02x07 - Integrity

[bunniefuu]

♪ I want it all ♪

♪ Came from the bottom, now
there ain't no stoppin' me... ♪

SIMONE, VOICE-OVER: By definition,

integrity means being honest

and having strong moral principles.

SIMONE: People with
integrity do the right thing,

even behind closed doors.

♪ 'Cause I want it, I
want it, I want it all ♪

♪ I want it all ♪

♪ They say that they'll try
to take over my place... ♪

SIMONE: Some people
think having integrity

means you never lose your way,

but how can that be true?

I mean, at some point,
we all lose our way.

- Right?
- ♪ There was never doubt ♪

♪ Now I'm getting
mine in large amounts ♪

♪ Fell down, but I'm on the way
up now, I'm about to hit... ♪

SIMONE, VOICE-OVER: I guess I'm
realizing the path towards integrity...

♪ I can't get enough,
I'mma shock the world... ♪

is messy as hell.

♪ Sweet dreams ♪

♪ You sleepin' now ♪

♪ Time's running out, so wake up ♪

♪ Big dreams... ♪

[SIMONE YAWNING]

Please don't tell me you
are going to rehearsal

at this ungodly hour.

Please tell me you did
not stay up all night

in the same clothes
you were in yesterday.

[CHUCKLES]

So tell me about New York.

It was amazing.

Dr. Pace really does know
everyone in the industry,

and it was really, really exciting

talking to dancers who
are all actually doing it.

Well, it sounds great.

And if you got extra, I could
use a little bit of that energy.

Aren't you on, like, a
winning streak right now?

I am, but my tennis
curse is about to kick in,

so there's that.

Your what, now?

I have never won more
than matches in a row.

Something or someone always derails me.

Case in point: my history assignment

is to write about a historical
figure's biggest moment of integrity,

and I have no idea who to write it on.

OK, well, that's not a curse.

It's called being a college student.

Well, then there's boy drama
between Damon and Lando.

Again, not a curse.

That's just called being Simone Hicks.

Ooh. You ain't right.

Look, I'm sorry. The truth hurts.

Damon thinks that Lando
filmed his Hawkins practice

and leaked it to the press.

He says that I should be careful
about who I'm spending time with.

Look, I think that you need
to remove all distractions.

So get help on your project,

ask Lando what's good on being a snitch,

and then the Damon thing
will sort itself out.

Y'all are annoying like that.

Oh, you make it sound so simple.

You got this.

Me, you, and Granny Mays'
house in Blue Ridge...

minus Granny Mays.

It's gonna be the perfect weekend.

And the only thing standing in
the way is one little practice.

And seeing Lando.

I still can't believe
you haven't confronted him

about leaking that video.

Look...

I thought about it, and...

it is just a rumor.

But even if it is true,

the team has found its flow,

and I don't want to mess that up,

not 'cause of him.

Wow. I'm taking credit for this

enlightened and mature attitude.

- Hmm?
- Ha ha! And you should.

You bring out the best in me.

- I hope I do the same.
- [CHUCKLES]

Oh, you do.

Trust me. I have refrained from
telling Coach Loni how I really feel

about her trying to redshirt me.

You are just the distraction
I need from tennis right now.

I'm really looking forward
to spending this time alone.

I know! And, uh,

well, you know.

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

- You can say "sex," Thea.
- I know!

I know. It's just like,
it's like this is new for me.

I want it to be perfect.

Yeah, I want that, too.

And it will be.

OK, I should get going.

AMARA: OK, so Choice
Select Sports Network

wants to pay Bringston $,

to play Georgia Valley University on TV,

and the game is tomorrow.

Scheduled team got decimated by the flu.

An old KEK brother works at the network

and asked if we want the slot.

It sounds too good to be true.

It's all above board.

JESSIE: They have TV
contracts with Big Ten schools.

They're getting paid.
It's only fair we do, too.

Look, playing a
nationally televised game

will only showcase what
HBCUs have to offer.

Money aside,

it does mean something to me
that you both support this.

So tell them we're in.

I can only imagine how thrilled
the team will be about this.

SANTIAGO: No. no way.
It's not happening.

