All language subtitles for First.Lady.Of.BMF.The.Tonesa.Welch.Story.2023.720p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

Downloaded from
YTS.MX

Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX

- Hi, my name is Tonesa Welch,

and you've heard a lot
of things about me,

but this is my true story.

[car door opening]

[tense musical tone]

[car door closing]

[tense musical tone continues]

[tense musical tone stops]

[car door opens]

[tense musical tone resumes]

I wish I could tell you
this was all a bad dream,

but it wasn't.

This shit really happened.

And the story I'm about
to tell you is all true.

[assailant pistol whips]

But in order to protect myself

and my associates, most of
the names have been changed.

So let me take you back.

[whooshing SFX]

[hip hop music]

♪ I've been on that

♪ Hustle shit, big bills,
hood shit with the bag ♪

♪ Ain't no fuckin' around

♪ Yeah they know I
front the block ♪

♪ Same spot where
niggas get hit ♪

♪ When they run they mouth

♪ If you ain't movin' right

♪ You know it's clear

♪ Up in Detroit we do
whatever to get rich ♪

[rap music fades]

Hey Ma

- Oh.

Baby, that dress
looks so cute on you.

- You like it?

- I do.

Oh, also, Carla and
Lisa just got here.

- Okay, have 'em come on in.

- [Mom] Y'all girls, come on in.

[girls squealing]

- Hey, girl.

- What's going on with you two?

- Ooh, we figured you needed
help with getting dressed,

seeing as though
you don't understand

who we're about to meet tonight.

- Who are we about to meet

and what's wrong
with what I got on?

- You look like you about

to take up some
damn offering, girl.

Everything, take it off.
- I thought it was-

- And as far as who
we're about to meet,

think of every rich
nigga in the D.

Girl, we're going to a club
on the east side tonight

and all the baller's
gonna be up in there.

So put on this.

- I can't wear this,
y'all, come on now.

-you about to pay some thides

No, go ahead girl, please.

Put it on.

- All right, fine.

- [Carla] Hurry up.

- [Lisa] Yes.

Oh my gosh.

Girl...

- I'm looking for
Maserati Rick tonight.

- And me, I'm going for
the big jewels tonight.

- Only you.

- That's why I gotta kill
'em in this right here.

- Ooh, that is fire though.

- Mm.

[Carla gasps]
- Ooh, Tonesa.

Yes, girl.

- Okay, first of all, yes.

- I can get used to
looking like this.

- Oh, I bet you can.

[girls giggling coming
down the hallway]

- Ma, thank you so much for
watching Marlon tonight.

- Oh, no problem Baby, I
just put 'em to sleep.

- I don't want y'all thinkin'

that we gonna be your
built-in babysitters.

Now we don't mind watching
our little grand baby

but don't want you
thinking for one second

that this is gonna
be the regular.

- All right, Pop, lighten up.

Thanks, ma.

- And don't come back
in here too late.

- I hear you, loud and clear.

- Have a good night, Mrs. Welch.

- Y'all girls be safe, hear?

- [Pop] You heard what I said?

- [Tonesa] I hear you!

[door slams]

- That child gonna
be the death of me.

- Emerson, come on.

She'll grow out of it.

- When?

She's 19.

That's the problem with her now

you spoil her too damn much.

[Dance beat music]

[girls squealing]

- Act grown! Act grown.

[dance groove continues]

♪ I can scream, ooh, ah

♪ Baby I want

- What'd I tell you? Girl!

- This is definitely
the happening spot.

- Oh yes, is that
Maserati Rick ass

over there looking
good like that?

- Everyone looks fly, damn.

- Yes.

- Come on Lisa, let's
go over to the bar.

Somebody gonna buy us a drink.

- Or a Rollie, a purse

- a freeloader.

- Watch her.

[Dance beat music continues]

[Dance beat music continues]

- What up, doe?

- What up, doe is me, nigga.

You see, I'm about to
handle my business.

- I see you H.

- Good.

Yeah, real good.

Why don't you have
a drink, baby?

- No, I'm good.

- Nah, it's all right,
it's just champagne.

[Dance beat music continues]

See, now that ain't
too bad, is it?

- No, it's not bad at all.

- So what's your name?

- Tonesa.

- Tonesa.

I like that.

You know they call me H.

You must be from the westside

- What makes you think
I'm from the west side?

- 'Cause I know what them
west side girls look like.

But I like what I see.

Wanna dance?

[slow groove music]

[slow groove music continues]

- That night changed everything.

It was like I stepped
into a revolving door

and came out another woman.

I wanted exactly what
I saw in that club

and I wanted to
live life like H.

I started sneaking around
with him instantly.

- [H] Me again.

You can say it, cash...

- [Tonesa] Cashmere?

- Mm-hm.

- Okay.
- Wait and see.

- You want me to put that on?

- Mm-hm.
- Okay.

- You gonna find out.

So when you gonna let me inside?

- I already told
you, it's too soon.

We've only known each
other for two weeks.

- Come on now.

I take good care
of you, don't I?

I show up.

You smiling.

- Yeah, but my parents
ain't gonna be happy

with me bringing you around.

- Yeah, whatever.

[Tonesa and H laughing]

You'll see.

You'll see.

I'm a show up every day

with something
special just for you

so you can see how
much I want you.

- We'll see.

- Mm-hm.

- I gotta head out.

Thanks.

- Hey.

[door shuts]

- I am not expecting you to
understand Carla, I, I feel bad.

Marlin is away at school
trying to create a life

for me and baby Marlon and
I'm sneaking around with H.

- Girl, please.

How you know he not
in Oklahoma cheating?

- Girl, he's not, trust.

I'm just, I'm confused.

- You shouldnt be.

Look in your fuckin' closet

and think about all this
fun we out here havin'

and all that paper
he be spending on us.

We not giving that shit up.

- Yeah, I don't wanna
give that shit up either.

I just, I feel bad
for hurting Marlin.

But I also ain't trying to
be no basic ass girlfriend.

That's just not the
life I'm trying to live.

- Well, while you
sit there and sulk,

I'm gonna get ready for Harvey's
friend Ralph to come by.

We gonna hang and do a
little something something.

And as for you, leave
Marlin's ass in the dust.

All right girl, I gotta go.

Bye.

[phone clicks off - dial tone]

[car engine motoring]

[distant siren ringing]

[doorbell rings]

[door opens]

- Harvey.

Hey.

What are you doing here?

[H chuckling]

- I came to see you.

So you're not
gonna let me in?

- But I told you you gotta
call before you come.

You can't just pop up.

[H] Hmm...

- You know what, why don't
you take a ride with me, huh?

- Okay.

[H] yeah?

Gimme a second.

- Okay.

[Marlon cries]

- [Marlon] Oh come on.

No, no [Marlon crying].

- [Pop] Well hold up young lady

Where you think you going?

- Hey there, Pop.

I'm H.

- I don't care who you are.

And how old are you?
[tense music]

- I'll be right back, all right?

I'll be right back.

- You said that last week.

Girl, come get your boy.

I said we're not gonna be
your live-in babysitters.

- I'll be back.

- [Ma] Emerson,
come back in here.

You're scaring the baby.

[tense music]

[upbeat music]

- She's pissin' me off.

- It's okay.

[upbeat music continues]

[upbeat music continues]

- Between the gifts
and the exciting life

I knew I could live with H.

So I eventually called
it quits with Marlin

and moved out of my mom's house

to go get the life I wanted.

[upbeat music fading]

[high heels approaching]

- Toni, where you going?

- I'm gonna go live with H, ma.

I just came to get my clothes
and I'll get the rest later.

- Toni...

you don't even know him.

- Yes I do.

And he wants me to
move in with him.

So I'm going.

- You need to put
that suitcase down

and take care of your son.

- Listen to him.

- I'm not gonna listen to him.

- [Pop] I don't understand you.

[tense music]
I really don't.

We've done nothing
but support you.

Even when you ran
off to Oklahoma

to be with Big
Marlin, we let you go.

But not this time.

You not goin' anywhere.

- What the-?

- Wait a minute.

Y'all cut it out.

It's okay.

[Ma] Listen, I'll watch
little Marlon.

[tense music continues]

- Damn you, Carol!

[tense music calming]

- Thanks, mama.

I'll be back for baby Marlon.

I promise.

[Ma exhales]

[tense music]

- She's just 20 years old...

And you accepting to do
all her responsibilities

only adding to her madness.

She needs to be here
where she is safe.

- Emerson, stop being dramatic.

I know my child. She
be back in a week.

- The hell you do.

[tense music continues]

[Ma exhales]

[tense music fades]

- You always carry
that thing on you?

- You know it's part of my game.

Those things is
dangerous outside.

Why, you scared?

- No, I ain't scared.

