04x11 - Liberation

[bunniefuu]

- BILLY: Baby, which tie do you think I should, uh...
- LAURA: What?

Sorry. I... I'm a mess.

No, no, no, you're fine.

And I think you look s-sexy
in your... in your rollers.

All these girls in the
house are k*lling me.

My clothes keep disappearing,
I can't get in the bathroom.

- I can't even get in our bathroom.
- BILLY: Well, I'm sor...

- OLIVIA: What's up, parents?
- BILLY: Hey, uh,

wh... which tie do you like better?

I'm going for approachable
meets Joe Clark.

- OLIVIA: Um, I like that one.
- OK, yeah, me, too.

I know it's temporary, but

I just want to make a
good impression. My list.

- LAURA: Your principal to-do list?
- BILLY: Yeah.

- Upstairs on the dresser.
- Thank you,

- and you look beautiful. Thank you.
- LAURA: Thank you.

OLIVIA: Well, somebody's excited

about their first day of
school as interim principal.

And you should be excited for
your first day of class at G.A.U.

- LAYLA: Hey, good morning.
- LAURA: My little babies are growing up...

- LAYLA: Mmm.
- LAURA: And my bonus baby

is about to take the
music industry by storm.

LAYLA: Well, if "by storm," you mean,

um, fighting over contracts
all day, then yay me.

- OK. I'll see you later.
- LAURA: Bye.

- OLIVIA: Good luck.
- LAYLA: Thank you.

- PATIENCE: Hey. Morning, y'all.
- Good morning, Patien...

Uh, is that my jacket?

PATIENCE: No, no, no.
I borrowed it from Liv.

- LAURA: Ah.
- Oh.

That's where that jacket's from.

Girl. My bad, Mrs. Baker.

[SIGHING] It's OK. It looks
cute on you. You can keep it.

- Thank you, and I know, right?
- Have you talked to Coop?

Uh, yeah, we talked briefly last night.

Um, taking a little bit of space,

but she's enjoying her time
on the road with her dad.

It's their first real chance
for some quality time together

since Coop recovered from the sh**ting.

Um, OK, well, I got to get to campus.

- I will see you guys later. Thank you.
- LAURA, SIGHING: Bye.

OLIVIA: OK, I need
to get going, too. Um,

you should definitely do
something with your hair.

- Yeah. Love you.
- LAURA: Hmm.

- BILLY: Have a good day.
- OLIVIA: Bye, Dad.

LAURA: I really love these
girls, but we gotta, like,

draw straws or rock, paper, scissor

to decide who's kicking who out.

It's temporary. We just need
to be a little bit more patient.

Where are my Sergeant Sugar Flakes?

Oh, yeah, those?

- The girls threw it out.
- Huh?

They said we only needed
healthy cereal in the house.

Oh, hell no. They gotta go.

[SEAGULLS SQUAWK]

Morning, bros. [SIGHS]

M... mornin'. What are
you doing up so early?

Oh, I'm taking Asher to meet
Coach Mr. Montes about a job.

You really gonna keep calling him that?

What else am I supposed to call him?

Coach Montes is always
gonna be "Coach Montes,"

so her husband is "Coach Mr.
Montes." Makes perfect sense.

- JORDAN: Well...
- SPENCER: OK. I'm leaving that alone.

Gotta do my morning meditation

- and sun salutations before breakfast.
- Mmm, right.

I decided I'm gonna be
a wellness influencer,

teach my followers about being Zen.

Instead of a mentorship, I'm providing

- a zentorship. Ha ha ha!
- JORDAN: "Zentorship."

- JJ: Dope, right?
- JORDAN: Mm-hmm.

- [DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
- It's something.

- JORDAN: Oh, boy.
- BILLY: Fellas!

- It's me!
- SPENCER: Hey, what up, what up?

- BILLY: What's happening?
- JORDAN: Good morning, good morning.

You do know that South Crenshaw
High is the other way, right?

I do, I do. I just stopped by

for a quick breath
of fresh testosterone.

- Wow. What is he doing?
- SPENCER: Nope, nope.

- Don't ask. Don't ask.
- BILLY: OK.

All right. Can I get some cereal?

Thank you.

You're a little overdressed for
your meeting with Preach, right?

Oh, this is, uh, this is my
principal look 'cause I'm a principal,

speaking of which, Preach...

You really think he's the right
choice to help tutor the football team?

I know I said I was desperate, but...

Coop would have never passed
that G.E.D. without Preach.

Trust me. He's your guy.

Now I gotta go 'cause it's
gonna be a long-ass day

and I'm already late for calculus class.

- BILLY: All right.
- JORDAN: All right.

- SPENCER: Holla at you.
- JORDAN: All right. Good luck.

- [DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
- BILLY: Hold up.

Is it...

is this my cereal that
you took from the house?

