01x06 - Family Affair

[bunniefuu]

♪ Come in with the change,
settin' up the next stage ♪

♪ Always been a woman of
my word, that is my way ♪

♪ Tell your homies holla at the
nerve if they need it, 'kay? ♪

♪ And I don't gotta hit 'em with
the curve 'cause they know me ♪

♪ Final, here to stay,
comin' with the strong game ♪

VOICE OF DAMON: How long did
you know about me and J.R.?

But I told you that I wasn't
looking for my birth parents.

Instead, you and J.R. just...

decided what was best for my life

and then played me when my gut told me

there was something up with you two.

[VOICE OF DAMON ECHOING] I trusted you.

♪ Tell me who gonna take control? ♪

♪ Tell me who gonna take control? ♪

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Oh, no. Not today. Damon...

Enough with the Tina
Hicks silent treatment.

I apologized.

It's been a week.

I miss my friend, OK?

Look, baby Shay's in town this weekend,

and I would love if my blood family

met my Bringston family,

if you even consider yourself
a part of that anymore.

I miss my friend, too, but...

But my Bringston family lied to me about

who my blood family might actually be.

So I'm not gonna just
turn the page because...

Simone Hicks wants me to.

Yo, hold up.

Simone ain't deserve that.

If you gonna be mad at
somebody, be mad at me.

I'm mad at me, bro,

because I trusted
y'all not to lie to me.

- You cleaned out your locker?
- Yeah.

'Cause once I talk to Coach Marcus,

I'll officially be off the team.

I can't believe you
flew in for the game.

This is just preseason, Mom.

Well, it's the first game I
get to watch not as momager but

just as Mom.

This reset is a big deal to me.

Yeah, me, too.

Hey.

Yeah?

You want to tell me what's wrong?

Who said that something's wrong?

Your facial expression,

your tone in your voice.

I can go on,

or you can just tell me.

MARCUS: Ms. Sims,

it's good to see you.

DAMON: Good morning, Coach.

Now, she know you lying.

[LAUGHTER]

You can relax.

The only agenda I have this time around

is to watch my son play baseball,

nothing more.

Then it is really
good to see you, right?

[LAUGHING] You, too.

All right. Do you mind
if I borrow your son?

Yeah, not at all. See you.

All right, fellas, huddle up.

One of your new sponsors,
Mr. Tibbs' barbecue,

is holding a fundraiser

for the Georgia Junior Baseball League.

And they've asked two of
our players to be there.

Is there free barbecue involved, Coach?

No.

But showing the community
we can be of service by

inspiring young boys is, all right?

Now, I expect volunteers
by the end of practice.

And we're two days
out from our scrimmage

with East Lennox University,
and we're a man down.

Now, some of you may know that J.R.

is no longer on this team,

which means there's
a gap in this roster,

which is why I'm putting
Santiago here at catcher.

- Yeah.
- [PLAYERS CHEER]

All right.

Come on, guys. Get to
it. Let's go. Come on!

[MUSIC PLAYING, INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

[BABY TALK]

Who is that...

- Who is that?
- Is that who I think it is?

Hey, Shanelle.

SIMONE: Hey. Can you
say "Hi, Auntie Amara"?

Can you say "Auntie"?

- Hello.
- Hello.

Hi.

- Aren't you just the sweetest thing?
- [RINGTONE]

SIMONE: Ooh, can you
show her what we do?

Can you show her what we do?

AMARA: What is that?

It's American Sign Language for "hug."

I taught him that before
I left for Bringston.

- [SHAY FUSSES]
- SIMONE: You tired?

Yes...

AMARA: Everything OK?

No.

The babysitter just canceled for Sunday.

The wedding is a no kids event.

Well, that's no problem.
I can watch Shay.

I don't mind.

Don't you have that tennis thing?

It's voluntary.

I would love that.

Shay, did you hear that?

It's just me and you Sunday.

It's gonna be a lit weekend.

- Uh-huh!
- [KNOCK ON DOOR]

SHANELLE: Come here.

[MUSIC STOPS]

Mom.

