All American: Homecoming (2022–…): Season 2, Episode 4 - We Shall Not Be Moved - full transcript
When Cam receives a disturbing call for Amara, Amara immediately jumps into action which requires Bringston to shelter in place. Simone struggles with being able to participate in Baby Shay's first day of daycare only virtually, but when chaos ensues on campus, she finds comfort from someone unexpected. Damon comes to a decision about his birth parents which helps him make a surprising revelation. Not a fan of how Nate's boyfriend treats Nate, Keisha grows concerned when Nate goes missing. Meanwhile, JR revisits a painful time in his past, forcing him to figure out what he wants for his future.
Today, they came for us.
Their goal was to terrorize us,
to disrupt our lives
and instill fear,
but I have one thing
to say to them:
We shall not be moved.
Yeah, I like it.
Nope. Blue top, brown bottoms.
OK, fine.
Let's focus on lunch, and
do not say tuna salad.
Shade. What did
tuna ever do to you?
Because it's giving
lunchtime loneliness.
Ain't no kid want to
trade for tuna salad.
I would.
What's all this?
It's a vision board
for Shay's first
day of preschool.
Shanelle found a beginner's
preschool program.
So what, like,
pre-preschool or something?
More like day care
but with classes.
Yeah, Shanelle and
I have been planning
the perfect first day for weeks.
I cannot wait for her to
send us pictures and videos.
I know.
I think it's dope that you're
working with Shay's adopted mother.
Are you regretting
your mom and birth mom
meeting up on campus tomorrow?
Uh, I mean, I know it's time to
clear the air with everybody,
but I can't help but feel like
this is gonna be a
complete disaster.
I mean, you never know.
Keena and Celine, they
might surprise you.
Look at me and Shanelle.
Stop thinking about your moms.
Well, I mean, I would if I had
something else to think about.
Hmm, OK.
You mean something like this?
OK, it's getting
late. I should go.
Hey, what's that on
your shoulder there?
What? Oh, um, I
just had, like,
a bad reaction to
a new skin cream.
Uh, you know, Cam is gonna
be at Keisha's tonight,
so you can just stay
the night if you want.
Look, we can sleep,
just sleep, all right?
I appreciate that. I do.
I just... I sleep
better in my own bed.
Do you, though?
I mean, since you've
been back from your trip,
doesn't look like you've
been sleeping well.
Are you saying I look tired?
No, you always look
great. It's just...
OK, then what are
you saying, Damon?
I'm saying that I'm
worried, all right?
I just want to make sure
that everything's good.
Yeah, aside from this
conversation, everything's great.
I got to go.
How bad you
think it'll get?
No clue. That's why we
meeting in a public place.
That's smart.
That's real smart.
Damn. Like, I wish my
mom kind of got here first,
so we could, like,
ease her into things.
Don't worry. Whenever she get
here, we'll make sure she OK.
Is everything OK?
That's my mom. She
said she can't make it.
Keisha,
I don't understand
why you won't give
Nico another chance.
One... he's not good for you
and two... he got our
family dinner canceled
via a Yard Yack post, so...
If you spent any time with him,
you'd see how amazing he is.
And I asked him about
the post. It wasn't him.
And you believed
him? Yeah, OK.
No offense, Cameron. This
is a private conversation.
Not when it costs me a
free meal, plus leftovers.
No, it ain't.
Ah, Simone.
Can you please tell Keisha
that she's overreacting
about Nico?
No. It's giving tension,
and I don't do friend drama.
Oh. Hey, guys.
Hey. Hey.
Oh, so you don't
do friend drama?
Doesn't count. She
ain't my friend.
But, anyway, y'all need
to figure this out.
No man is worth
y'all's friendship.
As for me, if
Keisha hates him,
I hate him, too.
Oh, you're a good man.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Keisha, I'm not letting this go.
I would expect nothing less.
Good...
'cause I invited Nico
to study with us.
President Amara
Patterson's office.
Hey, Cam, I'm headed
to the budget meeting.
You're gonna need
to reschedule it.
Why? Who was that
on the phone?
Um, Damon, will you please
confirm to Mom that I
gave you the photo album?
Even though I told her I did,
she keeps asking.
Uh, my bad. I guess I could've
texted you or something.
I hope you like it.
No, actually, I
thought it was dope.
Maybe you can add some
photos of you and Miss Thea.
I look forward to
meeting her one day.
No rush.
Wait, wait, wait. How
do you know about Thea?
Oh, I saw some pictures
you posted online.
So you follow me online?
No.
I mean... yes.
My invite to
the family meeting
must've gotten lost in the mail.
Jessie, please
don't ruin this.
Let's head to
the meeting, Jessie.
I'm gonna get some
air, all right?
Hold up, bro.
Everyone, can I have
your attention, please?
Damon.
Amara, what's going on?
Please have a seat.
What's going on?
OK, what is going on?
The FBI and
the Atlanta P.D. are
investigating a bomb threat
made against us this morning.
The threat involves the
area immediately surrounding
west campus, which is
currently being evacuated.
Please avoid this area as
the investigation continues.
For those in other
areas on campus,
please, please shelter in
place until further notice.
This is not a drill.
There's no longer access in or
out of Bringston University.
Have you
called your mother?
Yeah, I had to convince her
not to hop on the next plane.
And Shanelle?
Not yet, but hopefully,
she can still send me
pictures and videos
of Shay's first day.
That'll help keep me distracted.
You're handling all of
this well, baby girl.
It would be natural if the
bomb threat stirred things up.
Auntie, I love you.
I love you, too.
Marcus, hey.
Hey. How can I help?
I've been president
all of 2 seconds.
I have no idea.
It's not your fault.
You're doing everything you can.
President Patterson, I'm
Special Agent Louis Hunt.
We need to talk, privately.
Cam, please. Please, please,
please, please pick up.
Pick up, pick up.
Pick up. Pick up...
Hey, this is Cam.
Do the damn thing
after the beeeeep.
Oh, hey, Simone. Sorry.
Uh, yeah.
My bad. I would stay and
talk, but I got to...
People to call. Yeah, me, too.
Listen, if you got fam at
East Lennox University,
call them first.
People are saying there was a
bomb threat made there, too.
