Star (2016–…): Season 2, Episode 6 - Faking It - full transcript

With all of the flack the label is catching from the tragic police incident, Ayanna must quickly restore Midtown's image. Desperate for a spot in the showcase, the girls work on convincing ...

Your group released property

without my written consent.
As a result, you're parked.

Your sound is the exact thing
we've been looking for.

- And that's my music.
- I lied to you.

We can go all the
way with this, man.

- We?
- Yeah, we. We share the publishing.

Please welcome to the
stage Angel and Andy!

How did Jahil get
his nephew in front

- of Ayanna like that?
- I don't know,

- but I'm about to find out.
- Who's this?

- My boy Lucky. Yo, Lucky, this is Star.
- This is the girl you be talking about?



- This is just sex.
- Let me see your I.D.

- Don't pull a brother over for nothing.
- Noah, stop.

- Officer, listen...
- Noah, stop!

Court is in session.

You may be seated.

You're requesting a
review of this matter,

but there's still the issue of
your prison record, Ms. Brown.

Your Honor, I've completed
parenting classes.

Simone is keeping her grades up.

And breaking curfew
and getting drunk

- with her former roommate.
- She's only doing that

because she is unhappy
in that facility.

She's acting out because she's
used to being in a home.

- My home.
- I'm sorry,



but nothing has changed
since the last hearing.

The request to restore
foster care status...

is denied.

Simone Davis will
remain in the custody

of the Morrison Juvenile
Detention Center.

I'm sorry, baby.

- Simone...
- We got her, we got her, we got her.

- Simone?
- Simone, listen.

Simone, come on. Please.

I know this didn't go
how we expected, okay?

But you got to understand
that this is not forever.

You'll be out of here
as soon as you turn 18.

Or as soon as we
win that showcase.

I'm-I'm serious.

Simone, do not hurt yourself.

If you do that, you're
giving them the power.

Simone, please stop doing that!

I'm gonna play... I'm
gonna play a song.

Okay. Simone, listen.

This is the song we
just did, the new one.

I want you to listen
to it and focus on it.

Okay? This is what's gonna
get you out of there.

Focus on the music. Please.

♪ ♪

♪ Think he'll step out,
think he leavin' home ♪

♪ He know better, he
know when he on ♪

♪ Best believe it, I'm
the one he want ♪

♪ You not the girl
that's gonna ♪

♪ Kick the queen off
her throne, hey ♪

♪ I ain't worried 'bout ♪

- ♪ No chick in here
♪ - ♪ In here ♪

♪ Ain't gonna throw that
around in here, in here ♪

♪ Hey, I don't know why
you moving like that ♪

♪ I don't know why you
workin' like that ♪

♪ I don't know why you
flirtin' like that ♪

♪ 'Cause he ain't really
lookin' at you like that ♪

♪ You keep on
tryin' and tryin' ♪

♪ And tryin' and
tryin' and tryin' ♪

♪ He's mine, better
get your own ♪

♪ You keep on
tryin' and tryin' ♪

♪ And tryin' and
tryin' and tryin' ♪

♪ But he's mine,
better get your own ♪

♪ Keep on tryin' and
tryin' and tryin' ♪

♪ And tryin' and tryin' ♪

♪ He's mine, better
get your own ♪

♪ He's mine, better
get your own ♪

♪ Yeah, he's mine,
better get your own ♪

♪ He's mine, better
get your own, yeah. ♪

All right, cool, then I'm
gonna kick the door in.

And back up, so the
glass doesn't shatter

all over your stupid ass.

You really scared me that time.

Winning the showcase
is my only way out,

and Ayanna's not even
paying attention to us.

We got GiGi Nixon
into Midtown, okay?

We did that. Don't think
she doesn't recognize.

There's got to be some way
for her to notice us.

- I'll set her office on fire.
- What?

You burned my sister,
I burn your stuff.

You can't say that
stuff in a courtroom.

But just a small one. I'll do,
like, a trash can or a couch

- or something like that.
- Don't be stupid. No fires!

Fine!

It smells really bad in here.

- Was it you?
- Was it you?

Come out!

No, no, it wasn't me this time.

♪ 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? ♪

♪ I bring me ♪

♪ I bring, I bring me. ♪

How'd the hearing go?

