06x01 - New Chi City

[bunniefuu]

[PERSON] Previously on The Chi

[QUENTIN] You're early, young blood.

Any reason you wanted

to get there so quick

[GURGLES]

[PERSON] Hey, your uncle's dead.

You know who Douda is?

Know the name.

He gon' give you a call

off a private number.

He'll let you know the new arrangements.

[DOUDA] Emmett, right?

And I wanna turn

Smokey's into a franchise.

- So do I.

- [DOUDA] If you trust me,

I will make you a very rich man.

[EMMETT] Look, I found

an investor for Smokey's

and they wanna franchise.

Who is it?

Um it's Douda.

[DOUDA] I need somebody to be

my eyes and ears on the street.

I need somebody young and unafraid.

What I gotta do?

[LYNAE] Your moms are so nice.

Why you trying to get away from them?

I just want my freedom.

Your adoption papers are completed.

- All that's left to do now is sign.

- [LAUGHS]

- Welcome to the family.

- [LAUGHS]

I wanna move out, on my own.

[JADA] I never thought we'd be here,

but at the same time,

today feels like a long time comin'.

[DARNELL] Oh, Jada.

I love you.

It's all I know.

[VICTOR] The truth is,

Tierra and I are not in love.

We're not even a real couple.

Relationship was

fabricated for the campaign.

I'm officially announcing

my candidacy for city council,

and I'm not gonna

pretend to be something

or someone I'm not

just to get your votes.

And I also want you to know

that I have recently fallen in love,

and I hope that she and I can build

a beautiful life together based on truth

and commitment to pouring

into our community.

[LAYA'S "SAILOR MOON" PLAYING]

I'll be your friend

if only I could smash ♪

[VOCALIZING]

[BOTH PANTING]

Riding round with my team ♪

Fighting off them oppressors ♪

- You there yet?

- Not yet. Damn.

Don't bark at me while you in me.

Don't tell me to hurry up.

If you stopped talking,

you can get there.

[GROANS]

Might need a stretcher ♪

If you called me Big Daddy like I

told you, I woulda been came already.

I told you I'm not calling you that.

[CLICKS TONGUE] Come on.

- [KNOCK AT DOOR]

- [DEVANTE] Daddy!

- f*ck!

- [RONNIE CRYING]

Do you not hear them?

They'll be a'ight.

[SIGHS] I can't be the

only parent in this house.

What you tryna say?

[KIESHA] I'm not gonna let them

cry just so you could finish.

But sometimes kids need to cry, Kiesha.

They can't always get what they want.

Well, you can't always

get what you want either.

[GROANS]

- Hey.

- I'm hungry.

[KIESHA] Okay, I'll be right out.

Go wait for me at your table, okay?

I'm getting in the shower first.

No, I'm goin' first. My showers

are a lot faster than yours.

You're just trying to rush in

there so you can finish off.

[SUCKS TEETH] Get out my business.

Can you make the babies

some breakfast, please?

It's gonna be some dry

cereal and some fruit snacks.

You can at least whip up some eggs.

[EMMETT] No, 'cause if I do,

I'ma be late for my own reopening.

You can't be late, but I can?

It won't be every day, baby.

[KIESHA] No, I can't be

late for a job interview.

- I thought you had the job already.

- No, I don't.

They gotta observe me with

the kids and the staff.

Okay, fine. I'll whip up some eggs.

Next time, just say that so we

don't gotta go back and forth.

[SENSUAL MUSIC]

[VICTOR EXHALES DEEPLY]

Mm.

So you think I'm gonna win?

[GRUNTS] Bro.

I thought we agreed not to

talk about work in the bedroom.

I'm just nervous.

Mm.

Look, don't stress about things

you can't control, mm-kay?

You and Quincy ran a great campaign.

Guess I'm just

just scared.

And if I don't win, I

I don't know what I'ma do with my life.

Hey, your life will go on

whether you win or you lose.

[SOFT MUSIC]

Mmm.

You know I love a good massage.

Yeah, I figured I'd

step my massage game up

so I don't get replaced

by one of these young boys

with dreadlocks and a six-pack.

Darnell, if you don't shut up.

[BOTH LAUGH]

And we can't get lazy now.

You gotta keep doing what you was doing

before we got married,

or, sh*t, we ain't gonna stay married.

We been married a few months,

and you already got us in divorce court?

I just don't want us

getting comfortable.

You know me. I need my

excitement, or else I get bored.

[SCOFFS] Ain't' nothing

wrong with being bored.

Mm-hmm.

Bring your boring ass on up here.

[LAUGHS] And, see, that's

what I'm talking about.

- Mm-hmm, Mr. Boring. Mm-hmm.

- Mm. [LAUGHS]

[PANTING]

- [MARCUS GRUNTS]

- Yes, Daddy.

- [MARCUS GRUNTING]

- [LAUGHS]

- Just like that.

- Yeah?

- [TIERRA] Yeah.

- [BED THUMPING]

- [TIERRA] Yes, Daddy.

- [SIGHS]

[LARUSSELL'S "PERFECT TIMING" PLAYING]

Timing, timing, ah ♪

It moves so fast when you in motion ♪

Hey, ay, perfect timing ♪

Ah, could k*ll or heal,

it's like the ocean ♪

What, ay, ay, always

gotta say something ♪

Ah, go 'head, express ♪

Can you please take that outside?

I can't go to work smelling like weed.

Are you kidding me?

It's brick out there.

Besides, who cares if

you smell like weed?

sh*t, I'd rather smell

like weed than cigarettes.

I don't wanna smell like either.

Oh, there you go.

- [GRUNTS]

- Thank you.

[DEJA SCOFFS]

You know what? If I catch pneumonia,

- it's gonna be your fault.

- Well, you know,

I'd rather you catch a cold

than my whole house smell like weed.

[SCOFFS] Your house?

