04x01 - Survival of the Fittest

[bunniefuu]

DANIEL EZRA: Previously
on "All American"...

SPENCER: I've got to tell you something.

I've been training Jordan for weeks.

BILLY: You risked his future?
I'm so disappointed in you.

MONTES: Obviously, I am not
happy about what just happened,

but if we can overcome
what is dividing us,

we can create a special memory.

You are going to tell your
grandkids about this game,

so let's make it a good story.

LAYLA: I cannot believe
I left my phone at home.

I was sure I put it in my purse.

- [PHONE RINGING]
- CARRIE: It's good to unplug once in a while.

- Besides, we have each other.
- [LAYLA CHUCKLES]

COOP: What's up, Mo?

Surprised to see me?

[TWO g*nshots]

COOP: Preach!

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, Coop.

Coop! No, no, no, no, no, no!

["WEIGHT" BY LEE DEWYZE PLAYING]

LAYLA: Uh, OK, so why'd
you want me to swing by here

before we went to your parents'?

- DEWYZE: ♪ The weight of it all on your shoulders ♪
- [SEAT BELT UNBUCKLES]

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

DEWYZE: ♪ The silence
crawls within everywhere ♪

Hey, what's going on?

Carrie? Hey.

Take my hand?

Uh, OK.

It's OK.

Everything's OK now.

Yeah, well, um, we
should probably get going.

There's nowhere else to go.

This is it.

We can finally end the pain.

We can end the crippling
loneliness here, now.

- LAYLA: Carrie.
- You don't have to be scared. It's OK.

- Carrie.
- No, this is a good thing.

We're gonna finally be at peace.

What are you doing? No.

No! Carrie! Oh!

No! Carrie! Oh! [GASPING]

No, Carrie! No, no,
no! [CRYING] Please! No!

Hey, hey, hey, it's OK. It's OK. Hey,

hey, you're home. You're safe.

[EXHALES SHARPLY] Sorry.

[GASPS] Sorry. It's just
a bad dream. I'm fine.

- Are you?
- Yeah, I am. I promise.

Dr. Leland said nightmares
are to be expected, so

- it's fine. Actually, I just, um,
- Layla, I'm here.

I need to go to the bathroom.
I... I'm fine, Dad, really.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Senior year wasn't
supposed to be like this.

I moved back here,

I saved the school,

I got a D scholarship,

got named an All-American...

And I got the girl.

[CHUCKLES]

And I was happy...

Like, for real, for the
first time, happy, then...

[CLEARS THROAT]

I don't know.

Maybe people like us ain't
supposed to have it all.

- ["LEAVE A LEGACY" PLAYING]
- SINGERS: ♪ Na na na-na na na-na na na na ♪

- ♪ Na na na-na-na... ♪
- FIELD ANNOUNCER: It's been a hell of a game

for these two teams, and we're
only in the second quarter.

- Hut!
- Chris Jackson takes the snap.

SINGERS: ♪ Na na na-na na na-na na na ♪

ANNOUNCER: What a
catch by Spencer James!

SINGERS: ♪ Na-na na na na na na... ♪

- [WHISTLE BLOWS]
- ANNOUNCER: And he's in the end zone!

Touchdown, Crenshaw!

- WOMAN: Hey!
- EASY MCCOY: ♪ Legendary like my birthplace ♪

♪ This is my time, like my birthday... ♪

ANNOUNCER: JJ Parker gets the ball.

Crenshaw defense is closing in.

- ♪ Don't stop, keep going... ♪
- Gets it off just in time.

- ♪ Don't sleep on 'em, I'm living out... ♪
- And touchdown, Beverly!

Hey, I got an idea!

Why don't we try and
contain that damn tailback?!

- BILLY: How 'bout that?!
- [WHISTLE BLOWS]

SINGERS: ♪ I came here
to leave a legacy ♪

ANNOUNCER: What a sack by
Rio Fausto! Ball is loose!

- ♪ Destiny ♪
- And that will be Crenshaw's ball.

- That's us!
- ♪ For the world to see ♪

- [WHISTLE BLOWS]
- ♪ And I came ♪

♪ I came to leave a legacy ♪

SINGERS: ♪ Na na na-na
na na-na na na na ♪

♪ Na na na-na na... ♪

Hey, yo, Spence!

