The Chi (2018) s06e12 Episode Script

1
[KEVIN] Previously on The Chi
Welcome to English Lit 101.
There's nothing you
can't explore on the page.
Man, just keep your head
down, and do the work.
You'll be a'ight.
You don't want more for yourself?
Everybody dreams can come true.
Whose weed is this?
Mine.
Maybe I can get you
some product placement
at the lounge, help you
expand your clientele.
- [GUN COCKING]
- In exchange
for your fucking life, I want a cut.
I guess it's a deal we gotta take.
What a baddie right there.
[PAPA] Bro, that's the first lady.
[JAKE CHUCKLES]
How would you feel
about being my assistant?
I'd be honored.
How are things going
with Bakari's sister?
- Pretty good.
- Remind her I'm paying her
to spy on her brother.
I need a new head of security.
And you'll have plenty of benefits.
If you don't kill me, I'll owe you one.
[DOUDA] Make her disappear,
and I'll let you live.
I'm looking to buy Douda out.
[ALICIA] How much you need?
- [GUNSHOTS]
- [PERSON] The FBI found your DNA
in a burnt car near Q's body.
Now, if they can't pin this on Douda,
they're gonna find a
way to pin this on you.
[MELLOW MUSIC]
♪♪♪
[SINGERS VOCALIZING]
♪♪♪
Will we make it ♪
Through the summer ♪
Will we make it ♪
Will we, will we, will we ♪
Will we make it ♪
[BIANCA] Don't forget to talk to Victor.
I need that weed permit.
No. Don't worry, I got you.
Will we make it through the summer ♪
Or will we crash ♪
Into the sun ♪
[SINGING INDISTINCTLY]
More than I could give ♪
Still they take from me ♪
Every day ♪
Every day ♪
There's something ♪
New to talk about ♪
[DRAMATIC JAZZ MUSIC]
♪♪♪
- [KNOCKING]
- Yes?
[MRS. JACKSON] You have a visitor.
[BAKARI SIGHS]
What you want?
I can't come kick it with my baby bro?
I'm writing.
- [BRITNEY] What you writing?
- A book.
You writing it on your phone?
[BAKARI] What else am I supposed to use?
[SIGHS] Let me think.
A computer.
I ain't got one.
[BRITNEY] What's the book about?
[SIGHS] My life.
You mean our life?
[BAKARI] I guess.
You gon' talk about what
happened to you in foster care?
Maybe.
You gon' talk about killing
the nigga that killed Coogie?
- Maybe.
- [BRITNEY] Who gonna read it?
[BAKARI] I don't know.
I hope the feds don't.
[SUCKS TEETH] I ain't using names.
Why would you confess to
some shit you got away with?
That don't make no sense.
[SIGHS]
Maybe I won't publish it.
Then if you don't publish
it, it'll just be a journal.
How the music coming?
Good.
Jemma my manager now.
- I heard.
- [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
I also heard you came into some money.
Where you hear that at?
Jake said that you helped
Jemma get her new spot.
How you go from being
homeless to passing out checks?
I hustled.
And I don't remember you offering me
a place to lay my head.
Yeah, 'cause you can't come
in here messing up my spot.
You ain't gotta worry about me.
I can fend for myself.
Like you been doing since we was kids?
Right.
I'm sorry I didn't come back for you.
It wasn't your fault.
Yeah, but
I should've tried to find you.
Yeah.
You should've.
I'm here now.
[R&B MUSIC]
♪♪♪
Hey
don't go telling your
business in that book.
We don't need no paper
trails around here.
♪♪♪
All right?
Yeah.
[UPBEAT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC]
[FINGERS SNAP]
♪♪♪
[GARDNER] Can't go
wrong with any of 'em.
♪♪♪
I got something I wanna show you.
♪♪♪
Why you giving me this?
I wrote my pages in a notes app.
♪♪♪
This isn't very readable.
Ah, you want me to shorten it?
[CHUCKLES] No.
I want you to inject some punctuation
and break it up into paragraphs.
♪♪♪
No. Go sit. Sit down.
♪♪♪
Okay
if you want me to help you with this,
you need to take this seriously.
I do.
I spent hours writing that.
You want my feedback,
which means I need you to send it to me
so I can get you these thoughts.
Okay, cool.
I'll-I'll text it to you.
[SIGHS]
You don't have a laptop?
Nope.
