01x04 - The Prince

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Power Book II: Ghost". Aired: September 6, 2020 – present.*
Watch/Buy Amazon  Merchandise


Series is both a sequel and spin-off to Power that follows Tariq as he tries to escape his father's legacy and the pressure to save his family.
Post Reply

01x04 - The Prince

Post by bunniefuu »

[Davis] Previously on Ghost...

This is a mock trial,
a dress rehearsal.

So you reached out to Tommy
because you had all the power?

It's not true.

[Tasha] I'm trouble
in court, Tariq.

Just give Davis
whatever he wants.

Did James tell you
that his former attorney,

Terry Silver, was sleeping
with his wife, Tasha?

-Saxe.
-I'm afraid he di--

Before you answer that,
if you say yes,

we can arrest him for m*rder.

Now that you mention it,
I remember now.

You make sure I testify.

Tasha is no queenpin,
and Saxe is dirty as f*ck.

Don't make this
about you and me.

As you like to say,
there is no you and me.

[muffled moaning]

If he's gonna take over
for me, he needs to learn.

He's not built
like Cane and Diana.

Why does it have to be Dru?

Cane, I want you to go

with your brother
and watch his back.

[Dru] It's like they
want the cops

all up in their business.

[Monet] f*ck these
little n*gg*s.

Papi, can you do me a favor?

I told you, girl,
my house, my rules!

Did you do what I asked?

Yeah, I put the phone
and the pill in her cell.

I think she gave it away.

[Lorenzo]
Would you look at that?

[Tariq] We could make
a k*lling here.

All I need is a supplier.

If I agree to work with you,

you cannot live with Zeke.

Does that mean we have a deal?

Your son is fine.

Make sure he does
what we say.

If you don't, Tariq dies.

[Joe] ♪ They say this is
A big, rich town ♪

♪ I just come
From the poorest part ♪

♪ Bright lights, city life ♪

♪ I gotta make it
This is where it goes down ♪

♪ I just happen
To come up hard ♪

♪ Legal or illegal, baby
I gotta make it ♪

[50 Cent] ♪ I never took
A straight path nowhere ♪

♪ Life's full of twists
And turns, bumps and bruises ♪

♪ I live, I learn ♪

♪ I'm from that city full of
Yellow cabs and skyscrapers ♪

♪ It's hard to get a start
In these parts without paper ♪

♪ Homey, I grew up in hell
A block away from heaven ♪

♪ That corner every 15 minutes
They moving seven ♪

♪ Pure snow, bag it
Then watch it go ♪

♪ Occupational options
Get some blow or some hoes ♪

♪ sh**t the ball or the strap
Learn to rap or to jack ♪

♪ f*ck it, man
In the meantime ♪

♪ Go head and pump a pack ♪

♪ This my regal, royal flow
My James Bond bounce ♪

♪ That 007
That's 62 on my count ♪

♪ I'm an undercover liar
I lie under the covers ♪

♪ Look a bitch in the eyes ♪

♪ And tell her
Baby, I love ya ♪

♪ You're my inspiration
You're my motivation ♪

♪ You're the reason that I'm
Moving with no hesitation ♪

[Joe] ♪ They say this is
A big, rich town ♪

♪ Yeah, I just come
From the poorest part ♪

♪ Bright lights, city life ♪

♪ I gotta make it
This is where it goes down ♪

♪ Oh, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ I just happen
To come up hard ♪

♪ Legal or illegal, baby
I gotta make it ♪

♪ ♪

[hip-hop music]

♪ ♪

♪ Trying to get that money
But there ain't enough time ♪

♪ This ain't a play I'm trying
to run it back down yeah ♪

♪ Ain't worried about yours ♪

♪ I'm trying
To triple up mine ♪

♪ Twenty-four hours
That just ain't enough time ♪

♪ Chase it, chase it,
Chase it, chase it ♪

-♪ Run it back down ♪
-[cell phone buzzes]

♪ Chase it, chase it,
Chase it, chase it ♪

-♪ I'm on my way now ♪
-Who this?

Rule number one,

always pay the exact amount
discussed.

-Yep.
-[Monet] Rule number two,

make sure sh*t's on time.

Kids at Stansfield got money,

so if you come up short,
that's on you.

No problem.

-[Monet] Rule number three...
-Always pay in cash.

That's right.

You do those,
won't be no problems.

I hate problems.

I understand.

[phone beeps]

Hi, I'm here to see Mr. Stern.

Mr. Stern is waiting for you.

Thank you.

Tariq St. Patrick.

Nice waves.

I'm getting seasick
just looking at you.

Thank you.
I appreciate it.

But I'm here to speak
to Mr. Stern.

Uh, I'm Stern.

Well, Kamal-Stern.
I hyphenate.

First name's Sebastian,
but you can call me Bash.

Simon and I just got married,

and everything
with my husband's name on it

must be as phenomenal
and amazing as he is.

[Bash]
So let's hear what you got.

Well, these days,
you know the name of the game

is convenience.

Whatever anyone is ordering,

whether it be a ride,
clothes, a meal,

they want it to arrive
to their door instantly, right?

I want to do the same
with tutoring.

It'll be run through an app
called CourseCorrect.

I think it's brilliant.

Selling papers to the dumbs

is a tried and true tradition
of the Ivy League.

Well, no,
I'm not selling papers.

I'm tutoring, like I said.

Uh-huh, sure.

Now, let's talk aesthetics.

-[Bash] I could help.
-You code?

I can't be summed up
by any one word.

Coder, tastemaker, producer.

Opportunist.

Depends on the opportunity.

Well, I need all
my app payouts in cash.

No wire transfers,
no direct deposits.

Uh-uh,
Simon will want a record.

And what would you want?

How 'bout three percent
of all profit?

Fifteen of gross revenue.

Three percent is already a lot.

So am I.

Okay.

How 'bout five percent?

And neither of us
tells Stern about this.

Tell him what?

[phone buzzes]

Yes, Ma?

Tariq, we need to talk.

Listen to me,
whatever you're doing,

I need you to stop
and go get a piece

to protect yourself.

Ma, I'm having enough problems
getting in and out

of these university buildings
without one.

I don't need one.

Tariq, I'm not stupid, okay?

I know you're selling out there
to pay for Davis.

You need to tell me
who you're dealing with.

Look, Ma, I'm doing
what I need to do

to get you out, all right?

