Power Book II: Ghost (2020) s01e06 Episode Script

1 Gimme the goddamn watch! - Hurry up! - You help me solve that, and I can get you out of here.
Time for me to go back to my cell.
These days, you know the name of the game is convenience.
I wanna do the same with tutoring.
It'll be run through an app called CourseCorrect.
The people that want drugs, they'll order the premium package.
Each order will come with a real study guide so we can cover our base.
Yo, Ev, I didn't know you was here! - What's up? - What's up, my nigga? You're on the same basketball team - as my cousin Zeke, right? - Zeke's your cousin? Ev! And you must be Jamal.
Babe, that-that's not Jamal.
Don't talk to him.
Just observe and report.
Observe and report.
You got it.
- Yo, yo.
- Oh, hey.
Are you okay? I had to do it.
Cane is the nigga you need to worry about.
He's the shooter.
If it's an emergency, you knock over every piece on the board, all right? It's like we got our own Bat-Signal or something.
So if I back off the recusal and we go to trial, - we work together.
- It's a deal.
Tariq St.
Patrick's going to jail.
What are you wearing? Seriously? A'ight, you're just mad 'cause you can't pull this off.
What? You know what? Accurate as that may be, I thought we were trying to keep our little arrangement under wraps.
Look, you and I can be seen together out in public.
I mean, it's all plea negotiations, as far as anyone's concerned.
And every single time, our negotiations break down, and we go back to court.
To put Tariq St.
Patrick away.
Exactly, but we gotta get the right jury.
Ah! I've got some thoughts on that.
- Boom! - Ooh.
- Nice.
- Huh? - Impressive, even.
- Thank you.
Mine's digital.
And bigger.
Who are the most likely to let Tasha go? They need to look like me.
You know, the minute Tasha walks, I'm putting the cuffs on Tariq, right there in the courtroom.
She won't be happy, and she may even suspect you're involved.
Tasha can get as mad at me as she wants to from the comforts of her own home.
I'll have the W in my pocket, and you'll have your killer.
Everybody wins.
Well, except Tariq.
- Ma, I'm in class.
- It won't take long.
I'm going to trial, Tariq.
I told Davis that I wanna take a deal.
What? No! He said no, okay? He still thinks that we can win.
I don't understand it, but that's what he says.
A'ight, then we gotta trust him.
And, Ma, if anyone's gonna step forward, it's gonne be me, not you.
Well, I hope he's right.
I hope neither one of us has to go to jail.
I gotta go.
I gotta go.
I gotta go.
Well, look who's on time for once! Ha.
And makin' the rest of us look bad.
Yeah, Tariq, what are you doing here so early? I'm trying to catch up.
Shit, nigga, it's gonna take more than one day to do that.
A'ight, well, you did the reading, right, boo? What side you on? What did you say, Tariq? Oh, I'm sorry, I was just asking No, I'm glad to start the debate early.
So what about it, BruShaundria? Locke believed that people were fundamentally just.
Would you agree? He trippin'.
One trip to the hood, and you can tell that Hobbes is right.
People are just out for themselves.
And, Lauren, would you agree? Well, I'd like to think that Locke has a point, but I actually think we construct our own societies and rules to keep ourselves from our fundamental nature.
Which is Well, some people are better than others, but everybody's just out for themselves.
That's not true.
People help each other all the time.
Like, what about that scene in The Dark Knight where the two boats, inmates and citizens, - don't blow each other up? - That's a movie.
We're taught that murder is wrong.
We're taught that.
It's not natural.
Locke is clear about the division between right and wrong.
Society has rules, and we all know them.
Every society, every person.
Even little kids.
That's a hundred percent cap.
Cap.
I mean I agree.
Professor Milgram, you know what I mean.
There's a bright line between good and evil, right and wrong.
And we know that because we as humans are fundamentally and naturally good.
And what do you think about it, Tariq? Who is right, Locke or Hobbes? Are we fundamentally good or bad? What about your friends, your family? Um I'll pose the question to all of you, make it more personal.
Are you fundamentally good or bad? Now, gentlemen, having been through pretrial motions with you, I can only imagine how intense this jury selection is going to get.
May I suggest some decorum here so that neither of you ends up with a Batson charge or in contempt? If the U.
S.
Attorney can remain civil then so can I.
It'll be a challenge, Your Honor, but I will do my best.
Thank you.
Peremptory challenge, Your Honor.
Juror number 49, you are excused.
Challenge cause the juror isn't following the conversation, Judge.
Thank you, sir.
You are excused.
I believe there's a very clear line between right and wrong.
Challenge for cause, Your Honor.
Mr.
Saxe, any objection? No, Your Honor.
Mrs.
Hinterman, you're excused.
And you don't have any specific feelings about narcotics sales, Dr.
Quiñones? I do.
I abhor the violence that comes along with this scourge in our neighborhoods.
- Mm.
- But so many of our young women and young men, they feel they have no choice.
It's hard to see, if someone has economic advantages, how they could end up in that life.
But the working poor have limited opportunities.
I have no objection to Dr.
Quiñones, Your Honor.
O kay.
Well, he seems thoughtful and, uh, intelligent.
I agree, but uh, o-okay.
Uh, I presume you have no objections, Mr.
MacLean.
No, Your Honor.
