Power Book III: Raising Kanan (2021) s04e03 Episode Script
Bygones
1
[UPBEAT HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
[RAQ] Previously on Raising Kanan
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
I'm raising your prices 20%.
Can't just drop a increase
on me like that.
I can. And I just did.
That is my nephew. What did he do?
Drop them drawers.
Found some cookies for dessert.
Thanks, Uncle Marvin.
Why did you faint, though?
Your grandmother has kidney cancer.
I don't know what's worse,
facing death or facing my kids.
Where's Chalmers going?
[DANNON] Dishonorable discharge.
They found some faggot
magazines in his footlocker.
[JUKEBOX]
I couldn't be myself in there.
And I'm not lying about
who I am, not for nobody.
Got a hip-hop imprint.
I want you to run it.
[LOU-LOU] You only got one
artist that got that realness.
B-Rilla. Tell me you ready to work.
I'll get you out of here
by the end of the day.
You get me out of here
by the end of the day,
I'll tell you whatever
the fuck you want.
[STEFANO] I got this bookie in Corona.
He doesn't respond well
to constructive criticism.
So you want me to try
destructive criticism.
[GUNSHOTS]
[BARNES] A mole inside
the Bureau informs me
that both you and Marvin were observed
separately meeting with Mr. Marchetti
earlier this week.
- My Marvin?
- I assumed you knew.
We gonna cut the starting
hourly for new guys.
Got it, and our inventory is
getting real tight.
You got a damn superpower
at the moment, man.
You invisible.
This bitch think I'm dead.
I ain't never been more fucking alive.
[GRUNTS]
[SILENCED GUNSHOTS]
♪
[RILEYY] I'm a hustler, baby
I'm a hustler, baby ♪
[50 CENT] Yeah, I know
Heartbreaks, setbacks ♪
Bitch, if I crap out
I'm sure I'ma get back ♪
I been through the ups and
Downs, you know I get around ♪
So to me
It's all a part of the game ♪
If I ain't the coke man
Or the dope man ♪
I'm almost for sure, man
I got to take it ♪
No need to say shit
I'm gon' take it ♪
Robberies turned homicide
It's nothin' to play with ♪
Make money Make, make, make money ♪
When shit hit the fan
We'll take money, Southside ♪
Beef with the best of 'em ♪
Done shot At the rest of 'em, yeah ♪
Checks, I'm collectin' 'em ♪
Check, boy I'm finessin' 'em ♪
Bag Supreme Boy, you fuck around ♪
Put a big bag on your head ♪
Before the weather break
You're dead ♪
Let's get to it, they
Don't do it like we do it ♪
Nah, cop it, whip it
Bag it, flip it ♪
Re-up, we up G'd up, what up? ♪
Runnin' round this bitch
Still not givin' a fuck, hey ♪
When it come to that paper
There'll be no complications ♪
Ha ha. That's right.
Put a hole in a nigga
Right in front of you ♪
Your heartbeat pacin' ♪
[RILEYY AND 50 CENT]
And it's all right ♪
[50 CENT] That's how
We do it on this side ♪
Niggas get to it On this side ♪
I know heartbreaks Setbacks ♪
Bitch, if I crap out
I'm sure I'ma get back ♪
I been through the ups and
Downs, you know I get around ♪
So to me
It's all a part of the game ♪
If I ain't the coke man
Or the dope man ♪
I'm almost for sure, man
I got to take it ♪
No need to say shit
I'm gon' take it ♪
Robberies turned homicide
It's nothin' to play with ♪
Hey, hey ♪
[RILEYY VOCALIZING]
[DOG BARKING]
[SPEAKING CANTONESE]
[SPEAKING CANTONESE]
Y'all forgot about me
real fucking fast.
[RICHARD] Unique.
We thought we heard
[SPEAKING CANTONESE]
Shut the fuck up, bitch.
[SUNNY WHIMPERING]
Move.
Come on.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
Fill that shit up.
♪
[GUN COCKS]
[SIGHS]
[SUNNY] That is everything.
Now go.
Please.
That ain't everything yet.
Question: Raq dick taste
sweet or sour?
Duck sauce, soy sauce.
- [LAUGHS]
- [RICHARD] We're very sorry.
We're very, very sorry.
- Please, no!
- [SUNNY SCREAMS]
[SILENCED GUNSHOTS]
♪
[GROWN KANAN] A lot of niggas
get in the game
thinking they can
make their fast money
and then dip the fuck out.
But that ain't how
this shit works, nigga.
Ain't no half steps.
When you in, you all the way in.
And when you out, you're gonna be
all the fucking way out too.
You ain't stopped eating
since you been home, girl.
Army keeps you mad hungry.
No Lucky Charms
or Slim Jims in the mess.
Your ass would wash out the first day.
Yo, speaking of all that,
what you want me to say
to these Army motherfuckers
when they get here?
'Cause they about to be
up in the spot.
It's all good.
I'm gonna handle 'em.
I hear they take
the AWOL shit real serious.
I take shit serious too.
Yeah.
Yo, fuck that Army
and they white man wars.
You smart, Juke.
You need to go back to school
or get up
on that education-type shit.
Put your head to work.
Make that real money.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
I-I got it.
Private Thomas?
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
[DOOR CLICKS]
[LAUGHS]
Thank you, baby.
Those pills fighting the cancer?
I thought you understood, Kanan.
I'm done fighting like that.
[KANAN] What you mean, done?
Dr. Hannom said there's still
something you could do.
That's not what he said, baby.
He said nothing I do
will change anything.
The cancer's everywhere, Kanan.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
But I'm here now, though.
On my own terms.
In my own way.
I'm a bad motherfucker, grandson.
I thought you knew.
And if you don't know, you better
- Ask somebody.
- Uh huh.
[KANAN CHUCKLES]
Yeah, Grandma. I know who you are.
Believe that.
Everybody need to
see you before you
before.
They wanted to know how I am,
they'd come around,
check on me.
But they don't.
And I am not gonna go crying to them.
Grandma, it's not about crying.
It's about being real
to each other, for each other.
That's something we don't do
in this family.
If Raq been more honest with me,
maybe things would be different
between me and her now.
She's still your mother, Kanan,
and my daughter.
No matter what she done
or hasn't done,
you still need to show her respect.
♪
But maybe it is past time for me to
be real with everyone,
including myself.
Absences without leave
are a serious violation,
Private Thomas.
They threaten morale.
And they go against the very fabric
of the United States
Armed Services' commitment
to our country and each other.
That's why they carry
such severe punishment.
Punishment for what?
I tried it. Wasn't for me.
You swore an oath to your country,
and you've broken it.
She didn't break shit.
And she didn't hurt nobody.
Sergeant Healy and I are here
as a courtesy
to Private Thomas.
We could have turned her case
over to military police.
All I need is that
entry-level separation,
and I'm good.
Entry-level separations
are only granted
after an official review
and a submission
of the appropriate documentation.
We follow a strict process
in the Army, Private Thomas,
one which you blatantly, purposefully,
and willfully ignored.
I'm gay.
Where do I put that
in all your documentation?
Matter of fact,
why don't you send over them MPs,
and I can get me a lawyer
and say what I need to say
to some judge?
♪
[BOTH WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY]
You're letting down your country.
It's a'ight.
My country's let down me
and mines plenty of times too.
Word.
We're gonna grant
you entry-level separation.
But I hope you're
not proud of yourself.
And I hope you're not
proud of yourself neither.
[DOOR SLAMS]
[DOOR SLAMS]
Yo, wake up, man.
Yo!
Get up.
Man, what the fuck is your problem?
My problem is, you still here, nigga.
You told me you was gonna be
posting up at your cousin's.
That ain't gonna work out after all.
My cousin started smashing some bitch,
got three kids.
They all at his crib.
Ain't no room for me over there.
No room for you here either, nigga.
When I came and got you out the joint,
you ain't said shit to me about
providing you room and board.
That ain't part of the deal, Rilla.
That's 'cause it ain't no deal.
Not no real one.
That advance wasn't 'bout shit.
And all the rest of my money
is based off future sales.
I ain't got nowhere to go
'cause I ain't got
nothing in my pocket, Lou.
