Star (2016–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Pilot - full transcript

A wannabe artist teams up with her sister and friend as they struggle to make their dream of being a girl group come true.

Ever since Star was little,
she believed her name

was who she was.

But I told her fame is a trip.

It ain't love, like a
lot of people think.

But she wouldn't listen.

Star don't listen to
nobody but herself.

♪ ♪

♪ Who shot ya? ♪

♪ Who knocked ya? ♪

♪ Point 'em out, let 'em
know I'm coming for 'em ♪

Yo, that sounds crazy.



Think so?

For real.

It sounds so good.

I'm not finished
writing it, though.

What do you have to add?

I have to add your
vocal at the end.

Oh, I get it... Like
a best for last

sort of thing.

Look, we have to get you
out here to New York.

Right. Like me going to New York

is gonna happen any time soon.

Do you see this place?
Can you see it? Look.

Look, you see her? That's
what meth'll do to you.

That's where I live.



Well, we got to
figure out something.

This video chat thing
is getting old.

Okay, I get it. We should
be in the same city

if we're gonna do this for real.

I'm telling you.

First thing I'm gonna
do when I turn 18

is go get my sister.

You're gonna love her.
She has a voice...

almost as good as mine?
Not quite?

Wow, okay.

Hey. Get in here and
do these dishes, now.

All right, got to go.

Ursula's calling.

She ain't worth the money
we're getting for her.

Mama, that ain't how
you peel a potato.

Where'd you get that phone?

Obama.

Do them dishes now, smart ass.

Dishes?

Sink?

Hello?

Do them damn dishes.

- Where are you going?
- Social services.

- Oh, no, you're not.
- I'm going to beg them

to process me out of here.

Oh, hell, no. Oh, you get
back here right now.

You better learn how to
work that washing machine.

Oh, God... how dare you
speak to me like that,

as much as I've done for you?

Get your ass back right now...

You want money from
your trust for what?

I met this girl on Instagram.

She has a great voice, Dad.
I mean,

perfect for the songs I've
been writing, and I just...

The Internet? What-what girl?

She's this white
girl from Pittsburg.

She grew up in foster care, and
everything she's been through

is in her voice. It's real, Dad.

And we need to get
in the studio.

I want my money.

Your money?

So you want me to open
up your trust fund

for some white trash you
met on the Internet?

She's just using
you to get to me.

She doesn't even know about you.

I made up an Instagram account

with a different name.

Oh, so you're
ashamed of my name?

So, I guess that means
you're not gonna

sing background for
me, either, huh?

You still don't get it.

I need to break out
on my own, Dad.

I need to make music
that feeds my soul.

And my music don't?

My soul, not yours.

When's the last time
you felt something

when you sang your songs?

You need to get back to
your old stuff, Dad.

Not this trash
you've been trying.

Who do you think you're talking
to, you talentless brat?

You sound just like your mother.

Star, you've been through

six foster families in
the last two years.

You're a thief, habitual liar,

and you have no
regard for rules.

And you want what?

Simone's address.

You must out your mind.

I'm about to be old enough
to take care of her.

All you got to do is
tell me where she's at.

Sit down.

Please, just tell
me where she is.

- It's not going to happen, Star.
- Why?

'Cause you've got a record.

So you're not getting
any information

on a child in the system,

even if she was your sister.

Rachel has a boyfriend.

No, I don't.

- He's just a friend.
- Well, I hope so.

You think it's any easier

on the outside?

Do you even have anywhere to go?

Finish up, you two, or you're
gonna be late for school.

I'll take 'em. You
can go to work

and I'll just drop
'em off on my way.

Oh, she think she
running our house now.

I guess that's what happens
when you think you white.

But you ain't white, Simone.

You ain't no better than
anybody else in this house.

I never said I was.

Oh, you want to end
up on the streets,

addicted, just like your mother?

Don't talk about my mother.

You finna make me
call security again?

We're not gonna end up like her.

We're not, but you got
to tell me where she is.

I haven't seen her in five
years, and she needs somebody

to take care of her.

Come on, kids, it's
time for school.

- Miss Ruth, can you drop me off?
- Sure, come on.

Oh, she ain't got no class till later.
I'll take her to school.

Clean up the kitchen.

