Snowfall (2017) s06e10 Episode Script
The Struggle
1
FRANKLIN: You're about to
be raided. You should run.
You're the only one who has this number.
It's an answering service.
I will check it every week.
We've officially bounced our first
mortgage check for Spring Street.
We are tapped out, Franklin.
FRANKLIN: I'm trying real fucking
hard to make you understand
just how desperate I am.
Please don't do this.
(GRUNTS, SCREAMING)
What if we split it? $37 million.
We each walk away with a small fortune,
and then we go our separate ways.
Tell me you're not
gonna let that man go.
In two hours, this'll all be over.
I'll go with you to make
sure they don't kill you.
And after that, you and I will
never see each other again.
WOMAN (OVER PHONE): Good
afternoon, Fullerton Escrow.
TEDDY: Hey, Ann, this is Teddy McDonald.
Yes, I am ready to
initiate the transfer.
- (GUNSHOTS)
- (PEOPLE SCREAMING)
FRANKLIN: Hey! Fuck!
Mama. Mama, we got to go.
Goodbye, Franklin.
- (SIRENS WAILING)
- OFFICER: Drop the gun, lady!
(DIAL TONE SOUNDING)
- (MUSIC PLAYING QUIETLY)
- (SOFT CHATTER)
(PANTING)
How you doing? Um
Uh, d Uh, you got a phone?
Thank you.
(SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)
(LINE RINGS)
- VERONIQUE (OVER PHONE): Hello?
- It's me.
All right, what happened? Is it done?
- No.
- No?
- No. Mama, she had a gun.
- What you mean, she had a gun?
- Yeah, she shot Teddy.
- What?
- He's dead.
- What?
He's dead? Franklin,
what are you saying? What?
- Fuck.
- Fuck.
So fucking close
to having that fucking money.
They were about to transfer
it, and she fucked us, V.
- Franklin
- (STAMMERS) Why would she do that shit?
Why would she do that?
Franklin, you just
need to get back here.
We're gonna talk about it. Come back.
She just sat there.
Franklin, I need you to
breathe with me, okay?
Just stay with me, all right?
- And she said goodbye.
- Franklin, we will figure this out.
Could you come back,
please? Right now, come back.
- (PHONE RECEIVER SLAMS DOWN)
- I feel a lot of things ♪
To come tomorrow ♪
BARTENDER: You okay?
It's been so hard
for me to get along ♪
And I don't, I don't understand ♪
It's on me.
She's gone and left ♪
With another man ♪
And, oh ♪
Can't you see ♪
What she's done to me ♪
She's gone and left me alone ♪
And now my dreams are sad songs ♪
MAN: You hear about this shooting?
Like five blocks away,
right by City Hall East.
Some lady shot a guy, killed him.
Cops and reporters
everywhere. Fucking circus.
(CONVERSATION CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)
♪
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(PAGER BEEPING)
Always do, yeah ♪
What they say ♪
I knew it when I heard ♪
(LINE RINGS)
HAVEMEYER (OVER PHONE):
Unless you want to spend the rest of
your life in jail,
you need to do exactly what I tell you.
Listen to me,
uh, I-I didn't know she was
gonna fucking do that shit.
Put the asset into
the trunk of your car.
Drive to 355 Jamison Street.
Pull up to the dead end,
unload him, and leave.
Repeat the address back to me.
355 Jamison.
One hour. Come alone.
(LINE CLICKS, DIAL TONE SOUNDS)
VERONIQUE: Ooh, thank God. Franklin.
Baby, what's going on? Franklin?
I need to move him.
VERONIQUE: Franklin, can you
talk to me? Franklin, talk to me.
(RUBEN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
RUBEN: It's a bad idea, Franklin.
You cannot trust the CIA.
VERONIQUE: What the fuck is going on?
RUBEN: You're nothing to them.
You're just a liability.
You'll never make it
back from the handoff.
They'll kill you right there.
Franklin, don't do this. It's a
(BANGING IN TRUNK)
(ENGINE REVS)
- (RUBEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
- (BANGING IN TRUNK)
Franklin! You can't
Ah!
Franklin. Please,
Franklin. Come on, man.
RUBEN: Please! Please
don't do this, man.
I can still help you out, man.
- Fuck it, come on.
- They will put me through hell,
Don't you understand?
Franklin, please don't
do this, man! (SHOUTS)
Please, Franklin!
Franklin, don't do this, man!
Franklin!
Franklin, don't do this, please!
Ah, Franklin!
♪
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- (HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
LEON: So, along with everything else,
we lost the plug,
pure shit at the best price.
Now, I know ain't nobody walking away,
but we need a new connect.
All right, I don't care if
it's Mexicans, Colombians,
or your fucking cousin
if they got what we need.
A hard game about to
get a whole lot harder.
Y'all better get ready.
Now let me talk to Frank real quick.
(SIGHS) FRANKLIN: Oh
fuck.
LEON: I found Cissy at a jail downtown.
Sent Prentice over to talk
to her, but she sent him away.
Wouldn't even see him.
And they won't let me talk to her,
not until after she's arraigned.
Ain't shit either of
us can do for her now.
Listen, Lee,
I need money, man,
and a lot more than another 500k.
And I'm sorry, I got to ask:
how much you got left?
Almost three million.
That's what the fuck I'm talking about.
Thank fucking Christ.
Okay, look, listen.
You know I don't expect
a handout, all right?
I'll take the 500k
that I already owe you,
I'll add the three million,
okay? And then I'll sell you
an ownership stake in Spring Street.
Make you a partner, man, like
you always should've been.
And then, in a few years,
once construction's complete
and we're generating cash,
either I'll pay you a quarterly income
or we wait till we refinance
and I'll buy you out five,
ten times the amount you put in.
Huh?
Let me ask you something.
Why do you think Cissy did what she did?
(SCOFFS) Wh
Ain't no "why," nigga.
She fucking snapped. Lost her shit.
I don't think so.
She murdered Teddy in broad daylight
in full view of 100 people,
including a CIA officer,
when her fucking son was
about to be handed $37 million.
No, she sacrificed
herself to keep you safe.
- To keep us all safe, from him.
- Do you feel safe, Leon?
Huh? You feel safe?
Do you feel safe? 'Cause
I sure fucking don't.
She didn't want you
to have that money, and
I ain't gonna disrespect what
she did by giving you something
- she didn't want you to have.
- Are you for real right now?
After everything I've done for you,
you gonna sit there with a life raft
and watch me fucking drown?
Nigga, I'm the reason
y'all niggas got this fucking
money in the first place.
It's blood money. If I could
give it all back I would.
Oh, fantastic. Brilliant. Great.
Give it all back to me.
Can't do it.
I need that fucking money, Lee.
And you're gon na give it
to me, or I'm gonna take it.
This really how you
want this shit to end?
No.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(ENGINE IDLING)
(ENGINE SHUTS OFF)
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
♪
JUDGE BOYD: Charged with the
first-degree murder of Theodore McDonald
in violation of
California's penal code 187,
punishable by life imprisonment
without the possibility of parole.
Do you understand these charges?
CISSY: I do.
JUDGE BOYD: And how do you plead?
I plead guilty
- of killing a CIA officer
- Your Honor, a recess, please,
- so that I may converse with my client.
- who helped our government
- flood these streets with cocaine
- (GAVEL BANGING)
- That's enough! Enough!
- CISSY: then used that money
- to fund an illegal war.
- JUDGE BOYD: Order!
- Order!
- (GAVEL BANGS)
Request for a recess is denied.
Mrs. Saint,
you will not speak again.
The court reporter will
enter a plea of guilty
and nothing more.
Bond. To the People.
In addition to her guilty plea,
Mrs. Saint confessed at
the time of her arrest.
I believe she is a
danger to the community
and would ask for a remand, Your Honor.
JUDGE BOYD: The court denies
bail for the defendant.
You will remain in custody without bail
throughout your legal proceedings.
Next case.
(GAVEL BANGS)
Franklin Saint.
Been looking for you.
Have a few questions.
I've got witnesses put
someone of your description
- in the square with your mother.
- Oh, yeah? Good for you.
Trying to tell me you two
weren't in this together?
Well, you heard her.