Well, I think now is the
time to invest in one,
especially if you wanna lean into this.
♪♪♪
Okay.
I will.
And don't text me pages.
Email.
[CHUCKLES] Bet, old man.
Ooh?
- Ooh.
- [GARDNER] All right.
Douda wants me to take out Alicia.
You can't kill my man's mama.
I don't wanna kill anybody.
But Douda said it's either her or me.
She crazier than Douda.
What should I do?
Why you asking me?
Did you talk to Kiesha?
I ain't trying to be in
the middle of y'all shit.
Tiff, this all of our shit.
Besides, you know Alicia
better than Kiesha do.
No worries, I'm Gucci,
my thighs a little juicy ♪
It's better to have Alicia
as your ally than your enemy.
My life is a movie,
like Raheem and Mookie ♪
What if I tell her Douda
told me to take her out?
Why the fuck would you do that?
So she'll owe me one.
What if she kills you?
[EMMETT] I don't think she would.
I think she'll be grateful
I told her the truth.
And once she knows Douda wants her dead,
it'll make Alicia wanna take
him out before he gets to her.
Be exactly who you are forever ♪
'Cause they gon' try
and change your heart ♪
So what do you need from me?
I need you to take me to her.
You better ♪
Be exactly who you are forever ♪
'Cause they gon' try
and change your heart ♪
Don't let 'em ♪
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪♪♪
If you don't wanna spend
the rest of your natural life
in a cage,
you better have that permit.
♪♪♪
I'll get it done.
I know.
♪♪♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
The Black Caucus is willing to make
a hefty donation to ROCK
in exchange for your vote.
I told you I can't be bought.
Yes, you can.
That's politics.
Now, let's make sure we don't leave here
without some folks
owing us a few favors.
[SUSPENSEFUL ORCHESTRAL MUSIC]
♪♪♪
[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]
♪♪♪
First let me thank the mayor
and my fellow city council members.
Like the mayor said, this budget,
it isn't perfect, but it has potential.
And I'm a firm believer that
if we expect to see real change,
then we have to work together,
even if that means voting for something
that doesn't give us everything we want.
Getting everything we want right away
isn't realistic.
But I believe, in time,
we will find a more middle ground.
And until that day comes
[CLEARS THROAT]
I'll be voting yes
on the mayor's budget.
[CROWD CHANTING] Traitor! Traitor!
Traitor! Traitor!
- Traitor! Traitor!
- [BREATHES DEEPLY]
Skip you, and draw four.
Damn, Papa, that's how you gon' do me?
- [CHUCKLES]
- [PERSON] Come in. Come in.
Smokey's is reopening.
[PERSON] That ratchet-ass place?
Nah, I'm good.
That's just sad.
Mm, don't nobody wanna
eat at the chicken spot
that got shot up.
People got short-term memory.
They'll be back.
You promise?
Yeah. Smokey's will be fine.
[INDISTINCT HIP-HOP MUSIC
PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
Mm.
You plan on managing full-time
when the crowds come back?
Actually, I'm accepting
your dad's job offer.
- I didn't know he offered you a job.
- [PAPA] Yeah.
Everything's been moving so fast,
I just didn't have time to tell you.
♪♪♪
What are you gonna be doing over there?
[PAPA] He wants me to be his assistant.
Huh.
[PAPA] What?
Just be careful.
I know some people think your dad
is too flashy for a preacher.
[KENYA] Your dad used to think that.
♪♪♪
What if he was wrong?
So he was right about me
but wrong about my dad?
♪♪♪
Don't worry. I'm happy for you.
♪♪♪
I think it'll be good for me.
I hope so.
♪♪♪
[MELLOW R&B MUSIC]
♪♪♪
I don't fuck with Douda.
What does that have to do with me?
I saw y'all kissing earlier.
[LAUGHS] What does that
have to do with you?
If we gon' do business together,
I need to know that
nigga ain't involved.
He's not. This my shit.
That's what everybody says
until they get killed
or owe him a favor.
My relationship with
him is transactional,
just like the one between us.
This this is business.
So, Tiff, you can relax.
And I'll do me ♪
You're still you ♪
And I'm still me ♪
[BIANCA] Okay?
[POWER TOOLS BUZZING]
[ENGINE PUTTERING]
Try it again.
[ENGINE REVS]
- [R&B MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
- [LAUGHS]
Now we're talking.
