04x15 - C.r.e.a.m

[bunniefuu]

[PLAYERS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

MALE SINGERS:
♪ I got a really good feeling ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ I got a really good feeling ♪

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

GARRETT: Hey! You are
draggin' ass, . Come on, now!

Let's go, . Let's go. Hustle up.

SINGER: ♪ I gotta have it and
I ain't trying to break it ♪

♪ I'm the guy that's gonna
grab your drink and raise it ♪

♪ Yeah, the greatest in the
room don't have to fake it ♪

- ♪ I got a really good feeling ♪
- [WHISTLE BLOWS]

Contain, ! Contain, OK?

You can't lose him! Do your damn job!

Nice save, .

- See me after practice.
- SPENCER: Yes, sir.

Listen, we're gonna do this
all day until we get it right!

- [WHISTLE BLOWS]
- Again!

SINGER: ♪ Give me some ♪

- GARRETT: Yo.
- SPENCER: You wanted to see me, Coach?

Gonna start you at gunner this Saturday.

Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity.

That's all.

LAYLA: Hey.

- PATIENCE: Hey.
- Um, any thoughts on your album title?

Uh, I am working on it.

OK. Um, did you look
at the ideas I sent you?

PATIENCE: Yeah, um, wasn't
really feeling any of them.

Um, but it'll come to me.

LAYLA: Right. It's just,
um, you know, we're releasing

- the album in a few weeks, and...
- PATIENCE: Mm-hmm.

It's the last thing I need
from you, so you think it'll

- come to you soon or...
- PATIENCE: Yeah.

- Mm-hmm?
- For sure, um,

just waiting for inspiration to strike.

OLIVIA: OK, everyone's coming
to the G.A.U. Watch Party

- at Slauson Café, yeah?
- LAYLA: I don't know if I'll have time.

- PATIENCE: Uh, I'll be there.
- Yeah, of course you will.

Don't ask. Just go.

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

[DISTANT CHATTER]

KENNY: First-team gunner
on punt and kickoff team...

Spencer James! [CHUCKLES]

- That's good.
- What's up, man? Congrats.

- Thank you.
- Oh,

and I see you're still keeping
your wideout skills sharp.

As much as I can.

Yeah, special teams is
my focus right now, but...

doesn't leave me much time for
reps with you and the receivers.

The important thing is
Garrett has his eyes on you,

and he likes what he
sees, Spence. That's big.

- Hmm.
- So what do you think of this week's game plan?

We haven't faced a defense
like the Spartans yet.

No, we haven't, but RPOs
and play action should

keep 'em off-balance,
open up the deep thr*at.

I was gonna tell you to
keep it up on special teams

and you'd earn yourself
another sh*t at wideout, but...

I get the sense that's
already your plan.

- Yes, sir.
- Now, you get back to it,

- a'ight? Stay ready.
- SPENCER: Luck.

Luck.

- [CLAPPING]
- WADE: Let's go, let's go, let's go!

Aureate Charters is in the
Wade Waters business, baby!

- Hell yeah!
- BRYANT: Dude, how much you bringing in?

WADE: Look, the N.I.L.
isn't all about the cash, OK?

Sometimes it's about the
perks, and in Aureate's case,

the perks are very, very attractive.

Wait, wait. You... you
landed a deal with an airline?

Charter jets, man. Hey, look,
when I sign my deal tomorrow,

I'll be flying private
whenever and wherever I want.

Man, Baker, you keep throwing
-yard dimes and embarrassing

the DBs like you did at practice today,

same sponsors gonna come
for you once I go pro.

I... I've never flown on a private jet.

Aureate's throwing me a
private party Saturday in Vegas.

You boys think we
should bring Baker along?

PLAYERS: Yeah.

- [CLAPPING]
- JORDAN: You serious?

- WADE: Man, you want to taste the good life?
- JORDAN: Hell yeah.

PLAYER: Hell yeah! Let's go! Whoo!

- Vegas! Whoo! Whoo!
- [CLAPPING]

[DISTANT CHATTER]

Hey, my bad. My bad.

- I'm sorry. I started without you.
- Don't worry.

I know better than to get
between you and a sandwich.

- [GIGGLES]
- [SIGHS]

"Name, image, likeness:

New beginning or
beginning of the end?" OK.

Research. Ahem.

I'm pitching my N.I.L.
article to Christel tomorrow.

Ain't, like, half the stories on
the "Tribune" home page your pitches?

Mmm, pretty much, except they
were all assigned to other writers.

I am just hoping that
if I nail this pitch,

Christel will actually let me
write the article this time.

Do you not want me to write the article?

- [CHUCKLES]
- I mean, I know you don't exactly like

my take on N.I.L. at all.

We don't have to agree on everything
for me to want you to succeed.

I want this for you.

And actually, I was thinking,

I know you and Davita didn't exactly
see eye-to-eye when you first met,

but she might actually be a
good resource for your story,

give you a different point of view?

OLIVIA: Uh, I mean,
I'm not really looking

for a different point of view.
The pitch is tomorrow, so...

SPENCER: OK. I just
thought maybe if you...

You know what? I'mma mind my business.

- Mmm.
- Forget I asked.

- Yeah.
- [CHUCKLES]

Good luck.

