01x01 - Policin

[bunniefuu]

every time I see

a white person, they're like,

"Black Lives Matter.

Black Lives Matter."

They're so excited to tell me.

It's very strange.

Like, I don't know

how to respond,

I'm like, "And

a Black Lives Matter to you."

[stammers]

[elevator dings]

[button dings]

- I just wanna say,

I'm sorry.

- It's cool.

I can barely smell it.

- Well--oh, no, not that.

I mean, I'm sorry

for everything

going on in the country.

[dramatic music]

With the police shootings

and all the injustices

and for white privilege.

♪

- This thing even move yet?

- I'm an ally, obviously.

So I'm not trying to be weird.

- I think it's supposed

to light up if it's moving.

- You're probably thinking,

like,

"Why is this white b*tch

talking to me?"

- Now the door's not opening.

- Actually,

my nephew is half Black.

♪

- f*ck.

[spacey guitar music building]

♪

[pensive bass line]

- No matter

how hard you try ♪

You can't stop me now ♪

[peppy music]

- Hi.

My name is Sarge Sean Terry.

And as you know,

the police have been getting

a pretty bad rap lately.

[cheesy hip-hop beats]

- Somebody say rap music?

- No, no, not that kind

of bad rap, Officer McElroy,

I'm talking about

our reputation

for sh**ting

unarmed Black people.

- Let's face it.

Policing is a scary job,

and mistakes will happen.

- But here are a few

and quick easy things

that you can do

to not get shot by us.

[siren wails,

kids chatter]

[hip-hop beats]

- Please don't stop ♪

- All right, step one,

just comply, man.

It's really that simple.

- If we ask you for your name,

please don't make one up

or give us your buddy's name

or say it's "Deez Nuts."

- And look, if we ask you

where you're going,

just tell us the truth.

Don't say you're going

to bang my wife.

That thing can lead

to an argument fast.

- Our job is hard enough.

Please don't

do something dumb

like trying to run away

from us.

We don't get paid to run.

- And look, if we gotta choose

between chasing you down

or sh**ting you in the back,

nine times out of ten,

we're gonna sh**t y--

- What are you doing?

♪

- Please don't stop ♪

- Tip number two,

always keep your hands

where we can see them.

- Now, this is very important

because, if it's really dark

- Or you're really dark

- Something like this

basketball can look like a

g*n.

- I can't tell you how many

times I've seen a g*n

when it was something else.

But like we teach

in the academy,

if it looks like a g*n,

it's a g*n.

So in order to avoid

any mistakes,

you wanna make sure

to keep both hands up high.

Okay?

Light side out like that.

- Now with the other hand,

show us some identification.

- Up.

Up.

- Hey!

Keep them hands up!

♪

- Please don't stop ♪

- And the third part is key.

It's most important.

Can you just try to be nice?

We know getting pulled over

by the police

can be a real pain in the neck.

- Literally.

And look, we gotta deal

with some pretty awful people

in some of the worst, shittiest

neighborhoods you've ever seen.

I mean, look around.

- We don't have to tell you.

You live here.

But can't you just throw us

a compliment

every once in a while

instead of asking us

if we're sucking each other

off

in the car

or if we're jacking

each other off in the car.

- Yeah, we're not doing that,

okay?

And how about a little respect?

Don't ask us about our salary.

You already know

that you Googled it.

- Would it k*ll you

to just be polite?

- It might k*ll you to not.

- Dude, I don't understand.

♪

- Please don't stop ♪

- Come here, buddy.

You don't have anything

that'll stick me, right?

- No.

- Police are not the bad guys.

- The bad guys

are the bad guys.

We're the good guys.

- So help us keep our community

safe from your community.

- Hey, ten bucks says

you can't make that shot

again.

- Ooh.

- That's ten bucks.

- Ten bucks.

[chatter]

- There's nothing worse

than a dancing cop only because

if that cop does

happen to k*ll me later,

I got k*lled

by the dancing cop.

[laughter]

That's f*cking humiliating.

[dramatic percussion]

- Hey, remember being a kid

and thinking

all cops are heroes?

- No.

- Right.

I guess, as a person of color,

you wouldn't,

and that's the problem.

- Look, cops are just

n*gg*s with jobs, okay?

Some are good at it.

Some are bad at it.

- Okay, but some jobs

are too important

for people to just

be bad at it.

I mean, I think it's fair

to expect cops to be heroes.

