POSE 3x8

1. Can I help you?

2. I'm, um, Charlene.

3. Pray Tell's mother.

4. Can I come in and talk to you for a minute?

5. Mother to mother.

6. - I got some ice tea brewed.

7. Um, is-is that his...

8. Yes.

9. I guess no pine box on Hart Island for him, huh?

10. I'm, um, ashamed.

11. I know what you were to my son.

12. His best friend.

13. His sister.

14. Hmm.

15. His real mother.

16. What would Pray say now

17. if he could see the two of us sitting here?

18. I think that might have been the only thing

19. that might have ever made him speechless.

20. Mm.

21. You know, I think it's best you put any regret

22. about you and Pray away, right now.

23. Or else that's all you gonna think about of him

24. - for the rest of your life. - I know. I know.

25. But what I wouldn't give to get one more minute with him.

26. Well...

27. We got all the minutes we gonna get.

28. I, uh...

29. I came here to ask you a favor.

30. Pray wrote a will,

31. and he gave his power of attorney to my sister, Jada.

32. I had to practically get on my knees and beg her

33. to let me fulfill one of his last wishes.

34. I brought him into this world.

35. And...

36. Well, anyway. Thank the Lord that she finally agreed.

37. But I can't fulfill that wish without your help.

38. Oh, anything.

39. Just tell me what to do.

40. This is half of Pray's ashes.

41. I kept the other half for myself.

42. You think he'd be okay with that?

43. I think he would want that.

44. He left these heart-shaped lockets.

45. He wants you to put a little of him in each one,

46. and give it to those who are most precious to him.

47. Whatever you have left, you can do what you want.

48. Scatter them. Keep them.

49. You've got mother's rights too, Blanca.

50. Mm-hmm.

51. I'll take care of everything.

52. He, uh...

53. He made this one for you.

54. It's beautiful.

55. May I...

56. - put it on you? - Mm-hmm.

57. Thank you for loving my baby.

58. Well...

59. - I better get out of here. - Okay.

60. Took up enough of your time.

61. Ch-Charlene, wait.

62. I can't have any more minutes with Pray,

63. but I'm so glad that I got to share

64. these few minutes with you.

65. The category is...

66. Live...

67. Work...

68. Pose!

69. These protease inhibitors are a miracle.

70. I'm watching my patients make full recoveries

71. from something that would've otherwise

72. sent them to they graves.

73. We're calling it "The Lazarus Effect."

74. The question is no longer, "What do we do?"

75. but, "How do we do it?"

76. - Right. Right. Exactly.

77. Some of us are lucky enough to get into the trials,

78. but what about those who can't afford

79. $10,000 a year for new meds?

80. It's the same fucking problem we've always had.

81. Politicians and Big Pharma are dragging their asses,

82. because our lives mean nothing to them.

83. - That's why we've got to take

84. this next protest a step further.

85. Here's an idea. Here's an idea.

86. It's a radical step, but it's a necessary one to get

87. these motherfuckers' attention,

88. because we will never have their empathy

89. - or compassion. No.

90. So, we are gonna release the ashes of those we've lost

91. onto the mayor's fucking front lawn.

92. That way, he won't just see the dead as just a number anymore.

93. Who here is willing to make this kind of sacrifice?

94. When my son died two days ago,

95. he asked me to drop his body on the doorsteps of the FDA,

96. but I think this can be even more powerful.

97. Count me in.

98. - Me, too. - Yeah, let's do it!

99. Fuck yeah. We got nothing to lose.

100. Okay, let's take a vote.

101. Who here thinks that their loved ones

102. would want their ashes to be a part of this history?

103. - Guys, we have lost thousands

104. and thousands of people,

105. - and they are just sitting... Yes!

106. in urns, inactive.

107. Well, if you ask me,

108. they were revolutionaries who died for a cause.

109. Yeah! - They are calling out,

110. beyond the grave, to be in service.

111. Yes! - And they want to be active

112. in our final fight.

113. - Who is willing

114. to send one more message out into the world?

