Toxic Harmony (2024) Movie Script
1
[door opens then closes]
[footstep approaching]
[suspenseful music playing]
[keys jingle]
[door closes]
[ominous music playing]
[screams]
What are you...?
[tense music playing]
[knife swishes]
[suspenseful music playing]
[muffled screaming]
[instrumental music playing]
[car engine revving]
-[upbeat music playing]
-[door alarm chimes]
[door alarm chimes] -Hi.
Hey, girl. Hey.
[cover rustles]
[Darla] Cash this?
You have your ID?
No, I don't-I don't have one.
They didn't give it back.
They?
-Yeah, they.
They are evil.
Sorry, can't cash it unless you have an ID.
Say what?
No, please, sister girl, I need my money.
Sorry.
[door alarm chimes]
I'm lost and need direction
Don't know If I can trust my senses
The path is getting narrow
The arrow's going around in circles
I'm on the hunt I'll find the truth
I've had enough someone cut me loose
On and on it goes
Every time I get ahead
Turns me back around again
On and on it goes
Fending with my eyes closed
I'm stuck in a cycle
It's time. -[woman] Did you tell her?
Tell me what?
[man] Girls wanna do the
song that they wrote.
You mean that song where we sing about our
vaginas for three minutes straight?
We don't actually say the word "vagina".
I know.
Didn't we...? -Hey, hey, hey, hey!
Like I told you, Tonya,
we already got the song
track loaded in with the DJ.
And if y'all gonna do the new song,
it got to be unanimous.
I'm not singing a song
called "Loosey Pussy".
And it doesn't even rhyme.
Look, behind the curtains,
some of the top ARs in LA.
And they came here to see y'all.
Come on, please keep it together.
This is your moment.
Fine.
After that, can we start
singing some new songs?
Sure. Come on, let's go.
[man] Let's go, ladies. Come on.
You're so dysfunctional.
-[man] Come on.
It's your moment.
[DJ] Ladies and gentlemen,
put your hands together for the group...
Gemini!
[upbeat music playing]
You can come on in
Just promise not to bore me uh-huh
If you turn the tail I'll
add you to my story uh-huh
Won't complete me oh-oh
Leave me needing oh-oh
Someone I can hold
Stay for a while
But don't dare cramp my style
'Cause I am the star Of the show
In the chain of girl,
yeah I'm a headliner
Make on the billboard
[indistinct]
In the spotlight oh-oh
You are the song writter
oh-oh having a good time
[groans]
Hell, are you doing?
-Me.
Girl, girls, come on, girls.
What the fuck you still dancing for?
Uh... Y'all, give it up for Gemini, y'all.
Here we go, there we go.
Thank y'all for coming and uh,
make sure y'all stop by the bar, too.
Thank y'all.
I know it's a marathon
I know we gotta carry on
[Tyree] Yo, how you doing?
Can I please have a beer?
[bartender] That'll be nine dollars.
Was this a cash bar?
-[bartender] Mm-hmm.
Corny ass showcase, man.
Keep the change. -I
agree about the showcase.
The shit was coop.
Oh, that was you. [laughs]
My bad.
Well, it was one-third me.
The other two just quit.
Hmm.
But don't feel too bad.
I go to hundreds of these things and,
they're all usually pretty...
-Corny?
Hey, you said it.
No, you said it. I just repeated it.
No, you agreed to it.
Touche.
That was actually the name of the group
that I saw last week.
What? Stop it.
Even had the accent on
the name and everything.
[scoffs] -It's crazy.
Yeah.
At least they still a group.
Well, damn, damn!
So what's next, one-third me?
I don't know. I was thinking
maybe a lemon drop martini.
Come on.
Honestly, I haven't thought about it much.
I mean, my group literally
just broke up minutes ago.
That's not gonna cut it, one-third me.
So when I was coming up,
I had to be strategizing
every second of every day.
Ain't nobody gonna do it for you.
I was thinking maybe I could
just focus on my solo career.
Um, can we go?
Nah, we gotta kick it with J for a minute.
Let's kick it...
and then go.
Well.
Babe, you talked to Tyree McCall?
What did he say?
What exactly could he say
about that performance?
How are you gonna strike up a conversation
with the Head of A&R of Arbor Way
and not plug Gemini?
Did you not just see that
shit show on the stage?
That was ten minutes ago.
Now is now. When else can you gonna talk
to both the CEO and A&R in one place.
Lucas, no.
I'm the manager, right?
I'm the manager.
[glasses clink]
Hey, Ty. Hey-hey, Ty.
Hey, can I holler at you for a minute?
[chuckles]
Let's hear it, man.
I don't know if you heard my girl,
Constance up there, but...
she's the lead singer of Gemini.
[laughs]
That's not something
to be proud of, my guy.
[chuckles]
Like I'm saying, she represents
the talent of the group,
and that's a fact.
You know what, I can get the
ladies to come to the studio
and they can show you what they got.
Ah, man, we heard enough already.
J, admiring the man's tenacity. [laughs]
But now, if I'm being honest,
your girl ain't ready.
Lucas...
My brother...
I get it. Dude, but like I just said...
It's not a problem. I get
to DJ to cue another song.
Yo, are you deaf?
I said we good. Now you
just bein' ignorant.
Can we please just go?
Move.
Y'all have a good night, man.
The performance was cute, girl.
[all laughing]
Nah, he is tweaking, though.
Tell 'em we are good.
[Lucas] So you gonna have
an attitude all night?
Why would you embarrass me like that?
You knew that...
performance was trash,
and yet you still insisted on
talking to J-Money and Tyree.
Because I believe in you
and I'm gonna do whatever
it takes to support you.
I'm gonna talk to Vicki and Tonya,
get them back on board,
and I'm gonna get you
another showcase schedule.
After tonight,
I don't want Tonya back.
[sighs] Look, I know she can be a...
Bitch?
I was gonna say "a bit much,"
but just give her a few days.
She'll come around.
I don't want to be in
the group anymore, babe.
You suggested it and I tried it for a year.
I really just want to go solo.
Then I wouldn't have to worry about things,
these disasters that happened like tonight.
I hear you,
but if you don't want Tonya,
we'll find a replacement.
A group is easier to sell.
So you don't think that
my talent is an easy sell?
I didn't say that.
But as a group's manager,
I just know what works best.
But as my boyfriend, I need you to know
what works best for me.
You know, I'm always
look out for you. Right?
Come here. I love you.
I love you, too.
[mellow music playing]
Oh, good morning. Hello.
Hello. How can I help?
Hi, I have an appointment
with Tyree McCall.
And you are?
Constance Reed.
Constance Reed.
What time is your appointment?
Um... now.
I'm just gonna tell you like this,
you are more polite and more put together
than the other singers who
try to sneak in to see Tyree.
Okay, I'm coming clean here.
Uh, no, I think we just
established that I caught you.
Here's the deal.
J-Money and Tyree came down to a showcase
that I performed at last night
and it was absolutely terrible.
This is the best sales
pitch I've ever heard.
Please continue. -It
was terrible because...
well, it wasn't me.
The music, the look, everything.
I just want Tyree to see the real me.
That's it. I just need five minutes.
I appreciate the honesty.
I do, and you seem really
sweet, but I can't.
I'd be fired before you
even got to the office.
Plus he's not here.
-Thanks anyway.
[door opens] -[man] It's all right.
[security] You have a good day.
[vocalizing]
- Raheem, what's the deal?
-[security] What's goin' on?
[laughing]
Well, if it isn't one-third me.
Well, thanks for reminding me.
I never actually introduced myself.
Constance Reed.
So what, you sneaking into labels now,
Constance Reed?
-[security chuckles]
All jokes aside, you inspired me.
Is that right?
Well, shit.
Guess I gotta invite you to my office now.
Follow me, Constance Reed.
How can I go broke
When I give this Give this money
Then I like it go
When I give this Give this money
Oh, yeah, we go and get it
[indistinct chatter]
I don't know what you heard
But we are out here
Getting his money, baby
Ooh, you're money Is my money
No money, oh, money
All right. I'll call you back.
So...
Uh, so, um, I-I-I had this
whole spiel prepared...
And?
-And I realize it sucked.
[chuckles] You don't have a filter, do you?
Honest to a fault, as my mom would say.
She was a singer too, by the way.
So you come from one of those
singing and dancing families.
Uh, no, no, I did not dance. [chuckles]
That was obvious.
The other night.
No, I am a singer.
Period.
So, why don't you just
send me a demo or something
then we can...
-No.
No.
I am a singer...
like you, and I'm not doing
this for-for fame or for money.
I am doing this because this
is what I'm supposed to do.
This is what I am meant to do.
Well, I hope all of what you
just said is in your demo.
Close your eyes.
-What?
I promise it'll be the last
favor I ever ask you for.
[sighs]
Jesus.
Baby, go hard, no brakes
Making the same mistake
How you gonna know who to listen to now
With the whole world
looking like snakes
We ain't got no time for all this
No, we ain't got no time for nonsense
I'm right here where I'm supposed to be
I'm on my own come float with me
I'm gonna do
What I wanna do
Not listening to you no more
To feeling excited
Why'd you stop?
Uh... still working on it.
Where?
How do you mean?
Do you have a recording studio?
I don't even have a parking space.
Constance Reed...
Put your number in my
phone, Constance Reed.
I might have a studio
that we can use, but...
no promises.
This is amazing.
Thank you so much for giving me a shot.
Can I have my phone back?
Oh! Yes, sorry.
Every second of every day, right?
And you know that thing that I said about
not ever asking you for a favor again?
You know I was lying, right?
I will see you around, Constance.
[chuckles]
Yes.
See you around.
See you soon, Mr. Tyree McCall.
Go, go, go, let's go
We own a mission maybe it's ambitious
Hold up, wait a minute, how
we get in this position?
Are we trippin'? Baby,
it's a rollercoaster
We're just gettin' over
We're moving forward hey
[indistinct]
- I know what this is up to.
- You've got to...
I know what they do to artists.
[security] Would you please stop flailing?
[woman] And I'm gonna told them off.
[grunting]
Just... just... just, miss,
don't make this any harder
then what it already is.
-[woman yelling]
[security] Put your hands to yourself!
Is she gone?
Oh, yeah, she took off
runnin' down the street.
Welcome to the industry.
[upbeat music playing]
There she is.
What's up?
I know you've been to a
recording studio before.
Why you acting like you at the dentist?
I don't know.
It's... it's different.
Feels heavier, you know.
Heavy? Check this out.
This is actually the same studio
where I recorded my very first single.
Is that supposed to make
me feel less nervous?
Nope. Not at all.
Should hop in the booth. Let's get started.
I'm gonna be honest.
I couldn't get your song out of my head.
Really?
-Really.
The thing is I don't know if it's the hook.
Whatever it was, I dug it.
It just needs to be a little bit faster.
Faster? It... like a pop song?
No, not pop.
[mellow music playing]
[music stops]
I like it.
-Good.
Now this time, sing to it.
[mellow music playing]
Baby, go hard, no brakes
Making the same mistakes
How you gonna know Who to listen to now
With the whole world
Looking like snakes
We ain't got no time For all this
No, we ain't got No time for nonsense
I'm right here Where I'm supposed to be
I'm on my own Come float with me
I'm gonna do What I wanna do
Not listening to you No more
And I'm feelin' excited
Gotta make my own choices
Like that. That's how you sing.
I've never... -No, please don't do that.
Don't do that. This is a space
where we can just let it all out.
Okay?
I've never felt like that -[Tyree] Whoo!
