y,
but now that we got Tompkins Marcy reopened,
all that's gonna change.
What up, boy-boy?
I was gonna be helping all sorts of people.
You strong, kid. Let's see you get strong.
[laughs]
I got a young fighter off the streets and into the ring.
Javi, you got a gift, man.
The ring is where you belong, kid.
Just keep working, man.
You can be anything God wants you to be.
Ya heard? Gold medalist, world champ.
- You really think so?
- Absolutely. First, you gotta believe, man.
Let me see that smoke, man. Let me see whatchu got.
I got people learning how to make things grow.
- Look. Mr. Tray, we're planting tomatoes.
- That is great, Clarice.
I hope they don't end up tasting
like somebody's old stinky feet that was in that boot last.
[both laugh]
Most importantly,
I was finally teaching people how to cook.
Bring this over here.
Oh, I forgot to tell y'all, our stove is broken.
So what? You don't need a stove to cook.
You think the cavemen had a stove
when they was trying to cook a brontosaurus burger?
No. In this kitchen, all you need is...
[sizzling] Heat.
[distant shouting] - Coming through, folks!
Clear it out, folks! - What the--
One minute, class.
- Coming through. Nothing to see here.
Just removing this homeless guy from the bathroom.
- I'm just trying to use the facilities.
- Here's some information for places for you to go,
you know, to take care of what you need to take care of.
But, unfortunately, none of that is here
because we don't do that.
- I don't need a pamphlet, lady--I need a bathroom.
- Jaybird!
- Oh! What's up, Tray?
- But of all the people I thought I was going to help,
I never thought it would be a friend.
- [laughs]
[sizzling]
- Mmm.
Thanks again for the burger, Tray.
Oh, there's a unique aftertaste in there.
I can't quite put my finger on it.
- Spray starch.
[both laughing] - That's what it--
I thought that's what it was.
- Yep, yep, yep. - I thought that's what it was.
- The stove was broke, so I had to use the iron.
- Oh, well, look at the Iron Chef.
You have completely infiltrated the system.
I'm talking about working for the city,
getting consistent checks-- I dig, Tray.
- Yo, I thought you was working at that nice restaurant.
- Nigga, you know the drill.
I got fired as soon as they found out
I was previously incarcerated.
You know how they do us. You know how they do us.
As soon as I lost the job, I had to give up on the place,
and I had to move in with my girl.
And that's when shit got tight-tight.
- When you ain't getting that bag, man,
that put a strain on your relationship.
- That, and, uh...
I was smashing her sister Katrina.
Now, before you judge me, I was gonna move in with Katrina.
But then her hater-ass husband
was slowing up on the process, bruh.
Wouldn't let us be happy.
- Oh, Jay, you a wild-ass boy, man.
I can't believe you on the streets.
- Whoa, slow your roll, boy.
All right, look, I might couch-surf and whatnot,
and, you know, I've crashed in the park,
but it be nice nights.
But I ain't nobody living on the streets.
- Tray, I need to file a--
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
What are you doing in here, my friend?
We talked about this already, sweetie.
You're gonna have to go. I'm sorry.
- Veesy, he's cool. I know him. He's all right.
- You know him?
- Yeah, we go back like spinal cords and car seats.
He good people. He goodie. - Yeah, Veesy, I'm good people.
- All right, but unfortunately, sir, I--
actually, I'm really sorry.
You're gonna have to vacate the premises.
- You know, I was headed out anyway.
Catch up with you later, Tray.
Burger. Mm-mm.
- Have a good evening, sir.
- Veesy, why you do that? - What are you talking about?
Tray, come on, now, we have rules.
- Yeah, but this is supposed to be a community center.
Jaybird's a part of the community.
- Yes, but he's also homeless, and we are not a shelter.
- He's only on the streets 'cause he can't find a job.
And don't we offer that vocational class
to help people find jobs?
- Yes, but this is different. The man's homeless.
- How he supposed to get off the streets
if he can't get a job...
when you won't let him take a class to help him get a job?
Jay to the Bird is a good friend of mine's.
Give him one chance.
- Fine, but if this shit goes west, it is on your ass.
