Step Up: High Water (2017) s01e10 Episode Script
Episode 10
1 [THEME MUSIC PLAYING.]
Dance, music, fashion, design, we do it all right here at High Water.
You know what it's about? It's about the nuances, you know? It's about the minute, holistic don't-mean-shit but-mean-everything-ass little nuances.
So we are currently in the process of expanding our rehearsal space, which means more outreach to kids in this neighborhood who otherwise might not have the opportunity to develop their God-given gifts.
We building fucking warriors in here, okay? Warriors of art.
Warriors of commerce.
Warriors of change for the resistance.
'Cause you see, these are the motherfucking frontlines for the next artistic new world order.
You understand? We both know this place is the shit but we also both know that that ain't why I called you here.
I mean, if you wanted to, you could've auditioned for High Water and got in here your damn self, but you didn't.
You are here to be a part of my tour.
A hundred and twenty-four dates.
Forty-four cities.
Five million in attendance.
Somewhere in the ballpark of $480 million.
That's big time.
That's Jay-Z big time.
That's U2 big time.
Sage Odom big time.
Final auditions for the tour tomorrow, Fox Theater, but listen, I already seen your viral shit, so I already know you know what you doin'.
Only question I need you to answer: You ready to leave East-O and all that ratchet shit behind you? Come over to my side? Much bigger than this Much, much bigger than this [KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Come on, come on.
- Nobody see you come in? - No.
- Ain't nobody seen you now? - No, no.
Come on.
Let's keep it that way.
Get your black ass in here.
Okay, let's go over the plan.
Al, we've been over it, okay? I got it.
I got it.
Look, the social worker's trying to decide whether or not you're a fit parent.
- Right.
- I'mma go down there, let 'em know that I'm the biological father.
- We wanna share custody.
- Right.
- Okay, I got the paystub - Right.
My ID, the twins' birth certificates, and everything, and if they check with my employer, he's gonna cover for me and tell 'em I'm transferring to Atlanta next week.
Okay, all we need to do is buy time.
They gonna be 18 in six months and [GROANS.]
I got this.
I'm gonna ace the interview, sign the papers, bring 'em to you so you can cosign.
Right, but what you gonna do is go in there and kiss some major social worker booty.
And then, I don't want you to stay long around here because East-O's still around here and if he find you, he's gonna shoot your black ass, okay? You What What are you doing? What are you What are you You created Wangs with the money I stole from East-O.
No, nigga, I created Wangs with the money you repaid me from the money you stole from me from East-O.
That part.
[SIGHS.]
But you look good, nigga.
You too.
[AL LAUGHS.]
- And I love you.
- You my dude.
Paper chase ambition I thought I told you But y'all just never listen Oh! Yo, Jaleel, what's up, man? What's up is I been leaving like a million texts and calls for your ass.
Why you do me like that? I'm sorry about that, man.
Honestly, I should've hit you up, but I've been real busy lately and I don't know, I'm really not in the beats-making game these days.
You know, so I ain't really got nothin' for you.
That's not why I been calling.
- What's up? - Everywhere I go I keep hearing that fucking new joint Sage Odom dropped, you know? And then it hit me.
That fucking track is the beat you sold me for 300 American dollars, which makes it mine, motherfucker.
Yeah.
Um, okay, I'm I'm really sorry about that, man.
I'll give you back every penny, man.
But it's my bad.
I'm sorry.
You think you gon' refund my money? Do I look like a dumb motherfucker to you? I ain't gettin' bought off for no chump change, bitch.
I want some real money.
Talk to Sage.
He owes me a taste of that huge single.
A good taste.
Yeah, um, it's not gonna happen.
But I tell you what will happen.
I'mma pay you back the 300, and maybe a little extra for the inconvenience, but after that, you can fuck off.
[GRUNTS.]
Talk to Sage.
Bring me my money, or I'mma start some real shit.
[TAL.]
It's empty.
Come on.
- Hey.
- Hey.
We might need to rethink the whole "on the DL" thing.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
What's wrong? I'm leaving Sage.
Look me in my eyes nigga I'mma win I'mma get this money nigga I'mma live First nigga in my family wit some legal bread [SCOFFS.]
Seriously? What, Sage sent you to come fuck with me now, bro? I don't know what the hell you running on about, man.
Sage can't stand that I'm blowin' up right now.
He knows I'mma leave his tired ass right there on the side of the road, and you his new homie now so I already I'm not here for Sage.
I'm here for me.
Real talk, I need your help.
[POPPY.]
Are you fucking kidding me right now? Nah, man.
Sage has made all type of sense.
We had a talk man to man.
He made me some chamomile tea from fresh-crushed flowers.
Oh, so you're drinking his tea now? Right, gotcha.
No, but you're stirring it.
- [SCOFFS.]
- What's up? What's your problem? You, me, Rigo.
Remember us? - Your friends.
- Yeah, what about 'em? We've known each other since we were kids, man.
- Yeah, and? - And you never wanted to work for anyone before, so why now? I mean, Sage is huge, but seriously, Dre, can you really take orders from anybody? [KING.]
Listen, man, I know we got pressure between us, but we've been rolling together for forever.
You're like family to me.
I know it hurt you when I started working with Sage, but it's like He kicked me out of High Water, King.
He trying to shut my shit down.
Yeah, but he's amazing to me.
[SCOFFS.]
And Jaleel if he comes around stirring up the shit, I just Wait, you didn't You didn't tell Sage any of this, did you? [SCOFFS.]
Wow.
Look, Sage is offering me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I'd be a fool if I don't take it.
And I thought about business with East-O.
That's some dicey shit.
But do you really want to piss him off? Now that's some dicey shit.
Maybe better now than down the line with all the plans he has for us.
I mean, you okay with working with him? Well, shit, now you got me thinking about it all over again.
Right.
But I signed a contract.
I'm already committed, it's too late.
Damn, Dre, I can't believe you held out until the last damn minute.
I like to keep my options open.
Look, I know you think Rigo has changed.
That's my mans and all, but you know how he can be.
I just hope you're putting your trust in the right folk.
Anybody go against me gotta lose [TAL.]
Does Sage know? Yeah, and I can't lie, it wasn't a fun conversation, but, you know, he understands.
And, look, leaving Sage is one of the hardest decisions that I've ever made, but my new company is a tech play, so my investor wants me to locate to our headquarters in Silicon Valley.
Right.
So that means I'd have to move to San Francisco full-time.
And I think you should come with me.
You're young, Tal, they're gonna be a lot of people in your life that make you feel this way.
Have you? Have you had anybody that makes you feel like this? I mean, did Mom? Has Al? J, this is special.
Look I know that it's special.
Okay, but working with Sage, that's also special.
I know.
Fuck, it's like, why does it have to be one thing or the other? Well, I'm sorry you feel torn between two great things, but trust me, from where I'm standing that doesn't sound so bad.
[PHONE RINGING.]
J, I'm sorry, that's I know things have been real tough for you here.
[AL.]
Janelle! Girl, if you don't come get this phone I am not your secretary.
Who the hell is calling you here? - I have no clue.
- [AL.]
Working for you She got this place like it's her office.
Does this look like an office to you? [SIGHS.]
Anyway, what's going on with you? How's the rehearsal? It's good, yeah I mean, I think, I I don't even know what Sage wants but, you know, I'm trying.
Well, his name is "Sage.
" Hey, what's up? Who was that? Um, that was Kerry.
Really? That's Janelle's friend from Ohio.
I know, I answered the phone.
Her roommate fell through for Ohio State.
She was trying to see if I wanted to take the spot.
The thing is, she said if I come right now and sign the lease by this week, I could still get in-state tuition.
That's great, right? That's No, that's $30,000 a year.
Picked a hell of a time to lose my damn scholarship.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS.]
[EAST-O.]
Yo, we had a motherfucking deal, man.
We shook on it, motherfucker! Oh, this is about Sage, ain't it? You don't wanna piss him off? You don't wanna piss me off.
Look, all right, whoa, whoa, whoa I'mma fix this, all right.
I'll get back with you.
Pops, what's up? They trying to pull out the plug on this deal we got, man.
- What? - Your boy, Dondre, he backed out.
And they say without him, it's not "authentic.
" I'm gonna show those motherfuckers authentic.
Wait, Dondre Wait, that's enough for them to just back out of the whole deal? Sage is putting pressure on them.
[RIGO.]
I don't understand.
How? He's not even a part of that label! Don't matter, son, Sage said he got all the influence all over these young artists in Atlanta.
But I'm gonna take care of it, and I'm gonna fix this.
But, see, your boys, King, Dondre No fuckin' loyalty, son.
That's the thing, King kinda just popped back up and Jaleel been pressing him about some big money.
For what? Why? Well, you know that new buzzy beat on Sage's track? It's King's.
He needs help.
Rigo, I gave up my shot in Sage's tour.
I gave up High Water for this fuckin' music video.
What do you mean they're pulling it? I get it, all right.
