[gentle piano music]
Downloaded from YTS.MX
Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX
[cassette clicking]
- [Granddad] Raymond,
I just want to let you know how proud I am of you
and the young man that you've become.
Now, watching you walk across that stage
and get your diploma has been the highlight of my life.
You're a man now.
And as you go off into this world and make your way,
take the things I've taught you,
all the lessons I've showed you,
and be the best person that you can possibly be.
And if there ever comes a time
when life becomes too hard or too much,
talk to someone, anyone.
And whatever anyone says about me,
just know that I love you
and nothing was ever your fault.
I love you son.
[gentle piano music]
- What are we working with?
- Come on Pops, give me something harder.
You know I know this car front and back.
- Well answer the question.
What are we working with?
- 409 Turbo Thrust.
- Block material? - Cast iron alloy.
- Horsepower? - 230 horses.
- Come on Pops, I can do this all day.
- All right, I see somebody's been paying attention.
- Yeah I've been paying attention.
But I say,
bore it out over 60.
- Bore it out huh? - Mm-hm.
- Uh-uh, no my father'd turn over in his grave
if I changed one thing on this here car.
He loved this car.
He bought it new, kept it till he died.
It ain't even been driven since he died.
- But why would somebody who's dead
care about a car that they can't drive anymore?
- We keep his memory alive by keeping this car alive.
When people leave us they're not gone
unless we forget about them.
You love me, son? - Yeah, of course.
- All right, would you love me any less if I was gone?
- No, no I love you just the same.
- Exactly, 'cause I'll still be alive in your heart.
You understand now?
All right, now you know what day it is right?
You ready?
All right, well you go into the car and get the stuff
and we'll meet you in the kitchen, all right?
[uplifting guitar music]
How is my beautiful queen doing?
- Fine.
- Fine? You don't sound no fine to me.
Sound like you need a big hug and kiss from your man.
- You forgot.
- Forgot what? - Forgot my birthday.
- Oh, yeah it is your birthday, ain't it?
- Yeah, today.
- I'm sorry babe. I've just been so busy.
- Busy doing what, messing with that damn car?
- What you fussing for woman?
You know I ain't forget your birthday.
- Then where is my- - Happy birthday, Mama!
- You got me. - Yeah.
- Thank you. - Happy birthday.
- Now, slide on over here
and let me and D fix you dinner.
- My two favorite guys doing something for me for a change?
All right what we havin', what we got? [laughs]
- Delgatos Pizza.
- I had your birthday dinner catered babe.
I went all out. [laughs] - Thank you.
- [Man On TV] You're a military man right?
I mean your father was at West Point for chrissakes.
I don't have to tell you- - Baby.
- Baby, come on over here and sit with us.
- [Man On TV] We'll dismiss the need for them altogether.
- You okay? - I'm fine.
- I mean, 'cause we- - I said I'm fine.
- Now would you get off my back?
- Okay, just want us to keep having
a good birthday, you know?
- And we can keep having a nice day
if you all will leave me alone.
[gently dramatic music]
- Are you taking them?
Your meds. Raymond are you still taking your medication?
'Cause you know you're supposed to be taking it every day.
You know that.
- How about you just come sit over here with us, Pops?
- Yeah. Come on over here and sit with us.
- Mama, what's wrong with Pops?
- Nothing baby, he just needs a little space.
- Did I do something wrong? - No, no baby
you didn't do anything wrong.
- Then why is he so upset with us?
I'll go talk to him.
- Okay, wait wait wait.
Look, your father's just going through something
right now, all right?
Just give him a little space and he'll be okay.
Now come on, come on let's watch this program.
[crickets chirping]
- [Man On TV] Cramer, I thought you said
you were taking care of Fletcher.
- [Man On TV] No, no, no, you said you were on this.
[gunshot fires] [Keisha gasps]
- Mom! - Stay here.
- Ma where's Pops? - I said stay here.
[gentle ominous music]
- Raymond?
Raymond you all right?
No! [sobbing]
[dramatic music]
Help me! Help me, please!
My husband, he shot himself. Help us please!
No, my baby-my baby, no.
No baby.
- Here you go.
You ready, baby? You excited, you ready?
- Yeah, yeah I'm ready.
- Damn, that's the best you got?
Come on D today's a big day.
- No, I'm sorry. I'm just, I'm just a little tired.
I haven't felt like myself lately.
- Yeah, what's wrong?
- I don't know, I just feel off.
- Well, make yourself a doctor's appointment,
just in case there's a bug or something.
- Yeah, yeah I will, hon.
- Baby, I'm so excited.
You about to meet Rick Parsons today.
- I know right? - And then if he likes
your script, Dee man oh my God,
no telling where that's gonna lead.
You could be famous.
Yo, we could move to California.
And I could buy a bunch of purses,
you know be a snobby bitch.
- For real? - I just playing.
- I don't wanna live in California.
Relax, Dee today's a big day.
- It's just a meeting Shan.
I mean nothing's guaranteed.
- Babe, Rick Parsons doesn't just meet with anybody.
Your writing is so good, give yourself some credit.
- Well, I'm gonna go get dressed before I'm late.
[gentle music]
- You got this baby, okay?
- I got this.
- You got this.
And put a smile on your face Dee.
Remember I love you. I'm always here for you.
- I love you too.
[gentle music]
- Okay.
All right.
This is for you Pops.
[dog barking]
[powerful, inspirational music]
♪ Reminisce on, on, on
- Hey, look at me son.
Look, nothin' to be scared of, all right?
The first day in any new place is never easy.
You're just gonna have to go in here
and remember the three things that I taught you.
And they are?
- Carry myself like a man. - That's right.
- Carry yourself like a man, and number two?
- Keep my mouth shut about shit I don't know about.
- Things, things you don't know about.
- Things, things I don't know about.
- And most importantly?
- Be me all the time.
- Yeah, that's right. Be you all the time.
People don't like people who pretend to be somebody else.
Isn't that right, Fred?
Plus it's easier that way.
These people around here,
they either going to accept you or they're not.
