No Better Love (2022) Movie Script
1
(piano music)
- [Baby] It's funny how
they say art imitates life.
Well, I'll never believe that shit.
You either struggling to survive
or barely surviving the struggle.
Either way, if that plan B goes left,
it could cost you your life.
(barred door slamming)
(R&B music)
Yeah.
Please don't switch on me
All this pain I been dealing with
is fire eternally.
Please, don't switch on me.
I got pain that I'm fighting,
so I'm hurting eternally.
I been preaching to my granny.
I got pain on me.
She said be glad you made it
out the slums without a stain on you.
It's hard to tell but
it's been raining.
It's been raining.
I can feel my love was changing.
I can feel it changing.
It's safe to say this
shit get dangerous.
I remember the day you hit the ground
I picked up angel dust.
(kissing)
(moaning)
- [Baby] I love you so much.
- [J. Rock] Uh-huh.
(Baby moaning)
(J. Rock grunting)
- Shit.
Happy fucking 18th birthday to me.
- No doubt.
Had to show up for you today,
especially after that info
you was able to tap into.
Good looking out.
- I got you, baby.
(kissing)
- You got anything else for me?
- Oh, yeah.
You know Saladine's coming home, right?
- What?
I thought that nigga got some years.
- No.
GG just told me last night,
he's getting out on good behavior.
- Word.
GG's still fucking with that nigga?
- Yo.
Leave my fucking cousin out of this.
I only told you so the
crew could be on notice.
I mean, he might want his
spot back or something.
- Aite.
Bet.
That's good to know.
What time you gotta be in school?
- Shit, whenever I get there.
I do have art class first period.
- You keeping my customers happy?
- They can't get enough of your product.
- You're a natural-born hustler. baby.
That's why I fucks with you.
I got another package for you to move.
- I got you.
- Oh, really?
And you ain't told your nosey cousin
you moving weight for me, right?
- [Baby] Hell no.
I'm not trying to fucking hear GG's mouth.
You know how she is about me.
- Word.
Now, I know this funny looking nigga
ain't supposed to be me.
- [Baby] Yes.
Took me a whole three
hours just to draw this.
It's a caricature of your big-headed ass.
- I see you got jokes.
You got talent baby.
I give you that.
- Yeah, I just hope this
talent gets us up outta here.
(soothing music)
- That's a little something
for your birthday.
And I got something special
planned for tonight.
(phone vibrating)
But I gotta make a run.
Make sure you lock it when you leave.
- Are you gonna gimme a kiss
or a hug?
- Hello?
Make sure you take care of that.
Don't be late for school.
Hello?
What's up?
(soothing music continues)
- [Ms. Morrison] Honey, are you okay?
- Yeah. Just sitting here thinking.
- Hm?
Are you hungry?
- No, but I'll take some coffee.
- Nonsense.
You need to eat something.
I'll make you those
blueberry pancakes you like.
They used to be your favorite.
Are you nervous about your first day?
- Nervous?
Ma, I'm supposed to be a soldier.
Not no damn babysitter
for high school kids.
Five years.
Five years I dedicated
my life to the Marines
and they medically discharged me?
One bad road.
IED goes off.
It's my life.
- But you're alive, Samson.
And you came home to me in one piece, son
- Ma.
- That's what matters.
- Now, I'm gonna go make these pancakes.
You get yourself dressed for work.
Everything is gonna be okay.
I love you.
- I love you, too, Ma.
(pills rattling)
(bell ringing)
(people talking)
- [Gabe] Hi, so you must be the new guy.
- Yes, sir.
I'm Samson Moore.
- I'm Gabe Ramirez, your supervisor.
Come take a walk with me.
I'll show you around.
- Yes, sir.
- All right.
So as a school safety officer,
our main primary is everyone's safety.
- Okay.
- All right, I'm talking
about the students,
the staff and ourselves.
Okay?
- Alright.
How are the students here?
The students...
man, that's tremendo, bro.
They're tough.
- Mm-hmm.
- And they will try to
get under your skin.
- Okay.
- Don't let that happen.
All right, always stay
professional at all times
during your work, all right?
- Okay.
- Any questions?
- No sir.
- All right, so we ain't
gonna have no issues.
- [Samson] No sir.
- All right.
(shuffling feet)
(hands rubbing together)
- Good morning.
How are you doing today.
- This is the third time this month
that you've been late.
- I know, but today's my special day.
Y'all can't even wish me happy birthday?
- Happy birthday, but...
- Thank you.
- You know the rules.
- You told me.
Look, you know you gonna let me in anyway.
Can I just please get my pass?
(Keith huffing impatiently)
- Thank you.
(metal detector clicking)
- This is my last warning to you, Baby.
- Mm-hmm.
- [Keith] If you're
late like this again...
- Yeah, whatever.
Let's see.
- [Mr. Thompson] The secret of art is love
and there is no better love
than to first love yourself.
(door opening)
Ah, Ms. Green.
So nice of you to finally join us.
(Mr. Thompson sighing)
So, what do I always say about being late?
- To be early is to be on time.
To be on time is to be late.
And to be late is to be forgotten.
- Exactly.
- Talent isn't enough in this life.
Perseverance, persistence and punctuality
are the pillars of prosperity.
Remember that.
Have a seat.
- Thank you.
- Now, class, We must learn
the rules like a professional
and then we could break them like artists.
There are several artists
that have broken the rules.
Has anyone heard of Basquiat?
Okay.
Jen Spive Hillcrest?
They continuously broke the rules
and created a legacy.
Okay, let's start on primary colors.
(soulful music)
- Hoe, what the fuck is you looking at?
- [Erica] You, you stupid ass bitch.
You ain't nothing but a hoe.
- Bitch, you just mad that your man
was giving me birthday sex this morning
and the dick was good.
- What?
- Ladies not in my classroom.
Sit down.
- Ugly ass bitch.
- You know what?
I'd rather be his girl
than some hoe ass bum bitch,
you fucking charity case.
(rap music bumping)
- [Over Intercom] We have a fight in 203.
I repeat, we have a fight in 203.
- Baptized by fire on your first day.
Come on.
I am not a square
Fuck with me just in the lairs
- Stop it!
- [Samson] That's enough.
That's enough.
- You stay away from J. Rock.
You stay away from J. Rock, you hear me?
You'll get yours, bitch,
I promise you that.
- Turn my phone off.
(Baby grunting)
- Sit down.
- Yo, motherfucker...
don't be so fucking rough with me.
So you like pushing
around on me like that?
Bet it got your dick hard.
- Don't touch me.
- You was a military man, right?
Yeah, I already know.
I can just tell by looking at your ass
you's a military man.
- Ms. Green.
Ms. Green.
Get in my office now.
- All right.
I had fun.
(door shutting)
- Whew.
What is your problem, Monica?
- My name is Baby.
- Okay, well, in my school
your name is Monica Green.
You're pushing my buttons, young lady.
What am I gonna do with you?
Aren't you tired of these
foolish shenanigans?
This is not a joke.
- Why am I the only one
around here tired of the shenanigans?
I wasn't fighting myself.
- Erica will be disciplined, too.
But we're here to talk about you.
- Well, then, let's not,
'cause I really don't
give a fuck right now.
- Uh-uh, watch your mouth, young lady.
Look, I know it's been a rough
with your mom dying in prison
and losing your father in Iraq,
but that doesn't give
you a right to act up
in school or out in the world.
- I mean that's easy for you to say
when you wouldn't even lose
a mother without knowing her
or father to some bullshit ass war
or why is the only person left
to raise you dying from cancer.
I mean I didn't even graduate yet
and both of my parents just gone.
- Monica, I'm sorry.
- Nah.
Keep it.
I don't need your, "I'm sorry."
I don't need your pity.
- Okay, fine.
- So let's not pity you.
Let's address your life.
Do you want a life
besides prison or death?
You have a natural talent, Ms. Green,
a creative talent that
people will envy you for
and you waste it away.
Why?
You know you could get in any art school
in the country become
the next Faith Ringgold.
Are you familiar with her?
- Yeah, I know who she is.
- Well, use her as your inspiration
and stop this beef with Erica now.
- Then you need to tell her
to stop recklessly eyeballing me.
Tell her that.
- You gotta control your own actions.
You can't control the actions of others.
Be concerned about your behavior.
- Ain't no ho gonna pull up on me
and think they're not
gonna catch these hands.
- Look, Monica.
- So Principal Palmer,
just do what you gotta do
for real 'cause I don't care.
- Why do you even come to
school if you don't care?
Huh?
Why are you even here?
- Today's my birthday
and since today's my special day,
you know, I wanted to go
to Mr. Thompson's art class.
I think he's pretty cool.
I think his art class gives me purpose.
- Purpose comes with drive, Monica.
And I appreciate your
interests in your art class,
but you give me no choice
but to give you one week suspension.
- I'm cool with it.
I'm good with it.
Okay Miss Good-with-it,
next time, it's gonna be expulsion.
- That's fine.
We good here?
(glass breaking)
- [Keith] It's like homecoming bro.
- How was that?
- [Keith] It was tough.
- I'll see you in about a week, holme.
- Hey, hey.
Stay away from her.
That young Delilah is nothing but trouble.
- I hear you.
- I'm serious.
- Okay.
- When did you find out?
- Shit.
Last week at the clinic.
And I'm six weeks pregnant.
I ain't told nobody else yet but you.
I ain't even told my cousin.
- Crazy though.
And find out you pregnant
and Saladine's coming
home at the same time.
How that's gonna work out
with you being somebody's girl now?
- I was never in love with Dumani.
- He damn sure in love with you.
Are you gonna keep it?
- I don't know.
Here comes Shirley for her daily dose.
- Yep.
I do miss him though, Ayanna.
- Just be careful with your feelings
about Saladine, because Dumani's
nobody to play with.
- Oh, I know.
(uplifting music)
- Grandma, I'm home.
Did you eat something today?
- I'm not hungry.
- Grandma, you have to eat something.
You can't take your medication
on an empty stomach.
I'll make you something to eat, okay?
- Okay, babe.
- I'll clean up in here for you too.
All right?
- Oh and Baby?
Happy birthday.
I love you.
- I love you too.
(uplifting music continues)
Grandma?
Grandma?
Grandma.
Hey.
I brought you something to eat.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Got you some orange juice, toast, grits,
eggs and grapes.
- This looks nice, baby.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
I was in that kitchen
cooking pretty hard, Grandma.
- I see.
Can I have a grape, though?
- Yes.
- Thank you.
Get your some.
Eat.
You need to.
- Mm.
- Try that Bacon.
It's lean.
Turkey.
A lot healthier for you too.
- Oh.
- See?
It's good, right?
- I guess I did need to eat.
- Exactly.
You did.
(horn honking)
- GG.
Come here and lemme holla at you.
(car door opens)
(car door shuts)
You got that?
- Yep.
- Oh yeah. It's right.
It's all there.
(Dumani chuckling)
- It is now.
- You good?
- Yeah.
Why wouldn't I be?
- So when were you gonna tell me?
- Tell you what?
- That Saladine's getting out.
- And what they gotta do with me?
- Come on, GG.
Don't play these games with me.
You know I know you still
talking to that nigga.
You two are inseparable.
All I wanna know is
where does that leave us?
You know me and him ain't always
been on the best of terms.
- Look.
Whatever issues you and
Saladine got going on,
that's between y'all
and you on some three-year-old bullshit?
Come on, D.
- When you had nothing...
Remember?
I was the one there to look out for you.
I was the one that was putting money
in your pocket so you and your cousin
could take care of your grandmother
and pay the rent.
- I remember, babe.
And I'm grateful.
- Are you?
'Cause I don't want no
problems with him and you
and he damn sure don't
want no problems with me.
It's a new day.
I wanna know when he comes out,
where do you stand?
- You still questioning
my loyalty, Dumani?
- Man, I'm just asking questions.
That's all.
- Look.
Saladine has been locked
up for three years.
It's been a long time since me and him.
And like you said, times have changed.
- Bet.
Comes to the club tonight.
I wanna spend time with my girl.
- Okay.
- A little something extra.
All right?
Don't say I ain't gave you nothing.
- Thank you.
- Take care of your grandmother.
- All right.
(knocking)
- [GG] Nice.
Girl, you really got your mother's talent.
How long does it usually take you
to finish one of these?
- I don't know.
It depends.
The size, the detail.
- Girl you okay?
- Damn, GG, you found out already or what?
