Queens (2021) s01e11 Episode Script
I'm a Slave 4 U
1
There's not a label run by women
that isn't out just for the money.
ALL: Nasty Girl Records! I'm not a victim, I'm a victor We not just a label.
We can be a full-service outfit.
We're all gonna release our solo music on Nasty Girl Records.
We about to punch the music business in they face.
Sorry, Daddy.
THOMAS: It makes absolutely no sense to fall in love with someone in 12 hours.
I love you.
VALERIA: Blood is not a good enough reason to have someone who doesn't treat you with respect.
JILL: I keep coming back to you, hoping that you will finally accept me for who I am.
I'm Jill Da Thrill, the rapping lesbian who is worthy of unconditional love, and if you won't give it to me, then you can go to hell! [SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
Oh.
So, you're the new girl? Hi.
I'm Ana.
[LAUGHS.]
- [MOCKINGLY.]
"Hi, I'm Ana.
" - [CANNED LAUGHTER.]
You just said what I said in a different voice.
T that's cool.
I love impressions.
You're gonna wish you never came to this school.
[AUDIENCE "OHS".]
I wouldn't say that if I were you.
Oh, yeah? What are you gonna do about it? [CANNED LAUGHTER.]
Hmm.
How about [TWINKLES.]
With icy cool air like a glacier breeze, I'm casting a spell that'll make you freeze! Anacadabra! [CANNED LAUGHTER.]
Yeah, that works.
[CHUCKLES.]
Anacadabra Poof, Anacadabra [DISTORTING.]
I'm just a normal girl Livin' in a fickle wo - [CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK.]
- Hannah, go, go Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana I got molly, I got white - Did you do it, Madison?! - Madison, one smile?! - Madison, are you leaving the show?! - MAN: Why'd you do it, Madison? WOMAN: Did you have a breakdown? Are you afraid that they're gonna cancel "Anacadabra" now that you've been arrested? What does your mom have to say? Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana What are you doing here? - I bailed you out.
- Why? Because I want to sign you to Nasty Girl Records.
What you say your name was? Hannah I'm happy Thomas loves me for my looks and not my money, because this bank account is missing a whole lot of commas.
Look, we poured everything we have into the label, but it's all gonna pay off.
The launch was a success.
Lady Z's song just hit six million streams.
- What?! - Yes! That is a great start, y'all, but we have to keep the momentum going.
So while Muffin and Zadie are working on their albums, I think we should drop Valeria's early.
What? No way.
It's not ready.
I thought you'd be excited.
I am.
Kinda.
- But? - I love the music I'm making.
You've come a long way as an artist.
It's one thing to make something you're proud of.
Releasing it to the world is a whole nother thing.
Look, don't trip.
You have a great album.
It's all about the launch.
Which is why we were able to land you a guest spot on a Resonance record.
I mean, he's the king of the Latin charts right now.
You're serious? Resonance? El Gobernador? The only Puerto Rican I love more than Resonance is Yourself.
Luis Guzmán.
What? I like people who've had little old-man faces for, like, ever.
- Oh.
- This is amazing.
Wow, to be recognized by a Latin artist as a Latin artist means the world to me, and I never thought I'd get to rap in Spanish.
If you can win over Resonance's fans, your album's a hit.
Ooh, yes! Next, though, we have to expand our roster.
Yes, we need to sign someone who can sell out arenas.
Because you know touring is where the real money is.
We're never gonna sign a star, but we can find raw talent and forgotten talent and turn somebody into a star.
I'm helping with my money and my talent.
I already found me.
- [LAUGHS.]
- I'll try to find someone.
While you're acting full-time? Look, I've pumped what money I had into this business.
I have to make a living somehow.
We'll be fine.
Yep.
Stars fall out of the sky all the time.
Anacadabra Anacadabra Poof Anacadabra I don't need your help.
- You keep saying that - Because I mean it.
- Ana, wait.
- What?! Line.
"I don't want to cast spells anymore.
I want to be normal.
" Okay.
I'll give it to you again.
Ana, wait.
I don't want to be normal.
Oh, d-damn.
Sorry, sorry.
- Cut! - That's a cut.
- My bad.
I'll I'll get it.
- It happens to all of us.
My apologies, everyone.
Maddi just didn't take her Adderall this morning.
Mom, I told you I don't want to take it.
Yes, and you want to be professional.
And I don't want you to keep all of these people waiting.
You are the face of this franchise.
Now take the pills, sweetheart.
Good! Let's take 10.
Start fresh.
[UP-TEMPO BEAT PLAYS.]
This is gonna be a hit! - [LAUGHS.]
- Yes! - Que bueno.
- Yes! Ah, thank E-Roc for letting us use the NGR studio.
This song is exactly what I need to cross over into the American market.
I'm happy to get the opportunity to connect with my Puerto Rican roots! And I'm excited to get the chance to rap in Spanish! [STIFLED CHUCKLE, CLEARS THROAT.]
What? It just doesn't sound like we're on the same page, you know? I'm gonna do my thing and you kick your sexy designer flow of yours that has all the white boys Googling you after their wives go to sleep.
You want me to rap in English? I want you to rap how you rap.
I speak Spanish.
- You do? - Yes! That's cool.
That's cool.
I guess I thought of you more like, uh, a gringa.
I'm not even gonna dignify that with a response.
I didn't mean to You did.
But it's cool.
You're not the first person to think that.
And then I show them what I'm about.
And I'm about to show you on this track when I kick my verse in Spanish.
I'm just saying, give me a chance.
Two powerful Puerto Rican artists on the same track, rapping in their native language.
Legendary.
Valeria, you can rap your verse how I want or you can bounce.
Hate to be blunt, but it is what it is.
Sticks and stones may break my bones But they won't stop me Sticks and stones may break my - [KEY CLICKS.]
- Oh, hey.
How's the scouting going? Finding talent on SoundCloud is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Nobody cares about the art of hip-hop anymore.
The Rakims, the Tips, the Pacs? They don't exist.
Reached out to Rapsody's management to see if she was unhappy with her situation.
- And? - They hung up on me, said they'd only be interested in a collab if the Queens ever got back together.
I don't think Bree's ever coming back from Costa Rica.
You never know.
But I'm happy she's happy.
Yeah.
Yeah.
[CELLPHONE RINGS.]
This is Naomi.
Dean Brickerhoff, this is a surprise.
What about Jojo? You want to tell me why the dean of your college is on my phone saying you haven't been to school in over two months? Because I haven't.
Okay, explain.
I'm not feeling it.
A little more would help us.
Jojo, you have fought so hard to get into that school.
Playing piano at the highest level is your dream.
Because it's all I've ever known.
I met some kids in L.
A.
who haven't been cooped up playing classical music all their lives, and we've been doing things.
Drugs? Hip-hop.
I want to be a rapper.
You're not throwing away your education to rap.
How can you talk down about your own passion? 'Cause we're talking about you! I'd never been out of Georgia when I came here.
I'm learning a lot about myself, figuring out who I am.
That's good.
It is.
Eric, you've been doing this dad thing for a hot minute.
Could you just stay out of it? [SCOFFS.]
JOJO: Maybe you're just threatened, scared I might be better than you.
You need to get your priorities straight.
Seriously? You literally chose music over your own daughter.
I'm not gonna let you push my buttons, Jojo.
You are staying in school, and that's it.
Eric, back me up.
So now I can speak? I'm an adult.
I don't need your permission.
As long as you livin' under my roof, you do.
Cool.
Jojo.
Look, we didn't go to college.
We hustled.
And look at us now.
- Are we a team or what? - Of course.
Then I need you to have my back.
I do.
But I also have opinions.
And I want you to have your opinions.
But we have to look united in front of our daughter, fam.
I'm still getting the hang of this whole thing.
All right? I have to be her dad and not her friend.
Let her cool down.
She'll be back.
We'll figure it out.
Team? Team.
MADISON: I'm fine, Mom! Fine.
It's Jill.
Hey.
You want to go for a walk? Did you ask my mom? This is nice.
