Flatbush Misdemeanors (2021–…): Season 2, Episode 5 - Boomerang - full transcript

Previously, on
"Flatbush Misdemeanors"...

My boss wanted to call

the cops on this guy.

I didn't want to stop him.

What inspired you to apply
to No Negro Left Behind?

I'm a fan of some
of your alumni.

- What was your name?
- Arsema.

It's like a relationship,
you know?

I don't like those, either.
Are you in one?

There's something
I should probably tell you.

There's that whole mess
with Drew and Zayna,



and I did something I regret.
Uh...

This coming
from that 12-step thing?

Bro, just focus
on your sobriety. You're good.

"Reggae Rockers"
by Nicodrum & Friends

Do you need some help,
or... no?

No. I've been... I've been tying
my shoes for... for months.

- [chuckles]
- Um, you've had better shares.

- Today wasn't really your day.
- Oh.

- Oh, really?
- Yeah.

And what would you
have done differently

if you were in charge, then?

I would've said different words.

Oh, you would've
said different...

- Yeah. Yeah.
- Okay. I didn't think of that.



Okay, good to know
for the next time.

- I just... Not to critique, but...
- Yeah. No, please, I appreciate

your feedback, obviously.

You've been here for so long.
You have so much experience.

I'm giving you
a fresh perspective.

- Oh.
- It was just kind of...

It's like,
"Drugs never solved my problem.

They just let me ignore them."
It was just, like,

- a little dull, you know?
- Oh, perfect quote.

You remembered it word for word.

- I know, 'cause I wanted to tell you to, like, tweak it.
- Sounds pretty memorable.

- Thank you.
- Um, I didn't know

- you were a runner.
- Oh, yeah. I run

or ride my bike every day.
Otherwise, I'd kill myself.

- Don't do that.
- Okay.

You know I work
in a bike shop, right?

I thought
you were a sex ed teacher.

No, I'm a jack of two trades.

I can't imagine
you riding a bike.

Why would that be
a thing you'd say?

'Cause it's just...
it's a bike ride.

It's, like, a lot of,
you know, strength, activity.

You're kind of more like a...
[sighs] like a sigh.

Uh, I'm not a sigh. I coached my
high school's basketball team.

Yeah. Coaches sit
on the bench, and they, like,

wear suits and dress shoes.

'Cause they-they played so much
until then.

- You know? Yeah.
- Uh-huh. Yeah. Hey, um,

are you gonna be
at the meeting next week?

Do you want me
to be at the next meeting,

or do you want me
to not be at the next meeting?

- No, don't, please don't come.
- Okay. Um, yeah.

Don't even... don't even be
in the city, if possible.

- Then I think I have a thing.
- [chuckles] Okay. No, no.

I-I, uh...
I'm a year sober next week.

- Oh, congratulations. Yeah.
- Thanks.

So, yeah, I don't know.
It'd be nice if you were there.

Um, sure.

How does that...
how does that work?

Is it like a party
kind of thing?

Do you have, like,
balloons, or...

- Uh...
- Uh, do I bake a cake, or...

Do you bake?

Yeah. No, I bake, yeah.

- Really? Huh.
- Sure. Yeah, yeah.

- Great.
- Who-who doesn't? Yeah.

Yeah, okay, great, then yeah.

- I'd love that. Cool.
- Mm-hmm.

Um, but, yeah, also, would you
be down to share at the meeting?

It's, like, cool for a newcomer
to speak at these things.

Oh, sure.

Yeah. Um...
speak about my baking,

- or about... about you?
- [chuckles] No.

You know, ever since
your brief share the other week,

where you were
talking to everyone

about ratting out that guy...

Yeah, yeah. Okay.
Yeah, yeah. No, I-I got it.

- Yeah. There's no need to, um...
- I'm just telling you.

- There's no need to say it aloud.
- I thought it was good.

Like, it was brave,
but we don't even need

- to remember what I said.
- Okay.

Um... But, yeah, okay. Cool.

