Original subtitles

[Ronnie] Previously on The Chi...

I now pronounce you two honest women

who are no longer shacking up out of wedlock.

[cheers and applause]

So how much you sell your son for?

Five thousand.

I want my little brother back.

Jake said you were dead.

Look, I know I can't take his place,

but I'ma try to keep his business alive.

I think that's what he would've wanted.

I'm nervous about leaving next year.

I wanna stay here.

♪ Tense music ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Solange's "Cranes in the Sky" playing ♪

♪♪♪

♪ I tried to drink it away ♪

♪ I tried to put one in the air ♪

♪ I tried to dance it away ♪

♪ I tried to change it with my hair ♪

♪ I ran my credit card bill up ♪

♪ Thought a new dress would make it better ♪

♪ I tried to work it away ♪

♪ But that just made me even sadder ♪

♪ I tried to keep myself busy ♪

♪ I ran around in circles ♪

♪ Think I made myself dizzy ♪

♪ I slept it away ♪

♪ I sexed it away ♪

♪ I read it away... ♪

[Kiesha] Girl, I don't care what nobody say.

Drake can dance.

I know; I saw the "Hotline Bling" video,

Malaysia.

[laughs] That's how they dance in Canada.

Mm-hmm, slightly offbeat 'cause it's cold up there.

[chuckles]

Ma, you're not eating my fries, are you?

No, Kevin, I'm only eating mine.

[Kevin] You're not even looking at the bag

you're putting your hands in.

Can I have my fries, please?

Uh, no, 'cause every time

you eat in this car, you make a mess.

[Kiesha] No, normally, I don't like light-skinned dudes,

but Drake got lips for days,

and them waves in his hair is natural.

No, I read somewhere he don't even wear a do-rag to bed.

Mm-hmm, that nigga can get it.

[chuckles]

Ew, what type of mint is this?

This don't got no flavor.

- Give it to me now. - Why?

Is this some new form of crack rock?

I ate one. Am I on crack now, Kiesha?

I'ma kill you.

[Nina] What's going on back there?

Nothing.

Kevin, what are you hiding?

Kevin Miles Williams, you better answer me

when I'm talking to you.

What are you hiding?

Kevin!

♪ I traveled 70 states ♪

[Nina, muffled] I am so disappointed in you, Kiesha.

Are you trying to have a child?

[speaking indistinctly]

[Kiesha speaking indistinctly]

[Nina] How dare you go get contraceptives

without talking to me first?

[Kiesha speaking indistinctly]

[Nina] Don't you dare. So you fucking now, Kiesha?

- Don't act like you know... - Get your ass in the car!

Get in the car! Get in the car, Kiesha!

I can't even look at you right now!

[Kiesha huffs]

[door clicks open, slams]

I'm sorry, Kiesha.

You always getting me in trouble.

- I didn't mean... - Don't talk to me.

♪ Somber music ♪

[door clicks open and shut]

♪♪♪

♪ tense music ♪

♪♪♪

Okay.

[computer chimes]

[door clicks open and shut]

♪♪♪

Whoa, whoa, whoa, why you in such a hurry?

Kiesha in there?

Oh, no, I just went to go grab some pen and paper.

She didn't come home last night.

She probably stayed over Malaysia's.

You know, prepping for a track meet or something.

Why you always covering for her?

If I find out the two of you are lying...

We're not. I gotta go. Love you, Mom.

♪♪♪

♪ dramatic hip-hop music ♪

♪♪♪

[mellow hip-hop music playing]

[Shay] But I need you to do another one,

like, a long one, and I need it

to hang, like, right up...

Look, don't be like that.

Traffic was crazy on the Dan Ryan.

Just hurry up.

These people 'bout to be here in, like, 30 minutes.

That's cool. Where the kitchen?

- [sighs] - All right.

[sighs] Devante.

Come on, baby, your daddy here.

♪♪♪

Daddy!

Hey, what's up, man?

Ahh. Oh, damn, boy.

- What you been eating? - Pepe's.

Pepe's? Why are you feeding my son Pepe's?

Nigga, ain't nothing wrong with Pepe's.

I was raised on Pepe's. My mom and them ate Pepe's.

- I can tell. - [scoffs]

Well, you wasn't saying all that

when you was getting me pregnant.

Uh, yeah, you looked a lot different back then.

Fuck you, Emmett.

Don't say bad words.

Exactly. Now, stop cussing in front of my son.

Why he always your son when you here

but he mine when you gone?

Look, I ain't got time for this.

I gotta get to work.

Put this on. Chef hat. You the chef.

Where's the food at?

My assistants bringing it.

Assistants?

Negro, please don't do me

like you did them lesbians on they special day.

How you hear about that?

My cousin Teesha was there,

and she said the fried chicken was dry

and the yams needed more brown sugar.

But did she tell you she smashed two plates,

then tried to smash me?

