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- Hi, my name is Tonesa Welch,
and you've heard a lot of things about me,
but this is my true story.
[car door opening]
[tense musical tone]
[car door closing]
[tense musical tone continues]
[tense musical tone stops]
[car door opens]
[tense musical tone resumes]
I wish I could tell you this was all a bad dream,
but it wasn't.
This shit really happened.
And the story I'm about to tell you is all true.
[assailant pistol whips]
But in order to protect myself
and my associates, most of the names have been changed.
So let me take you back.
[whooshing SFX]
[hip hop music]
♪ I've been on that
♪ Hustle shit, big bills, hood shit with the bag ♪
♪ Ain't no fuckin' around
♪ Yeah they know I front the block ♪
♪ Same spot where niggas get hit ♪
♪ When they run they mouth
♪ If you ain't movin' right
♪ You know it's clear
♪ Up in Detroit we do whatever to get rich ♪
[rap music fades]
Hey Ma
- Oh.
Baby, that dress looks so cute on you.
- You like it?
- I do.
Oh, also, Carla and Lisa just got here.
- Okay, have 'em come on in.
- [Mom] Y'all girls, come on in.
[girls squealing]
- Hey, girl.
- What's going on with you two?
- Ooh, we figured you needed help with getting dressed,
seeing as though you don't understand
who we're about to meet tonight.
- Who are we about to meet
and what's wrong with what I got on?
- You look like you about
to take up some damn offering, girl.
Everything, take it off. - I thought it was-
- And as far as who we're about to meet,
think of every rich nigga in the D.
Girl, we're going to a club on the east side tonight
and all the baller's gonna be up in there.
So put on this.
- I can't wear this, y'all, come on now.
-you about to pay some thides
No, go ahead girl, please.
Put it on.
- All right, fine.
- [Carla] Hurry up.
- [Lisa] Yes.
Oh my gosh.
Girl...
- I'm looking for Maserati Rick tonight.
- And me, I'm going for the big jewels tonight.
- Only you.
- That's why I gotta kill 'em in this right here.
- Ooh, that is fire though.
- Mm.
[Carla gasps] - Ooh, Tonesa.
Yes, girl.
- Okay, first of all, yes.
- I can get used to looking like this.
- Oh, I bet you can.
[girls giggling coming down the hallway]
- Ma, thank you so much for watching Marlon tonight.
- Oh, no problem Baby, I just put 'em to sleep.
- I don't want y'all thinkin'
that we gonna be your built-in babysitters.
Now we don't mind watching our little grand baby
but don't want you thinking for one second
that this is gonna be the regular.
- All right, Pop, lighten up.
Thanks, ma.
- And don't come back in here too late.
- I hear you, loud and clear.
- Have a good night, Mrs. Welch.
- Y'all girls be safe, hear?
- [Pop] You heard what I said?
- [Tonesa] I hear you!
[door slams]
- That child gonna be the death of me.
- Emerson, come on.
She'll grow out of it.
- When?
She's 19.
That's the problem with her now
you spoil her too damn much.
[Dance beat music]
[girls squealing]
- Act grown! Act grown.
[dance groove continues]
♪ I can scream, ooh, ah
♪ Baby I want
- What'd I tell you? Girl!
- This is definitely the happening spot.
- Oh yes, is that Maserati Rick ass
over there looking good like that?
- Everyone looks fly, damn.
- Yes.
- Come on Lisa, let's go over to the bar.
Somebody gonna buy us a drink.
- Or a Rollie, a purse
- a freeloader.
- Watch her.
[Dance beat music continues]
- What up, doe?
- What up, doe is me, nigga.
You see, I'm about to handle my business.
- I see you H.
- Good.
Yeah, real good.
Why don't you have a drink, baby?
- No, I'm good.
- Nah, it's all right, it's just champagne.
[Dance beat music continues]
See, now that ain't too bad, is it?
- No, it's not bad at all.
- So what's your name?
- Tonesa.
I like that.
You know they call me H.
You must be from the westside
- What makes you think I'm from the west side?
- 'Cause I know what them west side girls look like.
But I like what I see.
Wanna dance?
[slow groove music]
[slow groove music continues]
- That night changed everything.
It was like I stepped into a revolving door
and came out another woman.
I wanted exactly what I saw in that club
and I wanted to live life like H.
I started sneaking around with him instantly.
- [H] Me again.
You can say it, cash...
- [Tonesa] Cashmere?
- Mm-hm.
- Okay. - Wait and see.
- You want me to put that on?
- Mm-hm. - Okay.
- You gonna find out.
So when you gonna let me inside?
- I already told you, it's too soon.
We've only known each other for two weeks.
- Come on now.
I take good care of you, don't I?
I show up.
You smiling.
- Yeah, but my parents ain't gonna be happy
with me bringing you around.
- Yeah, whatever.
[Tonesa and H laughing]
You'll see.
I'm a show up every day
with something special just for you
so you can see how much I want you.
- We'll see.
- Mm-hm.
- I gotta head out.
Thanks.
- Hey.
[door shuts]
- I am not expecting you to understand Carla, I, I feel bad.
Marlin is away at school trying to create a life
for me and baby Marlon and I'm sneaking around with H.
- Girl, please.
How you know he not in Oklahoma cheating?
- Girl, he's not, trust.
I'm just, I'm confused.
- You shouldnt be.
Look in your fuckin' closet
and think about all this fun we out here havin'
and all that paper he be spending on us.
We not giving that shit up.
- Yeah, I don't wanna give that shit up either.
I just, I feel bad for hurting Marlin.
But I also ain't trying to be no basic ass girlfriend.
That's just not the life I'm trying to live.
- Well, while you sit there and sulk,
I'm gonna get ready for Harvey's friend Ralph to come by.
We gonna hang and do a little something something.
And as for you, leave Marlin's ass in the dust.
All right girl, I gotta go.
Bye.
[phone clicks off - dial tone]
[car engine motoring]
[distant siren ringing]
[doorbell rings]
[door opens]
- Harvey.
Hey.
What are you doing here?
[H chuckling]
- I came to see you.
So you're not gonna let me in?
- But I told you you gotta call before you come.
You can't just pop up.
[H] Hmm...
- You know what, why don't you take a ride with me, huh?
- Okay.
[H] yeah?
Gimme a second.
- Okay.
[Marlon cries]
- [Marlon] Oh come on.
No, no [Marlon crying].
- [Pop] Well hold up young lady
Where you think you going?
- Hey there, Pop.
I'm H.
- I don't care who you are.
And how old are you? [tense music]
- I'll be right back, all right?
I'll be right back.
- You said that last week.
Girl, come get your boy.
I said we're not gonna be your live-in babysitters.
- I'll be back.
- [Ma] Emerson, come back in here.
You're scaring the baby.
[tense music]
[upbeat music]
- She's pissin' me off.
- It's okay.
[upbeat music continues]
- Between the gifts and the exciting life
I knew I could live with H.
So I eventually called it quits with Marlin
and moved out of my mom's house
to go get the life I wanted.
[upbeat music fading]
[high heels approaching]
- Toni, where you going?
- I'm gonna go live with H, ma.
I just came to get my clothes and I'll get the rest later.
- Toni...
you don't even know him.
- Yes I do.
And he wants me to move in with him.
So I'm going.
- You need to put that suitcase down
and take care of your son.
- Listen to him.
- I'm not gonna listen to him.
- [Pop] I don't understand you.
[tense music] I really don't.
We've done nothing but support you.
Even when you ran off to Oklahoma
to be with Big Marlin, we let you go.
But not this time.
You not goin' anywhere.
- What the-?
- Wait a minute.
Y'all cut it out.
It's okay.
[Ma] Listen, I'll watch little Marlon.
[tense music continues]
- Damn you, Carol!
[tense music calming]
- Thanks, mama.
I'll be back for baby Marlon.
I promise.
[Ma exhales]
[tense music]
- She's just 20 years old...
And you accepting to do all her responsibilities
only adding to her madness.
She needs to be here where she is safe.
- Emerson, stop being dramatic.
I know my child. She be back in a week.
- The hell you do.
[tense music continues]
[Ma exhales]
[tense music fades]
- You always carry that thing on you?
- You know it's part of my game.
Those things is dangerous outside.
Why, you scared?
- No, I ain't scared.
I actually think it's kind of sexy.
- Oh hey, hey.