What are you doing here?

Well,

hello to you, too, Simone.

♪ Ladies and gentlemen ♪

♪ I swear I feel so good ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Woke up feelin' fresh, so clean ♪

- ♪ I'mma show this world who I be... ♪
- [NATHANIEL VOCALIZES]

[APPLAUSE]

KEISHA: Hey! OK. Ha ha!

All right. Well, I take
it that everyone found out

that I won the dance competition.

And that you're gonna be
in Normani's music video.

Yeah. It's like the talk of the dorm.

You're like royalty up in here.

- OK.
- [NATHANIEL CHUCKLES]

And here's my knight.

Hey.

Hey.

♪ g*n on my side ♪

♪ We did it again like
Bonnie and Clyde... ♪

- [CELL PHONE VIBRATING]
- KEISHA: Mm, mm.

Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on.

Ooh!

[CLEARS THROAT]

Hi, Daddy.

Yeah. I'm sorry I can't
make lunch tomorrow.

I have to study for organic chemistry.

Yeah. I love you, too.

OK, bye.

You are capping so hard right now.

No, I'm not.

I do have to study at some
point. We are in college.

Yeah, but you already told me you have

dance rehearsal for that video tomorrow.

Why not keep it with your pops?

Because he doesn't need to know.

It's just a one-time thing.

Look, Coach, with all due respect,

I don't know about Santiago, all right?

Respect would've been
you accepting my decision

instead of you coming in here
trying to change my mind, Damon.

I'm sorry, but, like,
a catcher and a pitcher,

they got to be in sync.

And that ain't never
gonna be me and Santiago.

Come on, Coach. He's resented
me since I joined the team.

And we both know that
he is a pain in the ass.

Make it work, OK?

I need you two putting
in extra work in practice.

OK. Why him, though?

He's a smart player, he has
a stronger arm than J.R.,

and he fought for it.

He went after J.R.'s spot?

He showed me something, OK?

I need players like him
to win against east Lennox.

Every scrimmage counts,

and I need you not to lose focus

or get distracted from your mom's visit.

Now, is everything good there?

Yeah.

That doesn't sound convincing, Damon.

[EXHALES]

I just... I got questions about my...

My adoption and my birth parents.

I don't know how my
mom's gonna take that.

It's a shame the adoptive mom and Shay

couldn't stay for dinner.

She has a name.

It's Shanelle.

She lives in your city,

so you can have dinner
whenever you want.

That doesn't

quite seem appropriate.

AMARA: OK! Food, yeah?

Let's, uh...

Why are you here?

Auntie, you didn't.

I just thought this weekend with Shay

would be a good time for
some family connecting

and to finally talk through some things

now that everyone has
had some time apart.

I would've told you if...

someone had actually confirmed

and not just shown up.

The point is I'm here now.

We said everything we
needed to say before I left.

No family connecting needed.

- [SIGHS]
- Honey...

I hate...

the way that we left things.

Can we do lunch tomorrow?

No.

I'm with Shay all afternoon.

Then how about brunch?

AMARA: How about I join you?

I don't need a chaperone to
have brunch with my daughter.

- Agree to disagree.
- SIMONE: It's fine.

I'll go alone.

TINA: Perfect.

We can brunch on campus.

You can show me what
I've been paying for.

[MAN SINGING ON RADIO] ♪ That's my fam ♪

♪ That's my fam, hey ♪

♪ Nobody be cool like me... ♪

[CONTINUES, INDISTINCT]

[SHUTS OFF ENGINE]

J.R., what are you doing here?

You sold the house?

We found an aggressive buyer.

It all happened really fast.

I'm sorry you're finding out this way.

We were gonna tell you.

We weren't expecting you this weekend.

Well, y'all just told me
y'all were splitting up,

and now you're selling the house?

You're not even gonna try
to see a marriage counselor.

You're just done, just like that.

This must seem quick to you, but...

it's been a long time coming for us.

Sometimes people just fall out of love.

That's all.

But that doesn't mean we don't love you.

That's the best y'all got?

That's it?

