Power Book II: Ghost (2020) s01e09 Episode Script
Monster
1
Previously on Ghost:
[CARRIE.]
I'm a professor, and you're a student.
[MOANS LOUDLY.]
Any of this getting out would be explosive.
- I can't let you lie for Tariq.
- Tameika, you're fired.
She is protecting someone, Tariq.
I think you might know who it is.
Tariq was selling coke with you? Yeah.
Tell Tariq he can suck my dick.
- You lied to me.
- I don't trust your judgment after you bringing a bitch like Riley around.
[PAULA.]
Don't forget this.
Marilyn'll notice if it's missing.
- I know I would.
- [DAVIS SIGHS.]
[TARIQ.]
"A professor at Stansfield is sleeping with a student".
[DRU.]
Things were a little shaky since D.
C.
Joe went missing.
- Monet don't even need you anymore.
- What are you talking about? [CANE.]
She's moving it over to Stansfield with that little bitch, Tariq.
Look, man, it's either him or us, unless you wanna do something to stop him.
Somebody died at Stansfield today.
School says it was someone that just got drunk and drowned in the pool, but I think Cane sent one of them Guaps up there to kill Tariq.
[DRU.]
Tariq killed them, and now GTG thinks that we set them up.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hey, hey.
- [MAN.]
Yo, Guap.
Here.
Nah.
[CHUCKLES.]
More.
I found something a direct line to taking Tariq down, and it's a slam dunk.
If you hurt what's mine, I swear to God, I will find a way to hurt what's yours.
[MONET.]
Wasn't trying to kill you, Tariq.
Now, why should I believe you? Because if I wanted you dead, you'd be dead.
[SILENCED GUNSHOT.]
From now on, I want half of everything.
Cane, now she's made up her mind.
You're not welcome here.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[SPITS.]
[JOE.]
They say this is a big, rich town I just come from the poorest part Bright lights, city life I gotta make it this is where it goes down I just happen to come up hard Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it [50 CENT.]
I never took a straight path nowhere Life's full of twists and turns, bumps and bruises I live, I learn I'm from that city full of yellow cabs and skyscrapers It's hard to get a start in these parts without paper Homey, I grew up in hell a block away from heaven That corner every 15 minutes they moving seven Pure snow, bag it then watch it go Occupational options get some blow or some hos Shoot the ball or the strap learn to rap or to jack Fuck it, man in the meantime Go head and pump a pack This my regal, royal flow my James Bond bounce That 007 that's 62 on my count I'm an undercover liar I lie under the covers Look a bitch in the eyes And tell her baby, I love ya You're my inspiration you're my motivation You're the reason that I'm moving with no hesitation [JOE.]
They say this is a big, rich town Yeah, I just come from the poorest part Bright lights, city life I gotta make it this is where it goes down Oh, yeah, yeah I just happen to come up hard Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it [MEECHY.]
Everybody sayin' I'm a dead man This right here is a confession, I Never showed love with my left hand Never really fucked with no yes men, I Think LSD be my best friend Dick so big, use it as a kickstand Rarely ever leave the house without my weapon If you hatin', plot from a distance, die [NYCK.]
Everybody sayin' that I'm reckless I ain't evil, but I got some bad intentions, I [MEECHY.]
Never showed love with my left hand [NYCK.]
If you, if you my brother You don't even gotta question, I Never was the one to show expression Do 'em dirty like it's nothing I'ma deadpan With the Zombies, think I got too many dead friends Name another crew that we less than, I [CJ FLY.]
Stay above the clouds, I don't get fly Got the TEC, I stay connected like it's Best Buy Could've been a Flatbush Zombie 'cause I'm dead nice If you dap me with your left hand something ain't right Because I don't got no time for the fake shit Niggas funny, start just watchin' When they shapeshift [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
When you think about it it don't ever make sense [ERICK.]
Read the bad vibe when I stepped in [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
Dressed in all black like the best man - Never was a fan of no yes men, I - - Keep my composure with brethren - Until I'm draped in fabric like a reverend So don't feed me no excuses I'm ahead of them Yeah, they jealous 'cause they cannot do it Better than I [MEECHY.]
Everybody saying I'm a dead man This right here's a confession, I [JOEY.]
Not close, need to understand distance Shit.
This ain't enough.
[JOEY.]
I tell these niggas I'm a legend Niggas sleep, I ain't even into resting Couple dead presidents in my left hand Niggas don't want war with the Badmon, Badmon [CELL PHONE CHIMING.]
[SHOWER RUNNING.]
Tariq, talk to me.
[TARIQ.]
A'ight, hypothetically speaking, what would happen if I was late with this week's payment? You know, my grandmother needs some money for my little sister Yas.
I got a heart, kid.
[SIGHS.]
I'll give you till next week and cancel the expert witness I have for your mom.
What expert witness? [TARIQ.]
Nah, nah, my mom's case is way more important.
Look I'll just find another way.
All right.
Suit yourself, kid.
[SIGHS.]
Why are you feeding Tariq some line about an expert witness we never discussed? He's saying he can't pay because he needs money for his grandma, which is total bullshit, so I kept him on track.
Well [SCOFFS.]
Even if Tariq is lying about his grandmother, instead of gaming him, let's find out why he needs the money.
Long as I get mine that's all that matters.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[SIGHS.]
You know, I like waking up like this with you.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Zeke this was a one-time deal.
You know that, right? I have too much to lose.
So do you.
Then why'd you let me post up like this? Because I care about you.
Those bruises on your back Why won't you tell me? How did you get them? I don't wanna talk about it.
Zeke you have to tell me.
I can help, whatever it is.
I'm trusting you with my whole career.
You know you can trust me in return.
After the game, me and a few teammates went to go celebrate at a club.
When we left, couple of dudes outside recognized me from the old hood.
They said they wanted a picture, but they jumped me instead.
Jesus, Zeke.
Did you call the cops? [ZEKE.]
You don't call the cops on these guys.
So you know who it was? Zeke, tell me.
They're in a gang called GTG.
One of them pulled a gun on my knee.
He knew me.
He knew I played ball.
He pulled the trigger.
It misfired.
Oh, my God, Zeke I could've lost everything my whole future.
It's okay.
Look.
You're all right.
Zeke, we have to go to the cops.
No.
- No way.
- [CELL PHONE CHIMES.]
Shit.
It's my boss.
There's a meeting about the accident in the pool.
[ZEKE.]
I'ma bounce.
No I.
D.
on the victim, but he's a male, Hispanic, late teens, wearing school colors, and we found this.
A tattoo? It's a gang affiliation, one by the name of Get That Guap.
GTG? You familiar with it, Miss - Uh, Professor Milgram.
- Professor Carrie Milgram.
[BROOKS.]
She's the former prosecutor I mentioned, Detective Santana, and while we appreciate the due diligence at a time like this, criminals don't attend our school.
I I concur.
We had a lot of visitors on Parents' Weekend, and especially at the Yale game in the Athletic Center.
No Stansfield faculty or students could've killed that young man.
The fact is that a gangbanger was murdered by a killer skilled enough to make it look like an accident, so one or both knew someone here, more than likely a student.
If it is a student, would they be a target for retaliation? Oh, not if.
When.
I need to draw connections fast, so I'd like to talk to students - with similar background to the vic - Similar backgrounds? Code for minority students like you.
I see you cops learned absolutely nothing this summer.
Racial profiling is unsavory.
It's illegal.
My apologies, Professor Milgram.
Given your level of expertise, what would you do? As a former prosecutor, I know these students are wary of police.
God, I wonder why.
But given the chance to come forward anonymously to someone they trust Someone like you? If you can trust me to decide what's relevant and what's confidential.
If anyone is connected to the victim We could protect the identities of our students and ourselves against any lawsuits.
That's an excellent compromise.
- Don't you think, Detective? - Mm-hmm.
I can work with that.
Given the size of the student body, would you have time, Professor Milgram? - Well, I can make - [JABARI.]
I can help, actually.
Dr.
Jabari Reynolds, by the way.
I'm a minority adviser as well, and I will gladly help Professor Milgram figure out who, if any, of our students might be involved in this tragedy.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
I thought you left to make the collections.
I'm trying, Ma, but you got me running around.
Maybe we should think about getting more help than just Owl and his boys.
For what? I got you and D.
- Right, but without Cane - Don't.
Never say that name ever again.
- [DOOR OPENS.]
- It's in the wind, like him.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Lock the door and come sit down.
[TARIQ.]
I got class in an hour, so That wasn't a question.
Dru, get this boy his product.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Hold on.
This ain't my normal order.
I know that.
You just said you had more product come in.
I will soon, but my supplier Rico's been asking all types of questions about his man.
- That nigga that me and Dru - Moved.
Yeah.
So these are the bricks that we took off of his truck.
[MONET.]
Exactly, and the longer I have his product The bigger the problem is for us.
Facts.
Well, Stansfield is hot right now thanks to Cane We don't say that name anymore.
I'm just saying, I think we should wait until all eyes are off of us.
Well, with CourseCorrect, ain't nobody looking, right? That's what you said.
[BUZZER SOUNDS IN THE DISTANCE, INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[CELL PHONE BEEPS.]
[LINE TRILLING.]
'Riq.
Ma, what's up? [TASHA.]
Thank God you're okay.
I been worried sick the Tejadas came after you again.
It's all good, okay? - Me and Monet worked it out.
- [TASHA.]
Worked it out? Tariq, they tried to kill you.
It wasn't her.
It was her son, Cane.
[TASHA.]
You really believe that? I mean, what if Monet put Cane up to it? [TARIQ.]
Well, if she did, then she set him up.
She said if he comes at me again, I can protect myself.
You know I will.
Still sounds like a trap.
Don't trust her ass.
We don't need to trust her.
She needs me to move bricks.
At school? You gotta be kidding me.
Ma, you taught me how to do it.
I'll be fine.
You didn't leave me much choice, remember? I had to teach you.
You were gonna get yourself killed.
Listen to me, 'Riq.
There's too much at stake right now, okay? You need to slow down.
Slow down? Ma, I can't slow down.
How else am I gonna pay for Davis? He said you gotta go to court soon, and he hired an expert witness.
Expert witness? He didn't tell me about that.
Did he say why? Ma, I gotta go, all right? 'Riq [UNEASY MUSIC.]
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
- Almost late again.
Just saved yourself, nigga.
Professor Reynolds been on you all semester.
He's been in a bad mood the whole time.
Oh, he's not that bad.
Not to you.
You're his favorite.
I gotta actually earn my grades.
So what makes someone a monster? As we deepen our understanding of the minority experience in America, a book like Frankenstein is not as clear-cut like the book from last week.
Show of hands.
Who here read this in high school? But who noticed the racial undertones? Go ahead, Miss Baldwin.
People are scared of the creature based on what he looks like prejudice against minorities.
A little remedial.
Anyone else? Hint crime and punishment.
Go ahead.
[BRUSHAUNDRIA.]
White people brought us here.
They call us animals, they sell off our children, and when we fight back, we're the monsters.