I ain't pull no trigger.
I've got a CIA officer who
had burns all over his chest.
How'd they get there?
I don't know, cooking
rock? Dangerous business.
Your mother's throwing her life
away trying to publicly out the CIA.
You don't think she's gonna talk to us?
(CHUCKLES) My mother's fucking crazy.
Ain't nobody gonna believe that shit.
- Irene Abe would have.
- Yeah, Irene Abe's dead.
Yeah.
Yeah, and so are Andre Wright
and Kevin Hamilton and Jerome Saint.
Now a CIA officer to go along with
how many others along the way?
I know what the fuck you are.
I might be the only one
on the planet that does,
but I do.
Oh, yeah?
Then do something about it then, nigga.
Go ahead. Pull that gun and use it.
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
Uncle Tom-ass nigga.
You think Franklin would come after you?
No.
He know he can't touch me here.
Without Cissy's money, the
shelter ain't gonna stay open.
In two weeks, it'll shut down.
All those people will be
back out on the streets.
I made my decision, Lee.
I'm going back to Ghana.
I got enough money
for a one-way ticket,
and I'll figure out the
rest when I get there.
(FOOTSTEPS RETREATING)
(DRAWER OPENS)
Uh, Leon, I don't want your money
Stop.
You're my wife, and
this is your money, too.
We'll get you to Ghana,
so you can start a new life.
(SNIFFLES)
You not even gonna ask me not to go?
- Leon.
- No.
(GATE BEEPING)
GUARD: Empty your pockets.
Put it in the tray.
GUARD 2: Follow the yellow line. Next.
Stop at the line.
(GATE BLARES)
(LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(LIFTS RECEIVER)
Hey, Mama.
How you doing? You all right?
I spoke to Prentice.
Said he could still help you.
Nobody enters a guilty plea
for first-degree murder.
You request new counsel,
say you weren't in your right mind.
After yesterday,
people will believe it.
Can't run your mouth
like that again, Mama.
You hear me?
Can't provoke these people.
They'll hang you by
your bedsheets in here.
You understand what I'm saying?
(SIGHS)
Why'd you do this, Mama?
Huh?
He was about to make the transfer.
We were so fucking close.
Ten seconds.
You couldn't wait ten fucking seconds?
Huh?
(FRANKLIN SIGHS)
♪
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
(KNOCKING CONTINUES)
- Ah, Franklin.
- Mr. Davis.
May I come in?
Uh, yeah, sure.
Thank you.
Very nice to see you, Franklin.
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah.
Listen, I'm sorry to just
show up like this, but, uh,
I stopped by your office,
and it was very much closed,
so I thought I'd stop by
here while I was in the area.
Okay, is, uh, something
I could help you with?
Well, I want to discuss your offer,
and I thought it best
we sit down in person.
Sorry, my offer?
Yes.
Selling your stake in the
Spring Street development.
We are interested, but
before we get into vetting the numbers,
I wanted to personally ask
you about this situation
- with your mother.
- I'm sorry, you've been misinformed.
About which part?
My stake. It ain't for sale.
Your partner reached out to us,
and said that, uh, you wanted to
- My partner was wrong.
- (STAMMERS)
Anything else?
No.
I suppose not.
You have yourself a good day.
(DOOR CLOSES)
I've been paging you. Where you been?
Oh, I've been a lot of
places, but it started out
with a meeting with Paul Davis.
(SIGHS)
I wanted to test the waters.
See what we'd be looking
at if we decided to sell.
I thought I was very clear that
we're not selling downtown, V.
I didn't see how it could hurt
to have the numbers at hand.
(CHUCKLES) Oh, you didn't
see how it could hurt?
My lady going behind my back,
soliciting offers with our competitors,
showing our weakness?
Okay, then.
It won't happen again.
Oh, I know it won't happen again.
I made a deal to sell the
South Central properties,
so we can finance Spring
Street for as long as possible.
VERONIQUE: What?
You sold all of the
South Central buildings?
Today?
Single buyer with deep pockets.
One familiar enough with the area
and the business model
to see a great deal
when it's right in front of them.
Not to mention,
personal motivation to buy us out.
My mother's old boss,
Arnold Tulfowitz.
(SCOFFS)
Well, shit.
- You just threw it all away.
- No.
- You just sunk us.
- No. No, no, no.
- I don't think I have.
- No?
No.
But even if I have,
I built it, right?
And if I want to tear
it all down, then that's
what the fuck I'm gonna do.
(SIGHS)
You remember what I
said to you in Malibu
- on the bluff that day?
- You said you needed my loyalty.
No, no, no, baby,
that's not all I said to you.
(VERONIQUE GRUNTS)
Don't ever go behind my
fucking back again, you hear me?
Get the fuck off me.
(VERONIQUE EXHALES)
(LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS)
Blue isn't exactly my color, right?
Don't look at me like that.
I did the only thing I could possibly do
and still live with myself.
Yeah.
Well, you should know,
people in the neighborhood been talking,
and they calling you a hero.
Mm.
But they're the only ones
talking about it, right?
Yeah.
Yeah. I also wanted you to know,
I'm-a keep funding the shelter.
Just not gonna let it die.
That is good news.
How's Wanda handling everything?
Not great.
She, uh
hit her breaking point,
and went back to Ghana.
I so admire
all that you're doing,
but I fucking hate the
way you're doing it.
I didn't come here for advice.
I came here to see if there's
anything I can do for you.
Okay.
Well, here's what you can do for me:
pack a suitcase full of books,
get on a plane,
and go to your wife in Ghana.
Go find out who you want
to be in this world, Leon.
And when you're really ready to atone
come back.
Franklin's lost.
One of the greatest
tragedies of my life.
(SIGHS)
But you
are one of my greatest surprises.
I don't want to lose you, too.
Don't do that to me.
And write.
It's gonna get pretty lonely in here.
(CRYING): I love you.
Love you, too.
Go. (SNIFFLES)
(SNIFFLES)
(EXHALES SHAKILY)
(SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
PHILLIP: Mr. Saint.
Phil.
- How you doing, man? Nice to see you.
- PHILLIP: Have a seat.
(SIGHS)
So, uh (CHUCKLES)
We need to rip out the entire foundation
and re-pour it.
I'm suing, of course,
but, in the meantime, I need to,
uh, increase the line of credit
to the construction loan
and cut a cashier's check to GY Concrete
for $129,000, please. You know,
just get the ball going.
Is this maybe what Veronique
was here about earlier?
Sorry, what?
Ms. Turner, she was here this morning
and made a substantial cash withdrawal.
Um
(LAUGHS)
I-I'm sorry, Phil, um
How substantial?
PHILLIP: I'll need to
verify the exact amount,
but it was the majority
of the available funds.
Somewhere in the
neighborhood of $800,000.
FRANKLIN: Yeah.
Yeah, um,
that must be where got
our-our lines crossed.
I'll-I'll talk to her
and I'll get it handled.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, that must've
been where our lines,
our signal got crossed.
Um, I'll talk to her.
Yeah, and I'll get it handled.
PHILLIP: I suppose I
don't need to point out
that you've been paying the Spring
Street mortgage from that account.
Yeah, yeah, um
I'll transfer it in and
get it covered, okay?
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
♪
(LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS)
Hey, Mama.
How you doin'?
Uh, so, listen.
Veronique
She fucked me.
She robbed me.
And she took off.
Now I got Top Notch looking
for her. But, you know,
this-this is what that
bitch does, so it might
take me a while to find her,
but I'm-a fucking find her.
I promise you that.
But-but until I do
Mama, look at me, I'm in trouble.
All I got left is the house.
So I need to sell it,
because I need the cash.
Even though I-I
bought it for you, so
look, I got some documents
that I just need you to sign 'em.
I just need you to sign
ownership over to me.
Okay?
Mama, listen to me. I
I'm sorry, but you never
getting out of here.
Okay? That's the facts.
So
just sign the paperwork.
And
and give me some indication
that you'll do that for me.
Huh?
Mama?
(MUFFLED): What kind of
fucking mother are you?
You're not gonna fucking talk to me?
Huh?
This is all your fucking fault.
You ended my fucking life!
After everything I fucking did for you,
you're not gonna fucking talk to me?!