Uh, ahem. Well, I should

probably get back to the library, so...

- OK.
- [KISS]

COOP: Excuse me.

Now, what the hell
are you doing in here?

Me? Oh, nothing. I was, um...

Yeah, you think about
it while I call security.

- Oh, you really don't need to do that.
- MARITTA: Skye?

Hey, Gigi.

W-Wait. You... you know her?

This is my granddaughter Skye.

COOP: Look, I'm sorry.
I didn't know. I just...

SKYE: Oh, no, no. It's all good. Ahem.

You didn't tell me you were coming.

Ah. Well, I wanted to surprise you,

and then I didn't want to wake you,

but now that you're up,

want to guess who got thrown out of
Lamelo's house party this weekend?

- MARITTA: Lord. What did Shayna do this time?
- SKYE: [LAUGHS]

Would you believe me if I
told you it wasn't her fault?

MARITTA: No, and I'd be right.

COOP: I'mma go ahead and
get on outta here, uh,

if you don't need me.

SKYE: Gorgeous, right?

- MARITTA: [CHUCKLES] Absolutely.
- SKYE: Is that crazy?

- MARIETTA: Yeah.
- DAVITA: Quite the turnaround from you.

SPENCER: I wouldn't say that.

Just still not interested
in taking whatever deal

comes my way for a quick buck.

I'm just saying, couple
weeks ago, the focus

was getting your confidence
back and your playing time up.

Clearly, that seems to be working,

so I'm not surprised to see you
sniffing around N.I.L. things again.

Kinda hard not to when you got
folks talking 'bout their crazy deals

at the top of their lungs all day.

Hey, I get it.

Endorsements are a hot topic
in every D locker room.

Easy to catch the bug when teammates

are making figures and driving M s.

- Try figures and chartered jets.
- God!

- I should have played football.
- SPENCER: Yeah.

- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
- DAVITA: Seriously, though,

the deals you're talking about
are the crown jewels of the N.I.L.

You're nowhere near there.

Any chance I'm figures
and a reliable sedan?

I'm just saying, it'd be nice not
to have to worry about money anymore.

More all-you-can-eat waffles and wings.

Want anything more than that,
you're gonna need some heat.

- Heat?
- Buzz, pop,

people talking about you;

Hard to do on special teams.

The wideout coach thinks I'll be
taking more offensive snaps soon.

That's great, but that's just step one.

You gonna tell me what step two is?

Score touchdowns.

Score touchdowns.

You say that like it's easy.

OLIVIA: And so, you know,
because that has impacted

- so many people...
- CHRISTEL: OK, let me stop you right there.

Oh, I was only just getting started.

Olivia, there's already thousands

of N.I.L. articles out there.

I'm not interested in just
adding another one to the pile.

Yeah, but those other writers don't have

my personal connection to the story.

- Just hear me out, minutes.
- It's not a story.

But how can you say that? I mean,

the ability to profit off of
name, image, and likeness is...

is a Pandora's box.

I mean, all across the country,
right now, there are thousands

- of collegiate athletes that are...
- OK, "Pandora's box,"

"across the country,"
"thousands of college athletes."

Listen to yourself,

and tell me you haven't read
those exact words about the N.I.L.

OK. I'll... I'll find a new angle.

That well's gone dry.

Besides, those stories all sound

like opinion pieces anyway...

no face, no perspective,

just stats and facts
masquerading as news.

So you just want me to drop it?

- Christel, there is a story here.
- No.

You want there to be because
it's a world you know,

a subject you're passionate about,

but that doesn't make it a story.

Look, I know you're itching
for your first byline,

but this isn't it.

Forget N.I.L.

We'll find the right story for you.

- [DOOR OPENS]
- [SIGHS]

[SETS DOWN PEN]

♪ Makin' some pancakes, yeah ♪

- ♪ I'm makin' a pan... ♪
- JAYMEE: Oh, this is different.

- Hey. [LAUGHS]
- [GIGGLES]

Uh, yeah, no game on the weekend
means no A.M. coaches' meeting.

Also means I finally got to make Jacob's

- "can't screw it up if you tried" pancake recipe.
- [JAYMEE GIGGLES]

Oh, that's really sweet, Ash, but
I have to work the lunch shift.

No, no, no. Almost done.
Just one minute. Promise.

- OK.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]

So, in addition to you making pancakes,

how are you planning to
spend this rare Saturday off?

Oh, some of us are
getting together to have

- a G.A.U. watch party at Slauson Café.
- JAYMEE: Mmm.

I figured it'd be a good chance for
you to meet the rest of the crew.

Actually, I like watching
football in a stadium

full of strangers with
an empty seat beside me.

[GIGGLES] I'm kidding,
Ash. Of course, I'd love to.

Finally get the scoop
on high-school Asher.

Finally? All the guys do is tell

embarrassing stories about me.

Oh, dude gossip always ends with
someone making an ass of themself,

but if I want to find out
the real on if young Asher

was a little player,

I got to talk to the
ladies that you know best.

- Player? [CHUCKLES] No, no, it wasn't, like...
- Mm-hmm.

Why would you think that? Why
would you think that I was...

- Are you a little worried?
- [LAUGHS]

Um, it's a little salty.

