." "I meant look around at me." "So me and my boys are going to be out tonight, compound, around 11:00." "Okay." "Um--oh, there's my car." "Well, it was nice to meet you." "Nice to meet you too, Raquel." "Okay." "Mmm, a man in uniform always gets me going." "And he's a general?" "Nothing is sexier than a powerful man." "His accent..." "Does it for me too." "I wonder if mine does it for him." "What?" "You don't know that it doesn't." "True." "Too bad the general's only here for a week." "What do I care?" "Thanks to Malcolm, I'm not looking for anything heavy." "That's the beauty of this." "It's funny how life works." "When you least expect it, someone can sneak up and sweep you off your feet." "I just paired some checkered pants with a striped scarf." "Genius!" "Mo mo?" "Oh, Adrian!" "Hi!" "What have you been up to?" "I thought for sure you'd be a household name by now." "I'm still working on my first line." "I'm doing things slow 'cause I want it to be right, you know?" "I've had so many requests from investors, but I don't want to be rushed." "I'm sure you'll fill me in on the details tomorrow night." "Our reunion?" "You are going, right?" "Of course." "Yeah." "I can't wait to see everybody." "Good." "I'm already tweeting." "Later!" "Uh, what was that all about?" "And what's a mo mo?" "It's the name of my clothing line I told everybody I'd have by now." "So you're going to go to your reunion and continue to lie?" "Yes." "I know it's a cliche to pretend you're something you're not, but keisha understands." "She does it every day." "Besides, everyone would ridicule me if they knew I still worked in retail." "Mo mo talked a lot of smack in school." "Mo mo should've been talking about a new name for his wack, nonexistent clothing line." "Your knees shouldn't be over your toes." "Pretend you're sitting down in a chair." "Now stick your butt out, and close the door." "Oh, wow." "I do feel a difference." "Excuse me, are you a trainer?" "I'm looking for one." "Doesn't look like you need one." "And no, I'm just helping her out with her form." "Well, can you help me with mine?" "Anytime." "And I'm Reggie." "I'm Amber." "Uh, my legs are burning." "Can I come up now?" "Oh, damn, sorry." "Yes." "Yeah." "Hi, I'm April." "Hey." "Let me give you my number." "Maybe I can work out with you later?" "Are you actually going to call her?" "Why wouldn't I?" "A hot girl who's throwing it at me?" "I'm going to catch up to her right now." "Oh, so you're going to be rude like her?" "For all she knew, I could've been your girlfriend." "But you're not." "So no harm." "You know those aren't real, right?" "I don't know that." "But I hope I find out." "I'll confirm when I do." "You can do better than her." "I mean, seriously, you need to get with someone with more substance." "Not an obvious gym tramp." "You are catty enough to be my sister." "Well, your sister sounds smart." "My sister sounds single." "Yeah." "Yes." "Ah!" "This is the spot I was talking about." "Well, next time I'll remember my hiking boots." "Why are you smiling now?" "Because you said "next time."" "Aw." "Oh, my gosh, look at the moon." "Oh, that's--that's called a-- a rose moon." "And the last time I saw one, I was in South America, and I was running for my life." "Are you kidding?" "What happened?" "All I was trying to do was assure this woman I could get her kid to the hospital, so I'm giving her the okay sign." "You know, like-- she couldn't speak English." "The next thing you know, five guys just start to chase me." "Why?" "Well, get this." "In that part of Brazil, the okay sign means you're comparing someone to the filthiest part of their anatomy." "I mean, who knew?" "Well, I guess it's all about perspective." "Well, I still managed to get the story for my magazine and a Webby award." "Nice." "Now, here, try this." "Mmm." "Yeah?" "Mm-hmm." "Wine, cheese, and a view." "So, um, when are you going to break out that guitar?" "Ah." "I've always wanted to learn guitar, but my mother insisted I play the violin." "I hated it." "I quit after five lessons." "Well, since your mom's not here, there's no reason why you can't learn now." "Really?" "Yeah, come here." "And a finger there and these fingers here, and, uh..." "Strum." "Congratulations." "You just played your first major chord." "Why haven't I done this before?" "I've been harboring so much resentment against my mother when all I had to do was sign up for lessons." "It's hard to let go of our childhood stuff." "That is so true." "I grew up thinking my mother was a villain and my dad walked on water." "I know." "When we're you, they're so powerful." "And then we grow up, and we find out they're just two regular people named Chuck and Bebe." "Remember the night we met?" "I found out my father cheated on my mom." "I would have left, but