The Chi (2018) s01e03 Episode Script
Ghosts
1 [RONNIE.]
Previously on The Chi.
I think I know who killed my brother.
You got a piece? Come on, baby, we can just go to the police.
The police ain't gonna do shit.
[CRUZ.]
This Coogie kid didn't kill - Jason Roxboro.
- It don't matter.
I gotta mail these off, then I got work.
- And what about your son? - He's staying here.
- Says who? - Then what am I supposed to do? Folks call me Q.
You go get yourself a sitter, son.
That Jason's stuff? Yeah, his phone is missing, though.
I wanted you to have this.
Why don't you stop at the store and pick up something good? I'll cook tonight.
- Take the chain, man, take - [GUNSHOT.]
[GASPS.]
[BRANDON.]
I'm just sitting here looking at pictures because I miss him.
- How much? - Three.
- Any bodies on it? - No.
[CRUZ.]
What do you got going on at the stash house? Nothing you need to worry about.
Simple one-on-one - Are you serious, man? - Yeah, I am.
You two handle your shit and work this together.
You living up in her house, eating her food and all that, and you can't even go to her son's funeral? You sound like you askin' for an ass-whuppin'.
- He saw me today.
- What are you talking about right now? That joker that killed your brother.
Ran after me like he was gonna kill me.
You sure that's even the right dude? [KEVIN.]
Yes, I'm sure that's the right dude.
[JERRIKA.]
I need to know you're not gonna do something stupid, Brandon.
Yeah, let's get that gun.
What you know about that kid that got shot on 77th? - Nothing.
- Looks like it was payback for your son, Jason's murder.
This Coogie kid He didn't shoot your boy.
- I'm cool, bro.
- You're not cool.
You got that look.
Can't have that look.
Where's this dude at, man? He'll be here.
Chill.
I brought, like, $500 with me.
[LUIS.]
That's too much.
Pull out whatever you wanna spend.
Put the rest in your shoe.
Why in my shoe? 'Cause you show him $500, that's what it's gonna cost.
Shoe, bro, trust me.
[GRAVEL CRUNCHING.]
Shit.
[DISTANT SIREN WAILING.]
[CAR DOORS SLAMMING.]
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
[ROJOS.]
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
Okay, okay, what you got? How much you wanna spend? $300.
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
Y'all can speak English, bro? Yo, show him the money, he'll show you the gun.
Banger, .
40-caliber Glock.
Got three clips, $50 each.
- You want a clip, B? - $350, then.
All right, these got Cor-Bon's 140 grain bullets.
Hollow-point tips.
Can make a big-ass fucking hole.
You could jump right through that motherfucker.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Fuck, man, you want the clip or not? Dude.
No, I'm I don't know if I need that, bro.
Okay, cool, no clip.
Back to three.
I-I don't really I don't want it, bro.
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Hey, what the fuck are you doing, B? I don't want the fucking gun.
- [GUN COCKS.]
- Wasting my fucking time.
Chill, chill, chill.
Just give him the money, Brandon.
- He ain't fuckin' around.
- Man, fuck that! I'm not giving him my fucking money.
Stand the fuck back.
Face that pussy-ass van of yours, let's go.
Give me your fucking money, come on.
Fuck, man.
Let me see, Bro.
Hey.
Shit! [EXHALES.]
Shit ain't right.
Wearin' my boy's chain.
Running his mouth.
[COOGIE.]
Come on, man, let me hit that.
[EERIE MUSIC.]
No, no.
Fuck no.
Man, get the fuck off of my couch.
Man, you're the one who shot my ass.
I had plans, man, life and shit.
You feel me? What the fuck was you doing wearin' his chain? He wasn't gonna need it.
Yeah, should've just kept on walking.
That boy saw you do it.
He ain't gonna say shit.
It's only a matter of time before he starts yapping and then your ass get what you got coming.
Sorry.
[DRAMATIC HIP-HOP MUSIC.]
Man, you scared the shit out of me.
The fuck you get into? Man, don't worry about it, man.
Where my mom at? She chillin'.
But let's not act like this is some fucking social call.
Bring your ass in here.
You're only here because you don't want Jerrika seeing you like this.
Come at you with questions you can't answer.
Man, she ain't even like that.
Man, they all like that.
Let me get you a shirt.
[WATER RUNNING.]
This Coogie's? Yeah, I told her to get rid of his shit.
[SUCKS TEETH.]
All she need to do is take it down to the donation box at the church.
How's she doing? Some days better than others.
What about you? Like you really give a fuck.
You right.
I don't.
But being as your mama and I are doing our thing, I gotta look out for her interest.
Keep telling yourself that shit.
All this about your brother? [SUCKS TEETH.]
You know who dropped Coogie.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Shit, you ain't got the sand.
You think you're the first motherfucker to come in this house and think you the man? No, but I'll be the last.
Man, watch out.
Mom, how long he gonna be staying? Not long.
Good.
[SCOFFS.]
'Cause I sold the house and we leaving.
Wh-what are you talking about? A Realtor came by and made us a good offer.
I took it.
You can't sell the house, Ma.
I own half of it.
And you gonna get your half.
Don't worry about that.
It's not even about that.
Granddaddy bought this house, and all of us were raised here.
What are you doing? And look what good it's done us.
What the hell happened to your head? [SIGHS.]
[MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO.]
[TRAIN HORN BLARES.]
[TRAIN RATTLING.]
My mom's gonna be home soon.
You gotta roll.
No, no, I'll be quick, I'll be Not without no rubber, you're not.
Aw, come on.
Mm-mm, you ain't putting no baby up in me.
There's other things we could do.
- Like what? - [NINA.]
Kiesha, Kevin, - I'm home.
- Oh, shit.
She catch you, you ain't gonna have to worry about having no babies 'cause she gonna cut your dick off.
[BOULEVARDS' "GOT TO GO" PLAYING.]
What you want from me Try your own luck No love is free Hey, baby, what you doing in here? Yeah, getting ready for bed.
I got track early in the morning.
I hear you.
What, you air-conditioning the whole neighborhood? [LAUGHS.]
- [NINA.]
Good night.
- [KIESHA.]
Good night.
Say you want a lovin' Know you want a lovin' Come on, took it for granted You got to go, you got to go You got to go, miss your body You got to go, you got to go Get gone What happened? Nothing, I just I hit my head at work.
It's nothing.
- Hit your head? - Mm-hmm.
On what? Um What is it? I tried to buy a gun.
Okay, why? 'Cause I know who shot Coogie and Why would you even try to do something like that? Because Coogie's dead, and I feel like somebody should pay for that.
What the fuck are you talking about? We got plans, Brandon, and this hood bullshit is not who you are.
You know that.
[SIGHS.]
You know, what you need to do is go to the police and tell them what you know.
I'll just I'll take care of it.
Thank you for listening.
Grow the fuck up.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC.]
[ALARM BEEPING.]
Yo, occupied.
I'm handling business in here.
Give me a sec.
[BABBLING.]
Little man, Dad will be right out.
[BABBLING.]
Okay, I see you don't understand what personal space is yet.
- [JADA GROANS.]
- Ma, Ma, come on! - Hey, you work today? - Privacy.
Please, nobody wanna see them scraggly hairs on your little balls.
Mom.
- Work today or not? - Yes.
Okay, I'm gonna take little Emmett to The Gap.
They're having a sale.
Then we're gonna go to the park.
Okay, cool, that's fine.
You gonna ask Sonny about them extra hours? Yes, I'm gonna try.
You're gonna need 'em.
He needs a proper bed, and he needs proper day care.
I know, I know, I know.
We talked about it, okay? I don't know what crawled up inside you and died, but please, light a match in here when you're done.
- Daddy's stinky, right? - Jesus.
Lincoln Park High won the last nine out of ten Red North meets.
Ain't no way we're not gonna beat them.
Nine out of ten, which means they lost one - and could lose again.
- Hey, y'all.
Look like somebody on the struggle bus this morning.
I didn't sleep well.
He nervous about that play.
Play, what play? My baby in a play? The Wiz, he auditioned for it.
The Wiz, really? That's good.
Really, Kiesha? You got a big fucking mouth.
- [NINA.]