Get your damn head
back in the game, man!

Man, it is in the game. That's
why we're on the board right now.

Worry about your damn self.

MCCOY: ♪ Hey ♪

♪ Legacy, I was made at the bottom ♪

♪ And now we on top,
not shifting my focus ♪

♪ Or changing my thoughts ♪

ANNOUNCER: What a
catch by Spencer James!

- And that's halftime.
- SPENCER: Aah!

ANNOUNCER: Crenshaw leads, - ...

- Whoo!
- In a game for the record book.

Both teams are leaving
it all on the field.

[CROWD CHEERING AND WHISTLING]

- SPENCER: What's going on?
- BILLY: Uh,

you, uh, you need to, uh,
go with your mother, son.

What are you talking about?

- We in the middle of the game of our lives right now.
- [VOICE SHAKING] It's Coop.

BILLY: You should go.

We'll handle what needs to
be done here on the field.

[CHEERING FADES OUT]

[CAR DOOR OPENS]

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

Thought you could use some company.

Your company?

Always.

You OK?

No.

What's in the envelope?

My commitment letter to Toledo State.

Early signing, that ends tomorrow night.

Supposed to sign it by then.

Well, you haven't signed it.

And I'm not going to.

- Spencer...
- After everything that happened,

I can't leave my family.

- [SIGHS]
- And I can't leave you.

I can't leave the people
I have left that I love.

Babe, Toledo is your only offer.

Then I guess, after tomorrow,
I'll be down to none.

[KISS] I'll see you later.

OK.

Hey. Where you been?

Uh, I was out for a run.

- Sorry. I didn't think that'd freak you out.
- Oh, it didn't.

It didn't. It's just that we
had breakfast plans at : .

- Oh! Sorry. I forgot.
- It's all good. Come on.

You're here. Sit.

I, um... ahem... see
you made enough food

to feed the whole county again. Heh!

I just never know what you're gonna
want, so I just cover my bases.

Dad, like... like I told you
yesterday and the day before that,

you don't have to do all this. I'm fine.

- Fine. There's that word again.
- Yeah.

You know, you say it
at least times a day.

- Would you prefer "swell"?
- It's not funny, Layla.

Look, I'm worried about you.

You don't have to be, OK?

Did a crappy thing happen? Yes.

Am I... Having some
trouble sleeping? Yes.

Am I working through all of
it with my therapist? Yes.

Good. And, you know, I was thinking that

maybe we should have you start seeing
Dr. Leland more than once a week.

- Dad...
- In fact, I'm thinking that

maybe that second session could
be for both of us, you know?

Like a... like a... family session.

Yeah, maybe. Um,

I got to run. I have some
work to do at the studio.

- Oh, you know, I can drive you.
- Or I can drive myself.

It's just the studio, Dad.

I'll be fine.

[FOOTSTEPS RETREAT]

[DOOR CREAKS]

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- SPENCER: What's all this?

OLIVIA: OK, don't be mad.

We're all just worried about you.

GRACE: Baby, everybody is
here because they love you,

and they want the best for you.

If I didn't know any
better, I'd say y'all

- were staging some kinda intervention.
- CHRIS: We are.

- SPENCER: For what?
- To stop you from throwing away your future.

Look, we know what you thinking, Spence,

your need to carry the
responsibility of others on your back.

It's like an addiction.

GRACE: You want to use
what happened to Coop

to throw away Toledo
State and stay here.

We can't let that happen.

PATIENCE: Look, now, you know...

That there's no way that
Coop would let you just

put aside your dreams 'cause of her.

What'd she tell you when
you had a sh*t at Beverly?

That if she had a tenth of my talent,

she'd bounce and never look back.

And she ain't here
to say it this time...

So I'mma say it for her.

LAUREN DAIGLE: ♪ When the best
of me is ♪

♪ Barely breathin' ♪

♪ When I'm not somebody I... ♪

Can you tell me? Tell me. Why
can't you... they tell me anything?

DAIGLE: ♪ Hold on to me ♪

- [CRYING]
- Hey, hey, hey.