Thank you for this.
It's nice to be anywhere that's not in my trailer or in front of a camera.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Do you always have to get permission from your mom to take a walk? No.
Kinda.
Yeah.
She likes to know where I am.
I try to see things through her eyes.
She wants what's best for me.
This character is the network's cash cow.
And your mom's.
Look.
I see how she treats you.
It's hard to deal with controlling parents.
It took me 40 years to build up the courage to break free from mine.
Yeah.
I keep pitching changing up the music in the show, like offering to write music from my heart with a little bit more edge.
But everyone just wants to keep me in this Ana box.
You don't need your mom's approval to be who you want to be.
I actually do, though.
Literally.
W wait, y you're 21.
You're an adult.
What do you mean? [SIGHS.]
Nothing.
I'm not supposed to tell anyone.
I barely know you.
Sometimes those are the only people you can tell things to.
Have you ever heard of a conservatorship? [EXHALES DEEPLY.]
Yo, you walked out on Resonance? Sounds bad when you say it like that.
He wanted me to rap in English.
You rap in English.
But this is a Resonance song.
That you walked away from when we're at an incredibly critical time with this label.
Girl, if you bend and breathe one more time while I'm trying to talk to you, we gonna have a problem.
I'm not Jojo.
She's not listening to me either.
[SIGHS.]
What's up? Jojo wants to be a rapper.
Oh! You actually have a problem with her wanting to do what you do for a living.
Okay, it sounds silly when you say it like that, but she wants to drop out of school.
I mean, think about all the stuff we've been through in this business, V.
I mean, we took our name from a man who was calling us nasty little bitches.
I mean, you think you would be laid up with ass shots or poisoning bitches if you were never in this music business? I'm probably the wrong person to ask.
Come on.
You know what I'm saying.
I get it, but she's also a grown woman ish.
You kinda got to see where it goes.
- That's what Eric is thinking.
- Then forget it.
It's probably the wrong approach.
[CHUCKLES.]
Look, I know things are worse in this industry today than when we came out.
I mean, do you see the comments that people are making about young women on the Internet? I just don't want Jojo to have to live up to anybody else's expectations.
Then I guess you know why I walked away from that song.
People expect me to be one thing a gringa.
But I want to try something new.
He's not wrong.
Looking back, I have been presenting myself - as a Sorta Rican.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Sorta Rican.
All the tracks on my album are in English.
But recording it, I wanted to try something different.
I just didn't have the courage to say so.
Yeah.
Well, we do have a release date.
We can't change that.
It'll only take a couple months.
We might not even have a label in a couple of months if we don't follow Lady Z's hit with something big.
But I hear you.
I do.
But can we just save the Spanish for your next album? And keep ignoring who I want to be.
Yeah, that's cool.
You really have to make things right with Resonance.
Your album needs it.
Our label needs it.
You want everybody to be free of other people's expectations so long as they're a slave to yours.
All good.
You got it, captain.
Yo Okay, you asked for it 'Bout to go Nostrand Ave on 'em I'm from that bully where bullies Will quick to spasm on 'em That's speed, homie, fatigues on me Streets in me The flow is cold but you know that I got that heat in me - Yeah - [MUSIC STOPS.]
Could've answered your phone.
I needed a minute, but I'm good.
I came to talk to you, and before you side with Mom, can you hear me out? Go for it.
[SIGHS.]
I love hip-hop, and I'm good.
I wouldn't drop out if I wasn't.
You know I had never heard Mom rap until the BET Awards? I wrote my first verse that night.
I feel your passion.
And I know that look.
I saw it in Naomi's eyes at that showcase in the Bronx back in '93.
But quitting school? I can't back you on that.
I'm doing it regardless.
But I would love for you to be on board, because what you think, it matters to me a lot.
I gave your mom my word that we'd be a team.
All I'm asking is for you to help me lay something down.
I need to record something real to know if I'm really at the level I think I am.
Please.
Okay.
But once you step in that booth, you're not my daughter anymore.
You're an artist.
If it's fire, the track is yours, but if it's wack, I'm tossing it.
- Bet? - Bet.
All right.
Let's see what you got.
[UP-TEMPO BEAT PLAYS.]
Huh Ha, ha, ha Conservative girl livin' in a conservative world Piano lessons was the only thing concernin' this girl Values and strict curfews nurtured this girl Searchin' the world Could be the best or the worst for this girl Caterpillar into a butterfly, clouds to the sunny skies Jojo on the scene, I'm in L.
A.
on my money vibes Only palm trees shelter me now Hot girl, and my body's like wow I'm comin' into my own now, grown now Nobody's clone now, gold child, gold crown Heiress to the throne now, Usher style, my way Yes! J is in control now, ooh, and it feels good Tony! Toni! Toné! style Boys wanna take me to dinner, I tell 'em boa But you can't constrict me, I'm datin' who I wanna And I'm sorry, not sorry for spreadin' my wings On the road to the fast life and fabulous things, unh ["ANACADABRA" THEME PLAYS.]
Anacadabra Poof, the power inside me Anacadabra - Poof - Right? [MUSIC STOPS.]
So you want to sign a teenybopper wizard chick? She's not actually a wizard.
Well, she was, but now she's kind of a Nah, it's corny.
The songs are corny.
Her persona is corny.
She's not.
She's talented.
I hear her in rehearsals.
- Can she rap? - She can sing.
We're a hip-hop label.
You said we would never sign a star.
Well, Madison has 11 million followers on Instagram.
Her fans are insane.
I mean, she could be the next Britney or Demi Lovato.
She went on tour as Anacadabra two years ago and sold out every venue.
As a corny-ass wizard witch.
- [SNORTS.]
- Okay, look.
I'm just saying, it wouldn't hurt for us to diversify our audience.
She has a voice and has something to say.
And this label, the whole point is to empower women.
That's different than freeing a woman from a conservatorship.
It took 14 years and a billion documentaries to free Britney! I stood by you when you were on your crusade for Zadie.
This is my stand for Madison.
I see what she's going through, I understand it, and I want to help her, and I think she can help us.
[CELLPHONE VIBRATES.]
Okay, look, what would it hurt to just bring her in and see what she can do? She's a good, honest person surrounded by bad people.
Trust me.
What did you say wizard whatever girl's name was again? Madison Pierce.
She just got her corny ass arrested for shoplifting.
Damn.
I was hoping I'd get at least a couple nights in there.
Wait a minute.
You got arrested on purpose? You really think I would've walked out of Studio City Jewelers with a necklace and expect to get away with it? I wanted to get caught.
[SIGHS.]
In jail, they won't make me take Adderall.
[SIGHS.]
You know, she checks in on me like every hour, even at night.
She takes naps while I work and stays up while I sleep just so she can make sure I stay in my bed.
I'm legally required to share my location from my phone.
My security's in the room when I go to the gynecologist.
But I knew in that cell, I'd at least get, like, one good night of sleep.
And maybe they'd fire me from "Anacadabra.
" Wow.
Trish isn't my mom anymore.
The only way to be free from her is to just stop the money train.
I know that sounds irrational to normal people, but [SCOFFS.]
my life isn't normal.
You're gonna fight this, and I'm gonna help you.
How? You said you have things to say? Well, it's time to say them.
Figuring out a way to make you financially independent is the first step.
Then we work on the conservatorship.
JOJO: Ha, ha Conservative girl livin' in a conservative world Piano lessons was the only thing concernin' this girl Values and strict curfews nurtured this girl The Internet's gonna go crazy! Mm, we got to play it for your mom first.
The world needs to hear this.
And they will.
Eventually.
I'm already risking a lot by helping you behind her back.
[MUSIC STOPS.]
Thanks for helping me.
This was really fun.
We make a pretty good team, huh? [CHUCKLES.]
So, what's the plan? It's not a plan.
It's a deal.
You go to school tomorrow, and I'll speak to your mom.
Deal.
[CELLPHONE VIBRATING.]
I got to take this.
Yo.
[COMPUTER BEEPS.]