Well, we gonna have to talk to Lowell
and figure that shit out.
'Cause I ain't in the market
for a new roommate.
Till then, clean up your shit.
Thank you.
[SIGHS]
♪
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
[COP] Help you with something?
Um
just rolling through for my number 37.
What happened?
[RAQ] So nobody saw nothing.
It was late. They were closing up.
We'll post up security
at the other restaurants.
I mean, motherfuckers hit one,
they might think
they can hit all of 'em.
I'll reach out to Uncle Irwin.
Yo. They was his family.
Yeah, he gon' be in a bad way.
Yo, speaking of family, though,
I'm thinking I might know
the motherfucker behind this.
Caught Richard's nephew
swiping my shit.
Put him out on his ass.
Probably came back for more.
[RAQ] You gotta be 100%
on this, Marvin,
'cause Uncle Irwin ain't the only fam
we fucking with here.
Quan is also in the mix.
Richard is his wife's cousin.
And shit with him complicated
enough before all of this.
Well, let me go see what's what.
André said the feds
watching Stefano's shop.
Okay.
He said they saw you
walking out of there
a couple days ago, alone.
They bullshitting
or got me confused
with some other nigga.
They know who you are, Marvin.
I don't think they're confused.
Then they lying,
just like they always do.
Fucking with us just so
we start looking sideways.
♪
Go roll up on Richard
and Sunny's nephew.
Get him talking.
Go knock this kid around and
and see what's what.
♪
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
An "excuse me" would be nice.
♪
[IRWIN] My other employees
are panicking.
They think they will be killed too.
Tell them they a'ight.
Ain't no reason to think
that this gon' happen again.
It was probably just some kids
trying to knock off the spot.
They got scared, and they did
some real dumb shit.
Dumb? This was murder.
Your restaurants is on
some tough blocks, Irwin.
You can't tell me
that this is the first time
one of them been hit.
It's the first time people have died.
And Sunny and Richard
are part of my family.
And I'm sorry for your loss.
They were good people.
We adding extra security
around the clock.
No cost to you.
The violence is too much.
And like I just said, though,
we don't even know
that that has shit to do
with my business.
Nah.
You married?
41 years.
Yeah, well, we married too, Irwin.
Me and you.
For better or for worse,
through sickness and in health,
all of that shit.
And you and me,
we in it for the long haul.
Ain't no such thing
as divorce between us
'cause now you know too much.
You've seen too much.
Can't let you walk out on me.
'Cause once you and me jump
that broom, shit stay jumped.
[MONEY COUNTER WHIRRING]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
I don't feel safe
in this apartment, Kanan.
It's just too much going on,
too many people in and out.
There was some fucked-up-looking dude
coming out the building today.
His face was all scarred and scary.
Something about him felt real wrong.
Shit's uncomfortable.
Scary-looking niggas
in every building everywhere.
You got delivery boys
coming in and out of here,
O-Cee and all his bullshit.
Anyone can just walk right in.
You should never live where you work.
[KANAN LAUGHS]
What's that,
more science from your father?
That's me.
I think you should get
a new apartment.
I'm not trying to add
the expenses right now.
A'ight, look. Look, look.
If you scared,
shit, go back to your mom's.
- I know
- So her punk-ass boyfriend can
put his dick-feeling hands
on me again?
Nah. I ain't going back there.
You know I'm more than happy
to have a conversation
with that nigga.
Make sure his hands
not feeling on nothing
no time soon.
[SIGHS]
A new apartment might not be
as expensive as you'd think.
At least check some out with me.
Maybe you'll like one.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYS]
Please?
[KANAN] Come on.
I'm not even gonna like none of 'em.
But I like you.
You better.
♪
We need to break off Rilla
a little something-something
so he can get his feet under him.
[B-RILLA] Word.
You done had me working
like a slave in July
up here, Lowell.
You have a signed agreement
with this record label, Rilla,
and we have more than upheld
our end of that agreement,
including paying the legal fees
to get you out of jail.
The only reason I was on
the inside in the first place
is 'cause I ain't have enough
to feed me or my peoples.
This ain't even no label.
It's a fucking plantation.
Sit down, man.
We ain't gonna
figure it out like that.
I looked at the contract
Rilla got with y'all.
It ain't great.
It's some bullshit.
But it ain't the worst deal
I've seen neither.
What? The advance was real money.
And the fact that you
don't got none of it
is a conversation for another time.
The point is, Rilla need help.
We his partners, so we need
to do right by him.
I just paid for him to get
released from jail, Lou.
And that's not the first time
I've had to pay a lawyer
to finagle him out of trouble.
How many more times do I need
to right Rilla's wrongs?
This Jew nigga want to see wrong?
I'll show him wrong.
And they gonna have to carry
his ass out when I'm done.
How about you shut the fuck up
and let me handle this?
Yeah. That's good advice.
You should take it.
- Fuck you, Seinfeld.
- Fuck you.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
[TOUCH TONES BEEPING]
[LINE RINGING]
[LINE BEEPS]
André, give me a call.
I got some wildness
going on over here,
and I need to know what your
NYPD connect saying about it.
[LINE BEEPS]
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
[B-RILLA] It gonna be bullshit
like I knew it was gonna be.
- Lou, do your job.
- Look, look, look.
We ain't even talking about much,
just enough for him
to get his own place
and feed his baby and her moms.
There's a lot of water
under this bridge
between Rilla and me.
And I couldn't even think
about looking forward
until we address it.
First off, you always make
cracks about me being a Jew.
I don't like it. It's insulting.
I don't give a fuck.
You know why my father
started this label, Rilla?
I don't care.
[LOWELL] Because when he came
to this country,
no one would hire Jews.
Finance, advertising,
even selling fucking insurance,
no Jews allowed.
So he and his brother turned to music,
a business that was barely a business.
I hope your daddy wasn't too worried.
Yo, y'all Jews is white as hell.
Stuff was always gonna
end up a'ight for you.
That's why y'all run
every fucking thing.
We're white
when you want to hate us
for being white
and Jews when you want
to hate us for being Jews.
This really not gonna get us nowhere.
No, no, no, no.
I want to say my piece.
We went into entertainment
because they wouldn't let us
work anywhere else,
revolutionized these industries,
and all the thanks we get
is being told
that we're fucking puppet masters
who control the fucking world.
Y'all did that shit off niggas' backs,
fucking us when we desperate.
Yeah, I steal from you.
You steal from me.
I lie to you. You lie to me.
It's the rhythm and flow
of what we do.
And it's not unique
to me or my people.
I can assure you of that.
Some of those Motown deals
that Berry did
were three steps below
indentured servitude.
He's Berry Gordy.
You are Lowell fucking Gelfand.
And for all this bullshit
about how we control
the fucking banking industry,
my father
and most of the Jews he knew
didn't even trust banks.
They kept piles of cash
right in our house,
a tradition
which I'm embarrassed to say
I've continued to this day.
Can we please get back to business?
Rilla needs an advance.
We can make it recoupable.
Hmm?
Yeah, tell me how much you need,
and I'll have them
cut the check today.
Consider it a bonus for sitting here
and listening to my history lesson.
We appreciate it, Lowell.
Out of curiosity,
did anything that I just said
mean anything to you at all?
- Nah.
- Yeah. I figured.
I appreciate you
hearing me out nonetheless.
Sometimes it's meaningful
just to be heard.
No doubt.
Thanks for the check.
My pleasure.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYS]
[PEN TAPPING]
♪
This is going to be your third time
going through that catalog, sweetie.
Doesn't matter
how many times you read it.
The courses ain't gonna change.
[JUKEBOX SIGHS]
Now let's see what you got here.
[CHUCKLES]
[TWIN-LO] Juke!
What you doing here, Whitney Houston?
Yo, ain't you supposed to be
on tour with your group?
What's that shit called again?
Booty.
Butta.
Butta, that's right. What
Shit wasn't going nowhere.
It's done.
I'm trying out this college life now.
Check it, I gotta hit
this ceramics class,
but me and some of the old crew
hitting a bar downtown tonight.
You should come through.
They ain't checking IDs.
- Maybe.
- Fuck maybe. You gotta.