Now we're talking.
[BRITNEY] I'm her ♪
The one you gon' remember ♪
Oh, I'm her, I'm her ♪
- You hear that?
- [DOUDA] Hmm?
She got a whole song out
but can't tell you shit about Bakari.
- Who?
- Britney.
[BRITNEY] Oh, yes,
I am, oh, yes, I am ♪
I'm her ♪
I'm just saying, she got a job to do,
and I don't see her doing it.
♪♪♪
Go find her.
[BRITNEY] Who you gon' be down for ♪
I can make you feel good ♪
I can leave you shivering ♪
I can make you feel like ♪
Shopping sprees and Benjamins ♪
[DOOR SLAMS]
So is it gonna be the
both of y'all or just one?
Just me. Tiff drove.
All right, bet.
Tiff, would you mind waiting
in the living room, please?
[TIFF] Mm.
Remember what I told you.
I got it.
[LOUNGE MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
♪♪♪
[SHAAD SIGHS]
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on.
My bad. I gotta pat you down first.
Really, nigga?
Come on, man, I ain't
trying to lose my job.
Come on, man.
Look, I promise I won't
be too thorough, okay?
You better not.
Come on, man, I'm just trying to follow
proper protocol, that's all.
You ready?
[MELLOW JAZZY MUSIC]
♪♪♪
Uh is this a good time?
♪♪♪
It's never a good time to bother me.
♪♪♪
Um I don't mean to bother.
♪♪♪
[ALICIA] What do you want?
♪♪♪
Douda asked me to kill you.
♪♪♪
Is that right?
[EMMETT] And he said
if I don't kill you,
he's gon' kill me.
♪♪♪
Then you're a dead man walking.
[EMMETT] Maybe not.
I don't wanna kill you.
I don't wanna kill anybody.
It's not that you wanna kill me.
You can't.
♪♪♪
You don't have it in you.
♪♪♪
I could kill somebody if I wanted to.
♪♪♪
You tried, and you failed.
But I could have, though.
♪♪♪
Why are you telling me this?
We both want Douda dead.
That's true.
Me and Rob couldn't kill him.
But I think you could.
Why do Black women
have to do everything?
♪♪♪
As a Black man standing before you,
I'm not asking you to save me.
Then what are you doing?
I'm accepting your offer
to buy Douda out of my businesses.
♪♪♪
I heard that Smokey's is a ghost town
ever since Douda's goons shot it up,
so I don't know if
my offer still stands.
With your help, we'll be
back stronger than ever.
I'm still a great investment.
♪♪♪
And why is that?
[EMMETT] Smokey's is more
than just a restaurant.
It's a place for our community.
It brings people together.
And according to Douda,
the spot in Harlem is doing numbers too.
And have you been to the spot in Harlem?
[EMMETT] Not yet.
But you trust Douda?
♪♪♪
I didn't think so.
♪♪♪
I'd rather be under your thumb than his.
Why would you wanna be
under anybody's thumb?
I don't really have a choice right now.
And once my brother helps
me get my money right,
I'll buy you out, too,
with interest.
Oh.
Well, that's big talk.
♪♪♪
And what if I tell
Douda what you're doing?
[EMMETT CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
♪♪♪
That doesn't serve you.
♪♪♪
Then what does?
Having me in your pocket.
♪♪♪
I'll put you in my Hermès bag.
♪♪♪
You'll have a security
detail from now on.
♪♪♪
And they'll make sure that your business
and your little family are safe.
Thank you.
And then I'll come to Smokey's
and take a look around and try the food.
You'll love our short ribs.
I don't eat meat.
Oh, well, we got vegan options.
Very smart.
♪♪♪
Hmm.
♪♪♪
And make sure your books are in order.
I look forward to serving you.
I look forward to being served.
♪♪♪
I'm living in glory, in glory ♪
I got favor, heaven adore me ♪
Y'all pull up, let me tell my story ♪
I'm living in glory,
in glory, in glory ♪
I'm living in glory, in glory ♪
I got favor, heaven adore me ♪
Y'all pull up, let me tell my story ♪
I'm living in glory,
in glory, in glory ♪
Life ain't perfect,
but it's good though ♪
I guess that's the silver
lining that I look for ♪
'Cause see, the
reaper better harvest ♪
And you should sow the
kind of seeds that make ♪
Your blessings flow tenfold ♪
That's why you catch me
out volunteering my time ♪
'Cause when I share
light on others ♪
- [RONNIE CRYING]
- [KIESHA SIGHS]
It's okay.
