All language subtitles for Player (2023).srt - eng(2)

(logo thudding, whooshing)

(metal clanging)

(electronic flourish)

(gentle ethereal music)

(gentle music continues)

(footsteps patter)

(gentle music fades)

- It's, it's complicated.

I'm sorry.

I just found out some shit
that kind of changes everything.

But things aren't always just A to B.

(music cuts)

♪ Oh time is trouble ♪

♪ And distance is hard ♪

♪ Was I wrong to think that ♪

(music fades into distance)

(people chattering in background)

(plates clinking in distance)

(door bell jingles)

(restaurant ambiance continues)

- You're late.

- I'm always late.

- That wouldn't kill you

to consider someone else's time for one?

- I miss you too, Shawnee.

- Don't try to sweet talk me.

Look, Robbie, I'm really concerned about you.

You're my baby brother and you know that I love you,

but you gotta get your shit together.

You gotta start making some better decisions.

- Better decisions?

- You do know I have ears, right?

You're out here slinging dick
like it's MTV's Spring Break.

You're leaving yourself uncovered.

And you do know that Satan

identifies his prey by their desires.

- Shawnee, please, with the Bible study.

- All this chasing the bag, fast cars, loose women.

It's weakness.

All you're doing is leaving yourself open

to be used and controlled.

- Is this what you brought me here for?

- Yes. - This is what

all the bad dreams were about?

- Yes, it is.

- Since you know my entire life,

people have been trying to tell me how to live my life,

trying to mold me to the
measure of a definition of a man,

how to treat a woman, what happiness looks like.

You know all the shit that sounds good on paper,

but how many people have you met that are truly happy?

That was a question.

How many?

How many, how many ballers or postgraduates

with great jobs have you met

that are happy, content with life?

I'm trying to live my life for me for once so I can come

here for no devotion.

Is there anything else?

- No, that's it.

- You know, for once it would be nice

just to come and eat with my big sister.

Okay?

(door clicks open) (people chattering)

(restaurant ambiance continues)

(pensive music)

(pensive music continues)

(pensive music continues)

- Hello?

Yes, sweetheart. I'm still awake.

Yeah, I'm getting ready right now.

All right. I'm excited to see you, too.

(pensive music continues)

(pensive music continues)

- [Answering Machine] Your call has been forwarded

to an automatic voice message system.

(gunshot fires) (suspenseful music)

(keys jingling)

(door clicks open) (door slams)

(suspenseful music settles)

- [Robbie] No, no! (Robbie screaming and crying)

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music concludes)

- Ladies and gentlemen of the jury.

I assure you that by the end of this trial,

I will prove beyond a reasonable
doubt that our defendant,

Mr. Robert Player, not only
murdered his then girlfriend,

Shantell Harris and their unborn child,

but did so purposely and with planned accuracy.

Okay, thank you.

(gentle dramatic music)

- Your Honor.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the jury.

Had we all been here for
the purpose of entertainment,

I'd have to concede that my
colleague did a very fine job

at his character descriptions,

especially when it pertains
to my client and the deceased.

The problem with his opening
statement is that while fiction

can be fun,

no one in this courtroom is here to be entertained.

Contrarily,

this case is about a real
life tragedy involving people,

one of whom, Shantell
Harris, struggled with real life

mental issues,

issues that unfortunately
drove her to commit suicide.

Now, when it comes to my client,

I'll be the first to say that everything that I've come

to learn about his lifestyle

and upbringing is quite unorthodox.

But there's nothing,

absolutely nothing that
points the finger to him being

guilty of this horrendous crime.

Nothing.

I also wanted to let you
know that I've had the pleasure

to get to know and like Bobby,

as well as his family.

And quite a unique family they are,

consisting of nine women,

once led by an amazing, strong, and loving matriarch,

Mama Dot.

Now knowing them,

I can tell you that Bobby was raised in one of the most

loving and humblest
environments I've ever come across.

And by the end of this trial,

you will see that as well
and realize that there's no way

this young gentleman could
have committed the crime

that he's being charged with.

Now, I thank you in advance

for your time and service throughout this trial.

I look forward to dismantling

all of the prosecution's evidence

so that you could drive one
message and deliver one verdict.

Not guilty.

Thank you.

- [Robbie] At 15 years old,

I was the youngest

sitting at my grandmother's dining room table.

(gentle music)

(gentle music continues)

(faint indistinct chattering)

(family laughs and chatters)

Mama Dot.

I just started by saying she was the best woman

I ever known,

and it wasn't a secret to any of my aunts or my sisters

or even my mama that I was Mama Dot's favorite.

(tapping on cup)

- Before we bless the food, I'd like to say a few things.

First of all, this food looks really good.

- Yes. - But I won't take too long,

but I just,

I never imagined in my life
that I would have my entire

family living under the same roof.

Oh my God, what a blessing.

But the good Lord knows that all y'all being here

can be a bit overwhelming and stressful,

but I wouldn't have it any other way.

- Listen to Mama,

talking like she ain't the one causing all the stress

in this house.

- Oh, wait a minute. Wait a minute.

- Yeah. - Wait a minute, little girl.

I know you're the oldest,

but I can still get you going right on out there

to that tree outside. - Okay.

- Pick the switch that I'm going to tan your butt with.

- Yes, ma'am. - Don't play with me.

Hey baby, pass me them green beans please.

- It was always like this in our house.

Sorry, Mama Dot's house.

(gentle music)

- Ooh, baby.

If I'd have known you were this good at doing yard work,

I would've put you to work years ago.

- Thanks, Mama Dot.

- You're welcome.

