Original subtitles

- Previously on "Sacrifice."

- This promises to give you the power you think you want,

the massive entertainment complex

you've been attempting to build.

- And what is in this agreement for you?

- My Criterium shares.

- I just came here to give you this.

- I am not for sale.

- Hopefully, you can make the city a better place

so these kids can grow up safer than I did.

- I didn't want to upset you before the press conference.

- So you rather I get blindsided

in front of all of LA instead?

- She's not protecting you, and she's not preparing you.

- Candice's defection to the mayor's campaign

really hurt you.

- Ms. Akande, it's my pleasure

to introduce to you the next mayor of Los Angeles.

- Please excuse him.

He has been overprotective

ever since he found out I'm pregnant.

The three of us have a lot to discuss.

- Would you be interested in coming to New Orleans?

There's an artist I'd love to introduce you to.

Achilles Thibodeaux?

- Can you just explain to me why you practically

threw yourself into this man's arms?

It's starting to look real disrespectful.

- That's why you're sleeping with Plain Jane?

Because you respect me so much? Get out.

- Those fingertips, fingertips. Don't palm. Fingertips.

[tense music]

- Hey, like this?

♪ ♪

- Let's see some bounce passes.

- Wait, hold on.

- Mm-hmm, yeah. - Shoot it! Come on, man!

♪

- That everything? - Think so.

- You think so?

Come on, Dom.

I don't want this to take forever.

- Look, if there's anything else, just send it to me.

- Send it to you? - Yeah.

- Are you serious?

You know we still have to see each other.

We have a business to run.

- Speaking of, where you off to?

- I'm gonna see an artist named Achilles Thibodeaux.

- That singer from New Orleans?

- Yeah. Marcel knows him.

He thinks it would be a good idea for him

to sign with Backgammon.

- Marcel?

- The man was right about the NFT.

$11 million buys him a lot of consideration

for his next idea.

- Yeah, but he-- but he don't do music.

- The kid already has

two internationally successful albums.

Maybe with the right label, he'll do more in the States.

- Then why isn't he already signed?

- That's what I'm gonna go find out.

[door opens] - Driver's here.

- Great.

[phone ringing] - What's up, bro?

- Yo.

Yo, Mac.

[tense music]

That piece of shit. Yo, stay on him.

I gotta go.

[tense music]

- Bye. [scoffs]

- Boy's in a hurry. - Yeah.

- She'll be right out, brother.

- I'll be right out. - Yes, ma'am.

I'll take that. - Thank you.

- That's the same shit I just said.

I don't like this, baby girl.

- Because they listen to me and not you?

- No. I don't like the whole thing.

I should be going with you.

- Oh, stop. Marcel is taking care of me.

That's why he's assigned this personal security.

I'm gonna be fine. More than fine.

And I'll be back before you know it.

Hey, why don't you take this time to think about Uncle Sly?

Huh? - And what does that mean?

- Well, you've been talking about

putting Grandpa's house on the market.

Why don't you work on that?

- One phone call, and I'm on that plane.

- I know that.

That's why I love you. [chuckles]

Try to have fun, OK?

- Yeah.

[peaceful music]

[door closes]

[basketballs thumping]

[indistinct chatter]

- All right, let's try some three on three shell drill.

Who's going first?

- No, it's my turn. Let's go.

[sneakers squeaking] - Let's go, let's go!

There you go.

- Oh, yeah. That's great.

[indistinct chatter]

- What the hell are y'all doing here?

- What, you want an autograph?

- [scoffs] Get over yourself.

[soft suspenseful music]

- You watching Perkins, too?

♪

Yo, Mack, let me holler at this dude for a minute.

- You sure?

- Yeah, it's all good.

♪ ♪

Play ball for Perkins, too?

- That's none of your damn business.

- Huh. I get it, man.

It's the type of shit we don't talk about.

- We?

- Us as Black men.

- Did you play for him?

- Only a few years before you, but yeah.

- He took you back to his house after?

♪ ♪

- [chuckles] Yeah, yeah.

- I never told anyone.

♪ ♪

How many other kids

went back to his house after me

'cause I was too ashamed to tell?

- You feel guilty?

That's what you tripping about?

That's stupid.

- Stupid? - Perkins is the fucked-up one.