Do you know what the system

does to us?

I know, Star.

You know?

Well, then let me see my sister.

You gon' make me lose my job.

They're gonna process
you out of the system.

And I better not hear
my name out your mouth.

One ticket to Harrisburg.

Round trip?

Hell no.

Next time you see this face,

it's gonna be on the
cover of Vanity Fair.

I've been looking for Star
and her sister Simone

for ten years now, ever
since their mother passed

and Social Services took 'em.

Please help me find 'em.

Those girls sing like angels.

They need to be safe with each
other under the same roof.

Simone?

I can still hear 'em in my head,

voices like their mama had.

Hello?

Hello?

Daddy's little girl.

You're hurting me.

♪ ♪

Star! Oh, my God, stop it!

Stop it!

You killed him!

What the...?!

Oh, my God. I want...
I want Mama.

Mama's dead.

She's not coming back.

- I came for you.
- Oh, God, no.

Okay? Where does
he keep his keys?

In his...

- Where does he keep his keys?
- Back pocket!

Go get your stuff.

Oh, my God.

How long has he been
doing that to you?

What if they come
looking for us?

They won't, okay?

Just put it out your head.

You still sing?

Yeah, I still sing.

Do you still sing?

♪ Don't go chasing ♪

- ♪ Waterfalls ♪ - ♪ ...falls ♪

♪ Just stick to rivers
and the lakes ♪

♪ That you're used... ♪

You loved that song.
I hated it so much.

You played it every single day.

How we gon' to be stars, fool?

I got a plan.

We're gonna start in Atlanta.

The music scene there

- is rancid.
- Where we gon' live?

There's this lady
named Miss Carlotta.

She's been writing letters
to Social Services

saying she's our godmother.

We still got family left?

I guess.

At least a place to crash.

Hello?

Hey, it's me.

I got a TracFone, so I
don't have a lot of time

to talk, but I just
left Pittsburg,

and I'm with my sister.

We're headed to
Atlanta and we got

- a place to crash.
- Atlanta?

Are you in or not?

♪ ♪

What do you want?

It's okay.

Good morning, Alexandra.

Morning. Thanks, Charles.

Hello.

Damn girl, you straight
off a page of Vogue.

But you are shorter
than I thought.

And you're heavier
than I thought.

Oh, my God.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

No second thoughts, girl.

You're the special
hot in the sauce.

What's going on with her?

Never mind. Let's just do this.

I'm not getting my stuff
stolen in this dive.

You're actually ridiculous.

Well, everything ain't Fendi
and Prada, Alexandra.

You need to let your
weave down, girl.

Oh, Blondie.

This is real.

Not all black girls wear weaves.

Your sister's half black?

♪ Drop 'em like flies
when I sting 'em... ♪

Yeah, her dad was black.

Did you ever think when I
hit you up on the 'Gram

you'd end up like this?

No.

But I'm glad you saved me.

I mean, the music
we're making...

It's my new life.

I'm not going back.

Your parents cool with that?

How come you never mention them?

My dad's a surgeon.

He likes going around talking
about how many lives he's saved.

My mom's dead.

At least you got a dad. Yo...

This is so dope.

Like...

like, for real, I
can't even take it.

All right, the verse
should be in E minor.

And then you can come in with...

♪ I'm-a knock 'em down
like Muhammad Ali ♪

♪ Dropping like flies when
I sting 'em with the bee ♪

♪ Who shocked ya?
Who knocked ya? ♪

Damn, girl!

- ♪ Who... ♪ - What...?
Ew. What is that?

What?

On your shirt?

Oh, it's... barbecue sauce
from those hot wings.

Looks more like blood to me.

Anyway, I'm gonna go to sleep.

Better get my beauty
rest for tomorrow.

Yeah, girl! Atlanta
in the morning!

If I don't get mugged while
I'm walking to my room.

Ha!

Simone, what did I tell you?

It's the only undershirt I got,
unlike Princess Peach over here.

I told you that everything
about our life has to go.

I meant everything.

I killed that man for us.

Now we can focus on our dream.

Our dream?

Your dream.

Take that shirt off.

I'm not taking it off.

This has his blood on it, and
I like it 'cause he's dead.

I'm free.

I'm free!