MALE SINGER: ♪ I ain't never
seen something look this good ♪

- ♪ No cap ♪
- ♪ Everything great, man ♪

♪ It feel like it should ♪ [ECHOES]

- ♪ That's that ♪
- ♪ And survive ♪

♪ You can feel from New York to L.A. ♪

♪ Yeah, that's that, and the real ♪

♪ No, real, man, what they gonna say? ♪

♪ Uh, back that, move
back, not a hashtag ♪

♪ I was born broke, I reversed that ♪

♪ Money can't quit, that's a cash app ♪

♪ But I spent slow, gotta save that ♪

♪ See the cops like Pat on Sajak ♪

♪ Young, down, and rich,
boy, that's a payback ♪

♪ For anyone who ever
doubted, tell me... ♪

Welcome to advanced molecular biology.

All right, as promised today,
we will be discussing the...

- SPENCER: This isn't calculus?
- PROFESSOR: ... Experiments.

FEMALE SINGER:
♪ Do you like what you see? ♪

["PUT 'EM UP" BY BALANCE PLAYING]

- ♪ On my ground, I'll tell you now ♪
- [SCHOOL BELL RINGS]

- ♪ I can't stop till my... ♪
- BILLY: All right, good morning, young learners.

How you doing, young man?
You gonna make today count?

- Yes, sir.
- That's what I like to hear.

SINGER: ♪ I can't stop
till my paper's right ♪

♪ My chicks, what's up? ♪

- That's what I like to hear.
- ♪ My chicks, what's up? ♪

- ♪ I'm goin' down ♪
- BILLY: All right.

- ♪ Put 'em up ♪
- My man Preach.

What's good, Coach Baker?

Glad to have you.

- Yes, sir.
- You ready?

- Yeah.
- Wow. Let's get you situated,

introduce you to the boys.

Uh, most of the players
have study hall first period,

- so I'm, uh...
- [DISTANT SHOUTING]

- 'Scuse me.
- [SHOUTING GROWS LOUDER]

BILLY: So, as you can see,
a lot of these boys are, uh,

little hard to handle.

I tutored dudes on death row.
Can't be much harder than that.

The last guy ran outta
here in tears, so...

Not everybody is built for this.

He actually served
tours in Afghanista...

That doesn't matter. Go
in there, do your thing.

Remember, they... They do
smell fear, so be careful.

WOMAN ON WALKIE-TALKIE: Coach Baker,
you're needed in the cafeteria.

You can go handle that cafeteria
situation. I'll introduce myself.

- You sure?
- I'm sure.

All right.

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

[SILENCE]

[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

JORDAN: Professors.

- My guy, my guy. Nice to see you again.
- MAN: What up, what up?

- Have a good day.
- OLIVIA: Wow.

It is seriously like being
at Beverly all over again.

Ah, what can I say? People love me.

- OK. Whatever.
- Hmm, hmm.

Have you seen Spencer?

I mean, we're supposed to
be meeting for snack time.

Yeah, I really wish
you wouldn't refer to it

as "snack time" when
you're talking to me.

Oh, what, you can't handle the
fact that your sister's a snack?

- Don't make me throw up.
- Seriously, where is he?

Look, Liv, the depth chart
results are going up today, OK?

He probably just stopped by the gym.

He's been working like a madman
trying to make third-string, all right?

No depth chart, no playing time.

Yeah, I know. My dad's
a football coach, too?

- Oh, your dad's a coach, too?
- Uh, yeah. [GIBBERISH]

- [PHONE VIBRATING]
- JORDAN: You're annoying.

- MAN: Hey, Jordan!
- OLIVIA: Wait. Uh, give me a sec.

Hello?

- [OVERLAPPING CHATTER]
- ISAIAH: Yo,

- we did that.
- SPENCER: What's all this?

Hey, Coach posted the depth chart.

- I made third string.
- SPENCER: Oh, that's what's up.

DISTANT MAN: Check the
chart? Is your name up there?

Hey, don't even worry about it.

You'll get your sh*t.

- SPENCER: My sh*t?
- [CELLPHONE VIBRATING]

Hey, what's up?

I... I know we said we were
meeting up today, but, um,

- I think that Jenn needs me...
- SPENCER: Liv, I can't right now,

all right? There's something
important I gotta take care of.

Hello?

- [LINE RINGS]
- Come on.

Come on, come on, come on.

- [BEEP]
- Coach, Coach.

This is some B.S., man.

I don't know if this Coach Garrett
dude's got it in for me or what...

I need you to call me back.

Something ain't right.

OLIVIA: I mean, Jenn
is technically missing!

- JORDAN: Yeah.
- I mean, she could be in danger,

and he just blew me off!

I mean, he didn't even let
me finish my damn sentence!

And I'm just stuck with you.

JORDAN: OK, well, hold on. I
think the words you're looking for

- are "thank you"?
- Look, I... I'm sorry, OK?

I just... I'm scared that
Jenn's fallen off the wagon.

I mean, her parents have
no idea where she is,

and I... I know firsthand
how quickly she can spiral.

- OK, OK, whoa, whoa, whoa, Liv, hey.
- [SIGHS]

Relax. Stop worrying,
OK? We're gonna find her,

- however long it takes.
- [CELLPHONE VIBRATES]

OLIVIA: Wait, wait.

Hello?

Draymond who?

Oh, oh, OK. Yes, um,

thank you so much. We'll...
we'll be right there.