Nigga, I don't feel no blame about what he decided to do.

- So why you at the gym?

- 'Cause I'm gonna do

what should have been done back then.

He went to the joint before somebody

had a chance to smoke him.

15 years for a DUI.

- Well, he killed some folks.

- Yeah, but he didn't face what he was supposed to.

But he about to.

- Look, the man is a degenerate on parole.

He's bound to mess up.

And when he does, I'll be there to bring him right back in.

- And that's your plan?

Nah, man.

Seeing him here around these kids,

I'ma make sure that shit never happen again.

- As much as I love to bust you for

taking him down-- - You'd lock me up?

- Murder don't stop being murder

because you got a good reason.

♪

- You see, that's that bullshit right there.

- Then you shouldn't have told me what you were planning.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

[bassy tense music]

♪

[peaceful jazz music]

♪

- Do you need help to your hotel?

- I'll meet you inside.

♪ ♪

- Look at you in my city.

- Marcel.

- How you doing, Daniella?

- Nice hotel.

- I thought you'd like it. - I do.

I usually stay at the Roosevelt,

but this is a nice change. - Yeah.

Well, their presidential suite is the obvious.

Ours is the coolest.

- Ours? - Yeah, I own the hotel.

You know, should we head up?

We still have a little bit of time

before we need to be at the club.

- Yes. [chuckles] I'd love to.

[distant car horns honking]

- It's very much appreciated, Ms. Akande.

But why do you want to help finance my campaign?

- Because I believe in you.

- You don't know me. - Trust me.

I have done my due diligence.

- She talked to all of us.

- Your record as district attorney

has been impressive, Ms. Rucker.

Plus, I would love to be part of electing

the first Black woman mayor of Los Angeles.

- Ms. Akande has access to some of the biggest corporate movers

and shakers in the city.

- I have already begun funding a PAC.

- What would you want from me?

- I plan to base myself here for the near future.

All I want to do is benefit the city.

- No offense, Ms. Akande,

but people like you don't do anything for nothing.

- [chuckling] Quite right.

We don't.

Come to my office at Criterion Records tomorrow,

and I will show you exactly what I have in mind.

You can decide then.

- This is great.

- She solves a lot of problems.

[hip-hop music playing]

- I need everybody working on this, man.

Let him know he older, but he recognizable.

If that motherfucker talked to one kid at that gym,

I wanna know.

You hear me?

- I got you.

Oh.

Just in case any of the crew asks, why?

♪ ♪

- Anybody ask, you tell 'em 'cause I said so.

- ♪ [vocalizing] ♪

[upbeat music playing]

♪ ♪

- ♪ Slow down, little Corvette ♪

♪ You're moving too fast in that little red dress ♪

♪ Whoa, now, I know you too well ♪

♪ Baby, you the type to kiss and tell ♪

♪ Oh, oh, you look sweet ♪

♪ So much more than the eyes can see ♪

♪ I know the trouble you bring ♪

♪ But you're that dose of drama I need ♪

♪ You're no angel ♪

- He's good, right?

- ♪ Good girls are never this fun ♪

♪ Under your spell ♪

♪ Black magic under your tongue ♪

♪ Bless your soul ♪

♪ Just can't hide what everybody knows ♪

♪ I'm feeling like we've had here us a glass of whiskey ♪

♪ Taking the night and drink up until it's empty ♪

♪ I know, I know, I know ♪

♪ It may be wrong, but it's good for my soul ♪

♪ And I know, I know, I know ♪

♪ I just can't hide what everybody knows ♪

♪ Whoo-hoo ♪

♪ [vocalizes] ♪

♪ I just can't hide what everybody knows ♪

Thank you. Good night.

- Whoo! Jimmy!

[upbeat music playing on PA]

- The NOLA legend, Mr. Bastion.

- No, come on.

Achilles Thibodeaux. - Thank you for coming, man.

- Of course. - What's up?

- Daniella Hernandez.

- Ms. Hernandez. - Daniella.

You are quite the musician, Achilles.

- Appreciate it.

Daniella Hernandez.

Blackgammon Records Daniella Hernandez?

- One and the same.

Please, join us. - Yes, ma'am.

- I'm gonna run to the bar and let you guys talk and drink.

- I got another show at 10:00. - Uh-huh.

