FEMALE SINGER: ♪ Follow my lead ♪
♪ Move your feet, , ,
, don't skip a b*at ♪
♪ I want to see you live out loud ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa... ♪
[CLEARS THROAT] What're you doing?
Taking care of Jaymee's first love.
Jaymee's first love is an orchid?
Look at you. A man
that knows his flowers.
And yes, this orchid and
the rest of her plants
are the bonus kids I
gained when Jaymee moved in.
Did you just call those
plants your kids, man?
- I did.
- Mm-hmm.
- Too much?
- [CHUCKLES] No.
It's actually pretty damn impressive.
Knowing your role is key.
- Happy boo, happy you.
- ASHER: Hey, facts.
Speaking of which, is
single you a happy you?
Alicia and I only broke
up a couple weeks back.
- That's not an answer.
- OK.
Then I'm happy I'm not hurting
somebody I care about no more.
There was a lot in that
relationship I coulda handled better.
Yeah, well, I'd say take this time
to really focus on yourself, but
knowing you, you'll have your eye
on someone new in all of, like,
- two seconds.
- Ah, ha ha! Good point.
Good point. Where's Jaymee at?
- OK, too soon.
- Ha ha ha!
Hey, man, have you heard from JJ?
I've been trying to give him
the space that he asked for,
but mandatory practices start next week.
Well, I know he's still
at his parents' house.
- Keith's O.D. shook him up, man.
- ASHER: Yeah.
That night, he kept saying
he didn't recognise himself
in the mirror anymore.
Well, maybe this time at his parents' is
the peace he needs to get
his head right, you know?
It's been a month, Spence.
What if it's not?
[OLIVIA AND GRANDMA WENDY LAUGH]
WENDY: Hmm, well, Spencer's attractive
and handsome, but, oh, my God,
- you're a total smoke show, Olivia.
- [OLIVIA LAUGHS]
Ooh, wait. Grandma
Wendy, did you just say...
Smoke show? Absolutely.
I mean, I'm really current
with the times, you two.
I even have an OnlyFans account.
OLIVIA: OK. Didn't need to know that.
Heh! It's just for legal consultation.
- JORDAN: Ah, makes sense.
- OLIVIA: Ah, that's a smart move.
- Yeah.
- WENDY: OK.
[OLIVIA AND JORDAN CHUCKLE]
It's good to see the
two of you laughing.
I know the last few months have
been a challenge for all of you,
and that's why I wanted to come
back and spend some time with you.
WENDY: How are you both doing?
Uh, we're taking it a day at a time.
Jordan's really stepped into
his own as man of the house.
And Liv is winning awards,
she's really embracing
her freshman year,
and also, uh, applied for
a cultural exchange program.
- WENDY: I'm so proud of both of you.
- [CELLPHONE VIBRATES]
Oh, I have to take this. Sorry.
- WENDY: So how is football going?
- OLIVIA: Hello.
It's good. Brick by brick.
- And the ladies in your life?
- Aha. Lady, actually.
Layla and I are officially together.
Layla, who used to wear the headset?
I forgot about the headset.
- Thank you so much for the a*mo.
- WENDY: Heh! OK.
Hey. You good?
That was a rep from the
cultural exchange program.
And?
- I've been accepted.
- JORDAN: Yes!
WENDY: Wow. Congratulations, sweetheart.
- That's wonderful.
- JORDAN: That's amazing.
Now, where are they
sending you, huh? New York?
- [SOUTHERN ACCENT] Texas?
- WENDY: Ha ha!
OLIVIA: London.
- JORDAN: London? Wow, for...
- OLIVIA: Yeah.
for how long?
The whole summer.
I have a ton of friends there.
- I'll get you their info.
- OLIVIA: OK.
So... [SIGHS] How do I look?
Like a boss. Mm. Happy
first day back at work, Mum.
Now, come here 'cause
Liv and I have made you
fresh berries and yogurt for breakfast.
Just like Dad used to make for you.
Thank you, my loves.
Do these pants go with these shoes?
- WENDY: Everything looks good with Prada.
- [JORDAN CHUCKLES]
Are you OK, Mum?
I mean, I'm not used to you
asking for wardrobe approval.
Um, I guess I'm a little bit
nervous about going back to work.
Anyway, once I get there, I'll be fine.
- And besides, I'm only doing a half day, so...
- JORDAN: Mm.
Ooh, uh, Mum,
before you leave, Liv has something
that she would actually love to share.
Have a great first day, Mum.
We love you.
- LAURA: I love you, too. Ah.
- JORDAN: Here you are.
LAURA: Thank you.
OK. Bye, Mum!
Bye. Have a good day.
Uh, what the heck was that about, dude?
Why didn't you tell Mum about your news?
I, you know, just wanted
her to have her moment.
You know, her first day back
at work is a really big deal.
