Original subtitles

Well, in the words of the prophet little Uzi Vert, it's only my third day out

here, huh?

I don't know.

Oh, yeah, it's day three of our occupation of the president's office,

and I don't know, bro. We're just going to tap in with our leader.

That's right. Campus security is stationed outside, but we are not

leaving until we have been heard.

Thank you to our allies. We've seen your messages of support, and they are

helping us keep going as we continue to stand on business.

Thank you for tapping in on another day in the trenches.

Debo out. No, hey.

In my livestream again, we're gonna have a problem. Who are you talking to? I'm

just saying, we all tired. That's how you want to die?

Okay, stay calm, everyone.

Word on HBCU up as President Wayne is about to negotiate with the faculty.

Why are we still being kept out of the conversation?

Let's go there. This has got to end.

I mean, we have finals.

Light the night gala.

Pack up. I mean, my mom's on a flight right now, headed to come help me pack.

And we all know how Darlene get about Rasheeda. Yeah, I'm not gonna lie.

I didn't think we'd be here for more than just a few hours. Seriously, I'm

supposed to be hazing the New House Authority members right now.

Like, Kojo should be locked in a closet in his drawers, hemming all my pants.

Bro, we hangry? I'm sorry, but somebody in here funky as hell. As the president

of the Young Black Republicans, I joined your little left-wing movement because I

don't believe in big administration.

But at this point, it's giving crybaby anarchy.

Okay.

Deborah, back to you.

What's the plan, sis?

Okay, I told Deebo if they don't reach terms by the end of day, campus safety

is going to come and get them up out of there. Yes, Dwayne, you have got to put

your foot down. That's all I can do.

Dwayne, the board is planning to vote on Hillman's future, and there's a lot of

chatter about your interim presidency becoming permanent.

What? I mean, it's been...

Nothing but one controversy after another all year. Yes, but you are

exactly the leader that we have needed.

They're planning to announce it at the Light the Night Gala.

Wow.

I never really thought this job was for me, but, uh, I did eat.

I slayed. This might actually be the place for me.

It suits you.

Whitley. Byron.

Dwayne.

Well... And let's get down to business.

Good idea, Mrs. Wayne.

Well, as you know, the esteemed Congresswoman James and I have been

working on a piece of legislation that would earmark funds for HBCUs and nearly

replace the federal cuts.

And...

We've gotten it through. Oh, yes.

Oh, man.

A huge win that will supplement the major raise you've done with your

coalition. So it's really over?

Oh, man. Thank you, Senator.

And Hillman thanks you, too.

Dwayne, not many people could have inherited the crisis that you did and

come through successfully.

Honestly, Dwayne, I didn't think you had it in you.

But you should be... Very proud.

I am.

And thankfully, I had my wife by my side.

Can let go now.

It's a different world than where you come from.

It's a different world.

It's a different world than where you come from.

The Student Action Collective demands the following.

One, no disciplinary action will be taken against any protest participants.

Two, restoration of all student org budgets.

do-rags will be allowed at graduation.

I'm 85% sure I'm gonna graduate this year. Hey, hey, hey, focus.

Three, students will have approval power over the school's annual budget.

Deborah, it'll be a cold day in Anguilla.

Can you... Four, a quarterly student representative meeting with the

president. Five, guaranteed student housing for all four years, or in the

event that there is none, a stipend will be provided.

I was unhoused, y'all. You were unhoused. And finally, a freeze on

tuition hikes.

Which we can revisit in about three or so years.

Wow, that is a lengthy list of demands.

Considering the board wants you expelled, all of you... Uh-uh, uh-uh.

They kidnapped me. They called me hostage.

President Wayne, as a SGA board member and longtime Hillman legacy, I feel

compelled to argue.

that activism has always been a core value of this institution.

When my great-grandfather was a student here in the 1940s, he led the Double V

campaign on campus.