115. To demand access to these lifesaving meds

116. to stop the endless death?

117. I will. I will!

118. ACT UP! ACT UP! ACT UP! ACT UP!

119. ACT UP! ACT UP! ACT UP! ACT UP! ACT UP!

120. ACT UP! ACT UP! ACT UP! ACT UP!

121. ACT UP! ACT UP!

122. ACT UP! ACT UP! ACT UP!

123. You okay?

124. Yeah, baby.

125. Everyone's here.

126. Y'all are probably wondering why y'all here.

127. This was Pray's sanctuary.

128. His home.

129. Oh, we had some good times here.

130. And I couldn't think of a more fitting place

131. to carry out his final wish.

132. Y'all were most precious to him.

133. And y'all gave him so much.

134. And he wanted to make sure that each of you

135. have a little bit of him.

136. Thanks.

137. - Thank you. - Thank you.

138. Um...

139. Originally,

140. Pray's instructions was not to give you one of these.

141. But he was just playing around.

142. "Elektra...

143. "Elektra fights every day to get what's hers,

144. "and maybe that looks like a selfish act,

145. "but the truth is,

146. "every time Elektra gets herself something,

147. "she shows all of us, the world,

148. "how much we are capable of.

149. How much we deserve."

150. He actually wrote down a little something about all of you.

151. I guess it was back when he was sure

152. that he didn't have too long left.

153. Lulu.

154. He said you got a real strength in you, girl.

155. - And that sometimes,

156. when he was feeling like he couldn't fight no more,

157. he would think of you, and how you never took any shit

158. off no one. And that made him laugh,

159. and it would get him through the night.

160. And, Judy...

161. He said you actually made him believe

162. in the goodness of white people.

163. And, Angel and Papi...

164. He never thought that so close to home, in our neighborhood,

165. in our community,

166. he would ever see the kind of romance and love

167. that he saw in the movies.

168. Real, true love.

169. And in these darkest times,

170. your love gave him hope for the future.

171. And to the Great Council...

172. Manhattan, Castle and Jack.

173. He said...

174. "Fellas, we held our crazy world together,

175. "the tribal chiefs, the four pillars of the ballroom.

176. "Whatever legacy I leave behind, I owe it to your friendship

177. and your commitment to the magic of the balls."

178. And, Ricky.

179. To you he wrote,

180. "I was never old.

181. "I was never sick with you.

182. "I didn't have to be an emcee on a stage or a father.

183. "In the best moments we shared, there was no performance.

184. I was just me."

185. What did Pray say to you, Ma?

186. Nothing.

187. There was nothing ever left unsaid between us.

188. There's one more thing we got to do.

189. Something that Pray never asked,

190. but I know he would want.

191. I didn't use all those ashes up in those lockets.

192. We gonna use the rest of them, and put them somewhere special.

193. ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

194. - ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

195. - ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

196. ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

197. ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

198. ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

199. ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

200. - ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

201. - ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

202. ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

203. ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

204. ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

205. ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!

206. Candles are for birthday cakes. Why you got to be so silly?

207. This is more important than a birthday.

208. Because as of today, my baby girl's

209. officially a nurse.

210. And on top of all of that, it's our four-year anniversary.

211. Now, go on and blow out that candle

212. before it drips all over the place.

213. Go on, girl. You're so dramatic.

214. I got to make a wish.

215. So, it's carrot cake and cream cheese?

216. Your favorite.

217. Thanks for understanding about Saturday.

218. Of course. You got to do what you got to do.

219. Do your thing.

220. We'll celebrate our anniversary next weekend.

221. - Okay. - But, in the meantime,

222. I'll just be thinking of all the things you could do

223. - to make it up to me. - You so nasty.

224. - You love it? - I do.

225. You been up there to see Judy yet?

226. Is she still working up on the fourth floor?

227. Same floor.

228. It's a different gig though.

229. You should go up there and say hey.

230. Show your face. She misses you.

231. And you get to see what they've done with the place.

232. Since, you know, you done left us for Saint Vincent's.

233. - You're Saint Vincent's.

