06x06 - Boyz II Men

[bunniefuu]

[JEMMA] Previously on The Chi

[HIP-HOP MUSIC]

[LYNAE] Where you get this car?

[BAKARI] Friend loaned it to me.

[LYNAE] What kind of friend?

[OFFICER] License and registration.

- [JAMAL] Keep my sister safe, you hear me?

- [BAKARI] I hear you.

You want to grab some

coffee and catch up?

I don't think that's a good idea.

Keep your eye on the ball.

- [PINS CLATTER]

- Yes!

[JACKSON] There's a

lot of sin out there.

I need space to be myself.

Who this, your little brother?

He's my son.

You didn't like my Uncle Q, did you?

Your uncle had a lot of enemies.

- [THUMPING]

- f*ck was that?

- [g*nshots]

- I ain't got sh*t to say.

When the feds come

knocking, it won't be long.

[DARNELL] Why you hiding

g*ns in your nightstand?

If you ever really need

it, you come find me.

What do you do when a

lion prowls your village,

looking to eat your young?

If we don't cast that

devil out of our city,

he will devour us all.

- [ALL] Amen.

- [APPLAUSE]

Take care of him.

This team in LA is getting me

a car, sponsor all my events.

- It's just

- That's fire.

Oh, hell no.

You won't have to hold it

long. We'll be back for it.

What the hell is this?

[SOMBER MUSIC]

♪

I'm holding it for Douda.

[KIESHA] You bringing

dirty money into our house?

- It's not even like that.

- Then what's it like?

I mean, it's only for a little while.

What are you getting us into, Emmett?

I got you into a new house.

Who you think paying for therapy?

- Wow.

- [EMMETT] What?

With you losing your

job, it's all on me.

You think these kids

take care of themselves?

What I'm trying to say

is, we living a lifestyle.

And it comes at a cost.

- Don't-don't do that.

- Do what?

Act like Douda is the only solution

to us living a better life.

What are you worried about, Kiesha?

n*gg*s around Douda die, Emmett.

You know that more than anybody.

I told you about this n*gga,

and you didn't listen to me.

A'ight, you right.

But I'd never put our family in danger.

You already have.

[SIGHS] I'm sorry.

[KIESHA] You can't keep apologizing

and just expect me to forgive you.

I'm leaving.

I thought you said we

couldn't leave each other.

Huh?

Look, I'ma make this right.

♪

Okay, I'ma put a end to all this.

I promise.

♪

[TRAIN RUMBLING]

♪

Congrats on the inauguration.

Must be nice to make things official.

[SIGHS] Thank you.

Uh, like I said last night,

I don't know anything about Q's m*rder.

[GORN] This photo says otherwise.

This was taken a few feet away

from where Quentin's body was dumped.

Agent Gorn, we have a meeting to get to.

[GORN] One more question.

Why were you and Otis together?

It looks like you two

were headed somewhere.

[TENSE MUSIC]

Unless you're charging

him with something,

he has the right to remain silent.

[VICTOR SIGHS]

I'll be honest with you.

I don't think you're a k*ller,

but I do think you might

have helped dump the body.

So you can either confess now,

or we can find out later

and put you in prison.

[SOMBER MUSIC]

♪

I guess you're more like

Douda than I thought.

♪

[DOOR CLICKS OPEN]

[DOOR CLICKS SHUT]

- Pop.

- [DARNELL] Oh. Yo.

[DARNELL GROANS]

I need the g*n.

- Yeah? what you need it for?

- Just give it back.

Boy, you better watch

how you talking to me.

You told me if I needed

it, you'd give it to me.

I need it right now.

Emmett

you ain't built that way.

[DARNELL SCOFFS SOFTLY]

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪

Be careful, son.

♪

[DOOR CLICKS OPEN AND SHUT]

♪

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

♪

f*ck.

f*ck, man.

♪

I ain't no bitch.

Yeah, f*ck.

[GROANS] sh*t.

f*ck.

♪

[EXHALES HEAVILY]

I ain't no bitch.

I ain't no bitch.

I ain't no f*cking bitch.

Ain't nobody gonna

hurt my f*cking family.

I ain't no bitch.

I ain't no bitch.

[DRAMATIC JAZZ MUSIC]

♪

[HIP-HOP MUSIC]

- Ay, yeah ♪

- Ay, ay, ay ♪

Like an infomercial, I got offers ♪

Since I was 18, I

been working deals ♪

You still on punishment?

- Yeah.

- Damn. How long?

I don't even know.

[SIGHS] It's a'ight.

They'll give you freedom soon enough.

I wish I had my own place like you.

Careful what you wish for.

These bills is k*lling me.

I'm paying for everything.

Bank account low as hell.

Damn, what's taking so long?

We been standing here forever.

Why are you so pressed?

This year, my class

photo gotta be fire.

[LYNAE] It's just a class photo.

What's the big deal?

People gonna remember this image of me

for the rest of they lives.

I gotta look good.

[JAKE] I ain't stressed.

[SIGHS] Not everyone is born photogenic.

It's a skill.