- And found out about what?
- [Baby] That I got
suspended from school today.
- No, but why'd you get suspended?
- I got into it with Erica,
and the bitch fucked my nails up too.
- Let me guess.
Over J. Rock?
- He don't even love her for real.
He loves me.
- So you fucking up school over this fool?
Come on, Baby.
You way too smart for that.
- [Baby] Erica was talking
to me and it was my birthday.
Fuck her, GG.
- But what I always tell you baby?
Don't go fucking up your life
over these bitches and
that trifling ass nigga.
- It's only a week.
Why you tripping?
- Girl, a week too fucking long,
and it's your senior year.
You gotta stand up and do better
and take your art more serious
and stop running behind J. Rock.
I'm serious baby.
And you think I don't know
he got you at this school hustling.
Yeah, I know.
J. Rock got you fucking
up your whole life.
And while he got you pillow-talking,
I hope you ain't telling
that nigga my business.
- Nobody telling your
fucking business, GG.
And it's my life.
But I do got a question for you though.
- What?
- Since you're so worried about me,
since Saladine's about to get out.
I hope you're not stupid enough
to leave Dumani for Saladine.
- Don't be worried about my business.
- [Baby] But you can worry
about my business and my life.
But I can't worry about yours?
- Believe me.
I got good reasons,
while you getting suspended and shit.
- Yeah, whatever, GG.
After everything Dumani has done for us,
you'd be mad dumb to
leave Dumani for Saladine.
Knowing Saladine gonna
want the block back.
- Right now, I'm not worried
about no Dumani or Saladine.
I'm worried about you,
and everything we always talked about.
Leaving this place,
taking care of grandma
and getting you into art school.
- No.
You always talked about
leaving this place.
What art school's gonna accept me?
- You gotta stop thinking like that, Baby.
Look at all this.
This is you.
This is what you created.
You got decent grades
and plenty of talent.
Look...
I dropped out, okay?
But you could be the first to graduate.
That's what's important.
Think about your future.
I love you.
(soft piano music)
(creaking door)
(nostalgic music)
(closet door shutting)
(techno music)
This hard times don't change
This grind, it won't fade
I been climbing forever
I been trying to do better
Ain't no stopping when
you trying to live forever
'Cause hard times don't change
(kissing)
- All right, look...
There've been a change of plans.
- What now?
- Something came up.
Business with my cousin, Dumani.
- Business with Dumani?
Are you serious?
J. Rock, it's my birthday.
You promised you would
take me somewhere nice.
- I know, but I need to handle this.
Right now.
Tonight.
- Okay.
But you could have called me to cancel.
You got me all dressed up and shit,
like, looking cute for what?
Happy birthday to me, huh?
- I'll make it up to you.
- You know what?
Fuck you.
Fuck you, J. Rock.
And how about you go fuck your cousin.
Go do that.
(hip hop music continues)
Hard times don't change
This grind, it won't fade
I been criming forever.
I been trying to do better
Ain't no stopping when
you trying to live forever
'Cause hard times don't change.
- [Samson] Stop.
(shoes squeaking)
(kids yelling)
Move, move, move!
Break it up.
Break it up.
- [Terrance] Hey, man get this fool
up off me.
Get him up off me.
- [Gabe] Hey!
Both of y'all, back to class.
- [Mr. Thompson] Go.
You.
Let's go.
Back to class, now.
- Show's over.
Get to class.
- [Mr. Thompson] All of y'all.
Let's go.
Back to class.
It's crazy man.
- What happened earlier today?
You okay?
- I'm fine.
- [Gabe] I heard the kid
took the first swing at you.
Still, I cannot be having you
flipping out on these students like that.
All right?
So this is what's gonna happen.
I'm gonna give you a warning right now.
The next time it happens,
I'm gonna have to let you go.
All right?
- You ready to give me my money, or what?
- Yeah, no doubt.
It's all there, Baby.
You know I won't fuck with you.
You good?
- I'll have another
package for you on Friday.
- Thank you.
- Appreciate you.
See you.
(tense music)
- Where are you coming from?
- Yo, fucking relax.
Coming from...
I was coming from the restroom.
I'm on my period.
Guess I'm not pregnant.
On my way to class now.
- What the hell are you doing?
- Get the fuck off of me?
Hey.
- What's in here?
- Nothing?
Hey, give me my shit.
- You selling drugs in my school?
- No, I'm not.
- You must think I'm stupid or something.
- No.
- Let's go.
- Look. I can't get suspended.
I can't get suspended right now.
Please.
- You didn't care about
suspension a week ago.
- Okay, that's different.
I been good.
- I told you my name is Samson.
- Okay. I'm sorry.
Can you just please look the other way?
- Look, I can't do that.
I got a job to do.
- Look, yo, that's the only way
I can afford medication
right now for my grandma.
She's sick.
- Does it look like I care?
- I'm the only one she got.
Please just listen.
- Let's go.
- You a military man, right?
What branch?
Okay.
My father got killed
overseas when I was only 13.
Please.
You remind me just of him.
I know you wanna do what you,
you know, you got to do.
I can see in your eyes.
Like please.
come on.
I won't be a problem to nobody anymore.
- All right, all right.
Look.
- Please.
- I'll give you this one last chance.
- Please.
- Just this one chance.
- Okay.
- But if I catch your ass selling drugs
in this school again, I will turn you in.
- I won't.
- Get to class.
- Can I have my bag back please?
Please.
Can I a have my bag back?
- Thank you.
I owe you.
- Stay outta trouble.
(coughing)
(tea pot whistling)
(more coughing)
- Here's water.
Here.
Feel better?
- I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
- Have you been drinking
any of your water?
(coughing)
Granny, you need to drink the water.
Drink some more.
(coughing continues)
Drink some water.
(coughing continues)
- Have you been taking your medication?
- I told you I'm fine.
And the medication, it
makes me feel worse.
- Grandma, I know it makes you feel sick,
but you have to take it.
(coughing)
- Really.
We need you.
- Drink your water.
Drink your water.
- Okay, I'll try.
I'll try to take my medication.
- I love you.
- I love you too, Baby.
- Drink your water to finish it.
You need to drink it all.
- [J. Rock] You need me for a reason?
You know what to do.
Holla.
- Okay.
Fuck you too.
- [J. Rock] Yo need me for a reason?
You know what to do.
Holla.
- Answer me.
(dance music)
I got lots of money
I got lots of money
I got lots of money
- Where are you going?
- I have to go the bathroom.
(dance music continues)
(indistinct)
- Oh, girl.
- That dress looks fire on you.
You wear it for me?
- Saladine?
Oh, my God.
- What's good, GG?
Good to see you. Thought
about you every day.
What?
Cat got your tongue?
- What are you doing here?
- Well you know a couple friends of mines
fighting me out,
you know, celebrating my release.
It's good to be home, you know?
- Yeah.
Yeah.
It's so good to see you.
- Definitely good to see you.
Can a brother get a hug?
I mean it has been three years.
Damn, GG.
You act like you ain't excited to see me?
- No, I'm happy.
I'm just...
- It's cool.
It's cool.
How's your peoples,
especially your grandmother?
- Yeah, Grandma.
She's sick.
The cancer.
- Sorry to hear that.
You know I always liked your grandma.
- Yeah, and she sure like you.
- Saladine, welcome home.
It's been a minute.
- It's good to be home, Dumani.
I can see you doing well for yourself.
- Just trying to build an empire.
- With GG help, I see.
- Yeah, she a ride or die for sure.
- Oh, no doubt she is.
- Well, since you home and you in my club
drinks on me tonight.
- I appreciate the gesture,
but I can afford my own drinks unless
she have a drink with me
and we catch up on old times.
- No disrespect, Saladine.
But GG's with me now.
- Is she?
The niggas that say, "No disrespect,"
always get disrespectful.
- I don't think you want any trouble.
You know, since you just
got home from prison.
Plus you in my spot, so I'd respect it.
- I don't want no trouble from you.
No trouble.
It's good to see you, Gigi.
I see you around.
- I want you to stay away from Saladine.
I don't trust him.
- You don't have to be threatened by him.
I with you.
Remember?
- Still...
Stay away from him.
(r&b music)
- [J. Rock] Yo, you need me for a reason?
You know what to do.
Holla.
- [Baby] Answer the phone.
- [J. Rock] Yo, need me for a reason.
You know what to do.
Holla.
- I know you with Erica.
Answer the phone.
(hiphop music)
- Three keys.
Move that.
- You good?
- Man, this nigga, Saladine...
the audacity of this
motherfucker the other night.
Comes in the club like he owns the spot.
Presses up on GG, and I try
to show him some hospitality.
Then he shuns me.
- You think he gonna become a threat?
Try to take back what he
lost while he bee locked up.
- I don't know.
But if he does, I'm
going to fuck his ass up.
- Aite.
(slow jam)
(cafeteria chatter)
(slow jam continues)
- [Baby] Hey.
Hey, can I get a ride home?
- Catch the bus.
- Why you gotta be like that?
- What do you want from me?
- I just want to talk.
I wanna thank you for the other day.
- Well, you can thank
me by leaving me alone.
Thank you.
- Hey, don't be like that.
Look, I drew this for you.
- You drew this?
Why do I look so sad?
- Sometimes you walk around
the school looking like that.
So I decided to draw that.
- What's these drops?
- Rain drops.
You like it?
- Yeah.
Thank you.
- No, no.
You can keep it.
- Well, thank you again, baby.
Have a good one, okay.
- Hey, can I get a ride though?
Please?
- Get in.
- Okay.
This a nice jeep you got.
If it wasn't for this toy cop uniform,
I could've sworn you was a hustler.
(rap music on radio)
This is my song.
So (indistinct)
- I told you my name is Samson.
- Okay, Samson.
Don't bite my head off.
You're pretty cute,
and you're cool too.
A little tired.
But you're cool.
You be giving your girlfriend
this much attitude and problems.
Or do you at least have a girlfriend?
- Look, it's none your business.
- Any guy that says that's
none of my business,
he ain't getting no business.
So what is your time?
- Why do you ask so many questions?
- I can't ask questions?
It's just a question.
- You know the thing about people
who ask questions to answer a question,
they're just ignorant.
And to be honest, it shows
exactly how naive you are.
- I may only be 18, but I'm
not naive and I'm not ignorant.
I just like to have conversation.
But go off, I guess.
- Look, I didn't mean it like that.
- But since you don't
wanna talk about that,
you can tell me about your
position in the Marines.
What was your MOS?
Special operation?
Infantry?
Artillery?
Yeah.
Yeah, I wasn't lying when I told you
my father was in the Marines.
He literally gave his
life for this country
and because of it, he got killed in Iraq.
- Sorry to hear about that.
Sounds like a courageous man.
- No need to be sorry.
He wasn't courageous.
Apparently he loves
serving for this country
more than he loved being a father.
So how do you go from being
in the Marines to a school safety officer?
- To be honest, it's a long story.
Not ready to tell it either.
- Well, whether you tell me or not,
I know you miss being in the Marines,
so you don't have to tell me.
I already know.
- Yeah?
What's your story?
Huh?
A troubled, talented artist?
Didn't get too much love at home, did you?
That's why you look for acceptance
and validation from
everybody else around you.
- Fuck you.
Fuck you.
You don't know shit about me.
You're not from my world.
You don't know anything.
Completely disrespectful.
You know what?
Turn right up here.
- This is where you live?
This is nowhere.
- It's somewhere for troubled
girls like me, right?
- I apologize for that.
It was up for me to say.
You don't deserve that.
I'm sorry.
- You know what I think?
I think you like me.
I mean, I see you staring.
We connect.
I mean we have the same troubled past.
Same bad attitudes.
You knew what you wanted
from me since I got into this Jeep.
- And what's that?
- To fuck me, right?
I mean, when was the last
time you got some pussy?
Hmm?
- I can't. I can't. I can't.
- Huh?
- I can't. I can't.
You can.
When was the last time?
- I can't.
- Yeah, you can.
- I can't.
I know that we've been friends.
You gotta girlfriend
I got a boyfriend
And when you all alone
You get in my phone
I got what you want
Never come over and pull up on you
On you, on you, on you
Never come over and pull up on you
On you, on you, on you
(Samson groaning)
(heavy panting)
You can hit it from the front
Back, side to side
Text me anytime
When you pull up, we gonna slide
- Oh, shit.
Oh, shit.
