[vehicles passing]
[chattering in distance]
[horns honking]
[siren wailing in distance]
["The Message" playing]
♪ It'’s like A jungle sometimes ♪
♪ It makes me wonder How I keep from goin'’ under ♪
♪ It'’s like A jungle sometimes ♪
♪ It makes me wonder How I keep from goin'’ under ♪
♪ A child is born With no state of mind ♪
♪ Blind to the ways Of mankind ♪
♪ God is smilin'’ on you But he'’s frownin'’ too ♪
♪ '’Cause only God knows What you'’ll go through ♪
♪ You'’ll grow in the ghetto Livin'’ second-rate ♪
♪ And your eyes Will sing a song Of deep hate ♪
♪ The places you play And where you stay ♪
♪ Looks like one Great big alleyway ♪
♪ You'’ll admire All the number-book takers ♪
♪ Thugs, pimps and pushers And the big moneymakers ♪
♪ Drivin'’ big cars Spendin'’ 20s and tens ♪
♪ And you'’ll wanna grow up To be just like them, huh ♪
♪ Smugglers, scramblers Burglars and gamblers ♪
♪ Pickpocket peddlers Even panhandlers ♪
♪ You say, "I'’m cool, huh I'’m no fool"♪
♪ But then you wind up Droppin'’ outta high school...♪
[person] Robert DeShaun Peace.
Graduate school application.
Statement of purpose.
To whom it may concern,
Science is my passion...
♪ It'’s like A jungle sometimes ♪
♪ It makes me wonder How I keep from goin'’ under ♪
...a passion that perhaps began the day my father'’s house burned down.
At only five years old, I was unaware
how important this event would become in my own life...
that I would learn about cause and effect
and the sequencing of things.
I would learn about the choices we make,
the dangers we face
for the people we love.
♪ It'’s like a jungle Sometimes ♪
♪ It makes me wonder How I keep from goin'’ under ♪
♪ It'’s like a jungle Sometimes ♪
♪ It makes me wonder How I keep from goin'’ under ♪
[song ends]
[vehicle approaching]
[engine backfires]
[tires screech][engine switches off]
Mom, Dad'’s here.
- Dad! - Shaun!
What'’s up, little man?
How you doing? You good? Yeah?
You looking good, boy. Looking strong.[Shaun chuckles]
[father] Yeah. Good to see you.
What'’s up, Jackie?
Skeet.
Shaun, go get your coat.
Appreciate you getting here on time.
Yeah, no problem.
You'’re looking good, Jackie.
Don'’t worry. I'’m not gonna ask you to marry me again.
[chuckles] So, where you guys headed?
He'’s always talking about going to the beach.
So, uh, I figured we could ride out to Coney Island,
- listen to the game there. - Uh-huh.
But this piece of shit ain'’t gonna get us there.
- Can I use Horace'’s car? - Nah.
Daddy'’s taking us to church.
Uh-huh.
Boy should be coming to church too.
- Mornin'’, Frances. - Skeet.
Okay. I guess I'’ll take him down to the park then.
With all the dealers?
Well, you know, they'’re not really dealers on a Sunday, Frances.
Day of rest?
Not in front of the boy, okay?
What time y'’all getting back?
Won'’t even be dark.
Come on, boy. Get in.
[car door closes][engine starts]
[engine rattling]
If I'’m Lou Piniella, right? And I'’m sending out Rickey Henderson, batting .300.
- Not this season. - Okay, but let'’s say he'’s down 25%.
Nah. - He'’s not doing that bad. - Okay, but let'’s say he is.
What'’s his average gonna be?.225.
Okay. So, what would that be on, like, 250 at-bats?
Count me down.
- You really think you can do it? - Yeah.
Okay. Five, four... On 100 at-bats, it'’s 22.5.
So that'’s 22.5 times two...
Three......which is 45.
Then you have half of 22.5, which is 11.25.
Uh-huh. Two...
Okay, so 45 plus 11.25 is 56.25, or 56 hits.
Goddamn! Can'’t be seven years old smarter than your old man.
Let'’s do another one.
[engine backfires]
Hang on.
Shit!
Aw, shit. This car is dead.
[engine sputtering][groans]
[engine switches off][Skeet sighs] All right.
[hand brake engages]
[sighs]
All right.
We can walk to my place from here.
- What about the car? - I'’ll get someone to look at it tomorrow.
It'’s not going anywhere.
[sniffs]
What?
[sniffs]
- You mess up the air? - No.
You fart in my car? I know it'’s a dump, Shaun,
but that don'’t mean you got the right to take a shit in it.
- Get out. - I didn'’t fart.
Yes, you did. Go on.
[door closes] Stand over there.
Go on!
[glove compartment opens]
[baseball game playing on radio]
[Skeet] What'’s going on, Irving?
[chuckling] Hey, look who it is!
The cavalry!
How'’s the game, Mr. Gaskins?
Uh, Ward and Winfield showed up.
You gonna listen with me?
- What you doing out here? - It'’s my asthma.
Couldn'’t breathe too well upstairs.
Carl!
It'’s the cavalry that'’s gonna turn this neighborhood around.
Young people like you.
Carl!
- What'’s up? - Bring some beers down, will ya?
Some lemonade for Shaun.[Carl] I thought we was heading out.
Car gave out. Gonna listen to the game with Irving.
- Call Mickey. - Sure.
- Yo, what'’s up, Shaun? - Hey, Uncle Carl.
I'’ma be there.
[baseball announcer continues]
[Skeet] That'’s just the way the game go.
That'’s bad. That'’s bad.
Skeet, he'’s here.
[Skeet] Yo, Mickey.[Mickey] What'’s up, Skeet?
Yeah, good, man. Good.
[whispers] Car died. That'’s why I still got all this shit on me.
- I'’ll take care of it. - Okay. Thank you.
You want a beer - or something? - I'’m good. Thank you.
- Thanks, man. - All right.
Thanks.
You look out for people, Shaun, and they look out for you.
You can patent that. [laughs]
What the hell are y'’all doing out here?
I wasn'’t gonna let Irving listen to the game by himself.
This your son?
Yeah. Yeah, this is Shaun.
- He'’s good-looking. - You'’re supposed to say, "Like his daddy."
I know what I'’m supposed to say.
[all laugh] Whoo!
[friend] Stella!
Stella! Stella!
[Stella] You been drinking already, Georgie?
- We'’ve been waiting on you. - I'’m here now, ain'’t I?
- So where you ladies goin'’? - Few drinks. You comin'’?
Nah. Well, maybe later. I gotta take him home, so...
[sighs]
Your loss.
[chattering, laughing]
You know I told you not to fart in the car?
Don'’t shit where you eat either.
Okay? [laughs][all laugh]
- He ain'’t lyin'’. - You can patent that too.
[Carl] He ain'’t lyin'’.
[coughing]
You okay, Irving?
Yeah, I'’m all right. [coughs]
Get some water for him. Get some water.
You okay?
[siren wailing in distance]
[Rob] And that was the last day
I remember being a child.
[gunshots][women screaming]
[screaming, gunshots continue]
[person panting]
[phone ringing]
[reporter] The East Orange community is still reeling
from the murders of two sisters, Charlene and Estella Moore,
at their apartment in the early hours of Sunday morning.
[ringing continues] Shaun!
DeShaun, get the phone!
I got it.
Daddy, your bathwater is ready.
Be polite.
Hello. Peace residence.
You know I didn'’t do this, right?
You know I didn'’t kill those girls?
Say it.[Shaun] You didn'’t kill them.
- Kill who? - You didn'’t kill those girls.
That'’s right, and it'’s gonna be okay.
Okay?
All right, put your mom back on.
[sighs] So, what'’s gonna happen next? What'’s the process?
I don'’t even know. I don'’t know what'’s going on. Just some...
[sighs] They searched my apartment, took my gun.
They'’re not even getting me a lawyer right now.
They'’re saying this whole thing could take years.
[official] I have been informed that the jury has reached a verdict
in the matter of the State v. Robert E. Douglas.
If it pleases the court,
the verdict should be read into the record.
The jury finds the defendant, Robert E. Douglas, guilty...
[cheering]
...on two counts of murder in the first degree.
[judge] Mr. Douglas,
do you have anything to say at this time before sentencing?
I did not commit this crime.
I don'’t even know why I'’m accused of this.
[sighs] I didn'’t know Miss Broadway.
