Power Book II: Ghost (2020) s01e03 Episode Script

1
[TARIQ] Previously on Ghost
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
[BRAYDEN] I saw you macking
on that other chick too, man.
She moving weight for you?
What? Fuck no.
Dude, it's cool. I just I can help.
[CHASE] What's up, Scott?
Don't you have anything
we can actually have
fun with, Macklemore?
Nah, man. I'm all out.
[CHASE] You're always fucking out, bro.
Dude, I told you, we could
make fucking bank here.
[TAMEIKA] If you had an accomplice,
you have to tell me who it is.
- They might expose you.
- [TASHA] That won't happen.
Is it your son?
- Tameika, you're fired.
- What?
- Tasha, you will lose your deal.
- Get out!
Your mother was supposed to
take that sweet-ass deal
that Tameika and I got for her.
Wait, so that deal was you?
I signed a waiver so that she
could represent your mom.
It was handled.
[BLANCA] She knew where
to find the body,
but she did not commit that murder.
She's not physically capable.
So it is reasonable to assume
that maybe she ordered
the hit to shut him up?
- Yes, but
- That's all, Your Honor.
Whatever happens in our
house, it stays in our house.
Stansfield got me
keeping Zeke in school
so he could play ball, and
that's what Monet wants.
Me and you, we on the same team, nigga.
[CARRIE] And then we had sex
in his office.
[BOTH MOANING SOFTLY]
How can I fix this?
When you have to be with
him, only talk about work.
Never be alone together
and never close the door.
[TARIQ] Your mom is Monet,
and your father is
Lorenzo Tejada.
What's he in there for?
What you think?
How can you stay with a guy
who's inside for life?
You know what Lorenzo's name
get me in these streets?
Protection.
You have a way of
talking to your father?
Why?
Tariq's mom needs a friend inside.
He asked if I can get her
a morning-after pill.
[MONET] Hmm.
I can work with that.
What can you find out for me
on a kid named Tariq St. Patrick?
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
[JOE] They say this
is a big, rich town
I just come from the poorest part
Bright lights, city life
I gotta make it this
is where it goes down
I just happen to come up hard
Legal or illegal,
baby I gotta make it
[50 CENT] I never took
a straight path nowhere
Life's full of twists and
turns, bumps and bruises
I live, I learn
I'm from that city full of
yellow cabs and skyscrapers
It's hard to get a start in
these parts without paper
Homey, I grew up in hell
a block away from heaven
That corner every 15 minutes
they moving seven
Pure snow, bag it then watch it go
Occupational options get
some blow or some hos
Shoot the ball or the strap
learn to rap or to jack
Fuck it, man in the meantime
Go head and pump a pack
This my regal, royal flow
my James Bond bounce
That 007 that's 62 on my count
I'm an undercover liar
I lie under the covers
Look a bitch in the eyes
And tell her baby, I love ya
You're my inspiration
you're my motivation
You're the reason that I'm
moving with no hesitation
[JOE] They say this
is a big, rich town
Yeah, I just come
from the poorest part
Bright lights, city life
I gotta make it this
is where it goes down
Oh, yeah, yeah
I just happen to come up hard
Legal or illegal,
baby I gotta make it
[MAN] Hit it!
I got this shit from the trap
Few baggies, my pen and my pad
I done got rich off of rap
You throw 'em, we sending
'em back, that shit is a fact
My young boy ain't got no ID on him
He had to slip through the back
They took everything
he had off his body
He thought he was lit 'cause he rap
Gotta hustle go get off your back
He broke go get him a pack
I just blew ten up in Saks
Fuck cops they kill if you Black
You might get a deal if you nice
Gelato I'm smoking
to give you the feeling
You feel when you still on a flight
Light up that blunt
go wheelie that bike
This is our life
This a lifestyle that
we cherish every day
Taking risks to count
this cash in every way
If you lucky, bitch, then
you just might get saved
Only thing on my bucket list
Hey, uh, y'all are cool if I
settle up next week, right?
[GROANS]
Where's my money at, huh?
- Where's my money? Where's my money?
- Right here.
What the fuck is this?
[CLERK] It's all I got! I swear!
I'll get the rest to you by next week.
Next week.
You think we wait, giving
you till next week, huh?
Yo, this nigga's un-fucking-reliable
Yo! Yo, yo, yo, yo.
It's good. It's good.
- It's good.
- Stupid!
Go ahead. Go ahead.
My nigga, you got until Friday.
Or I ain't stopping him next time.
Forty fucking dollars? Come on, man!
Rich my persona
I fucked your bitch
a new Wrangler Jeep
Keep that stick on me
'cause if they play
- We gon' play for keeps
-
[TEXT MESSAGE WHOOSHES]
[DRU] Oh, well, you got
soft-ass knuckles.
[DRU AND CANE CHUCKLE]
What took y'all so damn long?
Oh, what you mean?
Between all the chatting
up and beating down,
it's not like we're collecting;
this shit takes time.
Baby bro, you gotta put in time
with all the people, okay?
That's how this works.
Everything the sun touches is ours.
If you don't get that Lion King
shit the fuck up outta here
[LAUGHS]
I'm just saying, though.
You gotta make sure everybody
in the kingdom feels the love.
You're dumb, just so you know.
Fuck!
Looks like your loving didn't work.
Yo, these GTG niggas are bugging.
Let me see that shit.
[DRU] Wow.
Wow, they stay doing that dumb shit.
It's like they want the cops
all up in their business.
And ours too.
[DRU] Run that shit back.
What's Lil' Guap even saying?
Who cares, nigga?
