(stirring music) (electricity hissing)
(somber minimal music)
(doctor knocking)
(door shutting)
- All I ask is tell me straight.
- Well, the knee is healing,
but this time the damage is worse than we anticipated.
- Okay, so longer rehab?
Another procedure, what you thinking?
- I'm gonna be honest with you, Joel.
The condition of your knee continues to deteriorate.
Look, this is your third incident.
Another injury, and you risk major issues
that are, well, irreversible.
(Candace quietly singing to herself)
(door opening)
- Hey. - I'm not in the mood
right now, babe.
- [Candace] What's wrong?
- Nothing, man, just not in a good mood.
- Of course, Joel.
- Look, I just got told
I can't play ball no more since I tore my knee
for the fucking third time, all right?
You good? - Look, I'm just asking you
to communicate.
And why you acting like this my fault?
- Candace, ain't nobody acting like.
Look, I'm just not in a good mood right now.
Can you please chill on me, damn.
- Whatever.
Whatever.
(Candace exhaling sharply)
(door opening)
Ooh.
- Hey. - Hey, girl.
(something banging)
- Deon.
- What?
- She was just wondering who the hell that was
keeping up all that noise.
- Hey.
- What's up?
All right.
- [Stephanie] Mm-hm.
You coming to pick me up later?
- Yeah, why wouldn't I?
I'll holler at y'all later.
- Mm.
So why is he driving your car?
- He wouldn't say.
But he don't never like driving my car
unless he trying to stay low-key.
- Mm. - Be glad you ain't got
them problems with your man.
- Yeah right.
- What's that supposed to mean?
- Girl.
I don't know, it's like Joel bald-head-ass
can't read the room, or something.
He got this blind optimism and,
I don't know, I hate to be the one to tell him the truth
'cause then it's just gonna look like
I'm not supporting him.
- This about him playing ball?
- Yes.
- So he cleared to play?
- No, like he pretty much told him that his career is over.
But he still don't get it.
He brushed me off yesterday,
everything, like wouldn't even talk about it.
What?
- I mean, it just seem like you got first-world problems.
- And what's that supposed to mean?
- Look, take Deon for example.
I'm spoiled, I get what I want, he treat me good, okay.
But like on the other side, we all know he in them streets.
And the streets don't bring nothing but police and females.
- And you cool with that?
- Bitch, I grew up in the project with four siblings.
He keep my bills paid, I ain't gotta spend my own money.
I'm good.
- Mm. - What?
Bitch, you can judge me all you want to
but at the end of the day,
you ain't got none of them problems with your man
and you still unhappy. - Okay, first of all,
I'm not unhappy.
I'm frustrated.
I mean, I can understand if he was still playing for the NBA
or something, but he out playing
in something dust-ass country where don't nobody
even speak English, mind you.
For money when he could be using his degree here,
working a real job, and have his ass home every night.
- Look, that's your house.
It is not mine.
But it sound like you need to tell him how you feel.
(metal rattling)
- What you gonna do, bro?
(metal rattling)
- Man, I don't even know, fam.
And to be honest, fool, I'm scared as hell.
I mean, about all I know, bro.
(metal rattling)
I don't know, it's just so unfair, fool.
Like, bro, I got drafted outta Lane.
Remember that shit like it was yesterday, bro.
Feeling like we done beat all the odds, man.
Then blow my damn knee.
Out the league before I was even in it, bro.
- I ain't no motivational speaker or nothing, bro.
Why don't you twist this into a positive?
- A positive?
Man, I mean, what the hell can be positive about this?
- Bro, EG say he gonna retire every year.
Why you don't see if you can get a spot on his staff?
- Coaching fam?
I ain't got the patience for coaching, bro.
- You don't know until you try.
If you can't play it, teach it.
I mean, you was a star at Lane, bro.
You'd be a shoe-in for that job.
Plus, you'll still be around the game.
Bro, if life hand you lemons, make lemonade.
(metal reverberating)
(food sizzling)
(door opening)
- [Automated Voice] Front door.
- Hey. - What's up?
- It'll be done in a minute.
- All right, cool.
- I'm gonna take a shower real quick.
- Okay. - All right.
(food sizzling continues)
Mm-mm-mm!
- Why you so extra?
I'm sorry about yesterday.
- Sorry about what?
- After your appointment,
I should've respected your space.
- Nah, I was being an asshole.
- I mean, look, you said it, not me.
- And you should've been a comedian.
Stopped by Lane today, hollered at coach.
- Okay.
- Of course he was mad 'cause I ain't stopped by
and seen him in a while since I got drafted, but.
He offered me a job to ride with him on the trail
to see if it was something I was into.
I told him I'd give it a try.
I mean, I figured if I can't play the game,
being around it is close enough.
Told him I'd see if it's something that I'm interested in.
What you think about it?
- I mean, you already know how I feel about that.
Like I much prefer you do something that has you home more.
But by all means, don't let me hinder you.
- But I mean, this ain't me playing ball overseas, babe.
I'm, I'm right here.
I'm here.
So you don't, you don't want me to do it?
- I.
I want you to do whatever makes you happy.
That's it.
(somber minimal music)
(rain splattering)
- Are you asleep? - Mm-hm.
- Seriously? - No, I'm not in the mood
right now, babe.
- Not in the mood?
(Candace sighing)
- Joel, I'm cramping, okay?
(somber minimal music) (rain splattering continues)
(thunder crashing)
(somber music turns foreboding)
- [Joel] Candace.
Candace.
I'm headed out.
- It's time to go?
- [Joel] Yep.
- Okay. - All right.
I love you. - Love you too.
(keys jangling)
- You scared or something?
I ain't gonna bite ya.
- Nope.
- Just didn't know anybody was here.
- She going to holler at her folks for a second.
They don't like me, so.
I'm chilling till she get back.
- [Candace] Mm.
So let me guess, you need her car again, huh?
- Nosey, ain't we?