Singing before.
Yeah.
Do you have any formal trainer?
Um, no, just inspired by my mom and church.
That's what it is.
That's what what is?
You're singing like you're praising.
Isn't that a good thing?
It's a great thing.
But not at the top of the song.
Constance, you got crazy, crazy talent.
But your breath control is light.
While singing, it all needs
to come from right here.
Why are you breathing hard right now?
I'm-I'm just nervous.
Good.
Okay, so now inhale
twice through your nose.
[inhales]
[inhales]
Again.
[breathing softly]
[chuckles]
I think it worked.
Worked?
It's a breathing exercise.
It's one of many.
Let's get through all of them tonight.
Oh, we're not gonna record again?
We weren't recording the first time.
Girl, you gotta relax.
I'm hyped you took the initiative
and that you want me but we
can't slack on technique.
'Cause if this is your coming out party,
you gotta bring the Cristal.
There's no way you didn't rehearse that.
Just keep breathing.
[singing indistinctly]
My man, Ty.
-Hey, man.
[sighs] Gotta holler at you.
-Okay.
I'm listening.
So I think I want to sign Constance Reed.
Constance Reed?
Who the hell is Constance Reed?
The girl, she was in the Gemini group.
We heard her sing at the showcase.
That trash-ass group?
Not a chance.
-J...
you have not heard this
girl sing, and I mean...
really, really heard her sing.
We don't have anybody at the label
with that type of sound.
And probably for some good damn reason.
If it's anything like what I witnessed,
folks be laughing at her just
like they did to the club.
You placed me, head of A&R
to find marketable artists, right?
I put you over A&R so I could
keep an eye on you, young buck.
To keep an eye on me, what the hell for?
Ty, how long we've been friends?
20 years.
For 20 years, I've always treated you
like a kid brother, haven't I?
When you went to jail for
that little stealing thing,
who was there with the little bail money?
[tense music playing]
And now we're even.
Nah. See.
You owe me.
I was there when you didn't have anybody.
Gave you a job
when, nobody would even
glance at your resume.
And in return.
Your loyalty and dedication is obligatory.
That's fucked up, J.
What was that? -I said
that's fucked up, J.
[keypad ticking] -Hold up. Look.
Hello.
Send me a record contract
for Constance Reed.
I'm signing her.
Thank you.
[sighs]
[bird chirps]
[Lucas] To my girl and
the newest artist signed
to Arbor Way Records.
It's only up from here, baby.
Mm-hm. And to my man,
the best manager and boyfriend
a girl could ask for.
Stop it.
-Cheers. [chuckles]
Mm, that's good.
So, how does it feel?
Mm, God, feels like a dream.
I'm just waiting for somebody
to pinch me so I can wake up.
Ow! [laughs] -Ow! It's real.
See? It's real.
All your hard work's finally paying off.
I'm so proud of you, babe.
Oh. Umm...
so, this is the song I sing for Terry.
Still working on it, but what do you think?
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Oh, yeah.
They're gonna like this.
You definitely coming out strong.
I got to. I want the people to remember me.
Oh, you come here. Give me some.
Mm. [kiss] -Mmm.
Okay. Yup.
-Here we go.
That's my baby. That's my baby.
-Mm-hmm.
We don't care they don't care
It's all out we're out here
So you come near you didn't miss
Real quick with the fitness
I'm puttin' one right between the eyes
And I don't miss oh! nd he really know
Don't really know nobody like this
I got the game in my
veins I'm cool ice chips
Word is bond to myself
I pledge allegiance
I'm still staying fly up in the trap
No finesse being froze I
don't know what this be it
It's about the love that fits
[indistinct]
Don't know who own my side
[indistinct]
[Tyree] Hey, V. V, V, V, V, V.
Hey, V! Hold them up.
My bad, I wanted you to meet somebody.
V Shaw, meet Constance.
Constance, I'm sure you know who V is.
I figured since she signed with us now,
you two will be working together a lot.
I love your music.
Thanks.
Uh, babe, I really want
to get that last run.
What do you think?
I actually wanted to try something.
Constance, why don't you get
in there and give it a shot?
Me?
Ty, what are you doing
putting her on my song?
She's just getting the feel for it. Relax.
Get in now.
I feel...
Okay, Constance, I'm gonna
play the first track first
so you can get a feel for it.
Okay.
[upbeat music playing]
Look at my superstar. How
are you, love? Excited?
Um, nervous.
-Don't be.
You're about to take over the charts.
Me and Tyree already got your rollout plan.
We do things big around here.
Well, I was up all night
going through my songs.
I was thinking the song
that I sang for Tyree,
"Choices", could be my first single.
He played it for me.
It's actually pretty good, but...
I have something else in mind for you.
I've been tryin' a little
But tonight You're actin' thirsty
You hittin' me up
It's kinda early for a first day
If only you could spruce it
Tell me what you feel for
me how to write a story
Show me that you love me beat beat
But every time you come around
You just cheat cheat
I swear you acting like you are
For the street street
But tell me if you're
down on the beat beat
Mm-hm
Something we wrote especially for you.
What do you think?
Wait, I-I won't be writing my own songs?
You will.
Just not yet.
Need to build your brand up first.
So we're gonna give you the
songs we want you to sing.
J...
You mind if I handle this?
You want me to leave my own office.
[J sighs]
It's all good.
Gotta go downtown anyway.
[gloomy music playing]
What's wrong?
I write my own songs, Ty.
Nowhere in the contract did it say
that I will be singing
somebody else's lyrics.
First of all, everybody
sings other people's lyrics.
Second of all, J-Money is right.
We only have one shot at this.
We need to make a song with
enough commercial appeal
that will take over the charts.
That song is radio-ready.
But that's not who I am as an artist.
Constance, you got to play the long game.
The label knows what people
wants to hear, what's trending.
Now, once you develop an audience,
you can write whatever you want.
Trust the process.
And can I play you the song one more time?
No.
[upbeat music playing]
Hold that. There we go. Good.
Not bad, not bad.
[laughs] What up?
Man, this is... this is all so crazy.
- It's happening so fast.
- And I told you it would.
Arbor Way is fast-tracked.
-[laughs]
So listen, we're want to get
some solo shots of you and V,
then we're gonna get
some of y'all together,
because you two are the...
newest artists at Arbor Way,
and J-Money picked these out himself.
Who's this supposed to be for?
[chuckles] It's just for the brand photos.
Yeah, but...
I'm-I'm not really...
I know where you're coming from, trust me.
I don't always agree with
J-Money and his tactics,
but he knows the business, man.
He wants you to personify empowerment.
Listen, if you're uncomfortable,
you know I won't force you
to do anything you don't want to do.
Fine.
[sighs]
- I'll do it.
You sure?
[sighs] I mean, do I really have a choice?
Look, I will be with you
the entire time. Okay?
If you want to pause
and take some breaks to
regroup in between takes,
you can, trust me. Hmm.
It'll be over with before
you know it, trust me.
Let's get you in there chop chop.
Time is money.
[Tyree] V, okay, now listen.
[tense music playing]
You got this.
So now go ahead and kill this.
[camera shutter clicking]
She looks like she's taking a class photo.
She'll get it. You know how it is
when you're first startin' out.
No, I don't.
Never had that problem. -I
guess I'm gonna have to...
fix this little attitude of yours, huh?
I don't have a attitude.
I'm just not with this new girl.
How does she even fit in?
Just give her a chance. She's good.
She can't even stand in them damn heels.
[V sighs] -[camera shutter clicking]
Not doing that bad, if you ask me.
How's she doin'?
Just needs to warm up to it. All right.
- That's not gonna cut it.
- You wanna let me handle this?
Not if that's what I'm gonna get.
V Shaw, go in there,
show her how it's done.
Hold up. What are you doing?
My job.
Turn around.
Get in close, Constance.
You two work together.
Sexier, ladies.
Girl, you got to sell it.
It's just a show. Here, give me some.
Perfect!
That's what I'm talking about.
That's the money shot right there.
I told you.
[laughs]
That is a lot of ketchup.
Yeah, I like them bloody.
[Constance chuckles]
Is J-Money always like that?
Yeah, he likes to be in
control of everything.
- It's always been that way.
- God, it's so frustrating.
He should listen to his artists more.
I wanna feel comfortable.
I mean, who knows me better than I do?
[Tyree] I agree.
So how did you start
working with him anyway?
We've known each other for a long time.
J-Money's dad had us both
growing up in the business.
So, when he passed, he gave the label to J,
asked me to come on board.
[chuckles] He's better behind the scenes.
I'm more of the people person.
Mm. In another world,
you would make a great car salesman.
[laughs]
[both laugh] -V always says that.
Yeah, I hope she doesn't
see me as a threat anymore.
We're all hustling towards the same thing.
[cellphone chimes]
Everything okay?
Just Lucas, working late again.
He hasn't been able to make
it to any of my sessions.
Speaking of sessions,
you're going to hear some new...
accompaniments in this mix.
Yeah?
Go on jump in the booth.
I'm ready if you're ready.
All right.
Play the track.
All right, Constance, let's get it.
[mellow music playing]
Baby, go hard, no brakes
Making those same mistakes
How you gonna know Who to listen to now
With the whole world
Looking like snakes
What's up?
I feel like we need to change
a key after the second verse,
like a B minor or something.
Can you do that?
I need a reference.
Umm...
[mellow music playing]
Okay, let me jump up in there real quick.
We ain't got no time For all this
No, we ain't got no time For nonsense
I'm right here Where I'm supposed to be
I'm on my own Come float with me
I'm gonna do What I wanna do
Not listenin' to you no more
And I'm feeling excited
Tell more choices
Gonna be where I want to be
This time I'm choosing me
There's just too many voices
Gonna make my own choices
Gonna be where I want to be
This time I'm choosing me
There's just too many voices
Gonna make my own choices
Choices, choices, choices
On my mind A sign of a line
I'm on my grind It's destiny
Take a picture Where I'm supposed to be
I know it's naked and
live What goes to me
What does it feel
To say one thing one day And time to go
I'm gonna do As I wanna do
Not listening to you no more
And I'm feeling excited
Gotta make my own choices
[vocalizing]
[sighs] -[chuckles]
Something like that.
-Yeah?
I've missed your voice.
I loved your last album.
And everybody's gonna love yours.
You know, I...
What?
Nothin'.
Should we go again?
Actually, you want to
see something real quick?
Stiff-assed door.
Watch your step.
-[laughs]
Wow.
Wow is right.
And tell me this ain't the most L.A.
shit you ever seen.
[Constance] Well, the meth
heads on Hollywood Boulevard,
I'd say, is a close second but this?
Gorgeous.
Absolutely.
You know I want this for you, right?
Why?
'Cause I see you.
I should go.
-Yeah.
You should go.
[tense music playing]
You're Constance Reed, right?
The new artist?
Yeah...
I'm Darla. You know me.
No, I'm sorry, I don't.
Yes, you do. Come with me
so we could talk in private.
Hell, no. -You have to listen to me.
You have no idea how
much trouble you're in.
Ty.
[car engine rumbles]
Did that bitch just run me?
[cellphone chimes]
[indistinct] -You good?
Just drive.
[car alarm blaring]
-[car horns honking]
You haven't said a word this whole time.
You really did nothing wrong.
If anything, it was my fault.
[Constance] It's not that.
Do you know a woman named Darla?
Darla Stevens?
She didn't tell me her last name.
Who is she?
We were supposed to sign her at one point,
but she got heavy on drugs
so that didn't happen.
