04x08 - Higher Calling

[bunniefuu]

[DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYS]

[FUNKY HIP-HOP BEAT LAYERS IN]

[DIANA] Previously on Ghost...

- [GRUNTS] f*ck!
- [DIANA] Please don't!

[TARIQ] A dirty cop beat up Diana.

She lost our baby.

Oh, I'm supposed to just
snort a few lines

and get the f*ck over it
like you always do, right?

[BRAYDEN] Do you think
Elle's still mad?

- What are you doing?
- Y'all two n*gg*s fired.

- Why? Is this Elle?
- It was a group decision.

- [GLASS SHATTERING]
- [g*nf*re]

Corrupt bureaucrats
don't exactly advertise.

It's gonna take me some time
to find a new one.

Time I don't have.

[CANE] And y ou need citizenship
to make you legit.

So marry me.

[CELL PHONE VIBRATES]

Please don't act
like you care about me.

You know I f*cking care about you.

[GRUNTING]

How we killin' this b*tch?

Killin' a cop ain't the way out.

Let me handle my people my way.

I know what you're dealing with
but you can't k*ll a cop.

You're right. That b*tch is mine.

- [CALL ENDS]
- [DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[FELICIA] Let's just calm down
and talk about this.

[GRUNTING]

[YELLING]

Do you like bedtime stories?

- Yes.
- This is so f*cked up.

You gotta get
the f*ck outta here, now.

Hands up.

You get me the leverage I need

to go against Noma

and maybe I change this m*rder

to a f*ck' accident.

Welcome to the f*ck' team, Tariq.

[MUSIC BUILDS]

[MUSIC FADES SUDDENLY]

[SINGER] ♪ They say this is
A big, rich town ♪

♪ I just come from The poorest part ♪

♪ Bright lights, city life
I gotta make it ♪

♪ This is where it goes down ♪

♪ I just happen To come up hard ♪

♪ Legal or ill*gal, baby
I gotta make it ♪

[50 CENT] ♪ I never took
A straight path nowhere ♪

♪ Life's full of twists And turns ♪

♪ Bumps and bruises I live, I learn ♪

♪ I'm from that city full of
Yellow Cabs and skyscrapers ♪

♪ It's hard to get a start
In these parts without paper ♪

♪ Homie, I grew up in hell
A block away from heaven ♪

♪ That corner, every 15 minutes
They movin' seven ♪

♪ Pure snow Bag it then watch it go ♪

♪ Occupational options
Get some blow or some h*s ♪

♪ sh**t the ball or the strap
Learn to rap or to jack ♪

♪ f*ck it, man, in the meantime
Go ahead and pump a pack ♪

♪ This my regal royal flow
My James Bond bounce ♪

♪ That 007 That's 62 on my count ♪

♪ I'm a undercover liar
I lie under the covers ♪

♪ Look a b*tch in the eyes and
Tell her, "Baby, I love you" ♪

♪ "You're my inspiration
You're my motivation" ♪

♪ "You're the reason that I'm
Moving with no hesitation" ♪

[SINGER] ♪ They say this is
A big, rich town ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ I just come from The poorest part ♪

♪ Bright lights, city life
I gotta make it ♪

♪ This is where it goes down ♪

- ♪ Ohh, yeah ♪
- ♪ Yeah ♪

♪ I just happen To come up hard ♪

♪ Legal or ill*gal, baby
I gotta make it ♪

[MELLOW HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS]

[MUSIC FADES]

[GENTLE, SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]

[CARTER]
Detective Felicia Marie Lewis.

She was tough.

She was fearless.

But most of all,
she was one of our own.

Felicia was family.

Her tragic death will undoubtedly

leave a hole in our hearts.

We're never prepared
for a fatal car crash.

Paramedics on the scene
said she died on impact.

Maybe she didn't feel any pain.

At least that's what I hope.

Let's use this as a reminder

to stick together

and never take for granted

the time we have left on this earth.

The union is setting up a fund
for her little boy, Cole.

I know you all want to contribute.

To Felicia.

- [WOMAN 1] To Felicia.
- [WOMAN 2] Felicia.

[MAN] To Felicia.

♪ ♪

[MUSIC FADES]

Yo.

An accident?

I know.

What the f*ck really happened?

[GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]

Nico, man, I know with what we do,

it's natural

to second-guess everything.

But this appears to be exactly
what it says on the report.

A f*ck' car accident, man.

[SIGHS] I know you two were close.

[SIGHS]

So I'm here
if you wanna talk, all right?

♪ ♪

- [MUSIC FADES]
- [SIREN WAILING]

[DOOR OPENS]

Speak to Detective Carter?

Nah. He probably lookin'
for some more sh*t for us to do.

We need to get rid
of this m*therf*cker.

I mean wipe his a*s off
the face of the f*ck' Earth.

Any n*gga put a g*n to my head
don't deserve to live.

sh*t, you think I don't know?

I could face life in f*cking prison

if this m*therf*cker decides
to make me an accessory

to this f*ck' cop's m*rder.

Diana, man.

I still can't believe this sh*t, man.

You know, baby girl
ain't baby girl no more.

This f*ck' sh*t
is stressin' her out.

It's f*ck' wit' her head, you know?

She gotta move past.
Regret is for civilians.

Well, f*ck all that. What we doin'?

We need to get on
this n*gga's a*s, ASAP.

I mean, look.

We gotta give the n*gga
what the f*ck he wants:

Noma, on a platter.

[SIGHS] Oh man,
that's gonna make us weak.

If we give him leverage on Noma,

what's gonna stop that b*tch
from wantin' to k*ll us?

- Hey, what about Dru?
- Hell no.

He'll work with us, no?

Dru called Carter to Felicia's house.

- [SIGHS]
- He's up this m*therf*cker's a*s

like a f*cking lapdog,
working his own agenda.

Okay, so here's what we do.

We tell Carter that we're workin'

on the leverage piece with Noma.

Meanwhile, we weaponize Noma,

make it seem like everything's
gonna be blown up on her end

and make her take out Carter.

[SIGHS] This b*tch again.