- No.
Just attentive.
- So what your man gonna do?
Since he can't play ball no more?
Oh, just like you.
I pay attention.
(Candace scoffing)
- So what is it that you do anyway?
- What you mean?
- I mean, Stephanie seems
to be giving you all the tea about me but sis ain't never
gave me a straight answer about whatever it is that you do.
- I'm just a businessman.
- Yeah, right.
- If your man looking for work, tell him holler at me.
I got connects everywhere.
- No thank you.
(ball bouncing)
- Coach. - Ronald.
Long time no see, man, how's it been going?
- [Ronald] Good man, sometimes you can't choose the road
life takes you. - Yeah, you right about that.
Well, as you might know this right here is-
- [Ronald] This is, man, you kidding me?
Gotta get out there and show 'em how to play.
- [Joel] Ah, I would but these knees
won't let me no more.
- [Ronald] I understand, brother.
- So is this the guy you called me here to see?
- It's the one, he's a hell of a player.
Not a single D1 offer.
Yeah, I just,
I just don't wanna see the kid go to waste, ya know?
You've got a great history of getting these boys
to the next level.
- Yeah, no doubt about that.
I'll tell you what, let's go out here so I can meet him.
- Let's go. - All right.
- Jamari!
This here's Coach EG. - Jamari!
Coach EG, your coach here was just telling me about ya.
Yeah, so I see ya working on your game out there.
You looking good so far. - Thank you.
I'm just trying to improve my dribbling a little bit.
- Oh yeah, that's what it's all about.
That's how ya get better.
So what you think?
- [Joel] Pretty good player.
- No, I'm talking about this coaching and recruiting.
- I ain't gonna lie, Coach.
I'd much rather be playing.
But seeing that kid excited for an opportunity,
something felt right about it, you know?
- So what's your wife think?
You know, you spend a lot of time in that gym
and on the road.
- Yeah, I've been a baller since she met me though.
This ain't nothing new for her.
I got a good woman, Coach.
When the Hawks let me go, she encouraged me.
When I played ball overseas, she supported me.
I'm sure she'll be behind me on this one too.
- All right, well, that's what I like to hear,
'cause I only got a couple more years
left in me at the most.
My doctor told me that my health condition was getting worse
and it's messing with my stress levels.
So I'd rather pass the baton on to somebody
who loves this school.
Somebody who ain't gonna run when things get tough.
'Cause the boys deserve it, you know?
We get all the leftover recruits that nobody else wanted.
With half the budget of a D1 school.
So you gotta have skin in the game to coach here.
So who better you have to pass the baton on then to you?
- You got it?
- Yeah girl, I got it. - All right then, girl.
I'mma, I'mma see you in a couple of weeks, all right?
- Look, two weeks now. - All right, I gotta,
I gotta run, I gotta go get these nails done.
- And be on time. - I promise!
- Take it easy. - All right.
- Hello?
All right, I'll be out in a minute.
- Girl, I thought you had a four o'clock.
- No show.
Don't worry, I just text everybody and told them
they gotta run me half before they even book me.
- Girl, that was my last one,
so I'm fixing to get ready to head out.
- [Stephanie] I'm right behind you.
I'm just fixin' to run this trash out, (indistinct).
- Yo, where she at?
- She took the trash out back.
- Yeah.
(Candace scoffing)
- Stephanie!
- [Stephanie] Yeah.
- I'm gone.
- Okay.
You ready? - Mm.
Let's ride.
(mechanism whirring)
Damn, girl, what's up with your friend?
- Huh?
- Candace.
I be trying to speak to the broad, she act like
I asked for her number or some shit.
(Stephanie sighing)
- She got some other shit going on.
- Shit like what?
- Why, so you can go tell her about it?
- What? - Yeah, she told me
you was asking about her husband.
I do not tell you shit for you to go around gossiping.
- Man, you don't get the hell on with all that.
I don't, I ain't know it was a secret anyway.
- Whatever, man.
Don't worry about her husband.
She mad at his ass like always.
Now let's go, I'm hungry, shit.
- [TV Voice] The family was slaughtered
in their house, so no.
(door opening)
I'm just trying to make sense of it all.
I'm just hoping I didn't come here to another scene.
I'm sorry to bother you.
- No, you're fine. - Hey, babe.
- Hey.
- [TV Voice] We're all clear.
- Like I said, Joseph... Man,
that (indistinct) sucked.
- Okay, look, he popped... How was your day today?
- It was a day. - I woke up, I heard him
walking in, and I ran to the shower.
- Oh. - And that's where
he found me, because then he put a gun in my face.
- The cool thing about this job is I ain't gotta
take these long road trips like that often.
- [TV Voice 2] Killed him in my bathroom.
All right, Joe, Joseph sounds different.
And he looks like a zombie too.
- And he said most of our recruiting gonna be in state.
Within a four-hour drive.
- Exactly what we buried him... I mean, we pretty much
got all the players that get looked over.
- [TV Voice 2] Just too much.
My head is fucking throbbing right now.
- I do have a coaching conference
coming up next week in Florida.
Told him we had plans so I'll be back Thursday night.
- What? - That's good.
- [TV Voice 2] I just was missing Joe.
- I'm probably fixin' to go ahead and go to bed.
Forgot I had an early appointment in the morning.
- [TV Voice 2] I just wanted to see my husband.
And then this happened!
- Mm. - Okay, it was a stupid idea.
I wish I never did it but it worked,
and this happened.
You gotta listen to me, Joseph is back.
Okay, and he's not the same Joseph that left me.
If that man really had something to do with it,
Joseph is not done.
He's out for blood.
- Deon.
Deon.
Deon!
- [Deon] Oh, hey.
- Get up, I got an appointment at 10:30!
- [Deon] I'm good, babe, look, go ahead.
I don't need the car today.
- So you don't need the car?
- Mm-mm, I'm good.
If I gotta jump out, I'll call the partner or something.
