All American (2018) s03e11 Episode Script

1 Labels.
You know why I hate them? Because as a society, we use them on each other way too much.
I mean, I've lived my whole life as a label.
You know, first it was the twin, and then the addict, and then there's my latest label, the D.
A.
's daughter But here's the thing about labels: Yes, they lend themselves to fun, cute hashtags.
- Hey, your food is comin' right up.
- SPENCER: Thanks.
MAN: Hey, man, you killed it during Homecoming game.
- They could not touch you! - SPENCER: I appreciate that.
Thank you.
Think I can get a selfie with sure-to-be MVP? Don't know about all that MVP stuff, but sure.
- [CAMERA CLICKS.]
- Thanks, man.
Right, right.
- [GIRLS GIGGLE.]
- SPENCER: Hey.
Oh, okay.
OLIVIA: But labels rarely give you the whole picture about a person, and the whole picture makes a difference.
[WHISTLE BLOWS.]
MAN: That bullet didn't slow him down.
Oh, no, not one bit, not one bit.
Yo, thanks for making the trip out here to see Spencer in person.
I appreciate that.
Hey, Texas Northern Tech doesn't play around when it comes to the right senior recruits, and right now, Spencer James is top of that list.
- BILLY: Yes, sir.
- MAN: Man.
If I had that kinda talent when I was his age, I wouldn't have known how to act.
Did you ever get that Chargers tattoo removed from your ass? Shoot, I wear it with pride.
- [BILLY CHUCKLES.]
- MAN: I do.
You know me.
Heh heh! - Times have changed.
- BILLY: Yeah.
These Cats have it mad easy now with social media and press coverage.
No more old-fashioned recruiting.
Now they out here makin' a viral name for themselves at 16.
Now, with that whole NCAA ruling on student-athletes and paid endorsements It's a whole new college ball game out there.
BILLY: What about the family? MAN: Everybody's good, you know.
- Got a little baby - SPENCER: What's good, coach? There he is.
Spencer James.
- This is Romelo - SPENCER: Barnum.
It's an honor to meet you, sir.
Your legacy looms large in these halls.
Look at that.
You made an impression on the field.
Uh, actually, I meant your senior-year prank against Inglewood.
Nobody's been able to top it since.
- ROMELO: Heh heh heh! - BILLY: Ooh.
Did they ever find that goat? I plead the fifth.
[BILLY AND SPENCER CHUCKLE.]
You always go that hard training, son? Yes, sir.
Game, practice it don't matter.
You show up, you give 150%.
All right, now.
I like that.
I'm lookin' forward to hearing more about this work ethic at our meeting today.
- SPENCER: Absolutely.
- ROMELO: All right.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
Is this really happening, coach? Man, you've been worried about recruiter interest all year.
Now you got it.
This is your chance.
Go get your dream, son.
[MEN GROANING AND LASER FIRE ON VIDEO GAME.]
You know, I heard vitamin D is really good for the human body, you know, like the real kind, like from the sun? [GRUNTING SOUND EFFECTS.]
- Jordan? - What? Dude, it's been, like, nearly two weeks of you in these same pajamas on the same couch in that same spot.
- Okay, and you care why? - Well, weren't you cleared for, like, light physical activity? I mean, I know it's not you back on the field with your helmet on, but, I mean, it's something.
Yeah, and playing Injustice 2 is my light physical activity, Liv.
Have you heard from Simone? No.
She's off the grid.
Mom snitched about our marriage to her parents before we had a chance to tell 'em ourselves, so I'm sure they've got her in a convent in Tanzania by now.
No, I'm sure they found a convent closer.
LAURA: There's no statute of limitations on a fraudulent marriage.
Well, I don't care what the cost is.
I just want this annulment expedited.
Yes, fine, I'll hold.
You do know I can hear you, right? - [DOOR CLOSES.]
- LAURA: You know what? - Just be quiet.
- BILLY: How's everybody doing? That good, huh? - I have a word? - I'm just I Can I have a word? [FOOTSTEPS RETREAT.]
[QUIETLY.]
So, okay, I know that you're angry with Jordan, and so am I, but do we really have to worry about this annulment thing, like, right now? Uh, our underage son got married in Vegas and lied about it.