We gotta go back and beg
f*ck' Noma for help?

Listen, we gotta kiss some a*s

to get this n*gga off of our a*s.

All right?

I mean, they're opposites.

Who the f*ck else is better

than when you're going against
the craziest, most psychotic

corrupt cop in the f*cking city?

Yeah, you f*ck' right.
You're right, man. sh*t!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC FADES]

[MUTED HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

What is this place?

This is Fourth Circle.

Used to be Zion's spot.

It's a...

dealers' playground. No cops welcome.

Why we can't use the main entrance.

You're gonna be overseeing the venue

and the revenue, like Zion did.

But first...

got some people that wanna
welcome you to the organization.

[MUSIC FADES]

Gentlemen.

This here is Dru Tejada.

You got any questions,
before you come to me or Nico,

this who you talk to.

What's up?

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC FADES]

What happened to the whole
apex TED Talk?

Vertical control, reigning supreme!

Yeah, you know that sh*t's
gonna be hard

now that this m*therf*cker that thinks

he's Denzel from
Training Day is in the way.

Carter is a cop, Riq.

The head of a drug task force.

Okay? There's 1,000 ways
this can go left,

leaving us royally f*cked.

Sounds like you don't got
my back, n*gga.

No. I just don't want
a preemptive strike

or to start a w*r with m*therf*ckers

that we can't win against.

You know what a task force stands for.

g*ng. th*gs with badges.

Remember that whole Tyre Nichols sh*t?

They'll let those m*therf*ckers
get away

with 100 murders before they stop 'em.

Yeah, and eventually they're
gonna k*ll our f*ck' asses.

So that means we gotta take 'em
out before they k*ll us.

- Simple as that.
- Yeah, no, no, simple as that.

No, Riq.

B, come the f*ck on, bro.

This m*therf*cker
has hella sh*t on me.

I have nothing on him.

And now that he thinks I work for him,

backing down is not an option.

Hey, where you goin' anyway?
You packin' your sh*t up.

[BRAYDEN SIGHS]

- I'm moving out. Finally.
- Okay.

I'm gonna see if Elle
wants to move in with me.

[SCOFFS] Wait, why?

What do you mean why?

Because she's my girl
and I love her. That's why.

[LAUGHS]

What the f*ck is so funny?

You're really f*cking losing it, huh?

- Do you hear yourself?
- Yeah!

You love her?
You don't even know this girl!

And didn't the band just
f*cking walk out on us?

In-in fact, I do know her,

and I'll get the band back.

In the meantime, I got all the Ivies

and the knockoff Course Correct
business from Effie.

What the f*ck are you doing?

How? How did you do that?

For once, I would just love
for you to say,

"Thank you, Brayden.

You're-you're k*lling it,
Brayden. Good job, Brayden."

You do a lot of things without
thinking it through, all right?

And you been doing it a lot lately,

so I was just wondering, that's it.

Yeah, that's fine.
Well, I'm moving fast and smart,

and sh*t's working.

I know what the f*ck
I'm doing, Riq, okay?

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[MUSIC FADES]

Detective Carter knows who you
are and he's after you.

Basically, how this
m*therf*cker operates,

he doesn't like people doing business

without being under his thumb, so...

that's a issue for you.

I can solve it. I can get rid of him.

What's in it for you,
Tariq Scam Patrick?

I know your a*s always got an angle.

You always asking
the wrong sh*t, Cane.

There's something in it
for all of us, all right?

I mean, which one of us in this room

really need this NYPD-a*s n*gga

disrupting our sh*t?

What hard evidence
does this cop have on me?

Does he have a witness?
Surveillance? What?

Yeah, playboy. And how exactly
are we supposed to do this?

'Cause killin' a cop ain't easy.

I mean, I don't think
we have a choice.

Bro, the n*gga is corrupt.

Right, he could create
fake evidence against us,

he can create cases on us.

He can do whatever
the f*ck he wants, basically.

I mean, is that a chance
y'all wanna take?

Well, you didn't answer my question.

What does he know
about my organizations?

- Be specific.
- Look, f*ck all this

back and forth bullshit.

Now, we're givin' you
top-shelf information.

We can map out a plan now

and get back to the details later.

Now, you in or not?

Yeah. Basically,
what we're saying is that

it's only a matter of time
before this n*gga

starts lowering the hammer on you.

I'm not interested in going to w*r

with the NYP-f*cking-D.

f*ck it, I'm outta here.

I told you this was
gonna be some bullshit.

And your a*s is
so f*ck' p*ssy-whipped

you just gonna let
this b*tch get you k*lled?

Aw, now that's not language
I'd expect from my mum.

"Mum"? b*tch, what the f*ck you say?

What, didn't Cane tell you?

Oh, we're gonna be family, luv.

Cane's my business partner and fiance.

[TENSE HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

Yeah, Mom. You're hearin' right.

Noma and I are getting married.

Wedding, pastor, the whole works.

Your invitation's in the mail though.

Cane, this f*cking b*tch
has got you goin' crazy!

What the f*ck is this?!

Love, of course.

- Bullshit.
- Word.

Good luck with your f*ck'
stupid-a*s love.

Ta-da.

Well, you two now are on
Detective Carter's radar.

This little love bullshit
y'all got going on

just doubles y'all problem.

♪ ♪

Listen, we got leverage.

'Cause we both know
Detective Carter's dirty.

No, that's not close to enough.

Find out what Carter
really knows about me

and how the f*ck he got my name.

["CAMERA READY" BY B CHE PLAYING]

♪ I see you over there Looking at me ♪

There's something wrong with Elle.

- What? What the f*ck happened?
- She was doing coke

and then she said
she wasn't feeling so hot.

And the next thing you know,
she just f*cking passed out.

Look, there are drugs
all over this f*cking room...

Who gave her the coke?
Shut the f*ck up!

- Hell if I know!
- 'Cause she has sickle cell.

- Call 911!
- I didn't wanna do that.

f*cking call!

[SIGHS]

All right, FYI,

I'm charging extra
for this house call.

I have all the documents
you requested.

Living will and bank statements.

