David Makes Man (2019) s01e03 Episode Script
MJB
1 Where do you come from? How many did the assignment? Stick to the promised land I'll be your man Hey! If they saw the word "altercation" on your school record, the wouldn't even look at your application.
GLORIA: Why were you fighting Seren? I thought y'all was friends, Dave.
Why you got to see the counselor? She's worried I'm not getting everything I need.
At home? [RAIN POURING.]
They shot your ass! You dead! Go! [GUNSHOT.]
- David! - David! - Yo, Dave! - David! - David! - David! David? David Young? [GASPS.]
I'm Dr.
Bree.
WOMAN: Friday is our last day of the give back drive.
You can drop off all canned food in front of the principal's office.
Thank you.
So you want to tell me about the fight? Yes.
I'm really sorry.
Says here that, uh, you didn't hit - Ser-in? - Seren.
And I didn't.
I would've knocked his corny ass out.
David.
Yes? - You didn't hit him, but - But I provoked him.
Says that you told the principal so right here.
Yes? So always tell the truth? This nigger.
You always tell the truth? Says here that you called him something.
Called his ass out.
Told his ass to stop fronting like his life was all good.
Know full well his life is fucked up as mine.
- David? - What? Yes? Are you David, are you getting enough rest at home? I I didn't actually I wasn't home last night.
- Nigger? - No? Where were you? I me and Seren Stop talking.
We worked on a project together, presented it today.
Stop.
Talking.
He invited me over to his house to work on it.
- Spent the night and everything.
- Stop.
Tell him too much, he'll ask more questions.
So how was that? Spending the night at Seren's? [INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Some believe that it would be a political action or a military aggression that would finally set ablaze a simmering revolution.
But no.
It was a woman, a woman who knew the only way to get slaves to fight for freedom is to get them to believe they were once free.
I am the great-great-great-grand-niece of this mighty priestess.
She sacrificed the bull that began the revolt.
Because of her, I am here today.
[CHANTING AND DRUM BEATS.]
[APPLAUSE.]
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
Have you all lost your mind? Thank you, Marissa.
That was powerful.
Good job.
I'll give you a late pass so you can clean this up.
Oh, don't worry, Dr.
Woods-Trap.
It's all-natural juices and oil.
I bought the vinegar-baking soda solution right here.
Good thinking.
See me at my desk, sir.
Damn.
What you saying? I'm so sorry, Dr.
W.
T.
Being a good community member means being fully present.
Where were you? Well, technically I was, until Marissa put her little voodoo spell on me.
You think you can clown your way out of this? Marissa, get to class.
I need to understand what is going on with you.
You're up in people's face one minute, sleeping in the back of my room the next.
- David? - I'm trying.
Try harder.
You can't be acting up like this with high school interviews weeks away.
I I Forgot? No, it's it's just a lot going on.
Was that your way of asking for help? - I guess.
- Oh, don't worry.
I was gonna do that anyway 'cause that's how I am.
You have an assignment due for this course, yes? Y-yes.
And things with Seren are? I mean Have you two made peace? We said sorry and shook hands.
Good.
Prove it.
I'm sorry? The assignment that you have yet to turn in is due tomorrow.
And you need to incorporate Seren into it.
- Huh? - Good.
You heard me.
By tomorrow? Or lose 50 points for being late.
Do this, and do it well, David.
Nothing looks better on a recommendation than a righted wrong.
I I have a meeting with the counselor tomorrow.
You also have a project that's due.
Good luck.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Dr.
Woods-Trap says I have to do my "where I'm from" assignment tomorrow.
What, you want some encouragement? You got this, homey.
What's he got now? Girl, ain't nobody was even talking to you.
What, you cooking meth in there? You need to stop stealing cable and watching half episodes of "Breaking Bad.
" [GIGGLES.]
Thank you.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
Listen, I don't even want to know.
Hey, I stored her chemistry set in my locker because it's bigger, happy? Um Woods-Trap says we have to work together for my "where I come from" assignment.
- The hell? - Nice.
Next time try, "the fuck?!" Man, the fuck? Yeah.
She says, since we was fighting, we got to work together.
Or else I lose 50 points.
I don't know why you speaking Creole, all this "we.
" Sounds like you got a problem.
- Seren? - What? No.
No.
No, David, I'm tired.
And and school's almost over.
How am I supposed to help you put your project together by tomorrow? Look, I already got it planned.
I just need some support.
I don't know.
Give me a quick yes instead of a slow no.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
- Okay.
- Okay? Yeah, okay, but you're gonna have to spend the night at my house.
Nigga, is you crazy? I can't spend the night at your house.
- I'm not trying to - Yo, for real? You think I would let I mean, you get I'm just saying.
Yo, nothing's gonna happen while you're there.
And - Ray's gone.
- For good? No.
For work.
He's in Atlanta.
He won't be back till the weekend.
Oh.
Listen.
I I know you want help, and I want to help you, but school's almost over, and I'm not staying after school today, so either come over, or I'm not helping.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Ah.
Mm.
Mm.
[GRUNTS.]
[BREATHING SHAKILY.]
[GIGGLES.]
[LAUGHS.]
[LAUGHS.]
Come on.
Just take your shoes off.
Come on.
Welcome to my palace, sir David! How may I be helping you? Why, thank you, sir.
I'll take a Kool-Aid Jammer on the rocks, shaken and stirred, please.
Yeah, I don't know what that is, but Coming right up, sir David! Damn! This is the life! Nigga, you made it.
I wouldn't ever want to leave the house.
I'd be like, "mom, I'm homeschooled now.
" Your real daddy ever lived here? Nah.
Ray bought this house.
Where your real daddy stay? Away.
