04x17 - Hate Me Now

[bunniefuu]

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

WOMAN: Spencer, at two touchdowns,

yards receiving,
you've really become

a star these past few games.

SPENCER: Um, I don't pay no
mind to that individual stuff.

This was a team effort.

WADE: Heh heh! Look,
I'll answer that for him.

Everyone can see that S.J.'s
greatness is undeniable.

- Now here's the brutal truth.
- JORDAN: "S.J."?

- WADE: Some players belong on the bench...
- Well, those are the boy's initials.

It's just a tragedy S.J.'s crazy talent

was wasted for half the season.

Are you criticizing
Coach Garrett's decision

to keep Spencer on special
teams for such a long time?

Heh heh!

You're looking for a quote. It's
a nice try, but it's like this.

Water rises to its level, right?

Well, I'm Waters. Spencer's the level.

WADE: I mean, his presence alone

raises the caliber of play on the field.

- Ain't that right?
- SPENCER: Ahem.

All I know is Wade Waters

is the best Q.B. in the country,

and so playing with him

puts greatness within
reach for all of us.

WADE: Hey, now how's that for a quote?

Come here. Good game.

WADE: Everyone can see that
S.J.'s greatness is undeniable.

Now here's the brutal truth.

Some players belong on the bench,

- others belong on the field.
- [KNOCK ON DOOR]

- ASHER: You wanted to see me, Coach?
- WADE: It's just a tragedy...

tell me about Spencer James.

Heh! Well, he's the best football player

I've ever played with or against.

Well, as you know, we're
playing him at homecoming.

There's not a lot of
game film on him yet.

All we know is that he was
a high-school All-American

and a special-teams player
for most of this year.

Now he seems to be the primary focus

of G.A.U.'s offense, and as a

true freshman, that's impressive.

ASHER: Like I said, he's
the best I've ever seen.

[INHALES DEEPLY] And
you're his roommate, right?

Yeah. Why?

'Cause I'm gonna need you to do a
full scouting report by tomorrow.

- What, because he's my roommate?
- No.

No, because you played
with him and against him.

You know him better than anyone.

I need to know his
strengths, his weaknesses.

I want to make him a
non-factor at homecoming.

Look, Asher, if this
is a problem for you,

I can give it to someone else.

I just thought you'd be excited
about your first coaching assignment.

ASHER: No, no, no, I... I am.

- I am. Thank you.
- MONTES: This isn't just about Spencer James.

He's the focus,

but I need a full summary on that
entire offense, top to bottom.

Think you could put
that together for us?

Yes, sir.

"Best quarterback in the country."

Well, the boy can sling that ball.

- Thanks, Dad.
- Wait. OK.

Are we not supposed to like him
or something? What's going on?

- Wade is my competition.
- I know, but he's also your teammate.

Your real competition is
wearing a different uniform.

I know you don't want to be
playing against him, right?

OK, so you think he's the
best in the country, too?

J., at your level, you're
either playing with or against

the best in the country. I don't
know what you want me to say.

I wish you would have given me
that advice before I told Wade

I was coming for his spot.
Now I just feel like an idiot.

All I've done ever since is
wear out the paint on the bench.

- Even Spencer thinks he's better.
- BILLY: OK.

Baby boy, you need to
get yourself together.

- [SIGHS]
- You're being way too sensitive right now.

You got to get over it. You feel me?

- Do you feel me?
- Yeah.

All right. Gimme that juice.

[SIGHS]

Since when do you cook?

Mmm, since the service fees
on those food delivery apps

became more expensive
than the actual food.

- Yeah, you're right.
- Heh!

It does smell pretty
good in here, though.

Girl, Kelis ain't just,
like, a singer-songwriter.

Sis got recipes, too.

[SIGHS] Yeah.

Oh. Wow. Those are gorgeous.

Yeah. They're... For you.

[SIGHS]

- Coop...
- COOP: I didn't send 'em, all right?

They was at the door.

What?

Oh, my God.

Oh, wow. These are from Sabine.

Ha! OK. I'm gonna, uh,

I'm gonna put these in a vase.

That's so nice.

[CHUCKLES]

[POP MUSIC PLAYING]

MALE SINGER: ♪ Hold up,
what you waiting for? ♪

J.J.: Up, up. Here we
go. Four seconds left.

Number nears the end zone.

Oh, he touches back inside,

crosses the -yard
line. Will he make it?

J.J. AND ASHER: Touchdown!
Ha ha! Touchdown!

- J.J.: With a beauty! Ha ha!
- ASHER: He's unstoppable!

Y'all are stupid, man. What's up?

- J.J.: What's up, man?
- ASHER: Hey, man, seriously,

- great game, dude.
- SPENCER: Thanks, bruh.