Come on. You know what I mean.

[SOMBER MUSIC]

Yeah.

Mm.

[LOCK CLICKS]

[DOOR CLICKS OPEN]

Mm-mm.

Good morning, sweetheart.

You know, I'm the only

woman in this house

that should be calling you "Daddy."

[JAZZY MUSIC]

Mm.

Oh, sh*t.

[PROPERTY MANAGER] All

right, apartment's all yours.

Take a look around.

Now, make sure you call the gas company

so your stove'll work,

and then call the cable company

so you can have Internet.

Here are your keys.

[LIGHT RHYTHMIC MUSIC]

Good catch.

[FADING] Uh, your trash

gets picked up on Thursdays.

And then, uh, there's

permit parking out front,

so call me if you need any passes.

- I can get 'em to you.

- [KEVIN] Yeah, yeah, yeah. I will.

[PROPERTY MANAGER] And put

your name on your mailbox

so that way, folks know how to find you.

- [KEVIN] Yeah, yeah, for sure.

- Okay.

Let me know if you need anything, okay?

- [KEVIN] Of course.

- [PROPERTY MANAGER] Okay.

- Enjoy.

- [KEVIN] Will do.

- [PROPERTY MANAGER] Call me.

- [KEVIN] Will do.

Whoo-hoo-hoo!

Good mornin'.

What y'all doing here?

Now is that how you wanna

greet your business partner?

Nah, I'm just running

behind for our grand opening.

Oh, hey, don't worry about that.

We got all the time in the world.

And besides, they

can't start without you.

[LAUGHS]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

n*gga, get in the car.

[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING]

Ooh, sh*t.

Oh, my.

- There he is.

- Whoo.

Mm.

[LAUGHS]

[SUCKS TEETH] Ay, I

[SIGHS] I love it, but

I can't afford this.

Oh, no, no. It's on me.

Really?

- What?

- [DOUDA LAUGHS]

You are an investment, Emmett.

I can't just invest in your business.

I have to invest in you as a man.

A'ight.

Gentlemen.

This is to new beginnings

and new friendships.

Yeah.

- [DOUDA] Cheers.

- [BOTH] Cheers.

Ooh, sh*t.

- Expensive.

- [BOTH LAUGH]

Yeah. Yeah, I like these pants, D.

Yeah?

Yeah, well, they look like they might

need to be tailored a little bit.

- Tailored?

- [DOUDA] Mm.

- I'm 'bout to get f*cked up.

- [DOUDA] Okay, relax.

Relax.

[NUCK] Hey, hold this real quick.

Yeah.

[FOREBODING MUSIC]

[DRAMATIC JAZZ MUSIC]

- [MS. BARRY] You're late.

- [KIESHA] I know. I'm sorry.

It won't happen again.

- Better not.

- [SIGHS]

Me and my boyfriend

had an early morning,

and we got our wires crossed.

Just don't let it happen again.

I'm used to checking parents for

not being on time, not teachers.

It won't happen again. I promise.

[PERCUSSIVE MUSIC]

[VICTOR] How come you

didn't call to tell me

we were behind in the polls?

Fatima and I wanted you

to have a nice morning.

Man, I don't like y'all

talking behind my back.

It's for your own good.

I don't pay you to converse with her.

You don't pay me enough, for one.

And for two, this is

a steep hill to climb.

So you're saying I'm

not a good candidate?

I'm saying you're a

good guy with a past,

and you admitted to not

being completely honest

with voters about your personal life,

so we spent your entire campaign

getting folks to trust you again.

I never wanted to lie

in the first place.

Well, I'm a man of honesty,

and I have to be honest here.

You need a viral moment.

- What?

- You need to be caught

doing something nice,

relatable, and family friendly.

So you want me to concoct

a fake viral moment?

No, I wanna put you in an environment

where you can be your authentic self

and pray that it catches fire.

You know, the last time I went viral,

it didn't end in my favor.

Yeah, because you were caught

punching some kid in the face.

[SIGHS] Look.

I'm not a fan of

losing campaigns either.

And if I still didn't think you

could win, I would tell you that.

So you think I can win?

I do.

[HOPEFUL JAZZ MUSIC]

[DRE] Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Boy, this ain't no grocery store.

If you don't put my sh*t back.

Yeah, man. Having your own place

means buying your own sh*t.

You know, I would buy

my own stuff, but

but, uh, you know,

most of my money went into

renting furniture and

and my new car note.

- Oh.

- Yeah. [LAUGHS NERVOUSLY]

- Welcome to adulthood.

- [CHUCKLES]

Why do I feel like y'all two against me?

Nobody's against you, Kevin.

You're just dealing

with reality right now,

- and it's not always fun.

- [DRE] Mm-mm.

[NINA] But if you're

having second thoughts,

- you can always come back.

- [DRE] Bet.

Nah.

I think I'm good.

I'll figure it out.

[DRE] That's what I'm talking about.

[SIGHS]

[PERCUSSIVE MUSIC]

- [NINA] Get out, Kevin.

- Okay.

- Just go.

- Yeah, I'm the one they talkin' 'bout ♪

Come on, son, you know the dilly ♪

I spread 'em out, smacked 'em up ♪

All through your city,

the big boss assassin ♪

You got this in a extra large?

Uh, nah, we just sold out,

but I'll have some more next week.

Nah, you got another one.

It's just in a different color, though.

[JAKE] Oh, sh*t.

Thank you, baby.

Yep, you're in luck, bro.

[CUSTOMER] Bet.

- $30, right?

- Mm-hmm.

- [DOOR CLICKS]

- You need a better system

to keep track of your inventory.

What you mean? You the system.

I don't work here full-time.

Oh, so, what? This your side gig?

Well, I mean, technically,

it's an internship

because you damn sure ain't payin' me.

I'm payin' you with love.

Boy, that don't pay no bills.