I don'’t know how she could identify my voice
from an argument happening down the hall.
First time I ever laid eyes on her was the day before.
She was so drunk, she couldn'’t have told you whether it was Hanukkah or Halloween.
Mr. Douglas, I know that you'’ve maintained your innocence
throughout this trial.
And I have to tell you that I'’m struggling.
I mean, I'’m sitting here with this verdict, and I...
just don'’t know.
Your Honor, I got a ten-year-old son...
who'’s been coming to the jail with his... with his mother
every week for years now.
My son'’s a beautiful child.
He'’s a brilliant child.
A brilliant child.
I thank God every day.
[Rob] And from then on, I knew
I would need to control the chaos of life.
[waves crashing]
[waves lapping]
[Jackie'’s father] He just never stood a chance.
Once them police get the lock on you...
At least they gave him life,
not the death penalty.
[Jackie] I'’m gonna put Shaun in private school.
He'’ll be okay in elementary,
but after that, he'’s going to private.
- How? - I got three years to figure it out.
He ain'’t staying in these schools around here.
If they only see him as the son of a convict,
that'’s the only way he will see himself.
He didn'’t do it. How are we gonna get him out?
The best thing you could do for Skeet is to keep being brilliant.
It'’s the best thing you could do for me too.
Come here, baby.
[grunts] Getting big.
You know, in this neighborhood, everybody knows you as "Shaun."
But everybody who knows Shaun knows about those women
and about your daddy and what they say he done.
So out there in the world, you use your first name, Robert.
It'’ll keep your daddy in your heart,
if you want him there.
And at the same time, as far as anybody knows,
Rob Peace ain'’t got nothing to do with Skeet Douglas.
You understand?
[person] I wanna ask you a question.
I ask it of all my freshmen at the beginning of the year.
What do you think is the most important thing
that you can learn here?
What'’s the most important idea, virtue or philosophy
that St. Benedict'’s can encourage?
Anyone?
Tavarus?
Uh, kindness?
[all chuckle]
[priest] Kindness.
I like that.
Certainly part of it.
Anyone else?
I wanna be fearless.
Fearlessness.
Fearless? Okay.
Anyone else?
Brotherhood?
Thank you, Rob.
Brotherhood.
"Whatever hurts my brother hurts me."
In your time at St. Benedict'’s,
you will come to understand these words deeply.
They will carry you through the rest of your lives,
just as they have for me.
[clamoring]
[cheering][whistle blows]
Decades ago, when I first came to this school as a student,
it was for rich white kids.
Years later, when we reopened for this community,
we purposely left it, in many ways, the same as it was.
Educationally, of course,
but also sports as well as sciences.
Fencing, water polo,
trips along the Appalachian Trail.
Why?
To support the bonds of brotherhood.
"Whatever hurts my brother
hurts me."
[bell rings]
[friend] Wow, Rob! You are a genius.
- I knew it. - You did pretty good too.
Shit!
We'’ll keep studying together, Tav.
Whatever.
We'’ll get your grade up, no problem.
["Time'’s Up" playing]
♪ Speakin'’ in tongues ♪
♪ About what you did But you never done it ♪
♪ Admit it, you bit it... ♪
[door opens]
- [Jackie] You okay? - Uh-huh.
I got some math for you. You got the ledger?
Yeah.
How much to change your tuition from yearly to monthly?
Uh, an extra $97 a month, or just over $1,100 a year.
$1,164.
Why? You lost a job?
Administration cuts at the hospital.
But I'’ll get something else.
So, if we get all the money back now,
then with two weeks'’ severance and 875 bucks a month from the insurance,
how we lookin'’?
[Rob] Uh...
We'’ll be fine for a while.
Just need to bring down the living costs by, like, $40 a week.
I could help with that.
Plus, we don'’t need all that fresh produce.
Not for me, anyway. I'’ll eat whatever.
You'’ll eat horse meat if I put ketchup on it. [chuckles]
What'’s all of this?
It'’s Dad'’s friend, Irving Gaskins.
Said Dad was innocent. Died before he could testify.
I'’m not killing myself working three jobs
if you'’re not even gonna concentrate on your schoolwork.
I just wanna know what happened.
And anyways, as of right now, you only got two jobs.
Don'’t sass me. I'’m serious.
I better get to these kitchens before they fire me too.
Ma?
The school'’s great.
When I get through it,
I'’m gonna take care of everything, I promise.
When we get through it, you'’re going to college.
And after that, be my guest.
Take care of everything.
[chuckles]
[Rob] Science helped me navigate the challenges I faced.
[camera shutter clicks]
Science is organized.
[camera shutter clicks]
Results come from the collection
and analysis of data.
Completing tasks,
interpreting results
and reaching conclusions.
[door opens]
[young Rob] After your house on Pierson Street burned down, you didn'’t have any money.
The public defender should'’ve seen that you were indigent
and joined your case straightaway.
"Indigent"?[Rob] Yeah.
If they'’d seen that you were indigent,
your trial would'’ve started three years earlier,
Mr. Gaskins would'’ve still been alive
and able to testify that the murder weapon wasn'’t yours.
Of course it wasn'’t mine.
So, what does that all mean now?
I can file this for you.
It means you'’re entitled to post-conviction relief
because they violated your right to a speedy trial.
It means they could let you out.
That'’s the Sixth Amendment.
[chuckles]
Just like Irving used to say.
You'’re the goddamned cavalry.
["Thuggish Ruggish Bone" playing]
[knocks on door]
♪ It'’s the Thuggish Ruggish Bone...♪
There'’s a lot of leaves out here. Want some help?
- How much do you want for it? - Uh, $20.
Great. - Knock when you'’re done. - All right.
Thank you.
♪ You'’re feelin'’ the strength Of the rump, step up ♪
♪ Hear the funk of the jump That the thugstas feel ♪
♪ Just be thuggin'’, buggin'’ ♪
♪ Lovin'’ yo peoples '’Cause we so real ♪
♪ Chill Better bring yo weapon When steppin'’♪
♪ Bring on that ammunition Trip and don'’t slip ♪
♪ Not to mention Never knew no competition ♪
♪ But I gotta get mine So scream out, mo'’♪
♪ And let me hear ya holla ♪
♪ Not about That mighty dollar ♪
♪ Roll with the bone Mo'’ thugs will follow ♪
♪ Chain gang Remainin'’ the same ♪
♪ Flamin'’ my dank And drinkin'’ brew ♪
♪ Thinkin'’ about that hangin'’ Clockin'’ my bank ♪
♪ And thuggin'’ with trues Foo'’s ♪
♪ It'’s the Thuggish Ruggish Bone ♪
[judge] The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a speedy trial.
And while I accept the public defender'’s position
that three years is not uncommon for a capital crime,
it is my belief that the death of Mr. Gaskins in the interim period
was of significant negative impact in this case.
And as a consequence thereof,
the indictment which charged Robert E. Douglas
with murder and other offenses is dismissed.
[whoops][shouts]
[gasps, exclaims]
[both laughing]
Shaun! You did it, Son! You did it!
This decision is stayed for 30 days should the State wish to appeal.
We will, Your Honor.
In the interim, Mr. Douglas, you are free to go.
[music playing][people laughing]
[Skeet] I'’m telling you, that was over in Crown Heights.
[Carl] You don'’t know Brooklyn from Queens.
[laughing, chattering]
[Skeet] He'’s talking about me?[Rob] You? What?
[Carl] So you weren'’t in Harlem?
[all laughing]
[Skeet] It'’s just good times, man.
Skeet?
- You looking good, Jackie. - How long you out?
It'’ll be a few weeks before the appeal.
You putting the band back together?
He said it was cool if I came through.
Oh, so he'’s in charge now?
- Jackie, let'’s go talk. - I don'’t wanna talk, Skeet.
Congratulations on getting out.
On him getting you out.
He'’s working three jobs on top of school.
- What, you his fourth now? - Ma!
Shaun!
Shaun! Shaun!
You got in!
- Shaun! - What?
You got into Yale, baby!
- What? - You got in!
You opened my letter?
You got in!
You got into Yale![laughing] What?
- Yes! - My baby got into Yale.
- [Rob laughing] Yes! - Yes, baby! Yes!
[sniffling]
- Stop crying, Ma. - I can'’t stop.
[sniffles] In what universe are we sitting at this table
working out colleges for you to go to, including Ivy League?
"Universe" is right.