- You bet your ass we do.
- BILLY: I'm just saying, can we maybe put a pin in it and focus on his recovery? - I'm getting him through his recovery.
- Okay.
But luckily, because I'm a woman, I am capable of multitasking.
LAURA: I am annulling the marriage.
[POP MUSIC PLAYING.]
MALE SINGER: Now let's just find a way Okay, um, Newton's second law of motion states that the acceleration of an object is dependent on what? Uh, the object's mass and the amount of force applied to the object? - Mm-mmm.
- Damn! I coulda swore I knew that one.
Man, I knew it! I was right.
- Girl, you cannot read.
- LAYLA: What? Oh.
Sorry, I totally read that wrong.
What's up with you? Nothing.
I'm just [SIGHS.]
Like, how did I miss that my best friend was struggling with her sobriety for months? - Because she hid it well? - LAYLA: Yeah, well, it's the second time - I've missed the signs.
- COOP: Hey, you've been there for her more than you're giving yourself credit for.
Not when it really counted.
So what you gonna do about it? I mean, look, all I know is guilt does nothin' but weigh you down, so you either got to find somethin' positive to do with it or let it go.
Sorry.
I feel like I'm wasting your time.
You should probably find a study partner who can actually read the right answers.
I'll see ya.
[FOOTSTEPS RETREAT.]
- [BOTH LAUGH.]
- DILLON: Okay, so we talkin' Halle Storm or Alexandra Shipp Storm? - GIRL: Who's Halle? - DILLON: Don't let my mom hear you say that.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
- GRACE: Hear who say what? Oh, hey, Mom.
No, Jasmyn's, uh, film education is seriously lacking.
I see.
- Nice to meet you, Jasmyn.
- JASMYN: You, too.
- You ready, Dillon? - Yep.
Are you waiting for someone? Yeah, my dad.
He's normally on time.
Must be traffic.
Oh.
Well, we'll wait here - with you until he gets here.
- [JASMYN CHUCKLES.]
GRACE: So, how was comic book camp? Awesome! Dillon's "King Crenshaw" comic is gonna be so good.
- [JASMYN CHUCKLES.]
- GRACE: Oh.
I told you.
He's here.
Hey, baby.
I'm sorry I'm late.
Principal Carter.
Ms.
James.
Hey, Dad.
JABARI: Yo, all I'm askin' is who names their child Romelo on purpose? NHANI: Heh! Wait, wait, wait.
Isn't TNT's program known as "The bad boys of football"? I mean are there a lot of flags on the play? JABARI: Yes.
Big personalities? Yes.
[CHUCKLES.]
Unrefined arrogance? Yes.
They're a championship-winning team and a pipeline to the NFL, which is the goal.
I can't let the next 24 hours pass without lockin' down an offer.
Haven't other recruiters been hovering these last couple weeks? Hoverin', yeah, but no actual offers, not since the shootin'.
Look, I need this.
Dawg, you're the hottest player in south L.
A.
right now.
That recruiter took his bye week to fly in and meet you.
Come on, Spence.
You got this on lock.
NHANI: Maybe semi-lock.
OLIVIA: Well, that's what he gets for being a misogynist.
Oh, you damn straight.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
- JOY: Mmm.
So, how you doing? I'm good.
Yeah.
Let's try that again.
Tough morning.
No real reason.
Just, um You know, it's just harder to fight the urge to want to take something.
Mm-hmm.
That's okay.
Our sobriety is a "one day at a time" kinda thing.
I know.
But the good part is you're being honest, even on your hard days.
That's progress, Liv.
That kind of sounded like a compliment.
- It did not.
Me? - Mm-hmm.
Yeah, it did.
- [LAUGHING.]
- What's wrong with me? - [CHUCKLES.]
- Um, well, I should probably head out because I have to Well, my friend Kia is organizing a flower vigil for Tamika Pratt.
Yeah.
You know, whenever I think about those damn cops still bein' on the job, it just makes my blood boil.
Yeah, mine, too, although I'm hoping, you know, covering the event for "Liv The Truth" will help raise awareness.
Good But I need you to pace yourself because sometimes fixating on solving other people's problems to avoid your issues, that can be an addiction, too.
