All American: Homecoming (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Truth Hurts - full transcript

SIMONE: 15? 15, RIGHT?

THEA: YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO KEEP YOUR OWN COUNT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT COACH SAID. 16.

17.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S
GO. LET'S CALL IT.

WHAT? OK.

WHERE IS THEA?
BECAUSE THE REAL THEA

WOULD NEVER QUIT
PRACTICE EARLY LIKE THAT.

WELL, IT'S LIKE, 100 DEGREES,

NOT TO MENTION MY
FOREHAND IS FLAWLESS.

HUH. OH, I GET IT.



YOU'RE STILL UPSET ABOUT
US LOSING THE ALUMNI GAME.

WELL, I'M NOT THRILLED, BUT...

OK, THEN WHAT IS IT?

CLEARLY, YOU'RE
STILL PISSED AT ME,

OR YOU WOULDN'T JUST
END PRACTICE LIKE THAT.

SIMONE, NOT
EVERYTHING'S ABOUT YOU.

[INHALES AND EXHALES]

OK. LOOK.

GRANNY HAS BEEN
BLOWING UP MY PHONE

INSISTING THAT I
GO ON A BLIND DATE

WITH HER FRIEND'S GRANDSON,

SOME SENIOR NAMED KEVIN.

I DON'T DATE.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHERE TO START.



WELL, WHAT ABOUT A
NICELY-WORDED TEXT?

THIS IS WHY I DON'T
TELL YOU THINGS.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

IF WE WERE DIFFERENT PEOPLE,

I'D PROBABLY OFFER TO HELP,

BUT I'M SURE GRANNY
WILL UNDERSTAND

WHEN YOU BLOW IT.

HELP ME HOW?

I DON'T KNOW.

ESTABLISH A CONNECTION
WITH THE GUY.

HOW DO I DO THAT?

YOU LEARN ABOUT HIM.
IT'S JUST LIKE TENNIS.

YOU USE WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT YOUR OPPONENT

TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

WELL, FINE. IF YOU
INSIST ON HELPING...

I DID NOT INSIST ON HELPING.

I'll MEET YOU IN THE
DORMS AFTER CLASS.

DON'T BE LATE.

AMARA: I KNOW
PRESIDENT ALLEN SAID

HE WAS TIGHTENING
THE PURSE STRINGS,

BUT THAT MAN'S GOT
US OUT HERE SWEATING

ON THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR.

UH, HELLO?

HAS THE HEAT MADE YOU
FORGET YOUR MANNERS?

I'M SORRY.

SO?

TARIQ AND SHANELLE
ARE COMING INTO TOWN

NEXT WEEK FOR A WEDDING,

AND THEY WANT TO BRING
SHAY BY FOR A VISIT.

DON'T TELL ME YOU
AREN'T EXCITED.

YOU'VE BEEN MOPING
AROUND CAMPUS FOR WEEKS,

TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH
YOU MISS THAT BABY.

AUNTIE, THERE'S NOTHING MORE

THAT I WANT THAN TO SEE SHAY.

I JUST...

I HAVEN'T EXACTLY
TOLD ANYONE HERE

THAT I HAD A BABY

AND GAVE HIM UP FOR ADOPTION.

I SEE.

AND YOU KNOW I'M
NOT ASHAMED OF HIM.

I KNOW THAT I MADE
THE RIGHT DECISION,

BUT FOR SO LONG,
MY LIFE HAS BEEN

THIS BIG, COMPLICATED PUZZLE.

I GOT SCHOOL, TENNIS,
SHAY, AND JORDAN TO FIT IN.

AND ONCE I TELL EVERYBODY,

IT'S JUST GONNA
CHANGE EVERYTHING.

WELL, YOU

CAN KEEP THEM SEPARATE.

NOW, AUNTIE, YOU
KNOW I AM OUT HERE

TRYING TO WALK IN MY TRUTH.

THEN YOU HAVE YOUR ANSWER.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

NO. I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT.

WHAT? THOUGHT I LEFT
MY WATCH IN HERE

OR SOMETHING, BUT
SINCE I'M HERE...

YEP.

OH, I FOUND IT.

NICE TRY.

WHAT'S ALL THAT?

COSTUMES FOR TONIGHT.

I'M CHOREOGRAPHING A MUSIC VIDEO

FOR A 24-HOUR DANCE COMPETITION.

FIRST PRIZE IS 5 GRAND

AND A CLASS WITH A
TOP CHOREOGRAPHER.

OH, THAT'S DOPE...

YEAH. I KNOW.

BUT I THOUGHT
DR. McCALLA HAD GIVEN UP.

ON HER LITTLE DANCE DREAMS.

WHAT HAPPENED?

IT'S A LOCAL CONTEST,
AND IT'S JUST FOR FUN.

I'VE GOT TO FIND
A WAY TO CHANNEL

MY CREATIVE ENERGY SOMEHOW.

OH. I THOUGHT THAT'S
WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

OH...

YOU ARE DISTRACTING ME.

MM.

GOOD-BYE, CAM.

ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING.

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR VIDEO.

THANK YOU.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

EMMERY WILLIAMS: ♪ BLACKOUT

♪ I'M THINKING OF
GETTING MY BOUNCE ON ♪

♪ I'M THINKING OF
GETTING MY BOUNCE ON ♪

[SHUTS OFF MUSIC] ♪ LEFT OUT...

IF I WANTED AN AUDIENCE,
I'D SELL TICKETS.

I FIGURED THIS IS THE
ONLY WAY WE CAN TALK

SINCE YOU WON'T RETURN
ANY OF MY MESSAGES.

I ASKED YOU AFTER
THE ALUMNI DINNER

FOR ANSWERS, SOMETHING
TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND

WHY YOU ENDED THINGS
BETWEEN US BACK IN COLLEGE.

YOU STILL HAD NOTHING
TO SAY FOR YOURSELF,

SO WHAT'S CHANGED?

[SCOFFS]

WILLIAMS: ♪ SHAKE
DRINK, AND IT'S REAL ♪

♪ BLACKOUT

♪ I'M THINKING OF
GETTING MY BOUNCE ON ♪

♪ LOCKED DOWN FOR THE MONEY

♪ HUH, FOR THE MONEY...

DAMON: YEAH. GIVE
ME A CALL, BRO, OK?