Shit, I'll just drive my car.
- [Stephanie] All right, I'm gone.
(keys jangling)
(door shutting)
- Girl, I'm trying to tell you, they cloned Tyrone.
- Mm-hm. - Yep.
- I know they did. - Okay.
Look, you hear me?
That shit was good.
Go sit under the dryer for about 10 minutes for me.
(phone ringing)
Hello?
- How you doing, beautiful?
- Who is this?
- Who you think?
- How you get my number?
- Don't worry about all that.
I'm just checking to make sure Steph made it in.
- Why you didn't call her?
- Man, we got to arguing, or something.
She probably don't wanna talk to me right now.
- Okay, and you really think she'll be okay
with her man calling me?
(Deon chuckling)
- I don't know, try it and see.
- Look, I don't know what type of games you playing
and who you think you playing 'em with,
but you really need to leave me alone
before I do say something.
(crowd clamoring)
(commentators speaking softly)
- [Commentator] The Dragons have got the length of the court
to go down too, no more timeouts either side.
The game plan here, no surprise, he's going to
the best player on the court, Joel White.
His last game in a Dragon uniform.
Is he gonna end as a champion
or are they gonna come up short?
This crowd is electric right now,
as the ref blows the whistle.
Joel White inbounds to Kemp.
Kemp dribbling up the court.
He just trapped him.
Kemp to White, White takes it, passed half court,
passes it back to Kemp.
Kemp almost loses the handle.
Tosses it to White, White to Chism, Chism to Lake.
40 seconds on the clock.
Lake's on the post, takes a dribble, takes it out to Kemp.
Kemp drives the perimeter, kicks it out to White.
White pulls a three, no good rebound, Chism.
Chism kicks it to Kemp at the top of the key, 25 seconds.
Kemp dribbles around the defender, passes it back to Lake.
Lake looking for White, tosses it to Kemp, Kemp to Chism.
Chism loses the ball!
White dives for it, saves it!
Lake's got it, tosses it back to Kemp, 10 seconds.
Kemp dribbles, tries to shake a defender, five seconds.
Kemp driving it down the lane behind the back to White
in the corner, for the championship!
(buzzer sounding) (commentator yelling)
Dragons win!
(crowd whooping)
And who else but Joel White!
Man, oh man!
(crowd cheering fading) (Nolan chuckling)
- Hell no, bro.
- I ain't seen her since high school though, bro.
- Man, bro, I actually saw her at a game
after I got drafted, bro.
She's still fine too. - Bro.
You remember how bad she was and shit back in the day?
She lost like 50 pounds, bro.
I think she got that die slow.
- Damn, that bad? - That bad, bro.
- You remember that time she tried to cheat off your test?
Yeah, you told her you'd give all the answers
if she let you hunch three times.
- Yeah, I remember that.
I told her to wear some spandex to school.
Had me waiting in the stairwell the whole next day.
- [Joel] Man, good old days, bro.
Yeah, I wish I'd just hunched my baby mama.
Wouldn't had to deal with none of this shit
I'm dealing with her.
Hunching is underrated.
(Joel laughing)
Boy, you crazy.
- But, you holler at them folks?
- You talking about EG? - Yeah.
- Yeah, man, I did, bro.
I actually liked it, bro. - Yeah.
- He offered me a job and I took it.
- That's what's up. - Yup.
Matter of fact, actually got a coaching conference to go to
next week in Florida.
Me and this other coach they just hired.
- What you gonna do for Candace's birthday?
(Joel exhaling)
- I'll be back Thursday night, bro.
I don't really know, man.
I'll figure something out.
- How she acting now?
- Man, bro, her mouth saying one thing,
but I'm getting the total opposite,
you know what I'm saying?
- Why you say that? - Man, bro,
since I've been out the league,
bro, it's just been different.
I mean, I feel like when I played ball overseas,
I asked her to travel over there with me during the season.
She wasn't going for that.
But over here, bro, she traveled to damn near every game.
So I just feel like if I was still in the league, bro,
shit'd be different, man.
- Bro, you know I got to be real with you, right?
Like for real, for real.
They drafted your ass, sent you straight to the G League.
Gave you 10-day contract after 10-day contract,
and made your ass a journeyman.
Maybe getting hurt was the best thing
that could've happened to you, bro.
You got that big-ass settlement.
- No bro, they coulda kept that little money
10 times over, bro, if I coulda stayed in the league.
It's like I really never got a shot, bro.
I got waved, I blew my knee out.
Just feel like I'm cursed, bro.
- Bro, you been that dude your whole life.
Middle school, high school, college.
This the first time you done ran into something
you can't fix with your smile and a jump shot.
Bro, it's all in the mindset.
I'm just saying.
(metal bouncing)
- Hey, babe.
Nothing, at lunch.
Uh, with Candace, we came to Skillet Junction.
Uh-uh, nope, I do not have time.
Tell him I'm booked up for the rest of the day.
He can come to me in the morning
and I'm not giving you no price right now.
I need to see his head first.
All right.
(phone vibrating)
Girl, he always referring these nappy-headed-ass niggas
for me, thinking I'm supposed to twist them up
for a discount.
Girl.
He get on my goddamn nerve.
(keys clicking)
(device swooshing)
You all right?
- Yeah, I'm good, um, you know what?
You never really told me what Deon do.
- You know, it never really was any of your business.
- Oh okay, well, touche, bitch.
(Stephanie laughing)
Damn. - Nah, girl.
But Deon into real estate.
He buy houses, fix 'em up, rent 'em out.
You know, little shit like that.
But um, you know.
It's all just a cover.
- A cover?
I'm not judging.
Y'all just seem really odd together.
- Why is that?
- Well, you know you, you the type of person
to, you know, play it safe.
- Well, you know, opposites attract.
- So you don't worry?
At all?
- Girl, I'm not fixin' spend my time worrying and wondering.
Look, the one thing I know is you keep looking
for something, you eventually gonna find it.
