Deb Is Boss (2026)

[bunniefuu]

[hip-hop music]

- Jason Aro,

put the record out

- Before anybody knew my name,

life tested me.

It pushed me

into dark corners,

dared me to give up,

tried to convince me

I wasn't enough.

I'm not a product

of the streets.

I'm a survivor.

And this is my story.

[car horn honking]

[gavel bangs]

- Debra Antney...

[tense music]

You have been found guilty

of as*ault and battery

in the first degree.

Now, I sentence you

to two years.

[gavel bangs]

- Two years for fighting?

Come on now.

I always thought

if I went to jail,

it would have been for drugs.

Let me explain.

[upbeat music]

You see,

drugs have been in my life

since I was a little girl.

- Come on.

- It's spooky up here.

- My daddy comes up here,

like, all the time.

- I thought you were supposed

to put your bathing suit on.

- I am, but I want to show you

something first.

Look.

- What is it?

- Baby powder.

- Baby powder?

Why y'all need so much of it?

- Mm-mm-mm.

I think my daddy sells it.

- Girl, get your hand

out of my face.

- Whoa, whoo,

I love baby powder!

Mm, it smells so good!

[sniffing] Ooh.

[suspenseful music]

- Deb? Deb, what's wrong?

No, Deb! Deb!

- Come on, girl.

- Don't hurt yourself.

- Whoo-hoo!

Could get it back in the day.

- Uncle James!

Uncle James, come quick!

Uncle James, come quick!

It's Deb!

- What's wrong, baby?

- It's Deb.

- Wait, baby.

What happened?

Where is she?

- What's wrong?

- We were in the attic,

and Deb was showing me

the baby powder upstairs.

And she just fell on the floor

and started shaking.

- Baby powder?

What baby powder?

- The baby powder in the attic.

- Son of a...

Millie, call the ambulance.

Get 'em here now.

- But, James, what's going on,

because I don't--baby powder?

- An ambulance,

and get it here right now!

- That's my mom.

- What happened?

- She was kind of naive

when it came to the drug game.

But my dad...

- What happened?

- He wasn't naive

about nothing.

- Well, it appears

your daughter overdosed.

- He knew the ins

and outs of the game

better than anybody else.

- She's very lucky to be alive.

- No, overdosed?

- And he moved more product

than any hustler...

- Overdosed on what?

- You can think of coming out

of Queens, New York.

- My baby doesn't do drugs.

- From the looks of it,

I'd say heroin.

We still have to test the

residue that's on her clothing.

- Doctor, can I please

see my baby?

- Of course, of course.

- Yes. Thank you.

- Sir, you do understand

I need to alert

the authorities about this.

[tense music]

- No, Doc.

That's not what we're gonna do.

This is what we're gonna do.

My daughter, Deb,

got ahold of some baby powder.

And she had

an allergic reaction.

You rock with that?

- That's a possibility, sir.

- Thank you, Doc.

[soft music]

What are you doing, baby?

- I am packing your sh*t

so you can get the hell

out of my house.

- Come on, Millie,

stop this sh*t now.

- An overdose.

An overdose, James? Hmm?

My baby had an overdose

because of you

and what you brought

in this house.

And I was just

too stupid to see it!

- No, Millie,

you weren't stupid.

Millie, come on, baby.

Come on, come on, stop.

- Get off me.

- No.

- No, no, no, no, no.

- Baby--

- No.

- Come on now.

- No.

- Stop, stop it,

stop it, stop it.

- Listen, this is yours.

- Stop it.

- Get out.

Get the hell out of my house.

Get out, get out, get out!

Now are you gonna get out?

Are you gonna get out,

or do I have to call the police

about your drugs?

Hmm?

- Daddy's got to leave, guys.

Come here.

- [crying]

Daddy, please don't leave.

- Daddy messed up with Mommy,

and Mommy's mad.

- No, y'all come over here.

Turn them loose.

Get over here.

- [whispering]

I love you, OK?

- Deb, get over here.

- Go, go to your mother.

Go on down.

Go on down.

- Right now!

- I love y'all.

- And that was

my introduction to drugs.

- I'm sorry.

- And it changed

my life forever.

- Deb, what you doing?

- I'm going to Sugarlump's

house to take care of Daddy.

It's my fault he's gone.

When my parents separated,

I moved in with

my dad and grandmother.

And let me just tell you,

me and my pops

was inseparable.

[upbeat music]

- One of my favorite songs

right here.

You like that song?

- Mm-mm, no.

- Mm-mm.

- Let me see something.

[static crackling]

- What are you doing?

- Turning to it.

Ooh, I like this song

right here.

- What you know about this?

You like good music?

- I sure do.

- Well, you know this

the king of soul right here.

[vocalizing]

But see, you can't

outdance your daddy.

- Please.

- [laughs]

Oh, hey, high five, ow!

[upbeat music]

- Hey, hey. Hey, Deb.

- That's my Uncle Calvin,

my dad's best friend.

I learned everything

I know about the game

from him, my dad,

and Uncle Ben.

Oh, don't worry,

you gonna meet Uncle Ben.

- Just take that whole thing

and put it inside that bag.

Calvin, where you going?

You know the man's still

looking for you, right?

- Dude, I know.

And I'm gonna handle

that later today.

- OK, make sure you handle it.

You understand?

That m*therf*cker is dangerous.

- Got you, baby. [chuckles]

All right, y'all take care.

[upbeat music]

- Yo, yo.

OK.

All good?

sh*t's good, man.

Let's go, baby.

[grunts]

Hey, got something for you.

- Ooh.

Thanks, Daddy.

- All right,

let's get out of here.

- Ooh.

- Got us some goodies.

- Ooh, thanks, Daddy,

my favorite.

Mm--oh, and a drink?

- Hey, let's make a toast.

You and I forever.

- Hey, I want you

to play these numbers.

They come out, we get

a lot of money, all right?

- All right.

- Here's a $20 for you.

- Ooh, thanks, Daddy.

- You're welcome.

Let's go get us

something to eat now.

You still fooling around

with that thing?

- Yeah, I thought

I had it figured out,

but this is harder

than it looks.

- Nothing's too hard

for my baby.

You gonna figure

that out one day.

And when you do,

I got $100 for you.

- Hey there, Millie.

How you doing today?

- Sugarlump, Sugarlump.

I've had better days.

I'm looking for that

daughter of mine.

- Hmm, I ain't seen her today.

- Well, the police came to my

house looking for her today.

- The police looking for Deb?

For what?

- Fighting.

Again.

This time, a real bad one.

The girl's parents

want to press charges.

- [laughs]

Oh, man, I got to give it

to that Deb.

She can scrap.

Reminds me of me

back in the day.

She probably was just

defending herself.

You know how they like

to pick on Deb.

- I don't care.

Deb need to keep her

hands to herself.

I can't have the police coming

to my house every other week.

- Sugar Mama was right.

I wasn't just

defending myself.

I was defending my moms.

And to know me is to know

that one thing you don't do,

and that's talk bad

about my family.

- If I see her,

I'll talk to her.

- Hmm.

- I'll send her your way.

- Oh, no,

don't send her my way.

Tell your son.

And tell him that

she's suspended from school

for five days,

and she can't go back

until next week.

- Oh, Lord. Mm-mm-mm.

- Sugarlump, they're gonna

cut my lights off next week.

When you see James,

tell him I need some help.

- I will.

- Hey.

- Hmm?

- I gotta go in here

and take care

of some business, all right?

- All right.

- I ain't gonna be too long.

Stay in this car.

- OK.

- All right.

[tense music]

- That's Ben Balboa,

my Uncle Ben, my dad's boss.

He's one of the biggest

mafia capos in Queens.

- What the f*ck is right.

This

testa di cazzo

friend of yours,

he had the ba*ls

to steal my money!

- Oh, no, come on, man.

- You calling me a liar?

- [shouts, crying]

- So James,

now that you're here,

huh, this is

your friend, right?

You brought him in, right?

You said he was

the right guy, right?

- Yeah, I did.

- Well, since he's your friend,

you decide.