Watch and learn.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

I'm applying the pressure ♪

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

I'm applying the pressure ♪

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

I'm applying the pressure ♪

Ay, need my flowers,

I empty the vase ♪

Like some crooked teeth,

y'all need to brace ♪

Airbnb but I be in the place ♪

Boy, I'm on a run and

it's more than a pace ♪

No, Corona still ain't got no taste ♪

[INDISTINCT] ♪

Damn.

[PHOTOGRAPHER] Smile.

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]

Smile.

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]

Can you give me a smile?

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]

Manifest, if I speak it, it stays ♪

Ain't know where the hell I'ma raise ♪

So ungrateful but

still with the praise ♪

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]

But he's saying I gotta do better ♪

Any option, I'll f*ck with whatever ♪

I'm pushing the scooter

like never say never ♪

Spraying pepper, I'm

picking your pocket ♪

[LAUGHTER]

- [MAISHA] Oh, my God.

- [KEVIN] Wait.

[LYNAE] Y'all need to clean that up.

[DRAMATIC HIP-HOP MUSIC]

[DOUDA] This is for losing

my m*therf*cking car.

Homeys do what they say ♪

Run it up, run it up, bang ♪

Run it up, run it up, bang ♪

How we doing?

Run it up, run it up, bang ♪

We still haven't found

anywhere to wash the money.

I tried hitting up a couple businesses,

but Pastor Jackson's

sermon got folks scared.

I'll figure something out.

[DOUDA] That's what I like to hear.

There's no way you can tame us ♪

[ZAY] What do you want

us to do with Bakari?

Nothing.

He can clean hisself up.

Homeys do what they say ♪

Run it up, run it up, bang ♪

Run it up, run it up, bang ♪

Lockdown, boom, make way ♪

Run it up, run it up, bang ♪

Lockdown, boom, make way ♪

[QUINCY] Look, I'm not a fan of lying.

But in this case, if you tell the truth,

everything you worked for can go away.

Lying to the FBI is dangerous.

What am I supposed to do?

Why don't you just cooperate,

see if they could cut you a deal?

You didn't k*ll anybody.

But I helped dispose the body.

You did?

I didn't know there

was a body in the trunk.

I di I didn't.

I heard a noise.

I forced him to pull over.

And then he opened the trunk, and

there he was

dying.

Why didn't you tell me?

What good would that have done?

I'm an accomplice. I-I-I

didn't have a choice.

I may wear a suit right now,

but I'm a street n*gga.

I

Every time I try to

f*cking run from this sh*t,

I-I-I can't get away

from it fast enough.

[SOMBER JAZZ MUSIC]

[FATIMA] Come here. Come here.

♪

This isn't your fault.

Doesn't stop it from being true.

If you just tell the truth,

maybe they could cut you a deal.

A deal can still mean jail time.

Or they can force me to

start working for them,

and I can't be an opp.

I-I think it's best I just say nothing.

♪

'Cause if they really had something,

I mean really had something,

th-they would have arrested me by now.

♪

Think about us.

Think about our future.

♪

What's your favorite

thing about being a father?

Watching you become the man

that I always knew you could be.

Everything I do in this

life is for you, son.

What's your

least favorite thing

about being a father?

I have a fear that I won't be

there for you when you need me.

I never want to let you down, son.

You never have.

What about when I got arrested?

♪

You taught me that

falling down is a part of life

and as long as I always get back up,

everything will be okay.

♪

This watch has been in our

family for four generations.

You're the fifth Jackson

man to receive it,

few weeks from your 18th birthday.

♪

I promise to always keep it safe.

♪

Thanks, Dad.

Time is the one thing

that we can never get back.

♪

Always value it.

♪

Amen?

Amen.

♪

Thank you all for tuning

in to what has been

a very special episode of Papa's Pulpit.

Till next time, y'all stay blessed.

♪

[DOOR CLICKS OPEN]

- [DARNELL GROANS]

- [DOOR CLICKS SHUT]

Hey.

What you doing up so late?

Can't sleep.

Yeah, what's wrong?

I'm worried about Emmett.

- What'd you hear?

- Nothing.

[SIGHS] I just

I feel like something's wrong.

Oh.

[GROANS]

[JADA] You know something?

No.

Where you coming in from so late?

Oh, I was just hanging with Shaad.

Hey, don't worry.

Come on. Let's go to bed.

[PENSIVE HIP-HOP MUSIC]

♪

[BAKARI SIGHS]

- [KNOCKING]

- [BAKARI SNIFFLES]

[DOOR CLICKS OPEN]

Is Lynae home?

Lynae's on punishment.

She can't have any visitors.

I just want to apologize.

It wasn't her fault.

It was mine.

I shouldn't have had her in that car.

What happened to your eye?

It

I'll be a'ight. [SNIFFLES]

Are you sure?

Yeah.

Could you, um,

let Lynae know I stopped by?

I will.

[INDISTINCT HIP-HOP MUSIC

PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

♪

Damn, shorty, who f*cked you up?

I f*cked up.

So somebody f*cked me up.

You know how it go.

♪

Yeah, I do.

♪

Get in the car, man.