And so's going to London.
Yeah, but did you guys
not see what I just saw?
She's not ready for all
of these big changes.
- I can't bail on her.
- JORDAN: Hello!
Mum has another kid, who is
slightly better-looking, by the way,
and totally capable. I got this.
WENDY: I agree. You need to
concentrate on being a student,
and to do that in London
would be an absolute dream.
JORDAN: Yeah, and you can't
do that until you talk to Mum,
so woman up.
[TV PROGRAM RUNNING, FRONT DOOR OPENS]
- SPENCER: Hey, what up, y'all?
- CARTER: Hey.
- GRACE: Hey, baby.
- DILLON: Hey, dude.
- You want something to eat?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah. That'd be great.
- Ah!
- OK, am I in the James house?
Because since when can we eat
breakfast in front of the TV?
Oh, it's me and
d'Angelo's new tradition.
GRACE: They know the rules.
Coasters, napkins,
- and not a single crumb.
- CARTER: No crumbs.
SPENCER: Oh. So you
signed off on all this?
'Cause when I tried to
do it when I was a kid,
- I got a whooping... and I was .
- CARTER: Damn.
- Was whoopings even legal at that age?
- Ah, ha ha.
- Everybody got jokes.
- Know you would get a whooping.
Man, I was chilling.
You can't take these two nowhere.
I can see that.
You still need me to take
you to get a haircut later?
Uh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Got to look fresh.
Supposed to link up with
my girl Nikki tonight.
Girl as in girlfriend?
Did you know about this?
- GRACE: I did not.
- DILLON: I thought you told her.
That's your mum.
Besides, I didn't know if
I'd be violating bro code.
DILLON: Um, I'm sorry, Mum.
It's all good.
Look, you don't have to tell me
everything that you're doing, Dillon.
As long as you and your little
friend are happy, I am, too.
[FRONT DOOR OPENS, COOP SIGHS]
PATIENCE: Coop?
Not now, Patience. I got
to grab some stuff for work.
I've been calling and texting
you for almost two weeks now.
- I've been staying with my parents.
- Look, I just...
I want you to know I had nothing to do
with that video of me and Skye kissing.
It don't change what happened.
Come on. That video was doctored.
I swear, I... I pulled away
the moment it went down.
So if... if you pulled away, that means
Skye's the one who kissed you.
[SIGHS]
I'm sorry, Coop.
If it's any consolation, she felt
terrible right after it happened.
I don't care how she felt.
Does Layla know that there's some weirdo
spying on folks at her studio?
Nope, not yet.
My only concern has been you.
If you were so concerned about me,
you would have told me that
my girlfriend betrayed me
instead of letting me get
blindsided by that video.
I'm sorry. It...
[FOOTSTEPS ASCEND STAIRS]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hey, Coach, I was thinking...
Oh, my bad, Shane. I was
looking for Coach Montes.
Oh, he's talking to our grounds crew
about tomorrow's first
day of mandatory practice.
Wait, tomorrow?
What happened to starting
practice next week?
Nah, Coach couldn't wait another
week, so we moved things up.
Know who we can thank for this, right?
- ASHER: Me?
- SHANE: Boom!
The way you've been pushing
the boys this off season,
I mean, you even got JJ's
head back in the game.
- Bet he's chomping at the bit, too.
- Yeah.
Yeah, he is, percent.
Well, can't wait to see him on the
field tomorrow, bright and early.
Let's get to work.
Yes, sir.
_
Hey, uh, uh, uh, listen, I don't...
- I don't mean to be that guy, but...
- GRACE: What?
I found crumbs on the couch.
- GRACE: Oh, lord. Ha ha!
- SPENCER: I'm just sayin'.
You have very specific rules
when it comes to that couch.
There's only one punishment
that fits the crime,
- and Dillon is , so...
- GRACE: What?
I'mma go ahead and hold him
down, and you can come in
- and do what you do best, OK?
- GRACE: What? Ha ha!
Would you stop?
Ha ha ha! Oh.
It's good to see you on the
other side of your mountain, son.
I don't know if I'm on the
other side of it yet, but
I'm making progress,
- embracing change, you know?
- GRACE: Mm-hmm.
Is that what you
doing? Embracing change?
You talking 'bout that damn couch again?
- No. No...
- Ha ha ha!
I'm talkin' bout Dillon telling Carter
about his new girlfriend first.
You sure you're cool with that?
It would've been nice to know,
- but I'm fine.
- Right.
That's why you had that look
on your face when you found out,
and you even hit Dillon with
the "little friend" comment.
We all know that's black mama shade .
OK, fine.
Maybe it did sting a little.
But d'Angelo and Dillon,
they've gotten a chance to
create a bond, and that's important
and I don't want to step on that.
[CELLPHONE VIBRATES]
_
I'm sorry. You mind if we
table this for another time?