And if it's true, this could
be a coordinated attack.
Uh, maybe you should just
not say that too loudly
before we know for sure, OK?
People are scared enough.
Yeah.
I mean, I can't believe you're
stuck there with Jessie and Celine.
I can't believe any of
us are stuck anywhere.
Right? This is wild.
It almost doesn't feel real.
Like, how is this
still happening?
All this because
we're a Black school?
And, also, Damon,
about last night,
like, I feel like I may not
have been my best self...
Whoa, whoa. Hey, hey,
babe, don't apologize like
we never gonna see
each other again, OK?
I mean, Damon, we may not.
Look, this is how
this is gonna go.
You're gonna stay mad at me,
and I'm gonna stay
confused about why.
We'll
talk in person.
Tonight, all right?
OK, got it. I am staying mad.
And I'm gonna stay confused.
OK. I will see you tonight.
All right. Bye.
How are you holding up?
You know, I thought the worst
thing that would happen to me today
would be my mom not showing up,
even though she said that she
would come and meet Celine.
We got the bomb
threat, and I just...
Honestly, I don't know
how I feel, Coach.
But the fear I see is not
the cause of a bomb threat
or the anger of your
mom not being here.
Jessie and Celine said when they
gave me away, it was for the best.
But I've really
thought about it,
and...
Right? That's cap.
Come on, Coach.
If you were a parent, you would
fight for your kids, right?
If they really loved me,
if they really wanted me,
they would've made it work.
You need answers, OK?
And the people that have
them are right here, Damon.
The evacuation of
west campus is complete.
We've begun a sweep to look
for any explosive devices.
How can I help, Agent Hunt?
Honestly, by letting
us do our job
and staying out of the way.
No one knows this
campus better than I do.
Be that as it may, my
previous comment stands.
Who was on the phone when
the bomb threat was made?
My assistant, Cam Watkins.
After I take a look
at the phone records,
I need to speak with him.
When you do, I want to be there.
That's not typically
how we do things.
Be that as it may, my
previous comment stands.
J.R.
Why didn't you tell me
your mother was coming?
That's what you
want to talk about?
We're sheltered in place
because of a bomb threat.
Exactly. A threat,
not an actual bomb.
You don't know that.
There could be a bomb
somewhere on campus.
I need you to understand
the assignment.
And I think the students
seeing a coach staying calm
is the assignment.
You realize that you
haven't asked me am I OK?
You have two sons in the
same building with you.
It's like you really
don't see me or Damon.
Shanelle.
Simone. Oh,
my God. Are you OK?
Well, more or less, I think.
We've been praying for y'all.
The bomb threats are
all over the news.
"Bomb threats"? Plural?
Yeah, another HBCU,
East Lennox University.
They just confirmed it.
How's Shay?
Are you guys safe?
I mean, who knows what
else could happen today?
Shay's a little fussy, but
other than that, he's fine.
Want to say hi?
I would really love that.
Shanelle, what happened?
Is everything OK?
Shanelle? Hello?
It was the cell phone
tower, the noise.
It was being shut down.
How do you know?
I can see the truck from here.
Look, the Wi-Fi's down, too.
It's probably just the
FBI doing their thing, OK?
I'm good, I'm good. Thank you.
OK. Breathe in for 4 seconds,
hold your breath for 7,
and then exhale
for 8 seconds, OK?
4-7-8 breathing.
You get panic attacks, too?
Got them a lot as a kid
when my dad was deployed.
You were scared he wasn't
gonna make it back.
Yeah.
Now the parent is
worried about the child.
We were on the phone when
everything went down.
I have a son... Shay.
We were on the phone when
everything went down, so...
Your panic attack was about him.
These coordinated bomb
threats are just a reminder...
that there are spaces that
Shay won't be accepted in
just because of how he looks
and there's nothing
I can do about it.
For now, Shay's safe, OK?
But there is
something you can do.
I see a lot of people
who could use a friend
or some help.
Look, J., about Celine
and Jessie, I...
um, actually, um,
mental health check.
How you handling all this, bro?
You'd think I'd be used to the
fear of losing my life by now.
When I was a kid, I thought
aplastic anemia had my number.
I even made a bucket list.
For real?
What was on it?
Oh, the usuals...
Kiss a girl, fight a ninja.
Ninja? Ha ha!
Damn if Mom and Dad ain't
try to hit every item
as if they ain't have
enough to deal with.
What do you mean, what
they had to deal with?
You was the one
that was sick, bro.
Mm-mm. If one person in the
family is that badly sick,
everyone is.
Damon, Mom and Dad argued a lot,
about my care,
how to pay for it.
And the stresses
of that led to...
led to Mom's affair.
Growing up, I fooled
myself into thinking
that our lives were perfect,
that we were happy.
And we weren't and they weren't.
And for 18 years, you didn't
know where you came from
because Mom and Dad
couldn't handle two kids.
My illness hit different
for all of y'all,
and I feel responsible for it.
Look, no, I know I
shouldn't, but I do.
I'm working through
it with my shrink.
Why did it take a bomb threat
for you to tell me all this?
Felt selfish given everything.
You can talk to
me about anything.
You hear me?
Damon...
I'm scared, bro.
Yeah, man.
Me, too.
As your SGA
president, I'll demand that
Dr. Patterson make our
safety her priority.
First order of business,
adding police
officers to campus.
Yup, mm-hmm.
I don't...
I don't know about that.
Bringing cops to a school
full of Black students
doesn't seem like the move.
People who make bomb
threats against HBCUs
are violent individuals who need
to be met with strength and force.
But sometimes...
the people that are
supposed to have our backs
end up being our
greatest threat.
Nate, I love you, but you're wrong
about this, so why don't you...
- Excuse me.
- Keisha, it's OK.
No. no. For the record, Nate knows
exactly what she's talking about.
She's stood up to more
cops on this campus
that tried to shut down
our right to protest
than anyone else
in this building.
That's funny. So the former
president's daughter,
who lives in a big house,
knows about struggle.
OK, well, at least
I'm not an insecure man
who feels the need to
silence other people
to make himself feel better.
No. I'm the guy trying to get
things done for this student body.
Well, then maybe you
should do less talking
and more listening because it's
clear you're only about yourself.
I would argue that's your issue.
