Original subtitles

(HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)

MICHEL'LE: I grew up in South Central.

Gangs, guns, and hip-hop all waiting to explode.

Welcome to my neighborhood.

Dr. Dre, N.W.A.

Homeboy conquering heroes.

I'm proud of 'em. We all are. (PEOPLE CHEERING)

They're like icons who know how to do it.

Straight outta Compton and into the world.

Everybody keeps asking me,

"Girl, why you ain't in their movie? You was there.

"You was down with Ruthless Records right along with them boys."

That movie ain't about me.

That's them telling the story they want to tell.

History gets told by the winners.

I got my own history, my own story,

about a girl from the 'hood.

I am Michel'le.

(CHATTERING)

MICHEL'LE: It started when I was little.

The seeds of hip-hop.

Cops busting brothers for just being black.

Gangs replacing families.

Music trading smooth melody for hard-core rhythm tracks.

Hip-hop was waiting to explode.

(SIRENS BLARING) And even back then in Compton, the fuse was already lit.

WOMAN: Why did you lose your lunch box? Losing things, huh?

I can't afford that!

(ARGUING)

I grew up in South Central.

It seemed like somebody was always getting hit.

Keep trying to tell you...

Meme, when I get grown,

I ain't never going to let no man put his hands on me like that.

So you say.

When a man hits a woman, it's because,

well, his hands are working faster than his brain.

And a woman might be smarter,

but she's still going to get hit.

Never make a man want to hit you.

And if you do, then you fix it.

And you fix yourself fast, hear me?

MICHEL'LE: So many of the decisions you make in life

depend on what you was taught as a child.

As soon as I could fake looking 18,

I got a full-time job working at May Company.

* We're on the shores of nowhere

* Looking out to sea

* I turn and kiss your face and you laugh at me

* You laugh at me

* How do I feel when I feel like

* When I feel like saying

* Feel so good, so right

* To be with you tonight

* So good, so right

* To be with you tonight

* So good, so...

(GASPS) Alonzo Williams. Grandmaster Alonzo.

Uh, can I help you with something?

(SNICKERS)

Oh, you sure don't talk like you sing.

Uh, yeah, most people don't.

I came here for some socks.

What I really need is a singer.

Seriously.

My group, World Class Wreckin' Cru,

about to record in a few hours.

Girl singer dropped out. I need somebody fast I can get on the track.

You want to help me out?

(SCOFFS) I never made a record before.

Yeah, but you can sing. I heard that.

Oh, I don't know.

What? You got something better tonight?

(R&B MUSIC PLAYING) (SIGHS)

Come on, Alonzo. Where she at?

Man, I've been waiting two hours. This is fucked up, man.

Is she coming or not?

I'm going to call Teensy. No, man, wait.

Look, she coming. I told y'all she had to get off work first.

DRE: Where the hell she work, Mars?

(ALL LAUGHING)

Damn.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

DJ YELLA: I don't think Martians look like that, Dre.

Fellas, this is the voice we've been waiting for right here.

DRE: All right.

This is, uh... Michel'le.

Yeah.

What?

Oh, Michel'le. That's my name.

I'm so sorry. It took me forever to get here.

I couldn't find the place. (ALL LAUGHING)

I had to take three buses.

You kidding me. This bitch sound like Minnie Mouse.

You don't need to be calling me names, okay?

I'm here to sing, so if y'all want me to sing, cool.

But if not, screw it and screw you.

ALL: Ooh!

(CHUCKLING) Oh!

The mouse just told me to screw myself.

Ease up, man. Hey, let's give her a chance.

Here go the words right here.

It's called Before You Turn Out the Lights.

Dre, play the beat.

(R&B MUSIC PLAYING ON STEREO)

That's nice.

Yeah. You just feel your way in, okay?

You make the melody, you hear?

I think so.

DRE: Cool.

(DOOR OPENS)

Let me grab that.

Oh, thank you.

Put the cans on.

Uh, the what?

The cans, genius. (EAZY-E CHUCKLING)

DJ YELLA: Here we go.

Play the track, Dre.

(MUSIC STOPS)

(R&B MUSIC PLAYING)

DRE: Any time, squeaky.

You kidding?

* Before you turn off the lights

* Let's get one thing understood *

DJ YELLA: No way! Do you hear that?

* If you plan to make love to me

* You've got to do it good

* 'Cause I'm a hell of a woman

* And for me it takes a hell of a man

* So don't you dare turn off the lights

* Unless this you understand

ICE CUBE: That's a winner, I'm telling you.

EAZY-E: Where does she even get a voice like that?

Um...

Was that okay?

ALL: Hell, yeah!

That was good. DRE: Yeah, I liked that.

We're going to take it again, gonna do a little more with the last bit.

Okay, can you, please?

Sure. Just tell me what you want.

Hey, so... So, do you, like, sing for people a lot?

Me? Not really. I usually just sing for myself.

Um... Alonzo just so happened to come in my store today.

Alonzo, man, you are a genius.

ICE CUBE: Hey, nice find, bro.

Okay, what's your name?

Michel'le.

Michel'le. That's beautiful.

We're going to take it from the top.

MICHEL'LE: Bye, guys. DRE: That was cool.

MICHEL'LE: Thanks, you guys are awesome.

Listen, Michel'le, you did great.

You did really great. I wasn't expecting that.

Thank you. And thanks for having me. I had so much fun.

Thanks for coming. DRE: Michel'le.

I guess I was a little rude at first, huh?

Yeah, you were. But I'm over it. Good night, Andre.

No, it's just Dre. I mean, you're not walking home, right?

Bus, unless you offering a ride.

Hell, baby, this fool ain't got no car.

He got one, but the cops are holding it hostage.

Boy don't pay his tickets. EAZY-E: Never.

Hey, Dre, I need you to finish the track.

DRE: Alonzo, later.

Hey, listen, you know, I could drive you.

DRE: Yo, Michel'le, you hungry?

Let's roll.

* I know I was wrong

I used to sing when I was sad.

When folks around me was fighting, which was always.

(CHUCKLING) Yeah, I feel you.

Can I get some more syrup?

WAITRESS: Just a minute, baby.

It's like when I sing, nothing else matters.

Kind of just let the song fill me up

and take me away from here.

Yeah.

Away from today, tomorrow...

Here you are.

Thank you.

That's what it's like when I'm making music, you know?

I'm hearing it happening in my head,

it's like I'm in a trance, right?

I mean, it could be a fire, earthquake.

Hell, a goddamn blizzard,

and I still wouldn't turn away from what I'm seeing.

You know.

You know what I mean?

Music's all I got, Dre.

It's like my secret weapon to get me up and out of here.

You know what I mean?

Yeah, I do.

It was sweet.

You know, a sweet connection.

He really wasn't my type.

But at that age, I really didn't know what my type was.

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello?

Yeah, who is this?

Hold on.

Some boy. Wouldn't say his name.

Hello?

Oh, good morning, Dre.

Hello?

Hold on.

Hello?

Yeah, who is this?

MICHEL'LE: For the next three weeks, they called me every morning.

Hello? It was sweet.

