Original subtitles

- Previously on "The Quad"...

- I'm going home. - I'm happy for you.

- What are you tripping for?

Browyn!

- Sir, I'm talented

and determined and I can play my ass off.

- That doesn't excuse your poor judgment.

- Can you just take me home, please?

- Can we... can we talk first?

- No, we can't.

- Look, I just want to move on, Ced.

My dad is calling me every five minutes

asking me, am I okay.

- I'm having a heart attack.

Oh! [cries]

- ? All my sisters and brothers ?

? Rise up together ?

? Stand together ?

? Oh, oh, oh ?

[Andra Day's "Rise Up"]

? ?

- Eric was my firstborn.

So of course, he was spoiled by me,

his father.

He was such a joy.

I would say, "Well, you know that we have to be troopers

"because mommy have to go to work

"and you have to go to school.

We can't play sick 'cause mommy have to go."

? ?

- ? You're broken down and tired ?

? Of living life on a merry-go-round ?

? And you can't find the fighter ?

? But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out ?

? And move mountains ?

? We gonna walk it out ?

- Your BP and your pulse are fine.

You're not experiencing cardiac arrest.

Have you been under much stress lately?

Any history of anxiety attacks?

[siren wails]

? I'll rise like the day ?

? I'll rise up ?

? I'll rise unafraid ?

? I'll rise up ?

? And I'll do it a thousand times again ?

? And I'll rise up ?

[police radio chatter]

- Morning. I'm not trying to be rude,

but I am late for a meeting.

Could you tell me why you pulled me over, please?

- Are you lost, ma'am?

- Excuse me?

- Well, this car definitely doesn't live

in this neighborhood, which means neither do you.

Are you lost?

- I work a few blocks away from here

and my home actually is in this neighborhood.

- Well, not on this street it ain't.

Ain't nothing but crack dens and rehab houses

on this block and the next.

- I'm not sure what you're asking me,

and I still don't know why you stopped me,

but as I mentioned, I have to get to work.

- You were driving erratically.

Ma'am, are you under the influence of something?

- Of course not.

- Step out of the car, ma'am.

- Sir, please.

I'm the President of Georgia A&M University,

and I should be behind my desk

in the next five minutes.

- I gave you a lawful order. I suggest you follow it.

- For what?

No, I'm not gonna do that,

but I will call the police department and tell your boss

about how you are hassling law abiding citizens...

- Get out of the car now! - in the middle of the morning

in the street for no reason... - Get out of the car now!

- for drugs or anything... - Get out of the car now.

- Get off me. What are you doing?

What the hell are you doing? Get off!

Get your damn hands off me!

- Hands on your damn head now!

- Her hands are up. Don't shoot her.

- Filming you all.

- Congratulations, sunshine.

You just committed battery on a police officer.

- Ow!

- Hey, come on, po-po, what's up with that?

- You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be used against you

in a court of law.

- Let her go, man.

- Can not be... if you can't afford one,

one will be provided for you.

[cheers and applause]

- Good morning, folks. Roland Barton here.

Senior analyst for the Tom Joyner Morning Show

here broadcasting live

from the beautiful Georgia A&M University.

- GAMU! - Tom and Sybil,

we, of course, have our 20 HBCUs in 20 days

national tour.

I'm here to interview the president,

the first female president, Dr. Eva Fletcher,

some faculty, and the students.

But right now, I've got the world-renowned band director

of the Mighty Marching Mountain Cats,

Dr. Cecil Diamond!

Looking great! - Thank you, buddy.

[cheers and applause]

- All right there.

You still gotta be a little salty

after that upset in the Battle of the Bands.

So you plan on bringing the funk to bring the title back

to this university?

- Not even a question.

You know, even the greats need a challenge every now and then.

- All right, Doc. Well, it's good chatting with you.

Tom and Sybil, Doc gotta go. - Thank you, brother.

I appreciate you. - I appreciate it.

- Thanks for being here. - All right, Tom and Sybil...

[applause]

I'm gonna talk with some students here.

Let me go talk to sister down here.

Sister, how you doing? - Good.

Hi. My name is Ebonie Weaver.

- Okay, I see you, EB.

- And I'm a music major.

The thing I love about this school is my friends.

I mean, that's why I'm here.

- You should ask her about her music.