234. Think you, think you fancy now.

235. - Okay, baby. - All right.

236. You have a good day at work.

237. And I'll see you later on tonight?

238. Yes, you will. Yes, you will.

239. Come here.

240. Later, man.

241. Tasting like a cupcake.

242. I'm gonna be tasting like that tonight.

243. Don't start nothin'.

244. - Thank you. - Don't start nothin'.

245. Whew. Whew!

246. Remember how I said

247. I didn't become a nurse to help people die?

248. Mm-hmm.

249. Well, look at me now.

250. I mean, it's so great to come to work

251. knowing that life awaits me.

252. And the smell of babies?

253. - It's my new happy place. - You know,

254. I don't even recognize this place anymore.

255. They got all of this brand-new equipment,

256. and they finally painted these nasty-ass walls.

257. The hospital magically came up with a budget

258. for all sorts of things once AIDS patients

259. - didn't come in as often. - Mm-hmm.

260. God, those new drugs are a fucking miracle.

261. I've never felt better.

262. I'm so proud that you never gave up.

263. You're healthy.

264. You have a hot man.

265. - A new job at Saint Vincent's.

266. Mm-hmm.

267. You're gonna live a very long and happy life, Blanca.

268. You know, I didn't believe that for the longest time, Judy.

269. But now, I think you might be right.

270. That's why I volunteer.

271. I got to give back what was once freely given to me.

272. I see Pray Tell looking down at you, smiling.

273. Mm. I hear him all the time.

274. I do.

275. Sometimes he gives me advice.

276. And sometimes he tells me a joke.

277. But most times he gives me reassurance

278. that I'm taken care of and that everything is gonna be okay.

279. Keep listening to him.

280. I do.

281. Look at the babies.

282. - Aren't they sweet? - They are beautiful.

283. Uh, patient 35117?

284. Safaree,

285. you tested positive for HIV.

286. Um... here.

287. Is there anyone you can call?

288. Friends? Family?

289. I just moved here six months ago.

290. My parents don't speak to me no more.

291. I ain't got no one.

292. Have you been working the pier?

293. I know it well.

294. - You do? - Yeah.

295. I used to work there myself when I was your age.

296. Back then, there were six piers.

297. And now there's only one.

298. Look.

299. When I found out that I was HIV positive,

300. there weren't any drugs that were available.

301. AIDS was a death sentence.

302. But now people are living long and healthy lives,

303. as long as we keep taking our meds

304. and listening to what the doctors say.

305. - You're HIV positive? - I am.

306. And I'm proof you are gonna be okay,

307. if you follow the protocols.

308. - I can't afford all that. - Well, see,

309. that's why I'm here to help.

310. I am gonna help you get signed up

311. for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.

312. Depending on your income,

313. you might not even have to pay a penny for your health care.

314. And let me tell you something.

315. You are gonna be okay.

316. How about this?

317. There is a function happening

318. on Saturday night.

319. Something I think you might enjoy.

320. It's where I found my community.

321. And where I found my hope.

322. Looks like we aren't the only ones who had the idea

323. for a ladies' lunch.

324. Well, it is the Sex and the City effect.

325. These ladies all came into the city to have sex?

326. - You ever seen Sex and the City?

327. Yeah, girl. You ain't got HBO?

328. Yeah, you loaded.

329. I figured you would have splurged

330. on the premium movie package by now.

331. - Right. - Showtime, HBO, Cinemax.

332. Word.

333. Rich girl.

334. I don't have television in my penthouse.

335. It rots your brain and turns it to Cream of Wheat.

336. Okay, look. I have to be honest, I tried watching that show.

337. And first of all, I ain't never seen women talk about sex

338. as much as they do.

339. And second of all, they need to call it

340. Being White and the City.

341. 'Cause ain't none of them girls got a Black

342. - or Latina friend. Not one.

343. - Not even a sidekick. Mm.

344. Let me guess, Cosmopolitan?

345. Thank you. Yes, I am.

346. - Bitch, a Cosmo is a drink

347. that the Sex and the City ladies love.