I actually think
it's kind of sexy.

- Oh hey, hey.

This right here

it's not a toy.

- I know.

[tender music]

I know, that's why I want you
to teach me how to use it.

And I want you to
teach me the game.

[tender music continues]

- You know I don't want my lady

out there selling
no dope, right?

It's dangerous.

[slow jam music]

- Yeah, maybe.

But I wanna be a
part of everything.

- [H] Everything?

- You're doing.

♪ And the rules were
easy to follow ♪

♪ Now that we're over
this feeling changed ♪

- Is that right?

- Yeah, that's right.

- Well, I got something for you.

And I'll just start
you out real slow.

[slow jam music continues]

Then we can add on,
something that you

and I... and we...

can do... together.

[slow jam music continues]

♪ But if you want me [fade]

- Absolutely.

We'll be there.

[H roars]

Yes!

- Well, what happened?

- Nothing happened except that
I'm the mother fucking man!

Don't you worry, I'm
a put you on to that.

Oh, by the way,
remember I told you

you was gonna make
some money right?

now look, remember I was telling
you, I'm gonna put you on?

- What's this?

- Scamming checks.

Now scamming checks
is easy money.

This is separate
from the dope money.

Dope money is what's
keeping everything going

on around here.

Understand me?

It's just something to put

a little something
in your pockets.

- Okay, all right...

I'm ready.

- Well, I got somebody at
the bank who hooks me up

with some blank checks.

They gimme some bank accounts.

And all we gotta do
is get some fake IDs.

Now you and I, we go out
shopping for big ticket items,

refrigerators, stoves, furs,

whatever the fuck we
want we go and get.

By the time the store finds
out they've been scammed

we done been back
with the merchandise

either to sell it or to keep it.

- So then the store and the
bank is left holding the bag.

- Absolutely.

[tense pulsing music]

You know, you very smart baby.

I like that about you.

But don't worry, this is simple.

All right?

I told you, right?

I got you.

- Yeah.

[tense pulsing music continues]

[toy rattling]

You like the toys
mommy brought you?

Here, can mommy see it?
- [Ma] Toni!

look, look, baby, all these
toys and stuff are great,

but what he really
needs is a mother.

He needs you.

- Ma I'm trying to give
him a great life, okay?

- [Marlon] Talking gibberish.

- How, by flaunting around
town in furs and fancy clothes?

- Okay, you wouldn't understand.

I'm living the life that I want.

- All money's not good money.

It may buy you nice
cars, nice jewelry,

but it can't buy you back the
time you miss with your son.

- You floating in and out
of this house like the wind.

Don't you miss your baby?

- Ma, I'm here, ain't I?

I just said I'm trying to
create the best life for him

a life that he deserves.

[tense music]

- He deserves to
be with his mother.

That's you.

- I don't have time for this.

Come here.

[tense music continues]

- You leave this house
again without your son

it may not be that easy
for you to come back.

[tense music continues]

- I know what you're thinking.

I abandoned my son to be with
a gangster who showered me

with expensive gifts and
made love to me nonstop.

What kind of mother does this?

Well, I'm doing me.

And this was just the beginning.

[tense music fading]

- [Tonesa] Hey, baby.

- Watch this, watch this,
watch this, watch this.

Watch this, watch this.

That boy, good.

That boy good.

- You know I, I
actually, I've been thinking

this check hustle,
you know, it's fine.

It's great.

But I'm ready for more.

- You ready for something more?

Is that so?

You know I gave you the
check game because it's easy.

You know that, right?

You know, come on now.

I don't know why you want
to be out there like that.

I told you what I do,
I don't want you doing.

Got it?
- Okay, listen,

I know you think it's
dangerous, but I'm ready.

All I need is for you
to show me the way.

- Baby, don't I
take care of you?

- Of course you do.

- Yeah.

So why you wanna be
out there like that?

- Because I'm seeing
how you movin'

and I wanna move the same way.

- Listen.

If I show you this game, right,

you gotta do everything
exactly the way I show you.

You hear me?

- I promise.

I'll do it exactly
the way you say.

[tapping baseline music]

[tapping baseline
music continues]

[tapping baseline
music continues]

[H chuckling]

[tapping baseline
music continues]

♪ All I need is a parade

♪ Some white girl will
do me just right ♪

♪ All I need is one
of those paydays ♪

♪ To make me have
a real good life ♪

♪ Can't get enough of
that feeling babe ♪

♪ Can't get enough of
that feeling, baby ♪

- Within a few years, me
and Harvey were building

on the east side and
racking in dough.

By '83, we were
killing the game.

I was no longer the
little girl he met

in the club that night.

[tapping baseline music fades]

Hey, baby.

- What you cooking up?

- Something good for you.

You like it?

- Yeah, I like it.

- Yeah.
- [H] Yeah.

- Mm-hm.

[H chuckling]

- What's the occasion?

- Nothing special,
I just wanna do

something nice for
my man.

- [H] Mmm-hm

- Is that so?

- Yeah.

- Tonesa.

You know I know you, right?

- I know, I know.

Okay, all right, fine.

I have an idea.

[H] Hmmm

- Okay, let me hear it.

- Now that I'm
dealing on my own,

I was thinking maybe
we should consider

selling coke to the west.

- Oh.

You know that's not
a good idea, right?

- No, I know, but hear me out.

The people on the west,
they're making good money

so they got money to burn.

We could be so big out there
and make so much more money.

[dark tense music]

So what you think?

[dark tense music continues]

Good, right?

[H slapping]
[Tonesa screams]

[dark tense music continues]

- I think I got where
I am without you.

I think you need to
stay in your place.

[pulsing tense drumbeat]

[glass shatters]

[pulsing tense drumbeat fades]

Hey, baby.

Hey.

You know I'm so sorry, right?

I don't know what
came over me and uh...

You know I would never, uhh

put my hands on you
like that, right?

Hey.

[water spraying]

You know that's just
not me, right baby?

I just umm...

You know, I really wanna
hear your ideas, baby.

I just...

You know, just know
at the end of the day that..,

that the final decision is mine.

All right?

- I hear you.

- That's right, come here.

Want you to try something.

You see this here?

You take a hit, all right?

And you make sure you
get everything in there.

Pull it, [H sniffs].

Pull everything in, okay?

[tense music]

Gonna make you feel better.

Try it.

[dark tense music]

[Tonesa sniffs]

[Tonesa groans]

[dark pulsing music]

- Take your time.

[dark pulsing music continues]

gotta go.

I'll be back.

[dark pulsing music fades]

- Harvey never came back.

[Tonesa] He got locked up on
some drug charges

which put our expansion
plans on hold.

that didn't stop me, though.

My business grew quick
and so did my pockets.

[club music]

With Harvey in jail,
[Tonesa sniffing]

I became buck wild
and out of control.

I had my own money and
I was having a fling

with another drug
dealer named Bobby.

He was with Young
Boys Incorporated.

Life was moving fast.

- Come on baby, you
done have enough.

- No, no.

Maybe I just needed
a little pick me up.

I'm good now.

- No, no, no.

You all fucked up, Tonesa.

It's time to go.

- Bitch, I'm grown.

- This is the shit I'm
talking about right here.

You're sitting here in the club

with everything a woman
could ever want in her life

and you fuckin' it
up with that shit.

- Everything I want?

- Every woman want, trust me.

Yes, yes, money,
men, everything.

Look at you.

- Well, Harvey's in jail.

Is that everything?

Huh?

- [Lisa] Harvey is one of-

- Here, take some more of this.

- No.

- Let's get on up outta here.

- Leave me the fuck alone!

[Tonesa gesturing]

[Tonesa vomiting]

- Oh my god.

- See, Tonesa, that's the
shit I be talkin' about!

Now clean yourself
up and let's bounce.

[club music continues]

- C'mere, get up,
it's time to go.

- I didn't say I
was ready to go yet!

- [Lisa] It's time to go.

Get up, get up, come here.

Come here.

Are you pregnant?

[club music continues]

- No.

- I think you are, you
don't need no more. Go...

- Go, it's time to go.

[club music fades]

[door bell rings]

- [Tonesa] H!

[H roars softly]

- I'm back.

- Okay, Harvey, when
did you get out?

- Just now.

Hey.

[H moans]

Mm.
[H chuckles]

[baby crying]

- Is that a baby I hear?

[tense music]

[baby crying]
- [Bobby] What up, doe?

- Now who the fuck you
supposed to be, dog?

[baby softly crying]

You had a baby with this
dude while I was gone?

- Harvey, I-I-I-I didn't get
a chance to tell you.

This is, this is Bobby
and our son, Jason.

[Tonesa screaming]

[Tonesa] Bobby!

[Tonesa] Hey!

