Previously on American Soul
-top talent, and three of them are awful. -Maybe you don't understand.
I don't need dancers nailing the latest moves.
I need stars creating the next dance craze.
I see you again, you ain't got my money,
it'll be the last time I see you, Mikey.
I'll get it, Gerald, I promise.
She won't keep making a fool out of me.
You see anything, you blink the high beams twice.
Officer down.
Your boys can't protect you.
Give me a name.
Code 7...
There you go.
S-Something don't feel right, man.
That Mexican shit got you, uh, jumpy and whatnot.
Oh, yeah? That's what it is, Reg?
JT, you got to be cool, man.
Cool? Man, I can't sleep, I can't eat.
If I listen close enough,
I can hear that cop choking on his own blood.
That pig had blood on his hands way before we put him down.
That wasn't murder; that was retribution.
Don't let nobody tell you different.
On my signal.
- I told you, heat's cooling. - We're good.
Police! Get on the ground!
-Hands where I can see them! -Nobody move! -Police! On the ground!
- Don't move! - Police!
Get on the ground!
- Stay down! - Get on the ground!
Dexter Brown, you're under arrest
for the murder of Officer John McMartin.
What?! I didn't do nothin'!
- Get him out of here! - Get off me, man!
-I didn't do nothin'! I didn't do nothin'! -Don't move!
So we gonna drop this on an innocent dude?
Dexter ain't been innocent a day in his life.
That's a certified snitch, good for two bodies.
If he a snitch, what that make you?
A concerned citizen, brother.
Well, what about the money, man?
Latch died protecting us.
So when the coast is clear, we return the favor:
use the jewels to take care of his family.
So we did all this for nothing?
Revolution don't come easy, baby.
Gonna drop this one on somebody else,
and you're cool with that?
Oh, I'm cool.
The question is, are you?
I didn't do nothin'. I didn't do nothin'!
Stop! Stop!
Time's up!
I'm standing outside
Precinct Ten, where the authorities have obtained
the confession of Dexter Brown,
chief suspect in the murder of Officer John McMartin.
Brown was arrested earlier this week,
and while the police call this arrest "textbook,"
a lawyer for Brown's mother has photographs
that may tell another story.
With me now is Mr. John Cochran.
Johnnie. Please. Johnnie Cochran of Cochran, Atkins & Evans.
Johnnie, Dexter Brown's mother claims these photographs depict
the police assaulting her son on his way to county jail,
while the police say he was resisting arrest.
Words can be twisted, but pictures do not lie.
The cops beat this supposed confession
out of my client's child, and they know it.
To be fair, Johnnie, it is hard to see
what's going on in these photos.
What's happened to Dexter Brown is what's been happening
to black men at the hands of police for years.
There is nothing fair about it.
It's just tough, you know?
Yeah, I know.
Bet I can make you smile.
I'm eight days late.
Seriously?
I don't want to get too excited.
I'll set up an appointment with Dr. Cox, but...
I think I'm pregnant.
Yeah.
Oh...
What are you doing?
Minding my own business.
You should try it sometime.
You know Mama don't want that flag up in here.
And Dad would hang it with pride.
Since I'm the man of the house now, that's what we'll do.
Man of what house? You so broke, you can't pay attention.
- Get out of my room. - Wait, Mama went to San Diego
to visit Uncle Pete... I need a ride to school.
Mm, I'm too broke to care.
Out.
You sold us a Bandstand for coloreds.
Now, I don't know B.B. King from Nat King Cole,
but this... is certainly not that.
Aw, come on, Clarence Carter is one
- of Atlantic Records' top acts. - We gave you
prime real estate.
Know how long the line is for a Saturday slot?
I mean, it would wrap around this set and...
stretch down to Watts.
Open up this door, Willard! Willard, I'm not playing
with you! Open up this door!
Mama, Mama, Mama, what's going on?
- Where's Aiya? - She's next door.
Willard done kicked us out!
He won't give us my stuff back!
I ain't high, Jeffrey!
-Open up this door, now! -All right, all right, all right, here, here, just...
Hey!
-Whoa. -Hey. -What you doing
- in our place, man? - It's your place when you pay.
I've given y'all enough time; now time's up.
I told you I was gonna get you the money.
Y'all owe $500 in back rent,
plus $20 for the door you just busted.
Pay me... or get to steppin'.
Why shouldn't I yank you from that slot
and bury this shit between sign-off
and "God Bless bloody America"?
But this is just a filler episode, Richard,
to air during the holidays.
We've got great acts in the pipeline.
- Yes, we do. - The best.
Yeah, well, based on this list, uh...
all I see is reasons to worry.