Tax filings.

Prenup agreement.

So...

are you going on the run
or... getting married?

[LAUGHS MOCKINGLY] The second one.

I was talking to the lady, my guy.

Yeah, it's true.

Cane and I are getting married

and everything needs to be airtight

so it holds up against
government scrutiny.

ICE and the like.

Wow, marrying a drug dealer.

Sounds like something
you might have wanted to run

by your extremely smart lawyer first.

Given Wiley Adams' untimely demise,

this had to be done.

There was no need to consult you.

Yeah, so, seems like
your work here is done.

Fake-a*s Johnny c*cksucker.

I got your text. What's up?

Hey, whatever freak sh*t
y'all got going on,

I'm not into that.

- I second that emotion.
- [NOMA] Sit.

We need your computer expertise.

I'm marrying Cane.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

He did a decent job, didn't he?

Yeah, this ring
weighs an absolute ton.

She's f*cking wit' you.

It's marriage for hire.
Strictly business.

Well, it's more like business
with benefits, right, luv?

Anyway, our nuptials
need to appear rock-solid

so any dalliance between you two
is now over.

Oh yeah, you got it. That's done.

- Can I go now?
- No, sweetie.

Cane's a caveman.

He has no social media footprint.

I need you to create one for him

so he looks legitimate as my husband.

I'm thinking a LinkedIn page,

an employee profile at my company,

and maybe a college profile, actually.

And some happy couple photos on IG.

You know, that sort of thing.

[DAVIS] Cane with a college profile.

Make sure that sh*t
is community college.

f*ck you.

f*ck you back.

This needs to look real.

You can do this, yes?

I can do my best,
but I'm not a wizard.

Somebody looks hard enough,

they can find
what they're looking for.

Well, that sounds like
a personal problem.

You're on payroll so it'll be your job

to cover your tracks then.

Let's get this show
on the road, shall we?

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

- Look, Eff...
- It's business. I got it.

There's nothing to talk about.

[DAVIS] Come on, Noma.

What's the point of pillow talk

if you're not going to talk?

Well, he came up with the solution.

Yeah. I, uh...

I make him the American face
of my subsidiary

so that I can get
the U.S. contracts pronto,

and then the marriage and the prenup

protect my assets
'til I become a citizen.

I mean...

that's the plan.

Well, you probably would have
come up with it yourself

if you weren't in the midst
of your own divorce.

Oh, well, thank you for reminding me.

Okay. I thought that, uh,
we had an understanding

as growing business partners.

- Partners?
- Yes.

I understand your practice
is underwater

and you see me as a meal ticket,

but don't be silly, Davis.

Like my tongue game,

I wouldn't underestimate
my comeback game.

Despite your tongue game,

our relationship has limitations, luv.

Besides,

you know I'm more of a one-woman show.

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

[MONET] Why the f*ck they tryin'
to hurry up and get married?

- This sh*t is stupid, man.
- Yeah, well...

I'm just as shocked as you are.

But why do you need to know the why?

To take down Carter.

Tried to get Noma to do it
but she ain't biting.

So we gotta give all the leverage

that we got on Noma to Carter

to get him off our backs so we
can figure out our next move.

That's where you come in.

Noma's my client.

n*gga, you tryin' to protect
this b*tch

when I gave you
the inside drop on her.

The f*ck?

The allegiance is with me.

Okay, and did this b*tch
even consult to you

about marrying Cane?

She's not in it for you.
She's in it for herself.

Little n*gga, you need
to calm the f*ck down.

Any pertinent information I give you

means I'm compromising
all business dealings with Noma

if she were ever to find out
I told you.

I mean, you all preach
about allegiance.

Well, Mr. Rainmaker over here's
gonna need something in return.

Sure, if you wanna end up like Obi.

That's what allegiance
with Noma gets you:

- a knife to the f*cking neck.
- You don't think I get it?

She's a shifty b*tch.

I mean, you two aren't any better.

With that being said,
my allegiance is with you.

Well, then tell us what the f*ck is up

'cause you clearly know
what this sneaky b*tch is up to.

Never forget who came through
for you during clutch time.

Who always comes through
for both your asses.

Yes, of course.

♪ ♪

Right now, this is
what matters to Noma.

Aircraft Global.

What the f*ck is this?

It's her front business.

It washes her drug money.

But she's under too much
scrutiny in Europe.

So in order to secure a contract
to sell her jet engine parts

to the U.S. government,

Aircraft Global must be owned
by an American citizen.

- [TARIQ] Cane.
- [DAVIS] Exactly.

The marriage will allow Noma
to become naturalized.

The prenup will protect her assets

until she can reclaim her company.

So basically Cane is just a strawman.

Essentially.

- And a dumbass.
- Yeah.

After Wiley Adams
was m*rder*d by Zion's crew,

I had to find her a new
government contact to bribe.

That person is Sterling Reynolds.

Muckety-muck in the state
commerce department.

Float that name by Carter.

He'll have all the leverage he needs.

- All right, bet.
- Bet.

Gotta split, Davis. Appreciate you.

As always.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC FADES]

♪ My real K*llers Move in silence ♪

♪ Real b*tches Promote violence ♪

♪ It's money over everything ♪

♪ Money over everything ♪

♪ Money over everything ♪

♪ Money over everything ♪

♪ My real K*llers Move in silence ♪

♪ Real b*tches Promote violence ♪

♪ It's money over everything ♪

♪ Money over everything... ♪

- How'd you find me here, man?
- Come on, baby. I been here.

You the one that's brand-new and sh*t.

I'm hearing you the man around here.

I'm just hoping you're not getting

too caught up Carter's a*s.

n*gga, what do you want?

Your flip-floppin' a*s
was a soldier for Noma.

I just wanna make sure Betty Crocker

ain't givin' away
all the f*ck' recipes.

All right, so you tryin'
to get punched the f*ck out.

Only if you promise
not to hit like a b*tch.

Noma don't mean sh*t to Carter.

He can take out whomever he wants

at whatever time he wants.

So you been drinkin' the Kool-Aid.