Side to side
Text me anytime
When you pull up, we gonna slide.
- [Baby] That was good.
I'll see you at school tomorrow, right?
Right?
- You need to leave. You need to leave.
- All right.
Can I get a kiss before I go?
All right, I'll see
you at school tomorrow.
I'll see you.
All right.
Fine.
(cars passing)
(car door slamming)
(ominous tone)
(kids playing)
- Dead-ass didn't think
you was gonna show.
Thought maybe you moved
on and forgot about me.
- Saladine, I didn't forget about you.
Shit got real for me and
Baby after you went away.
And with grandma being sick,
I did what I had to do.
And plus you were the
one that got locked up.
- And you don't think I regret that shit.
- We both have regrets,
and just like you, I had no choice.
- So you had no choice
but to get with the money.
That bitch ass nigga...
- I mean, what was I supposed to do?
I had to do something.
The money stepped in, and he helped out.
- So you fucked him for help?
Damn.
I thought you was better than that, GG.
Outta all fucking people.
And when was you going to tell me?
- Tell you what?.
- About the baby.
Or better yet, the abortion you had?
Yeah.
Didn't think I knew, huh?
I guess you gonna try to
keep it a secret from me.
Look, locked down or not,
I got ears and eyes all on these streets.
You aborted our child.
Why?
- Look, I wasn't ready
to be somebody's mother
and raise a baby.
And especially not by myself.
- Now when I heard the news,
shit had me tight.
I wanted to kill you,
Or I, at least, thought about it.
Well, why didn't you, huh?
- Why else?
I still love you.
And even though you with
that bitch-ass nigga,
I know you still love me too.
- Dumani ain't the same
person he used to be.
He's done a lot for me and my family.
- That's obligation talking.
You don't owe him shit.
Now, I owe you a second chance.
Look, now that I'm home,
you don't need him.
I got you and the fam.
Remember how things
was before I went down?
What kept me going and thriving
inside that place was
thinking about you every day.
Look, no matter how hard
it got for me in there,
I knew I was coming home to you.
Fuck Dumani. He's a fucking fraud.
And everybody think I came back home
to reclaim the streets.
Nah, I'm not on that street shit no more.
I came back home to make
things right with you.
I love you, GG.
- I love you too.
(lilting music)
Can I get a taste, uh-huh
I'm just late night cruising right
- [Samson] Oh, shit.
(Baby moaning)
Oh, fuck.
(heavy breathing)
- What the fuck are we doing?
This can't keep happening.
This has to be the last time.
- We said that two weeks ago.
And yet here we are again.
Admit it, I mean, you love it, yo.
- Look, I'm risking a lot
just by being here with you.
- Who cares?
I mean, who really gives a fuck, right?
You know we're good together.
You know that.
- I need to take you home.
(car door slamming)
Good morning, beautiful.
- Oh, my God...
I cannot believe I'm
waking up next to you.
- Well, it happened because
we wanted it to happen.
You wouldn't allowed it
to happen if you didn't.
- But what about Dumani?
- Fuck him.
(ominous music)
He not touching me or you.
He don't deserve you.
You can leave him anytime you want.
Better yet, how about I
give him the bad news?
- It's not that simple, Saladine.
- Why not?
Listen, I've been thinking.
How about we leave the city,
go somewhere new.
Start fresh.
How would you feel about that?
Look...
I know it's a change, baby.
But I have family in Charlotte.
They own a mechanic shop,
And you know how good
I am with fixing cars.
So I was thinking maybe in a year,
I open my own shop,
and we get married.
- So, you really done with the game?
- Yes.
I don't want that street glory.
I want a future.
A future with you.
And we can have that in Charlotte.
- Saladine, I really need
to tell you something.
I'm pregnant with Dumani's baby.
- What the fuck?
- I wanted to tell you
before it came to this.
- Well, are you gonna keep it?
- I don't know.
- The fuck you mean you don't know?
You've easily aborted our
child while I was locked down.
Now you don't know if you're
gonna keep this nigga's seed?
The fuck, GG?
- Don't yell at me.
You were gone,
and now you're coming to me
with this fucking Prince
Charming attitude,
wanna mix up my entire world,
just to come live out some
fairytale with you in Charlotte
leaving my grandma and cousin behind?
You can't judge me.
At all.
- Look...
You right.
I just don't wanna lose you again.
I know I fucked up.
I just want a second chance.
Even if you is gonna
keep this nigga's baby,
would you at least think about it?
- I will.
Look, I'm gonna go ahead
and head to the house
to take a shower and change some clothes.
- They did a nice job.
Gigi.
- Hey, Grandma.
- Hey, baby.
- How you feeling?
- I'm feeling fine, GG.
It's good to see you.
- Late night again. Huh?
- You could say that.
I'm gonna be in my room.
- Love you, GG.
- [GG] Love you, Grandma.
- Grandma, I'll be right back, okay?
- Okay.
- So who you spend night with, GG?
Hmm?
Dumani or Saladine?
(ominous music)
Please tell me you're not
fucking entertaining Saladine
and his bullshit.
- Baby.
Do not start with me.
- What you mean?
Did you...
Did you forget that he will kill you?
Sneaking around with Saladine.
I mean you gonna fuck it
up for the both of us.
- Dumani's not gonna touch me.
- And what makes you think that?
- 'Cause I'm pregnant with his baby.
- Wow.
I mean, GG, you know we're
gonna help you with that baby.
Me and Dumani.
So, I mean, what you gonna do?
- Honestly, I don't
know what I'm gonna do.
I'm still in love with Saladine.
So I don't know if I can go through
with having this baby.
- Fuck Saladine.
You need to keep this baby with Dumani.
- Why?
- What you mean, "why?"
Dumani's the one who puts
money in your pockets.
He's the one who helps us out around here.
He's the one who's running the streets
and I mean being with him,
you'll be that bitch for real.
- That's not the point, Baby.
And none of that even matters.
- It does matter.
Saladine is washed up.
Dumani is the truth.
- Anyway, enough of that for now.
How are things with you?
See, you've been staying
away from J. Rock.
So, I hope that means you've
been putting some thought
into what I've been telling you.
- I mean, school's cool.
I do got this new guy
I'm talking to though.
- Who?
- Girl...
This security guard at the school,
and it's only been like what?
Three weeks?
Sprung as hell.
I really thought he was
gonna propose to me.
I mean, every time we have
sex I make his ass nut fast.
But his dick is good though.
I ain't gonna lie.
- Girl.
- I only fucked with him
just to make J. Rock jealous.
I mean that was it.
I don't give a fuck about him.
- [GG] I don't know baby.
'Cause trying to make J.Rock jealous
could end up backfiring on you.
Just be careful.
- Weren't you the one that tell me
to leave J. Rock alone?
And plus I got it handled, GG.
I'm good.
And if the new nigga act up, he's out.
That's it.
That's all.
He will get fired from that job.
- I'm just saying.
Be careful, 'cause you're
really playing with fire.
- And look who's talking.
(bumping music)
There he go again
There he go again
There he go again
They like, "Oh, no,"
Yo, there he go again
There he go again
There he go again
Yo, there he go again
There he go again
There he go again
Man, I started from the bottom
I'm grinding to the top
But them haters on the bottom
Don't wanna see me grow
- [Dumani] I see you back on the block.
Oh, what's so funny, Saladine?
- You, nigga.
You been on my dick since I got home.
What?
You feel threatened?
- Don't get it twisted, nigga.
You been gone for a minute,
so I wouldn't get
comfortable in your old ways.
I got this, all right?
- Nigga, you delusional.
Get the fuck out my face.
Oh...
And tell GG I'm gonna catch up with her.
Nigga, you better stay
the fuck away from her.
- Or what?
What you going do?
Yeah, J. Rock.
You better get your boy.
I promise, he don't
want no static with me.
- Watch your back, nigga.
- You know, I know it'll be a lot.
It'll be a lot caring for grandma
with a newborn baby,
but you know I got you.
and the fact that you're still carrying my
little niece means
you've made your choice.
Saladine wants me to move
to North Carolina with him.
- What?
Are you serious?
- He wants us to start over.
- GG, tell me you're not
leaving with this nigga.
- Baby, can you just give him a chance?
- So you're really just gonna up
and leave us like that?
GG.
After everything we've been through,
you leave.
You leave the bulk of grandma's care
on my shoulder.
Do you not understand that I need you?
We need you?
I mean, what about us in this situation?
Do we not matter to you?
- I am tired of this life, Baby.
And even if you're not,
I deserve a better life
and no cap, I want it with Saladine.
I'm in love with Saladine.
I've always been in love with him.
You just don't understand
what real love is.
- I got real love, GG.
I know exactly what real love is.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Really?
- Oh.
With who?
J. Rock or the security?
Please tell me, because I'm confused.
I mean, at least J. Rock's not leaving me.
Like how you're trying to do right?
Yeah.
Like how you're trying to do.
Your life is here.
Not in some country-ass backwood-ass town.
This is where you belong.
This is our house.
This is where we grew up at.
Did you forget that?
- Look.
My mind is made up, okay?
I'm going with him.
(car honking)
But I want you and grandma to come, too.
You can both come with your art.
- Hey.
What's good?
Hey, what's up with you?
I haven't seen you around in a minute.
- What's up?
I mean last time I checked,
you don't have time for me, right?
You got Erica.
Come on, baby, don't be like that.
- Really?
Yeah, come on.
Let's go for a ride and talk.
- Well you got your ride
and I got mine.
I'll see you later.
(car engine firing)
(hip hop music)
- Yo, who this nigga
you been fucking with?
Some security guard, I heard about?
- Ain't nobody special.
- You sure?
- Yeah.
And it's not him you
need to be worried about,
It's Saladine.
- What the fuck you mean by that?
Baby, don't fuck with me.
(hip hop music)
- You need to get out his lap now.
- Yo, you tripping right
now, like, for real.
- Do I need to repeat myself?
- Do I need to repeat myself?
No.
- What is you laughing at?
- You.
- Is there a problem here?
- No, there's not a problem.
- All right, you two separate.
Now.
Is there anything you need to tell me?
- No, I'm fine.
- You sure?
- Look, man, I said I'm good.
- Baby, can we talk?
- What?
You already embarrassed yourself earlier.
And me.
- Are you fucking him?
- Who? Terrance?
And if I was, what?
You don't own me.
You should know that shit.
- So you trying to make me jealous, huh?
- Jealous?
Nobody's even worried about you.
- Look, I just wanna talk.
Can we talk?
- I got some place to be.
Are you gonna take me?
- Where to?
(engine idling)
(car door slamming)
- Listen...
We're just fucking.
That's it.
That's all.
So I need you to chill, okay?
- I know that.
I know.
- Do you?
Because that stunt you pulled
earlier says otherwise.
- Yeah, I fucked up.
I know, but look, I promise.
I won't do it again.
Okay?
- Act like you like it.
- I do like it.
- Mm-hmm.
- Fuck.
Oh, shit.
Fuck.
(horn honking)
Oh, shit.
- So, you can consider that
a parting gift from me.
- Wait, wait, wait wait.
A parting gift?
- A parting gift.
- Why would you do all that
if you just gonna go ahead and leave?
- You're getting too attached.
- Nah, I don't...
- I mean, at least you got to hit, right?
- You know what?
Just stop.
I had fun.
Thanks for that.
You have a good one, okay?
(car door slamming)
- Here you go.
Wait till you do a little inventory
on the stuff for the night, all right?
- Okay.
- We need to talk.
It's important.
- What's up?
What, nigga?
- How far are you?
Yeah, I can't wait to see you.
Hold on.
- GG, let me holler at you.
You think I'm stupid, bitch?
You pregnant with my child
and you fuck around with
this nigga, Saladine?
Huh?
- Get off of me.
You hurting me.
- I don't give a fuck.
Oh so is you fucking that nigga?
I was the one that was there for you
this whole time when he
got his dumb ass locked up
and now I'm hearing you
trying to leave town with him.
Oh, shit.
(slap)
You pregnant with my baby
and you ain't going nowhere
I'll kill you if I see
you with that nigga again,
and I'm gonna see that nigga, Saladine.
- See me now, nigga.
(hard hitting)
(grunting)
(hard hitting continues)
I should blow your
motherfucking head off, nigga.
- Do it, nigga.
I swear to God, you a dead man.
- If I ever see you near her again,
nigga, I'll kill you.
Let's go, GG.
- Baby, can you talk to me?
