01x02 - Rumors

[bunniefuu]

[Meech] After tonight,

everybody gonna know
who the 50 Boyz are.

[tense music plays]

If y'all don't stop,
bodies gon' drop.

- f*ck you, n*gga.
- f*ck.

Step to the side
till you're ready to order.

- Step aside?
- Yeah.

A'ight.

[grunts]

When you see Duka, you tell him

that Lamar Silas
is back in town.

[Charles] He don't need
his mama to protect him.

He done went and got a g*n.

Pops, it's not like that.

Then what's it like, Demetrius?

I heard you were out.

Man, I came straight
to see you and Zo.

I need you to set
a better example for Terry

or leave him alone altogether.

I'm guessing your pockets
is kind of low.

If you want to fill 'em,
you run with us.

That n*gga's
still institutionalized.

f*ck being bosses.

We gon' be kings, Tee.

Kings of the m*therf*cking D,
man.

[tense hip-hop music plays]

♪ ♪

[g*nsh*t, b*llet clatters]

♪ ♪

[Melle Mel & Duke Bootee's
"Message II [Survival]"]

♪ ♪

[engine revving]

[tires squealing]

[Older Meech] Everybody
in the game knows the risks.

Getting locked up, ganked,
or smoked is a part of it.

[tires screech]

But you don't think about that
before you get in.

You just thinking about how
sweet the whole thing look.

[engine revving]

When we was growing up,
every kid in our hood

wanted to be like Billy Sims,
Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas,

and all the other Black stars
on the Michigan sports teams.

But not me and Tee.

We wanted to be like
the Chambers brothers,

who the movie New Jack City
was based on,

and YBI,
Young Boys Incorporated,

who all the Detroit D-boys
patterned themselves after.

YBI was the first crew
in the city to only hire kids.

All them dudes had money,

women, clothes, and fly whips.

But more than anything,
they had respect.

[Melle Mel] ♪ Survival ♪

♪ Only the strong
Can survive ♪

♪ It's called survival ♪

♪ Only the strong
Can survive ♪

-♪ It's called survival ♪
-[pedestrian yelps]

-[tires squealing]
-♪ In order to stay alive ♪

-[pedestrian whimpers]
-♪ It's called survival ♪

♪ Survival, survival,
Survival ♪

[Meech] Yo, Tee!

Terry! Where you at?

Tee!

Where's Terry Flenory at?
Terry, where you at?

- Terry! Tee!
-[man 1] Hey!

-[man 2] He's got a g*n!
- What the hell?

Yo, Terry!
Tee, where you at?

Drop it right there!

I'm looking for my brother.

Back off, Lopez.
I know this man.

He's got a g*n, Brian.

I said back off.

I'm in control
of the situation.

Secure your w*apon.

Now.

[tense music plays]

[phone rings in distance]

Where my brother at, man?

You can see him as soon
as you hand that piece over.

♪ ♪

Meech.

Give me the g*n.

[curtain rattles]

[dramatic music plays]

♪ ♪

Yo, Tee.

I'm here, man.

Meechie?

Yo, tell Mom and them
I'm so sorry.

[machinery beeping]

Please look after Terry Jr.
for me.

You gon' be fine.

♪ ♪

[machinery beeping rapidly]

- What's going on?
-[nurse] Page Dr. Hall to OR2.

[nurse] Order two units
O negative.

He's unresponsive.
We gotta go now.

-Confirm cross-rate.
-[Meech] Yo, Tee!

You gon' be straight, man!

Unless you tell me something
your brother didn't,

this looks like
an attempted carjacking.

[tense music plays]

♪ ♪

[phone ringing]

[siren wailing in distance]

What the f*ck, man?
Is Tee straight?

They're working on him now.

- Who the f*ck sh*t him?
- I don't know.

But we gotta lock sh*t down,

and we gotta move
that damn stash.

We don't know if this
is an isolated incident

or the start
of something different.

sh*t, we could use that uh,
backup stash house we got.

Do that.
Now, Sockie, pull some muscle

we trust off the streets
to look after my family.

And hire some g*ons to cover
our boys on the corners.

n*gga, we already
stretched pretty thin,

not to mention hired g*ons
ain't the most reliable.

n*gga, I don't give a f*ck.

I want m*therf*ckers
I can trust on my family

until I can figure sh*t out.

What you gon' do?

Finna find the m*therf*cker
who sh*t my brother.

[siren wailing]

[tense music plays]

♪ ♪

It's because of you, ain't it?

No, Mama.
Somebody tried to rob him.

Don't lie to me!

- Mama, no!
- Don't lie to me!

Lucille, Lucille!
Come on.

Let it go. Let it go.

If he dies, it's on you.

I told you to stay away
from him.

I told you
to stay away from him!

[Older Meech] Looking back now,

I can see how naive I was.

But the thing is, you don't
ever play the dope game.

It plays you.

And I just didn't
know that yet.

[Charlie] ♪ I got everything
On the line ♪

♪ I'm out here
I'm on the grind ♪

♪ Trying to get mine ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ A n*gga move the weight ♪

♪ Trying to get the cake ♪

♪ I'm in and out of state ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ Too many n*gg*s fake ♪

♪ It's hard to tell a snake ♪

♪ One more flip
And I'm straight ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ I don't go hand to hand ♪

♪ It go gram after gram ♪

♪ Yeah, holla at me, man ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ Too many n*gg*s fake ♪

♪ It's hard to tell a snake ♪

♪ One more flip
And I'm straight ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