Take your example for instance.
That man is providing for you, doing his best
trying to keep you happy.
You need to worry about the things you can control.
My peace of mind way too important.
(distant siren whirling)
- Perfect timing, Danielle, this is Joel.
Joel, Danielle.
- Nice to meet you.
- [Joel] Likewise.
- Now, Danielle is Kim's new assistant coach.
Now, you two will be keeping each other company
on this road trip to the conference.
- Okay. - Now, I got a card for y'all,
per diem, I just need to find a vehicle for y'all to drive.
I tell you what, follow me to my office.
We'll get it figured out.
(vehicle rumbling)
- Not much of a talker, huh?
- [Joel] Oh my bad, my bad.
- [Danielle] I'm just picking.
- So uh, you from here?
- I'm from Memphis.
- All right, that's what's up, the M Town.
- EG was telling me that you are a legend around here.
Lane College royalty.
- Oh, I don't know about all that.
I just did my thing.
I mean, plus, if I was a legend,
we wouldn't be riding this piece of shit.
(Danielle laughing)
(door opening)
(somber minimal music)
(somber minimal music continues)
(distant traffic rumbling)
(vehicle door opening)
- Man... What?
- Man, they reserved a double bedroom.
- Huh?
- I tried calling EG, but he ain't answering.
And so, hotel booked solid for the night.
So, I can't even get a extra room.
- Interesting.
- I'll tell you what, I'm just gonna help you
take your things up and I'm just gonna find
somewhere else to stay.
- Are you a perv?
- Huh?
- Are you a perv or a vampire?
- No. - Well, it's not that serious.
We could sleep in the same room.
- Man, if my wife knew I was sleeping in the same-
- What, you gonna tell her?
- Huh? - I'm just saying.
How else is she gonna find out?
You gonna say something?
(Joel chuckling)
I'm not laughing, I'm tired.
Gimme the key.
You can still take my things up though.
(vehicle door opening)
Now, as long as you don't snore
or fart in your sleep, we good.
- I'm glad you got a sense of humor.
- Good night. - Good night.
(foreboding minimal music)
- Joel.
Joel.
(foreboding minimal music continues)
(hand slapping)
Joel!
It's 6:30.
I've noticed something about you
these last couple of nights.
- Like what?
- You know you moan in your sleep?
- Huh?
- You moan softly in your sleep.
You've done it every night since we've been here.
- I apologize.
- No need, I wish I slept that good.
Now, are you sure you don't wanna come back to the room?
You can take a nap and we can just leave out early
in the morning, we do have the room for one more night.
- Nah, we gotta leave when we get done today.
My wife's birthday tomorrow and I wanna be there
when she wake up.
- Aw, that is so sweet.
(Joel grunting)
(blower whirring)
- [Stephanie] Hey, girl.
- Hey, hey.
- Morning, love.
- You know what?
I'm gonna have to give it to you.
You got some big balls, don't you?
- So I've heard.
- Look, I don't know what game you playing
or what you want, but it ain't nothing over here for you.
- Why I always gotta want something?
Just being cordial with you. - Cordial?
And what if I show Steph just how cordial you been?
- I'm curious why you haven't already.
(Candace scoffing)
All right, tell Steph I'm gone.
- It's cool if you choose not to.
(foreboding music)
(vehicle rumbling)
- Where we at?
- Somewhere in Alabama.
- Off the interstate?
- Yep.
Fastest route according to the app.
- Well, I gotta pee like for real, for real.
- Man, you would have to pee soon as we get
in the middle of nowhere.
- Didn't nobody tell you to take a shortcut
through the boonies.
What you got planned this weekend?
- Uh, I booked a flight to Atlanta.
She like live music and poetry, so figured I'd take her out
to eat, do a little shopping,
and hit a couple venues over the weekend.
- Okay.
Take care of your wife, Black man, I see you.
- That billboard says a gas station about five miles out,
so you just might be in luck.
(vehicle approaching)
(phone vibrating)
- Yeah.
- Hey, I don't mean to bother you,
but I don't know who else to call.
- Um, what's going on?
(vehicle door closing)
(phone ringing)
- Candace?
- Hello, who is this?
- My name is Danielle, I'm an assistant coach at Lane.
I rode to the conference with Joel this week.
- Okay, and.
Why, why do you have his phone?
- Well, we were on our way home and there was an incident.
He was arrested.
- Arrested, what, what do you mean arrested?
- Look, he asked me to keep his phone.
I only answered it because I'm just trying to help,
and I did not want you to freak out.
But I'm sure when he get a phone call,
you'll be the first one he calls.
(Candace scoffing)
- Sure, I bet.
You know what?
Thank you, appreciate that.
(distant traffic rumbling)
- Why did you answer?
(somber pensive music)
(phone vibrating)
- Hello?
I accept.
- [Joel] Hello?
Hello? - I'm here.
- [Joel] This is not how I wanted
to wish you happy birthday, but happy birthday.
- Why are you in jail, Joel?
- [Joel] I stopped at a gas station.
Somebody had just robbed it right before I got there.
The police pulled up, took me out the car,
put me in handcuffs, brought me in, thought I'd done it.
- You or we?
- [Joel] Huh? - Huh?
So you still gonna beat around the bush at the fact
that you've been in Florida for a week with a female?
- She's a coach, Candace. - That's not the point, Joel.
You never said anything about being in Florida
for a week with a bitch.
And what's getting me is,
I probably wouldn't have even known about this
if this wouldn't have happened.
So my question is, have you really been at a conference
this whole time, or doing God knows what with that bitch?
- [Joel] Candace, for real?
I'm not cheating on you.
Go to Lane, talk to EG. - I'm not-
- [Joel] See for yourself, but I really don't
need this right now.
- You, you don't?
Okay.
- [Joel] Look, I've never been to jail.
This whole situation is bothering me like for real.
I would really love to know the walls
aren't crashing all around me right now.