[men grunting]
[fists punching]

Stop it!

Stop it!

- [H] Shut up!

[H] You tryin' to take my
mother fuckin' house!

[H] This is what you want?!

Is this the fuck what you want?

- [Bobby] I ain't goin
nowhere without my baby!

[baby crying]

- [Tonesa] H!

- Now get the fuck out my house!

You come back here

I'll fuckin' kill you.

You hear me?

Get the fuck out!

Get the fuck out!

[tense music continues]

- No! Stop!
[Tonesa screaming]

- what I told you?!

- Don't you ever, in your
life, make a fool of me!

You hear me?!

[baby crying]

[Tonesa sobbing]
[baby crying]

If you ever, in your
mother fuckin' life,

make a fool of me
like that again.

[H breathing hard]

Listen to me.

You're mine, Tonesa.

And this baby.

- Mm.

- It's okay, sh, sh.

-[Tonesa] H...

Sh, it's okay.

Come on, sh-sh, it's okay.

This baby, he mine now too.

Okay?

And we gonna be a family.

You understand me?

We gonna be a family and
that's the way it's gonna be.

[dark tense music]

[baby quietly gurgling]

- [Tonesa] And just like that,
H continued ruling
me with his fists.

I felt trapped until Carla
needed me to step up for her.

It made me realize I have
more strength than I thought.

[tense music fades]

- [TV Commentator] We're
down to the second round

that we can play in the
national football league.

[door knocking]

- [TV Commentator] The Raiders
didn't have much trouble.

[knocking continues]

[door opens]

- Carla?

What the?

[door shuts]

-[Carla] Is Harvey home?

- No, no he's not.

What the fuck
happened to your face?

- Ralph was upset because I
stayed out late with Lisa.

Said he wanted to
teach me a lesson.

- Where's Lisa?

- In the car.

- He wanna mother
fuckin' hit someone?

All right.

[drawer slides open]

Here.

- What the fuck you
doin' with that?

- We about to
teach him a lesson.

Let's fuck his ass up.

Let's go.

- I thought you was
just gonna key his car

or throw a brick or something.

- Nah, we 'bout to
fuck this nigga up.

[door slams]
Shit.

[tense drumbeat music]

You ready to do this?

- Mm-hm.

[tense drumbeat music continues]

- All right, listen.

Y'all go open the front
door and I'm gonna stay here

in the back just in
case he try to run out.

- Okay.

- Look, really, are y'all sure

that we should be doing this?

I mean, do we really
have to do this?

- Hell yeah.
- Hell yeah.

- The fuck you see
her fuckin' nose?

- I know I did see
it, it ain't that bad.

- Bitch, take your fuckin'
scary ass to the car.

- Cool, bitch.

- [Carla] Talk too much.

[Carla and Tonesa whispering]

- Y'all goin' to jail.

[tense drumbeat music continues]

[TV low volume talking]
[tense drumbeat music]

[TV audience quietly laughing]

[door opens]

[door slams]

- [Ralph] You stupid bitch!

I knew your ass would be back.

- Yeah, I'm back.

[gunshots firing]

- Bitch, you crazy?

What the fuck is you doin'?

- That's the last time
you put your hands

on me mother fucker!

- The fuck is you doin' bitch?

- Who's scared now bitch?

- You crazy ass bitch!

- Damn, be still!

[shot fires]
[glass shatters]

[door opening]

- Ah, fuck!

[Lisa screams]

Please don't get in this car.

Shit!

- You okay?

- He's gettin' away.

Why you didn't pop his ass?

- What the fuck
you screaming for?

- Bitch, at least get
in the driver's seat.

- What the fuck you mean?

- He was trying to get
in the car with me.

- Man, you need to make
this bitch walk home.

- No, y'all ain't
even catch his ass.

He's still running around
like Tarzan and shit.

It's only one way
out, so slow down.

- That mother fucker was fast.

- Slow down, this
the only way out.

- [Lisa] But what
if he had a gun?

- [Carla] He ain't got no gun,
he ain't had no time, girl.

- [Lisa] Look, I'm
just saying, y'all.

- Oh, there you are!

Damn! Be still!
[gunshots firing]

Be still!

I'm gonna get yo ass!

Be still!

Where did you go, huh?

Where you think you goin'?

You rock, be still!
[pistol firing]

- [Tonesa] Look at
his little dumb ass.

Get 'em!

- Stop, stop, stop.

- Get your ass down the
car before you fall, girl.

- [Carla] Get your
little Milk Dud ass

back here, mother fucker!

Yeah, you better be scared!

- Yeah, keep running
mother fucker.

- Keep running mother fucker?

- Yeah, 'cause he running

like we say he
should be running.

- Get your scary
ass back in the car.

-[Lisa] Just 'cause I don't
wanna go to jail with y'all.

[Tonesa] I had a lot of damn
nerve

Here I am takin' ass
whippings again almost daily

but I'm coming to the
rescue of my girl?

Hell, I can't even
rescue my damn self.

But this gave me the courage
to protect myself at all costs.

It was time to start
standing up to Harvey's ass.

[car door shuts]

-[H] Wake up!

[door suddenly opens]

Tonesa?

Wake the fuck up.

[tense music]
- What is it?

- Where is it, where's my gun?

Hmm?

My gun is gone

and you out here like
it's the wild, wild west.

- I had to help my friend.

- What the hell
are you thinking?

You helpin' your friend?

Somebody could've got hurt.

Somebody could've got killed.

And guess what?

Look, that's my
mother fuckin' gun.

- We weren't gonna
kill him, Harvey.

We just scared him.

- You scared him.

You know, scared him, this
isn't no fuckin' haunted house.

- All right, well he's not dead.

- Do you know what it was
like to scare somebody?

Have you ever been scared?

Hmm?

Have you ever felt like
you could kill somebody?

Hmm?

You ever tried to take
the life of somebody?

You need to know what it
feels like to almost die.

Don't you ever touch my
shit again, you understand?

Don't ever-

[Tonesa stabs H, screams]
- [H] Ah!

[Tonesa screams]
[intense music]

Oh!

[H breathing hard]

Fuck you, bitch.

[H wincing]
Uh, oh.

- Don't you ever put your
fuckin' hands on me again.

That's the last time
you're goin' hitting on me.

[Tonesa] Harvey was more
shocked than hurt.

But I had enough.

Thankfully, he
didn't press charges.

[tense music fades]

[doorbell rings]

[door opening]

Hey, mama.

- Hey, hey baby.

- Hey, ma.

- Wha-what you doing here?

- I just got outta rehab.

I'm clean.

I left Harvey.

I'm ready to come back home.

Please.

- Tony, you know
I can't do that.

I can't go against my husband.

- Baby, why is the door open?

Huh?

- Hey, Pop.

- What you doing here?

[tense music]

- Clean.

And I left Harvey.

I'm ready to be with the boys.

[tense music continues]

- Well you should have
thought about that

before you left them here.

- Babe, look, she went out
and she got herself help

and now she's ready to
turn over a new leaf.

We can't turn her back
out onto the streets.

[tense music continues]

- You look at here, Tonesa.

You done put a
lot on us already.

You come back here, you
gonna get your life straight.

We already got your boys.

Now your nephews Ricky and
Dary, they on their way

over here to live
with us now, too.

- [Marlon] Mommy.

- And no drugs in here.

You hear me?

- Yes sir.

[tense music continues]

Thanks, Pop.

- Tony, then you heard him.

This the last time.

Mom, I'm clean this time.

For real.

- You hungry?

- Yeah.
- Get in here.

- Thanks, mom.

[birds chirping]

- Hey, Tonesa.

Tonesa, wait.

- Harvey, please.

- Come on now, Tonesa,
don't do me like that.

- No.

- [H] After everything
we've been through?

- Yeah, you know, and that's
why I stayed as long as I did

because I believed in
us and I loved you.

- Baby, hold on.

Wait a minute.

Look, Tonesa.

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

Baby, wait!

Wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait.

Wait, listen, look.

For the boys.

Take it.

Take it, how they doing?

Hmm?

How they doing?
- I gotta go.

- Hey, come back.

I gotta go?

Stop it.

All right?

I miss you.

I love you.

I promise I'll never
put my hands on you

like that ever again.

You understand me?

You don't deserve
that, I promise.

Just come home, I promise
things will be different.

- Goodbye, Harvey.

- Goodbye?

- Oh, bye, what you
want me to buy, T?

I got it.

What you need?

I got you.

- Just put it on
a table, please.

Thank you so much.

Can you just close
the door, please?

[door closing]

Don't get tricked by
all this foolishness.

You need to send
all this mess back.

Oh, I can't do that, ma.

- You can and you will.

He's just trying to bribe
you with all these gifts.

I knew something like
this was gonna happen

so I called your father today.

