The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - Episode #1.4 - full transcript

Goddamn it.

This shit ought to be loose
enough for me to jimmy it up.

Shit!

- How about this?
- Turn it other way. Other way.

- Other way. Sorry.
- There you go. Hit it with the head.

Now, jimmy. Jimmy
it up. Jimmy it up.

There you go. Come
on. One more time.

There you go.

This one's loose.

Whew! What?

- Yep. That's it.
- What's this?



Come on. Open it.

Well, ain't nothin' in there.

Open it then.

I thought you said treasure.

See?

Why don't you go ahead
and keep this here one?

Then we gonna see in a little
while what you call that "nothing."

I was 12 years old when
I left Mississippi.

I left 'cause of all
that death and sufferin'.

I left, but not before
I kept my promise.

I followed the path.

I followed his every direction.

Found Coy's treasure,
14 stolen gold pieces.

So, these coins...



Doubloons.

Doubloons is what they
is, like pirate treasure.

Okay. These doubloons,
they're worth real money?

Sure is.

All right, so you said there
was 14, and I only see two.

You know, Sensia, she
liked pretty things.

You know, jewelry, that
little comb you like

and, oh, I'd say a hundred
or so silk dresses.

'Course you went and spent
this money on impressing her.

Celebrating her.

I was crazy about that woman.

But I wasn't crazy enough to
spend all that money on gifts.

Then she got cancer,

and the insurance bills show.

And that's when I started
cashing in the coins.

Even though I knew that
wasn't what Coydog wanted.

But he's been dead for like a
hundred years. What could he want?

Me to spend that money
to save our people.

What? Like Black people?

Okay. You were
like ten years old.

Oh, no. Seven going on eight.

Yeah. So, how's a kid supposed
to be responsible for all that?

Well, I spent most of my life
trying to figure that out.

Then Sensia come along.

I'd do anything in the
world for that woman.

But in the end, I
failed her and Coy.

This my last chance
to do what I promised.

With these two.

All right, so… what's
this? What this open?

In due time, little bird.

In due time.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

And where you going with that?

Knockout drops.

Doubloons.

Get him up.

- Watch out. That's it.
- Come on.

That's right.

Come on. Come on. Help me.

- Bring that thing over here.
- Put it around his neck.

There you go. Get him up.

Get that can of juice.

- Hold him now.
- Stand still.

Get up there, boy.

Come on. That's right.

Come on. Get up there.

- Tell us what you know.
- I can't breathe.

Go ahead.

Easy, boy.

The only way you'd make
it through this night

is to give me back what's mine.

You better talk.

Kerosene, boy.

Better tell the man
what he wants to hear.

What they call
"highly flammable."

Son of a...

Look out.

You better watch it, boy.

Tell me where my
things is at, boy!

Or you fry.

No! Burning!

We don't want to kill him yet!

I need this nigger
alive until he talks.

- Get him down!
- Bring him down. Bring him down.

I gotcha.

Help me.

What you doing?

I was... I was just thinking,
hey, that this... this sofa

ain't no place for a
young girl to be sleepin'.

It ain't that bad.

You didn't like it when
you first come here.

Yeah, well, a lot has
changed since then.

You ain't like my
ass that much either.

That's not true. At
least not no more.

You said that boy who used to work
with Reggie wanna come by here?

Roger Dawes. Yeah.

- Tell him to come on.
- You sure?

Yeah, I remember him. He
from... he from down-home.

All right.

Bird, give me a hand.

What you doing?

- I'm gonna need you to help. Help.
- All right. All right.

All right. Come on.

It's heavy 'cause of all...
All this change in it.

Shit.

Where you get all this?

Back before I lost my marbles,

I used to cash my
retirement checks.

And what I ain't
use, I put in here.

How much is it?

I don't know. Been a
while since I been in it.

So I'm gonna have
to say, oh, 40, 50.

- Forty or 50 what?
- Thousand.

Yeah. You shouldn't
show me all that.

You scared of money?

My daddy was killed
over some money he owed.

And my mama used to
do stuff for money.

I get scared too, but
you got to carry on.

