Original subtitles

MAN, ON TV: The Georgia Athletic Conference semifinals,

the last stop before the conference championships.

Conyers University is holding its own against Bringston,

a team eager to shut down questions about their dominance

after a string of losses.

It's come down to this... Bringston up by one,

bottom of the ninth, two outs, two strikes,

the firepower of Damon Sims on the mound.

Come on, Damon. Come on, come on, come on.

MAN, ON TV: Sims lets it fly, a swing, strike 3.

Bringston wins it.

We are headed to the championship.

[LAUGHS]

- B.U.! - B-what?

Yes, sir. Conference championship, here we come.

Yeah!

Y'all left your hearts out on that field.

I cannot be more proud of you!

Enjoy the moment because you earned it.

- B-what? - B.U.!

- Let's go! - Let's go, baby!

Man, we're so close, I can taste the championship.

Yes, sir, but, hey, we got to stay focused, man.

We got to continue to work together as a team.

- For sure. - Speaking of, where's Lando?

Oh, his uncle in town.

He scooped him up after the game to celebrate.

Boys, check this out.

Our opponents in the conference championship sent us a little message.

TREVOR, ON PHONE: [LAUGHS] Yo, Trevor Michaels here

with the Eastview baseball squad.

Folks want to talk about Bringston and they MLB wannabe?

Well, let me make one thing clear.

They ain't ever beat us,

so bring that smoke, baby, 'cause we coming.

- Ha! - Oh, it's like that?

Oh, it's good. I'm gonna send them something better.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, hey, nah. - Hey, man...

Come on, bro. They're just doing that to mess with our heads.

Look, if we fire back now, that means that they succeeded.

So no response?

No, we deliver our response on the field in person.

Come on.

Huh. Never thought I'd say this,

but I miss cocky Damon.

SIMONE: [LAUGHS] I'm just shocked that Dr. Pace

doesn't have you in some extra dance rehearsal.

Girl, she is back to ignoring me since the ball.

From her point of view, I guess

me finding a loophole to stay in her class

was just another instance of me challenging her.

- Mm-hmm. - She want me out her class so bad.

I'm sorry, Keish.

This is supposed to be your dream semester of dance.

Mm. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

- I refuse to let Dr. Pace stress me out. - Good.

Speaking of someone stressing, Nate,

- please put these notecards down. - Uh, no. The debate is tomorrow.

Oh, can you guys quiz me at least one more time, please?

- No. - No.

Nate, you've studied these issues inside and out.

Girl, you got it.

Fine, no more prep, but that means

I need a distraction and, well, typically,

Damon-and-Simone drama does the trick.

- Child, anyway... - No, no, no, no, no.

You're gonna tell us what's going on with you two.

Mm.

It's pretty much been radio silence

since the masquerade ball. There.

Oh, you mean since he handed you his heart,

then gave you the most romantic ultimatum.

- My God, if I speak... - Damon wants answers,

and until I can give him one,

- I have nothing to say. - Well, then how do you feel?

Everything with Damon is intense

and all-consuming, and I don't know

if I'm ready for that.

- Damon, what's up? - Yo.

You got to say something to him.

Radio silence isn't cool.

[CAN DROPS]

Hey.

Uh, what's good?

I owe you a conversation,

but I'm not ready to have it.

I take what you said and how you feel very seriously.

But you need more time to see if you feel the same way.

Damon, you're one of my best friends.

I just don't want us to get this wrong.

I know what I want,

and deep down, I think you do, too.

If you need more time to get there,

then all right.

No one waits forever, though.

LONI: All right, guys. Today's the big day.

A win will ensure a favorable seed for the NCAA tournament,

so perform like I know you can.

Coach Loni, where's Thea?

Oh, Thea won't be joining us today,

so I switched up the lineup.

I'll hand out your new matchups on the bus.

But why isn't she playing?

Well, that isn't relevant,

but winning this match is.