This right here
it's not a toy.
- I know.
[tender music]
I know, that's why I want you to teach me how to use it.
And I want you to teach me the game.
[tender music continues]
- You know I don't want my lady
out there selling no dope, right?
It's dangerous.
[slow jam music]
- Yeah, maybe.
But I wanna be a part of everything.
- [H] Everything?
- You're doing.
♪ And the rules were easy to follow ♪
♪ Now that we're over this feeling changed ♪
- Is that right?
- Yeah, that's right.
- Well, I got something for you.
And I'll just start you out real slow.
[slow jam music continues]
Then we can add on, something that you
and I... and we...
can do... together.
[slow jam music continues]
♪ But if you want me [fade]
- Absolutely.
We'll be there.
[H roars]
Yes!
- Well, what happened?
- Nothing happened except that I'm the mother fucking man!
Don't you worry, I'm a put you on to that.
Oh, by the way, remember I told you
you was gonna make some money right?
now look, remember I was telling you, I'm gonna put you on?
- What's this?
- Scamming checks.
Now scamming checks is easy money.
This is separate from the dope money.
Dope money is what's keeping everything going
on around here.
Understand me?
It's just something to put
a little something in your pockets.
- Okay, all right...
I'm ready.
- Well, I got somebody at the bank who hooks me up
with some blank checks.
They gimme some bank accounts.
And all we gotta do is get some fake IDs.
Now you and I, we go out shopping for big ticket items,
refrigerators, stoves, furs,
whatever the fuck we want we go and get.
By the time the store finds out they've been scammed
we done been back with the merchandise
either to sell it or to keep it.
- So then the store and the bank is left holding the bag.
- Absolutely.
[tense pulsing music]
You know, you very smart baby.
I like that about you.
But don't worry, this is simple.
All right?
I told you, right?
I got you.
- Yeah.
[tense pulsing music continues]
[toy rattling]
You like the toys mommy brought you?
Here, can mommy see it? - [Ma] Toni!
look, look, baby, all these toys and stuff are great,
but what he really needs is a mother.
He needs you.
- Ma I'm trying to give him a great life, okay?
- [Marlon] Talking gibberish.
- How, by flaunting around town in furs and fancy clothes?
- Okay, you wouldn't understand.
I'm living the life that I want.
- All money's not good money.
It may buy you nice cars, nice jewelry,
but it can't buy you back the time you miss with your son.
- You floating in and out of this house like the wind.
Don't you miss your baby?
- Ma, I'm here, ain't I?
I just said I'm trying to create the best life for him
a life that he deserves.
[tense music]
- He deserves to be with his mother.
That's you.
- I don't have time for this.
Come here.
[tense music continues]
- You leave this house again without your son
it may not be that easy for you to come back.
[tense music continues]
- I know what you're thinking.
I abandoned my son to be with a gangster who showered me
with expensive gifts and made love to me nonstop.
What kind of mother does this?
Well, I'm doing me.
And this was just the beginning.
[tense music fading]
- [Tonesa] Hey, baby.
- Watch this, watch this, watch this, watch this.
Watch this, watch this.
That boy, good.
That boy good.
- You know I, I actually, I've been thinking
this check hustle, you know, it's fine.
It's great.
But I'm ready for more.
- You ready for something more?
Is that so?
You know I gave you the check game because it's easy.
You know that, right?
You know, come on now.
I don't know why you want to be out there like that.
I told you what I do, I don't want you doing.
Got it? - Okay, listen,
I know you think it's dangerous, but I'm ready.
All I need is for you to show me the way.
- Baby, don't I take care of you?
- Of course you do.
- Yeah.
So why you wanna be out there like that?
- Because I'm seeing how you movin'
and I wanna move the same way.
- Listen.
If I show you this game, right,
you gotta do everything exactly the way I show you.
You hear me?
- I promise.
I'll do it exactly the way you say.
[tapping baseline music]
[tapping baseline music continues]
[H chuckling]
[tapping baseline music continues]
♪ All I need is a parade
♪ Some white girl will do me just right ♪
♪ All I need is one of those paydays ♪
♪ To make me have a real good life ♪
♪ Can't get enough of that feeling babe ♪
♪ Can't get enough of that feeling, baby ♪
- Within a few years, me and Harvey were building
on the east side and racking in dough.
By '83, we were killing the game.
I was no longer the little girl he met
in the club that night.
[tapping baseline music fades]
Hey, baby.
- What you cooking up?
- Something good for you.
You like it?
- Yeah, I like it.
- Yeah. - [H] Yeah.
- Mm-hm.
[H chuckling]
- What's the occasion?
- Nothing special, I just wanna do
something nice for my man.
- [H] Mmm-hm
- Is that so?
- Yeah.
- Tonesa.
You know I know you, right?
- I know, I know.
Okay, all right, fine.
I have an idea.
[H] Hmmm
- Okay, let me hear it.
- Now that I'm dealing on my own,
I was thinking maybe we should consider
selling coke to the west.
- Oh.
You know that's not a good idea, right?
- No, I know, but hear me out.
The people on the west, they're making good money
so they got money to burn.
We could be so big out there and make so much more money.
[dark tense music]
So what you think?
[dark tense music continues]
Good, right?
[H slapping] [Tonesa screams]
[dark tense music continues]
- I think I got where I am without you.
I think you need to stay in your place.
[pulsing tense drumbeat]
[glass shatters]
[pulsing tense drumbeat fades]
Hey, baby.
Hey.
You know I'm so sorry, right?
I don't know what came over me and uh...
You know I would never, uhh
put my hands on you like that, right?
Hey.
[water spraying]
You know that's just not me, right baby?
I just umm...
You know, I really wanna hear your ideas, baby.
I just...
You know, just know at the end of the day that..,
that the final decision is mine.
All right?
- I hear you.
- That's right, come here.
Want you to try something.
You see this here?
You take a hit, all right?
And you make sure you get everything in there.
Pull it, [H sniffs].
Pull everything in, okay?
[tense music]
Gonna make you feel better.
Try it.
[dark tense music]
[Tonesa sniffs]
[Tonesa groans]
[dark pulsing music]
- Take your time.
[dark pulsing music continues]
gotta go.
I'll be back.
[dark pulsing music fades]
- Harvey never came back.
[Tonesa] He got locked up on some drug charges
which put our expansion plans on hold.
that didn't stop me, though.
My business grew quick and so did my pockets.
[club music]
With Harvey in jail, [Tonesa sniffing]
I became buck wild and out of control.
I had my own money and I was having a fling
with another drug dealer named Bobby.
He was with Young Boys Incorporated.
Life was moving fast.
- Come on baby, you done have enough.
- No, no.
Maybe I just needed a little pick me up.
I'm good now.
- No, no, no.
You all fucked up, Tonesa.
It's time to go.
- Bitch, I'm grown.
- This is the shit I'm talking about right here.
You're sitting here in the club
with everything a woman could ever want in her life
and you fuckin' it up with that shit.
- Everything I want?
- Every woman want, trust me.
Yes, yes, money, men, everything.
Look at you.
- Well, Harvey's in jail.
Is that everything?
Huh?
- [Lisa] Harvey is one of-
- Here, take some more of this.
- No.
- Let's get on up outta here.
- Leave me the fuck alone!
[Tonesa gesturing]
[Tonesa vomiting]
- Oh my god.
- See, Tonesa, that's the shit I be talkin' about!
Now clean yourself up and let's bounce.
[club music continues]
- C'mere, get up, it's time to go.
- I didn't say I was ready to go yet!
- [Lisa] It's time to go.
Get up, get up, come here.
Come here.
Are you pregnant?
[club music continues]
- No.
- I think you are, you don't need no more. Go...
- Go, it's time to go.
[club music fades]
[door bell rings]
- [Tonesa] H!
[H roars softly]
- I'm back.
- Okay, Harvey, when did you get out?
- Just now.
Hey.
[H moans]
Mm. [H chuckles]
[baby crying]
- Is that a baby I hear?
[tense music]
[baby crying] - [Bobby] What up, doe?
- Now who the fuck you supposed to be, dog?
[baby softly crying]
You had a baby with this dude while I was gone?
- Harvey, I-I-I-I didn't get a chance to tell you.
This is, this is Bobby and our son, Jason.
[Tonesa screaming]
[Tonesa] Bobby!
[Tonesa] Hey!
