04x08 - Walk This Way

Episode transcripts for the TV show "All American" Premiered on the CW October 10,2018 to current*
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Inspired by the life of professional American football player Spencer Paysinger. High School football player is recruited from South LA to play for Beverly Hills and the two worlds collide.
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04x08 - Walk This Way

Post by bunniefuu »

- WILLIE: Stop touching my stuff!
- WOMAN: I'm just trying to do my job!

- JORDAN: Hey, Grandpa...
- WILLIE: I don't care!

WOMAN: Tu abuelo es imposible. I quit!

WILLIE: Don't even
think about coming back!

Uh, OK, I'm...

I'm not really sure
what just happened there,

but didn't the doctor say
you shouldn't get worked up?

That woman's a menace.

Kept changing the settings on my TV.

I'm trying to watch the
news, not a telenovela!

And just now, I saw her poking
around in my drawers drawer.

What is a "drurs drur"?

It's the drawer where I keep...

Ah, never mind.

Just tell your father

I am sick and tired

of strangers in and out of my home.

Just 'cause I had a heart att*ck
don't make me a damn invalid.

I... I... [SIGHS]

I... I'm fine on my own.

I don't... I don't need any... any help.

I don't need... [EXHALES]... any help.

Mm-mmm.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

- What's good, J.?
- What's up, Spence?

Hey, you got a minute?

Chris said you got a
meeting with Carter today.

You think he's circling back about

the break-in at Beverly and the trophy?

SPENCER: I told you not to worry
about what went down prom night, man.

- You good.
- Ain't me I'm worried about;

Carter said he'd expel you if
you didn't turn anyone in, right?

If Carter was gonna expel
me, he woulda done it by now,

but it's been a month, and
he ain't mentioned expulsion

since that night, a'ight?

Maybe he put the investigation on hold

'cause he doesn't want
to go after Coach's team

while his old man's in the hospital.

Or maybe he's letting it all blow
over because it was just a prank.

No, Carter don't seem like the
type of dude who believes in pranks.

- Jabari, let it go.
- I can't, man!

You putting yourself out
on a limb protecting me.

What happens to Golden
Angeles if you get expelled?

G.A.U. would revoke my scholarship,

but that ain't gonna happen.

I earned that diploma, and in two days,

Carter's gonna put it right in my hand.

Is that clear enough for you?

["MY REFLECTION" PLAYING]

MALE SINGER: ♪ When it all falls apart ♪

♪ Who picks up the
pieces to your heart? ♪

♪ That little glimmer
of light in the dark is ♪

♪ The reason we keep on pushin' ♪

♪ Always try to
remember how we felt... ♪

- PREACH: Finally. What took you so long?
- [DOOR CLOSES]

What happened?

Amina, I'm not playing.

Who did that to your eye?

For the past few weeks, you've
been talking back to your teachers,

not turning in your homework,
and now you getting into scraps?

I want answers, now.

Where are my answers?

I asked you why Aunt Coop sh*t my
mom, and all you keep saying is...

Auntie Coop wasn't involved.

- So why is everybody saying...
- I warned you.

Quit listening to folks in the street.

They ain't got no clue
what they talking about.

But you do.

Daddy, I deserve to know
what happened to my mom.

Just tell me.

I told you everything
you needed to know.

The rest is grown-folk stuff,

but right now, I need
to know why the hell

you look like you went two
rounds in the boxing ring.

If you won't tell me your business,
you need to stay out of mine.

FEMALE SINGER: ♪ Got it good
now, gotta get it, get it ♪

♪ When the good comes down ♪

♪ Gotta move your body,
move around, child... ♪

SIMONE: Girl, whatever is bothering you,

- that robe is innocent, OK?
- [LAYLA SIGHS]

My dad is insisting I meet the
music chair at Coastal California,

even though he swore he was
fine with me taking a gap year.

Wants me to discuss my
options, but no pressure,

so now I'm trying to fit in this meeting

- and write my valedictorian speech.
- SIMONE: Let me get this straight.

Before you give your speech on us, like,

being grown and, you know,
seizing the day or whatever,

- you have to first meet with your daddy's friend?
- LAYLA: Yeah.

The irony is not lost on me.

OLIVIA: At least you know
what you're doing next year.

I mean, I got into all of these schools,

and I still don't know which one

has the best journalism program for me.

SIMONE: I thought the acceptance
deadline's passed already.

She got extensions to her top schools.

SIMONE: Well, aren't you special?

All right, g*n to your head.
What's your gut telling you?

I mean, I'm drawn to the one at G.A.U.