I-I think he lives in Tampa, but My mom prefers it that way.
He's from Overtown originally, so She says I'll pick up those ways.
JG's dad was from Overtown.
He he dead? When JG was like two.
How? Shot.
I don't even remember him, really.
What about your daddy? Never met him.
Yeah.
I don't even know his name.
Well, wh-what D.
J.
stand for? I I thought that was junior.
You know the first day of class, where the teacher be like, "come introduce yourself and what you'd like to be called"? The first of your mom's class, and I was just like, "call me D.
J.
" Yeah.
I don't even know what he looked like.
That's what the project's about.
How I had to figure it out.
So you're gonna tell the whole class you don't know your daddy? I'm gonna tell them about my mom.
Hey, Miss Glo.
- Yo.
You a clown.
- [LAUGHS.]
[GARAGE DOOR OPENING.]
- What? - Um Is is it Ray? Uh Um [EXHALES.]
Okay.
Your daddy gone on his trip? SEREN: Yes.
"Yes," what? Yes, he's gone.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
Seren, we have talked about this.
- Yes.
- How many times? How many times? A lot.
Then why are you still Baby, I don't want to be in your face like this, but you need to learn.
Do you hear me? Answer me.
Yes.
"Yes," what? Yes, ma'am.
[SIGHS.]
I don't know where you're getting this mood from, but after what you pulled at school, be lucky you got company.
'Cause you were gonna get an attitude adjustment.
Move.
Hey, there, Mr.
D.
J.
How are you? Please get your elbows off my island.
Thank you.
I have a hard enough time keeping it clean with your friend and his daddy.
Oh.
I'm glad y'all apologized and are acting like your gentlemanly selves again.
I told your mama not to worry.
There'd be no foolishness over here.
And I think it's good you have to work together on this.
'Course I would like some notice.
Was Mrs.
Kelly all right with you spending the night? Yes, she was.
She was real nice.
To me.
She was hella rude to my boy, Seren.
[WHOOPING.]
- David? - She made us dinner.
It was nice.
You know she hittin' Seren.
You don't know shit.
With them thick-ass glasses on, he look like he can see it all.
- Good dinner? - Yeah.
We worked on the project some more, and then we went to bed.
Was your mom angry about you spending the night? - Mom, please.
- Nah.
It's a school night.
We're gonna be doing school work.
GLORIA: Do it over the phone.
- Yeah.
- Gloria be tripping.
Oh, nah.
I mean, she doesn't like me staying the night out, especially after what happened this summer.
Don't say it.
This summer? What happened this summer? - Don't say it.
- Don't say it.
It was real.
Was a bad summer for the neighborhood.
Homestead Village? - The vil.
- The vil.
A lot of activity over there in the summer.
It was in the paper.
Yeah.
Anyone you know? How can you deny your own your own flesh? Okay.
Your own fle Okay.
Yo, yo.
- What? - Yo.
Why you picked this girl song? It's so high.
What? You don't like it? Nah, it's cool.
It's just we gonna need a higher voice.
Who you calling? Uh Mom? - Yeah? - Mom, can I call Marissa? It's for a project.
Yo, I don't want anybody to know about it.
MRS.
KELLY: Sure, sweetie.
- "Sweetie"? [LAUGHS.]
- You so aggy.
Thanks, mom.
[TELEPHONE RINGS.]
Oui? Uh, good evening, Miss Eugene.
This is Seren from Galvin Middle School.
Why are you using your white voice? Dude, shut Um, I was wondering if I could speak to Marissa, please.
You trying to impress her with your white voice.
Yo, shut up.
- Oh, my god.
- Bro, be quiet.
- Marissa? - Yes? Someone is on the phone for you.
You know I don't allow boys calling, but it's Seren, so make it quick.
Hello? - Oh, hey, Marissa.
It's - What's up? - What does David want? - SEREN: How could you tell? I could hear him sniggling in the background.
What you want? Uh, well, he wanted to know if you could help him with a Then why are you asking me? What? She want to talk to you.
Actually, I don't want to talk to either of you, but since you can't ask for what you need O o hold up.
Hold up.
I need I need a girl's voice for my project.
I don't do anything last minute.
Man, I told Seren that.
He was all, "well, maybe we could ask nicely.
" Dude, shut up.
Well Well, what? Ask nice.
You know what? I don't care.
My mom don't allow me to be on the phone after 5:00.
That's a lie.
Seren is okay.
Mom! Tell Seren to text it to me, and you'll meet me in the spill out before school, David.
You know you love to be late.
- All right.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
- Boo! - Oh, god! J, you scared me! I'm sorry, but I made these.
JG.
JG.
Let her get through the door.
What the "G" can stand for? - Gentleman? - Mm-hmm.
Live, JG, yes.
Girl, come on.
- How you doing? - I'm fine.
You got my baby working in a sweatshop.
You're the man.
He was working on my nerves.
[CHUCKLES.]
I was trying to get an ensem' ready for an event.
And I figured he could use a new stop for them new shoes.
His granddaddy got him those.
Go get your bag.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
You good? I'm I'm fine.
Where's D? He's spending the night at his friend's house.
- Why? - Oh, j wait.
He what? He's spending the night? [BOTH LAUGH.]
We doing that white people shit now? [LAUGHS.]
- He was working on a project, girl.
- Oh.
I I can't stop him forever.
He wanna do a life.
And I want him to, too.
I want him right up there with them white kids.
- Hmm.
- I just It put me on edge.
This for the infinity ball? Oh, girl.
You can tell you a old queen.
The infinity drag house is no more.
- They are extinct.
- Shut up! Mm-hmm.
Ooh, and you was trying to get with the infinity so hard.
