Bel-Air (2022) s04e03 Episode Script
What Are You Doing for Thanksgiving?
1
Previously on "Bel-Air"
Let me help you.
Fighting? Stealing liquor? Talk to me.
I'm not trying to spend
my high school years
living in the shadows
of Hilary and Carlton.
I ain't the same man
you used to know, Phil.
I wouldn't be here if I was.
Thanks for coming through.
My man.
Watch out, old man.
You reach, I teach.
I've done everything I can, Phil.
There's only one solution here.
I'll clean your money my way.
Happy to be in business with a man
of your caliber, Mr. Banks.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
[CAR ALARM BLARING]
My protection is the only reason
you and Carlton haven't
faced consequences.
You understand?
These last few days have,
unfortunately,
left me questioning your loyalties.
So I was forced to make a call
to some of my besties at the LAPD.
We have an arrest warrant for
Will Smith and Carlton Banks.
♪
I understand that my actions
have consequences.
If I could go back to that day,
I would do it all differently.
I just want to show that
I can learn from my mistakes
and move forward in a healthy way
as an upstanding citizen.
Thank you for your time, Your Honor.
Mr. Smith.
Uh
Right, um
I take full responsibility
for my actions, Your Honor.
100%.
And, um,
I was just caught up in
the moment and not thinking.
I want to take the right path,
and I know this is my wake-up call.
I appreciate you giving me the time
and the chance to speak, Your Honor.
And again, I really regret my actions.
I see you have an interest
in studying business in college
and that you were a basketball phenom?
Yes, sir.
I want to combine business
and sports as a career.
That's my goal.
And young Mr. Banks, top of your class
with aims to attend an Ivy next fall?
Yes, sir.
Princeton.
I hope.
[SIGHS]
So here's my verdict.
Trust me, this was dumb.
If there was a hall of fame
for bad decisions,
y'all would've made
the highlight reel.
♪
But you won't be serving jail time.
[EXHALES] Thank God.
Don't start celebrating just yet.
I'm assigning you to
a youth diversion program
called Promising Choices.
You'll be doing community service.
Driving privileges will be suspended.
You will be on time,
you will participate,
and you will finish it.
If you mess this up,
you'll be standing here again,
and next time, I won't be so nice.
[GAVEL BANGS]
Thank you, Dad.
Defendants Banks and Smith
are remanded to their guardians
and are free to leave.
♪
Wait, where's Mom?
Uh, she wasn't feeling too well.
OK.
♪
Hey, Lou.
Didn't know you were coming.
Yeah, neither did I,
until your mama called me.
Yeah, I know I let her down.
She'll be glad that
you're not going to see
the inside of a cell.
I never want that for you.
Ever.
Look, I'm
[SIGHS] Sorry about all this.
You ain't got to apologize to me.
Remember, I know what it's like
to have your freedom in the
hands of a stranger in a robe.
That's punishment enough, ain't it?
Yeah.
Hey, keep your head up
as you walk out of here.
Don't give him your dignity.
I'm going to let you
get to it, all right?
Hey, Lou.
What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
[EASY MCCOY'S "DEJA VU"]
♪
It's like déjà vu ♪
I see it all the time ♪
♪
Yeah ♪
[MELLOW MUSIC]
You excited to spend
the holiday with Lou?
Oh, yeah.
We haven't been able to hang
out much since he moved here.
Hey, my mom was right
sending him to that courtroom.
He is exactly the person I need
to be talking to right now.
Oh, uh, do you still have
those courtside seats?
I'm thinking maybe I could take
Lou to a Lakers game sometime.
Sure, sure. Yeah.
You know I'm I'm here to
help you through this, too?
We all are.
Thank you.
Look, uh,
I'm sorry that it got this far.
I mean, Geoffrey said he would
take care of it, but
[SIGHS]
You know, from now on,
why don't you rely on me?
That's best right now.
Yeah. Got it.
[CHUCKLES]
- I'll see you downstairs.
- OK.
♪
I know, I know.
I really wanted to be there,
but all the flights out of
Costa Rica are grounded.
I'm sorry.
No, no, no, just be safe.
We love you.
I love you, too.
[PHONE CHIMES AND CLICKS]
No Hil?
- That's a first.
- I know.
I'm going to miss her so much.
And she's the one who usually
does the menu, preps the food.
Oh, and she does all the cooking.
Uh, Dad mentioned that
you weren't at the courthouse
yesterday
because you weren't feeling well?
I wasn't sick.
I just couldn't stand to see my son
and my nephew
throw their futures away.
Mom.
I know we disappointed you.
But with
the Promising Choices program,
it actually kind of turned out OK.
This time!
It doesn't matter.
Y'all are going to be
leaving the house soon.
You're going to have to
learn these life lessons
on your own now.
Dad said Hilary might not
make it to Thanksgiving.
Yep, that's what it seems.
Well, is there something we can do?
Yes.
Do better.
Both of you.
- What did I do?
- What?
You're Little Miss Having
Fights in the School Hallways,
you're stealing alcohol
from the house,
you're rolling your eyes,
and you're talking back.
Oh, my God, that was weeks ago.
How much longer are we going
to keep talking about this?
Oh.
I'm done.
Ash.
Ash.
Hey.
Hil's stuck in Costa Rica, all right?
And Mom clearly needs our help.
And you heard her.
You've been an awful daughter.
Mostly, I heard you've
been a terrible son.
[MUTTERS] Let's not point any fingers.
We know Mom doesn't really
thrive in the kitchen,
so why don't we chip in?
- Pass.
- Hey.
Hey, come on.
We already have all the groceries.
We can make this a memorable
Thanksgiving for Mom.
Ugh.
♪
OK, let's go.
All right, you're in charge
of candied yams.
- Easy.
- And Ash
- Easy.
- You can do, stuffing, right?
Stuffing?
So,
seems like Carlton
has rallied the troops.
Yeah, he's really
taking charge this year.
He even got Ashley to
come out of her bedroom.
Good. They should all be helping.
They know they're in the doghouse.
Yeah.
And I was in a funk too,
but you know what?
Today is a day to be thankful.
- So I meditated.
- Hmm.
And I am choosing joy.
Hmm.
God knows this baby could use
some positive energy.
Good.
How do you feel about
Lou coming to dinner?
I know he's not your favorite person.
Uh-uh, don't project that onto me.
It's you and Lou with the history.
Will thinks that Lou can
relate to him more than me,
I guess.
I mean, he does have a point.
Look, all that matters
is today is a day for family.
Mm-hmm?
All right, let's just focus on that.
Mm.
Joy.
Joy.
[SMOOCHING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hey.
Biggest bird at the market.
That's what I'm talking about.
Thanks.
You sticking around?
Unfortunately,
I've got to miss dinner.
Duty calls.
Nothing for you to worry about.
Our business starts
after the holiday, yeah?
Do you.
- Turkey flying in.
- Here comes the bird.
All right, well, this dinner
isn't going to cook itself,
so come on, family.
- Chop, chop.
- Yes, chef!
- Will, catch.
- I'm making the potato salad.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
Old Hillside Select.
Neat.
- Keep it open.
- You got it.
[BASSY HIP-HOP MUSIC]
♪
I'll take your well bourbon,
preferably in a dirty glass.
A dirty glass?
Bourbon is an experience, brother.
I'm in a dive bar
[CHUCKLES] Had a long-ass day.
And DC hawk is out.
Shitty-bourbon, dirty-glass
kind of day, innit?
- [LAUGHS]
- Here you go, sir.
I'll take one for him, too.
