04x09 - It's About That Time

[bunniefuu]

[DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYS]

[FUNKY HIP-HOP BEAT LAYERS IN]

[RAQ]
Previously on Raising Kanan...

If you scared, go back to your mom.

So her punk-a*s boyfriend

can put his d*ck-feelin' hands
on me again?

You know I'm more than happy
to have a conversation with that n*gga.

How you doing? How's your
foster family treating you?

I miss Daddy and Alice.

n*gg*s saying Fame knew
about some cops being dirty,

and they got scared
of him talking,

so they snatched him up
and put him down.

[JUKE] These crooked-a*s cops
ain't do that sh*t on they own.

That call on Fame came from the street.

I was hoping you could reach out
to your NYPD connects.

Who told you we got a line to the NYPD?

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

I know who k*lled Famous.

- Who?
- My mother.

We had you handle the little
n*gga because we were concerned

that some of the sh*t he was
saying could track back to us.

- We can find out what he knows.
- Or what he thinks he knows.

This white m*therf*cker
out in Howard Beach

into me for ten large

talkin' to me about how he a made n*gga

so he allowed to carry that debt.

Do what the f*ck you need to do.

A friend of ours just got fished

out of the East River this morning.

Guy's the son of a real big shot.

You told me to handle that,
so me and Londell did that sh*t.

- Loose lips k*ll tricks, n*gga.
- [SILENCED g*nsh*t]

When I find out who's behind that,

somebody's gonna be wearing
concrete slippers.

It's one size fits all, Marvin.

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

m*therf*cker!

Yo, where the f*ck is O-Cee at?

[g*nshots]

Jambo, my brother.

I'm Lou Thomas. I work with B-Rilla.

You don't even know who you are anymore.

They castrated you, brother Lou.

Robbed you of your very manhood.

- [KNOCKING]
- Jambo, n*gg*s.

[g*nf*re]

We in business, Hafiz.

The best way to avoid bloodshed

is to move Raq aside.

And I think you are just the guy
for the job.

My sister done filled
that position already,

and that's not sh*t
you should ever say to me again.

You gotta go, Krys.

To your cousin down in Delaware,

your grandma up in Connecticut,
I don't know where,

but you need to get
the f*ck outta New York.

I can't keep you safe.

I got a bus to catch.

But Kanan needs someone right now,
and you're his mother.

There's only so much a mother can do.

Ms. Bradley, we need you
to come with us.

There are some questions
you need to answer

about Shawn Figueroa.

What the hell I know about
what happened to Famous?

That's what we need to find out.

How did you even know I was
on this bus in the first place?

You following me?