Ooh, just all over him.
And I told you that bi shit was a cover.
Ma? What's bi shit? [LAUGHS.]
Mind your bus Bye, Elijah.
Come on, boy.
See you, star.
And he was bi, bih.
I had the hickey to prove it.
Ahh! Okay, girl.
[LAUGHS.]
Aw, bitch, but what else was he sucking on? [BOTH LAUGH.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Come on.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
Okay.
So first, I start, right? Just like, humming some, and doing, like, the chorus but with no words.
Um, right.
And that's when you'll be narrating, saying all that stuff like what happened, right? Yeah.
Man, I still can't believe your mom did that.
If you knew her, you would.
I'm just like her, though.
I just be doing shit sometimes.
I don't even know why.
Especially if I feel like I can't get out, or that I'm stuck.
Stuck where? Everywhere.
Just feel like Just feel like sometimes, I can't be still.
I'm too still sometimes.
It's like I can't move sometimes.
Like I'm stuck.
You should tell somebody.
I told you.
I know.
You gotta tell somebody, though.
Like like older, though.
Who? My mom? You seen her! Geez.
- She's just - So, you think she knows? Nah.
No.
She see what she wanna see.
It's so fucked up how she be bugging on you, though.
Always.
Sometimes she she just goes too far.
My mom gets mad.
She might look like she gonna hit me, but she end up hugging me even more.
It's weird.
It's like It's like the only time she hug me is when she's so mad that she might hit me.
- She pop JG, though.
- [LAUGHS.]
You gotta pop him every once in a while.
That nigga will run into traffic or pull a fire alarm.
[LAUGHS.]
I like Miss Glo.
You ain't never really met her.
I know, but I like her, though.
Hey, thanks for coming over.
I ain't had no choice.
You giving people alter-matums.
Wait, you mean ultimatums? You keep hanging around Marissa too much.
What's up with y'all, anyway? Man, go to sleep.
Nah, don't try to hide it now, light-skin.
- You blushing.
- [LAUGHS.]
You like her? Nah.
Nah, no.
No, I don't.
I don't.
You can't hide nothing, boy.
You changing colors.
[CHUCKLES.]
Man, you the worst, yo.
Go to sleep, please.
Man, I'ma try.
I'ma try.
Try harder.
[LAUGHS.]
MRS.
KELLY: Seren? You boys go to bed.
RAY: I'm gonna have to start cooking.
MRS.
KELLY: Oh? You think you can do better, be my guest.
At this point, he could do better.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Fine.
You two can get up, and I'll get my beauty sleep.
- All right, we're gonna do that.
- I thought the food was amazing.
MRS.
KELLY: Aw, thank you, baby.
See? You know where your bread is buttered.
Mm-hmm.
Manners.
Good morning, sleepyhead.
We didn't wanna wake you, but we can be loud in the mornings.
Come on, sit down.
Get some breakfast.
Look who joined us! Morning, David.
Morning.
Hey.
Seren, get your friend some breakfast.
- Excuse me, mom.
- Sure, love.
You don't have to do that.
No, I got it, ma'am.
He's my guest.
David, please.
Seren talks about you all the time, so it's nice to finally officially meet.
I talk about you too, D.
J.
I think Ray was starting to get jealous.
Oh, yeah? Don't stay gone so long next time.
Well, I came back as early as I could.
It was a great surprise.
I'm happy to hear that.
Mm! - I'm sorry.
- It's cool.
And get every bit of it up! You know I like to walk around here barefoot.
- Geez! - Okay, god.
Keep it up.
RAY: Hey, hey, hey.
Why you making your face ugly with all that anger, huh? Come on, you know he's just showing off for his friend.
Right? He's just trying to impress, right, David? Yeah, I wish he'd save all that for school or something.
It's what men do.
We like to show off for each other.
It's natural.
You gotta let him grow into a man.
Seren, 1 Corinthians 13:11.
"When I became a man, I put away childish things.
" That's right.
That's right.
- You invited David to church? - Oh, yeah! David, he's singing his first solo in the men's day celebration.
You have to come.
I [WHISPERS.]
Please? I gotta ask my mom.
Oh, great.
I'm sure Gloria'll say it's fine.
That's gonna be great.
It's the 31st, so don't forget.
You boys eat up so Dad won't be late dropping you off.
First of all, do not call my house asking for no favors.
I'm at class with you fools all day.
You could've asked me here.
Now I got my mom asking me all these questions, like - Hey, you all right? - "why you have to talk to them? - Yeah.
- I don't even understand 'cause then when I ask you for something, - you don't give me anything.
" - I'm sorry about that surprise.
We're just in a fight like, "I don't understand.
" - I I didn't know he was gonna - You ain't seem to mind.
What? Y'all was happy as Eldridge Cleaver's family.
I think you mean the Partridge family.
Who? I don't even know how y'all waited this late to get this done.
I mean, I know David likes to be late, but Seren? I expected better from you.
You're definitely not that bad, but sometimes I just I gotta play it cool.
I just ooh.
At least when he's around, she ain't all over me.
We all got a game to play.
Just wish it was a game.
And my mom's asking me all these questions like I'm 50 Cent.
You think she ever gonna let us talk? Well, maybe if we ask nicely.
All right? So let's go.
Wait.
Aren't we gonna practice my project? No! I have a science lab I have to prep for.
And besides, Seren told me.
- I get it.
- You get it? Hey, girl.
Hey, boy, I get it.
I know the song.
I mean, who doesn't know "Your child" by Mary J.
Blige? - Y'all be sacrilegious.
- Sacra what? How you all stay in the gifted program? - I do not know.