Heads gonna want to see you.
All right,
hit you with the details later.
[PEOPLE SPEAKING CANTONESE]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
How you fucking do him like that?
You sick motherfucker.
Your own fucking people.
Don't shoot. Don't shoot, please.
Be a man.
Cop to it, and maybe I won't kill you.
What?
Richard and Sunny, nigga.
I know you put 'em down.
My uncle and my aunt?
They're dead? How? Who would
You, nigga, that's who.
I would never!
What about Clarabelle? Is she okay?
- Who Clarabelle?
- Their daughter.
Where is she?
She okay?
Fuck.
They daughter.
I forgot.
Little girl a orphan now.
Just what the fucking
world don't need.
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
No.
The daughter wasn't there.
It was just them.
I have to go to her. I have to
You didn't do 'em.
I loved 'em.
[SNIFFLES]
Shit.
Yo, I'm sorry, you know, for your loss
and busting in here the way I did.
I just thought fuck it.
I-I don't matter what I thought.
You hear anything, you let me know,
'cause I'm gonna make somebody pay
for what they did
to Richard and Sunny.
Go check on the little girl.
She gonna need you now.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
She just lost everything.
♪
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
Kanan here?
He's out.
[RAQ] Let him know that I came through
and that I need to talk
to him about his school.
You asking me or telling me?
Krystal, right?
Yeah.
So you staying here
with my son now, Krystal?
Sometimes.
Heard you was in the mix over here.
Didn't know you moved in.
Like I said,
I'm not here all the time.
Looks like you here enough, though.
Spot's cleaner
than it ever been before.
Let Kanan know I came by.
I'm sure you and I are gonna
see each other again soon.
[KANAN] Damn!
So Juke just dropped all this
science on these Army niggas
and then bounced out that shit.
Shouldn't have gone
in the first place.
Wasn't no place for me there.
Not sure if there's a place
for me here, neither,
but at least here I can be me.
Well, now that you just you,
that mean no more secrets
or nothing, right?
I like girls, Kanan.
Anybody got a problem with that,
they can come get some.
That's what I'm talking about, Juke.
Be you, girl.
Yes.
So where's Famous at?
Marvin saying he
left town or something.
It's a lot of talk.
And I don't know what to believe.
He got grabbed up by the
police for that kid, Freddy.
People are saying
he trying to tell 'em shit
to get out from under.
Fame is snitching?
I don't know. A'ight? Nobody knows.
Shit, a lot of niggas are
saying he was talking to 'em.
And he got scared he said
too much and he bounced.
Police is looking for him now.
Spoke to his moms right quick,
but she don't know nothing either.
And I ain't say much 'cause
if Fame is talking to police,
who know what she thinking about me?
Fame not a snitch like that, though.
He say dumb shit.
But he'd never let your name
come out his mouth to the police.
Either way, nobody know where he at.
Fame is out in LA with his sister
hollering at some bitches in bikinis
who got no time for his stupidness.
[CHUCKLES]
[BOTH LAUGHING]
That do sound like Fame.
I know you right.
Hell yeah, I am.
So I heard you going back to school.
Mm.
Signed up for some classes at BMCC.
It's dumb shit, though,
like some dance class
and the other one on
the history of the comic book.
So you gonna mess
with this music thing again?
Now that you're home?
Nah.
I'm done with all that.
Music ain't never done
nothing but fuck me over.
Music always been your dream, though.
I only dream when I'm asleep, nigga.
And I'm wide awake
up in this motherfucker now.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
[TORQUE WRENCH CLICKING]
Yo, Early.
Hey, give me a minute, a'ight?
Marvin Thomas, what can I do for you?
Your Lexus leaking oil again?
You hear anything about
that Chinese spot got hit?
First I'm hearing about it right now.
That shit was a double.
Husband and wife used
to run that spot.
I'm friends of the family.
You hear anything, let me know.
Done.
Your aunt still fuck
with the child services?
ACS? Yeah, she do.
Trying to track down this young girl
the system grabbed up.
So I'm just taking it day by day,
which is all I need to do.
Thank you for listening.
[APPLAUSE]
And thank you, Janine.
So we have someone
celebrating a milestone today.
And I've asked him to share.
Lou?
Congratulations.
[APPLAUSE]
I, uh [CLEARS THROAT]
almost strung myself up
by my fucking head in rehab.
Decided I was done with
all of it, everything.
So I hung a cord,
made sure it could hold,
and tied that shit around my neck.
I was about to do it
when I peeped myself in the mirror.
And, uh
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
suddenly, I saw me.
I didn't recognize myself.
Just saw a sad, tragic brother
who didn't want to live no more.
And I felt sorry for him,
which I could never do before,
feel sad for
for me.
Seeing me in that mirror,
it gave me the space
to be outside of myself and look in.
And I stepped out of my head,
and I saw my hurt
and my pain
as if somebody else's.
It was then, seeing that right there,
seeing that broken motherfucker
who was about to take his own life
Is when I started to
actually feel sympathy for him.
To start forgiving him
just a little bit.
And, uh, when I started forgiving him,
I started forgiving myself.
That's how I'm standing
in front of you right now, so
thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
Look who came through. It's Juke!
[ALL CHEERING]
[HAN POLO] Juke, Juke!
Didn't think you was gonna make it.
Sad to say I ain't got
nothing better to do.
[LAUGHTER]
Hear you're getting your learn on
down there at the BMCC.
I signed up for some classes.
But they ain't about shit.
[FLIP-LO] Get down with us then, girl.
We're getting rich over here.
Fools paying crazy premium
for merch right now.
It's that supply and demand.
We got the supply
and niggas is demanding it.
[LAUGHTER]
I appreciate the offer, but shit feels
a little like going backwards to me.
Backwards to the future maybe.
[LAUGHTER]
I'm just looking for somethin' new,
something I've never done before.
Listen, ain't nothing wrong
with doing what you was doing before
if you do it better.
[LAUGHTER]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
I'm gonna hit this
bathroom right quick.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
♪
Didn't know about all that in rehab.
Wasn't ready to speak on it until now.
So you past it, then.
Work's never done, but
I appreciate
you coming through tonight.
I got you.
I owe you, Raq.
For all the trouble I caused,
for all you did.
Nah, what you owe me
is taking care of yourself,
baby brother.
That's all you owe.
Do that, you and me, we straight.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
So you think Moms is planning
on poisoning us
at this dinner she putting together?
[SCOFFS] Shit.
Don't matter
if she planning to or not.
That food gonna kill us.
[BOTH LAUGH]
[FAINT POP MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
First time?
I spent a whole month
showing up here every night
and never going inside.
One day, I decided, what the hell?
What's the worst that a bunch
of bitches can do to me?
[LAUGHS]
You want to come inside?
I'll keep all the crazy ones
away from you.
I promise.
Come on.
[CHUCKLES]
My name is Mara, by the way.
Laverne.
She's with me, Will.
♪
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
I appreciate you.
[FAMOUS' "411" PLAYING]
Pushing on Lowell to get my money.
That was solid.
I'm just trying to get you
up out my spot, nigga.
[CHUCKLES]
[DJ] Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
For all my people on the Southside,
people keep asking me about this one.
[FAMOUS] What's the 4-1-1? ♪
What's the 4-1-1? ♪
Thinking 'bout Catching bodies ♪
It changed my ♪
He gone?
Famous just taking a break
for a minute, that's all.
How you gonna take a break
if you just got hot?
Fame got a lot of feelings.
Shit gets scary sometimes,
especially when you share 'em
with the world the way he does.
I heard that.
Shit. I got feelings too.
We all do, brother.
♪
Fresh to def when
I step on the scene ♪
A lot of perpetrators try to be me ♪
But I just chalk it up
cuz it's quite customary ♪
Far from ordinary,
I'm more like legendary ♪
Scary as you thought it was gonna be?
Ah. It's a lot.
But it's cool.
You guys come here all the time?
Been around a lot more
since my parents kicked me out.
I was here a few times a week
when I was dating
one of the bartenders.
But then we broke up,
and it got weird,
so I stopped coming
for a little while.
And then her ex got fired,
so now she's back.
And she's fucking the new bartender.
