Diary of a Mad Black Woman

March 11.

Dear diary, my husband of 18 years...

this week is being honored by the city of Atlanta...

as the Jacob Frienstein Attorney of the Year.

I am so proud of him.

He has worked so hard.

I wanna swing

Swing till daylight with you

I wanna dance

Dance the whole night through

Where the beat-beat-beat is jumping

And the crowd is feeling fine

Where the dance-dance-dances are popping

Theirs are flowing like wine

I wanna swing

Swing till daylight with you

I wanna dance...

To look at us...

you would think that we've got it all together.

But looks can be deceiving.

Some days are good and I think he loves me.

Then other days...

I think he doesn't care.

Dancing till daylight

Just us two

Kicking up my heels...

I never thought I'd see this day.

I was just saying to my wife this morning...

that if I died and came back...

that I would want to come back as me.

No, truly it is an honor...

to receive the Jacob Frienstein Attorney of the Year Award.

It's especially an honor because...

He is so into appearances.

What looks one way on the outside...

can be a totally different matter on the inside.

There is no way... no way...

that I could have done any of this...

without my wonderful wife of 18 years.

I don't know this stranger I sit next to.

All I know is that with every dime and every case...

he has changed.

How about l... run us a hot bath?

I left something at the office.

I have to go.

Who is she?

When you get a job and pay one of these bills...

then you can ask me questions.

I am still your wife.

That's cute.

Charles... I don't want to fight.

This is your night. Let's just enjoy it.

Tell me what I need to do, and I will do it.

You really want to know what you ought to do?

Get the hell out of my car.

What a way to start our anniversary.

Tell me...why do I love that man so much?

Maybe if I could stop thinking about...

how good things used to be...

I might be able to find the strength to leave.

Hi, Sarah. How are you?

Hi, Mrs. McCarter.

Hey, Mrs. McCarter.

Kalvin, how are you? How is Joanne?

-She's doing great. -That's great.

-You doing all right? -I'm wonderful. Thank you.

Listen, is he in? Because I brought him, uh...

lunch.

Actually, I'm headed that way--

No, no. Please. Thank you, though. Thank you.

Helen.

What, um...

Um...hi. I'm Brenda Marcos.

How do you do?

Um...we got to go.

You ready, little fella?

It was nice to meet you.

Is that her?

Don't play games with me. Tell me, Charles.

Is that her?

Thank you.

I'll see you at home.

Excuse me. Excuse me!

What?

-What are you doing? -Working.

Where are you going with my things?

Lady, look...I'm just filling in for my cousin because he's sick.

Somebody named Charles McCarter or something like that...

rented this truck, told me to load it up and wait.

So that's what I'm doing.

No. Wait. Wait.

Christina?

Christina. Christina, there--

there is a man out there putting my things in a truck.

What is going on?

Mr. McCarter asked me to pack all your things this morning.

And all these clothes are from the boutique.

I wish I had a man to do something like this for me.

Happy anniversary.

-I have something to tell you. -Your gift first.

Aren't you going to open it? Charles, I have to admit...

I thought you forgot, but I saw all the clothes...

in the closet and...ta-da! Ha ha!

It's not exactly my taste, but I love it.

Helen--

This one, it doesn't really fit quite right, though.

I think I'm going to have to get some alterations--

Helen.

You see how I keep interrupting you?

Charles, I only want to hear the good tonight.

OK?

I need to tell you something.

What is she doing here?

I asked her to come.

Charles, what is going on?

Is she wearing the dress that I just picked out?

What?!

There's no easy way to say this...

but our marriage has run its course.

It's over.

What? What are you trying to say?

I'm saying... it's over.

Charles!

Helen, don't act so surprised.

I mean, I haven't touched you in a year.

I haven't...well...

I haven't been happy for years.

18 years, and you think you can just come in here...

and end it like this?

Charles, what am I supposed to do without you?

You're a bright girl. You'll figure it out.

Charles...please.

-Oh, my God. -Don't do this.

Please tell me you're not one of those weak begging sisters.

Brenda, let me handle this.

You are not leaving.

No...I'm not leaving.

But you are.

There's a truck outside.

It's full of gas, and I hired some guy...

to take you anywhere you want to go.

I can't keep treating her like this. And my children...

not seeing their daddy every night.

I'm staying here and there--

Children?

Two boys. They need me.

Charles.

It's me. How can you say this to me?

How can you do this to me?

Good-bye, Helen. Now, be a lady and leave quietly.

-No. -No?

You would've never had any of this without me.

Now, you better get up out of here...

-before I lose my temper. -No!

No, I am not leaving!

-You what? -No!

You're leaving, all right.

You're leaving. Go on.

Any way you want to do it.

Get up! Get up!

Aah! No! Charles! No!

Come on.

Huh? Come on.

What you doin'?

Get out of here! Get out!

Charles! Charles!

Charles!

Oh, what the hell have they got me into?

Hey, look...

we've been driving around for hours now.

I do have another job that I have to be at in a few hours.

So there's got to be someplace I can take you.

Take me where?

He has alienated me from my entire family.

He made me put my mother in a home bec--

Because she didn't fit into his "American dream."

I don't have anyplace to go.

Lady, I'm really sorry to hear about that...

but it's the middle of the night--

-Just stop the truck! -I'm trying to help you out.

-Just stop the truck! -I'm not stopping the truck.

All you men are just alike! You just think about yourselves!

You don't think about anybody else but yourself!

Just stop the truck, and I will drive myself...

where I have to! Pull the truck over!

Hey! Don't grab the wheel! Hey. Don't touch the wheel.

I'm stopping. I'm stopping.

-Then get out! -We're in the middle of nowhere.

I don't care! Get out of the car!

I'll drive myself!

You know what? Now I see why you're going through...

what you're going through.

Oh, you go to hell!

Have a nice life.

Yeah, you're welcome!

Don't shoot! It's Helen...

your granddaughter! Don't shoot!

What the hell? Girl!

I always open the door this time of night shooting...

'cause there ain't nothing but a crackhead...