Swagger (2021) s01e08 Episode Script

And next up is Crystal Jarrett.
Come on, Crystal! Come on! - You got this! - Whoo! Come on, baby.
"Still I Rise," by Dr.
Maya Angelou.
- Yes! - Jace, sit up.
"You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies " You may trod me in the very dirt "You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise.
" You're doing great, Crystal.
"Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? Because I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise.
" Hibachi! "Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries? Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air I'll rise.
I rise, I rise.
" Yes! Good job, Crystal! Hey, yo, Jace.
What's up? Damn, what the hell is that smell? Bro, Phil farted, man.
Come on.
Yo, that's foul.
If you wanted more social distance, you could've said something.
- For real.
- Man, stop trippin'.
Y'all know it smells like fresh-baked cookies.
- Yo.
- Yo.
You're lying to yourself.
Look, my mom wants me home.
This couldn't wait until tomorrow? Nah, it couldn't.
I need y'all to know, y'all aren't just my teammates anymore.
Y'all are my brothers.
You feel me? - For sure.
- No doubt.
Never thought I'd be in a protest like that.
It was something I'll never forget.
I always thought of myself as one of y'all.
But when I go back to the suburbs, I don't have to be.
- No, you're our brother too.
- Hey, that's real.
Yo.
Yo, they're scorching us online.
They said, "The players on Swagger DMV are a disgrace to youth sports across the nation.
" "Last thing we need in this country are more thugs on a basketball court.
" Hey, yo.
The Undefeated says, "We're proud of these young men for being brave enough - to continue the conversation.
" Oh.
- Hey.
- That's more like it.
- Text that to me.
I got you, homey.
Hold on.
- Me too.
- Hey, yo.
J.
Cole just reposted it.
- Stop lyin'.
- No way.
Lemme see.
- Yo, it's real.
- Stop lyin'.
Bro, it's it's real.
- No way.
What? - What? - He's not kidding.
- That's true, yo.
- Yeah, word.
- No ways! Hey, nah, nah, nah.
Check it out, though.
- Bro, what? - To all you kings and queens out there this is your man Overtime Larry kicking it with Swagger DMV.
I just want to talk to my man Jace Carson here.
- Let 'em know.
- Yo, Jace, when you took a knee at that game, what the hell were you thinking? Yeah.
Hope my mom doesn't have a heart attack.
Hey, hey, hey, Nick Mendez.
We all know you was robbed of that sweet game-winning buzzer beater.
Got any message out there for all the fans? Oh, of course.
What doesn't break us, makes us stronger.
Yes.
- That's what I'm talkin' about.
- Straight up.
With that being said, Coach says if we wanna get to nationals, we're gonna have to win out the Fall Ball Tournament.
So if we lose, we're done? We're done.
Hey, but we got this.
We're stronger than ever, y'all.
If we could survive that last game, we could survive anything.
That's it.
That settles it.
No more losses.
No more losses.
We win out.
Hey, "No more losses" on three.
One, two, three.
No more losses! Miss your daddy? Miss your daddy? There you are now, flaring them nostrils.
Maybe you ought to be If you want more than your average throne, can't go wrong here.
This bad boy comes with double jets to clean efficiently.
I swear to God, I I think we've met before.
I've been employed here for a few years.
Now this is the Tesla of toilets.
It comes with a sensor so that the lid opens and closes automatically.
I shit you not.
- Sorry, what was that? - It's a bad joke.
A Are you a Kenilworth Elementary School dad? My daughter won't be going to school for a few years.
Uh, Fantasy Football Draft, Smitty's Bar and Grill, right? Nailed it.
Nah, it's not me, man.
Huh.
Well, I I guess you just have one of those familiar faces.
Especially with the mask.
Well, I will take the Tesla of toilets.
Excellent choice.
It's right here.
Wait, wait, wait.
Uh W Wasn't it you and your team that was all over social? - You're Icon, right? Right? - Yeah.
I used to watch you play in high school.