♪ As I look back on my life ♪

Yes, God!

♪ And see where I come from ♪

♪ I wonder if I'm ♪

♪ Ever gonna see
the tables turn ♪

♪ 'Cause I've been way too low ♪

♪ For way too long ♪

Amen!

♪ But I know somehow ♪

♪ Some way... ♪

Take your time!

♪ My change gon' come... ♪

Oh, my God, that's the 85.
We're in Atlanta.

Wait. Oh, my gosh.
We're in Atlanta?

- I have a GPS.
- Um, yes. Yes, we're here.

Look for a cookout, 'cause
that's what I want.

It smells like weed in here.

- Why do you think that is? Really?
- I don't know.

Y'all stay here while I figure
out what's going on, okay?

- Two minutes.
- I'm gonna come with you.

I just said two minutes?

What, do you think I'm gonna
eat you or something?

Bitch, all you eat is greens.

- Mm.
- Hmm.

Is Carlotta here?

You find us on Groupon
or something?

Let me see who the little
white girl is, hold on.

Yeah, we'd be lucky
to get on Groupon.

Carlotta's my mama.

She ain't here.

She at church.

Oh, okay. Well,
when is she back?

Why you want to know?

Oh, you one of Mary's girls.

Baby,

Carlotta about to gag, honey.

She's been looking for
you and your sister

a long time.

Mm-hmm.

You need your roots done,

ASAP.

Okay, it's nice
to meet you, too.

She like that every day?

Girl, yeah. She can't help it.
She ugly.

♪ I was down ♪

♪ Far from the shore ♪

♪ I was weak in my soul ♪

- ♪ One day ♪ - ♪
Facing trouble ♪

♪ Tears on the floor ♪

♪ I was tired and worn ♪

- ♪ One day ♪ - ♪
Couldn't find no peace ♪

♪ Down on my knees ♪

♪ I was lost in a storm ♪

♪ One day ♪

♪ But I knew the
Lord heard my cry ♪

♪ So one day ♪

♪ I won't worry no more ♪

♪ One day... ♪

♪ 'Cause just when I
was about to give up ♪

- ♪ One day ♪ - ♪ I
heard Jesus say ♪

♪ Jesus said, change
gon' come one day ♪

- ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ - ♪
Streets wasn't safe ♪

- ♪ Ooh ♪ - ♪ Couldn't
find my way ♪

♪ But I found His
grace one day ♪

- ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ - ♪
Tears down my face ♪

♪ Jesus said, Jesus said ♪

♪ Change gon' come one day ♪

♪ One day, yeah ♪

♪ I knew it would
happen for me ♪

♪ One day, one day ♪

♪ One day, one day ♪

♪ One day, one day ♪

♪ One day, one day ♪

♪ One day, one day... ♪

♪ Step right in and
change my situation. ♪

Good singing sure
makes me hungry.

My arteries are
clogging looking at it.

Girl, you're too young
to have arteries.

I'm surprised you never
set foot in a church.

Nothing wrong with
being an atheist.

What's up, Miss C?

- You gonna burn.
- Hey, hey.

Now, I know you came by
for the food, 'cause

I certainly ain't
seen you in service.

You knew we was busy today
with the activism thing.

Come on. How y'all doing, ladies?
I'm Derek.

I live next door
to Miss Carlotta.

And he always activating
about something.

What is it this time?

Racial inequality in the
criminal justice system.

This weekend we're
having this rally, and

I really need your help.

Let the church folk know
I'm good people. Can you?

Check it out.

I'll see what I can do.

Miss C, this is me
you're talking to.

You know how hard
we worked for this.

- Miss C, please.
- Okay, boy. Get out of here.

Well, it's much appreciated.

Y'all ladies have a nice day.

- Bye.
- Come on, y'all.

Say, bye, Derek.

Mm-mm, mm-mm.

So... you're like
our new mother now?

Your foster parents
treating you all right?

Yeah. Simone and I both

got real lucky.

And what kind of foster
care you come from?

I'm actually not from
a foster family.

My parents just think traveling
is a real learning experience.

And we heard the music scene
in Atlanta was crazy.

And we're a girl group.

Me and your mother had a group
before y'all were born.

- We even had a song hit the charts.
- What?

