Original subtitles

[theme music] ♪ ♪

- "If God is So Good, Why are Blacks Doing So Bad?"

And when I read that book, it kind of changed my life,

and I wanted to change others' life, you know what I'm saying?

So I minister out here.

I go on the street corners.

We--we set up music, and sometimes I bring a truck

out here, a big 18-wheeler.

We convert it into a stage, and we just get out.

We feed the community.

I do a thing every year called Blessed Fest, where I give out

turkeys every Thanksgiving.

I've done it for the last nine years.

We give out turkeys, pay people's light bill,

pay people's rent. I mean, it's a big event.

And so I do it right here in Fifth Ward,

you know what I'm saying?

So it--it brings me joy just to give.

And then I solicit other people that have money to give also.

So that's my big thing, is uplifting Fifth Ward,

encouragement, you know what I'm saying, and showing people that there's a better way,

and then helping them along the way

while they're having hard times.

You know what I'm saying?

[tense music]

- Look, that's probably one of the pinche miatas

right there who killed my little brother.

- Man, you sure?

- Man, really, I don't give a fuck.

[Spanish] - Fuck these motherfuckers.

Fuck.

Sale, vamonos.

♪ ♪

- Get these motherfuckers.

♪ ♪

- Fellas, where the weed at?

- What you looking for, homes?

- [Spanish] [gunfire]

- Come on, let's go, let's go.

♪ ♪

Come on, let's go. Let's get out of here.

[engine roaring]

- Good morning.

You feeling all right?

I left you some aspirin right there in case you needed it.

- No, I'm good.

Where am I?

What happened?

- Oh, you're at my place. You passed out last night.

- Alexis? - Alexis?

Uh, no, she's not here.

[gentle music]

- Oh, my goodness, my boys. - No, no, no, no.

Everything's good. Everything's good.

I already sent Moe over there to check on them.

They're fine. They're fine. Just relax. They're fine.

Listen, about last night, um,

we'll talk about that later,

but I got to get over to the club, OK?

But--but take your time. Take your time.

I left you some food in the microwave,

and you can take my car to get home

whenever you're ready to go, OK?

For now, just relax. OK?

We'll talk in a bit.

♪ ♪

- Man, I can't believe it.

They come to me for money for that damn community center.

I give it to them, and then they bend me over

like some cheap whore.

And then we still got to go to this gala charity event?

Come on.

- We both know money isn't the problem.

You know why people love wars? - No, I don't.

- They love a good hero.

But the only thing better than a hero is a fallen hero.

- OK. Why not just throw more money at 'em?

Put it into the community center for his support.

- It's too late for that.

Besides, you want to buy his support?

- Hell, yeah. It's politics, HB.

- He won't go for it.

- Well, I don't know.

Jesus, what do we have to lose? - Time.

And we'll lose $10 million in lost interest payments

if we don't break ground within six months.

- All right, all right.

It'll happen. We'll get him.

- I'm losing my patience.

But I have an idea.

Find me at the gala.

- I'll see you there.

♪ ♪

- [sighs]

♪ ♪

[phone ringing]

- Hey, I'm back at the crime scene from last night.

- All right, what's happening?

- How many of these shootings have to happen

until people change? This is just ridiculous.

- You think you got all the answers for all of that?

- No, not me. The chief.

- Hmm. I know. I'm looking at his memo now.

- You gonna go to the meeting?

- All the commanders got to be there.

- What do you think it'll be about?

- Well, it ain't nothing good, that's for sure.

- Come on, tell me. I'm listening.

- Well, I've been pushing this community thing,

community center for I don't know how long.

I got no action on it, man. Ain't nobody listening to me.

- People got to want to get better before they do.

- Yeah, well, I ain't giving up.

- All right, well, I'll see you back at the office.

- I'm here.

♪ ♪

- ♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Bonecrusher ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Never confuse me ♪ With the antics of small individuals ♪

♪ Doing small things ♪

[laughs]

♪ I'm back, motherfuckers, yeah ♪

♪ Living the night of a gangster ♪

♪ Street sidewalk ♪

♪ Looking for all the answers to my woes ♪

♪ Shout out to 83 and 84 ♪

♪ Never violate the family code ♪

♪ Welcome ♪

♪ Welcome ♪

♪ Welcome ♪

♪ Welcome ♪

- Can I sit here?