♪ I'm a hustla, baby ♪

- ♪ I'm a hustla, baby ♪
- ♪ Yeah ♪

♪ I know heartbreaks Setbacks ♪

♪ b*tch, if I crap out
I'm sure I'ma get back ♪

♪ I been through
The ups and downs ♪

♪ You know I get around ♪

♪ So to me, it's all a part
Of the game ♪

♪ If I ain't the coke man
Or the dope man ♪

♪ I'm almost for sure, man
I gotta take it ♪

♪ No need to say sh*t
I'm gon' take it ♪

♪ Robberies turn homicide
It's nothin' to play with ♪

♪ Make money
Make-make-make money ♪

♪ When sh*t hit the fan
We'll take money, Southside ♪

♪ Beef with the best of 'em
Done shot at the rest of 'em ♪

♪ Checks, I'm collectin' 'em
Check, boy, I'm finessin' em ♪

♪ Big bags of bread ♪

♪ Boy, you f*ck around
Put a big bag on your head ♪

♪ 'Fore the weather break
You're dead ♪

♪ Let's get to it ♪

♪ They don't do it
Like we do it ♪

♪ Cop it, whip it
Bag it, flip it ♪

♪ Re-up, we up G'd up, what up? ♪

♪ Runnin' 'round this b*tch
Still not givin' a f*ck ♪

♪ When it come to that paper
There'll be no complications ♪

♪ Ha-ha, that's right ♪

♪ Put a hole in a n*gga
Right in front of you ♪

♪ Your heartbeat pacin' ♪

♪ And it's alright ♪

♪ That's how we do it
On this side ♪

♪ n*gg*s get to it On this side ♪

♪ I know heartbreaks Setbacks ♪

♪ b*tch, if I crap out
I'm sure I'ma get back ♪

♪ I been through
The ups and downs ♪

♪ You know I get around ♪

♪ So to me, it's all a part
Of the game ♪

♪ If I ain't the coke man
Or the dope man ♪

♪ I'm almost for sure, man
I gotta take it ♪

♪ No need to say sh*t
I'm gon' take it ♪

♪ Robberies turn homicide
It's nothin' to play with ♪

[OMINOUS AMBIENT RUMBLING]

[OLDER KANAN] Worst part of
all this is n*gg*s who get hurt

who wasn't even in the game.

Babies who was just in the
wrong place at the wrong time.

Or people who cared about us
who got pulled into our sh*t

just 'cause they gave a f*ck.

They losses
you don't never get over.

[CHAINS RATTLING]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

[DOOR LOCKS CLICKING]

[OLDER KANAN] Worst sh*t
you can do is love somebody.

'Cause one way or the other,
in this sh*t,

that love gonna get taken away.

[JARRING, OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

[POP, ECHOING] Oh, damn.

What'd they do to you, baby?

We're gonna get you outta here.

They been keeping you
so doped up the last couple days

you haven't even been eatin'.

I know you gotta be hungry, girl.

[KRYSTAL] I just wanna go home.

And we gon' get you home, baby.

But I need you to talk to me.

I already told them everything I know.

You did, baby,
but they're not believin' you.

Which is why I'm here.

'Cause I was thinking maybe
we just need some girl talk.

Sometimes, bad b*tches like us
can only trust each other, right?

So who Kanan thinking k*lled his friend?

[KRYSTAL SIGHS] That's what
I keep tellin' y'all.

Kanan don't know who put down Famous.

He came to us and said
he had heard something

about police being involved
and the call coming from the street.

[INHALES DEEPLY]

The only person he ever thought
coulda done it was his moms.

But she didn't do it,
and I told him that.

He just gets so angry with Raq.

He thinks everything bad that
happens to him is because of her.

[EERIE PIANO MELODY PLAYING]

[POP] Here you go.

Eat up, baby.

Kanan lucky to have you.

'Cause you a good girl.

And ain't many good girls
like you out here no more.

[g*nsh*t ECHOES]

[INTENSE DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

I mean, she shoulda been there already.

And you ain't heard from her at all?

Alright, well, let me
ask around up then.

She never got to Delaware.

And they ain't heard sh*t from her.

Somethin' f*cked up's happening.

Fame, O-Cee, Krystal.

You don't know that
all that's connected, though.

sh*t out here is dangerous.

Been dangerous.

It ain't always about you.

This is about me. I know it is.

[RAQ] Hey, Kanan.

What the f*ck?

You knew about this?

She's your moms,
and she's worried about you.

I've called you damn near
a hundred times.

And when I didn't answer
a hundred f*ck' times,

you somehow still thought
I wanted to talk to you?

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[RICARD] It's our understanding
that the two of you were here

during the time of the sh**ting.

We were wondering if you saw
or heard anything

that might have been
out of the ordinary.

And for the record,
we know that the two of you

have checkered pasts of your own.

What the f*ck that got to do with this?

[LOU] We left before
all that went down.

I heard about it the next day.

And is there anyone
who can verify this timing?

I got to her place at like 11:00.

I didn't look at a clock.

I don't know the exact time.

What about you?

- What time did you leave?
- Same time as Lou.

We recovered two weapons
from the deceased,

and one of them matched the ballistics

on a home invasion
that took place on Long Island recently.

It was at the former residence
of Lowell Gelfand,

the guy that owns
your record label.

So this gotta do with him, then.

We're not drawing any conclusions
about anything yet,

but the weapon's connection
to this prior crime

is an interesting development.

I have to go.

Oh. Can we get your information
from Mr. Thomas here?

If we have any more questions.

You can.

Look, we done told y'all everything.

We wasn't here, Five-O.

[LOU] Didn't see sh*t.

Don't know sh*t.

