01x07 - Clutch

[bunniefuu]

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING IN THE BACKGROUND)

BELL BROTHER : Mom. (SNIFFLES)

Mom. (SNIFFLES)

-(HEART RATE MONITOR BEEPING)
-What'd the doctor say?

Mom?

-They don't know if he'll walk again.
-No.

No. Don't say that to me.

CRYSTAL: Come on. Come on.
We gotta be strong.

You gotta be strong for your brother.
Okay? You ready?

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

(MUSIC CONCLUDES)

(ANXIOUSLY) I don't know. We were talking
and... and... I...

He was trying to get me
to chill out, right?

But he was also upset, too.
And then, at first,

-I just thought he stumbled, but...
-Breathe. Okay, Josh? Breathe.

Take it slow.
We'll find out what happened.

-JB.
-I'm here.

-I'm coming.
-Mrs. Bell.

-Oh, Dr. Hong. How is he?
-Chuck is awake.

And he is doing much better.
The hospital notified me right away.

So, he's gonna be okay, right?

We're taking care of your father.
He is in good hands.

Can you give me a moment alone
with your mother?

Skinny is on his way, okay?
Go. Go have a seat.

No, we need to know
what's going on with Dad.

-Come on, JB.
-No, that's our dad in there, man.

-This is not the time.
-Thought you said there were no secrets

-in this family.
-This is not about secrets, JB.

This is about life and...

Please. Just give us a few seconds, okay?

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

But is this something new?
Something you didn't see before?

Well, his blood work shows a depletion
in red blood cells,

so the lack of oxygen
could be a contributing factor

as to why he passed out.

Wait. I don't understand. He seemed
like he was on the right track.

-Doctor, he checked every box.
-I think we are past

the point of damage control.

Right now, we need to focus
on adjusting his treatment.

-So, what does that look like?
-We need to start dialysis.

I know it's a lot to process
and this isn't the news

that you wanted to hear,
but unfortunately,

this is what we're dealing with.

Why couldn't they have just told us
what was going on?

We should've known
how sick he really was, man.

-They were trying to protect us.
-From what?

The fact that we might grow up
without a dad?

I know Mom's scared.

-That's why she snapped at me.
-To tell you the truth,

I'm scared.

Me too, man.

(FILTHY SIGHS)

(EXHALES, GROANS)

You can come closer. I'm not gonna bite.

I was trying to let you rest.

Babe, I'm sorry
you had to go through this. (SIGHS)

-I was trying to do everything right.
-I know.

We will not lose, Chuck.

-We all need you. Especially the boys.
-Hmm. Where are they?

They're in the hall.

But Chuck... they're worried.

So, what's the game plan, Coach?

Well, Dr. Hong...

gave us our options,

and she does not want us
to rule out a relative donor.

No, wait. I don't wanna go to Kelli yet.

-And those boys, they're too young.
-CRYSTAL: Okay.

But while we wait on the donor list,
they're gonna start you on dialysis.

-Dialysis?
-CRYSTAL: Yes.

No. Hey, I don't wanna be stuck
in this hospital.

Well, lucky for you,

they prefer that the patient
do the treatment at home.

-Hmm.
-No excuses.

Hey. There they are.
Soon-to-be city champs.

-Think you'll get out by game time?
-Nothing's gonna keep me from that game.

-(SIGHS)
-(CHUCKLES)

Hey, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I scared you.

The doctors,
they're figuring all this out.

So, they're gonna release you, right?

Yeah, they should,
like, in a couple of hours.

(SIGHS) Now, look,

just because I'm on the bench,
doesn't mean things need to change.

JB, I need a hundred free throws a day
and for you to study those game tapes.

Now, you've been waiting for this
since you started middle school.

-Now, it's here.
-Nah, it didn't look like this.

-You were there, not in some hospital.
-Hey, Son, don't worry about all that.

All you have to worry about is how you
gonna bring that championship home.

Understood?

And all you have to worry about is paying
for this speeding ticket. (PANTS)

-'Sup, y'all? Got here as soon as I could.
-Late on your registration again, huh?

We're not paying that.

(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)

BELL BROTHER :
If you own the night,

but the stars refuse to come out and play,

where do you go next
if you can't see the light?

Every person is fated to face a day
when they can't go on.

When nothing you can do
can possibly b*at back the darkness.

What else could go wrong?

