02x03 - Devil's Night

[bunniefuu]

[K-9] Ain't nothing but
a game of tic-tac-toe.

I'ma find
that Cinderella m*therf*cker.

[Markisha]
You dropped something.

[Terry] Yeah, uh, I was
just cutting printing costs.

You gon' piss people off
doin' business this way.

Yeah, but I'm not really
trying to make friends.

You from the Flenory Family
Car Service?

That's right.

Don't you ever f*ck
with our brochure again.

Yo, get the f*ck away
from me, you f*ckin' weirdo.

[Cleet]
You've been warned.

[energetic electronic music
plays]

[Alvin] I got you, cuz.

Don't even trip.
Come on.

From now on, I'm the only
m*therf*cker callin' sh*ts.

If I'm not here,
holla at B-Mick.

[Hoop] There it is, then.

♪ ♪

- [dog barking]
- [person] Yo!

[uneasy music plays]

[Terry] Mischief Night's
the night before Halloween,

and it dates back
to the 1800s.

It started
with innocent pranks,

like vaselining door handles
or egging a neighbor's house.

[distant sirens wailing]

♪ ♪

[Meech] Yo, you recognize him?

Hey!

[person] Hey, hey, hey, hey!

[person] Who that? Who that?

[people clamoring]

[Meech] Hey!
Yo, hey!

- [person] Damn!
- [person] Yo!

- [person] Keep going!
- [person] Cut them off!

[person] Yo, move his ass!

[Charles]
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

[Meech] Yo, get back here!

[people clamoring]

Meech! Terry!

Hey, come back.

♪ ♪

[Terry] sh*t got worse
in the '70s,

when the economic turmoil
troubling the D

transformed Mischief Night
into Devil's Night

and m*therf*ckers started
burning sh*t down.

In 1984 alone,
more than 800 fires

were set in Detroit
over a three-day period.

[person] If we are to deal
with this problem,

it's gotta be tackled
by the whole community.

Man, I was so close
to snatching him!

Man, quit lyin'.

That fool smoked
you like Carl Lewis.

[Meech] Oh, shut up!

What happened?

We ran a guy up to no good
off the block,

and Meech was the lead dog.

Thank God.

No, we can't afford
for this house

to go up in flames.

Don't worry, baby.
Ain't nobody's coming

near this house tonight.

Well, you know, Sherry and them

still tryin' to find a place

after they house b*rned down.

I'm sorry, baby.

Okay, let's take hands,
and we gon' pray

that the devil don't find us.

[glass breaking]

[Terry] Every year,
this one night in the D

used to be like hell on Earth.

Devil's Night
started as one night,

but soon spread
to the entire week,

making hell
for all residents in the D.

[newscast playing
on television]

Good day yesterday, huh?

[Charles] Yeah. Heck yeah.

With Denise on board,

we're finally picking up enough rides

to start turning a profit.

A lot of car companies
ain't running

on Devil's Night or Halloween.

so we could probably increase
our prices

and really hit 'em.

A'ight.

But no more refusing rides.

And we damn sure ain't throwing
customers out our cars.

Yo, Terry, come on, let's go!

You gonna make us
late for school again.

- Give me the key.
- A'ight. A'ight.

Nikki, here you go. I'm comin'.

[reporter] Last week,


was seized from a warehouse
in Florida.

Officers believe the dr*gs
were smuggled in on a ship

docked at Port Everglades.

[Terry] This particular bust
triggered a drug drought

up the entire eastern seaboard
and Midwest.

Worst time to be in the game
is during a drought.

Supply's limited,
so anyone with product

jacks up their prices.

Dope boys start warring
and sticking each other up.

Baseheads start breakin'
into houses and robbin'

people for their next fix.

Couple that
with Devil's Night,

and it means double trouble

for anybody out
in them streets.

[Keith Sweat's
"Make It Last Forever" playing]

[Jacci McGhee] ♪ Ooh-ooh... ♪

[Monique] Yes.

Ah, yes!

[Meech] Yeah. f*ck yeah.

Ride that d*ck.

[Monique moaning]

Oh, my God.

Oh, Meech.

[Jacci McGhee] ♪ Never let
Love end ♪

[Keith Sweat] ♪ Let me hear
You tell me you love me ♪

♪ Let me hear you say
You'll never leave me ♪

♪ Ooh, girl, that would make
Me feel so right... ♪

Ain't nothin' like some B
to start the day.

Don't blaze up in here.

I cannot show up to work
reeking all high contact.

Girl, you
the best paralegal they got.

Damn right.

And I wanna keep it that way,
so put that out

'fore the kids come in here.