Which is now harder to do because

- we have to pivot to new opponents. - JADE: Yeah, and on top of that,

we're down one of our best players.

- Yeah. - All right.

Uh, guys, it's all good.

We have a few hours on this bus,

so we can swap strategies and just get ready.

Let's do what we do.

MARCUS: Oh, we got to get up.

- You're gonna be late for work. - Mm,

don't you want to bask in the glory of your semifinal game?

- Hmm? - Hmm?

Oh, ho ho! I forgot how cold your feet get.

- Stop. - Ooh, did you get back with me

for the extra body heat, hmm?

- Mm, that's a very strong possibility. - Ha ha!

[CELL PHONE VIBRATING]

Oh? Oh. Now hold on.

Mm.

- Mm... - Hey, Doug, what's going on?

Wait. What?

Hold on, baby.

When?

OK. We'll talk later,

and I'll get back to you this week.

[SETS DOWN PHONE]

What's going on?

That was the owner of the building we've been fighting for,

and because of those financial issues,

- he needs to sell sooner rather than later. - Define "sooner."

He's given us 30 days to counter Bringston's offer.

30... The grants I applied for

- won't be approved that fast. - I know, I know...

but the Athletic Department's throwing its muscle around,

overriding the other pressing campus needs.

It's not a good look.

If something like that got out...

Public pressure could

force the board to consider

using the building for another department.

If only you had a journalist friend

who loves a juicy story...

Hmm...

MAN, ON TV: Sliding in, though, is Darren Lewis.

Lewis coming in, Sadler going out in a hurry.

The one thing you knew for sure, there was plenty of speed

headed in that direction, whether it be Lewis, Sadler...

Bro, she ain't here. She got a tennis match.

- Bro, ain't nobody checking for Simone. - Oh, OK.

You want to tell me what happened the last 5 minutes of this game?

Right.

Bro, this situationship can't be easy.

You know what, bro?

Man, forget this. You're right.

Look. Me getting hung up on a girl, this ain't me.

What's happening at the KEK house today?

Nothing. Uh,

should I be scared of whatever idea you got in your mind?

- OK. Hey, fellas... - Hmm?

we are so much better than sitting at the dorm all day, all right,

- so let's roll. - Uh, where are we going?

TRACY DE SA: ♪ You know you're feeling it ♪

♪ When you're walking on them streets ♪

♪ You know you're digging it ♪

♪ You just can't control your feet... ♪

TREVOR: Damn, it's litty in here.

Yo, ain't that...

Yo...

I know you, right?

Uh, Trevor?

You got my message. I'm touched.

Yeah. We got your little, hating-ass Yard Yack video,

so, what, y'all want to talk trash about me

- and my team, then come to my party? - Your party?

Technically, this is a KEK party,

and we got KEK on our squad.

We heard the party was busting,

so we figured we'd pull up.

I mean, is that a problem?

You know what? Nah.

I guess you guys should see what it's like to party with kings.

Ain't that right? Come on.

Come on, fellas.

Well, I guess cocky Damon is back, man.

Yep.

This ain't gonna end well.

I ain't getting no service.

Y'all have service?

Well, no wonder. We're deep in the boonies.

Coach, can we play some music?

All right, y'all, so we're in a dead zone,

but we got an hour until we arrive,

so it's time to get a little lit.

- Aagh... - Yaagh...

♪ Hey, hey, hey... ♪

♪ Go, Coach ♪

ALL: ♪ Go, Coach ♪

♪ Go, Coach... ♪

[SIREN]

♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪

Sit down and hang tight,

and we'll see what this is about, OK?

[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

[KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK]

LONI: Is there a problem, Officer?

Your bus made an illegal lane change back there.

These your girls?

They're my students, yes.

We're with the Bringston tennis team.

Sir, I need you to step outside the bus.

You, too.

Coach, what's going on?

Just keep everybody calm, OK?

I'll be right back.

So, are you ready for the debate?

I've gone over all my talking points,

and I'm briefed on all major campus issues.