- My father?

Why would you call my father?

He hasn't even been around.

- I know, but he does love you

and he cares about
what happens to you.

- Okay, mama, you
know what, I'm grown

so I'm gonna do
what I'm wanna do.

And not you nor my father
can do anything about that.

Now I'll handle
our issues later,

but for now, would you just
stay outta my business, please?

- Who the hell do you
think you talking to, Tony?

You crazy?

- I'm far from crazy.

Now, I'm done with Harvey,
okay, I'm done with him.

- You better be.

[doorbell rings]

[phone beeps off]

[door opens]

- Ya.

[H chuckling]

Sup, man?

Hey.

- Hey.

[H whispers]
Kiss me.

Kiss me, babe.

[Tonesa smooches H]

- You don't know how happy I am

that we're a family
again, you know?

Come on.

[gentle music]

- I don't know what
it was about that man

but I just couldn't stay away.

Even after my family warned
me not to backslide, I did.

Although the abuse continued
most times life was good.

- Hah-ha, what up, Doe Meech?

- H, it's good.

- What up?

Good to see you, again.

- What up, doe?

- Thanks for stopping by.

Tonesa!

- How you doing, Tonesa?

I'm Meech.

[quirky ghoulish music]

- Y'all got any guns on you?

- Nah.

[quirky ghoulish
music continues]

- They cool.

[quirky ghoulish
music continues]

[quirky ghoulish hip hop music]

- [Tonesa] Harvey and I showed
them the ropes.

They were young
but good workers.

Harvey took a liking to
Terry, like a mentor.

He trusted him and Terry
became my confidant

for the next few years.

Oh yeah, I got pregnant again.

I finally gave H a son, Corey.

[quirky ghoulish
hip hop music fades]

Ma, thanks so much for coming
over to watch baby Corey.

I know you'd rather be at home.

- Yes, I do prefer
being at home.

Listen, I don't
feel safe in here

especially with all you
got going on in this house.

Listen, this life you
living this dangerous.

Tony, do you hear
me talking to you?

- Ma, everything is fine.

- Look, I'm worried about you.

- Have you seen my keys?

- No.

Look, I know what's going on.

- Mom, what's going on?

- The guns, the drugs,
and the murders.

- Murders?

Ma, I haven't murdered anybody.

- I didn't say that.

- Then what are you saying?

- But I know more
than you think.

Look, you can start a new life.

Stop all of this before you
wind up in jail or dead.

Just come home.

[keys jangling]
- There they are.

You know what ma, I'll
think about it, okay?

But right now, I've really
gotta go to handle some things.

Thank you so much.
- Tony, you can't keep

leaving this baby-

- Ma, I love you.
- Look at this-

- I love you, ma.

Thank you.

My mom and stepdad
tried so hard to save me

but I wasn't ready to be saved.

For the next three years,
Meech and T expanded locally

with their own territory
while me and H expanded

to multiple cities
just like we planned.

[club music]

- Hey, Tonesa.

Would you pour me another drink?

Do the same for yourself, I'm
feeling like making a toast.

[club music continues]

- Here, lemme get this for you.

- Thank you.

- No problem.

A woman should never have
to pour her own drink.

- Yo, everybody
rise up real quick.

[club music continues]

- Here it is to Texas.

Here's to Chicago.

East side to the west side.

More important,

D forever, baby.

- [Gang] D forever, baby.

[glasses clinking]

- D forever, baby.

[jet engines soaring]

- [Tonesa] You sure
these guys are legit?

- Yeah, they legit
baby, be cool.

We're here now, right?

I wouldn't bring you down
here all the way to Texas

if there wasn't good, all right?

- All I'm saying is I have
a bad feeling about this.

And why are they still
sitting in there?

- Just relax.

Be right back.

[H whispers]
Everything's okay.

Hey.

[tense music]

- How you?

- Good.
[tense music continues]

I need something real good.

I can't wait no longer.

Can you make it happen?

All right.

- Oh, hell no.

Time to go, let's go.

[tense music continues]

[haunting tense music]

[tense music calms]

[eerie tense music]

[door opens suddenly]

- [Tonesa] If only Harvey
had listened to me.

I told him not to go pick
up that shipment that day.

I felt it in my gut.

Now he would have to
do real prison time.

[tense music fades]

- Hey beautiful, you okay?

- I'm just...

[Tonesa sighing]
I'm supposed to be marrying

the man of my dreams.

But instead, I'm in this small
ass church marrying a man

who's about to go to jail
because a lawyer told me to.

- Well you know you don't
have to do this shit.

It's not too late to back out.

- I owe him.

- You don't owe
him a damn thing.

No you don't.

- You don't get it.

I tell you what, if he
was the one for you,

you wouldn't be sitting
here looking all sad.

Look at you.

[soft piano music]

- I do.

- Well, the marriage
idea worked.

I knew it wasn't right, but
it also didn't feel right

leaving him in prison.

[Tonesa whispers]
I do.

Harvey's attorneys were
able to use his new position

as a married man to
reduce his plea deal

down to seven years.

That left me in the
streets to fend for myself.

[hip hop instrumental music]

With Harvey in jail, all of
our connects were now burned.

And no longer under his thumb,
I hooked a really big fish,

Gordon, the largest
supplier on the east coast.

[hip hop instrumental
music continues]

- Tonesa?

- Gordon.

- May I?
- Of course.

Your name ringing
out here in the D.

- Yours too.

However, nobody told me
you as lovely as you are.

- Thank you.

You not too bad yourself.

I can tell how everyone is
looking at you that they,

they trust you.

- They trust that I
make their lives better.

That's all.

- Sometimes that's all you need.

[hip hop instrumental
music continues]

- I had the
opportunity to vet you.

You check out.

Shit, I like your style.

Like I said, I got that work

if you serious about
doing business.

- Well I'm serious.

So how much you gonna start me?

- I start you all
with 10 bricks.

Test you out.

Get rid of that,
if you want more

that's another conversation.

- I look forward to that
next conversation then.

- I go back to LA
tomorrow, night.

[hip hop instrumental
music continues]

I have 'em delivered
to you in the morning.

You know what happens when
you can fuck me, right?

[hip hop instrumental music]

- We'll be in touch.

- No question.

[hip hop instrumental
music fading]

- Thank you for helping me
get this new house straight.

I thought I loved what
the interior designer did

until I didn't.

- Look, I'm just glad you called

and I was able to be of service.

- Yeah, me too.

[mobile phone ringing]

- Sorry, I gotta grab this.

- Yeah, no problem.

- Hey.

Everything okay?

I told you as soon as I get
more money, I'll get it to you.

I can't talk about
this right now.

When I get it, you'll get it.

I'll talk to you later.

[phone claps shut]

Moms.

You know how they can be.

- I do.

You know I've been meaning
to ask you something.

What's up with you
never having any money?

You selling a whole lot of
coke to never have any money.

Explain.

- Well I got my moms,
a baby, a baby mama

and I gotta make sure
they're taken care of.

Plus we're under Harvey so ain't
like we moving much weight.

Shit is slow.

- Well that's about to change.

I'm doing well running things

and I'm gonna help
you get some work.

- What about Harvey?

- What about Harvey?

He's in jail.

What, you wanna stick with
him or you gonna stick with me

and make some real money?

- Oh, you already know
I'm about that life.

- Good, 'cause I can't
have anyone around me

not coming up while
getting this work.

So here's what we gonna do.

- I'm listening.

[tapping baseline music]

- [Tonesa] I'm gonna have
one of my connects front you

five bricks of product.

[tapping baseline
music continues]

You got 90 days to flip it
and get that money back.

- I could do that.

Anything else?

- You know I never play
up by my money, Terry.

Your only focus has to be
moving product, understand?

- Understood.

- You do this right

I can get you more
and keep you rolling.

- Oh, I got it.

I'm gonna put in that work.

Okay, you will see.

- Yeah, we'll see.

Baby boy.

[tapping baseline
music continues]

♪ Can't get enough of
that feeling, baby ♪

♪ Can't get enough of
that feeling baby ♪

♪ Can't get enough of
that feeling, baby ♪

[tapping baseline
music continues]

[tapping baseline
music continues]

[tapping baseline
music continues]

[tapping baseline
music continues]

♪ All I need is a parade

♪ Some white girl will
do me just right ♪

♪ All I need is one
of those paydays ♪

♪ To make me have
a real good life ♪

- Hey, I just finished
feeding the kids.

Sit down, I've got
some good news.

- First things first.

- [Tonesa] What's this?

- This is my take from the
first and second drops.

- You got this with two drops?

That's crazy.

- Hell yeah it is.

It's all thanks to you.

You changed my life.

- Well you've been
with me since day one.

It's the least I could do.