Horrible.

I guess I've been taking
parenting classes for no reason.

Judge ain't willing
to see no change.

I heard about Jahil's boys.

How they just gonna skate
through to the showcase?

I was gonna tell you.

Well, what about my girls?

I need to have some words
with Ayanna today.

Mm, Ayanna's not exactly focused
on Take Three right now.

Not with all the press
from the shooting.

And she hasn't
seen Noah in days.

Well, maybe because
his best friend

just got shot for no reason.

And he posted Ayanna's picture

with the hashtag
♪MidtownMatters.

It's bad press.

Better if you stay
off her radar today.

You need to shut this down.

Noah's hashtag infers
that black lives

don't matter to Midtown.

We make R&B music... Of
course black lives matter.

I marched with King.

I stumped for Obama.

You're just gonna sit
on this damn story?

As head of Midtown, you've got
to make a formal announcement.

You know how hard it
is to build a company.

Everything that happens to
your label happens to my name.

Speak up, girl. You better
speak up and do it damn quick!

Hey, nephew, we did it.

We got a contract at Midtown,

and we got a spot
in the showcase.

Hit me up. Sho'!

So you weaseled your boys a
spot in the showcase, huh?

I'll bet you feel
good about yourself.

Oh, yeah, I feel real good.

You know what a judge
said to Simone today?

She looked her in the face and told
her she had to go back to juvie.

Damn. I mean, that kid
can't catch a break.

This showcase is her break.

Well, that's on you, then,
to put her in it, right?

I am.

It's hard to compete
with pillow talk.

Oh, here we go. You know what?

Look, I put together
a strong act, okay?

I gave Ayanna what she wanted.

I bet you did.

You know what, Lottie?
Don't even go there.

I promise you,

I ain't never goin' there again.

A little faster would
be really nice.

Can you chill a little bit?
Thieving takes time.

We need to find
something Ayanna wants.

- Why you think I ain't got no record?
- You do.

Not for thievin'.

Oh, hell, yeah.

Check it. It's Ayanna's
artist wish list.

Everybody that she
wants at Midtown

is on this list right here.

Joyce Sheree... top of the list.
Makes sense.

She can do R&B and hip-hop,

and she got a fat ass.

She do. And it's tight.

- Googling now.
- Yo, what if we got

Joyce Sheree to sing a verse on the song?
We could give her

to Ayanna, and that would give
us leverage in the showcase.

Okay, look, come here,
come here, come here.

It says here that Joyce
Sheree is performing

at the Stand Up to
Cancer event tonight.

We got to get in
there and meet her.

I can't... I got curfew.
Did y'all forget?

Shh...

What's up?

Noah, I'm...

really sorry about your friend.

Thanks.

- Yo, he must be real messed up.
- Yeah, for sure.

I hope he can get his head
in the game after all that.

You pulling for him?

Nah. I'm just saying,

I want strong competition
so we can get in there

- and knock 'em out.
- This benefit is steep.

They're asking five grand
just to get into the door.

- Damn.
- I mean, can't you front?

You got them deep-ass pockets.

They're not bottomless, Simone.

Now, GiGi and Joyce are tight,

and she was all over
us at the A&R event.

She'll hook us up.

That's a good idea.

You go be BFFs with
GiGi and Joyce,

and I'm-a go shake a money tree.

- Great.
- Yo, Star, you know

we can't bail your
crazy ass out of jail.

You might.

- Thanks for letting me come over.
- Of course.

I've been trying to get
over to the store, but...

You know. Everything
good, though?

Nah, I'm pissed.

I'm still not over that
Lucky Keyes shooting.

Your girlfriend's
at Midtown, right?

I'm wondering if we
can get her on film

to talk about that ♪
MidtownMatters hashtag.

Probably not.

Just because she got to,
like, keep the label happy.

You know? I hate that it's
like that, but it is.

- What is it you're working on?
- It's a documentary.

I'm looking at the connection

between microaggression
and violence.

Wow. A girl about action.
That's dope.

I guess we can't expect
change in people.

- Unless we... educate 'em.
- Unless we teach 'em.

Right.

You need to stop
showing up in my room.

I could do anything I want.

The Hunter Morgan Foundation
pays for this room

and your expenses.