- Heroes have superpowers

and dope names and capes.

Cops get a g*n and, like,

55 grand a year.

Mistakes will happen.

- What?

These are not just mistakes,

okay?

Innocent people

are being k*lled--

- So this alarm

just goes nowhere, right?

I mean, nobody can hear it.

I can hear it.

[alarm ringing]

- I think somebody is stuck

in the elevator.

- Yo, that ain't my problem.

I'm on my lunch break

and my food ain't get here

yet.

- So you not gonna help?

- Are they dying?

- What?

- If they're really stuck,

they'll still be there

after my food gets here

and I eat it and I digest it.

- All this n*gga do

is talk on his phone.

- That's right.

[alarm continues ringing]

[exciting music]

- We owe a great debt

of gratitude

to these heroes for saving

our city from chaos.

- Thank you, Mayor.

It is ouragh!

- What's wrong?

- I sense trouble coming.

- Stop this madness.

- We demand justice.

- Oh, f*ck me.

- What's going on?

These heroes

just saved our city.

- But in the process,

one of them k*lled

an unarmed brother.

- He zapped him with

that eye-ray thing.

- It was an accident.

- Don't apologize.

Homeboy should have complied.

- Carnivore, don't.

- Look, what happened

to Kareem Man is unfortunate.

- Stop calling him Kareem Man.

- Yeah, it's just Kareem, man.

- That's what I just said.

- [groans]

[people gasp]

- More trouble?

- It seems we're being flamed

on Black Twitter.

[people gasp]

- All right.

How about

you people get out of here?

- "You people"?

- Okay, you know

that's not what he meant.

- Like hell I didn't.

- We ain't afraid

of you mutant crackers.

♪

- We got Black power.

- Yeah, we got Black power.

- Shaun, no!

- [groans]

- What are you doing?

- He had a weapon.

- Just because a Black man

is holding a weapon,

it doesn't make him a threat.

- But he was white.

- No, he wasn't.

- Well, I

- Everybody just calm down.

- Katrina,

say something to them.

- Why do I always

have to do it?

- You know why.

- Carnivore!

- America is taking action.

- Our people, united!

- And we at Fitbit are proud

to stand with you in

your fight.

- Will never be defeated!

- Introducing

our new Fitbit Protest,

the only wristband designed

to help take your activism

to the next level.

Now you can track

your heart rate

as well as your contributions

to social change.

♪

[Fitbit pings]

The new Fitbit Protest counts

all of your steps,

giving you the motivation

you need

to hit all

of your marching goals,

wherever you are.

- Next stop, Selma.

- Outwalk all of your heroes.

- We just marched further

than MLK.

- Yeah!

- And with the new ally mode,

your Fitbit Protest

will send you an alert

whenever it's time

to apologize

to a marginalized group.

- I just wanna let you know

I'm sorry

for everything going on.

- Thank you.

I feel seen.

- No matter

what side you're on,

it feels like

you're losing ground.

That's why the new

Fitbit Protest comes in white,

black, and Confederate flag.

- The government cannot force

you to wear a mask!

[Fitbits pinging]

- Make the most

out of every protest

so that you can save

what matters most,

whether it's Black lives

or all lives.

[exciting music]

- Watching conservatives riot,

for Black people,

is kind of like watching

your big brothers

play the video game.

You're like,

"Oh, that's what you do?

You go

to the f*cking capitol?"

We was just trying

to get watches and sh*t.

These m*therf*ckers was trying

to steal the Constitution.

It's amazing.

[chatter]

- Foul! Foul!

[cheers and applause]

- Hey, what are you doing, bro?

- No. Double or nothing, bro.

- Give me my ball back.

- Double or nothing.

- Give me my ball.

- If you give me the chance

to win the money back,

I'll give you the ball.

- Man, I'm gonna tell

my mother what you called me.

- You called me that first.

I can say it if you can say it.

Get your mother. I don't care.

- Give my brother

his ball back.

- What? Who is this kid?

- You want your ball back?

You want your ball back?

I'll give you your ball back.

- Now he's getting

- Yo, what are you doing?

- Yo!

- There you go.

[g*nsh*t, group shouts]

- What the

- Whoa, whoa, whoa.

- Yo!

- What the f*ck?

- Get your ball back.

- It's not a ball now.

It looks like a moccasin.

- [sighs]

- I just don't get

how you can be so flippant

about all this.