Plus, you need a good
night's sleep on a good bed.

And you need some new clothes
and some spending money.

That's money for me to make.
You should keep your own money.

What I need with
money when I got gold?

You can't pay your bills
with them old coins.

That show what you know.

Well, you still gotta get it
out this ugly-ass suitcase.

Ugly-ass suitcase?
What you talking about?

This genuine imported alligator
from Florida, Louisiana,

where they grow them
exotic-ass alligators.

This here the real
shit. Feel that.

Shit.

It don't come no
better than this here.

Yeah, well, it's still
trouble waiting to happen.

Well, what you want
me to do with it?

And this account is
to be in her name?

No, ma'am.

No, he wants this account so he can
have what you call a debit card.

I see.

And you want this checking account
separate from the one you already have?

Whatever you think's best.

- You want online access as well?
- Yeah.

I just want to open a new checking
account for my... for my closet money.

Well, you have nearly $4,000 in your
savings account already, Mr. Grey.

I appreciate you, Ms.
Brooks, and I understand you.

See, you think Robyn here

is trying to get at
my savings account

by having me open a checking
account with a few dollars,

so she can come in
through the back door.

But there's one thing
wrong with your suspicion.

Help me with this here, Bird.

This here is near about $40,000.

You would think that if
Bird here wanted to rob me,

don't you think she would've just
run on off with all this cash?

Ain't no way I could
prove she done it.

See? I think we understand
each other now, huh?

- Yes, we do, Mr. Grey.
- Good.

Now, I'm gonna put most of this here money
in that checking account we talking about.

And I'm gonna take the rest and

take care of some pertinent
business that I got on my mind.

All you have to do
is pull this here.

So easy, a child could do it.

All right.

Thank y'all. Here you go.

- For you.
- Thank you.

You still want us to
move that old couch out?

Sure do. That would... That would...
That would... That'd be a big help.

Thank you.

Watch your step over there now.

Wait, wait, wait.
What are you doing?

What are... Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Is y'all still here?
Get outta here.

This is the first
real bed I ever had.

Oh, it... it... it
ain't really a bed.

- Well, it's real to me.
- But it got

three real strong slats in it,

so it won't hurt your
back when you sleep on it.

But I ain't ever have
a real bed before.

Not even at your mama's house?

No, just a sleeping bag.

Well, you like it?

It's beautiful.

It is beautiful.

Like that dress too.

Oh, yes, yes. It's nice, right?

- Got it on sale.
- What you got in these sacks over here?

I got a couple more outfits.
And the clothes that I...

- That I went there with.
- And what brought this about?

Nothing in particular.

- You got a boyfriend.
- No, I don't!

- You got a boyfriend.
- No particular reason.

And then the preacher comes out and says,
"Well, this church for whites only."

I told him, "I ain't
want to come in.

I just stopped 'cause your
house of God was so beautiful."

I remember you told me and Reggie
that story a long time ago.

I was... I was just starting to
lose my mind for real, around then.

So, Robyn here tell me that you
been working with Reggie a lot.

He threw me work when he could. Was
always grateful. Every bit helps.

You know, I'm in school. Or trying
to be. I'm taking classes when I can.

Yeah, at the art institute.

So you... you a artist.

Well, game design.

Video games.

Ain't nothing wrong with being
a carpenter now, you know.

Yeah. But that's not... That's
not what he wants to do.

Well, what is it you want to do?

He just said it.

No, he just said what he was
in school studyin' to do.

What is it you really
want to do with your life?

I mean, where you see
yourself in ten, 20 years?

That's not really
a fair question.

That don't make it
no less important.

Okay, well, if it was so
important, how come you...

You ain't never ask
me nothin' like that?

Listen, girl. Anybody know that you
gonna be whatever it is you choose to be.

Now, man ain't got the
luxury of choosing like that.

He... He... He got to get out
there and make something of hisself

and do what need to
be done in this world.

Maybe in your world.
But in this one,

women are carrying just
as much of the load.

They're running Fortune 500 companies,
getting elected into office,

locking down the Nobel Peace Prize
for editing genomes and shit.

