01x02 - Under Pressure

[bunniefuu]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

OK, so if I move

American Lit to Mondays

and African Diaspora to Fridays,

- it's good, right?
- Heh.

It works.

You know, experts say talking to
yourself is a sign of insanity.

No. It means I'm alert, aware,

and able to process my feelings,

so experts can mind
they business, period.

OK, so Simone Hicks is spitting
hot fire in the early morning.

Boy, come on. You know that's what I do.

Can you believe classes
are starting tomorrow?

That's crazy, right?

Like, you know, like, college
is for real for real now.

Yeah. It got a little
too real for me last week

when I got sent home
from tennis for sucking.

Come on. Those are just drills.

You got to put that in
your review. Trust me.

You're right. Here's
to turning the page.

- Come on.
- I'm supposed to dap you?

- Yes.
- We hit?

We got this. OK.

♪ All this money, I need mo' ♪

♪ Give 'em a show, k*ller, you knows ♪

♪ Been taking your bros,
we just wanna get lit ♪

Yo, where the hell you
been at these last few days?

Outside of practice,
you've been a ghost, man.

Oh, man,

just frat stuff.

Look. I love the bruhs, but sometime

they make me glad I
grew up as an only child.

Ha!

You got any siblings?

No. It's just me.

Why?

Oh, I'm just wondering if that's why

you struggle to connect with the team.

I know I've been a little
hard on the guys lately.

So we're just understating things?

Heh. Man, whatever.

Hey, you know the vote for
team captain is this week.

- Guys said they're gonna vote for me.
- Yeah,

because they feel like they owe
you for stepping up for the program,

but you got to figure
out a real way of bonding

with the team and earning their trust.

Yeah. You're right.

I'll dial it back, like, %.

Ah, make it, like, %.

You really underestimate how
much of a pain in the ass you are.

Yeah, yeah.

Yo, what's all this?

SANTIAGO: The new Damon Sims, man.

What?

J.R.: Emmitt Page...
years old in Ohio.

They say he the next best thing.

SANTIAGO: Ooh, man. .
He's almost got you, Damon.

MAN ON VIDEO: Emmitt, everyone's
calling you the next Damon Sims.

That's quite a compliment.
Got an opinion on that?

I don't see myself as the next anybody.

I'm just Emmitt Page.

I don't know what my
future holds, but...

if I get a sh*t at the MLB,
best believe I'mma take it.

Ho ho! Damn. sh*ts fired.

Whatever, bro. Like,

y'all know this kid
ain't got nothing on me...

And that go for anybody who got
something to say about it, too.

SANTIAGO: Man, what the hell? Damn.

COACH LONI: All right. Listen up.

Tennis sessions will be two hours a day

Monday through Saturday,

weight training an hour days a week,

and a one-hour yoga session.

- Yes?
- What about queen of the court?

Ah, yes, our annual tradition.

Thea, as the reigning queen,

how about you school the uninitiated?

THEA: Yeah.

Well, it's teammate
versus teammate in a series

of single-elimination matches.

The last two women standing

will battle it out to
become queen of the court.

You won't get any notice, so...

just be ready whenever Coach calls.

All right, ladies. Let's get to work.

Hicks, come see me.

Your physical is not current.

What?

Yes, it is. My doctor did it in April.

The A.D. requires
physicals within days

of the start of school.

New rule this year.

Oh. I'm sorry, Coach. I didn't...

I don't really care how
the ball was dropped.

Fix it.

Until this is all worked out,
you are not allowed to participate

in official team practices.

Wait. Coach. There has
to be something we can do.

You know, there is.

You can get another physical,

but until you do, you
are on solo practice.

You can sign up for time in my office.

[EXHALES]

♪ I just want your
vibration, vibration... ♪

NATE: All right now. You're all set.

I'll see you in class, honey.

OK. Thank you.

SIMONE: You really
been doing hair all day?

Girl, yes.

Day before school starts is our busiest

and most lucrative day of the year.

Maybe I need a side hustle.

After buying these books,
my bank account is on "E."

Plus, if I can't cover my copay,

it wouldn't even matter if I
find a doctor to do my physical.

No, girl. What you need
is a work study job.

I got some connects hiring.

I got you.

Yeah. I think that'll be amazing.

I've got this.

First day of school is about to be lit.

Hey.