[INDISTINCT HIP-HOP MUSIC CONTINUES]

♪

Don't be slamming my

door and sh*t, though.

♪

[REVERENT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]

♪

What can I do for you, Victor?

I need your guidance.

Talk me through it.

Well, I'm, uh

I'm in a situation

where I could tell the truth

and face the consequences,

or

I can withhold it

and stay focused on the work I'm doing.

Well, you are doing a lot for this city.

Look, honestly, I can't

tell you what to do.

That's up to you.

I understand.

But I can pray for you.

And we can let God do the guiding.

That's what he does best.

[SIGHS]

I pray

that you listen to the

quiet voice inside of you.

That's the voice of God.

That's his way of guiding

you on your journey.

[SOLEMN MUSIC]

Don't be afraid to

take the righteous path.

And when you do,

your path will always be purposeful.

Even if the road seems long,

continue to trust in God

and know that your steps are ordered.

Amen.

Thank you.

Means a lot.

Amen.

I'll, uh

I'll get out your hair.

Uh, actually, I'm-I'm glad you came by.

Uh, there's something I've been

meaning to talk to you about.

[SIGHS]

At a point, I judged you

for something that I shouldn't have.

And I wanted you to know that

it wasn't my place.

God is the only judge.

Thank you.

I know we both want

what's best for this city.

I plan on doing it through prayer.

You plan on doing it through politics.

But what I do know

is that as long as Douda is alive,

this city will be forever

in the devil's hands.

I know.

Somebody has to do something.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

- [EQUIPMENT WHIRRING]

- [WORKERS SHOUTING]

[TENSE MUSIC]

[DOUDA LAUGHS]

Have you lost your mind?

I think I found it.

Come on, now, Emmett. Playtime's over.

Let's put the g*n away.

I wanna cut ties with you.

I'm done.

I am not gonna negotiate with you

with a g*n in my face.

♪

Your choice.

♪

[EMMETT GROANING]

♪

You want to part ways with me, hmm?

Then you part ways with the Benz,

with the house, with the clothes,

and all the f*cking businesses.

You understand me?

You understand? Hmm?

Huh?

♪

What if I paid you back?

♪

So you want to buy me out?

♪

Yeah.

Okay.

Get up.

Come on. Get up.

♪

So listen, you, uh

you pay me my money.

Then we'll talk.

♪

No.

Then we'll be done.

♪

Emmett, you do not call the sh*ts.

♪

If you play with me again,

I will put this m*therf*cking b*llet

through that thick-ass skull.

♪

If you k*ll me, the whole

city'd be on your ass.

Oh, you think you're that beloved?

I know I am.

♪

n*gg*s f*ck with me.

They just work for you.

♪

I'm rooting for you,

but you're on thin ice.

Why is my dad so obsessed with me

becoming a college graduate?

He's of a different generation.

Ain't y'all the same age?

Excuse me?

I'm a few years younger.

[LAUGHTER]

I can't make Maisha a star overnight.

It takes years to break in an artist.

Maybe you need to add

somebody else to your roster.

I can barely handle Maisha.

Okay, the music game,

it's a numbers game.

The more artists you have,

the more chances you have

for them to break through.

If someone sparks my interest,

then maybe I'll consider it.

Good.

Sweetheart, graduation is

here, and you're out of money.

- I know.

- Good.

'Cause you need to

fill out at least three

college applications before end of day.

Okay. Fine.

And don't phone it in either.

Dad, I can't pretend to care if I don't.

Well, if you don't get

into any of these schools,

then you'll go to community college.

Oh, I actually wouldn't mind

going to community college.

Don't do it to spite me.

It's just as good as the Ivy Leagues.

[SIGHS]

You do what you want,

but you're gonna have

to go to class somewhere

if you want to keep

living in this house.

Don't look at me.

- Yeah ♪

- [HIP-HOP MUSIC]

I need a prayer ♪

Prison life ain't for the weak.

- I know.

- Treat you like a dog.

Somebody tells you when

to eat, sleep, sh*t.

It's dehumanizing.

I ain't going to prison, a'ight?

Not only was you driving a stolen car.

You was speeding in that bitch.

You lucky your ass a minor, bro.

I already feel bad.

- I'ma make you feel worse.

- What's that gonna do?

n*gga, at some point, you need

to start giving a f*ck about your life.

- That's what it's gonna do.

- What the f*ck you want me to do,

read the Bible?

Get on my knees and pray?

Talk to God like you?

That's what you want?

[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

I had to spend years in

a cell to find God, man.

You done with your lecture or what?

I need a prayer ♪

I already f*cked my life up.

Every day, I'm just

begging for forgiveness.

I don't want that for you, man,

or my sister.

I need a prayer ♪

I'll be more careful next time.

[JAMAL] How the f*ck you know

you gonna get a next time?

Pray for me, I need a ♪

She done with me?

You gotta ask Nae.

Where the loyalty ♪

Her moms won't let me talk to her.

They is dead to me, they

like to mess with me ♪

Honestly, I think y'all need

some time apart right now.