- You don't drink before a show?

- Never.

- And Daniella?

- Um, I'm here for business.

- OK. Well, I'm not performing or working,

so I will be drinking. [chuckles]

- Business?

- Yes.

I don't sign anyone to my label

without checking them out fully.

- I'm already signed to a label.

- Marcel seems to think that someone in your camp

wants you to sign with Blackgammon.

- I let my manager handle all the business stuff.

- And that's AT Management, correct?

- Correct. - So you're pretty exclusive.

I can't seem to determine who else they represent.

- Well, because my mother's the only manager

and I'm the only client.

Give me one second. [dial tones chiming]

[line trilling]

Mama?

Yes, I'm here with Daniella Hernandez

from Blackgammon Records.

Yes, she came to the show. They both did.

And I--

OK.

She wants to talk to you.

- OK.

Hello, Mrs. Thibodeaux?

Yeah, Marcel suggested.

Uh, well, he seems to think that you might be interested

in changing--

uh, just a couple days.

Uh, sure.

[chuckling] Tomorrow sounds lovely.

OK, bye.

We're having lunch tomorrow at your house.

She's making gumbo.

- You'll love it.

- I bet.

[distant car horn honks]

- You barely spoke all day.

- Psh. You do not wanna know.

- Tell me.

- [sighs] All right.

You know Ruby's pregnant.

But I was--

Minh is pregnant too.

- Somwon.

- Mm. - You are a grown-ass man.

Learn how a condom works.

Does Ruby know? - But that's the problem.

They're like friends now.

- [laughs] Ha!

- This is not funny, Tamika.

Ruby spends more time with Minh than she does with me.

I wanna be in the baby's lives.

Both of 'em.

I love Ruby.

She has my heart.

But I wanna be here for Minh, too.

I wanna help both of them.

- Ah.

Sounds like this is perfect, then.

- Right? But now it feels funky.

Like, I don't get no alone time with Ruby?

- [laughs] Then you're going to have to use your boss

for more than procreation.

- Meaning?

- Grow a pair and talk to them.

[elevator bell rings]

Let's get a drink. You need one.

- Two.

- We have a problem.

- With Lade Akande? - With Candace.

When you fired her, she was not happy.

- Unhappy? Well, what did she expect?

She was also working for my opponent.

- Well, she's going to the press with a story

that could end your campaign.

Did you accept a large contribution

from Dom Mayfield in this office?

- [sighs] I never used the contribution.

I had Steven formally return it in writing.

- We need to be able to prove that, Beverly,

because a contribution from a known criminal is bad.

But accepting it in your government office?

That's a crime.

[sensual R&B music playing]

- Tonight was fun. - Yes.

It is a pleasure watching you work.

- Work?

Tomorrow's when I get down to business.

- Oh, so you are done for the night, then?

- I am.

- OK. How about that drink?

- [scoffs] No, thank you.

I'm sober.

- Not completely.

- What?

- [sighs]

Danny, I have been friends with these little pills

for most of my life.

Who cares, right?

As long as you handle business.

And you definitely do that.

- You've read me wrong.

- My mistake.

No offense.

- None taken.

♪ ♪

- [sighs]

- Um, I should get to bed.

I'll see you in the morning.

- Sleep well.

♪

[soft dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[phone line trilling]

- Hey, Somwon.

Yeah, listen, I need you to do a deep dive

into an artist from your hometown.

Achilles Thibodeaux.

Yes, I want his financials, what he owns, arrest records,

things no one else knows about.

And I need it by tomorrow.

OK.

Thank you. Good night.

♪ ♪

- A performance venue, shopping center,

low-cost housing.

- So you need zoning help.

Sorry, I'm not for sale.

- Oh, no, I am not buying you.

I am asking you to help me make positive change in Los Angeles.

Beverly, I have fallen in love with the city.

I am even moving my headquarters here.

And I am willing to spend a lot of money

to raise up the poorer neighborhoods.

- Thank you for meeting with me, Mr. Shaw.

- Of course, of course.

- So how can I help you?

- Um, my dad died.

- Oh, I'm very sorry. - It's OK.

I mean, he did die, but it's been a few months now.

- I see.

- He left me this big-ass house to sell, and, uh,

I'm just wondering how much it's worth.

