01x09 - Monster

[bunniefuu]

[Carrie] I'm a professor,
and you're a student.

[moans loudly]

Any of this getting out
would be expl*sive.

- I can't let you lie for Tariq.
- Tameika, you're fired.

She is protecting
someone, Tariq.

I think you might know
who it is.

Tariq was selling coke with you?

Yeah.
Tell Tariq he can suck my d*ck.

- You lied to me.
- I don't trust your judgment

after you bringing a bitch
like Riley around.

[Paula] Don't forget this.

Marilyn'll notice
if it's missing.

- I know I would.
- [Davis sighs]

[Tariq] "A professor
at Stansfield

is sleeping with a student."

[Dru] Things were a little shaky

since D.C. Joe went missing.

Monet don't even need you
anymore.

What are you talking about?

[Cane] She's moving it
over to Stansfield

with that little bitch, Tariq.

Look, man, it's either him
or us,

unless you wanna do
something to stop him.

Somebody d*ed
at Stansfield today.

School says it was someone

that just got drunk
and drowned in the pool,

but I think Cane sent

one of them Guaps up there
to k*ll Tariq.

[Dru] Tariq k*lled them,
and now GTG thinks

that we set them up.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, hey.
- [man] Yo, Guap.

Here.

Nah. [chuckles] More.

I found something...

A direct line
to taking Tariq down,

and it's a slam dunk.

If you hurt what's mine,
I swear to God,

I will find a way
to hurt what's yours.

[Monet] Wasn't trying
to k*ll you, Tariq.

Now, why should I believe you?

Because if I wanted you dead,
you'd be dead.

[silenced g*nsh*t]

From now on,
I want half of everything.

Cane, now she's made up
her mind.

You're not welcome here.

[tense music]

[spits]

[Joe] ♪ They say this is
A big, rich town ♪

♪ I just come
From the poorest part ♪

♪ Bright lights, city life ♪

♪ I gotta make it
This is where it goes down ♪

♪ I just happen
To come up hard ♪

♪ Legal or illegal, baby
I gotta make it ♪

[50 Cent] ♪ I never took
A straight path nowhere ♪

♪ Life's full of twists
And turns, bumps and bruises ♪

♪ I live, I learn ♪

♪ I'm from that city full of
Yellow cabs and skyscrapers ♪

♪ It's hard to get a start
In these parts without paper ♪

♪ Homey, I grew up in hell
A block away from heaven ♪

♪ That corner every 15 minutes
They moving seven ♪

♪ Pure snow, bag it
Then watch it go ♪

♪ Occupational options
Get some blow or some hos ♪

♪ sh**t the ball or the strap
Learn to rap or to jack ♪

♪ f*ck it, man In the meantime ♪

♪ Go head and pump a pack ♪

♪ This my regal, royal flow
My James Bond bounce ♪

♪ That 007
That's 62 on my count ♪

♪ I'm an undercover liar
I lie under the covers ♪

♪ Look a bitch in the eyes ♪

♪ And tell her Baby, I love ya ♪

♪ You're my inspiration
You're my motivation ♪

♪ You're the reason that I'm
Moving with no hesitation ♪

[Joe] ♪ They say this is
A big, rich town ♪

♪ Yeah, I just come
From the poorest part ♪

♪ Bright lights, city life ♪

♪ I gotta make it
This is where it goes down ♪

♪ Oh, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ I just happen
To come up hard ♪

♪ Legal or illegal, baby
I gotta make it ♪

♪♪♪

[Meechy] ♪ Everybody sayin'
I'm a dead man ♪

♪ This right here
Is a confession, I ♪

♪ Never showed love
With my left hand ♪

♪ Never really f*cked
With no yes men, I ♪

♪ Think LSD be My best friend ♪

♪ d*ck so big, use it
As a kickstand ♪

♪ Rarely ever leave the house
Without my w*apon ♪

♪ If you hatin', plot
From a distance, die ♪

[Nyck] ♪ Everybody sayin'
That I'm reckless ♪

♪ I ain't evil, but I got
Some bad intentions, I ♪

[Meechy] ♪ Never showed love
With my left hand ♪

[Nyck] ♪ If you, if you
My brother ♪

♪ You don't even gotta
Question, I ♪

♪ Never was the one
To show expression ♪

♪ Do 'em dirty
Like it's nothing ♪

♪ I'ma deadpan ♪

♪ With the Zombies, think
I got too many dead friends ♪

♪ Name another crew
That we less than, I ♪

[CJ Fly] ♪ Stay above
The clouds, I don't get fly ♪

♪ Got the TEC, I stay
Connected like it's Best Buy ♪

♪ Could've been a Flatbush
Zombie 'cause I'm dead nice ♪

♪ If you dap me with your left
Hand something ain't right ♪

♪ Because I don't got no time
For the fake sh*t ♪

♪ n*gg*s funny,
Start just watchin' ♪

♪ When they shapeshift... ♪

[cell phone buzzes]

♪ When you think about it
It don't ever make sense ♪

[Erick] ♪ Read the bad vibe
When I stepped in ♪

[cell phone buzzes]

♪ Dressed in all black
Like the best man ♪

♪ Never was a fan
Of no yes men, I ♪

♪ Keep my composure
With brethren ♪

♪ Until I'm draped in fabric
Like a reverend ♪

♪ So don't feed me no excuses
I'm ahead of them ♪

♪ Yeah, they jealous 'cause
They cannot do it ♪

♪ Better than I ♪

[Meechy] ♪ Everybody saying
I'm a dead man ♪

♪ This right here's
A confession, I ♪

[Joey] ♪ Not close, need
To understand distance ♪

sh*t. This ain't enough.

[Joey] ♪ I tell these n*gg*s
I'm a legend ♪

♪ n*gg*s sleep,
I ain't even into resting ♪

♪ Couple dead presidents
In my left hand ♪

♪ n*gg*s don't want w*r
With the Badmon, Badmon ♪

[cell phone chiming]

[shower running]

Tariq, talk to me.

[Tariq] A'ight,
hypothetically speaking,

what would happen if I was late
with this week's payment?

You know, my grandmother
needs some money

for my little sister Yas.

I got a heart, kid. [sighs]

I'll give you till next week

and cancel the expert witness
I have for your mom.