It's better than drinkin'
Noma's stank-a*s bath water.

I mean, n*gga, really?

- Workin' for Noma?
- Workin' with a dirty-a*s cop?

Come on, bro.

You doin' anything to try
to compete with me.

When will you realize
you're never gonna be me?

♪ My real K*llers Move in silence ♪

Good luck, man. Let's see
how long this works out for you.

Let's see how long marrying
your boss works out for you.

♪ Money over everything ♪

♪ Money over everything
Money over... ♪

Monet told me that Noma's
marrying the help.

You're a step above the pool boy.

She don't give a f*ck about you.

You another fall guy for her.

Oh, but oh, oh, you can't see that.

No.

No, you can't.

Oh, my bad.

[BELL DINGS]

Come back and have a drink

with your brother sometime!

[MUSIC FADES]

Oh my God, so you're marrying
a thug half your age?

How lovely. When's the wedding?

Soon. But like I told you, dear,
it's not for love.

It's for business purposes.

You fled Europe when my father
was shot in the head.

Still not clear on why.

You don't want me hanging around
Tariq St. Patrick,

whose father was a drug kingpin,

and now you're marrying Cane
for "business."

Did you know when you hired him
for your company

that he had an arrest record
for battery and theft?

You can't judge people
by their past, Anya.

Are you kidding?

That's literally what we've done
our entire lives.

Well, on paper,
Cane may not look like much,

but he has a very sharp mind.

[ANYA] Oh, wow.

- Mom, the D must be really good.
- Excuse me?

Look, I wanna know the truth.

I am tired of being spoon-fed
crap, okay?

Are the police after you?

First of all,

I don't want you to worry,
okay? No one's after me.

How do you make your money,
Mom? Really.

Anya, you don't want to hear about

a bunch of complicated,
boring corporate deals.

Uh, yes, I do, Mom.
Like, my brain can handle it.

- Yes, ma'am.
- Yes, ma'am.

[NOMA] Okay, then.

I'm betraying your father
by telling you this,

but...

you've given me no choice, and...

I imagine it's time.

Your dad was a drug trafficker, Anya.

Yeah.

I didn't know that's what
he was into when I met him.

He never wanted you to know
because he...

he wanted to protect you
from a very dangerous life,

which is why you've always
lived in the States

while we were in Europe.

But...

this is why I had to leave him.

[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]

Dad was a criminal.

Yeah.

Sweetheart...

I hated what he was doing.

The lives he was ruining
peddling drugs.

And that's why I made it
my business to be legit.

Okay?

My connection to him

may be why there might be

some law enforcement interest in me.

But you don't have to worry, okay?

Sweetheart, don't worry.

Oh, my dear girl.

- [MUSIC FADES]
- [MONITOR BEEPS STEADILY]

Hey. Um...

I'm her boyfriend, Brayden.

Look, I know I'm not
immediate family, but...

I don't care about that.

I just wanna make sure that you
haven't taken what she's taken.

Her lab results came back

and indicate that the cocaine
that she ingested

was laced with fentanyl

which then sent her
into cardiac arrest.

Do you know where she got the drugs?

No.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

Is she gonna live?

Prognosis is uncertain as of yet,

but I'll tell you one thing...

If she was left alone, she'd be dead.

- [BRAYDEN WHISPERS] Thank you.
- No problem.

♪ ♪

[SIGHS]

[WHISPERS] f*ck'...

[MUSIC SOFTENS]

This f*ck' c*cksucker.

[MESSAGE SENT NOTIFICATION]

♪ ♪

- Riq.
- What the f*ck happened?

OD.

They don't know
if she's gonna make it.

It's all good, bro. She'll be
fine. She'll pull through.

[MONET] That b*tch is using you, boy.

She's playing you for a damn fool.

A sham marriage to that crooked
b*tch ain't gon' put you on top.

Ma, whatever it is you think you know,

it doesn't matter. All right?

I'm with Noma now.
She's gonna be my wife.

So you're just gonna betray
your mother for that b*tch?

Don't talk to me about betrayal.

Detective Carter?

Yeah. I knew he had a Tejada

working with him as a CI
and it was you.

You really feedin'
this n*gga information?

You really snitchin' to Carter?

Nah, Cane. That's not what it is.

We didn't have a choice.

Carter's makin' us work for him.

And it ain't snitchin' if the
m*therf*cker's a criminal too.

Plus he sicced that f*ck'
Felicia b*tch on Diana

who beat the baby out of her.

Now you good with all of that?

Ma... miss me with all this
"family first" sh*t, all right?

You started this.

You put Noma against Carter.
You gonna damn near f*ck around

and get me and Dru k*lled
in the middle of all this sh*t.

Look, Cane, I'm trying
to protect you both.

[CANE] Nah, you just lookin' out
for yourself as usual.

I know what's best.

Can't you see that's the end game?

I'm tryin' to free y'all from
all these outside m*therf*ckers.

[SIGHS]

Okay.

Here's what I'ma do.

You're gonna, uh, put on a smile,

then you're gonna go out there
and get one of those

ugly-a*s mother of the groom dresses

and I'ma marry Noma.

And I won't tell her
that you're the one

that raided her warehouse.

- I didn't f*cking raid her...
- Stop f*cking lying. All right?

You think you on
the outside looking in?

But Noma finds this out,

you'll be stuck with Carter
for the rest of your short life.

- Short?
- Yeah, or applying to be

a f*cking greeter at Walmart.

- Never me, m*therf*cker.
- Yeah, whatever.

- p*ssy-whipped a*s...
- [ELEVATOR DINGS, DOOR OPENS]

Busy?

Nah, my moms was just leaving.

n*gga, I thought
you was getting married.

Make sure you check on your sister.

Yeah, a'ight.

Don't forget to get that application.

[TENSE HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC FADES]

[CHILDREN CHATTERING]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

He's an orphan.

I changed that
little boy's life forever.

Look, D, I understand feeling
bad for the kid, but...

his mother was a k*ller.

She was into some filthy sh*t.
That'll always come back on you.

Look...

You had no choice. All right?

But I did.

I didn't have to go
to her house and...