she stayed, kept the family together." "I've got to respect that." "Have you told her that?" "Hell no." "Who wants to go there?" "You got to save some stuff for the death bed, don't you?" "But maybe one of these days I will." "How did you get so smart?" "By making a lot of mistakes." "And I hope this isn't one of them." "Wow." "Where has the time gone?" "Have we been together all day?" "We have." "It feels like I've known you for years." "I've met a lot of interesting people in my travels, but I've never really connected to anyone like this." "This doesn't happen every day." "There's something about our energy." "I have to confess, I don't want to let go of your hand." "Then I should confess." "I don't want you to." "Uh, uh, uh." "Aren't you going to answer that?" "It might be important." "I don't care who it is." "I just want to be with you right now." "I feel the exact same way." "I can't believe we're saying these things to each other so soon." "This is crazy." "Well, I believe in giving people their flowers while they're living." "Once someone's gone, you can't tell them how much you appreciate them." "Why are we suddenly talking about people not being here?" "I've lost enough comrades to know that tomorrow isn't promised." "I don't want to be away from you." "With that in mind, I would love to take you to dinner this evening." "I look forward to it." "Oh, let me know when you come across something sexy." "Think Marilyn Monroe entertaining the troops." "Two dates in one day?" "Do we need to meet this guy?" "Nope." "He's just a fling, which is exactly what I need right now." "It's my very own custom-made fairy tale, a vacation romance, except the vacation came to me." "Well, what about you, Raquel?" "How was your date with Charles?" "Amazing, magical, so intellectually stimulating." "Mmm." "And when he kissed me, more than just my synapses were firing." "Did I mention he serenaded me with the guitar?" "What are you doing?" "Getting a contact high off all this love in the air." "Oh, oh." "Hey, where were you last night?" "How do you know where I work?" "Oh." "Guess I won't be winning that free tune-up." "I told you me and my boys was gonna to be at the club." "You did indeed tell me that." "So why didn't you come?" "I didn't realize that was an invitation." "What do you mean?" "I said where we was gonna be and what time we was gonna be there." "I'm sorry, I'm confused." "Do women actually meet you out somewhere just because you bark out your itinerary?" "I usually do all right." "Yeah." "That doesn't surprise me." "Is there something else I can help you with?" "Look, I'm pretty sure you get hungry, and I know a cool spot." "I want you to come eat with me." "All these declarative statements, but I have yet to hear a proper request for my time and attention." "Oh, my bad." "Please?" "You really don't hear yourself, do you?" "I can't go on a date with you until you ask me to." "Okay, okay, let me back up." "Would you please join me for dinner tonight?" "And despite this charming exchange, I would still like to get to know you." "I would be delighted to go." "You ain't no joke, are you?" "Hmm, you have no idea." "Uh, quit stalling." "Who was that?" "A guy I met when I took my car to the shop." "You're going out with him?" "What about Charles?" "I thought you were all fired up over him." "Can't she have two fires going?" "Yeah, it's not like I'm looking to get married." "I'm seeing what my options are." "But I will say, I've never dated two guys at the same time before." "It's kind of exciting." "Wait till they both start buying you stuff." "That's when the real fun starts." "Oh, the places you'll go-- do my legs look too long?" "This shirt is atrocious." "It makes me look green, huh?" "You look cute." "You always look cute." "I look ridiculous." "I'm such a fraud." "My whole class is going to see right through me." "Oh, good grief, are you still on that?" "You think I should get my lips plumped up?" "Omar, you're spinning out of control." "If you want to be a designer, then be one, so you won't have to lie." "You should stick with that blouse, Raquel." "It looks better on you than naivete." "That shirt does make your butt look big though." "Ha." "Hi." "Medium celery ginger apple, please." "Thank you." "Celery ginger apple." "Excuse me." "Hey." "What's up, April?" "I had just put in an order, and they called it, and I was like, uh-- yeah, we always did get the same juice." "So how are you doing?" "Good." "You know, work's keeping me busy." "I quit the record company, and I'm promoting now." "Good." "So what's been going on?" "How've you been?" "Great, actually." "I realized there was a purpose behind all of that pain." "Even though I went through hell when our marriage fell apart, there really was a light at the end of