HEY, UM, SOMETHING CAME UP.

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN J.R., HAVE YOU?

HE WAS, LIKE, A
NO-SHOW FOR PRACTICE,

AND NO ONE'S SEEN OR HEARD
FROM HIM SINCE SUNDAY.

NO. HAVE YOU BEEN
TO THE KAPPA HOUSE?

I MEAN, HIS FRAT BROTHERS
HAVEN'T SEEN HIM, EITHER.

IT'S NOT REALLY
LIKE HIM, YOU KNOW?

I'M SURE HE'LL BE FINE.

ARE YOU GOOD, THOUGH?

YOU JUST SEEM KIND OF EDGY.

I PUT IN MY REQUEST
WITH THE STATE

FOR MY ADOPTION RECORDS,

I JUST GOT AN E-MAIL
BACK THIS MORNING.

DAMON, THAT'S GREAT.
WHAT DID IT SAY?

I HAVEN'T OPENED IT YET.

I MEAN, LIKE, I WANT TO.

I JUST... I DON'T KNOW.

I KEEP THINKING, LIKE,

"WHAT KIND OF MOM
GIVES UP HER KID?"

BUT YOU WANTED TO TALK.

MY BAD. WHAT'S UP?

UM, NOTHING.

YOU KNOW, UH, I'M...

- WHOA...
- DAMN...

SIMONE: WHAT THE...?

DAMON: YO, WHAT IS GOING ON?
NATHANIEL: THE POWER'S OUT.

SIMONE: WELL, THAT'S
AN AMAZING OBSERVATION.

WILINDA: HAVE WE ACTIVATED
THE EMERGENCY PROTOCOL?

NATE: GIRL, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW
THAT THERE IS AN EMERGENCY.

KEISHA: OK. MY DAD JUST SAID

THAT THE BLACKOUT IS CITYWIDE.

ALL RIGHT. EVERYBODY LISTEN UP.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE HEAT WAVE

STRESSED THE POWER GRID,

SO THE BLACKOUT'S ALL OVER TOWN.

STUDENT: GUESS WE GOT TO DO

OUR PART TO STAY COOL.

[WOMEN HOOTING]

KEISHA: OK. NO. NO.
Y'ALL NEED TO CHILL.

THIS BLACKOUT IS
NOT AN INVITATION

FOR Y'ALL TO BE WILDING
IN THESE STREETS.

WOMAN: NO. NO.

I GIVE YOU AN "A" FOR EFFORT.

KEISHA: THANK YOU.

I'M JUST GLAD THAT ART'S
THE R.A. ON DUTY AND NOT ME.

OH, SPEAKING OF, I SHOULD
PROBABLY GO HELP HIM

GATHER SOME CANDLES
AND SOME LIGHTS,

SO Y'ALL BEHAVE, ESPECIALLY YOU.

- ME?
- OH.

NATHANIEL: WELL, I'll
CATCH Y'ALL LATER.

SIMONE: UM, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

OH, DEAR SIMONE, WHAT HAPPENS

IN THE BLACKOUT STAYS
IN THE BLACKOUT.

OOH. HAVE FUN. [CHUCKLES]

I'M GONNA RALLY UP

SOME OF THE TEAM, SEE
IF I CAN FIND J.R.

"FIND J.R."?

I JUST SAW HIM UP
ON THE THIRD FLOOR.

LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY GOT
THE PARTY STARTED EARLY.

WAIT. WAS HE DRUNK?

OH, YEAH. HE'S
FEELING REAL GOOD.

COME ON. LET'S GO
FIND HIM TOGETHER.

THEA: UM, SIMONE,
WHERE YOU GOING?

THEA, IT'S A BLACKOUT.

I DON'T CARE. BLACKOUT OR NOT,

GRANNY EXPECTS THIS
DATE TO HAPPEN.

YOU PROMISED TO HELP.

WELL, THIS IS KIND
OF AN EMERGENCY.

YEAH. SO IS THIS.

LOOK. I GOT J.R., OK?
YOU GUYS HANDLE BUSINESS.

I'M GONNA CATCH YOU LATER.

MM-HMM.

[POUNDING ON DOOR]

AMARA?

DO YOU MIND?

NONE OF THE DOORS WILL BUDGE.

PART OF THE FANCY
ELECTRONIC LOCKING SYSTEM

THEY INSTALLED LAST YEAR.

THERE'S A MANUAL
BACKUP, I ASSUME.

WHERE'S THE KEY?

THAT'S A QUESTION
I'VE BEEN TRYING

TO FIND THE ANSWER
TO FOR 20 MINUTES.

[SIGHS] SO WE'RE TRAPPED HERE.

FACILITIES ARE ALL BACKED UP,

SAID AS LONG AS WE'RE SAFE,

JUST TO SIT TIGHT.

IT MIGHT BE A WHILE.

LOOK AT YOU. HOT DATE?

THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

WHEREVER YOU ARE NOT.

WOMAN, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,

YOU STILL DRIVE ME CRAZY.

YOU KNOW THAT?

NOW YOU KNOW HOW
I FEEL, BROTHER.

J.R.: YEAH. SHE NICE, THOUGH.

DAMON: YO, J. HEY, IS THAT YOU?

HEY, I'M GONNA CATCH
YOU LATER, BRO.

WHAT'S UP? WHERE YOU BEEN?

YO, I'M REALLY NOT IN THE MOOD

FOR A LECTURE RIGHT NOW.

OK. GOOD BECAUSE I'M NOT
HERE TO GIVE YOU ONE, BRO,

BUT YOUR LITTLE
DISAPPEARING ACT,

THAT GOT COACH
AND THE WHOLE TEAM

WORRIED ABOUT YOU, MAN.

I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH
THIS FAMILY STUFF...

PARENTS SPLITTING UP.

THEY'RE DONE.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT, BRO.

LOOK. I KNOW DIVORCE IS TOUGH,

BUT COACH WILL UNDERSTAND
IF YOU JUST TALK...

BUT I DON'T CARE
WHAT COACH THINKS.

I'M DONE WITH IT ALL...

BASEBALL, CARING,
ALL OF IT. I QUIT.

YO, HOLD UP. WHAT?

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, YOU QUIT?

I'M OVER IT.

BASEBALL WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE ME AND MY DAD'S THING.