Language! - Dollar.
I ain't got no money.
Well, then put your marker in.
Go on.
Should be $2 for talking to your sister like that.
- Morning, babe.
- Morning.
- Coffee? - Please.
So what's so important you using that kind of language - around the breakfast table? - Nothing.
Kevin tried out for a play.
That's good keep you off these fucking streets.
- Uh! - Damn.
That's two.
Look, the reason I didn't tell y'all about the play is 'cause I might not do it.
You tried out for it, didn't you? Well, we finish what we start in this family, you hear me? [JAZZY MUSIC.]
[ELEVATOR DINGS.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
No, thank you.
Just give me a second.
I can explain.
Explain what? How you had me sitting there, waiting at the table like I used to and you never show? You don't understand No, I do understand, which makes me an even bigger fool.
It ain't like that.
Then what's it like? Where were you? What's up? Please tell me.
Where were you? Some shit went down, and I And you couldn't pick up the phone and call and tell me you weren't coming? I'm sorry.
Tell me something I don't know, Ronnie.
I don't know what else I can say.
You know what? I don't even care anymore.
I don't even know why the fuck I came down here.
You're on my last nerve.
Don't call my job no more.
Don't show up.
Just leave me alone, Ronnie.
I'm sick of you.
Trace, come I'm gonna figure out why this happened to Jason.
I'm gonna find his phone.
I promise.
[TRAFFIC HUMMING.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[DISTANT SIREN WAILING.]
[WATER RUNNING.]
- Good morning.
- Is it? Yeah, I'm sorry about all that shit yesterday.
[SPITS.]
It's all right.
I know you're gonna do the right thing.
- Mm.
- Mm-hmm.
Um, my mom actually You know, I stopped by the house yesterday, and she was saying something about her selling the house or something like that.
- To who? - I don't know, you know? But I got a feeling that whatever she about to do, she about to fuck it up.
- So - She ain't thinking straight.
Exactly, which is why I was thinking maybe you could, you know, stop over there and talk to her.
See if she signed anything.
I ain't going over there by myself.
Your mama hates me.
"Hate" is a strong word.
- Maybe she don't like you.
- Mm-hmm.
But she knows you're smart.
Please, for me? [MUMBLES.]
Okay, okay, but I have a showing this afternoon, so in and out.
You know what? You wanna show me a little - in and out right now? - No! [INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[MAN.]
Yeah, I know how it is.
You know, what's up, man? [INDISTINCT CHATTER CONTINUES.]
[MAN.]
Let me hit that, man.
Keep that shit moving up the street, old man.
[INHALES DEEPLY.]
You might as well just hang a sign.
You want something? Trice.
Am I supposed to show you mine now? Roll the fuck on up out of here, old man.
It's cool, Reg.
All right, it's cool.
[TRICE.]
Come on.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO.]
Just don't stop, just don't stop [CAR DOOR SLAMS.]
I heard you were back.
Yeah, well, I guess people talk, huh? - Bet they do.
- Yeah.
I see business is good.
But we're blessed.
Lot of shootings, kids getting killed.
My shit's tight on that.
Keeping order like you taught me, sir.
That's not what I heard.
Look, you wanna ask me something, then go ahead and ask it.
I read in the paper about this kid, this star basketball player, getting shot up near that stash house.
Is that house one of yours? [SCOFFS.]
You on a beach.
What you care? All these bodies dropping It's not good.
So you came back from wherever the fuck you went so you Look at me when I'm talking to you.
You came back from wherever the fuck you went so you could give me a lecture? You're not the type for lectures.
No, I ain't.
Mm-mm.
So how long are you back here, man? That depends.
I got some things I need to do.
Well, if you need anything while you're here, you just let me know.
Good, 'cause I wanna know about that kid.
The basketball player.
What, you know this kid or something? Don't need to.
That shit's bad for business.
A'ight.
A'ight, let me ask around.
I appreciate that.
Man, why the hell are we saving this shit? I've only fried six batches of chicken, some fish, and hush puppies.
That grease should last me at least another week.
Wine of our people.
You crazy.
Shows what you know.
Each batch has got some different flavors in it.
So I put it in the fridge for some time, and then when I pull it out and fry some potatoes, eggs, and chicken, that flavor comes out.
Talk about so good, you wanna slap somebody.
Yeah, 'cause it's nasty.
Mmm, nasty good.
You handle your baby shit? Yeah, working on it.
Um I could really use some extra shifts.
Uh, anything open? Something opens up, you got it, young blood, but, right now, we all good.
Oh, you need to get Q back his paper as soon as possible.
- Yeah, I been meaning to.
- Don't sleep on it.
He's not a cat you fuck with, understand? Yo, man, you got a sec? Yo, Ba-ba-back up.
We got back most of Jason's stuff after the autopsy, but not his cell phone.
We sent the mother what we had.
Well, she wants it back for the photos.
Well, maybe it got lifted, you know? That block, who the fuck knows? - Hey.
- Hey, don't fucking touch me.
Hey, come on, man.
I'm just trying to do right by my boy.
Are you? And what's that supposed to mean? I showed you Jason's body out of respect, okay? This investigation's out of my hands.
So I'm supposed to just move on and forget my son's dead? No, you're supposed to stop asking questions.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Get the fuck out of here.
[SLOW R&B MUSIC.]
[MAISHA.]
Hey, Kev.
Look, I-I don't hit girls, but if I have to, I will smack your ass.
You ain't gonna hit me.
You sweet.
- I'm not sweet.
- Oh, so you a gangster? - I guess so.
- A'ight.
[GRUNTS.]
What you doing? You gonna be with my cousin, I gotta see what you working with.
Wh-what do you mean? I [SPUTTERING.]
That was shit.
You gotta take control.
What? N-no.
No, what you mean? Just stand still.
What you doing? - It's called a French kiss.
- We ain't French.
- Just one more.
- I'ma be late.
I gotta get to school, so [LAUGHS.]
Yeah.
Who you work for? My parents own a successful real estate agency in Hyde Park.
I really think this place has a lot of potential.
That girl bourgie as turkey bacon.
Probably one of them Jack and Jill's.
Both of y'all rude as hell.
It's okay.
I'm gonna keep this professional.
So who's trying to buy your house, Mrs.
Johnson? Some dude stepped to me after the funeral at church.
Yeah, because he trying to take advantage of you while you still mourning and shit.
You gonna talk too? Bad enough I got to listen to her.
Was his name Darryl Taylor? Yeah, yeah, that's it.
You know him? He have you sign anything? You signed what is called an initial offer sheet.
This is not a binding contract to sell.
Good.
I don't know what you smiling at.
I'm still selling this damn house.
Shit's always breaking.
Bills always due.
Yeah, we're looking to downsize.
I'm sorry, we? Yeah, we gonna condo it up.
On the South Side? Monteagle.
Tennessee my sister got a house.
You ever even been to Tennessee? No, but I been to Atlanta.
Same damn thing.
No, it's not.
You been to either one? We're not even talking about me.
Well, Greavy showed me pictures.
That's all that matter.
- It's nice.
- Yeah, they got eagles, like Like, bald motherfucking eagles.
So y'all are looking to start fresh.
- Yeah, I am.
- What? You gotta think about when you retire.
You gonna have more capital in the house than ever, and Capital, what are you talking about? You should let that keep growing! - Tell her, babe.
- I wanna go now! - Babe, tell her.
- Okay, look.
With the Obama Library being built ten minutes away and the University of Chicago building a level-one trauma center, the neighborhood is actually booming.
[LAVERNE.]
Meaning we could get a lot of money for this house, right? Probably more than ever before.
Oh, my God.
What the fuck was that? Who are you talking to? You just sprung that shit up on me.
You mean the truth? You were supposed to be talking her out of selling the house, J.
You asked me to talk to her about it.
I did, and selling might be the best thing for her right now, even if you don't like it.
If she sells, she gonna blow straight through the money, and then guess whose door she gonna be knocking at.
- You don't know that.
- Oh, I don't? I just watch her make bad decision after bad decision, and this house is the only thing that we got that she ain't destroyed, so what are you talking about? Selling the house isn't the problem, Brandon.