I mean, this one don'’t even look like it'’s on the planet Earth.
- [Jackie] Because it'’s not. - Look, I don'’t even gotta do all that.
Montclair a good school too. I'’d be around here. I wouldn'’t have to leave home.
Montclair?
When you could be a science major for Penn, Johns Hopkins or Yale?
- With a handout. - It'’s not a handout.
St. Benedict'’s is gonna pay his way because he makin'’ them look good.
[phone ringing]
I don'’t need you around here.
I need you with a future that people around here can'’t get.
Hello?
It'’s for you.
Now, look, I gotta get to work.
- I'’m so proud of you. Mmm. - Mmm.
Skeet Douglas.
[person on phone speaking indistinctly]
Uh-huh.
Okay.
Yeah.
[handset settles in cradle]
They appealed already.
I'’m going back next week.
Fuck!
[Skeet] It'’s all for nothin'’. Just...
Just...
Nah. Nah, nah, nah.
We did it once. We do it again.
This is temporary. I promise you. Just...
I promise you.
[sighs]
Okay.
Knowing about what I'’ve been experiencing, you know?
Just all these minds literally being damaged on a daily basis.
The boy was brilliant. From, like, this big, he was brilliant.
[friend] This one?[Skeet] Yeah.
[friend] Is that right, Shaun? You were always brilliant?
Aw, no, look, now you'’re calling me a nerd.
That'’s like calling me a nerd.
You gotta ask one question. Where'’d he get it from?
[all laughing]
It ain'’t from him. It ain'’t him.
- It ain'’t his genes. - He said, "Yeah."
[all laughing, chattering]
Call me later. All right.[friend] All right.
You look out for your daddy now.
I'’ll try my best.
[friend] Skeet raised him good.[friend 2] Yeah. Good boy.
Can hardly recognize it now.
Last time I saw it, it was still all burned out,
before they fixed it up.
I'’m gonna go and talk to him.
[Skeet] I remember my father talking all the time
about the racist bullshit he went through
to buy that house after the war.
It was a white neighborhood back then.
When he died, I wanted us all to live in it.
Like a family.
Your mother said no '’cause I was shifting a little weed.
So I took that apartment on Chestnut with Carl.
Rented the house out to them fools that never paid me a dime.
Ended up setting the place on fire.
In the end, Michael Tucker was the only one
who'’d pay all the back taxes and buy it off me.
For a dollar.
Don'’t get me wrong. I'’m not blaming your mother.
I just don'’t believe you can ever be facing the wrong direction
if you'’re standing by your people.
Ever.
I'’ll patent that.
[chuckles]
Yeah, patent that shit.
Patent that shit.
[sighs]
[sighs] I'’ll bring the car back in a few weeks, all right?
- Take your time. - Yes, sir.
Make sure you enjoy yourself up there.
Thank you.
[Frances, Rob chuckle]
[Rob] All right, y'’all.
Now, you know you don'’t have to change, Shaun.
We love you just the way you are.
If you come back here a white man,
I ain'’t letting you in the house.[all laugh]
Take care of yourself, Son.
Mm-hmm. Yes, ma'’am.
- I love you. - I love you.
All right.
[engine starts]
[Rob] My passion began to carry me away from home
with a worry that I was leaving a part of myself behind.
At Yale, I would learn how any organism,
finding itself in unfamiliar surroundings,
relies on one key biological mechanism to thrive:
evolution.
Chloroplasts from the second endosymbiosis
have their own genome and ribosomes,
and, as a result, we have double-membrane organelles.
Ultimately, what we'’re looking at on this board
are probably the most important events in all of evolutionary history.
Okay, let'’s turn to page 177.
Let'’s dig into this.
Wow. That was intense.
[both chuckle]
Why are you taking Intro Biology
if you really wanna be an English major, man?
Uh, to keep my parents off my back, mostly.
They'’re not that excited about me being a writer.
But, you know,
writing is a holistic experience.
You gotta know all of it.
I wanna write about the human heart.
How do you do that if you don'’t take biology?
You sound like you gonna be all right, man.[chuckles]
What are you thinking about as a major?
I'’m looking at MB&B.
Molecular biophysics and biochemistry?
Isn'’t that, like, the hardest course here?
Like, literally the hardest course at Yale?
Maybe the physical chemistry part, but...
Uh-huh.
- And that doesn'’t worry you? - Nah. I mean, it'’s science.
Most of the time, things work out the way they supposed to.
Make it easier than anything else. Think about it.
[chuckles]
[ringing]
[Rob] Jeff! Hang on, Jeff. Hold on. No, it'’s all right.
- No, it'’s okay. - I got it. I got it. I got it.
Yeah. It'’s for me.[person on phone] ...correctional facility?
[door closes]
Hey, hey, Dad.
[Skeet] Hey, Son.
You settling in okay?
Yeah. You know, it'’s, uh, classes, water polo practice.
I'’m working in the kitchen like Ma.
[chuckles]
Sounds good.
[chuckles]
Get that court date yet?
Nah. I'’ve been talking to somebody over there almost every day though.
We'’ll find out soon enough.
Uh-huh.
You know, you, uh--
You ain'’t gotta call me here. I, uh--
I can-- I can reach out to you when I hear something from '’em,
or I can just come see you, you know?
- Why'’s that? - There'’s another guy in the dorm.
I don'’t want everybody in my business. That'’s all.
No problem.
You can call me anytime, Shaun. You know where I am.
[buzzer sounds]
[handset settles in cradle]
[indistinct shouting][whistle blows]
[beeps]
[whistle blows]
Hey.
Nice work, man.
[beeps][gate unlocks]
Yo! Yo! You mind holding the door for me?
Uh, you got a pass?
Yeah. It'’s in my bag.
No, he'’s okay. He'’s okay.
You must be - the brother from Newark. - Yeah, Rob. What the fuck?
Sherman. I was the brother from Newark last year.
This is Oswaldo.
You gonna walk around Yale being Black,
you gotta keep that ID handy.
Damn! It'’s like that?
[Sherman] Don'’t worry. You'’ll, uh-- You'’ll get used to it.
- You smoke? - Don'’t everybody?
[Oswaldo] Right?
Are you serious?
Well, I'’m just saying
incremental change isn'’t necessarily a bad thing.
It'’s how most things get done.
Why not apply that to race relations at Ivy Leagues?
Amen. It isn'’t always about revolution. It'’s about education.
Isn'’t that why we'’re here?
Problem is, most white people are addicted to status.
It'’s their drug of choice.
So a lot of these racist motherfuckers are just...
high.
[all laugh]
[Sherman] I hear that, Naya. What about you, Rob?
You'’re fresh off the boat. You think we need to rise up against the man over here?
You wanna know the truth? You want me to be honest?
Yeah.
I-- Look, I honestly don'’t give a fuck.
I don'’t give a fuck.
About racism?
Here? Mm-mmm.
Well, that'’s crazy. [laughs]
Nah. Look. No, look, if some white boy took the wrong turn
and ended up in my neighborhood,
I promise you his only thought gonna be
how the fuck is he gonna get back amongst his own people
before something happens to him.[Oswaldo] Okay.
But, look, we all took the wrong turn, and we ended up at Yale. Word?
[all chuckle]
For real, it'’s some bullshit. It is.
But I'’m not here to educate. I'’m trying to learn.
I'’m trying to figure out the best way to help my community when the time comes.
The fuck else is there?
I'’m not about to keep my guard up if nobody'’s swinging.
[all chuckle]
You could patent that, Naya.
[Jackie] For my baby.
["Free" playing]
[chattering]
You did. I taught you very well. [laughs]
So, you were saying about the course?
Yeah. You know, with molecular biophysics and biochemistry,
you got all these other sciences rolled in.
Like, uh, geology, engineering, even a-- astrophysics. You can learn about--
- Like space? - Yeah.
We learn how everything work, everything.
It'’s incredible.
So what are you gonna do when you finish?
Then I'’m gonna go into research.
New cancer treatments, immunology.
When I graduate, I'’ll take a PhD, become a professor myself.
[Frances gasps]
Open my own lab one day.
Curing cancer?
Maybe.
"Professor Peace cures cancer."
[Frances laughs] That'’s a headline.
[Frances] Our grandbaby.[grandfather laughing]
We got a court date - in five months. - Five months?
That'’s what they sayin'’. That'’s the soonest they can do.
With a whole new setup?