First Dre would call, then Eazy, then Dre.

They were both trying hard to win my attention.

(LAUGHS)

(VACUUM CLEANER WHIRRING)

(MICHEL'LE SINGING "TURN OFF THE LIGHTS" ON RADIO)

Michel'le.

What?

Listen.

* Before you turn off the lights

That's you, Michel'le.

What? What are you talking about?

It's you singing. Who else sounds like that?

* If you plan to make love to me *

(CHUCKLING)

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God! I'm on the radio!

(CHUCKLING) I'm singing on the radio!

Well, how much you get paid for that?

Paid?

Girl, you do not have a head for business.

You need to tell them boys that keep phoning here,

they need to do better than call.

You need to get paid.

Okay, I'll ask.

(SNICKERS)

No, Alonzo.

Alonzo's supposed to pay you.

All that money? All that money goes straight to him.

World Class Wreckin' Cru, that's his outfit.

Tosses us a few bucks.

(CHUCKLES)

You know, and he keeps the lion's share.

I mean... Crazy.

Honestly, I'm just glad

for the experience, you know?

It doesn't seem fair, though,

that Alonzo gets everything.

No, that's about to change.

No, we starting our own crew. We ditching Alonzo.

Part of the dream, huh?

Yeah, I... I get it.

So, is this where you take all your dates?

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Only ones with killer voices

that I'm trying to get closer to.

Oh, trying? Well, you're pretty close right now.

Shit, I could get closer.

(LAUGHING)

Mmm?

* I may be young But not a fool

So you like it, right?

It's tasting better.

Yeah?

* I may be young But not a fool

* I may be young

* I may be young But not a fool

* I may be young

* I may be young But not a fool

* I may be young

* I may be young

(HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING)

Mmm-mmm.

Yeah, I like that.

DJ YELLA: I like that shit. EAZY-E: Yeah.

Dre... Yeah.

Mmm! Okay.

DRE: Whoo! Mmm!

Hey, Dre, man, I'm telling you, man, you need to double that.

What you know about music, fool?

Man, I know what I like.

Yeah, big butts. Yeah, big butts.

Man, shut up.

So I got the five basic food groups.

Hennessy, beer, Bacardi, rum, and chips.

DRE: Thank you.

Girl, you a food group all by yourself.

Eazy, shut up.

MICHEL'LE: We were like family. They were like my brothers.

Except for Dre, of course. (PHONE RINGING)

Come here. Hi.

Hey, Dre, it's for you, man.

It's, um...

It's Val.

What? Yeah.

ICE CUBE: Uh-oh!

Yeah.

What?

Please, man, let me hold your keys.

Um, Val, this girl I used to go with,

well, she's having a baby.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Man, shut up, man.

Man, shut up. EAZY-E: Oh, he mad at us now.

It's my baby.

Go take care of your business.

(ALL LAUGHING)

DRE: Yo, yo... EAZY-E: All right, pops.

ICE CUBE: Pops!

MICHEL'LE: Almost every guy I knew had a baby somewhere.

It was almost like a Compton rite of passage.

MEME: So your new boyfriend won't come inside, huh?

He's just tired, Meme.

He's been up all night working on tracks.

Sign says when a man sleeps in his car,

he got a woman pregnant somewhere.

Well, your signs are a little off, Meme,

because I'm definitely not pregnant,

and Dre's ex just had her baby a few weeks ago.

Signs don't lie.

MICHEL'LE: My grandma's signs were right.

After he just had Val's baby, he had another one.

MICHEL'LE: Boy or girl?

Twins, maybe?

Look, I messed up, all right? I should have told you.

I just wasn't thinking about it.

You really think that makes it better, Dre?

What do you want from me? The truth.

Was you sleeping with her the same time you been sleeping with me?

Hell, no.

Do the math, girl. It takes nine months to make a baby.

We only been together for five.

Look, we good.

Michel'le, we good.

Everybody else, that was before. Before you.

You're gonna take care of him, right?

I'll take care of all of them.

How many "all"?

Look, I... I had three.

It was just three. Then Val's baby, now this one.

So, five. You really got five kids.

Yeah. I think so.

"Think so."

Now who can't do the math?

Look, Michel'le,

I didn't take any of those girls seriously, okay?

But you, baby, it's different.

Right. I'm not pregnant, Dre.

Look, I'm trying to say something here.

Then say it, Dre.

Damn.

Hey, hey.

Come and live with me.

Let's do this together, you feel me?

Come on. We got something real here.

I can create with you and talk with you.

Maybe.

Baby, we going to fly.

And when I fly, you fly too.

We can make it out of these streets,

out of being broke,

and damn sure straight out of Compton.

(HIP HOP MUSIC BLARING) (CROWD CHEERS)

MICHEL'LE: Eazy rapped about stuffin' women.

So why was it funny? Because Eazy was funny.

We needed to laugh.

Yeah, I'm laughing.

Shit was funny.

But you had to be there to get it.

To feel it.

That beat was so raw, and the groove and the rage was so red

that if Eazy had said, "Slap yourself, bitch,"

you would have.

It was contagious.

N.W.A. was contagious.

* Yeah

I want you guys to see the big picture, okay?

Beyond here, beyond little clubs like this.

You guys could be playing in venues 50 times this size.

Hey, Michel'le, where's Dre at?

He needs to be hearing all this.

Um, he's over there. Who is that?

VAL: You didn't come through with the money yet, Dre!

That's, um... That's Val.

That's his baby mama.

Which one? (ALL LAUGHING)

I'll see my baby whenever I want.

You know what? I'm gone. You don't tell me.

Rap that.

Hey, man, Dre, get your ass over here, man.

Sit down.

DRE: Michel'le, let's go.

ICE CUBE: Hey, man, this is Jerry Heller I been trying to tell you about.

Why are we here? Where are we?

Dre!

Dre, why are we stopping here?

I got work in the morning.

Dre!

(BANGING)

Val, open up!

Hey, man, what the hell you want?

What you doing here, sucker?

(GRUNTS)

MICHEL'LE: Dre, stop!

DRE: Yeah.

MICHEL'LE: Dre, stop!

MICHEL'LE: Stop, Dre!

Dre, stop!

Why did you do that? Shut up!

Dre, if Val got a new boyfriend,

if you're over her, so what?

Shut the fuck up!

MICHEL'LE: I had never seen Dre like that.

DRE: Get in the car!

MICHEL'LE: Like, Dre was gone and some crazy hate took over.

MICHEL'LE: * I told you to go

* I want to be alone

* Alone

* I told you to go

* I just want to be alone

* Alone

* Alone

Mmm. * Yeah

Oh.

Hell, yeah.

* Go

(ALL WHOOP)

ICE CUBE: Man, she's killing, man.

That's smooth.

EAZY-E: Okay.

ICE CUBE: Hey, man.

EAZY-E: Yo! Yeah?

God damn, man, that working overtime.

Look at you.

ICE CUBE: That was smoking. Thank you.

You got some great ideas. Girl, you all over this album.

Thanks, man.

Yo, check this out.