- Well, since you so loud, let me ask you.

[laughter]

Come on, we on live radio. Come on.

- Yeah, she got bars. I mean, you know, not bars like me,

but yeah, she got some serious flow.

- All right, what's your major? You a music major?

- No. I'm not... I'm not even gonna lie to you.

I'm only up here 'cause my mas made me come.

I'm still trying to figure it out.

If I do stay, I'll probably, like, major in, like,

you know, math or something.

I just started doing my music again, though, so...

- That's news to me.

- Come on, E, I already told you about that.

- [laughs] No, you didn't.

And why'd you give me that track

if you knew you was getting back into it?

- Okay, this is way too much drama for me.

I ain't here for this. Hey, brother, how you doing man?

You all good? What's your name?

Where you from? What's your major?

- Sydney. Sydney!

Sydney Fletcher!

- Oh, hey, Jason.

- Hey. I must have called your name about a thousand times.

- Sorry. I have a quiz in a few minutes.

Guess that's where my head was.

- Oh, okay. Well, I don't want to hold you up or anything,

but just wanted to say hi,

see if maybe you wanted to grab a cup of coffee sometime.

- Sure. You around in an hour?

- Yeah. You wanna meet at the coffee stand?

- Sounds like a plan.

Wish me luck.

- I don't think you're gonna need it.

- [laughs]

- ? You never win, don't try to act all innocent ?

? You know what you did, you couldn't take... ?

- I don't see how you can read and listen to music

at the same time. - Hmm?

- I said, I don't see how you can read

and listen to music at the same time.

- It's called multitasking.

[laughs]

- [giggles]

- Oh, yo, yo.

I've been meaning to... to show you Ebonie's song

or her... her lyrics at least.

It's my... my beat.

- Okay, but you're gonna owe me

for messing up my studying again.

- Come on, baby,

you know I've been paying you, like, every night.

- Sto... - [laughs]

- Stop.

[cell phone buzzes]

Who's that?

- Oh, it's my ma.

What's up, Ma?

Nothing, just, you know, chilling with Browyn.

Yeah, I always got 'em in my drawer, in my wallet...

[chuckles] my backpack.

Yes, ma'am.

All right, Mom, I'll call you later, all right?

I love you, too.

Okay, bye.

It's dope, right? - Here you go.

- What?

What's wrong with you?

- I didn't know you were still writing songs

about Chantel, Cedric.

And before you lie, I already checked.

The track was made two days ago.

- You been snoopin' through my shit?

- You handed me your computer, Cedric.

It was right there.

- I'm not down with you calling me out about something

you know nothing about, all right?

- What?

- You think you're the one who's supposed to be mad?

I'm the one who lost somebody, not you.

[dramatic music]

- You're about to lose somebody else, Cedric.

? ?

- Well, okay, then you leave. Go.

I'm tired of this shit anyways.

- Cedric, I didn't go through what you went through,

but that does not mean that

you have to stomp all over my feelings like that.

? ?

Wow.

? ?

- Battery on a peace officer, possible DUI.

- What was her BAC?

- She snapped out before we could do a field sobriety.

But we do have a warrant from the judge

to conduct a withdrawal.

- You were thinking another collar for opiates?

- Of course. More Benzes and Beamers cruising that block

than you can count.

- Let me know if you need me.

- Will do.

- Where are you taking me?

- We're gonna find out what's in your system.

- I haven't even spoken to my attorney.

I never gave consent for this!

- Yeah, you didn't, but a judge did.

So we're gonna take some blood. - Let me go.

Let me go! Let me go!

Let me go! Somebody help me!

What are you doing? Let me go.

Let me go! Let me go!

- Careful, she's feisty.

- Yeah, I heard that.

- Let me go! Let me go!

Somebody help me!

No! No! No! Get off me! No, please.

- We're just strapping and step out.

- Let me go! Please! Oh, God, get off me!

Get off me! Get off me!

Get off me! Get off me! Get off!

- Nurse! - No! Please!

Please, somebody help me.

No! No!

What... what are you... what are you doing?

What are you doing? No! No, no, no!

No, don't do that! Don't!

- Hold her still. - No!

[cries]

[breathes heavily]

[hip-hopic]

- There was this woman, right, I took out on a date

and we went to a nice restaurant.

- Mm-hmm.