- SIMONE: Wow. G.A.U.?
- [LAYLA GIGGLES]

Where did that come from? I wonder why.

Exactly. I don't want

to be one of those
girls that just, like,

follows her boyfriend to college.

I mean, it's so thirsty.

What am I saying? I mean,
if Spencer gets expelled,

then he might not even
get to go to college,

so I might not even get
a chance to be thirsty.

SIMONE: All right, guys, well, I
think that Spencer will be fine,

and as for you, my aunt
Amara's actually coming in

- for graduation this weekend...
- OLIVIA: Oh.

SIMONE: And she has all the
tea on journalism programs,

so, with her advice... [DRAMATICALLY]

You will live to thirst
another day, darling.

Nice.

PRINCIPAL LONDON: Well,
the grace period's up.

The school board and alumni are livid.

They want the guilty students found now.

CARTER: Look, I agreed to
this meeting as a courtesy,

but I expect Spencer to
tell you the same thing

that he told us at prom... nothing.

Isn't this all a bit much
for a silly high-school prank?

But it stopped being a prank

when the sprinklers caused
a half a million dollars

in damage to the gym.

Someone must be held responsible,

- even if it's Spencer James.
- Spencer is my student.

- The Beverly school board doesn't have a say...
- They went to Superintendent Barry.

She's commissioned a
disciplinary committee

to decide Spencer's
fate tomorrow afternoon.

Spencer is only guilty
of returning the trophy.

LONDON: Look, no one wants
Spencer going down for this.

SPENCER: But I will if I don't
give 'em anybody else, right?

Spencer. You're early.

I figured I'd get a workout
in. Did I get that right, sir?

LONDON: Spencer...

You may think it's noble
protecting your teammates.

The disciplinary committee will not.

They will expel you,

but it doesn't have to come to that.

Give 'em a few names to expel
so it won't happen to me, right?

Give me one name, and everyone
can get back to their lives.

Everybody except the person I name.

They committed a crime. You didn't.

It was an accident. You know that.

And they will have the opportunity

to give their side of the story.

Look, I just want everyone to face

the consequences of their own actions.

You don't deserve any of this.

- SPENCER: I can't.
- LONDON: Spencer,

your future is worth too much.

You know what? You right.

I don't deserve this,

but I can't give you a name

because their future's got worth, too,

even if you don't see it.

- ♪ Hip and hip ♪
- [SNAPPING FINGERS]

♪ All the way down the
aisle, ball change ♪

OLIVIA: I don't care what
you did in the stone ages, OK?

I'm not two-stepping down
the aisle at graduation.

BILLY: Come on, now.
Two steps puts the pomp

- in pomp and circumstance.
- OLIVIA: Dad!

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- Why are you letting complete strangers

take care of G.W.?

BILLY: Oh, is that what he's calling
them? 'Cause they're not strangers.

They're qualified medical professionals,

and judging by the tone of your voice,

I probably need to hire a new one.

No, no, no, don't hire someone else;

- Go down there yourself, Dad.
- BILLY: That's not a good idea.

Well, why not? I mean, aren't you guys

finally in a good place?

BILLY: We are, and I'm
trying to keep it that way.

He's your dad, right?

Why are you looking for
excuses not to go see him?

You haven't been down
there since what, what...

He... he got released from the hospital?

- LAURA: Jordan.
- JORDAN: You're ridiculous.

LAURA: Hey. Jordan!

- OLIVIA: I'll go talk to him.
- BILLY: Please.

[SIGHS]

So when are we gonna go
two-step on over there?

[SCOFFS]

[QUIETLY] Aw, boy.

GRACE: Because I am angry, d'Angelo!

After all the things he's
done for that damn school?

Are you kidding me? It's disgusting!

[DOOR OPENS]

- I got to go. He's home.
- [DOOR CLOSES]

DILLON: Yo, did you really get expelled?

No. Not yet.

DILLON: "Not yet"? Dawg, I
cannot believe this is happening.

- GRACE: It doesn't have to.
- SPENCER: Ma, listen, I know you angry...

"Angry" does not even
begin to describe it!

Spencer, I thought,

hoped that Dr. Spears
had finally gotten you

- over this need to save everybody!
- It's bigger than that, Ma.

It's about fighting a
system that's forgotten

it's supposed to be protecting students,

not feeding them to the wolves
over the smallest mistake.

GRACE: But this is your future!

What type of example are
you setting for Dillon?

Stand up for what you believe in.

[SIGHS]

GRACE: I get it,

but graduating is important.

It's something that a
lot of ignorant folks

don't expect from boys
who look like y'all.

Listen, I'm trying to make sure
that when it's Dillon's time,

he don't have to make
a choice like this.

