[Saxe] Previously on Ghost...
I made this is in just a few hours
without even leaving campus.
We could make a killing here. All I need is a supplier.
[Lorenzo] Make sure he does what we say.
If you don't, Tariq dies.
I know you're selling out there to pay for Davis.
Ma, I'm doing what I need to do to get you out, all right?
It doesn't matter what I'm doing.
You need to go get a gun.
Ghost and Tommy used to have these dead drops all over the city.
There should still be a gun in one of those spots.
[Monet] We have a new business partner,
Tariq St. Patrick.
[both] What?
Monet sent you over here to spy on me, didn't she?
You just show me how you do your business, we can make this quick.
-You've got a partner? -I don't.
[Dru] I guess that's you.
[shower running]
[Monet] Dru, I want you to be careful with yourself.
Nobody's gonna have your back like your family.
Jesus Christ, Riley, what have you done now?
If you weren't a U.S. Attorney,
your mouthy niece would be in Rikers Island right now.
-I'll do whatever you want. -There is something you can do for me.
-Eyes on the target. -Do not talk to him.
You have a really dark energy.
-Has anyone ever told you that? -Nope.
Is the guy in the Strahan jersey always such a dick?
He's shy, but don't worry about him.
Just worry about me.
[chuckles]
Jabari, when's your second book come out?
It came out already.
Came and went. [chuckles]
I'm currently hard at work on my next novel.
[Tariq] What am I paying you for?
The spotlight's been on Tasha. We're moving it over to Saxe.
We expose his malfeasance.
He gets thrown off the case. The whole thing goes away.
You tell me a secret, then maybe I'll tell you a secret.
I could tell you...
or I could show you.
[light dramatic music]
[phone buzzes]
Who's Diana?
♪ ♪
[Joe] ♪ 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 illegal, 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 ♪
♪ Homey, I grew up in hell A block away from heaven ♪
♪ That corner every 15 minutes They moving seven ♪
♪ Pure snow, bag it Then watch it go ♪
♪ Occupational options Get some blow or some hos ♪
♪ Shoot the ball or the strap Learn to rap or to jack ♪
♪ Fuck it, man In the meantime ♪
♪ Go head and pump a pack ♪
♪ This my regal, royal flow My James Bond bounce ♪
♪ That 007 That's 62 on my count ♪
♪ I'm an undercover liar I lie under the covers ♪
♪ Look a bitch in the eyes ♪
♪ And tell her Baby, I love ya ♪
♪ You're my inspiration You're my motivation ♪
♪ You're the reason that I'm Moving with no hesitation ♪
[Joe] ♪ 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 ♪
♪ Oh, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ I just happen To come up hard ♪
♪ Legal or illegal, baby I gotta make it ♪
♪ ♪
[all] ♪ Happy birthday To you ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
♪ Happy birthday, dear Tariq ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
-[Tasha] Right. -[laughter]
-[Tasha] Okay, blow. -[Estelle] Yeah.
[Tasha] All right, get it, get it!
-[all cheer] -There you go.
[Estelle] Yes, yes!
My baby is 18.
-You grown now. -Yep.
Yes, oh, I'm so proud of you.
[chuckles] Thank you, Grandma.
-[light laughter] -[knock at door]
[Estelle] Okay, who's ready for some cake?
-[Yasmine] Me. -[Tariq] You know she is.
[Estelle] All right.
[suspenseful music]
Hey. Sorry I'm late.
Baby girl.
♪ ♪
Did I miss the cake?
-[indistinct chatter] -[Estelle] There you go.
There you go. You're welcome.
W-what are you doing here?
What do you mean? It's our birthday.
Why wouldn't I be here?
I am so sorry.
Baby girl, I wasn't there.
I wasn't there to protect you.
I love you so much.
Ma, you're acting weird.
I love you, too. Um...
Did Tariq beat me home?
[sobs]
[Tasha] Oh, my God.
♪ ♪
[high-pitched squeaking]
♪ ♪
[wheel squeaking]
[buzzer blares]
[door clangs open]
[door closes]
[gentle music]
♪ ♪
[line trilling]
Hey, Ma.
Happy birthday, 'Riq.
Thank you. How you doing in there?
I'm good.
How about you?
What are you doing today?
You know I wanna see you on your birthday.
[hip-hop music playing]
Yeah, I'm gonna come visit you,
but I gotta study for this test I have to take.
So I gotta go right now. I'll talk to you later.
O-okay. I love you.
Good luck on your test.
See you soon.
All right, love you.
[hip-hop music playing]
You gotta stop showing up here.
I know Davis sent you a subpoena to testify at my recusal hearing.
You can't say anything about me being at Truth
the night of St. Patrick's murder.
I'll be under oath. If they ask, I have to say you were there.
I have to say that someone is blackmailing you with that information.
At least you were smart enough not to tell me who it is.
Tameika, please, don't do this.
You'll ruin my life.
It's not your life I'm concerned about.
Just drop the charges.
You know Tasha isn't the queenpin.
You know you are wrong. This can all go away.
It's out of my hands. I don't have a choice.
You are the U.S. Attorney.
Why the fuck is it out of your hands?
I can't tell you.
Right.
I'm not your lawyer anymore.
You put me in this position.
I told you this would happen.
Cooper, if I get on that stand, you are fucked.
