It's Not All Downhill From Here

Loretha visits the Pasadena branch of The House of Beauty and Glamour after committing to finding a more spacious building for the business. She feels connected to the store’s current state: dusty and old. While Loretha takes stock, Korynthia arrives and offers to help, which Loretha accepts due to her upgrade plans. They discuss Korynthia’s recent dates and her goals for spending time on dating apps for senior citizens. After Korynthia leaves the store, Loretha calls her doctor to inquire about her bloodwork results.

While Loretha shops, Odessa texts her, asking to meet and discuss finding a new place to live. Odessa’s landlords have evicted her, and she hopes Loretha will offer her a free or low-cost apartment in one of her rental properties. Instead, Loretha encourages Odessa to find alternate arrangements because she is tired of saying yes to everyone.

The following morning, Loretha searches for her missing cell phone and discovers Jalecia passed out in her car in the driveway. She helps Jalecia into the house so she can sleep off the alcohol. While Jalecia sleeps, Loretha reads more advice letters from Ma, which remind Loretha to live life to the fullest and travel as often as she can. Jalecia quietly leaves while Loretha takes a quick shower.

Loretha finds her phone under the front seat of her car when it rings. The call is from her doctor’s office regarding her high glucose numbers and her need for a healthier lifestyle. For the next few days, Loretha reaches out to Jalecia—hoping to heal the rift between them—to no avail.

Cinnamon asks Loretha to babysit the twins because she has a job interview. Loretha initially asks if she can bring help, but in the end, she babysits alone because Cinnamon does not trust Odessa with the kids. Korynthia would help, but she is busy caring for her son, who is checking into a drug rehab facility. When Loretha mentions Jalecia, Cinnamon asks not to talk about her because Jalecia is regressing again. Cinnamon also reveals that Peggy called her, asking to borrow money for Jalecia. Loretha is confused as to why Peggy did not call her instead.

Loretha drives to babysit the twins and finds Cinnamon dressed up; Loretha is impressed. The babies are excited to see their great-grandmother, and Loretha loves babysitting them. While playing with the twins, she considers what she wishes to tell Jalecia. A few hours later, Cinnamon returns home after successfully landing the job. When Loretha checks her glucose numbers, they continue to rise. This scares her enough to make her start taking her diabetes medications.

The friends’ monthly dinner occurs at Korynthia’s house. Rather than cook, Korynthia orders Chinese. None of the friends seem to be having luck in their lives. Sadie’s minister ended their relationship after his wife found out about the affair. Korynthia’s dates have left her unsatisfied with the men she’s been with. Meanwhile, Lucky plans to get gastric bypass surgery to help her lose weight.

The police call Loretha and inform her that someone robbed the House of Beauty and Glamour by smashing the shop window. She does not look inside but knows it is time to find a new location. She wants to walk around Rose Bowl Stadium to clear her head and asks Lucky to accompany her. Instead, Lucky asks her to come over. Loretha cannot believe it when she find her friend’s house trashed. She asks Lucky what is happening, and Lucky reveals her marijuana addiction, that she does not think she loves her husband anymore, and that her life is falling apart.

Odessa calls Loretha and asks her to visit. When Loretha arrives, she finds the apartment filled with Odessa’s belongings. She asks when Odessa will downsize her possessions; instead of downsizing, Odessa asks when she can move into their mother’s house. Loretha admits she has considered selling their mother’s house, which causes Odessa to remain silent during their dinner. After they finish eating, Odessa kicks Loretha out.

Kwame enrolls in television and film production classes at Los Angeles City College. While the two eat a celebratory Italian dinner, Loretha insists Kwame call a relative to check on his mom, who had a stroke. He calls a relative, Boone, whom he sends to his mother’s house. While Kwame and Boone ensure the mother’s safety, Loretha arranges a flight for him to return home. She only requests that he let her know he is safe and to stay with his mom as long as necessary to care for her.