All American: Homecoming (2022) s02e15 Episode Script
Diary
1
SIMONE: When Aqueelah said video diaries
are a mental-health tool PKZ uses to
help pledges process being online,
I was not about it,
and, seeing as though I'm the
only person gonna see these videos,
I can admit that I was wrong.
It definitely has helped.
I've made it ♪
[LAUGHS] Well, technically.
Even though my probate
isn't until tonight,
I did it. I am officially a proud member
of Psi Kappa Zeta
Sorority, Incorporated.
It's time to celebrate.
MAN: Whoop! ♪
So cold, dripping like I'm ice cream ♪
I'm on top, and I'm still climbing ♪
Uh, yeah, uh, uh ♪
Put me on the shelf with the MVPs ♪
- Agh!
- Yes, sir.
J.R.: Come on, one
more, one more, one more.
- Agh! Ahh!
- Agh! Whoo!
- What I'm talking about.
- We'll talk later.
Yeah, yeah. Hey, you boys looked good.
I could tell the coach was impressed.
Thanks, Coach, but if we want to make it
onto his team in the Cape Cod League,
we got to make it through the
mental part of the process.
Look, indeed, and you guys
are gonna kill that, too.
That's why we're doing them mock
interviews later today, right?
- Hey, thanks for helping out, Coach.
- Let's go.
- Thanks, Coach.
- Come on.
[EXHALES]
Keep it a buck with me, man.
You good? You can't be distracted.
[CHUCKLES] Well, if you're
talking about Simone, don't worry.
Yeah, I told her how I felt,
and, yeah, then she
asked for more time, but
whatever she got going on, I'm good.
- Focused on the future, baby.
- OK.
Hey, speaking of distractions,
you gonna tell me
what's going on with KEK?
I can tell that
something is going on, J.
All right. Hey, look.
Just tell me that somebody got you, man.
Yeah, Pops, actually.
I'm meeting with him later
today for some advice.
SIMONE: Here we are
Queens of the Eternal Phoenix.
- I love our line name.
- I do, too.
- Just hope
- Uh-uh. Don't say it.
Our probate's not gonna get canceled.
But Aqueelah said that
there was an issue.
And I trust that she's
gonna work it out.
- We're probating tonight.
- OK.
And the bruhs of the
Kourageous Everlasting Knights
are holding it down tomorrow.
MELODY: Since I know
that gift isn't for me,
I'm gonna give you two a minute.
- For me?
- Don't make this a thing.
I heard from a little Phoenix
what your line name is.
It fits.
Cam, this is really dope.
[CHUCKLES]
Krenshaw with a "K"
is a great line name.
It reminds you of where you've been,
and that image fits who you are now
noble, selfless, and fearless,
a courageous knight.
Do you remember our
first day at the bonfire?
Mm-hmm, and I was telling you
to keep my business to yourself
so I could have a fresh start.
Yes. I remember.
Well, I never thought my fresh start
would include you.
Aww!
Look at us going from
decent acquaintances
to family in more ways than one.
So Bringston is sponsoring
the exhibition match.
Different people from HBCUs
have already signed up.
Damn, the exhibition, the PKZ stuff,
and this internship
with Lando's sister
you're low-key killing
the game right now.
Well, almost.
I still haven't heard
about the internship.
Ooh, do you think if you
chose Damon over Lando,
- you would still get the internship?
- Now, you know you ain't right.
What? It's true. Hey, baby.
SIMONE: OK. How long has Nate
been walking around all crazy?
CAM: Well, she's a little stressed
about the election results.
THEA: Yeah. She's in her "things
I could've done better" stage.
DAMON: Yeah. Come on.
You did the damn thing.
People know what you stand for.
LANDO: And now it's up to the
voters to take what they have
and make a choice.
- KEISHA: Sounds like somebody else I know.
- Girl, shut up.
- NATE: Well, it's almost time.
- [CELL PHONES CHIME]
- Nate. Nate. Nate!
- Nate!
- Aah!
- You won!
- Way to go!
- Now breathe.
- You are our president.
- [LAUGHS]
KEISHA: Everyone's confirmed.
Thank you for putting me in contact
with all the alumni in New York.
Dr. Pace isn't ready.
Um, I got to go.
Yeah. I'll see you
when you're on campus.
Bye.
So I guess you finally found
a way to get back at Dr. Pace.
What's the master plan?
Alumni are supposed to come
speak at her retrospective,
but instead of singing her praises,
they're gonna out her toxic
teaching methods on blast.
Dr. Pace has tenure, Cam.
If I want the administration to
do anything, I have to go big.
Why can't you support me in this?
I support you whenever
and how ever you need,
but this ain't you, Kei.
You're better than this.
[DOOR CLOSES]
MARCUS: Wow. The credentials
of some of these therapists
- are second to none.
- And we haven't even officially
started staffing the wellness center.
This is from H.R. gauging interest.
My guess is, they see the kind of
institution you're building here,
and they want to be a part of it.
I can't believe how blessed I am.
Last semester, I was
fighting to keep my job.
Now I'm the president.
I never would've seen myself here.
I never would've seen us here.
Me, neither.
That's another reason why I'm
tired of loving you in secret.
Look. Let's go public,
attend the exhibition
match together, hmm?
You're right. Let's do it.
- [PHONE RINGS]
- Oh, sorry.
President Patterson.
What do you mean, there's a problem?
Trying to strip a brother of
his letters is no easy task.
I know, but Terrell, an alum
who's not even in our chapter,
beat up one of my pledges
in the name of hazing,
no, I can't stand for that.
Look, Dad. I know this
ain't how it normally works,
but that's the reason why
I'm coming to you for help.
Then let's have an
off-the-record conversation
with the regional vice president.
From what I hear, he's a good guy
who's had experience
with these situations.
Look. Nationally, the frat's divided
on whether or not the
process needs to change.
You're gonna have to decide
how far you want to take this,
and how ever far that is,
I'm with you.
- Thanks, Pops.
- Yes, sir.
DAMON: Oh, why the summer league?
That's easy. Because I want
to play against the best.
Well, during the
preseason, you de-committed
then committed to Bringston and Hawkins.
Just had a lot of
personal stuff going on.
Like learning that
Bringston's interim coach
is your birth father, Damon?
[CHUCKLES] Uh
Uh, wait, wait. What are you doing?
It's a mock interview.
The team coach wants to
know if you can handle
tough personal questions from the media.
That's why I'm saying all this, Damon.
Answer the question.
[SCOFFS]
Yeah. It threw me off at
first, but we worked it out.
- Then why did he quit?
- I don't know.
- I didn't ask him about it.
- Well, the interim coach
was offered a full-time contract
mid season and quits, right?
You didn't think to ask him why.
Is it because he's a bad coach
or a bad father?
You know what?
- I'm out. I don't need this.
- Damon, we're not finished.
No. Look. I don't care what you say.
Come on. A real interview
wouldn't do all of this.
I don't know why you're
throwing my mistakes
and my family drama in my face.
That's not right, Coach.
- WOMAN: Hey, hey ♪
- WOMEN: I do it big, big, big, so big ♪
- Large! ♪
- Girl, I am so hyped for this match.
It feels good to end the season
on our terms, not the GAC's.
THEA: Yeah, especially with
so much tough competition.
You know Cortina Westgate, the new
GAC conference champ, signed up.
- I cannot wait to beat her.
- Oh, you mean you can't wait
to watch me beat her.
You two are so on brand.
LONI: Ladies, ladies,
can I have your attention?
Coach, what's wrong?
The insurance for the exhibition
turned out to be a bit
higher than we expected.