TINA: Langston Hughes, Althea Gibson,

Toni Morrison.

I didn't realize so many
of our best and brightest

went to HBCUs.

Most people don't.

That's why I love being in here.

I get to be surrounded by
my inspirations all the time.

There's no denying that I was upset

when you chose Bringston over Stanford.

It's not often that I'm wrong,

but I was about this.

I'm sorry. Are you my mother?

Is something wrong?

No. [CHUCKLES]

I'm truly sorry.

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]

WOMAN: That was perfect.

Candids are always the way to go.

I'm sorry.

- Who are you?
- Simone, this is...

Ashley Ryan, a reporter with
the "Atlanta Law Review,"

and she's early.

Sorry. I'm just so excited.

I'm profiling

the top black female
lawyers in the Country,

one of whom is your mom.

So this is why you're in town?

You set up this profile.

Was everything you said
just for the photo op?

Wow. I can't believe you.

I could be spending time
with my son right now.

- ASHLEY: Wait. You have a son?
- Excuse me. You need to mind your business.

Uh, Ashley, can you
give us a minute, please?

Yeah.

Spilling our family business.

- What is the matter with you?
- Me?

Are you serious right now?

Mom, this is a new low, even for you.

I'm out.

Simone, please.

This article is important.

What if I...

fix that room and board...

financial misunderstanding?

So you're bribing me now?

You know what?

You can just tell her I said
she's Mother of the year.

It's just me and Santiago, Mom.

- You don't need to be here.
- Mm-mm.

I came here for the full Mom experience,

and that's what I'm
gonna get. [CHUCKLES]

Besides, I want to see how
you jell with your new catcher.

MARCUS: All right.
Let's see what you got.

[MARCUS CLAPS]

I thought you were throwing heat.

Have you even played catcher before?

Just throw the damn ball, dude. Come on.

Less talking and more baseball. Come on.

This is crazy, Coach.

- Fastball.
- All right.

Give me a throw.

Yo, catch the ball, man.

Oh, my God. Come on.

- What the hell was that, man?
- You're not giving me a target, bro.

Well, you got to let me
know what you're throwing.

DAMON: No, no, no. My
job is to throw the ball,

and your job is to catch the ball.

Well, your job is also to
throw a ball that I can catch.

You want me to give you
a ball you can catch?

SANTIAGO: Yeah. That'd be
great. DAMON: All right. Hold on.

- Here you go, bro.
- Thank you.

- Here.
- Yeah.

Catch that.

SANTIAGO: Yo, what the...?

Hey, hey.

This is ridiculous.

If you're not gonna do
something, then I will.

Hold on, hold on. I got it.

SANTIAGO: What are you
talking about right now?

DAMON: Are you crazy?

You know there's no you without me.

- Oh.
- All right? Don't forget that.

- Oh, really?
- Yeah, me.

And there he is... Damon Sims . .

You know, I was wondering
when the hell he'd show up.

OK. Well, he's right here...

MARCUS: Thank you, gentlemen!

- DAMON: For what?
- For volunteering

for the Georgia Junior
Baseball League event.

No, Coach, I can't.

Come on, Coach. I can't.
I got plans with my mom.

Too bad, OK? Whether you like it or not,

you two are gonna learn to get along.

♪ I can't wait,
anticipatin' all day ♪

♪ Your place, my place,
anyplace is OK... ♪

- KEISHA: Hey.
- NATHANIEL: Hey, sis.

How was rehearsal?

Really dope.

Yeah, they had an
opening for a lead dancer,

but I didn't get it.

It's all good, though.
I'm still dancing backup.

And you were in the
room where it happened.

That's not nothing.

She's right.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

OK. Baby bumpers, toys, outlet covers.

Is... is baby Shay pulling up?

I'm babysitting tomorrow.

OK. So you mean we're babysitting?

Why don't you seem more excited?

She's still trapped in the
aura of brunch with her mother.

Oh, girl, I'm sorry.
Was it really that bad?

She literally tried to bribe me

to be in some stupid magazine article.

I mean, bribing bad, yes,

but you could use the extra cash.