- Put it on my tab.
- You got it.
♪
Here you go.
To pricey bourbon
and clean glasses one day.
[GLASSES CLINK]
♪
[GRUNTS] Shit.
That tastes like
Like the struggle for freedom.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
On a dirty glass.
That's some American shit, huh?
- Hey.
- Yeah, nah.
- I'll school you.
- You Americans, man.
I'll school you.
[LAUGHTER]
I'm Phil.
Geoffrey.
It's good to meet you.
You too, bro. I got the next one.
Yes, you do. [LAUGHTER]
Will, how are these yams coming?
I already told you, real
yams don't need marshmallows.
- Get them away from me.
- Where is the Lawry's?
Here you go, Mom.
[MARVIN GAYE'S "AIN'T NO
MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH" PLAYS]
- ALL: Oh.
- Mom, you love this song.
Let's send Hil some joy.
Will, take it away.
Listen, baby ♪
Hey!
Ain't no mountain high ♪
Ain't no valley low ♪
Ain't no river wide enough, baby ♪
Mom, take it away.
If you need me, call me ♪
No matter where you are ♪
No matter how far ♪
Don't worry, baby ♪
Just call my name ♪
I'll be there in a hurry ♪
You don't have to worry ♪
ALL: 'Cause baby there ain't
no mountain high enough ♪
Come on, Ash!
All: Ain't no valley low enough ♪
Ain't no river wide enough ♪
To keep me from
getting to you, babe ♪
[LAUGHTER]
All right, all right.
Back to dinner duty.
All right, y'all,
I'm about to baste the turkey.
- Stand back.
- Drum roll, please.
All right. [DRUMMING]
- Boom.
- Oh.
- What?
- It's cold.
- What
- It's white.
- Wait, wait, wait.
- What?
- Who turned off the oven?
- Wasn't me!
Oh, my God.
That's mighty light skinned.
Wait a minute.
Baby, you adjusted the temperature,
but you didn't press start?
Dad, you said you had the turkey.
This isn't having the turkey.
I'm sorry, son.
Damn, Phil.
- Hey!
- Hey, oh!
Lou!
Hey. Muah.
You made it.
How you doing?
Yeah, man.
Thank God I brought
the mac and cheese,
'cause that's some
salmonella shit right there.
Hey, what's up, Lou?
What's going on, old man?
Look like you having
some turkey problems.
Nothing I can't fix.
Maybe we can order out.
Well, everything's closed.
I mean, we could just fry it.
It's fast and delicious.
You hear that? We could just fry it.
Yeah, but we don't
have a turkey fryer.
[CHUCKLES] You don't need one.
[LAUGHS] You hear that?
We don't even need one.
Look, all I need is a deep container,
some grease, and a flame.
Take about an hour, 90 minutes tops.
I'm happy to roll my sleeves up
and do it for y'all.
And we still get to be
on time for dinner?
I mean, that has my vote.
Look at Lou, saving Thanksgiving.
Yay!
Yeah, just walked in and
already fixing Phil's mess.
[LAUGHS]
OK, now turn up the music.
All right, be easy, easy, easy.
[SIZZLING]
Boom.
- She's in there.
- Like that.
[DISTANT MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
I'm glad you could make it.
And this obviously
means a lot to Will.
Yeah.
Me, too.
You know, since, uh
since Will reconnected us,
me and Vy, we could
hold a conversation
without going at each other.
Wow.
Never seen that before.
You know them Smith girls
got a temper.
She classy now,
but Viv can go there, too.
Oh, yeah.
So anyway, she had mentioned
to me what happened with Will.
And we got some concerns.
So what, you and Vy co-parenting now?
I mean, if Will's going to get his ass
snatched up out the streets out here,
he might as well be back in Philly.
Well, that was an unusual situation.
I just need to know
my son is safe here.
Something going on?
I got a job opportunity in Philly.
I just got to figure out
how to break the news to him.
♪
Um, what?
Grandma Nita's recipe
isn't even a recipe.
A pinch of cinnamon?
A handful of brown sugar?
It says three scoops of flour.
Whose hand? What scoops?
This is crazy.
I guess that separates
the real cooks from us.
Oh, well. We tried.
Ash what what's going on with you?
Is this, like, some emo phase?
Could you not sound
like Mom right now?
She always wants to talk.
"What's going on?"
"How's your day?"
She's been on one lately.
Well, after what
she went through with me,
she's probably just scared to death
that you're headed down the same path.
Grabbing a few bottles of champagne
doesn't mean I'm
turning into a coke head.
No offense.
Fair.
You should be judged
by your own evil doings
instead of mine.
But I am on my way out.
And you're Mom's last hope.
What do you mean?
I mean you're the
last Banks sibling left.
And you're about to be a big sister.
The big sister.
Mom's going to need you.
Most importantly,
I'm going to need you
to start cutting these peaches.
Get to work, emo lady.
♪
How many J's you got?
Yeah, Uncle Phil gets me a new pair
for every straight-A
report card I get.
My daddy made me get a job.
I guess we was raised
differently, huh?
Nah, with Blackccess,
I make my own money, too.
But ever since the arrest,
our investor has been
re-evaluating,
taking a little step back.
Hey, but Uncle Phil's
been helping me out
with investing in stocks
and keeping my money up.
Good old Unc.
My little library right here.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Oh, yeah? What you got?
Man, this book right here
changed my life.
Uncle Phil put me on to this.
[LAUGHS]
"The Four Agreements."
Yeah, it's about how
to stop overthinking
and take control of your emotions.
If you really want to learn
about taking control
of your life, I need you to read
"Makes Me Wanna Holler"
by Nathan McCall.
See, dude went from prison
to becoming a journalist
for the "Washington Post."
- "Makes Me Wanna Holler."
- "Makes Me Wanna Holler."
OK. I'll write that down.
Sounds like exactly what
I need to be reading right now.
[SIGHS]
Hey, um
Nathan McCall.
I wanted to holler at you
about something.
Yeah, what's up, Dad?
[PHONE CLACKING]
Dad?
That's a first.
Uh [CHUCKLES]
Yeah, I guess it just
didn't feel natural
until now.
Anyway, what's up?
[SCOFFS]
You kept my MVP trophy.
Oh, yeah, right next to mine.
- Wow.
- Scored 32 points this game.
- Word.
- Dropping buckets.
- [LAUGHTER]
- Like father, like son.
Yeah.
We got a lot of catching up to do.
Yeah, we do.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Hey, you know what we should do?
We should go get some soul food,
My Two Cents or something like that,
go to a Drew League game this summer.
Hey, I heard Lil Uzi's
going to be in town.
You like concerts?
Uh, yeah.
Local concerts,
Lil Uzi.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah, we got to go to this.
[LAUGHS]
- OK, go.
- OK, son, you ready?
Saturday mornings, everybody will stop
what you're doing to watch this.
- Uh, cartoons.
- No, no.
Solar eclipse?
Before cell phones,
before TikTok, before YouTube.
Everybody would sit around
the TV and watch real talent.
Afros. Bell bottoms.
- Good music.
- What are
MTV? What are you talking about?
Think, son. More soulful.
Ah, ah, ah, can't say soulful
if the word is "Soul Train."
That's against the Black taboo rules.
"Soul Train," Dad? Really?
Why didn't you say the dance
that mom was obsessed with?
He's right.
It's all about the specificity, Phil.
That's a big word for you,
ain't it, Lou?
Ooh, you're going to talk
smack when you're losing.
- We up.
- That's all right.
Don't underestimate the
power of the Smith boys.
