01x06 - Full-Court Press

[bunniefuu]

MAYA: (ON PHONE) Guys, stop!

Filthy! Stop recording.
We don't need this recorded.

-Guys, stop, you don't need to do this.
-When the full court presses on,

you don't back down.
That's what I taught him.

But at what cost? We've always taught
the boys to walk away from conflict.

Now, the superintendent
is demanding a meeting.

It didn't even happen on school grounds.

Babe, these kids, they fight.
You know how many fights I got into?

Yeah, but that was before social media,

before the whole world
could watch and weigh in.

Exactly. These kids,
they blowing it up online.

It probably looks a lot worse
than it really was.

Our son was wearing a Hughes hoodie.

That makes him an ambassador
for the school.

Not just a bad look for him,
for the entire district.

All right, so, how much punishment
does he need?

All right? We're Filthy's parents.
We're handling this thing at home.

-This thing's probably gonna blow over.
-Well, I hope you're right.

But I'm afraid that call
might be above my pay grade.

-Filthy made a dumb mistake.
-That's the key word, hon.

It's a mistake.

We don't even know
what the superintendent wants yet.

So, let's wait until after the meeting
and figure this thing out together.

Well, at least Filthy and JB called
a truce for now.

Well, I'll take it. I need them in sync
for this elimination game tonight.

Any word from Kelli?

(SIGHS) Nothing.

I mean, what do you expect, babe?

Old man reaches out to her,
out of the blue... with no explanation.

Stop. I will not let you do that.

-You fought hard to get custody of her.
-Right. I fought and I lost.

You never stopped trying.
All those letters, cards.

I don't know what narrative she was fed,
but you never stopped trying.

I haven't seen my daughter, babe,
for years.

She's her own woman.
She's her own person now.

And it's like we are complete strangers,
you understand that?

I do, but you are an amazing father
to our boys.

And you would have been
the same to Kelli.

Those circumstances were beyond you.

Hey, look, I need you to focus on getting
a good report from that doctor today.

Hmm? (SMOOCHES)

Can we pray on that?

(SIGHS, KISSES)

(CLEARS THROAT, INHALES)

-You wanna pray about that game too?
-You can pray on that on your own time.

Hmm.

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

(THEME MUSIC CONCLUDING)

BELL BROTHER : "Phantasmal."
As in unreal, fictional.

So cocky and caught up
in the fireworks of what's not there

that you don't see
the smoke coming your way, fast.

Ayo, check this out.

This one says, "Getting Filthy with it,
smacked them up clean

-"and hashtag throws for bros." (LAUGHS)
-You're a freaking hero now.

Yeah, I've always been a hero.

I mean, who wouldn't stand up
for their pops and their bro? Come on now.

Yo! My DMs are flooded
with Beacon baddies. This is crazy!

High school girls. That's a level-up.

-It's going down in the DMs, bro.
-(CHUCKLES)

Hey, I bet you Aniq is mad.

Yo, he's gonna be even more mad
once I take this MVP from him next year.

-Yo. You all seen Aniq's IG?
-No, why?

Bro's at the doctor. He hurt his wrist.

-(BLOWS RASPBERRY)
-Claims it happened at Roll Call.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

VONDIE: Oh, snap, he just posted an X-ray.

I mean, that has nothing to do with me,
you know what I'm saying? I mean,

it doesn't even look that bad.

He's probably just playing it up to,
you know, get more Instagram followers.

-Like who even posts injuries on IG?
-Someone who knows that everybody

at Beacon including players and coaches
follows him and saw that video.

Which means...

Filthy's a dead man.

(SCOFFS) Come on, guys, I can... what?

I hope you understand. I'm not here
to make an example out of Josh.

Thank you. His father and I have spoken
to him about his actions.

I'm here to affirm
that showing favoritism is not an option.

I never thought it was.

When you were being considered
as principal,

we were aware that your two boys
and your husband

being a part of this school
could be a conflict of interest

when it came to taking
tough disciplinary action.

But because you work so well
with the students here,

-we put our faith in you.
-And I appreciate that.

Please do not make us regret our decision.