Paying for it now, though. I
feel like I got run over by a bus.

- ASHER: Yeah?
- SPENCER: Mm-hmm.

What hurts? Your ankle?

No.

Back?

- Hands? How your hands feel?
- My hands are fine, bruh.

You getting into physical
therapy now or something?

J.J.: Coach Mr. Montes has
Ash on some secret-agent biz

for the big G.A.U.-Coastal
homecoming game.

ASHER: Yeah, he asked me to do
a full scouting report on you,

Jordan, some of the other G.A.U. guys.

- SPENCER: For real?
- ASHER: Yeah.

It's my first official
assistant coach assignment, so...

- That is dope. Congrats, man.
- Hey, thank you.

I'm happy for you.
So what you got on me?

Oh, uh, you'll have to
wait and see, game night.

Oh, it's like that?

OK, OK, well, while you're
writing your little report there,

just remember, I'm ' ".

- J.J.: Ha ha ha!
- ASHER: ' "?

No, you... you're not listening.
You got to factor in the cleats.

- The cleats are a part of the whole...
- J.J.: Oh, oh,

do the cleats have heels now? Is that...

ASHER: I think that's
a... that's a big heel.

- J.J.: Ha ha ha!
- SPENCER: Y'all got jokes.

OK, OK. Y'all supposed to be my friends,

- but OK, don't even worry 'bout it.
- JORDAN: Yeah, well,

real friends keep you grounded, so...

ASHER: Uh, exactly.

That's why we can't let you get
too high on your own greatness.

- Feel me?
- SPENCER: Greatness?

Yeah, that's what that
reporter said in that interview.

It's crazy, man. Two weeks ago, Coach
Garrett didn't even know my name,

and now I'm the heart of the entire
offense? It feels like a fluke.

I don't even know if that's
sustainable game to game.

JORDAN: Yeah, well,

I don't know. I wouldn't
worry about it too much, S.J.

I think you'll be fine.

I mean, you do have one
of the best quarterbacks

in the country tossing
you the rock, right?

Am I missing something, man?

You walked in here like
you had something to say,

so you might as well just say it.

I mean, you changed your mind
about Wade pretty damn quick

the minute he started talking you up.

That's some serious backpedaling.

This tension is bummin' me out.

All right, look, man. It ain't
like I'm best friends with the dude.

And since when is it a crime to
change your mind about somebody?

When you and I first met,

we didn't even like each
other. You remember that?

Yeah, suddenly I
remember it really well.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Guys,

heh! Come on. We're
all friends here, right?

Maybe you should both just walk away,

relax before you say something
you can't take back, yeah?

Guys?

It's not like I said
Jordan wasn't a great QB.

All I did was compliment
Wade's skills after a good game.

Well, we both know how bad Jordan
wants to get back out on the field.

It's only a matter of time.

That boy is too talented not to play.

Whatever. We'll figure it out.

It's not our first fight, and we family.

We got everything we need here?

- A blanket?
- Check.

Snacks and refreshments?

Check.

And... check.

All right. We are all set
for our all-day snack break.

It's gonna be good to get away.

- We've both been so busy lately.
- Mmm.

Football, your article.

You know, why don't we
take it one step further?

What do you say we don't talk about

football or my N.I.L. article today?

My bad. What is football?

- Let's go.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Let me get that for you.

Oh. So chivalrous.

[KISS]

Well, I hope you packed
more where that came from.

SPENCER: Heh heh!

Often runs inside blitz. Inside, inside.

Ooh, "a prototypical linebacker"? Nice.

That better be about me.

- Hey, I'm working, J.J.
- How am I supposed to get an edge

over the G.A.U. guys if
you don't even let me peep

- the scouting report?
- ASHER: Hey, hey, hey.

No one is peeping anything
until it's finished,

if it's ever finished. [SIGHS]

Hey, you think G.A.U.'s
doing scouting reports on us?

What do you think mine would say?

J.J., enough. This is not a joke, dude.

I have one sh*t to nail this
report and prove to Montes

that I have what it takes
to be an assistant coach,

and he's already skeptical

- on whether or not I can deliver this, so just...
- J.J.: Did he say that?

[SIGHS] No...

Not in so many words, but...

I just don't want to mess this up,

and I have no idea if what
I have is... is any good.

OK, so get someone
to give it a once-over

before you turn it in.

Someone like...

Me.

[CHUCKLES] No shade, J.J.,

but you and Montes don't
exactly think the same way.

[SIGHS]

But... you're definitely
on to something.

- Thanks, man.
- J.J.: Yeah.

Yeah.

- PATIENCE: Hey.
- SKYE: Hey, girl. Is Coop here?