- That's crazy.
- What was the name of the group?

Was she pretty?

Look, y'all want to sing.

Why don't you come sing
with me in Church?

"Church"?

Yes, you little witch.

Church.

Look, why are y'all really here?

You looking to stay with me?

Yes.

Okay, then.

Well, let's get home.

We got a busy week ahead of us.

What does that mean?

You want to stay with me,
you got to contribute.

My shampoo girl got
pregnant and quit... again.

You know how to shampoo hair?

She do.

Grab my keys.

I'm going.

I'm not shampooing
anyone's hair.

I got a sick plan.

You just got to learn
how to be a part of it.

Just come on.

This is my wax room.

Clean it up, and y'all can
take the bed or the floor.

The bed or the floor, huh?

Can I, can I sleep in your room?

You don't want to sleep
with the other girls?

They're just gonna be singing
all night and stuff.

I thought you wanted to sing.

Come on, I got a daybed
you could sleep in.

But don't be snoring.

I got to get my rest.

Okay.

♪ Then you presented
symptoms of brain damage ♪

♪ I'm convinced that
you bumped yo head ♪

♪ Let my heart slip right
outta yo hand... ♪

Why do you forget it every time?

I know you know how to do it.

Why do I have to be the one
to get her fried apple pies?

The real question is,

why are we rehearsing when
we ain't got no gigs?

So when we do have a
gig, we're ready.

That's right.

They said we would
end up like Mama.

That's not gonna happen.

I miss her.

Well, you got me.

Come on, let's start rehearsing.

Get on this side.

What are you doing?

I'm standing in the middle.
I sing lead.

There is no lead.

I wrote this song to
showcase all of our voices.

Where do you want me?

You want me here, or,
like, one inch over?

Are we rehearsing?

Or no?

Miss Bruce, I am loving
this splash of color.

What's the inspiration?

Girl, Rihanna,

Charlize Theron mixed with
Lupita Nyong'o, honey.

I got a taste for some grits.

- Morning, Miss Carlotta.
- Hi.

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
God is good.

- Ain't He, though?
- Yes.

All day.

You got some kind
of problem, Star?

Star don't feel like working.

Star will get past that.

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

What happened?

I just burned myself on
this busted-ass sink.

What's wrong with you, girl?

Carlotta, you got a white girl
in here messing up my hair.

Really?

Roberta.

I'm out of here.

Hey, Roberta, you
still got to pay.

Carlotta, I don't

know why you let

that little Caucasian
to work in here.

She can't even work a shampoo
ball, nasty attitude.

Always something wrong with her.

What did you just say, bitch?

Say it one more time for me.

I'm really, really tired

of you two Bible-thumping whores...
yes, you...

Coming in here and talking

about me every single day.

See, that's my cue.

Bye.

Why is that you think you
know anything about me,

where I was raised,

who raised me, who
was good to me,

- black or white?
- Star.

'Cause of what I look like?

Come on upstairs. Let's talk.

You're a racist... bitch.

And now that you finished,

bitch your little ass
right on out the door.

Mouth just like her mother's.

What was our mother
like, Miss Carlotta?

Am I just like her?

You high, ain't you?

Come on, let's walk
that buzz off.

I'm going to Church.

I'll tell you all about your mama.
Mail that for me.

Star, we've been here
for over a week.

I've been shampooing goat hair,

sleeping in a bed with you and
living off of fried apple pies.

What we need to do is

get in the studio and
lay some tracks.

But this woman's in here
working us like dogs.

Look, we got to figure
this out, or I got to go.

Oh. Go!

Go back to New York City.

I've got nowhere to go.

All I've been doing is
trying to figure this out.

And all we got to do is
get to Jay Z or Future

or 50's tired ass. I don't care.

They're not just sitting
in a room waiting for us.

We need to build
some kind of a buzz.

Get our faces out there.

You mean, like,
online or something?

Now, I've been looking
into amateur nights.

There's a contest that I
saw online in Decatur.

There's industry people there.

Managers, too.

You have to trust me on this.

When did you say
the contest was?

It's tonight.

Which means we need to
get cute after work.

Get off the damn stage!

Put-put the mikes down, please.
Put the mike...

It's... This ain't for you.