There is nothing to table, son.
I am perfectly fine
with your brother forming
a relationship with his stepfather.
Wait. You and Skye?
It's not what it looks like, OK?
You had just signed
off on my acoustic tour
and emotions were running high,
and then Skye, she just kissed me.
- OK, why would you record it?
- I didn't.
Wait, you think somebody
hacked your phone?
[SIGHS] I don't know. Maybe they put,
like, spyware on it or something.
Right, but in order to use spyware,
wouldn't he or she need
access to your phone?
She.
Oh, my God. Miko?
Damn it. Patience, you went back to Miko
after I repeatedly
told you to cut her off!
I went to go have a boundaries
conversation with her.
- Oh, OK.
- I owed her at least that
after she helped make the
"Fire and Ice" video viral.
Well, now you have a
blackmail video, so congrats.
I'm sure the conversation
must have gone great.
- I can talk to her again, OK?
- No, you've done enough,
OK, and clearly I can't trust
you, so as your producer,
I will deal with all
things Miko from now on.
Uh, here are the
depositions you asked for.
Oh, thank you.
[SIGHS] You good, Ms. Baker?
'Cause you haven't moved all morning.
That's not true. I ate my breakfast
and read some emails
and answered my phone,
- all from this ridiculously comfy chair.
- Mm-hmm.
- Whatever, Coop.
- [CHUCKLING]
- What about you?
- What about me?
Well, you haven't been home in a
few weeks. You want to fill me in?
[SIGHS]
School has been... a challenge.
My professor keeps coming for me.
First he tried to check me
for using too much slang,
which I wasn't, and then he
claimed I slouch too much.
LAURA: Excuse me?
COOP: Yeah, and when I
confronted him about it,
he took me off as lead
speaker of my group
and has been ignoring me ever since.
That's retaliation.
He can't do that.
Skye said the same thing.
I mean, I don't know,
maybe I'm not cut out
for this law stuff after all.
SPENCER: You reach out to JJ?
Yeah, I've been texting
him the past hour. Nothing.
Well, I finally heard back from his dad.
They are in Lake Arrowhead,
but JJ stayed behind,
insisted he needed some time alone.
SPENCER: And his socials are no
help; They've all been scrubbed clean.
Well, I mean, uh, him getting
some alone time isn't crazy,
considering everything
he's been dealing with.
Well, time's up.
Look, if JJ doesn't show
up for practice tomorrow,
he's off the team for good.
Montes made that clear a few weeks ago.
OK, I think it's time we pull
up and do a mental health check.
What if he's fine and
it's just his choice?
Only one way to find out.
JJ: Mi compadres.
- JORDAN: Mi compadre. Mmm. Ah!
- JJ: Ha ha ha!
JORDAN: You are looking
better than ever, JJ.
You look happy and bronzed
and are completely rocking the hell out
- of that smedium-sized shirt.
- JJ: Well, thank you, bro.
You know, time away has
done wonders for my temple.
Dude, I've been texting you for weeks.
My bad, bro. You know,
reception out here
in the Hills is a little sus.
- ASHER: You left me on "read."
- JJ: Uh,
uh, reception for me,
I mean, you know? Heh!
Uh, come in, huh? Heh!
You good?
JJ: Everything is aces, bro.
SPENCER: Yeah? So did you get some help?
Uh, you... you mean, like therapy?
- SPENCER: Yeah.
- JJ: [CHUCKLES]
No, I didn't need to. I'm fine.
You know, I just needed a minute.
Glad to hear you sound
like your old self, JJ.
JJ: Feels good. Fun JJ is back.
Uh, not sure if you heard,
but mandatory practices have
been moved up to tomorrow.
Yeah, yeah, about that.
Uh, turns out football
isn't the only thing
I got behind on this off season.
I have some make-up work
for my psychology class.
If I don't do it, it's, uh,
academic probation for me.
- Ouch. What's the project about?
- JJ: Get this.
They want me to do a video
that speaks to who I am,
like I don't know that already. Heh!
What you planning on doing about it?
I... I'm circling a few things,
just nothing has spoken to me.
Maybe you should do
something that recaps
your freshman year at Coastal.
The highs, the lows.
SPENCER: We could record you talking
about your experiences on camera.
Give you a chance to speak
your truth, no cap. Like, uh,
"I am athlete."
- JJ: Yeah, that's dope. Heh!
- ASHER: Yeah.
But how about we make
it all of us, you know?
ASHER: I mean, we're down.
- JORDAN: Hmm.
- ASHER: Right?
OK, well, I need to find a room
that is aesthetically epic.
[CHUCKLES] Let's go, baby!
- Hee hee!
- JORDAN: There he is.
- JJ: Whoo!
- JORDAN: Now, that,
that is the happiest I've
seen JJ in a long time.
Yeah, maybe a little too happy.