- It's okay.
- [CRYING CONTINUES]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪♪♪
Emmett, I think something's wrong.
[CRYING CONTINUES]
♪♪♪
[EZEKIEL] Ah, welcome home, my child.
[PAPA] I'm not your child.
But you're a child of God, aren't you?
Yes, sir.
Then I'm welcoming you into
your Heavenly Father's house.
In here, we're all his children.
- I understand.
- Good.
You came ready to preach?
Come again?
[EZEKIEL CHUCKLES]
I want you to speak to the
youth congregation tonight.
[PAPA] Tonight?
I don't have anything prepared.
Do you think I would
throw you into the deep end
with no life jacket?
That's what it feel like.
[EZEKIEL] The Lord is your shepherd.
He will guide you on your task.
Right, but I need actual words to say.
When you're up there, the
words will come to you.
Is that what you do?
Oh, yeah.
I'm the Jay-Z of pastors.
I don't write anything down.
I just ask God to guide
me and-and make sure
our harvest is abundant.
And he provides.
God always provides.
God
or your congregation?
[EZEKIEL CHUCKLES]
It's all the same to me.
♪♪♪
[CROWD CHANTING] Hell no! We won't go!
Hell no! We won't go!
Hell no! We won't go! Hell no
You okay?
[VICTOR] You don't
have to pretend to care.
[BIANCA] Oh, I'm not pretending.
[VICTOR] Come get your
permit and go, please.
♪♪♪
Politics isn't meant to be easy.
That's why I didn't wanna do it.
[BIANCA] You'll figure it out.
Whatever.
Just remember, everything
is transactional.
If you do something for somebody,
make sure they can do something for you.
I just did something for you.
♪♪♪
What you gonna do for me?
What do you want?
♪♪♪
I don't want people to hate me.
Well, I can't fix that.
But I can let people know
that you helped me in my time of need.
How's that gonna help?
Good word of mouth goes a long way.
If people know that you really care,
they'll go easier on you,
even if
you don't do things their way.
♪♪♪
[CROWD CHANTING] Hell no! We won't go!
Hell no! We won't go!
Hell no! We won't go!
Hey, I got a big job next week.
You want in on it?
[SIGHS] I can't.
I'm already booked.
[DARNELL] With who?
Alicia.
[DARNELL] Rob's bougie mama?
- [SUCKS TEETH] Man, she not that bougie.
- [DARNELL] Oh.
What, you her new gigolo or something?
Man, hell nah.
[DARNELL] Then what
you over there doing?
I'm her new head of security.
Well, what you over there securing?
- [LAUGHS]
- Oh, man, knock it off, man.
[DARNELL] Did she buy you that coat?
[SIGHS] She gave it to me.
Yeah, probably belonged
to one of her old niggas.
So what?
Yeah, you definitely
rocking a hand-me-down.
Shit look like it's from the '80s.
If I was you, I'd be checking
the pockets for cocaine.
Shut up, man.
Alicia a respectable businesswoman, man.
Yeah, she got a business.
I don't know how respectable it is.
Just be careful, brother.
♪♪♪
[SINGERS VOCALIZING]
[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
[INDISTINCT SINGING]
♪♪♪
[DOUDA] Wow.
Wow.
This is beautiful.
Bianca ain't here.
No, I was, uh I was
actually looking for you.
And what the fuck you want with me?
I wanted to see how
your boyfriend was doing.
Heard he got shot.
You know, it would have been a shame
if we lost him.
♪♪♪
You're a miserable man, you know that?
Stay away from me and my family.
Well, I'm sorry.
That's gonna be hard to do, Tiffany,
because you see, your man and I,
we're in business together.
Yeah, not for long.
I'm sorry. What did you say?
- Nothing.
- [DOUDA] Mm.
Can you do me a favor
and make sure that Bianca gets these?
She'll know who they're from.
She don't even like you like that.
♪♪♪
Excuse me?
She told me what y'all got
is purely transactional.
♪♪♪
Is that what she said?
Yup.
♪♪♪
But I'll
♪♪♪
She can't have the flowers now?
No. I'll make sure she get 'em.
♪♪♪
I don't trust your ass anyway.
[CROWD CHANTING] Hell no! We won't go!