[JULIAN XTRA'S "HUMANING" PLAYING]

- [GRUNTS]
- ♪ Bae ♪

♪ I can see you and me humaning... ♪

Uh!

SANTIAGO: . He's almost got you.

- He's almost got you.
- [DAMON GRUNTS]

MAN ON VIDEO: Everyone's
calling you the next Damon Sims.

EMMITT: If I get a sh*t
at the MLB, best believe

- I'mma take it.
- ♪ Doing human things ♪

♪ You and I, you and I ♪

♪ Need you right now, I'm too deprived ♪

♪ You're too divine ♪

- ♪ You haunt my dreams ♪
- [ALARM BEEPS]

♪ Like Krueger, why? ♪

♪ Are you surprised? ♪

- ♪ You move me like you... ♪
- KEISHA: Oh, man, um...

You got to go.

Uh...

♪ We ended too soon
like the life of Selena ♪

- CAM: Ahem.
- No. Like, now.

Damn, girl.

It's like that?

KEISHA: Yeah, yeah. You can't be here

whenever my residents wake up.

Boys aren't allowed here after or before

visiting hours, so...

CAM: So, it's all good.

I got early-morning football anyway.

- OK.
- [GRUNTS]

Let's keep this moving.

All right.

Wait. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on.

[CLEARS THROAT]

♪ Bae, I can see ♪

♪ You and me, you and me... ♪

So, I mean, I guess
I'll see you whenever?

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Good-bye.

♪ Beautifully, stupidly ♪

♪ We humaning, put on
a show like Truman be ♪

- ♪ Doing human things ♪
- ♪ You and I, you and I ♪

♪ We do it for fun ♪

♪ We don't ever run ♪

♪ I came to ball out ♪

♪ I came to have fun ♪

♪ I came to show you once I bleed ♪

♪ How it gets done ♪

♪ I came to ball out ♪

[EXHALES]

What? Are you kidding me?

- Hey, Simone.
- Hey.

You good?

Yeah. I just have to
sign up for court hours,

and the only slot left is
close to my job interview.

Yeah. Being a student
athlete is a juggling act.

- Hmm.
- Pro tip... early morning

workout's always longer than you think

and avoid taking : classes.

Too late, huh?

Where's your next class?

- Height hall.
- Damn. Yeah.

Skip the shower. You
won't make it in time.

You'll barely make it
if you leave right now.

I checked the campus map.
It didn't seem that far.

J.R.: I know, but you know when you
look at a rear view mirror and see

"objects may seem
closer than they appear"?

The school map's opposite of that. Run.

Freshman, run.

- Oh, you're seri...
- I'm dead serious. Go.

CAM: Yikes. Your drip needs some work.

- SIMONE: Nyah-nyah-nyah.
- MAN: Good morning.

I am professor William Corte.

Welcome to American literature .

Now, most of you are here

to satisfy a liberal arts requirement...

I get it... but since you are here,

I will expand your minds anyway.

[EXHALES]

CORTES: Novels like these
are American classics.

They've endured the
test of time because of

their relatable characters
and timeless themes,

but, by and large, only
novels with white authors

featuring white characters
are considered to be classics.

Contrary to popular belief,

black stories have relatable characters

and timeless themes.

Your assignment is to find them.

Do a presentation on why those novels

should be read in this class.

You've been assigned into groups of .

Check your e-mail.

Presentations are due
the day after tomorrow.

Class dismissed.

Heads up, I'm just as competitive

in the class as I am on the field.

Well, who is shocked?

You good?

You seemed a little
preoccupied in class today.

Uh, yeah.

It's nothing, just some baseball stuff.

I hear you.

I still need a physical,
but Student Health

hasn't gotten back to me
with appointment times yet.

THEA: If we don't get an "A,"
I will come for both of you.

Yes. We're partners.

- Hey, I'm...
- I don't care.

I hate group projects, and I
want this to be over with ASAP,

so let's meet at the brig
cafe at lunch to discuss.

Don't be late.

So I'm guessing she's
not a morning person?

Bro, she's not a people person.

Uh! Uh! Uh!

Uh!

How much of that did you see?

Enough to know that you're not
surprised by your performance.

So is this when the yelling starts?

Focus on bonding with your team.

But there is no team without my arm.

What you need is not gonna
be found on the mound, son.

Coach, this has never
happened to me before.

We need to fix my arm.

Coach.