We're supposed to be scary, but they the ones riding around in white hoods, burning crosses on people's lawns.
Very good, Miss Carmichael.
Giving the other fellowship semifinalists a run for their money.
But, Bru, some of it does come down to how we fight back.
What is that supposed to mean? If people are set up to fail, they just fucking fail.
But not all of us fail.
What about the prison-industrial system? The number of people of color in jail Is a tragedy, yes, but you can't deny that some people made the choices to get them there.
- Some people deserve jail.
- Like my mother? What, you think my mother deserves to be in jail? No, that is not what I meant.
Yeah, it's easy to judge from the outside, just like it's easy to judge the creature.
- The book judged Dr.
Frankenstein - Can I finish, Lauren? [TENSE MUSIC.]
Everyone thinks the creature is a monster because of the way Frankenstein made him, but maybe it's the way Frankenstein treated him.
Maybe that's why the creature's a monster.
That is the exact answer I was looking for.
Same shit's happening with the body in the pool.
Word is, the cops only want to talk to the Black and brown kids.
No surprise there.
Wasn't that an accident? The police don't think so.
However, Professor Milgram and I have volunteered to speak to each of you privately without police interference.
Now, I refuse to be an agent for the police, so I promise, you have complete confidentiality to tell me anything, no matter what it is.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Moving on.
Tariq, wait.
[SIGHS.]
I didn't mean what I said in class.
But you said it.
I got competitive with Bru.
I just wanted to score points for the fellowship.
Yeah, and you got points, a whole lot of them.
Your mom doesn't deserve to be in jail.
I know that.
But murderers and drug dealers, they do.
Just leave me alone, a'ight? [WARBLING HIP-HOP MUSIC.]
[BUZZER SOUNDS, SHARP BANGS.]
A'ight, bitches, line up! Doing a random search for contraband.
Get out of your cells - Contraband? Contraband? - [MEREDITH.]
Now! You don't wanna test me today.
Shit.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[HUSHED.]
Yo, yo.
The burner.
Where's it at? [MEREDITH.]
Shut your mouth.
I don't know what you mean.
- I left it for you.
- [MEREDITH.]
Now! You been watching me? You work for Monet Tejada? We don't got time for that, all right? You gotta trust me.
Give me the burner, now.
[MEREDITH.]
I better not find nothing.
[WHISPERING.]
Promise me you'll get me a new one.
- I got you.
- [MEREDITH.]
St.
Patrick! Oh, I'ma enjoy every minute of this.
- I want my lawyer.
- [MEREDITH.]
Lawyer? You ain't got no rights in here.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS.]
- [SAXE SIGHS.]
I intercepted a report from the marshal at the MCC.
Oh, good morning.
Yeah, St.
Patrick's cell block was clean.
Ugh.
Look.
You wanted me to get Tasha at all cost.
Now, I had reason to believe Little Miss Queenpin was hiding a burner in her cell.
I could've used it to prove - she's still running the organization.
- Oh, could have.
Could have.
Instead, what you do have is an unsubstantiated search, which plays right into Davis's hands.
Davis isn't gonna find out.
I just did.
What makes you think he won't? - Trust me.
- [SCOFFS.]
Trust you? Not like you got any other choice.
- Ah.
- [CELL PHONE CLICKING.]
[LINE TRILLING.]
Yeah, hey.
This is Steven Ott.
Can you please put me through to Special Agent Pope? Cute.
[PENSIVE MUSIC.]
Coach Wallace mean he's in custody? - [KEYS CLACKING.]
- - [KEYS CLACKING.]
- - - "People versus Lorenzo Tejada.
"On appeal, the defendant contends the trial court committed prejudicial error by admitting evidence of the defendant's affiliation with known gang member Ignacio Guevara, a.
k.
a.
Big Guap, head of street gang GTG".
- [DOOR BANGS OPEN.]
- [GASPS.]
- Jesus Christ, Jabari.
- Find anything? I thought you'd left.
Your your light was off.
I like it moody when I write.
- [CARRIE SIGHS.]
- You find anything in your student meetings? No.
You? Ezekiel Cross.
Who are these other people in the photograph? His family.
First cousins.
Family, huh? You recognize someone? [OMINOUS MUSIC.]
Nope.
Have a good night, Carrie.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
[RAPPER.]
Welcome to my world The one you engaged in - [DRU.]
Cane! - Oh.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
- What up, Dru? What up? You took our corner boys.
- Why? - [LAUGHS.]
Monet wants to roll with Tariq, fine.
I'll take over the streets.
Ain't that right? I mean, you gotta eat, too, right? [CANE CHUCKLES.]
Okay, this beef with Monet got you twisted.
Rico's coming up personally to make our drop in a couple nights.
He bought that D.
C.
Joe was hit in a robbery.
What's he gonna think when he finds out about this shit? He'll think Monet got competition.
Cane, fuck that shit, man.
No, Dru.
Fuck Monet.
This is our time, you and me.
We hit up Rico for product, and we run these streets together, okay? No Monet.
No Lorenzo.
What's up, Dru? Why is that nigga still breathing? After what he did to Zeke after what he did to me.
He's breathing 'cause he's loyal.
Who you loyal to, Dru? Monet picked Tariq.
Your turn.
You all the way fucked up.
I'm exactly who Monet wants me to be, okay? I'm playing by her fucking rules.
So which is it, Dru? 'Cause either you with me or you against me.
A'ight, so what you do when he said that? What the hell was I supposed to do? Shoot every one of them.
Lil' Guap, all them niggas.
And Cane? - You want me to shoot him, too? - I told you not to say that name.
I told him he got me all the way fucked up, and so do you.
You trying to turn me into him, ain't that right? - Dru, fall back.
- Your father always said he wanted you to run the business.
What if I want something else? [MONET.]
Your brother made it so that you don't have a choice.
Look, Dru, I wanted something more for you, too, but I'm past that now.
You gotta get past that, too.
Hear me? [SIGHS.]
[SOMBER MUSIC.]
Yeah.
I hear you.
If Rico finds out we don't have dealers to move his product Ma, we need a plan.
Plan don't change.
Tariq moves his bricks.
We take our product off the street.
Rico ain't gotta know shit as long as he's getting his cut.
But will Tariq's bricks be enough? Absolutely not.
Transferring you to a new facility will cause too many delays.
Just play nice with the marshal.
For how fucking long? Hmm? Weeks? Months? You'll be home soon, I promise.
Is that what this expert witness is for? Tariq said you hired one.
Who is it? And how can they help me get home? We haven't figured out our full strategy [DAVIS.]
Oh.
Has my plan been working so far, Tasha? - Yes.
- [DAVIS.]
Then trust me.
If I decided not to tell you, it's for a good reason.
Now, if there's nothing else, I'm late for another meeting.
Fine.
Just remember, whatever you got up your sleeve, I got two kids outside these walls that need me.
[DAVIS KNOCKS ON DOOR.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
I thought this chick was a dancer.
Tardy for the party, I see.
You're late.
Ah.
[SCOFFS.]
Five minutes.
All right, maybe ten.
You sure she's gonna answer the door? I know criminals.
The guilty ones love to make a deal.
- [SAXE.]
I hope you're right.
- [DOORBELL RINGS.]
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING RAPIDLY.]
I don't know nothing, and I don't help no cops, not even a fine-ass one.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Well I'm flattered.
[SCOFFS.]
You tried it.
She means me, pretty boy.
And we're not cops.
- Mm.
- We're lawyers.
In fact, I work for Tasha Green.
You remember Tasha, don't you? Yeah, I used to be a customer at her day care.
You work for Tasha, too? You own or rent? I borrow.
A friend's letting me and my son stay here while he's in the Hamptons with his wife.
Very generous friend.
- Miss Turner - [EPIPHANY.]
It's Epiphany.
But you can call me anytime.
You married? 'Cause that's not a problem for me.
Uh, you have other problems, like your recent run-in with the law.
First of all, not my fault.
Sinnamon is a mouthy-ass bitch.
But she isn't looking at jail time.
Saxe don't look it, but he's important.
- He's got pull.
- He can drop my charges? "Massage" is more accurate.
Enough to avoid jail time, retain custody of your son.
Mr.
Fine-Ass, you wasn't lying.
- Your white boy got pull.
- Told you.
Well, that type of ass-clapping don't come for free, so what's it gonna cost me? We want you to talk about being a customer at Tasha's if your son liked it, what she was like.
Plus, you probably saw her son, Tariq, working there, too.
Tariq? Yeah, we have his time cards.
We know he worked there.
I may have seen him.
Tasha's husband, James St.
Patrick, had no idea Tariq was there until right before it got raided by the Feds and she had to shut down.
I don't know Tasha's ex, and I don't know what he knew.
Well, that's okay.
That's okay.
You can add that part to your testimony, and I'll connect it to the jury.
You want me to say this in front of the court, like a snitch, in front of Tasha? It'll actually help Tasha.
I promise.
Plus, if you do it we'll help you.
What y'all want me to say? [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[TARIQ.]
Yo, where the fuck you been? Trace's frat house, 'cause you're a dickhead.
I'm just grabbing some clothes.
- Bro I thought we got past that.
- [BRAYDEN.]
Past it? Past you lying, fucking up me and Riley? Hell, the cops are probably all over campus 'cause of you, too! No, the cops are here 'cause of Cane.
Cane killed that guy? Why didn't you fucking say anything? I tried.
You didn't wanna listen.
So are you ready to listen now or what? You got five minutes.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Yo, that's a shit ton of coke.
You're fucking right.
Monet wants me to move this shit pretty fast, but, honestly, with 12 all over this fucking campus, it's basically suicide.
What about Effie? How many times do I gotta say sorry to you about that shit? Yes, fuck you for that, but that's not what I mean.
I mean, she can charge more at Yale.
Yeah, you're actually right.
Yeah, New Haven is hot, and kids have to score on campus.
I don't know, though, bro.
I don't think Effie's trying to fuck with me right now.
You think maybe you could set up a meet tonight? Fine.
I'll drive.
I'll go get Trace's car.
That's what I like to hear.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
I had no idea that the guy that they found in the pool was GTG.
How could you not know? I mean, how much has your family told you about your uncle Lorenzo? I know he ain't in a gang, if that's what you're asking.
My uncle's in jail.
Lots of people are.
Your uncle may not be in the gang, but he has documented criminal history with that gang, GTG, in court records part of the evidence used to convict him.
I mean, think, Zeke.
Your family were at the game.
A body shows up on campus, and you get threatened.
- It's not a coincidence.
- You don't know my family.
I know you're not like them.
You have a whole future ahead of you.
But if you don't come forward with what you know, you could lose your your draft status.
You could lose everything.
I ain't have shit to do with whatever happened here.
Attaching my name to it gonna make me toxic.
[CARRIE.]
Zeke, you're a victim.
You have an alibi for the murder.
You were playing in the game.
But if you don't report what happened to you in the club, you could be implicated in a cover-up.
Let me help you.
I'm meeting students anonymously.
I can come forward on your behalf, protect you, distance you from all of this.