OK. Well, we'll just
ask for a little more.
Bringston will cover that, right?
Dr. Patterson and I tried, but
the trustees wouldn't go for it.
I'm sorry, but we're gonna have
to cancel the exhibition match.
Simone, hold up.
- Hey, Lando. Sorry.
- What's going on?
The exhibition match will be canceled
if I don't raise some more money.
It's over.
That's not the Simone Hicks I know.
Well, I can't raise thousands
of dollars in two hours.
You're the person who
always finds a way.
It's one of the things I love about you.
Look. Your anger and your frustration
is keeping you from seeing the
options right in front of you.
PKZ.
I have hundreds of powerful Black women
as my sisters now, so maybe
one of them can help sponsor.
Charlotte has never had a problem
PKZ couldn't help her with.
Thank you. I got to go.
RYAN: Congratulations, President Hardin.
Well, thank you, Reporter Ryan Craig.
The paper does a photo shoot and
interview with the new president
to re-introduce them
to the entire campus,
- so I was wondering
- Oh, you had me at "photo shoot."
When and where do I
strike a pose, right here?
KEISHA: You are literally always ready.
Go to this website and
pick a date and time.
I'll see you then.
I'll see you then.
Girl, did you see his pen?
It looks exactly like the one
your secret admirer dropped
at the masquerade ball.
Didn't you say the initials were R.C.?
And you think they
stand for "Ryan Craig"?
Girl, no.
He doesn't really seem like the
grand, romantic gesture type.
Nate, how many college
students do you know
walk around with pens
that look like that?
WOMAN: Why in he world you
would rather be here than
This is a celebration of my career.
You shouldn't be here.
Oh! Ha! Oh, Dorothea
that's a lie.
You owe your career,
such as it is, to me.
If I'm such a disappointment, why come?
I wanted to see how far
you had fallen for myself.
NATE: Who do you think that woman is?
She sure got Dr. Pace all shook.
[DING]
Hey.
- Hey.
- I got your text about hitting up KEK alums.
The exhibition match is in danger
of not happening unless
we raise some money,
so I reached out to PKZ alums.
In hopes one of them might have
a last-minute lead for a sponsor?
- Yeah.
- That's a smart plan.
Thanks.
J.R.: What's up, bro? How
was your mock interview?
Messed up.
Coach Marcus was way out of pocket, bro.
- What happened?
- Coach was asking me personal questions
about me and Jessie, bro.
OK. He was asking me
personal questions, too.
For me, aplastic anemia was on the menu.
- And that's not messed up to you?
- Uh-uh.
Bro, some things should
just be off limits.
But he's just preparing
us for the real world.
Look. It's some folks out there don't
give a crap about our boundaries.
It's strength in being an open book.
Just look at Coach.
If we learn to be more like him,
there's no question from our
past that we won't be ready for.
[CELL PHONE CHIMES]
- Dr. P. hit me up. I guess I'll see y'all later.
- Yeah.
Yo, do you agree with that?
Honestly,
I don't think you're
mad at Coach Marcus.
What I'm getting is fear, not anger.
I get it. When you start
speaking your truth,
it leaves a door open
for people to judge you,
but, Damon, you don't
have to be ashamed.
Everyone has family drama,
and I don't know who's interviewing you,
but their focus is gonna
be that you personally,
you bring a lot to the table.
You're kind, thoughtful, strong
and even when you're
being annoyingly arrogant,
it's inspiring.
[CELL PHONE CHIMES]
Uh
OK. Clearly, something
dope just happened.
- You want to share it?
- Sorry.
So I think I just found a way
to save the exhibition match.
J.R.: Gentlemen, got called into
President Patterson's office.
There's been a accusation
of hazing in our chapter.
So what happens now?
Bringston and KEK leadership is
launching a full-on investigation.
LOU: And if we're found guilty?
Usually, the chapter gets
expelled from campus indefinitely.
I just wanted Terrell
to be held accountable.
- I was really trying to avoid this.
- But who snitched?
TERRELL: Y'all should lock y'all doors.
You never know who gonna stroll in.
CAM: Hey, yo, Terrell, we
in the middle of something.
Oh, I hear, a hazing investigation.
That can really put a
stain on this chapter
y'all may never recover from.
So snitching is your thing now?
You know your involvement
in this is gonna come out,
- and your letters is gonna be taken.
- See, I'm not worried about that.
See, the regional VP, he's,
uh he's, like, my uncle.
So when my dad called
to set up the meeting,
the regional VP called you.
Bingo. Oh, ho ho.
Look. You should've let this go.
Now your whole chapter gonna suffer,
all because of you.
SIMONE: So I talked with the PKZ alum.
They know someone at the
Southern Women's Tennis League.
She followed our
situation, and she's offered
- to sponsor our exhibition match.
- Oh!
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
- That's so exciting!
- Yeah.
Come here.
You just had, like,
the biggest win ever.
What's with the face? What's up?
It's a minor hiccup for
me, not for you guys.
- OK.
- My probate was supposed to be tonight.
Some details got leaked,
and since it's supposed
to be super secret,
Aqueelah decided to
move it to tomorrow
- Don't tell me it's
- During the exhibition match, same time.
What are you gonna
choose tennis or PKZ?
[APPLAUSE]
- What are y'all doing here?
- Supporting our line sister, of course.
Shouldn't you guys be
getting ready for the probate?
Well, the probate wouldn't
be the same without you,
so that got us thinking
there is no probate without you.
Cam, you, too?
Well, since our sisters
don't get a probate,
we ain't doing one, either.
I really appreciate it, but
I can't let y'all do this.
CAM: For the record, J.R.
and Aqueelah are down,
so go kill it on the court, sis.
MAN: Run like a Lambo ♪
Jump out the room ♪
Feeling explosive ♪
Watch out, boom ♪
THEA: That is Cortina.
MAN: Never see me
coming like dynamite ♪
Money, stack that ♪
Power, take that ♪
Fame, you know I never stop ♪
I came to win again and again and ♪
Got to give it to her. She's good.
Yeah. No argument there.
I need one of you two to do me a favor.
Show Cortina whose courts these are?
Please and thank you.
- Period.
- MAN: Everything you ever did ♪
J.R.: Can't believe that we
might lose out on our chapter.
Don't give up hope.
You know that better than most.
You held on to hope as
you fought aplastic anemia.
Despite everything, you
didn't give up hope on me.
You'll find a way to save the chapter.
I have no doubt.
Thanks, Pops.
DAMON: J., I
I don't mean to interrupt, but
you mind if I holler
at Jessie real quick?
Uh, sure. Thanks, Pops.
All right.
Can I ask you a question?
Shoot.
Why'd you step down as our head coach?
Because I realized I couldn't be
your father and your coach,
and I wanted to be your father more.
[EXHALES]
Me and J. have
our interviews tomorrow,
and I hated the idea of them
questioning my personal stuff
because I didn't want to
be judged for my mistakes.
Now I
realize that it's more than that.
I don't want to see you judged
for your mistakes, either.
Tell your story.
I'll take whatever criticism.
[CHUCKLES]
[CLEARS THROAT] You
two look really happy.
No. It's it's OK. I really
am happy for the two of you.
The whole "college sweethearts
getting back together"
thing is really dope.
You two bring out the
best in each other,
which we should all be doing.
MARCUS: And thank you.
Look. Why don't a give
y'all a minute, OK?
What's going on, sweetheart?
And this is Dr. P. talking.
I saw Dr. Pace get demoralized
by an older woman yesterday.
I've never really seen
her that crushed before.