[50 Cent]
♪ The D's ain't that good ♪

♪ These n*gg*s is ratting ♪

♪ They tell them
What's going on ♪

♪ That's how they know
What's happening ♪

♪ I'm riding
With the top down ♪

♪ Trunk full of yola ♪

♪ Ghetto pharmaceutical ♪

♪ I move that Coca-Cola ♪

♪ Thousand grams of pure ♪

♪ Though I f*ck
With the weirdos ♪

♪ They snort away the pain ♪

♪ Bang their dope
In their vein ♪

♪ Shorty crying
Christmas ain't coming ♪

♪ Her pop's locked up ♪

♪ When it hurts the worst ♪

♪ Your ace find out
She knocked up ♪

♪ Welfare ain't an option ♪

♪ When the Feds
come knocking ♪

♪ It's all f*cked up
So wish me luck ♪

[Charlie] ♪ At least
You could wish me luck ♪

♪ A n*gga move the weight ♪

♪ Trying to get the cake ♪

♪ I'm in and out of state ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ Too many n*gg*s fake ♪

♪ It's hard to tell a snake ♪

♪ One more flip
And I'm straight ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ I don't go hand to hand ♪

♪ It go gram after gram ♪

♪ Yeah, holla at me, man ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ Too many n*gg*s fake ♪

♪ It's hard to tell a snake ♪

♪ One more flip
And I'm straight ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ Wish me luck ♪

♪ At least you could
Wish me luck ♪

♪ Oh, yeah, wish me luck ♪

♪ Wish me luck ♪

♪ All you got to do
Is wish me luck, yeah ♪

[Jay Mo] Told that n*gga,

stop f*cking playing
with me, n*gga.

Y'all cold over here

because y'all ain't making
no money.

n*gga, I ain't cold.
I'm hot.

Make sure y'all don't be
ass-betting over there, man.

Hope that wasn't your re-up,
lil' n*gga.

[Filmel] Step to him, Mo.
You know what it is.

Hey, hey, yo, heads up.

It's f*cking Fruit Loops,
two o'clock.

Man, you strapped?

[Filmel] You already know.

Yo. Jay Mo.

[hip-hop music plays]

So, man, you serious
about that job?

Nope.

We good on 12th Street,
my n*gga.

We don't hire
from Special Olympics.

[laughs]

Hey, old head,
you sh*t me down.

Why the sudden change of heart?

Look, man, my days is past,
all right?

I want the king
of these streets

to actually come from Ecorse.

A'ight, you know,
I help you to the crown.

You give me a cut.
[laughs]

You's a smooth
m*therf*cker, huh?

sh**t.

I know you not taking
this bum-ass n*gga serious.

Look at him.

[Jay Mo]
Let me handle this sh*t.

Slick, you know
this m*therf*cker?

[Slick] I heard of this n*gga.

- Who ain't?
-[Jay Mo] Good.

'Cause I'm breaking him off
with you, running pickups.

Do that well, maybe we'll see
about something else.

A'ight, I promise you,
you will not regret it.



- Come on, n*gga.
-[Lamar] A'ight.

♪ ♪

[singer] ♪ Blow ya mind
Out of sight ♪

♪ My people fly people ♪

♪ We rock
Till the morning light ♪

Good.

Keep the change.

sh*t.

Ooh!

Thanks.

[both laugh]

- Yo.
- Yo.

You came through.

Hell yeah, bruh.
Hey, Pop's working late, so...

Hey, yo,
let's invite some ladies over.

You might even get lucky,
you feel me?

[sarcastic laughter]

Come on, bruh.
Let's go, man, let's go.

[tense music plays]

You the n*gga talking
at the party the other night.

What, y'all can't take a joke?

sh*t.

You think popping my brother's

f*cking funny, n*gga?

Laugh now, n*gga.

I ain't sh**t nobody, man.

Do I look like
a f*cking sucker to you?

[suspenseful music plays]

Me and Terry had words,

but we ain't never beef
on nothing serious.

I ain't even
that type of n*gga,

and I'll put that on my mama.

♪ ♪

n*gga, you know
what the f*ck gon' happen

if I find out you lying?

Dawg, I'm being straight up
with you, bruh.

Square bidness.

Oh, f*ck.

I ain't sh**t nobody, man.

Check that sh*t.

Bitch-ass n*gga.

[ominous music plays]

♪ ♪

[baby fussing]

[suspenseful music plays]

♪ ♪

[sighs]

Where am I, Mama?

You had surgery.

How you feel?

[sighs]
Like I wanna throw up.

Where's--where's Meech?

He been gone all night.

[Lawanda] They got
the b*llet out.

But said it might be a while
before you feel normal again.

Do you remember what happened?

Any idea who'd want to do this?

What about your brother?

He got you caught up
in any of his street mess?

- Charles.
- What?

Terry needs to rest, okay?

Well, I need some damn answers.

What about you, Nikki?

You know if Terry's
involved with Meech?

No. Not- not that I know of.

Don't lie to me!

I'm not.

Oh, my God, this is crazy.

[Lucille] Okay, you know what?

I think we need
to go change clothes,

and a bite to eat might do us
all some good, okay?

Yeah, go ahead.

We'll stay with Terry.

Okay.

We love you.

I love you, too, Mama.

[phone ringing in distance]

Thank you, sweetheart.

[hip-hop music plays]

[singer] ♪ Last call ♪

[Lamar laughing]

n*gga, what's happening?

- Slick, n*gga?
- Hey, man.

- Slick?
-[Slick] Look, man.

That's what they call you now?

- You know what it is.
- What happened to P-M?

New day, new game,
you know what I'm saying?

Had to reinvent myself.

- A'ight.
- Rebrand on these n*gg*s.

[laughs]

How long you been out, man?

sh*t, I been out a few days.

Just trying to figure out how
our crew fell apart so fast.

sh*t, man.

Look, when you went away,
n*gga,

I held sh*t down best I could,
but I ain't have no product.

I had to work
for the n*gga who did.

Now, what you on, bruh?
I know you ain't out here

trying to pop on
no corner right now.

What's your play?