They may even make
it to Mars one day.

Well, as for me, I'll still be here
on the earth, tryin' to figure it out.

But I'm working on it, Mr. Grey.

And as for carpentry, I like it, but
you gotta be good with people to do it.

Reggie had a way with people.

When the last time
you seen Reggie?

We had just finished
that job at Niecie's.

Who else on that job with you?

Just me and him.

Did he seem worried or
bothered by anything?

No. Same old Reggie.

Did he pay you for
doing that job?

Why you gonna go and ask
him something like that?

Actually, sir, no, he didn't.

I figure, now that I know what happened,
he probably didn't have a chance to do it.

See?

- How much he owe you for that job?
- Oh, no, no, no, no, Mr. Grey. I mean...

That's not why I'm here.

Did I say the wrong thing? It
feels like I said the wrong thing.

Oh, what? No. There's no such
thing as the wrong thing.

How you figure?

Well, is there a right way to talk
about somebody being murdered?

Nah, guess not.

Why didn't you take the money?

'Cause of what I said.

I came by 'cause I like the man.

What was that?

I don't know. Just 'cause.

Don't make it a thing.

You ever worry about losing
your woman? Your family?

I got something I need
to say, and I don't…

I don't know who else
to say it to, Unc.

It's about…

Nina and me.

See, Nina...

Nina got this ex-boyfriend that
went to prison for killing somebody.

He then got out and...

They been talking to each other.

And I told her to
leave him alone.

She ain't listen.

So, I think I'ma just
pack her and the kids up

and move on down to Texas.

You know, we got
people down there, and…

Plus... Plus, if
he leave Atlanta,

that'll violate
his parole, so...

You still with me, Unc?

Took your time coming back.

- We was just talkin'.
- Talking about what?

How he wants to
take me to a movie.

But I told him I had to
check in with you first.

- Why? You don't answer to me.
- You don't want to know?

I like the boy.

Yeah, he's all
right. Little corny.

But he really did appreciate you
offering to pay him for Reggie.

Like I said, I like the boy.

Yeah. Well, you asked him all
those questions about Reggie,

and that's the real reason
you want him stopping by.

The boy a friend of Reggie's.
He know people we all know.

I mean, can't I ask
him a couple questions?

It's not about him.

I'm worried about you.

Well, don't worry about me.

When you get to be a certain
age, you ain't scared no more.

Yeah, but what if ain't
nothing left to find?

What if you waste what
little time you have left

looking for answers
that ain't even there?

So, how is your sleeping?

Oh, well.

Not much, really.

You know, memories
turn into dreams,

and I… just can't cut 'em off.

That happens to some patients.
I'm... I am very sorry.

It ain't nothing
to be sorry about.

Instead, I'm... I'm lucky
to have my mind back at all.

How long I'm gonna have it?

Your vitality is
amazing, Mr. Grey.

It takes to the
treatment like...

Like a fire to dried grass.

And your mind... Your
mind is completely alive,

more so than anyone
that I've ever seen.

But you also know that a fire like
that can only leave scorched earth.

So I can't tell you for
how long that it will last.

But I can tell you that it will be
the brightest light in the heavens.

The man what helped raise
me was named Coydog.

He said…

Sin is a long road

that run from downtown
hell to uptown heaven,

and your sins determine

where you stand on that road.

But ain't no person
all good or all bad,

except God and the devil.

Yeah.

Coydog stole something
from a white man.

And when they caught him,

they lynched him.

And burnt him up.

He had a noose around his neck and
was standing in burning kerosene.

When the white man got close to
him, he kicked that barrel over,

hung hisself, and
set 'em on fire.

And he...

He passed that
strength on to you.

Can I ask you something, Satan?

Yes, of course, Ptolemy.

Could it be

that once I got
old and decrepit,

I got so scared of what I knew

that I just forgot it?

All I can tell you is that

if I knew all that you do,

damn, if I wouldn't
run like hell.

Thank you for signing the paper.

Thank you.

All right.

- Hey.
- Hey.

So, what's the word?

Everything's smooth
as a fat baby's ass.