(R&B MUSIC PLAYING)

MICHEL'LE: (ON RECORDING) * I told you to go

ICE CUBE: I like that. EAZY-E: Yeah, I like that.

* I want to be alone

* Alone

* I told you to go

EAZY-E: Lord. Oh, yeah.

* I just want to be alone

* Alone, alone

EAZY-E: Yeah.

* Yeah

Mmm! Mmm!

* Go

Oh, man.

I ain't never heard nothing like this before, man.

We breaking the mold.

Yeah, we making the mold.

I'm telling y'all, man, Ruthless Records is right on time.

'Cause we some ruthless motherfuckers.

(LAUGHING)

So I'm guessing that makes me N.W.A. now?

What, for doing what? Ho chatter? (CHUCKLING)

Any bitch can do that.

(DRE LAUGHING)

ALL: Ruthless!

Hey!

MICHEL'LE: When Jerry Heller started managing N.W.A., the whole world opened up.

The world is waiting, and it's buying tickets.

New home.

DJ YELLA: I don't love you that much.

EAZY-E: Small-ass toilet.

DJ YELLA: Look at this. ICE CUBE: What?

Got a bathroom.

Oh, man, got food on here.

All right, we got five cities in five days.

Okay?

You're going to be tired, hungry, grumpy, and smelly.

Guess what? I don't give a shit.

(ALL LAUGHING)

As long as you deliver on that stage,

I'll get you all the booze,

sleep and showers that you need.

Man, what about bitches?

What? Eazy, shut up!

That you're going to have to do on your own. Bitches ain't my job.

Let's roll.

(HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING)

Don't get up.

This affects Dre, so it affects you, too.

What's up, Jerry?

You're up.

Dre, I think that you have a prodigious talent.

It's a huge talent in a very small box.

The stuff you're doing with rap now,

that's amazing. All right?

But I think this is just the beginning.

I think there's no limit for you.

When we get back,

I want to show you and Michel'le the world you've been missing.

What do you mean?

You're going to have money now, honey.

Money opens up the world to people,

places, experiences that you've never had access to.

Cool.

White world's opening up.

You could be our official tour guide, J.

You know, Dre, you have a great woman right here.

You take care of her.

* Let me hear you say

MICHEL'LE: N.W.A. was blowing up.

Full of controversy.

They was like Elvis to us.

And there were lots of women.

It's raining pussy, yo!

Get on the bus!

Quick!

MICHEL'LE: Lots and lots of women.

Lots.

This was only the beginning of the craziness.

Being on tour might not be the best thing for your relationship.

(HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING)

MICHEL'LE: Sometimes in life, there's just too many titties.

Get your flabby ass up out of my seat and away from my man!

You'd better do what she says.

You don't even have the decency to put a goddamn towel down?

Ain't nobody want to sit on your butt-naked ass print.

I bet y'all think this is funny.

What if I decided to throw myself a party

and invite a bunch of male strippers

and just dudes from the 'hood

with their Johnsons all saluting the flag?

That's enough, that's enough. JERRY: Hey, Dre.

Look.

What the hell's Suge Knight doing here?

MICHEL'LE: I can't explain it,

but when I first met Suge Knight,

I felt this surge of pure evil fall over everything around him.

What's up? N.W.A. kicking ass.

Proud of y'all. What up?

SUGE: I'm making Compton get on the map.

You don't invite a thug, drug-dealing felon into your house.

Guy's a lowlife.

That's being judgmental, Jerry. Relax, man.

Y'all kicking ass, man.

Y'all got even Ken and Barbie rapping to this shit.

(DRE LAUGHING)

Hey!

Hi, Jerry.

Beautiful dress.

Thanks. You look gorgeous.

Oh. Give me a little twirl.

You like it? Yeah.

What happened to my girl from the 'hood?

DRE: Jerry, what's this?

You know, it's squid. It's delicious.

Squid? JERRY: Yeah.

Like octopus?

Fish eggs and octopussy.

I mean, white people eat some crazy shit.

(LAUGHING)

Look at us.

Life is good, right?

Yeah.

Yeah, it is.

You think it could be like this every day? You and me?

No.

Yeah, you're right.

Come here.

(HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING)

EAZY-E: Hey, man, if he wrote as much as he smoked,

we might have some records to work with.

That's funny...

How about you just come up with some shit since you not writing?

How about that?

EAZY-E: Hey, man. How about I'm paying for this?

How about this Jheri Curl?

ICE CUBE: All this shit you talking.

EAZY-E: Yeah, that's what I thought.

DRE: I see y'all playing, man.

We really need to think of something new.

ICE CUBE: We trying to.

DJ YELLA: Yeah, keep calling me Jheri Curl.

Hey, man, listen... What's up?

What's up, baby? DJ YELLA: Usual.

Eazy's mouthing off about his sex life.

EAZY-E: Man, you a jealous-ass man, you know that?

I'm jealous? EAZY-E: Oh... (SCOFFS)

DRE: I'm just trying to figure out what's next, you know what I'm saying?

ICE CUBE: Man, Dre over there being a misunderstood genius.

EAZY-E: Yup. We need something fresh. How about that?

DRE: Yo, yes we do. We need something.

ICE CUBE: Keep drinking, man.

How about you write something? Shut up, Cube!

Michel'le, let me ask you something. Hmm?

How would you like to make a record?

You know, like for real?

You.

If you want it, do it, baby.

(LAUGHING)

Oh, my God! Yes! I would love to!

Okay, cool. Let's see what you got.

What I got?

Bring me your material, and, uh,

you'll be Ruthless Records' first female artist.

(EXCLAIMS)

(ALL LAUGHING)

ICE CUBE: That'd be dope.

So does, like, that mean I can get some now?

DRE: Come on. Shut up!

(LAUGHING)

Where are you going? Where are you going?

Uh, I got to start writing.

Wait, wait, wait. Who's going to fetch us more dinner?

It looks to me like Peter Pan and the Lost Boys

got to find a new Wendy.

Where is she going? And who the hell is Wendy?

MICHEL'LE: I was so excited.

(EXHALES)

I had so many song pieces in my head.

But none of them came together.

Asleep? Mmm-hmm.

I'm hungry.

I left something for you in the oven.

Yeah.

(GRUNTS)

Yeah. Mmm!

(SNIFFING)

(SCOFFS)

MICHEL'LE: * You say you love me

* And I think that is true

* But every night my girlfriend tells me

* I should watch you

* Now I say I trust you

* But I want you to know

* I'm not a sucker

* Chill out, your nose is growing, Pinocchio

* So now I'm leaving

* And you know I tried...

EAZY-E: Dre, she gonna mess around and get bigger than you, man.

I mean, she damn sure got more talent.

(SCATTING)

* You say no more lies And I'll try to understand

* But there's a little exaggeration

* In almost every man

* Now I say I trust you

* But I want you to know

* Sounds like you're crying wolf, baby

* I think it's time for you to go...

She's busting your balls, bro.

EAZY-E: Damn.

* I tried

* You don't appreciate the time I take *

(MICHEL'LE SCATTING)

Yeah, jams in the club.