- Yeah. So, I'll-I'll...
- Game plan.

- Okay, so... [muttering]
- [laughing] This is not...

this is not what I wanted to do.
See, this is...

You're not a sports person.
I was putting my hand in.

- Oh, I gotcha.
- You coached basketball.

Sorry. So, I'll-I'll share
instead of baking.

No, bake and share, Dan.
I want the cake.

All right.

"Charade" by Four Tracks plays...

♪ You go through the motion ♪

[Ben] Do ducks have
any significance

in the community
that I'm unaware of?

- Mm. They fly south.
- Mm.

We all know what happened
in the South.

[Ben] Hmm. Also,
notice the moon is out.

[Nancy]
Hmm.

Why would you have a picnic
at night?

If you aren't allowed
in the park

- during the day.
- Mm.

I can almost feel
the "whites only" fountain

as if it's right out of frame.

Man,
I'm painting ducks because...

Oh, oh, no, no, no, no, no.
Just, you know,

- yeah, pretend we're not here.
- Yes, continue.

We're just observing.

- We're invisible. [Chuckles]
- Yeah.

- Just... Yeah.
- We don't exist.

[Ben] We're just here
to watch you do you.

- [Nancy chuckles]
- Okay.

Yeah, I-I still...
I really don't get it.

[whispers]
Maybe that's the point.

Maybe we aren't
supposed to get it.

Ah, ah.

Are there any picnics
of notoriety

that-that we aren't thinking of?

[Ben]
All I can think of is Mad Men.

- [Nancy] Oh, love that show.
- [Ben] I mean,

rewatched it
and then rewatched it again.

You know,
it's kind of hard to paint

with you guys talking
over my shoulder like this.

- I feel ya.
- We feel you.

We see you. We hear you.

- We are you.
- I just think

we were looking for
something more...

- Oh, like Black?
- [Nancy] Ooh.

[chuckles] Oh, no. No, no.
No, not-not Black.

No, I think... I believe

the word you're looking for
is "ancestral."

Uh, Nance,
I-I think we mean "authentic."

- That's what I said.
- Authentic.

- Huh.
- [Nancy] You know,

- channel your roots.
- [Ben] Yeah.

We really want to
feel the history.

You know, maybe put
some bad guys in there.

[chuckles forcefully]
All right.

Uh, I'm-a go grab
more white paint.

- [Nancy] Oh, great.
- Yeah. [Chuckles]

[Ben]
Great.

- Yeah, be right back.
- [Ben] Uh-huh.

[sighs]
Fuck, man.

Fuck these white people, man.

Like, at least wait
until we finish the painting

before you start talking,
like, damn.

Maybe you should learn
to paint faster.

Word? You like painting
underneath they microscope?

They can't even say
the word "Black."

What the fuck is "authentic"?

Doesn't bother me.

Maybe you're too sensitive.

[groans] Maybe. I don't know.

Oh, shit.

- Ooh.
- Oh, I'm sorry.

- I did not mean to interrupt.
- [scoffs]

I just came to get paint.

Oh, looks like you're stealing.

[chuckles] You're funny.

Um, uh, uh...

I'm a big fan of your work.

[chuckles] Thanks.

Yeah.

Yeah. I almost didn't even join
this fellowship,

but then I saw your name
on the alumni list.

So then I was like,
"Oh, shit. Nneka Stevenson.

That's crazy.

I've got to be in there,"
and now we're here together.

It's, like, really cool.

- Cool. [Scoffs]
- Yeah. Yeah.

All right.

Um... Hey, do you...

- Prefer working in silence?
- Um...

Yes.

Okay.

I'm just gonna leave the paint
here for you,

'cause you look
like you need it.

I-I do. I'm a painter.

- Uh-huh. All right.
- Bye.

- I love you.
- What?

[sighs] Mr. Hill.

I've worked out
the terms of your bail.

You cannot leave the state.

I'm local with it, that's cool.

And you can't possess a firearm.