DAIGLE: ♪ When I miss the light ♪

- ♪ The night has stolen ♪
- SPENCER: What happened?

- What happened?
- PATIENCE: I don't know.

- Who sh*t her? How bad is it?
- [CRYING] I don't know.

I don't know. Her dad is in
the trauma bay, and her...

her mom is trying to
catch a flight back.

Spencer, she can't die.

- No, no, no.
- She can't die.

No, no, I know. I know. Stop.

[SOBBING]

DOCTOR: You can't be in
here. You have to go now.

DAIGLE: ♪ Hold on to me ♪

[EQUIPMENT BEEPING]

♪ Hold on to me ♪

- LAYLA: Hey.
- JORDAN: Hey.

Uh, is Liv home?

Hi. Uh...

- Jordan?
- Yes. Yes.

Olivia's here. You know,
um, no. No, she's not.

No, Oliv... Liv...
Liv... is at Spencer's.

Right. Of course.

- Yes.
- Are you OK?

Me? Yeah. Uh, um,

you know what? I promised myself
I wouldn't be weird when I saw you.

- Oh. Promise broken.
- I know, and I'm sorry.

- I'm sorry. It's just... Layla, come on.
- Oh.

Hmm.

Hmm. I'm just glad that you're OK.

Thanks.

Actually, is it cool
if I just hang out here?

It's just kinda hard to breathe at
home with my dad, like, hovering.

Mm-hmm. Well, I mean, he was scared.

I mean, we all were when we heard.

I think a little hovering is allowed?

- Yeah, I know.
- And hey, I mean, at least

you and your dad are
talking, right? I mean,

me and mine, I think we're up
to "heys" and a "see ya later"?

Hey, do you, uh...

Do you remember when we were ,

and you accidentally
broke his MVP trophy,

building me and Liv our sleepover fort?

- Oh, my God, yes.
- [CHUCKLING]

I thought he was gonna k*ll me.

And yet here you are, still alive.

Hey, look, you and your dad are
gonna power through this as well.

Yeah, I don't know.

It's just he, um,

he blames himself about
what happened with...

Carrie, and now he's overcompensating,

and his guilt is just
suffocating both of us.

But whatever. I just...

Have to make this OK for him.

OK, but who's making it OK for you?

I'm fine.

- Layla.
- OK, maybe not...

Exactly fine. I think...

[CHUCKLES] It's not even close, but...

If I tell my dad, it'll break him.

Hmm.

OK, so...

Tell me.

I'm happy to be an ear,

and I promise you I won't break.

I... I just keep, um,

like, replaying it in
my head over and over.

LAYLA: Carrie? No! No!

- Layla...
- Carrie!

I promise you, I am not crazy.

OK? I just want the pain to stop.

Carrie, Carrie, listen to me, OK?

I am not in pain.

I do not need you to
free me from anything.

Your mother left you.

- She's dead! She d*ed!
- Your father abandoned you.

- Your best friend and your boyfriend...
- LAYLA: Carrie.

Your chosen family,
they all betrayed you,

and your mind betrayed you, too, Layla.

I know what all of that abandonment
and betrayal feels like, OK?

I know what it... how it
burns a hole in your gut,

making you feel broken and unworthy!

We don't have to feel like that anymore.

Carrie, stop... stop saying "we," OK?

That is not my life,

and it's not how I feel.

Yes, I... I felt betrayal

and abandonment, but you
know what else I felt?

Forgiveness and love
and purpose and hope, OK?

- [GASPING]
- Carrie, I need you to hear me.

Carrie, I need you to hear me, OK?

I do not... I don't want to die, OK?

Please, Carrie?

Let me go, OK?

[SOBS] Please.

It is one scholarship,

- and there might be others.
- CHRIS: Or there might not be.

You're playing Russian
roulette with your future, dawg.

I mean, it's one thing if you
said the dream has changed,

that you didn't want to play
professional football anymore.

DILLON: But it hasn't, and you do,

so why won't you sign the paper?

PATIENCE: Look, I get it, Spence.

You know I do. And thinking 'bout

just waking up tomorrow
is hard, let alone...

Anything beyond that, but, come
on, you're stronger than that.

We're stronger than that.