That's going to be a goddamn hit.

I say we release that as a single.

(SCATTING)

Hey.

(PHONE RINGING) MICHEL'LE: Hello?

(SIGHS)

Nice.

We got another genius, Dre.

EAZY-E: Slamming.

Beautiful job. Yeah?

EAZY-E: Word up, girl.

So, do you like it, Dre?

Mmm.

(PHONE RINGING)

(MUSIC STOPS)

Yeah.

All right.

I got to go.

Jerry, you drive her home.

Dre?

Hey, man, that's what I'm talking about.

Hey, good work tonight.

Am I missing something?

You know, uh, Dre's been drinking a lot more.

Is everything all right at home?

Things are what they are, Jerry.

Dre likes to drink and he likes to mess around.

You know that, right?

I'm sorry, Michel'le.

Once the fame hits, you know, they all do it.

(SNICKERS) Dre been drinking and messing around

long before he was famous.

I mean, it'd be nice if he stopped,

but I don't think he ever will.

Are you all right with that?

I'm making a record, Jerry.

Me.

Little squeaky-voiced Michel'le.

Life ain't perfect, but all dreams cost something, right?

(SIGHS)

(SNIFFLES)

Hi.

I was worried...

(GROANS)

(SOBBING)

(GRUNTING)

(SOBBING)

MICHEL'LE: Everyone said I should have left then.

Should have got out while I still had one eye working.

He was crying.

He was crying.

(SOBBING) But I couldn't leave Dre then.

I kept hearing Meme telling me how it was

in a man's nature to hurt the one he loved.

I was both terrified and grateful that Dre loved me.

Women been singing their pain

for as long as there's been music.

Women voices let the world know exactly what hurt them and why.

But in rap, the women stop singing.

And without their voices to anchor their truths,

the women were just bitches to be slapped

and/or ho's to be passed around.

Rap was about rage, not beauty.

Rap hated most women because it had to hurt somebody.

And it did.

You're late.

Let's get started.

(CLEARS THROAT)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(SIGHS)

(R&B MUSIC PLAYING)

DRE: We're waiting here.

* There's no reason why

* We should be apart

* Mmm-mmm

* No, baby

* 'Cause searching for something out there

* Will leave two lonely hearts

* We've come too far to let it all end

* I've told you over and over again

* How I feel inside

You stopping already?

I gave you this track a week ago. Where is it?

This ain't brain surgery. Sing the song.

(MUSIC STOPS)

What is it, it's almost cocktail hour?

Huh?

Yeah.

Sing the hook.

And you sing it like you feel it,

or I'll make you feel it when you get home.

Dre, the hook ain't working.

If it ain't working, fix it. You too stupid to do that?

Sing the song, stupid bitch. Now!

Dre, I can't... I can't work like this.

Look, you sing the hook.

You sing it like you feel it,

or I'm going to make you feel it when we get in the car.

DRE: Play the damn track.

(SOBBING) (DOOR CLOSES)

(R&B MUSIC PLAYING)

* We've come too far to let it all end

* I've told you over and over again

* How I feel inside, but if you go

* Baby, there's something you should know

* Something you should know

* There's something in my heart

* And it's got me hooked on you

* Uh-huh

* It's got me hooked on you

("NICETY" PLAYING)

MICHEL'LE: Hey, why do I have to wear this?

It's hot, and I can barely move in it.

Because it's the look I want for you. Enough.

You know I don't like you wearing a lot of makeup.

I need a weave, Dre.

Really, I'm going to start dancing,

and it's going to sweat my hair out.

At least send a stylist. I'm your stylist.

What the hell you know about it?

MICHEL'LE: Dre, come on!

Hey, hey. Give her what she wants. Calm down.

You talking to me, Jerry?

Look at me. I'm Dre. I ain't Eazy. You don't run me.

Man, I'm gonna run your head into a motherfucking wall,

if you keep holding up this production, man.

Let's go. We ain't got all day.

(BELL RINGING)

* To know, just ask me and I'll say I'm nicety

EAZY-E: Action!

* Oh, oh, oh, say I'm nicety

* Nicety

* It's got to be nicety

* Oh, oh, oh

Cut! Cut, cut.

Hold up, hold up. (MUSIC STOPS)

Is everything okay, Eaz?

That's what I'm about to ask you. You all right?

MICHEL'LE: It's this turtleneck and the jacket.

It was Dre's idea.

He wants me to look like somebody's dancing grandma.

Say what? Huh?

Bring your ass. Dre.

Dre... DRE: Shut the fuck up!

Who you talking to?

EAZY-E: Oh, man.

We got to do something. EAZY-E: That's messed up.

(DRE SLAPPING) (MICHEL'LE GRUNTS)

That's not right.

Where's Michel'le?

Dre?

DRE: She's fine, all right? Shit!

JERRY: All right, everyone. Take five.

Hey, I'm talking to you.

Get off me. What's wrong with you, man?

You ain't got to do her like that, man. She a sweet girl.

What's wrong with you, man?

What, you in charge here, huh?

No, you ain't.

Handle this shit, Jerry.

Look, you should seriously leave his ass.

How much more of this shit you got to take?

E, I'm fine. You don't got to deal with this.

I'm fine, E.

Jerry, take care of her, man.

MICHEL'LE: No, we can start. JERRY: He's right.

Look, I'm fine. Let's just go. Stay here.

Stay here. MICHEL'LE: I want to shoot my video.

JERRY: Michel'le. I'm good. Let's just start.

I'm ready.

Can somebody play the music, please?

(PHONE RINGING)

EAZY-E: Michel'le. Oh.

Hey, Eazy.

Listen, Dre's headed home. Full tank.

He's drunk as hell.

You really need to get the hell out of there. You hear me?

Michel'le?

All right. All right.

MICHEL'LE: I started to premedicate.

Booze, pills.

Never had to buy my own drugs.

If I got myself drunk, Dre's fist didn't hurt as much.

Why didn't I leave his two-fisted drunk ass?

That's what you're thinking, right?

Well, guess what?

I don't know.

(SHUDDERING)

MICHEL'LE: And I didn't understand love.

Not at all.

(ENGINE SPUTTERING)

DRE: Baby.

Come on.

(GRUNTING)

Please don't go.

Dre, no!

Please, please! Please don't go.

(VOICE FADING) Baby...

(INAUDIBLE)

MICHEL'LE: Was I weak? Was he strong?

I couldn't tell you.

I didn't know what love was.

(MICHEL'LE SCATTING)

Despite how things were with Dre, my career was taking off.

My album went gold.

And suddenly, I was blowing up everywhere.

(CROWD CHEERING)

(LAUGHING)

He's still at it?

It's gotten worse, Meme.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Baby, if you love him, you'll put up with it.

It's up to you how much you can take.

But just think of it as a job that pays you well.

JERRY: Hey!

Hey.

Look at you.

I'm proud of you. Thank you.

You hang in there. Mmm?

MICHEL'LE: Bye, Meme.

Oh! JERRY: Champagne.

You're too good to me.

You should feel very proud of yourself.

(CHUCKLING) What?

You sold 500,000 copies.