You about to write this shit down?
- Let's go.
- What-what you gonna do?
I'm about to go tell these
niggas real politely
that they fucking with our money.
You gotta tell Ma.
[MONET] Tell me what?
[UNEASY MUSIC PLAYS]
Y'all got ten seconds to tell me
what the fuck is going on in here.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING OVER CELL PHONE]
[DIANA] Look, it's GTG celebrating.
[MONET] Oh, fuck these little niggas.
Exactly. It's on.
Way to go, Diana.
[CELL PHONE BUZZES]
I'm not gonna allow you
to let me go out there
with my ass hanging out again, Tasha!
You need to stop lying to us right now.
I'm not lying!
And Saxe knows damn well
I didn't kill Terry Silver.
Terry loved me.
He wanted me to turn on Ghost.
He was trying to save me,
and Ghost killed him.
Then how did you know
where to find Silver's body?
I know the man I married. I guessed.
Even if that was the truth,
Saxe made it look
like you were involved.
If the judge bought
it, so will the jury.
But that's not what happened.
It's not the truth that matters!
It's what we can sell to a jury.
Okay, fine. Then put me on the stand.
No. [CHUCKLES] Absolutely not.
With your lying ass?
No, if you let me get on the stand
and-and tell my side of the story,
the jury will believe me.
You get other women, other
mothers on the stand,
they'll understand.
I'm stronger than any bullshit
Saxe will try to come up with.
Okay. [CLEARS THROAT]
What? No!
We'll play it your way.
We'll put you on the stand.
Thank you.
[DOOR BANGS OPEN]
- [DOOR CLANGS SHUT]
- Have you lost your mind?
She hasn't been straight
with us from the beginning.
If she testifies, we have no idea
what could happen to her on cross.
- She cannot take the stand.
- I know that.
But our client doesn't.
Correct me if I'm wrong,
Mr. St. Patrick,
but they have clocks in the
freshmen dorms, right?
[TARIQ] Yes, sir, they do.
[OLIVER] And you've heard the phrase
"punctuality is a virtue"?
"Of the bored".
I'm sorry?
"Punctuality is a virtue
of the bored", sir.
Evelyn Waugh.
Well, then I trust you're late
because you actually bothered
to finish the book this time.
Yes, The Apology. I finished it, sir.
Good. Well, then we can begin with you.
What do we learn about virtue
from Socrates' actions
in front of the Athenian court?
Nothing.
I feel like Socrates was very stupid
to not defend himself, actually.
Uh, I see.
Your remedial analysis
shouldn't surprise me.
It's why I told Professor Milgram
Canonical Studies was
too advanced for you.
This proves my point.
Okay, let's move on.
[TARIQ] I read the book.
And I understand it.
I just didn't find any virtue
in Socrates' actions.
He chose to make a mockery
of the-of the courtroom,
of his peers,
to condescend to the jury
and forget of those accusations
levied against him.
That's why he died.
You find that virtuous?
Socrates was making a point
about the invalidity
of the accusations against him, okay?
I-is there no room
Socrates was a victim of his own hubris.
Some men believe that their
status grants them immunity
from the rest of us, like
they're above the law.
Men like that meet their end.
[OLIVER] So thousands of years
of scholarship on
Socrates is all incorrect
in your opinion?
Including my own.
Look, virtue is in the
eye of the beholder.
Okay, someone that thinks
they're so much smarter
than another is blind.
I mean, even a scholar could be wrong.
Well, it's original.
I'm sure it'll make for a
very interesting paper.
Okay, let's go to page 25, please.
Yo, is this nigga trying to fail?
I don't know what he's doing.
Why the fuck he try to embarrass me
with that stupid-ass "do
they have clocks" bullshit?
That nigga just gonna fail me.
Look, this is college, Tariq.
If you want to pass, sit down, shut up,
and say what he wants to hear.
You want me to act like
I agree even if I don't?
No, you don't have to agree,
but coming for him isn't
gonna do you any favors.
You need to play the game,
especially with Simmons.
But he was wrong.
You want me to just let him win?
Is winning that important to you?
You know, you're a lot like my brother,
always needing to win.
But when the pressure got too
much, he ended up in rehab.
Damn. I'm sorry to hear that.
It's okay.
But you need to let the people
who want to help you help you.
Like me.
Yeah, maybe I will, but
right now, I gotta go.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
[MELLOW HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS]
- [CELL PHONE KEYBOARD TAPPING]
-
[TEXT MESSAGE WHOOSHES]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[TASHA] Looks like you
dropped something.
How'd you get it?
A friend.
Are you a friend of mine, Laila?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
[CELL PHONE CAMERA CLICKING]
Why you want a friend at MCC?
Don't nobody stay here past their trial.
It seems dumb to make
a friend at a bus stop.
But it's clear you've been here before,
and you know Marshal Meredith,
and I hope you know
whoever made you want
that morning-after pill.
COs ain't friends.
And he ain't a bad way to pass the time.
[TASHA] See, that's what I mean.
You know how to move in here.
By the looks of it, so do you.
What's your name again?
Tasha. Tasha Green.
Hey, Marshal?
You got anything else
for me to do today?
I got another job to get to.
[MEREDITH] Nah, thanks, Bishop.
You can go.
Green? I thought I heard St. Patrick.
Yeah, well, that name follows me around
whether I like it or not.
[MELLOW HIP-HIP MUSIC PLAYS]
[GATE BUZZES, CLATTERS]
[RICKY] We cut him off.
[SPEAKING SPANGLISH]
Yo, boss, you busy?
[LORENZO] Nope.