It doesn't matter
what I'm doing.

You don't need to know.
Just know it's all good.

It's not all good.

You need to go get a g*n
right now.

Where the hell
am I gonna get a g*n?

Anyone I could ask
right now is gone.

Kanan, Dre, Tommy...

Dad.

Okay.

Look, Ghost and Tommy
used to have these dead drops

all over the city in case
they ever had to cut and run.

Now, Tommy might
have cleared them out,

but if he didn't,
there should still be a g*n

in one of those spots.

I'll send you the address
right now.

[Meredith] Fifteen minutes
to lunch, b*tches!

[tense music]

Look, I gotta go.

Please do this right away.

[Jabari]
Machiavelli's The Prince

is all about inheritance.

It's about
taking over a kingdom

that was once occupied
by a great ruler

and making it even greater.

It's about w*r, betrayal,

alliances.

Now, the single most
important lesson

you will learn from
The Prince,

if you're going to strike out
at an enemy,

destroy them totally
and all at once.

[Oliver] And that's the perfect
segue for our announcement.

Uh, Professor Milgram, please.

It's that time of year again.

The coveted Canonical Studies
Fellowship program

is now open for applications.

Whoo!
That's what I'm talking 'bout!

[Carrie] The winning student
will receive

an all-expenses-paid stay
in Washington, D.C.

for a prestigious internship.

Don't your man Malcolm
stay in D.C.?

Ha, you better sh**t
your sh*t, bitch.

[Carrie] Past winners
have gone on to become...

So your man in D.C., huh?

You gonna apply?

-[Oliver] And the cherry on top
-I don't know.

the internship counts
for Stansfield course credit,

conferring upon the recipient

the option for early graduation
of three years instead of four.

Quite remarkable.

Very good.
Class dismissed.

Who wants to leave
college early?

-That's what I'm saying.
-[indistinct chatter]

-Um, Professor Reynolds.
-Yes?

I wanted to know,
what is it exactly

that you're looking for
in a fellow?

Well, we're looking
for academic excellence,

someone who can represent
Stansfield properly,

and a good mix of outside
activities and interests.

You know, I think you should
definitely apply, Lauren.

Is it possible for us
to discuss this more,

like, maybe over dinner?

Uh, yeah.

W-were you thinking
off-campus or...

Yeah, yeah,
at my parents' house.

Yes, yes.
At your parents'.

-Of course, yes.
-[Lauren] Great, great.

I know they'll have tons of
questions about the fellowship.

And they're big fans
of your writing.

Well, if that's the case,
then I think you should

invite Professor Milgram,
to ensure fairness.

Okay.

You should also invite
another student for optics.

I'll go.
For optics.

Lovely.
[chuckles]

It's a date.

[softly]
It's a date.

You know you done
f*cked up, right?

[Cane] Thanks to y'all,
the block is hot.

Police are all
over the streets.

And for what?

Y'all some cloud chasing
m*therf*ckers.

[Monet] It's one thing to act
a fool on your own time,

but to let that sh*t
affect my business is another.

[Cane]
We're cutting your supply.

Starting right now.

Y'all just trying to punish us
for doing things our way.

[Monet] Your way?

Oh, n*gga, you thought
you was a leader?

'Cause I ain't seen one
in GTG since your pops d*ed.

So fall the f*ck in line,

or I'll reunite y'all asses
my g*dd*mn self.

[Lil' Guap] Puta!

Que?

[Cane] What's up?

I wanna hear you say it
to my f*cking face, pendejo.

[uneasy music]

♪ ♪

Puta.

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

You sure?

[breathing heavily]

Puta!

[indistinct whispering]

Damn.

You b*at the brakes
off that n*gga.

Ain't that what you wanted?

I can always depend on you.

Yeah.

Man, you know Scott
ain't about to do sh*t to you.

Did you hear me?

Scott's asking around about
who was dealing on his turf.

Says he's gonna b*at their ass.
I'm the ass, Tariq.

Scott doesn't even know
you're the competition.

And on top of that, we got
bigger sh*t to worry about.

We about to open shop.

Trap.
Trap.

Trap, trap!

Is there any way
you could be cool about this?

[sighs]

We gonna do this sh*t
like we did at Choate?

Nah, we're on some new sh*t.
Next level.

♪ All of my friends,
I got boss friends ♪

[Tariq] There's gotta be
truth to the lie.

Some people are gonna actually
want to be tutored,

so we gotta have students
who could school kids

and sling dr*gs.

♪ All of my friends
I got boss friends ♪

[Brayden]
Financial aid students.

They're smart
and need the money.

[Tariq] Perfect.

And you,
all you gotta do

is use your people skills
to recruit.

We gotta walk before we run,

so we gonna start with
our little referral system.

♪ We don't want the loot
We want the smoke oh, ha ♪

What's up?

You need additional tutoring?

Do I look dumb to you?

-Check it out.
-♪ We want more money ♪

♪ Countin' money
Syrup with the Dew ♪

Oh, sh*t!
It's f*cking lit.

All right, bet!

[Tariq] Get out some freebies
and then we let

the word of mouth do the rest.

♪ Yeah, and we put a bag on,
We gon' pipe it up ♪

[Brayden] But how does the app
even work?

[Tariq] I mean, it's simple.
Math is weed.

[Brayden] Econ for uppers.

[Tariq] Chemistry for downers.

Cool, but how do we know
who wants dr*gs

and who actually
wants tutoring?

See, the people
that want dr*gs,

they'll order
the premium package.

Each order will come
with a real study guide,

so we can cover our bases.

♪ Gonna get head
In the two-seater, ha ♪

♪ Billion-dollar n*gga
In a wife-beater, ha ♪

♪ Your baby mama currently
Got my thumb in her butt ♪

[Brayden]
Dude, you're a genius.

I mean, you can get weed
delivered on the West Coast,

but this...

[Tariq] Nah, this
is Stansfield exclusive

right here.

♪ So, bitch, I'm thuggin',
I'm gon' f*ck up me a bag ♪

Let's f*ck up some commas.

♪ My brother,
he a boss too, ha ♪

♪ They're a boss too, ha ♪

♪ Whole g*ng,
they're a boss too ♪

♪ Real bosses move
with other bosses ♪

♪ All the bosses move, ha ♪

[Brayden] We could do this
all over the city.