Man, n*gga, even if I did
have a w*r to fight,

I ain't got no army.

Since when
that ever stopped you?

This n*gga. Come on, man.

- Hey, man.
- Hm?

I did hear that Jay Mo
put the hit on the Flenory kid.

That's the word?

sh*t, I don't know
them dudes like that.

- Oh, sh*t.
- But, you know, sh*t,

I probably would have
popped him myself,

'cause you know I hate them
soft-ass light-skinned n*gg*s.

I ain't been soft since
I came out my mama p*ssy.

A'ight, look, the point is,
n*gga, spread the f*cking word.

- I got you.
- A'ight?

Make sure n*gg*s
is strapped up and alert.

All right.

If Meech and them
didn't want no funk before,

they sure as hell will
once this comes out, huh?

- Hell, yeah.
- Sho nuff.

My n*gga.

[Timex Social Club's "Rumors"]

[singer] ♪ How do rumors
Get started? ♪

♪ They're started
By the jealous people ♪

♪ And they get mad
Seeing something they had ♪

♪ And somebody else
Is holding ♪

[Older Meech] In the hood,
rumors pass around

faster than the clap.

And dope boys gossip

more than women
at their hair salons.

Long before cell phones
and texting,

we had the hood network,

and it was like
a game of telephone.

I got you,
you know what I mean?

[Older Meech] Nobody ever knew
if the sh*t was true or not.

But if we heard it,

we acted like it was.

We had to.

[singer] ♪ I just need
Some time ♪

♪ Some time to get away from ♪

♪ From all these rumors ♪

♪ I can't take it no more ♪

♪ My best friend said
There's one out now ♪

♪ About me
And the girl next door ♪

♪ Stop spreading ♪

♪ Those rumors around ♪

♪ Stop spreading
Those rumors around ♪

[Kato] This place cool.

[B-Mickie] Nah, this place
is smart, a'ight?

We got a back entrance
if we ever need to escape.

Got a driveway
to get sh*t in and out.

I guess Terry knows
what he's doing.

Me, Meech, and Terry know
what the f*ck we doing.

[dog barking in distance]

You check around?

Yeah. It's clear.

Back room got
a shitty-ass Jacuzzi, though.

[laughs]

So have at it, bath boy.

Did you bring
your lavender bubbles too?

[laughs]

Look, I know you
from the South and all,

but you gotta have something
mixed in you, some Indian.

Why? 'Cause I'm a Black woman

with straight hair
and good skin?

Nah, it ain't even like that.

You different.

You don't talk or act like
the girls usually do in the D.

Damn sure don't look like it.

[soft music plays]

♪ ♪

Yo.

Word on the street is,

Jay Mo the one
that put the hit out on Tee.

Who the f*ck
told you that sh*t?

You ain't the only one
that know how to ear hustle.

If that sh*t's true,
that n*gga's dog water.

[indistinct conversation
in distance]

[suspenseful music plays]

I thought you said
Terry and them

never spend no time here.

[B-Mickie] Far as I know,
they don't. Why?

This is my house!

[both grunt]

[dramatic music plays]

[both grunting]

Get the f*ck off me!

Move! Get down!

What the hell?

[both grunting]

♪ ♪

[Kato] sh*t.

We gotta tell Meech.

n*gga, hell nah.
That n*gga gon' have my head.

Yo, that is a whole eighth.

Six f*cking thousand dollars
we gotta account for.

Yo, let's sweep it up,
re-package it.

Re-package it?

We cannot have roach legs
in the damn work.

Hey, man.

That's some good sh*t.

[both] Shut the f*ck up.

[indistinct chatter]

Zo.

Hey.

How you doing?

It's me, Daddy.

Why are you here?

I- I just got
out of the hospital,

and I'm all better now.

I wanted--I'm here to see you.

I got you this.

[sighs]

Where do you want to go?

Huh?

I'll take you
wherever you want.

Anywhere. Belle Isle?

Huh? Boblo? Cedar Point?

I don't think
I'm supposed to go with you.

Come on, Zoe.
Look, I'll--I'll--

I'll go take you
to go meet your mother.

How about that? Huh?

I'll let you drive.

Um, I'm sorry.

Zo. Zoe, come back.

[teacher] Hey, hey.
Excuse me, sir.

[Lamar] I just want to talk.

Hey, look, that's my daughter.

She doesn't want
to talk to you.

How the f*ck do you know
what my daughter wants, huh?

Sir, if you don't leave
right now,

I'm calling the police.

[tense music plays]

♪ ♪

A'ight.

You got some--
uh, some in your hair.

- I'm good.
-[door opens]

[Meech] Man, what the f*ck
is going on?

I got jumped.

You know what?

I don't know if you got
bad luck or something,

but we need to get rid
of your ass.

Every time some sh*t happen,

your ass is always
in the middle.

Meech, this was on me,
dawg, a'ight?

I ain't check the back door.

But we ain't lose
too much product

or anything, so we a'ight.

n*gga, this f*cking crib's
been compromised.

Okay. Cool.

We'll move the sh*t over
to my mom's house.

We'll wait there,
find a new spot.

[dog barking in distance]

Now, what the f*ck we gon' do

with this n*gga
right here, huh?

This my house.

n*gga, get the f*ck up, n*gga.

f*ck off.

Get your ass up
out of here, man.

Hey, you ain't seen
any of us, right?

But can I get some of that--

Get the f*ck up out of here,
man.

Crazy-ass n*gga.

[door creaks, thuds]

[door creaking]

I know you got a lot
on your plate.

You know I still got your back.

I caught that n*gga Kwame
at the liquor store

and pressed that n*gga.

n*gga Tee been beefing with?

Hell yeah. But it wasn't him.

So I gave that little n*gga
a pass.

You pressed his ass in public?

n*gga, hell yeah.

f*ck, I can't have
n*gg*s thinking

they can just run up
and touch us like that.

