(monotones ring)
Downloaded from YTS.BZ
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(car door shuts)
(man claps)
- You must have been super zoned out
if you ain't hear me coming up.
- Damn, man, you scared the hell out of me, man.
- You know me.
I'm trying to get a drink.
(car door shuts)
- Man, what's good, bro?
- [Marcus] Sup, good. (groans)
- Are you good?
- Yeah, come on, man.
Let's get us a drink.
- All right, man.
(man knocks)
- Ho. - What up?
- [Marcus] Come on, man, I'm getting a drink.
- What up with it? - What's up, bro?
- All right, chilling.
Come on in here and get this ass whooping.
(car pulls up) (door shuts)
Just like clockwork.
- What's up, Adam? - What up?
Man, you just got to be the last one, don't you?
- [JO] The best is always last.
Come and give me a hug. - Whatever, man.
Watch out, man.
Keep all that soft shit over there.
- [JO] You know you love it.
(upbeat R&B music)
- All right, fellas.
So how's the other guy?
- Huh?
- It's nothing.
- Now brother, you do know that that's the point of all
of this, right?
All right, now starting tonight, every third Friday is going
to be tradition.
So left eye, why don't you break the ice, my guy?
(dramatic electronic music)
(upbeat R&B music)
(door shuts)
(phone dings)
- The hell wrong with you?
- Check your phone.
- Check my phone for what?
- Check your phone.
So let me guess, that's old,
then nothing happened, or better yet, that's not you.
Say something.
- What you want me to say, Tameka?
- I want you to explain why some bitch
is sending me a picture of your face in her ass.
Nothing?
- Tameka, that's an old picture, all right?
We done already been through this.
She just trying to stir mess back up.
- Okay. (chuckles)
(phone rings) - Who you calling?
- Hello? - Hey, this Tameka again.
When did you say that you last seen Marcus?
- [Woman On Phone] He came over last night
when he got off work.
- See, he told me that he worked over.
- [Woman On Phone] Look, like I said,
I didn't know he was married
until my homegirl told me she knew you.
That's why I had her reach out.
I don't do married men.
Now what's happened has happened,
but I just wanted you to know.
- Okay, I appreciate you.
I just needed some clarification, thanks.
- Look, Meka, baby.
- Marcus, I don't wanna hear it, I don't.
You are so embarrassing.
I just, I don't, I.
You know where you need to stay tonight.
(sad orchestra music)
- Old girl sent her this? (laughs)
- I'm glad you amused, bro.
I'm glad somebody could find humor in the situation.
- I'm just saying, man, we all get caught up,
but I ain't never seen nothing like this.
Bro, you literally got a face full of ass.
I mean, I ain't gonna lie, man.
You got a good woman.
She a duck, but she's a great woman,
because I don't know nobody that'll let your ass get
away with this.
How long ago was this?
- It's about two weeks ago.
- You know what?
Ain't this the fifth time you got caught?
Hey, you gotta stop playing with fire, man,
or you going to end up like me having to work 40 hours
of overtime just to make a decent check.
Man, child support whooping my ass, man.
You better chill out.
- I know, dog.
I know, it just like,
God put all these beautiful women here.
We gotta have one?
I love Meka, bro, and these other chicks don't mean nothing
to me, nothing at all.
Sometimes I just can't help myself.
- Okay, Mr. I can't help myself, man, take your phone
so I can stop laughing at your ass. (laughs)
(door opens and closes)
What's up, Mimi?
- Hey, Jerry. - What you about to cook?
- Oh, just a little pot.
You gonna stay and eat some?
- Well, nah, I'm about to get up outta here,
but you can make me a plate.
- Nah, you know I can't promise you nothing.
You know these kids gonna right to this kitchen
when they get in from school.
- I understand, the baby's first,
but you know what?
I'm about to get up outta here.
- All right, my brother. - Look, man, be good.
Catch you later, Mimi.
- All right, Jerry.
- Baby, mind if I holler at you for a second?
Look, I've been taking you for granted a long time
and seem like I invent ways to mess up.
Just want you to know I'm sorry.
I know my words don't hold no weight to you,
especially now, but I promise you I'm gonna do better.
I talked to pastor, and I'm gonna get help.
Robert used to deal with some of the same issues
and we touched bases at the church,
and he agreed to be my accountability partner and all that.
I'm trying, baby.
I'm really trying.
- Well, I'm glad to hear
that you're taking the initiative, I am.
(sad orchestra music)
(upbeat R&B music)
- When you start coming home for lunch?
Excuse me.
- I'm not got out further, but where you going?
- [Tameka] I'm just going out with some friends.
- Some friends, when were you playing this?
- [Tamkea] Today, just going out for some drinks,
kick it with the girls.
- Where our kids at?
(dramatic piano music) - Mama came to get them.
Is there a problem?
- I was just wondering.
- Oh okay, I'll see later.
(door closes)
(Marcus sighs)
- You do know it's five in the morning, right?
- Okay.
- When'd you start staying out at five in the morning, Meka?
