02x02 - Speaking Truth

[bunniefuu]

Previously on "Bel-Air"...

Man, I'm done taking
handouts, all right?

I need to get back to who I used to be.

I was being scouted to play basketball.

And when I came out here,
all of that went quiet.

[CROWD CHEERING]

- My name's Jackie.
- Nice to meet you, Jackie.

I'll give you extra credit

if you write me a two-page summary.

Thanks, Ms. Hughes.

I wish all my teachers were like you.

No one even bothers to show up

for the student town halls

or run for student government

in order to actually change things.

Keep coming to the meetings.

We'd love to hear more of your ideas.

Maybe you should try a different
tact with Will's dad, huh?

Just do what I asked.

Doesn't sit right with me.

Too bad.

You work for me.

My magazine article just posted.

It's all about Reid and his vision.

But you better believe his
ass will be hearing from me.

I expected Ivy and I to be a team.

That's why you gotta set the tone.

'Cause if you don't, she's just gonna

keep on walking and
walking all over you.

Jazz isn't single, okay? We're dating.

You put your trust in
me, and I let you down.

I'm sorry.

If you're ready to
come home, I promise you

we can figure it all out together.

I love you, Will.

I love you too, Uncle Phil.

You impressed me today, kid.

I'm down to check out your next game.

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Comin' in havin' sh*t ♪

♪ What a superstar do, yeah ♪

sh*t. Time out, time out.

- [WHISTLE BLOWS]
- Come on, hustle in.

Hustle in, guys. Come on, bring it in.

Here we go. Let's go, fellas.

Will, when you drew the double team,

- Kirk was wide open.
- No, I had the lane.

Look, Tyler just should've
set a screen in the centre.

- You're forcing it.
- No, I'm hot.

Look, kick it to me
again, I'll knock it down.

Listen up. Here's the play, all right?

Tyler, you're gonna inbound
the ball to Will here.

Will, bring it up the middle.

When the double team
comes, you kick it out

- to Kirk for the sh*t.
- To Kirk?

Come on. I'm right here, man.

Look, no offence, but
we're trying to win.

- I got the touch.
- Look, you had the touch.

They're all over you now,

so we're gonna run
the plays that I call.

- Yo, I can win this for us.
- It's not about you, Will.

It's about the team.

I know, but I'm telling you...

CROWD: Let's go, Bulldogs!

I see the West Philly's
coming out of him.

Yeah, I'd love to know what's going on.

Well, I can tell you who
can fill you in on that.

CROWD: Let's go, Bulldogs, let's go!

- [WHISTLE BLOWS]
- [CROWD CHEERING]

Just go over there and talk to him.

- One, two, three.
- ALL: Win!

I'll sh**t him a text,
and we'll talk, soon.

All right, Bulldogs, let's go.

There it is, Will. Run the play!

[UPBEAT HIP-HOP MUSIC]

There he is. There he is. There he is.

[CROWD CHEERING FADES OUT]

♪ ♪

[CROWD CHEERING RESUMES]

Yo, run it, run it, run the play!

- Hey, Will, I'm open!
- There he is! There he is!

♪ ♪

Come on, Kirk.

[CROWD CHEERING FADES OUT]

- CROWD: Oh!
- [BUZZER BLARING]

Yeah! Let's get it!

- [GROANS]
- f*ck!

[CHEERING]

- Yeah! Yeah!
- Hey, defence!

- Yo, yo!
- [INDISTINCT CHEERING]

Come on, fellas, line up.

- Let's line up.
- Yo, yo!

- Will!
- Yo, Doc.

- Doc!
- Yo, Will!

Yo, I appreciate you for coming.

No problem.

You know, uh, Coach
called that last play

'cause I was getting
double-teamed the whole game,

but you saw I was busting they ass.

- Yeah.
- [BOTH LAUGH]

Until the game was on the line.

Your team lost.

The coach calls plays.

D- scouts looking for gamers, Will.

And the pros, sh*t,
they looking for people

to take over the game if
that's what's necessary.

'Cause in the end, it's
always about getting the W.

Yeah.

Well, you know, maybe next game if...

Yeah, I'll holler.

[APPREHENSIVE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Oh, you're going in to
talk him off the ledge?

I'm gonna do my best.

Hey, Dad, look, I know
you and Mum are talking

to Dr. Richardson tomorrow
about lowering my meds,

and I was just wondering
what you were thinking.

Oh, I mean, your mother and I,

we're still trying to
figure out how we feel,

but we're hoping that the doctors can

give some clarity on things.

Look, it's just...

it's gotten worse.

How so?

Well, the meds are
messing with my sleep,

all right, and so my
grades are slipping.

And, you know, I'm
applying for colleges soon

and it's all I can think about,

and so it's like my anxiety medication

is giving me more anxiety.

Look, your mother and I are gonna go

into this discussion with
an open mind, all right?

Just like we promised, okay?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Appreciate it.

[FORTUNO'S "RELAPSE"]

♪ ♪

♪ Find yourself stuck
in the same place ♪

- ♪ For way too long ♪
- [KNOCK AT DOOR]

Hey. Can I come in?

Sure, Uncle Phil.

