Reasonable Doubt (2022) s02e04 Episode Script

1
[DANIEL KIM]
Previously on Reasonable Doubt
[CARLATA] Check this out.
It appears Shanelle
signed a few transfers
that total 30 million
into an account that's only in her name.
[MOANS]
I need you to give me a minute.
Are you serious?
I have to be there for my friend.
I'd like to come on as second chair.
Welcome to the team.
You feel ready to go back to work?
And have you started the lorazepam?
Lewis, hey.
Toni. Hattie's mom?
[MOANING]
- Adrian.
- I'm sure we have a lot to catch up on.
[EVAN GERRARD] Let's start
with how I'm gonna get my money.
[SHANELLE TUCKER] 'Cause if a nigga come
for me, he definitely getting shanked.
[CRYING] Jax, I killed JT.
Shit!
[SHANELLE] No! No!
I'm all in.
I'm gonna do whatever
it takes to be here for you.
["SHE'S A BITCH"
BY MISSY ELLIOTT PLAYING]
[SHANELLE] I said I'm done.
[JAMARION "JT" TUCKER]
You love this, don't you?
You love pushing me here.
I don't love this.
I don't love any of this
and I don't love you.
That's been fucking true.
Let me go, JT.
- What the fuck? Let me leave!
- No, fuck that.
You don't get to leave.
- You don't get to make that choice.
- Ah.
Are you fucking serious?
The fuck you
talking about leave, Shanelle?
[SHANELLE YELLS]
[GRUNTING]
I'ma have to bust you in your lips ♪
And the whips
better have a whole lotta chips ♪
'Cause I ain't
for no nigga givin' tips ♪
[SHOUTING]
What, what? ♪
What, what, what? ♪
[SCREAMING]
[HEAVY BREATHING]
[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]
From La Brea to Slauson ♪
It's all us ♪
The Sun, Central Ave Jazz ♪
It's all us ♪
Where we at? ♪
Hit the Maverick Flats ♪
Leimert and right back to the ark ♪
It's all us ♪
We coastin' on the west
between sets and wealth ♪
We toast the sunset in the Dons ♪
Take flight into the night
under Cali stars ♪
In a world on wheels ♪
It's all us ♪
It's the world we feel ♪
It's all us ♪
From the hills to Hollywood ♪
It's all us ♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING OVER STEREO]
- [LEWIS STEWART] What's going on?
- [SPENSER STEWART] What's up, Dad?
Hey.
[INDISTINCT POP SONG PLAYING]
- [SONG STOPS]
- Oh, oh, oh. Yo, yo. Come on, man.
[SPENSER] Alright, fine.
[LEWIS] I saw, I saw this
on the school's IG page.
[SONG RESUMES]
This you?
Yeah, I auditioned for Hamilton.
You auditioned for a musical?
You know I love music.
I mean, come on.
Blasting Gunna i-is a long way
from a wig and tights.
It's what they wore, but
No. Hey, it's cool.
It's cool. It's cool.
I'm just surprised.
I kept it on the low 'cause I know
it conflicts with basketball.
You're quitting basketball?
[SIGHS] This is about some girl?
- What
- No. No, Dad.
It's not about some girl.
Look, we've been about ball forever.
I just don't want you
to regret anything.
I mean, well,
I'm not gonna get the part anyway.
So, so whatever.
[SONG CONTINUES]
[SPENSER SIGHS]
No, I, I, I don't remember much
after his body hit the floor
and the, the, the blood.
I kinda only remember the feeling.
[DR. SAMANTHA CULVER] [ON MONITOR]
Emotional recollection
is equally significant.
It's guilt.
[VOICE BREAKING] I thought about
our daughters and his mother
and what they were gonna go through.
- [DANIEL] Yo. [SIGHS]
- [DR. CULVER] That's enough.
I want to discuss a few things
- [DANIEL] You okay?
- Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.
Right.
Yeah, that's what fine looks like.
You know, Shanelle's been
back in custody for three weeks
and still hasn't shared anything useful
with her own defense.
Well, what's her explanation
of the 30 mil sitting in her account?
She's saying she had no idea.
Do you believe her?
If I think my client and best friend
is lying
with the stakes this high,
I've already lost.
I might have something.
