03x10 - Other Lives

[bunniefuu]

Franklin Saint m*rder*d my dad.

This rock that you're selling, it's doing real damage out there.

Once the rock get ahold of they ass, the person you knew, they gone.

I don't know what it is you think you know, but I'll put you back in that cell any g*dd*mn time I want.

I didn't mean to k*ll Kev, Mama.

I didn't mean to k*ll Kev.

You ain't built for this sh*t, Saint.

We sell it right here, in the hood, same as weed.

I didn't invent this rock.

But I'm-a blow it up.

I don't sell coke to kids.

Then what do you sell? I sell kilos to people with money.

Okay, front me a key.

So you are after something.

f*cking right.

And what's that? Freedom.

Hey, come here!

Freedom from all of it.

Watch out, man.

Know when I'll feel free?

When I'm somewhere far off from here.

In physics, it's referred to as the many-worlds theory, its roots in quantum mechanics.

Simply put, if our universe is, in fact, infinite and ever expanding, it means every possible permutation of our reality, no matter how improbable, must at some point exist.

So, if you're failing this class, don't b*at yourself up too much.

In another reality, you're teaching it.

Remember, exams Friday.

Don't forget your blue books and pencils.

So, who are you?

In one of these parallel universes.

Probably back in Africa.

My people never chained and brought to this country to begin with.

sh*t.

Took your fun game and kind of f*cked it up, huh?

Yeah, yeah, you kind of did.

What about you? This other life.

The youngest senator in history, on track to be the first female president.

Well, you got to be at least 30 to be in the Senate.

Not in that world, you don't. Ah.

Shame you're not ambitious.

Show me someone around here who isn't.

The professors. I'm serious.

They decided to spread knowledge, instead of using it for power or profit.

We're the ones you got to be afraid of.

So, who are you in this life?

Why?

Trying to be friends with the unicorn on campus?

Or you got a thing for black dudes?

Honestly?

You looked interesting.

Bet I do, to somebody from...

I don't know... Connecticut.

I'm from Chicago.

Oh, yeah? Which suburb?

Are you this tough on everyone?

Or just white girls?

It's got to be in there. This is what she said.

She said it was a problem with the loan and that it would all be taken care of once the scholarship came through and paid the loan off.

Look, whoever you spoke to was mistaken.

This shows the loan was canceled months ago, hence the overdue payment.

Wait, why would the loan be canceled?

Your family's most recent W-2 listed a reported income of $111,000, making you ineligible for financial aid.

A hundred... I'm sorry.

My mother earned $11,000 last year, sir.

Well, not according to that.

No, it's a mistake. I promise you, sir.

Do you have proof of that?

I can get my moms to send a copy of the W-2.

You can call her right now. Your moms?

Do you have two of them?

My mother, sir.

I can get her to ship it, but it'll take a few days.

Unless we have proof of the error in the next 48 hours, you'll have to vacate the dorms and drop your classes.

It's just a mistake, sir. Can't I get an extension?

If our financial requirements are such a burden, perhaps this isn't the best place for you.

Well, you know, if you're too stupid to know a simple mistake when you see one, then perhaps this ain't the best place for you, sir.

Glenda, call security. Don't bother.

I'll be back.

It's just a mistake, sir.

It's just a mistake.

Damn.

... to the Soviet state, right?

So, one of the issues that...

If this institution wants to remain competitive amidst the evolving landscape of America's racial makeup, it needs to take a hard look at its admissions and scholarship policies.

"Or risk not only falling behind, but being on the wrong side of history."

I thought a lot about what you said the other day, about me being hard on people.

And?

Don't always think I was like that.

What did you used to be like?

Got some free time.

Tell you over coffee?

I would, but there's a recruiter on campus giving a talk.

I was gonna check it out. Oh.

What kind of recruiter?

Yeah, welcome. And, uh, thanks for being here.

Uh, right off the bat, I want to start by just, uh, dispelling, uh, a few myths.

Yeah, have a seat. Uh, start by dispelling any misconceptions that-that may be out there.

You know, if you're here because you have dreams of vodka martinis and-and-and flashy sports cars, uh, I'm afraid the CIA is-is not for you.

Um, despite what Hollywood might have you believe, it's a life of service and-and sacrifice.