Tariq, not with her kid upstairs.

[TARIQ] But you didn't know, D.

Listen to me.

She took something special.

From you. From us.

Okay? It was either you or her.

You didn't do sh*t wrong.

I shouldn't have to deal
with this sh*t.

I just want a normal life
with a regular family

so I can just, I don't know, do me.

Hm. Sounds good, D, but...

we gotta be realistic.

That sh*t is damn near
impossible for us.

["LOVE ON YOU" BY PENZILLA PLAYING]

♪ I just wanna love on you ♪

Well, at one point it was possible.

And...

I don't know, maybe...

♪ Just lay right here ♪

Maybe it can happen again.

♪ 'Cause your body language ♪

You think so?

♪ The only thing I wanna hear ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah Only you know... ♪

- You sure?
- Mm-hm.

♪ Feed my body That good energy ♪

♪ Got me singing Like a symphony ♪

♪ Don't stop Don't stop lovin' me ♪

♪ Oh, let me love on you Love on you ♪

♪ Let me love on you ♪

[SIGHS]

Tariq, we don't need those.

What you mean we don't need this?

Is me getting pregnant again
the worst thing that can happen?

♪ Just can't get enough ♪

♪ ♪

All right.

D, come the f*ck on.
How do you not understand?

Forget it, Tariq.

[MUSIC FADES]

You know, I'm thinking...

if we're gonna be
one big old happy family,

surely I should get to know
the man who's marrying my mom.

Don't you think?

["ALL OUT" BY DNA PLAYING]

♪ n*gga, we go all out ♪

So...

who are you?

Who pays for this amazing penthouse?

I do.

On a bar salary?

Yeah, but that is what you do
for work, right?

Tips must be great.

Yeah, I make great investments.

- Oh.
- Uh-huh.

Where'd you learn how to do that?

From your dad who was
in prison most of your life

for dealing drugs?

Is that what you and my mom
have in common?

I don't know.

You tell me, since you seem
to know everything.

I mean, well, your whole Tejada clan.

Right?

Not to sound
offensive or anything, but...

you guys are like
the Gottis of the ghetto.

- No?
- [CANE LAUGHS]

Yo. We're entrepreneurs.

Does my mom sell drugs?

Your mom is a badass businesswoman.

Something your little a*s
should strive to be more like

instead of prying into
grown folks' business.

[LAUGHS] Grown folks.

But here, take this.

Go shopping or brunch or...

make a TikTok or some sh*t.

[SCOFFS]

I won't be calling you "Daddy."

♪ ♪

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

[MONET] We're here
to bring you a gift.

After that, we would like
to be left the f*ck alone.

[CARTER]
Oh God, I just feel like I sound

like a broken f*cking record.

You're not in charge, Red.

Dru, I don't know

how you f*cking dealt
with this as a child.

What's the f*cking gift?

Sterling Reynolds.
That's who Noma needs to bribe

in order to get her government
contract under control.

Set her up using your high-tech
toys, and you got her.

Government contract.

So this Noma, she's playing
the majors, yeah?

Which means you'll have
plenty on your hands

trying to keep that b*tch
under control.

So that's what you worried about,

my work-life balance, Monet?

Oh, I don't give a f*ck.

Monet's right.

You got Noma, you don't need us.

Get the f*ck outta here.

Not gonna happen.

You stay ready,
I'll let you know what's next.

Let's go, Dru.

[MONET] Dru.

Dru!

Why you doing this?

Why you acting like this?

Ma, don't make it personal.

Look, Dru, this is not what you want.

This is not who you are.

Answering to a f*cking cop?
I mean, reporting to him

like he's your f*ck' boss
or some sh*t.

What are you... what are you doing?

I make my own choices, Monet.

You and Cane do not get
to decide who I'm gonna be.

And I had to call Carter
and loop him in

'cause if I didn't, his f*cking
task force woulda hunted us down

and k*lled us.

I didn't betray this family, okay?

I saved this f*cking family,
and you're f*cking welcome.

What about quittin'
the business? Your art?

Maybe it wasn't... about the business.

Maybe it was just doing
business with family.

[CAR HORN HONKING]

Chill the f*ck out!

Who the f*ck is he to you?

Your father substitute?

Are you f*cking serious right...

I shouldn't need a f*cking substitute!

♪ ♪

Look, I am being trusted

to handle some
king-size sh*t right now...

and I like it.
So that's what it means to me.

Look, you remember,
it's still my blood

that runs through your veins.

You are a Tejada.

No matter what.

- [MUSIC FADES]
- [KNOCKING AT DOOR]

♪ I took the steps
That I needed, see ♪

♪ Don't care Who believed in me ♪

What?

["PAIN INTO POWER" BY AMINDI PLAYING]

I know you said
we didn't need to talk, but...

I'm here anyways. All right?

I'm trying to secure my future

the same way you doing wit' yours.

We had this argument before
and you said that already.

Oh, wow. So not only
do you do robot sh*t,

but you're an actual robot.
That's crazy.

I am working on Noma's assignment

and I have to get back to it, so...

Congrats, by the way.

Let me know where you register.

[DOOR SLAMS]

[CHUCKLES]

Yeah.

[THUDDING KICKS]

Yo.

Club's down, man.

What the f*ck you mean
club's down, man?

Building got bought today.

By who?

Some very rich m*therf*cker
who didn't wanna be identified.

n*gga, what the f*ck
you talking about?

Oh, I forgot.

Somebody left you this.

[DRAMATIC HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

[ELLE ON RECORDING]
♪ That's that old school love ♪

[BRUSHAUNDRIA] ♪ Come on, yeah ♪

- ♪ That old school love ♪
- [MESSAGE NOTIFICATION DINGS]

[BRUSHAUNDRIA] ♪ Hey, one time ♪

- [ELLE] ♪ That's... ♪
- [MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY]

[TENSE, GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]

[MESSAGE SENT NOTIFICATION]

[CELL PHONE VIBRATES]

[BRAYDEN] Yo, Riq. I need you.

What's up? This about Elle?

Yeah.