- PATIENCE: Uh...
- COOP: Whew! Right on time.

- SKYE: I'm, like, a half-hour late.
- COOP: Really?

Yeah. You just texted, "where are you?"

COOP: Oh. Oh. OK.

Whatever. Worth the wait.
Yeah, you look good. You ready?

- SKYE: Yeah, let's do it.
- PATIENCE: Hmm.

Y'all two going on a date?

SKYE: Yeah. Coop called out of the blue.

Guess she finally came to her senses.

Look, it... it wasn't out the blue, OK?

But whatever. Let's go get some
food 'cause I ain't gonna lie.

That half-hour wait got me extra-hungry.

[CHUCKLES]

OK, well, y'all have fun.

[DOOR CLOSES]

- OLIVIA: OK.
- SPENCER: Man, I am starving.

- What you got in there, girl?
- Mmm. It's kind of a surprise.

Oh. OK.

Ooh.

Dope. Dope.

Wait. I thought... these
were your favorites.

No, no, I love 'em. It's just

the team nutritionist mandated we
cut back on bread and sugar, so...

- I should have asked. I'm sorry.
- No, it's all good.

You know what? The hell with
that mandate. Watch this.

- Mmm.
- OLIVIA: Yeah? Oh. OK.

- Mmm. I missed these bad boys.
- Yeah, you did.

- [PAPER CRINKLES]
- Oh, here.

I went to Slauson Café
and picked up your usual.

OLIVIA: Oh! Yes.

- Ha ha.
- Thank you.

- Ooh.
- Whoa.

- There you go. Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.

Ahem.

Sss. This whole milk?

That's a... Venti, no whip
and extra honey, right?

I kinda switched to oat milk

after we did that article
on the dairy industry.

Oh. OK. Uh, I can, um...

Uh, you know what? No.
It's fine. It's so silly.

See? It's good.

Ahem.

So, uh, you and the girls doing a'ight?

- Yeah. We're good.
- Cool.

- Yeah.
- Cool.

Actually, um, Patience and I,

we saw last night's football highlights.

And we are not supposed

to be talking about
articles or football today.

- Heh heh heh!
- I'm sorry.

It's all good.

Um...

- Glad they finally got to renovate the park.
- OLIVIA: Yeah.

It's a lot windier than I thought

- it would be, though.
- Yeah, I know. That... that sucks.

Yeah.

You gonna finish that coffee?

Probably not.

- Want it?
- Uh, yeah, yeah. Sure.

- You want this?
- Sure.

Ahem.

MALE SINGER: ♪ No alarm this morning ♪

♪ Nothin' gonna tell
me where I gotta be ♪

♪ We can take this slow ♪

- [KNOCK ON DOOR]
- JORDAN: Hey. Whoa.

- Go easy on the trees, huh?
- Heh!

Uh, how was your trip to Bringston?

I feel like I haven't really
seen you since you've been back.

It was... it was good, you
know? Too short, as always.

- Uh...
- Uh, "Carrie, it's been a long time."

"Carrie, I hope this ge... "

- you haven't gone to see Carrie yet?
- I know, OK? I...

Every time I want to
drive down to San Diego,

I don't know what I'm
gonna say when I see her,

so when I pen the perfect speech,

I will go. I promise.

- Uh, do you know what this is called?
- Uh, preparation.

Stalling.

Stalling. If it's not the perfect
speech, it'll be some other excuse.

OK, you know what? Get up.

- What? Why?
- Because we're going to San Diego, that's why.

- Jordan...
- Layla, whatever you want to say to Carrie,

you can practice on me in the car.

- No. Jordan...
- Layla,

it's time, for your sake and hers.

[KEYS JINGLE] I'll be in the car.

Great. [SIGHS]

I just thought that Spencer
would be in my corner, you know?

Like not telling reporters that Wade

was the best quarterback in the country?

Didn't you say he was the best
when we were locked in my studio?

My point is, is that Spencer did
not have to rub it in my face.

Jordan, it's been, like,
two hours of this, OK?

Including you talking through
my favorite podcast on Spotify,

and now I have to listen
to the episode again.

Also, I'm starting to
think that you kidnapping me

to San Diego is more about you
running away from your problems

and less about helping with mine.

Kidnapping? What? No. Layla,
this is... this is % about you.

OK, m-maybe / , but the is you.

- OK.
- I promise, OK?

- How's the speech coming?
- LAYLA: Horribly.

OK, well, if it makes you feel
any better, I'm sure that Carrie

is freaking out about
what to say to you as well.

Well, I highly doubt
that since she doesn't...

Know that I'm coming, so...

OK, Layla, um, I'm no expert,

but, um, maybe it's not the best idea

to surprise the girl who historically
has not been the most stable.