- So, what's on the
menu for us today?

- What you in the mood for?

- I'm not gonna say out loud.

- What?

Stop playing.

- So what's this good news?

- Gordon.

He wants to up my
keys from 10 to 20.

He wants me to move more, but
I wanna keep it small for now.

- Hmm.

You know I like it
when you take lead.

- What?

I'm sure you do.

Listen, now since
I vouched for you,

we're really gonna have to up
your game so you look the part

'cause these loud ass country
clothes you be wearing,

they ain't gonna cut it.

- You tripping!

[snare drum tapping a beat]

- For the next few years,
Terry leveled up in a big way.

I no longer looked
at him as a boy.

He looked the part and
he was making real money

and right by my side.

[hip hop drum beat music]

Thank you for helping me
get these boys down tonight.

- No problem.

You know I love
those little guys.

- And they love being
around you, too.

[liquid pouring]

You've been spending a
lot of time with them.

And with me, too.

- I told you I was
gonna look out for you.

And, for the record,

I'd never hit you

and I'd never treat you like
anything less than a queen.

- That's sweet.

But you know the deal.

H is still my husband.

- Yeah, only on paper.

I mean, that's what you said.

- Still.

- Tonesa?

Now that you put me on, you
don't gotta do this anymore.

Look, just let me
take care of you.

- Terry.

You are too young for me.

- I'm 25.

How is I too young?

And what, you've known me

for the past six years now?

- Yeah, and I'm
nine years older.

[Terry muttering
under his breath]

- C'mere.

Come here.

[slow jam music]

[slow jam music]
♪ You kept me up all nite

♪ Till the sunrise

- You sure you can
handle all of this?

[slow jam music]
♪ We was way too intoxicated

- Hell yeah.

[slow jam music]

♪ Girl, it ain't
even your birthday ♪

♪ But you like surprises

♪ Girl, it ain't
even your birthday ♪

♪ But you like surprises

♪ 'Cause you been waiting
on me to get home ♪

♪ See it different when
you down there alone ♪

♪ Reminiscing girl,
just pick up the phone ♪

♪ Reminiscing girl,
just pick up the ♪

♪ Reminiscing girl,
just pick up the phone ♪

♪ I hope you're ready

♪ 'Cause I'm trying to
put it on you, babe ♪

♪ Baby, I'm just tryin' to
set the mood for us two ♪

♪ Baby, I'm just tryin'
to set a mood for us two ♪

♪ Girl, I'm knowin'

♪ We was just some kids
at the playground ♪

♪ Look at us, what
you got to say now ♪

♪ Only really wanted
was to stay down ♪

♪ You know I'm 'bout ya I
could never play 'round ♪

♪ We gettin' vibes
just you and I yeah ♪

♪ I give you the business

♪ Hold on tight, don't be
afraid of heights yeah ♪

♪ It's a man here
in this bedroom ♪

♪ Ain't no telling
what we can do ♪

♪ Honestly could mix with you

♪ It don't matter
where you want to ♪

♪ You know I'd come through

♪ You kept me up all
night till the sun rises ♪

♪ Sunrise, yeah

♪ We was way too intoxicated,
using our vices ♪

♪ It ain't even your birthday

♪ But you like surprises

♪ Girl, it ain't
even your birthday ♪

♪ But you like surprises

♪ 'Cause you been waiting
on me to get home ♪

[slow jam music fades]

- You on the phone
real reckless, man.

All right, man, lemme get
a minute right quick man.

Lemme holler at
little bro, all right?

What up, doe?

- What up?

[hands slapping]

- So you her husband now, huh?

- Go on now, Meech.

Not this again, bro.

- I'm just saying, man.

'Cause you spending an awful
lot of time in her pad.

- I'm just there holding
things down, you know,

helping her out with the kids.

- Yeah, well I ain't
feeling it, man.

'Cause you ain't
nowhere to be found

when it's time to
handle our business.

'Cause you always running
behind this funky ass bitch.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Funky ass bitch?

Watch your mouth big bro.

And ain't nobody running
up behind Tonesa.

Let's not forget,
she's the reason we got

as far as we got now.

She been doing this shit
for years now, Meech.

Oh, so you forgot she vouched
for me and risked her name?

She did that, Meech.

Not me, not you.

- Okay.

I give you that.

I just don't feel like she the
right influence on you, man.

And I feel like
you've been leaving me

out the loop, little bro.

- Ain't nobody leaving
you out, Meech.

She helped me so I could come
up and we could be solid.

And we solid now, right?

- Yeah.

- Alright then, stop tripping.

We're good and I'm
good with Tonesa.

Let it be what it's gonna be.

[Meech sniffing]

- Whoa, whoa.

- Nigga, I can smell it on you.

- Smell what, nigga?

- That you in love.

[playful jam music]

Just don't get us
no shit with H.

Thanks for the sandwich.

[hip hop music]

[door closing]
[hip hop music fades]

[tense music]

- What up, doe?

- What up?

- I'm starting to
worry about you.

Thinking that life on the farm
is becoming too hard for you.

Been missing a lot of my calls.

- I'm good.

Maintaining.

However, I'm not on
the farm anymore.

I got my own place.

- Oh really?

When you was gonna tell me?

- I'm telling you now.

I needed a fresh start.

- From the farm or from me?

- Both.

You've been in
here six years, H.

I'm divorcing you.

And I'm about to take my own
farm to a whole new level

with Terry.

[tense music]

- Wow.

They gonna take my crops,
make a living and cut me out.

- Yeah well, your crops
died once you got locked up

so I had to do what I had to do.

- Wow.

[tense music continues]

T took looking after
the farm to heart, huh?

So you gonna leave me
for the young and dumb

for some bitch ass mother
fucker that's underneath me.

You know I'm not having that, T.

- Yeah, well there's
nothing you can do, H.

That punk-ass mother
fucker I bossed up

the same way you bossed me up.

But look, you'll be straight.

The house still there.

Everything is taken care of.

- And you?

- I need you to let me go.

[tense music continues]

My attorney will send
you the paperwork.

I'll see you on the outside.

[tense music continues]

[door closes]

Harvey didn't take
the news with ease.

Within a year, he was
out and popping up

hoping to put fear in me.

[tense music transforms to
spiraling downward tone]

[H whispers]
- Shit.

[club music]

[club music continues]

[club music continues]

[club music continues]

[club music continues]

- Goin' on?

- You good.

- Yo, what up, doe?

- Let 'em through.

H, baby.

I see they let
your ass out, huh?

Hey yo, lemme get you a drink
or something for your baby.

My man a drink.

Come on up man, quit
being a stranger.

[club music continues]

- Y'all really doing it, man.

- That's it baby.

We balling.

We the biggest mother fucker
doing this shit right now.

The earth is my turf, H.

Do you hear me?

Look around.

This southwest, forever.

- That's a hell of a C.

Y'all really living it out.

[club music continues]

- Harvey, my man.

Good to see you.

Tonesa set you up nice, right?

- Yeah, I'm good.

I'm real good.

[club music continues]

- Cool.

No hard feelings, my man.

- No Hard feelings,
man, I'm glad it's you.

I'm glad it's you
taking care of her.

Hey bro, southwest forever.

[club music continues]

- Southwest.

Forever.
- Forever.

[glasses clinking]

[club music continues]

[club music continues]

- You think he good?

- Seems good to me.

That's that nigga's problem.

Either way, I got you.

[club music continues]

[upbeat music]

See look, y'all tripping.

I'm trying to tell
you if we come up

with a dope ass
name for the label,

we gonna be larger than life.

- Yeah, branding is everything.

- Man, all I know is we
trying to mob like the mafia.

Everybody move as one.

- All right, so go with that.

[Meech chuckles]

- Mafioso.

- Nah, hell no.

You Black nigga, not Italian.

Okay, so the Black mafia then.

- Mm.

[Terry whispers]
I like that.

How about this?

Black Mafia Family?

- That's it.

That's it.

Mm.
- Ye.

Man, get a toast, man.

- Yeah, that sounds good to me.

- Toast to BMF.

Black Mafia Family.

- Terry and Meech had decided
to brand their new journey

into the music business
and BMF was born.

So when are we gonna
officially move out here

and stop going back
and forth to the D?

- Real soon, baby.

Real soon.

- We?

- Terry and I love visiting LA

but I was ready to move
out here permanently.

[upbeat music fades]

[jet engine soaring]

- [Airport Announcer] Flight
2-9-1 has now arrived.

[hip hop beat music]

- It was hard coming
back to Detroit,

but I really missed my family.

Something didn't feel right.

I just couldn't put
my finger on it.

[hip hop beat music continues]

[hip hop beat music fades]

- Hey, Tony girl, you here yet?

