All American: Homecoming (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 7 - Godspeed - full transcript

Which is more important...

Nurture or nature?

That's been a hard question for
Me to answer, professor Moore.

I don't know how much my
Nature influences me because...

I don't know where I come from,

At least not yet.

♪ I made it to the top

♪ started from the bottom,
Hard times, yeah, I got 'em ♪

♪ but I made it to
The top

- what's up?
- What's up?

Yo. Hey, you heard anything from
The... From the medical center?



Said the dna test
Could take a week.

Only been a few days.

- you got to chill, man.

That's easy for you to say.

Look, I'm with you.

I'm, um... I'm
Free this weekend,

Though, if you want to,
You know, chop it up.

Naw, I can't do that.
Got stuff to do.

Damon, voice-over: I mean,
Am I a beast on the mound.

Because I inherited my skills or because I
Worked my ass off like the best athletes?

♪ I made it to the top

♪ started from the bottom,
Hard times, yeah, I got 'em ♪

♪ but I made it to
The top

Thea: All right, listen
Up, everyone. Listen up.



The tournament this weekend
Is do-or-die, ladies.

We are going to be
Playing against some.

Of the best players
In our conference.

Now, for those of you who
Can impress coach loni.

And land at least fifth place,

You'll be moving up
The team rankings.

Your opponents are listed
Outside of coach loni's door.

You're dismissed.

Singer: ♪ I made it to the top

♪ started from the bottom,
Hard times, yeah, I got 'em ♪

♪ but I made it to
The top

♪ yeah, I made it to
The top ♪

Hmm.

Ooh. Simone: Heh!

That doesn't sound
Good. Who'd you get?

Oh, I'm not worried about me.

You're playing Helena Adams.
She is the number-2 player.

In our conference,
Literally the only player.

Who made me sweat last season.

get ready.

Damon, voice-over:
Nature or nurture?

I wish I knew which one was
More important 'cause when life.

Throws stuff at us, when we
Face our biggest challenges,

It would be nice to know which
Part of our identity to draw from.

Simone: And I thought Thea
and I were trading in.

Our frenemies bag for
A full-time friend one,

But she literally tried
To psych me out today.

Key word is "Tried."
A bad bitch cannot.

Get psyched out,
And you, my friend,

Are a textbook bad bitch.

- I receive that. Thank you.

Keish?

You here with us, girl?

Yeah, I'm just not
Hungry, I guess.

This Chinese food is
Not it. Simone: Mmm, ok.

You want to try again?

You really want us to believe this
Mood has nothing to do with cam?

Have you talked to him
Since you stood him up?

No, but this mood's
Not about him.

It's not entirely... About him.

- This is your mom?
- Yeah, her birthday's on Sunday.

In Filipino culture, birthdays of
Someone who's passed away are a big deal.

We go to their grave
And we celebrate them.

'Cause of work, this is the
First year me and my dad.

Can't fly back to
Detroit for her birthday.

Does not help that he and I
Aren't speaking right now, either.

Keish, I'm really sorry,

But you're not alone.

You got us.

- Thank you...
- mm-hmm.

But I think I really need to
Fly solo this weekend, so...

Oh, if you think we're
Gonna let you sulk alone,

Then you must have us confused.

With your less
Cute best friends.

keisha: Ok, fine,

But, no, I... I
Really do have to go.

I promised dr. P. That I'd help
Her set up for the summit, so...

Nathaniel: Oh.
Keisha: Love y'all.

Nathaniel: Love you.
Simone: Love you, too.

So two days is enough
Time to research.

And plan a traditional Filipino
Birthday celebration, right?

I've done medium-sized box
Braids in under 3 hours.

There are few things
I cannot accomplish.

- Ok.
- Heh heh heh!

Both: Period. Ha ha ha!

Ok.

It looks good.

Thanks so much for
Your help, keisha.

Yeah, of course.

Oh, wow. Look at this.

How can I help
You, coach Marcus?

Hey, hey. Actually,
I want to see.

If there's anything
I can do to help you.

That's very sweet, but I
Think we got it covered.

Tsk.

I'mma go anywhere but here.

Amara: Uh... Keisha: Bye.

Since the blackout, look,

I know things between us
Have been... Heh! Weird.

Calling it weird is a
Gross understatement.

Look, whatever you want to
Call it, there's distance.

Between us now, and I don't like it,
And we're supposed to be friends, Amara.

You and I have never been anything
As simple as friends, Marcus.

