[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
AMARA: Marcus.
Marcus, open the door.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
DAMON: Coach. Hey, if you're in there,
you gotta let us in.
Coach.
We gotta find the landlord or something.
I'm sure he's got a extra key.
You two should go home.
It's late.
I'll keep looking.
When I find him, you're my first call.
- Promise.
- ♪ Speak my name ♪
DAMON: All right.
♪ And I'll walk a thousand miles ♪
- ♪ No matter what I do ♪
- [KNOCKING ON DOOR]
AMARA: Marcus, they're gone.
If you're in there,
I need you to talk to me.
MARCUS: You should go, too.
I'm OK.
I'd like to see that for myself.
Amara, please.
If you care about me, just go.
OK.
But when I call, you answer.
OK.
♪ I'll be there for you ♪
SIMONE: "As the institution
finds itself in need,
it deserves the help of those
to whom it's given so much."
Mm. Your aunt with the words.
I can't believe BU might close.
Hey.
We're all trying to save it.
Plus, we should be thanking the alumni
for raising half the money already.*
Yeah, I think the best
thing we can do right now
is just focus on tennis.
- [CELL PHONE CHIMES]
- JERIKA: Let me guess.
It's Damon congratulating you
on your tournament win this morning.
You're giving frontrunner.
No, it's just Nate asking me to lunch.
Damon sent me flowers, though.
Well, I'm glad someone from Bringston's
still in the pro tournament.
I got knocked out yesterday, so,
Thea, it's all on you.
Ladies. Afternoon.
I want top on the court.
Partner up.
As for the rest of you,
weight training. One hour.
Go.
KEENA: You can't play without a coach.
President Allen is already working
on a replacement for
the Hawkins game, Mom.
You don't need a replacement.
You need your coach.
You want me to talk to Marcus?
You peep your sweatshirt?
Bringston Lion Mom.
Oh. Oh. Is that your polite way
of asking me to stay out of it?
All right.
I guess I'll
enjoy homecoming like
every other mom who
doesn't have a special skill
that can help the situation.
I know I, um,
dropped a b*mb on you earlier this week.
Are you sure that homecoming is
where you want to be right now?
It's either here or back home
setting everything on fire
because your father's
too sick to give me the
answers I deserve, so...
yeah.
Homecoming is the safest place,
for everyone.
I'll see you later.
- DAMON: All right. See you, Mom.
- KEENA: Bye.
ART: We're live from the quad
with a reminder
of our annual exquisite eight
step show tomorrow night.
They're turning it into a fundraiser
with all proceeds
going to save Bringston,
- so, don't miss it.
- SIMONE: Wow, Keish.
You pulled this together
real last-minute.
Yes, kudos, but...
Is this really all gonna be enough
to raise million by tomorrow night?
I don't know what's
gonna happen tomorrow,
but we can't do nothing.
There will be a next
semester at Bringston, damn it.
You're right.
We're gonna save our school.
- NATE: We're gonna save our school.
- KEISHA: Thank you.
- [NATE CHUCKLES]
- SIMONE: OK. I need to answer this
or more texts will follow.
- NATE: Oh.
- SIMONE: Hey, Mom.
I'm calling with good news.
Hey, Simone. How are you?
TINA: Yes. Hi, Simone. How are you?
Now, listen. I have a friend that works
in the administration at
Golden Angeles University.
Two of their tennis players
just became academically ineligible.
They're looking to fill the empty spots.
And before you say anything,
there are , students at GAU
You'll never see Jordan.
Mom, that's a lie.
But are you seriously
suggesting I transfer?
Simone, you need to be
somewhere you can play.
I'll still have the chance
to play doubles
and fill in for injured
players here at Bringston.
You're a competitor.
If the dream is to still hit
Naomi or Serena status,
you can't waste time riding the bench.
It's just a call to GAU.
OK.
You're right.
Make the call.
SANTIAGO: Bringston might not
exist next week.
Does this game even matter?
Of course it does.
Look, if bu is to be saved,
then b*ating Hawkins, that's key, man.
Yeah, they're the conference champions.
We b*at them, prove that we
a championship level team,
then we can keep our funding.
Let's show 'em.
ZEKE: Gentlemen.