- Joel, I don't know what you want me to say.
And honestly, I don't even know what to believe right now.
And for once again, I'm about to spend my birthday alone.
I don't know, man, what you, what you want me to do?
- [Joel] I gotta go.
I'll call you when I get another phone call.
(phone beeping)
- [TV Voice 2] Hey, I'm on the way in.
Josh's mother arrived a little late,
and I had to run and grab Allison.
(somber pensive music)
Can I call you back?
(somber pensive music continues)
(lighter bouncing)
(somber pensive music continues)
(glass sliding)
(somber pensive music continues)
(glass setting)
(somber pensive music continues)
(glass banging)
(door knocking)
(crickets warbling)
- [Deon] Happy birthday.
- You've got some fucking nerve.
- Hold up, wait, wait, wait.
- Move! - Look, I just wanna
holler at you for a second, all right?
- [Candace] I'm not opening this door for you.
- Look, if you want me to leave, I'll go.
- And what you want?
- Why you in there drinking your problem away, and shit,
you could be out here having fun on your birthday.
- And let me guess.
With you? - Yep, with me.
- Boy. - Look, no funny shit,
all right?
I just wanna show you a good time.
You shouldn't have to be in the house on your birthday.
- You really think I'm that low down
to go out with my best friend's man?
- Best friend, huh?
Maybe to you.
But to Steph, you an acquaintance.
You know what?
Let me ask you something, Candace.
When the last time you been invited over to our crib?
Huh?
We have get-togethers all the time,
and I ain't never seen you.
Like I thought.
Look, y'all gonna be business partners
when it's all said and done, all right.
And you know what, those are her words, not mine.
- Are you done?
- So, your man in jail, huh?
Suppose to be on a business trip.
With a female coworker, right?
You gonna believe that shit?
The way sexual harassment cases pop off nowadays.
You think they gonna take that risk?
You don't look like boo-boo-the-fool to me, baby.
Have a good birthday.
- Wait.
(crickets warbling continues)
What you got in mind?
- You know.
Little spot over in the 'Sip.
Just right over the state line.
Live music, dancing.
You know, grown folk shit.
And if you wondering if anybody gonna know you there,
nobody you know gonna be there.
So, it'd be cool.
- I'm only going because you offered.
And because I'm tired of being in this house all day.
- I bet.
- [Candace] But it's nothing more than that, okay?
- I hear you.
- I need to hear you say you understand?
- I hear you.
I understand.
(distant dogs barking)
(door shutting)
(no audio)
Got a nice house.
It's big for real, for real.
(no audio)
- You ready?
(stirring R&B music)
♪ It feel so good ♪
♪ Girl, (indistinct) anything else in this world ♪
♪ Girl, nothing (indistinct) ♪
♪ Girl, there will be (indistinct) ♪
♪ Definitely, girl, I'm in love ♪
♪ Good in the morning ♪
♪ Good in the night ♪
♪ Good when it's wrong ♪
♪ Good when it's right ♪
- Ah.
So this is it.
This is the spot I was talking about.
Nice, cool, little spot.
They got live music.
Drinks.
People, you know, come here to have fun.
Dance, we'll get to it.
- Thanks. - Yeah.
- Hey, Deon.
- What's up, my girl? - I see you're not
by yourself for once.
- Nah, not tonight.
- Mm-hm, can I get y'all something?
- So what you having, birthday girl?
- I don't know, I don't know, what's,
what's good here?
- We have all the common mixed drinks.
We have beer, we have wine.
Are you a shot person or a mixed drink person?
- I'll tell you what.
How 'bout this, just get her sex on the beach.
And I'll have my usual.
- Mm-kay, I got you.
(Deon snickering)
- What?
- Sex on the beach, huh?
- So what you think?
- I mean, I think it's nice.
I wouldn't have exactly taken you for the type of person
to be in a place like this.
But, it's cool.
- Yeah.
♪ Don't think it's wrong ♪
- But for real, what type of person
you take me out to be?
♪ Forever with you ♪
♪ And ever (indistinct) ♪
♪ So good ♪
- And the usual.
- Appreciate you.
♪ Girl, (indistinct) ♪
- What, what's that look?
- You a drug dealer?
- What you mean?
- Nigga, do you sell dope?
(Deon chuckling)
- Funny.
- Well?
(Deon clearing throat)
- Well, like I told you before,
I'm a businessman.
All right?
I got six bnb properties.
So that's all I do.
- Mm, I guess.
Must be one tough business
being as you, you know, need your girl car and all.
(Deon scoffing) (R&B music continues)
- Look.
I just handle business how I see fit.
If I want it, I go get it.
♪ I'm trying to walk away from you ♪
♪ But something just turns me around ♪
♪ I found myself ♪
- Come dance with me.
- Dance? - Yeah.
Dance.
- Like dance, dance? - Yes.
- Um... Tonight, I want you
to have fun, okay?
I want you to forget any preconception
you have for me.
- So, I want you to come dance with me.
♪ Like I been put under a spell ♪
- [Deon] Come on.
♪ 'Cause I can't go nowhere, girl, you got me bound ♪
♪ Can't shake loose ♪
♪ Try to leave ♪
♪ But my feet won't move ♪
♪ Ooh you ooh ♪
♪ It must be voodoo ♪
♪ Girl, you got me bound ♪
♪ Can't shake loose ♪
♪ Try to leave ♪
♪ But my feet won't move ♪
♪ Voodoo ooh ♪
♪ It must be voodoo ♪
♪ Must've slipped me your potion ♪
♪ Lately, I've been acting strange ♪
♪ It's like I'm just your puppet ♪
♪ And you keep on pulling my strings ♪
♪ You got me out of my body ♪
♪ You snatched my soul ♪
♪ I played the game ♪
♪ You in control ♪
(door creaking)
(Deon chuckling)
- You good?
Damn, you almost broke your ankle (laughs).