Let's go, son. Let's get 'em.
Let's do it. Ready?
Go.
- Not pumpkin but
- Sweet potato pie.
- Yes, sir.
- Oh, my God.
Big teeth
and a fine-ass step daughter.
- Steve Harvey.
- Yes, sir.
- Gone too soon.
- Tupac.
- The other one.
- Biggie.
Yes, sir. Um, uh
- "You told Harpo to beat me."
- "The Color Purple."
Yes, sir. Uh
Red.
- Kool-Aid.
- Yes.
Time. Time.
- Damn
- Whew!
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
that's the way to rock, son.
Yes, sir.
Way to go.
[LAUGHTER]
Dinner's ready.
Oh, thank God.
Break out the
Trivial Pursuit next time.
Ain't nobody playing
no damn Trivial Pursuit.
Go eat.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC]
You mad?
Me, me, me, me ♪
And thank you, God,
for the hands that helped
prepare this good-looking meal.
Mm-hmm.
We're so grateful for our
family gathered here today.
Mm-hmm.
Viv.
Ashley.
Carlton.
And Will.
[CLEARS THROAT]
And even Lou.
In Jesus's name we pray.
Amen
God, thank you for the Banks family
for opening up their home
and hearts to me.
Psalms 133:1 says,
"how good and pleasant it is
when God's people
live together in unity."
ALL: Amen.
That's exactly what today feels like.
- Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
- A true blessing.
- Mm.
- Well said.
- That's beautiful.
Wow, that was the perfect prayer.
- Thank you, Lou.
- That was perfect.
And I believe Proverbs 17:17 says that
"friends love at all times,
but a brother is born for adversity."
He's a preacher now?
Apparently.
So I'm thankful for Lou being
here with us for the first time
despite his absence for
so, so, so many years.
[LAUGHS]
And I am thankful to God
for allowing me the opportunity
to whoop Phil's behind in Tabu.
[LAUGHTER]
And him finally seeing me
as a man worthy
of welcoming into his home
after so many years.
Dear Lord, I would be so, so grateful
when we can sit down and eat
because Lord knows I'm hungry.
- Amen. Amen.
- Amen.
Amen.
Oh, this food looks amazing.
The mac and cheese has got
my name on it.
Everybody know that's my potato salad.
- Relax. Relax.
- Hey, hey.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Wow.
You gonna get some of this.
Hey.
I know you're probably out, but, um
I just wanted to check in
on you and Frederick.
I miss you.
[TENSE, SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
Same again.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Geoffrey.
Thanks again for having me.
Sure. Come on in.
Everyone, this is Geoffrey.
I'm Viv.
Glad you could join us
for Thanksgiving.
Thanks for having me.
Phil's told me wonderful things.
These are for you.
Oh, thank you.
The lavender is supposed
to help soothe baby and mum.
Oh.
Anything for me?
- Don't be rude, Hilary.
- [CHUCKLES]
These kids.
I'm I'm so sorry
that I didn't give you
your gift first.
It's a honeybee.
It's to remind you that you're special
and to always follow your own buzz.
[GIGGLES] Honeybee!
I love it. Thank you.
You're welcome.
You like it? He gave you a honeybee?
Let me see what he got you.
Take your jacket off.
Make yourself at home.
You want to help mommy
with these flowers?
Yeah.
[LAUGHTER]
We had to make the moonshine
in the toilet.
[LAUGHTER]
So what was prison like, anyway?
"Love After Lockup"
is my favorite show.
OK, that's not appropriate
for you to be watching.
That inmate pen pal program,
that's the real deal, though.
I had a few ladies writing me letters
and sending me pictures.
- They smell all good.
- OK, OK, now,
I think that's
definitely inappropriate.
Well, um, actually, while we're here
riding the elephant in the room,
I wanted to hear more about prison.
If things had gone differently
with Will and I,
that could've been us.
- Mm-hmm.
- Facts.
Nothing but God's grace.
Hey, you don't have to answer
that if you don't want to.
Nah, it's good. It's cool.
Look, man.
Prison is hard.
You know?
Somebody telling you when to get up,
when to eat, when to go outside.
But the hardest part is knowing that
you disappointed everybody
that was counting on you.
That's the part that
keeps you up at night.
Yeah.
Me, too.
I got to say, Carlton,
I'm surprised you had
your boys back out there.
I didn't know you had that dog in you.
Yeah, come on, man.
I see you, boy.
[LAUGHS]
Yo, C's a real one.
OK, nothing to be smiling about.
Viv's right.
There's nothing funny
about ruining your future.
[GENTLE HIP-HOP MUSIC]
[WHISPERS] Good job.
[LAUGHTER]
Food's delicious, Viv.
Very kind of you to include
rice and peas, Jamaican staple.
I wanted you to feel at home.
But credit goes to
Oohs & Aahs on U Street.
That's all right.
I didn't marry Viv for her cooking.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Philip.
How long you two been married?
Six years.
We had Hilary when we were
fresh out of undergrad.
You have a beautiful family.
A beautiful growing one.
Viv is due next month.
I was hoping we'd be packing up
for Cali by now, but
Yeah?
Why California?
Me and a few of my Harvard buddies
want to start a law firm, Black owned,
helping our people.
So what's the hold up?
Need the financing to buy in.
Been turned down for every loan.
Big dreams.
That's why I married him.
That dream will happen, Phil.
Even if it feels out of reach
now, it's not a question of if,
just when.
Oh.
Baby agrees with Geoffrey.
Girl, I thought we had to
go to the hospital tonight.
[CHUCKLES]
Yeah, y'all were broke.
I mean, y'all had that
one bedroom in DC.
Me and Vy used to take
the bus down to come visit.
Oh, we used to have our
breakfast-for-dinner nights.
[LAUGHTER]
Pancake mix was so cheap.
I just can't believe you guys
actually lived like this.
You never heard these stories before?
No.
Mm, those were good times, though.
Simpler, for sure.
You know, there's value in remembering
where you came from.
That's good lessons for these kids.
Yeah, we built a great life.
There's lessons in the struggle.
But there's also lessons
in moving on from it.
Mm.
You know, great life or not,
both our sons were standing
in front of the same judge.
Not all of us need to get locked up
to learn a life lesson.
Right,
because teaching
life lessons only count
if you're wearing a suit.
OK, y'all.
And when life
punches him in his mouth,
we're going to see
which lessons stick.
Oh, yeah? You think because
you've been through hell
that makes you a good father?
You think because you write a check
it makes you a better one?
[SCOFFS]
Maybe that's why my son comes to me
when he wants to hear the truth.
[CHUCKLES] The truth?
You can't even tell your son
you're leaving.
Leaving?
What is he talking about?
[TENSE MUSIC]
- I was going to tell you.
- OK.
Why don't you tell me now?
I got a
I got a job opportunity
back in Philly.
Cutting hair just ain't
cutting it no more, you know?
Yeah.
OK.
Son.
It's cool.
Do what you got to do.
♪
[LIGHT SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
Dinner was so much fun that
no one even tried my cobbler.
[CHUCKLES]
Taste test?
- Yo.
- It's not bad.
[LAUGHTER] That's pretty good.
You going to be on peach cobbler duty
every Thanksgiving, C.
Oh, fuck no.
Man, this was way too labor intensive.
[LAUGHS]
You were right about your dad
having timely advice.
Hearing all about what he came through
makes me feel good about
turning our situation around.
Wow.
My dad helped you.
Don't tell Uncle Phil.
[LAUGHS]
Oh, having a dad is so much fun, huh?