OK, yeah, I'm... I'm gonna text her.

- Good idea.
- Um... [SIGHS]...

I'm gonna say I'm in town... [TEXTING]

And I would really
like to talk in person.

That's good. There.

- Boom.
- I did it.

Probably not gonna
respond... oh, my God.

Wait. The dots. The dots...

- And they're gone.
- JORDAN: Whoa.

Look at this.

Check it out!

They're having an outdoor
screening of " again."

- Huh.
- Do you remember when me, you, and Liv

watched this at the house?

Yeah, yeah, I remember
you crying to your mom.

JORDAN: I only cried to my
mom because you kicked me out

- of the fort that I built us.
- [CELLPHONE CHIMES AND VIBRATES]

LAYLA: Oh.

OK, um, she said she
can't believe I'm here,

and she can't wait to see
me, but she's stuck at work

for the next / hours.

/ hours. Damn. OK.

OK. All right. [TEXTING]

What did you... what
did you say back to her?

I said I'll wait.

You're right. It's...
it's today or never.

- Today it is.
- Mm-hmm.

[SIGHS]

- OLIVIA: Oh. Oh, sorry.
- SPENCER: Heh! My bad.

OK, it doesn't trip you
out that we can't find

nothing to talk about
outside of football and work?

I mean, I think "nothing"
is a little extreme.

I mean, besides, look...
we're talking about having

- nothing to talk about, so that's something.
- SPENCER: Heh!

OK, well, the day's not over.

We still got time to course-correct,

find our stride. What
are you doing later?

Um, I'm actually kind
of hosting this, like,

little happy-hour thing for some
of my co-workers from the "Tribune."

It was supposed to be at Christel's,
but she has the flu, so...

SPENCER: And you figured I'd
cramp your style by inviting me?

Please. I just doubt
that you want to hang out

- with my work friends.
- SPENCER: Why, they all drink oat milk?

No!

I mean, yeah, most of them,

but I just didn't think it'd be
something you'd be interested in.

Anything involving
you I'm interested in.

OK.

- Come, then.
- You sure?

Yeah, I'm sure.

I mean, why wouldn't I
want my boyfriend there?

[KISS]

BILLY: OK, uh, well,

at least Montes can't say
that you weren't thorough.

Too long?

Uh, a little bit, but,

well, yeah, this is D ,

so anybody can look at film and see

that these players are
bigger, faster, and stronger.

- [SIGHS]
- ASHER: So it's too long and it sucks.

No, it doesn't suck.
Um, you got to dig deeper

than these players' physical attributes.

For example, um, if you
know a player is suffering

from a recent injury,
then you got to highlight

the fact that they could
possibly be a weak link.

Uh, if somebody just broke
up with their girlfriend,

you need to highlight
the fact that they're,

you know, cyberstalking
their girl online

when they should be paying
more attention on the field.

It's really kicking a man
while he's down, though.

Look, if you want your
report to add value,

then you're gonna have to
find these players' sore spots.

That's what competitive
advantages are built on.

Come on, Coach.

Jordan and Spencer are
my friends, my roommates.

I have insider knowledge,

and I know that's why Montes
gave me this assignment.

I... I mean, is it messed up to use that

to break them down in a report?

Do I think you should
betray your friendships? No,

absolutely not, but
there is a fine line,

and you got to find it because our job

as coaches, we need to find

every bit of information
that is accessible to us

and use it to win.
It's just about winning.

So you have to ask yourself

if you want to coach or not because

from here on out,

it's only gonna get harder.

WOMAN: Go. Let's go, let's go.

MAN: He's open, he's open, he's open.

- Oh, Julie has it.
- WOMAN: Let's get it!

JORDAN: Layla, um, are we really
gonna sit here for another hour?

[JORDAN WHISPERS] Oh, my God.

You know, I've been thinking.

I don't think your
problem is Spencer or Wade.

- [SIGHS]
- I think it's you.

- I think you're psyching yourself out.
- What?

- No, no, no, no.
- Mm-hmm.

The problem is I'm stuck
drowning on the depth chart

- and no one wants to save me.
- LAYLA: Then save yourself.

I... no, that's what I'm saying, Jordan.

You have to make it happen.

OK. Come on.

JORDAN: Wait. What are you doing?

I need to stop thinking
about what's gonna happen

when Carrie gets here,
and you need to forget

about Wade and Spencer and
just play some football.

It's not like they
couldn't use your help.

[SCOFFS] You can't be serious.

Oh, OK.

Is Jordan Baker afraid he can't, um,

can't keep up with the YMCA all-stars?

Heh! OK. You know what, Keating?

Game on. Fire up those hands.

- Are you sure? Not scared?
- Come on. Warm up those hands. Let's go.