There's salt in the recipe.
Look, the T's of salt.

[LAUGHS] The T's...

Well, here, I'm gonna be
late, but... [CHUCKLES]

- Ahem.
- Yeah, I'll explain the difference

between big T's and little T's
when you pick me up tomorrow, OK?

[KISS] Bye.

Bye.

There's a difference between the T's?

OLIVIA: I mean, she didn't
even want to hear out the pitch.

She just told me to drop it.

- Drop what?
- Anything that has to do with N.I.L.

She told me I need to look
somewhere else for my first byline.

I'm sorry, baby. I know you
really believed in the story.

- Something else gonna come up.
- Oh, no, I'm not dropping this one.

I just need to find a totally
different take on the story.

But I thought your boss said to
drop anything to do with N.I.L.

OLIVIA: Yeah, but she also
mentioned the story needing a face,

the inherent inequity of
the system at a human level,

a story like yours.

- Like mine?
- Yeah.

I mean, all the N.I.L. press
is about massive paydays

to a tiny handful of top players.

No one's told the story
of the vast majority

of players that barely get anything.

Wait, and you want me
to be the face of that?

Liv, I am actively seeking endorsements.

You want me to be a part
of an N.I.L. hit piece?

It's just an idea...

- And I'm guessing it's a no?
- Yeah.

[SIGHS] OK, forget I mentioned it.

Why are you so determined
to write this story?

- 'Cause it's starting to feel personal.
- OLIVIA: It's not.

I didn't even know you
had an issue with N.I.L.

until I saw you arguing
with Davita about it

at my first endorsement event.

You think this is about you?

- Is it?
- No!

It... it's seismic
shift in college sports

that everyone's celebrating ike
it's some great leap forward,

but the reality is... is that

most players are lucky enough to
get, like, a few hundred bucks.

So why not let us make
a few hundred bucks?

To people like me, that's real money,

not something you just
shrug off like it's nothing.

- And you think I don't know that?
- You didn't live it.

I didn't mean it that way.

Yeah, you did,

and you're right.

I'm privileged.

I grew up in Beverly Hills, OK?

I don't deny that,

but if you seem to think
that that invalidates

my point of view, then...

I guess there's no point in arguing.

Liv. Liv, come on...

[SIGHS]

Everything OK, Ms. Maritta?

Someone stole my emerald
earrings from my room,

and I just know it's
one of the residents.

You know, Sheryl got
caught just this week.

Oh, she was just being nosy.

You sure you ain't
forget where you put 'em?

[SIGHS] I don't even wear 'em no more.

They're so heavy, hurts my ears.

OK, well, when's the
last time you seen 'em?

Night before last.

Um, Ms. Maritta, I... I did see someone

uh, in your room, and I
thought it was suspicious.

Why didn't you say anything?

Well, because it was your granddaughter.

- Skye?
- Yeah, I came in,

and she was going through your
closet while you were asleep.

Skye... didn't steal my earrings.

- I'm only telling you what I saw.
- No.

You're accusing my
favorite granddaughter

- of stealing from me.
- COOP: I'm sorry, OK?

I'm not trying to make
you upset; I'm just trying

to help you find your
earrings, that's all.

Think I've had enough of your help.

Spence.

- [EXHALES] Yo?
- What's that about?

- GARRETT: What? What do you mean?
- SPENCER: I don't know.

I always try to avoid
that look when I can.

JORDAN: Bryant just pointed
over here. Crap. Um...

- [CLEARS THROAT]
- GARRETT: , you heard from my QB today?

JORDAN: Wade? Uh,

not since our QB meeting
after practice yesterday, sir.

So you heard he was
gonna be late to practice?

BRYANT: Uh, hey, and that
professor's office hours,

- they're crazy.
- JORDAN: Yeah, Coach, um...

You know, I don't
remember what it was for,

but he did mention he was
worried about being late, sir.

KENNY: First team needs a QB, Coach,

unless we're gonna wait on Wade.

, you step in until Wade shows.

, you're with second team.
Quick feet, quick reads,

and if the wideouts start
slacking, you fire that ball

like a damn rocket and
make 'em respect you.

- Understood?
- JORDAN: Yes, sir.

JORDAN: I k*lled it, OK? Coach's words.

Yo, I can't wait to
tell you all about it.

[SIGHS] I hate that we keep
missing each other, though.

It's, uh, it's... oh, my God. Simone,

I haven't even told you about Vegas.

Yo, Wade is taking me on a private jet.

Can you believe that?
I'll... I'll tell you later.

Um, I love you, babe.

- [PHONE BEEPS OFF]
- ASHER: Dude, second-team snaps already,

private jets to Vegas? Sheesh!

- Check out these pics of the jet, bro...
- Wait, wait, wait.

Show me later. I gotta
meet up with Jaymee.

- Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
- Cool.

- What's up, Spence?
- Hey, what up, Ash?

Wow, can you believe that
Jordan's gonna be partying

with Wade Waters in Vegas?

SPENCER: Yeah, it's pretty crazy.

ASHER: Insane. [CHUCKLES]

- Peace, guys.
- SPENCER: All right, boy.

- Is there a problem, Spence?
- [BAG THUDS]

SPENCER: How about you lying for Wade?