the tunnel." "I'm glad to hear you say that, Darryl." "You deserve happiness." "And I got it." "Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm happier now than I've ever been." "Oh, hello again." "I'm ready, sweetheart." "It's funny how things turn out." "I guess everything happens for a reason." "Hey, it's keisha." "You know what to do." "Oh." "Hi, you've reached Raquel." "Leave a message." "Hello?" "Reggie?" "Can I come by?" "I really need to talk." "Baby, where are the towels?" "I'm sorry." "I didn't know you had company." "Never mind." "Oh." "So what exactly is it you need to show me in a hotel?" "Nothing." "I take this shortcut all the time." "One of my favorite architects designed this building and a few others in Atlanta." "Well, clearly he had a vision." "Who said it was a man?" "Here we go." "But nice hotel though." "I bet rooms are, like, $300 a night." "Actually $500--or $1,500, if you get the suite." "Yeah, that's right." "You're a rich girl." "So why are you slumming with me?" "You mean a guy who's funny, intelligent, works his ass off, and bought me the best veggie burger I've ever had in my life?" "I guess I have no taste." "You neglected to mention my pretty face and fine physique." "I hadn't noticed." "Mmm." "I think I'm going to dream about that rock shrimp tempura." "Okay, but I'll be dreaming about something very different." "Tomorrow, you want to go see the world's largest aquarium?" "I got word today, I'm leaving for Afghanistan tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" "The conict has gotten pretty bad." ""Conflict"?" "Please don't make light of it, William." "You're talking about going into a war zone." "I know." "And meeting you hasn't made it any easier for me." "But it's what I have to do." "I knew you had to leave." "I just wasn't expecting it to be so soon." "Well, we still have tonight." "A '63 thunderbird!" "What?" "Oh, yeah." "I've loved this car ever since high school." "Yeah, but I bet you drove a Mercedes." "BMW." "Does it run?" "It's been a work in progress ever since I bought it off eBay, and I spend most evenings right under this hood." "Mmm, intimate." "So when will you be done?" "As soon as I can change that front tire." "You got y skills in that area?" "Yeah, I'm an expert at calling AAA." "Well, Raquel, tonight is a night of firsts." "Suit up." "Huh?" "Every woman should know how to change out a tire." "You don't want to end up on the side of the road one cold, rainy night with no cell phone service, hair all messed up, makeup running." "That's not a good look." "For your information, I wear waterproof mascara." "Anyway, I taught my mother and sister." "And both of them gave me the same look you're giving me now, but y'all gonna thank me one day." "Those are some lucky coveralls." "Thank you." "Oh!" "Wow, that's so difficult." "Let me show you how to do this." "Okay." "What are you doing now?" "Let me show you." "Pull it out." "Boom." "You gonna spin it with me, or are you just gonna let me spin it by myself?" "We'll see." "Yeah." "Spin." "One down." "Ready to roll?" "Since 11th grade." "Reggie." "What's going on with my girl?" "You didn't have to come." "Yeah, I did." "You didn't hear what you sounded like." "What about--didn't you have company?" "I'm here." "Oh." "I ran into my ex today." "Darryl's in love." "That's good, right?" "It's what you wanted for him." "It is, yes." "It's--suddenly, it all just got so final, like he has moved on." "Divorces, April, they're final." "I know that, I do." "I know that." "Do you still have feelings for him?" "No." "No, it's just, when someone that you've loved for years looks at someone else the way they used to look at you, it's just, ah," "I knew Darryl would fall in love again at some point, I just" " I get it." "You're not holding on to the memories, but you realize you're no longer special." "And it just really hit me, like, I want that again with someone." "I mean, I know I wasn't perfect with Darryl." "Nobody's perfect." "But I like who I am when I'm in a relationship." "Like, it brings out the best parts of me." "I'm contributing to something bigger than myself." "Yeah, I mean, when you're single, it's all about you, and you can get away with being selfish 24/7." "Exactly." "I've been single long enough." "I'm ready for love." "Pssh, shut up!" "April, you know you're amazing, don't you?" "Your perfect guy is out there." "I know you'll find him one day." "Until then, I'm here for you." "Hey, you're up." "Hey, I'm coming right back." "I just had to help out a friend." "All right." "Bye." "You are so messy." "I can't believe you left a woman at your apartment you share with your ex." "Oh, I didn't tell you?" "Mia moved out last weekend." "Want some tea?" "I'm starting to understand." "You meet girls, woo them, then