Who was she?
Her former dance teacher.
Apparently, she's a real piece of work.
She's supposedly more
toxic than Dr. Pace.
I brought her former
dance teacher to Bringston
- because I knew that it would shake her
- Keisha, you didn't.
and I put together a
plan to humiliate her
at the celebration of her career.
I know, I know. It's
it's too far, and Cam
tried to stop me, but
I've just been really
blinded by my own hurt.
- You need to stop it.
- I've tried.
Everyone's already
committed to the plan.
There's nothing that I can do.
If there's time, there's a way.
Make this right, Keisha, for
Dr. Pace's sake and your own.
DAMON: What's good, Lando?
Transparency.
Transparency is what's good.
OK,
so your feelings for Simone are serious,
and I'm guessing that you told her that.
I just wanted to be
honest with you about it.
- [LAUGHS]
- Oh, you oh.
NATE: Yes! That's my sis.
[APPLAUSE]
DAMON: Let's go.
NATE: Uh-uh. Tell me you
are not thinking about boys
when you should be basking in
everything you accomplished today.
- Now, why can't I do both?
- OK. Listen.
I get there's some epic
love-triangle decision
that needs to be made, but this
this is getting ridiculous,
so let me, um let me make
this a little easier for you.
You've only kissed one
and slept with the other,
so you might as well pick the
one that you haven't slept with
and, you know, try a
whole new adventure.
OK.
Simone, I'm just kidding.
Wait. You have
Well, you have only kissed the one
and slept with the other, right?
OK, so
maybe there is something
that I haven't told you
or anybody.
[SNIFFLES]
MAN: Under the spell ♪
They fall into gravity ♪
Where does it leave me be? ♪
Pulling me ♪
Into a world of blues ♪
Clinging into the void ♪
Of black ♪
Keep searching for a
signal to remind me ♪
NATE: My God! No. Wait. I'm up.
I'm up because all this time,
I thought you and Damon we're
just being extra about a kiss.
Will you shh? But
that's why it's so hard.
OK. I don't know what this
little gossip session is about,
but it needs to wait.
- Girl, you won.
- Oh, she sure did.
I'm talking about Cortina.
- You're playing her.
- Oh.
- Shut up. Seriously?
- Yes,
so you need to get your head in
the game, or she will eat you alive.
Hey.
Uh, feeling the pressure?
I'm trying not to, but I'm feeling.
Because Cortina is GAC champ?
Beating her feels like
getting back at them
for not supporting the
team after y'all cop stop.
You want to win for the team.
You know, it's very annoying
you're able to do that.
Here's the thing, Simone.
You got to let that go.
Playing Cortina isn't about them.
Then what is it about?
It's about celebrating you
walk on and top 6,
battling panic attacks, bomb threats,
drug suspension, being
racially profiled.
You defied the odds.
That is who you are.
This match against Cortina,
that's no different.
So your advice to me
is to remember who I am.
That's it?
That's it.
I mean, that's what worked for me
when I didn't get the
answer I needed from you.
It's how I knew I'd be OK.
Well, I haven't even
given you an answer.
No answer is an answer, Simone,
but knowing who I am
is why I'm still able
to be here for my friend.
[DOOR OPENS]
If you're here to beg for your
spot back, I have nothing for you.
I don't want anything from you.
I'm actually here to
do something for you.
[CHUCKLES]
And what could you possibly do for me?
Give you the truth.
I brought your former
dance teacher to Bringston,
and I know that she made you
suffer while you were her student.
But to what end, my dear?
I wanted you to see
that you're continuing
the cycle of abuse that you endured.
What you call abuse
is me training me
students to be resilient.
Clearly, you don't keep up
with any of your students.
Yeah, they shine for a couple of years,
but then most of them crash and burn
because the toll it takes on their body
and their mental
health is just too much.
You break down dancers,
and you don't give them
the tools to build themself back up.
I'm sure tomorrow's performance
will prove you wrong.
Yeah. Um
Your former students aren't
coming to celebrate you.
They're coming to break the cycle
and reveal how you broke them
and expose all of the
pain that you caused them.
I regret that I spearheaded this,
but I just really wanted to let you know
so that you could get ahead of it.
By doing what,
apologizing for having standards?
- I won't do that.
- OK. Well, that's your choice.
My choice is to apologize
because those are my standards.
I'm sorry.
J.R.: I'm not letting our chapter
get suspended without a fight,
so I did some research.
In '09, the chapter at
Hawkins got caught hazing.
I remember hearing about that.
What saved them from getting suspended
- was that one dude took the fall.
- Yep.
That's why I'm hoping
history repeats itself
if I go to Dr. Patterson
and the regional VP
and take full responsibility.
QUINTIN: Naw, bruh. That ain't right.
We all played a part in this.
WES: Facts, so we'll go in together.
J.R.: No. We're not doing that.
Listen. If one of us steps
up, that's a bad apple.
If we all go, then the
whole chapter looks poisoned,
and as dean of pledges,
this is my responsibility.
QUINTIN: You sure,
J.R.? Once you do this,
ain't no turning back for you.
[APPLAUSE]
- MARCUS: Come on, Simone.
- DAMON: Go, Simone.
[DAWDY & PETER VERDELL'S "MONSTERS
[GOING GOING GONE]" playing]
I'm a monster, I'm ready to ball ♪
Just know if I came and I saw it ♪
Then I'd break down ♪
Just give me a go,
I need to show you ♪
You know they gonna call for that ♪
DAMON: Waste her, baby!
DAWDY: I just go nuts, go bonkers ♪
Me and the rest of my monsters ♪
We in the spotlight ♪
Light them up, get the dub ♪
That's a promise ♪
Another one hit the
dust, they all goners ♪
So what's happening right now?
THEA: OK, so Simone
and Cortina are tied now
at a set apiece, and Simone
needs to win the third
set to win the whole match.
- CAM: She look tired, though.
- Yo, yo, she only needs one more point.
- She's got this.
- She's got it.
DAWDY: Fire it up and launch it ♪
Not afraid of no conflict ♪
My team, we monsters ♪
We monsters ♪
Ah, my team we monsters ♪
My team we monsters,
my team we monsters ♪
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
THEA: Yeah! Yeah!
MARCUS: Hey!
You know this was just
an exhibition match.
It doesn't count.
Well, next time I beat you, it will.
NATE: Yeah! You go because
you ate them up, girl.
- You ate them all the way up.
- Good job, girl.
- They were not ready.
- Hey, we're so proud of you.
Look. I need you to
take a shower and change.
- You got someplace to be.
- What is going on?
You're gonna love it, trust me.
All right, y'all.
- Uh
- Well, bye.
[RHYTHMIC FOOTSTEPS]
- Hey, hey!
- Hey!
NATE: Wait. That's KEK,
but what about Simone?
I thought they were [GASPS]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
LANDO: We're about to see
a joint KEK and PKZ probate.
Oh, bitch, I'm up.
You know I'm up. That's my girl!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Get it.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Ladies. Whoo!
Whoo! Let's go.
NATE: Get it, girls.
Hey, hey ♪
Whoo!
[CROWD CLAMORING]
Whoo!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
- That was cute or whatever.
- Yeah, whatever.
Y'all go fast.
We go hard.
You go. You go. You go. We go slow.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
NATE: You know she look good.
We go.
Wahoo!
Yeah!
Whoo!
PKZ, how hard you go? ♪
You don't want to mess with her ♪
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
I said hold up.
- Brothers
- Yeah?
- they said we got fast
- Mm-hmm.
- and, uh, they go slow
- Mm-hmm.
but can they go
High ♪
- Hmm?