- You did this to me!
- I got him.
You ended my fucking life!
And Teddy should've blown
your fucking head off!
Fuck you, bitch!
Fuck you!
You fucking did this shit to me!
You did this shit to me!
You fucking did this!
You ended my fucking life!
Fuck you, bitch!
- Fuck you!
- (DOOR SLAMS)
I understand that! Look!
Phillip told me (STAMMERS)
y-you all might extend
me for another 30 days
based on the value of the property.
LOAN OFFICER: Mr. Saint, I
understand that's what he said.
But I'm afraid we aren't
able to extend you any further
- than we already have.
- Look (STAMMERS)
I can get you the money.
I can get you the money.
I just need one week.
Could you give me one week, please?
You have the 48 hours that we discussed.
- At which time, we will be fully within
- God!
You motherfuckers, this
is what you live for, huh?!
This is what you wanted
from the start, right?
Fuck decent people out
they fucking money!?
Look, um, I shouldn't
have said that, okay?
- Um, I just, I really
- (LINE CLICKS, DIAL TONE DRONES)
Hello?
He
(EXHALES)
(LABORED BREATHING)
(PAGER BEEPING)
(SIGHS)
Top.
How you holdin' up?
Yeah, what's up?
You found V?
Nah.
Oh, goddamn, Top.
I mean, shit, she was due two weeks ago.
She gotta have that
baby somewhere, right?
- You check the hospitals?
- Hospitals? (LAUGHS)
Man, look, I don't know where
the fuck I'm supposed to be looking.
All right, listen, Franklin.
Look, I wanted to tell you.
From here on out I'm-I'm not
looking for Veronique anymore.
What?
Why the fuck not?
What, you been talking to Cissy?
Veronique fucking pay you off?
No.
No, this is about me.
I've done all I can do for you, man.
I'm finished.
Oh, you're finished?
So you dragged me
all the way out here
to tell me that you're
fucking quitting on me?
Yeah.
But I also got something for you.
It's what you been looking for.
(TRAIN RATTLING PAST)
♪
(EXHALES)
(DOGS BARKING IN DISTANCE)
♪
(PANTING)
(COUGHING, WHEEZING)
Franklin Saint.
- My nigga.
- FRANKLIN: Ah.
You know
When I read that you was in Monrovia
I thought it made
sense that your bitch ass
would run all the way to Liberia.
Imagine my surprise when I
found out it wasn't that Monrovia.
Bet you thought it
was a smart play, huh?
Tell everybody you headed
halfway across the world
only to go 25 miles.
Or you did plan to leave
and this is just as far as
your bitch ass junkie ass got.
Look at me, nigga.
Five million you took from me.
I hope for your sake
you still got some of it left.
The money?
Yeah, yeah, man, I got it.
Um there's a safe in the back.
All right.
Show me.
- Come on, nigga, show me!
- (COUGHS) Shit!
- Come on. Slow.
- I'm gonna show you. Calm down, nigga.
- Oh, hey, man.
- Come on.
(PANTING)
(PEACHES HACKING, COUGHING)
Fuck.
(WHEEZING)
(CLANGING)
You fucking sloppy, nigga.
Yeah. Yeah, got your ass, nigga.
♪
(LABORED BREATHING)
♪
(GASPS, LAUGHS)
Fuck.
Fuck. (SHOUTS)
(PANTING)
♪
(PANTING)
Yeah, yeah. No, no, no, no.
I swear I've been putting
the right combination in,
but the shit just won't work.
♪
Yeah, I called the company,
and they said it's gonna take
a few days before
somebody can get out here.
I don't have that type of time.
- (CRYING)
- Uh, the make is, um
Shelterstone.
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
(KNOCKING)
Okay. (SNIFFLES)
Miguel?
Yeah, that's right.
- Must make you Chris.
- Uh-huh.
Thanks for coming so, so quick.
You know? I know it's getting late.
Yeah, well, most of
the calls that I get,
some old lady locked
herself out of her Buick.
- Yeah.
- It's not every day I get a chance
- to crack a safe, you know?
- Yeah.
Makes me feel like a bank robber.
(BOTH LAUGH)
It's just back this way.
Damn.
So it's just you in here?
Yeah, I don't get out much.
- Huh.
- Got that anxiety, you know?
Oh, hey, hey, nothing to be ashamed of.
- My abuela has that shit.
- Mm-hmm.
She's afraid of the outdoors.
- It's got some name for it, but I can't remember.
- Yeah.
Here she is.
Holy shit.
She is a big one, huh?
Yeah. So you think you get into it?
Hell yeah.
- The second one should do the trick.
- Okay.
(LAUGHS)
(DRILL WHIRRING)
Who are you?
What the, what the fuck are you doing?
We was trying to help
Peaches get into his safe.
Where's Peaches at?
He's just, he's just around
back. Here, I'll show you.
No, no. You-you stay back.
- No, it's all good, relax.
- Hey! Peaches!
- Fuck. Miguel
- Peaches!
Please carry on, please?
Peaches! Hey!
- (GUNSHOTS)
- (BODY THUDS)
(PANTING)
(QUIETLY): Oh, fuck.
(SNIFFLES)
I don't want to hurt you.
I just need you to open that safe, okay?
Then I'll let you go.
Fuck.
(DRILL WHIRRING)
(CLANKS)
(DRILL STOPS WHIRRING)
All right, back up.
Please, man.
(WHEEL TURNING)
(INHALES)
(SHUDDERS)
Count it.
It's, uh
I don't know, maybe around
12 grand.
(SOFT CHUCKLE)
(LAUGHING)
Oh, Peaches!
(SCREAMS)
(EXHALES)
(CLEARS THROAT)
12 grand.
Lot of money, huh?
I don't know, man.
I've got three kids, man.
I swear to God, I won't say shit.
All right? If the cops ask,
I'll say it was another
white boy dope fiend
who did all of this shit.
Put it in your pocket.
Go on.
What's your name again?
Miguel.
Miguel what?
Miguel Flores.
Well, get out of here.
Go.
Thank you.
- (GUNSHOTS)
- (GRUNTS)
(BIRD CALLING)
(HORSE WHINNIES IN DISTANCE)
(HORSE WHINNIES)
(HORSE SNORTING)
TONY: Morning.
LINDA: Good morning to you.
This looks official.
- Sorry to bother you.
- It ain't a bother yet.
- This your place?
- Our place.
Yes.
Well, uh, we're looking for someone.
Believe she was in the area
looking for work about six months ago.
Might've introduced
herself as Carla Huggins.
Her real name's Louie Saint.
She was a drug trafficker.
Cocaine.
One of the largest operations
in Los Angeles' history.
LINDA: Yep, she was here.
Last winter.
Stayed a couple months,
and then moved on.
TONY: She leave a hint of
where she might've been headed?
EMMETT: Well, we didn't exactly
have that kind of relationship.
LINDA: These things happen
out here all the time.
Folks come around looking for work,
stay a couple months, then move on.
We always figure they're
runnin' from something.
TONY: All right, well
if you happen to remember anything else,
or if she shows up again,
give us a call.
- ♪
♪
- (MAN SHOUTING IN SPANISH)
(MEN GRUNTING)
(SHOUTING IN SPANISH)
(WHISTLES)
(SIGHS)
(MUTTERS IN SPANISH)
(DIALING PAY PHONE)
(LINE BEEPING STEADILY)
(SIGHS)
AUTOMATED VOICE: You
have one new message.
XIAMARA: Hi Gustavo.
I'm not sure if you're
still checking this service.
It's it's been so long.
But if you do get this, I just
I wanted you to know that we're okay.
We finally settled in North Carolina.
It's
it's nice here and
and the boys (CHUCKLES)
- The boys are doing okay.
- (SHORT LAUGH)
I'm sorry it's taken
me so long to reach out.
I wasn't sure if it was a good thing.
And my mother said she'd kill me.
But I still miss you so much.
- We all do.
- (CHUCKLES)
(LAUGHS)
If you do get this
if you made it
and it's possible
we all want to see you again.
I want to see you again.
