05x15 - United in Grief

[bunniefuu]

["WON'T SEE ME CRY" PLAYING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

SPENCER, VOICE-OVER: I been
kinda going through some things.

Trying to outrun my demons...

Hide from the truth of
everything I been feeling...

STEALTH: ♪ ... Broken, closed off ♪

♪ Not open to talk ♪

♪ I'm tired and I'm wasted ♪

♪ I know you hate this right now ♪

SPENCER, VOICE-OVER: But the day
always comes when you have to face it.

STEALTH: ♪ But I'm empty
inside, lots of room ♪

♪ For my problems to hide ♪

SPENCER, VOICE-OVER:
No matter how ugly it gets...

STEALTH: ♪ You won't see me cry ♪

You said you need more
time, and that's OK,

'cause you and me, we got
all the time in the world.

STEALTH: ♪ You won't see me cry ♪

SPENCER, VOICE-OVER: Today is that day.

STEALTH: ♪ Cry ♪

- GRACE: Ha ha ha ha!
- DILLON: Mm-hmm. Mm.

Uh, will you slow down?

Stop acting like you
starving. Ha ha ha ha!

DILLON: Oh, snap. It's not my fault.

They didn't feed me on
the plane this morning.

It's only a hour flight
from Oakland to L.A.

- GRACE: Ha ha ha ha!
- CARTER: What you talking about?

- [SILVERWARE CLINKS]
- Good morning.

- SPENCER: Good morning.
- CARTER: Good morning.

So, Dillon, who's this
artist you're excited to see?

Jamal Campbell. He drew
this comic called "Naomi."

CARTER: Y'all driving
over to Melrose to see him?

Yep. Spence is taking
me. It's a art gallery

inside a sneaker store.
It's gonna be sick!

- GRACE: Whoa! Hey.
- SPENCER: Yo! Yo! Yo!

- What you doing, man!
- Hey, settle down.

It was an accident. I'm sure it's fine.

It wouldn't have happened if
he wasn't over there tweaking.

Yo, you the one tweaking
about this stupid phone.

- I'm sure Coach Baker's voicemail is fine.
- GRACE: Hey.

SPENCER: I need you to
mind your business, man.

You need to get over yourself.

- Whatchu say to me?
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Relax, you guys.

Spencer, sit down.

Spencer, enough. Your
mum asked you to sit down.

Hey, it's family business,
homie. Mind yours!

- CARTER: Excuse me?
- GRACE: Aw, hell no. This has gone too far.

Spencer. Spencer! Look at me!

I have been patient with
you while I let you deal

with your grief on your
own, but you in here acting

like you done lost your damn mind!

- SPENCER: This ain't got nothing to do with my grief, Ma.
- GRACE: Be quiet!

I have reached out to Dr. Spears

about you seeing him when you're ready,

but you know what? Forget that.
You're gonna see him today.

I don't need to see nobody,
especially not no damn therapist.

This is not up for discussion, Spencer.

As long as you're under my roof,

you are going to therapy.

Then maybe I don't need to
be under your roof no more.

MAN: Nice. Come on. Get through,
get through, get through.

- Pick up your feet.
- JORDAN: Here we go. Set, go.

- SINGERS: ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
- MAN: Wrong route, Evan.

JORDAN: Gotta focus!
Let's go. Run it back.

- MALE SINGER: ♪ Yeah, bloodstain on the concrete ♪
- JORDAN: Set, go.

SINGER: ♪ Never learned
how to turn the cheek ♪

- ♪ Enemies want the end of me ♪
- JORDAN: Hoo! Evan, come on, man.

It's a simple wheel route!

- Set, go!
- SINGER: ♪ Nothin given so I'll take that ♪

♪ I'm in line for the payback ♪

- ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, where's the throne at? ♪
- CORNERBACK: Whoo!

- JORDAN: Oh, my God.
- WIDE RECEIVER: Whoo!

Got you, baby! Here I go!

- Ah!
- JORDAN: Hey! Hey!

- Hey! Evan!
- EVAN: Yeah. Ha ha ha!

JORDAN: Evan! How about
you put as much effort

in catching the ball as you do
your little celebration dances?

What you say, freshman?

Don't let that QB
position go to your head.

This is not about me, all right?

The offence doesn't thrive
if you don't catch the ball,

and that puts pressure on the defence.

Heh! You talking a lot
of junk for somebody

- who lost us the bowl game.
- [PLAYERS MURMUR]

All right. Well, at least
I made it on the field.

I mean, what is this, like,
your fifth year on the roster?

- EVAN: You say to me?
- JORDAN: Man, get outta my face.

- You say to me, bro?
- Get outta my face!

