Ripped from YouTube (CC) by ASH
One, two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight.
[upbeat music playing]
[singer] ♪ I feel like fire ♪
♪ I feel like rain ♪
♪ I can take you higher ♪
♪ But you got to earn it ♪
♪ Whoo, I'm lit, don't mess with it ♪
♪ Whoo, stand back, let me do my shit ♪
♪ Whoo, I'm lit, don't mess with it ♪
♪ Whoo ♪
♪ Hands to the sky ♪
♪ Show me that you're mine ♪
♪ Hands to the sky ♪
♪ Show me that you're mine ♪
♪ And, baby, worship me ♪
♪ Worship me ♪
♪ And get it together ♪
♪ Make it feel good ♪
♪ Uh-huh, whoo ♪
♪ Patiently, quietly ♪
♪ Faithfully, worship me ♪
-[Janelle] Hey, Tal. -Hey, what's up?
Let's go to Rey's. I'm starving.
Move. Uh, but Mom's coming to get us, I think.
No. Mom texted. She said she's gonna be working late.
Again?
That's like the third time this week.
Yeah, well, you know Mom. Stashing up money
for our college fund or whatever.
Speaking of college application--
Don't, don't, Jay. Don't, seriously.
-Don't what? I'm just being helpful. -Just don't.
-No, you're not being helpful. -Yes, I am.
-You're being bossy. -I'm not.
As usual.
Seriously, I don't know how they get so much bossy
in such a-- such a stunted body.
[Janelle] First of all, you may be taller,
but I'm smarter, not to mention older.
You're older by two minutes, okay?
That's not even older, that's just--
that's just eager.
-How was practice? -I mean, good,
but obviously not good enough.
I don't know why Kerry keeps fighting me
on every damn move.
Oh, I don't know, maybe--
maybe it's 'cause you're so fucking bossy.
Whatever.
And I am older.
Listen, the deadline is next week, okay?
I applied for two scholarships, dance and cheer.
You have to apply for at least one.
[Tal] What? I'm not good enough to get a dance scholarship.
[Janelle] You're just too afraid to audition.
Well, you're gonna have to get over it, okay?
Because we're going to Ohio State,
then we're going to LA to be dancers.
-That's the plan. -[Tal] Whatever.
[Janelle] I just don't understand
-your lack of ambition. -We're just different.
You dance to perform, I dance for me.
[Janelle] What do you mean? I think that
-that is so selfish, Tal. -How is that selfish?
I just think it is...
[indistinct radio chatter]
Oh, shit.
[Tal] Mom?
Mom, are you okay? Are you okay?
-[man] Whoa. Whoa... -[Janelle] What the hell
is happening here?
Your mother has been arrested.
-Drug-related offense. -Easy, ma'am.
No, no, no. Mom, are you okay?
She's been sober for 10 years.
Are you fucking kidding me?
-I'm sorry, baby. -Are you kidding me?
How could you do this to us?
How could you do this to us again?
-I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry. -[Janelle] No.
Sorry means nothing. You are so selfish.
Let me go. Tal?
No. She's going away.
[Tal] Okay.
[cop] You guys wanna get a couple of things
-overnight and come-- -Can you give us a damn minute?
Look at me. Look at me.
Look at me. All right?
We've been taking care of each other our whole lives.
-Tal, look at her. -[Tal] And it doesn't--
It doesn't matter.
Right, it's always been just us.
In the womb, all the years that she was using,
even the years that she wasn't,
it's just us.
It always has been and it always will be.
As long as we're together,
-we'll be all right. -No, she's going away, Tal.
She is.
She probably is.
And we still have each other, right?
We still have each other.
[sobs]
Let's get some stuff.
Do you remember what he looks like?
He was weird.
He was all right.
When did he even watch us?
We were like six.
He let me eat marshmallows for breakfast
and taught you how to play the sports book.
Yeah, well, at least he's not in jail.
Uh...
-[Uncle Al] Hey. -[Tal] Hey. Hey.
Welcome to Atlanta!
Whoa, you guys have got so big, bruh.
Like-- it's like I used to tell your daddy,
you guys looking more and more
like the mailman every day.
That was funny. Yeah? That was funny.
Let's roll.
[singer] ♪ Oh, all the time ♪
♪ I've been happy ♪
You guys all right?
Look, I know you've been through a lot,
but you're gonna like Atlanta.
It's a new start, a fresh start.
There's a lot of cool things here.
We got the MB Stadium,
this is home of the would-have,
should-have, could-have-been Dirty Bird,
but then motherfuckers lost a 24-point lead.
How do you bust a 24 lead?
Anyway, Atlanta's home to many world-famous institutions.
See? That's what I've been trying to tell her.
But we don't live by none of that shit.
What's up, Brad?
That's my homeboy right there.
See, over here, we got the shoe store,
we got the liquor store,
pawnshop, church.
Cellular store, liquor store,
pawnshop, church.
Gun store, cellular store, liquor store,
pawnshop, church.
The shoe store, we got the liquor store...
See that over there? Don't you ever end up
like them, them hookers. That's Cindy and Sharon.
Don't ask me how I know they name,
I just do.
-[woman] Al. -[Uncle Al] Hey!
This is my place.
"Al's Wigs and Wangs?"
[Uncle Al] Voted Best Lemon Pepper Wet Wing 2003
and 2007.