What expert witness?

[Tariq] Nah, nah, my mom's case
is way more important.

Look I'll just find another way.

All right. Suit yourself, kid.

[sighs]

Why are you feeding Tariq
some line

about an expert witness
we never discussed?

He's saying he can't pay

because he needs money
for his grandma,

which is total bullshit,

so I kept him on track.

Well... [scoffs]

Even if Tariq is lying
about his grandmother,

instead of gaming him,
let's find out

why he needs the money.

Long as I get mine...

that's all that matters.

[dramatic music]

♪

[sighs]

You know,
I like waking up like this...

with you.

[both chuckle]

Zeke...

this was a one-time deal.

You know that, right?

I have too much to lose.

So do you.

Then why'd you let me
post up like this?

Because I care about you.

Those bruises on your back...

Why won't you tell me?
How did you get them?

I don't wanna talk about it.

Zeke...

you have to tell me.

I can help, whatever it is.

I'm trusting you
with my whole career.

You know you can trust me
in return.

After the game,
me and a few teammates

went to go celebrate at a club.

When we left,
couple of dudes outside

recognized me from the old hood.

They said they wanted a picture,

but they jumped me instead.

Jesus, Zeke.

Did you call the cops?

[Zeke] You don't call the cops
on these guys.

So you know who it was?

Zeke, tell me.

They're in a g*ng called GTG.

One of them pulled a g*n
on my knee.

He knew me.
He knew I played ball.

He pulled the trigger.
It misfired.

Oh, my God, Zeke...

I could've lost everything...

my whole future.

It's okay. Look.

You're all right.

Zeke, we have to go to the cops.

No.

- No way.
- [cell phone chimes]

♪

sh*t. It's my boss.

There's a meeting
about the accident in the pool.

[Zeke] I'ma bounce.

No I.D. on the victim,
but he's a male,

Hispanic, late teens,
wearing school colors,

and we found this.

A tattoo?

It's a g*ng affiliation,

one by the name
of Get That Guap.

GTG?

You familiar with it, Miss...

- Uh, Professor Milgram.
- Professor Carrie Milgram.

[Brooks] She's
the former prosecutor

I mentioned, Detective Santana,

and while we appreciate
the due diligence

at a time like this,

criminals don't attend
our school.

I... I concur.
We had a lot of visitors

on Parents' Weekend,

and especially at the Yale game
in the Athletic Center.

No Stansfield faculty
or students

could've k*lled that young man.

The fact is that a gangbanger
was m*rder*d

by a k*ller skilled enough

to make it look
like an accident,

so one or both
knew someone here,

more than likely a student.

If it is a student,
would they be a target

for retaliation?

Oh, not if. When.

I need to draw connections fast,

so I'd like to talk to students

with similar background
to the vic...

Similar backgrounds?

Code for minority students
like you.

I see you cops learned
absolutely nothing this summer.

Racial profiling is unsavory.

It's illegal.

My apologies, Professor Milgram.

Given your level of expertise,
what would you do?

As a former prosecutor,

I know these students
are wary of police.

God, I wonder why.

But given the chance
to come forward anonymously

to someone they trust...

Someone like you?

If you can trust me to decide

what's relevant
and what's confidential.

If anyone is connected
to the victim...

We could protect
the identities of our students

and ourselves
against any lawsuits.

That's an excellent compromise.

- Don't you think, Detective?
- Mm-hmm.

I can work with that.

Given the size
of the student body,

would you have time,
Professor Milgram?

- Well, I can make...
- [Jabari] I can help, actually.

Dr. Jabari Reynolds, by the way.

I'm a minority adviser as well,

and I will gladly help
Professor Milgram

figure out who, if any,
of our students

might be involved
in this tragedy.

[tense music]

♪

[door opens, closes]

I thought you left
to make the collections.

I'm trying, Ma,

but you got me running around.

Maybe we should think
about getting more help

than just Owl and his boys.

For what? I got you and D.

- Right, but without Cane...
- Don't.

Never say that name ever again.

- [door opens]
- It's in the wind, like him.

[door closes]

Lock the door and come sit down.

[Tariq] I got class
in an hour, so...

That wasn't a question.

Dru, get this boy his product.

[tense music]

Hold on.
This ain't my normal order.

I know that.

You just said you had
more product come in.

I will soon, but my supplier
Rico's been asking

all types of questions
about his man.

- That n*gga that me and Dru...
- Moved. Yeah.

So these are the bricks
that we took off of his truck

[Monet] Exactly,

and the longer I have
his product...

The bigger the problem is
for us.

Facts.

Well, Stansfield is hot
right now thanks to Cane...

We don't say that name anymore.

I'm just saying, I think we
should wait

until all eyes are off of us.

Well, with CourseCorrect,
ain't nobody looking, right?

That's what you said.

♪

[buzzer sounds in the distance,
indistinct chatter]

[cell phone beeps]

[line trilling]

'Riq.

Ma, what's up?

[Tasha] Thank God you're okay.

I been worried sick

the Tejadas came
after you again.

It's all good, okay?

- Me and Monet worked it out.
- [Tasha] Worked it out?

Tariq, they tried to k*ll you.

It wasn't her.
It was her son, Cane.

[Tasha] You really believe that?

I mean, what if Monet
put Cane up to it?

[Tariq] Well, if she did,
then she set him up.

She said if he comes
at me again,

I can protect myself.
You know I will.

Still sounds like a trap.
Don't trust her ass.

We don't need to trust her.

She needs me to move bricks.

At school?

You gotta be kidding me.

Ma, you taught me how to do it.
I'll be fine.

You didn't leave me
much choice, remember?

I had to teach you.

You were gonna get
yourself k*lled.

Listen to me, 'Riq.

There's too much at stake
right now, okay?

You need to slow down.

Slow down?
Ma, I can't slow down.

How else am I gonna pay
for Davis?

He said you gotta go
to court soon,

and he hired an expert witness.

Expert witness?
He didn't tell me about that.

Did he say why?

Ma, I gotta go, all right?

'Riq...

[uneasy music]

[exhales sharply]

♪

- [door closes]
- Almost late again.

Just saved yourself, n*gga.

Professor Reynolds been
on you all semester.

He's been in a bad mood
the whole time.