[PLAYERS SHOUTING, WHISTLE BLOWING]

JJ: Ah.

Yo, who's ready for some spring ball?

Dude, where've you been?

You've been a ghost since
Coach Baker's memorial.

Well, I, uh, felt I
needed to give everybody

a little space while I work on myself.

Or you were just trying to hide
because of what you did at the repast.

[SIGHS]

Everybody thinks I was drunk

'cause I was out partying,
but that's not the case.

I was alone,

and I needed something to numb
the pain of Coach Baker being gone.

I realise that was a
terrible excuse, but...

I'm good now.

I'm back on track, ready
to focus on football.

All the partying
stuff's in the rear view.

- It's good to hear that.
- It's good saying it.

- Now let's go.
- ASHER: Go where?

- JJ: Practice.
- Dude, practice isn't for another hour. It's early.

To be early is to be late.

[SIGHS] Fine.

- Let me get my things.
- [DOOR CLOSES]

JJ: Spence. Bro, what's up?

- SPENCER: What's up?
- [JJ CHUCKLES, SIGHS]

Yo, uh, Spence, is it true?

I saw Jordan on the way
to practice this morning.

- You're entering the transfer portal?
- SPENCER: Yeah.

I'm actually on my way to GAU right nowt

to ge a letter of
recommendation from Coach Kenny.

JJ: Dude, I hope Coastal's on your list.

I already know Coach
Mr. Montes is a huge fan.

Yo, you gotta put in a word, Ash,

and then all we'd have to
do is get Jordan to transfer

and all of Coach Baker's boys
would be on the same roster.

Heh! We're winning the natty.

JJ: Yo, unstoppable, baby.

Yeah, man, that sounds awesome.

Uh, speaking of Coastal, we
should probably get going.

- Spence, we'll catch you later, though.
- SPENCER: All right.

JJ, CHUCKLING: Wow.

MAN: Mr. James.

- SPENCER: Dr. Spears?
- [REFRIGERATOR DOOR CLOSES]

Yeah, I hope you don't
mind me dropping by.

- Your, uh, roommates let me in.
- SPENCER: What you doing here?

Got an urgent call from your mum.

She's pretty concerned about you.

Well, I'm sorry she wasted your
time. I'm all good over here.

Well, be that as it may,

we haven't talked in a
while. Be nice to catch up.

- I gotta get to campus.
- Oh, then maybe we can set up

- an appointment for later.
- SPENCER: Look...

You and me, we ain't got nothing
to talk about or catch up on.

As a matter of fact, you trespassing.

I'mma have to ask you to leave.

Are you gon' make me repeat myself?

Say less.

I'll go.

Why didn't you tell me Miko sent
flowers to the house last night?

Have you freak out at
your video release party?

How did she get our address?

Ugh! Like, I feel violated.

Yeah, you should. I mean, first
it was the constant DM stalking,

then the "accidental" run-in
at Slauson's, and now this.

Patience, there is something
seriously wrong with Miko.

- You have to stay away from her.
- PATIENCE: Yeah, I know. I know.

- You're right. I just... I feel, like, weird.
- OK. OK, OK.

Let's focus on something
I know will make you happy.

Let's look at the views on
the "Fire and Ice" video.

PATIENCE: OK.

Wait. There's only , views?

No, that can't be right. The teaser
got, like, million in two days.

And look at these comments.

Great. I have a stalker fan,

and no one liked the video.

- Patience.
- No, no, no. This is...

this is great. Really cool.

[SIGHS]

ASHER: Gentlemen, what
is the common denominator

- in all those highlights?
- They're all running a - defense.

Correct. Which allows them to...

Use their outside backers
as additional pass-rushers.

Right again.

This is a mainstay in the NFL,

but more college programs
are running it, like, uh...

Alabama, Georgia, Oregon.

- JABARI: OK, Rain Man.
- COACH MR. MONTES: And as of this spring,

you can add Coastal to that list.

Take a minute to look
through your tablets.

We'll be implementing these
drills on the field later.

[QUIETLY] What'd you do,

spike JJ's protein shake this morning?

Heh! He's locked in. Showed
up early and prepared.

OK. We'll see if it lasts.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

SPENCER: I see you got that promotion.

And you came all this
way to congratulate me.

I came here 'cause I need
a letter of recommendation

from my current coach for
when I enter the portal.

[CHUCKLES]

Let... let me get this straight.

So first you quit, and
then you lose your mind,

getting all up in my face, and
now you're asking me for a favour?

It's not a favour. It's your
job as my current head coach.

My job. Well, coaches with interest

will reach out to me
once you hit the portal.