Don't head out of town anytime soon.

Where the f*ck we gonna go?

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

They don't know nothin', my n*gga.

They still lookin'
and listenin', though.

So don't give them nothin'
to hear and see.

Look, I know
you're gonna be angry with me

for the rest of your life,

but it don't mean that I stopped caring.

What you know about
what happened to Fame?

What I know about what happened to Fame?

You thinkin' I had something
to do with all that?

Please tell me that
that's not what you thinkin'.

That ain't what he said, though.
He just...

askin' if you know anything.

I know what he said, and I know
what he tryin' to say.

I didn't do nothin'
to your friend. I loved Famous.

Loved Fame like you loved D-Wiz?

You and I, we...

You and I already talked about that.

And I'ma tell you now
like I told you then...

that's on you.

You can twist and you can turn
it any way you want,

but that was me
cleanin' up your mess.

Look, the only reason I'm here

is because that girlfriend
of yours came by to see me.

She said that you might be
about to do some dumb sh*t.

Which knowin' you,
that sounds about right.

I came here to tell you
that I can't fix your mistakes no more.

You're gonna have to own
what you break from here on out.

When did Krystal roll up on you?

Couple days ago.
She showed up at my front door,

said she was going to catch a bus.

Krystal gone missing.

She never got to where she was going.

You see who scooped her from the crib
after you was done talking?

- Didn't look.
- What time was it?

Whatever goin' on with Krystal
ain't on me, Kanan.

Why would I even tell you she
came through in the first place?

Look, even if it wasn't you directly,

Krystal coulda got caught up
in your sh*t like we all do.

Maybe 'Nique grabbed her
to f*ck wit' you.

Maybe it was Quan's people.

You done f*cked over so many n*gg*s,

I can't even start to guess
who it coulda been.

You know, it must be nice

for you to have me in your life
to always point the finger at.

Ain't nothin' nice
about having you in my life.

[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]

Can't never win with him, Juke.

You worried about winnin' him

when you should be worried
about losin' him.

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

Me and my family ain't gonna
take that sh*t lyin' down, n*gga.

I know you took out Londell.

I ain't had nothin' to do with
what happened to your cousin.

My condolences to you and yours, though.

f*ck you and your condolences.

Londell was in a whole lot of sh*t.

n*gga had a long list of heads
who had no love for him.

Don't know why you think it was me.

You know exactly why, m*therf*cker.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

A'ight.

Let's say, uh, I did k*ll
that chatty-a*s fool.

Closed that n*gga's mouth for good.

f*ck you gonna do about it, Early?

That's what the f*ck I thought.

[ENGINE STARTS, REVS]

[MUSIC FADES]

Corridor's closed for the night.

I'm looking for Krystal.

Who the f*ck are you?

Kanan Stark.

The boyfriend. Right.

You a corner boy, dope dealer.

And I don't know where Krystal at.

Last I heard, she was up in your spot.

She left. Went to go see
her cousins in Delaware.

But I ain't heard from her.

She reach out to her mom
in the last couple days?

Krystal and her mother
don't talk no more.

Look, this sh*t
ain't none of... [GRUNTS]

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

[GRUNTING]

Krystal told me you like to creep

in the middle of the night.
Push up on her.

How you like my boot
pushin' up on you, n*gga?

[GRUNTING]

If you or Krystal moms hear from her,

you let me know. Understand?

Nod your f*ck' head,
or my Timbs goin' back to work.

I'm gonna let you know.

[CRUNCHING THUD]

["I THANK YOU" BY ADEVA PLAYING]

[CAR HORNS HONKING]

[LIVELY CHATTER]

I have to go to the bathroom.

But if you go anywhere, I will
hunt you down and k*ll you.

[CHUCKLES]

I'll be right back.

[CHUCKLING]

♪ I'll be there ♪

♪ You're givin' me love
Like a river overflowing ♪

♪ You give me joy And happiness ♪

Trevor said he's going
to the Copa later,

but I don't wanna go.

Me neither. Copa's too sweaty.

[MUSIC CONTINUES, MUTED]

[SIGHS]

- [SNIFFING]
- [OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

- [CASING CLATTERS]
- [THUDDING]

[MUSIC FADES]

I've been seeing someone
for a little while.