Here's the equipment to
help us get into her phone.

Hmm.

I want to know Star
won't get hurt by this.

Now you're the good daddy?

Please.

She won't get hurt.

But you will.

The money you owe those
people in Vegas,

they're really sheisty people.

And they can be here the
second I make the call.

She wants to meet me for coffee.

Just get the pictures
off her damn phone.

I'm gonna go broke if you don't.

I can't tell you how sorry
I am about your friend.

Course you can't. I didn't
hear you tell anybody.

Nothing I say will
change what happened.

A black kid with a
record gets shot,

and everybody thinks
he had it coming.

And you won't put Midtown
in the middle of it.

You put Midtown in
the middle of it

when you created a hashtag.

- I need you to recant.
- You're crazy.

All you care about is
this damn showcase.

We are about to have all
eyes on us in Atlanta,

and here you are actively
working against Midtown.

You were supposed to be good PR,

but instead you're the opposite.

I need an artist

or a group who can
go the distance,

someone who isn't going to
be a detriment to my label,

someone who is going to be worth

a tour and an album.

Right now that's not
looking like it's you.

What the hell was that?

None of your business.

Okay, I'm here to
talk about my girls.

We both know they've been
killing it over and over,

and you put Jahil's boys
in after just one gig?

I don't have time for this.

Well, what do you have time for?

It sure ain't taking
care of my girls

or Noah, for that matter.

Excuse me?

You walking around here like
you scared to make a mistake,

ignoring everyone waiting
for you to say something

about this black boy's death.

I am a professional.

This is a business.

- It is about music and money.
- Wake up.

Handle your business so we
could get back to business.

You don't know what
you're talking about.

Well, at least I'm
talking about something.

- ♪ Jumpin' off the
wall like ♪ - ♪ Whoop ♪

- ♪ Money on the floor
like ♪ - ♪ Whoop ♪

- ♪ ...with me, you gon' get
your ass ♪ - ♪ Whooped ♪

♪ Like waz hanin doe?
Waz hanin doe? ♪

♪ Waz hanin doe?
Girl, waz hanin? ♪

♪ Like waz hanin doe?
Waz hanin doe? ♪

♪ Like waz hanin doe? ♪

♪ Jump-Jump-Jump-Jumpin'
off the wall like... ♪

Talk to me.

- Lookin' good, GiGi.
- I need more light.

- Give me more light.
- Come on, move it up some.

That's good. Looks good.

Yeah, I like that.

GiGi.

- Oh, that's why you're the best.
- Hey, girl.

Was I expecting you?

No, you were not, but I wanted
to give you this in person.

- Oh.
- Big ups for coming to Midtown.

Can't believe we're
label sisters now.

Why you playing yourself?
You ain't no slouch.

Damn, you know your bubbles.

Thank you. So, - You're welcome.

I grew up in the music
industry, right?

Uh-huh.

And I've experienced firsthand
how women do better when

- they help each other up.
- Oh, girl, ain't nothing worse than

a bitch trying to steal your
music or your man. You can have

my hand-me-down dudes, but
never mess with my music.

Ever.

- Amen to that.
- Mm.

I have a... a question for you.

Yeah.

More of a solid than
a question, but...

You and Joyce Sheree...
You're tight?

Joyce is my baby. Got a
lot of love for J-Sexy.

Well, in that case, me and my...

Okay, you know what?
Let me finish this

'fore these clowns
go into overtime.

But come back later.
We're having a party.

- You down to talk then?
- Bet.

Okay. I'm hot.

- See ya.
- I need a fan! It's hot as hell!

The showcase needs to
be the biggest story

coming out of Midtown, not this.

You'll have a full PR damage
control report by end of day.

Oh. Uh, Ms. Floyd, do
you have a minute?

- Not a sec.
- I wasn't sure if you heard,

but we may have Joyce Sheree
singing on one of our tracks.

"May have" is not a thing.

If you want to be
in the showcase,

don't rely on hypotheticals.

Be the best, and you'll get in.

You know what? Stop playin' us!

If it ain't gonna happen, let
us know or let us the hell out.

You know, I've ruined everything

by gettin' my ass
thrown into juvie.

Everybody 'round me,
looking at me side-eyed,

scared that I'm gonna
screw it all up again.