A whole lot if your mama sees
a mess on that table

before her and your dad get home.

Now, bring your little tail down here.

Ooh. I sound just like your grandma, huh?

Look at this... It's like you guys want me

-to get banned from this house again.
-Again?

What'd you do to get banned
the first time?

That's... That's grown folks' business.
Don't worry about that.

Why does everybody keep saying that?

Everybody's trying to box me and JB out
when it comes to Dad,

when we could be helping.

Boy, can't nobody use
your little cashew-shaped kidneys.

Filthy's not talking about ours.

He's talking about Kelli.

(BREATHES DEEPLY, CLEARS THROAT)
That's not my place, JB.

Neither Mom nor Dad have ever told us
exactly what went down.

All right, look, I'll tell you this.
Chuck not being in Kelli's life

was not his choice.

Which is why we think she has the right
to know what's going on with him.

He's her dad, too.

-Not my place, man.
-Even if your best friend is dying?

(SKINNY BREATHES DEEPLY)

Look, I wouldn't even know
how to get ahold of her.

We do. We found her on Instagram.

FILTHY: What if she's not working today?

JB: Or what if she doesn't wanna
talk to us?

-FILTHY: I mean, she has to, right?
-(SKINNY SIGHS)

Wouldn't you wanna know about Dad?

SKINNY: Not everybody wants to be close
to their family.

What's that you got right there?

Uh. It's a letter JB and I wrote to Kelli
when we were seven.

As soon as Mom and Dad told us
we had a sister,

we ran upstairs and wrote a letter to her.

Yeah. Figured now is the time
to give it to her.

-Oh.
-We might not ever get another chance.

Oh. Okay, we here. Jezebel's, huh?
Five ninety-nine for a hot chocolate?

They better be back there
peeling them beans by hand.

(MELLOW R&B SONG PLAYING)

SINGER: Live, uh
Live a little bit

Live, uh
Live a little, live a little bit

BACKGROUND SINGER: Love you

SINGER: Live a little
Live a little bit....

-You guys ready to do this thing?
-FILTHY: Yeah.

SKINNY: Okay.

Wow. These prices really are high, hmm?

FILTHY: Hmm. There she is.

(EXHALES)

Hi, welcome to Jezebel's.
Can I interest you in a pour-over?

With these high prices, I might
have to take out a second mortgage first.

Kelli?

Yes. (CHUCKLES)

Look, we're sorry. It's just, um...

Oh, no worries. Look, I know
the menu can be a little intimidating...

Actually, we're here to talk to you
about our dad. We're Chuck Bell's sons.

We're your brothers.

KELLI: How did y'all find me?

Uh. We figured out where you work
and decided to give it a sh*t.

I'm sorry, this just weird.

I didn't expect to come into work
and meet my brothers and...

Who are you?

Oh, you can call me Uncle Skinny.

-Bam! Put it right here.
-Not happening.

Okay.

-He's our dad's best friend.
-I'm... I'm just here for moral support.

-So, I'll just shut up.
-This is a little weird for us, too.

I mean, we've known about you
for a long time but...

We had planned to be a bit older
before we contacted you.

-So, what changed?
-It's Dad.

He's sick, and it's bad.

Is that why he called me the other day?

I mean, he left me a message,
but he didn't say he was sick.

We don't think he wanted you
to know just yet.

Um. But we thought you should.

You know,
considering that he's your dad, too.

You think you'd ever want to meet him?
I mean, he's a great guy, coach, dad...

I'm sorry. I don't know
what kind of father he is

considering I have no memories of him.

I didn't have the luxury
of knowing him like y'all do.

Mm, okay. All right. Time out. Hey.
How about you guys go to the car?

-Give me and Kelli a second, okay?
-What?

Uh. Go... Go in the car, man.

-Go, go. Go.
-It was nice meeting you.

All right. (SIGHS)

It's nothing against the boys.
They seem super cool and super sweet.

Yes, they are. And they're just trying
to do right by their father.

You do realize Chuck was never in my life?

My grandparents are the ones
who raised me.

Chuck fought tooth and nail
for custody of you.

The courts just thought
that your mom's parents had better means.

That boy was young, though,
but he always loved you.

And he always said that a piece
of his heart was missing,

and that piece was you, Kelli.

(R&B MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS)

Sorry. This is a lot to process.

SKINNY: It's from my nephews.

Take care of yourself.