SO WHAT, YOU'RE JUST
GONNA QUIT THE TEAM

AND SCREW UP YOUR LIFE TO, WHAT,

PISS OFF YOUR PARENTS?

THE TEAM WILL SURVIVE,

AND DAMON SIMS
WILL LEAD THE WAY.

MAN: COME ON, MAN. TAKE
IT BACK TO EDDIE'S ROOM.

HEY, I'M GONNA BE
RIGHT THERE, BRO.

COME ON, MAN. DON'T...
DON'T DO THIS.

IT'S TIME TO STOP TAKING
THINGS SO SERIOUS.

HAVE A LITTLE FUN. HA HA HA!

HEY, J...

SIMONE: THEA, I NEED
YOU TO WORK WITH ME.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR
SPECIFIC INTERESTS?

AND DO NOT SAY TENNIS.

I DON'T KNOW. JUST
THE NORMAL STUFF.

GIVE ME SOMETHING, ANYTHING...

MOVIES, YOGA,
FRICKIN' BIRDWATCHING.

THEA, HAVE YOU EVER
BEEN ON A DATE?

SHH. KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN.

I MEAN,

WITH ALL MY TRAVELING
FOR TOURNAMENTS,

THERE WASN'T TIME TO DATE.

YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND,
BUT IT TAKES A LOT

OF SACRIFICE TO BE NUMBER ONE.

HEH. OK.

I'M GONNA LET YOU
HAVE THAT ONE. LOOK...

THE BEST CONNECTIONS
HAPPEN WHEN YOU BOTH

HAVE SHARED INTERESTS,

SO DOES KEVIN HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA?

YEAH.

OH. HE FINE.

OK. HE LIKES DOGS, SURFING,

OH, AND HE VOLUNTEERS
WITH BIG BROTHERS.

THAT'S NICE.

SO IF I'M CHECKING HIM OUT,

HE IS DOING THE SAME.

YES. DO YOU HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA?

WELL, OF COURSE.
BUILDING A BRAND.

WOW.

YOU PLAYED IN MADRID
WHEN YOU WERE 14?

MM-HMM, THE MADRID CLASSIC.

I WON THE TOURNAMENT IN
A THIRD-SET TIEBREAK.

ASIA, COSTA RICA, THAILAND.

GIRL, WHERE HAVEN'T YOU PLAYED?

ABU DHABI.

I DON'T DO WELL IN EXTREME HEAT.

I WAS HOMESCHOOLED

SO I COULD COMPETE
INTERNATIONALLY,

SO I DIDN'T HAVE A NORMAL
HIGH-SCHOOL EXPERIENCE,

HENCE, NO DATING.

WELL, LOOK AT ALL THE
THINGS YOU HAVE DONE.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE
GONNA FIND SOME PICTURES

THAT ARE NON-TENNIS-RELATED,

POST THEM, AND THEN WE
CAN HAVE A MOCK DATE

SO I CAN TEACH YOU HOW TO
TALK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES.

NON-TENNIS PHOTOS?

GIRL, YES, LIKE...

HEY, UH, EXCUSE ME.
CAN WE TALK REAL QUICK?

I'll BE RIGHT
BACK. KEEP LOOKING.

I CAN'T BELIEVE J.R.
JUST QUIT THE TEAM.

IT'S LIKE, I KNOW
THAT HE'S HURTING,

BUT THIS IS HIS FUTURE
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I MEAN, HE DIDN'T MENTION

WHY THEY WERE SEPARATING?

NO. I MEAN, HE WASN'T REALLY
FEELING THE HEART-TO-HEART.

ITS GOT TO BE MORE THAN JUST

ABOUT HIS PARENTS'
DIVORCE, SIMONE.

MAYBE I SHOULD TALK TO HIM.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS

I'M SO GOOD ON
THE BASEBALL FIELD

IS BECAUSE I CAN READ PEOPLE.

I SAW YOU AND J.R.
TOGETHER ALL WEEK,

AND I CAN'T HELP
BUT WONDER, SIMONE,

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S
GOING ON WITH YOU TWO.

DAMON, J.R.'s PART
OF FAMILY DINNER.

EVERY WEEK JUST LIKE YOU ARE.

HE'S A FRIEND WHO'S STRUGGLING,

AND I CAN'T NOT
TRY AND HELP THAT.

YEAH.

I DO NEED A FAVOR
FROM YOU, THOUGH.

THEA'S GOING ON A BLIND DATE,

AND SHE COULD USE SOME ADVICE.

HMM.

HEY, J.R.'s GONNA BE FINE.

YOU'LL SEE.

[DOOR CLOSES]

DAMON: SO SIMONE SAID
YOU GOT A BLIND DATE.

WHY DIDN'T SHE JUST
PUT UP A DAMN BANNER?

HA HA!

SHE THOUGHT THAT YOU COULD USE

A MALE'S PERSPECTIVE.

HMM.

IS THIS PICTURE OK?

- YEAH, YEAH, IT'S GOOD.
- HELL YEAH!

THEA: I DON'T KNOW. IT
JUST FEELS FAKE TO ME.

I'VE BEEN TO THE
BEACH, LIKE, 3 TIMES.

I DON'T OWN A DOG.
I DON'T VOLUNTEER.

MY LIFE IS TENNIS. THAT'S IT.

YOU SAY IT LIKE IT'S NOT DOPE.

I MEAN, YOU'VE
TRAVELED THE WORLD

BECAUSE OF TENNIS.

YEAH. SIMONE TOLD YOU THAT?

NO. I RESEARCH ALL
BRINGSTON'S ATHLETES,

WANT TO SEE WHO ELSE IS HERE

PUTTING IN THAT WORK?

THEA: BACK IN HIGH
SCHOOL, I NEVER CARED

ABOUT ANY OF THIS, BUT NOW

IT'S LIKE I'M BEHIND IN A
CONTEST I NEVER ENTERED.

WELL, THERE'S A COST
TO BEING THE BEST.

UM, SO, UM, WHO, UH,
PICKS UP THE CHECK?

MAN, IT'S 2021.

Y'ALL BETTER SPLIT IT IN HALF.

YEAH. IF HE'S A GENTLEMAN,

THEN HE'LL PAY.

WILINDA: YEAH, BUT SOME PEOPLE

ARE GONNA EXPECT
SOMETHING IN RETURN.