Look at Fred back there.
You ain't nervous at all, are you Fred?
- Man these clowns know what these hands can do.
They don't want none of these problems.
- Keep them hands to yourself son.
- Yes sir.
- All right. [bell rings]
Go on in there and do what y'all got to do.
- Hey D, I got your back.
I'll always have your back, no matter what.
- I know Fred. I know.
- Hey Darius, I ain't gonna make it home. [gun fires]
- Mr. Thomas?
Are you okay?
- Yeah, yeah I'm, I'm okay.
- Mr. Parsons will see you now.
- Okay, [sighs] cool.
- Mr. Thomas, how are we-
Have we met before Mr. Thomas?
- Uh no, sir.
- Mmm you look extremely familiar.
I'm sure we've met.
- If we had, you know I would definitely remember.
- Eh, maybe you just got one of those faces,
I don't know Darius.
Anyway, the script, not bad, not bad at all.
Look, we're having an honest conversation here?
I gotta tell ya, the script, it's a little dark.
I mean not in a bad way.
But it's pretty clear Darius,
that there's something trying to cut through.
- It's just all personal experiences.
- Like the part about the father?
- Sir, I'm not- - The father, in the script.
- He dies of a heart attack.
Is that what happened to your dad?
Is your father still alive?
I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure you miss him greatly.
You know what I think, Anthony,
I think that's your real father.
I mean in the script he's the embalmer at the funeral home
and all that, but it's clear.
Something resonates about him.
I mean he's the last one to see Glen
get made ready before he goes-
- It's suicide, sir.
My father committed suicide
when I was younger.
He'd been battling with depression
practically his whole life.
And on my mother's birthday, he shot himself.
There was no "Goodbye Darius,"
no "I love you Darius,"
no "Hang in there Darius."
And that script is,
it's that thing that gets that out of my head.
- So this, what, this script, it's your life?
- Well, yeah, pretty much.
- Okay okay, tell you what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna go ahead and kick this upstairs.
If they like it, if,
you might just get to see your name
in the movie credits some day.
Right, picture this.
A Darius Thomas Story,
directed by Mike Berry.
Yeah?
- Yeah, I mean it sounds good to me.
You know Mike Berry's my favorite director in the world.
- Eh, wait till you meet him in person.
Anyway, doesn't matter.
You gotta go home keep writing.
You got a gift okay,
'cause nothing frustrates me more
than when I send those boys and girls upstairs a stud
and it turns out to be a one-trick pony.
- Sir, I just thank you.
I just really appreciate you actually taking time
to meet with me.
That was-
- Um, all right, we're done here.
Uh, don't call us, we'll call you,
you know all that good kind of information and stuff.
Come on come on. - Okay.
- You like the shirt? You feeling it?
- Yeah, it looks good. - No, I don't like it.
- My wife bought it. - All right.
- Come on, how'd you get here, bus, car?
- [Darius] I took the car.
- Okay, let's go find your car.
Well, I'm not gonna help you find it, but someone will.
[lively, happy music]
- All right, all right.
Babe, it's happening.
Right, it's happening it's happening!
Look, nothing's concrete yet,
but he definitely likes my script.
Well, yeah I'm just,
babe I'm just ready to turn a corner
and just start a new life for the both of us, you know?
Right, yeah well look, I'm on my way to my mom's house
then I have to work.
We'll celebrate later okay?
Hey, wear that lingerie I like.
All right, babe.
- Hey Darius. - Hey Ms. Jones.
- Ain't seen you in a while.
- Yeah, yeah I just been busy with working, family.
- Well praise the Lord.
- Praise the Lord Ms. Jones.
- You can't praise him if you're not going to church.
- I go every day in my heart Ms. Jones.
- The Bible says, "Where there are two or three
gathered together in His name, there He is among them."
- Okay, all right well look,
I'm going in to see my mother.
So that makes two of us.
So that'll mean God will be present right?
- Come on here.
God bless you Darius. - You too Ms.Jones.
- Take care now.
- You look good in that dress too.
- Well all right, thank you.
[melancholy music]
- Ma, what did I tell you
about leaving that back door unlocked?
- And hello to you too.
- I'm serious, you can't be doing that around here.
So, what the doctor say?
- Same thing as before.
- I still think you should consult with another specialist,
just to get a second opinion.
- Look, I've seen every specialist from here to Maine.
They all same the same thing.
- I don't understand why- - My heart
just ain't strong enough.
- Ma I don't understand why you just won't check
with another specialist.
- If God wants me to see another doctor I will.
But He ain't spoke to me about that yet.
- Really Ma? You waiting on God to tell you what to do?
- It's all in His time and it's all in His hands.
- He might be doing his part up there, right,
but you have to do your part down here.
You just can't put it all on Him
to make all your decisions.
- Like I said, He ain't spoke to me about that yet.
You need to get to church on Sunday.
- Ma I ain't going nowhere near that church.
- I cannot believe the day has come
that a son of mine does not believe
in the House of the Lord.
- No, I never said I didn't believe.
I just, just don't believe all of it.
It's just a book.
You know Fred getting out tomorrow.
- Yeah, I heard.
And before you start running the streets with him,
you'd better make sure he on the right side of things.
- Ma he gonna be all right.
Uncle Reese got him a job at his company.
Plus Fred not like that no more.
I think the last bit actually got to him.
- Well that's great.
That sound like both of y'all
need to be at the church on Sunday.
- Damn Ma, he just getting out
and you already trying send him door-to-door
on Saturday morning?
- Look all I'm saying is before he hit them streets,
he better hit that church first.
- Well I gotta go, I gotta go to work.
- It's almost one o'clock.
- I took a half a day.
- Okay.
Well you need to do me a favor
and bring my crock pot back.
And then I'll make you your favorite stew.
- Yes ma'am. - All right.
- Yes ma'am.
And the cake too, right?
- You pushing it.
Just bring the crock pot back please.
- Okay, yes Mama.
- All right, be safe.
- I love you. - Love you too.
- [Darius] All right.
[machine beeping]
- Thomas.