Well, Dr.
Quiñones, um, you are selected.
Please wait in the jury room for further instructions.
This juror is acceptable, Your Honor.
Thank you, juror number 20.
You are accepted.
The government has no objection to this juror, Your Honor.
Thank you, juror number 22.
Your Honor, peremptory challenge.
- Juror number 12.
- No problems here, Your Honor.
- Fifty-seven.
- Accepted, Your Honor.
- Thirty-six.
- Peremptory challenge here.
No objection, Your Honor.
I see no issue here, Your Honor.
- Mr.
Saxe.
- I like this one, Your Honor.
That was surprisingly cordial, gentlemen and interesting.
Members of the jury, you are excused until Wednesday, when we will start bright and early.
What the fuck is that jury? What are you talkin' about? - I think we're in great shape.
- Not for Tasha.
Those millennials aren't gonna cut her any slack for going along with her husband, and you know it.
- Best we've got is a mistrial.
- Well, first of all, a mistrial is not a loss.
In fact, that's a win in my book.
There's not gonna be a mistrial, Steven.
We're in great shape.
Tasha St.
Patrick is a beautiful woman, Saxe.
Couple of those nerds you impaneled will vote not guilty just to see if they can get a fuckin' date with her.
What? I'm not worried.
You shouldn't be either.
I promise you, we will get the right result.
I have never known you to play for mistrial.
- You always play to win.
- Paula, don't worry.
I promise you, we will get the verdict we should.
This is the right jury.
I know what I'm doing.
You better.
Now, can you please get me prepped for Saxe's first witness? Who the hell is Francis Johnson? I can compel you to testify.
Can't compel me to do shit.
Okay.
You know what? Maybe you should get a lawyer, Mr.
Johnson.
I don't need to pay a lawyer to tell you no.
I could do that for free.
"No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself".
You memorized the Fifth Amendment.
Got a lot of time to read in here.
Thought I might need it someday.
You can get me in a courtroom, but I ain't gonna say shit to help you.
Besides, I don't know nothin' anyway.
That's bullshit.
You know everything.
I'm sorry.
Who are you again? You know who I am, nigga.
I'm Black motherfuckin' Santa Claus, and I'm about to give you the gift of the century.
Just need you to hire me first so we can talk in private.
And I'll do it for free.
Already told Saxe no.
I won't testify no matter what he offer me.
What if I can get you out of here, though? Charges dropped.
Make Saxe send you home with an apology.
I ain't no snitch, nigga! This ain't about snitchin', brother.
I brought a friend of yours to help explain.
I ain't talkin' to no cop.
I'm not a cop anymore.
Thanks to Saxe, I'm suspended.
Told ya to stop puttin' niggas away for the man.
Guess I learned my lesson.
I wanna get Saxe.
You wanna go home.
We can both get what we want.
You're going to go to Saxe and tell him you want the deal.
Blanca's going to tell you exactly what to say when you're on the stand, what you can get away with, what won't exactly be perjury.
I don't trust her, man.
Then trust me, nigga! Damn! Look, you wanna go home or not? You help me you'll be back home in Queens movin' weight by the end of the week.
Yeah, 20.
Just make sure it's all set.
See ya.
Dru! Diana! - Where y'all goin'? - To the bar.
Hey, y'all hear me? - To the bar.
You need me? - Nah, Cane.
Just some accountant stuff, shiftin' some product around.
That's all.
Takin' Dru and Diana.
They gonna help me out today.
I don't know why Owl can't do all that.
What we pay him for anyway? I pay Owl.
Ain't no "we" in it.
Seems like folks been forgettin' who's who and what's what around here.
Ain't nobody forgettin' nothin'.
I mean, Owl don't really need our help, Ma.
You just mad because of the party.
Y'all been spendin' way too much time up at that damn Stansfield.
You sent us up there.
You go up there.
Zeke's up there.
Zeke ain't you, and Zeke does what I say.
Zeke does what he wants.
He ain't in nobody's bed he ain't supposed to be, is he? Zeke ain't the one keepin' secrets.
I'ma be in the car.
Get y'all shit and let's go.
Who she talkin' about, sleepin' in somebody bed? Oh, h D, you let this nigga Tariq hit? No.
And even if I did, it ain't none of your business.
You ain't nobody's daddy.
I'm your brother, okay? And I know what's best for you.
- And he ain't it.
- Dru, you better tell him - it's not about me.
- Shut up.
Wait, wait, you sayin' you knew about this? Fuck, Dru! How you let this go down between her and 'Riq and you don't say shit? I know how to keep my mouth shut.
Ain't much of that goin' around now, is there? Wow.
You know you can't be fuckin' this kid, especially now that we in business with him.
Listen, Ma's right to be pissed.
You forget where you stand.
I didn't fuck him, Cane, a'ight? I already told you to take your fuckin' hands off me.
Left this in class.
Thank you, Tariq.
I didn't even realize I dropped that.
Yeah, you was too busy givin' Ashley a piece of your mind.
It's 'cause she's so naive.
I betcha her life is pretty easy.
No wonder she thinks people are fundamentally good.
Why not? People got a lot of secrets.
You know, maybe it's easier for her to think that way because she's been through some shit.
You don't know.
You're right.
I don't.