♪ We ain't really trippin'
'Bout the losses, ha ♪

♪ We don't deal with y'all,
Y'all some off brand ♪

♪ We can buy the hittas that
We want, real talk man, ha ♪

We got a problem?

What am I paying you for?

'Cause from what I heard,
you're playing make believe,

spending my money
on a fake-ass trial.

[Davis] Okay, look.

The mock trial
was an experiment.

Now we know not to put
your mom on the stand ever.

Why hasn't
your genius legal team

thought to put me on the stand?

I could just tell 'em
that she wasn't the queenpin.

You're her son.

The jury knows any good son

will lie for his mother.

Now, see, the spotlight's
been on Tasha.

We're moving it over to Saxe.

We expose his malfeasance.

He gets thrown off the case.

Worst case,
we're back to the locals.

Best case,
the whole thing goes away.

Guess I gotta trust you.

Yeah, that would be
in your best interest.

If y'all gonna swing at Saxe,
make sure y'all don't miss.

I never miss.

Where do you think
he's getting this?

Do you think
he's into something?

He's emotionally closed off,

he was raised
by two pathological liars,

and he's paying in cash.
Come on now.

If Tariq were part of
some criminal enterprise,

the money would probably
be wired from some shady LLC.

We don't need to know, Paula.

It's not our job to care.

Huh?

Who?
Ah.

It's for you.

[indistinct chatter]

You keep staring at the bitch,

she gonna come over here
and do more than stare.

Somebody in here
is watching me.

I think it's her.

[Laila]
Sounds like a you problem.

[uneasy music]

♪ ♪

[Larkin]
To ask a sitting U.S. Attorney

to step off
his own prosecution,

Mr. MacLean,
that's an extraordinary step.

Well, these are extraordinary
circumstances, Your Honor.

Mr. Saxe has
a well-documented bias

against my client
and her family.

-What? How so?
-He was part of an attempt

by the U.S. Attorney's office

to frame James St. Patrick
in the m*rder of Greg Knox.

Yes, I was part
of that prosecution,

but I was manipulated
by Mike Sandoval

like the rest of my office.

In addition,
during his most recent attempt

to prosecute James St. Patrick,

Mr. Saxe followed my client's
minor son to school

and tried to speak to him,
ex parte

and without his parents.

Is that true?

Well, I--I can explain,
Your Honor.

He went to
my client's apartment,

threatened Tasha and her son
with prosecution

if they didn't offer evidence
against St. Patrick.

They didn't, Your Honor,
and here we are.

Are Mr. MacLean's
allegations true?

W--should I be punished
for being a zealous prosecutor?

Zealots use justification
to break the law.

I think I will allow

Mr. MacLean to present
his witnesses.

Mr. Saxe, if you are
too close to this case

or if it is
politically motivated,

I will ask you
to recuse yourself.

Ma shut GTG out the business.

Shut them all the way
the f*ck down.

She didn't have a choice.
Them n*gg*s is wildin'.

Yeah, but now who's
gonna replace 'em?

We still need
that product moved.

I hear y'all in here talking.

Well, you might as well know,

we have a new business partner.

[Cane]
Who?

Tariq St. Patrick.

-[both] What?
-What the f*ck you mean?

We working with that
bougie m*therf*cker?

Well, the kids at Stansfield
got a lot of money.

If it works, it works.

If not...

Dru, what you think?

[Cane] There's nothing
to think about.

Linking with this
Stansfield m*therf*cker

don't make no type of sense.

Yo, I'm talking
to your brother!

[Dru] Uh, I don't know.
Kid's mad smart.

Seems like he knows
what he's doing.

Diana, what's the next move?
What you think?

[Diana]
I think you should find out

exactly how Tariq moves weight
at the school.

All right, Dru,
you go up there

and see what's good
with Tariq's operation.

Nah, I'll go up there.

I'll get him to tell me
how he does it.

Yeah, Ma, why don't
you just send Diana?

-She wants to go anyway.
-[Cane] Let me go.

I'll get the little n*gga
to talk.

They ain't letting you
on no campus, boy.

Look at you.

You ain't in nobody's
Ivy League.

Dru, get going.

All right.

[Monet] And as for you, Diana,

can't trust your sneaky ass

after what you pulled
with your father the other day.

Thought you were slick
with that burner.

Thought your daddy
wouldn't tell me.

Well, for that,
give me that real phone.

Ma, I already said
I was sorry.

Give it to me.

[Diana sighs]

Cold world.

Ma, we was better off
with Guap.

We can control him.

I can control anybody.

When you know
what someone wants,

you give it to 'em
or you take it away.

You made this decision
without me.

We supposed to be a team.

See, Cane, that's your problem.

With teams, different people
play different positions.

You're not a decision maker.

What you did with Guap,
that's what you do best.

That's your lane.
Stay in it.

-Dru.
-What's good?

What are you doing here?

Okay, now I see why you agreed
to move out of Zeke's room.

This sh*t's real nice.

Hey, man, I brought you
some product.

Man, I don't need no f*cking
delivery service, all right?

Last thing I need is you
getting caught on campus

with weight
in your f*cking bookbag.

[scoffs]

Monet sent you over here
to spy on me, didn't she?

All right, whiz kid,
you just show me

how you do your business,
we can make this quick.

Well, actually,
I gotta get to class, so...

[Brayden] Dude,
they ran out of chocolate.

I know you like chocolate,
but I got you

the strawberry one,

which is just as b*mb,
if not better.

[tense music]

Who's the new kid?

Is he the plug?

No, this is Dru.
He's Zeke's cousin.

And we're actually
on the way out.

So later.
Come on.

Wait, but, I--
dude, I got us ice cream.

-'Riq, it's gonna melt!
-[door shuts]

[indistinct chatter]

I ain't gonna lie,
you about to be hella bored

watching me draw stick figures
and sh*t all day.

So I think you should just tell
Monet that I was a little busy.

-Whoa, whoa, whoa.
-Tariq.

Don't be rude.
Invite your friend to join us.

This is an inclusive space.

I'm Professor Deva,
like the deity.

-Who are you?
-I'm Dru.

Come on.
Let's get started.

Today's theme,
making the foreign familiar.

Pair up with someone
you don't know

and get those pencils moving.

Tariq, sit here.

Let your friend
find the foreign.

Okay. All right, everybody...

-[camera shutter clicking]
-Let's take out those pencils.