NAOMI: You still want to sign this chick after she got arrested? She did it on purpose.
How is that an argument that she's not crazy? She made a mistake.
She knows that, too.
But we are more than our mistakes.
If you guys didn't believe that, I wouldn't be in your lives.
I'm pretty sure my mom's gonna find me any minute.
Y'all want to hear what I've got to say, or just keep whispering behind my back? They thought they had me figured out But they were all wrong - Ooh.
- I had to climb up on the mountain To make my own throne I don't need your permission to do what I want - 'Cause I know who I am - Yeah, girl.
Thursday, it didn't go as planned I packed my bags, but then by Friday I started a new band I'm just gettin' started - Yeah - Yeah! Go Go Go with the flow Go Go - With the flow - Ow! They say what I have to do But they don't know what I see when I just look at you What's the chances Does anybody take chances anymore? Oh, no, just confined to our same vicinities I don't know what you want from me [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
[LAUGHTER.]
Yes! - Didn't I tell you? - That was raw.
That was me.
Ooh! And Nasty Girl Records needs to be the one who releases it.
Oh! - [POUNDING ON DOOR.]
- MAN: Police! Coming in.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
Mom! Maddi! [GASPS.]
I was so worried.
Oh, thank God I found you.
Not enough to bail her out from jail.
Who the hell do you think you are? Someone who isn't Madison's mother who actually cares about her well-being.
Well, you're fired.
We lost a day of filming.
The studio is worried sick about you.
Are they really? Or were they just concerned about their investment? You may be able to do whatever you want to do in the context of whatever this operation is, but Madison has responsibilities, which requires her to not get arrested and not sneak off when I am taking a nap.
The girl just needed a break.
And she was willing to go to jail to get it.
I'm not a parent, but I would take that as confirmation of the horrible job I was doing.
I am a single mom who raised this young woman in a trailer.
We are now worth $80 million and employ hundreds of people.
I think the job I've done speaks for itself.
She.
What? She is worth $80 million.
According to the State of California, I can have those nice policemen come in here and arrest you for kidnapping my ward.
Do you want me to do that? Hmm.
Can I say goodbye? Jill bailed me out.
Yeah.
We'll be waiting for you outside.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
Yo.
How does this conservatorship thing work? How do you get out of it? I have to prove I have the capacity to handle my daily life.
So it's all up to a judge? Unless my mom steps down.
- [SIGHS.]
- Which she will never do.
Look, I need a new lawyer.
My mom hired the one I have now, and so he's loyal to her.
I was thinking, maybe we use my signing bonus to hire someone new, someone who's not on my mother's payroll? Look, we're a collective.
Nasty Girl Records is set up to share profits with the artists - when you're - You're broke.
- We broke.
- Pretty much.
Well, I'll probably have Klonopin crushed up in my food from now on.
But it felt good to get my song out there.
Thank you, Jill.
I'll pay.
For your lawyer.
Not the label, me.
But if I lose, I can't I can't pay you back.
I'm willing to take that risk.
- We good? - I'm sorry about the other day.
I'm a professional, and it's an honor to be on the song with you.
It's all good.
You wouldn't be where you are if you weren't an artist with ideas.
[CHUCKLES.]
Let's see what you got.
- Okay.
- [MID-TEMPO BEAT PLAYS.]
Eh, eh, vamos Leggo Llegamos [SPEAKS SPANISH.]
[MUSIC STOPS.]
I can handle all the ad-libs in Spanish.
Just do your thing.
Cool.
You got it.
[MUSIC RESUMES.]
Let's go.
Valeria's here.
[CHUCKLES.]
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Here we go.
Here we go.
Unh, unh.
Presumes demasiado pero eres igual Ve bajándole a tu ego Que estás jugando con fuego Na na na na Presumes demasiado pero eres igual Ve bajándole a tu ego Que estás jugando con fuego Na na na na Eh eh eh eh eh eh Presumes demasiado Eh eh eh eh Dame una noche pa' que veas cómo lo hago Si tú pensaste que ibas a llevarme Déjame decirte lo que siento Yo no soy la última Coca-Cola del desierto Pero a ti te gusta cada parte de mi cuerpo Puedo decir que sà aunque sé que nada es cierto Eh eh eh eh Dame una noche pa' que veas cómo lo hago Na na na na NAOMI: He dropped you from the song? Come on, you were supposed to fix things, not make them worse.
It's not like I did it on purpose.
It was what do you call it with the dogs that get hungry? - Pavlovian.
- That.
That.
Well, this label can't be a nonprofit and a humanitarian organization all at the same damn time.
- We're all equal partners, right? - Right.
- And we all get a vote, right? - Right.
Then why is it that you get to call all the shots when I put in most of the money? Because money is not the most important thing.
Do you hear how hypocritical you sound from one sentence to the next? You have a serious chronic illness.
Chill.
Should I pick a side now or listen to both of you? - I'm done.
- We good.
Jill said y'all met with Madison Pierce.
That's a great idea.
She could be the next Christina Aguilera.
Her mother has her in a conservatorship.
A conservatorship? Why do y'all have to make things difficult difficult? Guess it's back to SoundCloud looking for that needle in a haystack.
All I do is flip Flip, flip, flip - Watch this money flip - Oof.
- Throw my money in that and watch it flip - Mnh-mnh.
[MUSIC STOPS.]
All right.
This one's got to be good since everybody's hatin' on it saying women can't rap? - [SCOFFS.]
- JOJO: Ha, ha Conservative girl livin' in a conservative world Piano lessons was the only thing concernin' this girl Values and strict curfews nurtured this girl I mean, it's not perfect, but it's got potential.
The worst for this girl, caterpillar into a butterfly Ooh, I think I just got my needle Wait.
- Is that - Jojo? Hot girl, and my body's like wow I'm comin' into my own now, grown now [MUSIC STOPS.]
Um we should talk.
IVAN: Where does your mother think you are now? MADISON: Where my phone is, in my trailer on set, - like you suggested.
- Good.
Trish will fight you with every tool in her arsenal because you are the gravy train.
So, if you want to win She just wants her life back.
Then I need to know everything.
You need to give me every piece of information that your mother can weaponize.
The only way I can win this is if you're honest with me.
I'm ready.
[SCOFFS.]
I-I'll tell you everything.
My mom can't do anything worse than she's already done.
There's millions of dollars on the table.
You'd be surprised what people are willing to do.
TRISH: And that, coupled with her recent arrest, serves as proof that my daughter continues to be unfit to make these decisions.
She's in a vulnerable state, and left to her own devices, I fear she'll end up broke, on the streets, or worse.
All right.
Mr.
Silva.
Ms.
Pierce would like to speak on her behalf.
With the information Mr.
Silva provided, you can see I've been working for a decade, single-handedly supporting both myself and my mother.
So, I ask you, if I'm competent enough to handle the high-stress environment my job requires, while supporting my family, why am I deemed incapable of managing my own life? She constantly forgets her lines, locks herself in her trailer Because you provoke her.
Please refrain from interrupting.
I believe my mother's decisions are not in my best interests.
They are solely in her financial interests.
I deserve to have a life, and this conservatorship is a profound miscarriage of justice.
The conservatorship was granted three years ago because Madison was deemed mentally unfit to handle her affairs, and her recent psych evals suggests nothing troubling.
She was just arrested for shoplifting.
Thousands of young people shoplift and are not placed in conservatorships.
Mom.
There's something you'd like to add, Mrs.
Pierce? Mom, no.
Please, no.
I was walking past her room, and I saw the light on.
I had a gun back then for protection.
And I didn't even know that she knew I had it.
But it it was [VOICE BREAKING.]
It was in her mouth, and she was about to Oh, God.
She needs this conservatorship.
She needs me to protect her.
Madison.
Why didn't you tell us? Because you would've agreed with my mom, and then we wouldn't be here right now.
No, no.
I know now, and I am still here.
I never thought she'd use it against me.
She wouldn't even let me tell my therapist for fear that it'd get out and kill my career.
I had just found out the conservatorship was being extended.