- [knock at door] - Please.

Who is that?

That's my assistants with the food.

Now, hurry up and get up outta here.

How you get an assistant? I thought you was broke.

Devante, you gotta use the bathroom?

- No. - [Emmett] Yes, you do.

Okay.

All right, all right.

Now, Shay, please take your son to the bathroom.

- [knock at door] - Let's go, Mama.

You killing Daddy's vibe.

- That's right. - [Shay] What vibe?

♪ Hip-hop music ♪

♪ Got them all like "Oh, my" ♪

♪ Look at me, I'm so fly... ♪

You from Postmates?

♪ Now the [...], they say hi ♪

♪ Skinny dude with my jeans ripped ♪

♪ Nikes all on my feet, bro ♪

♪ Chase ambition... ♪

[knock at door]

♪ But y'all just never listen ♪

♪ No [...] boys right here, boy ♪

♪ So you should keep your distance... ♪

[knock at door]

♪♪♪

Appreciate it.

♪ Know what I'm talking about ♪

♪ Oh, my God ♪

♪ Oh, oh, my ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ bright jazz music ♪

♪♪♪

[indistinct chatter]

- Baby, you look good. - Thank you.

- Calm down. - Devante, slow down.

♪♪♪

Bon appétit, motherfuckers.

[cheers and applause]

♪♪♪

It is so beautiful.

Thank you, cuz.

Oh, I love it.

Somebody make me a plate.

I got you. What you want?

Oh, okay. Um, chicken... everything.

Just make me everything.

- Everything? Okay. - Yeah. Uh-huh.

Thank you.

♪ And tell my baby I love her ♪

♪ On the up, on the up, on the up ♪

♪ Yeah, it's about to get crazy ♪

♪ So I fall to my knees and I pray ♪

♪ Way Mama raised me ♪

♪ On the up, on the up, on the up ♪

♪ On the up, on the up ♪

♪ On the up, on the up, on the up ♪

♪ On the up, on the up, 'bout to get crazy ♪

♪ On the up, on the up, on the up ♪

♪ On the up, on the up ♪

♪ On the up, on the up, on the up... ♪

Mmm, yes, God!

I ain't had no Big Jones chicken in a minute.

[all speaking indistinctly]

♪ On the up, on the up, on the up ♪

Mmm, this barbecue is on point.

- This gotta be Lem's. - Yes.

♪♪♪

Uh, you want me to make you a plate?

I could've ordered takeout myself, nigga.

♪♪♪

♪ mellow jazz music ♪

♪♪♪

[distant siren wailing]

[distant man yelling indistinctly]

♪♪♪

[hip-hop music playing over radio]

You had quite a load there today, Mr. Ronnie.

You keep this up, you'll be rich enough

to take me out on a date.

I'm flattered, but I'm kinda seeing somebody right now.

What's her name?

Brandy? Alizé?

Tequila? Maybe Hennessy?

[chuckles] Them girls can't do nothing for you

but make you forget.

I'm a real woman.

I'll give you something to remember.

Have a good day, Charlene.

[Charlene laughs]

Bae, just let me do the talking, okay?

We don't wanna embarrass Kiesha.

She hasn't answered any of my calls or texts

for the past two days.

When I get my hands on her, I'm gonna do more

than embarrass her ass.

Let's just try to be level-headed, okay?

She gotta be here somewhere.

Of course she's here. I know my daughter.

Kiesha might miss a meal, but she won't miss a day of school.

[Lila] I'm afraid Kiesha's not here.

In fact, she's had a lot of absences lately,

which isn't like her.

How come no one called us if she's been missing school?

Well, my apologies, Mrs. Williams,

but we have over 4,000 students.

It's hard to keep track of every single one.

But isn't that your job?

Actually, it's your job to make sure

your child shows up and on time.

You're the parent.

Oh.

Okay.

We just need to find her.

Kiesha's been gone for two days,

and we're slightly on edge, as you can imagine.

I understand.

I've asked her teachers.

We've reached out to some of her classmates,

but no one's heard from her.

I'll let you know if I hear anything.

Thank you for your time.

I'm sure she'll turn up soon.

And what if she doesn't?

Who's to blame for that, us or you?

Let's try and think positive.

Come on.

Something's wrong. I can feel it.

[bell rings]

[distant hip-hop music playing]

[Nina] Maybe she's at home. Now.

[Dre] Could be home, could be anywhere.

Bottom line is, don't-don't trip, don't stress.

You know, we're gonna see what's what.

Okay?

♪♪♪

[engine turning over]

[indistinct chatter]

Watch where you're going.

Malaysia, how come you ain't respond to my text?

You ain't my man, bro.

Look, it's an emergency. I need to find Kiesha.

I promise you, I don't know where she at.

And low-key, I'm still mad at her anyway

for sending me off the other night,

and she ain't responding to my texts.

She acting fool as fuck.