I MEAN, GUYS CAN'T
ACTUALLY EXPECT YOU

TO PUT OUT FOR A FREE MEAL.

WILINDA: GIRL,
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

DAMON: LOOK. ALL GUYS
DON'T. THEY DON'T DO THAT.

AND IT'S NOT JUST
MEN. WOMEN DO IT, TOO.

THERE ARE EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY
OFFENDERS OUT HERE

IN THESE STREETS, BELIEVE THAT.

WELL, I ALWAYS PAY MY WAY,

AND IF YOU WANT TO
SMASH ON THE FIRST DATE,

THAT'S COOL, BUT MAKE IT CLEAR.

CONSENT MATTERS.

WHOA, WHOA. HOLD...

NO. UM, THIS WAS A MISTAKE.

MEN: OH!

WOMAN: ♪ WHAT'D I
TELL YOU, Y'ALL? ♪

♪ I SAID, I HIT THE ELEVATOR,
MADE IT TO THE TOP FAST ♪

♪ WENT AND GOT MY MONEY
RIGHT, AND ALL THESE... ♪

HEY, I AIN'T SEEN YOU

OUTSIDE OF FAMILY DINNERS.

DIDN'T THINK I'D
SEE THE TEAM CAPTAIN

KICKING IT HERE
WITH THESE LOSERS.

YOU'RE KICKING IT
WITH THEM, TOO.

THEY HAVE THE BEST WEED,

AND I NEED TO
LOWER MY FREQUENCY.

I HEAR THAT.

TO THE DISSOLUTION OF
MY PARENTS' MARRIAGE.

MY PARENTS SPLIT UP MY
JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL,

AND IT SUCKED, LIKE,
SERIOUSLY SUCKED.

WHY'D THEY SPLIT?

HEY! THAT'S MY SONG. TURN IT UP.

[SIGHS]

OH, IT'S A REAL FAMILY AFFAIR.

HMM, KIND OF WHY I'M HERE.

I NEED TO TALK TO J.R.

YOU BETTER BECAUSE
THAT YOUNG MAN

IS ABOUT TO COMBUST.

HEY.

HEY, IF IT ISN'T SIMONE HICKS.

UM, J.R., I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.

SURE. TAKE A SHOT WITH ME FIRST,

THEN WE'LL TALK.

ONE, OK? THAT'S IT.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

RIDE IT, BOO.

MM!

OK. UH, LET'S TALK OUTSIDE.

WHAT? HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

Y'ALL KNOW I GOT NEXT.

MAN: SIT IN, HOMEBOY. CHILL.

COME ON. I'VE BEEN
WAITING ALL NIGHT.

[CONVERSATION
CONTINUES, INDISTINCT]

KEISHA: WE GO FROM...

♪ 1, 2, 3, 4

♪ 5 AND 6, 7, 8

♪ AND WAVE, 2, 3, CROSS, 4 ♪

♪ 5 AND 6, 7 AND 8

OK. YEAH. LET'S TAKE 5,
AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK

AND JUST GO FROM THE TOP.

- OK.
- THANKS.

CAM: YOU'RE PUTTING IN
THAT WORK, WHICH IS GOOD

BECAUSE THE COMPETITION
JUST WENT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

- YOU DIDN'T SEE?
- UH-UH.

HERE.

THEY ADDED NORMANI AS
A SPECIAL GUEST JUDGE.

APPARENTLY, SHE'S
LOOKING FOR DANCERS

TO BE IN HER NEXT MUSIC VIDEO.

YO, THIS IS FOR REAL.

YEAH. IT'S DOPE,

AND NOW YOU CAN REALLY
SHOOT YOUR SHOT.

BUT I'M JUST, LIKE,
A CHOREOGRAPHER.

CAN'T YOU DO BOTH?

YOU GOT TO SHOW THEM
WHAT YOU CAN DO.

LOOK. I'll EVEN HELP YOU, OK?

YOU TEXT ME WHEN YOU'RE READY.

- OK.
- YOU'RE GONNA KILL IT.

I KNOW IT. HOO HOO HOO.

[DOOR OPENS]

[GASPS]

HEY, HEY, HEY. MY BAD. MY BAD.

GOT THIS FOR YOU.

I KNOW HOW YOU GET WHEN
YOUR BLOOD SUGAR DROPS.

I WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR ANY BLOODSHED.

MMM.

I HATE HOW WELL YOU KNOW ME.

WELL, I HATE THAT YOU'RE UPSET.

DO YOU?

MARCUS, SERIOUSLY, WHAT
IS GOING ON WITH US,

AND WHAT WAS THAT NONSENSE

AT THE ALUMNI DINNER WITH RALPH?

YOU MEAN THAT CHILD AND
FORMER STUDENT, HUH?

- OK. YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M DONE.
- THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN.

YOU CAN SIT IN THE DARK,
PRETEND NOT TO BE JEALOUS

BY YOUR DAMN SELF.

OK, OK, OK, OK.
LISTEN, AMARA, WAIT...

NO, MARCUS. YOU WAIT.

WAIT, NOW.

YOU WANT TO BE MR. INTEGRITY
WITH YOUR PLAYERS,

GOING ON ABOUT HONESTY?

CLEARLY, THAT'S JUST LIP SERVICE

SINCE YOU CAN'T
EVEN MAN UP TO TALK

ABOUT US OR WHAT WENT
WRONG BETWEEN US.

OH, MAYBE YOU SHOULD ASK TINA.

WHAT DOES MY SISTER
HAVE TO DO WITH US?

NEVER MIND. LOOK.

LET'S JUST LEAVE THE
PAST IN THE PAST, OK?

OH, YOU MUST HAVE
LOST YOUR ENTIRE MIND

IF YOU THINK I'M
LETTING THAT GO.

WHAT DID TINA DO?

SHE MADE IT CLEAR

THAT I WASN'T GOOD
ENOUGH FOR YOU.

WHAT? AND YOU BELIEVED HER?

NOT AT FIRST.

I MEAN, I WAS GOING
TO THE MINORS.

HOW COULD THAT NOT
BE GOOD ENOUGH?

I MEAN, THEN THINGS GOT HARD.

MY BATTING AVERAGE CRATERED.

THE PRESSURE TO
SUCCEED WAS REAL.

