Season 5 Episode 17 The ReCap A Woman's Right...

The Game, Season 5 Episode 17 A Woman's Right To Choose Herself is all about the fact that a person has the right to change [her] mind.

Will Tasha Mack go through with plan to be a surrogate?
Photo courtesy of www.BET.com/thegame

This episode begins with Tasha and Pookie gazing at the stars in the bedroom while being serenaded by the late Great Phyllis Hyman.  Melanie interrupts the romantic evening, pours out Tasha's liquor and shoves several pills in her face.  "Derwin has agreed for you to have our baby...You're going from Wild Turkey to cold turkey ASAP!"  Melanie shoves Tasha's gigantic Hennessey bottle into her bag.  Dilemma, Tasha has a man now, his name is Pookie and his game is all Tasha all of the time.




Across town Chardonnay and Jason are enjoying an evening watching television when the lights go out.  Jason struggles but decides to give Chardonnay money for her light bill.  Chardonnay reluctantly agrees but pays back in full, quickly.

Tasha enlists the advice of TeeTee, a regular occurrence now.  TeeTee tells Tasha it is time for her to call Melanie and her ill-advised, non-man husband that she can't be their surrogate.  "It's time for you to choose yourself...how many times do I have to tell you that?"  TeeTee quips.  "Choose your happiness with Pookie."  TeeTee urges.

With trepidation, Tasha tries to tell Pookie that she agreed to a situation prior to him coming to San Diego.  The situation: Surrogacy, the problem: Tasha never gets the situation out and leaves Pookie with the belief that another man is between them.  Why didn't Tasha just blurt it out so they could talk about it?  Is she trying to sabotage herself?

Malik and Jason are riding and having a conversation.  Malik reveals his new relationship with honesty and honestly reveals that Jason hurt him; kicked him when he was down.  Malik furthers the conversation by explaining his real hurt comes from missing his father.  Jason exerts that he's his friend, not his father and that Malik has to deal with that.  Their conversation is interrupted by the sight of Chardonnay waiting at the bustop.  Jason slinks to the bottom of the seat; Jason is reminded of what it means to date a Chardonnay--again.

In stirrups Tasha is about to implanted with Melanie's and Derwin's viable embryo. Tasha finally chooses herself after a receiving a text from Pookie about being the brightest Richmond star.  Tasha hops up, exclaims she can't do this and that for once, she's choosing herself--sad face for Melanie and Derwin, happy face for Tasha!

Back across town, Jason presents Chardonnay with keys to a 90,000 mile Pre-Owned Hybrid Prius because he is embarrassed by Chardonnay's willingness to ride the bus.  Chardonnay resists at first but then is flattered by the fact that Jason wants to claim and take care of her.

Derwin and Melanie have a truth moment.  They return from the doctor's office; Derwin is relieved but Melanie, disappointed.  She expresses how she isn't happy and has been trying to fill an unfillable void of having forgone Johns Hopkins.

Chardonnay convinces Jason to ride the bus with her.  He has to see the world through her eyes even if it is through dark sunglasses at "dark time."  Sharing laughs and a glance at a magazine, Jason professes his love for Chardonnay.  He emphasizes his statement with, "God! I Love You!"  He doesn't take it back.

Finally, Tasha takes a drive up to Richmond to declare to Pookie and the world that it is time for her to Live Out Loud!  That means, "...For once, I'm choosing me and that means choosing you.  There ain't nobody else but you...."  They declare their love with a passionate searing kiss and all is good with the world for Tasha and Pookie, Jason and Chardonnay.

However for Melanie and Derwin, trouble looms as we watch previews of Derwin handing over a suitcase to Melanie.  "I guess you got to follow your dreams...."

Will Melanie and Derwin make it, or is it the end?  Tune in next week....we can't wait.