Now this is definitely
not admissible in court,
but looks like Shanelle's tenderoni
has come up for air.
- [JAX STEWART] Adrian's bank statements.
- Mm-hm.
You finally tracked him down.
Where was he?
Don't know, but last night's transaction
was Boulevard News.
- LAX.
- Then an Uber.
So, he goes on the run
with Shanelle, vanishes,
and then pops back up
at LAX three weeks later?
It's odd.
Let me get eyes on him.
See where he leads us.
You will figure this out, Jax.
It's what you do.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
[COREY CASH] We're down big
on public support for Shanelle
with two weeks before jury selection.
No, with all due respect,
we know it's bad.
How do we fix it?
I'm pitching a prime time interview.
Put Shanelle in front of a camera.
Have her tell her story.
She's just been painted as everything
except for what she actually is,
and that's the victim.
Gotta take one more shot
at flipping the narrative.
Hmm.
Sidebar?
A prime time interview from jail?
Is that even allowed?
It's unprecedented, but, yes.
The sheriff's department
would have to sign off.
- And you know
- I've already spoken to the legal team.
The terms are almost finalized.
You do know that every single sentence
Shanelle utters can be weaponized
by the prosecution.
It is my job to make sure
that doesn't happen
and we get the message
out that needs to be out.
So, yes, it's risky,
but you brought me here
because I know what I'm doing.
This is right, but I'm open
to any reasonable plan B.
We would need an
interviewer who wants
I know somebody who wants it
and they will absolutely play ball.
Fine.
- You've convinced me.
- Great.
Now I need you to convince Shanelle.
[SOFT POP MUSIC PLAYING]
[SHANELLE] An interview?
So more ridicule, more scrutiny.
Look, I was hesitant at first too,
but I, I think it's a good idea.
What you're trying to say
is I might lose the trial.
I'm not saying that.
But this last round of press
has not been helpful.
- So, if you were me
- I would do it.
With all the noise, your story,
your truth is the only thing
not being heard.
And you're right to be anxious
because, if we do this,
you will have to reveal everything.
Not just the abuse.
You'll have to tell the world
and more importantly, potential jurors,
why you fell in love with him
in the first place.
I [SIGHS]
You're asking if I could do that?
I'm asking if you can
or even want to remember.
Oh, and, um, Corey managed to bro up
to the sheriff enough,
so I can bring you these.
And, of course, you know,
we're gonna have hair,
we're gonna have makeup
and everything, but
[MUFFLED] thought you might
wanna have it different.
["GLAMOROUS" BY FERGIE PLAYING]
G-L-A ♪
That man [EXHALES]
is fine as hell.
Yeah. He's also a football player.
They're all the same.
I don't care.
He can touchdown on
this anytime he wants.
Well, he will sell the magazine.
That is all I care about.
Alright,
let's move on to the next setup.
- Yes.
- Was that okay?
- You wore the dress beautifully.
- Oh, thank you.
I want you in the backseat for this shot
and just switch places with the other
- young lady.
- Okay, yeah.
Hey, can I holler at you for a second?
- [MODEL] Yeah.
- Oh, I meant lady in charge.
- Sorry.
- Oh.
- Uh.
- Um.
Look, I do a bunch of these
and I just never see,
you know, sisters running things,
so I wanted to meet you.
- Say thank you.
- Thank you.
Yeah, yeah. It's, uh, Shanelle, right?
- Yeah, Shanelle Richmond.
- Okay, Jamarion Tucker.
Where you from?
You look, um, you look Creole.
You know,
I'm from Shreveport, Louisiana, so
Uh, Jamarion, we do have a lot left
on the schedule today, so
- if we can
- Oh, okay, okay.
Is that, like, boss policy?
Keep things on a professional tip,
or you really giving me the stiff arm?
What?
[CHUCKLING SOFTLY]
Look, um, I wanna invite you
to be a guest at one of my games.
I don't know you, and,
um, no disrespect,
but I don't, I don't like football.
Damn.
Sounds like we need
to change both of those things.
[SHANELLE] Wow.
Do women usually say yes to this?
I'm not sure any answer benefits me.
So, I'ma, I'ma leave that one.
But, nah, I'll fly you out to Atlanta.
You can kick it in my box.
If it's whack, you go home with a story.
It's all good.
I mean, you the boss, right?