Wait, so you ain't see her Sunday night?

Nah, but that don't mean shit.

Kieshas can be sometime-y.

You mean Kiesha?

No, I mean Kieshas.

Every Kiesha I met, unreliable as hell.

You got her boyfriend's number?

Now, why would I have her man's number in my phone?

I ain't that type of bitch.

You got his address? Please, I need this address.

- Why? - 'Cause something's wrong.

You know my sister.

Look, all I know is, people call him Nuck,

and he run with the 63rd Street Mob.

And don't tell her I told you.

♪♪♪

♪ mellow R&B music ♪

♪ I need to turn autocorrect on... ♪

That was some shady-ass shit you pulled,

serving them people food from other restaurants.

Shady or genius?

Shady.

Thank you.

[all] Seven, six, five,

four, three, two, one!

[balloons popping]

[all cheering]

What?

Is it a boy or girl?

You having twins. Congrats!

You having a boy and a girl!

[cheers and applause]

Jesus Lord.

I already got four kids.

[Douda] So you a lieutenant now.

That shit can't happen again, Mike.

You got it?

It won't happen again.

[Douda] All right, so keep an eye out on this dude,

'cause I got a feeling he's gonna be a fucking problem.

[hip-hop music playing over earbuds]

♪♪♪

My bad.

You forget the rules to this house, young man?

Sorry.

This is the third time you walked on my hardwood floors

with your gym shoes on.

Do you have a bad memory?

No.

Then why you find it so hard to remember shit?

Maybe you don't wanna live here.

Yeah, I do.

Yeah, maybe I should let your brother Trig

come for you.

He dead.

I don't think that's really true.

♪ Tense music ♪

Well, he dead to me.

Is that right?

Yeah.

I don't know that nigga.

♪♪♪

Yeah, well, he came back for you.

♪♪♪

You wanna go live with him?

Nah, I wanna stay with you.

Then take your fucking shoes off

before you come into my house.

♪♪♪

♪ Eyes to the mountain ♪

♪ The closer, the better view ♪

♪ I'm climbing to find out ♪

♪ Like the sun when it hits the blue ♪

♪ Maybe you should close your eyes ♪

♪ And think about it ♪

♪ How beautiful life is ♪

♪ How we couldn't live without it ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Take it in like your feet ♪

♪ Sinking in the sand ♪

♪ Looking at the ocean blue ♪

♪ Holding each other's hand ♪

♪ Wanna live love like it's for me ♪

♪ Grab the fresh air in the morning ♪

♪ Birds chirping outside when we young and ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Ooh, baby ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Hey, yeah, hey ♪

♪ Living nature's finest ♪

♪ Nature, nature ♪

♪ Nature, nature's finest... ♪

You like that, Daddy?

♪♪♪

Come here. You know I like everything you do.

♪ To the largest ♪

♪ To the darkest and to the brightest ♪

♪ I see so much beauty in you ♪

♪ Swaying like a tree from side to side ♪

♪ Hair blow in the wind ♪

♪ Looking at the ocean blue ♪

♪ Holding each other's hand ♪

♪ Wanna live love like it's for me ♪

♪ Grab the fresh air in the morning ♪

♪ Birds chirping outside when we young and... ♪

Look here, I'm cool with us setting up camp

for a couple weeks.

All right, but I didn't come back to the Chi to lay roots.

This place takes... it takes lives like cancer.

All right, so if you still wanna do hair,

that's cool with me, but it's gotta be temporary.

As soon as we get Jake back, we out.

Did you even ask him if he wants to come live with us?

[sighs] It ain't up to him.

He's 15. He ain't no baby.

Yeah, I know that.

Why haven't you seen him?

[sighs]

I don't...

I don't know. I'm just-I'm just waiting for the right time.

Why are you walking away?

You done with this conversation?

Nah, I'm just trying to take out the trash, damn.

So tell me what happened.

It's a long story.

I ain't got nothing but time.

[sighs]

Did I ever tell you my pops

used to work in the mayor's office?

No.

He used to wash toilets.

And he'd come home with these rough, ashy hands.

Kinda like mine.

Yeah, they a struggle.

[chuckles]

Every day my pops came home,

he would rub my hair with those hands.

♪ Somber music ♪

It was like we could feel how hard he worked

just by him touching us.

It's funny, but ever since I got back,

I-I can't stop thinking about him and those hands.

I mean, we didn't have shit, but...

we were happy.

We had each other.

So what happened?

♪♪♪

Cabrini-Green happened.

I mean, that place turned into a war zone, and...

[sighs]

the Chicago Housing Authority,

they-they shut it down and...

told everybody to leave,

put us in temporary housing,

promised to replace the projects

with brand-new condos where we could all

come back and live happily ever after.

Well, years went by, and...

the condos were never built.

So my pops, he went to work, and he complained.

He complained to the mayor?

Yeah.

And he fired him.

