Marcus. Marcus, open the door.
Coach, if you in there you gotta let us in.
Coach. Look, we have to find the landlord or something,
I'm sure he's got an extra key.
Hey. You two should go home. It's late. I'll keep looking.
When I find him, you're my first call. Promise.
All right.
Marcus, they're gone. If you're in there, I need you to talk to me.
- You should go too. I'm okay. - I'd like to see that for myself.
Amara, please. If you care about me, just go.
Okay. But when I call, you answer.
Okay.
"As the institution finds itself in need, it deserves the help
of those to whom it's given so much."
Your aunt with the words.
I can't believe BU might close.
We're all trying to save it. And plus, we should be thanking
the alumni for raising half the money already.
Yeah, I think the best thing we can do right now is just focus on tennis.
Let me guess, it's Damon congratulating you
on your tournament win this morning. You're giving frontrunner.
No, it's just Nate asking me to lunch. Damon sent me flowers though.
I'm glad someone from Bringston is doing the pro tournament.
I got knocked out yesterday. So, Thea, it's all in you.
Ladies, afternoon. I want top six on the court. Partner up.
Let's go.
As for the rest of you, weight training. One hour. Go.
You can't play without a coach.
President Allen is already working on a replacement for the Hawkins game.
You don't need a replacement. You need your coach.
You want me to talk to Marcus?
Do you peep your sweatshirt? Where's that Lion, Mom?
Was that your polite way of asking me to stay out of it?
All right. All right. I guess I'll enjoy homecoming
like every other mom who doesn't have a special skill
that can help a situation.
I know, I dropped a bomb on you earlier this week.
Are you sure that Homecoming's where you wanna be right now?
It's either here or back home setting everything on fire
because your father is too sick to give me the answers I deserve, so yeah.
Homecoming is the safest place for everyone. I'll see you later.
All right. See you, Mom.
We're live from the quad with a reminder of our annual Exquisite
Eight Step Show tomorrow night.
They've turned into a fundraiser with all proceeds going
to save Bringston. So don't miss it.
Keish. You pulled this together real last minute.
Yes, kudos. But is this really all gonna be enough to raise
four million by tomorrow night?
I don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow, but we can't do nothing.
There will be a next semester at Bringston, damn it.
You're right. So we're gonna save our school.
- We're gonna save our school. - Thank you.
Okay. I need to answer this or more text will follow.
- Hey, Mom. - I'm calling with good news.
Hey, Simone. How are you?
Yes. Hi, Simone. How are you? Now listen, I have a friend
that works in the administration at Golden Angeles University.
Two of their tennis players just became academically ineligible.
They're looking to fill the empty spots. And before you say anything,
there are fifteen thousand students at GAU.
You'll never see Jordan.
Mom, that's a lie. And are you seriously suggesting I transfer?
Simone, you need to be somewhere you can play.
I'll still have a chance to play doubles and fill in
for injured players here at Bringston.
You are a competitor. If the dream is to still hit Naomi
or Serena status, you can't waste time riding the bench.
It's just a call to GAU.
Okay. You're right. Make the call.
Bringston might not exist next week. Does this game even matter?
Of course it does. Look, if BU was to be saved,
then beating Hawkins that's key.
Yeah, they're the conference champions. We beat them, prove that
we're a championship level team, and we can keep our funding.
For sure.
Gentlemen, I'm sure you all remember Jessie Raymond, Senior.
We all know who he is but the question is, why is he here?
President Allen's getting to that.
Mr. Raymond has agreed to be your interim coach. As a former Lion,
he cares about the program and as an Atlanta adult lead
coach he knows baseball inside out. I trust you make this work.
Get to work.
ALL AMERICAN HOMECOMING
Episode 13
- Got extra ratchet? - Don't tell me you're changing sports?
What? You don't think I look good in short shorts?
No.
- Hey. - Hey, babe.
I'ma get back to it. Good luck with the tournament, Thea.
- Thanks. Breakfast. - And fuel.
Thank you.
Hey, you're gonna kill it today. I wish I could be there.
Me too, but you got practice and a new coach to break in.
You know I still can't believe that that's happened.
That man forced Celine to give me up for adoption and I gotta play.
- For him like nothing's happened? - Screw him.
Okay? This is about you. You've worked so hard
to get the team here just focus on the game.
- My ride's here. - All right.
- Hey, are you okay? - Yeah. I'm fine. All right.
- Bye. - See you.
Yo, it's Marcus. Leave a message.
Damn it, Marcus. You promised to answer if I called.
Don't make me come back over there. Just check in. Please.