Now, you can just leave all of those trash bags

where they are because the garbage truck,

they won't be here for a couple of days and we'll,

we'll water the grass tomorrow.

- But you always tell me why wait 'til tomorrow

for what you can do today.

- Well, that's true.

That's what I told you.

So I need for you to just run
on upstairs and wash up and go

spend some time at the park to kind of be around

kids your own age.

You know what I mean?

I mean, don't, don't get me wrong.

We love you,

but I just don't think you
should be just cooped up all day

with all these women all day long.

- Okay, Mama Dot.

- Love you, baby.

- I always understood Mama Dot's concerns.

I grew up in a house full of women,

so naturally they gave me the
game of how to treat women.

Each of my aunts and my sisters
would teach me something new

and they always came back to the same thing.

Be a man, take care of a woman,

don't let them take care of you.

And I appreciated the lessons they taught me,

but these were the same women who would not let me

make a bed, wash a dish, or cook my own meals.

- [Lawyer] Sir, can you please state your name

and occupation for the court?

- Certainly. My name is Dr. Jonathan C McCollum.

I'm Chief Medical Examiner for the State.

- And how long have you held this title?

- About 13 years.

- Objection.

Relevance.

- Your Honor,

I'm just giving the good doctor the opportunity

to demonstrate that he is
indeed quite capable of presenting

testimony in court today.

- Overruled. Counselor, get to the point.

- Gladly.

Thank you, your Honor.

Dr. McCollum,

your report states that the
cause of death was a gunshot

wound to the right temple, correct?

- That is correct, sir.

- And in reading your testimony,

you described the numerous amounts of tattoos

covering the victim's body,

but you honed in on one in particular.

Can you share with the court what that was?

- Yes. Again, it was one I observed on the lower waist.

Which read "Only a true player can have all this."

- And then you implied that because

the victim had this tattoo,

that my client had some
sort of control over the victim.

- Well, in addition to that particular tattoo,

this meaning in other tattoos found

in other parts of the deceased body,

quite frankly gives a clear
indication that Ms. Harris

was either easily manipulated,

convinced that she was in love, or in my opinion,

was involved with a very manipulative

and controlling individual.

- Hmm.

Manipulative and controlling.

Doctor, I'm sure over the course of the years

you've had many cases

where you've provided testimony.

Hundreds, I would say. Correct?

- More than I can count actually.

- Right. I'm sure.

And in how many of those cases did you testify

as a qualified psychologist?

- Excuse me?

- I'm sorry, doctor,

you may not have have understood my question.

Allow me to rephrase.

When and where did you earn
your degree to discuss someone's

mental state?

Your Honor, the witness is dismissed.

- [Robbie] Only a true player can have all of this.

I remember that shit like it was yesterday.

♪ Another serving of you ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ Got me like ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ 'cause you're a whole ass meal ♪

♪ I just wanna eat you ♪

♪ I know you're made with love ♪

♪ You're a hot ass meal ♪

♪ I just wanna, tonight I wanna ♪

♪ Serving of you, ooh ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ Can I get a serving of you, you ♪

(music fades)

- Yeah. - Okay.

- You ain't half bad.

♪ You're so in love ♪

(faint music in background)

♪ Something so delicious, warm as you ♪

- Shantell was a wild one.

She was crazy,

but like in a good way.

Whatever it was, I liked that shit.

We were like Bobby and
Whitney right after the first toke.

Yeah. Pleasantly unpredictable.

Shawnee hated it, though.

- Shantell and I used to be best friends.

We ran high school.

Every boy that looked in our direction,

kept it on (indistinct).

- Shawnee? - Hmm?

- Do I really need to be hearing this right now?

- I wasn't sleeping around, Robbie.

I really wasn't giving it up at all.

Shantell was the one racking up numbers.

I actually figured out how
to get what I wanted without

having to open my legs.

- Okay. All right.

Other than ruining my childhood,

is there a point to this story?

- Oh my gosh. Okay.

The point is, Shantell and I used to be best friends

until I met Alonzo.

Oh, and Alonzo was fine as shit.

Oh. And I fell so hard for him.

And I remember I told her
about him and she said she was

happy for me.

Then she slept with him.

- Oh shit, that's trash.

- Yeah.

What makes it even more trash is that

after she slept with him,

just to make sure I never got with him,

she accused him of raping her to make sure

that I'd never get with him.

Robbie, you can't trust her.

Okay?

Shantell is only gonna hurt you.

- And Shantell was a cop.

And that made the fact that she was crazy

both scary and exciting.

Her salary wasn't shit.

I could bet my eyes that some of my other women

would make more money in a
day than she would in two months,

but that's how I knew there was something real there.

I mean, some of the other women in the city,

they would try to get me hang up my cleats and yeah,

Shawnee would tell me about all the lies

and shady shit that Shantell did.

But I figured I was me.

And the only thing we ever really argued about

was that damn tattoo.

(gentle music)

I'm a true player, huh?

- So you saw it.

- How could I not?

- What do you think?

- I mean.

- I asked what did you think?

- Can I get a second?

- Why do you need a second to think?

- Why does it even matter what I think?

- Are you fucking kidding me right now?

(Robbie scoffs)

(gentle music)

- Counselor,

I've been lenient allowing you to stall for this long.

Call your next witness or
you won't like what comes next.

- State apologizes, your Honor.

We're ready.

We would like to call Miss
Shanetta Harris to the stand.

(dramatic music)

- Ma'am, could you please state your full name

for the record, please?

- Shanetta Harris.

- And what's your relation to the victim?

- I'm her twin sister.

- Thank you.