Damn it, Brooks, this is the wrong list.
Do I have to do everything myself?
This list is...
not the list that you gave me.
My apologies, Mr. Kanter.
I'll, uh...
I'll make this right.
I will get you the right list,
and I promise that you will go wild for it.
Listen to him.
Is he even Negro?
Look at this place.
If that bitch didn't have a million-dollar mouth,
they'd have been out of here months ago. Oh!
- Jeffrey! - Yeah. What's up?
- Get him. Hold him. Hold him. - Don't touch him.
- Don't touch him! - Back up!
Please. Willard, I'll do anything.
No, no, no, no!
No, no, no.
Get off me!
Get him out of here!
And you stay the hell away from my building, you hear me?!
It's okay. You're okay, Jeffrey.
I'm gonna take one of them.
So, how much are we talking about?
$500.
I had some personal problems.
I'll pay you back.
I raised six kids, Jeffrey.
Now, girls got a God-given knack for lying,
but I can smell boys lying a mile away.
We got evicted.
- Do you ever knock? - Wow.
-Bad moods must be contagious. -You embarrassed me Firsthis morning.
I haven't seen you all day. How'd I manage to do that?
Episode eight, your dancers were dragging.
They made Clarence Carter look ridiculous.
My dancers can only work with what they're given.
And I can't attract better artists with second-rate dancers
on a dance show.
This has to be fixed, Tessa, now.
- It has to. - Don, the show's working.
The dancers are strong. We're good.
And we have to be better than that.
We're staying out in my car
but I swear tl'll pay you back, Ma.
I ain't got the money to give you.
But you can take that storeroom out back.
Small, but it's got running water,
which is more than I can say for that car of yours.
I can't take that from you, Ma.
You said you was gonna rent that out.
But you can take my money?
You better take God's blessing, boy.
If not for you,
then for your mama and that baby girl over there.
All right. All right.
Brandy, it's Tessa. We need an emergency rehearsal.
It's a quarter to 2:00 now.
I want the core crew here by 4:00.
Just do it.
"("
Hold up, man.
The monitor's out. Again.
Sorry, boss.
This better be fixed before I get back.
- Yes, sir. - Come on, baby.
Whoa, Mr. Love, Peace and Soul in the flesh.
I ain't seen you in a minute.
-Gerald, my man. How you hanging, brother? -I got the Isley Brothers.
And people are willing to pay top dollar
- just to look through the window, baby. - Right on.
Ron and the boys wrapping up?
Yeah, they are if Ron wants to. Why?
Thought I'd take a minute and talk to him
about being on the show.
What you think this is, Don?
I think it's two brothers looking out for each other.
Yeah?
What if you invited me over to your crib for dinner?
Food, wine,
Delores's sweet peach cobbler for dessert.
Month later, I come back, no invitation.
Just make my way into your kitchen,
open your fridge What would you call that?
First taste is hospitality, brother.
Now you got to pay to eat.
Hey, they in the back.
All right.
Duty calls.
Let me know if you want them seats.
The Isleys are hot.
- Mess up again and you're fired. - Okay.
Hope you don't mind, I laid Aiya down.
She was tired.
That room is yours, child. Make it yours.
You don't need my say-so.
Thank you.
But I ain't looking for a handout.
I can push a mean broom.
Be careful what you wish for.
Broom's in the supply closet.
Start out back and work your way to the front.
We talked about this.
- Shit. - I told you already.
- Language, boy. - I'm so sorry, Ma.
I forgot Simone and Kendall were coming by.
Can you please not tell them I moved in?
61 years, and I'll say it till I die.
Don't lie to the people you love, son.
Your friends got a head start.
Thought I'd help you catch up.
I'll save you some time.
My door don't swing in your direction, you dig?
Well, like my good friend Ron says,
"It's your thing. Do what you want to do."
You always got to put up with that?
It's roadie life.
Mine, anyway.
They don't act like that when Ron's around.
Hmm. Now that you mention it,
Ron did cut out kind of early, didn't he?
He had to beat Beverly Hills traffic.
Got a thing for the United Negro College Fund
You know Ron, bdown for the cause.
Here's to a truly worthy cause.
Where's this song
-you been promising? -Wait, before we talk about that...
You pull a bank job or something?
Saved it babysitting.
I've been pricing recording studios.
We can press a single if we pool our cash.
We already have a demo that no one's heard yet.
We should push that.
That's a cover, not an original.
And the quality isn't that great, anyway.
Guys, when Encore's on, nobody's better.
It's time everybody else knew it.
Okay.
So... how much we talking?
- $800. - What? Get out of here.