That dude couldn't even look us
in the eye, J. He is pretending.
Trust me, as somebody who
spent a long, long time
faking it like everything was OK,
that dude is in a freefall.
We just gotta figure out
a way to make him see it.
[SIGHS]
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
LAURA: Livvy, what're you doing here?
- OLIVIA: I brought you lunch.
- LAURA: Except that you knew
I was only doing a
half day, so try again.
Jordan ran his mouth already, didn't he?
He might have mentioned that
you had something to tell me
before you rushed me out
the door this morning.
So sit.
I want all the tea.
Well, it's... heh! Funny
that you mention tea because
the place that I want to talk to you
about is kind of obsessed with it.
[GASPS] Are you going to London?
Is that where the cultural
exchange program placed you?
- OLIVIA: It is.
- LAURA: Oh, my God!
That's so amazing!
So proud of you.
When do you leave?
Well, that's the thing.
Uh, no. Mm-mm. Don't even
try it. You're going, kiddo.
Mum, you want me to leave
and be OK, but how...
how can I do that
when I know you're not?
- LAURA: Liv, I'm fine.
- OLIVIA: Really?
So you didn't spend
all day today thinking
that you came back to work too soon?
OK,
you might be right about that,
but I need the time out of the house.
It's the only way I'm
going to find my life again.
Finding your life again I get,
but I don't think that
coming back to work
is the best way for you to do that.
And you think you being
here instead of London
is the best way for you to find you?
Maybe it's time we
both take an honest look
at what's best for both of us.
OK, so how are we gonna
convince JJ to open up?
We lead by example.
We all speak the truth
about our freshman year,
we hold nothing back,
and then, fingers crossed, by
his turn, he'll do the same.
Hmm.
All right, huh?
- Who's up first?
- I'll take one for the team.
PROFESSOR HILL: So, today, we'll discuss
the "Kern vs. Tarzana" school case.
An -year-old by the name
of Teri Kern was arrested
for possession of marijuana
with intent to distribute.
She claimed that the
illegal search of her purse
was a direct violation
of which amendment...
Kurt?
[QUIETLY] The Fourth Amendment.
What's that, Kurt?
LAURA: Uh, the Fourth Amendment.
Sorry. I was supposed
to be observing quietly,
but being in this setting, I was
getting flashbacks of
being a law student.
Former, uh, D.A. Baker, to
what do we owe the pleasure?
LAURA: Professor Jacobs was
kind enough to give me a tour
of the building, and I
heard you from the hallway.
Do you mind if I sit in?
[CHUCKLING] Oh, not at all.
Please, uh, be my guest.
LAURA: Thank you.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
- Do you mind if I take your seat?
- STUDENT: Sure.
LAURA: Thank you.
Give me one word to sum
up your freshman year.
Growth.
I started this season on the bench,
and then I made a game-saving
play on special teams,
and then I went first-team all-freshman.
Wow. Whole season was a movie.
If that was a movie, then the
off season was a bad sequel.
I broke up with two girlfriends.
JORDAN: Eh, technically one,
OK? The other one b*at you to it.
Thanks for keeping
me humble, J. Uh, heh!
Making decisions for other people
instead of letting
them make it themselves
is something that always haunted me.
And then I lost the
greatest man I ever knew...
But, in spite of all
that pain and regret,
I learned how to ask for help,
how to lean on my village.
I learned that it's OK
for the strong friend to be vulnerable.
Or in your case, the fun friend.
Those walls ain't
always got to be up, JJ.
Uh, uh, appreciate that, but
we're focused on you, Spence.
And plus, that doesn't
really apply to me.
Now, c'mon, bruh,
all the big energy, all the jokes,
it's become a crutch for you, man,
a mask for you to hide behind.
Look, real talk, this year's
been tough for you, too.
Now, I found safety in my village.
You can find safety in us, too,
but you got to talk to us.
Look, I know it sounds corny,
but Dr. Spears always
says, man, you cannot heal
- until you feel.
- JJ: Yeah, well,
Doc McStuffins would
diagnose what you just said
as over-react-itis. [CHUCKLES]
Yo, really, JJ? After
everything Spence just said,
- that's all you got?
- JJ: Chill. It was a joke.
Yeah, but this ain't, OK?
[SIGHS]
- We trying to be here for you.
- [CELLPHONE VIBRATES]
Yeah, go ahead and take that.
SPENCER: It's all
good. It's just Dillon.
I was supposed to take him to get
a haircut, but I can push that back.
No, you should go now.
Yeah, I mean... heh!
Done with your part anyway.
[QUIETLY] What're you doing here?
[QUIETLY] I felt the
need to be nostalgic.
How's it going with your professor?
I'm good, all right? I don't
need your help fighting this.
OK, but how do I fight this?
I think you know what to do, Coop.
If I air him out for ignoring me,
he's gonna kick me
out of class for good.