And do you recognize the defendant in this case?

- I don't. I never talked to Robert.

I just know what she would tell me.

- And how often would you all speak about Mr. Blair?

- Often.

Almost every week until, until he murdered her.

- Objection. Speculation, your Honor.

- DA Huffman. - Honor.

I didn't say it. She did.

I never got a chance to meet Shantell,

but I know if she was anything like you

that she was a lovely woman.

- Objection, your Honor.

Seriously?

- This is a capitol murder trial.

Not some Friday night on Hinge.

Tighten it up or I'll throw this trial out.

- Just trying to lighten the mood, your Honor.

- Stop trying and move along.

- Can you, take your time,

can you tell the jury about
some of the conversations

that you and Shantell had over the years

about her relationship with Mr. Blair?

- She would just call me crying,

talking about how arrogant and narcissistic he was,

and just venting about all the
things she had to go through

because of him.

- Those, those conversations.

If you don't mind, would you,

would you elaborate a little bit more on those?

- One time she called me completely broken, crying,

because he decided to take her on a date

and all he could do the whole time

was flirt with the waitress.

(gentle music)

(indistinct chatter)

- Baby, you know I've been wanting

to come here for the longest.

- You know, anything for you baby.

I mean, you too fine not to get what you want.

- Thank you, baby.

You know, you're quite handsome yourself.

- So I've been told.

(no speech) (restaurant ambiance)

- Hey y'all. My name is Bianca.

I'll be taking care of you guys today.

What can I get started for y'all?

- I think I'll start with a Pinot Grigio.

- I'm gonna get an old fashioned with Japanese whiskey.

- Hmm. Japanese whiskey, a man with taste.

I'll go ahead and get these started for you guys

and I'll be back with some water, okay?

- Thank you.

See anything you like?

- I just lost my appetite.

I'm, I think I'm ready to go home.

I'm not feeling the vibes here.

- Really?

- Really. Can we go?

- Okay. Just let me use the bathroom first.

(restaurant ambiance continues)

- Girl, I meant to tell you, you are killing that dress.

You two make a very beautiful couple.

- Thank you.

- And your boyfriend.

He's one of the very few to order Japanese whiskey.

It really impressed the bartender.

- And what makes you think he's not my husband?

- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you.

It's just I didn't notice a
ring on either of your fingers.

(restaurant ambiance continues, fades)

(gentle dramatic music)

- So you think I'm fucking the waitress.

- A man of great taste like yourself. Of course you are.

- I mean, are you listening to yourself?

- So I'm crazy.

Bitches just be winking at you all the time.

And that's normal?

- Actually. Yes, yes it is.

- Fuck you, Robert.

- Come on, Shantell.

That was a joke. All this is a joke.

You can't be serious right now.

- Oh. So I'm a joke now.

I'm a joke. And you're fucking the waitresses at Nobu.

- Oh, so this is more than about Bianca?

- Bianca?

- Yes. Shantell.

Her name is Bianca. She introduced herself.

- Why do you think this is funny right now?

I ought to come over there and beat your ass.

- Don't tempt me with a good time.

- Oh, beating your ass is a good time.

- No,

but I stopped listening when you said

you was coming over here.

- You're an asshole.

- Yeah, but I'm your asshole.

Now there's the reason why I put on that fly ass suit

and I took you to Nobu.

- Hmm. Flirt with the waitress.

- No, it was not to flirt with the waitress,

but to ask you to move in with me.

- What'd you just say?

- No, you heard me, officer Harris, you moving in or not?

- I guess I could do that.

Okay, but under a couple conditions.

- Name it.

- One,

I'm keeping my apartment
because I don't wanna bother you

when I get off work late.

And the second one's obvious.

I need to be able to get away when you get

on my God damn nerves.

Deal? - Okay, deal.

I mean, it wasn't all bad.

- Your Honor.

The defense would like to call

Miss Shanetta Harris back to the stand.

Ms. Harris, during your testimony yesterday,

you alluded to my client as
being arrogant, manipulative,

and narcissistic, but you never
actually met him, have you?

Nor were you ever present when he and your sister

were ever together, isn't that right?

- Yes, that's correct.

- And having said that,

do you have any evidence or a single incident

in which my client physically
put his hands on your sister?

A simple yes or no would suffice, Ms. Harris.

- No, but emotional abuse... Thank you, Miss Harris.

- Just as bad as physical.

- Your Honor, permission to
treat the witness as hostile.

- Granted.

- Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury.

We have another behavioral
scientist in the courtroom today.

Ms. Harris,

please enlighten us as to where and when

you earned your degree

to discuss someone's mental capacity competently?

- I'm educated as a result of dealing

with Black men who tend to take their anger out

on their women and children.

- And I'm very sorry to hear that, Ms. Harris,

but are you saying you have
no evidence that my client

was abusive towards your sister?

Your Honor.

- Please answer the question.

- That doesn't mean he didn't kill her.

- Your Honor.

I would like for her last statement

to be stricken from the record

and for the jury to be instructed to disregard.

- So noted.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

please disregard Mrs. Harris's previous statement,

and please strike this statement from the record.

- Thank you, your Honor.

One last question, Ms. Harris.

From your knowledge,

did your sister ever call 911

to physically remove my client

from the apartment that they once shared?

I mean, I'm sure there are hundreds of cases

where victims of mental and emotional abuse

want their abusers removed from their home.

Better yet, Ms. Harris,

out of caring concern for your sister,

did you ever call 911?

- Why on earth what I call 911
when Shantell was the police?

You think she wanted her coworkers in her business?