Come on, dude. I mean,
it wasn't exactly a lie.

I heard Wade tell you he
might be late for practice

'cause of the Aureate Charter meeting,

and then you went and
backed up some half-assed

"meeting the professor" excuse.

OK, and I would do the
same thing for you because

I don't rat out my friends.

You think he's your friend
'cause he's letting you

ride his N.I.L. coattails?

Wade ain't piling up
deals for nobody but Wade.

And who are you trying to sign
N.I.L. deals for if not yourself?

Hmm? Little hypocritical,
don't you think?

I'm not blowing off practice.

And you're not a
Heisman candidate, either.

Look, the team is lucky
to have Wade, Spence.

- He is an elite talent.
- You're talking about him

as if he's the only one
to ever QB a damn game.

You've done the stuff he's done.

- At the high-school level!
- All I'm saying

is it's the same game.

The field is still a hundred yards long,

with an end zone at either end,

and Wade is a selfish
ass whether he's on it

or off chasing his endorsements!

Oh, my God, bro. It was one practice.

He's supposed to be a leader!

When Wade blows off
practice, it hurts the team,

our team.

It's gonna take more than a plane
ride to blind me to that truth.

If anything, I wish I
had have signed some...

some N.I.L. deals when I played.

Yeah. Why does that surprise you?

Well, because you're always
talking about how NCAA athletes

have too much on their
plate, too many distractions.

- And I still believe that.
- Well, isn't N.I.L. just another distraction?

Look, do I wish that college players

would focus on school and football?

Yes, but the truth of the matter is

the cash is there and
it is a distraction.

I mean, I know cash and favors
have always been changing hands,

but, I mean, wouldn't more
money equal more distractions?

The cats that I knew who
took the lunch money...

oh, we called it "lunch money"
because the money would come

in, like, brown paper bags.

OLIVIA: So it wasn't exactly a secret?

No, no, no, not the players,

but, I mean, it's not like these
cats were pushing gold Camaros

or getting stacks of
cash; They just wanted to

take their girl out
for a nice dinner or,

you know, eat somewhere
other than the commissary.

So the top players rake in all the cash,

and everybody else gets a few bucks.

It sounds like not much has changed.

All right, so I knew this
cat, Wally. Wally Dix.

He accepted a plane ticket so
he could go home for a funeral;

NCAA found out, and
they made him ineligible.

Ineligible.

That wasn't justice.
That was a wasted future.

- I guess I never thought about that.
- Yeah.

We good?

Yeah. Just thinking about something

Spencer said about the story, or...

Lack of story, I should say.

- I should head out.
- OK.

You don't want to stay
and watch the game?

No, I'm gonna watch it at Slauson Café.

I mean, you should come if you're
not gonna go to the stadium.

No, no, no. [CHUCKLES] Be too
intense for me. I'll stay here.

Um, baby girl, if you
think you have a story,

then you have a story.
Like, I believe that.

Follow your instincts.

- OK. Thanks, Dad.
- All right.

[DISTANT LAUGHTER AND CHATTER]

GARRETT: Thanks for
joining us today, Wade.

- Hey, sorry about that, Coach. I had a...
- GARRETT: A conflict.

Yeah, I know.

Got kickoff in , so
I'mma make this quick.

's starting and 's backup.

- Coach, what the hell?
- You miss Friday practice,

you sit the game. Those are the rules.

Coach, you can't bench
me. I was doing schoolwork.

GARRETT: This is my team.

My rules apply to everyone.

The next time you sneak
off to a sponsorship event,

make sure they don't take photos.

All right, baby. Suit up.
Come on. Let's go. Spence?

- SPENCER: Yo.
- KENNY: How you feeling?

- SPENCER: Ready to go.
- WADE: Aah!

Come on!

What's that all about?

You earned your spot on the field
this week. Wade just lost his.

You show Coach Garrett
that you deserve it,

- all right?
- Yes, sir.

KENNY: Let's go. You
draggin' ass. Suit up.

So Layla, Patience, Liv, Coop.

- ASHER: Jaymee.
- PATIENCE: Nice to meet you.

OLIVIA: [LAUGHS] Well, I'm
glad Asher brought you around

- before JJ ran you off.
- COOP: Yeah, the same.

Good to have a fresh face to
hone my magnetic personality.

- ASHER: Hey, chill out.
- LAYLA: Ooh, wait. What about "fresh face"?

- PATIENCE: What?
- LAYLA: For your album title.

[SIGHS] Layla, look,

you have been following
me around like a shadow

in the house, and I just...

can we just not talk about
music for a second, please?

- [QUIETLY] Yeah.
- JAYMEE: You two live together?

OLIVIA: Uh, we all do, yeah.

Uh, we moved into my parents'
house after graduation.

It's kinda like our own
version of the beach house.

Nobody wanted to branch out?

Starting to reconsider that. [SCOFFS]

Hey, y'all. I hope y'all
don't mind if I join.

Uh, Liv said it was OK. Who
are you? I'm Coach Baker.

- JAYMEE: Jaymee, Asher's girlfriend.
- BILLY: Oh, OK, OK.

- Good to see you.
- JAYMEE: Uh, do you want to have a seat?