Drunk or something? - No.
I just slipped. - Mm.
(Candace sighing)
- So what you think?
- It's, it's nice.
- Yeah, it's one of my older houses.
Didn't look nothing like this when I bought it.
Gotta see past the rough edges to see
the bigger picture, ya know?
(Deon scoffing)
It's one of my favorite ones though.
- So.
How does this work?
- What, bnb?
Well, it's a short term lease.
You know, most people rather stay in a house than a hotel.
Like that home feel, ya know?
Tell ya one thing, my return on investment
way better than leasing it.
For real.
This right here is my newest one though.
I ain't got it listed yet.
- Why not?
- I don't know.
You know, I'm thinking about keeping it for myself.
Have a little vacation spot.
- Yeah, right.
You know you just want a spot so you can bring
your little hood-rats to.
- Oh, here we go.
You still got me fucked up, I see.
(Candace scoffing)
What you think?
- I like it.
It's nice.
What are you doing?
Take me home.
(somber pensive music)
- Hey. - Take.
- What's?
So you gonna shoot me? - If you don't let me go.
- Look, just stop, stop.
Stop.
I ain't gonna hurt you.
All right?
I ain't gonna hurt you.
(somber pensive music continues)
- Oh my God.
- What you doing?
- [Candace] This ain't right.
This ain't right, Deon.
Fuck.
Shit.
Look, I need you,
take me home.
- Calm down, you just... Take me home!
- Just tripping, just chill out.
- [Candace] Are you fucking, oh my God.
Take me home now.
- Fuck.
(foreboding music)
Damn.
(door opening)
(keys jangling) (foreboding music continues)
(water spraying)
(Candace moaning)
(foreboding music turning delicate)
(Candace moaning)
(water spraying continues)
(doorbell ringing)
(birds chirping)
(plastic rustling)
(delicate foreboding music continues)
(phone ringing)
(delicate foreboding music continues)
(upbeat chill music)
- [Stephanie] Hello?
Yeah.
Oh, girl, nothing, on the way from (indistinct).
We fixin' to go home now.
♪ Maybe after a while, I could speed it up ♪
- [Stephanie] Okay.
♪ And baby won't you tell me ♪
- Hold on.
Kiara wanted to know if we are gonna make it
to DJ's surprise birthday gathering tomorrow?
- All right, that's cool.
- Yeah, we gonna be there.
Okay.
Just let me know if you need anything.
All right, girl, bye.
You okay?
- Yeah.
- You been mighty quiet today.
You sure?
- Yeah.
Damn sure.
♪ I got the feeling ♪
♪ That you won't resist ♪
(phone dinging)
♪ And, babe, remember patience ♪
♪ Ain't in my name ♪
♪ This thing part of my game ♪
♪ Used to could pull any broad ♪
- I need to, I'm, I'm gonna drop you off, all right?
Gotta head back out, gotta take care of something.
- Something like what?
- There's an issue over there at one of the spots.
What's wrong with you?
- Fuck you mean?
You been gone all night, Deon.
Then you come back and you acting funny as hell today.
Then you fixin' to drop me off and be gone again?
- Damn. - You know what?
Fuck you, take me home.
Do what you do best. Weak ass.
♪ I'll follow your lead ♪
♪ If we're gonna be ♪
♪ I'm wanting to leave ♪
♪ It's all on you ♪
(door creaking)
- Candace?
(door shutting)
Yo, Candace.
Candace.
- I let myself in.
Hope you don't mind.
- Hell nah.
(stirring piano music)
Don't mind at all.
(stirring piano music continues)
(door opening)
(door shutting)
(stirring piano music continues)
(plastic rustling)
- Candace.
Candace.
It's three o'clock.
You still asleep?
- There ain't nothing else to do.
How you get here?
- EG.
Went to school with a dude who knew the judge down there.
So he came and got me.
- Mm.
- But look, first thing I wanted to do
was look in your eyes and tell you that nothing happened
between me and Danielle on this trip.
- Danielle?
- Yeah, the coach that took the trip with me.
- Mm.
- I mean maybe I should've told you
a female coach was traveling with me,
but I didn't want you tripping out.
I didn't want no static over something that was a non-issue.
So, should've been straight up about it.
I apologize. - It's cool, Joel.
Like for real, don't even worry about it.
It's cool.
- Nah.
'Cause I called you several times yesterday
and you didn't answer the phone.
- Look, I was hung over all day yesterday
from drinking everything we had in this house Friday.
But I'm good, I promise.
- All right.
- I got to go to the bathroom.
- Hey.
I'm sorry about your birthday.
I'm gonna make it up to you.
- Don't even worry about it.
I'm good.
(door shutting) (dogs barking)
- Shit crazy, fool.
- Mm, man, bro, thank God EG knew somebody down there, fool,
'cause them folks was not hearing it from my mouth, bro.
(distant dogs barking)
- So you ain't gotta go back at all?
I mean, I gotta go back for a court appearance,
but hell, the way they make it seem,
it just standard operation.
So I should have nothing to worry about.
- You ain't acting like it.
- Acting like what?
- Like it ain't nothing to worry about.
- No, no, it ain't that, bro, it's Candace, bro.
I've been with that girl
long enough to know when it's up there.
I'm telling you, man, like I literally prepared myself
the whole trip back home, bro, for a fighting argument
that never happened, bro.
I mean Candace say one thing,
but her eyes tell the whole story, fam.
Literally, no matter she mad, sad, whatever.
As long as I look her in her eyes, I know what it is, bro.
And to be honest with you, bro,
this shit slick is really fucking with me, bro,
for real, for real.
- Nigga, I guarantee she feel the same way
you do about this shit.
No bullshit, but I bet she just holding that in
to y'all on good terms.
She gonna hit you with that.
You remember when you went to jail that time?
They don't never forget nothing, bro.
She using that as ammo later.
You can believe that.