[SIGHS]

Your father graduated in these.

This was before we were married...

Before you were born.

We were just two kids in love,

dreaming of our son and how
one day he would wear them.

I know you think what
you're doing is right,

and one day, maybe I'll understand,

but not while I'm still
mourning this dream.

MALE SINGER: ♪ It's been a
minute since I've been home... ♪

If you're considering a
future as fancy gym guy,

this is an intervention.

[CHUCKLES] ASHER: No, no,

it's Coastal California's
athletics orientation package.

JJ let me borrow it. Look at this.

They've got hydrotherapy pools
with underwater treadmills,

they've got anti-gravity trainers
for injury rehabilitation. I mean...

JAYMEE: Looks like something
they'd use to train astronauts.

- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
- ASHER: I don't know about the moon,

but a Bowl game is definitely
within reach with this team.

I mean, they're... they're young,

but slotting JJ into
weak-side linebacker

would make them one
of the best front s,

honestly, in their... conference.

Sorry. I, uh, I can get carried away.

No, I think it sounds great

for JJ and for you.

I'd be risking my life the
second I stepped on that field.

I wasn't talking about playing;

Your heart condition
wouldn't affect coaching.

No...

but a-as cool as it sounds,
it's just not possible, Jaymee.

They don't have student
coaching assistants?

Occasionally, but they're rare.

JAYMEE: Well, rare still
leaves room for possibility.

I can't take $ , in student loans

o-on the chance that I might get
a gig like that if I go to Coastal.

JACOB: Hey, you two,

I need your opinion.

Working on a new dish here,

and I don't know. It's...
it's missing something.

SINGER: ♪ Hanging by
a thin string, I... ♪

Hmm. Cinnamon, maybe?

- JACOB: Hmm.
- ASHER: Uh, honestly, I think it tastes great.

Gonna have to work on your palate, Ash.

It looks like we have similar
taste in health clubs, though.

- How much?
- JAYMEE: About , .

- ASHER: Jaymee.
- JACOB: Dollars?

Yeah, but it's a -year membership.

OK. " -year membership."

- I see what you did there.
- [JAYMEE CHUCKLES]

JACOB: But I thought
football was off the table.

- ASHER: Well...
- JAYMEE: Well, playing is,

but Asher was just saying how
he'd love to pursue coaching,

and Coastal's an amazing program.

- ASHER: Wait. I didn't...
- JACOB: Hell yeah, it is.

That would be awesome.
Your mom said how much

you took to coaching at Beverly.

- It... it's more of a pipe dream...
- It's not a pipe dream.

The only real issue
is the membership fee.

You know, I'd be happy
to help with that.

In fact, I'll talk with your
mom about it this evening

when I'm done with my crazy-busy day.

Jacob, really, you don't need to...

I know I don't need to.

I want to, Asher.

Dreams are worth investing in.

[FOOTSTEPS RETREAT]

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

[FOOTSTEPS RETREAT]

[DISTANT DOG BARKING]

[SILVERWARE CLINKING]

- BILLY: You OK?
- WILLIE: I'm fine.

I just don't know why I'm suddenly
required to eat rabbit food.

In my day, a man had a
coronary, he just got on with it.

In your day, cats
dropped at the age of .

LAURA: OK, it's what
the doctor recommended,

but maybe next time, we can spice it up

a little bit and put, um...

- Raisins in the mashed potatoes.
- BILLY: Hey.

- WILLIE: Uh...
- BILLY: Raisins.

[FORK CLANKS LOUDLY]

Oh, I got it.

- I can pour my own damn water!
- Dad.

Billy, honey, maybe you should sit down.

BILLY: I got it, Pops. Damn it!

[PITCHER CLANKS]

- WILLIE: Get outta my house!
- Hey!

Don't you talk to us like that!

- LAURA: Uh...
- BILLY: We are here to help you!

- LAURA: OK, calm down.
- I'm not talking to her,

I'm talking to you!

She can stay, but you gotta go!

I'm not dead yet,

and I won't have you
watching my every move

- like I'm about to croak at any second!
- BILLY: Pops,

- I'm just trying...
- WILLIE: Don't!

Don't you dare say one more
time you're trying to help!

You're not here for me!

You're here for your guilt!

Well, too damn bad, Billy!

I refuse to be the good deed you do

so you can sleep at night.

LAURA: All right, all right.
Everybody just calm down

and take a b*at before you say
something you can't take back.

I think it's a little bit late for that.

OK, you want me gone, I'm gone.