- Well, on first glance--

- Well, this is my niece's house.

It's just, you know, a little too emotional for me

to stay at my dad's house right now,

so I stay here most of the time.

I can get you the address, though.

- OK. Well, I can go out this afternoon

and see how much I think you can get.

The housing market is fairly good right now.

- Great.

And how much is that gonna cost me?

I work on commission.

I won't make anything unless you do.

- That's great.

- Mm.

- Good? - It's delicious.

- When I first set up my company in Lagos,

one of the first things I did

was spend a fortune in the local villages.

Same in Karachi, Berlin, everywhere I go,

because that is where my future employees come from.

A happy, healthy workforce

means a happy, healthy profit margin.

And this will mean many high-paying jobs

for these communities, Beverly.

- But all this will cost billions.

- But worth every penny.

[soft dramatic music]

- I can see it.

- Because, my dear, you are a visionary.

Unfortunately, now we must talk about that dirty word

over lunch--

politics.

- [chuckles] One of the dirtiest.

- It's about to get dirtier.

Your opponent, the soon-to-be former mayor,

is set to begin running nasty attack ads about you.

Is that true? How do you know that?

- I have eyes and ears everywhere.

Trust me.

Ads are ready to drop.

- What are they about?

- Your associations with shady types.

- Shady types?

- Mr. Dominiq Mayfield is a pretty infamous gang leader

and drug dealer, is he not?

- [sighs] That was a long time ago.

Now he is a major record executive.

- Mayor Asshole is suggesting that his recording work

is only a front for his actual activities.

- Well, that is not true, as far as I know.

And anyway, I'm not friends with him.

- I know.

It's Daniella.

I get that. She can be intoxicating.

But this isn't about her.

I am willing to support you either way 100%.

But if it were me,

I would create a real legal distance

between you and Mr. Mayfield.

If you want to bring change like this to people's lives,

you need to fight for it.

It won't be given to you without sacrifice.

♪ ♪

[upbeat music playing]

♪ ♪

♪ And all these signs ♪

♪ I'm blind when I'm with you ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Mine to have what I'm a-choosin' ♪

[music turns off]

[car door closes]

- Hi, Achilles. - Ms. Hernandez, Mr. Bastian.

- That a Ducati?

- Panigale V4. 25th Anniversario 916.

- [whistles] - Impressive.

- Check it out.

Now, besides the 214 horsepower,

she has titanium Akrapovic silencers,

carbon fiber components, billet aluminum features,

and forged magnesium Marchesini wheels.

Sebastian, when's the last time you rode?

- Whew. Been more than a minute.

- Now I got another bike.

It ain't this, but it moves.

- Wait, I thought we were here for a meeting.

- You are.

- Mama wants to spend some alone time with you.

- Oh, OK. [chuckles]

So the bike thing was just a setup, huh?

- No, we won't be too far. - Mm. Very clever.

- Mm.

- I hope you like cooking, Ms. Hernandez.

- I do. And it's Daniella.

- OK, Daniella. Come on in here, then.

- Be safe. - Mm-hmm.

- [chuckles] You guys.

[laughs]

[hip-hop music playing]

♪ ♪

- Yo, D.

Dom, yo.

Shit. Been calling you.

- Been in the zone, man. What's up?

- Look, uh, we've been watching that gym.

Ain't nothing really happened, but--

- But?

- I'm not sure this what you've been worried about...

[suspenseful music]

But there's a kid from the neighborhood missing.

- Missing?

- Yeah, one of my guys from the crew.

His nephew.

He usually stop at the gym on the way home.

He supposed to be at home two hours ago.

- And he ain't there.

[scoffs] I told them.

[phone ringing]

- ADA Platt.

- Told you, bro.

There's a kid missing from the hood.

- Are you sure? - It's one of my guys' nephew.

So yeah, I'm sure.

Question is what are you gonna do about it?

[soft upbeat music playing]

♪ ♪

- You know there's no better way to get to know someone

than by cooking a big ol' pot of gumbo.

[chuckles]

You look like you know your way around the kitchen.

- A little. My tía taught me everything I know.

- Not your mama?

- She died when I was young.

- Oh. I'm so sorry, my baby.

- Don't be.

I was well taken care of.