That'’s right, a new judge.
I only got out '’cause of that judge, Shaun.
That judge knew I didn'’t do shit from the start.
I know, but there'’s still no case there, though, Pop.
Well, they sure as fuck thought there was a case.
How much can you put together for a lawyer?
- I mean a good one. - There'’s nothing, Pop.
What about the people that raised your money for school?
That'’s just tuition. I'’m working in the kitchen for everything else.
What about your friends up there? They'’re all rich people, right?
- I can'’t ask them. - Why not?
'’Cause you don'’t wanna tell '’em I'’m in here?
Didn'’t you promise me you'’ll get me out of this place?
- I am. - Then stop screening my calls and fucking do it!
They'’re trying to send me back to Trenton
and fucking bury me there, Shaun!
You'’re the only one I fucking got!
[buzzer sounds]
[door slams]
[Curtis] Here we go.[person whimpering]
We got you. We got you. We got you.
- There we go. - It'’s okay, Dad.
[Curtis] You okay?[father shouts]
[father groaning]
[sighs] Thanks, Ma.
[door closes]
Um...
Tav'’s coming over. You wanna smoke?
Huh. [sniffs]
One day, we'’re gonna have to find out
what God has against the fathers of the sons of East Orange.
[Tav] I know, right?
[Curtis] I never really know what'’s going on with my dad.
He'’s going back to the hospital in a few weeks.
I think I'’m gonna drop out of Morehouse.
Come back for a bit.
You for real?
Yeah.
My mom'’s nervous as shit to be in the house by herself.
Only white lady in a three-mile radius.
Man, I told you I could help her sell this place if it comes down to that.
How the real estate business coming?
For me, it'’s dog shit mostly.
They still got me doing title research.
But there'’s money in flipping houses.
Or just getting all these vacant homes back in circulation.
Yo, that'’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.
Look, if we still had my dad'’s place on Pierson,
we wouldn'’t be in any of this shit.
I'’d flip it in a heartbeat, get my dad the lawyer he wants
and still have enough money for grad school.
That'’s what Yale got me thinking about, man.
Wealth.[friend chuckles]
Legacy.
When you start with it, what it means.
I mean, look at that school.
It took 200 years for Yale to be what it is. More.
That'’s what we gotta do out here--
change the microenvironment.
[chuckles] The what? The microenvironment?
[Rob] In cancer research, you improve immune response
in a microenvironment.
Healthy cells flourish. Tumor cells can'’t.
Sometimes I forget how much of a fucking nerd you are.
[laughing]
[Rob] My father believed in standing by your people
to fight uncertainty and chaos.
And I wanted to do the same.
So, inspired by him
and the biological world I was studying,
I would try and pull all the divergent areas of my life together
and create balance.
Be sure the glassware is all put away.
You can keep the hoods on for the next class.
Thank you, everybody.
Professor Durham, you mind if I have a quick word with you?
Of course.
I enjoyed your paper, Mr. Peace.
Your knowledge of mitochondrial diseases is very advanced for a freshman.
Why is that?
I did a couple extra courses
at Essex Community College my senior year.
[chuckles] Come on. That'’s it?
No, I, uh-- I actually got a bit obsessed with it.
Metabolic disorders, gene therapy treatments,
that kind of thing.
Some students can find the increase in workload here
overwhelming early on.
Doesn'’t seem to be bothering you though.
Uh, yeah. I think I'’m doing all right. I, uh...
That'’s what I wanted to talk to you about actually,
if there'’s anything else I could be looking at.
Yes, always. What are you bad at?
What are your gaps?
I guess right now it'’s lab work.
I haven'’t had that much exposure to it at this level.
I think that'’s why I'’m favoring the theoretical
over the practical side of things.
Well, how about assisting grad students in the lab?
We don'’t normally offer that until the sophomore year,
but if you'’re committed, I'’m prepared to make an exception.
Of course. - That'’d be great. - Yes?
- Thank you. - Okay. I'’ll set it up.
Thank you.
[whistle blows][people shouting, cheering]
[cheering]
["Respect Yourself" playing]
♪ Just get out the way ♪
♪ And let the gentleman Do his thing ♪
♪ You the kind of gentleman ♪
♪ That want everything Your way...♪
Let'’s go! Let'’s go, baby!
♪ It'’s a brand-new day... ♪
Rob!
[laughing]
Hey, uh, don'’t take this the wrong way,
but my regular guy didn'’t show.
You know where we can get some weed?
Yeah. As a matter of fact, yeah, I do. Yeah, come on.
- You ready right now? - Yeah, I'’m ready right now.
My man! Eric, come on. Come on. Come on. We'’re out. We'’re out.
Are you coming or what? Come on.
Y'’all good? [laughs] I'’m great.
♪ Respect yourself♪ Na, na, na, na, na ♪
♪ Respect yourself♪ Di, di, di, di ♪
["Ring The Alarm" playing on speakers]
You'’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.
- Hey. - This is not cool, man.
It'’s a sacred space.[Rob] No, man. It'’s, uh--
It'’s time to integrate the neighborhood.
'’Sup?
What is happening?
[Rob] All right, okay.
Let'’s-- Let'’s all play nice. [chuckles]
God forbid we actually learn something about each other here.
Rich folk, meet some slightly less rich folk.
[scoffs]
[Rob] Hey, no pro bono work, man.
You better pull some money out your toga.
No problem, man.[chuckles]
Over there.
["One Life to Live" playing on speakers]
♪ And I got dreams How to make it big ♪
♪ I got the vibe ♪
♪ I risk every chance I take...♪
You know, you might actually be onto something here.
- How so? - It'’s a hard market to break into if you'’re not one of '’em.
For the most part, people sell weed to their own groups, right?
Gives the white guys an advantage overall.
- You do okay though, right? - Yeah, but I don'’t need much.
Still do some accounting for my dad'’s contracting business in New Jersey,
and I got that work-study thing at the library here, so...
- Contractor? - Yeah, he does well.
But I don'’t wanna live off him, so I move a little.
Off-campus, make sure ends meet.
Wait. On the street? In New Haven?
Yeah. Small-time though.
[laughing] What? Aight, shit!
- White boys sell it on campus? - Mostly.
Even if they got caught, which they never do,
they got the strings to pull.
But the school couldn'’t care less about throwing my ass to the curb,
or yours for sure.
It'’s the bullshit we'’re in now.
Uh, not "we." [chuckles]
Equal rights to sell drugs is not the hill I'’m about to die on, bro.
[laughs] Fuck that.
[Naya] Hey, guys.
Not sure how much more of your privileged shit I can take.
One of your people out there has a tattoo that says, "Dominate or drown."
[Rob chuckles]
[mouths] What the fuck?
Hey, it'’s not my people, but it'’s true. [chuckles]
See ya, fellas.
See ya.
- [Oswaldo] You good, man? - Hmm?
[laughs]
I'’m fine.
[Naya] So, what'’s your greatest fear?
I fear failure, I guess, like everybody else.
What about you?
Honestly, sometimes I feel like I'’m scared of everything.[both chuckle]
So it'’d probably be easier for me to tell you what I'’m not scared of.
Okay, what are you not scared of?
Honestly, I guess I'’m not scared of failure. [laughing]
[laughing] What?
Like, I'’d rather not fail.
But most of the times, isn'’t that the best way to learn?
No, not for me, if I can avoid it.
And how do you avoid it?
Try to keep things simple.
Harmonize complexities until a solution presents itself.
So you'’re an idealist is what this means?
No, I'’m a scientist.
["Closer" playing on speakers]
♪ I'’m moving upward And onward ♪
♪ And beyond All that I can see ♪
♪ Stretching out my arms And I can reach ♪
♪ Oh, so close It'’s right there ♪
[song fades]
[Durham] Okay, for the ELISA experiment,
choose your primary antibody and your enzyme label
and then proceed once you'’re satisfied with the calibration curve.
[door opens][person speaking indistinctly]
[person] Excuse me.
What are you doing at this station?
Aren'’t you the lab assistant?
Yeah. Professor Durham asked me to come and check the crystal screens.
Really? Why?
[chuckles] You gotta ask her that, man.
[scoffs]
Is-- Oh, is that yours right there?
Yeah.
I had a question about the protein preparation.
I'’m sorry?
You'’re using a phosphate buffer.
That'’s gonna bind, right?
No. Its dialyzed,
so any binding at this scale will be negligible.