- Hey girl, yeah, I am.

But again, please
don't tell anyone.

I just wanna go home,
get my car, see my boys,

and then flying
back out tomorrow.

- Oh girl, you can get a
drink with me before you go.

- A drink, girl?

I don't think I
have time for that.

- Come on, just one drink.

Damn, Tonesa.

- Lisa, I...

All right.

Just one drink.

But please don't tell
anyone, all right?

- I got you.

Meet at the bar over on
Plymouth at eight o'clock.

- All right, see you tonight.

- Okay, bye.

[mobile phone ringing]

[tense music]

- Yo.

- She's here.

She'll be at the bar at eight.

- Good looking out.

[tense music continues]

[dark tense music]

- Take it in.

Oh, okay.
[dark tense music fades]

Aw, that's my baby.

You getting so big.

Oh fine, all right, Corey.

Go ahead and play
with your toys.

I got you.

- So how long you
here for this time?

- Just a few days.

Just wanted to come see the boys

and see if I can
finally get Harvey

to sign these divorce papers.

He's still fighting
me for custody.

[Ma sighs]

- Well what about your attorney?

Is there anything
he can do to help?

- Unfortunately not.

Since I don't have full custody,
I can't bring him to LA.

I miss my baby.

- Well don't worry.

I'm sure it'll all work out.

- Yeah?

Huh.

You and them boys,
you need stability.

- I know, Pop.

And I want to thank y'all for
looking out for them, truly.

I'm trying to get it together.

[Pop sighs]

[mobile finger dialing]

[relaxing chill music]
[mobile ringing]

- Hey girl, where are you?

- Hey Lisa, I'm not gonna
be able to make it tonight.

I'm sorry.

- Damn, are you sure?

- Yeah, I'm sure.

I had a full day with the family

and I'm just gonna call it.

But listen, I'll
hit you up next time

I get back in town, okay?

- Okay, sounds good.

[relaxing chill music continues]

[relaxing chill music ends]
[car engine running]

[tires thumping]

[soft tense music]

- As I'm riding around my city,

man, it felt good
to be in the D.

I just, I can't shake
that feeling that I needed

to get my ass back to
LA, as soon as possible.

[car accelerating]

[bumpers clashing]
[brakes skidding]

[ominous music]

[car door closes]

[ominous sustained tone]

[body thudding]

[tense musical tone]

[fist punching]

[hand slapping]

[tense musical tone continues]

[Tonesa wheezing]

[dark tense music]

[dark tense music]

- What happened?

- Before you blacked
out, you told police

that Harvey tried to kill you.

[tense dark music ends suddenly]

- Daddy?

I'm okay.

I'm still here.

[tender music]

- What kind of
monster would do this?

- I'm gonna fuckin' kill 'em.

[tender music continues]

- I want to see what he did.

- [Mom] Tonesa.

- Gimme, gimme a mirror.

[dark tense music]

[Tonesa wincing]

[compact clacks shut]

T, I need you to
get me outta here.

[Terry whispers]
- Okay.

- I need to get outta here.

- Okay.

- Tony.
- Baby, you are no,

in no type of shape to
be leaving this hospital.

- Daddy, I gotta,
I can't stay here.

I gotta get out.

- I know I haven't been here,

but you know I love you, right?

- Yeah, I know.

- I just need you to listen
to me just this time, okay?

- He didn't kill me this time.

- Just-
- No, daddy,

you don't get it, he's
gonna come back for me if I.

I gotta get outta here.

- What you gotta do is
get out of this lifestyle.

Come on, baby.

- Ma, I'm in too deep.

- Baby girl, please.
- No, no.

This is Corey's father.

He's gonna start a war over him.

- Oh, I'll get a
mother fucker a war.

- If we could just
get outta here.

We just need to get outta here.

- Tonesa.
- [Dad] Baby girl-

- Back the fuck up!

[dark tense music]

[Tonesa speaking to herself]

- [Mom] No, no.

- I said back the fuck up!

Get the fuck away for me!

[dark tense music]

- Tonesa, just wait on Emerson.

He just went, he'll
be right back.

Out to get a cup-

- Ma, you don't know
Harvey like I do.

[tense music]

I gotta go.

[dark tense musical tone]

Promise me you'll get
me the fuck outta here.

I never want to come
back here again.

- Don't worry.

Got you.

Let's go.

[dark tense musical tone]

- [Ma] Oh my god.

What are you guys-?

Ugh.
[Ma sighs]

- Dad?

[tense musical note]

I had to get the
fuck out of there.

I left my kids with my mom

until we could get set
up in LA permanently.

I was ready to go legit

while Terry handled
the other business.

He wanted me completely
out of that life.

- Izzy, you about to find
out why I call Emily a shark.

[H laughs]

[slow groove music]

C'mon now, Em.

Put that pressure on Izzy.

Shit.

Things is changed,
boy, I tell ya.

[slow groove music continues]

Shoulda shit deck 'er.

The fuck you doing here?

- I came here to talk to you
about Tonesa, man to man.

[H chuckles]

- Tonesa, huh?

Ain't she the boss now?

She's big time.

Southwest, right?

Why the fuck she ain't here?

The fuck is this?

- Sign it.

[slow groove music continues]

- I ain't signing this shit.

- Look at here, nigga.

You either sign
these divorce papers

or your ass gonna rot
away in a prison cell.

You feel me?

Boss?

[slow groove music continues]

[slow groove music continues]

- Man, get the fuck outta here.

- Gladly.

- You got the drinks, babe?

[slow groove music continues]

- [H] Yeah, I got the drinks.

- The fuck was that about?

- It's nothing, man,
just some old time shit.

Come on Em, bust his ass.

[hip hop instrumental music]

[hip hop instrumental
music continues]

- I told you we'd blow up.

- I didn't doubt
that for one second.

- I don't think you understand

what we got going on here.

- Oh, I do.

But I trust you got me, us.

So I'm gonna fall back.

- I can't wait.

Thank you, baby.

To us.
[glasses clinking]

- To us.

You know what?

Thank you for believing in me.

I'm really excited about
this car detailing company.

- Yeah, you deserve it

especially now that
we got the cash

to get the business
off the ground.

- Oh no, baby, I'm
not using that cash.

I'm gonna go to the the bank

and I'm gonna get
me a business loan.

Yeah, I'm going 100%
legit on this one.

- Okay.
- [Tonesa] Yeah.

- I see you.
- [Tonesa] Yeah?

- And I'm proud of you.

- Thank you.

[hip hop instrumental music]

All set on my end.

- We lookin' good over here.

Lemme get this paper.

- [Tonesa] Yeah?

- [Terry] Here, we
know what we doing.

- Hm?

[Terry and Tonesa
talking faintly]

Everything been okay with you?

- [Terry] Yeah,
everything been good.

How's it's looking in there?

- Yeah, we good.

- And we good to go?

- Yeah.
- Let's bounce.

- You know what?

I think I left my phone.

I'm meet you at the car.

I'll meet you at the car.

[tense music]

[dark tense music]

[Tonesa whispering]
This mother fucker.

[dark tense music continues]

[dark tense music calms, fades]

[car door closes]

- Hey, you found your phone?

- Yeah, I didn't go
back for my phone.

I went to check on what
my gut was telling me.

Your lieutenant was
stealing from the stash.

- What?

Don't be ridiculous, Tonesa.

- I'm not.

I saw it with my own two eyes.

That's why I went
back to check, look.

He would count some and then
put some under the mattress.

And he had it hidden 'cause
he planned to go back for it.

You need to call him, go ahead.

Call him.
- Okay, fine.

I'll ask him.

In the meantime, take this cash.

Enjoy yourself and go shopping.

- Terry, do you hear
what you're saying?

I just told you this man
was stealing from you.

- All I'm saying is it's
just hard for me to believe.

That man has been
down for me for years

and he wouldn't do
nothing like that.

- Oh, that nigga
been down for you?

What about me?

You're unbelievable.

And you're not paying attention.

And you're not watching
these dudes like you used to.

How can I trust you to
handle this operation

if you stop doing the
things I worked for?

- Tonesa, I've been handling it.

It just so happened to be here

with me outta town this week.

[tense musical tone]

See, this is why I
told you to stay home

and just handle our
legit businesses

because I got everything
else under control.

- Really?
- Yeah.

I told you.

- Oh, okay.
- I got us.

[dark tense musical tone]

- So now you're not
taking my advice?

And now you're not believing me?

After all we've
been through, Terry?

- Trust me.

We good.

[dark tense musical tone fades]

- Yo, what up, doe?

Where the you been?

I've been doing this
shit all day by myself

and I ain't got
no fuckin' sleep.

- Man, quit whining man.

Over here in the other room
arguing with your mother.

- For what?

We need to figure out how
we gonna make this demand

so we can keep
making this paper, T.

- Look, this shit is serious.

I told you before, your mother
cannot know I'm coming back

and forth to Detroit.

And she for damn sure
better not that know

that you putting that work in.

So you need to keep
your mouth shut

and let me worry about
who gonna come help us.

You hear me?

- I hear you, dog.

But you scared of
my mother though.

For real.

[birds chirping]

- Hey.
- Hey.

- So what you think?

How you like the house?

- I like it, I do.

I just, I don't like how we
plan on taking over ownership.

- Yeah, I feel you, but this
a prime location for us,

so I need you to make
it do what it do.

[tense music]

- Hi.

I hear there's a problem
with signing over the house?

[tense music continues]

- Okay, great.

Well then let's get
the paperwork signed.

Oh and, right there.

[tense music continues]

All right, you
have a blessed day.

[tense music continues]

[tense music fades]

[birds chirping]

- This is the one, baby.

- But see, we already
have a house in LA

and Detroit, St. Louis,
Texas, and now Atlanta.

I don't think we
need this big house.

- It's really a win-win.

It's a good business deal.

Hear me out.

I got this guy named Doc
who asked me for a loan.

- And how is that a good deal?

- If he loans us the
money for the down payment

and we repay him
with the drug money

and since you got the
car detailing company,

ain't nobody about to
be raising no eyebrows

at your company
purchasing this house.

- And when he get caught,
he gonna flip on us?

I'm not signing for it, Terry.

This is a $2.2 million
house on Mulholland Drive.

This big shit to the feds.

You'd be under a microscope, no.

No.

Terry!

T, where you at?

[ominous musical tone]

Terry?

- Terry, it's no way that
that's the only stack

that you got in your
hand right now, bro.

Marlow, what are you,

Marlon, what are you doing?

What are you doing?

I need you to make sure he
got the stacks right here

so that he can count it for LA.

[ominous musical
tones continues]

[door opens]

Get 'em into stacks.

- Marlon?

Ricky, Dary?

The fuck is goin'
on in here, Terry?

You got my son and my nephews
involved in this shit?

- T.
- Naw, no T, nothin'!

It's bad enough Kato already
been involved in this.

My cousin.

But my boys?

No over here, shit!
- Relax.

- Ain't nothin', relax nothin'!

The fuck!

[door slams]

- Yo, relax, man.

- The off me, Terry.

- Tonesa, chill out.

- No, I'm not gonna
chill the fuck out.

That's my family in all
that weight in there.

And my son?

You got my fuckin'
sons dealin' this shit?

- Tonesa, I promise,
everything will be okay.

We moving that shit from Mexico

but I got everything
under control.

- Nah, you ain't got
shit under control.

[tense musical tone]

This ain't right, Terry.

And you're gettin'
fuckin' sloppy.

- Look, you might
have put me on,

but I took the ball and
ran with this mother fucker

so you could chill and relax
and enjoy the good life.

We're making millions.

- All this money and
power is changing you.

But this ain't my first rodeo.

I know when it's going too fast

and when it's going
down the wrong road.

You're are moving weight
with the Mexican cartel

and the BMF name is ringing
loud in the streets.

We're getting too big.

- We're not.

I'm telling you, I
got this and I got us.

- Naw, you ain't got us.

And I told you not
to go to Detroit,

but you keep sneaking back
and forth like I don't know.

And then you brought
Marlon in this shit?

[tense musical tones continues]

Yeah, I'm going back to LA.

Fuck this.

The fuck off of me!

[door slams]

- Fuck it, then.

[tense hip hop music]

- Terry always had a way of
getting what he wanted from me.

I signed for our new house,

but not long after, the
feds moved in on us.

[tense hip hop music continues]

[tense hip hop music continues]

[mobile phone ringing]

- Hey, where are you?

I've been calling you.

- St. Louis, but I'll
be back tomorrow.

I got a little
something for you, too.

- Okay, well I'll
see you tomorrow.

[faint audio click]

Wait,

[faint audio click]

do you hear that?

- Hear what?

- There's a clicking
in the phone.

Terry, wherever
you at right now,

you need to throw that
phone out the window.

Do you hear me?

Terry?

- Tonesa, this paranoia
has got to stop.

- I'm not playing, Terry.

Dump the phone.

You hate listening
to me, but I know

what the fuck I'm talking about.

Dump that shit now.

- Okay.

Okay, I will.

- T.

- Look, I gotta go.

I'll see you tomorrow.

[faint audio click]

- [Tonesa Recording] Terry,
wherever you at right now

you need to throw that
phone out the window.

Do you hear me?

- [Terry Recording]
Tonesa, this paranoia has-

[recording stops playing]
[room silence]

[mobile phone ringing]

[tense music]

- Hello?

- [DEA Agent] Tonesa,
this is Agent Samuels.

Come open the door?
[door knocking]

- What?

Why?

[door slamming]
[tense music continues]

Shit.

- [Jason] Ma!

Ma!

- [Tonesa] Jason!

- [Jason] Ma!

Ma, it's the police!

[tense music continues]

What's going on?

What is this?

Excuse me, what is going on?

- Is there anybody
else in the house?

- My family.

- Go check both
sides of the house.

- Check? No.

Excuse me, where's your warrant?

No, no, absolutely not!

- Excuse me.

Tonesa Welch,
you're under arrest.

- Arrest for what?

I ain't do shit.

- You're being indicted
by the state of Michigan

on drug distribution charges.

- Michigan?

We're in fuckin' California
and I didn't do shit.

- Well you're getting indicted
on drug distribution charges.

- Drugs?

I ain't selling no drugs.

- Oh, really?

You don't think we know you're
the first lady of the BMFs?

- I ain't the
first lady of shit.

You need to take
these cuffs off me.

- Now you listen to me and
you listen to me damn good

'cause we got yo ass.

You are the only female a
part of their organization,

the only one signing for
houses and cars and more,

and we heard you giving
Terry advice on the wiretaps.

I mean, there are other women

but they're for playtime,
if you know what I mean.

[faint radio conversation]

- [Ma] Get your pants off me.

- Ma.

Ma!
- Tonesa?

Girl, you got kids in here.

- I'm sorry.

- You got kids in this house.

- Ma.

Ma, don't say anything.

Get your hands off her!

She ain't got nothing
to do with this.

Why they takin' her?

[tense music]
[soft radio comms]

[hollow musical tone]

[tense drum music]
[hollow tone continues]

[garage door rolling]

- Police! Freeze!

- Leave that shit alone.

I hope you do better.

- [DEA Officer] Put it up!

Hands off it!

- Shit!

- Put your hands down!

Fuck is wrong wit you?

[tense musical tone continues]

- The fuck off me pig!

[cuffs zipping]
[tense musical tone continues]

- Fuck off me!

[radio comms]
[tense tone calms]

- I eventually got out on bail

since they couldn't prove
that I touch any drugs,

but that was short-lived.

Terry, Meech, and five
of my family members,

including my eldest son and
two nephews were indicted

on trafficking and
distribution charges.

I was indicted on
money laundering

because I signed for the houses.

And as quickly as BMF
rose, we also fell.

[hollow tense
musical tone fades]

[Tonesa blows out]

I can't thank you enough for
coming through for me, Carla.

- Shit.

You will forever be my girl.

- I know, but,
putting up your house?

- That's actually stupidity.

- Yeah, but that's some real
friendship shit right there.

[Carla chuckles]

- But you my girl.

- Just, after all
shit that went down

with Lisa, I just,

it's been hard for
me to trust anybody.

You doing this for me,
it means everything.

- Tony, you know I got you.

It kills me how some chicks
just want what you have

and will be willing to stab
you in the back for it.

[tense music]

Let's get you home
to your family.

[tense music continues]

- It took several
years for the court

to have enough evidence
and indictments

to finally make the
case against BMF stick.

I took a 57 month plea deal.

The night before I had

to turn myself in I
got totally trashed.

For the first time in
my life, I realized

that glamorous life
I've been chasing

wasn't really worth it.

[jail cell closes]

[tense music fades]

- Marlon and your nephews

and your cousin all had
their sentences handed down.

- I'm so sorry, mom.

You tried to tell me.

They saw the life
that I was living

and they wanted to live it, too.

This is all my fault.

- No, I should have done more
to keep you out of this life

instead of pacifying you

and always being available
to take the kids.

[tender music]

Somehow, I can
only think this is,

this is all my fault.

- Oh, come on ma,
don't say that.

You did the best you could.

[tender music continues]

I was just trying to
protect everybody.

- Protecting them
from their mother.

- You know, when you
were a little girl,

I was always buying
you expensive clothes

and little trinkets.

I spoiled you to keep you happy.