[Tal] "Wigs around back?"
Boy, you got to have two revenue streams.
You never know when a white man gonna take one from you.
[singer] ♪ Real ones never die, real ones never die ♪
♪ You can't [indistinct] ♪
♪ Now now we meet eye to eye ♪
One other thing.
If you ever see that man in that car in your vicinity,
change your vicinity.
I mean that.
You hear me?
Yeah.
-What? -This ain't Ohio.
-Sorry. -You find yourself
staring at someone, it'll be the last thing you'll ever see.
Get your ass in the car.
[Uncle Al grunting]
-A'ight. -[Dorrie] Whoo!
What do we have here?
[Uncle Al] This is my nephew, Tal,
and my niece, Janelle.
They're gonna be crashing here for a while.
If she was related to you,
she'd be ugly.
Name's Dorrie. If you need anything, holla at ya boy,
because, you know, I run this town.
That's nice to know.
I forgot to tell you all,
we got little black leprechauns around here.
Just step over them.
Quit looking at my niece.
Haters, man.
Voila...
home.
Well, a little tour. This is the living room.
This furniture's vintage, so kind of watch it.
This is the dinette room/ sunroom, I guess.
Look, I know you guys are here
under some tough circumstances,
but we're family.
That's why I didn't let you go to foster care.
I wish I could have helped your father and your mother more,
but I'm helping you guys, okay?
I have a couple of rules.
Education is number one in this house,
all right?
Number two, I don't like idle minds.
So, when you're not studying your books,
you'll be doing a weekly shift at Wangs.
We have to work at Al's Wigs and Wangs?
Yeah. And you can thank me later
because jobs are hard to come by.
Um, that's about it.
Let-- whoa!
One other thing.
No drugs.
Janelle, this is your room.
I worked on it for two weeks
to make it perfect for a young lady.
I installed that ceiling fan, hmm?
And this is yours, pimpin', huh?
-Yeah, it's nice. -[laughs]
Listen, I know a playa when I see one, okay?
So, no ladies in here, huh?
I'm not gonna be raising no babies, you know.
I will see-- well, I'll see how you roll.
It's the jacket.
Look, make this room your room.
Do whatever you want,
just don't touch my shit.
Hey, unpack, get some rest,
because you got school in the morning, all right?
Uh-hmm? High-five.
Maybe next time.
[singer] ♪ Ooh-wee ♪
♪ On the block, man, they tell me to go ♪
He is out of his goddamn mind.
Yeah. Well, we don't have a choice, so...
How are we supposed to keep up with our dancing,
and go to school, and work at his greasy wing store?
This was not the plan, Tal.
Well, in case you didn't notice,
life doesn't give a shit about the plan.
[singer] ♪ Take the Lords' name in vain ♪
♪ Ain't no tears in my pain ♪
♪ From the block to the boardroom ♪
♪ My dudes, man, we reign ♪
♪ We reign forever ♪
♪ The code is stick together ♪
♪ We mash even though the forecast ♪
♪ Is stormy weather ♪
♪ It's nothing, I mean a few rainy days ♪
♪ I mean, it's how we was raised ♪
♪ Most succumb to the pressure ♪
♪ But, yo, it's how we was made ♪
♪ We're different, we're gifted ♪
♪ Like the wheat when it's sifted ♪
♪ Through the muck and the mire there ♪
♪ Heads down and we lifted ♪
♪ Now my people is winning ♪
♪ I swear we got it honest ♪
♪ Grind hard through the night ♪
♪ Same thing in the morning ♪
This motherfucker look like
he got a Netflix password.
Hey, yo, what is it?
Lone wolf shooter.
[man] Hey, what are you holding?
Your antichrist manifesto?
Well, that would be "anarchist," genius,
wouldn't it?
-You ain't shit, little bitch! -All of you, stop.
[man] Yo, Marquis, let's get out of here, man.
What kind of fool are you?
-[hip-hop playing] -[doorbell rings]
-[Dondre] Big Al! -[Uncle Al] What's up, Dondre?
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
[Dondre] Shit, I know what she was talkin' 'bout.
[Uncle Al] This is my nephew, Tal.
This is Dondre, this is Dorrie's brother.
-They live next door. -All right.
-Family from Ohio, right? -Hey.
[Dondre] How ATL treatin' you? Good?
Yeah.
Cool.
-Twelve straight up? -Already know, baby.
[Uncle Al] What you wanna drink?
Let me get a coke.
What kind of coke?
-Mountain Dew. -Mountain Dew?
I got to go way in the back for damn Mountain Dew.
Joseph, where you putti'' the Mountain Dew?
-[Joseph] Man, in the back! -Coke? Mountain Dew?
Yeah, we, uh, call everything a coke down here.
It's a Southern thing.
That makes total sense.
It's fucking different here.
It ain't so bad.
Plus, from what I hear was
it's kind of tough in Ohio, too.
Well...
Come tonight.
I got a party business.
Music, dancing, cold beverages,
the whole neighborhood shows up.
Twenty bucks, thirty VIP? I...
No, no, no. My treat.
VIP all the way.
Just ask for Dondre.
Cool.
Can I bring my sister?
Yeah. Sure thing.
Maybe we keep this from the uncle,
all right, Ohio?
Cool.
Yo, big Al, where my Mountain Dew at?