A'ight.

Thought you was taking Tee
to your mama house.

- What happened?
- Normally, I do.

But I picked her up
last night,

so I'ma drop her off
when I'm on my way to work

with some new clothes.

- Oh, yeah?
- Mm-hmm.

[phone rings]

♪ ♪

What up, though?

[laughs] Cuz, you good?

The f*ck you mean, it's gone?

Good morning, Tee-Tee.

Daddy loves you.

Hey, Uncle Meech.
Want some cereal?

- Nah, I'm 'bout to jet.
- [Zoe] Mm.

More Froot Loops for me.

[Meech] Right. Hey, baby.

Hey, Zoe, I'm gonna
come by to see

you guys' Halloween costumes.

I can't believe my baby
got so big.

Come here, baby.
Where you going?

Be careful. She'll slob on you.

No, that's only for her sister.

Come on, baby. Hey, girl.

She don't do that to Daddy.

[Terry] You crazy.

You remember we used
to sneak out

and egg Mrs. Anderson's house
on Devil's Night?

Yeah, until she started
chasin' us away

with that big-ass
butcher Kn*fe.

[dramatic music plays]

[Terry] f*ck!

[Nicole screams]

[Terry] sh*t!

♪ ♪

[car horn blaring]

[Terry] Yo, Nikki.

Nikki, can you hear me?
Listen to me.

Nikki, answer me!

[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]
♪ 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 ♪

[early hip-hop music plays]

♪ ♪

Nobody likes a cheater.

I wasn't cheatin', man.

♪ ♪

Lie to me again and see
if I don't split your hand

right down the f*ckin' middle.

You got it,
or you want us to handle it?

♪ ♪

Yo, I ain't even do sh*t.

Yo, come on, K-9,
you know me, man.

You know me.

Come on, man.
Come on.

I ain't do that sh*t, man!

Yo! No, no, no! Wait!

[gambler protesting
indistinctly]

You let n*gg*s with weapons
in your spot?

Rules aren't the same
for everybody.

Who is that?

[K-9] Sterling Black.

He's the head of the PAs.

What you sippin' on?

Water.

I don't drink, get high,
or go out to clubs.

So what the hell
you do for fun?

I make money.

Come on, let's rap.

♪ ♪

What's up? You good?

My cousin
in Cleveland got ganked.

So I may need a re-up
on consignment.

Try back in a few weeks.

In a few weeks?

I don't got no few weeks.
This is a drought.

And?

I'm makin' more
withholding and up-sellin'

than I was floodin'
the streets.

Look, I'm not
tryin' to disrespect

your business savvy.

But I'm coming to you
'cause I'm loyal as f*ck,

and you one of the only plugs
I'm f*ckin' with.

Don't try to spit
my gospel back at me.

I'm not.

I'm just tellin' you
that I listen, a'ight?

Just let me know
what I gotta do, man.

Straight up.

Remember that loud m*therf*cker
at the table the other night?

Yeah, told y'all!

I'm the man, m*therf*ckers!

Man, y'all can suck my d*ck.

He's a Brightmoor cat named
Travis, and he owes me a grip.

I deliver him,
you gon' break me off?

Maybe. But this is between us.

I want you to return
his ass to me alive.

Done.

Remember, blood
don't make you family.

Loyalty does.

Check out your cuz's story.
Make sure it's real.

[singer] ♪ The boss gotta
Make sure the block is fed ♪

♪ The wolves was starvin',
So they sh*t him dead ♪

♪ Aimed at the op,
sh*t a cop instead ♪

♪ Came back, put a green beam
On top of his head, pow! ♪

♪ Boss gotta make sure
The block is fed ♪

♪ The wolves was starvin',
So they sh*t him dead ♪

♪ Aimed at the op,
sh*t a cop instead ♪

♪ Came back, put a green beam
On top of his head... ♪

[EMT] No sign of a concussion.

But if she starts to feel
dizzy or nauseous,

get her to a hospital.

You hear that, Nikki?

We need you to be honest
about how you feel, okay, baby?

♪ ♪

You sure you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

But we're just down a car
comin' up

on one of the biggest nights
of the year.

Someone's messing
with your tires.

The middle pin
in the air valves

have been pulled out,
causing a slow leak.

[tow truck driver]
And the tire to blow out.

Who the hell
would wanna do that?

It's probably some stupid

Devil's Night prank, honestly.