And the worst part about it is,

is that they're probably right.

Do you even know what
that feels like?

Actually, I do.

I'll call legal,

see what I can do.

♪ So sick of love ♪

♪ I've been giving all of me ♪

Oh, give me a second.

I'll be all yours.

Um, I'm not here for that.

I just wanted to
come by and say,

um, I'm sorry about your friend.

Yeah. Ain't everybody?

I know how it feels,
friends dying,

getting killed just for
living in their own skin.

I'm pissed about my friend, so I
know you're pissed about yours.

You got somebody
you can talk to?

I got my boys.

I know you got your
entourage, your yes-men,

but what about real people?

Where your folks at?

Uh, I don't know.

I don't mess with 'em.

Well, look,

we could put the
competition aside.

If you need somebody
to talk to, I'm here.

♪ I've been giving all of me ♪

♪ You've been giving
all of you... ♪

Well, thanks. I'm good.
I'm good.

Thank you.

Okay.

♪ Over and over and
over I tried ♪

♪ But dealing with you is like
a full-time occupation... ♪

What song is that?

It ain't nothing. Just a
demo Alex helped me with.

♪ Got me worrying about you
and all your situations ♪

♪ I'm so sick ♪

It's dope.

- You like it?
- Yeah.

Y'all sound good together.

Yeah, she saved me on this one.

That's some baby-making
music right there.

Yeah.

Don't be trying to make no
babies with Alex, though.

I'm not. I promise I'm not.

- ♪ Somebody tell me what to do ♪
- I won't.

♪ Oh, so sick. ♪

I need $5K today.

Damn, you just get right
to it, don't you?

Why pretend?

There's a benefit tonight.

There's an artist there that
we need on one of our tracks,

but it's $5K a pop.

Think of it as child
support you never paid.

I'll tell you what.

I'll make it ten grand.

$5K for the ticket,
$5K for an outfit.

Make it small bills, please.

But I'm going with you.

I think it'd be good for us
to spend some time together.

That's not gonna happen.

Well, then I guess
you ain't going.

All right.

Pick me up at 8:00.

8:00 it is.

Don't wear no cheap-ass suit.

You're wearing that?

I'm Casey from the
Atlanta Stance digital.

Do you have a statement about
the death of Lucas Keyes?

- No comment.
- What about Noah Brooks' post?

Does Midtown matter
more than black lives?

- Hey.
- I said no comment.

- Step back, man.
- Get him out of here.

- You heard her.
- Wow.

Your life is funny.

You know, I got something
that might help

with this Noah situation.

Alex and Noah did a
demo, and it is so hot.

A track with Roland Crane's
daughter and Noah Brooks?

You know how many
clicks that would get?

It could help with
your PR situation.

Get people to stop talking
about Noah trashing Midtown.

You'd let Alex do a track
with another artist?

You release the song, it
makes Midtown look good.

You put my girls back
in the showcase.

And boom... Two
problems, one solution.

Think about it.

All right, Carlotta.

Let me know if we got a deal.

♪ Who was the one? ♪

♪ Who was the one that
you needed the most? ♪

♪ Who was the one you would
call, you would call... ♪

Just dropped your
sister off at juvie.

Damn near had to kick that
crazy bitch out the car.

Crazy ass.

♪ Who picked you up when
you needed to stand... ♪

Damn.

Dressed up for Daddy Dearest.

You nervous?

The hell you think?

Bruce, what am I about
to say to this man? Huh?

What we gonna talk about?
Overdoses and abandonment?

I'm tired of it, like, already.

Well, I heard he was a
male version of your ass.

I got to see that.

Leave me alone, or
I'll tell Carlotta

that you're doing butt shots
out the basement again.

Damn. Let me get some
of that brown sugar.

What's up, baby?

Get out.

You funny. I like that.
What-What's your name?

- Tomica.
- Tomica? Tomica what?

- Whatever your last name is.
- Oh. Yeah.

Oh, my goodness. You're
so strong, baby.

- Yes, indeed.
- Out. What are you doing here?

What am I doing here? Mmm.

- Are you high right now?
- No.

No, no, no. No.

- Yes, you are, and I'm not with it.
- I'm not that high.