348. I'll have a real drink.

349. Johnny Walker on the rocks.

350. Blue Label if you have it.

351. Bring four, actually.

352. I refuse to let some TV show about white girls

353. define how we eat, drink and gather as girlfriends.

354. We've always made our own rules,

355. and we ain't stopping now.

356. - I know that's right. - Heard that.

357. Mm-hmm.

358. I told those mafia gentlemen,

359. I know men.

360. I know what turns them on.

361. Yes, phone sex was lucrative,

362. but only because there wasn't a better option.

363. Now there is.

364. Webcam interactions.

365. Remove the need for the imagination

366. and you can charge twice the price.

367. That alone pays for my condo in Boca Raton.

368. Darlings, I was rich before,

369. but now if I drop a thousand dollars on the street,

370. I don't even bother wasting time to pick it up.

371. Ooh... - Well, you talking real tough, Elektra.

372. But I know you quietly giving money to those hospitals

373. and those drug-treatment facilities

374. - to help the girls. Mm-hmm.

375. And she's paying for hormones and surgeries, too.

376. A regular transsexual Robin Hood.

377. - Shh! Don't be so loud, ladies.

378. I have a reputation as a cold, hard bitch to uphold.

379. Okay, well, if you ever decide you need a new accountant

380. to deal with the money you actually declare

381. to the government, give me a call, because First Manhattan

382. just moved me over to their tax department.

383. What? - And I am helping people with their taxes now.

384. - What? Lulu, that is incredible. - Congratulations.

385. - So bougie, in a good way. Right.

386. Well, what about you, Angel? What's your update?

387. My baby started third grade.

388. - Okay. - Oh. - Mm-hmm.

389. You know, being a full-time mother is...

390. It's just the most craziest,

391. most beautiful thing in the world.

392. I make breakfast for him every morning.

393. It's just cereal and milk, but...

394. - Oh, girl. - I put a napkin out and everything. Okay?

395. - You wake up before noon? - Every day.

396. - Okay. - Except Sunday, that's Mommy's morning to sleep in.

397. I heard that.

398. And Papi's getting me back in the game, y'all.

399. They putting me on a bottle of this new hairspray

400. - that's for real thick, curly hair, just like ours. - Oh...

401. I'm-a get y'all bottles.

402. Oh, my God. I forgot to tell y'all about Damon.

403. - He sent me a letter, y'all. Really?

404. Yes. Yeah, he's in Chicago,

405. living with some nice man who's got three dance studios

406. that he teaches in.

407. And he wanted me to send y'all all his love.

408. Oh...

409. Well, that's lovely. He has a sugar daddy.

410. - Oh, my God. - Mm-hmm.

411. And we all know about you, Mother Blanca.

412. A real, official nurse.

413. Educated, graduated and certified by the state.

414. Who would have guessed that you would have found a way

415. to monetize your annoyingly endless kindness

416. for your fellow man.

417. I am so proud of you.

418. My heart. My Blanca.

419. Okay, stop.

420. Happy endings are for movies.

421. We done been through too much pain to fool ourselves

422. into thinking that all the bad is in the past,

423. but I do believe in... happy moments.

424. Sometimes they last a minute, sometimes a year.

425. But when they come— ooh,

426. you just got to recognize and celebrate, so...

427. Here's to all of our happy moments together.

428. Not only did we survive, but we are thriving.

429. - Cheers. - Amen. Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink.

430. - Cheers, Mama. - Yes.

431. Mm.

432. Oh, shit. Look, I got to go.

433. I got to help these kids get ready for the ball tonight.

434. Ay, Mother Blanca and her children already?

435. Okay, listen. These kids are trophy-winning machines.

436. Why do you insist on going back to that sweaty, airless room?

437. Can't you see we've all outgrown it?

438. Elektra, you know you can't outgrow your family.

439. Besides, you got to remember why the balls started

440. in the first place.

441. They were a place for all of us to be all of them things

442. that we weren't allowed to be out in the world.