[singer] ♪ When they tell me
Calm down I'm inspired ♪

♪ Cannot wanna have flows ♪

♪ Death defying,
Electrifying ♪

♪ And quiet is kept
Yo, I kept it quiet ♪

♪ But I'm here now ♪

♪ All y'all m*therf*ckers
Better fear now ♪

♪ It's my throne
Get the f*ck up ♪

[pensive music]

♪ ♪

Turns out the dealers
we arrested

at the Sherwood apartments
are not 50 Boyz.

[Jin] Wait, you talked
to them without me?

[Bryant] Yeah, I didn't have
time to get to you

before the lawyers
scooped 'em up.

Oh, so much for transparency.

Look, I'm sorry.

I-I promise to loop you in
moving forward, okay?

Now, everybody thinks
that Lamar's tits up.

So 12th Street has merged
with 50 Boyz

and are now calling themselves

BMF, Black Mafia Family.

Well, that name's more colorful
than the first two.

[Bryant] I don't give a damn
how they rebrand themselves.

Demetrius Flenory is
still running point,

and I'm gon' take him down
this time for good.

Why do you get such a hard-on
when you talk about Moby d*ck?

Because that m*therf*cker
is responsible

for destroying this community.

So you damn right,
I'm trying to Ahab his ass.

You do realize that Ahab
never caught Moby d*ck.

Bullshit, he did so.

I guarantee you he did not.

Hey, Beckwith's on a warpath
about findin' Flenory or Silas

before any more blood is shed.

Ay, G-Q.

Did Ahab ever catch
Moby d*ck in the end?

Hell no.

Ain't nobody ever catch
that big-ass fish.

Come on.

Uh, ain't no way I'm trusting
a dude that dresses

like a g*dd*mn plum.

[singer] ♪ There's all kinds
Of beef I had ♪

♪ And don't stop... ♪

Oh, sh*t. What up, though?

sh*t, I just locked down
a fresh supply from K-9.

Good, good, 'cause you know
these n*gg*s be getting

happy feet
over this damn drought.

Yeah, well, we gotta track down
this dealer named Travis,

or we SOL
on the new consignment.

n*gga, we been graduated
past that sh*t.

Yeah, but we just took a L
in Cleveland

which set us all the way back, B.

So I need you to help me find
this n*gga, man, for real.

Word. O-okay.
Well, what, you got a picture

of this n*gga or some sh*t?

Do I look like a m*therf*cker
that walk around

with another n*gga picture
in my pocket, man?

- How the hell he look?
- [Meech] I don't know.

I remember the man from
K-9's gambling spot, a'ight?

He has some type
of, like, tattoo

rosary sh*t on his hand.

But he was from Brightmoor.

And I'ma go back and check out
every other tattoo parlor

he a-been through.

- Word.
- [shop bell rings]

Yo, Nicole got banged up
in a car accident.

Think somebody f*cked
with Terry tires.

Man, get the f*ck outta here.

What's up, Nikki? Wake up.

Damn, Nikki, you straight?

What happened to you?

What you laughin' at?

I'm playing sick to stay home
from school a few days.

- [both laugh]
- I should tell Mama.

You will not.

Why you ain't tell me
about this sh*t?

The last time we seen
each other,

you punched me in the face.
Remember?

[Meech] Yeah, you deserved it.

Look, can y'all not
do this again, please?

We been arguin'
and fightin' our whole lives,

Nikki, but we family.

And I love y'all.

And I got you and Tee back
no matter what.

Yeah, no doubt,
but I got this covered.

[Meech] I'm tellin' Mama too.

- Think you're slick?
- No, you not.

[Meech] You ain't slick.
- I am slick.

- [Meech] Go to school.
- She believed it.

I double-checked
your insurance plan

after you called.

And y'all don't have
the comprehensive insurance,

so your tires aren't covered
for vandalism.

Yeah, but can't you do
something to fix that, no?

I mean, I could change it
to say deflated tires,

but I'd probably lose my job.

Yeah, come on,
I don't want you to do that.

Yeah. The owner was pissed off

about his brochures.

The big dude with
a scar on his lip?

Name's Cleet.

He's the one that
threatened me at the airport.

He's probably the m*therf*cker
that sabotaged my--

This is not the hood.

This is a place of business.

You're scaring these customers.

Use your inside voice.

Yeah, don't talk to me
like I'm a kid.

Then stop actin' like one.

Go outside and get some air.
I'll be out in a second.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

He look the same
as when he was alive.

No, n*gga, you look dead-dead.

But I'ma make you pretty
so your family can keep lyin'.

[Lamar gasps]

Damn, n*gga!
You coulda said somethin'.

f*ck, you Hercules, n*gga?

You all right? You all right?

[Lamar] No, I'm all right!
I mean, well, g*dd*mn.