- What?
- while we go
- Low, low ♪
- Get low!
- Low, low ♪
- Get low!
- Low, low ♪
Get low! KEK!
Whoo!
ALL: Ooh! Huh!
Huh huh huh huh haah ooh ♪
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
The KEK!
Yeah?
Y'all know how we do.
Let's give 'em that swagger.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Now let's get busy ♪
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
ALL: Hoo!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Let's get it, let's go, let's ♪
- Hey! Ho! ♪
- OK, OK, OK ♪
Whoo! Whoo! ♪
Break it down.
Yo, that's nice footwork.
- All right.
- Hey!
Uh-huh.
- Whoop!
- Hey!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
What's up?
Hey, yo, fellas!
Yeah?
I said, fellas.
Yeah?
K! E! K!
Hoo!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
WOMAN: They pull up in a Range Rover ♪
Hey
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
Charlotte also sends her regards,
and she wanted me to give this to you.
- A shirt for her firm?
- Mm-hmm.
A shirt for her firm. Oh,
my God, I got the internship?
- Yep, you got it.
- Oh, my God.
Yeah, and there's also one more thing.
Hmm, what is this?
Why did Charlotte give me glasses?
Those are from me,
a throwback to our
debate about Rosa Parks
and the Montgomery bus boycott.
- The day we first met.
- Yeah.
You really opened my mind and my heart
to new perspectives,
figured I'd return the favor.
And what, exactly,
do you want me to see?
Hmm, I don't know.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
What's right in front of you.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Damon, don't you got an
interview in a few minutes?
Uh, yeah. I just
wanted to come in and apologize
about losing it on you.
Listen. I may have pressed
you a little too hard.
I just want to say that
I'm sorry about that.
I just don't want you to be afraid
to talk about your past, son.
Yeah. I know, because that'll
be the part the media comes for.
Or the part that resurfaces
that disrupts your future.
So you ready for your interview?
Yeah. Yeah. I think I am now.
Look. I know it's your
job to ask questions,
but I'd like to say something first,
if you don't mind.
I've always thought of
myself as an open book,
but until I came to Bringston,
those pages were blank
because I had questions
about where I came from.
Now I've filled those pages, and,
yeah, are some of them painful to read,
but they're my story,
and they're filled with people who are
human, flawed, complicated,
and that's OK.
I'm good with them.
I'm good with all of it,
so when you see me up
there on that mound,
when you're taking a look at my stats,
this is the story behind the numbers.
I ain't afraid to share none of it
so go ahead.
So hit me with your first question.
[APPLAUSE]
DR. PACE: I am honored and quite humbled
that you all have gathered here
to celebrate me and my career,
but it's become abundantly clear
that I need to take a step back
to reassess who I've
become in this lifetime.
I'm taking an indefinite sabbatical
so I can go out into
this big world of ours
to rediscover myself,
so tonight's retrospective
is my farewell
for now.
We'll begin in a few moments.
[APPLAUSE]
I don't understand.
I didn't think you heard a
word I said to you earlier.
On any other day, I wouldn't have,
but seeing my old teacher
brought up some things.
Well-played, Miss McCalla.
I truly underestimated
you on all fronts.
- [KNOCKS ON DOOR]
- J.R.: Come in.
- Hey, yo, I got your text, bro. What's good?
- Oh, yeah.
I got something for you.
[DRAWER CLOSES]
Submitted you for one
of KEK's scholarships.
Bro, are you serious?
- This is enough to cover my
- Your tuition and room and board next year.
Look. My future in KEK may be over.
We'll always be brothers.
Appreciate you, bro,
for everything, man,
and I promise I won't let
your sacrifice be in vain.
You better not.
I heard Terrell and his boys got
jumped last night after the probate.
You wouldn't happen to know
anything about that, would you?
Oh, I told you what I was
gonna do once I crossed,
but don't worry. I took
off my letters first.
Our chapter might be nonviolent,
but I'm from Crenshaw,
and we get with it.
- [CHUCKLES] Copy that.
- Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
[LEON BRIDGES & ROBER
GLASPER'S "BORN AGAIN" PLAYING]
BRIDGES: Feeling born again ♪
Feeling joy again ♪
When all else fails ♪
Your love will last forever ♪
Your love will last forever ♪
Feeling born again ♪
Feeling joy again ♪
Your love will last forever ♪
NATE: Oh, yeah.
Wilinda and I got off
to a rocky start, but,
well, I wouldn't have won without her.
That's why I'm appointing
her my vice president.
- Can I quote you on that?
- Oh, quote away.
Mm.
For someone who prefers
taking physical notes,
you'd think I'd keep
better track of my pens.
Oh. Well, here. You can use mine.
Uh, yeah. Why all the secrecy?
I didn't say anything because I
didn't think that you'd be interested.
I obsess over pens and spend
all of my time behind a computer.
Without the swagger that
putting on a mask gives me,
I'm not in your league.
Well, my first official act as president
is to decree that you're wrong.
KEISHA: I'm really happy to be
out of my Dr. Pace era, though.
What about the incomplete
you got in class?
Any way around it now that Pace is gone?
No, so it's summer school for me.
- I'm sorry, babe.
- I know. It's OK.
There are worse things,
and there are better things that
we could be celebrating right now,
like you officially being in KEK.
- Ahooh!
- Ahooh!
Please. Oh
This is from me and your parents.
Open it.
Uh
- Yo!
- You like it?
I love it.
[KNOCKS ON DOOR]
It's open.
Oh. Hey.
- Uh, thanks for stopping by.
- No problem.
How'd the interview go?
Well, uh,
I'm guessing it must've
went pretty good.
I'm officially on a team
in the Cape Cod League.
[LAUGHS]
Oh, and J. made it, too.
I'm so proud of you two.
Uh, yeah.
The day of the bomb scare,
you said that you would
be at the Centennial Diner
every Wednesday at
7:00 till I was ready.
Look, Jessie, I know it's not
Wednesday or 7:00, but
I think I'm ready for that talk,
if the offer still stands.
I'd love that.
AMARA: Babe, even Miss Robinette
said we were a cute couple.
Yes, and people are happy for us.
[SETS DOWN GLASS]
I've been thinking.
I have some vacation days.
What if we took a trip this summer?
Listen. Nothing would
make me happier, OK?
I just got to be back
in time for orientation.
- Orientation?
- For graduate school in psychology. Listen.
I want to double down
on the mental health work
I've been doing with the students,
which means I need the
degree to back it up, baby.
Marcus Turner, I am so proud of you.
Thank you.
This calls for a toast.
To coming full circle.
[CLINK]
[KNOCKS ON DOOR]
Hmm.
- The food's here.
- Mm-hmm.
Food's here. You hold that.
You hold that, baby. Oh!
Hey.
Oh, I like this place. It's cute.
MARCUS: Wait a minute. Wait a
minute now. You can't be here.
Marcus, who is this?
I'm Crystal,
his wife.
[TYPING]
All right.
Cape Cod time.
CHLOE: Birds flying
high, you know how I feel ♪
Sun in the sky ♪
You know how I feel ♪
And I'm feeling good ♪
SIMONE: Damon and Lando both
showed up for you in different ways.
Now it's up to you to
be the responsible voter.
CHLOE: It's a new
dawn, it's a new day ♪
-
- It's a new life, it's a new ♪
It's a new dawn ♪
And I'm feeling good ♪
And I'm feeling good ♪
Hey, look.
Before you say anything,
um, sorry it took me so long,
but I know who I want.
It's you.