443. All right, how many times have we walked Businesswoman?

444. And now you a real one, Elektra.

445. Or Runway, Miss Angel.

446. And now you actually walk the real runways.

447. We weren't pretending when we walked those categories,

448. we were preparing.

449. Faking it until we made it.

450. And more than anything,

451. we made a statement.

452. That we deserve to dream and have our dreams fulfilled.

453. When we were walking those balls,

454. we beared witness to our possibilities.

455. And we say to each other, "Yeah, girl, I see you.

456. I see who you are and who you can be."

457. And then the outside world, they tell us to hide.

458. But in the balls...

459. they tell us to strut.

460. We can never give up on the balls.

461. Blanca, that is so beautiful,

462. but I can't make it tonight, girl.

463. But I promise I'm-a come by soon.

464. It's tax season, girl.

465. You understand.

466. Okay. Angel?

467. - Hmm? - Hmm.

468. Oh, no, my baby, uh, he got the sniffles.

469. I got to go home and take care of my child.

470. Sweaty, airless...

471. No.

472. Okay, look. I know y'all busy,

473. and y'all have your own lives,

474. but can we do this again soon?

475. - Yes, of course. - Yes, of course.

476. - Of course, come on. - Yes, of course.

477. I love each and every last one of you.

478. Even you, Mother Elektra.

479. Especially me.

480. - Whatever.

481. Bye. I love you. Love you, girl.

482. - I'll see you. See you, Mother Teresa.

483. Ooh.

484. Excuse me. Sorry.

485. Ooh, you look good, boo-boo.

486. Ooh, definitely wear this, baby.

487. Hi, Mama. Oops, sorry.

488. Dionne, you're late.

489. Now, if you're gonna be an Evangelista,

490. you got to follow my rules.

491. Early is on time.

492. And on time is late. I know.

493. I'm sorry, Father.

494. I don't need your words. I want action.

495. If Father can leave rehearsal with Destiny's Child early,

496. you have no excuses.

497. But Grandma Blanca was late, too.

498. Um, excuse me, Miss Thing.

499. I had all my finery intact when I got into my cab ride.

500. Thank you very much.

501. And when was it okay

502. for y'all to call y'all grandmother out?

503. You know what they say.

504. Snitches get stitches!

505. Okay. You need to talk to these children.

506. Look at this. Look.

507. You all are Evangelistas.

508. Now, this house is known

509. for more than just slaying a category.

510. We— all of us— are a family.

511. Now, what's my number-one rule?

512. Evangelistas always show up.

513. For each other.

514. - No questions asked. That's right.

515. Rule number two...

516. Show up for yourself.

517. All right, y'all. Come here.

518. I got something to say.

519. Each of you came into the city to find yourselves,

520. and look at you, you found each other.

521. You're part of a legacy.

522. A chosen family rooted in love, loyalty and support.

523. - That's right. - Right?

524. Don't ever forget, if you get lost,

525. love will lead you back to your house.

526. Now get out there and show ballroom

527. the glory of being a what?

528. Evangelista!

529. - All right. And please...

530. let my future man be out there watching.

531. - In Jesus' name. Amen!

532. - Amen. - Hallelujah. - Amen.

533. Are y'all ready?

534. Yeah!

535. For the new, reimagined, House of Evangelista!

536. We gonna start off with the first category, Face.

537. We got Dionne Evangelista here.

538. We see you. Yeah!

539. She's giving cheekbones. She's giving chin.

540. All right, all right. Up next,

541. we got Femme Queen Realness.

542. That's it right there. It's real,

543. it's femme and it's queen-like.

544. Oh, we got Justice.

545. Justice, no peace.

546. This is bizarre!

547. I don't know what the fuck it is,

548. but I like it. Oh, shit!

549. Oh, we got Vogue.

550. We got Teena. Gorgeous!

551. Yes. Give it to us, Teena Marie!

552. Give it to us. Give it to us. Get it. Get it!

553. Get it! Get it! Get it!

554. That's it right there.

555. Get it! Get it! Get it! Get it!

556. Ah, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

557. Go, go!

558. Ah, that's a bad bitch right there. Get it! Oh!

559. Yes, bitch!

560. Up in here looking like Lil' Kim!

561. You got it going on. What-what?

562. All right, all right, all right. Who's finished

563. with their scores? What do we got? We got a ten,

564. ten, ten, ten, ten.