And I know Sage is pissed at you, but maybe you should just go back to High Water, try to get back in and maybe get a shot to audition.
Oh, my God, are you serious with me right now? I don't even know if that's possible.
Besides, I signed the contract, I'm committed.
[SIGHS.]
What are you doing with that, is that mine? My dad held on to them for a minute.
He said he wanted to have the lawyers take a look at them.
[SIGHS.]
Listen, I don't want you getting hurt anymore, Poppy, all right.
I've hurt you enough.
Maybe you should just go back to High Water and fight for it.
All right? Then we'll see what happens.
Hey! I'm sorry, are you with CPS? Yeah.
Um I was dropping a package off to Al Baker.
Oh, Al, Al should be home any minute.
Why don't you come inside and wait for him? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Come on, let's get you a glass of water or something.
It's gotta be a thousand degrees out tonight.
Atlanta's it's like an armpit.
Yeah, but, but we, we love it here.
[TAL.]
Yo, yeah, Atlanta's so great.
Tal just got back from, um, rehearsal.
He attends a very prestigious performing arts school, and he's getting ready to audition for Sage Odom's multi-million dollar world tour.
[CHUCKLES.]
Is that so? Three o'clock tomorrow at the Fox.
Been practicing day and night.
He's been working his ass tail off.
[NERVOUS CHUCKLING.]
That's a big deal.
That's a huge deal.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Janelle's been working hard, too.
Um, every single day at her job and acing all her GED classes.
Yeah, I'm really trying to save for college.
I'm thinking my strength might be in business management.
Might even shoot to get my MBA someday.
Yeah, she's real good at being bossy and I mean that in a good way.
[CHUCKLING.]
We love it here with Uncle Al, don't we, Tal? Yeah, yeah, he's so great.
You know, he talks to us all the time about God and stuff.
[JANELLE.]
Right, yeah, he's very devoted.
- Yeah.
- Is that so? Yeah, me might not seem like it at first but, you know, he's Yeah, well, he should be back any minute.
Are you sure you're not hungry or anything? Yeah, I'm sure we have something.
No, no, no, it's, uh It's fine.
I'm sorry.
I'm afraid I can't stay.
Thank you.
Thank thank you.
[EXHALES.]
San Francisco sounds amazing.
It is.
Everyone's so creative there, with fun things popping all the time.
And I have this killer apartment with this great view of the Golden Gate, and I throw dinner parties there with my friends.
There's a huge dance community, like, all styles of dance, really.
And you can be whoever you want to be.
I don't know, I just, I think that you'd love it as much as I do.
Yeah, I mean, it sounds like it.
So, um, could you see it happening anytime soon? Johnny, if If I was gonna run away with anybody you know it'd be with you, right? But High Water's the it's the chance to work with Sage and that's It's huge.
- It's huge.
- I know.
My whole life, I've struggled, everything I did and everywhere I went and Shoot, High Water's not it's no walk in the park, but it's it's a place where I really can I can do me and I need that right now.
So And the other thing is my sister.
We've always taken care of each other, and she's going through some real rough shit.
And I just can't imagine just taking off, at least not until she's turned it around.
You're a good man, Tal.
Like, a really good one.
I'm a I'm a man who's gonna really fucking miss you.
More than you can imagine.
[GIRL.]
Five, six, seven, eight Hey Sage.
- Hi.
- Hey.
I haven't seen you all day.
Everything okay? Yeah, yeah, everything's good, everything's good.
My auditions are going well, my pro crew is fire.
This is about to be the best tour of my life.
That's exciting, right? Yeah, yeah, super exciting, I'm really Poppy? I made a mistake, all right? I know it.
And I'm sorry and I just And, let me guess, you want to audition? Yeah, yeah, you want to audition, and you want to come back to this place.
This place that I created for people just like you, talented, aspiring artists who ain't got shit, this place that I put my hard-earned money into to support you, this place that you ghosted from at your first chance at your idea of a better offer.
Am I leaving anything out? Sage, I know, and that's why I came to apologize to you in Oh, wait a minute.
I just got it.
Now I remember, the part where you stabbed me in the back by shaking your ass in some wack-ass video for a song whose sole purpose is to disrespect me.
Sage, she came here for a reason.
Let's hear her out.
I know it sounds crazy, but I really didn't know it was a diss track at first.
I know how much you've done for me, both of you You didn't know it was a diss track? You didn't know? [SCOFFS.]
You know what, Poppy, I [CLAPS.]
I'd like to believe that.
I would love to believe that you was just caught up in the moment.
That's exactly it.
It was a party.
[CLAPS.]
You was at a party, you was having fun, and then you just got caught up.
You was led on by the other ones, right? It was It was Rigo, that fucking Rigo, and his ratchet-ass daddy, right? That's kinda it.
That's kinda how it all went down.
- [SAGE.]
Mm-hmm.
- But now I know better and I was hoping for a second chance.
Please.
[SIGHS.]
[CAR DOOR SHUTS.]
The fuck What the fuck are you doing? What the fuck was that stunt last night? I never meant to see them.
I just wanted to drop the paperwork off, all right.
The interview went really well, I got excited, and I wanted to get it to you soon.
Fuck that! You and East-O can't be in the same fucking vicinity.
You understand what happens if East-O finds you here? I know, I know.
But I can't stop thinking about them, man.
They're so beautiful.
You know, and determined and funny.
Last time I seen them they was in diapers, now I'm in shit.
Shit! I missed so much.
- I want them back.
- You can't come back like that! You can't just step back in their lives, man.
I know, but I still can't stop thinking about it.
All I can think about is Janelle getting to college, and Tal, if he passes that audition at 3:00.
Yeah, welcome to my world, I've been dealing with this the whole time.
But you gotta get the fuck outta here! [HIP-HOP MUSIC FADES IN.]
Stars on my wrist Best whips in the world Every one of my cars on the list Best chicks in the world ain't sayin' no names But I got a few stars on the list Flood the strip club I part the Green Sea like a Black Moses You wanna talk big But it just don't get much bigger than me This is Sage's professional dance squad.
Is that Dondre and Odalie? What's going on? How the hell did this happen? Said it just don't get much bigger than this Much bigger than me Know you're only talking big I was just talking Said it just don't get much bigger than this Much bigger than me [SAGE.]
All right, good job, good job, good job.
Okay.
How are y'all doin'? - Everybody good? - [ALL.]
Yeah.
First and foremost, I wanna say congratulations on earning the opportunity to be here.
As you know, a lot of people that wanted to be here are not.
So, congrats on that.
Ladies and gentlemen, the sole purpose of High Water is to do everything in our power to prepare you for your professional life as an artist.
Today, four of you, only four, will be joining my professional dance squad.
My pro squad that you will also be dancing with today.
That's right; right here, right now, we're gonna prove who deserves to be here and who does not.
Holy fuck.
- [SAGE.]
Are we ready? - [ALL.]
Yeah.
- Are we ready! - [ALL.]
Yeah! All right, let's do it, here we go.
Come on.
I need the energy! All right, so Odalie, come to the front.
- [MAN.]
Cool, here we go.
- Seriously? [SCOFFS.]
[INSTRUCTORS' DIALOGUE OVERLAPPING.]
- [MALE.]
Here we go.
- [FEMALE.]
You walk one, two, three five, six, seven Put some energy into that.
[INSTRUCTORS' DIALOGUE CONTINUES OVERLAPPING.]
One, two, three Paige, she was on the Formation tour.
He was on the Purpose tour with Bieber.
[MALE INSTRUCTOR.]
Put some energy into that.
Let me see it.
Five, six, seven, eight.
Go, boom, boom, up I'm gonna walk you guys through it.
Just follow along.
Here we go.
[BOTH INSTRUCTORS.]
Five, six, seven, eight.
[INSTRUCTORS' DIALOGUE OVERLAPPING.]
- And pull - Seven, eight Pull, then tick, tick, tick back.
[MALE INSTRUCTOR.]
Put some energy into that.
- Tick, tick.
- Diggy, diggy, duh.
Sharp, sharp, sharp.
Shoe hup.
Diggy, diggy, duh.
Shoe hup, hup, boom.
[MALE INSTRUCTOR.]
Arm up, take the other arm down.
Then you're gonna reach up.
Grab, drop.
Good.
From here, you go elbow - Up elbow.
- [SAGE.]
That's right.
If you haven't figured it out yet, this shit is not going to be easy.
This shit is going to be hard.
Know what else is hard? Life.
Shit is too hard, take your ass home.
Only the strong survive.
All right, we're gonna start with the ladies first.
Paige, you can start us off.
[ALL CLAPPING AND CHEERING.]
Music, King.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS.]
What? Oh All right, what you call a chick that don't suck dick? You don't And if you think you're gonna come up this You won't Down comes the boogie and up jumps the funk This B taking a beating Got her hand out, the lumps Damn, baby, your ass stand out and pumped That's outstanding, stand outside until your man come Or you can leave with the key and we could play some You know I came from the dirt like a sandstorm [CHEERING.]