Yeah,
they wouldn't give me a gun.

And you are subject to
random alcohol and drug testing.

- Both?
- Yeah, both.

[sighs] You got them cigarettes
I asked for?

Come on, son. The fuck is this?

- I said get me some menthols.
- Those are menthols, Mr. Hill.

Yeah, for Russian bitches.
I can't smoke this shit.

The last thing on your mind
should be bitches.

- It is, though.
- Listen, man.

Your sobriety is the most
important part of this case.

We're gonna claim that
you were under the influence

at the time
the shooting occurred.

- A'ight. I like that.
- Huh?

Huh? And it helps
that you have no priors.

Mm-hmm.

Though you did shoot
a government employee.

Yeah, in the leg.

They acting
like I killed the nigga.

He walking, right?

Let me be the lawyer, Mr. Hill.

This is an uphill battle, man.

I came up with a few ideas
that I think might help us out.

Community service?

- Yeah.
- Self-imposed curfew?

What is this, pre-prison?

And why can't I own a pet?

- Wait, that's on there?
- [scoffs]

All right. Don't pay
attention to that, man.

That's my last client.
Nigga fucked a goat.

Let me get these Caprice, man.
Shit.

After I pay this bail...

...I'm-a be tapped out.

How I'm supposed to make money

if you got me running around
cleaning sidewalks and shit?

I just want to remind you
how serious this is.

You couldn't even get me
the right cigarettes.

So how I don't know
you're just stringing me along

for the bread?

Fake-ass Cellino
and Barnes-ass nigga.

Mr. Hill,
any lawyer would tell you

that you have to look favorable
in the eyes of the court.

- [clicks tongue]
- You want them feeling,

thinking and believing that
not only are you remorseful,

but you are gonna
rehabilitate yourself

without them making
your Black ass do it.

Come on, man. You can do this.

Let me get that lighter
real quick.

So, you're not gonna give me
a Newport?

Nah, man, these are
for my Russian bitches.

Svetlana love these.

"This Love" by Paldoore

- This nigga here.
- [laughs]

No

I could've swore
this pipe was working last week.

Yeah, 'cause you didn't pay
the water bill.

That is correct.

[entry bell chimes]

Holy dad of a dope fiend.

What the fuck?

What?

- Oh, it's just flour.
- [Kareem] Oh, flour. Oh.

Thank goodness.

Gotta make sure you stay sober,

since my rehab cured you.

Bro, you look
like an ashy albino.

Yeah, had to bake a cake

for my NA friend's
sober anniversary.

Can you just try it
and tell me if it's all right?

It's not about how it looks.

It's more just about
how it tastes.

Yeah, this ain't it.

Yeah, I know. Fuck.

I can't bake,
but I said I could bake,

so now I spent the last
three hours baking trash.

- She asked you to?
- I offered. I-I don't know.

When you like somebody, words
just kind of come out sometimes.

Oh, you trying to...

Stop, stop, stop.
Stop, stop. Stop.

No, no. You're not supposed to
date the first year of recovery,

but I want to bake this cake
so we can date

in our second year,
and then...

and then do all that stuff.

A'ight, make sure you use some
almond milk or something, man.

You don't want her farting
on herself.

Okay. Almond milk.
Yo, Kareem?

Hey, what's up, son?

Um, could I skip this shift?
I just got to

head home so I could try again
to bake this thing.

But why?

Uh, it's my friend Sydney.

- It's her, uh, birthday.
- Hmm.

- Son.
- Yeah?

My taste buds
just killed themselves.

Told you.

I don't know
why you don't ask me for help.

- Yeah.
- [Kevin] See?

'Cause you know I know recipes.

You ever had
peanut butter crawfish cake?

That sounds gross, man.

You haven't even heard
the ingredients.

I just heard two of them.
Yo, can I go?

No, you got to work.

Listen, if you want to bake,

you can bake
next to the wrenches.

You know? I got a microwave,
I got a sink,

and I got a baby oven
just for emergencies.