How about we don't humiliate
ourselves on national TV?

Whoa. Whoa. Who said that we
gonna humiliate ourselves, bro?

Santiago, have some
faith in our skill, man.

Georgia Valley is
undefeated this season,

- and they're national champs.
- You know what? Look,

if we are gonna be the best,

we're gonna have to play the best.

All right, fellas? Let's
get it, man. Come on.

Damon's right.

If we don't believe in
ourselves, then what's the point?

JESSIE: I'll make the call. Coach.

Let's go.

- Let's go, Coach.
- MARCUS: Come on!

Come on, Santiago. Come on, now.

And you just happen to be
up in the pitching rotation

- for a nationally televised game, huh?
- Look,

that's not my fault, Lando.

It never is.

- DAMON: I...
- J.R.: Mm-mm.

THEA: I know. I know this
is, like, a big opportunity,

- but I just... I really...
- We will still get our weekend, I promise.

All right. We'll roll
out right after the game.

OK, fine. I guess that's not too bad.

Damon Sims, can I get an autograph?

- [CHUCKLES]
- Uh, Nessa, hey.

Um, this is... this
is my girlfriend Thea.

Hi. I'm the ex. It's nice to meet you.

THEA: You, too.

Um, Nessa is a junior at Georgia State.

What brings you to Bringston?

I'm interning at Choice
Select Sports Network.

My boss said he'd take
pictures for the website,

and I figured I'd get on his radar

if I landed an exclusive
with Bringston's star pitcher.

What do you say? Have time tonight?

I wish I could, but
we already have plans.

NESSA: Well, I'd hate to interrupt that,

but if it got published,

the piece could be really
good exposure for you.

- Uhh...
- Damon, I think you should do it.

You should. I mean, we both should.

If you're interested, Nessa,

I'm the top-ranked player
on the tennis team, so...

Oh. Power couple.

That's a nice angle.

Love it. I'll text you with a time.

OK. Yeah.

- Uh, are you sure about this?
- Yes.

All press is good press.

It'll be fun.

Hey, Lando, you got a minute?

Uh, for you?

- Maybe half of one.
- Um, so I heard that...

How's your history project going?

Integrity in history is such a
broad topic. It's got me stuck.

Me, too. Do you want to work together,

like maybe later tonight?

Yeah. Sure. Uh, but text me later.

I've got to get to the health
department for my drug screening,

- and I'm running late.
- Yeah. I did mine this morning,

and it's a long line, so bring a book.

What happened? Did Lando confess?

Is the curse magically lifted?

[CHUCKLES] No, not yet.

But I will ask him tonight
during our study session.

I'm gonna get answers,

and then he'll help me with the project.

You got me hyped trying
to break this curse,

and I'm already one step ahead.

Oh, I don't know about that.

Hmm?

Do you believe me now?

KEISHA: Oh, yeah. Definitely.
You're % cursed.

[CHUCKLES WEAKLY]

Hey.

- Hey.
- Hi.

- So good to see you.
- Yeah.

Um, hi.

What are you doing here?

Oh, uh, Patience is on a Southeast tour,

and we have some dates in town.

So this is Riva Ducane.

She's Patience's choreographer.

And a Bringston alum.

Hence, why I'm dragging
Layla around campus.

[CHUCKLES]

Uh, I mean, I wanted to come.

KEISHA: Wait. Wait. Uh, Ducane?

You studied under Dr. Pace, right?

Something like that.

Oh, I have so many questions for you.

Hi. Um, I'm Keisha.

I'll be sitting in on
Dr. Pace's classes today,

so we'll talk.

OK.

SIMONE: Well, um,

I really hope you guys
enjoy the rest of your trip.

Ooh, uh, sorry, Simone.
Can we talk for a minute?

Um, sorry. I have
back-to-back classes, so...

LAYLA: OK. Uh, well, why don't
you come to the show tonight?

We can catch up then. And,
Keisha, you can come, too.

Oh, yeah, I'm so there. [CHUCKLES]

Great.

Then I guess I'll see you guys tonight.

Great. Um, I'll text you the details.

Cool.

Bye.

It's not every day an HBCU

plays a top- team of this caliber.