[sighs]

He couldn't find work for months.

And after a while, he just...

he just started to lose that light in his eyes.

And one day,

he left and just never came back.

♪♪♪

Then my moms got depressed.

She started hanging out with drug dealers.

Then she got pregnant with Reg,

and by the time she had Jake,

I was halfway out the door.

When I got to Kankakee, I-I couldn't find no work,

so I started selling.

Eventually, I found out that Reg was running the streets.

That's when I knew Jake didn't stand a chance.

I wasn't there when he needed me.

But I'm here now.

Jake is the only blood I got left.

♪♪♪

You need to go see him.

And say what?

That you're his brother and you love him.

That shit don't mean nothing.

Well, it's gonna have to.

♪♪♪

I'm gonna go get dressed.

You're taking me out.

What's the occasion?

Nigga, I'm the occasion.

[chuckles]

[blues music playing over speakers]

[Curtis] Yo, look what the devil spit up.

I was starting to think you wasn't gonna come.

Had a few errands to run.

Negro, please.

You dressed like you got a good government job.

[chuckles]

Must've found yous a woman, huh?

Mm-hmm.

If I had one, I wouldn't be here.

Then why you walk in here smelling like cheap cologne

and hair grease?

Pussy ain't my only motivation.

Let me get a vodka soda.

How come we ain't seen you in a minute, bro?

Been busy.

- Are you in a cult? - What?

I know the signs, man. My brother's in a cult.

[Barry] Is that what happened to Snippy?

[Curtis] Yeah, everybody think he in jail on drugs.

Me and my mama keep trying to tell folks

he somewhere living in the woods,

reading pamphlets and eating bugs and shit.

I ain't in a cult.

- [Barry] Prove it. - How?

[sighs] Show us where you stay at.

[scoffs] I ain't gotta show y'all shit.

Mm-hmm, that's what my brother said too.

Now he in a cult.

♪ Everything gonna be all right ♪

♪ Oh, yes, yes, it will ♪

♪ Whoa, yeah... ♪

- [light piano music playing] - [glass clinks]

[woman] I'm so excited. Welcome, welcome, everybody.

Welcome to Windy City Speed Dating.

Huh?

It's so great to see so many hot singles tonight.

I tell you, if I wasn't married,

I might bring one of you home.

Don't ask me who. That's unprofessional.

[laughs]

[clears throat]

You know where I met my husband?

Right here at one of these events, so...

Okay, on to the rules.

Uh, rule number one, no lewd language.

Number two, men must switch at the bell.

Number three, no touching.

And most importantly, no refunds.

- Have fun. [giggles] - [woman] Okay.

[bell dings]

[indistinct chatter]

♪♪♪

- Hi. - Hi there.

Nice to meet you.

Roger.

Jada.

- [chuckles] - Okay, I'll start.

Um... I'm from Naperville.

I own my own home.

I have two cats.

- I'm a Cubs fan. - I hate cats.

[chuckles] I mean, they're cute and all,

especially when they're kittens,

but they don't pull their weight around the house.

Dogs, on the other hand, they guard.

They-they help you with exercise when you walk them.

I mean, cats are just spoiled brats.

[chuckles] I mean, no disrespect,

but that's why the Egyptians

used to kill 'em back in the day.

♪♪♪

- Mm-hmm. - [bell dings]

So what do you like to do for fun?

Mm, not much.

Well, what about hobbies?

Is sleeping a hobby? [laughs]

[chuckles] Nah, I don't think so.

Ah, um, I like watching movies on Lifetime.

And I love hanging out with my grandbabies.

- You're a grandmother? - Mm-hmm.

♪♪♪

[bell dings]

[chuckles]

You know, if this were a contest,

I'd be losing right now.

[chuckles] You can't possibly be doing worse than me.

[chuckles]

Um, this is probably TMI,

but I haven't been on a date in years,

and I'm just looking for somebody

that doesn't have a record

and knows better than to wear gym socks with dress shoes.

Is that too much to ask?

[chuckles] It sounds pretty reasonable to me.

Huh.

Well, before we get too deep, I'm a grandmother,

and I'm not good at texting.

I don't have a problem with either of those things.

Great.

So what part of Asia are you from?

I'm from Lincoln Park.

Oh, my... I'm sorry.

It's all good.

What about your parents? Where are they from?

They're from Lincoln Park too.

Wow. Why am I so bad at this?

It's all right.

Just relax... and remember

it's not a contest.

[bell dings]

[indistinct chatter]

♪♪♪

[distant rap music playing]

♪♪♪

Nigga... you homeless?

Why you ain't say nothing?

I actually like it here.

You a lie and a half.

I didn't like the shit at first,

but after a while, I realized

it's the first place I actually feel like

I'm a part of something.

[sighs] Yeah, part of the homeless community.

People here treat me with respect.

[Barry] Bro, this shit ain't healthy, G.