- And as soon as the waitress comes over,

she blurts out, "Do y'all steaks come with the fat on 'em?

Because I like the fat on mine."

- [giggles] I see the type of women you date.

- No, you know, the crazy thing is

I actually... honestly, I hardly date.

- Hmm.

You're funny.

- And you're beautiful.

- You're embarrassing me.

- Oh, well, it's not my fault.

Blame your mother and your father.

They're the ones who gave you these genes.

- So they did.

- [laughs]

All right, you know what?

Let's talk about the elephant in the room.

I know that you had a really rough time last semester.

- Yeah.

- I do. - I did.

- So it's kind of hard to know where you are.

I mean, what's appropriate, you know?

Syd, I dig you, I really do,

but can I ask you out on a date?

Or does the thought of that make me an insensitive asshole?

- You're fine.

I'm still working through it.

Trying to process things so I can move forward.

- Well, I get that.

But you know what, truth be told,

I feel like right now you could use a friend

way more than you could use a date.

- Yeah, I kinda can.

The only one I have has been acting like she doesn't know

she's the only one I have.

- Time of your life.

HBCU grants must support their schools with checks.

All right, simple, so here's the deal.

I was supposed to be interviewing Dr. Eva Fletcher

this morning, but I just found out that

she's being detained by police after a traffic stop.

Now obviously, we are gathering all the details.

I'm looking at all my social media feeds,

and apparently, the video of her arrest has been posted.

Now, it looks like driving while black

is still the reality for black folks in America.

- I can be very, very protective of my friends.

- I look forward to that. - Hey, Syd.

Syd, I need to talk to you.

- I'm kind of busy right now.

- It's important. Look.

- Get your damn hands off me!

- What the hell?

- Yeah, she's still at the police station.

We need to go down there now.

- Oh, my God.

Jason, do you mind taking me?

- No, not at all. Let's roll. Come on.

[dramatic music]

? ?

- Look, I know this process can be a little rough,

but it is department policy.

- A little rough?

It is disgusting and degrading and completely ridiculous.

Officer, may I please make my one phone call?

- You didn't get that yet?

- I'll take it from here, Donna.

This ain't your little university.

You know, this is my house,

and I'm the damn president.

You'll get your phone call when I say.

- What is your problem?

Did you get passed over for a promotion

by a better qualified woman?

- [chuckles]

Tell me this.

What do you think the college will say

when they find out that you were busted

cruising crack row so early in the morning, hmm?

- Is that what you really think?

[laughs]

[upbeat music]

? ?

- Did you hear that, Rashaad?

- What'd you hear, sir?

- Answer the question asked, drum major.

- Yes, I did, sir. - And?

- Saxes, on your feet.

- One, two, three.

You're up first, son. Here's your chance to redeem yourself.

- What... what do you want me to play?

- "Easy On Down the Road."

Grab your instrument, head on out that door.

[upbeat music]

? ?

- Brilliant, brilliant!

And what the hell was it?

- "Jericho," my own interpretation.

- Oh, so you freestyling?

Well, look at here, pop, this ain't no rap battle.

- I know that, sir. I studied classical music my whole life.

- And clearly, that still wasn't long enough.

So interpret yourself right on out the door.

- Sir, this being a program that you started,

I really think we should reconsider Noni.

- I agree.

The Symphony in Black competition

is just over a month away.

- Cara, have you lost your damn mind

looking at your phone in band?

- It's Dr. Fletcher, sir.

She's been arrested.

- Give me that. - What are you doing?

- Out of the car. - Get your damn hands off me!

- Hands on your head! Hands on your head now!

[dramatic music]

- Hi.

I'm here to see my mom. Dr. Eva Fletcher.

- I'll be with you in a second.

? ?

- Excuse me. Hi.

I'm here to see my mother. Dr. Eva Fletcher.

- Young lady, your mother's all right, okay?

I saw her a half-hour ago.

You need to go sit down and wait.

And wait calmly.

- Lilah, have you seen my mom?

- Not yet, we just got here.

But listen, Sydney, you know I'm with the D.A.'s office,

so they may not want me back there to see her,

and that's their right.

But I did bring my former colleague, Kevin Carter,

and he is one of the best criminal attorneys in town.

- How are you? - Good.

- Listen, I doubt they'll allow you to see her,

but let me go in there and see what's what.

- I'm not leaving this station until my mother does.

- Okay. Understood.

So let us see what we can find out, okay?

[indistinct conversation]

[siren wails]

- Hey, you can leave. I'm gonna be here a while.

- Are you sure? I'm happy to stay if you want.

- No, I'll be fine. I'm just...

I'm not sure what's going on, like why is she still in there?

- It's your mom. She's no joke, a'ight.

She can get herself outta anything.

- I need to get back in there.

- All right. Well, let me know if you need anything.

- I will. Thanks again.

[somber music]

? ?

[door buzzes]

? ?

- This is Kevin Carter, your new lawyer.

I trust him. - Okay.

- Go, Kevin, before the chief finds out I'm in here

and kicks my ass out.

- Well, coverage of your case is all over the news

and social media, which is good for us.

Now, I already spoke to the watch commander.

Apparently they pulled you over for driving erratically.

- Bullshit. Did you see the dash cam?

- Not yet, but the brass knows this looks bad.

They want it to go away.

[dramatic music]

- What'll happen to the officer who arrested me?

- Well, if they're dropping charges,

they're gonna want everything to go away.

- Everything?

Like the way he mentally and physically assaulted me?

That is not going to happen.

I absolutely will not agree to that.

- Then they'll delay your release

and keep you here overnight.

You'll be given a court date.

Then they'll kick it to my office.

And again, that's not ideal.

You need to get out of here as soon as possible.

- The officer will probably be suspended

until an investigation is completed.

- I want the dash cam video from the squad car.

- Eva, will you please listen to me?

- They threw me up against the car

and pointed a gun in my face!

And there is no way that I'm going to pretend they didn't!

- Okay.

Okay.

[dramatic music]

? ?

out of the car now.

- What are you doing? - Out of the car.

- What are you doing? - Get out of the car.

- Get your damn hands off me!

- Hands on your head! Hands on your head now!

- Congratulations, sunshine.

- You good?

- Yeah, I'm okay.

You know, when...

this shit is crazy.

This merger shit, this police brutality shit.

- I know it... - They're killing us, E.

Can't you see that? Come on.

If you can rough up the president of a university,

when they know that everybody got cameras on them,

what kind of chance do we have?

I'm tired of it, ain't you?

- I mean, you can't be black

and not be tired of it.

- [sighs]

You know she was right by my side

when I was going through all this.

Even when I tried to push her away,

she... she tried to buy my mas a ticket to fly here

when I got locked up.

I know nobody believes it,

but she's trying to save us from this merger.

- You know, I never really thought about it again,

but she came to the hospital to see me, too.

I mean, my dad says she was probably trying

not to get sued, but...

maybe not.

- Maybe not.

- I know.

I know how you feel.

I really do.

But maybe...

you can put some of what you're feeling

in your music.

- That's what's up, E.

Guess...

probably go down to the police station, too, you know?

They got her at the same one they took me to.

- Cool.

I'll go with you.

- You're a'ight, you know that, E?

- You a'ight, too.

And this is getting really weird right now.

- No, it's not.

- Ced, you have a girlfriend.

And you know I don't get down like that.

- I'm not with her no more.

[Aisa's "Just For One Night"]

- ? Oh we can take our time and take this slow ?

? Oh, oh, oh ?

? Teach me how you like and do it again ?

- ? Yeah ?

- ? If you want we can do this over and over ?

? And no one has to know ?

? I can give it to you what you're asking for ?

- Wait, wait.

You got a condom?

- ? I can be your shooting star ?

? Say we can do things how you like ?

? What you wanna do? Let me know ?

? Go fast go slow ?

? We can do this all night long, boy, it's up to you ?

? Let me know what's up with you ?

? Have you ever loved someone? ?

? You just give them all that they want ?

? I just wanna hold you tight ?

? Even if it's just for one night ?

? If it's just for one night ?

? If it's just for one night ?

? If it's just for one night ?

? If it's just for one night ? - [moaning]

- ? Oh, oh, oh ?

? Staring in your eyes just makes me high ?

? Oh, oh, oh ?

? Just call me your fantasy ?

? Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ?

[indistinct conversation]

- I'd like to wear them shoes.

- No, they're my favorites.

Only ones I own that don't kill my feet after a long day.

- Take 'em off or I'm gonna take 'em off for you.

- You could try,

but I promise you it is not going down that easy.

- Hmm.

You think you tough, huh?

- No, but I am tired and I am pissed off

and I am not in the mood to be pushed around.

- I don't give a damn what you in the mood for.

- Oh, I'm sure you don't.

But look at us.

Two black women in a jail cell ready to fight, for what?

[laughs]

Talk about stereotypes.

- [laughs] Bitch, please.

This apples and bananas.

You the strange fruit up in here.

Just gonna get your fancy lawyer to come bail you out,

get you back to your cushy life

while the rest of us stuck up in here.

Trust me, princess,

outside of skin color, you and I ain't nothing alike.

- Even if I gave them to you,

what are you gonna do with them?

- Sell 'em. What you think?

- Then let's do this.

When I walk out of here,

I will give them to you.

Does that sound fair?

[dramatic music]

? ?

- ? I got one thing on my mind ?

? They let me forget, they let me forget ?

- How'd you get in here?

- Bryce just let me in.

I told him I had to talk to you about something important.

So...

- Did you hear about what happened to Dr. Fletcher?

- Yeah, I did.

Some student are gonna go down there later.

- Yeah, to... to support.

Yeah, I might roll, too.

- Um...

Look,

I just wanted to say

I'm... sorry.

I was wrong for snooping through your things

and I was wrong for overreacting.

- Apology accepted.

- Good. Look at me.

Look.

We got a good thing here and I don't want to lose you.

Look, I'm sorry for overreacting.

I know you and Chantel were together since eighth grade,

and it's gotta be hard not to miss her.

I'm sorry.

- ? I got one thing on my mind ?

- Come here.

- ? I got one on my mind ?

- You smell funny.

? ?

Cedric, why are you in the same clothes as yesterday?

- You just got done saying you were sorry for overreacting,

and now you're sweating me again?

- Just answer the question.

- I'm really not trying to do this with you right now, a'ight?

- Just tell me where you were!

- I was where I was, all right?

Damn!

- So you're really not gonna tell me.

Okay.

I guess we're really done here then.

[scoffs]

? ?

- [chuckles] What am I doing here?

- Hey, what time are we pulling out for the police station?

- We'll leave in about 20 minutes.

Hey, hey, can I holler at you for a second?

- Not if it's about Sydney.

- Hey, I forgot my phone. I'll be back.

- Ebonie, how you doing this afternoon?

- I'll be better when Dr. Fletcher gets out of jail.

- So will I.

Damn shame how far a bad cop will go.

- Or bad people period.

- Well, as you can see, certain bad people

aren't with us anymore.

Let me ask you a question.

Have you been keeping up with your sax?

- What's that have to do with you?

- It's nothing to do with me

but everything to do with our symphonic band.

There's an opening for a talented musician like yourself.

It's all yours if you want it.

I really want you to be a part of this.

- Are you out of your mind?

I nearly died playing in your marching band,

and you have the nerve to ask me to come back?

- I thought you came to...

- That's your problem right there.

You think too much and you know too little.

I still have headaches, Mr. Diamond, sir.

You think about that.

[somber music]

- ...the north side of Maple, west of [indistinct].

I need available units to respond.

? ?

- Your paperwork's in this folder,

including the date we go to court.

? ?

- Oh, my God, Mom!

Are you okay? Where are your shoes?

- Sweetie, it doesn't matter. I'm fine.

- It's a media frenzy outside.

- Okay, let's just go out the back.

- Hey, Dr. Fletcher.

Are you all right? - Yes, I'm...

I just... I just want to avoid the crowds.

I'm okay. Let's just go out the back way.

- Whoa, you don't want to go out the back.

It's what they're expecting you to do.

[indistinct talking]

- He's probably right.

Come on.

[reporters yelling questions]

- Sydney, over here.

- Madison, you're riding with us.

- Coming through. Thank you. - Okay.

- Coming through.

[reporters continue]

- Dr. Fletcher, how's it feel to assault the people

assigned to protect and serve our community?

- Don't you think she been through enough already?

[dramatic music]

? ?

e people are painting their own narrative,

and I can't even defend myself. - You will.

We just need to come up with a game plan.

- It's the Deputy D.A.

- Thank you.

Lilah. - Hey.

How are you holding up? - I'm here.

Thank you for everything.

I feel like we haven't seen each other in ages,

and yet, you're here when I need you most.

- You'd do the same for me.

But listen, Eva, it looks like this thing

will most likely end up on my desk,

so I can't come over.

Probably was a mistake for me to even come to the station.

Just know that I'm all over it, okay?

I'm thinking about you.

And Kevin will take good care of you.

- Thank you, Lilah, very much.

- Of course. Take care of yourself.

- What are you doing? What the hell are you doing?

- And you might want to turn your TV on.

Channel 3.

- Will do.

Okay. Hope to see you soon.

- The arresting officer has been placed

on administrative leave, but if I had my druthers,

he would have been fired already.

- This isn't about Band-Aiding the situation.

It's about changing the culture and the way we're policed!

- What do you think of Dr. Eva Fletcher's arrest?

- I ain't happy to see nobody get arrested,

but maybe it'll help them teachers and students

stop acting like they're better

than the people in this community.

- We tried to tell him we was filming, but he didn't care.

He was like, oh, look who's in the White House.

We can do what the hell we want.

You see the type of stuff we go through?

That's crazy.

- The school's not in the best neighborhood,

but what's that got to do with

all this ongoing police brutality?

- See, that's the question right there.

- That's why we need that dash cam video.

We need people to see from his point of view

what exactly was supposed to be so damn threatening.

- Well, it takes time to get police footage released.

- I've only been asking for it for 12 hours!

I want the Metro Police Department to know that

I am not their negro nor will I ever be!

[sighs]

- You should rest, Mom.

Maybe you should lie down for a while.

- Yeah, I'm... I'm glad that you're out, Dr. Fletcher.

Have a good night.

- I'll check on you guys later.

- Okay.

We'll call you tomorrow.

- Okay. - Thank you.

[somber music]

? ?

- ? I got it like oh ?

? I get it again ?

? I'm right in the place... ?

- Madison.

Is Sydney okay?

- I don't know, Miles. Call her yourself.

- I did. I even tried to take her to the station,

but she went with what's his name.

- What, Jason? - Yeah, yeah.

Who is this guy?

- Look, why do you care so much?

You must have a dozen girls throwing themselves at you.

- Sydney's been through a lot.

She's not ready for whatever it is she's doing.

- I feel the same way,

but she's got to figure things out for herself.

- Are they smashing? Her and this Jason dude?

- No. No, I mean, I don't think so.

But seriously, this conversation needs to end.

Syd and I barely started speaking,

and talking to you is just gonna piss her off.

[knock on door]

- Daddy. - Hey, baby.

- What are you doing here? - [laughs]

Came to see my baby girl.

[laughs]

So how's Cedric?

- We're just making music together, Daddy.

- Oh.

- Mom know you drove up here to check on me?

- Of course not.

And don't you say anything either.

I told her I was going to Chattanooga

to meet with your Uncle Brick. - Uh-huh.

That's what I thought. [giggles]

- You know,

your president's arrest was all over the news.

So when we talked and I heard something off in your voice, I...

- Daddy, I'm fine.

Cecil Diamond approached me.

- About what?

- Joining the symphonic band.

I told him I wasn't interested.

Couldn't believe he had the audacity to consider me

in the first place.

- That's a bold son of a bitch.

He had no business approaching you.

I can always tell when something's going on with you.

You know that.

- Yes, Daddy.

I know that.

- And that's why I asked you about that boy.

- [laughs]

Will you quit meddling?

- If you road trip with me.

- Oh, no. Mnh-mnh.

As much as I love you, there is no way I'm suffering through

Uncle Brick smacking his way through dinner.

[laughter]

But seriously,

thanks for checking on me.

- Of course, baby girl.

- Which way you park?

- Right down through there.

- So you wanna hear a joke? - Yes.

[jazz music]

? ?

- Mr. Weaver, how are you?

- You approached my daughter?

- Yes, sir, I did. I wanted to give her...

- You know, given the fact that we didn't sue you

or this damn university for every penny y'all got,

seems like common sense would keep you away from her.

- Look, I... - No, you look.

See, you don't know what it's like to have your daughter

beaten so bad that she requires brain surgery,

to sit in a hospital and not be able to help

or communicate with her because she's in a coma.

And when all is said and done,

nobody's charged with anything,

leaving my family to pick up the damn pieces.

- Mr. Weaver, have you ever made a mistake that you regret,

turned a blind eye to something you knew was wrong?

That kind of thing stays with you.

And the only thing you can do is hope that one day

you have a chance to fix it.

The fact that Ebonie does not want to come near the thing

that she came to GAMU to do

rocks me to my soul.

I had a spot for her.

I thought if she took it she'd feel better,

but now I realize I should have contacted you

to see how you felt about it.

- Stay away from my daughter, Mr. Diamond.

[somber music]

? ?

Ta - It's so like my mom to go through something this traumatic

and try to deal with it by herself.

- Well, we can't choose our parents,

but we can choose what traits we take from them.

So I guess the trick is not being just like them.

- ? Maybe for tonight ?

- I see what you did there, Mr. Psychology Major.

- Hey. Hey.

- ? You are just a man ? - [moans softly]

That feels good.

- ? Broken promises ?

- I feel like we've known each other forever.

- I know, right?

- ? Let it go ?

- ? Let it go, let it go ?

- ? I know that I'm not easy to love ?

? But I'll make it easy on you ?

? Everything I want to do ?

- Hope I'm not interrupting.

- No, no. I was...

I was actually just leaving.

Call you later, Syd.

- Yeah.

- ? All I wanna do is ?

- Clam jam much?

- You should thank me.

- Whatever, Mother.

- I see why Miles is so concerned now.

- What?

- Yes, he concerned and so am I.

- Wait, you had a conversation with the guy

I told you I was cool on?

- Yeah, Syd, I did.

- Why?

Why is everyone so damned concerned with what I'm doing?

Look, we went over this.

Stay out of my business, I stay out of yours.

- We never had that conversation.

- Well, we're having it now.

? ?

- I think he's a good kid.

He just needs a little bit of... lots of love.

[somber music]

- Dr. Fletcher, I was just coming to see you.

- Hey, Cedric. What can I do for you?

- Nothing really. I was just to give you props

for standing up to the bullshit like you did.

- Thank you, but I didn't have a choice.

Couldn't look at myself in the mirror if I didn't.

- I have to admit that

you surprised me a little bit.

I didn't know you got down like that.

- No, you didn't know,

because fighting is all about choosing the right war

and then refusing to lose once the battle breaks out.

- I guess that's why I been asking myself

when are the Metro cops gonna get paid back

for what they did to me.

Coming in my dorm, snatching me up like I ain't shit.

If it hadn't been for you and my mas,

I probably would-a believed.

- You knew better.

You have a lot to be proud of.

- I know I know better, but what was I doing with it?

After they hinged you up, I knew that I had to respond

to the craziness.

Like, I know that I'm not the only one who's tired

and ready to speak on it.

That's why I been writing this song,

'cause I need to get out how I feel.

- And how exactly are you feeling?

- Did you not just hear anything that I said?

- I heard exactly what you said.

So I'm gonna have to ask you to promise me

to channel all of this rage into your music,

because your mother would never forgive me

if something happened to you.

And I wouldn't forgive myself.

- I'm not gonna sit on this, Dr. Fletcher.

Look, I'm not saying that I'm gonna do something stupid,

but I can't sit here and act like it didn't happen.

This song is just the first step.

The beginning.

[somber music]

? ?

- The policing of African-Americans is

a systemic issue this country has been struggling with

since black people were first enslaved here.

And back then, we were only seen as property,

so it was completely acceptable

to beat, hang, kill us

as methods of discipline.

- The day he was murdered,

he was not selling cigarettes that day.

? ?

He had just broken up a fight.

- Exactly. Now, how long must this go on?

It has to stop.

- And I was just screaming at the TV

and I was saying, "Please, y'all, stop. Let him go."

You could go around killing our children

and just getting away,

literally getting away with murder.

- But if a 5'2", 120-pound black woman

in a Jag wearing a suit

is a threat to the police,

what chance does everyone else have?

- And there are so many mothers out there

who suffer as I do,

and if you listen to the stories,

one story is worse than the other.

- Don't touch me [bleep]!

- Damn, man. - Turn around.

- Put your arm... put your hand behind your back!

- I can't breathe! I can't breathe.

- Next on "The Quad"...

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