BEING MARY JANE: EXPOSED (TV)
Summary
One in this drama series about a television news personality and the conflicts in her personal and professional life.
Andre and Mary Jane visit a loft he intends to purchase after construction finishes. However, he learns that it will not be ready for another month, and Mary Jane invites him to stay with her for that time instead of at a hotel. Andre moves in to Mary Jane’s place, but she conceals his presence from Mark, who lives nearby. They enjoy their newfound time together, although Andre discovers her “homework” in the form of post-its, which she did not want him to see. He claims he has no problem with them, and she posts them back up on various surfaces. The two of them are visibly comfortable and happy around each other. Meanwhile, Helen and Paul Sr. get into an argument over him not purchasing a platinum table for her charity gala; he claims that money is tight and they have to make sacrifices, but she expresses frustration that so much of their family is living with them, and that she has made sacrifices with regards to her health. Paul attempts to cut deals with other charity organizers to get the table. Paul Jr. finds out that the company he is interning for landed a major account, and is told that his contribution was crucial in securing the deal; it becomes more likely that his internship will open up to a more permanent position when he graduates.
Kara tells Mary Jane that reporter Terrence Mitchell is in trouble; he wrote a well-received prison expose, but now his primary source is recanting his story and Terrence is being accused of journalistic fraud. The situation is complex; Terrence both started his career and inspired prison reform in Iowa due to his story, and the source was just arrested again and possibly claimed that he lied as part of a plea deal. Terrence is also an old friend of Mary Jane, and she finds the accusations against him to be ridiculous. Kara suggests that Mary Jane get him to appear on the show to give an interview. Mary Jane invites Andre to be her date for the gala, but he refuses on the grounds that too many people there would recognize him. She says that they will have to “go public” at some point, but Andre says he is not ready for such a development. Mary Jane prepares Terrence for his segment on her show, but after he leaves Kara tells Mary Jane that they have proof that he is lying. Paul Sr. sells some of his stock to get the money for the platinum table and notices some discrepancies in his accounts. Paul Jr. keeps making illicit drug deliveries, including one to Ray Landers, who Sharice recommended him to.
Mary Jane confronts Terrence with the evidence Kara gave her indicating deceit on his part, based on testimony and recordings from his ex-girlfriend. Terrence admits that he “embellished a few details” in his expose but that the basic point of the articles, that of corruption and brutality in the prison system, is genuine and the reforms they inspired have done a great deal of good. He asks her not to put his ex-girlfriend on the show, but Mary Jane replies that her story would get out sooner or later, and offers him the chance to mitigate the damage from the story. He believes that she has constructed an “ambush” for him and refuses to go along with it. He ends up not appearing on the show while his ex-girlfriend does, thus exposing his fraud. However, after the show Mary Jane is so upset and disgusted that she rushes into the bathroom to throw up. Paul Sr. confronts Paul Jr. about his “extra job,” as he noticed a great sum of money in his account that he cannot explain. Paul Jr. claims that this is a bank error, but Paul Sr. does not believe him and advises him to redouble his efforts on graduating so that he can give his life purpose and focus.
The Patterson family attends the gala and Paul Jr. encounters Sharice, who seems to be avoiding him. Mary Jane arrives with her friend Lisa, but is embarrassed when her mother spots David and calls him over. She discovers that he is involved in a business venture with her father, much to her surprise. While her parents are up, David takes the opportunity to compliment Mary Jane and she expresses discomfort with the notion that he is still in touch with her parents even though she broke up with him. Helen gives a speech to the assembled crowd about her appreciation for their efforts, and singles out David in particular for his contribution, also talking about her “dreams of incorporating [him]” into the family. This serves to greatly embarrass Mary Jane, and her feelings are exacerbated when Andre starts texting her. In private Lisa expresses her confusion at Mary Jane’s refusal to get back together with David. She goes back out to speak to him but is stopped by a stranger who is upset about her show’s story on Terrence, believing that she did a disservice by exposing his story. He becomes rather pushy until David steps in and sends him away. Mary Jane sits down with her mother while Paul Sr. goes up to dance with Katharine; she intuits that her mother “pimped” her father out to Katharine in order to secure the platinum table. However, Helen goes up to cut in, asserting herself in front of Katharine. David asks Mary Jane to dance, and she reluctantly agrees. They end up having a good time together, and David admits that he tried to call her several weeks ago, and reveals that he is seeing someone else. Mary Jane is perplexed by this development and excuses herself. She returns home to Andre and says her evening was “fine,” but is secretly upset. Andre comes upon her crying and promises to attend the gala with her next year. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: BET
- DATE:
- RUNNING TIME: 0:41:09
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 122144
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Drama; Drama
- SERIES RUN: BET - TV series, 2013-2019
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Salim Akil … Executive Producer, Director
- Mara Brock Akil … Executive Producer, Created by
- Jessica Mecklenburg … Supervising Producer
- Paul Garnes … Producer
- Claire Brown … Producer
- Beth Tashjian … Co-Producer
- Erika Graham … Writer
- Gabrielle Union … Cast, Mary Jane Paul
- Lisa Vidal … Cast, Kara Lynch
- Margaret Avery … Cast, Helen Patterson
- Omari Hardwick … Cast, Andre Daniels
- Richard Brooks … Cast, Patrick Patterson
- BJ Britt … Cast, Paul Patterson Jr.
- Latarsha Rose … Cast, Dr. Lisa Hudson
- Raven Goodwin … Cast, Niecy Patterson
- Aaron D. Spears … Cast, Mark Bradley
- Richard Roundtree … Cast, Paul Patterson Sr.
- Stephen Bishop … Cast, David Paulk
- Sheila Frazier … Cast, Katharine
- Chris "Ludacris" Bridges … Cast, Terrence Mitchell
- Michael H. Cole … Cast, Greg Stohl
- Ryan Homchick … Cast, Lance
- James Patrick Freetly … Cast, Steve
- Joan Pringle … Cast, Francine
- Lane Carlock … Cast, Female Realtor
- Masud Olufani … Cast, Intoxicated Guest
- John M. Adrian … Cast, Ray Landers
- La Verne DeJurnett … Cast, Shirley
- Vivian Fleming-Alvarez … Cast, Sharice
- Jennifer Malone … Cast, Stage Manager