Parish (2024) s01e06 Episode Script

A Good Man

1
GRAY: I made a promise. No more secrets.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
Do it.
[SMOKE ALARM BEEPING]
ABIDEMI-SMITH: Those who arrive
can reach for the American
dream without fear.
What you don't know is
so much bigger than you.
You're the impimpi.
You nearly killed Luke!
- [TIRES SCREECH]
- Hey!
TRAVIS: He had a gun,
man. And I shot him.
You can't just leave us here.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
Is this the man who killed my son?
- It is.
- Who is he?
[TRAIN BELL CLANGING]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
[MID-TEMPO COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS]
MAN: I'm not trying to be an asshole.
But it's time we found a new Krewe.
I mean, damn, man,
before you start crying
that it was my daddy's
and my granddaddy's
- and granddaddy's granddaddy
- TRAVIS: Whoa, one one,
we don't go back that far, and, two,
nobody's gonna sponsor your dumb ass
after what happened last year.
How many times I have to tell you,
I didn't fall off that
float, I was pushed?
Of course you were, of course you were.
- I'll catch you later, boys.
- Alright.
Hey, E, say hi to the girls for me.
[TRAIN BELL CLANGING]
[GRUNTING]
Hey! Hey, Get away from my truck!
- MAN #2: Let's go!
- MADDOX: Hey!
Guys, guys, stop, wait!
Hey! Hey, wait, wait!
I said, get back!
[GUNFIRE]
[TRAIN BELL CLANGING]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[CELLPHONE VIBRATING]
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS]
[TRAIN RATTLING DOWN TRACKS]
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS]
GRAY: Is this real?
Is this the man who killed my son?
- HORSE: It is.
- Who is he?
- What's his name?
- Hmm, I could tell you Gray.
But what are you willing to do for me?
Nah, whatever game you're running,
- I ain't fucking playing.
- I swore to myself
that I would kill you
the next time I saw.
Go ahead, do it, then.
CHIPO: That's close enough, Chipo.
- I need you.
- All this time,
we've been searching for answers.
And you've been sitting on this.
I only recently acquired it,
when you brought it to me.
- You didn't look in the bag.
- None of my business what was in the bag.
I had a job to do, and I did it.
It seems that Anton has
kept more than passports
in his lawyer's safe.
He's also kept secrets
ones that he can leverage.
Just like the one on that recording.
If you know whose voice this is,
you better tell me, and
you better tell me now.
I can get you a name, Gray.
And you can do whatever
you want with it.
[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]
[SOFT, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
I will help you find your peace.

And I should need you
to help me find mine.

[THEME MUSIC PLAYS]

[DOOR CREAKS]
[SOFT, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

[SIGHS]

SISTER ANNE: Gray
I told you not to come back here.

I know.
- Then why the hell are you here?
- Anne
I know.

GRAY: I tried to keep
the real me in the dark.
To just be
Gracián.
SISTER ANNE: Then you keep trying.
I couldn't even protect my own son.
Revenge isn't going
to bring Maddox back.
It'll only take you down with it.
Don't you think I know that?
You don't even know who this guy is.
I didn't come here for permission, Anne.
- Then why did you come?
- I came
to pray for strength
to do what needs to be done
and for whatever comes after.
People can change, Gray.
He needs to pay for what he did.
[SOFT, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
I wasn't talking about him.

[SPEAKING IN SHONA]
It's always been too big for you.
The crown.
And I suppose it's just
the right size for you.
Zenzo, if you're worried about me,
you've already failed.
Where the hell is Horse?
Is he not on a flight to Cape Town?
ZENZO: Don't toy with me, sister.
SHAMISO: You didn't think
you'd go quietly, did you?
I wonder whose side you're on.
There's only one side that
matters in this family.
- Hmm.
- Baba's.
And that you still can't understand that
is the reason he has me meeting
with Anton and Beal, and not you.
I am the face of this family.
So you'd risk years of
future business for your ego?
After everything Baba has
done to keep the deal alive?
Fancy.
That's the thing about
wearing the crown, sister.
[SOFT, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
I can do whatever the fuck I want.

Oh, and if you do see Horse,
you let him know, Luke is here with me.

Yeah.