Nate, you sweet summer child,

SGA debates are messy.

You need dirt on Nico.

That's not how I want to win.

I want to stay true to who I am.

Well, that's great for you,

but Nico doesn't play that way.

Didn't you see the debate last year?

Nico and I were broken up during last year's debate.

- I had him on mute. - Other candidates have dropped out.

You can win this election

if you spill the tea on Nico...

- That's not the present... - And since you used to be together,

it shouldn't be that hard to come up with something, anything.

Get to work.

DOROTHEA: Can I have your attention?

The Dance Department will be holding a celebration

of my work in honor of my 25-plus-year career.

- OK. - Whoo!

Thank you.

As part of the celebration,

prominent alums and current students

will be performing iconic pieces from my repertoire.

Everyone will be a part of the ensemble.

However, only my most promising students will be given solos.

You will all be learning the same movement

and have the option to audition for a solo

before myself and other faculty members.

Your ability to master this choreography will impact your grades,

so get ready to work hard.

You're all dismissed.

Dr. Pace, I just wanted to say

it's an honor to get to be a part of the showcase.

Miss McCalla,

the choreography you will be learning is near and dear to me.

I want more from you.

I want your best.

Don't let me down.

MAN: ♪ Yeah ♪ [ECHOES]

♪ I be the king, and I know I'm like that... ♪

TREVOR: You better not. [LAUGHS]

Yeah.

Fellas.

See you guys are enjoying everything

that a Damon Sims function has to offer, right?

You may have clout in this little party,

but it won't mean nothing when you're up against us on the field.

Y'all boys really think that y'all are a better team, huh?

- Yeah. - Well, damn, we ain't got to wait

till the conference championship game.

We can settle this right here.

- Mm-hmm. - Let's get it.

AMARA: Yes, I saw the article in the "Atlanta Daily News."

Excuse me, A.D. Taylor, but it's President Patterson,

and the only thing that matters is that now the board

is leaving it up to me to determine

which department gets the building.

Oh. Uh-huh.

Oh, I have several faculty pitches

scheduled for this afternoon,

but if you'd like to submit one

on behalf of the Athletic Department,

please reach out to my assistant. Bye for now. Mm.

Am I interrupting something, Dr. P.?

Oh, just A.D. Taylor being a sore loser.

- How can I help you? - I have a dilemma.

The SGA debate is today.

My campaign manager wants me to focus

on messy drama instead of the issues.

Nate,

while dirty politics may be the norm for some

or even the majority,

there is more than one way to win.

You get to decide what kind of winner you're going to be.

[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

How long does it take to give a ticket?

If we don't get back on the road, we're gonna miss warmups.

This is some bull.

You see the way the cop was looking at us?

He saw Bringston on the side of the bus

and decided it was time to mess with a HBCU.

I agree, but right now,

I'm more focused on Coach Loni.

Excuse me.

Coach Loni, are you OK?

Please stay inside the bus.

Simone, I'm fine.

I promise.

Does he see you recording?

Hey!

- Oh! - Go.

Everybody off the bus now.

Now!

[PLAYERS MURMURING]

It's OK, it's OK, girls. Relax.

- It's OK. - OFFICER: Get in line.

- [SIREN APPROACHING] - LONI: Relax. Calm down.

[SIREN STOPS, CAR DOOR CLOSES]

[DOG WHINING]

[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

SIMONE: Coach, they're going through our stuff.

Just relax. Just relax, girls.

So we'll go through all of their bags.

Why are you all going through our stuff?

This isn't legal.

It's standard procedure, all right?

We have to make sure there are no illegal substances on that bus.

You're not gonna get away with this.

- Girl... - Not this time.

The whole world is gonna see how out-of-pocket y'all are.

Oh! You can't do that!

- I told you not to record! - That's enough.

Keep your hands off of my girls.

- Cuff her. - What?

- Now. - You can't do this!

You have no right to punish us for driving while Black.