[COLLETTE.]
Thank you, Paige.
All right, Poppy and Lisa.
Let's see what you've got.
[GIRL.]
All right, Lisa and Poppy, get it girls.
- Right there, ladies! Go, Poppy! - Let's go! Never been shit, never had shit, never knew shit Never how, never do shit down But a nigga never gave two shits Never been a bitch Never had a Rolly on a wrist Never had shit that I take without asking Gimme this, gimme dat shit, gimme all dat [STATIC, BEAT CHANGES.]
[MAN ON TRACK.]
Let's go.
What? Oh All right, what you call a chick that don't suck dick? You don't And if you think you're gonna come up this You won't Down comes the boogie and up jumps the funk This B taking a beating Got her hand out, the lumps Damn, baby, your ass stand out and pumped That's outstanding, stand outside until your man come Or you can leave with the key and we could play some You know I came from the dirt like a sandstorm [RAP CONTINUES WITH INDISTINCT LYRICS.]
Wilt Chamberlain with the hand-dunk Shortie love G, Let me turn it to a hand pump She [INDISTINCT.]
that German or something [RAP CONTINUES WITH INDISTINCT LYRICS.]
I done balled so hard I caught a hernia Wheeled your bitch out my bed in the gurney No niggas got more [INDISTINCT.]
Scratching a fucking circus You need work, you need purpose - [MUSIC STOPS.]
- [APPLAUSE.]
[CHEERING.]
Thank you, ladies.
Poppy, yeah! I didn't know you was gonna be here, what happened? Rigo, he did right by me.
I guess he is changing.
Sorry I doubted him.
Hey, real talk, you killed that shit.
You fuck [GIGGLING.]
Hey So I finally have a clue why we were rehearsing those moves all week.
Well, you don't know all of them.
Odalie, this feels like cheating.
I'm sorry, I just wanted us to be together.
So so what, you think I couldn't pull this off on my own? No, Davis, we all have advantages.
I just shared with you some of mine.
Yeah.
Look, I did it because you deserve it.
Because I love you.
Who cares how you get it done? Kill it so we can be together.
[COLLETTE.]
All right, Davis.
You're up.
Hopefully, it's our time.
Good luck.
[CHEERING AND CLAPPING.]
Let's go, Davis! [STATIC, BEAT CHANGES.]
[MAN ON TRACK.]
Let's go.
What? Oh All right, what you call a chick that don't suck dick? You don't And if you think you're gonna come up this You won't Down comes the boogie and up jumps the funk This B taking a beating Got her hand out, the lumps Damn, baby, your ass stand out and pumped That's outstanding, stand outside until your man come Or you can leave with the key and we could play some You know I came from the dirt like a sandstorm [RAP CONTINUES WITH INDISTINC LYRICS UNDER DRAMATIC SOUNDTRACK.]
Tal.
- [CHEERING.]
- You got this! Let's go, Ohio.
Never been shit, never had shit, never knew shit Never how, never do shit down But a nigga never gave two shits Never been a bitch Never had a bezel on her wrist Never had shit that I take without asking Gimme this, gimme dat shit Gimme me all dat [STATIC, BEAT CHANGES.]
[MAN ON TRACK.]
Let's go.
Oh All right, what you call a chick that don't suck dick? You don't And if you think you're gonna come up this You won't Down comes the boogie and up jumps the funk This B taking a beating Got her hand out, the lumps [RAP CONTINUES WITH INDISTINC LYRICS UNDER DRAMATIC SOUNDTRACK.]
[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE.]
[CHEERING.]
[AL SIGHS.]
Aren't you gonna open it? Where did Where did this come from? A little place us grown-ups call "the bank.
" I, uh, took a mortgage out on my business.
But why Listen, a long time ago, somebody gave me a crazy leg up to fulfill my dreams, I mean, crazy.
Thank you.
Thank you, but I can't take this from you.
No, you're taking it, and you're gonna take it fast if you're gonna get up to Ohio and claim your in-state tuition.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
I can't believe this.
- I'm going to college.
- Yes, you are.
Get outta here.
Yes, you are.
Thank you.
Listen I know you had other plans, but I've seen kids in this neighborhood dream of being superstars and basketball stars and football stars, but I've only seen it HAPPEN ONCE: Sage.
But with college - [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
- College, you can go anywhere.
So many places.
I was looking online, they have study abroad programs in places like London and Paris.
Oh, well[CHUCKLES.]
it ain't that big a check.
- Let's just - [CHUCKLES.]
All right? Let's just just focus on Ohio right now.
You're the first one in our family to go to college, you know that? But you're the right one.
And I'm proud of you.
Well, you shouldn't be [CHUCKLES.]
Not yet.
But don't worry, I'm gonna make you proud.
Gonna make you so proud.
I know.
I'm betting on you.
I'm always dragging that horse around Our love is pastured, such a mournful sound Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground So I like to keep my issues strong But it's always darkest before the dawn Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back So shake him off, oh whoa Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back So shake him off Ooh whoa [VOCALIZING.]
All right, some of that was pretty good.
Some of it.
I need my pros on this side, High Water on this side.
Let's go, let's go, let's go.
Hustle up, hustle up.
[COLLETTE.]
All right, when you hear your name called, please take your spot, your rightful spot, with the professional dancers for Sage's world tour.
[SAGE.]
As I said earlier, only four of you are going to make it.
Best of luck, here we go.
Davis Jimenez, welcome to the pro squad.
[CHEERING.]
This is you guys next.
This is you guys next.
Good job.
We did it, baby.
We got it.
Terrence Borsay, welcome to the pro squad.
[CHEERING.]
Lalani Wright, welcome to the pro squad.
[CHEERING.]
Which leaves just one spot left.
Come on, come on, come on.
Poppy Martinez.
Welcome to the pro squad.
[CHEERING.]
[SAGE.]
Congratulations.
Good job, you earned it.
Listen, if you did not hear your name today, know and understand that this is not the end of your journey, just this part of it.
Failure is how you succeed.
You gotta fail, you gotta fall on your face to realize what it is to get up and keep going.
You should be proud of yourselves.
See you all next time.
For those of you that did make it, congratu-damn-lations, 'cause you are going on tour with Sage Odom, damn it! [CHEERING.]
Great job.
I can't believe we're gonna both be on tour together.
[GIGGLES.]
Baby, I know.
Thank you for what you did.
I'm so damn happy right now.
And we're both gonna make big money.
Our own money.
We're free.
[GIGGLES.]
Your Majesty, Your Majesty! So, are you ready to go around the world? Really? Yeah, brother, you're my new DJ.
I'm gonna need you there with me.
You you good? We need to discuss something or? [CHUCKLES.]
Okay, well, smile, brother, we're going on tour.
Come on, man.
Are you okay? Yeah, yeah, I'm good.
[SCOFFS.]
I'm better than good, I'm great.
Actually, I feel like the team is strong, real strong.
Having the High Water kids mix it up with the pros, it's gonna be good PR for this tour.
Yeah.
You know, I feel really bad for Tal, though.
Yeah, that was kind of a tough one.
But, I mean, you know how this shit goes.
You can't take everybody.
You know, you did a really good thing giving Poppy a second chance.
She showed her loyalty to me today.
You know how important that is to me.
Also, I think I'm gonna take King with me, too.
Make him my new DJ.
I feel like he's earned it.
And how he earn it? You jacked all his beats, you punk-ass thief.
Yeah, I know all about that.
Your big single had help from a student.
All right, you know what, I think you need to leave.
Now.
Excuse me, is that any way to treat a big-money donor at your school? I wonder what people would think of Sage taking money from a guy like me, a known drug dealer.
Tell me you didn't take money from this motherfucker.
Big money.
That fine expansion you all bragging about, that's courtesy of me, your most notorious anonymous donor.
[LAUGHING.]
That ain't even half of it.
See, your boss ain't the angel that everybody thinks he is.
- Ain't that right, Sage? - Yo, East.
Shut up, bro.
Oh, big man didn't tell you how he got his start in this.
I guess he forgot to tell you the time that we killed somebody, just to Yo, East, shut the fuck up, man! It's true, and I'm going public with all this shit.
The money, the thieving, the murder.
Motherfucker, that was on you.
No, that was on us.
That is, until you left me behind.
How's that for loyalty? Look, let me just break this down to both of y'all.
I can give single solitary fuck, you understand me? I'll go to jail, I'll die, but I'm making sure that you will never, ever, fuck me over again.
Matter of fact, what you gonna do, Sage, you gonna call Rigo's record company, and you gonna say you were mistaken and you gonna make it right.
Because if you don't, I'm gonna burn you, I'm gonna burn your career, and your entire fuckin' school down to the ground.
So now it's time for your punk-ass to step up.
Ha! [GUN COCKS.]
I thought I seen a ghost.
We going for a ride, motherfucker.