What does that mean? It means that this is all tied in to whatever crazy bullshit you have with your mother.
Oh, so you don't have bullshit with your family? Okay, I can't do this with you right now.
Really? So now you 'bout to just drop this shit on me and roll? We can talk about this later.
I have that showing I can't be late for.
Oh, wow, okay.
Well, I love you too.
Fuck, man.
[REGGAE MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO.]
Let's get it right - Stand up - [DOG WHINES.]
Let's keep it tight Stand up - What's up? - Shh.
Cici can't pee while people talking.
[URINE SPLASHING.]
That's a good boy.
That is a good boy.
That's Daddy's little boy right there.
Look at you, going pee.
Look you, scrawny, you need a little scritch-scritch.
Whoo.
Surprised you don't have one of your boys doing this.
No, I'm his master, so only I feed and walk him.
That way, his loyalty belongs to nobody else.
You ain't here to buy shit.
So what you want? You know my boy was murdered, right? Shh.
I seen him play once.
He was shit in the paint, but his jumper had promise.
Whew.
Want to know if you heard anything about how he got shot.
Do I look like the Po-po to you, motherfucker? No, but Jason knew better than to be up on that block.
And I know better than to eat pussy when I'm in a whorehouse.
That don't mean I don't do it.
Shit, you know who block that is? - Yeah, Trice.
- So I'm supposed to know something or find something out about shit that ain't my business and then run and tell you? Why the fuck would I do that? 'Cause he was a good kid.
Didn't deserve that shit.
Okay but, in return, you do something for me.
You up for that? I ain't gonna suck your dick or nothing.
Nigga, please.
I got people for that.
[DISTANT SIREN WAILS.]
We got a deal? [GROANS.]
Funny that right after that other kid got dropped, you sold me that piece.
So if you got any loose ends you need to tie up, better handle your business, 'cause if the police come sniffing around here, I'm gonna kill you, your grandmas, your girlfriend, and your prom date.
[SPEAKING ARABIC.]
[RONNIE.]
'Sup? My cholesterol.
You buying anything? Yeah, shit.
[MUSIC PLAYING OVER LOUDSPEAKER.]
You know those boys always coming in here? Tall one, fat one, little one? Yeah, what about them? They go to school near here? Why? Think they knew my son, Jason.
Wanted to see if they'd like to have any of his gear.
They go to Hopkins.
What time they get out? Uh, three, but they come in here for pop and chips.
Sorry about your son, Jason.
Your son, the basketball player.
You knew him? Yes, he'd come in, buy gum.
Good kid.
[SPEAKING ARABIC.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[URINE TRICKLING.]
- You finished? - [URINAL FLUSHES.]
Yeah, I'm good.
I'm good.
You need something? That guy you were talking to outside the station.
Oh, yeah, he just He lost his kid.
Oh, that's Jason's dad? Kind of.
Uh, raised him, not his dad.
And what'd he want? Oh, you know, he was just looking for answers.
Answers, from you? Yeah, he said he didn't get his kid's cell phone back from evidence, wanted to know what he was doing on that corner.
I heard you had a non-blood relative down in the morgue to ID the body.
- That's him, right? - Yeah.
You tell him we had that Coogie kid in custody? - No.
- Good.
- You gonna wash your hands? - Mm-hmm.
Oh, hey, remember, softball.
Field three, MacArthur Park.
I'll be there.
[WATER SPLASHING.]
[ALL.]
Okay, well, hello! From the back you say I do, do, do! We cheer, and we dance, and we bring it to you.
[JAKE.]
Man, why your sister do you like that? I don't know, but now I gotta do this dumb-ass play.
Maybe she need a little big Papa in her life to, you know, straighten her out.
I think she already got that.
Shit.
What? Man, that's the dude.
That's the dude that shot the kid and chased me.
- [PAPA.]
What he doing here? - What you think he doing here? He coming after us, man.
We gotta go.
Man, where you going? [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Man, where we going? We'll be safe in the auditorium.
Auditorium? Get your ass in there.
Come on! Mr.
Williams! I see you've answered my prayers.
What, excuse me? Okay, we're short a few actors, and you and your friends are perfect for it.
- Come on, Kev! - Wait Whoa, whoa, guys, guys, guys, listen, I promise you Super important parts.
The lollipop kids? Aw, hell naw.
What do I look like? Like a bunch of gay-ass circus clowns.
Man, screw this.
Look, at least we safe from that dude outside.
You snitch, Kev? Man, what do I look like? Don't ever ask that question again.
Why he coming after us? Sus as hell, man, him showing here.
Man, you in this shit too, Papa? Just saying.
- Well, don't.
- Yo, chill, Kev.
- We all in this with you - You're not, all right? That motherfucker coming after me.
I'm the one with the real problems.
Man, what I'm gonna do? The only way to get him off your back is to go to him and show him you ain't gonna snitch.
Yeah, roll up on him, man-to-man.
Man, I can't do that.
You know where he hangs, right? Yeah.
So you go to him.
Go to him? I can't do that.
It's what you do before it becomes a thing.
Show him you ain't gonna screw him over.
But I ain't gonna screw him over.
He don't know that.
What I say? Go to him, show him you're for real and that you ain't gonna snitch on him.
[PIANO MUSIC PLAYING ONSTAGE.]
Hey, this your spot? Maybe.
Looking for a cell phone.
- Man.
- I lost it.
- Fuck if I'ma help you.
- You sure? If you find it, there's a nice reward I said I ain't seen, nor am I gonna see or find no cell phone.
Not for no devil like you.
Damn! Oh, shit, damn! - That's my hand, man! - Shh.
- Fuck! - You will for me.
- Okay, yeah, okay.
- Okay? - Okay.
- Yeah, fuck! Shit.
Goddamn.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Fucker, damn.
Yeah, you're on your own lifting these.
Got a bad back.
[SUCKS TEETH.]
[SCOFFS.]
These are mine.
You never heard of RedTube? Man, I don't fuck with no Internet titties.
I'm old-school that way.
Hey, this between you and me, right? Is it done? Almost.
Cousin Hannibal said he'll let me use the van to get some of this stuff.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
- What? - Stop.
What, what you want, Brandon? Look, let me ask you something.
Sit down.
Stop worrying about this.
What, Brandon? Why you really want to sell the house? Is it 'cause Coogie's gone? Can't even walk past the room no more.
I mean, sometimes I You know, I still feel him in there.
Like he's laying down, listening to music on his headphones, and he's singing, you know? [CHUCKLES SOFTLY.]
Yeah, his voice was so bad.
[LAUGHTER.]
No.
He didn't care, though.
[LAUGHTER.]
Listen, baby.
I know you think I loved Coogie more than you.
- No, Ma - No, no, no.
I got to tell you.
I didn't.
You wanted to get out there, and I knew there wasn't nothing was gonna mess with you, but Coogie he was different.
He just needed me more than you.
He needed us, you know.
Aw, sweetie, come here.
Shit! Fucking apple, motherfucker! What'd you just call him? - Nothing.
- Hey.
Pssh.
Serves y'all right.
You always gyppin' us over on the cheese, sitting there behind that counter, plottin' how y'all gonna get into our wallets.
You don't like it, don't shop here, then.
[SPEAKING ARABIC.]
Stop speakin' in Arabic, man.
Makes people think y'all talkin' about them.
- We don't say nothing.
- Oh, nothing? What what "apple" mean? What the fuck does that mean? Huh? Pssh.
What y'all need to do is hire somebody from the neighborhood.
Like who? Like me.
Like my black ass.
Think about it.
Folks see me in here, they ain't gonna wanna fuck with y'all.
Plus, I know everybody that steal from here.
Everybody.
And they know I know.
So they see me in here working with y'all, they ain't They ain't gonna wanna fuck with nothin.
' Which will improve y'all bottom line.
Trust me.
Man, come on, Habib, you know I'm right for it.
No, I don't trust you! See, that's some racist bullshit right there.
I'ma get some motherfuckers to come in here and boycott y'all.
See, we gon we gonna shop at Jewel Osco.
Tell him.
- We going to Jewel Osco.
- Go, go, go to Jewel Osco! That's exactly where we gonna go.
- Osco.
- Hey, man.