This rap thing ain't for you.

Ladies and gentlemen,
the next act

we're gonna bring
to the stage is

three young ladies who
traveled a long way Simone.

To be here with us. Give
it up for Alexandra,

Simone, and Star,

or as their initials
spell out, ASS.

Hi.

♪ ♪

♪ Had the baddest, upped
your status to a pro ♪

♪ Me on your arm made
you a superstar ♪

♪ Hand in my hand, transformed
you to a man like damn ♪

♪ Everybody knowing
who you are ♪

♪ Then you presented
symptoms of brain damage ♪

♪ I'm convinced that
you bumped yo' head ♪

♪ Let my heart slip
right out of yo' hand ♪

♪ Right out of yo' hand ♪

♪ You say without me here ♪

- ♪ Life is like a nightmare
♪ - ♪ So dream on ♪

♪ You swear your heart has lost
its rhythm 'cause I'm gone ♪

- ♪ Dum, dum, dum ♪ -
♪ You telling me ♪

♪ It's like you're
bleeding from the inside ♪

♪ But you made your
mess, now roll in it ♪

♪ And the next time
your heart beats ♪

♪ I hope it breaks your chest ♪

By the way, Alexandra, where
were all the managers tonight?

We need to keep at it.

No. We did it your way.

Now we're gonna do it my way.

And how do you
suggest we do that?

I know where to find a manager
on a Saturday night in Atlanta.

He's throwing dollar bills
at some poor girl's ass.

No.

We cannot go-go in Atlanta.

Girl, the important men ain't
at no go-go bars anyway.

I'm confused about where
you just came from.

And I know you ain't think that y'all
was about to win at that dump.

- Wait, you saw us?
- Yeah, I saw y'all.

I mean, y'all are, y'all okay.

But are you really
looking for a manager?

- Yes.
- Yeah.

They at the strip club.
I know one.

I work there. And it's
full of industry people.

How you know that?

Baby, 'cause I'm connected.

You know, in certain ways.

- Well, connect me!
- No.

No strip club. No way.

She's sort of right.
I will go-go,

but I don't show my
cash and prizes.

You won't have to. I can get you

in the champagne room.
And that way

You can set your own limit.

But don't tell

my mama. That bitch is crazy.

Well, actually, we have
to think of our future.

What if someone photographs you?

- Then what?
- So what if they do?

Okay, okay. Look
at Kim Kardashian.

I love her. And she showed

every hole in her body.
And now she's famous.

- Genius.
- Wow.

- Truly genius.
- Okay.

- She's right, and I'm in.
- Of course.

Okay, well, I'm too
tired to strip,

and I'm hungry. So...

see you at home.

Okay. You know what?

Just watch her.

- You are not...
- Yeah, th-that's

- all you got to do.
- You watch it.

- You watch her, and I'll strip
- Star.

- For the both of us. Come on, girl.
- Star.

- Come on. Come on.
- One cheek, two cheek,

both cheek, hey!

Where's Star and Cotton?

They went...

bowling.

"Bowling"?

What you take me for, girl?

What do I do that seems
to get under your skin?

I want what's best
for Star and Simone.

What's best for them is
the music we're making.

Have you listened to it?

Have you even asked
them about it?

Or about anything else
that matters to them?

Like how you were too unfit
to take care of them.

I read those letters you sent.

Trying to be big mama now.

I know you're trying to
be something you're not.

You're running from something.

And you're using Simone
and Star to do it.

You know what?

I'm done with this goat hair.

Keep it up with your fresh ass.

So you're gonna be living
next door to me, huh?

I'm so done with this place.

I never got your name.

That's because I never
told you my name.

Why you got to be so rude?

It's Alexandra.

You really think you
can change the world?

You see how crazy it
is in these streets?

How they treating us?

I think I can make
people's lives better.

I plan to do that with my music.

Your music, huh?

Alexandra, why don't
you come over here

so I can make you feel better.

Ew.

Can't you think of a
better pickup line?

Get over here.

No, you get over here.

Okay.

♪ ♪

Girl, I really feel like I got
a camel toe in this thing.

Girl, it's the only
thing in my locker

that would've fit
your little ass.

Let me see.

Girl, shut up, you look good.
Come on.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.