Another year of being told what I could and couldn't do.
It just seemed like it was the only way out.
I didn't want to kill myself.
I just wanted out of this conservatorship.
I know, I know.
Look, your mother needs to hear - these words from you.
- It won't matter.
She needs to know how much this is hurting her daughter.
[SOBS.]
It's gonna be okay.
- [SIGHS.]
- NAOMI: "This bitch ain't thicc, thicc, but def thicc enough to get it.
" Yo, why are grown-ass men discussing whether or not my daughter has the right ass? This rapping misogyny was exactly what I was trying to protect Jojo from.
- But now because of you - My daughter came to me saying she was passionate about something.
What was I supposed to say? - Discuss it with me.
- That was the plan.
I recorded it for her, got her to go back to school Yo, you can't parent the way you do business.
Always schemin'.
Yo, can anyone ever disagree with you without you turning them into your enemy? Your plan didn't work, okay? It blew up in your face.
Now our daughter is online getting dissed.
You did that.
How you holding up, baby? You know, you can't listen to these people.
Trolls will be trolls.
It doesn't bother you that they're talking about your body and not your talent? You think I'm talented? Yes, but That's what matters.
I know this industry is misogynistic and problematic.
People are gonna comment on my appearance, but I don't care what they think.
Look at Lizzo and Billie Eilish.
Good for them, but they're not my daughters.
Look, you have a special opportunity in front of you at Hellman, and yes, you got bars, for sure, but can that be enough right now? I mean, this will be here for you once you graduate, and if it's what you want to do after that, I will support you.
No words.
Just love.
My mind's made up.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
Is she okay? She can be.
That's up to you.
Look, I-I said what I said for her own good.
I get that you think that.
Look, I know that what I do seems excessive.
Everything I have ever done has been for my daughter.
When she said she wanted to be a star, I moved us across the country.
And then she actually made it.
I in Hollywood.
I mean, do you know - how many odds we have beaten? So, when she had her breakdown I helped her, and it is because of me that she has turned her life around.
You do not know what it is like to walk in on your child like that about to I don't.
But I do know what it's like to get to that point where you feel like nothing's ever gonna change, where you just don't care what happens.
You don't want to feel trapped anymore.
What if she pulled that trigger? You think you're protecting her, but you're not.
You're trying to control her to protect yourself.
But trust me, if you don't let her go, you really will lose her for good.
Talk to your daughter.
Listen to her.
Um, I'll let you two talk alone.
I can't believe that I can't believe Trish would spill that kind of tea on her own daughter - just to keep the conservatorship alive.
- I know.
The attempted suicide is too damning, and the judge isn't gonna reverse it, so hopefully Madison gets through to Trish.
Feels unlikely.
MADISON: Hey.
What happened? She [SIGHS.]
My mom's letting me go.
- What? - [LAUGHTER.]
[LAUGHS.]
Yeah.
And I want to make music with you guys, if the offer still stands.
- Yes! - Okay, then! Come on with somebody! We want to hear that! Madison said she'd be here an hour ago.
- We should've picked her up.
- She'll be here! - [DOORBELL RINGS.]
- See? - Hey.
- Hi.
First taste of freedom in three years.
[CHUCKLES.]
- How do you feel? Oh, great.
Good.
That doesn't sound good.
I don't like disappointing people.
[CHUCKLES.]
Who are you disappointing? Word got out I was free of my mom, free of my conservatorship, and and offers started rolling in.
- In the night I hear 'em talk - There was a bidding war.
Universal offered me $5 million up front.
Aren't they the people who produce your show? They say if I give them one more Ana album, then I'll be free to do what I want.
So heartless [SCOFFS.]
I can't pass up that kind of money.
How could you be so heartless? I appreciate everything you did for me, Jill, - and I will pay you back.
- Don't worry about it.
How could you be so, cold as the winter wind - When it breeze, yo - Okay.
Just remember that you talkin' to me, though That's it, I guess.
Take care of yourself, Madison.
I mean after all the things that we've been through Come on, Madison.
I mean after all the things we got into Hey, yo, I know of some things that you ain't told me - Hey, yo, I did some things, but that's the old me - [DOOR CLOSES.]
- And now you wanna get me back - [SCOFFS.]
- And you gonna show me - You okay? So you walk around like you don't know me I want to pretend that I don't know where Madison's headed, - but I do.
- Still so lonely ERIC: I mean, y'all can't save everyone.
You tried.
The coldest story ever told I lost Madison, and the label is no further ahead than it was before I went after her.
I was the reason we broke up in the past.
But I won't be the reason today.
How could you be so heartless? You said something to me in the booth while we were recording.
You said, we're both artists with opinions.
And that made me want to rap in Spanish because that's what I want to express right now.
And I don't care if being a gringa is better for my career.
And I didn't really care that you dropped me from a song that would've been a hit, because it's ultimately not something I would've been proud of.
I am proud of who I am.
And where I'm going.
And I know you're an artist, too, and I don't expect you to change your mind on your song.
But if you could see in my heart that this is genuinely who I am and what I want How could you be so heartless? I think you'll want to help me become that artist that I want to be.
[SIGHS.]
I'm listening.
Aqui el dinero no hace falta No Eso lo tengo yo - Mm! - Independiente gracias a dios - Yeah.
[CHUCKLES.]
- No hace falta - Ooh.
- No Aqui tenemos to Yo eligo como lo gasto - [CHUCKLES.]
- [LAUGHS.]
- Whoo! - That's fire.
I'm not on his song, but he did produce my Latin song.
I mean, this definitely broadens our reach like we were talking about.
I think the album is ready.
And I want this one to be my first single.
Okay.
Let's ride with it! Congrats, girl! So, what's next? Well, I have an idea on who we should sign.
[DONNA LEWIS' "I LOVE YOU ALWAYS FOREVER" PLAYS.]
Those days Of warm rains come rushing back to me Miles of windless I'm not coming home if that's why you're here.
It's not.
Look [SIGHS.]
it's like I blinked and 10 years passed by.
Suddenly my baby is a grown woman, and my eyes can see that, but my brain is still trying to catch up.
So I'm sorry if I haven't been listening to you and treating you like the adult that you are.
I'm trying, I'm learning, and I'm growing, just like you are.
I can do this.
I can rap.
I know, and I love it that you believe in yourself, 'cause most people don't.
And that's what you need to succeed in this business.
Otherwise, you won't survive it.
So if you want to drop out of Hellman it's your decision to make.
Everything I will do for you You've got the most unbelievable What's the catch? [SIGHS.]
There is no catch.
But I do have an offer.
So, I've been on SoundCloud all week, and most of the content out there is trash, especially compared to your track.
And I'm not just saying that because I'm your mama.
I'm saying this as someone who has done it.
You're very gifted, and Nasty Girl Records would be so lucky to have you.
Exotic sweetness I feel like there's a catch.
Jojo, I can't force you to stay in school, but I also know that you have an incredible opportunity in front of you at Hellman.
If you drop out and you want to rap, I'm not gonna let you do it any other place than under my wing.
But what I want to offer you is an opportunity to do both.
Stay in school, get your degree and make your music while doing it.
And I know you haven't fallen out of love with piano.
I saw you at that audition.
[VOCALIZING.]
J's killin' it.
[CHUCKLES.]
I kinda miss it.
It's quiet.
I could do it alone.
I want to give you the opportunity to do both.
That's what I'm giving you.
Near and far and always and everywhere and everything [LAUGHS.]
Now, does that mean I want to do both.
[SQUEALS.]
Welcome to Nasty Girl Records.
Do I get an advance? We broke as hell.
[LAUGHS.]
Of course.
[CHUCKLES.]
So, should we go home? Yes, baby.
Let's go home.
- I love you always forever - [CANNED LAUGHTER.]
Near and far, closer together MADISON: Anacadabra - Poof, poof - [SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
- DIRECTOR: And cut! - I've got a magic touch Sometimes it's such a pain in the butt To be so different But I can't get enough of the magic inside me No, no, no, no Just watch, I'll show ya
ALL: Nasty Girl Records! I'm not a victim, I'm a victor We not just a label.
