- Previously onThe Game... - Garret Evans,
- will you go on tour with me? - What?
You can see the show and maybe meet my mom.
There are things about her past you should know.
I don't need your background check.
Raquel's special.
Whatever dirt my dad dug up on Raquel,
- I don't care. - It's about her mom.
She been doing hard time in prison in New York.
Maybe I'll spend more time in Vegas
when Auntie's sole owner.
Sole owner? What do you mean?
You really know how players think.
I know how everyone in this game thinks.
- Shannon Dixon? - TEE TEE: You cried three days
when she stood you up at the Sadie Hawkins dance.
DR. MILLER: The fibroids will eventually grow back.
A hysterectomy should be in your near future.
Brittany, please, you won. Jamison loves you.
[tires screeching]
Boy, I hate surprises.
I know, I know, I know, Mom.
But you're gonna love this one, trust me.
- Okay. - All right, almost there.
Okay.
[music sting]
We have breaking news, sports fans.
- Okay. - Chance Worley,
head of the players' union,
just announced they have dissolved the current CBA.
So, what does that mean?
It means that the All-Pro Football Alliance is real.
It means, with rumors swirling that ex-super agent Tasha Mack
will be the AFA's first commissioner,
it could actually work.
It also means that everything that you know
about pro football has changed overnight.
- I'll be damned. - [chuckles]
Commissioner?
Ma, look around.
Huh?
Oh, it's my jet!
It's my damn jet!
No, no, no. This is the jet
of the new league commissioner.
Your no-nonsense style impressed Nelson
and the other owners.
- They're offering you the job. - Oh, well, damn.
They gonna bribe me with my own jet?
[laughing] 'Cause that's a damn good bribe.
This is a big damn deal.
This is everything we ever wanted and more.
Wow.
Yeah.
- [shower running] - Baby!
It's like an igloo in here!
GARRET: The shower's hot. Come join me.
[laughs] I'm putting on clothes,
not taking them off.
Ooh, I need socks.
What do you want to eat?
Oh, your fancy French toast.
My French toast is amazing.
What you think? You gonna take the deal?
'Cause I'm borrowing the jet either way.
[laughs] I mean, it is a damn good deal.
But, you know, I just-- I don't know.
- I got to think about it. - What is there to talk about?
You know, when you got skills as good as mine,
you just can't give 'em away for free.
Mom, 18 million a year is not free.
- Say what now? - Mm-hmm.
Oh.
Okay, well...
That's a good starting point.
[chuckles] So, uh...
Just give me a minute, okay?
Okay, but I'm still gonna borrow the jet.
Just saying.
All right!
[exhales]
[shower turning off]
My mind's still dirty, but the rest of me's clean.
- [door closes] - Raquel?
Raq...
Shit.
Fuck.
[high-pitched ringing]
[heartbeat pounding]
The patient's care was underwater for several minutes.
We bagged him on-site. O2 saturation 89.
- Faint pulse, unresponsive. - Okay, we'll take it from here.
Good luck, buddy. You'll need it.
♪
Hey, here's the budget report that you wanted.
Perfect. And I need you to cover the food and beverage call.
I have a meeting that I can't miss.
Okay, cool, consider it done.
Um, I'll take it in the Colonel's office,
if that's okay.
Actually, I can do you one better.
Colonel's office is now your office.
You've earned it, Brittany.
Thank you, Sara. Wow.
Okay, question. Could this fancy new office
come with a fancy new title?
Like what?
- Like VP of Entertainment. - Beau's old job?
I know what you're thinking, Sara,
but I would be perfect for this position.
Brittany, you have no idea what I'm thinking,
but for the record, I think you are overreaching.
You have no experience.
And I respectfully disagree.
I grew up around football,
I worked in hospitality, I created Club EndZone.
That's nice, but we are talking
about being the VP of a multibillion-dollar company.
I was VP in my senior class in high school.
And some of those kids were multi-billionaires.
Or their parents were, so...
Okay, so you want a shot?
- Show me, don't tell me. - Okay.
We'll revisit this later.
Don't forget about the budget call.
Would the VP-to-be ever forget?
[chuckles] Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
[sighs]
Paxton.
Yeah, this new football league wants me to be a commissioner.
Mm-hmm. I sent you over the contract.
It's $18 mil a year and I get my old jet back.
Uh, yeah.
It's a... it's a sweet deal.
But I got a lot going on, so I'm gonna pass.
All right? But I made you rich.
[chuckles] So review the deal anyway.
All right.
[groaning]
Oh, shit.
Ooh.
[exhaling sharply]
Mm!