Look, we are either all in on Encore,
or we need to stop pretending.
Now, I'm putting my $78 where my mouth is.
All right. I got, like...
...$15 I can spare.
I got...
got, um...
I got three.
- Typical. - Not today, Kendall.
Every dollar brings us closer to Encore being on wax.
A real group turns their dream into reality.
All right, Dr. King.
I got to split.
Don't forget about the rehearsal later.
Yeah, I know. I know.
- Thank you for believing. - Oh, in you?
- Always. - In us.
Hold onto it.
Until we get it all together.
I need to get back to work.
I'll see you later?
I got to study tonight.
But soon.
Soon.
I tried, Gerald, really.
It's mostly there,
and I-I can get the rest in a week or so.
That's not what we agreed on, Mikey.
I know, but...
things been rough lately, you know?
What I always say, Mikey?
The one thing you can always count on from me?
Huh?
- You're a man of your word. - I'm a man...
See, that's why I like you, Mikey.
You pay attention. All right?
Come on.
Look, don't worry.
We gonna make this right. Huh?
Thanks, Gerald. Man, I-I promise, I'm-I'm...
A man of my word, Mikey.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
I'm a man of my damn word, Mikey.
Hi, booger.
What's this about?
This is Daniel, aka Little Man D,
aka D-Smooth, aka my son.
Why is he here, Kendall?
This is a dance rehearsal, not a day care.
Sorry, Miss Tessa. Short notice.
He'll keep out of the way, though.
Okay. Now, for everyone else
who is not in diapers, you all are here
because I think you are the best dancers this city has.
Some of us are.
We win together.
We lose together. And those nonsense moves
some of you guys pulled in episode eight were weak.
Weak don't work on my floor.
It's time to toughen up.
Ten laps around the lot seems like a good place to start.
- What? - Oh, now it's 12.
- What? - You don't run, you don't dance.
- Aw, come on, now. - It's up to you. Let's go.
Come on.
Carnitas, please. Extra hot sauce.
This one's on me.
Hell of a takedown you and Gilbert
led in South-Central.
Your partner was a good cop.
I should've been there with you.
I would've put a boot in that son of a bitch's face.
Here's to a fallen hero.
And one less thug on the streets.
It's the boy the cops beat down.
Thought we'd spread the word and keep watch.
It's okay, right?
Nice to know
some of ours are climbing the blue ladder.
Johnnie Cochran.
I know who you are, Mr. Cochran.
So I'm gonna save you the ask.
Dexter Brown was a clean arrest.
- And the confession? - I wasn't there for that.
But he was fingered by an accomplice.
Intel was good. He did this.
Then why'd they beat him?
Got kids, Detective?
Not yet.
I got two little girls.
And if they were ever to get in trouble with the law,
I pray there's someone there to look out for them.
Get this one right, Detective.
A lot of lives depend on it.
Hmm. Thanks.
It is an injustice.
But this amateur Cochran is going to stir things up.
I've got it. An anchor.
Yes. Bravo, my dear. Bravo.
Now I have another riddle for you.
So, a man has two sons.
The first, he gives a nickel and a dime.
The second, he gives a dime alone.
What time is it?
Ah, a newcomer.
Lux et veritas.
- Um... - Yale motto.
Everyone here's an Ivy or married to one.
What is your alma mater?
Well, I guess you could say that I was summa cum laude
at the school of hard knocks.
That's amusing.
It's very cute, but, uh...
Hic et ubique terrarum.
I studied at the Sorbonne.
Paris?
-Yes. -Ilsa, darling, after all these years
of wine and cheese...
why have I not known this about you?
Marcus, treasure, after all these years,
perhaps the better question is why you men never think to ask.
Okay, partner up!
Let's go!
Real dancers train mind, body and soul.
And how would you know?
Sorry, what was that?
I mean, you talk a good game.
So you think you can keep up with me?
I don't think it, I know it.
Then you're not afraid of a little wager.
- You win, you all can go home. - Oh, yeah.
I win, you're mine for the next four hours, no complaints.
Deal?
Let's get ready to pack it up, y'all.
- All right, Richard. - Put on something funky.
You got it, Tessa.
Yeah...
- Ooh! - Oh!
Oh!
Okay.
Get a partner and get to work.
A deal is a deal.
Damn, four more hours, y'all.
Here we go. Four more hours.
So, what big game are you hunting?
Ilsa, you got me wrong.
I support the United Negro College Fund, that's all.
Mm. And the Isley Brothers being on the schedule
is just a fringe benefit.
Let's just call it a happy coincidence.
But I haven't seen Ron in ages.
Yeah, I was sad to hear they couldn't make it.