It doesn't mean we can't try.

Look, who knows?
Maybe this'll lead us.

To, you know... Amara: I really
Need to get back to work.

Ok.

You ok?

Feels like someone is
Doing the cupid shuffle.

On my stomach. Damon: I bet
You it's that Chinese food.

I told you that 4-star
Rating wasn't legit now.

Actually, it was
A 4.3, thank you.

- Oh, 4.3, oh.
- Thank you. Heh!

You can stop dragging me now.

What exactly is your
Assignment, anyway?

I got to do this project.

On the nature vs.
Nurture theory,

Like what shapes us.

Into who we're gonna become.

Is it the family
That we're born into.

Or our environment?

My mom knows as much
About my adoption as I do.

My dad, um...

Yeah, my dad, he
Has alzheimer's, so,

You know, I can't really
Get answers from him.

- I didn't know that about your dad.
- Yeah.

Well, look...

The assignment is
Proving which part.

Of the theory you find
More impactful, right?

Your professor didn't say you had to
Use your own personal experiences,

So maybe you could
Interview people.

Like a mini...
Documentary-type thing?

- Yes.
- That's actually kinda dope.

Simone: I know.

all right, whatever.

Ok. I got to go meet the team,

But after my tennis
Tournament tomorrow,

You can interview me.

All right. Bet. Heh!

Appreciate your help again.

You know what?

You know who really
Could help you?

J.R.

yeah.

- Damon, listen.
- Listen, I've al...

Damon, listen.

Yeah, um, that guy.

Wants nothing to do
With me right now.

Dna test just probably
Got him shook,

And if you are
Brothers, I mean...

It'll change everything.

Y'all talked about
What that could mean?

Think about it.

Male singer: ♪ knock it out

♪ knock, knock, knock,
Knock, knock it out ♪

♪ knock, knock it out, knock,
Knock it out ♪ j.R.: Yo.

Wes, unless you want
Flies setting up shop,

Don't uncover the
Potato salad yet.

My bad. Dude, we're setting up.

For founders' day
Weekend, not high tea.

Hey, q., when the last time you.

Checked the brisket? Q: J.R.,
Relax. This is mad casual.

Uh, no. We have our o.G.
Brothers rolling through.

We need to show 'em that we not
Just about parties and step shows.

Shaw: If it isn't my favorite
K.E.K. Little brother.

What are you doing
Here? Shaw: Well, you know,

I'm still an active member
Of the beta chapter.

- No, I know...
- whoo!

But we just assumed,
Under the circumstances,

You'd sit this year
Founders' barbecue out.

Now, why would I do that?

This whole weekend is
About k.E.K. Brotherhood,

So let's leave the animosity
Out on the diamond.

Speaking of, how my team doing?

I wouldn't know. I quit.

Now, Marcus was always
A blockhead, but him.

Letting you quit,
Well, that's shocking.

You Want to talk it out?

Naw. I'm good.

Singer: ♪ oh!

Amara: Hey.

Zeke: Our discussion
At the beginning.

Of the semester was
"Keep a low profile."

Given everything, the prudent thing
Would have been to cancel this.

Look, you can cut my classes,
Whoever can tag my door.

Or slander my name online,
But y'all can't prevent me.

From engaging our students
In crucial discourse.

That's not exactly true.
You're on school property.

your permission
To hold this event here.

In the hall of the
Hbcu alumni is revoked.

Zeke, you can't do this.

The summit is
Tomorrow afternoon.

I'm not going to be Able
to find a new venue.

On short notice. Zeke:
That's the point.

You have to lay low.

Amara: Zeke.

Um, please tell me I did not
Just hear my dad correctly.

You can't cancel
The summit, dr. P.

Amara: I know. Simone:
Hey. You guys ok?

My ass of a father just pulled
The venue for the summit.

If I need to host the
Event on my roof, I will.

You know what?

I maybe have a place for you
To hold your event tomorrow.

Amara: Mmm. Heh!
Simone: And I knew.

That coach loni is so for
Black female empowerment,

So I knew she'd be down to
Let you use the tennis courts.

She's happy to take on Allen. Amara:
Please tell her I said thank you.

And was Damon and
Friends your doing, too?

Simone: Uh, no.

I think that was coach Marcus.

Mm-hmm. You know what? Let me just...
Let me go before I make a mess.

You should go. Ha ha!
I love you, baby girl.