Last I heard she was...
in rehab. What did she want?
I'm not sure.
She just kept demanding that I talk to her
but it was kind of freaking me out.
You can't really trust
anything that she says.
[sighs] I'll let Raheem
know we need to up security.
[cellphone vibrates]
I should go.
[car door closes]
[door opens then creaks]
[door closes] -[lock clicks]
[footstep approaching]
[Lucas snoring]
[Lucas] Babe.
Babe.
-Mm?
[Lucas] Look at this.
[mellow music playing]
Oh, my God. Babe,
J-Money said it would happen fast,
but I had no idea that it
would happen this fast.
It's kind of wild, right?
-Yeah.
Gosh, why?
I mean, look at the likes.
The likes?
-Mm-hmm.
[sighs] I mean...
not exactly what I had in
mind, but it's working.
Look, I'm peeping the game, babe.
Don't let them slick
talk you into this trap.
What trap?
Changing you.
Come on, Lucas, this is my shot.
One post from Arbor Way
and I've already had more traction
than I've seen in years.
Let's just see where this goes.
Fine.
If I play their game,
then I'll be able to make my own music.
I'm thinking of the long term.
Are you?
I gotta go. I'm late for work.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[sighs]
[reporter] Constance,
you must be so excited.
Your life has changed
in the span of a month.
How does it feel?
This journey has been a whirlwind
and I am just so grateful for the ride.
[reporter] That clip of your single,
"All Around Me" is trending
and fans are hoping your
whole album has the same vibe.
Would you say this is
the real Constance Reed
or an alter ego?
Umm, I guess it's a little bit of both.
I've never been afraid of
embracing my sexuality.
I find it liberating
but I do think there's a
time and a place for it.
[reporter] And do you
think this self-assurance
could present you with challenges
on being taken seriously as an artist?
Well, I hope to be taken
seriously as an artist
because I can sing.
Period.
[J] Superstar.
Look at you.
I'm telling you, the moment
I heard this young lady sing,
I knew she would be one of a kind.
[upbeat music playing]
[truck engine revving]
Hey, Constance.
Darla.
-[sighs]
- What are you doing here?
- I'm trying to help you.
I don't need your help.
Everything you're telling me was a lie.
What?
What they're doing to you, they did to me.
Sold me promises of being
Arbor Way's next best thing.
That was nothing but bullshit.
Tyree told me you were strung out on drugs.
Of course, he will say that.
They're the ones that
got me hooked on them.
I don't expect you to
believe but it's true.
We were always getting lit,
doing drugs, partying, having
fun, all that bullshit.
I thought I had to do all that
to get a fucking record deal.
I know that that's the
story for a lot of people
and I'm sorry that that
happened to you, but...
that ain't got nothing to do with me.
No, you just don't get it.
It was more than just that.
J-Money was really controlling
at first, but it got worse.
He made me compromise myself.
My soul, girl.
After all that he blackballed me.
Spread all these rumors about me,
destroyed my career
before I even got started.
Didn't you just get out of rehab?
It's not what you think.
I checked myself in rehab
because I was scared.
Scared of what?
It was gonna kill me.
Come on, you don't actually
believe that, do you?
I got proof.
There's another girl they tried this with,
and she got some kind of evidence on him.
She's even suing 'em.
So go talk to her.
She doesn't want to talk to me.
See, I knew you was a little off,
and now I know it was right. You crazy.
Don't say that to me.
Right, I just need you to believe me,
if you only know what they have done to me.
Go call the police.
I can't. They don't believe me.
It's others. I'm not the only one.
Aye!
[door opens] -[Lucas] Babe!
[door closes] -You here?
[Constance] Yeah.
I thought you were going to watch the game
with the guys tonight?
Man, the fellas bailed on me,
so it looks like I'll be
watching it from home.
I stopped and got dinner.
You want the chicken or the shrimp?
Aw, babe, I wish I would have known.
I could've stayed in.
-Damn.
Where are you going?
Oh, just this little
industry thing at Tyree's.
You weren't gonna tell me about it?
You can come if you want.
You said you're gonna be out so.
So you just thought you would
sneak out and I wouldn't notice.
Okay, first of all,
I don't sneak, I'm grown.
And second of all, since
when are you tripping
about stuff like this?
You know that this is all
a part of the business.
Here we go again. It's always the business.
How are we supposed to have a
relationship if you're too busy
running around Tyree and
J-Money every chance you get.
Well, I guess I'm not supposed
to have a relationship
because there is no way
that my man would be this insecure.
[upbeat music playing]
Flexing my moves and grooves
When I walk through the door
Party's gettin' started
may you already know
Music in a club got me jumping
Bass in my ear and it's bumping
Get up on my way 'cause I'm coming
I'm about to do a little
something, something
We're gonna dance tonight
Move your body left to right
Clap your hands and feel the vibe
Let's go crazy a little tonight
We're gonna dance tonight...
-[V] Hey, you made it.
- Yeah, we missed this.
Okay. Oh, ladies, I'm sure you know Ms.
Constance Reed.
[laughs]
Me and my girl are about to,
you know, cook up some big things.
Okay.
To us.
The two ladies, who are
about to take over...
Arbor Way.
-Mm. Yeah.
- I would drink to that.
-[shot glasses clinks]
I'm sure he's here somewhere.
Who?
Stop.
-Stop what?
[chuckles] I have no idea
what you're talking about.
Look, I'm a big girl and I
see the way you look at Tyree.
V, I have a man.
I don't... I don't roll like that.
Like what?
Like me.
I didn't say that.
You don't have to say much.
Your eyes alone are telling me
that you think you're better than me.
V, I don't think that.
Yeah.
Enjoy the party.
Bartender, I'll have another.
[mellow music playing]
I put you on a pedestal
Was ever better optional
I never think you were more in love
Surrounded by a crowded...
I think it's time we take our place
Too many men in the same place
For you
For you high
[indistinct]
High
To the sky
You and I
High, high
Fly in high
To the sky
You and I
And I
Just like a crane on an another floor
It's not hard to be alone
[mellow music playing]
Look like somebody's having
themselves a good time.
[laughs]
It's been a while since I
had a good time like this.
All right.
So... do I need one of these?
What?
A listening party.
Eventually.
Eventually.
Don't be like that.
So what exactly does that entail?
You gonna make me walk to Encino
and I'll bring you some cheesecake?
[both laugh]
[Ty] I would never make you do that.
I'm actually lactose intolerant.
[laughs]
But we can start with this dance.
[Lucas] Yo, move out the way.
Man, move, fool.
Man, Constance. Where Constance's at?
Constance.
Lucas, what the hell are you doing here?
Man, getting you out of here. Look at you.
[Lucas] What is all this shit?
-[Ty] Damn.
Stop it. You're embarrassing me.
You need to leave.
I'm not leaving with you, Lucas.
Man, take your ass on with that shit.
Clearly, she doesn't want to go with you,
so it looks like you'll
be leaving by yourself.
I will take shits bigger than you.
Lucas.
-Mm.
Still think you haven't changed.
You okay?
[door closes] -Yeah.
I'm sorry about that.
Why?
You didn't do nothing.
I know. I...
That was because of me.
I just feel like it's my fault.
He's just been tripping lately.
Yeah, I can tell.
Don't worry about it.
Oh.
-[clears throat]
Where's your, uh, your, uh, bathroom?
It's right down the hall to the left.
Can't miss it.
Thanks.
-Of course.
[indistinct chatter]
All right, everybody, he's gone.
Let's party on.
-[sniffs]
Let's party on. Come on. Give me a drink.
[ominous music playing]
[door opens]
Oh!
Look at you.
My superstar.
You came to party with us?
Uh... I-I came to check on V.
You good, Sis.
Hell yeah, she's good.
You wanna watch?
-Excuse me.
I don't mind an audience
but there's always room for a co-star.
You gotta relax.
That'll help.
Leave her alone, J.
She's not with it.
Baby, you do something for me
and I'll do something for you.
It'd be easier for you
once you realize that.
You're disgusting.
[laughs]
V doesn't think so.
We don't need her.
Just go.
[footfalls] -[door opens]
Why you had to be like that?
Because I can.
Let's just get this over with.
[suspenseful music playing]
[cellphone vibrates]
Hello.
Hello. Man, where you at?
You told me to be on time and you
I'm here on time. Hello?
Man, don't play with me. Hello?
Why you gotta call me off the blue
and tell me you got some new shit,
then you gonna flake!
Come on, man. You junkie-ass flake!
Hello?
Hello?
Hello.
[Darla screams then groaning]
[tense music playing]
Damn, brother.
I told you to mind your
motherfucking business.
That's all you needed to do.
Not so fucking smug now, are you?
Lucas, what the hell are you doing? Huh?
I've been following around
all night, waiting for you
to be alone so we could talk man-to-man.
I've been following you and watching
what you've been doing to this suspect.
You shouldn't have followed me.
I'm gonna tell you this
one time and one time only.
Stay the fuck away from Constance.
All that bullshit you
feeding her, stops right now.
I know exactly what you doing.
You threatening me?
-[Lucas] Yeah, I am.
Consider this a notice.
We're done with the label.
I'm letting everybody know
what Arbor Way really about.
The fuck.
Is that blood? -Oh, that ain't nothing.
What you mean that's nothing?
-Oh.
[Ty grunts] -[Lucas cough]
[Ty grunts] -[Lucas groans]
[exhales]
Why he gotta be so goddamn big.
[ominous music playing]
[keypad ticking]
Hey, it's Lucas. Leave a message. [beeps]
Hey, babe, I know you're
probably still mad at me
about last night. I'm sorry.
I'm on my way home.
V?
What are you doing, girl?
Where's Tyree?
Ty, ain't here.
I'm fine.
No, you're not.
[sighs]
What happened last night is not okay.
How long...
I don't wanna talk about it
because don't nobody care.
I do.
Shit.
There was a girl that
was trying to talk to me
about this very thing.
Who?
Somebody named Darla.
Darla Stevens?
Yeah.
I just read about her 20 minutes ago.
They just found her body in a dumpster.
What?
-She approached you?
A couple of times.
I remember her,
from a few months back.
She ain't last that long.
V, she was saying that people
were trying to kill her.
It was on the news?
Oh, shit.
What?
She tried to airdrop me,
but I didn't accept it.
Huh?
-[cellphone beeps]
[tense music playing]
Why didn't she take this
video and expose him?
Remember when you signed your record deal.
Well, there was some pretty
hardcore NDA language.
Open your mouth and they will own you.
I'm talking millions in damages.
It ain't right.
It's the music business.
You don't think J-Money would...
Look, I don't know about all that
but with J, you never know.
And where is Tyree in all of these?
Look, if you asked me a year ago,
I would have said his hands are clean,
but now I don't know
girl, he's different.
Hey... I'm heading home.
You should come with me.
Lucas is probably still pissed at me
and, honestly, I deserve it.
I don't wanna put you out.
I'm not gonna leave you alone.
Besides, I need a ride.
Oh.
Nice place.
-Girl, please.
Tyree's pool cabana is
bigger than my whole studio.
Lucas.
Lucas.
He still mad?
I don't know.
Just doesn't seem like
he was here last night.
Girl, he probably got drunk
and hung out with his boys.
I guess.
-[keypad ticking]
Hey, it's Lucas. Leave a message. [beeps]
Baby, can you please call me back?
I know you're mad, but I'm
starting to get worried.
Call me back.
I love you.
[sighs] -So...
Darla mentioned some
girl was suing J-Money.
Oh, yeah, uh.