- [BOTH LAUGH]

- I am the one, just the MVP ♪

- Keep countin'.

- You crazy. [LAUGHS]

Who is he? ♪

I am the one they call the MVP ♪

I am him, he is me ♪

I am the one, just the MVP ♪

I watch you from my penthouse suite ♪

I see the moves,

headin' up the elevator ♪

[PHONE RINGING]

Hey, hey.

Hey.

Um, my daughter heard you this morning.

And?

What do you mean, "And"?

We were both embarrassed as hell.

Okay, well, at some point,

she's gonna have to realize

that you are not just her father.

You're a man with needs.

But she doesn't need to know

what you call me during sex.

Mm-kay, well, I can try to be quiet,

but she's not a baby.

Didn't she have a

pregnancy scare last year?

She knows what sex is.

[LAUGHS] I am not ready for this.

Not ready for what?

Whatever this is.

Lemme ask you a question.

When's the last time you felt

the way you felt this morning?

Mm-hmm, exactly.

What do you want me to do?

I want you to grow a

pair and make a choice.

I'm not gonna choose

between you and my daughter.

That is not what I'm asking.

I'm asking you to introduce me to her

and stop treating me like a f*ck buddy

when you know that I'm more than that.

[KIDS CHATTERING]

[MS. BARRY] Okay. Okay,

everyone. Settle down.

Now who would like to

be our first reader?

Fine. Messiah?

You haven't read for us in a while.

Why don't you get us started?

Nah, I'm good.

- [MS. BARRY] Messiah.

- I don't like that book.

Fine, then you can go choose

the book you'd like to read.

Y'all don't have the book I wanna read.

[MS. BARRY] Messiah, I'm not

doing this with you today.

[MESSIAH] Doing what?

Going back and forth.

Now, please, go find a

book and start reading.

Why?

[MS. BARRY] Because I asked you to.

What if I don't want to?

[KIDS] Ooh!

Then you'll have to go take

a seat at the time-out table.

Fine.

- [MS. BARRY] Is that what you wanna do?

- Yep.

Okay, fine.

Please excuse yourself.

Ms. Barry, can I talk

to you for a second?

[SIGHS] Okay, everyone.

Please read to yourselves

silently until we return, okay?

When I was growing up,

none of the boys wanted

to read in front of the class

because they weren't good at it.

They weren't trying to be defiant.

They just didn't wanna be embarrassed.

These children will never grow

if we don't push them out

of their comfort zones.

I'd rather encourage than push.

- Excuse me?

- I just think

it can be traumatizing to force a kid

to read in front of the

class if they're not ready.

I respect your opinion,

but I don't think it's smart for you

to criticize how we do things here

when you're looking to

be hired for a position.

I wanna work here,

but I also wanna express myself,

and if I can't do that, then

Then maybe you're not the

right person for the job.

[DESPONDENT MUSIC]

[DOUDA] How's everything?

It's good. Business is good.

Weed ain't really goin' out of style.

[DOUDA] Hmm, yeah.

Business is steady, but

it could always be better.

You've seen what we've

done with Emmett's business?

We've grown it, and now

his earnings have doubled.

Don't compare me to other n*gg*s,

and especially not that n*gga.

Oh, sh*t. That's right.

You f*ckin' his baby

mama right now, right?

We live together.

Oh, okay. So it's serious.

[SOFT MELLOW MUSIC]

Look, I just came to get

the product and that's it.

[BAGS THUNK]

Appreciate it.

I would do anything ♪

So, Rob, you have no

desire to make more money?

When you come from money,

you don't feel the need to chase it.

Yeah, your uncle Q felt the same way.

He was also good at losing it.

Oh, yeah, 'cause that

gambling sh*t is a

it's a hell of a drug.

He owed some people money.

It's probably what got him k*lled.

Yeah.

Probably.

I wanna make you a new deal.

I ain't come here to negotiate.

[CHUCKLING] Okay, slow down, bro.

I mean, your numbers are good,

but they could always be better.

And to motivate you,

I wanna give you 15%

of whatever you make.

It's a better deal

than my uncle gave me.

Blood ain't always thicker than water.

I already knew that.

I wanna make sure you're

around for the long haul.

Just make sure you pay me right,

and we good.

[LAUGHS]

Well, I look forward to

doing business with you.

[TIFF] Thanks for the ride.

Of course, you know. You know I got you.

If you really had me,

you would get me a car.

- [SUCKS TEETH]

- Okay? 'Cause you

Don't Rob got money? Why

he can't get you a new car?

I don't have a child with Rob.

You see me with a new

car, now you want one?

I don't need a Benz.

I just need something to

drive our son around in.

I thought the weed business was booming.

It is boomin', but I

don't work for myself,

so I'm not making as much

as I should be, but

You thinking about

starting your own business?

Little bit.

Well, you definitely

need to be your own boss

'cause you don't like

taking orders from nobody.

No, I just don't like

taking orders from you.

[LAUGHS] Well, you free now.

Boy, bye.

- Come on, EJ. You ready?

- Ay.

- A'ight.

- Love you, man.

Tell Kiesha I'ma call her later.

Bye, man. A'ight.

[KIESHA] "Santa asked Mrs. Claus

to make him something to eat

because he was craving

a really sweet treat."

You wanna take the next page?

Yeah.

"And Mrs. Claus told Mr. Claus

that she had a lot of work to do.

She was busy with the reindeers

and preparing gifts too.

While every night a

little child asked Santa

for their favorite toy, they didn't know

that Mrs. Claus was the

reason for their joy."

Very good.

Can you tell me what you just read?

Basically, Mrs. Claus is the real MVP,

and Santa be stealing her shine.

Period. [LAUGHS]

Very, very good.

You read really well.

Why didn't you wanna

read for your class?

I don't like reading in front of people.

Why didn't you just say that?

I didn't think I could.

You can always be honest

about what you're feeling.