[SLAPS NAPKIN ON TABLE]

[DOOR CLOSES]

- [HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
- SINGER: ♪ Work it ♪

SINGER : ♪ Who, me? ♪

[SINGING CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

Look, I'm scared, Coop.

I ain't never seen Amina act like this.

You guys, Amina's nobody's fool,

you know, and she's suffering,

and maybe y'all should
just be straight with her.

Yeah, maybe you're right.

She deserves to know I sh*t Mo.

Hell no. I can't even believe
you're considering this.

If you tell her you sh*t her mama,

you're gonna have to tell her the truth.

So what? You're gonna
look in your daughter eyes

and tell her that her
mama was such a bad person

that you had to put her down
so she didn't hurt anyone else?

PATIENCE: Coop, what's
the alternative? Like...

thanks.

Amina's not gonna let this go.

Look, Preach, let's not forget,

OK, you tell her the truth,

it's gonna change how
Amina feels about you.

And telling her you sh*t Mo,
that's like taking one b*llet

and k*lling both of her parents.

Maybe we're underestimating her.

Maybe she'll understand.

Hell, I've been in these streets
since I was knee-high to a curb,

but I still found a way to push through.

And how long did you
spend locked up again?

PATIENCE: Damn, Coop, ease up.

This isn't easy for anyone,

- and, you know, if Amina keeps asking questions...
- COOP: Look,

she's a kid, and her curiosity, it's...

It's like them people
setting off fireworks.

It's so loud

that you think you ain't
gonna never get to sleep.

But then you wake up and it's
morning and there's silence again.

Amina's questions will stop.

We just got to wait out the fireworks.

[SIGHS]

You afraid those are gonna be the
last colors you're ever gonna wear?

[BILLY GRUNTS]

You sure you want to
go through with this?

I don't want to. I have to.

The kid that I'm protecting...

This could put him
back behind bars, Coach.

But I can't let that happen.

You're not gonna try
to talk me out of it?

I have fought too many
losing battles already today.

- G.W. putting you through it?
- Oh...

Nothing is ever easy with him.

It's impossible for him to
show any signs of weakness,

especially with me.

You ever consider it
might also be hard for you

to see him weak and vulnerable?

You know, when I found my
pop's body in that chair,

it's the scariest thing I ever saw.

It didn't make any sense.

I mean, there was this man, right?

This... giant...

Who always seemed
larger than life to me...

And there he was...

Human...

Slumped over...

Gone.

Yeah. I mean, I have to admit,

walking in here and seeing Pops just...

Yeah, it was, uh... it was not easy.

You know, Dr. Spears would say the word

you're looking for is "traumatizing."

[CLEARS THROAT] Talk to G.W., man.

Lashing out and walking
away is a pattern for y'all.

Only way to break it is to talk.

[SIGHS]

I really appreciate you
taking the time to sit with me.

I mean, getting to see you in class

at Bringston last homecoming
weekend was really inspiring.

Sweetie, it's my pleasure.

So you have a little option paralysis.

What's that?

You're totally overwhelmed
by your choices.

Well, all these universities
dig into the fundamentals.

Georgetown has a great course
on journalistic objectivity,

and both NYU and Golden Angeles

spend a whole year on
fact-checking alone.

Those programs will really prepare you

for a career as a journalist.

But none of that matters.

I'm sor... I'm sorry. What?

Why do you want to be a journalist, Liv?

Because I... I want to use my
voice to get the truth out there.

Truth?

That's commendable, but not the
world we're living in anymore.

Today, journalists would
rather break an untrue story

and release an apology for it later.

Um, I've noticed that lately.

Now, all that seems to
matter is being first.

You can spend years
putting together a story,

only for some toddler with a social
media account to just tweet it out.

As for professional objectivity,

try maintaining that while
competing against teens

dancing out the news on
TikTok, and in the rare case

you do manage to break a real story,

you will be deluged with backlash

all because you dared to do your job.

Honey, if you want my advice,

if there is anything,

anything else you can
see yourself doing,

do that instead.

[BACKGROUND SINGERS VOCALIZING]

FEMALE SINGER: ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪

JAYMEE: Hey...

Where's the fire? And hi to you, too.

I'm here to see Jacob.

Feel free to thank me on your way out.

Thank you?

Or you can apologize for
being a jerk for no reason.

Up to you.

Jaymee, you completely
humiliated me earlier today.

- What are you talking about?
- You basically guilted Jacob

into offering to pay for my tuition.

JAYMEE: I am so sorry that you get to go

to the college of your dreams now,

and I didn't guilt Jacob into anything.

Look, I am not a charity case,

but you successfully
made it seem that way

to my mom's rich fiancé, so now

I got to go tell Jacob,
"thanks, but no, thank you,"

which is also very humiliating.