Do we let him live,

or does he die?

You shut up.

Now you think long and hard,

because if you let

this piece of sh*t live,

all his sins are on you, hmm?

Along with his 25K debt.

- No, come on, James.

Tell him I'ma pay him back.

Tell him, James.

Come on, man, tell him.

We go way back.

- I hear you, bro.

You know I love you

like a brother, man.

But you do stupid sh*t, Calvin.

- Come on.

- And you don't listen.

I told you the man was

looking for you, man.

I told you to handle that sh*t.

I can't save you now, bruh.

You f*cked up.

Listen, I'm having

a f*cking hard time

pulling my own

m*therf*cking weight.

You understand?

I can't carry yours too.

- You know me, man.

Come on, man,

you're like my brother, man.

Come on.

Tell him, man.

I'ma pay him his money, man.

- Sorry, Calvin.

- Sorry, bro.

- No.

- Verdict's in.

- Come on, man.

[g*nsh*t, shell clinks]

- Hey, Deb, I thought

I told you to stay in the car.

Man, I told her

to stay in the car.

- That's all right.

You take care of this, huh?

Clean up this mess.

- All right, I got it.

- Hey, beautiful.

Bella Debra, huh?

- Hey, Uncle Ben.

- Now you're not gonna tell

anybody about this, are you?

- About what?

- About what you

just saw over there.

- I don't know what you're

talking about, Uncle Ben.

I didn't see nothing.

I just came here to show Daddy

that I solved my Rubik's Cube.

He promised me $100

if I did it.

- [chuckling]

Oh, that's wonderful.

You know, as a matter of fact,

your dad's not gonna

give you $100.

Your Uncle Ben is

gonna give you $200.

- Ooh, really?

- Yeah.

- Ooh, that's fresh.

- Yeah?

- Thanks, Uncle Ben.

- Ah, you're welcome.

Now, look, look,

you go to the car.

You wait for your dad, OK?

- OK.

- That's the smartest girl

I ever met.

She can go far in this world,

mainly because she knows

how to shut the hell up.

- Oh, I saw it.

I see everything.

But the first rule to the game

that my dad taught me

was to never snitch.

Still didn't stop me

from fighting.

- I sentence you to two years

at Spofford Juvenile

Detention Center.

- Let's go.

[gavel bangs]

[indistinct chatter]

- I'm so sorry.

[indistinct chatter]

[melancholy music]

[door buzzing]

- Lights out, 10 minutes!

- I'm Deb.

What's your name?

- Pam.

- Pam, you gonna sit

in the corner like that,

or are you gonna go to bed?

- No.

Jackie's coming.

- Jackie?

The f*ck is Jackie?

- Mind your business or

you'll be warming my bed next.

Let's go, Pam.

You got some work to do

before you go to sleep.

Let's go.

- She ain't answer me.

- Move, b*tch!

- But I had a feeling that

Jackie was gonna be a problem.

Fat a*s b*tch.

Yo, Donna?

- What's happening?

- Why this big b*tch

keep staring at me?

And she told me to mind

my business earlier.

- That's Jackie from the Bronx.

If I was you,

I'd stay clear of her.

- sh*t, b*tch told me

mind my business earlier.

I don't want no problems.

You see, when it

come to bullies,

even when there's no problem,

they'll create one.

- Ain't no joke.

She don't play.

- Why are you over here,

white girl?

What you want?

- Donna, leave her alone.

- I just came to see

my cellmate.

- What's up, Pam?

What's this for?

- I know you just got here,

so you probably

haven't had a chance

to shop at the commissary.

So I just got you

an extra juice and chips.

- Oh, thank you.

I appreciate it.

- I'll see you later.

- Yeah.

- Don't eat that sh*t.

- Why, what's wrong with it?

- You don't want

that kind of smoke.

- Man, oh, sh*t. My bad.

I ain't eaten nothing all day.

I ain't have breakfast.

I mean, I'm hungrier

than a m*therf*cker.

- I will find you

something else to eat.

Put that sh*t back

where she left it.

You don't need

them kind of problems.

- Taking sh*t

that belongs to me, b*tch.

- b*tch?

I don't gotta take nothing

that belong to you, hoe.

- b*tch, my b*tch

gave that sh*t to you.

That sh*t belongs to me.

- What she didn't know

is I wasn't gonna back down.

I ain't like that

flavor anyway.

I hate bullies.

- You think that

sh*t's funny, huh?

[chuckles]

- No, but I think

you look funny.

And I don't like bullies.

So get the f*ck out my face,

and don't come back

to my cell no more.

- What?

- Hey!

What's going on over here?

- Y'all good?

- Yeah, we good.

- OK.

- OK.

- Y'all best find a way

to deal with your beef.

I'd hate to throw you

in the hole.

You better check yourself.

- Keep walking.

- Jackie, do you hear me?

- Mm-hmm.

- I ain't scared

of your big a*s.

Y'all better figure

this sh*t out.

That goes for everybody

up in here!

- Let's go, Pam.

- Chill.

[tense music]

- Hey, yo, Deb, you ready?

'Cause fighting this b*tch

Jackie is like fighting a man.

But look,

I got something for you.

Listen,

you know you can always

go to the COs

and tell 'em what's up, right?

[scoffs]

Ain't nobody gonna think

less of you, especially me.

- I don't f*ck with

the police like that.

Let that b*tch come in here.

I ain't scared.

- Lights out, 10 minutes!

- Whatever.

- She's gonna come for you.

- I know, Pam.

Let her come. I'm ready.

Let me ask you a question.

- Yeah?

- How come you never

defend yourself?

You never fight back.

Just let her do whatever

she want to do with you.

- Because I can't win, Deb.

What's the point

of getting beat up

if I'm gonna just

end up doing it anyway?

- You ready, b*tch?

- Yeah.

- Get the f*ck out the way!

I'm not talking to you,

white b*tch.

Talking to this b*tch

right here

who ate my m*therf*cking chips,

running your m*therf*cking

mouth, bow, wow, wow.

Get the f*ck up, b*tch!

[screams]

- Jackie was big.

But one thing my pops

taught me before I went inside

was how to take

a sock full of rocks

and use it as blackjack

for protection.

[rocks banging]

I ain't gonna lie,

I was kind of surprised

when Donna jumped in.

But that's when I knew

she had my back.

[shouts]

And we became best friends.

- Hey, she out!

[yelling]

- I beat Jackie a*s that day.

But it ended up landing me

three months in the hole.

[door slams]

[melancholy music]

[sniffs]

- All right, let's go, Antney.

- Come on, move.

- Already?

I was just starting

to get comfortable.

- Come on.

[door slams]

- What's up?

- All right, I'm in the cell.

- Bye-bye.

- When I got back

to general population...

Anyway, what up, Pam?

I would say

I was a new person.

What's all this stuff?

And with a new title.

- Gifts from the girls.

- Girls?

- Yeah, and now she been

transferred over to Rikers,

you got her spot.

- What spot?

- sh*t, girl,

you the new boss of this b*tch.

[laughter]

- Boss of this b*tch.

Oh, the boss! I like that.

But I ain't the boss

of nobody, man.

I'm just holding my own.

- I feel that.

- Nah, you're the boss.

[laughs] You're the boss.

- Boss--kind of like it.

- All right, all right,

I tell you what we're gonna do.

- Got a little ring to it.

I spent another year

and a half running Spofford

until they finally

called my name.

[indistinct chatter]

- Damn.

- And I got some right now.

- What you gonna do with that?

- Hold on, hold on.

- Ooh.

- And if you ain't got nothing,

I got something else for that.

- Hey, Antney!

Pack your sh*t.

You going home.

- What?

[chuckles] Nah.

Are you really leaving?

- I'm out.

Y'all make sure y'all

look me up in the yellow pages

when y'all get out of here,

all right?

I'm gonna make sure

I get both of y'all a job

working with my dad.

- Damn, b*tch.

I'm gonna miss you.

- I'm gonna miss you too.

[laughter]

- Ah!

- Ah!

Donna, I'ma need you

to watch out for Pam.