Simone: I love you, too. Damon: So, you
Ready to kick some butt at this tournament?

that's the plan.

You know you got this, right?

You're gonna kill it. Heh!

Go show those girls who you are.

Simone: Thanks. Amara: Mm-hmm.

Marvin brooks: ♪ I know
You feel the heat ♪

♪ you can see it in my eyes,
In the lines that I speak... ♪

♪
Are you ready for this?

♪ I know you feel the heat ♪

♪ you can see it in my eyes, in the
Lines that I speak ♪

Well, if it isn't bringston's
Almost queen of the court.

Wow. Ok.

So "Hello" just isn't
A thing anymore.

Oh. Oh, my bad.

Hi. Hello.

I'mma wipe the court
With you today.

See ya out there.

Female singer: ♪ I'm
Here, on fire, long hair ♪

♪ jump in the car like
I just don't care ♪

Court announcer: A warm welcome to
The marietta tennis invitational.

Our first match up today,

We'll see Helena Adams
Versus Simone hicks.

Keisha: Simone, we're here.

Nathaniel: Go get 'em, boo!
Singer: ♪ ...Considered

♪ are you feelin' my name?
Gonna take the pain ♪

♪ gonna play the
Game with vigor ♪

♪ pick against which
Girl's pride is bigger ♪

Singer: ♪ can you
Feel the fear? ♪

woman: How
Embarrassing for brings ton.

Singer: ♪ go, go, go, go

♪ go, go get it

♪ go, go, go, go

♪ go, go get it

♪ go, go, go

♪ go, go, go get it

♪ go, go, go, go

Woman: Who taught her to swing?

Nathaniel voice-over: A bad
Bitch cannot get psyched out,

And you, my friend, are
A textbook bad bitch.

Amara, voice-over: Go show
Those girls who you are.

Woman: She is
Psyching herself out.

Man: Ooh. Ha ha!

Shaw: Yeah, that's
What I was saying. Ah!

Come on. Ha ha!

Hey.

Hey, what's coach
Shaw doing here?

It's founders day.
He's an active member.

Better question...
Why are you here?

Uh, look, it... It don't
Matter, man, all right?

I just got this psychology class
Thing, and I wanted to interview you.

Um, thought I could learn
Some stuff about your parents.

Now, what the hell
Happened to you chillin'?

They're my parents, man. You don't
Even know if we brothers yet.

Dude, it is just for a class.

It's like you're already trying
To carve out a space in my family.

It was you who started this whole
"I think we brothers" campaign.

So if you didn't
Want a brother, bro,

You shouldn't have
Came looking for one.

Shaw: Man, it sure
Is good to see you.

Everything ok here?

Yeah.

I'mma leave y'all to y'all little...
Reunion or whatever this is.

Court announcer: Helena
Adams is up, 5-2.

The score is love-30.

Simone: Yes! Umpire: Foot fault!

Simone: Wait. What?
Woman: It's giving loser.

Of the court. Woman
2: If I were her, I'd.

Never show my face on the court
Again. Simone: Oh, my god! Shut up!

Umpire: Racket abuse.
Point penalty... Hicks.

Game, set, match... Adams.

All right, yara. Let's
Start this thing off.

What's been your
Biggest challenge.

As a black woman in journalism?

For me, it's all
The systematic ways.

They try to keep us from
Excelling in the field.

I hear that, so how
Do we rise above?

Yara: We don't have any
Other option. Amara: Hmm.

No matter how much we don't
Have, there were generations.

Of black women before
Us who had even less.

We're standing on
Their shoulders.

Shaw: It's my job to make
Sure that this generation.

Goes further than mine
Did.

That why you broke the rules
With those paper classes?

'Cause that ain't help Anybody.
Shaw: All I did is use.

The same tools white folks use.

To stay ahead and
Keep us behind.

There are rules for
Us and rules for them,

And of course, we are
Judged by a higher standard.

Which is why we need to
Remain above reproach.

We can't get distracted
By other things.

Championships.

You tarnished the legacy
Of brings ton baseball,

Not for us, but for you,

See, with victories come money,

And with money comes power.

And opportunities.

That many folks don't
Want you to have.

I know that you
May never believe.

That everything I did.

Was so that you boys could
Have the athletic success.

That I knew you could
Achieve, but it's true.

And as far as our
Legacy is concerned...

Everything just fine.

Till that reporter
Print up that article.

The worst part is all the
Ways they try to silence us,

Or worse, punish us
For speaking truth.