Till I'm in the hearse ♪

Somebody pray for me ♪

Please, God ♪

I know I be flipping the kings ♪

Give me some angel wings ♪

She's all I have to live for.

Wish I could fly away ♪

I know the feeling.

All I'm trying to

say, I need a prayer ♪

- [DOOR CLICKS SHUT]

- [VICTOR SIGHS]

I need to talk to you.

Douda came to my house

a few months back,

asked me to take a ride.

I ain't know where we was

going or what was going on.

But while we was riding,

I heard a sound coming from the trunk.

Next thing I know,

he's pulling over.

We both got out to

see what was going on,

and when he opened the trunk

[SIGHS]

I see, uh

You see my uncle.

[VICTOR] Yeah.

Was he dead already?

[VICTOR] He was kicking

and gasping for air.

And what happened?

Douda sh*t him three more times.

And then he got back

in the driver's seat.

And what'd you do?

I got back in the car.

You ain't do sh*t.

There wasn't anything I could do.

Why he choose you?

'Cause he knew I wouldn't say sh*t.

So why you talking now?

[VICTOR] 'Cause he's your family.

- You deserve to know.

- f*ck.

You told anybody else this sh*t?

[VICTOR] No.

Why you telling me now?

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Does it matter?

♪

You know what this mean, right?

♪

[SIGHS]

[FOREBODING MUSIC]

♪

[DOOR CLICKS OPEN AND SHUT]

[DRE SIGHS]

- Hey.

- Hey.

You been busy.

What you mean by that?

You just been slow to

respond to my texts.

And when you do, you're a little short.

I'm just, you know,

trying to be respectful.

I thought we were making

an effort to be friends.

[DRE] I know.

And I'm enjoying that.

It's just

Your wife is uncomfortable.

Look, she came into her queerness

a little late in life, and, you know,

she just doesn't realize

that a lot of times,

lesbians can still be

cool after they break up.

I understand.

Just give her some time, all right?

She'll get there.

So I'm gonna fall back

until she's more comfortable.

[DRE SIGHS]

Look, I'm not trying to push you away.

It's just that we've dealt with

some infidelity in the past,

and, you know, we're just

in a healing space right now.

That's all.

I get it.

[INDISTINCT HIP-HOP MUSIC

PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

♪

Who that?

Got to make my life legendary ♪

Now I get more love than February ♪

Oh, sh*t.

But also it's very scary ♪

'Cause all my life,

I felt secondary ♪

That's my sister.

Work like a secretary,

I ain't tripping about it ♪

I found my spot, it's crazy ♪

It was right around the block ♪

I'm ahead of time, I

got a timeless clock ♪

Still writing hits when

I got writer's block ♪

You know, even on my worst days ♪

[BAKARI] Britney.

Finally.

[BAKARI] How long you been sitting here?

[BRITNEY] Not too long.

Hey, why you ain't tell me

you was coming to the city?

n*gga, I ain't got your number.

I asked around, and somebody

told me you were staying here.

My bad.

[BRITNEY] So this your spot?

[BAKARI] Just staying with a friend.

[BRITNEY] Damn.

You went from foster

care to couch surfing.

One of these days, we gonna

have our own sh*t, though.

sh*t, I've been saving up.

You looking expensive.

Yeah. I'm a hustler. You know that.

I can tell by that black eye.

[INDISTINCT HIP-HOP MUSIC CONTINUES]

♪

Don't be embarrassed.

I know how it is.

♪

- How long you in town?

- For a while.

What kind of scheme you running?

- None.

- [SCOFFS] Uh-huh.

Nah, I'm trying to do the music thing.

- Again?

- Yes, again.

But recently, I ran into some money,

so I been bankrolling my own sh*t.

[SCOFFS] Where you

getting your money from?

I'ma always find a way to the bag.

♪

It runs in the family.

♪

I missed you.

[BAKARI] Missed you too.

[BRITNEY] So is it

cool if I could come in

so we could really catch up?

If was up to me, you could crash,

but it ain't my crib.

Don't sweat it.

I'll see you around.

♪

Hey, G.

Give me your phone.

♪

Look.

I ain't changing it this time, a'ight?

Hit me tomorrow.

This is that get back

when that car rolls ♪

With that window down

and that pole cracked ♪

But don't make no

sound, just pillow tuck ♪

And get your willow walk ♪

And get the steelos popping,

that's the girls running ♪

'Cause they get to screaming

when they see the g*n ♪

And got the black on black on ♪

When the b*ll*ts humming

but they seen nothing ♪

No, we ain't bluffing ♪

We know rats hush when they getting Gs ♪

[VICTOR] I've been

weighing out an option.

What options have you been weighing out?

Maybe I should tell the FBI the truth.

But what does that mean for us?

I don't know.

Look, I want you to be an honest man,

but if that means losing

everything that we've built,

I don't know if it's worth it.

[DOOR OPENS, CREAKING]

[DOOR CLOSES]

What's going on?

Nothing.

[JAKE] I don't believe you.

Jake, give us a second, man.

We-we handling something.

How come y'all don't ever tell me sh*t?

- I'm basically grown.

- You're not grown.

- I'm about to graduate.

- [VICTOR] So what?