That's gold, Michel'le.

You... You are a superstar.

What do you want to do next?

Next? Mmm-hmm.

Jerry, I don't know. I'm just so happy.

This is... I always dreamed of this.

You know, me and Dre, we used to talk about...

Hey, hey, hey.

This is about you, not Dre.

Hmm?

Cheers.

You like to travel?

Uh, yeah.

Okay.

How would you like to open up for MC Hammer?

(CHUCKLING) What?

You want me to make a call right now? Tell him you said yes?

Well, I got to ask Dre first, obviously, you know?

Michel'le, really? Come on.

Jerry...

I cook for Dre.

How long would I be gone? I mean, I clean the house.

Dre's going to be on tour himself.

So who cares if he has to cook?

Michel'le, you need this time alone.

Body and soul, am I right?

MC HAMMER: * Can't touch this

MICHEL'LE: And off I went on my own.

It was wonderful.

The dancers, musicians.

For the first time, I had friends who loved what I loved.

I never worked harder in my life.

But I loved every minute of it.

Without Dre, I was living clean

and having the best time of my life.

(HUMMING)

It's 3:00 a.m. (GASPS)

Who are you fucking?

Dre, when the hell did you get here?

What you been doing?

Hmm?

Don't touch me, Dre.

A bunch of us went out to eat, okay?

What the hell you expect me to do, huh?

Eat alone?

(BREATH TREMBLING)

You gained some weight.

But you look good. (CHUCKLES)

Did not, Dre. Yeah, you have. Right here.

Right here.

Do you miss me?

Hmm?

MICHEL'LE: I can't have a baby, Jerry.

(SOBBING) I can barely keep myself sane.

Look, you have time, all right?

This doesn't need to happen. Nobody needs to know.

Dre finds out, Jerry, he'll kill me.

This isn't Dre's choice.

What's not Dre's choice?

Um...

I'm pregnant, Dre.

That's great.

I don't think that's great, Dre.

Not right now, you know?

Maybe in a few years,

but I can't have a baby right now, Dre.

I know excellent doctors, okay? They can perform...

Shut the fuck up, Jerry!

Are you talking about killing my child?

Leave now, Jerry.

Dre, Dre, come on, think about her career, all right?

She's just getting started.

Jerry, you should go. He's right.

This is between me and Dre.

I will not leave you here alone.

MICHEL'LE: (SOBBING) Please.

Now, Jerry.

JERRY: I'm right outside, Michel'le.

If you weren't pregnant with my child, I'd kick your ass.

MICHEL'LE: By the time the Hammer tour ended,

I was three-and-a-half months pregnant.

Dre was due back from his own tour,

so I came back home a couple of days early to put the house in order.

Hey.

(SHRIEKING)

Who are you? What are you doing in my house?

That girl is five inches and 45 pounds bigger than you.

You ought not to be bookin' with my baby on the way.

That bitch was in my bed.

I told you.

Stop lying.

Of course you were sleeping with her. You moved her in here.

It was just temporary.

Temporary? This ain't temporary.

This was actually your call.

You changing your mind?

Or you trying to tell me I'm about to be

another one of your five, six, seven...

Marry me.

What?

We might as well. Look at us.

Look at everything we've been through.

Will marrying me stop you from fooling around with other women?

I mean, we are who we are, right?

(CHUCKLES)

You know what I'm saying?

(CHUCKLES)

Hmm.

Come here.

Give me a kiss.

MICHEL'LE: Dre was right. We were who we were.

At least he was who he was.

I was still trying to figure out who I was to him.

To myself.

And to this new soul living inside me.

Come on. Come on, easy now.

Dre, be careful. Don't you make me drop my baby.

Now, you ain't dropping nobody.

(CHUCKLES)

All right, all right, all right.

Open your eyes.

(MARCEL GURGLING)

Come here. Come here, bud.

Yeah.

For once, Marcel, Mommy ain't got nothing to say.

MICHEL'LE: It was big, cold.

A token, not a home.

The truth was, I felt it was just his.

Yeah.

Jerry don't own me, man.

Stay and get screwed if you want to,

but I ain't no slave, Dre.

What about the group? ICE CUBE: What about the group?

Don't say that to me.

(MARCEL CRYING)

Take him out of here!

I had it, man.

We made Jerry and Eazy millions, and what have we got?

What have we got to show for it?

Yeah.

I'm done.

(MARCEL CONTINUES CRYING)

Didn't I tell you to shut that baby up?

You got so many kids you can't even remember Marcel's name?

Where's my fucking money, Jerry?

No, it ain't in no mail.

What?

I ain't had no motherfucking mail since I moved in here.

Mailbox? We don't have no mailbox.

Man, this ain't The Beverly Hillbillies.

You better give me my money. It's the last I'm gonna ask.

I ask you one more time, you know what I'm going to do.

You're rich, Jethro. Uh-huh.

You calling Jerry back?

Jerry who? (CHUCKLES)

(HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING)

Look at that Beamer with the bow.

Is that yours or is that mine?

It's my birthday present.

I know, I know.

Wow. My nigga gave me some flowers.

I think I'm going to kill him.

Happy birthday.

Your place off the chain, girl.

Oh, damn.

He's going to squash that munchkin Eazy like a bug. Mmm-mmm-mmm.

Man, last I checked, man, you were nothing but a bodyguard.

I don't like when he's around.

Yeah. Come on, we got to get this going.

EAZY-E: You think you some kind of player now, huh?

You take your head out of that dude's back pocket and take a look,

you'll see I'm telling the truth.

N.W.A. is being pimped, fellas.

What the hell you talking about?

Maybe you like being a bitch.

What the fuck you say to me? Eaz, man, chill.

Get his ass out of here, man.

Man, this is my house. What?

Hey, hey, hey.

MICHEL'LE: Hey, guys. Food's ready.

Is anybody hungry? DRE: What's up, baby?

If you cook anywhere as good as you sing, I'm in trouble.

(CHUCKLES)

Suge, meet my superstar, Michel'le.

Happy birthday, Michel'le.

Thank you, Suge.

Got a present for you.

That's for you.

Go ahead, open it.

Oh, my God. Put it on, Dre.

MICHEL'LE: It's beautiful.

Lovely.

You should put that on your next album cover.

See, I put money in my artists.

Not Jheri curls.

I got to get back to the grill. Thank you.

All right, baby.

Hmm. You got a winner.

It's a party, man.

Oh, shoot. Are you okay?

Holy sweet Lord, baby Jesus.

It's a present from Suge Knight.

For real?

Take this off me.

I don't want nothing about that gangster hanging around my neck.

Pfft.

Sure, you don't got to ask me twice.

Ooh!

Now, everybody, it's Michel'le's birthday party.

MICHEL'LE: I was standing on top of the world.

Or at the edge of a cliff.

It's all a matter of perspective.

Oh, my God, Dre!

Do you feel that?

(WHOOPING)

MICHEL'LE: Oh, my God!

Oh, my God. Now, come on. We got to get out.

I want to drive.

MAN: Nice ride, B.

Thank you.