Let's get inspired.

You got a partner?

I don't.

[Dru] I guess that's you.

[Everett] I'm gonna
warn you right now.

I'm only good at two things:
eating and playing basketball.

I--I suck at drawing.

Oh, man, everybody can draw.

Just takes a little bit
of practice, that's all.

-I'll show you.
-[Deva] Oh, that's beautiful.

[gentle music]

Okay.

♪ ♪

Yeah, yes, John,
I know it's protocol,

but did you tell him
you made me pursue this case?

John?

John.

f*cking f*ck.

-John Mak?
-[sighs] Yeah.

Just telling me
that Davis MacLean

sent his recusal motion to
the Attorney f*cking General,

my boss.

Just tell me
you found something

in St. Patrick's finances
and how the hell

they're paying Davis
to hang me out to dry.

James St. Patrick's attorney,
Daniel Warren, stonewalled me.

f*ck.

See, the-the key is to find out

how Tariq is paying Davis.

-Maybe if we tail.
-Whoa.

You mean tail the kid
who's still a minor?

-It--
-You promised me

that this would be by the book.

[knocking at door]

-Yeah?
-U.S. Attorney Cooper Saxe?

-Yeah.
-We brought your niece.

[sighs] Oh, Jesus Christ.

Riley, what have you done now?

I see it runs in the family.

[officer]
We caught this young lady

buying over two ounces
of marijuana in Central Park.

It's a plant, idiot.

Maybe if you tried it sometime,
you'd realize that going home

to jack off onto
your frozen TV dinner

while 2 Fast 2 Furious plays
isn't the American dream.

Riley, Riley, Riley, enough.

I appreciate you guys
bringing her to me.

If you weren't a U.S. Attorney,

your mouthy niece would be
in Rikers Island right now.

But we are gonna charge her
for possession.

I'm so sorry.

Could-could you excuse us,
please?

I'm gonna--I'm gonna
hand her her ass here.

Get in here.

Riley, you can't keep
doing this, okay?

You're almost 18,
and now I'm a public figure.

Do you understand
what would happen

if the press
got ahold of this, huh?

I'm sure you expect me to bail
you out at your hearing, right?

My dealer was out of town,

and I'm having a party
this weekend.

What was I supposed to do,
not smoke?

Yes! Yes.

Y-you know what, f*ck this.

I'm telling your moms.

No, no, no, no, no.
You can't do that.

Courtney's going to flip out,
cut me off,

and then write an article
about it on her blog.

-I hope so.
-[Riley] Lacey's going to

take my phone away

and-and ground me
for an entire year.

Could you stop calling them
by their first names?

I'll do whatever you want.

I'll mow your lawn.

I'll trim your dead ends again.

[Saxe stutters, sighs]

I'll try to get them to stop
calling you "Nancy."

Whatever you want.

Actually, you know what?

There is something
you can do for me.

I knew you were cool.

God damn.
[chuckles]

You're amazing at this.

You got an Insta for your art
or something?

It's a private page.

I just track my progress
with it.

Let me follow you.

Can't keep a gift like that
all to yourself.

[Dru chuckles]

[gentle music]

♪ ♪

[Davis]
Sergeant Rodriguez,

when the U.S. Attorney
called you

to take the stand to impugn
the character of my client,

-did you have more to say?
-I did.

Why do you think he wouldn't
let you finish your answers?

Because my testimony
would have drawn

a more accurate picture
of his conduct,

and he wants everyone
to think he's clean now.

Objection.
Characterization.

Uh, come on, Mr. Saxe.

Okay, how was he not,
to use your word, clean?

Let me give you an example.

After your client
accurately pointed us

towards Terry Silver,
I took Saxe...

the U.S. Attorney,
with me to the scene.

He stole the decedent's phone
from the location,

pocketing it for later use.

Objection, Your Honor.
Any charges against me

for that alleged chain of
custody violation were dropped.

That doesn't mean
you didn't do it.

He later took the phone
and planted it

at James St. Patrick's
hotel room.

Again, Your Honor,
I want these allegations

stricken from the record,
unless Sergeant Rodriguez

witnessed me committing
these acts with her own eyes.

Did you, Sergeant Rodriguez?

No.

[Larkin] Then let's move on,
Mr. MacLean.

We will strike those questions
from the record.

In moving forward,
let's confine the questions

to incidents the witness
actually saw.

Yes, Your Honor.
[exhales]

Who is Elisa Marie Proctor?

Elisa Marie is the daughter
of the late Joseph Proctor

and Lindsay Proctor.

Saxe cultivated
the late Mrs. Proctor

as a witness and, through her,

planted a bug on
a minor child's backpack

in order to listen in on
Joseph Proctor's conversations.

He had no warrant for this bug,

which I found in his office
after Lindsay Proctor d*ed.

Ah, I see.

A warrantless listening device
on a minor child.

I don't remember that chapter
in law school.

And that's not the worst thing
you saw him do, is it?

In your report, you mentioned
Councilman Rashad Tate?

Yes, Saxe pressured Tate to lie
in order to establish motive

for James St. Patrick
to k*ll Terry Silver.

I saw Tate's story
change before my eyes,

as Saxe fed him lie after lie.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

Sergeant Rodriguez,
when I allegedly

coerced Councilman Tate
to, uh, lie,

did you stop me?

I tried.

Ah, sure.
Then you failed.

In fact, you took
Tate's sworn affidavit

and used it to get
a search warrant.

If you were so concerned
about my conduct,

why did you cosign it

by presenting that evidence
to a judge?

You know why.

I wanted that warrant.
We both did.

You wanted to catch
St. Patrick.

You know I did.

In fact, in order to get
an arrest warrant,

did you not obtain
a statement from Andre Coleman

establishing that he saw

James St. Patrick
k*ll Terry Silver?

Yes, I did.

Now, if I told you
that I had proof

that Coleman was across town
from Silver's garage

during the known time window
of the m*rder,

what would you say?

These are his cell records.

Maybe he remembered it wrong.

Or maybe he said what he knew
you wanted to hear.

Just like Tate did with me.

It's not our fault if a witness
chooses to lie, right, Blanca?

Especially when you
offer them WITSEC

and a chance to skate
on a m*rder.

That's not what happened!

No further questions.

Your Honor,
my conduct with Tate

was standard police procedure,

as evidenced
by Sergeant Rodriguez

using the same tactics
with Andre Coleman.