Everybody else sit on the ground now!

It's OK, girls. It's OK. I'm OK.

- Come on. - Do it.

OFFICER: Good.

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

[SIGHS]

Ah-ah. I need you focused.

Let's hear it... juicy juice on Nico.

Word to Michelle,

when they go low, we go high.

When they go low, we go to hell.

If I'm gonna win this debate,

I'm gonna do it my way,

and I need you to respect that.

- Fine. We'll do it your way. - Thank you.

Might as well pray 'cause you are gonna need it.

DOROTHEA: Leo, straighten that arm

before you go into the turn.

Now, Carolyn, when has that pace

ever been acceptable in my class?

Jump into those hops faster.

Good form, Miss McCalla.

- Thank you. - Oh, I do miss that renversé axel

that used to be there. Took things to the next level,

but this works, too.

Well, I've been studying videos of you doing this dance,

and I saw that amazing renversé axel.

If you'd be willing to teach me,

I would love to try it for my solo audition.

My dear, that move is extremely difficult.

That's why it's not part of the routine anymore.

Well, you asked for my best.

Give me a chance to show you.

I appreciate your enthusiasm,

but I think you should focus on accomplishing

the simple movement I assigned.

[SIGHS]

All right, the game is Around the World.

First team to hit 1 through 20 in a row wins.

- And the losing team? - Has to strip down to their underwear

live on Yard Yack,

I mean, unless you scared.

"Scared" is not in my vocabulary.

Let's get it.

- Here we go. - S.O.: Whoo! Whoo!

♪ I think they're ready for more... ♪

Damn!

Yeah, baby. Nice.

Easy.

S.O.: ♪ I'm the star of the show and the regiment ♪

♪ Can't stop me, bro, ain't no peddling ♪

♪ Ain't no running away, staring right in your face... ♪

Yes, sir!

S.O.: ♪ This ain't back in the day ♪

♪ Get ready for more ♪

The score is Bringston 4, Eastview 6.

You know, this score makes a lot of sense.

I can tell y'all not used to actually working for something.

Come on, man. Cut that out. We fight for everything, just like you.

That's cap. Smaller HBCUs get ignored

when schools like yours get all the shine,

even when you don't deserve it.

DAMON: How do you figure that?

Uh, our record is better,

but you're the team to beat?

- Explain that. - SANTIAGO: Hey, whoa, whoa.

- That's just the media talking. - Exactly,

and then you got Mr. MLB over here

who snaps his fingers and gets whatever he wants whenever.

I get whatever I want whenever?

You have no idea what you're even talking about.

You know what? I don't even want to play

this stupid-ass game anymore.

[DARTS CLATTER ON FLOOR]

Yo, what's up with your boy, man?

I thought we was just talking trash.

He just got a lot going on right now.

You just so happened to hit a particular nerve.

SANTIAGO: He's having some girl problems.

Uh-huh, girl problems.

[APPLAUSE]

NATE: Yeah? Well, it's just that my platform

is based on uplifting the voiceless at B.U.

It's not just about using my voice

to represent myself,

but to represent everyone on campus.

[APPLAUSE]

I have to respond to that.

Don't you think it's convenient that your decision to run

- came after we broke up? - You mean after I broke up with you?

- Ohh! - Ohh!

Right, for dimming your light?

Now it seems that you're trying to dim mine.

- Ooh. - Ooh.

That's not what this is.

How about we just get back to the issues?

That is a fantastic idea.

Drug use on campus is an important one.

I agree.

We should be doing anything we can to help students stay clean.

Which includes enforcing punishment

when students use banned substances,

so you support my voting against your bestie Simone Hicks

in the NCAA tribunal.

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

No. What happened to Simone

- was an accident, and you know that. - See?

That right there, that's the problem

with Nathaniel Hardin.

She believes the rules apply to some, but not all.

Is that really the kind of president you want?

- No! - No!

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

[DOOR OPENS]

WILINDA: Hey...

No, I know, I know.

- He's killing me out there. - Uh, yeah, but, luckily for you,

I took the liberty of doing some research on Nico's social media.

These are some posts from a few years ago.

"HBCUs are inferior schools.

I would never stoop so low and attend a college like Brings... "

You mean to tell me you just found these? Wilinda, please.

OK, so maybe I had them the whole time

from when I thought I'd be going against him.

I wanted you to do your own digging,

but since you won't and you're dying out there,

voilà.

Nico wouldn't just lose the debate.

His entire reputation would be ruined.

Then so be it.

Nate, he just trashed you out there.

Playtime is over.

Finish him and take what's yours.

[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

[WHEEZING]

OK, ladies, listen.

We know what is happening to us is wrong,

and we have every right to feel afraid,

but fear feeds them, so right now, we need to stick together,

and we need to play smart because we all we got.

Simone, you saw what they just did to Coach Loni.

What are we supposed to do?

We're gonna focus on what we can control.

We have to focus on the match.

TOOTIE: Who can think about tennis at a time like this?

Tootie, remember when we were at the court

during the bomb threat?

The one thing that brought us together was reclaiming our joy.

We cannot let them break us.

JADE: Does anybody want to do some stretches?

We won't have time to warm up when we get to the match.

That's a good idea, Jade.

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

Every time we even breathe too heavy,

these cops yell at us.

- One wrong move, and they might... - We may be strong, Black women,

but just because we're strong doesn't mean

they get to test how strong we actually are.

I'm gonna get us home,

no matter what it takes, all right?

All right?

JADE: OK, ladies, uh,

hips? To the right.

JADE: Switch.

SIMONE: Hey, just so you know, my mom is a lawyer,

so I know all about these illegal-search-and-seizure laws.

You have no probable cause

and no search warrants to search that bus,

so there's definitely a lawsuit loading.

I'm just doing my job.

Well, I hope you're smart enough to do the right thing

and not let this go any further.

Wow. Are all those faculty pitches?

Yeah. I wasn't expecting so many departments

- to throw their names in the ring. - Anyone worthy?

Honestly, all the departments could use an upgrade, but...

I don't know...

none of these pitches feel right.

Marcus, what if I make the wrong decision?

It's not possible.

Look, you know better than anyone what will

improve the lives of everybody on this campus, Amara.

It's what you do.

Your pep talks are one of one.

I play to my strengths.

[CLICK]

[MUSIC BEGINS]

[SIGHS]

You got this, Keisha.

MAN: ♪ I've been laying low inside my shell ♪

♪ Hiding from the misery ♪

♪ Staring at the dreams up on my shelf ♪

♪ Holding out for air to breathe ♪

♪ Is that what my life is, not rolling the dice ♪

♪ And still denying the crisis? ♪

Uhh! [EXHALES]

- MAN: ♪ Every mountain is higher ♪ - Ow!

Uhh!

MAN: ♪ We all walk through the wire ♪

- Oh! Uhh! - MAN: ♪ Stop thinking about ♪

♪ The things you never did ♪

♪ Start living out to make the best of it ♪

♪ Every mountain is ♪

[GASPS] I got it.

- MAN: ♪ Higher ♪ - [KEISHA PANTING]

Yeah.

- [POLICE RADIO CHATTER] - All right. You all are free to go.

What about our stuff you threw in the dirt?

You gonna help us clean that up?

LONI: I assume you all didn't find what you were looking for?

No, but we are very sorry for the confusion.

SIMONE: "Sorry." You terrorize us and then you say you're sorry?

OFFICER 2: Y'all are free to go.

This is the last place you want to be after dark.

I'm gonna call.

Maybe they'll hold our matches till we get there?

TOOTIE: Coach is calling now, but by the time we get there,

we'll be a hour late.

- PLAYER: This is ridiculous. - LONI: Listen up.

The matches have already started,

and they are not willing to make an exception for us.

- We have to forfeit. - SIMONE: What?

JADE: Coach, that's not fair.

Did you tell them why we're late?

- LONI: Of course. - SIMONE: Coach, if we forfeit,

then that means our season's...

it's over?

I am so sorry.

[R&B MUSIC PLAYING]

She must have done some serious damage to have you acting a fool.

And who's that?

Whatever chick you waiting to hear from.

Look, I don't know you,

so if you think that I'm about to talk to you about this,

you can think again.

Look, me and my girl broke up last semester,

and it threw me.

Look, don't get me wrong.

I studied you for months now,

and the great Damon Sims is definitely a cocky jerk,

but not this much, man. What did she do?

She didn't do anything, bro.

OK, look, man, I'm observant.

You sitting here waiting on a call,

and you taking it out on us,

so I'm assuming that you're waiting for her

to make some type of move or figure something out,

but personally, bro, I never been one for curveballs,

on or off the field.

Just give it to me straight.

Whatever it is, man, put a clock on it.

She got until 7 p.m. to give you an answer.

Reclaim your life

and your pride, man.

All right, look, what...

what if she doesn't respond?

Sometimes, no response is the response.

All right, well,

we know why I been a ass.

- [CHUCKLES] - What's up with you?

Ha ha! Look, I...

I kept it 100 with you, bro.

Like, I love my school,

and I'm tired of smaller HBCUs

not being in the conversation.

Like, there's a hierarchy amongst HBCUs

that don't nobody want to talk about.

Trevor, that has nothing to do with me.

OK, right.

You know, maybe I threw a little extra shade your way,

OK? My bad.

We done talking about our emotions now?

Yeah, for sure.

Besides, it's about time I get back

to kicking your ass at some darts.

Oh, kicking my ass.

OK, let's see what you got, Mr. MLB.

- Let's see. - OK.

NICO: Thank you so much for your support.

Nico, we need to talk.

Any talking we need to do can be done on the debate stage.

Suit yourself.

You have two options.

Option A... I use this dirt

and I end you without breaking a sweat,

or option B... you stop going low,

play fair, and let's focus on the issues and not the drama,

so what will it be?

- Quickly. - NICO: I... I'd like option B.

Me, too.

Go fix your face.

It's showtime, yeah?

[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]

Not bad, class.

I know that you all just learned this new movement,

but is there anyone feeling bold enough to audition for the solo?

I'm ready.

- MAN: I'll audition. - WOMAN: Me, too.

My 3 brave souls,

the floor is yours.

[DAWN RICHARD'S "HEAVEN" PLAYING]

RICHARD: ♪ You had my heart, but didn't love it ♪

♪ I gave you every piece of me 'till I was nothing ♪

♪ You had my soul, we had it coming ♪

♪ Till you sold it for a dream that wasn't finished ♪

DRUSKI: ♪ Heaven knows that we don't care... ♪

Ah! Oh!

Oh! My knee.

Uh! I'm sorry.

I... I can do this. I nailed it in rehearsal.

That move has been banned from the dance program

for nearly 10 years.

The difficulty level makes injury almost guaranteed.

Banned? I... I didn't know. I'm sorry.

I don't understand why you would assign this.

That move was not part

of the choreography we rehearsed.

The other students can attest to that.

I specifically told Keisha not to do that move,

but she did it anyway.

Frankly, it's no surprise.

She has a history of flaunting the rules

and protocols of this school.

- Dr. Pace, what are you... - Miss McCalla,

with this new injury,

I think it goes without saying that

you will not be performing in the retrospective.

The retrospective performance is 60% of your final grade.

There will be no way for you to make up that kind of deficit.

It's probably just a bruise.

It'll heal in, like, two weeks, tops.

I'm sorry. If you can't dance,

can't complete your assignments,

you'll have to take an incomplete.

You can audition for the program again next semester.

- KEISHA: N... no, I... that's not... - Keisha,

you're dismissed.

Please leave so we can continue auditions.

OK, everyone.

I want to see that again,

yeah, from the top.

[SYML'S "DIM" PLAYING]

I just can't believe it happened.

AMARA, ON PHONE: Baby girl, I am so sorry.

I'll be there when the bus arrives, OK?

- I love you, Auntie. - I love you, too.

SYML: ♪ The world got a little more dim tonight ♪

BACKGROUND SINGERS: ♪ Whoa oh oh ♪

♪ The world got a little more dim tonight... ♪

- Hey. - ♪ Whoa oh oh ♪

Hey.

How are you holding up?

SYML: ♪ And the world got a little more dim tonight ♪

- ♪ Whoa oh oh... ♪ - You did your thing today,

kept us calm,

kept our nerves intact,

kept us from doing something that could've gotten us...

SYML: ♪ The world got a little more dim tonight ♪

♪ Whoa oh oh... ♪

When the season started, I wanted all the girls to hate you.

It was my goal to make sure no one followed you.

If I had succeeded...

maybe someone from the team wouldn't be coming home.

SYML: ♪ I will protect you... ♪

Today was...

one of the scariest moments of my life, Tootie.

Me, too.

SYML: ♪ And the world got a little more dim tonight ♪

J.R.: All right. 20, then we win the game.

Let's go.

Yes! That's what I'm talking about!

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

That's it! [LAUGHS]

A bet's a bet.

- Where y'all want to do the livestream? - J.R.: Aw, man, right here.

- I got my phone ready for you. - [CLICK, CHIME]

It's from Coach.

- What? - Something happened to the women's tennis team.

They got profiled by the cops.

They had to forfeit the season?

Yo, are they all right?

He didn't say.

How come we just can't play?

Just be kids, be athletes?

Have one damn moment of joy?

DAMON: You know, that's why being a HBCU village is so important,

because they're already gonna try to tear us down, man.

We can't be a part of that, yo.

Look, this game's over, man. Let's bounce.

Hey, hey, like I said, a bet's a bet.

Me and the fellas are still down to humiliate ourselves on the live.

No, bro.

Every image of HBCU matters.

What our sisters are going through right now drives

that point home even harder.

See you later, man.

DAMON: We definitely gonna see y'all on the field

in a couple weeks, all right?

It's gonna be one of the biggest HBCU matchups in sports,

and we'll show them a healthy competition, but right now, bro,

our sisters need us.

Let them know we all got their back.

Appreciate it.

Thank you for not using that dirt.

I was young and didn't know how much

this place would change my life.

Hmm, which is why

we should give this amazing school our best and run a clean race,

let the students decide who they feel is best to lead them.

[SIGHS]

Everyone's saying you won.

What do you think?

I think you impressed me,

and I don't impress easy.

Well, OK, then, Miss Nate. [LAUGHS]

Oh, you get to have this back,

oh, and Dr. Patterson called a few times.

Oh.

I'm sorry. I have to go.

Keisha, what happened?

I'll be fine.

I just want to be here for Simone right now.

LONI: Ladies, before you all leave, I need to say something.

What happened to us today,

I wish that I can tell you that you won't

experience racial injustice again,

but I am not in the business of lying to you.

I am in the business of protecting you

and keeping you safe, and today I failed you...

and I hope that you can forgive me one day.

Coach Loni, I think I speak for everyone

when I say you did not fail us today.

You showed us exactly what strength looks like

because you're also in the business of being the example that we need,

exactly when we need it.

[APPLAUSE]

Hey, um, check your e-mail tonight.

I'm gonna send you something.

OK.

SIMONE, ON VIDEO: I know my rights!

LONI, ON VIDEO: That's enough. Keep your hands off of my girls.

- Cuff her. - What?

- Now! - You can't do this.

OFFICER: Everybody else,

sit on the ground now!

How did the police not see Jade recording?

I don't know.

I think they were so focused on Tootie

that they missed her, but...

what I don't understand is,

Auntie, why would Jade send this to me?

Baby girl, in situations like this,

the last thing anyone should do is make emotional decisions.

Jade knows you'll use reason

and logic to figure out what to do.

Auntie, can I use your place tonight?

The doctor said I'm gonna be on crutches for two weeks,

which is just enough time to get me kicked out of classes.

And you think Dr. Pace set you up?

She didn't tell me the move was banned.

She said I wasn't good enough to do it.

Knowing full well that those are fighting words

and you would attempt to prove her wrong.

Dr. Pace is good, but she can't get away with this.

Damn right because first thing tomorrow, we're going to Dr. P.

Nate, I don't have any proof. It's her word against mine.

OK, well, then what's the plan?

I don't know.

[SIGHS]

But I'm gonna do whatever it takes to make sure

Dr. Pace is forced out of Bringston.

I don't care what happens to me.

LONI: It's OK, girls. I'm OK.

OFFICER: Come on. Good.

We should release the video.

I... I don't know, Simone.

The idea of people seeing what they did to us,

- seeing us as the victim... - We can't let fear silence us.

- We need to hold them accountable. - But what if there's blowback?

I mean, I... I'm the one who recorded it. Everyone will come after me.

You're not alone.

We're all in this...

which is why the decision needs to be... unanimous.

If Simone thinks this is what we should do,

I'm in.

Thank you.

OK. Here we go.

WOMAN: ♪ I am a fighter ♪

♪ Born with this blood ♪

- ♪ With the strength of my mother... ♪ - Done.

WOMAN: ♪ The fire in the flood ♪

♪ I hear the voice of my people ♪

♪ Answer the call... ♪

I thought I'd check in on you.

- I would ask how you're doing, but... - You've been here?

The bomb threat?

So listen to my words.

You won today

- because every single girl made it back home alive. - [LONI SOBS]

Elaine,

you made it back home alive.

You were the one that was handcuffed

in the back seat of a police cruiser

for the crime of protecting our girls,

so don't you dare think you failed them.

That is not in your DNA.

- Come here. - [LONI SOBBING]

WOMAN: ♪ Shoulder to shoulder ♪

LONI: They can't get away with this.

WOMAN: ♪ Eyes to the sun ♪

We won't let them...

- ♪ Writing the stories ♪ - I promise you.

- WOMAN: ♪ Of who we become ♪ - [KNOCK ON DOOR]

Hey, I know it's late.

Come in. It's OK.

It looks like you have something on your mind.

Simone and her teammates are having sleepover

in my living room so they can process what happened.

Coach Loni was in her office alone.

During Black Free Joy Day, I had to bring in resources

to help the campus heal after the bomb threat.

We added more wellness circles,

brought over additional resources from the KEK wellness center.

That's the problem.

Marcus, you've carried the mental wellness

of the entire campus on your back,

what you did for Cam and Thea,

who also found outside help.

Where are you going with this?

I'm making the new building into a mental wellness center,

a place where students and faculty can go to get the support they need.

The idea

has been staring us in the face this entire time.

Heh.

It has,

- and of course you saw it. - [AMARA CHUCKLES]

WOMAN: ♪ Crimson under my nails ♪

♪ Steel in my bones ♪

- ♪ Standing in your power... ♪ - Hey, bro,

got your text.

What's going on? Have you reached out to Simone?

Uh, nah, not yet.

She doesn't need support from just me.

She needs support from everybody.

Thought the tennis team would, too.

So you got all the guys group-texting the tennis team?

Yeah.

Oh, that's genius.

WOMAN: ♪ Oh, remember my name ♪

♪ In the shadows and valleys that haunt you ♪

♪ Whoa oh oh ♪

♪ Remember this fight ♪

♪ Remember your strength ♪

♪ When you can't stand up any longer ♪

♪ My spirit runs through your veins ♪

♪ Remember my name ♪

- Synced and corrected by chamallow - - www.addic7ed.com -

Greg, move your head.