- She's at Slauson Café.
- JORDAN: All right, that's cool. Come on.

[TAPS DOOR]

- Impressive digs.
- Oh, my God. Sabine. Um,

you're here, in my studio. Um,

- I thought you were on tour.
- Clearly not anymore.

- [CHUCKLES]
- Did you think I was kidding

- when I said I wanted to work together?
- You know, I just...

I didn't know if it
was one of those things

people say to, like, be
polite, you know, like, uh,

"let's do lunch" or
"sure, I'll help you move."

No, no, I... I said it
and I meant every word.

OK, well,

uh, let's... you know,
we can set a time.

- I can do...
- SABINE: How 'bout now?

You know, I'll just call my manager
real quick, I need to check in,

and then we can get
started on something.

Yeah. Yeah, now... now
works. That's great.

- OK. Perfect.
- OK.

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

FEMALE SINGER: ♪ Keep on
beatin' that, beatin' that drum ♪

♪ Beatin' that, beatin' that ♪

♪ Keep on beatin' that,
beatin' that drum ♪

♪ Beatin' that, beatin'
that, beatin' that drum ♪

It doesn't feel right dropping
in on Coach Montes like this.

Dude, relax. You got to sh**t your sh*t

whenever you can take it, all right?

You said you wanted a
job as a student coach.

- Now, you get to pitch yourself...
- ASHER: I should have called first or something.

- I've only met the man one time.
- JJ: I'm telling you,

Coach Mr. Montes is cool, all right?

I've been talking you up to
him. So has Coach Mrs. Montes.

You know, you could just call
them both "Coach Montes," right?

Yeah. Ahem.

Mr. Parker, you're late for warm-ups.

Uh, my bad, Coach. I just
wanted to bring my boy Asher here

to chat you up a little before practice.

Uh, I'm sorry for the unannounced visit,

Coach Mr. M... uh, Coach Montes.

It's no worries. It's good to see
you again. How's the ticker, tin man?

Uh, it's good.

It's good. I'm feeling great.

Good. My wife told me how
well you handled the diagnosis.

Hopefully she also told you
that I can break down film

and how I designed plays
for the championship game,

which is why I think I would be an asset

on your staff as a student coach, sir.

MONTES: Nicky?

- NICKY: Here you go, Coach.
- I got to get practice started,

but I want you to watch game tape
from the battle for Cali in .

The annual rivalry game with G.A.U.?

I remember that game.
You guys were, like,

a -point underdog and still won.

It was my first job on a coaching staff

at a D school under Coach Fox.

Take a look at it. Let me know
if something jumps out at you.

Will do. I... I won't let you down.

[KEYS JANGLING]

[CELLPHONE VIBRATES]

Oh. Mmm. Hey.

- GRACE: Hey.
- BILLY: Um...

[CHUCKLING] Why do principals
carry around all these keys?

Why is Preach in a classroom?

Oh, I put him there.

I wanted to test him out as a, uh,

a possible replacement
tutor for the football team.

He's a convicted felon with two strikes.

He is not allowed on school grounds.

Well, actually, as principal,

it's left to my discretion
who is and isn't allowed here.

GRACE: Interim principal.

Ah. Look, anyway,

I'm having a great time at
this job. Uh, thanks for asking.

- Billy...
- But I wanted to talk to you about incorporating

my financial literacy course into the...

- The main curriculum.
- Billy...

And Preach, he's off to a
really great start, so the...

the only thing I'm not
really feeling are those keys.

GRACE: Well, you won't have
to carry them much longer

'cause there been a
very strong candidate

who has emerged for the principal slot.

Oh... OK. For real?

Yes. Change is coming,

so don't get Preach's hopes up.

[FOOTSTEPS RETREAT]

[HIP-HOP TRACK PLAYING]

WOMAN: ♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

SABINE: I... it's cool.
It's not me, though.

It's giving Timbaland
vibes, and I am just...

I'm looking for something different.

OK. Um, ahem.

Uh, check this out.

[SLOWER TRACK PLAYS]

It sounds too much like Swizz Beatz.

- OK. Um...
- [TURNS OFF TRACK]

You just have, uh, like, a bigger sound,

so I'm trying to cater to that.

SABINE: By not being you?

If I wanted Timbaland,
I'd be working with him.

You wrote "Trust" for
Patience Robinson, right?

♪ Trust in the moment ♪ [SNAPPING FINGERS]

♪ Trust in the future ♪

♪ Trust in my people ♪

- ♪ But I trust in me first ♪
- LAYLA: You know "Trust"?

The vibe of that song, the blend,

Patience's essence, her voice...

There's nothing out there that
sounds like that right now.

What you did for her with that song
is what I want you to do for me...

Cultivate a unique sound,

take my essence and put a twist on it.

OK. How 'bout we just take a
break from music for a second

- and grab some lunch?
- LAYLA: Uh, no, we got work to do.

Look, you're right, and part of
the reason I'm able to do that

for Patience is because
I know her so well,

so I think it's time
that I get to know you.

First love, last love, greatest
heartbreak... I want it all.

- And if I'm hungry?
- That's what takeout is for.