And, uh, it's-it's not... it's not usually very glamorous.

It's rarely dangerous.

It's mostly pretty boring, really.

But, uh, I can assure you that it is absolutely necessary.

Uh, the question that I would ask is, uh:

Do you have what it takes to dedicate your life to something bigger than yourself?

Uh...

You're not running for the door, so I'll take it as a yes.

We'll start by talking about, um, the different kinds of career paths that you can choose...

How you doing, sir?

Uh, copy of the W-2, along with the pay stubs, just to be sure.

And, uh... and, uh, I just want to say sorry for the other day.

I was out of hand.

I'm afraid I have bad news.

The financial question brought your scholarship to the attention of our committee, and they're putting it up for review.

Up for review?

What does that mean, sir?

The Reagan Administration budget cuts have thrown a number of aid situations into uncertainty.

Including mine, all of a sudden.

They'll review your aid package as soon as they can, but unless you have the $7,800 you owe, you'll need to move out immediately.

What? You're kicking me out right now?

Well, it wouldn't be fair to the kids who are actually paying their way if we let you stay for nothing, would it?

Nah, f*ck that!

You got somebody else I could talk to?

You got a supervisor or something?

No, afraid I don't. Huh?!

'Cause this m*therf*cker's obviously not listening.

Huh? f*ck that. They'll review your aid package as soon as they can. It's already too late to drop these classes.

I don't finish them, they'll be F's on my record.

You know that. You understand that, right?

Yeah, that is a shame.

A shame?

This is my life, man.

Don't you know how hard I worked to get here?

You pulled yourself up once, I'm sure you can do it again.

But if I were you, I might reconsider my attitude moving forward.

My attitude.

f*cking attitude?

You did not do that. Right over the f*cking desk.

Have you lost your mind?

Maybe I did in that moment, yeah.

I ain't never been that angry before.

So, yeah. Can't go back.

Even if the scholarship goes through.

Hey. You'll be okay.

Spelman?

That'll be a totally different experience, trust me.

Man, can you pass that weed already, man?

It's too strong for you, fam.

Hey, pass that sh*t.

Here come the homey right here.

Hey, what's up, Poindexter?

How about you hit us with some of them equations?

Nah, nah, nah. Hook up some of them stock tips.

I'm trying to invest, boy.

No problem.

My commission's 20%, though.

20%? Wow. 20%. Go ahead, give it to him, man.

Break the bank. 20% of 20%. How about that?

Oh, it sounds like a scam to me!

Pay $200 to find out what type of kid you're gonna have.

Well, you're gonna find out for free eventually, like God intended the sh*t.

It's gonna be a girl, no doubt.

Hey, nephew! College boy.

What up, nephew? Auntie, look at you, all big.

I see they ain't teach you how to talk to no lady up in that m*therf*cking school. No, they ain't teaching Pregnant Hood b*tches 101.

I just meant you farther along than I thought.

That's all. Wow. Mm-hmm.

What you doing here?

You get that loan sh*t straight?

Mama told y'all about that, huh?

Well, yeah.

So, what's up?

You know, we was gonna help you out with that, but, uh, between the baby coming and me having to front for product with the Mexicans, man, a little cash-strapped right now.

It's fine, Unc. For real.

Wasn't the right place for me anyway, you know?

What you mean?

Wh-What, you done with school?

For now.

Hey. You want to help me move this weed?

You'll have that cash in no time.

Uh-uh. No.

He ain't doing that. I put a g*n to the boy head?

I'm trying to help him out.

No.

No, no. For real.

It's okay, Unc. It's fine.

So, um, you know, you got the baby.

Y'all picked out any names yet?

'Cause you know, me, personally, I think Frankesha is a perfect name.

Frankesha. Right? Frankesha?

He need to be changed.

I look like the nanny? g*dd*mn.

Yeah, you know, he has to do some adjusting there...

Oh, sh*t. What's up, Lee?

This water must got me f*cked up, seeing ghosts around here.

f*ck you doing here?

Whitey finally realize you a n*gga and kicked your ass to the curb?

Something like that. Leon!

Your son done sh*t everywhere.

n*gga, get the f*ck up and come help me clean that sh*t up!

Hey, Franklin.

Hey, Wanda.

n*gga, get the f*ck up.

Franklin, take his ass back to school with you!