[men grunting] [fists punching]
Stop it!
- [H] Shut up!
[H] You tryin' to take my mother fuckin' house!
[H] This is what you want?!
Is this the fuck what you want?
- [Bobby] I ain't goin nowhere without my baby!
[baby crying]
- [Tonesa] H!
- Now get the fuck out my house!
You come back here
I'll fuckin' kill you.
You hear me?
Get the fuck out!
[tense music continues]
- No! Stop! [Tonesa screaming]
- what I told you?!
- Don't you ever, in your life, make a fool of me!
You hear me?!
[baby crying]
[Tonesa sobbing] [baby crying]
If you ever, in your mother fuckin' life,
make a fool of me like that again.
[H breathing hard]
Listen to me.
You're mine, Tonesa.
And this baby.
- Mm.
- It's okay, sh, sh.
-[Tonesa] H...
Sh, it's okay.
Come on, sh-sh, it's okay.
This baby, he mine now too.
Okay?
And we gonna be a family.
You understand me?
We gonna be a family and that's the way it's gonna be.
[dark tense music]
[baby quietly gurgling]
- [Tonesa] And just like that, H continued ruling me with his fists.
I felt trapped until Carla needed me to step up for her.
It made me realize I have more strength than I thought.
[tense music fades]
- [TV Commentator] We're down to the second round
that we can play in the national football league.
[door knocking]
- [TV Commentator] The Raiders didn't have much trouble.
[knocking continues]
[door opens]
- Carla?
What the?
[door shuts]
-[Carla] Is Harvey home?
- No, no he's not.
What the fuck happened to your face?
- Ralph was upset because I stayed out late with Lisa.
Said he wanted to teach me a lesson.
- Where's Lisa?
- In the car.
- He wanna mother fuckin' hit someone?
All right.
[drawer slides open]
Here.
- What the fuck you doin' with that?
- We about to teach him a lesson.
Let's fuck his ass up.
Let's go.
- I thought you was just gonna key his car
or throw a brick or something.
- Nah, we 'bout to fuck this nigga up.
[door slams] Shit.
[tense drumbeat music]
You ready to do this?
- Mm-hm.
[tense drumbeat music continues]
- All right, listen.
Y'all go open the front door and I'm gonna stay here
in the back just in case he try to run out.
- Okay.
- Look, really, are y'all sure
that we should be doing this?
I mean, do we really have to do this?
- Hell yeah. - Hell yeah.
- The fuck you see her fuckin' nose?
- I know I did see it, it ain't that bad.
- Bitch, take your fuckin' scary ass to the car.
- Cool, bitch.
- [Carla] Talk too much.
[Carla and Tonesa whispering]
- Y'all goin' to jail.
[tense drumbeat music continues]
[TV low volume talking] [tense drumbeat music]
[TV audience quietly laughing]
[door opens]
[door slams]
- [Ralph] You stupid bitch!
I knew your ass would be back.
- Yeah, I'm back.
[gunshots firing]
- Bitch, you crazy?
What the fuck is you doin'?
- That's the last time you put your hands
on me mother fucker!
- The fuck is you doin' bitch?
- Who's scared now bitch?
- You crazy ass bitch!
- Damn, be still!
[shot fires] [glass shatters]
[door opening]
- Ah, fuck!
[Lisa screams]
Please don't get in this car.
Shit!
- You okay?
- He's gettin' away.
Why you didn't pop his ass?
- What the fuck you screaming for?
- Bitch, at least get in the driver's seat.
- What the fuck you mean?
- He was trying to get in the car with me.
- Man, you need to make this bitch walk home.
- No, y'all ain't even catch his ass.
He's still running around like Tarzan and shit.
It's only one way out, so slow down.
- That mother fucker was fast.
- Slow down, this the only way out.
- [Lisa] But what if he had a gun?
- [Carla] He ain't got no gun, he ain't had no time, girl.
- [Lisa] Look, I'm just saying, y'all.
- Oh, there you are!
Damn! Be still! [gunshots firing]
Be still!
I'm gonna get yo ass!
Be still!
Where did you go, huh?
Where you think you goin'?
You rock, be still! [pistol firing]
- [Tonesa] Look at his little dumb ass.
Get 'em!
- Stop, stop, stop.
- Get your ass down the car before you fall, girl.
- [Carla] Get your little Milk Dud ass
back here, mother fucker!
Yeah, you better be scared!
- Yeah, keep running mother fucker.
- Keep running mother fucker?
- Yeah, 'cause he running
like we say he should be running.
- Get your scary ass back in the car.
-[Lisa] Just 'cause I don't wanna go to jail with y'all.
[Tonesa] I had a lot of damn nerve
Here I am takin' ass whippings again almost daily
but I'm coming to the rescue of my girl?
Hell, I can't even rescue my damn self.
But this gave me the courage to protect myself at all costs.
It was time to start standing up to Harvey's ass.
[car door shuts]
-[H] Wake up!
[door suddenly opens]
Tonesa?
Wake the fuck up.
[tense music] - What is it?
- Where is it, where's my gun?
Hmm?
My gun is gone
and you out here like it's the wild, wild west.
- I had to help my friend.
- What the hell are you thinking?
You helpin' your friend?
Somebody could've got hurt.
Somebody could've got killed.
And guess what?
Look, that's my mother fuckin' gun.
- We weren't gonna kill him, Harvey.
We just scared him.
- You scared him.
You know, scared him, this isn't no fuckin' haunted house.
- All right, well he's not dead.
- Do you know what it was like to scare somebody?
Have you ever been scared?
Hmm?
Have you ever felt like you could kill somebody?
Hmm?
You ever tried to take the life of somebody?
You need to know what it feels like to almost die.
Don't you ever touch my shit again, you understand?
Don't ever-
[Tonesa stabs H, screams] - [H] Ah!
[Tonesa screams] [intense music]
Oh!
[H breathing hard]
Fuck you, bitch.
[H wincing] Uh, oh.
- Don't you ever put your fuckin' hands on me again.
That's the last time you're goin' hitting on me.
[Tonesa] Harvey was more shocked than hurt.
But I had enough.
Thankfully, he didn't press charges.
[tense music fades]
[doorbell rings]
[door opening]
Hey, mama.
- Hey, hey baby.
- Hey, ma.
- Wha-what you doing here?
- I just got outta rehab.
I'm clean.
I left Harvey.
I'm ready to come back home.
Please.
- Tony, you know I can't do that.
I can't go against my husband.
- Baby, why is the door open?
Huh?
- Hey, Pop.
- What you doing here?
[tense music]
- Clean.
And I left Harvey.
I'm ready to be with the boys.
[tense music continues]
- Well you should have thought about that
before you left them here.
- Babe, look, she went out and she got herself help
and now she's ready to turn over a new leaf.
We can't turn her back out onto the streets.
[tense music continues]
- You look at here, Tonesa.
You done put a lot on us already.
You come back here, you gonna get your life straight.
We already got your boys.
Now your nephews Ricky and Dary, they on their way
over here to live with us now, too.
- [Marlon] Mommy.
- And no drugs in here.
You hear me?
- Yes sir.
[tense music continues]
Thanks, Pop.
- Tony, then you heard him.
This the last time.
Mom, I'm clean this time.
For real.
- You hungry?
- Yeah. - Get in here.
- Thanks, mom.
[birds chirping]
- Hey, Tonesa.
Tonesa, wait.
- Harvey, please.
- Come on now, Tonesa, don't do me like that.
- No.
- [H] After everything we've been through?
- Yeah, you know, and that's why I stayed as long as I did
because I believed in us and I loved you.
- Baby, hold on.
Wait a minute.
Look, Tonesa.
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Baby, wait!
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Wait, listen, look.
For the boys.
Take it.
Take it, how they doing?
Hmm?
How they doing? - I gotta go.
- Hey, come back.
I gotta go?
Stop it.
All right?
I miss you.
I love you.
I promise I'll never put my hands on you
like that ever again.
You understand me?
You don't deserve that, I promise.
Just come home, I promise things will be different.
- Goodbye, Harvey.
- Goodbye?
- Oh, bye, what you want me to buy, T?
I got it.
What you need?
I got you.
- Just put it on a table, please.
Thank you so much.
Can you just close the door, please?
[door closing]
Don't get tricked by all this foolishness.
You need to send all this mess back.
Oh, I can't do that, ma.