All right. It's no secret.

You're taking some heat for exposing
The former baseball scandal here.

Look, I love this university
With my entire heart.

It has given so much to my life
Both personally and professionally.

But I would be remiss if I
Did not acknowledge that as.

A black woman, I haven't
Always been given.

The same opportunities
Or respect. Yara: Mmm.

But just because I
Have tough moments.

Does not mean it's always
Going to be this way.

That is why we do this work,

So we soldier on.

Yara: Mm-hmm. Heh!

Boom. all right.

What do you think has influenced
Your identity the most...

Your environment and
Experience, or genetics?

Huh.

Um...

I guess my experiences.

Yeah, I've spent my entire life.

Working hard on courts all
Over the world to be the best;

Specifically, a black
Girl who's the best.

And... How do you see
Yourself outside of sports?

Um, well...

I...

I... I don't know. I, um, yeah.

Off the courts, I guess I'm still
Trying to figure out who I am.

Uh... Heh!

Maybe part of me is afraid
To discover who I am.

Without a racket in my hand.

Oh, you... You can, like,
Erase that part, right?

No, not a chance.

Ok, I think.

Your 5 minutes is up,
So...

Oh, hey, something
tells me that.

Whoever you become
Off the court,

She'll be equally as dope.

Thank you.

Yeah, thanks.

Oh, Simone. Perfect timing.

You ready for your
Interview? Heh!

Cool. Uh, you can
Sit right here.

All right, cool. Ahem.

So when you think about
Who you are as a person,

What do you think influences
You more... Nature or nurture?

I, um...

I don't know. I, uh...

I don't. Uh, not anymore.

I lost my match today,

And even worse, I showed
My ass on the court,

So I...

I don't know what
Happened, and...

I, uh, I don't even recognize
That version of myself,

So...

I'm sorry.

Wait! Simone!

Simone!

Shaw: Now, you Showed me
something A little earlier.

Well, being honest, you
Showed me something, too.

Heh! You don't seem
Like the same young man

I used to coach. J.R.: Yeah.

In a lot of ways,
I guess I'm not.

Well, listen,

You need to talk, just
Know that I'm here.

We are k.E.K. Brothers,
After all, hmm?

Do you mind?

Hmm.

Quick rundown: My parents.

Are divorcing, I spiraled,

Started getting drunk, high,

Quit the team, and now I'm
Beefing with my closest friends.

I always thought baseball
Was my dad's thing.

At some point, baseball became
Something I was doing for me.

I miss it,

And I need it.

Son, forget about baseball.

Look, there was a reason why
I had you riding the bench.

You was a decent catcher, but
You wasn't never gonna go pro.

Focus on the things.

That will sustain you:

School, k.E.K.

Now, this is the brotherhood
That needs you now.

This.

This is you.

Thea: Running a mile
A minute isn't gonna.

Help you figure out
What happened today.

I used to get.

Really bad headaches
Before matches because

I let my anxiety
Get the best of me.

That's what happened
To you today.

wrong. I was
Ready for that match.

I had everything under control,
And then I stepped foot.

On the court and it
Just... I don't know.

I haven't felt like that since...
Thea: The panic attack the first week?

Yeah, I overheard you and
Keisha talking about it one day.

I encourage you to
Discover your inside voice.

Look... Simone:
Thanks for the tip.

Simone, if you Had
a panic attack.

Once, what made you think
You couldn't have one again?

Because I'm not like some of these
Girls who can't handle pressure, thea.

Helena's strength
is her ability.

To pull the anxiety
Out of her opponents,

And every single time that
You walk out onto that court,

You have to be mentally
Prepared for anything,

And you and I have had some
Version of this same conversation.

Since you visited brings
ton Last homecoming weekend,

So when are you gonna
Finally hear me?!

Having anxiety doesn't
Make you weak, Simone.

The weakness comes from refusing
To work with the anxiety.

- So what do I do?
- You tell me.

I meditate before matches
To control my nerves.

When Becca chants the abcs
As loud as humanly possible,

That's her way of
Getting into the zone.

Yeah, we all have our thing.

You just have to figure out
What gets you into your zone.

Look,

The consolation
Matches are tomorrow.

If you place fifth, you'll still
Be able to move up the ranking.

Don't waste the shot.

Marcus: Ah. Ha ha.
Look at you, man.

No judgment, but, uh, ain't
Doctors supposed to eat better?