If I take the money now, then that means

I'm cosigning how she treats
me, and I'm not about that.

Hmm. Staying broke. That'll show her.

SIMONE: This is not to
prove a point to her.

She's not gonna change.

This is probably how she's always been.

Santiago likes to talk trash,

but he can't catch a pitch.

And what's your excuse
for your behavior?

You were off before you learned

Santiago replaced J.R.,

so my guess

is none of this is
really about Santiago.

I just... I thought I was
building a family here, Mom.

And Simone and J.R., they lied to me

about something that
was really important.

Well, what was the lie about, huh?

What was so important
that you would be willing

to cut them off forever?

Look, baby, I know

that trust is hard to build,

and it's easy to lose,

but that doesn't mean
it can't be found again.

Hey, you are building a family here

on and off the field,

so don't let drama in
one part of your family

affect the other, all right?

Coach Marcus called.

When were you gonna tell me
you quit the baseball team?

I guess I hadn't gotten around to it.

We're going back to Bringston,

you're going to tell
Marcus you made a mistake.

I'm not doing that. It is done.

You are turning your back on our team.

You were supposed to
be part of that legacy,

just like me, just
like your grandfather.

Plans change.

"Plans change"?

Do you understand

how hard we all fought to get you here?

You were so weak as a kid,

I didn't think you would ever
run, let alone pick up a bat.

Your aplastic anemia was crippling,

but you were a fighter.

You defied the odds.

I never dreamed that kid

would grow up to become a quitter.

♪ Let me tell you
about what I know ♪

♪ Got one in the pocket
and two on the floor ♪

♪ Three in the dash,
and banked some cash ♪

♪ I'm a real bad boy... ♪

KID: Hi. Um...

DAMON: Well, what's up, little brother?

He told me to tell you

there's no you without him.

DAMON: Heh. Thanks, bro.

[SIGHS]

Yo, what the hell are you doing?

- Volunteering.
- Mm. OK.

Oh. And quoting the great Damon Sims.

- [CLICKS TONGUE]
- Ooh.

You need to keep my name out your mouth.

Is that right?

Hi.

- SANTIAGO: What's up, guys?
- DAMON: Hey.

- Can you sign my baseball?
- Of course.

But I want Damon's, though.

DAMON: That figures, man. [CHUCKLING]

Will you sign mine?

Yeah, man, I will.

DAMON: So, uh, talk to me.

When you grow up, what,
you want to go pro?

I want to play baseball
at Bringston like you.

OTHER KID: Me, too.

I didn't know we could do that.

[MUSIC STARTS]

CAM ON VIDEO: ♪ Moment of honesty ♪

♪ Someone's got to take
the lead tonight... ♪

CAM: Really? They made you a backup?

Man. I bet nobody at that
audition danced like you.

The choreographer pulled
me aside at the end.

She said that I was good, but
she heard that I'm pre-med,

so she doesn't think that
I'll be able to commit

to all the dance rehearsals,

and she's not wrong.

So you finally dropping
pre-med or what?

Cam, it's not that simple.

Nah, you making it complicated.

Look, when I was in high school,

I played baseball and football.

I was good at both,

but I wanted to be great at one,

so I had to drop the other.

My dad would k*ll me.

All right. [EXHALES]

Enough, Keisha.

Look, your fear of
your pops just cost you

a dream job as a lead dancer.

How much more are you
willing to sacrifice?

I... I get that you're scared,

but it's time you
fight for what you want.

I believe in you.

A lot of us do.

When you gonna believe in yourself?

WOMAN: OK, boys, time to go.

KID: W... wait. One more question.

How much money they pay you guys?

Uh...

They pay us with an education, man.

DAMON: Yeah. That comes first.

And if you want to go to Bringston,

you're gonna have to work real hard.

You have to be leaders.

That means keeping
your attitudes in check

and being good examples.

Uh, yeah, if you want
to come to an HBCU,

you got to come correct, man.

It's not about who you are.

It's not where you come from. Like..

We represent something
bigger than ourselves.

Word.