- Marissa! Okay, can we just run it one time? This is 50% of my grade.
If I don't get this, Woods-Trap can't recommend me for Hurston.
Wait.
You're trying to get W.
T.
She never gives recommendations.
You have to ask.
I know, but I can't ask with a big fucking "F" on my grades, now can I?! Do not talk to me like that.
Marissa, oh, okay.
Come on, I'm sorry.
You been saying that a lot lately.
'Cause I'm fucking trying! I'm tired! I You seen me.
I'm just trying to keep my head up.
Y'all seen me.
Woods-Trap thinks this is best for me.
So please, please, can you help me? I'm begging! I'm begging.
One, two, three, go.
Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm It's all right.
It's hot out here.
We gotta get used to it, baby.
It's Florida.
It's Miami.
It don't get much cooler.
DAVID: I don't remember it all, but she said this is how it happened.
She went to his house.
- Hello? - Oh, hey.
Um, I'm sorry to bother you.
- This old car is just - Why are you standing up here? I know I must look crazy.
I don't even wanna come in.
If I could just use your phone? You went to Dade? Um, yeah.
How did you Sticker on your car.
Which location? Oh, downtown.
Well, I used to go.
I plan on going back.
Let me get you the phone.
My husband isn't in, or else I'd have him help you.
Wait, you might know him.
He teaches at Dade, too.
Wait, that's how I know you.
You were one of my husband's students.
Look, I don't want anything.
And that's how you show you don't want nothing, coming up to people's house with your child? Our child.
I didn't make this baby by myself.
That's not how it works.
I'm not trying to be disrespectful.
I thought saying this over the phone would be You need to leave right now.
I can't have him growing up not knowing who his daddy is.
I don't want that for Well, you should've thought about that before you laid down.
Hey.
You know your man.
Ask yourself, did he tell me about you? Ask yourself.
He's good at keeping secrets.
And I'm 100% sure that he's the father.
Look at him.
Look at him.
- Look.
- DARIUS: Get off my porch, Gloria! Go home! Sharon, go into the house.
- Darius, she's - Go into the house, Sharon! Get off our porch! You crazy, coming up to my house? Look, I don't wanna argue.
You just wasn't returning my calls, and I mean, he's yours.
That baby could be anybody's.
I wasn't the only one.
It was a one-time thing.
What? I wasn't with no one else.
She don't know what she's talking about, that's all.
Nigga, I don't want nothing from you.
I don't want your lying ass or nothing.
- Look.
- Baby, I'm so sorry.
This baby is yours.
The baby is yours.
Acting like you didn't know what you was doing.
He looks just like you, Darius.
Go in the house, Sharon! You know how these hood rats be trying to latch onto anything that's good.
Go in the house, baby.
Please, just go in the house.
I may be the first one to come to the house, but I won't be the last.
Must've had a heat stroke, thinking I wanted my baby to Go on.
Go on in the house.
Take your ass in the house, nigga! You done said what the fuck you said.
You come here again, I will call the police.
Don't worry.
- You won't see us again.
- Stand back.
And when he grow up to be somebody, don't try claiming him.
Sharon, I don't know what I'm so sorry.
SEREN AND MARISSA: How could you deny your own flesh and blood? Gotta face reality There can never be anymore us And that's the story of how I came to be without a father.
I tell it to point out that all of us get here in many different ways.
And sometimes, people judge those ways and they try to make you feel like you're nothing.
But sometime as simple as a song on the radio can tell you that you're not a nobody.
Mary J.
made a song for folks who sometimes get called nothing, or treated like a nobody.
And I come from those people.
I'm not nothing.
[APPLAUSE.]
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
What's up, Jason? Really brave.
Really important story, D.
What was that? White privilege? Is that how that works? I guess he liked it.
Did she like it? I don't know.
She hasn't said anything.
I mean, I got "good job.
" Yeah, me too.
Hey, Marissa.
Thanks again.
That was amazing.
Yeah, that arrangement was.
[CHUCKLES.]
You owe me.
Well done, David.
Well done.
Thank you, Dr.
W.
T.
Um That's all, David.
Do you think Dr.
Woods-Trap enjoyed the project? I don't know about "enjoyed.
" She said, "well done.
" Nigga, we made it! David.
TOGETHER: Yes? There seems to be You seem to be taking a moment before answering.
Am I confusing you? TOGETHER: No.
See, like there.
You seem to take a moment to collect yourself before answering.
Because you trying to trick me like this here's not Miami or something.
All I'm trying to do is explain to you what you wanna hear so I can get the fuck up out this office.
BOTH: So you can explain to the principal to get off my dick that I'm exceptional.
I'm a little tired, Dr.
Bree.
I know we got one more session, but can we end early? Sure, David.
Let me just put your last appointment down in my calendar.
And I just have one more question.
Do you mind? No, it's, um I'm okay.
Why didn't you do your presentation about your friend? My friend? The one that died this summer.
I knew I shouldn't have said nothing.
Dude really trying it.
BOTH: That wasn't the assignment.
You told me that that's just what's happening where you're from, at Homestead Village.
TOGETHER: The vil.
You said it was a dangerous summer, and someone close to you died.
He wasn't just close to me.
He was, like, the only thing to me, besides my old girl and JG.
He was the only one that listened to me.
He encouraged me to stay happy and look to better days.
He encouraged me to study hard, learn poetry, and learn to read people to try to make it to a better place.
TOGETHER: He wanted me to go to Hurston.
Hurston, the prep school.
He was the one that told me about it.
He helped me understand my situation.
- Achieve more - Achieve more than what he did.
That's all he wanted for me.
So it didn't make sense to do him for my project.
He wasn't where I was from.
He was worried about where I was going.