But why do you always think like that? That people have secrets? Well, because people got secrets.
Like you? You never answered the professor's question, Tariq.
Are you fundamentally good or bad? Why you care? If I'm bad, does it change anything? And if I'm good, what does that mean? How good are you? Malcolm, I'm so sorry.
I totally forgot we were supposed to meet today.
You forgot I was in town this weekend.
That's troublin'.
Almost as troublin' as this.
You're Insta-stalking me for pictures now? You were tagged.
You know you can't be seen in pictures inebriated, Lauren.
- I'm in college.
- Exactly.
You're old enough to understand.
You know, I'm startin' to think that we should talk about you transferrin' to Georgetown next semester.
Jamal, right? You two seem to be spendin' an awful lot of time together.
She helpin' you with math? My name is Tariq, bro.
And I was just droppin' off something that she left in class.
Looks like you got your hands full.
I'll text you later, Tariq.
He wants full immunity.
Johnson won't testify unless I give him a walk.
But the charges against him are state and federal, which means You need my help to make it all go away.
How important is this guy to your case? You want me to win, give 2-Bit the deal.
I promise he'll deliver.
Yeah, I've read his file, okay? Blanca Rodriguez couldn't turn the guy.
What makes you think he'll cough up for you? Okay, you've read a file, but I've heard his story.
It's good.
Uh-huh.
Any worry on cross? You mean regarding your precious James St.
Patrick? - Mm.
- Nothing relevant at all.
Okay.
Let me see what I can do.
Hey, Jimbo! It's your old pal Steven Ott.
Yeah.
Listen, I need a little favor from you.
Ah, inmate named Francis Johnson.
Hasn't gone to trial yet, but, uh, we could really use your help on this one.
This some bullshit right here.
Ma, all this? This is Owl and them nephews of his.
Why we gotta do they job? Because you're spoiled.
Runnin' round, money in your pocket, clothes on your back, cars, and ain't none of it comin' from you.
It's from me and your father bustin' our asses to make sure this business keeps runnin'.
All this is work, but you spoiled! So what y'all gonna do is, Diana, tally.
I need these bands logged and totaled.
Them bricks in that corner need to be broken down.
That's you, Dru.
Oh, yeah.
Phones.
I already told you I'm sorry.
What do you want me to do now? I want you to stay away from your new little friends.
I know it worked out this time, but from now on, no interaction at all.
Know what? Stay away from Stansfield altogether, actually.
Uncle Nancy, I can't do that.
My boyfriend's Tariq's roommate.
Shh! What is wrong with you? I wanna keep seeing him.
That's actually what I'm trying to say.
Look, I know you like this kid, but St.
Patrick could be into some deep shit his family, his associates.
If this goes where I think it's going, there could be a lot of collateral damage.
Are you talking about Brayden? Because he's not a Whatever you think Tariq's into, it's got nothing to do with him.
How can you be sure? Because I know him.
You don't.
'Kay, look, I know I know I got you involved in this in the first place.
Yeah, you did.
Now I'm in love.
What? No, you're not in love.
You-you don't even know what love is.
And you do? Whatever you've got with that RealDoll in your closet, Uncle Nancy, that's not love either.
Her name is Rebecca.
You know what? She was a gag gift from your moms.
Anyway, look, I know this is hard, but you'll meet someone else; you will.
Ideally, someone who's not living with a potential target of a criminal investigation.
- Fuck.
Don't tell Brayden I said that.
- I won't.
And I'm going to prove to you that he's not mixed up in any of this.
He's a good person just like you.
I'm not breaking up with him.
Whah! Skids, I got your eight million fuckin' 911s.
- What's the emergency? - Where's my stuff? - What stuff? - Don't fuck with me, Trace.
There were, like, how many pills in there? You're the only one who could've taken it.
Okay, okay, so I took it.
Dude, my boys wanted a good time, so I came through.
What's the big deal? That was my shit, Trace.
My shit.
No.
So sorry.
No bueno, dude.
You know the rules.
What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine too.
I need it back, all of it, right fuckin' now, - or you have to pay me for it.
- Mm.
Whoa.
- Okay.
- Seriously.
- I'm not fuckin' around! - Oh, you wanna do this? Let's go! Come on, let's go, bitch.
Hoo-hoo-hoo! Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! - Timber! - Fuck you! And Trace pins the skid mark.
Come on, you fuckin' piece of shit! I'll fuck you up! Fucking kill you when I get up.
What the fuck is y'all doin'? This Tariq room, right? He stay here? Hey, hey, hey, hey, we're havin' a familial discussion.
So why don't you table whatever ghetto bullshit ya have with Saint Fuck you say? Whoa.
Why don't we all just chill the fuck out? - Tariq's not here.
- I can see that, white boy.
Now, where is he? 'Cause I need to talk to him about something.
I don't know class? His schedule is fucked.
The kid's carrying, like, 20 credits or some shit like that.
Crazy, right? I mean, I told him to drop some, but you know how our boy is.
Listen, why don't we all just chill the fuck out and put the gun away? Cane, right? Tariq told me about you.
Listen, we're all friends here.
In fact, we're actually partners.
What the fuck you say? Who the fuck are you? Brayden.
I'm Brayden, Tariq's roommate he never mentioned? No, he never said shit.