- You understand? - OLIVIA: Yeah.
JOY: Okay.
Hey.
Hey.
- JOY: Hey! - SPENCER: Hey.
Hey.
My favorite student-athlete.
I hear that your arm and your football career are back - on track, so congrats.
- SPENCER: Thank you.
Thanks for everything you did at the hospital, too.
Oh.
Hey, you heard from Jordan? I keep getting one-word replies every time I check in on him.
No, he's in a funk we can't seem to get him out of, so I should get to work.
I'll keep on him.
Okay, next coffee, I want all the tea on you two.
- No.
- And before you even try to deny it, I have eyes.
[PERSISTENT KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Yeah, hold on.
Why are you here? Good to see you, too.
- Your dad texted me.
- [JORDAN GRUNTS.]
- [JORDAN SIGHS.]
- JJ: Big J.
What's up, brother? [SIGHS.]
My dad text you, too? Uh, nah, Spence called, but I was gonna swing by anyway.
Well, newsflash, gentlemen, I'm fine.
So you can both report in and close my door on the way out.
Thanks.
I was gonna hit the field, do some light passing drills or somethin'.
Why don't you join? - No, I'm good.
- Aw, come on, man.
Hey, I'll even join, too, huh? It'll be good, get that body back in shape.
JJ, why don't you focus on getting your body back in shape and, I don't know, figure out how to not to suck so bad as QB1 so we don't lose another game? Damn.
[VIDEO-GAME LASERS FIRING.]
Yo, dude, what the hell? [SIGHS.]
Hmm.
Oh, if you want this back, uh, it'll be on the field with me and Asher.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
I believe the term "abolish" in the declaration of independence means eliminate, not change.
Negro, can you, uh, make some noise next time you approach? - Lucky guess.
- PREACH: Hey, listen, if you want to stay alive while locked up, you learn to study people and how they relate to each other, to the cages they're in, how they repeat patterns.
I mean, that's basically what social studies is.
And here I thought you only read that creepy Greek mythology stuff.
This right here is your strongest muscle.
You keep that exercised, they can't stop us.
Hey, man, look, you know I really need to pass this G.
E.
D.
to accelerate the music thing.
- I need a tutor.
- PREACH: What the hell I look like, Joe Clark? Man, don't be ridiculous.
You and Morgan Freeman don't look nothin' alike.
What if I paid you, in cash? You got bills to pay, right? And I know it's been hard tryin' to get a job since you got out.
This could be a win for both of us.
MO: I'm just stating the facts.
If there was nothing to hide, the bodycam footage would have been released already - [DOOR OPENS.]
- and the officers arrested.
- Until that happens - LAURA: Hey, honey.
- There is no justice.
- [TV CLICKS OFF.]
How was, uh, coffee with Joy? Tamika's investigation is being handled through your office, right? "Coffee was great, Mom.
Thanks for asking".
Yes, we are handling things and no, I cannot discuss it with you.
Well, I'm just saying that if the D.
A.
did want to make a statement, it doesn't get much easier than chatting with your daughter for her podcast.
Olivia, don't even joke about it.
This investigation is very delicate.
I can't be perceived to have any conflict of interest.
Yeah, no.
Of of course.
I will keep your name out of it, I promise.
[MUMBLING INDISTINCTLY.]
Can I give you a hand? Uh, I can manage.
Oh, I never said that you couldn't.
Thank you for waiting with Jasmyn earlier.
I'm normally never late.
Jasmyn's an impressive young lady.
Must get it from her mom.
Yeah she does.
That was a joke.
[CHUCKLES.]
Yeah, I I know.
Her her mother passed away last year.
Oh, God.
I'm sorry.
I didn't know.
It's okay.
I'm I'm getting used to saying it.
But Jasmyn, she still has a tough time, and my sister who was helping us out, she just moved to Seattle a few weeks ago, so I think Jas is havin' a hard time with that, too.
I'm sorry.
You you didn't sign up for a whole therapy session.
Oh Heh! Trust me.
If there's anybody who understands navigating kids through tough transitions, it's me.
I'm sorry to hear about your wife.
I appreciate that.