Yeah, well, I like to be
proactive about my future.

So you gonna write the
letter or what, man?

Let me tell you something, little homie.

I gave you a pass the last
time you came at me sideways,

but you better watch your damn tone.

I'll get you that letter
when I'm good and ready.

Now, this locker room is
for current GAU players only.

You remember where the exit is, right?

Yo, I told you I ain't got
nothing to say to you, man.

You told me I was trespassing,
so here I am on public property

asking if you want to make
an appointment next week.

- Why can't you just back off, bruh?
- Because I'm concerned about you.

It's obvious you're in immense pain

and holding it in has turned toxic.

SPENCER: Do you run up uninvited

- to all your clients' houses and schools?
- I do,

for the special ones
when I know they need me.

Ain't nothin' special about me,
so you and everybody else can stop

tryin' to jump through hoops for me, OK?

Tell me, what is it about
the people in your life,

or maybe it's just the men in your life,

going above and beyond
for you that's triggering?

[SHOUTING] I'm not triggered!

[QUIETLY] I'm not triggered.

You're trying your hardest
to hide from your emotions,

and eventually, you will
run outta hiding places.

When you do,

I'm just a call away.

Hey, Coach. You wanted to see me?

Yeah. What the hell was that today?

Oh, I know. I mean, guys
not running their routes,

totally unfocused.

Look, we lost a lot of
good talent to the portal,

none more important
than Spencer James...

But it's not your job to
coach this team, it's mine.

OK, well, they were putting
celebrating over practicing,

- and Evan was being...
- What part of "this is not your job"

don't you understand?

Well, I just thought that
as the leader of this team,

- maybe I should st...
- Obviously they're not responding to your leadership,

so you need to fall back.

Yes, Coach.

I'm sorry, but did I do
something to offend you?

Because I was... I was
just trying to step up.

[CAPS, SETS DOWN MARKER] Nah.

Look, my bad, man.

Spencer stopped by a little earlier,

and it just has me all worked up.

Yeah, he's been having an
effect on all of us lately.

Look, Coach, Spencer... [SIGHS]

He's the type of person
that pushes everyone away

whenever he's hurting.

And considering that
he isn't really dealing

with the reality of my dad being gone,

well, my guess is that he's hurting
more than any of us really know.

Thanks for the insight, J.

And I'm sorry I took my
frustrations out on you.

- No problem.
- All right.

- OK. [CLAPS PALMS TOGETHER]
- Oh, one last thing.

You are a leader, J.,
but they're not responding

to your leadership because
that hard-ass style,

that ain't you.

[DOOR OPENS]

COOP: Hey, yo. Got a special delivery.

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- SPENCER: What y'all doing here?

COOP: Uh, Dillon asked
me to bring him by.

Apparently you were supposed
to take him to Melrose today.

DILLON: You were so busy
storming out the house you forgot.

It wasn't even like that,
man. Mums was trippin'...

- DILLON: Nah, man, you was trippin'...
- COOP: Hey, Dillon,

why don't you, uh, go
ahead and take your stuff up

to your brother's room so me
and him can talk for a second?

[EXHALES SHARPLY] What's
going on with you, man?

I just got a lot going on, Coop.

Melrose slipped my mind, OK?

This ain't about you forgetting
to take Dillon somewhere,

all right? This is about

this scorched-earth thing you
doing to the people that love you.

- I'm worried.
- You don't got to worry about me, OK?

Neither does my mum, Dillon,

the Bakers, or whoever else
can't mind they damn business.

Yo, do you hear yourself right now?

You are our business, OK?

- So if you hurting, we hurting.
- SPENCER: You hear me?

I said I'm good! End of discussion!

Nah, man, I've known you way too long.

And you not good, so
enough with the B.S.

You need to let it go, Coop, a'ight?

I'm not lettin' nothing go
until we figure this out.

Look, I really don't need you
on my bumper right now, man.

- COOP: Look, you angry, I get it.
- Coop...

- We all feeling Billy's...
- Leave me alone!

[WOOD CRUNCHES]

[BREATH TREMBLING]

DILLON, QUIETLY: Spence,
man, what're you doing?

I think your... your brother just...

he needs a little space right now.

Listen, man, I've been rocking
with you for way too long.

I've seen every side of you...

the good, the bad, the ugly... but this,

this Spencer James?

I don't know him,

and that scares me.

Dillon, go get your
stuff 'cause I don't...

I don't even feel safe leaving you here.

Hey, Dillon... Dillon is my brother, OK?

He know he's safe with me.

I'm going with Coop.