- There she is!
- Ha ha ha!

Whoo! I've been waiting for
this Layla Keating all day.

OK. Let's hear it.

- Hmm. Ha ha!
- Gonna write this down.

SPENCER: Coach!

- KENNY: Spence, what's up?
- I've been busting my ass

trying to make this depth chart,
but I never stood a chance.

Coach Garrett clearly got his favorites.

GARRETT: Whoa, son. It's not
favoritism. Isaiah's a better player.

If anyone should be
pissed, it should be him.

- KENNY: Look, Coach, this is...
- GARRETT: No.

That scholarship you're
here on? That was Isaiah's.

Coach Kenny would only come work for me

if the scholarship went to you.

Is that true?

It's slightly more
complicated than that, but...

Look, Spence, I believe in your talent.

GARRETT: And you're lucky he does,
, 'cause I haven't seen it yet.

Can you play? Sure.

So can everyone else on this team.

I've been coming in and I've
been putting in the work, Coach.

There's a saying:

"Success is rented, not owned,"

and that rent is due every day.

Your problem is you're trying to pay it

with the currency of what you
accomplished in high school,

but your ego won't
allow you to see that.

The truth stings a bit, doesn't it?

Now that it's out there,

how are you gonna
respond to the challenge?

PLAYER: Aw!

- That was right there!
- Gotta catch it.

Let's hear it. What do you got?

The opposing QB had a tell.

His left shoulder dipped
whenever it was a running play,

it stayed level when he was passing.

No. Watch it again.

MALE SINGER:
♪ I've been floating in my... ♪

- [CELLPHONE VIBRATING]
- OLIVIA: Oh, God.

- [SIGHS]
- [CELLPHONE VIBRATING]

Don't you dare answer that.

Are you really gonna put
me in the middle of this?

OK. There she is.

Hey. We've been looking
all over for you.

Your parents called. They
were scared. I was scared.

I mean, why aren't you in
school? It's your first day.

- JENN: I'm fine.
- OLIVIA: That is not an answer.

OK, I think I know how
we can get it out of her.

Are you seriously trying to bribe me

with ice cream like I'm ?

- [OLIVIA SNICKERS]
- JORDAN: Ice cream?

No, no, no, no. This...

this is not just ice cream.

This is a family concoction,
the Baker delight.

If you're so tough...

take a bite.

Go on.

[INDISTINCT SINGING CONTINUES]

- OLIVIA: Mm-hmm.
- JORDAN: Mm-hmm.

- Yeah. OK. Now...
- [CHUCKLES]

Spill it.

Why'd you cut your first day of school?

I skipped 'cause...

I was afraid of being back.

All my friends there...

They're who I used to party with.

Sounds familiar.

Really?

I've been working so hard
to stay clean this summer

that I kind of...

Didn't think about what it would
feel like when summer was over

and had to be around them again.

OLIVIA: Well, unfortunately, there will

always be triggers everywhere.

Even I was worried about starting
at G.A.U. and being triggered,

but that's why we work the program.

It acts as a defense against
that first temptation.

And if you're worried
about being triggered,

I mean, call me.

That's what I'm here for.

So how pissed are my parents?

[INHALES DEEPLY]

Oh, let's just say,
um... [SETS DOWN PLATE]

- Enjoy that while you have the time.
- OLIVIA: Yeah.

PREACH: Yo, I'm telling y'all...
hey, hey! I'm telling y'all!

I'm telling y'all, he had bars.

Look, there's a lot of similarities
between Shakespeare and hip-hop.

Your boy Shakespeare used to
dwelleth in ye olde traphouse?

- [LAUGHTER]
- PREACH: All right,

I'mma give you a line, and you tell
me if it's Shakespeare or hip-hop.

"Men would rather use their broken
weapons than their bare hands."

- Easy. NBA YoungBoy.
- Nah, that's Moneybagg Yo.

- JABARI: That's YoungBoy, bro.
- PREACH, CHUCKLING: Look, both of y'all are wrong.

That's Othello. That's one of
Shakespeare's most popular tragedies

OK, here's another one:

"And their love for it is the reason
that I have become this praised."

That's definitely Shakespeare.

- You sure?
- Who else?

Man, you're wrong again.

That's Lupe Fiasco, "Put You on Game."

I see I'mma have to put
both y'all on game, man.

- GIRL IN HALLWAY: Fight! Fight!
- PREACH: Hey! Hey!

Y'all stay right there!
I'll be right back!

- [STUDENTS SHOUTING]
- BILLY: Out the way, out the way.

All right, coming through.
Clear out, clear out. Excuse me.

Quiet! Quiet!

Aw, come on, now. Not again.

Jojo and Vernon, you...

Y'all know better.

Pick up your stuff, get
your behinds in my office.

Look, don't worry about it,
Coach Baker. Let me handle 'em.

[STUDENTS MURMUR]

OK. Cool...

When you say, "handle it," you mean...

Take 'em back to the
classroom for tutoring.

For tutoring. Right. Gentlemen,

you're gonna go with Mr. Preach.

- PREACH: Get your stuff.
- Everybody else, get moving.