And stop eatin'
all that candy, n*gga.

Fat ass.

Come on, man, I know you
ain't thinkin' about taking

a dead man's Gators, n*gga!

He ain't walkin'
no damn place else.

'Cause that n*gga is dead!

You can't do that, n*gga.
It's a violation, man.

Well, it's...

Let me see those.

[gentle music playing]

[Terry] I'm sorry for losing
my sh*t at your job.

It happens.

Just don't let it
happen again.

I love your hair.

It looks nice.

It's better than that baby 'fro
you was rockin',

looking like Isaac
from The Love Boat.

Oh, you tryin'
to play me now?

Oh, what'd you say
this is called again?

Calamari.

It's deep-fried squid.

Try it.

Yeah, I'm--I'm straight.

Terry, how are we
supposed to hang out

if you too scared
to be adventurous?

Try it.

[laughs]

All right.

I don't know what
you got me doin'.

It's not bad.

It taste like chicken
with a hint of shrimp.

You can exist in the hood.

It doesn't mean
your mind has to.

Yeah, but hood rules
demand Cleet pay

for my f*ckin' tires.
I know that.

Mm-mm.
You don't wanna step

to a guy like that
without backup.

No backup?

Yo, I-I-I can defend myself.

I don't--help--

All that defiance
and stubbornness,

you must be a Capricorn.

Astrology's kinda my thing.

Yeah, I am a Capricorn.

What else that
tell you about me?

[Markisha] A lot.

It tells me that
you're ambitious...

- [Terry] Okay.
- ...you're disciplined...

[Terry] Keep goin'.

And you can be persistent
when you wanna be.

I mean, I guess that's true

'cause I'm still chasing
yo' ass, right?

[both laugh]

But are you happy?

I don't really have time
to think about that.

I'm too busy tryin' to ensure
everybody else around me is.

My boss got me working late,
preppin' these fraud claims

we're anticipating.

The Devil's Night fires?

The media acts
like Detroiters

burnin' they own city up.

Half the people lightin' sh*t
up ain't even from out here.

They live in the 'burbs and got
property they can set on fire

and collect the insurance on.

[Terry] Damn.

But the media's not gon'
tell you that, which is crazy.

[school bell rings]

[Zoe] Jerome put this
into my backpack

when I wasn't looking.

He asked to go
trick-or-treating with me.

[schoolmates giggle]

[Monique] Zoe?

Come on, you don't hear me
calling you?

The car is running.

[Zoe] Think I just saw Daddy.

No, no.

You're just seein' things.

[sauntering hip-hop music
plays]

♪ ♪

Ain't heard from you
in a while.

I've been busy.

All good.

Why don't we take a ride
together, catch up?

Won't be long.

Have you back in no time.

♪ ♪

[uneasy music plays]

Okay, f*ck, man!

[Meech] Where can I find him?

n*gga, he'd k*ll me
if I told you.

[groans]

Not if I do it first.

Tell me where Travis is,
or I'ma drive this

in your f*ckin' eye!

A'ight, dawg, chill!

I got you!

♪ ♪

[phone rings]

What up, though?

Look, I might be buggin',
but Zoe said

she seen Lamar today at school.

Impossible.
That n*gga dead-dead.

Are you sure?

I know what
I'm talkin' 'bout, Moe.

Listen, I seen it
with my own two eyes.

Stop lettin' Zoe watch
all them damn scary movies.

Now, her imagination's
runnin' wild.

I'll hit you up later
when I'm done.

♪ ♪

- Can I help you?
- I'm looking for Cleet.

Um, unless you have
an appointment--

See, I don't need
no f*ckin' appointment!

I need this invoice
right here paid in full now!

'Ey!

You got a f*cking problem?

You was the one that f*cked
with my tires, right?

Well, then you got
the f*cking message,

didn't you?

Don't start nothin',
there won't be nothin'.

Or tires won't be
the only thing gettin' trashed.

Now, get the f*ck on
outta my shop!

[employee] What's going on?

[employees murmuring]

♪ ♪

[B-Mickie] Yo, what the f*ck
are we doin' here?

[Bryant] Welcome

to the m*rder capital
of the world.

Detroit got so many people
who die

from that sh*t you puttin'
in the streets,

so they puttin' bodies
in containers like this.

[B-Mickie] What that
got to do with me?

Kato's in one of these.

Come on, dawg,
you think I'm stupid?

[Bryant] Look, man,
she ain't have no family.

Ain't nobody claim her body.

Though she did have
some family.

Here you go.

You was a daddy.

I would say congratulations,
but that don't seem--

Yo, come on, n*gga.