Heh! Typically, yes.
It's aurora's birthday.

I'm so sorry.

Every year, on her birthday, I
Eat some of her favorite foods.

Aurora was an incredible woman.

Well,

Ain't this a treat?

Marcus: Coach Shaw,
To what do we owe.

The unexpected and
Unwelcome visit?

Oh, well, I'm just check In'
in on some frat brothers.

And some old friends like you.

- Enjoy your day, coach Shaw.
- I know the stresses.

Of first-year head-coach in'.

Well, it's a lot, I mean,
Even for the best of 'em.

I just want to
Make sure you're ok

'cause if one of my players
Had up and quit on me... Heh!

I'd probably feel some
Kinda way about that.

Team lookin' a little
Thin there, Marcus.

You keep this up,

You gonna be pickin' up
Players off the street.

Look, Zeke, I got everything
Handled, ok? Trust me.

I hope so because your funding,
And thus your program, is at stake.

Cam: So I begged my coach to
Put me in on special teams.

And when I scored that
85-yard touchdown return,

I knew couldn't nobody make
Me feel bad about myself.

And that is... That's
Great, man, but,

I mean, you still haven't
Answered my question.

Well, you asked me what's been more
Influential, right... Nature or nurture?

- Yes.
- Well, my identity is tied to how hard I worked at football.

- look,

Just follow me for
A second, all right?

I come from a family of
Singers, but I don't see myself.

As a singer 'cause I
Don't have to work for it.

I'm the first person in my
Family to get out of south I.A.

And go to college 'cause I worked to
Be the best wide receiver I could be.

Football was my way out.

The only thing that
I worked for is gone.

Guess I don't even
Know who I am no more.

Uh, break that down for me.
So you know where you're from.

Like, how can you not know
Who you are, bro? Heh!

Knowing your family
Tree ain't everything.

I mean, it's a part of you,
But it don't complete you,

So I still got to figure it out,
Attach myself to something new.

Anyways, I guess I'm
Team nurture over nature.

Real talk, in your case,
I... I think you need both.

The nature, it's the gift,

And the nurture, that's
What you do with it.

I don't know. I think you
Should take singing seriously.

I mean, what if you
Poured into, you know,

Singing how you do football?

That thing that you're looking
For, that missing piece...

It might have been right in
Front of you this whole time.

Court announcer: Welcome back to day
Two of the marietta tennis invitational.

Ok, girl, let's find yourself.

Announcer: Today, we have Simone
Hicks versus sovale Murray.

♪ A, b, c, d

♪ e, f, g

Ok, this is stupid.

come on.

Female singer: ♪ woman on
Fire, that woman is me ♪

♪ cash rules
Everything around me ♪

that shot
Could a been better.

Singer: ♪ the girl,
She gets in the boot ♪

♪ Louboutins on my feet, I win

♪ your new man wantin'
To be my friend ♪

♪ so you know where
I am headed tonight ♪

♪ all he need to do
Is drop that pin ♪

Thea, voice-over:
You know, tennis.

Is a game of both mental
And physical fitness.

You'll never make it if you keep
Being so easily psyched out.

Woman, voice-over: How
Embarrassing for brings ton.

It's giving loser of the court.

Oh, my god. She's
Going down again.

Announcer: Match
is tied, Ladies.

3 apiece. Murray serves hicks.

With advantage 40-15.

Sorry.

Thea: Simone.

Female singer: ♪Go!
♪ Thea: Good girl.

Singer: ♪ move that
Feeling, work it

♪ be it, show it,
Want to choose it ♪

Thea: Yeah!

Announcer: This next
One's for the match.

Hicks serving Murray, 40-15.

Yes! Yes!

Whoo!

Congrats on pulling
Out that win!

I really couldn't have
Done it without you.

Uh, all I did was
Yell at you, which is.

My new favorite thing,
By the way. Simone: No.

You're a bad ass on the court,
But what you did for me,

That was thea mays
Off the court,

And it turns out she
Is freakin' dope, too.

Don't thank me Yet;
You still have.

Another match to
Win. Are you ready?

Hell yeah. I got this.

Hi. I'm keisha,

And I guess I'm a part
Of the nature camp.

I see myself as a strong
Black and Filipina woman,

And although I'm proud to be
From a two-culture household,

There are still
Parts I don't know.

About both sides of my family.

When my mom moved to the
States and married my dad,

A lot of her family cut
Her off, and my dad was.