Nothing can happen to her,

for real.

Nothing can happen to her.

- Yo, Deb,

chill the f*ck out, OK?

The white girl's safe with me.

I mean, not that she needs it.

You done taught her a*s

how to fight and sh*t.

- Uh-huh.

[laughter]

- Man. All right.

- All right,

so y'all hold it down.

And, um, I'ma see y'all

on the outside.

- All right.

- All right, all right.

- Come on.

- Freedom meant it was time to

get back to work with my dad.

And I couldn't be happier--

only he wasn't the one

picking me up.

It was my mom.

And that's never good news.

- Mom, what are you doing here?

And where's Daddy?

What's up, Freddie?

- Baby, hey.

Mm.

Your father's not coming.

They picked him up

about two months ago.

- For what?

- What do you think?

Drugs.

- All right, well, if he locked

up, we need to go and get him.

- No, Deb, he is not

your responsibility.

James is a grown man.

He can handle himself.

It's you who needs my help.

Which is why

I'm sending you to Boston.

- Boston?

I ain't going to no Boston.

I'm not going to Boston.

- You are. And you will.

- Boston, you serious?

- Yes.

- Why are you doing this?

- Baby, you're my daughter,

and I love you.

I want you to finish school,

not running around this city

behind your father

selling drugs.

- I could just get my GED here.

- It has already been arranged

with your Aunt Kathy.

Now Freddie will drive you

up there tonight.

- All right.

- What's up, cuz?

- Get in the car.

- Boston?

Don't nobody from New York

want to live in Boston.

Just like that,

I was in Boston.

- He hit the ground running.

You know what?

- Stop.

- All right, I'm gonna stop.

- All right, stop.

Go ahead, run your hand up.

- Go ahead.

- Oh, yeah,

you don't want me to go!

You ain't want me to go.

Stop.

[laughter]

Y'all playing with me.

- Trying to block

the game, huh?

- Mm-hmm.

- Star, who is that cutie

with Mikey and Freddie?

- That's Vernon.

Stay away from him.

He's a real player.

- I didn't say I wanted him.

I was just window shopping.

Let's go watch the game.

- Y'all heard about Peewee,

right?

- Yeah, it's got us

all f*cked up too.

- For real.

- Pigs got him for five keys.

One of them was for us.

- Well, that means we need

to find a new connect.

We need to find that sh*t

fast as hell.

- How the f*ck are

we gonna do that?

It ain't like they

around here advertising.

- We might need to.

- I could hook y'all up

if y'all want.

Excuse me for a second, Star.

- Who is this?

- It's our little cousin

from New York.

Go back to the kiddie table.

Grown folks is talkin'.

- f*ck you, Mikey.

I was trying to help

your a*s out.

And I'm grown.

- Hey, hold up, shorty.

Who connect

you supposed to got?

- My peoples in New York.

Purest coke you ever

seen in your life.

- What you think, Fredo?

- I remember Daddy

and Uncle Thomas saying

Uncle James was hooked up

with the mafia

in New York, so...

- All right, tell your daddy

we want to do business.

- See, that's where

you got it f*cked up.

My father don't know you.

You want to do business,

you got to go through me.

Let me know what you want,

and I'll make it happen.

- Are we supposed to just

give you our f*cking money?

Get the f*ck out of here!

- Look,

when you know what you want,

let me know.

Pay half up front and the other

half when you get the product.

- Uh, they like Lil Debbie,

bossed up

- Let me holla at you

for a second, man.

- Only gangstas

indoors, sus

Even if you family

- I'll be right back.

- You gon' end up

crossed up

Is you drunk,

this ain't no beer pub

German shepherds

and rottweilers

K-9s that squeeze you

with a bear hug

It's them all pushing

big drugs

You missing work,

catching big slugs

- It goes bad,

it's just your cousin.

- Once I knew I had Vernon

and Mikey on board,

the only thing left to do

was to find Pops.

And I had to play.

- It's the boss

Fly, sophisticated

Classy

I-I-I-I'm the boss

Fly, sophisticated

Classy, gangsta

- Hey, Grandma.

- Hey!

What you doing here?

Oh, my goodness,

I'm so happy to see you.

Tell me everything.

[laughter]

- Grandma, where is Daddy?

I see his car parked outside.

- Girl, your daddy's

still in jail.

- So we gotta bail him out.

- Mm-hmm.

Your lips to God's ears, honey.

Only I ain't got $60,000

to bail him out.

- So what's up with Uncle Ben?

- Deb, don't nobody care about

your daddy but you and me.

- I see that.

There is one way that we could

get him out today, if you want.

- If I wanted to?

- I was thinking you could

put your house up.

- My house? sh*t.

I love my son, but we've

been down this road before.

I ain't about to lose my house

over his foolishness.

- Don't do that, Grandma.

You think he'll make you

lose your house?

- Hmm.

- So you're just gonna

let him sit in there?

- He ain't gonna be

in there forever.

The way them jails

is all crowded up,

it could only be six months.

- Nah, I know

one thing is for certain

and two things for sure--

he getting out today.

And that's when I realized

that no one loved my pops

the way I did.

I was determined

to get him out.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh.

- Daddy!

- They can't keep

a good Black man down.

- That's right.

- What's up, baby?

- They can't keep a man

with a plan in the slam.

- Oh, my God.

It's so good to see you, baby.

- Good to see you too.

- You look good.

Look at that outfit.

- Uh-huh, you know

I learned from the best.

- I'm doing all right,

you know, bam with the shoes.

- Uh-huh.

- You know what I'm saying?

- But now we're gonna

get you right.

- Mr. Antney, my name is Harry

Brown from Harry's Bail Bonds.

- Yeah, Daddy,

this is, um, Harry.

- This is your

release paperwork,

your court date information--

- OK.

- And my business card.

Make sure you show up to court.

I wouldn't want to see you

end up back inside.

Do we understand each other?

- [chuckles]

Hey, thank you for taking

good care of my car, baby.

- You know that.

- It's my pride and joy

right here.

- Ain't nobody playing

with your car, Daddy.

- Whatever.

- I knew that

getting my father out

was gonna come with a price--

- Before we go--

- And some serious questions.

- We need to talk.

You know I'm upset, right?

Huh? I'm talking to you.

What are you doing down here?

And where'd you get the money

to bail me out?

Tell me the truth. Don't lie.

- Aight.

Some cats up top,

they gave me half for a brick.

And I used the money

to get you out.

- Jesus Christ, Deb.

If I'd have known that,

I'd have told you

to keep my Black a*s in there.

What are you thinking, huh?

What are you thinking?

- Get you out of prison.

- f*ck?

- I'm not gonna leave you

locked up, Pops.

Now I asked Grandma

to put the house up.

She said no.

You know Mommy

ain't coming to get you.

- Let's go get this money.

[soul music]

- Have to get that money.

I see you.

[laughs]

Taught you well.

You still ain't tell me

how you got that money

to bail me out, though.

- The last 48 hours have been

one of the best times

in my life.

And I didn't want it to end.

- I miss you already.

You ain't even gone.

[chuckles]

- Just let me stay.

You could keep getting money,

open up a spot,

run some numbers.

I could work with you

and Uncle Ben.

You know I'm a good worker.

Come on, Daddy.

Let me stay, please.

- Nah, that ain't

gonna happen.

You're more focused

when you're up there.

And I don't want you

to end up like me.

So I want you to go get

that piece of paper.

You understand?

- Yeah.

I'll do it for you.

Just promise you gonna come

to my graduation.

- You know damn well I ain't

gonna miss your graduation.

If I got to walk

the f*ck up here--

- [laughs]

- I'll be here. [laughs]

I love you.

- I love you too, Dad.

- Here's your bag.

Almost forgot the damn bag.

All right.

Stay in touch with me,

all right?

- Yeah, come see me sometime.

- Of course I'ma come see you.

Keep in touch with me,

all right?

- All right.

Love you, Daddy.

- I love you too, baby.

[somber music]

- I was a little disappointed

when my dad

sent me back to Boston

with the money

to give to Mikey and Vernon.