You ought to get rid of that bitch you're riding with

and let a real man ride with you.

Say what? Dre, calm down.

They're drunk, we drunk. It don't mean nothing, baby.

Yo, Dre, you want to blow me?

Same reason why Cube left the group, right?

Because you always trying to screw him?

Dre, no. Stop.

What's up, nigga? What's up?

Yo, Eaz, man, we got to talk.

(SIGHS)

Yeah, meet me at the office in one hour.

Cool.

Punk boy.

MICHEL'LE: You headed out again?

Why don't you mind your own business?

Why you got a gun, Dre?

Because Suge said. You listen to Suge now?

You taking tips from a thug?

Well, that thug is getting our contracts back.

Is that why you meeting Eazy?

Ruthless Records, Eazy, Jerry. That's all history.

Now we rolling with Suge.

Eazy and Jerry are our friends, Dre.

What about N.W.A.?

Man, fuck N.W.A.!

Let Jerry and Eazy go jerk each other off.

Don't you think you should have talked to me about this, Dre?

That necklace, was that supposed to buy me?

What'd he buy you with, Dre?

Shut the fuck up! (GASPS)

(MARCEL CRYING)

Hey, come get this baby!

What kind of mother are you?

* La-dee-da 21-40, in between I reside *

MICHEL'LE: The Death Row crowd just had a different vibe.

* I control everything

* The secrets of mankind The one-world fling

* I'm a dragon

* Never gave the organization With closed caption

* Make it happen Watch them grown into assassins

* Red dust Where your ashes be *

It's like feeding time at the zoo I do not want to visit.

Well, I am doing everything over

in the ugliest fabric I can find.

I told the designer to make it thug-proof.

Ah. A couple of stainless steel benches will do just fine.

Prison cell chic.

(BOTH LAUGH)

Michel'le, your man wants a threesome.

Tell him he can screw himself twice.

Do you know why he likes you so much?

Because you keep his house clean.

TICHINA: Oh, no, she didn't.

Should I kill her? She'll stain your carpet.

Good point.

Look at that ho.

Excuse me?

Hey.

Folks want more chicken.

I look like Colonel Sanders to you?

Say what? (GASPS)

Oh, my God, Michel'le.

What you doing?

Yo, Dre, man, let's take this to the studio, man.

Yo! I'm going to say this once.

Everybody get the hell out of this man's house.

Get out!

Turn off the music.

I'll get my guy to clear your house, all right?

* Headed towards death in the Impala

* It's all for a G without a father

* Mama praying, hoping for the lottery

* Keeping hope alive Living out these prophecies

* Ain't nobody killing me

* Fifty others, but the blast on our enemies *

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I think we killed that one, y'all.

Lay that. Come on in.

* Go proud on my enemies

You know what I'm saying? Yeah.

Suge. Love you, homeboy.

Oh, my God.

Pac, that was amazing.

Think so?

What? You were just right in every pocket.

Shut the hell up, stupid.

This man don't want to hear your shit.

You sound like you want to suck him off.

Pac, I'm gonna lay it. I'll get at you later.

All right, my boy.

You want to suck me off? (LAUGHS)

That was amazing in there.

I'm just living my dream.

What about you?

Are you living your dream? Yeah.

Dre says we're gonna finish my album.

(SIGHS)

I feel like I'm locked in a cage.

And my dreams are just so far away from me.

If I can get my dream, as jacked up as I am, you can get yours.

Right?

Yeah.

MARCEL: Mommy, I'm hungry.

(CARTOON PLAYING ON TV)

(SNIFFS) Mmm.

(SIGHS)

MARCEL: Mommy!

You got to be kidding.

(MARCEL CRYING)

SUGE: (ON ANSWERING MACHINE) Suge Knight. Leave a message.

Suge, it's Michel'le.

Um...

Dre's been gone for two weeks.

I have no car, no keys, no cash.

And he didn't pay the light bill.

He let them turn our lights off.

Please, just...

Suge, if you could tell him that I need money.

Diapers, food.

The baby's out of his vitamins.

Please just... Just have him call me.

Damn it, Dre.

What are you making?

Hmm?

(BABBLING)

(CAR DOOR CLOSES)

Daddy.

(DOORBELL RINGING) It's Daddy, Marcel. Come on.

Let's go see Daddy.

Oh, my God.

Come in.

Thank you, Suge.

I mean, to think you came out of your house in this weather.

I got kids.

I know what it's like.

What's up, little man?

Hey.

It's raining.

I know it's raining.

It is raining.

And I want that thing. There you go.

Dre's a genius,

but he don't got no right to dog you the way he do.

Yeah.

I know.

Bye, little man.

(SIGHS)

We got to get you back in the studio.

What's up, baby?

The nice thing about prescription drugs is you don't feel nothing.

The terrible thing about prescription drugs is you don't feel nothing.

I was trapped. I didn't see Dre much.

Vicodin, Xanax, Ambien, Zoloft were my new best friends.

(HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING)

That night, I binged.

I drank, smoked, took pills.

What did it matter?

It's like I took a long overdue vacation from life.

From reality.

* You were getting teased And it scarred you when you were young

* Now you're getting older And you been on your grind

* Your paper off the scale So you feel like it's time

* So you got a nose job That's the primary thing

* People teased you as a kid And for some reason you hid

* Always into high fashion Girl, you heavy like lead

* Liposuction out your shell Like a chick in an egg

* Feeling confident But now you're becoming obsessed

* First your nose Then your weight

* Now your butt And your breasts

* It's a vanity fair Cosmetic overdose *

(LAUGHING)

So, you really Michel'le?

Um...

I am. (CHUCKLES)

You know, I was doing hard time a few years ago.

I used to hear you on the radio.

Your voice, your singing, kept me alive in there.

So, why you not singing no more?

Um...

You know...

I had a baby.

But I'm gonna sing again. I am.

I'm going to create a new album

with Death Row Records.

I'm going to do that.

(GUN FIRING) (PEOPLE CLAMORING)

Marcel! Marcel!

Marcel!

No. Marcel!

Marcel!

Marcel...

No, please!

Yo, T, T, T, T.

Not her, man. It's Michel'le, man. She's my friend.

(SOBBING)

Yo, come on, man. Let's go. Happy graduation, asshole!

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

(SOBBING)

Okay.

I got to go.

No, no. Michel'le, Michel'le.

(HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING)

Raise it up. Exactly. Raise up the tempo.

Cool.

SNOOP DOGG: * I run through your zone Like it's land I own

* Easy come, easy go Like cash I've blown

* I've shown in the fire The desire full grown... *

(SOBBING) I need money to go to rehab.

Look... I got to get better, Dre.

Go take some 7UP and some aspirin. That always works.

No, Dre.

MICHEL'LE: Dre, this is not a hangover.

(MUSIC STOPS)

I got to get clean. 'Cause I have to be over it.

I want Marcel to be safe.

Fuck what you want.

I want to be a family, Dre. Fuck what you want.

Look, I got an artist in the booth. All right?

Can't you see that? Why are you bringing me your shit?

I got to be with family, Dre.

Man, take five.