I need this tabled by the end of the week.

Wait, so tomorrow?

Well, sometimes in this job,

you have to make tough decisions
on short notice.

I trust you'll do the right thing.
Have a good day.

-(GIRLS LAUGH)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Oh, you two were in there
for way too long.

That conversation
must have been intense. You good?

As good as I'm gonna be,
and I'm dreading having to talk to him.

He's always ready to gloat.

That man needs to take all those diplomas
out of his butt. He ain't special.

-He may be fine, but he is not special.
-Ew.

MAYA: (ON PHONE) Guys, stop,
you don't need to do this. Stop! Filthy!

-Oh, my God. Filthy man, you are crazy.
-MAYA: Guys, stop!

-(CLEARS THROAT)
-MAYA: Filthy--

I see that video
is getting a lot of attention.

-And here we go.
-(SIGHS)

-Buckle up, he's just getting started.
-Mm.

-So, what do you think?
-That this is not a good look for Hughes.

That back when I was in those seats,
I was sweating, not smiling. I'm curious.

What would you do
if this weren't your son?

Listen, Crystal.

My job as VP is to support you
and protect this school.

But whether you like it or not,
all eyes are on you.

Put your phone away.

-ALEXIS: Excuse me. (LAUGHING)
-(JB LAUGHING)

Don't say that.

(KNOCKS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Yo... I'm glad we're us again.
You had me worried for a bit.

And again, I'm really sorry.
But I missed you, Jordan Bell.

She said the government name?

I missed you, too. Yo, I even sent in
that application for City Arts.

So, now you really stuck
with me next year.

Uh.

-JB, I got to tell you something.
-What's going on?

The night of The Roll Call, my dad called,

and he said I might be moving
back... to L.A. with him.

Are you serious?

-We just started talking again.
-And I didn't know how to tell you

when I was just still trying to figure
everything out while also having fun.

All right, well,
he said you might be moving back.

So, until I see some suitcases...

Yeah, you're right. (CHUCKLES)
I guess I never thought of it like that.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Coach Howard.

-(PANTS) Whoo!
-Hey.

I never seen
Chuck "The Man" Bell out of breath.

-(LAUGHS)
-Hey, I got your message.

-Yeah.
-Is everything okay?

Well, look, that's why I...

(EXHALES)
...kind of wanna talk to you actually.

Now, I know that you know, that Filthy
is possibly coming to Beacon next year.

And after this Aniq incident,
I just thought I should check in.

Yeah, well, Aniq's had his share
of incidents in the past,

so, it wasn't entirely a surprise.
But he's got a good heart.

Okay, well, so does Filthy.

And, Coach, look, I know that this video,
it looks bad, but...

I truly believe that...

the situation just got out of hand
for both of them.

-Mint?
-Nah, I'm okay.

Chuck, so much of what we do here

at Beacon goes beyond
the basketball court.

I mean, our mission is to mold
these young men into fine citizens,

build strong character,

and help them become responsible
decision-makers in life.

All right, listen, my boys,
they got discipline, all right?

It was just a hand check.
It's not a flagrant.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY) I hear you,

but we want our Beacon boys to be able
to stand on their own two feet,

well after Beacon.

Well, my wife and I,
we share those same values.

I tell my boys from day one,
it's about follow through.

You finish what you start.
It's about being young men of integrity.

And I assume that is the same thing
you will have here at Beacon.

I do.

'Cause, Coach, we all make mistakes.
Everybody needs a second chance.

(SIGHS)

-Crazy.
-Hey, Filthy.

-Hi. (LAUGHS)
-Yo! My followers have tripled

-since that video dropped.
-Yeah? Okay.

Your boy is totally fine.
The only medicine he's looking for

-is attention.
-Exactly, that's what I'm saying.

I don't know.
Something's not right though.

-You haven't even gotten in trouble yet.
-Would you stop being so paranoid?

Bask in the moment.

What if you pull an Aniq,
and b*at him at his own game?

-What are you talking about?
-Get ahead of it.

Make yourself a fan favorite
before the big game.