["DEMONS" PLAYING]

[FOOTSTEPS ASCEND STAIRS]

[DOOR SLAMS]

PA THE WRITER: ♪ La la
la la la la la la la la ♪

♪ Fight 'em off for life ♪

Hey...

Let's take a drive.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Hey, what up, JJ? Long time no see.

Oh, well, what's up? Keith.

- Gage. Hey, man.
- GAGE: How's it going?

Where you been? You're M.I.A.
at our frat parties lately,

M.I.A. at the house.

Me and the brothers
are pretty disappointed.

- GAGE: Yeah.
- Come on, guys.

I need to lock back in on football.

Yo, trust me, we get it.

- GAGE: Yeah.
- KEVIN: It's a gnarly load.

That doesn't change the
fact that we miss you.

- GAGE: Yeah.
- KEVIN: You're the life of the party.

A party ain't a party
if JJ Parker isn't there.

I... I miss y'all, too, but

Party JJ has to ride the bench
for a while, huh? [CHUCKLES]

- KEVIN: Sorry to hear that.
- JJ, QUIETLY: All right.

JABARI: You? Missing parties?

Heh! Man, your turn-up is legendary.

Ah. [CHUCKLES] I...
I appreciate that, but

honestly, it got a little outta hand.

Yeah, I know what it's like
to be running from a life

trying to suck you back in.

But luckily, you got Coach
Asher believing in you,

like I had Coach Baker.

Just keep doing what you're doing, man.

You're making everybody proud, you know,

and it's inspiring for guys like me.

Thanks, man.

Gia's set up some radio interviews

to create some buzz and
get those views up. [SIGHS]

PATIENCE: It doesn't matter.

People hate the video and they hate me.

- Well, this "new" version of me.
- [CELL PHONE VIBRATES]

Ooh! It's Gia. [SIGHS] Wait.

The views on your video
just reached two million.

- What? How?
- Yeah.

OK. Uh, verified numbers... oh.

She traced it back to
one of Miko's fan pages.

Miko posted the video and the
numbers went through the roof.

[CHUCKLING] Oh, my God!
Wait, that's incredible.

- OK. No. Hold on. I know that look.
- Let me see.

- Patience.
- PATIENCE: What?

Look, before you...

before you get any
ideas about reaching out

and wanting to thank her,
I would like to remind you

that we are distancing ourselves,

right, 'cause she's
giving full danger vibes.

Yeah, but can't we
just cut her some slack?

I mean, she was bullied
in high school and,

- you know, she found something in my music.
- Mm-hmm,

and then she found your home address.

That is a huge violation.

I have been down this
road with Carrie, OK?

I am telling you, Miko
is not the kind of person

you try to reason
with or set boundaries.

She's the kind you cut off for good.

[SIGHS]

SPENCER: What are we doing here?

DR. SPEARS: Oh, thought
it'd be nice to come back

to a place that feels
familiar and safe to you.

Plus, I could use the fresh air.

- Man, this L.A. the air is anything but fresh.
- [CHUCKLES]

I'll take my chances.

But now that I got you talking,

what made you finally call?

I scared my brother.

Dillon doesn't trust me enough
to be left alone with me no more.

Can't say I blame him.

I been having this feeling like...

You know how people talk
about out-of-body experiences?

That's how my life's
been feeling lately.

DR. SPEARS: In what way?

Like I feel myself detaching
from everything inside of me, man.

It's like I'm watching
somebody else say and do things

that I never would, only the
person I'm watching is me.

- I don't know what's going on.
- You're in crisis, Spencer.

That's what's going on.

When it's not properly
addressed, grief can unlock things

and send us spiralling in
ways you would never imagine.

Nah, I've felt grief
before. This is different.

Yeah, because you allowed
it to fester and mutate.

One of the hardest things
for a black man to say is

"I'm not OK."

You calling me was a step
in the right direction.

MAN: Place it right here, OK?

That's where my pops taught
me how to throw a spiral.

He always told me,

"fingers between the laces, son.

Cock the ball back, keep
your arm at degrees,

step into it,

and release."

Seems like those lessons paid off.

Nah, not really.

- That's why I play wide receiver, not QB.
- Ah.

Who knows?

Maybe if he didn't walk
out on me back then,

things would've turned out different.

COOP: I'm talkin' whole fist
through the cabinet, all right?

There's gotta be a underlying
something there now, like

a meanness I've never seen before.

He don't care about nothing
or nobody, including himself.

Well, so what are we
supposed to do, then?

Give up on Spencer? Abandon him?

Well, it ain't abandonment if
he's the one opening the door

and telling you to get the hell out.

JORDAN: Yeah, I mean, I
tried to make excuses for him

with Coach Kenny earlier, but,

I mean, the truth is, I saw it in
his eyes last night at his kickback.