(MUSIC FADES)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Hey, so the rumors are true.

-You're still alive.
-Hmm.

(STRAINING) God willing, man. Oh, boy.

-Lots of bed rest.
-GIO: Yeah.

(EXHALES) I appreciate you coming,
checking in on me.

Of course. How else we gonna prep
for the big game, right?

Yeah. Look, Gio...

in case, I don't make it to the game,
if we're gonna win this,

I need you to keep everybody's eye
on the prize.

What do you mean,
"Not make it to the game"?

I'm starting dialysis.

I didn't know that.

Uh, Coach, we can't play
the reigning champs without you.

I mean, we've been prepping
for this all year.

Gio, you gonna bring home
that championship

'cause I'm gonna be watching.

So, let's start prepping.

All right, where we at?

-(SCHOOL BELL RINGING)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

FILTHY: Without you, I am empty
The goal with no net

The double team is still on me
Like feathers on a bird

Ever seen an eagle soar?

Broken, shattered
Like puzzle pieces that no longer fit

And that's when I remember

My wings are gone

(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)

"The double team is still on me
like feathers on a bird.

"Ever seen an eagle soar?

"Broken, shattered like puzzle pieces
that no longer fit."

(GROANS)

Of course.

Wait. Is that how you're feeling
about everything?

I... I feel like everything
I've ever known

is being yanked from underneath me.
Dad, basketball. What's next?

Hey. I know you're going through
a lot right now.

But just know you are not alone.

I'll always be here for you, Filthy.

Hey, everything's gonna be okay.

(TENDER MUSIC PLAYING)

-(CLEARS THROAT) Sorry to interrupt.
-(MUSIC FADES)

Miss Rojas Pierre said,

-"I have got to meet you."
-I... I gotta go.

-You're Kwame Alexander?
-I am.

But this, though...

"And that's when I remember,
my wings are gone." You wrote this?

Ye... Yeah. I'm... I'm kind of a writer.
What are you doing here?

I surprised a teacher
with a new copy of my book.

-It's... it's what I do.
-FILTHY: Oh, yeah.

-That's what's up, man. That's so cool.
-And so is this.

But where did your wings go?

Not sure.

Unmoored maybe.

-As in...
-Adrift.

-(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
-Misplaced? Lost?

Irretrievable.

(CHUCKLES) Come on. In my experience,

the things you truly love,
they can't be taken away from you.

We carry them in our hearts,
like moonlight over the sea.

This thing you wrote, this is art.
Trust your words.

They will take you as far as you let them.

You feel me?

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(ECHOING) JB. JB. JB. JB!

-What are you doing out of class?
-Oh, hey. I didn't see you there.

Obviously. (CHUCKLES)

-Where'd you go?
-I was in the zone.

Had to get basketball out of my head.
All those new plays are crowding my brain.

-Don't worry, JB, you got this.
-No, I don't.

Yo, how am I gonna remember
all this stuff?

I mean,
what if I forget or get distracted?

You know focusing is not my strong point.

That is not what it looked like
a moment ago.

That's different.

I remember. "There's no storm in my head
when I'm painting."

There's a storm now.

With my dad not coaching
and Filthy not playing,

it's a whole new game.

Even with taking my ADHD meds,
it's all still jumbled in my head.

-You practiced the plays, right?
-Of course, I did. But still a blur.

That's because you're in the storm.

What?

JB, what's messing with you right now,
is worry. Your thoughts are running wild.

-School, your dad, this game.
-Yeah, but...

But nothing.
Look, every storm has a calm center.

I mean, just now, you were so focused
on your art,

you didn't even know I was here.

You remembered everything about the moment
you were putting on paper.

Isn't that the same on the court?

-When I know the plays.
-You do know the plays.

-The storm is just a distraction.
-(EXHALES)

Then when you're playing, remember,
the court is your center.

It's the eye of the storm.

And stop worrying about forgetting.

That hyper focus you got,

that is your superpower, Jordan Bell.

Whoo. Boy, that driver was crazy.

Dropped my nephews off
in the French Quarter,

let 'em fend for themselves.

But a brother is hungry.
Are you good?

-Hmm.
-You want...

Okay.

-You're not good.
-Uh. Bro.

-Is it the treatment, the doctors, or...
-Bro, this goes beyond...

any fear that I have of doctors.

This is me.

I did not make the right choices.