(SIGHS)
Cooley, Cooley, High,
Cooley, Cooley, High ♪
When Joe Cooley's on the cut
the others run out of luck ♪
Every time he makes a
move the crowd gives it up ♪
When the vocals come in,
the crowd screams again ♪
We're hitting home
runs and we always win ♪
We're here to be known
and Joe's known to be ♪
The king of scratch and mixology ♪
A little left hand,
right hand to take command ♪
Can the crowd get loud
and make them do it again? ♪
Cooley, Cooley, High ♪
Cooley, Cooley, High ♪
Cooley, Cooley, High ♪
Cooley, Cooley, this song is ♪
Cooley, Cooley, High ♪
- Cooley, Cooley, High ♪
- Hey, cuz. Who you with?
Cooley, High ♪
I grew up here. On 46th.
You know if anybody live here?
None of you'll I'll rob, I
got the rhymes to exceed ♪
Yeah. Someone in there.
If you want to call that shit living.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Appreciate it.
(SIGHS)
So make the crowd sway
to the style you crave ♪
(MUSIC RECEDES)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
(DOOR CHAIN RATTLES)
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
Hey, Frank.
If you in there, open up.
It's Leon.
- Come on, man.
- (KNOCKING CONTINUES)
- Come on, Frank.
- (POUNDING ON DOOR)
(EXHALES)
(HOARSE): Well, come
on in if you coming in.
Shit.
Anybody else outside,
watching the house?
Huh?
Anybody like who?
From the city, nigga. Who else?
Nah, I-I just saw
the notice on the door
about the unpaid property tax.
Hell.
Um (SCOFFS)
Five years. You know.
Five years I should get.
But they on some bullshit.
And they fucking with me.
'Cause they know who the fuck I am.
But it's all good.
'Cause what we gonna do is (SNIFFLES)
We gonna go through the back.
'Cause they don't watch the alley.
Well, come on, then,
nigga! Shit. (CHUCKLES)
I know your bougie ass ain't
trying to stay in this shithole.
Leon, Leon.
Okay.
(EXHALES): Well, go on.
(SIGHS, CLEARS THROAT) Okay.
(MUTTERING INDISTINCTLY)
So, when you get back?
- A little while ago.
- (LAUGHS)
Leon, Leon. Go to Africa, come back,
go to Africa, come back again.
I'm-a start calling you
Yo-Yo, nigga. (CHUCKLES)
Yo-Yo! (LAUGHS)
That's actually a better
nickname than Lil Lee.
You gonna be Yo-Yo, motherfucker.
So, you find what you
was looking for out there?
Yeah. Yeah.
That's good.
Sure as shit ain't gonna find it here.
Bitch, what the fuck are you doing?
WOMAN: What?
Y'all better not be taking
no fucking shits back here.
Get the fuck gone.
I live here.
See what I mean?
Shit, last year, two motherfuckers
broke into my house, tried to jack me.
Look at that shit. Look at that.
I will say, they got
the worst of it, though,
fucking with me.
Shit, that's why Cissy, she-she
let me stay in the house.
That's She knew.
(SNIFFLES) She a tricky
little bitch, that lady.
LEON: When was the
last time you saw her?
(CHICKENS SQUAWKING)
"Saw her"?
Nigga, you hear what
the fuck I just said?
Goddamn.
Where we going?
Sup with Wanda?
She finally leave your ass?
She go back to her first love?
- (INHALES SHARPLY)
- It's a long story.
- (LAUGHS)
- She doing great, though.
Trying to get into the music business.
- You fucking with me right now.
- No.
- No.
- (CACKLES)
Damn. Ah.
Everybody got to have a dream.
Yeah.
One thing I will say,
marriage ain't easy.
I'll tell you what ain't easy.
That bitch Veronique.
Motherfucker bounced like a bad check
- soon as the money was gone.
- (DOGS BARKING)
She called me once, if
you can believe that shit.
She ain't tell me where she
was, but she did say I had a son.
Said she was gonna raise him right.
Best schools, better life.
Away from America.
Break the curse.
Said I should take some solace in that.
That's what she said:
"Take some solace."
I said, "Bitch, I'd take a few days
to see my fucking son."
I don't get it, Lee.
Women?
I don't get it.
Sexy chocolate nigga like me
- can't keep a bitch.
- (CHUCKLES)
(LAUGHS)
What the fuck?
What the fuck going on here?
- Heard they shooting a movie.
- Oh?
Damn. Movie business, huh?
(SCOFFS) Bad fucking business.
Come on.
Y'all ain't gonna win no Oscar.
(LAUGHS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
LEON: Hey, so I explored
my options and, um
I started a free legal clinic.
- Oh, really?
- Yeah.
With LAPD arresting folks
left and right, and
public defenders being
all backed up and shit.
First step to giving people freedom
is to make sure they
literally free, you know?
Uh-huh.
I was wrong, about how
bad that Len Bias Law
was gonna be for Black folks.
It was way worse.
Jim Crow all over again.
Yeah, you the nigga
trying to help niggas
that ain't trying to help theyselves.
I mean, people going through it.
They want to get involved.
I actually came to see you
because I could use an extra hand.
Uh-huh.
If you want to come by and
help, that would be great.
Listen, uh
You got ten bucks on you?
Huh?
♪
A 20? (LAUGHS)
Andrew Jackson. You the man.
You don't want anything, do you?
I'll be right back.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
FRANKLIN (HOARSE): Ah.
You know, they was
watching me for a while.
I know they were.
I could hear them on
the phone, clicking.
Click, click, click, you know?
(EXHALES, GROANS)
Random motherfuckers
in cars, following me,
acting like I was the problem.
Called them up once.
Mm-hmm.
Called up the fucking CIA.
Somebody answered.
And I told them,
I said, "Leave me the fuck alone.
Huh? Leave me the fuck alone
or I'm-a start talking."
And that did it.
(LAUGHS) That fucking did it.
Man. (LAUGHS SOFTLY)
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
- (CAR DOOR SHUTS)
- Hmm.
(POUNDING ON DOOR)
CARRON (DISTANT): This is
the L.A. Sheriff's Department.
We have a warrant for seizure
for nonpayment of back taxes.
Like I said.
No, they-they can't
take your fucking house.
- (SCOFFS)
- (POUNDING ON DOOR)
Why?
CARRON: Make this easy.
- (POUNDING ON DOOR)
- They done took everything else.
CARRON: Open this door now
or we'll open it ourselves.
They gonna take that shit, too.
Look, I'll pay the property
taxes and I'll clean
- this shit up myself.
- Stop.
Stop.
You don't understand, Yo-Yo. I'm
(EXHALES)
I ain't got no fucking
chains on me, man.
Hey.
I'm free.
Free from all of it.
In my fucking way. Not yours.
And not theirs.
(GRUNTS)
(LAUGHS)
You my best friend.
Best friend I ever fucking had.
And I'm fucking proud of you.
You hear me?
Huh?
(PAPER CRINKLES)
(RAGGED EXHALE)
I'm good. (CLEARS THROAT)
(SIGHS) Fuck.
Saint.
Saint!
("PRIDE." BY KENDRICK LAMAR PLAYING)
Me ♪
I wasn't taught to share ♪
But care ♪
In another life ♪
I surely was there ♪
Me ♪
I wasn't taught to share ♪
But care ♪
I care, I care ♪
Hell-raising, wheel-chasing ♪
New worldly possessions ♪
Flesh-making, spirit-breaking ♪
Which one would you lessen? ♪
The better part, the human heart ♪
You love them or dissect them ♪
Happiness or flashiness? ♪
How do you serve the question? ♪
See, in a perfect world,
I would be perfect, world ♪
I don't trust people enough
beyond they surface, world ♪
I don't love people enough
to put my faith in man ♪
I put my faith in these
lyrics, hoping I make a band ♪
I understand I ain't perfect,
I probably won't come around ♪
This time I might put you down ♪
Last time I ain't give a fuck ♪
I still feel the same now ♪
My feelings might go numb ♪
You're dealing with cold thumb ♪
I'm willing to give up a leg ♪
And arm to show empathy from ♪
Pity parties and
functions of you and yours ♪
A perfect world, you
probably live another 24 ♪
I can't fake humble ♪
Just 'cause your ass is insecure ♪
I can't fake humble just
'cause your ass is insecure. ♪
♪
FRANKLIN: You're about to
be raided. You should run.