- You can and you will.
He's just trying to bribe you with all these gifts.
I knew something like this was gonna happen
so I called your father today.
- My father?
Why would you call my father?
He hasn't even been around.
- I know, but he does love you
and he cares about what happens to you.
- Okay, mama, you know what, I'm grown
so I'm gonna do what I'm wanna do.
And not you nor my father can do anything about that.
Now I'll handle our issues later,
but for now, would you just stay outta my business, please?
- Who the hell do you think you talking to, Tony?
You crazy?
- I'm far from crazy.
Now, I'm done with Harvey, okay, I'm done with him.
- You better be.
[doorbell rings]
[phone beeps off]
[door opens]
- Ya.
[H chuckling]
Sup, man?
Hey.
- Hey.
[H whispers] Kiss me.
Kiss me, babe.
[Tonesa smooches H]
- You don't know how happy I am
that we're a family again, you know?
Come on.
[gentle music]
- I don't know what it was about that man
but I just couldn't stay away.
Even after my family warned me not to backslide, I did.
Although the abuse continued most times life was good.
- Hah-ha, what up, Doe Meech?
- H, it's good.
- What up?
Good to see you, again.
- What up, doe?
- Thanks for stopping by.
Tonesa!
- How you doing, Tonesa?
I'm Meech.
[quirky ghoulish music]
- Y'all got any guns on you?
- Nah.
[quirky ghoulish music continues]
- They cool.
[quirky ghoulish music continues]
[quirky ghoulish hip hop music]
- [Tonesa] Harvey and I showed them the ropes.
They were young but good workers.
Harvey took a liking to Terry, like a mentor.
He trusted him and Terry became my confidant
for the next few years.
Oh yeah, I got pregnant again.
I finally gave H a son, Corey.
[quirky ghoulish hip hop music fades]
Ma, thanks so much for coming over to watch baby Corey.
I know you'd rather be at home.
- Yes, I do prefer being at home.
Listen, I don't feel safe in here
especially with all you got going on in this house.
Listen, this life you living this dangerous.
Tony, do you hear me talking to you?
- Ma, everything is fine.
- Look, I'm worried about you.
- Have you seen my keys?
- No.
Look, I know what's going on.
- Mom, what's going on?
- The guns, the drugs, and the murders.
- Murders?
Ma, I haven't murdered anybody.
- I didn't say that.
- Then what are you saying?
- But I know more than you think.
Look, you can start a new life.
Stop all of this before you wind up in jail or dead.
Just come home.
[keys jangling] - There they are.
You know what ma, I'll think about it, okay?
But right now, I've really gotta go to handle some things.
Thank you so much. - Tony, you can't keep
leaving this baby-
- Ma, I love you. - Look at this-
- I love you, ma.
Thank you.
My mom and stepdad tried so hard to save me
but I wasn't ready to be saved.
For the next three years, Meech and T expanded locally
with their own territory while me and H expanded
to multiple cities just like we planned.
[club music]
- Hey, Tonesa.
Would you pour me another drink?
Do the same for yourself, I'm feeling like making a toast.
[club music continues]
- Here, lemme get this for you.
- Thank you.
- No problem.
A woman should never have to pour her own drink.
- Yo, everybody rise up real quick.
[club music continues]
- Here it is to Texas.
Here's to Chicago.
East side to the west side.
More important,
D forever, baby.
- [Gang] D forever, baby.
[glasses clinking]
- D forever, baby.
[jet engines soaring]
- [Tonesa] You sure these guys are legit?
- Yeah, they legit baby, be cool.
We're here now, right?
I wouldn't bring you down here all the way to Texas
if there wasn't good, all right?
- All I'm saying is I have a bad feeling about this.
And why are they still sitting in there?
- Just relax.
Be right back.
[H whispers] Everything's okay.
Hey.
[tense music]
- How you?
- Good. [tense music continues]
I need something real good.
I can't wait no longer.
Can you make it happen?
All right.
- Oh, hell no.
Time to go, let's go.
[tense music continues]
[haunting tense music]
[tense music calms]
[eerie tense music]
[door opens suddenly]
- [Tonesa] If only Harvey had listened to me.
I told him not to go pick up that shipment that day.
I felt it in my gut.
Now he would have to do real prison time.
[tense music fades]
- Hey beautiful, you okay?
- I'm just...
[Tonesa sighing] I'm supposed to be marrying
the man of my dreams.
But instead, I'm in this small ass church marrying a man
who's about to go to jail because a lawyer told me to.
- Well you know you don't have to do this shit.
It's not too late to back out.
- I owe him.
- You don't owe him a damn thing.
No you don't.
- You don't get it.
I tell you what, if he was the one for you,
you wouldn't be sitting here looking all sad.
Look at you.
[soft piano music]
- I do.
- Well, the marriage idea worked.
I knew it wasn't right, but it also didn't feel right
leaving him in prison.
[Tonesa whispers] I do.
Harvey's attorneys were able to use his new position
as a married man to reduce his plea deal
down to seven years.
That left me in the streets to fend for myself.
[hip hop instrumental music]
With Harvey in jail, all of our connects were now burned.
And no longer under his thumb, I hooked a really big fish,
Gordon, the largest supplier on the east coast.
[hip hop instrumental music continues]
- Tonesa?
- Gordon.
- May I? - Of course.
Your name ringing out here in the D.
- Yours too.
However, nobody told me you as lovely as you are.
- Thank you.
You not too bad yourself.
I can tell how everyone is looking at you that they,
they trust you.
- They trust that I make their lives better.
That's all.
- Sometimes that's all you need.
[hip hop instrumental music continues]
- I had the opportunity to vet you.
You check out.
Shit, I like your style.
Like I said, I got that work
if you serious about doing business.
- Well I'm serious.
So how much you gonna start me?
- I start you all with 10 bricks.
Test you out.
Get rid of that, if you want more
that's another conversation.
- I look forward to that next conversation then.
- I go back to LA tomorrow, night.
[hip hop instrumental music continues]
I have 'em delivered to you in the morning.
You know what happens when you can fuck me, right?
[hip hop instrumental music]
- We'll be in touch.
- No question.
[hip hop instrumental music fading]
- Thank you for helping me get this new house straight.
I thought I loved what the interior designer did
until I didn't.
- Look, I'm just glad you called
and I was able to be of service.
- Yeah, me too.
[mobile phone ringing]
- Sorry, I gotta grab this.
- Yeah, no problem.
- Hey.
Everything okay?
I told you as soon as I get more money, I'll get it to you.
I can't talk about this right now.
When I get it, you'll get it.
I'll talk to you later.
[phone claps shut]
Moms.
You know how they can be.
- I do.
You know I've been meaning to ask you something.
What's up with you never having any money?
You selling a whole lot of coke to never have any money.
Explain.
- Well I got my moms, a baby, a baby mama
and I gotta make sure they're taken care of.
Plus we're under Harvey so ain't like we moving much weight.
Shit is slow.
- Well that's about to change.
I'm doing well running things
and I'm gonna help you get some work.
- What about Harvey?
He's in jail.
What, you wanna stick with him or you gonna stick with me
and make some real money?
- Oh, you already know I'm about that life.
- Good, 'cause I can't have anyone around me
not coming up while getting this work.
So here's what we gonna do.
- I'm listening.
[tapping baseline music]
- [Tonesa] I'm gonna have one of my connects front you
five bricks of product.
[tapping baseline music continues]
You got 90 days to flip it and get that money back.
- I could do that.
Anything else?
- You know I never play up by my money, Terry.
Your only focus has to be moving product, understand?
- Understood.
- You do this right
I can get you more and keep you rolling.
- Oh, I got it.
I'm gonna put in that work.
Okay, you will see.
- Yeah, we'll see.
Baby boy.
[tapping baseline music continues]
♪ Can't get enough of that feeling, baby ♪
♪ Can't get enough of that feeling baby ♪
♪ Can't get enough of that feeling, baby ♪
[tapping baseline music continues]
♪ All I need is a parade
♪ Some white girl will do me just right ♪
♪ All I need is one of those paydays ♪
♪ To make me have a real good life ♪
- Hey, I just finished feeding the kids.
Sit down, I've got some good news.
- First things first.
- [Tonesa] What's this?
- This is my take from the first and second drops.
- You got this with two drops?
That's crazy.
- Hell yeah it is.
It's all thanks to you.