- Look, white lady

- Jan.

- I'm mad too, but my mad

is over the span of a

lifetime.

Your mad is, like,

the last four years.

- I guess.

- You're like

the new inmate in jail,

and you're complaining

about how everything is.

But I'm that old, wise inmate

that's just been r*ped

over and over again, you know?

To the point

that I'm used to it.

You get what I'm trying to say?

- Well,

that's a lot less clear but

- What is that?

What does that mean?

- What? ACAB?

- Yeah. What is that?

Like, a sorority or something?

- No.

That stands for

"all cops are b*stards."

- b*stards?

- Yeah.

- [chuckles]

My brother's a cop.

- [scoffs]

Oh, really?

- Yeah.

He knows his father, though.

Sort of.

- Wait,

so how does that happen?

- How does what happen?

- Like, a person of color--

- Hey, could you stop calling

us "colored people"?

- No, I said "person of color."

- It's the same thing, man.

We picked the color.

It's Black.

Just call us Black.

- Okay. Fine.

Well, how does--how does

a Black man become a cop?

- You never seen

a Black cop before?

- Yeah, of course, I have.

I just--

I don't understand

why a Black man

would choose to have that job.

- I don't know.

Why would a Black man choose

to be a security guard

or any other job?

It's a job.

He needed a job.

There's not that

many options where we from.

- I can't hold it much longer.

[whooshing]

- Everybody, out!

- Ooh!

- We are the Policemen!

- Michael!

- What?

- Don't you "what" me, boy.

Get in here

and finish cleaning this room!

Room is such a mess.

Don't make no sense.

Ugh.

[ominous music]

♪

- Hey, Ma, I'm sorry I'm late.

Michelle's mom was cooking.

So

- What's this?

- You went in my room?

- First of all,

you don't have a room.

This my house.

And second,

what are you doing with a g*n?

- Ma, I'm holding that

for someone.

- Oh, and are you

holding this for him too?

- Ma, it's--that's--

it's just

- Don't lie to me, Robert!

[stirring music]

- All right.

♪

I took the police test

a while back

and they gave me the job.

♪

- You're a damn cop?

- Ma, it's not what you think.

- What in the

what happened to the job

that your uncle got for you

down at that chop shop?

- I quit. It was ill*gal.

- But it was honest,

and at least you wasn't

gonna get k*lled.

- Look,

you always worrying about me.

I am a man now.

I can handle myself.

- Okay, so frisking innocent

people,

that makes you a big man?

- Well,

not everybody's innocent.

Some people

are breaking the law.

- Yeah, I breaks the law.

Are you gonna arrest me?

- Ma.

- No, come on, Mr. Policeman.

You bad.

Come on.

Arrest your mama.

Yeah, 'cause I'm running cable

from the people upstairs.

- Ma.

- And I'm driving

without insurance.

- Ma, I can't handle this.

- Huh? Huh? Huh?

I'm cashing

your grandmother's SSI check

and she been dead a year.

That's fraud, Robert.

- Ma, stop.

- No, come on.

You and your little friends

might as well get

your little handcuffs

and take me to jail.

- Ma, you know

I wouldn't do that.

We take care of our own.

- [scoffs]

I should have seen the signs.

Look at you.

A Yankee's jacket

and wraparound sunglasses.

All that blue you wearing.

I was hoping

that you was a Crip.

And what kind of example

are you setting

for your brother, huh?

He watches everything you do.

- Look, Ma,

it's not as bad as you think.

- That's it!

You're coming to church with me

on Sunday.

- Ma, I can't.

I got overtime.

- I don't care.

You are going to talk

with Pastor James on Sunday,

and he gonna talk

some sense into you!

[hymn music]

- Praise the Lord.

[chuckles]

Well,

how are you doing, sister?

God bless y

He did what?

A cop?

sh**t.

No, I won't, sister.

You know I don't like

to mess with the police.

I just got off papers

on that domestic.

Uh, no.

Uh, no, no.

Sister, I gotta go.

And look here

[chuckling] Don't you call

this number no more, now,

you hear?

Praise the Lord.

Bye-bye, sister.

[phone beeps]

Oof.

Got me f*cked up.

- Whenever you get

into real trouble,

your mother will call

some old dude to talk to you.

"What's wrong, young brother?"

You ever see a Black movie

that was like,

"What's wrong, young brother?"