Nate, I hope you're seeing this.
Excuse me, everyone. Can
I please have your attention?
A lot of you may not know me,
but my name is Simone Hicks.
And as uncertain and
scary as today is,
we have to be here
for each other.
We should really talk
about what's happening.
It might do us some good.
What did the caller say exactly?
Agent Hunt, what are you doing?
I mentioned I'd need
to speak to Cam Watkins
since he's the one
answered the call.
And I said I wanted to
be there when you did.
Mr. Watkins, what did
the caller say exactly?
That he hid explosives
in the west campus,
and he chose
Bringston because...
there are too many
Black students here.
Well, being a majority
Black school makes us a target.
So does being the only
Black speck at a PWI.
We should get to have
our own space, right?
That's naive.
We all know that when
we come together,
excellence happens, and
that threatens them.
- Exactly.
- Right, right.
We put ourselves in
the line of fire.
You're playing their game.
Whenever we get terrorized, they always
find a way to flip it and blame us.
Mr. Watkins, your memory
of the call's impressive.
Most people in your situation
wouldn't be able to
remember so thoroughly.
Look, man, if you got
something to say, just say it.
Your responses seem rehearsed.
Was this call real,
or is this a prank?
Maybe you heard about the threat
at East Lennox and wanted...
Man. I ain't got to do...
Uh-uh.
Cam Watkins is
one of the most upstanding
students on campus.
If he says the call
happened, it did.
This isn't a prank.
It's a pattern.
How do you not see that?
The 16th Street
Baptist Church bombing,
the Tulsa Race Massacre,
the Charleston church shooting.
Guys, we have a long history
of attacks against us.
Exactly. This isn't
new, which is why I'm
shrugging off this bomb threat.
It's just another instance of fill
in the blank while being Black.
Well, it's really sad
that you're desensitized
to your own trauma.
Maybe this is how I'm
strong and resilient.
The problem
with being told
to stay strong and persevere is
that it invalidates
our human emotions.
But our society
constantly validates
people who commit violence
against people of color
when more needs to be done
to protect Black students.
Cam.
Yeah, and maybe
this whole discussion thing
was a really bad idea, Simone.
Your line
of questioning
was out of line.
Cam is a victim.
Trust me.
Cam Watkins doing
this as a prank
would have been preferable.
To what exactly?
The other threat, at
East Lennox University.
My colleagues just radioed in.
They found a device.
They were able to defuse
it a few minutes ago.
So if the Bringston bomb
threat isn't a prank
and is part of a pattern...
There's a good chance a device
really is somewhere
at Bringston.
Yo, hey, we saw the
FBI interrogating you.
What... what's up?
How long it take 'em?
Five minutes.
I went from a victim to
a suspect in 5 minutes
just sitting in a damn chair.
That's messed up.
The whole situation
is trash, bro.
Man, Bringston's supposed to be
different than the rest of the world.
Supposed to be safe.
It's like they want us to
know we ain't safe nowhere.
And an education?
Forget about that.
Hey, bro, today doesn't
change what Bringston is.
For us, by us.
Those are dope words and all,
but the truth is, they
gonna always find a way
to tear us down.
Hey! Where the
hell are you going?
None of your business.
Fine. I hope wherever you're
going is worth risking your life.
I'm going to find Damon, OK?
God. I can't believe
this. It happened.
I have become the woman willing
to do anything for a guy.
No. You sound like a woman
who's willing to do whatever
for the man that they love.
I mean, if it'll help, I've done
something out of love
that I'd later regret.
To take my mind off of
worrying about Shay,
I basically tried to
mother everyone else.
Yeah. It feels really weird
loving someone so much
that I wasn't even thinking
of the harm to myself.
I just...
hope I get the
chance to tell him.
And you will.
You have to hold on to that
belief that we'll make it out.
We all do.
Hey, since we're having
this nice moment,
I need you to do
something for me.
OK. I messed up.
I was wrong earlier.
Talking is not what
we should be doing.
And sitting around, waiting for
our world to end ain't it either.
And I don't know about
y'all, but I want to fight back.
I want to hit
something, feel alive.
Hence, dodgeball.
They're used for tennis
drills, but they'll get the job done.
So your plan is
for us to run around here,
hitting each other
with tennis balls?
Tootie, I'm not the only
one with pent-up energy.
You're not. I'm
in. Lando's in.
You know what?
Whatever. Let's do it.
All right.
All right, all right.
Whoo! Let's go.
Get the answer to your question?
Uh, yeah,
but I know what I want, Coach,
but what if it
blows up in my face?
I don't know the words for this.
You'll find them.
I have no doubt.
But don't let anything
that should be said
go unsaid, OK?
Seriously? We're in
the middle of a bomb threat
and your partner is missing.
Why aren't you worried?
Because I'm positive that
Nate is somewhere safe
and she'll come back
when she's ready.
She gets like this. She
just needs a minute.
Wow. You really are trash.
Am I? Or is it the fact that
I know Nate better than you
and that is what's
really bothering you?
No. What really
scares me is that Nate
won't see you for
who you actually are,
and that one day, when
she really needs you,
you won't be there.
Let's just hope that
day isn't today.
Hey.
They found a device
at the other HBCU
that was threatened today.
OK. All right. It's just us.
Let it out.
Mm-mm. I'm the president.
I have to focus on our kids.
Who is focused on
Amara Patterson?
Because the last time I checked,
the president doesn't
exist without her.
If you want to help me,
go check on our kids.
That's what I need.
Look, I told Damon not to let
things that should be said
go unsaid.
If this is the end of the road,
I just want you to know that
I love you, Amara Patterson.
I am grateful to you
for everything.
When you gave me up, you
said it was for the best.
And, look, I'm not gonna lie.
I thought it was an excuse,
that y'all didn't
want me to mess up
your perfect little family.
Now I know that your lives weren't
perfect. They were far from it,
and what you actually
gave me was...
was a gift.
I had an amazing life
with my adoptive parents,
a life I might not have had
had you not given me up.
So I don't know what a relationship
with you looks like, but...
I want to find out.
It means a lot, you
giving us a second chance.
Yeah. Um, what I
said was for Celine,
not you.
I know I have more to atone for.