You changed my life.
- Well you've been with me since day one.
It's the least I could do.
- So, what's on the menu for us today?
- What you in the mood for?
- I'm not gonna say out loud.
- What?
Stop playing.
- So what's this good news?
- Gordon.
He wants to up my keys from 10 to 20.
He wants me to move more, but I wanna keep it small for now.
- Hmm.
You know I like it when you take lead.
- What?
I'm sure you do.
Listen, now since I vouched for you,
we're really gonna have to up your game so you look the part
'cause these loud ass country clothes you be wearing,
they ain't gonna cut it.
- You tripping!
[snare drum tapping a beat]
- For the next few years, Terry leveled up in a big way.
I no longer looked at him as a boy.
He looked the part and he was making real money
and right by my side.
[hip hop drum beat music]
Thank you for helping me get these boys down tonight.
- No problem.
You know I love those little guys.
- And they love being around you, too.
[liquid pouring]
You've been spending a lot of time with them.
And with me, too.
- I told you I was gonna look out for you.
And, for the record,
I'd never hit you
and I'd never treat you like anything less than a queen.
- That's sweet.
But you know the deal.
H is still my husband.
- Yeah, only on paper.
I mean, that's what you said.
- Still.
- Tonesa?
Now that you put me on, you don't gotta do this anymore.
Look, just let me take care of you.
- Terry.
You are too young for me.
- I'm 25.
How is I too young?
And what, you've known me
for the past six years now?
- Yeah, and I'm nine years older.
[Terry muttering under his breath]
- C'mere.
Come here.
[slow jam music]
♪ You kept me up all nite
♪ Till the sunrise
- You sure you can handle all of this?
[slow jam music] ♪ We was way too intoxicated
- Hell yeah.
[slow jam music]
♪ Girl, it ain't even your birthday ♪
♪ But you like surprises
♪ Girl, it ain't even your birthday ♪
♪ But you like surprises
♪ 'Cause you been waiting on me to get home ♪
♪ See it different when you down there alone ♪
♪ Reminiscing girl, just pick up the phone ♪
♪ Reminiscing girl, just pick up the ♪
♪ Reminiscing girl, just pick up the phone ♪
♪ I hope you're ready
♪ 'Cause I'm trying to put it on you, babe ♪
♪ Baby, I'm just tryin' to set the mood for us two ♪
♪ Baby, I'm just tryin' to set a mood for us two ♪
♪ Girl, I'm knowin'
♪ We was just some kids at the playground ♪
♪ Look at us, what you got to say now ♪
♪ Only really wanted was to stay down ♪
♪ You know I'm 'bout ya I could never play 'round ♪
♪ We gettin' vibes just you and I yeah ♪
♪ I give you the business
♪ Hold on tight, don't be afraid of heights yeah ♪
♪ It's a man here in this bedroom ♪
♪ Ain't no telling what we can do ♪
♪ Honestly could mix with you
♪ It don't matter where you want to ♪
♪ You know I'd come through
♪ You kept me up all night till the sun rises ♪
♪ Sunrise, yeah
♪ We was way too intoxicated, using our vices ♪
♪ It ain't even your birthday
♪ But you like surprises
♪ Girl, it ain't even your birthday ♪
♪ But you like surprises
♪ 'Cause you been waiting on me to get home ♪
[slow jam music fades]
- You on the phone real reckless, man.
All right, man, lemme get a minute right quick man.
Lemme holler at little bro, all right?
What up, doe?
- What up?
[hands slapping]
- So you her husband now, huh?
- Go on now, Meech.
Not this again, bro.
- I'm just saying, man.
'Cause you spending an awful lot of time in her pad.
- I'm just there holding things down, you know,
helping her out with the kids.
- Yeah, well I ain't feeling it, man.
'Cause you ain't nowhere to be found
when it's time to handle our business.
'Cause you always running behind this funky ass bitch.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Funky ass bitch?
Watch your mouth big bro.
And ain't nobody running up behind Tonesa.
Let's not forget, she's the reason we got
as far as we got now.
She been doing this shit for years now, Meech.
Oh, so you forgot she vouched for me and risked her name?
She did that, Meech.
Not me, not you.
- Okay.
I give you that.
I just don't feel like she the right influence on you, man.
And I feel like you've been leaving me
out the loop, little bro.
- Ain't nobody leaving you out, Meech.
She helped me so I could come up and we could be solid.
And we solid now, right?
- Yeah.
- Alright then, stop tripping.
We're good and I'm good with Tonesa.
Let it be what it's gonna be.
[Meech sniffing]
- Whoa, whoa.
- Nigga, I can smell it on you.
- Smell what, nigga?
- That you in love.
[playful jam music]
Just don't get us no shit with H.
Thanks for the sandwich.
[hip hop music]
[door closing] [hip hop music fades]
[tense music]
- What up, doe?
- What up?
- I'm starting to worry about you.
Thinking that life on the farm is becoming too hard for you.
Been missing a lot of my calls.
- I'm good.
Maintaining.
However, I'm not on the farm anymore.
I got my own place.
- Oh really?
When you was gonna tell me?
- I'm telling you now.
I needed a fresh start.
- From the farm or from me?
- Both.
You've been in here six years, H.
I'm divorcing you.
And I'm about to take my own farm to a whole new level
with Terry.
[tense music]
- Wow.
They gonna take my crops, make a living and cut me out.
- Yeah well, your crops died once you got locked up
so I had to do what I had to do.
- Wow.
[tense music continues]
T took looking after the farm to heart, huh?
So you gonna leave me for the young and dumb
for some bitch ass mother fucker that's underneath me.
You know I'm not having that, T.
- Yeah, well there's nothing you can do, H.
That punk-ass mother fucker I bossed up
the same way you bossed me up.
But look, you'll be straight.
The house still there.
Everything is taken care of.
- And you?
- I need you to let me go.
[tense music continues]
My attorney will send you the paperwork.
I'll see you on the outside.
[tense music continues]
[door closes]
Harvey didn't take the news with ease.
Within a year, he was out and popping up
hoping to put fear in me.
[tense music transforms to spiraling downward tone]
[H whispers] - Shit.
[club music]
[club music continues]
- Goin' on?
- You good.
- Yo, what up, doe?
- Let 'em through.
H, baby.
I see they let your ass out, huh?
Hey yo, lemme get you a drink or something for your baby.
My man a drink.
Come on up man, quit being a stranger.
[club music continues]
- Y'all really doing it, man.
- That's it baby.
We balling.
We the biggest mother fucker doing this shit right now.
The earth is my turf, H.
Do you hear me?
Look around.
This southwest, forever.
- That's a hell of a C.
Y'all really living it out.
[club music continues]
- Harvey, my man.
Good to see you.
Tonesa set you up nice, right?
- Yeah, I'm good.
I'm real good.
[club music continues]
- Cool.
No hard feelings, my man.
- No Hard feelings, man, I'm glad it's you.
I'm glad it's you taking care of her.
Hey bro, southwest forever.
[club music continues]
- Southwest.
Forever. - Forever.
[glasses clinking]
[club music continues]
- You think he good?
- Seems good to me.
That's that nigga's problem.
Either way, I got you.
[club music continues]
[upbeat music]
See look, y'all tripping.
I'm trying to tell you if we come up
with a dope ass name for the label,
we gonna be larger than life.
- Yeah, branding is everything.
- Man, all I know is we trying to mob like the mafia.
Everybody move as one.
- All right, so go with that.
[Meech chuckles]
- Mafioso.
- Nah, hell no.
You Black nigga, not Italian.
Okay, so the Black mafia then.
- Mm.
[Terry whispers] I like that.
How about this?
Black Mafia Family?
- That's it.
That's it.
Mm. - Ye.
Man, get a toast, man.
- Yeah, that sounds good to me.
- Toast to BMF.
Black Mafia Family.
- Terry and Meech had decided to brand their new journey
into the music business and BMF was born.
So when are we gonna officially move out here
and stop going back and forth to the D?
- Real soon, baby.
Real soon.
- We?
- Terry and I love visiting LA
but I was ready to move out here permanently.
[upbeat music fades]
[jet engine soaring]
- [Airport Announcer] Flight 2-9-1 has now arrived.
[hip hop beat music]
- It was hard coming back to Detroit,
but I really missed my family.
Something didn't feel right.
I just couldn't put my finger on it.