But I see he got my name in your mouth, huh? We're all on the same side.
We work together, you know what I mean? - I don't know what you mean.
- Shut the fuck up, Trace.
Listen, if you're here for money, I'm just missin' a little of the stuff.
Just give me some time, I'll go get it, I'll bring it to you, and we'll be all cool.
You know, and then we'll maybe one day laugh about meetin' like this, huh? It look like I'm fuckin' laughin' to you, huh? You know my name and my business, and now you sayin' you ain't got my fuckin' money? Y'all got me fucked up.
You know what? We gonna take a nice little ride.
Come on, let's go.
Let's go! Wait, wait, wait, wait.
No phones.
Okay, now what? Do the coke.
What do you think? What you mean, "Do the coke"? You already movin' pills and weed off this Tariq shit, and we short as fuck, by the way.
Yeah, well, Monet'll be back down here anytime, so you better Whoa, whoa, whoa.
It's Everett.
He wants to see me.
That lame-ass closeted nigga, Zeke's teammate? Dru, you wanna go see him, but you didn't wanna claim him with Cane today.
I don't talk about my niggas with Cane.
And you shouldn't either.
So you let him think I slept with Tariq.
You will eventually.
No, I won't.
He don't like me like that.
And I don't like him like that neither.
Shit, you ain't gotta lie to me, Di.
Okay, but I gotta get out of here, so You need to stay put.
You know Monet'll kill you for even thinkin' about it.
Damn, he thirsty.
Riley, what the fuck? Uh okay, first, the door was open already.
This is absolutely not a B&E.
What you mean the door was already open? Oh, shit.
Um, sorry.
Here.
I was totally not looking through your stuff, if that's what you think.
Riley, what the hell are you doin' in here? Meeting your stupid roommate, I thought.
Well, he's not here, obviously.
No, I see that.
I was just looking for something to write a note on.
On my side of the room? So do you actually know where he is? 'Cause if he made me come all the way over and just forgot, I'm actually going to murder him.
I don't know where he is, okay, Riley? He's usually here, 24-7, with you.
I don't know where he could possibly be.
What are you doin' writing notes anyway? Why don't you just call him? Because why don't I just fucking call him? Yeah.
Sure.
What the fuck? Is this some sort of wingman bullshit? Because if he's with some chick, just tell me Riley, please! Please, Riley, I'm trying to figure something out.
Just let me think.
All right, I don't know where he is.
Then I'll just wait here until he comes back.
No.
No, no, no.
You go home, all right? I'll have him call you.
I'm not going anywhere.
Don't.
Dru.
Don't.
Open that shit up.
No, no.
No, no, no, no! What i - Come on, bro! - Hey, y'all in the game, right? Let's see y'all play.
That's a big no way, bro.
Look, I'm sure you don't know this, but Brayden and I are Westons, dude.
Which means we can't get involved in, like, anything illegal.
Oh.
So, dude, how 'bout this? How 'bout we all go back to Stansfield.
Dude, I've got a Rolex sitting right on my desk.
- Okay.
- In my dorm.
It's all yours if you want it.
I'm serious, dude, we can ju Get your ass out my car and sell my shit.
Trace, get out of the car.
- You kidding me? - Trace - Brayden, are you fucking - shut the fuck up! Get out of the car and just do what he says.
We're just gonna leave him there? He's not ready for this.
Let me go with him.
Nah, you get your own corner.
Fuck! - Hell yeah.
- I'm telling you right now.
Hey, guys.
It's cold as fuck out.
Am I right? You know, not only is it cold as fuck, but my brother's acting like a little bitch.
He left me out here stranded with no phone, no money, and no way home.
So? Get you an Uber, dog.
That's what y'all do, right? Yeah, I would normally do that, but, like I said, no phone.
Damn! Dude just assed out, huh? Yep.
All I got is me, myself, - and this one awesome - blunt! Yo, who taught you how to roll that, man? What? I taught myself.
Lookit.
That's fire.
But because of this night I'm out here with no fire.
So I'd be willing to share if one of y'all could help me out.
Is you for real with this shit, white boy? - How long you been a cop, man? - What, like I'm a fuckin' narc? Nah, nah, nah, nah.
I'm just a dude out here havin' a shit night tryin' to thug it out with some smoke.
Can ya help a brother out? That's all I'm sayin'.
Man, let's fuck us up, bro.
Let's go.
Let's go.
'Kay, it's like a it's like a fuckin' movie.
It's like Die Hard, dude.
It's like it's like fuckin' Die Hard.
Fuckin' Die Hard 3.
Sh Oh fuck! Zero to a hundred nigga, real quick Real quick Zero to a hundred nigga, real quick - Real quick - Real fuckin' quick, nigga Yeah, fuck all that "Drake you gotta chill" shit I be on my Lil Mouse drill shit I'm here.
What you want? I know.
I got freaked out with your sister and everything.
We need to finish that conversation.
Unless you change your mind about tellin' the truth, I'm not sure what there is to say.
I'm not the only one who didn't tell the truth.
You ain't say shit about being Zeke's cousin.
You know what happens to me if Zeke finds out about us? It's not gonna change how he sees you.
As long as you hit your shots, he's good.
Ev.
This ain't even about Zeke.
It's about you not bein' okay with who you are.
I'm good with myself.