She's actually suing
J-Money and Tyree both.
Tyree can't stand her.
Said she was all about the clout.
And why is Tyree a part of the lawsuit?
Tyree is the head of A&R.
Guilty by association.
And what was the girl's name?
Omni.
Omni Edwards.
[cellphone vibrates]
Finally. Hello.
Yes, this is she
What about Lucas?
Oh! [whimpers]
What?
[tense music playing]
[upbeat music playing]
[sighs]
Look who's still here past 7 p.m.
Brushin' up on your engineering skills.
Well, somebody here's gotta make some hits.
[wine glugs] -[glass scrapes]
I like to think I had
something to do with that.
[wine glugging]
You did.
Until you got sloppy.
You think I got sloppy, J?
You are the one who started all of these
extra curriculars.
So? Everybody does that shit.
I'm talking about Omni.
You was just supposed to figure out
what type of evidence she had on us.
I still think about it.
Well, get over that shit.
I just did what you asked me to do.
Nah. You're on a different level now.
Once this doesn't work out,
you might have a whole other career path.
[laughs]
[sniffs]
Oh, and that, uh, Constance girl,
let's just freeze her out.
Let her contract run its course.
I'm sick a' her.
She's no fun.
[coughing]
Maybe. Maybe not.
I'll take care of that myself, though.
Hey, J.
You remember Fisher?
The junkie who used to supply the drugs
for all our parties back in the day.
Well, it turns out...
fentanyl...
was one of his top sellers.
Gotta be careful with the doses though.
Son of a bitch.
-[Tyree] Steve.
[groans]
Oh.
Now I realize what you've
been trying to teach me
for the past 20 years.
[J gagging]
Shit's business.
[door opens]
I need him to disappear.
Good looking out with Lucas, too.
He was bigger than both of us put together.
[laughs]
I appreciate you. Always.
Hey.
What about Constance?
At this point, she ain't a threat.
She might just crawl herself
in a hole in the fadeaway.
I'll call you.
[suspenseful music playing]
Thank God you're on wheels.
[gloomy music playing]
[Tyree] I'm so sorry about Lucas.
The last time I saw Lucas was right here,
in this house.
And he was in a fight with you.
I'm sorry about that.
I'm not blaming you.
[sniffles] I was just saying
that my last memory of him,
I was telling him that
he was an embarrassment.
I just can't get that out of my mind.
He loved you though.
Should have been better.
A better girlfriend.
A better person.
Constance, don't beat yourself up.
His death is not...
your fault.
Oh, I know.
[sniffles]
It was J-Money's fault.
You feel strongly about that.
Makes sense.
Constance, I got to tell you something.
J-Money is missing.
What?
Yeah. He hasn't returned any
of my calls or text messages.
He didn't show up to the office today.
He didn't even go home last night.
He did this, didn't he?
It looks that way.
Tell me the truth.
Did you know that he was
this much of a monster?
He has always been a foul person.
But all this?
Nah. I can see that.
You know I'm not, right?
-I figured.
And honestly, that's for the best.
You need to go take care of yourself.
Just try to let all of this go.
Heal.
Start anew.
-Let it go?
Yes.
Because if not, it'll fester.
Like cancer.
Constance, you ain't got to leave.
Yeah, I do.
[sniffles]
Thanks for everything.
Heal.
[sighs] -Yeah.
[knocking] -[sighing]
Hi.
Hey, I'm Constance Reed.
-Constance.
Yeah. I see you on my socials.
[baby babbles]
I was wondering if I could talk to you
about your roommate, Omni.
Yeah. Come on in.
[door creaks]
Sorry for the mess.
You're moving?
I'm sorry. Do you not know about...
Yeah, she was murdered, right?
Yeah, right here.
I was the one that found her.
I can't actually live here after that.
I'm sorry.
How do you know her again?
Umm... I don't directly.
She and I were signed to the same label.
Can I ask you something?
-Yeah.
Did she ever talk about J-Money
or anything that was
going on with the case?
She was suing him, right?
Yeah. I mean she didn't
talk too much about it.
She said she had a strong case, though.
Things didn't really turn
out the way she thought
when she signed
but I had an idea what was going on.
Tough business y'all are in.
Did she ever mention a Darla Stevens?
Darla
I think so, um...
She's kinda all over the place, right?
Something like that.
Same thing happened to you.
Something like that.
[Constance clears throat] -Damn.
I'm sorry.
Um...
Can I ask you a favor?
-Mm-hmm. Yeah.
If Omni's stuff is still here,
do you mind if I take a look?
Yeah, have at it.
And fuck those guys.
Her box is right there.
Thanks.
-[sighs]
Hey, Kia?
Yeah.
You wouldn't happen to have
Omni's password, would you?
I loved Omni but her memory was shit.
She always complained about
not memorizing her lyrics.
Two, four, six, eight.
That's the password.
Dumb, right?
-[scoffs]
Yeah, thanks.
I feel sick.
-[laughs]
I feel sick.
J-Money, you sick motherfucker.
Say you're fine.
Say it.
I'm fine.
I am fine.
[laughs]
Light weight.
-[laughs]
Big J, they never can, can they? [chuckles]
You be all right, baby.
She just needs you to little pick me up.
You'll feel better after that.
Tyree.
-[Omni sobs]
Oh, I don't want to take no more.
Yes, you do.
[sobs] No. -You ready for round two?
[sobbing]
Say it.
Yeah.
-Yeah.
I'm ready for round two.
-Yes.
[laughs]
[tense music playing]
- It's just me and you now, baby.
- All right.
It's just only me and you.
-[sobbing]
You lying son of a bitch.
Find everything okay?
You have no idea.
Hey, Tyree.
Can you meet me at Arbor
Way Records tonight?
I gotta get out of town
to just clear my head
but I, at least wanted to say goodbye.
Great. See you then.
Because I love you
And all the things that you do
There she is.
Mm.
What's this?
I guess this is goodbye.
And this is champagne.
Is that supposed to be the Cristal
you were talking about?
-[chuckles]
Not quite, but it's close.
Well, I'm not drinking tonight, but...
congratulations, J-Money's gone.
And the kingdom is yours.
Uh... [chuckles] Not that simple.
If he really disappeared, then
the board of Arbor Way will have to meet
and, elect a new CEO.
And that'll be you.
Maybe.
They might as well be.
You know you two are very similar.
You think so?
Yeah, I mean you have the
same taste in music, right?
Somewhat.
And you definitely have
the same taste in women.
Like V Shaw...
and Omni.
Omni?
You know Omni?
We both know Omni, right?
I don't know what you're talking about.
[Constance] Oh, I think you do.
J-Money has been having
a little too much fun
with these new artists
selling them pipe dreams.
Meanwhile, he's been throwing
wild parties, making sex tapes,
and getting the girls hooked on drugs
running this label into the ground.
One woman found out.
Tried to speak up.
Constance...
You shut her up quickly, didn't you?
Was J-Money pulling your
little puppet strings?
Or for the first time in your life
were you not acting like his little bitch?
I suggest you watch the way
you speak to me, Constance.
Is this what you were looking
for when you killed her?
[Omni] I feel so sick.
Or what about Darla? Huh?
Was J-Money controlling you with her too?
You couldn't do anything
without him telling you
where to jump or how high.
And then finally you had your
first independent thought
and decided to take the
big boss out himself.
[sighs]
Like I said, I have no idea
what you're talking about.
But you're out, right?
You're not an Arbor Way artist anymore.
Why don't you just...
go off and focus on your
relationship with Lucas?
Whoops.
Lucas is no longer with us.
[glass shatters] -[screams]
[suspenseful music playing]
[panting]
[Ty groans]
You're dead.
[panting]
Shit.
Hey, Constance!
Constance!
[dramatic music playing]
It's after hours, baby.
You need a keycard to access the doors.
Looks like you're stuck with me.
There. There you go. There you go...
Constance!
Constance!
[Tyree] I heard you. I heard you.
Do you have any idea...
of what I have done to be here?
What I have sacrificed?
The life that I built from the ground up
with these hands?
No, you don't.
You see, Constance, you just
wanted it all given to you.
You ain't got the heart.
Do you know who does what is necessary?
A hero.
I'm the hero in this
fucking story, Constance.
I'm the hero, and you're the villain.
And it is the hero's job to
defeat the fucking villain.
Oh, no, bitch! Fuck.
Shit! Constance!
You bitch! Fuck it.
Hello?
Hello?
Raheem!
Hello? Can I help you?
Is anyone here? Hello?
-Raheem!
Is anyone here?
Constance?
-Raheem, help me!
Tyree, he's a murderer!
It was always Tyree.
It wasn't always him.
[Constance grunts]
-[Raheem groans]
[Constance screams]
-[Raheem groans]
Stop. Stop. Stop. Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Don't fight it. Don't fight it.
Don't fight it.
There we go. Don't.
There we go. She'll shut up.
[gagging]
Shh-shh. Not your fucking business.
Police! Get off of her!
Here, take him, man.
Let me go, man.
Look at my damn foot!
Look at my foot!
[sobs]
[officer] We received a call
about an attempted murder.
Is that you?
[Constance] That was...
That was me. I knew he killed those women.
And he wanted to kill me, so...
I set him up.
[sobbing]
[indistinct]
I swear to fucking God!
I should have been fucking killed you!
I swear to God, this is
the last time we did it.
Every time you fucking close your eyes...
[indistinct]
You gotta bluff to the cops!
There are no heroes in this story.
Only survivors.
-[indistinct chatter]
-[car engines revving]
[DJ] Ladies and gentlemen,
give it up for the award-winning
music artist of the year,
Constance Reed!
[crowd applauding and cheering]
Thank you. Thank you so
much for being here tonight.
Tonight, I'm going to be starting off
with one of my favorites as well as yours
and this song just won Rhapsody Music's.
Single of the Year Award
and just hit Diamond status.
[crowd cheering and applauding]
And now,
I want to bring out one of
my very, very best friends.
Who is going to be joining
me on the Mosaic World Tour,
Ms. V Shaw.
[crowd cheering and applauding]
[man 1] Whoo!
[man 2] Yeah!
-[man 3] Yeah!
[man 4] Yeah!
[man 5] Yeah!
[man 6] Whoo-hoo-hoo!
[indistinct]
[man 8] Whoo-hoo! [man 9] Yeah!
[mellow music playing]
Ah-ah
Hey-yeh, yeah
Baby, go hard, no breaks
Making those same mistakes
How you gonna know who to listen to now
When the whole world
looking like snakes
We ain't got no time for all this
No, we ain't got no time for nonsense
I'm right here where I'm supposed to be
I'm on my own come float with me
I'm gonna do what I want to do
Not listening to you no more
And I'm feeling excited
Gotta make my own choices
What I will wanna be
There's time to choose me
there's just too many voices
Gotta make my own choices
What I will wanna be
There's time to choose me
There's just too many voices
Gotta make my own choices
Choices, choices, choices
I gotta make my own choices
choices, choices, choices
It's time I'm on my own
Choices, choices, choices
It's time to make my own choices
Choices, choices, choices
It's time I'm on my own
[crowd cheering and applauding]
[mellow music playing]
I just need you to know
When you're not around
it's not the same
A life's lost its color
it's dim and faded
Living but I'm not awake
And I need you to know
More than anything
I need you I need you close to me
You mean the world to me
And I'm reaching out for you
For you
All of you
And I'm reaching out to you
For you
All of you
You know I never lied to you
I never run and hide from you
It's better if you let me know
Please don't let me go
Because you're my love
I knew it from the start
[door opens then closes]
[footstep approaching]
[suspenseful music playing]
[keys jingle]
[door closes]
[ominous music playing]
[screams]
What are you...?