In the 60s, my grandmother organized sit-ins at segregated lunch counters and

pressured the administration to define a more Afrocentric curriculum with all due

respect.

This is what being a Hillmanite is all about.

And your daughter is the best of us.

What's your name, son?

Ellington Kendall, sir.

Any relation to Denise Kendall?

Well, she goes by Huxtable now, but yeah, that's my mom. You know her?

Listen, I got to admit, it's complicated for me sitting here. I don't know if I

handle all this perfectly.

I definitely made some mistakes.

But when I was back there on the other side of that table fighting a good

fight, I was given a lot of grace by the late, great Dean Hughes.

So today, I'm going to extend that same grace to you all.

I will not be pursuing any disciplinary actions this time.

But you all will have to complete 30 hours of community service next

semester. Oh, that's fine.

I will not.

be granting student government approval for all future budgets.

But I will implement an SGA review panel for transparency moving forward.

So that's it?

That's all?

We won, y'all. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Hey, hey.

This is not a win.

The federal cuts were not something that Hillman did to you.

It happened to all of us as a group.

We shouldn't have been on opposite sides, kid.

Once I get this agreement approved by the board, I'll put out a statement.

It should be two hours.

Come on.

Okay, kid.

Viva la revolución.

That's Spanish for we did it, y'all. Damn.

Mere, mere.

What's up?

I mean, I'm not going to front. I was kind of nervous to approach you.

But I got to get this off my chest before we leave.

Miss my boy, man.

My big homie, you know?

Not to sound gay or nothing.

You know, I really can't catch any more charges on my probation, Jalen. No, no,

no. I'm playing. I'm playing.

I just, um...

Never allowed myself to have that kind of bond with another dude before and I

don't know about you But maybe we shouldn't have to give that up

Things are just getting back on track with me and Hazel.

I'm sorry I can't do this again.

If you never want to talk again, you know, I'll drop it.

But if you change your mind, you know, can you meet me at the Serenity

Garden after the gala?

I will think about it.

So,

how's it feel getting your Fannie Lou hammer on?

I didn't get into Hillman on my own.

My parents bought my way in.

My parents lied to me.

This is betrayal, Rashida.

What is it, though?

Look, I'm not gonna say it doesn't suck.

Look at all that came from it.

Look at us.

Hell, I don't even hate you anymore.

Okay, fine.

I might even be able to say that.

I love your crazy ass.

Yeah, but you didn't read the letter, though.

It isn't just about the money. They didn't believe in me.

Again. Besties!

I have huge news.

Real funny, girl.

Where have you been?

As much as I respect everyone's right to protest, this sash means I have a title

to uphold.

I plan to fight for our cause from within the system, not against it. And

that's what my news was about.

i got accepted into congresswoman james's leadership institute in dc so i

could take the skills and be the best leader i can be on campus next year yes

congratulations thank you oh i gotta start packing for the hill

and just like that she's gone there she go hey

hey hey hey hey lady lady

Have you lost your black ass mind?

You know this is my bin. You saw me wheel it from the yard.

And I appreciate it.

Now you can go and get you another one.

You make me break my nail over a bin that I found first.

I'm going to put you in this bin.

I should have removed you from my building for that cheap blouse alone.

Now let go.

Hey, hey, hey, hey. Who's going to make me? You big bobblehead small body.

Lena and her.

Hey, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy.

Your daddy and I cannot wait for our favorite store manager to be back on

site. I miss having my little mini-me by my side real bad.

You know that's what the kids say, right? Right. Oh, okay. You gotta help

me. Here you go, Mrs. Duvall. I'm sorry.

Thank you. She's so sweet.

No, this is mine. You cannot just use your money and name and power to get

everything you want.

Deborah, that is what money and power are for.

Oh. Is that why you and dad donated tons of money to the Gaines Library in

exchange for getting me into Hillman?

I have worked so hard to be enough for y'all, but I'm never

gonna be.

Am I?