[SIGHS]

Bruh, please say something
before someone breaks out

into the "you is kind, you
is smart" speech, please.

[SCATTERED CHUCKLING]

SPENCER: I appreciate
y'all doing this. I do,

but I'm doing what's best for me.

Are you, though,

or you just letting fear take over?

GRACE: Thank you for coming.

[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

Texas, huh?

Yes, sir. My mom's doing great

with her physical therapy there,

and I just committed to
play for Texas Northern Tech.

That's dope, man. Proud of you, homie.

Appreciate you.

- So it's good seeing you, man.
- You, too, man.

A'ight, so come on, man. What's up?

I know you hurtin',

but you smarter than this.

- Dang, man, I can't order a drink first?
- No.

Not when you got Ms. Grace
losing sleep at night.

She's worried about you
starting to have survivor's guilt

over all the good things
happening in your life,

like Toledo State,

but I told her you were way too
smart to throw away a scholarship

over a heartbreak that you can't change.

You know how they say
pain is always hardest

for the ones left standing?

They ain't wrong.

Yeah. Who knows that better
than me, you, and Dillon?

Yeah, but this is Coop, man.

Coop.

It's different.

I'm so sorry.

OLIVIA: Is... is there any update?

Is... is there anything
that I can do for you?

REGGIE: Thank you. No, no.

PATIENCE: The doctors won't let
anybody back into the trauma bay.

They're trying to...

Stabilize her or something,
so they can get her to surgery.

GRACE: You know what, Olivia?

How about we see if we can find, uh,

- some food or coffee for everyone?
- Of course.

- SPENCER: Thanks, Mom.
- GRACE: You're welcome.

[CELLPHONE CHIMES]

[SIGHS]

SPENCER: 'Scuse me.

I'll be right back.

Yo, Spence, listen, man.

- SPENCER: Hey.
- PATIENCE: How could you?!

- No, stop, stop.
- How could you?! Stop!

Dumped her there!

You just dumped her there! She's dying!

She is dying 'cause your
ass was nowhere to be found!

Look, my ass is the reason
she got a fighting chance.

- Stop!
- Stop!

You need to start explaining fast, bruh.

Look, Coop called and said that she was

gonna confront Mo about
planting dr*gs on the bus.

I told her to wait,
let me take care of it.

You know Coop don't listen to no one.

When I get there, Mo had a g*n on Coop.

Next thing I know, she's sh**ting
at Coop and I'm sh**ting at her.

You sh*t Mo?

I had no choice.

I thought I got my sh*t
off before she did, but...

Coop was bleeding out in my arms,

so I got her to my
car and I got her here.

And why didn't you stay?

- 'Cause you had her blood all over you.
- I'm a felon on parole.

I'm going back to prison
when all this gets out.

Well, where's Mo? Where's she at?

She's dead.

[HELICOPTER WHIRRING OVERHEAD]

[SIGHS] I just tried
Layla again. No answer.

- This is all my fault.
- What? No.

Patience, you're upset.

- We all are. You're not thinking straight.
- Really?

OK, well, who first told Coop

that she was looking for drama
with Mo when there was none?

Or who pushed Coop
to let her guard down?

Because of me, Coop walked
right into Mo's trap.

Now she's bleeding out on a stretcher,

- and I can't get to her.
- Hey...

Coop's a fighter, right?

She gonna pull through this.

[BREATHING HEAVILY] Spencer.

[EQUIPMENT BEEPING]

- Doctor, please, can you tell me something?
- Mr. Cooper, I need you to stand back.

We have to get your daughter
into the operating room right now.

SPENCER: I thought she wasn't
stable enough for surgery.

She's not, but we can't wait any longer.

We have to try to get that b*llet out

and stop the bleeding,
or she won't make it.

Sorry.

COOP: ♪ I'mma aim at any target ♪
♪ And I'mma hit it ♪

♪ Start coming out your wig,
you know I'mma split it ♪

♪ And that's how they made
me, that's how I live it ♪

♪ But sometimes I think of myself,
I thank God for saving myself ♪

♪ I could be the one in the
casket, now I look back... ♪

Carrie, please let
me go. Carrie, please.

- Everything feels so out of control.
- Carrie.

I thought that we were the same.