- Boy, don't do me, because I don't never question
what time you get in when you and your boys hang out.
- But you know when we going or where we at ahead of time.
Every time your friends wanna go out, you blow 'em off.
Now you coming in at five in the morning?
- Is there a problem, Marcus?
- Lemme smell your drawers.
- Boy, shut the hell up talking to me.
I'm going to bed.
(dramatic piano music)
All right, I'll see you tomorrow.
(dramatic electronic music)
- Hey, daddy. - Hey, my babies.
Y'all go to y'all room so I can talk to mama.
- So you didn't go to work today?
- I called in sick. - So you sick?
- Sick of your ass lying.
- What?
- Where you go out when you left work today?
- I went by Mama's house to pick up the kids.
- No you didn't.
I drove by and you weren't there.
- So you called in, drove by mama's house,
but didn't pick up the kids?
- I believe I asked you to question, woman.
- No, you don't get to question me.
I didn't question you when you was running
around town making me look like a fool.
Now all of a sudden you all insecure?
Yeah, baby, don't worry about me.
Keep doing you, and I'm gonna do me in the meantime.
- The hell that supposed to mean?
(dramatic piano music) Tameka, Tameka, Tameka!
All right, bet.
- Gonna be a long night, brothers.
They set. (laughs)
Sorry, bro.
So back to you.
So you took the whole week off?
- Nah, I went back to work.
Just kinda feeling like she was doing on purpose,
you know, messing with my head.
Shit, I got off work, came home,
(whimsical electronic music)
she fell asleep watching YouTube on the phone.
All I had to do, bro, was just now turn it off,
put on the charger.
Something told me to look.
So I be here.
She got a text from grandma at 10:45 PM.
It's a instant red flag, right?
She only got one grandma that's alive,
and when the sun set, that lady in the bed.
So I know damn well she ain't texting her at no 10:45.
Now that I think about it.
Her name ain't even say it on the grandma on the phone.
Some dude had sent her a picture.
Now the light was kind of terrible.
So at first, it was like a sticker,
but I don't know hat they doing, coupon matching?
Shit, but I looked harder,
and it was a picture of a nigger dick.
- Oh. - Damn.
- Man, they brought me to my knees.
I'm in the kitchen hyperventilating.
All I could think about with this dude putting all
that in my wife.
I'm having a full on panic attack tripping, you hear me?
(guys laugh) - That's funny.
You thought it was a stick of bologna?
- Come on, guys, it's not that funny.
- All I'm saying it was that big?
Damn. - Okay, all right, all right.
All right, so how'd you get the bruise,
and please tell me you didn't put hands on her.
- No, I was mad as hell, but I ain't even wake her up.
I knew she was gonna say something smart,
and I was gonna lose, then end up in jail.
So slept on the couch, kept my emotions in check.
I just planned to make my next move my best move.
- You take off work today? - No, why?
- I was gonna kick it with a coworker
after work for a while, but mama don't mind keeping the kids
for a few extra hours.
I'll see you later.
- Now she really gonna try to play me for a fool to my face?
Yeah, all right, bet.
(inquisitive electronic music)
Nah, I'm like ask fool, 'cause I ain't losing her this time.
I gotta find out.
She done drove all the way to Cado.
Cheds was tight, offered me to swallow.
By the way she was acting, I knew it was a dude or nothing.
Got to the front door, seen the ring cam,
but I'm like ain't no turning back.
I didn't know if she cheating for sure.
(couple moans in the next room)
What the?
Oh my God.
- [Man In Bed] What the fuck?
Man, who the fuck are you?
- Who am I.
Damn, Meka, you ain't told your little boyfriend
about your husband?
- Marcus, what you doing here?
- I mean, damn, where you're ring at?
You just over enjoying yourself, huh?
He better than me?
- Marcus, you need to leave.
- I need to leave?
- Yes, you need to leave now.
- What?
- Man, you heard what she said!
Now get the hell outta my house.
(suspenseful orchestra music) - Straight up?
Well, come get me up outta here then.
- Hey, hey, hey, y'all, don't do that.
(man punches Marcus) (Marcus groans)
- Yeah, yeah.
(Man stomps on Marcus)
In my fucking house.
You want to come into my house?
That you wanna do?
- Man, he beat my ass and nurtured me, bro.
Gave me a Ziploc bag of ice and sent me on by my way,
but the crazy part, he ain't even call the police.
I ain't been so embarrassed in my life.
- [Rakeem] Man, that's crazy, man.
- So when this happened?
- Tuesday.
- All right, so what happened afterwards?
- What you mean? - With you and Meka.
- I'm at my auntie house at the moment.
She want to talk, but I'm not trying to hear none of it.
- I feel you, bro.
So this is the first time you caught her cheating, right?
- Yeah, it's like knowing about it is one thing,
but seeing it, I can't shake that, bro.
- Yeah, I feel you brother.
That is a different type of pain.
That's betrayal as raw as it gets, but lemme ask you this.
What if she had cut you off the first time
she caught you cheating?