M Matter of fact, I was at the Fairfax game the first time you came out with two different color sneakers.
You remember that? Uh, it was two different color laces, actually.
Hey, all I know is that crowd went nuts.
And hey, I gotta tell you.
What happened to you and your team at that tournament, that wasn't right.
Everyone loves talking about free speech until they disagree with something you gotta say.
Yeah.
That's right.
Hey, I've been doing a little coaching nowadays.
- Oh, yeah? - Yeah.
Eight-year-old soccer.
Half the time I'm just trying to get them to pay attention.
Trust me, that never changes.
You got any tips for me, Coach? Uh Someone once told me, "A great coach teaches his kids to win in life, on and off the basketball court.
" Or soccer field.
I'll remember that.
It's great to see that Icon is back.
Hey, would you mind if we took a, um, like a quick selfie? Um, I mean, I'm at work.
Plus, the social distancing is - Uh, no, I totally get it.
- Sorry about that.
I mean - Yeah, why not? - Oh, man.
Thank you.
Here we go, and three, two, one.
Hey! Hey, hey.
Y'all keep doin' what you doin'.
I'm proud of y'all This your guy Overtime Larry, taking a break from my pandemic workout to shout out Swagger DMV.
Yes! Y'all be standing up to this world.
A club team of ninth graders.
The season just started back up and some of them made the mistake of eating while Black.
They had the cops called on them.
A couple hours later at their game, they took a knee during the anthem.
A controversial move, and social media has been hard at work.
Folks are uplifting them.
Other folks are tryna crush them.
But props to their coach, Ike "Icon" Edwards.
Some of y'all never heard of the brother.
A straight-up high school legend from the DMV who turned out to be a molder of young men.
But it's not just the fellas holdin' it down.
Stare or smile at me.
Some brave young women from the DMV spoke up and finally got justice from the abuse they suffered at the hands of their coach.
Maybe there's something in the water, but the hoopers in the DMV - was the worst.
- are finding their voice.
Respect.
Come on.
How you feeling, man? Morning, Coach.
- Ready to work? - Yeah.
I like it.
- Yo.
You see that? - Yeah.
What's up? Y'all ready? Let's go.
Let's go.
Close 'em up.
Close 'em up.
Close 'em up.
Close 'em up.
Close 'em up, Ricky.
Go! You gotta move.
You gotta move.
You gotta hustle.
There you go.
Move, move, move, move.
Stay on 'em.
Stay.
That's right.
How'd you pull this off? I was gonna ask you the same thing.
That's you.
That's you.
Come on.
Lock There you go.
You gotta move.
You gotta move, Rick.
- Nice throw.
- Lester Davis? Yeah, right.
- He'd have his name inscribed all over that.
- Yeah.
You gotta stay on him.
Keep goin'.
Royale's dad? - Keep it going.
Keep it going.
- Please.
By now, he'd be demanding that Royale be the focal point of your offense.
- There we go.
- Well.
- There it is.
- Yeah, that's you, Rick.
Basketball Santa Claus.
That's you.
- Funny.
- That's crazy.
Kendrick Lamar just followed me on Instagram! - No way.
- You You lyin'.
Kendrick Lamar is following me on Instagram! Kendrick Lamar! Kendrick Lamar! Hey, hey, hey.
Be humble, sit down! We doing cell phones at practice now, huh? Oh.
Nah, Coach.
I just had it in my shorts pocket and But y'all having fun? Right? - Yeah.
- Right? Y'all having fun? - Yeah.
- Good.
I'm glad.
'Cause fun time's over.
What? What did we do? It's what you're about to do that I'm fixing.
Believing in your glow-up.
It's a trap.
And you need to take it seriously.
We are taking it serious.
Yeah, uh, Coach.
You haven't seen our new "fam" masks? Come on, man.
I know you like it, bruh.
Y'all think we're gonna win now because y'all got a bunch of matching family masks? Who's our next opponent? Um - Go-Go Hoops.
- Oh, yeah.
Jace's old team.
And believe me, Coach Harrison will love nothing more than to bring us back down to Earth.
Not exactly my biggest fan either.
For the record, Coach.
I was the only good player on that squad.
- He can't stop me or us.
- Right.
Hell, yeah.
Yeah.
Harrison has been actively picking up players.
But you're right.
They can't stop us.
You know why? Because "If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm.
" It's a little African proverb for y'all.
So, we're gonna go in this empty pool, far away from this shiny new toy in here.
Far away from cell phones and rappers.
We're gonna run laps.
We're gonna do our drills.
And when you're so tired that you don't feel like you can walk anymore, we're gonna come back here, and perform our plays to absolute perfection.
- We should have known better.
- Why's he doing this? You goin' in first, big brother.
No way.
- What the hell? You know about this? - No.
Oh, we're about to go crazy.
Santa Claus is getting on my last damn nerve.
A hell of a gesture, though.
Two, three, four.
Wait.
- What? - I don't know.
Power to the people.
Maybe you didn't notice because you're so used to shooting bricks.
But there is no hoop up there.
Maybe you didn't notice, but you smell like chlorine.
They filled the pool at the rec, so we all just jumped in.
Practice gear and all.
I swear, it was hilarious.
Y'all are dumb.
Man, whatever.
Come get this.
I asked them to wrap my chicken, so it doesn't touch the fries.
- Just how you like.
- Thank you.
So, they arrested your coach? Yeah.
That's good.
Even though it was on Zoom, it was scary as hell to testify.
Saying everything to a judge and lawyers was awkward, you know? Mmm.
How are your parents dealing with it? I've never seen my dad so mad.
And my mom, she's so scared to let me out her sight.
But I'm glad I told them.
You know, feels like they have my back.
Me too.
I think I know that already.
I'm gonna start going to therapy.
We got therapy right here.
My parents think it'll be good for me to talk to someone who doesn't know me already.
- Mmm.
- Maybe it'll help.
I hear you.
I'm happy for you.
Yeah? So, are y'all gonna get a new coach? They are.
They? The parents of some of my teammates were pissed that I spoke up.
I also have grown players messaging me on IG saying how proud they are of me.
I just need a fresh start.
There's just so much going on.
I was thinking I don't want things to get weird.
With what? Us.
Huh? I mean, every time we say we're just gonna be friends, something happens and we kiss again.
Maybe that means something.
Maybe that means we're being stupid.
There's too much going on.
I don't need a boyfriend.
I need a best friend.
Yeah, I mean, I was kinda thinking the same thing.
Besides, Coach and I are clicking.
Whole team is clicking.
We're trying to win out to get to nationals.
So, my focus is all on hoops right now.
I feel that.
Teresa.
How often should our kids be tested? Rapid tests twice a week.
Temperature checks before all games and practices.
And, uh, masks when not on the court.
- Excuse me.
- Eva.
Drew's high school team tryouts are next week.
What should we do if there's a scheduling conflict? Um, email us ahead of time.
Of course we want the kids to thrive in their high school seasons, but the Fall Ball Tournament will be major exposure for their young careers.
And with them being ninth graders college coaches are gonna be streaming some of their games.
- I have a question.
- Jenna.
Jace can't have another six months of no games.
So, I'm prone to allow him to play.
But this isn't easy to say, so I'll just be blunt.
Why didn't you pull our boys out of that arena when that crowd was antagonizing them? They didn't look like they were playing in front of a basketball crowd.
They looked like they were in front of a mob.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.
It's true.
I thought it was important for our players not to back down.
Um, the moment was bigger than the game.
It was life.
Exactly.
Their lives.
Hey, just for the record, Jenna, taking a knee was not planned.
That was something that the kids did spontaneously, and we wanted to support them.
I think not being bullied or chased away was the right thing to do.
But there was no cause to provoke them either.
An anthem protest at the Soldier's Tournament? They weren't We weren't protesting the anthem.
You're a new parent, Ike.
You know there is nothing more important than protecting your child.
But you'll come to understand, that that doesn't change when your kid becomes a teenager.
With all due respect, don't tell me what I don't and do understand.
Okay, okay, okay.
You know what? Let's just take a minute here.
Okay? All right, listen.
We are all proud of how our boys faced this adversity.
But how do we turn that defeat into a victory for our kids? That's the focus now.
- Right, Coach? - Right.
I for one, I am happy with how the team has come together.
- So am I.
- Yeah.
That's true.
Yes, we all can agree that the kids are amazing.
Well, thank you all.
We'll be in touch.
- Have a good night.
- Thank you.
You're a new parent, so you don't know nothing.
She really went there? Who the hell does Jenna Carson think she is? Jenna Carson.
- Yeah.
- Drama, Coach? Just another day in the office, Phil.
Hey, you finish your homework? Yes.
Let's go pick out that pull-out couch we've been talking about.
All right.
I love you, Black Queen.
I love you.
Okay.
I need to ask you something, Coach Max.
It's about Ike.
I thought my counsel was beneath you.
Never that.
You're the godfather of grassroots ball around here.
Appreciate the respect.
What you wanna know, Jenna? There's some things about Ike that's not sitting right with me.
Yeah? I got a whole laundry list.
Go on.
His perfect role model persona is in full effect.
But why would he fall out with his best friend on his high school team, and his father who coached him? His old teammate, Lester, made it to the pros.
Ike didn't.
We all know what that's about.
So, why was he at odds with his father? Some father-and-son shit.
No one knows.
Somebody knows.
Maybe Lester does? Would you be willing to see what you can find out? We'd be indebted.
If your mama instincts tell you somethin' not right with the man, why not just go with that? Because I need something more concrete than intuition.
With all this social media hype on the team, my son thinks his coach walks on water.
Hmm.
Hey.
Hey.
I got an email from your step team.
Says you're not signed up for the new season.
- I know.
- Why not? Because I don't feel like it.
Or maybe you're trying to make a point.
And what point is that, Mom? That you're a martyr.
Yes.
Yeah, that's exactly it.
You don't have to stop doing something you love because I hurt you.
I apologized for missing your show.
I apologize again.
I don't want any more of your apologies.
That's fine.
I don't need one from you.
I'm not gonna stop selling cosmetics because you embarrassed me at my presentation.
I gotta keep doing this.
Jackie, I wanna move us outta here.
And I need to prove that I can.
To myself.
There are so many excuses that I can hold on to.
I'm a single mom.
I can barely make ends meet.
My daughter wants to get into a good college.
My son wants to play professional ball.
Any wrong turn or misstep for both of my kids could ruin everything.
It's so easy to say that I can't handle the pressure.
Well, how do you? I pray.
And I try to see past what's directly in front of me.
Seeing what no one else sees.
And I make sure nothing stops my kids from shining their lights.
Shining our lights? Okay, that was a little bit corny, Mom.
But, um But maybe I'll sign up for step again.
I mean, I'll think about it.
Oh, you don't have to think about it.
I already signed you up.
'Kay.
Thank you.
And it's only corny if you don't believe it.
Oh, my God.
Please stop.
- Oh, my God.
- Yeah, I got it.
Tight, tight, tight.
Come on.
Faster.
Switch! - Here.
- Come on, Belton.
Good.
Come on.
Hey, I can't talk right now.
I got practice.
Get over yourself, bro.
- Yo, over here, over here.
- You gotta make that pass! Excuse me.
I'd like to join Swagger.
Hey, head up! Next! - You're Crystal Jarrett.
- Yes.
You spoke up against Coach Warrick.
That took a lot of steel.
I don't want to be known for just that.
I'm the number one female two-guard in the DMV.
My high school team's only practicing, but I'm tryna play games.
You need to win out the rest of your season.
I can help.
She's not wrong.
About any of it.
I don't doubt that.
But I've already got a full roster.
Plus, I'm not sure the league will allow a girl to - I can handle the league.
- I'll make you a deal, Coach.
I score on five members of your team, and I'm on.
- Pass! Pass! - Right here.
Here's my rapid test results.
You feelin' good? You feelin' from deep.
- All right.
- I can't believe this.
Who's up first? Man, I got this.
- Word up.
All right, Royale.
- All right, Royale.
Hey, hey.
Wanna be laughed at? - Hey, D-up, Royale.
- Come on.
What? Nah.
I ain't even stretch yet, Coach.
Come on.
Who's next? All right, I'll choose.
Drew.
- Yeah, Drew, boy, you gotta go.
- Ain't no way.
This This is crazy.
- You've got this.
Lock up, man.
- Come on, Drew.
Get down, Drew.
- Guard me, stupid.
- Oh! - D-up, Drew.
- All right.
Nothing personal.
That was personal.
Hey, Drew.
Let's stand right here, bro.
Just Just chill with me.
Hey, I'ma do you a favor and try not to hurt you.
Let's go, big man.
Get her, Phil.
- Yeah, Phil.
- Phil, watch her.
Watch her.
My bad.
Very funny.
Yo.
Hey, my turn.
Hey, Nick.
Guard up.
Guard up, man.
Hey, what's wrong? You want me to play you like a girl? - Shoot that.
- She can't make that.
- Did you see that? - three.
Good shot.
All right.
One more volunteer.
- Who's it gonna be? - No way.
- Jace.
- You gotta stop this.
What you waiting for? You should quit while you're ahead.
What, you scared I'm gonna score on you like I have our entire lives? Damn! Let's go, scrub.
Check ball.
You got this, Jace.
D-up.
D-up, man.
Deck out, man.
You sure you want this? Easy money.
Shit.
I know all your moves.
Yep.
Yep.
Yep.
Yep.
Seen Seen that before.
Seen that before.
Seen that before.
Hey! Man, that don't count.
- Hey.
- That's my shit! Hey, that counts.
That counts.
That counts.
Hey, that don't count.
There's only one attempt in King of the Court.
That's the rule.
That wasn't a real attempt.
I played you.
You wanna You wanna go again? - You don't wanna go again.
- You know I'll cook you all day.
You don't wanna go again.
- You know you don't wanna go again.
- Water.
Water.
Water.
Water.
Three minutes.
Three minutes.
- She cooked you.
- Crystal.
- You can't talk it out, Royale.
- She cooked you.
- No cussing.
- Yes, Coach.
Make sure you give Meg your jersey size after practice.
Bet.
Bet? That's all you gotta say? Y You know you made the team, right? Um, congratulations, Coach.
Congratulations, Coach.
Come on now.
I knew I was good, but - Yo, here she go.
Here she go.
- Honestly, I think I might be a legend.
Yeah, a legend that gets to take two shots in King of the Court.
- Queen of the Court.
- I don't think so.
For real, though.
I had a lot of days where I didn't even wanna play anymore.
- Felt good to just be out there hoopin'.
- Mmm.
I almost let Coach Warrick take that away from me.
Still just trying to find my way back, you know? Yeah.
And now we're teammates.
That's crazy.
You know I'm gonna be hard on you? Please, scrub.
I'm gonna be hard on you.
Mmm.
Oh, really? Mmm.
Maybe we should keep our masks on from now on.
Good idea.
Hi, Mom.
Hi, honey.
I saw the dude with the ABO League driving off.
He came to talk to you? Yeah.
Coach Max.
He had some information to share.
About what? Ike.
They shouldn't be mad about what happened at the tournament.
'Cause to be honest, I think it made me a better person.
That's a big statement.
Coach challenged me to pull my team together as a leader, and I did.
You could've gotten hurt.
All of you.
Coach Max told me some things that aren't quite adding up to the man that Ike is pretending to be.
Pretending to be? - Coach Max is a hater.
- Hear me out.
In Ike's senior year, his team was undefeated.
Then in the final game, he gets into a falling out with his best friend, Lester Davis.
He pisses his dad off so much that he doesn't even go to his own son's press conference when he declares for Georgetown weeks later.
So? They lost a game they had no business losing.
Ike scored way below his average.
He had tons of turnovers.
The other team was probably clamping down on defense.
Coach probably got nervous.
You don't just lose your best friend and your dad, who is your coach, because you had a bad game.
What are you tryna say? Back then, a lot of people in this area would make bets on high school games.
It was a big deal.
I think Ike tried to lose.
Why would he do that? Money.
Money over a state championship game? Mom, do you hear yourself? Ike He would never do that.
- I'm gonna ask him.
- No, Mom, you're not.
- You always do this.
- Do what? First, you hated on that track coach I used to have.
He wasn't smart enough.
Then, you hated on Coach Harrison because you thought he was too old-school.
Now, you're hating on Ike because he had one bad game his senior year of high school? Mom, they're not my father.
This is not about your father.
It's about you.
It's always about my father.
You can't even see that.
I have to get something from the store.
Hey, ya! Hey, ya! Go, Drew! Okay.
Show 'em, Jace! Hold on.
Hey, what's up with your kicks? - Come on, man.
Come on! - Yo, that ain't gonna work.
Little something I pulled out the vault for good luck.
Yeah, that's the Icon classic.
I mean, that's dope.
All right.
Listen up.
Y'all go out there focused.
We got family members in there.
Tons of people online.
And like it or not, y'all have become a cause.
People are gonna hate you for that.
And they're gonna love you for it.
They're gonna want you to stand for many things.
More than anything, a team stands for each other.
Show up.
And I'm so proud to be y'all coach.
Even if y'all can't dance.
Let's go get 'em! Good luck to you, Coach.
Yeah.
You too, Ike.
And if you see any more of my players you wanna poach, you let me know.
Yo, Earl! - What's good? How you been? - Aight.
How long you been with Harrison? About two weeks.
I heard y'all cut me for Royale and Crystal.
A Are you serious? Hey, you know we had nothing to do with that.
For real.
- All right, come on.
- I'm just happy to see you.
What's up? Nah, don't get too happy.
I'm really 'bout to bust y'all ass.
All right.
Say that.
One, two, three! Fam! All right.
Get 'em! Get 'em! There we go! Hands up! Hands up! - There it is! - Get it back.
There we go! There we go! Hey, come on.
Give me one.
Close our middle! All day, baby! All day! Phil! That's you! Take it up! Let's go! Come on.
Talk to each other.
Talk to each other.
Finish it.
Let's go! That's right! Get back! Lock him up! He gets nothing! There we go! There we go! He gets nothing! Now, I'm not saying that you'd be nothing without me.
But I am saying this.
You try and leave this team and you're gonna be sorry as hell.
Good hands! Good hands! He gets nothing! - Nothing! That's it.
That's right.
- Time-out! Time-out! - Bring it in! - Come on.
It's all right.
Good work.
Good work, Phil.
Hey, you know what I think? I think Harrison is cool losing this game as long as Jace don't beat him.
You think he's petty like that? Oh, yeah.
Let him pick his own poison? No, I can be petty too.
Bet.
All right.
Listen.
We're gonna help Jace get open against his old team - so he can set this place on fire.
- Aight.
Y'all cool with that? - Yeah! Yes, sir.
- Hell, yeah! - Let's do it! - Let's get it! Draw it up.
All right.
Crystal, you coming in.
I'm talking double, even triple screens if we have to.
Let him eat.
We running mamba.
Bring it in! Swagger on three! - One, two, three - Swagger! Get out of my face, bruh.
Whatcha got? - Yeah! Yeah! - Let's go! - Just like that! - That was great.
Hey! Hey! Y'all understand English, right? Jace Carson does not get open! Hey! Who's sorry now? Who's sorry now? Phil.
Hey, Phil! Pass, pass, pass! Let's go, Phillie! My bad.
Come on! That's what I'm talking about! Let's go! Push it! Push it! Oh, yeah! We'll see you, huh? - We still family.
- Hey, be easy, bro.
- This is too crazy.
- I know, right? Hey, man, I'll be right back.
Okay, cool.
All right, I'll catch you later.
Hey, excuse me.
You're the, uh, equipment rep for Shoot-A-Way, right? I haven't seen you at one of our games before.
I mean, we love our new toy, but rebound machines are big bucks.
Why the sudden charity? Uh, I might not be the guy that deserves the praise.
Congrats on the win.
Really? You? Me what? You have any idea why a Shoot-A-Way rep is wearing limited-edition Gladiators? Uh, he has good taste.
And how expensive are those? Wow.
I don't think I wanna know what you had to do to get that pool fixed.
All right.
Okay, let let's just keep this between us, okay? Why? What happened at the diner with your team, the the way your kids stood up I just wanted to show some respect.
Okay? So, I may have found some money and some kicks and got you guys a shooting machine.
How's it work, by the way? Not too shabby.
Ike wasn't too happy about the water in the pool though.
Yeah, that was a little trickier to pull off, not gonna lie.
So, uh, your bosses know about all the respect you're showing Swagger? Well, what my bosses know is that the Dominion Ballers are our team in the DMV.
Swagger isn't.
But certainly, you're a man who'll do the right thing.
I'm a man who's a realist.
That's what got me in the room.
And if I stay there, I can do good now and then.
So, we're just your sidepiece? I gotta stay in the room.
Mr.
Marksby.
Uh, what's with the surprise visit? Wasn't part of the deal.
I don't know what you been telling my boy about me.
- Wh - Now, hold on, hold on.
I'm not beefing with you, Coach.
But I do have to say something.
Okay? You know, when When so many things happened this year, you know, the pandemic, George Floyd, everything It made me think about you, you know? And it hurt not to call you and guide you.
You know, it hurt knowing that as much as I'm trying to protect you, you scared of me.
You sent me to school bruised up and limping.
More than once.
How am I supposed to be? Yeah, I'm I'm in this Family Preservation program that Ike's wife got me in.
I'm learning parenting strategies.
And soon I'ma show 'em that I'm fit enough to have you come back and stay with me.
All right, Marksby.
He's your coach.
But I'm your father.
You all right? Yeah.
Let's go home.
So, you're really not gonna ask about my game? How was your game? You didn't stream it? No.
Oh.
I played well.
It's too bad you didn't watch it.
It's too bad the people who could've watched it aren't appreciated and is thought to be trying to hold their son back.
You know, I don't think you're right about Coach.
I'm gonna ask him myself.
Can I get a ride? What's up, Coach? Jace, what's going on? What you doing here? I was hoping we could talk.
All right, let's do it outside.
So, what's up? I wanted to ask you about that state championship game.
From your senior year.
What about it? Is that when you and your pops fell out? What? I was just wondering what it was about.
It's personal.
And you and Lester also fell out after that game, right? Where you going with this, Jace? My moms is saying something about how people used to bet on high school games around here.
- Your moms? - Yeah.
Anyway, Coach, all those missed shots, all those turnovers, were they running some kind of defensive scheme you weren't ready for? Were you scared? Or did you miss on purpose? - What you want me to tell you? - What do I want you to tell me? Want you to tell me the truth.
It's complicated.
What's so complicated? All you have to say is, "No, Jace, I didn't miss all those shots on purpose.
Now get off my damn property.
" - It ain't that black-and-white.
- It is that black-and-white.
24-hour person.
Someone you can rely on 24 hours a day.
Remember that? Or was that all bullshit? Of course not.
How can someone say they love the game and tank in the State Championship? My moms was right about you.
Your team had to play against the other team and play against one of their own.
Go home, Jace.
That African proverb, "If the enemy within can't harm us " Your father taught you that, right? Yeah.
'Cause you're the enemy within.
What? No wonder he was done with you.
My father died thinking I was a piece of shit.
You think I really give a damn about what you think about me? Really? Now, you can get the hell off my property.
We're done.