Oh, he's not that bad.

Not to you. You're his favorite.

I gotta actually earn my grades.

So... what makes someone
a monster?

As we deepen our understanding

of the minority experience
in America,

a book like Frankenstein

is not as clear-cut
like the book from last week.

Show of hands.
Who here read this

in high school?

But who noticed
the racial undertones?

Go ahead, Miss Baldwin.

People are scared
of the creature

based on what he looks like...

Prejudice against minorities.

A little remedial. Anyone else?

Hint... crime and punishment.

Go ahead.

[BruShaundria]
White people brought us here.

They call us animals,
they sell off our children,

and when we fight back,
we're the monsters.

We're supposed to be scary,
but they the ones riding around

in white hoods, burning crosses
on people's lawns.

Very good, Miss Carmichael.

Giving the other
fellowship semifinalists

a run for their money.

But, Bru, some of it
does come down

to how we fight back.

What is that supposed to mean?

If people are set up to fail,
they just f*cking fail.

But not all of us fail.

What about
the prison-industrial system?

The number of people of color
in jail...

Is a tragedy, yes,

but you can't deny
that some people

made the choices
to get them there.

- Some people deserve jail.
- Like my mother?

What, you think my mother
deserves to be in jail?

No, that is not what I meant.

Yeah, it's easy to judge
from the outside,

just like it's easy
to judge the creature.

The book judged
Dr. Frankenstein...

Can I finish, Lauren?

[tense music]

Everyone thinks the creature
is a monster

because of the way
Frankenstein made him,

but maybe it's the way
Frankenstein treated him.

Maybe that's why
the creature's a monster.

That is the exact answer
I was looking for.

Same sh*t's happening
with the body in the pool.

Word is, the cops only want

to talk to the Black
and brown kids.

No surprise there.

Wasn't that an accident?

The police don't think so.

However, Professor Milgram
and I have volunteered

to speak to each
of you privately

without police interference.

Now, I refuse to be an agent
for the police,

so I promise, you have
complete confidentiality

to tell me anything,

no matter what it is.

[tense music]

Moving on.

♪

Tariq, wait. [sighs]

I didn't mean
what I said in class.

But you said it.

I got competitive with Bru.

I just wanted to score points
for the fellowship.

Yeah, and you got points,
a whole lot of them.

Your mom doesn't deserve
to be in jail.

I know that.

But murderers
and drug dealers, they do.

Just leave me alone, a'ight?

[warbling hip-hop music]

♪

[buzzer sounds, sharp bangs]

A'ight, b*tches, line up!

Doing a random search
for contraband.

Get out of your cells...

- Contraband? Contraband?
- [Meredith] Now!

You don't wanna test me today.

sh*t.

[indistinct chatter]

[hushed] Yo, yo.

The burner. Where's it at?

[Meredith] Shut your mouth.

I don't know what you mean.

- I left it for you.
- [Meredith] Now!

You been watching me?

You work for Monet Tejada?

We don't got time
for that, all right?

You gotta trust me.
Give me the burner, now.

[Meredith]
I better not find nothing.

♪

[whispering] Promise me
you'll get me a new one.

- I got you.
- [Meredith] St. Patrick!

♪

Oh, I'ma enjoy
every minute of this.

- I want my lawyer.
- [Meredith] Lawyer?

You ain't got no rights in here.

♪

- [elevator bell dings]
- [Saxe sighs]

I intercepted a report
from the marshal at the MCC.

Oh, good morning.

Yeah, St. Patrick's cell block
was clean.

Ugh. Look.

You wanted me to get Tasha
at all cost.

Now, I had reason to believe
Little Miss Queenpin

was hiding a burner in her cell.

I could've used it to prove

she's still running
the organization.

Oh, could have.

Could have.

Instead, what you do have

is an unsubstantiated search,

which plays
right into Davis' hands.

Davis isn't gonna find out.

I just did.
What makes you think he won't?

- Trust me.
- [scoffs] Trust you?

Not like you got
any other choice.

♪

- Ah.
- [cell phone clicking]

♪

[line trilling]

Yeah, hey. This is Steven Ott.

Can you please put me through
to Special Agent Pope?

♪

Cute.

[pensive music]

♪

Coach Wallace mean
he's in custody?

♪

[keys clacking]

♪

[keys clacking]

♪

"People versus Lorenzo Tejada.

"On appeal, the defendant
contends the trial court

"committed prejudicial error

"by admitting evidence
of the defendant's affiliation

"with known g*ng member
Ignacio Guevara,

"a.k.a. Big Guap,

head of street g*ng GTG."

♪

- [door bangs open]
- [gasps]

- Jesus Christ, Jabari.
- Find anything?

I thought you'd left.
Your... your light was off.

I like it moody when I write.

- [Carrie sighs]
- You find anything

in your student meetings?

No. You?

Ezekiel Cross.

Who are these other people
in the photograph?

His family. First cousins.

Family, huh?

You recognize someone?

[ominous music]

Nope.

Have a good night, Carrie.

[door opens, closes]

♪

[rapper] ♪ Welcome to my world ♪

♪ The one you engaged in... ♪

♪

- [Dru] Cane!
- Oh.

- [door closes]
- What up, Dru?

What up?

You took our corner boys.

- Why?
- [laughs]

Monet wants to roll
with Tariq, fine.

I'll take over the streets.

Ain't that right?

I mean, you gotta eat,
too, right?

[Cane chuckles]

♪

Okay, this beef with Monet
got you twisted.

Rico's coming up personally

to make our drop
in a couple nights.

He bought that D.C. Joe
was hit in a robbery.

What's he gonna think when
he finds out about this sh*t?

He'll think Monet
got competition.

Cane, f*ck that sh*t, man.

No, Dru. f*ck Monet.

This is our time, you and me.

We hit up Rico for product,

and we run
these streets together, okay?

No Monet. No Lorenzo.

♪

What's up, Dru?

♪

Why is that n*gga
still breathing?

After what he did to Zeke...

after what he did to me.

He's breathing
'cause he's loyal.

Who you loyal to, Dru?

Monet picked Tariq. Your turn.

You all the way f*cked up.

I'm exactly who Monet wants me
to be, okay?

I'm playing
by her f*cking rules.

So which is it, Dru?