What you need? Let me get two Swisher Sweets, White Owl, and a Black & Mild Casino.
Really? [AMIR.]
Here you go, man.
That's why we can't get nowhere as a people.
Man, come on, Amir.
Hook a brother up.
How much money you make selling them kicks? Nothin'.
That basically pays for my shoe addiction.
I don't make no paper from that.
You get me some retro Fours and we can talk, see what's up.
- What size? - Five.
Women's.
- You got some small-ass - It's for my girl, man.
All right, I'll see what I can do.
All right, when you do that, I got something special for you.
Maybe a job.
Well, I ain't cleaning your dirty-ass bathroom It's good.
It's legit.
And it pays cash.
You down or not? - Pays cash? - Mm-hmm.
- All right.
- All right.
Pssh.
[DOORBELL RINGS.]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING ON STEREO.]
[MEN CATCALLING.]
[MAN.]
Excuse me.
Good afternoon.
I'm the one who called about the property.
Okay, I'm Jerrika Little, the sales agent.
Jerrika.
Quentin.
Quentin Dickinson.
That's a nice, firm handshake.
Your daddy taught you well.
It was my mother, actually.
Ooh, sounds like one hell of a lady.
You have no idea.
So, uh, our sale sign keeps getting stolen.
How did you find out about the property? Oh, I, um - I'm attracted to deals.
- [JERRIKA CHUCKLES.]
[DOOR SQUEAKS OPEN.]
Well, as you can see, the place needs a little work, but This where you tell me, with a little bit of plaster and, uh, a fresh coat of paint, it'll look brand-new? No, this is where I tell you I have some great properties in Woodlawn.
Yeah, but who wants to live in Woodlawn? It's a really up-and-coming area.
The Obama Library's being built only ten minutes away.
I can appreciate that, but I like it here.
I'll take it.
Okay.
How fast can we get this done? Uh, let me draw up some paperwork.
I won't be needing a mortgage.
This is my lawyer's number.
He'll deal with everything.
And, if at all possible, I'd like it done by tonight.
By tonight? Well, I know what I want.
I give you your price, you give me a key.
[REGGAE MUSIC.]
[HORN HONKING.]
[BRANDON.]
All right! I'm coming, motherfucker.
Well, I know you deaf as hell.
What you say? I can't hear you.
I said I know you deaf as hell.
[BRANDON.]
'Cause of your black ass.
Man, sixth grade, man, get over that.
Man, you popped a fuckin' firecracker in my ear while I was trying to sleep.
It was the sixth grade, man.
Get over that shit.
Yo, man, I miss you, cuz.
Yeah, I miss you too, man.
I'm sorry about Coogie, man.
Yeah, we all kind of fucked up about it.
Yeah, I was outta dodge on biz, or else you know I'da been there.
It's all good.
Where you was at, China? - Nah, Indonesia, man.
- Ooh.
Some trippy-ass shit going on down there.
- [LAUGHTER.]
- Yo, your moms home? Yeah, she in there.
You wanna come speak? Fuck no, man.
I love my auntie, but I don't need that kind of crazy in my life, you dig? - I feel you.
- But, uh, you fuck it up, you pay for it, a'ight? I'm sorry, what? - [LAUGHS.]
- No, so tomorrow, then, huh? Uh, hit me up.
I know that mean "no" already.
Don't wreck my shit, fool.
Lazy ass.
[REG.]
Yo, is that Emmett? What you doin' around here, dog? [EMMETT.]
Hey, Reg.
[LAUGHS.]
- How you livin'? - Hustlin'.
[REG.]
I heard you been lookin' for work.
You havin' any luck out there? I been poundin' the pavement all day lookin' for shit.
Ain't nothin' out here.
I hear you.
Why don't you come hustle for me? For every Jab you sell, you would make, like, two, two-fifty.
Okay.
So how much they move in a day? Depends.
Always room for a smart motherfucker like you.
That's almost a G a day.
Like that.
Put you right to work.
See for yourself.
So what's up? You down? Put some money in your pocket.
Tonight.
You wastin' my fuckin' time? No, no, I j I just need some time to think about it.
If you need to think about it, this shit ain't for you.
Big money, come on.
Hey, y'all hold it down.
[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON HEADPHONES.]
Hey.
[MUSIC STOPS.]
Couldn't sleep.
What's this one? Oh, just a kid.
Yeah? Put it away.
Get some sleep before you gotta go in.
Come on.
I fucked up.
I mighta said something to one of my Cls.
It was his kid had been shot.
This kid? That's his son? No.
No, another one.
This one, Coogie, he was standing over the body, and I don't know why he was over the body, but he was, and I told my CI about it.
I mentioned that That we had this kid in for questioning.
I wanted to help him, you know? With his grief.
Like, if it was my kid, I'd wanna know that they had somebody.
So he went and shot this kid? This Coogie? Yeah, I think so.
The kid didn't even do it.
Fuck.
Mm-hmm.
Are you gonna arrest this guy? I don't have any proof.
But you know.
Yeah, I know, but I don't know.
Hey.
You gotta fix this.
I know.
Come back to bed.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING ON STEREO.]
Fuck you been? Everywhere and nowhere, man.
Sound like you need to hit this.
- Hell yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
Are you good? - Yeah, I'm good.
- You don't look it.
That shit messing with my head, man.
Since when? - Since now, motherfucker.
- I told you, man.
CIA be spraying that shit with chemicals.
[CURTIS.]
Chinese fucking chemicals.
Pretty soon, we call gonna be peeing sitting down.
Yeah, I'll stick with this, man.
Yo.
Check it out.
Oh, fuck.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
- W-what's up? - You tell me.
Came to my school lookin' for me.
Yeah, when you got a problem, that's what happens.
Look, man, w-we ain't got no problems.
I'll decide if we got a problem or not.
[KEYS CLATTERING.]
[TABLE DRAGGING.]
[STATIC DRONES.]
[INDISTINCT SPEECH OVER RADIO.]
[TRAIN RUMBLING.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[KEVIN.]
Yo.
Yo, what up, Kev? What you doing way up here? My bad for runnin' up on you like that.
I just want to say sorry for what happened the other night at my crib.
You know, I said some shit I didn't mean to say, and I'm sorry.
It's all good.
I appreciate it.
- Cool? - Yeah.
I see you been takin' care of Coogie bike too.
Yeah.
How did you find out where I live? Oh, I asked Emmett.
[SCOFFS.]
So, uh you told anybody what I told you? Nah.
Why? I'm just asking.
Making sure.
Well, I gotta bounce.
All right, well, get with me.
- A'ight.
- A'ight? What's wrong, Kev? I-I was wondering if you could walk me home, you know.
It's gettin' late, and, uh, you know, I-I gotta cut through the park to get home, and, you know, I don't wanna walk by myself.
It's all good.
You don't have to.
- Say no more.
- 'Kay.
It's a'ight to be scared sometimes, Kev Man, I ain't scared.
Dang.
[BRANDON.]
So what's up, man? School good? When has it ever been good? [LAUGHS.]
Man, shit is easy right now.
Trust me, all you gotta worry about is girls and grades.
I already got girl problems.
Oh, yeah? You're a little player, huh? [LAUGHS.]
Yeah, I know.
It-it ain't even like that, all right? [LAUGHING.]
Hey, if you got feelings, you got feelings, Kev.
That's a whole nother ball game, though, you know? I say something wrong? What's wrong? What's wrong? What's going on? [RONNIE.]
What's going on, little man? [TENSE MUSIC.]
[RONNIE.]
I hear you been looking for me.
Rollin' up, today I got time I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin up I'm rollin' up, ay Yeah I'm rollin' up, today I got time I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin' up I'm rollin' up, today I got time I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin' up I'm rollin' up, today I got time I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin' up I'm rollin' up, today I got time I'm, I look around and all I see is plastic Time for something drastic, today I got time Somebody need their ass kicked Why would I want to pay taxes I'ma keep that in the mattress I'ma keep stackin' but if I do They gon' knock down my door and throw me in them latches My shit's so cold it's an Aspen Get the J off like Sabastian Young Wizzle I am established I don't know why they be average The trials in my past I am past them I put they ass in the past tense
Previously on The Chi.