You don't know sh*t about being an adult

- with responsibilities.

- I run my own business.

- Out of my house.

- I need to move out like Kev.

[VICTOR] No, you need to

bring your ass to your room.

- I ain't no baby.

- Jake

just give us a second, please.

[SIGHS]

[MELLOW MUSIC]

♪

Y'all friends with any of your exes?

Yeah, I married mine.

- Well, one of mine is dead.

- [DRE] Mm-hmm.

The other one is a m*rder*r, so, no.

- Damn.

- I know.

[DRE CHUCKLES]

Why?

Well, Tracy decided

to hire my ex at Rock,

and it's causing a little

bit of havoc in my marriage.

Mm. Hmm.

- Monica is your ex?

- [JADA CHUCKLES]

God damn, Dre, why didn't

you say something sooner?

I'm not trying to break up your

happy home. You know that.

Honestly, it's been kind of

nice being around her again.

- [JADA SCOFFS]

- Oh.

- Careful.

- We are.

- Uh

- Uh-huh.

Don't have Nina mad at me.

Oh, see?

Now I understand why she ain't here.

Nah, nah. She had to take

Ronnie to a doctor's appointment.

- Okay.

- [JADA] Uh-huh.

And would we be having this

conversation if she were?

- Ooh, would we?

- Mm.

Look, I just wanted some honest advice.

- Mm.

- [BOTH LAUGH]

- You got feelings for this ex?

- Nah.

I don't think so.

- Mm.

- Mm.

- You don't sound too sure.

- [DRE] We're just friends.

- Is that so wrong?

- [TRACY] No.

As long as she not doing nothing

that you wouldn't do in

front of Nina, you good.

Oh, she did something with someone when

- she wasn't in front of me.

- Okay, Dre.

- Really?

- Ooh. So this is revenge?

No, no, not at all.

This is just typical lesbian behavior.

Oh, cheating?

N-no, being friends with your ex.

I think that's okay,

'cause if I'm being honest,

I wish me and Douda

could still be friends.

- [JADA] Mm.

- Hmm.

I miss talking to him.

Y'all don't seem to be

doing too much talking

- when y'all are together.

- Damn, don't drag me.

Shush.

What you gonna do, Dre?

[SIGHING] I don't know.

I guess I'll just

talk to Nina and make sure she knows

she don't have nothing to worry about.

Good, yes.

And then make sure you are

absolutely crystal clear

about everything before you

have that conversation, okay?

♪

I will.

- Well, cheers to that.

- [DRE CHUCKLES]

- [TRACY CHUCKLES]

- Yeah.

[JAZZY MUSIC PLAYING]

Enjoy.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

♪

I hope you interrupted my

lunch for a good reason.

♪

I know who k*lled Uncle Q.

♪

You're sure of it?

Yeah.

♪

- You know what to do.

- It ain't that simple.

- We have a deal.

- I know.

But gangstas like him ain't

that easy to just take out.

You think I don't know that?

I don't do this kind of sh*t every day.

But I do.

♪

[SIGHS] Get some help.

I don't think you can handle this alone.

It ain't too many people I trust.

Well, that's your problem, not mine.

If you'll excuse me

I don't want my lunch to get cold.

[SERIOUS MUSIC]

♪

I think if you met her,

you would really like her.

I don't want to hang

out with you and your ex.

Babe, why does this have

to be such a big deal?

Why y'all want to hang out anyway?

What can you do with her

that you can't do with me?

You can't be everything to me.

I know. That's why you

have Tracy and Jada.

[SIGHS]

What do you really

think is gonna happen?

I have no desire to

be with anybody else.

- Is that shade towards me?

- No.

I'm just letting you know that

I'm not gonna cross any lines.

Why is this so important to you?

Because I don't have

any lesbian friends.

What am I?

You're my wife.

- And that's not good enough for you?

- I didn't say that. What I said

[KEVIN GROANS]

[NINA] Kevin, you cannot

just barge into this house

anytime you want to.

Dre and I are having a conversation.

Uh, uh, I told Dre I was coming?

Oh. Oh, sh*t. I forgot

to tell you my bad.

I'm the last one to know

everything in this house.

- I could

- Kev,

what is it that you

need to talk to us about?

- Ah

- [KEVIN] All right.

Should I be sitting down?

- You might want to.

- [SIGHS]

Come on. Come, come, come, come.

- Okay.

- [NINA] Lord help me.

- [KEVIN EXHALES DEEPLY]

- [NINA SIGHS]

[DRE CLEARS THROAT]

Yeah, uh, right.

[CHUCKLING NERVOUSLY] Um

I'm moving to Los Angeles.

- What?

- Wow.

Ma, this big gaming

team wants to sponsor me.

But they need me to

move out to Los Angeles

so I can take this

gaming thing full-time.

Congratulations, Kev.

When did this happen?

You know, a few days ago. [CHUCKLES]

You've been sitting on this

information for a few days?

Well, I had to decide if

I wanted to go first, Ma.

You never thought it was important

- to talk to us about it?

- [DRE] Babe, it's his decision.