-People love when you fall on the sword.
-Okay, I'm liking where this is going.

Go live and give a sob story
on how sorry you are.

Celebs do it all the time,
and people eat that garbage up.

And maybe you won't have detention.

You might be onto something.

What's up, y'all? It's your boy,
Filthy McNasty here,

about to drop some bars.

I know you all wanna hear the flow.
Yo! What's up, Sierra? Sup, big Marv?

What's up? Oh, Maya in here, too.
What's up, Maya?

-Everybody in here. Got all my peeps.
-Hey, focus.

I know most of you all have seen
the video of me and Aniq

getting into it,
and I really wanna know.

Was I in the wrong?
I... I mean, come on now.

That's what I'm saying.
He was flapping his lips,

and to be honest, I was just defending
my brother, you feel me?

And who's gonna talk trash about my dad
and me not doing nothing about it?

Basically, he was putting
a down payment on these hands.

Hey, what happened to the apology?

Forget about all that.
Look, it's like this.

If you're coming for my fam,
then you're coming for me,

and clearly, Filthy McNasty ain't lacking.
I'm in the cafeteria with it right now.

Yo! Everybody say,
"What's up?" to the live.

-(CROWD CHEERING)
-Yo!

-Yeah!
-Aye, as you can see,

I'm here with it any day. Come on now.

Yeah, all that! Look, look,
I'm on the table with it.

What's up? The principal can't say nothing
about that! Come on now.

And I'm going to yeet
on the court all of that.

-Big game coming up, I hear.
-Nothing is more important than this.

No, but we are one game away
from a championship, Doc. So, uh...

some good news could go very far.

I wish I had better news to give you,
Chuck, but it's getting worse.

Your GFR is declining,

which means that your kidneys
aren't functioning like they should.

-Wait, how is that possible?
-I... I've been exercising.

I've been eating right,
taking all my meds.

Sure, your body is trying to get
all of this under control,

but you may have
course corrected too late.

So... so, are you saying
that I... I might need a transplant?

I'm no longer saying you might need
a transplant. I'm saying you do.

None of the relatives
that we tested are a match.

Right. Which is why we need to get you
on the donor list ASAP.

There is one more relative you could test.

-See if she's a match.
-Excuse me?

I have a daughter.

Kelli.

I didn't know.

Yeah. She's nineteen.

And we haven't spoken in a while.

Chuck, it is vital that you explore
all options available.

FILTHY: Ooh, ooh, ooh. All right, fellas!
We got one more job before the finals.

So, I say we go out there
and show them who's boss!

I say you stop talking
before you make Vondi more nervous.

Shut up, man. I'm not nervous.
I'm just taking it all in.

We're almost there. We almost got it.

-Let's get it.
-Let's get it.

-Let's go! Yeah!
-PLAYERS: Yeah!

-Let's go!
-FILTHY: Hey, lions on me! Lions on three!

PLAYERS: One, two, three, lions!

-(WHISTLE BLOWS)
-(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

BELL BROTHER : Boys on fire...

With bolts of lightning on our kicks.
Gliding, flying, thriving.

We were driving down the lane,
sliding into fame.

Black eagles on the rise.
It's a bird, it's a plane.

No, it's up, up,

-us.
-CROWD: Filthy! Filthy! Filthy! Filthy!

-(BELL BUZZING)
-Yeah!

(CROWD CHEERS)

-Come on, old boy! Come on!
-Let's go, let's go. Man, we did it.

That's what we do.

BELL BROTHER : Yeah!

We going to the finals, baby.

BELL BROTHER : We were unstoppable.

Or so we thought.

(CRYSTAL SIGHS)

(INHALES, CLEARS THROAT)

Can I help you?

I'm Violet, Aniq Hale's mother.
I'm here to speak with Principal Bell.

That would be me. Please come in.

-Take a seat.
-I'll stand.

I think you know what this is about.

Well, first, let me offer my apologies.
Now, I think both of the boys

let their emotions
get the best of them that night.

I'm glad your son got to play tonight
because mine didn't.

His doctor says he's dealing
with a fracture,

that could potentially need surgery.