You may be excused, Sergeant.

But as an officer of the court,

I would warn you that
a transcript of this proceeding

will be forwarded
to your supervisor.

[somber music]

♪ ♪

-[door closes]
-[exhales deeply]

Sergeant Rodriguez certainly
has an axe to grind with you,

Mr. Saxe.

Thank you.

But I still would like to hear
from Councilman Tate

on the exact nature
of your conversation.

Issue the subpoena.

I can't be involved
with this sh*t.

Make it go away.

That's precisely
what we're here to do.

You know we can't have
our esteemed future governor

embroiled in something
as salacious as this.

Cool.

I'll be on my way.

Uh, one thing.

Did you lie when you told
Sergeant Blanca Rodriguez

that James St. Patrick
had motive

to k*ll Terry Silver?

I, uh...

Hm.

Look, I know you gentlemen
don't want me to say

what I actually know
to be true,

that James St. Patrick
was a murdering,

lying drug dealer,
who f*cked all around town

and put hands on his wife.

[Mak] Correct, we certainly
can't have you say any of that.

And so you won't.

Here is exactly what you're
gonna say on that stand.

You two don't seem
to understand.

I don't want to testify.

Oh, we understand.

And the DNC's
official position on that

is we don't give a sh*t.

[mellow hip-hop music]

♪ ♪

[phone buzzes]

[phone chimes]

[phone buzzes]

Yo, can't talk right now.

Dude, I need more.
Like, way more.

More, what do you mean?

[Brayden] The app, bro,
it's blowing up.

Demand is high,
and our supply is all gone.

And the orders keep coming in.

How the f*ck did this happen?
We're supposed to be low-key.

Yeah, but Stansfield's
trying to turn up.

We're in prime time, bro.
Why aren't you happy?

'Cause I don't have
enough product

to fill these orders, B.

And if we don't, the app
is gonna be grand opening,

grand closing.

f*ck.
All right, I'm on my way.

-Tariq.
-What are you doing here?

I had to subpoena
Councilman Rashad Tate

to testify
on your mom's behalf.

What?
You can't trust him.

That information would have
been helpful earlier today.

I told you to stay
by your phone.

Why are you here?

[sighs]

Check or wire transfer.

We can't keep accepting cash
unless you can provide

paperwork showing
where it's coming from.

I thought lawyers liked cash.

This is a high-stakes case,
Tariq.

Your mother's freedom,
the future of our firm,

which I know you care
way less about,

but part of my job
is making sure

that neither of us
gets blindsided.

So I need to know
what's going on here,

and I need to know right now,

or I'm telling Davis
that we have to drop this case.

Look, I was stealing money,
all right?

That's why I wasn't
by the phone.

Whoa.

It wasn't a stickup
or anything like that.

It was my grandmother.

She's the only one
that's getting paid

from my father's will.

I know where she keeps
the money,

and I went to go take some.

I didn't want to do it, but I
just want my mom to come home.

We can help you, Tariq.

I can help you.

Nobody can help me.

[gentle music]

♪ ♪

[phone buzzes]

I have to take this.

Bye, Paula.

[door closes]

Bash, I was actually
just about to call you.

Yes, congratulations,
Steve Jobs.

The app's shattering
projections.

Or does that make me
Steve Jobs?

About that deal we agreed to,

I actually need
half the money in cash

and the rest wired.

I still get 15 percent, right?

Fifteen percent?
Are you dumb?

That's not what we agreed to.

You sound like
you need me right now.

You do need me right now,
right?

All right, fine.

Ooh, it feels nice
to be needed.

f*ck.

Okay.

I see they set you up when
you're on the basketball team.

I'm on honor roll.

This is for n*gg*s who get As.

In that case,
you might wanna drop

that art class, 'cause, uh--

Oh, Picasso got jokes.

[chuckles]

For real, I might want you
to draw my next tattoo.

You're an artist.

What you think?

I mean, wow, that's--

that's a lot going on.

Look at this one.

This is gonna be
my number someday.

Like Kobe.

You mean it's not
your number now?

Nuh-uh, my assh*le teammate,
Connor, stole it.

Tried to make me
pay him for it.

-Oh, sh*t.
-[both laugh]

[smooth music]

And look at this.

[Dru]
Championship trophy.

You sh**ting
for the stars, huh?

You just make sure
you keep winning,

otherwise I'm gonna have
to cover this one up for you.

♪ ♪

I always win.

♪ ♪

[singer vocalizing]

♪ ♪

♪ Tadow ♪

♪ I be like, tadow ♪

♪ Baby, tadow ♪

♪ Why you so fine?
Tadow, tadow ♪

♪ Gotta make you mine
Tadow, tadow ♪

♪ So hard to find
Tadow, tadow ♪

♪ Baby like oh
How'd you do the thing? ♪

♪ The way that you do it
and she ain't even show ♪

♪ Dead like tadow, tadow ♪

-[phone ringing]
-♪ Like tadow, tadow ♪

f*ck.

Hold on, hold on.
It could be my mom.

-All right, mama's boy.
-Shut up, shut up, shut up.

f*ck, I'm gonna have to--
I'm gonna have to take this.

Just, you stay right here,
all right?

Hurry up.

[ringing continues]

[whispers]
f*ck.

[line ringing]

-[phone buzzes]
-Diana, get down here now!

-What is it now?
-Your brother's calling.

I send Dru to find sh*t out,

and your phone is ringing
and mine isn't.

So pick it up,
put it on speaker.

I want to hear
what he has to say.

[buzzing continues]

-What's up?
-[Dru] Yo, Diana, listen.

Tariq is blowing me
the f*ck up,

and I'm not with him
right now.

Okay, I need you to bring him
some more product

up to the school for me.
Like, a lot of it.

Okay, I'm leaving now.

Oh, my God, I owe you.

[phone beeps]

Get in and get out.

I'm not playing
with any of you today.

Turns out, I'm not the one
you need to be worried about.

[uneasy music]

[phone buzzes]

[knocking]

Oh, sh*t.
What's up?

-Where's Dru at?
-You tell me.

Here.

Thank God.

Appreciate you bringing this,
but I got dinner

with my professors
in a little bit,

and I think I'm gonna
be late, so.

Hmm, nah.

I'm not going anywhere
without my brother.

Are you sure you don't know
where Dru is?