You have to stop this train before it runs you off the tracks.
[Tameika] Now get out.
Fuck.
[Monet] Believe it or not,
there's a method to becoming a savage in the game.
It's a skill.
To control a nigga,
you gotta always be able to think ahead of him.
Whatever you say to him should always lead him back to you.
Ma, I don't even know what that means.
It means a man doesn't fall in love with you.
He falls in love with the image of himself that he sees in your eyes.
You make him think he's lit, he'll always come back to it.
That's better than any drug we can sell.
It's about being a woman in a man's world.
Men have certain advantages.
I'm teaching you how to even the playing field.
You see how I got Detective Ramirez on lock.
Ma, that's easy. You sleeping with the caught-up nigga.
Listen, any thot can give a man some pussy.
But if sex is the best thing you think you have to offer,
then you underestimate yourself
and how much a man needs a woman he can depend on.
That's the secret to control.
[engine revs]
[Diana] Doesn't look like he's under control.
It's all a part of the plan.
Get him hooked on it, then take it away.
Watch this.
Mo, stop playing. Open up.
That's the problem, you think I'm playing.
You don't respect my boundaries.
So, from now on, I'll call you when I wanna see you.
What's the matter with you?
Let me come in, and we can talk about this.
No, I have a business to run.
You think my world stops because you show up?
-I never said that. -Your actions say enough.
You show up here all unannounced with nothing but hard dick and bubble gum
and nothing to offer?
Why does everything have to be transactional with you?
I just wanna see you.
Look, you're seeing me through the door.
I said what I said.
Fuck outta here!
[uneasy music]
♪ ♪
What do Monet need to talk to me about?
What's the reason for this meeting?
She ain't say, all right?
All she said was to pick you up and drop you off.
♪ Gotta bust until it click ♪
♪ Had to work to try the jug ♪
[Tariq] What's he doing over here?
He looking for you, or he just part of the fam?
Neither, he just a dirty-ass cop.
How come Monet trust a crooked cop?
Man, you know them niggas is worse than regular cops.
Facts.
These niggas only come around and take shit.
Your money, your freedom, or your life.
What's that cop taking from Monet?
He feeds us information and keeps us from getting jammed up.
Hmm, I know it's expensive keeping a nigga like that on payroll.
How much he be taxing y'all?
[door opens]
What's up, Diana?
Tariq, I didn't know you were coming by.
-Hey, what's up with your mans? -Who you talking about, Cane?
I'm talking about that bum-ass cop you had parked out front.
-What? -[Diana] Chill out, bro.
[Cane] Nah, fuck that. This my house too.
I wanna know why this nigga Ramirez
feels comfortable enough to show up during the day,
where anybody could see him and he fuck up our business.
Cane, you know we do not discuss family business in front of company.
Ma, you're always talking family first bullshit.
But it's starting to feel like you're choosing outsiders
over your own fucking family.
Boy, you better fall back before you say some shit you regret.
Hey. Come on.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
Cane loses his place sometimes.
He's not a bad kid. He's just confused.
So is Dru.
I send him to your school, and he comes back with this?
You have any idea who this could be?
Hey, Dru did this?
You know he drew it.
Who is it, Tariq?
I-I don't recognize him, but maybe Zeke does.
I'm too busy writing Zeke's papers
and writing my papers and on top of that moving your product,
so, honestly, I don't have much time to hang out with anyone.
All right, I'll ask Zeke.
[phone buzzes]
I gotta get back to the city, so if this is all, then...
[door opens]
Man, what the fuck do you want?
[sighs]
Tameika's been subpoenaed to testify at my recusal hearing
by your lawyer.
Now, that sounds like a you problem.
[Saxe scoffs]
Davis wants Tameika to tell the judge how fucking dirty you are.
Why do you think your mother fired Tameika, huh?
It doesn't matter.
All right, Tameika can't tell the court anything that my mom told her.
Tameika told me that herself.
You can take this bullshit subpoena and get the fuck outta my face.
Tariq, I told Tameika
I went to Truth the night of your father's murder.
What?
Well, that's your own dumbass fault.
I didn't say anything to anyone.
Well, that's the problem. I told Tameika someone saw me.
If she figures out it was you,
Judge Larkin is gonna ask why you never mentioned it before.
She's gonna want you to testify. I'm gonna have to cross-examine you.
Our whole little arrangement will come out.
[engine starts]
[Tariq sighs]
[phone chimes]
[phone buzzes]
Ma, did you know Davis subpoenaed Tameika?
Yeah, I know.
Her testimony's gonna help get Saxe thrown off the case.
What if she figures out what really happened that night?
I think it's too risky, Ma.
Our conversations were privileged.
So even if she wanted to, technically there's nothing she could say.
Well, she could say something that places me at the scene.
-I saw Saxe at Truth that night. -What?
Look, I've been blackmailing him this whole time to help you.
but I was the only one that knew he was there,
but when Tameika stopped being his lawyer, he told her that someone saw him.
You think they could prove that it was me?
Tariq, why am I just finding this out now?
Why didn't you tell me this from the jump?
This is just like your father.
You promised me you would never lie to me, and now look.
-Here we are. -Ma, I'm nothing like Ghost.
All right, I wasn't lying.
I just didn't tell you in order to protect you.
What? Now you even sound like him.
A lie of omission is still a motherfucking lie.