'Cause they were losing anyway.
Peace.
- Ricky.
- [RICKY SPEAKING SPANISH]
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
[RICKY SPEAKING SPANISH]
Want a beer?
[BISHOP] Got another job today.
[LORENZO] Good for you.
Did you do what I asked?
Yeah, yeah, I put the phone
and the pill in her cell.
But she didn't take the pill.
I mean, I couldn't really see,
but I think she gave it away.
- She gave away the pill?
- Yeah. Look.
[LORENZO] So she's not fucking a CO.
Would you look at that?
[CELL PHONE BUZZING]
I gotta take this.
[BISHOP] A'ight.
[PHONE CONTINUES BUZZING]
Hey, baby, is this an emergency?
We didn't schedule a call.
[MONET] We got a problem.
Lil' Guap and his boys keep
posting on the Internet.
They're gonna get us all roped up.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
- He's harmless.
- Yeah, until one of our names
is in their mouths when
they looking at time.
We gotta cut these niggas off now.
[LORENZO] Mo, Mo, listen.
You know I can't do that.
Lil' Guap's father took a bullet for me.
Send Dru to talk to him.
Dru ain't gonna convince
Guap of nothing.
- But Cane can handle it.
- [LORENZO] I didn't say Cane.
I said Dru.
Call me when it's done.
[CELL PHONE CLACKS]
Hey, yo.
So?
What did Pops say?
Dru's gonna handle it.
- [BOTH] Dru?
- They not gonna listen to me.
But you bet your ass Lil' Guap
and his homeboys will listen to me.
I said Dru's gonna handle it.
Diana and I have Zeke's game tomorrow.
You can go then.
A'ight.
Cane, I want you to go with your brother
and watch his back.
But I don't want him to see you
or even know you're there.
You understand?
Your father wants him to learn
how to do this himself.
Am I clear?
Yeah, I got you, Ma.
[SIGHS]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
I think that paper due
the day after tomorrow.
You think?
Bro, I have a paper due
the same exact day.
Yeah, I forgot. I've been busy.
I don't got time to write two papers.
I got a game tomorrow. I
can't write the paper then.
All right, man, fine. I got you.
[ZEKE] You my mans. I owe you, 'Riq.
Yeah, matter of fact,
you could get me now.
I gotta talk to your Auntie Monet.
About?
Permission.
I wanted to ask her for
permission to date Diana.
I know Diana wouldn't go
against Monet's word
Monet don't let Diana date.
And after dinner at her
house the other night,
she wants me to keep fam
separate from my school life, so
Hmm. School life means me.
[ZEKE] Hey, you and me, we good, but
Monet's word is law.
I'm on fire!
[TARIQ SIGHS]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
Where are you taking me?
I want my lawyer.
Oh, you'll see him.
You got a court appearance today.
Court appearance?
He didn't tell me anything about that.
If it's last-minute, that ain't good.
[ENGINE IDLING]
[MEREDITH] Bye, buddy.
Paula, what the hell is going on?
I wasn't prepared for court today.
I can't show up looking like this.
You're right about that.
[TASHA] Who are they?
[PAULA] Them?
They're here to make you look innocent
or what the jury will
think looks innocent.
Lately I question who I am
Somebody help me Understand
Oh, oh, oh
Oh
Oh, oh
What is this hearing about?
[BAILIFF] All rise.
The court of the Eastern
District of New York
Criminal Division is now in session.
The Honorable Judge Burton presiding.
[CLEARS THROAT] Everyone seated.
Bailiff, we're ready for the jury.
- Jury?
- P-please, hold the jury.
Davis, what the fuck is going on?
Okay, look, this is a mock trial,
a dress rehearsal.
The judge, bailiff, jury,
all of them have signed a
nondisclosure agreement.
So anything you say is protected.
Hey, you wanted to tell
your side of the story.
Prove to me right here today
that I should put you on the stand.
So you got me dressed up like
fucking Black Malibu Barbie
so you could play make believe?
Look, this is set up like a real trial.
Treat it like one.
You're paying these people
and the jury by the hour.
Should we get started?
[SIGHS] This is a waste
of my time and my money.
I know that I can convince a jury
that I'm not a queenpin.
- I already told you that.
- Well, tell them.
Bailiff, get the jury.
Unbelievable.
[MELLOW HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS]
Yo.
- Yo.
- A'ight.
Dr. Mehta almost gave me the whole nine.
Urine sample, blood test.
- Man, I fucking hate needles.
- That's fucked up.
I mean, you still got
the prescription pages,
- though, right?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I took a couple when she
was out of the room,
but I could only grab a few.
A few is all we need.
It's not all the way lined up yet,
but I'm working on getting
us a new supplier.
Good, 'cause I gotta go out of state
to get these scripts
filled; I'm not looking
to kick it in Connecticut
in my fucking free time.
Yeah, that shit is not lit.
But you know how to write
the prescriptions, though,
like the coding and all
of that shit, right?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, my sister
has had an Addy scrip
since she was, like, fucking 12,
so got that shit memorized.
- You coming with?
- Nah, I gotta stay back.
You know, distract Scott so
we don't have no competition.
You feel me? But yo, make sure you go
to, like, mom-and-pop pharmacies.
They don't call or ask questions.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got you. I got you.
No CVSes too.
This ain't my first fucking rodeo.
- A'ight, bro. Hit me, bro.
- A'ight. Peace.
[DAVIS] You admitted in open court
that you asked Tommy Egan
to kill your husband for you.
[TASHA] I did say that.
And it's true.
He was the only person I could trust
to get me away from James for good.
I'm not proud of what I did.