CHLOE: Ohh ♪
MAN: Greg, move your head.
SIMONE: When Aqueelah said video diaries
are a mental-health tool PKZ uses to
help pledges process being online,
I was not about it,
and, seeing as though I'm the
only person gonna see these videos,
I can admit that I was wrong.
It definitely has helped.
I've made it ♪
[LAUGHS] Well, technically.
Even though my probate
isn't until tonight,
I did it. I am officially a proud member
of Psi Kappa Zeta
Sorority, Incorporated.
It's time to celebrate.
MAN: Whoop! ♪
So cold, dripping like I'm ice cream ♪
I'm on top, and I'm still climbing ♪
Uh, yeah, uh, uh ♪
Put me on the shelf with the MVPs ♪
- Agh!
- Yes, sir.
J.R.: Come on, one
more, one more, one more.
- Agh! Ahh!
- Agh! Whoo!
- What I'm talking about.
- We'll talk later.
Yeah, yeah. Hey, you boys looked good.
I could tell the coach was impressed.
Thanks, Coach, but if we want to make it
onto his team in the Cape Cod League,
we got to make it through the
mental part of the process.
Look, indeed, and you guys
are gonna kill that, too.
That's why we're doing them mock
interviews later today, right?
- Hey, thanks for helping out, Coach.
- Let's go.
- Thanks, Coach.
- Come on.
[EXHALES]
Keep it a buck with me, man.
You good? You can't be distracted.
[CHUCKLES] Well, if you're
talking about Simone, don't worry.
Yeah, I told her how I felt,
and, yeah, then she
asked for more time, but
whatever she got going on, I'm good.
- Focused on the future, baby.
- OK.
Hey, speaking of distractions,
you gonna tell me
what's going on with KEK?
I can tell that
something is going on, J.
All right. Hey, look.
Just tell me that somebody got you, man.
Yeah, Pops, actually.
I'm meeting with him later
today for some advice.
SIMONE: Here we are
Queens of the Eternal Phoenix.
- I love our line name.
- I do, too.
- Just hope
- Uh-uh. Don't say it.
Our probate's not gonna get canceled.
But Aqueelah said that
there was an issue.
And I trust that she's
gonna work it out.
- We're probating tonight.
- OK.
And the bruhs of the
Kourageous Everlasting Knights
are holding it down tomorrow.
MELODY: Since I know
that gift isn't for me,
I'm gonna give you two a minute.
- For me?
- Don't make this a thing.
I heard from a little Phoenix
what your line name is.
It fits.
Cam, this is really dope.
[CHUCKLES]
Krenshaw with a "K"
is a great line name.
It reminds you of where you've been,
and that image fits who you are now
noble, selfless, and fearless,
a courageous knight.
Do you remember our
first day at the bonfire?
Mm-hmm, and I was telling you
to keep my business to yourself
so I could have a fresh start.
Yes. I remember.
Well, I never thought my fresh start
would include you.
Aww!
Look at us going from
decent acquaintances
to family in more ways than one.
So Bringston is sponsoring
the exhibition match.
Different people from HBCUs
have already signed up.
Damn, the exhibition, the PKZ stuff,
and this internship
with Lando's sister
you're low-key killing
the game right now.
Well, almost.
I still haven't heard
about the internship.
Ooh, do you think if you
chose Damon over Lando,
- you would still get the internship?
- Now, you know you ain't right.
What? It's true. Hey, baby.
SIMONE: OK. How long has Nate
been walking around all crazy?
CAM: Well, she's a little stressed
about the election results.
THEA: Yeah. She's in her "things
I could've done better" stage.
DAMON: Yeah. Come on.
You did the damn thing.
People know what you stand for.
LANDO: And now it's up to the
voters to take what they have
and make a choice.
- KEISHA: Sounds like somebody else I know.
- Girl, shut up.
- NATE: Well, it's almost time.
- [CELL PHONES CHIME]
- Nate. Nate. Nate!
- Nate!
- Aah!
- You won!
- Way to go!
- Now breathe.
- You are our president.
- [LAUGHS]
KEISHA: Everyone's confirmed.
Thank you for putting me in contact
with all the alumni in New York.
Dr. Pace isn't ready.
Um, I got to go.
Yeah. I'll see you
when you're on campus.
Bye.
So I guess you finally found
a way to get back at Dr. Pace.
What's the master plan?
Alumni are supposed to come
speak at her retrospective,
but instead of singing her praises,
they're gonna out her toxic
teaching methods on blast.
Dr. Pace has tenure, Cam.
If I want the administration to
do anything, I have to go big.
Why can't you support me in this?
I support you whenever
and how ever you need,
but this ain't you, Kei.
You're better than this.
[DOOR CLOSES]
MARCUS: Wow. The credentials
of some of these therapists
- are second to none.
- And we haven't even officially
started staffing the wellness center.
This is from H.R. gauging interest.
My guess is, they see the kind of
institution you're building here,
and they want to be a part of it.
I can't believe how blessed I am.
Last semester, I was
fighting to keep my job.
Now I'm the president.
I never would've seen myself here.
I never would've seen us here.
Me, neither.
That's another reason why I'm
tired of loving you in secret.
Look. Let's go public,
attend the exhibition
match together, hmm?
You're right. Let's do it.
- [PHONE RINGS]
- Oh, sorry.
President Patterson.
What do you mean, there's a problem?
Trying to strip a brother of
his letters is no easy task.
I know, but Terrell, an alum
who's not even in our chapter,
beat up one of my pledges
in the name of hazing,
no, I can't stand for that.
Look, Dad. I know this
ain't how it normally works,
but that's the reason why
I'm coming to you for help.
Then let's have an
off-the-record conversation
with the regional vice president.
From what I hear, he's a good guy
who's had experience
with these situations.
Look. Nationally, the frat's divided
on whether or not the
process needs to change.
You're gonna have to decide
how far you want to take this,
and how ever far that is,
I'm with you.
- Thanks, Pops.
- Yes, sir.
DAMON: Oh, why the summer league?
That's easy. Because I want
to play against the best.
Well, during the
preseason, you de-committed
then committed to Bringston and Hawkins.
Just had a lot of
personal stuff going on.
Like learning that
Bringston's interim coach
is your birth father, Damon?
[CHUCKLES] Uh
Uh, wait, wait. What are you doing?
It's a mock interview.
The team coach wants to
know if you can handle
tough personal questions from the media.
That's why I'm saying all this, Damon.
Answer the question.
[SCOFFS]
Yeah. It threw me off at
first, but we worked it out.
- Then why did he quit?
- I don't know.
- I didn't ask him about it.
- Well, the interim coach
was offered a full-time contract
mid season and quits, right?
You didn't think to ask him why.
Is it because he's a bad coach
or a bad father?
You know what?
- I'm out. I don't need this.
- Damon, we're not finished.
No. Look. I don't care what you say.
Come on. A real interview
wouldn't do all of this.
I don't know why you're
throwing my mistakes
and my family drama in my face.
That's not right, Coach.
- WOMAN: Hey, hey ♪
- WOMEN: I do it big, big, big, so big ♪
- Large! ♪
- Girl, I am so hyped for this match.
It feels good to end the season
on our terms, not the GAC's.
THEA: Yeah, especially with
so much tough competition.
You know Cortina Westgate, the new
GAC conference champ, signed up.
- I cannot wait to beat her.
- Oh, you mean you can't wait
to watch me beat her.
You two are so on brand.
LONI: Ladies, ladies,
can I have your attention?
Coach, what's wrong?
The insurance for the exhibition
turned out to be a bit
higher than we expected.