We can be a full-service outfit.
We're all gonna release our solo music on Nasty Girl Records.
We about to punch the music business in they face.
Sorry, Daddy.
THOMAS: It makes absolutely no sense to fall in love with someone in 12 hours.
I love you.
VALERIA: Blood is not a good enough reason to have someone who doesn't treat you with respect.
JILL: I keep coming back to you, hoping that you will finally accept me for who I am.
I'm Jill Da Thrill, the rapping lesbian who is worthy of unconditional love, and if you won't give it to me, then you can go to hell! [SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
Oh.
So, you're the new girl? Hi.
I'm Ana.
[LAUGHS.]
- [MOCKINGLY.]
"Hi, I'm Ana.
" - [CANNED LAUGHTER.]
You just said what I said in a different voice.
T that's cool.
I love impressions.
You're gonna wish you never came to this school.
[AUDIENCE "OHS".]
I wouldn't say that if I were you.
Oh, yeah? What are you gonna do about it? [CANNED LAUGHTER.]
Hmm.
How about [TWINKLES.]
With icy cool air like a glacier breeze, I'm casting a spell that'll make you freeze! Anacadabra! [CANNED LAUGHTER.]
Yeah, that works.
[CHUCKLES.]
Anacadabra Poof, Anacadabra [DISTORTING.]
I'm just a normal girl Livin' in a fickle wo - [CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK.]
- Hannah, go, go Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana I got molly, I got white - Did you do it, Madison?! - Madison, one smile?! - Madison, are you leaving the show?! - MAN: Why'd you do it, Madison? WOMAN: Did you have a breakdown? Are you afraid that they're gonna cancel "Anacadabra" now that you've been arrested? What does your mom have to say? Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana Hannah Montana, Hannah Montana What are you doing here? - I bailed you out.
- Why? Because I want to sign you to Nasty Girl Records.
What you say your name was? Hannah I'm happy Thomas loves me for my looks and not my money, because this bank account is missing a whole lot of commas.
Look, we poured everything we have into the label, but it's all gonna pay off.
The launch was a success.
Lady Z's song just hit six million streams.
- What?! - Yes! That is a great start, y'all, but we have to keep the momentum going.
So while Muffin and Zadie are working on their albums, I think we should drop Valeria's early.
What? No way.
It's not ready.
I thought you'd be excited.
I am.
Kinda.
- But? - I love the music I'm making.
You've come a long way as an artist.
It's one thing to make something you're proud of.
Releasing it to the world is a whole nother thing.
Look, don't trip.
You have a great album.
It's all about the launch.
Which is why we were able to land you a guest spot on a Resonance record.
I mean, he's the king of the Latin charts right now.
You're serious? Resonance? El Gobernador? The only Puerto Rican I love more than Resonance is Yourself.
Luis Guzmán.
What? I like people who've had little old-man faces for, like, ever.
- Oh.
- This is amazing.
Wow, to be recognized by a Latin artist as a Latin artist means the world to me, and I never thought I'd get to rap in Spanish.
If you can win over Resonance's fans, your album's a hit.
Ooh, yes! Next, though, we have to expand our roster.
Yes, we need to sign someone who can sell out arenas.
Because you know touring is where the real money is.
We're never gonna sign a star, but we can find raw talent and forgotten talent and turn somebody into a star.
I'm helping with my money and my talent.
I already found me.
- [LAUGHS.]
- I'll try to find someone.
While you're acting full-time? Look, I've pumped what money I had into this business.
I have to make a living somehow.
We'll be fine.
Yep.
Stars fall out of the sky all the time.
Anacadabra Anacadabra Poof Anacadabra I don't need your help.
- You keep saying that - Because I mean it.
- Ana, wait.
- What?! Line.
"I don't want to cast spells anymore.
I want to be normal.
" Okay.
I'll give it to you again.
Ana, wait.
I don't want to be normal.
Oh, d-damn.
Sorry, sorry.
- Cut! - That's a cut.
- My bad.
I'll I'll get it.
- It happens to all of us.
My apologies, everyone.
Maddi just didn't take her Adderall this morning.
Mom, I told you I don't want to take it.
Yes, and you want to be professional.
And I don't want you to keep all of these people waiting.
You are the face of this franchise.
Now take the pills, sweetheart.
Good! Let's take 10.
Start fresh.
[UP-TEMPO BEAT PLAYS.]
This is gonna be a hit! - [LAUGHS.]
- Yes! - Que bueno.
- Yes! Ah, thank E-Roc for letting us use the NGR studio.
This song is exactly what I need to cross over into the American market.
I'm happy to get the opportunity to connect with my Puerto Rican roots! And I'm excited to get the chance to rap in Spanish! [STIFLED CHUCKLE, CLEARS THROAT.]
What? It just doesn't sound like we're on the same page, you know? I'm gonna do my thing and you kick your sexy designer flow of yours that has all the white boys Googling you after their wives go to sleep.
You want me to rap in English? I want you to rap how you rap.
I speak Spanish.
- You do? - Yes! That's cool.
That's cool.
I guess I thought of you more like, uh, a gringa.
I'm not even gonna dignify that with a response.
I didn't mean to You did.
But it's cool.
You're not the first person to think that.
And then I show them what I'm about.
And I'm about to show you on this track when I kick my verse in Spanish.
I'm just saying, give me a chance.
Two powerful Puerto Rican artists on the same track, rapping in their native language.
Legendary.
Valeria, you can rap your verse how I want or you can bounce.
Hate to be blunt, but it is what it is.
Sticks and stones may break my bones But they won't stop me Sticks and stones may break my - [KEY CLICKS.]
- Oh, hey.
How's the scouting going? Finding talent on SoundCloud is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Nobody cares about the art of hip-hop anymore.
The Rakims, the Tips, the Pacs? They don't exist.
Reached out to Rapsody's management to see if she was unhappy with her situation.
- And? - They hung up on me, said they'd only be interested in a collab if the Queens ever got back together.
I don't think Bree's ever coming back from Costa Rica.
You never know.
But I'm happy she's happy.
Yeah.
Yeah.
[CELLPHONE RINGS.]
This is Naomi.
Dean Brickerhoff, this is a surprise.
What about Jojo? You want to tell me why the dean of your college is on my phone saying you haven't been to school in over two months? Because I haven't.
Okay, explain.
I'm not feeling it.
A little more would help us.
Jojo, you have fought so hard to get into that school.
Playing piano at the highest level is your dream.
Because it's all I've ever known.
I met some kids in L.
A.
who haven't been cooped up playing classical music all their lives, and we've been doing things.
Drugs? Hip-hop.
I want to be a rapper.
You're not throwing away your education to rap.
How can you talk down about your own passion? 'Cause we're talking about you! I'd never been out of Georgia when I came here.
I'm learning a lot about myself, figuring out who I am.
That's good.
It is.
Eric, you've been doing this dad thing for a hot minute.
Could you just stay out of it? [SCOFFS.]
JOJO: Maybe you're just threatened, scared I might be better than you.
You need to get your priorities straight.
Seriously? You literally chose music over your own daughter.
I'm not gonna let you push my buttons, Jojo.
You are staying in school, and that's it.
Eric, back me up.
So now I can speak? I'm an adult.
I don't need your permission.
As long as you livin' under my roof, you do.
Cool.
Jojo.
Look, we didn't go to college.
We hustled.
And look at us now.
- Are we a team or what? - Of course.
Then I need you to have my back.
I do.
But I also have opinions.
And I want you to have your opinions.
But we have to look united in front of our daughter, fam.
I'm still getting the hang of this whole thing.
All right? I have to be her dad and not her friend.
Let her cool down.
She'll be back.
We'll figure it out.
Team? Team.
MADISON: I'm fine, Mom! Fine.
It's Jill.
Hey.
You want to go for a walk? Did you ask my mom? This is nice.
Thank you for this.