'Cause either you with me...

or you against me.

♪

A'ight, so what you do
when he said that?

What the hell
was I supposed to do?

sh**t every one of them.

Lil' Guap, all them n*gg*s.

And Cane?

You want me to sh**t him, too?

I told you not to say that name.

I told him he got me
all the way f*cked up,

and so do you.

You trying to turn me into him,
ain't that right?

- Dru, fall back.
- Your father always said

he wanted you
to run the business.

What if I want something else?

[Monet] Your brother made it

so that you don't have a choice.

Look, Dru, I wanted
something more for you, too,

but I'm past that now.

You gotta get past that, too.
Hear me?

[sighs]

[somber music]

Yeah.

I hear you.

♪

If Rico finds out
we don't have dealers

to move his product...

Ma, we need a plan.

Plan don't change.

Tariq moves his bricks.

We take our product
off the street.

Rico ain't gotta know sh*t

as long as he's getting his cut.

But will Tariq's bricks
be enough?

Absolutely not.

Transferring you
to a new facility

will cause too many delays.

Just play nice with the marshal.

For how f*cking long? Hmm?

Weeks? Months?

You'll be home soon, I promise.

Is that what
this expert witness is for?

Tariq said you hired one.
Who is it?

And how can they help me
get home?

We haven't figured out
our full strategy...

[Davis] Oh.

Has my plan been working
so far, Tasha?

- Yes.
- [Davis] Then trust me.

If I decided not tell you,
it's for a good reason.

Now, if there's nothing else,
I'm late for another meeting.

Fine. Just remember,

whatever you got up your sleeve,

I got two kids
outside these walls

that need me.

[Davis knocks on door]

[door opens]

[dramatic music]

♪

I thought this chick
was a dancer.

Tardy for the party, I see.
You're late.

Ah. [scoffs] Five minutes.

All right, maybe ten.

You sure she's gonna answer
the door?

I know criminals.

The guilty ones
love to make a deal.

- [Saxe] I hope you're right.
- [doorbell rings]

♪

[camera shutter
clicking rapidly]

♪

I don't know nothing,
and I don't help no cops,

not even a fine-ass one.

- [chuckles]
- Well I'm flattered.

[scoffs] You tried it.

She means me, pretty boy.

And we're not cops.

- Mm.
- We're lawyers.

In fact, I work for Tasha Green.

You remember Tasha, don't you?

Yeah, I used to be
a customer at her day care.

You work for Tasha, too?

You own or rent?

I borrow. A friend's letting me
and my son stay here

while he's in the Hamptons
with his wife.

Very generous friend.

- Miss Turner...
- [Epiphany] It's Epiphany.

But you can call me anytime.

You married? 'Cause...

that's not a problem for me.

Uh, you have other problems,

like your recent run-in
with the law.

First of all, not my fault.

Sinnamon is a mouthy-ass bitch.

But she isn't looking
at jail time.

Saxe don't look it,
but he's important.

He's got pull.

He can drop my charges?

"Massage" is more accurate.

Enough to avoid jail time,

retain custody of your son.

Mr. Fine-Ass, you wasn't lying.

- Your white boy got pull.
- Told you.

Well, that type of ass-clapping
don't come for free,

so what's it gonna cost me?

We want you to talk about being
a customer at Tasha's...

If your son liked it,
what she was like.

Plus, you probably saw her son,
Tariq, working there, too.

Tariq?

Yeah, we have his time cards.
We know he worked there.

I may have seen him.

Tasha's husband,
James St. Patrick,

had no idea Tariq was there

until right before it got
raided by the Feds

and she had to shut down.

I don't know Tasha's ex,
and I don't know what he knew.

Well, that's okay. That's okay.

You can add that part
to your testimony,

and I'll connect it to the jury.

You want me to say this
in front of the court,

like a snitch,
in front of Tasha?

It'll actually help Tasha.

I promise.

Plus, if you do it...

we'll help you.

What y'all want me to say?

[dramatic music]

♪

[door closes]

[Tariq]
Yo, where the f*ck you been?

Trace's frat house,
'cause you're a dickhead.

I'm just grabbing some clothes.

- Bro I thought we got past that.
- [Brayden] Past it?

Past you lying,
f*cking up me and Riley?

Hell, the cops are probably all
over campus 'cause of you, too!

No, the cops are here
'cause of Cane.

Cane k*lled that guy?

Why didn't you
f*cking say anything?

I tried.
You didn't wanna listen.

So are you ready
to listen now or what?

You got five minutes.

[tense music]

Yo, that's a sh*t ton of coke.

You're f*cking right.

Monet wants me to move
this sh*t pretty fast,

but, honestly, with 12 all over
this f*cking campus,

it's basically su1c1de.

What about Effie?

How many times do I gotta say
sorry to you about that sh*t?

Yes, f*ck you for that,
but that's not what I mean.

I mean, she can charge more
at Yale.

Yeah, you're actually right.

Yeah, New Haven is hot,

and kids have to score
on campus.

I don't know, though, bro.

I don't think Effie's trying
to f*ck with me right now.

You think maybe you
could set up a meet tonight?

Fine. I'll drive.

I'll go get Trace's car.

That's what I like to hear.

♪

[door opens, closes]

I had no idea that the guy

that they found in the pool
was GTG.

How could you not know?

I mean, how much
has your family told you

about your uncle Lorenzo?

I know he ain't in a g*ng,
if that's what you're asking.

My uncle's in jail.

Lots of people are.

Your uncle may not be
in the g*ng,

but he has
documented criminal history

with that g*ng, GTG,
in court records...

Part of the evidence
used to convict him.

I mean, think, Zeke.

Your family were at the game.

A body shows up on campus,
and you get threatened.

- It's not a coincidence.
- You don't know my family.

I know you're not like them.

You have a whole future
ahead of you.

But if you don't come forward
with what you know,

you could lose
your... your draft status.

You could lose everything.

I ain't have sh*t to do
with whatever happened here.

Attaching my name to it
gonna make me toxic.

[Carrie] Zeke, you're a victim.

You have an alibi
for the m*rder.

You were playing in the game.

But if you don't report what
happened to you in the club,

you could be implicated
in a cover-up.

Let me help you.

I'm meeting students
anonymously.