Tameika already thinks you are the shooter.
That's what you don't know, little boy.
She figured it out. That's why I had to fire her.
So that's a lie of omission, too, then.
Ma, why didn't you tell me this?
Because it didn't matter until now.
Everything Saxe told her she could say because it wasn't privileged.
If someone figures out when you saw him
or why you saw him, it messes up our whole timeline.
You'll be exposed.
We gotta keep Tameika off the stand.
She knows too much.
Need me to take care of her?
What?
No. No way.
You made a decision, and now I'm making a decision.
I'll just tell Davis to pull the subpoena.
You call no more shots from here on out, okay?
I got us now.
[sighs]
I don't know why you don't want a bubble tea.
It's really good. I mean, are you off sugar?
That'd be great for your skin if you can pull it off.
What?
Look, I-I don't want a bubble tea.
I want information about Tariq St. Patrick.
-Why? -Because I'm prosecuting his mother.
She claims to be broke, but somehow can afford
the best defense attorney in New York.
Now, if I can prove Tariq is funding her legal team with dirty money,
I can shut down the whole defense.
Have you seen him, I don't know, with any large lump sums of cash?
Just anything suspicious.
I did overhear him on the phone with his grandmother.
She was asking him for money.
-That's interesting. -I know, right?
Usually it's the other way around with college kids.
Speaking of which, I wanna get my nose pierced,
and I was wondering if–
But how did you get close enough
to hear Tariq on the phone without him noticing you?
I've been spending the night in his room a lot lately.
What the fuck?
You-you–[sighs] You're sleeping with him?
Riley, I didn't tell you to, ugh, do that.
In fact, I told you not to talk to him.
First of all, Uncle Nancy, I'm a woman now.
I can sleep with whoever, whenever I want to.
-It's just sex. -Oh, God.
But it's not Tariq that I'm dating.
Apparently I'm not his type.
His roommate's my boyfriend, I think.
I mean, we haven't talked labels yet, but I think it's going that way.
[laughs] I mean, I'm more polyamorous, if I think about it,
but I could give monogamy a try, like the olds, and see if I like it.
Can we just please just stop talking about sex and–
Who–who is this guy?
Brayden Weston.
He's square, but he's rich, white,
privileged.
You'd like him. He's just like you.
Eh, except his roommate, Tariq, is from a notorious crime family.
If Tariq is as badass as you say he is, then I have the best seat in the house.
Fine.
Since you're already spending time in the room,
I need you to start keeping tabs
on who comes to visit Tariq and report back to me.
But this is important.
Don't talk to him.
Don't ask him questions.
Just observe and report.
Observe and report. You got it.
[sighs]
Now, some people also say
that O. Henry was satirizing love
by writing these characters as fools.
So what do you all think?
[door closes]
[Jabari] To be early is to be on time.
To be on time is to be late.
To be late is to be forgotten, Mr. St. Patrick.
Yes, I know. Um, I apologize.
I had some family issues I had to take care of earlier.
Well, the 15-page paper was due at the beginning of class.
It's 25 pages now.
[students murmuring]
Both Jim and Della buy each other a gift
that ultimately seems financially foolish,
because being poor,
they cannot afford to waste money on things they cannot use.
I need you to retract the subpoena.
Wait, what?
Okay, Tameika's testimony will reveal that Saxe was working with you
to convict your husband,
which totally contradicts his whole theory about you being the queenpin.
Tameika knows every dirty thing Saxe has ever done.
She knows where all the bodies are buried.
Tasha, we need Tameika.
Hell, you need Tameika.
She puts the nail in Saxe's coffin.
He recuses himself, I refile to get the charges dismissed,
and you–you could go home the same day.
I am asking you, Davis, do not put her on the stand.
And I'm telling you, she's testifying.
What?
Hello, I'm the client.
And I'm the lawyer. You wanna go home or not?
[indistinct chatter]
Tariq, listen...
why is it that we are the culture
where it's corny to be smart or responsible?
Now, we as Black people must fight daily to change that narrative.
You're right.
Look, I know you have a lot going on with your mom
and your dad,
but your behavior reflects poorly upon us as Black men on this campus,
and specifically me as your professor.
Now, I am responsible for you, Tariq.
Listen, you keep my parents out of your mouth, all right?
Man, you need to do your job instead of trying to be my dad.
I had a father, all right? I don't need you.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
Monet was pressing me about some drawing earlier,
but I held it down.
I think she's trying to figure out if you was, you know–
Yeah, nigga.
It's not no secret. [chuckles]
My whole family knows.
Monet's testing you.
Testing me for what?
She's trying to see who you're loyal to, me or her.
-Yeah, I should've seen that coming. -Yeah.
She looking at you like you one of us now.
And that can be a gift or a curse.
[uneasy music]
♪ ♪
Look out for yourself, Tariq.
♪ ♪
Tariq didn't want to be straightforward with me about Dru and that drawing.
But he's willing to send me to question Zeke.
He got some loyalty for Dru.
Right.
And Cane and Tariq will never be able to get along.
So, under these circumstances,
your brothers will never be able to learn how he's moving our product
or if it's even possible to cut him out of the equation if we need to.
I'm leaning on you now, D.
You understand what I said before.
Get Tariq alone, get any other chicks out of view,
and get me some information.
[Monet] And don't get caught up.