You're the only one who has this number.
It's an answering service.
I will check it every week.
We've officially bounced our first
mortgage check for Spring Street.
We are tapped out, Franklin.
FRANKLIN: I'm trying real fucking
hard to make you understand
just how desperate I am.
Please don't do this.
(GRUNTS, SCREAMING)
What if we split it? $37 million.
We each walk away with a small fortune,
and then we go our separate ways.
Tell me you're not
gonna let that man go.
In two hours, this'll all be over.
I'll go with you to make
sure they don't kill you.
And after that, you and I will
never see each other again.
WOMAN (OVER PHONE): Good
afternoon, Fullerton Escrow.
TEDDY: Hey, Ann, this is Teddy McDonald.
Yes, I am ready to
initiate the transfer.
- (GUNSHOTS)
- (PEOPLE SCREAMING)
FRANKLIN: Hey! Fuck!
Mama. Mama, we got to go.
Goodbye, Franklin.
- (SIRENS WAILING)
- OFFICER: Drop the gun, lady!
(DIAL TONE SOUNDING)
- (MUSIC PLAYING QUIETLY)
- (SOFT CHATTER)
(PANTING)
How you doing? Um
Uh, d Uh, you got a phone?
Thank you.
(SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)
(LINE RINGS)
- VERONIQUE (OVER PHONE): Hello?
- It's me.
All right, what happened? Is it done?
- No.
- No?
- No. Mama, she had a gun.
- What you mean, she had a gun?
- Yeah, she shot Teddy.
- What?
- He's dead.
- What?
He's dead? Franklin,
what are you saying? What?
- Fuck.
- Fuck.
So fucking close
to having that fucking money.
They were about to transfer
it, and she fucked us, V.
- Franklin
- (STAMMERS) Why would she do that shit?
Why would she do that?
Franklin, you just
need to get back here.
We're gonna talk about it. Come back.
She just sat there.
Franklin, I need you to
breathe with me, okay?
Just stay with me, all right?
- And she said goodbye.
- Franklin, we will figure this out.
Could you come back,
please? Right now, come back.
- (PHONE RECEIVER SLAMS DOWN)
- I feel a lot of things ♪
To come tomorrow ♪
BARTENDER: You okay?
It's been so hard
for me to get along ♪
And I don't, I don't understand ♪
It's on me.
She's gone and left ♪
With another man ♪
And, oh ♪
Can't you see ♪
What she's done to me ♪
She's gone and left me alone ♪
And now my dreams are sad songs ♪
MAN: You hear about this shooting?
Like five blocks away,
right by City Hall East.
Some lady shot a guy, killed him.
Cops and reporters
everywhere. Fucking circus.
(CONVERSATION CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)
♪
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(PAGER BEEPING)
Always do, yeah ♪
What they say ♪
I knew it when I heard ♪
(LINE RINGS)
HAVEMEYER (OVER PHONE):
Unless you want to spend the rest of
your life in jail,
you need to do exactly what I tell you.
Listen to me,
uh, I-I didn't know she was
gonna fucking do that shit.
Put the asset into
the trunk of your car.
Drive to 355 Jamison Street.
Pull up to the dead end,
unload him, and leave.
Repeat the address back to me.
355 Jamison.
One hour. Come alone.
(LINE CLICKS, DIAL TONE SOUNDS)
VERONIQUE: Ooh, thank God. Franklin.
Baby, what's going on? Franklin?
I need to move him.
VERONIQUE: Franklin, can you
talk to me? Franklin, talk to me.
(RUBEN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
RUBEN: It's a bad idea, Franklin.
You cannot trust the CIA.
VERONIQUE: What the fuck is going on?
RUBEN: You're nothing to them.
You're just a liability.
You'll never make it
back from the handoff.
They'll kill you right there.
Franklin, don't do this. It's a
(BANGING IN TRUNK)
(ENGINE REVS)
- (RUBEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
- (BANGING IN TRUNK)
Franklin! You can't
Ah!
Franklin. Please,
Franklin. Come on, man.
RUBEN: Please! Please
don't do this, man.
I can still help you out, man.
- Fuck it, come on.
- They will put me through hell,
Don't you understand?
Franklin, please don't
do this, man! (SHOUTS)
Please, Franklin!
Franklin, don't do this, man!
Franklin!
Franklin, don't do this, please!
Ah, Franklin!
♪
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- (HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
LEON: So, along with everything else,
we lost the plug,
pure shit at the best price.
Now, I know ain't nobody walking away,
but we need a new connect.
All right, I don't care if
it's Mexicans, Colombians,
or your fucking cousin
if they got what we need.
A hard game about to
get a whole lot harder.
Y'all better get ready.
Now let me talk to Frank real quick.
(SIGHS) FRANKLIN: Oh
fuck.
LEON: I found Cissy at a jail downtown.
Sent Prentice over to talk
to her, but she sent him away.
Wouldn't even see him.
And they won't let me talk to her,
not until after she's arraigned.
Ain't shit either of
us can do for her now.
Listen, Lee,
I need money, man,
and a lot more than another 500k.
And I'm sorry, I got to ask:
how much you got left?
Almost three million.
That's what the fuck I'm talking about.
Thank fucking Christ.
Okay, look, listen.
You know I don't expect
a handout, all right?
I'll take the 500k
that I already owe you,
I'll add the three million,
okay? And then I'll sell you
an ownership stake in Spring Street.
Make you a partner, man, like
you always should've been.
And then, in a few years,
once construction's complete
and we're generating cash,
either I'll pay you a quarterly income
or we wait till we refinance
and I'll buy you out five,
ten times the amount you put in.
Huh?
Let me ask you something.
Why do you think Cissy did what she did?
(SCOFFS) Wh
Ain't no "why," nigga.
She fucking snapped. Lost her shit.
I don't think so.
She murdered Teddy in broad daylight
in full view of 100 people,
including a CIA officer,
when her fucking son was
about to be handed $37 million.
No, she sacrificed
herself to keep you safe.
- To keep us all safe, from him.
- Do you feel safe, Leon?
Huh? You feel safe?
Do you feel safe? 'Cause
I sure fucking don't.
She didn't want you
to have that money, and
I ain't gonna disrespect what
she did by giving you something
- she didn't want you to have.
- Are you for real right now?
After everything I've done for you,
you gonna sit there with a life raft
and watch me fucking drown?
Nigga, I'm the reason
y'all niggas got this fucking
money in the first place.
It's blood money. If I could
give it all back I would.
Oh, fantastic. Brilliant. Great.
Give it all back to me.
Can't do it.
I need that fucking money, Lee.
And you're gon na give it
to me, or I'm gonna take it.
This really how you
want this shit to end?
No.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR CLOSES)
(ENGINE IDLING)
(ENGINE SHUTS OFF)
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
♪
JUDGE BOYD: Charged with the
first-degree murder of Theodore McDonald
in violation of
California's penal code 187,
punishable by life imprisonment
without the possibility of parole.
Do you understand these charges?
CISSY: I do.
JUDGE BOYD: And how do you plead?
I plead guilty
- of killing a CIA officer
- Your Honor, a recess, please,
- so that I may converse with my client.
- who helped our government
- flood these streets with cocaine
- (GAVEL BANGING)
- That's enough! Enough!
- CISSY: then used that money
- to fund an illegal war.
- JUDGE BOYD: Order!
- Order!
- (GAVEL BANGS)
Request for a recess is denied.
Mrs. Saint,
you will not speak again.
The court reporter will
enter a plea of guilty
and nothing more.
Bond. To the People.
In addition to her guilty plea,
Mrs. Saint confessed at
the time of her arrest.
I believe she is a
danger to the community
and would ask for a remand, Your Honor.
JUDGE BOYD: The court denies
bail for the defendant.
You will remain in custody without bail
throughout your legal proceedings.
Next case.
(GAVEL BANGS)
Franklin Saint.
Been looking for you.
Have a few questions.
I've got witnesses put
someone of your description
- in the square with your mother.
- Oh, yeah? Good for you.
Trying to tell me you two
weren't in this together?
Well, you heard her.
I ain't pull no trigger.