Hell no! We won't go!
Hell no! We won't go!
Hell no! We won't go!
[REPORTER] In an unexpected turn,
Aldermen Victor Taylor, who was elected
on his platform of defunding the police,
voted yes on the mayor's new budget,
which would increase
their budget significantly.
I'm here with a crowd
growing outside his office
who are calling him a traitor.
And some are even calling
for his resignation.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Look, this will pass.
Everybody goes through it.
Once you get that donation,
all will be right with the world.
Sure?
[CROWD CHANTING] Traitor! Traitor!
Traitor! Traitor!
Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!
Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
So this is the first time
you've noticed these symptoms?
Yes, I've never heard him cry like that.
[DOCTOR] Were there
any autoimmune diseases
or genetic irregularities
detected in his newborn screening?
We never did that.
Can you help us figure out
what's wrong with him or not?
[DOCTOR] Are there any
known genetic diseases
in your families?
I'm not his father.
[DOCTOR] Do you know who the father is?
[BOTH YELLING]
♪♪♪
[KNOCKING]
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪♪♪
How y'all know I was here?
I've got eyes everywhere.
Right now is not a good time.
Why is Alicia still alive?
Our son is sick.
And she sent her son to kill me.
Get it done.
What's going on?
♪♪♪
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
♪♪♪
Amazing grace ♪
How sweet the sound ♪
That saved a wretch ♪
Like me ♪
I once was lost ♪
But now I'm found ♪
Was blind ♪
But now I see ♪
Amazing grace ♪
How sweet the sound ♪
That saved a wretch ♪
Like me ♪
I once was lost ♪
But now I'm found ♪
Was blind ♪
But now I see ♪
♪♪♪
Amazing, he's so amazing ♪
- What up, my boy?
- What's up?
He's so amazing ♪
Thanks for pulling up.
Of course. You know I got you.
♪♪♪
Are you here for me or the first lady?
[LAUGHS]
You know, two things can be true.
Was blind, but now I see ♪
Don't trip. You got this.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[BAND PLAYING MELLOW JAZZ MUSIC]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
♪♪♪
[BIANCA] Okay, these are a limited-run
exclusive partnership with
my cigar lounge and Heir Gold.
Each cigar box
is designed by a Chicago artist.
No two are the same.
♪♪♪
Five racks.
Each.
Five racks?
Yes.
Girl, that is a lot for some weed.
It's luxury weed.
There's a difference.
♪♪♪
- [TIFF] We did this.
- [BIANCA LAUGHS] We did do this.
[LAUGHTER]
I still can't believe you
got the permit so quick.
I have my ways.
This place reeks of reefer.
[LAUGHTER]
This isn't just a cigar lounge anymore.
Well, that's unfortunate news.
- [BIANCA LAUGHS]
- But the good news
is that Douda can't
touch any of this profit.
Mm.
♪♪♪
That's something to celebrate.
[GLASSES CLINKING]
Cheers, dears.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
[PAPA] Uh
what you give to God,
you give to yourselves.
What you invest in the church,
you invest in yourselves.
Um
walk with total faith
in the Savior's abundance
and watch that abundance pour
back into your life tenfold.
Um
when my dad died,
I felt like God had
turned his back on me.
I was lost and alone.
But when I came here,
Pastor Zeke told me that
God was testing me so I
could have a testimony.
He said that God wanted me to live
a bountiful life, a life
filled with all the
things I want and need.
Once I started pouring into
my church spiritually
And financially.
[APPLAUSE]
And financially,
I saw my life change.
I work here now.
[APPLAUSE]
And I have more money in my pockets
than I've ever had before
[APPLAUSE]
and more blessings
than I know what to do with.
How many of you want your
lives to change for the better?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Then the time is now to
start investing in yourselves
and in this powerful ministry.
[APPLAUSE]
♪♪♪
[TATIANA] These look great.
And you got 'em in on time.
You sound surprised.
I'm just impressed.
That's all.
Let me know if you need anything else.
[LIGHT MUSIC]
♪♪♪
I think I will.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]
♪♪♪
Fuck y'all doing here?
Get the fuck out.
I was just about to ask
you the same question.
- I'm working.
- On what?
On some music.
That's not what we paying you for.
But I gotta have a front.
Otherwise, he gonna
start asking questions.
[BANGS TABLE] I gave you 30
grand to spy on your brother,
not to be here to become
a fucking failed rapper.