I won't.
Let me get the whole row of Hennessy Black.
V.S.O.P., and regular Henny.
And let me get a few bottles of Hpnotiq too.
Who the hell drinks Hpnotiq?
You mix the brown with the blue, and you get the Incredible Fucking Hulk.
That shit'll put you on your ass, baby.
I'm throwing Tariq the party of the year
where "Henny-thing" is possible. [laughs]
So how are you gonna keep the surprise from Tariq?
Okay, Tariq will never find out.
He's hardly ever at school anyways.
-Yeah. -[Riley] Really?
So his parents are spending all this money on tuition,
and he's just blowing his opportunity?
No, I didn't mean it like that.
Like, he goes to class, and he handles his schoolwork,
but he just–he just goes missing sometimes is all.
And that's not weird to you?
I mean, your best friend just vanishes into thin air like an X-Man.
Tariq just has a lot more on his plate than the average college student, okay?
He's probably just going to therapy or some shit.
[chuckles] So you really don't have any idea where he's going.
Whatever he does with his time is his business,
and I respect his boundaries.
Well, you should respect his boundaries and cancel the party.
I mean, he doesn't want to celebrate it.
Riley, you're really being a buzzkill right now.
Oh, what up, man?
Yo, Zeke! You know about this spot too?
-These niggas don't even card me. -Yeah, it's cause you look old as fuck.
This my boo, Riley.
-[Riley] Hey. -Pleasure to meet you, love.
Okay, so I'm throwing a party for Tariq tonight,
if you wanna roll through, you know, bring some guys from the ball team
and some thotties you know.
Oh, I go to parties for new thots, not my old ones.
Why bring sand to the beach?
If you wanna roll through, you know, it'd help me out a lot.
I need a little help. I need to make this as fun as possible.
-[Zeke] I got you, man. -[Brayden] Yeah?
-Just need some girls there. -I got you, man.
-You sure, yeah? [chuckles] -Don't worry about it.
[Brandon] Hmm.
Look, brother...
you know I ain't got nothing but love for you.
We started from the bottom together.
And once these white boys messed up and let us in the door,
we made a shit ton of money together.
But my clients are more...mainstream now.
That's great, okay?
You're gonna have more access to mainstream media platforms
and other connections.
Now, I was thinking–
L-listen, listen.
You're right about the connections.
But they're letting me rep white writers now.
So, if I bring your content to the higher-ups,
it's gotta be twice as good.
All right, we don't get to fuck up like this.
Understand?
I assume you didn't even read it.
Let me guess, you had your assistant skim over it for you, is that right?
Perhaps if it was like your first one,
which felt more real, rather than the second one.
-It was misunderstand. -Shit, it was a flop.
Well, the royalties from my first book should be more than enough money
to buy you some more fancy fucking suits.
I simply came here to warn you that if your next book doesn't sell,
I'm gonna have to let you go, brother.
[scoffs] So it's like that, brother?
[door opens]
[door closes]
Excuse me.
What are you doing here, Tariq?
Your T.A. Melissa said I could find you here.
Do you have a second to speak?
[sighs] Yeah.
Look, I'm sorry for my disrespectful remarks
and behavior earlier.
I know the best apology is changed behavior,
so I won't be showing up late to class anymore.
I also got those 25 pages done for you.
Accountability breeds responsibility.
I respect that.
Thank you.
[phone buzzes]
Ma, how'd it go with Davis?
Not that great, Tariq.
He says that we need Tameika to testify,
that once she tells the court how dirty Saxe is,
I could come home.
So we let her testify,
and then I just take whatever– whatever happens to me, right?
No, no, Tariq, if–
Ma, you don't understand.
If Tameika could help you come home and I have to stand up,
I'm gonna stand up.
I'm ready, Ma.
Tariq, I want you to go talk to Tameika.
Convince her not to take the stand.
What if she won't listen to me?
[gate buzzes]
Make her listen.
[tense music]
[knock at door]
Tariq, what are you doing here?
Can I talk to you? It's about my mom's case.
Come in.
Can I get you something to drink?
This is a long subway ride from Stansfield.
Yeah, um, water would be fine.
[gentle uneasy music]
♪ ♪
I'm fine, thank you.
Miss Washington, I'm-I'm gonna need you to not testify tomorrow.
Tariq, I don't know if Davis explained this part of the case to you,
but my testimony will help your mother's case.
It might even help her go home.
Yeah, she told me that, but I'm afraid something else might happen too.
[Tariq] We both are.
What are you afraid could happen?
I have to tell you something, Miss Washington,
something I never wanted to tell anyone.
The night my father was killed, I saw Mr. Saxe at Truth.
-And you told him you saw him? -I did.
I thought I could make him help my mother.
I think we both know he tried.
But if you take the stand tomorrow and–and tell everyone that he was there,
it could come out that I saw him there.
And then I'll have to say the rest of the things I saw that night.
I'll have to say Tommy Egan killed my father.
Your mother already said that in court.
Yes, but she's in a woman's jail. He can't get to her.
I'm out here by myself. I'm alone.
That makes sense, Tariq.
But can you answer something for me?
Where exactly did you see Cooper and when?
Why does that matter? I don't think he killed my father.
I don't think he did either.
♪ ♪
[knock at door]
[Davis] Tameika, I need to talk to you.