[tense music playing]
[knife swishes]
[suspenseful music playing]
[muffled screaming]
[instrumental music playing]
[car engine revving]
-[upbeat music playing]
-[door alarm chimes]
[door alarm chimes] -Hi.
Hey, girl. Hey.
[cover rustles]
[Darla] Cash this?
You have your ID?
No, I don't-I don't have one.
They didn't give it back.
They?
-Yeah, they.
They are evil.
Sorry, can't cash it unless you have an ID.
Say what?
No, please, sister girl, I need my money.
Sorry.
[door alarm chimes]
I'm lost and need direction
Don't know If I can trust my senses
The path is getting narrow
The arrow's going around in circles
I'm on the hunt I'll find the truth
I've had enough someone cut me loose
On and on it goes
Every time I get ahead
Turns me back around again
On and on it goes
Fending with my eyes closed
I'm stuck in a cycle
It's time. -[woman] Did you tell her?
Tell me what?
[man] Girls wanna do the
song that they wrote.
You mean that song where we sing about our
vaginas for three minutes straight?
We don't actually say the word "vagina".
I know.
Didn't we...? -Hey, hey, hey, hey!
Like I told you, Tonya,
we already got the song
track loaded in with the DJ.
And if y'all gonna do the new song,
it got to be unanimous.
I'm not singing a song
called "Loosey Pussy".
And it doesn't even rhyme.
Look, behind the curtains,
some of the top ARs in LA.
And they came here to see y'all.
Come on, please keep it together.
This is your moment.
Fine.
After that, can we start
singing some new songs?
Sure. Come on, let's go.
[man] Let's go, ladies. Come on.
You're so dysfunctional.
-[man] Come on.
It's your moment.
[DJ] Ladies and gentlemen,
put your hands together for the group...
Gemini!
[upbeat music playing]
You can come on in
Just promise not to bore me uh-huh
If you turn the tail I'll
add you to my story uh-huh
Won't complete me oh-oh
Leave me needing oh-oh
Someone I can hold
Stay for a while
But don't dare cramp my style
'Cause I am the star Of the show
In the chain of girl,
yeah I'm a headliner
Make on the billboard
[indistinct]
In the spotlight oh-oh
You are the song writter
oh-oh having a good time
[groans]
Hell, are you doing?
-Me.
Girl, girls, come on, girls.
What the fuck you still dancing for?
Uh... Y'all, give it up for Gemini, y'all.
Here we go, there we go.
Thank y'all for coming and uh,
make sure y'all stop by the bar, too.
Thank y'all.
I know it's a marathon
I know we gotta carry on
[Tyree] Yo, how you doing?
Can I please have a beer?
[bartender] That'll be nine dollars.
Was this a cash bar?
-[bartender] Mm-hmm.
Corny ass showcase, man.
Keep the change. -I
agree about the showcase.
The shit was coop.
Oh, that was you. [laughs]
My bad.
Well, it was one-third me.
The other two just quit.
Hmm.
But don't feel too bad.
I go to hundreds of these things and,
they're all usually pretty...
-Corny?
Hey, you said it.
No, you said it. I just repeated it.
No, you agreed to it.
Touche.
That was actually the name of the group
that I saw last week.
What? Stop it.
Even had the accent on
the name and everything.
[scoffs] -It's crazy.
Yeah.
At least they still a group.
Well, damn, damn!
So what's next, one-third me?
I don't know. I was thinking
maybe a lemon drop martini.
Come on.
Honestly, I haven't thought about it much.
I mean, my group literally
just broke up minutes ago.
That's not gonna cut it, one-third me.
So when I was coming up,
I had to be strategizing
every second of every day.
Ain't nobody gonna do it for you.
I was thinking maybe I could
just focus on my solo career.
Um, can we go?
Nah, we gotta kick it with J for a minute.
Let's kick it...
and then go.
Well.
Babe, you talked to Tyree McCall?
What did he say?
What exactly could he say
about that performance?
How are you gonna strike up a conversation
with the Head of A&R of Arbor Way
and not plug Gemini?
Did you not just see that
shit show on the stage?
That was ten minutes ago.
Now is now. When else can you gonna talk
to both the CEO and A&R in one place.
Lucas, no.
I'm the manager, right?
I'm the manager.
[glasses clink]
Hey, Ty. Hey-hey, Ty.
Hey, can I holler at you for a minute?
[chuckles]
Let's hear it, man.
I don't know if you heard my girl,
Constance up there, but...
she's the lead singer of Gemini.
[laughs]
That's not something
to be proud of, my guy.
[chuckles]
Like I'm saying, she represents
the talent of the group,
and that's a fact.
You know what, I can get the
ladies to come to the studio
and they can show you what they got.
Ah, man, we heard enough already.
J, admiring the man's tenacity. [laughs]
But now, if I'm being honest,
your girl ain't ready.
Lucas...
My brother...
I get it. Dude, but like I just said...
It's not a problem. I get
to DJ to cue another song.
Yo, are you deaf?
I said we good. Now you
just bein' ignorant.
Can we please just go?
Move.
Y'all have a good night, man.
The performance was cute, girl.
[all laughing]
Nah, he is tweaking, though.
Tell 'em we are good.
[Lucas] So you gonna have
an attitude all night?
Why would you embarrass me like that?
You knew that...
performance was trash,
and yet you still insisted on
talking to J-Money and Tyree.
Because I believe in you
and I'm gonna do whatever
it takes to support you.
I'm gonna talk to Vicki and Tonya,
get them back on board,
and I'm gonna get you
another showcase schedule.
After tonight,
I don't want Tonya back.
[sighs] Look, I know she can be a...
Bitch?
I was gonna say "a bit much,"
but just give her a few days.
She'll come around.
I don't want to be in
the group anymore, babe.
You suggested it and I tried it for a year.
I really just want to go solo.
Then I wouldn't have to worry about things,
these disasters that happened like tonight.
I hear you,
but if you don't want Tonya,
we'll find a replacement.
A group is easier to sell.
So you don't think that
my talent is an easy sell?
I didn't say that.
But as a group's manager,
I just know what works best.
But as my boyfriend, I need you to know
what works best for me.
You know, I'm always
look out for you. Right?
Come here. I love you.
I love you, too.
[mellow music playing]
Oh, good morning. Hello.
Hello. How can I help?
Hi, I have an appointment
with Tyree McCall.
And you are?
Constance Reed.
Constance Reed.
What time is your appointment?
Um... now.
I'm just gonna tell you like this,
you are more polite and more put together
than the other singers who
try to sneak in to see Tyree.
Okay, I'm coming clean here.
Uh, no, I think we just
established that I caught you.
Here's the deal.
J-Money and Tyree came down to a showcase
that I performed at last night
and it was absolutely terrible.
This is the best sales
pitch I've ever heard.
Please continue. -It
was terrible because...
well, it wasn't me.
The music, the look, everything.
I just want Tyree to see the real me.
That's it. I just need five minutes.
I appreciate the honesty.
I do, and you seem really
sweet, but I can't.
I'd be fired before you
even got to the office.
Plus he's not here.
-Thanks anyway.
[door opens] -[man] It's all right.
[security] You have a good day.
[vocalizing]
- Raheem, what's the deal?
-[security] What's goin' on?
[laughing]
Well, if it isn't one-third me.
Well, thanks for reminding me.
I never actually introduced myself.
Constance Reed.
So what, you sneaking into labels now,
Constance Reed?
-[security chuckles]
All jokes aside, you inspired me.
Is that right?
Well, shit.
Guess I gotta invite you to my office now.
Follow me, Constance Reed.
How can I go broke
When I give this Give this money
Then I like it go
When I give this Give this money
Oh, yeah, we go and get it
[indistinct chatter]
I don't know what you heard
But we are out here
Getting his money, baby
Ooh, you're money Is my money
No money, oh, money
All right. I'll call you back.
So...
Uh, so, um, I-I-I had this
whole spiel prepared...
And?
-And I realize it sucked.
[chuckles] You don't have a filter, do you?
Honest to a fault, as my mom would say.
She was a singer too, by the way.
So you come from one of those
singing and dancing families.
Uh, no, no, I did not dance. [chuckles]
That was obvious.
The other night.
No, I am a singer.
Period.
So, why don't you just
send me a demo or something
then we can...
-No.
No.
I am a singer...
like you, and I'm not doing
this for-for fame or for money.
I am doing this because this
is what I'm supposed to do.
This is what I am meant to do.
Well, I hope all of what you
just said is in your demo.
Close your eyes.
-What?
I promise it'll be the last
favor I ever ask you for.
[sighs]
Jesus.
Baby, go hard, no brakes
Making the same mistake
How you gonna know who to listen to now
With the whole world
looking like snakes
We ain't got no time for all this
No, we ain't got no time for nonsense
I'm right here where I'm supposed to be
I'm on my own come float with me
I'm gonna do
What I wanna do
Not listening to you no more
To feeling excited
Why'd you stop?
Uh... still working on it.
Where?
How do you mean?
Do you have a recording studio?
I don't even have a parking space.
Constance Reed...
Put your number in my
phone, Constance Reed.
I might have a studio
that we can use, but...
no promises.
This is amazing.
Thank you so much for giving me a shot.
Can I have my phone back?
Oh! Yes, sorry.
Every second of every day, right?
And you know that thing that I said about
not ever asking you for a favor again?
You know I was lying, right?
I will see you around, Constance.
[chuckles]
Yes.
See you around.
See you soon, Mr. Tyree McCall.
Go, go, go, let's go
We own a mission maybe it's ambitious
Hold up, wait a minute, how
we get in this position?
Are we trippin'? Baby,
it's a rollercoaster
We're just gettin' over
We're moving forward hey
[indistinct]
- I know what this is up to.
- You've got to...
I know what they do to artists.
[security] Would you please stop flailing?
[woman] And I'm gonna told them off.
[grunting]
Just... just... just, miss,
don't make this any harder
then what it already is.
-[woman yelling]
[security] Put your hands to yourself!
Is she gone?
Oh, yeah, she took off
runnin' down the street.
Welcome to the industry.
[upbeat music playing]
There she is.
What's up?
I know you've been to a
recording studio before.
Why you acting like you at the dentist?
I don't know.
It's... it's different.
Feels heavier, you know.
Heavy? Check this out.
This is actually the same studio
where I recorded my very first single.
Is that supposed to make
me feel less nervous?
Nope. Not at all.
Should hop in the booth. Let's get started.
I'm gonna be honest.
I couldn't get your song out of my head.
Really?
-Really.
The thing is I don't know if it's the hook.
Whatever it was, I dug it.
It just needs to be a little bit faster.
Faster? It... like a pop song?
No, not pop.
[mellow music playing]
[music stops]
I like it.
-Good.
Now this time, sing to it.
[mellow music playing]
Baby, go hard, no brakes
Making the same mistakes
How you gonna know Who to listen to now
With the whole world
Looking like snakes
We ain't got no time For all this
No, we ain't got No time for nonsense
I'm right here Where I'm supposed to be
I'm on my own Come float with me
I'm gonna do What I wanna do
Not listening to you No more
And I'm feelin' excited
Gotta make my own choices
Like that. That's how you sing.
I've never... -No, please don't do that.
Don't do that. This is a space
where we can just let it all out.
Okay?
I've never felt like that -[Tyree] Whoo!
Singing before.
Yeah.