I... I thought I was helping you.

[PANTING]

But you're right.

- Carrie.
- You have hope.

[LAYLA GASPING]

[GASPING] Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry!

[CRYING] Oh! Oh!

Oh! [HYPERVENTILATING]

[WAILING AND BREATHING HEAVILY]

Carrie?

[COOP RAPPING INDISTINCTLY]

- Layla.
- Dad. Hey.

- [STOPS MUSIC]
- What are you doing here?

Uh, I come bearing gifts... a coffee

and my musical expertise. You're
working on Coop's album, right?

Yeah, um, I'm finishing it for her.

It seems like the least
I can do right now.

Well, all right. Let's do it then.

Uh, no, thanks. I've got it covered.

All right, cool. Well,
I will just sit back

and watch your musical
genius at work then.

Thank you again, Dad, but no, you don't

have to watch over me
every second. It's a lot.

Sweetheart, I, uh, I almost lost you.

I'm gonna be a little
overprotective right now.

- You know, your therapist said that...
- You spoke...

you spoke to my therapist?

Just briefly, when I called about
adding the extra session a week.

Look...

- Layla?
- It's... I just...

I have to run some errands.

OK, uh, I know I sound
like a broken record,

but I'd feel better if I came with you.

OK, well, I'm not gonna be alone.

Jordan is coming with
me. We made plans earlier,

so I will be safe, Dad,
OK? I'll see you at home.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Hey.

I'm gonna take it to mean
that because you're here,

you did not go to Grace's
intervention for Spencer.

Sounds like she has everybody
and their mama going, so

- I think he's covered.
- Billy...

- He's got what he needs.
He's gonna be with family.

Yeah, you're his family, Billy.

Jordan was supposed to be recovering.

The doctor made it clear, any
jarring at all could be damaging.

- Spencer risked Jordan's life.
- LAURA: No, no, no.

Jordan risked Jordan's life,

and it was stupid and dangerous,

but ultimately, it was
a risk that paid off.

I mean, I've never seen Jordan play

the way he played at the championships.

[CROWD CHEERING]

JORDAN: Here we go, here we
go, here we go. Down, set!

ANNOUNCER: This is Jordan
Baker's first return to the field

since his concussion midseason.

- All right, hut!
- What a return it is.

QUE PARKS: ♪ Take off to the top... ♪

[SINGING CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

[SINGING CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

[JORDAN GROANS]

PARKS: ♪ Stand back,
there's a trap, man ♪

[CROWD CHEERING, WHISTLE BLOWS]

ANNOUNCER: Beverly's up, - .

What an impressive game
it's been for both teams.

Crenshaw has time for one more play.

They get this across the goal line,

and they will be the
new state champions.

- You good?
- Yeah, I'm good.

All right. You know what to do.

Play like Chargers.

You have given me everything
tonight. I can't ask for no more.

- Finish it.
- Yes, sir.

All right. Get out there.

CHRIS: Hey! Y'all, listen up!

Hey, we been together for a minute now.

We had each other's
backs even when we mad

'cause that's how families be, and
we are family through and through.

OK? So let's finish this.

It's now or never, boys.

Chris is right. Now, we missing
a vital member of this family,

who's off dealing with a tragedy,

and that man carried us
here damn near on his back,

so the least we can do is
finish this one out for him.

- Yes, sir.
- This win tonight is for Spencer James!

CHRIS: And break!

[CROWD CHEERING, DRUMS b*ating]

Set, hut!

Get there, get there, get there!

[CROWD CHEERING, PLAYERS
SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

JJ: Hey!

No! He's short!

He's short, he's short,
he's short, he's short!

REFEREE: He's short. He was short.

- JJ: Short, short, short!
- HEAD REF: Runner is short! No good!

- [CROWD CHEERING AND WHISTLING]
- ANNOUNCER: And just like that,

Beverly wins state championships again!

What a game!

What a final play and Valiant effort

by Chris Jackson and
the whole Crenshaw team.

This will go down as one for the books.

CHRIS: We're here for you and Coop.

I'm sorry.

I can't believe you're all here, man.

Where else would we be?

Look, Spence,

I should be the one apologizing,

OK, not you.

You got it, bruh.