I just wanted to see how you're doing.

Tough game.

Should've won.

Yeah.

I noticed that you and your coach

were going back and forth a bit.

Well, he picked Kirk
to take the game-winner.

Excuse my language, but sh*t.

I bet he wishes he listened to me now.

Well, I do know how
painful it is to lose.

Believe me.

But I gotta be honest.

You sound pretty arrogant
when you talk like that.

I get that.

But look, in Philly, everybody
knew I put in the work

to be the go-to when
the game was on the line.

But out here, it's like Coach
is ODing on the mind games,

like he's trying to talk
me out my game or something.

The fact is, when I do
me, we win every time.

This new friction between
you and your coach,

would it have anything
to do with that man

- you spoke to after the game?
- That was Doc.

He's connected with one of the best

travel teams in the country.

Good dude to impress.

Hmm.

So is that what you're trying to do,

impress some Rich Paul wannabe

who's not even affiliated
with your school?

Not everything has to be
about Bel-Air, Uncle Phil.

I mean, there's multiple ways to get

- to where I'm trying to go.
- Oh, yeah?

And where's that exactly?

D- scholarship.

The league.

Well, you know, there's
a lot of other ways

you can get a scholarship, Will.

I know. I know.

Well, listen.

It's dinnertime, so we can
pick this up later, yeah?

But for now, I'd advise you to
be careful about who you listen to

and why they're all in your
business in the first place.

[EASY MCCOY'S "DÉJÀ VU"]

♪ It's like déjà vu,
I see it all the time ♪

♪ ♪

I just don't get it, though.
I don't get it at all.

It's like... like, Coach
is always telling me

I need to step up and be a leader.

But in the clutch, a leader takes over.

Yeah, well, maybe Coach
just wants you to be a leader

that elevates the entire team.

That's the point that I don't get, bro.

It's like, don't I elevate
the entire team by winning?

Plus, I'm the best-looking
dude out there on the court.

sh*t, I'm double elevating.

I need a whole massage the way I've been

carrying this team on my back, bro.

Ah, you must've smoked some
good-ass weed at Jazz's, huh?

Look, just talk to Coach.

Let him know how you feel.

Hey, Will.

Carlton, I'll see you
at BSU tomorrow, right?

Uh, right. Yeah, absolutely, with ideas.

Okay.

You got some ideas for the BSU?

Nope, absolutely not.

I'm sure I'll figure something out.

Yeah, after the big game you
talked last time, you better.

- You're not helping, Will.
- [SCHOOL BELL RINGS]

- I gotta go.
- Deuce.

BOTH: Yerp.

Most of you summarised the plot,

but your papers need to go deeper.

Come on.

Do not be timid.

Yes, Olivia?

How do I do that if I didn't
really understand the book?

Well, you write a paper that argues

that the novel is convoluted.

And then you cite the
passages that confused you.

What do I do if I think I can write

a better version of the story?

[LAUGHTER]

Okay. Okay.

Well, in that case, I challenge you

to write a short story and prove it.

[BELL RINGING]

I finished the Robyn Spencer book.

It was amazing.

Yeah, girlfriend was
not afraid to mix it up.

Do you have anything
else along the same lines?

Okay.

[SOFT MUSIC]

♪ ♪

"I'm Still Here:

Black Dignity in a World
Made for Whiteness."

I think you'll really
relate to it, Ashley.

Thanks, Ms. Hughes.

Yeah.

♪ Ever since I met you, I
could peep the pressure ♪

♪ It's like your man don't understand ♪

♪ All he does is stress ya ♪

♪ I can see your state of misery ♪

♪ From the introduction ♪

♪ Ain't 'bout no sucking and touching ♪

♪ Just honest discussion ♪

♪ Maybe we could see a better way ♪

♪ Find a brighter day ♪

♪ Late-night phone conversations ♪

♪ Would that be okay? ♪

- Oh, hey.
- [BOTH LAUGH]

What, were you thinking you're on stage

or something in your mind?

Girl, you know I love Tupac.

Mm-hmm.

What you doing here?

Well, I wanted to surprise you...

Okay.

With a Hilary Banks lunch.

Okay. Love those.

This is my fried tofu-for-you sandwich.

Tastes just like chicken.

[ PAC'S "CAN U GET AWAY" PLAYING]

Mm-hmm. It's good?

- Mmm...
- Uh-huh. You love it?

Mmm. Okay.

I'm good with this. Mmm.

[CHUCKLES]

Um...

so we pregnant or something?

'Cause you're looking at me crazy.

What? No.

- But...
- Mmm.

I was gonna ask you if I could...

borrow your Impala.

Ha!

Absolutely not, okay?

Ain't no way I'm 'bout to
trade in my mint condition

' Impala for what, a
almost chicken sandwich?

- [LAUGHS]
- [SCOFFS]

Somebody's crazy.

Whatever, whatever.

Babe, listen.

I would be so careful. So careful.

And I would only need
it for a couple hours.

Okay, let me explain something to you.

Besides the original owner,

only two people have
ever driven this car.

- Do you know who they are?
- No.

Well, let me tell you.

They was both me.

No.

Okay, but what if the third
person is your girlfriend?