You ask a lot of questions.

I got one for you.

How come Monet had Dru
spying on me?

She wasn't gonna send
Cane's crazy ass.

And she definitely didn't
want me to come up here.

Why not?

Because of you.

Why me?

Because she thinks
I might do something like this.

[gentle music]

♪ ♪

That's what you
came up here for?

Zeke told me you wanted
permission to take me out.

He told me Monet'd
say no.

Monet ain't here.

♪ ♪

[knocking]

The f*ck were y'all doing?

Where have you been?

I'ma get y'all cut.

Enough with the word salad,
Councilman.

Describe in detail
how Cooper Saxe

led you to lie about
whether James St. Patrick

knew of Tasha's affair
with Terry Silver.

I can't, because Saxe did not
lead me to lie.

But I regret to admit
that I did in fact lie

about what I told
the authorities that day.

Excuse me?

You see, Tasha came to me

earlier that same day.


She threatened myself,
my campaign, and my family

if I didn't feed the feds
her story about James,

that he knew about
her relationship,

the affair, with Terry.

So with a heavy heart
and conscience,

I did what I had to do.

Certainly was not my, uh,
proudest moment.

And a former cop like yourself
didn't think to, I don't know,

tell anyone about this?

You know, in case
it came back on you?

I feared for my life,
Mr. MacLean.

Tasha had already
strong-armed me

into providing a business
space for her daycare.

And once I followed
her demands,

once she was done with me,

an att*ck was made on my life.

Yeah, now, I don't know
who was behind that att*ck,

but if my own flesh and blood
hadn't been out there

to save me,
I'd be six feet deep

next to James St. Patrick
right now,

and New York would have
an uncertain political future.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

Oh, please.

Councilman, it's no secret
that you and James

had your own issues.

You said some not-so-nice
things about him publicly,

but was James St. Patrick,
to your knowledge,

a drug dealer?

When I said those things,
James was my opponent.

That was nothing more than
political gamesmanship.

sparring between brothers.

The truth of the matter

is that the James St. Patrick
that I knew

was an upstanding businessman,

a pillar of his community,

an inspiration to every single

disenfranchised child out there

who dreams of rising above

a system geared against 'em,
just like me.

No further questions.

Then you're dismissed,
Councilman.

Your Honor,
it's always a pleasure.

You a lyin' ass n*gga.

And I hope that I can rely
on your support too.

Ciao.

-[water running]
-Dru.

[Dru] Yeah, Ma!
Just in the shower.

[Monet] What you find out?

Tariq knew the minute I walked
in why I was there.

He told me to my face
you sent me to spy on him.

Look, he has
a lot more business

than he has product for.

Besides that...

So you didn't
find anything out?

I'm sorry, Ma.
I didn't.

[Monet] That's good.

That means he's being careful.

Where's the money?

[Dru] It's in my bag.

[Monet] Tariq's playing it
close to the vest,

but his system works.

[gentle music]

♪ ♪

Baby, when it comes
to the business,

your father's always been
worried about you the most,

wondering if you can handle it,
if you're soft.

But I was never worried
about that.

You smart.
You strong.

You look at every option.

But when it comes to you
being in that world,

that's what I worry about.

Dru, I want you to be
careful with yourself.

Not everybody, every man
is like our family.

And nobody's gonna have
your back like your family.

You always come home.
Remember that.

[light jazz music playing]

Professor Milgram, welcome.

Hey, that's for you.

Wine.
Thank you.

Wow.

So much history.

I love all the artwork.

Cheers, Professor Milgram.

[uneasy music]

♪ ♪

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

[knocking]

Tariq, how generous of you
to stop by.

[Lauren clears throat]

Please, have a seat.

I'm so sorry I'm late, guys.

School got very hectic for me.

We're just glad to meet
more of Lauren's classmates.

Get some insight
into her competition.

You're just in time
for dessert.

If by "on time,"
you mean what we used to call

-"colored people time."
-Mom.

Well, actually people still
use that phrase, you know.

Historically speaking, African
American vernacular English

still exists in sort of
a retroactive pendulum of time

that swings back and forth
through our history--

Anyways, Tariq, we were
just talking about The Prince.

It's a very short book,

so shouldn't take you
too long to read it.

I've actually read it
a few times.

I studied it at Choate.

No, no, I studied it
at Callister actually, yeah.

Hmm, did you
transfer schools a lot?

Dad, Tariq is very well-read.

So regale us, from my memory,

The Prince
is a little handbook

on how to be
the perfect sociopath, right?

Well, no, I don't think so.

I feel it shows
how to get what you want

in the most efficient way.

You know, people are always
gonna want your spot.

I think The Prince shows
that no matter how much power

or money a person may have,

they're still gonna want to
come for your neck regardless.

So I think it's better
to address your competition

head on rather than wait
for them to storm the castle.

Well, then, perhaps I need
to give it another read.

[Sterling] We've been following
your family's case, Tariq.

Well done, securing one of
the best attorneys in New York

for your unfortunate mother.

[Jabari]
Hmm, Carrie, you used to know

Davis MacLean, right?

I did.

And you know what?
He's a really good lawyer.

But a win for Davis doesn't
always equal a win

for his clients.
I want you to be careful.

Well, you know, Carrie,
she actually wrote the handbook

on helping others,
especially after that

ostentatious vigil she threw
for Tariq's father.

I mean, wow.

Speaking of books,

Jabari, when's your second book
come out?

[laughs]

[Carrie]
Oh, his second book.

Came out already.

Came and went.

Publishing can be brutal.

But I'm currently hard at work
on my next novel, so...

Hmm, I think we have

one of Professor Reynolds'
books around.

Tariq, why don't you
help me find it, now?

Like, right now.

[Tariq] Excuse us.

[uneasy music]

♪ ♪

Does your brother ever come
to these dinners?

No, he always felt like he had
too much pressure on him.

Felt like he needed
to take the most classes,

be in the most activities,
be at the top of every list.

Sounds like you.

Yeah, except he started
taking psych meds to cope.

Then eventually
it turned into other dr*gs.

Then he just had
a complete breakdown,

losing touch with reality.

Now he's in a facility.

You know, I just don't want
that to happen to me.

It won't happen to you.

Why would you say that?

Come on, Tariq, you just
saw how my parents are.

That's why I need
this fellowship.

So I can buy myself
some freedom.