It's nice to be anywhere that's not in my trailer or in front of a camera.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
Do you always have to get permission from your mom to take a walk? No.
Kinda.
Yeah.
She likes to know where I am.
I try to see things through her eyes.
She wants what's best for me.
This character is the network's cash cow.
And your mom's.
Look.
I see how she treats you.
It's hard to deal with controlling parents.
It took me 40 years to build up the courage to break free from mine.
Yeah.
I keep pitching changing up the music in the show, like offering to write music from my heart with a little bit more edge.
But everyone just wants to keep me in this Ana box.
You don't need your mom's approval to be who you want to be.
I actually do, though.
Literally.
W wait, y you're 21.
You're an adult.
What do you mean? [SIGHS.]
Nothing.
I'm not supposed to tell anyone.
I barely know you.
Sometimes those are the only people you can tell things to.
Have you ever heard of a conservatorship? [EXHALES DEEPLY.]
Yo, you walked out on Resonance? Sounds bad when you say it like that.
He wanted me to rap in English.
You rap in English.
But this is a Resonance song.
That you walked away from when we're at an incredibly critical time with this label.
Girl, if you bend and breathe one more time while I'm trying to talk to you, we gonna have a problem.
I'm not Jojo.
She's not listening to me either.
[SIGHS.]
What's up? Jojo wants to be a rapper.
Oh! You actually have a problem with her wanting to do what you do for a living.
Okay, it sounds silly when you say it like that, but she wants to drop out of school.
I mean, think about all the stuff we've been through in this business, V.
I mean, we took our name from a man who was calling us nasty little bitches.
I mean, you think you would be laid up with ass shots or poisoning bitches if you were never in this music business? I'm probably the wrong person to ask.
Come on.
You know what I'm saying.
I get it, but she's also a grown woman ish.
You kinda got to see where it goes.
- That's what Eric is thinking.
- Then forget it.
It's probably the wrong approach.
[CHUCKLES.]
Look, I know things are worse in this industry today than when we came out.
I mean, do you see the comments that people are making about young women on the Internet? I just don't want Jojo to have to live up to anybody else's expectations.
Then I guess you know why I walked away from that song.
People expect me to be one thing a gringa.
But I want to try something new.
He's not wrong.
Looking back, I have been presenting myself - as a Sorta Rican.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Sorta Rican.
All the tracks on my album are in English.
But recording it, I wanted to try something different.
I just didn't have the courage to say so.
Yeah.
Well, we do have a release date.
We can't change that.
It'll only take a couple months.
We might not even have a label in a couple of months if we don't follow Lady Z's hit with something big.
But I hear you.
I do.
But can we just save the Spanish for your next album? And keep ignoring who I want to be.
Yeah, that's cool.
You really have to make things right with Resonance.
Your album needs it.
Our label needs it.
You want everybody to be free of other people's expectations so long as they're a slave to yours.
All good.
You got it, captain.
Yo Okay, you asked for it 'Bout to go Nostrand Ave on 'em I'm from that bully where bullies Will quick to spasm on 'em That's speed, homie, fatigues on me Streets in me The flow is cold but you know that I got that heat in me - Yeah - [MUSIC STOPS.]
Could've answered your phone.
I needed a minute, but I'm good.
I came to talk to you, and before you side with Mom, can you hear me out? Go for it.
[SIGHS.]
I love hip-hop, and I'm good.
I wouldn't drop out if I wasn't.
You know I had never heard Mom rap until the BET Awards? I wrote my first verse that night.
I feel your passion.
And I know that look.
I saw it in Naomi's eyes at that showcase in the Bronx back in '93.
But quitting school? I can't back you on that.
I'm doing it regardless.
But I would love for you to be on board, because what you think, it matters to me a lot.
I gave your mom my word that we'd be a team.
All I'm asking is for you to help me lay something down.
I need to record something real to know if I'm really at the level I think I am.
Please.
Okay.
But once you step in that booth, you're not my daughter anymore.
You're an artist.
If it's fire, the track is yours, but if it's wack, I'm tossing it.
- Bet? - Bet.
All right.
Let's see what you got.
[UP-TEMPO BEAT PLAYS.]
Huh Ha, ha, ha Conservative girl livin' in a conservative world Piano lessons was the only thing concernin' this girl Values and strict curfews nurtured this girl Searchin' the world Could be the best or the worst for this girl Caterpillar into a butterfly, clouds to the sunny skies Jojo on the scene, I'm in L.
A.
on my money vibes Only palm trees shelter me now Hot girl, and my body's like wow I'm comin' into my own now, grown now Nobody's clone now, gold child, gold crown Heiress to the throne now, Usher style, my way Yes! J is in control now, ooh, and it feels good Tony! Toni! Toné! style Boys wanna take me to dinner, I tell 'em boa But you can't constrict me, I'm datin' who I wanna And I'm sorry, not sorry for spreadin' my wings On the road to the fast life and fabulous things, unh ["ANACADABRA" THEME PLAYS.]
Anacadabra Poof, the power inside me Anacadabra - Poof - Right? [MUSIC STOPS.]
So you want to sign a teenybopper wizard chick? She's not actually a wizard.
Well, she was, but now she's kind of a Nah, it's corny.
The songs are corny.
Her persona is corny.
She's not.
She's talented.
I hear her in rehearsals.
- Can she rap? - She can sing.
We're a hip-hop label.
You said we would never sign a star.
Well, Madison has 11 million followers on Instagram.
Her fans are insane.
I mean, she could be the next Britney or Demi Lovato.
She went on tour as Anacadabra two years ago and sold out every venue.
As a corny-ass wizard witch.
- [SNORTS.]
- Okay, look.
I'm just saying, it wouldn't hurt for us to diversify our audience.
She has a voice and has something to say.
And this label, the whole point is to empower women.
That's different than freeing a woman from a conservatorship.
It took 14 years and a billion documentaries to free Britney! I stood by you when you were on your crusade for Zadie.
This is my stand for Madison.
I see what she's going through, I understand it, and I want to help her, and I think she can help us.
[CELLPHONE VIBRATES.]
Okay, look, what would it hurt to just bring her in and see what she can do? She's a good, honest person surrounded by bad people.
Trust me.
What did you say wizard whatever girl's name was again? Madison Pierce.
She just got her corny ass arrested for shoplifting.
Damn.
I was hoping I'd get at least a couple nights in there.
Wait a minute.
You got arrested on purpose? You really think I would've walked out of Studio City Jewelers with a necklace and expect to get away with it? I wanted to get caught.
[SIGHS.]
In jail, they won't make me take Adderall.
[SIGHS.]
You know, she checks in on me like every hour, even at night.
She takes naps while I work and stays up while I sleep just so she can make sure I stay in my bed.
I'm legally required to share my location from my phone.
My security's in the room when I go to the gynecologist.
But I knew in that cell, I'd at least get, like, one good night of sleep.
And maybe they'd fire me from "Anacadabra.
" Wow.
Trish isn't my mom anymore.
The only way to be free from her is to just stop the money train.
I know that sounds irrational to normal people, but [SCOFFS.]
my life isn't normal.
You're gonna fight this, and I'm gonna help you.
How? You said you have things to say? Well, it's time to say them.
Figuring out a way to make you financially independent is the first step.
Then we work on the conservatorship.
JOJO: Ha, ha Conservative girl livin' in a conservative world Piano lessons was the only thing concernin' this girl Values and strict curfews nurtured this girl The Internet's gonna go crazy! Mm, we got to play it for your mom first.
The world needs to hear this.
And they will.
Eventually.
I'm already risking a lot by helping you behind her back.
[MUSIC STOPS.]
Thanks for helping me.
This was really fun.
We make a pretty good team, huh? [CHUCKLES.]
So, what's the plan? It's not a plan.
It's a deal.
You go to school tomorrow, and I'll speak to your mom.
Deal.
[CELLPHONE VIBRATING.]
I got to take this.
Yo.
[COMPUTER BEEPS.]
NAOMI: You still want to sign this chick after she got arrested? She did it on purpose.