Coach!

DAMON: So look, about practice
yesterday, I know I was...

J.R.: Extra.

Think the word you're
looking for is "extra."

I know, bro. My bad.

- Look, I'm legit trying...
- OK.

But now coach wants me to be

really bonded with the
team, like, yesterday.

So clearly,

chopping it up on the
field isn't your ministry.

Have you thought about maybe
something off the field?

No, but I'm down for that.

All right, so what you into, though...

pool, bones, extreme sports?

Do I look like an extreme
sports kinda dude to you?

I mean, I don't know.
I feel like it should be

some type of dope story about that scar.

Nah, not really.

Huh. Yeah.

DAMON: All right. I got a
project with Simone right now,

so I'll catch up with you later.

Oh, sorry. I was finishing up with J.R.

Well, the planning
session is canceled anyway.

Thea's not coming. Check your DMs.

What?

She chose our book...

"Their Eyes Were Watching
God," by Zora Neale Hurston.

She figured out the themes of the book,

the structure of our presentation,
and assigned us parts.

I'm surprised the girl didn't
pick out our damn clothes, too.

Oh, this all looks fire.

- What?
- Damon,

this is not how group projects work.

- But it could be, right?
- I'mma go find Thea.

Did we teach you nothing?

SIMONE: What?

KEISHA: You got called out on yard yack.

DAMON: Oh, snap.

OK. Whatever.

Look, I didn't have enough
time to shower after my workout.

I'm an athlete. It's no big deal.

- [SNORTS]
- Tell them.

Tell them what?

When have you never
not seen me dripped out?

OK. You and your big head can go.

Look, it's no big deal.

It'll all blow over,

right?

- Right?
- KEISHA: It will, yeah,

- with a little help from us.
- NATE: A lotta help.

KEISHA: A lot of help from us. Girl,
I don't know what these shoes are.

- ♪ Hey ♪
- SIMONE: Keish,

you did not have to bring
all your stuff over here, too.

Girl, whatever. The
more options, the better.

OK, what do you think about this?

I do not think that's me at all.

Ooh, OK. What about this?

Mm, I don't think vintage is my thing.

Girl, don't hate on the nineties.

Especially when this outfit is yours.

Help me help you.

I know. I know. I'm sorry.

It's just...

I don't know. It's
hard finding something

that fits who I am when I feel
like I'm a work in progress...

Minus the progress.

Well, until you figure
out how to do the new you,

what do you think about this
for your interview tomorrow?

- SIMONE: Now, that is actually cute.
- [DOOR OPENS]

- KEISHA: Thank you.
- SIMONE: Ha ha! Hey, auntie.

Hey.

Oh, I know what this is... ha ha!

And I don't miss those days at all.

- KEISHA: Ooh.
- SIMONE: Ha ha!

But y'all running behind, ain't you?

First day of classes is over.

NATE: Seems we have a late bloomer.

Oh. Missed seeing you in class, Keisha.

[QUIETLY] Um, I'm sorry, but...

I had to drop your class.

- Keisha...
- No, no, no.

It has nothing to do with that
stupid whistleblower stuff.

It's just that I had to make more space

in my schedule for my pre-med classes.

OK, but, honey, when are you going

to tell your father that
you don't want to be a doctor

and want to pursue dance?

You're a sophomore now.

Yeah, I made a promise
to my mom. I can't...

You were ,

and cancer was getting the best of her.

You know she'd never
hold you to that today.

Yeah, but, Dr. P., medicine
runs deep in my family.

I can't just look at my dad

and say I don't want to
follow in his footsteps.

SIMONE: Wait. Keisha,
your dad is a doctor?

Why didn't you say anything?

AMARA: Simone, now is not the time.

I mean, do you think he can
help me with my physical?

The Student Health Center
can't fit me in until next week.

KEISHA: Yeah, I'm, uh...
I'm gonna... I'm gonna go.

[SNIFFLES, SIGHS]

- [DOOR OPENS]
- SIMONE: Well...

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- NATE: Something else you're late on...

learning when to choose your spots.

SIMONE: Hey, um, I
just wanted to drop off

some stuff you left at my aunt's.

Keish, look.

About last night, I'm sorry.

I was just in my selfish bag.

No, no. It's all good.

My dad and medicine are
just a sensitive topic,

and, for the record, my
dad's out of town right now,

- so he can't help you. I'm sorry.
- No, no, it's all good.