You know, I thought Jas and I had finally found our rhythm, but it just seems like the more I try to connect, the more she just pushes me away.
She's adjusting to a lot.
Maybe double down on the extra quality time with her, remind her you'll always be here.
Yeah.
[SNIFFS.]
[MUSIC PLAYING.]
ROMELO: Sure I can't get you anything? No, I'm good.
Thank you.
All right, so talk to me, son.
I'm sure you got mad questions about TNT's program.
Uh, I guess I'm just curious as to why TNT didn't show me no interest last year.
I was one of the top players in the country.
Fair question.
Well, I'll give it to you straight.
- Okay.
- Last year, you weren't a good fit for us.
Heh! I'm the same player I was before.
Turns out we had you all wrong off the field.
It all clicked for me after your shooting.
Heh! Y'all want me 'cause I got shot? I want you because you have an edge that TNT likes in its players.
That edge, that "Take no prisoners" kinda attitude that's what we need when our back is up against the wall in the fourth quarter.
I ain't a part of no gang, and that shooting was an isolated incident.
Doesn't matter.
What matters is the image I can take back to my bosses at TNT and sell.
"Bad Boy" Spencer James? Now that's an image I can package.
You know, for someone you not friends with no more, you deep in his business.
Man, whatever.
Why don't you mind your business and explain this comparative government stuff to me in a way that I can understand? - I been trying.
- Well, try harder, okay? 'Cause I only got a few more minutes before I got to be at the flower vigil.
ROMELO: You also need more of a social media presence.
Now, that's where the game and the fame plays out these days.
We can help fix that, unofficially, of course.
- Fix it how? - TNT can help you build a profile befitting a TNT star athlete, hook you up with the folks at Instagram, - help you get those endorsements, you know? - SPENCER: Yeah, I know.
Create some real buzz around #BadBoySpencerJames.
I just want to play football.
And I'm tellin' you how we get you there.
I'm actually, uh, late for a vigil.
My bad.
I'mma have to head out.
You mind if I think on what you just said? Yeah.
Uh, son, your, uh, social justice thing is commendable.
Just don't let it get in the way of your NFL dreams.
You really want to help your people? Achieve the dream.
MALE SINGER: Cocoa butter kisses wipe my tears away Hey.
Where is everybody? I thought there'd be a bigger crowd.
[SIGHS.]
Sadly, this was pretty much what I expected.
The cries of injustice around black women's murders are always so much quieter: Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, Rem'mie Fells.
Sadly, I could go on for days with that list.
MO: Kia, I think the family's ready to get started.
- All right, let's do it.
The stage is ready.
- MO: Okay.
Oh, Mo, this is my friend, Olivia Baker.
She's gonna be covering our event on her podcast.
Oh, that's right.
The D.
A.
's daughter.
Does your mother know you're here? She does.
I listen to your podcast, and it's kids like you and Kia that give me hope for this next generation.
'Scuse us.
SINGER: She's a queen from another place Why are you so displaced? She's a goddess walking on earth NAVEAH: My cousin Tamika is so much more than just a hashtag.
She was my rock, the one person I can call in time of need, and she'd always have my back, no questions asked.
If she cared about you which, let's face it, applies to everyone in her life she always kept it 100, no matter how much that truth might have stung.
Tamika, today we give you flowers because the cops who murdered you robbed us of the opportunity to do so in person, and by blatantly hiding the bodycam footage, they're robbing you of justice.
My beautiful black women, these flowers are also for you.
They're here to say we love you, we see you, and we will always protect you.
[APPLAUSE.]
[APPLAUSE ABATES.]
Wakin' up believin' the world is our oyster, lovin' life as we stroll down the street, walkin' like we got clouds under our feet, daydreamin' of the goliaths we know we can defeat.
That's what Tamika deserved a future full of possibilities, like fallin' in love over the dopest conversation, makin' it to her college graduation or, shoot, just making it to another morning salutation.
That's what Tamika deserved a world that loved her as beautiful and as black as she was, not a police system that judged and failed her, not a grown man with a badge and a gun that was scared of her.
The acknowledgement of - the brilliance that was her - KIA: You okay? COOP: That's what Tamika deserved.