It's been good.

I'm happy for you.

I'm happy for me too.

I didn't even know
I could be this happy, actually.

So...

I called you because this detective

showed up at my door a few days ago,

started talking to me about you.

[TENSE, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

When Aaron was k*lled, the police...

asked me about his history
of domestic violence,

and I mentioned that you were a witness

to one of the times he attacked me.

I guess that's...

how he tracked me down.

What kind of questions he ask you?

That's the thing. He didn't
even really ask me anything.

He just started telling me
about you and your family

and... troubles you've had in the past.

- And what'd you say?
- I don't know anything,

so there's nothing to say.

I'll make sure
he doesn't bother you again.

Are you okay?

I'm good.

So... tell me about this new girl.

Oh my God. She's so beautiful.

And smart too.

She's getting her master's in education.

I don't even know how to say it.
She's just...

for me.

[MUSIC FADES]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]

David here?

[WHIMPERING]

[SIGHS]

This physical therapist tells me
I'm not drinking enough water,

which is why my f*cking leg cramps

and keeps me up at night.

But when I drink... I drink more water,

I gotta keep waking up 'cause
I gotta take a f*ck' piss.

So... so what's the point?

Doctor says my prostate's
the size of a f*ck' bocce ball.

I'm at the point
where I gotta hire someone

to slug my f*ck' bladder ten times

- just so's I can take a leak.
- I'd hate to be the palooka

who gets stuck with that f*cking job.

[LAUGHTER]

Guy wants an audience wit' you.

Yeah. Alright.

Need to talk to you about Marvin Thomas.

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

Ay...

This m*therf*cker 'Nique tryin'
to pull me into a f*ck' w*r.

And you know what?
The sh*t about to work.

We hit him. He hit us. It's
the way of the f*ck' world.

Without David and the trucks,

we can't move all this product
comin' in from Hafiz, Marvin.

And if and when Sei Yap is back up,

we don't know that
the new n*gga in charge

gonna wanna f*ck wit' us.

I got a storage spot
that we can hold the work in

until we can figure out how
to move it to the restaurants.

We should step to Stefano,

see if he got some trucks
we can use for a little while.

Also see how hard
we can hit back at 'Nique.

I'm gettin' way past tired

of havin' to clear
every f*ck' call we make

with these rigatoni m*therf*ckers.

Yeah, Stefano might be able
to help with movin' sh*t around.

Before I step in with him,
I need to know from you

what's goin' on with that mess
with Early and Londell.

Handled.

Your version of handled or mine?

God's version.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

Gettin' my feet
up under me a little bit.

- Mm-hmm.
- Finally.

Figurin' out who I am and all that.

You seem lighter than
I've seen you in quite a while.

[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYS IN BAR]

Sometimes, that weight
on your shoulders...

Mm-hmm.

Just turns out to be muscle
you forgot how to use.

[GASPS]

Yeah. [LAUGHS]

Hi, Shirley.

Well, it's about time
someone classed up the joint.

Hi, Imani.

Can I talk to you for a minute?

[SIGHS]

When you asked me to sit in
on the meeting with the police,

I didn't know you were gonna
make me an accomplice.

An accomplice to what?

To your bullshit, Lou,
and God knows what else.

That timeline you gave the cops
was inaccurate.

You know it, and I know it.

You got to my apartment
an hour after you told them.

I wasn't looking at
a f*cking clock, Imani.

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

And that don't mean
I k*lled them n*gg*s, neither.

We're done, Lou. You and me.

I don't know what you did
or didn't do,

but I don't trust you.

And I'm not gonna be

in a relationship
with someone that I don't trust.

I've told Lowell that I don't
want to work with you anymore

on the Rilla project.

Or Eldad Facts. Or Draw Down.

Good luck, Lou.

I hope you find a way
to be honest with yourself

since you can't be honest
with me or anyone else.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC FADES]

- [TRAFFIC BUZZING]
- [CAR HORN HONKING]

[WOMAN] Hi, Juke.

[DARK, OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

f*ck this.

[MUSIC FADES]

I had a little break
from school, so came home.