Right, right.

But what if dawg
didn't convince you?

You would have sh*t him
in front of all them people?

What?

Yo, what the f*ck
is up with you, man?

[suspenseful music plays]

Man, you been my man
for over ten years.

I know when something up
with you, n*gga.

♪ ♪

Streets been saying the man
behind all this is Jay Mo.

[Meech] Oh, yeah?

But you confronting me
about pressing Kwame in public

in case in gotta pop him.

You know,
Jay Mo do make more sense,

if you think about it.

Yo, Tee did pull a f*cking g*n
on them n*gg*s, man.

Yeah, well, maybe it's time
for you to find a better way

to communicate with this n*gga.

Just move
the f*cking stash, man.

I got to do
every f*cking thing.

[tense music plays]

[indistinct chatter]

[equipment beeps]

Tee.

Yo, Tee.

Man, what the hell
are you doing in here?

I came to see
about my brother, man.

How you doing? You straight?

Hell, nah.

They got me doped up on
all this damn pain medication.

sh*t, at least you still here.

- One eye and all.
-[laughs]

Can't even get no ass
with one eye, man.

How you gon' see ladies
with one eye?

- f*ck you, yo.
-[both laughing]

Nah.

You look good.

[Meech] Look.

♪ ♪

They say Jay Mo the one
that popped you.

Jay Mo? [scoffs]

Man, that fool shakes

at the sound
of his own footsteps.

[laughs]

[Terry] I doubt that.

Well, it ain't Kwame.

I pulled up on that fool.
He damn near sh*t his pants.

[both chuckle]

But- but what if it's
that n*gga Lamar?

I mean,
we did take his corners.

Everybody took his corners.

Yeah, but you took
his baby moms, Meech.

Man, Zoe not even his. A'ight?

And if n*gga has static
with me over Monique,

why he ain't come
after me then?

The hell if I know.

Look, you--[sighs]

You need to leave
all this sh*t alone

and just focus
on the business, Meech,

so we don't fall behind.

Taking care of the m*therf*cker

who popped my brother,

that is my bidness.

Meech.

- Nah, bro. Look.
-[Terry] Meech.

Worry about
getting yourself better.

A'ight? I got this.

[suspenseful music plays]

You too heavy-handed
with this sh*t.

Treat this like a lady.

Like you got some damn class.

n*gga, I know
what the f*ck I'm doing.

[Slick] I don't know
if you do, 'Mar.

[engine rumbles, tires squeal]

sh*t.

- Hey, m*therf*cker.
- That's Mo.

Are you out
your rabid-ass mind?

First you show up
to my house unannounced,

and then you just pop up
at my daughter's school?

Why was Zoe so shook to see me?

Huh?

What the f*ck
you been telling her?

[Monique] Zoe didn't know
you were out.

So why the f*ck would you
just pop up at her school?

I'm her g*dd*mn daddy!

I don't need to make
no m*therf*cking announcement.

You are not Zoe's father.

I let her call you that
when we were together, n*gga,

but y'all ain't blood.

Look, Zoe thought you were sick
for the past two years,

so she prayed
for you every night.

So for you to just show up
to her f*cking school

with some cheap-ass
stuffed animal--

Zoe's got a right
for her family

to be together, you understand?

Lamar, you don't think that
we're gonna be together, right?

I'm trying to do what's best
for our family!

Then stay your crazy ass
the f*ck away from me and Zoe.

Or what? Hmm?

You can't keep ignoring me.

And you sure as hell
can't keep parading

that squirmy-ass little n*gga
in front of our kid.

[Slick] All right, all right.
Look, look.

You hear me? Huh?

- All right, Mar, hey.
- Huh?

Mo, get on.
You said your piece.

Talk some sense
into your friend, P-M,

with his dumb ass.

-[Slick] Come on, man.
- You stupid m*therf*cker.

[screams]

[breathing heavily]

- I got neighbors, my n*gga.
- Man, shut the f*ck up.

- A'ight.
- Shut the f*ck up.

A'ight, come on. Want to smoke?

[percussive music plays]

♪ ♪

[Older Meech]
We was young and hungry.

I didn't want us falling
into the typical D-Boy trap.

You know, where I beef out

with Jay Mo or somebody
and sh**t him.

[g*nsh*t]

Then he comes back
and kills me.

[g*nsh*t]

Then Tee merc his ass,

and Jay Mo's kids
go after him.

[rapid g*nf*re]

I was looking for a way
to sort sh*t out

that wouldn't result
in body pileups.

♪ ♪

-[indistinct chatter]
- I got you.

That sh*t shouldn't
take you all night.

[indistinct chatter]

What up doe?

You in the wrong hood to be
whipping up like that, n*gga.

Come on, man.
With all that bullshit, man?

Chill. Hey, look.

I'm trying to make
your life better.

What you think,
I'm one of your skeezes, n*gga?

Nah.

But I seen the way
your m*therf*cker eye twinkle

when I made that offer
to Jay Mo.

n*gga, you ain't see sh*t.

You better get
your eyes checked.

Come on, Filmel.

Now, you been a businessman
who been all about his paper.

But look, though,
when you in these streets,

n*gga, you either winning
or you not.

Now, right now, I'm trying
to give you the opportunity

to come make more money
than you ever f*cking imagined.

All you gotta do is help me
get rid of the m*therf*cker

holding us both back
so you can become top dog.

[suspenseful music plays]

Man, sell that sh*t
to somebody else, Meech.

I ain't buying.

Hey, look, offer
ain't gonna stand forever.

Yeah, a'ight.

[tense music plays]

And you won't be standing--

yo, get the f*ck
out of here, Meech!

Take that sh*t up to 50, n*gga.
You know what time it is.