TRAVIS: In the dark,
it looked like he had a gun, man.
I I shot him.
[SIGHS] I shot him.
I think it was a kid.
Help me.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
COLIN: So, what now?
GRAY: Make the call.
Gray
What?
Horse giving this to you like he did
this thing's got strings attached.
- Strings attached to strings.
- It's a price I'm willing to pay.
My son is in the ground,
and his killer is out there
running free, living his life.
Hey, hey, hey, this don't
have to go one way, Gray.
Now, you could walk
this into the police,
put this son of a
bitch away, by the book.
- Don't try to talk me out of this.
- That's not what I'm doing.
I need you to make the fucking call.
- The family.
- Everything I've been through,
everything I put them through
it can't be for nothing.
It's gonna be for nothing, you do this.
You trust me.
Colin
[SIGHS]
[SIGHS]
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYS, CASH REGISTER RINGS]
[CURRENCY RUSTLING]
HECTOR: [SPEAKING SPANISH]
[CASH REGISTER DRAWER CLOSES]
[BELLS JINGLE]
[DOOR CLOSES]
[SOFT LATIN MUSIC PLAYS]

HECTOR AND CUSTOMER:
[CONVERSING IN SPANISH]
Oh, wait, take a free candy.
CUSTOMER: [SPEAKING SPANISH]

[BELLS JINGLE, DOOR CLOSES]
[COINS JINGLING]
When the Yoruba were
enslaved and sent to Cuba,
the Spanish banned them
from praying to their gods.
So they syncretized
them with Catholic saints
and they worshiped those.
Yeah, so they could
be who they really are.
In plain sight, without fear.
As in life, things are
rarely as they appear.
[TRAFFIC PASSING]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS OUTSIDE]

I never expected to hear from you again.
Definitely not through Colin Broussard.
I need help finding someone.
That's what Facebook's for.
You putting me on the spot here, Parish.
If you're saying you're back,
there's people I need to tell.
- Anton, already knows.
- I'm not talking about him.
I'm talking about the man in Chicago.
[SOFT, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
He's gonna have an opinion.

[SIGHS]
First things first.

Okay.
Who do we need to find, then?
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[SOFT, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]

[ALARM RINGS]
[GASPS]
[MOANS]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
[CONVERSATION IN SHONA]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
ABIDEMI-SMITH: As Louisiana's
next attorney general,
I'll crack down on
undocumented labor practices
and promote legal immigration
to ensure our state's
economy grows the right way.
[CLICK]
You tell me how much you need,
I'll have it on a dozen
stations by the end of the week.
Well, we both know you
didn't come down to Chalmette
to talk media strategy.
Maybe I just want to apologize
for letting the Horse
crash your party yesterday.
[SIGHS]
You're right. I don't.
[CLEARS THROAT]
- Vernon Beal.
- Casino magnate.
Convinced the state to
create a gambling license
for his new monstrosity in the CBD.
Someone who wants to help our
economy "grow the right way."
- Wants to?
- Well, maybe not this second.
But I think, after my sit-down tonight,
you'll see the value in it and in you.
How many times do I have to say it?
I'll take your money.
I don't want to know
where it comes from.
The mayor will need assurances
you're gonna do the things
you say you're gonna do,
create the need for
the services I provide.
This The thing between us
it won't go on forever.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
[CHUCKLES]
How long have we been
helping each other?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
Look at us now.
I'm in rooms I never thought possible,
and you you're making a difference.
Keep it up.
A.G. is just a start.
And, uh, Laur,
this ends when I say it ends.

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

[PAPER RUSTLING]
GIRL: Daddy, Daddy!
Ah. [LAUGHS]
Show me, show me, show me.
Show me this. What about this part?
Mmm. [SMOOCHES]
- GRANDMOTHER: Nina?
- Ha-ha.
What do you got, what do you got?
[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
Come here, love.

[VEHICLE DOOR OPENS]

[ENGINE STARTS]

BLESSING: Chipo wasn't at
his apartment this morning,
and he's not answering his phone.
TENDAI: He's loyal to a Horse.
You should consider
your friend a traitor.
My friend?
What are you waiting for?
My lipstick, it fell. I can reach it.
Be quick.
Hey, you! Did you sleep in your uniform?
[CONVERSATION IN SHONA]
You represent us.
Impeccable is the only standard.

The girl.