I think I know who killed my brother.
You got a piece? Come on, baby, we can just go to the police.
The police ain't gonna do shit.
[CRUZ.]
This Coogie kid didn't kill - Jason Roxboro.
- It don't matter.
I gotta mail these off, then I got work.
- And what about your son? - He's staying here.
- Says who? - Then what am I supposed to do? Folks call me Q.
You go get yourself a sitter, son.
That Jason's stuff? Yeah, his phone is missing, though.
I wanted you to have this.
Why don't you stop at the store and pick up something good? I'll cook tonight.
- Take the chain, man, take - [GUNSHOT.]
[GASPS.]
[BRANDON.]
I'm just sitting here looking at pictures because I miss him.
- How much? - Three.
- Any bodies on it? - No.
[CRUZ.]
What do you got going on at the stash house? Nothing you need to worry about.
Simple one-on-one - Are you serious, man? - Yeah, I am.
You two handle your shit and work this together.
You living up in her house, eating her food and all that, and you can't even go to her son's funeral? You sound like you askin' for an ass-whuppin'.
- He saw me today.
- What are you talking about right now? That joker that killed your brother.
Ran after me like he was gonna kill me.
You sure that's even the right dude? [KEVIN.]
Yes, I'm sure that's the right dude.
[JERRIKA.]
I need to know you're not gonna do something stupid, Brandon.
Yeah, let's get that gun.
What you know about that kid that got shot on 77th? - Nothing.
- Looks like it was payback for your son, Jason's murder.
This Coogie kid He didn't shoot your boy.
- I'm cool, bro.
- You're not cool.
You got that look.
Can't have that look.
Where's this dude at, man? He'll be here.
Chill.
I brought, like, $500 with me.
[LUIS.]
That's too much.
Pull out whatever you wanna spend.
Put the rest in your shoe.
Why in my shoe? 'Cause you show him $500, that's what it's gonna cost.
Shoe, bro, trust me.
[GRAVEL CRUNCHING.]
Shit.
[DISTANT SIREN WAILING.]
[CAR DOORS SLAMMING.]
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
[ROJOS.]
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
Okay, okay, what you got? How much you wanna spend? $300.
[SPEAKING SPANISH.]
Y'all can speak English, bro? Yo, show him the money, he'll show you the gun.
Banger, .
40-caliber Glock.
Got three clips, $50 each.
- You want a clip, B? - $350, then.
All right, these got Cor-Bon's 140 grain bullets.
Hollow-point tips.
Can make a big-ass fucking hole.
You could jump right through that motherfucker.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Fuck, man, you want the clip or not? Dude.
No, I'm I don't know if I need that, bro.
Okay, cool, no clip.
Back to three.
I-I don't really I don't want it, bro.
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Hey, what the fuck are you doing, B? I don't want the fucking gun.
- [GUN COCKS.]
- Wasting my fucking time.
Chill, chill, chill.
Just give him the money, Brandon.
- He ain't fuckin' around.
- Man, fuck that! I'm not giving him my fucking money.
Stand the fuck back.
Face that pussy-ass van of yours, let's go.
Give me your fucking money, come on.
Fuck, man.
Let me see, Bro.
Hey.
Shit! [EXHALES.]
Shit ain't right.
Wearin' my boy's chain.
Running his mouth.
[COOGIE.]
Come on, man, let me hit that.
[EERIE MUSIC.]
No, no.
Fuck no.
Man, get the fuck off of my couch.
Man, you're the one who shot my ass.
I had plans, man, life and shit.
You feel me? What the fuck was you doing wearin' his chain? He wasn't gonna need it.
Yeah, should've just kept on walking.
That boy saw you do it.
He ain't gonna say shit.
It's only a matter of time before he starts yapping and then your ass get what you got coming.
Sorry.
[DRAMATIC HIP-HOP MUSIC.]
Man, you scared the shit out of me.
The fuck you get into? Man, don't worry about it, man.
Where my mom at? She chillin'.
But let's not act like this is some fucking social call.
Bring your ass in here.
You're only here because you don't want Jerrika seeing you like this.
Come at you with questions you can't answer.
Man, she ain't even like that.
Man, they all like that.
Let me get you a shirt.
[WATER RUNNING.]
This Coogie's? Yeah, I told her to get rid of his shit.
[SUCKS TEETH.]
All she need to do is take it down to the donation box at the church.
How's she doing? Some days better than others.
What about you? Like you really give a fuck.
You right.
I don't.
But being as your mama and I are doing our thing, I gotta look out for her interest.
Keep telling yourself that shit.
All this about your brother? [SUCKS TEETH.]
You know who dropped Coogie.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Shit, you ain't got the sand.
You think you're the first motherfucker to come in this house and think you the man? No, but I'll be the last.
Man, watch out.
Mom, how long he gonna be staying? Not long.
Good.
[SCOFFS.]
'Cause I sold the house and we leaving.
Wh-what are you talking about? A Realtor came by and made us a good offer.
I took it.
You can't sell the house, Ma.
I own half of it.
And you gonna get your half.
Don't worry about that.
It's not even about that.
Granddaddy bought this house, and all of us were raised here.
What are you doing? And look what good it's done us.
What the hell happened to your head? [SIGHS.]
[MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO.]
[TRAIN HORN BLARES.]
[TRAIN RATTLING.]
My mom's gonna be home soon.
You gotta roll.
No, no, I'll be quick, I'll be Not without no rubber, you're not.
Aw, come on.
Mm-mm, you ain't putting no baby up in me.
There's other things we could do.
- Like what? - [NINA.]
Kiesha, Kevin, - I'm home.
- Oh, shit.
She catch you, you ain't gonna have to worry about having no babies 'cause she gonna cut your dick off.
[BOULEVARDS' "GOT TO GO" PLAYING.]
What you want from me Try your own luck No love is free Hey, baby, what you doing in here? Yeah, getting ready for bed.
I got track early in the morning.
I hear you.
What, you air-conditioning the whole neighborhood? [LAUGHS.]
- [NINA.]
Good night.
- [KIESHA.]
Good night.
Say you want a lovin' Know you want a lovin' Come on, took it for granted You got to go, you got to go You got to go, miss your body You got to go, you got to go Get gone What happened? Nothing, I just I hit my head at work.
It's nothing.
- Hit your head? - Mm-hmm.
On what? Um What is it? I tried to buy a gun.
Okay, why? 'Cause I know who shot Coogie and Why would you even try to do something like that? Because Coogie's dead, and I feel like somebody should pay for that.
What the fuck are you talking about? We got plans, Brandon, and this hood bullshit is not who you are.
You know that.
[SIGHS.]
You know, what you need to do is go to the police and tell them what you know.
I'll just I'll take care of it.
Thank you for listening.
Grow the fuck up.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC.]
[ALARM BEEPING.]
Yo, occupied.
I'm handling business in here.
Give me a sec.
[BABBLING.]
Little man, Dad will be right out.
[BABBLING.]
Okay, I see you don't understand what personal space is yet.
- [JADA GROANS.]
- Ma, Ma, come on! - Hey, you work today? - Privacy.
Please, nobody wanna see them scraggly hairs on your little balls.
Mom.
- Work today or not? - Yes.
Okay, I'm gonna take little Emmett to The Gap.
They're having a sale.
Then we're gonna go to the park.
Okay, cool, that's fine.
You gonna ask Sonny about them extra hours? Yes, I'm gonna try.
You're gonna need 'em.
He needs a proper bed, and he needs proper day care.
I know, I know, I know.
We talked about it, okay? I don't know what crawled up inside you and died, but please, light a match in here when you're done.
- Daddy's stinky, right? - Jesus.
Lincoln Park High won the last nine out of ten Red North meets.
Ain't no way we're not gonna beat them.
Nine out of ten, which means they lost one - and could lose again.
- Hey, y'all.
Look like somebody on the struggle bus this morning.
I didn't sleep well.
He nervous about that play.
Play, what play? My baby in a play? The Wiz, he auditioned for it.
The Wiz, really? That's good.
Really, Kiesha? You got a big fucking mouth.
- [NINA.]
Language! - Dollar.
I ain't got no money.