You're giving up the tuition money?

- Why?
- Didn't ask for it to begin with,

just like I didn't ask you
to solve all my problems.

I've already dated that girl.

Guess we both dodged a b*llet.

Jaymee.

LAYLA: What?

CLAY: All right, I got a
new version on the track

- that I want you to hear...
- OK, do you know what

the "analysis of post-tonal music" is?

No? OK, um, what about the
"music of the great liturgies"?

What's going on with your
eyes right now? Are you good?

No. [SIGHS] Um, that meeting I had

- with Coastal California's music chair?
- CLAY: Mm-hmm.

Yeah, he felt the need to point out

my lack of education in music theory.

OK, so whatever. None of these
gonna make you a better producer.

How do you know that?

You know, the chair's not wrong
about my lack of technical knowledge.

But he is wrong to
imply you stop learning

just because you're
not doing it at college.

Look at all the stuff you
taught yourself already.

You got major artists
dying to work with you. Why?

Because you're damn great
at what you do, that's why.

OK. Heh! Let's not, um,
let's not take it that far.

You don't believe me, do you?

It... it's fine. Whatever.

Hey, meet me at Slauson
Café tomorrow morning.

Uh, no, no, I can't. I got to
finish my valedictorian speech,

- it's graduation tomorrow...
- CLAY: Mm-hmm, yeah, yeah,

I promise you, it will not take long.

- Tomorrow.
- Sure.

Yeah.

[WHISPERS] OK.

MALE SINGER: ♪ We're
playin' hopscotch... ♪

ASHER: Look, whatever
we do, it needs to be...

CHRIS: OK, yo, yo, guys,
guys, guys, guys, guys,

we're all here for Spence, OK,

but we're not gonna be any help

if we can't hear each
other talk, all right?

I bet we could change
London's mind with a little...

[THUMPS TABLE] Talk.

ASHER: JJ, we're not
b*ating up Principal London.

CHRIS: Yo, is he good?

- Is he serious?
- JORDAN: Wait a minute. Hold on, JJ's right...

- Thank you.
- About one thing, OK?

I mean, we need to put
pressure on the administrators.

They're the ones pushing
Spencer's expulsion, right?

- It's more than just London.
- Yeah, it's the alumni

and the school board. I could call
them out in my valedictorian speech.

Or we could just ditch
the graduation altogether.

- JORDAN: That's not a bad idea.
- CHRIS: Yeah.

That's not a bad idea at
all; I mean, think about it...

A walkout between Beverly
and South Crenshaw.

There's no way that
they can ignore that.

What do you guys think?

PATIENCE: Screw it. Uh, I don't
have time for half-measures. I'm in.

- CHRIS: She's in.
- PATIENCE: Yep,

- I think that's a good idea.
- JORDAN: Patience is in.

- CHRIS: That's what I'm talking about.
- SPENCER: What is all this?

Just a few of your friends
strategizing how to stand up for you.

CHRIS: So it's a big move, but it's
gonna leave a serious impression.

COOP: About as serious as the impression

that your mom's switch is
gonna leave on your behind.

- JJ: Heh!
- LAYLA: Look, we gotta act fast

and we gotta act now. If
not a walkout, then what?

Then nothin'.

Not a walkout, not anything.

Look, graduation is too special

for y'all to give up, for real.

- What, so we do nothing?
- No, you celebrate.

SPENCER: That's what graduation's
supposed to be... A celebration.

I appreciate y'all
coming together for me,

but there is no way we can stop this.

Just how it is.

ASHER: Wait. That's it?

We go all-out to have
his back, he just says no?

Says the guy that won't
accept Jacob's help

for his college tuition?

JABARI: Yo, I need to holla at you.

Look, I appreciate what you doin',

but it ain't true that none of us
can stop you from getting expelled.

I can.

Yo, I'mma turn myself in.

$ , in damage is felony vandalism,

and with your record, homie, I
ain't letting you get locked up again

- just so I can walk a stage.
- JABARI: We both know

you walkin' off that stage
into great things, man,

and as for me, even
in my brightest future,

- I ain't throwin' away all that much.
- Stop it.

That ain't true.

Look, these fools at the school board...

The administrators,
the Beverly alumni...

They all think that my future's valuable

and yours is expendable,
but that is crap.

Listen to me.

You cannot believe that nonsense.

Both our futures matter, and
I'mma be damned if I let you

sacrifice your life at the
value they chose for it!

We all got worth!

LAURA: Anything interesting?

Sure. The sun went down,

and then this morning, it came up again.

Can't wait to get tomorrow's
paper to see what happens next.