- SPENCER: Hey.
- JORDAN: It's gonna be all right.

JJ: How... how's Coop doing? Any update?

[DOOR OPENS]

What? What is it?

She made it through surgery.

Thank God. That's good news.

They won't know the extent of
the damage until she wakes up.

What is it, Ma?

What are y'all not saying?

The surgery was... Rough.

She barely made it through.

It's not a matter of when she wakes up.

It's if...

She wakes up.

C... Coop's in a coma?

[WHISPERS] Yeah.

- [CRYING]
- Come here, come here.

It's OK.

It's OK.

SPENCER: I appreciate you flying
out, but my mind's made up.

OLIVIA: OK, that was weird.

Layla's dad just called,
asking for Jordan's number.

- He say how she was doing?
- Sounds like better than he is.

So, any luck getting through to him?

[CHUCKLES] Yo, this is
one hardheaded n*gro.

Y'all know I'm sitting
right here, right?

You should try talking to my dad.

- You guys always...
- He ain't trying to hear from me right now.

- [SIGHS]
- All right, Spence.

This is the last thing I'mma say.

Staying back and moving
back has always been

your go-to anytime
things get a little rough,

and if you're being
honest with yourself,

it's become a crutch
'cause I don't know,

maybe something out there scares you.

Maybe something about
the dream scares you.

The question is, what?

MALE SINGER: ♪ Hey! ♪ [ECHOES]

JORDAN: The next time you
want to use me as an alibi,

maybe give a brother
a heads-up so I know

to cover for you when your dad calls.

Of course he checked.

Wait. How'd you find me?

Well, your dad has
find-my-phone activated.

Yeah, the only way I could get him to

not come here himself was
to offer to come instead.

- Oh, thank you.
- Hmm.

It's weird being here without Coop.

Yeah.

Uh, look, I was actually
gonna swing by Spencer's

and check on him while
I'm down here. Would...

- would you want to come?
- Uh, I would, I just

feel like if I don't get going,

my dad'll have the National
Guard come escort me home.

Do you mind if I toss in my two cents?

The more you keep your dad
in the dark about everything

that you're feeling, the tighter
he's gonna want to hold on.

Just be honest with him,
Layla, for both your sakes.

- Even if it hurts him?
- The pain is for a moment.

The healing is a lifetime.

Isn't that what you
told Carrie that night?

- LAYLA: Carrie.
- CARRIE: Why are you still here?

[PANTING] Because you're still here.

Oh, Layla, please.

You need to go.

Look, I...

I know I said we weren't
the same, but we kind of are.

No... you were right.

[SNIFFLES]

We're not.

I've felt what you felt.

I've been where you are. The...

The unimaginable pain and the...

Being tired of hurting and

feeling like no one understands,

and feeling like there's
no way to make it stop

except to take your
own life. Carrie, I...

I was on my own cliff

less than a year ago,
and I am still here.

I am proof... [SNIFFLES]...

that you can and you will make it.

[CRYING] You're stronger than me.

[SOBBING] I've been here before,

and I got help,

and now I'm back here again.

I can't keep starting
over because clearly

- it is not working...
- No, look,

I know it feels like you
are back in the same place,

but you are not, OK?

Fighting for our
mental health, it's like

a rollercoaster, you know? There
are ups and there are downs,

but there is always forward movement.

Why are you trying to help me
after everything that I've done?

Because you helped me once.

When I... when I was

at my worst, and I walked
into Running Springs,

you helped get me better.

You saved my life, Carrie,

and I'm not leaving
until I return the favor.

It hurts, Layla.

- [GASPING] Everything hurts.
- I know. I know.

I promise you

that that pain is just
for the moment, and...

You'll heal and...

and you'll get through this, and
then that new, brighter feeling

- will last a lifetime.
- It's too late!

- No, no, no.
- I already messed up!

- No.
- My parents,

you, I... [CRYING]

Carrie, Carrie, we love you, OK?

We want you to get better,

and I know it...

I know it all feels really

overwhelming and huge right now, and...

Look...

All we have to do...

Is just focus on one
thing at a time, OK?

- I don't know where to start.
- OK, um...

Where... where was the last place
that you felt like yourself and...

and you felt safe?