I gotta go.
Well, just call me when you decide.
[BUZZER SOUNDS IN THE DISTANCE.]
- Why am I here, Tasha? - It's funny.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
- All this time, you've never lied to me, Paula, until yesterday.
- I don't know what you mean.
- [TASHA.]
Bullshit.
I know that you were covering for Davis when I asked about the expert witness.
- I wasn't lying.
- I know you lied.
Because you're sleeping with him, right? How long you been waiting for him to leave his wife? - That is none of your business.
- It's not.
It's really not any of yours either, since he's married to someone else.
[SIGHS.]
[TASHA.]
When my husband had his affair [SCOFFS.]
I kept lying for him, too.
Even his side piece, Angela, was lying for him.
And look at what it cost all of us.
She's dead, and I am on trial, fighting for my life.
So my question is, what's it gonna cost you if you wanna keep lying for Davis? Paula, I need to know who that expert witness is.
I have a right to participate in my own defense.
Davis told me her name is Dr.
Epiphany Turner.
Doctor? Epiphany ain't no doctor.
- She's a stripper.
- What? [DOOR CLOSES IN THE DISTANCE.]
[SIGHS.]
What are you doing? I know how to find court records.
It's how I found out about Tameika's relationship with Saxe, since you didn't tell us.
Tasha, I'm sure whatever Davis is doing with a stripper is for your benefit.
Then why wouldn't he tell me about it? Why wouldn't he tell you that he's calling her to testify? He's not.
Saxe is calling Epiphany.
She's his next witness and was arrested not long ago with just enough cocaine for the NYPD to charge her with intent.
It's her third strike.
She's looking at real time.
[SCOFFS.]
If Saxe is calling her to the stand, what is Epiphany gonna say about you? She's a desperate single mother, just like me.
I'm sure she just doesn't want to go to jail.
Other than that, I don't know.
What about Tariq, Tasha? Does he know what Epiphany might say? [TARIQ.]
You think any of the parents from the day care still need help? Remember that one lady you used to tell me about? She used to come pick up her son late.
She worked this weird job at night.
You have to ask Tariq.
I don't even know if they've ever met.
I'd call him, but they record our conversations.
[BUZZER SOUNDS, DOORS BANGING, IN THE DISTANCE.]
Ask Tariq if Epiphany ever met Slim.
- Who's Slim? - [TASHA.]
A friend of Tariq's, the wrong kind.
Tariq started hanging around Slim when his sister died.
I was too busy dealing with her death to even notice.
Was Slim a criminal? One of the most dangerous criminals I ever met.
If Epiphany saw Slim with Tariq, maybe Saxe is trying to use that against me.
I need you to tell Tariq that if Epiphany takes the stand, she may not look dangerous, but she is just as dangerous as Slim ever was.
Tell Tariq that I said that he needs to treat Epiphany the same way we treated Slim.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[SIGHS.]
You had me followed? You left me no choice.
[SCOFFS.]
I figured out what you're doing.
You're gonna get Epiphany Turner to name Tariq as part of the drug organization.
It clears Tasha.
That's why you and Davis are, uh, making out under the bleachers these days.
I wanna get at the truth, Steven.
You and Mak, you don't want the truth.
But I do.
I took an oath.
Fuck your oath.
If Tariq St.
Patrick is guilty of some drug offense, great.
Fine.
But you still need to nail Tasha.
- The story doesn't change.
- Steven Cooper! And now I've got a new assignment for you.
You gotta get Davis MacLean, too.
[SCOFFS.]
He's not breaking any rules.
He's he's defending his client.
First rule of American politics it's not the truth, it's how the truth looks.
Come on.
Big-shot African-American defense lawyer colluding with a white U.
S.
attorney to put an Ivy League Black kid in jail? Ben Crump's gonna love that.
These pictures cut both ways, Saxe.
You nail Davis, or I nail your ass.
Yes, Cane's sent one of the GTGs up to Stansfield.
- But he's been handled.
- [ZEKE.]
It ain't handled.
There's a whole investigation.
And the shit that happened at the club the GTGs was retaliating for their man being "handled", like you say.
Almost ended my whole career over this shit.
And now they gonna question us up at the school.
I think I gotta tell them what I know.
You don't need to tell nobody shit about this family - or what we do.
- If I don't tell them that I got jumped and they find out that the dead body in the pool was related to y'all, I lose everything.
I might need to distance myself from what y'all do.
Zeke, this ain't you.
If they find out you got jumped, they'll be asking how you get out of it.
- You want Dru roped up? - Of course not.
Professor Milgram said I could come forward anonymously.
I wouldn't even have to talk about Dru.
Carrie, right? I remember her.
Y'all looked real friendly at the game.
- She's my adviser.
- So she know about us? That's why she giving advice ain't nobody ask her for? Professor Milgram just talked to a bunch of students.
She don't know nothing.
I'm sorry, baby.
I should've made sure you were straight, but you know not to ask about business.
- Why don't you spend the night? - Spend the night? Unless you got somewhere else you need to be.
No.
I can stay.
Zeke, I didn't know you were here.
- What up, D? - [DIANA.]
What's up? What do you know about Zeke and his adviser? His adviser? That Milgram lady? - You worried something's up? - I know something's up.
I just need to figure out what it is.
Wait, Ma.
I saw something in Tariq's backpack.
I thought it was about Tariq, but maybe it's about Zeke.
- [SANTANA.]
Did your student interviews - - yield anything, Professor Reynolds? - Nothing.
None of my hardworking, elite students knows anything about a dead gangbanger.
Are we done with this harassment? - [CELL PHONE BLOOPS.]
- My apologies.
What did your interviews yield, Professor? I'm not sure.
[SIGHS.]
What I know happened off campus that same evening.
Well, if it's off campus, then it's irrelevant.
I'll decide that.
I'm sorry.
Please.
Well, after the game, a few of the players from the basketball team went to celebrate at a club.
They were jumped and assaulted by a gang.
Which gang? Tasha said that Epiphany may have seen you talking to your friend Slim.
Slim? What'd she say about Slim? That he was a dangerous criminal.
Is that true? She said that if Epiphany is called to testify, you're supposed to treat her just the way you did Slim, and to be careful.
Tariq, what does that mean, "treat Epiphany like Slim"? Basically, she just wants me to stay away from her.
Let my mom know she has nothing to worry about, all right? Epiphany never saw me with Slim, so she won't have anything to say about me or my mother.
[GASPS.]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
Mrs.
Tejada, um, my office hours are Right now.
You don't look too surprised to see me.
You wanna talk about Zeke.
It's it's late.
I'm not sure it's appropriate.
Appropriate? Like you fucking him? - I d I d - You did.
And you didn't think anyone would find out.
W What did Zeke tell you exactly? Let me tell you something.
If you wanna keep your job, I suggest you keep your fucking mouth shut about whatever you think you know.
And if Zeke gets in trouble for this swimming pool shit, your name will be the first name out of my mouth.
You understand me? [DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
[BRAYDEN.]
Bro, you haven't said a word since we left the city.
At least when we were at Choate, you acted like you were 100 with me.
'Cause when I talk, you never fucking listen.
Here we go with that Riley shit.
What, you want the fucking truth, huh? - You want me to keep it a buck with you? - Yeah.
A'ight, well, listen.
Riley never tried to sleep with me.
- A'ight? I lied about that.
- I knew you lied.
You shady motherfucker.
Not half as shady as that bitch.
Let's go, right fucking now.
I'm serious.
Bro, you do not wanna fight me, a'ight? Just shut up and listen to me.
Damn.
Remember that day on my birthday - when you said I was bugging out? - [BRAYDEN.]
Yeah.
It's because Riley spiked my drink.
You're out of your mind.
Why the fuck would she do that? I caught her going through my shit.
She's snooping around for her fucking uncle that's prosecuting my mother, he's the U.
S.
attorney.
Probably sent that bitch up here to spy on me.
Get the fuck out of here.
No way.
- W that - No way? - Yeah.
- [TARIQ.]
No fucking way? Yeah.
W [TARIQ.]
This is her uncle.
Holy fucking shit.
I saw a picture of that guy at Riley's house.
Exactly.
You fucking Nancy Drew.
How much does he know about our business? I don't know.
How much did you tell Riley? Well, I didn't Hey, Effie.
[EFFIE.]
You said you'd be here an hour ago.
It's my fault, a'ight? We got held up.
Where's my stuff? Tariq's got it.
I'm gonna go put this in the car.
- Brayden, wait - Bye, Effie.
[SIGHS.]
Just hand it over.
Not until I apologize for Parents' Weekend.
What for? You got me back for getting you kicked out of Choate.
That's not what I wanted to do.
I didn't meet up with you because I got into some trouble, and I didn't want to bring you into it.
I didn't want you part of that shit.
That is either a really good lie or exactly half of the truth.
You don't know how to make friends.
You act like you don't need nobody.
Well, I need you.
You the only person that understands me.
Look, I don't I don't know how to be different.
All I know is what my parents taught me, Effie.
[SERIOUS MUSIC.]
My mother wants me to do something for her.
How bad is it, Tariq? The thing she wants you to do? I don't want to do it, Effie.
I really don't wanna do it.
I'm not a monster, I swear.
[SCOFFS.]
I can't tell when you're lying.
- I never can.
- I'm not lying.
Even if you are, I feel like I understand you.
But you don't understand yourself.
You are a monster, Tariq.
We both are.
I accepted it about myself the night I turned you in at Choate.
Sooner you accept it, the better off you'll be.
[DOORBELL RINGING.]
[EPIPHANY.]
What's up? What's up? You live here alone? For now.
I got a regular who let me stay here when him and his wife out of town.
Sometimes I be leaving shit around so she can start asking questions.
It's like a little game we play.
He like it.
[CHUCKLES.]
You sure about that? Well, I gotta find somewhere else to go, so maybe he don't like it as much as I thought.
You can come in.
[UNEASY MUSIC.]
- Where's your son at? - He is with his daddy.
Nigga got Lunchables in one hand and fucking party flyers in the other.
I'm glad you could meet.
Talking over a burner's too hot.
Oh, yeah, no problem.
Your lawyer laid it all out for me.
And why you ain't tell a bitch he was coming by? He fine as fuck.
If I would've known he was coming by, I would've called Tenisha and got my good wig.
My lawyer? He was here? Yeah, Davis MacLean and some square white boy.
White boy.
Was he tall? [EPIPHANY.]
He said he could help me with my charges.
I got into a little trouble.
It was Sinnamon fault.
His name is Cooper Saxe.
He came here with Davis? They want me to testify at Tasha's trial.
Davis said you knew.
So you remember what you supposed to say in court? You worked for Tasha at her day care.
Your father had no idea until the place got raided and shut down.
Is this really all gonna help Tasha get off? Listen, 'Riq, I don't know if I can do this.
I mean, I know it'll help me keep my son, but If I had the money, I would just run.
[SIGHS.]
I don't have nobody to ask.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[EPIPHANY.]
What's up, Tariq? [LARKIN.]