That's what all of us black women deserve because our love, despite what it endures, our bodies continue to nurture and reassure; our minds, our strength the constant cure, so a "thank you" is what Tamika deserved.
The poems, the praises, the flowers those are all gifts that should have been left at her feet, not a bullet and confusion as she dared to sleep.
This is why we're all here today, because her story is not complete.
Justice is what she deserves, and until she gets it, we're gonna fight.
Right here in these streets, we gonna fight.
And I want y'all to take your flower and raise it up in the air right now if you feelin' me.
[OLIVIA SIGHS.]
Nope, don't do that.
Don't compare.
You and Tamika are different.
Am I that obvious? You're that hard on yourself.
You know, the truth is is that we're not that different.
We're both young black women, we both drank, we both drove, and, I mean, the only difference is that Tamika had the good sense to pull over and try to sleep it off, and I just kept driving until I crashed.
- I know.
- And because I'm the white D.
A.
's daughter, the cops offered me a ride home, and Tamika got a death sentence.
[VOICE BREAKING.]
How is that fair? It's not.
- It's not fair.
- It's not fair, and it's also not your fault that you're alive and Tamika isn't.
Yeah, well Tamika isn't alive to fight for her own justice but I am.
I owe that to her.
[CHUCKLES.]
Uh, all right, enough with this suspense.
What's what happened with Spencer? He's a smart kid, who's going to overthink himself out of this opportunity.
- What do you mean? - You need to convince him to lean into whatever image is gonna get him the offer from TNT.
Whatever image Spencer leans into is gonna follow him into the NFL and for the rest of his life.
And he can thank me for it when he lands his first pro contract.
Look, I know what players you usually go for at TNT.
Your interest in Spencer made me think you were cleaning up your act.
I mean, times have changed.
The NFL is changing.
The league needs somebody like Spencer James.
Come on, Billy.
Now, you know damn well ain't nothin' really changed.
Yes, everyone is busy apologizing to Kap now, but has anyone actually offered him his spot back in the league? [HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING.]
MALE SINGER: I'll sit back and DILLON: Jasmyn's here.
Can I say hey? All around town, can't tame us but can you blame us? Hey.
- JASMYN: Hey.
- DILLON: Oh, hey.
- [GRACE CHUCKLES.]
- CARTER: Hey.
- Hey.
- Third time in one day.
At this point, we might as well sync calendars.
Heh! Actually, this stop was kinda impromptu.
Jas bailed on the cool party, so I figured I'd take you up on your advice and do the whole quality-time thing.
- How's it goin'? - It's okay, you don't count her grumpiness and the fact that she didn't want to eat anything.
Apparently she has a stomachache again.
It's kinda been an issue all week.
Dad, seriously? What? What'd I say? Excuse me.
[SCOFFS.]
- CARTER: Jas.
- [JASMYN SCOFFS.]
DILLON: Um, what just happened? Baby, can you go check on my tea? SINGER: I'm down here smilin' in the booth Reminiscin' 'bout late-night dedication See what I mean? Have you had the talk with her yet about menstrual cycles? I'm almost positive your daughter started her period this week, and she's probably too embarrassed to talk to you about it.
[SIGHS.]
The pool party, the mood swings, the stomachaches.
Oh, my God.
How did I miss it? Uh, because you're human, and you're a man.
- You - I could go talk to her.
No, no, no, no.
I I got it.
I'm I'm actually prepared.
I I got powerpoint, I got flash cards.
I'm I'm ready.
- Okay.
- You think Janelle Monae's "Pynk" is too much? Uh maybe just start with the talk, you know? See how that goes.
SPENCER: I don't know, man.
Maybe Coach Barnum's right.
I'm runnin' outta time and options.
I mean, the goal was to get in the door, right, whatever it takes? Yeah, just make sure you can look yourself in the mirror each morning.
All I know is there's a lot of potential money on the line with this new NCAA rule.
I don't fully understand it all yet, but any chance to provide for Moms is a chance I gotta take.
- [BILLY SIGHS.]
- [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
[DROPS PAMPHLET.]
[SIGHS.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
- Hey.
What's up, man? - JORDAN: Hey, uh, sorry for just showin' up.