If we didn't think our team could
deliver, we wouldn't be playing.

Yes. We have better players than
some of these Big Ten schools.

Now we just got to show it.

Coach Raymond, you must be
feeling the pressure personally.

Rumor has it you've been offered

a permanent contract as head coach.

Right now, we're just
focused on the game

and showing the country
what Bringston can do.

♪ But I need you ♪

♪ I need you ♪

♪ I need a hand ♪

Why did you stop? You sound great.

Because the next part belongs
to my partner. This is a duet.

OK, so where are they?

Trust, if I knew, I'd drag his ass
down here for messing with my grade.

Hey, have y'all heard?

Look, we playing Georgia
Valley University tomorrow.

It's gonna be on national
television and everything.

And since we gonna have press,
I need to make sure I look good.

Hmm, you trying to be ready
for all them "Hey, J.R.s."

Oh, you do that really well.

Are you sure you're
not like a "Hey, J.R."?

Huh. I'm sure. I like relationship guys.

Look, are you free later?

I could use some help
with my game-day drip.

Mm-mm. I think I'm needed here.

Cam needs a duet partner for
his musical theater class.

And since I am so awesome and available.

No. Just do your thing. I
can figure out the duet stuff.

- GABBY: You sure?
- CAM: Sure am.

GABY: All right. Come on, J.R.

I got class, but I want
to hear what you thinking.

You got it, dawg.

[MUSIC PLAYING, CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

Whoo!

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

KEISHA: Whoo!

Hey. Layla will be out in a few,

but I wanted to see how you
were enjoying the dancers.

KEISHA: The choreography is amazing.

This is literally the dream.

Well, you're getting there.

Hey, you ate today.

Period. I keep telling
her she's amazing.

Thank you. I really appreciate it.

How are you handling the pressure?

I'm fine... most days.

Well, brace yourself.

Mid-semester cuts are
when things get cutthroat.

SIMONE: Wait. I thought cuts
happened at the end of the semester.

With Dr. Pace, cuts come at any time.

I speak from experience.

Wait. Dr. Pace cut you?

Mm-hmm. And I was devastated.

Dropped out of Bringston, moved
to New York, trained nonstop.

But it took years before I got my break.

Why come back and sit in on her classes

and laugh at her jokes?

That's the business.

She has connections everywhere.

Damon, you're no stranger
to competitive situations.

What's your mind-set when it comes

to pitching against a storied program

that's been to NCAA tournaments,

College World Series, and
one national championship?

Win or lose, we're out to show folks

not to sleep on HBCU baseball
or the Bringston Lions.

And what do you say to your critics

who question how you can lead
a team you technically left?

[CHUCKLES] Um...

honestly, I would say that I was
going through some personal stuff,

and it took me leaving
Bringston to realize

how much I needed it and how
important it was for me to come back.

Uh, wow.

The old Damon Sims would not
have taken that question well.

Well, I'm a new and improved model.

You're different, too.

I didn't even know that
you wanted to be a reporter.

Well, once we broke up,

I had time to figure out
who I was and what I wanted.

You're up, Thea.

You're a -time Conference
Player of the Week

and HBCU national champ
just in your freshman year.

Do you ever feel pressure to succeed?

Oh, of course. Yeah.

Um, well, I want to win.

I'm sure your injury
is a hindrance to that.

Um, of course.

Uh, but I'm... I'm gonna be
back on the court in no time.

But I hear your recovery was set back

and you were banned from
the court for a while.

It makes a comeback harder, doesn't it?

[RINGTONE]

NESSA: Oh, uh, I should
take this. Excuse me.

Hey, hey. Are you OK?

You know what? I'm... I'm exhausted,

and you have a big game to prepare for.

So we'll just hang out tomorrow.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

LAYLA: Hey.

You made it.

[SIGHS] So, um...

look, I don't want to drag this out.

- You and I are friends, so I just...
- Layla,

let me just save you the trouble.

I know you and Jordan are hooking up.

I figured it out at Christmas.

Well, actually, we weren't
hooking up at Christmas.

[SCOFFS] But you are now?