OK. Well, we'll just
ask for a little more.
Bringston will cover that, right?
Dr. Patterson and I tried, but
the trustees wouldn't go for it.
I'm sorry, but we're gonna have
to cancel the exhibition match.
Simone, hold up.
- Hey, Lando. Sorry.
- What's going on?
The exhibition match will be canceled
if I don't raise some more money.
It's over.
That's not the Simone Hicks I know.
Well, I can't raise thousands
of dollars in two hours.
You're the person who
always finds a way.
It's one of the things I love about you.
Look. Your anger and your frustration
is keeping you from seeing the
options right in front of you.
PKZ.
I have hundreds of powerful Black women
as my sisters now, so maybe
one of them can help sponsor.
Charlotte has never had a problem
PKZ couldn't help her with.
Thank you. I got to go.
RYAN: Congratulations, President Hardin.
Well, thank you, Reporter Ryan Craig.
The paper does a photo shoot and
interview with the new president
to re-introduce them
to the entire campus,
- so I was wondering
- Oh, you had me at "photo shoot."
When and where do I
strike a pose, right here?
KEISHA: You are literally always ready.
Go to this website and
pick a date and time.
I'll see you then.
I'll see you then.
Girl, did you see his pen?
It looks exactly like the one
your secret admirer dropped
at the masquerade ball.
Didn't you say the initials were R.C.?
And you think they
stand for "Ryan Craig"?
Girl, no.
He doesn't really seem like the
grand, romantic gesture type.
Nate, how many college
students do you know
walk around with pens
that look like that?
WOMAN: Why in he world you
would rather be here than
This is a celebration of my career.
You shouldn't be here.
Oh! Ha! Oh, Dorothea
that's a lie.
You owe your career,
such as it is, to me.
If I'm such a disappointment, why come?
I wanted to see how far
you had fallen for myself.
NATE: Who do you think that woman is?
She sure got Dr. Pace all shook.
[DING]
Hey.
- Hey.
- I got your text about hitting up KEK alums.
The exhibition match is in danger
of not happening unless
we raise some money,
so I reached out to PKZ alums.
In hopes one of them might have
a last-minute lead for a sponsor?
- Yeah.
- That's a smart plan.
Thanks.
J.R.: What's up, bro? How
was your mock interview?
Messed up.
Coach Marcus was way out of pocket, bro.
- What happened?
- Coach was asking me personal questions
about me and Jessie, bro.
OK. He was asking me
personal questions, too.
For me, aplastic anemia was on the menu.
- And that's not messed up to you?
- Uh-uh.
Bro, some things should
just be off limits.
But he's just preparing
us for the real world.
Look. It's some folks out there don't
give a crap about our boundaries.
It's strength in being an open book.
Just look at Coach.
If we learn to be more like him,
there's no question from our
past that we won't be ready for.
[CELL PHONE CHIMES]
- Dr. P. hit me up. I guess I'll see y'all later.
- Yeah.
Yo, do you agree with that?
Honestly,
I don't think you're
mad at Coach Marcus.
What I'm getting is fear, not anger.
I get it. When you start
speaking your truth,
it leaves a door open
for people to judge you,
but, Damon, you don't
have to be ashamed.
Everyone has family drama,
and I don't know who's interviewing you,
but their focus is gonna
be that you personally,
you bring a lot to the table.
You're kind, thoughtful, strong
and even when you're
being annoyingly arrogant,
it's inspiring.
[CELL PHONE CHIMES]
Uh
OK. Clearly, something
dope just happened.
- You want to share it?
- Sorry.
So I think I just found a way
to save the exhibition match.
J.R.: Gentlemen, got called into
President Patterson's office.
There's been a accusation
of hazing in our chapter.
So what happens now?
Bringston and KEK leadership is
launching a full-on investigation.
LOU: And if we're found guilty?
Usually, the chapter gets
expelled from campus indefinitely.
I just wanted Terrell
to be held accountable.
- I was really trying to avoid this.
- But who snitched?
TERRELL: Y'all should lock y'all doors.
You never know who gonna stroll in.
CAM: Hey, yo, Terrell, we
in the middle of something.
Oh, I hear, a hazing investigation.
That can really put a
stain on this chapter
y'all may never recover from.
So snitching is your thing now?
You know your involvement
in this is gonna come out,
- and your letters is gonna be taken.
- See, I'm not worried about that.
See, the regional VP, he's,
uh he's, like, my uncle.
So when my dad called
to set up the meeting,
the regional VP called you.
Bingo. Oh, ho ho.
Look. You should've let this go.
Now your whole chapter gonna suffer,
all because of you.
SIMONE: So I talked with the PKZ alum.
They know someone at the
Southern Women's Tennis League.
She followed our
situation, and she's offered
- to sponsor our exhibition match.
- Oh!
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
- That's so exciting!
- Yeah.
Come here.
You just had, like,
the biggest win ever.
What's with the face? What's up?
It's a minor hiccup for
me, not for you guys.
- OK.
- My probate was supposed to be tonight.
Some details got leaked,
and since it's supposed
to be super secret,
Aqueelah decided to
move it to tomorrow
- Don't tell me it's
- During the exhibition match, same time.
What are you gonna
choose tennis or PKZ?
[APPLAUSE]
- What are y'all doing here?
- Supporting our line sister, of course.
Shouldn't you guys be
getting ready for the probate?
Well, the probate wouldn't
be the same without you,
so that got us thinking
there is no probate without you.
Cam, you, too?
Well, since our sisters
don't get a probate,
we ain't doing one, either.
I really appreciate it, but
I can't let y'all do this.
CAM: For the record, J.R.
and Aqueelah are down,
so go kill it on the court, sis.
MAN: Run like a Lambo ♪
Jump out the room ♪
Feeling explosive ♪
Watch out, boom ♪
THEA: That is Cortina.
MAN: Never see me
coming like dynamite ♪
Money, stack that ♪
Power, take that ♪
Fame, you know I never stop ♪
I came to win again and again and ♪
Got to give it to her. She's good.
Yeah. No argument there.
I need one of you two to do me a favor.
Show Cortina whose courts these are?
Please and thank you.
- Period.
- MAN: Everything you ever did ♪
J.R.: Can't believe that we
might lose out on our chapter.
Don't give up hope.
You know that better than most.
You held on to hope as
you fought aplastic anemia.
Despite everything, you
didn't give up hope on me.
You'll find a way to save the chapter.
I have no doubt.
Thanks, Pops.
DAMON: J., I
I don't mean to interrupt, but
you mind if I holler
at Jessie real quick?
Uh, sure. Thanks, Pops.
All right.
Can I ask you a question?
Shoot.
Why'd you step down as our head coach?
Because I realized I couldn't be
your father and your coach,
and I wanted to be your father more.
[EXHALES]
Me and J. have
our interviews tomorrow,
and I hated the idea of them
questioning my personal stuff
because I didn't want to
be judged for my mistakes.
Now I
realize that it's more than that.
I don't want to see you judged
for your mistakes, either.
Tell your story.
I'll take whatever criticism.
[CHUCKLES]
[CLEARS THROAT] You
two look really happy.
No. It's it's OK. I really
am happy for the two of you.
The whole "college sweethearts
getting back together"
thing is really dope.
You two bring out the
best in each other,
which we should all be doing.
MARCUS: And thank you.
Look. Why don't a give
y'all a minute, OK?
What's going on, sweetheart?
And this is Dr. P. talking.
I saw Dr. Pace get demoralized
by an older woman yesterday.
I've never really seen
her that crushed before.
Who was she?
Her former dance teacher.