[Uncle Al] I got your Mountain Dew right here.
-[singer] ♪ Pumpin' that... ♪ -[singer] ♪ Bass... ♪
What, I can't do fun shit, too?
No, I'm excited. I mean, you can do fun shit.
It's just since when do you want to go to a party?
Since our hot neighbor gave me a VIP pass.
This hot neighbor team Tal or team Janelle?
He gave me the-- gave me the pass, right?
[singer] ♪ Nobody pray for me ♪
♪ It been a day for me ♪
♪ Way, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Hey, I remember syrup sandwiches ♪
♪ And crime allowances finesse a nigga ♪
♪ With some counterfeits ♪
♪ But now I'm countin' this parmesan ♪
♪ Where my accountant lives ♪
♪ In fact, I'm downin' this ♪
♪ With my boo bae tastes like Kool-Aid ♪
♪ For the analysts ♪
♪ Girl, I can buy yo' ass ♪
♪ The world with my pay stub ♪
-♪ Ooh, that pussy good ♪ -[Dondre] Ohio!
Okay, look, that's Dondre.
[Janelle] That's Dondre?
♪ Pull up on your block, then break it down ♪
-Hey, y'all real. -That's our neighbor?
What's up, man?
Took you long enough!
Sorry, yeah, we're late.
-You good? -Yeah, I'm good.
Oh, this must be the sister.
-[Tal] Yeah. -Nice to meet you.
Name is Dondre.
Glad y'all could make it.
[singer] ♪ My left stroke just went viral ♪
I promised you VIP, right?
-Yeah. -VIP it is.
[singer] ♪ It's levels to it ♪
♪ You and I know, bitch ♪
♪ Be humble ♪
♪ Sit down ♪
♪ Be humble ♪
♪ Sit down ♪
♪ Be humble ♪
♪ Bitch, sit down ♪
-Are you from H-Dub? -No, Ohio.
[Dondre] Yo, it's cool, big dawg, they're with me.
-Yeah, we're good. -Cool, cool.
[singer] ♪ Be humble ♪
♪ Sit down ♪
♪ Be humble ♪
♪ Bitch, sit down ♪
Hey, King.
Yo, what's up?
[glass shatters]
Listen, I got some business to attend to.
Don't let anybody throw you any shade,
especially these H-dubbers.
They think they run the place
like they some kind of stars already.
All right?
-Okay. -Okay.
You might wanna take this off.
It's hot.
[chuckles]
What the hell's an H-dubber?
I have no clue, but...
this party is crazy.
[indistinct shouting]
[Rigo] Yo, yo, yo, King, give me the mic, baby,
let me rock out.
Listen, man, under normal circumstances,
I'm down, but it's a paying gig
and Dondre makes the rules
so you have to take it up with him.
Yeah.
-[air horn blowing] -Oh, shit.
Guess it's show time.
[upbeat music playing]
[indistinct singing]
[Rigo] Oh, shit, bro, that's your beat?
Nigga, who else, bruh?
That shit's fire, bruh.
[indistinct singing]
[Rigo] Let's go.
[indistinct singing]
[Rigo] Let's go, let's go, let's go!
[Rigo] Yeah.
All right.
That shit was tight, man.
Dondre done stepped his shit up.
Yeah, I'm telling you, man, everything we do
has to be bigger and better.
Yeah, but we ain't gonna let nobody sleep on us, you heard?
Yeah.
Ahh!
Yo, this year,
we're taking over the world, man.
And shit, we already got how we want it.
Just need to focus.
Yeah.
Focus.
I'll be right back.
-This is so cool. -This is amazing.
Not no Ohio party.
[Rigo] Hey, what's up, little mama?
-You want some? -Oh, no, I'm okay.
Nah, you're more than okay.
Hey, come here, let me talk to you real quick.
Hey, hold this real quick.
-What? -Come on.
-I appreciate it. -[Tal] Hey...
[singer] ♪ Tonight is the perfect night ♪
♪ To show me your wild side ♪
♪ We party on the beachside ♪
♪ Under the moonlight ♪
♪ Show me where to put my hands, girl ♪
♪ You know I love when you dance ♪
♪ Show me how you dip and wind ♪
♪ With so much control ♪
♪ You got me saying ♪
[singer] ♪ Oh ♪
[singer] ♪ Oh, baby ♪
♪ You got me praying ♪
[singer] ♪ Oh ♪
[singer] ♪ Please save me ♪
♪ Please, please ♪
[singer] ♪ Oh ♪
♪ Because you know how to break me down ♪
♪ The way you drop it ♪
♪ I love it when you dip low ♪
-♪ Oh, how low can you go ♪ -Oh, hell no.
[singer] ♪ Love it when you dip so ♪
Oh, I see you making new friends.
I mean I was just having some fun.
Eh. You must be confused, boo,
in here trying to dance with my man.
Look, I don't know what the fuck you think you're doing with him
-and that nonexistent ass... -[Rigo] Yo, calm down, man.
Damn, why you always think I'm doing something?
-Because you are. -Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Don't you all got school in the morning?
Yo, you need to bring your ass to auditions
so you can fuck with us this year.
[Rigo] Hey, yeah, man,
why don't you come on over to High Water
and see why we are better than you?
-Ooh. -[Janelle] I'm sorry,
did you just say High Water?
And what business is it of yours?