I'm sure you all remember
Jessie Raymond, sr.
Yeah, we all know who he is,
but the question is, why is he here?
Well, president Allen's
getting to that, son.
Mr. Raymond has agreed
to be your interim coach.
As a former lion,
he cares about the program
and as an Atlanta adult league coach,
he knows baseball inside out.
I trust you'll make this work.
JESSIE: Ready to work?
Got a extra racket?
Please don't tell me
you're changing sports.
What? You don't think I'd
look good in short shorts?
Mm, no.
- THEA: Hey.
- DAMON: Oh, hey, babe.
I'm gonna get back to work.
Good luck at the tournament, Thea.
- THEA: Breakfast.
- DAMON: And fuel.
Thank you.
You gonna k*ll it today.
I wish I could be there.
Me, too,
but you got practice
and a new coach to break in.
You know, I still can't believe
that that's happening.
That man forced Celine
to give me up for adoption
and now I gotta play for him
like nothing's happened?
Screw him.
OK, this is about you.
You've worked so hard
to get the team here.
Just focus on the game.
[CELL PHONE CHIMES]
Oh, my ride's here.
Hey. You OK?
Yeah. I'm fine. All right.
- THEA: Bye.
- DAMON: See you.
MARCUS ON PHONE: Yo, it's Marcus.
Leave a message.
Damn it, Marcus, you promised
to answer if I called.
Don't make me come
back over there. Just...
check in. Please.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Hey, sweetie.
Hey.
I heard your article is making
a huge impact on campus.
Well, it got the attention
of the local news.
They want to interview me
about Bringston,
which is why I'm here.
I'd like the whole crew to join me.
People need to hear from students, too.
Is this about your transferring?
Your mother has a big mouth.
I heard they loved
your recruiting video.
Simone, this is great.
They why doesn't it feel great?
Keisha is busy trying to save the school
and I'm making plans
to leave it, Auntie.
Did you forget I'm leaving, too?
That doesn't mean we can't still do
everything in our power to save it.
[SIGH]
JESSIE: Get out on that field.
Take your positions.
Stay warm and loose until I get to you.
I'll start with Sims and J.R.
You mean Sims and Reyes.
I'm Damon's catcher.
I play centerfield now.
Fine.
Reyes, when you throw, make
sure you stay behind the plate.
Get up faster to execute.
That'll slow down my pop time.
Not if you do it correctly.
J.R. in that outfield, I want to see
big crow hops to get
more on your throws.
Coach Marcus wanted me to
use the step behind technique.
I'm the coach.
You'll follow my rules.
All right, let's hit the field.
Let's go.
Sims.
It's clear we'll be relying
on your star power tomorrow.
Games aren't won by a single player.
When we win,
we'll do it as a team.
This team will crumble
under the pressure.
I've seen 'em play.
Nah.
But if they do, it'll be 'cause
they crumbling under you.
What'd you just say to me, Sims?
Santiago, he's a beast at
throwing out base runners.
There's not a better
outfielder than your son.
All right? Everything don't gotta be
your way or the highway.
Look, you can't just
come in, messing with peop...
You know what? I'm done, all right?
Let's practice.
You need to get your boy in line.
Nah. That's on you, Coach.
[MUTTERING]
Did you lose something?
No. I need an outfit for tonight.
So, we, um,
we needed one more act,
so, I talked to Gabby and...
she said y'all would be
down to perform and that
I get to dance during one of your songs.
How dope is that?
You added another ATL
performance to tonight's step show?
It's only one more performance.
I can't.
I have a team meeting in an hour
and then I have curfew.
Wow.
- Curfew?
- If I miss curfew,
I'm off the team, Keisha.
That means I lose my scholarship.
It's your life and I support you.
But all I'm saying is unless
you've changed your mind
about the aneurysm surgery, then
how long is that scholarship
gonna be there, anyways?
[PHONE CHIMES]
_
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Amara, I don't want to see you.
KEENA: It's Keena Sims.
It's urgent.
Damon's in trouble.
What's wrong with Damon?
[SIGH] He's fine.
- [DOOR CLOSES]
- I had to say something
to get you to open the door.
Look, Keena, I really
can't do whatever this is.
Well, this was gonna be
an impassioned plea
to convince you to
come back to coach, but
I think I'll save that for another time.