I didn't know
you had the baby oven.

[Kevin] Man. Fuck. Damn, bro.
This fellowship, man.

- It's not fun?
- [Kevin] I don't know, man.

They just want me
to make some bullshit, man.

- I don't know what I'm finna do.
- Can't you just ask someone

who really knows the program
for advice?

It's been going on for years.
Somebody knows.

- Yeah, I guess I could.
- [Kareem] Yeah.

Why you don't ask for help?
You know what I'm saying?

What, you-you think
you're too cool?

You guys ain't me.

Bro, you need help.

You can't even fix the pipe.

Why don't you call Larry
and ask him

how he used to fix the pipes
when he owned the shop?

Damn, Kevin,
that is the best idea you had

since you told me to stop
paying Dan time and a half.

That was you?

A'ight, I'll see y'all later.

- The boy's a genius.
- You owe me a lot of money.

- Why would you...
- [entry bell chimes]

Son, he owes us all money.

He does, son.

[Drew] Damn,
Zayna keep hitting my jack.

[Blue]
Yo, so pick up.

And say what?
She's back in school,

holding up her end
of the bargain.

Meanwhile, I'm out here

and can't make the money
to pay her rent.

Bro, she can stay here with us.

Nigga, I don't even want
to stay here with us.

I'm just trying
to problem-solve.

Son, I can't even
take my jacket off

'cause your heater don't work.

Bro, why I need
a heater and an oven, man?

That shit redundant.

Yo, I'm not taking nothing else
away from Zay.

I promise. We got to
figure out our business.

Listen, man,
wasn't nobody fucking with us

before you got arrested.

What you think
it's gonna be like now?

I don't give a fuck.

We don't have a choice.
We can't be out here lacking.

All right, bro. Listen,
I'm-a check with a connect.

You do that shit on the list
your lawyer gave you?

Man, I'll get to all that shit.

Bro, that shit's serious.

You seen what happened with
Ducky from Coney Island, right?

His lawyer told him to wear
a suit at the arraignment.

He didn't listen.

You see how that shit
turned out.

That crazy motherfucker was up

on seven charges
of grand larceny

and came in a bathrobe.

- The fuck, he Ghost face?
- It was a kimono.

- Nigga, this ain't the same.
- Listen, you end up like Ducky

or your brother,
it's all good, bro.

Zay can stay here with me.

I got mad Pop-Tarts in the back.

Ah, don't touch that shit, bro.

[video game announcer]
Chun-Li wins.

- What are you doing?
- Oh, shit. Yo. Fuck.

You scared the shit out of me.
I thought you was Nneka.

You trying to steal
her paintings?

Nah, I'm just
trying to get inspired.

What you think of this?

I like it. I...
I think it's different.

I like that she's trying
to do something new.

Really? I'm not into it.

[scoffs]

What's so funny?

You've been getting
the worst reviews,

and you're critiquing someone
who actually won the fellowship?

Shit, I got to be myself

if I'm gonna win this thing,
so...

Maybe you're better off
just copying me.

- Mm-hmm. Whoa...
- [Nneka] Or me.

Oh, shit. Hi, um, sorry.

We-we were just, you know what?
We was about to leave.

It's fine.
I was taking a break.

What you think about that?

I like it.

Uh, I...

I don't like to judge
before it's done.

I-I respect the process.

I mean, it's basically finished.

Yeah, but still.
Like, you know, I...

I just paint. You know?
I'm not a critic.

[scoffs]
Nigga, everybody's a critic.

Unless you're scared
I'm gonna shit on you

if you say you don't like it.

Uh... no.

- No.
- Then tell me what you think.

Um...

I like your old stuff
a little bit better.

[laughs] The fuck do you know?

Dressed like a task rabbit.

If you're going to
shit on my art,

I'm gonna need you to give me
a better reason than

you like my old stuff better.

I'm gonna go kill this bottle
of wine. Y'all coming?