OK, well, we'll just skip the small talk

and get straight to the big stuff, then.

Aw, hell. Can't a man get any
peace and quiet in his own house?

Uh, Willie, I think, if
that's what you wanted,

you would not have asked me to stay.

I love you.

I know... shocking, considering
everything that we've been through.

I don't know if you said I could
stay because you just wanted

to poke at Billy, or you genuinely
don't mind my company anymore,

but whatever the reason,

I wanted you to know that I am here

because I love you,

and nothing you do or say

or throw is gonna change that.

And I know he has a
hard time of showing it,

but the same is true for Billy.


I told Preach that
Amina would get over it,

but, honestly, I don't know.

I mean, her mom was m*rder*d,

and she thinks I did it.

How do you get over a thing like that?

I don't know, but it sounds like
you're doing your best by her,

giving her a sh*t at a bright future.

We all deserve that, you know?

All of us.

You ready for your disciplinary
committee meeting today?

Yes and no.

It's k*lling my mom that
I might not graduate.

It's not just your mom.

You know that corny poster
about footprints in the sand,

and the single footprints are the
times when God was carrying you

'cause you was too weak to walk alone?

[SCOFFS]

You walking across that
stage at graduation,

that was for you, yeah,

but it was also for me

and for Shawn.

I always saw it as

you carrying us across that stage

'cause obviously, we
can't walk it alone.

- I wanted that, too.
- I know.

Hey, you're doing the right
thing, but what about you?

- What about me?
- I mean, you've spent most of your life

carrying everyone.

If the tables was turned,
would you let us carry you?

Hey, Ma.

D'Angelo said I'm not allowed in,

- but I can wait out here for you.
- SPENCER: Oh.

I didn't want you to be alone.

That means a lot.

I'm sorry I put you through this, Ma.

You don't need to be. [CHUCKLES]

This is just who you are, isn't it...

Everyone's champion?

- Marrow-deep.
- SPENCER: Heh!

Yeah, I don't know about that.

It's just I, uh...

I don't know how else to be.

I just, um, wish it wasn't
so hard on you, though.

- Mmm.
- [SIGHS]

Look at me, Spencer.

Sometimes it scares me...

Purpose God has put over your life,

but the way you stand in it,

I will forever be
proud to be your mother.

Know that

and stand tall,

OK?

Yes, ma'am.

[SIGHS]

CHAIRMAN: Mr. James, if you continue
to protect the guilty parties,

this committee will have
no choice but to expel you.

Well, this is a shame, Mr. James.

By all accounts, you
were one of the good ones.

"One of the good ones."

That's what's wrong with
this entire system, man.

Mere turn of phrase, sir.

- Now, if you'll please...
- You know, that's funny.

You turn a phrase, and some
kid turns into a criminal.

- Watch yourself, sir.
- That's how you all see us at South Crenshaw High.

On one side, it's the good ones,

and on the other side are the kids
who only need to make one mistake

before you write their whole
lives off as collateral damage.

Y'all are supposed
to be our champions...

Our educators, our defenders.

[DOOR OPENS]

CHAIRMAN: This is a closed session.

- SPENCER: Jabari, what are you doin'?
- JABARI: It was me. I did it.

I stole the trophy, and
I set off the sprinkler.

Mmm, actually, I did it.

COOP: I did it, too.

CHRIS: Nah. I did it.

- FRAUSTO: I stole the trophy.
- [STUDENTS SHOUTING]

JORDAN: I set off the sprinklers.

JJ: I stole the trophy.

LONDON: From your own school?

You don't know me, sir.

[STUDENTS SHOUTING]

FRAUSTO: I stole the trophy.

I did it.

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

What is this?

"Flashmob Spartacus."

According to JJ, they can't expel
you without expelling all of us.

What do you think?

I think it feels good to let
somebody else be the hero.

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

[DOOR CLOSES]

Just rip the band-aid off.

Uh, is Spencer gonna be expelled?

No one's gonna be expelled.

[ALL SIGH]

You telling me Flashmob
Spartacus worked?

CARTER: No. Actually, the
committee was furious about that.

Spencer,

I'm sorry, but you won't be
able to walk at graduation.

[SIGHS]

[WHISPERS] It's OK.

GRACE: Well, a diploma is...

More than I could have asked for, so...

Uh, if they were so
angry, why not expel me?

Because, while Flashmob Spartacus

didn't work on the
committee, it did work on me.

You offered yourself.

Made an argument that
as y'all's principal,

I encouraged the senior-prank behavior,

so the buck should stop
with me, and they accepted.

You're all looking at

the former principal
of South Crenshaw High.