Yeah, I feel you.

You know, my last conversation
with my father

was about how he's trying
to take over my life

and control everything
that I do.

How'd you get him to back off?

He d*ed.

[Lauren]
You never talk about that.

You always seem so far away,
so distant.

You're always
running away somewhere.

You okay?

It's like everyone wants to ask
me a million questions today.

You ask your boyfriend
this many questions?

[laughs softly]

Well, maybe if you weren't
so quiet,

people would have less
questions and more answers.

Well, maybe if people
wasn't in my face 24/7,

I would be more open.

[scoffs]
Yeah, whatever.

Look, I know you're just here

to scope out your competition
for the fellowship.

That is true.
That is one of the reasons.

The other reason is a secret.

Hmm.

Well, you're not
the only one with secrets.

How about we trade?

You tell me a secret,

then maybe I'll tell you
a secret.

I could tell you.

Or I could show you.

[smooth electronic music]

♪ ♪

[doorbell rings]

[Sheryl]
Lauren, you have a visitor!

-What's wrong? Who is that?
-[sighs]

Ah, Malcolm, you light up
every room you step into.

You know
I had to bring flowers

for my beautiful
future mother-in-law.

[Sheryl] Thank you.

Oh, no one's asked
for my permission yet.

Malcolm!

God, you surprised me!

Ah!

With the help
of your mother,

-of course.
-Mm.

I wasn't gonna miss a chance

to meet your teachers
after I've heard

so many amazing things
about them.

Truly, she raves.

Well, we're very lucky
to have her.

Professor Reynolds
has a very hands-on approach

with his students.

And you must be Jamal.

Lauren's always telling me
about the high schoolers

she mentors through our local
Jack and Jill chapter.

Babe, that--that's not Jamal.

God, you must be starving.

Come on, let's go--
let's go make you a plate.

[Sheryl]
He is so nice.

[Sterling]
That boy's going places.

You know something, Carrie?

I think Lauren's parents
have it all figured out, right?

That's the type
of Black love that I want.

Hmm, well, you can drop
the act now, Jabari.

They can't hear you from here.

You know what I think, Carrie?

I think you're actually
threatened by them.

-Threatened by them?
-Yes, because you have

to confront your own issues,
Carrie.

Yeah, I have issues.

Here's one of 'em.

You minimize my feelings.

Yet you're playing this role
of caring teacher

to get in that girl's pants,
and in front of her parents.

Hmm, Carrie,
if that were true,

why would I have Lauren
invite you, of all people?

You had Lauren invite me
to rub my face in it.

[Jabari]
You know what?

This particular level
of schoolyard jealousy

-is beneath you, Carrie.
-[Carrie] Yeah?

I know you f*cked
your grad student.

She wasn't beneath you.

Or was she?

Which one?

Hmm?
Melissa?

I mean, come on, Carrie.
Why do you even care?

You know, you talk about
helping these kids,

but all you do
is help yourself.

You don't even know
what you stand for.

Hey, do not, do not project
your sh*t on me, Carrie.

I know who I am.

Identity crisis
is your problem, not mine.

Yours.
I know who I am, Carrie.

Yeah.

You know what, that's
your problem right there.

You wanna be with me so bad
that you hate yourself for it.

And I'm sorry.

Maybe I hate us both.

[Goapele's "Undertow" playing]

♪ ♪

♪ From the moment I saw you ♪

♪ There was something
About you ♪

♪ Just from the look
In your eyes ♪

♪ I knew I wanted to stay ♪

♪ How you were
Licking your lips ♪

♪ I could tell
You were danger ♪

[Carrie grunts]

♪ I know I'm losing my cool ♪

♪ And I don't want it
To show ♪

♪ Guess we're both used
To being in control ♪

♪ But we're caught up
In that undertow ♪

♪ Baby I already know ♪

♪ We know we should leave ♪

♪ Something won't let go ♪

♪ Something won't let go ♪

♪ Baby I already know ♪

[hip-hop music playing]

Secret agent Uncle Nancy,
I'm in.

This isn't a joke, Riley.

All I want you to do is find
out who Tariq associates with.

Target yet to be located.

Eh, he's probably macking
on the co-eds.

That's what I'd be doing.

God, you are so gross.

♪ ♪

Eyes on the target.

Repeat, eyes on the target.

Okay, now remember,
you keep your distance,

and whatever you do,
Riley Merchant,

do not talk to him.

Totally hear that.
Over and out.

[Saxe] Don't--
don't f*ck this up.

-Riley--
-[phone beeping]

♪ ♪

You have a really dark energy.

Has anyone ever told you that?

Nope.

You're not from around here,
'cause...

[chuckles]
I woulda noticed you.

Is the guy in the Strahan
jersey always such a d*ck?

Oh, my roommate?
Nah, nah, he's just--he's shy.

But don't worry about him.
You worry about me.

[chuckles]
You smell good.

Can I hit that?

Yeah, of course.

♪ She's soaking wet ♪

-[phone chirps]
-♪ Soaking wet ♪

♪ Shake it like
A salt shaker ♪

♪ Shake it
Like a salt shaker ♪

♪ Shake it
Like a dollar, five or ten ♪

♪ What would you do
For a twenty twen? ♪

♪ Get on the stage
Shake that ass then ♪

♪ Get on the pole
Do a backbend ♪

♪ I like that,
Do it again ♪

♪ Here's another ten
Bitch, do it again ♪

Early 2000s Cam'ron?

-Oh, you like that?
-Flip phone's a nice touch.

-Yeah, it actually works.
-You're not serious.

-Yeah.
-[gasps]

I'm serious about
getting them digits.

Put 'em in.

Word.
[laughs]

♪ Certified pro ♪

♪ On the pole upside down
Is she for real? ♪

Yo, what's up?

Kid over there got pills
if you need 'em.

Skidmarks?
N-no.

♪ Wide open,
Skeet so much ♪

♪ They call her Billy Ocean ♪

♪ Roll like an 18-wheeler ♪

♪ That ho fine,
But this ho k*ller ♪

♪ She's leaking ♪

♪ She's soaking wet ♪

♪ She's leaking ♪

♪ Soaking wet ♪

♪ Shake it like
A salt shaker ♪

♪ Shake it
Like a salt shaker ♪

-That guy?
-Mm-hmm.