Why is she even still here?
Sage Odom's High Water is here?
They all go there.
He's talking about High Water.
Sage Odom's school is here, Tal.
-What? -All right. Look, we got to go.
Dondre, thank you so much, this was amazing.
Yeah, catch you later.
See you.
♪ Oh, how low can you go ♪
♪ Love it when you dip so low ♪
♪ And I'm yearning for more ♪
♪ Love it when your hips flow ♪
♪ So much more than you know ♪
[Fredricka] Sage Odom,
your school is for low-income kids
in your old neighborhood,
but it's also sort of an experiment, isn't it?
[Sage] High Water is...
emphatically not a school.
It's more of an immersive
apprenticeship program
where kids learn what they need
in order to hone their passion
and make it pay.
Art is not a pipe dream.
It's not expendable, it's a commodity.
It's America's most lucrative export.
Tal?
They're auditioning writers,
directors, performance artists,
singers, designers, and this week,
they're auditioning dancers, okay? We have to go.
I've never auditioned for anything, okay?
-You know that. -Don't you see it?
Maybe all this happened for a reason.
You think there's a good reason Mom relapsed
and went to jail and we ended up here?
No, I'm not saying that.
-I'm saying... -What?
Can't I just be excited about something?
[Tal] J, these people are the best of the best, all right?
They're practically professionals. Let it go.
[Janelle] Look, I know all of that, but you know me.
I at least have to try.
[Tal] Yeah, I know.
Good luck convincing Uncle Al.
Yeah, well, even Uncle Al has to see
what an amazing opportunity this is.
[sighs]
[gasps] Fuck. Can't you knock?
Tal, get your ass dressed.
God.
No diploma? What good is it if there's no diploma?
[Janelle] High Water is pre-professional.
It prepares you to make a living an artist.
[Uncle Al] The only thing they can prepare you
making a living as an artist
is if you win the lotto.
So, I suggest you work on your education.
We will see what college we can get you into.
I don't wanna go to college.
[Tal] Yeah. But you did apply for a scholarship
at Ohio State, so...
But college is not gonna get me where I wanna go.
High Water is.
It's the chance I've been busting my ass
for my entire life.
I just need your approval.
[chuckles] You familiar with that show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
-Of course. -My final answer is hell no.
You tell them people get them a diploma,
then we talk.
[Tal] Please don't do this.
[Janelle] Tal, if I don't at least try,
I will hate myself for the rest of my life.
Well, if Uncle Al finds out
and we get split up,
I'll hate you for the rest of your life.
-Tal... -We had a plan.
This is the plan. Don't you see?
We wanted to get to New York to dance, to be famous.
Who is more famous than Sage Odom?
Yeah, but Uncle Al could really throw us out.
[Janelle] Uncle Al is not gonna throw us out.
I only need his approval if I get in,
and even you said it,
what are the odds of that?
Just cover for me for one day.
Oh, come on, Janelle.
Stay away from the cute boy.
And if you see the mean girl,
run like hell.
We get a call tonight with Mom at 7:00,
so don't be late, all right? I mean it.
Kill it.
Thank you.
[Greeter] Hi. Are you here for the dance orientation?
Yes. Janelle Baker.
All right.
Janelle, it looks like your online registration
-is complete. -Uh-hmm.
So today we're gonna have a tour of High Water,
followed by a showcase from our current students.
Tomorrow, the audition process begins.
For now, just step over there with the applicants.
Okay. Thank you.
Sorry.
Oh, man.
This is insane.
Yeah. I know, right?
I'd kill to meet Sage Odom.
I mean, a chance to learn from that dude?
That shit's crazy.
I'm Janelle.
-Davis. -Hi. Odalie.
[Janelle] Nice to meet you.
I just found out about auditions yesterday.
Really? I've been rehearsing for about a year.
I didn't mean to sound like I'm freaking you out.
-It's okay. -[man] Everyone, please follow me.
Shit, my group's leaving me.
I'll catch up with you guys in a bit, all right?
Excuse me. I'm sorry. Excuse me.
-I'm sorry... -He's cute.
[laughs]
Good morning.
You must be my group.
Welcome to High Water.
Well, as you know, we are not a traditional
"art school."
We don't have grades, or diplomas.
Instead, we focus on teaching you
everything that you will need
to succeed as an artist in today's world.
Now, we accept artists 16 to 25.
Is there anyone here who is under 18?
-I am. -Yeah, me too.
Okay, well, I hope that you're all aware
that if you don't already have your high school diploma,
you're gonna need to get it online
or pass the GED.
-Mm-hmm. -[boy] Great.
Okay. Let's get started.
-[singer] ♪ Going up ♪ -[singer] ♪ Give me the mic ♪
♪ I've been gone for a minute ♪
[Collette] The fashion department
is integral to every other department here.
Designers learn the basics of creating costumes
for all kinds of performances.
The videography program focuses
on direction and editing.
You will be relying on the students
in this department to help you create dance
and performance videos to enhance your web presence.
Since all of you are applying for the dance program,
you'll be spending most of your time in here.
[singer] ♪ They're saying [indistinct] anyway ♪
♪ And I'm going on [indistinct] ♪
[Dorrie] Where's that fine sister of yours?
[Tal] She's taking over the world.
Cool picture.
Is it a dog?
Oh, yeah. It's a-- it's a greyhound.