Yeah, okay.
No, no, no, no, I understand.
Thank you.
Hey, I'm ready.
Can you believe we're gonna be dancing in front of, like, thousands of people? Davis, what's the matter? [R&B MUSIC PLAYS.]
[TAL.]
That's so great, J.
- You're going to college.
- [CHUCKLES.]
You're going to college.
We always talked about it.
Yeah.
I don't know if I can be apart from you, Tal.
Hey, hey, no, no.
Look, this is the Ohio State University.
We've been talking about this forever.
This is huge! Look, just tell me something good, okay? Tell me that you made Sage's tour.
At least, then we'd be apart already.
Then maybe maybe I could do this.
I didn't make the cut.
I'm I'm not going on Sage's tour.
Okay, well, then I'm not going either.
- What? - I can't, how could I? What are you gonna do here by yourself? No, no, you have to go, all right? You you can't always be there to fix me, Janelle.
Okay? You can't not do what's best for you because you're worried about me.
And I can't keep depending on you to be there every time I fuckin' stumble.
I I I love you, but it's time we go our separate ways.
I think deep down we we both know that, don't we? College, that's such a big deal.
We gotta let each other go.
But I love you.
[CHUCKLES.]
And I love you, too, but But that's how we both know we're going to be fine.
Okay? And we are gonna be fine.
So Go, go make us all proud.
Come here.
[SIGHS.]
It was this two-bit producer we was messing with back in the day.
Back, like, way back before anybody gave a fuck.
Before, before I was anybody.
Just some kid hustling, trying to get off the block.
Moving around with East-O and this dude, making little moves we could make, you know, here and there.
All of a sudden, we get a look from a major label.
Big deal.
But dude wants to play hardball.
He the only man on the contract.
So, one night, chillin', drinkin', shit East-O's trying to talk some sense into him.
Dude's not budgin', "Fuck that, y'all ain't cuttin' me outta shit" [BABBLES.]
Before I knew what was going on East-O pulls his piece.
Bang.
Does the dude right there in front of me.
Oh, my God.
You know this dude, 'Lette.
You know East-O, you know his temper.
You know what he's capable of.
I would never condone nothing like that.
That's not who I am, that's not me.
- You know that's not me, right? - Right.
My only sin? Silence, all right? I kept my fuckin' mouth shut.
I had my whole fuckin' career laid out in front of me.
I had to.
So that's why you split from East-O.
That's why you left him behind.
Yeah.
Maybe now you understand why I did what I had to do with Rigo.
'Cause I didn't want fuckin' East-O back in my life.
And then I gotta find out you took money from this motherfucker.
What the fuckin' serious All right, had I known that you guys were I'm sorry.
Is there anything else? What do you mean? Is there anything else I don't know? Anything else you wanna get off your chest? 'Cause now would be the time.
No.
There's nothing else.
[DAVIS.]
Uh, Miss Jones.
Look, I know it's late, but I really need to talk to you.
Can this wait till tomorrow? I'm in a hurry.
I think you really need to hear what he has to say, Miss Jones.
Thanks to you and Odalie, uh, I finally got custody of Justin.
You did, Davis? Oh, that's amazing But that's not why I'm here.
You see They said I can't go on tour and have Justin.
So I'm sorry, but, uh I'm gonna have to give up my spot on Sage's squad.
I'm sorry.
Don't be, Davis.
Don't.
Is there anything I can do? I can make some calls.
- Anything at all? - No, they were really clear about it I can't go on the road.
Well, you must be terribly disappointed.
But if it helps at all, I think you're making the right decision.
Thank you.
You should also know that your decision will make Tal very happy, too, 'cause it was down to the two of you in the end.
I'm happy for Tal.
That's very big of you.
Sage, it's about Davis and Tal.
[REGGIE.]
I swear to God.
I swear to God I put it all up my nose.
O, that's the truth.
Fifty grand? Not even your cokehead ass could get that high.
You're lyin' to me.
I want the truth, man.
You better tell me the motherfuckin' truth O, for real, man, that's the truth.
Bullshittin' me, Reggie, and I don't like to be bullshitted.
You had a partner.
Probably that punk-ass, big fat-ass, Al.
- Right? - No.
Man, you better tell me what I need to know, or I'm gonna fuckin' kill you right here and now.
O, O, I spent it, man.
I promise you, I spent it all.
All right? You spent $50,000 of my fuckin' money?! Al didn't have nothing to do with it! [DOOR BUZZING.]
Shit.
Don't fuckin' move.
Don't fuckin' speak, or I'mma fuckin' kill you.
[DOOR BUZZES.]
[GRUNTS.]
It's late.
What are you doing here? You need to stop this, Ernest.
I'mma do what needs to be done.
Fuck Sage Odom! Listen, don't let this beef that you have with Sage ruin everything, okay.
Beef? I made that motherfucker, and he left me behind.
Now he's trying to do it all over again to me and my son.
That ain't happening.
Matter of fact, I'mma burn his house down with him in it.
And you can't do nothin' to stop me.
Do you want to destroy Rigo, too? Are you really that stupid? Rigo will be fine.
He's young and talented.
No one is gonna look out for that kid.
Not with you running around, charging like a bull, fucking everything up.
- We'll see.
- You're wrong, Ernest.
- [COLLETTE CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY.]
- [GRUNTING.]
[COLLETTE.]
If you do this, you will fuck everything up.
You will ruin High Water.
Don't be an asshole.
And don't fuck with my school.
This got nothing to do with the school.
This got to do with Sage.
You need to leave that motherfucker.
- No.
- Why are you not with me? You can leave Sage and be with me.
We can't.
You fucking him.
Probably fucking him the whole time.
You played me for a fool.
You just a snake in the grass, always had Sage's back even when you was with me.
[SCOFFS.]
Well, at least I made something of myself.
I'm not like you, some cheap fuckin' no-talent gangster, who will never amount to anything ever.
You know it's true.
Look at you.
Don't disrespect me! [STRAINING.]
- Rigo's gonna get what's coming to him! - No! [EAST-O.]
Nobody's gonna stop me! - Stop! - No one! [EAST-O.]
You understand?! - [GRUNTING.]
- [GUNSHOT.]
[GROANS.]
[PHONE RINGING.]
This is King.
[JALEEL.]
Yo, King, I was just calling to say we cool.
Jaleel? What? Yeah, man.
The track's all yours.
I see now it was a misunderstanding.
Listen, I gotta bounce, so I'll catch you later.
All right? Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Later.
Give me the phone.
Come on.
You try that shit again, it's gonna be Rigo and his pops, 'cause you gettin' off easy.
You dig? Bounce the fuck up outta here, homie.
Take your shit.
[DISTANT SIREN WAILING.]
[PANTING.]
[COUGHING.]
You fuckin' shot me! [UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING.]
[GRUNTS LOUDLY.]
But don't you know We started now Come on, come on, come on.
You gotta go.
You gotta get outta here.
- Come on, I'll - Who are you? - I'll handle this.
- Who are you? Wait there.
I'm a friend.
Go.
Please, go.
[SCREAMS.]
All the echoes in my mind cry [KNOCKING.]
Come in.
Hey.
How'd it go? Did you get in? Yeah.
[SOFT CHUCKLE.]
Tonight I'm running with the wolves Do you hate me? Now you know I could never hate you.
You hear anything from your dad? Nah.
Nope.
[SIGHS.]
I think I think Sage was right.
My dad was never gonna get me there.
I shoulda listened to Sage when I had the chance.
Getting kicked out of High Water was the biggest mistake of my life.
There's blood on your lies The skies open wide There is nowhere for you to hide now Just move your shining I'm running with the wolves tonight I'm running with the wolves-ooh-ooh I'm running with the wolves tonight I'm running with the wolves-ooh-ooh I'm running with the wolves tonight I'm running with the wolves-ooh-ooh I'm gonna miss you.
Hey, we got a date in Columbus.
If you're extra nice to me I'll get you VIP.
- Promise? - Promise.
I'm running with the wolves tonight I'm running with the wolves-ooh-ooh Time to go if you're goin'.
I'm running with the wolves-ooh-ooh You sure? Yeah, all right, I want this, all right.
I want I want the apartment and Golden Gate and your stupid dinner parties with your stupid vegetarian food.
I want I want that.
Okay? I wanna support your projects, and I want you to support mine.
And I wanna I wanna walk down the street, holding your hand.
That's what I want.
I want it with you, every day.
I'm running with the wolves-ooh-ooh I'm running with the I'm running with the I'm running with the I'm running with ooh-ooh-ooh I'm running with the wolves tonight - [PHONE BUZZING.]
- Wait, wait, wait.
It's Sage.
- Hello.
- Greyhound, what's going on, it's Sage.
Don't talk, listen.
Good news for you.
Davis is out, you're in.
Pack your bags.
Okay, thanks.
I'm running with the ooh-ooh-ooh I'm running with the [DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING.]
[NARRATOR.]