Mr.
Saxe, I've excused the jury to hear why your witness is late, but I don't have all day.
Your Honor, Epiphany Turner confirmed she'd testify.
I don't know why she isn't here or where she could be.
Tasha, you okay? Yeah, I'm I'm fine.
[OTT.]
Saxe.
What the fuck? So you either move on to your next witness, or the prosecution rests.
I'd like a short recess.
You have ten minutes.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[SAXE KNOCKING ON STALL DOORS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
You expect me to believe you had nothing to do with Epiphany's sudden disappearance? Uh, yes.
We're on the same side, remember? Then why send Paula to the MCC to talk to Tasha about Epiphany? I highly doubt she did that.
My office just sent me the visitor logs.
She was there.
What the fuck else could they possibly be talking about? - Huh? - Fuck out of here.
Paula doesn't know we work together.
Why would I tell her to go to Tasha? - To fuck me! - Get over yourself, Saxe.
Okay? I've got you over a barrel.
I know you were at Truth the night of St.
Patrick's murder.
- Do you? - [DAVIS.]
Yeah.
Well, you don't have proof, but, uh, I, on the other hand [TENSE MUSIC.]
[SIGHS.]
[SCOFFS.]
You set me up? Double-crossing, nefarious motherfucker.
Those pictures don't mean shit.
You and I meeting Epiphany's not illegal.
No, no, not illegal.
Uh, unethical as fuck.
And once I nail Tasha, and I will, and Tariq, I'll go public with these.
[SCOFFS.]
And no one, no one will want to hire you.
Your illustrious career will be fucking over, and Paula's, too.
Fuck, man.
I knew I couldn't trust you.
I knew it.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
You better have something up your sleeve, Saxe.
Steven, sit down and shut up.
I got it handled.
[LAUGHING.]
Oh.
Lead the way, big shot.
[WHISPERING.]
Davis, what the hell is going on? [WHISPERING.]
You told Tasha about Epiphany.
Why? Because you won't give me a straight answer.
Lying to your clients? I'm used to that.
Lying to me, I never thought you would do.
So now you're gonna tell me the truth.
[SIGHS.]
I had a side deal with Saxe, but he double-crossed me.
Now he wants to take me down and you, too.
Why on Earth would you ever make a deal with him? - You know what he is.
- He has a video.
It's inadmissible, but it proves Tasha's innocent.
It's Tariq admitting he killed his father.
[SIGHS.]
- And Tasha knows.
- [DAVIS.]
Yeah.
[SIGHS.]
So all of her lies were all to protect her son.
And I was trying to get her acquitted with Saxe's help.
We were working together to get Tariq.
- Why didn't you tell me? - To protect you, okay? In case it blew up.
Oh, come on, Paula, you know what I am.
I do.
And you gotta help me get out of this.
- I don't.
- Whoa, whoa, no, no, no.
Wait, wait, wait.
Why don't we go talk this over? - [SIGHS.]
- [DAVIS.]
I mean, come on.
We can make it through this, right? You and I, come on, we can work through anything together.
We were never together, Davis.
You were with your wife, and I was on my own, because I believed in the mission, because I believed in you.
If you'd would've asked me, I would've told you not to trust Saxe.
But you didn't ask.
All rise.
The Court of the Eastern District of New York, Criminal Division, is now in session.
The Honorable Judge Nina Larkin presiding.
Let the record show the jury is still excused.
Please sit down.
Mr.
Saxe did you decide? I did, Your Honor.
I'd like to summon Tariq St.
Patrick to the stand.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
What? Davis, can Saxe do that? - [NORMAL VOICE.]
He just did.
- [AUDIENCE MURMURING.]
[LARKIN.]
As Mr.
St.
Patrick is not in court and is an addition to the witness list, a subpoena will be issued for him forthwith.
- [BUZZER SOUNDS, DOOR OPENS.]
- [LINE TRILLING.]
[ELECTRONIC VOICE.]
You have a collect call from the MCC.
Do you accept the charges? Yes, I'll accept the charges.
Ma? Ma, is everything okay? Saxe is calling you to the stand.
I wanted to tell you myself.
I know Paula gave you my last message.
Did you do your homework? No, I lost it, but nothing bad is gonna happen, okay? What does that mean? You don't gotta worry about her testifying in court.
[TASHA.]
Tariq, what does that mean? 'Riq, are you still there? Ma, I gotta go.
No, Tariq, you need to tell me.
What does that mean? Goodbye, Ma.
No, do [DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Mm.
Shit, you got product already? Yeah.
Cash you had came in clutch.
This Monet's shipment.
Oh, whoa, whoa! You stealing my fucking family's product? Rico gave it to me.
- What? - Rico gave it to me.
I told him we was trying to sling.
He said he was looking for a new distro.
Rico's looking for a new distro for this product? Yeah.
The fuck.
He's taking Monet out the game.
Ain't that what you wanted? Fuck.
[GUNS CLICKING.]
New York.
Mm, mm, mm.
It's been a minute.
I don't have your money.
I used it to pay somebody.
You know better than that shit, Tariq.
I had to do something for my mother.
She always comes first, Monet, so I broke your rules.
I know what that means, all right? [DRU.]
Whoa, whoa, whoa, Ma, Ma, Ma.
[DIANA.]
Ma, please put the gun down.
- [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
- Ma, Rico should be here soon.
Fuck! [GRUNTS.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[ENGINE TURNING OVER.]
[TIRES SQUEALING.]
Ma, he got friends.
He got family.
You do this, it brings more heat on us.
Ma, please, just give Tariq a second chance.
Ma, he's never been short before.
Right? He-he can get the money.
- [DIANA.]
He's good for it, Ma.
- Tell her you'll get the fucking money.
Shut the fuck up! He knows the consequences of fucking with my money.
Ma, you're not thinking straight.
Diana, it's okay.
Monet is right.
I made these decisions.
I chose this life, and I chose to do everything that I've ever done.
Look, I betrayed all of you, and I deserve what I get.
What you mean you deserve what you get? I hurt everyone that cares about me.
I put myself on the line for you one too many times, 'Riq.
You lied to me.
You stole from me.
Are you being held against your will? I won't tell.
I won't tell.
I swear.
[GHOST.]
Tariq, if you do this shit, you can never go back.
Even my father, but even he couldn't see it until it was too late.
Ma, I think that's Rico with the drop.
What you say about your father? [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[DRU.]
Ma, the drop.
[DRU.]
Why they just sitting there? - Get down! - [AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE.]
I'ma go around back and get a piece.
No.
No, Dru! Aah! No! [TIRES SQUEALING.]
Ma! D! Cane, I'm okay.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
- Where's Ma? [MONET.]
Please don't do this, Dru! Don't do this to me, please.
Dru, Dru, baby, please don't do this to me.
- Don't do this.
- [CANE.]
No, Dru.
- Don't do this to me.
- [CANE.]
No, Dru! I tried to warn you, Ma! [MONET.]
Why weren't you here? I didn't do this.
Get Dru in the car right now.
Okay, okay.
Come on.
- Come on, come on.
I got you.
- [DRU GROANS.]
[SOMBER MUSIC.]
I'll follow you.
[DOOR OPENS.]
I owe you Diana's life, but me and you, we ain't done.
- Yeah, I know.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
I hope Dru's all right.
[CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
[SIRENS APPROACHING.]
I'm sorry I'm late.
I got held up.
Saxe is calling you to the stand.
Davis can't represent you.
Not only is it a conflict of interest, but there's this.
I had to.
I had to do it.
How'd you get that? Saxe took it, gave it to Davis, who's known about this for weeks.
Found it hidden in his computer after I made him tell me the truth.
You need a lawyer, Tariq.
Davis is setting you up.
Why are you telling me? 'Cause I don't work for Davis anymore, and I want you to beat that son of a bitch.
[SIREN WAILING.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER PA.]
[DIANA.]
Dru just went into surgery.
He's gonna make it, Ma.
Dru always comes home.
This is all your fault! - This was Rico's fault.
- Bullshit, Cane! Rico did this 'cause you left.
Now, I'ma say this once, so hear me good.
Run, Cane.
Run before I put you down myself.
I'm your son just as much as Dru, Ma.
I did everything you wanted me to Don't test me, boy! Never again.
You made me this way, Ma.
Ma! [SIREN WAILING.]
[SIGHS.]
[SOMBER MUSIC.]
We need to meet.
I need your help.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
[CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
We agreed to get rid of Tariq, but you went ghost on a motherfucker.
My brother got shot tonight, man.
He's gonna be all right, but he's hurt.
Now, without Tariq, all Monet got is Diana, so she gonna need me back.
We agreed to kill Tariq, but why would I help you now, Cane? Dru got shot.
Monet wants me dead.
We need to dead Tariq tonight! Monet's right about you.
You are stupid.
With you gone, she now needs me more than ever, so Tariq is not a problem for me, especially if Dru dies.
You pull, you make it easy for me.
Monet won't even need a reason why.
So get the fuck out of my face before I change my mind.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[GROANS, GASPS.]
Cane.
Don't make this mistake.
You think Monet hates you now? Don't Cane.
It's already done, nigga.
[POP SMOKE.]
I'm armed and dangerous Ain't no parking at the light, no Ain't no staining us, keep a K with us Please don't, please don't play with us Nah, we up and aiming them Ain't no hidin', no Flossy, baby, that's where I be, ah, ah Lymie, if you lookin' for me, you can find me Tameika, I need your help.
Tariq, why couldn't this wait? You could've met me in my office.
- - Saxe knows.
He's calling you to the stand.
Give me a dollar.
Now I'm your attorney.
Anything you say to me is protected by attorney-client privilege.
Tariq did you kill your father? Yes, I did.
Not because I'm a monster.
- 'Cause he was a monster.
- I know he was, Tariq.
And I know you are not.
Now how did Saxe know what you did? That doesn't matter, all right? I did it, and I don't want my mother to go to prison for something that I did.
So, when Saxe puts me on the stand, I wanna confess.
[POP SMOKE.]
I'm armed and dangerous Ain't no parking at the light, no Ain't no staining us, keep a K with us Please don't, please don't play with us Nah, we up and aiming them Ain't no hidin', no Flossy, baby, that's where I be, ah, ah Lymie, if you lookin' for me, you can find me Try me, niggas know that I'm grimy Niggas know I'm on timin' - Big body like a lineman - Whoo - I know how to vibe - Vibe, vibe - But, no, I ain't cool - No, I ain't cool - Look at me funny - Look at me funny - Bet I shoot up the room - Bet I shoot up the room - Shoot out the coupe - Coupe - I let it boom - I let it boom - Nah - Nah, whoo I don't play with these niggas, never Play with it Niggas know I keep a K with it - Ace Makaveli - Bah Wavin' it, wavin' it I'm in the Bugatti, racin' Pacer, pace him Run him down, chase him Draco, Drac' him - Extendo, 30 - 30 - Perc' head, 30 - 30 - 808 dirty - Dirty - Air it out, birdie - Birdie I keep a Smith and like Stephen A.