I used her phone to re-up
with the dirtbag

who sold her the tainted sh*t.

You down to pay him a visit tonight?

sh*t, what you got in mind?

I just wanna scare the m*therf*cker.

A'ight, bet.

[MUSIC FADES]

- [DOOR OPENS]
- [TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

[DRU] A'ight, Cane,
you wanna play games?

Let's play, m*therf*cker.

♪ ♪

This n*gga.

♪ ♪

[MUSIC FADES]

New owner's jackin' up the rent
like it's Fifth Ave.

So we might need to find a new spot.

No sweat. I've already identified

another building we can use.

A good soldier never waits.

So, Noma.

I'm hearing she's making more moves.

Yeah, I already got a plan for her.

I think maybe we should hit harder.

She's providing g*ns for the
Italians in the Lower East now.

- You certain about this?
- Absolutely.

She's taking over the city
hood by hood,

and it could mean more violence.

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

So how is this information useful

if I can't strike?

She's got a g*n shipment
comin' in tonight.

My guys gonna face any resistance?

Nothing y'all can't handle.

♪ ♪

[MUSIC FADES]

So natural evil versus moral evil.

Okay? An earthquake versus m*rder.

Now, in his writings,

Nietzsche argues against
the concept of evil altogether.

Does that describe a moral reality?

Well, Nietzsche said
the wisest man would be able

to categorize people by more
than just good and evil.

[GIRL] For me, having grown up
in a religious household,

the word gets thrown around too much.

Mm-hm. Think of how we use it
to sell wars.

"The axis of evil."

Or to excuse the mistreatment
of others.

"Evildoers."

So you agree with the notion

that it's only used
to demonize one's enemies?

Most cases, yes.

Um... Tariq?

I think evil's real.

I don't trust anyone that believes

that there isn't any evil.

They're probably evil themselves.

Now, to the opposing argument

explored in The Atrocity Paradigm.

Uh, Diana?

No phone zone.

- Oh, sorry.
- Tell me what you thought

about Card's argument.

Um, sorry, what?

It was the paper
that I assigned you to read.

[WHISPERS]
Argue about why evil exists.

Oh, right, um...

I think believing
in the concept of evil

just means acknowledging when someone

has been treated unjustly.

That's what makes all of us human.

[CHATTER]

Hey.

Thanks for having my back in there.

Oh yeah, no problem. But, you know,

Professor Simmons, he don't play.

- He'll fail you.
- Yeah.

Oh, I heard about Elle.
How's she doing?

[SIGHS] Touch and go.
I'm still messed up

about it though, you know?

I'm not a monster.

- I ain't tryin' to k*ll nobody.
- Girl, I know that.

But look, um...

I don't have anybody else to talk to,

so can I ask you something?

And this time, girl,
please don't say nothin'.

Okay. I promise.

What's up?

You pregnant again?

No, but...

sometimes I feel like I wanna be.

I mean, that's normal
after a miscarriage.

Okay, well, is it normal

for how when me and Tariq
were kissing and whatever,

I tried to stop him
from using a condom?

Girl, yeah.

A lot of girls do that.

They start trying right away
for a replacement baby.

Damn, I didn't know that.

Well, actually,

my mom got pregnant real quick
after she gave up Zeke.

- So...
- Hm.

So now you know how she felt.

I mean, look.

It's not like being a young mother

wouldn't be the hardest job
of your life.

I mean, I got cousins
who had babies as teenagers

and they can't go nowhere.

Can't have any dreams.
Their lives just stopped.

I'd say, if you want
the most for your life,

just forget about Tariq

and forget about any fairy tale life

that you had in your head and just...

focus on being a good student.

Yeah.

- [BRUSHAUNDRIA] I'll see you.
- [DIANA] A'ight, thanks.

See you later.

[CHATTER]

[CELL PHONE VIBRATES]

What the f*ck are you doing here?

Come on, it's a fancy school.

Is that how they teach you
to talk to your mother?

Oh, that's what
you're calling yourself?

Josie, come on.

Don't call me that.
That's not my name.

Give me a break.
That's what I named you.

Come on, you think I wanted
to make a surprise visit here?

You haven't been returning my calls.

[SIGHS]

Richard left me.

For some young bimbo
that works at the car company.

[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]

And... if I know you,
you probably think I deserve it.

But I'm really in a bad spot.

I was hoping maybe just...

maybe you could float me some cash.

The man that molested me left you.

Sounds like a f*cking you problem.

[SIGHS]

For all my mistakes, you know, I...

I can still be proud
of my little girl.

You've come a long way, Josie.

Sometimes...

it takes a lifetime...

to learn how to love.

Look at you.
I mean, you're making it big

here at the Ivy League.

Whose brains you think you got, huh?

That's me inside your head!

You're doin' things
I never had a chance to do.

♪ ♪

The best thing you ever did was leave.

I know that.

And I'm really happy that you did.

If you were on fire, I wouldn't
piss on you to put you out.

And if you were cold,

I would never let you in.

If I had every single
dollar in the world,

I wouldn't give you
a m*therf*cking cent.

f*ck you...

Mom.

♪ ♪

There she is.

Cold-hearted Josefina.

You're a real b*tch.

How is anyone ever gonna love you?

Huh?

[MUSIC DARKENS]

[MONET] We only bought us some time.

- Carter's still running sh*t.
- Yep.

Gotta take that n*gga out.

Noma wanted to know
Carter's plan to take her out.

I think if we give her that,

let her know that he was
trying to set her up...

I think we'll have that taken care of.

She'd obviously have no choice
but to...

- f*cking clap back at his a*s.
- Exactly.

That's some cold sh*t, but...

it's gotta be done.

It's our best play.

Start a w*r between them,

get 'em the f*ck off our backs.

Hundred percent.

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

Go, go! I told you not to stop.

[NICO] Hands where I can
f*ck' see 'em!

Hands in the air! Let's go!

Stay where the f*ck you're at.

We got a man goin' around
the back. Let's go.

Where the f*ck you goin'?

g*n down.

What the f*ck do we have here?