I pushed her to give you up
out of my own selfishness,
but I apologized for that.
Don't shut me out because
of my past mistakes.
I don't have to look
at the past, Jessie.
Come on. After you found
out that I was your son,
you didn't hit me up, not once.
Did you really try to get to
know me outside of baseball,
but yet you're sitting here,
asking me for my forgiveness?
That's just something that
I don't give away, man.
You got to earn it.
Simone, I got to
tell you something.
- Mm-hmm?
- You're at a disadvantage.
Really? How so?
As a pitcher, my speed
and accuracy are on point,
and I'm gonna tag you.
OK. Well, as a tennis player,
my speed and my ability is gonna
make it hard for you to hit me.
Plus, I got a little
secret weapon.
All right. Cool. Bring
it. Come on. Let's go.
Are you OK?
Uh, yeah, I'm good. I'm good.
You're impressive.
Well, you didn't think
I had that arm, did you?
Actually, I was
talking about this.
You tabled your fear
and worry for your son
and helped everybody else.
That's impressive.
Well, I did have a little help.
I guess the
cell service is back.
I can call Shay.
Uh, OK. Where is my phone?
Uh, here. Use mine.
What? There's no one
you want to call?
It can wait. Talk to your son.
I got to say,
how you handled Mom and Dad,
I'm proud of you.
Yeah, well, don't be proud yet.
I still got one parent
I haven't figured out.
I don't know what to do with my
anger that I have towards my dad.
You got to release it.
Get on that train of
forgiveness with him, too.
He lied to me and my
mom for years, bro.
Like, how do I forgive a man who
can't answer for what he's done
because he doesn't
remember what he did?
It's not always about
him being able to answer.
I mean, in therapy, I had
a lot of conversations
with my dad of where
he wasn't present.
Really?
It sounds crazy, but it helped.
Having the other
person there sometimes
just gets in the way of
letting the pain out.
Yeah, I don't know, J.
You know, that's not really me.
I got to hear dude's
voice, you know?
Then call him. 'Cause
given his condition,
he's not gonna be present
for the conversation either.
Nate, are you in there?
No.
Nathaniel Hardin,
let me in, please.
Why did you run off?
I was really, really
worried about you.
You know...
you and Nico arguing
sound like a married couple
when they're getting a divorce.
Not like a married couple
getting divorced...
your parents.
Nate, I'm so sorry
that I did something
that could trigger
you that much.
And with the bomb threats,
I felt like my
life was imploding.
I'll be OK. I just...
I need a little me time,
and then I will come
out when I'm ready, OK?
Nico was right.
I'm guessing you chewed him out.
I may have said a few words.
He's a good guy, Keisha.
I know that he's rough
around the edges,
but the part in
the middle is good.
Uh, hey, Natalie, it's Damon.
Uh, yeah, I'm good.
Um, how's my dad doing today?
You think he'd be up to talking?
Uh, cool, yeah.
Um, no worries.
I'll call him later.
Damon.
Look, now is not
really a good time.
What you said, I heard you.
J.R. said you like
the diner on Lennox.
I'm gonna be there every
Wednesday night, 7 p.m.
I'll keep showing up
until you're ready.
I've got good news.
We didn't find a
device on campus.
You have the all-clear.
Oh, thank God.
But you did find something
somewhere, didn't you?
We found a suspect, a
known local radical.
He had two devices.
He was literally two
blocks away, Dr. Patterson.
Whenever you're ready, Dr. P.
OK.
Today, they came for us.
Their goal was to terrorize us,
to disrupt our lives
and instill fear,
but I have one thing
to say to them:
We shall not be moved.
When you come for us,
we band together as a family.
And once
the crisis is gone,
though we may go back
to our regular lives,
we are not unchanged.
We're stronger, even
if we don't know how.
I know today must have
brought back a lot of memories
from when you were sick.
It did. But, for
real, I'm good.
Well, I brought
something for you.
- Hmm?
- Mm-hmm.
Whoa.
This... it's my bucket list.
I found it when I was
moving into my new place.
I was gonna give
it to you before...
everything happened.
Really? Why?
Because sometimes, especially
on a day like today,
we need reminders of what
we want out of our lives.
Ma, this was written
by an 8 year old.
I doubt there's anything left
on here worth fighting for.
Read it.
"Make it to the MLB."
Wow. Mom, when I
wrote this list,
the miracle was I had
just enough energy
to swing a bat occasionally.
Maybe it's time you start
believing in miracles again
and pursue your dream.
When you
seek to tell us
what we can and can't have...
I love you, Ma.
That's
when we dream big
and realize that the sky is
nowhere close to our limit.
Hey, y'all.
Looks like we made it, huh?
Ohh.
Yes. And we are
stronger because of it.
OK. What you
got going on today?
We like Nico now?
Girl, that would be a no.
If anything, I'm more sure now
than ever that he's got to go.
She's not like her full,
vibrant self with him.
Eventually, it's gonna
blow up in her face,
so I'm just sticking close.
I love you.
Love you, too.
Hey.
Hey.
Are you good?
Yeah.
Uh, did you get my text?
Probably.
I have so many unread
messages today.
Yeah, it's all good. Heh!
Look, I probably
should head to my room.
Thea's gonna be there soon.
Says she's got something
important to tell me, so...
Then you should get going.
Right. Um, I'll see you later.
We are a people
of hope and faith,
even in the midst
of circumstances
that tell us it's too late.
You need anything
else, Dr. P.?
No. I'm good, Cam. Thank you.
All right.
Um...
Thanks for having my back today.
You sure you don't
need nothing else?
And though you may seek
to destroy us psychologically,
you will fail
because we are learning
we don't have to fear
the things we feel.
Today reminded me
not to let anything that
should be said go unsaid.
And so...
I wanted to say
I love you, Thea.
And I understand if you can't
say it back yet. It's just...
I love you, too.
And about last night,
Damon, you were right.
I haven't been handling my
recovery as well as I thought I...
Hey, it's OK.
All right. Peaks and valleys.
I'm down for whatever.
You know why?
'Cause you love me.
Because I love you.
There is
no power on Earth
that can conquer Black love.
Y'all gonna learn
that the hard way.
Hey. What are you doing here?
You still have my phone.