- We have plenty of room.
- BILLY: No, I'm good standing.

Um, actually, I'll be right back.

I want to check on the sound
before, uh, before kickoff.

Liv, is he OK?

I think watching Spencer
and Jordan instead of

coaching is an adjustment.

JAYMEE: Oh, he's your
old head coach, right?

Yeah, yeah, and Jordan and Olivia's dad,

and I guess y'all's landlord, too.

It's a bit of a tangled web.

BILLY: OK, let's go, Condors!

- Ha ha!
- OLIVIA: Oh, my God.

[TV ANNOUNCER SPEAKING SPANISH]

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

MALE SINGER: ♪ Let's go to work ♪

♪ I came from nothing,
yeah, I came from the dirt ♪

♪ You can tell by the
stains on my shirt ♪

♪ If there's money to be
made, I'mma get to it first ♪

- ♪ So let's go to work ♪
- GARRETT: All right. Defense, defense.

- Hey, attaway, .
- SPENCER: Thanks, Coach.

GARRETT: All right, let's
get 'em out of the game.

SINGER: ♪ Won't stop till
I get what I'm worth ♪

♪ If there's money to be
made, I'mma get to it first ♪

♪ So let's go to work,
yeah, let's go to work ♪

TV ANNOUNCER: More
conservative play-calling

in the second half from the Condors

as they try to hang on to a - lead.

They should be up by
. This is ridiculous.

- OLIVIA: Dad, can you...
- BILLY: Do you hear me?

- OLIVIA: Dude, just chill.
- BILLY: Sorry, baby,

but this lack of
downfield passing can...

is that another screen pass?

- Are you serious? Did you... Ash?
- ASHER: Yeah.

BILLY: I can't watch
this. I can't watch this!

- COOP: Agreed, Mr. B.
- BILLY: I can't watch this.

This game is boring as hell.

You have barely looked
up from your phone

- since it started.
- COOP: Whatever. I'm looking up Skye's I.G.

ASHER: Wait a second. You
really think that girl stole

- her grandmother's earrings?
- COOP: Maybe,

but I'm thinking it's more
than just just the earrings.

OK, this girl has
enough designer dresses

that I haven't seen the same one twice.

Come on, you tell me. What girl with
no job lives like a Hadid sister?

- She's pawning Maritta's stuff.
- OLIVIA: That's one explanation.

COOP: Man, whatever. Forget
y'all, OK? I know what I saw.

The girl's a thief.

I say keep scrolling and you'll
find what you're looking for.

COOP: See? Jaymee gets it.

JAYMEE: I mean, who
doesn't love a sexy thief

who posts lingerie selfies?

Hey, maybe she'd help your
investigation over dinner.

Uh, no shade. She's hot as hell.

BILLY: OK, OK, wait. Shh, shh.

- OLIVIA: Dad, you can't shush people...
- BILLY: All right, y'all.

Spencer's going in!

Spencer's going in!

MALE SINGER: ♪ I came to fight ♪

♪ I came for w*r ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ I can't hold on ♪

- KENNY: Run back! Run back!
- [CROWD CHEERING]

SINGER: ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

STADIUM ANNOUNCER: It's a
touchdown return for the Spartans,

and they take a - lead over G.A.U.

SINGER: ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

KENNY: The "A" team block on field!

SINGER: ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

Let's go!

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

[CLOCK TICKS]

♪ 'Cause I can't do more ♪

Put it behind you, OK? It
was one bad play, Spence.

No, it was the bad play.

Everybody knows I gave up the lead,

so if we lose, it's on me.

♪ I can't no more ♪

I wouldn't have made that stupid
joke if I'd known you guys dated.

Hey, it's OK. You didn't know.

- It's all good.
- JAYMEE: You sure?

- Yeah.
- 'Cause I feel like it's been weird with Patience.

Well, well, that ain't
about either of us.

Thank you.

ASHER: Whoa, wait. He just left?

He went to the stadium, just
in case "his boys need him."

I felt like I was talking
to a literal crazy person.

LAYLA: That was kinda sweet,

you know, and nuts. Oh, thank you.

PATIENCE: No, he was pacing so much.

- JAYMEE: Iced toddy to go for Patience.
- PATIENCE: Thank you, thank you.

- LAYLA: Wait. You're leaving?
- PATIENCE: I just... I been feeling kinda off,

and I just want to make
it back to the house, so...

- Yeah, yeah. OK, well, I'll take you.
- No, no. No. It's fine.

- Don't worry about it.
- LAYLA: No, it's good. I wanted to run

- some things by you, so it's good.
- PATIENCE: Girl, are you serious?

Layla, you have been breathing
down my neck for the past,

like, days and,

like, I just need to chill for a second,

- seriously.
- LAYLA: Oh, OK, well,

that's all you've been
doing. Every time I see you,

you're just hanging
out, doing nothing and

- "chilling." Patience,
- PATIENCE: Uh-huh.

we have an album to drop.

I can't drop it without a title,
and you couldn't care less.

Look, that's her
process, Layla, all right?

And, you know, I love you, girl,

but sometimes you gotta
know when to back off.

- PATIENCE: Thank you.
- ASHER: Coop, Layla is just trying

- to do her job, OK?
- But you only defending her

because you used to date her.