[TRAFFIC PASSING]
[ENGINES SHUTTING OFF]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
[BLOWS SHARPLY]
[LIQUID POURS]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
GROUP LEADER: Don't worry,
you're in the right place.
Come in, grab some coffee.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
Talk after.
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING IN DISTANCE]
[LIQUID POURING]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
First time?
Yeah.
I've been thinking
about it for a while now.
It's good you're finally
doing something about it.
Mm-hmm.
We'll give it an extra
minute for the stragglers.
Remember, this is a
participation meeting.
You don't have to share,
but it works a hell of
a lot better if you do.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Exactly what you need.
True. [CHUCKLES]
[SNIFFLES, CHUCKLES]
Who wants to start?
[VEHICLE APPROACHING]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
[VEHICLE DOORS OPEN]
[VEHICLE DOOR CLOSES]
This is everything that was in the safe,
plus papers for 18 new arrivals.
Everything?
That's what I said.
Don't be offended if I don't tell you
where I'll be stashing this.
[METAL CLANGING IN DISTANCE]
You should know what
happened with your brother
was just business.
And you should know
that I'll never be okay
with what you did to
Shepherd and to my nephew.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Is it gonna be a
problem working with me?
'Cause, uh,
your presence this evening
is a courtesy to your daddy.
I just simply wanted
to make myself clear,
in case I never get another chance.
Sweetheart, you ever hear
the story of the gator
and the crawfish?
I'll spare you.
The point is, I ain't going nowhere.
See you tonight.
[GRUNTS]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
[ENGINE STARTS]

Anton has the passports.
We're all set for tonight.
HORSE: Luke wasn't in school.
Zenzo's using him to draw me out.
Zenzo wouldn't hurt him.
We both know that isn't true.
Shamiso, this has to work.
It will.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
Such a waste of time, isn't it?
[SIGHING] Hmm.
Let the world be your teacher.
- Well, Baba said
- Unh-unh-unh.
Never mind what he says.
It's time for you to be your own man.
Zenzo
Can't you see I'm with my nephew?
TENDAI: there's a
problem with the numbers.
- What kind of problem?
- Nyasha Mambo
one of the new arrivals
she's missing.
- Missing?
- She ran.
This kind of thing happened before.
"Happened before."
[MOANING LOUDLY]
- Not with me in charge.
- [WHIMPERS]
[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
Ugh!
[MOANING]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
It's enough you haven't
found my brother.
And now this?
Find her
before she causes any more trouble.
If my father hears this,
I'll know who told him.

[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
Like I said, let the
world be your teacher.

I used to feel lost
all the time, listless.
I still feel that way sometimes.
But being sober has helped me
to accept that it's okay
to feel those emotions.
It's okay to be sad.
It's part of being alive.
GROUP LEADER: Appreciate you, Amy.
Now, who else wants to go?
How about one of our new faces?
Oh, no, no, I-I'm good.
Yeah, us, too.
We just come for the shitty coffee
and the day-old beignets.
[LAUGHTER]
Come on.
[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]
Been eight months
since the worst day of my life.
Rock bottom,
or whatever you want to call it.
My son came home high,
talking back,
disrespecting my house, my rules.
And I I cracked him,
like my old man did
me, a thousand times.
Felt his teeth go loose against my fist.
The second I saw my wife and daughter,
the way they were looking at me,
there was no coming back.
Everything I had done
to be a different kind of man
patient
compassionate
it was gone.
I spent so much time trying to be
the kind of father I wish I'd had,
trying to steer my son to a better life,
a good life
I rode that boy so hard,
he bucked against every
damn thing I stood for.
That night was the last time
I saw my son
alive.
Thank you for sharing.
Why don't we take five?
[DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE]
[SIGHS, SNIFFLES]
[SIGHS]
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
Travis, right?
Ah, I quit. No, thanks.
[TRAFFIC PASSING]
What you said in there
got me.
Know what it's like making
your family pay for your mistakes?
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
Easy, easy, man. Easy, now.
[GRUNTS] Come on. Come on.
Come on. Slow, now. Easy.
I got 50 bucks on me, but you
Now, no more talk.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