Do you have any formal trainer?
Um, no, just inspired by my mom and church.
That's what it is.
That's what what is?
You're singing like you're praising.
Isn't that a good thing?
It's a great thing.
But not at the top of the song.
Constance, you got crazy, crazy talent.
But your breath control is light.
While singing, it all needs
to come from right here.
Why are you breathing hard right now?
I'm-I'm just nervous.
Good.
Okay, so now inhale
twice through your nose.
[inhales]
[inhales]
Again.
[breathing softly]
[chuckles]
I think it worked.
Worked?
It's a breathing exercise.
It's one of many.
Let's get through all of them tonight.
Oh, we're not gonna record again?
We weren't recording the first time.
Girl, you gotta relax.
I'm hyped you took the initiative
and that you want me but we
can't slack on technique.
'Cause if this is your coming out party,
you gotta bring the Cristal.
There's no way you didn't rehearse that.
Just keep breathing.
[singing indistinctly]
My man, Ty.
-Hey, man.
[sighs] Gotta holler at you.
-Okay.
I'm listening.
So I think I want to sign Constance Reed.
Constance Reed?
Who the hell is Constance Reed?
The girl, she was in the Gemini group.
We heard her sing at the showcase.
That trash-ass group?
Not a chance.
-J...
you have not heard this
girl sing, and I mean...
really, really heard her sing.
We don't have anybody at the label
with that type of sound.
And probably for some good damn reason.
If it's anything like what I witnessed,
folks be laughing at her just
like they did to the club.
You placed me, head of A&R
to find marketable artists, right?
I put you over A&R so I could
keep an eye on you, young buck.
To keep an eye on me, what the hell for?
Ty, how long we've been friends?
20 years.
For 20 years, I've always treated you
like a kid brother, haven't I?
When you went to jail for
that little stealing thing,
who was there with the little bail money?
[tense music playing]
And now we're even.
Nah. See.
You owe me.
I was there when you didn't have anybody.
Gave you a job
when, nobody would even
glance at your resume.
And in return.
Your loyalty and dedication is obligatory.
That's fucked up, J.
What was that? -I said
that's fucked up, J.
[keypad ticking] -Hold up. Look.
Hello.
Send me a record contract
for Constance Reed.
I'm signing her.
Thank you.
[sighs]
[bird chirps]
[Lucas] To my girl and
the newest artist signed
to Arbor Way Records.
It's only up from here, baby.
Mm-hm. And to my man,
the best manager and boyfriend
a girl could ask for.
Stop it.
-Cheers. [chuckles]
Mm, that's good.
So, how does it feel?
Mm, God, feels like a dream.
I'm just waiting for somebody
to pinch me so I can wake up.
Ow! [laughs] -Ow! It's real.
See? It's real.
All your hard work's finally paying off.
I'm so proud of you, babe.
Oh. Umm...
so, this is the song I sing for Terry.
Still working on it, but what do you think?
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Oh, yeah.
They're gonna like this.
You definitely coming out strong.
I got to. I want the people to remember me.
Oh, you come here. Give me some.
Mm. [kiss] -Mmm.
Okay. Yup.
-Here we go.
That's my baby. That's my baby.
-Mm-hmm.
We don't care they don't care
It's all out we're out here
So you come near you didn't miss
Real quick with the fitness
I'm puttin' one right between the eyes
And I don't miss oh! nd he really know
Don't really know nobody like this
I got the game in my
veins I'm cool ice chips
Word is bond to myself
I pledge allegiance
I'm still staying fly up in the trap
No finesse being froze I
don't know what this be it
It's about the love that fits
[indistinct]
Don't know who own my side
[indistinct]
[Tyree] Hey, V. V, V, V, V, V.
Hey, V! Hold them up.
My bad, I wanted you to meet somebody.
V Shaw, meet Constance.
Constance, I'm sure you know who V is.
I figured since she signed with us now,
you two will be working together a lot.
I love your music.
Thanks.
Uh, babe, I really want
to get that last run.
What do you think?
I actually wanted to try something.
Constance, why don't you get
in there and give it a shot?
Me?
Ty, what are you doing
putting her on my song?
She's just getting the feel for it. Relax.
Get in now.
I feel...
Okay, Constance, I'm gonna
play the first track first
so you can get a feel for it.
Okay.
[upbeat music playing]
Look at my superstar. How
are you, love? Excited?
Um, nervous.
-Don't be.
You're about to take over the charts.
Me and Tyree already got your rollout plan.
We do things big around here.
Well, I was up all night
going through my songs.
I was thinking the song
that I sang for Tyree,
"Choices", could be my first single.
He played it for me.
It's actually pretty good, but...
I have something else in mind for you.
I've been tryin' a little
But tonight You're actin' thirsty
You hittin' me up
It's kinda early for a first day
If only you could spruce it
Tell me what you feel for
me how to write a story
Show me that you love me beat beat
But every time you come around
You just cheat cheat
I swear you acting like you are
For the street street
But tell me if you're
down on the beat beat
Mm-hm
Something we wrote especially for you.
What do you think?
Wait, I-I won't be writing my own songs?
You will.
Just not yet.
Need to build your brand up first.
So we're gonna give you the
songs we want you to sing.
J...
You mind if I handle this?
You want me to leave my own office.
[J sighs]
It's all good.
Gotta go downtown anyway.
[gloomy music playing]
What's wrong?
I write my own songs, Ty.
Nowhere in the contract did it say
that I will be singing
somebody else's lyrics.
First of all, everybody
sings other people's lyrics.
Second of all, J-Money is right.
We only have one shot at this.
We need to make a song with
enough commercial appeal
that will take over the charts.
That song is radio-ready.
But that's not who I am as an artist.
Constance, you got to play the long game.
The label knows what people
wants to hear, what's trending.
Now, once you develop an audience,
you can write whatever you want.
Trust the process.
And can I play you the song one more time?
No.
[upbeat music playing]
Hold that. There we go. Good.
Not bad, not bad.
[laughs] What up?
Man, this is... this is all so crazy.
- It's happening so fast.
- And I told you it would.
Arbor Way is fast-tracked.
-[laughs]
So listen, we're want to get
some solo shots of you and V,
then we're gonna get
some of y'all together,
because you two are the...
newest artists at Arbor Way,
and J-Money picked these out himself.
Who's this supposed to be for?
[chuckles] It's just for the brand photos.
Yeah, but...
I'm-I'm not really...
I know where you're coming from, trust me.
I don't always agree with
J-Money and his tactics,
but he knows the business, man.
He wants you to personify empowerment.
Listen, if you're uncomfortable,
you know I won't force you
to do anything you don't want to do.
Fine.
[sighs]
- I'll do it.
You sure?
[sighs] I mean, do I really have a choice?
Look, I will be with you
the entire time. Okay?
If you want to pause
and take some breaks to
regroup in between takes,
you can, trust me. Hmm.
It'll be over with before
you know it, trust me.
Let's get you in there chop chop.
Time is money.
[Tyree] V, okay, now listen.
[tense music playing]
You got this.
So now go ahead and kill this.
[camera shutter clicking]
She looks like she's taking a class photo.
She'll get it. You know how it is
when you're first startin' out.
No, I don't.
Never had that problem. -I
guess I'm gonna have to...
fix this little attitude of yours, huh?
I don't have a attitude.
I'm just not with this new girl.
How does she even fit in?
Just give her a chance. She's good.
She can't even stand in them damn heels.
[V sighs] -[camera shutter clicking]
Not doing that bad, if you ask me.
How's she doin'?
Just needs to warm up to it. All right.
- That's not gonna cut it.
- You wanna let me handle this?
Not if that's what I'm gonna get.
V Shaw, go in there,
show her how it's done.
Hold up. What are you doing?
My job.
Turn around.
Get in close, Constance.
You two work together.
Sexier, ladies.
Girl, you got to sell it.
It's just a show. Here, give me some.
Perfect!
That's what I'm talking about.
That's the money shot right there.
I told you.
[laughs]
That is a lot of ketchup.
Yeah, I like them bloody.
[Constance chuckles]
Is J-Money always like that?
Yeah, he likes to be in
control of everything.
- It's always been that way.
- God, it's so frustrating.
He should listen to his artists more.
I wanna feel comfortable.
I mean, who knows me better than I do?
[Tyree] I agree.
So how did you start
working with him anyway?
We've known each other for a long time.
J-Money's dad had us both
growing up in the business.
So, when he passed, he gave the label to J,
asked me to come on board.
[chuckles] He's better behind the scenes.
I'm more of the people person.
Mm. In another world,
you would make a great car salesman.
[laughs]
[both laugh] -V always says that.
Yeah, I hope she doesn't
see me as a threat anymore.
We're all hustling towards the same thing.
[cellphone chimes]
Everything okay?
Just Lucas, working late again.
He hasn't been able to make
it to any of my sessions.
Speaking of sessions,
you're going to hear some new...
accompaniments in this mix.
Yeah?
Go on jump in the booth.
I'm ready if you're ready.
All right.
Play the track.
All right, Constance, let's get it.
[mellow music playing]
Baby, go hard, no brakes
Making those same mistakes
How you gonna know Who to listen to now
With the whole world
Looking like snakes
What's up?
I feel like we need to change
a key after the second verse,
like a B minor or something.
Can you do that?
I need a reference.
Umm...
[mellow music playing]
Okay, let me jump up in there real quick.
We ain't got no time For all this
No, we ain't got no time For nonsense
I'm right here Where I'm supposed to be
I'm on my own Come float with me
I'm gonna do What I wanna do
Not listenin' to you no more
And I'm feeling excited
Tell more choices
Gonna be where I want to be
This time I'm choosing me
There's just too many voices
Gonna make my own choices
Gonna be where I want to be
This time I'm choosing me
There's just too many voices
Gonna make my own choices
Choices, choices, choices
On my mind A sign of a line
I'm on my grind It's destiny
Take a picture Where I'm supposed to be
I know it's naked and
live What goes to me
What does it feel
To say one thing one day And time to go
I'm gonna do As I wanna do
Not listening to you no more
And I'm feeling excited
Gotta make my own choices
[vocalizing]
[sighs] -[chuckles]
Something like that.
-Yeah?
I've missed your voice.
I loved your last album.
And everybody's gonna love yours.
You know, I...
What?
Nothin'.
Should we go again?
Actually, you want to
see something real quick?
Stiff-assed door.
Watch your step.
-[laughs]
Wow.
Wow is right.
And tell me this ain't the most L.A.
shit you ever seen.
[Constance] Well, the meth
heads on Hollywood Boulevard,
I'd say, is a close second but this?
Gorgeous.
Absolutely.
You know I want this for you, right?
Why?
'Cause I see you.
I should go.
-Yeah.
You should go.
[tense music playing]
You're Constance Reed, right?
The new artist?
Yeah...
I'm Darla. You know me.
No, I'm sorry, I don't.
Yes, you do. Come with me
so we could talk in private.
Hell, no. -You have to listen to me.
You have no idea how
much trouble you're in.
Ty.
[car engine rumbles]
Did that bitch just run me?
[cellphone chimes]
[indistinct] -You good?
Just drive.
[car alarm blaring]
-[car horns honking]
You haven't said a word this whole time.
You really did nothing wrong.
If anything, it was my fault.
[Constance] It's not that.
Do you know a woman named Darla?
Darla Stevens?
She didn't tell me her last name.
Who is she?
We were supposed to sign her at one point,
but she got heavy on drugs
so that didn't happen.
Last I heard she was...
in rehab. What did she want?