SOME PLAYERS AND
COACHES, I MEAN,

DOPING WASN'T A
BIG DEAL TO THEM.

- YOU TOOK P.E.D.s?
- THE ONE TIME.

I GAVE IN TO THE PRESSURES

ONE TIME, MAN,

AND I TOLD MYSELF THAT,
EVERYBODY WAS DOING IT,

SO SCREW IT.

I KIND OF HAD SOME
RARE REACTION,

LANDED ME IN THE HOSPITAL.

IT WASN'T LIFE-THREATENING,

BUT THE SHAME, THAT
NEARLY KILLED ME,

AND IN THAT MOMENT, I REALIZED

YOUR SISTER WAS RIGHT.

OH, MARCUS.

I COULDN'T FACE YOU

KNOWING THAT I LET YOU DOWN.

I LET MYSELF DOWN,

THE INTEGRITY OF MY SPORT.

IT WAS TOO MUCH, SO I QUIT,

AND THEN THE TEAM
RAN THIS INJURY STORY

TO PROTECT OUR REPUTATION,

AND I CAME HOME.

AND ENDED THINGS WITH ME.

OK. THIS...

ALL OF THIS IS A LOT.

MARCUS, THERE'S ONE THING

I NEED YOU TO GET
LOUD AND CLEAR.

YOU WERE ALWAYS ENOUGH.

J.R.: YO, Y'ALL AIN'T READY FOR
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO THROW DOWN.

COME ON. LET'S GO, BABY...

SIMONE: YOU KNOW WHAT?

UM, J.R.'s ACTUALLY
GONNA SIT THIS ONE OUT.

- YO, COME ON.
- LET'S GO.

YO, YO, YO, YO,
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT?

WHAT YOU WANT FROM ME?

LOOK. I KNOW THAT
YOU'RE HURTING,

AND I'M SORRY THAT YOUR PARENTS

ARE GETTING A
DIVORCE, BUT, J.R...

LOOK. MY FAMILY IS
WRECKED. MARRIAGE OVER.

IS IT BECAUSE OF THE BABY

YOUR PARENTS MIGHT HAVE
GIVEN UP FOR ADOPTION?

DON'T KNOW, DIDN'T
ASK. DOESN'T MATTER.

IT DOES MATTER, J.R.

THIS IS YOUR FAMILY

AND MAYBE DAMON'S FAMILY, TOO.

LOOK. DAMON'S REQUESTED
HIS ADOPTION RECORDS,

AND ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,
IT'S GONNA COME OUT

IF YOU GUYS ARE RELATED,
AND IF HE FINDS OUT

THAT YOU... WE SUSPECTED THIS

AND WE KEPT THIS A
SECRET FROM HIM...

SO THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE?

YOU KNOW, IT ALWAYS
COMES BACK TO DAMON.

OH, BABY, DO YOU MIND?

THANK YOU.

J.R., PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

IF YOU GET DRUG-TESTED,
YOU COULD LOSE

YOUR NCAA ELIGIBILITY.

LOOK. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN,

BUT I'M GOOD.

MAN: ♪ GET BACK, GET BACK

♪ YEAH, I'MMA GET IT

♪ GONNA BREAK YOU...

[EXHALES]

[TELEPHONE LINE RINGS]

JESSIE ON RECORDING:
JESSIE RAYMOND.

[VOICEMAIL BEEPS]

UM, HEY, MR. RAYMOND,
IT'S DAMON, J.R.'s FRIEND.

UH...

I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOUR SON.

I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY
NOT MY PLACE,

BUT I JUST THOUGHT YOU
SHOULD KNOW THAT HE'S...

HE'S HAVING A PRETTY TOUGH TIME,

SO MAYBE GIVE HIM A CALL.

BYE.

J.R.: YOU READY FOR THIS?
THROW THAT LOSING CARD DOWN.

THROW THAT DOWN. I'VE BEEN
WAITING ON YOU TO THROW.

COME ON. COME ON. THROW
THAT LOSING CARD DOWN.

UH! THAT'S WHAT
I'M TALKING ABOUT.

THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT.

I TOLD YOU I WAS
GONNA WIN, BABY.

TOLD YOU I WAS
GONNA WIN. COME ON.

CELEBRATING LIKE HE WON
THE DAMN SUPER BOWL.

WE TIED TWO GAMES FOR TWO, FOOL.

COME ON. I GET IT.

IT AIN'T GOOD BEING HUMILIATED

AROUND ALL THESE GOOD FOLKS.

OH! HA! OK.

I THINK WE CAN MAKE THIS
A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING.

TALK TO ME.

YOU WIN NEXT HAND, YOU
GET ANYTHING YOU WANT.

AH, BEEN WAITING ON THIS ONE.

HOW ABOUT THAT WEED
YOU GOT FROM EDDIE?

DONE. IT'S ALL YOURS,

BUT IF I WIN, MM...

IF I WIN, YOU STOP
ACTING LIKE A FOOL

AND TALK TO YOUR PARENTS

BEFORE YOU TRASH
YOUR WHOLE DAMN LIFE.

WHAT'D YOU JUST SAY?

WHAT'S WRONG, HONEY?
AFRAID YOU'LL LOSE?

LISTEN.

YOU DON'T KNOW
NOTHING ABOUT MY LIFE,

SO STAY OUT OF IT.

WELL, THAT'S ONE WAY TO
PREPARE FOR A PERFORMANCE.

- KEISHA DIDN'T TELL YOU?
- TELL ME WHAT?

SHE CALLED THE VIDEO SHOOT OFF.

WAIT. WHY?

SAID THE TIME FRAME
WAS TOO TIGHT.

IT'S TOO BAD, THOUGH,

BECAUSE HER CHOREOGRAPHY DOPE.

HEY, I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU.

I THOUGHT YOU LEFT.

I FORGOT MY LAPTOP, AND, NO,

I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

THEA...

YOU KNOW, AGAINST
MY BETTER JUDGMENT,

I ACTUALLY TRUSTED YOU,

AND THE LAST THING I NEEDED
WAS TO GET A SEX ED. LESSON

AND BE JUDGED BY THE
JOCKS AND WILINDA.

I DOUBT THEY WERE JUDGING YOU.

YOU WEREN'T HERE, WERE YOU?

I GET IT.