[dramatic music plays]

[car door thuds,
engine turns over]

[baby fussing]

- Yeah?
-[baby crying]

[woman]
Somebody page the doctor.

[suspenseful music plays]

Terry, where are you going?

I'm going to see
about my brother.

Baby, stop.
You can't leave the hospital.

What are you doing?

Wanda, just watch the baby.

[Lawanda] No, come here.
You got to go.

-[ears ringing]
-[gasps]

Terry!

-Oh, my God, help!
-[man] Help me get him up.

[baby crying]

[tense music plays]

[woman moaning]

[singer] ♪ I feel good ♪

♪ Real good ♪

[upbeat R&B music plays]

[moaning continues]

♪ ♪

♪ Wanna make you feel good ♪

♪ Feel good ♪

♪ I think I'm falling ♪

[moaning continues]

[sighs] That's high spirit.

♪ ♪

[singer] ♪ But I just
Can't hide ♪

♪ So I keep my distance ♪

How'd it go in there, big dog?

Mm, sh*t, slip and slide.

You know how that go.

Thanks, baby. See you tomorrow?

Same place, different position.

Mm.

-[Lamar] Mm-hmm.
-[Slick slurps drink]

[Lamar] Man, she got ass
for days, don't she?

Yeah, she got a whole bunch
of other sh*t, too, n*gga.

You know I could've
hooked you up, right, man?

Yeah, you know,
beggars can't be picky.

Plus, it's been two years,

and I don't like
to overstep my boundaries.

You can go on and keep those.
You can k*ll those, man.

Thanks.

Hey, man, so what you saying
about Meech?

I heard he made
a play for Filmel.

See, that was smooth.

That young un trying
to take out

the 12th Street Boys
from inside-out.

Yeah, but see the thing is,
Filmel, man,

he a soldier that pisses blood.

Plus he's loyal as f*ck
to Jay Mo.

What's that about?

[Slick] Him and Jay Mo went

to f*cking school together
back in the day.

I'm pretty sure Mel told Meech

to get on
with that smooth-talking sh*t.

You know, smooth talk's
for pussies.

Filmel, though,

he sound like a real one.

Yeah.

You know what, my brother?

Speaking of smooth talking...

Mm.

You might want to tighten up
your game with Monique,

know what I mean?

See, all that rough sh*t,

you know,
it works for certain broads

and all that.

But, you know, sometimes,
you gotta be a little bit more,

um, a little bit more refined,
you know what I'm saying?

A'ight. P-M Suave.

Lay it on me.

All right, now.
[clears throat]

Now, look, man,
going away for that long, man,

you gotta understand,
it makes sh*t tougher, brother.

Now, if you want to get back
in good graces

with Mo and your daughter,

you gotta show them
that every part of your being

is devoted to them.

How the f*ck I do that?

I don't know, n*gga.

Make her a slow jams tape
or some sh*t.

You know b*tches love music.

The point is, man,

you just gotta convince her
about how you really feel.

[R&B music plays]

Excuse me, ma'am.
You have a pen I can borrow?

What you doing, man?

Thank you. Appreciate it.

Man, what you about to do,
draw a picture?

Smooth talking.

[tense music plays]

[woman] You ready?

[man] I can handle this sh*t.

n*gga, I know none of y'all
ain't scared.

Yo!

f*ck y'all doing
standing around

looking like dicks
without balls?

Why Meech ain't pop Jay Mo?

Hey.

I heard he tried
to make a deal with Filmel.

What's up with that?

That ain't something
for y'all to be questioning.

I'm just saying.

If the n*gga ain't gon' ride
for his own brother,

- Why would he do it for us?
-[man] Right.

Because we paying y'all.

Now get y'all monkey asses
back on the post

before I kick both
of y'all asses.

And look.
I know how y'all feel.

But what if Jay Mo ain't do it?

Meech kills him
and start a w*r.

How many of y'all
willing to stand

on hot blocks
for the wrong dude?

Armageddon's already started.

Those 12th Street n*gg*s
are walking around strapped,

on high alert,
expecting us to clap back, man.

Meech don't want us taking
no unnecessary sh*ts.

Now, Kato, you know
I ain't scared of sh*t.

We ain't neither.

But that don't mean
we want to get in a sh**t.

Hey, hey, hey, one thing
I know about this n*gga Meech,

he's thinking about sh*t
I ain't never thought about.

So if he ain't taken
Jay Mo ass out,

he for damn sure has a reason.

When is the last time
either of you seen Meech

or Tee not have our backs?

Then continue
to play your position,

and we gon' play ours.

All right.

Y'all better figure
this sh*t out.

[tense music plays]

Hey, get y'all asses up.

sh*t, nice teamwork.

All day, but that sh*t
ain't gon' last.

♪ ♪

I just did that.

What's going on?

Terry's got an infection.

They're worried it moved
into his brain.

[Charles] If you cared,

you would have been here
instead of out in them streets.

Pops, it's not my fault,
all right?

Somebody tried to jack him.

Is that why your drug-dealing
g*ons been following us around?

What?
You didn't think we'd notice?

He's here now, baby.
That's all that matters.

[phone ringing]

[suspenseful music plays]

♪ ♪

What up doe?

[Sockie] Nicole out here

venturing in 12th Street
territory, man.

What the f*ck
you talking about, man?

She 'posed to be next door.

[Sockie] Yeah, well,

I just seen her come out
the arcade off of Visger.

All right, bet. I'm on my way.

On your way where?

You just got here.

Ma, look, I'm just making
a quick run, a'ight?

I'll be right back.
This is important.

What's more important
than your own flesh and blood?

[Lucille] Demetrius,
don't do this.

Demetrius.

[siren wailing in distance]

[B-Mickie] Hey.
Hey, look, we got a problem.

Deal with it.
I got a bigger one.

Bruh, deal with it?
I'm talking dissension, dawg.