Oh. Right. Um, sorry.
I was gonna get that to
you later, eventually.
And I wanted to check on you.
Uh, yeah. Today
was a hard day.
Yeah.
Uh, you want to go somewhere?
And when we
come out the other side
of the attack you thought
would take us out,
we'll find something new
that may be just what we need.
No.
Greg, move your head.
Their goal was to terrorize us,
to disrupt our lives
and instill fear,
but I have one thing
to say to them:
We shall not be moved.
Yeah, I like it.
Nope. Blue top, brown bottoms.
OK, fine.
Let's focus on lunch, and
do not say tuna salad.
Shade. What did
tuna ever do to you?
Because it's giving
lunchtime loneliness.
Ain't no kid want to
trade for tuna salad.
I would.
What's all this?
It's a vision board
for Shay's first
day of preschool.
Shanelle found a beginner's
preschool program.
So what, like,
pre-preschool or something?
More like day care
but with classes.
Yeah, Shanelle and
I have been planning
the perfect first day for weeks.
I cannot wait for her to
send us pictures and videos.
I know.
I think it's dope that you're
working with Shay's adopted mother.
Are you regretting
your mom and birth mom
meeting up on campus tomorrow?
Uh, I mean, I know it's time to
clear the air with everybody,
but I can't help but feel like
this is gonna be a
complete disaster.
I mean, you never know.
Keena and Celine, they
might surprise you.
Look at me and Shanelle.
Stop thinking about your moms.
Well, I mean, I would if I had
something else to think about.
Hmm, OK.
You mean something like this?
OK, it's getting
late. I should go.
Hey, what's that on
your shoulder there?
What? Oh, um, I
just had, like,
a bad reaction to
a new skin cream.
Uh, you know, Cam is gonna
be at Keisha's tonight,
so you can just stay
the night if you want.
Look, we can sleep,
just sleep, all right?
I appreciate that. I do.
I just... I sleep
better in my own bed.
Do you, though?
I mean, since you've
been back from your trip,
doesn't look like you've
been sleeping well.
Are you saying I look tired?
No, you always look
great. It's just...
OK, then what are
you saying, Damon?
I'm saying that I'm
worried, all right?
I just want to make sure
that everything's good.
Yeah, aside from this
conversation, everything's great.
I got to go.
How bad you
think it'll get?
No clue. That's why we
meeting in a public place.
That's smart.
That's real smart.
Damn. Like, I wish my
mom kind of got here first,
so we could, like,
ease her into things.
Don't worry. Whenever she get
here, we'll make sure she OK.
Is everything OK?
That's my mom. She
said she can't make it.
Keisha,
I don't understand
why you won't give
Nico another chance.
One... he's not good for you
and two... he got our
family dinner canceled
via a Yard Yack post, so...
If you spent any time with him,
you'd see how amazing he is.
And I asked him about
the post. It wasn't him.
And you believed
him? Yeah, OK.
No offense, Cameron. This
is a private conversation.
Not when it costs me a
free meal, plus leftovers.
No, it ain't.
Ah, Simone.
Can you please tell Keisha
that she's overreacting
about Nico?
No. It's giving tension,
and I don't do friend drama.
Oh. Hey, guys.
Hey. Hey.
Oh, so you don't
do friend drama?
Doesn't count. She
ain't my friend.
But, anyway, y'all need
to figure this out.
No man is worth
y'all's friendship.
As for me, if
Keisha hates him,
I hate him, too.
Oh, you're a good man.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Keisha, I'm not letting this go.
I would expect nothing less.
Good...
'cause I invited Nico
to study with us.
President Amara
Patterson's office.
Hey, Cam, I'm headed
to the budget meeting.
You're gonna need
to reschedule it.
Why? Who was that
on the phone?
Um, Damon, will you please
confirm to Mom that I
gave you the photo album?
Even though I told her I did,
she keeps asking.
Uh, my bad. I guess I could've
texted you or something.
I hope you like it.
No, actually, I
thought it was dope.
Maybe you can add some
photos of you and Miss Thea.
I look forward to
meeting her one day.
No rush.
Wait, wait, wait. How
do you know about Thea?
Oh, I saw some pictures
you posted online.
So you follow me online?
No.
I mean... yes.
My invite to
the family meeting
must've gotten lost in the mail.
Jessie, please
don't ruin this.
Let's head to
the meeting, Jessie.
I'm gonna get some
air, all right?
Hold up, bro.
Everyone, can I have
your attention, please?
Damon.
Amara, what's going on?
Please have a seat.
What's going on?
OK, what is going on?
The FBI and
the Atlanta P.D. are
investigating a bomb threat
made against us this morning.
The threat involves the
area immediately surrounding
west campus, which is
currently being evacuated.
Please avoid this area as
the investigation continues.
For those in other
areas on campus,
please, please shelter in
place until further notice.
This is not a drill.
There's no longer access in or
out of Bringston University.
Have you
called your mother?
Yeah, I had to convince her
not to hop on the next plane.
And Shanelle?
Not yet, but hopefully,
she can still send me
pictures and videos
of Shay's first day.
That'll help keep me distracted.
You're handling all of
this well, baby girl.
It would be natural if the
bomb threat stirred things up.
Auntie, I love you.
I love you, too.
Marcus, hey.
Hey. How can I help?
I've been president
all of 2 seconds.
I have no idea.
It's not your fault.
You're doing everything you can.
President Patterson, I'm
Special Agent Louis Hunt.
We need to talk, privately.
Cam, please. Please, please,
please, please pick up.
Pick up, pick up.
Pick up. Pick up...
Hey, this is Cam.
Do the damn thing
after the beeeeep.
Oh, hey, Simone. Sorry.
Uh, yeah.
My bad. I would stay and
talk, but I got to...
People to call. Yeah, me, too.
Listen, if you got fam at
East Lennox University,
call them first.
People are saying there was a
bomb threat made there, too.
And if it's true, this could
be a coordinated attack.
Uh, maybe you should just
not say that too loudly
before we know for sure, OK?
People are scared enough.
Yeah.
I mean, I can't believe you're
stuck there with Jessie and Celine.
I can't believe any of
us are stuck anywhere.
Right? This is wild.
It almost doesn't feel real.