[mouthing]

[hip-hop music playing faintly
over radio]

[entry bell chimes]

Oh, yeah. Time for a sale.

- How you doing?
- Hey. Hey, good.

I'm-I'm actually,
I'm looking for Dan. Is he here?

Are you a cop?

- What? No, no. No. I...
- [Dan] Hey.

- Oh!
- Hey, I'm here.

Oh, my gosh, speaking of. Hey.

Kareem, this is Sydney.
Sydney, Kareem.

- Hi. Nice to meet you.
- Hey. How you doing, darling?

- Happy birthday.
- Oh, my...

- Thank you.
- It's your birthday.

Yes, it's my birthday today.

- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

I was telling Dan
I love biking, so...

Oh, yeah?
You should come by

our Tricycle Treasure Hunt
next month.

Nobody ever finds
the tricycles I bury.

You bury the tricycle?

In the ground?

It's a hell of a hunt.

- He's actually my step dad. Yeah.
- Oh, shit.

- Okay.
- Yeah, Daddy's here.

- I love that.
- So, uh...

Yeah.

Where did you two
know each other from?

- Oh, we're friends.
- We're...

- We are friends...
- Yeah. Yeah.

...from the same
book club together.

- Mm-hmm. Book club.
- Yeah.

Son, let me talk to you
for a minute, okay?

Okay. Um, you know, Sydney,
you can look at...

- Oh, thank you.
- ...the wheels and stuff.

- Okay, yeah. Will do.
- Uh, listen.

Where do you
really know her from?

'Cause ain't no man in their
right mind discusses a book.

I just know her from around.
I don't know, just...

Around? Come on now.

You go to school,
you come to this bike shop,

and you sit your sorry,
sad ass at home.

- It's not sad and sorry.
- Come on, man.

Where you really know her from?

I met her...

- I met her in NA. I'm in NA.
- [gasps]

NA? When did this happen?

A month or two ago.
I don't know.

Why didn't you tell
your daddy sooner?

Because you worked so hard
to cure me

with that at-home rehab
a while ago,

and I didn't want you
to think you failed.

[scoffs] I would never
think I failed.

I think you failed
to accept my cure.

Okay, well, you kind of failed.

[groans]
I can't believe this. NA.

This is a lot
to process right now.

Go, process it. Yeah.

Where is this place at?

Where-where are you dope fiends
meeting at today?

Where are
the "dope fiends" meeting?

Yeah.
Where y'all be nodding off at?

Okay, look.
It's on Tilden at 5:00.

- Hmm. Hmm.
- It's just a normal thing.

You cannot tell anybody
I'm in the meetings, okay?

It's a secret. It's anonymous.
That's the whole thing.

[grunts] I got you.

Okay. Ready to go?

- Yes. Great to meet you, Kareem.
- You, too.

- A pleasure.
- You're damn right.

- Love your shop.
- I know.

- Good vibes.
- All right.

Helmets could be, like,
a little bit cheaper.

- [entry bell chimes]
- Yep.

Tell that to inflation.

[indistinct chatter]

You doing anything at midnight
for your anniversary?

No, it's not
like New Year's Eve, Dan.

I could throw
this fucking cake out,

- if you're not...
- No, no. Thank you.

- Thank you for making it.
- We are ready.

- Okay.
- Is that cake?

Yeah, but it's for Sydney,
so you shouldn't...

- Oh, that... Well...
- Okay, well...

Mmm! Almond milk. Very good.

You could tell
it's almond milk from that?

I know my cake.
You bake this, Dan?

Yeah. I did, actually.

- Can you bake every week?
- Uh, I have two jobs.

- I don't think...
- It'd be great if he did.

Honestly, I'm so bad at it.
You should teach me.

Uh, yeah, no. I think
I could actually, yeah.

- Yeah, for sure. For sure...
- Yeah? Okay, cool.

I have two jobs
but need a hobby. Yeah.

- [entry bell chimes]
- And remember,

one tie, you're a clown.

Two, you're Lance Armstrong.