What can I say? Got a type.
[LAUGHTER]
[SINGER] All eyes on me
When I enter the party ♪
Best believe I leave With somebody ♪
Is it you, you Or maybe you? ♪
Showing these niggas up ♪
[DOOR SLAMS]
Now, where that come from?
Don't matter.
Shit yours now.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
You hit Raq's Chinese spot
and put down two motherfuckers
in the process?
You've been sweating me for this money
since you scooped me that night.
You want it or not?
♪
Playing with fire, 'Nique.
I am fire, nigga.
And I'ma burn down everything.
♪
[DOOR CREAKS, SLAMS]
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
[CHILDREN LAUGHING AND SHOUTING]
Amber.
Uncle Marvin.
Oh!
How did you know I was here?
[MARVIN] I had to ask around.
Sorry it took me a minute.
How you doing?
How's your foster family treating you?
I miss Daddy and Alice.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYS]
Yeah.
I know you do.
But listen,
you ever need anything,
here's my phone number
and a little something for you.
Don't share it.
It's it's all yours.
I won't.
Is everything all right, Amber?
Um, I'm her godfather.
I haven't seen her in a minute.
Better get to class.
Do good.
Bye, Uncle Marvin.
♪
- [RAQ] How yesterday go?
- Usual fiends.
But when you see anything,
you let me know.
[MOTORCYCLE RUMBLING]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
This motherfucker.
I got this.
♪
My wife's cousin is dead.
And whoever did it is
still walking the streets.
My brother, he spread around
money to find out who hit us.
We'll find him.
It just might take a minute.
Everything with you takes time.
I'm always waiting on you.
Meanwhile, we look vulnerable, weak.
Weak is moving on motherfuckers
before we got the right information.
We put down the wrong people,
we look scared, desperate.
An example needs to be made
so this doesn't happen again.
If you can't do it, I will.
You're replaceable, Raq.
You keep saying that
like you expect me to agree
or some shit.
♪
[QUAN SPEAKING VIETNAMESE]
♪
[MOTORCYCLE ENGINE REVVING]
[LIGHT MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
Nah, this is not even better
than my crib now.
I just want you to see
what's out there.
And this place is better
than your spot, by the way.
Shit.
[KRYSTAL SIGHS]
But it still ain't great.
Thank you, but we're not interested.
[KANAN SIGHS]
Telling you,
we good where we are, girl.
Tell me you got something
on who hit the spot.
Um, nothing. Nobody talking.
Quan rolled through.
Between this fucking price increase
and him always thinking
he know how to run our business
better than we do,
he turning up the heat
to something real uncomfortable.
He a problem.
Let's see if Joaquin can help
solve this shit for us.
[KRYSTAL] Wow.
I like this one.
[KANAN] Yeah.
More space.
More shit to clean, though.
[KRYSTAL] That's the dumbest
shit I ever heard.
This is really nice, Kanan.
And it's a good neighborhood.
Sorry, one of the
tenants was locked out,
and I had to
oh.
[KRYSTAL] Hi.
Um, this unit's already spoken for.
We just took the deposit
a couple days ago.
And you just remembered?
She set this shit up
with you this morning.
It was an honest mistake.
[KANAN] Don't nothing about
that feel honest to me, man.
I feel like you saw us,
then all of a sudden remembered.
What's up, man?
We too young or just too Black?
We outta here.
Can afford way better
than his bullshit, anyway.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
[JOAQUIN] I won't supply
heroin in Queens.
Under any circumstances.
You know this.
I ain't asking for no work
from you, Joaquin.
I just want a name.
I know you know other players.
No one wants to go near Queens.
Too many complications.
Too many people to pay.
Maybe not everyone in your position
got the same concerns as you.
Maybe they just want to make
this money, take they chances.
Talk to your friend from Baltimore.
Traymont?
Heroin's been good business for him.
We still owe Traymont
for what he did to us.
[JOAQUIN CHUCKLES]
He has someone in Asia
who gives him a very good price
and might be interested
in moving into New York.
Nigga had me at "very good price."
Traymont still come
to the city to re-up with you?
Always.
He loves the city.
He like those fucking fish legs.
They eggs, Marvin.
Fucking fish don't got no legs.
That's why they fish.
Legs, eggs. Same shit.
So when the next re-up?
♪
This is the one.
Oh?
You talking real different
than you were earlier.
Yeah, a lot has changed since earlier.
You didn't like
how that guy lied to us
saying that other apartment
wasn't available.
I'm just thinking, you right
about living where I work.
That shit is messy.
So all we need is for you
to fill out this application.
Assuming everything is good,
you should be all set.
Skip the paperwork, man.
Let's get right to the money.
Here's the deposit
and first three months.
Well, I appreciate that.
But I still have to run
a credit check.
- [KANAN] Look, we talking
- What if we hit you
with a extra, non-refundable deposit?
♪
I think we might be able
to expedite the process.
I appreciate you expediting.
[BUILDING MANAGER LAUGHS]
You're gonna be very happy here.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
[SIGHS]
You look good, Grandma.
[JOYCE] Mm.
A little powder, a little paint
make a girl what she ain't.
[JUKEBOX] Mm-hmm.
Grandma look different, though.
Think she a'ight?
Your grandma gonna outlive us all.
Too stubborn to go anywhere.
What's cooking, good looking?
[SIGHS]
Mmm!
Ain't half bad.
Need a little longer on that heat.
Why you got us all out here, Ma?
We gon' wait till everybody show up.
Meantime, make yourself useful.
Take that roast out.
Hope you're late
'cause you was at the library
catching up on your schoolwork.
Krystal told me you came through.
Says you ain't been to school
since the new year started.
'Cause I'm done with school.
We always said you was gonna
graduate and go to college.
You said that, not me.
And you ain't graduate
yourself, neither.
All the shit you did to me
and had me do,
you thought I was just
gonna go to college
like a normal nigga?
Sometimes I really think you crazy.
Yeah, sometimes I think I'm crazy too.
[DOOR SLAMS]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
Let me see them fucking hands, nigga.
♪
Lou-Lou, how are things going
at that club of yours?
Don't know for sure.
Ain't really trying
to be around liquor right now,
so Shirley, white lady,
she, uh, holding it down.
He will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted,
he will also provide
a way out so that you can endure it.
Ma back on all that biblical shit.
World must be coming to an end.
Laverne, are you settling in
now you're home?
Trying.
You need to do better
than just try, baby.
World's full
of feckless people trying.
You need to be doing, not just trying.
[MARVIN] Juke just got home.
Give her a damn break.
So what's going on, Ma?
Why are we here?
[JOYCE CLEARS THROAT]
I got cancer.
Doctors found it in my kidney.
Tried chemo, but couldn't
stop it from spreading.
It's terminal.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
So you're just gonna tell us this shit
over fucking pot roast?
What?
You knew about this too?
Please. Sit down, Raquel.
No, you spent our whole lives
knocking us around,
lying to us, telling us we ain't shit.
And you think a fucking family dinner
gonna make shit right in the end.
I'm not trying to make anything right.
I'm just telling you that I'm dying.
And you can take that,
do whatever the hell you want with it.
Fuck this.
[GROWN KANAN] If you're lucky,
you get to grow old,
do shit with your life,
maybe even have a family of your own.
[DOOR SLAMS]
But even if you end up
being somebody's parent,
you never stop being somebody's child.
And that's how you came
into this world.
And that's how you gonna leave it.
sync & corrections by awaqeded
[BILL WITHERS'
"GRANDMA'S HANDS" PLAYING]
Grandma's hands played
A tambourine so well ♪
Grandma's hands
Used to issue out a warning ♪
"She'd say, "Billy,
Don't you run so fast ♪
"Might fall On a piece of glass ♪
Might be snakes
There in that grass " ♪
Grandma's hands ♪
♪
Grandma's hands soothed
A local unwed mother ♪
Grandma's hands used to ache
Sometimes and swell ♪
Grandma's hands used to lift
Her face and tell her ♪
She'd say,
"Baby, Grandma understands ♪
"That you really love That man ♪
Put yourself In Jesus' hands" ♪
Grandma's hands ♪
♪
Grandma's hands used
To hand me piece of candy ♪
[UPBEAT HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
[RAQ] Previously on Raising Kanan
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
I'm raising your prices 20%.