Hi, sweetie.
Hey. I heard your article is making a huge impact on campus.
Well, it got the attention of the local news.
They wanna interview me about Bringston which is why I'm here.
I'd like the whole crew to join me.
People need to hear from students, too.
Is this about your transferring? Your mother has a big mouth.
I heard they loved your recruiting video. Simone, this is great.
Then why doesn't it feel great? Keisha is busy trying to save
the school and I'm making plans to leave it, Auntie.
Did you forget I'm leaving too? That doesn't mean we can't still
do everything in our power to save it.
Get out in that field, take your positions, stay warm,
and loose until I get to you. I'll start with Sims and JR.
You mean Sims and Reyes. I'm Damon's catcher.
I play centerfield now.
Fine. Reyes, when you throw, make sure you stay behind the plate,
get up faster to execute.
That'll slow down my pop time.
Not if you do it correctly. JR in that outfield I wanna see
big crow hops to get more in your throws.
Coach Marcus wants me to use the step behind technique.
I'm the coach. You'll follow my rules. All right. To the field. Let's go.
Sims.
It's clear we'll be relying on your star power tomorrow.
Games aren't won by a single player. When we win, we'll do it as a team.
This team will crumble under the pressure. I've seen them play.
But if they do, it'll be because they crumbling under you.
What did you just say to me, Sims?
Santiago, he's a beast at throwing out base runners
and there's not a better outfielder than your son.
Everything don't gotta be your way or the highway.
You can't just come in and messing with people...
I'm done with this practice.
- You need to get your boy in line. - That's on you coach.
No.
Did you lose something?
No, I need one outfit for tonight. So we needed one more act,
so I talked to Gabby and she said y'all be down to perform
and that I get to dance during one of your songs.
How dope is that?
You added another ATL performance to tonight's step show?
Well, it's only one more performance.
I can't. I have a team meeting in an hour and then I have curfew.
Wow. Curfew?
If I miss curfew, I'm off the team, Keisha.
That means I lose my scholarship.
It's your life and I support you. But all I'm saying is unless
you've changed your mind about the aneurysm surgery then how long
is that scholarship gonna be there anyways?
How are you doing? What do you need?
Amara, I don't want to see you.
It's Keena Sims. It's urgent. Damon's in trouble.
What's wrong with Damon?
He's fine. I had to say something to get you to open the door.
Look, Keena. I really can't do whatever this is.
Well, this was gonna be an impassioned plea to convince you
to come back to coach, but I think I'll save that for another time.
Keena, Thank you. I'm gonna see you out.
My cousin was twenty three years old when her demons got the best of her.
I know a breakdown when I see one.
You've been there for Damon and me.
And I'd like to help you. Have you slept?
Have you eaten today? Okay. Then let's start there.
There's a misconception that HBCUs aren't relevant today
because Black students can attend PWIs.
But HBCUs provide students of color a place to learn
without discrimination.
I can just be myself, you know, unapologetically in all my blackness.
I see reflections of myself everywhere here.
In class, in the material that we study, in our leadership.
Bringston made me believe in possibilities.
Identity is key. Bringston has given me so much self-confidence.
It's helped me to love who I am and shape who I'm becoming.
We need people to come out here tonight.
We need people to make donations because me and my friends,
we plan on being here for years.
Thank you.
All right. Simone, you're up.
Doctor P did amazing.
Girl. We all did. We're gonna save our home, our way of life. Watch.
Guys. I need to tell you something.
Why? What's wrong?
I'm transferring. Most likely to Golden Angeles University.
Wait, what? But we don't know if Bringston's gonna close yet.
Well, it's not about Bringston. It's about tennis and I need to be
at a place where I can competitively play and...
But, Bringston is bigger than tennis. You came here for other reasons too.
You just talked about them on TV about, about our connection
to our real history about our, our culture.
Simone, stay at Bringston. Please.
Am I the only one that still cares about this school? About keeping us together?
Okay. Well, you know what? Screw it.
- Keisha... - No.
- Any chance you wanna talk? - Not really.
I get it.
You're depressed and right now the darkness feels so overwhelming.
You read minds now?
I have experience with strong men who hide their illnesses
from the people they love. Don't make the same mistake my husband did.
I suffer from Bipolar two disorder. After I left the minors,
I didn't feel like myself. There were too many high highs
and low lows and it took a second for the doctor
to finally get my diagnosis right.
And now you're off your meds. Well, let's get you back on them.
I don't need drugs, Keena, to feel whole. You understand me?
Apparently, you do. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.
Think about all those people who love you.