(glass clinking) (door opening)
(Candace chuckling)
(Candace giggling)
- [Joel] You good?
- Say what?
- [Joel] Seem like you having
a real good little conversation over here.
- Mm, I'm just tripping off Steph and her bullshit.
- Mm-hm.
Okay.
- You back already?
- [Joel] Uh, I mean, obviously.
(Candace scoffing)
- Well, I'm fixin' to go to bed.
You coming?
- Yeah, I'll be there in a minute.
(somber unsettling music)
(ball dribbling)
(ball dribbling continues)
- Mm, mm.
Hey, stranger.
- [Joel] What's up?
What happened to you going to Nashville?
- [Danielle] Oh, we don't leave that till tomorrow.
- Oh, shit, that's right.
Tomorrow is Friday, I'm tripping.
- But hey, I never got a chance to apologize to you
about last week.
- Apologize for what?
- You know for what?
Look, I was freaking out after all of that stuff
had happened, I saw her calling, I was just trying to help.
I didn't mean to cause any issues.
- It's cool, so you don't need to trip about it,
it's all good.
- Oh, I feel a little better now.
- [Joel] Yeah, come over here and get this work.
- [Danielle] Boy, I ain't getting sweaty.
- [Joel] Oh man.
- [Danielle] Okay.
I'll talk to you later.
- [Joel] All right then.
(ball dribbling continues)
(metal reverberating)
- [Stephanie] Ooh girl, I am so sorry.
- Girl, it's okay, you all right?
But you gonna gimme a discount though, right?
- Don't push it.
- Whatever, Steph.
(door squeaking)
Child, if I would've knew Candace wasn't here,
I would've made Rashan wait.
- [Steph] Girl, Candace ain't been here all week.
- What?
- Called off for her birthday last weekend.
Then showed up for a little while on Tuesday.
And ain't nobody seen her since.
- Mm.
- What?
- Huh?
- What was that about?
- What was what about?
- Everybody know when you start doing that mm stuff,
you been messy.
- Girl, you know I play all day.
Wasn't nothing, Steph, come on.
- Girl, I will cancel this damn appointment right now.
- Look, it's nothing but a little assumption
from what I heard Deon and Rashawn talking about
the other day.
You know I stay being nose.
- Like what?
- Like I said, I'm not sure, but.
Look, you can't say nothing about this.
You know I gotta live with this, nigga.
(keys jangling)
(door squeaking)
- Hey, what's up?
- Hey.
- You going somewhere?
- Didn't I tell ya I was going over Mama's house
this weekend? - No, I'm sure you didn't.
- Mm.
Guess I forgot to hit send.
- Mm.
- But anyway, it's kind of
a spur-of-the-moment type thing, so I won't be long.
You don't mind, do you?
- No, I don't mind.
- Do you mind taking me over there?
- Oh yeah, for sure, I'll take you.
Let me hop in the shower real quick.
- Okay.
(unsettling minimal music)
(unsettling minimal music continues)
- [Mother] So what happened to you
coming to spend time with me today?
- Huh?
Oh, so.
Remember I told you my girls was,
you know, linking up later on to get drinks,
and you know me, I gotta pull up.
- Mm.
- So I told them I'd hang out with them tonight.
- Uh-huh. - But I'll be back.
- [Mother] Mm.
- I'll be back.
What?
- Candace, you're grown.
I just hope you know what you're doing.
- Mom.
- Baby, I wasn't born yesterday.
Whoever you were talking to, I saw it.
Got you glowing, and cheesing, and smiling.
Baby, I hope you do a better job at hiding this from Joel.
So who is it?
- It's.
It's nothing serious, okay?
- Then why are you doing it?
- I don't know, I'm just.
It just happened.
- It just happened?
- Yeah, it just
happened. - Mm.
- When daddy was alive,
I don't know, did you ever find yourself just bored?
Like you just need to do something to feel alive?
I need to feel alive again. - That's what this is about?
You're bored?
- Oh my God, you.
I don't know.
All I know is I'm going through a lot right now.
Y'all don't get it.
- Baby.
I do get it, I really, really do.
But I hope you know what you're doing.
And I hope you figure it out before it's too late.
- [J-Lake] Soul Link.
♪ I know you got a man at the crib ♪
♪ But I like it when you show me what it is ♪
♪ Calling my phone, telling me you on the way ♪
♪ Let's get it in 'cause I know that you can't stay ♪
♪ Got the kind of love you can't let go ♪
♪ Got me begging for you, girl, and I want some more ♪
♪ She's my part-time lover and I know it, girl ♪
♪ I gotta let you know, you rock my world ♪
♪ Your loving so good, yes, it is ♪
♪ I just can't get enough ♪
♪ Every time we get done, baby ♪
♪ You walk out the door ♪
♪ But I know again ♪
(muffled yearning music continues)
- I'm glad I hit you up while I was on this side of town.
What's up with you?
- Ain't nothing, bro, just chilling, man.
- Y'all didn't get into it again, did you?
- Man, hell no, bro, I took her to her mama house
in Grand Junction, bro.
Got the weekend of myself.
- Oh okay, well, let's hit the club or something.
- You know I don't do clubs.
- You're right, forgot you was the lamest nigga in America.
(phone vibrating)
You're right.
What she hitting me up for?
Hello? - Hey.
- Are you asleep?
- Nah, just chilling, what's up?
- You with Joel?
Y'all, y'all tight, right?
- Of course, I'm over here right now.
- Okay, so.
I work at this club, right?
And there's something that I
most definitely need to tell you.
- Oh for real?
Uh, yeah.
Yeah, send it to me.
- Who was that, man?
- Uh, just a little female I used to talk to.
Oh my damn.
- What?
Bruh?
It's Candace, bruh.
- What about Candace?
When was this?
- Right now, bro.
- Where, bro?
- I don't know, bro.
She fixin' to send the add.
(Joel groaning)
Bro, it's a spot called The Lust Lounge, in Mississippi.