- Huh?
- I'm just saying, bro, we can dish it,
but we can't take it.
Now, Marcus, you been cheating on that girl ever
since y'all been together, brother,
and I'm just gonna keep it real with you, man.
I'm surprised that it took her this long.
- I'm surprised it took her this long?
Like come on, Adam, damn.
Who's side you on here? - hey now, brother, hey, look,
now you my boy, all right?
Like I love you like my own brother,
but I would not be a good friend if I did not call you out
on your bullshit.
- Wow.
- Think about it, bro.
You have literally slept on every single one
of our couches at least one time since you
and Meka been together, but then also think about this.
How many times she let your black ass back in that house?
- [JO] He ain't lying, man.
- So JO, you can talk?
- I mean, look, I know I get around, but I'm single.
You the married one, my guy.
- Now brother, you got the right to feel
however you wanna feel.
However, once you get out your feelings,
and I mean really put your emotions to the side,
everybody at this table knows Tameka would have
to get her lick back four or five times over just to break
even with you, because the least you can do
is have a conversation with her.
- And if you stand when you pee,
you don't stand a chance in child support or divorce court.
They act like you made the baby your damn self.
Now if you have a sliver of hope
that y'all can work this out, do it.
That's just my 2 cents, plus the taco soup she be making,
(chuckles) I'm just saying bro, I might have
to break the bro code if y'all split.
Me and Mimi gonna have to stay like this.
Have you ever had her taco soup?
- No, man. - Fire.
- It's not that good, man.
- Look, bro, all I'm saying is just think
about it, all right?
Look, don't make a decision while you're mad, okay?
Let the pain take its course
and just make your next decision with clarity.
There ain't nothing in this world worse
than regret, my brother.
- I can dig it.
Now so my brother don't feel like we ganging up on him,
I guess I'll go ahead and throw myself on the fire next.
- What?
Shoot, man, I'll toast to that.
(glasses clink)
- You know the whole Greg situation,
I really took it to heart, man.
I really felt like I coulda did more.
- Hey, bro, don't do that, man.
- Man, I know, I know, but this is how I felt
at the time, man.
You know, Greg came to see me that night.
- The same night?
- Yeah, I just didn't want tell anybody,
'cause I blamed myself.
I feel like I could have been a better friend.
I could have stopped him,
and before you say anything, Dr. Phil, I know, okay?
So just let me cook.
- Man, I ain't no ugly ass boy.
I wasn't finna say nothing.
- I felt it
- Now I ain't gonna lie.
Adam, I definitely thought you were gonna say
- Now y'all know I don't do the phone calls real well
and I don't get back with people,
- [Marcus] Yep.
- but after the funeral, I made emphasis
to start calling people back and getting back
with everybody no matter how busy I was.
I didn't never wanna feel that way again.
You know I got a cousin, man.
He been my best friend pretty much all my life.
I went to University of Memphis, and he stayed behind.
He started calling me afterwards
and begging me to come down there and hang out with him,
but I never did, 'cause I felt like we were in two spaces,
two different spaces, but one day, I took off,
cleared my schedule, and I went back home to see him
and kick it with him.
(upbeat pop music)
(door shuts)
(door knocks)
- [Cousin] Cuz.
- [JO] What's up, player man?
- What's going on? - Good?
- Good to see you.
Come on here.
- Damn, it's like dejavu, man.
Looks the same way the last time I came,
but you know, everybody didn't get rich
and make it out the hood like you, cuz.
- Well, for one, I went to college, two,
I work for the state making $70,000 a year.
Far from Rich, my guy.
- That's good.
What you trying to get into, though?
- I mean, honestly, I'm just chilling, cuz.
I'm good.
- Hell nah, fool.
We gotta turn up.
You could have chilled at the house.
(phone rings) - I mean.
- Hey, man, guess who's back in the hood.
- Who that, fool? - JO.
(whimsical orchestra music)
- [Man On Phone] You talking about little Jerry?
- [Cousin] Yeah, fool.
- [Man On Phone] Oh hell, I'll come through.
- Bet, come through.
(door knocks)
- You expecting somebody?
- [Cousin] Man, I'm so tired of this dumb bitch.
- Say what?
- Where she at, man?
I know you got somebody in here.
- Man, you're crazy ass.
Ain't nobody in here.
- And who is you?
- Who are you?
- Man, this Lil Jerry. - Who?
- Man this my family from Memphis.
We just here kicking shit.
You tripping.
- I'm sorry, babe.
I saw your car outside.
You wasn't answering the phone.
Can I make it up to you, please?
- Hey, cuz, gimme a minute.
- Cuz, you know what?
I can come back another time.
- Man, hell no.
Sit down.
I'll be right back.
- This motherfucker.
Remember why you came, remember why you came.
(door opens)
- Where he at?
- Excuse me?
- Where the fuck he at?
You know what?
I ain't playing with your ass today.
- [JO] Playing with who?
- [Woman In Brown Dress] Oh hell no, bitch!