[UPLIFTING MUSIC]

Will we remember today ♪

[EMMETT] Hey, welcome to Smokey's.

Hey, the mac 'n' cheese is mackin', huh?

You know what I'm saying? [LAUGHS]

What's up? Ay, don't sh**t me.

- I'm not gonna sh**t you, man.

- [LAUGHS]

- Hey, how you

- [DOUDA] Oh, there he is!

- All right, all right

- [DOUDA] The man of the hour.

[EMMETT] Oh, man.

Yo, I couldn't have done it without you.

Yeah. You know what?

Check your bank account.

- Bank account?

- Yeah.

Okay. [LAUGHS]

Win it all ♪

- Damn!

- [LAUGHS]

Hold up. I ain't

I ain't never seen this much

money in my bank account before.

Well, that's because

the New York location

is doing really, really well.

They're lovin' Smokey's out there.

[LAUGHS] I see. sh*t!

And that's your new Benz outside?

Uh, yeah, yeah.

Your broker gave me a really great deal.

- I appreciate you.

- Come on. Look at you, bro.

- Look at you.

- Ay.

[DOUDA] It's important

for a man to treat himself.

- You know what I mean?

- Mm. [CHUCKLES]

Yeah, I f*cked around and

gave my baby mama a ride in it.

Now she want one too, so

I gotta figure that out.

Well, that's the mother

of your child, right?

Right? So whatever she needs,

it is your responsibility

to make sure she has it.

That's what bosses do.

Mm. Right.

- Hey.

- Hey, baby.

Aw, y'all make a beautiful couple.

I know.

[LAUGHS] Okay. Have a great day.

Let's go.

I can't stand them.

You're gonna wanna be nice

after you see my bank account.

I don't care about that sh*t, Emmett.

I do.

Look, Douda investing

in me is the best thing

that ever happened to us.

Everything he promised is coming true.

We got a whole new location in New York.

That we haven't seen yet.

He gon' fly us out.

Mm.

Do you trust me?

Yeah, I do.

Good. Gotta calm down. Damn.

We got this.

How'd the job interview go?

I got the job.

- Ooh! See? Come here.

- [LAUGHS]

[EMMETT] Damn.

See, you coming in

here all mad and sh*t.

You got good news.

Congrats, baby.

Wow.

Like, you a teacher now.

Damn! That's fire.

- [LAUGHS]

- [EMMETT] I'm proud of you.

I'm proud of you too.

Damn, that's wow.

Where you get the suit?

Douda got it for me.

He buying you clothes now?

He told me I should dress

how I wanna be addressed.

- Mm-hmm.

- You clean up nice.

Girl, you better stop

flirting with me in here.

Look, I don't f*ck with Douda,

but I'ma give him a chance.

Together, everything gets better ♪

Uh-huh, remember,

homey, you can lean on me ♪

A'ight.

[MELLOW R&B MUSIC]

[BAKARI] Man, hell nah.

That sh*t not gon' happen, my G.

- Don't k*ll my dreams.

- [BAKARI LAUGHS]

Ay, watch this.

Took out the trash and

refilled the carbonation

on all the sodas, so what

else you need me to do?

You took out the trash?

Girls never wanna do that sh*t.

My dad made me take out

the trash growing up,

so I'm kind of used to it.

And how old are you again?

I never said.

[LAUGHS] Okay, my bad.

But how old are you?

I'm 19.

Exactly.

- What?

- [CLEARS THROAT]

You just, uh, settled a bet for us.

That's all.

[PHONE VIBRATES]

- f*ck no.

- [LAUGHS]

I gotta go, bro, a'ight?

[PAPA] Yeah, go run after your boss,

you little underling.

Hey, don't talk sh*t, a'ight?

If it wasn't for me, your

ass would still be homeless,

so I can talk all the sh*t I want.

A'ight, bro. Have fun with Miss 19.

[PAPA] Mm.

So what was the bet?

Oh, it was nothing.

He caught you staring at me, didn't he?

Uh [LAUGHS]

Nah, nah.

Well, I was trying not

to stare at you too.

You can stare at me all you want.

I like your podcast.

You listen to Papa's Pulpit?

I haven't heard every episode,

but I heard the one you

did with your friend Jake.

Yeah, that was a special episode.

Yeah, I never really heard dudes

talk to each other like that.

I mean, I could tell he didn't

really wanna do it at first,

but after a while, it was

clear that y'all needed to talk.

[PAPA] Thanks. That means a lot.

And how old are you?

I'll be 18 this summer.

Good to know.

[LAUGHS]

When you gonna get

some furniture in here?

It's comin'.

I can't believe you really moved out.

[SIGHS] Yeah.

Get lonely sometimes,

but once I get the Internet working,

I could just play video

games and zone out.

Yeah. Call me when you get a couch.

Oh, I am having a kickback later.

How? Ain't nothing in here.

People don't care about the furniture.

They just wanna vibe.

If you say so.

[SIGHS]

[SERVER] Oh, what can I get for you?

[LIGHT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC]

[SIGHS] Whew.

Easy come, easy go.

[GROANS]

[LAUGHS]

- My man.

- [SHAAD] Hey, hey!

What's up, big-timer?

- [DARNELL] What's up, slim?

- [SHAAD LAUGHS] sh*t.

Just tryna get like you.

What, old and married?

- [LAUGHS]

- [SHAAD] Yeah, well.

Ay, been meaning to tell you man.

Congratulations on

all your son's success.

- Ah.

- [SHAAD] I know you proud.

Yeah, yeah.

And for a long time, man,

we ain't know how that

boy was gonna turn out.

I wasn't really guiding him

the way I should have

when he was younger.

But his mama did a good-ass

job keeping him in line.

- [LAUGHS] Yes, she did.

- [DARNELL] Yeah. [CHUCKLES]

Ay, by the way, man.