[BRITNEY] Who says I'm gon' fail?
[DOUDA] There's no money
in the music business.
Trust me.
I'm on it.
I hope so.
I got some info for you.
All right, speak.
He's writing a book.
[DOUDA] About what?
About his life on the streets.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
Is he using names?
I told him not to confess to nothing.
[DOUDA] Who is this book for?
He didn't say.
I don't like the idea
of him writing shit down.
- Neither do I.
- Then I need for you to encourage him
to find a new hobby.
[BRITNEY] Okay.
I'm on it.
You better be.
♪♪♪
[PAPA] Now that you're
no longer a child,
you must put away childish things.
I can't believe they got Papa.
Your dad's a charming guy.
[SCOFFS] I know.
Not charming enough to
make me write a check,
but he's charming.
I'm sure you'll fall under
his spell soon enough.
Nah, I don't buy the whole
"give your money to Jesus
and he'll pay it back tenfold" stuff.
I believe in earning everything I get.
Don't you steal cars for a living?
A job is a job.
[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
♪♪♪
[BAND PLAYING MELLOW LOUNGE MUSIC]
♪♪♪
[NUCK] Hmm.
Look like we had a good night.
[BILLS RUSTLING]
♪♪♪
How long we gotta do this?
As long as Rob's alive.
♪♪♪
[BILLS RUSTLING]
♪♪♪
[EXHALES HEAVILY]
[SNIFFS]
Smells expensive.
It is.
♪♪♪
[ALICIA] My son made
a stupid deal with you.
♪♪♪
If he didn't, he'd be dead right now.
All deals can be renegotiated.
[NUCK CHUCKLES]
Not this one.
♪♪♪
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪♪♪
[ENGINE REVVING]
- [GUN COCKING]
- Who the fuck is it?
- Who is it?
- [BAKARI] It's Bakari, man.
Damn.
Little boy, you almost
got yourself killed.
My bad, boss.
How much you think we can get for this?
- Not much.
- Come on.
It's gotta be worth something.
All right, you know what?
I'll have Zay take a look at it,
and he'll let you know.
Any [CLEARS THROAT, SNIFFLES]
chance you
think I could get an
advance on my allowance?
Why do you need an advance?
I wanna buy a laptop.
So you can write your book?
- What?
- Motherfucker.
[BAKARI GASPING]
You'll get your allowance
when I fucking decided
to give it to you.
[BAKARI CHOKING]
Get the fuck out of here!
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪♪♪
[KIESHA] Ronnie's sick.
Doctors don't know
what's wrong with him.
I'm so sorry.
I gotta track down his father's DNA.
See if he passed a
genetic disease to my son.
[FATIMA] I thought you
killed your abductor.
I did.
That's why I need your help.
Victor told Emmett you got
connections with people
people who work on sexual assault cases.
[FATIMA] Mm.
Um
I can make some calls.
Thank you.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC]
♪♪♪
[DOUDA GROANS SOFTLY]
♪♪♪
[CHUCKLES] What is that for?
[DOUDA] Just completing the transaction.
♪♪♪
[SCOFFS]
[BAKARI] Me and Coogie
thought we'd live forever.
We felt invincible.
Nothing scared us.
But when he got killed,
I realized just how mortal we all are.
Any of us can be taken at any moment.
After he died, I-I used to think
about dying all the time.
Now I think about living.
I want my life to mean something.
So you gonna enroll next semester?
Douda wouldn't be here for it.
Then stop working for him.
He's keeping money in my pocket.
I don't even know what
you need money for.
You ain't paying rent nowhere.
I gotta eat.
If you enrolled in school
and stopped working for Douda,
then maybe I could
try to convince my mom
to let you stay here with me.
[TENDER MUSIC]
[BAKARI] For real?
- Yeah.
- [BAKARI SCOFFS SOFTLY]
You really think she'd let me live here?
Probably not, but if
you wasn't such a mess,
she might at least consider it.
[SIGHS]
♪♪♪
[TIFF] You do this every year?
Um, twice a year, sometimes more.
It's the least I could
do since the university
named a building after me.
Damn, that's powerful.
I wanna build something that lasts.
You will.
You're well on your way.
I wanna introduce you to someone.
[LOUNGE MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
Judge Bradley,
I wanted to introduce you to my son's
fiancée, Tiffany.
Hi, Tiffany.