- Picante - Picante In and out different states Duckin' the jakes
I'm a professor, and you're a student.
[MOANS LOUDLY.]
Any of this getting out would be explosive.
- I can't let you lie for Tariq.
- Tameika, you're fired.
She is protecting someone, Tariq.
I think you might know who it is.
Tariq was selling coke with you? Yeah.
Tell Tariq he can suck my dick.
- You lied to me.
- I don't trust your judgment after you bringing a bitch like Riley around.
[PAULA.]
Don't forget this.
Marilyn'll notice if it's missing.
- I know I would.
- [DAVIS SIGHS.]
[TARIQ.]
"A professor at Stansfield is sleeping with a student".
[DRU.]
Things were a little shaky since D.
C.
Joe went missing.
- Monet don't even need you anymore.
- What are you talking about? [CANE.]
She's moving it over to Stansfield with that little bitch, Tariq.
Look, man, it's either him or us, unless you wanna do something to stop him.
Somebody died at Stansfield today.
School says it was someone that just got drunk and drowned in the pool, but I think Cane sent one of them Guaps up there to kill Tariq.
[DRU.]
Tariq killed them, and now GTG thinks that we set them up.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hey, hey.
- [MAN.]
Yo, Guap.
Here.
Nah.
[CHUCKLES.]
More.
I found something a direct line to taking Tariq down, and it's a slam dunk.
If you hurt what's mine, I swear to God, I will find a way to hurt what's yours.
[MONET.]
Wasn't trying to kill you, Tariq.
Now, why should I believe you? Because if I wanted you dead, you'd be dead.
[SILENCED GUNSHOT.]
From now on, I want half of everything.
Cane, now she's made up her mind.
You're not welcome here.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[SPITS.]
[JOE.]
They say this is a big, rich town I just come from the poorest part Bright lights, city life I gotta make it this is where it goes down I just happen to come up hard Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it [50 CENT.]
I never took a straight path nowhere Life's full of twists and turns, bumps and bruises I live, I learn I'm from that city full of yellow cabs and skyscrapers It's hard to get a start in these parts without paper Homey, I grew up in hell a block away from heaven That corner every 15 minutes they moving seven Pure snow, bag it then watch it go Occupational options get some blow or some hos Shoot the ball or the strap learn to rap or to jack Fuck it, man in the meantime Go head and pump a pack This my regal, royal flow my James Bond bounce That 007 that's 62 on my count I'm an undercover liar I lie under the covers Look a bitch in the eyes And tell her baby, I love ya You're my inspiration you're my motivation You're the reason that I'm moving with no hesitation [JOE.]
They say this is a big, rich town Yeah, I just come from the poorest part Bright lights, city life I gotta make it this is where it goes down Oh, yeah, yeah I just happen to come up hard Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it [MEECHY.]
Everybody sayin' I'm a dead man This right here is a confession, I Never showed love with my left hand Never really fucked with no yes men, I Think LSD be my best friend Dick so big, use it as a kickstand Rarely ever leave the house without my weapon If you hatin', plot from a distance, die [NYCK.]
Everybody sayin' that I'm reckless I ain't evil, but I got some bad intentions, I [MEECHY.]
Never showed love with my left hand [NYCK.]
If you, if you my brother You don't even gotta question, I Never was the one to show expression Do 'em dirty like it's nothing I'ma deadpan With the Zombies, think I got too many dead friends Name another crew that we less than, I [CJ FLY.]
Stay above the clouds, I don't get fly Got the TEC, I stay connected like it's Best Buy Could've been a Flatbush Zombie 'cause I'm dead nice If you dap me with your left hand something ain't right Because I don't got no time for the fake shit Niggas funny, start just watchin' When they shapeshift [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
When you think about it it don't ever make sense [ERICK.]
Read the bad vibe when I stepped in [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
Dressed in all black like the best man - Never was a fan of no yes men, I - - Keep my composure with brethren - Until I'm draped in fabric like a reverend So don't feed me no excuses I'm ahead of them Yeah, they jealous 'cause they cannot do it Better than I [MEECHY.]
Everybody saying I'm a dead man This right here's a confession, I [JOEY.]
Not close, need to understand distance Shit.
This ain't enough.
[JOEY.]
I tell these niggas I'm a legend Niggas sleep, I ain't even into resting Couple dead presidents in my left hand Niggas don't want war with the Badmon, Badmon [CELL PHONE CHIMING.]
[SHOWER RUNNING.]
Tariq, talk to me.
[TARIQ.]
A'ight, hypothetically speaking, what would happen if I was late with this week's payment? You know, my grandmother needs some money for my little sister Yas.
I got a heart, kid.
[SIGHS.]
I'll give you till next week and cancel the expert witness I have for your mom.
What expert witness? [TARIQ.]
Nah, nah, my mom's case is way more important.
Look I'll just find another way.
All right.
Suit yourself, kid.
[SIGHS.]
Why are you feeding Tariq some line about an expert witness we never discussed? He's saying he can't pay because he needs money for his grandma, which is total bullshit, so I kept him on track.
Well [SCOFFS.]
Even if Tariq is lying about his grandmother, instead of gaming him, let's find out why he needs the money.
Long as I get mine that's all that matters.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[SIGHS.]
You know, I like waking up like this with you.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Zeke this was a one-time deal.
You know that, right? I have too much to lose.
So do you.
Then why'd you let me post up like this? Because I care about you.
Those bruises on your back Why won't you tell me? How did you get them? I don't wanna talk about it.
Zeke you have to tell me.
I can help, whatever it is.
I'm trusting you with my whole career.
You know you can trust me in return.
After the game, me and a few teammates went to go celebrate at a club.
When we left, couple of dudes outside recognized me from the old hood.
They said they wanted a picture, but they jumped me instead.
Jesus, Zeke.
Did you call the cops? [ZEKE.]
You don't call the cops on these guys.
So you know who it was? Zeke, tell me.
They're in a gang called GTG.
One of them pulled a gun on my knee.
He knew me.
He knew I played ball.
He pulled the trigger.
It misfired.
Oh, my God, Zeke I could've lost everything my whole future.
It's okay.
Look.
You're all right.
Zeke, we have to go to the cops.
No.
- No way.
- [CELL PHONE CHIMES.]
Shit.
It's my boss.
There's a meeting about the accident in the pool.
[ZEKE.]
I'ma bounce.
No I.
D.
on the victim, but he's a male, Hispanic, late teens, wearing school colors, and we found this.
A tattoo? It's a gang affiliation, one by the name of Get That Guap.
GTG? You familiar with it, Miss - Uh, Professor Milgram.
- Professor Carrie Milgram.
[BROOKS.]
She's the former prosecutor I mentioned, Detective Santana, and while we appreciate the due diligence at a time like this, criminals don't attend our school.
I I concur.
We had a lot of visitors on Parents' Weekend, and especially at the Yale game in the Athletic Center.
No Stansfield faculty or students could've killed that young man.
The fact is that a gangbanger was murdered by a killer skilled enough to make it look like an accident, so one or both knew someone here, more than likely a student.
If it is a student, would they be a target for retaliation? Oh, not if.
When.
I need to draw connections fast, so I'd like to talk to students - with similar background to the vic - Similar backgrounds? Code for minority students like you.
I see you cops learned absolutely nothing this summer.
Racial profiling is unsavory.
It's illegal.
My apologies, Professor Milgram.
Given your level of expertise, what would you do? As a former prosecutor, I know these students are wary of police.
God, I wonder why.
But given the chance to come forward anonymously to someone they trust Someone like you? If you can trust me to decide what's relevant and what's confidential.
If anyone is connected to the victim We could protect the identities of our students and ourselves against any lawsuits.
That's an excellent compromise.
- Don't you think, Detective? - Mm-hmm.
I can work with that.
Given the size of the student body, would you have time, Professor Milgram? - Well, I can make - [JABARI.]
I can help, actually.
Dr.
Jabari Reynolds, by the way.
I'm a minority adviser as well, and I will gladly help Professor Milgram figure out who, if any, of our students might be involved in this tragedy.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
I thought you left to make the collections.
I'm trying, Ma, but you got me running around.
Maybe we should think about getting more help than just Owl and his boys.
For what? I got you and D.
- Right, but without Cane - Don't.
Never say that name ever again.
- [DOOR OPENS.]
- It's in the wind, like him.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Lock the door and come sit down.
[TARIQ.]
I got class in an hour, so That wasn't a question.
Dru, get this boy his product.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Hold on.
This ain't my normal order.
I know that.
You just said you had more product come in.
I will soon, but my supplier Rico's been asking all types of questions about his man.
- That nigga that me and Dru - Moved.
Yeah.
So these are the bricks that we took off of his truck.
[MONET.]
Exactly, and the longer I have his product The bigger the problem is for us.
Facts.
Well, Stansfield is hot right now thanks to Cane We don't say that name anymore.
I'm just saying, I think we should wait until all eyes are off of us.
Well, with CourseCorrect, ain't nobody looking, right? That's what you said.
[BUZZER SOUNDS IN THE DISTANCE, INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[CELL PHONE BEEPS.]
[LINE TRILLING.]
'Riq.
Ma, what's up? [TASHA.]
Thank God you're okay.
I been worried sick the Tejadas came after you again.
It's all good, okay? - Me and Monet worked it out.
- [TASHA.]
Worked it out? Tariq, they tried to kill you.
It wasn't her.
It was her son, Cane.
[TASHA.]
You really believe that? I mean, what if Monet put Cane up to it? [TARIQ.]
Well, if she did, then she set him up.
She said if he comes at me again, I can protect myself.
You know I will.
Still sounds like a trap.
Don't trust her ass.
We don't need to trust her.
She needs me to move bricks.
At school? You gotta be kidding me.
Ma, you taught me how to do it.
I'll be fine.
You didn't leave me much choice, remember? I had to teach you.
You were gonna get yourself killed.
Listen to me, 'Riq.
There's too much at stake right now, okay? You need to slow down.
Slow down? Ma, I can't slow down.
How else am I gonna pay for Davis? He said you gotta go to court soon, and he hired an expert witness.
Expert witness? He didn't tell me about that.
Did he say why? Ma, I gotta go, all right? 'Riq [UNEASY MUSIC.]
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
- Almost late again.
Just saved yourself, nigga.
Professor Reynolds been on you all semester.
He's been in a bad mood the whole time.
Oh, he's not that bad.
Not to you.
You're his favorite.
I gotta actually earn my grades.
So what makes someone a monster? As we deepen our understanding of the minority experience in America, a book like Frankenstein is not as clear-cut like the book from last week.
Show of hands.
Who here read this in high school? But who noticed the racial undertones? Go ahead, Miss Baldwin.
People are scared of the creature based on what he looks like prejudice against minorities.
A little remedial.
Anyone else? Hint crime and punishment.
Go ahead.
[BRUSHAUNDRIA.]
White people brought us here.
They call us animals, they sell off our children, and when we fight back, we're the monsters.
We're supposed to be scary, but they the ones riding around in white hoods, burning crosses on people's lawns.