Apparently, she's a real piece of work.
She's supposedly more
toxic than Dr. Pace.
I brought her former
dance teacher to Bringston
- because I knew that it would shake her
- Keisha, you didn't.
and I put together a
plan to humiliate her
at the celebration of her career.
I know, I know. It's
it's too far, and Cam
tried to stop me, but
I've just been really
blinded by my own hurt.
- You need to stop it.
- I've tried.
Everyone's already
committed to the plan.
There's nothing that I can do.
If there's time, there's a way.
Make this right, Keisha, for
Dr. Pace's sake and your own.
DAMON: What's good, Lando?
Transparency.
Transparency is what's good.
OK,
so your feelings for Simone are serious,
and I'm guessing that you told her that.
I just wanted to be
honest with you about it.
- [LAUGHS]
- Oh, you oh.
NATE: Yes! That's my sis.
[APPLAUSE]
DAMON: Let's go.
NATE: Uh-uh. Tell me you
are not thinking about boys
when you should be basking in
everything you accomplished today.
- Now, why can't I do both?
- OK. Listen.
I get there's some epic
love-triangle decision
that needs to be made, but this
this is getting ridiculous,
so let me, um let me make
this a little easier for you.
You've only kissed one
and slept with the other,
so you might as well pick the
one that you haven't slept with
and, you know, try a
whole new adventure.
OK.
Simone, I'm just kidding.
Wait. You have
Well, you have only kissed the one
and slept with the other, right?
OK, so
maybe there is something
that I haven't told you
or anybody.
[SNIFFLES]
MAN: Under the spell ♪
They fall into gravity ♪
Where does it leave me be? ♪
Pulling me ♪
Into a world of blues ♪
Clinging into the void ♪
Of black ♪
Keep searching for a
signal to remind me ♪
NATE: My God! No. Wait. I'm up.
I'm up because all this time,
I thought you and Damon we're
just being extra about a kiss.
Will you shh? But
that's why it's so hard.
OK. I don't know what this
little gossip session is about,
but it needs to wait.
- Girl, you won.
- Oh, she sure did.
I'm talking about Cortina.
- You're playing her.
- Oh.
- Shut up. Seriously?
- Yes,
so you need to get your head in
the game, or she will eat you alive.
Hey.
Uh, feeling the pressure?
I'm trying not to, but I'm feeling.
Because Cortina is GAC champ?
Beating her feels like
getting back at them
for not supporting the
team after y'all cop stop.
You want to win for the team.
You know, it's very annoying
you're able to do that.
Here's the thing, Simone.
You got to let that go.
Playing Cortina isn't about them.
Then what is it about?
It's about celebrating you
walk on and top 6,
battling panic attacks, bomb threats,
drug suspension, being
racially profiled.
You defied the odds.
That is who you are.
This match against Cortina,
that's no different.
So your advice to me
is to remember who I am.
That's it?
That's it.
I mean, that's what worked for me
when I didn't get the
answer I needed from you.
It's how I knew I'd be OK.
Well, I haven't even
given you an answer.
No answer is an answer, Simone,
but knowing who I am
is why I'm still able
to be here for my friend.
[DOOR OPENS]
If you're here to beg for your
spot back, I have nothing for you.
I don't want anything from you.
I'm actually here to
do something for you.
[CHUCKLES]
And what could you possibly do for me?
Give you the truth.
I brought your former
dance teacher to Bringston,
and I know that she made you
suffer while you were her student.
But to what end, my dear?
I wanted you to see
that you're continuing
the cycle of abuse that you endured.
What you call abuse
is me training me
students to be resilient.
Clearly, you don't keep up
with any of your students.
Yeah, they shine for a couple of years,
but then most of them crash and burn
because the toll it takes on their body
and their mental
health is just too much.
You break down dancers,
and you don't give them
the tools to build themself back up.
I'm sure tomorrow's performance
will prove you wrong.
Yeah. Um
Your former students aren't
coming to celebrate you.
They're coming to break the cycle
and reveal how you broke them
and expose all of the
pain that you caused them.
I regret that I spearheaded this,
but I just really wanted to let you know
so that you could get ahead of it.
By doing what,
apologizing for having standards?
- I won't do that.
- OK. Well, that's your choice.
My choice is to apologize
because those are my standards.
I'm sorry.
J.R.: I'm not letting our chapter
get suspended without a fight,
so I did some research.
In '09, the chapter at
Hawkins got caught hazing.
I remember hearing about that.
What saved them from getting suspended
- was that one dude took the fall.
- Yep.
That's why I'm hoping
history repeats itself
if I go to Dr. Patterson
and the regional VP
and take full responsibility.
QUINTIN: Naw, bruh. That ain't right.
We all played a part in this.
WES: Facts, so we'll go in together.
J.R.: No. We're not doing that.
Listen. If one of us steps
up, that's a bad apple.
If we all go, then the
whole chapter looks poisoned,
and as dean of pledges,
this is my responsibility.
QUINTIN: You sure,
J.R.? Once you do this,
ain't no turning back for you.
[APPLAUSE]
- MARCUS: Come on, Simone.
- DAMON: Go, Simone.
[DAWDY & PETER VERDELL'S "MONSTERS
[GOING GOING GONE]" playing]
I'm a monster, I'm ready to ball ♪
Just know if I came and I saw it ♪
Then I'd break down ♪
Just give me a go,
I need to show you ♪
You know they gonna call for that ♪
DAMON: Waste her, baby!
DAWDY: I just go nuts, go bonkers ♪
Me and the rest of my monsters ♪
We in the spotlight ♪
Light them up, get the dub ♪
That's a promise ♪
Another one hit the
dust, they all goners ♪
So what's happening right now?
THEA: OK, so Simone
and Cortina are tied now
at a set apiece, and Simone
needs to win the third
set to win the whole match.
- CAM: She look tired, though.
- Yo, yo, she only needs one more point.
- She's got this.
- She's got it.
DAWDY: Fire it up and launch it ♪
Not afraid of no conflict ♪
My team, we monsters ♪
We monsters ♪
Ah, my team we monsters ♪
My team we monsters,
my team we monsters ♪
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
THEA: Yeah! Yeah!
MARCUS: Hey!
You know this was just
an exhibition match.
It doesn't count.
Well, next time I beat you, it will.
NATE: Yeah! You go because
you ate them up, girl.
- You ate them all the way up.
- Good job, girl.
- They were not ready.
- Hey, we're so proud of you.
Look. I need you to
take a shower and change.
- You got someplace to be.
- What is going on?
You're gonna love it, trust me.
All right, y'all.
- Uh
- Well, bye.
[RHYTHMIC FOOTSTEPS]
- Hey, hey!
- Hey!
NATE: Wait. That's KEK,
but what about Simone?
I thought they were [GASPS]
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
LANDO: We're about to see
a joint KEK and PKZ probate.
Oh, bitch, I'm up.
You know I'm up. That's my girl!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Get it.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Ladies. Whoo!
Whoo! Let's go.
NATE: Get it, girls.
Hey, hey ♪
Whoo!
[CROWD CLAMORING]
Whoo!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
- That was cute or whatever.
- Yeah, whatever.
Y'all go fast.
We go hard.
You go. You go. You go. We go slow.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
NATE: You know she look good.
We go.
Wahoo!
Yeah!
Whoo!
PKZ, how hard you go? ♪
You don't want to mess with her ♪
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
I said hold up.
- Brothers
- Yeah?
- they said we got fast
- Mm-hmm.
- and, uh, they go slow
- Mm-hmm.
but can they go
High ♪
- Hmm?