Make something of himself. At least if I sh**t her, they'll just put me back inside, right?

Leon, I'm not f*cking playing with you!

Leon!

Hey.

Jerome still in that weed and water game?

Think he could put me on?

I'll ask him.

Franklin, there's six of us in my mama's spot right now.

I got to put something together.

Hey, little n*gga.

With the f*cking camera.

The f*ck you doing? I'm filming.

Yeah, I can see that. What the f*ck you doing it for?

'Cause I'm making a movie.

Nah, what you making is evidence for the police.

Let me see that sh*t.

What? No!

Get off... get off me! Let go of the camera.

Give me that sh*t! Come on, man.

Let that man live. Ain't nobody in the hood making no m*therf*cking movie!

With your square ass.

Stupid-ass n*gga.

What happened at school wasn't your fault, Franklin.

And I'm not here trying to punish you.

It wouldn't hurt to earn a few bucks while you're trying to figure things out.

I stopped by Cho's on my way home.

Said he's been sick.

Could use some extra help.

All right.

Hey, Louie!

Sweetheart, why don't you come over here and help us out with this sh*t?

You seem to be doing just fine.

Hold on, now.

Get the... get the dog. What should I do?

Wait, wait, hold on. Hold on.

Wait, hold up.

Huh? I should get it?

Yeah, get it, get it.

Hey. Hold on, now, nephew.

Wait. Hold up. Wait.

It's Leon.

What's up, man?

What the f*ck you so uptight for?

Boy, you'll get your g*dd*mn ass sh*t.

Who the f*ck you gonna sh**t with that little-ass g*n?

You getting big, huh?

Better way to get your ass sh*t.

How much you want to start with?

I'll take a whole Z.

That be 150.

Now, I'm telling you right now, don't make me into no assh*le.

You move it, you bring it back, you set me right.

I mean, I don't see how that sh*t gonna stop you from being an assh*le, but okay.

Your boy got an attitude problem, huh?

Shut the f*ck up, n*gga. I'm right here.

Why the f*ck you looking at him?

Huh? Come on, Lee.

Come on, what? This n*gga already an assh*le, been an assh*le, gonna forever be a f*cking assh*le.

Huh?

How about I slap the sh*t out you with this p*stol?

Go ahead. Slap me, n*gga.

Louie, sh**t this m*therf*cker in the head.

Get the f*ck up, n*gga. Little bitch-ass m*therf*cker.

Shut your ass up. You shut up.

I'll spray the f*cking concrete with your little bitch ass. Go ahead. Who you sh**ting at, n*gga?

You ain't gonna sh**t sh*t, n*gga.

You ain't never sh*t sh*t... Let me see your paperwork.

Heard they was f*cking your ass up in g*dd*mn county. Yeah!

I ain't even mind them m*therf*ckers inside.

Or the food.

But the man got you on his schedule every second of every day.

And the guards treating you like they own you.

sh*t wear on you.

Everybody's owned by somebody.

Not like this.

Hey, why the f*ck you ain't at that school?

Thought for sure you wasn't ever coming back.

I got f*cked.

Maybe I f*cked myself.

I don't know.

Thought I could play their game my way and still win.

Franklin Saint.

Always thinking there's a better way.

So, what's the better way now?

Franklin Saint?

Hey, I'm Teddy McDonald.

Y-You came to a presentation I gave at Claremont.

You're the recruiter?

Yeah.

Sorry to just show up like this.

I was wondering if maybe you had a few minutes to talk.

Great.

It's just you and your mom?

Uh-huh.

Your dad? Uh...

He'd been living on the streets a long time.

Cops gave him a b*ating a few years back. He didn't make it.

I'm sorry to hear that. Look, I don't mean to be rude, but, uh, what...

What the hell am I doing here?

Yeah, yeah.

I came to see if the CIA might be the right career path for you.

I'm sorry, what?

The... the CIA?

You came here to hire me?

Well, um, I mean, you'd have to finish school first, of course.

And then you would go through our process.

Exams, interviews, background checks, there's a polygraph.

You know, it's not easy, but...

... from what I hear, you can handle it.

And what did you hear?

3.9 GPA, double major political science, economics.

1540 on your SATs.

Your professors speak glowingly about your work ethic and your critical thinking.