Fourth day late in two weeks.
One more and we've got problems.
- I told you I was taking a half a day.
- Half a day, it's damn near 1:30.
You said noon at the latest.
Like I said, one more, it's problems.
[machine rumbling and beeping]
- [Darius] Babe where you at?
[sultry piano music]
- [Shantall] You looking for me?
- Looks like you looking for me.
- From what I hear you're the guy I need to talk to
if I wanna be in the movies.
- That depends if you're a good actress or not.
You a good actress?
- I think I am.
Since I'm already on your casting couch,
why don't I prove it to you?
- You know I don't do PG-rated movies right?
- Neither do I. - Is that right?
♪ My heart beats for you, baby
♪ You're my ecstasy
♪ Slow me down
- [Shantall] Baby, I'm ready.
- For what?
- Marriage.
- Wow.
Um...
Where'd that come from?
- Well I mean, I thought we're in a good place
and it's time for us to take it to the next level.
- Wait a minute, I mean,
ain't I the one supposed to ask you first?
- I'm not asking you.
I'm saying you're definitely who I want to spend
the rest of my life with.
And I wanna be your wife,
if you want to make me your wife.
- Wait a minute, let's roll this back for a second, hold up.
Weren't you just a porn star
looking to get on my casting couch a little while ago
and now you're talking about marriage?
But no, but seriously babe.
It'll happen, okay?
When the time is right, it'll happen, okay?
[ominous music]
[shot firing]
[lightning and thunder crashing]
[Darius gasping]
- Baby you okay?
- Yeah.
Yeah.
- Was it the dreams? - Yeah.
- I'm good, just,
just go back to sleep.
- You sure? - Yes.
[Darius breathing heavily]
- But sometimes you need somebody
to feed that back to you
and your spirit to help you,
up out of what you're going through.
But oftentimes you don't get that so-
- [Shantall] Dee! Dee why ain't you at work, it's 7:30!
- [Woman On TV] So there's a big stigma because-
- Dee! Why ain't you at work?
- [Woman On TV] Many many people suffer from depression,
but they don't want other people to know
that they're suffering from depression.
- Damn. Must have overslept.
- [Shantall] Overslept?
- [Woman On TV] Suicidal depression,
there's different types.
- You look wide awake to me.
You've done this two or three times already this week Dee,
You're already on probation at work.
- Ease up Shan.
I said I overslept.
- You said that two or three times already.
Dee I know something is wrong with you.
I can see it, I can feel it.
Talk to me. What is it?
- I'm good. - Well get up.
- Okay.
Let me get my ass to work.
Ron'll pop a fuse if I'm late.
[gentle piano music]
- Look, your father's just going through something
right now, all right?
Just give him a little space
and he'll be okay.
- Hey what's up Ron it's Dee.
Yeah I ain't feeling good today, man.
I ain't coming in.
Okay but what about vacation time?
Don't I got sick time?
Come on Ron.
You know I've been sick the last couple weeks.
But you know I be on time though.
All right. All right.
- Baby I'm off to go to work.
- Okay.
[crickets and birds chirping]
- Hey Pop, I've been working on this story.
I want you to hear it later.
Pop?
[nostalgic music]
That was Granddad's chain right?
- Yeah it's my father's chain.
He gave it to me right before he died.
One day I'm gonna give it to you.
You know what that means?
- No.
- It means that I will always be with you.
Even when things get their hardest,
I'll be right there.
- How did Granddad pass away Pop?
- He kill...
He keeled over and died one night.
- From what though?
- It was something wrong with his brain.
Working too hard,
it just gave up.
- You mean like cancer?
- Yeah, something like that.
- I don't know what I'd do if you died Pops.
- Hey Darius? - Yeah Pop?
- I can't do this anymore.
[shot firing]
- What the hell Dee?
You been on this couch all day?
Hey I'm talking to you.
What is going on? What's wrong?
- [Darius] I don't know.
I feel like I'm coming down with something.
- What, like you sick?
- I just feel kinda drained.
- That's because you need some sun up in here Dee.
Go get in the shower while I get dinner started.
- You know Fred getting out today.
- Now he's home?
- Yeah, I'm gonna run over to Milt's Bar
to holler at him for a little second.
I won't be out long, though.
- So you can go to the bar Dee, but you can't go to work?
- Whatever babe.
- And don't call me at 2 AM to come get you out of jail
'cause you got caught up in his street shit.
- Babe it's cool. He's changed.
- I'll believe it when I see it.
- All right, well, I'll be back in a little while okay?
- And don't spend money we don't have
trying to prove something to him Dee.
♪ Remember when there were no mp3s, but CDs ♪
♪ We didn't care about germs, no concern of disease ♪
♪ Street lights came on
♪ We high-fived and we'd leave
♪ Back in the day it wasn't so hard to believe ♪
♪ That I would wake up as the Black power ♪
- Dee!
- What's up,Fred?
- You, look at you, all clean-cut and what-not.
- No you're the one, man,
got your buff going on and everything.
I see you.
- Six in the blocks'll do that to you.
All the time in the world to work out.
- I feel that. I feel that.
What's up Mikey?
- Long time homey.
- Yeah, it has been a while.
Last time I saw you,
you was going out to county for a murder.
- And I beat that one.
And the one after that and the one after that.
- All right, okay.
Well I'm glad to see you're doing okay man.
- [Mikey] Yeah, I'm good.
- Well now look, why don't y'all let me
and cousin holla for a minute?
Look at you Dee. You look real good man.
- You too man looking all fresh.
You know what I'm saying, skin all glowing?
- Prison'll do that to you.
- Yeah I feel that. Hey that shit true about T-Baby?
- Hell yeah.
I'm talking tight shorts, lipstick, all that.
- Wow, that's crazy.
So what's your plan now?
- You already know. I'mma go get it' to get.
- Cuz, you just got out.
- Right, ain't no need to plan.
- I thought Uncle Reese got you a gig out at Ceptions.
- 10 hours a day at 14 an hour? I don't think so.
You know me baby, either the top or broke.