Now that he's gone David? How do you feel? David.
I I just keep thinking about this poem he taught me "All things must die.
"
GLORIA: Why were you fighting Seren? I thought y'all was friends, Dave.
Why you got to see the counselor? She's worried I'm not getting everything I need.
At home? [RAIN POURING.]
They shot your ass! You dead! Go! [GUNSHOT.]
- David! - David! - Yo, Dave! - David! - David! - David! David? David Young? [GASPS.]
I'm Dr.
Bree.
WOMAN: Friday is our last day of the give back drive.
You can drop off all canned food in front of the principal's office.
Thank you.
So you want to tell me about the fight? Yes.
I'm really sorry.
Says here that, uh, you didn't hit - Ser-in? - Seren.
And I didn't.
I would've knocked his corny ass out.
David.
Yes? - You didn't hit him, but - But I provoked him.
Says that you told the principal so right here.
Yes? So always tell the truth? This nigger.
You always tell the truth? Says here that you called him something.
Called his ass out.
Told his ass to stop fronting like his life was all good.
Know full well his life is fucked up as mine.
- David? - What? Yes? Are you David, are you getting enough rest at home? I I didn't actually I wasn't home last night.
- Nigger? - No? Where were you? I me and Seren Stop talking.
We worked on a project together, presented it today.
Stop.
Talking.
He invited me over to his house to work on it.
- Spent the night and everything.
- Stop.
Tell him too much, he'll ask more questions.
So how was that? Spending the night at Seren's? [INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Some believe that it would be a political action or a military aggression that would finally set ablaze a simmering revolution.
But no.
It was a woman, a woman who knew the only way to get slaves to fight for freedom is to get them to believe they were once free.
I am the great-great-great-grand-niece of this mighty priestess.
She sacrificed the bull that began the revolt.
Because of her, I am here today.
[CHANTING AND DRUM BEATS.]
[APPLAUSE.]
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
Have you all lost your mind? Thank you, Marissa.
That was powerful.
Good job.
I'll give you a late pass so you can clean this up.
Oh, don't worry, Dr.
Woods-Trap.
It's all-natural juices and oil.
I bought the vinegar-baking soda solution right here.
Good thinking.
See me at my desk, sir.
Damn.
What you saying? I'm so sorry, Dr.
W.
T.
Being a good community member means being fully present.
Where were you? Well, technically I was, until Marissa put her little voodoo spell on me.
You think you can clown your way out of this? Marissa, get to class.
I need to understand what is going on with you.
You're up in people's face one minute, sleeping in the back of my room the next.
- David? - I'm trying.
Try harder.
You can't be acting up like this with high school interviews weeks away.
I I Forgot? No, it's it's just a lot going on.
Was that your way of asking for help? - I guess.
- Oh, don't worry.
I was gonna do that anyway 'cause that's how I am.
You have an assignment due for this course, yes? Y-yes.
And things with Seren are? I mean Have you two made peace? We said sorry and shook hands.
Good.
Prove it.
I'm sorry? The assignment that you have yet to turn in is due tomorrow.
And you need to incorporate Seren into it.
- Huh? - Good.
You heard me.
By tomorrow? Or lose 50 points for being late.
Do this, and do it well, David.
Nothing looks better on a recommendation than a righted wrong.
I I have a meeting with the counselor tomorrow.
You also have a project that's due.
Good luck.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Dr.
Woods-Trap says I have to do my "where I'm from" assignment tomorrow.
What, you want some encouragement? You got this, homey.
What's he got now? Girl, ain't nobody was even talking to you.
What, you cooking meth in there? You need to stop stealing cable and watching half episodes of "Breaking Bad.
" [GIGGLES.]
Thank you.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
Listen, I don't even want to know.
Hey, I stored her chemistry set in my locker because it's bigger, happy? Um Woods-Trap says we have to work together for my "where I come from" assignment.
- The hell? - Nice.
Next time try, "the fuck?!" Man, the fuck? Yeah.
She says, since we was fighting, we got to work together.
Or else I lose 50 points.
I don't know why you speaking Creole, all this "we.
" Sounds like you got a problem.
- Seren? - What? No.
No.
No, David, I'm tired.
And and school's almost over.
How am I supposed to help you put your project together by tomorrow? Look, I already got it planned.
I just need some support.
I don't know.
Give me a quick yes instead of a slow no.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
- Okay.
- Okay? Yeah, okay, but you're gonna have to spend the night at my house.
Nigga, is you crazy? I can't spend the night at your house.
- I'm not trying to - Yo, for real? You think I would let I mean, you get I'm just saying.
Yo, nothing's gonna happen while you're there.
And - Ray's gone.
- For good? No.
For work.
He's in Atlanta.
He won't be back till the weekend.
Oh.
Listen.
I I know you want help, and I want to help you, but school's almost over, and I'm not staying after school today, so either come over, or I'm not helping.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Ah.
Mm.
Mm.
[GRUNTS.]
[BREATHING SHAKILY.]
[GIGGLES.]
[LAUGHS.]
[LAUGHS.]
Come on.
Just take your shoes off.
Come on.
Welcome to my palace, sir David! How may I be helping you? Why, thank you, sir.
I'll take a Kool-Aid Jammer on the rocks, shaken and stirred, please.
Yeah, I don't know what that is, but Coming right up, sir David! Damn! This is the life! Nigga, you made it.
I wouldn't ever want to leave the house.
I'd be like, "mom, I'm homeschooled now.
" Your real daddy ever lived here? Nah.
Ray bought this house.
Where your real daddy stay? Away.
I-I think he lives in Tampa, but My mom prefers it that way.
He's from Overtown originally, so She says I'll pick up those ways.