Please?
Why you ignoring me?
Just talk to me.
- Leave me alone.
- Why you always trying
to run away from me?
- Get the fuck off of me.
Don't be grabbing me like that.
- Look, what's wrong with you?
Are you fucking somebody else?
- I am actually fucking someone else.
My boyfriend,
who I love.
Are you not understanding that?
Like, do you want me to get him,
like, to beat your ass?
Is that what you want?
- Why are you doing this to me?\
Why are you doing this to us?
- Bro?
You're a fucking clown.
Are you not understanding that?
You're a clown.
I should have never ever fucked you.
So keep playing with me?
And I'll make you lose
your little fucking job.
So get the fuck outta my face.
(ominous music)
- Nigga, I don't want that shit.
I want that nigga, Saladine dead.
Asap.
- I feel you.
- Put the young gunners on him.
- I feel you.
Let's think about this for a...
- There ain't nothing
to fucking think about.
Look at my face.
He puts his hands on me,
points my gun in my face,
and he trying to take my
bitch outta fucking town?
- Yo, he gonna get got,
Cuz, no doubt.
But let's not put our own people on this.
It's gonna be bad for business.
(ominous music)
I hate to say it,
but Saladine got a lot
of clout in this city.
We take him out as soon as he get out,
the tension, the beef, the cops,
they gonna be on us.
- Listen, I can get outside shooters
to come at Saladine.
Make it not lead back to us.
- Look, I don't give a fuck.
I just want the nigga dead,
like yesterday.
- I got you, Cuz.
Don't worry about it.
(romantic music)
Only if you knew
I think the world of you
I wonder if you had a clue
Many nights I spend thinking of you
Just wanting to be your sunshine
To brighten your gray skies
Like the summer breeze
touches the trees
Oh, how I wish you were
Longing for the day
When loving you's not a game
If all of me is what you seek
And we become reality
This is crazy
Don't know what to do
All I see is me for you
- Gigi, what's going on?
Huh?
Hello?
What are you doing?
- Leaving this damn place.
- No, you're not leaving.
Your life is here with us.
And you know that.
- I ain't going back and forth
with you on this shit no more, Baby.
I want a better life.
- Nah.
It's Saladine getting in your head.
He got you tripping and shit.
Packing up your stuff.
- Guess he my J. Rock, huh?.
Difference is though?
Saladine actually love me.
- Girl, fuck you.
Leave.
Get out then.
- And I will.
You keep screaming about family,
but tell me how the fuck does Dumani know
about my every fucking
move with Saladine, huh?
Fucking pillow talking ass.
- So now I'm wrong for
wanting you to stay, huh?
And help out with the house
and grandma, knowing she's sick?
She's sick.
Do you understand the toll
that will leave on her?
- Baby...
We can figure this out, okay?
But don't pretend
that your whole reason for wanting to stay
is because of grandma.
Baby...
You are one of the most
talented people I know.
You have such a gift of art
that you could do anything you wanted,
but you're blinded by the past and a fool.
- And you blinded by a fool from the past.
Don't make you no different.
- Yeah?
Well, at least my fool love me.
- And Dumani doesn't, GG?
- Nah, he never loved me.
He only cared about himself and his ego.
Fuck him and this conversation.
I'm leaving, Baby,
with or without you.
- I thought we meant more
to you than that, GG.
I guess not, huh?
Take your shit and go.
Have fun in Charlotte.
Yeah.
Live your little best life
with your little convict-ass boyfriend.
Have a bunch of babies.
Hope he don't get locked up again,
and leave your ass in the country.
So just go.
Leave.
Get out.
- Whatever, Baby.
- What you looking like over there?
- Man, it does look good.
- Make sure you come back right now.
- Yup.
- [Baby] You like?
- [J. Rock] You know I love you, right?
- Yeah, I know.
- And I would do anything for you.
Just like I know how you
would do anything for me.
- Right.
- I need your help with something.
You still fuck with that security guard?
- No.
I cut him off to be with you.
You know that.
- Nah, don't do that.
We need him for something.
- What you need him for?
- Listen, what's said in this room,
stays in this room.
You hear me?
- Yeah.
- Dumani's putting a hit out on Saladine,
but none of our people can touch it,
and it can't lead back to us.
So I was thinking...
you get that fool to murk him for us.
- Are you serious?
- Dead-ass.
- I mean, what about Gigi?
- What about her?
- She's happy.
She loves him.
They wanna be together.
They wanna move to Charlotte.
- That's the reason why
we need to get this done.
Don't you deserve to be happy, too, Baby?
Baby, you came to me.
Upset, crying about GG
leaving you and your grandma.
We take him out the picture
and she's going nowhere.
Right?
So you think you can get
the fool to do the hit?
- I don't know.
- Come on, Baby.
You a smart girl.
I'm sure you can figure out something
to convince him to kill for you.
Look, you do this for me,
Erica and I are finally done,
Because you my ride or die bitch.
Real talk.
- Hey, can we talk later?
Hey, can we talk?
- About what?
- About me being a bitch.
I just wanna, you know,
give you an apology.
Explain my recent actions.
- Look, just be at my Jeep
after school, all right?
(school bell ringing)
- Are you outta your fucking mind?
- Samson, I need your help.
I thought you loved me.
- I do.
But this is murder.
- This is survival.
Our survival.
The only reason why I cut you off
and I dissed you was because of Saladine.
Saladine is dangerous,
and he knows about you.
He will kill me.
But not before we kill him.
- Baby, this is not an easy task
that you're asking of me.
This isn't some high school game.
This is a man's life.
- You've been in the Marines.
Think of it like...
enemy of work.
Think of it like that.
- Baby, don't do that shit.
You don't know what it's like.
Have you ever seen a man die?
Many men die?
I have.
And guess what, princess?
That shit isn't pretty.
You don't just walk away from that shit.
That shit gives you terrors at night.
What me and my men did,
we did it for our unit.
And guess what?
For those of us that
survived, we're lucky.
It has to be another way we can do this.
We can call the cops.
Something.
- Call the cops?
Why will we call the cops
when they can just easily connect it.
- To what?
- To us.
- What if they don't?
- So you're saying you're
not gonna kill him?
- Baby, I wanna protect you, but...
- Then kill him.
'Cause he will kill me
and he will kill us.
(ominous music)
- Hey.
- Hey.
- We good?
- Yeah, I guess.
We're good.
- I love you, Baby.
And you and grandma are
the only family I have,
and I'm not abandoning y'all.
I'm just trying to figure
out a better plan for us.
And I'm in love with Saladine.
- I understand.
- Do you really?
- I mean, yeah.
I mean that makes you happy.
You should do that.
That's who you love.
Go for it.
And you shouldn't let me stop your life.
I mean I was being a
little, you know, selfish.
But do what makes you happy,
'cause you look good.
The outfit is definitely giving you, sis.
I give you a 10 to 10.
You hear me?
Like you look good.
Yes.
- You like it?
- I love it.
- Yes.
- So I want you to go out
and have a good night.
- Thank you.
' Cause tonight I'm turning up,
and next week, it's welcome to Charlotte.
- Period.
Fix your bra strap.
- Okay.
- Thanks, sis.
- Period.
- Thank you.
- Good.
- All right, well...
I'm gonna head out.
- All right.
- Bye.
Love you.
Be careful walking in them heels.
(GG laughing)
- I will.
- I love you.
- Love you.
(crickets chirping)
- Saladine.
(gun shots)
(ominous music)
(Baby crying)
- Fuck.
GG.
(Baby crying out)
- Hey.
We got code red.
Code red.
Student came in unchecked.
(door creaking)
(ominous music)
- You been doing all right?
You seem off today.
- Yeah, I'm fine.
- You!
You killed my fucking sister.
Get off of me.
I fucking hate you.
I should have never fucked you.
I hate you.
- She telling the truth?
- Man, that bitch is crazy.
- I told you to stay away from her.
- Yo, man, you believe that bitch?
- You couldn't find someone your own age?
- Man, shut the fuck up.
- [Janet Palmer] What's going on here?
- Back up.
Come on.
- Samson...
Get in my office, now.
- [Gabe] Tone it down.
That's enough.
- What are y'all looking at?
Class is still in session.
(pounding at door)
(gun cocks)
- What the fuck's wrong with you baby?
(door slamming)
- I need your help.
- What the fuck you doing at my door,
knocking like the fucking police.
- I need your help, J. Rock.
- [J. Rock] I'm fucking busy right now.
- I want him killed.
I want him dead today.
- Who?
You mean your soldier boy?
- He killed my fucking cousin.
The fuck you mean?
I heard about that.
Man, that's fucked up.
- So what the you gonna do then, J. Rock?
You gonna kill him or what?
- Fuck that.
I'm not getting involved with that.
I don't want none of my
people around that mess.
- What?
You literally told me
if Saladine was out the picture,
you and I would be together.
Did you not?
- Look, you need to go.
- Go?
Are you fucking serious?
You told me that we were gonna...
Not this fucking bitch.
Are you for real?
- Bitch?
- Yeah.
- I got your bitch.
Matter of fact, J. Rock,
let me shoot this bitch.
- Erica.
Erica.
- Dead, like her fucking cousin.
- Chill the fuck out.
Not in here in this fucking place.
Is you crazy?
- And here I go thought you
was done with this bitch.
- Look, you cool.
But you and I, we not gonna work out.
- I thought you loved me.
- Love?
It was fun while it lasted.
But you gotta go.
You see, Erica and I, you
finally might tie the knot,
'cause she pregnant with my seed.
- And now you can leave.
And your cousin, GG?
Fuck that bitch.
She got what she deserved.
- Bitch, fuck you.
I'll beat your motherfucking ass, hoe.
- Bye.
- This is not over.
- Fucking leave.
(door locking)
- Baby.
- How the fuck did you get in here?
- Look, don't worry about all that.
Look.
- Get the fuck away from me.
Move.
- Look, I just wanna talk.
Please.
- Leave now.
Get the fuck out.
- What happened earlier was an accident.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to kill your cousin.
Come on.
You gotta believe me, Baby.
Please.
- Leave before I call the cops.
- You don't gotta do that.
I'm sorry.
You don't have to do that.
Okay?
I just need to get outta here.
You can come with me.
I can't go to prison.
Please come on.
- Are you fucking serious?
Are you crazy?
For me to go anywhere with you?
- Why are you doing this?
Right after I did all this for us?
Huh?
So we can be together.
So we can be happy.
I know earlier things went way left, okay?
but your emotions were high.
I understand that.
Okay?
And I forgive you.
We can be happy together, Baby.
We can go off somewhere.
Far.
Alone.
Just me and you.
Come on.
- No, I'm not going anywhere with you.
- Baby.
- I never loved you.
- You're being irrational.
- I hate you.
- Baby.
You don't mean that.
You're just saying that,
'cause you're upset, and you're angry.
Please.
Just take a moment, okay?
You can be happy together.
We can go somewhere.
Just me and you.
You wanna see me go to jail?
Come on.
Please.
Just come with me, please.
(hip hop music)
(gavel falling)
- It's gonna be okay, Baby.
God got us.
- I miss her.
- I miss her, too, Baby.
- It's all my fault.
She just wanted to be happy.
- Well, you know...
we here with this.
First you have to love yourself
instead of loving the idea
of other people loving you.
You understand?
We gonna be okay.
We will be okay.
- Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma, wake up.
Wake up, Grandma.
Grandma.
Wake up.
Grandma.
Hey.
Hey.
Grandma.
Come on, Grandma.
Come on, Grandma, wake up.
(sad music)
- [J. Rock] Baby.
Baby, lemme holla at you.
Hey, Baby.
Hey, Baby.
Lemme holla at you.
You looking good, Baby.
What you been up to?
- What do you want, J. Rock.
- I haven't seen you around in a minute.
Just wanna see what you was up to.
- I've been busy.
- I missed you.
You know Erica and I
aren't together anymore.
- Okay.
- Wanna go for a ride and talk?
- No, no.
There was a time that Baby
would've loved to go with you
and talk with you.
Ride with you.
Be with you.
Be who you wanted me to be.
Say what you wanted me to say.
Do what you wanted me to do.
And Monica Green sees you
for who you really are.
- Yeah?
Who is that?
- A nobody.
At least not to me.
Not ever again.
I found a better love
out here for me, J. Rock.
And I think you need to do the same.
- Who's the nigga?
- It's me.
Have a good day.