coax them into doing all the work on your car." "Oh, I'm not selfish." "I get them to work on my house too." "There's a whole new wing on it." "So am I going to see you again?" "You know how to ask me out to get a "yes."" "Hmm." "Yes." "I'll call you tomorrow." "Okay." "God sent me an angel when he brought you into my life." "Well, you better not forget about me." "Impossible." "Ladamien, what are you doing in that uniform?" "You still playing a few good men?" "Ladamien?" "What is she talking about?" "Trust me, you can't handle the truth." "And where's your cleaning cart?" "We've been paging you for the last 15 minutes." "You're supposed to be on the 27th floor right now." "You're not a general?" ""General"?" "Hah!" "Try janitor!" "Keisha, what we was feeling was real though." "Wh--you bastard!" "You're going to wish you were in Afghanistan with Navy seals after you, because when I'm done, there won't be a body left!" "Hmm!" "I'm going to your manager to get your worthless, lying, shady ass fired." "Uh, before you do that, I urge you to think about how that complaint is going to sound in front of all those people in the lobby." ""Excuse me, sir, one of your janitors pretended to be a general and jacked me for my panties."" "Point taken." "Don't worry, karma will get him." "Starting on the 27th floor, where the whole wedding party got food poisoning." "Well?" "How was the reunion?" "I didn't go." "You don't know this crowd." "They're brutal." "I can't go back there unless I've legitimately got something going on." "I'm sure by the next reunion, mo mo will be a household name." "No, it won't." "I know this sounds weird because, what design student wouldn't want to be designing their own line?" "But I don't." "It's what everyone else thought I should be doing." "Hmm." "Nice." "You may not be the next tom Ford, but you definitely have an eye for making people look their best." "This I already know, Raquel." "What is your point?" "My point is, do that." "I already do that." "Then I'm confused." "What's your problem?" "Styling people at this store and not having my own boutique and my own clientele is not making me enough money." "You can have all of those things." "I'll teach you how to create a five-year business plan, set up an LLC, or an "S" corp if you prefer-- whoa." "Deja vu." "I feel like I'm back in school." "That is all too much effort." "I think I discovered my problem." "I'm a lazy son of a bitch." "So you had to go through all of your insecurities just to realize that what you want to be doing is what you're already doing?" "I know." "I'm deep." "And all the chicks at all the juice bars, and she had to roll into mine with my ex." "Damn." "I guess you're going to have to start drinking coffee." "I'm so sorry I missed your call." "Me too." "I listened to that message, like, five times." "Yeah, and that wasn't even the worst part." "When I couldn't get a hold of you guys, I tried Reggie, and he had a girl over." "Is he not supposed to have a girl over?" "I don't know." "What I do know is that I'm catching feelings for my best friend." "Who?" "My best guy friend." "Who?" "Dummies, you know I mean Reggie." "Okay, now we know it." "Does Reggie know it?" "No." "Because I made up all these rules about how we can only be friends." "So break them." "I can't." "And now he's with a gym tramp." "Ugh." "Anyway, enough about my roller coaster." "How was your date with Nate?" "My date with Nate..." "Hey, Charles." "Hey, Charles." "Hey." "Hi." "I was just talking about you." "Well, I hope it was good stuff." "Uh, anyway, I, uh, I brought you something." "Guitar lessons?" "Yeah, I got you five." "If you don't like it, you can always quit." "But if you do, we can start a band." "That is so sweet." "Thank you." "So you came by just for that?" "No." "For this too." "I'll call you later." "Okay." "Poor Nate." "Charles appears, and you just forget all about him." "No, I haven't." "But for now, I like them equally..." "Which might be a problem." "Boo freaking hoo." "You have two guys." "Some women don't even have one." "You've got rich people's problems." "Uh, you're one to talk, dating a general." "Yeah, well, actually, the general is, uh..." "The janitor." "The what?" "Hmm?" "Do you mean an--an actual janitor, like, with a mop and brooms and a big key ring?" "Named ladamien." "Why aren't you livid?" "I would be freaking pissed." "Me too!" "He made up this extravagant lie just to get you in bed." "Mm-mm." "Jerk!" "I kind of respect that." "Homeboy committed." "Yep, I got got." "Uhh!" "I was ready to kill him at first, but I can't stay mad at a player who's got good game." "Truthfully, it was the most fun I've had in a minute." "Well, that's what makes you you." "You are definitely not the average woman." "Well, we knew that." "Bloody right."