Respectfully, Dre, but I'm gonna

need you to stay out of this.

Whoa. Dre is my mom, too.

- What is this, g*ng up on Nina day?

- No, Ma.

I thought you'd be happy for me.

Why would I be happy that

you're moving so far away?

'Cause this is my dream.

And I want to see where it takes me, Ma.

This is crazy.

You can't play video games

for the rest of your life, Kevin.

[SCOFFS]

Dre, back me up on this, please.

Kev

we're just gonna need

all the information, okay?

And we're gonna need to at

least know where you living.

And h-how you gonna get around?

I'll get that to y'all,

and they're providing me with a ride.

[DRE] Okay, Kev.

Let's go!

[KEVIN] Thank you.

You-you okay, Ma?

I just need some time

[INHALES SHARPLY]

to digest all this.

Just give her some time.

Look, you're her baby, all right?

This ain't the easiest news to get.

- Can you talk to her, please?

- I will. I definitely will.

[KENYA] Are you good with kids?

[SOFT JAZZ MUSIC]

I don't know.

I never really thought about it.

♪

You know, you don't have to

pretend to be okay with all this.

I'm not pretending.

I think I'm still just

processing everything.

♪

[KENYA] Are you not ready for this?

Are you?

It's different. He's my responsibility.

I get it if you want to leave.

Look

my feelings for you haven't changed.

Just because you have a son

doesn't mean I don't like you anymore.

But I come with a little extra baggage.

I don't care.

I still like you, Kenya.

♪

We got this.

♪

Why are you hogging the iPad, man?

We want to watch cartoons, too.

♪

[CHURCH ORGAN MUSIC]

♪

How I give you a pocket watch

and you still can't make it

to your appointments on time?

I'm only gonna be a few minutes late.

Victor's doing a very

nice thing for you all,

letting you all join his men's group.

The least you can do is be punctual.

I was hanging with my girl

and lost track of time.

Didn't I just talk to you about time?

It's not good for you to

waste yours or anybody else's.

I'm sorry.

And since when do you have a girl?

She's the same one I asked to prom.

Oh, the one I never got to meet.

You can meet her and

her son at some point.

What do you mean "her son"?

Don't be mad.

You're not allowed to date somebody

that's old enough to have a child.

She's only 19.

Who is this girl?

[PAPA] Minister Bailey's daughter.

Oh, the same minister that passes

the collection plate around

three times every Sunday?

The same minister that stepped

out on his wife more than once?

She shouldn't have to pay

for the sins of her father.

But it's the same bloodline, son.

That's why she was in a

family way as a child

because he had his eyes on prosperity

and they should have been on his family.

At least he's never been

in trouble with the law.

[PASTOR JACKSON] You're gonna

stop throwing that in my face.

I'm still your father.

Now, you are not allowed

to date that girl.

And if I catch you with her,

you gonna be working

at the church full-time.

But I'm assistant manager at Smokey's.

Do I look like I care?

You're not old enough for

that kind of responsibility.

Well, it's my decision, not yours.

[PASTOR JACKSON] If you disobey me,

you'll regret it for

the rest of your life.

I'm not a child anymore.

[SCOFFS] Yes, you are.

Now go.

You're already late.

[SIGHS]

♪

[VICTOR] So today we

have some new guests.

So I want to remind everyone

about the house rules.

What is said here

[ALL] Stays here.

There's no judgment.

When someone is speaking,

give them space to do so.

We're not here to fix

anyone or offer advice.

We're just here to listen

and to offer support.

That's it.

But I'm not gonna lie.

It's been a heavy few days for me.

But since I went first last time,

I'd like to open it up for

someone else to start us off.

[SOFT MUSIC]

♪

f*ck it.

I'll start it off.

[SIGHS]

Man, I feel like I'm

starting to backslide.

You want to elaborate?

♪

Well, just in terms of

lusting after other women,

sh*t like that.

No, but I-I'm staying on the

straight and narrow, though.

Glad I could help you

out with that, too, dog.

Hey, and I appreciate

that, too, D, for real.

- [DARNELL] For sure.

- Hey, how can we support you?

I don't know. Just keep

holding me accountable, you dig?

Like

just make sure I ain't out

here doing no dumb sh*t.

♪

I'm glad the youth could join us today.

I know when I was younger,

I could've used an outlet like this.

Bakari, I'm glad you showed up.

♪

I've been feeling terrible

about forcing my daughter

to do something she doesn't want to do.

Yeah, 'cause she really

ain't trying to go to college.

But it's my responsibility

to look out for her.

She can look after herself.

- Oh, hold up, Jake. I don't think you

- Hey, whoa, no judgment.

But it's my job to protect her.

♪

Sometimes I feel like my dad's

trying to protect me too much.

I just want space to

grow and make mistakes.

Right, mistakes.

Sometimes something can

feel like a mistake when

it's really not.

Hmm. It's hard to know what's

a mistake and what's not.

Even when you trying

to do right by people,

it could have you in trouble.

♪

I think I got myself

in some deep sh*t

just 'cause I wanted to be the big man.

Wait. What kind of trouble?

When we ask questions, it

shouldn't be about the details.