He totally refused

to give me the dope.

- Hmm.

[knock on door]

- Deb.

- Yeah?

- Vernon and Mikey

are here to see you.

- All right, tell them

I'll be right there.

- OK.

- Thanks, Auntie.

[sighs] I'm just gonna

give them their money.

[tense music]

Oh, sh*t!

Once again,

my pops saved my a*s!

Go, Daddy.

Go, Daddy.

Go, Daddy.

But do you dance, baby.

But do you dance, baby.

Whoo.

[clears throat]

Thank you, Daddy.

- What up, Deb?

- What up?

- Have a nice trip?

Talk to your daddy?

- I did.

And like I told you, he said

he don't want to get involved

because he don't know you.

- Didn't I tell y'all this was

gonna be some bullshit?

Give us the money back, yo.

- You want the money,

or you want this?

[hip-hop music]

Huh? Which y'all want?

I can get the money.

- Give her the money.

- And just like that,

I was the Boston connect.

So we good?

- Oh, yeah, we're real good.

Good working with you, Deb.

- Good working with you too.

- OK.

- You know where to find me

if you need more.

- Aight.

Smooth, real smooth.

- [laughs]

Aight, y'all,

take care of yourself.

My pops really held me down

'cause as long as

I'm making money, I'm good.

But now it's my turn to live

up to my side of the bargain.

I had to pass the GED.

- All the test booklets

should remained closed

until I give you

instruction to start.

You should have

nothing on your desk.

They should be cleared.

Nothing but

a number two pencil.

Everybody good? What?

Debra, so glad

you could join us.

You're late.

- I know. I'm sorry.

- I'm sure. Have a seat.

- I got it. I got it.

[indistinct whispering]

No, Marvin--

Marvin, mind your damn business

and take your test.

- If you get caught--

Why do you have a g*n?

- Hey, guys,

stop playing around.

Let's get serious.

Now, we practiced with this.

We're ready.

You'll have two hours

for the first test.

Go ahead and start.

[funky music]

[cheers and applause]

These students

have worked so hard.

They persevered,

and they have reached

their goal of education.

And I am so proud to stand here

and present

their certificates today.

But now I'd like

to announce the student

who scored the highest

on the examination

with a 90%.

Deb Antney.

[cheers and applause]

- It's your girl!

- [screaming]

- That's my little cuz!

Yeah, cuz!

- That's my daughter.

That's my daughter.

[cheering]

- Yeah, Deb!

Oh, oh!

[applause]

- Baby, baby, baby!

[laughs]

I'm so proud of you.

Oh, I'm so proud of you.

- Thank you, Mom.

Where's Daddy?

He said he'd be here.

- Your father is not

the man you think he is.

- Come on, why you always

got to tear him down?

- I don't.

He does that all by himself.

Otherwise, he'd be here.

- But we're here for you,

sweetheart.

And we are very proud of you.

- Thanks, Auntie.

- You know it.

- But I know my father,

and he would be here.

Something got to be wrong.

Business was good,

but I still had to find out

what was going on with my dad.

[tense music]

- What the hell is this?

- I done told you

he ain't here.

- We're not going anywhere

till you tell me where he is.

- Whoa, what's going on?

- This son of a b*tch thinks

he's just gonna run up

in my house looking for James.

- All right.

Harry, what's up, man?

Why are you here?

- Because your father

has missed

his last three court dates.

The judge has issued

a bench warrant for his arrest

and revoked his bail.

- That's not possible.

- Hmm, don't look at me.

I told you he wasn't

going to court.

That's why I didn't

put up my house.

- And my a*s is on the line

for 60 grand unless I find him.

Tell your father

to turn himself in.

I got 10 grand on his head.

All right?

Let's go.

- Sugarlump,

where is my father?

- I don't know, Deb.

He came by here the other day

to get some clothes,

but he ain't been staying here.

- All right, well, I'm not

gonna stop looking for him

until I find him.

- All right, baby.

[mellow piano music playing]

[music stops]

- Oh, thank you.

What a pleasant surprise.

What do I owe the pleasure?

- I'm looking for my father.

Not only did he miss

my graduation,

but he missed court.

- That's not good.

- Not good at all.

- Mm.

- And I got to deliver

four keys to my peoples

back in Boston in two days.

- Four keys?

You got enough money

for four keys?

- You know what, Debra?

I'm gonna make sure

you have your four keys.

- You would do that for me?

- [chuckles]

There's not many things

I wouldn't do for you.

- Thanks, Uncle Ben.

Still worried about

my dad, though.

- Well, don't worry

about James.

I'll send a couple of

my guys out to find him.

He shouldn't be

too hard to find.

- If anybody

could find my dad,

it would definitely

be Uncle Ben.

So while he's looking for him,

I had to get back to business.

And Uncle Ben always said,

when it comes to business,

the best people

to work with is family.

And my girls, they my family.

About that--

y'all ain't gonna be able

to work for my pops.

- Well, damn,

you could have told a b*tch.

- And I would have

messed up the surprise.

- What surprise?

- Y'all gonna be

working for me.

- Oh, seriously?

- Yeah, but y'all can't be

looking like that.

I don't know what the hell

y'all got on.

You look like a runaway nurse.

And you look like Cheetara

from the "ThunderCats."

Come on.

I'm gonna get y'all laced.

Come on.

- All right, lead the way.

Let's go.

[laughter]

[hip-hop music]

- You f*cked the mall up.

- Yeah, you got us right.

- I told you I was gonna

get y'all right.

You definitely need

to take that leopard print off.

I don't know what you doing.

- That's why you the boss.

- Ah! [laughs]

- That's why--I agree.

- That's what I said.

I love this.

- Yeah, yeah, but we can't

keep shop--

wait, wait, hold on, y'all,

this my uncle right here.

- How you doing, kid?

- I'm doing pretty good.

What you doing here, man?

- We found your father.

He's OK for now,

but I think it's best

you come with me, huh?

I'll take you to him.

- Where is he?

Is he all right?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, look,

you tell your friends you'll

meet them later, all right?

- Yeah.

- OK.

- All right.

- What's going on?

Is everything OK?

- Make sure you get the girl,

all right?

Don't say anything

about where we're going.

- I'll meet you

back at Donna's.

Take this.

- Love you.

- You too.

- sh*t, I hope everything's OK.

[tense music]

Uncle Ben,

I don't think I can handle

seeing my father dead.

- He's not dead--

not yet, anyway.

You go see for yourself, hmm?

- I felt like it was dj vu,

just like my Uncle Calvin.

Daddy.

What's going on?

- I f*cked up a little bit.

- f*cked up?

You stole money from me.

That's how you f*cked up.

I would have given you

the f*cking money if you asked!

- Daddy, why?

- Why?

Because he's a f*cking junkie,

that's why.

Give me the g*n.

- No. Don't k*ll him, please.

- No, baby, let him do it.

- No.

- Let me go.

- I'll pay you back.

- No, wait,

you got to understand.

If he lives, you owe his debt.

Capisce?

- Whatever he owe, I owe.

I'll pay you back.

- You don't deserve this kid.

Time to get to work.

[grumbles]

- [groans]

- Daddy?

My dad was safe--for now.

- Don't--don't do it, baby.

- But I wasn't really sure

about myself.

- Damn, that's a lot of weight.

- Scared?

- Come on now,

I ain't never scared.

- All right then, well, let's

turn this sh*t into some paper.

[hip-hop music]

Uncle Ben had connections

all over the world.

And now I was connected

to those same people.

We was making money

hand over fist--

I mean, crazy bread.

- [groaning]

- Somebody get us some help.

Call for some help.

- [moaning]

- We ain't get to Philly yet.

We gotta make sure little

Kohesha make it to the plane.

Now let's go.

- All right, she gonna

take care of you.

- Oh, it's gonna be

so much fun.

- I was ready.

What you talking about?

- I put this dress on

for a reason, girl.

[laughter]

- Y'all know him?

- Oh, no, but I--

- Don't make it hot.

Stop looking down there.

You gonna make it hot.

- OK, OK, I'm not looking.