You hear of any jobs out there,

can you let me know?

I'm still looking for a gig, Joe.

Yeah, sh*t, man. It's

real tight right now.

- [SIGHS] Tell me about it.

- [DARNELL] I'll keep my ear

to the ground for you.

Man, I appreciate it,

'cause right now my lady

paying for everything.

Damn.

So you losing all the arguments, huh?

[LAUGHS] Yeah.

Ay, is she making you

smoke your weed outside?

- Hell yeah.

- [LAUGHING] Hey, yeah.

[SIGHS]

Ay, man, keep your head up, dawg.

Something will come along.

But till then,

keep laying that pipe right

so at least she got a good

reason to keep your ass around.

[LAUGHING] I'll try my best.

Well, do better,

'cause these new vibrators

'bout to have all our ass

- out on the streets.

- [BOTH LAUGH]

You nasty, dawg.

- [DARNELL LAUGHS] A'ight.

- A'ight, man.

- [LAUGHS] What's up, dude?

- [DARNELL] What's up, man?

Surprised to see you, G.

[VICTOR] What's up? You

know I couldn't miss this.

- [SHAAD LAUGHS]

- What's up, man?

You missin' a lot lately, man.

Yeah, I've been busy.

Ay, there you go, Mr. City Councilman.

- Oh, man.

- There he is, yeah.

- Not yet. Not yet.

- [SHAAD] Hey, hey, hey.

It's in the bag, man.

- You got this, Vic.

- [VICTOR] Yeah?

Well, I appreciate the support, fellas.

And look, I'm sorry I

haven't been around lately.

You know, between campaigning

and trying to spend quality

time with my lady, bro,

by the time I get home, I

ain't got nothing left to give.

sh*t. Who you tellin', boy?

- [BOTH LAUGH]

- Ay, you want some food?

Nah, but I'll take a red pop, though.

Ay, ay, can I get a red pop too?

Yep, got you.

[VICTOR SIGHS] Wow.

It's good to see you, man.

- Man, it's good to be seen.

- [SHAAD LAUGHS]

[QUINCY] Hey, Victor. How

'bout you say a few words?

Um, okay, yeah.

[CLEARS THROAT]

[CHUCKLES]

You know, Smokey's

Smokey's isn't just a place

to come get a plate of food,

even though it is delicious, right?

- [LAUGHS]

- [PATRON] Mm-hmm.

But it's also a place

to come find community.

You know, it can feel like

a place you can call home

when you don't have nowhere else to go.

So I wanna thank Emmett

for giving us all a

place to call our own.

Cheers.

- Cheers.

- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[SHAAD] Oh! Damn it, Papa!

[PAPA] Don't worry. I can

get you a Smokey's shirt.

[EMMETT] I'm sorry about that, Victor.

[DOWNBEAT MUSIC]

Yeah, let me see if

you can make it go vroom ♪

Let me see if you

can make it go mmm ♪

Let me see if you

can shake up the room ♪

Let me see if you

can make it go mmm ♪

Back and forth, back and forth ♪

Like a seesaw ♪

Had to ride him like a donkey ♪

Made him hee-haw ♪

Back and forth, back and forth ♪

Like a seesaw ♪

Had to ride him like a donkey ♪

Made him hee-haw, yeah ♪

[TRACY] I'm just trying to figure out

what my next move is gon' be.

What you mean?

I mean, after that whole Douda fiasco,

I don't think I have the

energy to start dating again.

No, you know, Tracy, there

are a lot of good guys out here

and ladies.

- [LAUGHTER]

- [TRACY] Ah, ah, see, listen.

I have enough issues with men.

I cannot afford to add

ladies to my roster

I'm just saying don't

knock it until you try it.

- Try it. That's all.

- I think I'ma try it

to be by myself. Is that okay?

Don't give up on love

just 'cause your last dude

didn't work out.

I'm not giving up on love.

I think I just need to spend

more time loving on myself.

- Ooh.

- Hmm.

Well, I'm just saying,

from somebody who's been

single for a long-ass time

Oh, oh, yes.

Yeah, just a little bit.

- Uh

- [LAUGHTER]

Marriage is where it's at.

[JADA] Just give it a

little bit be patient.

I'm not waiting 20 years

for some man to be like,

"You know what? Now I wanna be with you

- for the rest of my life."

- Whoa, whoa, hold up.

20 years?

- 22, baby.

- [LAUGHTER]

- Don't forget the two, baby.

- Ah, that's better.

I think I'ma choose to

be by myself on that note.

[LAUGHS]

I think you're choosing

it, 'cause you're scared

- you're gonna get hurt again.

- Oh, girl,

you can be in love and still get hurt.

- Yeah, that's real.

- [TRACY] Exactly.

- Mm-hmm.

- You wanna die alone?

We die alone anyway,

but is it better to die,

holding some man's hand?

- That's a good point.

- Don't push her

toward the single life.

[TRACY] Why do people think

that women can only be happy

in romantic relationships?

What about friendships?

This is my community. I love y'all.

Friendships matter.

[DRE] You're making some good points.

Look, I got clients that

wanna stay in relationships.

They're trying to make it work

just so they don't have to be alone.

I've learned a lot about who

I am, because this relationship

forced me to grow.

- Okay.

- [LAUGHTER]

I think I'ma find some

ways to grow on my own.

- I'll keep you posted.

- Yeah, but eventually,

the right partner

is gon' come along and put that mirror

up to your face, you know,

so you can see your own sh*t.

Why can't I hold the

mirror up to myself?

Because eventually, you

might not like what you see,

and you gonna wanna put

that mothafucka down.

I did not pay for this

session, counselor.

No, I'm not gonna put anything down.

I think this is something

I need to do for me

for myself, by myself.

Yeah ♪

As we continue on, we wylin' ♪

I woke up feelin' victorious ♪

n*gg*s is gettin' money,

but they not gettin' money ♪

- Like your boy is ♪

- [KEVIN] What up, dog?