♪ Soaking wet ♪

♪ Shake it like
A salt shaker ♪

So you wanna get outta here?

-Hey man.
-Yo, what the f*ck?

Whoa, personal space.

Take a walk, Hot Topic.

f*ck you, Portlandia!

Yeah, put some "respeck"
on her name.

-By the way, what is your name?
-Riley.

I'm Brayden.

Hey, you didn't think
I'd find out?

Find out what,
that you're a bitch?

You should have already
known that one, chief.

-[groans]
-[crowd gasps]

♪ ♪

[overlapping shouting]

♪ ♪

[man 1] Get him! Get him!

-[man 2] Get him!
-[man 1] Get him!

[man 2] Get him!

-[man 1] Get him! Get him!
-[man 3] There you go!

[overlapping shouting]

Get him the f*ck outta here.

Get the f*ck outta here.
Take him out.

All right, all right,
all right, all right!

-f*ck!
-Yeah, get the f*ck outta here!

[smooth hip-hop music]

[phone clicking]

♪ ♪

Please tell me you got that.

[phone chimes]

[smooth R&B music]

♪ Lately ♪

♪ Lately he's pleading me ♪

♪ We've been on
This roller coaster ♪

♪ Wait ♪

♪ I know that you love me ♪

♪ There's no one else
Above me ♪

♪ Those other girls
Beside you ♪

♪ Don't put the work in I do ♪

♪ They don't really care ♪

♪ All I want is you ♪

[breathing heavily]

♪ All I want is you ♪

♪ All I want is you ♪

♪ All I want ♪

♪ Is you ♪

[phone chimes]

♪ All I want is you ♪

[both breathing heavily]

Interesting.

Wire transfer into our account.

Memo, "Retainer for
Tasha Green St. Patrick."

[exhales]

And would you look at that,

from a shady LLC.

Well, damn.

If you can concentrate on that,
I'm not doing my job right.

Is it the right amount?

Yesterday I clock a g*n
on this kid, and now this?

You still don't think
Tariq's worth investigating?

Some sh*t.

How does that help
our client walk, hmm?

How's that help us stay great,
stay undefeated?

[chuckles]

You're only undefeated
because of the work I do

to make you that way.

-Touché.
-[chuckles]

Don't forget this.

Marilyn will notice
if it's missing.

I know I would.

[gentle music]

♪ ♪

Paula, you know there's no--

Don't.
Uh-uh.

Tate k*lled us with
that bullshit he was spewing.

We have to counter that with
something concrete on Saxe,

from someone he can't
discredit like Blanca.

You thinking what I'm thinking?

Oh, sh*t.

[man] Tameika Washington?

Ah.
Who are those from?

Card says Davis MacLean.

Oh.

You've been served.

Son of a bitch.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

[mellow hip-hop music]

[Tariq] What up, Scott?
What happened?

Yo, man, I got
f*cking suspended.

For fighting?

Not for fighting,
for punching a Weston.

[scoffs]
That's f*cked up.

-Later.
-Yo, peace.

♪ Trying to get that money
But it ain't enough time ♪

♪ This ain't a play I'm trying
To run it back down, yeah ♪

What you sitting over here for?

Listen, Tariq, I'm really sorry
about what happened last night.

If you would just
let me explain--

You don't need
to explain a thing.

All right, I know
you had to play the game.

Play the game?

Yes, play the game.

Look, we 18, Lauren.
You think I don't know?

Well, you're 17.

All right, for like
another week or two,

but that's not the point.

The point is, I know that
we have a lot of options,

all right?

And that's all right.

Look, just know that
I'm not backing down

from no competition.

When it comes
to the fellowship or you.

[phone buzzes]

Who's Diana?

Like I said,
a lot of options.

♪ They say I'm young
But I stepped up ♪

♪ Now I'm like the boss
This ain't a fair ♪

♪ Had to do the dance,
I done took a loss ♪

♪ Pots and pans,
I ain't talking 'gram ♪

♪ Show you with the sauce,
Cook good ♪

[phone buzzing]

♪ Hey, I ain't got time
I'm on a run ♪

♪ You gotta call me back,
Ain't got no heart ♪

♪ It ain't 'bout money,
Then I'm falling back ♪

♪ Can't even spin it,
Ain't got time ♪

♪ Carrying 50 wrecks,
Hey you ain't nothing ♪

♪ You better
Not be eating ass ♪

♪ Trying get that money
But it ain't enough time ♪

♪ This ain't a play I'm trying
to run it back down, yeah ♪

♪ Ain't worried about yours ♪

♪ I'm trying
To triple up mine ♪

♪ Twenty-four hours
That just ain't enough time ♪

♪ Chase it, chase it,
Chase it, chase it ♪

♪ Run it back down ♪

♪ Chase it, chase it,
Chase it, chase it ♪

♪ I'm on my way now ♪

♪ Chase it, chase it,
Chase it, chase it ♪

♪ You know I flip
And I stand ♪

♪ Yeah, I chase it, chase it,
Chase it, chase it ♪

♪ I'm like what's up
With that bag? ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Trying get that money
But it ain't enough time ♪

♪ This ain't a play I'm trying
to run it back down, yeah ♪

♪ Ain't worried about yours ♪

♪ I'm trying
To triple up mine ♪

♪ Twenty-four hours
That just ain't enough time ♪

♪ Chase it, chase it,
Chase it, chase it ♪

♪ Run it back down ♪

♪ Chase it, chase it,
Chase it, chase it ♪

♪ I'm on my way now ♪

♪ Chase it, chase it,
Chase it, chase it ♪

♪ You know I flip
And I stand ♪

♪ Yeah, I chase it, chase it,
Chase it, chase it ♪

♪ I'm like what's up
With that bag? ♪

♪ Hard to sit still
Chase a dollar bill ♪

♪ I need a meal
Got a trap deal ♪

♪ Spend a buck
I hear the door, I let it go ♪

♪ Half price till I cash out ♪

♪ Slow
Yeah, I need some more ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Chase it, chase it,
Chase it, chase it ♪

♪ Run it back down ♪

♪ Chase it, chase it,
Chase it, chase it ♪

♪ I'm on my way now ♪

♪ Chase it, chase it,
Chase it ♪

♪ You know I flip
And I stand ♪

♪ Yeah, I chase it
Chase it, chase it ♪

♪ I'm like what's up
With that bag? ♪

♪ ♪
Post Reply