I just want a pro career too.
Isn't there anything you want, Dru? Yeah.
There's somethin' that I want.
- Yeah, this shit is fire.
- I know, right? Full-on Ivy League weed, baby.
Top shelf.
So check it, Rayo, Trench, not usually supposed to do this, but.
Yo! The fuck you doin' out here with all that? It's a long-ass story.
But if y'all lookin' to buy, I can cut you a fat-ass discount.
Lemme call some folks.
- Fuck yeah.
- I'ma call Dez.
Pass that shit.
This is a mess.
- Do you play? - Yeah.
- I ain't playin' you.
- Well, we can sit here staring at each other all night, or we can play.
So can I ask you something? No.
Where do you think Brayden is? - Really.
- I have no idea.
It's not like him to just disappear.
It ain't.
I keep waiting for him to bound in just yelling something stupid.
Of course you are.
I really care about him, Tariq.
- I know.
- Which is why, like, if he's in any trouble or if you know about him being in any trouble Look, I don't know anything, like I said.
Your move.
We gotta figure this shit out, Ev.
Doesn't just go away because this part works.
I don't know if we can.
People judge what they don't understand.
People suck.
Hmm.
But that's how the world works.
I can't just go out there and tell 'em I'm gay and start shootin' for the Spurs.
It doesn't work like that.
Shit, hold up.
No, it's nothin'.
It's my tutor.
CourseCorrect.
Everett? Yeah.
Thanks.
Tutor, huh? Study guide.
Study aid.
Oh, hell no.
- Oh, no, he didn't! - I told him.
Didn't I tell him not to touch that phone? Yeah, you told him.
Me too.
I told him not to go, and I told him you wouldn't like it.
- But if you really wanna get him back - What? I mean, I might know where he went.
Yeah, he went where I told his ass not to go.
Y'all kids is actin' like what I say ain't law no more.
Ma, I didn't go.
I'm sittin' here.
I mean, unless you want me to go get him.
- Or are you goin'? - I can't.
I gotta work.
A'ight, then I'll make him come back.
I'm gonna need that phone, though.
I mean, he ain't answerin' you, but he'll answer if I call.
Two hours.
You hear me? Both y'all back at the house in two hours.
I'm out, guys.
- You out, man? - Yeah, have a good night.
Good job.
Look like you made some friends.
I'm not scared of people, Cane.
But Trace is.
Can we go get him now? Yes, Miss Daisy.
Uh hey, hey.
Hey, wa-wa-wait a minute.
Hey, dude.
Do you, uh do you have a phone? I co-I could really fuckin' use a phone right now, man.
Wha-uh no, uh, I'm sorry, but I-I don't really habla.
Hey, wai-wait.
Hold o-hold on! Aw, shit.
Somebody 'bout to feel it.
Uh, no, no, no.
Let him catch it.
He was just stompin' on you back at your school.
He's my brother; nobody gets to fuck him up but me.
I hear that.
Wait, wait, wait, here's the thing.
Here's the thing.
This actually isn't mine.
Hey, come on.
He's no match for them.
I got some serious shit.
A-and they're about to take his shit.
You won't make any money off of it.
I'll go fuckin' sell it if you want.
Second.
Hold on, hold on.
Hold on a sec.
No, no, no, no, hold on! Wait a second, man! A'ight.
Go get him.
Okay, all right.
Yo, look, don't get too used to being in the lead.
Where you at? Where you at? - Ooh! Ooh! - Okay, you playin' like that.
I'm comin' up on you.
How you drift? How you drift? R2? Uh-uh.
Just focus on the game.
- You not gonna help me? - Oh, man.
Better come back.
I'm about to be gone.
Uh, Dru? Your sister's back.
Ma sent me to get you.
You ready to go? I'm gonna take a shower.
Seems like you're out past your curfew.
Nigga, I got your text with the picture.
Yeah, some little geek just shows up, hands off some school stuff with a bunch of our product in it.
And your man, he know about this? He don't think it has anything to do with us.
- I didn't let on.
- You sure? He ain't in this, D.
He's He ain't in this, okay? Okay.
So this is the secret way Tariq's been moving our product? I guess so.
Monet's gonna love hearing this.
I don't know, it might just save your ass from the beating you about to get for buckin' her.
I don't think we should tell her.
Why? This is what she wanted to know, Dru.
We tell her now, and we're both out of trouble for good.
But what if she don't like it? What if she thinks it's way too out of her control? Oh, my God.
If she shuts down Tariq, then we have no excuse to come back up here.
- No more Everett for you.
- I'm serious.
- Don't tell her.
- Dru, just go home, okay? Monet said two hours, and she meant it.
- Go home.
- Where you goin'? I got a stop to make.
Don't tell her, Di, seriously.
Has he ever stayed out all night before? Twice.
With you.
So he'll be back.
- And if not - Wait, no, no.
You're not spendin' the night here; I don't trust you.
Is that why you won't tell me where Brayden is? Look, I'm sorry.
- About what? - The drink.
At the party.
Look, it was meant for Brayden, and when I saw you all faded like that, I just didn't know what to say.
Wait, what are you talking a what-what drink? What do you mean I was faded? How? We need to talk.
Let's go inside.
We can talk out here.
You got somebody in there? What? No.
No.