And you've shown an acute ability to move easily between worlds.

I should add that diversity has become increasingly important to the Agency.

You see, to meet ever more complex goals going forward, we have to broaden our perspectives.

You seem surprised.

I just never thought about working for the government.

Really?

D-Do you mind if I ask why?

You know, the... the government never cared about me.

So, why help them?

This kind of work's not for everyone.

Why do you do it?

Tradition.

Mm. Duty.

And I believe in America. Its mission.

You know, they recruited me at Yale, 'cause, uh, I was the best and the brightest.

Like you.

Well, you know, e-even if I was interested, there's a problem... with school.

A problem like you assaulting the financial aid officer?

Rumor has it that Alexander Hamilton punched a bursar at Princeton. For real?

Man. Wow.

You know, we're not looking for spotless backgrounds.

We're looking for people with backbones.

And if you're concerned about getting back into school, consider that taken care of.

Anyway, uh, I'm gonna be in L.A. for a few more weeks, but then I'm gonna be back in D.C.

After that, uh, if you're interested, give this number a call. They'll put us in touch.

Theodore McDonald.

Have a good one. Yeah.

You be safe out there. Sure thing.

Thank you.

Oh, my bad. Go right ahead.

Cute-ass couple.

What's going on, little homey? What's up, man?

Ain't nothing.

Let me, uh, get this box of Apple Smacks and, uh... oh, sh*t, them yellow flip-flops.

Yeah, let me get a pair. All right, man.

Hey, size 13.

We ain't got no 13s.

Damn, that's all good. Hey, check this out, though.

I guess I'll take all the money in the register.

Let's go, n*gga. This your first time being robbed?

Move! Get that money.

Let's go, man, hurry your ass up!

Nervous n*gga knocking sh*t down.

Man, hell nah, this ain't all you got. Go back, man.

Take all the money out.

Hell wrong with you, man?

sh*t.

Do with these coins, n*gga? I ain't riding the bus.

Matter of fact, run that money in your pocket, too.

sh*t. Let's go, n*gga!

sh*t.

Two dollars?

sh*t. Broke-ass n*gga, man.

Man, just-just take it and go.

The f*ck you say to me?

What, you trying to tell me what to do? No.

Oh, you think you're my boss, huh? No.

No. n*gga, you ain't sh*t.

I'll take your f*cking life right now if I want to.

Matter of fact.

Hey, say you're my bitch.

What?

Say it, n*gga, right f*cking now!

I'm-I'm your bitch.

Now say you're my f*cking bitch.

I'm your bitch, man.

I'm your bitch.

Trying to lose your g*dd*mn life tonight?

Ass end up on the news, n*gga.

f*ck wrong with you?

No, no, no, no, no!

You all right, Franklin?

Officer needs help.

sh*ts fired. Cho's market.

Requesting ambulance and backup.

Black male. Not responding.

Not breathing.

10-4. Confirm Cho's market.

Backup and rescue unit on the way.

Came in through the door. Okay.

Saw the suspect with the g*n in his hand.

He fired a sh*t at me.

I ducked, fired three sh*ts...

Excuse us. Franklin?

Ma'am. Sorry.

Ma-Ma'am. Franklin.

Oh, my God.

Are you okay? Mm-hmm.

God. Come on.

Let's get you out of here.

Thank you.

That's it.

You're going back to school somewhere.

I will find the money.

I'm not going back to that world.

I don't belong there.

You don't belong here, either, Franklin.

You're too big for this place.

I don't know what to do, Mama.

You know, I've had this conversation before.

With your father.

He felt the same way.

Betrayed by the Panthers, by his country.

A man without a place in this world.

But he let them win.

He gave up.

Mm-mm.

You don't have to know how, but you have to keep going.

You can do anything you want. Reapply for a scholarship to an all-black college and finish school.

Or go back to that... You have to keep going...

And refuse to leave until they give you a job.

You can do anything you want...

Use them to learn the system, pass the exams...

You have to keep going...

... and then come back to South Central and open your own firm.

You can do anything you want.

Your ancestors suffered horrors beyond imagining to give you this opportunity.

You have to keep going...

I've done all I can. You can do anything you want.

There is grace for those who seek it.

I believe it in my heart.

You will be all right, Franklin.