Skinny thing.
Yeah, they're skinny and weird.
And other dogs can sense it, so they attack them.
You can't take a greyhound to a dog park,
because other dogs go after them.
That's some fucked-up shit.
Right? Yeah.
Speaking of fucked-up shit,
that guy, Marquise? Don't mess with him.
Trust me, I know.
[Collette] Okay, everyone,
let's head into the performance space.
Some current High Water students
are gonna show you just how high
the bar's been set here.
Find a seat.
Go ahead.
[metal clanging]
[upbeat music playing]
[singer] ♪ Shut the [bleep] up ♪
♪ On your back, back, back, back, back ♪
♪ Shut the fuck ♪
♪ What? ♪
♪ On your back ♪
♪ What? ♪
[upbeat music playing]
I met them last night.
She does not like me at all.
[singer] ♪ Shut the [bleep] up on your... ♪
[upbeat music playing]
[singer] ♪ Shut the fuck ♪
♪ Shut the fuck ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Collette] All right, all right.
Hello.
If you haven't met me yet,
I am Collette Jones,
and I am the head of High Water.
That great piece was created by three of our students,
King, Rigo, and Poppy.
Here at High Water,
we believe in the value of gifts
and the power of hard work.
But most importantly, we believe in collaboration.
Now, this isn't just an institution
for dancing or singing,
creation, or even performance.
High Water is purposed to develop
and strengthen your gifts in here,
so that you can be an instrument
of change out there.
[cheers and applause]
Okay, any questions?
How often is Sage Odom here?
Do we ever get to perform for him in person?
We get that question a lot,
and while High Water definitely is Sage's vision,
he is a very busy man
and so his time is limited.
Next question?
[Sage] I wouldn't necessarily say that.
[cheers and applause]
[Sage] I mean, you do have a point
with my time being limited, and I am a very busy man
but, you know, I can always make time for a little...
[crowd cheering]
May I?
[clears throat]
Future of High Water, make some noise.
[crowd cheering]
As of late, I've been doing a lot of interviews
about High Water and what we're doing here.
And it would seem that they take every opportunity
to downplay what is happening here.
Asking me questions like,
"Is this a vanity project?"
Mind you, when I say them, I'm talking about that they,
the they that you're thinking of right now, you.
They don't want you to have art centers,
they don't want you to have afterschool programs,
they wanna keep you stupid
by having bullshit music
and reality TV in constant rotation.
These are the people that keep asking me
this same question, this same dumbass question,
"Sage Odom, is this a vanity project?"
A question to which I, in my most friendliest tone,
respond with, "Fuck no."
[laughter]
[Sage] No, this is not a vanity a project.
What this is, is a mission,
to get the art back to the people
through the actual artists.
[cheers and applause]
[Sage] So the answer to the question,
"Will Sage Odom be around this semester?"
You damn right I'm-a be around this semester!
[crowd cheering]
[Sage] Now, the ones that I find special,
students that I find special,
I will personally select you to work with me.
-[crowd cheering] -[Sage] Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.
Because see, the students that I find lacking,
I will personally walk your ass out that front door
and make sure that you are not in the way
for someone that deserves to be here.
Do we understand each other?
[cheers and applause]
Enough talk, we got work to do.
I'll see you this semester!
[crowd cheering]
Okay, so the fragrance company call,
that needs to happen now, or it's not happening.
-Got it. -[Sage] Did they--
-did they call you? -Hey. Hi.
-Hey. -[Collette] Hi.
There she is. God, you look amazing.
-How you've been? -[Collette] Thank you.
-[Sage] Come here. Ahh! -Thanks.
[Collette] Okay.
[Sage] Good to see you.
[Collette] Look, do you wanna explain to me...
-Sage... -...why you blew into town
and ambushed me on stage
and announced that you were taking over?
Thank you. Not taking over,
just a little spark, that's all.
But we do have a lot to talk about,
so I feel like we should maybe...
-Okay, so when? -[cell phone buzzing]
What are you doing in town?
I'm gonna-- all right, I--okay, I got to take this but, um,
uh, dinner tomorrow night,
10:00, my hotel. Yes?
Good.
[Collette] Thanks.
Whatever.
[sighs] Okay.
[man] Six buffalo dry, six nuclear wet
-with blue cheese. -[Tal] Six, six dry?
-Got it. Right, okay. -Okay?
Straight legs. I don't fuck with the flat parts, all right?
And I do want the little leg part.
Okay, well, they're wings.
They'll be arm parts, right?
[man] You're getting smart with me, man?
-What? -You catching some type
-of attitude, dawg? -No, man. I...
[man] Hey, where your manager at, man?
-Bring your manager out here. -Oh, man.
All right, I need some real help
before I Yelp trash this bitch.
[Uncle Al] What's up, Straight-Leg Ray? Go take out the trash.
[man] Doesn't make no sense, man.
What can I get you right now?
The same thing I get every time.
-Six buffalo dry. -[Uncle Al] Right, right.
-Six nuclear wet. -[Uncle Al] Right, straight up.
[Marquise] What up, East-O?
[East-O] So, Marquise, man,
I hear on the street you pumping something serious out here.
[Marquise] You already know how we do it, right?
[East-O] Yeah, I see, I see. I see.
You know, like,
people are telling me, like, "East-O,
you need to put this high school boy down for a job."