So maybe it's time you explain to him
why retaliation is just
another form of bullying.
Oh, we got it.
OK, anybody care to weigh in on
the merit of Teri Kern's defence?
[SIGHS]
[SIGHS] You've shared plenty
in the past, Ms. Cooper.
Just trying to give
somebody else a chance.
COOP: Of course.
Because any other reason could
be considered retaliation,
which, under Title , goes
against the school policy.
A professor cannot prevent
a student from participating
in an activity or exercising
their rights in class.
[CHUCKLING] Well, since, uh,
no one else is inclined to
weigh in on the Kern defence,
you may answer, Ms. Cooper.
FEMALE SINGER:
♪ Be quiet, got it capping ♪
♪ Out the mouth, stay lying,
try and watch how I... ♪
[SINGING CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
Um... where's Patience?
Heh! I was supposed to
meet with both of you.
And discuss what?
How you're a total creep who put spyware
on her phone to track her every move?
Oh, so I'm the reason
she got sloppy with Skye?
The girl you hired,
who was clearly crushing on Patience,
but you were too preoccupied to notice?
And you know that how? Oh, right,
because you've been stalking her.
- [MIKO SIGHS]
- WOMAN: KaMiko Scott?
- Yeah?
- You've been served.
MIKO: A restraining order?
LAYLA: You are no longer to
come within feet of Patience.
Doesn't matter if that's
here, her concert, my home.
Everything is off limits, and I
strongly advise you not to try me.
So, wait, you're punishing me
for looking out for my girl?
- She's not your girl, Miko.
- 'Course she is!
I'm the one leading her
most popular fan page,
the reason her "Fire and Ice"
video just hit million views,
the reason her fans love Patience
no matter what she does. Me, Layla.
Not Skye.
Not Gia,
me.
And the best part is I do it for free.
Because I love her.
For the last time,
if you come near Patience
again, you will be arrested.
I was years old when I knew I
was destined to be a quarterback.
JJ: Yeah? How?
I threw a pass that broke
the front window of our house, so...
Wait. I remember that.
- You blamed Liv.
- JORDAN: I did. Oh, and it wasn't
until my dad praised Liv
for having such a great arm
that I admitted it was me.
My dad's reaction to
that was everything.
You know, for the next hour, he
would just scratch his neck and say,
"OK, OK, OK."
I spent the next years
chasing that reaction.
And it wasn't until I... I landed at GAU
as a preferred walk-on that
I... I realized I could thrive
without him as my coach,
which was... bittersweet.
And then you became QB .
I did, which was awesome.
And then my world came crashing down.
And it sucks that...
that it took losing my dad
to find my own identity,
my own version of a Baker man.
But it's the blessing that came
out of the worst time of my life.
And I got there
with the help of my family,
our Vortex,
and the best girlfriend
a guy could ask for.
One word to describe your freshman year.
Maturity.
Yeah, I am proof that
growth is possible,
no matter how messy your life can get.
What about you, JJ? What is your word?
C'mon, man. First Spence, now you?
Look, I'm just sayin', things
got really real for you this year.
I mean, that had to mess with
your head a little bit, no?
- JORDAN: J...
- ASHER: Dude.
Yo, I appreciate you for
taking me to the barber shop.
Oh, man, you know I got you,
just like I would have had you
if you came to me for advice
- about your new girl.
- You know I love you, right?
- I do.
- But there's no way I'm asking you for girl advice.
That Vortex you got
going on is messy, bruh.
What? M...
- Exactly. Super messy. [SCOFFS]
- It is kind of messy.
But I got to get ready, though.
D'Angelo is taking us
to the arcade tonight.
- You know I love you, right?
- I do.
And I'm really digging what
you and Carter are building.
I ain't have nothing like
that when I was your age,
but between you and me, Mums
is feeling kinda left out.
- For real?
- She'll never say anything, but...
yeah.
Look, I know it's not intentional,
but you got to try to keep in mind, man,
you and me, for the longest time,
we were the centre
of everything for her.
So when it comes to being a
part of all the important stuff,
like a first girlfriend...
That means something to her,
and it means something to me, too.
Nah, you right. I feel you.
[CELLPHONE VIBRATES]
You good?
Yeah. Looks like the guys
weren't able to get through to JJ.
He still ain't talking to them.
Then maybe find someone he will talk to,
like someone he owes explanation to
or someone that it'll mean
something to in a bigger way.
Hmm.
PROFESSOR HILL: So you're saying
Teri Kern was within her rights
to sue her high school, even though
she was the one arrested for narcotics.
COOP: Yes. Just because
she had it in her purse
doesn't mean she was gonna sell it.
- Why even have it, then?
- Because she was holding it
for her grandfather,
who smoked marijuana
to help with his glaucoma.