What if no? [SCOFFS]

Listen, me and my girls
are doing a coming-out video

for the rebranded house,

and I would look so cute
behind the wheel of that car.

♪ ♪

You will bring it back tonight.

Okay, yes. You got it. [CLICKS TONGUE]

You're lucky you look good.

[SQUEALS] Thank you.

I know how important your car is to you.

I would never let anything happen...

Okay, okay, just go
before I change my mind.

Thank you.

[SQUEALS]

[BELL JINGLES]

[CLEARS THROAT] Let me guess.

You are the mystery person

who got the perfect score
on the calculus test?

- Guilty. How'd you do?
- B-plus.

And I studied so hard even for that.

- You should go for it.
- The Founders Award?

Yeah, I'm not so sure it'd
be worth the disappointment.

This is the closest thing
to a guaranteed ticket

to the Ivy League, so why not try?

Yeah, well, first, I'd
have to get nominated,

and then I'd have to get
votes from the students,

faculty, and alumni.

There's a reason no Black
student has ever won.

So you'd be the first.

Carlton, you got
elected class president.

Yeah, well, a lot has
changed since then, Lis.

Sure, but I've seen you lately,

and you've been making an effort.

You've been going to the BSU.

It's not crazy to think
that they'd nominate you

if you stay involved.

Look, why don't you just go for it?

I'm going to be fourth
legacy generation at Howard.

But you've always wanted
to go to Harvard or Yale.

- Princeton, actually.
- Right. Why that one?

I don't know. I wanna
start a new legacy.

[UPBEAT HIP-HOP MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

Great hustle today, fellas.

Let's make sure we bring
that same energy tomorrow.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Yo.

Yo, fellas, fellas.

Gotta rap with y'all.

Look, I wanna talk about what happened

at the end of the game.

I know things got intense
between me and Coach,

but on God, I didn't
mean to offend anybody.

But real talk,

sh*t, we not even gonna
make it to the playoffs

if we keep playing the way we...

Look, I already apologised
for missing the sh*t, man.

- Can't you just let it go?
- Kirk, this is not about you.

This is about everybody, the team.

We all need to step up.

On my old team... sh*t,
on any court in Philly,

if your boy is off
his game, you tell him.

Nobody cries.

You man up and do what it takes to win.

"Man up"? Are you f*cking kidding me?

I don't give a sh*t how
they did things in Philly.

We're not your homeys
from the hood, Will.

First of all, you need to
watch your f*cking mouth

and put some respect on my name.

All right, hey, stop, stop.

Let him go. Let him go, man. Let him go.

I'm not scared of you, Will.

If you're gonna be on our team,

you need to watch your mouth,
lose the attitude, chill out.

Is that how you all feel about me?

Okay.

Maybe you right, Kirk.

Maybe I am on the wrong f*cking team.

Do you need any help with that?

No, I got it. Thanks.

Oh, it's no problem, I'm hap...

wait, what's going on?

I am...

I am no longer a teacher
at Bel-Air Municipal.

What? Why?

I'm not allowed to answer any questions

you may have about it.

They can't do this to you.

[SOMBER MUSIC]

Don't you worry about me, Ashley.

You just keep being the amazing,

brilliant young woman that you are.

And never, ever let anyone
try to change you, okay?

♪ ♪

I already spoke with Carlton.

However, any changes we make

would require your input and consent.

So how do you both feel about it?

Well, Carlton seems to be doing great.

Part of the reason he had panic att*cks

was because I was putting
too much pressure on him.

I stopped doing that.

You're not the only
pressure in his life, Phil.

There's grades. There's girls.

There's probably stuff that
we don't even know about.

You're describing life, Viv.

What are we supposed to do,
keep him on meds forever?

I mean, if that's what it takes.

Am I wrong, Doctor?

I think that pretty
soon, he'll be an adult.

And you won't have a say in the matter.

It might not be a bad thing
to earn a little goodwill now

by showing him that he has your trust.

Weaning off meds isn't something

we want him doing on his own.

- Thank you, Doctor.
- You're welcome.

♪ I'm my own boss, I don't count costs ♪

♪ Buy my own things, I'm my own boss ♪

♪ I'm a whole star, I'm a whole job ♪

♪ I ain't f*cking with no basics ♪

Welcome to our new house, y'all.

[SQUEALS]

Ivy, you've outdone yourself, girl.

This is k*ller.

Cut. Cut.

Ivy, we've literally done this times.

What's the problem?

We should all be in the car.

And then I'll say my line
as we walk to the front door.

f*ck, fine, let's just sh**t it

before we lose the light.

- I should be behind the wheel.
- Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

I already told Jazz I'd
be the one driving it.

Girl, I'm not gonna wreck
your little boyfriend's car.

Okay, we're driving
all of what, feet?

Oh.

Okay.

- Just be careful.
- I got this.

♪ I'm a whole job ♪

♪ I just talk life 'cause I want life ♪

♪ Ain't nobody finna
tell me what to do ♪

[ENGINE TURNS OVER]

♪ Took my pick, but I
never had to choose ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm picky ♪

♪ Heard that you a tipper ♪

♪ You a big spender ♪

- Ready?
- So ready.