Can't just drop a increase
on me like that.
I can. And I just did.
That is my nephew. What did he do?
Drop them drawers.
Found some cookies for dessert.
Thanks, Uncle Marvin.
Why did you faint, though?
Your grandmother has kidney cancer.
I don't know what's worse,
facing death or facing my kids.
Where's Chalmers going?
[DANNON] Dishonorable discharge.
They found some faggot
magazines in his footlocker.
[JUKEBOX]
I couldn't be myself in there.
And I'm not lying about
who I am, not for nobody.
Got a hip-hop imprint.
I want you to run it.
[LOU-LOU] You only got one
artist that got that realness.
B-Rilla. Tell me you ready to work.
I'll get you out of here
by the end of the day.
You get me out of here
by the end of the day,
I'll tell you whatever
the fuck you want.
[STEFANO] I got this bookie in Corona.
He doesn't respond well
to constructive criticism.
So you want me to try
destructive criticism.
[GUNSHOTS]
[BARNES] A mole inside
the Bureau informs me
that both you and Marvin were observed
separately meeting with Mr. Marchetti
earlier this week.
- My Marvin?
- I assumed you knew.
We gonna cut the starting
hourly for new guys.
Got it, and our inventory is
getting real tight.
You got a damn superpower
at the moment, man.
You invisible.
This bitch think I'm dead.
I ain't never been more fucking alive.
[GRUNTS]
[SILENCED GUNSHOTS]
♪
[RILEYY] I'm a hustler, baby
I'm a hustler, baby ♪
[50 CENT] Yeah, I know
Heartbreaks, setbacks ♪
Bitch, if I crap out
I'm sure I'ma get back ♪
I been through the ups and
Downs, you know I get around ♪
So to me
It's all a part of the game ♪
If I ain't the coke man
Or the dope man ♪
I'm almost for sure, man
I got to take it ♪
No need to say shit
I'm gon' take it ♪
Robberies turned homicide
It's nothin' to play with ♪
Make money Make, make, make money ♪
When shit hit the fan
We'll take money, Southside ♪
Beef with the best of 'em ♪
Done shot At the rest of 'em, yeah ♪
Checks, I'm collectin' 'em ♪
Check, boy I'm finessin' 'em ♪
Bag Supreme Boy, you fuck around ♪
Put a big bag on your head ♪
Before the weather break
You're dead ♪
Let's get to it, they
Don't do it like we do it ♪
Nah, cop it, whip it
Bag it, flip it ♪
Re-up, we up G'd up, what up? ♪
Runnin' round this bitch
Still not givin' a fuck, hey ♪
When it come to that paper
There'll be no complications ♪
Ha ha. That's right.
Put a hole in a nigga
Right in front of you ♪
Your heartbeat pacin' ♪
[RILEYY AND 50 CENT]
And it's all right ♪
[50 CENT] That's how
We do it on this side ♪
Niggas get to it On this side ♪
I know heartbreaks Setbacks ♪
Bitch, if I crap out
I'm sure I'ma get back ♪
I been through the ups and
Downs, you know I get around ♪
So to me
It's all a part of the game ♪
If I ain't the coke man
Or the dope man ♪
I'm almost for sure, man
I got to take it ♪
No need to say shit
I'm gon' take it ♪
Robberies turned homicide
It's nothin' to play with ♪
Hey, hey ♪
[RILEYY VOCALIZING]
[DOG BARKING]
[SPEAKING CANTONESE]
[SPEAKING CANTONESE]
Y'all forgot about me
real fucking fast.
[RICHARD] Unique.
We thought we heard
[SPEAKING CANTONESE]
Shut the fuck up, bitch.
[SUNNY WHIMPERING]
Move.
Come on.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
Fill that shit up.
♪
[GUN COCKS]
[SIGHS]
[SUNNY] That is everything.
Now go.
Please.
That ain't everything yet.
Question: Raq dick taste
sweet or sour?
Duck sauce, soy sauce.
- [LAUGHS]
- [RICHARD] We're very sorry.
We're very, very sorry.
- Please, no!
- [SUNNY SCREAMS]
[SILENCED GUNSHOTS]
♪
[GROWN KANAN] A lot of niggas
get in the game
thinking they can
make their fast money
and then dip the fuck out.
But that ain't how
this shit works, nigga.
Ain't no half steps.
When you in, you all the way in.
And when you out, you're gonna be
all the fucking way out too.
You ain't stopped eating
since you been home, girl.
Army keeps you mad hungry.
No Lucky Charms
or Slim Jims in the mess.
Your ass would wash out the first day.
Yo, speaking of all that,
what you want me to say
to these Army motherfuckers
when they get here?
'Cause they about to be
up in the spot.
It's all good.
I'm gonna handle 'em.
I hear they take
the AWOL shit real serious.
I take shit serious too.
Yeah.
Yo, fuck that Army
and they white man wars.
You smart, Juke.
You need to go back to school
or get up
on that education-type shit.
Put your head to work.
Make that real money.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
I-I got it.
Private Thomas?
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
[DOOR CLICKS]
[LAUGHS]
Thank you, baby.
Those pills fighting the cancer?
I thought you understood, Kanan.
I'm done fighting like that.
[KANAN] What you mean, done?
Dr. Hannom said there's still
something you could do.
That's not what he said, baby.
He said nothing I do
will change anything.
The cancer's everywhere, Kanan.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
But I'm here now, though.
On my own terms.
In my own way.
I'm a bad motherfucker, grandson.
I thought you knew.
And if you don't know, you better
- Ask somebody.
- Uh huh.
[KANAN CHUCKLES]
Yeah, Grandma. I know who you are.
Believe that.
Everybody need to
see you before you
before.
They wanted to know how I am,
they'd come around,
check on me.
But they don't.
And I am not gonna go crying to them.
Grandma, it's not about crying.
It's about being real
to each other, for each other.
That's something we don't do
in this family.
If Raq been more honest with me,
maybe things would be different
between me and her now.
She's still your mother, Kanan,
and my daughter.
No matter what she done
or hasn't done,
you still need to show her respect.
♪
But maybe it is past time for me to
be real with everyone,
including myself.
Absences without leave
are a serious violation,
Private Thomas.
They threaten morale.
And they go against the very fabric
of the United States
Armed Services' commitment
to our country and each other.
That's why they carry
such severe punishment.
Punishment for what?
I tried it. Wasn't for me.
You swore an oath to your country,
and you've broken it.
She didn't break shit.
And she didn't hurt nobody.
Sergeant Healy and I are here
as a courtesy
to Private Thomas.
We could have turned her case
over to military police.
All I need is that
entry-level separation,
and I'm good.
Entry-level separations
are only granted
after an official review
and a submission
of the appropriate documentation.
We follow a strict process
in the Army, Private Thomas,
one which you blatantly, purposefully,
and willfully ignored.
I'm gay.
Where do I put that
in all your documentation?
Matter of fact,
why don't you send over them MPs,
and I can get me a lawyer
and say what I need to say
to some judge?
♪
[BOTH WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY]
You're letting down your country.
It's a'ight.
My country's let down me
and mines plenty of times too.
Word.
We're gonna grant
you entry-level separation.
But I hope you're
not proud of yourself.
And I hope you're not
proud of yourself neither.
[DOOR SLAMS]
[DOOR SLAMS]
Yo, wake up, man.
Yo!
Get up.
Man, what the fuck is your problem?
My problem is, you still here, nigga.
You told me you was gonna be
posting up at your cousin's.
That ain't gonna work out after all.
My cousin started smashing some bitch,
got three kids.
They all at his crib.
Ain't no room for me over there.
No room for you here either, nigga.
When I came and got you out the joint,
you ain't said shit to me about
providing you room and board.
That ain't part of the deal, Rilla.
That's 'cause it ain't no deal.
Not no real one.
That advance wasn't 'bout shit.
And all the rest of my money
is based off future sales.
I ain't got nowhere to go
'cause I ain't got
nothing in my pocket, Lou.
Well, we gonna have to talk to Lowell
and figure that shit out.