Keena, thank you.
I'mma see you out.
My cousin
was years old when her
demons got the best of her.
I know a breakdown when I see one.
You've been there for Damon and me
and I'd like to help you.
Have you slept?
Have you eaten today?
OK.
Let's start there.
There's a misconception that
HBCUs aren't relevant today
because black students can attend PWIs.
But HBCUs
provide students of color
a place to learn without discrimination.
CAM: I can just be myself, you know?
Unapologetically.
In all my blackness.
I see reflections of
myself everywhere here.
In class,
in the material that we study,
in our leadership.
Bringston made me believe
in possibilities.
Identity is key.
Bringston has given me
so much self-confidence.
It's helped me to love who I am
and shape who I'm becoming.
We need people to come out here tonight.
We need people to make donations,
because me and my friends,
we plan on being here for years.
Thank you.
All right, Simone. You're up.
[ELEVATOR BELL RINGS]
Dr. P. did amazing.
Girl, sh**t, we all did.
We're gonna save our home.
Our way of life.
- Watch.
- Guys?
Uh, I need to tell you something.
What?
I'm transferring,
most likely
to Golden Angeles University.
Wait, what?
But we don't know if
Bringston's gonna close yet.
Well, it's not about Bringston.
It's about tennis and I need to be
at a place where I can
competitively play and...
Bringston is bigger than tennis.
You came here for
other reasons, too. You...
just talked about them on TV,
about... about our connection
to our real history,
about our culture.
Simone, stay at Bringston.
Please.
I'm sorry. Am I the only one
that still cares about this school,
about keeping us together?
OK. You know what? Screw it.
Keisha.
Any chance you want to talk?
Not really.
[SIGH]
I get it.
You're depressed.
And right now, the darkness
feels so overwhelming.
You read minds now?
I have experience with strong men
who hide their illnesses
from the people they love.
Don't make the same mistake
my husband did.
I suffer from bipolar disorder.
After I left the Minors,
I didn't feel like myself.
There were too many
high highs and low lows.
It took a second for the doctor
to finally get my diagnosis right.
And now you're off your meds.
Well, let's get you back on them.
I don't need dr*gs, Keena,
to feel whole. You understand me?
Apparently, you do.
And there is absolutely
nothing wrong with that.
Think about all those
people who love you.
What happens to them
if you decide to just...
give up on life?
My son
is a better man because a year ago,
you came into his life.
You are a good man
and you deserve to get better.
So, you best believe I will sit here...
And fight for that man's life.
I can't save you,
but I can make sure
that you fight to save yourself.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hey.
Hey.
I just wanted to say good luck tonight.
[MOUTHING "THANKS"]
NATE: Mm-mm.
KEISHA: OK. Thanks. I got it.
And I'm sorry.
I know you're just trying
to do what's best for you.
[CRYING] Sorry.
I'm happy for you.
I really am. It's just
I feel like everyone
I love always leaves.
Or...
is taken.
Which is why I've been
fighting so hard for this.
Bringston's been my only constant.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
SHAW: Thought I'd stop by, wish
you luck against us, man to man.
My team doesn't need luck.
Oh.
There's my boy. I was hoping
I'd run into you.
Look, now is not the time, Coach.
I'll keep it real.
Come play for Hawkins.
You know
recruiting another team's
player is against NCAA rules, right?
Now, look, even if Bringston
gets through this fire sale,
you lost your coach.
Is that really what you
want for your career?
Think about it.
Jessie.
Coach.
I hope you're coming to apologize.
I'm not.
But what I do owe you is honesty.
These past few months, I've...
I've come to really understand that
without honesty and integrity,
a man doesn't have a leg to stand on.
The man whose desk you're
sitting at taught me that.
And I almost let my anger towards you
take both of those things from me.
Son, I have no idea what it is...
I'm Celine's son.
Xavier Wilson's my father.
Celine betrayed you and I
paid the price for your pride.
I was a baby, man.
A baby, and you ripped everything
away from me and left me to...
grow up living a lie, not
knowing where I came from.
Do you have any idea what that was like?
Your scar faded.
♪ Saw the steps were wearing out ♪
Is that really all you got
to say to me right now?