I'm gonna get rid of him. Wait here.
[Davis] Come on, I know you're in there. Your car's out here.
-[knocking] -I know you're in there!
Why does everyone know my home address?
Look, I need to talk to you
about my client and your testimony tomorrow.
This isn't a good time.
Okay, you're my witness, right?
And you testify in the morning, correct?
We don't have another time. Tameika, let me in.
This isn't a good time.
[Davis] Who's in there with you?
No one.
You don't lie that often, do you?
You need practice. Is Saxe in here?
-Davis. Davis– -No, is Saxe in here?
I know y'all are up to something, huh?
What, is he trying to get you to change your testimony?
Saxe. Saxe!
[sighs]
Okay, no one's here.
As I said.
Look, I'm-I'm sorry, but something fucked up
is going on with my case, Tameika, all right?
Why doesn't Tasha want you to testify?
[sighs]
Sit down, Davis. We need to talk.
Shit.
[breathing heavily]
[tense music]
[phone buzzes]
[phone chimes]
♪ She like the way that I dance ♪
♪ She like the way that I move ♪
♪ She like the way that I rock ♪
♪ She like the way that I woo ♪
♪ She let it clap for a nigga ♪
[all] Surprise!
Hey, 'Riq!
Up to it, down to it...
[both] Fuck those who don't do it.
Drink, motherfucker, drink.
-Cheers. -What the fuck?
Bro, you serious?
-That was my bad. That was my bad. -Trace, sit the fuck down.
-Sorry. -Trace, sit down.
Forgive my drunk-ass brother.
There's a bathroom upstairs if you wanna go wash yourself off.
Bro, teach him how to hold his liquor, all right?
Next time that happens, he's getting these hands, and I'm serious.
He was about to kick your brother's ass.
Trace just doesn't know his limit.
If he asks you for any more liquor or pills, just ignore him.
He's done for the night.
Tariq was overreacting.
Why does he have to be so rude?
Aren't his parents rich?
Like, he doesn't have to pretend to be a thug.
Hey, what do his parents even do for a living?
That's enough. Why are you so obsessed with him?
I'm done answering questions about Tariq.
I'm gonna go check on him.
Can you just fill this up, please?
Thank you.
♪ For all the times we had to face time ♪
♪ Free D-Nice, he doin' state time ♪
♪ If you need the glizzy, You could take mine ♪
♪ Please don't come out your mouth ♪
♪ You know I'm like that I'll make a movie like TNT ♪
♪ Glock-30 on me, Ask who really want it ♪
♪ I bet I air it like BNB ♪
♪ Nappy Blue wildin' in my section ♪
♪ And I keep that .38 for the weapon ♪
♪ Remember when I came home From corrections ♪
♪ All the bad bitches in my direction ♪
♪ She like the way that I dance ♪
♪ She like the way that I move ♪
♪ ♪
[phone buzzing]
-Ma. -[Tasha] I talked to Davis.
She's still gonna testify.
I let you down, Ma. I fucked up.
No, you didn't. You couldn't.
This is my fault.
I put too much on you.
She didn't believe me.
I wanted to do what you told me to, but...
at least you're getting out now, right?
I got it from here.
You go on ahead and be 18.
Well, I could still come visit you.
No, Tariq.
I want you to go have fun.
Happy birthday, baby.
[sighs]
[uneasy music]
[phone beeping]
[line trills]
♪ ♪
Yes, I need to leave a message for Davis MacLean.
This is Tasha Green.
Tell him–
tell him I don't want my case to go to trial.
Tell him...
[woman] Lights out in five minutes!
...I want to take a deal.
[hip-hop music playing]
-Yo, 'Riq! -Yo.
Happy birthday, bro.
-Happy birthday, B-day boy. -Appreciate it. Thank you, man.
Where the fuck are you going?
I gotta get outta here, man. I got shit to do.
No, this is your party, nigga.
Unless you got some pussy lined up, why the fuck would you leave?
[laughs]
I guess I could stay a little longer.
I got you. Don't even worry about it.
What's up, girls?
Ah, mm-mm.
Y'all can go. Dismissed, bye.
Come on with your cock-blocking ass.
Whatever. They was trash anyway.
[Zeke] Ugh.
-Hey, Tariq. -What up?
What you doing over here? Monet send you?
No, I came 'cause it's your birthday.
Why didn't you tell me about it earlier? I would've got you a gift or something.
I ain't too big on birthdays, honestly.
What type of nigga don't celebrate their B-day?
I mean, to each his own, I guess.
So you not gonna offer me a drink?
Help yourself.
Fine.
I'll make my own drink, Tariq.
But come keep me company
so Zeke's teammates don't try to talk to me.
Them thirsty-ass niggas be all over me.
Hey, yo, Ev. I didn't know you was here.
-What's up? -What's up, my nigga?
♪ ♪
What's up, bro?
♪ ♪
[door closes]
[footsteps approaching]
[knocks lightly]
What were you just doing?
I was doing this...
...when I should be doing that.
When did writing become so hard, Carrie?
You know my agent cried the first time he read my book?
I did too.
[gentle music]
-I should go. -No.
Just stay.
-Maybe order some sushi. -[sighs]
From the place that we love so much.
That place that actually cooks the fish.
[chuckles]
And then maybe
we could talk about my book.
♪ ♪
I have to go.