Yo, did Cane come by here earlier? I don't keep track of that nigga.
I don't know where he is.
What about Dru? Boy, Dru ain't thinkin' 'bout you right now, and I didn't come up here to talk about my brothers.
I came up here to talk about CourseCorrect.
I know, Tariq, a'ight? - I fuckin' know.
- What do you know? What does this have to do with me? Somebody at the school is using this tutoring app to move product.
And by somebody, I mean you, and you need - to tell me the truth.
- Chill, chill.
Look, Tariq, a'ight? It's smart.
No exposure, no competition.
I think it's perfect.
I just don't know what Monet'll think, though.
We ain't gotta tell her.
She won't understand this.
None of y'all get that lyin' to her is worse than tellin' the truth.
Same as lyin' to me about whatever you got goin' on in there.
There's nothing goin' on in there.
It didn't sound like nothin'.
Oh, I know.
It's that bougie bitch, right, from the party? Lauren? She in there? Damn, you smashin' already, huh? Lauren? It's not even like that with her.
Chill! So then what's it like? What's it like, Tariq? You know, I thought you were so different.
You look good on the outside, but inside you just out for yourself.
Doesn't matter who you hurt.
Di, listen, I need you to trust me, all right? Need you to trust me that Lauren's not in there, and I need you not to tell Monet about this CourseCorrect shit.
You need to stay by your phone.
CourseCorrect is really interesting.
Monet's probably gonna give you a call.
Check.
F Yo, take me home right now.
You actually did better than I expected.
What the fuck? I almost got killed.
He's actually right.
Thought it'd be worse.
Oh, fuck.
Y'all don't say nothin'.
What do we have here, gentlemen? You two, get out.
Go stand by my car.
Boy, you're off the leash.
This is the second time I had to cover for you - in the streets.
- I ain't your boy.
No, you're Monet's.
And I know damn well she didn't okay whatever you're doing here.
Nigga, take that bass out your voice when you talk to me, a'ight? - You ain't my dad.
- What's on your mind? You think Monet needs this kind of smoke? What smoke? Ain't shit happen.
People were reporting two white boys slinging on the corners here.
So? Sound like people need to mind they fuckin' business.
That's what you need to do.
You're lucky I found you.
You're lucky whoever turned out that one boy didn't finish the job.
Look, Tariq had my name in they mouth, so I had to school 'em a little.
And what you in my face for? You work for me.
You really don't get it, huh? We all work for your father, kid.
You, me, Monet too.
And this shit this is bad for business.
You know what business is, right? It's what men do.
Go home.
You're done for the night.
I don't know Francis Johnson.
Street name is 2-Bit.
He worked for Tommy.
He ever met you? - You ever spoke to him? - No.
I mean he's seen me before, but we've never actually spoken.
But he might know Tariq.
Tariq was hangin' with Tommy a lot before he left.
Saxe won't bring up Tariq.
He's irrelevant.
Are you sure? I'm sure, Tasha; you've got nothing to worry about.
Now, get ready to look innocent.
We've got court in the morning.
Brayden and Trace Weston, right? Yes.
Thank you, we appreciate you getting us out of there.
It's the job, kid.
Yeah, who was that guy? Like, I know his name's Cane, but you seem to know him.
Just a local troublemaker.
Now, I'm supposed to technically take you all in for distribution.
Why don't we all decide right here and right now that this night never happened and we're not going to tell anyone about it? I'm good with it.
Trace? We got kidnapped, Brayden.
We should press charges or call Mom and Dad.
We're gonna keep our fucking mouths shut so he doesn't come back.
Got it? Copy that.
I said two hours.
Dru's back, right? I did what you told me to do.
You know why I'm so hard on you and Dru? 'Cause y'all are good, both you.
Even as babies in school, on the playground.
You were good kids.
Good to me, good to Cane, good to each other.
And it's easy for you to get hurt out there.
And I don't want you hurt.
Ma, I have a good reason why I'm late.
Both y'all started actin' up when I sent you to Stansfield.
Dru and that nigga he's all caught up with now, you and Tariq.
I went to go see Tariq.
But I figured out how he's movin' our product at Stansfield.
I pressed him on it, and he said it's true.
Look.
It's a tutoring app, but there's no real tutoring.
It's just how they get product to the buyers.
And, Ma, he is charging these rich kids triple the price, and they don't even blink.
So anybody that tries to snitch, they blow up too.
Smart little nigga.
Yeah, but he didn't want me to tell you.
He said you wouldn't understand.
And you're telling me this because you want me to shut Tariq down.
Why would I do that? Why would you want me to do that? Did you sleep with Tariq, Diana? - No.
- Is he your first? Nothing happened between us.
Then you'll get over it.
From now on, he's business, that's it.
Brayden! Ohh! - Where the hell were you? - It's a long story.
You couldn't have brought your phone? Trace wanted us off the grid.
Do you have a clue how worried I was? Trace is an idiot; it was some superior bar crawl.
He needed a wingman.
I don't know.
That's your story? Stupid dude bro bar crawl? The stupidest, trust me.
'Kay, that's some bullshit, but you're back, and I'm happy and I don't care.
Come on.
- What? Where? - My place.
Tonight.
I think I pretty much overstayed all welcomes.
Facts.