It should be about how we can help.

Yeah, okay, fine. How can I

how can we help you?

I just need everybody

in here to have my back.

You got that.

♪

Bakari, you good?

♪

I seen

my sister today.

Wait, hold up, G. I thought

you ain't have no family.

We spent our childhood together,

but as we got older,

our parents couldn't

look after us no more,

so she went to one foster

home, I went to another.

After a while

we lost touch.

I thought I'd never see her again.

How come you ain't tell me?

I was still in shock.

♪

Hey, Jake

how you feeling?

♪

Look, man, I want to apologize to you

for not including you on

the bigger conversations

that's been happening around the house.

I'm dealing with a lot, man, and

I want to be careful.

I need to be careful about

what I share with you.

What's going on?

Yeah, man. How can we support you?

♪

I just need your prayers.

♪

What if we don't pray?

♪

[SIGHS]

I just need you to trust me then.

♪

I do.

♪

So I got to hear it in the streets

that you moving to LA.

Look, I-I was just trying

to find the right time.

[MAISHA] And we just got back together.

[SIGHS]

Look, come with me.

Are you crazy?

I-I can't just leave my life behind

- to keep chasing after you.

- No, you wouldn't be chasing me.

I mean, listen, you'd probably

have more opportunities

if you was out there, anyway.

I want to make it in Chicago.

- Yeah, but what if you don't?

- So you don't believe in me?

No, I-I do.

I just I just didn't know you

were trying to be some local rapper.

And what's wrong with

being a local rapper?

Nothing, nothing, nothing at all.

I just

I just thought we were dreaming bigger.

Don't minimize my dreams

'cause you got to leave

our city to chase yours.

I'm sorry.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪

So what about us?

♪

I mean, there's always FaceTime.

[CHUCKLES]

♪

Look, I'll fly you out.

Huh? What you think?

♪

First class only?

- Oh, you fancy.

- [BOTH CHUCKLE]

I'm worthy.

You are.

♪

[BRANDYN BURNETTE'S "INSPIRED"]

♪

I don't have to know the answer ♪

Every time ♪

I don't have to

feed the bad thoughts ♪

In my mind ♪

Yeah, I just wanna feel good ♪

We just wanna feel good ♪

I don't give no fucks today ♪

Push my ego out the way ♪

Yeah, you got me inspired ♪

Yeah, I just wanna feel good ♪

Start livin' my life ♪

We just wanna feel good ♪

Bakari, I need to have a word with you.

If you need to talk to

him, we need to be present.

No, he doesn't need a chaperone.

Oh, but he got two of them

right here, though, so

♪

Yeah, we used to have fun ♪

Bakari, have a seat.

Yeah, we used to go out,

yeah, we used to have sex ♪

I'm gettin' used to the stress ♪

If it's as good as it gets ♪

Tell me what's comin' next ♪

Yeah, I just wanna feel good ♪

We just wanna feel good ♪

I don't get much sleep these days ♪

My dreams keep me wide awake ♪

Yeah, you got me inspired ♪

Yeah, I just wanna feel good ♪

Start livin' my life ♪

We just wanna feel good ♪

You got me inspired ♪

♪

I'd like to start off

by thanking my counselors and teachers

for guiding me through these years.

I know I haven't been

the easiest student.

[CHUCKLES]

Shout-out to Mr. Branford,

who encouraged me to lean

into the things I love.

To my classmates

man

[SERIOUS MUSIC]

can't believe our journey

has finally come to an end.

It's been a wild ride, to say the least.

♪

But I'm grateful we had

each other along the way.

♪

Now, um

as class speaker, I'm

here to encourage you all

to follow your dreams,

and make the best out of your

next four years of college.

And if you choose not to go

to college, that's cool, too.

- [LAUGHTER]

- Some folks think it's a scam, anyway.

♪

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

I'm here to happily announce

that I'll be moving to Los Angeles

to do what I love gaming.

And while I'm up here,

I encourage you all to do what you love.

Even if everyone thinks you're crazy,

you blaze your own trail.

And never let anyone tell

you you can't do something.

♪

I know the Chi is gonna

be with me wherever I go.

And I plan on going all over the world.

So congrats

to the class of 2023!

- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

- Me and my brothers, we forever kings ♪

You will never find a better team ♪

My people call me,

I won't let it ring ♪

'Cause it's family over everything ♪

Me and my brothers, we forever kings ♪

You will never find a better team ♪

My people call me,

I won't let it ring ♪

'Cause it's family over everything ♪

Me and my brothers, we forever kings ♪

You will never find a better team ♪

My people call me,

I won't let it ring ♪

'Cause it's family over everything ♪

Me and my brothers, we forever kings ♪

You will never find a better team ♪

My people call me,

I won't let it ring ♪

'Cause it's family over everything ♪

[PAPA SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

I saw that girl and her

son in the crowd today.

Oh, sh*t.

What girl?

- Papa's new baby mama.

- [CLICKS TONGUE]

You are not supposed to see

that girl I forbid it.

Her name is Kenya.

- And you can't control me anymore.

- Excuse me?