All right, brothers.
Congratulations, man.

- DAMON: All right. See you.
- SANTIAGO: All right, buddy.

- Thank you, guys.
- See you.

Man.

That was dope, dude.

I think we're like their...

heroes or something, bro.

Yeah. I still remember
meeting mine, man.

The Barranquilla baby.

Come on! I mean, most
people, they go with jeter

when you're talking about a shortstop.

Renteria. Don't get me wrong.

He was good, but,

I mean, he wasn't setting
records, brother. Ha ha!

It's not about what he was
doing on the field, man.

He coaches promising young ballplayers

back in Colombia.

When I was a kid, my
dad took me to meet him

before I came to America.

Your pops still in Colombia?

Yeah, until I can afford

to bring him out here.

So that is why I have
to make it to the Majors.

Go ahead. Say it. I
know you're thinking it,

so just say it.

No, like, uh... [CHUCKLES]

For the first time,
I'm rising above, bro.

I'm too slow for the Majors,

at least at shortstop.

So that's why you
went after J.R.'s spot.

'Cause at catch, you'd
be in high demand.

[CHUCKLES]

All right, all right.

Respect, man.

For real.

Thank you.

So I told you about my
old man. What about yours?

Um, he's around,

just not as accessible.

I got you.

AMARA: Hey, dinner
will be ready in a few.

I'm actually not staying.

I came to tell my mother that

I don't need anything from her anymore.

I'll get student loans and another job

to pay the rest of my tuition
at Bringston if I have to,

'cause I don't need you
trying to bribe me again.

Tina, what did you do?

She's being overly dramatic.

The "Atlanta Law Review"
asked to do a profile on me.

It could be a big boost in my career.

All Simone had to do was participate.

AMARA: After everything
you've put this child through,

you shouldn't be asking
her to do anything.

I'm making up for that chunk of
lost time at the start of my career.

Is her participation
really so much to ask?

What chunk of lost time, Mom?

You're one of the top lawyers in L.A..

At my age, I should
own my own firm by now.

I've been playing catch-up ever
since I graduated from Harvard law.

Because you took that leave of
absence to do that fellowship.

That was your choice, Tina.

Amara, there was no fellowship.

I didn't take a leave of absence.

- I dropped out of law school.
- What?

I don't understand.

After Dad d*ed and
we settled his estate,

there wasn't enough money left
for you to stay at Bringston

and me at Harvard law.

A choice had to be made.

And I chose you and
dropped out of law school,

so you could pursue
your journalism dream.

You lied to me

for almost two decades?

I supported you.

[SCOFFS]

SIMONE: So you can support

Aunt Amara back in the day, but...

Not once have you ever
supported me in my entire...

damn life.

AMARA: Simone, honey.

- TINA: It's...
- AMARA: Uh-uh.

You and I need to finish

this conversation now.

Why didn't you tell me about Harvard?

If I told you, then you never
would've stayed at Bringston.

After, I didn't see the point.

What's in the past

- is in the past.
- But it's not.

You resented me and put
a distance between us.

You've critiqued

every adult decision I made,

what man I dated...

Yeah, I know about that...

What college I went to.

Because I didn't sacrifice

for you to settle on being
a professor at some HBCU.

You were supposed to be an
award-winning journalist.

That was your dream
for me, Tina, not mine.

I chased and caught my dream.

Have you, though?

If so, why are you letting it

just slip through your fingers,

letting these trustee
people railroad you,

cut your classes?

Where is the Amara
that I sacrificed for?

SIMONE: Shay being here
is exactly what I need.

You're gonna do great.

All right. Well, it is time for me

to go calm down the bride.

I'll see you later?

- SIMONE: Yes.
- SHANELLE: All right.

- Bye.
- Say "Bye, Mommy."

- Bye-bye.
- Say "Bye, Mommy."

See you later.

All right, Shay,

we're gonna have so much fun, right?

We're gonna have so much fun...

- [BABY SHAY CRYING]
- SIMONE: Hi!

Why don't you... can you smile?

Can you... peek-a-boo!

Ah.