(people tumbling in next room) - Hey, man!
- Damn!
- You know what, you can his sorry ass.
Fuck you looking at? - Get the fuck of me.
You ain't shit. - Stupid.
- Y'all are tripping.
Where you going?
- Go to hell. (car door shuts)
- You wanna get something to eat, cuz?
How you doing today?
- Come on with your order.
- Eh, let me get the 10 piece honey gold extra sauce,
and I'm gonna get some fries with that too
with extra seasons, you feel me?
- Is that all?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, and get my cuz too.
Cuz, get whatever you want.
It's on me. - For real?
- Be my guest.
- Okay. - You ain't got
to pay for nothing, cuz.
- Okay, all right. - Take care of my family.
- Let me get a 10 piece as well,
lemon pepper with the onion rings.
- Okay, that'll be all?
- [JO] That's it.
- Your total is $28.62.
- All right, $28.62, 28, cuz.
(chuckles) All right, guess I'll pay for it.
- We'll let you know when it's ready.
- Okay, thank you.
- Damn, cuz, I had to pee bags.
Yeah, you already ordered your food?
- Yeah.
- Man, you must'a paid for it already.
- I mean, I kind of had to.
- My bad, cuz.
I'm gonna get it back to you.
What up?
- [Man On Phone] Hey, man, where you at?
- I'm at Umbridge.
Where you at?
- [Man On Phone] I'm at your crib, fool.
I told you what I was going do.
- Man, I had to get out there.
Keke and Tasha came through, man.
It got crazy over there.
- [Man On Phone] (laughs) For real.
Bet, I'm about to pull up on you.
- Okay, bet, swing through.
- [Man On Phone] All right.
- Y'all order ready.
- Yeah.
Those wings busting, ain't it, cuz?
- Pretty good.
- I already know you ain't get no food like this in Memphis.
(intense orchestra music)
- Hey fam.
- Hey, man.
Hey, what you doing?
(woman yells) Man, I'll motherfucking.
Damn, man.
The fuck?
- What the hell you doing bro?
- [Cousin] Stupid bitch put sugar in my tank.
- You didn't start it up, did you?
- [Cousin] I caught her while she was doing this shit.
- Oh man. (inaudible)
Come on in.
I'll be your ride home back.
- Damn, man.
Come on, fool.
Cuz, what you waiting on?
Come on.
- [Driver] Hey, that's like the third car Tasha
done fucked up, man. (whimsical orchestra music)
- Hell nah, that's the fourth.
Man, she the one set the roadmaster on fire.
I loved that car too.
- So you saying that's the fourth time?
- Listen, that's my baby, though.
She just be tripping sometimes.
- So you're telling me that you not about to leave her
after this?
- Hell nah, I can't leave her, cuz.
I kinda love that toxic shit.
You feel me?
- Hell no.
You crazy as hell, bro.
- [Cousin] What's crazy about it?
- Man, that's disfunctional as hell.
- Dis-what?
The man done went to college,
and now he talking like these white folks.
- Having the vocabulary of a functional adult does not
equate to being white, if you asked me.
- You hear him? - Y'all go crazy as hell, man.
Damn, bro, there's 12 behind us.
- Fucking 12? - Yeah, man, I'm on paper.
- What? - You straight, ain't it?
- Yeah, no, the cops stole it.
- Hold on, what? - Yeah, yeah.
- Come on, bro, we can't do that shit.
Damn, bro.
Fuck, man, I should have knew that car was hot
when I ain't seen no keys in the ignition.
- [JO] What, are you for.
- Hey, keep your mouth shut, man.
We don't know nothing.
No matter what these folk ask, you don't say nothing.
We don't know nothing, fuck.
- All right, man, listen up.
Not gonna sugarcoat this, all right?
- Okay. - The car is stolen.
We found a satchel full of marijuana and Percocet pills.
Oh, and the other guy in the car with you, guess what?
He don't no nothing.
So you all gonna tell me the truth
or you both can take a ride for it, your choice.
- Ride, as in jail?
- Yes, as in jail.
- I need you to get your pen and pad out right now.
- All right. - I don't usually tell,
but I'll tell you, look, now.
- [Detective] Talk to me.
- I left Memphis approximately 10:00 AM.
I arrived a little after noon at my cousin's house.
His name is Emmanuel Johnson, AKA Manman,
M-A-N-M-A-N, Manman.
I just recently lost a friend,
and I've been trying to keep in touch
with all my friends and family now,
you know, just touch bases with everybody.
Me and my cousin, we were really tight,
really close back then.
So I thought I'd come back home and touch bases with him.
Now soon as I get there,
there's two women just pop outta nowhere,
fisticuffs ready to fight on site.
I should have listened to my voice in my head then,
and I should have left, but I stuck it out.
I stuck it out.
Actually it took me to this little wing spot out east,
great lemon pepper wings.
Now I noticed there was a lot of cameras around there.
Now you should be able to get the tape
and confirm my story, okay?
Now long story short, one of the hood rat heifers took a bag
of sugar and poured it in Man's gas tank.