Made in Georgia.
Doobah-daba dee-dee dah
Dance, music, fashion, design, we do it all right here at High Water.
You know what it's about? It's about the nuances, you know? It's about the minute, holistic don't-mean-shit but-mean-everything-ass little nuances.
So we are currently in the process of expanding our rehearsal space, which means more outreach to kids in this neighborhood who otherwise might not have the opportunity to develop their God-given gifts.
We building fucking warriors in here, okay? Warriors of art.
Warriors of commerce.
Warriors of change for the resistance.
'Cause you see, these are the motherfucking frontlines for the next artistic new world order.
You understand? We both know this place is the shit but we also both know that that ain't why I called you here.
I mean, if you wanted to, you could've auditioned for High Water and got in here your damn self, but you didn't.
You are here to be a part of my tour.
A hundred and twenty-four dates.
Forty-four cities.
Five million in attendance.
Somewhere in the ballpark of $480 million.
That's big time.
That's Jay-Z big time.
That's U2 big time.
Sage Odom big time.
Final auditions for the tour tomorrow, Fox Theater, but listen, I already seen your viral shit, so I already know you know what you doin'.
Only question I need you to answer: You ready to leave East-O and all that ratchet shit behind you? Come over to my side? Much bigger than this Much, much bigger than this [KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Come on, come on.
- Nobody see you come in? - No.
- Ain't nobody seen you now? - No, no.
Come on.
Let's keep it that way.
Get your black ass in here.
Okay, let's go over the plan.
Al, we've been over it, okay? I got it.
I got it.
Look, the social worker's trying to decide whether or not you're a fit parent.
- Right.
- I'mma go down there, let 'em know that I'm the biological father.
- We wanna share custody.
- Right.
- Okay, I got the paystub - Right.
My ID, the twins' birth certificates, and everything, and if they check with my employer, he's gonna cover for me and tell 'em I'm transferring to Atlanta next week.
Okay, all we need to do is buy time.
They gonna be 18 in six months and [GROANS.]
I got this.
I'm gonna ace the interview, sign the papers, bring 'em to you so you can cosign.
Right, but what you gonna do is go in there and kiss some major social worker booty.
And then, I don't want you to stay long around here because East-O's still around here and if he find you, he's gonna shoot your black ass, okay? You What What are you doing? What are you What are you You created Wangs with the money I stole from East-O.
No, nigga, I created Wangs with the money you repaid me from the money you stole from me from East-O.
That part.
[SIGHS.]
But you look good, nigga.
You too.
[AL LAUGHS.]
- And I love you.
- You my dude.
Paper chase ambition I thought I told you But y'all just never listen Oh! Yo, Jaleel, what's up, man? What's up is I been leaving like a million texts and calls for your ass.
Why you do me like that? I'm sorry about that, man.
Honestly, I should've hit you up, but I've been real busy lately and I don't know, I'm really not in the beats-making game these days.
You know, so I ain't really got nothin' for you.
That's not why I been calling.
- What's up? - Everywhere I go I keep hearing that fucking new joint Sage Odom dropped, you know? And then it hit me.
That fucking track is the beat you sold me for 300 American dollars, which makes it mine, motherfucker.
Yeah.
Um, okay, I'm I'm really sorry about that, man.
I'll give you back every penny, man.
But it's my bad.
I'm sorry.
You think you gon' refund my money? Do I look like a dumb motherfucker to you? I ain't gettin' bought off for no chump change, bitch.
I want some real money.
Talk to Sage.
He owes me a taste of that huge single.
A good taste.
Yeah, um, it's not gonna happen.
But I tell you what will happen.
I'mma pay you back the 300, and maybe a little extra for the inconvenience, but after that, you can fuck off.
[GRUNTS.]
Talk to Sage.
Bring me my money, or I'mma start some real shit.
[TAL.]
It's empty.
Come on.
- Hey.
- Hey.
We might need to rethink the whole "on the DL" thing.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
What's wrong? I'm leaving Sage.
Look me in my eyes nigga I'mma win I'mma get this money nigga I'mma live First nigga in my family wit some legal bread [SCOFFS.]
Seriously? What, Sage sent you to come fuck with me now, bro? I don't know what the hell you running on about, man.
Sage can't stand that I'm blowin' up right now.
He knows I'mma leave his tired ass right there on the side of the road, and you his new homie now so I already I'm not here for Sage.
I'm here for me.
Real talk, I need your help.
[POPPY.]
Are you fucking kidding me right now? Nah, man.
Sage has made all type of sense.
We had a talk man to man.
He made me some chamomile tea from fresh-crushed flowers.
Oh, so you're drinking his tea now? Right, gotcha.
No, but you're stirring it.
- [SCOFFS.]
- What's up? What's your problem? You, me, Rigo.
Remember us? - Your friends.
- Yeah, what about 'em? We've known each other since we were kids, man.
- Yeah, and? - And you never wanted to work for anyone before, so why now? I mean, Sage is huge, but seriously, Dre, can you really take orders from anybody? [KING.]
Listen, man, I know we got pressure between us, but we've been rolling together for forever.
You're like family to me.
I know it hurt you when I started working with Sage, but it's like He kicked me out of High Water, King.
He trying to shut my shit down.
Yeah, but he's amazing to me.
[SCOFFS.]
And Jaleel if he comes around stirring up the shit, I just Wait, you didn't You didn't tell Sage any of this, did you? [SCOFFS.]
Wow.
Look, Sage is offering me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I'd be a fool if I don't take it.
And I thought about business with East-O.
That's some dicey shit.
But do you really want to piss him off? Now that's some dicey shit.
Maybe better now than down the line with all the plans he has for us.
I mean, you okay with working with him? Well, shit, now you got me thinking about it all over again.
Right.
But I signed a contract.
I'm already committed, it's too late.
Damn, Dre, I can't believe you held out until the last damn minute.
I like to keep my options open.
Look, I know you think Rigo has changed.
That's my mans and all, but you know how he can be.
I just hope you're putting your trust in the right folk.
Anybody go against me gotta lose [TAL.]
Does Sage know? Yeah, and I can't lie, it wasn't a fun conversation, but, you know, he understands.
And, look, leaving Sage is one of the hardest decisions that I've ever made, but my new company is a tech play, so my investor wants me to locate to our headquarters in Silicon Valley.
Right.
So that means I'd have to move to San Francisco full-time.
And I think you should come with me.
You're young, Tal, they're gonna be a lot of people in your life that make you feel this way.
Have you? Have you had anybody that makes you feel like this? I mean, did Mom? Has Al? J, this is special.
Look I know that it's special.
Okay, but working with Sage, that's also special.
I know.
Fuck, it's like, why does it have to be one thing or the other? Well, I'm sorry you feel torn between two great things, but trust me, from where I'm standing that doesn't sound so bad.
[PHONE RINGING.]
J, I'm sorry, that's I know things have been real tough for you here.
[AL.]
Janelle! Girl, if you don't come get this phone I am not your secretary.
Who the hell is calling you here? - I have no clue.
- [AL.]
Working for you She got this place like it's her office.
Does this look like an office to you? [SIGHS.]
Anyway, what's going on with you? How's the rehearsal? It's good, yeah I mean, I think, I I don't even know what Sage wants but, you know, I'm trying.
Well, his name is "Sage.
" Hey, what's up? Who was that? Um, that was Kerry.
Really? That's Janelle's friend from Ohio.
I know, I answered the phone.
Her roommate fell through for Ohio State.
She was trying to see if I wanted to take the spot.
The thing is, she said if I come right now and sign the lease by this week, I could still get in-state tuition.
That's great, right? That's No, that's $30,000 a year.
Picked a hell of a time to lose my damn scholarship.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS.]
[EAST-O.]
Yo, we had a motherfucking deal, man.
We shook on it, motherfucker! Oh, this is about Sage, ain't it? You don't wanna piss him off? You don't wanna piss me off.
Look, all right, whoa, whoa, whoa I'mma fix this, all right.
I'll get back with you.
Pops, what's up? They trying to pull out the plug on this deal we got, man.
- What? - Your boy, Dondre, he backed out.
And they say without him, it's not "authentic.
" I'm gonna show those motherfuckers authentic.
Wait, Dondre Wait, that's enough for them to just back out of the whole deal? Sage is putting pressure on them.
[RIGO.]
I don't understand.
How? He's not even a part of that label! Don't matter, son, Sage said he got all the influence all over these young artists in Atlanta.
But I'm gonna take care of it, and I'm gonna fix this.
But, see, your boys, King, Dondre No fuckin' loyalty, son.
That's the thing, King kinda just popped back up and Jaleel been pressing him about some big money.
For what? Why? Well, you know that new buzzy beat on Sage's track? It's King's.
He needs help.
Rigo, I gave up my shot in Sage's tour.
I gave up High Water for this fuckin' music video.
What do you mean they're pulling it? I get it, all right.