Come on, chill. Uh,
listen, tonight

there's gonna be a movie at GiGi's.
We should go.

We can just forget about
this whole Midtown crap,

and just... just be you and I.

Listen, I understand that
you're still upset about Lucky.

- Come on.
- No. And it makes sense.

But I just don't do this.

I don't deal with no
dudes who are high.

Come on, Star, I'm not...
I'm not that high.

- Star, come on.
- You got to go.

- Oh, are you serious?
- You need to leave.

Okay.

For you 'cause you asked nicely.

Please be careful tonight.

Don't... do nothing stupid.

♪ Tre, yeah ♪

- ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ - ♪ Uh ♪

♪ Dope boy, '95 Air Max on ♪

♪ Talk to 'em... ♪

I pick you up, buy a new suit,

and you won't even talk to me.
Nice.

What the hell would I
talk to you about?

Don't drink it.

Excuse me?

Just nurse it, use it as a prop.

Find your mark, stay focused.

The last thing that I need

is for you to try to school
me on how to hustle.

Been doing that damn
near since you left.

You got me in, I'm
done with you.

Enjoy yourself.

♪ Selin' dope out the pot,
straight drop, it's all there ♪

♪ It's all there ♪

♪ And I just ran... ♪

Your life is goals, huh?

Girl, why you keep
propping up my life

like yours is so busted, okay?
You a Crane.

Plus you can sing, okay?

You got a boyfriend?
Okay, so things

ain't that bad. You
should've brought him.

Thanks.

I needed a break.

We're going through something.

He cheat on you?

You cheat on him?

He's, um...

he's a paraplegic.

He can't walk.

He got into a car accident,

so he's paralyzed from it.

I'm sorry, girl.

Can he...?

That's rough.

We're okay.

Okay, well, what you
want with Joyce?

I can't believe Roland Crane's
daughter needs a hookup from me.

- Well, believe it, 'cause I do.
- Hmm.

Well, I done heard everything.
I can't believe

- your bougie ass needs a hookup from me.
- I am not bougie.

Girl, you are the damn
definition of, okay?

You are like a BAP on steroids.

You can't even get ratchet
with it, can you?

Hey...

Okay, no. That sounds bougie,
honey, that's not ratchet.

You sound like you're
pulling over a car service.

This is ratchet.

Hey!

Put your back into it!

I cannot...

Look, I need an intro to Joyce.

We want her on one
of our tracks,

and I know you guys are tight.

Yes, we are. Were.

It's got to wait, 'cause
right now we hella beefin'.

When she got out of rehab,
the first thing she did

was stole my manager.

I didn't want his ass anyway.

Got room for one more?

Noah, come on.

- What the hell...
- Oh, my fault, my fault.

Look at this picture.

Where the hell are
your clothes?!

- Oh.
- It ain't that damn cold.

- What you mean? Hold up.
- That's nasty.

- Wait, wait, where y'all going?
- Get it together, honey.

If you're gonna do that,
it better be something.

Oh, baby, don't-don't
leave me hanging, baby.

Don't do that to me.
Can I get a drink?!

♪ Pull up if you wanna buy
a half, it's all there ♪

- ♪ It's all there ♪ -
♪ 28, 36, a thousand ♪

♪ All there ♪

♪ Selling dope out the pot,
straight drop, it's all there ♪

Could I have whatever
she's having...

Down there, with the
black dress and the fur?

♪ If you wanna buy a
half, it's all there ♪

♪ Light hundred in my pocket,
big faces, all there. ♪

Never mind.

So, you're just a
purse-grabbing, chain-snatching

petty thief? Seriously?

What the hell? You took...

If you close your mouth you
might learn something.

Excuse me, ma'am?

My daughter here found
this on the floor.

Is that yours?

Yes, it is.

Well, at least until
tomorrow afternoon.

You found this?

Yeah, I did.

It was just laying on the floor.

My name's Star, by the way.

Damn, you could've
really just boosted it.

That's just not how I roll.

Your daughter was raised right.

Yeah.

I'll be right over here.

So, yeah, this thing...
was rented.

So I don't even know how much
it would cost if I lost it.

I can't even imagine.

It's all good.

Joyce Sheree.

I know exactly who you are,
you don't have to tell me.

You're the biggest thing
in Atlanta right now.