Now I'm almost certain that that car is still out there.
So you can go find that now.
I don't know anything about a stolen car
that his partner actually picked us up.
He picked us up, and we got in the car with him,
within this car that now I know is stolen.
Now I didn't know the car was stolen.
I had no idea, and I definitely don't know anything
about drugs.
Now I heard my cousin speak a sudden utterance
about not knowing about the stolen car either,
but he's too hard to tell you that.
Now I don't care nothing about no street code.
I am not of that life, and the street code does not pertain
to me, okay?
Now honestly I think the street code is stupid.
It's so stupid that why would I do time
for something I ain't do?
- Stick to your damn story.
Come on now.
- The guy that was driving the stolen car,
they call him Candy Mane.
Now that's all I can tell you about him now,
but if you put him in a lineup,
I will gladly point his ass out.
- You feel better?
- Yes, now if you could please gimme a cheeseburger,
large fry, and a tajis treat.
Now if you don't have a tajis treat,
I'll take a Sprite, please.
- Uh-huh.
- Now if you wanna know anything else,
I got plenty of stories for you.
When I was five, I repeated...
- I think you said enough, all right?
- All right.
- You just wait right there.
Hell just happened?
- [Rakeem] So did you get locked up?
- Not really, man.
They kept me in the precinct for a couple of hours,
but they let me go after that.
- What about your cousin?
- Honestly man, I have no idea.
They sent me to my car, and I bounced.
I felt bad about it.
So I called up there and tried to burn him out,
and they said he wasn't even there.
So I called him.
He never returned my calls, never answered the phone, so.
- [Marcus] Damn, that's crazy.
- What's your take on it, Dr. Phil?
- Oh, so we want my opinion now, huh?
- [JO] Yeah, you gonna give it to us anyway.
- Well, I mean, some people just can't be in your life
always, and some relationships are long lasting.
Some are seasonal, and that's fine either way.
You all are just on two different wavelengths, okay?
He's comfortable in a place that you grew from,
and there's no reason to feel guilty.
You know, Greg got us all second guessing a lot
about ourselves, man.
Now could we have done some things differently?
Yeah, yeah, we could have, but at the same time,
we don't know that that would've changed a damn thing.
You can't provide happiness for nobody.
That's something that people gotta find on their own.
Now we all been boys a long time, all right?
Now have we been consistent?
No, all right, but I do know this.
If I was to call on either one of the people at this table,
no matter how long it's been since we've talked
to each other, I know that each one of y'all would show up
for me, and Greg knew that too.
Look, brother, we have got to break the chains
of obligation, okay?
We are grown.
We got our own lives.
You can't be there for nobody 24/7.
We got enough on our shoulders as it is.
So don't carry that weight if you don't have to.
What about you, Keem?
- What's that?
- What's weighing on you, brother?
- What makes you think something weighing on me?
- Brother, you ain't said two words since you've been
in the room.
Hell, everybody at the table can sense it.
(sad orchestra music)
(door shuts)
- [Rakeem] What took y'all so long?
- I don't know.
I think mama forgot.
- She didn't forget.
Go ahead, baby.
- Hey, Jaleah. - Hey.
- Pizza here?
- Yeah, they delivered it, but it might be cold by now.
- Baby, go ahead and wash your hands, get ready to eat.
- She acting crazy again?
- You know it.
- Well, she's here now.
So don't let that woman steal your joy.
- All right.
(appliance clatters in next room)
What happened?
- I was just trying to grab some paper towels,
and then the iron fell.
- You hit your face? - Yes.
- Oh, baby, don't worry about this.
Can you just get a a bandaid outta the first day kit.
- Come on, baby.
- All right, baby girl.
(car door shuts)
All right, gimme a hug.
All right, see you next weekend, okay, bye.
Love you. - Love you.
(phone rings)
- Come on, Monica, I know you see me calling, damn.
She's been doing this off and on since our divorce, officer.
I mean, what good is it having a parenting plan issued
by a judge if there are no repercussions?
- And you filed reports in the past?
- Yes sir, and that hadn't changed a thing.
Look, this is my weekend to have my daughter,
and I want my daughter.
- Look, I understand, all right?
I got an officer over there now
so we can get this thing worked out.
- You got kids, officer?
- Yes sir, I do.
- You ever deal with anything like this?
- Yes sir, I have.
- [Man On Radio] 540 to 512.
- 512, go ahead.
- [Man On Radio] Hey, somebody here,
but they won't answer the door.
I've been knocking for a while.
- All right, ten-four, I'll let him know.
- Okay, so what now?
- I'm taking a report for you, okay?
You can follow up with PIU using this card
and officially filed charges for custodial interference,
or you can petition a judge for a child custody hearing
because she has failed to follow the plan issued
by the judge.
- Sir, the officer said that she's in there right now.
You can't forcibly go in and get my child?
This is kidnapping.
- No sir.
You can't kidnap her if she lives there.
This is custodial interference if anything.
- Okay, well, arrest her for that then and go in
and get my daughter.