JG's dad was from Overtown.
He he dead? When JG was like two.
How? Shot.
I don't even remember him, really.
What about your daddy? Never met him.
Yeah.
I don't even know his name.
Well, wh-what D.
J.
stand for? I I thought that was junior.
You know the first day of class, where the teacher be like, "come introduce yourself and what you'd like to be called"? The first of your mom's class, and I was just like, "call me D.
J.
" Yeah.
I don't even know what he looked like.
That's what the project's about.
How I had to figure it out.
So you're gonna tell the whole class you don't know your daddy? I'm gonna tell them about my mom.
Hey, Miss Glo.
- Yo.
You a clown.
- [LAUGHS.]
[GARAGE DOOR OPENING.]
- What? - Um Is is it Ray? Uh Um [EXHALES.]
Okay.
Your daddy gone on his trip? SEREN: Yes.
"Yes," what? Yes, he's gone.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
Seren, we have talked about this.
- Yes.
- How many times? How many times? A lot.
Then why are you still Baby, I don't want to be in your face like this, but you need to learn.
Do you hear me? Answer me.
Yes.
"Yes," what? Yes, ma'am.
[SIGHS.]
I don't know where you're getting this mood from, but after what you pulled at school, be lucky you got company.
'Cause you were gonna get an attitude adjustment.
Move.
Hey, there, Mr.
D.
J.
How are you? Please get your elbows off my island.
Thank you.
I have a hard enough time keeping it clean with your friend and his daddy.
Oh.
I'm glad y'all apologized and are acting like your gentlemanly selves again.
I told your mama not to worry.
There'd be no foolishness over here.
And I think it's good you have to work together on this.
'Course I would like some notice.
Was Mrs.
Kelly all right with you spending the night? Yes, she was.
She was real nice.
To me.
She was hella rude to my boy, Seren.
[WHOOPING.]
- David? - She made us dinner.
It was nice.
You know she hittin' Seren.
You don't know shit.
With them thick-ass glasses on, he look like he can see it all.
- Good dinner? - Yeah.
We worked on the project some more, and then we went to bed.
Was your mom angry about you spending the night? - Mom, please.
- Nah.
It's a school night.
We're gonna be doing school work.
GLORIA: Do it over the phone.
- Yeah.
- Gloria be tripping.
Oh, nah.
I mean, she doesn't like me staying the night out, especially after what happened this summer.
Don't say it.
This summer? What happened this summer? - Don't say it.
- Don't say it.
It was real.
Was a bad summer for the neighborhood.
Homestead Village? - The vil.
- The vil.
A lot of activity over there in the summer.
It was in the paper.
Yeah.
Anyone you know? How can you deny your own your own flesh? Okay.
Your own fle Okay.
Yo, yo.
- What? - Yo.
Why you picked this girl song? It's so high.
What? You don't like it? Nah, it's cool.
It's just we gonna need a higher voice.
Who you calling? Uh Mom? - Yeah? - Mom, can I call Marissa? It's for a project.
Yo, I don't want anybody to know about it.
MRS.
KELLY: Sure, sweetie.
- "Sweetie"? [LAUGHS.]
- You so aggy.
Thanks, mom.
[TELEPHONE RINGS.]
Oui? Uh, good evening, Miss Eugene.
This is Seren from Galvin Middle School.
Why are you using your white voice? Dude, shut Um, I was wondering if I could speak to Marissa, please.
You trying to impress her with your white voice.
Yo, shut up.
- Oh, my god.
- Bro, be quiet.
- Marissa? - Yes? Someone is on the phone for you.
You know I don't allow boys calling, but it's Seren, so make it quick.
Hello? - Oh, hey, Marissa.
It's - What's up? - What does David want? - SEREN: How could you tell? I could hear him sniggling in the background.
What you want? Uh, well, he wanted to know if you could help him with a Then why are you asking me? What? She want to talk to you.
Actually, I don't want to talk to either of you, but since you can't ask for what you need O o hold up.
Hold up.
I need I need a girl's voice for my project.
I don't do anything last minute.
Man, I told Seren that.
He was all, "well, maybe we could ask nicely.
" Dude, shut up.
Well Well, what? Ask nice.
You know what? I don't care.
My mom don't allow me to be on the phone after 5:00.
That's a lie.
Seren is okay.
Mom! Tell Seren to text it to me, and you'll meet me in the spill out before school, David.
You know you love to be late.
- All right.
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
- Boo! - Oh, god! J, you scared me! I'm sorry, but I made these.
JG.
JG.
Let her get through the door.
What the "G" can stand for? - Gentleman? - Mm-hmm.
Live, JG, yes.
Girl, come on.
- How you doing? - I'm fine.
You got my baby working in a sweatshop.
You're the man.
He was working on my nerves.
[CHUCKLES.]
I was trying to get an ensem' ready for an event.
And I figured he could use a new stop for them new shoes.
His granddaddy got him those.
Go get your bag.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
You good? I'm I'm fine.
Where's D? He's spending the night at his friend's house.
- Why? - Oh, j wait.
He what? He's spending the night? [BOTH LAUGH.]
We doing that white people shit now? [LAUGHS.]
- He was working on a project, girl.
- Oh.
I I can't stop him forever.
He wanna do a life.
And I want him to, too.
I want him right up there with them white kids.
- Hmm.
- I just It put me on edge.
This for the infinity ball? Oh, girl.
You can tell you a old queen.
The infinity drag house is no more.
- They are extinct.
- Shut up! Mm-hmm.
Ooh, and you was trying to get with the infinity so hard.
Ooh, just all over him.
And I told you that bi shit was a cover.