[SHANELLE CHUCKLES]
How often do you got
somebody take care of you?
- ["THE TRUTH" BY INDIA.
- [ARIE PLAYING]
Let me tell you why I love him ♪
'Cause he is the truth ♪
Said he is so real ♪
And I love the way
that he makes me feel ♪
[JT] You are so gorgeous.
[SHANELLE] Ah, you're just saying that.
No You don't see what I see.
You know, my career
will always be important,
but I don't know.
I do want a reason to not
make it my whole life anymore.
I mean, I love that you're the boss.
[SHANELLE] Mm.
Have you always been this confident?
N [LAUGHS]
Oh, no. I have my insecurities.
I was chubby in high school
and that was before
it wasn't cool to body shame.
- Mm.
- And they were ruthless.
[JT] I like how you say my name.
I never wanted to be the kinda guy
that had a kid, a wife,
but my daughter, Natasha,
means everything to me.
Mm. You never thought
about marrying her mother?
My baby mama, Ebony,
she has a lotta issues.
And for me, marriage is for life.
I love everything about your body.
How long have we been talking?
Oh, damn, all night.
And I have to be
at the facility in three hours.
Mm. We should get some sleep.
I'm glad you came by boss.
[CHUCKLES] That's right.
Thank you
and for making me feel safe.
That's all I ever wanna do.
Because his light,
it shines so bright ♪
[HAIRSTYLIST] So, what we fixing to do?
Uh, um
I don't know,
maybe just a wash and trim.
A wash and trim?
I mean, okay, you got good hair,
but this is Atlanta, honey.
You gotta let these niggas know
you can be any woman they want.
[SHANELLE] Hm.
I can't. I can't
- Shanelle
- Shit. No, I'll do the interview.
But I can't go back to that.
Done.
Let's do this.
[JAX] Hey, babe, can you zip me?
Yeah, of course.
- How's your hand?
- Eh, it's fine.
The doctor says it's gonna be cool,
although it's not the best
with the game launch coming up.
Oh, I know, baby. I'm sorry.
It's all good.
What time's the interview?
Uh, well, the camera crew's
coming at 10:00.
Interview's at noon.
You think Shanelle's nervous?
[SIGHS] Me on the other hand,
I need to do everything in my power
to get her through it.
You will.
Did, uh, did Spenser mention anything
to you
about auditioning for Hamilton?
Hamilton? No.
Huh, that's cool.
I mean, it conflicts with basketball.
So? I mean, that little nigga
ain't going pro.
We spent all summer working on his game.
He shot up five inches over the summer.
It's like I don't know.
It just seems like a waste.
A waste?
[CELL PHONE RINGING]
Oh, shit,
that's my "time to leave" notification.
I gotta go.
Well, thank you for being transparent,
abrupt, but transparently abrupt.
[CHUCKLES] Thank you for noticing.
I love you.
I love you too. Have a good day.
- [JAX] You too, baby.
- Thank you.
- [CELL PHONE RINGING]
- [DOOR CLOSES]
Hello?
Yeah, this is he.
Spenser did what?
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
- Welcome back!
- [ADRIAN HUNTER] Thanks.
You look good. Rested, I hope.
[CHUCKLES] Well, there's a lot worse
places than Jamaica to lay low.
Thank you. For real.
- I knew the press would be all over you.
- Yeah.
Not to mention the prosecution,
I just didn't want you
to have to answer any questions
without a clear head.
Hm. No, I'm good.
Hm.
Is it?
- What?
- [SCOFFS]
Your head, is it clear?
Yeah. Yeah, it is.
'Cause we could agree it wasn't
when you went
on your road trip with Shanelle
and didn't secure
my 30 million like you promised.
- [EVAN LAUGHS]
- [ADRIAN SCOFFS]
You know, I gotta know,
were you just fucking Shanelle?
Or did you fuck up and fall in love, hm?
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
Pussy is wild, man.
I mean, I've got money, some power,
and I'm really fucking scary
to a lot of people.
But I'll never have that kinda leverage,
that pussy leverage.
[ADRIAN CHUCKLES]
I want my money.
I think we need to be patient.
You know, wait until the trial's over.
I'm starting to wonder
if you ever planned on paying me.
I hate wondering
about such annoying things.