Honestly...

The Running Springs facility.

OK.

OK, let's start there.

OK? Just... Come on.

Come on. It's gonna be fine.

- OK, come on.
- CARRIE: OK.

[CARRIE WAILING LOUDLY]

[CRYING] I'm so sorry!

- I can't... I can't...
- LAYLA: It's OK.

I don't want to!

It's OK.

- Hey.
- Hey.

Listen, um, I'm really
glad you wanted to talk.

- Dad, I...
- Just, uh,

just let me get this out first.

Layla, I'm sorry.

After almost losing you in the
midst of Carrie's episode, I, uh...

It scared me to death, and, uh,

I realized that the way I've
been acting over the last days

has been more about what I needed,

when it should have been
about what you needed.

Honestly, I don't know
that I really understood

what I needed until now.

I'm listening.

Um...

I need to feel safe, Dad,

- and I don't feel safe here.
- JP: OK.

- It's just a house. We can move again.
- LAYLA: No, it's...

it's not the house. It's...

It's the home, you know.

It's not just about
what happened with Carrie

or the break-in at the last house

or my struggle with depression.

I have not felt safe or like
I'm on solid ground since...

Like, since Mom d*ed
and... and you left.

You're part of the
home I feel unsafe in...

And...

[SIGHS] That feeling is what

left me vulnerable to
someone like Carrie.

- I'm sorry.
- No... no, don't be.

You're right, you know?

I should be the one
asking for forgiveness.

Look, um...

Most importantly,

I want you feeling healthy and whole.

- Yeah, so do I.
- OK.

How do we make you feel safe again?

[SIGHS]

[CELLPHONE CHIMES, VIBRATES]

SPENCER: Tamia Cooper?

Three days, Coop?

You just had to make my
heart stop for days?

[COOP GROANS]

I... I'm sorry, but... Who are you?

It's me.

Coop, it's me,

Spence.

[CHUCKLING]

You should see your face, fool.

[CHUCKLES]

Yo, if you wasn't in that
bed, I would whup your ass.

Oh... ow, ow, ow.

It's all good.

- Hey.
- Hi, Ms. Baker.

- Hi, honey.
- Thank you.

- LAURA: Hey.
- JORDAN: I'll grab this.

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- JP: Hey, thanks again

for, uh, agreeing to let her stay.

- Takes a village, right?
- JP: Right.

Thanks for agreeing to this, Dad.

- I love you.
- I love you, too.

LAURA: JP,

this is not gonna be forever,

and you know you can
come any time you want.

JP: I know.

MALE SINGER: ♪ Oh, I'm not feeling ♪

- ♪ I just got nothing left ♪
- JP: Thank you.

- SINGER: ♪ To lose no more ♪
- [CROWD CHEERING, WHISTLE BLOWS]

- [PLAYERS SHOUTING ON VIDEO]
- ♪ I have been through this ♪

♪ It isn't the first time ♪

- ♪ Won't be the last time ♪
- [KNOCK ON DOOR]

- SPENCER: Hey, you got a second, Coach?
- [WHISTLE BLOWS]

BILLY: Uh...

- I heard the good news about Coop.
- Yeah, yeah. It's amazing.

Yeah. It's good news.

I'm, uh, meant to sign to
Toledo by the end of today.

I couldn't bring myself to
do it when I thought Coop

was gonna stay in the coma indefinitely,

but she's awake now,

gonna make a full recovery, yet...

I still can't sign.

Darnell thinks it's 'cause
something about the dream scares me.

Yeah, well, uh, you know, you
got to do what's right for you.

How many times I got
to say I'm sorry, man?

Coach, I am sorry I trained Jordan.

I'm sorry I had to leave the game.

Maybe if I'd have stayed, it wouldn't
have came so close to the wire,

- and we'd be the official state champs...
- BILLY: We are the state champs.

I don't care what the
official records say.

We all know that, and
that's all that matters.

[CROWD CHEERING AND WHISTLING]

- JJ: Short, short, short, short!
- REF: Runner was short. No good. [ECHOES]

There's no instant replay,
we got to live with that call,

but we won that game, damn it!

And we won it without Spencer James.