- I see. Thank you, Ms. Harris.

No further questions, your Honor.

- I never understood what a tossup relationship was

until I started living with Shantell.

Things were just off more times than not.

Yeah, I'm not trying to make excuse for, you know,

stepping out or entertaining other women,

but had I not and I had been there more-

Yo, we gotta-

- Ms. Thomas.

Do you know our defendant, Robert Blair?

- I do.

In fact, I know Robert very well.

- And you care to let us all know

how you know the defendant.

- I own about four health
food stores throughout the city.

I was doing some work at one of the locations

when Robert walked in.

Initially, we struck up a conversation

about various vitamins and sources of protein

before the conversation got a bit more personal.

- And did you and the defendant
enter into a relationship?

- Oh, no.

Robert made it very clear
from the beginning that he wasn't

interested in a relationship, which I respected.

Our time together was more
of a mutually beneficial one.

- Hmm.

Is it safe to say by mutually beneficial,

you're talking about sex?

- What I'm referring to is pleasure,

but if you prefer I use the term sex, then yes,

that's what I'm referring to.

- Okay.

So we've established that you
guys had a mutually beneficial

relationship that included sex.

And what else did this relationship consist of?

- Answer the question, Ms. Thomas.

- Well, I gave Robert my attention, advice, gifts,

and hopefully the same sexual
gratification he gave to me.

- What about money? (gentle dramatic music)

Did you give Robert money?

- Robert never asked me for money, but in the past, yes.

I'm sure I've given him money.

- Objection, relevance, your Honor.

- Your honor, I'm going to show him my closing

that the defendant valued a certain lifestyle.

So much so that he was not ready or willing

to share the fruits of that lifestyle

with a woman who not only
was struggling to make ends meet

on a police officer's salary,

but a woman who was carrying his own child.

- Sustained.

- Let me take you back, Ms. Thomas

to May 3rd of last year.

Do you recall being at the defendant's condo

when Ms. Shantell Harris showed up unannounced?

- Yes, I do recall the incident.

- Incident.

Can you elaborate on the incident as you put it?

- Absolutely.

I wanna say it was maybe 20 minutes after Robert and I

got back to his place,

I went into the bedroom to slip

into something more comfortable.

And that's when I heard the arguing coming

from the other room.

- Oh, okay.

And could you hear what they were arguing about?

- I could.

Robert was trying to get her to leave,

but Shantell wouldn't step out the doorway.

(gentle dramatic music)

I think it was when she saw
me standing in the living room,

that's when she got really angry.

(dramatic music continues)

- So what happened next?

- Well, first she had some choice words for me,

and I guess she thought I was gonna be scared of her

because she was a cop, but I don't scare easily.

And it wasn't long before
Robert stepped in and told her

she needed to calm down.

- Now Ms. Thomas, with all that bad energy going around,

why didn't you just leave?

- I didn't want to.

- Fair enough.

So how did this incident end?

- After a few more minutes,

Robert finally got her calm
and after she said her peace,

he pushed her out the door and closed it.

- Pushed her.

So you witnessed the defendant

be physical with Ms. Shantell Harris.

- If that's what you wanna call it.

To me, he was just moving her out the way.

- Did the defendant ever tell you that Ms. Shantell

was pregnant or claiming
to be pregnant with his child?

- No, he didn't.

- So Robert Player never divulged, better yet,

never cared to divulge to
you that the woman in his life

was carrying his child.

Better yet, he just pushed her right on out the door

and then came back

and had sexual activity,
sexual gratification with you.

(gentle dramatic music continues)

I have no more questions for Ms. Thomas.

- Your witness, Counselor.

- No questions at this time, your Honor.

- Your Honor, you'd like to call Ms. Simone Pearson

to the stand.

(gentle music)

Ms. Pearson.

How are you doing today?

- I've had better days, but I'm alright.

- Okay. Let's talk about it.

How'd you sleep last night? - Objection, your Honor.

When did the DA get his own talk show?

- I'm merely inquiring about
the witness's state of mind.

Obviously she has a lot of her mind.

- Get on with it.

- Gladly.

Ms. Pearson,

can you please let us all know
how you know the defendant,

Mr. Robert Player?

- Sure.

He ruined my life.

You're a fucking joke, Robert.

You're a fucking joke.

- Yo. Who's this show for?

- What?

- All the crying and huffing and puffing.

I mean, what are you getting out of all of this?

- Are you fucking kidding me?

I broke up with my girlfriend for you.

Do you understand that?

- I didn't ask you to do that. - I left her for you.

- Okay.

I didn't tell you to do that. Okay?

- Oh my God, I'm a fucking idiot.

No, no, you, you told me you loved me.

We were supposed to start a family!

You told me we would.

We would start a family!

(speaking in foreign language)

Do you hear me?

You are a Puto!

Get the fuck out, Robert! - Hey, wait, wait.

- Get the fuck out.

(screaming and scrambling)

Get out of the fucking car! (door slams)

Fuck off, fuck off. (weeping)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues) (engine revs)

(dramatic music continues)

- And it seems like everything
took a turn for the worse

after that.

- I gave him everything,
promised us this beautiful life,

you know, family.

And, one day it just changed,

and I didn't know why, but it just changed.

- And were you able to cope with essentially

the rug being pulled from underneath you?

- I thought I could, you know.

But it was just hurting so bad.

You don't even know.

It just kept hurting and hurting and,

I couldn't do it.

I wanted it all to end.

- And you attempted to take your own life?

- Yes.

- So, what I'm hearing is that the manipulative ways

of the defendant not only caused you

to lose a loving relationship,

but also almost lose your own life.