Actually, it's a little bit more serious

than just hooking up, which is
why I really wanted to talk to you.

Great. And now you have.

So you can just save the rest. I'm
not here to ease any of your guilt.

Guilt? Simone, nothing happened
while you two were together.

And that doesn't make it OK, Layla!

I need to go.

- This place is dope.
- Great. I'm glad you like it. We're leaving.

[SIMONE SIGHS]

Look, I know it's getting late,

but I'm still down to talk
about the history assignment

if you are.

Seriously?

So you're not gonna explain
what happened with your friend?

Layla's not my friend.

I'm not sure if she ever was.

Damn. What did she do that was so bad?

She's dating my ex, and
apparently, they've caught feelings.

So instead of having a secret
relationship behind your back,

- she flew here to tell you.
- [SCOFFS]

Of course you're defending her.

- What's that supposed to mean?
- Nothing.

Nah, it's something.

I'm just not surprised that the
guy who leaked Damon's practice tape

to the media would see no problem
with Layla violating girl code.

And who said I leaked the video?

Damon?

And instead of coming to
me and asking me about it,

- you just made your assumption.
- Lando, I didn't mean to...

Instead of judging people,

maybe ask questions and
listen to their point of view.

J.R.: The ladies ain't
ready for all this.

Wait. There's still something not right.

Um...

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Yes.

OK.

Bam.

- Ah, ahh...
- Mm-hmm. Hey.

[CHUCKLES]

My post-game drip has
been seriously elevated.

Mm-hmm. Definitely.

The "Hey, J.R.s" ain't gonna
know what to do with you.

- What you think about these?
- Hmm.

Love it. But come here.
Let me put 'em on for you.

OK.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

[CLEARS THROAT]

Dad, what you doing here?

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt.

It's all good. I was just leaving.

- Thank you for your help.
- Mm-hmm.

What did I just walk into?

- Nothing. Heh.
- That was something.

- Take it from your old man.
- Dad, you want to ask me

about the game or something?

Not really. Uh, listen...

the media leaked that
Bringston offered me

the head coach job permanently.

I wanted to think about it before
telling you and Damon. But...

what do you think?

If it makes you happy, do you.

Well, I should hit the showers,

get ready for the game tomorrow.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Took you long enough.

Oh. Uh... [CHUCKLES]

What's all this?

Well, um...

why wait for the perfect moment?

I decided to create it.

- Look, babe, wait. Wait, wait, wait. Heh!
- Don't worry.

Cam made other plans, so...

OK, cool, babe.

Are you sure about this?

'Cause two seconds ago, you
were just mad in the caf.

OK, are you seriously
gonna keep talking?

Oh. Hmm. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on.

Look, I'm serious.

All right? Uh, I just
don't want this to be

because of that interview
or my ex or nothing.

You think I'm here because
I'm jealous of Nessa?

No. Hey, I don't know what to think.

I just know that you're not really
acting like yourself right now.

OK.

- Wait.
- I wanted to do the interview

so Coach Loni would realize that

trying to redshirt me was a mistake.

But, uh, Nessa made me
look pathetic instead.

And, um, now you're
doing the same thing.

What? That's not what's
happening right now.

Thea. Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Take a b*at and just talk.

No. Like, I'm done talking.

Thea.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

CAM: Player, player, I see you! Ha ha!

Hey, yo, how did everything
go? You make your move?

- My move? What move?
- You and Gabby.

Bro, you think there's
something between me and Gabby?

Bro, I saw it. I can't unsee it.

I mean, that's why I sent
her off with you yesterday.

Nope. Me and Gabby is just friends, bro.

Yeah, OK, like, that ain't
how most relationships start.

Look, man, she don't see me like that.

I mean, unless, uh, she say
something to you about last night?

No. I gave you the
push. The rest is on you.

But it'd be a damn shame to
let a dope chick like Gabby go.

Get on that, bro.

Yo, the bus here yet?

- Uh, nah. The coach said minutes.
- Bet.

LANDO: So you just gonna run
your mouth behind my back?

Got to be kidding me! What
have you been doing, Lando?

Hey. Hey!

Y'all are not about to do
this right now, all right?

Not right now.

Handle your business after the game.

You hear me?

Hey.

- Hey.
- Your text said we could talk after your workout,

but I figured, why not do both?

Because my workouts are my therapy.

I wanted peace, but it's fine.

Whatever. Just keep up.

Yeah. I'll do my best.

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ The champs, baby ♪

♪ Because we're still
the champs, baby... ♪

LAYLA: OK. OK.

[EXHALES] OK, you win.

I had this whole speech prepared.

But at the end of the day, I...

I just want to know why, Layla.

Like, my whole life, everybody leaves.

My mom, my dad, friends like you.

This past year when things got hard...

like, really hard...

Jordan, he was there as my friend.

He stayed.

And we didn't plan this, OK? It...

it just happened.

I never wanted any guy,
especially not Jordan,

to get between us.

And yet here we are.

I'm here because I want
to save our friendship.

But... what happens next is up to you.

- Hey.
- What's up?

Hey. You're not dressed?

What, you're not going to the game?

No. Um, I have to rehearse.

And I can't find...

my other pair of tights.

Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. You good?

What's... what's going on?

Riva was right.

I talked to the alumni
I met in New York,

and they confirmed that Dr.
Pace makes mid-semester cuts.

Some of the people she cut in
the past were really good, Cam.

You got this.

You've been putting in
the work, bae, leaning in.

I tell you what, you go rehearse,

and after my showcase,

we'll grab takeout and watch a movie.

- That sounds good, but I really have...
- Nah, nope, nope, nope.

You can't spend every minute
of your day dancing, Keisha.

OK.

[CHIMES]

_

_

_

_

_

_

Nah, send it.

[PLACES PHONE ON SHELF]

All right, everybody. Gather
round. Come on. Bring it in.

JESSIE: The cameras, the reporters,

it's all spectacle.

None of it changes
how we play this game.

That's right.

'Cause y'all are ready for this.

And you're gonna change how they see you

and every other HBCU out there,

- you understand me?
- Yes, sir.

- J.R.: B. what?
- OTHERS: B.U.!

- B. what?
- B.U.!

- B. what?
- B.U.!

- B. what?
- B.U.!

J.R.: Come on. B.U. on . , , .

ALL: B.U.!

♪ I'm about to switch it up once again ♪

- UMPIRE: Strike!
- [CHEERING]

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

OK, auntie.

You're taking school spirit
to the next level, uh?

Considering today's odds, the
more spirit we bring, the better.

You've been hard to pin down.

I'm feeling the heat for this

history-integrity assignment.

And Layla showed up in town.

I see.

OK. And how do we feel about that?

Layla and Jordan are together,

like, for real.

I want to be the bigger person,

but I don't know if I
can be happy for them.

- Am I a horrible person now?
- No.

You're an honest one.

And that character trait is invaluable.

Why do relationships get so
complicated the older we get?

Because with maturity
comes the realization

that some relationships
are worth fighting for.

Others you have to let go, but only
you can figure out which is which

by being honest with yourself

and then with them.

That's integrity, sweetheart.

Mind if I join you?

Oh, sure, yeah.

I want to apologize.

I know I went a little hard yesterday.

No. You shouldn't have to apologize

for being badass at your job.

True.

But if I'm being honest,

I wanted Damon to see that

I'm not that same insecure girl
that he dated back in the day.

Well, I have a hard time believing

you were ever insecure.

You'd be surprised.

I was young, struggling,

and way too in love.

But I know that's probably
hard for you to imagine.

You're a force to be reckoned with.

I've known Damon a long time.

He's the best version
of himself with you,

and I know the same is probably true

or you wouldn't be with him.

Excuse me. Um, I actually have to go.

- I'm sorry.
- Uh, yeah, OK.

And, Thea...

good luck with your recovery.

College tennis needs
more badasses like you.

UMPIRE: Strike! Strike!

You're out!

[CHEERING]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

OK. What is everyone whispering about?

Damon's on the verge
of getting a no-hitter.

- I'm sorry. A what?
- A no-hitter,

when a pitcher doesn't allow
a single hit during the game.

SIMONE: OK, so why are you whispering?

A no-hitter is rare,

so when it does happen,
players don't talk about it.

I told Keisha sports curses are a thing.

UMPIRE: Ball.

- SIMONE: Can Damon really do it?
- Ah!

[SPECTATORS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

Not if the ump keeps this up.

Damon's on the verge of
doing something special,

and that ump is trying to take it away.

My grandma can call
better balls and strikes.

This is wrong.

Ball . Take the base.

- DAMON: No, no. No.
- SANTIAGO: Damon, get back...

You've been giving the
outside corner all day.

No. I'm good. Watch out.

Look. Look. Tell me
where the strike zone is.

- You know what? I'll talk to him.
- I got it.

DAMON: So where's the strike zone?

Son, get back on the mound now.

Is it here or is it here? Huh?

'Cause you keep changing it
every damn inning, man. Come on.

Coach, control your player.

Sure, once you answer his question.

Where's the strike zone?

DAMON: Where? Where is it?

You know what? That's it. He doesn't
know where the strike zone is.

UMPIRE: That's it. You're out of here...

- Are you kidding me?
- [CROWD BOOING]

He's on the verge of
doing something great,

and you're gonna take
it away because what,

you don't want Georgia Valley
to lose to a Black school?

That's it. You're out of here,
too. Both of you, off my field!

DAMON: You can't do this.

That's garbage.

DAMON: Coach, can he do this?

He can't do this...

It's your game now,
Coach. See it through.

OK.

[SCOFFS]

[SIGHS]

Look, I don't want a pep talk right now.

Good. I'm not giving one.

[CHUCKLES] I had it.

I almost had it.

[SCOFFS]

You pitched incredible innings, son.

No one can take away
what you did out there.

Thanks for having my
back out there, Coach.

[TAPS KNEE]

Coach.

I want to close it out.

MARCUS: Son, you just
pitched two days ago.

- OK? I don't think your arm is ready.
- I'm good.

- I'm good. I promise, all right?
- Is it?

Damon started something
almost impossible.

Let me finish it for him and the team.

OK. Warm up, son.

All right.

♪ Oh, yeah, I'm gonna
make a bang with this one ♪

[ECHOING] ♪ This one... ♪

♪ Uh-huh ♪

♪ DJ on the beats, so it's a banger... ♪

♪ Forever been steppin' ♪

♪ Uh, forever been steppin' ♪

♪ Forever been steppin'... ♪

- Strike!
- [CROWD CHEERING]

[CROWD OHS]

Get there. Get there. Get there...

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

MARCUS: Yeah!

Yeah!

[CHEERING]

Let's go.

MARCUS ON TV: Yeah! Yeah!

- Yes!
- Whoo!

I didn't know you was
coming to the game.

Boy, you know I wouldn't
have missed this for anything.

Hey, look, about the text.

- It was dumb. Pre-game jitters.
- Mm-hmm.

Look, I like you but as a friend.

- And I just don't want to complicate things.
- J.R.

I didn't want our
moment to be over text.

- Good call.
- I know.

Um, I'm sorry.

All this tape stuff
is none of my business.

The thing is I did leak it,

all right, but it wasn't about Damon.

I realized I couldn't play
for someone like Shaw anymore,

but I couldn't legally transfer
unless Damon was committed to Hawkins.

The boy was taking his sweet-ass time,

like his future was the
only one on the line,

so I had to force him
into making a decision.

If you want to judge me
for that, then go ahead.

What I want is for us to be friends.

So we friends now, huh?

Consider it an upgrade from
acquaintance with benefits.

[CHUCKLES]

Um, the reporters said that they
wanted to interview us together.

- You good?
- Yeah. You?

Yeah, I'm good, man. Way
to close the game out.

Thank you.

Well, what the both of y'all did today

was very impressive.

[CHUCKLES]

Uh, have you seen
Thea? I can't find her.

She left during the second inning.

Hey, Cam, I hate to bail on movie night,

but my head is k*lling me,

so I think I'm just
gonna go to bed early.

I love you.

SIMONE, VOICE-OVER: I think
integrity is different things

for different people.

For some, it's showing up even when
the odds are stacked against you.

For others, possessing integrity
means owning what you need...

or at least what you think you need.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

For me, I'm learning
it's being honest...

Hey.

Hey.

- Thanks for coming.
- Thanks for calling. I wasn't sure you would.

Well, you had the courage
to be honest with me,

so I owe you the same.

I want you and Jordan to be happy.

But in order for me to be happy for you,

it has to be from afar.

- Simone, wait.
- No, it's OK.

I know our vortex
thrives off of messy...

it's no judgment...

But I'm looking for
less mess in my life.

I really do wish you the best, Layla.

SIMONE, VOICE-OVER:
... and accepting that

when something doesn't
serve you anymore...

- [CELL PHONE CHIMES]
- you have to have the courage to let it go.

_

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Jessie, hey, man, in all the excitement,

I didn't even say congratulations, man.

How about a drink, huh? I'm buying.

I'd like that, but I
wanted to show you this.

You're resigning?

Today on that field, I went after
that ump in defense of my son,

but when Damon thanked
me for having his back,

it was as his coach, not his father.

As long as I'm his coach, he'll
never really see me as his dad.

It's not helping my
relationship with J.R. either.

You sure this is the right call?

I need to show my boys they come first.

I haven't always done that.

And besides,

we both know this job was always yours.

[CHUCKLES] Well, the
board doesn't agree.

I think they will once
Amara gets done with them.

She's going to bat for you as we speak.

Welcome back, Coach.

SIMONE, VOICE-OVER: There are
moments where you get rewarded

for showing integrity...

♪ Goin' with the wind, let it blow ♪

♪ Let it blow ♪

[SNIFFLES]

♪ Seasons keep changin' keep goin'... ♪

SIMONE, VOICE-OVER: and
then there are moments

when there's no reward at all.

SIMONE, VOICE-OVER: It's just pain.

I heard you were amazing tonight.

[DAMON SCOFFS]

Yeah. And I heard that you
left during the second inning.

Yeah. I'm sorry. I, um,

had to go tell Coach Loni
that I'm not redshirting

and I'm coming back this
season better than ever.

And you had to do that during my game?

[CHUCKLES]

What's going on? Heh!

'Cause it's not just Nessa or that
I pressed pause on us having sex.

You're not yourself.

You haven't been sleeping.
Your highs, they're really high,

and then your lows,
they're pretty low, Thea.

What aren't you telling me?

Thea?

I've been taking cortisone sh*ts.

Wait. What?!

We... No, we talked about this. We...

we decided that you
didn't need shortcuts, bae.

OK, first of all, this
is my decision, not ours,

and we don't need to argue about it

because I've decided that I'm
not gonna take them anymore.

They're not gonna be what
gets me back on the court.

OK, then... then what will?

Finding myself again.

Damon, I'm doing these things,

like putting myself at
risk during a b*mb scare,

singing at karaoke, missing
rehab to go away for the weekend.

I even said yesterday that you were

a nice distraction from tennis...

tennis, the thing that I love.

I don't recognize myself anymore.

I'm supposed to be the girl

who succeeds at the highest level

and not the girl
sitting on the sidelines.

Damon, you have this kind
of gravitational pull that...

No, no, no, no. Hey, look, I love you.

Thea, I...

Thea, I love you.

Look, can't we just work this out?

I love you, too.

I do. I...

but I can't lose myself in you.

I'm sorry. I have to...

I have to take a break from you.

- We don't...
- Us and this relationship.

No, we can just... Thea, we can...

SIMONE, VOICE-OVER: And even when
showing integrity causes you pain,

take comfort in knowing
you did the right thing.

Hey.

Hey, Auntie.

What are you doing here?

I'm here in an administrative
capacity, sweetie.

Have a seat.

Um, you guys are scaring me.

The team's drug test results came back.

Simone, you've tested positive
for a banned substance.

SIMONE: I'm sorry. What? No, that's...

that's not possible. There
has to be some mistake.

I believe you, but
until this is resolved,

you can't play.

As of today, you are officially
suspended from the team.

SIMONE, VOICE-OVER: Because sometimes,

not everyone will believe
you did the right thing.

And when that happens,

integrity means holding your head high,

even when your world falls apart.