Look.

That Black Mafia Family
bullshit is just that.

It's bullshit.

Family ain't gon' have
no m*therf*cker k*ll

they baby mamas
and they unborn.

What the f*ck
do you want from me?

Tell Meech you got
a hook-up to a new plug.

Tell him he got
some medical-grade sh*t.

Feel me?

You get Meech to agree
to the meet,

then I'll do the rest.

[uneasy music plays]

♪ ♪

- [Meech] Hey!
- Mama! Mama!

Where's Travis?

He jetted.

But I may know where he is
if you give me a hit.

[spacey music plays]

♪ ♪

When's the last time
you had somethin' to eat?

She's fine. Get me right,

and I'll tell you
whatever you wanna know.

I'll f*ck you.

I'll suck your d*ck, whatever.

Okay? Okay?

Okay, baby? Okay?

Just give me what I need.

Come on. Come on.

Come get this p*ssy.

Come back!
m*therf*cker, come back!

[all] ♪ Oh ♪

♪ Down at the cross
Where my Savior d*ed ♪

♪ Down where for cleansing
From sin I cried ♪

♪ There to my heart was
The blood applied ♪

♪ Glory to His name ♪

♪ Singing Glory to his name ♪

♪ I'm singing glory ♪

♪ Glory to His name ♪

♪ There to my heart was
The blood applied ♪

♪ Glory to His name ♪

Sister Lucy, that smile
ain't as bright today.

Everything okay?

Er, I didn't wanna bother you.

I just--I'm startin'
to have doubts.

Well, I've been more useful
to those with doubts

than those without.

Mm.

But I'm not having doubts
about the Lord.

It's, um--
it's about my marriage.

John and I
have been arguin' a lot.

And, um,

lately, we've been
lacking intimacy.

And I found
some adult magazines

in his music sheets.

Sister, every man has desires.

It's just up to you
to make sure

that you are more desirable
than those women

in them magazines.

Just I-I-I-I tried that, Pastor.

I mean, I-I even bought
a new outfit.

And the Spirit just didn't
move him.

[Swift] Sister, it's not always
the way you look.

It's your attitude,
your spirit.

You have to find the strength

to humble yourself

to be submissive
to your husband.

I mean, I'm not the kind
that easily submits to no man.

Then I suggest you pray
until it becomes easy for you.

So says the Bible.

Thank you, Pastor.

- [Swift] God bless you.
- [Lucille] Okay.

[Grace] ♪ And Bingo
Was his name, oh ♪

♪ B-I-N-- ♪

Hey, I know that song.

It's a nursery rhyme.
Everybody knows it.

[Meech] No.

My babysitter used
to sing that song.

You sound just like her.

Grace?

Demetrius.

Meechie! [laughs]

My Lord, you've grown.

[Meech] That's crazy,
man, flat out.

How's Moms and Pops?

- Good, yeah.
- [knock at door]

And Nicole and Terry?

You get everything I asked for?

Let me--let--let me have it.

No.

Not until you tell me
where Travis is.

He got a spot on Burt Road
with a white door

behind the school.

His Grand National
will be out front.

Mm.

Yes. Yeah.

Yes, now. Yes.

B, get her outta here.

[uneasy music]

♪ ♪

Oh, yes.

[Meech] You doin' that
in front of your kid?

Who are you to judge?

You just as addicted as me.

The f*ck you talkin' 'bout?

We all got choices, Meechie.

I can live and die with mine.

Can you?

♪ ♪

[Meech] Come on, B, we out.

♪ ♪

Brother Flenory,
that last song you just played

sounded like you had the saints
shoutin' and screamin'

up in Heaven.

Thanks, Pastor.

We practice pretty religiously.

Lucille informed me that things

may not be as prosperous
in your marital bed.

Say again?

It's nothing
to be ashamed of, brother.

If you feel you havin' doubts
as a husband,

that's what I'm here for.

To listen and to counsel.

You know, Pastor,
I ain't never hit

a man of the cloth before.

But you say one more word
about my bed,

I'll break yo' narrow ass.

I can respect that, brother,

but remember, pride
often comes before the fall.

You been warned.

And find a new spot
for those worldly magazines.

[Terry] So what's up?
What's the emergency, Pops?

Guess this wasn't
a Devil's Night prank

after all.

You know who did this.

You back in the drug game?

Er, no, no.
Pops, I swear I'm not.

[Charles]
Then why we bein' targeted?

It--it don't matter.

But I promise I'ma try
to make this right.

You know, with all these cars
down, we lose a day's work.

Plus we losin' money havin'
to replace these damn tires!