I don't want to fight.

Okay.

I'm gonna pack.

Nice meeting you. Thank you. You're so sweet.

Damn. I guess she told you.

Rashida!

Rashida, my righteous sapling.

I am so proud and impressed with your role in the student occupation.

Thank you so much.

I want to officially offer you an extension as my research assistant for

the summer. You could really use your passion and drive to get us across the

finish line on this case.

It's a paid gig, room and board included.

Oh, my God.

Professor Brooks, what?

Yes.

Rashida, what's wrong?

My mom just keeps saying how much harder it is running the store without me.

How am I supposed to leave my parents hanging when they've sacrificed

everything for me to be here?

Let's go talk about it.

Good girl.

Been hitting your line, I ain't heard from you.

Look, anyway, I got something to tell you.

I got a big offer, but I'm torn.

Did this offer come from Candace?

Yeah.

Shaquille, I know.

And the worst part is, you had every chance to tell me during spring break

and every day since, but instead...

You lied to me. Deborah, Deborah, please let me explain. I believed you,

Shaquille. You made me believe that you loved me and that we were meant to be

together. No, if we are meant to be together and I do love you, Deborah, I

was going to tell you. Look, I wanted to tell you. You can stop the nice guy act.

Seriously.

Because I can see now that you are really just an asshole.

In disguise.

Yeah, that's the DeBoer I know.

Always running.

That's what you do, huh?

You are just like my parents.

What? Yeah, you do something sneaky and dirty

to me.

And then you make me feel like I am the problem.

So don't bother because you are blocked.

Digitally, emotionally.

Permanently. You're bored.

Gorgeous like this. Are you joking?

Even though you did say you would be ready for the gala an hour ago.

I know, but Nellie needed extra help with the inventory after being closed

for so many days.

But you're looking quite dapper yourself, fine sir.

Fine sir?

You know what?

I do like proper Rashida.

Very funny, but I've been trying to figure out what I'm going to do about

Professor Brooks' offer.

And my mom.

I got nothing.

Look, I know how important your family is to you, yeah?

But I also know how much you've been learning working with Professor Brooks.

I just hate letting my parents down.

And I don't want to make them feel like I'm turning my back on them.

Rashida, I don't know your parents, but I do know... that you must get some of

that bravery and some of that passion from them.

So maybe they'll see that, too.

If I stay at Hillman and work with Professor Brooks,

would you stay with me, too?

I mean, I know your parents will be in Lagos, and over winter break, I don't

kind of... You had me at stay.

Really? Of course.

Uh,

well, wait, wait, hold on, hold on.

Is this okay?

Yes.

I want this.

I want you.

Your secret segue

Don't you look right into my favorite daughter?

Come on, Deebo.

I get it. I know why you're not answering our calls and our texts. But

we want to apologize.

We weren't supposed to find out this way.

That letter is just another example of you guys underestimating me. It's like a

self-fulfilling prophecy. I mean, you don't believe in me. I doubt myself.

I disappoint you. It happens like that every time.

We don't underestimate you.

We believe in you.

It's just... That we see ourselves in you.

The good and not so good. Yeah. And that warehouse fire scared the shit out of

us. Listen to me.

We panicked. We went into parent mode to protect you. We weren't going to leave

it up to chance, okay? We knew that Hillman was the best place for you to

find yourself like it was for us.

And look how you've grown this year.

We've only argued like once a week now.

And I know I shouldn't be, but I am so proud.

of how you led that protest.

And even your little prank locking us up in that room together, it turned out to

be a good thing.

It's clear that you are forging your own legacy at Hillman.

You make our family proud.

Proud? Yeah.

Can I get that in the family group chat?

Please? Listen, to celebrate your achievements...

And to display how much we trust you. We're going to let you stay in the

Brooklyn condo over the summer. The condo?

No, no, no, no, no. Seriously?

Yes, yes, yes.

Conditional. You're going to pay us back the $12,900.