(uplifting music)
(piano music)
- [Baby] It's funny how
they say art imitates life.
Well, I'll never believe that shit.
You either struggling to survive
or barely surviving the struggle.
Either way, if that plan B goes left,
it could cost you your life.
(barred door slamming)
(R&B music)
Yeah.
Please don't switch on me
All this pain I been dealing with
is fire eternally.
Please, don't switch on me.
I got pain that I'm fighting,
so I'm hurting eternally.
I been preaching to my granny.
I got pain on me.
She said be glad you made it
out the slums without a stain on you.
It's hard to tell but
it's been raining.
It's been raining.
I can feel my love was changing.
I can feel it changing.
It's safe to say this
shit get dangerous.
I remember the day you hit the ground
I picked up angel dust.
(kissing)
(moaning)
- [Baby] I love you so much.
- [J. Rock] Uh-huh.
(Baby moaning)
(J. Rock grunting)
- Shit.
Happy fucking 18th birthday to me.
- No doubt.
Had to show up for you today,
especially after that info
you was able to tap into.
Good looking out.
- I got you, baby.
(kissing)
- You got anything else for me?
- Oh, yeah.
You know Saladine's coming home, right?
- What?
I thought that nigga got some years.
- No.
GG just told me last night,
he's getting out on good behavior.
- Word.
GG's still fucking with that nigga?
- Yo.
Leave my fucking cousin out of this.
I only told you so the
crew could be on notice.
I mean, he might want his
spot back or something.
- Aite.
Bet.
That's good to know.
What time you gotta be in school?
- Shit, whenever I get there.
I do have art class first period.
- You keeping my customers happy?
- They can't get enough of your product.
- You're a natural-born hustler. baby.
That's why I fucks with you.
I got another package for you to move.
- I got you.
- Oh, really?
And you ain't told your nosey cousin
you moving weight for me, right?
- [Baby] Hell no.
I'm not trying to fucking hear GG's mouth.
You know how she is about me.
- Word.
Now, I know this funny looking nigga
ain't supposed to be me.
- [Baby] Yes.
Took me a whole three
hours just to draw this.
It's a caricature of your big-headed ass.
- I see you got jokes.
You got talent baby.
I give you that.
- Yeah, I just hope this
talent gets us up outta here.
(soothing music)
- That's a little something
for your birthday.
And I got something special
planned for tonight.
(phone vibrating)
But I gotta make a run.
Make sure you lock it when you leave.
- Are you gonna gimme a kiss
or a hug?
- Hello?
Make sure you take care of that.
Don't be late for school.
Hello?
What's up?
(soothing music continues)
- [Ms. Morrison] Honey, are you okay?
- Yeah. Just sitting here thinking.
- Hm?
Are you hungry?
- No, but I'll take some coffee.
- Nonsense.
You need to eat something.
I'll make you those
blueberry pancakes you like.
They used to be your favorite.
Are you nervous about your first day?
- Nervous?
Ma, I'm supposed to be a soldier.
Not no damn babysitter
for high school kids.
Five years.
Five years I dedicated
my life to the Marines
and they medically discharged me?
One bad road.
IED goes off.
It's my life.
- But you're alive, Samson.
And you came home to me in one piece, son
- Ma.
- That's what matters.
- Now, I'm gonna go make these pancakes.
You get yourself dressed for work.
Everything is gonna be okay.
I love you.
- I love you, too, Ma.
(pills rattling)
(bell ringing)
(people talking)
- [Gabe] Hi, so you must be the new guy.
- Yes, sir.
I'm Samson Moore.
- I'm Gabe Ramirez, your supervisor.
Come take a walk with me.
I'll show you around.
- Yes, sir.
- All right.
So as a school safety officer,
our main primary is everyone's safety.
- Okay.
- All right, I'm talking
about the students,
the staff and ourselves.
Okay?
- Alright.
How are the students here?
The students...
man, that's tremendo, bro.
They're tough.
- Mm-hmm.
- And they will try to
get under your skin.
- Okay.
- Don't let that happen.
All right, always stay
professional at all times
during your work, all right?
- Okay.
- Any questions?
- No sir.
- All right, so we ain't
gonna have no issues.
- [Samson] No sir.
- All right.
(shuffling feet)
(hands rubbing together)
- Good morning.
How are you doing today.
- This is the third time this month
that you've been late.
- I know, but today's my special day.
Y'all can't even wish me happy birthday?
- Happy birthday, but...
- Thank you.
- You know the rules.
- You told me.
Look, you know you gonna let me in anyway.
Can I just please get my pass?
(Keith huffing impatiently)
- Thank you.
(metal detector clicking)
- This is my last warning to you, Baby.
- Mm-hmm.
- [Keith] If you're
late like this again...
- Yeah, whatever.
Let's see.
- [Mr. Thompson] The secret of art is love
and there is no better love
than to first love yourself.
(door opening)
Ah, Ms. Green.
So nice of you to finally join us.
(Mr. Thompson sighing)
So, what do I always say about being late?
- To be early is to be on time.
To be on time is to be late.
And to be late is to be forgotten.
- Exactly.
- Talent isn't enough in this life.
Perseverance, persistence and punctuality
are the pillars of prosperity.
Remember that.
Have a seat.
- Thank you.
- Now, class, We must learn
the rules like a professional
and then we could break them like artists.
There are several artists
that have broken the rules.
Has anyone heard of Basquiat?
Okay.
Jen Spive Hillcrest?
They continuously broke the rules
and created a legacy.
Okay, let's start on primary colors.
(soulful music)
- Hoe, what the fuck is you looking at?
- [Erica] You, you stupid ass bitch.
You ain't nothing but a hoe.
- Bitch, you just mad that your man
was giving me birthday sex this morning
and the dick was good.
- What?
- Ladies not in my classroom.
Sit down.
- Ugly ass bitch.
- You know what?
I'd rather be his girl
than some hoe ass bum bitch,
you fucking charity case.
(rap music bumping)
- [Over Intercom] We have a fight in 203.
I repeat, we have a fight in 203.
- Baptized by fire on your first day.
Come on.
I am not a square
Fuck with me just in the lairs
- Stop it!
- [Samson] That's enough.
That's enough.
- You stay away from J. Rock.
You stay away from J. Rock, you hear me?
You'll get yours, bitch,
I promise you that.
- Turn my phone off.
(Baby grunting)
- Sit down.
- Yo, motherfucker...
don't be so fucking rough with me.
So you like pushing
around on me like that?
Bet it got your dick hard.
- Don't touch me.
- You was a military man, right?
Yeah, I already know.
I can just tell by looking at your ass
you's a military man.
- Ms. Green.
Ms. Green.
Get in my office now.
- All right.
I had fun.
(door shutting)
- Whew.
What is your problem, Monica?
- My name is Baby.
- Okay, well, in my school
your name is Monica Green.
You're pushing my buttons, young lady.
What am I gonna do with you?
Aren't you tired of these
foolish shenanigans?
This is not a joke.
- Why am I the only one
around here tired of the shenanigans?
I wasn't fighting myself.
- Erica will be disciplined, too.
But we're here to talk about you.
- Well, then, let's not,
'cause I really don't
give a fuck right now.
- Uh-uh, watch your mouth, young lady.
Look, I know it's been a rough
with your mom dying in prison
and losing your father in Iraq,
but that doesn't give
you a right to act up
in school or out in the world.
- I mean that's easy for you to say
when you wouldn't even lose
a mother without knowing her
or father to some bullshit ass war
or why is the only person left
to raise you dying from cancer.
I mean I didn't even graduate yet
and both of my parents just gone.
- Monica, I'm sorry.
- Nah.
Keep it.
I don't need your, "I'm sorry."
I don't need your pity.
- Okay, fine.
- So let's not pity you.
Let's address your life.
Do you want a life
besides prison or death?
You have a natural talent, Ms. Green,
a creative talent that
people will envy you for
and you waste it away.
Why?
You know you could get in any art school
in the country become
the next Faith Ringgold.
Are you familiar with her?
- Yeah, I know who she is.
- Well, use her as your inspiration
and stop this beef with Erica now.
- Then you need to tell her
to stop recklessly eyeballing me.
Tell her that.
- You gotta control your own actions.
You can't control the actions of others.
Be concerned about your behavior.
- Ain't no ho gonna pull up on me
and think they're not
gonna catch these hands.
- Look, Monica.
- So Principal Palmer,
just do what you gotta do
for real 'cause I don't care.
- Why do you even come to
school if you don't care?
Huh?
Why are you even here?
- Today's my birthday
and since today's my special day,
you know, I wanted to go
to Mr. Thompson's art class.
I think he's pretty cool.
I think his art class gives me purpose.
- Purpose comes with drive, Monica.
And I appreciate your
interests in your art class,
but you give me no choice
but to give you one week suspension.
- I'm cool with it.
I'm good with it.
Okay Miss Good-with-it,
next time, it's gonna be expulsion.
- That's fine.
We good here?
(glass breaking)
- [Keith] It's like homecoming bro.
- How was that?
- [Keith] It was tough.
- I'll see you in about a week, holme.
- Hey, hey.
Stay away from her.
That young Delilah is nothing but trouble.
- I hear you.
- I'm serious.
- Okay.
- When did you find out?
- Shit.
Last week at the clinic.
And I'm six weeks pregnant.
I ain't told nobody else yet but you.
I ain't even told my cousin.
- Crazy though.
And find out you pregnant
and Saladine's coming
home at the same time.
How that's gonna work out
with you being somebody's girl now?
- I was never in love with Dumani.
- He damn sure in love with you.
Are you gonna keep it?
- I don't know.
Here comes Shirley for her daily dose.
- Yep.
I do miss him though, Ayanna.
- Just be careful with your feelings
about Saladine, because Dumani's
nobody to play with.
- Oh, I know.
(uplifting music)
- Grandma, I'm home.
Did you eat something today?
- I'm not hungry.
- Grandma, you have to eat something.
You can't take your medication
on an empty stomach.
I'll make you something to eat, okay?
- Okay, babe.
- I'll clean up in here for you too.
All right?
- Oh and Baby?
Happy birthday.
I love you.
- I love you too.
(uplifting music continues)
Grandma?
Grandma?
Grandma.
Hey.
I brought you something to eat.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Got you some orange juice, toast, grits,
eggs and grapes.
- This looks nice, baby.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
I was in that kitchen
cooking pretty hard, Grandma.
- I see.
Can I have a grape, though?
- Yes.
- Thank you.
Get your some.
Eat.
You need to.
- Mm.
- Try that Bacon.
It's lean.
Turkey.
A lot healthier for you too.
- Oh.
- See?
It's good, right?
- I guess I did need to eat.
- Exactly.
You did.
(horn honking)
- GG.
Come here and lemme holla at you.
(car door opens)
(car door shuts)
You got that?
- Yep.
- Oh yeah. It's right.
It's all there.
(Dumani chuckling)
- It is now.
- You good?
- Yeah.
Why wouldn't I be?
- So when were you gonna tell me?
- Tell you what?
- That Saladine's getting out.
- And what they gotta do with me?
- Come on, GG.
Don't play these games with me.
You know I know you still
talking to that nigga.
You two are inseparable.
All I wanna know is
where does that leave us?
You know me and him ain't always
been on the best of terms.
- Look.
Whatever issues you and
Saladine got going on,
that's between y'all
and you on some three-year-old bullshit?
Come on, D.
- When you had nothing...
Remember?
I was the one there to look out for you.
I was the one that was putting money
in your pocket so you and your cousin
could take care of your grandmother
and pay the rent.
- I remember, babe.
And I'm grateful.
- Are you?
'Cause I don't want no
problems with him and you
and he damn sure don't
want no problems with me.
It's a new day.
I wanna know when he comes out,
where do you stand?
- You still questioning
my loyalty, Dumani?
- Man, I'm just asking questions.
That's all.
- Look.
Saladine has been locked
up for three years.
It's been a long time since me and him.
And like you said, times have changed.
- Bet.
Comes to the club tonight.
I wanna spend time with my girl.
- Okay.
- A little something extra.
All right?
Don't say I ain't gave you nothing.
- Thank you.
- Take care of your grandmother.
- All right.
(knocking)
- [GG] Nice.
Girl, you really got your mother's talent.
How long does it usually take you
to finish one of these?
- I don't know.
It depends.
The size, the detail.
- Girl you okay?
- Damn, GG, you found out already or what?
- And found out about what?