And I'm thinking
you already worked for me, right?
Yo, now, you got your side hustle
and you didn't even tell your boy?
How do you think that makes me feel?
East, look.
[Marquise] No, yo, East-- Aah!
[East-O] I'm talking to you, motherfucker.
-[Marquise] Look, man. -[East-O] Shut the fuck up.
You hear me when I'm talking to you?
Ah, shit.
Huh?
Huh? Huh?
Huh? Huh? Huh?
[gasps]
Didn't I tell you
this is not Ohio?
You see something,
-you look the other way. -Yes, sir.
[sighs] I got one goddamn job,
that's keeping you alive.
One goddamn job.
-I'm sorry. -Don't be sorry.
Be smart.
Okay.
I've been a parent for 15 minutes.
I don't like this shit.
Be smarter, man.
[Davis] I still can't get over Sage Odom.
[Janelle] I thought I was gonna faint.
I mean, that dude could be off doing whatever the hell he wants.
Well, it's crazy he even spends time
with people like us.
I mean, people from his 'hood
who don't have anything.
[Janelle] That whole showcase thing was next level.
-[Davis] Yeah. -[Odalie] Yeah. We have to be
as good as every dancer on that stage today.
What do you know? It's The Mighty Hannibal.
You like the old school stuff?
Yeah. My pops used to have a sick vinyl collection.
He used to play records every Sunday morning.
-Dope. -It was kind of like church.
[Janelle] That sounds like fun.
You should have us over some time.
Maybe we'll get the spirit.
[Davis] Yeah, I would but, um,
we lost the records in a move, so...
You know, I used to use a lot of old music back home,
you know, when I choreographed routines.
Wait, you choreographed?
What, like for a company?
Oh, no. For, like, cheerleading.
Don't laugh.
[chuckles]
I know people don't look at cheerleading
as dancing exactly, but...
No, I have mad respect.
I do.
I mean, if you led your squad
that means you know how it is to work.
Well, ladies, I got to get going, okay?
-We got a big day tomorrow. -Oh, yes.
-I'm gonna get a refill. -Okay. Cool.
[singer] ♪ I'm not too sure of it ♪
♪ Don't wanna [indistinct] ♪
♪ Looking for [indistinct] ♪
So, tell me about Ohio.
[Janelle] Ohio. Ohio is cold.
[Tal] Yes, of course, Janelle will be here next time.
Yeah, she, uh,
she wanted to skip orientation to talk to you,
but it was me that wouldn't let her.
Yeah.
What the lawyer say?
That's--
It's fine. That's...
Oh, damn, there's some fucking beeps, Mom.
I-- we're out of time, all right?
But I love you, okay? I mean, we both love you.
We both love you.
[singer] ♪ I hardly ever dream ♪
♪ It's been so long ♪
♪ It's much more vivid than what I remember ♪
♪ Oh, Lord ♪
♪ I stand in a moment ♪
♪ Trying hard to hold on ♪
♪ Each second passes to the past ♪
♪ And then it's all gone ♪
♪ Hey now, hey now, here we go ♪
♪ Wait now, wait now, there we go ♪
♪ To my millennium ♪
♪ Count to a thousand one ♪
♪ The hearts that came and gone ♪
♪ Love, life, hate, death is my millennium ♪
♪ And everything I've lost ♪
♪ I'll keep it close in my millennium, millennium ♪
♪ Oh, oh ♪
♪ My millennium, millennium ♪
♪ Hey now, hey now, here we go ♪
♪ Wait now, wait now, there we go ♪
♪ To my millennium ♪
♪ Count to a thousand one ♪
♪ The hearts that came and gone ♪
♪ Love, life, hate, death is my millennium ♪
♪ And everything I've lost ♪
♪ I'll keep it close in my millennium, millennium ♪
♪ Oh, oh ♪
♪ My millennium, millennium ♪
♪ Oh, Lord ♪
[Janelle sighs]
Tal, you are not gonna believe my day.
I've got to get into this place!
The people are so passionate and--
What's wrong with you?
You missed our call with Mom.
Don't pretend you suddenly care, because you don't.
Of course, I care.
-Why wouldn't-- -[Tal] And don't worry,
-I lied for you. -[Janelle] You--
-Again. -[Janelle] You did not have
to lie, I just forgot.
They're not going easy, J.
She got three years, no good behavior.
And it's that long before she even gets
to go up for parole.
Have you even thought about what it must be like
-for her in there? -Of course I thought
about it, Tal. She's our mother.
How could I not think about it?
But we need to think about me and you right now.
We're the ones here taking care of us.
Look, you said it yourself, okay?
Atlanta has a lot of good things going
-if you would just come with me. -Yeah, right. Yeah.
For you.
You know what it has for me?
It has a shitty school, it has a wing store,
and it has an uncle who's keeping me quite literally
-in the fucking closet. -[Janelle] And what?
I'm not allowed to be hopeful even just a little?
Why, because you're miserable?
Well, you've always been miserable.
No. No, you're just not allowed
-to be that damn selfish. -Excuse me?
It's not just Mom's thing, you know.