But if I had any other choice
James was my whole life.
How old were you when you met?
I was 19, a baby,
in accounting school,
still hoping I could
have a singing career.
But James wiped all that away.
We got married. We had kids.
And he took me out of Queens
and moved me into the
penthouse in Tribeca.
We had everything I
could have ever wanted.
Sounds like a fairy tale.
When did things change?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
[SIGHS] Well
we got pulled over on the BQE.
I was seven months
pregnant with our twins,
Tariq
and Raina.
James had a gun in the car.
He told me to hide the gun
because he said that I
wouldn't be searched.
I hid the gun in my maternity dress.
- Next to my babies.
- You didn't have a choice?
[TASHA] No.
I never had a choice with James.
Not after that moment.
- And I also loved him.
- But he cheated on you,
- abused you.
- I still loved him.
And that love is why
you tolerated his
his criminal activity?
Yes.
So you don't deny that you knew
about his narcotics trafficking?
Oh, no, I
I don't deny that I knew.
And I know that there's some evidence
that I opened some
bank accounts for him.
[DAVIS] Did you launder money
for your husband, Ms. Green?
I had the accounting degree.
He made me do it.
He made me do everything.
I don't know why the US Attorney
is saying I was the boss.
James had all the power.
He called all the shots.
Thank you, Ms. Green.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Ma, I'm as good as Zeke.
Why can he go off to college
to play ball and I can't?
He's not my son. You're my daughter.
Say I let you go play
college ball, then what?
You go pro?
It's not the same for females, D.
They make 75 bands
a year if they're lucky.
How does that bullshit help the family?
It's not about the family.
It's about my life.
Your life is this family.
What would your brothers do without you?
They don't need me. Daddy
wants them to take over.
Yeah, Daddy. Daddy
wants a lot of things.
You think Dru can handle
them GTG boys by himself?
No.
Dru needs Cane to be the hammer
so he can be the nice guy.
Exactly.
Daddy doesn't know them the way you do.
So I sent Cane to watch Dru's back.
We all play our positions, D.
It's my job to know
what position you play.
What if you're wrong about people?
I can't afford to be.
And Tariq?
You thought Cane could scare him.
Ma, you were wrong.
Yeah, that was Zeke's mistake
for bringing him around.
I had Ramirez look into Tariq.
Anybody who's around
that boy for too long
ends up either dead or locked up.
He's helping Zeke with school,
but I don't need him any
fucking closer than that.
Do you understand me?
Yes.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER, WATER RUNNING]
You good, Zeke?
I'm chilling.
[CONNOR] Well, that's
what you've been doing
with all that free time, huh?
- Chilling?
- Yo, Connor, fall back
- Was I talking to you, Everett?
- You lost, Connor?
Last time I checked,
your locker was back
with second string.
Oh, Coach Wallace moved me,
since I'm busting my ass
with a pre-MBA course load
and doing your job as shooting guard.
Don't get too comfortable up there.
I'll be off probation soon.
You suddenly pulling As? [CHUCKLES]
What makes you so sure?
Those scouts aren't out there for you.
They might not be, but I don't need
that draft number like
Freaky Zekey does.
Scouts, they have a short memory.
So how many games do
you think you can miss
before they stop checking for you?
[WALLACE] Cross.
I'm not supposed to give you this
while you're still on probation,
but you were supposed to
be back by our first game.
Any updates on when you can play?
I'm almost good, Coach. I'll
be back out there ASAP.
- [WALLACE] Mm.
- Can I warm up with the team?
Remind the fans I'm still in it?
It's against regulations,
but you can make an appearance
at the post-game tonight.
Dean Brooks has been on my ass
to make a statement about your absence,
but you can do it instead.
Coach, I want to play.
I don't want to talk to
a bunch of reporters.
You want to go pro, right?
Press is part of playing the game.
Right, talent counts on the court,
but giving good press,
that makes you a star.
So what do I say?
Just make nice.
All right, the fans are
gonna be disappointed
they didn't get to see
you play, so apologize.
It's not my fault I can't play.
It is to them.
Why are you gentlemen sitting around
holding each other's dicks
instead of warming up?
All right, let's get out there!
- Yes coach.
- [EXCITED CHATTER]
[WALLACE] See you on the bench, Cross.
[PLAYERS YELLING]
[CHEERLEADERS]
Let's go, Stallions. Let's go.
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- [AIR HORN BLARES]
- [TARIQ] Hi, Ms. Tejada.
- [MONET] Hello.
- [TARIQ] What's up, Diana?
- [DIANA] Hey.
I just wanted to thank you guys
for what you did for my mom.
- I really appreciate it.
- It's nothing.
[AIR HORN BLARES]
Maybe I could sit and watch
the game with you guys?
Cross, Zeke. We're his family.
- How many of you are there?
- Two.
Is your mom mad at me or something?
She's in a mood.
Mrs. Tejada, I wasn't expecting
to see you here tonight.
Why wouldn't I be?
- I never miss Zeke's games.
- Uh, well, can we talk?
[TARIQ] What's going on?
Look
some people we work with are acting up.
My brother Dru is trying
to keep them in line,
but honestly, I think
she's just over it.
I mean, it's not like they
bring that much in for us.
So then what is she still
working with them for?
She doesn't have a choice, so
then she takes it out on me.
And unless I say something
she want to hear,
she ain't listening to nothing I say.
Well, he has his tutor.
I thought his grades was coming up.
[WALLACE] Just not fast
enough for today's game.
There's a little bit
of red tape right now,
but we'll get him there.
It's just gonna take a
little bit more time.