Fuck this. I got room in my crib.

- Just stay with me. - Yeah, me too.

Yo, we could take turns, man.

Y'all not listening.

This where I belong. I'm good.

♪♪♪

How you living, Ronnie?

Hey, man, you or your friends need a new phone,

I'll cut you a deal, right?

- All good, Pete. - All right, man.

All right.

[Haze] Hey, Ronnie,

bunch of us is playing craps later.

- If you're free. - Maybe later, Haze.

[woman] Hey, Ronnie!

What's up? What's up? What's up?

'Sup?

[man] That's my dog.

[Ronnie] All right, all right.

There we go.

[mellow hip-hop music playing]

♪♪♪

[knock at door]

Shit.

- [knocking continues] - Coming.

Hey.

Hey, is Emmett here?

No, but he'll be back in an hour.

Okay, good, 'cause I came to talk to you.

Oh, shit, what's-what's going on?

I brought you some food.

Where's that from?

Uh, some chick who cook outta her house on 51st and Ashland.

So... what's going on?

So...

I did the speed dating thing you told me about.

Good! How was it?

Not great.

What-what do you mean? What happened?

I-I'm just not good at it.

What do you mean you're not good at it?

All you gotta do is just flirt a little bit

and don't tell them people how many grandkids you got.

[scoffs] So I said all the wrong things.

And on top of that, everybody there

was at least ten years younger than me.

[sighs]

I just want somebody simple and easy.

I don't need all the bells and whistles.

I just wanna go listen to some decent jazz,

take a trip to Jamaica every now and then.

That's it.

Okay, can I keep it 100 with you?

Please.

You need somebody to blow your back out.

That sounds painful.

It can be, but in a good way.

Okay?

His name is Suede.

He massages shit.

[sighs]

I'm looking for a life partner, not a masseuse.

Well, until you find a life partner, call him.

Just don't tell Emmett you got that from me.

[Emmett] Ma? What you doing here?

Hey.

Your mama don't need an excuse to come over.

I didn't say she did.

What's wrong with you? Hey.

Mm, I got what I needed.

I guess I'll leave y'all to it.

Yo, you wanna watch EJ tonight?

- No. - Leave her alone.

I'm just trying to give you a break.

How 'bout you give me a break and feed him when he wakes up

instead of expecting me to do it?

[Jada] Okay, bye, y'all.

- See ya. - All right, love you.

What you eating?

Your mama brought me some food.

What about me?

What about you?

See, I can't get no respect.

Boy, here, shut up.

Damn. Who made this?

Some chick. Hmm.

What's her number?

What you want the bitch number for?

Not like that. I'm trying to hire her.

For what, Emmett?

To come cook for me.

Oh, well, that's smart.

See, I be having good ideas sometimes.

You be having good ideas all the time.

You know words of affirmation is my love language.

And you know physical touch... is mine.

Oh, I know that.

After I finish eating.

Oh, I'll touch your body while you eating.

Mm, mm.

♪ I got to drivin', ain't no need for this ♪

♪ And you ain't notice ♪

♪ Why you didn't tell me ♪

♪ That night I would've held me and let you know ♪

- ♪ That I was hurting... ♪ - [EJ cries]

♪ I'm certain that me and you had something... ♪

Emmett, one of us needs...

[crying continues]

Emmett.

Would you just go get him a juice box or something?

[crying continues]

All right, damn.

[singers vocalizing]

♪ You ♪

♪ You arouse me ♪

♪ Without saying a thing ♪

♪ Or even looking my way ♪

♪ Hey ♪

♪ Don't ♪

♪ Say what you wanna do ♪

♪ It's better when I can just ♪

♪ Read the expressions on your face ♪

♪ Yes, yes ♪

Can I get another one?

[Ocean] I got you.

♪ Two people together like us... ♪

No, I got it.

Suit yourself.

♪ Daydreaming and I'm thinking of you ♪

♪ Ooh... ♪

You looking?

For what?

Me.

Look, nigga, I ain't like that.

Ain't like what?

I ain't like you, okay?

Do you know where you are?

A bar.

No, you're in a gay bar.

♪♪♪

Nigga, just 'cause I'm in a gay bar don't mean I'm gay.

- Oh, are you curious? - No, nigga.

And you need to get the fuck away from me,

talking all that shit.

Oh, I'm so sick of trade.

Wait, what you call me?

I'm tired of you straight-acting niggas

walking in here acting like your presence is a present

when it ain't.

You think you're all of that

with your muscle shirts

and your snapbacks

but be the first to bend over grabbing your ankles

and screaming my name at the top of your lungs.

[patrons gasp]

You trying to die tonight, nigga?

Get off of me!

What the fuck are you doing? Stop!

My bad, my bad, my bad, my bad.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Don't apologize to me.

Apologize to...

I'm sorry, I don't know your pronouns.

- He and him. - Apologize to him.