Yeah, it'’ll be small, but I don'’t think it'’ll be negligible.
- You don'’t think? - No.
I think it'’s fine.
Okay.
You know, I actually don'’t even trust what you think, man.
Excuse me?
You came in here thinking I was in the wrong place.
I'’m not.
[scoffs]
I spoke with them about questioning you. It won'’t happen again.
I really don'’t need you to fight my battles for me, okay?
Okay.
But it wasn'’t entirely for you, to be honest.
Bias, any bias,
racial or gendered, it'’s a... serious challenge for us here.
Science is almost defined by its paternalism and conservatism.
It'’s a problem, not just for individuals
but for the discipline as a whole.
You, for example,
have a brilliant mind and a unique life experience.
Certainly unique from most of us here.
And that combination might make you just a little more likely
to think of an alternative solution to a problem, right?
Rather than just the incremental evolution of an existing solution.
To think radically.
And radical thinking changes the world.
So I'’m an experiment too?
Well, we all are when it comes down to it, yeah?
It'’s the reason why we should never lose sight
of fundamental scientific reasoning.
If complications arise...
try making changes.
You can choose hours when it'’s quiet around here if you want.
[sighs]
Can I ask you something?
Yeah.
What'’s going on?
I just got a lot on my mind.
I'’m just trying to talk. That'’s all.
Okay.
[clears throat]
- I got a friend back at home. - Mm-hmm.
And he'’s doing time.
And he has an appeal coming up, and he'’s probably...
gonna lose.
And it'’s just been stressing me out.
I could raise money for a lawyer,
but that'’s just gonna fuck up everything I got going over here.
So, you feel like you'’re pulled between this place and home.
Yeah.
It'’s hard to know what'’s more important.
Yeah.
I am deeply unsettled by this case.
And I unequivocally side with the State'’s counter appeal.
I see no reason for the post-conviction relief to stand.
I can honestly not see why it was instituted in the first place.
It is hereby overturned,
and you are to be sent back to Trenton Correctional Institution
to serve out the remainder of your sentence.
[sighs]
[lawyer] This latest judgment is absurd.
For a retainer of a few thousand dollars, I can take this on,
and I think we will win.
But I warn you, it'’ll get expensive.
And the basis from which we would now be working
is that your father was treated unfairly by the system,
even though he was guilty.
I understand that as a strategy.
It'’s not a strategy.
Of course, it'’s possible that Irving Gaskins was telling the truth
and the police planted a murder weapon on your father.
But it'’s also possible, and if you ask me, likely,
he was simply protecting his friend.
It'’s not just Mr. Gaskins though.
There was a lot of questions about the murder weapon.
I believe the police destroyed my father'’s gun and switched it out.
There'’s absolutely no evidence to support that.
And why did your father have a gun on him at all?
Probably for protection. He was selling weed back then.
You never asked him.
I don'’t need to.
Look, I'’m sure that I would wanna believe my father too.
But in this case,
the objective facts are just not on his side.
[Rob] I spoke to a lawyer.
You can afford a lawyer?
[Rob] Just wanted to see what he'’d say.
And what'’d he say?
He didn'’t think Dad was innocent.
Well, what do you think?
I think it'’s the system.
I think they cover themselves.
They cover their own.
Shaun, it'’s been over 13 years. You don'’t think you should stop?
It don'’t matter if it'’s been 13 years or 30 years if he didn'’t do it.
There'’s no motive.
The murder weapon is inconsistent.
No history of violence.
"No history of violence."
You tell me then, was he violent?
Was he?
With you.
It didn'’t happen a lot, but it happened.
And when it did, I made sure we all weren'’t living in the same house.
I didn'’t think there was much wrong with trying to preserve a little bit
of the image you had of your father.
[sighs] Maybe even that was too much.
[door closes]
[sighs]
[person panting]
Fuck!
Shit!
[breathing shakily]
[crying]
I should'’ve told you it was my dad in prison, baby.
I'’m sorry.
It'’s okay.
It'’s okay. I get it.
Rob, you just have to know
that none of this is your fault.
It'’s not.
So why is it on you?
I just don'’t believe he'’s a murderer.
You shouldn'’t have to carry all of this.
[sighs]
God, you deserve to live your life.
You deserve to have a shot at being happy.
[sighs]
[kisses]
When I was a kid, I used to sit in front of my house after the rain.
You ever notice how the tires hit the blacktop after the rain?
[waves crash]
[Rob] It sounds like the ocean.
Used to close my eyes
and pretend I was on some beautiful beach somewhere.
Switch off.
I gotta find that spot.
Maybe I can help.
I mean, my mom'’s from Rio. My dad'’s from San Juan.
I do know something about beaches.
[phone ringing]
[exhales][ringing continues]
[ringing continues]
[beeps] Hello?
[beeps]
This is a call from the Trenton Correctional Facility.
Will you accept the charges?
Um...
Sure.
I'’ve been getting these headaches for a while now.
Just...
Just brushed it off.
You never think it'’s gonna be something bad.
And I just, uh--
I blacked out.
Keeled over in the dayroom.
They took me down to the infirmary for tests, and...
And it came back with brain cancer.
[Skeet breathes shakily]
[crying]
That'’s when I called you. I'’m sorry.
It'’s okay. It'’s okay.
It'’s okay. I'’m sorry I haven'’t been here as much.
I'’m gonna take care of you.
I'’m gonna get you out of here.
It'’s too late for that.
It'’s only gonna be a few months now anyway. They said, uh--
[sighs]
They said six.
[exhales]
You let me take care of you, it'’ll be a lot longer than that.
I study cancer.
I know all about the new medications and what they do.
I can buy '’em for you.
You'’ll see me graduate, for a start.
And way beyond that.
You'’re not gonna fight this alone. Okay?
I will get you out of here, Dad.
I love you.
[sighs]
I love you too, Son.
[Rob] The need for my father'’s medication
tested everything I thought I believed.
Tested my commitment to family...
community...
all of it.
Was I prepared to risk everything...
that I had achieved
for him?
Watch your head when you'’re coming in.
[Rob] I want this application to be truthful.
And the truth is, I'’m not proud of all the choices I made.
A lot of my dad'’s shit is still down here, but you can use the place.
- This is perfect, man. - Yeah.
Working in the lab
means I can bring the equipment back out here.
You bring the bulk weed from Florida, all right?
And I'’ll treat the buds,
make '’em more potent.
Everything on campus is pretty much dog shit,
so it'’s a huge market for good product.
There'’s plenty of white boys selling.
The school kinda let it slide.
You gonna pack it all from here?
If that'’s all right.[Curtis] Sure.
My mom'’s not coming back.
Not since my dad passed.
[canister hissing]
It'’s good.
How good? Articulate it.
"Articulate it"?
It'’s like I don'’t feel all fucked up,
but I'’m still getting high as a motherfucker.
You feel like you could still do shit?
Like what?
I don'’t know. Like read a book, drive a car.
- [Curtis] Right now? - Hypothetically, bro.
[inhales sharply]
Maybe.
So what, you mixing different strains together or something?
Nah, man. If we had some planters, I could do some hybridization.
Mmm.
But for now, I'’m just extracting the cannabis oil
and dropping it right on the buds.
But mostly butane.
Patent this shit, bro. Patent it.
You guys wanna open a window?
[Tav] Shit.[partner] Or maybe grab me a gas mask?
Sorry, babe.
[clears throat]
[kisses]
[partner] You coming up anytime soon?[Tav] I'’m coming now.
[clears throat]
You'’re sitting on a gold mine, man, for real.
[Rob] Look, we do this the right way, man,
we can get to that other thing too.
Abandoned homes, bro.
Getting a legacy.
I don'’t want your boy growing up the way we did.
It'’s cool. It'’s cool. It'’s cool.
[inhales deeply]
[laughs]
Come on!
[laughing] Come on! Yo!
[buyer] Rob Peace! How'’d you know?
In and out of the pool.
[Rob] Gotta stay sedated.
What'’s that right there? Let me see.
This is 40? Yeah, that'’s a 40.
[guard] Douglas, medication for you.
It seems plausible to infer the information
from the differences in electron densities.
Yes. It'’s excellent.
Look, I think it'’ll make a pretty good subject for a PhD.
I wanna stick to biochemistry and therapeutic application postgrad.
Yes! That'’s great news.
I think you should start applying for programs as soon as possible.