Tomorrow you're coming to brunch with my moms both.
Two minutes, or I come back and move in here permanently.
Okay.
- What happened? - Fucking Cane, bro.
Holy shit, that dude is crazy.
He took us to Queens and made us sell on the block.
Like a corner boy? - Damn, man, you good? - Am I good? I'm rich! I made so much fucking money so fast.
I mean, I had to give it all to Cane, but I earned that shit.
That was my money, not my mom and dad's.
I fuckin' loved it, bro.
Bein' out there.
They fuckin' love me.
You're not doin' that shit again, bro.
You think Trace gonna keep his mouth shut? Told him he had no fuckin' choice.
Damn right.
I gotta go.
She's gonna fuckin' kill me.
- Yo, good luck.
- Later, dog.
Yeah.
You wanna tell me about these white boys - Cane had on the corner? - Nah.
Wanna tell me why you sent Cane up here? Somebody could've gotten killed.
- That whole shit wa - I didn't send him, Tariq.
Cane was on his own tonight.
Yeah, I don't know whether to believe that or not.
I don't lie.
I don't have to.
Diana told me about CourseCorrect.
I knew she would.
Want me to explain it to you? No explanation needed.
I know way more than what I need to.
- We good? - Yeah, we good as long as Cane - don't come up here again.
- He won't.
Their names are Brayden and Trace Weston.
I ran them.
The Brayden kid is younger.
He went to high school with Tariq.
These kids are rich and connected.
Something happens to them, half of NYPD's here, and it's a national story.
I know.
Cane is out of control, Mo.
You have to get him in line if you can.
Fuck you mean, if I can? He's your son, but you're not a man.
You may not be able to get him back in line.
- And you can.
- If you let me off the leash.
Cane is not your son.
He's Lorenzo's.
Just like I'm not yours.
I'm Lorenzo's too.
Next time Cane fucks up, maybe that's who you should call.
Don't call me.
Mr.
Johnson, you have specific knowledge of the workings of the so-called Ghost crew, do you not? You were a member? I never heard of the Ghost crew; that's hilarious.
What? You're saying now you weren't part of the drug organization run by Tommy Egan, street name Ghost? Tommy Egan? Who that? Mr.
Johnson, we discussed your testimony.
You recognize that picture? I said I would tell you what I knew.
What I know is, ain't no way a white guy like that runs a major drug organization in Queens.
Mr.
Johnson, we believe you were deeply and intimately involved in Egan's drug organization.
You are the last man standing in a multimillion-dollar operation that ran in all five boroughs of New York for over 15 years.
- Not me.
- You were arrested in a warehouse that belonged to one of his holding corporations.
That was a setup from a crooked cop.
- A crooked cop.
- Blanca Rodriguez.
You got her kicked off the force a little while ago, right? She set me up.
I was lookin' for work.
She lured me there on a job interview, and boom, pajamas and Patakis, all for bein' in the wrong place at the wrong time.
So you have no information about Tommy Egan? - None.
- You realize that lying on the stand is a violation of your plea arrangement.
Actually, you gave me transactional immunity.
As long as I show up, take the stand, and answer your questions to the best of my ability, I've held up my end of the deal.
Yeah.
I got a lawyer now.
Mm.
Seems like it.
One last question.
In your travels, looking for work, you ever meet anyone in the St.
Patrick family? Reminding you that you were wearing James St.
Patrick's watch when you were arrested.
I never actually met Mr.
St.
Patrick or his wife.
But I think once, I helped out her son, Tariq.
Huh.
No further questions, Your Honor.
How did you help Tariq? - Helped him get home after he got lost.
- And was my client part of that effort helping Tariq get home after he, uh, got lost? Not to my knowledge.
Like I said, I never met your client before.
And to your knowledge, she was not the queenpin of any drug organization of which you were aware.
If some lady was running some big drug organization, I would've heard about it.
As far as I know, she's just the wife to that dead lieutenant governor nigga.
Excuse me, Your Honor.
I mean James St.
Patrick.
That's all, Your Honor.
No, actually, wait.
Do you know how Tariq got lost? I hear he got mixed up with the wrong people.
And as far as you know, my client, did not know these wrong people.
Mr.
MacLean, I have no knowledge of your client in any criminal activity at all.
No further questions.
You still up? You're supposed to be my rock.
Supposed to follow the rules.
You're supposed to set an example for Dru and Diana.
They're your kids, not mine.
You think about what could've happened if you got picked up with two rich white boys in your car and two bags of product? Did you think about that? Ma, they knew my name, okay? So I had to scare 'em.
I had to get 'em under control! Matter of fact, Tariq put my name in that kid's mouth.
The nigga wouldn't even know me if you hadn't brought him into our shit.
You so fuckin' mad about Tariq, you forgettin' what we out here for, Cane to make money and not get caught.
You bringin' those boys where people know you.
You got 'em in your car with you while you drivin'.
The fuck is you thinkin'? Ma, you're shuttin' down all our primeras.
Givin' weight to Tariq so he can do what, sell to some fuckin' white folks? We got Queens on lock.
What do we need him for? Boy, I don't need to explain to you what I do or why I do it, not to you, not to any-fucking-body.
I'm runnin' this shit, Cane, not you.