- I mean, he's done with us.
- Well, what about Alicia?

I mean, she's his
girlfriend. Maybe she knows...

Girl, Alicia can't help him or
us, all right? She's been gone.

She gave him a "Dear
Spencer" letter and dipped.

- JORDAN: Wait. Seriously? When?
- OLIVIA: Wait, wait. I'm sorry.

Spencer loses the closest
thing he's had to a father

and his girlfriend
dumps him because what,

- he's not fun anymore?
- COOP: OK, easy there.

She took a step back because she
felt like she was smothering him.

And knowing him, he
probably felt abandoned,

and that was his final straw
in his whole downward spiral.

He pushed her away, Liv!

How does no one get
that Spencer is hurting?

Space is the last thing that he needs,

no matter how much he tries
to convince us otherwise.

I mean, Liv, I'm not really sure
what else we can do for Spencer.

Not give up on him.

None of us. That is what we can do.

[ALL GIGGLING]

You know how many hours me, Coop,
and Shawn spent on these things?

DR. SPEARS: Shawn. You
mentioned him before.

- That's your childhood friend?
- This is where we first met.

We were, like, . [CHUCKLES]

We'd swing up as high as we could,

then jump out the seat
at the highest point.

Oh, that sounds exhilarating.

It was, was. Shawn had to
convince me to do it, though.

Said, "you never touch the sky
if you're too afraid to fall."

It's crazy we lost all that time beefin'

just 'cause we chose different paths.

Turns out he was looking
out for me the whole time.

Protecting me from the
streets without me knowing.

Now that's a real friend.

He was.

And then he left.

But he didn't leave, Spencer.

He passed away.

Right, right.

That's what I meant.

JORDAN: Coach, hey. I, uh, was
thinking about this morning's practice.

OK, you told me to stay in
my lane, right, and I am,

but as a leader, I forgot
something this morning.

That this team is still hurting.

OK, look, we don't have final
word on our sanctions yet

and no matter how we all act,

that still weighs on all of us.

COACH KENNY: What are you saying, Baker?

This team needs some bonding,

right, but I think we can do that
by restoring the fun into football.

[SCOFFS] Baker, we don't
have time for games.

- You see what we're dealing with out here.
- JORDAN: Exactly.

We just need to get their
hearts out onto the field, right?

Most of these guys are
either brand-new to the team

or haven't seen the field at all,

and I need to build
chemistry with my teammates.

COACH KENNY: All right, listen
up, gentlemen, listen up.

We're doing something a little
bit different this practice,

thanks to your QB.

[PLAYERS GRUMBLE]

All right, listen. Look,

we're gonna have a touchdown
celebration contest.

[PLAYERS MURMUR]

Come here. Explain.

JORDAN: Hey, OK.

Fellas, it's simple, all right?

We just wanna see who
hits the best griddy.

- PLAYERS: Hey.
- JORDAN: All right, so show me what you got!

Let's go! Come on! Line
it up. Let's line it up.

- COACH KENNY: Let's line up, line up.
- PLAYER: Yo!

Here we go. Corner coming in hot.

OK, go.

RICKY CAGE: ♪ Whoo! ♪

[PLAYERS CHEERING]

COACH KENNY: All right,
all right. What you got?

["GOTTA KEEP MOVIN" PLAYING]

- ♪ I said the world keeps spinning ♪
- JORDAN: Eh.

- ♪ Don't stop for nobody ♪
- COACH KENNY: Next, next, next.

- Come on, let's go, .
- JORDAN: OK, go.

COACH KENNY: Oh. All right, all right.

- Come on, J.
- [PLAYERS CHEER]

COACH KENNY: What you got, ?

- [PLAYERS JEERING AND LAUGHING]
- COACH KENNY: There you go.

- Wake up!
- JORDAN: Ah, ha ha ha!

- Eh...
- COACH KENNY: Oh. Ah.

CAGE: ♪ Baaby, don't
stop now now, now, now ♪

JORDAN: All right, Evan,
let's see what you got.

- OK, go.
- CAGE: ♪ Don't slow down, baby ♪

♪ Don't slow down,
you gotta keep movin ♪

- [CHEERING]
- ♪ You gotta keep going ♪

♪ Hey, hey, you gotta keep movin ♪

Whoo!

[SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

Go on, Coach.

You know, I'm not above buying ice cream

for my clients to keep them talking.

SPENCER: [CHUCKLES] Well,
I ain't above being bribed.

DR. SPEARS: OK.

You know, shortly after he came back,

Pops brought me and Dillon here.

Guess he wanted to get in
some bonding time, you know?