You were hanging onto
the side of the couch,
- learning to stand.
- ♪ ...Another led by fear and doubt ♪
J.R. Was sick
and got a nosebleed.
It was pretty bad. He got scared.
He knocked you over trying to get to me.
Celine and I took both of you
to the ER that night.
I had both your and J.R.'s blood
all over my shirt
and I just...
I knew I couldn't do it.
And there was so much...
broken...
about us at the time.
Plus, J.R. Was always sick.
It was the whole reason
I got a vasectomy
because I knew that bringing
another child into that...
Broken chaos...
was something...
my family couldn't take.
But she had the affair...
And you,
you were another man's child.
That night in the ER, I went to Celine.
I told her what I thought we should do.
I'm sorry I hurt you,
but I had to protect my family.
Protect your family.
Wow.
You see...
Despite you,
- I turned out OK.
- ♪ Faintest dream... ♪
Actually, I turned out better than OK.
So, real talk, you never needed
to protect your family from me.
I mean, look around you, sir.
You're the one who's
causing all the damage.
You lost your wife and if...
something in you doesn't change soon,
you're gonna lose J.R.
You'd have been better off
protecting them from you.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
OK. How dope were Delta Rho Gamma?
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
I just legit appreciate the Exquisite
for allowing me to hijack
their annual step show
to help save the school we love.
Please continue to share
the website on the banner
to everyone you know.
Money is coming in but we can do better.
We have until midnight,
midnight,
to raise enough funds.
- [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
- So, please.
OK, so, we all know
how important HBCUs are
to our community.
They give us a voice
when others try to silence us.
So, to drive that point home,
here come the fine stepping brothers
of Kappa Epsilon Kappa.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
The legacy of stepping
dates back to the s,
to the gold mine tunnels
of South Africa.
Black miners weren't
allowed to communicate,
so, they developed their own
type of Morse code,
slapping their gumboots to make sounds.
This was their only way to be heard.
A tradition that evolved into what
you see here tonight at Bringston.
Each step we take,
we honor our ancestors
and ensure that we will never...
Be...
Silenced.
- MEN: K-E-K.
- [CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
MEN: Huh!
Ooh, ooh, ooh.
Hey.
Hey, yo, brothers, what's that sound?
MEN: Hey.
♪ Ring the alarm ♪
♪ Another sound is dying ♪
♪ Woh-oh, hey ♪
♪ Remember this sound,
it the talk of the town ♪
♪ Talk of the country, hey ♪
♪ Rock Mr. Charlie, rock Ms. Munchy ♪
♪ Talk of the country, so ♪
♪ Ring the alarm,
another sound is dying ♪
♪ Woh-oh, hey ♪
So, I had to pee.
What's your excuse?
Just needed some fresh air.
You OK?
Where's Thea?
It's P.M. on the night
before her big match.
- You know that chick is...
- Passed out.
- Passed out.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
Well, I'll let you
get back to your peace.
And I hope your night gets better.
I confronted J.R.'s dad.
Told him who I was.
OK.
How do you feel?
I don't know.
I guess I'm glad that I faced him
with my head held high.
Let him know that he didn't break me.
But sad, too, you know?
Damon, you've had a lot thrown at you.
There's no playbook on the right way
to heal and process all of that.
Take your time.
And know we got your back.
We're gonna be in the stands
cheering for you and J.R. tomorrow.
I really appreciate that.
Personally,
I need that win, man.
I feel you.
I'm hoping for a win, too.
I have a chance to play
tennis in the spring...
At GAU.
Oh, wow. That's...
That's dope.
I mean, you'll be closer to
Shay and Jordan, right?
Jordan and I broke up over fall break.
Fall break?
Why didn't you let me know?
You know, I was processing
it all when I got back.
You were with Thea and we were
trying to get our friendship
back on track.
Look, it doesn't even matter
because we're both
doing exactly what we're...
supposed to be doing with...
who we're supposed to be doing it with.
Right?
Yeah.
You know, I'm
really gonna miss the
wise words of Simone Hicks.
[CHUCKLES]
I've really grown a lot since I met you.
Yeah.
Back at YA.
[BOTH LAUGH]
J.R.: Y'all, we just received $ , .
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Let's keep the generosity
and the show going, all right?