- Everybody's talking about you, girl.
- Girl, stop.

You're being humble, but
you know it's true.

I'm an artist, too.
Over at Midtown Sound.

- Oh, yeah?
- Mm-hmm.

Midtown is in a lot of
hot water right now.

I know. It's those A&Rs and execs...
They're asses.

Me and my girls, we won, um,

- Atlanta NextFest.
- Oh, dope.

- You know what that is? Yeah.
- Yeah.

We're working on our album now.

You are saving my
ass, getting me

the community center
to shoot in and...

all those people for
the documentary.

- Thank you.
- Nah. I really think

you should be adding your
name to that list, though.

Especially what happened
to us, you know?

As long as I wear a
hijab, I'm different.

And I like it. You know?

It puts me in solidarity
with all my Muslim sisters.

Even though white folk are
always trying to help me.

They think the hijab's a
symbol of oppression.

And I'm like,

"Why are you trying to tell
me how to do my culture?"

Right.

Well, it was good to see you.

Thank you.

Mmm.

Is that a boner?

Oh. Um...

Um, I'm s... I'm sorry.
That doesn't even happen.

- I-I can't even...
- It's fine.

- It's fine. Okay?
- I haven't been able to...

You kn... I'm gonna go.

You better stiffen that arm, girl.
It's sway, sway.

Whoa, whoa, what's happening?
Oh, what y'all doing?

Uh-uh, no, don't be messing
up my carpet, okay?

- This ten grand.
- Look, I got it, I got it.

- I know you don't know nothing...
- Yo, check...

check it out. Check it out, though.
Hold up.

Views are 250 large and
climbing right now.

Look at that.

- You see this?
- Oh, no.

No, no, you have to delete that.

Wait... what? You serious?

Yes. Now.

All right, no, no,

people are already reposting it...
it's even worse.

Oh, my God, now they talking
about ♪PostAndDelete,

like we're being
shady or something.

Oh, and does it say "Nalex"?

Like "Noah and Alex"?

Oh, no. They trippin'. Hold up.

♪ AlreadyObsessed.

♪ RelationshipGoals.

- ♪MarriedToTheMelanin.
- What?

Y'all need to let them think
what they want to think.

- No, we don't.
- No, girl,

think about it, okay?

You make Black Twitter happy,
you make Ayanna happy.

♪ And I'll give it to you till
the stars all fall down ♪

Wait, wait, wait, hold on.

W... Wait, what are
you saying right now?

What I'm saying is this
is a business move, okay?

A power play. It don't hurt to
fake it every now and then.

Free PR ain't cheap.

- I have a boyfriend, GiGi.
- And no one has to see

beyond the curtain, okay?
If y'all play this right,

lean into it, y'all both
could get a little shine

before that wack-ass
competition.

Now, marinate on that, honey.

♪ Till my, my very last breath. ♪

How'd you come up with $10K for
the benefit like it was nothing?

Eh, it was my rainy day fund.

What the hell difference
does it make?

I'm just glad I could use
it to help you tonight.

Aw.

That almost sounded sincere.

But, you know, one
night of pretending

like you're a decent human being

don't make up for all the
times you was actually a dog.

We did have a...

a minute there that we
had some fun, didn't we?

Working together.

And it was the last time, too.

- But that's ridiculous. Come on, now.
- I don't see how.

Yo, I got in good with
Joyce Sheree last night.

She's gonna hop on
one of our tracks.

What's up with y'all?

Nothing good.

Noah put up a picture of
me and him on the Gram,

and his fans went off.

I mean, they were showing
all kinds of love.

- Yeah?
- They think we're together, and I think

we should cash in on it.

I'm already working on
something for you and Noah.

I gave Ayanna that track
y'all recorded together.

So you don't need
to do all of that.

It's all hype and perception.

I thought it was all
music and talent.

Look, we've been trying
to think of some stunt

to make Ayanna notice us.

And I think this is perfect.

Yeah, I feel that, but you...

you don't even know him.

Who cares?

By any means necessary, right?

I don't even know you, girl.

I mean, her... I get it. You?

You say that all the time.

I found something, Miss C.

Emancipation.

Ayanna called her lawyer
and said it was an option.

- Ayanna?
- Yeah, she said she would help me out.