Well, then put your marker in.
Go on.
Should be $2 for talking to your sister like that.
- Morning, babe.
- Morning.
- Coffee? - Please.
So what's so important you using that kind of language - around the breakfast table? - Nothing.
Kevin tried out for a play.
That's good keep you off these fucking streets.
- Uh! - Damn.
That's two.
Look, the reason I didn't tell y'all about the play is 'cause I might not do it.
You tried out for it, didn't you? Well, we finish what we start in this family, you hear me? [JAZZY MUSIC.]
[ELEVATOR DINGS.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
No, thank you.
Just give me a second.
I can explain.
Explain what? How you had me sitting there, waiting at the table like I used to and you never show? You don't understand No, I do understand, which makes me an even bigger fool.
It ain't like that.
Then what's it like? Where were you? What's up? Please tell me.
Where were you? Some shit went down, and I And you couldn't pick up the phone and call and tell me you weren't coming? I'm sorry.
Tell me something I don't know, Ronnie.
I don't know what else I can say.
You know what? I don't even care anymore.
I don't even know why the fuck I came down here.
You're on my last nerve.
Don't call my job no more.
Don't show up.
Just leave me alone, Ronnie.
I'm sick of you.
Trace, come I'm gonna figure out why this happened to Jason.
I'm gonna find his phone.
I promise.
[TRAFFIC HUMMING.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[DISTANT SIREN WAILING.]
[WATER RUNNING.]
- Good morning.
- Is it? Yeah, I'm sorry about all that shit yesterday.
[SPITS.]
It's all right.
I know you're gonna do the right thing.
- Mm.
- Mm-hmm.
Um, my mom actually You know, I stopped by the house yesterday, and she was saying something about her selling the house or something like that.
- To who? - I don't know, you know? But I got a feeling that whatever she about to do, she about to fuck it up.
- So - She ain't thinking straight.
Exactly, which is why I was thinking maybe you could, you know, stop over there and talk to her.
See if she signed anything.
I ain't going over there by myself.
Your mama hates me.
"Hate" is a strong word.
- Maybe she don't like you.
- Mm-hmm.
But she knows you're smart.
Please, for me? [MUMBLES.]
Okay, okay, but I have a showing this afternoon, so in and out.
You know what? You wanna show me a little - in and out right now? - No! [INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[MAN.]
Yeah, I know how it is.
You know, what's up, man? [INDISTINCT CHATTER CONTINUES.]
[MAN.]
Let me hit that, man.
Keep that shit moving up the street, old man.
[INHALES DEEPLY.]
You might as well just hang a sign.
You want something? Trice.
Am I supposed to show you mine now? Roll the fuck on up out of here, old man.
It's cool, Reg.
All right, it's cool.
[TRICE.]
Come on.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO.]
Just don't stop, just don't stop [CAR DOOR SLAMS.]
I heard you were back.
Yeah, well, I guess people talk, huh? - Bet they do.
- Yeah.
I see business is good.
But we're blessed.
Lot of shootings, kids getting killed.
My shit's tight on that.
Keeping order like you taught me, sir.
That's not what I heard.
Look, you wanna ask me something, then go ahead and ask it.
I read in the paper about this kid, this star basketball player, getting shot up near that stash house.
Is that house one of yours? [SCOFFS.]
You on a beach.
What you care? All these bodies dropping It's not good.
So you came back from wherever the fuck you went so you Look at me when I'm talking to you.
You came back from wherever the fuck you went so you could give me a lecture? You're not the type for lectures.
No, I ain't.
Mm-mm.
So how long are you back here, man? That depends.
I got some things I need to do.
Well, if you need anything while you're here, you just let me know.
Good, 'cause I wanna know about that kid.
The basketball player.
What, you know this kid or something? Don't need to.
That shit's bad for business.
A'ight.
A'ight, let me ask around.
I appreciate that.
Man, why the hell are we saving this shit? I've only fried six batches of chicken, some fish, and hush puppies.
That grease should last me at least another week.
Wine of our people.
You crazy.
Shows what you know.
Each batch has got some different flavors in it.
So I put it in the fridge for some time, and then when I pull it out and fry some potatoes, eggs, and chicken, that flavor comes out.
Talk about so good, you wanna slap somebody.
Yeah, 'cause it's nasty.
Mmm, nasty good.
You handle your baby shit? Yeah, working on it.
Um I could really use some extra shifts.
Uh, anything open? Something opens up, you got it, young blood, but, right now, we all good.
Oh, you need to get Q back his paper as soon as possible.
- Yeah, I been meaning to.
- Don't sleep on it.
He's not a cat you fuck with, understand? Yo, man, you got a sec? Yo, Ba-ba-back up.
We got back most of Jason's stuff after the autopsy, but not his cell phone.
We sent the mother what we had.
Well, she wants it back for the photos.
Well, maybe it got lifted, you know? That block, who the fuck knows? - Hey.
- Hey, don't fucking touch me.
Hey, come on, man.
I'm just trying to do right by my boy.
Are you? And what's that supposed to mean? I showed you Jason's body out of respect, okay? This investigation's out of my hands.
So I'm supposed to just move on and forget my son's dead? No, you're supposed to stop asking questions.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Get the fuck out of here.
[SLOW R&B MUSIC.]
[MAISHA.]
Hey, Kev.
Look, I-I don't hit girls, but if I have to, I will smack your ass.
You ain't gonna hit me.
You sweet.
- I'm not sweet.
- Oh, so you a gangster? - I guess so.
- A'ight.
[GRUNTS.]
What you doing? You gonna be with my cousin, I gotta see what you working with.
Wh-what do you mean? I [SPUTTERING.]
That was shit.
You gotta take control.
What? N-no.
No, what you mean? Just stand still.
What you doing? - It's called a French kiss.
- We ain't French.
- Just one more.
- I'ma be late.
I gotta get to school, so [LAUGHS.]
Yeah.
Who you work for? My parents own a successful real estate agency in Hyde Park.
I really think this place has a lot of potential.
That girl bourgie as turkey bacon.
Probably one of them Jack and Jill's.
Both of y'all rude as hell.
It's okay.
I'm gonna keep this professional.
So who's trying to buy your house, Mrs.
Johnson? Some dude stepped to me after the funeral at church.
Yeah, because he trying to take advantage of you while you still mourning and shit.
You gonna talk too? Bad enough I got to listen to her.
Was his name Darryl Taylor? Yeah, yeah, that's it.
You know him? He have you sign anything? You signed what is called an initial offer sheet.
This is not a binding contract to sell.
Good.
I don't know what you smiling at.
I'm still selling this damn house.
Shit's always breaking.
Bills always due.
Yeah, we're looking to downsize.
I'm sorry, we? Yeah, we gonna condo it up.
On the South Side? Monteagle.
Tennessee my sister got a house.
You ever even been to Tennessee? No, but I been to Atlanta.
Same damn thing.
No, it's not.
You been to either one? We're not even talking about me.
Well, Greavy showed me pictures.
That's all that matter.
- It's nice.
- Yeah, they got eagles, like Like, bald motherfucking eagles.
So y'all are looking to start fresh.
- Yeah, I am.
- What? You gotta think about when you retire.
You gonna have more capital in the house than ever, and Capital, what are you talking about? You should let that keep growing! - Tell her, babe.
- I wanna go now! - Babe, tell her.
- Okay, look.
With the Obama Library being built ten minutes away and the University of Chicago building a level-one trauma center, the neighborhood is actually booming.
[LAVERNE.]
Meaning we could get a lot of money for this house, right? Probably more than ever before.
Oh, my God.
What the fuck was that? Who are you talking to? You just sprung that shit up on me.
You mean the truth? You were supposed to be talking her out of selling the house, J.
You asked me to talk to her about it.
I did, and selling might be the best thing for her right now, even if you don't like it.
If she sells, she gonna blow straight through the money, and then guess whose door she gonna be knocking at.
- You don't know that.
- Oh, I don't? I just watch her make bad decision after bad decision, and this house is the only thing that we got that she ain't destroyed, so what are you talking about? Selling the house isn't the problem, Brandon.
What does that mean? It means that this is all tied in to whatever crazy bullshit you have with your mother.