I've got a CIA officer who
had burns all over his chest.
How'd they get there?
I don't know, cooking
rock? Dangerous business.
Your mother's throwing her life
away trying to publicly out the CIA.
You don't think she's gonna talk to us?
(CHUCKLES) My mother's fucking crazy.
Ain't nobody gonna believe that shit.
- Irene Abe would have.
- Yeah, Irene Abe's dead.
Yeah.
Yeah, and so are Andre Wright
and Kevin Hamilton and Jerome Saint.
Now a CIA officer to go along with
how many others along the way?
I know what the fuck you are.
I might be the only one
on the planet that does,
but I do.
Oh, yeah?
Then do something about it then, nigga.
Go ahead. Pull that gun and use it.
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
Uncle Tom-ass nigga.
You think Franklin would come after you?
No.
He know he can't touch me here.
Without Cissy's money, the
shelter ain't gonna stay open.
In two weeks, it'll shut down.
All those people will be
back out on the streets.
I made my decision, Lee.
I'm going back to Ghana.
I got enough money
for a one-way ticket,
and I'll figure out the
rest when I get there.
(FOOTSTEPS RETREATING)
(DRAWER OPENS)
Uh, Leon, I don't want your money
Stop.
You're my wife, and
this is your money, too.
We'll get you to Ghana,
so you can start a new life.
(SNIFFLES)
You not even gonna ask me not to go?
- Leon.
- No.
(GATE BEEPING)
GUARD: Empty your pockets.
Put it in the tray.
GUARD 2: Follow the yellow line. Next.
Stop at the line.
(GATE BLARES)
(LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(LIFTS RECEIVER)
Hey, Mama.
How you doing? You all right?
I spoke to Prentice.
Said he could still help you.
Nobody enters a guilty plea
for first-degree murder.
You request new counsel,
say you weren't in your right mind.
After yesterday,
people will believe it.
Can't run your mouth
like that again, Mama.
You hear me?
Can't provoke these people.
They'll hang you by
your bedsheets in here.
You understand what I'm saying?
(SIGHS)
Why'd you do this, Mama?
Huh?
He was about to make the transfer.
We were so fucking close.
Ten seconds.
You couldn't wait ten fucking seconds?
Huh?
(FRANKLIN SIGHS)
♪
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
(KNOCKING CONTINUES)
- Ah, Franklin.
- Mr. Davis.
May I come in?
Uh, yeah, sure.
Thank you.
Very nice to see you, Franklin.
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah.
Listen, I'm sorry to just
show up like this, but, uh,
I stopped by your office,
and it was very much closed,
so I thought I'd stop by
here while I was in the area.
Okay, is, uh, something
I could help you with?
Well, I want to discuss your offer,
and I thought it best
we sit down in person.
Sorry, my offer?
Yes.
Selling your stake in the
Spring Street development.
We are interested, but
before we get into vetting the numbers,
I wanted to personally ask
you about this situation
- with your mother.
- I'm sorry, you've been misinformed.
About which part?
My stake. It ain't for sale.
Your partner reached out to us,
and said that, uh, you wanted to
- My partner was wrong.
- (STAMMERS)
Anything else?
No.
I suppose not.
You have yourself a good day.
(DOOR CLOSES)
I've been paging you. Where you been?
Oh, I've been a lot of
places, but it started out
with a meeting with Paul Davis.
(SIGHS)
I wanted to test the waters.
See what we'd be looking
at if we decided to sell.
I thought I was very clear that
we're not selling downtown, V.
I didn't see how it could hurt
to have the numbers at hand.
(CHUCKLES) Oh, you didn't
see how it could hurt?
My lady going behind my back,
soliciting offers with our competitors,
showing our weakness?
Okay, then.
It won't happen again.
Oh, I know it won't happen again.
I made a deal to sell the
South Central properties,
so we can finance Spring
Street for as long as possible.
VERONIQUE: What?
You sold all of the
South Central buildings?
Today?
Single buyer with deep pockets.
One familiar enough with the area
and the business model
to see a great deal
when it's right in front of them.
Not to mention,
personal motivation to buy us out.
My mother's old boss,
Arnold Tulfowitz.
(SCOFFS)
Well, shit.
- You just threw it all away.
- No.
- You just sunk us.
- No. No, no, no.
- I don't think I have.
- No?
No.
But even if I have,
I built it, right?
And if I want to tear
it all down, then that's
what the fuck I'm gonna do.
(SIGHS)
You remember what I
said to you in Malibu
- on the bluff that day?
- You said you needed my loyalty.
No, no, no, baby,
that's not all I said to you.
(VERONIQUE GRUNTS)
Don't ever go behind my
fucking back again, you hear me?
Get the fuck off me.
(VERONIQUE EXHALES)
(LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS)
Blue isn't exactly my color, right?
Don't look at me like that.
I did the only thing I could possibly do
and still live with myself.
Yeah.
Well, you should know,
people in the neighborhood been talking,
and they calling you a hero.
Mm.
But they're the only ones
talking about it, right?
Yeah.
Yeah. I also wanted you to know,
I'm-a keep funding the shelter.
Just not gonna let it die.
That is good news.
How's Wanda handling everything?
Not great.
She, uh
hit her breaking point,
and went back to Ghana.
I so admire
all that you're doing,
but I fucking hate the
way you're doing it.
I didn't come here for advice.
I came here to see if there's
anything I can do for you.
Okay.
Well, here's what you can do for me:
pack a suitcase full of books,
get on a plane,
and go to your wife in Ghana.
Go find out who you want
to be in this world, Leon.
And when you're really ready to atone
come back.
Franklin's lost.
One of the greatest
tragedies of my life.
(SIGHS)
But you
are one of my greatest surprises.
I don't want to lose you, too.
Don't do that to me.
And write.
It's gonna get pretty lonely in here.
(CRYING): I love you.
Love you, too.
Go. (SNIFFLES)
(SNIFFLES)
(EXHALES SHAKILY)
(SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
PHILLIP: Mr. Saint.
Phil.
- How you doing, man? Nice to see you.
- PHILLIP: Have a seat.
(SIGHS)
So, uh (CHUCKLES)
We need to rip out the entire foundation
and re-pour it.
I'm suing, of course,
but, in the meantime, I need to,
uh, increase the line of credit
to the construction loan
and cut a cashier's check to GY Concrete
for $129,000, please. You know,
just get the ball going.
Is this maybe what Veronique
was here about earlier?
Sorry, what?
Ms. Turner, she was here this morning
and made a substantial cash withdrawal.
Um
(LAUGHS)
I-I'm sorry, Phil, um
How substantial?
PHILLIP: I'll need to
verify the exact amount,
but it was the majority
of the available funds.
Somewhere in the
neighborhood of $800,000.
FRANKLIN: Yeah.
Yeah, um,
that must be where got
our-our lines crossed.
I'll-I'll talk to her
and I'll get it handled.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, that must've
been where our lines,
our signal got crossed.
Um, I'll talk to her.
Yeah, and I'll get it handled.
PHILLIP: I suppose I
don't need to point out
that you've been paying the Spring
Street mortgage from that account.
Yeah, yeah, um
I'll transfer it in and
get it covered, okay?
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
♪
(LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS)
Hey, Mama.
How you doin'?
Uh, so, listen.
Veronique
She fucked me.
She robbed me.
And she took off.
Now I got Top Notch looking
for her. But, you know,
this-this is what that
bitch does, so it might
take me a while to find her,
but I'm-a fucking find her.
I promise you that.
But-but until I do
Mama, look at me, I'm in trouble.
All I got left is the house.
So I need to sell it,
because I need the cash.
Even though I-I
bought it for you, so
look, I got some documents
that I just need you to sign 'em.
I just need you to sign
ownership over to me.
Okay?
Mama, listen to me. I
I'm sorry, but you never
getting out of here.
Okay? That's the facts.
So
just sign the paperwork.
And
and give me some indication
that you'll do that for me.
Huh?
Mama?
(MUFFLED): What kind of
fucking mother are you?
You're not gonna fucking talk to me?
Huh?
This is all your fucking fault.
You ended my fucking life!
After everything I fucking did for you,
you're not gonna fucking talk to me?!