OK, squad, all right. I want
you to give me a skinny post.

You give me the back left pylon.

You give me a drag across the middle.

Layla, chop up those feet,
hit that back right pylon, OK?

On , on . Ready? Here we
go. Here we go. Here we go.

Down, set! Right .

Female singer:
♪ Activate it all the way ♪

Wide set-set!

♪ We go in ♪

♪ When we go out ♪

♪ We get up ♪

♪ When we get down ♪

♪ Got you spinnin' ♪

♪ Round and round ♪

♪ We go in when we go out ♪

- ♪ Go out, go out ♪
- JORDAN: Wide !

[SINGER WHISTLING TO SONG]

JORDAN: Wide , set!

♪ Go out, go out ♪

♪ Hey ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, go out, go out ♪

- [PEOPLE CHUCKLING]
- NOAH: I admit,

I can be a little territorial
when it comes to bylines,

but it's not as bad as
when Liv listens to jazz.

- Oh!
- Why? What happens?

Oh, they think that jazz hypnotizes me,

- which it doesn't.
- NOAH: Dude, a nuke could hit L.A.

and Liv wouldn't know
'cause Thelonious Monk

put her in a happy trance.

I didn't know you were into
Thelonious Monk like that.

It's nothing, but I do
know Andrew's love for...

- what do you call it, eclectic punk?
- NOAH: Heh!

OLIVIA: Now, that is a
situation that requires

some professional help.

NOAH: You know where he
got it from, though, right?

When he dated Bresha over
at the "Westside Star,"

she got him into that.

I mean, what's it sound
like? Can't be that bad.

W-Wait. I'm still stuck on Bresha.

- You dated Bresha?
- ANDREW: Yeah.

- OLIVIA: Broody Bresha?
- ANDREW: Heh! Yeah.

- She's our competitor!
- NOAH: And she can't write.

ANDREW: And she is broody
as hell... I'll admit it...

but, hey, it made for
an interesting two years.

- OLIVIA: Two years?
- NOAH: Dude, you have to tell her

how it started and how the
"Westside Star" ended up

with your article on
environmental droughts.

- Oh.
- I'm using the bathroom.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Um,
I want to hear about that.

ANDREW: Um, we can skip...

No, let's go with it. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- ANDREW: You tell her.
- NOAH: I'll tell you.

[LAUGHTER]

- [DISTANT HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
- SKYE: Got to admit,

this was unexpected.

COOP: What, you didn't
think I would call you?

Oh, no, I knew you'd call eventually.

I meant the food truck. Hot dogs?

You're gonna love it. Trust me.

Skye ... I don't do food trucks,

and certainly not on a date,

but I'm making an exception for you.

Hmm. What makes me so special?

- SKYE: Well, how much time you got?
- MAN: Next!

Coop. What's good?

- COOP: What's up, man?
- MAN: That is a big dog with the works for you

and a hash puppy dog for Patience.

Nah, man. Her name is Skye.

[MOUTHS "SORRY"]

I am sorry. That was... Unnecessary.

All good. [SIGHS] Skye ...

you'll never have to
guess what I'm thinking.

If I'm pissed, trust me, you'll know.

OK, good. I just... you know,
I don't want you to think

that I'm out here juggling
girls because I'm not, all right?

Patience and I are
done. I mean, done-done.

I'm talking Mariah Carey
"I Don't Know Her" done.

Yeah, I get it. You guys are done.

You know, I know it probably looks weird

because we still live together, but
that's just a roommate situation;

I mean, she moved to the
other room upstairs real fast,

but it's all good 'cause
now we got our own space,

and she can fill hers
with all the flowers

she wants from Sabine and whoever else

is sending 'em. I mean, you
should have seen the tulips

that came to the crib last
night. I was... wait. What...

where you going? You need something?

- Yeah, some air.
- But we outside.

You know, I was cool with
having hot dogs on a date,

and I was cool with old
boy in the truck calling me

by another chick's name,

but something I'll
never be OK with is you

spending the entire
date talking about her,

and I'm not even gonna get into the fact

that your "out of the
blue" call last night

was 'cause Patience
got some damn tulips.

OK, uh, Skye, I'm sorry.

Next time you want to piss off your ex,

don't call me.

[SIGHS]

[DISTANT CHATTER AND LAUGHTER]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]

Hey, there you are. Is everything OK?

- Just taking a breather.
- OK.

Well, um, I really want to introduce you

to one of my co-workers
who is a huge G.A.U. fan...

Spencer, is everything OK?

Jazz?

- Yeah, I like jazz. So what?
- Since when?

[CHUCKLING] Since Christel
plays it nonstop in the office,

and it was either love it or be
tortured every day, so I chose love.