'Cause I ain't in the market
for a new roommate.
Till then, clean up your shit.
Thank you.
[SIGHS]
♪
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
[COP] Help you with something?
Um
just rolling through for my number 37.
What happened?
[RAQ] So nobody saw nothing.
It was late. They were closing up.
We'll post up security
at the other restaurants.
I mean, motherfuckers hit one,
they might think
they can hit all of 'em.
I'll reach out to Uncle Irwin.
Yo. They was his family.
Yeah, he gon' be in a bad way.
Yo, speaking of family, though,
I'm thinking I might know
the motherfucker behind this.
Caught Richard's nephew
swiping my shit.
Put him out on his ass.
Probably came back for more.
[RAQ] You gotta be 100%
on this, Marvin,
'cause Uncle Irwin ain't the only fam
we fucking with here.
Quan is also in the mix.
Richard is his wife's cousin.
And shit with him complicated
enough before all of this.
Well, let me go see what's what.
André said the feds
watching Stefano's shop.
Okay.
He said they saw you
walking out of there
a couple days ago, alone.
They bullshitting
or got me confused
with some other nigga.
They know who you are, Marvin.
I don't think they're confused.
Then they lying,
just like they always do.
Fucking with us just so
we start looking sideways.
♪
Go roll up on Richard
and Sunny's nephew.
Get him talking.
Go knock this kid around and
and see what's what.
♪
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
An "excuse me" would be nice.
♪
[IRWIN] My other employees
are panicking.
They think they will be killed too.
Tell them they a'ight.
Ain't no reason to think
that this gon' happen again.
It was probably just some kids
trying to knock off the spot.
They got scared, and they did
some real dumb shit.
Dumb? This was murder.
Your restaurants is on
some tough blocks, Irwin.
You can't tell me
that this is the first time
one of them been hit.
It's the first time people have died.
And Sunny and Richard
are part of my family.
And I'm sorry for your loss.
They were good people.
We adding extra security
around the clock.
No cost to you.
The violence is too much.
And like I just said, though,
we don't even know
that that has shit to do
with my business.
Nah.
You married?
41 years.
Yeah, well, we married too, Irwin.
Me and you.
For better or for worse,
through sickness and in health,
all of that shit.
And you and me,
we in it for the long haul.
Ain't no such thing
as divorce between us
'cause now you know too much.
You've seen too much.
Can't let you walk out on me.
'Cause once you and me jump
that broom, shit stay jumped.
[MONEY COUNTER WHIRRING]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
I don't feel safe
in this apartment, Kanan.
It's just too much going on,
too many people in and out.
There was some fucked-up-looking dude
coming out the building today.
His face was all scarred and scary.
Something about him felt real wrong.
Shit's uncomfortable.
Scary-looking niggas
in every building everywhere.
You got delivery boys
coming in and out of here,
O-Cee and all his bullshit.
Anyone can just walk right in.
You should never live where you work.
[KANAN LAUGHS]
What's that,
more science from your father?
That's me.
I think you should get
a new apartment.
I'm not trying to add
the expenses right now.
A'ight, look. Look, look.
If you scared,
shit, go back to your mom's.
- I know
- So her punk-ass boyfriend can
put his dick-feeling hands
on me again?
Nah. I ain't going back there.
You know I'm more than happy
to have a conversation
with that nigga.
Make sure his hands
not feeling on nothing
no time soon.
[SIGHS]
A new apartment might not be
as expensive as you'd think.
At least check some out with me.
Maybe you'll like one.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYS]
Please?
[KANAN] Come on.
I'm not even gonna like none of 'em.
But I like you.
You better.
♪
We need to break off Rilla
a little something-something
so he can get his feet under him.
[B-RILLA] Word.
You done had me working
like a slave in July
up here, Lowell.
You have a signed agreement
with this record label, Rilla,
and we have more than upheld
our end of that agreement,
including paying the legal fees
to get you out of jail.
The only reason I was on
the inside in the first place
is 'cause I ain't have enough
to feed me or my peoples.
This ain't even no label.
It's a fucking plantation.
Sit down, man.
We ain't gonna
figure it out like that.
I looked at the contract
Rilla got with y'all.
It ain't great.
It's some bullshit.
But it ain't the worst deal
I've seen neither.
What? The advance was real money.
And the fact that you
don't got none of it
is a conversation for another time.
The point is, Rilla need help.
We his partners, so we need
to do right by him.
I just paid for him to get
released from jail, Lou.
And that's not the first time
I've had to pay a lawyer
to finagle him out of trouble.
How many more times do I need
to right Rilla's wrongs?
This Jew nigga want to see wrong?
I'll show him wrong.
And they gonna have to carry
his ass out when I'm done.
How about you shut the fuck up
and let me handle this?
Yeah. That's good advice.
You should take it.
- Fuck you, Seinfeld.
- Fuck you.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
[TOUCH TONES BEEPING]
[LINE RINGING]
[LINE BEEPS]
André, give me a call.
I got some wildness
going on over here,
and I need to know what your
NYPD connect saying about it.
[LINE BEEPS]
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
[B-RILLA] It gonna be bullshit
like I knew it was gonna be.
- Lou, do your job.
- Look, look, look.
We ain't even talking about much,
just enough for him
to get his own place
and feed his baby and her moms.
There's a lot of water
under this bridge
between Rilla and me.
And I couldn't even think
about looking forward
until we address it.
First off, you always make
cracks about me being a Jew.
I don't like it. It's insulting.
I don't give a fuck.
You know why my father
started this label, Rilla?
I don't care.
[LOWELL] Because when he came
to this country,
no one would hire Jews.
Finance, advertising,
even selling fucking insurance,
no Jews allowed.
So he and his brother turned to music,
a business that was barely a business.
I hope your daddy wasn't too worried.
Yo, y'all Jews is white as hell.
Stuff was always gonna
end up a'ight for you.
That's why y'all run
every fucking thing.
We're white
when you want to hate us
for being white
and Jews when you want
to hate us for being Jews.
This really not gonna get us nowhere.
No, no, no, no.
I want to say my piece.
We went into entertainment
because they wouldn't let us
work anywhere else,
revolutionized these industries,
and all the thanks we get
is being told
that we're fucking puppet masters
who control the fucking world.
Y'all did that shit off niggas' backs,
fucking us when we desperate.
Yeah, I steal from you.
You steal from me.
I lie to you. You lie to me.
It's the rhythm and flow
of what we do.
And it's not unique
to me or my people.
I can assure you of that.
Some of those Motown deals
that Berry did
were three steps below
indentured servitude.
He's Berry Gordy.
You are Lowell fucking Gelfand.
And for all this bullshit
about how we control
the fucking banking industry,
my father
and most of the Jews he knew
didn't even trust banks.
They kept piles of cash
right in our house,
a tradition
which I'm embarrassed to say
I've continued to this day.
Can we please get back to business?
Rilla needs an advance.
We can make it recoupable.
Hmm?
Yeah, tell me how much you need,
and I'll have them
cut the check today.
Consider it a bonus for sitting here
and listening to my history lesson.
We appreciate it, Lowell.
Out of curiosity,
did anything that I just said
mean anything to you at all?
- Nah.
- Yeah. I figured.
I appreciate you
hearing me out nonetheless.
Sometimes it's meaningful
just to be heard.
No doubt.
Thanks for the check.
My pleasure.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYS]
[PEN TAPPING]
♪
This is going to be your third time
going through that catalog, sweetie.
Doesn't matter
how many times you read it.
The courses ain't gonna change.
[JUKEBOX SIGHS]
Now let's see what you got here.
[CHUCKLES]
[TWIN-LO] Juke!
What you doing here, Whitney Houston?
Yo, ain't you supposed to be
on tour with your group?
What's that shit called again?
Booty.
Butta.
Butta, that's right. What
Shit wasn't going nowhere.
It's done.
I'm trying out this college life now.
Check it, I gotta hit
this ceramics class,
but me and some of the old crew
hitting a bar downtown tonight.
You should come through.
They ain't checking IDs.
- Maybe.
- Fuck maybe. You gotta.
Heads gonna want to see you.