- Man, y'all heard him. Let's go.
- Get to class.

[KEYS JANGLE, DOOR OPENS]

Ms. Robinson? I don't
know if you remember me.

Detective, um, Poworski.

Oh, good. You do remember.

I was hoping to speak
to your girlfriend Coop.

I have some questions about
Monique Moore's m*rder.

PATIENCE: Um, I thought the case
was closed, like, investigation done.

- Is Coop available?
- She's outta town right now.

Well, that's convenient.
Maybe you could help me.

You see, some new
information has come to light.

I gotta say, it's always
baffled me how Coop

made it to the hospital after
she was sh*t and passed out.

- Good Samaritan, I guess.
- Yeah, OK, but

wouldn't a good Samaritan stick
around and make sure she was OK?

Maybe just a semi-good Samaritan.

You're funny. I... I didn't know
you were a comedian and a singer.

Speaking of, it would be a shame

for you to ruin your blossoming career

because you were covering
for your girlfriend.

See, we call that
accessory after the fact.

- [FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]
- LAURA: I think that's a conversation

you should be having with her
attorney, and that would be me.

D.A. Baker. Oh, sorry.

It's not "D.A." anymore, right?

- We were just having a casual conversation.
- LAURA: Mm-hmm,

a conversation that is now over,

and if you'd like to
converse with my client again,

you can reach out to my
assistant and schedule a meeting,

if Patience is available.

[DOOR CLOSES]

All right, I got a few minutes
before the coaches' meeting.

Tell me what you saw on the game film.

Well, um...

Your D-lineman led the
conference in sacks,

but he was frustrated all game
'cause his bull rush wasn't working.

Should have switched technique.

Still not it,

but you raised a solid observation.

Tell me more.

Um, OK. Uh...

There are a lot of
gifted athletes out there

who don't realize that

- just because they've had success with one approach...
- MALE SINGER: ♪ Oh ♪

ASHER: Doesn't mean that they
can apply it to every situation.

- [SPENCER GRUNTING]
- MALE SINGER: ♪ Will I give it up? ♪

ASHER: You have to have
self-awareness a-and versatility

to know when to change
your method of att*ck...

SINGER: ♪ Oh ♪

ASHER: 'Cause ultimately, like,
if all you have is a hammer,

everything's gonna
start looking like nails.

- BACKGROUND SINGERS: ♪ Hey! ♪
- SINGER: ♪ Now give it up ♪

♪ Whoa-oh-oh ♪

Keep trying.

[DISTANT COACHES SHOUT]

PATIENCE: Coop, call me back!

For real, please call
me back, seriously.

[SIGHS] God.

She is still not answering,

and I know that her dad said

cell service is crappy out
there, but, like... like, damn!

OK, honey, I need you to calm down, OK?

- Here, drink the tea...
- PATIENCE: Thank you.

And I need you to tell me
everything about that night.

Start talking.

- BILLY: I want to hear how it goes.
- STUDENT: All right.

- BILLY: All right, man.
- PREACH: 'Sup, Coach?

- Hey, now, what's happening?
- Look like we both survived day one.

Yeah, yeah, I heard you were a big hit.

Plus, Jabari's English
teacher did a double-take

after his quiz today, said
he was quoting Shakespeare.

- I guess that's 'cause of you.
- PREACH: Man, it ain't that deep, man.

Look, these kids just need to know
that you really care about 'em,

- got they best interest at heart.
- BILLY: Mm-hmm.

I mean, when they feel that,
they'll give you they best,

man, even run through a wall for you.

But I ain't telling you nothing
that you don't already know.

I mean, that's what
makes you a great coach

and great principal.

I mean, your job is
basically the same, right?

The teachers are like
your coaching staff,

and the students are your players.

- You're back here tomorrow?
- Fa sho.

I told the boys I'll break down how

"The Great Gatsby" is
like "Love & Hip Hop."

Heh! What?

Atlanta, not Hollywood.

Of course. Ha ha! All right, man.

[SIGHS] Hmm.

MALE SINGER: ♪ High profile,
what can I really say? ♪

- OLIVIA: Hey.
- SPENCER: Hey, I been trying to call.

And I've been busy, just like you.

- Hold up. Are you mad at me?
- Spencer, I needed you today,

and you were nowhere to be found.

My entire college football
career is falling apart, Liv.

- I was dealing with that.
- So you couldn't be here with me here today

because you were dealing with football,

and yet Jordan is right by my side.

Jordan and I are not
walking the same path.

We don't have the same struggles.

You know what? It's whatever.

It doesn't even matter.
I'm here now, so...

- What's going on?
- Nothing. I've... I've handled it.

I mean, I... I thought
Jenn had relapsed,

but I found her and she's OK.

But, I mean, this... This
could have been life-or-death.

- But you just said she was fine.
- Right,

and you had more important
things, like almighty football.

And what happened to you looking
forward to our snack breaks together?

Don't do that. Don't act
like you not a priority to me.

Things here have changed.

Look, my football dreams
are shattering, Liv.

I'm not here playing games.

I got to make this D thing work,

and right now, that is not happening!

Coach Garrett admitted that
he ain't even want me here!