Ma? What's bi shit? [LAUGHS.]
Mind your bus Bye, Elijah.
Come on, boy.
See you, star.
And he was bi, bih.
I had the hickey to prove it.
Ahh! Okay, girl.
[LAUGHS.]
Aw, bitch, but what else was he sucking on? [BOTH LAUGH.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Come on.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
Okay.
So first, I start, right? Just like, humming some, and doing, like, the chorus but with no words.
Um, right.
And that's when you'll be narrating, saying all that stuff like what happened, right? Yeah.
Man, I still can't believe your mom did that.
If you knew her, you would.
I'm just like her, though.
I just be doing shit sometimes.
I don't even know why.
Especially if I feel like I can't get out, or that I'm stuck.
Stuck where? Everywhere.
Just feel like Just feel like sometimes, I can't be still.
I'm too still sometimes.
It's like I can't move sometimes.
Like I'm stuck.
You should tell somebody.
I told you.
I know.
You gotta tell somebody, though.
Like like older, though.
Who? My mom? You seen her! Geez.
- She's just - So, you think she knows? Nah.
No.
She see what she wanna see.
It's so fucked up how she be bugging on you, though.
Always.
Sometimes she she just goes too far.
My mom gets mad.
She might look like she gonna hit me, but she end up hugging me even more.
It's weird.
It's like It's like the only time she hug me is when she's so mad that she might hit me.
- She pop JG, though.
- [LAUGHS.]
You gotta pop him every once in a while.
That nigga will run into traffic or pull a fire alarm.
[LAUGHS.]
I like Miss Glo.
You ain't never really met her.
I know, but I like her, though.
Hey, thanks for coming over.
I ain't had no choice.
You giving people alter-matums.
Wait, you mean ultimatums? You keep hanging around Marissa too much.
What's up with y'all, anyway? Man, go to sleep.
Nah, don't try to hide it now, light-skin.
- You blushing.
- [LAUGHS.]
You like her? Nah.
Nah, no.
No, I don't.
I don't.
You can't hide nothing, boy.
You changing colors.
[CHUCKLES.]
Man, you the worst, yo.
Go to sleep, please.
Man, I'ma try.
I'ma try.
Try harder.
[LAUGHS.]
MRS.
KELLY: Seren? You boys go to bed.
RAY: I'm gonna have to start cooking.
MRS.
KELLY: Oh? You think you can do better, be my guest.
At this point, he could do better.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Fine.
You two can get up, and I'll get my beauty sleep.
- All right, we're gonna do that.
- I thought the food was amazing.
MRS.
KELLY: Aw, thank you, baby.
See? You know where your bread is buttered.
Mm-hmm.
Manners.
Good morning, sleepyhead.
We didn't wanna wake you, but we can be loud in the mornings.
Come on, sit down.
Get some breakfast.
Look who joined us! Morning, David.
Morning.
Hey.
Seren, get your friend some breakfast.
- Excuse me, mom.
- Sure, love.
You don't have to do that.
No, I got it, ma'am.
He's my guest.
David, please.
Seren talks about you all the time, so it's nice to finally officially meet.
I talk about you too, D.
J.
I think Ray was starting to get jealous.
Oh, yeah? Don't stay gone so long next time.
Well, I came back as early as I could.
It was a great surprise.
I'm happy to hear that.
Mm! - I'm sorry.
- It's cool.
And get every bit of it up! You know I like to walk around here barefoot.
- Geez! - Okay, god.
Keep it up.
RAY: Hey, hey, hey.
Why you making your face ugly with all that anger, huh? Come on, you know he's just showing off for his friend.
Right? He's just trying to impress, right, David? Yeah, I wish he'd save all that for school or something.
It's what men do.
We like to show off for each other.
It's natural.
You gotta let him grow into a man.
Seren, 1 Corinthians 13:11.
"When I became a man, I put away childish things.
" That's right.
That's right.
- You invited David to church? - Oh, yeah! David, he's singing his first solo in the men's day celebration.
You have to come.
I [WHISPERS.]
Please? I gotta ask my mom.
Oh, great.
I'm sure Gloria'll say it's fine.
That's gonna be great.
It's the 31st, so don't forget.
You boys eat up so Dad won't be late dropping you off.
First of all, do not call my house asking for no favors.
I'm at class with you fools all day.
You could've asked me here.
Now I got my mom asking me all these questions, like - Hey, you all right? - "why you have to talk to them? - Yeah.
- I don't even understand 'cause then when I ask you for something, - you don't give me anything.
" - I'm sorry about that surprise.
We're just in a fight like, "I don't understand.
" - I I didn't know he was gonna - You ain't seem to mind.
What? Y'all was happy as Eldridge Cleaver's family.
I think you mean the Partridge family.
Who? I don't even know how y'all waited this late to get this done.
I mean, I know David likes to be late, but Seren? I expected better from you.
You're definitely not that bad, but sometimes I just I gotta play it cool.
I just ooh.
At least when he's around, she ain't all over me.
We all got a game to play.
Just wish it was a game.
And my mom's asking me all these questions like I'm 50 Cent.
You think she ever gonna let us talk? Well, maybe if we ask nicely.
All right? So let's go.
Wait.
Aren't we gonna practice my project? No! I have a science lab I have to prep for.
And besides, Seren told me.
- I get it.
- You get it? Hey, girl.
Hey, boy, I get it.
I know the song.
I mean, who doesn't know "Your child" by Mary J.
Blige? - Y'all be sacrilegious.
- Sacra what? How you all stay in the gifted program? - I do not know.
- Marissa! Okay, can we just run it one time? This is 50% of my grade.
If I don't get this, Woods-Trap can't recommend me for Hurston.