YOUR LIFE MUST BE SO EASY
WITH YOUR HANDSOME BOYFRIEND

AND YOUR INSTANT BESTIES,
BUT IT SUCKS TO FEEL

LIKE THE OUTSIDER
AND BE MOCKED FOR IT,

NOT THAT YOU'D KNOW.

- COME WITH ME.
- I DON'T TAKE ORDERS.

KEISHA: YOU'RE NEVER GONNA
WIN ANY GAME WE PLAY.

SIMONE: LISTEN, Y'ALL.
Y'ALL, I HAVE TO TALK TO YOU.

IS IT ABOUT J.R.?

NO. THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER MESS.

KEISHA: OK. WELL, WHAT
DID SHE DO THIS TIME?

WHATEVER. I AM OUT.

I HAVE A SON.

HIS NAME IS SHAY.

HE'S 14 MONTHS, AND
I LOVE HIM VERY MUCH,

WHICH IS WHY I PUT
HIM UP FOR ADOPTION.

HIS ADOPTIVE
PARENTS ARE AMAZING,

AND NEXT WEEK,

THEY ARE BRINGING
SHAY HERE TO VISIT,

SO I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO BE JUDGED

OR TO MISS OUT ON A NORMAL LIFE,

AND DON'T EVEN GET
ME STARTED ON PEOPLE

WHO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT YOU.

LOOK. I KNOW I
SHOULD'VE SAID SOMETHING

A LONG TIME AGO,
BUT I JUST DIDN'T...

OOH, PRAISE JESUS.

THE CAT'S OUT OF THE BAG.

OH, MY GOD, YEAH.

I ALMOST LET IT SLIP,
LIKE, A MILLION TIMES.

WAIT. Y'ALL KNEW
THIS WHOLE TIME?

HOW LONG?

WEEKS.

YOU SHOULD BE CAREFUL

WHO YOU LET BORROW YOUR LAPTOP.

LET ME TELL YOU, SHAY'S DADDY

SURE DOES SEND A LOT
OF TEXTS AND PICTURES.

HE REALLY DOES.

SO Y'ALL DON'T
FEEL NO TYPE OF WAY

THAT I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING?

UH-UH. NO. WE KNEW
THAT YOU'D TELL US

WHEN YOU WERE READY.

AND HERE WE ARE.

YOU BETTER BELIEVE WE'RE
SPOILING SHAY ROTTEN

WHEN HE COMES TO TOWN.

YOUR SON WON'T
KNOW WHAT HIT HIM.

DAMON: YOU HAVE A SON?

SIMONE: DAMON...

WAIT.

DAMON, CAN YOU
PLEASE SAY SOMETHING?

HUH. WHERE DO I START, SIMONE?

BECAUSE ALL THE TIME
I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU

ABOUT MY ADOPTION, AND,
WHAT, YOU DON'T SAY

NOTHING ABOUT THE
BABY THAT YOU GAVE UP?

WELL, WHEN WAS I
SUPPOSED TO DO THAT,

WHEN YOU WERE
JUDGING WHAT KIND OF

MESSED-UP MOMS GIVE
UP THEIR BABIES?

THAT... THAT WASN'T ABOUT YOU.

WELL, IT FELT PERSONAL.

WHEN I WAS PREGNANT...

DANE AND I, WE WEREN'T
EVEN REALLY TOGETHER.

- SIMONE, HOLD UP.
- NO. LET ME EXPLAIN, DAMON.

SIMONE, YOU DON'T
NEED TO. LISTEN.

FOR YOU TO GIVE UP YOUR SON...

HIS NAME IS SHAY.

FOR YOU TO GIVE UP
SHAY, THAT TOOK COURAGE.

I KNOW YOU.

I KNOW YOUR HEART,
AND I KNOW THAT YOU

MUST HAVE HAD A
REALLY GOOD REASON.

I KNOW THAT YOU
WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT

IF LOVE WASN'T INVOLVED.

THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW.

OH...

SO ARE THEY ANY MORE
DEEP, DARK SECRETS

THAT I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT?

THAT WAS A JOKE.

DAMON...

WHAT'S UP?

UM...

THERE'S A... [CLEARS THROAT]

POSSIBILITY THAT YOU AND J.R.

COULD BE BROTHERS.

- WHAT?
- LOOK.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT TO EXPLAIN,

BUT, UM, DAMON...

[SIGHS]

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR SLAMS]

WHAT'S ALL THIS?

UH!

JUST MAKING THE BEST OUT
OF A CRAPPY SITUATION.

I KNOW IT'S NOT
THE FANCY DATE FOOD

THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO HAVE, BUT IT'S FOOD.

YEAH, KIND OF, RIGHT?

THIS IS SWEET, MARCUS.

THANK YOU, BUT THERE IS NO WAY

I'M EATING ON THIS
NASTY-ASS GYM FLOOR.

TRUE THAT, TRUE
THAT, SO I'M GONNA...

I'll HELP YOU BRING
IT IN THE OFFICE.

MARCUS...

[DESI VALENTINE'S "BEST OF
ME" PLAYING ON SOUNDTRACK]

I REALLY AM SORRY

MY SISTER GOT IN YOUR HEAD.

LOOK. HONESTLY, GOING
THROUGH ALL THAT

IN THE MINORS MADE ME THE MAN

AND COACH I AM TODAY.

I WOULDN'T CHANGE THAT PART.

NOW, THE HURTING-YOU PART...

VALENTINE: ♪ PULLED MYSELF UP...

I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY.

VALENTINE: ♪ OUT OF THE RUBBLE

♪ NOW I'M STRONGER TODAY

♪ I'll TAKE A DEEP BREATH

♪ THERE'S NO HOLDING
BACK, HEAD FIRST... ♪

AMARA: OOH! HA HA HA!

VALENTINE: ♪ I AM WHO I AM

♪ I'll GIVE YOU ALL I HAVE

♪ IF YOU TAKE WHAT
I GOT TO GIVE ♪

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

SO, UH, I DIDN'T TAKE
YOU FOR A QUITTER.

WOW. WHAT IS UP WITH YOU?

SO YOU AIN'T BACKING
OUT OF DOING THE VIDEO?

YES, CAM. I HAVE MOVED
ON FROM THE VIDEO,

NOT THAT I OWE YOU
AN EXPLANATION.

THE HELL YOU DON'T.