- You did this to me!
- I got him.
You ended my fucking life!
And Teddy should've blown
your fucking head off!
Fuck you, bitch!
Fuck you!
You fucking did this shit to me!
You did this shit to me!
You fucking did this!
You ended my fucking life!
Fuck you, bitch!
- Fuck you!
- (DOOR SLAMS)
I understand that! Look!
Phillip told me (STAMMERS)
y-you all might extend
me for another 30 days
based on the value of the property.
LOAN OFFICER: Mr. Saint, I
understand that's what he said.
But I'm afraid we aren't
able to extend you any further
- than we already have.
- Look (STAMMERS)
I can get you the money.
I can get you the money.
I just need one week.
Could you give me one week, please?
You have the 48 hours that we discussed.
- At which time, we will be fully within
- God!
You motherfuckers, this
is what you live for, huh?!
This is what you wanted
from the start, right?
Fuck decent people out
they fucking money!?
Look, um, I shouldn't
have said that, okay?
- Um, I just, I really
- (LINE CLICKS, DIAL TONE DRONES)
Hello?
He
(EXHALES)
(LABORED BREATHING)
(PAGER BEEPING)
(SIGHS)
Top.
How you holdin' up?
Yeah, what's up?
You found V?
Nah.
Oh, goddamn, Top.
I mean, shit, she was due two weeks ago.
She gotta have that
baby somewhere, right?
- You check the hospitals?
- Hospitals? (LAUGHS)
Man, look, I don't know where
the fuck I'm supposed to be looking.
All right, listen, Franklin.
Look, I wanted to tell you.
From here on out I'm-I'm not
looking for Veronique anymore.
What?
Why the fuck not?
What, you been talking to Cissy?
Veronique fucking pay you off?
No.
No, this is about me.
I've done all I can do for you, man.
I'm finished.
Oh, you're finished?
So you dragged me
all the way out here
to tell me that you're
fucking quitting on me?
Yeah.
But I also got something for you.
It's what you been looking for.
(TRAIN RATTLING PAST)
♪
(EXHALES)
(DOGS BARKING IN DISTANCE)
♪
(PANTING)
(COUGHING, WHEEZING)
Franklin Saint.
- My nigga.
- FRANKLIN: Ah.
You know
When I read that you was in Monrovia
I thought it made
sense that your bitch ass
would run all the way to Liberia.
Imagine my surprise when I
found out it wasn't that Monrovia.
Bet you thought it
was a smart play, huh?
Tell everybody you headed
halfway across the world
only to go 25 miles.
Or you did plan to leave
and this is just as far as
your bitch ass junkie ass got.
Look at me, nigga.
Five million you took from me.
I hope for your sake
you still got some of it left.
The money?
Yeah, yeah, man, I got it.
Um there's a safe in the back.
All right.
Show me.
- Come on, nigga, show me!
- (COUGHS) Shit!
- Come on. Slow.
- I'm gonna show you. Calm down, nigga.
- Oh, hey, man.
- Come on.
(PANTING)
(PEACHES HACKING, COUGHING)
Fuck.
(WHEEZING)
(CLANGING)
You fucking sloppy, nigga.
Yeah. Yeah, got your ass, nigga.
♪
(LABORED BREATHING)
♪
(GASPS, LAUGHS)
Fuck.
Fuck. (SHOUTS)
(PANTING)
♪
(PANTING)
Yeah, yeah. No, no, no, no.
I swear I've been putting
the right combination in,
but the shit just won't work.
♪
Yeah, I called the company,
and they said it's gonna take
a few days before
somebody can get out here.
I don't have that type of time.
- (CRYING)
- Uh, the make is, um
Shelterstone.
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
(KNOCKING)
Okay. (SNIFFLES)
Miguel?
Yeah, that's right.
- Must make you Chris.
- Uh-huh.
Thanks for coming so, so quick.
You know? I know it's getting late.
Yeah, well, most of
the calls that I get,
some old lady locked
herself out of her Buick.
- Yeah.
- It's not every day I get a chance
- to crack a safe, you know?
- Yeah.
Makes me feel like a bank robber.
(BOTH LAUGH)
It's just back this way.
Damn.
So it's just you in here?
Yeah, I don't get out much.
- Huh.
- Got that anxiety, you know?
Oh, hey, hey, nothing to be ashamed of.
- My abuela has that shit.
- Mm-hmm.
She's afraid of the outdoors.
- It's got some name for it, but I can't remember.
- Yeah.
Here she is.
Holy shit.
She is a big one, huh?
Yeah. So you think you get into it?
Hell yeah.
- The second one should do the trick.
- Okay.
(LAUGHS)
(DRILL WHIRRING)
Who are you?
What the, what the fuck are you doing?
We was trying to help
Peaches get into his safe.
Where's Peaches at?
He's just, he's just around
back. Here, I'll show you.
No, no. You-you stay back.
- No, it's all good, relax.
- Hey! Peaches!
- Fuck. Miguel
- Peaches!
Please carry on, please?
Peaches! Hey!
- (GUNSHOTS)
- (BODY THUDS)
(PANTING)
(QUIETLY): Oh, fuck.
(SNIFFLES)
I don't want to hurt you.
I just need you to open that safe, okay?
Then I'll let you go.
Fuck.
(DRILL WHIRRING)
(CLANKS)
(DRILL STOPS WHIRRING)
All right, back up.
Please, man.
(WHEEL TURNING)
(INHALES)
(SHUDDERS)
Count it.
It's, uh
I don't know, maybe around
12 grand.
(SOFT CHUCKLE)
(LAUGHING)
Oh, Peaches!
(SCREAMS)
(EXHALES)
(CLEARS THROAT)
12 grand.
Lot of money, huh?
I don't know, man.
I've got three kids, man.
I swear to God, I won't say shit.
All right? If the cops ask,
I'll say it was another
white boy dope fiend
who did all of this shit.
Put it in your pocket.
Go on.
What's your name again?
Miguel.
Miguel what?
Miguel Flores.
Well, get out of here.
Go.
Thank you.
- (GUNSHOTS)
- (GRUNTS)
(BIRD CALLING)
(HORSE WHINNIES IN DISTANCE)
(HORSE WHINNIES)
(HORSE SNORTING)
TONY: Morning.
LINDA: Good morning to you.
This looks official.
- Sorry to bother you.
- It ain't a bother yet.
- This your place?
- Our place.
Yes.
Well, uh, we're looking for someone.
Believe she was in the area
looking for work about six months ago.
Might've introduced
herself as Carla Huggins.
Her real name's Louie Saint.
She was a drug trafficker.
Cocaine.
One of the largest operations
in Los Angeles' history.
LINDA: Yep, she was here.
Last winter.
Stayed a couple months,
and then moved on.
TONY: She leave a hint of
where she might've been headed?
EMMETT: Well, we didn't exactly
have that kind of relationship.
LINDA: These things happen
out here all the time.
Folks come around looking for work,
stay a couple months, then move on.
We always figure they're
runnin' from something.
TONY: All right, well
if you happen to remember anything else,
or if she shows up again,
give us a call.
- ♪
♪
- (MAN SHOUTING IN SPANISH)
(MEN GRUNTING)
(SHOUTING IN SPANISH)
(WHISTLES)
(SIGHS)
(MUTTERS IN SPANISH)
(DIALING PAY PHONE)
(LINE BEEPING STEADILY)
(SIGHS)
AUTOMATED VOICE: You
have one new message.
XIAMARA: Hi Gustavo.
I'm not sure if you're
still checking this service.
It's it's been so long.
But if you do get this, I just
I wanted you to know that we're okay.
We finally settled in North Carolina.
It's
it's nice here and
and the boys (CHUCKLES)
- The boys are doing okay.
- (SHORT LAUGH)
I'm sorry it's taken
me so long to reach out.
I wasn't sure if it was a good thing.
And my mother said she'd kill me.
But I still miss you so much.
- We all do.
- (CHUCKLES)
(LAUGHS)
If you do get this
if you made it
and it's possible
we all want to see you again.
I want to see you again.