Of course I wanted to see you.

Hm, figured wit' your college
friends, you forgot me.

Which would have been
totally okay, by the way.

That would not have been okay at all.

Plus, how could I forget you?

You're like the most unforgettable
person I ever met in my life.

- [BELL DINGS]
- [MAN] I can help who's next.

So what's been going on?

- How you been?
- Hmm.

Took some classes,

but wasn't really feeling
any of 'em that much,

so now I'm just figurin' out
what's next.

Thought you was thinkin' about
gettin' out of New York, though.

- Tryin' somethin' new.
- Hmm.

You sound like your mom and dad.

"Butta is a lark, Laverne."

"What are you doing with your life?"

[LAUGHS] For real, though.

You're amazing.

You could do anything that you wanna do.

Hmm.

I don't know that
that's necessarily true.

It is.

What happened to you
getting away from your family

and all they bullshit?

What happened to you
starting a life of your own?

I don't know.

I just feel like...

maybe I am like my family after all.

Maybe...

that's not so bad.

[BELL DINGS]

[MAN] Here's your order, girls.

That was a good pull
on that yellow m*therf*cker.

Last I heard, Five-O don't know sh*t.

Wasn't nothing.

["SIGN OF THE TIMES"
BY BASIC VOCAB PLAYING]

You a big ol' buck, huh?

The f*ck they feedin'
y'all New Jerz n*gg*s?

New York n*gg*s.

[LAUGHTER]

[MAN] Yo, yo, yo. What the f*ck
you doin' here, bro?

[KANAN] I just need to talk
to him, man. That's all.

- [g*n c*ck]
- Hey, yo, Unique!

Let me holla at you.

[TENSE, OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

Kanan f*ck' Stark.

I need to get at you, 'Nique.

You know, I been wonderin' when
you was gonna pay a n*gga a visit.

Welcome, my brother.

So you got a boyfriend?

Or girlfriend?

I been dating this guy that goes
to Morehouse for a little bit.

He's from New Orleans, so he has
one of them crazy accents,

but he's cool.

Wants to be a doctor.

What about you?

You been seein' anybody?

Nah. I mean, I been with a few people,

but nothin' serious.

Hm.

Uh-oh. Check me out
gettin' jealous about Juke.

[TENDER MUSIC PLAYING]

I'm jealous about you too.

Good.

[UNIQUE] I ain't had nothin' to
do with your girl goin' missing

or whatever the f*ck happened
to that Puerto Rock n*gga.

That ain't me, Kanan.

And I ain't got beef wit' you like that.

My issue's with Raq, not you.

Unless you and her are partners
or some sh*t,

in which case, we gonna have a problem.

I get my work from her. That's it.

We not partners like that. Not at all.

That's what I heard.

I know you ain't
gonna stand here and tell me

you didn't have a part in
puttin' my brother down, though.

That was me.

I did that.

n*gga needed to be checked,
so I checked him.

And I'd do it again.

I ain't have no love
for Ronnie in the end, neither.

Just 'cause someone family don't
mean they get to be familiar,

you know what I'm saying?

Raq ain't lookin' out for you, Kanan.

Your girl. Puerto Rock.

[SUCKS TEETH] f*ck' Webster-a*s n*gga.

They all takin' hits.

And your moms ain't nowhere to be found.

You know about O-Cee?

Everybody f*ck' knows, man.

Everybody see all your people out here

gettin' took the f*ck out.

That is a bad look for you, brother.

I don't know Krystal's gone.

I don't even wanna put that sh*t
out in the world.

My apologies, man.

But what I'm saying is,

we look out for ours on this side.

If you on our side, we on yours.

[SUCKS TEETH]

You know this work.

You got these streets wired
with these bike n*gg*s.

You and me join forces?

[SCOFFS] We 'bout to be Voltron
in this m*therf*cker.

You just tryin' to f*ck up my moms.

'Cause you know me and you
workin' together

is gonna twist her head up.

It does have that added benefit.

That's not what this is about.

I believe in you, my n*gga.

Not 'cause who your moms is,
'cause of who you are.

You a real one out here
on your own, Kanan.

Everything ain't gotta be about Raq.

Word.