I was finally startin'
to get ahead.

Now, I'm three steps back
'cause of you

and this street sh*t!

I'ma fix this.

We gon' fix this my way,

by working harder
and not cutting corners

and creatin' conflicts.

You gon' learn how
to be a real man

and provide for your family
by making an honest living.

I got a son
in college to support.

sh*t, go ahead.
I guess it's your turn

to yell at me too.

I love your father,
and I respect him to death.

But he doesn't understand that
whoever slashed our tires

is gonna keep coming.

So we gotta fight back.

You worked at a GM plant,
so you probably know your way

around a car pretty well.

Better than most men.

[Charles humming]

Daddy, you carvin'
pumpkins with us?

I can't right now, sweetheart.

I'm goin' to Mabel's
to fix her fan.

I'll be back soon.

What about fixin' our walls?

[uneasy music plays]

It's already been two years.

Nicole, go on upstairs.

Give your mother
and I a minute.

♪ ♪

How dare you embarrass me
to Pastor Swift?

I needed some advice
about our marriage.

That's not somethin'
you discuss with a stranger.

He's not a stranger.
He's our pastor.

A pastor on his third marriage.

He's a man of God.

Don't disrespect him.

And when am I gon' get
some respect around here?

When you earn it.

[Charles clears throat]

[RJ's Latest Arrival's
"Shackles" playing on radio]

♪ ♪

Come on, show me
some moves, Charles.

Oh, you're doing
fine yourself.

Don't tell me you play music
and got two left feet.

- [scoffs]
- [Mabel] Hmm.

[singer] ♪ Shackles on my feet
Won't allow me to move ♪

[Charles] Ah.
I know you ain't darin' me.

[singer] ♪ Tell it ♪

[singer]
♪ I feel kinda strange ♪

♪ 'Cause them shackles
Are tight ♪

- Oh.
- [Charles chuckles]

All right, all right,
all right.

[Mabel] Okay!

[singer] ♪ Hit it ♪

[Charles] All right, let me
work this out.

Hey.

♪ ♪

All right, it's been a minute.

[laughs]

Oh, yeah. Come on, ooh.

Whoo!

Damn, Charles, I didn't know
you can move like that.

I'm a little smoked out
with all this foolishness.

I gotta get home.

♪ ♪

Um, Mabel, you family.

I can't take nothin' from you.

Your time and work's valuable.

I respect that and insist.

♪ ♪

Please.

♪ ♪

There's something in
the glove compartment for you.

- [Bryant laughs]
- [Jin] You could learn

a thing
or two from that book.

[Bryant] [laughs] Okay.
I'll get to it when I can.

[dispatch] Calling all units.
House fire...

Oh, sh*t, we got a blaze.

Oh.

This is Detective Bryant.

We have a house fire
on South Street and Yale.

Requesting an engine ASAP.

[all] Let it burn!

Let it burn!
Let it burn!

Fire crew is on the way!

We need everybody to move!
Get out of the way!

Nah, we gon' let
that bitch burn!

Hey, you need to step aside.

If this fire spreads,
it could burn down

this entire neighborhood!

That place
is a damn whorehouse!

We tired of the cops
not doin' nothin'!

So we decided to clean up
this neighborhood ourselves!

Wait a minute,
y'all be quiet!

Y'all be quiet!

There's somebody inside!

[person] Can't breathe!

I'm goin' in!

[Bryant] Jin, don't!

'Ey, stop that bitch!

Hey, everybody, back up!

[neighbor] f*ck the police!
f*ck the police!

[Bryant] Hey!

[neighbor] Let it burn!
Let it burn!

[dramatic music plays]

[siren wailing]

[onlookers shouting]

[EMT] I'll take over from here.

Just step back.

Step back. Step back.

[firefighter] They've gotta-
gotta pull over.

[suspenseful
electronic music plays]

♪ ♪

[Denise] Oh, shh.

♪ ♪

Oh, this one's mine right here.

Oh.
This will really f*ck it up.

The hell this?

Apply that to the brake pipe,
and the heat

from the blinker fluid
will cause

the A/C lube to melt the pipe.

Zero evidence of foul play.

Damn, I don't usually do dirt
with white folks,

but you got me rethinkin'
this sh*t.

[B-Mickie]
Guess Travis' bitch ass

finally decided to come home.

[Meech] Remember, we need
this m*therf*cker alive.

[relaxed hip-hop music playing]

♪ ♪

Mm.

[B-Mickie]
And he ain't alone either.

[smooth music playing
on speakers]

Bingo.

Here we go.