You get out real slow. You understand?
Walk. Walk.
- Whatever this is
- Get on your knees!
- On your knees now!
- Okay. I swear, man,
- you got this wrong.
- Do I? Do I?
- Do I have it all wrong?
- You got this wrong.
TRAVIS: Looked like he had a gun, man.
I I shot him.
I shot him.
I think it was a kid. You gotta help me.
That was my son!
You took him away from us.
You shot him for no
reason, and then you ran!
- You fucking ran!
- I know.
I know I screwed up.
I know I screwed up.
It was just a truck. I
should have let him go.
- I should have let him go.
- But you didn't.
- I was scared.
- You don't think he was scared?!
- Dying on the pavement alone?
- Okay, I fucked up.
I was I was on pills and I was drunk,
and I freaked out. I
didn't know what else to do.
All you had to do was call an ambulance.
I know, I know, but I-I
called my ex instead.
S-She's the D.A
L-Laura Abidemi-Smith.
We got a kid together.
She gave me a number,
said it was someone who
helped her out before.
- Uh, uh
- Anton?
- Anton Valmont?
- Yeah, yeah.
That's That's That's
who I was talking to.
He told me to drive the
truck to this junkyard,
and he h-he crushed it.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Shit, man. I shouldn't have listened.
- I'm so fucking stu
- Don't look at me!
Please. I can make it right.
I'll I'll go to the cops.
I'll tell them everything, I swear.
- No!
- Please!
I'm a father, too. I'm a father, too.
Just They need me. I'm a father.
Just like, I don't
want I don't want
I Please.
[MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS IN DISTANCE]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

BEAL: We got a lot of laughs.
It was a wonderful experience.
I like Nicaraguans, but
- Mr. Beal.
- when I can give.
- Good evening.
- Oh, uh, you must be, um
Your new business partner.
Half-hour early.
My people said you could be aggressive.
Oh? I prefer to see it as confidence.
See, I know what we have to offer
and that you'd be foolish not to accept.

- Vernon Beal.
- Shamiso Tongai.
Your reputation precedes you.

As discussed, the prospective A.G.
is set to crack down
on undocumented workers,
so the need for cheap,
legal labor is about to soar.
We can offer you a thousand
more full-time workers
with high-end service
experience for your hotel casino,
all with valid visas,
good for three years,
and all eager to please.
It's It's really
It's a lovely, uh, pitch.
[MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS IN DISTANCE]
But you should know
I'm big on first impressions.

What does it say about you
that Mr. Valmont's not here?
Not what you think.
No, no, I don't get stood up.
I do the standing.
Anyway, thank you.

Mr. Beal, it would be a
shame for you to leave now,
because the man you are waiting for
has just arrived.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

Shepherd Tongai.
Pleasure to finally meet you.

[ENGINE STARTS]

Well
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
[CLATTER]

[MOANS, COUGHS]

Damn it!
[CLATTER]

[COUGHS]
The fuck?
[GRUNTS]
Gray!
What do Y-You gotta
get get me out of here.
You covered up my son's murder.
You gotta get me out of here.
All that time, we were in hell,
and you knew. You knew.
He was already dead.
Gray, nothing I did was
gonna bring him back.
Bullshit.
Took away our chance for justice.
- You let us suffer.
- I wasn't the only beneficiary.
There's more to the story.
I can tell you, but
you got to get me out.
Oh, now you want to tell me.
Shit. Yeah, come on.
Come on. Knock.
You can't do this to me.
Gray. Gray.
- No one came for my son.
- Gray!
They won't come for you either.
Gray, come on. Don't do me like Gray!
Gray, come on, now.
Gray.
Gray!
Gray, don't you leave like that!
Gray!

[EXPLOSION]

[MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS IN DISTANCE]
You know, the thing I
can't wrap my head around
is, these are your own
people you're selling off.
You have no idea what it's like
to be forced from your home.
My people will suffer
here for a time, yes.
But when their grandchildren
are living a life
that only they could have dreamt of,
it will be my name that
they're celebrating.
Yours, too.
Now consider the power
that narrative could hold.
However long you require our services,
5% of all wages revert back to you.
Naturally, since Anton
couldn't find the time
to join us this evening,
his loss is your gain.
So let's call that 10%.
Given that labor is
your biggest line item,
here's what that saves you.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS IN DISTANCE]

You all are pretty slick.
Unfortunately,
I never get in bed with strangers.
That's an interesting
choice of words, Mr. Beal.
[CELLPHONE CHIRPS]
You might want to check your phone.
[CELLPHONE VIBRATES]
[WOMAN MOANING]
I meant it when I said your
reputation precedes you.
- Footage from your night with Nyasha.
- [BEAL MOANING, NYASHA SCREAMING]
Think of it as a souvenir.
Apart from the one she already gave you.
I don't know what she's talking about.
Really?
We'll be happy to sort it out for you.
Assuming you want to stay
and get to know us better
stranger.