And 75 cents. And 75 cents. That's right. Get in here. Get in here. Thank

you. Thank you. Thank you.

You know, you could have just told me you were into guys.

Okay, Hazel, I'm so sorry, but I'm still trying to figure that part out for

myself. You know, and all I do know is that I really like spending time with

you, Hazel.

And I know that doesn't excuse what I did, but I'm so, so sorry.

It doesn't.

But you can stop beating yourself up over it. I wasn't completely honest with

you either.

Look, Amir is a really special guy, Jalen.

Don't... Oops.

So,

you're the boy who has stolen my baby's heart. Mom, stop.

What? I'm just saying. I mean, you're always like, Kojo this and Kojo that.

Oh, wow.

Sorry, did I hear mom?

Yeah. That's crazy, because I could have sworn this was your sister.

It's an absolute pleasure to meet you. Thank you.

Okay cheesy Give us a second. Yeah. Yeah.

Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you You

know what sometimes your dad he's oh no,

no, it's okay. I don't have to hear that We need to talk I

Don't think I'm gonna come back to LA for the summer

What do you mean? I came here to take you back. No, but I got this incredible

opportunity to continue my research position with Professor Brooks.

I knew this would happen.

You've outgrown me.

No, it's nothing like that. Yes, it is.

Look, I didn't want you working at the store for the rest of your life. I want

you to spread your wings, you know, follow your dreams.

This is what I've been praying and hoping for.

I'm proud of you.

I love you, Mom.

I love you.

You always could pull off a cake.

I wish I could say the same about that pork pie hat.

I, uh, don't see your boyfriend, Baptiste. What's the matter? He couldn't

get his permission slip signed?

Baptiste is not my man.

But he's a damn good lover.

Probably the best I've ever had.

Well, now you are just lying.

But you know, I can't help but wonder.

Our lives might be different if we hadn't let stubbornness get in the way

of our lives as kids.

We had chemistry.

Yeah, in spite of having absolutely nothing else in common.

Except love.

Listen, if you want to test that chemistry out again, you know, with a

fully grown man.

Oh, stop it.

Tonight's the night.

Shaquille and I leave for Colorado in the morning.

Ron, that is never, ever going to happen again.

I mean, what was I thinking? Yeah.

Same frigid Freddie.

Frigid. Well, boys, we've come a long way this year. You know, I was unhoused

and horny. Shaquille, you were sexually frustrated and TBH, kind of aggressive.

And Kojo, you were kind of a problematic, pushy perv.

But now, I mean, I'm all up in Vashida. I don't know what you're talking about.

We are solid.

Okay, wait.

You mean to tell me y'all two finally had international relations? Hey,

listen, a gentleman never tells. I done polled you like this, yeah? Okay, all

right. Excuse me.

I'm happy for you, brother.

All our work paid off. Thank you, man. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Wish I could say the same.

We survived our first homecoming, heartbreak, and a whole tornado. I'm so

glad we had each other to get through it, though. Me, too.

Me, three.

I'm gonna miss my girly pops.

I don't know.

I'm gonna hunt for summer.

NYC ain't ready for your girl. Okay. And DC better prepare itself for me. Hello

and sex traffickers.

Hate to see me coming.

This brotherhood has gotten me through this messy, bomb-threatened, and almost

STI-adjacent school year.

I love y'all, man.

We love you too, man. For sure.

Let's get a picture in here, y'all. Let's do it.

Hey, my guys.

Listen, listen, listen. I am so proud of both of you, okay?

And I know you're going to do amazing things this summer. And no matter where

break takes us, this year made us girls for life.

How about that? Indeed. That part.

Three-way pinky promise.

Come on. Bam, bam. Take a picture. Get a picture. Yeah.

Girly pops on three. Okay. One, two, three.

Girly pop!

Rasheeda, Rasheeda, Rasheeda.

I've been trying to give you your space, okay?