A bit like a roller coaster.
Yeah.
I think
that it's not about
the ride being perfect.
Sometimes it's just about staying on.
Yeah.
I was going to go up and talk to him.
He just needs a little space.
Of course.
I I didn't mean to
ruin your dinner or your holiday.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
It's just that,
that Phil, man, he just
he just got this way of
crawling under my damn skin.
It's like he got this little shiv,
and he just keeps jabbing at me
every chance he gets.
And I swear to God
Are you ever going to grow up
and take a little accountability?
Me? For what?
Look, you love to reminisce.
Here's what I remember.
Every time you and Vy got into it,
she came crashing on our couch,
wanting to leave your ass.
But it was Phil who was there
defending your choices,
telling her to give you
another chance because,
even though you messed up,
the one thing you got right
every single day
was loving that boy up there.
Work through this shit,
for Will's sake.
There it is,
that Smith girl fire.
[SIGHS]
[GENTLE, TENSE MUSIC]
♪
Hey, son.
I know how hard you tried
to make today perfect
for your Mom, and it got ruined.
But that's Lou for you,
bringing the drama wherever he goes.
When Will first got here,
I was so jealous of the way
you two had this instant bond.
You were at each other's
throats every day.
I was competing so hard
to be the better son,
kind of like how you're competing
with Lou to be the better dad.
I guess we're cut from
the same petty cloth.
[LAUGHS]
You told me that
it wasn't a competition,
that we both have
different things to offer.
And you were right.
Me and Will are better together.
[PENSIVE PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
Let me guess.
You learned to play that
in prison, too.
You got jokes.
Actually, church.
I ain't sat at one of
these things in 35 years.
You know, Will's pretty good, too.
Got to add that to the list
of things I missed out on.
Lakers versus Celtics?
You can take Will before you leave.
I'm not trying to replace you.
I know, but
y'all found your ways to connect.
Finances. Investment.
It's funny,
when he was facing sentencing,
I was like, wow, OK.
Now it's my time to shine.
I felt like I would
show up and, you know,
give him some street wisdom,
drop some prison pearls.
Because let's face it.
What else do I have to offer him?
A lot.
You being here,
asking me tough questions.
You did exactly what a father should,
making sure his son is safe.
And
[SIGHS]
I could've done a better job.
Yeah, I feel like I
I let him down.
And when he was leaning on you,
it kind of stung.
[CHUCKLES] Damn.
[LAUGHS]
Loving somebody, man,
it can bring out the worst in you.
That's why I ain't never
getting married again.
[LAUGHTER]
I'll give you two a minute.
Yeah.
Thank you.
[SIGHS]
Hey.
You know I wouldn't leave
if I didn't need to.
There's just not a lot of people
hiring ex-felons these days.
You know, we don't have
to be in the same city
to keep this going.
Boy, we ain't never
going to stop this.
I promise you.
Yeah?
Come on.
All right.
You better go make that money, then,
'cause the new Jordans is coming out,
and I'm going to be
hitting you up about it.
[LAUGHTER]
Hey, one, uh one last thing.
Um, I know you're still
trying to figure out
this college thing.
And, uh, your mama's dead set
on not having Uncle Phil
and Aunt Viv pay for it.
Now, I back her on that 1,000%.
Yeah, it's just a lot harder
than I thought it would be.
I know you got a lot of bad feelings
toward basketball because of me.
I just want you to
remember you were
you were a hell of a prospect.
Still are.
So don't let anybody have that
kind of power over your future.
Yeah.
[SCOFFS] It feels like
I don't have power
over anything nowadays.
One of my coaches taught me
control your controllables.
Right?
I couldn't control my teammates
nor my opponents.
Only thing I could
focus on was my game.
Focus on that,
and just let everything else go.
Yeah.
- Yeah, I like that.
- All right.
Now, word on the street is, uh,
you inherited some of
my musical talents.
[LAUGHS]
So I want to hear you
up on these keys, man.
All right, I'll show you a
little something, something.
I'll show you.
All right, show me a little something.
All right, watch this. Watch this.
Watch this.
Yeah.
[RESONANT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
[HIP-HOP MUSIC]
♪
Oh.
It's been a while
since you've done this.
I thought you were done
cuddling up with your mommy.
Oh, I can leave if you're
going to make this a big thing.
[LAUGHTER]
I just want to say I'm sorry,
and rebel Ashley is going to chill.
Well, definitely glad to hear that.
And when the baby gets here,
you can depend on me.
You're going to be
a great big sis, Ashley.
Oh.
High school's hard.
I just can't find my people.
Not the queer kids.
The Black kids.
The creative kids.
I mean, besides Eli,
nobody gets who I am.
Sometimes I don't even know.
Come here.
You may have forgotten who you are,
but I haven't.
You are a brilliant,
extraordinary,
curious young lady with strong beliefs
and remarkable passions
that's just going to change the world.
You just keep doing you.
The right people,
they're going to find you.
- Thanks, Mom.
- Mm-hmm.
[SOFT MUSIC]
[MUFFLED SPEECH]
♪
So the craziest shit happened.
A bank approved me
for a business loan
I never applied for.
[CHUCKLES] Yeah.
Funny how life works.
[SCOFFS]
Not going to tell me how you did it?
I see a need, I fill it.
Just wanted to say thank you.
♪
For what?
I was in a bad way the other night.
My son and his mum back in London
They mean the world to me.
But I'm never going to see them again.
Can't even imagine.
Life just didn't seem worth living.
Then you sat down.
Let me into your home.
Meeting your family.
You saved my life, Phil.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
So, uh,
want to tell me more about
what you're running from?
How much you want to know?
♪
[DOOR SHUTS]
You still up?
It was a good day, G.
So
why'd you really skip out?
Will's trauma.
The boys' arrest.
All of that's on me.
I don't deserve a seat
at your table, Phil.
Here's what I know.
Judge Miller has a reputation
for harsh sentencing.
But he gave the boys
a diversion program instead.
Funny how life works.
Yeah, funny.
You know, I was reminded of
something else today, too.
You and me,
we're better together.
You'll always have
a seat at our table.
[SOMBER RHYTHMIC MUSIC]
♪
Remember how bad we used
to pray for all of this,
how stressed we were
in that tiny apartment?
Maybe it was simpler then.
It's like we traded one kind
of stress for another.
I'm sorry for this laundering mess.
I'm going to get us back
to those simpler times.
I promise.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC]
♪
I have a plan, Viv.
I just need you to trust me.
I'm listening.
I be wild in' on them, man ♪
All them know what's up ♪
They say money talks ♪
But my money talks too much ♪
Man, that boy different ♪
I'm him when I wake up ♪
I don't lose, boy, I don't ♪
- I don't lose ♪
- I don't lose.
[HEARTBEAT THUMPING]
Control your controllables.
Focus on that.
And just let everything else go.
♪
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
All right, listen up.
Person you sit next to,
that's your accountability partner.
Your partner fails, you fail.
♪
I'm not letting you drag me down,
or I can kiss Princeton goodbye.
Only got a couple more
months to get recruited.
What about this guy? Gavin White?
Oh, I think you just found my in.
Let's go!
All right, let's do it.
Capital is the biggest roadblock.
A quarter mil to start.
I just don't have that lying around.
50 million.
We'll clean the cash slow.
Can you tell me that this is
all gonna end well?
This is my family.
I'll protect them at all cost.
We're family too.
This will be all wrapped up real soon.
It better be.
We gotta go, now.
Babe, I need you to drive this car
like your life depends on it,
'cause our lives literally do.