- What?
- while we go
- Low, low ♪
- Get low!
- Low, low ♪
- Get low!
- Low, low ♪
Get low! KEK!
Whoo!
ALL: Ooh! Huh!
Huh huh huh huh haah ooh ♪
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
The KEK!
Yeah?
Y'all know how we do.
Let's give 'em that swagger.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Now let's get busy ♪
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
ALL: Hoo!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
Let's get it, let's go, let's ♪
- Hey! Ho! ♪
- OK, OK, OK ♪
Whoo! Whoo! ♪
Break it down.
Yo, that's nice footwork.
- All right.
- Hey!
Uh-huh.
- Whoop!
- Hey!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
What's up?
Hey, yo, fellas!
Yeah?
I said, fellas.
Yeah?
K! E! K!
Hoo!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
WOMAN: They pull up in a Range Rover ♪
Hey
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
Charlotte also sends her regards,
and she wanted me to give this to you.
- A shirt for her firm?
- Mm-hmm.
A shirt for her firm. Oh,
my God, I got the internship?
- Yep, you got it.
- Oh, my God.
Yeah, and there's also one more thing.
Hmm, what is this?
Why did Charlotte give me glasses?
Those are from me,
a throwback to our
debate about Rosa Parks
and the Montgomery bus boycott.
- The day we first met.
- Yeah.
You really opened my mind and my heart
to new perspectives,
figured I'd return the favor.
And what, exactly,
do you want me to see?
Hmm, I don't know.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
What's right in front of you.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Damon, don't you got an
interview in a few minutes?
Uh, yeah. I just
wanted to come in and apologize
about losing it on you.
Listen. I may have pressed
you a little too hard.
I just want to say that
I'm sorry about that.
I just don't want you to be afraid
to talk about your past, son.
Yeah. I know, because that'll
be the part the media comes for.
Or the part that resurfaces
that disrupts your future.
So you ready for your interview?
Yeah. Yeah. I think I am now.
Look. I know it's your
job to ask questions,
but I'd like to say something first,
if you don't mind.
I've always thought of
myself as an open book,
but until I came to Bringston,
those pages were blank
because I had questions
about where I came from.
Now I've filled those pages, and,
yeah, are some of them painful to read,
but they're my story,
and they're filled with people who are
human, flawed, complicated,
and that's OK.
I'm good with them.
I'm good with all of it,
so when you see me up
there on that mound,
when you're taking a look at my stats,
this is the story behind the numbers.
I ain't afraid to share none of it
so go ahead.
So hit me with your first question.
[APPLAUSE]
DR. PACE: I am honored and quite humbled
that you all have gathered here
to celebrate me and my career,
but it's become abundantly clear
that I need to take a step back
to reassess who I've
become in this lifetime.
I'm taking an indefinite sabbatical
so I can go out into
this big world of ours
to rediscover myself,
so tonight's retrospective
is my farewell
for now.
We'll begin in a few moments.
[APPLAUSE]
I don't understand.
I didn't think you heard a
word I said to you earlier.
On any other day, I wouldn't have,
but seeing my old teacher
brought up some things.
Well-played, Miss McCalla.
I truly underestimated
you on all fronts.
- [KNOCKS ON DOOR]
- J.R.: Come in.
- Hey, yo, I got your text, bro. What's good?
- Oh, yeah.
I got something for you.
[DRAWER CLOSES]
Submitted you for one
of KEK's scholarships.
Bro, are you serious?
- This is enough to cover my
- Your tuition and room and board next year.
Look. My future in KEK may be over.
We'll always be brothers.
Appreciate you, bro,
for everything, man,
and I promise I won't let
your sacrifice be in vain.
You better not.
I heard Terrell and his boys got
jumped last night after the probate.
You wouldn't happen to know
anything about that, would you?
Oh, I told you what I was
gonna do once I crossed,
but don't worry. I took
off my letters first.
Our chapter might be nonviolent,
but I'm from Crenshaw,
and we get with it.
- [CHUCKLES] Copy that.
- Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
[LEON BRIDGES & ROBER
GLASPER'S "BORN AGAIN" PLAYING]
BRIDGES: Feeling born again ♪
Feeling joy again ♪
When all else fails ♪
Your love will last forever ♪
Your love will last forever ♪
Feeling born again ♪
Feeling joy again ♪
Your love will last forever ♪
NATE: Oh, yeah.
Wilinda and I got off
to a rocky start, but,
well, I wouldn't have won without her.
That's why I'm appointing
her my vice president.
- Can I quote you on that?
- Oh, quote away.
Mm.
For someone who prefers
taking physical notes,
you'd think I'd keep
better track of my pens.
Oh. Well, here. You can use mine.
Uh, yeah. Why all the secrecy?
I didn't say anything because I
didn't think that you'd be interested.
I obsess over pens and spend
all of my time behind a computer.
Without the swagger that
putting on a mask gives me,
I'm not in your league.
Well, my first official act as president
is to decree that you're wrong.
KEISHA: I'm really happy to be
out of my Dr. Pace era, though.
What about the incomplete
you got in class?
Any way around it now that Pace is gone?
No, so it's summer school for me.
- I'm sorry, babe.
- I know. It's OK.
There are worse things,
and there are better things that
we could be celebrating right now,
like you officially being in KEK.
- Ahooh!
- Ahooh!
Please. Oh
This is from me and your parents.
Open it.
Uh
- Yo!
- You like it?
I love it.
[KNOCKS ON DOOR]
It's open.
Oh. Hey.
- Uh, thanks for stopping by.
- No problem.
How'd the interview go?
Well, uh,
I'm guessing it must've
went pretty good.
I'm officially on a team
in the Cape Cod League.
[LAUGHS]
Oh, and J. made it, too.
I'm so proud of you two.
Uh, yeah.
The day of the bomb scare,
you said that you would
be at the Centennial Diner
every Wednesday at
7:00 till I was ready.
Look, Jessie, I know it's not
Wednesday or 7:00, but
I think I'm ready for that talk,
if the offer still stands.
I'd love that.
AMARA: Babe, even Miss Robinette
said we were a cute couple.
Yes, and people are happy for us.
[SETS DOWN GLASS]
I've been thinking.
I have some vacation days.
What if we took a trip this summer?
Listen. Nothing would
make me happier, OK?
I just got to be back
in time for orientation.
- Orientation?
- For graduate school in psychology. Listen.
I want to double down
on the mental health work
I've been doing with the students,
which means I need the
degree to back it up, baby.
Marcus Turner, I am so proud of you.
Thank you.
This calls for a toast.
To coming full circle.
[CLINK]
[KNOCKS ON DOOR]
Hmm.
- The food's here.
- Mm-hmm.
Food's here. You hold that.
You hold that, baby. Oh!
Hey.
Oh, I like this place. It's cute.
MARCUS: Wait a minute. Wait a
minute now. You can't be here.
Marcus, who is this?
I'm Crystal,
his wife.
[TYPING]
All right.
Cape Cod time.
CHLOE: Birds flying
high, you know how I feel ♪
Sun in the sky ♪
You know how I feel ♪
And I'm feeling good ♪
SIMONE: Damon and Lando both
showed up for you in different ways.
Now it's up to you to
be the responsible voter.
CHLOE: It's a new
dawn, it's a new day ♪
-
- It's a new life, it's a new ♪
It's a new dawn ♪
And I'm feeling good ♪
And I'm feeling good ♪
Hey, look.
Before you say anything,
um, sorry it took me so long,
but I know who I want.
It's you.
CHLOE: Ohh ♪
MAN: Greg, move your head.