Roll 'em.

Right here, you guys.

Oh, my God. Ivy, this is so sick.

[LAUGHTER, CHATTER]

- Jazz?
- Cut.

Ms. Ivy, hey. How you doing?

Um, I'ma need you to park this car

and, uh, politely step out the vehicle.

Really? You too?

♪ I'm my own boss, I'm my own boss ♪

I let you sweet talk me
with a f*cking sandwich,

and then you just gonna lie to me?

I wasn't lying.

I was the one who was driving,

but Ivy insisted on switching it up.

What is it with you and Ivy?

Y'all got this whole
frenemies vibe going on.

She always forcing you to do stuff.

That's not true.

Okay, so name a time besides this.

Okay, would you have
called me your boyfriend

if Ivy wasn't pushing up all on me?

That was a moment where I realised

how much I cared for you.

On the way over here, I
noticed that only I have

posted about our relationship on IG.

I never said I'd do that, Jazz.

Why would you want thirsty m*therf*ckers

thinking that you single?

Baby, I'm an influencer, okay?

Which means there are two Hilarys.

And Hilary, the brand, has to maintain

this aura of attainability.

The aura of what?

Babe, it's just business.

[SCOFFS]

What you're saying is we official,

but we not gonna go public?

Yes, exactly. You get it.

[APPREHENSIVE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

You hear from Reid yet?

I mean, I called him a few times,

and he hasn't called me back.

Avoiding, just like a coward.

I'm not gonna let Reid of
all people ruin our dinner.

Hey, how's everybody doing?

ALL: Good.

Hey, uh, are you gonna tell Mum and Dad

that you quit the basketball team?

Where'd you hear that nonsense?

Look, I didn't quit.

I just left over some bullshit.

You okay, bumblebee?

No, actually.

Ms. Hughes got fired today.

Wait, I'm sorry. What?

No. Ms. Hughes?

For what?

Well, when I saw her,

she said she couldn't talk about it.

Wait, this is terrible.
I loved Ms. Hughes.

All of you loved her.

I saw Mrs. Kwan talking
to her last week,

and it seemed like she was in trouble.

I'm calling an emergency meeting

of the Parental Advisory
Board to get some answers.

And the administration
better have a damn good reason

for f*ring one of the
few Black teachers.

[CLICKS TONGUE]

♪ ♪

Hey, son.

- You have a moment to talk?
- Oh, yeah.

Yeah, yeah. I'm ready
to hear the verdict.

So your father and I talked,

and we've decided to lower your dosage.

Yeah. You can start tomorrow.

Thank you so much.

Look, this is the right decision.

Thank you guys.

But you're gonna keep us
in the loop, though, right?

Let us know how you're feeling?

'Cause there are side effects
with weaning off your meds...

headaches, dizziness.

So if you have any stress or triggers,

you have to come to us right away.

Yeah. Yeah, I promise.

And remember, there's no shame

going back to your current dosage

if you need to, okay, baby?

I love you guys.

[HEARTFELT MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[PHONE DINGS]

Oh, sh*t.

[LINE TRILLS]

Hello?

Hey, Jackie. Yo, this is Will.

Yeah, Will, the guy
who's scared of dogs.

Or the guy who showed up
and showed out on the court.

Thanks for hitting me back.
Is now a good time to talk?

Depends on what you got to say.

Well, you seem to know
a thing or two about Doc

and how we operates, so...

Smooth.

Just what a girl wants to hear.

Anyways, it was good talking.

- Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Hold up. Hold up, girl.

You ain't let me finish.

What I was trying to say is,

I want to get to know you better.

Uh -huh.

And you're the one who told me,

if you wanna make a good impression,

don't just talk a good game.

So when can I see you again?

[MELLOW MUSIC]

I'm free later.

You down to meet me somewhere?

Yeah.

Sure.

How much later?

Later.

It's an after-hours spot in Inglewood.

Look, if you need a permission slip...

No. No.

I'll meet you any time, anywhere.

[CHUCKLES]

Let's make it happen.

Due to the recent events

surrounding Ms. Hughes' sudden f*ring,

I just feel that we,

as the Parental Advisory Committee,

really need to get a
handle on this situation.

From what I understand,
her f*ring wasn't sudden.

The administration has
had to talk to Ms. Hughes

several times about teaching outside

the approved curriculum.

We have a system in place
that she willfully ignored.

Then maybe it's the system
we should be scrutinising,

not the teacher.

As an educator, isn't
Mrs. Hughes expected

to challenge our kids and expose them

to different points of view?

Personally, my daughter has been exposed

to amazing authors
because of Ms. Hughes,

people like James
Baldwin, Toni Morrison,

Paula Giddings, Ta-Nehisi Coates.

I hear you, Vivian. I do.

But bottom line is that
Ms. Hughes was fired

for a clear and repeated violation

of the school's curriculum policy.

There's no getting around it.

I guess we'll see about that.

[INDISTINCT WHISPERING]

[UPBEAT HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

I was hoping I'd find you here.

Phil.

The last time we spoke, you didn't seem

to have much to say to me.

Yeah.

I wasn't ready to go there yet, but...

I'm here now, if it's okay.