(dramatic music continues)

- I hate you. (weeping)

- I have no more questions, your Honor.

- Your witness, Counselor.

- We have no further questions at this time, your Honor.

- Your Honor, the state would like to call

Ms. Vivian Starr to the witness stand.

(footsteps patter)

Mrs. Starr, I love the broach.

Can you please inform the courtroom

how you know our defendant?

- Robert and I met at a nightclub called-

- The Spotlight.

Now Vivian, she was bad.

She was outta my league,

but I wasn't gonna let her or her friends know that.

Vivian, she was married,

but I was still gonna shoot my shot.

And you know me, I'm Steph Curry out here.

(sensual music) (indistinct singing)

(people chattering)

(indistinct singing continues)

- [Robbie] Vivian's husband. He was a tech tycoon.

He started something or invented something,

I don't know.

But Vivian, she was paid,

like some Elon shit paid,

and we kicked it for about eight months.

Then she started talking about
leaving her husband for me,

and I had to land that plane.

And we had some fun times though with Viv.

And we made a lot of money together.

- I'm so glad you could make it.

You remember the ladies, right?

- Of course I do.

Pleasure to see you all again, ladies.

So Vivian, you sounded excited on the phone.

What's a big surprise?

What.

(indistinct singing continues)

- My dear Robert, I told you if you stuck with me,

I would make you rich one of these days.

- I remember you screaming
and saying a lot of other things.

- Well be that as it may,

I'm a woman of my word.

Your ticket came in.

That investment paid off.

(people chattering)

- How many zeros is this?

- Seven. And that's just the beginning.

You follow my lead and who knows what's next?

- I guess dinner's on me tonight?

Can we get some champagne over here?

(sensual music resumes) (indistinct singing)

(ominous, eerie music)

(eerie music continues)

(ominous music)

(ominous music continues)

(ominous music continues)

(ominous music fades)

- Ms. Harris,

thank you for making the time to come back today.

- What choice did I have?

- You always have a choice. Ms. Harris.

Please describe your
relationship with your sister

for the court.

- We were sisters,

so we had an ordinary sister relationship.

- Ordinary sister relationship.

- Yes. - You sure about that?

Because Shawnee Player testified yesterday

that your relationship was
quite different than ordinary.

- Our relationship was rocky, but it was mostly casual.

We just couldn't get along sometimes.

- Expound, please.

- We always argued mainly
about how Shantell's actions

would get me in trouble

or get me judged since we were twins.

- I see.

And speaking of Shantell's actions, yesterday,

did you hear Shawnee Player's
testimony that she had warned

Robert on several different
occasions about Shantell's

proclivity for manipulation?

- Yeah. I did.

- So as it stands,

neither you nor the court should be surprised

that Shantell Harris engaged in manipulation

right up until her death.

- What are you saying? - Objection, your Honor.

Speculation.

- Overruled.

Counselor. Exactly what are you saying?

- All I'm saying is that isn't it possible

that Shantell Harris,

filled with hate and animosity
and loathing towards Robert

and all of his entanglements,

orchestrated the ultimate payback?

Ms. Pearson clearly stated the unfortunate effect

that my client can have on women.

Simply put,

Shantell realized he would truly never be hers.

So she committed an act to make sure

no one else could ever have him.

She killed herself and made
sure that Robert was there

to witness to take the blame.

I only have one question left to ask. Ms. Harris.

Was your sister capable of
doing something like that?

Please answer the question.

Was she capable of that?

(suspenseful music)

- Yes. (audience gasps)

- Order. (gavel bangs)

- No further questions, your Honor.

(gentle dramatic music settles)

(gentle music)

(gentle music settles)

- Good morning.

Contrary to popular belief,

prosecuting attorneys do not revel

in putting people in jail.

It's a job, and I always do my job.

And the job of this case was to prove

beyond a reasonable doubt

that Robert Player murdered Shantell Harris

and their unborn child.

Now, do I wish that I had an eyewitness?

Absolutely.

Do I wish I had just someone who overheard Robert

plotting to kill Shantell?

Yes.

I don't have that.

But let's focus on what I do have.

What I do have are witnesses
that you all have heard from,

some detailing adulterous
rendezvous, some detailing

manipulative, controlling, and abusive behavior.

But most importantly, what I
do have is a murder weapon.

A murder weapon,

which has Robert Player's fingerprints all over it.

What I do have is testimony
that the defendant was engaged

in a lifestyle that was placed
into jeopardy by the woman

who had the least to offer him financially,

a woman that he no longer wanted,

and a woman who let him know that she was pregnant

with a child that he didn't want.

"Only a true player can handle all of this."

Oh, and Robert,

he must have really thought that,

so much so that he was not going to let

anything jeopardize that.

Not even the mother of his unborn child.

Now, the defense,

they're going to trot out here and in their closing,

they're going to tell you that
their defendant didn't have

any gunpowder residue on their fingertips

or on their clothing.

But what they're not going to tell you is that

neither did the victim.

So here we are.

So all we're kind of left with
are two simple questions.

Did a woman who was a
social servant of this community,

a woman whose only crime was loving that man,

decide to take her own life,

knowing that she was going to be a mother?

Or does it stand to reason that a man

whose only goal in life,

only mission was to sleep
with as many women as possible

and to make as much money as possible

would eliminate the one thing,

the two things standing in the way of him doing that?

I think we can answer that.

Thank you.

(gentle dramatic music)

- Mr. Richmond.

- Thank you, your Honor.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

DA Huffman would have you believe that my client was

this manipulative, controlling, self-centered,

money-hungry womanizer whose
character flaws would make him

capable of committing murder.