You'’ll have my full recommendation to a topflight school,
and now in your final year,
we'’ll just continue to support you in any way we can.
[person] Yo, what'’s up, bro?
[chattering]
- [lawyer] Mr. Douglas. - Hey. How you doing?
- Hello. - Hey.
Tom Rivers. Pleasure to meet you.
Even if somebody opened it,
they still wouldn'’t know what'’s inside.
How much is enough?
Lawyer gonna need 30K for the next review.
Same thing for another six months of medication.
You okay?
I just feel like I came a long way
just to end up with the biggest dealer on campus.
But you know - what I'’m doing this for. - Yeah. I do.
- So why you giving me shit? - Because it feels like you like this.
I don'’t like it. But what the fuck?
Am I supposed to walk around mad all day?
Ain'’t this what you asked me to do? Live my life, be happy?
Yeah. That'’s right. That'’s right.
But you want me to watch you not give a fuck
that you could be doing this for somebody who killed two women.
- He didn'’t kill anybody! - You'’re sure about that, now?
Then why is it such a big secret, huh?
Why don'’t you go tell everybody?
Do a fucking charity event. Raise money that way.
You know why you don'’t?
Because you don'’t fucking know, Rob.
What does that say about you?
What the fuck does it say about me?
This is why I didn'’t wanna fucking tell anybody.
Because they'’d ask questions.
Fuck.
Remember when you were the smart guy from New Jersey?
Nobody knew what to make of you.
Now you'’re just a drug dealer from East Orange, doing stupid shit.
And guess what.
Everybody'’s cool.
[grunts]
[trunk rattles]
[softly] Fuck.
[metal clatters]
[Durham] I noticed the bioreactor was missing.
It'’s $3,000.
I'’ve been bringing back everything as soon as I could.
Why would you do this?
What are you using this equipment for?
[Rob sighs] You know what? I don'’t wanna know.
It'’s done.
It'’s...
I didn'’t wanna let you down. I'’m-- I'’m-- I'’m the person you think I am.
I am. I promise you. It'’s who I'’ve always been.
[exhales slowly]
["Southern Hospitality" playing on speakers]
[people chattering]
♪ Cadillac grills Cadillac mill'’s ♪
♪ Check out the oil My Cadillac spills ♪
♪ Matter of fact Candy paint Cadillacs kill ♪
♪ So check out the hos My Cadillac fills ♪
♪ Pretty-ass clothes... ♪
[chattering, laughing]
♪ Pretty ass, high class Anything goes...♪
[song distorts]
[music fades]
[Jeff] Hey, man.
You good?
I just need some fresh air. I'’m just a bit fucked up.
You think Naya'’s gonna show?
I can'’t believe we'’re almost finished here.
Yeah.
I gotta tell you, man. Um...
If I hadn'’t been living with you, there'’s...
a lot that I wouldn'’t have seen or--
Please don'’t - do this to me now. - No. I'’m serious.
For real. Like...
I'’d have been another fucking dumbass.
I mean, it'’s like... this party.
You'’ve got frat boys and polo players dancing to Ludacris...
[laughing]...with dining hall ladies
and fucking militant members of the AfAm Society.
You bring people together. You do.
I'’m never gonna know how you got through all this,
with everything you got going on with your dad.
I hope he knows what you risk for him.
It'’s all over now.
I'’ve almost raised all the money I need.
It'’s all done.
Anybody else would'’ve done the same.
Uh-huh.
You'’re telling me you wouldn'’t have done it for your dad?
My dad? [chuckles]
Even with all the shit I got going on with my dad, he'’d...
He'’d never ask me to risk anything.
[groans]
Oh, my God!
[people speaking indistinctly]
[radio chatter in distance]
[gate unlocks]
[person] Let'’s move! Right up here on the right.
What the fuck?
Fuck! Fuck.
Hey, yo, Tav!
[groans]
[Rob] Tav, wake up, man.
Hey, come on, man! Tav, wake up, man!
Tav, man, come on! Get up, man! What is wrong--
Tav! Tav! Wake up! Wake up![banging doorframe]
I need you to help me with something, man. Come on!
Fuck, man. Shit.
Come on, Tav, man. Get up, man.
Tav!
All right, look, all this right here, it'’s gotta go.
It'’s gotta go.
Hey, yo, Jeff! Hey, yo, Jeff!
- What'’s going on? - Man, security on their way. Go stall them for me.
- I'’ll try. - Go, go, go!
Shit, man!
All right.
We good. It'’s outta here.
Hold on. Hold on. Hold on.
- [Jeff] Master Clark. - Go back.
I'’m glad I caught you. I wanted to talk about...
Open the window. Open the window. Yeah.
...a couple questions about my course load this semester.
I was really thinking...
Hold on. Let me lock it.
...if it'’s okay, maybe a master'’s program.
If you'’ll just take a sec.
You want me to hold on to it?
Nah, it'’s drug money, man. It'’s not safe.
...talk to you about a class that I would like to add.
Take it to Uncle Carl. Tell him it'’s clothes.
...give me a second of your time?
Please can we just take a second?
[breathing heavily]
[objects clattering]
[door closes]
Hey.
Jeff told me what was going on.
What happened?
They didn'’t find anything.
So Professor Durham convinced them to let me graduate, but...
she'’s, uh, rescinding her recommendation,
so I won'’t be getting into any postgrad programs anytime soon.
Damn.
That'’s Yale, right?
Yeah.
Just before they decided to name the school after him.
We made it though.
Mm-hmm.
Everything else we can figure out.
I miss you, Naya.
I'’m sorry about the way I'’ve been.
Let'’s spend more time after graduation.
No pressure. I just wanna see where we are.
I'’m leaving, Rob.
What do you mean, you'’re leaving?
After graduation, I'’m going back to Rio.
My mom got a job at an NGO, and she asked me to come help.
So... Well, for how long?
See how it goes, I guess.
Well, I could come see you.
I mean, look, all that other shit is behind me.
It'’s not behind you.
You just hit your target.
It'’ll never be behind you unless you really change things.
I can'’t be with you if you won'’t.
You'’ve got a good heart, Rob.
You don'’t have to live like this.
Not for anybody.
[sighs]
[Skeet] Doesn'’t feel like sleeping.
Just... [sighs]
...coming in and out of darkness.
It'’s the medication.
I wake up surprised I'’m not already dead.
Don'’t say that.
So you'’ll graduate?
Yeah.
I really didn'’t think I'’d be around for that.
I told you.
I'’m proud of you, Son.
After they nearly kicked me out, I'’ve been thinking about you.
A lot.
Yeah?
My whole life been... dealing with you in here.
- One way or another. - I know.
I know. I'’m sorry I can'’t give that back to you.
[Rob] No. I don'’t want you to.
But I need you to tell me the truth.
"The truth"?
Did you kill those women?
[Skeet breathing shakily]
You didn'’t...
You didn'’t believe me all this time?
No. It'’s not that. It'’s just we never talked about it.
Whether Irving was just trying to protect you.
Why you had the gun - in the first place. - I'’m--
We never talked about what happened.
[gasping] I'’m dying, Shaun.
What difference does it make now?
I need to know.
You need to know?
Come on! Get out! Come on!
The last thing I wanna--Get out of here!
The last thing I wanna do - is let go of you, Dad. - What are you talking about?
But if you can'’t tell me the truth, I got to. I got to.
Get out of here! What the hell are you talking about?
[sobbing] I'’m gonna fucking die.
What'’s that...
[sobbing]
[priest] God, accept our prayers on behalf of your servant,
Skeet Douglas.
Do not count his deeds against him,
for in his heart, he desired to do your will.
May your mercy join him to the angels in heaven.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
[Rob] There'’s no reason East Orange
can'’t be more like South Orange or Montclair.
[scoffs][Rob] I'’m serious.
And we do it without moving people out
or raising the rent.
It'’s just gonna take time.
First, we concentrate between South Orange Ave.
and Central.
And when the banks come in, we can expand.
Right now, we'’re the primary investors.
It'’s gonna take about 20K each for us to get started.
We can put that on top of what I got saved from Yale.
And how are we getting the money, selling?
Nah. We'’re past that. This is legit. I'’m getting a job.
I could get 20 from the refinance on this place.
Tav, how much you got saved?
- Around there. - Mm-mmm.
We'’ll figure it out. It'’s all good.
I'’m in.