- Spencer, I... I didn't know.
- Nah, nah, nah. It's cool.

It's cool. You good.
You with Jenn, right?

Yeah, you should go take care of her.

Tell her I said what's up
and I'mma holla at you later.

[PHONE CRASHES]

- SABINE: Ha ha ha!
- LAYLA: You really pawned the ring?

Hell yes, I did, gave
the money to charity.

Took a lot longer for the
heart to heal, but... [SIGHS]

... that's life.

Well, I think I have the
beginnings of something.

[SULTRY NEO-SOUL TRACK PLAYING]

[CHUCKLES] What? OK, Keating!

- Oh, I see you.
- Took me long enough.

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

What do you want?

Big dream, wishes granted,

you could just reach out and
touch it. What is that thing?

Uh, I'm doing it.

No, you're playing it safe, and
I'm trying to figure out why.

Look, if you can honestly
tell me this small, indie thing

is legitimately the dream,
then I'll leave it alone,

but if you're playing
it safe because you fear

what it'll take to dominate as a
female producer with a major label,

that's a whole 'nother story.

Maybe your nerves just got
the better of you today,

not your talent,

but then you pushed through and
look at the sound you created.

So just gonna ask you one more time:

What do you want?

I want the empire.

There it is.

I think I spent so long trying to

carve a path separate
from my dad that I...

I convinced myself that
small and indie was the dream.

- SABINE: But it's not.
- But it's not.

Then stop being scared and
take the leap, baby girl.

The industry needs you.

[TEXT CHIME BUZZES]

- Ooh. I gotta get going.
- OK.

Uh, well, thank you for
today, for everything.

Um, I'm gonna keep
working on this for you,

and then I'll send it
to your manager or...

Or you give it to me in person
when I come back tomorrow.

- OK.
- You're building that empire, Layla,

and it'll start with
our first collaboration.

[DOOR SLAMS, SPENCER SIGHING]

You just gonna keep banging stuff,

or you want to actually
say what's going on?

Isaiah made third string over me,

and I ain't even
sniffing the depth chart

because the coach has got it out for me,

and then, me and Liv got into it

'cause she don't understand
how important all this is!

You're talking to the guy whose
spot you took in high school

and his girlfriend, too,

twice, so, yeah, I... I get it, man.

- Ash, listen, man...
- Bro, after the day I've had,

I'm not trying to have
that convo tonight.

Look, you've just never faced this
kind of adversity on the field.

Come on, man. I faced adversity before.

Not like this; Not on a D level,

not where you work your ass off
and things still don't go your way.

So what do I do?

What, just give up?

Change your whole approach.

Get outta your head.

And how am I supposed to do that?

[FORCEFUL EXHALING]

[CHUCKLES]

[SOFTLY] Relax, dude.

Just clear your mind,
like a blade of grass.

- It's grass, man. It don't have a mind.
- Just focus, all right?

Feel the energy around
you and flow with it.

[SIGHS] What does that even mean, bro?

Your life is one big, powerful river,

and you're trying to be a salmon

and fight your hardest to swim upstream,

but it's OK to be a regular
fish and go with the flow.

That actually makes sense.

Especially since there's a hungry bear

waiting upstream to turn you into Sushi.

- A'ight, you lost me again.
- [SIGHS]

Bro, just trust.

- Ahem.
- [INHALES, EXHALES]

JJ: Just flow with it.

Mmm.

- [SPENCER EXHALES SLOWLY]
- JJ: Yeah, that's it.

Be at peace with the universe
and your surroundings.

Be nimble.

Be nimble.

Be nimble.

So, um, I want to lose
"interim" from the title.

I want to be the actual
principal of South Crenshaw.

[CHUCKLES]

- Excuse me?
- What?

- Oh. You serious?
- Yeah. I... I've given it a lot of thought, and...

and I think I'm the best
candidate for the job.

Might I remind you, a job I
had to trick you into taking.

Uh, but that was before I knew
how great of a fit I'd be, and...

Ahem. I'm ready to do
this for the long haul.

You mean before the D schools

and the NFL comes knocking.

Don't forget, Billy, I
know you and your dream.

Why are you giving me such grief?

- Because I care about South Crenshaw!
- OK. So do I.

And I care about you.

Look, let's keep it real.

You're a good man

with some selfish tendencies.

Well, that's true of a
lot of people, but I'm...

I always rise to the occasion.

Well... [SIGHS]...

We've found someone

who doesn't need to rise to the occasion

because she's already there.

She works at the school,
she has tons of experience,

and she's committed to these kids

and she lives right
here off of Crenshaw.

She's the best choice
for the school, Billy.

I'm sorry.

[SCOFFS]

PATIENCE: And then she
flat-out lied to the cops

and said that she sh*t Mo,

and there was nothing
I could do about it.

Coop stays putting herself
in these situations.

Well, it wasn't the wisest decision,

but I'm sure she was just
doing what she thought was best.

Yeah, and now it's coming back to
bite her in the ass and me, too.

Well, we don't know if there is anything

or if Poworski's just throwing darts

- at the wall to see what sticks.
- PATIENCE: Yeah, well,

it's pretty clear that he
has me as a bull's-eye, so...