All right,
hit you with the details later.
[PEOPLE SPEAKING CANTONESE]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
How you fucking do him like that?
You sick motherfucker.
Your own fucking people.
Don't shoot. Don't shoot, please.
Be a man.
Cop to it, and maybe I won't kill you.
What?
Richard and Sunny, nigga.
I know you put 'em down.
My uncle and my aunt?
They're dead? How? Who would
You, nigga, that's who.
I would never!
What about Clarabelle? Is she okay?
- Who Clarabelle?
- Their daughter.
Where is she?
She okay?
Fuck.
They daughter.
I forgot.
Little girl a orphan now.
Just what the fucking
world don't need.
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
No.
The daughter wasn't there.
It was just them.
I have to go to her. I have to
You didn't do 'em.
I loved 'em.
[SNIFFLES]
Shit.
Yo, I'm sorry, you know, for your loss
and busting in here the way I did.
I just thought fuck it.
I-I don't matter what I thought.
You hear anything, you let me know,
'cause I'm gonna make somebody pay
for what they did
to Richard and Sunny.
Go check on the little girl.
She gonna need you now.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
She just lost everything.
♪
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
Kanan here?
He's out.
[RAQ] Let him know that I came through
and that I need to talk
to him about his school.
You asking me or telling me?
Krystal, right?
Yeah.
So you staying here
with my son now, Krystal?
Sometimes.
Heard you was in the mix over here.
Didn't know you moved in.
Like I said,
I'm not here all the time.
Looks like you here enough, though.
Spot's cleaner
than it ever been before.
Let Kanan know I came by.
I'm sure you and I are gonna
see each other again soon.
[KANAN] Damn!
So Juke just dropped all this
science on these Army niggas
and then bounced out that shit.
Shouldn't have gone
in the first place.
Wasn't no place for me there.
Not sure if there's a place
for me here, neither,
but at least here I can be me.
Well, now that you just you,
that mean no more secrets
or nothing, right?
I like girls, Kanan.
Anybody got a problem with that,
they can come get some.
That's what I'm talking about, Juke.
Be you, girl.
Yes.
So where's Famous at?
Marvin saying he
left town or something.
It's a lot of talk.
And I don't know what to believe.
He got grabbed up by the
police for that kid, Freddy.
People are saying
he trying to tell 'em shit
to get out from under.
Fame is snitching?
I don't know. A'ight? Nobody knows.
Shit, a lot of niggas are
saying he was talking to 'em.
And he got scared he said
too much and he bounced.
Police is looking for him now.
Spoke to his moms right quick,
but she don't know nothing either.
And I ain't say much 'cause
if Fame is talking to police,
who know what she thinking about me?
Fame not a snitch like that, though.
He say dumb shit.
But he'd never let your name
come out his mouth to the police.
Either way, nobody know where he at.
Fame is out in LA with his sister
hollering at some bitches in bikinis
who got no time for his stupidness.
[CHUCKLES]
[BOTH LAUGHING]
That do sound like Fame.
I know you right.
Hell yeah, I am.
So I heard you going back to school.
Mm.
Signed up for some classes at BMCC.
It's dumb shit, though,
like some dance class
and the other one on
the history of the comic book.
So you gonna mess
with this music thing again?
Now that you're home?
Nah.
I'm done with all that.
Music ain't never done
nothing but fuck me over.
Music always been your dream, though.
I only dream when I'm asleep, nigga.
And I'm wide awake
up in this motherfucker now.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
[TORQUE WRENCH CLICKING]
Yo, Early.
Hey, give me a minute, a'ight?
Marvin Thomas, what can I do for you?
Your Lexus leaking oil again?
You hear anything about
that Chinese spot got hit?
First I'm hearing about it right now.
That shit was a double.
Husband and wife used
to run that spot.
I'm friends of the family.
You hear anything, let me know.
Done.
Your aunt still fuck
with the child services?
ACS? Yeah, she do.
Trying to track down this young girl
the system grabbed up.
So I'm just taking it day by day,
which is all I need to do.
Thank you for listening.
[APPLAUSE]
And thank you, Janine.
So we have someone
celebrating a milestone today.
And I've asked him to share.
Lou?
Congratulations.
[APPLAUSE]
I, uh [CLEARS THROAT]
almost strung myself up
by my fucking head in rehab.
Decided I was done with
all of it, everything.
So I hung a cord,
made sure it could hold,
and tied that shit around my neck.
I was about to do it
when I peeped myself in the mirror.
And, uh
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
suddenly, I saw me.
I didn't recognize myself.
Just saw a sad, tragic brother
who didn't want to live no more.
And I felt sorry for him,
which I could never do before,
feel sad for
for me.
Seeing me in that mirror,
it gave me the space
to be outside of myself and look in.
And I stepped out of my head,
and I saw my hurt
and my pain
as if somebody else's.
It was then, seeing that right there,
seeing that broken motherfucker
who was about to take his own life
Is when I started to
actually feel sympathy for him.
To start forgiving him
just a little bit.
And, uh, when I started forgiving him,
I started forgiving myself.
That's how I'm standing
in front of you right now, so
thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
Look who came through. It's Juke!
[ALL CHEERING]
[HAN POLO] Juke, Juke!
Didn't think you was gonna make it.
Sad to say I ain't got
nothing better to do.
[LAUGHTER]
Hear you're getting your learn on
down there at the BMCC.
I signed up for some classes.
But they ain't about shit.
[FLIP-LO] Get down with us then, girl.
We're getting rich over here.
Fools paying crazy premium
for merch right now.
It's that supply and demand.
We got the supply
and niggas is demanding it.
[LAUGHTER]
I appreciate the offer, but shit feels
a little like going backwards to me.
Backwards to the future maybe.
[LAUGHTER]
I'm just looking for somethin' new,
something I've never done before.
Listen, ain't nothing wrong
with doing what you was doing before
if you do it better.
[LAUGHTER]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
I'm gonna hit this
bathroom right quick.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
♪
Didn't know about all that in rehab.
Wasn't ready to speak on it until now.
So you past it, then.
Work's never done, but
I appreciate
you coming through tonight.
I got you.
I owe you, Raq.
For all the trouble I caused,
for all you did.
Nah, what you owe me
is taking care of yourself,
baby brother.
That's all you owe.
Do that, you and me, we straight.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
So you think Moms is planning
on poisoning us
at this dinner she putting together?
[SCOFFS] Shit.
Don't matter
if she planning to or not.
That food gonna kill us.
[BOTH LAUGH]
[FAINT POP MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
First time?
I spent a whole month
showing up here every night
and never going inside.
One day, I decided, what the hell?
What's the worst that a bunch
of bitches can do to me?
[LAUGHS]
You want to come inside?
I'll keep all the crazy ones
away from you.
I promise.
Come on.
[CHUCKLES]
My name is Mara, by the way.
Laverne.
She's with me, Will.
♪
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
I appreciate you.
[FAMOUS' "411" PLAYING]
Pushing on Lowell to get my money.
That was solid.
I'm just trying to get you
up out my spot, nigga.
[CHUCKLES]
[DJ] Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
For all my people on the Southside,
people keep asking me about this one.
[FAMOUS] What's the 4-1-1? ♪
What's the 4-1-1? ♪
Thinking 'bout Catching bodies ♪
It changed my ♪
He gone?
Famous just taking a break
for a minute, that's all.
How you gonna take a break
if you just got hot?
Fame got a lot of feelings.
Shit gets scary sometimes,
especially when you share 'em
with the world the way he does.
I heard that.
Shit. I got feelings too.
We all do, brother.
♪
Fresh to def when
I step on the scene ♪
A lot of perpetrators try to be me ♪
But I just chalk it up
cuz it's quite customary ♪
Far from ordinary,
I'm more like legendary ♪
Scary as you thought it was gonna be?
Ah. It's a lot.
But it's cool.
You guys come here all the time?
Been around a lot more
since my parents kicked me out.
I was here a few times a week
when I was dating
one of the bartenders.
But then we broke up,
and it got weird,
so I stopped coming
for a little while.
And then her ex got fired,
so now she's back.
And she's fucking the new bartender.
What can I say? Got a type.