[Jabari] Just–
Just write what's in front of you.
Your first book worked because you didn't make anything up.
You.
You are in front of me.
Okay?
You can't write about me.
And you definitely can't write about us.
You keep pulling me back in. I always give in to you.
I'm not gonna fall for it again.
You need to find another story.
Yo, did you notice Dru left and never came back?
I didn't. I'm not his keeper.
But when did he become your concern, though?
I'm just saying this ain't the hood, all right?
Cops will lock you up for driving around Black out here.
Detective Ramirez gave us PBA cards for situations like that.
We good.
I'm saying, though, suppose he went to go serve somebody.
He ain't come back. You do the math.
Not even a PBA can save you if you got product on you.
A'ight.
We should go find him, then.
-Hi. -What's up?
-Got that for you. -Thanks.
Yeah. It's really good.
-[Lauren] Hi. -Hey, Lauren.
What's up?
[Diana] I don't know. But you said you saw him.
You said you saw him leave.
I mean, I saw him walk out, but I don't know where we went.
'Riq.
-What up? -My advice worked.
I didn't even invite her.
Here, loosen up.
You might get lucky tonight, bro. She fucking wants you.
-[laughs] -Tariq.
Hey, Tariq.
What up?
Who's your friend?
Um, Lauren, this is Diana.
She's Zeke's little cousin.
Ziana.
Nice to meet you, Lauren.
She's actually looking for her brother.
Did you see Zeke out there talking to anyone while you walked in or not?
Nope, I haven't seen him.
Hey, can we talk in private for a second?
-Yeah. -[Tariq] Come on.
[hip-hop music playing]
♪ ♪
[tense music]
♪ ♪
-If the feeling is mutual... -[sighs]
...then you would show it.
Look, I wish it was that simple,
but basketball makes life a bit more complicated for me.
-Wow. -Soon you'll understand.
I understand, I understand you a scary-ass motherfucker
who's trying to pretend to be something he's not.
[knocking on window]
Hey, what's up? You must be Diana.
I am. And who the fuck are you?
-This is Everett. -I'm just a fan of Dru's art.
We got class together.
He was drawing my tattoo.
I promised I'd make him my official tat man when I get to the NBA.
My nigga, are you for real?
Diana already knows the deal.
You're the only person who thinks it's a fucking secret.
You're on the same basketball team as my cousin Zeke, right?
Zeke's your cousin?
Everett, don't worry.
She's not gonna tell him anything,
and neither am I.
[tense music]
Ev. Ev!
Ev!
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter]
Professor Milgram.
Zeke. [chuckles]
How are you?
I'm good.
Can I sit?
Sure.
-I ain't know you wore glasses. -[chuckles]
Well, I usually don't. They're just for reading.
They look good on you.
Um...
so what are you doing here?
I mean, shouldn't you be at a frat party?
Actually, I just came from one.
Not feeling it tonight, though.
Thank you.
What do you mean?
You know, it's the same girls at every party
waiting for their chance to say they messed with someone
that's going to the league.
Hmm.
You never know who trying to play you.
You know, are they interested in talking to me
because they wanna know me?
Or the idea of what I could become?
Oh, I must say, I'm surprised.
[chuckles]
Most–most of the athletes I advise,
they–they relish the attention.
[both chuckle]
I ain't gonna lie, in high school, I did.
I was all about getting girls and clout.
Now it's like there's a heat lamp on me everywhere I go.
I'm a walking lick.
A what?
Basically...
...I'm another individual's opportunity to come up.
Um...
...so what does your mom say about all of this?
Oh, we don't talk about all that, yeah.
I moved in with my aunt when I was in high school,
and I can't really talk to her about it either, though.
You know, she just wants me to stay focused
on getting to the NBA.
No distractions.
Your dad?
He wasn't around.
-I'm sorry. -It's all good.
Can't miss someone you never met.
You can still have feelings about it, though.
[phone buzzes]
[uneasy music]
♪ ♪
Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
[laughs softly]
You're a lightweight.
Nah, I really just don't drink.
You know, growing up,
I saw how it affected my father and made him lose control,
and I made a promise to myself to never be like him.
I used to drink lean, but I don't do that anymore either.
Why you look so pretty tonight?
It's for my birthday?
[sighs softly]
Yeah, and I shouldn't even be here.
What you mean?
Why not?
You most definitely should be here.
You know, you deserve way better than that fuck boy Malcolm.
You know I'm right.
[gentle music]
♪ ♪
Whoa. What's the matter?
You're drunk,
and I don't want it to be like this.
Uh-uh, no, I'm fine.
[breathing heavily]
[Lauren] You okay?
Tariq?
Tariq!
[muffled hip-hop music playing]
[sighs]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter]
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
-[Tariq] Yo, yo. -[Riley] Oh, hey.
Are you okay?
Hell, do you need somewhere to live or something?
Like, fuck, you're always here just bugging the shit outta me.
Did you run away from home or some shit?
Damn.
♪ ♪
[hip-hop music playing]
Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho. What's going on?
Why were you in my room?
Um, Tariq's passed out on your bed.
Oh, shit. You put it on him that hard?
No wonder my brother can't stay off you for five minutes.
Excuse me. I was just checking on him.
Why don't you check on this? [chuckles]
Ain't no fun unless the bros get some.