I can come forward
on your behalf,

protect you,

distance you from all of this.

I gotta go.

Well, just call me
when you decide.

♪

[buzzer sounds in the distance]

- Why am I here, Tasha?
- It's funny.

- [door closes]
- All this time,

you've never lied to me, Paula,
until yesterday.

- I don't know what you mean.
- [Tasha] Bullshit.

I know that you were covering
for Davis

when I asked
about the expert witness.

- I wasn't lying.
- I know you lied.

Because you're sleeping
with him, right?

How long you been waiting
for him to leave his wife?

- That is none of your business.
- It's not.

It's really not
any of yours either,

since he's married
to someone else.

[sighs]

[Tasha] When my husband
had his affair...

[scoffs]

...I kept lying for him, too.

Even his side piece, Angela,
was lying for him.

And look at what it cost
all of us.

She's dead, and I am on trial,
fighting for my life.

So my question is,
what's it gonna cost you

if you wanna keep lying
for Davis?

Paula, I need to know

who that expert witness is.

I have a right to participate
in my own defense.

♪

Davis told me her name
is Dr. Epiphany Turner.

Doctor?
Epiphany ain't no doctor.

- She's a stripper.
- What?

[door closes in the distance]

[sighs]

What are you doing?

I know how to find
court records.

It's how I found out
about Tameika's relationship

with Saxe,

since you didn't tell us.

Tasha, I'm sure whatever
Davis is doing with a stripper

is for your benefit.

Then why wouldn't he tell me
about it?

Why wouldn't he tell you

that he's calling her
to testify?

He's not.

Saxe is calling Epiphany.

She's his next witness

and was arrested not long ago

with just enough cocaine
for the NYPD

to charge her with intent.

It's her third strike.
She's looking at real time.

[scoffs]

If Saxe is calling her
to the stand,

what is Epiphany gonna say
about you?

She's a desperate
single mother, just like me.

I'm sure she just doesn't want
to go to jail.

Other than that, I don't know.

What about Tariq, Tasha?

Does he know
what Epiphany might say?

[Tariq]
You think any of the parents

from the day care
still need help?

Remember that one lady
you used to tell me about?

She used to come pick up
her son late.

She worked this weird job
at night.

You have to ask Tariq.

I don't even know
if they've ever met.

I'd call him, but they record
our conversations.

[buzzer sounds, doors banging,
in the distance]

Ask Tariq if Epiphany
ever met Slim.

- Who's Slim?
- [Tasha] A friend of Tariq's,

the wrong kind.

Tariq started hanging
around Slim

when his sister d*ed.

I was too busy dealing
with her death to even notice.

Was Slim a criminal?

One of the most dangerous
criminals I ever met.

If Epiphany saw Slim with Tariq,

maybe Saxe is trying
to use that against me.

I need you to tell Tariq

that if Epiphany takes
the stand,

she may not look dangerous,

but she is just as dangerous
as Slim ever was.

Tell Tariq that I said

that he needs to treat Epiphany
the same way we treated Slim.

♪

[door opens]

[sighs]

You had me followed?

You left me no choice.

[scoffs] I figured out
what you're doing.

You're gonna get Epiphany Turner

to name Tariq as part
of the drug organization.

It clears Tasha.

That's why you and Davis
are, uh, making out

under the bleachers these days.

I wanna get at the truth,
Steven.

You and Mak,
you don't want the truth.

But I do. I took an oath.

f*ck your oath.

If Tariq St. Patrick is guilty
of some drug offense, great.

Fine.

But you still need
to nail Tasha.

- The story doesn't change.
- Steven...

Cooper!

And now I've got
a new assignment for you.

You gotta get
Davis MacLean, too.

[scoffs]

He's not breaking any rules.

He's... he's defending
his client.

First rule
of American politics...

It's not the truth,
it's how the truth looks.

Come on.

Big-sh*t African-American
defense lawyer

colluding
with a white U.S. attorney

to put an Ivy League Black kid
in jail?

Ben Crump's gonna love that.

These pictures cut
both ways, Saxe.

You nail Davis,

or I nail your ass.

♪

Yes, Cane's sent one
of the GTGs up to Stansfield.

- But he's been handled.
- [Zeke] It ain't handled.

There's a whole investigation.

And the sh*t that happened
at the club...

the GTGs was retaliating
for their man being "handled,"

like you say.

Almost ended my whole career
over this sh*t.

And now they gonna question us
up at the school.

I think I gotta tell them
what you know.

You don't need to tell nobody
sh*t about this family

or what we do.

If I don't tell them
that I got jumped

and they find out
that the dead body in the pool

was related to y'all,

I lose everything.

I might need to distance myself
from what y'all do.

♪

Zeke, this ain't you.

If they find out you got jumped,

they'll be asking
how you get out of it.

- You want Dru roped up?
- Of course not.

Professor Milgram said I could
come forward anonymously.

I wouldn't even have
to talk about Dru.

Carrie, right?

I remember her.

Y'all looked real friendly
at the game.

- She's my adviser.
- So she know about us?

That's why she giving advice
ain't nobody ask her for?

Professor Milgram just talked
to a bunch of students.

She don't know nothing.

♪

I'm sorry, baby.

I should've made sure
you were straight,

but you know not to ask
about business.

- Why don't you spend the night?
- Spend the night?

Unless you got somewhere else
you need to be.

No.

I can stay.

Zeke, I didn't know
you were here.

- What up, D?
- [Diana] What's up?

What do you know about Zeke
and his adviser?

His adviser? That Milgram lady?

- You worried something's up?
- I know something's up.

I just need to figure out
what it is.

♪

Wait, Ma.

I saw something
in Tariq's backpack.

I thought it was about Tariq,
but maybe it's about Zeke.

♪

[Santana]
Did your student interviews

yield anything,
Professor Reynolds?

Nothing. None of my hardworking,

elite students knows anything
about a dead gangbanger.

Are we done
with this harassment?

[cell phone bloops]

My apologies.

What did your interviews
yield, Professor?

I'm not sure. [sighs]

What I know happened
off campus that same evening.

Well, if it's off campus,
then it's irrelevant.

I'll decide that.

I'm sorry. Please.

Well, after the game,
a few of the players

from the basketball team
went to celebrate at a club.

They were jumped and assaulted
by a g*ng.