- And how was that day?
- It was great.

It was hot.

He bought us ice cream to cool off,

but it started melting
so fast, he had to turn it

- into a ice cream eating contest.
- DR. SPEARS: Ha ha! He did?

Who won?

Nobody, man. We all got brain freeze.

Wow.

You know, it seems that,
uh, despite the anger

you felt over Corey leaving
you when you were young,

you seem to have built up
some really good memories

when he came back into your life.

Uh, yeah.

Wasn't enough time, though.

I blinked and he was gone again.

How'd you feel about his passing?

Least I got to say goodbye.

PATIENCE: I wanted to thank you

in person for reposting my video.

Oh, man. Heh! You
don't have to thank me.

You know I'm your number-one fan.

Lately I've been working on
setting boundaries in my life.

One of those boundaries is my home.

So you sending flowers over there was...

it was totally inappropriate.

Oh, my God, I...

I wasn't even thinking.

Well, you know I'd never do
anything to make you uncomfortable

on... on purpose.

- PATIENCE: Yeah, well, you did.
- MIKO: I'm so sorry. I...

I was trying to be supportive, but I...

I totally see how I overstepped.

You must hate me. I'm so, so stupid!

Look, no, you're not. You're just...

Look, you made a mistake.

We all do it sometimes. It's...

It's fine. It's fine.

Thank you for saying that.

You're a real one.

That's why I'll... I'll always be a fan.

- Excuse me. Patience?
- PATIENCE: Oh. Yeah?

WOMAN: Can we get a pic?

Oh, my God. Yeah, yeah. Um,

let's find somewhere with more light.

- WOMAN: OK.
- PATIENCE: OK? Yeah. Um, I'll be right back, OK?

Um, yeah.

- MIKO: Take your time.
- PATIENCE: OK.

Yeah, yeah.

- WOMAN: Do you want to take it?
- PATIENCE: I'll take it, yeah.

- WOMAN, CHUCKLING: OK.
- PATIENCE: OK.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Hey.

I didn't think you were gonna show.

- ALICIA: Why am I here?
- OLIVIA: Because Spencer is drowning,

and I think that you're the
only person that can save him.

Look, I've seen him deal
with a lot in his life,

but nothing has affected him the way

that my dad's passing has,

and he is headed toward
a very, very dark place.

I tried to help him. I did,
but he didn't want my help.

What happened exactly?

You happened... And you keep happening.

Forgive me if I don't want
to set myself up for failure,

but if Spencer needs saving,
clearly, you are the person to do it.

No, I... I don't think I am.

Not anymore. But right now,

Spencer needs everyone that
he loves to show up for him.

And as the woman in his life, I mean,

that especially means you.

Do with that what you will.

[SIGHS]

- DR. SPEARS: So...
- SPENCER: I'm like, "hell no. I got practice."

- SPENCER: Coop was like, "I dare you."
- DR. SPEARS: Coop did?

- [CELLPHONE VIBRATING]
- SPENCER: Yeah, and back in them days,

- you don't turn down a dare from Coop, OK?
- DR. SPEARS: Oh, wow. Heh!

[VIBRATING CONTINUES]

[CLEARS THROAT]

Why didn't you send
that call to voicemail?

- Why does it matter?
- It matters because

you hesitated to decline it and
then you went somewhere else.

- Look, maybe that's enough for today's session, OK?
- No.

No, no. No.

- No more hiding, Spencer.
- It's a damn call, Doc.

- It's a damn voicemail, a'ight?
- No, no, it's not.

- There's something more there...
- Leave me alone,

a'ight? Why can't y'all
just leave me alone, a'ight?

Spencer, you can't run from
this. Don't run from it.

Look, this is why we're doing the work.

Maybe I don't wanna
do the work, Doc, OK?!

- Stop, man! Yo, yo! Chill!
- DR. SPEARS: Look, wait. No.

Now talk to me. You gotta let it out.

Give it a voice.

- Why are you angry?
- SPENCER: Because I sent his call to voicemail!

[VOICE TREMBLING] I
declined Coach Baker's call!

Coach! My hero! The
man who saved my life!

I declined his call, man.

[VOICE CRACKING] It was my last
chance to talk to him, and I...

Maybe if I had picked up the damn phone,

I could have changed things,

I could have kept him off that bus,

I could have kept him
alive! But instead,

all I've got is a reminder

of how I failed him, man.

- You did not fail him.
- Yes, I did!

No, you did not fail him.

You cannot blame yourself for this.

Son...

There's nothing you

or anyone else could've done.

But I ain't get a
chance to say goodbye...

[CRYING]

I didn't get to say goodbye.

Now he's gone.