- You sure you want to join me?

Be an outcast?

- I'd rather be no place else.

So are you, uh, writing your next big hit?

- I hope so.

- What's it about?

- Romeo and Juliet.

- I'm really sorry about my mom.

- It's just moms being moms.

- You just reminded me.

Don't forget about this.

- I don't know, Jas. It's my brother's birthday.

- And you have an excuse for everything.

Thousand-dollar prize can all be yours.

- I guess Mama can use the money.

- So you'll do it?

- I don't know. Maybe.

- Look, I want to promote you,

and this is the way I can do it.

And it's the next big step to becoming--and I quote--

"the greatest rapper ever."

- You know, I see a career in sales for you.

- I'm just saying.

- How are you?

- I'm doing OK.

- And how are the parents and the whole robbery situation?

- They tell me not to worry about anything

and that everything will be OK.

They act like I don't have eyes or whatever.

But yeah, it's not the same, you know?

- I'm sorry about that.

That, everything.

- The police don't know squat,

but I've been doing my own investigating.

- Really? - Yeah.

I can't put a finger on it, but when I replay it in my mind,

it's like I actually know the person behind it.

Like, I really know him.

[knocking on door]

- Kendrick, is everything OK?

- [laughs] Absolutely, thanks to you.

I mean, you--oh, shit.

Is this a bad time? - No, no, you're fine.

- You sure? - Yeah.

- OK. OK, good. Thank you.

All right, so, listen, I wanted to thank you

for running the piece that you ran.

Yes, yes, and informing everyone

about our great community center

and importance to our community.

And I figured, fuck it. Let's drink to it, right?

So here is to a bright

and prosperous future.

Mm.

So what's that? What do you got there?

What you working on? - Nothing. It's a side project.

- So how goes it? How are you? - I'm fine.

- Yeah?

[gentle music]

- And the wife?

- Oh, you know, we're hanging in there, you know?

- Yeah.

Well, marriage can be a dicey thing at best.

- Yeah. - But that's life, though.

- Mm.

♪ ♪

I've done some terrible things.

- And some great things.

You're a good man with great ambition.

Nothing is sexier.

I'm not emotional like most women.

♪ ♪

No roller coasters.

In this place, with me,

you can be what you want and who you want.

♪ ♪

Let's do it, Kendrick.

♪ ♪

Right now, on the couch,

with the lights on.

♪ ♪

- You know, I feel like I'm watching a ticking time bomb.

- Your heart's in the right place.

- Yeah, but something else is going on behind the scenes.

And whoever they are, they're always one step ahead of us.

It's like they know what we're gonna do.

I can feel it.

- Whatever happened to that truce idea you had?

I thought that would have worked.

- Yeah.

I reached out to one guy,

but I haven't heard anything back yet.

- You only reached out to one side?

- Yeah. - I can help with that.

- No, I don't want to get you involved.

♪ ♪

- What if it was Nina's body

you found at the next crime scene?

I'm from Fifth Ward,

which means it's your neighborhood, too.

♪ ♪

Let's go to sleep, papi.

- Come here to me.

- [vocalizing]

♪ I need your love ♪

♪ Baby, I know ♪

- Hey, hey.

Um, just checking in.

Are you feeling any better?

- ♪ Baby, be my lady ♪

- No problem.

You know, um, anything you need,

I got you, all right?

- ♪ I need your love ♪

♪ Get straight to the point ♪

♪ I've been rocking with you for a long time ♪

- Will I see you later?

- ♪ It's impossible to obtain ♪

♪ Then maintain one second ♪

♪ My last name ♪

[upbeat music] - That's got to be the craziest meeting

I think I ever been in, man.

- All right, well, let me get this straight.

That's what the chief suggested?

- No, no, that's what they're doing.

- Oh, man.

I don't know.