But from what I can see,

he looks really fine.

- I don't care how fine he is.

If I don't know you,

I don't trust you.

And I don't know him.

- You want me to go check him?

- Girl, it's ladies night

at the Proper,

and I plan on partying

all night.

- I know that's right.

All right!

[speaking indistinctly]

[hip-hop music]

- Whoo!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

Southside, we outside,

radio bangin'

Got the team on the corner,

so you know we ain't playin'

Mentioning a name

and the right doors open

Poppin' fly sh*t,

and it all gets stolen

It was Deb, electrifying,

masterminding, double shining

Took it from the bottom

to the top, who else

The lobby, gotta respect

the energy she walk with

Muscle up like Crossfit,

the boss, sh*t

You know we rockin' it

nonstop

And they shoppin',

straight out the pockets

She drop it, they walk out

It's Southside,

got 'em locked in

- While I was out

in the streets,

my little brothers

had grown up.

One was running a nightclub,

and the other was getting

his footing in the music game.

- Check this out.

- But know this--

neither of them was soft.

- Hey, yo, Deb,

what's up, baby?

[laughter]

I told you, we got

this thing rocking.

You know what I'm saying?

- Oh, man.

- Hey, look at that.

- I know.

This is all you.

That's all you.

- I don't even like that.

Where do we go?

What are we gonna do?

- Who else in the lobby

Gotta respect

the energy she walk with

Muscle up like Crossfit,

the boss, sh*t

You know we rockin' it

nonstop

- Hey, yo, sis, you know

who that is down there, right?

- Yeah, that's the kid

from that wack-a*s boy group

you was trying to start

in the garage.

- I took your advice.

I did exactly

what you told me to do.

I turned him into a ladies man.

And look at him.

Now they loving him.

The ladies can't

get enough of him.

- Mm-hmm, well,

ladies love sexy.

And he's definitely sexy.

I told you he was a star.

- Excuse me.

- Yeah. [laughs]

- Bro, you know this cat

standing on the steps?

- The light-skinned dude

with the beard, right?

- Yeah.

- Yeah, I seen him.

I can tell he ain't

from around here, though.

Why, what up? It's a problem?

- Nah, it ain't no problem.

I just think he the cops

or something.

- Word.

Yo, sis, I'm telling you.

You better lay low.

TNT got task force

going crazy around here.

They got cops everywhere.

- sh*t, tell me about it.

- Who else in the lobby

Gotta respect

the energy she walk with

Muscle up like Crossfit,

the boss, sh*t

You know we rockin' it

nonstop, and they shoppin'

- Proud of you, bro.

You doing your thing.

Final payment.

We good?

- Yeah, yeah.

Take a seat, Debra.

Let's have a chat.

- I already paid you

my father's debt,

penalties, and interest.

What the hell

we need to chat about?

- You show some respect.

Yeah, you've done good so far.

I'm more than impressed.

I'm proud.

- I guess I should be thankful,

but you didn't make it easy--

30% for late penalties

and interest

for being late one day?

I paid you back

the 200 grand a year ago.

- Yes, you did,

but I was testing you

to see if you have

what it takes.

And you, you do.

[soft music]

Here, for you.

- That's 50 grand.

- Mm-hmm, consider it

a token of my appreciation,

my respect--

what the hell, love.

[chuckles]

Look, it was a necessary evil.

I had to see if you

could handle things, huh?

- And just when I felt like

I was gaining

Uncle Ben's respect...

- Come on.

- Things began to happen

that could ruin it all.

[knocking on door]

- Hey.

- What up?

Where's Deb at?

- Oh, she's not coming.

It's just me this time.

- Oh, word.

- Yeah, where's Vern?

- He's at the hospital

with his mom.

But he'll be here in a few.

- What?

- I mean, even as

a pregnant woman,

I think you're sexy as f*ck.

- You think I'm sexy?

- I know you seen me

checking you out a few times.

- No, I haven't.

[chuckles]

- Yeah, yeah, my cousin Deb

be blocking, though,

telling me to stay

away from you.

But, I mean, you're here now,

so we got some time.

Come in.

- OK.

[hip-hop music]

- All right, thank you.

Have a nice day.

Thank you.

[bell jingles]

Can I help you?

Will that be all, Officer?

- Yeah, I'll take

the chips and the soda.

Oh, and I want to play

my numbers, 510 and 513,

straight in the box, $5 each.

- It's gonna be $1.25

for the chips and the soda.

We don't do numbers

in here, Officer.

I'm sorry.

- Officer? You think I'm a cop?

- Absolutely.

- [chuckles]

Look, it's Deb, right?

I ain't no police.

- You know me?

- Everybody know you.

You got cats out here

singing songs about you.

- I don't know what

you're talking about.

- Yeah, all right.

- You need a bag, straw?

- No, I'm good.

- I know a cop when I see one.

- Keep the change.

- But cop or not--

- Oh, for the record--

- He was sexy as hell.

- I ain't no cop.

My name is Oakland.

You should ask about me.

- Mm.

[bell jingles]

- Oh! Damn, Mikey.

[chuckles]

- sh*t.

- You know, if I'd have known

you could put it down

like that,

I'd have gave you some

a long time ago.

- Well, blame

my hating-a*s cousin.

She always trying to block us

and keep us apart.

Hurry up and get dressed.

Vern is on his way back.

- OK, I just gotta run

to the restroom.

- All right, there's

a washcloth on the sink

if you want to freshen up.

- OK, thank you.

- Yeah.

[horn honking]

- How's your moms?

- She good.

They gonna keep her

overnight for observation.

They said it was

just gas, you know.

Ain't no heart attack

or nothing.

- Good, good, yeah.

- So y'all ready to do this?

- Sure.

- Let's get it.

- All right, let's see.

Mm-hmm.

All right, cool, we all here.

[chuckles]

- Oh, yeah, mm-hmm.

Hmm.

Thought we were getting three.

- What are you talking about?

It's three in there.

- f*ck, this look like three?

It's two in this m*therf*cker.

- It's impossible!

There was just

three keys in here.

- OK, show me then.

[tense music]

It ain't three now.

- At the shop now, yeah.

Hold on one second, Dad.

[beeper ringing]

Pops, let me call you back.

[phone beeping]

- Hello?

- Yo, Vernon, I see this 911.

What's up?

Pam made it up there

all right?

- Yeah, she good.

She about to get a b*llet

in her head, though.

She shorted us.

- What the f*ck

is you talking about?

That sh*t ain't funny.

- You think

I'm f*cking laughing?

We gave your girl money

for three keys,

and she came back with two.

Now you know that ain't

how we do business!

- I definitely don't

do business like that.

I gave her three keys.

Look, V, hold it down

till I get up there.

I'm on my way.

- All right, hurry up.

- Yo, everything all right?

- Nah, we got a problem

with the drop.

- Pam's drop? sh*t.

- What the f*ck happened?

- Deb, I swear to God

I don't know.

[stammers]

They were in here.

- What you mean,

you don't know?

I put three keys

in this harness.

There's only two

sitting right here.

So it's either

you lost it or you--

- Or she stole one.

- Mind your business, Vernon.

I'm not talking to you.

[sighs]

Pam, go get in the car.

We good?

- Oh, yeah, we real good.

- Donna, come on, let's go.

I didn't even want

to be around Pam

when I got back from Boston.

So I went straight

to the store,

stacked my stash,

and cleared my head.

[tense music]

[bell jingles]

What you doing

in my store, Officer?

- Shh, there's no time for

that officer sh*t, all right?

You're being jacked right now.

- I swear I keep

hearing voices.

- Stop talking and sh**t.

[g*nf*re]

- f*ck, Nick, Nick!

- He wasn't a cop after all.

- f*ck!

- He was telling the truth.

- Hey, yo, we ain't trying

to k*ll nobody!

We just want the money!

Just open the safe,

and give us the money!

- Ain't no money in the safe.

I got the money right here.

But if I give it to you,

y'all gotta take y'all asses

out of here

the same way y'all came in.

- All right, toss it over!

[bag thuds]

What the hell was that?