What?

You sure you up for all this?

He had you in there all morning.

I thought you'd be
worn down or something.

I ain't got no time
to be wore down.

There's too much left to do.

Besides, I'm looking
forward to this.

I ain't seen this
man in over 20 years.

Look how clean I got this one.

Be careful now.

You really never show
Sensie one of these?

- Not a one.
- Why?

Sensia was one of the most beautiful,
pure souls I have ever known.

She was also a woman
of great appetites.

If she'd know about that treasure,
wouldn't have been no stopping that woman.

So you're saying
she woulda stole it.

Oh, no, no. She wouldn't spend it all
on herself. She'd spread it around.

Friends, family, lovers.

Wait. You mean like boyfriends?

It ain't always have to be men.

What? It was like that?

And you just accepted it?

I accepted her.

So, what about you?

You have any appetites?

Slipped up one time.

This friend of
Sensia's named Lolly.

- Like a revenge thing.
- Unexpected thing.

Sensia was out of town for the weekend.
Lolly asked could she cook dinner for me.

Took me to her place.

Only happened the once.
But I hated myself for it.

Sensia took one sniff of
me, she knew. Kicked me out.

Hour later she come looking for me, saying
she'd die if we couldn't be together.

I never looked at another
woman again. Ever.

Did Sensie do the same for you?

Wow.

- It somethin', ain't it?
- Yeah.

- Why you whisperin'?
- I don't know. It make me wanna whisper.

Ptolemy. Mashallah. My old
friend, Ptolemy. How are you?

Syed. How are you, my friend?

Oh. God is good. Alhamdulillah.

- And who is this?
- This is Robyn. She's been helping me out.

- Robyn.
- Yes.

- You like my antiques?
- Yes.

This marble bust is of the
great Roman emperor, Hadrian.

He wrote a poem a long time
ago, right before he died.

My father knew it well.

"Dear fleeting
sweeting, little friend,

My body's comrade and its ghost,

What region now
must be thy goal,

Little numb and naked soul,

"Unable, as of old, to jest?"

Wow.

That's it.

Look around, please. Ask
me anything you'd like.

Thank you.

How... How... How's the family?

My sons are in college, and Fatima
will be taking over the store one day.

And your father?

My father died
three Augusts ago.

Jafar, such a good man.

Yeah, he was.

One of the rarest pieces I have.

It was done centuries
ago in Central Africa.

For years, experts
refused to believe

that Africans had the craft
to create such perfection.

But obviously, they
were very wrong.

Obviously.

Syed, you still using
that tearoom back there?

Absolutely. Come on.

- Thank you.
- Yeah.

Robyn was asking
how we actually met.

I was 14.

When I saw this Black man
walk through the store,

I lingered, just to make sure
he wouldn't take anything.

I was young and stupid.

Ptolemy asked about the Celtic
circlet hammered from silver.

I believe we were selling
it for $700 at that time.

I wanted to get something
pretty for Sensia.

She had been sick for
a long time by then.

And Jafar, his daddy, asked
me how much money I had.

I told him $87.

He said he'd take
that as a down payment

and I could pay him the rest when
I come back in a month later.

- Wow.
- Put it in a pretty box.

Wow, Sensia was so happy.

When Mr. Grey left,
I asked my father

why he trusted a Black man
that he had never met before.

He told me, "You cannot tell a
man from his color, his clothes,

nor his nationality,
nor his God.

You can only know a man from
what he has in his heart."

That Jafar. He was a good man.

I came by every month
till I paid him back.

What are you doing here today,
my old friend? Just saying hello?

Show him the coin, Robyn.

- You're looking to sell this today?
- No, no, no.

We just want a price right now.

Give me one second.

You know, Mr. Ptolemy brought
these coins in from time to time.

That's why we got this index.

Let's see.

Saint-Gaudens double eagle.

1932. Good condition.

You're looking at 50,000.

Wait, 50,000 for these?

For each one. Yes. That
is a general estimate.

Like my father
always told Ptolemy,

there are better dealers for these
type of artifacts. More profit.