A military brat, so he moved
Around so much that his parents.

Never really planted roots deep
Enough to truly grow, so...

But in the absence of
Those parts of my identity,

I cling to the parts
That I do know.

My love for dance...

Comes from my mom and...

Her culture,

And my need to serve.

And take care of people
Comes from my dad.

And I think that's more
Than enough from me. Heh!

Uh... Damon: Yeah.

All those little things,

Those little parts of my identity,
Make up who I am today, so...

Damon: Yeah, think you're right.

You know, we always focus on...

What we don't know instead
Of focusing on what we do.

Uh, thanks.

Yeah, yeah.

keisha: Yo, look,

I know not knowing your biological
Family means that there are.

Parts of you that you
Don't have, and that sucks,

But focus on the parts
That you do know.

You're an incredible athlete,

And you're kind.

And funny, sometimes,

and loyal.

You have two adoptive
Parents who adore you.

Double down on those
Parts of your identity.

Heh! Yeah.

A'ight, a'ight. Keisha: A'ight,

A'ight, a'ight.
A'ight.

What?

Bro, we mean this in the
Nicest way possible, but...

You need to take your
Ass back to baseball.

I told y'all I was
Done with that.

Wes: That's cap, j.R.
You need baseball.

Everyone can see how
Miserable you are without it.

I overheard you talking
With Shaw, how he tried.

To talk you outta
Getting back on the team.

Bump that dude.
Listen to your heart.

Yo...

I'm not gonna say
I don't miss it,

But I just can't go to coach
To tell him I want back in.

Maybe not, but you won't
Know unless you try.

Question is, do you still love
The game enough to fight for it?

Keisha: Oh. Ooh. Heh!

Keisha: Ok, I know I was a
Little harsh on you earlier,

But is this entirely necessary?
Nathaniel: Yes, it is. Now, hush.

Keisha: Oh. Simone: Ok.

Open your eyes.

Keisha, crying: Y'all
Remixed family dinner.

Into a traditional
Birthday party for my mom.

Tsk. Since you couldn't
Celebrate at your mom's grave,

We brought the
Celebration to you.

Amara: We wanted to make this.

As authentic and
Honest as possible.

We hope it's ok
That we did this.

It's incredible.

Oh, I don't know what
I did to deserve y'all.

thank you. I love
You. Amara: We love you, too.

excuse me.

Simone:
I love you, too.

Zeke: Keisha.

I know I'm not your Favorite
person right now, But

we should be together today.

Amara: Cheers.

Nathaniel: Cheers.
Damon: Cheers.

Simone: Oh, cheers.

Zeke: Ah, you were such a
Firecracker, just like your mom.

There would be times
When the two of you.

Would share a look
And just laugh.

Telepathically, in sync.

That's what I miss most...

Seeing you with her.

I'm sorry.

For the way I acted and
Distance between us.

You letting go of
Medicine was like.

Losing the last
Piece of your mom.

She was so excited that you
Wanted to go into medicine.

It's one of the last
Things we talked about.

I thought, if we stayed on
The path the way we planned,

The pain would stop,

But it hasn't,

And I let that pain overshadow
Being a better father to you.

For that, I'm sorry, too.

It may take me a minute to get.

Fully on board with
This dance thing,

But I'm gonna try.

It's a good start, daddy.

Yo... I heard you placed fifth.

In that tennis tournament. Heh!

- I did...
- ok. Heh!

Which is just good
Enough to get me.

To jump up to the eighth-place
Position on our team rankings.

- Oh, that's what's up.
- Mm-hmm.

- Congrats.
- Thanks.

Look, I'm sorry I was
Such a hot mess yesterday.

Look, it's all good. I got
What I needed. I promise.

So everything went
Well with you and j.R.?

Uh, nah. Heh!

I'm sorry.

Don't be.

I'm gonna define my
Identity on my own terms,

And there ain't one thing
That dna test can do.

To take me off of that path.

Believe that.

Ok.

What you want, keisha?

To apologize.

for which part...

Standing me up or not
Answering my text and calls?

Ok, yeah, I... Deserve that.

My mom died when I was 9.

Damn.

I'm sorry.

No, no, it's... It's ok. Um...

It's her birthday today,

And... For the first time,

I think I'm truly
Realizing the effect.

That loss had on me,

And I don't just mean the loss
Of my mom and what we had;

I mean the effect of watching
My dad lose a piece of himself.

I think I'm just...

So afraid of...