Very good, Miss Carmichael.
Giving the other fellowship semifinalists a run for their money.
But, Bru, some of it does come down to how we fight back.
What is that supposed to mean? If people are set up to fail, they just fucking fail.
But not all of us fail.
What about the prison-industrial system? The number of people of color in jail Is a tragedy, yes, but you can't deny that some people made the choices to get them there.
- Some people deserve jail.
- Like my mother? What, you think my mother deserves to be in jail? No, that is not what I meant.
Yeah, it's easy to judge from the outside, just like it's easy to judge the creature.
- The book judged Dr.
Frankenstein - Can I finish, Lauren? [TENSE MUSIC.]
Everyone thinks the creature is a monster because of the way Frankenstein made him, but maybe it's the way Frankenstein treated him.
Maybe that's why the creature's a monster.
That is the exact answer I was looking for.
Same shit's happening with the body in the pool.
Word is, the cops only want to talk to the Black and brown kids.
No surprise there.
Wasn't that an accident? The police don't think so.
However, Professor Milgram and I have volunteered to speak to each of you privately without police interference.
Now, I refuse to be an agent for the police, so I promise, you have complete confidentiality to tell me anything, no matter what it is.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Moving on.
Tariq, wait.
[SIGHS.]
I didn't mean what I said in class.
But you said it.
I got competitive with Bru.
I just wanted to score points for the fellowship.
Yeah, and you got points, a whole lot of them.
Your mom doesn't deserve to be in jail.
I know that.
But murderers and drug dealers, they do.
Just leave me alone, a'ight? [WARBLING HIP-HOP MUSIC.]
[BUZZER SOUNDS, SHARP BANGS.]
A'ight, bitches, line up! Doing a random search for contraband.
Get out of your cells - Contraband? Contraband? - [MEREDITH.]
Now! You don't wanna test me today.
Shit.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[HUSHED.]
Yo, yo.
The burner.
Where's it at? [MEREDITH.]
Shut your mouth.
I don't know what you mean.
- I left it for you.
- [MEREDITH.]
Now! You been watching me? You work for Monet Tejada? We don't got time for that, all right? You gotta trust me.
Give me the burner, now.
[MEREDITH.]
I better not find nothing.
[WHISPERING.]
Promise me you'll get me a new one.
- I got you.
- [MEREDITH.]
St.
Patrick! Oh, I'ma enjoy every minute of this.
- I want my lawyer.
- [MEREDITH.]
Lawyer? You ain't got no rights in here.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS.]
- [SAXE SIGHS.]
I intercepted a report from the marshal at the MCC.
Oh, good morning.
Yeah, St.
Patrick's cell block was clean.
Ugh.
Look.
You wanted me to get Tasha at all cost.
Now, I had reason to believe Little Miss Queenpin was hiding a burner in her cell.
I could've used it to prove - she's still running the organization.
- Oh, could have.
Could have.
Instead, what you do have is an unsubstantiated search, which plays right into Davis's hands.
Davis isn't gonna find out.
I just did.
What makes you think he won't? - Trust me.
- [SCOFFS.]
Trust you? Not like you got any other choice.
- Ah.
- [CELL PHONE CLICKING.]
[LINE TRILLING.]
Yeah, hey.
This is Steven Ott.
Can you please put me through to Special Agent Pope? Cute.
[PENSIVE MUSIC.]
Coach Wallace mean he's in custody? - [KEYS CLACKING.]
- - [KEYS CLACKING.]
- - - "People versus Lorenzo Tejada.
"On appeal, the defendant contends the trial court committed prejudicial error by admitting evidence of the defendant's affiliation with known gang member Ignacio Guevara, a.
k.
a.
Big Guap, head of street gang GTG".
- [DOOR BANGS OPEN.]
- [GASPS.]
- Jesus Christ, Jabari.
- Find anything? I thought you'd left.
Your your light was off.
I like it moody when I write.
- [CARRIE SIGHS.]
- You find anything in your student meetings? No.
You? Ezekiel Cross.
Who are these other people in the photograph? His family.
First cousins.
Family, huh? You recognize someone? [OMINOUS MUSIC.]
Nope.
Have a good night, Carrie.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
[RAPPER.]
Welcome to my world The one you engaged in - [DRU.]
Cane! - Oh.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
- What up, Dru? What up? You took our corner boys.
- Why? - [LAUGHS.]
Monet wants to roll with Tariq, fine.
I'll take over the streets.
Ain't that right? I mean, you gotta eat, too, right? [CANE CHUCKLES.]
Okay, this beef with Monet got you twisted.
Rico's coming up personally to make our drop in a couple nights.
He bought that D.
C.
Joe was hit in a robbery.
What's he gonna think when he finds out about this shit? He'll think Monet got competition.
Cane, fuck that shit, man.
No, Dru.
Fuck Monet.
This is our time, you and me.
We hit up Rico for product, and we run these streets together, okay? No Monet.
No Lorenzo.
What's up, Dru? Why is that nigga still breathing? After what he did to Zeke after what he did to me.
He's breathing 'cause he's loyal.
Who you loyal to, Dru? Monet picked Tariq.
Your turn.
You all the way fucked up.
I'm exactly who Monet wants me to be, okay? I'm playing by her fucking rules.
So which is it, Dru? 'Cause either you with me or you against me.
A'ight, so what you do when he said that? What the hell was I supposed to do? Shoot every one of them.
Lil' Guap, all them niggas.
And Cane? - You want me to shoot him, too? - I told you not to say that name.
I told him he got me all the way fucked up, and so do you.
You trying to turn me into him, ain't that right? - Dru, fall back.
- Your father always said he wanted you to run the business.
What if I want something else? [MONET.]
Your brother made it so that you don't have a choice.
Look, Dru, I wanted something more for you, too, but I'm past that now.
You gotta get past that, too.
Hear me? [SIGHS.]
[SOMBER MUSIC.]
Yeah.
I hear you.
If Rico finds out we don't have dealers to move his product Ma, we need a plan.
Plan don't change.
Tariq moves his bricks.
We take our product off the street.
Rico ain't gotta know shit as long as he's getting his cut.
But will Tariq's bricks be enough? Absolutely not.
Transferring you to a new facility will cause too many delays.
Just play nice with the marshal.
For how fucking long? Hmm? Weeks? Months? You'll be home soon, I promise.
Is that what this expert witness is for? Tariq said you hired one.
Who is it? And how can they help me get home? We haven't figured out our full strategy [DAVIS.]
Oh.
Has my plan been working so far, Tasha? - Yes.
- [DAVIS.]
Then trust me.
If I decided not to tell you, it's for a good reason.
Now, if there's nothing else, I'm late for another meeting.
Fine.
Just remember, whatever you got up your sleeve, I got two kids outside these walls that need me.
[DAVIS KNOCKS ON DOOR.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
I thought this chick was a dancer.
Tardy for the party, I see.
You're late.
Ah.
[SCOFFS.]
Five minutes.
All right, maybe ten.
You sure she's gonna answer the door? I know criminals.
The guilty ones love to make a deal.
- [SAXE.]
I hope you're right.
- [DOORBELL RINGS.]
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING RAPIDLY.]
I don't know nothing, and I don't help no cops, not even a fine-ass one.
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Well I'm flattered.
[SCOFFS.]
You tried it.
She means me, pretty boy.
And we're not cops.
- Mm.
- We're lawyers.
In fact, I work for Tasha Green.
You remember Tasha, don't you? Yeah, I used to be a customer at her day care.
You work for Tasha, too? You own or rent? I borrow.
A friend's letting me and my son stay here while he's in the Hamptons with his wife.
Very generous friend.
- Miss Turner - [EPIPHANY.]
It's Epiphany.
But you can call me anytime.
You married? 'Cause that's not a problem for me.
Uh, you have other problems, like your recent run-in with the law.
First of all, not my fault.
Sinnamon is a mouthy-ass bitch.
But she isn't looking at jail time.
Saxe don't look it, but he's important.
- He's got pull.
- He can drop my charges? "Massage" is more accurate.
Enough to avoid jail time, retain custody of your son.
Mr.
Fine-Ass, you wasn't lying.
- Your white boy got pull.
- Told you.
Well, that type of ass-clapping don't come for free, so what's it gonna cost me? We want you to talk about being a customer at Tasha's if your son liked it, what she was like.
Plus, you probably saw her son, Tariq, working there, too.
Tariq? Yeah, we have his time cards.
We know he worked there.
I may have seen him.
Tasha's husband, James St.
Patrick, had no idea Tariq was there until right before it got raided by the Feds and she had to shut down.
I don't know Tasha's ex, and I don't know what he knew.
Well, that's okay.
That's okay.
You can add that part to your testimony, and I'll connect it to the jury.
You want me to say this in front of the court, like a snitch, in front of Tasha? It'll actually help Tasha.
I promise.
Plus, if you do it we'll help you.
What y'all want me to say? [DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[TARIQ.]
Yo, where the fuck you been? Trace's frat house, 'cause you're a dickhead.
I'm just grabbing some clothes.
- Bro I thought we got past that.
- [BRAYDEN.]
Past it? Past you lying, fucking up me and Riley? Hell, the cops are probably all over campus 'cause of you, too! No, the cops are here 'cause of Cane.
Cane killed that guy? Why didn't you fucking say anything? I tried.
You didn't wanna listen.
So are you ready to listen now or what? You got five minutes.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Yo, that's a shit ton of coke.
You're fucking right.
Monet wants me to move this shit pretty fast, but, honestly, with 12 all over this fucking campus, it's basically suicide.
What about Effie? How many times do I gotta say sorry to you about that shit? Yes, fuck you for that, but that's not what I mean.
I mean, she can charge more at Yale.
Yeah, you're actually right.
Yeah, New Haven is hot, and kids have to score on campus.
I don't know, though, bro.
I don't think Effie's trying to fuck with me right now.
You think maybe you could set up a meet tonight? Fine.
I'll drive.
I'll go get Trace's car.
That's what I like to hear.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
I had no idea that the guy that they found in the pool was GTG.
How could you not know? I mean, how much has your family told you about your uncle Lorenzo? I know he ain't in a gang, if that's what you're asking.
My uncle's in jail.
Lots of people are.
Your uncle may not be in the gang, but he has documented criminal history with that gang, GTG, in court records part of the evidence used to convict him.
I mean, think, Zeke.
Your family were at the game.
A body shows up on campus, and you get threatened.
- It's not a coincidence.
- You don't know my family.
I know you're not like them.
You have a whole future ahead of you.
But if you don't come forward with what you know, you could lose your your draft status.
You could lose everything.
I ain't have shit to do with whatever happened here.
Attaching my name to it gonna make me toxic.
[CARRIE.]
Zeke, you're a victim.
You have an alibi for the murder.
You were playing in the game.
But if you don't report what happened to you in the club, you could be implicated in a cover-up.
Let me help you.
I'm meeting students anonymously.
I can come forward on your behalf, protect you, distance you from all of this.
I gotta go.
Well, just call me when you decide.