- Custodial interference is a misdemeanor, all right?
A warrant has to be signed
and sworn by a judge to make an arrest,
and you're not gonna get that until Monday.
- I follow the law to the T, officer, to the T.
She does whatever the fuck she want.
Excuse me, she does whatever she wants
and nothing ever comes from it.
I do everything right, man, everything,
and I get no justice for it.
- Brother, I enforce the law.
I don't write it, all right?
Trust me, I feel you, I do,
and if there's something I could do, I would.
Look, I'm gonna do my part to file this report.
You gotta do yours and play the game.
- You can't play a game when the winner
is already decided, sir. (somber electronic music)
I thank you for your help, officer.
(door knocks)
- Hey, what's up, man?
- What's up, bro?
- Saw Melanie at the store this morning.
- [Rakeem] Oh yeah, probably after she left the house.
- You good?
- Man, just dealing with Monica and all this BS, man,
and she called DCS on me, bro.
- Damn, for what?
- Jaleah hit her face the other day
when she was at the house, got a little cut on her jaw.
Monica told them folks I was abusing her.
- How old is Jaleah?
- 13.
- And they didn't talk to her?
- Monica told them folks that she was lying to protect me.
- So now what?
- Well, I went down and filed for a new court hearing.
- Well, what about the police?
- I'm not even gonna waste my time.
I could care less about her going to jail.
I just want my baby.
- Damn, man, I truly hate that for you, brother,
I really do.
- Bro, it's like I try to do everything right, live my life.
Married this chick, try to have a family the right away just
for her to flip a switch and do me like this.
Like even now, I do everything by the book and I still lose.
It's like folk who try to live their life right, Man,
I always end up with the worst of everything.
- Right, I feel that, brother.
- Man, you good?
- It came back.
- Oh man, bro.
Man, I'm sorry, bro.
Man, I'm sitting here bothering you with all my BS.
- Hey, hey, now don't you dare pity me, all right?
I mean, if this is how it's gonna end for me,
at least it'll be on my own terms.
- Damn, what you mean by that?
- Ah, nothing, man.
Look, you ain't got to worry about me, all right?
I beat it once.
I beat it again.
(sad orchestra music)
- I think about that day a lot, man.
Just like you, JO, I feel like it was something I could have
done just instead of just worrying about my own problems.
I just hate the fact that my last interaction
with Greg was me filling up his ears with my bullshit,
and seeing him in that casket, Bro, that was hard, man.
That was just the tip of the iceberg for me, man.
If I knew then that shit was about to be way worse for me,
I would've envied him.
She gonna love it.
I'll put it in for you.
- I can't believe I'm famming.
- What?
- I wouldn't be mad if I didn't shop again for a while.
- Melly, it wasn't that bad.
- Rakeem, it feels like we went
to every department store in the city.
- Well, I promise I'll make it up to you, baby,
and thank you for coming up with me today.
- Well, no, it was actually kinda sexy seeing you go all out
for your daughter like this.
- Oh shit.
- I'm just hoping that I get something for my birthday too.
- Girl, I got something for your birthday right now.
- You so nasty. - Get a taste of your
little gift right now.
- Come on. - Well, come on, girl.
- I'm hungry. - I'll feed you, girl.
Come on, get in the car.
There you go, baby.
- Thank you, baby. - You welcome.
- I haven't seen you smile this much in two months.
- What?
I'm just looking forward to Tuesday.
- So you get to sit here Tuesday?
- I don't know.
My lawyer said that the judge, at the very least,
will reinforce the original parenting plan
and according to the original, my weekend is coming up
and Saturday is Jaleah's birthday.
So that makes it even more special.
I'm just ready to spoil my baby.
- I am so proud of you, Rakeem.
- Proud of me for what?
- I mean, you could have lost your cool.
You could have played right into her hands during all this.
You know I hate when women use kids as a get back to 'em,
and I hope Karma makes that judge grant you full custody.
- Baby, look, I'mma apologize to you in advance,
because if that judge grants me full custody,
I'm kissing the judge, okay?
Man or woman, I'm kissing the judge.
- You are not. - I'm gonna kiss them
in the mouth. You're not kissing...
- Just a little bit? - No.
- Okay.
(phone rings)
- Hello?
- [Man On Phone] Yes, Mr. Morris.
- This is he.
- [Man On Phone] Morris, this is Greg
with Parkering Law Firm.
- Oh, good morning, Greg.
- Ms. Parker wanted me to contact you and let you know
that Judge Hart is ill and continuing all
of our cases scheduled for today till the 21st of May.
- What?
No, no, no, no, no, no.
Can't we just move to another judge?
- [Greg] Unfortunately not, no sir.
It's already been continued.
- Look sir, you don't understand.
This hearing has to happen.
I have a lot riding on this hearing.
(sad orchestra music) - I understand, Mr. Morris,
but until the judge returns, there's nothing we can do.
- Hey, baby.
Happy birthday. - Thank you.
- Come out to the car.