But you have to stay and fight.

I got you.

There are more than 400 youth gangs in Los Angeles, and these days it doesn't take much to start a g*ng w*r.

Just over the weekend, seven people were k*lled in three separate att*cks.

Police say that extra security during the Olympics kept the lid on at that time.

Now they believe g*ng members may be settling a lot of old s...

You don't need to be watching this.

Um...

Your, uh, dad and I are gonna step out for a bit.

Okay?

Need anything? Nah, I'm good.

All right.

Thank you for coming.

We in trouble.

Okay? Drifting. Profits is down.

v*olence is rising. The gangs at w*r.

This entire business is about to spin out of control...

No.

Cissy... He is not ready.

You need to let him make that choice.

I most certainly do not.

He started this sh*t.

And it almost k*lled him.

Three minutes he was on that table.

His heart stopped. I was there. We all was there.

Then how dare you ask me to push him back in?

If he ever does come back, it'll be when...

... we decide that he's able. Oh, get the f*ck out of here.

Decide what? And if y'all can't manage this sh*t without him... Then what?

Then you should have the good sense to walk away before somebody else dies up in this piece.

Woman, you know you're in the g*dd*mn drug game now, right?

You know that? Do you know that?

Why don't you go have a f*cking kid before you got...

Oh, shut the f*ck up with the g*dd*mn kid sh*t!

You don't make no f*cking decisions...

You don't m*therf*cking get to make this decision!

You know you're a f*cking drug dealer now, right?

He's my m*therf*cking son!

This is my sh*t! I don't give a f*ck what you say!

That's my g*dd*mn son! This is my wife, Jerome.

You understand me? Franklin!

f*cking hardheaded.

It's okay, Mama.

Huh?

All right. I'm here.

Talk to me.

I still don't understand why.

We have the money, we can leave.

All of us.

Start a life somewhere else.

I didn't build all of this just to make a bunch of money and leave, abandon our people.

You telling me this is still about our people?

Have you taken a look about what's going on out there?

I have. And that's exactly why I can't leave now.

You can't control what happens, Franklin.

You can't stop what's coming. Maybe, maybe not.

But what I know for sure is, if we bail, there'll be chaos.

We'll leave a vacuum, for sure.

Gangs battling over control and territory.

And an entire f*cking community in ruins.

Is that what you want?

You still haven't fully healed.

I've healed enough.

And I have to stay and fight.

I'm sorry.

I got to... got to go take care of something.

I love you.

Ah.

You are a sight for sore eyes.

Ain't I glad to see you.

You look good. Ah.

Look like I'm hurting, which I am.

But I've subscribed to the notion that whatever doesn't k*ll us simply makes us...

Stronger. Sharper.

Sharper.

Did you know that L.A. used to suffer from serious floods?

Yeah, I think I heard that at some point.

You know, they tried building dams, but that didn't solve it.

So after a couple disastrous floods in the '30s, L.A. reached out to the federal government.

And they brought in the Army Corps of Engineers, and in 20 years they built and designed the L.A. River, a 50-mile waterway that saved the City of Angels.

I was right about this rock.

We're making more money than we ever could've dreamed of.

What I was wrong about was the cost.

Lives are gonna be destroyed.

Ain't a thing I can do about that now except to keep going, keep things under control as best I can, you know?

Yeah, how do you do that?

I bring in the federal government.

I'll identify anybody who poses a thr*at to stability, and you'll help me take 'em down.

That's how we keep the v*olence at bay, stay out the papers so we can make that paper. Huh?

Why would I help you do that?

Well, because...

... the CIA wants me to keep flowing money here, Reed.

Or James Smith or Thomas Parker or whatever your name is.

You can destroy me any time you want, I get it.

But you see, the thing is, I'm not afraid of dying anymore.

Not even so much afraid of prison.

But what I will not be is a sl*ve... to anyone.

Even you.

Remember McDonald's?

Thousand keys a week?

Oh, yeah.

I'll make you so much f*cking money, you'll be able to fund that w*r all by yourself.

They're gonna name a wing at the CIA headquarters after your ass.

Real American hero sh*t.

And in return, you'll make sure that me and mine are protected.

And at the end of this, the both of us are gonna ride off into the sunset.

You said you'd be here with me until the end.

Did you really mean it?