♪ ♪

Well, who's gonna tell Noma this sh*t?

[CELL PHONE VIBRATES]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

This m*therf*cker!

Too f*ck' far.

[ENGINE STARTS]

I've been told

you're the man to see
when the mayor needs a favor.

I've been told you're a woman
who expects the same treatment.

[NOMA CHUCKLES]

[WAITER THROUGH WIRE] Good evening.

Our feature tonight

is a vintage Bordeaux from Pauillac.

- May I oblige?
- [NOMA] Absolutely.

- [STERLING] Please.
- Ah...

[GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]

[STERLING] Thank you.

Yeah, I'd like the U.S.
government as a client,

but the red tape feels insurmountable.

It's not, if you know
how to navigate it.

Is that where you come in?

If we can agree on... how I can help.

Please, be direct with me.

- I can make whatever off...
- Sorry I'm late.

Uh, I hope I didn't miss
the appetizers.

- Noma. Sterling.
- [STERLING] Davis.

Thank you for taking
this meeting, brother.

- Why is Davis in there?
- [NOMA] As you know...

What the f*ck is happening?

[NOMA] ...Davis is my counsel.

Yes, I never let my clients
take a meeting alone.

Sterling understands.

He was a lawyer in a former life.

[STERLING CHUCKLES]

[WAITER] Any starters for the table?

♪ ♪

Yes, um...
Sterling, please, you go ahead.

Um, fine. Uh...

I'll get the, uh, the fluke.

Is that good? Local? All right, yeah.

Then we're gonna go with
the, uh... with some oysters.

I guess. Uh, yeah,

I'll take octopus.

How's the fennel? That good?

All right, I'll get the fennel.

[WAITER] Ma'am, may I
take your order next?

[NOMA] No.

It was a pleasure meeting you.

I'm so sorry, but something's come up.

Let's do this another time.

Another time.

Where the f*ck is she going?

What the f*ck is happening?

[MUSIC TURNS OMINOUS]

[MUSIC FADES]

[DAVIS] That was a close f*cking call.

How'd you know about this?

I got wind of it from a source
close to the task force.

f*ck!

[SIGHS] Tariq and Monet
warned me about this Carter.

Yeah, rare occasion
when those two are right.

Davis...

- I could lose everything.
- No. No, no, no, no, no.

Not so fast, trap queen, okay?

Look, you still got me
on your side, okay?

Question is,

what are you gonna do about Carter?

I just missed getting arrested
for a federal crime by a hair.

It's obvious, isn't it?

I have to neutralize the m*therf*cker.

- [DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
- [MESSAGE NOTIFICATION PINGS]

It's Davis.

sh*t worked like f*ck' clockwork.

- Cop stuff?
- Yeah.

Noma's gonna take out Detective Carter

so we can get his boot
off our f*ck' necks.

[DOOR BUZZER RINGING]

n*gga, are you high?

I took a mini bump
to take the edge off.

Take the edge off. That sh*t
don't take no edge off of you.

Other day, you was on the stage
lookin' like Jonah Hill

from f*ck' Wolf of Wall Street.

- [DOOR BUZZER RINGING]
- Can you trust me for once?

- I'm good, Riq.
- Yeah, we'll see.

[DOOR LOCK BUZZES]

Come on.

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

[HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

Thanks for inviting us over.

You must be Steve, you piece of sh*t.

Who the f*ck are you?
Where the hell's Elle?

Elle's in the hospital
fighting for her life.

- This m*therf*cker...
- So she sent us.

You... you can't just go...
This is my operation, man.

- f*ck that.
- You like lacing your sh*t, Steve?

Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait.

Are you guys undercover or some sh*t?

Because if she had a bad reaction,

- ain't me that did it.
- This n*gga's lying.

Then take it.

- What?
- Do a line.

If your sh*t isn't laced, it
shouldn't be a f*cking problem.

f*cking go. Do a line.

- Go.
- [TARIQ] Come on.

- [GRUNTS, COUGHS]
- Let's go. Do another one.

Do a-f*cking-nother one! Do it!

There. [COUGHS] You happy,
you crazy f*ck?

No, I'm not happy.
Do a-f*cking-nother one!

All right, B. All right, B,
all right, that's enough.

You're f*cking acting crazy.
We're supposed to scare him.

Yeah, that's what the f*ck I'm doing!

- You're gonna f*cking k*ll him.
- What the f*ck do I care?

If it was your girl,
you'd do the same.

- No! No!
- Let's f*cking go!

Do another one! Let's go!
Do another one!

- What the f*ck are you doing?
- [GRUNTS, CRIES]

Look at this sh*t, bro.

- [STEVE COUGHS]
- f*ck.

Now what?

- [g*nsh*t]
- [TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

B, what the f*ck are you doing?

Are you f*cking crazy?

You're not thinking straight,
bro. What the f*ck?!

Help me get the f*cking body.

B, this is not supposed
to work out like this.

What, you're the only person
that can get revenge, not me?

It doesn't work like this,
m*therf*cker! Look at you!

What the f*ck? This is messy.
This is how we get caught!

Let's go. Get a f*cking rag.

[WOMAN] Everything all right up there?

f*ck!

Come on, come on, come on.
We outta here.

Got an exit in the front.
Let's go. Come the f*ck on!

♪ ♪

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

- f*ck! Let's go.
- Shh! Come on. Come on!

[MUSIC FADES]

I better not be made a fool.

Aw, come on. Can you have
some confidence in your man?

There he is. Look, this is
the guy Monet and Tariq said

is Carter's right hand.

He knows where the bodies are buried.

And they said he's for sale.

All you gotta do is make him an offer

better than Carter's, and we're good.

[GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]

We know your operation.

You've been taking cuts
from drug dealers.

Detective Carter's who we want.

Where's my 50 K for this meeting?

Once you agree to turn on Carter

and report him to your superiors,

you'll get another 500 K.

Nah, that's f*ck' chump change.

The reach is global, right?

So that's not nearly enough.

What do you have in mind?

Seven figures up front
and ongoing payments.

Yeah, maybe.

[CANE] Ain't that a b*tch.