Thank y'all.
I'm sorry Cam didn't show.
Me, too.
[SNAPPING FINGERS]
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
♪ It's getting hard ♪
♪ For me to hold my own ♪
♪ See, nobody
wants to be in love alone ♪
♪ So, I'm trying my best ♪
♪ Not to overreact ♪
♪ But I need to know right now ♪
♪ No lies, just facts ♪
♪ So, if you love me ♪
♪ Just say so ♪
♪ 'Cause I can't play these
games with you no more ♪
♪ So, if you love me ♪
♪ Just say so ♪
♪ I need to know from you
right now before I go ♪
♪ It's just that ♪
♪ I can feel I'm falling deep ♪
♪ And I don't wanna fall
unless you're falling with me ♪
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
What changed your mind?
You. The interview.
Believing in my possibilities.
I think it's past time I took a
chance and step out on faith.
- CAM: Proud of you.
- KEISHA: Proud of you.
It's : .
SIMONE: The moment of truth.
We raised $ , tonight,
but we're still a million short.
It's over.
Bringston...
- How do I tell them?
- Hey.
We'll do it together.
Come on.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Have you heard?
- Hey, what's... what's going on?
- [DOOR CLOSES]
Gonna talk to me? Heh.
Damon, it's fine.
I mean, we haven't been
dating that long.
The school's now closing.
You don't need to pretend
or force anything.
Baby, I'm not forcing anything.
And yeah, this is new, but
baby, it's real.
I don't care if we're going to school
right next door to each other or...*
across the country.
You and me.
This.
I'm all in.
We can make this work, right?
[SOFTLY] Yeah.
All right, well, let's...
Get some rest. We both got
a big day tomorrow.
Yeah.
Can I have a hug?
- Yeah?
- [CHUCKLES]
- Your shoulder still bugging you?
- Mm.
No. It's...
It's fine.
Every athlete knows
the tone of that "fine."
You should get it checked out
in the morning
before your tournament.
Promise?
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Thanks for picking up my prescription.
You're not gonna watch the game?
I can't watch my boys play
knowing I'm letting 'em down.
Could be a while before I'll be able
to coach again. Doc's orders.
Marcus, you deserve to see them play.
You've worked hard for this.
Will you stay?
Yeah.
Oh. There go your boy.
Look, I ain't even trying
to hear it today, all right?
I come in peace. I come in peace.
For now.
Listen, I just wanted to say
I'm sorry about your school.
Bringston was important to my family
and it's messed up
the way everything went down.
I appreciate that, man.
For real.
I'm still gonna kick
your ass on this field, though.
And there he is.
[PLAYERS LAUGHING]
Whoo! Let's go, boys!
NATE: We see you, Damon!
♪ Oh, no, we ain't timid, nuh ♪
♪ Taste the underdog ♪
♪ b*mb ticking aye ♪
♪ Yeah, we them underdogs ♪
♪ we of , we one for all ♪
MAN: Come on. Get that.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Let's go, boys!
♪ I turn around,
the beast inside is riding ♪
♪ One of one, year no replicating ♪
♪ Could ever come to replace me ♪
♪ I'm repping for
the ones that made it ♪
♪ Never ever chase it ♪
♪ I came from under, taking over ♪
♪ Wipe the game clean ♪
♪ I came to punish and avenge ♪
♪ Those who ain't real ♪
♪ I'm an underdog ♪
♪ That's a rare breed ♪
♪ When I make it out ♪
- ♪ Keep the same energy ♪
- [CROWD CHEERING]
- All right!
- ♪ ...And avenge those who ain't real ♪
♪ We the underdogs ♪
♪ And that's a rare breed ♪
♪ When we make it out ♪
♪ Keep the same energy ♪
ALL: Yeah!
♪ Under, dog, under, dog ♪
I gotta give it to 'em. They legit.
Don't tell Damon I said that.
- I'm serious.
- Time.
[INDISTINCT SPEECH]
You'll be all right.
♪ You ready? ♪
♪ I am a rebel, you should be scared ♪
♪ Yeah, you should be worried,
let's turn up a level ♪
♪ I'm k*lling the game
and not showing no mercy ♪
♪ You rivals ain't special ♪
♪ As soon we cross paths ♪
♪ I'm doing you dirty ♪
♪ Got my foot on the pedal ♪
♪ My takeover will be revolutionary ♪
- J.R.: Yo, what is Shaw doing?