- Hey, Dad.
- BILLY: Hey.
Glad to see you made it up off the couch.
- [DOOR CLOSES.]
- JORDAN: Yeah, um, am I - interrupting something or - BILLY: No, no, no.
Y'all, uh, y'all kick it.
I'll, uh, - I can talk to you later.
- SPENCER: All right.
- BILLY: All right, young man.
- JORDAN: Okay.
Okay, seriously, what what did I just interrupt? Naw.
No, man, you good.
[SIGHS.]
So what's up? - How you been? - JORDAN: Not great.
TNT.
They are some beasts.
- Yeah.
- I didn't think you were considering Texas schools.
I wasn't, till one of their recruiters came to town, sorta made me an offer.
- JORDAN: What? - SPENCER: Heh! Yeah.
Dude, that's that's awesome! Wait.
Why why didn't you tell me? I don't know, man.
I didn't want to throw it in your face with everything you got goin' on, not bein' able to play.
Listen, Spence, I don't need everyone tiptoeing around me.
We don't know what you need, J.
You're not talkin' to nobody.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
How did you do it, Spence? Whenever you thought you would never play again, how how did you deal? I mean, one minute, I'm I'm ridin' high in the middle of my Homecoming game, and the next Everything just went to hell so fast.
You take it day by day.
You feel what you feel and then you keep it movin'.
You can't focus on the uncertainty, man.
You got to get up and remind yourself that your life ain't over, you feel me? [SCOFFS, SIGHS.]
Um [DROPS PAMPHLET.]
Look, man, I'm I'm sorry that I made you feel like you couldn't share your dope news with me.
You know, whatever happens with me and football, I'm always gonna celebrate my boy's wins.
I know.
[SLAP HANDS, SNAP FINGERS.]
[SNIFFS, EXHALES.]
Damn.
I just realized.
I owe somebody else an apology and a celebration.
[RUBS PALMS TOGETHER.]
Hey.
- You stalking me? - Well, it's not hard.
You're literally always either here or in the studio these days.
Um, I'm sorry for leaving you without a study partner today.
I just had to clear my head, but clearly, you found a strategy - that works better than me.
- COOP: Uh, no.
Actually, the notecards were Preach's idea.
Huh.
Okay.
Who'd have thought? say the dream starts now, that means my path to Is that also Preach's idea? No.
This is just somethin' Spencer needs right now.
Wait.
I'm I'm so confused.
I thought we were still, like, a Spencer-free zone.
We are.
That friendship is in the past, but that don't mean all the carin' just magically vanished.
Yeah, tell me about it.
I realized today at Tamika's vigil that I don't want the last thing that's shared between me and Spencer to be anger.
Me doin' him this solid just allows our friendship to rest in peace.
[JABARI SIGHS.]
So nobody else is pissed off that coach calls us in for an impromptu practice? I'm still tryin' to figure out why we not on the field.
BILLY: Here they are.
- Hey, what's goin' on, coach? - Go ahead, now.
Have a seat.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Welcome to financial literacy 101.
- JABARI: What? - BILLY: Listen up.
Now, the difference between the haves and the have nots in this world usually comes down to financial literacy.
Well, the same holds true in the world of football.
Uh, it used to be that players didn't think they needed to know this stuff until it was time for the pros.
But now the game's changed with college athletes, and I want to make sure that you guys are protected; protected and prepared.
The last thing I want is for you guys to make mistakes because you don't have enough money or, even worse, you don't understand money.
There are people out there that can smell that, and they will take advantage of you.
And I'll be damned if I, uh, have anybody treatin' you like that, so knowledge is power.
I'm gonna give you that knowledge here, every Saturday, for the next 6 weeks.
Pass these out.
[GRACE AND DILLON CHUCKLE.]
Boom, boom! Oh, you are savage.
How you gonna just jump me like that? That's the whole point of the game, baby.
Get your checkers crowned so you can make some moves, too.
- [CHUCKLING.]
- DILLON: Okay.
All right.
- GRACE: Ha ha ha ha! - [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
GRACE: And don't forget, I have eyes in the back of my head, so don't try anything.
Principal Carter.
A gift for today.
CARTER: I, um well, you were right.