Oh, really?
Come on, man.
Of course, I was gonna pay you.
[GUN COCKS]
[EVAN] I'm not Shanelle.
I don't have a pussy.
And I don't give a fuck.
Okay. Okay.
Look, I can't get you all of it,
but I can get you something today.
Now that, my friend,
is incredibly clearheaded.
[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[RADIO ANNOUNCER]
The trial of Shanelle Tucker
is set to take place later this month.
And the defense appears to be drawing
from an unorthodox playbook.
We're hearing
that Shanelle Tucker is sitting down
for a prime time interview in jail,
which feels more like a Hail Mary
than a viable strategy.
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
What'd you find?
I followed Adrian from his place
to this Tony Montana mansion
in South Pass.
There's, like, cameras every six feet,
definitely above
what any civilian would need.
Well, whose house? Who'd he go see?
I don't know, but my connect
at the county clerk's office
is pulling the deed.
For some reason the homeowner info
was obscured online.
Yeah, this feels like the right thread.
Keep me posted.
- [DANIEL] Alright, bye.
- [LINE BEEPS]
[COREY] I sent you the final revisions.
You redlined the 9-1-1 call?
Yeah, we'd be insane to allow that.
It's my promo.
You have photos of Shanelle's abuse
as well as an exclusive interview
with the defendant
of the most publicized case since OJ.
That's not enough for you?
You are totally down
for mutually beneficial situations
as long as you benefit
first and the most.
[SIGHS] Okay, so okay on the 9-1-1 call,
but if it goes south,
we're gonna cut it.
What, we? Who's we
Jax Stewart. Pleasure to meet you.
Tanya Scoggins, thanks for having me.
I'm sure you can imagine
the scrutiny Shanelle's under
and we wouldn't wanna do or say anything
to jeopardize her mental health.
It's an interview, not an inquisition.
Hopefully, we'll all be satisfied.
She's 100% solid?
[DOOR CLOSES]
A hundred and ten.
How's Shanelle?
[GUARD 1] Hands.
[GUARD 2] Hands up.
[INMATE] Yo.
[IN SINGSONGY VOICE] Pocahontas! ♪
Big day, for real.
Just between us two bad bitches,
you planned that shit, right?
You killed that nigga in cold blood,
huh?
No, believe what you want.
Fake ass Miss Cleo-looking bitch.
And the name is Tucker.
[TANYA SCOGGINS] Joining us today
is Shanelle Tucker.
Shanelle, thank you for sitting with me.
Everyone has focused
on your affair with Adrian.
However, as a Black woman,
I found personal joy
in your relationship with J
and now Jamarion is dead
and you're facing life in prison.
May I show you something?
Allow us into your head here.
Was this real or were you
hiding things from the beginning?
[JAX] She knew Tanya was gonna
show her the magazine, right?
Yes, we prepped this.
I was always in love with JT.
[TANYA] Really?
[JT] Come on, just stay a week.
[SHANELLE] Ohh.
You know I got a shoot on Monday.
- Skip it.
- Okay. Yeah.
Then you skip your game on Sunday.
Come to my niece's recital.
Come on, does your gig pay NFL rates?
Wow.
- Really, Jamarion?
- Alright, come on, I don't mean that.
It's just I want the same support
the other fellas have.
You know? I wanna come home to you.
- Yeah, I want that too. I want that.
- Every night.
It's just not super realistic right now,
but we're making things work, right?
- The best way we can for it.
- This, this isn't working for me.
That's what I'm trying to tell you,
but you're not listening.
I am listening.
It's just that I
Are you trying to break up with me?
Shanelle, I'm better when you're around.
- That's the bottom line.
- So, basically,
if I don't move out here for you,
even though my family
and the job that I love are in LA,
you don't want me to be
your girlfriend anymore?
Yes.
No, no, no. No, that's
Fuck, I guess I'm doing this now.
Um
Shanelle, I don't want you
to be my girlfriend anymore.
[JT SIGHS]
- [SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
- Oh.
I want you to be my wife.
- Shanelle
- Oh, my God!
will you marry me?
[LAUGHS] Yes!
- Yes?
- Yes!
- Yes? [LAUGHS]
- Yes!
Really,
despite everything that happened,
even until the very end, I
I loved him.