[groaning]
[screaming] Shit!
[panting, grunting]
[screaming]
Shit!
Hey, Ms. Dixon!
I was in the neighborhood,
so I thought I'd stop by and say hi.
To make up for what you didn't do five years ago?
[laughs] Yeah, cute, huh?
It's a little stalker-ish but cute.
Why are you really here, Malik?
Shannon, I'm here to convince you
that we belong together.
I mean, girl, I flew all the way to St. Louis
just to take you to lunch.
That's how bad I want us to work.
I appreciate that.
But I have a parent-teacher conference
and a deposition. I can't just go to lunch.
I have a life, Malik.
No, yeah, I-I know you have a life, Shannon.
But I'm just trying to be a part of your life.
I mean, look at us, we ain't young anymore.
Gee, thanks.
No, no, no.
- [chuckles] - What I mean is,
if this can work, then I want to know.
I don't want to waste another moment of my life without you.
Okay.
I'll be in Vegas tomorrow
tying up loose ends on the Thatcher case.
Let's hang out then.
Oh, like a date, huh?
Let's hold off on the labels, okay?
Okay, okay, all right.
But a brother's still got to eat.
So, is there a Phatty's nearby?
Maybe I can eat and play Undercover Boss.
How about playing garbageman first?
[chuckles]
Anything you want.
- Thank you, sir. - Thank you.
[phone ringing]
[ringing stops]
WOMAN: Looking for anything in particular?
Hmm, not really. Just something that says
I'm starting a new life, you know?
- That sounds exciting. - And I want to feel
like a million bucks, but for 40.
Actually, you know what? Scratch that.
You can't put a price on me.
Try these.
They just came in today from Paris.
- Oui, oui! - [laughs]
Now, that screams star.
Hell yeah, that's exactly what they should be screaming.
[phone chimes]
I'll take 'em.
- [groaning] - [door closes]
Mommy, I'm home.
Mommy!
- [grunting] - Mommy, are you okay?
- Hey. - Should I call Malik?
No, baby, Mommy's fine, okay?
You know, actually, it's a teachable moment.
Never wear heels on a glass bridge
your crazy brother insisted on having.
Are you sure you're okay?
Yeah. Never better, baby.
- Okay? - BRITTANY: Hey, babe,
I hope you're having fun
jiggling with the Whittakers.
I know cell reception is bad, but, dang,
I'm starting to worry that Ms. Gladys stole my man.
[chuckles] Well, give me a call,
'cause I have some great news about work, okay?
Talk to you later, bye.
[rapid knocking]
This fuchsia, frenzied-- fuzz-- frenzied, fuchsia...
[rapid knocking continues]
- Renee? - I am in a shit ton of trouble,
and I didn't know who else to turn to.
What about your aunt?
Especially not Aunt Sara.
Look, I know we only hung out once,
but I feel like I can trust you.
Okay. All right.
Come in. Have a seat.
So... catch me up.
Okay, so, um, I'm in town for a bachelorette party.
And we were snow-coning and...
- Snow-coning? - Champagne and cocaine.
Poorly named-- I thought it was a frozen delicious treat.
- But keep going. - Anyway,
I was feeling frisky and I slept with this guy.
Oh. [chuckles] Sounds like a good night so far.
- Oh, shit. - I hate Vegas.
All right, well, let's not panic,
'cause it's not that hard to get an annulment.
Uh, don't you think I thought of that?!
All right, first, lose the attitude,
because you asked me to help you, remember?
Sorry, sorry. Um... okay, uh...
It's just, an annulment isn't an option because--
this is the worst part-- he knows how much
my family's worth.
All right, this would be the point
where most people panic, but lucky for you,
I know the best magician in Vegas.
You know David Copperfield?
Better.
My magician makes marriages disappear.
Okay? Let's take a ride.
Honey, nothing is gonna happen to me, okay?
And you said it in your Mogy speech.
You said I make you feel safe, and I'm gonna always do that.
I didn't feel safe just now.
Well, you were scared.
Everybody gets scared. It's okay.
You don't get scared.
Yeah. I get scared.
God gave us that emotion so we know how it feels
when you can't pay the bills. [chuckles]
Okay, well, what scares you?
Lots of things, like spiders,
uh, growing older.
Your brother's girlfriends?
Ooh, they scare the heck out of me.
[both laugh]
Oh, and I just got a new job opportunity
that's really scary.
Well, you being sick scares me.
Well, it shouldn't,
because Mommy takes real good care of herself.
Then how come you fell?
[sighs]
Because I've been too afraid to get help.
But Mommy's overcoming her fears, all of 'em.