[chuckles]
[grunts]
[Rob] I still believed in changing the world around me.
[whistle blows]
Let'’s go! Let'’s go! Let'’s go!
[Rob] I believed that all evolutions could affect the future.
[whistle blows]
And maybe...
Hands up!
...correct the past.
So, what are we looking at?
It'’s my dad'’s old house.
It burned down years ago.
It was vacant for a while.
How much you think it'’s worth now?
[exhales]
Hard to say from out here.
But, um, if they'’ve done a reasonable job inside,
I'’d say... 200,000, 250,000.
200,000, 250,000?
There'’s 172 abandoned homes in East Orange.
Right now, they'’re just havens for gangs and violence.
With your company'’s large-scale contracting work and my knowledge on the ground,
we can buy up enough of them and turn this whole neighborhood around.
And what are you asking for exactly? Reduced labor costs?
Yeah, for a significant share of my company, Peace Realty.
Look... [chuckles] ...even with reduced costs,
you'’ll need the banks to loan you a lot of money up front.
- I know. - To get that,
you'’d have to show clear and consistent profit
for at least a year, maybe two.
Are you sure that'’s what you wanna be doing?
Right now? Yeah. Yeah, it is.
Okay.
Well...
Yeah, if you can get the houses to a decent level,
show the numbers working and guarantee the spend,
yeah, it'’s possible we could come in.
[weed trimmer whirring]
All right, so, uh, can anyone tell me
what determines the activity of ions in an aqueous solution?
- Go ahead. - How they'’re charged.
Good. Good! Good! And? What else we got?
Their density?
Okay. Um--
Their concentration,
or magnitude,
and their sign.
And what'’s the Yale version of all that?
Trust me. Y'’all don'’t wanna know that, man.
Come on, sir. Bring back that knowledge.
[all] Yeah! [clamoring]
Whoa, whoa, whoa! You don'’t wanna know that. It'’s the Yale version!
[students clamoring] For real? All right, look.
[Rob] You asked for it.
I want us all to bear in mind the Nernst equation.
Yeah. Calculating the ionic equilibrium potential.
So Ecell, the instantaneous cell potential...
Y'’all don'’t wanna know now.[students laugh]
[Rob] The instantaneous cell potential...
[hammers pounding][machinery whirring]
Y'’all working hard. [chuckles]
The neighborhood was pretty good when you were a child.
No reason why it couldn'’t be again.[Rob] Uh-huh.
That was a long time ago, Mama.
The five places in Oakwood... [chuckles]
...you won'’t even recognize them by the time we'’re done with them.
It'’s like you got an umbilical cord stuck in East Orange,
and no one can shake it off you.
Get some rest, Mama.
She'’s right. What we'’re doing is important.
We'’re changing things around here.
You already changed things, Shaun.
You'’re the son of a convict, and you'’ve never been to jail.
You changed things.
You'’re the son of a convict, and you went to Yale.
Baby, go to grad school.
The neighborhood'’s not on you.
I know you lost your father, and I lost mine,
and any day now, we'’re gonna lose Mama too.
But at least for right now, for once in your life,
you can just breathe.
Find your dream.
[Rob] Go ahead. [chuckles]
All right, now.
[Rob, homeowner chuckle]
I'’ll get the sign out of here soon, okay?
All right.
[chuckles]
All right. Let'’s do it.
[Oswaldo] Look, I know you think Peace Realty could basically run itself,
but there are, like, 15 other Realtors popping up now.
You were right.
You were first, but now everybody sees the potential.
Even some of the guys who were working with you started a company.
I trained my competition. There'’s no better compliment.
[Oswaldo] Yeah, but if you wanna stay on top,
you gotta keep the business growing.
We can help you do that.
And we'’re prepared to take on a larger commitment.
It was never about staying on top.
It was about changing the neighborhood.
It doesn'’t matter if that'’s with Peace Realty or with someone else.
Well, it matters to us.
What'’s going on, man?
You know, we wanna keep growing this investment.
And I don'’t mean for developments
like they got going up in Jersey City and Newark.
I'’m talking about a-- a community trajectory.
You sound like you sellin'’ this to me now.
[laughing] I'’m trying to.[Rob laughs]
Yeah, man, don'’t let Peace Realty fall away.
You'’re right. It'’s not just about money.
But it'’s that attitude that'’s making this successful.
People know it'’s about heart.
[Rob] I'’m thinking about trying something else.
Even getting inspiration overseas.
Maybe.
I just wanted to talk to you about it before I made any decisions.
What about continuing with your studies?
Getting your PhD like you always wanted?
Running your own lab somewhere?
I like that. I still don'’t know if I can get into any programs
with everything that happened at Yale.
You might not need those recommendations anymore.
You graduated with honors, and you may have been here long enough
to get into a program with a teaching requirement.
Let me look into it.
But you shouldn'’t leave it any longer.
I'’ve seen people get stuck.
I felt so good being here.
These kids, they'’re teaching me a lot too.
That'’s how it goes sometimes.
It'’s been wonderful having you here.
But the kids should be seeing pictures of you on a wall,
not your face in a classroom.
It'’s time for you to fly,
so they see they can.
Okay.
[line ringing]
[phone ringing]
[speaking indistinctly]
[beeps][person answers in Portuguese]
[speaking Portuguese]
[person speaking Portuguese]
[Naya, Rob speaking Portuguese]
[Rob in English] I wanna ask you something.
Okay.
I started applying to grad schools again, and...
I can get a place in a program with an enhanced teaching requirement.
That'’s great, Rob. That sounds perfect.
How would you feel about coming to see me?
To grad school?
Yeah. You could study, or you can work. We'’ll figure it out.
So you want me to just drop everything and follow you?
No. What I'’m saying is how about you tell me a place you'’d like to visit?
I can see if there'’s a school I can get into around there.
Okay, well, I'’ll tell you this.
If it came down to Stanford or MIT,
I'’d definitely visit California over Massachusetts.
California, it is.
[chuckles]
[handset settles in cradle]
Whoo!
It'’s gonna be in the back over there.
I just put it in the back. It'’s in the back porch, all right?
Just go handle that for me. I appreciate you, bro.
I spoke to him already. He said it'’s done.
It'’s in the back porch. Go get it.
Thank you.
That'’s it right there? Okay.
Let'’s see.
They'’re gonna need one of those boards around the corner.
- Rob? - Yeah?
[speaking indistinctly]
[Rob] Yeah, let'’s do it. Let'’s go.
[Oswaldo] Yeah?
Good. Let'’s do it.[Rob] Thank you, man.
[announcer] The Dow is down a record amount.
Last week it gave up a devastating 1,874 points.
The people that have the most to worry about in this drop
are people that were way overexposed to stocks
or overextended in real estate.
[Rob] No! No! No! Don'’t put me on hold again.
Fuck! Fuck!
Hey, what they sayin'’, man?
They'’re sayin'’ we owe over $200,000, and they'’re not fucking around.
So what? Everything'’s gone? This place is worthless now?
But hey, look, look, look,
all the properties are gonna be going down now.
So we should buy more properties and dig ourselves out.
How? They froze the loans, man.
Because of what? Because of subprime?
Fuck!
[Tav breathing heavily]
I put everything into this, Rob! Everything!
Now, I have nothing left for my son. [crying]
We'’ll-- We'’ll figure it out. We...
[announcer] ...a financial storm that seems to darken every day.
[crying]
[Rob] The financial collapse in '’08
devastated the neighborhood all over again.
It felt, like, no matter how many variables were controlled for,
chaos was always waiting.
[door opens]
Hey. I'’m sorry to bother you, Mr. Tucker.
Shaun Peace. You knew my dad, Skeet Douglas.
Yeah. I remember you, Shaun.
I saw the sign out there, and I...
This house was in my family for a long time.
I, uh-- I just wanna know what'’s gonna happen to it.
[Tucker] Once we paid all the back taxes on the place
and done some renovating,
we refinanced for the first time and sent Skeet some money.
Not much, but we did our best to help him out.
Thank you.
He thought we'’d abandoned him at the trial.
I guess everybody did in the end.
It'’s crazy what they can do to an innocent man.
We were really proud of you finding that loophole,
getting him out that first time.
Wh-- What makes you so sure...
that he was... innocent?
[Tucker] I mean, it'’s not exculpatory evidence or whatever,
just photographs, but that was your father'’s gun.
I knew it pretty well.