But, for real, are you OK?

Totally, if you count...

Struggling with

the reality of having to give up
my choreography dreams as being OK.

Hold up. You dance?

- That explains a lot.
- KEISHA: Oh, OK.

Well, if you thought that
was flexible, just wait.

- CAM: Oh, really?
- SIMONE: OK.

I know y'all see me standing right here.

When did this become a thing?

BOTH: It's not a thing.

Ah.

I'll mind my business.
I gotta go anyway.

I got interviews, court time,

and I got to meet up with
Damon for our project.

KEISHA: OK. Well, why don't
you and Damon just come over

to my dad's house after practice?

We can do a little study/chill session.

SIMONE: Keisha, I actually have
to get this assignment done.

And you will...

Promise.

Plus, we'll have the
whole house to ourselves.

- SIMONE: OK. Bye.
- [KEISHA GIGGLES]

Hey, uh, excuse me.

Hey, I got this court
reserved right now.

No. You had it reserved minutes ago.

- You're late.
- SIMONE: I know.

My job interview went long,
and the campus map lies.

If you're minutes late,
you forfeit the courts.

Them's the rules.

I mean, that's messed up, but fine.

I'll just sign up for another slot time.

Don't waste your time. The
courts are booked solid.

Well, who's booking all the court time?

Of course.

Yo, are you blocking me from practicing?

[CHUCKLING] Um, I don't have to.

Dedication isn't an issue
for the other players.

Everyone is focused on
getting their time in

when they can, something
I could've sworn,

just a week ago, you
said you were going to do?

Oh.

Well, so much for showing
Coach Loni your dedication.

[SCOFFS]

[FEMALE SINGER VOCALIZES]

OK, so,

for my closing, if I were to...

What are you looking at?

Uh, you. It's a nice fit.

- Boy, if you don't focus on this presentation...
- [DOORBELL RINGS]

Heh heh heh!

KEISHA: Our girl had a job interview.

What?

That's what's up.

At least this week's turned
around for one of us, huh?

More baseball stuff on your mind?

- [DOOR OPENS]
- DAMON: Yep.

My pitch has been off
lately, like, way off.

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- It's never happened to me before.

J.R.: Oh.

This where y'all been hiding.

Hope it's cool. I brought a few friends.

SIMONE: Hold up. How many is a few?

Yeah.

- DAMON: Bro.
- J.R.: Huh?

DAMON: When I said that
you could roll through,

the invite wasn't for the team.

Drastic times calls
for drastic measures,

and a party is a perfect spot for you

to get some one-on-one with the fellas.

- This is not a party.
- It is now.

- Ooh.
- Hola, beautiful people.

KEISHA: Make yourselves at home.

Simone...

MARCUS: Amara, hey.

What are you doing here?

I swear, the last time
you stepped foot in here

was our senior year.

I'm just passing through.

All right. Maybe I'm just
checking on you, all right?

I know this past week has been tough.

Listen, they're just
words online, Marcus.

Takes a lot more than that to faze...

Wow.

_

You know...

- What are you doing?
- I'm calling campus security.

- That's what I'm doing.
- AMARA: No, you're not.

Look, I got this handled.

Like I said...

Takes a lot more than words to faze me.

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- ♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey ♪

♪ Big spender, big tipper,
look up, I'm a star... ♪

CAM: Y'all can't handle us.

Teamwork makes the dream work, baby.

CAM: Check ball.

[SINGING CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

SANTIAGO: Yeah.

DAMON: Ahem.

What's up, fellas? So
where you from, bruh?

SANTIAGO: Colombia,
but I grew up in Miami.

DAMON: Bro, I did a few
showcases in Miami last summer.

If I had to pick another position,

uh, man, I don't know. Maybe...

They calling Emmitt Page
the next me. [CHUCKLES]

Like, shortstop. I'm gonna
k*ll centerfield. Heh heh!

I blew the competition out the
water, had, like, no-hitters.

This kind of release? Get outta here.

My bad. I'm just running
at the mouth right now.

- That answer your question?
- I didn't ask a question, bro.

MAN: Word on the street is,

y'all program might
not be here much longer.

SANTIAGO: Can't trust
everything you hear, man.

We're not going anywhere.

'Cause y'all got Sims' golden arm?

So far, that's been nothing but hype.