You ever think that it might help control the violence?

- Oh, come on, Sones. Come on.

Stop and frisk didn't work in New York,

and it's not gonna work here.

This don't do nothing but--but pit

the cops against the community, and somebody gonna get hurt.

- Wait a minute. You don't know that.

- Oh, no, no, no, I know the people of Fifth Ward,

and I know the cops that are under my command.

See, let me tell you something. This is ridiculous.

It is not gonna do anything but divide the city further.

This got Coletti written all over it.

- How about your community center?

- Davis, you're coming around, OK,

but this is political football, man.

We can't get that done that fast.

- How long do we have?

- 30 days. - 30 days.

[tense music]

I know what I got to do.

And I gotta do it alone.

- You know how dangerous this is?

Huh?

You ain't even heard back from Seth people.

♪ ♪

Why not, man?

- Let's just say, uh,

I understand now

why you're fighting for your nephews.

♪ ♪

- Lettie. - Yeah.

- Hmm.

♪ ♪

You know, uh, if I assign you your own unit--

- We don't have enough time.

Got 30 days.

Besides--

--who can we really trust in this division?

- OK.

What's your plan?

♪ ♪

[phone ringing]

- Hello?

- I have a collect call from-- - Tony.

- --an inmate at county detention facility.

Your telephone service provider does not allow collect calls.

If you would like to accept this and future collect calls,

you must establish a pre-pay account.

- Hey, put this in the inventory.

Yo.

♪ ♪

- What the fuck is this, man?

Yo. - What up, man?

What you call me here for?

- Man, I've been doing some thinking, bro.

I think we need to squash this bullshit with Carlos.

- You mean, like, take out his whole squad?

I'm with that shit. - Nah, man,

I'm talking about a truce, man.

I'm talking about getting an understanding

with this motherfucker. - The fuck that mean?

You trying to coexist with these niggas?

They don't give two fucks about us, bro.

- I'm talking about a territorial understanding

between two organizations, bro.

- You serious, huh?

Yo, they just took your cousin, cuz.

- That's the fucking point, nigga.

They gonna take your cousin next.

Then what, we gonna take two of theirs?

We gonna go back and forth, back and forth?

Nigga, this shit ain't gonna never fucking end.

- I'd rather clap back than call a truce.

- Man, I'd rather not go to no more fucking funerals.

- But this coming from the same motherfucker

that just murked a couple of they peeps

a couple of weeks ago?

- Man, I can't change what done already happened.

But I can control the motherfucking future.

- What about the business?

You didn't think about that, did you?

- Nigga, the business? This is the business.

We get money.

Whether it's guns, cars, drugs, we get money.

- Listen to yourself, man. Listen to yourself.

A truce? A truce?

Man, I've been riding with you since day one.

But this, I ain't with this shit, cuz.

And at the end of the day, you gonna regret it.

- I guess it is what it is.

- I guess it is what it is, man.

Fuck.

[jazz music]

- Whew. Oh, boy.

Ah, I needed that.

So we--we going to your place tonight?

- Who's Tina?

- She's a family member.

You answering my calls? - No.

To answer your question, my place is fine.

- Mm. - I'm not the jealous type.

- Excuse me.

♪ ♪

[sighs]

Um, we're gonna have to take a rain check tonight, yeah.

- What's wrong? - Nothing. That was Lavell.

We got a deadline tomorrow, and, you know,

so we got some proposals and stuff we got to turn in.

He forgot. I--I forgot.

So I'm gonna have to head back to the office. Thank you.

- Well, why don't you come over later?

- It's probably gonna be a all-nighter, yeah. Thanks.

- You know, I'm an all-nighter.

- Hmm.

No, my dear, you're a beast.

An absolute beast.

[sighs]

- You have no idea.

♪ ♪

[gentle music] - Absolutely. Yes, by Tuesday?

Sure. No worries.

Listen, let me call you back. Yes, no.

OK, fine. Let me you back. Bye.

♪ ♪

So how are you feeling?

You're feeling good, right?

- Yeah. Things are interesting.

It's been a very rough few days, but I'm hanging in there.