[ALICIA] She's the creator
of Heir Gold organic cannabis.
And she's gon' make Chicago
the Amsterdam of America.
[BRADLEY] Oh, okay. [LAUGHS]
- Cheers to that.
- Mm.
[ALICIA] Cheers.
So I-I heard about Robert.
I swear, it's like a war
zone out there, right?
Uh, how is he doing?
He's recuperating.
- And how
- [BIANCA] We need to talk.
♪♪♪
[TIFF] What's up?
Look around you.
You think these women
got where they are today
by gossiping behind each other's backs?
No, Tiff.
That's not what real women do.
These women have power
because they know how to use it.
They lean on each other,
nourish each other,
do favors for each other.
Somebody saw their mess
and gave them grace.
Think about that next
time you run your mouth
to Douda about what
I do to help you win.
♪♪♪
I'm sorry.
Yes, you are.
♪♪♪
[POWER TOOLS BUZZING]
[DOUDA MURMURING]
What are you talking about?
What's that?
[ZAY] It's for you.
Open it.
[ZAY] You ain't never had
me open your mail before.
Yeah, there's a first
time for everything.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[ZAY] "This will look good
on you in your casket."
♪♪♪
Get this fucking shit out of here.
♪♪♪
[SHAAD CHUCKLES]
What's up, brodie?
Said you wanted to meet with me.
[CLEARS THROAT]
You a'ight?
[SIGHS] Yeah, I'll be all right.
Look, I know you've
been having a hard time
finding work with your conviction.
And look, it's taken me a
while to get it done, but
I finally got the funding
to offer you a real job
health coverage, the whole nine.
[SHAAD] What kind of job is it?
A salaried position here at ROCK,
leading the Men's Circle.
Bro, you great at it, and
you can make a real difference
in these young men's lives.
How much does it pay?
[VICTOR] You got something better to do?
[SCOFFS SOFTLY] I do, actually.
I got a job.
[VICTOR] Doing what?
I'm the new head of security for Alicia.
Shaad.
Bro, you seen what
she did to her own son.
Her own son, bro.
What you think she gon' do to you?
Come on, man, you don't
know what you talking about.
[SCOFFS] You making a mistake.
No, man, you made a mistake.
You can't buy me out
to ease your conscience.
[FOOTSTEPS TAPPING]
- What's up, Fatima?
- Hey.
What's up?
You seen all the things
they're saying about me?
You don't have time to
feel sorry for yourself.
I'm human too. I'm not Superman.
This comes with the territory.
Why do I have to be strong all the time?
You can't put on a
cape and expect people
not to have high expectations.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
I just need a break.
[PERSON] Councilman Victor Taylor,
you're under arrest for the murder
of Quentin Dickinson.
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will
be used against you in the court of law.
You have the right to an attorney.
If you cannot afford an attorney,
one will be provided for you.
Do you understand the rights
I have just read to you?
[TENSE MUSIC]
[VIC MENSA'S "2HONEST" PLAYING]
Tears of a fallen soldier ♪
Rolling down my face ♪
One hand sticking out of my grave ♪
The whole world left me for dead ♪
Michael Jackson's estate ♪
But I'm too high, I never land ♪
A river that knows its
source could never run dry ♪
That's why I had to
cut out the middleman ♪
Hate from all directions
assassinating my character ♪
I felt like Malcolm X in
J. Edgar Hoover's America ♪
I said the truth and I paid for it ♪
I paid for it ♪
I got on my knees
and cried to the Lord ♪
I prayed for it ♪
I had bounties on my head ♪
When my sister was in my home ♪
Sleepless nights by the chrome ♪
Trigger finger next to my dome ♪
Contemplating self-destruction ♪
Equating myself to nothing ♪
Fixated on my regression ♪
I felt like Benjamin Button ♪
I collapsed in my depression ♪
I just couldn't write for nothing ♪
When I stared at my reflection ♪
All that I felt was disgusted ♪
My confidence evaporated ♪
Less than a man, I was emasculated ♪
I turned to violence
to be validated ♪
Violated probation again and again ♪
My kin and my friends like ♪
What the fuck is up with you, fam ♪
Don't you understand niggas
wanna fuck with you, fam ♪
But you keep fucking yourself ♪
And that fucks with your fans ♪
Pardon me, pardon me ♪
I believed the lie ♪
I kept it too honest ♪
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