I'm not sure.
She just kept demanding that I talk to her
but it was kind of freaking me out.
You can't really trust
anything that she says.
[sighs] I'll let Raheem
know we need to up security.
[cellphone vibrates]
I should go.
[car door closes]
[door opens then creaks]
[door closes] -[lock clicks]
[footstep approaching]
[Lucas snoring]
[Lucas] Babe.
Babe.
-Mm?
[Lucas] Look at this.
[mellow music playing]
Oh, my God. Babe,
J-Money said it would happen fast,
but I had no idea that it
would happen this fast.
It's kind of wild, right?
-Yeah.
Gosh, why?
I mean, look at the likes.
The likes?
-Mm-hmm.
[sighs] I mean...
not exactly what I had in
mind, but it's working.
Look, I'm peeping the game, babe.
Don't let them slick
talk you into this trap.
What trap?
Changing you.
Come on, Lucas, this is my shot.
One post from Arbor Way
and I've already had more traction
than I've seen in years.
Let's just see where this goes.
Fine.
If I play their game,
then I'll be able to make my own music.
I'm thinking of the long term.
Are you?
I gotta go. I'm late for work.
[door opens]
[door closes]
[sighs]
[reporter] Constance,
you must be so excited.
Your life has changed
in the span of a month.
How does it feel?
This journey has been a whirlwind
and I am just so grateful for the ride.
[reporter] That clip of your single,
"All Around Me" is trending
and fans are hoping your
whole album has the same vibe.
Would you say this is
the real Constance Reed
or an alter ego?
Umm, I guess it's a little bit of both.
I've never been afraid of
embracing my sexuality.
I find it liberating
but I do think there's a
time and a place for it.
[reporter] And do you
think this self-assurance
could present you with challenges
on being taken seriously as an artist?
Well, I hope to be taken
seriously as an artist
because I can sing.
Period.
[J] Superstar.
Look at you.
I'm telling you, the moment
I heard this young lady sing,
I knew she would be one of a kind.
[upbeat music playing]
[truck engine revving]
Hey, Constance.
Darla.
-[sighs]
- What are you doing here?
- I'm trying to help you.
I don't need your help.
Everything you're telling me was a lie.
What?
What they're doing to you, they did to me.
Sold me promises of being
Arbor Way's next best thing.
That was nothing but bullshit.
Tyree told me you were strung out on drugs.
Of course, he will say that.
They're the ones that
got me hooked on them.
I don't expect you to
believe but it's true.
We were always getting lit,
doing drugs, partying, having
fun, all that bullshit.
I thought I had to do all that
to get a fucking record deal.
I know that that's the
story for a lot of people
and I'm sorry that that
happened to you, but...
that ain't got nothing to do with me.
No, you just don't get it.
It was more than just that.
J-Money was really controlling
at first, but it got worse.
He made me compromise myself.
My soul, girl.
After all that he blackballed me.
Spread all these rumors about me,
destroyed my career
before I even got started.
Didn't you just get out of rehab?
It's not what you think.
I checked myself in rehab
because I was scared.
Scared of what?
It was gonna kill me.
Come on, you don't actually
believe that, do you?
I got proof.
There's another girl they tried this with,
and she got some kind of evidence on him.
She's even suing 'em.
So go talk to her.
She doesn't want to talk to me.
See, I knew you was a little off,
and now I know it was right. You crazy.
Don't say that to me.
Right, I just need you to believe me,
if you only know what they have done to me.
Go call the police.
I can't. They don't believe me.
It's others. I'm not the only one.
Aye!
[door opens] -[Lucas] Babe!
[door closes] -You here?
[Constance] Yeah.
I thought you were going to watch the game
with the guys tonight?
Man, the fellas bailed on me,
so it looks like I'll be
watching it from home.
I stopped and got dinner.
You want the chicken or the shrimp?
Aw, babe, I wish I would have known.
I could've stayed in.
-Damn.
Where are you going?
Oh, just this little
industry thing at Tyree's.
You weren't gonna tell me about it?
You can come if you want.
You said you're gonna be out so.
So you just thought you would
sneak out and I wouldn't notice.
Okay, first of all,
I don't sneak, I'm grown.
And second of all, since
when are you tripping
about stuff like this?
You know that this is all
a part of the business.
Here we go again. It's always the business.
How are we supposed to have a
relationship if you're too busy
running around Tyree and
J-Money every chance you get.
Well, I guess I'm not supposed
to have a relationship
because there is no way
that my man would be this insecure.
[upbeat music playing]
Flexing my moves and grooves
When I walk through the door
Party's gettin' started
may you already know
Music in a club got me jumping
Bass in my ear and it's bumping
Get up on my way 'cause I'm coming
I'm about to do a little
something, something
We're gonna dance tonight
Move your body left to right
Clap your hands and feel the vibe
Let's go crazy a little tonight
We're gonna dance tonight...
-[V] Hey, you made it.
- Yeah, we missed this.
Okay. Oh, ladies, I'm sure you know Ms.
Constance Reed.
[laughs]
Me and my girl are about to,
you know, cook up some big things.
Okay.
To us.
The two ladies, who are
about to take over...
Arbor Way.
-Mm. Yeah.
- I would drink to that.
-[shot glasses clinks]
I'm sure he's here somewhere.
Who?
Stop.
-Stop what?
[chuckles] I have no idea
what you're talking about.
Look, I'm a big girl and I
see the way you look at Tyree.
V, I have a man.
I don't... I don't roll like that.
Like what?
Like me.
I didn't say that.
You don't have to say much.
Your eyes alone are telling me
that you think you're better than me.
V, I don't think that.
Yeah.
Enjoy the party.
Bartender, I'll have another.
[mellow music playing]
I put you on a pedestal
Was ever better optional
I never think you were more in love
Surrounded by a crowded...
I think it's time we take our place
Too many men in the same place
For you
For you high
[indistinct]
High
To the sky
You and I
High, high
Fly in high
To the sky
You and I
And I
Just like a crane on an another floor
It's not hard to be alone
[mellow music playing]
Look like somebody's having
themselves a good time.
[laughs]
It's been a while since I
had a good time like this.
All right.
So... do I need one of these?
What?
A listening party.
Eventually.
Eventually.
Don't be like that.
So what exactly does that entail?
You gonna make me walk to Encino
and I'll bring you some cheesecake?
[both laugh]
[Ty] I would never make you do that.
I'm actually lactose intolerant.
[laughs]
But we can start with this dance.
[Lucas] Yo, move out the way.
Man, move, fool.
Man, Constance. Where Constance's at?
Constance.
Lucas, what the hell are you doing here?
Man, getting you out of here. Look at you.
[Lucas] What is all this shit?
-[Ty] Damn.
Stop it. You're embarrassing me.
You need to leave.
I'm not leaving with you, Lucas.
Man, take your ass on with that shit.
Clearly, she doesn't want to go with you,
so it looks like you'll
be leaving by yourself.
I will take shits bigger than you.
Lucas.
-Mm.
Still think you haven't changed.
You okay?
[door closes] -Yeah.
I'm sorry about that.
Why?
You didn't do nothing.
I know. I...
That was because of me.
I just feel like it's my fault.
He's just been tripping lately.
Yeah, I can tell.
Don't worry about it.
Oh.
-[clears throat]
Where's your, uh, your, uh, bathroom?
It's right down the hall to the left.
Can't miss it.
Thanks.
-Of course.
[indistinct chatter]
All right, everybody, he's gone.
Let's party on.
-[sniffs]
Let's party on. Come on. Give me a drink.
[ominous music playing]
[door opens]
Oh!
Look at you.
My superstar.
You came to party with us?
Uh... I-I came to check on V.
You good, Sis.
Hell yeah, she's good.
You wanna watch?
-Excuse me.
I don't mind an audience
but there's always room for a co-star.
You gotta relax.
That'll help.
Leave her alone, J.
She's not with it.
Baby, you do something for me
and I'll do something for you.
It'd be easier for you
once you realize that.
You're disgusting.
[laughs]
V doesn't think so.
We don't need her.
Just go.
[footfalls] -[door opens]
Why you had to be like that?
Because I can.
Let's just get this over with.
[suspenseful music playing]
[cellphone vibrates]
Hello.
Hello. Man, where you at?
You told me to be on time and you
I'm here on time. Hello?
Man, don't play with me. Hello?
Why you gotta call me off the blue
and tell me you got some new shit,
then you gonna flake!
Come on, man. You junkie-ass flake!
Hello?
Hello?
Hello.
[Darla screams then groaning]
[tense music playing]
Damn, brother.
I told you to mind your
motherfucking business.
That's all you needed to do.
Not so fucking smug now, are you?
Lucas, what the hell are you doing? Huh?
I've been following around
all night, waiting for you
to be alone so we could talk man-to-man.
I've been following you and watching
what you've been doing to this suspect.
You shouldn't have followed me.
I'm gonna tell you this
one time and one time only.
Stay the fuck away from Constance.
All that bullshit you
feeding her, stops right now.
I know exactly what you doing.
You threatening me?
-[Lucas] Yeah, I am.
Consider this a notice.
We're done with the label.
I'm letting everybody know
what Arbor Way really about.
The fuck.
Is that blood? -Oh, that ain't nothing.
What you mean that's nothing?
-Oh.
[Ty grunts] -[Lucas cough]
[Ty grunts] -[Lucas groans]
[exhales]
Why he gotta be so goddamn big.
[ominous music playing]
[keypad ticking]
Hey, it's Lucas. Leave a message. [beeps]
Hey, babe, I know you're
probably still mad at me
about last night. I'm sorry.
I'm on my way home.
V?
What are you doing, girl?
Where's Tyree?
Ty, ain't here.
I'm fine.
No, you're not.
[sighs]
What happened last night is not okay.
How long...
I don't wanna talk about it
because don't nobody care.
I do.
Shit.
There was a girl that
was trying to talk to me
about this very thing.
Who?
Somebody named Darla.
Darla Stevens?
Yeah.
I just read about her 20 minutes ago.
They just found her body in a dumpster.
What?
-She approached you?
A couple of times.
I remember her,
from a few months back.
She ain't last that long.
V, she was saying that people
were trying to kill her.
It was on the news?
Oh, shit.
What?
She tried to airdrop me,
but I didn't accept it.
Huh?
-[cellphone beeps]
[tense music playing]
Why didn't she take this
video and expose him?
Remember when you signed your record deal.
Well, there was some pretty
hardcore NDA language.
Open your mouth and they will own you.
I'm talking millions in damages.
It ain't right.
It's the music business.
You don't think J-Money would...
Look, I don't know about all that
but with J, you never know.
And where is Tyree in all of these?
Look, if you asked me a year ago,
I would have said his hands are clean,
but now I don't know
girl, he's different.
Hey... I'm heading home.
You should come with me.
Lucas is probably still pissed at me
and, honestly, I deserve it.
I don't wanna put you out.
I'm not gonna leave you alone.
Besides, I need a ride.
Oh.
Nice place.
-Girl, please.
Tyree's pool cabana is
bigger than my whole studio.
Lucas.
Lucas.
He still mad?
I don't know.
Just doesn't seem like
he was here last night.
Girl, he probably got drunk
and hung out with his boys.
I guess.
-[keypad ticking]
Hey, it's Lucas. Leave a message. [beeps]
Baby, can you please call me back?
I know you're mad, but I'm
starting to get worried.
Call me back.
I love you.
[sighs] -So...
Darla mentioned some
girl was suing J-Money.
Oh, yeah, uh.