- DAMON: He's icing the momentum.
♪ ...The crown's for the taking ♪
♪ All on my own ♪
♪ Watch me become what I make it ♪
SHAW: Shut 'em down, Lando.
Let's throw strikes, baby.
♪ ...We here to stay ♪
♪ No need to fake or pretend ♪
♪ Your crew,
y'all came here to play, play ♪
♪ My crew, we came here to win ♪
outs. Come on... Let's go.
SHAW: Play now. Put it in play.
- [MAN CHEERING]
- [APPLAUSE]
JESSIE: Strikes in. Stay in
the game. Stay in the game.
Score's now - .
We're only in the sixth inning.
They got time to turn it around.
You know, I didn't have
kids because I was afraid
that I would pass on
my disorder to them.
These boys are the closest
thing I have to sons
and right now, they need me,
but I'm not there.
Keena, are you listening?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
You're right. We should go to the game.
What if I'm not myself yet?
I will follow your lead, Marcus.
You decide.
We're up one. Damon's got
runners at first and second.
But Hawkins has two outs.
If Damon can hold strong,
then we'll win.
But based on the way
he's pitching right now...
We should be worried. Very worried.
CAM: Yeah, what's up with him?
Even though Bringston's going away,
winning this game, showing everyone
that the Lions are elite level,
proves that his MLB
sacrifice was worth it.
MAN: All right, let's go, let's go!
ANNOUNCER: Time out, Hawkins.
[APPLAUSE]
ANNOUNCER: Number is injured.
Hawkins will send in
a replacement player.
Get out of your head, Sims.
I don't know if I can right now.
You can. Forget the pressure and noise.
Win or lose, you did what
you came here to do, son,
and you helped build
champions and changed the lives
of every man on this team,
including myself.
Now, just play the game, son.
Thanks, Coach.
[EXHALES]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
- NATE: Whoo!
- SIMONE: Let's go, Damon.
[CROWD CHEERING]
[APPLAUSE]
Let's go!
[PHONE CHIMING]
[DING]
A last-minute donation just came in
to cover the rest of the funds
that are needed to save Bringston.
Wait, so, Bringston was saved?
By who?
Who cares?
[CHANTING] We got our home, aah,
we got our home, yeah.
- [PHONE CHIMING]
- SIMONE: Coach.
Hey, Coach.
LONI: Hicks, my office. minutes.
Don't be late.
OK.
[CROWD CHEERING]
KEISHA: I know
I was being...
miss positivity earlier, but
I was actually really afraid
we were gonna lose this school.
I wasn't.
Not with you taking the lead.
I know if you put
your mind to something,
it's gonna happen.
[PHONE CHIMES]
_
_
- KEISHA: Everything OK?
- CAM: Yeah.
We all good.
Let's eat.
Yo. Ha! Hey.
Bringston's saved and we b*at Hawkins.
I mean, the only thing that
would make this day better
is if you told me that
you kicked some ass
at that tournament. Ha!
Hey, what's...
What's going on?
You should finish celebrating.
OK, I'm officially done celebrating.
Baby, come on.
Um...
What's going on?
I never made it to the tournament.
I went to the team doctor this morning.
I tore my rotator cuff.
Apparently, it happened the
second day of the tournament
and I just didn't realize it.
I'd been using Simone's racket
because mine was cut
but hers is heavier and...
I can't play.
I'll be out for months.
I've never gone that long
without picking up a racket.
And there's surgery.
Come here.
[SOFTLY] I'm so sorry.
I am so sorry to interrupt.
Ma, we're in... we're
kind of in the middle...
No, it's OK. I should go.
I'll be OK.
Thea, no.
Sweetheart, you know
I would not have interrupted
if it wasn't important.
OK. What's... what's wrong?
When your father was first diagnosed
with early-onset Alzheimer's,
he became obsessed
with getting a slew of
tests done for you, too.
Something Coach Marcus said
reminded me of those tests,
and I still have all of those
results filed electronically.
Something I think you should see.