[SCREAMS]
sync & corrections awaqeded
Previously on "Bel-Air"
Let me help you.
Fighting? Stealing liquor? Talk to me.
I'm not trying to spend
my high school years
living in the shadows
of Hilary and Carlton.
I ain't the same man
you used to know, Phil.
I wouldn't be here if I was.
Thanks for coming through.
My man.
Watch out, old man.
You reach, I teach.
I've done everything I can, Phil.
There's only one solution here.
I'll clean your money my way.
Happy to be in business with a man
of your caliber, Mr. Banks.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
[CAR ALARM BLARING]
My protection is the only reason
you and Carlton haven't
faced consequences.
You understand?
These last few days have,
unfortunately,
left me questioning your loyalties.
So I was forced to make a call
to some of my besties at the LAPD.
We have an arrest warrant for
Will Smith and Carlton Banks.
♪
I understand that my actions
have consequences.
If I could go back to that day,
I would do it all differently.
I just want to show that
I can learn from my mistakes
and move forward in a healthy way
as an upstanding citizen.
Thank you for your time, Your Honor.
Mr. Smith.
Uh
Right, um
I take full responsibility
for my actions, Your Honor.
100%.
And, um,
I was just caught up in
the moment and not thinking.
I want to take the right path,
and I know this is my wake-up call.
I appreciate you giving me the time
and the chance to speak, Your Honor.
And again, I really regret my actions.
I see you have an interest
in studying business in college
and that you were a basketball phenom?
Yes, sir.
I want to combine business
and sports as a career.
That's my goal.
And young Mr. Banks, top of your class
with aims to attend an Ivy next fall?
Yes, sir.
Princeton.
I hope.
[SIGHS]
So here's my verdict.
Trust me, this was dumb.
If there was a hall of fame
for bad decisions,
y'all would've made
the highlight reel.
♪
But you won't be serving jail time.
[EXHALES] Thank God.
Don't start celebrating just yet.
I'm assigning you to
a youth diversion program
called Promising Choices.
You'll be doing community service.
Driving privileges will be suspended.
You will be on time,
you will participate,
and you will finish it.
If you mess this up,
you'll be standing here again,
and next time, I won't be so nice.
[GAVEL BANGS]
Thank you, Dad.
Defendants Banks and Smith
are remanded to their guardians
and are free to leave.
♪
Wait, where's Mom?
Uh, she wasn't feeling too well.
OK.
♪
Hey, Lou.
Didn't know you were coming.
Yeah, neither did I,
until your mama called me.
Yeah, I know I let her down.
She'll be glad that
you're not going to see
the inside of a cell.
I never want that for you.
Ever.
Look, I'm
[SIGHS] Sorry about all this.
You ain't got to apologize to me.
Remember, I know what it's like
to have your freedom in the
hands of a stranger in a robe.
That's punishment enough, ain't it?
Yeah.
Hey, keep your head up
as you walk out of here.
Don't give him your dignity.
I'm going to let you
get to it, all right?
Hey, Lou.
What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
[EASY MCCOY'S "DEJA VU"]
♪
It's like déjà vu ♪
I see it all the time ♪
♪
Yeah ♪
[MELLOW MUSIC]
You excited to spend
the holiday with Lou?
Oh, yeah.
We haven't been able to hang
out much since he moved here.
Hey, my mom was right
sending him to that courtroom.
He is exactly the person I need
to be talking to right now.
Oh, uh, do you still have
those courtside seats?
I'm thinking maybe I could take
Lou to a Lakers game sometime.
Sure, sure. Yeah.
You know I'm I'm here to
help you through this, too?
We all are.
Thank you.
Look, uh,
I'm sorry that it got this far.
I mean, Geoffrey said he would
take care of it, but
[SIGHS]
You know, from now on,
why don't you rely on me?
That's best right now.
Yeah. Got it.
[CHUCKLES]
- I'll see you downstairs.
- OK.
♪
I know, I know.
I really wanted to be there,
but all the flights out of
Costa Rica are grounded.
I'm sorry.
No, no, no, just be safe.
We love you.
I love you, too.
[PHONE CHIMES AND CLICKS]
No Hil?
- That's a first.
- I know.
I'm going to miss her so much.
And she's the one who usually
does the menu, preps the food.
Oh, and she does all the cooking.
Uh, Dad mentioned that
you weren't at the courthouse
yesterday
because you weren't feeling well?
I wasn't sick.
I just couldn't stand to see my son
and my nephew
throw their futures away.
Mom.
I know we disappointed you.
But with
the Promising Choices program,
it actually kind of turned out OK.
This time!
It doesn't matter.
Y'all are going to be
leaving the house soon.
You're going to have to
learn these life lessons
on your own now.
Dad said Hilary might not
make it to Thanksgiving.
Yep, that's what it seems.
Well, is there something we can do?
Yes.
Do better.
Both of you.
- What did I do?
- What?
You're Little Miss Having
Fights in the School Hallways,
you're stealing alcohol
from the house,
you're rolling your eyes,
and you're talking back.
Oh, my God, that was weeks ago.
How much longer are we going
to keep talking about this?
Oh.
I'm done.
Ash.
Ash.
Hey.
Hil's stuck in Costa Rica, all right?
And Mom clearly needs our help.
And you heard her.
You've been an awful daughter.
Mostly, I heard you've
been a terrible son.
[MUTTERS] Let's not point any fingers.
We know Mom doesn't really
thrive in the kitchen,
so why don't we chip in?
- Pass.
- Hey.
Hey, come on.
We already have all the groceries.
We can make this a memorable
Thanksgiving for Mom.
Ugh.
♪
OK, let's go.
All right, you're in charge
of candied yams.
- Easy.
- And Ash
- Easy.
- You can do, stuffing, right?
Stuffing?
So,
seems like Carlton
has rallied the troops.
Yeah, he's really
taking charge this year.
He even got Ashley to
come out of her bedroom.
Good. They should all be helping.
They know they're in the doghouse.
Yeah.
And I was in a funk too,
but you know what?
Today is a day to be thankful.
- So I meditated.
- Hmm.
And I am choosing joy.
Hmm.
God knows this baby could use
some positive energy.
Good.
How do you feel about
Lou coming to dinner?
I know he's not your favorite person.
Uh-uh, don't project that onto me.
It's you and Lou with the history.
Will thinks that Lou can
relate to him more than me,
I guess.
I mean, he does have a point.
Look, all that matters
is today is a day for family.
Mm-hmm?
All right, let's just focus on that.
Mm.
Joy.
Joy.
[SMOOCHING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hey.
Biggest bird at the market.
That's what I'm talking about.
Thanks.
You sticking around?
Unfortunately,
I've got to miss dinner.
Duty calls.
Nothing for you to worry about.
Our business starts
after the holiday, yeah?
Do you.
- Turkey flying in.
- Here comes the bird.
All right, well, this dinner
isn't going to cook itself,
so come on, family.
- Chop, chop.
- Yes, chef!
- Will, catch.
- I'm making the potato salad.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
Old Hillside Select.
Neat.
- Keep it open.
- You got it.
[BASSY HIP-HOP MUSIC]
♪
I'll take your well bourbon,
preferably in a dirty glass.
A dirty glass?
Bourbon is an experience, brother.
I'm in a dive bar
[CHUCKLES] Had a long-ass day.
And DC hawk is out.
Shitty-bourbon, dirty-glass
kind of day, innit?
- [LAUGHS]
- Here you go, sir.
I'll take one for him, too.
- Put it on my tab.
- You got it.
♪
Here you go.