I mean, you gotta play your audience.
You gotta tell her what
she wants to hear.
It's not like you could change
the fact that she's in charge.
Look, I should go.
I'm sorry you can't sit with us.
Nah, it's fine.
I got a couple papers I gotta
finish writing anyway,
so I'll hit you later, all right?
A'ight.
[SIGHS]
- [CELL PHONE BUTTONS BEEP]
- [LINE RINGS]
Papi, can you do me a favor?
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
Oh, you cute, cute.
This about to be fun.
[SCOTT] Uh
[EPIPHANY] You Scott, right?
And you are?
Mm, I'm your birthday present, baby.
Uh, it's not my [CLEARS THROAT]
It's not my birthday.
Oh, well, I am paid for,
and I've gotta give
somebody a lap dance.
Why not you?
Well, but I gotta go to a party.
Okay, uh, I can be a little late.
- This is a party.
- [CHUCKLES] Yeah, I guess.
- It's a party, hey!
- All right.
It's a party.
Guess I can be a little late, um
Yes, you can be late.
Oh, I have a question.
Yeah, what's your question?
Um, do you do uh, what's it shibari?
Mm, see, that's in "My Girl
Don't Do This" package.
- Oh.
- But you can get it next time.
- What's your name?
- [CELL PHONE BUZZING]
- Oh.
- Oh, shit.
Listen, that's my man. He
probably looking for me.
I gotta make a call, but I'll
be right back with you, boo.
Your-your man.
- [TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
-
Uh, is he coming around or
Nigga, what you want?
I already told you I was with a client.
- I can go if you want to
- Hell no. He already paid.
I can talk. What's up?
I can give you the space.
[MAN] What up, Dru?
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
Dru-sito Tejada!
- You out past curfew, bro?
- [CHUCKLES]
I mean, this is more
Cane's scene than yours.
I ain't staying long, Lil' Guap.
I got a message from Monet.
The fuck, you-you brushing off my
yeah, my, uh what do
you call that, uh
Hospitality?
Yeah, you let him in so
he can kick it with you.
Yeah, hospitality, yo.
I just let you in my
spot when you can see
I'm having some me time.
That's-that-that's-that's
- Inconsiderate.
- Inconsiderate, bro.
What the fuck's Monet
gotta say that can't wait?
Well, she-she wanted
to give you your props
for killing it for her
organization, man.
- Yeah?
- Yeah. [CHUCKLES]
Hey, hey, that's what's up.
Hey, somebody get my man
something to drink, man.
- We about to get faded.
- [CHUCKLES]
Hey, your Pops, Lorenzo,
cool guy, man, cool.
Monet, shit.
I didn't think she liked me.
Now she's sending me attaboys?
That's what's up.
Y'all are some top-level earners, man.
[LIL' GUAP] Yeah, man,
we're Internet famous now.
People love seeing how we live,
and they want to be
cool with us, for real.
About that.
Monet, she's worried
the law might see this.
Maybe y'all could just cool
with that for a little while.
Hey, man, hey, look, I get it, a'ight?
But she's old-school, so just chill.
For a little while.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we chillin'.
- Cool.
- We chillin'.
Hey, and you chillin' with us too, bro.
What the fuck, man?
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
You know, maybe your
mom's always on my dick
because she ain't got any in a decade.
You ever think about that?
[DRU] You're way the fuck outta line.
[LIL' GUAP] Yeah, what the
fuck you gonna do about it?
[CANE] Nothing.
[LIL' GUAP] Cane.
Me-me and Dru, we was
just fucking around.
Hey, we good, right, Dru?
Dru, come on. Let's go.
- I'ma keep this.
- Yeah, take that shit, bro.
[SIGHS]
[CHUCKLES]
- [GUNSHOTS]
- [LIL' GUAP] Oh, fuck, bro!
What the fuck?
I can't fucking believe you, man!
- What, you watching me?
- Ma told me to.
[DRU] She tell you to shoot up
the fucking place too, man?
I had it under control.
[CANE] No, you didn't.
- Police! Don't move!
- Come on! Shit!
[OFFICER] Copy that. Shots fired.
Sending backup.
Fuck!
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS]
[CANE] This way, this way, this way.
Oh, shit. There's no way out, man.
There's a way.
Cane, we ain't killing
no fucking cop, man.
You ain't. I am.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
Officer, the perps went this way!
You want them to get away?
- No, sir!
- Then let's go, come on!
[RAMIREZ] Come on!
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
[BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY]
Get the fuck off me, man.
[DRU] I had it under control.
- [REPORTERS CLAMORING]
- [MAN] Hell of a game, Connor.
Well, I, uh, can't take all the credit,
but I did put up most of the points.
[MAN] Zeke, since
he is filling in for you
while you're on probation,
any thoughts on Connor's performance?
I appreciate him
keeping my seat warm,
but, uh, he shouldn't
get too comfortable.
I'll be back for the next game.
[REPORTERS CLAMORING]
Whoo, that's right, baby! That's right!
He'll be back.
Does that mean you're
coming off probation soon?
Coach Wallace, do you have specifics?
No further comment at this time.
- [REPORTERS CLAMORING]
- Coach Wallace! Coach, come on any comment?
Anything to add? Coach Wallace?
[DOG BARKING DISTANTLY]
[RAMIREZ] Mo, if they got caught,
that charge doesn't disappear
no matter what I do.
I know, and I'm grateful.
You're lucky I got the call.
Why did you get a call?
We had a few cruisers in the area
because these boys have
been posting videos.
We heard gunshots. Found this.
[LIL' GUAP] We chillin'. We chillin'.
[RAMIREZ] You see it?
That's the jacket that Dru
was wearing tonight, Mo.
You need to put your business on pause.
- I can't do that.
- [SIGHS]
You keep doing business with these kids,
one of them will get pulled in and talk.
Listen to me, I want to protect you,
but you have to help me here, okay?
- I can't do that.
- Please, lay low.
- Lay low, please.
- Shh. Listen
At least until they pull
their patrols, okay?
I can't afford to do that.
Mo.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYS]
Don't you think the gun's
gonna get in the way?
[CHUCKLES]
[CELL PHONE BUZZES]
[BRAYDEN] Whatever you did to keep Scott
out of the party worked.
By the end, I didn't even
have to do anything.
It was crazy.
The pledge master said
that I'm the only
freshman he fucks with.
If we get more, dude, we'll
be making a fucking killing.
You think your new connect
will have other pills?
See how much we got for now.
[SUCKS TEETH] Fuck.
I need a lot more money than
this so I can help my mom.
Say no more, man. I'm fucking in.
So why are we back here?
I think I proved my point yesterday.
Direct examination is only
half the fight, Tasha.
Now you have to withstand cross.
I think you might
recognize the prosecutor
I brought in to help us today.
[UNEASY MUSIC PLAYS]
I fired her.
[DAVIS] She's here as a favor to me.
She's the closest thing to
Saxe that you're gonna face.
She knows your whole case. Get up there.
[TAMEIKA] Ms. Green,
let's go back in time, shall we?
You opened accounts for your husband.
Yes.
I did what he told me to do.
[TAMEIKA] Right, as you said.
So how did that work?
He gave you cash and somehow
you turned it into legitimate money?
The nightclubs,
laundromats, parking lots.
[CLEARS THROAT] They were
all cash businesses,
so it was easy to run
the money through those
and turn it into taxable,
legitimate funds.
And your family lived
off this drug money.
Used it to pay for your home,
your cars, your kids' tuitions,
your clothes.
Nice hair, by the way.
You testified that you were
afraid of your husband.
Is that true?
Yes.
But when your husband was on trial
for Greg Knox's murder,
you began an affair
with his defense attorney, Terry Silver.
I fell in love with Terry,
and James killed him.
Yes, let's get to that.
Silver was working with
the US Attorney's office
to put you, your husband,
and Egan in jail.
- Correct?
- No, not correct.
Terry was not cooperating against me.
He wanted me to testify
against my husband.
James found out about
our relationship and
Are you about to tell this
jury that James St. Patrick
killed Terry Silver over jealousy
over you?
- He was Angela's man by then.
- It's the truth.
No, Tasha, this wasn't personal.
It was business.
You told James that Silver
was working with the Feds.
You arranged to meet Silver
in his parking garage.
You admitted to Blanca Rodriguez
that you had sex with him
to give James time to arrive.
No.
[TAMEIKA] Silver never
made it out of that garage.
And when the Feds came looking for him,
you knew the exact location where James
must have dumped the body.
You just left out the part
where you gave the order.
I didn't kill Terry!
[TAMEIKA] Only you knew
how dangerous he was
to your organization.
You had to be the one to give the order
that it was time for him to go.
James didn't take orders from me.
But Tommy Egan did.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
It-it wasn't an order.
It was a cry for help.
Mm, what about Angela Valdes?
Did you ask Tommy to kill her too?
What? No!
[TAMEIKA] James was your whole life.
He cheated on you.
He wouldn't stop even after
your daughter was killed.
He was still in love with Angela Valdes.
I think he killed
Angela at your bidding.
Oh, wait-wait. What did you say?
- A cry for help?
- No.
[TAMEIKA] Then Angela was dead.
Your husband's lover was out of the way.
Then there was the problem
of your lover, Terry,
a potential witness and
a top-notch legal mind.
He had to be eliminated too.
Maybe James did it,
or maybe you asked Tommy
to help you again
and to tell you where he
hid the body just in case.
Either way, it was your call.
No.
[TAMEIKA] And then when James
wouldn't come back to you,
when he began a relationship
with Ramona Garrity,
when he was leaving you
behind for Albany,
he wasn't just abandoning you.
He was leaving behind
your criminal enterprise,
your family.
He had to be stopped.
And so you reached out
to Tommy one last time,
and he answered your call.
He killed his lifelong
partner, his best friend,
because you call the shots, Tasha.
Because you had all the power.
It's-it's not true.
It's not true!
All 12 jurors voted guilty,
even the women.
I wasn't the boss, Paula.
I'm innocent of these charges.
But you're not totally
innocent, are you?
Unless you start telling us the truth,
this is the last outfit
you're ever gonna wear.
Hurry up.
I gotta take you back to your cell.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
[TAMEIKA] Saxe was
at the Eastern District
long before me.
Whatever I know, he knows and then some.
If I were you, I'd go to him
on my hands and knees
and try to get another plea.
Join the team.
What?
You heard me. Join the team.
Help me defend Tasha.
I can't win this without you.
While I appreciate how
hard that must've been
for you to say, no.
- [DAVIS] You think she's the queenpin.
- She's not.
And you still won't help?
I mean, come on. Join me.
We can win this case together,
a Black dream team.
Huh?
Just think of the press.
Think of the headlines.
You can sell water to
a drowning man, Davis.
I've seen you do it.
But you're not gonna
be able to sell a jury
that Tasha is innocent.
She knows too much, she did too much,
and Saxe isn't stupid.
[DAVIS] Right, Saxe.
Why were you representing him?
How do you know about that?
[DAVIS] He signed a waiver
to let you defend her.
It was filed with the court.
Paula found it.
I can't tell you anything.
It's privileged.
- You know that.
- All I know is our sitting
US Attorney was in some legal trouble,
enough to go to you for help.
Nice try.
Good-bye, Paula. Good-bye, Davis.
I look forward to getting my check.
Can we drop this case now?
Tasha is going to jail.
The last of her money just
walked out the door, literally.
It's time to cut bait.
You saw Tameika's face.
[SCOFFS] This case isn't about Tasha.
It's about Cooper Saxe. Ah.
It's not time for us to cut bait, Paula.
It's time for us to double
down and go all in.
[SIGHS]
You got everything you
need up here, babe?
I'm good.
I'll send you some more cigars.
You'll probably run out
soon anyway, right?
Mo, we gotta talk about the kids,
the business.
The way you're running
things, it ain't working.
Well, it would work if you'd
let me run it my way.
Dru almost got caught on
camera thanks to Lil' Guap.
If I didn't send Cane, he'd be
dead or in cuffs right now.
Are you sure that's
the way it went down?
Or is that what Cane said went down?
I can't believe you disobeyed me.
I'm not one of the kids. I'm your wife.
I'm the one holding it down
at home while you're in here.
Out of the two of us, I know those kids.
Except they're not kids.
You need to stop babying Dru.
If he's gonna take over
for me, he needs to learn.
He's not built like Cane and Diana.
Why does it have to be Dru?
Because he's the only choice.
Cane is unpredictable.
And you're too attached to Diana.
She's not built like the boys.
She should be going to school
like she always wanted.
Oh, so that's why you
asked me to come up.
To talk about Diana going to school.
Why you bringing this shit up now?
Because you can't run this forever.
And this was never the way
it was supposed to go
down to begin with.
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
[MAN] All right, time's up.
I couldn't take care of you
the way I was supposed to.
This is the only way I can make sure
you're gonna be all right.
Mo, you gotta trust me.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
- [LAUREN] Long night?
- You could say that.
[LAUREN] Hmm.
Oh, what did you do,
stay up all night
sticking it to the man?
No, actually, I got some good advice.
I wrote 20 pages on all that shit
that Oliver said in class.
Well, I'm glad you decided not
to shoot yourself in the foot.
Was it hard not to win?
Kind of.
Maybe next time, me and
you could write together
and you could help make it way easier.
[SCOFFS SOFTLY]
You see? You see?
Gotta give the people what they want.
Mm-hmm.
[BOTH SIGH]
Damn, Tariq, I'm really sorry.
I-I didn't think he was gonna fail you.
Maybe if you talk to
Professor Simmons
Mr. St. Patrick, hello.
Are you late for our last class
or very early for our next one?
Why did you fail me?
I didn't fail you.
I-I did think your paper
would be more scintillating
based on your ideas in class,
but no, it-it fulfilled
the requirements.
- It was fine.
- So why didn't I get credit?
[OLIVER] I have no idea.
Look, a professor of my stature
is beyond grading papers.
Ask Professor Reynolds.
[SIGHS]
[CARRIE] Caridad Milgram.
Please leave a message.
[BEEPS]
Hey, it's me again.
I've been calling you.
You haven't returned my calls.
Just want to make sure
you're okay, that's all.
I haven't seen you around, so
[CELL PHONE CLICKS]
Why'd you give me no credit?
I wrote a good paper.
It was a good paper, Tariq,
but the assignment was
to defend your opinion on The Apology.
I wrote what I thought
Oliver would want to see.
I mean, if I knew you
were grading the papers,
- I would've
- [JABARI] You would've what?
Gamed me like you did
Professor Simmons?
I would have wrote what I said in class.
I know, Tariq. That's my point.
Have a seat.
Listen, these institutions
were not built for us.
Okay, they were forced to accept us.
Now, if you're willing
to change yourself
in order to fit in here, then
you're missing the point
of the struggle it took for us
to get here in the first place.
People like Professor Simmons
are rarely challenged
by the way you challenged him.
He called me out in front
of the whole class.
Think I'm supposed to let that rock? No.
You really care what they think?
I care about my grades.
A'ight, I can't afford to fail.
Is there anything I could do
that'll make you change your mind?
The grade stands.
This is your consequence
for not using your voice.
You have to be authentic, Tariq.
People are gonna make up
their minds about you
whether you allow them to or not.
But you do not have to prove them right.
You're dismissed.
[SPORTS ANNOUNCER SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY ON TV]
- What?
- [LAUGHS]
The fuck is going on in here?
We're just watching TV.
I can see what you doing.
Y'all in here acting like shit is sweet
when you both almost got arrested
for shooting up the GTG spot.
- [DRU] How you know about that?
- Ma, I did what I was told.
Wait, y'all shot up GTG
and didn't tell Ma?
Lil' Guap was out of control.
Dru, who pulled first, your brother?
I only did it 'cause
Dru's not built for it.
I don't pull until I have to.
Ma, Lil' Guap was way too coked up.
I was just waiting for an opening.
Do we work for Lil' Guap?
Are we on his schedule?
So you waited so long that this nigga
was almost able to catch
you on camera, Dru?
Did you pull your gun then?
No, he didn't.
So you shoot up the place,
and the cops show up.
The only reasons why you two
assholes are not behind bars
is because of Ramirez.
And I'm not gonna keep
taking favors from him
to clean up y'all mess!
Now, get the fuck outta my face.
[TV CLICKS OFF]
Now, I'ma ask you one question.
And you better not lie.