That sh*t you did,
going to Filmel, it look weak.

Man, I don't give a f*ck
how it look.

n*gga,
we need to dead Jay Mo ass.

n*gga, you don't even
for sure know

if that n*gga
sh*t my brother, man.

n*gga, it's the fact
that n*gg*s think that he did.

You gotta respond.

You see,
g*n-happy n*gg*s like you

is the reason real playas
always getting knocked, n*gga.

I ain't doing a m*therf*cking
thing until I get the truth.

[tense music plays]

What happened to that
King of Detroit sh*t, huh?

Show me a king
that never dropped a body

on the way to the throne.

♪ ♪

n*gga, I know for a fact,

if somebody sh*t my brother,

I'd been scorched
the earth by now.

Oh, yeah?

Well luckily,
Tee ain't your brother.

Now do what I f*cking said.

[siren wailing in distance]

[dramatic music plays]

[doctor] Terry is out
of surgery and resting,

and we cleaned out
the infection,

but we can't say how well

his eye is going to heal
right now.

Are- are you saying that my son
might lose his vision?

There's just no way

to determine anything
at the moment.

[Charles] How the hell
did that happen?

His vision was fine
before he went back in

for the second surgery.

Somebody messed up?

No procedure is without risk.

But we always strive to give
our patients the best care.

Did you make a mistake?

I'm sorry. I can't answer that.

[phone ringing in distance]

If my son is seeing
anything other than 20/20

when this is done,

you're looking at a lawsuit.

Mrs. Flenory, we're going
to do everything we can.

You better.

-[intercom beeps]
-[woman speaking indistinctly]

[babies fussing]

How'd you know I'd be here?

We been in this hospital
three times.

And every time,
this is your favorite place,

staring at the newborns,

thanking the Lord
and marveling at his handiwork.

They so innocent
when they come into this world.

Nothing we can do
can keep them that way.

If something happens
to Terry's sight...

The Lord will provide.

How?

Terry ain't gon' learn piano,
write music,

and sign with Motown.

No.

But he is alive.

And what right do we have
to ask for more?

We have a right
to stop losing, Lucille.

Money.

Control of our kids.

Our job is to protect them,
and we ain't been doing that.

When Meech dropped out
to sell dr*gs,

I said put him out.

When we found that damn g*n,

I said he got to go.

And now Terry lying up in here

with a g*nsh*t to his head,

maybe going blind,
all because his brother,

who I believe
pulled him into this.

But you refuse
to make the hard choice.

Terry ain't dealing dr*gs,
Charles.

You need to let Meech go.

[dramatic music plays]

dr*gs are polluting our home.
They k*lling us.

And you and I ain't never
even touched a drop.

I got one son
who just cheated death.

And we put Demetrius out,

if something happens to him,
how do I live with myself?

What if something happens
to Nicole?

♪ ♪

Or us?

How you gon' live
with yourself then?

[babies crying]

You wrote all these?

Yeah, in the hospital.

Well, why you just now
giving them to me?

'Cause I wanted Zo to know

that I was trying
to get better.

And I hated myself
for abandoning y'all, you know?

So those letters were what
kept me going in that place.

Look, n*gga, if you trying
to make me feel bad for you...

Mo, come on.

I don't want your pity,
all right?

Look, you're Zoe's mother.

I was out of line,

and I'm saying that I'm sorry.

Well, I do appreciate
you acknowledging

how hard it was on us
when you went away.

Yeah. I'm just sorry
I couldn't provide, that's all.

Lamar, it's not about that.

Look, I only went to see Zo

'cause I wanted
to tell her that.

And when I saw her
run away from me,

it felt like everything
that I fought for

the past two years
was for nothing.

Lamar, honestly,
what do you want?

What--[scoffs]

I want Zoe to know
that I'm her father,

and that I'm there for her.

And when the time is right,

I'd like to see her.

Well, I'll talk to Zoe
and see how she feel about it.

Thanks, and...

- Look, that...
- Hey.

Mo, that is all I ask.

[scoffs]

A'ight.

[Meech] What the f*ck, Nicole?

Do you even know
where the hell you were?

- Who cares?
- Who cares?

I told you not
to ever go to Ecorse.

And now you doing it with
everything that's going on?

Do you even know Terry
got rushed back into surgery?

So what?

[Meech] The f*ck you talking
about, "So what"?

What's wrong with you?

[dramatic music plays]

[brakes screeching]

[horns blaring]

What the f*ck is your problem?

Let me out! Let me out!

Not until you talk to me.

Let me out!

[screams]

I hate you!

[dramatic music plays]

[tires squeal]

[tires squeal]

[boat horn blares softly]

- Get out the damn car.
- No.

Nicole, get your ass out
this car before I yank you out.

What the hell's going on
with you, Danielle?

Talk to me.
Tell me what's going on.

It's always about you
in this family

and your damn drug dealing.

What? That's not fair.

You know what's not fair?

Me having to lie to Mom and Dad
all the time

so they don't find out
Terry doing it with you.

Ain't nobody ever
ask you to do that.

I don't have a choice, Meech.

You don't even think
for one second

how your sh*t affects me.

I don't ever
hear you complaining

when Terry's
buying you clothes,

or when I'm giving you money.

I don't care
about your damn money.

I'm just sick and tired of
being invisible in this family.

Can't even get Mom and Dad to
remember the stupid field trip.

I'm not gonna be able to go.

It's stupid.

[birds chirping]

[sighs]

You're not invisible to me,
Nicole.

You never have been.

You my baby sister,
and I love you to death.

I just been a little
too focused on myself.

But I want you to know
I'm always here for you,

no matter what.

Here. Take this.

But don't tell Mom and Dad.

Thanks, Meech.

I love you so much.

Love you too.

[soft piano music plays]

♪ ♪

Let me see something.