To pricey bourbon
and clean glasses one day.
[GLASSES CLINK]
♪
[GRUNTS] Shit.
That tastes like
Like the struggle for freedom.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
On a dirty glass.
That's some American shit, huh?
- Hey.
- Yeah, nah.
- I'll school you.
- You Americans, man.
I'll school you.
[LAUGHTER]
I'm Phil.
Geoffrey.
It's good to meet you.
You too, bro. I got the next one.
Yes, you do. [LAUGHTER]
Will, how are these yams coming?
I already told you, real
yams don't need marshmallows.
- Get them away from me.
- Where is the Lawry's?
Here you go, Mom.
[MARVIN GAYE'S "AIN'T NO
MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH" PLAYS]
- ALL: Oh.
- Mom, you love this song.
Let's send Hil some joy.
Will, take it away.
Listen, baby ♪
Hey!
Ain't no mountain high ♪
Ain't no valley low ♪
Ain't no river wide enough, baby ♪
Mom, take it away.
If you need me, call me ♪
No matter where you are ♪
No matter how far ♪
Don't worry, baby ♪
Just call my name ♪
I'll be there in a hurry ♪
You don't have to worry ♪
ALL: 'Cause baby there ain't
no mountain high enough ♪
Come on, Ash!
All: Ain't no valley low enough ♪
Ain't no river wide enough ♪
To keep me from
getting to you, babe ♪
[LAUGHTER]
All right, all right.
Back to dinner duty.
All right, y'all,
I'm about to baste the turkey.
- Stand back.
- Drum roll, please.
All right. [DRUMMING]
- Boom.
- Oh.
- What?
- It's cold.
- What
- It's white.
- Wait, wait, wait.
- What?
- Who turned off the oven?
- Wasn't me!
Oh, my God.
That's mighty light skinned.
Wait a minute.
Baby, you adjusted the temperature,
but you didn't press start?
Dad, you said you had the turkey.
This isn't having the turkey.
I'm sorry, son.
Damn, Phil.
- Hey!
- Hey, oh!
Lou!
Hey. Muah.
You made it.
How you doing?
Yeah, man.
Thank God I brought
the mac and cheese,
'cause that's some
salmonella shit right there.
Hey, what's up, Lou?
What's going on, old man?
Look like you having
some turkey problems.
Nothing I can't fix.
Maybe we can order out.
Well, everything's closed.
I mean, we could just fry it.
It's fast and delicious.
You hear that? We could just fry it.
Yeah, but we don't
have a turkey fryer.
[CHUCKLES] You don't need one.
[LAUGHS] You hear that?
We don't even need one.
Look, all I need is a deep container,
some grease, and a flame.
Take about an hour, 90 minutes tops.
I'm happy to roll my sleeves up
and do it for y'all.
And we still get to be
on time for dinner?
I mean, that has my vote.
Look at Lou, saving Thanksgiving.
Yay!
Yeah, just walked in and
already fixing Phil's mess.
[LAUGHS]
OK, now turn up the music.
All right, be easy, easy, easy.
[SIZZLING]
Boom.
- She's in there.
- Like that.
[DISTANT MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
I'm glad you could make it.
And this obviously
means a lot to Will.
Yeah.
Me, too.
You know, since, uh
since Will reconnected us,
me and Vy, we could
hold a conversation
without going at each other.
Wow.
Never seen that before.
You know them Smith girls
got a temper.
She classy now,
but Viv can go there, too.
Oh, yeah.
So anyway, she had mentioned
to me what happened with Will.
And we got some concerns.
So what, you and Vy co-parenting now?
I mean, if Will's going to get his ass
snatched up out the streets out here,
he might as well be back in Philly.
Well, that was an unusual situation.
I just need to know
my son is safe here.
Something going on?
I got a job opportunity in Philly.
I just got to figure out
how to break the news to him.
♪
Um, what?
Grandma Nita's recipe
isn't even a recipe.
A pinch of cinnamon?
A handful of brown sugar?
It says three scoops of flour.
Whose hand? What scoops?
This is crazy.
I guess that separates
the real cooks from us.
Oh, well. We tried.
Ash what what's going on with you?
Is this, like, some emo phase?
Could you not sound
like Mom right now?
She always wants to talk.
"What's going on?"
"How's your day?"
She's been on one lately.
Well, after what
she went through with me,
she's probably just scared to death
that you're headed down the same path.
Grabbing a few bottles of champagne
doesn't mean I'm
turning into a coke head.
No offense.
Fair.
You should be judged
by your own evil doings
instead of mine.
But I am on my way out.
And you're Mom's last hope.
What do you mean?
I mean you're the
last Banks sibling left.
And you're about to be a big sister.
The big sister.
Mom's going to need you.
Most importantly,
I'm going to need you
to start cutting these peaches.
Get to work, emo lady.
♪
How many J's you got?
Yeah, Uncle Phil gets me a new pair
for every straight-A
report card I get.
My daddy made me get a job.
I guess we was raised
differently, huh?
Nah, with Blackccess,
I make my own money, too.
But ever since the arrest,
our investor has been
re-evaluating,
taking a little step back.
Hey, but Uncle Phil's
been helping me out
with investing in stocks
and keeping my money up.
Good old Unc.
My little library right here.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Oh, yeah? What you got?
Man, this book right here
changed my life.
Uncle Phil put me on to this.
[LAUGHS]
"The Four Agreements."
Yeah, it's about how
to stop overthinking
and take control of your emotions.
If you really want to learn
about taking control
of your life, I need you to read
"Makes Me Wanna Holler"
by Nathan McCall.
See, dude went from prison
to becoming a journalist
for the "Washington Post."
- "Makes Me Wanna Holler."
- "Makes Me Wanna Holler."
OK. I'll write that down.
Sounds like exactly what
I need to be reading right now.
[SIGHS]
Hey, um
Nathan McCall.
I wanted to holler at you
about something.
Yeah, what's up, Dad?
[PHONE CLACKING]
Dad?
That's a first.
Uh [CHUCKLES]
Yeah, I guess it just
didn't feel natural
until now.
Anyway, what's up?
[SCOFFS]
You kept my MVP trophy.
Oh, yeah, right next to mine.
- Wow.
- Scored 32 points this game.
- Word.
- Dropping buckets.
- [LAUGHTER]
- Like father, like son.
Yeah.
We got a lot of catching up to do.
Yeah, we do.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Hey, you know what we should do?
We should go get some soul food,
My Two Cents or something like that,
go to a Drew League game this summer.
Hey, I heard Lil Uzi's
going to be in town.
You like concerts?
Uh, yeah.
Local concerts,
Lil Uzi.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah, we got to go to this.
[LAUGHS]
- OK, go.
- OK, son, you ready?
Saturday mornings, everybody will stop
what you're doing to watch this.
- Uh, cartoons.
- No, no.
Solar eclipse?
Before cell phones,
before TikTok, before YouTube.
Everybody would sit around
the TV and watch real talent.
Afros. Bell bottoms.
- Good music.
- What are
MTV? What are you talking about?
Think, son. More soulful.
Ah, ah, ah, can't say soulful
if the word is "Soul Train."
That's against the Black taboo rules.
"Soul Train," Dad? Really?
Why didn't you say the dance
that mom was obsessed with?
He's right.
It's all about the specificity, Phil.
That's a big word for you,
ain't it, Lou?
Ooh, you're going to talk
smack when you're losing.
- We up.
- That's all right.
Don't underestimate the
power of the Smith boys.
Let's go, son. Let's get 'em.