She's actually suing
J-Money and Tyree both.
Tyree can't stand her.
Said she was all about the clout.
And why is Tyree a part of the lawsuit?
Tyree is the head of A&R.
Guilty by association.
And what was the girl's name?
Omni.
Omni Edwards.
[cellphone vibrates]
Finally. Hello.
Yes, this is she
What about Lucas?
Oh! [whimpers]
What?
[tense music playing]
[upbeat music playing]
[sighs]
Look who's still here past 7 p.m.
Brushin' up on your engineering skills.
Well, somebody here's gotta make some hits.
[wine glugs] -[glass scrapes]
I like to think I had
something to do with that.
[wine glugging]
You did.
Until you got sloppy.
You think I got sloppy, J?
You are the one who started all of these
extra curriculars.
So? Everybody does that shit.
I'm talking about Omni.
You was just supposed to figure out
what type of evidence she had on us.
I still think about it.
Well, get over that shit.
I just did what you asked me to do.
Nah. You're on a different level now.
Once this doesn't work out,
you might have a whole other career path.
[laughs]
[sniffs]
Oh, and that, uh, Constance girl,
let's just freeze her out.
Let her contract run its course.
I'm sick a' her.
She's no fun.
[coughing]
Maybe. Maybe not.
I'll take care of that myself, though.
Hey, J.
You remember Fisher?
The junkie who used to supply the drugs
for all our parties back in the day.
Well, it turns out...
fentanyl...
was one of his top sellers.
Gotta be careful with the doses though.
Son of a bitch.
-[Tyree] Steve.
[groans]
Oh.
Now I realize what you've
been trying to teach me
for the past 20 years.
[J gagging]
Shit's business.
[door opens]
I need him to disappear.
Good looking out with Lucas, too.
He was bigger than both of us put together.
[laughs]
I appreciate you. Always.
Hey.
What about Constance?
At this point, she ain't a threat.
She might just crawl herself
in a hole in the fadeaway.
I'll call you.
[suspenseful music playing]
Thank God you're on wheels.
[gloomy music playing]
[Tyree] I'm so sorry about Lucas.
The last time I saw Lucas was right here,
in this house.
And he was in a fight with you.
I'm sorry about that.
I'm not blaming you.
[sniffles] I was just saying
that my last memory of him,
I was telling him that
he was an embarrassment.
I just can't get that out of my mind.
He loved you though.
Should have been better.
A better girlfriend.
A better person.
Constance, don't beat yourself up.
His death is not...
your fault.
Oh, I know.
[sniffles]
It was J-Money's fault.
You feel strongly about that.
Makes sense.
Constance, I got to tell you something.
J-Money is missing.
What?
Yeah. He hasn't returned any
of my calls or text messages.
He didn't show up to the office today.
He didn't even go home last night.
He did this, didn't he?
It looks that way.
Tell me the truth.
Did you know that he was
this much of a monster?
He has always been a foul person.
But all this?
Nah. I can see that.
You know I'm not, right?
-I figured.
And honestly, that's for the best.
You need to go take care of yourself.
Just try to let all of this go.
Heal.
Start anew.
-Let it go?
Yes.
Because if not, it'll fester.
Like cancer.
Constance, you ain't got to leave.
Yeah, I do.
[sniffles]
Thanks for everything.
Heal.
[sighs] -Yeah.
[knocking] -[sighing]
Hi.
Hey, I'm Constance Reed.
-Constance.
Yeah. I see you on my socials.
[baby babbles]
I was wondering if I could talk to you
about your roommate, Omni.
Yeah. Come on in.
[door creaks]
Sorry for the mess.
You're moving?
I'm sorry. Do you not know about...
Yeah, she was murdered, right?
Yeah, right here.
I was the one that found her.
I can't actually live here after that.
I'm sorry.
How do you know her again?
Umm... I don't directly.
She and I were signed to the same label.
Can I ask you something?
-Yeah.
Did she ever talk about J-Money
or anything that was
going on with the case?
She was suing him, right?
Yeah. I mean she didn't
talk too much about it.
She said she had a strong case, though.
Things didn't really turn
out the way she thought
when she signed
but I had an idea what was going on.
Tough business y'all are in.
Did she ever mention a Darla Stevens?
Darla
I think so, um...
She's kinda all over the place, right?
Something like that.
Same thing happened to you.
Something like that.
[Constance clears throat] -Damn.
I'm sorry.
Um...
Can I ask you a favor?
-Mm-hmm. Yeah.
If Omni's stuff is still here,
do you mind if I take a look?
Yeah, have at it.
And fuck those guys.
Her box is right there.
Thanks.
-[sighs]
Hey, Kia?
Yeah.
You wouldn't happen to have
Omni's password, would you?
I loved Omni but her memory was shit.
She always complained about
not memorizing her lyrics.
Two, four, six, eight.
That's the password.
Dumb, right?
-[scoffs]
Yeah, thanks.
I feel sick.
-[laughs]
I feel sick.
J-Money, you sick motherfucker.
Say you're fine.
Say it.
I'm fine.
I am fine.
[laughs]
Light weight.
-[laughs]
Big J, they never can, can they? [chuckles]
You be all right, baby.
She just needs you to little pick me up.
You'll feel better after that.
Tyree.
-[Omni sobs]
Oh, I don't want to take no more.
Yes, you do.
[sobs] No. -You ready for round two?
[sobbing]
Say it.
Yeah.
-Yeah.
I'm ready for round two.
-Yes.
[laughs]
[tense music playing]
- It's just me and you now, baby.
- All right.
It's just only me and you.
-[sobbing]
You lying son of a bitch.
Find everything okay?
You have no idea.
Hey, Tyree.
Can you meet me at Arbor
Way Records tonight?
I gotta get out of town
to just clear my head
but I, at least wanted to say goodbye.
Great. See you then.
Because I love you
And all the things that you do
There she is.
Mm.
What's this?
I guess this is goodbye.
And this is champagne.
Is that supposed to be the Cristal
you were talking about?
-[chuckles]
Not quite, but it's close.
Well, I'm not drinking tonight, but...
congratulations, J-Money's gone.
And the kingdom is yours.
Uh... [chuckles] Not that simple.
If he really disappeared, then
the board of Arbor Way will have to meet
and, elect a new CEO.
And that'll be you.
Maybe.
They might as well be.
You know you two are very similar.
You think so?
Yeah, I mean you have the
same taste in music, right?
Somewhat.
And you definitely have
the same taste in women.
Like V Shaw...
and Omni.
Omni?
You know Omni?
We both know Omni, right?
I don't know what you're talking about.
[Constance] Oh, I think you do.
J-Money has been having
a little too much fun
with these new artists
selling them pipe dreams.
Meanwhile, he's been throwing
wild parties, making sex tapes,
and getting the girls hooked on drugs
running this label into the ground.
One woman found out.
Tried to speak up.
Constance...
You shut her up quickly, didn't you?
Was J-Money pulling your
little puppet strings?
Or for the first time in your life
were you not acting like his little bitch?
I suggest you watch the way
you speak to me, Constance.
Is this what you were looking
for when you killed her?
[Omni] I feel so sick.
Or what about Darla? Huh?
Was J-Money controlling you with her too?
You couldn't do anything
without him telling you
where to jump or how high.
And then finally you had your
first independent thought
and decided to take the
big boss out himself.
[sighs]
Like I said, I have no idea
what you're talking about.
But you're out, right?
You're not an Arbor Way artist anymore.
Why don't you just...
go off and focus on your
relationship with Lucas?
Whoops.
Lucas is no longer with us.
[glass shatters] -[screams]
[suspenseful music playing]
[panting]
[Ty groans]
You're dead.
[panting]
Shit.
Hey, Constance!
Constance!
[dramatic music playing]
It's after hours, baby.
You need a keycard to access the doors.
Looks like you're stuck with me.
There. There you go. There you go...
Constance!
Constance!
[Tyree] I heard you. I heard you.
Do you have any idea...
of what I have done to be here?
What I have sacrificed?
The life that I built from the ground up
with these hands?
No, you don't.
You see, Constance, you just
wanted it all given to you.
You ain't got the heart.
Do you know who does what is necessary?
A hero.
I'm the hero in this
fucking story, Constance.
I'm the hero, and you're the villain.
And it is the hero's job to
defeat the fucking villain.
Oh, no, bitch! Fuck.
Shit! Constance!
You bitch! Fuck it.
Hello?
Hello?
Raheem!
Hello? Can I help you?
Is anyone here? Hello?
-Raheem!
Is anyone here?
Constance?
-Raheem, help me!
Tyree, he's a murderer!
It was always Tyree.
It wasn't always him.
[Constance grunts]
-[Raheem groans]
[Constance screams]
-[Raheem groans]
Stop. Stop. Stop. Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Don't fight it. Don't fight it.
Don't fight it.
There we go. Don't.
There we go. She'll shut up.
[gagging]
Shh-shh. Not your fucking business.
Police! Get off of her!
Here, take him, man.
Let me go, man.
Look at my damn foot!
Look at my foot!
[sobs]
[officer] We received a call
about an attempted murder.
Is that you?
[Constance] That was...
That was me. I knew he killed those women.
And he wanted to kill me, so...
I set him up.
[sobbing]
[indistinct]
I swear to fucking God!
I should have been fucking killed you!
I swear to God, this is
the last time we did it.
Every time you fucking close your eyes...
[indistinct]
You gotta bluff to the cops!
There are no heroes in this story.
Only survivors.
-[indistinct chatter]
-[car engines revving]
[DJ] Ladies and gentlemen,
give it up for the award-winning
music artist of the year,
Constance Reed!
[crowd applauding and cheering]
Thank you. Thank you so
much for being here tonight.
Tonight, I'm going to be starting off
with one of my favorites as well as yours
and this song just won Rhapsody Music's.
Single of the Year Award
and just hit Diamond status.
[crowd cheering and applauding]
And now,
I want to bring out one of
my very, very best friends.
Who is going to be joining
me on the Mosaic World Tour,
Ms. V Shaw.
[crowd cheering and applauding]
[man 1] Whoo!
[man 2] Yeah!
-[man 3] Yeah!
[man 4] Yeah!
[man 5] Yeah!
[man 6] Whoo-hoo-hoo!
[indistinct]
[man 8] Whoo-hoo! [man 9] Yeah!
[mellow music playing]
Ah-ah
Hey-yeh, yeah
Baby, go hard, no breaks
Making those same mistakes
How you gonna know who to listen to now
When the whole world
looking like snakes
We ain't got no time for all this
No, we ain't got no time for nonsense
I'm right here where I'm supposed to be
I'm on my own come float with me
I'm gonna do what I want to do
Not listening to you no more
And I'm feeling excited
Gotta make my own choices
What I will wanna be
There's time to choose me
there's just too many voices
Gotta make my own choices
What I will wanna be
There's time to choose me
There's just too many voices
Gotta make my own choices
Choices, choices, choices
I gotta make my own choices
choices, choices, choices
It's time I'm on my own
Choices, choices, choices
It's time to make my own choices
Choices, choices, choices
It's time I'm on my own
[crowd cheering and applauding]
[mellow music playing]
I just need you to know
When you're not around
it's not the same
A life's lost its color
it's dim and faded
Living but I'm not awake
And I need you to know
More than anything
I need you I need you close to me
You mean the world to me
And I'm reaching out for you
For you
All of you
And I'm reaching out to you
For you
All of you
You know I never lied to you
I never run and hide from you
It's better if you let me know
Please don't let me go
Because you're my love
I knew it from the start