And I know Sage is pissed at you, but maybe you should just go back to High Water, try to get back in and maybe get a shot to audition.
Oh, my God, are you serious with me right now? I don't even know if that's possible.
Besides, I signed the contract, I'm committed.
[SIGHS.]
What are you doing with that, is that mine? My dad held on to them for a minute.
He said he wanted to have the lawyers take a look at them.
[SIGHS.]
Listen, I don't want you getting hurt anymore, Poppy, all right.
I've hurt you enough.
Maybe you should just go back to High Water and fight for it.
All right? Then we'll see what happens.
Hey! I'm sorry, are you with CPS? Yeah.
Um I was dropping a package off to Al Baker.
Oh, Al, Al should be home any minute.
Why don't you come inside and wait for him? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Come on, let's get you a glass of water or something.
It's gotta be a thousand degrees out tonight.
Atlanta's it's like an armpit.
Yeah, but, but we, we love it here.
[TAL.]
Yo, yeah, Atlanta's so great.
Tal just got back from, um, rehearsal.
He attends a very prestigious performing arts school, and he's getting ready to audition for Sage Odom's multi-million dollar world tour.
[CHUCKLES.]
Is that so? Three o'clock tomorrow at the Fox.
Been practicing day and night.
He's been working his ass tail off.
[NERVOUS CHUCKLING.]
That's a big deal.
That's a huge deal.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Janelle's been working hard, too.
Um, every single day at her job and acing all her GED classes.
Yeah, I'm really trying to save for college.
I'm thinking my strength might be in business management.
Might even shoot to get my MBA someday.
Yeah, she's real good at being bossy and I mean that in a good way.
[CHUCKLING.]
We love it here with Uncle Al, don't we, Tal? Yeah, yeah, he's so great.
You know, he talks to us all the time about God and stuff.
[JANELLE.]
Right, yeah, he's very devoted.
- Yeah.
- Is that so? Yeah, me might not seem like it at first but, you know, he's Yeah, well, he should be back any minute.
Are you sure you're not hungry or anything? Yeah, I'm sure we have something.
No, no, no, it's, uh It's fine.
I'm sorry.
I'm afraid I can't stay.
Thank you.
Thank thank you.
[EXHALES.]
San Francisco sounds amazing.
It is.
Everyone's so creative there, with fun things popping all the time.
And I have this killer apartment with this great view of the Golden Gate, and I throw dinner parties there with my friends.
There's a huge dance community, like, all styles of dance, really.
And you can be whoever you want to be.
I don't know, I just, I think that you'd love it as much as I do.
Yeah, I mean, it sounds like it.
So, um, could you see it happening anytime soon? Johnny, if If I was gonna run away with anybody you know it'd be with you, right? But High Water's the it's the chance to work with Sage and that's It's huge.
- It's huge.
- I know.
My whole life, I've struggled, everything I did and everywhere I went and Shoot, High Water's not it's no walk in the park, but it's it's a place where I really can I can do me and I need that right now.
So And the other thing is my sister.
We've always taken care of each other, and she's going through some real rough shit.
And I just can't imagine just taking off, at least not until she's turned it around.
You're a good man, Tal.
Like, a really good one.
I'm a I'm a man who's gonna really fucking miss you.
More than you can imagine.
[GIRL.]
Five, six, seven, eight Hey Sage.
- Hi.
- Hey.
I haven't seen you all day.
Everything okay? Yeah, yeah, everything's good, everything's good.
My auditions are going well, my pro crew is fire.
This is about to be the best tour of my life.
That's exciting, right? Yeah, yeah, super exciting, I'm really Poppy? I made a mistake, all right? I know it.
And I'm sorry and I just And, let me guess, you want to audition? Yeah, yeah, you want to audition, and you want to come back to this place.
This place that I created for people just like you, talented, aspiring artists who ain't got shit, this place that I put my hard-earned money into to support you, this place that you ghosted from at your first chance at your idea of a better offer.
Am I leaving anything out? Sage, I know, and that's why I came to apologize to you in Oh, wait a minute.
I just got it.
Now I remember, the part where you stabbed me in the back by shaking your ass in some wack-ass video for a song whose sole purpose is to disrespect me.
Sage, she came here for a reason.
Let's hear her out.
I know it sounds crazy, but I really didn't know it was a diss track at first.
I know how much you've done for me, both of you You didn't know it was a diss track? You didn't know? [SCOFFS.]
You know what, Poppy, I [CLAPS.]
I'd like to believe that.
I would love to believe that you was just caught up in the moment.
That's exactly it.
It was a party.
[CLAPS.]
You was at a party, you was having fun, and then you just got caught up.
You was led on by the other ones, right? It was It was Rigo, that fucking Rigo, and his ratchet-ass daddy, right? That's kinda it.
That's kinda how it all went down.
- [SAGE.]
Mm-hmm.
- But now I know better and I was hoping for a second chance.
Please.
[SIGHS.]
[CAR DOOR SHUTS.]
The fuck What the fuck are you doing? What the fuck was that stunt last night? I never meant to see them.
I just wanted to drop the paperwork off, all right.
The interview went really well, I got excited, and I wanted to get it to you soon.
Fuck that! You and East-O can't be in the same fucking vicinity.
You understand what happens if East-O finds you here? I know, I know.
But I can't stop thinking about them, man.
They're so beautiful.
You know, and determined and funny.
Last time I seen them they was in diapers, now I'm in shit.
Shit! I missed so much.
- I want them back.
- You can't come back like that! You can't just step back in their lives, man.
I know, but I still can't stop thinking about it.
All I can think about is Janelle getting to college, and Tal, if he passes that audition at 3:00.
Yeah, welcome to my world, I've been dealing with this the whole time.
But you gotta get the fuck outta here! [HIP-HOP MUSIC FADES IN.]
Stars on my wrist Best whips in the world Every one of my cars on the list Best chicks in the world ain't sayin' no names But I got a few stars on the list Flood the strip club I part the Green Sea like a Black Moses You wanna talk big But it just don't get much bigger than me This is Sage's professional dance squad.
Is that Dondre and Odalie? What's going on? How the hell did this happen? Said it just don't get much bigger than this Much bigger than me Know you're only talking big I was just talking Said it just don't get much bigger than this Much bigger than me [SAGE.]
All right, good job, good job, good job.
Okay.
How are y'all doin'? - Everybody good? - [ALL.]
Yeah.
First and foremost, I wanna say congratulations on earning the opportunity to be here.
As you know, a lot of people that wanted to be here are not.
So, congrats on that.
Ladies and gentlemen, the sole purpose of High Water is to do everything in our power to prepare you for your professional life as an artist.
Today, four of you, only four, will be joining my professional dance squad.
My pro squad that you will also be dancing with today.
That's right; right here, right now, we're gonna prove who deserves to be here and who does not.
Holy fuck.
- [SAGE.]
Are we ready? - [ALL.]
Yeah.
- Are we ready! - [ALL.]
Yeah! All right, let's do it, here we go.
Come on.
I need the energy! All right, so Odalie, come to the front.
- [MAN.]
Cool, here we go.
- Seriously? [SCOFFS.]
[INSTRUCTORS' DIALOGUE OVERLAPPING.]
- [MALE.]
Here we go.
- [FEMALE.]
You walk one, two, three five, six, seven Put some energy into that.
[INSTRUCTORS' DIALOGUE CONTINUES OVERLAPPING.]
One, two, three Paige, she was on the Formation tour.
He was on the Purpose tour with Bieber.
[MALE INSTRUCTOR.]
Put some energy into that.
Let me see it.
Five, six, seven, eight.
Go, boom, boom, up I'm gonna walk you guys through it.
Just follow along.
Here we go.
[BOTH INSTRUCTORS.]
Five, six, seven, eight.
[INSTRUCTORS' DIALOGUE OVERLAPPING.]
- And pull - Seven, eight Pull, then tick, tick, tick back.
[MALE INSTRUCTOR.]
Put some energy into that.
- Tick, tick.
- Diggy, diggy, duh.
Sharp, sharp, sharp.
Shoe hup.
Diggy, diggy, duh.
Shoe hup, hup, boom.
[MALE INSTRUCTOR.]
Arm up, take the other arm down.
Then you're gonna reach up.
Grab, drop.
Good.
From here, you go elbow - Up elbow.
- [SAGE.]
That's right.
If you haven't figured it out yet, this shit is not going to be easy.
This shit is going to be hard.
Know what else is hard? Life.
Shit is too hard, take your ass home.
Only the strong survive.
All right, we're gonna start with the ladies first.
Paige, you can start us off.
[ALL CLAPPING AND CHEERING.]
Music, King.
[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS.]
What? Oh All right, what you call a chick that don't suck dick? You don't And if you think you're gonna come up this You won't Down comes the boogie and up jumps the funk This B taking a beating Got her hand out, the lumps Damn, baby, your ass stand out and pumped That's outstanding, stand outside until your man come Or you can leave with the key and we could play some You know I came from the dirt like a sandstorm [CHEERING.]