But then again, Ptolemy
never trusted them.

Ain't nothing changed.

'Preciate your help. Yes, sir.

What you lookin' at?

I'm reading this
book about astronomy.

- That for your GED?
- Nah.

Did you know that the sun takes up
more space than a million Earths?

- Damn. That's big.
- Right?

And in the old days, people used
to think that the sun was God.

She probably still is.

Yeah.

What you over there
brooding about?

Everything I ever
knew… all at once.

Yeah, that sound
like a lot of work.

Sure is.

But I ain't got but a few more
days to get my affairs in order.

It don't... It don't bother you,

thinking about how it's gonna
go back to the way it was?

I done made my peace with it.

Bother you?

What you think?

You know, my...

My father used to run the
streets every night with thugs.

And then one Saturday,
he just didn't come home.

Me and my mama buried him.

And then she got on the pipe,

and I tried to help her.

And she would promise me,

almost every day, that
she would get clean.

And then one Thursday morning,
I woke up and she was dead.

Listen.

Devil told me…

That I would go back to
the way I was. Not die.

He said it could be worse.

If I ain't took his medicine, we
wouldn't be talking right now.

You just don't understand me.

Okay.

Then make me understand.

I was...

I was happy when my mama died.

I knew that she arranged it so that
I could stay at Auntie Niecie house.

I hoped in my heart...

I wish that I didn't, but I
hoped that she would pass,

just so that I could
get out of that house.

So… I'm the one you
should be calling "devil."

No, no, child.

You are not the devil.

What I mean is…

You're the first person I
was ever close to that I...

That I didn't want to die.

I just don't want
you to go away.

I don't want you to go away.

I'll get it.

No, I'ma come wit' you.

Mr. Grey?

Yes?

My name is Darwin Andrews.

I work for the city,

making sure that our elder residents are
safe and capable of self-maintenance.

Do you mind if I come in
and ask you a few questions?

Yeah, sure. Come on.

This way.

So, why are you here?

Your niece has made a claim
that Miss Robyn Barnet

has been mistreating and
abusing you and your home.

Has you been abusing me, Bird?

No, Uncle, I have not.

- Well…
- Do you see this, Mr. Grey?

Your niece and her son

claim that Miss Barnet
has stolen your money

and is allowing you
to live in squalor.

There might be some
dust here and there,

but I wouldn't
call it "squalor."

Officer? Hey, hey!

I don't remember giving you permission
to be rummaging through my house.

I just showed you a piece of
fruit, Mr. Grey. What was it?

A navel orange with a hint of
green up 'round where the stem was.

What do you make of the claim about
this young woman taking your money?

You live with somebody, Darwin?

I'm asking the
questions, Mr. Grey.

Right. You licensed by the city.

Now I asked you that question
'cause if you do live with somebody,

and my niece said that somebody
was stealing your money,

how would I know if
that was true or not?

Why would she lie?

Why would I lie?

For that matter,
why would Robyn lie?

Your niece is just trying to safeguard
your money and your property.

And if you deem me incompetent,

then my niece is the one who will
end up with my property and my money.

Ain't that right?

Do you mind if I take a look
around your apartment, sir?

Oh, no. Be my guest.

Robyn, give him the grand tour.

- And what's your name, son?
- Regent.

My name's Ptolemy.

That means "king."
Regent means "king."

Ain't... Ain't that something?

So, Regent, you and your partner
here, this y'all's neighborhood?

This y'all's beat?

Yes, it is. Work out
of 13th Precinct.

You know anything about a killing
happened up around Delmar Circle?

Yeah, he was killed
about two weeks ago.

Well, young man was my
great-nephew, Reggie Lloyd.

Sorry to hear that.

How's the investigation coming?

It's above our pay grade.

Detectives are
working the case, sir.

They don't tell us anything unless there's
somebody to be brought in for questioning.

Has anybody been brought in?

Have you had this
house cleaned recently?

Has your house been
cleaned recently?

I'll be filing a report
with social services.

They'll drop by from time to time
to check on you and Miss Barnet.

That's mighty white
of you, Darwin.

Let's go.