- Who the f*ck you think I am,

Dan Marino?

sh*t, I'm a girl.

Get the money!

- f*ck.

[g*nsh*t]

[groaning]

[g*nshots]

- Look, hang in there,

all right?

I'ma get you to the hospital

as soon as possible.

Just breathe.

- [breathing heavily]

Uncle Ben.

- Are you OK?

- Yeah.

- Yeah, I had my people dispose

of the bodies at your shop.

It was a f*cking mess.

- I know.

I'm all right.

I don't know about him.

- Hmm, him.

His real name is Isaac Brown.

But the people on the street,

as you know,

they call him Oakland.

His family moved

to the Bay Area in California

when he was a kid.

You are looking at one

of the original crack cooks.

- Him?

- Mm-hmm.

He's probably hanging out

at your shop

trying to connect with you.

- What the hell he trying

to connect with me for?

- [chuckles]

You're a lot bigger

than you think, Debra.

And you are developing

a reputation,

both good and bad.

- And you know

she would be here by now.

You know she would have

called, paged, something.

[door creaks and clicks]

- Oh, my God.

Yo, Deb, you scared

the f*ck out of me.

Yo, there was so much blood

in the shop.

What the f*ck happened?

- I know. I'm good.

I didn't get hit.

I'm not hurt.

But it did get hot

in there for a minute.

- I can imagine. Damn.

So how's dude?

- His name is Oakland.

- OK, well, excuse me. My bad.

How's Oakland?

- Out the woods for now.

Still unconscious.

They're gonna take him off

the sedative when I get back.

sh*t, I wouldn't

have even left if

I didn't have to take a shower

and get something to eat.

- So what, you like his

next of kin or something now?

'Cause, I mean, what the hell

are you doing, Deb?

You barely know this guy.

- Exactly.

I barely even know him.

And he risked his life

saving mine.

And ain't nobody ever did that

for me, not even y'all.

So I'ma do everything I can

to make sure he get back

on his feet--

I mean, unless you got

a problem with that.

- Nah, I was just saying.

- So was I.

Look, I'm tired.

I'm going to wash my a*s so I

can get back before he wake up.

I know Pam and Donna

meant the best,

but I really did

feel like I owed him.

I mean, he saved my life.

- [groans]

- Wait. Hey, don't do that.

Don't do that.

You're gonna rip your stitches.

Just relax. Please.

- [sighs]

You something else.

You cute. You know that?

[chuckles]

You up in here acting

like my moms.

- No, I'm not.

'Cause if I was,

you'd be listening.

Look, I'm sorry about this.

- Nah.

Nah, you ain't gotta be sorry.

None of this is your fault.

I saw them dudes at your spot

last week staking it out.

Yeah, if anything,

I should have told you sooner.

- Don't be so hard on yourself.

I probably wouldn't have

believed you anyway.

[curtain scraping]

- Hey, what's up?

Can I help you?

- I'm Doctor Levy.

I'd like to take a look

at your wound.

- Yeah. [groans]

All right, OK.

- Yeah, this is healing nicely.

You're pretty lucky.

- Yeah, well,

I ain't done living yet, Doc.

So when do I get to go home?

- We'd like to discharge you

today, if possible.

- Damn!

I mean, he just got in here

a few days ago.

You barely got the b*llet

out of him.

- Yes, I know, however,

our facility is special.

We're not set up

for long-term care.

You just need to take it easy

and keep the wound clean.

Your biggest enemy

is infection at this point.

- Yeah.

Hey, that's all right, Deb.

For real, ain't you ever

heard that old saying?

A hospital's no place

to get well.

- Well, you got that right.

- I'll send you home

with everything you'll need

to aid in your recovery.

- I appreciate it.

[sighs]

[hip-hop music]

[groans] Damn.

Didn't hear you come in.

- Should have locked the door.

- [chuckles] Yeah.

What's all this?

It's for me?

- Yeah, I got you

some food and a movie,

in case you want to watch one.

- All right. Let me--

- No, no, no, don't--

don't do that.

This is my favorite show.

- Ha, what you know about this?

- What?

My whole family love music.

I've been watching this

since we was kids.

I even watched it in Spofford.

- So you must be like

a real music connoisseur, then.

- I know that.

- All right,

let me ask you this.

Who's your favorite performer?

- I don't care what nobody say.

Prince is the greatest

of all times.

"Purple Rain" is everything.

- Yeah, that's right.

Prince is good.

You know he's playing

at the Garden, right?

Yeah, we should go.

You know,

once I'm back up on my feet,

moving around

a little bit better.

- You asking me out?

- Something like that.

- OK.

[chuckles] All right.

I gotta go.

- Where are you off to?

You heading to work?

- No, I got to go meet

my brother.

He's gonna be playing

at Baisley Park.

And, um, we're gonna

have a little meeting,

and I can stop by

and come see you later.

Maybe we could watch

one of those movies.

- Yeah, that's a bet.

I look forward to it.

- All right.

Now, he was cute.

But going on a date--

that's something I was

gonna have to think about.

- Hey, Deb, can we talk?

- About what, Pam? I'm busy.

What's that?

- That's half the money

of the brick I lost.

I promise you, Deb,

I'm gonna get you the rest.

- Where you get

this kind of money?

- I was saving to get a car,

but I just want to clear

sh*t up with you first.

Look, Deb, I don't want you

to be mad at me.

You and Donna,

y'all are my best friends.

Y'all are my family.

I would never do no sh*t

to hurt y'all.

- You don't get it, do you?

It ain't about the money.

It's about respect.

Honor, loyalty, trust.

sh*t you can't buy back.

I don't want it. Take it.

- No, I'm good.

- I really wanted to forgive

Pam, but I just couldn't.

Why are you looking

at me like that?

- She's trying

to make it right.

Give her that much.

Like, damn, Deb.

You know the girl got

self-esteem issues.

- This a man's game

we playing in, Donna.

They don't give a f*ck

about no self-esteem issues.

- We ain't talking

about the damn game.

We talking about Pam.

- I hate to admit it,

but Donna was right.

Oh, and that Prince concert?

I did end up going

with Oakland.

I mean, he is so fine, though!

I'm just sayin'.

I want to thank you for taking

me to the Prince concert.

I love Prince.

- [chuckles]

Well, you're welcome.

But you ain't got to thank me.

sh*t, I should be thanking you,

the way you've been looking out

for me this past month.

[sighs] I just wish

I was sticking around

a little bit longer, you know?

Take you to that

Michael Jackson concert.

Now, that--

that's gonna be a show.

- You going somewhere?

Where you going?

- Uh, Philly.

Yeah, I gotta go

down there and, uh,

work for these f*cking

corporate clowns for a bit.

- I thought you was

doing your own thing.

- Yeah, I thought so too,

you know, but all the money

I had stacked up for that,

I ended up having to use that

to pay for the back taxes

on my grandmother's house,

so, you know--

but it's all good.

I'ma go down to Philly,

you know, just for a bit,

get my weight up, you know.

- Hold on.

- Oh, come on, hurry up.

I'm hungry.

[car door slams]

[sighs and scoffs]

That's good.

[car door beeps]

- Here you go.

Take this key till you

get back on your feet.

- No.

Ain't no way.

Look, I appreciate it.

I really do.

Don't get me wrong.

It's just...

I mean, what I look like

taking sh*t from you?

Come on.

We're gonna do business

together, all right,

in the future when I get back.

But I can't do this, all right?

I ain't no charity case.

- This ain't charity.

This is business.

It's 14 a key.

You take it, and you

get back on your feet.

- [sighs]

- And you're paying me back.

- All right, but look,

you got to know that

I'm good for it, and more.

I mean it.

You're not gonna regret this.

- I better not.

Because our entire friendship

is based on you paying me back.

[hip-hop music]

- Somebody paged me

from this number?

Who is this?

- Yo, it's Mikey.

- I should have just hung up

as soon as I heard

Mikey voice.

- Yo, I need three more

of them things.

- I don't know what

you're talking about.

And I don't talk on phones.

- Yeah, I get all that,

but I ran completely out.