If you hear something
about my girl, let me know.

Ay yo, get the f*ck off my car, man.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

[CAR ENGINE STARTS]

I'ma be home for a few more days
if you gon' be around.

I think I can fit you in my schedule.

How was dinner, girls?

I heard this spot was tasty.

Not much of a pastry guy myself,
but my wife's pregnant,

and she's got a real sweet tooth.

You should just go home, Iesha.
I'm good.

- You sure?
- I'm police.

She's safe with me.

I'm straight.

Just go, Iesha. Please.

I want you to call me later
and let me know that you're okay.

I will.

Promise me.

I promise.

I get the sense
you're gonna break that promise.

You're not gonna call her, are you?

f*ck you want from me, Garcia?

What I've always wanted.

For you to do your civic duty.

And I'm gonna keep showing up
at really convenient places and times

until you agree to work with me.

f*ck you.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

You really think, the little
n*gga doin' worth all that?

Look, man, he connected

to some real heavy hitters
outside of Raq.

Beefin' with him mean beefin' with them,

and I don't want none of that right now.

[SUCKS TEETH] Kanan's smart.
He stand on his own.

He didn't even blink when he told me

he put down my brother.

He said he'd do it again if he could.

I like a m*therf*cker
who stand by his work.

[SUCKS TEETH] Boy growin' up, man.

He growin' up.

Oh.

I hadn't even heard about this
Oriental guy gettin' clipped.

Yeah, I'm bettin' 'Nique
made the call on his own.

That how it feels to you, Marvin?

Because I know you,
you know a thing or two

about makin' calls on your own.

[SCOFFS] Yeah, it feels like, uh,

'Nique pulled that trigger
without checkin' in with no one.

Hm.

In the short term,

I got some people
we might be able to use

to truck the product
to your restaurants.

But you're gonna have to figure
out an alternative arrangement,

and sooner rather than later,

because I don't like to stay too close

to the narcotics trade.

It's a filthy business.

No doubt.

We on it.

Hey, Raq.

Can I bend your ear a minute?

Alone.

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

Look.

I don't know exactly what happened here,

or... or how this m*rder
in front of the studio

is tied to this robbery
at my old house...

but I can't be connected
to any sort of criminality, Lou.

Don't know why
you talkin' to me about it.

Ain't have sh*t to do with me.

Then why is Imani refusing
to work with you?

You have to ask her that.

I did! She wouldn't give me
a straight answer.

I know what happened at your
last label, Lou. I don't want that here.

You kickin' me to the curb

'cause Imani don't wanna
f*ck wit' me no more, Lowell?

I'm not kicking anyone
anywhere yet, Lou,

but I can't have people robbing my homes

and getting m*rder*d in the street.

Like I said...

that sh*t ain't about me.

You know what?

I feel like this has been
a mistake from the rip.

I'm a street n*gga

who do street n*gga sh*t.

I'm done, Lowell. I'm out.

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

You're quitting?

I appreciate the opportunity.

The street won't put money
in your pocket, Lou.

Depend which street, Lowell.

Early says he ran it past him,
and Marvin give him the okay.

You can't trust a word that come
out of Early Tyler's mouth.

He wasn't lying.
I'm good at reading people.

And coming to me like he did,
that's audacious enough.

He knows bullshittin' me
would be suicidal.

Nah, desperate m*therf*ckers

will tell any story they can
to save they a*s.

I don't believe
he was telling me a story.

And even though Marvin
didn't pull the trigger,

his involvement in this is gonna be

a point of contention for my friends.

Especially since
this is not the first time

he's run afoul of this thing.

You know, one time a mistake,
twice a trend.

You're loyal to your family.
I'm loyal to mine.

Anybody go after Marvin,
they gon' have to get through me first.

I admire that.

I really do.

I just wish your brother

had the same sense of duty
and responsibility to you

that you do to him.

Marvin talked to me about replacing you.

About stepping up
and taking over your operation.

I don't believe that.

And I'm sure you didn't believe it

when you found out that Marvin
and I had some side business

that didn't include you.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

Listen.

I'm just trying to help you
help yourself.

You know, sometimes,
people like you and me,

we got our heads up so high
that we don't see the sh*t

that's happening right under our feet.