Which g*ng?

♪

Tasha said that Epiphany
may have seen you talking

to your friend Slim.

Slim?

What'd she say about Slim?

That he was
a dangerous criminal.

Is that true?

She said that if Epiphany
is called to testify,

you're supposed to treat her
just the way you did Slim,

and to be careful.

Tariq, what does that mean,
"treat Epiphany like Slim"?

Basically, she just wants me
to stay away from her.

Let my mom know she has nothing
to worry about, all right?

Epiphany never saw me with Slim,

so she won't have anything
to say about me or my mother.

♪

[gasps]

[suspenseful music]

Mrs. Tejada, um,
my office hours are...

Right now.

You don't look too surprised
to see me.

You wanna talk about Zeke.

It's... it's late.

I'm not sure it's appropriate.

Appropriate?

Like you f*cking him?

♪

- I d... I d...
- You did.

And you didn't think
anyone would find out.

♪

W... What did Zeke tell you
exactly?

Let me tell you something.

If you wanna keep your job,

I suggest you keep
your f*cking mouth shut

about whatever you think
you know.

And if Zeke gets in trouble
for this swimming pool sh*t,

your name will be
the first name out of my mouth.

You understand me?

♪

[door opens, closes]

[Brayden] Bro, you haven't said
a word since we left the city.

At least when we were at Choate,

you acted like you were 100
with me.

'Cause when I talk,
you never f*cking listen.

Here we go with that Riley sh*t.

What, you want
the f*cking truth, huh?

You want me to keep it
a buck with you?

- Yeah.
- A'ight, well, listen.

Riley never tried to sleep
with me.

A'ight? I lied about that.

I knew you lied.
You shady m*therf*cker.

Not half as shady as that bitch.

Let's go, right f*cking now.
I'm serious.

Bro, you do not wanna
fight me, a'ight?

Just shut up and listen to me.

Damn.

Remember that day on my birthday

when you said I was bugging out?

[Brayden] Yeah.

It's because Riley spiked
my drink.

You're out of your mind.
Why the f*ck would she do that?

I caught her
going through my sh*t.

She's snooping around
for her f*cking uncle

that's prosecuting my mother,
he's the U.S. attorney.

Probably sent that bitch
up here to spy on me.

Get the f*ck out of here.
No way.

- W... that...
- No way?

- Yeah.
- [Tariq] No f*cking way?

Yeah. W...

[Tariq] This is her uncle.

Holy f*cking sh*t.

I saw a picture of that guy
at Riley's house.

Exactly. You f*cking Nancy Drew.

How much does he know
about our business?

I don't know.
How much did you tell Riley?

Well, I didn't...

Hey, Effie.

[Effie] You said you'd be here
an hour ago.

It's my fault, a'ight?
We got held up.

Where's my stuff?

Tariq's got it.

I'm gonna go put this
in the car.

- Brayden, wait...
- Bye, Effie.

[sighs] Just hand it over.

Not until I apologize
for Parents' Weekend.

What for?

You got me back for getting you
kicked out of Choate.

That's not what I wanted to do.
I didn't meet up with you

because I got into some trouble,

and I didn't want
to bring you into it.

I didn't want you part
of that sh*t.

That is either a really good lie

or exactly half of the truth.

You don't know
how to make friends.

You act like you don't need
nobody.

Well, I need you.

You the only person
that understands me.

Look, I don't...

I don't know
how to be different.

All I know is what
my parents taught me, Effie.

[serious music]

My mother wants me
to do something for her.

♪

How bad is it, Tariq?

The thing she wants you to do?

I don't want to do it, Effie.

I really don't wanna do it.
I'm not a monster, I swear.

[scoffs]
I can't tell when you're lying.

I never can.

I'm not lying.

Even if you are,

I feel like I understand you.

♪

But you don't understand
yourself.

♪

You are a monster, Tariq.

♪

We both are.

I accepted it about myself

the night I turned you in
at Choate.

♪

Sooner you accept it,
the better off you'll be.

♪

[doorbell ringing]

[Epiphany] What's up?

What's up?

You live here alone?

For now.

I got a regular
who let me stay here

when him and his wife
out of town.

Sometimes I be leaving
sh*t around

so she can start
asking questions.

It's like a little game we play.

He like it. [chuckles]

You sure about that?

Well, I gotta find
somewhere else to go,

so maybe he don't like it
as much as I thought.

You can come in.

[uneasy music]

♪

- Where's your son at?
- He is with his daddy.

n*gga got Lunchables in one hand

and f*cking party flyers
in the other.

I'm glad you could meet.

Talking over a burner's too hot.

Oh, yeah, no problem.

Your lawyer laid it all out
for me.

And why you ain't tell a bitch
he was coming by?

He fine as f*ck.

If I would've known
he was coming by,

I would've called Tenisha
and got my good wig.

My lawyer? He was here?

Yeah, Davis MacLean
and some square white boy.

White boy. Was he tall?

[Epiphany] He said he could
help me with my charges.

I got into a little trouble.
It was Sinnamon fault.

His name is Cooper Saxe.
He came here with Davis?

They want me to testify
at Tasha's trial.

Davis said you knew.

So you remember what
you supposed to say in court?

You worked for Tasha
at her day care.

Your father had no idea

until the place got raided
and shut down.

Is this really all gonna help
Tasha get off?

Listen, 'Riq, I don't know
if I can do this.

I mean, I know it'll help me
keep my son, but...

If I had the money,
I would just run.

[sighs]
I don't have nobody to ask.

[dramatic music]

♪

[Epiphany] What's up, Tariq?

[Larkin] Mr. Saxe,
I've excused the jury

to hear why your witness
is late,

but I don't have all day.

Your Honor, Epiphany Turner
confirmed she'd testify.

I don't know why she isn't here
or where she could be.

Tasha, you okay?

Yeah, I'm... I'm fine.

[Ott] Saxe.

What the f*ck?

So you either move on
to your next witness,

or the prosecution rests.

♪

I'd like a short recess.

You have ten minutes.

♪

[door opens]

[Saxe knocking on stall doors]

[door closes]

You expect me to believe
you had nothing to do

with Epiphany's
sudden disappearance?

Uh, yes.

We're on the same side,
remember?