You know,
most women find honesty to be an aphrodisiac.
Mm-hmm.
My syndicators are making demands.
I need talent, Ilsa.
A-list... I'm assuming.
Bandstand level. Now.
Or I'm back in Chicago with less than I started.
Thank you for that.
Oh.
Stick around, Don.
I think we can have some fun.
You're eating that wrong.
Yeah? How you figure?
You got to open it up.
Work with the heat.
Then add a little something extra to it.
I'm really digging this four-eyed thing
you got going on.
Is Daniel still asleep?
Yeah, yeah.
My man passed out after eating all that chicken.
It's cool, Miss Tessa letting you bring your kid.
Yeah, well, sitters cost a grip.
Yet, here we are, working for free.
There you go talking that union stuff again.
Boy, I'm here to dance.
Look, this ain't how they do them dancers on Bandstand.
They get paid, full benefits and everything.
Come on, Fresh. Master Don never gonna
treat us the way Master Clark treat them white kids.
Not if he wants to keep the train on the tracks.
Anyone seen Flo or Simone?
Flo was just here.
Oh.
Didn't your mommy ever teach you to look both ways?
I'm just borrowing it, okay?
I'm gonna bring it back, I swear.
There you are.
Been meaning to give you ladies your fan mail.
Seems you two are turning into quite the stars.
We have fans?
Don't let it get to your head. Fans have favorites,
but good dancers work together to be great.
Thank you, Flo.
Whatever. We even, bitch.
You know, if I didn't know any better,
I'd swear I was boring.
Hmm.
I guess I have been a bit preoccupied.
I suppose that would explain
why you're unintrigued by our fashionably-late guest.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
- Diana Ross? - Nope.
That inner circle is like a human force field.
Allow me to freshen our drinks.
I'll introduce you.
Great. So, now relax.
Let's get ready. Stay composed.
From the bottom, from the top, it's gonna be wonderful.
- Excuse me. - Yeah.
Sorry to bother you, but Miss Ross
has been pestering me for a while. Perhaps you can
- help me out with something. - Yeah, I got you.
Yeah.
Jeffrey?
I got some meat missing from the freezer.
You want me to check it out?
What I want is for you to tell me where your mama at.
She was cleaning back there earlier.
What are you saying, Ma?
I'm saying what I'm saying.
Look, I kept a close eye on her.
Look, she's been cleaning for the past couple days.
Hey, y'all. Hey.
I just stepped out for some air, but I'm back in business.
I'm back, back, back.
Yeah, just... just leave everything to me, okay?
I can't have her stealing from me, Jeffrey.
You, baby girl, you always got a home here no matter what,
but she got to go.
How did you know?
Oh, what, the song that you sang
to get Berry Gordy to sign The Primettes?
How could I not?
But he didn't sign you right away, did he?
We went to Hitsville every day, begging till we wore him out.
You took what was yours.
You made your dreams come true.
Don Cornelius.
I host a show called Soul Train.
- The show Gladys did. - Mm-hmm.
I heard you were trouble.
People didn't see you for what you were when you first started.
And I suspect we're having the same moment now.
Miss Ross, I'm not just making a dance show. I am...
I'm building a legacy for our community.
Come to Soul Train and sing.
Sing whatever you want.
Sing as loud and proud as you want.
You, sir, are the definition of smooth.
And if you're still around a year or two from now,
I might take you up on your offer.
It took many trips to Hitsville for our first "yes."
Isn't your dream worth that kind of effort?
Hey, Gilbert, you got to see this.
This is not the time right now.
I was going over Dexter Brown's confession.
This guy says that he and Latch worked alone,
but Officer Rozier swears that there was another guy.
- All right. - A third guy. A driver.
And he was asked to describe the vehicle.
And he says, "The kind with four wheels."
Patrick, stop.
Dexter Brown was just found dead in his cell.
He hung himself.
Let this go, all right?
We caught a cop-killer. Take the win.
Fresh, you all right?
Chris, go get some ice.
Kendall, go to my office and call an ambulance.
I need a word, Gerald.
Let Eli finish. I'll get with you.
I told you to wait for me.
Yeah, well, patience is not my virtue.
Who's ready to reach out and touch a mind?
Because it truly is a terrible thing to waste.
Be cheerful when you give.
Oh, $5,000 from Mr. Kurt West.
Glorious, just glorious.
And another $5,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Tobias Jackson.
Oh. And a generous $10,000
from Ilsa DeJarnett and Don Cornelius. Thank you!
- Question. - Shoot.
A man has two sons.
To one he gives a dime, the other a dime and a nickel.
What time is it?
Is that really what you're here asking me, Don?