[hip hop beat music continues]
[hip hop beat music fades]
- Hey, Tony girl, you here yet?
- Hey girl, yeah, I am.
But again, please don't tell anyone.
I just wanna go home, get my car, see my boys,
and then flying back out tomorrow.
- Oh girl, you can get a drink with me before you go.
- A drink, girl?
I don't think I have time for that.
- Come on, just one drink.
Damn, Tonesa.
- Lisa, I...
All right.
Just one drink.
But please don't tell anyone, all right?
- I got you.
Meet at the bar over on Plymouth at eight o'clock.
- All right, see you tonight.
- Okay, bye.
[mobile phone ringing]
[tense music]
- Yo.
- She's here.
She'll be at the bar at eight.
- Good looking out.
[tense music continues]
[dark tense music]
- Take it in.
Oh, okay. [dark tense music fades]
Aw, that's my baby.
You getting so big.
Oh fine, all right, Corey.
Go ahead and play with your toys.
I got you.
- So how long you here for this time?
- Just a few days.
Just wanted to come see the boys
and see if I can finally get Harvey
to sign these divorce papers.
He's still fighting me for custody.
[Ma sighs]
- Well what about your attorney?
Is there anything he can do to help?
- Unfortunately not.
Since I don't have full custody, I can't bring him to LA.
I miss my baby.
- Well don't worry.
I'm sure it'll all work out.
- Yeah?
Huh.
You and them boys, you need stability.
- I know, Pop.
And I want to thank y'all for looking out for them, truly.
I'm trying to get it together.
[Pop sighs]
[mobile finger dialing]
[relaxing chill music] [mobile ringing]
- Hey girl, where are you?
- Hey Lisa, I'm not gonna be able to make it tonight.
I'm sorry.
- Damn, are you sure?
- Yeah, I'm sure.
I had a full day with the family
and I'm just gonna call it.
But listen, I'll hit you up next time
I get back in town, okay?
- Okay, sounds good.
[relaxing chill music continues]
[relaxing chill music ends] [car engine running]
[tires thumping]
[soft tense music]
- As I'm riding around my city,
man, it felt good to be in the D.
I just, I can't shake that feeling that I needed
to get my ass back to LA, as soon as possible.
[car accelerating]
[bumpers clashing] [brakes skidding]
[ominous music]
[car door closes]
[ominous sustained tone]
[body thudding]
[tense musical tone]
[fist punching]
[hand slapping]
[tense musical tone continues]
[Tonesa wheezing]
[dark tense music]
- What happened?
- Before you blacked out, you told police
that Harvey tried to kill you.
[tense dark music ends suddenly]
- Daddy?
I'm okay.
I'm still here.
[tender music]
- What kind of monster would do this?
- I'm gonna fuckin' kill 'em.
[tender music continues]
- I want to see what he did.
- [Mom] Tonesa.
- Gimme, gimme a mirror.
[dark tense music]
[Tonesa wincing]
[compact clacks shut]
T, I need you to get me outta here.
[Terry whispers] - Okay.
- I need to get outta here.
- Okay.
- Tony. - Baby, you are no,
in no type of shape to be leaving this hospital.
- Daddy, I gotta, I can't stay here.
I gotta get out.
- I know I haven't been here,
but you know I love you, right?
- Yeah, I know.
- I just need you to listen to me just this time, okay?
- He didn't kill me this time.
- Just- - No, daddy,
you don't get it, he's gonna come back for me if I.
I gotta get outta here.
- What you gotta do is get out of this lifestyle.
Come on, baby.
- Ma, I'm in too deep.
- Baby girl, please. - No, no.
This is Corey's father.
He's gonna start a war over him.
- Oh, I'll get a mother fucker a war.
- If we could just get outta here.
We just need to get outta here.
- Tonesa. - [Dad] Baby girl-
- Back the fuck up!
[dark tense music]
[Tonesa speaking to herself]
- [Mom] No, no.
- I said back the fuck up!
Get the fuck away for me!
[dark tense music]
- Tonesa, just wait on Emerson.
He just went, he'll be right back.
Out to get a cup-
- Ma, you don't know Harvey like I do.
[tense music]
I gotta go.
[dark tense musical tone]
Promise me you'll get me the fuck outta here.
I never want to come back here again.
- Don't worry.
Got you.
Let's go.
[dark tense musical tone]
- [Ma] Oh my god.
What are you guys-?
Ugh. [Ma sighs]
- Dad?
[tense musical note]
I had to get the fuck out of there.
I left my kids with my mom
until we could get set up in LA permanently.
I was ready to go legit
while Terry handled the other business.
He wanted me completely out of that life.
- Izzy, you about to find out why I call Emily a shark.
[H laughs]
[slow groove music]
C'mon now, Em.
Put that pressure on Izzy.
Shit.
Things is changed, boy, I tell ya.
[slow groove music continues]
Shoulda shit deck 'er.
The fuck you doing here?
- I came here to talk to you about Tonesa, man to man.
[H chuckles]
- Tonesa, huh?
Ain't she the boss now?
She's big time.
Southwest, right?
Why the fuck she ain't here?
The fuck is this?
- Sign it.
[slow groove music continues]
- I ain't signing this shit.
- Look at here, nigga.
You either sign these divorce papers
or your ass gonna rot away in a prison cell.
You feel me?
Boss?
[slow groove music continues]
- Man, get the fuck outta here.
- Gladly.
- You got the drinks, babe?
[slow groove music continues]
- [H] Yeah, I got the drinks.
- The fuck was that about?
- It's nothing, man, just some old time shit.
Come on Em, bust his ass.
[hip hop instrumental music]
[hip hop instrumental music continues]
- I told you we'd blow up.
- I didn't doubt that for one second.
- I don't think you understand
what we got going on here.
- Oh, I do.
But I trust you got me, us.
So I'm gonna fall back.
- I can't wait.
Thank you, baby.
To us. [glasses clinking]
- To us.
You know what?
Thank you for believing in me.
I'm really excited about this car detailing company.
- Yeah, you deserve it
especially now that we got the cash
to get the business off the ground.
- Oh no, baby, I'm not using that cash.
I'm gonna go to the the bank
and I'm gonna get me a business loan.
Yeah, I'm going 100% legit on this one.
- Okay. - [Tonesa] Yeah.
- I see you. - [Tonesa] Yeah?
- And I'm proud of you.
- Thank you.
[hip hop instrumental music]
All set on my end.
- We lookin' good over here.
Lemme get this paper.
- [Tonesa] Yeah?
- [Terry] Here, we know what we doing.
- Hm?
[Terry and Tonesa talking faintly]
Everything been okay with you?
- [Terry] Yeah, everything been good.
How's it's looking in there?
- Yeah, we good.
- And we good to go?
- Yeah. - Let's bounce.
- You know what?
I think I left my phone.
I'm meet you at the car.
I'll meet you at the car.
[tense music]
[dark tense music]
[Tonesa whispering] This mother fucker.
[dark tense music continues]
[dark tense music calms, fades]
[car door closes]
- Hey, you found your phone?
- Yeah, I didn't go back for my phone.
I went to check on what my gut was telling me.
Your lieutenant was stealing from the stash.
- What?
Don't be ridiculous, Tonesa.
- I'm not.
I saw it with my own two eyes.
That's why I went back to check, look.
He would count some and then put some under the mattress.
And he had it hidden 'cause he planned to go back for it.
You need to call him, go ahead.
Call him. - Okay, fine.
I'll ask him.
In the meantime, take this cash.
Enjoy yourself and go shopping.
- Terry, do you hear what you're saying?
I just told you this man was stealing from you.
- All I'm saying is it's just hard for me to believe.
That man has been down for me for years
and he wouldn't do nothing like that.
- Oh, that nigga been down for you?
What about me?
You're unbelievable.
And you're not paying attention.
And you're not watching these dudes like you used to.
How can I trust you to handle this operation
if you stop doing the things I worked for?
- Tonesa, I've been handling it.
It just so happened to be here
with me outta town this week.
[tense musical tone]
See, this is why I told you to stay home
and just handle our legit businesses
because I got everything else under control.
- Really? - Yeah.
I told you.
- Oh, okay. - I got us.
[dark tense musical tone]
- So now you're not taking my advice?
And now you're not believing me?
After all we've been through, Terry?
- Trust me.
We good.
[dark tense musical tone fades]
- Yo, what up, doe?