- GRACE: I'm always right.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Uh, that is very sweet, but very unnecessary.
I have a daughter who's on video chat with her friends right now, talkin' about how dope her dad is, so they are very necessary.
Uh, well, thank you.
Yeah, well, look at us.
You do realize we're goin' on almost 24 hours without fighting? Oh, there's still time.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Heh! Yeah.
I guess you're right.
- GRACE: Ha ha! SPENCER: Oh, for real.
We're gonna have to get him a second-grade math book.
- [ALL CHUCKLE.]
- [PHONE VIBRATES.]
Hey, I'll catch up with y'all.
- JABARI: Yeah.
- NHANI: All right.
So this is the dream.
I'm Spencer James, and my dream is to play in the NFL, so when I say the dream starts now, that means my path to greatness starts now.
That means putting work both on and off the field.
That means making Varsity by ninth grade.
It means being a real player and caring for my teammates as much as the game.
It means being the best I can be in my heart, soul, and mind because when that's not right, then the rest don't matter.
GIRL: I know that's right.
Say it with your whole chest, Spence.
We dreamin' big, baby! Shh, Coop! We're recording.
I'm Spencer James, and that's my dream, and the dream starts now.
[LINE RINGS.]
You have the Tamika footage.
How can you not release it? - Olivia - Don't! Don't hide behind your whole "I can't discuss active" whatever.
She wasn't much older than me.
She could have been me.
- I understand you're upset, but - There's no "but".
I did far worse than Tamika, and I got to walk away! Are you going to listen to me? There is not a day that goes by that I don't grieve for Tamika and her family, but hear me when I say this to you: Your situation with the cops and Tamika's were very, very different.
Well, I guess we'll never know because you and the cops won't release the footage.
But, hey, at least your daughter's safe at home.
Tamika's mother can't say the same.
ROMELO: All right, son.
You ready to be in business with TNT? With all due respect, sir the question is, is TNT ready to be in business with Spencer James? Look, if y'all want me, you gotta take me the way I am.
I'm not a gangbanger, and I'm not a social justice warrior.
I'm just me, and the kid who worked his way back to peak performance after getting shot, the kid who took a bullet for his friend, the same kid who convinced the school board to give South Crenshaw another chance.
That's the kid TNT should want on their field in the fourth quarter with their backs up against the wall.
[ROMELO SIGHS.]
I got to talk it over with the bosses at TNT.
Maybe the offer will come, maybe it won't.
- BILLY: And we're okay with that.
- ROMELO: But I respect the hell outta the stand you just took, son.
[PATS SPENCER'S BACK TWICE.]
NAVEAH: My cousin Tamika is so much more than just a hashtag.
Tamika, today we give you flowers because the cops who murdered you robbed us of the opportunity to do so in person.
COOP: A world that loved her as beautiful and as black as she was, not a police system that judged and failed her.
The acknowledgement of the brilliance that was her that's what Tamika deserved.
My cousin Tamika is so much more than just a hashtag.
[KNOCK ON DOOR.]
- Hey.
- Layla.
Hi.
Sorry.
I didn't want to interrupt anything.
I just wanted to drop something off.
Um, I'm now's not really a good time.
I kind of have a lot going on and I just I have to finish editing this reel on the flowers for Tamika event.
I'll be quick.
Just Um, you gave that back to me when you were at your lowest and really needed help, and I totally missed what you were trying to tell me and no amount of sorry is ever gonna make up for that, but I stand by what I said the day I gave it to you.
Your courage inspires me, and your courage helped me fight for my own recovery, and that's how I know you're gonna keep fighting for yours.
A good friend told me that guilt does nothing but weigh you down, that you gotta find something positive to do with it or just let it go.
TREY SONGZ: How many mothers have to cry? OLIVIA: Labels.
SONGZ: How many brothers gotta die? OLIVIA: You know why I hate them? Because, as a society, we use them on each other way too much.
I mean, I've lived my whole life as a label.
You know, first it was the twin.
- SONGZ: How many more lives? - OLIVIA: And then - the addict.
- SONGZ: How many more times? OLIVIA: And then there's my latest label - the D.
A.
's daughter.