I'm a dog, hood icon ♪

Damn.

Bro really got his own crib

- before me.

- [CHUCKLES]

You should've seen

him before I got here.

[BAKARI] Papa, what you doin', man?

- [PAPA] I'm about to DM Kenya.

- Bro, f don't do that sh*t.

You done already followed her,

liked 18 of her mothafuckin' pictures.

Now you about to DM her too?

Chill, bro, you're getting

f*cking thirsty, dog.

Boy, shut up. Bakari doesn't

know what he talking about.

I don't know what I'm

talking about, huh?

- [MAISHA] No.

- [BAKARI] sh*t, last time

I checked, I got me a woman.

Ain't that right, baby?

[SCOFFS] Please, if Papa didn't write

that note for you, we

wouldn't even be together.

Those were my words though.

Two of those were your words.

- Two of 'em.

- Man, whatever, n*gga.

It's not my fault you don't

know how to write in cursive.

[LAUGHTER]

That's funny, huh?

[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS]

Damn, who is that?

Bro, some old-ass chick

that work at his job.

She only two years older than me.

Oh, so we like older women now?

I mean, you ain't got

time for me no more.

I never said that, Stanley.

You ain't have to.

- Ooh.

- Mm.

All right, let's not bring up old sh*t.

Okay? This is supposed to be cool,

Zen'd out, chill.

So can we be on that vibe, please?

Yes, I am so happy that I'm no

longer on the market 'cause

I mean, you wasn't really on the market

when you got with Jake, so

See? No.

- No.

- I thought we weren't

- bringing up old sh*t.

- Exactly.

What happened to Zen'd

out, cool, and kickin' it?

Our past is always in our present.

- Right.

- Look, if you wanna DM her,

just do it. Just keep it smooth.

Yeah, bro. You'll be a'ight.

I'ma be rich till the day that I die ♪

I woke up feelin' victorious ♪

n*gg*s is gettin' money,

but they ain't gettin' money ♪

Like your boy is ♪

Naw, they not, they

not, I'm tellin' you ♪

They not doin' it ♪

I woke up feelin' victorious ♪

Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

n*gg*s is gettin' money,

but they ain't gettin' money ♪

Like your boy is ♪

Naw, naw ♪

Naw, not at all ♪

I woke up feelin' victorious ♪

Ha ha!

Surprise.

[TIFF] Wait.

You really bought me a car?

[EMMETT] You said you needed one.

Yeah, but I didn't

think you was gon' do it!

Hey, and it's paid off.

You're good.

- That's yours.

- What?

[TIFF] When you have time

to wrap me a whole-ass car?

[EMMETT] Douda got me a broker.

He gave me a good deal, so

[TIFF LAUGHS]

[EMMETT] What's up, G?

[ROB] So this this

new, or this sh*t used?

Oh, it's fresh off the lot.

Bet.

[SIGHS] Oh, my God.

[LAUGHS] Oh, my God.

Yeah, business been good to me, so

least I could do.

Fasho.

I'ma get to the crib.

Hey, Tiff, drive safe.

What you tryna say?

[EMMETT] Don't be getting

no speeding tickets.

You guys like to drive fast and sh*t.

Boy, whatever.

Rob! Come on!

Let's take it for a ride!

You make the rules,

I'll break your heart ♪

f*ck around I'll leave you

stuck, leave you scarred ♪

Is that what you want, babe? ♪

I'm so tired of bein' faithful ♪

To you ♪

I'ma do you wrong, baby ♪

[DOOR CLICKS]

[DOOR SQUEAKS, CLATTERS]

I'm so tired of bein' ♪

[DEJA SCOFFS] If you need to smoke

in the house, can you please,

at least open a window?

I'm sorry, babe, I'm sorry. I forgot!

I forgot, okay? My bad. Hey, hey.

How was your day today?

Man, someone walked up

to my white coworker today

and assumed she was the curator again.

That's the third time this week.

Man. I'm sorry, babe.

It's not your fault.

How you doin'?

I'm good, I'm good.

That's good.

You seen the guys?

Oh, I saw 'em yesterday at Smokey's.

That's good.

I feel like you haven't gotten

a chance to spend that

much time with them

like you used to,

especially since we moved in together.

Ah, I know.

- [SHAAD CHUCKLES]

- Oh.

You know you can invite

them over whenever you want.

[CLEARS THROAT]

I love to host.

Yeah, I know, babe,

but come on now, we

some real n*gg*s, man.

We like to smoke, drink, talk sh*t.

Nah, I feel bad bringing that ruckus

- in your house like that.

- Ah, it's our house.

I know. [CHUCKLES]

You okay?

You seem a little down lately.

Naw, I'm good.

It's just that

I don't know.

It's real inspiring to

see the men in my life

- doing so well.

- Mm.

I mean, Darnell, he's

married and content.

Emmett, his business is

taking off and booming,

and this n*gga Vic may actually

win that election after all.

Oh, wow, that's amazing. [CHUCKLES]

Yeah, it's just real inspiring, but

It also made me look at my own life.

I just can't help but to think,

you know, maybe I'm not

maybe I'm not doing enough.

Well, you've been locked

away most of your life.

I mean, you can't compare your journey

to anyone else.

I know. Just

sh*t just got me thinking. That's all.

About what?

Hey, hey.

Nothin'.

I'm good, you hear me?

Um,

how about we go out to dinner tonight?

You know, it could be good for

us to get out of the house a little bit.

It's my treat.

Well, babe, I already

prepared dinner for you.

I got your plate in the oven.

Oh. [CHUCKLES]

Okay, thank you.

Oh, hey, hey, come on now.

Hey, come here.

That's the least I could do

is prepare a homecooked meal

after you've been working hard all day.

- Aw.

- You dig?

Mm.