But at the time, weed was
illegal in California, so
she had to take the fall.
Nobody ever took the time
to ask her why she had it.
They just threw her in the county
jail, where she stayed for two years.
- [STUDENTS GROAN]
- PROFESSOR HILL: Mrs. Baker,
you were a D.A. tough
on dr*gs. Thoughts?
I actually worked on this
case as a young attorney,
and we pushed for an appeal
and got Teri released.
Had her previous attorneys done
what Tamia just recommended,
she never would have been jailed.
- So who's to blame for this?
- COOP: A system that thrives
on unconscious bias.
PROFESSOR HILL: Yeah, but that argument
will never hold up in a court of law.
Yes, it will, the more we normalise it
and make it a part of
the bigger conversation.
LAURA: Tamia's right. Times
are changing, Professor Hill.
Attorneys who look and
sound like Tamia got next.
She's the disruptor
that this system needs,
so you either get on
board or get run over.
WENDY: Here you go, sweetie.
Oh. What's this?
Contact info for my friends in London.
And before you say anything,
they know kids your age.
That is very sweet, Grandma. Thank you.
Of course. So when're you leaving?
I'm still sorting that out.
What else is there to sort out?
Uh, y'know, just making sure
their social justice program
is the right fit for me.
If it wasn't the right fit,
you wouldn't have applied.
So what's the real hold up?
Is it Spencer?
I saw the way the two of
you looked at each other
in that photograph
from the fashion show.
Yeah, our thing is, um...
Complicated.
Are you waiting for
him to come back to you?
Not waiting, just...
- Wondering.
- That's kind of the same thing.
And the last time I
checked, us fine women
don't wait or wonder.
Listen, it's OK to be a little
selfish and focus on yourself,
which is what fate is
telling you to do, Liv.
- OLIVIA: Hmm.
- WENDY: And if I were you,
I would listen to fate.
She can be a pushy bitch.
- OLIVIA: Heh!
- [CELLPHONE VIBRATES]
_
WENDY: In all seriousness,
you need to be whole before you
can give all of yourself to Spencer,
and I'm not sure you're
there yet, sweetie.
- [ASHER SIGHS]
- [SCOFFS]
- You guys are still here?
- Look, it's clear that you don't want
to open up to us, and that's cool.
We promised to help you
with your psych project, so
I stayed to do just that.
- I'm up, right?
- JJ: Yeah, but...
I don't need you ambushing
me with fake therapy whatever.
No ambush. Gonna sh**t straight.
Ahem.
You're up, Ash.
OK.
My freshman year was...
Different.
It's been exciting and unpredictable,
but I'm not here to talk
about my freshman year.
I'm here to talk about
yours, since you won't.
- What the hell are you doing, man?
- Being straight up like I said I would.
Freshman year for JJ Parker. Let's see.
You were arrested for
scootering while drunk,
but that's light in
comparison to the blackouts
and the day parties and, oh,
the whiskey rager, where I'm not sure
you ever apologized to Jordan
for all the disrespectful
crap you said about Layla.
But the pièce de résistance
is when you showed up to
Coach Baker's repast hammered.
Hammered, JJ!
For a man who went
above and beyond for you,
spitting in the face of
Liv's pain and sobriety!
Ash.
Chill.
But when we needed help to raise
money for Jaymee's medical bills,
you... you showed up in the clutch,
plus the many other times
you've had our backs.
We just wanna help you, dude, that's it.
- I don't need your help!
- There it is!
That is the first honest
emotion that we've seen, JJ!
You know what, screw you, Ash.
And screw this project. I'm done.
I'm also done with you guys trying
to play shrink like I owe you that.
I don't owe you anything!
But you owe me, don't you?
You owe me an apology,
at the very least.
But, as your friend,
I'm standing here offering
you a chance to do more.
A chance to make things right.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Got you a new phone.
Oh, thank you. [CHUCKLES]
- Oh.
- Uh, how was Miko?
I, uh, filed a restraining
order against her;
She can't come within feet of you,
- no matter where you are.
- PATIENCE: Oh, OK.
- Thank you for that, too.
- LAYLA: Yeah.
- Look, I know I messed up.
- Yes, you did.
But I shouldn't have
come down on you so hard.
I just want you to be safe.
And I will. I... I get it now.
She totally reminds you of Carrie, so...
No.
With Carrie,
even in the middle of her breakdown,
there was still humanity in her eyes.
That's why I knew I
could get through to her.
I did not see that today with Miko.
Patience, she's seriously unwell.
Hmm.
Look, we're still, uh,
we'll still do your live in a
few to promote the acoustic tour.
I think it'll be good to
get your mind off things.
Um... tsk. Yeah, I'm gonna get ready.
OK.
OK.
[FOOTSTEPS RETREATING]
Thank you for today, OK?
You didn't have to show up.