Where the you been?
I've been doing this shit all day by myself
and I ain't got no fuckin' sleep.
- Man, quit whining man.
Over here in the other room arguing with your mother.
- For what?
We need to figure out how we gonna make this demand
so we can keep making this paper, T.
- Look, this shit is serious.
I told you before, your mother cannot know I'm coming back
and forth to Detroit.
And she for damn sure better not that know
that you putting that work in.
So you need to keep your mouth shut
and let me worry about who gonna come help us.
You hear me?
- I hear you, dog.
But you scared of my mother though.
For real.
[birds chirping]
- Hey. - Hey.
- So what you think?
How you like the house?
- I like it, I do.
I just, I don't like how we plan on taking over ownership.
- Yeah, I feel you, but this a prime location for us,
so I need you to make it do what it do.
[tense music]
- Hi.
I hear there's a problem with signing over the house?
[tense music continues]
- Okay, great.
Well then let's get the paperwork signed.
Oh and, right there.
[tense music continues]
All right, you have a blessed day.
[tense music continues]
[tense music fades]
[birds chirping]
- This is the one, baby.
- But see, we already have a house in LA
and Detroit, St. Louis, Texas, and now Atlanta.
I don't think we need this big house.
- It's really a win-win.
It's a good business deal.
Hear me out.
I got this guy named Doc who asked me for a loan.
- And how is that a good deal?
- If he loans us the money for the down payment
and we repay him with the drug money
and since you got the car detailing company,
ain't nobody about to be raising no eyebrows
at your company purchasing this house.
- And when he get caught, he gonna flip on us?
I'm not signing for it, Terry.
This is a $2.2 million house on Mulholland Drive.
This big shit to the feds.
You'd be under a microscope, no.
No.
Terry!
T, where you at?
[ominous musical tone]
Terry?
- Terry, it's no way that that's the only stack
that you got in your hand right now, bro.
Marlow, what are you,
Marlon, what are you doing?
What are you doing?
I need you to make sure he got the stacks right here
so that he can count it for LA.
[ominous musical tones continues]
[door opens]
Get 'em into stacks.
- Marlon?
Ricky, Dary?
The fuck is goin' on in here, Terry?
You got my son and my nephews involved in this shit?
- T. - Naw, no T, nothin'!
It's bad enough Kato already been involved in this.
My cousin.
But my boys?
No over here, shit! - Relax.
- Ain't nothin', relax nothin'!
The fuck!
[door slams]
- Yo, relax, man.
- The off me, Terry.
- Tonesa, chill out.
- No, I'm not gonna chill the fuck out.
That's my family in all that weight in there.
And my son?
You got my fuckin' sons dealin' this shit?
- Tonesa, I promise, everything will be okay.
We moving that shit from Mexico
but I got everything under control.
- Nah, you ain't got shit under control.
[tense musical tone]
This ain't right, Terry.
And you're gettin' fuckin' sloppy.
- Look, you might have put me on,
but I took the ball and ran with this mother fucker
so you could chill and relax and enjoy the good life.
We're making millions.
- All this money and power is changing you.
But this ain't my first rodeo.
I know when it's going too fast
and when it's going down the wrong road.
You're are moving weight with the Mexican cartel
and the BMF name is ringing loud in the streets.
We're getting too big.
- We're not.
I'm telling you, I got this and I got us.
- Naw, you ain't got us.
And I told you not to go to Detroit,
but you keep sneaking back and forth like I don't know.
And then you brought Marlon in this shit?
[tense musical tones continues]
Yeah, I'm going back to LA.
Fuck this.
The fuck off of me!
[door slams]
- Fuck it, then.
[tense hip hop music]
- Terry always had a way of getting what he wanted from me.
I signed for our new house,
but not long after, the feds moved in on us.
[tense hip hop music continues]
[mobile phone ringing]
- Hey, where are you?
I've been calling you.
- St. Louis, but I'll be back tomorrow.
I got a little something for you, too.
- Okay, well I'll see you tomorrow.
[faint audio click]
Wait,
[faint audio click]
do you hear that?
- Hear what?
- There's a clicking in the phone.
Terry, wherever you at right now,
you need to throw that phone out the window.
Do you hear me?
Terry?
- Tonesa, this paranoia has got to stop.
- I'm not playing, Terry.
Dump the phone.
You hate listening to me, but I know
what the fuck I'm talking about.
Dump that shit now.
- Okay.
Okay, I will.
- T.
- Look, I gotta go.
I'll see you tomorrow.
[faint audio click]
- [Tonesa Recording] Terry, wherever you at right now
you need to throw that phone out the window.
Do you hear me?
- [Terry Recording] Tonesa, this paranoia has-
[recording stops playing] [room silence]
[mobile phone ringing]
[tense music]
- Hello?
- [DEA Agent] Tonesa, this is Agent Samuels.
Come open the door? [door knocking]
- What?
Why?
[door slamming] [tense music continues]
Shit.
- [Jason] Ma!
Ma!
- [Tonesa] Jason!
- [Jason] Ma!
Ma, it's the police!
[tense music continues]
What's going on?
What is this?
Excuse me, what is going on?
- Is there anybody else in the house?
- My family.
- Go check both sides of the house.
- Check? No.
Excuse me, where's your warrant?
No, no, absolutely not!
- Excuse me.
Tonesa Welch, you're under arrest.
- Arrest for what?
I ain't do shit.
- You're being indicted by the state of Michigan
on drug distribution charges.
- Michigan?
We're in fuckin' California and I didn't do shit.
- Well you're getting indicted on drug distribution charges.
- Drugs?
I ain't selling no drugs.
- Oh, really?
You don't think we know you're the first lady of the BMFs?
- I ain't the first lady of shit.
You need to take these cuffs off me.
- Now you listen to me and you listen to me damn good
'cause we got yo ass.
You are the only female a part of their organization,
the only one signing for houses and cars and more,
and we heard you giving Terry advice on the wiretaps.
I mean, there are other women
but they're for playtime, if you know what I mean.
[faint radio conversation]
- [Ma] Get your pants off me.
- Ma.
Ma! - Tonesa?
Girl, you got kids in here.
- I'm sorry.
- You got kids in this house.
- Ma.
Ma, don't say anything.
Get your hands off her!
She ain't got nothing to do with this.
Why they takin' her?
[tense music] [soft radio comms]
[hollow musical tone]
[tense drum music] [hollow tone continues]
[garage door rolling]
- Police! Freeze!
- Leave that shit alone.
I hope you do better.
- [DEA Officer] Put it up!
Hands off it!
- Shit!
- Put your hands down!
Fuck is wrong wit you?
[tense musical tone continues]
- The fuck off me pig!
[cuffs zipping] [tense musical tone continues]
- Fuck off me!
[radio comms] [tense tone calms]
- I eventually got out on bail
since they couldn't prove that I touch any drugs,
but that was short-lived.
Terry, Meech, and five of my family members,
including my eldest son and two nephews were indicted
on trafficking and distribution charges.
I was indicted on money laundering
because I signed for the houses.
And as quickly as BMF rose, we also fell.
[hollow tense musical tone fades]
[Tonesa blows out]
I can't thank you enough for coming through for me, Carla.
- Shit.
You will forever be my girl.
- I know, but, putting up your house?
- That's actually stupidity.
- Yeah, but that's some real friendship shit right there.
[Carla chuckles]
- But you my girl.
- Just, after all shit that went down
with Lisa, I just,
it's been hard for me to trust anybody.
You doing this for me, it means everything.
- Tony, you know I got you.
It kills me how some chicks just want what you have
and will be willing to stab you in the back for it.
[tense music]
Let's get you home to your family.
[tense music continues]
- It took several years for the court
to have enough evidence and indictments
to finally make the case against BMF stick.
I took a 57 month plea deal.
The night before I had
to turn myself in I got totally trashed.
For the first time in my life, I realized
that glamorous life I've been chasing
wasn't really worth it.
[jail cell closes]
[tense music fades]
- Marlon and your nephews
and your cousin all had their sentences handed down.
- I'm so sorry, mom.
You tried to tell me.
They saw the life that I was living
and they wanted to live it, too.
This is all my fault.
- No, I should have done more to keep you out of this life
instead of pacifying you
and always being available to take the kids.
[tender music]
Somehow, I can only think this is,
this is all my fault.
- Oh, come on ma, don't say that.