I got something for you in the car.
- Hey, I got the meat ready and on the stove for you.
I'm about to go take Jaleah to mama house so everybody get.
- All right, what about the decoration though?
- shit, the balloons is in my room.
Let me get the cake ready, and I'll text you
when we're headed back so you can light it.
- All right, you doing that in front of her?
- [Monica] She out front.
She mad, 'cause she think we forgot her birthday.
- All right, I got you.
- [Rakeem] What's wrong, baby?
- Nothing. - Your mama in the house?
- Yes.
- Well, I've been calling and texting you.
- My mama took my phone.
She say it's because of my grades,
and my grades aren't even bad.
Like, oh, I hate it here.
- I know, baby, and I'm sorry.
Okay, you know I love you.
There's some grown up things going on right now,
and people are trying to keep me away from you,
but I need you to know that I love you very much.
No matter what anyone says,
I'm gonna always be here for you.
You understand me?
- Yes, sir.
- [Rakeem] Come on get your gift, birthday girl.
(ominous orchestra music)
- You got some nerve bringing your ass to my house.
Jaleah, get away from him and get over here.
- Look, she's coming.
She's just getting her gift first.
- What you even doing here?
- Look, this is my daughter too.
No matter how many games you play,
you're not gonna stop me from taking care of my daughter.
- I'm gonna call the police,
'cause you ain't got no business being here.
- Here, baby, just get your gift.
- Nah, she can leave all that
- Look okay, just look.
This is hers, okay, for her birthday.
- Jaleah, get in the house now.
See that's where you messed up at,
'cause you put your hands on me.
- I'm sorry, baby.
- You going to jail, because you touched me,
and you trespassing.
- Monica, you are the worst, I mean,
a fucking horrible person.
I'm not finna stay here and give any energy to you.
- Yes, my baby daddy over here and he just assaulted me
and he trying to take my daughter.
- What? - What the going on?
- That nigga put his hands on me.
- Zeke, you know good damn well I didn't touch her, bro.
I came over to bring Jaleah her gifts for her birthday
since she won't let me see my daughter.
You know I didn't put my hands on her, bro.
Come on now, you know how your sister is.
- Look, bro, you need to just go and get up outta here, man.
- Okay, all right, cool, bro.
- Yes, his name was Rakeem. - Bye, baby.
- He's still here.
The cops right here. - I love you, baby.
(car pulls up) - He right here, sir.
Here he go.
(door shuts)
(sad electronic music)
(door shuts)
- What happened, Rackeem?
- I did not hit that woman, okay?
I went over there to give Jaleah her gifts.
That's all.
She reached for the bag.
I knocked her hand out the way, okay, that's it.
That's it, okay, but of course,
it's her word against mine, right?
I'm the one that goes to jail.
I'm the one with the no contact order.
I'm the one that's always losing,
but I don't deserve none of this shit.
I'm tired of this shit.
Melanie, I'm tired of this shit.
I'm tired of this shit.
I'm tired of this shit. (cries)
A couple of days later, Sheriff's served me
with an order of protection.
I can't contact Monica or Jaleah in any way
or else I'll go to jail.
Now to the courts, I'm unstable.
Like I'm a danger to my daughter on the bogus abuse report
that she made, all the BS allegations and shit,
I might as well did it all.
All the fucking money I'm paying to this lawyer,
bond money I'm not gonna get back, court fees,
just so I can have the rights I already have,
just so I can see my baby, man.
Child support already coming outta my check every month.
I gotta work two, three days overtime just
to pay my fucking bills, man.
I ain't gonna lie, man.
Sometimes, I understand Greg.
Like what's the point?
What's the point, bro?
- Hey, look, brother, I feel you, Rakeem,
like I really do, brother,
but that is not the right decision, and it never will be,
but even still, nobody at this table is going to judge you
for how you feel.
- You know, I haven't been through what you've been through,
but I definitely understand.
I feel you, my brother, for real.
- You know I'm gonna child support for two.
So you know I get it.
The courts are not in favor for us, man,
and the fact that she is weaponizing the courts
to keep you from your kids is crazy, bro.
Man, make me pissed off right now,
and I'm being a jackass for my little situation.
I'm mad because my girl pushing the kids on me.
So she can go live her life,
and you here can't even see yours.
That's crazy, man.
- Okay, so what's the lawyer say, right?
Look at that.
How do we get this all back right?
- As long as this order of protection is active,
there's nothing she can do.
I gotta get that dismissed before she can do anything, man.
- [Adam] Damn, that shit crazy, oh.
- Look, man, I ain't gonna lie, man.
I thought about killing her, man.
Like I seriously considered it.
Man, I feel like I got nothing to lose, man.
Feel like I'm not gonna see Jaleah again.
You know, she just going to grow up
thinking I'm a deadbeat father.
Shit, man, look, the only justice I thought I was gonna get
a man to pulling a bullet in the bitch's head
for all the shit she doing to me, man.
Look, man, I know I sound crazy, man.
I hate to even say that shit out loud.