[CHUCKLES]

You wanna watch a movie?

Oh, yeah, you know what?

I've been meaning to look

at "Menace II Society" again.

- Let's do that sh*t.

- [DEJA LAUGHS]

No, I-I was hoping

that we could watch

something a little lighter.

Oh, well, like what?

Hmm, ooh, maybe "Devil Wears Prada."

- Fasho!

- [DEJA CHUCKLES]

Yeah! Kay, what look,

I'll get that queued up, and, uh,

you go and warm your plate up, yeah?

Mm-kay.

[WHISPERS] Oh, sh*t.

[NUCK] Jackpot, n*gga.

Don't be so basic, n*gga.

[DOOR HANDLE RATTLES]

[FOREBODING MUSIC]

[DOUDA] Mm-mm-mm.

Vintage cars are hard to come by.

It's a good get, Nuck.

Thanks.

You know, this was Zay's idea.

Nice work.

What made you pick a car from the '70s?

Easier to lift,

and the parts are harder to come by.

So I knew it'd be a good choice.

I almost wanna keep this one for myself.

sh*t, we could swap the plates out.

[ZAY] This car is in great condition.

It probably belongs to a collector.

If I was you,

I wouldn't chance it.

I'm sure the owner got folks

combing the city as we speak.

[DOUDA] You're right.

I could break it down tonight,

and get you some bread by the morning.

[DOUDA] You like cigars?

Never smoked one.

But now is a hell of a time to start.

[DOUDA] A hell of a time. [LAUGHS]

A hell of a time to start.

I agree. I agree.

Let's go.

You sure you don't wanna

come with me to this?

[SIGHS] It's my job to critique

public figures, not become one.

Oh.

I thought you said you

didn't want to be a secret.

In your private life.

Oh.

Well, you know, if

you don't come with me

to these public events,

people will start to think I'm single.

I'd rather that than people att*ck me.

No one's gonna att*ck you.

You don't see my DMs

and all the transphobic comments

- on my page.

- Just block that sh*t.

I be blocking folks all day.

So what you saying? This is my fault?

What? No. This is just my reality.

Well, what can I do?

You can't fix this.

But you just go ahead

and I will be here

when you get home.

Kay?

Okay.

All right.

[FATIMA SIGHS]

[VICTOR SIGHS]

What the f*ck?

Quincy, what the f*ck is this?

That's your viral moment.

Are you serious, man?

Listen, your numbers are looking good.

Are we in the lead?

It's neck and neck,

but it's better than where we were.

I'll take it.

Why are you here?

Um

I invited her.

Your dad and I have gotten very close

over the past few months.

I've heard.

Um, I hope that we can get to

know each other a little better.

Mm, I'm good.

Okay, well, I'm not going anywhere,

so I suggest that you get

used to me being around.

Okay, well, love interests come and go,

but daughters are forever.

You have to move out at some point.

- No, I don't.

- Yes, you do.

- Daddy.

- Sweetheart,

I'm not saying that you

have to move out right now,

but I'd imagine at some point

that you'd wanna move out,

- start your own life.

- So you're taking her side?

[MARCUS] No.

I have a great deal of love

and respect for both of you.

So we're gonna have to figure this out.

Wait, you love her?

That's not what I said.

That's what I understood.

Uh-uh. I'm leaving.

- Where are you going?

- To my room, okay?

[R&B MUSIC]

[BOTH SIGH]

[JEMMA STOMPING]

My clock is broken ♪

Every hour you hold my mind ♪

Every hour I close this mind ♪

Tick, tock, tick, tock ♪

So you and Papa really over?

[CHUCKLES] I'ma always love Papa,

but I think we're better as friends.

I'm not quick to judge ♪

Cool.

- Where's Simone?

- [KEVIN SIGHS] She dumped me.

- For somebody else?

- No.

Said she couldn't be with a Virgo

for longer than three months.

- Oh.

- Yeah.

Well, I mean, everybody can't handle

being with an earth sign.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

- I'm serious.

- [CHUCKLES]

Serious you know, in the stars.

[LAUGHTER]

One, two, three ♪

Please come see me ♪

Every hour ♪

Four, five, six ♪

What's yours is mine ♪

Do it over again ♪

My clock is broken ♪

Every hour, four, five, six ♪

Every hour of yours is mine ♪

Do it over again ♪

Who runs the clock? ♪

[MUMBLING]

The next time you

wanna buy your ex a car,

can you talk to me first?

- [CLICKS TONGUE] Are you serious?

- Yes.

That's a big spend.

I got her an Altima.

So what?

It's my money.

I thought we were in this together.

We are, but [SIGHS]

But if I wanna do something

nice for the mother of my child,

- I don't need your permission.

- It's not about getting

my permission. It's about

us having a conversation.

I can't have a conversation

with you about everything.

Then what are we doing?

What do you mean, "What are we doing?"

- We're a couple.

- Not if you can't talk to me.

She asked for a car. I got her one.

- That's it.

- Okay, if it's that simple,

I want a bigger place.

- Fine!

- That's not what I mean.

I'm tryna make a point, Emmett.

I'm tired, okay?

I ain't got time to get

into this with you right now.

You don't get to run from this

because it makes you uncomfortable.

This is what couples do they talk.

I'm too tired to talk.

Great, let's just both

get some f*cking sleep.

- [KIESHA] Where are you going?

- [EMMETT] Out.

[DOOR SLAMS]

[SIGHS] [WHISPERS] This mothafucker.

Get paid, I'm 50 on the highway ♪

[GEEK VAN DER BEEK'S "PAID"]

Money coming my way ♪

f*cking get it your way ♪

Don't care, won't care, wanna say ♪

If the boy come around, stay away ♪

- Stay away ♪

- I don't need no drama, don't play ♪

Don't play ♪

Keep the money hidden in a safe ♪

In a safe ♪

[QUINCY] We're just waiting on

the votes from one more center.