He left me. [CRYING]

Why they always leave me, man?

[SNIFFS]

MALE SINGERS: ♪ It's all
right, it's all right ♪

- SINGERS: ♪ It's all right ♪
- DR. SPEARS: It's OK.

SINGERS: ♪ Goodbye, goodbye goodbye ♪

JORDAN: All right, fellas. Here we go.

Be alive. Down, set. .

Wide and set!

[PLAYERS SHOUTING]

[CHEERING]

Come on, baby! Hey, hey.

ALL: Hey, hey, hey...

[PLAYERS CLAMOURING]

[CHUCKLES]

I'mma be honest, man.

I didn't think your whole dance
competition thing was gonna work.

Well, why'd you agree to do it?

Because you believed in it.

You know, my sister reminded
me of something today,

that no matter what's happening,

quitting on your people,
it's never an option.

[SLAPS COACH KENNY'S BACK]

[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

Smart woman.

Still at it?

Uh, yes, sir. Just going
through some game tape,

looking for where I can improve.

- It's great. It's impressive.
- Yeah.

- You were good on the field today, too.
- JJ: Thanks, Coach.

- It means a lot.
- COACH MR. MONTES: I'd be lying if I said

I wasn't worried at the
top of the off season.

You can thank Asher for the fact that

you still have a spot on this team.

I'm sorry, sir. Those
distractions are all gone.

- I won't give you any reason to worry again.
- COACH MR. MONTES: That's good.

'Cause I don't usually
do second chances.

You blow off this program
again and you're done.

[SIGHS]

Nope, nope. [SETS DOWN CAN]

You don't need it. [SIGHING] Just focus.

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

DR. SPEARS: Can I ask you something?

Why do you think you're unworthy

of people staying in your life?

Yeah, I don't think it was
a slip-up when you referred

to your loved ones'
deaths as them "leaving."

When you broke down earlier, you said

they all always leave you,

as if it was their choice.

Because people do always leave.

And I don't just mean
Corey or Shawn, Billy.

Darnell and I were like brothers.

We got mad close and then he had to
leave to go take care of his mums.

My mum lives in Oakland now.

Even my girl bounced the
minute things got tough.

And I know, I know,

up here...

That all their reasons for
leaving make sense, but...

I can't stop whatever it is
inside of me that keeps telling me,

"see?

Don't nobody wanna stick around.

You always the one left behind."

That voice is little Spencer,

whose father left him at years old.

You have gotta stop
letting that one incident

touch every relationship you have.

That had everything to do
with Corey and his worth

and nothing to do with you and yours.

You have to let that
go, and until you do,

when things get rocky,
you'll just keep defaulting

to pushing away the people
that love you because little you

is trying to protect big you

from all the pain of
abandonment he felt.

How?

How do I let that go?

We'll get there,

together,

no matter how long it takes.

You know, man, I wish...

I wish you could see you the
way everyone else sees you.

No, no, I mean, the people
who get to be in your life,

they're the lucky ones.

Even Corey knew that.
That's why he came back.

And even in his death,

he still hasn't left you.

None of them have.

They're still here because of the gifts

that they left for you.

For Corey,

it's the gift of
Darnell and Coach Kenny,

brother figures he
brought into your life.

I never thought of it that way.

For Shawn,

it's the gift of your future.

The one he protected
right up until the end.

- And for Billy...
- SPENCER: It was the voicemail.

The chance to hear his
voice tell you he loves you

whenever you need to hear it.

And what do we do when
people give us a gift?

We say, "thank you."

I know what I gotta do.

[TAPS COUNTER TWICE] Yep.

[SIGHS]

Thank you.

Anytime, brother.

[SIGHS] Um...

Same time next week?

Next week it is.

Now, keep your head up.

You will get through this.

["DAY BY DAY" PLAYING]

TRVSTFALL: ♪ I'm take it day by day ♪

♪ By day by day ♪

♪ Take it day by day ♪

- [CHUCKLES]
- [DOOR CLOSES]

[GUITAR MUSIC PLAYING SOFTLY]

BILLY, VOICE-OVER:
Hey, this is Billy Baker.

- Leave one.
- SPENCER: Hey, Coach,

it's me.

I'm sorry I took so
long to hit you back.

Heh! Man, where do I even start? Um...

I been kinda going through some things,

trying to outrun my demons,

hide from the truth of
everything I been feeling.

But the day always comes
when you have to face it,

no matter how ugly it gets.

Today was that day.

Man, I miss you.

So much.

That's the feeling I've
been running from the most

because I have no idea

how to fill the void left by you.

But I'm getting help.

I'm finally working through it.