-I'm sorry.
-We had D colleges scouting him

as a sophomore.
Do you understand what that means?

-I do. And Mrs. Hale...
-Your son has no regret

for what happened at The Roll Call.

Too busy putting on a show

for the internet,
bragging about b*ating my son up.

Every penny that I've earned

has gone towards making my son's
basketball career,

and now this injury is threatening
to take it all away.

Violet, I understand
where you're coming from. I do.

But I assure you,
we are taking this very seriously.

(SCOFFS) Are you?

Because from what I heard,
your husband ran to Coach Howard

to do damage control so that your boys
could still get into Beacon next year.

It must be nice for Josh
to be so protected

because his mother is the principal

and not holding him accountable
for his actions.

Not everyone has that privilege.

-(DOOR CLOSING)
-JB has the ball.

Passes it to Phil, Phil takes it.
Oh, crosses.

Ah! A no-look pass.

-Bucket!
-Swish!

Yeah, yeah.

-Yeah!
-Oh! Oh! You all k*lled it on the court.

-Yeah!
-Unstoppable.

Indeed, they are.
Congratulations, way to represent.

-Yeah, we going to the championships!
-JB: Yeah, baby!

(FILTHY LAUGHING)

I don't know how to say this,
so, I just am. Filthy, you're suspended.

-From... from school?
-From the team.

-What?
-What?

Crystal, we said that
we would talk about this.

Chuck, you deliberately went to speak
to Coach Howard behind my back.

We didn't talk about that either.

This is my school where we do not put
basketball over student safety.

Okay, hold on. These are our boys.
You know how high the stakes are?

We clenched a spot
at the city championships.

Filthy will not be playing

-in the city championships.
-Mom, what?

The decision was made
on behalf of the school and district.

-Mom, you can't do this.
-It is not up for discussion.

-Yo, Mom!
-Aye! Don't make me pull you off, too.

BELL BROTHER : "Bane."

-As in ruin.
-(BASKETBALL THUDDING)

BELL BROTHER : As in destruction.

As in the heart can only be broken

so many times, before it shatters
into a million pieces.

(CRICKETS CHIRPING)

Can't imagine
you're not playing in the game.

I waited my entire life for this game.

Coach Howard isn't about to come
just to watch me sit on the bench.

I'm playing in that game.

I know Dad has my back.

Remember that sixth-grade basketball game?

How could I forget? Zuma busted his nose.
There was blood everywhere.

Yeah. I remember begging
my mom to take me

even though I knew,
she wasn't feeling up to it.

I kept telling her
about how good you were

until I dragged her
out of the bed in her pajamas.

Right, but we lost that game.

And you told me it didn't matter
how many games you lost.

It wasn't about winning.
It was about having the courage

to show up.

You remember all that?

How could I forget?
You were rocking the crazy tall box...

-(LAUGHS) I did do that.
-...trying to bring back the 's.

Which was way before we were even born.

(LAUGHS)

Man.

My mom was so mad
I made her come to that game.

Can't imagine how hard

these past couple of months
have been for you.

Yeah, some days are worse than others.

Just been going through so much, I just...

wish I had showed up more for you.

Well, you're showing up now,
and talking about it helps.

One thing about you, Maya,
you always kept it real.

-That's the only way to live, okay?
-Right, right, right.

Aye, now, I need you to use
that same courage.

Go out to that game and show up.
Just like you did in sixth grade.

And no matter what happens,
I believe in you, Filthy.

-Oh, I'm going to show up.
-Oh.

And I'mma...

-Oh.
-(CHEERS)

-And I'mma show out!
-Let's go!

And the crowd goes wild.

-(SCREAMS)
-Oh... oh, my God! Filthy!

Oh, okay!

BELL BROTHER : When the game
is on the line, you got to grab the ball,

survey the court,
and focus on what matters most.

Pretty much everything else
is insignificant.

(MAYA LAUGHS)

So, how's Filthy doing?

He's dealing the way Filthy does.
Hoping my mom will change her mind.

I can't imagine him not playing
in the championship game.