Yet he hasn't presented one single piece of evidence

nor one eyewitness to prove, substantiate,

or corroborate this charge.

I'm actually still in shock that we're in court today

and that my client was even charged with the crime.

Yes, Robert Player dated many women,

some of whom are very wealthy.

And yes, he dated them all at the same time.

Does that make him a murderer?

No. Absolutely not.

That makes him what kids call these days "A Fuck boy."

Now, last time I checked,

they don't take you to prison for being a fuck boy.

And throughout this trial,

the prosecutor has not presented one witness

that has testified that my client promised them

a monogamous relationship.

And that's where this part of the trial

comes to an end in reality.

Now, there was one thing that the prosecution

was right about,

and it was the fact that there
was no trace of gun powder

residue or burns on my client's hands,

nor his clothes at the time of his arrest.

Thank you for that.

Let's focus on what was found at the scene.

A man distraught and broken,

covered in blood from holding the woman he loved,

after she shot herself.

Now, I don't know about you,

but I don't know of any murderer that calls the police

and then sticks around to be arrested.

With all due respect to the deceased and her family,

over the course of this trial,

not a single piece of evidence has been introduced

that points the finger at my
client being guilty of murder.

What it does point to
unfortunately, is a troubled woman,

a woman who couldn't have what
she wanted and then made sure

that no one else would, either.

What happened here was a tragedy,

and I believe everyone sitting in this courtroom

understands that.

What's just as tragic

is that my client lost the woman he loved

and could potentially lose
the freedom that we all covet

for a crime he did not commit,

for a crime he did not commit.

I thank you again for your time and energy

throughout this trial,

and I look forward to hearing you render a verdict

of not guilty.

Thank you.

Thank you, your Honor.

(gentle music)

- I did love her.

I just,

I just,

it wasn't enough.

- Hey guys.

- Hey. - It's in jury's hands now.

We did everything we could.

- Thank you for everything you did in there.

- You're welcome.

- How do you think things are gonna go?

- Honestly, I don't think the DA proved anything,

but we're facing the death of a police officer

and she was pregnant.

Most often than not, cases like these tend to go left.

So we'll see.

- Well, look, we really appreciate everything you did.

You did all that you could. So.

- We tried.

Go home, get some rest.

It's been a long two weeks.

Okay?

I'll give you a call.

Take care.

- You too. - Thanks.

- Okay.

I'll be right back.

Ms. Moore? - Yes?

- Hey, Shawnee, Robert's older sister.

- Oh, okay.

Good to see you. - It's good to see you too.

I've seen you in the courtroom throughout the trial.

Just wanted to thank you for supporting Robert.

- It's my pleasure.

- He always liked you.

- Really? - Yes.

He used to tell me all the time

that you were his favorite teacher

and you were his middle school crush.

- Wow. - So I know it meant a lot

for him to see you in there.

- When I heard what happened, I was devastated.

I knew little Robert couldn't
have been capable of that.

- We felt the same way.

Hopefully the jury sees it that way too.

- Hopefully. - But thank you again

for supporting and please keep him in your prayers.

- I always do.

Take care. - You too.

- Thank you.

- Hey stranger.

- Hey stranger.

- How you doing?

- I'm good. How about you?

- Life's been pretty quiet.

Not much going on for me.

I seen you in the courtroom.

- I wasn't hiding.

- I know.

Meant a lot to me that you were there.

I almost asked my lawyer to use you

as a character reference.

- And what would I have talked about?

How bad you were in the eighth grade?

- No. No.

Maybe fast forward about nine years.

Talk about those times.

- You sure you wanted me to
talk about those times? (sighs)

You okay?

- I was about to ask you the same thing.

- Oh, you think you did something here?

- Oh, you about to get yourself into some trouble?

- Oh, I'm trying to.

(both kissing) (faint indistinct music)

I love you.

(faint indistinct music)

- Thank you?

- Relax.

I wasn't expecting you to say it back,

but I am tired of not saying it when I feel it

every time I see you.

- Ashley.

Ashley, I-

- I want more than this, Robert.

I'm 10 years older than you and the closest thing

to a husband I have

is when we wait until after dinner to have sex.

I want a husband.

And I'm not saying that has to be you right now,

but sometime in the future I'm hoping that it would be.

- I want to be honest with you.

- Please. Please be honest.

- I don't think I'm ready for marriage.

Yeah, honestly, I don't think
I'm marriage material at all.

- Yeah.

Until you decide if you're marriage material or not,

I think this should be the last time we see each other.

(melancholy music)

- Thank you.

- You don't have to thank me for coming to support you.

- No, not for that.

For seeing me more than just some young fuck boy,

as my lawyer put it.

I never knew how much that meant to me until-

- Until it was all you had left?

- Yeah.

- Look, Robert,

I've never asked you to be anything more

than you already were.

And I never will.

I love you.

Yes. I still love you.

And I'm going to be here regardless of the outcome.

- How are you holding up?

- I'm fine. I guess.

- Look, I'll be straight to the point.

The DA made an offer.

- An offer.

I thought you said we had a great chance of winning.

- I think we do.

But cases like these always have a slant to them.

Cop is dead and they think you did it.

Look, we did great in court,

but we were starting from
behind the eight ball, Robert.

- What's the offer?

- Plea deal. Seven to 21.

You'll be eligible for parole after seven years.

And once you serve 14,

they're required to release
you on conditional release.

- Conditional release?

- Once you serve two thirds of your sentence,

they're required to let you go.

That is if you don't do anything stupid inside.