But I just don't get it.

We have a real connection.

And that's even before we slept together.

But you just up and ghosted on me, and I don't understand it. Did I do something

wrong? No, it's not you, okay? It's... It's not anything you did or anything.

It's just my... You slept with him.

I, uh... I just... Hold... No, no, no.

All year long, you have had your walls up with me.

Saying I've been pressuring you into losing your virginity keeping me at

arm's length, but what he made you feel comfortable and I didn't Enjoy

So

Shaquille

and I are done like done Yeah. I'm not trying to defend him, but he felt really

bad about it.

The boy is madly in love with you. It'd be embarrassing if it wasn't so sweet.

I'm not seeing the sweet part, Amir.

Look, Shaquille told me he really wants to make it right.

He regrets it.

Boundaries and empathy can exist together.

What does that mean? I gotta go. I don't know what that means.

Love you. Bye.

Lerold? Mr. Chicken?

Oh, my God, the protest.

Look, my phone was dead. I didn't do it on purpose.

Come here, stop.

No more excuses, okay? I had to report you.

A warrant's been issued.

Well, well, well.

If it isn't the opinionated Miss Gilbert Hall.

I beg your pardon, Xavier. Don't we have, like, a Twitch to stream or

something? Careful.

I love me a smart mouth, and, uh, that shark tongue caught my attention at the

brunch.

Oh.

I mean...

I'm flattered. And despite your cockiness, you are quite strapping.

But, no, I'm moving differently these days.

I have a long-distance boyfriend.

Okay. I can respect that.

Can you?

You know, I've been thinking.

there's probably still some meat left on the bone.

How would you feel about staying in Richmond full-time?

You know, for us, moving in with me.

Dwayne Cleo Fitzwayne, of course I will.

I've always wanted to redecorate the president's house.

Of course you have.

Of course you have.

I'd be the first lady. That quartet goes hard, doesn't it? Oh, yeah.

Thank you.

It's been a challenging year in our country because of an oppressive federal

administration. We've seen attacks on DEI and federal funding cuts to HBCUs.

What this tells me is that we need to continue to fight tooth and nail for our

academic institutions because...

here at our Hillman is where the future is nurtured.

I want to give props to a man who shouldered and sacrificed to keep

Hillman afloat, Interim President Dwayne Wayne.

Dwayne, your steady leadership helped to steer Hillman through the storm.

On behalf of the trustees, thank you.

Now, as we look ahead to Hillman's next chapter, the board has agreed to allow

me to put forward a candidate who will take the helm permanently.

The board has to go through its process, but my candidate's record is impeccable.

Dedicated, strategic.

There was no one better for the job.

Who the hell is he talking about?

I don't know.

Scoundrel.

Don't you worry, Poopy.

Byron will not get away with this. You will be the next president.

If I have anything to say about it.

Sorry. Don't be mad. I may have paid off your nemesis RA to let me in.

Deborah, I'm sorry for everything.

Especially taking credit for the flowers.

But know that I am very clear about one thing.

Shit, I want us imagine slippers dancing in the kitchen So it leads to kissing

or dinner still needs fixing and our phones are somehow missing

I want side-by-side

chairs chocolate we can share it Up on the stairs because we can make it to the

bed and gray all in our hair

I'm so ready for this year to end.

Okay, let's send it off with a bang then.

No, no, no. I've had a long night. Don't even play.

Who's playing?

Look, when you first approached me, I couldn't with your corny lines. And I

still can't, for the record.

But, I don't know.

I guess I'm just a sucker for a talented audience.

Tell me more.

You two got your papers on you?

Hey, Denise.

Thanks for calling me back.

I, um... I really need you right now.

I think I want forever, cause forever never ends.

We gon' keep going on days we might just misbehave or laugh until we can't.

Barely finishing our Play-Doh time.

I can't let someone like you get away from me.

Not again.

I want to be with you, DeBoer.

I think I