Wait.
You're trying to get W.
T.
She never gives recommendations.
You have to ask.
I know, but I can't ask with a big fucking "F" on my grades, now can I?! Do not talk to me like that.
Marissa, oh, okay.
Come on, I'm sorry.
You been saying that a lot lately.
'Cause I'm fucking trying! I'm tired! I You seen me.
I'm just trying to keep my head up.
Y'all seen me.
Woods-Trap thinks this is best for me.
So please, please, can you help me? I'm begging! I'm begging.
One, two, three, go.
Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm It's all right.
It's hot out here.
We gotta get used to it, baby.
It's Florida.
It's Miami.
It don't get much cooler.
DAVID: I don't remember it all, but she said this is how it happened.
She went to his house.
- Hello? - Oh, hey.
Um, I'm sorry to bother you.
- This old car is just - Why are you standing up here? I know I must look crazy.
I don't even wanna come in.
If I could just use your phone? You went to Dade? Um, yeah.
How did you Sticker on your car.
Which location? Oh, downtown.
Well, I used to go.
I plan on going back.
Let me get you the phone.
My husband isn't in, or else I'd have him help you.
Wait, you might know him.
He teaches at Dade, too.
Wait, that's how I know you.
You were one of my husband's students.
Look, I don't want anything.
And that's how you show you don't want nothing, coming up to people's house with your child? Our child.
I didn't make this baby by myself.
That's not how it works.
I'm not trying to be disrespectful.
I thought saying this over the phone would be You need to leave right now.
I can't have him growing up not knowing who his daddy is.
I don't want that for Well, you should've thought about that before you laid down.
Hey.
You know your man.
Ask yourself, did he tell me about you? Ask yourself.
He's good at keeping secrets.
And I'm 100% sure that he's the father.
Look at him.
Look at him.
- Look.
- DARIUS: Get off my porch, Gloria! Go home! Sharon, go into the house.
- Darius, she's - Go into the house, Sharon! Get off our porch! You crazy, coming up to my house? Look, I don't wanna argue.
You just wasn't returning my calls, and I mean, he's yours.
That baby could be anybody's.
I wasn't the only one.
It was a one-time thing.
What? I wasn't with no one else.
She don't know what she's talking about, that's all.
Nigga, I don't want nothing from you.
I don't want your lying ass or nothing.
- Look.
- Baby, I'm so sorry.
This baby is yours.
The baby is yours.
Acting like you didn't know what you was doing.
He looks just like you, Darius.
Go in the house, Sharon! You know how these hood rats be trying to latch onto anything that's good.
Go in the house, baby.
Please, just go in the house.
I may be the first one to come to the house, but I won't be the last.
Must've had a heat stroke, thinking I wanted my baby to Go on.
Go on in the house.
Take your ass in the house, nigga! You done said what the fuck you said.
You come here again, I will call the police.
Don't worry.
- You won't see us again.
- Stand back.
And when he grow up to be somebody, don't try claiming him.
Sharon, I don't know what I'm so sorry.
SEREN AND MARISSA: How could you deny your own flesh and blood? Gotta face reality There can never be anymore us And that's the story of how I came to be without a father.
I tell it to point out that all of us get here in many different ways.
And sometimes, people judge those ways and they try to make you feel like you're nothing.
But sometime as simple as a song on the radio can tell you that you're not a nobody.
Mary J.
made a song for folks who sometimes get called nothing, or treated like a nobody.
And I come from those people.
I'm not nothing.
[APPLAUSE.]
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
What's up, Jason? Really brave.
Really important story, D.
What was that? White privilege? Is that how that works? I guess he liked it.
Did she like it? I don't know.
She hasn't said anything.
I mean, I got "good job.
" Yeah, me too.
Hey, Marissa.
Thanks again.
That was amazing.
Yeah, that arrangement was.
[CHUCKLES.]
You owe me.
Well done, David.
Well done.
Thank you, Dr.
W.
T.
Um That's all, David.
Do you think Dr.
Woods-Trap enjoyed the project? I don't know about "enjoyed.
" She said, "well done.
" Nigga, we made it! David.
TOGETHER: Yes? There seems to be You seem to be taking a moment before answering.
Am I confusing you? TOGETHER: No.
See, like there.
You seem to take a moment to collect yourself before answering.
Because you trying to trick me like this here's not Miami or something.
All I'm trying to do is explain to you what you wanna hear so I can get the fuck up out this office.
BOTH: So you can explain to the principal to get off my dick that I'm exceptional.
I'm a little tired, Dr.
Bree.
I know we got one more session, but can we end early? Sure, David.
Let me just put your last appointment down in my calendar.
And I just have one more question.
Do you mind? No, it's, um I'm okay.
Why didn't you do your presentation about your friend? My friend? The one that died this summer.
I knew I shouldn't have said nothing.
Dude really trying it.
BOTH: That wasn't the assignment.
You told me that that's just what's happening where you're from, at Homestead Village.
TOGETHER: The vil.
You said it was a dangerous summer, and someone close to you died.
He wasn't just close to me.
He was, like, the only thing to me, besides my old girl and JG.
He was the only one that listened to me.
He encouraged me to stay happy and look to better days.
He encouraged me to study hard, learn poetry, and learn to read people to try to make it to a better place.
TOGETHER: He wanted me to go to Hurston.
Hurston, the prep school.
He was the one that told me about it.
He helped me understand my situation.
- Achieve more - Achieve more than what he did.
That's all he wanted for me.
So it didn't make sense to do him for my project.
He wasn't where I was from.
He was worried about where I was going.
Now that he's gone David? How do you feel? David.
I I just keep thinking about this poem he taught me "All things must die.
"