The donation that saved Bringston
came from a philanthropic
organization in Los Angeles.
The Annie Mae Scott Family Foundation.
The money given was
contingent upon two conditions...
That I step down
and that you...
take my place as President of Bringston.
Zeke,
I'm not going to take your job.
Those are the conditions and they've
been accepted by the trustees.
Honestly, maybe a change is called for.
For me and for Bringston.
Maybe I'll find my way back to medicine.
Spend more time with my daughter.
sh**t, maybe I'll teach.
You'd be good at that.
Regardless, the job
is yours if you accept.
And if you want my two cents...
Accept.
- TINA: Hey, Amara.
- AMARA: Don't "hey" me.
The Annie Mae Scott foundation?
Isn't that the organization behind
the affordable housing deal
you closed last month?
They've been looking
for charitable openings
in the education field for a while.
I just connected a need
with an opportunity.
And what do you call
running Zeke out of his job?
I cleared the way for my baby sister
to take her career to the next level.
I make no apologies for that.
Bringston is where you belong.
Take the job.
Love you.
[HANGS UP PHONE]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- JESSIE: Son, we need to talk.
- J.R.: Dad, I can't right now.
I know who Damon is.
- He told me.
- How could you do it?
You kept my brother away from me
and you made Mom separate from her son.
I know.
And you're right.
Son, I can't lose you, too.
I know I've messed up on all fronts.
Damon.
I'm glad you're here.
I need to clear the air
with both of you.
I'm sorry for my part in
Celine giving you away.
I let pride guide my actions
and it affected your life.
I was wrong.
Yeah.
So wrong that you
gave away your only son.
J.R.: Wait, what?
DAMON: Because you had a vasectomy,
the thought never occurred to you
that I could be yours, did it?
But you know, those things,
they're not foolproof.
Because I am, in fact,
your biological son.
J.R.: Wait, hold on. What?
After my dad got sick, he...
He ran a bunch of tests on both of us.
Apparently, a DNA test was
part of that package.
There was no match.
- Xavier isn't my father.
- Damon, wait.
Just give me a second.
- This can't be true.
- Then take the DNA test.
It's good. Hey?
I'm good, bro.
'Cause no matter what
those results say...
- You'll never be my father.
- ♪ I'll keep on ♪
♪ Sinking, slowly... ♪
Destroyed your family for nothing, man.
♪ The night ♪
♪ I'm not alright ♪
No.
♪ Too late, strung out ♪
♪ Can't turn back now ♪
♪ I'm not alright ♪
Ha ha ha! Welcome to top , baby.
I'm really glad you're sticking around.
Oh, me, too, man. Me, too.
- See ya.
- OK.
Well, congratulations.
Thea, I'm so sorry about your shoulder.
Looks like you got what you
wanted since last homecoming.
Took my spot after all.
Thea, it's an injury.
- They happen.
- Yeah, it happened
because I let you
talk me into using your racket
when I wanted to forfeit,
and all that extra weight on
my shoulder caused it to tear.
Are you trying to blame me
for your injury?
Girl, that's not my fault.
Simone, just admit it.
You have been gunning
for me since day one.
You pretended to be my friend,
you got in my head and convinced me
that there was something
wrong with me for being so
single-mindedly focused on tennis
and not some dumb social life.
You took my eye off the ball.
And needing your racket
was the unexpected finishing touch.
Now, I may have gotten the guy,
but you're making sure
that I have nothing else.
Thea, I am your friend.
- [SCOFFS] Oh, my god.
- And if you're in pain,
I'm sorry about that,
but I'm gonna let that slide.
You listen to me,
you conniving little bitch.
Watch your back,
because I'm coming for you,
and I will get my spot back.
Rest up.
You know where to find me.
"Heard Jessie Raymond is
staying on as interim coach.
When you're ready, give me a call."
SHAW: I was hoping I'd hear from you.
You said you wanted to talk.
Let's talk.
01x13 - Irreplaceable
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Spin-off series follows Simone who leaves Los Angeles to attend Bringston University, a historically black college in Atlanta, Georgia to pursue her dream of Tennis.
Spin-off series follows Simone who leaves Los Angeles to attend Bringston University, a historically black college in Atlanta, Georgia to pursue her dream of Tennis.