Sometimes Smokey Robinson

will sing you a song,

tell you not to be in a g*ng.

- Preaching that hate ♪

Defying your mother ♪

k*lling your brother ♪

k*lling in waves ♪

- That's the reason

why these n*gg*s is in gangs,

because Smokey Robinson

hadn't told them not to yet.

These m*therf*ckers don't

listen to Smokey Robinson.

Why couldn't you get Jodeci

to sing them a song?

What?

[knock on door]

- Just getting

the rest of my things, Ma.

- How you doing, son?

- What are you doing here?

- Your mama called me

and told me you're a pig now.

- Don't say that.

I'm an officer of the law.

- All right.

All right. Calm down.

Look at my palms.

I just wanna know

why you did it.

- Since when do you care

about what I do?

- Look, I know I ain't always

been there for you,

but you're a smart kid.

You got

your whole life ahead of you.

You can make twice

a cop's salary

and without

hurting your people.

- But I get benefits now.

- Benefits are for people

who go to the doctor, son,

not us.

- [huffs]

- See that?

Tell me what's really going

on,

man.

[stirring music]

- Michelle's pregnant.

- Okay, what trimester?

- Dad.

- I'm just saying,

if it's the first trimester--

- She's keeping the baby, Dad.

That's why I had

to become a cop--

to provide for her.

- [chuckles]

You sound just like me

when I was your age.

- You wanted to be a cop too?

- f*ck, no.

Nothing stupid like that.

Close.

I almost joined the army.

- Really?

- Yeah.

Your mom

had just gotten pregnant,

so I figured it'd be a good

time to go see the world.

I got all the way down

to the recruitment office,

and at the last second, man,

I just couldn't do it.

- Why not?

- Warrants.

Seven outstanding warrants.

They held me there,

told me I won a prize

until the cops came.

- Wow.

- [chuckles]

Yeah, to this day,

I still don't know

what that price was.

Look, man,

being a cop is very dangerous.

I know I can't tell you

what to do,

but why don't you sleep on it?

And tomorrow,

I'll drive you down there.

We'll see if we can get

this girl to have an ab*rtion

so you don't have to be

a pig no more.

Deal?

- [sighs]

Mind's made up, Dad.

- Fine.

You got any of them cards

that get you out of tickets?

- Yeah, I think so.

- Let me get a couple of those.

♪

One, two.

That's my boy.

Appreciate you, son.

- Police!

Put your hands up now!

- I ain't got nothing.

- Stop resisting.

- Suck my d*ck!

- How about you suck mine,

you juvenile delinquent?

Get over here.

You don't got anything

that'll stick me, right?

[ambling beat]

- Patrolling the streets ♪

Walking the beat ♪

Shining those cuffs ♪

Lookin' all tough ♪

Policin',

policin' ♪

Flashin' your badge ♪

Driving real fast ♪

Writing out tickets ♪

Power's so addictive ♪

Policin' ♪

Policin' ♪

Arresting the blacks ♪

Twisting the facts ♪

Kneeling and choking ♪

Our caskets are closing ♪

Policin' ♪

Policin' ♪

Policin' ♪

Policin' ♪

- All right.

Let's get a move on.

Come on.

[metal groans]

- We're moving.

- Finally. Damn.

[chuckling]

- You know

oh, thank you.

Well, nice talking to you.

I'm going this way.

- Yeah, me too.

- Oh, you live on this floor?

- No.

I'm just going to the gym.

- Oh.

Me too.

I think you need

a fob to get in.

- Oh, yeah,

I got mine in my bag

I think I kept it

in the inside

[door beeps]

Inside pocket thing

in this bag

[mumbles]

Hey.

- I'm very sorry.

It was nice meeting you.

- Can you let me in? Hello?

Can you let me in?

[ambling beat]

♪

Hey.

Hey, man.

Can I use your fob?

Your fob. Hey!

Man, I know you hear me.

Hey, my brother's a cop!

[grumbling]

I'm gonna f*ck you up, man.

I hate this building, I swear.

- No, I didn't do nothing,

man.

- Yes, you did.

You assaulted an officer

of the United States

of America.

- Nobody assaulted anybody.

Leave me alone, man.

Yo, stop chasing me.

- Come on.

- Stop chasing me.

Bro, what are you doing?

- You assaulted an officer.

- What is wrong with you, man?

♪

Stop chasing me, bro.

- Gonna come around your side

'cause I went to school!

♪