565. Tens across the board!

566. The House of Evangelista.

567. Give it to 'em, y'all.

568. One love! Give these babies their trophy.

569. All right, all right, all right, all right.

570. Settle on down. Settle on down. Sit your ass down.

571. We got a special moment of the night about to happen.

572. We have a very special guest

573. to present a very important award.

574. - I would like to introduce the legend,

575. the one, the only—

576. the only bitch who makes Diana Ross

577. look like her ass shops at Ross.

578. Ha-ha! Elektra Abundance Evangelista.

579. Thank you for that very warm greeting.

580. Ballroom is home.

581. Ballroom is family.

582. Ballroom is love.

583. And if it weren't for this community,

584. I wouldn't be where I am today.

585. - I wouldn't be who I am,

586. if it weren't for the many women, my sisters,

587. who lifted me up when I couldn't do it myself.

588. As Tyrone observed, correctly,

589. yes, I am an icon.

590. But that didn't happen overnight.

591. I worked hard to leave an indelible statement.

592. I know the work and sacrifice it takes to become a legend.

593. To be a legend isn't simply

594. about competing and collecting trophies.

595. It's about how you represent this community.

596. And I have seen this woman work tirelessly,

597. not only for family, but for all of us.

598. I am proud to call her my daughter

599. and to finally...

600. bestow legendary status

601. - on the one and only...

602. my baby girl...

603. Blanca Evangelista!

604. Evange...

605. lista!

606. Evange-lista!

607. Evange...

608. lista!

609. - Evange-lista!

610. - What? - Evange-lista!

611. - Evange-lista!

612. Evange-lista!

613. - Evange-lista!

614. Evange-lista!

615. - What-what? All right, all right, all right.

616. That's cute. We thank you so much, Evangelista.

617. Evange...

618. So, now we gonna take a little break

619. and then we gonna get right back to this shit, all right?

620. I didn't have anything special to wear.

621. Don't worry. We got you.

622. Hey, y'all. Listen up.

623. This y'all new sister, Safaree.

624. All right, and look, we got to help her get backstage quickly.

625. So, Justice, dust this mug.

626. And, Teena, pull something sickening from that rack.

627. Wait, wait. Wait, what's going on?

628. Oh, I'm sorry, honey. You walking your first ball.

629. Welcome to The House of Evangelista.

630. - Come on, take her. Let's go. You ready?

631. - Okay.

632. - Mama.

633. Girl, what are you still doing here?

634. I thought you were staying all night.

635. No, I...

636. I was just...

637. Good night.

638. The category is Love, y'all!

639. The judges was definitely

640. on some bullshit tonight.

641. There's no way we should have lost every category.

642. Hey, Blanca.

643. I got a question for the legend.

644. This is the third ball we leaving empty-handed.

645. What we got to do to snag us some trophies?

646. Well, well, well.

647. Look at the sad queens.

648. Disappointed about our scores, are we?

649. This ain't gonna be the first time you lose,

650. and it sure won't be the last.

651. Ain't no secrets or shortcuts to success.

652. You just... you keep trying.

653. What if you want to give up, though?

654. And you feel ain't no reason to keep going?

655. You think this would've ever happened if I gave up?

656. You the house mother?

657. Mm-hmm.

658. Look around.

659. You want a reason to continue?

660. It's standing right there in front of you.

661. There it is, right there.

662. Houses are homes to all the little boys and girls

663. who never had one.

664. And they gonna keep coming here.

665. To New York City. Sure as the sun rises.

666. So, what you got to do is...

667. Work harder.

668. Reach higher.

669. And dream big until you...

670. Triumph.

671. Until you triumph.

672. It won't happen today, but one day.

673. And when you do,

674. I'm-a be right in there...

675. cheering you on.

676. Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH