Power Book II: Ghost (2020) s02e04 Episode Script

1
[UPBEAT HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS]
[DAVIS] Previously on Ghost
[SAXE] Your grandmother
got a DWI tonight.
She's gonna be here awhile.
She's going to a really good home.
[TARIQ] My number's right here.
Just make sure nobody sees this phone.
[DAVIS] If there is indeed a way
in which we can be of service,
we'll absolutely reach out
to you and your mother.
She doesn't need to know.
Window grilles will run about eight.
You may not have to do 'em all.
Do 'em all, plus extras, best you got.
[LAUREN] Is that weed?
That bitch is gonna need more
than that to relax.
Oh, yeah, a whole lot.
[MECCA] I watched your meeting.
You need to get Brayden in your pocket.
Tell your boss nice work.
Me and Tariq are partners.
Were you with Carrie Milgram
at her apartment
the night Jabari Reynolds was killed?
- No.
- Where'd you get this card?
You fucking gave them
Ramirez's PBA card?
That's what you told me to do.
Did you put that kid up to kill Jabari?
Or he just figure it out on his own?
[CARRIE] Neither Zeke
nor I had anything to do
with Jabari's murder.
[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
[BIRD WARBLES]
[TWIGS CRACKING]
Zeke?
[TWIGS CRACKING]
Zeke, is that you?
[TEXT MESSAGE WHOOSHES]
[BIRD WARBLES]
[ANIMAL CHITTERS]
- [TEXT MESSAGE WHOOSHES]
- [CELL PHONE BUZZES]
- [GLASS SHATTERS]
- [SCREAMS]
Shut the fuck up.
Don't make me
do something you'll regret.
What do you want?
I told you to stop fucking my nephew,
but you just couldn't fucking listen.
So now, bitch, you gonna talk.
Did that professor nigga
find out about you and Zeke?
- Did you kill him?
- No. I swear, I
Stop lying, bitch.
I wa-I was with Zeke
the night Jabari was murdered.
I told the police that, b-but then Zeke
lied to the police to protect me.
So now you gonna fucking protect him.
Find out who killed that professor.
That's how we get Zeke out
from under all of this.
What if I can't?
Not an option. You work for me now.
If you let me down,
you got a lot more to lose
than your fucking job.
You understand me?
Don't make me do this shit again.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
All right.
My car broker's coming over to show me
the McLaren 570 and
the Ferrari 488.
Which one do you think
screams Davis MacLean?
- [LAUGHS]
- Oh, wow, that's tough.
Uh, I think the
they both scream douchebag.
[DAVIS] Ooh, cute.
- [CELL PHONE BUZZES]
- Speaking of cute,
what would our favourite female DA
like to ride in, hmm?
She seems like a Porsche kind of girl.
Wouldn't she like you to have
a Porsche for Christmas, Saxe?
- I think she would.
- What are you doing here Tariq?
Listen, Davis, they're trying
to arrest Zeke Cross
for Jabari Reynolds' murder.
I need you to do
everything in your power
to make sure that doesn't happen.
His Aunt Monet said
they don't need a lawyer
or, rather, they don't want a lawyer.
Her mind was made up.
Why is Zeke your problem,
and what happens if he gets arrested?
Don't ask me how I know this,
but they found
the NYPD officer's weapon
at the murder scene.
And that is the murder weapon.
Whoa, how do you know that?
Okay, the young man
just said not to ask.
Sounds like you're alleging
a cover-up by the NYPD.
Exactly. Now, you run with that story.
You get them to back off of Zeke,
stop them from making
a formal arrest, that's it.
Okay, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Why do you care so much about Zeke, huh?
I keep Zeke out of trouble,
I stay in school.
I'm gonna do anything
to protect my future,
and Monet,
she'll do anything,
pay anything, to protect Zeke,
so you keep that in mind.
What?
You-you're not at all concerned
that Tariq magically knows
about the gun?
Do you wanna ask questions,
or do you wanna get to the money?
[SIGHS]
I think you need to use
the lovely Ms. Sullivan
to find out if it's true.
Okay, Jenny is not an idiot, okay?
If I keep using her for info,
eventually she's gonna figure it out.
Okay, and that's why
you're fucking her blind,
so she doesn't.
Come on, Saxe, it's either that
or no Porsche 911 for you.
[SAXE] Okay.
Kevin, what are you doing here?
You here to see the dean too?
Yeah, your new boss asked for a meeting.
What are you doing here?
You think maybe he found out
about your mentorship skills?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
I wish we were meeting
under better circumstances,
Dean Wong.
Yeah, turns out that letting chaos reign
at an Ivy League institution
was detrimental
to Dean Brooks's job stability.
And, uh, what's Professor Tate
doing here?
Trustee Stern asked me to be the liaison
between the NYPD investigation
of Professor Reynolds'
murder case and the university.
I'm replacing you, I'm afraid,
Professor Milgram.
This all seems like an internal matter.
Why am I here?
I summoned you here, Detective Whitman.
You're tarnishing our star player
and the Stansfield brand.
I need to know why.
Give us some insight into your case.
Why would Zeke Cross
harm Jabari Reynolds?
[TATE] I looked into Zeke's background,
Detective Whitman.
No history of violence,
not as much as a traffic ticket,
so why is he your prime suspect?
If you have evidence against Zeke,
then arrest him, by all means.
If you don't, stop harassing him
and, by extension, the university.
He has no evidence.
I have motive,
but I am not at liberty to
discuss my theory of the case.
It is an ongoing investigation.
Professor Milgram,
um, any thoughts on what
Zeke's motive might be?
Um, there is something
I wanted to discuss
with Detective Whitman.
The GTG member who was murdered,
that gang deals in narcotics.
I saw in Jabari's notebook,
he had written about
a potential drug pipeline on campus.
I'll authorise a discreet but immediate
drug sweep of the dormitories.
You find anything worthwhile,
run it through my department.
- Anything else?
- And
if we don't find anything worthwhile,
I'll need you to go away.
I don't take orders from you.
Oh, Detective,
everyone takes orders from me.
And I'll remind the commissioner of that
when we have dinner later this week.
Thanks for keeping me
in the loop, Councilman Tate.
Always.
Ciao.
[TATE] Dean Wong.
Hey, listen, I, uh, want you to know
that I overheard you talking
about Zeke with that detective.
You're the connective tissue
between Zeke Cross and Jabari Reynolds.
Okay, well, say that's true.
You know Zeke's innocent
because we were together
the night Jabari was murdered.
You know, aren't you supposed
to be the great Black crusader?
You're really gonna just sit back
and let an innocent Black man
go to prison?
You know, I keep wondering why
Whitman is so focused on you and Zeke.
You and that detective got history.
[LAUGHS]
My, my, my, what a messy
situation you're in,
one brother in the ground,
another brother on the hot seat,
and Captain America
right in the fucking middle.
Mm.
You know, I hate to admit it,
but I'm even more intrigued.
[LAUGHS] Rashad, this isn't about me.
This is about you.
Think about how heroic you'd appear
if you helped prove Zeke's innocence.
That's how you win elections.
You say you're the best,
so I want the best for Zeke.
How much?
A million dollars.
- You think I'm stupid?
- No, I don't.
After all, you chose me.
You want that full-court press for Zeke,
media coverage so complete,
it'll bias every potential juror
within a hundred-mile radius.
That cost money,
lots of it.
[SAFE BEEPING]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
Shit.
[DAVIS] Something missing, Mrs. Tejada?
You'll get your money.
Just stop all this bullshit
before the cops come and arrest Zeke.
Oh, yeah, you know what?
Um, I can't promise that.
But you getting me that money in
three days can't hurt.
[GRUNTING AND SCREAMING]
I said my guys didn't break
into your safe.
And I said you better tell me who it is,
or else I'ma have to assume it was you.
I swear I didn't rip anybody off.
You a motherfucking contractor.
Your whole fucking job
is ripping people off.
Let me go, okay?
Let me go, and I'll get
your money back, I promise.
How the fuck you gonna
get me my money back
when you say you ain't have it?
You seem confused, my nigga.
You got my fucking money or not?
No, I ain't got it.
Wrong answer, nigga.
Ma, what's up? What happened?
I was at the bar with Davis MacLean.
I go to open the safe, and
the fucking money is gone.
Any of y'all know anything about this?
[CANE] I mean, none of us
would've taken that shit.
Contractor and his workers
been in and out nonstop,
but would they be
dumb enough to take it?
Nigga said he ain't take it,
so now he ain't saying shit.
Look, the money is gone,
and I ain't getting it back.
But we gotta come up with
a million dollars in three days
so Davis can take Zeke's case.
A million dollars? That nigga serious?
Y'all, Davis did get Tariq's Mum cleared
off that murder charge,
and she was definitely
involved with that shit.
He's worth it.
Auntie, I don't want you
spending all that just for me.
If he'll keep you from getting roped up
and protect your draft
prospects, he's worth it.
Now, let's get this money.
Dru, you stay here with Zeke.
Make sure he gets in no more trouble.
Ma, I can do a lot more than
babysit a grown-ass man.
- Let me help.
- I said what I said.
Diana, Cane, let's go.
Fuck.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Oh, shit, Lauren,
you finally nailed that down?
- [CHUCKLES]
- [BRUSHAUNDRIA] Okay.
Afternoon, class.
Nice to see you all.
Um, let's get right to it.
I was very impressed with your papers
discussing whether or not
the ends justify the means.
And I was surprised by the lines
you were willing to cross
to get to a specific outcome.
I mean, hey, you gotta do
what you gotta do, Professor Milgram.
Anybody that says different
is straight-up lying.
Uh, Tariq, I was a little
disappointed in your argument.
You didn't answer the question.
That's because
the question itself was flawed.
If you're doing it right,
nobody should worry
about how you did it.
I know that's right, okay?
Yeah, but that wasn't the assignment.
Well, some of you found it justified
to cross ethical lines in your analysis
if the action was
benefiting someone else
but not yourselves.
Well, I don't know.
I just feel like even
if it's somebody you love,
there's just certain boundaries
you don't cross.
But what if it was to protect yourself?
Wouldn't the end justify the means
in a life-and-death situation?
Well, I guess I would have
to be in that situation
to really tell.
I just think you can't justify
everything you do in life
and still consider yourself
a good person.
[JENNY] Detective Whitman.
Rest assured that this was not my idea.
This is Kamaal Tate.
He just joined my office
as investigator.
- How you doing?
- [JENNY] As per the DA,
he'll be assisting you
on the Jabari case.
Any relation to, uh,
Councilman Rashad Tate?
Yeah, he's my brother.
Mm, so it's just a coincidence, then,
that I was just ambushed by your brother
and a big donor down at Stansfield
and now here you are
to help us out with the case.
Yeah, there's no way
that's a coincidence.
We're all here for the same thing.
That's to put aside any biases,
find the real killer.
Biases. Yeah, I found the real killer.
His name's Ezekiel Cross.
What makes you so sure?
Motive.
Professor Carrie Milgram
was having an affair
with both Zeke and the murder victim.
Zeke got jealous, popped his competitor.
But it says in your report
that an NYPD officer's gun
was found at the scene
and that Officer Ramirez is now missing.
Well, the kid must've
stolen Ramirez's gun.
He had Ramirez's PBA card in his wallet.
When I brought him in here,
he showed it to me.
There's a connection in there,
and-and Zeke's alibi is total bullshit.
Any detective worth
his fucking salt can see that.
How long have you been a detective?
- I'm just curious.
- Watch your tone with me.
There's no connection
until you speak to Ramirez.
Now, have you conducted
a thorough search for him?
Yeah, we're looking.
But you have nothing?
How is it that you're so sure
that Zeke's alibi doesn't check out?
- Did you really
- [JENNY] This will all go
so much more smoothly
if you two could find
a way to get along.
Whitman, just think of DI Tate
as an extra set of eyes on the case.
- [WHITMAN] Mm.
- Can't you use the help?
Sure. Yeah, there is something.
Your buddies down at Stansfield
want us to conduct
a narcotics investigation on campus,
see if this homicide is connected.
They're gonna bring in some students
that were caught with drugs
for questioning.
It's all yours.
Thanks.
[MECCA] I brought you
onto my team, Cane,
but it sounds like you've
got better things to do.
[CANE] It's not like that at all.
I'm just having a personal
emergency right now,
but I swear I could
still do the run for you
and handle this too.
What could possibly be so crucial
that you would jeopardise
your position with me?
You might've seen him on TV,
ballplayer Zeke Cross.
Cops think they got
a murder case against him,
and we got three days to raise a mil
to pay his fancy-ass lawyer off.
And this, uh, Zeke, he's your brother?
Nah, he's my cousin, but he's family.
I gotta ride for him.
All right.
Well, if family's that important to you,
how about this?
Two birds, one stone.
There's a man named Mahoney
trying to move into my territory.
I want him gone, but more than that,
I want his fucking money, all of it.
He's got some fronts.
I'll get the addresses to you.
You get down on him,
clean him the fuck out.
Whatever you make over 50K,
you can slide over to your cousin Zeke.
Cool, cool. I can make that happen.
[MECCA] All right.
Hmm.
[TEXT MESSAGE WHOOSHES]
[CELL PHONE BUZZES]
Yas, what's up? You okay?
When are you coming to get me?
[TARIQ] Soon, I promise.
I wanna go home. I want Mummy.
[SIGHS] Yeah, I know, Yas. Me too.
But we just gotta be strong
together no matter what, okay?
[YASMINE] Okay.
'Riq, can you bring me some
of those rainbow scratchers
Big Mama gets from the store
with all the bottles and the stickers
all over the windows?
Yeah, Yas, I'll-I'll get you
some scratchers.
I'll talk to you later, okay?
I love you.
Cane, bro, you surprised me.
I'm looking for Tariq again.
Where he at?
I-I don't know.
He hasn't answered
my calls all day long.
Why, what's up?
You
Nah, this don't even concern you.
I need him to do this.
Okay, well, c-can I help?
Come on, bro, you know
I'm down for anything.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
Anything, huh?
All right, adrenaline junkie,
get your whip.
Be my driver tonight.
Real oh.
[BRAYDEN LAUGHS]
We out.
Sending Kamaal Tate in
before we get an indictment
is a political chess move.
It undermines Whitman and the NYPD.
As usual, the DA just overreaches,
and I have to be the bad guy.
Rashad Tate has an agenda.
But I don't know what it is.
Think about your agenda.
Okay, you're exposed here.
You're a white woman
prosecuting a beloved
African American
college basketball star.
Yeah, so beloved that he's allegedly
fucking Carrie Milgram, his teacher.
She pretends to be such a saint,
but she's just so messy.
Well
and I shh
am fucking my legal rival,
mm, 4.5 times a week.
- [SHUDDERS]
- [CHUCKLES]
Look, Kamaal,
he's your cover.
Give him a call right now.
You get on his good side.
You might need him later.
You're not stupid, Cooper.
Misguided and working for the wrong team
but, you know, not stupid.
Thank you?
[DOOR CLICKS SHUT]
[SIGHS]
Lauren, you'll be doing
all of us a huge favour
if you just tell me where you got these.
Do that, and maybe you'll walk
out of here with just a fine.
All this over a few pills?
I told you those are not mine.
But the campus cops found this
in your dorm room.
If they're not yours, whose are they?
I'm not a snitch.
I got a whole grip of students
in here with drugs
What's going on here?
wrapped in the same
hourglass packaging,
right after two campus murders.
I'm asking you, Lauren, help me.
Who's the source?
If she says she doesn't know,
then she doesn't.
Lauren Baldwin is an honor student,
not a criminal.
Honor student or not,
I'ma shake every Ivy tree in the league
until our drug kingpin falls out.
Can I speak with you a moment alone?
[KAMAAL] Listen, if you're gonna defend
these entitled rich children
who think that they
Detective, come on.
Actually, I'm a new investigator
in the DA's office, Kamaal Tate.
Tate, like Councilman Tate?
My brother, and that has nothing to do
with why I'm here.
Of course.
Listen, you need to pursue
this drug pipeline theory vigorously,
but these students aren't just
gonna tell you their source.
I'm sorry. You trying to help me?
And Lauren.
I used to be in law enforcement.
Incentivizing cooperation
requires knowing
the right buttons to push.
If I can get her to help,
will you let her walk
with a clean record?
[CARRIE] Lauren, the police
aren't gonna stop
at "I don't know".
You have to think about your future,
your family, your career.
He'll trump up the charges,
and this'll go on your record,
affecting your chances at grad school,
applying for places to live,
your entire future.
This is so fucked up.
These are really not my pills.
What should I do?
Maybe you could speak
to some of your friends.
They can give you a recording device.
You want me to wear a wire?
Professor Milgram, I don't know.
I understand, but you can try.
And if you do, I promise,
I can get them to drop
any criminal investigation into you.
All of this will just go away.
Your record will stay spotless,
and your parents
will never have to know.
It could also help
in finding Jabari's killer.
You want to get justice for
Professor Reynolds, don't you?
Yeah.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
Okay.
[WATCH TICKING]
[KAMAAL] Looks like you have
a new accessory, Lauren.
So my grandmother's been
spending all of Yasmine's money
- at a liquor store?
- Mm.
My little sister can't live with
someone that's drunk 24-7.
[WARREN CHUCKLES]
I don't know about your
grandmother being drunk 24-7.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Yasmine was still making it to school.
Her marks dipped a bit,
but that's to be expected
after your mother's hasty departure.
Mm.
She belongs with me, okay?
Listen, do you really want
to take your grandmother to court
to fight for custody?
Listen to me.
I'll do whatever I have to do
to protect my sister, okay?
Okay.
So do I have your support,
or do I have to go to court
and have you removed as conservator?
You have my support.
Thank you.
Enjoy your meal.
Pull over here for a second.
Just need to run in here
and pick up something.
All you gotta do is
keep the car running.
That's it?
Okay, fine, that's it.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING OVER RADIO]
You lost?
Uh, no, I think I'm good.
Who you know in there?
You know, Ronnie,
Bobby, Ricky, and Mike.
You know, the guys.
Get the fuck out the car now.
[GUNSHOTS]
[CANE] Go, go, go! Drive, drive!
Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
[LAUGHS]
Yeah!
You got that look on your face
like you're about
to ask me for something.
Got your "ask me for something"
nails on too.
What is it?
Davis MacLean needs
a million dollars by tomorrow
to pay for Zeke's defense.
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
Look, I need your signature
to mortgage the house.
We'll get the money back
as soon as Zeke is cleared
and he goes to the draft.
Absolutely fucking not.
You'd do it if one
of the kids was in trouble.
Yeah, you're right. I would.
But they're not.
I know you love your nephew, Mo,
but we need to think
about our family first.
You know how long it took us to rebuild
after paying for my defense,
and now you want me
to put my house on the line?
I don't know.
Look, how often do I ask you for shit?
Hardly ever.
I'm asking you for this,
Lorenzo, please.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
Sorry, Mo, no.
And my answer is final.
Don't be like that, babe.
What do you want me to do?
Look, how about you just use the money
that's stashed at the bar?
Yeah, I'll use that.
It looks like despite being down
their star player, Ezekiel Cross,
the Stansfield Stallions will go on
to play a pivotal game tonight.
Some fucked-up shit, Dru.
It's the motherfucking cops, man.
They ain't gonna stop
'til they lock me up
for some shit I didn't do.
That's bullshit, man.
-
-
[CELL PHONE CHIMES]
Who is that?
Don't worry about it.
[CELL PHONE CHIMES]
[CELL PHONE CHIMES]
-
-
I'ma handle this myself.
[BOTH GROANING]
[LAUGHTER]
[SIGHS]
Shit. [LAUGHS]
So what they say about
makeup sex is true, huh?
Mm, my bad.
I thought this was
thank-you sex. [LAUGHS]
I ought to breakup
with your ass more often,
because that was whew!
[LAUGHTER]
Oh, shit.
Yo, the team's protest video
is raking up thousands of views.
#FreeZeke!
Fuck the NYPD.
We ain't playin'
until Zeke Cross is exonerated.
- Free Zeke!
- Period.
- They're amazing.
- Yeah, and the GoFundMe
that Coach Wallace is
settin' up went crazy too.
Just hit you up on Venmo.
Ev, everything you did
today is incredible.
You're incredible.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYS]
Dru, I need to tell you something.
After we broke up, man, I was shook.
Yeah.
Because of the murder on campus.
Because of how we got jumped
at the club that night.
Two of Zeke's professors
asked me about what happened
that night, and
I told them part of it.
What'd you say about me?
I tried not to say anything,
but I may have mentioned your name.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
And you're just telling me this now?
Do you understand
how this could affect me?
How this could affect my family?
Your family?
Isn't it their fault that you got shot?
Isn't it their fault that Zeke
is being accused of murder?
You don't know the first thing
about my family,
which means you don't know
the first thing about me.
You shouldn't have said shit, Everett.
Dru, let's talk about this.
- Dru, let's talk about
- No.
I mean Dru.
Fuck.
- You need to relax.
- Effie, I'm relaxed.
But you don't even look like yourself.
Uh, yeah, that's the point.
Remember, we're just gonna go in here
and get these clothes with
these cloned credit cards
- [WOMAN] Good afternoon.
- Hi.
sell them to my boost man,
get you a quick change,
and we'll be on our way.
Scamming 101, quick and easy.
Okay, I'm relaxed.
You good? You relaxed?
Yes, I promise. I'm trying.
I cannot believe Mummy
let you out the house today.
Yeah, well, she don't care.
She knows why I need the money.
But you ain't gon' tell me?
You're smart, Di.
If you so obsessed with school, just go.
We don't do that in my family.
Your cousin Zeke goes
to Stansfield, though.
Yeah, but Monet has
different rules for Zeke.
What about you? What about your parents?
They know what you do to get by?
[SCOFFS] My parents?
Let's just say they leave me alone
and I leave them alone.
I'm good on my own.
Uh, I'm glad you hit me, though.
When I met you with Tariq,
I just was trying to say
don't fuck him.
Not on no jealousy shit,
just, Tariq can't be trusted,
and you're not ready
for that type of nigga.
Well, don't worry. I ain't fucking him.
Monet always taught me,
the way to get ahead
is to use men's attraction
to me against them.
But I don't know.
Effie, I feel like
I want my first time to be
the right person.
Good, keep it that way.
That's all I meant is that
by not fucking with Tariq,
you're saving yourself a lot of grief.
Trust me.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYS]
And when you do decide
to go there with a guy,
just make sure you doing it
for you, all right?
- [CELL PHONE CHIMING]
- [MAN] Zeke, big fan.
Who isn't?
I just have a few questions for you.
[ZEKE] No, man, I ain't
answerin' no questions
right now, man, go on.
[MAN] Everybody knows the police
are looking at you hard
for Jabari Reynolds' murder.
I wanna give you the chance
to set the record straight.
Did you kill Jabari Reynolds?
Yo, what the fuck is this?
Nah, Zeke, go inside.
You, get the fuck out of here right now.
Dru, chill, I'ma go inside,
and he gonna leave.
[MAN] Just a few more questions.
Zeke, your uncle Lorenzo Tejada
is in prison for manslaughter.
Is it fair to say murder
runs in the family?
[DRU] Hey, yo, let me talk
to you right quick.
[GROANS]
Get my father's name
out your fucking mouth!
- Dru, hey!
- Bitch!
- Nah! Get off me, man.
- Chill!
- We take care of our own!
- Dru, man.
- [MAN GROANING]
- What the fuck?
Wait, that's all we got?
We gotta pay Davis tomorrow,
and this isn't nearly enough.
Shit, I got you, Ma.
I'll hit another lick tonight.
Thank you, Cane.
Is your fucking lick
gonna bring us 750K?
And who the fuck told your
stupid ass to leave the house,
come back, and whip
some random nigga's ass?
Do you understand how serious this is?
I'm the one who raised the most
money to pay for Davis, me.
I'm the one who convinced
the basketball team
to start a fucking GoFundMe
and forfeit a game.
Where's my credit for that?
You know what? Fuck this shit.
Where the fuck you going, boy?
Come back here.
Ooh, gonna punch me
in the face too, kid?
[DRU SCOFFS]
A'ight, killer.
You the million-dollar nigga?
[CHUCKLES] Cane Tejada, I presume.
And that would make you Diana.
[MONET] What's up?
Were you able to keep this
journalist nigga quiet or what?
Yes and no.
The reporter your son assaulted
works for a subsidiary
of Sports Media World.
In exchange for his silence
and an agreement not to press charges
Zeke would have to do an interview.
Oh, hell no.
A sit-down with Jemele Hill.
Can Zeke pull that off?
What you thinking?
You don't have a choice.
Fuck!
What's up?
Where you been? I was hitting you up.
I was with that girl from bio.
You know how I do.
Speaking of girls, though, 'Riq, um,
now that you're officially
booed up with Lauren,
she can't know about
our business, you know?
Lauren is good, a'ight?
We'll be chilling in her room.
She got a single.
We won't even be over here.
She won't know anything
about CourseCorrect.
Everything will be fine.
I ain't even stressing
that shit right now, bro.
Got more important things
to worry about.
Look at this shit.
Come on.
[BRAYDEN] Whoa, how'd you get this?
[TARIQ] I bribed the cashier.
Damn, Granny's partying like that?
She got Snapchat?
Man, you want me to smack your face?
'Kay, I'm just I'm fucking with you.
Look, bro.
[BRAYDEN] Oh, fuck, bro.
I'm sorry.
What are you gonna do?
I mean, at this point,
the only thing I can do
is try to get custody
- of my sister.
- [CELL PHONE BUZZES]
Okay, well, before you go
all Losing Isaiah,
let's just forget about all
this bullshit for a night,
kick it like old times,
you, me, a pizza.
- [CELL PHONE BUZZES]
- I'll pay since
- Which one of your hos is that?
-
Uh, it's just this girl from history.
I totally forgot, but we have an exam,
and she really wants to study.
Listen, 'Riq, um, rain check?
It's whatever. Do your thing.
I'll catch you later, bro.
- A'ight.
- Yep.
[KEYS JINGLING]
Please, I need to get
something for my girl.
I mean, she's a total bitch,
but it's our anniversary.
You know how that goes.
[SIGHS]
All right, lover boy.
You got ten minutes.
Yeah, that's all we need.
I mean me, all I need.
18-karat white gold,
rhodium-plated, 4.5 carats,
I mean, that's gotta be
worth at least 36K.
That's right.
[BRAYDEN] Nothing too good
for my baby, though, right?
[DOOR BELL JINGLES]
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS]
Don't fucking move, or I'll shoot.
[BRAYDEN] Yo, don't
forget the solitaire.
That's gotta be worth at least 40K.
Fuck, it's jammed.
The gun you gave me, it jammed.
[CANE] I jammed it, fool.
I don't need you shootin'
anybody in here, Tom Cruise.
But you can keep it.
[KAMAAL] Take a look at this.
This is a bodega near
Carrie Milgram's apartment
on the night of Jabari Reynolds' murder.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
Zeke's alibi checks out.
This means your theory
of the case is shot to hell.
Not so fast.
All this means is,
Zeke contracted the kill.
Stop it, Whitman. You reachin', man.
Now, listen, after you
so kindly suggested
I follow up on Ramirez,
I looked into him.
Had a sketchy record and
some unexplained income.
So what are you saying?
I'm saying Zeke hired Ramirez
to do his dirty work.
Ramirez left town.
Okay, so how you gonna prove it?
What have you gotten me into, kid, hmm?
No, seriously, what have
you gotten me into?
First, his family can't pay.
On top of that, Diana
has been blowing me up
all day about some side shit.
I um, I won't be needing
any more referrals from you.
That's a lie, nigga. You love money.
Mrs. Tejada, lovely as ever.
What up, Zeke?
Zeke, the interview's in a few hours.
This some fuckin' bullshit, man.
I just wanna play ball.
Look, before I put you on national TV,
I need to make sure you're ready.
My connects at the network were able
to send me a copy of what
Let me see this shit.
Jemele plans to ask.
And I'ma prep you for all
of this shit, all right?
These questions aren't that bad.
[SIGHS] A'ight, look.
I'm gonna write these answers down,
but I need you to memorise
all of them, a'ight?
Stick to the script.
No deviations, no freestyling.
If this goes well,
we'll establish your alibi
and racial bias on the part of the NYPD.
You'll come out looking
even better for the draft.
All right, cool.
Tariq, hit me.
A'ight, look, when they ask you,
"What is it like being
a star player under scrutiny?"
You answer it like this:
"Being under the spotlight
has its advantages and"
[ZEKE] and disadvantages.
I get the opportunity
to be a role model.
I get to make my family proud.
And the women, can't forget that.
Come on, now, don't get me in trouble.
You can do this, Zeke.
Come on, a handsome young man like you,
a star, there must be
some lady in your life.
I gotta keep that under wraps, you know?
A gentlemen never tells.
Ooh, dodged that bullet, huh?
You're a premier athlete,
just declared for the NBA draft.
And then a murder happens near campus.
Professor Jabari Reynolds
was gunned down.
Yeah, what happened
to Professor Reynolds
is a-is a tragedy.
My heart goes out to his family, and
and I pray every day that
they find the real killer.
[LAUREN] You helped him with that, huh?
That sounds like something
you would write.
What, you think you know me?
[JEMELE] You were brought in
for questioning by the police.
They hold you for hours
as a person of interest in this case.
I-I don't know why.
Uh, I have an alibi.
[JEMELE] Yes, we were able
to obtain the footage
of where you were that night.
Uh, let's take a look at that now.
[TATE] You see that?
The power of the Black crusader.
How did you get your brother
assigned to this case?
Oh, Kamaal being involved
is a coincidence.
But
you can still thank me later.
[ZEKE] I'm grateful
for the opportunity to
clear my name.
I'm not a violent person.
I-I don't even own a gun.
It's interesting that you say that,
because we've learned from sources
that the murder weapon
was found at the scene.
Really? That-that's news to me.
She's going off script.
The fuck?
And it belongs to a member of the NYPD,
a Detective Danilo Ramirez.
It was his official-duty weapon
that was found at the scene.
Do you know him, Danilo Ramirez?
We didn't make that public.
How does she have that?
Wait, a cop's gun? What does that mean?
Why have the cops been looking at me
if the murder weapon
belongs to one of them?
It-it means they're trying
to cover up for one of theirs.
Fuck, Zeke, come on, bro.
Is this some sort of cover-up?
Good question.
So you don't know
this Detective Ramirez.
Shit, we gotta get him outta there.
No, I-I don't know that name.
That's funny, because
we were told by a source
that during your questioning,
you presented
Detective Ramirez's PBA card.
Oh, Detective Ramirez?
Yeah, um, that's he's-he-he's a fan.
He, uh he comes to all my games.
Zeke, I wanna give you a chance here,
but the NYPD and my producers
cross-referenced
Detective Ramirez's whereabouts
with your game schedule.
He was never at any of your games.
Do something.
What-what can I do? It's live.
If I pull him now, he looks guilty.
Everybody calm down.
Just have faith in the boy.
In fact, the police theory is
that you paid Detective Ramirez
to kill Jabari Reynolds.
What do you say to that?
This is some bullshit.
This-this-this whole thing,
this is some bullshit.
You this-this is over.
Damn it, Zeke.
[ZEKE] Get out of my face
with that dumb [BLEEP].
Fuck, Zeke.
I'm out.
Y'all know this is some bullshit.
Y'all know this some bullshit!
What kind of question is that?
I'm here to talk about basketball.
I was happy to help this young brother,
but looks like he needs more
assistance than I can give.
Maybe you both do.
Wait, what just happened?
Do you think Zeke actually did it?
Look, I know he didn't do it, a'ight?
How do you know?
[TARIQ] Just trust me,
Lauren. I gotta go.
[MONET] Fuck.
Jemele, those weren't the questions
you were authorised to ask, now.
I'm a journalist.
I don't work for you. Good luck.
Fuck, man, I knew
we shouldn't have done this.
Diana, take Zeke home.
- Cane!
- [CELL PHONE BUZZES]
[SIGHS]
Okay, I, um this is the DA's office.
They want Zeke to turn himself in.
- Fuck.
- Tomorrow morning.
What? Oh, my God. Zeke.
You keep working on Zeke's defense.
I'll get you your money.
- [ENGINE TURNING OVER]
- You think you slick, nigga?
Nah, me and you,
we need to talk right now.
Forest Park, I'll follow you.
Why the fuck was Ramirez's gun
found at Jabari's crime scene?
What did you do, Cane?
I followed Tariq the night
after I dropped Ramirez.
Turns out, I was right to do so, Ma.
He was talking to the professor
about our business.
I heard him say Dru's name,
so I-I do what I do.
I shot the nigga.
You knew this shit this whole time
and you didn't say nothin' to me,
knowing Zeke was in trouble?
Fuck is wrong with you, Cane?
I hope you keep
the same energy for Tariq.
He's the one that took the kill shot.
It was his idea to put this
on Ramirez, not mine.
He took the gun.
Well, if this is true,
I'll hear his side later
and deal with him later,
but for right now, I need
you to pay attention.
Listen to me clearly,
and do exactly what I say.
Go get Ramirez's body.
- What?
- You heard me.
Think, the fucking cops think
Zeke hired Ramirez to kill Jabari.
But Ramirez was already gone a day
before y'all even popped this nigga.
Fucking CSI niggas
figured that shit out.
No fuckin' way Ramirez could
have killed Jabari for Zeke.
This puts him in the clear.
This puts him in the clear.
What if it backs up on me, Ma?
You made your choice, Cane.
It is what it is.
[CELL PHONE BUZZES]
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
[ESTELLE] Tariq James St. Patrick,
open this goddamn door now!
So my grandson, the local thug,
thinks he's gonna steal custody
of Yasmine from me?
Where you think you goin'?
Grandma, I
I can't let Yasmine stay with you.
You need help.
Let me pay for you
to go to rehab, please.
Raina would be ashamed of you.
Every evil that has befallen
this family is because of you!
Now, you think I'm gonna let
my grandbaby go the same way?
I will die first,
and I'll see you in court.
[LINE TRILLS]
[MECCA] Cane, great job on Mahoney.
He's fuckin' ruined,
just the way I like my enemies.
Let's get to work, man.
Hey, Mecca, man, I'm sorry, but tonight,
I gotta make a big move for my cousin.
Then I gotta leave town.
Whoa, hold on. Think about it, man.
This big move of yours,
isn't there somebody else
you can blame it on?
You know, a-a fail-safe,
just in case you get caught.
Why are you blowin' up my phone?
You see Zeke's interview?
You let me put my name on the line,
- knowin' Zeke is guilty.
- Whoa, hey, hey, hey, whoa.
Zeke is innocent.
You know he wouldn't hurt anyone.
Yeah? I thought I knew you too.
And then you almost killed
the, uh what is the name?
GTG, I can't keep up.
Everett, you know Zeke.
You know me.
Sometimes I think I know you.
Sometimes I don't know you at all.
Okay, okay.
I really want this to work.
Us, I really want us to work.
So this one time,
you can ask me whatever
you want about my family.
Make it count.
Did your family have anything to do
with Professor Reynolds' murder?
Absolutely not.
Does your family sell drugs?
I don't think I can trust you
with that answer.
[SCOFFS]
I accepted your thing.
I need you to accept mine.
You down or not?
Mm-mm-mm.
That thing you did,
talking to the professors about me,
you cannot do that ever again.
Do you understand me?
I got you.
[R&B MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
I assume your family emergency
has been handled.
You know, I been wonderin' to myself,
why now?
Why did Dante come back into my life
after all these years
at this exact moment?
[MECCA] I told you I needed
to become the man
that you needed me to be.
[MONET] Oh, cut the shit, Dante.
I know you paid Davis
the million dollars today.
Why?
You know, this game
we've been playing was fun,
but, uh, I'm glad it's over.
You know why.
What am I supposed to tell my husband
about another man paying my
nephew's million-dollar bill?
I don't know, Monet.
Maybe tell him I did what I needed to do
to protect our son.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
I didn't know how to tell you.
You don't have to explain.
I know why you felt you had
to do things that way,
but that's over now.
What I did today for you,
for our son,
that was nothing compared to
the life I can give you, Monet.
You don't have
to struggle anymore, babe.
From now on, with me,
you can be a woman.
I'm already a woman,
the woman I need to be.
Or maybe the woman
you needed to be for Lorenzo,
not for me.
You make a lot of big promises.
Promises I intend to keep.
You don't have to live like this, Monet,
hustlin' for money.
I wanna take care of you
and your kids.
We need to fight for Zeke now.
Let me do that by your side.
Let's save our son together.
Lovely night, huh?
You know, uh, just to say it,
a lot of people would miss me
if I were to just disappear,
you know, my family, the Westons,
my obscenely large following on TikTok.
Yo, fuck your TikTok.
Chill, nobody's dyin' tonight.
Listen, you really held it down
at that trap house.
You bodied that jewelry heist.
Really out here proving
you a G, white boy.
So just trust me.
You help me with this shit,
you'll level up in no time.
Level up? I like the sound of that.
What I gotta do?
[SIGHS]
Tariq.
[SIGHS]
Do you wanna explain
why you left the way you did earlier?
I-I'm sorry. Look, I bugged out.
It's just like, everything
that could have
went wrong today, went wrong,
literally everything.
I just need to be somewhere.
Okay, well, you're here now
with me.
- Help.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
Wait, hold on.
This a new Roley from your parents?
Um, yeah.
That shit is fire.
Thanks. Look, I'll be right back, okay?
Hold on.
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
Yeah.
Hey.
Still here?
The novel that Jabari Reynolds
was working on,
I found something that
you gonna wanna see.
- [CELL PHONE BUZZES]
- Hold on.
- Whitman.
- [WOMAN] Yeah, Detective,
we found a body. It might be Ramirez.
Oh, shit, all right.
[WOMAN] I'll send you the location.
I'm on my way.
Grab a coat.
[JENNY] Oh, God damn it.
[KAMAAL] What do we have?
[WOMAN] Well, he's been dead
about two weeks.
Too much decomp to make a visual ID,
but found this on the body.
Detective Danilo Ramirez.
[JENNY SIGHS]
Fuck.
[BRAYDEN GAGGING]
Hey, yo, you good?
[BRAYDEN] Yeah.
That was extremely fucked up, bro.
Yeah, all that swag you had
disappeared real quick.
No, no, no. I'm-I'm still swaggy.
I just I need a ginger ale,
maybe some saltines.
Yeah, whatever. Hey, where Tariq at?
I think he's at his girl's place.
[CANE] Ah.
Oh, I got more.
[RETCHING]
[GROANS]
Whew!
[RETCHING]
[RETCHING]
[GROANS] Whew.
I'll be right out.
I'll see your bitch ass tomorrow, B.
[BRAYDEN] All right, bro.
And tell Tariq
I'll be seeing him too.
[GASHI] I break the law
then I tuck my heat
Do it all for my seat
ain't shit coming up sweet
Only these diamonds
only time I freeze
You know that we gotta eat
doin' this shit for my team
Never switchin' for no cream
duck when you see that beam
Livin' the dream rap what I seen
Say what I mean sippin' some lean
Livin' it up and I'm
poppin' the trunk
And you know that I'm always
servin' every fiend
Pour me a four pop me a bean
Fillin' like I'm a ATM machine
Louis Vuitton from my feet
to my jeans
You know the jacket
is always Supreme
I break the law hop in my car
Big boy toy when the roof got stars
Every time they see me on charts
Pussy boys crying
'cause I break they hearts
Bitch, I'm a star write every bar
Fuckin' your bitch
and I'm hittin' it raw
Same way that I rock on these shoes
Be the same way I rock that jaw
Lift it up and let it fly
Got my whole squad by my side
And you know they down to ride
For my city, I'ma die
Screamin' "Fuck the other side"
Do a stickup and I slide
I just hopped up in my Wraith
Then I put this shit in drive
I break the law hop in the Wraith
Doin' the race dodgin' the case
Get out my face get out my face
Get out my face
I break the law hop in the Wraith
Doin' the race dodgin' the case
Get out my face get out my face
Get out my face