Man, I don't even know what to say right now, bro.
I'm fucking speechless.
- Man, look, I love you, you fam, you my nigga,
and all, but you, you gotta go, bro.
I need some time to be alone, bro.
- Bro, you gonna be good?
It's a dumb-ass question but I ain't trying to leave you
if you gonna do something stupid.
- Nah bro, you, you just need to leave, bro.
I just need to be alone.
- Man, say less, fam.
I'm gonna holler back at you, bro.
(foreboding music)
(foreboding music turning aggressive)
(aggressive foreboding music continues)
(smooth R&B music)
♪ I know I gave you trouble in the past ♪
♪ But I'm not the same man I used to be ♪
♪ I had to make a change in my life ♪
♪ I had to make things right ♪
♪ I know I broke you, damn near destroyed you ♪
♪ Made you cry all night long ♪
♪ Doing all I can just to make things better ♪
- All right, can I get you guys anything else?
- Sure?
- No, I think we good, Maria. - Okay.
- We're gonna call it a night soon.
How 'bout that?
Here ya go, you put that on there.
- I got ya upright, man.
- All right.
♪ But you think I'm running in the street ♪
♪ You still think I'm in the street ♪
♪ When I'm trying do right ♪
♪ When I try to do right ♪
♪ Always come back on me ♪
♪ Always come back on me, girl ♪
♪ I'm trying to be a better man ♪
♪ Doing the best I can ♪
♪ But you think I'm running in the street ♪
♪ Think I'm running in the street ♪
♪ Every time we go to bed ♪
♪ Lay down to sleep ♪
- Thank you so much, y'all have a good night, okay?
- All right, appreciate it.
♪ Every time I try to have a good conversation ♪
♪ You always find a way to disagree ♪
♪ No matter if I come right home from a long day of work ♪
♪ You find a way to gimme funny faces ♪
♪ I don't know what to do ♪
♪ To get through to you ♪
♪ This thing is getting a little crazy ♪
♪ When I'm trying to do right ♪
♪ Oh yeah, always come back on me ♪
♪ Always on me, girl, I'm trying to be a better man ♪
♪ No matter what I do right ♪
♪ But you think I'm running in the street ♪
♪ I done left the streets, yeah ♪
♪ When I try to do right ♪
♪ Do right ♪
♪ It always ♪
(vehicle door opening)
(door closing)
(engine starting)
(stirring tense music)
(stirring tense music continues)
(mildly tense music)
(tense music turning foreboding)
(door opening)
(door shutting)
(foreboding tense music continues)
- Who the fuck is that? - I don't know.
(foreboding music turning ominous)
- Steph.
- I fucking knew it.
- [Candace] Stephanie.
Stephanie, look, I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry. - Baby.
- No, all this time, bitch.
- Stephanie, this wasn't-
- Shh. - Stephanie, look I promise,
no this, this was a one-time thing.
- Bitch!
(weapon firing)
(ominous music continues)
- Baby.
Steph, get up.
Get up, get up.
Candace.
(weapon firing) (Candace yelping)
(Candace sobbing)
- Oh.
Deon.
Oh.
Oh my god.
(Candace sobbing continues)
(foreboding music continues)
I didn't mean it.
(Candace sobbing continues)
Baby.
I didn't mean it.
Please.
Baby, please.
(Candace sobbing continues)
please, I didn't mean it.
- Man, get your fucking clothes,
and go to the fucking car, man.
Unless you wanna go to fucking prison, you need to
go to the fucking car now!
(Candace sobbing continues) (foreboding music continues)
(fabric rustling)
(glass setting)
(liquid dribbling)
- You didn't really say anything the whole way.
(glass banging)
Joel.
- What you want me to say, Candace?
- You know, I really came here to kill you.
I was gonna shoot you and that nigga.
For a moment, I felt like I ain't had nothing to lose, man.
Can't play ball.
Then my wife?
You know you a real piece of fucking shit, man.
I went to jail for the first time in my entire life
trying to rush back home to be with you.
I'll be damned if I go back
for the rest of my life over you, bro.
Man, you know what?
You need to pack your shit.
You need to be gone back to your mama house
by tomorrow, man.
(birds chirping)
(vehicle approaching)
(traffic rumbling)
(ball dribbling)'
Stick to him with you.
See.
There you go, there you go.
All those little fakes
and no separation tend to shot every time.
Good job, fellas.
- See y'all tomorrow. - All right, cool.
- All right.
Oh, hey Mike back there, tell him come holler at me
before he leave.
- Congratulations, Coach.
- [Joel] Oh, don't you flatter me.
- How's the first week of practice at the helm?
- Man, I see why you hollered all the time now.
Damn kids don't listen to.
Shit.
- We gonna get there. - Yeah, you gonna
get there though.
It could be very frustrating but rewarding at the same time.
You gonna be all right, son.
I truly believe that. - Man, I appreciate it.
- You the coach now.
I'm just a fan.
Yeah.
All right, I'm gonna have to get going.
I just stopped by to say, hey, see how you was doing
since I was in the neighborhood.
I'm supposed to be picking up dinner.
- Alright. - All right.
All right, I'll catch ya later.
- Yes, sir, hold it down. - All right.
(pensive minimal music)
Yes, I'm on my way.
- Hey babe, you slipping man.
Told you to be on lookout for that package.
Somebody would've took off the porch,
it would've been a whole problem.
- Now what was said about a problem?
- Huh? - Huh?
- What you talk about? - Yeah.
- And the mail still here? - Yep.
(door knocking)
- Sorry I am late.
It was traffic and then had to pick her up from daycare.
- Hey cutie.
Here go that mail you wanted.
That's all I noticed. [Candace] Thank you.
Hopefully whatever you looking for in there.
- Ah yeah. This, this was the one.
I appreciate it.
- Yeah, no problem. - Well,
I better get going before she starts up, so.
- Alright, - Bye.
(somber pensive music)