♪ ♪

Well, I'm listening.

You know, when you told
Will about his father...

I don't think I'd ever been angrier.

I knew you'd be livid
when you found out.

Right.

See, that's the thing, G. You
know me better than anyone.

You knew how I'd react.

And you did it anyway.

Which means you had a damn good reason.

I know you been
thinking about Frederick.

[SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC]

Yeah.

How are you doing?

♪ ♪

I'm not feeling great about
the decisions I've made, Phil.

He's my son.

But you know why you can't see him.

Yeah. I know. I get it.

For this very reason,
'cause if your emotions...

I said I get it, Phil.

I understand the f*cking arrangement.

I'm not an idiot, you know.

I'm the one that made
it. Here, I get it.

But here?

- He's my family. You understand?
- I am too.

No, no, no, no, no.

You made it perfectly clear.

I work for you.

And that's why I am truly
sorry for what I said.

I was disrespectful.

I was out of line.

And I will never let that happen again.

It's gonna take time, you know.

I understand that.

But just know that I love you, bro.

We all do.

So come back home and
let us show you how much.

Yeah?

♪ ♪

Planning your next escape, Will?

Damn. [SCOFFS]

Carlton, what are you doing up, man?

My meds have just been
messing with my sleep lately.

What are you doing up?

I was just checking on you
'cause I knew you've been...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, just stop.

You know there's only one
way to sneak out of here

and not get caught on camera?

What's it gonna cost for you to tell me?

[YG'S "SCARED MONEY"]

♪ Why you bring that
money to the club ♪

♪ If you ain't throwing it? ♪

♪ How you naked on the Gram ♪

♪ But in person, you
ain't showing sh*t? ♪

♪ Why you go against the g*ng? ♪

♪ You can't b*at 'em, n*gga, join it ♪

Uh, what the f*ck is this?

Change of plans. He's coming with us.

- Carlton.
- Yo.

You know we going to
South Central, right?

Yeah, cut me some slack.

I just got some good news,
and I'm in the mood to party.

Yo, can we just hurry up
before we can caught again?

All right.

♪ YG from the streets, YG went legit ♪

♪ YG lit, YG start a
business with your bitch ♪

♪ Talkin' like you lit ♪

♪ Your bitch better not be ugly ♪

♪ Pull up with a ten, her
waist slim, ass chubby ♪

♪ Half a milly on my neck ♪

♪ Who gonna take it from me? ♪

♪ Uh-oh! ♪

♪ We ballin' on you f*ckin' dummies ♪

ALL: ♪ Scared money
don't make no money ♪

Hey!

ALL: ♪ Scared money
don't make no money ♪

♪ Yeah, scared money
don't make no money ♪

♪ We ballin' on you
f*ckin' dummies ♪

Yo, this is what the f*ck
I'm talking about right here.

Hey, hey. Real talk, listen, all right?

If y'all n*gg*s f*ck up,
that sh*t is on me, okay?

So no drinking, no...

- 'ey, Carlton!
- Yeah, yeah.

If y'all f*ck up, it's on me, okay?

So no drinking, no bullshit,
okay, or I'ma drag your ass

out of here like your damn daddy.

- You hear me?
- Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

All right, have fun.

♪ I was thinking about
walking up a stack of crates ♪

♪ But I was busy stacking cake ♪

This is good, huh?

♪ Say the whole name ♪

♪ Cole think he Drizzy
Drake, he got his own plane ♪

Not gonna lie,

I think that girl over
there is looking at you.

Oh, f*ck. She's really pretty.

I think you should say something.

Like, to...

Like, to her.

- Like, right now.
- Uh...

Don't be scared. Just dive in.

Go, go, go, go, go.

[LAUGHS]

Oh, man. Oh.

I knew you'd find your way in.

Mm. What's good?

You know, I got
connects everywhere I go.

- Nice.
- Yeah.

I got a couple questions about Doc.

How 'bout you earn that

by showing me you got some moves?

- You sure you can handle this?
- I can handle it.

'Cause you know in West
Philly, we really get down.

- Yeah, we'll see.
- Come find out. Let's go.

♪ Cost a Mike Vick for a truffle boat ♪

♪ Dollars, followers and ratchet hos ♪

♪ I got a lot of those ♪

♪ Getting' me some head,
waitin' on my food ♪

♪ To cook at Pappadeaux,
let's go, Big Bagg ♪

♪ Talkin' like you lit ♪

♪ Your bitch better not be ugly ♪

♪ Pull up with a ten, her
waist slim, ass chubby ♪

Oh. Okay.

Mm. Mm.

- Oh.
- What's up? What's up?

Let me show you how do we do it.

- Let's do it.
- Right?

Ooh.

Okay. Let me find out.

Let me find out, Jack.

♪ You got it? It's mine ♪

♪ That bank, that money ♪

♪ I own it, it's mine ♪

♪ Looking like Medusa ♪

♪ Got them n*gg*s freezing on me ♪

♪ Upper echelon ♪

♪ I got these n*gg*s pleading for me ♪

♪ Wanna dip me ♪

♪ Juice flowing like they eating on me ♪

sh*t. I'll be right
back. You need some water?