Oh, now, I ain't
saying that to be cruel,

- I'm just proving the point.
- And what point is that?

You don't always have
to be the hero, Spencer,

just like you didn't have to be the hero

when Jordan asked you to train him.

Your need to play God could
get somebody k*lled one day!

What was I supposed to do...

Huh? Jordan was gonna train
with or without me, man!

At least with me, I could keep him safe!

Not your job to keep him safe!

That's my job! That's Laura's job!

You should have come to us!

You want to know why you ain't
gonna sign this damn letter?

[PICKS UP LETTER] It's not
'cause you think Crenshaw

or your family or your friends

are gonna fall apart
without you. That's not it.

You're scared that they won't.

And who is Spencer James

if he ain't the hero?

MALE SINGER: ♪ Tell me
if you can feel it ♪

♪ 'Cause I feel it ♪

♪ 'Cause I feel it ♪

- I can't let you do that.
- Man, you're on parole.

I'm not letting you go back to prison.

What's going on?

I thought you were laying low.

I wanted to see her awake for myself.

Promised me you'd rest, Coop.

Babe, I was asleep the last days.

I think I'm good on rest.

Nah, she's right. Think
I'mma head up outta here.

Tamia Cooper?

I'm Detective Poworski.
It's good to see you awake.

I have some questions for you
about the night of your sh**ting.

Well, she's still
recovering, so can this wait?

Not if you want to
catch who did this.

There's no one to catch.

Monique Moore sh*t Coop right before...

Right before I sh*t her back.

POWORSKI: So you're saying that
Monique Moore sh*t you first,

and then you sh*t back in self-defense?

That's exactly what I'm saying.

Where's the g*n? It wasn't
recovered at the scene.

I don't know. I passed
out after getting sh*t,

and I woke up here a few hours ago.

- How'd you get to the hospital?
- Again, I don't know.

Were there any witnesses at the scene?

- No, it was just me and Mo.
- Coop, I think you should have your lawyer around

before you say nothing else.

Tell your lawyer that
we'll be back to finish up

our statement in the
morning. Have a good night.

[SIGHS] There.

It's done.

They'll dot their I's
and cross their whatevers,

- but self-defense is a clean cut.
- PATIENCE: 'Scuse me.

[PREACH SIGHS]

- What?
- What's the problem?

Coop was out.

She was done with the
drama, with the g*ng crap,

and she just threw herself right
back in the middle of it all

- by lying to those cops.
- She's trying to save me.

Yeah. Yeah, there is always a reason.

You know, I spent the last few days

blaming you,

blaming myself for
what happened to Coop,

but the truth is

the person to blame for all the drama

that follows Coop around is Coop.

When is it ever gonna stop?

[FOOTSTEPS RETREAT]

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

[JORDAN WHISPERS] Shh.
Hey, here she comes.

[LAYLA CHUCKLES]

Um, big head and I thought maybe,

just for tonight, you
didn't want to sleep alone.

Our sleepover fort. [CHUCKLES]

JORDAN: Your sleepover fort.

- BOUNDARY RUN: ♪ Everything stops ♪
- LAYLA: Thanks.

- Heh! [SNIFFLES]
- JORDAN: Yeah.

BOUNDARY RUN: ♪ The second hand locks ♪

Hey, hey.

- ♪ I let it sink in ♪
- [SOBS] Thanks.

BOUNDARY RUN: ♪ I'm seeing it now ♪

[LAYLA SNIFFLES, SIGHS]

You know, Coach Baker
asked me a question tonight,

and I realized I ain't had the answer.

I don't know.

Maybe he's right about me
having a savior complex.

Maybe not...

But at some point, I got to take
the leap and find out, right?

I mean, Dr. Spears always telling
me to put my mask on first.

- ♪ But I've been running circles ♪
- So here we go.

BOUNDARY RUN:
♪ 'Cause I can't make up my ♪

♪ Make up my mind ♪

I always imagined we'd be together
when I signed to a D school...

So let's do it, Pops. [CLEARS THROAT]

BOUNDARY RUN: ♪ Make up my mind ♪

♪ Make up my mind ♪

♪ Make up my mind ♪

♪ Make up my mind ♪

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

MAN: Greg, move your head!