[BUZZER SOUNDS IN THE DISTANCE.]
- Why am I here, Tasha? - It's funny.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
- All this time, you've never lied to me, Paula, until yesterday.
- I don't know what you mean.
- [TASHA.]
Bullshit.
I know that you were covering for Davis when I asked about the expert witness.
- I wasn't lying.
- I know you lied.
Because you're sleeping with him, right? How long you been waiting for him to leave his wife? - That is none of your business.
- It's not.
It's really not any of yours either, since he's married to someone else.
[SIGHS.]
[TASHA.]
When my husband had his affair [SCOFFS.]
I kept lying for him, too.
Even his side piece, Angela, was lying for him.
And look at what it cost all of us.
She's dead, and I am on trial, fighting for my life.
So my question is, what's it gonna cost you if you wanna keep lying for Davis? Paula, I need to know who that expert witness is.
I have a right to participate in my own defense.
Davis told me her name is Dr.
Epiphany Turner.
Doctor? Epiphany ain't no doctor.
- She's a stripper.
- What? [DOOR CLOSES IN THE DISTANCE.]
[SIGHS.]
What are you doing? I know how to find court records.
It's how I found out about Tameika's relationship with Saxe, since you didn't tell us.
Tasha, I'm sure whatever Davis is doing with a stripper is for your benefit.
Then why wouldn't he tell me about it? Why wouldn't he tell you that he's calling her to testify? He's not.
Saxe is calling Epiphany.
She's his next witness and was arrested not long ago with just enough cocaine for the NYPD to charge her with intent.
It's her third strike.
She's looking at real time.
[SCOFFS.]
If Saxe is calling her to the stand, what is Epiphany gonna say about you? She's a desperate single mother, just like me.
I'm sure she just doesn't want to go to jail.
Other than that, I don't know.
What about Tariq, Tasha? Does he know what Epiphany might say? [TARIQ.]
You think any of the parents from the day care still need help? Remember that one lady you used to tell me about? She used to come pick up her son late.
She worked this weird job at night.
You have to ask Tariq.
I don't even know if they've ever met.
I'd call him, but they record our conversations.
[BUZZER SOUNDS, DOORS BANGING, IN THE DISTANCE.]
Ask Tariq if Epiphany ever met Slim.
- Who's Slim? - [TASHA.]
A friend of Tariq's, the wrong kind.
Tariq started hanging around Slim when his sister died.
I was too busy dealing with her death to even notice.
Was Slim a criminal? One of the most dangerous criminals I ever met.
If Epiphany saw Slim with Tariq, maybe Saxe is trying to use that against me.
I need you to tell Tariq that if Epiphany takes the stand, she may not look dangerous, but she is just as dangerous as Slim ever was.
Tell Tariq that I said that he needs to treat Epiphany the same way we treated Slim.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[SIGHS.]
You had me followed? You left me no choice.
[SCOFFS.]
I figured out what you're doing.
You're gonna get Epiphany Turner to name Tariq as part of the drug organization.
It clears Tasha.
That's why you and Davis are, uh, making out under the bleachers these days.
I wanna get at the truth, Steven.
You and Mak, you don't want the truth.
But I do.
I took an oath.
Fuck your oath.
If Tariq St.
Patrick is guilty of some drug offense, great.
Fine.
But you still need to nail Tasha.
- The story doesn't change.
- Steven Cooper! And now I've got a new assignment for you.
You gotta get Davis MacLean, too.
[SCOFFS.]
He's not breaking any rules.
He's he's defending his client.
First rule of American politics it's not the truth, it's how the truth looks.
Come on.
Big-shot African-American defense lawyer colluding with a white U.
S.
attorney to put an Ivy League Black kid in jail? Ben Crump's gonna love that.
These pictures cut both ways, Saxe.
You nail Davis, or I nail your ass.
Yes, Cane's sent one of the GTGs up to Stansfield.
- But he's been handled.
- [ZEKE.]
It ain't handled.
There's a whole investigation.
And the shit that happened at the club the GTGs was retaliating for their man being "handled", like you say.
Almost ended my whole career over this shit.
And now they gonna question us up at the school.
I think I gotta tell them what I know.
You don't need to tell nobody shit about this family - or what we do.
- If I don't tell them that I got jumped and they find out that the dead body in the pool was related to y'all, I lose everything.
I might need to distance myself from what y'all do.
Zeke, this ain't you.
If they find out you got jumped, they'll be asking how you get out of it.
- You want Dru roped up? - Of course not.
Professor Milgram said I could come forward anonymously.
I wouldn't even have to talk about Dru.
Carrie, right? I remember her.
Y'all looked real friendly at the game.
- She's my adviser.
- So she know about us? That's why she giving advice ain't nobody ask her for? Professor Milgram just talked to a bunch of students.
She don't know nothing.
I'm sorry, baby.
I should've made sure you were straight, but you know not to ask about business.
- Why don't you spend the night? - Spend the night? Unless you got somewhere else you need to be.
No.
I can stay.
Zeke, I didn't know you were here.
- What up, D? - [DIANA.]
What's up? What do you know about Zeke and his adviser? His adviser? That Milgram lady? - You worried something's up? - I know something's up.
I just need to figure out what it is.
Wait, Ma.
I saw something in Tariq's backpack.
I thought it was about Tariq, but maybe it's about Zeke.
- [SANTANA.]
Did your student interviews - - yield anything, Professor Reynolds? - Nothing.
None of my hardworking, elite students knows anything about a dead gangbanger.
Are we done with this harassment? - [CELL PHONE BLOOPS.]
- My apologies.
What did your interviews yield, Professor? I'm not sure.
[SIGHS.]
What I know happened off campus that same evening.
Well, if it's off campus, then it's irrelevant.
I'll decide that.
I'm sorry.
Please.
Well, after the game, a few of the players from the basketball team went to celebrate at a club.
They were jumped and assaulted by a gang.
Which gang? Tasha said that Epiphany may have seen you talking to your friend Slim.
Slim? What'd she say about Slim? That he was a dangerous criminal.
Is that true? She said that if Epiphany is called to testify, you're supposed to treat her just the way you did Slim, and to be careful.
Tariq, what does that mean, "treat Epiphany like Slim"? Basically, she just wants me to stay away from her.
Let my mom know she has nothing to worry about, all right? Epiphany never saw me with Slim, so she won't have anything to say about me or my mother.
[GASPS.]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
Mrs.
Tejada, um, my office hours are Right now.
You don't look too surprised to see me.
You wanna talk about Zeke.
It's it's late.
I'm not sure it's appropriate.
Appropriate? Like you fucking him? - I d I d - You did.
And you didn't think anyone would find out.
W What did Zeke tell you exactly? Let me tell you something.
If you wanna keep your job, I suggest you keep your fucking mouth shut about whatever you think you know.
And if Zeke gets in trouble for this swimming pool shit, your name will be the first name out of my mouth.
You understand me? [DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
[BRAYDEN.]
Bro, you haven't said a word since we left the city.
At least when we were at Choate, you acted like you were 100 with me.
'Cause when I talk, you never fucking listen.
Here we go with that Riley shit.
What, you want the fucking truth, huh? - You want me to keep it a buck with you? - Yeah.
A'ight, well, listen.
Riley never tried to sleep with me.
- A'ight? I lied about that.
- I knew you lied.
You shady motherfucker.
Not half as shady as that bitch.
Let's go, right fucking now.
I'm serious.
Bro, you do not wanna fight me, a'ight? Just shut up and listen to me.
Damn.
Remember that day on my birthday - when you said I was bugging out? - [BRAYDEN.]
Yeah.
It's because Riley spiked my drink.
You're out of your mind.
Why the fuck would she do that? I caught her going through my shit.
She's snooping around for her fucking uncle that's prosecuting my mother, he's the U.
S.
attorney.
Probably sent that bitch up here to spy on me.
Get the fuck out of here.
No way.
- W that - No way? - Yeah.
- [TARIQ.]
No fucking way? Yeah.
W [TARIQ.]
This is her uncle.
Holy fucking shit.
I saw a picture of that guy at Riley's house.
Exactly.
You fucking Nancy Drew.
How much does he know about our business? I don't know.
How much did you tell Riley? Well, I didn't Hey, Effie.
[EFFIE.]
You said you'd be here an hour ago.
It's my fault, a'ight? We got held up.
Where's my stuff? Tariq's got it.
I'm gonna go put this in the car.
- Brayden, wait - Bye, Effie.
[SIGHS.]
Just hand it over.
Not until I apologize for Parents' Weekend.
What for? You got me back for getting you kicked out of Choate.
That's not what I wanted to do.
I didn't meet up with you because I got into some trouble, and I didn't want to bring you into it.
I didn't want you part of that shit.
That is either a really good lie or exactly half of the truth.
You don't know how to make friends.
You act like you don't need nobody.
Well, I need you.
You the only person that understands me.
Look, I don't I don't know how to be different.
All I know is what my parents taught me, Effie.
[SERIOUS MUSIC.]
My mother wants me to do something for her.
How bad is it, Tariq? The thing she wants you to do? I don't want to do it, Effie.
I really don't wanna do it.
I'm not a monster, I swear.
[SCOFFS.]
I can't tell when you're lying.
- I never can.
- I'm not lying.
Even if you are, I feel like I understand you.
But you don't understand yourself.
You are a monster, Tariq.
We both are.
I accepted it about myself the night I turned you in at Choate.
Sooner you accept it, the better off you'll be.
[DOORBELL RINGING.]
[EPIPHANY.]
What's up? What's up? You live here alone? For now.
I got a regular who let me stay here when him and his wife out of town.
Sometimes I be leaving shit around so she can start asking questions.
It's like a little game we play.
He like it.
[CHUCKLES.]
You sure about that? Well, I gotta find somewhere else to go, so maybe he don't like it as much as I thought.
You can come in.
[UNEASY MUSIC.]
- Where's your son at? - He is with his daddy.
Nigga got Lunchables in one hand and fucking party flyers in the other.
I'm glad you could meet.
Talking over a burner's too hot.
Oh, yeah, no problem.
Your lawyer laid it all out for me.
And why you ain't tell a bitch he was coming by? He fine as fuck.
If I would've known he was coming by, I would've called Tenisha and got my good wig.
My lawyer? He was here? Yeah, Davis MacLean and some square white boy.
White boy.
Was he tall? [EPIPHANY.]
He said he could help me with my charges.
I got into a little trouble.
It was Sinnamon fault.
His name is Cooper Saxe.
He came here with Davis? They want me to testify at Tasha's trial.
Davis said you knew.
So you remember what you supposed to say in court? You worked for Tasha at her day care.
Your father had no idea until the place got raided and shut down.
Is this really all gonna help Tasha get off? Listen, 'Riq, I don't know if I can do this.
I mean, I know it'll help me keep my son, but If I had the money, I would just run.
[SIGHS.]
I don't have nobody to ask.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[EPIPHANY.]
What's up, Tariq? [LARKIN.]
Mr.
Saxe, I've excused the jury to hear why your witness is late, but I don't have all day.