♪ Tense music ♪

I apologize.

[Imani] It's okay. Everything is all right.

It was just a misunderstanding. We're cool.

Are you okay?

It's all right. I'll live.

I always do.

♪ Soft jazz music ♪

[Imani] Fuck.

I'm so sorry.

What the fuck are you doing?

Why the fuck would you bring me to a fucking gay club?

I don't like that shit.

Do I say anything when you take me

to those wack-ass straight clubs?

Dress code, really?

Look, we don't even have to go anywhere.

All right, we got drinks at home.

I need to be around my people.

I'm your people.

No, you're my person. You're not my people.

These are my people, and I told you a thousand times

I don't wanna be in the house just because you're scared

people are gonna think you're gay.

I'm not gay.

And you don't have to be.

Look, you're a woman, all right?

That's all I see when I look at you.

♪ Gentle jazz music ♪

You can't love me and hate him.

It doesn't work like that.

Come on. [sighs]

Imani.

♪♪♪

[birds chirping]

♪♪♪

Last night makes the third night she hasn't come home.

- Correct? - Yeah.

[woman] And when was the last time

any of you saw her?

Kev?

Um... I guess Monday

before she went on her morning run.

You guess?

This is important.

Now, was Monday morning the last time you saw her,

yes or no?

- I-I don't remember. - [Nina] Stop lying.

This isn't a game.

♪ Tense music ♪

♪♪♪

Um, she went to a party Sunday night,

and sh-she didn't come back.

What you mean she never came back?

She told me not to tell you.

Tell us what?

I think she's with her new boyfriend.

[Nina] What new boyfriend?

- Okay, just breathe. - Don't tell me to breathe.

[woman] I see this all the time.

Young women get infatuated with their boyfriends.

Next thing you know, they're playing house.

My daughter's not like that.

[woman] I thought the same thing about my daughter.

I was wrong.

I wanna fill out a missing persons' report.

[woman] Be my guest.

♪♪♪

Give me Kiesha's laptop.

♪♪♪

I can't even look at you.

Take your ass to school.

We'll talk about this when you get home.

♪♪♪

Look, don't worry.

All right, I'ma find her.

♪♪♪

[Kevin] Hey, bro.

How come you didn't answer the phone?

I been texting you all day.

Man, Douda took away my phone privileges last night.

He told me to go outside and play.

I was like, "Nigga, this ain't 1983."

He'll be outside soon to give us a ride.

You good?

Nah.

I ain't see Kiesha yet.

Damn, she still with older dude?

He ain't been back ever since he got his ass beat.

But a friend told me she been messing around

with this dude named Nuck.

You heard of him?

What he look like?

I don't know, but she said he hang with 63rd Street Mob.

Maybe you could ask Big Mike for his address or something.

Maybe.

♪ Somber music ♪

Man...

I gotta find her.

What if she dead?

She ain't dead, bro.

Look, I know what it's like to lose a sibling, okay?

And I wouldn't wish that shit on nobody.

We gonna find her, all right?

[door clicks open]

All right, let's get a move on, gentlemen.

[car beeps]

[knock at door]

You Dominique?

Don't nobody call me that.

Well, you the chick I spoke to on the phone?

I don't know. I been on the phone all day.

Look, I ain't got time for the bullshit.

Neither do I.

Look, I'm trying to talk to you about a job opportunity.

Do I look unemployed to you?

No, but I know how you can make some extra cash, though.

- What's your name? - Emmett.

- Prove it. - What you mean?

Show me that dick.

You crazy?

I mean, word on the street is,

you walking around here with a third leg,

so if you are who you say you are,

then let me see it.

[sucks teeth]

You lucky I'm desperate.

[chuckles]

Come on.

[indistinct chatter]

[mellow soul music playing]

♪♪♪

♪ My friends, let me tell you something ♪

♪♪♪

♪ How my man and I could be loving every day ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Well, it was so good, he'd just say nothing... ♪

♪♪♪

Damn, it smell good in here. What you cooking?

Whatever's in season.

Okay.

What you got a taste for?

[scoffs] Everything.

Well, I hope you got some money with that,

'cause ain't nothing in here for free.

Especially me.

How much do you cost?

Depends.

What you want?

Look, I need a chef for my catering business.

Oh, you that dude that used to work with Brandon.

Yeah, I mean...

may he rest in power, you know?

Please, he wasn't shit.

Damn, how you gonna just talk about a dead man like that?

Just 'cause he dead don't make him no angel.

You ready to eat?

Always.

♪ Smooth jazz music ♪

♪♪♪

Thank you.

♪♪♪

[pan sizzling]

♪♪♪

[pan sizzling]

♪♪♪

[pan sizzling]

♪♪♪

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Mmm.

Oh, my...

Look...

what I gotta do to make you come work for me?

Do I need to pumice your feet?

Kiss your pinkie ring, what? Oil your scalp?