- Still, there's no replacement for a mother's love.

- No.

Guess not.

- I don't know what my Achilles would do without me.

He's a sweet boy.

He's got no head for business, though.

Sure you deal with a lot of artists like that.

- Some.

If they knew everything,

there wouldn't be any need for attorneys now, would there?

- Or managers.

♪ ♪

- So you put that in there, then?

- Yep, get that on in there.

Got my roux going.

We good.

- Smells good. - Mm-hmm.

[both chuckle]

You know, we're real excited about

being considered by Blackgammon.

It'd be a real boon to Achilles's career.

And it wouldn't hurt your label to branch out some,

considering your recent financial difficulties.

♪

- ♪ Ain't going to leave you now ♪

♪ My baby, I'm yours ♪

- The fact that she took a donation in this office

is a crime.

- I told her we returned it immediately.

- And there's a letter of rejection, too?

- [scoffs] Yeah. - OK.

We might be able to get in front of the story

if we can show that it was formally not accepted.

- [sighs and clears throat]

- What is it?

- I, uh--

- Steven?

- [sighs]

I never actually returned it.

- [scoffs] - What?

- It's a lot of money. And at the time, we needed it.

So-- - [scoffs] No.

- Well, it's OK. I haven't cashed it.

All right? And now that Lade Akande is on board,

we definitely don't need them, so.

- You can't return it after it becomes an issue.

- Well, I thought holding on to it was the smart play.

- Did you? - Yeah.

- Can you give us a moment, please?

- I'll be right outside.

[door opens and closes]

- Bev, listen to me.

- You thought it was a smart play?

I specifically told you to return it!

- I was just covering your back.

- I trusted you! - Bev.

- But you didn't trust me enough

to know what I was doing.

- I can fix this. - No.

The only way to protect myself is to lose you.

You're fired.

[phone ringing]

- Yo, they find him yet?

- We can't send the police.

- Why not?

- Because he hasn't been officially

reported missing yet.

Can you get the parents to file a report?

- Nah, man.

By the time they do that, it'll already be too late.

Shit, it's probably already too late.

He's on parole, right?

So that means the address has got to be registered.

If he's on paper, he's got a report.

- Yeah. - OK.

So get the address,

and then we can go make sure this kid is all right.

Then we'll get the cops involved.

- Let me see what I can find out.

- Let's go, man.

[disconnection chime]

- Yakami Records holds his contract, correct?

- I can get Achilles out of that.

- I spoke to them this morning.

I offered them 1% of Blackgammon's profits

from Achilles's next three albums.

- Wow. You do move quickly.

- They agreed to those terms.

- Great. Then we can move forward, then.

- Well, actually, it brings up another question.

Why?

- Why?

- Why would a tiny regional label

be so agreeable to a successful artist getting away?

I mean, even a marginally successful artist,

1% is practically free.

- [scoffs] You'd have to ask them.

- I did.

They wouldn't tell me.

- Then we should just be glad they agreed then.

[phone ringing]

[both chuckle] - One moment.

- Yeah.

[phone ringing]

- Um, I'm sorry. I need to take this.

OK, talk to me.

[scoffs]

Wow.

That's exactly what I thought. [sighs]

OK, send all the records to my phone.

Nice work, Somwon.

- Yo, let's roll.

- Did you bring a gun?

- You bring a badge?

- I'll give it back when we're done.

We're going to see if the kid is in there.

That's it.

This is a rescue, not a vendetta.

- [sighs]

[tires screeching]

- Mrs. Thibodeaux.

This has been a lovely afternoon, but the deal is off.

- What? Why?

- Because, Mrs. Thibodeaux, you're stealing from your son.

- [laughs] How dare you.

- Not one thing is in his name.

Not this house, that motorcycle he loves so much.

Hell, even his music. It's all in your name.

- And it's done that way to protect him.

- And you're losing it all.

This house is in foreclosure.

That motorcycle's in repossession.

The only reason they haven't taken it

is because you lied on the registration forms

and they don't know the correct address.

The label is willing to let Achilles go

because they've advanced you so much money

they can't hope to recoup.

They wouldn't tell me that

because they're hoping I'll take Achilles,

or rather, you, off their hands.

- [laughs] None of this is true.

- I have all the documentation here on my phone.