And I'm gonna go to the doctor,
and I'm gonna get everything perfect,
and I'm gonna make sure that you always feel safe.
I hope when I get older, I'm as strong as you.
Ooh! Now, that's good, Kai.
I want you to make sure you put that
in your speech next time
when I repeat as Mogul of the Year.
- Yes? - Yeah.
Give me some.
- Pow. - Pow.
- I love you. - Love you, too.
And this fuzzied, frenzied, fuchsia ball of energy
is Furious Freddy, our lovable mascot
and the new center for our marketing campaign.
Think about what Gritty did for the Philadelphia Flyers.
I don't know what Gritty did,
but I know what you did for Renee.
[scoffs] Ex-Excuse me?
- Don't play coy. - [chuckles]
Assuming that I did do something,
how would you know what I did?
Billionaires know most things.
Billionaire aunts with nieces who like trouble
know everything, except for how you did it.
Renee needed help, so I helped her.
Hmm. Fine. Don't tell me.
But no secrets as VP of Entertainment.
Wait, are you-- are you saying...
I'm saying you got your shot. Don't blow it.
[sighs] Okay.
So, Furious Freddy...
Now that the union's approved the league,
we need to get to work.
Get a jump on the other teams, I like it.
Dawg, but ain't you supposed to be going on tour with Raquel?
Raquel saw Dad's background check.
- Whoa-ho. - Yeah.
So, what, this is like damage-control time.
Oh, I wish. I lost control.
She won't return my calls or my texts.
- [scoffs] - Maybe I should do what you did.
Stalk her like prey, wear her down.
[laughs] Shit, dawg, that didn't work.
Thought I was coming home with a future.
Instead, I came back with a friendship date.
Oh, a date! A date with who?
Oh, your son's alone on Lovesick Island.
Look who's talking.
Well, certainly not Raquel, and not to you.
That's low. Even for you.
Ooh! Okay, look, I'm here
for the power of attorney.
I need you to sign here, here, and initial there.
Wow, okay, well, now you can legally take all my money, huh?
Mm-hmm, just like Uncle Sam.
- Mm, mm, mm. - Okay.
Now, Mama Mack is here
with years of bad relationship advice.
So, go.
Well, basically, Nelson did a background check on Raquel,
- and she found out. - Oh!
Damn, he's still doing that shit?
- Mm-hmm. - Did he find any dirt?
Actually, no. Nothing at all.
Wow, okay.
Well, there's only one way you gonna get her back.
Okay, you got to do something unexpected.
- Mm. - You know, take her mind
off that little piece of paper.
- That's a good idea, Tasha. - Yes.
I know exactly what to do.
Mm-hmm.
- All right, good luck. - Ah, okay.
- All right, dawg. - All right.
So, we got one fool down and one fool to go.
- [sighs] - What's your issue, 'Lik?
You don't want to know, Ma, it's about Shannon.
Ah.
You can't get her off of your mind, can you?
[groans]
Mama, she is all I can think about.
I'm like a teenage boy all over again,
except I'm not using lotion at night.
Okay, can you leave those images out of my head?
I am still your mother.
Ma, I just want more, all right?
And I'm just not sure that we're ever gonna get there.
But I already know what you're thinking.
"Okay, Malik, that's what's best."
Okay, well, after all these years,
you should know you never know what I'm thinking.
Well...
do tell.
Okay, I am thinking, same kind of fool,
same kind of advice, you got to go big.
Mama, are you telling me, Malik El DeBarge Wright,
that I need to go after Shannon Dixon?
I am telling you that I'm not worried if you do.
Okay, I'm tired of being scared if she's gonna hurt you again.
Mm-hmm, okay. Well, I don't believe you.
But I'll go with it, Ma, okay.
- Okay. - So, what do you think
I should do, huh? What's going big?
Do I look like Alexa?
Baby, I do not have the answers, okay?
But after two decades, there's got to be something
that you always wanted to do.
Just do it big, baby.
- Okay? - Mm-hmm.
- Oh, and give me that. - Oh.
[both chuckle]
- All right? - All right.
Stop being "scurred."
- Do it big. - Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Do it big.
[sighs] I tried his mom Lula Fields,
but the number's disconnected.
I hate making these calls.
What about trying her?
Who's Brittany?
Don't you watch Hard Blocks?
I think it's his girlfriend.
[phone ringing]
["Out of the Dark" playing]
[ringing stops]
♪ Harder to believe...♪
Oh, my...
♪ Fighting to break free, nothing stopping me...♪
Oh my... Garret, this is so sweet.