For Crystal, for my boys.

You can't change your past plays.

Just gotta learn from 'em.
All right, you taught me that.

(SIGHS)

All right, so, what are today's moves?

Today's moves is... (INHALES)

..."Chuck, do what the doctor said."

-Okay, and?
-And...

I'm not sure about that yet.

Okay, well, we gotta work
with what we've been given.

Okay, both good and the bad.
And right now,

you looking at a second chance.

Skinny...

a life on dialysis,
that's my second chance.

No, no, no, no, no.
I think another day spent

with your family is your second chance.

And asking for help is never a weakness.

(SIGHS) All right.

You can't always go at it alone, Chuck.
You know that.

Bro, I'm scared.

And I don't want to leave them like this.

You promise me
that if anything ever happened to me...

I... I promise you, I will wait

a respectful amount of time
after your funeral

-to marry your wife. I... I got you.
-Wow.

(CHUCKLES)

-I got you, Chuck.
-You must have forgot

the last whooping I gave you.

(CHUCKLING)
I got you, I got you. You know I got you.

Look, seriously,
you know this isn't permanent.

All right?

You want to make moves? Yeah?

Yeah. Okay, all right. Cool.

Well then... start with your treatment.

-Start with your treatment.
-Yeah.

Because if I know one thing,
for better or worse, them boys need you.

(BALL THUDS AGAINST BACKBOARD)

Hey, hey, hey. You heard the man.
The rules have not changed.

One hundred free throws.
And you were on .

All right, new rule.

For every sh*t I make,
you give me the real on Dad.

Mm-mm. Your father wants you to focus
on the game, not him.

You mean my game.

You're worried about carrying the team
without your brother?

JB, you're just as good as Filthy.

If not better, but now,
it feels like it's all on me.

You're forgetting you got a whole team
of brothers beside you.

Vondie, for starters.
You're not in this alone, JB.

But I'm still playing without
my ride or die. My clutch.

You spend too much time focusing
on what could go wrong

instead of what could go right.
So, what could go right?

-I could make all my free throws.
-Okay.

All right.

What else?

I could break a few ankles.

CRYSTAL:
Ah, they gonna need some wraps, huh?

-Yeah.
-What else?

I could take my team
to a championship win.

All right, that's what I like to hear.

You not winning no championships
taking it up like that.

-Filthy.
-That's clearly the suspension talking,

-so I'm gonna let it slide.
-Right.

You think you know your brother's game
pretty well, huh?

Better than my own sometimes.

So, why don't you tell him
and the rest of the team from the bench?

-What you mean?
-I said you were suspended

from playing the game.

But I never said
you couldn't help your team.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

To be honest, I don't know
what reaction I was expecting from Kelli.

Can you blame her?

Yeah, we kinda did just pop up at her job.

-You think we should apologize?
-FILTHY: Couldn't hurt.

I really don't wanna have screwed up
Dad's last chance with Kelli.

Who's Kelli?

Ah, um...

A story for another day, big man.

Good. Need I remind you, today's game day,

which means we gotta be focused up.

JB, say Coach Gio draws up
that new B play.

I hit the post, uh, wait for the screen,

cut the lane then pop back out
for the baseline sh*t, right?

-Wrong, dude.
-What?

JB: Thought I had it.
Filthy, what'd I miss?

-Filthy? Filthy!
-Huh? Huh?

Y'all two good?

(BOTH) Yeah, sure. Why not?

-(CHUCKLES)
-They're scaring me, JB.

Hey, y'all go ahead.
Me and Filthy will catch up.

-All right, man.
-All right.

Yo. Do you think I am stupid?
What's going on with you and Maya?

-Why something gotta be up?
-All right, fine. Don't tell me.

Just know that change doesn't always
have to be a secret or scary.

Sometimes, it could be the change
you didn't know you needed.

Wow. You've been listening to Drake again,
haven't you?

Shut up.

Hey, I'm just saying,
it might be making you a little bit soft.

(UPBEAT HIP-HOP SONG PLAYING)

RAPPER: Hey, I move different

Whoo!

Hey

I move different, I shine different...

I got your back, bro.

You're interrupting my meditation.

I don't remember
Coach Gio implementing leg bouncing

in our pre-game meditation.

I'm trying to focus, man.

Look, like I said, I got your back.

(JB SIGHING)

(KISSES) Look.

Isn't it beautiful?