Would you like to see it?

- What if I offer Blackgammon

all his past and future publishing?

Just give us a good size upfront advancement

so I can clear a few things up.

You could own it all.

- The publishing is the only thing

an artist ever truly owns.

Instead of giving your son's entire future away,

why don't you tell him the truth?

That you've been stealing from him?

He'll forgive you, eventually.

- Stealing from me? What do you mean stealing?

- She's lying to take you away from me, Achilles.

That's what these LA executives do.

That's how they work.

First, they isolate you from management,

and then they swoop in and steal you away.

- Coming here wasn't my idea, Achilles.

Your mom reached out to Marcel.

Correct? - That's true.

She called me a couple weeks ago.

- I was only doing my due diligence.

I'm sorry you found out this way.

- You bitch.

- [scoffs]

You're about to lose everything you think you have, Achilles.

You deserve to know that.

- Mama, how could you?

- Maybe I made some bad investments,

but I did it all for you.

- [sighs]

That was sad.

- What was that? - You tell me.

- Ms. Hernandez.

Ms. Hernandez, I can explain.

- You don't need to. It's not your fault.

- Are you still interested in signing me

if I had a different manager?

- Your music is great.

I believe in it. And you.

But Achilles, you got a lot to figure out here.

Hey, when you do, though, you call me, OK?

Hold on a second.

Don't ever let someone handle all your business again.

That might not be as fun as the music,

but you got to stay on top of it.

You hear me?

- Yes, ma'am. Thank you.

- Of course. It's gonna be OK.

[engine turns over]

- ♪ Part one of the chapter ♪

- I am so embarrassed.

- [scoffs] You didn't vet her?

- I do not know your business the way you do.

I wouldn't even know what to look for.

- Mm.

No harm done, I guess. - Yeah.

I promise I will stay in my lane from now on.

- Promise.

- I promise.

- OK.

So business is done.

[upbeat music playing]

- What are you thinking?

- Do you still have any of those pills?

- Always.

- Good.

[chuckles]

♪ ♪

- ♪ Cause it's only you ♪

♪ It would be ♪

♪ [vocalizing] ♪

- What is it?

- Trust me.

♪ ♪

- [chuckles softly]

- ♪ Part two, there's something in the air ♪

♪ When we locked eyes, yeah ♪

♪ You were something special ♪

♪ I caught feelings I've never felt ♪

- You're not gonna join me?

♪ ♪

- Don't mind if I do.

- [chuckles] OK.

Let's drive.

- ♪ We start over ♪

♪ ♪

♪ [vocalizing] ♪

♪ It will be ♪

♪ It will be over soon ♪

♪ Over ♪

- Mr. Shaw, you didn't tell me

just how incredible your house is.

- [laughs] But do me a favor. Call me Sly.

All my friends call me Sly.

It is a big house, you know.

Can I ask how much it appraised for?

Whoa. - [laughs]

- 20 million?

- That's what I recommend listing it at,

especially in this market.

- Oh, my god.

[laughter] That's crazy.

- Can I take that as a yes?

- Yes.

Have dinner with me.

- Excuse me?

- To celebrate.

- Well, OK. Sure. [laughs]

- Wonderful.

- Great. Thanks.

OK, I have you on "Good Morning LA"

and all the noon local news shows tomorrow.

- Thank you.

- You have to hang it all on him.

Hard, by name.

And then you immediately fired him upon hearing that

he didn't follow your explicit instructions.

- How badly will this hurt his career?

- Not as bad as he would have hurt yours.

[suspenseful music]

OK, um, pick you up at 6:30 a.m.

♪ ♪

Are you OK?

I know that you cared about him.

- I still care about him.

I just didn't have another choice.

- So what's bothering you then?

- I was just thinking about something

Lade Akande said to me today.

She, uh, said I should put some legal distance

between me and Don Mayfield.

- Good idea.

See you in the morning. - Yeah.

Good night.

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

[indistinct chatter]

- Anyone seen Jason?

- He went out, boss. - Oh. [sighs]

♪ ♪

- Yo, the kid's name is Jamal.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

[pounding on door]

- Perkins, open up!

♪ ♪

[latch clicks]

♪ ♪

- What do you want?

Hey! Hey! Like, what the hell is going on?