(SIGHS)
Cooley, Cooley, High,
Cooley, Cooley, High ♪
When Joe Cooley's on the cut
the others run out of luck ♪
Every time he makes a
move the crowd gives it up ♪
When the vocals come in,
the crowd screams again ♪
We're hitting home
runs and we always win ♪
We're here to be known
and Joe's known to be ♪
The king of scratch and mixology ♪
A little left hand,
right hand to take command ♪
Can the crowd get loud
and make them do it again? ♪
Cooley, Cooley, High ♪
Cooley, Cooley, High ♪
Cooley, Cooley, High ♪
Cooley, Cooley, this song is ♪
Cooley, Cooley, High ♪
- Cooley, Cooley, High ♪
- Hey, cuz. Who you with?
Cooley, High ♪
I grew up here. On 46th.
You know if anybody live here?
None of you'll I'll rob, I
got the rhymes to exceed ♪
Yeah. Someone in there.
If you want to call that shit living.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Appreciate it.
(SIGHS)
So make the crowd sway
to the style you crave ♪
(MUSIC RECEDES)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
(DOOR CHAIN RATTLES)
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
Hey, Frank.
If you in there, open up.
It's Leon.
- Come on, man.
- (KNOCKING CONTINUES)
- Come on, Frank.
- (POUNDING ON DOOR)
(EXHALES)
(HOARSE): Well, come
on in if you coming in.
Shit.
Anybody else outside,
watching the house?
Huh?
Anybody like who?
From the city, nigga. Who else?
Nah, I-I just saw
the notice on the door
about the unpaid property tax.
Hell.
Um (SCOFFS)
Five years. You know.
Five years I should get.
But they on some bullshit.
And they fucking with me.
'Cause they know who the fuck I am.
But it's all good.
'Cause what we gonna do is (SNIFFLES)
We gonna go through the back.
'Cause they don't watch the alley.
Well, come on, then,
nigga! Shit. (CHUCKLES)
I know your bougie ass ain't
trying to stay in this shithole.
Leon, Leon.
Okay.
(EXHALES): Well, go on.
(SIGHS, CLEARS THROAT) Okay.
(MUTTERING INDISTINCTLY)
So, when you get back?
- A little while ago.
- (LAUGHS)
Leon, Leon. Go to Africa, come back,
go to Africa, come back again.
I'm-a start calling you
Yo-Yo, nigga. (CHUCKLES)
Yo-Yo! (LAUGHS)
That's actually a better
nickname than Lil Lee.
You gonna be Yo-Yo, motherfucker.
So, you find what you
was looking for out there?
Yeah. Yeah.
That's good.
Sure as shit ain't gonna find it here.
Bitch, what the fuck are you doing?
WOMAN: What?
Y'all better not be taking
no fucking shits back here.
Get the fuck gone.
I live here.
See what I mean?
Shit, last year, two motherfuckers
broke into my house, tried to jack me.
Look at that shit. Look at that.
I will say, they got
the worst of it, though,
fucking with me.
Shit, that's why Cissy, she-she
let me stay in the house.
That's She knew.
(SNIFFLES) She a tricky
little bitch, that lady.
LEON: When was the
last time you saw her?
(CHICKENS SQUAWKING)
"Saw her"?
Nigga, you hear what
the fuck I just said?
Goddamn.
Where we going?
Sup with Wanda?
She finally leave your ass?
She go back to her first love?
- (INHALES SHARPLY)
- It's a long story.
- (LAUGHS)
- She doing great, though.
Trying to get into the music business.
- You fucking with me right now.
- No.
- No.
- (CACKLES)
Damn. Ah.
Everybody got to have a dream.
Yeah.
One thing I will say,
marriage ain't easy.
I'll tell you what ain't easy.
That bitch Veronique.
Motherfucker bounced like a bad check
- soon as the money was gone.
- (DOGS BARKING)
She called me once, if
you can believe that shit.
She ain't tell me where she
was, but she did say I had a son.
Said she was gonna raise him right.
Best schools, better life.
Away from America.
Break the curse.
Said I should take some solace in that.
That's what she said:
"Take some solace."
I said, "Bitch, I'd take a few days
to see my fucking son."
I don't get it, Lee.
Women?
I don't get it.
Sexy chocolate nigga like me
- can't keep a bitch.
- (CHUCKLES)
(LAUGHS)
What the fuck?
What the fuck going on here?
- Heard they shooting a movie.
- Oh?
Damn. Movie business, huh?
(SCOFFS) Bad fucking business.
Come on.
Y'all ain't gonna win no Oscar.
(LAUGHS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
LEON: Hey, so I explored
my options and, um
I started a free legal clinic.
- Oh, really?
- Yeah.
With LAPD arresting folks
left and right, and
public defenders being
all backed up and shit.
First step to giving people freedom
is to make sure they
literally free, you know?
Uh-huh.
I was wrong, about how
bad that Len Bias Law
was gonna be for Black folks.
It was way worse.
Jim Crow all over again.
Yeah, you the nigga
trying to help niggas
that ain't trying to help theyselves.
I mean, people going through it.
They want to get involved.
I actually came to see you
because I could use an extra hand.
Uh-huh.
If you want to come by and
help, that would be great.
Listen, uh
You got ten bucks on you?
Huh?
♪
A 20? (LAUGHS)
Andrew Jackson. You the man.
You don't want anything, do you?
I'll be right back.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
FRANKLIN (HOARSE): Ah.
You know, they was
watching me for a while.
I know they were.
I could hear them on
the phone, clicking.
Click, click, click, you know?
(EXHALES, GROANS)
Random motherfuckers
in cars, following me,
acting like I was the problem.
Called them up once.
Mm-hmm.
Called up the fucking CIA.
Somebody answered.
And I told them,
I said, "Leave me the fuck alone.
Huh? Leave me the fuck alone
or I'm-a start talking."
And that did it.
(LAUGHS) That fucking did it.
Man. (LAUGHS SOFTLY)
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
- (CAR DOOR SHUTS)
- Hmm.
(POUNDING ON DOOR)
CARRON (DISTANT): This is
the L.A. Sheriff's Department.
We have a warrant for seizure
for nonpayment of back taxes.
Like I said.
No, they-they can't
take your fucking house.
- (SCOFFS)
- (POUNDING ON DOOR)
Why?
CARRON: Make this easy.
- (POUNDING ON DOOR)
- They done took everything else.
CARRON: Open this door now
or we'll open it ourselves.
They gonna take that shit, too.
Look, I'll pay the property
taxes and I'll clean
- this shit up myself.
- Stop.
Stop.
You don't understand, Yo-Yo. I'm
(EXHALES)
I ain't got no fucking
chains on me, man.
Hey.
I'm free.
Free from all of it.
In my fucking way. Not yours.
And not theirs.
(GRUNTS)
(LAUGHS)
You my best friend.
Best friend I ever fucking had.
And I'm fucking proud of you.
You hear me?
Huh?
(PAPER CRINKLES)
(RAGGED EXHALE)
I'm good. (CLEARS THROAT)
(SIGHS) Fuck.
Saint.
Saint!
("PRIDE." BY KENDRICK LAMAR PLAYING)
Me ♪
I wasn't taught to share ♪
But care ♪
In another life ♪
I surely was there ♪
Me ♪
I wasn't taught to share ♪
But care ♪
I care, I care ♪
Hell-raising, wheel-chasing ♪
New worldly possessions ♪
Flesh-making, spirit-breaking ♪
Which one would you lessen? ♪
The better part, the human heart ♪
You love them or dissect them ♪
Happiness or flashiness? ♪
How do you serve the question? ♪
See, in a perfect world,
I would be perfect, world ♪
I don't trust people enough
beyond they surface, world ♪
I don't love people enough
to put my faith in man ♪
I put my faith in these
lyrics, hoping I make a band ♪
I understand I ain't perfect,
I probably won't come around ♪
This time I might put you down ♪
Last time I ain't give a fuck ♪
I still feel the same now ♪
My feelings might go numb ♪
You're dealing with cold thumb ♪
I'm willing to give up a leg ♪
And arm to show empathy from ♪
Pity parties and
functions of you and yours ♪
A perfect world, you
probably live another 24 ♪
I can't fake humble ♪
Just 'cause your ass is insecure ♪
I can't fake humble just
'cause your ass is insecure. ♪
♪