Let's do it. Ready?
Go.
- Not pumpkin but
- Sweet potato pie.
- Yes, sir.
- Oh, my God.
Big teeth
and a fine-ass step daughter.
- Steve Harvey.
- Yes, sir.
- Gone too soon.
- Tupac.
- The other one.
- Biggie.
Yes, sir. Um, uh
- "You told Harpo to beat me."
- "The Color Purple."
Yes, sir. Uh
Red.
- Kool-Aid.
- Yes.
Time. Time.
- Damn
- Whew!
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
that's the way to rock, son.
Yes, sir.
Way to go.
[LAUGHTER]
Dinner's ready.
Oh, thank God.
Break out the
Trivial Pursuit next time.
Ain't nobody playing
no damn Trivial Pursuit.
Go eat.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC]
You mad?
Me, me, me, me ♪
And thank you, God,
for the hands that helped
prepare this good-looking meal.
Mm-hmm.
We're so grateful for our
family gathered here today.
Mm-hmm.
Viv.
Ashley.
Carlton.
And Will.
[CLEARS THROAT]
And even Lou.
In Jesus's name we pray.
Amen
God, thank you for the Banks family
for opening up their home
and hearts to me.
Psalms 133:1 says,
"how good and pleasant it is
when God's people
live together in unity."
ALL: Amen.
That's exactly what today feels like.
- Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
- A true blessing.
- Mm.
- Well said.
- That's beautiful.
Wow, that was the perfect prayer.
- Thank you, Lou.
- That was perfect.
And I believe Proverbs 17:17 says that
"friends love at all times,
but a brother is born for adversity."
He's a preacher now?
Apparently.
So I'm thankful for Lou being
here with us for the first time
despite his absence for
so, so, so many years.
[LAUGHS]
And I am thankful to God
for allowing me the opportunity
to whoop Phil's behind in Tabu.
[LAUGHTER]
And him finally seeing me
as a man worthy
of welcoming into his home
after so many years.
Dear Lord, I would be so, so grateful
when we can sit down and eat
because Lord knows I'm hungry.
- Amen. Amen.
- Amen.
Amen.
Oh, this food looks amazing.
The mac and cheese has got
my name on it.
Everybody know that's my potato salad.
- Relax. Relax.
- Hey, hey.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Wow.
You gonna get some of this.
Hey.
I know you're probably out, but, um
I just wanted to check in
on you and Frederick.
I miss you.
[TENSE, SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
Same again.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Geoffrey.
Thanks again for having me.
Sure. Come on in.
Everyone, this is Geoffrey.
I'm Viv.
Glad you could join us
for Thanksgiving.
Thanks for having me.
Phil's told me wonderful things.
These are for you.
Oh, thank you.
The lavender is supposed
to help soothe baby and mum.
Oh.
Anything for me?
- Don't be rude, Hilary.
- [CHUCKLES]
These kids.
I'm I'm so sorry
that I didn't give you
your gift first.
It's a honeybee.
It's to remind you that you're special
and to always follow your own buzz.
[GIGGLES] Honeybee!
I love it. Thank you.
You're welcome.
You like it? He gave you a honeybee?
Let me see what he got you.
Take your jacket off.
Make yourself at home.
You want to help mommy
with these flowers?
Yeah.
[LAUGHTER]
We had to make the moonshine
in the toilet.
[LAUGHTER]
So what was prison like, anyway?
"Love After Lockup"
is my favorite show.
OK, that's not appropriate
for you to be watching.
That inmate pen pal program,
that's the real deal, though.
I had a few ladies writing me letters
and sending me pictures.
- They smell all good.
- OK, OK, now,
I think that's
definitely inappropriate.
Well, um, actually, while we're here
riding the elephant in the room,
I wanted to hear more about prison.
If things had gone differently
with Will and I,
that could've been us.
- Mm-hmm.
- Facts.
Nothing but God's grace.
Hey, you don't have to answer
that if you don't want to.
Nah, it's good. It's cool.
Look, man.
Prison is hard.
You know?
Somebody telling you when to get up,
when to eat, when to go outside.
But the hardest part is knowing that
you disappointed everybody
that was counting on you.
That's the part that
keeps you up at night.
Yeah.
Me, too.
I got to say, Carlton,
I'm surprised you had
your boys back out there.
I didn't know you had that dog in you.
Yeah, come on, man.
I see you, boy.
[LAUGHS]
Yo, C's a real one.
OK, nothing to be smiling about.
Viv's right.
There's nothing funny
about ruining your future.
[GENTLE HIP-HOP MUSIC]
[WHISPERS] Good job.
[LAUGHTER]
Food's delicious, Viv.
Very kind of you to include
rice and peas, Jamaican staple.
I wanted you to feel at home.
But credit goes to
Oohs & Aahs on U Street.
That's all right.
I didn't marry Viv for her cooking.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Philip.
How long you two been married?
Six years.
We had Hilary when we were
fresh out of undergrad.
You have a beautiful family.
A beautiful growing one.
Viv is due next month.
I was hoping we'd be packing up
for Cali by now, but
Yeah?
Why California?
Me and a few of my Harvard buddies
want to start a law firm, Black owned,
helping our people.
So what's the hold up?
Need the financing to buy in.
Been turned down for every loan.
Big dreams.
That's why I married him.
That dream will happen, Phil.
Even if it feels out of reach
now, it's not a question of if,
just when.
Oh.
Baby agrees with Geoffrey.
Girl, I thought we had to
go to the hospital tonight.
[CHUCKLES]
Yeah, y'all were broke.
I mean, y'all had that
one bedroom in DC.
Me and Vy used to take
the bus down to come visit.
Oh, we used to have our
breakfast-for-dinner nights.
[LAUGHTER]
Pancake mix was so cheap.
I just can't believe you guys
actually lived like this.
You never heard these stories before?
No.
Mm, those were good times, though.
Simpler, for sure.
You know, there's value in remembering
where you came from.
That's good lessons for these kids.
Yeah, we built a great life.
There's lessons in the struggle.
But there's also lessons
in moving on from it.
Mm.
You know, great life or not,
both our sons were standing
in front of the same judge.
Not all of us need to get locked up
to learn a life lesson.
Right,
because teaching
life lessons only count
if you're wearing a suit.
OK, y'all.
And when life
punches him in his mouth,
we're going to see
which lessons stick.
Oh, yeah? You think because
you've been through hell
that makes you a good father?
You think because you write a check
it makes you a better one?
[SCOFFS]
Maybe that's why my son comes to me
when he wants to hear the truth.
[CHUCKLES] The truth?
You can't even tell your son
you're leaving.
Leaving?
What is he talking about?
[TENSE MUSIC]
- I was going to tell you.
- OK.
Why don't you tell me now?
I got a
I got a job opportunity
back in Philly.
Cutting hair just ain't
cutting it no more, you know?
Yeah.
OK.
Son.
It's cool.
Do what you got to do.
♪
[LIGHT SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
Dinner was so much fun that
no one even tried my cobbler.
[CHUCKLES]
Taste test?
- Yo.
- It's not bad.
[LAUGHTER] That's pretty good.
You going to be on peach cobbler duty
every Thanksgiving, C.
Oh, fuck no.
Man, this was way too labor intensive.
[LAUGHS]
You were right about your dad
having timely advice.
Hearing all about what he came through
makes me feel good about
turning our situation around.
Wow.
My dad helped you.
Don't tell Uncle Phil.
[LAUGHS]
Oh, having a dad is so much fun, huh?
A bit like a roller coaster.
Yeah.