- ADA Platt.

- ADA?

- Jamal, where are you at? Come out!

♪ ♪

Jamal.

- Who the hell is Jamal?

- Jamal?

- There ain't no fucking Jamal here.

- Jamal? - You're in the wrong house.

- Jamal. - Jamal?

- You got no right. - Jamal.

- Who the hell you think you are, huh?

- Jamal? It's OK to come out.

- Just shout out, Jamal.

- What the hell is this?

- Jamal.

- This is my house.

- If you're here, just shout out, Jamal.

- Fuck, where is he?

Where the hell are you telling him to hide?

- Who? - The kid.

♪

- Wait, man, I know you guys.

Hey, man. You Dom Mayfield, right?

You played center. And Platt.

Jason Platt. Man, you played guard.

You guys played for me, man. Come on.

- This ain't no social call. Where the kid at?

- He's not here, Dom. - Look, who?

- The missing boy from the hood.

- And why the hell would he be here, huh?

- You know exactly why.

- We should just go, Dom.

♪

- Yeah, get the fuck out.

♪

- You know what?

I ain't going nowhere without an apology.

- [chuckles]

For what? - Because we trusted you.

- He's not worth it, Dom. - [chuckles]

Who? You trusted me? Huh?

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

- You just gon' sit here and deny what happened?

- Dom, let's go.

- I'm watching you.

- [laughs] Well, have fun.

[chuckles]

I don't know why I have to apologize for anything anyway.

Whatever you think happened--

[sucks lip]

Seems like you two turned out just fine.

- What'd you say? - Look at you.

A big-time music guy.

Hmm, and Platt there, a district attorney.

[chuckles]

Maybe I didn't hurt you guys so bad after all, huh?

Hell, Jason even really seemed to enjoy things.

Didn't he?

[gunshot] - Fuck!

Yo, it's cool.

Hey, I got people that can take care of the body,

but we got to get out of here.

Give me the gun.

- I'm not running.

- Are you crazy? You just smoked this dude.

- I'm staying.

- Don't let this piece of shit change your whole life, man.

Give me the gun so I can get rid of it.

Give it to me.

♪ ♪

We gotta go.

♪ ♪

[upbeat blues music]

♪ ♪

- You know something?

I don't think I've ever seen you not smiling.

- Oh, God.

♪ ♪

- Even when we were struggling to find the proper NFT

and everyone around us was stressed, you--

you, my friend, were still smiling.

[laughs]

- ♪ I think I'm falling in love with you ♪

- Very little is needed to make a happy life.

Mm-hmm.

It is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.

- It's been a long time since someone

quoted Marcus Aurelius to me.

- Hey, "Meditations" is my guide book.

- Is that right? - Uh-huh.

- ♪ I know I'm in trouble again ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm in trouble ♪

♪ I'm in trouble again ♪

♪ I'm in trouble, trouble ♪

♪ I'm in trouble, baby ♪

- This is unbelievable.

So you bought all of this with crypto, huh?

- Uh-huh. And NFTs.

- That was a awesome idea, my friend.

[laughter]

- Oh, man.

You--nah. [mumbles indistinctly]

- What?

[chuckling] What?

♪ ♪

- Can you keep a secret?

- I'm an attorney with a very long client list

filled with secrets. - Uh-huh.

I'm actually about to start my own exchange.

- You can do that? - Mm-hmm.

It's actually gonna be up and running next month.

- Is that something a person can invest in?

- Invest in? Yes. Are you interested?

- Am I interested? Definitely.

[laughs]

Um--[chuckles]

I should-- I should get to bed.

I have to fly out in the morning.

Yeah. Mm-hmm.

- Get to bed. - Getting to bed. [chuckles]

- To bed. - Getting to bed.

♪ ♪

- ♪ 'Cause I'm in trouble ♪

♪ I'm in trouble again ♪

- ♪ I'm in trouble, trouble ♪

- ♪ I'm in trouble, baby ♪

♪ I'm in trouble again ♪

- ♪ I'm in trouble, trouble ♪

- ♪ 'Cause when I get that funny feeling ♪

♪ I know I'm in trouble again ♪

♪

♪ I'm in trouble ♪

♪ I'm in trouble again ♪

- ♪ I'm in trouble, trouble ♪

- ♪ I'm in trouble, baby ♪

♪ I'm in trouble again ♪

- ♪ I'm in trouble, trouble ♪

- Give me--give me a second.