How is that an argument that she's not crazy? She made a mistake.
She knows that, too.
But we are more than our mistakes.
If you guys didn't believe that, I wouldn't be in your lives.
I'm pretty sure my mom's gonna find me any minute.
Y'all want to hear what I've got to say, or just keep whispering behind my back? They thought they had me figured out But they were all wrong - Ooh.
- I had to climb up on the mountain To make my own throne I don't need your permission to do what I want - 'Cause I know who I am - Yeah, girl.
Thursday, it didn't go as planned I packed my bags, but then by Friday I started a new band I'm just gettin' started - Yeah - Yeah! Go Go Go with the flow Go Go - With the flow - Ow! They say what I have to do But they don't know what I see when I just look at you What's the chances Does anybody take chances anymore? Oh, no, just confined to our same vicinities I don't know what you want from me [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
[LAUGHTER.]
Yes! - Didn't I tell you? - That was raw.
That was me.
Ooh! And Nasty Girl Records needs to be the one who releases it.
Oh! - [POUNDING ON DOOR.]
- MAN: Police! Coming in.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
Mom! Maddi! [GASPS.]
I was so worried.
Oh, thank God I found you.
Not enough to bail her out from jail.
Who the hell do you think you are? Someone who isn't Madison's mother who actually cares about her well-being.
Well, you're fired.
We lost a day of filming.
The studio is worried sick about you.
Are they really? Or were they just concerned about their investment? You may be able to do whatever you want to do in the context of whatever this operation is, but Madison has responsibilities, which requires her to not get arrested and not sneak off when I am taking a nap.
The girl just needed a break.
And she was willing to go to jail to get it.
I'm not a parent, but I would take that as confirmation of the horrible job I was doing.
I am a single mom who raised this young woman in a trailer.
We are now worth $80 million and employ hundreds of people.
I think the job I've done speaks for itself.
She.
What? She is worth $80 million.
According to the State of California, I can have those nice policemen come in here and arrest you for kidnapping my ward.
Do you want me to do that? Hmm.
Can I say goodbye? Jill bailed me out.
Yeah.
We'll be waiting for you outside.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
Yo.
How does this conservatorship thing work? How do you get out of it? I have to prove I have the capacity to handle my daily life.
So it's all up to a judge? Unless my mom steps down.
- [SIGHS.]
- Which she will never do.
Look, I need a new lawyer.
My mom hired the one I have now, and so he's loyal to her.
I was thinking, maybe we use my signing bonus to hire someone new, someone who's not on my mother's payroll? Look, we're a collective.
Nasty Girl Records is set up to share profits with the artists - when you're - You're broke.
- We broke.
- Pretty much.
Well, I'll probably have Klonopin crushed up in my food from now on.
But it felt good to get my song out there.
Thank you, Jill.
I'll pay.
For your lawyer.
Not the label, me.
But if I lose, I can't I can't pay you back.
I'm willing to take that risk.
- We good? - I'm sorry about the other day.
I'm a professional, and it's an honor to be on the song with you.
It's all good.
You wouldn't be where you are if you weren't an artist with ideas.
[CHUCKLES.]
Let's see what you got.
- Okay.
- [MID-TEMPO BEAT PLAYS.]
Eh, eh, vamos Leggo Llegamos [SPEAKS SPANISH.]
[MUSIC STOPS.]
I can handle all the ad-libs in Spanish.
Just do your thing.
Cool.
You got it.
[MUSIC RESUMES.]
Let's go.
Valeria's here.
[CHUCKLES.]
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Here we go.
Here we go.
Unh, unh.
Presumes demasiado pero eres igual Ve bajándole a tu ego Que estás jugando con fuego Na na na na Presumes demasiado pero eres igual Ve bajándole a tu ego Que estás jugando con fuego Na na na na Eh eh eh eh eh eh Presumes demasiado Eh eh eh eh Dame una noche pa' que veas cómo lo hago Si tú pensaste que ibas a llevarme Déjame decirte lo que siento Yo no soy la última Coca-Cola del desierto Pero a ti te gusta cada parte de mi cuerpo Puedo decir que sà aunque sé que nada es cierto Eh eh eh eh Dame una noche pa' que veas cómo lo hago Na na na na NAOMI: He dropped you from the song? Come on, you were supposed to fix things, not make them worse.
It's not like I did it on purpose.
It was what do you call it with the dogs that get hungry? - Pavlovian.
- That.
That.
Well, this label can't be a nonprofit and a humanitarian organization all at the same damn time.
- We're all equal partners, right? - Right.
- And we all get a vote, right? - Right.
Then why is it that you get to call all the shots when I put in most of the money? Because money is not the most important thing.
Do you hear how hypocritical you sound from one sentence to the next? You have a serious chronic illness.
Chill.
Should I pick a side now or listen to both of you? - I'm done.
- We good.
Jill said y'all met with Madison Pierce.
That's a great idea.
She could be the next Christina Aguilera.
Her mother has her in a conservatorship.
A conservatorship? Why do y'all have to make things difficult difficult? Guess it's back to SoundCloud looking for that needle in a haystack.
All I do is flip Flip, flip, flip - Watch this money flip - Oof.
- Throw my money in that and watch it flip - Mnh-mnh.
[MUSIC STOPS.]
All right.
This one's got to be good since everybody's hatin' on it saying women can't rap? - [SCOFFS.]
- JOJO: Ha, ha Conservative girl livin' in a conservative world Piano lessons was the only thing concernin' this girl Values and strict curfews nurtured this girl I mean, it's not perfect, but it's got potential.
The worst for this girl, caterpillar into a butterfly Ooh, I think I just got my needle Wait.
- Is that - Jojo? Hot girl, and my body's like wow I'm comin' into my own now, grown now [MUSIC STOPS.]
Um we should talk.
IVAN: Where does your mother think you are now? MADISON: Where my phone is, in my trailer on set, - like you suggested.
- Good.
Trish will fight you with every tool in her arsenal because you are the gravy train.
So, if you want to win She just wants her life back.
Then I need to know everything.
You need to give me every piece of information that your mother can weaponize.
The only way I can win this is if you're honest with me.
I'm ready.
[SCOFFS.]
I-I'll tell you everything.
My mom can't do anything worse than she's already done.
There's millions of dollars on the table.
You'd be surprised what people are willing to do.
TRISH: And that, coupled with her recent arrest, serves as proof that my daughter continues to be unfit to make these decisions.
She's in a vulnerable state, and left to her own devices, I fear she'll end up broke, on the streets, or worse.
All right.
Mr.
Silva.
Ms.
Pierce would like to speak on her behalf.
With the information Mr.
Silva provided, you can see I've been working for a decade, single-handedly supporting both myself and my mother.
So, I ask you, if I'm competent enough to handle the high-stress environment my job requires, while supporting my family, why am I deemed incapable of managing my own life? She constantly forgets her lines, locks herself in her trailer Because you provoke her.
Please refrain from interrupting.
I believe my mother's decisions are not in my best interests.
They are solely in her financial interests.
I deserve to have a life, and this conservatorship is a profound miscarriage of justice.
The conservatorship was granted three years ago because Madison was deemed mentally unfit to handle her affairs, and her recent psych evals suggests nothing troubling.
She was just arrested for shoplifting.
Thousands of young people shoplift and are not placed in conservatorships.
Mom.
There's something you'd like to add, Mrs.
Pierce? Mom, no.
Please, no.
I was walking past her room, and I saw the light on.
I had a gun back then for protection.
And I didn't even know that she knew I had it.
But it it was [VOICE BREAKING.]
It was in her mouth, and she was about to Oh, God.
She needs this conservatorship.
She needs me to protect her.
Madison.
Why didn't you tell us? Because you would've agreed with my mom, and then we wouldn't be here right now.
No, no.
I know now, and I am still here.
I never thought she'd use it against me.
She wouldn't even let me tell my therapist for fear that it'd get out and kill my career.
I had just found out the conservatorship was being extended.
Another year of being told what I could and couldn't do.