OK, and, uh, what about Noah?

I thought y'all two were beefing
since he stole your article.

I mean, that was... that was weeks ago,

and he's actually been
really supportive since.

See? I ain't know that,

just like I don't know
your coffee order no more.

Babe, all of this over Thelonious Monk,

some ancient beef, and oat milk?

- I mean, it's just trivia.
- SPENCER: Not to me.

The special things we know about
each other is what makes us us,

and your co-workers know
you better than I do now.

Yeah, well, that's just because
they spend more time with me.

They don't know me like
you do. That's crazy.

Is it?

Look, this isn't just about them, Liv.

- You didn't feel that today?
- Feel what?

That something's off,
that we're off, like...

"Starting to grow apart" off?

Um...

I mean... I mean, yeah, a little,

but I...

Heh!

I should go.

You got guests downstairs, and...

and now ain't the time.

[KISS]

I'mma holla at you later.

[FOOTSTEPS RETREAT]

[SIGHS]

_

[CHUCKLES]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]

Hey, dude, what the hell are you doing?

Are you serious right now?

"Though he's fast with
excellent football I.Q.,

Spencer James lacks confidence"?

[ASHER SIGHS] You're
reading my scouting report?

"He fears his elevation to
G.A.U.'s offense might be a fluke.

He's unsure he's capable of
delivering a winning performance

game after game, making
Spencer easy to demoralize"?

Why'd you go through my laptop?

- It's an invasion of privacy.
- SPENCER: You left it open in a public place.

- I'm in my house.
- Our house,

and you really gonna
come at me about privacy?

Those were my words that
I confided to my friends,

- not some snitch.
- ASHER: Snitch?

I'm not snitching, Spence,
I'm scouting. That's the job.

Like it or not, we're
on rival teams now.

Y-You really expect me to believe
you're not planning on using

any of the history you have on J.J.

to your advantage when you play us?

About him on the field? Absolutely,

but the stuff he's confided
to me as his friend?

You say no, you are lying to
yourself as well as me, man!

This is D football. We
are both trying to win.

I want a career as a coach;

That means breaking down
players is a part of the job.

- That's what Coach Baker told me...
- Hold up, hold up, hold up.

You expect me to believe
Coach Baker put you up to this?

He said dig a little
deeper into your psyche

if I want a better report, yeah.

After everything we've been through,

you really gonna hand in that
scouting report to your coach, man,

with all that personal
stuff I told you as a friend?

I already did.

I mean, I... I need to
join an L.A. rec league

after those stats I just put up.

OK, easy there, Odell, OK?

Ha ha! But you know what?

It was nice to see you out
there, relaxed and laughing.

Yeah, well, um, I mean, that game was

a great distraction
from all things Carrie.

- I can only imagine how you feel.
- JORDAN: Mmm.

- What do you mean?
- You got to feel rejuvenated.

I mean, you had some help
from your best receiver...

me, of course... but,

I don't know. No one even came
close to touching you on that field.

Layla, that wasn't a challenge.

I'm a D college quarterback.
I'm supposed to b*at those guys.

- LAYLA: No, Jordan, I...
- [CELLPHONE VIBRATES]

Sorry. [SIGHS]

OK.

Carrie just parked, so sh-she's here.

Um...

- OK, this is really happening.
- JORDAN: Hey, hey.

You can do this.

OK? I'll be right here if you need me.

OK.

OK.

OK.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Hello?

Hey, baby girl.

What's happenin'?

Uh, Dad...

You know there's people you can
call to fix that old thing, yeah?

Nothing a little duct tape can't fix.

Do you want some help with anything?

[CHUCKLES] Uh-oh.

Something's going on. Sit down.

What's up?

Before you guys got married,

how did you and Mom make it work when

you had to be super-focused
on football and her on law?

The old balancing act, huh?

Well, I still don't know
if we ever made it work,

but I can say that we, uh,
we never stopped trying.

And did you guys ever...

- Drift apart?
- Oh, plenty of times,

but only when we took our
eyes off the prize, hmm?

But then we'd realize
and then course-correct,

only because we... we both
wanted to make it work.

What's going on with you and Spence?

Um...

I mean, we've both just been

busier than we've ever been,

and it's just, like,
causing this weird disconnect

between us that we just can't shake.

What if we can't course-correct, Dad?

Look, every relationship's
gonna have their ups and downs,

but you have to figure
out if you're willing

to weather the ebbs and the flows.

And if you are...

then you... you never stop trying.

So, how was the drive?

Uh, it was good. Yeah, um,

it's not too much traffic, and,

- uh, the weather helped.
- CARRIE: Good.

Layla, you didn't come to San
Diego to ask me about the weather.