- No, no, no, this is exactly where you need to say
that out loud and get it off your chest, all right?
Ain't a man at this table gonna fault you
for feeling like that, my brother, okay?
Again, that is the reason for all of this.
- Now y'all were married.
Why is she acting like this, if you don't mind me asking?
- I don't know, bro.
All we did was ever argue.
There was never any peace in at home when we were together.
So I thought the divorce was mutual.
Then soon as male come into the picture,
I guess it's probably that, man.
Shit, I don't know.
- Look, brother, you are a great father, okay?
And don't you for a second think otherwise.
Ain't how many women it is out here dealing
with these weak, spineless men.
I bet most of them wish that the fathers
of their children were half the man
that you are today, all right?
I guarantee that.
Matter of fact, your situation kind of reminds me of
what it is that I want to bring to the table.
I've been thinking a lot about my father.
You know how many sleepless nights I caused him?
Hell, they even live up to his expectations for me.
All right, everybody at this table has been open.
So I'm gonna be open too.
I've been struggling a lot since my father passed.
(ominous orchestra music)
- Mom, mom, mom, mama, where is he?
Where is he, where is he?
- Oh, he's in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
- Okay, wait, wait, wait, wait.
What do you need?
Tell me, tell me what you need
- Son, Look, just prepare yourself.
Prepare yourself, son.
- I remember exactly how I felt hearing those words
from my mother.
She knew, I knew.
My father wasn't an openly emotional man.
That's why I remember the first time I saw my father cry
standing at my grandfather's grave.
I didn't understand the concept of grief at that time.
Death, I didn't quite understand it.
The next time I saw my father cry again,
I didn't quite understand why.
I remember thinking it's not that serious.
That was the second and last time
that I would ever see him show that much emotion.
My father wasn't big on PDA.
He loved my mother because no matter how much she fussed,
he tried to make her happy.
My father never told me he loved me,
at least not from what I can remember,
but I mean this sincerely when I say he never had to.
I knew he did.
I remember seeing my father sit at the dining room table,
television on and him paying it no mind,
just staring into space.
Then I didn't have a single clue as to why,
but now I totally understand.
The world was on his shoulders,
the weight of being a husband, a father, a provider.
He sat there at that table trying to figure it out,
and even when he didn't know how, he always found a way.
My father wasn't a perfect man.
He had his flaws.
He specialized in holding grudges.
He would forgive, but he would never forget,
and saving money wasn't his best strong suit.
Even when he didn't have it, he would go into debt
to get it sometimes because he just wanted to see us happy.
The family was all he had.
My father was a prideful man.
He'd do it all by himself before he allowed someone
to brag about lending him a hand,
realizing his body was failing him and he could no longer do
so many things he took pride in doing
was a sobering sadness his words can't explain,
but sometimes that pride led to stubbornness beyond repair.
Even he couldn't do certain things.
He still tried.
One night, I saw a look in his eyes I'd never forget.
He was tired.
I watched my father take his last breath.
Through the weeping and praying around me,
I just remember staring at him
with a pure sense of mortality.
I've experienced death many times before,
but this was different.
As a man, losing your father is different.
Who can I call now when I can't get the faucet
to stop leaking no matter how much I tighten it
or hear some of the wisdom that I once took for granted?
The man who made me a man is gone now.
Right then more than any other time, life became real.
♪ Was blind but now I'm free ♪
- [Adam] As a father myself, if I could say one thing
to him right now, I would simply apologize.
I'd apologize for all the stress
and the hurt that I caused growing from a child into a man,
because at this point in my life, I get it.
I find myself staring into space a lot now,
wondering if I've done enough trying
to figure this thing out as a husband and a father,
understanding now that you can only hope your children
listen and take what you've taught them.
Knowing now why my father broke down at that table,
the sober realization that you truly can't control any
of it, and how one day when they're grown and I'm gone,
my boys will get it to.
- Damn, that was deep, bro.
- I love you, brother.
- Love you too, man.
- Love you too, JO, and you too, Mark.
- It's getting a little soft in here,
but I love you fellas too.
- I just wanna say all y'all like a brother too, man,
and Adam, I appreciate you for putting this together.
Definitely much needed, bro.
- I agree.
I mean, I wasn't feeling it at first,
but I'm looking forward to it next time.
- Yeah, man, I feel lighter.
I mean, thank you for starting this, bro.
- Man, thank you all.
Man, sometimes, man, we, as men, have this tendency
to wear this S on our chest.
I mean, like we never want anybody to perceive us as soft.
Man, if you can't talk to your brothers, your wives,
there's somebody that you can trust, man,
this shit will eat you alive.
I just really wish we had done this sooner
before Greg thought the decision
that he made was the right one.
To Greg, cards, and cognac.
- Greg. - Greg.
(glasses clink) - Drink.
- All right, fellas, I think we had a great day
and I'm looking forward to do this again,
but all this sentimental shit just got me all thrown off.
I think we need to play one more game, okay?
(upbeat pop music)
(dramatic electronic music)