- Cuz, you know if you go back your ass is out right?
- Man I ain't worried about it.
I'm moving different from here on out.
- Different huh? - Yup.
- I really miss you cuz.
- I missed you,too.
You know them letters you wrote me
is what got me through my bid.
Shit, Carla was out as soon as the bus left the city.
- Man.
- Without you and my fellas holding me down man,
that shit would've been tough.
- We're blood cuz.
- Being like that, I learned that blood make you related,
but loyalty is what makes a family.
Me, Mikey and Cook, that's my family.
- Yeah I feel that. I feel that.
So, uh, my mom wants you to come down to the church.
I already told her you weren't gonna be on it bruh.
- Listen, man I'll be by next week
when I got a few hours to listen
to how the righteous and the meek gonna inherit the earth.
- You know how she is.
- Sit tight.
- Y'all got us fucked up man. - Hey man.
- Who the fuck is this nigga? - You on the wrong side
of the tracks you heard?
- I'm Fred. - Fred?
- So what that name supposed to mean something to me?
- 102nd down to the tracks belong to the Deuce.
So I'm gonna need you and this clown that you with
turn y'all asses around, take y'all asses home
before I don't let y'all take your asses home.
- Oh yeah, well I don't appreciate your disrespect,
and I don't think Poncho would either.
- They ain't stopped making guns when they made yours bro.
- It's all love my G.
- Yeah, now run you ass on
and tell Poncho to stay his ass off the Deuce.
- Let's go.
- Hey follow them and make sure they cross the tracks man.
- Cuz, what the hell was that man?
You ain't even been out 12 hours.
- And I told you, shit ain't going back to the way it was.
But don't worry cuz, I know what I'm doing.
[hip-hop music]
[light hip-hop music]
- You sure you're okay?
- Yeah.
I just um,
I just emailed Rick Parsons 25 pages of my new script,
just to see if he likes it.
- That's cool Dee,
but we need to worry about things here first.
- I know, I know.
- All right.
Oh, me and the girls are going to the mall later.
So try to find yourself something to eat.
Okay?
Love you, okay?
- Love you too.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Yeah what's up Fred?
Nah, I'm cool man.
I don't feel like hanging out today.
All right.
You know what, Fred, Fred?
Just, yeah come through bro, pick me up.
All right.
[dog barking]
- What up cuz-o?
- Nothin'.
- Hey, about last night man, I just-
- It's cool. It's cool.
- No seriously Dee.
I know you ain't about that life, man,
and I was wrong for pulling you into it.
- Yeah I just thought this time you'd be home to stay.
- I am home to stay. Seriously.
You listenin' man?
Dude, where you at man,
'cause you definitely not in this car right now.
- Yeah, my bad man.
I just ain't been feeling like myself the last few weeks.
- You depressed or something?
- I don't know.
- Depression mean you weak.
And only weak guys get depressed man.
Ain't no room out here for no weak cats.
Seriously Dee, you got you a girl, a crib,
and you can still get you a job
without them running your record
and finding out that you a four-time felon
with two robberies and aggravated assault.
- I don't know, I just been,
I just been really moody, man.
I literally find myself laying around.
I mean I'm losing track of time.
You know, some days I just can't pull it together Fred.
- Trust me dude, You good man.
♪ I need to know everything
♪ Who and the what and the where ♪
♪ I need everything
- [Darius] No, that's a smooth move, man.
- Indeed man. - Yeah foreal foreal.
- Considering that too. - Hey babe.
- Hey what's up babe?
- Hey Fred. - Hey what up Shan?
- Welcome home. - Thank you, thank you.
- [Fred] Hey y'all got some lunch meat up in here?
- Make yourself at home Fred.
- [Fred] Most definitely, most definitely.
- Baby I got some bad news.
- What?
- Your job left a voicemail.
- What'd they say?
- They say they letting you go.
- Damn.
- What we gonna do Dee?
- I don't know.
- You know you can always get out here
and get some real money in the streets with me.
- Damn nosy. - I'm just sayin',
ain't nothing wrong with a little street money.
- But there's definitely something wrong with prison time.
- Look babe I'll figure it out, okay?
I'll just call Uncle Reese, see if he got another spot open.
- Yeah, you could definitely have my spot cuz,
'cause I can't do it.
[phone ringing]
Just like that. I gotta go.
I'mma get up with you later cuz.
You gonna be all right, all right?
Shake that shit off. - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- What was that about?
- What?
- Shake it off?
- Nothing.
- You had to tell Fred what you were going through.
Come on, babe tell me something.
- Tell you what?
- Anything Dee, tell me anything.
Dee listen.
Baby you know I got your back.
Dee I've got your back.
And whatever you're going through, I'm going through.
But you gotta talk to me baby if you want me to help you.
- What do you want from me Shan?
I mean, yeah I missed work.
And I've been tired a little bit lately, but I'm good.
- Dee, missed work, baby you just got fired.
You've been laying around here in a funk all day every day.
Pull yourself together Dee.
- [Darius] Whatever.
- Where are you going?
- [Darius] I'm tired.
[gentle melancholy music]
That was Granddad's chain right?
- Yeah it's my father's chain.
He gave it to me right before he died.
One day I'm gonna give it to you.
You know what that means?
- No.
- [Raymond] It means that I will always be with you.
- Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
[gently dramatic music]
- Do you love me son? - Yeah, of course.
- Would you love me any less if I was gone?
- No, no I love you just the same.
[sadly dramatic music]
Dammit Pops, why'd you leave me here
to deal with this shit by myself?
I needed you Pops! I needed you!
[Darius sobbing]
- [Vikki] She didn't have no business
wearing that damn outfit.
- [Shantall] She swore she was looking cute.
- Girl, whole damn stomach hanging out,
looking like balled up homework.
- Oh bring some glasses.
- So what's up with Darius?
- Girl, I don't know.
He's going through something and I don't know what to do.
- [Vikki] What is he saying?
- He ain't saying much,
just that he got it under control.
But I'm telling you, he lost his job,
he's sleeping all day, moody as hell.