But I'm sorry, Raquel's not here right now.
Oh, it-it-it's cool.
Just tell her that I, uh...
...that I came by.
It's beautiful, though.
♪ From out of the dark♪
♪ Oh.♪
You see that?
That man put your name in lights on a billboard.
Girl, I'm going on tour.
My name's gonna be in lights every night.
Ew. Don't be like that.
It's true.
Okay, but go talk to him.
Give that a man a chance to explain.
Oh, my-- there's nothing to explain.
He didn't even do anything. His dad did that crap.
Why are you taking his side?
Besides, Raquel, you have nothing to hide.
No.
I'll be gone tomorrow, and he'll be on his way
to forgetting me. It's true.
- [laughing] - Uh-huh.
Okay, remember when I said we could hang?
This feels like more than hanging.
Well, keep 'em closed. Keep 'em closed.
- Turn, turn, turn. - Okay.
One, two, three, open.
["Happy" by Ashanti playing]
♪ Boy, you fill me with...♪
The Sadie Hawkins dance?
Yes, it is more than hanging,
but it's not officially a date yet,
because you have to ask me to go.
So, you just throw a whole dance for just the two of us?
Not exactly.
♪ So glad that you fell in love with me♪
♪ My love is so good♪
♪ That I wouldn't be...♪
Malik.
Thanks so much for this.
- Nice to meet you, Shannon. - Nice to meet you, too.
I'm Martin, principal at St. James High.
Malik has spoken a lot about you.
- Has he, now? - Just so you know,
this man set all this up
for these underprivileged teens in a single day.
Was even thoughtful enough to buy 'em new clothes.
Giving back, that's what I'm doing now.
Brother Martin, thank you so much.
I could not have done this without you, my man.
- Thank you. - Mm-hmm.
Hmm?
But why the Sadie Hawkins dance?
Well, you took off the night before we were supposed to go.
This is two decades in the making, Shannon.
I wanted to give us both the night that never was.
I can honestly say...
I'm blown away.
I'll admit, I was so consumed with how I left
that I-- I completely wiped the dance from my memory.
Well, for me it's the opposite.
I've been thinking about this dance for years now.
Well, as I recall, dozens of girls
asked you to that dance.
[chuckles]
You could have gone with anyone.
But there was no point,
because the only girl I loved was gone.
Well, that girl was a fool.
And a woman is here now.
Malik Wright, will you go to this dance with me?
Hmm.
Absolutely.
[laughing]
♪ I've been searching for you♪
♪ Every day♪
♪ So glad that I found you, boy.♪
I come with gi-- gifts.
Oh, I thought she was here.
Okay, let's leave a note.
Purple. [humming]
"Dear Ms. Powell..."
[muttering] "...bidders"?
What the hell?
[footfalls approaching]
Sara. I got you a gift.
What are you doing?
You're selling the team?
That's my business, Brittany.
You gave me Beau's job because you knew
there wasn't gonna be a job much longer.
How could you do this?
Probably the same way you gave Tasha a heads-up
about my interview discussing Malik.
Yeah, we all have our secrets, don't we?
And I trust that you will keep mine
if you want me to put in a good word with the new owners.
[phone ringing]
This is Brittany.
Yeah, I know Jamison Fields.
I-- I'm on my way.
All right, everyone, it's time for our special announcement.
You all voted, and the Sadie Hawkins
king and queen are our very own
Shannon Dixon and Malik Wright.
[cheers and applause]
["All My Life" by K-Ci & JoJo playing]
♪ Ooh...♪
♪ I will never find another lover♪
♪ Sweeter than you, sweeter than you...♪
You know who gave me the idea for this dance?
- Hmm? - My mom.
- That's a shock. - Hmm?
I thought she still hated me for hurting you.
[chuckles] Yeah, me, too.
Is that what you thought when we were younger,
that-- that she wanted us apart?
She just wanted what was best for you
and your future. Football.
♪ All my life...♪
Is that why you left?
No. I had my own reasons.
But I'm glad we're here now.
All right.
So, does that mean that you'll go steady with me?
That means we should stop talking and just dance.
[laughing] Okay.
All right, I got you.
As you wish, Ms. Dixon.
♪ Feel the same way, too♪
♪ Yes, I pray that♪
♪ You do love me, too.♪
CARI: Today I'd like to give the players' union
and its members mad flowers, because I know it's hard
leaving a sure thing to do the right thing.
And if I was a player, I'd be afraid to go home
and tell my family I'm doing this.
But if I did, I would tell them that Black is beautiful,
but Black and bold is gorgeous.