- [Baby] That I got
suspended from school today.
- No, but why'd you get suspended?
- I got into it with Erica,
and the bitch fucked my nails up too.
- Let me guess.
Over J. Rock?
- He don't even love her for real.
He loves me.
- So you fucking up school over this fool?
Come on, Baby.
You way too smart for that.
- [Baby] Erica was talking
to me and it was my birthday.
Fuck her, GG.
- But what I always tell you baby?
Don't go fucking up your life
over these bitches and
that trifling ass nigga.
- It's only a week.
Why you tripping?
- Girl, a week too fucking long,
and it's your senior year.
You gotta stand up and do better
and take your art more serious
and stop running behind J. Rock.
I'm serious baby.
And you think I don't know
he got you at this school hustling.
Yeah, I know.
J. Rock got you fucking
up your whole life.
And while he got you pillow-talking,
I hope you ain't telling
that nigga my business.
- Nobody telling your
fucking business, GG.
And it's my life.
But I do got a question for you though.
- What?
- Since you're so worried about me,
since Saladine's about to get out.
I hope you're not stupid enough
to leave Dumani for Saladine.
- Don't be worried about my business.
- [Baby] But you can worry
about my business and my life.
But I can't worry about yours?
- Believe me.
I got good reasons,
while you getting suspended and shit.
- Yeah, whatever, GG.
After everything Dumani has done for us,
you'd be mad dumb to
leave Dumani for Saladine.
Knowing Saladine gonna
want the block back.
- Right now, I'm not worried
about no Dumani or Saladine.
I'm worried about you,
and everything we always talked about.
Leaving this place,
taking care of grandma
and getting you into art school.
- No.
You always talked about
leaving this place.
What art school's gonna accept me?
- You gotta stop thinking like that, Baby.
Look at all this.
This is you.
This is what you created.
You got decent grades
and plenty of talent.
Look...
I dropped out, okay?
But you could be the first to graduate.
That's what's important.
Think about your future.
I love you.
(soft piano music)
(creaking door)
(nostalgic music)
(closet door shutting)
(techno music)
This hard times don't change
This grind, it won't fade
I been climbing forever
I been trying to do better
Ain't no stopping when
you trying to live forever
'Cause hard times don't change
(kissing)
- All right, look...
There've been a change of plans.
- What now?
- Something came up.
Business with my cousin, Dumani.
- Business with Dumani?
Are you serious?
J. Rock, it's my birthday.
You promised you would
take me somewhere nice.
- I know, but I need to handle this.
Right now.
Tonight.
- Okay.
But you could have called me to cancel.
You got me all dressed up and shit,
like, looking cute for what?
Happy birthday to me, huh?
- I'll make it up to you.
- You know what?
Fuck you.
Fuck you, J. Rock.
And how about you go fuck your cousin.
Go do that.
(hip hop music continues)
Hard times don't change
This grind, it won't fade
I been criming forever.
I been trying to do better
Ain't no stopping when
you trying to live forever
'Cause hard times don't change.
- [Samson] Stop.
(shoes squeaking)
(kids yelling)
Move, move, move!
Break it up.
Break it up.
- [Terrance] Hey, man get this fool
up off me.
Get him up off me.
- [Gabe] Hey!
Both of y'all, back to class.
- [Mr. Thompson] Go.
You.
Let's go.
Back to class, now.
- Show's over.
Get to class.
- [Mr. Thompson] All of y'all.
Let's go.
Back to class.
It's crazy man.
- What happened earlier today?
You okay?
- I'm fine.
- [Gabe] I heard the kid
took the first swing at you.
Still, I cannot be having you
flipping out on these students like that.
All right?
So this is what's gonna happen.
I'm gonna give you a warning right now.
The next time it happens,
I'm gonna have to let you go.
All right?
- You ready to give me my money, or what?
- Yeah, no doubt.
It's all there, Baby.
You know I won't fuck with you.
You good?
- I'll have another
package for you on Friday.
- Thank you.
- Appreciate you.
See you.
(tense music)
- Where are you coming from?
- Yo, fucking relax.
Coming from...
I was coming from the restroom.
I'm on my period.
Guess I'm not pregnant.
On my way to class now.
- What the hell are you doing?
- Get the fuck off of me?
Hey.
- What's in here?
- Nothing?
Hey, give me my shit.
- You selling drugs in my school?
- No, I'm not.
- You must think I'm stupid or something.
- No.
- Let's go.
- Look. I can't get suspended.
I can't get suspended right now.
Please.
- You didn't care about
suspension a week ago.
- Okay, that's different.
I been good.
- I told you my name is Samson.
- Okay. I'm sorry.
Can you just please look the other way?
- Look, I can't do that.
I got a job to do.
- Look, yo, that's the only way
I can afford medication
right now for my grandma.
She's sick.
- Does it look like I care?
- I'm the only one she got.
Please just listen.
- Let's go.
- You a military man, right?
What branch?
Okay.
My father got killed
overseas when I was only 13.
Please.
You remind me just of him.
I know you wanna do what you,
you know, you got to do.
I can see in your eyes.
Like please.
come on.
I won't be a problem to nobody anymore.
- All right, all right.
Look.
- Please.
- I'll give you this one last chance.
- Please.
- Just this one chance.
- Okay.
- But if I catch your ass selling drugs
in this school again, I will turn you in.
- I won't.
- Get to class.
- Can I have my bag back please?
Please.
Can I a have my bag back?
- Thank you.
I owe you.
- Stay outta trouble.
(coughing)
(tea pot whistling)
(more coughing)
- Here's water.
Here.
Feel better?
- I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
- Have you been drinking
any of your water?
(coughing)
Granny, you need to drink the water.
Drink some more.
(coughing continues)
Drink some water.
(coughing continues)
- Have you been taking your medication?
- I told you I'm fine.
And the medication, it
makes me feel worse.
- Grandma, I know it makes you feel sick,
but you have to take it.
(coughing)
- Really.
We need you.
- Drink your water.
Drink your water.
- Okay, I'll try.
I'll try to take my medication.
- I love you.
- I love you too, Baby.
- Drink your water to finish it.
You need to drink it all.
- [J. Rock] You need me for a reason?
You know what to do.
Holla.
- Okay.
Fuck you too.
- [J. Rock] Yo need me for a reason?
You know what to do.
Holla.
- Answer me.
(dance music)
I got lots of money
I got lots of money
I got lots of money
- Where are you going?
- I have to go the bathroom.
(dance music continues)
(indistinct)
- Oh, girl.
- That dress looks fire on you.
You wear it for me?
- Saladine?
Oh, my God.
- What's good, GG?
Good to see you. Thought
about you every day.
What?
Cat got your tongue?
- What are you doing here?
- Well you know a couple friends of mines
fighting me out,
you know, celebrating my release.
It's good to be home, you know?
- Yeah.
Yeah.
It's so good to see you.
- Definitely good to see you.
Can a brother get a hug?
I mean it has been three years.
Damn, GG.
You act like you ain't excited to see me?
- No, I'm happy.
I'm just...
- It's cool.
It's cool.
How's your peoples,
especially your grandmother?
- Yeah, Grandma.
She's sick.
The cancer.
- Sorry to hear that.
You know I always liked your grandma.
- Yeah, and she sure like you.
- Saladine, welcome home.
It's been a minute.
- It's good to be home, Dumani.
I can see you doing well for yourself.
- Just trying to build an empire.
- With GG help, I see.
- Yeah, she a ride or die for sure.
- Oh, no doubt she is.
- Well, since you home and you in my club
drinks on me tonight.
- I appreciate the gesture,
but I can afford my own drinks unless
she have a drink with me
and we catch up on old times.
- No disrespect, Saladine.
But GG's with me now.
- Is she?
The niggas that say, "No disrespect,"
always get disrespectful.
- I don't think you want any trouble.
You know, since you just
got home from prison.
Plus you in my spot, so I'd respect it.
- I don't want no trouble from you.
No trouble.
It's good to see you, Gigi.
I see you around.
- I want you to stay away from Saladine.
I don't trust him.
- You don't have to be threatened by him.
I with you.
Remember?
- Still...
Stay away from him.
(r&b music)
- [J. Rock] Yo, you need me for a reason?
You know what to do.
Holla.
- [Baby] Answer the phone.
- [J. Rock] Yo, need me for a reason.
You know what to do.
Holla.
- I know you with Erica.
Answer the phone.
(hiphop music)
- Three keys.
Move that.
- You good?
- Man, this nigga, Saladine...
the audacity of this
motherfucker the other night.
Comes in the club like he owns the spot.
Presses up on GG, and I try
to show him some hospitality.
Then he shuns me.
- You think he gonna become a threat?
Try to take back what he
lost while he bee locked up.
- I don't know.
But if he does, I'm
going to fuck his ass up.
- Aite.
(slow jam)
(cafeteria chatter)
(slow jam continues)
- [Baby] Hey.
Hey, can I get a ride home?
- Catch the bus.
- Why you gotta be like that?
- What do you want from me?
- I just want to talk.
I wanna thank you for the other day.
- Well, you can thank
me by leaving me alone.
Thank you.
- Hey, don't be like that.
Look, I drew this for you.
- You drew this?
Why do I look so sad?
- Sometimes you walk around
the school looking like that.
So I decided to draw that.
- What's these drops?
- Rain drops.
You like it?
- Yeah.
Thank you.
- No, no.
You can keep it.
- Well, thank you again, baby.
Have a good one, okay.
- Hey, can I get a ride though?
Please?
- Get in.
- Okay.
This a nice jeep you got.
If it wasn't for this toy cop uniform,
I could've sworn you was a hustler.
(rap music on radio)
This is my song.
So (indistinct)
- I told you my name is Samson.
- Okay, Samson.
Don't bite my head off.
You're pretty cute,
and you're cool too.
A little tired.
But you're cool.
You be giving your girlfriend
this much attitude and problems.
Or do you at least have a girlfriend?
- Look, it's none your business.
- Any guy that says that's
none of my business,
he ain't getting no business.
So what is your time?
- Why do you ask so many questions?
- I can't ask questions?
It's just a question.
- You know the thing about people
who ask questions to answer a question,
they're just ignorant.
And to be honest, it shows
exactly how naive you are.
- I may only be 18, but I'm
not naive and I'm not ignorant.
I just like to have conversation.
But go off, I guess.
- Look, I didn't mean it like that.
- But since you don't
wanna talk about that,
you can tell me about your
position in the Marines.
What was your MOS?
Special operation?
Infantry?
Artillery?
Yeah.
Yeah, I wasn't lying when I told you
my father was in the Marines.
He literally gave his
life for this country
and because of it, he got killed in Iraq.
- Sorry to hear about that.
Sounds like a courageous man.
- No need to be sorry.
He wasn't courageous.
Apparently he loves
serving for this country
more than he loved being a father.
So how do you go from being
in the Marines to a school safety officer?
- To be honest, it's a long story.
Not ready to tell it either.
- Well, whether you tell me or not,
I know you miss being in the Marines,
so you don't have to tell me.
I already know.
- Yeah?
What's your story?
Huh?
A troubled, talented artist?
Didn't get too much love at home, did you?
That's why you look for acceptance
and validation from
everybody else around you.
- Fuck you.
Fuck you.
You don't know shit about me.
You're not from my world.
You don't know anything.
Completely disrespectful.
You know what?
Turn right up here.
- This is where you live?
This is nowhere.
- It's somewhere for troubled
girls like me, right?
- I apologize for that.
It was up for me to say.
You don't deserve that.
I'm sorry.
- You know what I think?
I think you like me.
I mean, I see you staring.
We connect.
I mean we have the same troubled past.
Same bad attitudes.
You knew what you wanted
from me since I got into this Jeep.
- And what's that?
- To fuck me, right?
I mean, when was the last
time you got some pussy?
Hmm?
- I can't. I can't. I can't.
- Huh?
- I can't. I can't.
You can.
When was the last time?
- I can't.
- Yeah, you can.
- I can't.
I know that we've been friends.
You gotta girlfriend
I got a boyfriend
And when you all alone
You get in my phone
I got what you want
Never come over and pull up on you
On you, on you, on you
Never come over and pull up on you
On you, on you, on you
(Samson groaning)
(heavy panting)
You can hit it from the front
Back, side to side
Text me anytime
When you pull up, we gonna slide
- Oh, shit.
Oh, shit.
Side to side
Text me anytime
When you pull up, we gonna slide.