Did you call your father
and ask him could you go to school?
No.
Go get the family burner.
[CELL PHONE BUTTONS BEEPING]
- I guess you didn't.
- I told you.
So what did Daddy say?
You think you smarter than me?
When you was coming,
I was already going.
He may be your father, but
you live here with me.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
This is my house.
[GUNFIRE ON TV]
Man, this what the fuck
you been busy doing?
What? The fuck is your problem?
Man, I just failed a paper
trying to help your ass
'cause you said you had
so much shit to do,
but you don't look too busy to me.
If you failed, that shit ain't on me.
You know the arrangement.
Nigga, what?
If I fail, then there
ain't no arrangement.
And you'll be on probation forever.
Do you even want to stay in Stansfield?
I need to.
If I don't play, I don't get drafted.
So then you're gonna have to
do some of your own work, bro.
- We're on the same team.
- Okay, sorry. Damn.
Apology ain't gonna cut it, bro.
I need a favor, and you can't say no.
What's the favor?
[GUNFIRE ON TV]
You still do a weekly dinner
with your Aunt Monet?
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
[MELISSA] Your writing is so passionate.
Real. Deep.
I read your first book when it came out.
You read Raw when it first came out?
That's heavy material for a
Teenager? [CHUCKLES]
Well, it's a good thing
I'm not one anymore.
[CHUCKLES]
Well, I wrote that book a long time ago,
so I'm not sure I'm that guy anymore.
Once a romantic, always a romantic, no?
I mean, she's lucky.
I'd want someone to write about me
the way you wrote about
the woman in the book.
It's fiction.
But I read your interviews.
You said you were inspired by a woman.
[R&B MUSIC PLAYING SOFTLY]
Okay, listen, um,
even if I was, she is not
the woman in the book, so
Well, maybe I can be
that person for you.
Okay, look, it's getting late.
I think we should call it a night.
So soon?
I mean, what's the rush?
We're the only ones here.
[MUFFLED R&B MUSIC PLAYING]
Okay, stop.
Yeah, I-I can't.
- You're my student and
- Graduate student.
[DOOR SLAMS]
[ITEMS CLATTER]
[JABARI MOANS]
[MUFFLED THUMP]
[BOTH MOAN]
[MUFFLED THUD]
[BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY]
[MUFFLED THUMPING]
[MELISSA] Jabari.
[MUFFLED MOANING]
[MOANING INTENSIFIES]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
Ma, what are you doing?
- [MONET] Where is it?
- [DIANA] Where's what?
Don't play with me, Diana.
Where's that fucking phone?
Calling your father behind my back,
having your own burner.
I told you, girl, my house, my rules.
Now I'm putting things back
the way they should be.
Ma!
- Ma, stop!
- [CELL PHONE CLATTERS]
How did you know?
[MONET] I figured it out.
[INDISTINCT DIALOGUE OVER TV]
[LAUGHTER]
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
[TV CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
[TV SHUTS OFF]
Zeke, I thought you said Tariq left.
[ZEKE] I did.
I'm sorry I lied, Auntie Monet,
but you saw what happened
at that press conference.
I need Tariq.
He wants to talk to you. Can
you give him five minutes?
For me.
Go outside and wait in the car.
[ZEKE] Thank you, Auntie.
You got five minutes.
If I'm gonna be keeping in him school,
then we're gonna have to
come to an understanding.
What's this?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
I don't need this.
I got enough.
I made this in just a few hours
without even leaving campus.
How much time does it take
for you to make some money like that?
Boy, I'd be very careful
about who you accuse
of being a criminal.
The students here, all they
do is party and study.
We could make a killing here.
All I need is a supplier.
You need a supplier?
I don't even know you.
I can't trust you.
I mean, you trust me with Zeke's grades.
That's different. My
business is in Queens.
Can't touch him out here.
So Zeke is your priority.
Yup.
So then what happens
if I fail outta here
trying to figure out a way
to take care of my family?
Who's gonna have his back then?
Who's gonna keep him on the court?
Look, if you work with me,
no one will even know your name.
You know the risk of the streets,
and you can still choose to run in them,
but you're always gonna
have to pay a price.
If I agree to work with you,
you cannot live with Zeke.
I mean, I don't want him
around this shit at all.
- Do you understand me?
- Hundred percent.
I have another place I could stay.
Does that mean we have a deal?
[CELL PHONE BUZZING]
- [MONET] That's your mother.
-
I know how I feel if
my kids miss my call.
You should get that.
[BUZZING CONTINUES]
[MONET] We'll talk again soon.
- Go ahead.
- [BUZZING CONTINUES]
[DOOR CLICKS SHUT]
Hello, Ma. You okay?
I'm in trouble in court, Tariq.
Please, just give Davis
whatever he wants.
[SIGHS]
[TARIQ] Don't worry, Ma. I got a plan.
Welcome to the Pussy Palace! [CHUCKLES]
That's you.
Uh, oh, and check this shit out.
My dad had this same
room when he was here.
A place to hide our stash.
Oh, shit. Now we lit, yo.
This shit is about to come in clutch.
[UNEASY MUSIC PLAYS]
[BUZZER BLARES]
How can we trust this kid Tariq?
[MONET] We can't.
But I know how to keep him in line.
What's his weakness?
- He is a weakness.
- [CELL PHONE BUZZING]
[MONET] You need to make a call.
Tariq, everything okay?
Your son is fine.
He's gonna start working for us.
Who is this? What do you want?
[LORENZO] Make sure he does what we say.
If you don't,
Tariq dies.
[CELL PHONE CLICKS]
[SLAMS FIST]