You always wanna do shit your way, Cane, put yourself first, but as long as you are in my house, you will fuckin' listen to me.
This ain't your fuckin' house.
This is Dad's house.
Everything you got comes from him.
This is his business, not yours.
What the fuck you just say to me? I'm saying if he was here, ain't none of this shit happening! Boy, let me set you straight on some shit right now.
Your father's in jail for 25 years 25-year-sentence, and it's only been ten.
He can get parole.
He can get out, good behavior.
And when he does, all this bullshit with you and Tariq - and you and that cop nigga - Cane Don't you put your fuckin' hands Get the fuck off me.
Cane, what the fuck is wrong with you? Wait You have to do somethin'.
I don't know.
She makin' all these changes, okay? Sí, but, Papi, she ain't listening to You tryin' to be a man.
I see that.
I feel that.
A man's gotta know his swing.
Out there, Monet is me.
I know you not swinging on me, right? So you fall the fuck back.
Do what she tells you.
Yeah.
Don't you ever put your hands on my wife again.
Hey, Ma, how was court? Do you know Francis Johnson, 2-Bit? Oh, yeah, one of Tommy's men.
- Yeah, yeah, I seen him before.
- He was part of the plan to get you back from Vincent.
He brought you up in court today.
- Why would he do that? - I don't know, 'Riq.
Is there any way that Davis could know what really happened? Any way at all that he knows about you getting mixed up with Vincent or about you and Ray Ray? - Anything at all? - No, Ma, there's no way.
Look, you were the one that said we have to trust Davis.
I know, okay? I know I did say that.
And the testimony did make me look good.
A'ight, so then that's all that matters.
Look, Ma, don't worry about anything.
Everything'll be fine.
Yeah, okay.
I just hope you're right.
You got your ass handed to you today! Witnesses lie, okay? It happens.
And he gets to walk anyway! So if I go back to Jim now, I'll look like a fucking idiot.
We just let a violent felon back out on the street and got nothing for it.
I'll make this right, Steven.
You have my word.
Why doesn't that make me feel better? In the case of the United States vs.
Tasha St.
Patrick, are both sides ready? I don't want you to come to the trial.
What you need to be doing is making sure Davis gets paid.
It's a lot of action going on.
Sex Week! Each of you has a card with a secret.
Have you heard from Cane? She's been pushing me out.
Guess who's next.
What did you say to him? We've constructed this season so that Saxe and Maclean, are actually looking to present the jury with the truth.
We gotta get the right jury.
- To put Tariq St.
Patrick away.
- Exactly.
Truth is, Tariq is the murderer.
Is there any way that Davis could know what really happened? No, Ma, there's no way.
One of the things that's like a little Easter egg for our fans, is that in the jury selection, one of the people is played by Cándido Tirado, who is one of our Spanish dialect coaches.
And you don't have any specific feelings about narcotics sales, Dr.
Quiñones? I do.
I abhor the violence that comes along - with this scourge in our neighborhoods.
- Mm.
Cándido has been with us since the first season of Power.
So, it's really exciting to put him in the show.
I can compel you to testify.
Can't compel me to do shit.
The audience has been looking for 2-Bit.
- You know everything.
- I'm sorry.
Who are you again? I've always kept it a hundred with the fans.
If a character does not catch a bullet, they can always come back.
I ain't no snitch! What I think is great about bringing him in here, is that he is one of the last people who knows everything.
And so, he is someone who can be useful to both sides.
I never actually met Mr.
St.
Patrick or his wife.
But I think once, I helped out her son, Tariq.
Huh.
No further questions, Your Honor.
2-Bit is a version, of what Tariq could grow up into becoming.
If Tariq doesn't make the right choices, he could be this guy.
There is an aspect to when you create characters of color.
Black and Latin women are often potrayed, always like, strength but, no vulnerability, and you know, I really want to beat these people soon.
You were good kids.
Good to me, good to Cane, good to each other.
And it's easy for you to get hurt out there.
And I don't want you hurt.
Naturi and Mary bring so much to that, so you know, it isn't a saint, it isn't a center, it's somewhere in between.
And the testimony did make me look good.
A'ight, so then that's all that matters.
Look, Ma, don't worry about anything.
Everything'll be fine.
Yeah, okay.
I just hope you're right.
One of the things that Naturi always told me and I really love, is that women would come up to her and be like, "I'm a Tasha.
I'm just like you".
You know, that for me is, that's the goal.
Not to create something that's extra, not to create a superhero, but to create a real person.
Why we gotta do they job? Because you're spoiled.
Runnin' round, money in your pocket, clothes on your back, cars, and ain't none of it comin' from you.
It's from me and your father bustin' our asses to make sure this business keeps runnin'.
I think Monet's parenting is really specific.
I've tried to draw her as someone who needs to be tough to survive, and sees her kids that like as people, who also need to be tough to survive.
She loves them.
It's just that they have to obey her.
They're like soldiers.
There has to be a chain of command.
I don't need to explain to you what I do or why I do it, not to you, not to any-fucking-body.
Monet always had a really great hold on Cane.
Her decision to bring Tariq in, changes the way he feels.
Givin' weight to Tariq so he can do what, sell to some fuckin' white folks? We got Queens on lock.
What do we need him for? And that's about threat, and position, and ultimately what I'm always writing about, which is power.