Oh, so you don't have bullshit with your family? Okay, I can't do this with you right now.
Really? So now you 'bout to just drop this shit on me and roll? We can talk about this later.
I have that showing I can't be late for.
Oh, wow, okay.
Well, I love you too.
Fuck, man.
[REGGAE MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO.]
Let's get it right - Stand up - [DOG WHINES.]
Let's keep it tight Stand up - What's up? - Shh.
Cici can't pee while people talking.
[URINE SPLASHING.]
That's a good boy.
That is a good boy.
That's Daddy's little boy right there.
Look at you, going pee.
Look you, scrawny, you need a little scritch-scritch.
Whoo.
Surprised you don't have one of your boys doing this.
No, I'm his master, so only I feed and walk him.
That way, his loyalty belongs to nobody else.
You ain't here to buy shit.
So what you want? You know my boy was murdered, right? Shh.
I seen him play once.
He was shit in the paint, but his jumper had promise.
Whew.
Want to know if you heard anything about how he got shot.
Do I look like the Po-po to you, motherfucker? No, but Jason knew better than to be up on that block.
And I know better than to eat pussy when I'm in a whorehouse.
That don't mean I don't do it.
Shit, you know who block that is? - Yeah, Trice.
- So I'm supposed to know something or find something out about shit that ain't my business and then run and tell you? Why the fuck would I do that? 'Cause he was a good kid.
Didn't deserve that shit.
Okay but, in return, you do something for me.
You up for that? I ain't gonna suck your dick or nothing.
Nigga, please.
I got people for that.
[DISTANT SIREN WAILS.]
We got a deal? [GROANS.]
Funny that right after that other kid got dropped, you sold me that piece.
So if you got any loose ends you need to tie up, better handle your business, 'cause if the police come sniffing around here, I'm gonna kill you, your grandmas, your girlfriend, and your prom date.
[SPEAKING ARABIC.]
[RONNIE.]
'Sup? My cholesterol.
You buying anything? Yeah, shit.
[MUSIC PLAYING OVER LOUDSPEAKER.]
You know those boys always coming in here? Tall one, fat one, little one? Yeah, what about them? They go to school near here? Why? Think they knew my son, Jason.
Wanted to see if they'd like to have any of his gear.
They go to Hopkins.
What time they get out? Uh, three, but they come in here for pop and chips.
Sorry about your son, Jason.
Your son, the basketball player.
You knew him? Yes, he'd come in, buy gum.
Good kid.
[SPEAKING ARABIC.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[URINE TRICKLING.]
- You finished? - [URINAL FLUSHES.]
Yeah, I'm good.
I'm good.
You need something? That guy you were talking to outside the station.
Oh, yeah, he just He lost his kid.
Oh, that's Jason's dad? Kind of.
Uh, raised him, not his dad.
And what'd he want? Oh, you know, he was just looking for answers.
Answers, from you? Yeah, he said he didn't get his kid's cell phone back from evidence, wanted to know what he was doing on that corner.
I heard you had a non-blood relative down in the morgue to ID the body.
- That's him, right? - Yeah.
You tell him we had that Coogie kid in custody? - No.
- Good.
- You gonna wash your hands? - Mm-hmm.
Oh, hey, remember, softball.
Field three, MacArthur Park.
I'll be there.
[WATER SPLASHING.]
[ALL.]
Okay, well, hello! From the back you say I do, do, do! We cheer, and we dance, and we bring it to you.
[JAKE.]
Man, why your sister do you like that? I don't know, but now I gotta do this dumb-ass play.
Maybe she need a little big Papa in her life to, you know, straighten her out.
I think she already got that.
Shit.
What? Man, that's the dude.
That's the dude that shot the kid and chased me.
- [PAPA.]
What he doing here? - What you think he doing here? He coming after us, man.
We gotta go.
Man, where you going? [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Man, where we going? We'll be safe in the auditorium.
Auditorium? Get your ass in there.
Come on! Mr.
Williams! I see you've answered my prayers.
What, excuse me? Okay, we're short a few actors, and you and your friends are perfect for it.
- Come on, Kev! - Wait Whoa, whoa, guys, guys, guys, listen, I promise you Super important parts.
The lollipop kids? Aw, hell naw.
What do I look like? Like a bunch of gay-ass circus clowns.
Man, screw this.
Look, at least we safe from that dude outside.
You snitch, Kev? Man, what do I look like? Don't ever ask that question again.
Why he coming after us? Sus as hell, man, him showing here.
Man, you in this shit too, Papa? Just saying.
- Well, don't.
- Yo, chill, Kev.
- We all in this with you - You're not, all right? That motherfucker coming after me.
I'm the one with the real problems.
Man, what I'm gonna do? The only way to get him off your back is to go to him and show him you ain't gonna snitch.
Yeah, roll up on him, man-to-man.
Man, I can't do that.
You know where he hangs, right? Yeah.
So you go to him.
Go to him? I can't do that.
It's what you do before it becomes a thing.
Show him you ain't gonna screw him over.
But I ain't gonna screw him over.
He don't know that.
What I say? Go to him, show him you're for real and that you ain't gonna snitch on him.
[PIANO MUSIC PLAYING ONSTAGE.]
Hey, this your spot? Maybe.
Looking for a cell phone.
- Man.
- I lost it.
- Fuck if I'ma help you.
- You sure? If you find it, there's a nice reward I said I ain't seen, nor am I gonna see or find no cell phone.
Not for no devil like you.
Damn! Oh, shit, damn! - That's my hand, man! - Shh.
- Fuck! - You will for me.
- Okay, yeah, okay.
- Okay? - Okay.
- Yeah, fuck! Shit.
Goddamn.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Fucker, damn.
Yeah, you're on your own lifting these.
Got a bad back.
[SUCKS TEETH.]
[SCOFFS.]
These are mine.
You never heard of RedTube? Man, I don't fuck with no Internet titties.
I'm old-school that way.
Hey, this between you and me, right? Is it done? Almost.
Cousin Hannibal said he'll let me use the van to get some of this stuff.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
- What? - Stop.
What, what you want, Brandon? Look, let me ask you something.
Sit down.
Stop worrying about this.
What, Brandon? Why you really want to sell the house? Is it 'cause Coogie's gone? Can't even walk past the room no more.
I mean, sometimes I You know, I still feel him in there.
Like he's laying down, listening to music on his headphones, and he's singing, you know? [CHUCKLES SOFTLY.]
Yeah, his voice was so bad.
[LAUGHTER.]
No.
He didn't care, though.
[LAUGHTER.]
Listen, baby.
I know you think I loved Coogie more than you.
- No, Ma - No, no, no.
I got to tell you.
I didn't.
You wanted to get out there, and I knew there wasn't nothing was gonna mess with you, but Coogie he was different.
He just needed me more than you.
He needed us, you know.
Aw, sweetie, come here.
Shit! Fucking apple, motherfucker! What'd you just call him? - Nothing.
- Hey.
Pssh.
Serves y'all right.
You always gyppin' us over on the cheese, sitting there behind that counter, plottin' how y'all gonna get into our wallets.
You don't like it, don't shop here, then.
[SPEAKING ARABIC.]
Stop speakin' in Arabic, man.
Makes people think y'all talkin' about them.
- We don't say nothing.
- Oh, nothing? What what "apple" mean? What the fuck does that mean? Huh? Pssh.
What y'all need to do is hire somebody from the neighborhood.
Like who? Like me.
Like my black ass.
Think about it.
Folks see me in here, they ain't gonna wanna fuck with y'all.
Plus, I know everybody that steal from here.
Everybody.
And they know I know.
So they see me in here working with y'all, they ain't They ain't gonna wanna fuck with nothin.
' Which will improve y'all bottom line.
Trust me.
Man, come on, Habib, you know I'm right for it.
No, I don't trust you! See, that's some racist bullshit right there.
I'ma get some motherfuckers to come in here and boycott y'all.
See, we gon we gonna shop at Jewel Osco.
Tell him.
- We going to Jewel Osco.
- Go, go, go to Jewel Osco! That's exactly where we gonna go.
- Osco.
- Hey, man.