Look, I'll give you 30% more

if you can get it to me today.

- Something just wasn't right.

And Donna felt the same way.

- I don't know, Pam.

Something about this situation

just don't feel right.

Like, why the hell

did Mikey and Vernon

call Deb out the blue

and offer 30% more?

- 'Cause he's completely out.

He wanted me to go up there,

but Deb said

she would go, so...

- How you know that?

And why the f*ck

would Mikey call you?

- [chuckles]

- Oh, sh*t.

You f*cking hoe.

You f*cking him, aren't you?

- [laughs]

- Jesus, Pam,

are you f*cking kidding me?

Mikey?

- OK, I know.

I know, I know.

I shouldn't have

done it, but look,

we were waiting on Vernon,

and he got to touching

on my spot,

and one thing led to another.

- One thing always leads

to another with you, Pam.

- OK, first of all,

you don't understand.

He likes me, Donna.

Like, he, like,

really, really likes me.

I like him too.

Mikey's my man.

- [laughs] No, b*tch,

you don't understand.

That m*therf*cker is using you.

- [scoffs]

- Hold on.

- What are you doing?

[laughs] Oh, wow.

Really?

- You tripping.

- Plane just landed.

Won't be long now.

- She's not gonna see me

back here, is she?

[tense music]

- You got nothing

to worry about, Mikey.

Well, that is,

unless your cousin shows up

empty-handed, then, well...

- That's right.

- [chuckles]

- Let's go.

- There's a washcloth

on the sink

if you want to freshen up.

- Thank you.

- Yeah.

- Yup, all along,

it was Mikey who took

the stash we blamed Pam for.

[engine turns over]

[siren wailing]

- Hey, I need you

to step out of the car.

Let's go. Come on.

Come on. Step out the car.

Let's go, let's go,

let's go, let's go, let's go.

Mm-hmm.

What's up in here?

- Ah.

- Let's go.

- Well, what do we have here?

- Put your hands

behind your back, man.

Hands behind your back.

Let's go.

- Officers--

- Yeah.

- You're making a mistake, man.

You don't want me.

I'm small time.

I can give you

somebody big, though.

- Man, we ain't got time

for all that sh*t.

Let's go.

- Shut your a*s up.

Get in the car.

- In the car, let's go.

- I got names, man.

[whooshing]

[phone ringing]

- sh*t.

The hell is going on?

[tense music]

[phone ringing]

- What the hell

is going on, Deb?

- I don't know.

They was on me in there.

[phone ringing]

[softly]

sh*t.

- You can come out now.

- Marvin?

- Damn, look,

they got a drug task force

looking for a pregnant woman.

They know who you are.

- You gonna to take me to jail?

- [whispering]

I should, OK?

I could lose my job.

- [whispering]

Marvin, please.

I can't go to jail.

I cannot go to jail.

- [sighs]

OK, look, I need you

to listen to me, OK?

Leave the drugs.

Get your a*s on another plane.

Go back to wherever

you came from, please.

[door slams]

[bag rustles]

- Everything.

- Just leave it.

All right.

[bag thuds]

Deb.

Next time, I will arrest you.

That's a promise.

- So now,

I'm dealing with all of this,

and this cat shows up.

- What's up, Deb?

- You cannot be serious.

Where you been?

- Why don't we go inside

and talk about it?

- Where you been?

I haven't seen or heard

from you in weeks.

- Yeah, it took a little

longer than I thought.

That's my bad.

- It took a little longer

than you thought.

More importantly,

I gave you that brick.

Where's my money?

- [sighs]

Look, where I'm from,

you don't call the connect

until you're ready to re-up.

The money's right here.

Go ahead and count it.

It's all there.

- 14K?

- Nah.

17K.

Yeah, that sh*t you gave me

cooked up real nice,

so I threw in a little extra.

Hey, I really do appreciate

what you did for me.

- I really felt like

you played yourself.

I--I didn't know what to think

when I didn't hear from you.

- Play myself?

Nuh-uh, never that.

I'm about my business.

But you know what,

more importantly,

I've been thinking, um,

you know, maybe it's--

maybe it's time

we talk about something

a little more personal.

- Like what?

- Like I'm feeling you.

If I'm being honest,

I've been feeling you

for a while, Deb.

- I'm feeling you too.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

[romantic music]

Wait.

- It's OK.

I'm sorry, I won't do that.

Look, I only want you

if you want me.

- I want you.

My last experience,

it wasn't that great.

In fact,

it was horrible.

- That's messed up.

I'm sorry.

- You sure?

- Yeah.

I'm sure.

I wasn't much

for relationships.

But somehow, me and Oakland

had taken it there.

But every time I think I'm

about to get some happiness,

bad news has a way

of coming around.

Uncle Ben, what you doing here?

- I got something

to tell you, Deb.

Your father's dead.

[somber music]

- What are you talking about?

What do you mean,

my father's dead?

- Well, I found him in

North Carolina a few days ago.

Don't have all

the details, but, uh,

he's gone.

I'm sorry, Deb.

- I--

[voice breaking]

I wasn't expecting to hear

nothing like this.

I'm dealing with

so much right now.

f*ck!

sh*t.

[sobbing]

[soft dramatic music]

- Adieu.

- Uncle James.

- [sighs]

- I miss you already, baby.

- [sighs] You rest in peace.

[crying]

- Deb...

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Look, I know this ain't

a good time, but can we talk?

- It ain't gonna never be

the right time.

I don't talk to snitches.

- Good.

'Cause I ain't no snitch.

- You think I'm stupid, Vernon?

I know you and Mikey

tried to set me up.

- Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Who tried to set you up?

- Yeah, right.

Tell Mikey...

when I see him, it's on.

And find another connect too,

'cause this sh*t is over.

- Wait, hold up.

What, you cutting us off?

- I don't play cops games.

You think I play

with the police?

- Look, this ain't right, Deb.

Look, I ain't no snitch.

And if Mikey a snitch,

he a dead man.

Believe that.

- Hey, yo, my man.

It's a funeral.

All right?

Let's have some respect.

- [chuckles]

All right. My bad.

Bye, Deb.

- I can't believe

that m*therf*cker

had the audacity

to show up here.

- Yeah, I don't know.

He might be telling the truth.

Think about it.

If he did rat you out,

he'd have to have

a huge set of ba*ls

to show up here alone.

- Maybe.

Well, Mikey a*s ain't here.

Probably somewhere

eating cheese right now.

Rat-a*s b*tch.

I'm gonna go check

on my mother.

- [sobbing]

- Mom.

How you doing?

- You see where this drug game

leads to, right?

- With my dad gone,

I knew everything

was gonna change,

but I didn't realize how much.

- Hey, what's up?

How are you?

- Mm.

- You ain't tell nobody

you was coming here, right?

- No, I did not.

- All right.

- What's wrong?

- Me and Vernon fell out.

He was trying to set up Deb

with the cops.

And when I told him,

I ain't gonna let you

f*ck my cousin over like that,

he tried to have me k*lled.

- What?

- Yeah.

I also found out he's the one

that stole that key.

- No.

- Yeah.

He caught you slipping

when you wasn't looking.

He been playing us

this whole time.

I just can't sit back

and let him play dead

like that no more.

- Yeah, it all makes sense now.

Mikey, we got to tell Deb.

- She ain't gonna believe

nothing we have to say.

- Why? It's the truth, right?

- Yeah, it's the truth,

but Vernon gonna

flip that truth, OK?

She's not gonna believe

anything we have to tell her.

- Yeah. You're right.

She's not even talking

to me right now.

- Hey, listen here.

Um, I'm about to leave.

I'm going down south.

I'ma take this sh*t down there,

triple the price.

By this time next year,

I'm the king.

I just need you to be there

with me, you know, by my side.

- Stop playing, Mikey.

You know I like you.

- I like you too.

What do you mean, playing?

If I was playing,

would I have done this?

- Done what?

- This.

- What is that?

- What is it?

You tell me. You see it.

- I like it. It's cute.

[laughs]

- Cute?

- I mean, I'll try it on.

Fine.

- It fits.