Like, how is this
still happening?
All this because
we're a Black school?
And, also, Damon,
about last night,
like, I feel like I may not
have been my best self...
Whoa, whoa. Hey, hey,
babe, don't apologize like
we never gonna see
each other again, OK?
I mean, Damon, we may not.
Look, this is how
this is gonna go.
You're gonna stay mad at me,
and I'm gonna stay
confused about why.
We'll
talk in person.
Tonight, all right?
OK, got it. I am staying mad.
And I'm gonna stay confused.
OK. I will see you tonight.
All right. Bye.
How are you holding up?
You know, I thought the worst
thing that would happen to me today
would be my mom not showing up,
even though she said that she
would come and meet Celine.
We got the bomb
threat, and I just...
Honestly, I don't know
how I feel, Coach.
But the fear I see is not
the cause of a bomb threat
or the anger of your
mom not being here.
Jessie and Celine said when they
gave me away, it was for the best.
But I've really
thought about it,
and...
Right? That's cap.
Come on, Coach.
If you were a parent, you would
fight for your kids, right?
If they really loved me,
if they really wanted me,
they would've made it work.
You need answers, OK?
And the people that have
them are right here, Damon.
The evacuation of
west campus is complete.
We've begun a sweep to look
for any explosive devices.
How can I help, Agent Hunt?
Honestly, by letting
us do our job
and staying out of the way.
No one knows this
campus better than I do.
Be that as it may, my
previous comment stands.
Who was on the phone when
the bomb threat was made?
My assistant, Cam Watkins.
After I take a look
at the phone records,
I need to speak with him.
When you do, I want to be there.
That's not typically
how we do things.
Be that as it may, my
previous comment stands.
J.R.
Why didn't you tell me
your mother was coming?
That's what you
want to talk about?
We're sheltered in place
because of a bomb threat.
Exactly. A threat,
not an actual bomb.
You don't know that.
There could be a bomb
somewhere on campus.
I need you to understand
the assignment.
And I think the students
seeing a coach staying calm
is the assignment.
You realize that you
haven't asked me am I OK?
You have two sons in the
same building with you.
It's like you really
don't see me or Damon.
Shanelle.
Simone. Oh,
my God. Are you OK?
Well, more or less, I think.
We've been praying for y'all.
The bomb threats are
all over the news.
"Bomb threats"? Plural?
Yeah, another HBCU,
East Lennox University.
They just confirmed it.
How's Shay?
Are you guys safe?
I mean, who knows what
else could happen today?
Shay's a little fussy, but
other than that, he's fine.
Want to say hi?
I would really love that.
Shanelle, what happened?
Is everything OK?
Shanelle? Hello?
It was the cell phone
tower, the noise.
It was being shut down.
How do you know?
I can see the truck from here.
Look, the Wi-Fi's down, too.
It's probably just the
FBI doing their thing, OK?
I'm good, I'm good. Thank you.
OK. Breathe in for 4 seconds,
hold your breath for 7,
and then exhale
for 8 seconds, OK?
4-7-8 breathing.
You get panic attacks, too?
Got them a lot as a kid
when my dad was deployed.
You were scared he wasn't
gonna make it back.
Yeah.
Now the parent is
worried about the child.
We were on the phone when
everything went down.
I have a son... Shay.
We were on the phone when
everything went down, so...
Your panic attack was about him.
These coordinated bomb
threats are just a reminder...
that there are spaces that
Shay won't be accepted in
just because of how he looks
and there's nothing
I can do about it.
For now, Shay's safe, OK?
But there is
something you can do.
I see a lot of people
who could use a friend
or some help.
Look, J., about Celine
and Jessie, I...
um, actually, um,
mental health check.
How you handling all this, bro?
You'd think I'd be used to the
fear of losing my life by now.
When I was a kid, I thought
aplastic anemia had my number.
I even made a bucket list.
For real?
What was on it?
Oh, the usuals...
Kiss a girl, fight a ninja.
Ninja? Ha ha!
Damn if Mom and Dad ain't
try to hit every item
as if they ain't have
enough to deal with.
What do you mean, what
they had to deal with?
You was the one
that was sick, bro.
Mm-mm. If one person in the
family is that badly sick,
everyone is.
Damon, Mom and Dad argued a lot,
about my care,
how to pay for it.
And the stresses
of that led to...
led to Mom's affair.
Growing up, I fooled
myself into thinking
that our lives were perfect,
that we were happy.
And we weren't and they weren't.
And for 18 years, you didn't
know where you came from
because Mom and Dad
couldn't handle two kids.
My illness hit different
for all of y'all,
and I feel responsible for it.
Look, no, I know I
shouldn't, but I do.
I'm working through
it with my shrink.
Why did it take a bomb threat
for you to tell me all this?
Felt selfish given everything.
You can talk to
me about anything.
You hear me?
Damon...
I'm scared, bro.
Yeah, man.
Me, too.
As your SGA
president, I'll demand that
Dr. Patterson make our
safety her priority.
First order of business,
adding police
officers to campus.
Yup, mm-hmm.
I don't...
I don't know about that.
Bringing cops to a school
full of Black students
doesn't seem like the move.
People who make bomb
threats against HBCUs
are violent individuals who need
to be met with strength and force.
But sometimes...
the people that are
supposed to have our backs
end up being our
greatest threat.
Nate, I love you, but you're wrong
about this, so why don't you...
- Excuse me.
- Keisha, it's OK.
No. no. For the record, Nate knows
exactly what she's talking about.
She's stood up to more
cops on this campus
that tried to shut down
our right to protest
than anyone else
in this building.
That's funny. So the former
president's daughter,
who lives in a big house,
knows about struggle.
OK, well, at least
I'm not an insecure man
who feels the need to
silence other people
to make himself feel better.
No. I'm the guy trying to get
things done for this student body.
Well, then maybe you
should do less talking
and more listening because it's
clear you're only about yourself.
I would argue that's your issue.
Nate, I hope you're seeing this.
Excuse me, everyone. Can
I please have your attention?
A lot of you may not know me,
but my name is Simone Hicks.
And as uncertain and
scary as today is,
we have to be here
for each other.
We should really talk
about what's happening.
It might do us some good.
What did the caller say exactly?