What you need? Let me get two Swisher Sweets, White Owl, and a Black & Mild Casino.
Really? [AMIR.]
Here you go, man.
That's why we can't get nowhere as a people.
Man, come on, Amir.
Hook a brother up.
How much money you make selling them kicks? Nothin'.
That basically pays for my shoe addiction.
I don't make no paper from that.
You get me some retro Fours and we can talk, see what's up.
- What size? - Five.
Women's.
- You got some small-ass - It's for my girl, man.
All right, I'll see what I can do.
All right, when you do that, I got something special for you.
Maybe a job.
Well, I ain't cleaning your dirty-ass bathroom It's good.
It's legit.
And it pays cash.
You down or not? - Pays cash? - Mm-hmm.
- All right.
- All right.
Pssh.
[DOORBELL RINGS.]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING ON STEREO.]
[MEN CATCALLING.]
[MAN.]
Excuse me.
Good afternoon.
I'm the one who called about the property.
Okay, I'm Jerrika Little, the sales agent.
Jerrika.
Quentin.
Quentin Dickinson.
That's a nice, firm handshake.
Your daddy taught you well.
It was my mother, actually.
Ooh, sounds like one hell of a lady.
You have no idea.
So, uh, our sale sign keeps getting stolen.
How did you find out about the property? Oh, I, um - I'm attracted to deals.
- [JERRIKA CHUCKLES.]
[DOOR SQUEAKS OPEN.]
Well, as you can see, the place needs a little work, but This where you tell me, with a little bit of plaster and, uh, a fresh coat of paint, it'll look brand-new? No, this is where I tell you I have some great properties in Woodlawn.
Yeah, but who wants to live in Woodlawn? It's a really up-and-coming area.
The Obama Library's being built only ten minutes away.
I can appreciate that, but I like it here.
I'll take it.
Okay.
How fast can we get this done? Uh, let me draw up some paperwork.
I won't be needing a mortgage.
This is my lawyer's number.
He'll deal with everything.
And, if at all possible, I'd like it done by tonight.
By tonight? Well, I know what I want.
I give you your price, you give me a key.
[REGGAE MUSIC.]
[HORN HONKING.]
[BRANDON.]
All right! I'm coming, motherfucker.
Well, I know you deaf as hell.
What you say? I can't hear you.
I said I know you deaf as hell.
[BRANDON.]
'Cause of your black ass.
Man, sixth grade, man, get over that.
Man, you popped a fuckin' firecracker in my ear while I was trying to sleep.
It was the sixth grade, man.
Get over that shit.
Yo, man, I miss you, cuz.
Yeah, I miss you too, man.
I'm sorry about Coogie, man.
Yeah, we all kind of fucked up about it.
Yeah, I was outta dodge on biz, or else you know I'da been there.
It's all good.
Where you was at, China? - Nah, Indonesia, man.
- Ooh.
Some trippy-ass shit going on down there.
- [LAUGHTER.]
- Yo, your moms home? Yeah, she in there.
You wanna come speak? Fuck no, man.
I love my auntie, but I don't need that kind of crazy in my life, you dig? - I feel you.
- But, uh, you fuck it up, you pay for it, a'ight? I'm sorry, what? - [LAUGHS.]
- No, so tomorrow, then, huh? Uh, hit me up.
I know that mean "no" already.
Don't wreck my shit, fool.
Lazy ass.
[REG.]
Yo, is that Emmett? What you doin' around here, dog? [EMMETT.]
Hey, Reg.
[LAUGHS.]
- How you livin'? - Hustlin'.
[REG.]
I heard you been lookin' for work.
You havin' any luck out there? I been poundin' the pavement all day lookin' for shit.
Ain't nothin' out here.
I hear you.
Why don't you come hustle for me? For every Jab you sell, you would make, like, two, two-fifty.
Okay.
So how much they move in a day? Depends.
Always room for a smart motherfucker like you.
That's almost a G a day.
Like that.
Put you right to work.
See for yourself.
So what's up? You down? Put some money in your pocket.
Tonight.
You wastin' my fuckin' time? No, no, I j I just need some time to think about it.
If you need to think about it, this shit ain't for you.
Big money, come on.
Hey, y'all hold it down.
[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON HEADPHONES.]
Hey.
[MUSIC STOPS.]
Couldn't sleep.
What's this one? Oh, just a kid.
Yeah? Put it away.
Get some sleep before you gotta go in.
Come on.
I fucked up.
I mighta said something to one of my Cls.
It was his kid had been shot.
This kid? That's his son? No.
No, another one.
This one, Coogie, he was standing over the body, and I don't know why he was over the body, but he was, and I told my CI about it.
I mentioned that That we had this kid in for questioning.
I wanted to help him, you know? With his grief.
Like, if it was my kid, I'd wanna know that they had somebody.
So he went and shot this kid? This Coogie? Yeah, I think so.
The kid didn't even do it.
Fuck.
Mm-hmm.
Are you gonna arrest this guy? I don't have any proof.
But you know.
Yeah, I know, but I don't know.
Hey.
You gotta fix this.
I know.
Come back to bed.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING ON STEREO.]
Fuck you been? Everywhere and nowhere, man.
Sound like you need to hit this.
- Hell yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
Are you good? - Yeah, I'm good.
- You don't look it.
That shit messing with my head, man.
Since when? - Since now, motherfucker.
- I told you, man.
CIA be spraying that shit with chemicals.
[CURTIS.]
Chinese fucking chemicals.
Pretty soon, we call gonna be peeing sitting down.
Yeah, I'll stick with this, man.
Yo.
Check it out.
Oh, fuck.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
- W-what's up? - You tell me.
Came to my school lookin' for me.
Yeah, when you got a problem, that's what happens.
Look, man, w-we ain't got no problems.
I'll decide if we got a problem or not.
[KEYS CLATTERING.]
[TABLE DRAGGING.]
[STATIC DRONES.]
[INDISTINCT SPEECH OVER RADIO.]
[TRAIN RUMBLING.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[KEVIN.]
Yo.
Yo, what up, Kev? What you doing way up here? My bad for runnin' up on you like that.
I just want to say sorry for what happened the other night at my crib.
You know, I said some shit I didn't mean to say, and I'm sorry.
It's all good.
I appreciate it.
- Cool? - Yeah.
I see you been takin' care of Coogie bike too.
Yeah.
How did you find out where I live? Oh, I asked Emmett.
[SCOFFS.]
So, uh you told anybody what I told you? Nah.
Why? I'm just asking.
Making sure.
Well, I gotta bounce.
All right, well, get with me.
- A'ight.
- A'ight? What's wrong, Kev? I-I was wondering if you could walk me home, you know.
It's gettin' late, and, uh, you know, I-I gotta cut through the park to get home, and, you know, I don't wanna walk by myself.
It's all good.
You don't have to.
- Say no more.
- 'Kay.
It's a'ight to be scared sometimes, Kev Man, I ain't scared.
Dang.
[BRANDON.]
So what's up, man? School good? When has it ever been good? [LAUGHS.]
Man, shit is easy right now.
Trust me, all you gotta worry about is girls and grades.
I already got girl problems.
Oh, yeah? You're a little player, huh? [LAUGHS.]
Yeah, I know.
It-it ain't even like that, all right? [LAUGHING.]
Hey, if you got feelings, you got feelings, Kev.
That's a whole nother ball game, though, you know? I say something wrong? What's wrong? What's wrong? What's going on? [RONNIE.]
What's going on, little man? [TENSE MUSIC.]
[RONNIE.]
I hear you been looking for me.
Rollin' up, today I got time I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin up I'm rollin' up, ay Yeah I'm rollin' up, today I got time I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin' up I'm rollin' up, today I got time I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin' up I'm rollin' up, today I got time I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin' up, I'm rollin' up I'm rollin' up, today I got time I'm, I look around and all I see is plastic Time for something drastic, today I got time Somebody need their ass kicked Why would I want to pay taxes I'ma keep that in the mattress I'ma keep stackin' but if I do They gon' knock down my door and throw me in them latches My shit's so cold it's an Aspen Get the J off like Sabastian Young Wizzle I am established I don't know why they be average The trials in my past I am past them I put they ass in the past tense