I just got to prove that I
can take care of my money,

and then we go to
the courthouse,

and then you testify and boom...

Out of juvie.

I know all about emancipation.

I looked into it. I
tried everything.

Yeah, well, we
haven't tried this.

All you got to do is testify.

Not with my record.
Me testifying

is gonna work against you.

I got a record too, Simone.

They don't want to
hear from me, either.

You know what, it's like you
want me to stay in there.

That's the last thing I want.
I promise you.

You can't keep giving me
any more promises, Miss C.

Y'all give me a minute.

Yeah, you need to stay the
hell out my business.

Don't tell me this
is about Jahil.

Jahil? I don't give a...

Stay away from Simone.

Stop filling her head
with false promises.

You don't know a damn
thing about that girl.

And I'm sure you
know everything.

You really gonna try me on this?

I've been there for that
girl since day one.

Emancipation is not
the answer for her.

She's young, she's
impressionable...

She needs adult supervision.

It's really not your
decision anymore, is it?

Okay, maybe everything
you care about

is under Midtown's roof,
and that's your world,

but those girls are my world.

- They're my artists.
- They're a meal ticket for you,

just like everybody
else over there.

If they don't sing, you don't eat.
They're nothing

but numbers on a
spreadsheet to you.

And if you actually did care,
maybe you wouldn't be sitting

over there with your mouth
closed while all hell

is breaking loose. Those
girls are my babies.

So if it ain't about business,

stay the hell away from them,

or I'm-a come at
you with something

you can't even imagine.

And as for Jahil...
Been there, done that.

Bitch.

Last thing I need people knowing

is that I'm sleeping
with a manager.

Sorry, baby.

The housekeeper
will show you out.

Damn, girl. Come on.

The showcase is in a month.

I have to create some buzz.

Well, why don't we,
uh, go for round two

and forget about the damn
showcase for just a minute?

I can't get to the damn
showcase in a minute.

Okay, all eyes are
going to be on me.

The entire Atlanta
music industry,

my family.

They expect me to mess
up because I always do.

Yeah, but you don't roll
that way at Midtown.

Because I can't
afford one slipup.

I begged my father
to give me Midtown.

This might be just a piece
of property for him,

but if I can turn this around,

starting with this showcase,

and make it one of the
Floyd flagship labels...

He'll see you.

Right now all he sees
is this PR mess.

I handled it all wrong.

So why don't you fix it?

If I issue a statement, it'll
just prove he was right.

He's always right.

Carlotta may think I don't care,
but I probably care too much.

So what are you
gonna do about it?

What are you going
to do about it?

♪ ♪

You was out late last night,

bouncing early today.

You get any sleep?

Um, a little.

Something happened yesterday.

Um, yeah, about that...

Me and Soraya were working

and...

And what?

I got wood.

With her?

But we haven't...

I know. That's what I'm saying.

I mean...

- Do you like her?
- No.

I-I do not.

It ain't got nothing
to do with her.

That's what I'm saying.
It just happened.

You always tell me the truth.

I love that about you.

I'll never lie to you.

Baby.

Baby, don't cry.

I'm sorry.

Hey.

How 'bout you sing?

The one that you swear
is corny, though.

What?

No, I can't sing right now.

Yes, you can.

For me.

Please?

Then I got a surprise for you.

It's a big one.

Yeah.

Derek, wha... How long?

Why didn't you tell me?

Look, I just wanted to make sure I was...
steady on my feet

before I sh-showed you anything.

You know?