Agent Hunt, what are you doing?
I mentioned I'd need
to speak to Cam Watkins
since he's the one
answered the call.
And I said I wanted to
be there when you did.
Mr. Watkins, what did
the caller say exactly?
That he hid explosives
in the west campus,
and he chose
Bringston because...
there are too many
Black students here.
Well, being a majority
Black school makes us a target.
So does being the only
Black speck at a PWI.
We should get to have
our own space, right?
That's naive.
We all know that when
we come together,
excellence happens, and
that threatens them.
- Exactly.
- Right, right.
We put ourselves in
the line of fire.
You're playing their game.
Whenever we get terrorized, they always
find a way to flip it and blame us.
Mr. Watkins, your memory
of the call's impressive.
Most people in your situation
wouldn't be able to
remember so thoroughly.
Look, man, if you got
something to say, just say it.
Your responses seem rehearsed.
Was this call real,
or is this a prank?
Maybe you heard about the threat
at East Lennox and wanted...
Man. I ain't got to do...
Uh-uh.
Cam Watkins is
one of the most upstanding
students on campus.
If he says the call
happened, it did.
This isn't a prank.
It's a pattern.
How do you not see that?
The 16th Street
Baptist Church bombing,
the Tulsa Race Massacre,
the Charleston church shooting.
Guys, we have a long history
of attacks against us.
Exactly. This isn't
new, which is why I'm
shrugging off this bomb threat.
It's just another instance of fill
in the blank while being Black.
Well, it's really sad
that you're desensitized
to your own trauma.
Maybe this is how I'm
strong and resilient.
The problem
with being told
to stay strong and persevere is
that it invalidates
our human emotions.
But our society
constantly validates
people who commit violence
against people of color
when more needs to be done
to protect Black students.
Cam.
Yeah, and maybe
this whole discussion thing
was a really bad idea, Simone.
Your line
of questioning
was out of line.
Cam is a victim.
Trust me.
Cam Watkins doing
this as a prank
would have been preferable.
To what exactly?
The other threat, at
East Lennox University.
My colleagues just radioed in.
They found a device.
They were able to defuse
it a few minutes ago.
So if the Bringston bomb
threat isn't a prank
and is part of a pattern...
There's a good chance a device
really is somewhere
at Bringston.
Yo, hey, we saw the
FBI interrogating you.
What... what's up?
How long it take 'em?
Five minutes.
I went from a victim to
a suspect in 5 minutes
just sitting in a damn chair.
That's messed up.
The whole situation
is trash, bro.
Man, Bringston's supposed to be
different than the rest of the world.
Supposed to be safe.
It's like they want us to
know we ain't safe nowhere.
And an education?
Forget about that.
Hey, bro, today doesn't
change what Bringston is.
For us, by us.
Those are dope words and all,
but the truth is, they
gonna always find a way
to tear us down.
Hey! Where the
hell are you going?
None of your business.
Fine. I hope wherever you're
going is worth risking your life.
I'm going to find Damon, OK?
God. I can't believe
this. It happened.
I have become the woman willing
to do anything for a guy.
No. You sound like a woman
who's willing to do whatever
for the man that they love.
I mean, if it'll help, I've done
something out of love
that I'd later regret.
To take my mind off of
worrying about Shay,
I basically tried to
mother everyone else.
Yeah. It feels really weird
loving someone so much
that I wasn't even thinking
of the harm to myself.
I just...
hope I get the
chance to tell him.
And you will.
You have to hold on to that
belief that we'll make it out.
We all do.
Hey, since we're having
this nice moment,
I need you to do
something for me.
OK. I messed up.
I was wrong earlier.
Talking is not what
we should be doing.
And sitting around, waiting for
our world to end ain't it either.
And I don't know about
y'all, but I want to fight back.
I want to hit
something, feel alive.
Hence, dodgeball.
They're used for tennis
drills, but they'll get the job done.
So your plan is
for us to run around here,
hitting each other
with tennis balls?
Tootie, I'm not the only
one with pent-up energy.
You're not. I'm
in. Lando's in.
You know what?
Whatever. Let's do it.
All right.
All right, all right.
Whoo! Let's go.
Get the answer to your question?
Uh, yeah,
but I know what I want, Coach,
but what if it
blows up in my face?
I don't know the words for this.
You'll find them.
I have no doubt.
But don't let anything
that should be said
go unsaid, OK?
Seriously? We're in
the middle of a bomb threat
and your partner is missing.
Why aren't you worried?
Because I'm positive that
Nate is somewhere safe
and she'll come back
when she's ready.
She gets like this. She
just needs a minute.
Wow. You really are trash.
Am I? Or is it the fact that
I know Nate better than you
and that is what's
really bothering you?
No. What really
scares me is that Nate
won't see you for
who you actually are,
and that one day, when
she really needs you,
you won't be there.
Let's just hope that
day isn't today.
Hey.
They found a device
at the other HBCU
that was threatened today.
OK. All right. It's just us.
Let it out.
Mm-mm. I'm the president.
I have to focus on our kids.
Who is focused on
Amara Patterson?
Because the last time I checked,
the president doesn't
exist without her.
If you want to help me,
go check on our kids.
That's what I need.
Look, I told Damon not to let
things that should be said
go unsaid.
If this is the end of the road,
I just want you to know that
I love you, Amara Patterson.
I am grateful to you
for everything.
When you gave me up, you
said it was for the best.
And, look, I'm not gonna lie.
I thought it was an excuse,
that y'all didn't
want me to mess up
your perfect little family.
Now I know that your lives weren't
perfect. They were far from it,
and what you actually
gave me was...
was a gift.
I had an amazing life
with my adoptive parents,
a life I might not have had
had you not given me up.
So I don't know what a relationship
with you looks like, but...
I want to find out.
It means a lot, you
giving us a second chance.
Yeah. Um, what I
said was for Celine,
not you.
I know I have more to atone for.
I pushed her to give you up
out of my own selfishness,
but I apologized for that.
Don't shut me out because
of my past mistakes.
I don't have to look
at the past, Jessie.
Come on. After you found
out that I was your son,
you didn't hit me up, not once.
Did you really try to get to
know me outside of baseball,
but yet you're sitting here,
asking me for my forgiveness?