I'll do anything. I'll do that shit.

I don't like working for nobody but myself.

Do you know how much money we can make?

I don't do it for the money. I do it for the culture.

Pssh, you ain't gonna be able to do shit for the culture

when the health department come shut your ass down.

Look, if you go into business with me,

we can split everything 50-50.

I'll give you top billing.

You can cook whatever you want.

Whatever I want?

Whatever you want.

Where's this kitchen at?

Look, come to this address around ten.

By yourself, though.

You gonna leave and not have none of my peach cobbler?

Mmm.

Damn.

Girl, you gonna make me risk it all.

♪ Smooth hip-hop music ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Tonight's, tonight's ♪

♪ The night, the night ♪

♪ We lit, we lit ♪

♪ Let it go, get right... ♪

Big Mike tell me where Nuck stay at.

It's a trap house.

So what?

I don't think you should go, man.

You might fuck around and get killed,

and I ain't trying to have your blood on my hands.

Yep, I think we all need to just pray for Kiesha.

Look, bro, I ain't trying to pray.

I need to do something.

Jake, you got a visitor.

- Who is it? - I'm not your secretary.

♪ I'm sittin' round with these models out ♪

♪ That I don't even know a thing about ♪

♪ But they pretty as hell ♪

♪ They love what I do ♪

♪ And there's more than I need ♪

♪ slow jazz music ♪

♪♪♪

You remember me?

What you want?

I came back for you.

I'm good.

I don't think you are.

I'm alive, ain't I?

For now.

Look, I ain't gonna end up like Reg.

I'm smarter than him. I know how to play the game.

Man, you don't know shit.

You need somebody to guide you.

Douda's guiding me.

Bro, that's my job, not his.

Well, you ain't been around.

- I used to be. - When?

You probably too young to remember this, but...

when you was little, I used to take you

and your badass friends to Six Flags every summer.

You was always too short to ride the Viper,

but look at you now, man.

You 'bout taller than me.

Look, I gotta get back to work.

I'm on the clock.

Look, if you-if you want me to leave,

just say the word and you'll never hear from me again.

Nah. You ain't gotta leave.

[sighs]

Okay.

Well, maybe we could get to know each other.

Yeah, maybe.

I got a house in Kankakee

with a backyard and everything.

I want you to come live with me.

I don't know about all that.

Baby steps.

A'ight.

Baby steps.

♪♪♪

[sighs]

Why can't you do anything right?

No, don't answer me. Give me the ticket.

[R&B music playing over speakers]

This don't say pasta, does it?

It says... yeah, mm-hmm. Go back. Fix it.

All right, Kev,

if you're going to Nuck's house,

we coming with you.

I'm not going nowhere.

Yes, you is, Papa. Stop being a punk.

Y'all know I can't fight.

Come on, do this for Kiesha.

A'ight, but if they got a pit, I'm out.

Mm.

[moans softly] Oh, yes.

[smooth R&B music playing]

Ohh.

[Suede] How you liking that pressure?

Oh, it's perfect.

I'm only asking 'cause I wanna make sure

I'm not hurting you.

Oh.

No, you're hitting all the right spots.

I can go deeper if you want.

♪♪♪

[chuckles]

[moans]

Oh, yes.

Oh, oh.

That's it.

[moans]

[gasping]

Oh. Ooh.

Yeah.

Oh.

♪ Hip-hop music ♪

♪ I've been round the block before ♪

♪ Can't blame me, know how it go ♪

♪ Top-floor life, that's how we roll ♪

♪ This right here phenomenal ♪

♪ I know what you wanna do, boy ♪

♪ So I'ma dance, I'ma dance, I'ma dance ♪

♪ Yeah, you got me in the mood, boy ♪

♪ See me now, see me now, see me now ♪

♪ I been trying to play it cool, boy ♪

♪ I wanna let it out, let it out, let it out ♪

♪ Get me up to the room, boy ♪

♪ Better put it down, put it down, put it down ♪

♪ Commend him, he tried it ♪

♪ He loved it, I'm open ♪

♪ So I need someone ♪

♪ 'Cause I don't know, I don't know, I don't know ♪

♪ Let me say ♪

♪ I just wanna dance with a new boy ♪

♪ Gotta get my hands on a rude boy ♪

♪ I'm gonna give a chance to a new boy ♪

♪ I'ma make plans with a rude boy ♪

[both moan]

- Ohh. - [breathing heavily]

You ain't gotta leave me a tip, Miss Washington.

Matter of fact,

I'm giving you a discount.

Huh?

[chuckles]

Mwah.

♪ Jazz music ♪

[EJ] Who's that?

[Emmett] Who's that?

Yo, what up, my nig?

What's up, man?

It's been a minute. How you been?

Yo, you know, same shit, different day.

Yeah? What's up, little man?

How you living? Oh, oh!