Then why send Paula to the MCC

to talk to Tasha about Epiphany?

I highly doubt she did that.

My office just sent me
the visitor logs.

She was there.

What the f*ck else could they
possibly be talking about?

- Huh?
- f*ck out of here.

Paula doesn't know
we work together.

Why would I tell her
to go to Tasha?

- To f*ck me!
- Get over yourself, Saxe.

Okay?
I've got you over a barrel.

I know you were at Truth

the night
of St. Patrick's m*rder.

- Do you?
- [Davis] Yeah.

Well, you don't have proof,

but, uh, I, on the other hand...

[tense music]

♪

[sighs]

[scoffs] You set me up?

♪

Double-crossing,
nefarious m*therf*cker.

Those pictures don't mean sh*t.

You and I meeting Epiphany's
not illegal.

No, no, not illegal.
Uh, unethical as f*ck.

And once I nail Tasha,
and I will,

and Tariq, I'll go public
with these.

[scoffs] And no one, no one
will want to hire you.

Your illustrious career

will be f*cking over,
and Paula's, too.

♪

f*ck, man.

I knew I couldn't trust you.

I knew it.

[door opens, closes]

♪

[indistinct chatter]

You better have something
up your sleeve, Saxe.

Steven, sit down and shut up.
I got it handled.

[laughing] Oh.

Lead the way, big sh*t.

[whispering] Davis,
what the hell is going on?

[whispering]
You told Tasha about Epiphany.

Why?

Because you won't give me
a straight answer.

Lying to your clients?
I'm used to that.

Lying to me,
I never thought you would do.

So now you're gonna tell me
the truth.

[sighs]
I had a side deal with Saxe,

but he double-crossed me.

Now he wants to take me down
and you, too.

Why on Earth would you ever
make a deal with him?

- You know what he is.
- He has a video.

It's inadmissible,
but it proves Tasha's innocent.

It's Tariq admitting
he k*lled his father.

[sighs]

- And Tasha knows.
- [Davis] Yeah.

[sighs] So all of her lies
were all to protect her son.

And I was trying to get her
acquitted with Saxe's help.

We were working together
to get Tariq.

- Why didn't you tell me?
- To protect you, okay?

In case it blew up.

Oh, come on, Paula,
you know what I am.

I do.

And you gotta help me
get out of this.

- I don't.
- Whoa, whoa, no, no, no.

Wait, wait, wait.

♪

Why don't we...
go talk this over?

- [sighs]
- [Davis] I mean, come on.

We can make it
through this, right?

You and I, come on, we can work

through anything together.

We were never together, Davis.

You were with your wife,
and I was on my own,

because I believed
in the mission,

because I believed in you.

If you'd would've asked me,

I would've told you
not to trust Saxe.

♪

But you didn't ask.

♪

All rise.

The Court of the
Eastern District of New York,

Criminal Division,
is now in session.

The Honorable Judge Nina Larkin
presiding.

Let the record show
the jury is still excused.

Please sit down.

Mr. Saxe...

did you decide?

I did, Your Honor.

I'd like to summon
Tariq St. Patrick to the stand.

[suspenseful music]

What? Davis, can Saxe do that?

- [normal voice] He just did.
- [audience murmuring]

[Larkin] As Mr. St. Patrick
is not in court

and is an addition
to the witness list,

a subpoena will be issued
for him forthwith.

♪

- [buzzer sounds, door opens]
- [line trilling]

[electronic voice] You have
a collect call from the MCC.

Do you accept the charges?

Yes, I'll accept the charges.

Ma? Ma, is everything okay?

Saxe is calling you
to the stand.

I wanted to tell you myself.

I know Paula gave you
my last message.

Did you do your homework?

No, I lost it,

but nothing bad
is gonna happen, okay?

What does that mean?

You don't gotta worry about her
testifying in court.

[Tasha]
Tariq, what does that mean?

♪

'Riq, are you still there?

Ma, I gotta go.

No, Tariq, you need to tell me.
What does that mean?

♪

Goodbye, Ma.

No, do...

♪

[door opens]

[door closes]

Mm.

sh*t, you got product already?

Yeah.
Cash you had came in clutch.

♪

This Monet's shipment.

♪

Oh, whoa, whoa!

You stealing
my f*cking family's product?

Rico gave it to me.

- What?
- Rico gave it to me.

I told him
we was trying to sling.

♪

He said he was looking
for a new distro.

♪

Rico's looking for a new distro
for this product?

Yeah.

The f*ck.

♪

He's taking Monet out the game.

Ain't that what you wanted?

♪

f*ck.

[g*ns clicking]

New York.

♪

Mm, mm, mm. It's been a minute.

I don't have your money.

I used it to pay somebody.

You know better
than that sh*t, Tariq.

I had to do something
for my mother.

She always comes first, Monet,
so I broke your rules.

I know what that means,
all right?

[Dru] Whoa, whoa, whoa,
Ma, Ma, Ma.

[Diana] Ma, please put
the g*n down.

- [cell phone buzzes]
- Ma, Rico should be here soon.

f*ck! [grunts]

[tense music]

[engine turning over]

[tires squealing]

Ma, he got friends.
He got family.

You do this, it brings
more heat on us.

Ma, please, just give Tariq
a second chance.

Ma, he's never been short
before.

Right? He-he can get the money.

-[Diana] He's good for it, Ma.
- Tell her you'll get the f*cking
money.

Shut the f*ck up!

He knows the consequences
of f*cking with my money.

♪

Ma, you're not thinking
straight.

Diana, it's okay.

Monet is right.

I made these decisions.

I chose this life, and I chose
to do everything

that I've ever done.

♪

Look, I betrayed all of you,

and I deserve what I get.

What you mean
you deserve what you get?

I hurt everyone
that cares about me.

I put myself on the line for you

one too many times, 'Riq.

You lied to me.

You stole from me.

Are you being held
against your will?

♪

I won't tell.

♪

I won't tell.

I swear.

♪

[Ghost]
Tariq, if you do this sh*t,

you can never go back.

Even my father,

but even he couldn't see it
until it was too late.

♪

Ma, I think that's Rico
with the drop.

What you say about your father?

[suspenseful music]

♪

[Dru] Ma, the drop.

♪

[Dru]
Why they just sitting there?