[tender music continues]

Maybe I was.

That was wrong.

Tonesa,

I shoulda done better by you.

I am so sorry.

- Ma.
[somber music]

Mom.

[somber music fades]

[chair sliding]

Can you just please tell her
that none of this is her fault?

Look, Pop, look, I know I've
been a disappointment to y'all.

[tender music]

- Tonesa,

I may not have shown
you much affection,

but I always made sure
you were taken care of.

I wanted better for you.

I know you probably never
heard me say this before,

as hard as it was at times,

I always loved you.

[tender music continues]

And I still do.

[tender music continues]

[soft dramatic music]

[soft dramatic music continues]

- I was literally
on a rocky road.

It was in that moment that
I realized I was exactly

where I was supposed
to be, isolated

from everything and everyone.

I knew then that I
had to change my life

for the sake of my children
and my entire family.

How are you?

- Doing good, you know.

Making it through.

- And Marlon, you talk to him?

How's he doing?

- Yeah.

You know Marlon, he's cool.

Everybody else doing
all right, mom.

Terry's doing all right too.

Did you get his letters
that he sent to grandpa

that she's been repackaging
them and sending them to you?

- Yeah, I'm not
thinking about Terry.

He's the reason we're
all behind bars.

I'll never forgive
him for he did.

But you know what
I am grateful for?

That you didn't follow
in our footsteps.

You just being your own man
and going down your own path.

- Thanks, mom.

Grandma and grandpa made me
keep my nose in the books.

[Tonesa chuckles]

- I bet they did and
I'm grateful for that.

Listen, I need you
to do me a favor.

- Anything.

What's up?

[soft dramatic music]

- I just need you to
stop coming to see me.

- What?

No, mom.

No.

- Corey, Corey-

- No, I'm not going to
stop coming to see you.

I'll be here every chance I get.

You're not in this alone, okay?

You not.

[soft dramatic music continues]

[Tonesa sighs]

- Thank you.

After that, I did everything I
could to be a model prisoner,

get out on time and do the rest
of my bid without incident.

[jazzy soft music]

♪ Good

[water splashing]

[slow hip hop music]

I'm Tonesa.

I will be your mentor
this first couple days.

How long you in for?

Listen, I've been here.

[soft hip hop music continues]

[soft hip hop music fades]

[door closes]

[electric door opening]

[soothing wondrous music]

Corey.

[soothing music]

Hi.

[soothing music fades]

Baby, thank you so
much for these clothes.

- You know I couldn't let mama
leave prison looking busted.

I had to let them know
they couldn't break you.

- [Jason] What up, doe?

- Jason.

- I tried to surprise you.

- How are you?

- [Jason] I'm good.

- Oh, it's so good to see you.

- You look good, you look good.

- So do you.

- Actually, I got
Marlon on the phone

if you wanna speak to him.

[gentle music]

- Marlon?

Hey, baby.

- Hey, ma.

Glad you out.

- I'm so happy to
hear your voice.

[gentle music continues]

I couldn't wait to talk to you

to apologize to you.

- Apologize for what?

- For getting you mixed
up in this business

when I'm supposed to
be protecting you.

I know we got a long
journey of healing

ahead of us, but

do you think you can forgive me?

- Nah, ma, I take full
responsibility for what I did.

You ain't asked me to
sell drugs, nor did
you make me do it.

Like you, got caught up
with the greed, the money.

We all make mistakes, right?

- Can you gimme another
chance to be a mother again?

For real this time?

- It's all good, ma.

- All right, baby,
keep your head up.

I love you.

- [Marlon] I love you, too.

[soft tense music]

- Let's get the
fuck out of here.

[soft tense music continues]

[Marlon blows out]

[keyboard keys tapping]

[door opening]

- Hey.

- Hey.

- What's going on?

- Tony, I'm nervous.

I'm afraid I have some
tough news to break to you.

- What, what is it?

No party for the
employee of the month?

- I wish that was it.
[soft tense music]

Unfortunately, there's
no longer a job

for the employee of the month.

- I'm sorry, I don't,
I don't understand.

- You lied on your
job application.

[soft tense music continues]

- I didn't lie.

I just didn't offer
certain information.

- Come on, let's not
go through semantics.

You basically lied to us
about your felony record.

- But do you see why?

- Meaning?

[soft tense music continues]

- Because of this.

I've been an excellent worker
for the past seven months.

I've done everything
to turn my life around.

I just...

You should just keep
this between us?

- I'm sorry, Tony.

- What?

- It's not up to me.

It's the folks upstairs.

Girl, if it was up to me,

I wouldn't hesitate to keep
you, but my hands are tied.

- Right, yeah, sure they are.

[soft tense music continues]

- Tony, everything you do
in life has a consequence

and at some point, it
comes back to bite you.

[soft tense music continues]

- Thanks, sis.

I had at least four
jobs once I got out

and none of them worked.

So I changed up my strategy.

I got inspired to do some
real good in the community.

I volunteered at
a women's center,

went back into the
prisons as an advocate

and started raising
money to benefit children

of incarcerated parents.

- Hey, ladies, so as
mentioned, my name is Tonesa

and I did three and a half
years in federal prison.

So I have been in
your position before

getting ready to transition out

from inside the
prison to the outside.

I know you probably
have a lot of questions,

a lot of anxiety.

Any fears coming
up for any of you?

[soft hip hop music]

♪ Another reason to hate me

♪ When I wanna run,
when I wanna hide ♪

♪ That's when I look for you

♪ 'Cause baby my mind,
time after time ♪

- Years went by of life being
totally different for me.

I headed back to
Detroit to fill a void.

[soft hip hop music]

♪ I learned my lesson

♪ And through it
all I realized ♪

♪ You I just can't lose

- Today, the Spirit of
Detroit Award is presented

to Tonesa Welch in recognition
of exceptional achievement,

outstanding leadership
and dedication

to improving the
lives of others.

After leaving prison, Tonesa
Welch, a Detroit native,

turned her life around by
working at a women's shelter,

helping abused women
and the homeless.

She then started a
non-profit, Silent Heart

to help put an end to the
silent epidemic of abuse.

She faced discrimination
in the workplace

as a former convict
and joined forces

with Mayor Gil
Garcetti of Los Angeles

as he signed the historic Fair
Chance Initiative into law.

The law bans the box
regarding criminal history

on job applications so that
reformed prisoners have

a fair chance at making a
living after they leave prison.

So, Tonesa truly embodies
the spirit of Detroit.

And it is my honor to present
the Spirit of Detroit Award

to Tonesa Welch.

[attendees clapping]

[soft hip hop music continues]

♪ You get me, so I
know you got me ♪

♪ You are for me so I know
can't nothing stop me ♪

♪ Oh, this all just
a test of my faith ♪

♪ A brand new every day is
a mercy, I'm here for it ♪

♪ Can't get enough
love your grace ♪

♪ Let me say it again

[soft hip hop music fades]

- Hey.
[soft piano music]

- Hey.

I heard you got out a
couple of months ago.

I'm surprised to see you here.

- You know I couldn't
miss out on seeing you.

How come you never wrote
back all those years?

I know your mother was
sending you my letters.

- I tried to warn you, Terry,

but you didn't
wanna listen to me.

- I know, I know.

You were right.

But once you get a
taste of the game,

you never lose that sensation.

So I let the money, the
lifestyle, all of that take over

and I thought I was invincible.

- You know the feds let me
hear those wiretaps right?

After all I did for you?

Why would you do me like that?

- Tonesa, baby, I'm so sorry.

- And the women?
- I really am.

- All those women?

And the lies?

You know, I blamed
you all those years

for being the cause for me and
my family being behind bars.

But you know what?

That was really all on me

'cause I brought
you into my world.

- There's enough
blame to go around.

My head got big, my
pockets got swole,

hey, I forgot the basics.

You told me that I was gonna

get you caught up,
and then I did.

And for that, Tonesa, I'm sorry.

But you know, you
know I still love you.

And always will.

If I don't do anything else,
I'm going to make it up to you.

[soft piano music]

- I'm good.

[soft piano music continues]

[soft shimmering]

[soft piano, instrumental music]

[birds chirping]

[soft instrumental music fades]

It took me decades
to finally walk away

from the game and the
men attached to it.

It's Tonesa's time to shine.

And I felt good about it.

[soft piano music]

[soft vibe music]

[soft relaxing music]

[soft relaxing music continues]

[soft relaxing music continues]

[soft relaxing music continues]

[soft relaxing music continues]

[soft relaxing music continues]

[soft relaxing music continues]

[soft relaxing music continues]

[soft relaxing music continues]

[soft relaxing music continues]

[soft relaxing music continues]

[soft relaxing music continues]

[soft relaxing music continues]

[soft relaxing music fades]