It should be any minute now.

[PHONE VIBRATES]

We did it, Joe!

We-we did it!

- [VICTOR] We won?

- [QUINCY] By a really slim margin.

But a win is a win.

- Congratulations, new City Councilman.

- [VICTOR] Thank you, man. Thank you.

- Congratulations.

- Thank you. Thank you.

[PARTY POPPERS BOOM]

[ALL CHEERING AND CLAPPING]

[HIP-HOP MUSIC]

Damn right I hustle ♪

Congratulations, baby.

- Mm.

- [VICTOR] Thank you.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

Thank you. Dude.

Hey, thanks for never

giving up on me, man.

Thanks for trusting

me with your campaign.

No, no, no, I obviously

made the right choice.

Yeah. Now you got a job to do.

Yes, I do.

But you know I can't do it without you.

Will you be my chief of staff?

- What's the salary?

- [CHUCKLES]

Uh, it's a little low.

- You're lucky I like you.

- My G, my G, my G.

- Thank you, man.

- Thank you.

- Yes, thank you, baby.

- Mm-hmm.

- Cheers!

- [ALL CHEER]

Now it's triples and doubles ♪

[DOUDA] I'm not really sure

I wanna stay with Rolly.

But I don't know if that's really

Hey, look who it is. [CHUCKLES]

- Welcome.

- What's up, man?

Yeah, have a seat. Let me, uh,

let me get you right.

[EMMETT SIGHS]

Now, the key is not to inhale.

What's the point then? [CHUCKLES]

- It's rich n*gga sh*t.

- [DOUDA LAUGHS]

Here's a lesson.

You're gonna take your

cigar. You're gonna hold it

at about a 45 degree

angle, like this, right?

And what you're gonna do

is rotate it in a circular-like motion,

not allowing the flame

to touch the cigar.

We're just toasting

the foot of the cigar.

We're warming it up to make it

a little easier to light, kay?

Slowly, slowly.

Let it just toast the cigar.

You're warming those tobacco leaves.

[BLOWS] There it is.

I'ma allow you to take a puff on that.

Puff it until you can taste the smoke.

[COUGHS]

[LAUGHS]

Didn't you hear what Zay said?

He said not to inhale.

[LAUGHING]

[EMMETT] sh*t.

[CHEWING]

Hey, um, uh, Dev, excuse me.

Can you keep it down a little bit?

I'm trying to teach the young man here

how to smoke a cigar.

I ain't chewing that loud, bro.

So, Emmett, are you all right?

I took your advice and got my ex a car.

Oh, sh*t, see? That's wonderful.

Now my girl mad at me.

So now what you have to do

is get her whatever she wants.

She want a bigger place. I'm like

Emmett, then get her one.

- I ain't made of money.

- But I am.

Come on, you ain't you

not gonna buy us a house.

No, n*gga, I am not gonna be buying you

no mothafuckin' house. [LAUGHS]

But I will introduce you to my realtor.

He'll help you find something.

I'm just not ready to buy a house.

- Like, I'm still, like, getting my sh*t together.

- Damn it, Emmett!

Stop being a f*cking p*ssy.

Come on, bro.

Jump in the deep end.

It's nice over here.

Talking crazy, man.

[SIGHS]

Emmett,

if you listen to me,

I promise you

I will make sure you have enough money

to keep all your women very, very happy.

I only got one.

You have four.

The mothers of your children,

they will always be your women,

whether you like 'em or not.

[DEV CHEWING]

I got three in my roster.

[LAUGHING]

[CONTINUES CHEWING]

A'ight.

[PLAYER] What the

[TENSE MUSIC]

[DOUDA CLEARS THROAT]

Can you hand me my coat, please?

[LAUGHS]

You all right?

Yeah, uh

You wanna take a handful

of cigars for the road?

- Naw.

- It's good seeing you, buddy.

I'll see you soon, okay?

- [EMMETT] Okay.

- All right, good night.

[DOOR CLICKS]

What do you want, Otis?

I texted you.

I know.

- I ignored it.

- Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa. [LAUGHS]

All right.

Okay.

Well, um,

let's consider this a wellness check.

You don't wish me well.

Come on, now, you know that's not true.

I'm taking some time for myself.

That's what I need.

- Kay.

- [TRACY] Okay.

Well, hey.

I miss you.

[SULTRY MUSIC]

Do you miss me?

[DOUDA] Mm.

Hey

[PHONE BUZZING]

[LAUGHING]

A man comes into my life,

and you have to compromise for what?

- For what?

- [DOG BARKING]

A relationship is a relationship

that has to be earned!

Not to compromise for

and I love relationships.

I think they're fantastic and wonderful.

I think they're great. I think there's

nothing in the world more beautiful than

falling in love.

But falling in love

for the right reasons,

falling in love

for the right purpose, falling in love

falling in love

when you fall in love

What is there to compromise about?

[BREANA MARIN'S "LOSING LOVE"]

♪ There's nothing left to say about it ♪

Lesson learned, let's

agree it's all on you ♪

♪ Maybe we should pray about it ♪

♪ 'Cause only God knows

what we've been through ♪

♪ There's nothing left to say about it ♪

♪ 'Cause I was so alone loving you ♪

♪ Now that I think about it ♪

♪ Us letting go was overdue ♪

♪ Made a lot of mistakes ♪

♪ Spent a lot of time on you ♪

♪ But you never really gave me ♪

♪ All of you ♪

Tell me what is love

if you're losing it ♪

It only really matters

what you do with it ♪

♪ It's all about what you doing ♪

♪ What you really want ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

It only really matters

what you do with it

♪ Tell me what is love

if you're losing it ♪

♪ Yeah, it's all about

what you did with it ♪

♪ Can't go back now ♪

♪ Got all in my head ♪

♪ Believed all the words that you said ♪