And this move ensuring lifetime health care
in a league that is 90% Black is as bold as it gets.
Mmm!
[sighs]
Paxton. Hey.
You know how it's a woman's prerogative
to change her mind?
Well, as a Black woman, it's her God-given right.
I'm taking this commissionership.
Mm-hmm. [laughing]
You just make sure I'm not signing my life away, hear?
All right.
[laughing] Whoo!
[both laughing]
Oh, I had an amazing time.
Yeah, me, too.
I'm really glad I asked you to the dance.
Hey, and I'm really glad I said yes, Ms. Dixon.
Would you like to come in?
Hell yeah.
But no.
Shannon, I really want
to restart our relationship the right way.
And what's the right way?
Well, maybe I can ask you out on a date this time.
Hmm. I'd like that.
[chuckles]
And you can also ask me for a kiss good night.
Good night, Mr. Wright.
Good night, Ms. Dixon.
[lock beeps]
[door closes]
[exhales sharply]
Hey, Brit. Um, I'm gonna miss you,
but I left my tour dates on the fridge.
- [knocking] - Oh, I think that's my driver.
[nasally]: I'll call you later from my town car, darling.
Mwah, mwah, mwah.
I think we need to talk before you go.
[normal voice]: Everything you need to know about me
is in that background check.
That was my father, not me.
Okay, you want to talk? Let's talk.
Um, let's see.
[sighs] My mother's been in
the New York State Correctional Facility
since I was 14,
and that's why we talk the same time every week.
That's where I go to visit her,
that's why I was in the foster system,
which probably explains my trust issues.
I'm a walking stereotype. You happy?
Raquel, I-I don't care that your mom's in jail.
That has nothing to do with how I feel.
How about how I feel?
I decided to trust you.
That's why I invited you on tour.
I wanted to show you my life, tell you everything.
I mean, Brit doesn't even...
Raquel, what else do I need to do
to prove to you that this is real?
That it wasn't my fault?
Yeah, but you had that letter.
You had it and you didn't tell me.
That is your fault.
And for that, I was wrong.
But the reason I didn't say anything
was because I wanted you to tell me when you were ready.
That's why it hurts so much, because I was ready.
[knocking]
[sighs]
MAN: Ms. Navarro?
- Hi, I'm Dan, your driver. - Hi.
May I, uh, take your bags to the car?
Please.
I'm just really glad I found out before it was too late.
Found out what, Raquel?
That I'd never be good enough for your family or for you.
- Whoa. - I'm-I'm looking
for a Jamison Fields.
- Are you family? - I'm the closest thing
- he has to family. - Well, that's not...
Jamison.
- Hey, what's wrong with him? - He's in a coma.
Lucky to be alive.
I'll give you a minute.
No. No. No, no, no, no.
No. No.
Well, I came back for you.
Come back to me, Jamison. Please, baby.
Excellent decision, Tasha. I can get you in tomorrow.
The procedure will take an hour
and you'll be back to normal in a week.
Minus my baby maker.
Not that I use it anymore, though.
[chuckles] Thanks, Dr. Miller.
You're welcome.
I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?
No.
I was just overcoming some fears,
which is why I wanted to see you.
Malik got the team together for a workout,
so he'll be back a little later.
I'm really proud of him. He's become quite the leader.
Yeah, he's a good man.
But you already know that, huh?
Yeah.
Shannon, I want to apologize.
If you and Malik want to be together, then you should.
What changed your mind?
Fear... of getting in God's way.
It's obvious He wanted you in Malik's life.
I mean, the odds of the attorney I call
to take down Beau just happens to be my son's true love?
He does work in mysterious ways.
Tell me about it.
And you've already proven that you can keep your word,
because what happened in Richmond
stays in Richmond.
Forever.
That's not easy, Tasha.
Every time I look at you, I think of that moment.
I don't.
There are too many moments in life
to focus on just one.
- Really? - Mm-hmm.
Because that moment changed all of our lives.
So, Shannon, I made the appointment like you asked.
Do you need a ride?
Look, Ms. Mack, I know I asked for your help,
but I think I'm having second thoughts.
And it's natural.
But if you have this baby,
it could destroy both of your dreams.
Well, did having Malik destroy your dreams?
This ain't about me, Shannon.
Now, Malik is going places, and the question is,
do you want to be what holds him back?
There's $5,000.
That's five times the amount that you asked for.
It'll cover the procedure,
and it'll give you a chance to start a new life.
So, you really think I should do it?
Shannon, I'm not telling you what to do,
but if you do this, I need you to leave
and never come back.
Malik.
Mama, what the hell did you do?