I JUST SPENT MY WHOLE
NIGHT RUNNING AROUND

IN THE DARK GETTING
STUFF TOGETHER

FOR A VIDEO YOU'RE
TOO SCARED TO SHOOT.

WHO SAID I WAS SCARED?

I JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH
TIME TO FINISH THE ROUTINE.

THE ROUTINE I SAW WAS FLAWLESS,

AND BEFORE YOU SAY JACK
ABOUT BEING DOWN A DANCER,

YOU CAN DANCE THIS
ENTIRE ROUTINE YOURSELF

IN YOUR SLEEP, BUT, NO,

YOU FOUND OUT
NORMANI WAS INVOLVED,

WHICH MEANS IT'S NEXT-LEVEL,

AND NOW YOU'RE CHICKENING OUT.

BUT WHY ARE YOU
PUSHING SO DAMN HARD?

I GET THAT WITHOUT FOOTBALL,

YOU DON'T HAVE JACK TO FOCUS ON,

BUT DON'T MAKE THAT MY PROBLEM.

STAY OUT OF MY BUSINESS.

BET.

I'M OUT.

VALENTINE: ♪ YOU GET THE BEST

♪ YOU GET THE BEST

♪ YOU GET THE BEST OF ME

THEA, NOW IS NOT A GOOD TIME.

YEAH. I CAN SEE THAT.

I JUST WANTED TO
SAY, I APPRECIATE YOU

TELLING ME ABOUT YOUR SON.

I JUST KEEP THINKING
ABOUT WHAT IT TOOK

FOR YOU TO GET BACK
TO COMPETITIVE TENNIS

AFTER HAVING A BABY.

I THOUGHT, "SERENA COULD DO IT,

THEN WHY CAN'T I?"

HMM.

WHAT?

I COMPARE MYSELF TO THE QUEEN,

AND YOU'RE NOT
GONNA SAY ANYTHING?

I GIVE CREDIT WHERE
CREDIT IS DUE,

AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
EASIER FOR YOU TO QUIT

OR HIDE WHAT HAPPENED.

YEAH. AND THAT WOULD'VE MEANT

I HAD SOMETHING TO
HIDE, WHICH I DON'T.

NONE OF IT WAS EASY, THOUGH,

BUT I KNEW I HAD
TO TAKE A CHANCE

WITH TENNIS, JORDAN,

EVEN THOUGH IT
WAS SCARY AS HELL.

THEA, IF YOU WANT TO
GO OUT WITH KEVIN,

GREAT, BUT IF NOT,
MAYBE IT'S TIME

TO TELL GRANNY TO MIND
HER OWN DAMN BUSINESS.

[BOTH LAUGH]

OK.

CLOTHES. UM...

- HEY.
- HEY.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT
EARLIER? I'M SORRY.

NO. STOP.

WE'RE GOOD. YOU READY? HMM.

HI.

YO, RIGHT THERE IS PERFECT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DAMN! OK. I SEE YOU.

WAIT. NO. I FORGOT MY MUSIC.

I GOT YOU.

[MUSIC STARTS]

CAM: ♪ MOMENT OF HONESTY

♪ SOMEONE'S GOT TO
TAKE THE LEAD TONIGHT ♪

♪ WHO'S IT GONNA BE?

♪ I'M GONNA SIT RIGHT
HERE AND TELL YOU ♪

♪ ALL THAT COMES TO ME

♪ AND IF YOU'VE GOT
SOMETHING TO SAY ♪

♪ YOU SHOULD SAY IT RIGHT NOW

♪ YOU SHOULD SAY IT RIGHT NOW ♪

YOU READY?

♪ YOU GIVE ME A FEELING

♪ THAT I NEVER FELT BEFORE

♪ AND I DESERVE IT,
OH, I DESERVE IT ♪

♪ IT'S BECOMING SOMETHING

♪ THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE ♪

♪ AND I CAN'T TAKE IT

♪ I WAS WONDERING MAYBE

♪ COULD I MAKE YOU MY BABY? ♪

♪ IF WE DO THE UNTHINKABLE

♪ WOULD IT MAKE US LOOK CRAZY?

♪ IF YOU ASK ME, I'M READY

♪ HEY, YEAH

♪ IF YOU ASK ME, I'M READY

♪ MM MM

[MUSIC STOPS]

[APPLAUSE]

YES. THERE YOU GO. GOOD JOB.

THANK YOU.

THANKS, EVERYONE.

[KNOCK ON DOOR] DAMON: J.

JESSIE, ON PHONE:
J.R., IT'S YOUR POPS.

I GOT A CALL FROM
DAMON. HE SAYS...

J.R.

JESSIE: HE'S WORRIED
ABOUT YOU. CALL ME BACK.

WHAT THE HELL IS
WRONG WITH YOU, MAN?

YOU CALLED MY DAD?

SO WAS YOU EVER GONNA MENTION

THAT WE MIGHT BE BROTHERS,

OR WAS YOU GONNA KEEP ACTING

LIKE A LITTLE BITCH?

I DON'T EVEN KNOW
IF IT WAS TRUE.

HEH. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

YO, I'M TALKING TO YOU.

J.R.

MY MOM HAD THAT STASHED
AWAY IN AN OLD BIBLE.

MAN. COME ON, MAN.
THIS COULD BE ANYBODY.

DOWN TO THE SIMILAR SCAR?

BECAUSE ME AND SIMONE

ALREADY WENT DOWN THAT PATH.

FOR A SECOND, SHE THOUGHT

COACH MARCUS AND AMARA
WAS YOUR PARENTS,

MAKING YOU TWO COUSINS.

SO THAT'S WHAT YOU TWO
HAVE BEEN WHISPERING ABOUT.

JUST THEORIES, MAN, CRAZY ONES.

YES, YES, YES. THEY ARE.

THEY'RE CRAZY BECAUSE
THEY'RE THEORIES

ABOUT MY LIFE, J.

WHAT, YOU TWO ALL
JUST PLAYING GOD

WITH SECRETS THAT AFFECT ME?

I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING

ABOUT THE DIVORCE, WHY
YOUR PARENTS SPLITTING.

IS IT... IS IT BECAUSE OF ME?

IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS?

THIS HAS NOTHING TO
DO WITH YOU, DAMON.

MY PARENTS SPLITTING
IS FAMILY BUSINESS.

