It's Not All Downhill From Here

While Loretha looks at a potential new storefront, she talks on the phone with Korynthia, who is considering moving to San Diego to be closer to her family. Her son left his rehab program and immediately relapsed, but now he is returning and committing to recovery. Loretha’s final evaluation of the building is that it is too large for what she wants, and she chooses to keep searching.

Cinnamon gets an opportunity to audition for The Voice. Loretha visits to hear more about it and see her great-grandchildren. She meets Odessa on the way into the building. Odessa apologizes for her behavior the other day and informs Loretha about a settlement payment coming her way that will solve all her problems. Loretha observes that Odessa is dressed up but will not say where she is going.

Cinnamon and her boyfriend, Jonas, reveal that Odessa has a new boyfriend; Loretha decides to let Odessa keep him a secret until she is ready. Cinnamon then reveals more significant news: Jalecia has been living in Las Vegas for a month and is taking classes to become a blackjack dealer. Loretha calls Peggy and reprimands the woman for lying about Jalecia’s location to get money. She then calls Jalecia, who answers the phone but does not talk long because she believes Loretha is too pessimistic. After that conversation, Kwame calls and informs Loretha that he will not return to Pasadena until his mother fully recovers from her stroke. Loretha responds by sending him money to cover his living expenses so he can focus on caring for his mom.

Sadie visits Loretha and asks if Loretha can host the monthly dinner. The pastor left his wife for Sadie, and he is now living in her apartment. She does not want to explain the situation to the others. Loretha chastises Sadie’s life choices but agrees to host. Once Sadie leaves, Loretha calls everyone else to give them the updates.

Korynthia cannot attend the dinner because she is driving to San Diego; her son, Bird, is in the emergency room after a suspected overdose. When everyone else gathers, Sadie confirms Bird passed away due to a drug overdose. They all want to do something for Korynthia but do not know what they can do.

Loretha, Lucky, and Sadie drive toward San Diego to be with Korynthia. When Sadie texts asking where to go, Korynthia thanks them and tells them to turn around because she needs to be with her family for as long as necessary. She also tells Loretha to do everything possible to save Jalecia.

Two months later, Korynthia returns to Pasadena; she cannot handle her family, whom she calls ungrateful. They all plan a trip to Las Vegas to see Poochie and celebrate Loretha’s birthday. They plan it for after New Year, so Loretha spends New Year’s Eve reflecting on the past year and realizing how much she has to live for.

The four Pasadena women take a limo to Las Vegas, where they meet up with Poochie, who has a 48-hour itinerary planned. Loretha and Korynthia play the slot machines before going to their rooms. Other events from their trip include seeing Celine Dion’s show and visiting a strip club. During the final night’s dinner, everyone discusses one thing they are grateful for and one way they commit to improving their health.

Peggy calls Loretha and informs her that Jalecia is missing again. While the two talk, Jalecia calls Loretha and asks to be picked up at a shelter. However, when Loretha arrives, Jalecia is not there. Cinnamon tells Loretha that Jalecia called, apologized for being a lousy mother, and promised to clean up her act. Loretha drives to Sadie’s church and prays for courage and strength. Sadie invites Loretha to her apartment to talk—Sadie has kicked the pastor out and apologized to his wife.

Korynthia calls Loretha and informs her that Poochie’s mother has passed away. Korynthia plans to travel to Las Vegas and asks Loretha to accompany her. However, Jalecia is still missing, and Loretha wants to remain close when her daughter shows up. Later, Korynthia texts Loretha the address of a possible new building for the House of Beauty and Glamour. Loretha likes the building and location and decides to buy it as the new and improved storefront.

Ma laments her nursing home friends’ passing and swears to make no more friends. She then encourages Loretha to leave the house and spend time with people who aren’t her four primary friends. Loretha is uncertain but tells her mother she will consider it.

Out to eat, Loretha cheats on her plan to limit junk food intake but skips dessert. However, the cashier gives her a free dessert for her generous tip, which she eats most of before she arrives home. When she arrives, Kwame calls and informs her that he will be moving back to Pasadena and bringing his mom with him.

Loretha signs up for a fitness club as part of her health improvement plan. She attends one Zumba class and never returns because she cannot keep up with the movements.

Poochie approves when Loretha shows her the new House of Beauty and Glamour building. They then discuss aging and Poochie’s upcoming surgeries, which Poochie fears she will not recover from. Later, Loretha walks with Korynthia, who has good and bad news. They decide to return to Loretha’s house before sharing the news.

At home, Peggy waits for Loretha so she can tell Loretha that Jalecia is pregnant. She then asks for more money to care for Jalecia while she gets clean from drugs and finds depression treatment.

Loretha offers Cinnamon and Jonas her mother’s house, which Cinnamon accepts. After Cinnamon leaves, Korynthia calls and tells Loretha the good news: She’s going on a fifth date with a man named Henry and she plans to marry him because life is too short. Loretha is unsure and Korynthia then tries to convince Loretha to date again.

Despite her commitments, Loretha struggles to stick with her health improvement plan, though she does make a doctor’s appointment and schedules her quarterly glucose check. Peggy calls and thanks Loretha for the money, and Loretha asks to talk to Jalecia. However, Jalecia is not ready to talk to her.

Lucky’s house is cleaner, and Lucky has recovered from her drug addiction. Her husband no longer wants a divorce—he wants to reignite their passion. Korynthia and Sadie arrive and congratulate Lucky. When Poochie fails to arrive on time and does not answer their calls—which is unusual—the four friends drive to Poochie’s house.