- I'm good.
- All right, cool.

Don't nobody press up on
you when I'm gone, all right?

- You better hurry then.
- All right.

Carlton. Yo, yo, yo.

- You good, man?
- Oh, yeah.

Shalonda and Britney just need water.

- Shalonda and Britney?
- Yeah.

Hey, wait, man.

First of all, I'm proud of you.

- [LAUGHS]
- Second of all, you good?

You gonna pass out or something?

Oh, no. No, no. This
vibe is the f*cking cure.

We should do this way more often.

Hey, I like this side of you, C.

- [LAUGHS]
- Whoo!

♪ Bank, money ♪

♪ I own it, it's mine ♪

♪ My check, now run it, I'm on it ♪

My bad.

I just had to check on my cousin.

You're good.

Where were we?

♪ I own it, it's mine ♪

♪ I see I got 'em falling for me ♪

♪ You're calling concussion ♪

♪ If you ain't living for this cash ♪

♪ You falling for nothing ♪

♪ Bossy bitch, ain't no
rock who hard as this ♪

What's wrong?

My uncle's behind you.

I heard you had some questions about me.

Ooh. Uh...

- yeah.
- Yeah.

I'ma borrow the young un for one minute.

Come on.

[WHISPERING] Uncle?
Jackie, what the f*ck?

Yo, seriously, man, I did not know

Jackie was your niece, all right?

I ain't mean no disrespect out there.

You're cool.

This isn't about Jackie.

Let's talk about you.

What's up?

Why does a D- prospect from Philly

pop up in Bel-Air in the
middle of the school year?

- What, your mums put you out?
- Hell no.

She would never do that. She the GOAT.

Pops in the picture?

You know how it is.

Another day, another deadbeat.

Being my own man.

Respect.

Hopefully, that experience shaped you

into someone who can handle hard truths

instead of soft lies.

Yo, whatever you got to
say, just hit me with it.

That fancy Bel-Air team
got you and your game soft.

Oh, you don't believe me?

How many D- scouts been
there to see you play?

Man, anybody at Bel-Air got
a NIL deal or a D- offer?

You're right. Look,
what am I supposed to do?

Man, you gotta showcase your talents

where they can be appreciated.

Man, AAU is where all the stars are.

It's where real players
are guided and developed

to the best D- colleges.

And they end up with the NIL deals.

So you're saying I have to quit Bel-Air

- to play for your team?
- Nah, not at all.

We got players that play
for they school and us.

There's ways we can make it work.

Look, just give me the time
and the place and I'm there.

I'll be in touch.

[SMOOTH HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

♪ ♪

And remember,

nobody argues with a winner.

♪ ♪

♪ Look alive ♪

[PHONE RINGING]

Will you look at that?

His Majesty finally calls me back.

How we doing, family?

- Geoffrey!
- Geoffrey, I missed you.

- Hey! Viv.
- Aww, welcome, Geoffrey.

- It's so great to see you.
- Likewise, man.

- Ash.
- Hi.

- What's good, G?
- I'm trying.

Beside this warm welcome,
I don't want any fuss.

You get me?

We should just get
back into our routines,

and from my watch, you three
are about ten minutes behind

- getting out that door.
- All right. Okay.

We missed you too.

Why is he like this?

Have a good day.

You know, I know you said
you don't want no fuss,

but I can't help but think about it.

You left because of me.

No, no words to that, man.

No more looking back, yeah?

I'm just glad that we both found

our way back into this house.

[CHUCKLES] Yeah.

Yo, how'd you two
squash your beef, anyway?

That's our business, Will.

But I will say, brotherhood is precious

however and wherever you can find it.

It's not something you just throw away

over one disagreement.

Anyways, you'll have
plenty of time to catch up

now that he's back, so
why don't you get yourself

to school before you're late?

All right. You got it, bud.

- See you, G.
- Later.

Oh, I give it to Reid.

That man has got some nerve.

Yeah? What'd he say?

He thinks I'm upset
because the entire article

is about him, and he's right.

The article should be
about me and my perspective.

It's my art.

It sounds like you're gonna have to take

the gloves off, baby.

And I, for one, can't wait till you do.

[SOFT MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Mum, have you heard anything
else about Ms. Hughes?

A little bit.

The school is claiming

they fired Ms. Hughes for just cause.

One of your classmates
apparently told her parents

that they saw her giving
books that weren't a part

of the approved curriculum.

Are you sure there's
nothing else we can do?

Honey, I never said there's
nothing that we can do.

I mean, I can't make any promises,

but what I know is this.

If no one disrupts the system,
the system doesn't change.

[PENSIVE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

All right, my brother.

Thanks for shopping local.

[PHONE DINGS]

[JULIAN ROY'S "TROUBLE"]

- ♪ Set my hands on fire today ♪
- _

♪ ♪

♪ I didn't know about the pain ♪

Listen, I wanted to talk to you.

I do feel like you were right
about some stuff the other day.

You know what?

I really appreciate that.

It's very big of you to say that.

I think we should take our
relationship up a notch.

Oh, up a notch?

Bed right there. Tell
me how you wanna do it.

- Oh, my God.
- [BOTH LAUGH]

We should tell my parents.