YOU AREN'T FAMILY. LISTEN.

I DON'T HAVE, WANT,
OR NEED A BROTHER.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

THAT'S FINE.

GOT HERE BY MYSELF.
I DON'T NEED NOBODY.

[PHOTO DROPS ON FLOOR]

[SOBS SOFTLY]

[POUND POUND]

SIMONE: DAMON,
PLEASE JUST CALL ME.

I PROMISE I W...

HEY, UM, I JUST LEFT
YOU A VOICEMAIL.

HOW LONG DID YOU KNOW
ABOUT ME AND J.R.?

SINCE THEA'S BIRTHDAY.

BUT WHEN I MET YOU, I TOLD YOU

THAT I WASN'T LOOKING
FOR MY BIRTH PARENTS.

I KNOW, DAMON,

AND THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T
WANT TO TELL YOU.

INSTEAD, YOU AND
J.R. JUST DECIDED

WHAT WAS BEST FOR MY LIFE

AND THEN PLAYED ME
WHEN MY GUT TOLD ME

THERE WAS SOMETHING
UP WITH YOU TWO.

I TRUSTED YOU.

DAMON, I'M SORRY.

LOOK. I'M SORRY.

DAMON, PLEASE DON'T SHUT ME OUT.

MARCUS: HEY, I KNOW
IT'S USUALLY DINNER

AND THEN, YOU KNOW.

WE'RE GROWN, MARCUS.
YOU CAN SAY SEX.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, HOW ABOUT TOMORROW NIGHT,

A REAL DINNER AT MY PLACE,

NOT SNACKS, AND THEN WE...

ACTUALLY, THANK YOU,

BUT I CAN'T.

WE CAN'T.

DIDN'T WE JUST...

GET CLOSURE?

YES, AND IT WAS GREAT,

BUT IT'S BETTER TO
NOT BLUR THE LINES

IN THE PRESENT, YOU KNOW,

LEAVE THINGS IN THE PAST,

LIKE YOU SAID.

YOU'RE SCARED I'M GONNA
HURT YOU AGAIN, HUH?

GOOD NIGHT, MARCUS.

KEVIN?

THEA, RIGHT?

OH. MY GRANDMA
SENT ME A PICTURE,

AND IT DOES NOT DO YOU JUSTICE.

OK. LOOK, SO I KNOW
OUR GRANNIES ARE TRYING

TO WRITE THE NEXT
GREAT HBCU LOVE STORY,

BUT I NEED TO MAKE
A FEW THINGS CLEAR.

UH, OK.

OK. I LOVE TENNIS.

I PLAN ON PLAYING
PROFESSIONALLY,

AND NOTHING AND NO
ONE'S GONNA STOP ME.

I DON'T MIND SPLITTING
THE TAB ON THE FIRST DATE,

BUT I'M NOT PUTTING OUT,

SO IF THAT'S ALL COOL WITH YOU,

THEN WE SHOULD GRAB
A BITE SOMETIME.

HOW ABOUT NOW?

[CHUCKLES]

YEAH.

- OK.
- OK.

CAM: HEY, WHAT'S IT GONNA BE?

[GROANS]

HOO!

OH, MY GOD. YO.

♪ KEISHA, KEISHA, KEISHA ♪

SHUT UP.

HEY, LISTEN. I AM STARVING.

YOU WANT TO GRAB A BITE?

YOU SURE YOU WANT TO GO
OUT IN PUBLIC TOGETHER

AND, LIKE, EAT REAL FOOD?

I MEAN, IT'S JUST
BREAKFAST, KEISHA.

OH, MY GOD. WAIT.

ACTUALLY, CAN WE RAIN-CHECK?

I DID NOT REALIZE
HOW TIRED I WAS.

OH, MY GOD, IT'S
LIKE THE ADRENALINE

IS LITERALLY LEAVING MY BODY.

YEAH. SURE.

YOU KNOW ME. I CAN ALWAYS EAT.

THANK YOU FOR TONIGHT.

IT'S NOTHING. GOOD NIGHT.

♪ GOOD NIGHT

[DING]

WOW. YOU LOOK LIKE ASS.

YEAH, AND I FEEL LIKE IT, TOO.

LOOK. YESTERDAY IS
ALL A LITTLE HAZY,

BUT I GOT A FEELING I WAS MESSY.

CHILD, IT WAS GIVING
REALITY-SHOW MESSY,

LIKE SEASON 7

OF "THE BACHELOR
IN PARADISE" MESSY,

BUT IT COULD'VE
BEEN SO MUCH WORSE.

NATHANIEL, WHEN
HER PARENTS SPILT,

OOH, IT WAS GIVING

FULL "REAL HOUSEWIVES
OF ATLANTA" MESSY,

JUST ANNIHILATING
EVERYTHING I TOUCHED.

IT WAS THAT BAD?

OH, I SHOWED MY
ASS AND THEN SOME,

BUT, YOU KNOW, A
SPIRAL IS EXPECTED

WHEN YOUR WHOLE WORLD
TURNS UPSIDE DOWN.

WHAT'D YOU DO TO
GET BACK TO NORMAL?

UM, STARTED BY GETTING
SOME REAL ANSWERS

FROM MY FOLKS,
AND THEN REALIZING

THEIR ISSUES HAD NOTHING TO DO

WITH THEIR LOVE FOR ME.

THAT PART WAS
NEVER GONNA CHANGE.

TALK TO YOUR 'RENTS, J.R.

ASK WHAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED

OR TRASH YOUR FUTURE
TO SPITE THEM,

BUT BOTH ARE A CHOICE.

LOOK, NATHANIEL,

I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF
I WANT THE ANSWERS.

YES, YOU DO.

NO MATTER WHAT IT
IS, IT'S GONNA SUCK

UNTIL IT DOESN'T.

I GOT CLASS, BUT
IF YOU EVER NEED

NATE'S WISE WORDS

OR YOU JUST WANT TO
GET YOUR BUTT WHUPPED

IN SPADES AGAIN,

YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME.

YOU CHEATING AT SPADES.

I AIN'T CHEAT AT
NO KIND OF SPADES.

- HAVE A GOOD CLASS.
- YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY.

OH...

[EXHALES]

WHAT THE HELL?

GREG, MOVE YOUR HEAD.