Man, if I got stomped like you guys,

I wouldn't even show my face.

Y'all are trash this year.

J.R.: Say one more thing about my team.

[SCOFFS]

Whatever, man.

Yo, way to stick up
for the damn team, man.

CAM: I'm about to sink
this game-winning layup.

Y'all ready?

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

- CAM: Oh!
- Oh! Yo! Cam!

You all right, man?

[WINCES]

Yeah, yeah. I'm good, bro.

You sure?

Uh!

That was a bitch move, man.

KEISHA: Yeah. No. No, no. No. No. No.

No fighting in my crib. You can leave...

And you, come with me.
We'll get you some ice.

It's all good.

Fine.

[DISTANT, INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Hey, girl, you leaving?

I came here to study,
and since it's clear

I've lost Damon for the night, yeah,

I'm out.

But you're gonna miss the best part.

And that is?

I don't know, but don't you
want to see it? [CHUCKLES]

Nate, this is not funny.

I am stressed out.

I just found out I didn't get
a single job I interviewed for.

I've got a group presentation, no group,

and I haven't got a single
tennis practice in all day!

- Easy.
- I need to find a ride.

Where is Keisha?

[CAR HORN HONKS]

Oh, it's happening.

The best part's happening right now.

[STUDENTS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

WOMAN: Run! Go! Come on! Run!

MAN: We gotta go, too!

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]

ZEKE: Keisha!

It's the first week of school.

Have you lost your mind?

Hi, Daddy.

Wait. You're the president's daughter?

Keisha?

- [KNOCKS]
- Keisha?

[SIGHS]

[CELL PHONE VIBRATES AND CHIMES]

What?

_

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[HEART b*ating RAPIDLY]

Hmm...

- DAMON: Simone?
- SIMONE: Mm.

Hey, hey, what's... what's wrong?

- I don't... I don't know.
- Oh... OK, OK, OK.

OK. Come on. Come on.
I got you. I got you.

Come on. Come on.

[SIMONE PANTING]

KEISHA: I thought you
were gone for the week.

ZEKE: Well, they canceled my conference,

and I'm glad they did.

Can't have you in my house partying...

DAMON: Hey, hey, guys. Guys, guys,

- something's wrong with Simone.
- KEISHA: Oh, my God.

[SIMONE PANTING]

[HYPERVENTILATING] Oh... what...

- Is happening to me?
- ZEKE: Shh.

[PANTING]

ZEKE: My dear,

I think you are having a panic att*ck,

all right? Now breathe in...

[SIMONE INHALES]

- Out.
- [SIMONE EXHALES]

KEISHA: You got it.
You got it. You got it.

[SIMONE'S BREATHING STEADIES]

ZEKE: You are...

Good to go.

Now rest.

Thanks for bringing her home.

No problem. She'll be fine.

Look, I heard about the
tag on your class door.

Campus security's on it,

and I'm here if you need anything.

Thanks, but I have
all the support I need.

You can't be both good cop and bad cop.

[DOOR CLOSES AND LOCKS]

I'm really sorry, auntie.

I really didn't mean to worry you.

I'm just glad a panic
att*ck was all it was.

I don't even know why it
happened. I never had one before.

You've never been this stressed before.

College is a different ball game, honey.

You're not at home
anymore. It's all on you.

It takes a second to
learn to manage it all.

- What if I can't?
- Look, you are at an HBCU now,

and one of the many benefits is that

when you start to doubt yourself,

you can point to examples
of black excellence

and see what is possible.

Stalker much?

Heh.

Yeah.

I, um, came here for the same
reason I'm guessing you did.

Inspiration?

Yep.

So how you feeling?

I mean, the panic att*ck
is over with, but...

The rest, I don't know.

They all did great things with
their lives, and I can't even

get a work study job and
balance tennis and classes.

Well, you know, they all
didn't do it overnight,

but I definitely get
feeling the pressure.

Usually, I work my
stresses out on the court,

but I can't even do that.

There's no court time available.

Will a field do?

- Hey!
- Let's go.

♪ We don't follow rules.
We not like the rest ♪

♪ Type to break a record
and won't break a sweat ♪

♪ Heard your last attempt ♪

♪ We wasn't feeling that ♪

♪ It's over mane, no Novocain... ♪

Hey, . Go, man.

- ♪ Chillin' in the future... ♪
- DAMON: , drop.