And I saw where he was googling depression in his phone.
- But I'm sure it'll all be fine.
With love and prayer, anything can be worked out.
- You think he'd do something to you?
- No, Darius ain't like that.
He's sweet and loving.
He's just going through something right now.
- Well I ain't trying to be negative,
but my aunt's husband had the same thing.
He came home from work one day,
parked his car in the driveway,
walked in the garage and hung hisself
in the middle of day, just hung hisself.
- Oh my God, I feel so bad for your aunt.
She didn't know he was going through something?
- No, not at all, just hung hisself.
- Again, I'm sure Darius will be fine.
I think he just needs to find his way back.
- I hope so.
- Look, I like Darius.
I like him a lot.
But if he tripping like you say he is,
you have to be careful, for his safety and yours.
And my only concern is making sure you good.
- [Woman] Um, okay girls,
me and Vikki gonna get out of here.
- Yeah Shan, call you later.
- So that's what you talk about with your friends,
about my personal life?
- It's not like that Dee.
- Then how the hell is it then Shan?
You supposed to be my girl.
Talk about you wanna get married,
but you think it's okay to go behind my back
to talk about my business to everybody in the street?
- They're not everybody in the street Dee,
Those are my friends.
And I just needed someone to vent to.
- Needed someone to vent to?
You know, it's so funny
how you want me to open up to you,
but you go behind my back and talk about my business.
- What do you want me to do Dee?
You're not telling me nothin'.
You're telling me a little here a little there,
and I don't know what to do.
- What, so you can tell the whole world?
Look at me.
You know I ain't with that.
Okay.
[knocking on the door]
- [Fred] Dee, open the door, it's Fred.
[Fred knocking]
Dee, open the door man.
- It's open.
- Damn, dawg.
Where the hell you been at man?
Shan called my line,
talking about you ain't been off the couch in weeks.
I'm blowing up your jack. You're not answering.
Hell, you ain't even been by to check on your mama man.
- Just a little stressed out cuz.
- Yeah Shan called me
talking about she think you're depressed.
I told her hell na'll that ain't it.
- I don't know, I'm just...
Crazy mental space.
- Man chill with all that man.
You're good. - Man ease up Fred.
- Ease up? I need to turn up to take you out of this.
You can't keep laying around here like some lame
because you got a few things going on, bruh.
You going to the bar tonight?
- No, I'm good.
- Look man, whatever you going through, come on back bruh.
I know you stressed and all that,
but you moping around ain't gonna help.
You gotta be stronger cuz.
- Strong like who Fred?
Strong like Pops?
- [Fred] Man what is you talking about?
- My pops killed himself you know that?
- You don't know nothing man.
That could've been an accident or something.
- It wasn't no accident.
What you talking about?
He blew his damn brains out
because he was dealing with the same thing
I'm dealing with right now.
- [Fred] But you don't even know what you're dealing with.
- It ain't even been a few months
and my head is all over the place.
And he fought it for years Fred.
- You're trippin' Dee.
- No, you're trippin'.
You're telling what I should feel,
and I'm trying to tell you how I feel.
- Look man, call your mom and make sure she okay.
I got a few things I gotta handle.
So I'll holla at you later man.
Dee. - What?
- [Fred] Pull yourself together, man.
- Darius. - Hey, Mr. Parsons.
- [Rick] Hey, how are you buddy?
- I'm doing good, I'm doing good.
Hey I was just calling to see
if you had a chance to have your guys check out that script?
- [Rick] Uh, they did, they did actually,
and they got a chance to read the draft
you emailed me as well.
- Okay, what you think?
- [Rick] Well, to be honest with you Darius they passed.
You know, it's just not what they're looking for right now.
- I thought you loved it.
- [Rick] I did, I do, I like you.
But you know,the people upstairs?
They got their own things going on.
Unfortunately for both of us,
they're the ones that write the checks.
Darius? Hey, you still there?
- Yeah, yeah I'm still here.
- [Rick] By the way that draft you sent me,
it's not your best work.
Keep writing Darius.
- Okay. Thank you.
[sad, dramatic music]
♪ I should get an A for effort, I'm too tired ♪
♪ But I'm never giving up
♪ That's why I'm kinda in my
♪ Role model like it or not I gotta play it ♪
♪ Sugar coat the rhymes sometimes but still say it ♪
- What's doin', fellas?
- What up, Dee? - Yo what's up?
- My dawg, back in business and on top of his game again.
You good?
- Yeah. I'm good.
- Hey Dee I leave my gun at your house
the last time I was there?
- Na'll, I ain't seen it.
- I can't find it nowhere.
- What you draggin' on Dee?
- No I'm cool.
♪ Cash from that dude at the label ♪
♪ I'm just thinkin' back
♪ Here we go way back way back way back ♪
♪ It's time to go way back
- Hey I be right back, I gotta use the bathroom.
♪ In retrospect I woulda did it the same ♪
♪ In hindsight I'm the only one to blame ♪
♪ I ain't picky I'm just real specific ♪
♪ I want nothin' less than terrific ♪
♪ I know you
- Come on Darius you got this.
♪ Now here go get the money
♪ Sure I'm gonna get it, get it, get it ♪
♪ Pain means I do something right ♪
♪ So I'm gonna let it
♪ Yeah I'm gonna let it live
- Look at this clown.
He think that because I was gone for a while,
I ain't that same dude.
- Dawg you know half of it.
I ain't want none of that sweet talk,
We can get straight to it.
- Na'll fam, Fall back.
Let it play out.
- [Darius] What's goin' on?
- It's Poncho, came up from DC.
Think he got the rights to these streets.
- He get dealt with in the streets too.
- You think it's gonna turn into something?
- Wassup Fred?
- You tell me.
- Nigga ain't been out 20 minutes
and he tryin' to call shots.
Los said something about your little run-in.
- Na'll that wasn't no run-in.
Your man's almost got ran over.
- You tryin' to get me goin' huh?
- Fool I'm tryin' to get money, same as you.
- That's cool. You just can't get it in my hood though.