What happens to them if you decide to just give up on life?
My son is a better man because a year ago, you came into his life.
You are a good man and you deserve to get better.
So you best believe I will sit here...
Fight for that man's life?
I can't save you, but I can make sure that you fight to save yourself.
- Hey. - Hey.
I just wanted to say good luck tonight.
Okay, dang. I go it. And I'm sorry.
I know you're just trying to do what's best for you.
Keish.
I'm sorry. I'm happy for you. I really am.
It's just, I feel like everyone I love always leaves.
Or is taken. Which is why I've been fighting so hard for this.
Bringston's been my only constant.
Thought I'd stop by, wish you luck against us, man to man.
My team doesn't need luck.
There's my boy. I was hoping I'd run into you.
Look, now's not the time, Coach.
I'll keep it brief. Come play for Hawkins.
You know recruiting another team's player is against NCAA rules, right?
Now look, even if Bringston gets through this fire sale, you lost your coach.
Is that really what you want for your career? Think about it.
- Jessie. - Coach.
- I hope you're coming to apologize. - I'm not.
But what I do owe you is honesty.
In these past few months I've come to really understand that
without honesty and integrity, a man doesn't have a leg to stand on.
A man who's desk you're sitting there taught me that.
And I almost let my anger towards you take both of those things from me.
Son, I have no idea what it is you...
I'm Celine's son. Xavier Wilson is my father.
Celine betrayed you and I paid the price for you pride.
Yo, I was a baby, man.
A baby and you ripped everything away from me and left me to grow up
living a lie, not knowing where I came from.
Do you have any idea what that was like?
Your scar faded.
Is that really all you got to say to me right now?
You were hanging on to the side of the couch. Learning to stand.
JR was sick and got a nosebleed. It was pretty bad. He got scared.
He knocked you over trying to get to me.
Celine and I took both you to the ER that night, I had both,
you and JR's blood all over my shirt and I just...
I knew I couldn't do it. There was so much broken
about us at the time. Plus JR was always sick.
It was the whole reason I got a vasectomy because I knew
that bringing another child into that broken chaos...
was something my family couldn't take.
But she had the affair.
And you, you were another man's child.
That night in the ER I went to Celine.
I told her what I thought we should do.
I'm sorry I hurt you but I had to protect my family.
Protect your family?
You see, despite you, I turned out okay.
Actually I turned out better than okay.
So real talk, you never needed to protect your family for me.
I mean, look around, sir. You're the one causing all the damage.
You lost your wife and if something in you doesn't change soon,
you gonna lose JR.
You've been better off protecting them from you.
Yeah. Okay. How dope were Delta Rho Gamma?
I just legit appreciate the Exquisite Eight for allowing me
to hijack their annual step show to help save the school we love.
Please continue to share the website on the banner to everyone you know.
Money is coming in, but we can do better.
We have until midnight, to raise enough funds.
So please. Okay. So we all know how important HBCUs
are to our community. They give us a voice
when others try to silence us. So to drive that point home,
here come the fine stepping brothers of Kappa Epsilon Kappa.
The legacy is stepping dates back to the nineteen hundreds
at a gold mine tunnels of South Africa.
Black miners weren't allowed to communicate,
so they developed their own type of Morse code.
Slapping a gumboot to make sounds.
This was their only way to be heard.
A tradition that evolved into what you see here tonight at Bringston.
Each step we take, we honor our ancestors
and ensure that we will never be silenced.
Hey, yo, brothers, what's that sound?
So I have to pee. What's your excuse?
- I just needed some fresh air. - Okay. Where's Thea?
I mean, it's ten PM on the night before her big match.
- You know the chick is... - Passed out.
Passed out.
Well, I'll let you get back to your peace.
And I hope your night gets better.
I confronted JR's dad. Told him who I was.
Okay.
- How do you feel? - I don't know.
I guess I'm glad that I faced him with my head held high.
Let him know that he ain't break me.
But sad too, you know?
Damon, you've had a lot thrown at you.
There's no playbook on the right way to heal and process all of that.
So take your time. And know we got your back.
We're gonna be in the stands cheering for you and JR, you know?
I really appreciate that. Personally, I need that win, man.
I feel you. I'm hoping for a win too. I got a chance to play tennis in spring...
at GAU.
Oh, wow. That's... that's dope.
That means you'll be closer to Shay and Jordan, right?
Jordan and I broke up over fall break.
Fall break? Why didn't you let me know?
You know, I was processing it all when I got back. You were with Thea
and we were trying to get our friendship back on track.