MICHEL'LE: (SOBBING) Dre!

Look... Please!

What is wrong with you?

You a mess. Man, get your shit together.

(SOBBING) Dre! Don't walk out on me!

Michel'le, if you're serious, I can get you into rehab.

They can fix you.

But it's going to take work.

You ready for that?

Yeah.

Yes.

You're going to leave now.

Don't tell or call anybody where you're going.

How's the little man?

He's safe.

Listen, I'm going to make sure he has everything he needs.

But you got to go.

Okay?

MICHEL'LE: And so, Suge Knight, the man I had been so afraid of,

turned out to be an angel in my life.

I always thought recovery meant

finding something you had lost.

For me, though, it was finding strength I never had.

Looking at myself, I didn't find a whole lot that made me happy.

(SOBBING) I'm sorry.

I started writing every day.

Lyrics, poems, apologies.

Road maps for a way into a new life.

I came back from the edge.

I got sober, clean, healthy.

(HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING)

MICHEL'LE: Hey.

(CHUCKLING) Hey.

Take five. Come here.

Hi. (LAUGHING)

Gosh, you look beautiful.

Thank you, Suge.

Really, I mean, you saved my life.

No, only you could've done that.

I just take care of my people.

Look who's healthy and strong.

What's up? What's going on?

What's going on? I'm awesome.

Suge. You heard my new track?

Man, you ain't never getting no airplay with that.

Suge, fuck airplay, man.

This is my truth, man. This is how I'm feeling.

I bet you if Dre was here, Dre would've been like...

Yo, Dre ain't here!

You want to talk about truth?

Truth is, I pay for your time.

You'd be nothing but a broke-ass,

unknown baby rapper if it wasn't for me.

So, fix the hook.

(SIGHS)

When you ready, we can start on your album.

I'm ready now.

Great. I got some songs for you I picked out.

Suge, you know I've always written my own songs.

That wasn't writing.

That was improvising off of Dre's half-assed tracks.

I'm talking about crossing over into,

like, pop stardom.

I'm talking about Janet Jackson, Whitney.

Come on. Okay.

I mean, whatever you say, Suge.

I really just can't believe how big he is.

Yeah.

Here you go, baby. Thanks, Meme.

Rehab was so good.

It really gave me time to just think about me,

and what I want, and what I need.

You know, what's best for Marcel.

Oh, Michel'le.

I think I've been teaching you the wrong things.

About men.

(SOBBING) Your life wasn't like mine.

It just wasn't.

Today's woman has got to stand up for herself.

Don't you ever

let that goddamn Dre hit you again.

I'm not going back to Dre, Meme.

Finally. Phew!

It's a damn shame that heifer gonna get all your stuff.

You didn't tell her?

Tell me what? Uh...

Dre got engaged soon after you left.

The wedding's this Thursday.

T, I don't care.

I've spent enough of my life talking about Dre, okay?

The best thing about Dre is right there, playing with them toys.

Is it okay if he just stays a little bit longer?

You know, just until I feel strong, Meme. I...

I really don't want to mess up again.

Of course he can.

Come here.

Thank you.

What do you want?

Wow!

Man...

You look amazing.

You got no business here, Dre.

We got a kid together.

And you still don't use Marcel's name.

I just want to talk.

You going to let me in or what?

Thank you.

Man...

This is real nice.

What you doing here, Dre?

You know, when you left, things changed.

I heard about your wedding. Congratulations.

I ain't talking about them changes.

It's Death Row.

Suge.

You know, he's trying to control me and break me down.

But I'm breaking loose.

I'm starting my own label.

Aftermath.

You know, Pac. He hates Suge.

He wants in with me. I want you to come, too.

We're gonna start your album... And what, Dre?

You know me better than anybody, Michel'le.

We've been through so much together.

Baby, we ain't got to end things now.

Okay?

Okay?

Get out, Dre.

(CHUCKLES)

Who you with?

Suge?

Not Suge!

Are you fucking Suge Knight?

Dre, get out, or I'm calling the police.

And this ain't Compton. They come real quick here.

(SIGHS)

You know, you making a mistake.

So this...

So, this is how we going to end this?

Go home to your wife, Dre.

MICHEL'LE: And he was gone.

And I was free.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

(SIGHS)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

(SIGHS)

You look beautiful.

(CHUCKLES)

And armed.

(LAUGHS)

Can I come in? Yeah.

Yeah.

(LAUGHING)

People ask me if I slept with Suge to punish Dre.

I didn't.

People ask me if I slept with Suge

to pay him for his kindness to me.

And that's not true either.

Suge was kind, at least in the beginning.

And kindness was new.

I slept with him because I wanted to.

I'm a big man with big appetites.

I already got a wife.

I don't need another one.

If you'd be my lady, a part of my city,

I'd make sure you'd want for nothing.

MICHEL'LE: Let's do the math here.

Dre offered great sex, brilliance, no respect,

chaos, violence, hidden baby mamas.

Whereas Suge offered kindness, generosity, limited sex,

job security, access to power,

and a chance at a dream I thought was dead.

So, hate me if you want to.

I said yes.

REPORTER: (ON TV) 25-year-old rapper was in the back seat of a black BMW,

part of an informal convoy of 10 cars,

when Las Vegas police say shots were fired from a passing white Cadillac.

MICHEL'LE: Turns out the same night Pac was shot,

(GAVEL THUDS) Suge violated his parole by getting into a fight.

Cops saw it all on video.

The judge gave Suge five years.

My name is Peter Fenkel.

I handle business matters for Suge Knight.

This is your security detail, ma'am.

Security? What?

No, this is my house.

I don't need no bunch of security running around...

This house belongs to Suge Knight.

Here are his rules.

MICHEL'LE: When most people go to jail,

their presence in the outside world gets weaker.

It was not that way with Suge.

Mr. Knight wants you to help

manage Death Row while he's indisposed.

Indisposed?

He's in jail, not on a toilet.

I want to talk to him.

He's not allowed visitations yet.

I'll let you know when it's time.

I don't like this.

Look, you'll be paid $30,000 a month

to follow his orders,

as delivered through me.

Thirty grand a month?

Sign here.

MICHEL'LE: I was not to make or attempt contact with Dre or Tichi.

Suge even restricted visits with my own grandmother.

For one year, I didn't see Suge.

I had plenty of money, nowhere to go,

and nothing to spend it on.

(GRUNTS)

You look beautiful, baby.

I missed you, girl.

You look really good, Suge.

I didn't notice you say you miss me.

Suge, it's just the detail you sent me, it's too much.

I just kind of feel like...

I just kind of feel like I'm...

What, a prisoner?

There's people out there that want me dead.

And the closest thing to get to me is to get to you.

But, look, the good news is,

you'll be able to visit every weekend

during the duration of my stay.

Suge...

I have my son on weekends.

I remind you, he's paying you $30,000 a month.

(GUARD CLEARS THROAT)

GUARD: Time's up.

(SIGHS)

SUGE: See you next weekend.

(HANDCUFFS CLICKING)

MICHEL'LE: On Thursdays, I went to jail.

It was like clockwork, week after week.