And with James' birthday party tomorrow, everything is pretty

much where I want it to be. - Good, good.

I'm so glad to hear that.

And how is your health?

- Could be better, but I'm maintaining.

- OK, OK.

Well, you know, in your condition,

you got to stay on top of things.

- Yeah, about that.

I've made a decision. - Oh.

- And, um, I'm not going to keep it.

- OK, now, please tell me that you're referring to giving

the baby up for adoption.

- No, I just, um--

I can't, and I don't want to deal with this anymore.

♪ ♪

- Oh, my.

My.

You know, going through with the procedure

can decrease your chances of a future pregnancy.

- Yes, I know that.

And that's OK because I don't plan on having any more kids.

- Does the father know? - No, he doesn't.

He's locked up for a while.

10 years.

- OK, well, listen.

I understand that you are a grown woman,

and you can make a decision like this,

but I urge you to reconsider.

- I do not have the time, the resources,

the support system, the finances.

- Imagine there are couples out there that cannot

have babies the natural way.

This is a blessing.

Not just for them, but for the child.

- I hear you, Ms. Jackson.

I came here to let you know since you are the only person

that does know.

And to be honest, you're the only person

I can talk to and not be judged.

But I've made my decision.

♪ ♪

- All right.

I'll always be here for you.

♪ ♪

- Thank you.

♪ ♪

- Thank you for calling Planned Parenthood Center for Choice.

Our offices are currently closed.

If this is an emergency which requires

immediate medical attention, please dial 911.

♪ ♪

- Hey. - Hey, prima.

- Primo, so nice to see you.

- You, too.

- Como esta?

- Oh, I'm good. You know me.

How you doing? - That's nice to hear.

So are you gonna go to Nina's quinceanera?

- I don't know, man. - You better be there.

I'm not going by myself. - Oh, man.

They party hard, huh? - Si.

- Yeah. -[Spanish]

- Yeah, man.

- So what are you gonna get to eat? Oh, I know.

You're gonna get a double cheeseburger cooked

medium well, no tomatoes, with fries.

- Yeah, you still know my favorites, huh?

- Of course, I do. - All right.

- I need you to do something for me.

[upbeat music]

- Who the fuck's this gringo?

- Paco, I need your help.

- Primo, I need this favor from you.

- All right.

- I'm trying to put an end to all of this bloodshed.

- You still think that's all possible?

- Well, I'm a Catholic, and I always feel like with God,

anything's possible.

- [Spanish]

- All right.

- You know, that Miguel murder, that was no accident.

And it happened on their turf. You know that.

And then one of their guys, Mikey Batts,

gets murdered in cold blood,

and they dumped his body in a field like they're

trying to send a message. - Shit happens, homeboy.

- Yeah, well, are you prepared to go to war with Seth?

- No doubt.

- And don't you think he knows that?

- Fuck, yeah. - Then don't.

Look, Blacks and Browns have been living together peacefully

in Fifth Ward since forever.

And now they're at war?

It just doesn't make sense.

What I want to know is, who's really gonna

profit from this conflict?

It's not you. It's not Seth. Think about it.

- So what do you want?

- I want a meeting.

And I need a truce of 30 days.

♪ ♪

- You got 15.

♪ ♪

- Well, it's better than nothing.

- He's not returning my phone calls, either. We're having our own hardships because of all the legal fees

because of the shooting.

Oh, OK. OK, bye.

That was Dat Tran just asking for help on their expenses

and their property insurance.

Maybe we should not have trusted the councilman.

- I wish we could trade places with them right now.

- [non-English speech]

- [non-English speech] We have a baby on the way,

and we have no money.

[non-English speech]

[synth music]

- Yeah, that's really good.

♪ ♪

- ♪ Oooh, yeah ♪

- So you and Robert back together?

- Well, it's not official, but we're getting there.

- You ain't ready yet. Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop.

Talk to me. Tell me about the mural.

How's it going? - Pretty good.

- Yeah? How long before you through?

- A couple weeks.

- Two weeks? - Yeah.

- You know how big that wall is?

- It's a big wall for a big painting.

- And in two weeks, you're done?

- Yeah. - All right.

You need more supplies? - No.

I think I'm good on supplies. - All right.

You need something, you let me know, all right?

- All right. - All right.

You sho'? - For sho'.

- One day, when we get to the court.

You ain't ready for that.

It's when the uncle gonna put it on you.

- Seth said we got to go to that truce meeting

with those vatos from Denver Harlem.

- Truce meeting? - Some cop set it up.

- 'Cause of Mike Batts.

- I don't know. Probably. - Damn.

- Why we got to go?

- Nigga, we got to represent.

- Me? - Yo, you my boy.

I need you there. - Man, still.

I got plans.

- What you mean, you got plans?

Your plans is always my plans, nigga.

Oh.

Don't tell me it's that Chinese ho.

- She said she wasn't Chinese,

and she ain't no ho.

- Oh, excuse the fuck out of me.

What you gonna do with the Vietnamese non-ho then?

- I don't know.

I like her.

And she's smart, too, so. - So what you saying?

Every other bitch is a dumb ass motherfuckers?

Hey, well, I like my bitches stupid as shit.

[laughter]

- How are you holding up?

- Some days are bad.

Some days are worse.

- I hear you.

But your kids, they're happy and healthy.

That's all that matters, right?

- Yeah, I guess so.

Lord. Shit.

They're growing up way too fast for me.

Sometimes I just get so wore out

trying to keep up with these kids.

And then on top of that, trying to take care of them.

But I love it.

- What about you, you know?

I mean, maybe it's time you do something for yourself

while you still can.

- Girl, I've got to take care of this house.

I got to clean the house, get James to bed, and then--

- No, no, no, no, no. I am giving you

the rest of the day off.

I got this.

I can--I know how to set a table.

Yes, seriously,

- I didn't mean leave me. - Girl, bye.

- Dude, shut up. - Yo, yo,

you need to be at that meeting, though, bro.

Seth's gonna get some more studio time.

You my fam, and when

I start blowing up, you know I'm gonna be--

- I brought Jaylene, and Darian is on the way.

Is that cool?

- Yeah, yeah, that's cool.

- It is just so funny how you must be a magician.

- Mommy, hey!

You look so pretty. - Pretty. Look at you.

Yeah, don't use that tone with me.

It's not gonna work.

I'm on to you, Jaylene. Stop the lies.

- I didn't lie. - You lied.

You've continued to lie.

You weren't supposed to be here tonight.

Where's Darian? - She's on the way.

- She's on the way? - Yes, ma'am.

- Like she was on the way last week and the week before that

and the week before that?

Stop it. It's done. I'm on to you, OK?

- How did you even know I was here?

I blocked you on Instagram.

- Listen, I have my ways to find

my daughter other than Instagram and social media,

thank you very much.

And you know what?

I have so much going on right now.

You know I do, OK?

And I don't have time for this right now.

I got something I got to do.

You need to stop this, OK?

Stop disrespecting you and stop disrespecting me

because that's what you're doing.

Look at me.

Come on, Jaylene, please.

- Yes. - What?

- Yes, ma'am.

- I gotta go.

You be home by 11 o'clock, OK?

And we'll discuss this.

Because this isn't over.

Your eyelash is fucked.

Fix it.

- Mm.

I heard you's an Einstein. Say something smart.

- Something smart. - [laughs]

That's my girl.

She got you. - Yeah.

- She got you. Don't mind him.

He just-- - Yeah, whatever.

Well, listen, me and my boy were having a business meeting,

so why don't you go eat some cake with your bitches

or something? - Bitches?

Who you calling bitches? - Yo, yo, yo.

Relax, relax, relax, relax.

Jeez. You want to go get some soda?

- What's good with you?

- What's good with you?

- Why don't you go with your little friend?

Yeah. Call me.

What's up, kids?

- ♪ Shorty, I think that you're so amazing ♪

♪ And that your body's so engaging ♪

♪ Hot and spicy ♪

[somber music] - Hmm. Don't I feel special?

- You're funny. - So what's up?

Why'd you invite me?

- Well, I'm a little embarrassed.

And I don't like this kind of stuff.

♪ ♪

- Well, if--

--if I'm being honest, I haven't stopped

thinking about you since the last time

we saw each other. - So where do we go from here?

- So you're gonna do the battle, right?

- I don't know.

- What do you mean, you don't know?

- You make it sound really easy.

- You have a gift.

You have to share it with the world.

- I just don't think I'm good enough.

- Listen, you're great, and I know hip-hop.

Now you just need to be on a stage and not just in a studio.

I'll pick out your outfit and everything.

- You gonna pick out my outfit? Something special?

- You don't need clothes to be special.

- Jas, Uber's here.

- How you so sure I'll do it?

- You're the voice of Fifth Ward, Ray Ray.

That's power.

- Jas, let's go.

[gentle music]

- See you there.

I'm coming.

[chattering]

- ♪ I don't want no tension between us ♪

- OK. - ♪ Tension between us ♪

- You know, I gotta tell you, I was real happy

when I pulled up and saw that car in the driveway.

- Why?

- Because it meant you were here.

So, um, how's everything?

- Delicious.

- Compliments to the chef.

And how was James's party?

- Oh, he loved it. - Mm.

- He had a ball. [laughter]

Just, um, just wish little Tony could have been there.

- Yeah, you know, I'm sorry I couldn't make it.

I had a lot of work to do at the club.

- I understand.

But you're here now.

- Yeah.

- ♪ Baby, that's all that we need ♪

♪ To get back to us ♪

♪ I don't want no tension between us ♪

- So what time you got to leave?

- Well, Ray Ray is out, and, uh, James

is staying over with family.

- That sounds to me like you got a free night.

You're welcome to stay. Could be a all-nighter.

- ♪ We don't need that ♪

- The diversity here in Sing On,

it actually helps a lot of people

because it shows us how to communicate

not only with, like, myself, Latinos,

but also with African Americans,

Indian people, Vietnamese people.

It's--it's a connection that is built through the cultural

barriers that are broken.

And you learn to understand and communicate and

be able to--to trust in different cultures

and improve yourself in each and every culture

that you learn.

The worst experience I had here in Fifth Ward

was when I was a child.

I was walking down the street with a couple of friends,

and we walked up to a body laying on a ditch,

just mutilated, stabbed to death or from what

we thought was something that is

gonna stick to someone's head, mind,

and you will never forget.

So it's kind of things that make you be aware

of your neighborhood, being at Fifth Ward

and trying to make it a better neighborhood

for everybody else.

- You're late.

- I was being followed.

By a cop.

- Did you fuck Davis?

- Yes.

- Does he love you yet?

- I don't know.

They didn't train me for this at Quantico.

- Well, desperate times call for desperate measures.

- So what happens next?

♪ ♪

- Leave that to me.

- No, that's my call.

- Director Broussard?

- Yes.

And I've been quite concerned with your progress.

- We've gotten results. - Two people are dead.

- We've had a few setbacks. - More than a few.

That's why FBI protocols are against husband and wife teams

working together in the field.

It introduces an unstable element.

- Look, Director, we're close.

Real close. - We've got this.

- I'm taking a huge risk on you two.

This better work.

[piano music]

- ♪ Tonight is the right time ♪ For me and her ♪

♪ I'm ready for a date with this showgirl ♪

♪ I've been trying to get for quite a while ♪

♪ And she's so fine ♪

♪ I want to take my time ♪

♪ And get to know all the things ♪

♪ I cared about her ♪

♪ She's the one ♪

♪ I've been waiting for all of my life ♪

♪ Tonight's the time for me and her ♪

♪ To make that connection ♪

♪ Things go right ♪

♪ Damn, now it's yours ♪

♪ My love and affection ♪

♪ It's not easy trying to find that perfect girl ♪

♪ That understands and loves you for who you are ♪

♪ And I hope that you see ♪

♪ After spending time, I'm the only man that she needs ♪

♪ You make her feel so comfortable ♪

♪ With loving and trusting me ♪