[WHISPERING]
[TANYA] Apologies, Shanelle.
Some think that you were quick
to give up your job when JT proposed
because that was the security
of the life of an NFL wife.
I don't care what people think.
These photos are heartbreaking
and undeniably brutal.
I can see how they affect you,
but I have to ask why you chose
not to take these pictures
to the authorities,
but instead chose to hide them
in a safe deposit box?
I wasn't hiding them.
Well, I'm sorry.
I'm trying to understand.
If JT killed me,
I wanted people to know the truth.
At least then they'd believe me.
- Should we pause?
- No. No, we're good.
May I ask when the abuse started?
Emotional or physical?
Physical.
The night of his retirement party.
I could use some help, Jamarion.
Yeah, I'll take the trash out
when you're done.
I'm just saying it'd be done sooner
if you helped maybe.
It ain't like you got a game tomorrow.
What'd you say?
No, say what you gotta say.
Today was about me and my retirement.
So, I should've known you'd find
something to be pissed about.
No. I know it's your day.
You've said it, like, a hundred times.
Look, I have woken up
with our infant daughter
four times in the middle of the night.
I drove your other daughter
over to your mother's house.
I got all this set up before you
even crawled out of bed at noon
talking about we ain't got any bacon.
I'm just saying it would be
nice to hear a "thank you"
or an, "I appreciate you, Shanelle."
Well, what I'd appreciate, Shanelle,
is a little less backtalk from you
and a lot more respect.
I had strangers in here
celebrating me for what I did
for the past 10 years out on that field.
Do you cheer me on
when I pay the mortgage every month?
You do what you do because
you can't catch a football like I do.
[SHANELLE SNICKERS]
Nigga, you throw that money in my face
when you know damn well
I ain't never cared about it.
Well, you quit your job
playing dress up with niggas
as soon as I coughed up that ring.
So, why don't you shut the fuck up?
I told you to stop
talking to me like that!
Shanelle, shut the fuck up!
Goddamn!
Who are you texting?
Nah, don't do that.
Don't do what? What?
Question you? Hold you accountable?
What am I not supposed to do?
Okay, bet.
You wanna see?
- You
- Yeah, she's 26.
Everything on her
where it's supposed to be.
Stop.
I should've known you was
gonna blow up after the baby.
You was fat before, right?
Nah, nah. You wanted to see, right?
Let go of me, Jamarion.
I ain't one of your little groupies!
Actually, you take out the trash.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
[BABY CRYING]
Man, nah. Hang that bag up.
[LEWIS SIGHS]
Make it make sense, Spense.
So, you finally gonna yell at me
instead of humming Wu-Tang
the entire ride home?
Look, I had to get my mind right
for when you explain to me
why you got suspended for fighting.
Hey, Seve is a bully.
I was chilling in the locker room.
He bumped me.
I told him I don't even play like that.
He got in my face, pushed me
and I did what I had to do.
No, you did something stupid.
I told him to back off
and he kept pushing me.
Look, I'm sorry.
But that's the truth.
Okay, look.
Next time, walk away.
Yeah. Okay.
So, that's it? We're good?
I mean, for now, yeah,
but when your mama come home,
you on your own, bruh.
But I'ma tell you this
you did what we as men
need to do sometimes.
You understand?
Yeah, I got you.
Alright. Go clean your room.
Maybe your mom'll have mercy on you.
I can't begin to understand
the psychology of what you did to cope,
but you did choose to stay.
You've never stayed with someone
longer than you probably should've?
- That was a good one.
- Better.
I'd like to move on to the 9-1-1 call
you made that fateful day.
She's going off script.
If it doesn't play, we can cut it.
[DISPATCHER] [ON TAPE]
Los Angeles County 9-1-1.
[SHANELLE SOBBING ON TAPE]
[SHANELLE] [ON TAPE] My husband!
My husband is dead.
- [DISPATCHER] What's your name?
- [SHANELLE] Shanelle.
I'm not good with you
manipulating my friend to make good TV.
The fact that you even feel that way,
it reminds me that you're
too emotionally invested to decide.
- [SHANELLE] There's blood.
- [DISPATCHER] Blood from where?
Did he fall?
Shanelle, are you with me?
[SHANELLE] Please, just send somebody!
I just I can't look at him anymore.