That's just something that
I don't give away, man.
You got to earn it.
Simone, I got to
tell you something.
- Mm-hmm?
- You're at a disadvantage.
Really? How so?
As a pitcher, my speed
and accuracy are on point,
and I'm gonna tag you.
OK. Well, as a tennis player,
my speed and my ability is gonna
make it hard for you to hit me.
Plus, I got a little
secret weapon.
All right. Cool. Bring
it. Come on. Let's go.
Are you OK?
Uh, yeah, I'm good. I'm good.
You're impressive.
Well, you didn't think
I had that arm, did you?
Actually, I was
talking about this.
You tabled your fear
and worry for your son
and helped everybody else.
That's impressive.
Well, I did have a little help.
I guess the
cell service is back.
I can call Shay.
Uh, OK. Where is my phone?
Uh, here. Use mine.
What? There's no one
you want to call?
It can wait. Talk to your son.
I got to say,
how you handled Mom and Dad,
I'm proud of you.
Yeah, well, don't be proud yet.
I still got one parent
I haven't figured out.
I don't know what to do with my
anger that I have towards my dad.
You got to release it.
Get on that train of
forgiveness with him, too.
He lied to me and my
mom for years, bro.
Like, how do I forgive a man who
can't answer for what he's done
because he doesn't
remember what he did?
It's not always about
him being able to answer.
I mean, in therapy, I had
a lot of conversations
with my dad of where
he wasn't present.
Really?
It sounds crazy, but it helped.
Having the other
person there sometimes
just gets in the way of
letting the pain out.
Yeah, I don't know, J.
You know, that's not really me.
I got to hear dude's
voice, you know?
Then call him. 'Cause
given his condition,
he's not gonna be present
for the conversation either.
Nate, are you in there?
No.
Nathaniel Hardin,
let me in, please.
Why did you run off?
I was really, really
worried about you.
You know...
you and Nico arguing
sound like a married couple
when they're getting a divorce.
Not like a married couple
getting divorced...
your parents.
Nate, I'm so sorry
that I did something
that could trigger
you that much.
And with the bomb threats,
I felt like my
life was imploding.
I'll be OK. I just...
I need a little me time,
and then I will come
out when I'm ready, OK?
Nico was right.
I'm guessing you chewed him out.
I may have said a few words.
He's a good guy, Keisha.
I know that he's rough
around the edges,
but the part in
the middle is good.
Uh, hey, Natalie, it's Damon.
Uh, yeah, I'm good.
Um, how's my dad doing today?
You think he'd be up to talking?
Uh, cool, yeah.
Um, no worries.
I'll call him later.
Damon.
Look, now is not
really a good time.
What you said, I heard you.
J.R. said you like
the diner on Lennox.
I'm gonna be there every
Wednesday night, 7 p.m.
I'll keep showing up
until you're ready.
I've got good news.
We didn't find a
device on campus.
You have the all-clear.
Oh, thank God.
But you did find something
somewhere, didn't you?
We found a suspect, a
known local radical.
He had two devices.
He was literally two
blocks away, Dr. Patterson.
Whenever you're ready, Dr. P.
OK.
Today, they came for us.
Their goal was to terrorize us,
to disrupt our lives
and instill fear,
but I have one thing
to say to them:
We shall not be moved.
When you come for us,
we band together as a family.
And once
the crisis is gone,
though we may go back
to our regular lives,
we are not unchanged.
We're stronger, even
if we don't know how.
I know today must have
brought back a lot of memories
from when you were sick.
It did. But, for
real, I'm good.
Well, I brought
something for you.
- Hmm?
- Mm-hmm.
Whoa.
This... it's my bucket list.
I found it when I was
moving into my new place.
I was gonna give
it to you before...
everything happened.
Really? Why?
Because sometimes, especially
on a day like today,
we need reminders of what
we want out of our lives.
Ma, this was written
by an 8 year old.
I doubt there's anything left
on here worth fighting for.
Read it.
"Make it to the MLB."
Wow. Mom, when I
wrote this list,
the miracle was I had
just enough energy
to swing a bat occasionally.
Maybe it's time you start
believing in miracles again
and pursue your dream.
When you
seek to tell us
what we can and can't have...
I love you, Ma.
That's
when we dream big
and realize that the sky is
nowhere close to our limit.
Hey, y'all.
Looks like we made it, huh?
Ohh.
Yes. And we are
stronger because of it.
OK. What you
got going on today?
We like Nico now?
Girl, that would be a no.
If anything, I'm more sure now
than ever that he's got to go.
She's not like her full,
vibrant self with him.
Eventually, it's gonna
blow up in her face,
so I'm just sticking close.
I love you.
Love you, too.
Hey.
Hey.
Are you good?
Yeah.
Uh, did you get my text?
Probably.
I have so many unread
messages today.
Yeah, it's all good. Heh!
Look, I probably
should head to my room.
Thea's gonna be there soon.
Says she's got something
important to tell me, so...
Then you should get going.
Right. Um, I'll see you later.
We are a people
of hope and faith,
even in the midst
of circumstances
that tell us it's too late.
You need anything
else, Dr. P.?
No. I'm good, Cam. Thank you.
All right.
Um...
Thanks for having my back today.
You sure you don't
need nothing else?
And though you may seek
to destroy us psychologically,
you will fail
because we are learning
we don't have to fear
the things we feel.
Today reminded me
not to let anything that
should be said go unsaid.
And so...
I wanted to say
I love you, Thea.
And I understand if you can't
say it back yet. It's just...
I love you, too.
And about last night,
Damon, you were right.
I haven't been handling my
recovery as well as I thought I...
Hey, it's OK.
All right. Peaks and valleys.
I'm down for whatever.
You know why?
'Cause you love me.
Because I love you.
There is
no power on Earth
that can conquer Black love.
Y'all gonna learn
that the hard way.
Hey. What are you doing here?
You still have my phone.
Oh. Right. Um, sorry.
I was gonna get that to
you later, eventually.
And I wanted to check on you.
Uh, yeah. Today
was a hard day.
Yeah.
Uh, you want to go somewhere?
And when we
come out the other side
of the attack you thought
would take us out,
we'll find something new
that may be just what we need.
No.
Greg, move your head.