Your Honor, Epiphany Turner confirmed she'd testify.
I don't know why she isn't here or where she could be.
Tasha, you okay? Yeah, I'm I'm fine.
[OTT.]
Saxe.
What the fuck? So you either move on to your next witness, or the prosecution rests.
I'd like a short recess.
You have ten minutes.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[SAXE KNOCKING ON STALL DOORS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
You expect me to believe you had nothing to do with Epiphany's sudden disappearance? Uh, yes.
We're on the same side, remember? Then why send Paula to the MCC to talk to Tasha about Epiphany? I highly doubt she did that.
My office just sent me the visitor logs.
She was there.
What the fuck else could they possibly be talking about? - Huh? - Fuck out of here.
Paula doesn't know we work together.
Why would I tell her to go to Tasha? - To fuck me! - Get over yourself, Saxe.
Okay? I've got you over a barrel.
I know you were at Truth the night of St.
Patrick's murder.
- Do you? - [DAVIS.]
Yeah.
Well, you don't have proof, but, uh, I, on the other hand [TENSE MUSIC.]
[SIGHS.]
[SCOFFS.]
You set me up? Double-crossing, nefarious motherfucker.
Those pictures don't mean shit.
You and I meeting Epiphany's not illegal.
No, no, not illegal.
Uh, unethical as fuck.
And once I nail Tasha, and I will, and Tariq, I'll go public with these.
[SCOFFS.]
And no one, no one will want to hire you.
Your illustrious career will be fucking over, and Paula's, too.
Fuck, man.
I knew I couldn't trust you.
I knew it.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
You better have something up your sleeve, Saxe.
Steven, sit down and shut up.
I got it handled.
[LAUGHING.]
Oh.
Lead the way, big shot.
[WHISPERING.]
Davis, what the hell is going on? [WHISPERING.]
You told Tasha about Epiphany.
Why? Because you won't give me a straight answer.
Lying to your clients? I'm used to that.
Lying to me, I never thought you would do.
So now you're gonna tell me the truth.
[SIGHS.]
I had a side deal with Saxe, but he double-crossed me.
Now he wants to take me down and you, too.
Why on Earth would you ever make a deal with him? - You know what he is.
- He has a video.
It's inadmissible, but it proves Tasha's innocent.
It's Tariq admitting he killed his father.
[SIGHS.]
- And Tasha knows.
- [DAVIS.]
Yeah.
[SIGHS.]
So all of her lies were all to protect her son.
And I was trying to get her acquitted with Saxe's help.
We were working together to get Tariq.
- Why didn't you tell me? - To protect you, okay? In case it blew up.
Oh, come on, Paula, you know what I am.
I do.
And you gotta help me get out of this.
- I don't.
- Whoa, whoa, no, no, no.
Wait, wait, wait.
Why don't we go talk this over? - [SIGHS.]
- [DAVIS.]
I mean, come on.
We can make it through this, right? You and I, come on, we can work through anything together.
We were never together, Davis.
You were with your wife, and I was on my own, because I believed in the mission, because I believed in you.
If you'd would've asked me, I would've told you not to trust Saxe.
But you didn't ask.
All rise.
The Court of the Eastern District of New York, Criminal Division, is now in session.
The Honorable Judge Nina Larkin presiding.
Let the record show the jury is still excused.
Please sit down.
Mr.
Saxe did you decide? I did, Your Honor.
I'd like to summon Tariq St.
Patrick to the stand.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
What? Davis, can Saxe do that? - [NORMAL VOICE.]
He just did.
- [AUDIENCE MURMURING.]
[LARKIN.]
As Mr.
St.
Patrick is not in court and is an addition to the witness list, a subpoena will be issued for him forthwith.
- [BUZZER SOUNDS, DOOR OPENS.]
- [LINE TRILLING.]
[ELECTRONIC VOICE.]
You have a collect call from the MCC.
Do you accept the charges? Yes, I'll accept the charges.
Ma? Ma, is everything okay? Saxe is calling you to the stand.
I wanted to tell you myself.
I know Paula gave you my last message.
Did you do your homework? No, I lost it, but nothing bad is gonna happen, okay? What does that mean? You don't gotta worry about her testifying in court.
[TASHA.]
Tariq, what does that mean? 'Riq, are you still there? Ma, I gotta go.
No, Tariq, you need to tell me.
What does that mean? Goodbye, Ma.
No, do [DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Mm.
Shit, you got product already? Yeah.
Cash you had came in clutch.
This Monet's shipment.
Oh, whoa, whoa! You stealing my fucking family's product? Rico gave it to me.
- What? - Rico gave it to me.
I told him we was trying to sling.
He said he was looking for a new distro.
Rico's looking for a new distro for this product? Yeah.
The fuck.
He's taking Monet out the game.
Ain't that what you wanted? Fuck.
[GUNS CLICKING.]
New York.
Mm, mm, mm.
It's been a minute.
I don't have your money.
I used it to pay somebody.
You know better than that shit, Tariq.
I had to do something for my mother.
She always comes first, Monet, so I broke your rules.
I know what that means, all right? [DRU.]
Whoa, whoa, whoa, Ma, Ma, Ma.
[DIANA.]
Ma, please put the gun down.
- [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
- Ma, Rico should be here soon.
Fuck! [GRUNTS.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[ENGINE TURNING OVER.]
[TIRES SQUEALING.]
Ma, he got friends.
He got family.
You do this, it brings more heat on us.
Ma, please, just give Tariq a second chance.
Ma, he's never been short before.
Right? He-he can get the money.
- [DIANA.]
He's good for it, Ma.
- Tell her you'll get the fucking money.
Shut the fuck up! He knows the consequences of fucking with my money.
Ma, you're not thinking straight.
Diana, it's okay.
Monet is right.
I made these decisions.
I chose this life, and I chose to do everything that I've ever done.
Look, I betrayed all of you, and I deserve what I get.
What you mean you deserve what you get? I hurt everyone that cares about me.
I put myself on the line for you one too many times, 'Riq.
You lied to me.
You stole from me.
Are you being held against your will? I won't tell.
I won't tell.
I swear.
[GHOST.]
Tariq, if you do this shit, you can never go back.
Even my father, but even he couldn't see it until it was too late.
Ma, I think that's Rico with the drop.
What you say about your father? [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[DRU.]
Ma, the drop.
[DRU.]
Why they just sitting there? - Get down! - [AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE.]
I'ma go around back and get a piece.
No.
No, Dru! Aah! No! [TIRES SQUEALING.]
Ma! D! Cane, I'm okay.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
- Where's Ma? [MONET.]
Please don't do this, Dru! Don't do this to me, please.
Dru, Dru, baby, please don't do this to me.
- Don't do this.
- [CANE.]
No, Dru.
- Don't do this to me.
- [CANE.]
No, Dru! I tried to warn you, Ma! [MONET.]
Why weren't you here? I didn't do this.
Get Dru in the car right now.
Okay, okay.
Come on.
- Come on, come on.
I got you.
- [DRU GROANS.]
[SOMBER MUSIC.]
I'll follow you.
[DOOR OPENS.]
I owe you Diana's life, but me and you, we ain't done.
- Yeah, I know.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
I hope Dru's all right.
[CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
[SIRENS APPROACHING.]
I'm sorry I'm late.
I got held up.
Saxe is calling you to the stand.
Davis can't represent you.
Not only is it a conflict of interest, but there's this.
I had to.
I had to do it.
How'd you get that? Saxe took it, gave it to Davis, who's known about this for weeks.
Found it hidden in his computer after I made him tell me the truth.
You need a lawyer, Tariq.
Davis is setting you up.
Why are you telling me? 'Cause I don't work for Davis anymore, and I want you to beat that son of a bitch.
[SIREN WAILING.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER PA.]
[DIANA.]
Dru just went into surgery.
He's gonna make it, Ma.
Dru always comes home.
This is all your fault! - This was Rico's fault.
- Bullshit, Cane! Rico did this 'cause you left.
Now, I'ma say this once, so hear me good.
Run, Cane.
Run before I put you down myself.
I'm your son just as much as Dru, Ma.
I did everything you wanted me to Don't test me, boy! Never again.
You made me this way, Ma.
Ma! [SIREN WAILING.]
[SIGHS.]
[SOMBER MUSIC.]
We need to meet.
I need your help.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
[CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
We agreed to get rid of Tariq, but you went ghost on a motherfucker.
My brother got shot tonight, man.
He's gonna be all right, but he's hurt.
Now, without Tariq, all Monet got is Diana, so she gonna need me back.
We agreed to kill Tariq, but why would I help you now, Cane? Dru got shot.
Monet wants me dead.
We need to dead Tariq tonight! Monet's right about you.
You are stupid.
With you gone, she now needs me more than ever, so Tariq is not a problem for me, especially if Dru dies.
You pull, you make it easy for me.
Monet won't even need a reason why.
So get the fuck out of my face before I change my mind.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[GROANS, GASPS.]
Cane.
Don't make this mistake.
You think Monet hates you now? Don't Cane.
It's already done, nigga.
[POP SMOKE.]
I'm armed and dangerous Ain't no parking at the light, no Ain't no staining us, keep a K with us Please don't, please don't play with us Nah, we up and aiming them Ain't no hidin', no Flossy, baby, that's where I be, ah, ah Lymie, if you lookin' for me, you can find me Tameika, I need your help.
Tariq, why couldn't this wait? You could've met me in my office.
- - Saxe knows.
He's calling you to the stand.
Give me a dollar.
Now I'm your attorney.
Anything you say to me is protected by attorney-client privilege.
Tariq did you kill your father? Yes, I did.
Not because I'm a monster.
- 'Cause he was a monster.
- I know he was, Tariq.
And I know you are not.
Now how did Saxe know what you did? That doesn't matter, all right? I did it, and I don't want my mother to go to prison for something that I did.
So, when Saxe puts me on the stand, I wanna confess.
[POP SMOKE.]
I'm armed and dangerous Ain't no parking at the light, no Ain't no staining us, keep a K with us Please don't, please don't play with us Nah, we up and aiming them Ain't no hidin', no Flossy, baby, that's where I be, ah, ah Lymie, if you lookin' for me, you can find me Try me, niggas know that I'm grimy Niggas know I'm on timin' - Big body like a lineman - Whoo - I know how to vibe - Vibe, vibe - But, no, I ain't cool - No, I ain't cool - Look at me funny - Look at me funny - Bet I shoot up the room - Bet I shoot up the room - Shoot out the coupe - Coupe - I let it boom - I let it boom - Nah - Nah, whoo I don't play with these niggas, never Play with it Niggas know I keep a K with it - Ace Makaveli - Bah Wavin' it, wavin' it I'm in the Bugatti, racin' Pacer, pace him Run him down, chase him Draco, Drac' him - Extendo, 30 - 30 - Perc' head, 30 - 30 - 808 dirty - Dirty - Air it out, birdie - Birdie I keep a Smith and like Stephen A.
- Picante - Picante In and out different states Duckin' the jakes