[LAUGHTER]
[SINGER] All eyes on me
When I enter the party ♪
Best believe I leave With somebody ♪
Is it you, you Or maybe you? ♪
Showing these niggas up ♪
[DOOR SLAMS]
Now, where that come from?
Don't matter.
Shit yours now.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
You hit Raq's Chinese spot
and put down two motherfuckers
in the process?
You've been sweating me for this money
since you scooped me that night.
You want it or not?
♪
Playing with fire, 'Nique.
I am fire, nigga.
And I'ma burn down everything.
♪
[DOOR CREAKS, SLAMS]
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
[CHILDREN LAUGHING AND SHOUTING]
Amber.
Uncle Marvin.
Oh!
How did you know I was here?
[MARVIN] I had to ask around.
Sorry it took me a minute.
How you doing?
How's your foster family treating you?
I miss Daddy and Alice.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYS]
Yeah.
I know you do.
But listen,
you ever need anything,
here's my phone number
and a little something for you.
Don't share it.
It's it's all yours.
I won't.
Is everything all right, Amber?
Um, I'm her godfather.
I haven't seen her in a minute.
Better get to class.
Do good.
Bye, Uncle Marvin.
♪
- [RAQ] How yesterday go?
- Usual fiends.
But when you see anything,
you let me know.
[MOTORCYCLE RUMBLING]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
This motherfucker.
I got this.
♪
My wife's cousin is dead.
And whoever did it is
still walking the streets.
My brother, he spread around
money to find out who hit us.
We'll find him.
It just might take a minute.
Everything with you takes time.
I'm always waiting on you.
Meanwhile, we look vulnerable, weak.
Weak is moving on motherfuckers
before we got the right information.
We put down the wrong people,
we look scared, desperate.
An example needs to be made
so this doesn't happen again.
If you can't do it, I will.
You're replaceable, Raq.
You keep saying that
like you expect me to agree
or some shit.
♪
[QUAN SPEAKING VIETNAMESE]
♪
[MOTORCYCLE ENGINE REVVING]
[LIGHT MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
Nah, this is not even better
than my crib now.
I just want you to see
what's out there.
And this place is better
than your spot, by the way.
Shit.
[KRYSTAL SIGHS]
But it still ain't great.
Thank you, but we're not interested.
[KANAN SIGHS]
Telling you,
we good where we are, girl.
Tell me you got something
on who hit the spot.
Um, nothing. Nobody talking.
Quan rolled through.
Between this fucking price increase
and him always thinking
he know how to run our business
better than we do,
he turning up the heat
to something real uncomfortable.
He a problem.
Let's see if Joaquin can help
solve this shit for us.
[KRYSTAL] Wow.
I like this one.
[KANAN] Yeah.
More space.
More shit to clean, though.
[KRYSTAL] That's the dumbest
shit I ever heard.
This is really nice, Kanan.
And it's a good neighborhood.
Sorry, one of the
tenants was locked out,
and I had to
oh.
[KRYSTAL] Hi.
Um, this unit's already spoken for.
We just took the deposit
a couple days ago.
And you just remembered?
She set this shit up
with you this morning.
It was an honest mistake.
[KANAN] Don't nothing about
that feel honest to me, man.
I feel like you saw us,
then all of a sudden remembered.
What's up, man?
We too young or just too Black?
We outta here.
Can afford way better
than his bullshit, anyway.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
[JOAQUIN] I won't supply
heroin in Queens.
Under any circumstances.
You know this.
I ain't asking for no work
from you, Joaquin.
I just want a name.
I know you know other players.
No one wants to go near Queens.
Too many complications.
Too many people to pay.
Maybe not everyone in your position
got the same concerns as you.
Maybe they just want to make
this money, take they chances.
Talk to your friend from Baltimore.
Traymont?
Heroin's been good business for him.
We still owe Traymont
for what he did to us.
[JOAQUIN CHUCKLES]
He has someone in Asia
who gives him a very good price
and might be interested
in moving into New York.
Nigga had me at "very good price."
Traymont still come
to the city to re-up with you?
Always.
He loves the city.
He like those fucking fish legs.
They eggs, Marvin.
Fucking fish don't got no legs.
That's why they fish.
Legs, eggs. Same shit.
So when the next re-up?
♪
This is the one.
Oh?
You talking real different
than you were earlier.
Yeah, a lot has changed since earlier.
You didn't like
how that guy lied to us
saying that other apartment
wasn't available.
I'm just thinking, you right
about living where I work.
That shit is messy.
So all we need is for you
to fill out this application.
Assuming everything is good,
you should be all set.
Skip the paperwork, man.
Let's get right to the money.
Here's the deposit
and first three months.
Well, I appreciate that.
But I still have to run
a credit check.
- [KANAN] Look, we talking
- What if we hit you
with a extra, non-refundable deposit?
♪
I think we might be able
to expedite the process.
I appreciate you expediting.
[BUILDING MANAGER LAUGHS]
You're gonna be very happy here.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
[SIGHS]
You look good, Grandma.
[JOYCE] Mm.
A little powder, a little paint
make a girl what she ain't.
[JUKEBOX] Mm-hmm.
Grandma look different, though.
Think she a'ight?
Your grandma gonna outlive us all.
Too stubborn to go anywhere.
What's cooking, good looking?
[SIGHS]
Mmm!
Ain't half bad.
Need a little longer on that heat.
Why you got us all out here, Ma?
We gon' wait till everybody show up.
Meantime, make yourself useful.
Take that roast out.
Hope you're late
'cause you was at the library
catching up on your schoolwork.
Krystal told me you came through.
Says you ain't been to school
since the new year started.
'Cause I'm done with school.
We always said you was gonna
graduate and go to college.
You said that, not me.
And you ain't graduate
yourself, neither.
All the shit you did to me
and had me do,
you thought I was just
gonna go to college
like a normal nigga?
Sometimes I really think you crazy.
Yeah, sometimes I think I'm crazy too.
[DOOR SLAMS]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
♪
Let me see them fucking hands, nigga.
♪
Lou-Lou, how are things going
at that club of yours?
Don't know for sure.
Ain't really trying
to be around liquor right now,
so Shirley, white lady,
she, uh, holding it down.
He will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted,
he will also provide
a way out so that you can endure it.
Ma back on all that biblical shit.
World must be coming to an end.
Laverne, are you settling in
now you're home?
Trying.
You need to do better
than just try, baby.
World's full
of feckless people trying.
You need to be doing, not just trying.
[MARVIN] Juke just got home.
Give her a damn break.
So what's going on, Ma?
Why are we here?
[JOYCE CLEARS THROAT]
I got cancer.
Doctors found it in my kidney.
Tried chemo, but couldn't
stop it from spreading.
It's terminal.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
So you're just gonna tell us this shit
over fucking pot roast?
What?
You knew about this too?
Please. Sit down, Raquel.
No, you spent our whole lives
knocking us around,
lying to us, telling us we ain't shit.
And you think a fucking family dinner
gonna make shit right in the end.
I'm not trying to make anything right.
I'm just telling you that I'm dying.
And you can take that,
do whatever the hell you want with it.
Fuck this.
[GROWN KANAN] If you're lucky,
you get to grow old,
do shit with your life,
maybe even have a family of your own.
[DOOR SLAMS]
But even if you end up
being somebody's parent,
you never stop being somebody's child.
And that's how you came
into this world.
And that's how you gonna leave it.
sync & corrections by awaqeded
[BILL WITHERS'
"GRANDMA'S HANDS" PLAYING]
Grandma's hands played
A tambourine so well ♪
Grandma's hands
Used to issue out a warning ♪
"She'd say, "Billy,
Don't you run so fast ♪
"Might fall On a piece of glass ♪
Might be snakes
There in that grass " ♪
Grandma's hands ♪
♪
Grandma's hands soothed
A local unwed mother ♪
Grandma's hands used to ache
Sometimes and swell ♪
Grandma's hands used to lift
Her face and tell her ♪
She'd say,
"Baby, Grandma understands ♪
"That you really love That man ♪
Put yourself In Jesus' hands" ♪
Grandma's hands ♪
♪
Grandma's hands used
To hand me piece of candy ♪