It just seemed like it was the only way out.
I didn't want to kill myself.
I just wanted out of this conservatorship.
I know, I know.
Look, your mother needs to hear - these words from you.
- It won't matter.
She needs to know how much this is hurting her daughter.
[SOBS.]
It's gonna be okay.
- [SIGHS.]
- NAOMI: "This bitch ain't thicc, thicc, but def thicc enough to get it.
" Yo, why are grown-ass men discussing whether or not my daughter has the right ass? This rapping misogyny was exactly what I was trying to protect Jojo from.
- But now because of you - My daughter came to me saying she was passionate about something.
What was I supposed to say? - Discuss it with me.
- That was the plan.
I recorded it for her, got her to go back to school Yo, you can't parent the way you do business.
Always schemin'.
Yo, can anyone ever disagree with you without you turning them into your enemy? Your plan didn't work, okay? It blew up in your face.
Now our daughter is online getting dissed.
You did that.
How you holding up, baby? You know, you can't listen to these people.
Trolls will be trolls.
It doesn't bother you that they're talking about your body and not your talent? You think I'm talented? Yes, but That's what matters.
I know this industry is misogynistic and problematic.
People are gonna comment on my appearance, but I don't care what they think.
Look at Lizzo and Billie Eilish.
Good for them, but they're not my daughters.
Look, you have a special opportunity in front of you at Hellman, and yes, you got bars, for sure, but can that be enough right now? I mean, this will be here for you once you graduate, and if it's what you want to do after that, I will support you.
No words.
Just love.
My mind's made up.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
Is she okay? She can be.
That's up to you.
Look, I-I said what I said for her own good.
I get that you think that.
Look, I know that what I do seems excessive.
Everything I have ever done has been for my daughter.
When she said she wanted to be a star, I moved us across the country.
And then she actually made it.
I in Hollywood.
I mean, do you know - how many odds we have beaten? So, when she had her breakdown I helped her, and it is because of me that she has turned her life around.
You do not know what it is like to walk in on your child like that about to I don't.
But I do know what it's like to get to that point where you feel like nothing's ever gonna change, where you just don't care what happens.
You don't want to feel trapped anymore.
What if she pulled that trigger? You think you're protecting her, but you're not.
You're trying to control her to protect yourself.
But trust me, if you don't let her go, you really will lose her for good.
Talk to your daughter.
Listen to her.
Um, I'll let you two talk alone.
I can't believe that I can't believe Trish would spill that kind of tea on her own daughter - just to keep the conservatorship alive.
- I know.
The attempted suicide is too damning, and the judge isn't gonna reverse it, so hopefully Madison gets through to Trish.
Feels unlikely.
MADISON: Hey.
What happened? She [SIGHS.]
My mom's letting me go.
- What? - [LAUGHTER.]
[LAUGHS.]
Yeah.
And I want to make music with you guys, if the offer still stands.
- Yes! - Okay, then! Come on with somebody! We want to hear that! Madison said she'd be here an hour ago.
- We should've picked her up.
- She'll be here! - [DOORBELL RINGS.]
- See? - Hey.
- Hi.
First taste of freedom in three years.
[CHUCKLES.]
- How do you feel? Oh, great.
Good.
That doesn't sound good.
I don't like disappointing people.
[CHUCKLES.]
Who are you disappointing? Word got out I was free of my mom, free of my conservatorship, and and offers started rolling in.
- In the night I hear 'em talk - There was a bidding war.
Universal offered me $5 million up front.
Aren't they the people who produce your show? They say if I give them one more Ana album, then I'll be free to do what I want.
So heartless [SCOFFS.]
I can't pass up that kind of money.
How could you be so heartless? I appreciate everything you did for me, Jill, - and I will pay you back.
- Don't worry about it.
How could you be so, cold as the winter wind - When it breeze, yo - Okay.
Just remember that you talkin' to me, though That's it, I guess.
Take care of yourself, Madison.
I mean after all the things that we've been through Come on, Madison.
I mean after all the things we got into Hey, yo, I know of some things that you ain't told me - Hey, yo, I did some things, but that's the old me - [DOOR CLOSES.]
- And now you wanna get me back - [SCOFFS.]
- And you gonna show me - You okay? So you walk around like you don't know me I want to pretend that I don't know where Madison's headed, - but I do.
- Still so lonely ERIC: I mean, y'all can't save everyone.
You tried.
The coldest story ever told I lost Madison, and the label is no further ahead than it was before I went after her.
I was the reason we broke up in the past.
But I won't be the reason today.
How could you be so heartless? You said something to me in the booth while we were recording.
You said, we're both artists with opinions.
And that made me want to rap in Spanish because that's what I want to express right now.
And I don't care if being a gringa is better for my career.
And I didn't really care that you dropped me from a song that would've been a hit, because it's ultimately not something I would've been proud of.
I am proud of who I am.
And where I'm going.
And I know you're an artist, too, and I don't expect you to change your mind on your song.
But if you could see in my heart that this is genuinely who I am and what I want How could you be so heartless? I think you'll want to help me become that artist that I want to be.
[SIGHS.]
I'm listening.
Aqui el dinero no hace falta No Eso lo tengo yo - Mm! - Independiente gracias a dios - Yeah.
[CHUCKLES.]
- No hace falta - Ooh.
- No Aqui tenemos to Yo eligo como lo gasto - [CHUCKLES.]
- [LAUGHS.]
- Whoo! - That's fire.
I'm not on his song, but he did produce my Latin song.
I mean, this definitely broadens our reach like we were talking about.
I think the album is ready.
And I want this one to be my first single.
Okay.
Let's ride with it! Congrats, girl! So, what's next? Well, I have an idea on who we should sign.
[DONNA LEWIS' "I LOVE YOU ALWAYS FOREVER" PLAYS.]
Those days Of warm rains come rushing back to me Miles of windless I'm not coming home if that's why you're here.
It's not.
Look [SIGHS.]
it's like I blinked and 10 years passed by.
Suddenly my baby is a grown woman, and my eyes can see that, but my brain is still trying to catch up.
So I'm sorry if I haven't been listening to you and treating you like the adult that you are.
I'm trying, I'm learning, and I'm growing, just like you are.
I can do this.
I can rap.
I know, and I love it that you believe in yourself, 'cause most people don't.
And that's what you need to succeed in this business.
Otherwise, you won't survive it.
So if you want to drop out of Hellman it's your decision to make.
Everything I will do for you You've got the most unbelievable What's the catch? [SIGHS.]
There is no catch.
But I do have an offer.
So, I've been on SoundCloud all week, and most of the content out there is trash, especially compared to your track.
And I'm not just saying that because I'm your mama.
I'm saying this as someone who has done it.
You're very gifted, and Nasty Girl Records would be so lucky to have you.
Exotic sweetness I feel like there's a catch.
Jojo, I can't force you to stay in school, but I also know that you have an incredible opportunity in front of you at Hellman.
If you drop out and you want to rap, I'm not gonna let you do it any other place than under my wing.
But what I want to offer you is an opportunity to do both.
Stay in school, get your degree and make your music while doing it.
And I know you haven't fallen out of love with piano.
I saw you at that audition.
[VOCALIZING.]
J's killin' it.
[CHUCKLES.]
I kinda miss it.
It's quiet.
I could do it alone.
I want to give you the opportunity to do both.
That's what I'm giving you.
Near and far and always and everywhere and everything [LAUGHS.]
Now, does that mean I want to do both.
[SQUEALS.]
Welcome to Nasty Girl Records.
Do I get an advance? We broke as hell.
[LAUGHS.]
Of course.
[CHUCKLES.]
So, should we go home? Yes, baby.
Let's go home.
- I love you always forever - [CANNED LAUGHTER.]
Near and far, closer together MADISON: Anacadabra - Poof, poof - [SCHOOL BELL RINGS.]
- DIRECTOR: And cut! - I've got a magic touch Sometimes it's such a pain in the butt To be so different But I can't get enough of the magic inside me No, no, no, no Just watch, I'll show ya