Y'all have a good day now.

Thank you.

Fried thighs are coming.

Oh, well, thank you, Sonia.

You got to eat good if you wanna be out
here in these modern-day cotton fields.

I hear you. Might've been
easier down-home than up here.

Hal Drucker got shot walking to
his car last night. Just walking.

Now he's dead as a doornail.

Wait, that's the man that wear
the red suit all the time.

You looking good, Miss Robyn.

Got them boys chasing
her ass double time.

Oh, whatever.

- Please.
- I'll go get your food.

All right.

Now, about Niecie.

I know what's in Niecie's heart.

But Niecie would
take everything I got

and turn around, think
she doing right by me.

Did you ever think
that way about me?

No. That thought
never crossed my mind.

Not even when I took the comb?

Young girl see
something that beautiful

and don't want to touch
it, that'd be a crime.

Yeah, but I didn't just touch
it. I put it in my pockets.

Robyn, you ain't got a
crooked bone in your body.

- How do you know that?
- I just know.

All your life you
wanted so hard,

you worried you're gonna
take something ain't yours.

And Niecie, she don't
even know to worry.

Why? Because she
just want so bad?

Some Black folk, and
some white folk too,

want things so bad, they
just can't help theirself.

But that don't make
them bad people.

- What? So what it make them then?
- Trapped.

They caught in the quicksand,

and we need to help 'em out.

So we supposed to love these motherfuckers
even when they don't deserve it?

Oh, nah, now. I ain't...
I ain't say all that.

Okay. So what if I told you
there was more shit with Hilly?

Like what?

Like, Auntie Niecie
gave Hilly money

to give to Reggie and Roger
for the work they'd done,

but Hilly never
gave it to Reggie.

- So, Hilly stole Reggie's money?
- Yeah.

You see them?

Artie! Artie!

Latisha. What y'all
doing in the damn street?

We're drawing.

Why you wanna draw in the
middle of the street for?

- Come on.
- Is y'all mama wit' y'all?

- She too sad.
- No.

So you all staying here?

Just till she happy again.

Lord have mercy. You bring
them in the house, would you?

- Come sit on the step.
- No.

- I gotta talk to you. Yeah.
- No.

Sit.

What is wrong with you?
You know better than that.

We was just drawing.

You were drawing up
the street like that?

- Yeah.
- No, it's not funny.

It's not funny. I'm not playing with
y'all. You know better than that.

What the hell is all that noise?

Well?

Well, is you gonna let me in?

I thought social
services took you.

Who's that at the
door, Hilliard?

Niecie! Tell this
fool to let me in.

Pitypapa. Wha...
Come in. Come inside.

Hi, Auntie Niecie.

That a new outfit you got?

Maybe we should tell
social services about that.

Maybe I should've cut your
shit off when I had the chance.

Did you know them children was
out there, playing in the street?

Hilly, were the
kids outside alone?

I told 'em to stay
out the street.

Go get your uncle
some ice water.

How come you got
Reggie's kids over here?

You seem different.

Why you got Reggie's children?

Nina wanted to get her mind
together. She asked me to take 'em.

She sent them over
here to stay with us.

And how much she
paying you for that?

Reggie saved up a little bit of money.
She only gave me enough to feed them.

Police call you when
Reggie got killed?

They called Nina.

She was so scared, she
asked me to go with.

And what they tell you?

That somebody had
shot him in the head.

What you got to say, boy?

I ain't no boy.

Listen here.

I went down to the bank, and
I opened up a checking account

for you, the boy, Reggie's wife
and kids and a few other folk.

And I made Robyn here
the… What you call that?

- A signatory.
- Signatory.

So, she gonna be writing you a
check for $900, once a month.

- Robyn?
- Yeah.

It's enough for you to pay your
little bills and stuff around here.

- Something left over for you.
- Why don't you let me write my own checks?

'Cause you tried to get me
dragged out my own house

and locked up in the
old folk's prison.

Uncle, I was trying to help.

Hilly said that you were crazy.
He said you were living in filth.

- He tell you he stole my money?
- I ain't steal from you.