Let's go!

Let's go!

- ♪ Stay focused. Big vision. ♪
- [GRUNTS]

- .
- ♪ Go hard, be different ♪

♪ We on our way to the top ♪

- ♪ Got to keep it up, no days off ♪
- [BOTH LAUGH]

Looked like somebody
got their groove back.

Yeah. That was crazy.

It's weird, though.

Like, why now? Nothing's changed.

I mean, think about it.

You were just playing for fun.

You weren't focused on saving a team.

You know, real talk?

Carrying the entire weight

of the whole baseball
program on my shoulders...

Scare me.

Yeah. Real talk, it should.

That's a lot.

It's like what if I'm not good enough,

can't even unite my team?

Well, have you shared
those fears with them?

- Heh! Oh, you got jokes now.
- No, I'm being serious.

Damon, in order to be a leader,
you got to be vulnerable.

You got to let them guys really see you,

and they need to know that

"the great Damon Sims,"

he got fears, too.

Wait, so you're... you're
really being serious?

I am.

Honestly, you remind me of Joe Starks

from "Their Eyes Were Watching God."

Y'all are both self-confident

and always need to be in control.

Oh, yeah.

You know you're not the only
one to finish that book, right?

Your struggles for
independence and identity...

They remind me a lot of Janie's.

I'll take that.

You know, Zora Neale Hurston,
she had her similar issues, too.

Author is just as relatable as the work.

You should take comfort in that.

You know what? I think...

I just figured out how to
close our presentation tomorrow.

SIMONE: Zora Neale Hurston,
even with all her accolades,

she once was just like us,

a HBCU student persevering under
the pressure of everyday life

while finding power in
her own voice and culture.

Now... no disrespect, Professor Corte...

I think we should do more than
just read black literature,

but study the authors, too,

because the timeless themes and
relatable characters in their work

are a result of their
personal journeys...

THEA, QUIETLY: What
the hell is she doing?

SIMONE: And you know what?

I also think our initial lit
reading focus should only be books

written by HBCU alumni because
the benefit of being here

is that, even when we
start to doubt ourselves,

we can point to examples
of black excellence,

people just like us who
show us what's possible.

- Thank you.
- CORTE: All right.

All right, everybody. Take ,
and then the next group is up.

DAMON: You know you k*lled that, right?

All while sporting
some new threads, I see.

No, a little athleisure swag.

That was not the speech
you were supposed to give.

OK, and?

You don't run me on
or off the court, girl.

WILLIAM: Miss Hicks,

impressive speech...

- Thank you.
- All of you. In fact,

I think I'm going to
implement your suggestions.

Oh, wow! Well, thank you, sir. I...

CORTE: Miss Hicks, you clearly
have a passion for our alums.

You interested in a job?

I oversee the alumni office, and I think

you'd be an asset to us, plus you...

SIMONE: Oh, no, no. You had me at "job."

- I'll be there.
- CORTES: OK.

- Thank you.
- Good. Oh, uh, Sims,

you're Cam Watkins' roommate, right?

- Yeah.
- He hadn't come to class today.

Any idea why?

KEISHA: Yeah, bruh. He's
not answering any of us.

ART: Man.

Yo, Cam, open up. It's Art.

[KNOCKS ON DOOR]

Cam? No, no, no, no.

No, Cam, Cam, Cam. Hey.

Hi. Yes. I need an ambulance.

I have a -year-old black male.

His pulse is weak, and
his pupils are dilated.

Yeah, he hit his head
pretty hard yesterday.

Hey, hey, Cam, Cam? Stay with me.

KEISHA: Look at me. Stay with
me. Stay with me, all right?

You have a doctor's note

from the President of the
University clearing you?

SIMONE: That's right.

I'm not gonna ask how
you pulled that off.

Get in there.

You made it in time
for queen of the court.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

♪ La ♪

♪ This is the weight of the world ♪

♪ I am the underdog ♪

♪ I know just what I deserve ♪

♪ This is the moment ♪

♪ We got to know ♪

♪ And I came to win, I came to own it ♪

♪ This is only the beginning ♪

♪ If you seen where I came from ♪

♪ You would know that
I ain't ever quitting ♪

♪ I'm on the race to my vision ♪

♪ Nah ♪

♪ I will not be b*at ♪

♪ Nah ♪

♪ Nah ♪

♪ I will not be b*at ♪

Congratulations, Hicks.