- But I didn't do anything wrong.

All right. Why?

Why do I have to consider a deal?

I mean, the jury has to (indistinct).

- I know.

It's a double homicide.

You're facing a life sentence if you get convicted.

I don't like this anymore than
you do, but as your lawyer,

I have to let you know the deal's on the table.

Ultimately the decision is yours.

Take some time to think about it.

I'll be back later in the afternoon.

- Thank you.

- Take care of yourself.

(gentle music)

- My little Bobby is all grown up now.

You, you just gonna stand there

or you going to bag up these leaves?

- I'm dreaming, aren't I?

- Either you dreaming or you dead.

And there's only one of us here that's dead.

- Oh, okay. I get it.

It's some Black Panther ancestral plane shit.

- Hey, hey. Watch your mouth, boy.

Now this might be a dream,

but I will still go upside your big head.

When I was in that hospital
bed after that heart attack,

all I could think about was that my little Bobby

was gonna be fine.

We raised him right.

- Y'all raised me right.

- So what happened?

How you get yourself in this mess?

- No, but I didn't do it though.

- I know you didn't pull that trigger,

but it doesn't mean you didn't do anything.

- But I didn't kill her.

- As good a job that we did with you,

there was one thing that we couldn't teach you,

and that was how to be a man.

We didn't talk about it.

And your your mom did the best to overcompensate.

But. - No, I know.

I didn't need him. I had y'all.

- Robbie, you know, you, you just sound dumb right now.

Your daddy was a flawed man.

He made mistakes and those
mistakes took him away from you.

But he wasn't, he wasn't a bad man.

Your mama wouldn't say it,

but you reminded her of him all the time.

- If he was such a great man, how come he didn't stay?

- Because he's taking responsibility for his actions.

Okay, Bobby.

I'm tired. I'm tired.

I need to get out here.

- No, don't.

Don't go.

- Boy. I got things to do.

(birds chirping) (dogs bark in distance)

- I miss you.

- I know, I know.

- The DA has really sat on this deal,

which makes me think that
they think that this is leaning

towards an acquittal.

And this is what I'm thinking we should start doing.

The minute... I'm gonna take the deal.

- Wait, Robert, did you, did you hear me?

They're leaning towards an acquittal.

- I made my decision.

- Okay.

- I have two conditions.

It can't be a murder charge.

It has to be something like
the involuntary manslaughter

and the second one has to be thrown out completely.

- Completely? - Yes.

I can't go to jail as a cop killer and a baby killer.

- Right.

Okay.

I'll let them know.

Why the change of heart, though?

- To take responsibility. - But you didn't kill her.

- I know, I didn't kill Shantell,

but I also didn't help her not kill herself.

I knew what I was doing. All the women, everything.

Had I left her alone,

she probably wouldn't have done this to herself.

- That's really big of you, Robert.

Are you sure?

- I'm sure.

- Okay, I'll let them know.

- Thank you.

- Take care of yourself.

(gentle music fades)

(gentle music)

- Hey Shawnee. What are you doing here?

Where's mama?

- Mr. Richmond let us know that you were taking the deal,

and Mama couldn't hold it together.

So they let me come back here to see you before you go.

- It was the right decision.

- When I told you you needed to get your life together

and start taking responsibility,

I didn't think you took me seriously.

- Well I, I didn't.

If that makes you feel any better.

- It doesn't.

- It was Mama Dot.

She would say why put off
tomorrow what you can do today?

And I guess today I finally started to listen.

- Proud of you.

- Thanks sis.

- We're gonna go get that lunch

as soon as you get outta here.

- Don't forget about me while I'm in here.

- Boy, nobody gonna forget

about your big head ass while you win here.

I'm gonna write you every day
and we're gonna come visit you

every week.

We're not gonna abandon you. Okay?

- I know.

I know.

(gentle music)

(gentle music continues)

- What's up, young blood?

Catching up on your scriptures? Huh?

You good?

I see you,

you made it through your first month with no issues.

See they got you in cell block C. Huh?

- What you want old man? Why you bothering me?

- Oh, you tough now?

Yeah, he tough now, huh?

(indistinct)

- Nah, I ain't tough.

I'm just trying to figure out why you in my face.

- Because I can be in your face.

I can be anywhere I want to be.

- Man. I don't want no trouble.

- You about to have some trouble.

You need to stand up and show the OG some respect.

Shake my hand.

- Why the hell would I do that?

- Because I'm your daddy, boy.

So from one Player to another,

won't you stand up and show me some respect?

- So yeah, that just happened.

- Why you keep staring at me, man?

Why don't you say what you want to say? Get it all out.

- What the hell happened?

- What you mean what happened?

Life happened, son.

- Robert.

- Robert.

All right, well that's my bad.

I guess I have to earn that.

- How you even know I was your son, anyways?

- Shawnee used to come up here and see me

after Mama Dot passed away.

Used to show me your pictures.

Just keep me updated.

- What'd she tell you?

- Wasn't good.

She told me you was out in them streets acting up,

messing around, fucking around, getting in trouble.

She said you was trucking,

trotting, dotting around,
something, whatever that means.

- They don't even call it that anymore, old man.

- Okay. Yeah.

Well, I ain't want to believe it 'til you popped up here.

- Yeah. I ain't a killer.

Taking responsibility for my own actions.

Hell, you inspired me to do it.

- You sound fucking crazy.

I inspired you to throw years of your life away.

Look around you, man.

We in prison.

That's what this is.

- And you seem to like it here. You keep coming back.

- Let me ask you a question.

You think I wanna be in here?

Shit.

- So what the hell happened?

Mom's never really talked about you.

- Nah, can't blame your mama.

I was a fuck-up when I was with your mama.

You gotta understand, bro. I was wild when I was young.

Running around out there in
them streets, in and outta jail,

in and outta prison.

Come home long enough to get her pregnant.

Then I go right back in.

Man.

But you know something.

It all changed when you were born.

I looked at all the shit I was doing wrong and I was,

I pulled it together.

I wanted to be there for you.

You was my little man.

- Clearly that didn't happen.

- To be honest, really, it did.

See, I got myself together,

got myself cleaned up, got me a good job,

put my head down when I was grinding.

And then one of my partners came home.

Guy was like a,

like a big brother to me.

He had just done six years. Right?

So we was out on the porch, you know, chopping it up.

And he wanted me to take him to the liquor store,

get him a bottle.

I took him to the liquor store and drove him home.

The next day, police come to my house and arrest me,

charge me with accessory to a robbery.

I was the getaway driver.

- You gotta be kidding me.

- Nah. Real shit.

Your mother knew.

I knew I was innocent, but it was three strikes.

They gave me 25 years.

- Damn.

- Yeah, real shit.

So it wasn't no reason for
her to show you all my pictures

and shit 'cause I was gonna be in there.

Wasn't no coming home for me for a long time.

Wasn't no reason for her to talk about me being around,

teach you how to be man.

So she just pretended like I wasn't there.

Anyway, man, I'm happy to see you

and I'm sorry you had to meet like this,

but if you need anything,

you want me show you tricks of the trade in here,

you let me know.

All right.

I'm out.

It's all right. It's all love.

- Pops. - Yeah.

(gentle music)

I love you, son. - I love you too, pops.

- Be around.

- Alright.

Oh yeah. That's my dad.

Dear mom.

My whole life I had to figure things out for myself.

I know how lucky I was to have you, Shawnee, and Mama Dot.

You all taught me above all else that one thing

we always had was each other,

that we'd never turn our back on family.

But today I met my dad, in prison of all places.

He told me everything that happened.

How he chose to be absent from life, my life.

From his side, I finally understand,

but I'm really having a hard time seeing it from yours.

- That's my dad.

And I always thought I was better off without him.

I didn't need him because I had y'all.

You were doing the best you could

because he chose to leave us.

But that wasn't really the case.

- I want you to know that I'm not mad at you for anything.

I love you, moms.

I just don't understand after dad made his choice,

why you chose to follow it.

- Why'd you let me grow up
thinking I couldn't count on him?

- Why'd you let me grow up
thinking I couldn't count on him?

Now I'm sorry for everything I did.

Everything I did wrong.

I'm sorry if I disappointed you
and I'm even more sorry now

knowing that in the end I'm just like dad.

- If you can choose to love and not abandon me,

maybe you should give Dad the same grace.

- Maybe you could give dad the same grace.

I love you. Bobby.

(gentle music)

It's been like three months since I've been in here

and I've been more at peace in a cell

than I have been with any woman out there.

All except for Ms. Moore.

I'm sorry, Ashley.

I guess I shouldn't be calling her that anymore

since I'm outta school.

I think I needed this.

You know it's, it's kind of crazy because-

- Wait, wait. - What?

What's up?

- You got a visitor.

- Okay, cool.

(gentle music)

Shanetta?

- Hey Robert.

- What are you doing here?

- I was going through some of Shantell's old things

and I came across a picture of you two,

and I was angry.

I'm still angry,

but my therapist says if I'm
gonna move on past her death,

I have to face and forgive you.

- I am sorry what happened to Shantell.

But you gotta know I didn't kill her.

- But you pleaded guilty.

- I did,

but that was for personal reasons,

not because I killed her.

- Well, if you didn't kill her, why'd you plead guilty?

- To atone.

I wasn't the best person, especially not to Shantell.

She deserve better from me than had I been.

She'd probably still be alive.

- To atone.

Okay.

- Well, it was nice seeing you, I guess.

I hope this helped you.

- How have things been for you in here?

Has Bianca visited you yet?

- What did you just say to me?

- They said seven years and
you'd be able to get out, right?

- Shanetta, why did you say that?

Shanetta.

- Why do you keep calling me that?

That's not my name.

(ominous music)

- Shantell?

- Robert,

won't be needing this anymore.

- But I heard you.

- Did you?

You had a few before you came that night.

- I heard you kill yourself.

- Did you?

Did you hear me,

or did you hear what my poor sister had coming to her?

(gunshot fires) (dramatic music)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues)

(ominous music)

(dramatic music continues)

(Shantell chuckles)

Could've sworn you were gonna hear me laughing.

Thought I was gonna have to put a bullet in you too.

- She was pregnant.

- And? You heard her.

Well, me, you heard me on the stand.

We hated each other.

The only thing we had in
common was that we looked alike.

- Yeah.

Why did you come here, Shantell?

What do you want from me?

- It took a lot of planning to get things to go right.

I had to get that tattoo just right.

- Why?

Hmm?

Why are you here?

- Thought I wanted you to forgive me.

Then I heard you say you needed to atone and I thought,

what a bitch.

(Shantell chuckles)

Oh, anyways,

enjoy your time and your atonement.

(Shantell chuckles)

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues)

(door clicks shut)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues)

(dramatic music continues)

(gate clinks shut)

(gate slams)

(suspenseful music)

(suspenseful music continues)

(suspenseful music continues)

(suspenseful music continues)

(suspenseful music continues)

(suspenseful music continues)

(suspenseful music continues)

(suspenseful music concludes)