Peek-a-boo!

- Peek-a-boo.
- It's not working...

- [WEAKLY] Peek-a-boo.
- OK?

Uh, OK.

- I'm serving for the baby.
- You are.

Ooh! Ooh!

- [DEADPAN]
- Hi.

Please don't make me do this anymore.

[CRYING]

It's not working. Um...

OK, um, can you do this?

Can you show them what we do, Shay, huh?

You trying to teach your
baby "Wakanda Forever"?

It is how you say "hug."

Oh.

- Come on.
- How you say "Stop crying"?

Please.

[CROWD CLAPPING AND SPEAKING EXCITEDLY]

Let's go!

♪ Here we go ♪

♪ Na na na na na ♪

♪ Na na na na na ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Na na na na na ♪

♪ Na na na na na ♪

♪ Yeah, the bigger the dream ♪

♪ The harder the grind ♪

♪ But I'mma say it, I'mma do it ♪

♪ I'm goin' for mine, yeah, boy ♪

♪ You know you can never deny ♪

♪ The heart of a lion... ♪

♪ And I'm just getting'
warm till I reload ♪

♪ On your mark, get set

♪ Here we go! ♪

♪ Go, go, go ♪

♪ On your Mark, get set ♪

♪ On your mark, get set ♪

♪ On your mark, get set ♪

♪ On your mark, get set ♪

♪ Here we go! ♪

♪ Na na na na na ♪

♪ Na na na na na ♪

- ♪ Here we go ♪
- ♪ Na na na na na ♪

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

KEENA: Let's go. Let's go!

- What's up?
- You got any heat left?

Yeah, Coach, I'm good.

Coach, dude's - .

Each time he's gotten on base,

he stole second on the first pitch.

If Damon throws the first one
high and away, I'll get him.

No. Third is gonna steal home.

Sims, strike him out.

- Come on, Coach...
- MARCUS: OK, come on, boys.

Let's go, now. Come
on. Let's go. Come on.

Hey, you know I can throw him out there.

Bro, you just heard what
Coach just said, all right?

Look, I know you want
to show off right...

This ain't about me,
Damon. I've got this.

I just need you to trust me.

Throw him out, then.

Let's go.

- UMPIRE: He's out!
- [CHEERING]

Come on, baby.

[CHEERING]

Yes, sir!

Good game, gentlemen.

And since you all
having trouble hearing,

I need you all to be here
at A.M. tomorrow for laps.

But good game.

- DAMON: Yes, sir.
- SANTIAGO: All right, Coach.

DAMON: I didn't know
you had an arm like that.

SANTIAGO: Whoo!

[PLAYERS CHEERING]

[KEENA LAUGHING]

BOTH: Uh! Ah! Ah! Ha ha!

- Mom, what'd you think?
- So good! So good.

And that play at the end, impressive.

- It was pretty dope.
- It was dope.

It was pretty dope. [CHUCKLES]

And it only happened because

I trusted somebody I
didn't think I could.

Mm.

Can I catch you later? Look,
I got to go see somebody.

- OK. Go. Go.
- All right. I love you.

Love you, too. Mm.

Bye, baby. Good game.

Thanks, Mom.

I just got a call from your advisor.

Are you giving up on becoming a doctor

because of a music video?!

[MUSIC PLAYING ON LAPTOP]

- [DOOR SHUTS]
- No.

I'm not becoming a doctor because
I don't want to be a doctor.

Since when?

For a while now. I just
didn't know how to tell you.

Dad, I'm...

I'm really good.

I'm better than some of
the professional dancers

I danced with the other day.

This is my passion, and I'm doing it

whether or not you believe in me.

Dance is a hobby,

- not a career.
- Well, tell that to Luam Keflezgy

or...

Jemel McWilliams or...

Debbie Allen.

Like I said, I'm doing this.

Your mother and I wanted
so much better for you.

She'd be so disappointed.

Somebody want to tell
me what's going on?

Did he tell you he
quit the baseball team?

And since he did something

that didn't live up
to your expectations,

you stopped speaking to him.