Something you forget to tell me?

Uh, yeah...

We dated.

ASH: Jaymee, I... I'm sorry.

Oh, don't apologize.

I just didn't realize I was
hanging out with your ex today.

COOP: Ahem.

ASHER: Um,

exes, actually.

[GIGGLES] Oh, my...

what's so funny?

Oh, it makes so much sense. Ha!

- ASHER: What do you mean?
- JAYMEE: God, you live together,

work together.

Of course, you all dated each other.

It's a vortex,

and it's totally
reasonable that Patience

would want to break away from that.

Whatever. We're...

we're totally not a... you know.

Oh, my God. We're a vortex.

- [CROWD CHEERING]
- BRYANT: Mike , Mike !

Blue , blue !

- Uhh!
- [WHISTLE BLOWS]

- GARRETT: We should punt.
- KENNY: You sure?

We don't have a lot of time left.

Yeah, well, it's gonna have to be enough

'cause needs to walk off that hit.

We still got a timeout. We
need a quick stop and a miracle.

- Let's go, punt team!
- KENNY: All right, punt, punt!

A vortex makes us sound
like the Bermuda triangle

of friend groups, like we're trapped.

JAYMEE: I wasn't saying it
as a bad thing, necessarily.

I have been so distrusting of Davita

because she's not one of us,

and you are literally doing
that to this Skye girl.

COOP: Oh, no, hold on. My
view on Skye is crystal-clear,

OK? The girl's a thief.

Yeah, and I still think
a vortex sounds like...

- like I'm trying to escape something.
- ASHER: I mean, Patience,

that is what you've been
trying to do, though.

- LAYLA: Look, um, Jaymee's right.
- PATIENCE: Uh...

LAYLA: No more work. Just
stay and watch the game.

We'll figure out the album stuff later.

Deal?

PATIENCE: Deal.

OLIVIA: Spencer's up on
punt team, guys. [SIGHS]

MALE SINGER: ♪ Look, taking my,
taking my time ♪

KENNY: Get down there. Get down there.

- GARRETT: Go, go, go.
- SINGER: ♪ Whoa, whoa ♪

♪ I can never stop, can never stop ♪

- GARRETT: Yes!
- SINGER: ♪ Gonna get it, coming for it all ♪

♪ Coming for it all,
coming for it all, yeah ♪

GARRETT: Yeah, yeah!

SINGER: ♪ I'm on a roll ♪

- [PLAYERS SHOUT, WHISTLE BLOWS]
- SINGER: ♪ Finding my way ♪

REF: Where's the ball?

- SINGER: ♪ Doing it first ♪
- What are you guys waiting for?!

♪ Finding my way, finding my way ♪

- GARRETT: Yeah!
- [CROWD CHEERING]

SINGER: ♪ Finding my way ♪

Whoo!

[CROWD CHEERING]

Oh, my God!

GARRETT: That's what
I'm talking about! Yes!

's still in the medical tent.

Strap up, .

Game to win.

SINGER: ♪ Yeah ♪

[SLAMS DOWN HELMET]

♪ Yeah, feel I'm not worthy enough ♪

♪ I got some issues with trust ♪

Down, down, set!

All right, now.

Right, , , hut!

♪ I'll get it, it'll give me the rush ♪

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

- ♪ I'm never down for the count ♪
- JORDAN: Right, hey, hut!

SINGER: ♪ Here's the fight of my life ♪

♪ Here's the time of my life ♪
[ECHOES]

- [WHISTLE BLOWS]
- JORDAN: Right, hey, hut!

SINGER: ♪ Better be ready to fight ♪

- GARRETT: Time, time, time, time.
- [WHISTLE BLOWS]

♪ You wanted to pay my price ♪

♪ Better be ready to fight ♪

[SIGHS] This is brutal.

At least it'll be over soon.

I'm sorry.

Hey, yo! Skye just posted herself

wearing Maritta's earrings.

"So hard to say good-bye
to these beauties."

I told y'all.

Coop.

What? It's a commercial break!

- GARRETT: , , !
- ALL: Win!

You gonna tell me to forget
about those last plays?

Nope, 'cause I already forgotten 'em,

and so will everybody else
after you go and win this game.

Get 'em, boy. Come
on. Come on, let's go.

JORDAN: Here we go, here we go.

- SINGER: ♪ We got the power ♪
- JORDAN: Down, set!

SINGER: ♪ Timing is perfect,
like who are you watchin'? ♪

[SINGING CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

- PLAYER: Go!
- [CROWD CHEERING]

- [WHISTLE BLOWS]
- STADIUM ANNOUNCER: What a run!

Baker picks up the first down, but
can they get the play off in time?

JORDAN: Here we go, here we go.

Down, hut!

[CROWD NOISE FADES, HEART
b*ating IN SLOW MOTION]

Catch it!

SINGER: ♪ This is our house ♪

- [CROWD CHEERING]
- GARRETT: Let's go!

SINGER: ♪ This is our house ♪

♪ This is our house ♪

- SPENCER: Ha ha ha!
- JORDAN: Whoa!

Are you kidding me, boy?!
That was incredible, man!

Yeah, man, I cannot wait to see it.