You know you're a total cliché, right?
Gross.
Oh.
Wakey-wakey, kid!
Come on, get the fuck outta my room, dude.
-[Tariq groans] -First you fuck my brother's girl.
Now you're gonna sleep in my bed?
Nah, get the fuck out.
-Fuck you, man. -Yeah, happy birthday, bitch.
-[mumbles indistinctly] -[door closes]
[hip-hop music playing]
♪ ♪
I should be getting home. It's later than I thought.
[phone buzzes]
[BASECAMP'S "In Stone" playing]
♪ ♪
♪ It was bound to happen all along ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Cast in iron, carved in stone ♪
♪ ♪
I shouldn't be doing this.
♪ No changing course and no control ♪
♪ This was set in motion by the unknown ♪
♪ ♪
♪ The unseen hand the door that waited ♪
♪ As the daylight faded out ♪
♪ ♪
♪ I was tied to your feet Stuck to your words ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Beyond the shadow Of a shadow of a doubt ♪
♪ Once the sun came out ♪
♪ It was cast in iron, carved in stone ♪
♪ It was bound to happen all along ♪
♪ ♪
[hip-hop music playing]
[overlapping chatter]
♪ ♪
Hey, are you all right?
-Get the fuck off me! -What the fuck?
-Chill out. I'm trying to help you. -Don't tell me to chill, all right?
I told you I didn't want no party, man.
Get the fuck outta my face.
♪ ♪
What are you doing out here by yourself?
Minding my business.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
What's your problem?
I'm good.
I just wanna be left alone, all right?
I respect that.
See you later, all right?
-All right. -Later.
♪ ♪
[Tariq] "Sacrificing your greatest treasure
"without thinking about the consequences
"and focusing instead on making another person happy
"may not make sense to the average person,
"but I believe sacrifice for the people we love is part of life.
"It's supposed to be.
"It's not something to regret. It's something to which we should aspire.
"Sometimes it's the only thing to be proud of,
the only thing we've done right."
♪ ♪
[sighs]
[Jabari] "Sacrificing your greatest treasure
without thinking about the consequences"...
♪ ♪
[clears throat]
[Jabari] "And focusing instead on making another"–
[phone buzzes]
Riley, you okay?
Uncle Nancy, I fucked up.
I was asking Brayden a bunch of questions about Tariq like you told me to.
Oh, my God, I love you, but you don't listen.
I said observe and report.
I didn't tell you to ask anything.
You were asking for more information.
And Brayden was clamming up,
so I thought that maybe if I gave him some Zolpidem,
then he'd tell me some more information.
What, you drugged him?
I didn't drug him.
I drugged Tariq.
God, Riley!
No, no, no. That's bad, bad.
And now he's, like, wandering around drugged, Uncle Nancy,
and it's, like, all my fault,
and he left campus.
Wh–how do you know?
Well, I might've, while he was passed out, made it so that his cell
can share location with my phone.
I can track him in real time.
You–you've violated his civil rights, like, 18 different ways, Riley.
If anyone finds out, I'll be arrested.
-I'll deserve it. -I was trying to help.
Just–where is he now?
[tense music]
♪ ♪
Raina.
[breathing shakily]
Happy birthday to us.
[somber music]
I thought...
killing Ray Ray would make me feel better.
But, Raina, I'm still hurting.
I'm still hurting 'cause I can't bring you back.
♪ ♪
That should've been me.
It should've been me.
No, you should be here, celebrating your birthday.
Look, I won't let anything happen to Ma or Yas now, okay?
I got them, I promise you.
Just save a spot up there for me, all right, big head?
♪ ♪
You lied to everyone...
...and asked for the truth.
That's something you've never given anyone.
Ma's in jail because of you.
She's in jail 'cause she took the weight that you never would.
You were in the way.
And I had to.
I had to do it.
You're the only one who understands.
♪ ♪
[Tariq] I did what you would've done.
♪ ♪
[sighs]
Raina.
[toilet flushes]
Fuck, bro, you got some shit you wanna get off your chest?
Yeah, bro. You owe me a fucking apology.
For what?
"For what?"
Bro, you had no idea what I went through to put that party together.
And I tried to get you laid.
I wasn't in the right state of mind, bro.
That drink you gave me fucked me up.
And I tried to find you, and you disappeared, okay?
You're ungrateful for everything I do.
The app wouldn't be shit without me,
and you don't even give me that fucking respect.
Yo, is this Riley or you talking right now?
Okay, fuck you, bro.
Don't try and make this about her.
This is about you treating me like we're not fucking boys.
You're always hiding shit from me and disappearing.
I mean, that's super fucking sus, bro, and you know that shit.
Listen...
...it's better off you don't know what the fuck I'm into.
If the cops come and grab me up,
you're gonna be the first person they interrogate.
Okay, and how the fuck am I supposed to know what to say to them
if I don't know why the fuck I'm being interrogated, Tariq?
You gotta let me know if I'm in harm's way.
[sighs]
All right, listen...
...you're right, bro.
You're right. My bad, okay?
From now on, I'ma keep it a buck with you.
Only thing you need to know is that there's this family from Queens,
and they're running shit.
What family?
It's Monet and Lorenzo.
They're the parents and the plugs.
Even got their kids in this business.
Dru, Cane, and Diana.
Dru.
Is that Zeke's cousin who I met here?