You did the best you could.
[tender music continues]
I was just trying to protect everybody.
- Protecting them from their mother.
- You know, when you were a little girl,
I was always buying you expensive clothes
and little trinkets.
I spoiled you to keep you happy.
[tender music continues]
Maybe I was.
That was wrong.
Tonesa,
I shoulda done better by you.
I am so sorry.
- Ma. [somber music]
Mom.
[somber music fades]
[chair sliding]
Can you just please tell her that none of this is her fault?
Look, Pop, look, I know I've been a disappointment to y'all.
[tender music]
- Tonesa,
I may not have shown you much affection,
but I always made sure you were taken care of.
I wanted better for you.
I know you probably never heard me say this before,
as hard as it was at times,
I always loved you.
[tender music continues]
And I still do.
[tender music continues]
[soft dramatic music]
[soft dramatic music continues]
- I was literally on a rocky road.
It was in that moment that I realized I was exactly
where I was supposed to be, isolated
from everything and everyone.
I knew then that I had to change my life
for the sake of my children and my entire family.
How are you?
- Doing good, you know.
Making it through.
- And Marlon, you talk to him?
How's he doing?
- Yeah.
You know Marlon, he's cool.
Everybody else doing all right, mom.
Terry's doing all right too.
Did you get his letters that he sent to grandpa
that she's been repackaging them and sending them to you?
- Yeah, I'm not thinking about Terry.
He's the reason we're all behind bars.
I'll never forgive him for he did.
But you know what I am grateful for?
That you didn't follow in our footsteps.
You just being your own man and going down your own path.
- Thanks, mom.
Grandma and grandpa made me keep my nose in the books.
[Tonesa chuckles]
- I bet they did and I'm grateful for that.
Listen, I need you to do me a favor.
- Anything.
What's up?
[soft dramatic music]
- I just need you to stop coming to see me.
- What?
No, mom.
No.
- Corey, Corey-
- No, I'm not going to stop coming to see you.
I'll be here every chance I get.
You're not in this alone, okay?
You not.
[soft dramatic music continues]
[Tonesa sighs]
- Thank you.
After that, I did everything I could to be a model prisoner,
get out on time and do the rest of my bid without incident.
[jazzy soft music]
♪ Good
[water splashing]
[slow hip hop music]
I'm Tonesa.
I will be your mentor this first couple days.
How long you in for?
Listen, I've been here.
[soft hip hop music continues]
[soft hip hop music fades]
[door closes]
[electric door opening]
[soothing wondrous music]
Corey.
[soothing music]
Hi.
[soothing music fades]
Baby, thank you so much for these clothes.
- You know I couldn't let mama leave prison looking busted.
I had to let them know they couldn't break you.
- [Jason] What up, doe?
- Jason.
- I tried to surprise you.
- How are you?
- [Jason] I'm good.
- Oh, it's so good to see you.
- You look good, you look good.
- So do you.
- Actually, I got Marlon on the phone
if you wanna speak to him.
[gentle music]
- Marlon?
Hey, baby.
- Hey, ma.
Glad you out.
- I'm so happy to hear your voice.
[gentle music continues]
I couldn't wait to talk to you
to apologize to you.
- Apologize for what?
- For getting you mixed up in this business
when I'm supposed to be protecting you.
I know we got a long journey of healing
ahead of us, but
do you think you can forgive me?
- Nah, ma, I take full responsibility for what I did.
You ain't asked me to sell drugs, nor did you make me do it.
Like you, got caught up with the greed, the money.
We all make mistakes, right?
- Can you gimme another chance to be a mother again?
For real this time?
- It's all good, ma.
- All right, baby, keep your head up.
I love you.
- [Marlon] I love you, too.
[soft tense music]
- Let's get the fuck out of here.
[soft tense music continues]
[Marlon blows out]
[keyboard keys tapping]
[door opening]
- Hey.
- What's going on?
- Tony, I'm nervous.
I'm afraid I have some tough news to break to you.
- What, what is it?
No party for the employee of the month?
- I wish that was it. [soft tense music]
Unfortunately, there's no longer a job
for the employee of the month.
- I'm sorry, I don't, I don't understand.
- You lied on your job application.
[soft tense music continues]
- I didn't lie.
I just didn't offer certain information.
- Come on, let's not go through semantics.
You basically lied to us about your felony record.
- But do you see why?
- Meaning?
[soft tense music continues]
- Because of this.
I've been an excellent worker for the past seven months.
I've done everything to turn my life around.
I just...
You should just keep this between us?
- I'm sorry, Tony.
- What?
- It's not up to me.
It's the folks upstairs.
Girl, if it was up to me,
I wouldn't hesitate to keep you, but my hands are tied.
- Right, yeah, sure they are.
[soft tense music continues]
- Tony, everything you do in life has a consequence
and at some point, it comes back to bite you.
[soft tense music continues]
- Thanks, sis.
I had at least four jobs once I got out
and none of them worked.
So I changed up my strategy.
I got inspired to do some real good in the community.
I volunteered at a women's center,
went back into the prisons as an advocate
and started raising money to benefit children
of incarcerated parents.
- Hey, ladies, so as mentioned, my name is Tonesa
and I did three and a half years in federal prison.
So I have been in your position before
getting ready to transition out
from inside the prison to the outside.
I know you probably have a lot of questions,
a lot of anxiety.
Any fears coming up for any of you?
[soft hip hop music]
♪ Another reason to hate me
♪ When I wanna run, when I wanna hide ♪
♪ That's when I look for you
♪ 'Cause baby my mind, time after time ♪
- Years went by of life being totally different for me.
I headed back to Detroit to fill a void.
[soft hip hop music]
♪ I learned my lesson
♪ And through it all I realized ♪
♪ You I just can't lose
- Today, the Spirit of Detroit Award is presented
to Tonesa Welch in recognition of exceptional achievement,
outstanding leadership and dedication
to improving the lives of others.
After leaving prison, Tonesa Welch, a Detroit native,
turned her life around by working at a women's shelter,
helping abused women and the homeless.
She then started a non-profit, Silent Heart
to help put an end to the silent epidemic of abuse.
She faced discrimination in the workplace
as a former convict and joined forces
with Mayor Gil Garcetti of Los Angeles
as he signed the historic Fair Chance Initiative into law.
The law bans the box regarding criminal history
on job applications so that reformed prisoners have
a fair chance at making a living after they leave prison.
So, Tonesa truly embodies the spirit of Detroit.
And it is my honor to present the Spirit of Detroit Award
to Tonesa Welch.
[attendees clapping]
[soft hip hop music continues]
♪ You get me, so I know you got me ♪
♪ You are for me so I know can't nothing stop me ♪
♪ Oh, this all just a test of my faith ♪
♪ A brand new every day is a mercy, I'm here for it ♪
♪ Can't get enough love your grace ♪
♪ Let me say it again
[soft hip hop music fades]
- Hey. [soft piano music]
- Hey.
I heard you got out a couple of months ago.
I'm surprised to see you here.
- You know I couldn't miss out on seeing you.
How come you never wrote back all those years?
I know your mother was sending you my letters.
- I tried to warn you, Terry,
but you didn't wanna listen to me.
- I know, I know.
You were right.
But once you get a taste of the game,
you never lose that sensation.
So I let the money, the lifestyle, all of that take over
and I thought I was invincible.
- You know the feds let me hear those wiretaps right?
After all I did for you?
Why would you do me like that?
- Tonesa, baby, I'm so sorry.
- And the women? - I really am.
- All those women?
And the lies?
You know, I blamed you all those years
for being the cause for me and my family being behind bars.
But you know what?
That was really all on me
'cause I brought you into my world.
- There's enough blame to go around.
My head got big, my pockets got swole,
hey, I forgot the basics.
You told me that I was gonna
get you caught up, and then I did.
And for that, Tonesa, I'm sorry.
But you know, you know I still love you.
And always will.
If I don't do anything else, I'm going to make it up to you.
[soft piano music]
- I'm good.
[soft piano music continues]
[soft shimmering]
[soft piano, instrumental music]
[birds chirping]
[soft instrumental music fades]
It took me decades to finally walk away
from the game and the men attached to it.
It's Tonesa's time to shine.
And I felt good about it.
[soft piano music]
[soft vibe music]
[soft relaxing music]
[soft relaxing music continues]
[soft relaxing music fades]