- I'm stopping this.
- Hold on, it's not that bad.
Cut. Cut, stop rolling.
- Do not touch her.
- [OVERLAPPING CHATTER]
Let's get her outta here.
We're seriously stopping right now?
Yes.
[SHANELLE CRYING]
[GASPING]
Oh.
[HEAVY BREATHING]
[CLEARS THROAT]
- Ah! No.
- [DOOR OPENS]
In with the duffel, is out with nothing
but a deposit slip, hey?
What you doing?
Now, you don't wanna hold onto that.
It's evidence, my guy.
Now throw it in the trash.
Come on, Adrian.
Be a big dumb, dumb criminal, please.
Ah, sh
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[CAR ENGINE REVVING]
Alright.
Got you.
Okay.
Alright. Bingo.
You don't have to go back in there.
[SIGHS]
You know, you asked me
if I could remember the good parts.
I wasn't sure, but I did.
And now I'm not so sure
how good the good parts were.
I guess I just got numb to it all.
Tanya's right.
I should've been strong enough to leave.
You were trying to leave.
It's not your fault JT came back early.
No, I mean, I should've
left a long time ago
before shit got so bad.
Then none of this would've happened,
so
yeah, it is my fault.
No one had to die.
Shanelle, you are strong.
I spent a few months dealing
with an emotionally abusive man
who tried to kill me,
and I had to go on antidepressants.
And I still have trouble
sleeping through the night.
What you have endured, I can't even
And Tanya, she's wrong. Okay?
We should not have to defend ourselves
against these insecure and unstable men.
It's not our responsibility.
I'm still trying to let go of the guilt
and the-the shame
and the responsibility for Damon.
But I've lived with it
for so long that I can't
Maybe we waited too long.
Mm-mm. I can't accept that.
Hard to let go? Yes. But impossible?
I can't, I can't live with that.
Listen, cannot be too late
because that means
you are not getting outta here.
You don't have to go back in there,
but I need you to know
that it is not too late.
If she doesn't come back,
this will be part of the story.
If she doesn't come back,
you don't have a story anyway.
If I shut these cameras down,
you couldn't set another interview
before the trial starts.
Wanna bet?
[PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING]
Shall we continue?
JT has given his time and money
to various charities.
His foundation has sent
over 200 high schoolers
to historically Black colleges
over the past decade.
So, was Bill Cosby.
You're comparing JT and Bill Cosby?
I'm saying, it shouldn't be a surprise
that people behave differently
when no one is watching.
JT was a master and he taught me
to be his little student.
When I first entered the league,
I didn't expect to find what I found.
Brotherhood, mentorship, and family.
I did not expect the league
to set me up for a life
that was better
after I walked off the field.
And it's all thanks to the man
that we are here celebrating today.
One of the most generous
and kind people I have ever met.
Jamarion Tucker.
[CHEERING]
I appreciate it.
Thank you all for being here.
I love you, baby.
I love you too.
["TWO WEEKS" BY FKA TWIGS PLAYING]
[SIGHS]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
[DOOR OPENS]
Lock the door.
[BOTH MOAN]
When are you leaving him?
Soon.
I can treat you better than her ♪
You say you're lonely ♪
I say you'll think about it ♪
Everyone keeps secrets.
Some hurt more than others.
[JT] You have no idea
how much this shit hurts
until the ketorolac kicks in.
Don't go.
Can you?
I need you 'til I fall asleep.
You know I'm sorry I hit you, right?
I just got mad because
you disappeared at the party and
that I was scared that maybe you
I thought you left me.
I didn't. I'm still here.
I know, and I appreciate you.
No one's ever gonna
love you as much as I do.
You know that, right?
[JT GASPS, WINCES]
I know it hurts ♪
You're high ♪
Imagine someone
putting your face through a wall
and then begging you
to take their pain away.
I don't know when I stopped believing
it wouldn't happen again.
I don't know when I stopped
recognizing myself.
And I don't know why I comforted him.
I I can't explain it.
I don't know.
But something did change, right?
You're here because
you finally reached a breaking point.
Did you defend yourself before?
What?
I'm trying to understand the difference
between the night you just described
and the day that JT died.
Why was that day different?
What were you two fighting about?
I don't understand.
Was it about the pregnancy?