Poetry ain't it, Filthy.

Just wait for it.

Voilà!

Boom. Filthy McNasty's playbook.

It's lyrical, empirical,
every play inside it is critical,

and for you and the teammates...
(SOFTLY) ...a miracle.

(CHUCKLES)

"Shaking and faking"?

"Paint in ya face"?

-Mnemonics.
-(UPBEAT HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYS)

As in connected sounds

As in sound connected to action

Easy to remember and not get distracted
ADHD is your superpower

All I did was put it onto paper
And throw you the lob

Now look

You've always been a GOAT
From the three

So, shakin' and fakin' is like play B

Only instead, you're not going
To the hole like me, you fake in

Step out, and...

(EXHALES)

Pop that three

(MUSIC CONCLUDES)

"Flexis Alexis"? (SCOFFS)

Yeah, I knew you're gonna pay attention
to that one.

(EXHALES) So, when you... you send up
that alley-oop to Vondie,

who's flying so high...

which is exactly how you feel
when Alexis smiles at you.

(CHUCKLES)

What's so funny? Did I spell Alexis wrong?

This is so like you, man.
You can't be on the court,

so you make sure your rhymes
is still in my head during the game.

I was just trying to help, you know?

Make sure you remembered
and you get focused.

You did it, bro.
This is perfect. I love it.

Hurry up, we gotta go!

Oh, okay! I like to see it. That energy.

You all decked out to support
your team, huh?

(SIGHS) Actually, I'm staying back.

I want to be with Dad
on his first treatment.

Hmm. Yeah, I tried to talk it out of him,
but you know, that's your son.

Well, some things are bigger
than basketball.

Oh, okay. Can't say that I thought
I'd ever see the day.

Well, you have raised two fine,
young gentlemen.

-No. We raised two fine, young gentlemen.
-You're right about that.

-All right, JB... all eyes on you, my guy.
-I'm ready for it.

-We're gonna miss you at the game.
-Hey, I'll be watching.

Now, tell Gio lay off on the meditation.

I don't want my team falling asleep
on the bench.

-I will pass along the message.
-Okay.

CRYSTAL: Hurry up, let's go, JB.

-FILTHY: You got this.
-No, we got this.

-Oh.
-(CHUCKLES)

Hey, bring me home that trophy.

-Yes, sir.
-Let's go!

-(EXCITING RAP SONG PLAYING)
-RAPPER: Look, yeah, we ready for more

We've been ready for a minute
Don't get ready no more

Lookie here, what we say
Yeah, we ready to go...

-Deep dish?
-Yeah.

RAPPER: Yeah, we're back in a wave
Ain't no stopping today

If you want something new
Then this is the place

All together, what's next?
Now, we riding the wave

Hey

Get ready, now it's coming

Get ready, now it's coming

Hope you're ready
Now it's coming

-CHORUS: Riding on top of the wave
-(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

CHORUS: Stand up, this is the place

RAPPER: Are you ready for more?

CHORUS: Next stop, nothing to say

Clap your hands for the new wave
This is the thing

RAPPER: Are you ready for more?

CHORUS: Brand new coming your way
All together now

Stand up, this is the place

-RAPPER: Everybody, come on!
-(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

(SONG CONTINUES)

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

(SONG BUILDS)

(SONG ENDS)

-CHUCK Pass the ball.
-COMMENTATOR: (ON VIDEO) ...handling

-the ball with Meyers on the far side...
-Yep.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Be right back. Must be the food.

COMMENTATOR:
Passes it over to Jordan Bell.

-JB goes baseline...
-FILTHY: Pizza's here.

...and then dishes it back to Vergeron,

who puts up an easy layup.
What a nice move! And the Lions...

-FILTHY: Dad, you have a visitor.
-Who is it?

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

Hey, Chuck.

BELL BROTHER : You can't have
the darkness without the light.

And you can't bring on the next day
without the night.

-(WHOOSHING)
-(HEART RATE MONITOR BEEPING)

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(COUGHING)

CRYSTAL: Listen, baby, the doctors
are doing everything that they can.

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

CRYSTAL:
But right now, it doesn't look good.

Wait, no, what?

(BREATHING HEAVILY)
What... what do you mean, huh?

What do you mean?

I'm sorry, but they...

I'm sorry, baby.

(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

CRYSTAL: It's gonna be okay. All right?

(PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING)