Original subtitles

Downloaded from YTS.MX

(suspenseful music)

(dramatic music)

(wind blowing) (suspenseful music)

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

(snow crunching)

(slow tempo saxophone music)

- [Kingston] Ah, this sound brings back a memory

that could never be forgotten.

Not only did my eyes behold to beauty indescribable,

it was also the first step

towards my journey to self discovery.

But we'll get that later.

Let's start from the beginning.

(recorder whirring)

(upbeat music)

Last night the club was popping.

The twins, Shayla and McKayla showed me a great time.

Knowledge two is always better than one.

(upbeat rap music)

♪ Woo

♪ I woke up this morning feeling marvelous, yeah

♪ I mean, you would to, if you look like this wouldn't you

♪ Yeah, I know

That's me, Kingston Jackson, CEO of one

of the highest high end clothing stores in the nation.

♪ Now they ain't never start it like this

♪ Never shine a light, yeah

♪ Oh, yes, I'm feeling myself

♪ But I guess I couldn't make that more clearer

♪ I'm loving the reflection that I'm seeing in the mirror

♪ Yes, getting dressed and yes, I know

♪ You know what I'm gonna wear, what

♪ A color bow tie to make the women stop and stare

You know, my dress game is on point.

In my house I'm fly.

Hell, even checking the mail I'm fly.

Last quarter, my company grosses, hmm,

enough for me to take

some well deserved time off for a while,

but tonight I'm laying low.

I just wanna recuperate

and kick it with my little brother Brian

and his friend Mike.

♪ Why the suckers copy us

- [Mike] Yo, King, what are you doing in there?

- [Kingston] Speak of the devil, that's Mike right there.

♪ Later they'll be calling us, yeah

♪ Hey, yo, today I'm on my fly shit

♪ A swore my

- [Mike] If you don't hurry

all the fly females are gonna be gone, man.

♪ Never start

- [Kingston] Calm down.

It's not like you going pull or nothin',

♪ 'Cause I'm fly, oh, yeah, that's right, I'm fly

♪ Not even gonna lie

with your light-skinned ass.

♪ Now everybody lookin'

- Killing me.

♪ 'Cause they know I'm fly, 'cause they

- What's good, bro?

Be about that life tonight.

- (chuckles) Not tonight, bro.

Tonight I'm gonna just chill, hang back, you know,

scope out the scene a little bit, you know?

- King, what are you saying?

The last time you, you, you chilled

you brought the twins on for an overnight session.

- Now, why does a brother's mind always have to be on sex?

I mean, can't a man just chill out,

have a good time with the fellas, mingle a little bit,

you know, have a drink or two?

- Man, don't know about you,

but I'm trying to see that booty jiggle.

- [Brian] Trying to see that booty jiggle, boy?

- All right, boy. - That's what you going do.

Last time you got laid was back in high school, Mike.

(Kingston laughs)

- Man, you pushing it, man.

You pushing it.

- Hey guys, look, guys,

all I'm trying to say is this.

Let's go out tonight, have a good time,

put all the drama behind us.

That's what I'm gonna do.

(upbeat music)

Here's still a good time.

♪ Yeah

♪ Uh-huh

♪ Okay

♪ Let's go

♪ Step out of this mother

♪ Fresh as I can be

♪ Shortie looking at me screaming OMG

♪ OMG, O-O, OMG

- I like that, yes, I do, I like that.

♪ He's your friend

- Let me tell you another thing, I get there,

I come in the room, she ain't nothing on,

talking about, you like what you see, King?

Yeah, nice TV.

- I like that scene, that's what I'm talking about.

- Damn.

- Can you get a hold of, can you get a hold of yourself?

- So you try to take it easy tonight, dude.

- Chill out. - Excuse me, sir.

I believe this is for you.

- [Brian] How that for you?

We just got here, King.

- Long time no see.

Who's this from?

(upbeat R&B music)

(man vocalizing)

♪ This is for all my lady DJ

- Damn.

- Did I say I was chilling tonight?

I lied.

♪ Ms. DJ

♪ I really wanna touch your body

Do I know you from somewhere?

- South Beach last June.

- Oh yeah.

Your Keisha's friend, right?

How could I forget those sexy eyes.

- Asia.

Nice to finally cross paths again.

- [Kingston] Likewise.

- They call you King, right?

- Sometimes.

- Well, from what I heard, it's well deserved.

♪ From the view from the side, Ms. DJ

- What exactly have you heard?

- Well, let's say it's more than a little bit.

- [Kingston] Ooh, down boy.

- What brings you here tonight?

- Just hanging out with the fellas.

I bet they're staring at me right now.

♪ Vibe with the ladies

♪ Let's break up

Well, I gotta get going,

so it was nice seeing you again, okay?

- You have yourself a good night.

- All right.

♪ We gonna bring on, Ms. DJ

♪ I really wanna

It's about to go down.

You know what on second thought.

Why don't we get out here and go back to my spot?

- Excuse me?

(Asia moans)

- Yeah, you like that, baby?

- Yeah, yeah.

♪ Your body

♪ I know you want my body

♪ It's cool, I need your body

♪ Ms. DJ, turn the record on

- Oh, shit.

Damn.

Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, chill.

Hey, what you doing?

- I'm trying to hold you.

- I understand that.

I'm just in my zone right now that's all.

- I can't believe I did this.

How you gonna have sex with me and you don't even know me?

- Are you serious?

I should be asking you the same thing.

Look, girl, the fact is I'm feeling you.

I think you're amazing.

I'm just not ready

for anything serious right now, that's all.

I mean, you understand, right?

- Listen, boy, I'm grown.

If you're not ready to be serious, you're not ready for me.

(door clicks)

(door bangs)

- [Kingston] Schizo, why do all the pretty women

have to have issues?

Knowledge, if a chick asks you to be serious

on the first night, run fast.

- Yeah, you see my boy Wade do his thing though?

- Yeah, that's real.

- He was doing his thing.

- What y'all boys getting into?

- Championship. - What's going on?

What the deal?

- What happened to you chilling last night?

- Yeah, man, you dipped out a little early.

- Just a tad.

♪ It's like you getting started

♪ Muscle to the strategy

♪ Come over here again

♪ Pretend they gonna follow us

- Oh!

(Mike and Brian laughing)

So how was it, dog?

- She was phenomenal.

- Mm, all right, now.

You gonna say phenomenal, you know what?

- Check it out, check it out.

Before I know it she wants some cuddle.

Starts getting all emotional.

- Hmm?

- Talking about she wanna be serious.

- What?

Already?

- Already, yes.

It's all good, you know.

Y'all remember that chick Natavia I was telling y'all about?

- [Brian and Mike] Natavia.

- She talking about she want to take me

to this little poetry spot.

I was like, all right, why not?

You know who knows maybe widen my horizons a little bit.

♪ Bring me the prettiest

♪ She's looking at me

♪ She so insidious

♪ And then she sounds

- Widen your, all right, dog. (laughs)

Widen your horizons. - Hey, yo, B.

You got the time man?

♪ She said she took

- What I look like to you, Mike?

- A fat lip loser actually.

- You know what?

- You forgot?

Man, you still owe me from the pool game last week.

- I ain't paying no pool game, Mike,

- You need be buying this dinner too.

- I got it, fellas.

Y'all boys be easy, man.

- You gonna stop talking about my lip.

- It is what it is, man.

- Nah, man, you always-

- It is what it is. - You know it

run in my family. - That is bread real good.

- Now hold up, that's for the damn drinks.

(fast tempo saxophone music)

- [Kingston] Why am I sitting through this again?

Oh, that's why.

- Boy stop.

(group cheering)

What do you think?

- Please.

I don't think so.

- Just pay attention.

- Oh, I'm focused.

- Up next, we have, coming to the stage

one of our favorites.

She is the femme fatale of poetry.

Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together

and give it up for the lovely, sexy Shandre.

(group cheering)

(slow tempo piano music)

- I believe in energy

building to a slow and easy crescendo

and baby, we are nuclear.

Nothing about this is slow,

but a spontaneous combustion

starting by your eyes, meeting mine.

And I applaud your beauty.

Like it's a person.

And wish to kiss your lip like it's sustenance.

Can you see our future in my eyes?

I can feel it in our palms as we touch hands for our hello,

it's as if our lifelines are rearranging to intertwine.

And I never knew this was even possible

to know what it feels like when your soul finds it's mate.

But for me, it's the natural fit of my hand in yours.

And the new tempo of my heartbeat

sounds like a forensic rhythm on the drums of our heritage.

- [Kingston] Help me find the rhythm of your tempo.

- I wanna tell you how you make me feel

and how my body already seems to know yours

and how my fingertips ache to caress yours

and how our future is so bright.

It is unclear.

- [Kingston] It's very clear to me.

- But you have managed to render me near speechless.

So all I can say is, hello,

it's nice to meet you too.

(group cheering)

- [Kingston] You're, you're looking at me?

- [Natavia] That was pretty good, wasn't it?

- [Kingston] My goodness.

- Kingston, did you hear me?

Are you having a good time?

- Yeah.

Yeah, I am.

(remote clicks)

- [Weatherman] High tides and heavy surf.

- [Kingston] Let me catch the last bit of this game

before I head out.

(knuckles tapping)

(sighs) Spoke too soon.

(blinds thud) (Mike chuckles)

You're kidding me.

(blinds thud) (Mike chuckles)

- What's up, bro?

(door bangs)

I need a favor.

- What is it?

- Remember that girl I was telling you about?

Uh-uh.

Well, me and her supposed to be linking up tomorrow,

and she wants to bring one of her friends.

And since you my big brother I thought-

- First off,

you will not have me sitting next to Shrek.

- Shrek?

- How long you been dating this girl now, bro?

And y'all still double dating.

You coming at them way too hard.

- All right, okay.

- What you need to do is ease your way into it.

Get 'em comfortable, like I taught you, man.

- Yeah, yeah.

So you coming right?

(announcer chattering)

(gentle R&B music)

- Look, I'll letting you know right now,

I'm going to take one for the team on this one,

but I promise you, I promise you, bro-

- All right, all right, all right, shut up, shut up.

Here they come.

Fix yourself, man.

- [Kingston] Is this who I think it is?

(upbeat R&B music)

I think it is her.

- Hey. - How you doing, girl?

You look good.

Mm, smell nice too.

- Thank you. - This is my brother Kingston.

Kingston, Michelle.

- Nice to meet you.

This is my girlfriend Shandre.

- Hi. - How you doing?

Nice to meet you.

- My pleasure.

- Let's sit down.

(Michelle chuckles)

Who, man, I'm hungry. I ain't eating nothing all day.

You know what I'm saying?

Oh, let me get that for you.

Sit down.

(clears throat) You know what?

Actually they have a beautiful view on, on their balcony.

I don't know if you wanna check that out.

(Michelle giggles)

- All right.

- [Brian] All right, let's do that, let's go.

- So I'll leave you two alone.

- That's fine.

- Okay.

Make sure you take care of her while I'm gone.

- Uh, I can take care of myself.

- Ooh, will you two kids play nice, all right?

(Michelle giggles)

- [Waitress] You guys ready to order some drinks?

- Sure.

- I'll take a glass of water for now.

- Water, and for you?

- Tea is fine.

- Okay, I'll be right back.

- Thank you.

- So Kingston, are you Jamaican?

- (laughs) No.

My mom traveled to Kingston, Jamaica.

She just felt in love with the place.

What happened my father,

he was there at the same time visiting

and as they say, the rest is history.

- Have you gone to visit?

- Well, actually never even looked into going.

I mean.

- You don't wanna learn more about it?

- For what?

I'm American.

Born and raised baby.

- Correction.

You're African American.

- I'm American, I'm not from Africa.

(laughs) Africa.

- It was nice to meet you.

- Hey, hey, hold up.

- Hey, I'm sorry.

I left my purse. (giggles)

Where's Shandre?

- Yeah, where's she at?

He, he just playing. - What?

- She, she probably in the bathroom.

- Goodness. - I, uh.

What that mean?

- Man, I don't know, man.

We were sitting here and the next thing you know,

she just jumped up and left me.

- Damn, King you're supposed to be making me look good, bro.

What's wrong with you, huh?

Damn, man.

You know what I'm gonna tell mama?

Uh-huh, that's what I'm gonna do.

Michelle, baby, Michelle, come on, baby.

Michelle, Michelle.

- Men are always talking about it's women

that don't know what they want.

It's really men that don't know what they want.

- So he takes me to this fancy restaurant.

Conversation is good.

He's looking right.

So I'm thinking to myself, he might be a keeper.

Then the bill comes.

Would you believe he asked me to cover the bill?

- Hmm, cheap and no class.

What it is, is that men,

they don't know how to treat real women.

- Wait, hold up, hold up, hold up.

We cannot say that about all men.

- Why not? - I mean there are some

good men out there now.

- Oh, hell no.

- I agree, but very, very few.

So I go on his double date with Michelle the other day.

(Michelle laughing)

I can't lie, he's a cutie.

But the ignorance that came from his mouth

was a complete turn off.

- Mm-hmm. - Why can't I find a man

that is intelligent, cultured, humbled, spiritual.

- Now all of those things are all right in all of that,

but I need a man with a decent job, good credit,

and no baby mamas.

- Oh, now you, you said it right there now.

- That's what I'm talking about.

- Yeah, but I need a deeper connection.

I mean, I want a man that cater to me every once in a while.

You know, cook, surprise me sometimes.

Is that too much to ask for?

- Clearly it is.

You'll be happy if you thought a man with one,

maybe two good qualities these days.

- I can't, I can't settle for less.

(slow tempo trumpet music)

- You can show up anytime Shandre.

I give up.

Somebody please come shoot me.

Oh, Lord, get me out of here.

I'm giving her one more hour.

(slow tempo piano music)

Where is she at?

She better not turn me down after sitting through all this.

(fast tempo jazz music)

Excuse mere, Shandre.

Look, I apologize for the other night.

These are for you.

I'd really like a chance to make it up to you.

Have lunch with me.

Just lunch.

- I don't know.

- Please.

Mural Park, 2:00 PM

(Shandre sighs)

(chuckles) Well, either way, I'll be there.

(gentle music) (fingers snapping)

(man vocalizing)

I'm glad you decided to come.

I hope you like it.

- [Shandre] It's all right.

- I just slaved over a hot stove for four hours,

she talking about all right.

What does a man have to do to see you smile?

(chuckles) There we go.

So you work at a jazz spot.

- Well, it used to be my daddy's.

As a little girl every week

I would go and listen to spoken word.

You know, poetry.

It's a whole nother world to me.

The energy, the vibe, the whole feeling.

- Where's your father at now?

- He passed away from cancer when I was 14.

- I'm sorry to hear that.

- So what about you?

Do you write?

- No.

You ain't gotta know all that.

- You're missing out.

It's always good to start something new.

It's like there's a deeper meaning of life,

of knowledge, of understanding

that spoken word expresses unlike any other art forms,

a compelling overflow of powerful emotions.

When you're able to express yourself,

it creates an inner peace.

- [Kingston] I wanna show you something.

- Like what?

- You said, trying new things, right?

(lights clicking)

I think she's warming up to me.

Now it's time to pull out the spade.

- Wow.

A dance studio.

- This is my mother's studio.

You see, dance is her passion.

Kind of like poetry is yours.

- Wait, so you dance too?

(fast tempo Salsa music)

- A little bit.

(Shandre giggles)

- I don't know if you want me on this dance floor.

(Shandre laughs)

- Are you nervous?

- No, I just don't do this.

- Now I'm gonna take a step forward with my left foot.

You take a step back with your right slow, okay?

One, two, three.

Good.

Now you try it this time,

you take a step forward with your left foot,

and I'm gonna take a step back with my right.

Slow.

One, two, three.

- Ooh, I'm sorry.

I am so sorry. (laughs)

- Jesus, Shandre, I said a step not a leap.

- Oh, my God, I'm sorry.

- It's okay, you took a little leap of faith on me.

It's, it's all right.

You're lucky you're cute, I'm telling you.

(man singing in foreign language)

(man singing in foreign language)

(man singing in foreign language)

(man singing in foreign language)

(man singing in foreign language)

(man singing in foreign language)

See you'll be ready for competition in no time.

- Oh no.

(man singing in foreign language)

Okay, so you are a little cultured.

(man singing in foreign language)

(group cheering)

- Who said I wasn't?

(gentle R&B music) (group chattering)

- Oh, ooh, can I take you home with me?

- Don't make me call Brian.

- Please don't.

He already ain't getting it as it is.

- What?

(ball thuds)

- [Kingston] So what you say going on, man?

- Man, it's like this all right.

It's been almost a month

and Michelle still ain't let me hit, man.

(ball thuds)

- Nothing but net.

- You mean to tell me he ain't.

(Michelle laughs)

Y'all ain't?

- Don't get me wrong.

I mean, he's sweet.

He makes me laugh.

And we have so much fun together.

It's just, I wanna be sure this time, you know what I mean?

- I know what she doing, I know what she doing, bro.

She gotta be sleeping with somebody else.

I mean, she, she probably,

probably got this guy play the bills and everything, right?

And then she, she uses me, me for dates and conversation.

And the other dude, he don't do shit,

but he still get to hit it.

Why can't I be that guy?

- So tell me how the date went.

- It definitely went all right.

- Wow.

All I can say is tread careful, Shandre.

I mean, let's not forget about what happened with Jason.

- Listen, been there, done that.

Trust me, I am not going back to that.

- [Michelle] Mm-hmm, just as long as you know.

- Mm-hmm.

- So are you ready for our foot rub?

- Girl, don't nobody wanna rub on them things.

- Oh, I know you ain't talking.

Them clash of the titans toes you got.

- What?

- Shut up.

- [Kingston] This is so surreal.

Shandre and I have been spending time together every day

for nearly two months now.

Today we're going to enlightenment night

where a group of her friends meet every week

to discuss societal and political issues.

- Oh, hey, Shandre.

- [Shandre] Hey girl, this is Kingston.

- Oh, hey, how you doing?

- How you doing?

- So how is it that a man should be superior to a woman?

Black women have had just as much

of an influence on history as our men.

- [Man] Explain.

- Ida B. Wells founding member of the NAACP

who helped end lynching in the south.

Wangari Maathai the first African woman

to win a Nobel Peace Prize in peace.

Fannie Lou Hamer, who helped blacks earn the right to vote.

- But the Bible says, "The head of every man is Christ,

and the head of every woman is the man,

and the head of Christ is God."

- Yes, but without the womb of a woman,

there will be no man.

- Please remind these men that it was the Virgin Mary

who bore the son of God.

- The Bible clearly states on several occasions.

- [Kingston] This is completely outta my element,

but I'm enjoying every minute of it.

Shandre says, "She has something special

in store for me today."

I'm hoping it's what I think it is.

I've never held out this long,

but for the first time, I don't mind.

- Stop it.

Okay, you can't open your eyes until I say open, okay.

- All right, all right. - I'm serious, Kingston.

- All right, all right.

- Okay.

And open.

- [Kingston] What is this?

- Okay I know you're wondering like where's the surprise?

- [Kingston] Yeah.

- I wanted to share my space of inspiration with you.

This is the place where I get the vision

for my creative process.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Now you know you can't be grabbing a man phone like that.

- Boy, please, ain't nobody thinking about you

and these nasty little things you got in your phone anyway.

Can you show me how to work the camera on this thing?

- For what?

- Just show me.

- Pop.

- Okay.

I feel dumb.

- [Kingston] You should.

- Whatever.

That's cute.

Now, this picture marks the first time

I brought you to my place of inspiration.

- (chuckles) Women and their sentimental moments.

No, but it's cool though.

I can kind of see why you come out here.

You know, it's quiet, get to be to yourself.

It gives you time to think, Ms. Shandre.

Ms. Creativity.

So you got a little something for me?

- A little something.

- Show me what you got.

Let me hear it.

- Something about this is different.

(man vocalizing)

Like today is not like yesterday different,

first breath after rescue from the drowning,

jazz, hip hop fusion different.

This is A Tribe Called Quest,

and we are simply on a quest to create our own tribe.

This is different, and I wonder if you can see it.

If you can breathe it like new spring.

This is different and I like it.

- Wow.

You really got a gift.

- A lot of people sleep on poets,

but the truth is, poetry is the moving force

behind every genre of music you hear today.

For instance, the last poets was the first rap group

made up of a group of poets in the late '60s.

Notice the word poets.

See my point.

Oh, poetry is the mother of all verbal, creative expression.

- (chuckles) Damn.

And I thought the Sugar Hill Gang was the first rap group.

- Oh, you're not by yourself,

everybody thinks that, but I gotta put you up on game.

- Yeah, whatever, whatever.

- Let's take another picture.

- All right.

- And you can smile this time.

God, dudes and their mad at the world face kills me.

Ooh.

Let's get outta here.

We don't wanna get carried away.

- [Kingston] Speak for yourself.

- [Shandre] So did you enjoy the gazebo?

- I did, I did. - I'm glad.

- You know, your phone was okay, but you know,

I was kind more paying attention to you.

(both laughing)

(door clicks)

(door clicks)

- [Shandre] So is it up to your royalty standards, my king?

- Yo, I'm gonna keep it real, it's tight.

Look like you got your own

little private art gallery going on.

- You want some wine?

- Uh, yeah, that's cool.

- Red or white? - Whatever you suggest.

I'm not really a big wine drinker.

- [Shandre] Let me guess, dark liquor, right?

- You already know.

- [Shandre] Merlot, it is.

(cork pops)

(wine splashing)

Here you go.

- Thank you.

- That's actually a woman, you know?

- Really? - Mm-hmm.

That's Hatshepsut.

She was the first female Pharaoh.

Now, there were other women served as joint rulers

making decisions as a Pharaoh

because he was too young to make decisions on his own.

But Hatshepsut was different.

She served as a joint ruler for her stepson

and practically took over.

I mean, it was believed that Hatshepsut's father

wanted her to be his successor.

The people of Egypt considered her Pharaoh,

and she dressed in Pharaoh attire, just like you see here.

She reigned approximately 21 years.

Yeah, she really inspires me.

- So you're the modern day Hatshepsut.

- I just can relate to her story.

You know, me taking over my father's business

when he passed and everybody thinking it

should have been given to my Uncle.

Deeming it was a man's job.

I just refused not to fulfill my father's wish

of me taking over his business.

- That's deep.

(gentle music)

Well, I've been cooking since I was 12.

- Okay.

- My mom taught me, she felt that when I became a man,

I should be able to take care of myself in every aspect.

- Hmm.

Okay.

Do you want any kids?

- Oh, so you Katie Couric now

you just gonna get all serious on me, okay?

You know, one, a little boy,

so he can be just like his father.

- Okay. - What about you?

- I want five.

- Damn.

Why so many?

- Well, five, it's the number of creativity,

freedom, change.

I think it's perfect.

(man vocalizing)

- Shandre, what is that?

- This?

I got this at the fair yesterday.

It's henna.

It's not a real tattoo.

- So what is it supposed to be?

- It's the lotus flower.

It represents eternal life in Egyptian culture.

I mean, if I had it my way,

I would have a whole pond of these things.

(Kingston laughs)

So what do you love?

Uh, better yet, have you ever been in love?

- I thought I was, but turns out it was just a phase.

- Mm.

Yeah, love can be tricky like that at times.

It's hard to know if it's real,

especially after all it's said and done.

- I don't know what it feels like.

Maybe one day I'll find out.

You know what I like about you?

- What's that?

- You always speak what's on your mind.

It's like other woman, all they do is talk.

But you, you're actually saying something.

(man vocalizing)

- You wanna watch a movie?

- What I really want you to do

is show me some of those dance moves I taught you.

(Shandre laughs)

(gentle romantic music)

(man vocalizing)

(man vocalizing)

(man vocalizing)

(man vocalizing)

(group chattering)

(Shandre and Michelle laughing)

- Now, you know, you have to tell me everything.

What's up, girl?

- Uh-uh.

- Oh, spit it out.

- I don't know, Shelly.

I mean, he is just, he's just really amazing.

I definitely love the fact that he is so charming.

He has the potential to be a very great guy.

- Ooh,

I don't know, Shandre.

I have this strange feeling about you too.

Brian used to tell me about this guy he knew

that had all the girls and was like this major dog.

But now when I ask him about it,

it's like he didn't say anything like that.

I have a feeling he's trying to cover up for Kingston.

(brooding music)

- I don't know, Michelle, like I don't see that at all.

- Well, I'm just warning you.

Be careful with him.

- I'm scared.

I'm scared, they'll convince you

your kiss can't freeze time.

I'm scared, they'll convince you

that 6:30 refracting off your eyes

doesn't cause the sunrise.

I'm scared.

Scared they'll convince you

that your pigment can't fit in the ink pens I write with.

I'm scared, they'll convince you

you're not a work of art

or that your content doesn't mean as much

as your outer parts.

If you ever feel like you're falling for that game

remember I fell in love with a masterpiece

and not a picture frame, but I'm scared.

Every spec of yous a spectacle, every interview incredible.

Your lovingness unmeasurable.

I just want to get next to you.

See, it's more about the magic in your laugh.

The no enchantment on your chapstick,

but there's bliss in your kissing, everything you represent.

But I'm scared.

See, I'm scared that we'll make those errors

that so many make.

I'm scared that we'll forget

no matter how much frosting you put on shit

it still ain't cake.

Or that the shoes you stand in

are not as important as what you stand for.

Or that looking good and being good are not the same thing.

I'm scared we'll mess up the big picture,

trying to fix the frame.

Just remember that all your flaws can't be covered,

but it's okay, see, the sun has spots all over it.

It decides to shine bright anyway.

So I'm not telling you not to look your best

or be your best.

That's like telling wind not to blow.

Just remember you shine already.

Never let them convince you, you don't already glow.

I swear you do.

From every angle, you're an angel.

Every view of you is beautiful.

I'm scared of what they'll do to you.

See, I'm scared they'll convince you your skin

ain't a mixture of silk and sunshine.

I'm scared they'll convince you when you smile

my luck and joy don't harmonize.

Please never go commercial on me.

Never become a victim of anyone else's perception.

Never get so caught up in trying to fit their image

that you forget your own reflection.

I'm scared.

- Shandre, are you sleeping?

Is something wrong?

Baby, what is it?

- Kingston?

- Yes, baby.

- Do you care about me?

I'm serious.

Do you care about me?

- Yes, baby.

Yes, I care about you.

- Can I trust you?

- Where's all this even coming from?

- [Shandre] Just answer the question.

- Yes.

Yes, you can trust me.

- Are you seeing other women?

- Okay, look, Shandre,

honestly, I've been with plenty of women in the past,

but that's the past.

I don't meet women like you and not never risk losing you.

(fast tempo rock music)

(balls clanging)

- [Brian] Ain't ready for me, man.

- Shandre continues to grow on me.

So I think it's time I introduce her to the crew.

What's up, bro? - How you doing, bro?

- You remember Shandre, right?

- Yeah, hey. - Hi.

- How you doing?

- [Kingston] This is Mike.

- How you doing?

- Hey, how you doing?

- You know what, B, I whooping your ass so bad,

I'll let the lady finish you off.

- You sure you got $50 to waste, man?

You serious?

(chuckles) Be my guest.

- Oh no, I can't play.

- Oh no, don't worry about it, baby, I got this.

First, what you going to do,

you gonna get you a nice straight line just like this, okay?

Then a nice smooth stroke, okay?

You got it?

All right.

♪ And so it

- Eight ball side pocket.

(stick thuds)

- Damn.

(Brian laughs)

- So she gonna finish me off, huh?

Tripping.

It's all right, that's not your fault, Shandre.

See pool, it's a man's game.

Ain't for no little girls.

Let me put it to you like this.

With his tiger grip, he lines up to strike.

♪ Circle back to the underground

♪ People fearing the sun around

♪ It can taste you, sweep your head

Hold this for me.

The gazelle, the gazelle is unable to bear.

(Brian yelling)

Other's scream.

But she's too weak.

Too weak to move or order her sound.

- Utter a sound?

- The tiger, that's me.

- [Kingston] Can't take this man nowhere.

- He's so sorry.

But he knows.

He knows he must finish her.

He reaches his claw back to take the final blow.

Eight ball side pocket.

He strikes.

- And misses. - Crikey.

- Hey, you got this, babe, I'm telling you.

Eight ball corner pocket.

- Man, shut up and let the girls speak.

- Oh, oh, so now the gazelle can speak now, huh?

- I don't like you, Mike.

I never ever liked you, uh-uh.

- (laughs) Eight ball.

Excuse me.

Corner pocket.

(balls clanging)

- Boom, man!

So she can hang.

I like that.

She's more than just a girl to me, she's my friend.

- You have the hands of someone who understands.

One with callous fingertips and wounds

only an artist can comprehend.

Have you ever looked down at your hand

and seen a faint imprint of a pen, a pencil, a paintbrush?

Your hands say a lot about you,

but they only have part of the story

because your lips are to be trusted.

Mostly because the words coming out of them

are so steeped in truth, in beauty unparallel.

I swear when you speak, sometimes angels blush

because they can't comprehend the thought

that heavenly bodies would crush on a mere mortal.

But you are not a mere anything, no.

I'm not even sure you're mortal.

Okay, that's not true.

And I want to tell you that you matter.

If you've ever had a point where you accidentally forget,

if you ever forget that once upon a time,

your smile served as my sunshine.

And your laughter the upbeat to my down track.

And your silence golden

because you don't listen and speak simultaneously.

You're the kind of friend

that I used to wish upon a star for,

pick three leaf clovers and thank God for,

read about in books.

In all the times in laughter we've shared

and mutually felt insomnia.

I remember when I told you I was broken

and you told me I was a mosaic.

When I said that I was afraid you laughed

because you couldn't fathom the thought of my fear.

And if you ever have a time when you feel that the world

doesn't understand the gem among them,

just realize that I do.

And smile to yourself.

(rain pattering)

- Hmm.

Rain is a sweet melody of growth.

(thunder rumbling)

And growth begins with the mind.

You change your mind.

You change your world.

(thunder rumbling)

Hmm, you're the close minded type, huh?

- I guess I never had a reason to be any other way.

- You really feel that way?

You do have a reason to.

African Americans endured nearly 500 years of slavery

just so you and I both could have open minds.

- You're something else, you know that?

(thunder rumbling)

Come here.

(gentle music)

I never enjoyed cuddling.

This is all right.

Shandre is incredible.

I never had a woman as captivating, inspirational,

and sexy all at the same time.

She told me about how Africa

was originally named a Alkebulan,

and how the first human birth

traced back to an African woman.

Knowledge.

I am African American.

- Ah, so what you got, Mike?

- What you got?

- I got all in.

- Oh, I'm all in too.

For lunch.

- One, two, three.

Three.

- Might as well go all the way in.

- It's all good 'cause we ain't like we paying money

or nothing like that.

It ain't like, that was warm up game, you feel me?

Next game.

- Fellas, fellas, what's going on?

- Man, I'm killing your brother.

- Killing my brother? - Yes sir.

- Oh, you're killing my brother?

- Yes, sir. - That's what you're doing?

Why don't you try killing me?

- Whoo.

- So lover boy finally comes out the play.

- Money on the table.

Well actually though, King,

it has been a while since I seen you, man.

Huh, I think my brother done got soft on us, Mike.

- Angel Soft.

- Charmin Ultra Soft.

You know, cha, cha, cha, blo, blo, Charmin, bla, bla.

(Brian and Mike laughing)

- Are y'all gay?

Y'all through?

Anything else?

- All I'm saying is whatever happened to the king?

- You crazy, man.

Hey, look here, man, we just gonna chill out.

Play some cards.

- All right, man.

I mean, I know you get 'em more than I do

and all that stuff, but one thing I do know,

never put anything past the female, bro.

- Damn skippy, you ain't never lied about that.

- Mm-hmm, y'all remember y'all remember Kenny

from high school, right?

Big Forehead, y'all remember him?

I seen him last week.

Now you remember Keita,

the girl that got pregnant back in 11th grade?

- Mm-hmm.

- They married now.

She claimed that he's the only man

that she's ever been with, right?

Come to find out that son of hers

is actually the son of our star quarterback, Marcus Lowes.

- Oh, that's simple.

What's done in the dark, must one day come to light, homie.

- That's right, mm-hmm.

Let's just say they not together no more.

- [Kingston] Some women can be scandalous.

Glad I got my diamond.

- Well, I'm about to take over this game, bro.

I'm all in once again.

- [Mike] Oh yeah, we can do that.

- I'm gonna fold, man.

- [Brian] Don't be no punk.

- Oh, I'm in.

(cards thuds)

- [Mike] Trip kings. (laughs)

Yeah.

- [Kingston] Matter of fact,

these fool got enough of my time.

Let me go see my lady.

- Yo King, you down for another game?

- Nah, no, actually I just stopped through.

I'm gonna just head out.

Y'all boys, take it easy, man.

- Well, why you out don't forget to get your panties though.

- How the hell I keep losing?

- It's your lips.

(liquid spraying)

(siren wailing)

(horn honking)

- Hey, beautiful.

Mm.

I see you still holding up.

- Jason, what are you doing here?

- Did you get that letter I sent you?

- Yeah, I got it.

- [Jason] So how's my baby doing?

- [Kingston] I see just like the rest of 'em.

- So I guess that other chick is out the picture, huh?

- Look, I didn't come here for all of that.

Let's leave the past behind us.

Let's start fresh.

Baby, I want us again.

- I don't have any room left in my heart for you.

I moved on.

(brooding piano music)

- No room.

- Goodbye, Jason.

(Shandre sighs)

- [Kingston] Women are like cats,

they definitely know how to hide their mess.

Didn't see this coming.

You know what, I'm done.

I don't even wanna hear anything she has to say.

Knowledge.

Remove the rose colored shades

and see things for what it is.

(Shandre coughs)

(Michelle sighs)

- Ooh, girl, that was a great work out.

Ooh.

- I'm gonna call Kingston.

(phone beeping)

(phone ringing)

- [Kingston] Hi, you've reached Kingston Jackson.

(phone beeps)

- What's wrong with you?

It's been days since I've heard from Kingston.

(ominous music)

(Shandre grunting)

Hold on.

I feel sick.

(Shandre grunting)

(door bangs)

(knuckles tapping)

- [Michelle] Are you okay, honey?

- [Shandre] Just a minute.

- [Michelle] Shandre, are you okay?

(handle jiggling)

(knuckles tapping)

Shandre.

(knuckles tapping)

Shandre, open the door.

(brooding music)

- Don't miss.

- Man, I've been on fire all night.

(phone ringing)

- [Mike] Hey homie, is that your girl?

♪ Over, and over, and over I stayed by your side

♪ When over and over you've told me lies

♪ Lies, lies

♪ I'm through with waiting up for you at night

♪ Through with sitting by the phone

♪ What can I give when I give you my all

♪ It's time for me to find somebody else

♪ I'm about to throw this towel in

♪ Baby, it's over

♪ The fairy tale's about to end

♪ Hey, baby, it's over

♪ I'm over you

♪ Yeah

♪ I'm over you, yeah

♪ I'm about to throw this towel in

♪ Oh, baby, baby it's over

♪ The fairy tale's about to end

♪ Baby, it's over

♪ Over

♪ Baby, it's over, baby, it's over

♪ With

(car door clicks)

- Kingston!

(car door bangs)

What the hell was that?

Is this why you can't answer your damn phone?

- Listen. - No, you listen!

So I can trust you, huh?

You care about me.

Whatever happened to Shandre, I don't meet women like you.

I don't wanna do anything to risk losing you.

- But we weren't even official.

(Shandre scoffs)

(body thuds)

- Get off me. - Calm down.

- I am calm!

- No, you're not.

- Yes, I am.

(hand slaps)

How dare you?

- Me?

I done saw you at The Spot the other night

with a dude all in your face.

- What?

Who?

Jason?

That's what this is about.

Jason came to The Spot unannounced, Kingston.

I told him it was over.

I told him I moved on because I loved you.

I thought what we had was something special.

I got to be more than just a feeling to you, Kingston.

I got to live inside here.

Do I reside in your heart, Kingston?

(dramatic music)

- [Kingston] Don't now.

Stop lying to yourself, Kingston.

Gotta stop this, but I know what I saw.

I don't wanna let you go.

Just let her leave.

I can't bear to see you walk away.

You live in my heart.

(recorder whirring) (group chattering)

- Do I reside in your heart, Kingston?

- [Kingston] Of all the things I could have said,

I said nothing.

- Exactly just what I thought.

Emptiness.

- [Kingston] Why did I get myself into this mess?

Damn, I'm stupid.

- Whoever said love was full of shit was right,

because together we were shit.

Sketching rainbows from skid marks

along the road to happiness, we were the shit.

Until mental farts allowed us

to assume things wouldn't work.

Making an ass out of you and me.

Every bit of our romance was flushed like goldfish.

Now we live our lives swirling in a septic tank of lies.

She said, "Tell them everything."

She said, "I don't want our story

to become some simple love poem."

We're too complex to just be Xs,

which would explain why our chromosomes complete each other.

The only siamese twins

with the conjoined cardiovascular system

almost to survive a C-section.

See, she said, "Tell them everything."

Tell them how our feelings have never been boxed up.

How she still owns the key to the treehouse called my heart,

where women hang themselves on the thought

that if they catch my seeds, a future between us may grow.

Tell them how every time we made love

God knocked on our bedroom door and said,

"Keep it down because mother nature

and the angels were complaining."

And tell them how every time we had sex,

it was like our souls would clash

like titans battling the sea.

Our insides erupt and leave ashes of passion

across the universe.

I swear the last time she held my hand,

she rewrote the story in my palm

and my fingerprints have been missing ever since.

But if I tell them everything,

then the beauty in your memory

becomes public domain like art galleries.

But they would never get the picture.

They would never understand the beauty in our memory

like Christ on the cross.

Christ, I wish I never lost you in the first place.

See if I tell them everything

and I have nothing left to tell myself except you're gone.

(knuckles tapping) (birds chirping)

(dog barking)

(door clicks)

- What's up man?

(door bangs)

Bro, what's going on?

- I messed up bad.

- Okay, dude, what did you do?

- Shandre saw Natavia leaving the house.

- Do you love Shandre?

(brooding music)

- I don't know what this is.

- You know how you know when you're in love?

It's when she's the first thing on your mind in the morning

and the last one you lay down.

That's how you know.

Look man, you got a lot on your mind right now.

Let me just pour you a drink.

(Shandre crying)

(phone beeping)

(phone buzzing) (phone ringing)

- Hello?

- I'm sorry for waking you, Shelly,

but I don't know who else to call.

(Shandre crying)

- Oh my gosh, Shandre.

(Shandre crying)

Shandre, are you okay?

What's wrong?

Do I have to come get you from somewhere?

- No, no.

I just know. (crying)

My life, my life is falling apart.

(Shandre crying)

- What do you mean falling apart?

Shandre, what is wrong?

Talk to me.

(Shandre crying)

- [Kingston] It becomes more difficult

by the day to be without her.

I wish I could rewrite the script of my life

by hitting the undo button on the whole Natavia mistake

and giving myself a redo to have my baby in my arms again.

At times like this,

it's only one person that can help me get through the pain.

Dee, she's been my closest confidant for years.

Dee always helps me understand things

from a woman's point of view.

Maybe she can help me find a way

to turn this situation around with Shandre.

Who's the lucky dude getting all this special treatment?

The devil always has a way of tempting you

when you're at your weakest.

Now why?

Outta all the time she would try this now.

Hmm.

I wonder.

♪ I never thought there'd come a day

♪ I fall in love in every way

♪ You got me wide open

♪ No need for regrets

♪ I'm fully focused

♪ See perfectly clear

♪ I'm ready for you

♪ So come get here

♪ Love is special

♪ I'm ready for more

(man vocalizing)

I can't go out like this.

♪ Oh, ooh, oh, ooh, ooh

- Kingston!

(man vocalizing)

Where are you going?

(door clicks)

(door bangs)

- [Kingston] Like my brother told me,

you know when you're in love

when she's the first thing on your mind when you wake up

and the last one you lay down.

It's painful to not see her smile, hear her laugh,

feel her touch, or hear any of her profound words.

This very moment of waking up alone without Shandre

makes me understand what love means.

I need my diamond back.

How could I have been so stupid

to believe she do anything to hurt me?

♪ I wanna make you make my word

♪ You can make me your word

♪ I would believe in you

♪ So you can believe in me

♪ Together anything

After much thought I decided on the perfect gift

to win Shandre back.

I know this is a sure way to correct my wrongs

and show her how much she means to me.

Knowledge.

I'm in love

(birds chirping)

(Kingston sighs)

(doorbell ringing)

(door clicks)

Is Shandre home?

- Are you a friend of Shandre?

- Yes, I'm Kingston.

- [Evelyn] Mm-hmm.

I have something that Shandre would want me to give you.

- What's this?

- I'm Shandre's mother Evelyn.

Shandre passed a few days ago.

(melancholic music)

The medical examiner believes her death

was related to pancreatic cancer.

- But I just seen her the other day.

- She recently was at the hospital,

but the doctors did not detect the cancer at the time.

I urged her to go

after she complained of back pains, nausea.

But the doctors said she was fine.

I don't understand.

First, I lose my husband, now my only child,

I can't believe this happened

the same month her father passed.

The two people I loved the most are no longer here.

I am all alone.

The loves of my life are gone.

(fast tempo drum music)

(door clicks)

(door bangs)

(liquid splashing)

(liquid splashing)

(glass thudding)

- [Poet] If I knew I would feel this.

- I would have remained. - Never knew it was possible

to be alive and feel this dead inside.

- [Poet 2] Never even got to say goodbye.

- Losing control I never had. - I am not broken.

- [Group] I am shattered.

- [Poet 2] If I knew it would feel this bad.

(group chattering)

(glass shattering)

I never even got to say goodbye.

- [Shandre] I'm still in a state of disbelief

from what happened the other day.

As much as I want to hate you, my soul won't let me.

You're the other half to my heart

and without you, it doesn't beat.

At the same time, I have to think with my head

and realize that this man that I felt

was perfectly designed for me

was truly nothing more

than a man who can't seem to be satisfied.

I've been dealing with these doctors that tell me

there's nothing wrong, but I know it's something.

I wish I could talk to you right now,

but the thought of you just adds to my stress.

Seeing you with that girl changed everything

I thought you were.

Why wasn't I enough?

Why couldn't you feel the strength of my love

in every word I spoke, every rhyme I wrote about you,

every touch of my hand, every single glance.

Gosh, some people are so blind to what's apparent.

I can only hope one day you realize

you were the reason I smiled.

I thought I had love before,

but this is much more than that.

This is something far more divine

and complicated to translate into words of this realm.

If only you can know how my heart

is tortured without you by my side,

especially now when I need you most.

(melancholic violin music)

- [Kingston] I couldn't have fathomed

how much of an impact this one gem

would have on my life, my soul.

I should have held her a little bit stronger,

kissed her a little bit longer,

and thanked her for helping me

become the man that I am today.

Instead of expressing my feelings on these pages,

I should been telling her

how I felt about her every single day.

With all the words I've written

none of them had meaning until I met her.

Shandre was right.

Something about this is different.

♪ The blood that gives me my strength

♪ From day to day

♪ It will never lose

♪ It's power

♪ You know it

♪ Flows to the lowest valley

♪ Oh, yes

♪ The blood that gives me my strength

♪ From day to day

♪ It will never lose

♪ It's power

- We are joined together here today

in loving memory of Sister Shandre Reid.

Shandre was a woman who forever loved everyone around her.

A woman with integrity, a great heart, and a giving spirit.

Her memory will live on forever

through those who loved and cherished her.

And now we will have a word from Brother Kingston Jackson.

(Kingston clears throat)

- Excuse me, y'all, I don't normally do this.

I want

(melancholic music)

to be angry.

I wanna shake my fist at the sky,

look into the bright light, and pull you back.

I want to be angry.

But something about you won't let me.

Too caged in by regrets,

I always wish I told you I love you

more than I could ever express,

more than I ever really understood,

and I wish you could have heard me say it.

I want you to know I listen to the rain

in wish we were still growing together.

With every drop that falls helps me change my mind

and in turn changes my world.

I wish you were still in my world.

If it were possible,

I'd give you the five you always dreamed of,

embrace with creativity, freedom, and change.

I think you'd fit right in.

Most of all, I wish your hand was still fitting in mind.

You were making me grow every time we spoke.

I wish for a lot,

but what I'll do is make you a promise

that I will live my life to the fullness that you deserved.

Laugh every day with tenacity.

Learn as much as I can whenever I can.

And I promise I will one day

be able to remember what it sounds like

without drowning in what could have been.

It's the least I can do.

To the woman who never tried to change me,

but with her love saved me.

I thought I had it all.

Then there was you.

You made me better.

You taught me how it is not just to be alive, but to live.

So farewell, Shandre,

the woman who introduced me to love.

♪ Thinking about you

♪ Can't help but think about you

♪ And all the things you do

♪ I keep thinking about you

♪ Just keep thinking about you

♪ And all the things you do

♪ Oh, yeah, oh yeah, oh, yeah

- It's a lotus flower.

It represents eternal life in Egyptian culture.

I mean, if I had it my way,

I would have a whole pond of these things.

(man vocalizing)

(man vocalizing)

(man vocalizing)

- [Kingston] Due to the pregnancy symptoms the doctors

were unable to detect the cancer.

The cancer that claimed the life of my love and our child.

I often wonder if she was carrying

the little boy I wished for,

but I'll never get to know.

Knowledge.

Never take people in your life for granted.

To my two guardian angels,

Shandre Reid and our unborn child,

may you both rest in paradise.

(man vocalizing)

(man vocalizing)

(man vocalizing)

(man vocalizing)

(man vocalizing)

(man vocalizing)

(man vocalizing)

(man vocalizing)

(slow tempo piano music)

♪ What a wonderful change has come over me

♪ The prize of the righteous

♪ It's so availing

♪ If it wasn't for God on my side

♪ I don't know where I'd be

♪ Thank you for including me

♪ A change has come in my heart

♪ Transforming my mind

♪ Victorious, oh, yeah

♪ A new beginning

♪ Open for a new way of living

♪ This is so amazing

♪ What a wonderful change has come over me

♪ The prize of the righteous

♪ It's so availing

♪ If it wasn't for God on my side

♪ I don't know where'd I'd be

♪ Thank you for including me

♪ A change has come in my heart

♪ Transforming my mind

♪ Victorious

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah

♪ Oh, a new beginning

♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah

♪ I'm so glad

♪ Changes has come in my heart

♪ And in my mind

♪ Victorious