Wait. Stop, stop.

You're not supposed
to open your eyes.

- Stop.
- Okay.

Where the hell is Meech?

I told you.
He left a while ago.

Did you ask him
where he was going?

Really?

Terry, someone just tried

to f*cking execute you!

And all you can think about
is your brother?

It was a carjacking.

It wasn't no carjacking.

I'm not f*cking stupid!

Whoever did this sh*t

is still running around.

What if they try again
and we're with you, huh?

What if they hit Terry Jr.?

I'm f*cking scared, Terry.

And I don't know
why you aren't.

Look, I'm scared too.

You're not the only one
who's scared.

But if you asking me
to leave this game,

Wanda, I can't do that.

Not right now.

Look, I'ma be 100 with you.

I love this sh*t.

I love the hustle.
I love the chase.

I love the money.

And I'm really,
really good at it.

Are you listening
to yourself right now?

You just got sh*t
in the f*cking head.

But Wanda, this
is how I provide for us.

I'm not gonna stop doing it.

I'm not.

Look, I'm not gonna stop
going to school either.

[tense music plays]

Damn.

If anything, it'll give our son
a better sh*t

at a life
that neither one of us had.

Come on.

We're gon' be good.

I hope you right.

Pray to God you f*cking right.

[horn blares]

[Meech] How the f*ck did
we lose the rec center?

Man, I told you, hired g*ons
are just that: hired g*ons.

Look, 12th Street
bought them off

and moved our n*gg*s
off their posts.

So we need to make a next move.

[Meech] g*dd*mn,

that's some Inspector Gadget
sh*t, for real.

Hell yeah.
Duke put this sh*t in,

so we ain't got
to be riding dirty.

Can hide g*ns, dr*gs,

all kinds of sh*t in there.

Yo, who the hell is this?

[Meech] Chill. I got this.

Ruffle his feathers.

Nothing else.

I got you. Good look.

Man, get your bitch ass
out of the car, n*gga.

f*ck wrong with you?

[muffled grunting]

[tense music plays]

Damn, I guess
Christmas came early.

[muffled grunting]

[Meech] n*gga, get your
bitch ass on the ground, man.

Man, you lost
your m*therf*cking mind?

You know what--

This ain't the same type
of meeting

we had last time, is it?

Yo, what the f*ck, Meech?

What, all because I moved
on the rec center?

This ain't got sh*t
to do with that, n*gga.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
This is about Terry?

Nah, man,
I ain't got sh*t to do with--

[grunting]

[coughing]

Get your bitch ass up, n*gga.

Was it you, m*therf*cker? Huh?

Was it you?

[gasping]

Man, you done f*cked up worse

than when Terry
pulled that g*dd*mn--

[blows landing]

[coughing]

[g*n clicks]

Get your bitch ass up, n*gga.

It wasn't me.

I ain't sh**t him, man.

I ain't sh**t Terry, man.
Come on, man.

I ain't sh**t
your brother, man.

Come on.

Come on, Meech, man.

It wasn't me, man.
You know it, man.

Please, man.

Yo, this man out here crying
like a little bitch.

Cut this n*gga water off.

[Jay Mo] I ain't sh**t him,
man.

Come on, man. Please, Meech.

Don't do me like this, man.

I didn't do it, man.

[g*nsh*t]

What the f*ck you do that for?

I did something you wouldn't.

n*gga, you just f*cked me
is what you did.

No, no, no, no.
Don't trip, all right?

I'll tell everybody
you capped him.

It'll be our little secret.

Oh, yeah? Do it then, n*gga.

Do it, n*gga.

[dramatic music plays]

♪ ♪

Look, I made
the right call here.

n*gga,
as long as I'm running sh*t,

you don't make
no f*cking calls.

Clean that g*dd*mn body up.

[siren wailing]

[door opens]

[phone ringing in distance]

You know what I was
just praying for?

That the Lord
would enter your heart

and inspire you
to leave these streets alone.

[Meech] Mama.

Meech.

I need you to promise me

that you gon' stop
doing what you doing.

'Cause if you don't, you gon'
end up in jail or dead,

or somebody's gon' get hurt,

and I don't know
if my heart can take that.

I'm sorry Terry got sh*t.

I'm sorry that you hurting.

But I promise you one thing.

I will do better
protecting this family.

Demetrius, you don't know

how hard I go to bat for you.

And it pains me to say this,

but if you don't stop
dealing these dr*gs,

you gonna have to get out
of our house, for real.

A mother's love
can only go so far.

I'm sorry, Ma.

But I guess I'm
out the house then.

[tense music plays]

♪ ♪

And I'm sorry
that's your choice.

Mama.

Keep praying for me, okay?

[Juan Atkins' "Technicolor"]

♪ ♪

[Juan] ♪ Technicolor
Technicolor, technicolor ♪

♪ Technicolor
Technicolor, technicolor ♪

♪ Techni-red, techni-red
Techni-red ♪

♪ Technicolor, techni-red
Techni-red ♪

♪ Techni-red, technicolor ♪

♪ Techni-green, green-green
Green, technicolor ♪

♪ Techni-green
Green, blue, green ♪

♪ Technicolor, technicolor ♪

[B-Mickie] Oh, sh*t, I ain't
know you could dance like that.

[Juan] ♪ Technicolor,
technicolor ♪

[B-Mickie] See you're getting
a little comfortable.

[sighs]

- My ma dukes call down for me?
- No.

Her ass must
be knocked out, yo.

♪ ♪

Appreciate you staying
for the work.

[pants]

Is Meech gon' deal with Jay Mo?

You don't gotta worry
about him no more.

You need to worry
about that n*gga Meech.

Meech got
an unusual philosophy,

but maybe he can make it work.

Yeah?