- PLAYER: [CHUCKLES] Yo.
- SPENCER: Spoiler alert... we won.

[BREATHLESSLY] Yeah,
well, I gathered that much.

You know, I didn't believe you
when you said it was the same game.

- You gonna start listening to me now?
- No. No, because this...

this isn't like anything
I've done before in my life.

- [CROWD CHEERING]
- Yeah.

SINGER: ♪ This is our house ♪

- [KNOCK ON DOOR]
- MARITTA: You got to be going out

- to dinner or something.
- SKYE: With these earrings,

- you know?
- Yeah.

Tamia.

I didn't know you were working today.

I'm not, actually, uh,

but I thought you should see
the story Skye posted today.

COOP: Those are your earrings.

SKYE: Uh, yeah, Coop's right.

- I took them.
- Skye, why would you do that?

Because I know how much
you like wearing them

and thought I could have them remade
into something more comfortable.

Yeah, but your post said
you were saying good-bye.

To the earrings, yeah.

OK, wasn't how I planned
on giving you this, but...

I hope you like it.

[SKYE GIGGLES]

Thanks for ruining the surprise.

MARITTA: Skye! Hon, I love it!

- SKYE: Well, you want to try it on?
- MARITTA: Of course!

[SKYE GIGGLES] Uh, Coop,

before you go...

Look, again, that's on me. I'm sorry.

No, actually, I wanted to say thank you.

You wouldn't have done all
this unless you cared, and

I'm really glad she's got someone
else now to look out for her.

Bet. Beautiful necklace, by the way.

Thanks. And, hey, next time you've got

a question for me, my DMs are open.

[COOLER DOOR CLOSES]

Uh, hey.

- Olivia.
- I remember.

Quite a game today.

Yeah. Uh, I'm waiting
for Spencer to come out.

- Well, tell him I said congrats.
- Actually, um,

listen, about when we first met, I...

I know things got a little...

Tense and, um...

DAVITA: Do-over?

Hey, I'm Davita.

Olivia Baker.

- See you around.
- Do you have a sec?

I could really use your
perspective on something.

- Sure. On what?
- [SIGHS]

N.I.L., without my hot take this time.

To me, the N.I.L. changes
aren't about money so much

as they're about the
power that money brings.

- Mmm.
- By letting athletes tap into the value

they bring at the collegiate
level, it empowers them

to make their own decisions
about what to do with that value

now and in the future.

- OK.
- It's not perfect.

- But it's a start.
- OLIVIA: OK.

I see the upside. It wasn't
fair for those colleges

to profit off of unpaid labor, but

fundamental change is rarely simple.

I agree. The rule change is
only the beginning of the story.

So the real story is what those
players do with that power.

Exactly. Some will make good choices,

others bad, but ultimately,

those decisions will be theirs to make.

- OLIVIA: Hmm.
- SPENCER: Should I be worried?

DAVITA: This is my cue.
I'll let Olivia fill you in.

- See you at the beach house?
- Yeah.

The beach house?

Yeah. Everybody's coming over
to celebrate the big G.A.U. win.

And Davita?

[SIGHS] Um... you were right.

She had some really good
insights about the N.I.L.

SPENCER: Yeah.

[SETS DOWN BAG] Listen,

about how we left things yesterday...

Before we get into that...

- Congratulations on the win.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]

I mean, that game-saving
strip tackle was...

- it was legitimately incredible.
- Thank you.

And last, but not least, um...

- You were right about my story.
- No.

No, I shouldn't have said what I said.

Just 'cause we have different
experiences doesn't mean

you can't understand or that
your thoughts ain't valid.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean I should
ignore other perspectives, either.

You saw sides of the
story that I was missing.

I should have listened to you.

That better not be because I said
I should have listened to you.

- No. I'm just happy to see my girl.
- [GIGGLES]

Hmm.

SIMONE ON VOICEMAIL: Ah! Ha ha! Baby!

Oh, my God, Jordan! That was
amazing! You were amazing!

Oh, I'm pretty sure I had,
like, heart att*cks. Wow!

You were incredible. I love you

and I miss you and I can't
wait to hear all about it

in Vegas and, God,
just to hear your voice.

Look, that can wait until
tomorrow. Have fun tonight.

I'm so proud of you, Jordan.

- [JORDAN SIGHS]
- WADE: I mean, tell you what,

- I got, like, bottles coming.
- JORDAN: Hey, hey, hey.

You fellas ready to do this, huh?

I brought an overnight
bag because, well, Vegas.

If it ain't magic Mike.

Nah, I'm just messing
with you, but, for real,

- you're not coming to Vegas.
- JORDAN: [LAUGHS]

This guy, right?

- [CHUCKLING]
- WADE: Do I look amused?

No, man. The plan's changed.
You're staying behind.

Wait. What? Why? What happened?

[CLAPS HANDS] Let's go!

MALE SINGER: ♪ I don't see a future ♪

- Hey, um, can we talk about earlier?
- [SCOFFS]

Asher, you've apologized like, times.

You could have told me
before, but I get it.

- Do you?
- Yeah.

Exes can be a touchy subject.

But, look, that's... that's
not why I didn't tell you.

It's not an excuse, but I wanted
you to meet my friends as...

my friends, you know,
not my exes because...