[COLLETTE.]
Thank you, Paige.
All right, Poppy and Lisa.
Let's see what you've got.
[GIRL.]
All right, Lisa and Poppy, get it girls.
- Right there, ladies! Go, Poppy! - Let's go! Never been shit, never had shit, never knew shit Never how, never do shit down But a nigga never gave two shits Never been a bitch Never had a Rolly on a wrist Never had shit that I take without asking Gimme this, gimme dat shit, gimme all dat [STATIC, BEAT CHANGES.]
[MAN ON TRACK.]
Let's go.
What? Oh All right, what you call a chick that don't suck dick? You don't And if you think you're gonna come up this You won't Down comes the boogie and up jumps the funk This B taking a beating Got her hand out, the lumps Damn, baby, your ass stand out and pumped That's outstanding, stand outside until your man come Or you can leave with the key and we could play some You know I came from the dirt like a sandstorm [RAP CONTINUES WITH INDISTINCT LYRICS.]
Wilt Chamberlain with the hand-dunk Shortie love G, Let me turn it to a hand pump She [INDISTINCT.]
that German or something [RAP CONTINUES WITH INDISTINCT LYRICS.]
I done balled so hard I caught a hernia Wheeled your bitch out my bed in the gurney No niggas got more [INDISTINCT.]
Scratching a fucking circus You need work, you need purpose - [MUSIC STOPS.]
- [APPLAUSE.]
[CHEERING.]
Thank you, ladies.
Poppy, yeah! I didn't know you was gonna be here, what happened? Rigo, he did right by me.
I guess he is changing.
Sorry I doubted him.
Hey, real talk, you killed that shit.
You fuck [GIGGLING.]
Hey So I finally have a clue why we were rehearsing those moves all week.
Well, you don't know all of them.
Odalie, this feels like cheating.
I'm sorry, I just wanted us to be together.
So so what, you think I couldn't pull this off on my own? No, Davis, we all have advantages.
I just shared with you some of mine.
Yeah.
Look, I did it because you deserve it.
Because I love you.
Who cares how you get it done? Kill it so we can be together.
[COLLETTE.]
All right, Davis.
You're up.
Hopefully, it's our time.
Good luck.
[CHEERING AND CLAPPING.]
Let's go, Davis! [STATIC, BEAT CHANGES.]
[MAN ON TRACK.]
Let's go.
What? Oh All right, what you call a chick that don't suck dick? You don't And if you think you're gonna come up this You won't Down comes the boogie and up jumps the funk This B taking a beating Got her hand out, the lumps Damn, baby, your ass stand out and pumped That's outstanding, stand outside until your man come Or you can leave with the key and we could play some You know I came from the dirt like a sandstorm [RAP CONTINUES WITH INDISTINC LYRICS UNDER DRAMATIC SOUNDTRACK.]
Tal.
- [CHEERING.]
- You got this! Let's go, Ohio.
Never been shit, never had shit, never knew shit Never how, never do shit down But a nigga never gave two shits Never been a bitch Never had a bezel on her wrist Never had shit that I take without asking Gimme this, gimme dat shit Gimme me all dat [STATIC, BEAT CHANGES.]
[MAN ON TRACK.]
Let's go.
Oh All right, what you call a chick that don't suck dick? You don't And if you think you're gonna come up this You won't Down comes the boogie and up jumps the funk This B taking a beating Got her hand out, the lumps [RAP CONTINUES WITH INDISTINC LYRICS UNDER DRAMATIC SOUNDTRACK.]
[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE.]
[CHEERING.]
[AL SIGHS.]
Aren't you gonna open it? Where did Where did this come from? A little place us grown-ups call "the bank.
" I, uh, took a mortgage out on my business.
But why Listen, a long time ago, somebody gave me a crazy leg up to fulfill my dreams, I mean, crazy.
Thank you.
Thank you, but I can't take this from you.
No, you're taking it, and you're gonna take it fast if you're gonna get up to Ohio and claim your in-state tuition.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
I can't believe this.
- I'm going to college.
- Yes, you are.
Get outta here.
Yes, you are.
Thank you.
Listen I know you had other plans, but I've seen kids in this neighborhood dream of being superstars and basketball stars and football stars, but I've only seen it HAPPEN ONCE: Sage.
But with college - [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
- College, you can go anywhere.
So many places.
I was looking online, they have study abroad programs in places like London and Paris.
Oh, well[CHUCKLES.]
it ain't that big a check.
- Let's just - [CHUCKLES.]
All right? Let's just just focus on Ohio right now.
You're the first one in our family to go to college, you know that? But you're the right one.
And I'm proud of you.
Well, you shouldn't be [CHUCKLES.]
Not yet.
But don't worry, I'm gonna make you proud.
Gonna make you so proud.
I know.
I'm betting on you.
I'm always dragging that horse around Our love is pastured, such a mournful sound Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground So I like to keep my issues strong But it's always darkest before the dawn Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back So shake him off, oh whoa Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back So shake him off Ooh whoa [VOCALIZING.]
All right, some of that was pretty good.
Some of it.
I need my pros on this side, High Water on this side.
Let's go, let's go, let's go.
Hustle up, hustle up.
[COLLETTE.]
All right, when you hear your name called, please take your spot, your rightful spot, with the professional dancers for Sage's world tour.
[SAGE.]
As I said earlier, only four of you are going to make it.
Best of luck, here we go.
Davis Jimenez, welcome to the pro squad.
[CHEERING.]
This is you guys next.
This is you guys next.
Good job.
We did it, baby.
We got it.
Terrence Borsay, welcome to the pro squad.
[CHEERING.]
Lalani Wright, welcome to the pro squad.
[CHEERING.]
Which leaves just one spot left.
Come on, come on, come on.
Poppy Martinez.
Welcome to the pro squad.
[CHEERING.]
[SAGE.]
Congratulations.
Good job, you earned it.
Listen, if you did not hear your name today, know and understand that this is not the end of your journey, just this part of it.
Failure is how you succeed.
You gotta fail, you gotta fall on your face to realize what it is to get up and keep going.
You should be proud of yourselves.
See you all next time.
For those of you that did make it, congratu-damn-lations, 'cause you are going on tour with Sage Odom, damn it! [CHEERING.]
Great job.
I can't believe we're gonna both be on tour together.
[GIGGLES.]
Baby, I know.
Thank you for what you did.
I'm so damn happy right now.
And we're both gonna make big money.
Our own money.
We're free.
[GIGGLES.]
Your Majesty, Your Majesty! So, are you ready to go around the world? Really? Yeah, brother, you're my new DJ.
I'm gonna need you there with me.
You you good? We need to discuss something or? [CHUCKLES.]
Okay, well, smile, brother, we're going on tour.
Come on, man.
Are you okay? Yeah, yeah, I'm good.
[SCOFFS.]
I'm better than good, I'm great.
Actually, I feel like the team is strong, real strong.
Having the High Water kids mix it up with the pros, it's gonna be good PR for this tour.
Yeah.
You know, I feel really bad for Tal, though.
Yeah, that was kind of a tough one.
But, I mean, you know how this shit goes.
You can't take everybody.
You know, you did a really good thing giving Poppy a second chance.
She showed her loyalty to me today.
You know how important that is to me.
Also, I think I'm gonna take King with me, too.
Make him my new DJ.
I feel like he's earned it.
And how he earn it? You jacked all his beats, you punk-ass thief.
Yeah, I know all about that.
Your big single had help from a student.
All right, you know what, I think you need to leave.
Now.
Excuse me, is that any way to treat a big-money donor at your school? I wonder what people would think of Sage taking money from a guy like me, a known drug dealer.
Tell me you didn't take money from this motherfucker.
Big money.
That fine expansion you all bragging about, that's courtesy of me, your most notorious anonymous donor.
[LAUGHING.]
That ain't even half of it.
See, your boss ain't the angel that everybody thinks he is.
- Ain't that right, Sage? - Yo, East.
Shut up, bro.
Oh, big man didn't tell you how he got his start in this.
I guess he forgot to tell you the time that we killed somebody, just to Yo, East, shut the fuck up, man! It's true, and I'm going public with all this shit.
The money, the thieving, the murder.
Motherfucker, that was on you.
No, that was on us.
That is, until you left me behind.
How's that for loyalty? Look, let me just break this down to both of y'all.
I can give single solitary fuck, you understand me? I'll go to jail, I'll die, but I'm making sure that you will never, ever, fuck me over again.
Matter of fact, what you gonna do, Sage, you gonna call Rigo's record company, and you gonna say you were mistaken and you gonna make it right.
Because if you don't, I'm gonna burn you, I'm gonna burn your career, and your entire fuckin' school down to the ground.
So now it's time for your punk-ass to step up.
Ha! [GUN COCKS.]
I thought I seen a ghost.
We going for a ride, motherfucker.
Yeah, okay.
No, no, no, no, I understand.
Thank you.