We caught his ass
with his pants down,

and he ain't even lookin'.

Mmm.

Oh, f*ck me, man.

That's K-9's girl, Peaches.

We gotta drag her ass out too?

[singer] ♪ ...I'm rocking
The colors till I cannot... ♪

Yes, eat that sh*t.

Damn, daddy.

You like that sh*t?

How's it taste?

Nah, nah, nah.

This mean
everything just changed.

Look, we only grabbin'
that m*therf*cker.

What the f*ck is
this n*gga--yo, what

the f*ck is you doin', man?

[B-Mickie]
Yo, yo. Take this. Here.

- [Meech] Where you goin'?
- Watch the bottle.

Watch the bottle.
Watch the bottle!

- Watch the bottle!
- Here, take this.

Take your ass home before
the po-po get you for curfew.

Go.

[B-Mickie]
It's a'ight. He didn't go this.

Get the f*ck on.

f*ck! My car!

Oh, hell no!

[pounding on door]

[door latch clicking]

Get the f*ck outta my house!

[g*nshots]

[Meech] m*therf*cker,
I don't wanna k*ll you!

Then drop yo' f*ckin' g*n!

[Meech]
Just give up, m*therf*cker!

f*ck you then, bitch!

[Meech] I don't wanna
k*ll you--

sh*t.

Oh, God.

f*cked.

We are so f*cked.

Man, f*ck!

We needed him alive, bro!

That m*therf*cker
was bursting at us.

What the f*ck was
we supposed to do?

Hold on. Wait, wait.

K-9 sent me.

A'ight? Put that down.

You don't wanna do that.

[serene music plays]

♪ ♪

This don't change sh*t.

I'ma still keep doin' my thing.

Yo, I don't give a f*ck
who you smashin'.

We did our f*ckin' job.

Then get the f*ck out!

♪ ♪

Was he alone?

No.

He was with yo' girl.

Trick-ass bitch.

I told you to bring him
to me alive.

I wanted to k*ll
this m*therf*cker myself!

If the n*gga was
sh**t' at me,

what the f*ck was I supposed
to do?

My instructions
were clear, period.

You ain't gettin' that weight.

[tense music plays]

Business is business.

Now, clean this sh*t
the f*ck up.

♪ ♪

I know a place
we can drop the body off.

First, I gotta go do something.

Set up the meetin' with that
medical-grade sh*t, n*gga.

Squoo?

Yeah.

That's exactly what I need
from my right-hand man.

[burn victim] It was you.

You pulled me out.

Yeah.

You're not gonna lose
your arm, but, uh,

they're gonna take you
to the hospital

in case you need a skin graft.

[burn victim] The Devil's Night
fires and sirens

started messin' with my head.

They brought back
memories of dead soldiers

and burning children.

A fireman found these.

My family is half-Vietnamese,

and we escaped the fall
of Saigon in '75.

Unfortunately, my brother
didn't make it.

And we wouldn't have been able
to do it

if it wasn't for brave men
like yourself.

I'm not brave.

I was drafted into a w*r
I didn't wanna fight,

only to come back home
and be spat on

and called a baby k*ller.

That stupid w*r was fought

on the backs of young Black men
like yourself.

And you know what?

You're all heroes.

Thank you.

No one has ever said that
to me.

[dispatch] Black male injured.

Life threatening.


Critical, code blue.

[firefighter] Engine 77,
all emergency

and priority traffic
switch to tac two,

per command from the EOC.

[melancholy music plays]

♪ ♪

Everything okay?

Runnin' into a burning building
is a fireman's job, not ours.

You risked your life and mine
for a g*dd*mn John.

We don't get to pick
and choose who we save.

The f*ck we don't.

[pop music playing
on speakers]

♪ ♪

[Cleet] f*ck!
f*ck is with these brakes?

f*ck!

Oh!

f*ck!

[car blaring]

f*ck.

Oh!

♪ ♪

[tires squeal]

[car doors slamming]

♪ ♪

[singer] ♪ Get 'em up,
Get 'em up now... ♪

[Meech]
Get yo' ass out of the car!

[singer] ♪ Get 'em up,
Get 'em up now, now ♪

♪ Get 'em up, get 'em up,
Get 'em up now ♪

♪ Hands up
If you're feeling Black ♪

♪ You better leave
If you're dealing cr*ck ♪

♪ And if you smoke it
then you're really wack ♪

♪ The red, black, and green
We gon' bring it back ♪

[Meech] Next time,
we gonna bury yo' ass.

[Terry] What's up, cutie?

You working late, I see.

I had to come get something
from the office.

What are you doin' here?