Our son just turned his back on a sport

he's spent his whole life playing.

Because of you.

Baseball was your thing.

You pushed him into it.

Everything J.R. does is to please you.

J.R. is your son.

You can turn your back on me,

but I won't let you do it to him.

Wait, Dad. Why... why are
you turning your back on Mom?

I misspoke, honey.

It's nothing.

I'm gonna get some air.

[DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS]

- [KNOCK ON DOOR, SHAY CRYING]
- I'm sorry.

Damon,

look, um,

if you're here to give me a hard time,

I really don't have
the energy right now.

You said that

you wanted your Bringston and
your blood fam to meet, right?

[CRYING CONTINUES]

Hey, hey, hey. Hey there, little guy.

I got you. Hold, hold,
hold on. I got you.

It's OK, dude. Look. It's all right.

Oh. There you go. Good job.

- There you go. Shh.
- [CRYING STOPS]

- Aww. Good job.
- [BABY TALK]

[DAMON CHUCKLING]

There you go. Ha ha.

Well, you know you can't
leave this room, right?

Yeah, I'm down with that.

[BABY TALK]

I think there's a lot I can teach Shay.

- Really?
- Yeah.

OK. Like what?

Like how not to be an ass

and how to...

trust and forgive.

[INHALES AND EXHALES]

Sorry it took me a minute.

SIMONE: I mean, you pulled
up, calmed Shay, so...

trust me, we good forever.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Looked like you was... You
was having an afternoon.

[CHUCKLES]

I don't know what it is.

He's been fussy with
me this entire trip.

DAMON: Babies cry, right?
Isn't that a part of it?

I know that, but...

This time is different.

It's almost like he doesn't
even know me anymore.

He knows you, Simone.

I thought I knew my mom,

but I only saw how she hurt me,

not the sacrifices she made.

What if that happens with me and Shay?

Wait. What?

No. You only knew a part of your mom

because that's all she showed you.

But when baby Shay has
questions about his mother,

he'll know exactly
where to come find you

because you have made
sure of it, Simone.

And that is a gift that I...

I wish my birth mother gave me.

Have you told your mom you're
looking for your birth parents?

No.

I don't know how

to bring it up without hurting her.

I mean, we've just come so far,

and I don't want to mess it up.

She's your mom.

All she wants you to be is happy

and whole,

and she'll make whatever

sacrifices she needs to

to make that happen,

even if it means sharing you, Damon.

Trust me.

I forgot how good you are at this.

Ooh! Now you want to be dramatic.

Boy, please. It was only a week.

Oh, so, so now it's just been a week.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Good. You saved me a trip.

Excuse me?

How did you convince Keisha
to drop out of pre-med?

Are you a genius, or are
you just that good in bed?

Yes. [CHUCKLES]

[CLEARS THROAT]

You listen to me, Cam Watkins.

It's obvious Keisha
has feelings for you,

and it's clear you've caught them, too.

Look, we just friends, all right?

We don't do strings.

Oh, honey,

you need to be very honest
with yourself and with Keisha

about where this
situation-ship is going

before the queen gets her
feelings hurt and then Nathaniel,

well, she has to whup somebody's ass.

You got it?

I'm OK...

Really.

Thank you.

For what?

For pushing me.

I couldn't do any of this without you.

Well, you know you had my back
with all that aneurysm stuff.

I was just kicking it back your way.

♪ Down for me, down for me ♪

♪ Are you down for me? ♪

♪ Down for me, are
you down for me, yeah ♪

♪ Down for me ♪

♪ I just got to see ♪

♪ If you're down for me ♪

♪ Down for me, girl ♪

♪ Are you down for me, babe... ♪

I'm taking you out.

I know you have stuff to do.

- Meet me at tibbs' at : PM.
- ♪ I just got to see ♪

♪ If you're down for me ♪

♪ Down for me, girl... ♪

[DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS]

Hey.

Hey. You ready to eat?

Uh, yeah.

Actually, uh,

you mind if we talk for a second?

Yeah.

- OK.
- OK.

Uh...