Yeah, um...

- I don't really know what to say.
- Sure you do.

Layla, what I did to
you was unforgivable.

And yes, I was sick
and I wasn't in control,

but that doesn't mean that you
don't get to be furious at me.

You should be. If you want to scream

or yell or hit me or whatever, you can.

I'm not gonna fight you, Carrie.

If I was, I wouldn't need
your permission to do so.

I was mad at you for a really long time.

[SNIFFLES] And on my way down
here, I realized I'm not...

I'm not angry anymore, you
know? I'm just exhausted.

A long time ago, I
accepted that I wasn't

enough to keep my mom alive or...

My dad in town or my
boyfriend faithful, but...

[SNIFFLES]

You know, with you, I
really... I really thought

I was making a difference. I tried
so hard to be there for you...

introducing you to my friends
and moving you in with me, and...

[SNIFFLES] God, after all that,

it, like, still wasn't enough;

not enough to keep you off that cliff

or to keep you from
trying to take me with you.

- Layla...
- It's just the story of my life, really, 'cause...

Keep trying to fix
everything and... surprise...

I just fall up short
again and again and...

Layla, your friendship is what
kept me off that cliff longer.

Being up there was
about all the ways that

I was deficient...

not you.

You are the reason that I
have made so much progress

and have my family back, and have a job.

I mean, you got me to try
again at Running Springs.

You're the reason I'm still here.

I mean, if that isn't
being enough, then...

I don't know what is.

And I bet, if you look closely,

there's a lot of people in
your life that feel this way.

[SNIFFLES]

[DOOR CLOSES, PATIENCE SIGHS]

Wouldn't k*ll Liv's friends
to actually clean up.

[SIGHS]

You're kidding me, right?

- I didn't even say anything.
- So it wasn't,

like, enough for you to invite
Skye to rub her in my face,

but you gonna take her to our spot?

You the one that got Chlorine

sending the entire
rainforest over to our crib.

OK, her name is Sabine, and
those flowers are platonic.

Man, those flowers are
red! They are not platonic!

Ooh, you about to feel so stupid.

Man, whatever. At least my
name don't sound like something

- they dump in pool water.
- PATIENCE: Mmm, OK.

Yeah, uh, "congrats on an amazing
album launch. Your friend, Sabine."

Hmm.

Sabine does have nice handwriting.

- Now you know her name, huh?
- Look, I'm sorry, OK?

- I just thought...
- PATIENCE: Yeah, yeah, I know what you thought,

and... [SCOFFS]

Our relationship?

It meant a lot to me, Coop.

The way that we're trying
to... hurt each other,

we're not about to
have a friendship left,

- and I don't want that.
- COOP: I don't want that, either.

OK, so... what do we do?

I mean... [SIGHS]

- We should agree on some ground rules.
- I'm down with that.

Well, first of all,

Baker house has to be Switzerland...

neutral ground, no more
dates in the hallway.

OK, fine, and no more flowers from
girls you tried to get with, either.

OK, deal, and also, we have to decide

on where in L.A. is off-limits because

I don't want you taking
girls to our spots.

OK, but I can go to
D-Doggs by myself, right?

Yes, yes, of course.

Well, let's have coffee.

OK, well, before you
start planting your flag

in all the L.A. cafés,
I have something for you.

- Ooh.
- I'm so used to getting you funnel cakes

because I know that you like 'em that

I got it anyway, even
though you wasn't there.

OK.

Ooh, yes!

OK.

Well, let's eat... and negotiate.

Mmm.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Hey, man. sh**t, this
house is getting more action

than when I was in high school. [SIGHS]

- SPENCER: Why?
- [DOOR CLOSES]

- What's going on here?
- BILLY: Oh, don't ask.

[CHUCKLES] What can I
help you with, Mr. James?

Did you tell Asher to dog
me in his scouting report?

No, no.

I did tell him that
he should do his job.

Great.

Thanks to your advice,

my rivals now think I lack confidence

and that I'm easy to demoralize.

Yeah. [INHALES DEEPLY]

Look, Spence, tell me Coach Garrett

blowing hot and cold
at you this whole season

- didn't mess with your confidence.
- And so it was cool for Ash

to exploit that?

- That's screwed up, Coach.
- BILLY: Look, Spence,

you are good at battling linemen,

breaking tackles, but this is real life.

It's complicated. You'll
have to learn how to balance

friendships and... and
relationships that...

that don't quite look

or seem the way you thought
they once did, you know?

Welcome to adulthood and being on top.

OK.

So I guess I need to be watching
my back from now on, huh?

Oh, absolutely.

These journalists,

they're gonna tear you down
quicker than they built you up.