I was headed home,
and I saw your car.

Yeah.

I gotta get going.

So I took your advice
and got backup.

Nobody's ever gonna f*ck
with my business again.

Hey, what's up with you?

You good?

Look, Markisha, look at me.

Markisha.

What the hell
happened to your face?

Boom got mad
like he always does.

'Bout what?

Look, that crazy m*therf*cker's
gonna pay for this, I promise.

Terry, no.

He's still my husband
and the father of my child.

I don't give a f*ck.

You deserve better than that,
and you should demand that.

Look, if you were my woman,
you would--you'd never have

to worry
about no dumb sh*t like that

'cause I'd cherish you.

I gotta go.

♪ ♪

[Monique] You go ahead
'cause you be cheatin'.

[Zoe] I don't cheat.

You cheat all the time.

That's how you won
last time,

'cause I don't know
how I ain't win.

Yup, and Eastern
United States is mine.

- [phone rings]
- [Zoe] No.

Hello.

Hel-hello?

- [Zoe] Who was that?
- Wrong number.

Come on so you can go to bed.

I'm winning this game.

[car tires squeal]

[uneasy music plays]

♪ ♪

Isn't that the candy
Daddy used to get you?

[Monique]
Zoe, go to your room!

Why?

Zoe, go to your room now!

[tense electronic music plays]

[cell phone ringing]

You should have seen
that m*therf*cker's face

when I yanked his stupid ass
out of the car.

Man, he was scared as sh*t.

Oh, sh*t, right.

Yo, I'm--I'm glad you picked up
when I called for real.

Thanks for havin' my back.

Stop playin' with me, man.
You know this for life.

Yeah.

So what up?
What up?

Y'all--y'all good
during the drought or what?

Hell yeah, thanks to B-Mick.

He got us a new plug
with access

to some fancy
medical yayo sh*t.

That's some rich white people
sh*t right there.

- Right.
- Oh.

Oh, that's--that's cool, B.
That's cool.

Um, yo, I'm a little hungry.

I'm 'bout to grab
some couple of Coney's.

I-I'll be right back.

Yo, I made that move
to Ohio like you said, yo.

So your cousin, James, he on
some scurvy sh*t for real.

Ridin' around
in a new car and sh*t.

Oh, yeah?

n*gga buyin' new cars and sh*t,
but he just got robbed.

I guess we got a m*therf*cking
Judas in the family.

Good thing I got you
watching my back.

Hey, look.

Nah, not right now.

Let's go meet your guy first.

I'ma follow you.

They're about
to be on the move.

Hold positions
until they arrive

at the rendezvous point.

Only after the deal we move in.

[tense music plays]

♪ ♪

Dawg, what the hell
is you doin'?

[honks horn]
The f*ck is he doin', man?

♪ ♪

Come on, man, hurry up.

♪ ♪

[honks car horn]

What's this n*gga doin'?

The f*ck?

♪ ♪

[Roland] Probably be tryin'
to set us some ass.

I know this n*gga not callin'
no p*ssy in the middle

of a f*cking business meetin', dawg.

[Roland] Must be
some good-ass p*ssy.

[discordant electronic music
plays]

[Roland] Think
that's that n*gga Lamar.

[siren wailing]

♪ ♪

[Bryant] Show me yo' hands!

[Terry] Oh, sh*t. Oh, sh*t.

[Bryant] You heard
what the f*ck I said!

[Terry] f*ck, f*ck, f*ck, f*ck.
You a'ight?

Show me your hands!

But I've just been sh*t!
I'm hit!

[Bryant] You heard what
the f*ck I said!

Back the f*ck up!
Back the f*ck up!

The f*ck are you doin'?

He needs to get
to the hospital!

[Bryant] Stay the f*ck back!

[Roland] Man, f*ck you!
What the f*ck--

Come here, f*cking n*gga!

Get yo' ass over there!

- What the f*ck wrong with you?
- [Bryant] Over there, bitch!

- Back the f*ck up!
- [Terry] He needs help!

Ground, now!

Ground, n*gga, now!

[Terry] m*therf*cker,
call a ambulance!

Shut yo' f*ckin' ass up!

[Jin] Bryant!

He needs to get
to the hospital!

Put him back
in the back of your car.

We'll give you an escort.

♪ ♪

Get in the f*cking car, Bryant!

♪ ♪

[Terry] I got you.

[panting weakly]

Stay with me, dawg.

Drive, Tee!

[Terry] As I watched
my brother bleed out

and the city go up in flames,
I was shocked

we were in
this situation again.

No matter how hard you pray,
the Devil always finds you.

♪ ♪