- [Baby] That was good.
I'll see you at school tomorrow, right?
Right?
- You need to leave. You need to leave.
- All right.
Can I get a kiss before I go?
All right, I'll see
you at school tomorrow.
I'll see you.
All right.
Fine.
(cars passing)
(car door slamming)
(ominous tone)
(kids playing)
- Dead-ass didn't think
you was gonna show.
Thought maybe you moved
on and forgot about me.
- Saladine, I didn't forget about you.
Shit got real for me and
Baby after you went away.
And with grandma being sick,
I did what I had to do.
And plus you were the
one that got locked up.
- And you don't think I regret that shit.
- We both have regrets,
and just like you, I had no choice.
- So you had no choice
but to get with the money.
That bitch ass nigga...
- I mean, what was I supposed to do?
I had to do something.
The money stepped in, and he helped out.
- So you fucked him for help?
Damn.
I thought you was better than that, GG.
Outta all fucking people.
And when was you going to tell me?
- Tell you what?.
- About the baby.
Or better yet, the abortion you had?
Yeah.
Didn't think I knew, huh?
I guess you gonna try to
keep it a secret from me.
Look, locked down or not,
I got ears and eyes all on these streets.
You aborted our child.
Why?
- Look, I wasn't ready
to be somebody's mother
and raise a baby.
And especially not by myself.
- Now when I heard the news,
shit had me tight.
I wanted to kill you,
Or I, at least, thought about it.
Well, why didn't you, huh?
- Why else?
I still love you.
And even though you with
that bitch-ass nigga,
I know you still love me too.
- Dumani ain't the same
person he used to be.
He's done a lot for me and my family.
- That's obligation talking.
You don't owe him shit.
Now, I owe you a second chance.
Look, now that I'm home,
you don't need him.
I got you and the fam.
Remember how things
was before I went down?
What kept me going and thriving
inside that place was
thinking about you every day.
Look, no matter how hard
it got for me in there,
I knew I was coming home to you.
Fuck Dumani. He's a fucking fraud.
And everybody think I came back home
to reclaim the streets.
Nah, I'm not on that street shit no more.
I came back home to make
things right with you.
I love you, GG.
- I love you too.
(lilting music)
Can I get a taste, uh-huh
I'm just late night cruising right
- [Samson] Oh, shit.
(Baby moaning)
Oh, fuck.
(heavy breathing)
- What the fuck are we doing?
This can't keep happening.
This has to be the last time.
- We said that two weeks ago.
And yet here we are again.
Admit it, I mean, you love it, yo.
- Look, I'm risking a lot
just by being here with you.
- Who cares?
I mean, who really gives a fuck, right?
You know we're good together.
You know that.
- I need to take you home.
(car door slamming)
Good morning, beautiful.
- Oh, my God...
I cannot believe I'm
waking up next to you.
- Well, it happened because
we wanted it to happen.
You wouldn't allowed it
to happen if you didn't.
- But what about Dumani?
- Fuck him.
(ominous music)
He not touching me or you.
He don't deserve you.
You can leave him anytime you want.
Better yet, how about I
give him the bad news?
- It's not that simple, Saladine.
- Why not?
Listen, I've been thinking.
How about we leave the city,
go somewhere new.
Start fresh.
How would you feel about that?
Look...
I know it's a change, baby.
But I have family in Charlotte.
They own a mechanic shop,
And you know how good
I am with fixing cars.
So I was thinking maybe in a year,
I open my own shop,
and we get married.
- So, you really done with the game?
- Yes.
I don't want that street glory.
I want a future.
A future with you.
And we can have that in Charlotte.
- Saladine, I really need
to tell you something.
I'm pregnant with Dumani's baby.
- What the fuck?
- I wanted to tell you
before it came to this.
- Well, are you gonna keep it?
- I don't know.
- The fuck you mean you don't know?
You've easily aborted our
child while I was locked down.
Now you don't know if you're
gonna keep this nigga's seed?
The fuck, GG?
- Don't yell at me.
You were gone,
and now you're coming to me
with this fucking Prince
Charming attitude,
wanna mix up my entire world,
just to come live out some
fairytale with you in Charlotte
leaving my grandma and cousin behind?
You can't judge me.
At all.
- Look...
You right.
I just don't wanna lose you again.
I know I fucked up.
I just want a second chance.
Even if you is gonna
keep this nigga's baby,
would you at least think about it?
- I will.
Look, I'm gonna go ahead
and head to the house
to take a shower and change some clothes.
- They did a nice job.
Gigi.
- Hey, Grandma.
- Hey, baby.
- How you feeling?
- I'm feeling fine, GG.
It's good to see you.
- Late night again. Huh?
- You could say that.
I'm gonna be in my room.
- Love you, GG.
- [GG] Love you, Grandma.
- Grandma, I'll be right back, okay?
- Okay.
- So who you spend night with, GG?
Hmm?
Dumani or Saladine?
(ominous music)
Please tell me you're not
fucking entertaining Saladine
and his bullshit.
- Baby.
Do not start with me.
- What you mean?
Did you...
Did you forget that he will kill you?
Sneaking around with Saladine.
I mean you gonna fuck it
up for the both of us.
- Dumani's not gonna touch me.
- And what makes you think that?
- 'Cause I'm pregnant with his baby.
- Wow.
I mean, GG, you know we're
gonna help you with that baby.
Me and Dumani.
So, I mean, what you gonna do?
- Honestly, I don't
know what I'm gonna do.
I'm still in love with Saladine.
So I don't know if I can go through
with having this baby.
- Fuck Saladine.
You need to keep this baby with Dumani.
- Why?
- What you mean, "why?"
Dumani's the one who puts
money in your pockets.
He's the one who helps us out around here.
He's the one who's running the streets
and I mean being with him,
you'll be that bitch for real.
- That's not the point, Baby.
And none of that even matters.
- It does matter.
Saladine is washed up.
Dumani is the truth.
- Anyway, enough of that for now.
How are things with you?
See, you've been staying
away from J. Rock.
So, I hope that means you've
been putting some thought
into what I've been telling you.
- I mean, school's cool.
I do got this new guy
I'm talking to though.
- Who?
- Girl...
This security guard at the school,
and it's only been like what?
Three weeks?
Sprung as hell.
I really thought he was
gonna propose to me.
I mean, every time we have
sex I make his ass nut fast.
But his dick is good though.
I ain't gonna lie.
- Girl.
- I only fucked with him
just to make J. Rock jealous.
I mean that was it.
I don't give a fuck about him.
- [GG] I don't know baby.
'Cause trying to make J.Rock jealous
could end up backfiring on you.
Just be careful.
- Weren't you the one that tell me
to leave J. Rock alone?
And plus I got it handled, GG.
I'm good.
And if the new nigga act up, he's out.
That's it.
That's all.
He will get fired from that job.
- I'm just saying.
Be careful, 'cause you're
really playing with fire.
- And look who's talking.
(bumping music)
There he go again
There he go again
There he go again
They like, "Oh, no,"
Yo, there he go again
There he go again
There he go again
Yo, there he go again
There he go again
There he go again
Man, I started from the bottom
I'm grinding to the top
But them haters on the bottom
Don't wanna see me grow
- [Dumani] I see you back on the block.
Oh, what's so funny, Saladine?
- You, nigga.
You been on my dick since I got home.
What?
You feel threatened?
- Don't get it twisted, nigga.
You been gone for a minute,
so I wouldn't get
comfortable in your old ways.
I got this, all right?
- Nigga, you delusional.
Get the fuck out my face.
Oh...
And tell GG I'm gonna catch up with her.
Nigga, you better stay
the fuck away from her.
- Or what?
What you going do?
Yeah, J. Rock.
You better get your boy.
I promise, he don't
want no static with me.
- Watch your back, nigga.
- You know, I know it'll be a lot.
It'll be a lot caring for grandma
with a newborn baby,
but you know I got you.
and the fact that you're still carrying my
little niece means
you've made your choice.
Saladine wants me to move
to North Carolina with him.
- What?
Are you serious?
- He wants us to start over.
- GG, tell me you're not
leaving with this nigga.
- Baby, can you just give him a chance?
- So you're really just gonna up
and leave us like that?
GG.
After everything we've been through,
you leave.
You leave the bulk of grandma's care
on my shoulder.
Do you not understand that I need you?
We need you?
I mean, what about us in this situation?
Do we not matter to you?
- I am tired of this life, Baby.
And even if you're not,
I deserve a better life
and no cap, I want it with Saladine.
I'm in love with Saladine.
I've always been in love with him.
You just don't understand
what real love is.
- I got real love, GG.
I know exactly what real love is.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Really?
- Oh.
With who?
J. Rock or the security?
Please tell me, because I'm confused.
I mean, at least J. Rock's not leaving me.
Like how you're trying to do right?
Yeah.
Like how you're trying to do.
Your life is here.
Not in some country-ass backwood-ass town.
This is where you belong.
This is our house.
This is where we grew up at.
Did you forget that?
- Look.
My mind is made up, okay?
I'm going with him.
(car honking)
But I want you and grandma to come, too.
You can both come with your art.
- Hey.
What's good?
Hey, what's up with you?
I haven't seen you around in a minute.
- What's up?
I mean last time I checked,
you don't have time for me, right?
You got Erica.
Come on, baby, don't be like that.
- Really?
Yeah, come on.
Let's go for a ride and talk.
- Well you got your ride
and I got mine.
I'll see you later.
(car engine firing)
(hip hop music)
- Yo, who this nigga
you been fucking with?
Some security guard, I heard about?
- Ain't nobody special.
- You sure?
- Yeah.
And it's not him you
need to be worried about,
It's Saladine.
- What the fuck you mean by that?
Baby, don't fuck with me.
(hip hop music)
- You need to get out his lap now.
- Yo, you tripping right
now, like, for real.
- Do I need to repeat myself?
- Do I need to repeat myself?
No.
- What is you laughing at?
- You.
- Is there a problem here?
- No, there's not a problem.
- All right, you two separate.
Now.
Is there anything you need to tell me?
- No, I'm fine.
- You sure?
- Look, man, I said I'm good.
- Baby, can we talk?
- What?
You already embarrassed yourself earlier.
And me.
- Are you fucking him?
- Who? Terrance?
And if I was, what?
You don't own me.
You should know that shit.
- So you trying to make me jealous, huh?
- Jealous?
Nobody's even worried about you.
- Look, I just wanna talk.
Can we talk?
- I got some place to be.
Are you gonna take me?
- Where to?
(engine idling)
(car door slamming)
- Listen...
We're just fucking.
That's it.
That's all.
So I need you to chill, okay?
- I know that.
I know.
- Do you?
Because that stunt you pulled
earlier says otherwise.
- Yeah, I fucked up.
I know, but look, I promise.
I won't do it again.
Okay?
- Act like you like it.
- I do like it.
- Mm-hmm.
- Fuck.
Oh, shit.
Fuck.
(horn honking)
Oh, shit.
- So, you can consider that
a parting gift from me.
- Wait, wait, wait wait.
A parting gift?
- A parting gift.
- Why would you do all that
if you just gonna go ahead and leave?
- You're getting too attached.
- Nah, I don't...
- I mean, at least you got to hit, right?
- You know what?
Just stop.
I had fun.
Thanks for that.
You have a good one, okay?
(car door slamming)
- Here you go.
Wait till you do a little inventory
on the stuff for the night, all right?
- Okay.
- We need to talk.
It's important.
- What's up?
What, nigga?
- How far are you?
Yeah, I can't wait to see you.
Hold on.
- GG, let me holler at you.
You think I'm stupid, bitch?
You pregnant with my child
and you fuck around with
this nigga, Saladine?
Huh?
- Get off of me.
You hurting me.
- I don't give a fuck.
Oh so is you fucking that nigga?
I was the one that was there for you
this whole time when he
got his dumb ass locked up
and now I'm hearing you
trying to leave town with him.
Oh, shit.
(slap)
You pregnant with my baby
and you ain't going nowhere
I'll kill you if I see
you with that nigga again,
and I'm gonna see that nigga, Saladine.
- See me now, nigga.
(hard hitting)
(grunting)
(hard hitting continues)
I should blow your
motherfucking head off, nigga.
- Do it, nigga.
I swear to God, you a dead man.
- If I ever see you near her again,
nigga, I'll kill you.
Let's go, GG.
- Baby, can you talk to me?
Please?