I gave Shirley Wring
$50, and I know that

'cause she come by my house
and paid it back to me.

- You stole half the rest of it.
- You calling me a thief?

- To your face.
- Sit down!

Sit down.

Robyn gonna call
you in about a week.

If you want the money,
just say so. If not…

She's not even blood to us.

I just don't think it's right to have
some stranger doing our family business.

So, I'm a stranger?

I cleaned your house,
made your meals.

I do more for you than Hilly ever
did. You gonna call me a stranger?

Why don't you take
these children

down to the store and
get 'em something sweet?

Come on.

- Come on, let's go. We going to the store.
- Okay.

- Boy.
- What?

Why don't you meet me out here on
the porch? Let me rap with you.

So, Hilly, do you do it?

Yeah.

But I ain't... I ain't
think you was gonna know it.

Like, I wouldn't have stole your
money if I knew you could count.

- Hilliard.
- Yeah?

Do you really think it's
okay to steal from somebody

just 'cause they don't
know you doing it?

I mean, yeah.

I mean, what difference it make?

If they don't know it,
then it don't hurt 'em.

Jesus Christ.

What? Sorry I took
the money again.

I'm sorry about Hilly, Uncle.

He just never had a man to
teach him right from wrong. I...

Yeah. I could've been that man.

You had enough on
your plate back then.

Well, I still should've
been here for the boy.

Should've been
here for all y'all.

Look here, if I
gave you some money,

you think you could pull
together a little gathering?

You know, maybe the folks
who was at the repass.

- Get 'em to come back?
- What for?

I just want to say a few words.

Well, I don't know, Uncle.

I don't know who's around
or would even want to.

- Could you try?
- Okay. I'll try.

Car be here soon.

- You ready to go?
- Sure.

I'ma call you.

What's this here?

Forbes. It's a magazine about
millionaires and billionaires.

Yeah, I know what Forbes is. I
mean, what you doing with it?

There's an article on e-sports.

Here?

What's that?

Competitive gaming.
You know, video gaming.

- I thought you designed games.
- To pay my rent.

But there's more money in
playing than designing.

You can make money sitting
around playing games?

The last League of Legends competition
had more viewers than a Super Bowl.

Forbes says that last year, ten
gamers made more than ten million.

Dollars?

Mostly endorsements,
but yes, sir.

I'll be damned.

Ain't that somethin'.

There she is.

You really like her, huh?

Yes, sir. I like how
tough she is. Pretty too.

Well, you know she been hurt by
folks supposed to love her before?

I know.

I'm getting my GED.

You graduated?

- Yeah, I passed.
- All right. Congratulations.

- Oh, no surprise there.
- You know, we should go celebrate.

I need to go see Billy
first. I promised him.

Okay, well, after then?

Anywhere you wanna go.

- Billy. Billy!
- Mr. Grey.

What you doing over here?

I wanted to talk to you.

About what?

Can I buy you a drink?

All right.

Niko, would you grab us a
couple of beers from the back?

So, who dropped you off, man?

Roger Dawes. You know, he
going out with Robyn now.

Roger. He used to work for
Reggie from time to time.

He's a good kid.

Yeah. I mean, she
could do worse.

You know, I talked to
the police about Reggie.

They could give a damn about a Black
man getting shot down in the streets.

Even if they know that Black
man didn't run the streets.

You don't have to run the
streets to get killed in 'em.

Don't I know it.

But…

- But what?
- Reggie told me before he got killed,

he was thinking he was
gonna have to leave town.

So?

So, I wanna know who
killed my nephew.

What for?

What would you do if somebody
killed one of your loved ones?

One day, Reggie told me about...

Something about
Nina's ex-boyfriend.

- The one just got out of prison?
- So, he already talked to you about this?

He told me some, but, you
know, not... not... not a lot.

He ain't had no name.

Nah, nah, Reggie...
Reggie didn't say a name.

But he did say that the cat
was sentenced to 20 years

and got out in 12.

Interesting.

What you about to do, Mr. Grey?

I'm about to kill me
a motherfucker, Billy.

That's what I'm about to do.