Yes.
But Zeke, he don't know about this shit, and it needs to stay that way.
[Brayden] All right.
Cane is the nigga you need to worry about. He's the shooter.
All right, look...
...Lorenzo's the king.
Monet's the queen.
Cane is the rook.
Dru is the knight. Diana's the bishop.
Now, if you can't reach me for whatever reason
and one of them come here asking about me, you knock over the right piece.
Now, if it's an emergency, you knock over every piece on the board, all right?
It's like we got our own Bat Signal or something.
Yep, and you Robin.
Fuck you, bro. Robin's cool.
[sighs]
And then Dru said something
about him and Everett taking a art class together.
Well, Stevie Wonder could see that Dru got a nigga up at that school.
The boy never wants to leave the place.
But that's not what I sent you up there for.
What did you find out about Tariq?
Ma, he wouldn't talk to me.
I tried.
[huffs] You played him too close.
You let your emotions cost us the advantage.
But, Ma, I tried it your way, and it didn't work.
That nigga shitted on me, but I got the last laugh.
He had a piece.
Oh, my God.
Of course he was carrying a gun.
He's gonna notice it's missing,
and guess who he's gonna come looking for.
You just created a problem.
You need to smarten up, or you will never survive out here without me.
Now go to your room.
Go! Get outta my face.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
[door closes]
He's clean.
Why did you lie to me to protect Dru?
Never act before you know the lay of the land.
And also, I ain't touch your daughter,
even though you sent her up to find shit about me.
Which one of my children can I trust the most?
Me.
My nigga.
Yo, I don't know what you think you doing running around here ass naked.
Cane, give him your burner.
What? Fuck no.
Boy, don't make me repeat myself. I said what I said.
The little nigga probably don't even know how to use the motherfucker.
-Thanks, Cane. -Yeah, fuck you.
Happy birthday, Tariq.
You always have a home here with us.
Come on.
[door closes]
I stopped Tameika from testifying.
I was hoping for a thank-you.
[scoffs]
What's the play here, Davis?
Are you backing off the recusal?
No, I think I got a better play.
Tameika told me you were seen at Truth the night of James St. Patrick's murder.
Yeah, imagine.
The sitting U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of New York
lying to the NYPD,
plus filing a false report.
And for what?
To hide that you're witness to this murder?
Or worse?
Drop the charges against my client, and this all goes away.
Hmm.
You know, that's, uh–that's funny
because your client doesn't want me to drop the charges.
She wants to take a plea.
How do you know that?
Guards overheard her making a phone call last night,
and, uh, I know why.
[phone beeps]
[Tariq] Ma's in jail because of you.
She's in jail 'cause she took the weight that you never would.
You were in the way.
♪ ♪
And I had to.
I had to do it.
-I did what you would have done. -[beeps]
Tariq...
shot his father.
Not Tommy Egan.
Tasha lied to protect him,
which is why she now wants to take a plea to make this all go away.
She's afraid the truth will come out.
That shit's inadmissible as fuck.
True.
But now that I know what to look for, I'll find it.
[Davis] You'll never get this in,
and I can still call Tameika as a witness and prove you've got your own agenda.
So we're at an impasse.
Or an opportunity.
What do we both want?
Or rather, what's in the interest of justice?
Tasha's not the queenpin.
She's not.
And you didn't kill James St. Patrick.
I did not.
So, if I back off the recusal and we go to trial...
...we work together.
I get Tariq to take the stand, and on cross, you do your job.
So Tasha goes home.
And the real killer goes to jail.
She won't be happy when her son is convicted of murder.
He'll be tried as an adult now. He might get the needle.
He's not my client. I don't care.
When Tasha's acquitted, I'm in the win column.
[scoffs]
Is it a deal?
In the interest of justice...
...it's a deal.
Tariq St. Patrick's going to jail.
[tense music]
[hip-hop music]
♪ I've been waiting On betrayal from the jump ♪
♪ I could tell, doing dirt, put in work ♪
♪ I hope you all doing well ♪
♪ You ain't ♪
♪ My dawg ♪
♪ No way ♪
♪ Take off ♪
♪ I'm the number-one pick Throw the rock, Mike Vick ♪
♪ They dipped out of town ♪
♪ They're not nowhere to be found ♪
♪ You ain't ♪
♪ My dawg ♪
♪ No way ♪
♪ Take off ♪
♪ I done got into the place Like everything had changed ♪
♪ All the feelings that you felt ♪
♪ Never showed through the vein ♪
♪ Can't gain, switch lanes And put our past in the flame ♪
♪ I done made so much you cannot obtain ♪
♪ I miss the older vision Loyal and order driven ♪
♪ My money moves you, brother ♪
♪ But you make your own decision ♪
♪ Not to feel the tension And not to mention ♪
♪ You've been mentioning my name already ♪
♪ I've been waiting On betrayal from the jump ♪
♪ I could tell, doing dirt, put in work ♪
♪ I hope you all doing well ♪
♪ You ain't ♪
♪ My dawg ♪
♪ No way ♪
♪ Take off ♪
♪ I'm the number-one pick Throw the rock, Mike Vick ♪
♪ They dipped out of town ♪
♪ They're not nowhere to be found ♪
♪ You ain't ♪
♪ My dawg ♪
♪ No way ♪
♪ Take off ♪