Ooh, I think that's one
of 'em right there.

Girl, that's a big fish,
bitch, talent manager.

Okay.

- Well, he's with somebody. What do we do?
- Not for long, okay?

I'm about to get that
bitch up out of here.

Come on, wait for my cue.

Hey, girl, Michelle, I
need to talk to you.

- Can't you see I'm making my money?
- Tisha just called.

Your mama's diabetes
is kicking in.

Bitch, you better not be lying.

For real.

I'll be back. Come on.

I want you out back.

Oh, no. I-I'm good, baby.

I'm with Michelle.

Oh, you don't want Michelle.
She got syphilis.

- Syphilis?
- That's what she just went to tell her.

Yeah, come with me to
the champagne room.

- Come here.
- What you mean, syphilis?

Come on.

♪ I bring me, get
mine, 'bout mine ♪

♪ Go hard, looking for
another like me ♪

- ♪ Boy, stop ♪ - ♪ I bring me ♪

♪ ♪

♪ And I bring, I bring,
I bring, I bring me ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I bring me ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I bring me ♪

♪ Now, who you thought,
thought I was ♪

♪ Something that'll just sit
around looking pretty ♪

♪ Not gonna be about hers ♪

♪ Not gonna make no fuss ♪

♪ Not gonna be about
us, I get it ♪

♪ If that's what you like, but
I ain't 'bout that life ♪

♪ See, I can't be
something I ain't ♪

♪ Won't do something I can't ♪

♪ Yeah, I'm gonna
ride for you, baby ♪

♪ But I ain't gonna
lie to you, baby ♪

♪ Anything I want,
anything I need ♪

♪ I'm able ♪

♪ So as far as what I'm
bringing to the table ♪

♪ I bring me, get
mine, 'bout mine ♪

♪ Go hard, looking for
another like me ♪

- ♪ Boy, stop ♪ - ♪ I bring me ♪

♪ Whose love is the tightest,
whose kiss is the nicest? ♪

- ♪ Me ♪ - ♪ Whose touch
is the rightest? ♪

♪ Me ♪

- ♪ Bad bitch ♪ - ♪ That's me ♪

- ♪ That bitch ♪ - ♪ That's me ♪

- ♪ Game bitch ♪ - ♪ That's me ♪

- ♪ Lame bitch ♪ - ♪ Not me ♪

♪ What you get is what you see ♪

♪ And I bring, I bring,
I bring, I bring me ♪

♪ Get mine, 'bout mine, go hard,
looking for another like me ♪

- ♪ Boy, stop ♪ - ♪ I bring me ♪

♪ What you get is what you see ♪

♪ And I bring, I bring,
I bring, I bring me ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I bring me ♪

You're trouble.

Sometimes.

I have an idea. All right?

- Okay.
- I'm putting together

the entertainment for this party
at Hunter Morgan's house.

He's a good friend of mine.

You sing at it like
you did just now...

Girl, I'm gonna have
to take you on.

But I'm a package deal.

Two other girls.

We're a girl group.

All right.

Take this.

Call me in the morning.

Maybe we'll discuss it.

Cotton!

Damn it, where are you?

Oh, my God!

What are you doing to her?!

You want to fight, bitch?

Leave her alone!

Leave him alone!

This black freak needs to tell
people what's down there!

You knew exactly
what was down there.

Get your money.

I knew there was something
I liked about you.

And you were right.

I caught that big fish.

- I'm getting ready to drop her.
- Why?

From coming... Because
she's always late

and she likes to
sit and blame it

on them badass kids of hers.

- I can't take her.
- I know where you took Star last night.

We just went out
dancing at the...

What happened to your eye?

Nothin'.

Mama, we was just at
the club dancing.

That's it.

You better not be doing
what I think you're doing.

Mama, we was just at the club.

Stop lying, boy.

Girl, Mama.

Wait, Cotton's a boy?

Girl, Miss Simone, if
you don't wake up.

- That ain't hard to figure out.
- Stop hatin', Miss Bruce.

- Girl, I... girl. I'm not...
- 'Cause I can pass, unlike your ugly ass.

If you could pass, sweetie...

You turtle-headed-looking bitch.

- You're a delusional gentleman.
- I'll staple that...