♪ We took off so fast, ain't
think of how to land ♪

♪ I never saw you coming,
so I never had a plan ♪

♪ Feelings caught first,
turned into a wave ♪

♪ Now it's good vibes
all day, every day ♪

♪ Wasn't really looking to
be this kind of poppin' ♪

♪ Now it's looking like it might
be the right kind of problem ♪

♪ And I think, think 'bout
you all of the time ♪

♪ And I can't, can't get
you out of my mind ♪

♪ And this is all new to me ♪

♪ So I don't know everything ♪

♪ But Mama told me you'll
know that it's love ♪

♪ When it creeps
into your bones ♪

♪ And it just won't go away ♪

♪ You can't fake
this kind of joy ♪

♪ You can't shake
this kind of pain ♪

♪ So you let it burn hot ♪

♪ 'Cause you like it like that ♪

♪ And you give it all you got ♪

♪ And you know it comes back ♪

♪ I said it, I meant it ♪

♪ I feel it, can't let it go ♪

♪ 'Cause you might be the one ♪

♪ You got me, got me coming
out my comfort zone ♪

♪ You got me, got me feeling
like love ain't wrong ♪

♪ You got me picking
up the phone ♪

♪ Not just texting,
making good love ♪

♪ Baby, not just
sexing, and I'm ♪

♪ Seeing you as a
reflection of myself ♪

♪ So I'm trying to give me
something better for myself ♪

♪ And I think, think 'bout
you all of the time ♪

♪ And I can't, can't get
you off of my mind ♪

♪ And this could be temporary ♪

♪ And I'll admit
that it's scary ♪

♪ But Mama told me you'll
know that it's love ♪

♪ When you wake up every day ♪

♪ And it gives you
your first breath ♪

♪ Oh, it makes you so afraid ♪

♪ But you take another step ♪

- ♪ So you let it burn
hot ♪ - ♪ 'Cause you ♪

- ♪ Like it like that ♪ - ♪
And you give it all you got ♪

- ♪ And you know it comes
back ♪ - ♪ I said it ♪

♪ I meant it, I feel
it, can't let it go ♪

♪ 'Cause you might
be the one now ♪

♪ Is it real? I don't know ♪

♪ But I, I just got to be sure ♪

♪ And there's a chance that
we won't make it, but it's ♪

♪ Still a chance that
I'm gonna take ♪

♪ And I will know it's love ♪

♪ When you put it in a song ♪

♪ So the world can
catch the vibe ♪

♪ And you play it
all night long ♪

♪ 'Cause it makes
you come alive ♪

♪ When peace becomes
your truth ♪

♪ And you know that it's okay ♪

♪ And the happiness you feel ♪

♪ You just want it every day ♪

♪ So you let it burn hot,
'cause you like it like that ♪

♪ And you give it all you got,
'cause you know it comes back ♪

♪ I said it, I meant it, I
feel it, can't let it go ♪

♪ 'Cause you might be the one ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

- ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ - ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Yeah. ♪

Baby, don't cry. Baby.

Don't cry. Don't cry.

I'm sorry.

I have to tell you
something, too.

It's about Noah Brooks.

I called.

I called twice.

Could've called three times,
I wasn't gonna answer.

You look rough.

I-I feel like it.

I went ham last night.

Look, I wanted to talk to you
about the-the pictures online.

- What pictures?
- Come on, you want to do this?

Or you want to be real, Star?
Um,

I know you saw the hookup
with me and your girl.

I just wanted-wanted to
say we were frontin',

just to get some play.

I should've came to you and
talked to you about it first...

I'm sorry.

You don't got to talk
to me about nothing.

You don't have to
run nothing by me.

- You don't owe me nothing, man.
- Come on, Star.

You don't owe me nothing.
Just...

do what you want to do.

For real.

Star, don't be like that.

Star...

I didn't say anything before,

but I should have.

I owe you,

my family name,

and the young black man who
was shot more than that.

I didn't want to see what
was right in front of me.

Front door, deadbolt, back door.

You got me out of juvie?

For today, yes. Tomorrow,
I'll start calling lawyers

for more permanent options.

There's an address.

I didn't want to admit I
was part of the problem.

I held back, because I
didn't want to be wrong.

You know, I hate to say it,
but I don't think Midtown

is the best place for y'all.

What are you doing?

Was you just talkin'?

- Never mind.
- I'm sorry.

I need to check on Simone.

That's what I need to be doing.

D... Oh, damn it. Can
I use your phone?

- Where's yours?
- I dropped it at the party last night.

I'm freaking out.

- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.

Hope you have good pics on here.

You better stay
out of my photos.

But I was wrong.

I was trying to protect
the wrong thing.

And when injustice happens,

it's on all of us to speak up.

Because being silent

is its own kind of evil.

Are you gonna scream?

Just got out today.

What do you want?

I wanted you to answer my calls.

I told you we were done.

You ain't ever gonna be
able to leave me, girl.

And the devil is in the silence.