- OK, fine. When do we leave?

- As soon as possible.

[birds chirping]

- [chuckles]

- I mean that.

- Yeah, Uncle Ben

was right, though.

I really enjoyed myself

going away for a bit,

getting away from everybody

and everything, you know.

- Yeah, ATL was good.

- Yeah.

I had fun too.

I, um...

I had a talk with God

on our way back.

- Damn.

All right,

so what did God tell you?

- That he saved me

for a reason.

And it made me realize

that I should be doing

something else with my time,

other than just selling drugs.

- Yeah.

- And I also had a talk

with Uncle Ben.

And he was saying

that I should go legit,

start a business and do

something else with my life.

And I think he's right.

- Yeah, no, I do too.

I mean, I definitely feel

where you're coming from.

I'm serious--to be honest,

I mean, I don't want

to do this sh*t

for the rest of my life either.

You can do anything

you put your mind to.

Whatever you choose, hey,

I want you to know

I got your back.

- Thank you.

And I know that.

That's why I love you.

- I love you too.

[knocking]

- Wait, somebody's at the door.

- I don't hear nothing.

- No, for real, wait.

I think somebody's at the door.

- [sighs] All right.

Don't be mad at me

'cause I ain't got them

supersonic ears like you do.

- Hey.

- Hey.

- Is Deb here?

- Yeah. Hey, Deb, it's for you.

- For me?

- Yeah.

- All right, give me a second.

What are you doing here?

And where have you been?

- It's a long story.

- I ain't see Pam in so long,

I was confused whether

I wanted to give her a hug

or curse her a*s out.

Come on.

- You know,

you got you a good man.

- Yeah, I know.

He teaching me restraint.

If it wasn't for him,

I would have whooped your a*s

a long time ago.

- Yeah, I know I f*cked up.

- Yeah, you did.

I f*cked up too.

And I almost went to jail

giving Mikey

the benefit of the doubt.

- I'm sorry about that, Deb.

But you know, about Mikey,

we really need

to talk about him.

- Ain't nothing to talk about.

Pam, it ain't nothing

to talk about.

He played us!

I don't want to hear

about Mikey.

I don't care if

you f*cking him.

I don't care about

none of that!

You knew he was here?

- He just wants to talk.

He just wants

to hash things out.

- What--what's up, Mikey?

- What's up, Deb?

I know sh*t looking crazy.

I just need to holla at you

for a second.

- It ain't nothing

to talk about.

I know you set me up,

and we're supposed

to be family!

- We always gonna be family.

That's why I'm here, talking

to you in front of your face.

This is all

a big misunderstanding.

Ask Pam.

- I ain't asking Pam sh*t.

The only misunderstanding

is you standing

in my face right now.

- I know this sh*t look

real bad, trust me.

But it ain't

what you think it is.

It's not it.

- Then what is it?

Get the f*ck out of here!

[g*nshots]

[dramatic music]

[g*nshots]

[coughing]

- Oh, no, no, no, no, no,

no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Deb, Deb, Deb, no, talk to me.

Help! Help!

Deb, talk to me.

Deb, Deb.

I got you, I got you.

Deb, talk to me.

Talk to me.

Breathe, Deb.

[siren wailing]

- What happened?

- Baby, you got shot.

But you strong, all right?

You a fighter.

You made it.

- Last thing I remember,

I was talking to Pam,

and Mikey b*tch a*s showed up,

and all hell broke loose.

Who shot me?

- [sighs]

- Where's Pam?

[g*nshots]

- Deb, Deb, Deb, Deb.

Help!

- Donna, where the f*ck is Pam?

[somber music]

- She ain't make it.

- The f*ck you mean,

she ain't make it?

- Hello?

[curtain scraping]

You are a very lucky woman.

You know, you died twice

on the operation table.

But we were able

to bring you back,

and you're gonna make

a full recovery.

And the best news is,

your baby is gonna be

just fine.

- What baby?

- You're seven weeks pregnant,

Ms. Antney.

So the baby's gonna be

just fine,

but what I'ma need you to do

is take it easy

for a while, OK?

- Deb, you didn't know?

- I had no idea.

Baby?

Me? A mother?

- I'll be back

to check on you later, OK?

- If I was gonna be a mother,

I needed to make

some serious changes.

- Hey, it's gonna be OK,

all right?

We're gonna figure this out.

All right? You and me.

Baby, I got you.

- Wait, no. Wait.

Are they talking about

the U.S. going to w*r?

- That's right,

international address today.

President George H.W. Bush

declared a w*r on drugs,

stating that crack cocaine

has turned U.S. cities

into battle zones.

The administration has plans

to allocate $45 million

to law enforcement

to target drug dealers

in an effort

to clean up the streets.

- Deb, what are we gonna do?

- We ain't gonna do nothing.

Pam is dead.

I'm shot.

Pregnant.

They putting 45 million...

[tense music]

To cleaning up the streets--

we ain't gonna make it

out of that.

We got to do

something different.

We ain't gonna be broke.

- No, but you're right,

'cause we can't keep

living like this.

Not with a baby on the way.

- I'm with you, Deb.

Whatever we need to do, I'm in.

- We gonna figure it out.

All right?

We gonna figure it out

together.

As a family.

- All right,

that was very good.

Would you--hey, do me a favor.

Give me a minute, huh?

Get him some coffee.

Hang around, though, all right?

[chuckles]

Bella Debra, huh?

Here, sit, sit.

- Uncle Ben,

I came to say goodbye.

[sighs]

I'm getting out of the game

for good.

I got a baby on the way,

for God's sake.

- Yeah? Where are you headed?

- Georgia.

I was thinking

I could get a fresh start,

go where nobody knows me.

Nothing about this.

- Georgia, huh?

That's a good choice.

You had a good run,

a very good run.

You know, I always told you,

you were a natural-born leader,

huh?

Tough, smart.

[chuckles]

- You know...

seeing my father

in that casket,

it made me realize

that most people,

they wait too late to get out.

You either end up

in jail, dead,

or the streets eat 'em alive.

- Yeah.

But you're going out

on your own terms,

your own choice.

That I am proud of.

I'm--I'm proud of you, and--

and your father, he--

yeah.

[somber music]

Aspetta.

Wait.

[grunts]

I got something for you.

Here.

- What's this for?

- It's a gift for the baby.

[chuckles]

- Come on.

[sighs]

Thank you.

[groans]

I'm gonna have to get up.

I'm so fat.

- [laughs]

Bella Debra.

- Thank you, Uncle Ben.

For real.

- [chuckles]

Go ahead. Get out of here.

- I'll see you around.

[hip-hop music]

Sorry.

- Everything good?

- Oh, everything is great.

- Let's get up out of here.

- Jason Aro,

put the record out

- Black mecca, here we come!

All I know,

James Baldwin once said,

"Not everything that is faced

can be changed,

but nothing can be changed

until it is faced."

[cheers and applause]

- Welcome back

to "Celebrity Vibes."

And I got to say, this has been

one of the most

fascinating interviews

on this show,

and quite an amazing story.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

There's so much more

to be told.

- Well, I hope you come

back here and tell it.

- No doubt.

You know what they say.

You save the best for last.

- It's the boss

Fly, sophisticated

Classy, gangsta

Icka-icka, it's the boss

Fly, sophisticated

Classy, and nobody

gonna get us now

I'm the boss

Fly, sophisticated

Classy, gangsta

Uh, they like Lil Debbie,

bossed up

First lady

of the boys club

Only gangstas indoors, sus

Even if you family

You ever go against

the family

You gon' end up crossed up

Is you drunk,

this ain't no beer pub

German shepherds

and rottweilers

And K-9s that squeeze you

with a bear hug

It's them all pushing

big drugs

You missing work,

catching big slugs

I'm moving militant

Still got my ears

to the streets

And my hands up

Classy,

I'm never backing down

It's the boss

Fly, sophisticated

Classy, gangsta

Icka-icka, it's the boss

Fly, sophisticated

Classy, and nobody

gonna get us now

I'm the boss

Fly, sophisticated

Classy, gangsta