If he or anybody

tries to approach you
again, do not say a word, OK?

In the meantime, I still have some
old friends at the D.A.'s office.

If there's any real
evidence, they'll know,

and I'll make some calls
first thing in the morning.

- Until then, breathe, OK?
- OK.

And I'll let you know when to worry.

- [DOOR OPENS]
- JORDAN: Look, all I'm saying is

he's on scholarship. I'm a walk-on,
Liv. The stakes are different.

- LAURA: Hey, guys.
- [JORDAN SIGHS]

- Fight with Spencer.
- LAURA: Oh.

- [PATIENCE SCOFFS]
- [CELLPHONE VIBRATES]

_

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS, DROPS PHONE]

[EXHALES]

- [KNOCKS ON DOOR]
- BILLY: Hey, man. Sorry to interrupt.

JJ just let me in and said
something about a zentorship?

Ha ha! Yeah, nah, you good.

I was just clearing my head a little.

- Turns out meditation's for me.
- BILLY: Ah.

- Who knew?
- Mm-hmm.

Ah.

Uh, sorry about missing all those calls.

Uh, I guess I kinda got caught
up in the principal thing.

But, uh, what's going on with Garrett?

Your voicemail said that
something ain't right?

Yeah. I mean, I was just in my head

about the whole situation,
but I'm good now.

- You sure?
- Yeah.

I was trying to be the
salmon, swimming upstream,

but I just got to be nimble,

take a b*at, figure
out what I really am.

- That actually makes sense.
- Right?

JJ.

You're scared to go home to
all them women, ain't you?

Spencer, it's... it's so many of 'em.

[CHUCKLING]

_

[DOOR OPENS]

BILLY: Hey. Ahem.

[DOOR CLOSES]

- Do you hear that?
- LAURA: Silence.

[CHUCKLES]

Enjoy it while it lasts.

What you working on?

- [KISS]
- LAURA: Uh, I'm praying nothing.

How was your day, Mr. Principal?

Uh, interim principal.

And it was exhilarating, yeah.

- That's amazing.
- Yeah, so much so that I think

I might set my sights on
this as a permanent gig.

I mean, Grace has already
sh*t me down because she's...

She has a candidate,
and she has experience

and she lives in the
neighborhood... [SPEAKS GIBBERISH]

So what's the plan?

I mean, come on, Billy.

I haven't seen you this excited
about anything in a while.

- You can't just give up.
- BILLY: Yeah.

I shouldn't be a salmon.

I should be nimble.

What does that even mean?

I don't know, but it sounded
really cool when Spencer said it.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

All right, well, if Grace

and the search committee are so high

on this principal candidate
because she lives in South L.A.,

then maybe being nimble is

moving you there.

I mean, moving us... there.

- G.W.'s house is empty.
- [DOOR OPENS]

LAYLA: Oh. [GASPS] Mr. and Mrs. Baker.

OK, ahem. I had the most amazing day.

- BILLY: Mmm.
- LAYLA: Um, so...

- I'm interrupting.
- BILLY: Ha ha ha!

LAYLA: OK, um, I'm really sorry.

I'm just... I'm gonna go up to my room.

No, sweetie, it's OK.
Tell us about your day.

No, no, no, really. It...
it's fine. It can wait.

- BILLY, CHUCKLING: OK.
- LAYLA: OK.

[FOOTSTEPS RETREAT]

[QUIETLY] Like I said, G.W.'s is empty.

You mean to tell me you would actually

move to South L.A., permanently?

Of course I would. I mean,

this obviously means a lot to you, so

I'm willing to do whatever
it takes to fight for it.

Baby, you make me fall more and more

and more in love with you every day.

Mm-hmm. [CHUCKLES]

Plus you'd get to
have your own bathroom.

- Oh, God.
- Yeah.

- There's just so many of them.
- Uh-huh.

Yeah.

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- JORDAN: Look, this'll only take a minute,

I promise.

Come on. I just need to grab one thing.

Jordan, I told you that
I don't want to be here.

Good luck, bro.

MALE SINGER: ♪ Been there before ♪

♪ So many times ♪

- I'm sorry.
- ♪ When it seems like everyone's... ♪

Yes, I had a bad day.

Yes, my football career feels like

it's falling apart
at the seams, and yes,

the pressures of being
an athlete at this level

is something we both need to understand.

SINGER: ♪ When your world
has turned and flipped you ♪

- ♪ On your side ♪
- SPENCER: But...

- But...
- ♪ Because... ♪

I should have never
came at you like that.

My mind was all cluttered
with everything and

I just didn't take the time to
see things from your perspective,

but I'm gonna do better.

[SIGHS] So...

What declutters your mind?

Meditation.

- Medi... really?
- Yeah.

Wow. That is so not the
answer I was expecting.

SPENCER: Yeah, me, too.

Hmm.

Um...

I'm sorry, too.

Yes...

Today was scary when I
thought Jenn was in trouble.

And yes, being a sponsor scares me,

but...