After the fire, Skeet kept it inside the basement door here.
There was rust all over it. I don'’t think it could even shoot.
The gun the police came up with was bullshit.
They wanted to close the case.
And after Irving died, they could.
We couldn'’t say anything in court.
I'’d been doing stupid shit.
Police were on me all the time, making threats,
even death threats.
Finally, we stepped back. Only thing we could do.
Your mother never knew whether to tell you about it back then.
I guess we all decided it'’d do more harm than good.
[door opens]
You okay?
I spoke to Michael and Sheila Tucker.
Why didn'’t you tell me?
- Why did you hate him so much? - I didn'’t hate him at all.
You let me think he was guilty.
That'’s not true. I never said that, not once.
He died thinking I walked away from him.
I couldn'’t get him out, Shaun!
No matter what I did, the Tuckers were never gonna testify.
But why didn'’t you tell me?
Because the little bit of doubt you always had about your father
was the only reason you pushed back against him.
- Ma! - It was.
God help me, I loved that man.
But he would watch you burn to the ground trying to get him out.
Now, maybe he was innocent. I still don'’t know.
But I had a choice to believe in you or him.
And I chose.
It wasn'’t your choice to make.
Yes, it was.
Don'’t do this.
I'’m begging you.
I'’m not letting anybody else down.
You need to loan us $10,000 to make some real moves.
[scoffs] And we'’re in the clear.
We buy 50 pounds of bulk weed from the connect in Florida,
convert it downstairs,
serve it in the streets.
That'’s a 2,000% return.
400K at least.
We pay everybody back, split the rest, and we out of the hood.
Or you could just walk away.
I tried that already, Oswaldo. It doesn'’t work.
Six weeks, and I pay you back.
Six weeks.
Then it'’s grad school, normal life.
How you gonna do all this, Rob?
We just gonna sell under the noses of all the gangs in New Jersey?
[sighs] We hire in. Mules.
They serve it real quick.
Tell them we'’re working for the Killer Bloods or some other gang.
We operate out of here, but we don'’t sleep in here.
Every deal we make is in the streets.
We don'’t tell '’em anything,
not even our real names.
That'’s the only way.
[scoffs]
I'’ll lend you the money.
But I can'’t be around this.
It'’s crazy.
[sighs][door opens]
[door closes]
- [Curtis] All right. - Keep going back.
[Curtis] This way? Straight?
[Rob] Yeah, very, very straight.
[Curtis] I'’ll just take it back this way. All right. I got you.
Just make sure it can'’t be seen from the street.
It'’s all good.
Here you go.[mule] Word up.
Why'’s there so much, huh?
It'’s a lot.
I thought you can handle a lot.
I can, but where'’s it coming from?
I don'’t know.
So why'’s it gotta move so fast?
That'’s just the way it is, okay?
Okay.
[money rustling]
[engine revs][tires squeal]
Mules got you spooked, huh?
It'’s that Kamar. Questions every fucking night.
Ain'’t no trial period.
Only way you get rid of him is with what you got in your hand right there.
Just make sure you don'’t get followed.
All right.
Let'’s head out.
Can'’t stay here.
[train passing]
[Rob] Graduate school application.
Statement of purpose.
To whom it may concern,
Science is my passion.
I believe science has helped me navigate
the complex systems that have surrounded me,
the pressures that I'’ve encountered in my life.
My interests have centered on immunology...
[vehicle approaches][tires screech]
[Rob] ...and the states and functions of nucleic acids.
This area focuses on origins and environments
to help treat incurable cancers
like the one that took the life of my father.
Fuck.
[Rob] I believe these therapeutic applications
will aid our understanding of disease
and eventually prevent all manner of catastrophic instances...
before they occur.
[faint chattering]
Hey, yo, Tav.[gate opens]
Yo. What'’s up, man? [chuckles]
It'’s everything we made so far.
Except a little bit I gave to my mom.
It'’s about 25K.
I'’ll pay you the rest of your cut in a few weeks, all right?
I want you out of this now.
It'’s enough for you to get started on something legit, man.
Money mean you got choices.
Mean your boy got choices too.
All right.
[Rob] The knowledge I gain by earning a PhD
will help me achieve my career objectives...
which include educating future scientists as a professor
and continuing scientific research...
to better understand the pathways of life.
- What'’s going on? - Kamar'’s outside.
Shit! He tail you?
I don'’t know. Maybe.
You want it?
[sighs] - He just want a cut. - All right.
Shit.
[exhales]
- What the fuck is going on? - What the fuck are you doing?
You ain'’t no gangsta. The fuck'’s the matter with you?
[vehicle approaching][tires squeal]
[gun cocks]
Whoa!
[gun cocks]
[door slams shut]
They'’re coming.
[door opens]
Get out! Get out!
Whoa!
[shouts]
[gunshot]
[gunshots]
[Father Leahy] What do you think is the most important thing that you can learn here?
What'’s the most important idea that St. Benedict'’s can teach you?
The pursuit of excellence?
What is excellence?
Why do we pursue it with the knowledge that we are all flawed?
There is no excellence.
There is no flawlessness.
It'’s not excellence that we should seek.
It is grace.
And grace is reserved solely
for those who have struggled to move this world forward.
They will succeed.
Eventually, they will.
And through their endeavors,
all of the walls around us will come crashing down.
That is grace.
And grace...
[waves lapping]
...is peace.
[Rob] I am forever grateful...
for the love I'’ve received...
the love I'’ve been able to give...
the places I'’ve found myself
and the knowledge that these places were always here and now.
Thank you for considering this application.
Robert DeShaun Peace.
I wish I could'’ve seen the world you'’d make, Shaun.
The one you'’d make would be beautiful.
["Smile" playing]
♪ If I tell the truth ♪
♪ I would say That I'’ve been hurt ♪
♪ Many times before ♪
♪ So it'’s hard for me ♪
♪ To ever wanna give Anybody, anybody else love ♪
♪ I was bitter and broken Until you ♪
♪ Jumped inside my heart ♪
♪ I guess God needs you Where you are ♪
♪ '’Cause the pain I felt before ♪
♪ Don'’t exist anymore ♪
♪ You light up my dark, oh ♪
♪ I been broken For a long time ♪
♪ Now I'’m standing In the sunshine ♪
♪ It'’s kinda crazy How you made me smile ♪
♪ '’Cause the winds in my life Been blowing ♪
♪ But you made me smile ♪
♪ And I wanna know how ♪
♪ '’Cause I never thought I had enough ♪
♪ I been holding back A lot of love ♪
♪ But you make me smile ♪
♪ And I wanna know how ♪
♪ '’Cause it'’s scaring me Darling ♪
♪ I'’m falling and falling Just make sure you catch me ♪
♪ I'’m only thinking '’Bout now ♪
♪ How you make me Smile, smile, smile ♪
♪ I feel strong ♪
♪ I feel well ♪
♪ I feel confident Better about myself ♪
♪ Life was dust Turned to gold ♪
♪ In just a short time ♪
♪ You found A diamond in my soul ♪
♪ You brighten up my dark, oh ♪
♪ I been broken For a long time ♪
♪ Now I'’m standing In the sunshine ♪
♪ It'’s kinda crazy How you make me smile ♪
♪ '’Cause the winds in my life Been blowing ♪
♪ But you make me smile ♪
♪ And I wanna know how ♪
♪ '’Cause I never thought I had enough ♪
♪ I been holding back A lot of love ♪
♪ But you make me smile ♪
♪ I just wanna know how ♪
♪ '’Cause it'’s scaring me Darling ♪
♪ I'’m falling and falling Just make sure you catch me ♪
♪ I been searching All around for you ♪
♪ I been looking All around for you ♪
♪ And I finally see the light ♪
♪ Took me a long time ♪
♪ But I'’m glad I finally know the truth ♪
♪ I forgot about The hurt I knew ♪
♪ I just wanna give My love to you ♪
♪ '’Cause the mirror Don'’t scare me now ♪
♪ I feel strong ♪
♪ I feel well ♪
♪ I feel confident Better about myself ♪
♪ You really make me smile ♪
♪ And I wanna know how ♪
♪ '’Cause it'’s scaring me Darling ♪
♪ I'’m falling and falling Just make sure you catch me ♪
♪ I'’m only thinking '’Bout now ♪
♪ How you make me smile ♪
♪ Oh, smile, smile, smile ♪
♪ How you do it ♪
[song ends]