Experiencing the pain
That he's feeling,

The pain of...

A loss of a great
Love, that I...

Push away any chance of it.

So...

What you saying?

I guess I...

Have some stuff to work on.

Before I can even consider
Getting into a relationship,

And I'm not gonna ask
You to wait for me,

But I would...

Really like to not lose
A friend, if that's ok.

You know, I usually
Cut sidepieces off...

Mor: ♪ take a minute

But for you, I'll
Make an exception.

Mor: ♪ stop and
Feel that breeze ♪

♪ sliding on the skin freely ♪

Damon, voice-over:
Nature or nurture...

I wish I knew which
One was more important.

Because when life
Throws stuff at us,

When we face our biggest
Challenges, it would be nice.

To know which part of our
Identity to draw from.

Shaw, voice-over: I know the stresses
Of first-year head-coach in'.

Well, it's a lot, I mean,
Even for the best of 'em.

Mor: ♪ there's nothing quite
Like putting my head down ♪

♪ and why I'd be
Listenin' to the sound ♪

♪ of my own heart beating

Damon, voice-over: At least
That's what I used to think.

The truth is, it doesn't matter.

Which part of our
Identity we draw from,

As long as we develop an
Identity to draw from.

We have to know ourselves,

And as someone who doesn't
Know their birth family,

I always felt like there was,

You know, something
Missing, I felt incomplete.

I thought that without
Knowing all of my identity,

I couldn't have
Any of my identity,

And a smart person
Reminded me today.

That the pieces that we do have,

Those will always be
Enough for the now,

And there's resilience in that.

I mean, just look
At black Americans.

So much of our... Our
Culture and our connection.

To our ancestral homes was taken
From us, and because of that,

You can argue that we have this
Innate lack of our own nature.

But just look at the
Culture and identity.

That black Americans
Have nurtured,

An identity that was
Born from nurturing.

The innate gifts
Within ourselves.

So...

Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Damon sims.
I am the adopted son.

Of Xavier and keena sims.

Um, apparently I am a...

Pretty loyal and decent friend,

I'm a baseball player destined
To break down barriers,

And I am a proud member.

Of the hbcu legacy.

Mor: ♪ I'm gonna
Own, own this life ♪

Damon: And until I know
What my nature holds...

That'll be more
Than enough for me.

Mor: ♪ own this
Life I can't... ♪

thank you.

For what you all did for
Me and keisha tonight.

I know I haven't
Exactly been, uh,

Favorite person of late,
Either. Amara: Well,

- but the trustees, they just...
- mm-mmm. Let's keep.

Bringston business off
The table for tonight.

- Bet.
- Mm-hmm.

- Consider it done.
- Ok.

Zeke: Oh, excuse me.

Amara: Look, I loathe
This university.

With my entire heart,

That as a black woman, I
Haven't always been given.

The same opportunities
Or respect.

That video was edited
And taken out of context.

I didn't say... I...
I mean, not like that.

This is not who I am,
Zeke. You know that.

In about 20 seconds, my phone
Is gonna start blowing up.

Because someone's gonna
Have to handle this.

Damon: Yeah, it's,
Uh, it's open.

what are
You doing here, bro?

Look, man, I was wild
For how I reacted to you.

Asking for help on your project.

Now I feel like maybe I owe you
An apology for a lot of things.

Maybe another time.

And just so you know,
Baseball is important to me.

Not being on the team has
Been like walking around.

With a piece of me missing,

And I'mma fight like
Hell to get it back.

That's good for you.

I'm glad you figured that
Out for yourself, bro.

But as important as baseball is,

Family... Now, that's
Everything to me,

Knowing that I might
Have a sibling out there.

It's like walking around
With a piece of you missing.

And that's why I came
Looking for my brother.

I just want to say
I hope I found him.

Chiiild: ♪ you say you've
Been lonely ♪

Chiiild: ♪ nothing's going

♪ your way

♪ life ain't out to
Get you

Dna results already.

Chiiild: ♪ take off
All that weight ♪

Well? Heh!

Let's do it.

Chiild: ♪ best is yet to give
♪ Damon: Let's do it together.

Chiiild: ♪ best ain't
Happened yet ♪

Ok, um... Chiiild: ♪
Best is yet to give

"Based on analysis" and...

"Results of your test are..."
Chiiild: ♪ best is yet to give ♪

"Negative"?

Wait. That means that we're...

Not brothers after all.

Greg, move your head!