- Hm?
- What pregnancy?
You weren't aware
that JT was having an affair
with a woman named Toni Holley?
This is a check from JT to Toni,
whom I think you know,
to pay for an abortion.
That's an understandable trigger.
- Toni? No.
- Yeah.
Well, then what was different
about that morning, Shanelle?
Okay, stop. We're done.
I have let you pick me apart for hours.
You have dissected
every single choice in one breath
and then asked to analyze
why JT was such a monster in the next.
Everyone wants to know
why bad people do bad things
at the expense of their victims.
What if this was JT's plan
from the beginning?
What if it was all
about power and control
and dominance
and exploiting my insecurities?
What if the salon wasn't a gift?
What if it was love bombing?
What if I was being slowly
and systematically stripped
of my humanity?
What if the proposal
was all about getting me to quit my job
to rob me of my independence?
I mean, when I think
back to that first trip,
he basically just parroted back
every insecurity I revealed.
I was chubby in high school,
and that was before
it wasn't cool to body shame.
Thank you
and for making me feel safe.
Maybe I had less choice than I thought
because his entire game
was to rob me of choice.
Now, I'm sure there are reasons
why JT was the way that he was,
but it is not my job to care
or to try to figure that out anymore.
[VOICE BREAKING] I will not
hold space to be responsible
for him anymore.
And if that is the gift
that I get for all of this torture
then it was worth it.
The only thing that I am guilty of
is choosing my life over his
for the first time.
Are we done?
Bringing up that
pregnancy was a low blow.
My producer confirmed it
during the interview.
You can't seriously think I was
gonna hold onto something like that
and not use it,
as soon as I had the chance.
When I got you this interview,
I thought you learned something
taking a step up in class,
but clearly I was wrong.
I actually learned a lot
from this interview with Shanelle.
I learned that I've been putting up
with this situationship
for longer than I ever should've.
Don't even try to compare me to JT.
I'm not comparing you to JT.
What I'm saying is that
when people show you who they are,
you believe 'em.
Oh. Corey already admonished me
for the pregnancy question.
You can save it.
The least you can do is
tell me where you got your information.
Asked and answered.
Jax, it was nice to meet you.
And, Corey, I would say
see you around, but I hope not.
Take care.
Oh.
So, exactly how long
have you been fucking her?
Wow!
Really, nigga?
[JAX SIGHS]
[SPENSER]
Like, his ass, like, crazy busted.
And my mom gonna go nuts, man.
But my dad,
he was kinda low-key with it.
Man, I-I just had to cap
and make it go down
the way I knew my dad would respect,
you know, for real though.
Seve ain't never gonna come at me
with that gay shit again.
Hang up the phone.
[SIGHS]
- You spying?
- [LEWIS] Yeah.
You lied about what happened?
- What, that kid hit on you or something?
- What?
No, man, he was on me about some,
"All dudes on Broadway are gay," so.
But why would that bother you?
Look, I [SIGHS]
Son, you have to know
there's nothing you can't tell us
and nothing that we wouldn't accept.
I know that, Dad. I ain't gay,
but I'm just so mad
because for some reason
people can't accept the fact
that I can play
basketball and do a play,
like that somehow makes me
something that I'm not,
like, I don't go around
judging people for what they do.
So, why are people all in my face
about what I wanna do?
You know, it's messed up.
But since when do you care
what other people think?
You can't let some kid's
simpleminded words make you mad.
Dad
it wasn't his words, it was yours.
I-I've been wanting
to do theater for a minute.
But I know my friends
and team wouldn't get it.
So, when I finally step up
to go after what I want,
guess who's the first person clowning?
S-Spenser, I-I did not
No, "tights and wigs"?
The only reason you would choose
a play over basketball
is for a girl, right?
Look, Seve said what he said, man.
But I wasn't hearing him in that moment.
I, I shouldn't've hit him.
I shouldn't've bragged about it,
but I just feel like
nobody's listening to me.
I-I Son, I hear you. Okay?
And I'm sorry.
Uh And I, and I need you to know
I didn't mean that any kinda way.
Would it be okay
if we talk about this later?
Yeah. Yeah.
I, uh, I made you a sandwich
if you're hungry.
[SIGHS]
Hi, Dr. Lennon.
Um, it's me, Jax Stewart.