Stop all that cussing
in my house!

Look, you want to
be a woman, a'ight.

I ain't got no problem with it.

But I know what goes
on in that club.

I ain't new to the game.

Mama, we found a manager
while we was down there.

- Mm-hmm.
- Wait, Star.

For real, you got a manager?

He's in charge of the
entertainment at the house party

for Hunter Morgan.

That famous NFL player.

He said we could sing at it.

And if we do good,
he's gonna sign us.

So, who exactly is this manager
you found at a strip joint?

Jahil Rivera.

Oh.

Damn, how you...?

Girl, I can't.

Hey, hey, hey, hey. Where are
all the pretty people at?

- What are you doing here?
- What, I can't

- come see my godson?
- Jahil, my man. What's good?

- Looking good, baby.
- You know, just doing

what I got to do, right?

Where you been?

Yeah. Where have you been?

I'm glad you asked.
Check this out.

I got a new act.

I got these three girls...
Amazing singers, man.

I want to add them to the
lineup at your party.

Come on, man, that last group?

Who?

Ma, what was that last group?

The Koreans.

Yeah,

the Koreans.

- I'm embarrassed.
- No. Hey, hey,

look, look, no, this...

this ain't that, okay?

These girls, they're talented.

Come on, Hunter,
it's one song, man.

Just do me a solid.

Ma?

♪ I can be ya hip-hop ♪

♪ Bulletproof vest ♪

♪ I can be the tattoo
bleeding on ya chest... ♪

I can't do this.

- What?
- We should not be singing

"I Can Be," we should be
singing "Break Yo Chest."

Are you kidding me?

That's the one that
the crowd will like.

No, "I Can Be" is much further
along sonically and lyrically.

Simone, where have you been?

And what are you wearing?

It's my church outfit. Miss
Carlotta gave it to me.

Simone, we've been
rehearsing for hours.

Chill. I'm already warmed
up from choir practice now.

Miss Carlotta says

singing for the
Lord could save me.

Miss Carlotta says

singing for the Lord
could save all of us.

Star...

let's get saved.

There's something wrong
with you, Simone.

Ain't nothin' wrong with me.

Miss Carlotta really
loves us, Star.

She wants to be our new mother.

I'm a little over new
mothers, aren't you?

You're not singing
in anybody's choir.

And the only person who's gonna
save us is that manager.

Where's my weed?

Oh, my God.

Star, this is getting nuts.

It's okay.

It's cool.

You ain't got to worry about me.

All that stuff in the
past is in the past.

Working from home now?

We made an agreement.

I kept my part.

About what?

Huh?

You're tangling
in my life again,

and I'm not having it.

That's Mary's kid.

Who?

Star.

Damn.

The minute I heard
that girl sing,

it made me feel exactly the way
I felt when I first heard Mary.

I'm not interested
in your feelings.

I'm interested in how you
can afford $10,000 watches.

I know this is all
smoke and mirrors.

You sitting on money in Peru.

I think Star could
learn a lot from you.

She's good. Lottie, I'm
telling you right now,

she's really good, and...
if those other girls

are half as talented as she is,

we got the makings
of a super group.

You could tell all
that to the D.A.,

'cause that's exactly
who I'm finna call

if you don't stay
away from them.

I killed myself to make
you and Mary stars.

I bet everything I had
on you dumb bitches,

and you blew it.

Mary with the drugs, and you...

gaining all that weight,
never showing up on time,

acting like an amateur.

And who paid for that? Me.

My career.

And now you're gonna
come up in here,

you're gonna try to
derail me again? No.

You know what?

My father always said to me,

you only need three
things in life.

Oh, yeah? What did
your daddy say.

He said you needed...

your Bible...

your word...

and your gun.

Stay away from those girls.

That drag queen can sew
her little ass off.

She ain't a drag queen, stupid.
She's trans.

We got to hurry.

Carlotta'll be back from
that Bible study any minute.

We gonna slay today.

Yeah, we are. My
butt looks good.

It does.

You'll slay if you're sober...

and coherent.

I'm sick of your ass.

- Simone.
- No, I'm sick of her ass.

She thinks she's the boss.

And you think you're the
boss, dragging my ass

- all around Atlanta!
- Dragging your ass?