Everything you do is gonna
be under a microscope,

so Asher's report is just a
taste of... of your new reality.

A reality without any friends?

No, no, Ash... Ash is still your friend.

He's got a job to do,
you've got a job to do.

You're both good.

You just have to navigate the scrutiny

then that's at your level of greatness.

There's that word again... "greatness."

Yep.

Get used to it, son.

- Listen, man, about the report...
- I shouldn't have read it.

I mean, I ain't think it
was a secret or nothing.

Kinda assumed it'd be positive, but...

It wasn't mine to read, so my bad.

No, no, no. Spence, most of
that report was positive...

No explanation needed, bruh.

I understand why you
did what you did now.

OK.

Cool. OK. The last thing that
I want is for this to affect

- our friendship, you know?
- SPENCER: No, I said I understand.

I ain't say nothing about our
friendship not being affected.

- It's like that?
- You all for truth and honesty, right?

I mean, you said it yourself,
Ash: Our teams are rivals.

Our dreams and our careers
are wrapped up in those teams.

That makes us rivals.

That's why you did what you did.

All four of us, man...
me, you, Jordan, and J.J...

we've been burying our heads in
the sand these last few months,

acting like the G.A.U. and
Coastal rivalry doesn't affect us.

But with this homecoming game coming up,

we can't lie to ourselves no more.

We all got jobs to do.

Mine is to make sure that nothing

and no one gets in the way of
me dominating on that field.

What are you trying to say, Spencer?

Four of us can't be friends anymore?

Until after the homecoming
game, there's gonna need to be

a separation of church
and state in this house.

Me and Jordan in our corner,

you and J.J. in yours

'cause I'll be damned

if I let a rival use
anything I say or do

in my home to get one over on me.

[FOOTSTEPS RETREAT]

Hmm.

[SLOW HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
FEMALE SINGER: ♪ So good... ♪

Thank you for meeting me.

Yeah, well, I've got a
thing nearby in minutes,

but, you know, figured I
had time for an apology.

[SIGHS]

Look...

I am sorry.

I ain't never met nobody like you,

and I know I asked you out

for the wrong reason, but

before I messed up colossally,

I don't know, our vibe, it just...

It felt right.

Keep going, on the "how
you messed up" part.

I messed up so bad, I almost
don't deserve a second chance.

- Almost?
- Yeah.

I mean, how you gonna
give me a hard time

if you don't go out with me again?

That's almost like
letting me off too easy.

What if I don't believe
in giving second chances?

[SIGHS]

Listen, I don't know
who that crazy, ranting,

tulip-obsessed girl
was at the food truck.

I'm not that girl.

I promise you that, so technically,

I'm asking you for a first chance.

[SIGHS]

Do you still have
minutes and seconds?

I guess we could fit that chance in now.

[DISTANT CHATTER]

- Carrie was right, you know.
- Hmm?

You've always been more than enough.

[CHUCKLES] Well, I think
that's something I'm always

gonna struggle with,
but... Today I believed it.

I was strong enough to face her again.

Glad I did.

And it feels good to know
that she's gonna be OK and...

[INHALES]... That I helped in some way.

[CHUCKLING] "Some way"? Layla, you...

you helped her in a big way.

I owe a lot of people an apology

for how I, you know,
acted this past year,

- but to you...
- JORDAN: Mm-hmm?

I owe a thank you.

Uh, a thank you?

- Yeah.
- Why? Why's that?

Um, you know, for not...
not giving up on me

when I was pushing everyone away.

You're resilient, Jordan.

That's how I know you're gonna
find a way back out on that field.

You always do.

Just focus on your game,

you know? Forget everyone else.

- [BASKETBALL NET SWISHING, BASKETBALL BOUNCING]
- JORDAN: Yeah.

[JAZZ PIANO PLAYING, DOOR OPENS]

What? Heh heh! What is all this?

Have a seat.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

What is your name?

- Spencer...
- Just go with it.

OK.

Olivia Baker.

Olivia Baker. Favorite color?

Black.

- Favorite food?
- Duh. Whatever's on your plate.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Seriously, what is... what is all this?

I'm stepping my game up.

Look,

a lot of relationships have been
fracturing in my life lately.

I ain't letting ours be one of 'em.

I love you.

And I am not going anywhere, Spencer,

but you're right.

I mean, we're both evolving,

and that means maybe a little
more work on both of our parts

to make sure we're riding
this growth wave together.

Which is why I've decided
to get to know Olivia . .

- Mmm.
- Otherwise known as

O.M.O.

- Hmm?
- Oat Milk Olivia.

- We're gonna have to change the name.
- [CHUCKLES]

- [KISS]
- OLIVIA: Ha ha ha!

OK. Ahem. Biggest pet peeve?