I don't introduce them to just anybody,

so I feel like this will show

that I'm not embarrassed of you.

- Okay.
- Yeah?

I mean, yeah.

- Yeah, why not?
- [BOTH LAUGH]

Why not?

So when do you wanna do it?

- [DOORBELL RINGS]
- Now.

Now? Wait.

What the f*ck?

- Hello.
- Hey, baby.

- Hi, Mum.
- Oh, you look beautiful.

- Thank you.
- How you been?

- Hey, Daddy.
- Look at this place.

Oh, my goodness.

- Wow.
- Thank you.

This is lovely.

- Thank you.
- [GASPS] What...

Jazz.

Oh, I thought it was just
gonna be us having lunch.

What's going on?

Well, I thought

maybe you'd wanna have lunch
with me and my boyfriend.

Your boyfriend? [CHUCKLES]

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Jazz?

What? Wow.

Mr. and Mrs. D. [CHUCKLES]

How's it going? How's it going?

Of course we would.

This is wonderful.

Jazz.

Isn't it, Phil?

Yeah.

Thank you, Daddy.

Okay. Well, let's eat.

Let's eat. [LAUGHTER]

The administration is f*ring Ms. Hughes

because they're caving
to a few white parents

who are upset with her.

All she's guilty of is
exposing her students

to books that are honest about race,

sexuality, and American history.

Mm, take your time, bishop.

And we have to do something about it.

Look, I know Ms. Hughes
works in the middle school,

but her f*ring reflects on the
entirety of the Bel-Air campus.

Carlton's right.

Ms. Hughes looked after so many of us

when we were having a
hard time in middle school.

We owe her this.

I think that rallying
to save Ms. Hughes' job

is a cause worthy of our BSU.

I agree.

I think that this is the perfect cause

for us to show the school that
we are here and we won't allow

one of the few beloved Black
teachers to be dismissed.

Yeah.

This is our school too.

Actually, you know what I think?

I think it's time that we let them know

that we not playing no more.

I think we should protest.

- Oh, sh*t.
- Protest?

Yes.

Yeah, maybe we just
leave class for a while,

like... like a walkout.

Exactly, bro.

But it's not a walkout.

- It's a Blackout.
- Yeah.

[APPLAUSE] Yeah!

- Yeah.
- Yeah?

Yeah, I like that.

I have a meeting with Reid.

I'm sorry.

There was an emergency,
and he has to reschedule.

Oh, no. I'm so sorry.

Is everything okay? Is someone hurt?

No, it's not like that.

It's more of an art emergency,
if you know what I'm saying.

An art emergency?

That's why he canceled
our meeting with no notice?

I'm sorry, Mrs. Banks.

You know, will you give
your boss a message for me?

Please tell that
smooth-talking narcissist

that I do not need him
explaining my work in the press

or controlling my narrative
with the fellowship.

He is not my handler.
He is not my gatekeeper.

So I will no longer be
in need of his services.

You might wanna tell him that yourself.

Oh, I would,

but I have an art emergency of my own.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Carlton.

What's up, Ms. Bassin?

I was surprised to hear you speak

about Ms. Hughes today
with such passion.

Oh. Well, yeah, of course.

I mean, she is a great teacher,

and I think what's happening
to her is really unfair.

I agree, of course.

But there's a right way to handle things

and a wrong way to handle things,

especially here.

Well, my cousin and I were just talking,

you know, brainstorming.

We're not actually gonna get
up and walk out of school.

I'm glad to hear that, Carlton,

because as the person who
suggested BSU take up this cause,

your reputation will be tied to it.

Be careful.

Yes, ma'am.

♪ Show what, I'm as hot as the sun ♪

♪ I don't trip, I just do it for fun ♪

- What's up, Will?
- Sup, Ty.

♪ I been feeling like I am the one ♪

Big game tonight.

Just wanna check and make sure

things are gonna be cool
between you, Coach, and Kirk.

Yeah, I'm all good. Ain't
gonna start no drama.

All right, glad to hear that,
'cause it's been a long time

since the team has been this good, Will.

I mean, we have a chance
to make the playoffs,

maybe even go all the way.

You don't gotta worry, man.
I'll be there for the team.

All right. My guy.

- I'll see you at the game.
- See you.

♪ I got my water them
ways in this bitch ♪

♪ Play with me, I'll have
you sleep with the fish ♪

♪ I'm trying to get lit
and I'm keeping it crisp ♪

♪ Know I got something
that lick at my wrist ♪

♪ Getting tired, I've been
running these n*gg*s ♪

Ooh, look who it is, the
Black liberator, Carlton X.

Carlton X? Okay.

Yeah, maybe we should just
sit on that for a second

before we decide to keep it.

I wanted to talk to you about the, um...

you know, the walkout.

Blackout.

Sure.

Whatever we decide to call it, I just,

you know, don't think it's a good thing.

Well, it's not supposed
to be a good thing.

It's a protest.

But that's why you're
gonna be a hero to all

- of our people around here.
- Okay.

But like, I don't know, what if...

what if we're just going too far?

Look, man, stay strong,
okay? I got your back.