Hey, I'm ready.
Can you believe we're gonna be dancing in front of, like, thousands of people? Davis, what's the matter? [R&B MUSIC PLAYS.]
[TAL.]
That's so great, J.
- You're going to college.
- [CHUCKLES.]
You're going to college.
We always talked about it.
Yeah.
I don't know if I can be apart from you, Tal.
Hey, hey, no, no.
Look, this is the Ohio State University.
We've been talking about this forever.
This is huge! Look, just tell me something good, okay? Tell me that you made Sage's tour.
At least, then we'd be apart already.
Then maybe maybe I could do this.
I didn't make the cut.
I'm I'm not going on Sage's tour.
Okay, well, then I'm not going either.
- What? - I can't, how could I? What are you gonna do here by yourself? No, no, you have to go, all right? You you can't always be there to fix me, Janelle.
Okay? You can't not do what's best for you because you're worried about me.
And I can't keep depending on you to be there every time I fuckin' stumble.
I I I love you, but it's time we go our separate ways.
I think deep down we we both know that, don't we? College, that's such a big deal.
We gotta let each other go.
But I love you.
[CHUCKLES.]
And I love you, too, but But that's how we both know we're going to be fine.
Okay? And we are gonna be fine.
So Go, go make us all proud.
Come here.
[SIGHS.]
It was this two-bit producer we was messing with back in the day.
Back, like, way back before anybody gave a fuck.
Before, before I was anybody.
Just some kid hustling, trying to get off the block.
Moving around with East-O and this dude, making little moves we could make, you know, here and there.
All of a sudden, we get a look from a major label.
Big deal.
But dude wants to play hardball.
He the only man on the contract.
So, one night, chillin', drinkin', shit East-O's trying to talk some sense into him.
Dude's not budgin', "Fuck that, y'all ain't cuttin' me outta shit" [BABBLES.]
Before I knew what was going on East-O pulls his piece.
Bang.
Does the dude right there in front of me.
Oh, my God.
You know this dude, 'Lette.
You know East-O, you know his temper.
You know what he's capable of.
I would never condone nothing like that.
That's not who I am, that's not me.
- You know that's not me, right? - Right.
My only sin? Silence, all right? I kept my fuckin' mouth shut.
I had my whole fuckin' career laid out in front of me.
I had to.
So that's why you split from East-O.
That's why you left him behind.
Yeah.
Maybe now you understand why I did what I had to do with Rigo.
'Cause I didn't want fuckin' East-O back in my life.
And then I gotta find out you took money from this motherfucker.
What the fuckin' serious All right, had I known that you guys were I'm sorry.
Is there anything else? What do you mean? Is there anything else I don't know? Anything else you wanna get off your chest? 'Cause now would be the time.
No.
There's nothing else.
[DAVIS.]
Uh, Miss Jones.
Look, I know it's late, but I really need to talk to you.
Can this wait till tomorrow? I'm in a hurry.
I think you really need to hear what he has to say, Miss Jones.
Thanks to you and Odalie, uh, I finally got custody of Justin.
You did, Davis? Oh, that's amazing But that's not why I'm here.
You see They said I can't go on tour and have Justin.
So I'm sorry, but, uh I'm gonna have to give up my spot on Sage's squad.
I'm sorry.
Don't be, Davis.
Don't.
Is there anything I can do? I can make some calls.
- Anything at all? - No, they were really clear about it I can't go on the road.
Well, you must be terribly disappointed.
But if it helps at all, I think you're making the right decision.
Thank you.
You should also know that your decision will make Tal very happy, too, 'cause it was down to the two of you in the end.
I'm happy for Tal.
That's very big of you.
Sage, it's about Davis and Tal.
[REGGIE.]
I swear to God.
I swear to God I put it all up my nose.
O, that's the truth.
Fifty grand? Not even your cokehead ass could get that high.
You're lyin' to me.
I want the truth, man.
You better tell me the motherfuckin' truth O, for real, man, that's the truth.
Bullshittin' me, Reggie, and I don't like to be bullshitted.
You had a partner.
Probably that punk-ass, big fat-ass, Al.
- Right? - No.
Man, you better tell me what I need to know, or I'm gonna fuckin' kill you right here and now.
O, O, I spent it, man.
I promise you, I spent it all.
All right? You spent $50,000 of my fuckin' money?! Al didn't have nothing to do with it! [DOOR BUZZING.]
Shit.
Don't fuckin' move.
Don't fuckin' speak, or I'mma fuckin' kill you.
[DOOR BUZZES.]
[GRUNTS.]
It's late.
What are you doing here? You need to stop this, Ernest.
I'mma do what needs to be done.
Fuck Sage Odom! Listen, don't let this beef that you have with Sage ruin everything, okay.
Beef? I made that motherfucker, and he left me behind.
Now he's trying to do it all over again to me and my son.
That ain't happening.
Matter of fact, I'mma burn his house down with him in it.
And you can't do nothin' to stop me.
Do you want to destroy Rigo, too? Are you really that stupid? Rigo will be fine.
He's young and talented.
No one is gonna look out for that kid.
Not with you running around, charging like a bull, fucking everything up.
- We'll see.
- You're wrong, Ernest.
- [COLLETTE CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY.]
- [GRUNTING.]
[COLLETTE.]
If you do this, you will fuck everything up.
You will ruin High Water.
Don't be an asshole.
And don't fuck with my school.
This got nothing to do with the school.
This got to do with Sage.
You need to leave that motherfucker.
- No.
- Why are you not with me? You can leave Sage and be with me.
We can't.
You fucking him.
Probably fucking him the whole time.
You played me for a fool.
You just a snake in the grass, always had Sage's back even when you was with me.
[SCOFFS.]
Well, at least I made something of myself.
I'm not like you, some cheap fuckin' no-talent gangster, who will never amount to anything ever.
You know it's true.
Look at you.
Don't disrespect me! [STRAINING.]
- Rigo's gonna get what's coming to him! - No! [EAST-O.]
Nobody's gonna stop me! - Stop! - No one! [EAST-O.]
You understand?! - [GRUNTING.]
- [GUNSHOT.]
[GROANS.]
[PHONE RINGING.]
This is King.
[JALEEL.]
Yo, King, I was just calling to say we cool.
Jaleel? What? Yeah, man.
The track's all yours.
I see now it was a misunderstanding.
Listen, I gotta bounce, so I'll catch you later.
All right? Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Later.
Give me the phone.
Come on.
You try that shit again, it's gonna be Rigo and his pops, 'cause you gettin' off easy.
You dig? Bounce the fuck up outta here, homie.
Take your shit.
[DISTANT SIREN WAILING.]
[PANTING.]
[COUGHING.]
You fuckin' shot me! [UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING.]
[GRUNTS LOUDLY.]
But don't you know We started now Come on, come on, come on.
You gotta go.
You gotta get outta here.
- Come on, I'll - Who are you? - I'll handle this.
- Who are you? Wait there.
I'm a friend.
Go.
Please, go.
[SCREAMS.]
All the echoes in my mind cry [KNOCKING.]
Come in.
Hey.
How'd it go? Did you get in? Yeah.
[SOFT CHUCKLE.]
Tonight I'm running with the wolves Do you hate me? Now you know I could never hate you.
You hear anything from your dad? Nah.
Nope.
[SIGHS.]
I think I think Sage was right.
My dad was never gonna get me there.
I shoulda listened to Sage when I had the chance.
Getting kicked out of High Water was the biggest mistake of my life.
There's blood on your lies The skies open wide There is nowhere for you to hide now Just move your shining I'm running with the wolves tonight I'm running with the wolves-ooh-ooh I'm running with the wolves tonight I'm running with the wolves-ooh-ooh I'm running with the wolves tonight I'm running with the wolves-ooh-ooh I'm gonna miss you.
Hey, we got a date in Columbus.
If you're extra nice to me I'll get you VIP.
- Promise? - Promise.
I'm running with the wolves tonight I'm running with the wolves-ooh-ooh Time to go if you're goin'.
I'm running with the wolves-ooh-ooh You sure? Yeah, all right, I want this, all right.
I want I want the apartment and Golden Gate and your stupid dinner parties with your stupid vegetarian food.
I want I want that.
Okay? I wanna support your projects, and I want you to support mine.
And I wanna I wanna walk down the street, holding your hand.
That's what I want.
I want it with you, every day.
I'm running with the wolves-ooh-ooh I'm running with the I'm running with the I'm running with the I'm running with ooh-ooh-ooh I'm running with the wolves tonight - [PHONE BUZZING.]
- Wait, wait, wait.
It's Sage.
- Hello.
- Greyhound, what's going on, it's Sage.
Don't talk, listen.
Good news for you.
Davis is out, you're in.
Pack your bags.
Okay, thanks.
I'm running with the ooh-ooh-ooh I'm running with the [DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING.]
[NARRATOR.]
Made in Georgia.
Doobah-daba dee-dee dah