You made it to the last match.

Thank you. Who's my opponent?

THEA: That would be me.

[DAPHNE WILLIS' "BRICKXBRICK" PLAYING]

♪ It's been a long time
coming, this change ♪

♪ And I've spent too long
standing round in this rain ♪

♪ Time to pick my heart up,
put it back in the game ♪

♪ Something bigger and better
building out of this pain ♪

♪ And I ain't gonna break for nobody ♪

- [APPLAUSE]
- ♪ I'mma keep building ♪

♪ This mansion inside me ♪

- ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪
- ♪ Brick by brick ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ We're gonna build this empire ♪

- ♪ Bit by bit ♪
- ♪ Oh ♪

♪ A little more fuel on this fire ♪

♪ Stack 'em up, stack 'em
up, see how high we go ♪

♪ Light 'em up, that electric glow ♪

- ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪
- ♪ Brick by brick ♪

- ♪ Oh ♪
- ♪ We're gonna build ♪

♪ This empire ♪

[APPLAUSE]

WOMAN: Let's go, Tay!

DAMON: Damn.

THEA: Hate to admit
it, but... [EXHALES]...

Did your thing out there.

What, is hell freezing over?

[CHUCKLES]

Don't get it twisted.
These are still my courts,

and we're still competitors, but...

Very few people could do
what we just did out there.

I give props when props are due,

so...

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

KEISHA: I know you're in there.

I'm literally just gonna keep
knocking until you let me in.

[VIGOROUS KNOCKING ON DOOR]

- KEISHA: Hello?
- [KNOCKING STOPS]

What, so I have to find out from Damon

that you're back from the hospital?

Yo, what happened to texting me?

What did the doctor say?

They checked me out, OK? I'm good.

Try again,

because what I saw when I
examined you wasn't good.

CAM: You see I'm fine, right?

No. What I see is you
about two seconds away

from punching a wall.

What did the doctor say?

I have a brain aneurysm, a'ight?

They say I can't play football.

Cam, I'm so sorry.

I know how bad this must hurt right now.

Do you?

I'm about to have the thing that I love,

the thing I worked my whole
life for taken away from me.

Your dream's within your reach,

but you're too damn scared
to have a conversation

with your old man, so, yeah,

I don't want to hear
nothing from you right now.

You can close the door
on your way out, please.

COACH LONI: Hicks, number
two in queen of the court.

- I know. I'll do better.
- Can I finish?

You made your way through
almost the whole team.

That's no small feat for a freshman...

And that is why I'm offering
you the final spot on the team.

Are you serious?

- Oh, my God, you're serious.
- COACH LONI: Yeah.

You're serious. Oh, my God!

You're serious! Oh, thank
you! Thank you so much!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! [SIGHS]

- Be ready.
- I will.

OK, thank you, thank you.

♪ Problematic is a
kind word for you... ♪

Thank y'all so much for coming.

I know it is super last-minute.

NATE: Please. We were not
gonna miss the opportunity

to celebrate our girl
making the tennis team.

- SIMONE: OK.
- KEISHA: And it looks like

you're not only being celebrated here.

SIMONE: Oh, my God. I'm going crazy.

- KEISHA: Yeah, look at you.
- AMARA: Yeah, you did.

- KEISHA: You look so good.
- DAMON: Yo, that's what's up.

- SIMONE: Ha ha ha!
- DAMON: Going crazy.

- SIMONE: OK.
- NATE: Girl, look at you.

Your road has been bumpy
as hell, but you managed

- to get everything you needed.
- SIMONE: Hmm.

And what did Alicia
Keys say in "Superwoman"?

- Hmm?
- "Even when you're a mess,

you still put on a vest

- "with an 'S' on your chest."
- [LAUGHTER]

NATE: Girl, you know I love Alicia Keys.

KEISHA: Me, too.

So... you haven't
talked to the team yet.

[CHUCKLES] So, what,
are you psychic now?

No, but when I text
J.R. About family dinner,

he asked if you were
gonna be here and then said

he wasn't coming, so I just
figured the two were connected.

Look, I'mma get it done, just...

Shaking off the nerves first.

I faced my fears, and even though I lost

queen of the court, I still
won a spot on the team.

Handle your business.

Who knows what'll come of it?