- Yeah, dragging it.
- I saved your ass.

- Yeah, well, save it now.
- All right, take it easy.

You got two seconds.

Always arguing.

Do you want to change
our lives today?

Scooch over.

So, how is that boy?

What boy?

Derek.

Mr. Light-Skinned Matter.

She'll be okay.

♪ ♪

Hey!

My man!

I'm Arlene.

His mother.

- It's my house.
- Hunter,

these are the girls
I told you about.

That right there is Simone,

this one here is Alexandra,

and that one right there,

that's Star.

You guys are gonna be performing

in the other room.

Anybody want a drink?

A drink wouldn't kill me.

All right, one
drink, you hear me?

Then meet me in the living room.

Come here, girl.

- Come on.
- Girl, let me see this.

Hey, I want to see more of
what we got going here.

- Whoa.
- Where's Simone?

This tastes like apple juice.
You got scotch?

I mean...

any jackass can run up and
down a field, toss a ball.

But to sing?

To take someone
inside your soul?

Speaking of balls...

you been throwing some
pretty big ones this season.

Oh-ho, I have, have I?

They are pretty big.

Where's your bathroom?

Upstairs.

♪ ♪

There's lipstick on my glass.

- What are we gonna do?
- You're gonna help me up.

That's what you're gonna do.
We finna perform.

Come on.

Don't look at me like that.

Come on, Simone, you got this.

♪ ♪

♪ Who shot ya? Who knocked ya? ♪

♪ Point 'em out, let 'em
know I'm coming for 'em ♪

♪ Who said that? What hoodrat? ♪

♪ Grab my coat, girl ♪

♪ I'm about to clap back ♪

♪ Ima knock 'em down
like Muhammad Ali ♪

♪ Drop 'em like flies when
I sting 'em with the bee ♪

♪ So, who shot ya? ♪

♪ 'Cause I got ya ♪

♪ I won't ever let
another run up on ya ♪

♪ For better or worse ♪

♪ Through thick and
through thin ♪

♪ I'm going all in ♪

♪ I'm putting ya first ♪

♪ It's what you deserve ♪

♪ Let me hold this down ♪

♪ 'Cause you know I got ya ♪

♪ I can be ya soldier,
I can be the king ♪

♪ I can be ya president
gangsta on the scene ♪

♪ I can be ya hip-hop
bulletproof vest ♪

♪ I can be the tattoo ♪

♪ Bleeding on ya chest ♪

♪ I can be ya soldier,
I can be the king ♪

♪ I can be ya president
gangsta on the scene ♪

♪ I can be ya hip-hop
bulletproof vest ♪

♪ I can be the tattoo
bleeding on ya chest ♪

- ♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
♪ - ♪ I can be that ♪

- ♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪ -
♪ I can be, I can be that ♪

- ♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
♪ - ♪ I can be that ♪

- ♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪ -
♪ I can be, I can be that ♪

♪ Ima rain down
like a fireball ♪

♪ Ooh! Ima make ya jaw
drop, give you more ♪

♪ Ooh! I'm a super girl
when ya rocket falls ♪

♪ When ya rocket falls,
when ya rocket falls ♪

♪ Who shot ya? Who knocked ya? ♪

♪ Point 'em out, let 'em
know I'm coming for 'em ♪

♪ Who said that? ♪

♪ What hoodrat? ♪

♪ Grab my coat, girl, I'm
about to clap back ♪

♪ I can be ya soldier ♪

♪ I can be the king ♪

♪ I can be ya president
gangsta on the scene ♪

♪ I can be ya hip-hop
bulletproof vest ♪

♪ I can be the tattoo
bleeding on ya chest ♪

♪ I can be ya soldier,
I can be the king... ♪

You wanted legit, homey?

This is it.

I've been asleep for
the last ten years.

♪ The tattoo bleeding
on ya chest ♪

♪ I can be, I can be that ♪

♪ Grab my coat, girl, I'm
about to clap back ♪

♪ I can be, I can be that ♪

♪ Ima knock 'em down
like Muhammad Ali ♪

♪ Let me hold this down,
'cause you know I got ya ♪

♪ Who shot ya? ♪

Mr. Leecan, can you think

of any reason why anyone
would want to harm you?