- Yo, 'Reem. What's up?
- Hey, yo, Drew, what up?

Damn. You got grease
all over my shit.

Yeah, well, you got
crime residue all over me.

[chuckles]

- How you been?
- Just got out.

But listen, man,
I need some help.

Hey, man, anything.
Whatever you need.

If anybody ask you,
you tell them I work here.

Oh, that I cannot do.

Look, if you buy a bike,

I'll throw in a pump
with a kickstand on it.

- But other than that, that's it.
- Damn.

What happened to
all that pro-Black shit

you used to be on?

That went out the window
when I married that white woman.

See, I'm pro-Black
when it's convenient,

- like Nike.
- Damn, bro.

I don't know
how I'm-a do half this shit.

Yeah, let me see that. Come on.

Damn. They act like
you shot the president

while he was holding a baby and
the baby was holding a puppy.

I'm saying! They want me
to get a job, a curfew,

join a drug program
and shit. [Sighs]

Hmm.

Drug program? Hmm.

You know one?

Yeah, but I can't tell you
who's in it,

'cause, um, it's anonymous
and I'm sworn to secrecy.

Nigga, I don't need to know
who's in it.

Just give me the address
to the meeting.

Hmm. You right.

You know what? It's on Tilden,
and it's happening right now.

Yo, 'Reem, you that guy.

- Hey, man, I know. I know.
- Yeah. Appreciate you, 'Reem.

Your savior.
You know we go way back.

- I got you.
- Oh, my God. [Chuckles]

- [Kareem sighs]
- [entry bell chimes]

That man's going
way back to jail.

Funky music

And I'm so grateful
for this group

for helping me reach
that year sober.

I-I couldn't have done it
without you.

I mean, my sponsor Andrea,
thank you so much.

You know, sobriety is easier
when things are going well.

It's trying to continue
when shit hits the fan.

You know, it's hard to believe
that a little over a year ago,

I was stealing tramadol
from a vet clinic.

They fired me since they had
a "no stealing" rule,

but they also say employees must
wash hands and let's just say

I've seen some dry hands. Okay?

My low point, I made eye
contact with this pigeon

in the park.
He was cooing at me,

but to me, the cooing meant,
"What are you doing, Sydney?

You're better than dog pills.
Become a paralegal. Join NA."

So I did, but it took me a long
time to be vulnerable here.

- I was so impressed with Dan.
- [rumbling]

- [rumbling stops abruptly]
- I mean, Dan's really new here,

and he was able to just come in
and-and be so brave,

and-and vulnerable and honest
with your share the other day,

- when you opened up to share...
- Oh, so, um... [stammers]

Uh, you're done, right?
There's no more words, yeah?

- Oh. O-Okay. Yeah.
- That was the intro, right?

- Yeah.
- Yeah, sure, fine. Okay.

- Everyone, Dan. Dan. Dan.
- So, um... Yeah, okay.

Sober Sydney, everybody.

Huh? Um...

Well, I just came
up here to say...

Oh, first of all, my name's Dan.
I'm an addict.

You guys, obviously,
addicts yourselves.

Um, so what are we doing here?

We're here because we want
a clean slate.

Whatever we've done,
whatever we've shared...

Certainly whatever I've shared...
Let's forget it.

[New York accent]
"Forget about it."

All right?
That'll help us turn the page,

and let's make it official.

Let's raise a glass of water,
obviously,

and, uh... blessed be
those who forget.

To forgetting.

- Congrats, Sydney.
- Okay. Thank you, Dan. That's...

Many more years.
Many more years.

Thank you so... Okay, sit down.
That's great.

- Thank you. Uh...
- Okay.

Wow. Uh, yeah.

Let's just go ahead
and forget that, immediately.

Um, Franklin,
you want to say something?

[Franklin] Yes.
Congratulations, Sydney.

- [Sydney] Thank you.
- Amazing to watch you grow

over this year.