Look, it doesn't even matter because we're both doing exactly
what we're supposed to be doing with who we're supposed
to be doing it with. right?
Yeah. You know,
I'm really gonna miss the wise words of Simone Hicks.
I've really grown a lot since I met you.
Yeah. Back at you.
- You... - Damon.
Y'all, we just received thirty thousand dollars.
Let's keep the generosity and the show going, all right?
Thank, y'all.
- I'm sorry Cam didn't show. - Me too.
It's getting hard for me to hold my own...
See, nobody wants to be in love alone
So I'm trying my best not to overreact
But I need to know right now, no lies, just facts
Yeah.
So if you love me, just say so
'Cause I can't play these games with you no more
So if you love me, just say so
I need to know from you right now before I go
It's just that I can feel I'm falling deep
And I don't wanna fall unless you're falling with me
Who changed your mind?
You, the interview, believing in my possibilities.
I think it's past time I took a chance to step out on faith.
- I'm proud of you. - I'm of you.
- It's eleven fifty-eight. - The moment of truth.
We raised five hundred thousand three hundred and fifty seven dollars tonight.
But we're still a million short. It's over. Bringston is done.
How am I gonna tell them?
Hey. We'll do it together. Come on.
Have you heard?
Hey, what's, what's going on? You gonna talk to me?
Damon, it's fine. I mean, we haven't been dating that long.
The school is now closing. You don't need to pretend or force anything.
Baby, I'm not forcing anything. And yet this is new but, baby, it's real.
Look, I don't care if we're going to school right next door
to each other or across the country. You and me.
This. I'm all in. But we can make this work, right?
Yeah.
All right. Well, let's get some rest. We both got a big day tomorrow.
Yeah.
- Can I hug? Yeah? - Yes.
- Your shoulder's still bugging you? - No, it's, it's fine.
Every athlete knows that tone for "their fine.
"You should get it checked out in the morning before your tournament."
Promise?
Thanks for picking up my prescription.
You're not gonna watch the game?
I can't watch my boys play knowing I'm letting them down.
It'll be a while before I'd be able to coach again, doc's orders.
Marcus, you deserve to see them play. You've worked hard for this.
- Will you stay? - Yeah...
There go your boy.
Look, I ain't even trying to hear today, right?
I come in peace. I come in peace... for now.
I'm sorry about your school.
Bringston was important to my family andit's messed up
the way everything went down.
I appreciate that, man. For real.
I'm still gonna kick your ass on the field though.
And there he is.
Whoo! Let's go, boys.
We see you, Damon.
Go, Damon.
Let's go, Damon.
Come on, come on. Get that.
Here we go, Damon. Let's go. Let's go.
Come on, JR.
All right. Yes, son. Let's go.
I gotta give it to 'em. They legit. Don't tell Damon I said that.
I'm serious.
Time.
How you doing out there?
You'll be all right. Come on.
- Yo, what is Shaw doing? - He's icing the momentum.
Three strikes, you're out!
Shut him down, Lando. Let's throw strikes, baby.
Three outs. All right. Come on, pal, let's go.
All right, Sims. Stay in the game.
Score's now two-four.
Well, we're only in the sixth inning. They got time to turn it around.
You know, I didn't have kids because I was afraid that I would pass
on my disorder to them. These boys are the closest thing
I have to sons and right now, they need me but I'm not there.
Keena, are you listening?
Yeah. Yes, yes. You're right. We should go to the game.
What if I'm not myself yet?
I will follow your lead, Marcus. You decide.
We're up one. Damon's got runners at first and second.
But Hawkins has two outs. If Damon can pull strong, then we'll win.
But based on the way he's pitching right now...
We should be worried, very worried.
Yeah. What's up with him?
Even though Bringston's going away, winning this game,
showing everyone that the Lions are elite level proves that
his MLB sacrifice is worth it.
All right. Let's go. Let's go.
Timeout Hawkins.
Number thity-two is injured. Hawkins will send in a replacement player.
- Get out of your head, Sims. - I don't know if I can right now.
You can. Forget the pressure and noise. Win or lose, you did
what you came here to do, son. Now you helped build champions
and changed the lives of every man on this team, including myself.
Now, just play the game, son. Thanks, coach.
Let's go, Damon!
Let's go!
Wait. A last-minute donation just came in to cover the rest
of the funds that are needed to save Bringston.
Wait. So Bringston was saved? By who?
Who cares? We got our home, eh!
We got our home, eh! We got our home!
Coach? Hey, Coach.
Hicks, in my office, fifteen minutes. Don't be late.
Okay.