But, Marcel's seventh birthday was falling on the weekend.

I was determined to give him a party.

So, I decided to visit Suge a day early so I could get back in time.

GUARD: Visitor for Marion Knight.

What are you doing here?

This is my day.

Your day for what?

Don't try that. This has been my day for the past year.

Year?

Suge always said that he would take Dre's label and his bitch.

You ain't nothing but a trophy.

You don't get shit, do you?

Hey! What the hell? Are you kidding me?

I was here first.

Calm down, ma'am. This is not fair. I can escort myself.

You disobeyed me.

I got the things the way they are for a reason.

But you didn't ask me...

(WHISPERING) I'm sorry.

If you would have, I would have told you any days

but Thursday through Sundays were fine.

But you didn't ask me.

I can't do this anymore, Suge.

(SIGHS)

But you can keep your money. I'll move out.

Who do you love most, Michel'le?

Huh?

Is it your grandmother? Your little boy, Marcel?

Is it your friend Tichina?

I bet it's Marcel.

He played T-ball today, right?

4:00 p.m.?

Dre's son.

Great Dre's son.

Thursday through Sunday is completely fine, Suge.

I want to marry you, girl.

What?

But, Suge, you're already married.

It's been taken care of.

Taken care of?

Suge... Divorced.

Annulled, actually.

Well, I'm flattered, Suge, really.

But, I just don't think...

You don't have a choice.

I need you, and you owe me.

I can't run my business out there

without someone I can legally trust.

Okay. What about your Tuesday bitch?

She already married.

Look, we get married, and from then on,

we can meet every week at the cottage.

(BREATH TREMBLING)

Conjugal visits.

Mrs. Knight.

MICHEL'LE: The Good Ship Lollipop

had just become the Titanic.

MICHEL'LE: I was so excited.

Not for him, for me. Hey!

For his release meant my freedom, too.

(HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING)

I could have my life back.

This was his homecoming,

but it was my getting-out party.

Oh! Lights out. He's coming, he's coming.

ALL: Surprise!

(ALL APPLAUDING)

MAN: Baby, welcome home.

Who that? (ALL LAUGHING)

How much is this going to cost me?

Just have a drink. Welcome home.

All right, keep the music up. Hi.

SUGE: Out of my way!

Who's ripping off Death Row?

MICHEL'LE: After prison, Death Row had financial troubles.

Suge was not happy.

SUGE: I'm not going down like this!

Get my car.

What's this, motherfucker?

See that right there? Death Row. That's me. Suge Knight.

What the fuck you standing here for?

Get my car. Man, get my car!

So, Suge, you say you need product.

What about my album, Hang Tyme?

It's finished, and it hasn't been released.

You're going to bring that shit up?

Yeah, I was just waiting on the right time.

Fuck your album!

Talking about singing about

you in love with the wrong man?

You talking about Dre, aren't you?

You're hurting me.

Hurting?

You living on my dime, eating food that I paid for,

and you talking about loving about Dre? Huh?

Bitch!

Give us a minute.

(GROANING)

(WHISPERS) Listen, I told nothing to 'em.

We was playing football. You got hit with a pass,

hear me?

Football. You got hit with a football.

All right? MEDIC: Sir, we need to get going.

All right, don't tell 'em nothing else.

MICHEL'LE: Footballs don't leave ring prints.

Tell the police.

Take his ass back to jail.

What good will it do?

Suge in jail is just as powerful

as Suge out of jail.

Mmm-mmm-mmm. It ain't right.

If you don't leave, your ass gonna get killed.

No, I won't.

Why?

You got superpowers?

Huh? You hear me?

Suge loves kids.

What? Kids?

(CHUCKLING) No.

SUGE: What y'all girl talking about?

Oh, my God!

MICHEL'LE: I was pregnant.

That's what saved me.

My baby girl's name is Bailei.

And while I was trying to be the best mom I could be to her...

I'm going to court. Make sure you bring the baby.

I want the judge to know I'm a family man.

Six months.

MICHEL'LE: Suge was out thugging and getting arrested.

I saw my chance.

I took Bailei and moved back in with Grandma.

Then all hell broke loose.

OFFICER: Michel'le Knight,

you're wanted from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Go ahead and put that down. That's evidence.

(DIALING)

(LINE RINGING)

JUDGE: Are you aware that there are three houses

and 42 cars bought by Mr. Knight in your name?

I didn't know.

As Mr. Knight's wife, the court would hold you responsible for his debts.

Do you recognize these?

Um...

Yeah, it's the papers and stuff

Suge's lawyer told me to sign

when we were getting married.

Well, Miss Toussaint, these papers are bogus.

You were never legally married to Marion Knight.

He never divorced his wife.

(SIGHS)

(CHATTERING)

You son of a bitch.

You're back.

Bitches always come back.

You weak, selfish, lying thug.

Bet y'all didn't know big, bad Suge

needed to hide behind a woman's titties.

What the hell you talking about?

It's all fake.

Fake artists, fake papers, fake deals.

Fake marriage.

None of it was real.

I got a baby on you, bitch.

Bailei's real.

Bailei exists 'cause God was trying to get my attention.

Trying to get me to look at my own damn, pitiful life.

You ungrateful, stupid bitch.

I gave you everything.

You gave me hell dressed up in dollar bills.

I'm gonna crush you.

No, you won't.

'Cause I won't let you.

They coming for you, Marion.

And when they do, I'm telling them every damn thing I know.

You know what happens

when people threaten me, right?

(GUN COCKING)

You want to shoot me?

'Cause it's going to take more than some bullets

to keep the truth from grabbing your ass.

I'm not scared of you, Suge Knight.

It's your turn to be scared.

Baby, you deserve so much better

than this world of rap and rage.

This is not for you.

You and your brother Marcel deserve so much better.

Don't you ever let anybody hit you.

No matter what, okay?

And don't you ever, ever trade your freedom

for security or power.

You got to own yourself, Bailei.

Baby, you got to own yourself.

MICHEL'LE: I grew up. Had to.

My life became my kids.

I had children to raise, to protect.

Legal fines to pay, homework to check, and rent to dig up.

I had to start over.

And this time, I had to do it on my own and get it right.

* There were times

* I remember

* Had to fight

* Just to hold my head up

* Those times when even my friends tried

* To make a fool of me

* There were things that my heart attacked

* That they just couldn't see

* Some said I was hopeless

* Mind tangled in the night

* Strong hearts Just keep on going

* And that is why I'm still standing here today

* If you're lost

* In your troubles

* And the world

* Just seems to forget you

* If you remember sunshine

* Even on your darkest day

* Just follow what your heart says

* And you will find the way

* Some said that I was hopeless

* A mind tangled in the night

* Strong hearts Just keep on going

* That is why

* I'm still standing here today

* Come together

* Raise up your voices

* This time my song of love and life

* It won't go away

* I'll sing forever

* Here in the sunshine

* I've lived to see the sun break through the storm

* And I'm so glad I'm standing here today

* I'm standing

* I'm standing

* And I'm so glad

* I'm still standing here today *

I'm so glad I'm standing here today.