No, no. I don't need
a refill for the lorazepam. Um
I was actually hoping
for something more long-term.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
Ooh, whiskey, no ice.
Work or kids?
One kid, Spenser.
He got suspended.
For what?
Some kid said some homophobic shit
and he, he punched him.
Are you serious?
No, that does not sound
like Spenser at all.
He wasn't hitting him.
He was hitting me.
Okay. How many of those have you had?
[LEWIS SIGHS]
I thought I was good.
I thought, I-I
I thought because I watched my brother
go through so much growing up
that I'd have no biases.
But I clowned my own son
for wanting to do theater
instead of play basketball.
Oh.
I-I did that when my dad
destroyed Terrence on the court
to the point of him being in tears
because Terrence needed to man up.
Like, this shit is inside of us
even if we think we beat it.
[JAX] Hm.
But, you know, the fact that you feel
what you feel right now is proof
that you're better than your father
and the generations before us
who did their best,
but definitely passed down
some fucked up shit.
What good is being a little better
when the bar is so low?
Hey, look at me.
The world would be better and safer
if we had more men like you.
How's Shanelle?
She's good.
Everything went great.
So now we just wait to see
if it moves the needle any.
[LEWIS] Hm.
Yeah.
Oh, but, yo. [CHUCKLES]
You know Hattie's mom, Toni, right?
- Toni? Yeah, I-I think Yeah.
- Yeah.
Well, look, apparently JT knocked her up
and brilliantly paid for the abortion
with a signed personal check.
Well, at least she took care of it.
Um, she didn't.
I was talking
to some of the moms at school
and Toni is definitely showing.
Damn.
That's crazy.
Yeah, it's the same thing I said.
- [DOORBELL DINGS]
- I couldn't believe it.
Oh, that's Daniel.
Yeah, I mean, it's like
how dumb can you be?
Surprise.
[DANIEL] This is who Adrian went to see
and clearly who he's working for.
Do we know who he is?
Adrian, I want you to meet
my new business manager.
Think the two of y'all should link up.
- Evan Gerrard.
- Adrian Hunter.
- Pleasure.
- Pleasure's all mine.
[EVAN] I hear you helped us out
a lot over the years.
JT's business manager?
[DANIEL] Mm-hm.
Adrian made a $10 million
cash deposit into an account
for Willgoose Avenue LLC,
whose name also appears under the deed
for this Evan Gerrard's
Scarface mansion.
So, this guy, Evan, has leverage
on Adrian, but how's JT involved?
Willgoose LLC is run by a trust
and the trustee is Jamarion Tucker.
Athletes get into real estate
using trusts
and dummy corporations all the time.
[DANIEL] Hm.
Two days before they die?
What are you thinking?
I don't know yet.
[JT] Oh, you really like this shit.
Deep down I know you do.
- I'm leaving, JT.
- [JT] Yeah?
That's what you always say.
Shit!
[OBJECTS CLATTER]
I'm done.
I have proof of what you do to me.
Oh, you plotting? You setting me up?
If you leave, you can't come back!
Everything in this house is mine!
You will have nothing!
[SOBBING] Fine.
I'll leave with nothing.
But I'm taking Natasha
and Jordan with me
because I'd rather die
than leave them here with you!
Fuck you talking about leaving?
[GROANS]
- [GRUNTS]
- Goddamnit!
[SHANELLE SCREAMING]
[SHANELLE EXCLAIMS]
[VOCALIZING]
You're on your own ♪
In a world you've grown ♪
You know everybody else ♪
You're alone now ♪
I'll wait ♪
So show me why you're strong ♪
Ignore everybody else ♪
You're alone now ♪
- Suddenly I'm here ♪
- [THUDS]
Is this darkness of the dawn ♪
And your friends all gone ♪
And your friends won't come ♪
So show me where you fit ♪
So show me where you fit ♪
I'll wait ♪
What if Shanelle's protecting
someone else?
Ignore everybody else ♪
- We're alone now ♪
- We're alone now ♪
I'll wait ♪
We're alone now, we're alone now ♪
I'll wait ♪
We're alone now, we're alone now ♪
We're alone now ♪
[SHANELLE] What have I done?
- [SLOW POP MUSIC PLAYING]
- [VOCALIZING]