♪ Overwhelms me, so I'm ♪

♪ Planning on no expectations ♪

Hey, Daddy.

Hmm, there's my baby girl.

Ha ha ha!

Ahh...

[CHUCKLES]

So, um, I just...

I have an old colleague

who runs the hospital where
your friend Cam was taken.

I heard

you advocated for him with passion and

an elevated understanding of
the medical care he needed.

- Oh...
- You are gonna make

an excellent doctor.

I can't tell you how proud I am of you.

Your mom would be, too.

Now, what'd you want to talk about?

Oh, I just, um...

I just wanted to pick your brain

on the best way to
att*ck organic chemistry.

Mm-hmm.

[DOOR OPENS]

J.R.: This don't look like
a Coach Marcus meeting.

Uh, yeah, that's because it's not. Heh!

I called the meeting, fellas.

Figured that this would be a
good way for the team to unwind.

Hey, all right. Look. Hey,
hold up. Hold up, hold up.

I know I've been a lot.

I'm sorry, fellas.

Man, look, I don't
know about y'all, but...

The pressure of needing to
save this team, like, it's...

it's getting at me.

You know, like, I stay up at night
not even knowing if I'm good enough,

and sometimes I think that maybe

I'm not a good fit for what y'all
already started to build here

or if I let you guys down.

So basically, you're scared.

[SCOFFS] Hell yeah, bro.

I'm scared every damn day.

J.R.: Now hold up.

Let's keep it , fellas.

We all a little scared.

Fear don't have to be a bad thing.

It can come along the ride with
us, long as it don't stop us.

We can use it as motivation...

Together.

You see that right there?

That's why I think that J.R.
should be our team captain...

Because that's the kind
of leader that we all need

out there on that field...

Myself included.

All in favor?

Huh. Heh.

DAMON: What do you say?

- ALL: Yeah.
- Oh, yeah!

J.R.: All right, all right,
all right, all right, all right.

First order of business...

let's relax and play some video games.

AMARA: I'm going to
assume you didn't ask me

to drop by so I could school
your boys in "g*ng Beast."

- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
- [DISTANT PLAYERS TALKING]

[SIGHS] Oh, man.

What's... going on?

- Um...
- [DRUMS ON CHAIR BACK]

I was the anonymous source who
helped you break the cheating scandal.

[MARCUS SIGHS]

Look, you were the one person who I knew

who would do the right
thing without hesitation.

I'm sorry.

I should have told you sooner.

- Why are you telling me now?
- Because it's not fair,

suffering all this backlash alone.

Look, this should
cost me something, too.

That's why I'm going public.

You will do nothing of the sort.

While I hate you kept
your involvement from me,

the last thing I want to do

is destroy what you're
starting to build.

- [DISTANT LAUGHTER AND CHATTER]
- Listen to them.

You have the beginnings of something.

If your team found out,
they'd stop trusting you,

and your season would be
dead before you even start.

This team, this program

is your second sh*t
at your baseball dream.

I wont let you torpedo your life

or those boys' lives.

What about your life?

I don't regret a single thing I did,

and if they want a
fight, I'll give them one.

Focus on your team.

I got me handled.

[MUSIC PLAYING, SINGERS CLAP]

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- ♪ Hit it ♪

♪ Boom, up in your face ♪

♪ Came with a flow
that you can't replace ♪

- ♪ Pass the baton like a relay race... ♪
- MARCUS: Ahem.

Oh. [CLEARS THROAT]

- ♪ Boom... ♪
- [MUSIC STOPS]

DAMON: Uh, Coach,

this was my idea, so...

so if there's any punishment...

J.R.: We'll both take it.

As team captain...

This is as much on me.

Hey, I want you all to listen up now.

I got something to say.

I got next. Come on.

- [LAUGHTER]
- BOY: Thanks, Coach.

Yeah, come on.

Oh, Coach...

I know what you were saying before.

My pitching was off because
I was too in my head.

Why didn't you just say that?

Because...

You needed to figure it out on your own,

- [CHUCKLES]
- And you did.

Yeah, well, no offense,
but your coaching style,

- it still need a little work.
- [BOTH LAUGH]

How about I whup your ass
in "k*ller Instinct," huh?

Huh? How about that
for a coaching style?

Well, come on. Let's go, then.

DAMON: Let me borrow
the controller, man.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

MARCUS: All right.
Got to get comfortable.