- Thanks, Franklin.
- And, uh... [clears throat]

Hey, everybody,
thank you for coming

to share in the celebration,
and now it's time

- for some cake.
- [Sydney whoops]

[indistinct chatter]

Uh, Drew.
What-what are you doing here?

Man, I swear
you're like a bad omen.

Man, I knew I shouldn't have
trusted Kareem on this spot.

- Kareem.
- Damn.

I fucking knew Kareem would say
some shit. Jesus fuck...

So, you a fucking crackhead
teaching my niece.

Ain't this some shit.

No, first of all,
every teacher is high. Okay?

That's how
they get through the year.

And also, it was pills.

I'm not a crackhead.

I was,
but not for the last 15 years.

This program saved my life.

You must be
a friend of Sydney's, huh?

Sydney? Nah. I'm here 'cause,
uh, I got into some, uh,

- legal trouble, um...
- Oh.

Who can sign my papers?

Well, I'll make you a deal.
I'll sign your papers,

but first you got to stay
for cake.

Our man Dan made it.

- He did?
- That's right.

It ain't no pills in there,
is there?

You know what?
Maybe we should check.

- Come on.
- Yeah, let's do that.

What was it like
when you were in here?

I mean,
it was probably the same.

They still do that thing
where they make you

explain your painting
like you're talking to a baby?

[chuckles] No way.
They made you do that, too?

Ugh. Girl. [Baby talk]
"Uh, this shadowing

draws focus to the foreground.
Goo, goo, ga, ga."

I just said my baby was deaf
and started using sign language.

Ugh, such a rebel.

Let me guess,
they don't like your paintings.

[scoffs] I mean, it's not
that they don't like them.

It's just...

It feel like they don't want
anything original here.

Oh, it's like,
"They don't get me."

Yeah, I mean, they don't.

- I don't know why you...
- That's bullshit.

If you keep this attitude up,
you ain't gonna make it far.

But if I keep doing
what they want,

I'll never find my voice.

Like, you know,
my art teacher always says:

"It takes a long time to learn
how to paint like yourself."

[scoffs]

Yo, your art teacher is a thief.

He stole that from Miles Davis.

He did? Huh.

So, what was,
what was you saying?

Sometimes in life
you got to compromise.

- You mean sell out.
- Ugh!

Oh, God. Are you a hotep?

What? No. I'm not a hotep.

I-I just don't want to paint
what white people tell me to.

Like, I want to do
what I want to do.

Oh, really? Do you?
How very original, all right?

The first Black person that's
wanted to do their own thing.

Call it selling out
if you want to.

I say I bought in.

I wasn't in love with
everything they made me do here,

but I needed to get
my kidney back.

Your kidney? Damn.

[Arsema] Uh, when you won
the LACMA prize,

did you know
it was gonna happen?

- Yeah. Duh.
- Shush.

I gave them what they wanted,
and I got what I wanted.

Then my life changed.

- Hey, hotep.
- Hmm?

You really know sign language?

Yeah,
if the other person doesn't.

[laughs] Looking like
you're doing the Macarena.

That is fucked.
Show me your work.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Oh, shit. A'ight.

Hurry up.

Um...

This the one,
this the one that got me in.

- Huh.
- Yeah.

- I don't hate it.
- You don't?

Uh-uh.

[Drew] Man, I don't even
want to be here.

Fucking lawyer's
got me doing all this shit.

[Dan] If you don't want to be
here, maybe I can find a way

that you don't have to
come here.

You know I don't want
to be here. The fuck?

Good morning.

It's night.

Anyway,
if you don't want to show up,

maybe I can sign you in
every week,

so you don't even
have to come yourself.

How can you sign me in?

I'd just write your name down
in cursive.

Son, you a bozo.

I couldn't trust you
to get Zayna to go to school.

How I'm supposed to trust you
to sign me in?

I might not come back
'cause of you.

You're like a black cat
or some shit.

You know what? I agree with you.

You should not come back
because of me.

Okay. Here's what I could do.

I could find
another group you can go to

in the neighborhood,
or Franklin can.