You are my son, and

you will do as I say.

Look

Dad, I know you're trying to protect me,

but I know what I'm doing.

You are in no position to be

raising somebody else's child,

and I'm still raising you.

I'm out.

- Sit down!

- No.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪

Hey, Papa, come on come

on. Just just chill.

♪

I'm my own man.

♪

And I can do what I want.

♪

[PASTOR JACKSON] If you

walk out that door

you will not be allowed back.

♪

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

[LUPE FIASCO'S "KICK, PUSH"]

Ugh ♪

What up, y'all? ♪

Yeah, Soundtrakk,

what's poppin, ' baby? ♪

You know what I'm talking about? ♪

So check it out, unh ♪

First got it when he was

six, didn't know any tricks ♪

Matter of fact, first time ♪

[BAKARI] Hey, Papa, what up? You good?

Technically, I'm homeless,

but other than that, I'm good.

I'll sneak you through

the back you know that.

But shorty didn't quit,

it was somethin' in the air ♪

Yeah, he said it was

somethin' so appealin' ♪

He couldn't fight the feelin' ♪

Somethin' about it, he

knew he couldn't doubt it ♪

Yo. What's up?

What up?

Hi. I'm Lynae, Bakari's girlfriend.

Oh. He didn't tell me about you.

Bro.

Listen, we just caught

up for a few moments,

but, uh, you're meeting her now.

Yeah, when they said

it's gettin' late in here ♪

So I'm sorry, young man,

there's no skating here ♪

And so he kick, push, kick, push ♪

Kick, push, kick, push, coast ♪

♪

n*gg*s on my d*ck,

and I don't give a f*ck ♪

Mad 'cause I'm so fly,

and they woman struck ♪

I ain't tryin' to play games ♪

I'm tryin' to run it up ♪

Finally linked back with my brother ♪

So you know what's up ♪

Back down in the

city on a mission, hey ♪

'Bout to treat the studio

like it's the kitchen, hey ♪

Oh, what you cooking, dope n*gga? ♪

Oh, for real? Nope, n*gga ♪

I will never tell a soul

About the role I chose, n*gga ♪

Mama gave me up, Daddy did, too ♪

Super-smart kid, I just

trapped after school ♪

Learned to survive with

the guys, I had plenty ♪

Lot of them gone, miss

them all, but they with me ♪

I should be a grimy m*therf*cker ♪

All the sh*t that I've been through ♪

Dead in the grave

or losing my mental ♪

But I cry on Benjis, I

don't cry on no tissues ♪

n*gg*s be a problem,

but, bitch, I'm a issue ♪

It's the illest m*therf*cker, G ♪

And I'm going to just keep it real ♪

A lot of y'all n*gg*s

can't f*ck with me, hey ♪

But I'm back in the city, what's up? ♪

What's up? What's up? ♪

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

- Damn, that girl good.

- She all right.

Wanna get it done,

I can show you how ♪

Baddest in the room,

highest in the crowd ♪

Show you how 'cause I took the crown ♪

Yo, girl, I wanna be just like ♪

- You're amazing.

- I know.

Okay, confident. I like that.

You're beautiful. What's your name?

This my girl, Jemma.

Nice to meet you, Jemma.

- Are you signed?

- No.

- Do you want to be?

- Labels are rough these days.

Yeah, true, but if you're

gonna be independent,

you're gonna need some support.

Is that what you want

to offer me, support?

Possibly.

Honestly, I'm just looking

for a place to crash right now.

Okay, well, I can't help with that,

but once you figure it out, hit me up.

- For sure.

- A'ight.

[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

[TRAVON POTTS' "DRY MY TEARS"]

Tired of the struggle ♪

Tired of the pain ♪

Tired of the heartache ♪

Tired of the strain ♪

Lord, I really need Your guidance,

now more than ever.

With all my fears ♪

Jesus, dry my ♪

Lord, I really need

You to protect my son.

Burden's heavy ♪

Dry my tears ♪

Oh, Lord, this burden's so heavy ♪

Dry my tears ♪

[PASTOR JACKSON CHOKING]

Oh, please, Lord, help me ♪

With all my fears ♪

- Jesus, dry my ♪

- Dry my tears ♪

Dry my tears ♪

Oh, I'm so weary ♪

Dry my tears ♪

Oh, Lord, I get so weary ♪

Dry my tears ♪

Oh, please, Lord, help me ♪

With all my fears ♪

Jesus, dry ♪

- Jesus, dry ♪

- Dry my tears ♪

- Tired of the struggle ♪

- I'm tired ♪

- Tired of the pain ♪

- Oh, I'm tired ♪

Tired of the heartache ♪

- Oh, Lord ♪

- Tired of the strain ♪

- Please, Lord ♪

- Please, Lord, help me ♪

- With all my fears ♪

- With all my fears ♪

- Jesus ♪

- Jesus, dry my ♪

- Dry ♪

- Dry my tears ♪

- Jesus, dry my ♪

- Jesus ♪

- Dry ♪

- Dry my tears ♪

I've been crying all night long ♪

Jesus, dry my ♪

Dry my tears ♪

♪