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC FADES]

[ENGINE IDLING]

- Hey, sweetheart.
- Hey, Dad!

- [MAN] How was school?
- [GIRL] Good.

[MAN] Yeah?

- You got anything?
- Eh, just some homework.

[GIRL CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

Early came through
and told Stefano everything.

Damn.

You f*cked this all up, Marvin.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

["CIAO, CIAO, BAMBINA"
BY JERRY VALE PLAYING]

I know it was you
who hit the ch*nk, Unique.

I'm not a f*ck' idiot.

Didn't have nothin' to do
with that, Phil.

I just heard about it myself.

Look, these f*gg*t m*therf*ckers
get real rough with each other.

You know, the lovers' spat's
real different

when it's two n*gg*s beefin'.

[LAUGHS] Lovers' spat.

Yeah, that's what it was.

They settled it the way all lovers do.

b*llet to the back of the f*ck' head
in the bathroom, right?

[PHIL SIPS LOUDLY]

[SIGHS] I'm not goin'
to the f*ck' mattresses

with New York right now,
especially not for you

and your ghetto bullshit.

Peace in the Middle East, baby.

You know I'm all about it.

[SUCKS TEETH]

♪ ♪

n*gga, you told me you was gonna
look out for me and my people.

You told me you was gonna be different

than all these other
f*ck' music n*gg*s.

You exactly the same, Lou. You all talk.

I got your a*s out the pen, Rilla.

That's a whole lot more
than talk, n*gga.

Honestly...

not gettin' to finish
the work that we started

is my biggest regret in this sh*t.

Regret ain't gon' feed my baby, Lou.

Don't know for sure Lowell
and them is gonna drop you.

You know he didn't want me back
on that f*ck' label in the first place.

Only reason he signed me up
again was you.

Now that you gone,

he ain't gonna want sh*t to do with me.

I need work, Lou.

It don't matter what kind.

I'm not afraid to get gully
out here, either.

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

Just keep a n*gga in mind.

Done.

[MUSIC FADES]

[MAN] Hey, buddy. Over here.

She hasn't been in school
in a couple weeks.

She wasn't around last time
I came through,

which was like three weeks ago.

Her foster parents keep calling
into the office saying she's sick.

You know where they stay at?

They must have an address
in that office, though.

[SCOFFS] I can't get that for you, man.

Against the rules.

The rules made to be broken.

Give me a minute.

Her name Krystal Bradley.

Eighteen-year-old Black girl.

Ain't no girls there that
y'all don't know who they are?

A'ight. Thank you.

Thirty hospitals I called,
she ain't at none of 'em.

Keep thinkin' she gon' walk
through that f*ck' door.

Deep down, I know
that sh*t ain't gonna happen.

I got someone I could talk to.

Might be able to help.

sh*t's complicated, but...

I appreciate anything you could do.

I'ma go holla at Bonnie and Clyde.
They hear things we don't.

Until we know for sure what happened,

you gotta stay positive, man.

sh*t could still work out.

Who the f*ck are you kiddin'?

Nothin' ever works out for us, Juke.

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

[MELLOW R&B MUSIC PLAYING]

- [CAR TURNS OFF]
- [MUSIC SHUTS OFF]

[LOCK CLICKING]

- Who are you?
- Marvin Thomas.

A friend of Amber's.

I don't think so.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

I was close with the family
'fore she got wit' y'all.

Just askin' after her.
Heard she was sick.

She never said anything about you to us.

I was a friend of her father's.

Not something I'd be bragging about.

I just wanna know
how the little girl is, man.

School sayin' she been out
'cause she ain't feelin' well.

She's fine. She's got a cold.

Now you need to get
the f*ck back in your car

and drive away before I call the police.

[INHALES DEEPLY, EXHALES]

[AMBER] Uncle Marvin!

[GRUNTING]

[JOHN] I'm gonna
smash your head in!

Amber, where you at?

Get outta this house, you f*ck' n*gga!

[GRUNTS]

[AMBER] Uncle Marvin!

f*ck they doin' to y'all in here?

You're gonna die!