Why you ignoring me?
Just talk to me.
- Leave me alone.
- Why you always trying
to run away from me?
- Get the fuck off of me.
Don't be grabbing me like that.
- Look, what's wrong with you?
Are you fucking somebody else?
- I am actually fucking someone else.
My boyfriend,
who I love.
Are you not understanding that?
Like, do you want me to get him,
like, to beat your ass?
Is that what you want?
- Why are you doing this to me?\
Why are you doing this to us?
- Bro?
You're a fucking clown.
Are you not understanding that?
You're a clown.
I should have never ever fucked you.
So keep playing with me?
And I'll make you lose
your little fucking job.
So get the fuck outta my face.
(ominous music)
- Nigga, I don't want that shit.
I want that nigga, Saladine dead.
Asap.
- I feel you.
- Put the young gunners on him.
- I feel you.
Let's think about this for a...
- There ain't nothing
to fucking think about.
Look at my face.
He puts his hands on me,
points my gun in my face,
and he trying to take my
bitch outta fucking town?
- Yo, he gonna get got,
Cuz, no doubt.
But let's not put our own people on this.
It's gonna be bad for business.
(ominous music)
I hate to say it,
but Saladine got a lot
of clout in this city.
We take him out as soon as he get out,
the tension, the beef, the cops,
they gonna be on us.
- Listen, I can get outside shooters
to come at Saladine.
Make it not lead back to us.
- Look, I don't give a fuck.
I just want the nigga dead,
like yesterday.
- I got you, Cuz.
Don't worry about it.
(romantic music)
Only if you knew
I think the world of you
I wonder if you had a clue
Many nights I spend thinking of you
Just wanting to be your sunshine
To brighten your gray skies
Like the summer breeze
touches the trees
Oh, how I wish you were
Longing for the day
When loving you's not a game
If all of me is what you seek
And we become reality
This is crazy
Don't know what to do
All I see is me for you
- Gigi, what's going on?
Huh?
Hello?
What are you doing?
- Leaving this damn place.
- No, you're not leaving.
Your life is here with us.
And you know that.
- I ain't going back and forth
with you on this shit no more, Baby.
I want a better life.
- Nah.
It's Saladine getting in your head.
He got you tripping and shit.
Packing up your stuff.
- Guess he my J. Rock, huh?.
Difference is though?
Saladine actually love me.
- Girl, fuck you.
Leave.
Get out then.
- And I will.
You keep screaming about family,
but tell me how the fuck does Dumani know
about my every fucking
move with Saladine, huh?
Fucking pillow talking ass.
- So now I'm wrong for
wanting you to stay, huh?
And help out with the house
and grandma, knowing she's sick?
She's sick.
Do you understand the toll
that will leave on her?
- Baby...
We can figure this out, okay?
But don't pretend
that your whole reason for wanting to stay
is because of grandma.
Baby...
You are one of the most
talented people I know.
You have such a gift of art
that you could do anything you wanted,
but you're blinded by the past and a fool.
- And you blinded by a fool from the past.
Don't make you no different.
- Yeah?
Well, at least my fool love me.
- And Dumani doesn't, GG?
- Nah, he never loved me.
He only cared about himself and his ego.
Fuck him and this conversation.
I'm leaving, Baby,
with or without you.
- I thought we meant more
to you than that, GG.
I guess not, huh?
Take your shit and go.
Have fun in Charlotte.
Yeah.
Live your little best life
with your little convict-ass boyfriend.
Have a bunch of babies.
Hope he don't get locked up again,
and leave your ass in the country.
So just go.
Leave.
Get out.
- Whatever, Baby.
- What you looking like over there?
- Man, it does look good.
- Make sure you come back right now.
- Yup.
- [Baby] You like?
- [J. Rock] You know I love you, right?
- Yeah, I know.
- And I would do anything for you.
Just like I know how you
would do anything for me.
- Right.
- I need your help with something.
You still fuck with that security guard?
- No.
I cut him off to be with you.
You know that.
- Nah, don't do that.
We need him for something.
- What you need him for?
- Listen, what's said in this room,
stays in this room.
You hear me?
- Yeah.
- Dumani's putting a hit out on Saladine,
but none of our people can touch it,
and it can't lead back to us.
So I was thinking...
you get that fool to murk him for us.
- Are you serious?
- Dead-ass.
- I mean, what about Gigi?
- What about her?
- She's happy.
She loves him.
They wanna be together.
They wanna move to Charlotte.
- That's the reason why
we need to get this done.
Don't you deserve to be happy, too, Baby?
Baby, you came to me.
Upset, crying about GG
leaving you and your grandma.
We take him out the picture
and she's going nowhere.
Right?
So you think you can get
the fool to do the hit?
- I don't know.
- Come on, Baby.
You a smart girl.
I'm sure you can figure out something
to convince him to kill for you.
Look, you do this for me,
Erica and I are finally done,
Because you my ride or die bitch.
Real talk.
- Hey, can we talk later?
Hey, can we talk?
- About what?
- About me being a bitch.
I just wanna, you know,
give you an apology.
Explain my recent actions.
- Look, just be at my Jeep
after school, all right?
(school bell ringing)
- Are you outta your fucking mind?
- Samson, I need your help.
I thought you loved me.
- I do.
But this is murder.
- This is survival.
Our survival.
The only reason why I cut you off
and I dissed you was because of Saladine.
Saladine is dangerous,
and he knows about you.
He will kill me.
But not before we kill him.
- Baby, this is not an easy task
that you're asking of me.
This isn't some high school game.
This is a man's life.
- You've been in the Marines.
Think of it like...
enemy of work.
Think of it like that.
- Baby, don't do that shit.
You don't know what it's like.
Have you ever seen a man die?
Many men die?
I have.
And guess what, princess?
That shit isn't pretty.
You don't just walk away from that shit.
That shit gives you terrors at night.
What me and my men did,
we did it for our unit.
And guess what?
For those of us that
survived, we're lucky.
It has to be another way we can do this.
We can call the cops.
Something.
- Call the cops?
Why will we call the cops
when they can just easily connect it.
- To what?
- To us.
- What if they don't?
- So you're saying you're
not gonna kill him?
- Baby, I wanna protect you, but...
- Then kill him.
'Cause he will kill me
and he will kill us.
(ominous music)
- Hey.
- Hey.
- We good?
- Yeah, I guess.
We're good.
- I love you, Baby.
And you and grandma are
the only family I have,
and I'm not abandoning y'all.
I'm just trying to figure
out a better plan for us.
And I'm in love with Saladine.
- I understand.
- Do you really?
- I mean, yeah.
I mean that makes you happy.
You should do that.
That's who you love.
Go for it.
And you shouldn't let me stop your life.
I mean I was being a
little, you know, selfish.
But do what makes you happy,
'cause you look good.
The outfit is definitely giving you, sis.
I give you a 10 to 10.
You hear me?
Like you look good.
Yes.
- You like it?
- I love it.
- Yes.
- So I want you to go out
and have a good night.
- Thank you.
' Cause tonight I'm turning up,
and next week, it's welcome to Charlotte.
- Period.
Fix your bra strap.
- Okay.
- Thanks, sis.
- Period.
- Thank you.
- Good.
- All right, well...
I'm gonna head out.
- All right.
- Bye.
Love you.
Be careful walking in them heels.
(GG laughing)
- I will.
- I love you.
- Love you.
(crickets chirping)
- Saladine.
(gun shots)
(ominous music)
(Baby crying)
- Fuck.
GG.
(Baby crying out)
- Hey.
We got code red.
Code red.
Student came in unchecked.
(door creaking)
(ominous music)
- You been doing all right?
You seem off today.
- Yeah, I'm fine.
- You!
You killed my fucking sister.
Get off of me.
I fucking hate you.
I should have never fucked you.
I hate you.
- She telling the truth?
- Man, that bitch is crazy.
- I told you to stay away from her.
- Yo, man, you believe that bitch?
- You couldn't find someone your own age?
- Man, shut the fuck up.
- [Janet Palmer] What's going on here?
- Back up.
Come on.
- Samson...
Get in my office, now.
- [Gabe] Tone it down.
That's enough.
- What are y'all looking at?
Class is still in session.
(pounding at door)
(gun cocks)
- What the fuck's wrong with you baby?
(door slamming)
- I need your help.
- What the fuck you doing at my door,
knocking like the fucking police.
- I need your help, J. Rock.
- [J. Rock] I'm fucking busy right now.
- I want him killed.
I want him dead today.
- Who?
You mean your soldier boy?
- He killed my fucking cousin.
The fuck you mean?
I heard about that.
Man, that's fucked up.
- So what the you gonna do then, J. Rock?
You gonna kill him or what?
- Fuck that.
I'm not getting involved with that.
I don't want none of my
people around that mess.
- What?
You literally told me
if Saladine was out the picture,
you and I would be together.
Did you not?
- Look, you need to go.
- Go?
Are you fucking serious?
You told me that we were gonna...
Not this fucking bitch.
Are you for real?
- Bitch?
- Yeah.
- I got your bitch.
Matter of fact, J. Rock,
let me shoot this bitch.
- Erica.
Erica.
- Dead, like her fucking cousin.
- Chill the fuck out.
Not in here in this fucking place.
Is you crazy?
- And here I go thought you
was done with this bitch.
- Look, you cool.
But you and I, we not gonna work out.
- I thought you loved me.
- Love?
It was fun while it lasted.
But you gotta go.
You see, Erica and I, you
finally might tie the knot,
'cause she pregnant with my seed.
- And now you can leave.
And your cousin, GG?
Fuck that bitch.
She got what she deserved.
- Bitch, fuck you.
I'll beat your motherfucking ass, hoe.
- Bye.
- This is not over.
- Fucking leave.
(door locking)
- Baby.
- How the fuck did you get in here?
- Look, don't worry about all that.
Look.
- Get the fuck away from me.
Move.
- Look, I just wanna talk.
Please.
- Leave now.
Get the fuck out.
- What happened earlier was an accident.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to kill your cousin.
Come on.
You gotta believe me, Baby.
Please.
- Leave before I call the cops.
- You don't gotta do that.
I'm sorry.
You don't have to do that.
Okay?
I just need to get outta here.
You can come with me.
I can't go to prison.
Please come on.
- Are you fucking serious?
Are you crazy?
For me to go anywhere with you?
- Why are you doing this?
Right after I did all this for us?
Huh?
So we can be together.
So we can be happy.
I know earlier things went way left, okay?
but your emotions were high.
I understand that.
Okay?
And I forgive you.
We can be happy together, Baby.
We can go off somewhere.
Far.
Alone.
Just me and you.
Come on.
- No, I'm not going anywhere with you.
- Baby.
- I never loved you.
- You're being irrational.
- I hate you.
- Baby.
You don't mean that.
You're just saying that,
'cause you're upset, and you're angry.
Please.
Just take a moment, okay?
You can be happy together.
We can go somewhere.
Just me and you.
You wanna see me go to jail?
Come on.
Please.
Just come with me, please.
(hip hop music)
(gavel falling)
- It's gonna be okay, Baby.
God got us.
- I miss her.
- I miss her, too, Baby.
- It's all my fault.
She just wanted to be happy.
- Well, you know...
we here with this.
First you have to love yourself
instead of loving the idea
of other people loving you.
You understand?
We gonna be okay.
We will be okay.
- Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma.
Grandma, wake up.
Wake up, Grandma.
Grandma.
Wake up.
Grandma.
Hey.
Hey.
Grandma.
Come on, Grandma.
Come on, Grandma, wake up.
(sad music)
- [J. Rock] Baby.
Baby, lemme holla at you.
Hey, Baby.
Hey, Baby.
Lemme holla at you.
You looking good, Baby.
What you been up to?
- What do you want, J. Rock.
- I haven't seen you around in a minute.
Just wanna see what you was up to.
- I've been busy.
- I missed you.
You know Erica and I
aren't together anymore.
- Okay.
- Wanna go for a ride and talk?
- No, no.
There was a time that Baby
would've loved to go with you
and talk with you.
Ride with you.
Be with you.
Be who you wanted me to be.
Say what you wanted me to say.
Do what you wanted me to do.
And Monica Green sees you
for who you really are.
- Yeah?
Who is that?
- A nobody.
At least not to me.
Not ever again.
I found a better love
out here for me, J. Rock.
And I think you need to do the same.
- Who's the nigga?
- It's me.
Have a good day.
(uplifting music)