And I'm gonna make sure

that I get back to being OK.

- MALE SINGER: ♪ Hurry up... ♪
- 'Cause that's what you,

Shawn, and Corey would
have wanted me to do.

SINGER: ♪ We got places to go ♪

SPENCER: I'm sure I'll have
days where it feels like

it's all coming together...

Your numbers keep climbing
and the impressions

are off the charts across all platforms.

- PATIENCE: Mm.
- LAYLA: See? Your video's a bonafide hit.

- PATIENCE: Yeah.
- SPENCER, VOICE-OVER: But I know grief

is waiting there in the darkness,

- ready to pounce.
- [CLICK]

LAYLA: And thank God that Miko
mess is firmly behind us, too.

- So it's a double win.
- PATIENCE: Ugh.

Yeah, thank God. No more mess.

[LAYLA AND PATIENCE CHUCKLE]

SPENCER, VOICE-OVER: Luckily,

one of the many gifts you
and Corey blessed me with

is a family

and a village that keeps growing.

Coach.

What are you doing here?

Giving you what you asked for,

but I wanted to deliver it in person.

SINGER: ♪ ... You see,
it's the memories ♪

♪ Of life in me ♪

I owe you an apology.

No. You needed a punching
bag, I was here, so...

No, I needed someone I could count on,

and you was there,

and that scared me.

There's so much of you
that reminds me of my pops

and Coach Baker.

You turned into the brother
I never knew I needed.

A closeness I thought I
couldn't afford anymore, but

I was wrong.

Come here, man.

Glad to hear you say that

'cause no matter how hard
you try to push me away,

I'm never leaving you, bruh.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

And I'm not the only one.

- SINGER: ♪ And just a little longer ♪
- What?

Come on. You'll see.

SINGER: ♪ I'm not ready to go ♪

♪ Just a little longer... ♪

SPENCER, VOICE-OVER:
Y'all made sure I'd never be alone.

For that, and for every
day I had with you,

every day I got to love you,

I say thank you.

SINGER: ♪ Just a little longer ♪

SPENCER, VOICE-OVER: Thank you.

SPENCER, VOICE-OVER:
You can rest easy now, Coach.

SPENCER, VOICE-OVER:
They got me from here.

SINGER: ♪ Never be alone ♪

[DISTANT TRAFFIC NOISE]

[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

SINGER: ♪ Stop, what
were you thinkin'? ♪

♪ What are you waitin' for? ♪

I love you. Thank you. [KISS]

- SINGER: ♪ ... All your problems ♪
- [PHONE BUZZES]

- _
- ♪ Oh, it's a... ♪

- SPENCER: Yo.
- JORDAN: Hey.

Look, I know sorry doesn't
even begin to cover it.

But I'mma make it up to you. I promise.

Assuming Coach Kenny
lets me stay at GAU.

I'm fairly confident I can go
ahead and say welcome back, brother.

Come on.

- [SIGHS]
- SINGER: ♪ It's so bad ♪

CARTER: Hey.

I cancelled our flight
home later this week.

Oh. Thank you.

- I...
- I also called the storage facility

and your boxes should be
delivered back here by Monday.

Wait. Boxes?

Dillon and I have been talking,

and Spencer needs us close.

And what about your needs?

Well, I will happily take on the burden

of flying back and forth

to keep our family together
and make Spencer whole.

Nothing is more important.

[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

[SIGHS]

Man, this one of the last faces

- I expected to see today.
- DARNELL: [CHUCKLES]

Man, that was all Liv.

She put out a call that my brother
was in trouble. I had to make it.

Oh, I just assumed my
mother gathered everybody.

[CHUCKLING] Oh, no,
you should know that Liv

wouldn't let anyone give up on you.

Not for a second.

- Well, thanks for showing up, man.
- Yeah.

Yo... [SIGHS] Talk to me,
like, you good? For real?

No...

No, I'm not OK.

But I'm working on it.

- DARNELL: Oh. Don't let me get in the way, man.
- SPENCER: Yeah.

What was that about?

He was just telling me that
you made all this happen.

Thank you.

I mean, it may have been my idea, but

everyone here was more than
happy to show up for you.

We love you.

You wanna go take a walk?

If memory serves, I
owe you a conversation.

ALICIA: Hey.

I'm sorry I'm late.

Uh, no, no. It's OK.

Actually, I'm sorry for a lot of things,

especially the note and
the way I handled things.

I was trying to give you space, but

I realise I should've
been holding you tighter.

Uh, well, I didn't exactly
make it easy for you, you know?

You just... you just did
what you thought was best.

Well, I know better now,

and I won't make that mistake again.

[DOOR CLOSES]