ZENZO: We're late. I'll
meet you at the chateau.
[CLEARS THROAT]
[TRAFFIC PASSING]
[ENGINE STARTS]
[VEHICLE DEPARTS]
[CAR LOCK CHIRPS]
[CHUCKLES]
What do you want? Money?
The mistake you're making is
thinking this is personal to me.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
We're in a different league
now. No more middle man.
No one standing between
us and real power.
Will Baba see it that way?
Depends. How strong is the
American dollar right now?
[CELLPHONE VIBRATING]
Is it done?
GRAY: Our problem is deal with.
[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]
[TRAFFIC PASSING]
We got the outcome we wanted,
but still feels like a loss.
Zenzo was my brother, too,
but it was always going to end this way.
And now that he's gone,
this city is ours.
Ours?
You prepared me for this life, sister.
It's only fitting
that we lead this family together.
And the driver?
[SOFT, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
I've given him what he's always wanted.

An end to his suffering.

What do we do about Metairie Nouveau?
With Anton gone,
they'll be too busy
fighting over themselves
to pose an actual threat.
[RUNNING FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
- Baba, you're back!
- Of course.
Ohhh!
- Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow.
- Oh! Oh, oh.
- Oh.
- [CHUCKLES]
Oh, did you think I would leave you?
- No.
- Never.
Ah, you are my only treasure.
- Hmm?
- [CHUCKLES]
Mmm. Okay.
- Okay, okay. Ow.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
So, I've got to settle
some business upstairs.
- Mm-hmm.
- Once I'm done,
- we're going home, okay?
- Okay.
Alright, you wait down here.
Okay.
[MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS]

[LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
HORSE: Gray
what is this?
As far as I'm concerned,
well, we're even now.

- I owe you nothing.
- [SPEAKING SHONA]
What's wrong, brother?
Looks like you've seen a ghost.

So, you
linked arms with this Judas?
Oh, don't get mad at him
because you lack the
balls to kill me yourself.
Can't you see what's going on here?
He's trying to turn
us against each other.
Oh, he didn't need to.
You picked your side.

So much for a man of his word.
You think that you can own people.
But you'll never own me.
I gave you what no one else could!
- No one!
- What?
Peace.
All you bring is pain.
I came to you 'cause I was drowning.
Didn't take me long to realize
I was just trading one debt for another.
Only this time, the
people paying it down
were my wife and my daughter.

Living for them is the only thing
keeping me out of the dark.

You want each other dead?

do it yourselves.

[DOOR OPENS, SLAMS]

[GUNSHOT]
Is Baba okay?
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[SOFT, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
I doubt it.
Can I come with you?

Please?
Just because your father's a bad guy
doesn't mean you have to
grow up to be one, too.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]

I know I can't change what happened,
but I can take responsibility
for my actions.
- And then hope, um
- [CELLPHONE VIBRATING]
most important for me
is I want to set a good
example for for my family.
It might look messy, but
I've already got a strategy.
Anton?
- Anton?
- GRAY: I know what you did.
[GLASS SHATTERS]

[SIGHS]

[CAR DOOR SLAMS]
TOWNES: Long night?
I was working.
AYALA: Not for us, you weren't.
What you want me to say, huh?
The terms of your early
release from Angola
were contingent on you
helping us bring down Tongais.
Ain't a problem no more.
Because of Gracián Parish?
[SIGHS]
You might think you're
done talking, Colin,
but our conversation
is just getting started.
[SIGHS]

[CONVERSATION IN SHONA]
All I want to know now is,
where is the man who
destroyed my family?

Want to move steady, steady, steady.
That looks good. Cover looks good.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
See that?

[ENGINE STARTS]

[DOORKNOB RATTLES]

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYS]

[SIGHS]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

HECTOR: There's something
I think you should know.
A friend of ours came into my shop.
[ENGINE STARTS]
Oh oh oh-oh oh ♪
Doo-doo doo ♪
Am I a good man? ♪
Ooh ♪
Am I a fool? ♪
Parish.
- Am I weak? ♪
- I got a feeling we'll be hearing from him again.
Ooh ♪
Or am I just playin' it cool? ♪
Ooh-ooh ooh ♪
I have a woman ♪
And I know she's no good ♪
But still I keep my head up high ♪
And try to do the things
that a good man should ♪
Oh, am I a good man? ♪
Am I a good man? ♪
Am I a fool? ♪
Am I a fool?
Am I weak? ♪
Somebody tell me ♪
Am I just playin' it cool? ♪
Yeah, you know I love her ♪
Oh, I love and I need her ♪
You know she do me so wrong ♪
[THEME MUSIC PLAYS]

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