- Your hood? Bruh you not from around here.
I was born on these streets.
So I got the right to get money on these streets.
But I'm also one of the ones who say
who else can get money on these streets.
- Is that right? - Yeah that's right.
- [Poncho] It can get ugly real quick G.
- [Fred] Use it or put your toy up.
- I see you gonna make this difficult.
- Na'll lame, I'm gonna get this money.
You gonna make this difficult.
- I feel you Fred, yeah I feel you.
- Now push on with that tough man now.
Keep crossing them tracks,
and you liable to get ran over by a train.
- Oh for real? - Yeah for real.
- See you later Fred. - All right.
- I'll See ya.
Come on, come on.
- What you wanna do?
- I told you.
Let it play out.
- You know he ain't gonna let this go down.
- Yeah I know.
- Depression can be brought on for any number of reasons.
A chemical imbalance in the brain,
a traumatic experience,
a combination of both.
There's still so much we don't know about depression.
- I just, I just need for it to ease up.
- And it can with the right approach.
Like I said, there is no one absolute fix.
Tell you what,
I'm gonna give you something to help take the edge off.
It's called Celexa.
I'm gonna start you with a small dose.
Meanwhile, I want you to follow up with Dr. Nancy Franz.
She is really good at getting to the root of issues
related to past trauma.
- How, this isn't gonna, you know,
have me all spaced out is it?
- No, like I said, we're gonna start you with a small dose
until we see what works best.
- Is this something that will, you know,
eventually go away?
- It's hard to say.
Judging by what you told me about your family history,
it's probably something you're gonna be dealing with
for the long haul.
But it is manageable.
- Thank you Dr. kates.
- Not a problem.
Make sure you follow up with Dr. Franz.
- I will.
- And make sure you take that medication every day.
- [Darius] Yes sir.
- Not one miss.
- Every day without a miss, got it.
- Best of luck to you. - Thank you.
[gentle music and singing]
♪ It's like shuttin' down
♪ You shuttin' down, you shuttin' down ♪
♪ You're sayin' that too much
♪ It's like I've lost touch
♪ I ain't in no rush but you're doin' much too much ♪
♪ Now who is such-and-such
♪ [mumbles] me and myself
♪ You know about me, I have enough ♪
♪ So what you say, you got it sewn up ♪
♪ Your friends are opening your closure ♪
♪ Gave me some stichin'
♪ Some stitchin' so
♪ It's gettin' too much exposure ♪
♪ You say you've got it sewn up ♪
- Hey. - Hey.
- [Shantall] How are the meds coming?
- Good, I just took 'em.
- Now you just gotta get out of this house
and get some air.
- Right.
- Did you follow up with the therapist lady?
- Yeah, called her a couple of days ago, left a message.
- Now remember Dee, you know what the doctor said.
You might need therapy and take medication.
- Yeah, I'm on it Shan. [phone ringing]
It's Fred outside. - Okay.
- That'll be good for you. - Yeah.
[mellow R&B music]
♪ Yeah
♪ You must be blinded by the light ♪
- What's up cuz-o?
- You tell me.
- What happened to you?
- You know how I go.
- Poncho?
- Na'll, Los.
He thought he was tough, so I had to show him what
tough really look like.
- Man, when this happen?
- A little bit ago.
- [Darius] How bad was it?
- I just got a few bruises man.
- I'm saying for him?
- Oh, I mean, yeah he cool.
He gonna be eatin' through a straw for the next six weeks,
but he'll be all right.
- [Darius] Yo, you know Poncho gonna be pissed bruh.
- Hell, they could share a straw for all I care.
I'm about to pull over man, so I can holla at you.
- [Darius] What's up cuz?
- Man I'm glad to see you back on your A-game.
- Yeah man.
But these pills, they got me all jacked up.
Shan would have my ass if she knew I wasn't taking 'em.
- You need to toss that whole bottle in the trash man.
You don't need that bruh.
- Yeah, but I stopped.
- Damn right you need to stop.
Them pills is for people who can't cope
with what's real out here.
I mean, what you look like all doped up and everything?
You see these streets bruh?
These streets'll eat you alive
if you ain't on top of your game.
- Yeah but I'm tryin' cuz. - Well try harder man.
- 'Cause I can't stand to have no smut on my record.
Not even people talkin' crazy about my cuz-o.
You feel me?
Cuz. Cuz, where you goin' man?
[gentle nostalgic music]
- Hey Darius, come here son.
Come over here.
Look at you sad 'cause you ain't starting on the team.
What now you wanna quit?
What'd you bat when you play baseball with Elijah?
- 287.
- [Raymond] What'd you average last winter on the hoop team?
- 10 and nine.
- 287 and 10 and nine.
You was all in.
But now, just 'cause you ain't the man this time,
you wanna quit.
Life don't work that way, son.
You can't just give up 'cause things get rough.
- I can't be on the bench while all my friends are starting.
- Let me tell you something, Darius.
Every day I wanna give up on things, but I can't.
Believe me son,
I wish I had the chance to do half the things you get to do.
Can't give up son. Keep fightin'.
Keep pushing. Keep believin'.
I just wish I had more time with you.
Darius.
I'm batting zero son. [gun fires]
- Hey, how was your day?
- [Darius] Good. It was good.
- How are the pills working?
- Good.
I'm beginning to feel like myself again.
- That's funny, because this pill bottle
looks mighty full to me.
- Look Shan- - Don't open your damn mouth
to lie Dee, don't say a word.
The doctor told you to take these pills every day.
Did he or did he not?
- Listen- - Did he or did he not Dee?
- He did, but them things were making me jittery.
- Jittery or depressed, take your pick.
- I'm tryin'. - Tryin' what?
- Tryin' to call Dr. Franz,
because I looked through your phone
and I don't see her number nowhere in there.
Keep lyin' to me.
- Why are you on my back?
- Because I love you Dee, that's why I'm on your back.
- Well get off, because I don't like it.
- You don't like it?
You don't like it, okay.
So you don't like it when someone's trying to help you.
You don't like it when someone's telling you the truth?