- SINGER: Take a look around - OLIVIA: Where is it? - SONGZ: Can you see it now? OLIVIA: But here's the thing about labels.
SONGZ: 'Cause when they killin' mine - OLIVIA: Yes, they lend themselves - to fun, cute hashtags, but labels rarely give you the whole picture about a person, and the whole picture makes a difference.
Man, can't believe that little punk Carter ended up back here.
He ain't so little anymore.
And now you gotta report to him? [SCOFFS.]
Yeah.
After that ass-whuppin' you gave him before Homecoming in ninth grade? [CHUCKLING.]
Man, Karma is a bitch.
So so then that fight really happened? It wasn't really a fight.
Heh! You had him pinned up against the locker.
Busted his lip pretty damn good.
Heh! No one knew what got into you.
It was like you just snapped.
Hey, hold up.
You really don't remember? OLIVIA: The whole picture is the only way to the truth.
OLIVIA: The whole picture is the only way to real accountability.
JJ: What's up with the urgent summons? Had to make sure y'all would come.
ASH: Well, we did.
What's so important? - An apology.
- It's all good, man.
No, it's not, all right? You're QB1 Heh! which is frickin' huge, and I should have celebrated that, so Congratulations, man.
We're gonna make it to state with you.
With both of you, and, um, you know, I'mma do my part, too, from, uh, from from the sideline, - so - ASH: Hey What are we waiting for? SONGZ: Where your rage while my people die? We ain't slaves, let my people fly Now it's time, watch my people rise How many mothers have to cry? Keep that spiral tight.
SONGZ: How many brothers gotta die? - How many more times? - BACKGROUND SINGERS: Ooh, how JJ: Ha ha ha! - SONGZ: How many more times? - JORDAN: Atta boy.
Lets do it.
- OLIVIA: The whole picture - SONGZ: How many more times? OLIVIA: is the only way to really start the healing.
- How many more times? - Ooh, how? - How many more lives? - Ooh, how? - How many more times? - How many times? How many mothers have to cry? Tell me, how many brothers gotta die? Tell me, how many more times? - Ooh, how? - Oh, lord - How many more times? - How many times? OLIVIA: So forget #TamikaPratt.
Forget #IamTamika.
Forget the labels.
We need the whole picture - How many more times? - How many - So here it is.
- times? [POLICE RADIO, INDISTINCT.]
MAN: Wake up, ma'am.
I said wake up! - TAMIKA: What? - MAN: I need you - to get out of the car.
- TAMIKA: I just want to - I'm just trying to sl - MAN: Come on.
I'm not gonna ask again! Let's go! - I just want to call my cousin.
- Come on! - [BOTH GRUNTING.]
- TAMIKA: Why can't I go home? MAN: Stop fighting us! You're only hurting yourself! TAMIKA: I just want to sleep! I'm tired! - [GRUNTS.]
- Naveah will get me! - Please! Let me call her! - MAN: You heard me! - Aah! - Will y'all learn, huh? TAMIKA: Sleeping on the side of the road is not a crime! - Stop resisting! - I just want to sleep! - Get off of me! - [MAN GRUNTS.]
- TAMIKA: Get off of me! - [TWO GUNSHOTS.]
[CLICK.]
Tamika was a 21-year-old girl from south L.
A.
, only child of Rosanna and Lashawn Pratt.
She was a cousin A godmother A friend.
She dreamt of being an engineer and was headed back to Spelman this fall But she never made it there because the cops, who are meant to serve and protect, saw her as a "y'all", as less than.
And my label, as the white D.
A.
's daughter, likely saved my life in a similar run-in.
[SNIFFLES.]
But her label, as just another black woman in America, cost Tamika hers, and that is unacceptable.
Policing in this country evolved from slave patrols.
It never was and it never will be neutral.
[SNIFFLES.]
There has to be a better way to serve and protect.
I mean, there has to be a better system that allows us to make mistakes and still get to live, and it's time to fight for that better system.
It is time to burn down the house and rebuild it to look like the non-punitive programs, the community-based violence prevention programs, mental health programs, education.
Education, education, education.
It's time to defund the police and it's time to really get justice for Tamika.
MAN: Greg, move your head!