Oh, so you still doing the massage thing?

Yeah, bro, it's my side hustle.

Ladies need massages.

That's true. Yeah, they do.

It ain't as easy as it sounds, though.

It's backbreaking work, trust me.

Oh, I ain't trying to break a sweat.

Yeah, I'm just trying to break a sweat doing other things.

See, that's your problem right there.

[snickers] You a wild boy too.

I know, but now I'm getting paid for it.

Word?

Wait, you delivering happy endings?

Every now and then.

Man, you-you living the dream.

I know. I just wrapped up

with a client on the second floor.

Oh, shit, hey.

Wait. Wait a minute.

My-my mama live on the second floor.

What's her apartment number?

Two-B, nigga.

Hey!

Hey, don't let me catch you

around here again, motherfucker.

Bitch-ass nigga.

Really, Ma, I went to school with him.

Look, please don't embarrass me like that.

I'm serious.

Look, if you wanna have fun,

I'll have Tiff get you some-some toys

or something like that, but this can't happen again.

Real talk.

Boy, I'm grown.

I ain't playing.

[brakes hiss, engine rumbling]

[distant siren wailing]

[indistinct chatter, laughter]

[distant rap music playing]

♪♪♪

[Curtis] Give me ten like you're drinking gin.

When your daddy come out, I go in.

I'll take five while I'm alive.

These bones here make all you niggas cry.

[laughter]

Have you seen this girl?

No?

Hey, boss. Hey, have you seen this girl?

She went missing a couple days ago.

[sighs]

[laughter]

Hey, uh, have y'all seen this girl?

No?

Hey, uh, you seen this girl?

Yeah.

Saw her waiting for the bus the other night.

Well, did she get on it?

I-I'm not sure.

She's been missing for three days.

Anything you can tell me, I appreciate it.

Yeah, if I remember anything, I'll be sure to let you know.

♪♪♪

Hey. I know who you are.

[Curtis] Yo, man, you got a problem, bro?

I know her phone is here somewhere,

and you're gonna help me find it.

Hey, hey, hey, yo!

Back up. Get the fuck off of me!

Get off me! Back up!

- Back the fuck up! - Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Dre] Back the fuck up!

[Haze] Who is this woman, Ronnie?

And why is she here?

She don't mean any harm. Her daughter's missing.

I'm not leaving until I find that phone.

It's pink.

♪ Tense music ♪

Hey, Pete!

♪♪♪

Yo, Pete, let me see your phones.

For what?

You pick one up across the street the other night?

Near the bus stop? It's pink.

I ain't got no damn pink phones.

Get the fuck on.

Give me the goddamn phone.

Hey! [groaning]

Get your fucking hands off me.

Get the fuck outta here, man! Shit!

- [groans] - [crowd murmurs]

I know you got the goddamn phones.

[Pete] Hey, fuck you, Ronnie!

Get your hands off my shit! It's mine now!

♪♪♪

Fuck you, Ronnie!

I found it!

I got it!

Here you go.

♪♪♪

Here you go.

♪♪♪

What the fuck happened to it?

I don't know.

If I find out that you had something to do with this,

I'ma come back here and I'ma kill you myself.

♪♪♪

[man 1] Better get your ass outta here.

[man 2] How you help her out like that?

That's crazy.

Where'd you get this?

Oh, this dusty thing's been here.

Nah, they don't make 'em like this no more.

I first learned how to cook on one of these.

Oh, we really about to fuck some shit up now.

Perfect, let's make this late-night money.

What you mean late-night?

Well, look, Sonny closes the place at 10 p.m.,

and it's just sitting empty for nine hours.

You know, we need to take advantage of that.

So I did a lot of research, and apparently,

like, the after-hour joints

is the ones that's making all the money.

We can get them drunk-ass folks

making their way home from the club,

people working the night shift, and the church people

leaving the Tarry services.

It's an untapped market.

I ain't trying to work no graveyard shift.

I'm trying to sleep.

Look, I-I know a lot of my business ventures have failed.

Oh, I've heard.

But my mama didn't raise me to be no failure.

She raised me to be a king.

I know I done had a lot of trial and error,

but at least I'm out here trying.

I ain't trying to just feed my kids.

I'm trying to build a legacy.

This is bigger than me.

You done with your little self-help speech?

Yeah.

Okay, then.

Let's get this money.

[indistinct police radio chatter]

[sobbing]

♪ dramatic music ♪

♪♪♪

[muffled rap music playing]

♪♪♪

Um, is Kiesha here?

Hell no.

How I know you're telling the truth?

♪♪♪

♪ tense music ♪

Think that shit supposed to scare me?

It's scaring the fuck outta me.

- Shut up, Papa. - Hey, listen to your boy.

You better get the fuck on, shorty.

I ain't leaving without my sister.

♪♪♪

♪ somber jazz music ♪

♪♪♪

[typewriter clacking, bell dings]