No, Darius just wants to be a selfish ass little kid.
I don't care if you don't like it.
How am I supposed to help you
when you don't even wanna help yourself?
Stupid.
[melancholy music]
- Hi, I'd like to make an appointment with Dr. Franz.
Okay.
- Hello Mr. Thomas, I'm Kathy Franz.
- Hello Dr. Franz.
- Please just Kathy's fine, okay?
So, what brings you to my office?
- I guess I'm all messed up.
- You're not all messed up.
You're just dealing with life's issues
the best that you can.
So again, what brings you to my office?
- I guess I'm just dealin' with some things like,
I don't think I've ever gotten over the death of my father.
I keep seeing him in my dreams, happy,
but then it just goes completely wrong.
- The chain on your neck.
Tell me about that.
- He gave it to me before he died.
And his father did the same thing.
I've worn it ever since I was little.
- So it's almost as if it links you to both of them?
- Yeah.
Yeah.
- Wow, Mr. Thomas, I must say,
you are very in tune with your feelings.
And that is a good thing.
It is going to take some truths that are hard to face
in order to deal with your depression.
- I just wanna do whatever I have to do.
- Good.
Well, first things first.
I want you back on the Celexa.
Now, we'll lower the dose,
and that with some time will help you
with your jitters, agreed?
Now, next, I want you to sit and talk with everyone
in your circle of trust.
Explain to them where your life is right now
and how they can help.
- Well that's easy.
It's my mother, my girlfriend Shantell,
and my cousin Fred.
But they all see my situation differently.
My girlfriend just wants it to go away.
And she says she understands, but I don't think she does.
And my mother wants me to pray it out
and my cousin wants me to thug it out.
- Well, just try your best to explain to them individually
what you need from them.
There is absolutely no reason
why you can't have a good life,
both happy and fulfilled, all right?
- No problem. - Great.
- I look forward to seeing you next week.
[uplifting music]
- The therapist wants me to meet with everyone
in my circle to kinda explain what's going on.
- Okay, so that everyone that needs to know knows, right?
- Yeah, but I just need you all to know that I just,
I just really needs your words.
I know you guys love me,
but other times I just need silence.
I think I just need to process things on my own.
- But what about Fred? Does he know you're seeing therapist?
- No, not yet.
But come on babe, Fred is Fred.
He just wants me to be super thug
and everything is gonna be okay.
- Right.
- I'm actually supposed to meet up with him later on
to kinda explain what I need from him.
- That's good. - Yeah.
- And the therapist wants me to meet with her
at least once a week.
And I want you to start coming with me.
- Whatever you need baby, I'm here.
- Yeah, I know.
[gentle music]
- Hey Darius, you want something to drink?
- No I'm good Mama.
- All right, now, you know what day it is right?
You ready?
All right, you go on into the car and get the stuff.
We'll meet you in the kitchen, all right?
- [Darius] Ma, help me wash this car.
- You know I ain't in the mood today
for all your foolishness now.
- Come on.
Look, you don't go nowhere but church and home, okay?
I mea, you need to get out.
Plus you could use the exercise.
- Watch your mouth.
- I'm just sayin'.
Look I'll wash and you rinse. - What?
- [Darius] I'll wish and then you just rinse.
- [Ms. Jones] Hey Sister Thomas.
- Well, hey Sister Jones, how you doin' today?
- I'm doin' good girl, how you doin'?
- I'm all right.
- Good, I'm heading on down to the church
for midday worship, you wanna come?
- No, think I'm gonna stay right here,
help my son wash this car.
- Well you know the Lord don't like it when we-
- The Lord don't care if I miss one day of bible study.
- [Ms. Jones] God bless.
- [Keisha] All right, come on.
- All right, look Ma, just look.
I need you to spray right here.
- Where, where you sayin'? Right here?
- No, Ma, stop, stop! - Right here?
- No, Ma that's not
where I'm goin'! - Oh, where you want it?
- Where you want it? - Stop playin'!
- You gettin' my shirt! Come on!
- [Fred] What's up cuz.
- We been tight our whole lives, ever since we were little.
You know you've always been a big brother to me.
But right now I need that big brother.
- What you talkin' about?
- I'm sufferin' from depression dawg.
- Here you go with that again.
- I'm serious Fred.
That's why my father killed himself, and his father too.
- So what you want from me Dee?
What you want me to lay you on my shoulder
and pat you on your back?
- What I need for you to do is understand man.
- Understand what Dee?
That you about to let these white folks
turn you into a zombie?
I seen it in the joint many a times man.
Soon as you start takin' them pills,
your ass can barely function. - It's not like that.
- It doesn't have to be like that.
But it's pressin' on me cuz.
It's killin' me.
- Whatever cuz.
If you need me to hold your hand, I'll do it.
I'm out man.
- Fred.
[dramatic music]
- All right, there go that lame right there.
When we pull up, dump on him.
You ready lil homie?
- We did it young blood!
We did it! We the champs!
We're the champs baby, we did it.
Come on man, get a drink man.
We did it, we the champs.
We the champs baby, we did it.
- What's up Fred?
[shots firing]
- Fred! - Let's go.
- Come on Fred.
Come on Fred get up. Get up!
Someone call the damn ambulance!
Someone call that fuckin' ambulance!
Come on Fred, come on!
Come on Fred! Don't do this to me, cuz!
Don't do me like this man!
Come on Fred, get up!
Get the fuck up Fred, Get up! Get up!
♪ Name sold, make the call
♪ Grey, gold.
Your face will never be the same. ♪
♪ Flame, bold, you'll still the sun. ♪
♪ When the only weapon is your name ♪
♪ And that won't count if you don't aim ♪
♪ Good intentions hold us back
♪ You should stand down
♪ Hey, oh
♪ Hey, ooh
♪ Hey, oh
♪ Hey, ooh
♪Shame, controlled
♪ Like a cage behind deep dark eye ♪
♪ The games unfold, you have won ♪
♪ Tame your soul
♪ Let it grow without a show
♪ Make the goal and run
When the only weapon is your name ♪
♪ And that won't count if you don't aim. ♪
♪ Good intentions hold us back
♪ You should stand down
♪ Oh
♪ When the only weapon is your name ♪
- Ah, fuck.