I mean, I would love to
just help, like...

Why all of a sudden

you all eager beaver
trying to help me out?

Well, I just...

I feel bad about
the whole Zayna situation

and that you were arrested,
and, you know...

Are-are we okay?

Son, I don't think about you.

- That's fair.
- [scoffs]

What's up with Kev, though?
He ain't hit me back

since shit went down.
Where's he at?

Uh, Kev, um...

I don't... I-I haven't...
I haven't seen him in a bit.

Um, anyway, if you're serious
about not coming back,

I can find some other place
in the neighborhood,

- or maybe make a spreadsheet...
- Dan. Thanks for sharing.

- Oh, yeah, no problem.
- Huge mistake I made asking you,

but you know what?
I'm gonna own it.

[Dan]
You're so unappreciative.

You get one year sober
and get so rude.

- Yeah, huh.
- Um, oh, uh,

Sydney, this is Drew.
Uh, Drew, Sydney. Yeah.

[Sydney] Hey, Drew.
You guys know each other?

Uh, Drew... Uh, no.

I just met him.
Uh, first meeting. Yeah.

Oh, hey, congrats.
Sobriety is the best thing...

I'm already sober, shorty.
I'm just here for court.

Oh, shit. Okay. Well, hey,
if you have legal issues,

you know, I work at
a legal aid society

right here in Brooklyn,
so I can help you out.

Refer you to someone.
Whatever you need.

- I'm good for now.
- Okay.

He's good for now
and for later, I think.

- He's covered for life.
- Hey, there you go, as promised.

So, we gonna see you again?

You gonna come back?

Will she be here every week?

Oh, yeah. She just went
through a breakup, so...

- she's not going anywhere.
- Bet, bet.

- Yeah.
- Cake here every week, too?

As made by Dan.
He volunteered.

I mean, we'll see what happens.

And she misses meetings
sometimes, but, you know...

- A'ight.
- [Franklin] Yeah.

- Yeah, I'll be back.
- [Franklin] That's good.

- Cool. Nice to meet you.
- Y'all be easy.

- [Franklin] Be good.
- I'm gonna go try the cake.

- What?
- Okay. Yeah.

The chocolate really
my favorite, boo.

Word up.

Oh, yeah,
he's definitely an addict.

[Nancy]
Aw, so beautiful.

It's magical.

You aren't supposed to say
"magical" anymore.

What? Says who?
Magical's a nice word.

- It's offensive.
- It is?

Yeah. You know,
like the whole, like,

magical Black person thing.
Bagger Vance.

[Ben]
Who doesn't like magic?

"Black Boy from the Ghetto"
by Dyke & The Blazers

I'm the Black boy

Yep.

From the ghetto

I am a magical nigga.

I'm the Black boy

You heard
what they said about me?

From the ghetto, yeah

- [muttering] Kevin?
- Hmm?

How you come to work
late and slow?

My bad, man. The review went
long at the fellowship.

They finally liked one of
my paintings, though.

- What you think?
- [gasps] Ooh!

What in the Black-trauma-porn
fuck is this, man?

I can't hang that in here.
White people come in here.

I mean, what happened to

the ducks having a picnic
in the park?

- Now that was good shit.
- I don't know

what you're talking about, man.
This shit is revolutionary.

It's magical.

Hmm. Magical, huh?

I'm-a hang it
in a magical place.

In the bathroom, so it can scare
the shit out of everybody.

♪ Like you ♪

[door closes]

♪ I'm the Black boy ♪

♪ From the ghetto, yeah ♪

♪ I'm the Black boy, now ♪

♪ From the ghetto, huh, now ♪

♪ I know what it means ♪

♪ To be called a Black fool ♪

♪ Lord have mercy ♪

♪ And I know how it feels ♪

♪ To wear run-over shoes ♪

♪ I'm the Black boy ♪

♪ From the ghetto, oh, yeah ♪

♪ I'm the Black boy ♪

♪ From the ghetto ♪