I am a q*eer black woman,
and I deal with this
kinda nonsense every day.
Doesn't make it right.
Besides, I should be thanking you.
Being in that classroom
fed my soul in a way I did not expect.
I could tell. I mean, it
felt like you were at home.
Yeah, I was.
I'm not talking about as a student.
Oh, come on, Coop.
There's no room for
me to be a professor.
I have a day job. We have a day job.
Hey, I'm just saying, it's
just... it's been a while
since I've seen you that happy,
and if I'm being completely honest,
it's the professors who look, listen,
and sound like you who should have next.
[CELLPHONE VIBRATES]
But just think about it.
OK, excuse me.
I'm sorry, Liv.
I wish I could make up for what
happened at Coach Baker's repast,
and all the other times
I fumbled my choices.
You can. You start by being honest.
I just want to have a
conversation with the real you.
You want honest?
I don't even know who the real me is.
[BREATH TREMBLING]
You can turn on the camera.
I want to record it.
Who knows if I'll ever be
able to say it all again.
Yes, Paybae , um,
the acoustic tour is still happening.
But before I get into all
the details about that, uh,
I wanted to talk about something that's
been really heavy on my heart.
First of all, I love you guys. I mean,
there's no me without
my Patience-zeroes.
But... if I take a selfie with you,
or I sign an autograph,
that doesn't make me
your personal property.
Tsk.
Um...
So somebody that I love,
that, like, means the world to me,
was really hurt by something
that one of my fans did.
And I... I won't let that happen again.
_
Tsk.
This bitch.
_
- _
- Oh, my God! Can you stop already?
OK, you know what?
Y'all want to look
for somebody to troll,
why don't y'all look up
Mikoó_azero eva.
She's the fan who violated
my privacy in a way that...
That I will never forget. Or forgive.
So, yeah, drag her with as many
negative comments as possible,
and then unfollow her, and
then block her ass immediately.
How's that for boundaries, Miko?
It's like my life is like a coin.
Fun JJ on one side and...
I have no idea what's on the other.
Guess I was too afraid to really look.
When did you start being fun?
You know how my parents are realtors
for some of the most
baller clients? [SCOFFS]
They used to throw these epic parties
at our house for their clients, and
I'd be the only kid there. Heh!
And I... I was a chubby
kid who looked like Chunk.
Wait, like Chunk from "The Goonies"?
Heh! And in case you're
wondering, my version of Chunk's
"Truffle Shuffle" dance was k*ller. Heh!
I did it for one of my parents' clients.
He laughed for an hour straight. Heh!
That was the first time I ever
realised my funny had value.
My parents loved it, so
it became a thing I did...
[SNIFFLES] ... To get laughs from
the rents, the clients, everyone.
Being fun JJ got you their attention.
And then attention in middle school
and high school.
It became the thing that defined me.
It was all I knew.
But somewhere, during my
freshman year, it got out of hand.
You know, especially trying
to be that every day...
And then Coach Baker passed,
and then Keith almost OD'd.
The fun was no longer
fun. [BREATH CATCHES]
And once I lost that...
You thought you lost you.
- JJ: Yeah.
- OLIVIA: But the truth is,
is you had just finally got a
glimpse at the other side of the coin,
the real you.
The one that we've known all along.
How, if I didn't even know him?
'Cause he was there the whole time.
Fun JJ was just a part.
Like, it wasn't fun JJ that convinced
his best friends to rent a beach house
just so he could keep this
Vortex family together.
Mm-mm. That was the real one.
JORDAN: The way that you showed
up for me after my concussion...
real JJ.
ASHER, CHUCKLING: The guy
that threw the Halloween
- m*rder Mystery Party...
- SPENCER: Mm.
ASHER: To remind us the importance
of what we built as friends...
real JJ.
OLIVIA: And yes, they were fun
- and sometimes messy, but...
- [JJ CHUCKLES]
These epic moments of
the Vortex's history,
they were inspired by a guy who does
what he does as an expression of love.
I mean, the Vortex
wouldn't be what it is
without the love that
you poured into it, JJ.
Into each one of us.
ASHER: That's who the real JJ is.
He's love,
and I think it's pretty great
you're finally getting a chance
- to meet him.
- OLIVIA: Accepting him
and unpacking all the sides of JJ,
it's not gonna always
be easy and comfortable.
That's why you have us.
MALE SINGER:
♪ Keep holding on, holding on ♪
JJ, SOBBING: Wow. Thank you, guys.
SPENCER: And whenever you're ready,
there's always gonna
be a safe space for you
back at the beach house, bro.
Your room is waiting, a'ight?
- SPENCER: Hey, get yourself together.
- [JJ LAUGHING]
- [ALL LAUGHING]
- SINGER: ♪ Keep holding on ♪
♪ Holding on for brighter days ♪
- JORDAN: Oh!
- JJ: Ha ha!