I think
that it's not about
the ride being perfect.
Sometimes it's just about staying on.
Yeah.
I was going to go up and talk to him.
He just needs a little space.
Of course.
I I didn't mean to
ruin your dinner or your holiday.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
It's just that,
that Phil, man, he just
he just got this way of
crawling under my damn skin.
It's like he got this little shiv,
and he just keeps jabbing at me
every chance he gets.
And I swear to God
Are you ever going to grow up
and take a little accountability?
Me? For what?
Look, you love to reminisce.
Here's what I remember.
Every time you and Vy got into it,
she came crashing on our couch,
wanting to leave your ass.
But it was Phil who was there
defending your choices,
telling her to give you
another chance because,
even though you messed up,
the one thing you got right
every single day
was loving that boy up there.
Work through this shit,
for Will's sake.
There it is,
that Smith girl fire.
[SIGHS]
[GENTLE, TENSE MUSIC]
♪
Hey, son.
I know how hard you tried
to make today perfect
for your Mom, and it got ruined.
But that's Lou for you,
bringing the drama wherever he goes.
When Will first got here,
I was so jealous of the way
you two had this instant bond.
You were at each other's
throats every day.
I was competing so hard
to be the better son,
kind of like how you're competing
with Lou to be the better dad.
I guess we're cut from
the same petty cloth.
[LAUGHS]
You told me that
it wasn't a competition,
that we both have
different things to offer.
And you were right.
Me and Will are better together.
[PENSIVE PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
Let me guess.
You learned to play that
in prison, too.
You got jokes.
Actually, church.
I ain't sat at one of
these things in 35 years.
You know, Will's pretty good, too.
Got to add that to the list
of things I missed out on.
Lakers versus Celtics?
You can take Will before you leave.
I'm not trying to replace you.
I know, but
y'all found your ways to connect.
Finances. Investment.
It's funny,
when he was facing sentencing,
I was like, wow, OK.
Now it's my time to shine.
I felt like I would
show up and, you know,
give him some street wisdom,
drop some prison pearls.
Because let's face it.
What else do I have to offer him?
A lot.
You being here,
asking me tough questions.
You did exactly what a father should,
making sure his son is safe.
And
[SIGHS]
I could've done a better job.
Yeah, I feel like I
I let him down.
And when he was leaning on you,
it kind of stung.
[CHUCKLES] Damn.
[LAUGHS]
Loving somebody, man,
it can bring out the worst in you.
That's why I ain't never
getting married again.
[LAUGHTER]
I'll give you two a minute.
Yeah.
Thank you.
[SIGHS]
Hey.
You know I wouldn't leave
if I didn't need to.
There's just not a lot of people
hiring ex-felons these days.
You know, we don't have
to be in the same city
to keep this going.
Boy, we ain't never
going to stop this.
I promise you.
Yeah?
Come on.
All right.
You better go make that money, then,
'cause the new Jordans is coming out,
and I'm going to be
hitting you up about it.
[LAUGHTER]
Hey, one, uh one last thing.
Um, I know you're still
trying to figure out
this college thing.
And, uh, your mama's dead set
on not having Uncle Phil
and Aunt Viv pay for it.
Now, I back her on that 1,000%.
Yeah, it's just a lot harder
than I thought it would be.
I know you got a lot of bad feelings
toward basketball because of me.
I just want you to
remember you were
you were a hell of a prospect.
Still are.
So don't let anybody have that
kind of power over your future.
Yeah.
[SCOFFS] It feels like
I don't have power
over anything nowadays.
One of my coaches taught me
control your controllables.
Right?
I couldn't control my teammates
nor my opponents.
Only thing I could
focus on was my game.
Focus on that,
and just let everything else go.
Yeah.
- Yeah, I like that.
- All right.
Now, word on the street is, uh,
you inherited some of
my musical talents.
[LAUGHS]
So I want to hear you
up on these keys, man.
All right, I'll show you a
little something, something.
I'll show you.
All right, show me a little something.
All right, watch this. Watch this.
Watch this.
Yeah.
[RESONANT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
[HIP-HOP MUSIC]
♪
Oh.
It's been a while
since you've done this.
I thought you were done
cuddling up with your mommy.
Oh, I can leave if you're
going to make this a big thing.
[LAUGHTER]
I just want to say I'm sorry,
and rebel Ashley is going to chill.
Well, definitely glad to hear that.
And when the baby gets here,
you can depend on me.
You're going to be
a great big sis, Ashley.
Oh.
High school's hard.
I just can't find my people.
Not the queer kids.
The Black kids.
The creative kids.
I mean, besides Eli,
nobody gets who I am.
Sometimes I don't even know.
Come here.
You may have forgotten who you are,
but I haven't.
You are a brilliant,
extraordinary,
curious young lady with strong beliefs
and remarkable passions
that's just going to change the world.
You just keep doing you.
The right people,
they're going to find you.
- Thanks, Mom.
- Mm-hmm.
[SOFT MUSIC]
[MUFFLED SPEECH]
♪
So the craziest shit happened.
A bank approved me
for a business loan
I never applied for.
[CHUCKLES] Yeah.
Funny how life works.
[SCOFFS]
Not going to tell me how you did it?
I see a need, I fill it.
Just wanted to say thank you.
♪
For what?
I was in a bad way the other night.
My son and his mum back in London
They mean the world to me.
But I'm never going to see them again.
Can't even imagine.
Life just didn't seem worth living.
Then you sat down.
Let me into your home.
Meeting your family.
You saved my life, Phil.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
So, uh,
want to tell me more about
what you're running from?
How much you want to know?
♪
[DOOR SHUTS]
You still up?
It was a good day, G.
So
why'd you really skip out?
Will's trauma.
The boys' arrest.
All of that's on me.
I don't deserve a seat
at your table, Phil.
Here's what I know.
Judge Miller has a reputation
for harsh sentencing.
But he gave the boys
a diversion program instead.
Funny how life works.
Yeah, funny.
You know, I was reminded of
something else today, too.
You and me,
we're better together.
You'll always have
a seat at our table.
[SOMBER RHYTHMIC MUSIC]
♪
Remember how bad we used
to pray for all of this,
how stressed we were
in that tiny apartment?
Maybe it was simpler then.
It's like we traded one kind
of stress for another.
I'm sorry for this laundering mess.
I'm going to get us back
to those simpler times.
I promise.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC]
♪
I have a plan, Viv.
I just need you to trust me.
I'm listening.
I be wild in' on them, man ♪
All them know what's up ♪
They say money talks ♪
But my money talks too much ♪
Man, that boy different ♪
I'm him when I wake up ♪
I don't lose, boy, I don't ♪
- I don't lose ♪
- I don't lose.
[HEARTBEAT THUMPING]
Control your controllables.
Focus on that.
And just let everything else go.
♪
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
All right, listen up.
Person you sit next to,
that's your accountability partner.
Your partner fails, you fail.
♪
I'm not letting you drag me down,
or I can kiss Princeton goodbye.
Only got a couple more
months to get recruited.
What about this guy? Gavin White?
Oh, I think you just found my in.
Let's go!
All right, let's do it.
Capital is the biggest roadblock.
A quarter mil to start.
I just don't have that lying around.
50 million.
We'll clean the cash slow.
Can you tell me that this is
all gonna end well?
This is my family.
I'll protect them at all cost.
We're family too.
This will be all wrapped up real soon.
It better be.
We gotta go, now.
Babe, I need you to drive this car
like your life depends on it,
'cause our lives literally do.
[SCREAMS]
sync & corrections awaqeded