So my friends, they
haven't been the only reason

that I've been in my feelings.

OK.

Well, what else is going on?

I want to find my birth parents.

Oh, hey, hey.

You will always be my mom.

I just feel like a piece
of my identity is missing.

I'm scared that it won't go away

until I find answers, Ma.

I can't help you with that,

not because I don't want to.

It was a private adoption,

and your father handled everything.

And he's in no position
to fill in the blanks.

Mm-hmm.

His Alzheimer's has robbed
you of so much already.

And I'm sorry that it's
robbing you of this, too.

You know, on...

one of his good days, he told me that

my birth parents,
they went to Bringston.

Is that why you wanted to come here?

I don't know.

On some level, I... I think so.

You know, he doesn't have
many good days anymore, but...

when the time is right,

I promise you

I will ask him whatever
it is you want me to.

Um,

I think we should ask him together.

OK.

OK.

I owe you an apology, Amara.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to hurt you then or now.

I know,

but at least it's out there now.

And it may take a minute, but
we'll work through our mess

because that's what family does.

And it's why I wanted
you out here this weekend.

And, T., thank you

for the sacrifice you made.

I realize you did what
you did out of love.

And in the interest of being honest,

I have to say... [EXHALES]

You were right.

I'm not living my dream,

not fully.

I'm going to fight for my tenure.

Well, if you need any legal advice,

I'd be happy to help.

Uh, you best believe
if it comes to that,

you are my first call.

[LAUGHING]

I really messed things up with Simone.

Ooh, yeah, you did.

Can I offer my big sister some advice?

[CHUCKLES]

What's wrong, baby boy...

[BABY TALK]

SIMONE: I'll miss you.

How long have you been standing there?

Long enough to see how
much you love your son.

TINA: I haven't handled things...

well with you for a long time,

and I realize now

I was so disappointed over
the choices that Amara made

after I gave up so much

that I...

thought I had to overly control

your life as my daughter.

That was wrong.

You really mean that.

You are an adult.

And I have to loosen the reins or,

I risk losing you.

I'm set in my ways.

And I know it won't be easy, but I...

I want to try.

I do, too.

But I want to lay some
ground rules first.

[HESITANTLY] OK.

Number one...

No more meddling.

Even if I make a mistake,

you have to bite your
tongue and let me make it.

And number two...

You have to include baby
Shay in your life, Mom.

Now, that I can do.

[CHUCKLES]

[BABY TALK]

I have a little more
time before my flight.

May I?

Hey, baby Shay.

You know who I am?

- I'm your glamma.
- [SIMONE CHUCKLES]

You like that?

Of course you would say that.

Of course!

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Ms. Sims,

have a seat.

Thank you.

Is there something I can do for you?

Damon told me that he wants
to meet his birth parents,

and he mentioned that
he shared this with you.

I knew this day would come,

and I thought I was
prepared for it, but...

I can't stop asking myself, why?

What can his birth mother
do for him that I can't?

And I know that's selfish.

No, it's human.

So then what do I do with
this very human feeling?

Remember who you are,

how a young man who started this weekend

isn't the same man who finished it.

OK? Who led his team
to its first victory

with a guy who he doesn't even like.

Now, you raised an
exceptional young man,

and you are Damon's mother.

Now, whoever his birth mother is, no one

can take your place, Ms. Sims.

OK?

I have a flight to catch.

Do me a favor.

Keep taking good care of my son.

♪ You see, through
every single season ♪

♪ We learned that
luck is what we make ♪

♪ You want to know how
I make it work, girl ♪

♪ Here's the secret ♪

♪ Listen to these five reasons... ♪

Everything good?

Yeah, I'm good.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

- STUDENT: Hey, J.R.
- J.R.: Hey.

STUDENT : Oh, hey.

- Hey.
- Hey.

- Didn't think you was coming.
- Yeah.

Can we talk?

Yeah.

I heard you all won. Props.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

So that's... that's what
you needed to tell me?

I know we...

not on the best of terms right now.

But regardless, we both need answers.

I think we should take a DNA test.

Let's do it.