Now, I know I was being Miss Positivity earlier but I was actually really afraid
we were gonna lose the school.
I wasn't. Not with you taking the lead. I know if you put your mind to something,
it's gonna happen.
- Everything okay? - Yeah. We all good. Let's eat.
Bringston is saved and we beat Hawkins. I mean,
the only thing that would make this day better is
if you told me that you kicked some ass at that tournament.
Hey, what's, what's going on?
You should finish celebrating.
Okay. I'm officially done celebrating.
Baby, come on.
What's going on?
I never made it to the tournament.
I went to the team doctor this morning.
I tore my rotator cuff. Apparently, it happened the second day
of the tournament and I just didn't realize it.
I'd been using Simone's racket
because mine was cut but hers is heavier and I can't play.
I'll be out for months. I've never gone that long
without picking up a racket. And there's surgery, so...
All right. Come here. I'm so sorry.
I am so sorry to interrupt.
Mom, we're kind of in the middle of...
No, it's okay. I should go. I'll be okay.
Thea, don't...
Sweetheart, you know I would not have interrupted if it wasn't important.
Okay. What's, what's wrong?
When your father was first diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's,
he became obsessed with getting a slew of tests done for you, too.
Something Coach Marcus said reminded me of those tests.
And I still have all those results filed electronically.
Something I think you should see.
The donation that saved Bringston came from a philanthropic organization
in Los Angeles.
The Annie Mae Scott Family Foundation.
Money given was contingent upon two conditions that I step down
and that you take my place as president of Bringston.
Zeke... I'm not going to take your job.
Those were the conditions and they've been accepted by the trustees.
Honestly, maybe a change is called for, for me and for Bringston.
Maybe I'll find my way back to medicine, spend more time with my daughter.
- Shoot, maybe I'll teach. - You'd be good at that.
Regardless, the job is yours if you accept.
And if you want my two cents, accept it.
-Hey, Amara. - Don't "hey" me.
The Annie Mae Scott Foundation,
isn't that the organization behind the affordable housing deal
you closed last month?
They've been looking for charitable openings in the education field
for a while. I just connected a need with an opportunity.
And what do you call running Zeke out of his job?
I cleared the way for my baby sister to take her career to the next level.
I make no apologies for that. Bringston is where you belong.
Take the job. Love you.
- Son, we need to talk. - Dad, I can't right now.
I know who Damon is. He told me.
How could you do it? You kept my brother away
from me and you made mom separated from her son.
I know. And you're right. Son, I can't lose you, too.
I know I've messed up on all fronts. Damon. I'm glad you're here.
I need to clear the air with both of you.
I'm sorry for my part in Celine giving you away.
I let pride guide my actions and it affected your life. I was wrong.
Yeah. So wrong that you gave away your own son.
Wait, what?
Because you had a vasectomy, the thought never occurred
to you that I could be yours, did it?
But you know those things, they're not foolproof.
Because I am in fact your biological son.
Wait, hold on. What?
After my dad got sick, he ran a bunch of tests on both of us.
Apparently, a DNA test was part of that package.
There was no match. Xavier isn't my father.
Damon, wait. Just give me a second. This can't be true.
No, Dad, take the DNA test.
Hey, hey, hey. It's good.
Hey, I'm good, bro. Because no matter
what those results say, you'll never be my father.
Destroyed your family for nothing, man.
Welcome to Top six, baby!
I'm really glad you're sticking around.
- Me too, man. Me too. - See you.
Well, congratulations.
Thea, I'm so sorry about your shoulder.
Looks like you got what you've wanted since last homecoming.
You took my spot after all.
Thea, it's an injury. They happen.
Yeah. It happened because I let you talk me into using your racket
when I wanted to forfeit. And all that extra weight
on my shoulder caused it to tear.
Are you trying to blame me for your injury? Girl, that's not my fault.
Simone, just admit it.
You have been gunning for me since day one.
You pretended to be my friend. You got in my head
and convinced me that there was something wrong
with me for being so single-mindedly focused on tennis
and not some dumb social life. You took my eye off the ball.
And needing your racket was the unexpected finishing touch.
Now, I may have gotten the guy, but you're making sure
that I have nothing else.
- Thea, I am your friend. - My God.
And if you're in pain, I'm sorry about that but I'm gonna let that slide.
You listen to me, you conniving little bitch.
Watch your back because I'm coming for you.
And I will get my spot back.
Rest up. You know where to find me.
"Heard Jessie Raymond is staying on as interim coach"
"when you're ready, give me a call"
I was hoping I'd hear from you.
You said you wanted to talk. Let's talk.