[music playing in distance]
[male singer] ♪ In the middle of the dark ♪
♪ See your soul shine through ♪
[female singer] ♪ See your soul shine through ♪
[male singer] ♪ Always been a rebel ♪
♪ Breaking all the rules ♪
[female singer] ♪ Breaking all the rules ♪
[male singer] ♪ Been preparing for this moment ♪
♪ For all of your life ♪
[female singer] ♪ All of your life ♪
[male singer] ♪ Eh, put it on all the line ♪
♪ Got the world to lose ♪
[female singer] ♪ Got the world to lose ♪
[male singer] ♪ Got the world to lose ♪
♪ How do you ♪
♪ How do you bring the best out of me? ♪
♪ How do you flow so gracefully? ♪
♪ Don't wanna look away ♪
♪ You got me lost in a standstill ♪
♪ What have you done? ♪
[female singer] ♪ What have you done? ♪
[male singer] ♪ What are you doing? ♪
[female singer] ♪ What are you doing? ♪
[male singer] ♪ Oh, what have you done? ♪
[female singer] ♪ What have you done? ♪
[male singer] ♪ What are you doing to me? ♪
♪ Ain't nothing like a vision coming to life ♪
♪ That's more than valuable ♪
♪ Safe to say priceless ♪
♪ So priceless ♪
♪ How do you ♪
♪ How do you bring the best out of me? ♪
♪ How do you flow so gracefully? ♪
♪ Don't wanna look away ♪
♪ You got me lost in a standstill ♪
[rapper] ♪ Uh, another day, another dollar, no ♪
♪ More like another day, another problem, yo ♪
♪ Homie, my pack is falling down like some dominoes ♪
♪ Wondering on what time [indistinct] ♪
♪ Filled up with dominoes ♪
♪ And the [indistinct] ♪
♪ But mentally I'm still a G, friends can be deceiving ♪
-♪ I'm in the streets... ♪ -[DJ] Oh, shit,
the king of the A is in the building!
[crowd cheering]
[DJ] Y'all know what it is when Sage Odom in the building!
We turn it up all night, baby!
-Let's go. -[rapper] ♪ ...never violate ♪
♪ I just get to isolate the streets ♪
♪ Because the chronic ain't for cheap ♪
What's up, Sage?
♪ But that's not the way to be, homie ♪
[East-O] Sage, brother.
How you gonna creep up in my hood without a hello?
Big East-O. What's the word, man?
-What's going on, man? -[Sage] Good to see you, sir.
Yeah, man. It's been a long time
since both of us were sneaking
through that back door, huh?
We was wild boys back then.
-We were. -Oh, yeah, man.
Hey, heard you're doing good out there.
Big time, man.
-Grammys? -Yeah, you know.
World tours and shit?
-It's crazy, it's crazy. -Yeah, man.
What you been up to though, man?
You know, same old.
Hey, remember when we was kids, man,
and we made that whack-ass track?
-Drop it, bop it. -Drop it, bop it.
A lot has changed since then, man.
A lot has changed.
Most definitely.
You became a big star
and forgot about us little folk, huh?
Come on, man. Don't do me like that.
I never forget where I came from.
You know that.
Yo, I got these beats you got to hear, man.
Will raise your shit next level.
Okay, all right.
-All right. I'll check this. -[East-O] No so fast though.
Let me get your number.
Let's talk some business.
-All right, all right. -[East-O] Yeah.
Absolutely. No problem, brother.
[radio playing indistinctly]
All right, I'll see you at school, Tal.
I have a early club meeting.
Oh, yeah? What do you got?
Robotics club or Youth for Christ crusade?
[chuckles] Bye.
Keeping busy.
Good girl.
[door closes]
[Rigo] Ready to do your thing, Ms. Janelle?
You remembered my name?
[Rigo] Oh, I asked around.
What, you nervous?
No, no, just a bad morning.
Oh, good, 'cause I could take one look at you
and tell you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
And if you need anything else around here,
just holler at me, all right?
-My name's-- -Rigo.
I know.
Hmm! Looks and brains.
See? Told you.
Nothing to worry about.
Good luck.
[Boomer] All right, listen up, let's go.
How you doing? My name is Boomer.
I'm one of the dance coaches here at High Water.
Welcome to part one of our audition process.
Today, you'll be observed by myself
and the rest of the dance faculty.
At any point you could be eliminated,
taking you out of contention.
Those still standing at the end of this round
get to move on to the next. Is that clear?
-[man] Yes, sir. -[students] Yes.
All right, we call today
-the Suicide Squeeze. -[Boomer] That's right.
[Electra] Dancers that survive
will continue on this week
to complete the audition process.
-Are y'all ready? -[students] Yes.
[Boomer] Let's back it up, let's go, come on.
[applause]
[Boomer] All right, here we go.
This first part, it starts off
by going one,
two.
Yeah, next you do it, pull out right away.
Five, six, seven, you hop.
One, two,
you got to hop on your right foot.
Scoop, scoop.
Yeah, clean lines. Five, six, seven, hop.
One, three, scoop, hop.
From here, you're gonna drop.
Bop.
Pull your arms down.
Yeah. Turn around.
Step.
Give me some attitude in this pop, boom.
Yeah. Strong. Very nice. Here we go.
Five, six,
five, six, do it again.
Hop.
Hop. Scoop it. Scoop, scoop.
Hop. Ha, ha.
Ta ta, pull, seven, pop.
All right, you guys ready to do this?
[crowd cheering]
This is where it matters right now.
I'm gonna give group one the floor.
[crowd cheering]
[Boomer] Let's go.