- CARTER: Got you pieces?
- DILLON: Yes, sir.
- Man, you got all the big ones.
- GRACE: Hey, is this from Hal's?
DILLON: Yes, ma'am, your
favourite breakfast spot.
- SPENCER: Oh, you just...
- GRACE: Wait! Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa!
- We can sit on the couch.
- SPENCER: Even me?
- Ha ha ha!
- GRACE: Boy, if you don't get your butt over there.
[GRACE AND SPENCER LAUGH]
So, how did your date go with
your little friend... I mean...
- Nikki?
- DILLON: Yeah, uh, she stood me up last night.
- She what?
- I wanted to go to the arcade,
she didn't want to do that again, so...
SPENCER: You know there's
other things to do there, right?
- CARTER: Miniature golf.
- SPENCER: Batting cages.
CARTER: Or you could win her
one of those stuffed animals.
GRACE: Or, or you could've just asked
Nikki what does she want to do.
DILLON: OK, uh, I
mean, she likes movies.
Well, then take her to see one then.
But the movies ain't really it, like,
we can't even talk in there.
Sometimes it's not about talking.
It's about the experience together,
time together,
and growth together.
It takes two to make a
relationship work, baby.
Don't forget that.
DILLON: Would you mind
chaperoning on our movie date?
- [CARTER AND SPENCER CHUCKLE]
- GRACE: Ha ha ha!
- I would love to.
- DILLON: Thanks,
'cause it seems like
I can't learn anything
- about the ladies from these two.
- [GRACE LAUGHS]
SPENCER: Man, if I wasn't so
scared of spilling anything,
- I'd whup you.
- [CARTER AND GRACE LAUGH]
- JJ: Hey.
- Yo, welcome back, man.
- You good?
- I was actually looking for Coach Montes,
uh, but you should probably hear first.
Um, after talking to you
guys last night, I realised
I need to step away from the team.
Now, if you do this, JJ...
You know that means you're
off the roster, right?
I do. But I need time to
get things right with me
and my mental health, you know,
do more work on the real JJ.
Once I'm in a better place, I'd
love a chance to earn my spot back,
but, uh, until then... sorry, Ash.
No, no. Don't be, dude.
I'm just proud that
you're doing the work.
And listen, I can't promise
anything about your spot on the team
in the future, but I can promise you
that we got your back
every step of the way,
all right?
ASHER: I'm proud of you, bro.
_
You did the right thing last night.
I dunno.
Like, I really went in on Miko.
[SIGHS] Well,
I appreciate that you did it for me.
Tsk. Whatever. I didn't do it for you.
- Ha ha! Yes, you did.
- No, I didn't.
I got the receipts if you wanna see it.
- Shut up.
- sh**t.
I really am sorry
that Miko messed with your life.
- [SIGHS]
- How're you and Skye?
[SIGHS] Who knows?
But thank you for having my back,
my side, my everything.
C'mon, girl. You know I got you.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
- JORDAN: There he is.
- JJ: [CHUCKLES]
JORDAN: What took you so long?
I, uh, I had to make a stop at Coastal.
Liv offered to come along
for emotional support.
- SPENCER: You turn in your video?
- JJ: Yup.
And if it's cool with y'all, uh, I
want to post it to my socials, too.
Oh, introducing the world
to the real you, huh?
I just figured it'd be good for
the fun friend or strong friend
or any other friend who's afraid to
flip that coin to hear our stories.
That is awesome. You know what,
let me help you out with your
bags up to your room. Come on.
- Take them upstairs.
- JJ: [CHUCKLES]
Oh, ignore the giraffes
on the wall. Just...
Wait, you guys turned
my room into a nursery?
Uh, technically, Asher and Jaymee did,
but don't you worry, all right?
There is nothing coats
of paint can't fix, right?
- JJ: [CHUCKLES]
- [JORDAN MAKES BRUSHING SOUNDS]
[CHUCKLES]
Thank you for showing up yesterday.
JJ wouldn't be here without you.
And I wouldn't be here without him.
Hearing him speak his
truth to Asher, it...
it really hit home for me.
Good.
OK.
So...
I, uh,
got into this cultural exchange program.
- For real?
- Yeah.
It's, uh... it's a
three-month internship...
And it's in London.
And I'm going.
That is dope. [CHUCKLES]
- That's so dope.
- [OLIVIA CHUCKLES]
And well-deserved. Hey,
I'm proud of you, girl.
- Thank you.
- Ha ha!
- I'm so proud of you.
- OLIVIA: Thank you.
05x19 - Sabotage
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Inspired by the life of professional American football player Spencer Paysinger. High School football player is recruited from South LA to play for Beverly Hills and the two worlds collide.
Inspired by the life of professional American football player Spencer Paysinger. High School football player is recruited from South LA to play for Beverly Hills and the two worlds collide.