Because that's who they are to you.

Yeah.

They're really important
to me, all of 'em.

I definitely got that sense.

- You really nailed us with the whole vortex thing.
- [CHUCKLES]

No, Asher, I... I really did mean
it when I said it isn't a bad thing.

Still, I was hoping to save the
dramatics for the second hang.

Ha ha! And deny me the
full spectrum of insanity?

- No, thank you.
- Hmm.

The valleys make the mountains.

- So you had an all-right time?
- Seriously?

I had an amazing time.

A bit jealous, actually.

I've never been part of a vortex.

- [LAUGHS]
- It was fun to be part of one for a day.

OK, uh, can I get a drink, please?

ASHER: Uh, yeah, of course.
You don't have to ask.

OK, cool. Sorry. Layla thought
y'all were having a moment, so...

They were having a moment
until you interrupted.

- PATIENCE: Oh, my bad.
- ASHER: No, no, no, no.

Actually, it is perfect
because I was just explaining

that once you're in a vortex, you're in.

LAYLA: Well, yeah.
You're stuck for sure.

- What are y'all talking about?
- Oh, my God, Spence.

- Not everything is about you!
- [JAYMEE GIGGLES]

ASHER: Jaymee,

welcome to the vortex.

PATIENCE: Welcome to the vortex.

- ASHER: [CHUCKLES]
- PATIENCE: Oh, I kinda like that.

"Welcome to the vortex."

See, that's a pretty
good title for an album.

- LAYLA: Wait. Are you serious?
- PATIENCE: Yeah.

LAYLA: OK. I mean, yeah, I love it.

- Welcome to the vortex.
- Welcome to the vortex.

- PATIENCE: Welcome to the vortex.
- LAYLA: OK.

- PATIENCE: Ooh, welcome to the vortex.
- [ALL CLAMORING]

OK, cheers. Cheers.

LAYLA: Hey, welcome to the vortex.

- PATIENCE: Ha ha ha!
- LAYLA: Welcome to the...

- What happened to Vegas?
- Oh.

You were right about Wade.

[SIGHS] I'm sorry to hear that, man.

Why don't you come downstairs?

JORDAN: Because, Spence, I...

I told everyone I was going on this big,

fancy Vegas night with Wade Waters.

[SCOFFS] Such an ass.

Yeah. Yeah, he is.

- I was talking about myself.
- I know.

[CHUCKLES] J., I promise you,

you're the only one that's gonna
feel any kinda way about this, man.

Everybody else just wants to
celebrate with the game-winning QB.

- JORDAN: Hmm.
- PATIENCE: Spencer!

Spencer, get down here!

Look, I appreciate it, Spence, but...

I'm not feeling it. Maybe later?

All right. Yeah, but won't
be the same without you, man.

- JORDAN: Yeah.
- OLIVIA: Spencer, what are you doing?

Wait. When'd you get here? Actually,
you know what? It doesn't matter.

- Downstairs, now.
- JORDAN: Yeah, um, I'll be down in a sec.

- No. I said right now.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Liv!

- OLIVIA: Right now. Let's go. Let's go.
- SPENCER: Oh, God.

[ALL CHEERING]

ASHER: He catches him right here,
too. Look at this, look at this.

OLIVIA: Whoo!

Right there, man. That's a money move.

That's a money move. Oh, God...
and this is your drive right here?

JORDAN: Yeah, dude. This was insane.

- ASHER: Wait. Wait, look at that.
- OLIVIA: Yep. Oh! Ooh!

- ASHER: Touchdown!
- [ALL CHEER AND CLAP]

- Hey, hey, hey, hey!
- PATIENCE: All right!

ASHER: Hey, man, I feel like
we've run plays like that, man.

SPENCER: I told you, man.

I cannot believe you did that today.

JORDAN: Mmm. Even
after Wade got benched,

I'd have bet a million dollars
I'd never see that field.

Wait. Benched? Announcers thought
it was, like, a injury or something.

No. No, no. Wade skipped practice

to go to some N.I.L.
thing for Aureate Charter.

Wait. The charter jet company
you were taking to Vegas?

Yup, yup.

Guess he didn't like me
stealing the spotlight.

You know what, though?

Spence is right. Screw him.

I would much rather be
here with all of y'all

- over his fancy plane any day.
- OLIVIA: Right.

Um, actually, I have to head out.

- Will you tell Spencer that I'll text him?
- JORDAN: Yeah, sure.

Yeah.

I have to show you something.

DAVITA: That's not just a highlight.

It made national sports
top plays of the day.

- Number two.
- For real?

Damn.

Feeling a lot better about my chances

of getting back on the field at wideout.

It's bigger than that.

This is heat.

You just graduated
past waffles and wings.

- Reliable sedan?
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]

This is the logo I use
for all my endorsements.

It looks pretty dope.

- Why you showing me?
- Because it's time to talk branding.

And first thing up, we got
to design you one of these.

Olivia, what are you still doing here?

Writing a new story:

"Heisman candidate gets benched

after missing practice
for N.I.L. photo sh**t."

That sounds like an N.I.L. story.

One you haven't read before.

You got a face to
go with the headline?


Now, that right there is a story.

Keep at it.