- GRACE: D'Angelo.
- CARTER: Oh, babe, it's... it's fine.

Just getting a head-start on those
plans to get back into politics.

Maybe next time the school wants
to expel someone like Spencer,

I'll have the power to stop it.

- SPENCER: Listen...
- CARTER: Now, Spence,

don't try to change my mind.

It's done.

I'm not.

I'm getting used to this
whole "being saved" thing.

Thank you.

I got you.

ASHER: Watching my friend
struggle to accept help...

It made me realize that life
is... is hard enough already,

- so if the offer stands, then...
- JACOB: Of course it stands.

[SIGHS] Thank you.

But... but I won't let
you cover years' tuition.

Just a loan for the first
year, and if you'd be willing...

A job at your restaurant
so I could pay it back.

I respect that.

You got yourself a deal.

[CHUCKLES]

I'm kind of surprised
you have any money left,

what with Jaymee offering
stacks of it away and all.

[SCOFFS]

Look, Asher, Jaymee's worked here,

I don't know, a little
over two years now,

but she's never asked for
anything close to $ , ,

not for anyone.

That girl really likes you.

[PATS ASHER'S LEG]

[SIGHS]

- [HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
- MALE SINGER: ♪ Oh... ♪ [SINGING INDISTINCTLY]

[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

OK, my valedictorian speech is currently

just the "We're All In This Together"
song from "High School Musical",

- so I've got, like, two minutes.
- This will be worth it, I swear.

[WHISPERING] Oh, my God,
oh, my God, oh, my God.

- You're Sabine.
- SABINE: Layla Keating...

A woman I've been dying to meet.

- LAYLA: Heh! You're kidding.
- SABINE: Dead serious.

I... I love everything
you're doing in the game,

as a woman, a producer, business owner.

I want to collaborate
on something together.

- Uh...
- CLAY: I told you not to take my word for it.

- Heh heh! I'll give you two a minute.
- SABINE: Perfect.

LAYLA: Oh, uh, gee, OK.

So...

I hear some dude's got you
questioning your natural-born talent.

Something like that, yeah. Um...

Look, I'm good at what I do.

- I know that. I just want to
- SABINE: Mm-hmm.

make sure I'm not missing
an opportunity to be great.

Wow.

Dude really shook your
confidence, didn't he?

Listen, I've been making
music since I was years old,

so I have more than a decade's
experience of people telling me

I couldn't do what I was
literally already doing.

- [LAYLA CHUCKLES]
- SABINE: And most of the time, they're talking about

their limitations, their
constraints, not mine.

You just gotta let 'em talk,
Layla, and keep doing you

'cause life, it's like music, you know?

There's more than one
way to lay down a track.

Please don't take this the
wrong way, but I've gotta run.

I think you just, um, gave
me my valedictorian speech.

All good. I'll get with Clay,
and in the next couple weeks,

- we can set up a time and talk work.
- Great, yeah.

- Valedictorian, huh?
- Yeah, I... heh!

I'm not surprised.

Thank you.

- You got this.
- Thank you.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

- BILLY: Hey.
- WILLIE: Uh...

[SETS DOWN BAG]

Just let him speak, Willie.

- BILLY: OK, so, um...
- [DOOR CLOSES]

I'm not gonna say I'm only here...

To help you.

You were right, Pops.

I'm here for me, too,

but I'm also here for
Laura and the twins. I'm...

I'm here for the family.

It's really hard seeing you in pain,

but I'm sure it's not as hard

as actually being in pain,

and I shouldn't have had
to be reminded of that,

so I'm sorry.

I won't have you coming in here

trying to cut up my food, Billy.

[CHUCKLES]

I know. Laura can do that.

All right. Heh!

Hmm.

You are the only parent I have left...

So no more pushing each other away.

So you can bark all you
want, but Laura and I...

are not going anywhere.

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

Look, I know you're mad at your pop

'cause he ain't been straight with you.

I get it. I'd be pissed, too.

If this is the part where
you tell me you're on my side

and you understand my feelings, save it.

Actually...

This is the part where
I tell you the truth

because the moment your mama d*ed,

you stopped being a little girl,

and it's not fair that we
keep treating you like one.

So tell me. Who sh*t my mom?

I did.

I k*lled Mo.

- But my dad said...
- Look, he lied,

all right? He knows how important
our relationship is to me,

so he was trying to protect it.

He was trying to protect me,

so if you're gonna blame someone,

if you're gonna be mad at anyone,

be mad at me,

not your dad.

I sh*t your mama.

I never want to see you again.

- OLIVIA: OK, bye. Yeah.
- AMARA: Hey, Liv.