- [g*n FIRES]
- [GRUNTING]

[BODY THUDS ON FLOOR]

[GROANS]

[g*n FIRES]

I gotta get outta here right now.

But you gonna call the police,

tell 'em some white boy
with tattoos came in here

and did all of that
to these people, okay?

[BABY WAILING]

I'ma circle back on you,

once the dust settles.

You gonna be all right, though.

I got you.

[POLICE SIREN WAILING]

Called around.

Turns out, they found the Jane Doe
in a stairwell over at Edgemere.

Take it that's your friend.

As of right now, there aren't any leads.

Sorry for your loss.

But now you owe me.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

Ain't the first time
you said you want back in.

But I gotta be honest,

sh*t just feel like lip service.

Talk is cheap, baby brother.

I ain't just talkin', Raq.

I wanna get down again.

I know you worried I'm gon' fake.

Ain't no half-steppin'
in this sh*t, Lou.

Gotta be your whole f*ck' heart.

Can't have you sayin' you here with us

and your feelings are somewhere else.

Can't have you watchin' my back

when you lookin' over
your own f*ck' shoulder.

You need to be here in this moment,

doing what needs to be done.

I've gone through a whole lot
to get to a place

where I can accept all that.

Where I can see it for what it is.

Where I can see me for who I am.

You talkin' to that rehab doctor again?

I ain't talkin' to nobody.

Block been talkin' to me, though.

Kickin' that street psychology.

Scrap, D-Wiz.

You damn near drowned yourself
in a f*ck' bottle over all that, Lou.

I don't think I got f*cked up
over all that work

because I hated it...

or because
I thought it was wrong.

I think I got f*cked up...

because I liked it too much.

'Cause it felt too f*ck' right.

And knowin' that, feelin' that,

wasn't somethin' I could accept.

I couldn't handle
what it said about me

or how I see myself or this
whole damn world around me.

But I'm a f*ck' dragon slayer, Raq.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

What the f*ck you call a dragon slayer

when he ain't got no dragons to slay?

You call that n*gga a cab
'cause he fallin' down drunk at the bar.

[LOU CHUCKLES]

I made peace with myself.

And now that I've found that peace...

I'm ready to go back to w*r
next to y'all.

So all that music sh*t is just done?

Music ain't goin' nowhere.

But losin' Fame the way we did,

showed me that I can't save nobody

sittin' behind a f*ck' mixin' board.

I need to be out here wit' y'all.

[SIGHS]

I don't know that I completely
buy all that sh*t, Lou.

I'm not sure that you do, neither.

But if you want work,
I got work for you.

Right here. Right now.

And if you a dragon slayer
like you say you are,

then I guess you and me 'bout to step

in the motherfuckin' dragon's lair.

[TENSE, JARRING MUSIC PLAYING]

Strap the f*ck up.

[TRAIN CLACKING]

We haven't heard anything
about your girlfriend.

But we're certainly gonna keep
our ears and eyes open.

Could be she left town and cut ties.

Wouldn't be the first b*tch
to leave New York behind her.

She wouldn't do that to me
and not tell me first.

There's nothing more unpredictable
than a woman, Kanan.

It's actually a coincidence
that you're here right now.

We were gonna reach out.

We heard back from our friends
in the NYPD.

- Famous?
- Mm-hmm.

Didn't believe it ourselves
when we heard it,

but they wouldn't lie to us.

[INTENSE DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[SIGHS]

It was your mother, son.

Raq hired some dirty police
to k*ll your friend.

[OLDER KANAN] Don't ever care
about nothin' in this sh*t.

Don't matter if it's
your mother, your brother,

or your own damn child.

I can't lie, this sh*t
ain't a bad look for me.

Look too pretty,
n*gg*s think they can get cute.

[OLDER KANAN] Because your work
don't care about none of that.

It just gotta eat.

We got visitors.

I patted 'em both down. They're clean.

[OLDER KANAN] And when you
thinkin' about that other sh*t,

you ain't feedin' it.

And once your work
get hungry enough,

it's gonna eat
the only sh*t around.

And that's you, n*gga.

Your a*s on the menu.

We need to talk.

[OLDER KANAN]
Bon appetit, m*therf*cker.