Bring that heat.
Music.
[upbeat music playing]
[Boomer] Come on.
[upbeat music playing]
You can go, thanks for coming.
Thank you so much. This is it, all right?
Group three, let's get it.
Come on, group three.
[upbeat music playing]
No, thank you. No, thank you.
You're safe, you can go.
-Stay. -Whoo!
-You made it through. -Thank you.
[applause]
They are good.
Not as good as us.
[King] Don't even think about getting
with that girl, man.
You know Poppy can't handle that.
And when Poppy's unhappy,
it throws off the whole vibe of the group.
Well, me and Poppy broke up, so...
[King] I'm serious, man.
Do nothing to help that chick.
We'll be fine, all right?
I just wanna play with her a little bit.
Come on, Janelle, you're killing me.
-[man] These are real, right? -[man] Right.
That's real, though. That's real.
It's my man.
[Doc] One more time like that.
Five, six, seven, you go.
One and two and three,
four, five, six.
Hop, hop.
You can jump out.
On one, clap your hands on two.
Guys, hold up, hold up.
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Sage Odom.
[applause]
Well, here you are,
the final 40.
Now, after this round, there will be half of you left.
[Sage] Okay.
What are we standing around for?
Let's go. Let's get it going.
-Let's go! -Okay, guys.
All we got to do is get through this next round
-and we got this, right? -[Boomer] Hey.
Cut the chatter, let's get to work.
[Electra] All right, group one.
To the floor. Let's see it.
[applause]
So what, you think you know something?
No, man, I--
I don't know anything, all right?
And I didn't-- I didn't see anything.
[Marquise] It doesn't matter what you saw.
You ain't in the game,
you don't know shit,
you're not important.
You're just some insect.
Let's get this bitch.
[male singer] ♪ Let's get to business ♪
♪ No forgiveness, I'm out for vengeance ♪
♪ My hunger vicious ♪
♪ When I finish, I eat the dishes ♪
♪ I'm from the bottom ♪
♪ Overpowered and underprivileged ♪
♪ So I came to run it
♪ And I ain't talking physical fitness ♪
♪ Survive, been from ashes to rising ♪
♪ And now it's time that we establish who I am ♪
♪ I'm riding... ♪
Number 77, thank you very much.
[male singer] ♪ To clash with the Titans ♪
♪ I'm ready for war ♪
♪ It's time to feel the force ♪
♪ Kicking in the door ♪
-♪ What you looking at? ♪ -Fuck.
[male singer] ♪ And now I'm ready for war ♪
♪ Because I want it all ♪
♪ And I want it more ♪
♪ I don't wanna talk now ♪
♪ I'm ready for war ♪
♪ It's time to feel the force ♪
-Oh, yeah. -♪ Kicking in the door ♪
♪ You're looking at a boss ♪
♪ And now I'm ready for war ♪
♪ Because I want it all ♪
-♪ I'm ready for war ♪ -Number 62,
thank you very much.
[male singer] ♪ I'm ready for war ♪
[Sage] Thank you very much, number 60.
[male singer] ♪ Now it's time that we establish who I am ♪
♪ I'm riding, I'm last to the fighting ♪
-Eighty-four, thank you. -♪ Time for you to clash ♪
♪ With the Titans I'm ready for war ♪
♪ It's time to feel the force ♪
♪ Kicking in the door ♪
♪ You looking at a boss and now I'm ready for war ♪
-♪ Because I want it all ♪ -Fifty-three,
thank you very much.
[male singer] ♪ I don't wanna talk now ♪
♪ I'm ready for war ♪
♪ Time to feel the force ♪
♪ Kicking in the door ♪
♪ You looking at a boss and now I'm ready for war ♪
[music fades]
All right, 53, you're safe.
[Davis] Yes, yeah.
[Marquise] Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo.
I think the insect just lost his shit.
Let's get him the fuck out of here, man.
Come on, come on.
[heavy breathing]
-[Odalie] Oh, my God. -[Janelle] We made it.
[Davis] We made it to the next round.
I still can't believe there's still two more rounds to go.
[Odalie] I know. I got to head home though,
but I'll see you guys tomorrow?
[Janelle] Okay. You killed it.
-[Odalie] Thanks, you, too. -[Janelle] See you tomorrow.
-[Odalie] Yes. -All right, y'all...
-Big congrats, girl. -Thank you.
Now that you're practically official around here,
I'd like to show you around.
[heavy breathing]
Look, I was just standing here thinking
me and you could really shut this place down next year.
[phone vibrates]
Please, please pick up. Please pick up.
Please pick up.
[Rigo] You need to get that?
No, I would love for you to show me around.
That's my dad right there.
[engine revving]
-[Rigo] You want a ride? -Um...
[heavy breathing]
Yeah, sure.
Come on.
[engine rumbling]
[sobbing]
This creativity, these kids, this is where I need to be.
[Tal] Next on Step Up: High Water...
-[Janelle] Who did this to you? -[Tal] Doesn't matter.
Go get your dream. One of us should have it.
Is Rico gonna be helping all of us, or just you?
He was just showing me some steps.
-I'm sure he was. -Fuck you!
Your solo audition is your moment of truth.
By the end of today, the new class of High Water will be chosen.
Music.
Made in Georgia.
♪ Diba-diba duh-dee-duh ♪
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