- What--what happened? Did I-- did I miss something?

- No, no, no. [sighs] No, it's not.

Um--um--

can you go?

- ♪ I'm in trouble again ♪

- I thought we were having fun.

- Uh, yeah. We were, we were.

Um--

I just--I--I-- I need to be alone.

Sorry.

- ♪ I know I'm in trouble ♪

- OK.

- ♪ Again ♪

[chuckling] OK. - OK.

- Good night. - Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night. [sighs]

- [laughs] OK, wait. Tell me right now.

- Yeah, I know. No, I can't tell you right now.

- Hey, Ruby. - Wait, why?

- There he is. - Ah.

- Guess what, babe? Minh is moving in with us.

- Wait, what?

- We have a spare bedroom

and she can help me out around here.

- It'll be perfect. - Mm-hmm.

- [chuckles]

- Wait, wait, wait. Tell me, tell me, tell me.

OK, so then look at this little onesie right here.

- OK.

- [sighs] Wow.

Queen Bitch herself.

- Thank you. You can wait outside.

- Yes, ma'am.

- I'll give you three seconds to try again.

- [chuckles]

OK.

- What would you say about Don Mayfield

if you were actually given the immunity ADA Platt promised?

- [sighs]

[chuckles] I already told you.

I'm not saying anything until I see a signed agreement.

- And after?

- I'll give you enough shit to bury that piece of shit.

And I'm not just talking about old shit.

Talking about shit that he's doing right now.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

- Talk.

♪ ♪

- What did I do?

- The right motherfucking thing.

- It's never the right thing. - It don't matter now.

That shit over.

[phone ringing]

Yo, Mack.

- Yo. Nobody'll ever find that package.

- All right. Good.

- And don't worry about that kid.

- What you mean? - The nephew.

He's home.

He was playing PS at a friend's house.

Forgot to call.

- All right, cool. Appreciate it.

[somber music]

It's all taken care of.

[somber music]

♪

- Can you call someone for me?

[slow dramatic music]

♪

- ♪ Ooh, I know what you're looking for, a fun day ♪

♪

♪ Yeah, I know what you value more than money ♪

♪ ♪

♪ You can lay roots in the soil, babe ♪

♪ ♪

♪ You can take fruit from the toil, babe ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Take your time, no need to hurry ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I'm yours, no need to worry ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I'll be waiting there, baby ♪

♪ ♪

♪ How you got me feeling this way ♪

♪ Feeling shook, shook ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Feeling shook, shook ♪

- [sighs]

♪ ♪

[phone ringing]

[phone ringing]

- Hi, Dom.

- You still in New Orleans?

- Yes.

Turns out Achilles has a lot to work out

before we can consider signing him.

- So you coming home?

- To LA?

Yes, in the morning.

- Miss you, D.

- Do you?

- Think I don't?

- Well, wasn't exactly a heartfelt goodbye now, was it?

- [sighs] I was just, um--

I had some other shit I had to take care of.

But it's over now.

Look, I've been thinking about

why I would even risk what I got with you

over somebody like Plain Jane.

- And?

- [sighs] That whole thing with PJ,

that was--

that was just me trying to be in control again.

I just wanted something that didn't mean anything.

I love you, D.

I'm sorry.

Can I, uh--

can I see you?

- Call Tamika.

She'll schedule something.

I have to go to bed.

[phone beeps]

[phone ringing] - Ah.

Hello?

- You called? - Yes, I did call you.

How did it go with Daniella?

- Well, I've made some real progress with her.

- Good, good.

And she is interested in the exchange?

- Yeah, she offered that immediately.

She even asked if she could invest.

- Did she mention bringing the opportunity to her clients?

- No, no, not yet. But she will.

Look, spending time with her,

she's not like the others that we've worked.

- Meaning?

- Meaning she is unpredictable.

[sighs]

Be wary.

- Noted.

[laughs]

Excellent work, Marcel.

Now ya know [indistinct]

Ha! Whoo!

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!

Yes, yes, yes!

Now ya know [indistinct]

[upbeat music]

♪

[gong resonates]

- Hey!