Greedy m*therf*cker.

[MUSIC FADES]

I could not believe
when the hospital called.

Believe it.

You won't be getting rid of me.

Did I scare you?

I thought I lost you.

Oh. Here is your phone back.

Thank you.

All I remember is...

this gets me in trouble.

Easy access.

I don't want any more
of that tainted sh*t ever again.

Well... you don't have to worry
about that anymore

because I took care of it.

What do you mean?

He's never gonna sell you
bad sh*t ever again.

Or anyone else.

[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]

Brayden, I... I hope...

[SIGHS] You-you didn't...

Like, that's my job, to protect you.

He almost f*ck' k*lled you.
f*ck that guy.

But he didn't.

I-I'm still here.

I didn't want that.

Brayden, that's not my idea of love.

It's okay. No one's gonna find out.

If battling an illness my entire
life has taught me anything,

it's that life itself is precious.

[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]

I... I can't...

I can't have this kind of guilt.

You can go now, please.

[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]

[CARTER] Denise, I got this.

You gotta trust me.

You on the phone?

No.

Thought I saw you talking to somebody.

No. What's up?

[SIGHS, CLEARS THROAT]

You're not gonna f*ck' believe this.

Noma tried to flip me.

You gotta be f*cking kidding me.

- This b*tch. How'd she find you?
- I don't f*cking know.

You know that sh*t
ain't happenin' though.

[CARTER] Yeah.

What she offer you?

A lot of money.

I didn't take anything.

[CLEARS THROAT]

So how do you wanna handle this?

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

Agree to the deal

with the caveat
that you must meet in person

for the first payment.

Alone.

Cool?

Yeah, I got you.

♪ ♪

I am putting the finishing
touches on your social media.

I just need you to look at 'em.

I have backdated your posts.

I just need a professional
picture for your work history

and then you can let me know

what you think about it
when it's done.

I don't care about this sh*t.

I care about you, Effie.

What am I supposed
to say to that, Cane?

I don't know. Maybe show me
you have a f*cking pulse.

A pulse? A f*cking pulse.

Why the f*ck does everybody say that?

You shoulda told me. Why didn't you?

I didn't know she was gonna wave
the ring in your f*cking face.

Listen, she's just trying
to make it seem

like something that it's not.

That's not what I asked you.

It's business.

There we go.

I can deal with that.

But we were supposed to be friends,

and you were supposed to have my back.

And for a minute,

I thought you were the one
person that understood me.

- I do.
- You don't.

And that's been the problem
my entire f*cking life.

Effie is always looking out for Effie.

What happened to "You do
this one thing for Noma

and you're off the hook"?

I don't get why it feels like

I'm always being backed
into a f*cking corner

where I gotta prove how I feel.

You the one that's leaving to go
do some robot sh*t

with some lame-a*s n*gga.

No, don't do that.

That's a cop-out and you know it.

[SIGHS]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[SIGHS]

I got you. All right,
no matter what, I got you.

That's all I ask.

[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]

Now can you show me
my page that you created?

I don't know...

[MUSIC FADES]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

Detective Carter.

What an unexpected pleasure.

Nico couldn't make it, so...

you're stuck with me.

Noma.

I've been riding with Nico
for as long as I can remember.

So what you did is a...

serious violation.

Where I'm from, that requires,
uh... consequences.

I can respect that.

But when you're surrounded by enemies,

you resort to whatever weapons
you have handy.

- Enemies?
- [NOMA] Yeah.

Tariq St. Patrick and Monet Tejada

said you're after me.

You're an unfamiliar face.

I wanted to know what you were about.

Yeah, they didn't put it so kindly.

[CARTER] That's ironic.

They said some unflattering things

about you as well.

Like you...

planning to bribe
a government official.

- Is that what they told you?
- Mm-hm.

[CHUCKLES SARDONICALLY]

♪ ♪

Common enemy.

Why not common goal?

[MUSIC DARKENS]

I'm listening.

I don't want any more trouble
from the NYPD

and your illustrious task force.

You've been using the people
who work for me.

Why not work with me

and cut out the annoying
middle b*tches?

I can offer you so much more.

And I'm sure there's so many
things you can do for me.

Hm.

["CHASE ME" BY B CHE PLAYING]

- ♪ Running ♪
- ♪ Running ♪

♪ Chase me, whoa, whoa ♪

- ♪ Plotting ♪
- ♪ Whoa, whoa ♪

- ♪ Betray me ♪
- ♪ Hey, yeah ♪

- ♪ Just waiting ♪
- ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ To get me ♪

♪ Gotta chase me ♪

♪ Gotta chase me ♪

♪ Gotta chase me ♪

- ♪ Gotta chase me ♪
- ♪ Chase me ♪

- ♪ L-l-love me ♪
- ♪ Love me ♪

- ♪ Hate me ♪
- ♪ Hate me ♪

- ♪ Running ♪
- ♪ Running ♪

♪ Chase me, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ Round and round And round we go ♪

♪ Ain't no catchin' me ♪

♪ I know one thing certain
Two for sure ♪

♪ You too slow for me ♪

- ♪ That's why they hate me ♪
- ♪ Hate me ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm too fast Can't catch me ♪

♪ Can't catch me ♪

♪ Fast like a NASCAR ♪

♪ Comin' through The back door ♪

♪ I win, you lose
This is what you asked for ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, tryna set
A trap for me ♪

♪ But I got a few tricks
Up my sleeve ♪

- ♪ L-l-love me ♪
- ♪ Love me ♪

- ♪ Hate me ♪
- ♪ Hate me ♪

- ♪ Running ♪
- ♪ Running ♪

♪ Chase me, whoa, whoa ♪

- ♪ Plotting ♪
- ♪ Whoa, whoa ♪

- ♪ Betray me ♪
- ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

- ♪ Just waiting ♪
- ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ To get me ♪

♪ Gotta chase me ♪

♪ Gotta chase me ♪

♪ Gotta chase me ♪

♪ Gotta chase me ♪

- ♪ L-l-love me ♪
- ♪ Love me ♪

[MUSIC FADES]