[SIGHS]

But I should have taken a second

to consider things from your perspective

because I know what it takes to
achieve the dreams that you have,

and I know the sacrifice that comes
with being an elite athlete and...

I guess that I just hadn't
readied myself, you know,

- to become a part of that sacrifice, so...
- SPENCER: Hey, hey,

it's a balance, OK? I'll find it.

I'll find it.

We'll find it, OK? For the both of us.

- We will.
- SINGER: ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Oh, never gonna let me down ♪

♪ Oh, I want to let you ♪

[SIGHS]

Wow. That was our first big fight.

- I guess it was.
- [GIGGLES]

Well, you know what that means.

- What?
- Makeup sex.

- ♪ So we can make a plan ♪
- Yes, ma'am.

SINGER: ♪ To call, call on me ♪

♪ Call on me ♪

[SEAGULLS SQUAWK]

[GRUNTS] Whoa.

You're looking a little rough.

You look like you could
use a morning jolt.

You drink matcha? You
look like a matcha man.

I stayed up all night looking
at both sides of the ball,

every single play,
and I cannot figure out

what it is that you want me to find.

It's like I'm looking
for a needle in a haystack

that probably doesn't even exist.

So no matcha? Green tea?

[SCOFFS] Look, if you
didn't want to hire me,

you should have just said so
instead of wasting my time.

You pick up anything from our QB?

Other than the fact
that he wasn't connecting

with his deep passes, no.

Exactly, and the
reason he was off-target

- is because he wasn't properly...
- Planting his back foot, yeah.

Turns out he couldn't plant
it because he was injured.

He had a broken bone in his
foot, and he hid it from us.

We should have picked up on that.

As the QB coach, I should
have picked up on it.

I don't understand how it's
your fault if he hid it from you.

Part of being a coach

is being able to protect
the players from themselves.

I was a young assistant coach,
and I should have caught that.

Now, look, son, you have
phenomenal instincts.

There's no doubt about
that, but you're not ready.

You'll get there.

All right, I don't have
a coaching position open,

- but I do need someone to wash jerseys.
- I'll do it.

Wow.

No hesitation, huh?

If I'm serious about
wanting to coach, which I am,

I'd be a fool not to
do whatever it takes

to learn from the best, which you are.

- I'll get a load started right away.
- Mmm, one more thing.

That tell you picked up from
the quarterback yesterday?

Nobody's ever caught that.

Good job, son.

MALE SINGER: ♪ I lift
you up, up, up, up ♪

PREACH: 'Sup, Coach?

- Oh, OK.
- I had to step it up.

Heard a few people ain't
happy about me being here.

They ain't too thrilled
about me being here, either.

I ain't going nowhere, though.

I appreciate you taking a chance on me,

giving me that sh*t. A
lot of people wouldn't.

Hey, as long as I'm principal,

you'll always have a job here,

if you're willing to rock with me.

Just say the word and I'll
run through a wall for you.

- ♪ Lift you up ♪
- My man.

SINGER: ♪ Oh, 'cause I
know it will get better ♪

♪ Through the days and
nights, you'll never be alone ♪

♪ Be alone 'cause I'll lift you up ♪

♪ Up, up, up, hey... ♪

- KENNY: Spence.
- SPENCER: Hey.

- What's up?
- ♪ Lift you up ♪

KENNY: I saw you out there
hitting the jugs machine.

- SPENCER: Yeah, yeah. I wanted to get some catches in.
- KENNY: All right.

Listen, I wanted to apologize

to you for my behavior yesterday.

It was outta line, me coming
at you and Coach like that.

Yeah.

Well, like I said,

what are you gonna do about it?

I'mma show Coach Garrett why
he's lucky to have me on his team.

Changing my whole approach.

- It's time for me to be the bear.
- Heh heh! Yeah.

- Ha ha!
- That's what I'm talking about, man.

That's what I like to hear.

So what's up? You about
to hit the weights?

No, I'mma hit up our
game film in about a hour,

with you if you got the time.

- Uh-huh.
- I'm serious, man.

I'm trying to study every single one

of our players, inside and out.

Oh, fa sho. I'll make the time.

- Why not now?
- SPENCER: Nah.

Something else important
I gotta take care of first.

- SINGER: ♪ Won't let you go ♪
- SPENCER: I'll holla at you.

SINGER: ♪ Let you go, let you go ♪

CHORUS: ♪ Lift you up, up, up, up ♪

- SINGER: ♪ We'll get through this together ♪
- CHORUS: ♪ Lift you up... ♪

SINGER: ♪ Promise I
will never let you go ♪

♪ Let you go, lift you up ♪

♪ When the days get tough ♪

♪ We will rise above ♪

♪ No, we won't give up ♪

♪ I'll lift you up ♪

[FOOTSTEPS DESCENDING]

Hey. Good morning.

Hey, Patience. [SIGHS] Uh,

we need to talk.

Um, I spoke to my friends
at the D.A.'s office,

and they've found some
incriminating evidence against Coop.

They wouldn't get into specifics, but

remember when I said that I'd
tell you when it's time to worry?

Mm-hmm.

It's time.

Coop needs to get home, like, now.

Greg, move your head!