JB, you're forgetting there are four
other players out there on the court

-that will make up a team. You got this.
-I know, but...

it's always been us on the court.
When we play together, we're unflappable.

Now, you sound like Filthy.

You just got to learn to adjust,
and quick. But you'll be okay.

-You think?
-Doesn't your dad say,

"sh**t with your heart
and you'll never miss"?

(CHUCKLES) Something like that.

Right now, though, my heart's telling me
it doesn't want you to move to L.A.

Well, one thing I can promise you
is that I will be the loudest one

in those stands. "Whoo! JB! JB! Whoo!"
(LAUGHS)

(CROWD CHEERING)

You know, babe...

-CRYSTAL: What?
-(SIGHS)

I've looked over these games
a million times for inspiration.

Ain't nobody going to be able to learn
these plays in such short notice.

city champs is going to be damn near
impossible without him.

Why you say it like it's my fault?

Okay, fine. Let's say I lift
the suspension and he plays.

The district will see me
playing favorites.

My job and your coaching status
is now in question.

No, babe, they will not, okay?
Filthy, he made a mistake.

-That boy is sorry.
-Is he?

(SIGHS)

And you're not about to talk trash
about my pops...

Does that look like he's sorry to you?

He was basically putting
a down payment on these hands.

Filthy thinks that consequences
don't apply to him.

Which we both know is not true.

If you think my integrity as a principal
and your job as coach

is worth a championship game,
then I'll lift the suspension.

(SIGHS)

All right.

He got caught up in the hype,
and his ego stepped in.

And look, I get it.

Not being in control
of your son's consequences is scary,

but it's better that he misses
the championship game now

than face far worse
repercussions later in life...

when the game gets real.

(CROWD CHEERING)

(DOOR OPENING, CLOSING)

Dad. Hey, did you talk to Mom yet?

I was thinking about changing the plays,
you know, trying to open up

-JB's defense on the perimeter.
-Klay Thompson.

Lance Stephenson.

Fans there on the bleachers.

Now, they've all trashed-talked LeBron.

And how does he respond?

By putting the points on the board
and winning the championship games.

Which is exactly what I'm gonna do.

Not if you can't get that ego in check.

And I'm not just talking
about basketball, son.

I'm talking about who you are as a person.

That kid that was on that Instagram live?
I don't know who that kid was.

That is not the Filthy McNasty
that I raised.

-Dad, you don't get it.
-Oh, yes, I do. I've been there, son.

And I also know that this game?
That comes with trash talk, okay?

On and off the court.

Now, there's gonna be other chances.

-What do you mean other chances?
-If you don't grow tougher skin,

if you don't keep a cool head,
keep that ego in check,

you gonna lose more than just this game.
You're gonna lose yourself.

Son, this is about the choice
you make at crunch time.

This is about how you carry yourself,
especially when every move that you make

is going to be recorded
and live rent-free on the internet?

(CHUCKLING) Son...

Look, the decision has been made.

(SIGHS)

Your suspension is final.

Dad! Dad! Hey, hey, hey, hey!
I... I wasn't trying to start that fight.

I... I was trying to protect you.

I couldn't let anyone talk trash
about you, especially knowing

-that you're sick.
-Don't worry about me, okay? I'm good.

-I just wanted to make you proud.
-(COUGHS)

(BREATHES SHAKILY) Oh, man.

-Hold on, give me a minute. (COUGHS)
-Dad?

-Dad. What's going on? Hey! Dad! Dad? Hey!
-(GROANS)

Dad. Come on. Dad? Someone help!

Help! Some... someone help me!
Yo, Dad. Help!

Help!

BELL BROTHER : Chuck "The Man" Bell
once made free throws in a row.

It was like the orange orb had wings,
like an angel was taking it to the hoop.

But no matter
how many times you make it...

(PHONE VIBRATES)

...eventually, you're going to miss one.

How you handle what comes after...

Hello?

...that's what life is about.

What do you mean there's been an accident?

-(SIREN WHIRLING)
-(BELL BROTHER BREATHES HEAVILY)

BELL BROTHER : Choices.

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

(UPBEAT MUSIC CONCLUDING)