[phone ringing]
Hello? - Darius?
- What's wrong?
- [Shantall] Baby it's your mom.
- She okay?
- [Shantall] No baby she's not.
- All right, all right I'm on my way.
[melancholy organ music]
- Let us all be seated.
Many of them looked unto Jesus for verbal gymnastics.
But according to John 14:12,
he simply said that "In my father's house,
there are many mansions.
If it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you."
The Bible teaches us that eternal life
is not here on earth, but shall be in the hereafter,
in a place that God has prepared for eternal peace,
a peace not seen or heard by the eyes and ears of man,
for I know my redeemer lives.
Thus, when my flesh has been destroyed,
I shall stand and see God.
For we all know that the Lord has said,
"Whoever shall believeth in me
shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life."
- [Shantall] You coming to bed baby?
- Nah I'm gonna sit here for a little bit.
[melancholy music]
- [Keisha] I cannot believe the day has come
that a son of mine does not believe
in the House of the Lord.
- [Raymond] Do you love me son?
- [Shantall] Whatever you're going through,
I'm going through.
- [Fred] Depression mean you're weak.
- [Darius] I don't want it!
- [Fred] And only weak guys get depressed.
- [Darius] I don't want it!
- [Shantall] Pull yourself together, D.
- [Darius] I don't want it,
I don't want it! - Man chill with all that,
man you're good.
You can't keep laying around here like some lame
'cause you got a few things goin' on at work.
[Darius sobbing]
[Darius muttering and groaning]
- God if you're there, help me please!
Help me please, God!
[Darius groaning]
[Darius sobbing]
I need you man! I need you foreal man!
I need you, God.
I need you.
[happy, empowering music]
[pensive piano music]
- Dear Darius,
you're too young to completely understand
why I did what I did.
I don't want you to ever think
that it was because I didn't love you,
that somehow you did something wrong.
The pain just got too heavy for me to hold.
I feel like I took the easy way out.
But life seemed hard.
Be good to yourself son
and to the people who love you.
And if this monster comes for you, keep fightin',
more than I could.
I love you, Pops.
Now, slow it down son, do circles.
Yeah, yeah just like that.
- Do you think I'll ever get to drive it one day Pops?
- Maybe.
Depends.
- Depends on what?
- Well it depends on if you understand
everything that it represents son.
- Well I know it represents the bond
between you and Granddad.
- Yeah, that's right.
And if you get that,
then maybe one day I will let you drive it.
Matter of fact, hop on in now and see how it feels.
Yeah, go on in there.
Mm-hm, yeah see how that feel right there.
Yeah.
[gentle piano music]
Get in son. Go on get in.
[uplifting orchestral music]
- Yeah.
[Darius laughing]
- You turned out to be a good man Darius.
A strong man. I'm proud of you.
- You spent all of that time teaching me.
- Nah, I was just gettin' you prepared
for what might be.
You wanna come with me?
- No.
I wanna live.
I'm sorry Pops, but I wanna live.
- Well live then son.
Live, even when it gets hard.
Keep doing it anyway.
- I miss you so much Pops.
- I miss you too son.
But I'm with you all the time.
I was there on your first date,
your first job,
graduation.
I'll be with you your entire life son.
- Hey Pops um,
you know I'm about to have a kid.
You think maybe that-
- We ain't going to worry about all that right now.
You just love him or her the way that I tried to love you.
Get 'em prepared, just in case.
- Just in case.
- You ready baby?
- Yup. I didn't think I'd ever find a job.
- You'll be fineee D. They're gonna love you.
- Not as much as I love you Mrs. Thomas.
- Not as much as I love you Mr. Thomas.
- All right I'm gonna go to work okay?
I love you. - Love you.
- What does a big movie need?
Exactly, we need big money.
All the stops, right?
We need big budget, we need big cast, we need big food for craft services.
I do not go cheap.
So we need you to open your checkbook
and you to open your check.
You writing this down?
Get the pen out, get the paper out,
we gotta make this happen.
The only way we make this happen is we get some money.
You open your check, you got a pen?
Do you have a pen? All right, write that down.
Darius! Oh, how are you doing?
- [Darius] Hey Rick, how are you doin'?
- Oh I'm so happy to see you.
Are you ready for today? - Yeah I'm ready.
- I knew, I knew when I first saw you, you looked familiar.
You look just like him.
Your dad man, he's a hell of a writer, hell of a writer.
He'd be really, really proud of you.
- Thank you.
- And I'm really happy to see you keep his work alive.
- Me too.
- Are you excited? - I'm ready.
- [Rick] All right let's make some magic.
You got it? - Yeah.
- All right.
Is everyone ready?
We are gonna make a movie!
- All right let's get it up!
Quiet on the set!
Let's roll the sound. - Sound speeds.
- Camera! - Camera rolling.
- [Man] Slate!
- "Any Day Last Summer" scene one, take one.
[uplifting music]
♪ Life's been good to me
♪ Fight this battle, fight this battle ♪
♪ Life's been good to me
♪ Fight this battle, fight this battle ♪
♪ I know life's been good to me ♪
♪ He's been my mentor, my destiny ♪
♪ And now it's in my soul too
♪ Know that he'll be there telling me ♪
♪ And now I'm crying
♪ Find myself alone trying
♪ To do it all
♪ Get over it now
♪ Life's been good to me
♪ Fight this battle, fight this battle ♪
♪ Life's been good to me
♪ Fight this battle, fight this battle ♪
♪ Spending most of my time wondering how ♪
♪ Disease came by
♪ And struck me without a doubt ♪
♪ Be It rain, the sun or shine
♪ he'll be on time
♪ Still I run as I worry about the way things turned out ♪
♪ Praying I heal
♪ And find a way
♪ To better days
♪ I know I'm not alone
♪ It's the realest thing I'll ever know ♪
♪ God's been so good to me