- Get down!
- [a*t*matic g*nf*re]

I'ma go around back
and get a piece.

No.

♪

No, Dru!

Aah!

No!

[tires squealing]

♪

Ma! D!

Cane, I'm okay.

- [door closes]
- Where's Ma?

[Monet]
Please don't do this, Dru!

Don't do this to me, please.

Dru, Dru, baby,
please don't do this to me.

- Don't do this.
- [Cane] No, Dru.

- Don't do this to me.
- [Cane] No, Dru!

I tried to warn you, Ma!

[Monet] Why weren't you here?

I didn't do this.

Get Dru in the car right now.

♪

Okay, okay. Come on.

- Come on, come on. I got you.
- [Dru groans]

[somber music]

I'll follow you.

[door opens]

♪

I owe you Diana's life,
but me and you, we ain't done.

- Yeah, I know.
- [door closes]

I hope Dru's all right.

[cell phone buzzes]

[sirens approaching]

♪

I'm sorry I'm late.
I got held up.

Saxe is calling you
to the stand.

♪

Davis can't represent you.

Not only is it
a conflict of interest,

but there's this.

I had to.

I had to do it.

♪

How'd you get that?

Saxe took it,

gave it to Davis, who's known
about this for weeks.

Found it hidden in his computer

after I made him tell me
the truth.

You need a lawyer, Tariq.

Davis is setting you up.

Why are you telling me?

'Cause I don't work
for Davis anymore,

and I want you to b*at
that son of a bitch.

♪

[siren wailing]

[indistinct chatter over PA]

[Diana]
Dru just went into surgery.

He's gonna make it, Ma.

Dru always comes home.

This is all your fault!

- This was Rico's fault.
- Bullshit, Cane!

Rico did this 'cause you left.

♪

Now, I'ma say this once,

so hear me good.

Run, Cane.

Run before
I put you down myself.

♪

I'm your son
just as much as Dru, Ma.

I did everything
you wanted me to...

Don't test me, boy!

Never again.

You made me this way, Ma.

Ma!

[siren wailing]

[sighs]

[somber music]

♪

We need to meet.

I need your help.

[dramatic music]

[hip-hop music playing]

♪

[car door opens, closes]

We agreed to get rid of Tariq,

but you went ghost
on a m*therf*cker.

My brother got sh*t
tonight, man.

He's gonna be all right,
but he's hurt.

Now, without Tariq,
all Monet got is Diana,

so she gonna need me back.

We agreed to k*ll Tariq,

but why would
I help you now, Cane?

Dru got sh*t.
Monet wants me dead.

We need to dead Tariq tonight!

Monet's right about you.

You are stupid.

With you gone, she now needs me
more than ever,

so Tariq is not a problem
for me,

especially if Dru dies.

You pull, you make it easy
for me.

Monet won't even need
a reason why.

So get the f*ck out of my face
before I change my mind.

[dramatic music]

♪

[groans, gasps]

Cane.

♪

Don't make this mistake.

You think Monet hates you now?

Don't... Cane.

♪

It's already done, n*gga.

[Pop Smoke]
♪ I'm armed and dangerous ♪

♪ Ain't no parking
At the light, no ♪

♪ Ain't no staining us,
Keep a K with us ♪

♪ Please don't,
Please don't play with us ♪

♪ Nah, we up and aiming them ♪

♪ Ain't no hidin', no ♪

♪ Flossy, baby,
That's where I be, ah, ah ♪

♪ Lymie, if you lookin'
For me, you can find me ♪

Tameika, I need your help.

Tariq, why couldn't this wait?

You could've met me
in my office.

♪

Saxe knows.
He's calling you to the stand.

Give me a dollar.

♪

Now I'm your attorney.

Anything you say to me
is protected

by attorney-client privilege.

Tariq...

did you k*ll your father?

♪

Yes, I did.

Not because I'm a monster.

- 'Cause he was a monster.
- I know he was, Tariq.

And I know you are not.

♪

Now how did Saxe know
what you did?

That doesn't matter, all right?

I did it, and I don't want
my mother to go to prison

for something that I did.

So, when Saxe puts me
on the stand,

I wanna confess.

♪

[Pop Smoke]
♪ I'm armed and dangerous ♪

♪ Ain't no parking
At the light, no ♪

♪ Ain't no staining us,
Keep a K with us ♪

♪ Please don't,
Please don't play with us ♪

♪ Nah, we up and aiming them ♪

♪ Ain't no hidin', no ♪

♪ Flossy, baby,
That's where I be, ah, ah ♪

♪ Lymie, if you lookin'
For me, you can find me ♪

♪ Try me,
n*gg*s know that I'm grimy ♪

♪ n*gg*s know I'm on timin' ♪

- ♪ Big body like a lineman ♪
- ♪ Whoo ♪

- ♪ I know how to vibe ♪
- ♪ Vibe, vibe ♪

- ♪ But, no, I ain't cool ♪
- ♪ No, I ain't cool ♪

- ♪ Look at me funny ♪
- ♪ Look at me funny ♪

- ♪ Bet I sh**t up the room ♪
- ♪ Bet I sh**t up the room ♪

- ♪ sh**t out the coupe ♪
- ♪ Coupe ♪

- ♪ I let it boom ♪
- ♪ I let it boom ♪

- ♪ Nah ♪ - ♪ Nah, whoo ♪

♪ I don't play
With these n*gg*s, never ♪

♪ Play with it ♪

♪ n*gg*s know
I keep a K with it ♪

- ♪ Ace Makaveli ♪ - ♪ Bah ♪

♪ Wavin' it, wavin' it ♪

♪ I'm in the Bugatti, racin' ♪

♪ Pacer, pace him ♪

♪ Run him down, chase him ♪

♪ Draco, Drac' him ♪

- ♪ Extendo, 30 ♪ - ♪ 30 ♪

- ♪ Perc' head, 30 ♪ - ♪ 30 ♪

- ♪ 808 dirty ♪ - ♪ Dirty ♪

- ♪ Air it out, birdie ♪
- ♪ Birdie ♪

♪ I keep a Smith
And like Stephen A. ♪

- ♪ Picante ♪ - ♪ Picante ♪

♪ In and out Different states ♪

♪ Duckin' the jakes ♪