[singer] ♪ Sugar ♪

♪ Nobody makes me
Feel this way ♪

I guess we ain't got
no choice 'cept ride it out.

sh*t. My kind of girl.

[singer] ♪ Know I need you ♪

♪ Next to me ♪

♪ You're sweeter
Than a candy cane ♪

You know this ain't
gon' never happen, right?

What you talking about?

Ever since we met, you been
looking at me like you a dog

and I'm a damn steak.

- Hm.
- So you gon' sit there,

act like you not trying
to get in my pants.

What n*gga ain't trying
to get into a fly girl's pants?

I'm a female
in a crew of all dudes.

The worst thing I can do is get
mixed up with one of y'all.

Lose whatever credibility
and respect that I got.

So no.

We ain't f*cking.

Okay?

Okay, well what about clothes

burning against each other
really, really bad?

[singer] ♪ Sugar, sugar ♪

♪ Sugar ♪

♪ I get weak, my body ♪

I gotta bounce.

Okay.

Well, I'll stay here
with the stash

till we find a better spot.

[R&B music plays]

[singer] ♪ You see I done been
all around the world ♪

What?

You got some vodka
in your fridge?

Yeah.

Then get your ass over there
and get us some.

I'll keep you company.

Okay, like I said,
my kind of woman.

[siren wailing]

g*dd*mn.

Look at my one-eyed brother.

Man, you about to be
a hood cyclops, for real.

[laughing]

Come on, man.

Don't get all sensitive
on me now, bro.

You gon' be fine, man.

What if I'm not, Meech?

I almost d*ed.

Hell, sometimes,
when I close my eyes,

I'm actually thinking,

"What if I don't wake up?"

I'm scared, Meech.

[Meech] Me too, Tee.

I'm scared
of burying my brother

over some sh*t I got him into.

[Terry] Yo, what happened?

[soft music plays]

Why are you asking me that?

Last night, you left here

like you was about to t*rture
some m*therf*ckers

to find out who sh*t me,
and now you sitting here

looking like you
the n*gga who got sh*t.

I just got behind
on that work, that's all.

Damn, Meech, I told you
to focus on the business.

[Meech] I ain't have
no choice, Tee.

Ain't nobody

popping my f*cking brother

and getting away
with that sh*t.

I always got your back.

Remember that.

Womb to the tomb, baby.

Womb to the tomb.

[gospel music plays]

[singer] ♪ On my knees ♪

♪ I'm praying, Lord ♪

♪ Praying, Lord ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Praying, Lord ♪

♪ On my knees... ♪

[Older Meech]
Terry told me something once

that he learned
in science class.

If you put a frog
in a pot of cold water,

then slowly heat it up,

the frog won't notice
till it boils to death.

[singer] ♪ On my knees ♪

[Older Meech]
I guess it gets hot so slowly,

he doesn't even realize
what's happening.

-[chorus] ♪ Praying, Lord ♪
-[singer] ♪ I'm praying, Lord ♪

[chorus] ♪ On my knees
I'm praying, Lord ♪

[singer] ♪ Oh, Lord ♪

[chorus] ♪ Praying that you
Hear my cries ♪

[singer] ♪ Hear my cries ♪

[both grunting]

♪ Ain't no other help ♪

♪ I know ♪

Zoe, make sure you pray
for your daddy, baby, okay?

[singer] ♪ Help, I know ♪

♪ Ain't no other help ♪

♪ I know ♪

-[glass shatters]
-[Lamar shouts]

[singer] ♪ I know that you
can hear my cries ♪

[coughing]

-[chorus] ♪ Ain't no other ♪
-[singer] ♪ Ain't no other ♪

♪ I don't know ♪

-[yells]
- Ah!

-[singer] ♪ I don't know ♪
-[chorus] ♪ I know ♪

♪ Ain't no other ♪

[singer]
♪ Ain't no other help ♪

-[chorus] ♪ I know ♪
-[singer] ♪ I know ♪

[chorus]
♪ Ain't no other help ♪

♪ I know ♪

[growls]

-[singer] ♪ Lord, hear me ♪
-[chorus] ♪ Hear me ♪

-[singer] ♪ Please hear me ♪
-[chorus] ♪ Please hear me ♪

-[singer] ♪ Lord, hear me ♪
-[chorus] ♪ Lord, hear me ♪

[singer] ♪ Lord, hear me ♪

[chorus] ♪ Lord, hear me ♪

-[singer] ♪ Lord ♪
-[chorus] ♪ Lord, hear me ♪

-[singer] ♪ Please hear me ♪
-[chorus] ♪ Please hear me ♪

[screams]

[chorus] ♪ I know
That you can hear my cries ♪

[singer] ♪ Hear my cries ♪

-♪ Lord, answer ♪
-[chorus] ♪ Lord, answer ♪

-[singer] ♪ Please answer ♪
-[chorus] ♪ Please answer ♪

-[singer] ♪ Oh, Lord ♪
-[chorus] ♪ Lord, answer ♪

-[singer] ♪ Lord, answer ♪
-[chorus] ♪ Lord, answer ♪

-[singer] ♪ I need to give ♪
-[chorus] ♪ Lord, answer ♪

-[singer] ♪ Please, Lord ♪
-[chorus] ♪ Please answer ♪

[singer] ♪ I know ♪

-♪ Oh ♪
-[chorus] ♪ Hear my cries ♪

[singer] ♪ Praying that you
Hear my cries ♪

[chorus] ♪ Praying
That you hear my cries ♪

[Older Meech]
The game's like that too.

It's all these
warning bells going off,

but you can't even hear 'em

'cause of the money,
the cars, and the fun.

And you can think you changing
the rules of the game,

but really, they changing you.

No matter how hard you fight

or how many people
praying for you,

sometimes it just ain't enough

and you never get
out that pot.

[upbeat hip-hop music plays]

♪ ♪