Look, it's just the anxiety kicking in.

We're all in this together.

Matter of fact, just
come to the game tonight.

- You'll see.
- I'll see what?

Coach has been all over
my back since I got here.

But tonight, I'm gonna
show him the real Will.

West Philly Will.

- Yeah, okay, but...
- Don't worry.

I'ma show you how it's done.

And I'm gonna be with
you every step of the way.

West Philly Will is back, baby.

[BELL RINGS]

[GROANS] f*ck.

Get in it, right there, Tyler.

♪ This some of that mmm, mmm, ooh-whee ♪

♪ A little more cash,
a little more cheese ♪

♪ A little more thinking
you can't pass me ♪

♪ A little more action ♪

- [CROWD CHEERING]
- Come on!

Let's go, baby! f*cking go, baby!

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING, CHEERING]

All right, we're in it!

We're in it. Right there.

♪ Little more action, action ♪

♪ Little more action ♪

[CROWD CHEERING]

sh*t, Will really wasn't joking

when he said he was gonna bring it.

Yeah, he's on a
different level for sure.

Let's go! Box it.

We're in it! Get in it! Get in there, B!

Let's do it! Let's work!

Let's go, let's go!

Move, move, move! Move, move, move!

♪ Wheel once around
then switch up once ♪

♪ Then swerve, move quick ♪

♪ Spit a verse so
sick, make a flow ♪

Come on! Come on! Come
on! Come on! Come on!

- [CROWD CHEERING]
- Let's go, baby!

- Come on!
- Break 'em in, break 'em in!

Ball, ball, ball!

[CROWD CHEERING]

- [WHISTLE TRILLING]
- Yes!

Come on, bring it in.

Bring it in. That's great work, fellas.

Great hustle. Great hustle.

Let's go.

Come on, get in there. Great
hustle. Take a breather.

All right, great work,
guys. We're up . It's over.

Let's take this time,

let's work on our perimeter game.

This next play, I want you
to swing the ball out to Kirk.

What the hell? Kirk
has been cold all game.

- No, I haven't.
- Hey, Will...

- How many points do you have?
- Will!

I don't wanna hear it, Will, okay?

Just get the ball out to
Kirk. End of discussion.

- Got anything else, Coach?
- No, sir.

All right. Come on. Let's
finish strong, fellas.

Let's finish strong.
Let's get this W. On me.

Hard work on three. One, two, three.

ALL: Hard work.

♪ Billie Eilish ♪

♪ Watch on my wrist, but I want that ♪

♪ n*gg*s talkin' crazy when I pull up ♪

Check the screen. Check the screen.

♪ Run that sh*t back,
bitch, I'm styling ♪

♪ Glock tucked, big
T-shirt, Billie Eilish ♪

♪ Watch on my wrist, but
I want that in diamonds ♪

Will!

Hey, yo, Will, let me in.

♪ Put it in perspective ♪

♪ Bitch, I got everything
I wanted and some extras ♪

[CROWD CHEERING]

Money, baby. Can't stop me, huh?

Run the offence, Will!

But I'm on fire.

♪ Cashed out on bail, my
li'l bitch got arrested ♪

♪ Flexed out my
Lexus, no back seats ♪

Yeah, right here, right
here, right here, B.

Yep. There it is, Will. Set it up.

Set it up!

♪ You be throwing cash in the strip ♪

♪ My little bitch suckin'
d*ck for the free ♪

♪ I got a bitch, but
a bitch ain't got me ♪

- [CROWD CHEERING]
- Come on!

Yeah!

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

♪ ♪

♪ Run that sh*t back,
bitch, I'm styling ♪

♪ Glock tucked, big
T-shirt, Billie Eilish ♪

♪ Watch on my wrist, but
I want that in diamonds ♪

♪ n*gg*s talk crazy when
I pull up, it's silent ♪

♪ Mile high, bring that sh*t
back, bitch, I'm styling ♪

Told you, nobody argues with a winner.

[LAUGHS] Yes, sir.

That's why your coach ain't
had the balls to bench you,

'cause getting that W is
the only thing that matters.

- You straight on that now?
- Yeah, I think so.

Good, 'cause if you come
work with me and my connects

in the AAU, man, sky is the limit, bro.

- I'm telling you...
- Excuse me.

Philip Banks, Will's uncle and guardian.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Banks.

I was just talking to
Will about his game.

Yo, Uncle Phil, this the
dude I been telling you about.

Will, locker room. Let's go.

All right, I'll be right there.

Get with the team, Will.

- And great game.
- Thank you.

Congrats on the dub, young man.

- Appreciate it.
- Yeah, we gonna chop it up.

- All right, cool, cool.
- West Philly.

- Yes, sir.
- [LAUGHS]

He's a good kid.

So... recruiter?

Recruiter, coach, mentor.

Something like that.

Well, if you wanna
continue any discussions

along those lines with
Will, I'd appreciate it

if you let my wife and I both know

so that we can be a part of it.

Okay.

Here's my card.

Let me know when you
wanna discuss his future.

If there's something to discuss.

We'll be in touch...

[TENSE MUSIC]

Mr. Hightower.

I look forward to hearing from you.

♪ ♪