OLIVIA: Hey. Um, you know,
I... I took in what you said,

about the journalism
industry just being like

a giant dumpster fire
of tweeting toddlers, and

I don't... I don't care,
'cause I still believe

that good journalism
breaks through the noise.

- Olivia...
- I'm not gonna allow you or anyone else

to scare me away from making
a difference in my community.

Well, if you can't be dissuaded
from pursuing the truth,

then it sounds like you would
make a fantastic journalist.

- You were testing me.
- And you passed, Liv.

- Flying colors. Heh heh!
- OLIVIA: Wow. [SNICKERS]

I also have a couple
thoughts about j-schools

that'll be a little more
helpful than our last chat.

- [CHUCKLES]
- OLIVIA: I would love that.

- Yeah? Ha ha!
- Yeah. OK.

VOICEMAIL GREETING: This
is Jaymee. Please don't.

- [BEEP]
- ASHER: Hey, um,

look, I... I know that you
were just trying to help,

and I was being a total ass,

and, um...

Look, I'm really sorry, Jaymee.

If you feel like forgiving me

or giving me a second chance,

I... I'll be at this thing later

and, um, I'll text you the address.

All right, um, I hope to see you.

Mmm.

- Come on. Come on.
- OLIVIA: I know, I know, I know.

JORDAN: We're gonna be late.

- OLIVIA: OK, let me see. OK.
- LAYLA: Ahem.

You're gonna do great.

[LAYLA SIGHS] OK.

LAYLA VOICE-OVER: As we move on
to this next phase in our lives,

we're gonna encounter a
lot of people who tell us

there is only one way
to meet the future.

They'll say that we must choose
from the well-trodden paths...

- [CHOIR VOCALIZING]
- LAYLA: But it's up to us

to go out and carve our own paths,

to make our own decisions,

our own mistakes.

It's up to us

to build the way forward as we walk it.

- MALE SINGER: ♪ When you're bruised and broken... ♪
- SPENCER: Ma,

your graduation surprise was the beach?

You know, the waves kinda gave you away.

- [CHUCKLES]
- ♪ When you're losing hope ♪

- ♪ And can't find your way out ♪
- GRACE: Well...

See for yourself.

SPENCER: OK.

- Here.
- ♪ And all but gone ♪

♪ It will shine again ♪

ALL: Con-graduation!

[CLAMORING]

- [APPLAUSE]
- SPENCER: What is this?

JORDAN: Well, that was a really bad pun.

Um, we're sorry,

but, uh, this is your graduation,
our alternative graduation.

OLIVIA: We got to
thinking how graduation

just wouldn't be complete without you,

so we teamed up with your mom and ta-da!

SINGER: ♪ Your way ♪

♪ Hold on ♪

SPENCER: I don't know what to say.

Don't say anything.

- Just walk.
- SINGER: ♪ Sunshine's comin' your way ♪

[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]

♪ Hold on ♪

♪ For a brighter day ♪

♪ Sunshine's ♪

♪ Comin' your way ♪

♪ Hold on ♪

♪ For a brighter day ♪

♪ Sunshine's ♪

♪ Comin' your way ♪

♪ Hold on ♪

♪ For a brighter day ♪

♪ Sunshine's ♪

♪ Comin' your way ♪

CHOIR: ♪ Ooh ♪

JJ: I mean, I appreciate it.

- SIMONE: You are pretty good, JJ.
- JORDAN: JJ, we got to go on tour sometime.

SIMONE: I didn't know you
could play the guitar like that.

- It's really nice.
- CHRIS: Almost makes up for the cheating...

SPENCER: It's crazy, right?

Everybody's about to scatter
in different directions.

Uh, not all of us.

I decided to go to
G.A.U.'s journalism program.

Wait. For real? That's amazing!

OK, calm down. I didn't do it for you.

Oh. Yeah, OK.

Proud of you.

Yo, guys, we really did that.

We survived high school.

Yeah, we did.

That is a hell of a lot of memories.

I wouldn't have made it
through without you guys.

Hmm...

You all think we gonna stay this close?

Man, I wish they would
try to separate us.

- [PATIENCE AND COOP CHUCKLE]
- COOP: No. No, no, no.

LAYLA: Oh.

- PATIENCE: OK, we're linkin' up.
- JJ: Ha ha ha!

- COOP: Yeah. Nice.
- CHRIS: OK.

- JJ: Yeah, we got you.
- CHRIS: I guess you got it. Come here.

- SIMONE: OK.
- CHRIS: Come on, Simone.

SIMONE: It's cute.

To new beginnings.

Greg, move your head!
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