How can I get your label back on Soul Train?
- You want us back? - Mm-hmm.
Impress me.
You? Not the talent?
Not your boss?
Yeah, just little old me.
Impress me, Don.
Guess I need to bring my A game.
And when you do, bring your checkbook.
You owe me $5,000.
You think you were
the only one Mikey was in deep with?
He was into me for four-large. Five to Andre here.
I gave Mikey my word.
Pay me on time, we're square.
I held up my end of the bargain.
-A dead man can't pay nobody, Gerald. -Well, I beg to differ.
Since Mikey's demise, everyone's on notice.
We look weak, people try us. We look strong...
...they pay us.
Herschel don't like you making moves like this solo.
New deal. You pay back the money that Mikey owed,
we back you with the boss. Forgive and forget.
Well... Jimmy,
like I say, a man of my word.
And I promise...
you'll never see a penny of Mikey's money from me.
If Herschel got a problem, he can come through, personally.
You sure that's the way you wanna play it?
Yeah. I'm sure.
Man.
Fresh is gonna be out of the show and out of a job.
Can't bag groceries on a broke ankle.
We gotta get more than just chicken for our troubles.
Did y'all hear?
They say Dexter Brown hung himself in jail.
- What? Dexter?
There's gonna be a vigil tonight. Wanna go?
I can't go. I gotta study.
You guys should go, though.
I would, but...
I gotta wake my boy up, take him home.
Next time?
Next time.
Here ya go.
You know that kid they say killed that cop?
He hung hisself in jail.
Figured we'd take up a little something
to give before the funeral.
I don't know, man,
I was just hoping the young-blood would make it.
It's enough of us dying outside as is.
Look, I'm-a cut to the chase.
I apologize for taking advantage of your hospitality.
No disrespect.
Let me ask you something, Don. How much you make on Soul Train?
Hey, no, I ain't trying to get in your business,
I'm trying to help you do more.
Making connections is a waste of your time.
You a closer, and what I can do is open doors you can't.
Just how much will these opened doors cost me?
- Peace out, brother. - All right. Okay.
How much to get access to the best of the best every show?
Five.
A silent five.
But you got to get me someone big. And fast.
Al Green big enough?
You're buying him breakfast at that address.
- Al Green? How? - And don't go cheap, neither.
He a country boy. He like to eat.
I'll have my lawyer draw up the agreement.
Mm, nah, Don. You'll learn.
Can I take those?
I'm a man of my word.
If I got a problem with the agreement, you'll know.
You really think he killed himself?
I think it don't matter.
He's dead, and ain't a damn thing can change that.
I know, I know, I'm late.
And you're on right now.
- Okay. - I need some I.D.
Right.
- Okay. Get on the stage. - Yes!
Don, I'm glad you're here.
There's something that I needed to talk to you about.
- Um... - Shh. Shh.
Shh.
A man has two sons...
What?
A man has two sons.
He gives one a dime...
the other a dime and a nickel. What time is it?
I don't know, Don.
That's my point. That's my point.
But Fresh got injured today during rehearsal.
- He had to go to the hospital. - Whoa.
W-Whoa. Whoa. Today. Today?
They were here today?
That's what today means.
But it's not a shoot day, Tessa.
Insurance only covers us for production.
Why the hell would you do this?
You want next-level dancers. We're working to give you that.
Now I'm down one of my best dancers,
and I'm out whatever the hospital's gonna charge me,
and you may have put production at risk
for having performers on an uninsured set!
And I am trying to figure out are you incompetent,
or just plain stupid?
You know what, Don?
Take it out of my pay. Fire me.
But you will never speak to me like that again.
Because judging by the bloodshot eyes
and the alcohol on your breath, you care more about
having a good time than making a great show.
Take these damn fliers down!
Do it your damn self!
Dexter Brown's death will not be in vain.
Justice will be served.
And the police will know they cannot exterminate our people!
Thanks for this. I really didn't want to be alone tonight.
You've been... busy.
It's been a rough day.
I figured this would help.
You see, it's safe: Alexander if it's a boy,
Alexis if it's a girl. You know?
Either way, after your dad.
I'm not pregnant.
Next time on American Soul...
Don is a con! Don is a con!
You all are what makes Soul Train special.
Then I guess y'all have to decide: you want the best dancer
you can get or the best dancer you can get for free?
-And you think I should pay them? -I think you should consider it.
- I'm Private Barker. I'm looking for Sergeant Clarke. Who is this guy?
- He's our guest, Kendall. - He's not my guest.
I was just at your apartment.
Why didn't you tell me you moved?
It's a long story. Can we talk about this later?