He can be in the class, do the interview shit,
and what you need to do,
since you want to be such a great friend,
find him a place to sleep.
- Done. - Is this my--
Yo, I've been looking for this iron everywhere.
- Mm?
- What is this crunchy shit on my iron?
- I don't know. - It smells like food.
What is it? Clean it.
Acting like a fucking kid.
What's wrong with you? You so damn childish.
[upbeat electronic music]
♪ ♪
- Hand me the Lord. - Yes.
- Hello, Lord. [grunts] All right.
You're gonna have to help me here.
I can't see, so you tell me if it's straight.
- Okay, it's a little crooked. - That's a little crooked?
- Yeah. Uh, perfect.
- That's good? - Perfect. Thank you, Josh.
- It is my pleasure.
I mean, after all you do,
helping with the kids while Shay's been away,
it's the least I can do.
If you need anything, you let me know.
- Well, you know, in fact, there is something.
I have an appraiser coming at the exact same time
I volunteered to work at the church.
It would be so helpful if someone else could be here
to let the appraiser in.
- I'd be more than happy to do it.
- Oh... - Yeah, of course.
- That's wonderful. God bless you, Josh.
- Uh-huh. - Thank you, baby.
- And how am I gonna say no with Him staring at me?
♪ ♪
- Ruperto, I wanna thank you for helping me
get all this equipment for the kids in here.
- All I did was ask around, Tray.
Believe it or not, lots of dudes remember this place, man.
They was happy to donate, brother.
- Yo, what's up, Ruperto? - What's up, Shahzad?
Hey, Amira... - Nothing. What's up, Dad?
- What up, baby boy?
- So this is where you grew up, huh?
- Yep.
- Well, it smells like y'all haven't cleaned it since then.
- Let me tell you something, young lady--
that's the smell of hard work.
- [grunting] - Ooh.
- Whoa. Did y'all see that? That was fast.
- Yo, Dad, who was that? - His name is Javi.
If he keep working hard like that, he gonna be huge.
Javier, come down.
I want you to meet my kids, man.
This is my son, Shahzad. This is my princess, Amira.
- Hey.
- Yo, that was crazy, man. - Thanks.
What do you think?
- Oh. It was aight. [laughter]
- How are your hands? - They're good.
- You running like I told you to do?
[door closes] - Javito!
[speaking Spanish] - Shit, it's my moms.
- [speaking Spanish] - Mama.
[speaking Spanish]
- [speaking Spanish]
- Yo, she said that he hasn't
been to school in three days, man.
- [speaking Spanish]
- He doesn't want to go back to school, man,
that he wanna be a boxer, bro.
- [speaking Spanish]
- She wants to know who told him that.
Yo, that's not good, bro.
- El diablo.
- I know what it mean, Ruperto. I know what it mean.
[dramatic music]
- I do not know why Javi's mother is so upset.
I got his best intentions at heart.
This boy got so much talent.
- Oh, reminds me, Josh called.
Shahzad is in trouble at school.
- What?
- Apparently he is cutting class
so that he can hang out with some older kids.
I don't know. You know, call Josh.
- Ma, what older kids? I will whup they ass.
This is my son.
- Well, that's exactly what Javier's mama is thinking.
- [groans] You know something, Ma?
- What?
- I never looked at it like that.
- Well, sometimes it's good to look at it
from another angle, you know.
She don't know what your intentions are.
All she knows is her son is not doing what he's supposed to do.
- I gotta fix this. - Yes, you do.
[line trilling]
- Yo, what up, kid? - What up, Tray?
- Yo, do me a favor.
[electronic music]
♪ ♪
- Yo, this the spot, man.
I just wish I had called ahead.
- Man, I'm from Brooklyn.
I don't be coming Uptown like this, man.
- This here's all worth it, man,
whatchu wanna do for homeboy, man.
You looking out.
Saludo.
- El diablo aquí.
- I know. I'd like to apologize.
[Ruperto speaking Spanish]
- Tienen cinco minutos. - You got five minutes, kid.
- That's all I need.
- After her husband died, she was forced
to raise three kids alone while working two jobs
and that you are a distraction she doesn't need right now.
- [speaking Spanish]
- He's fighting in the streets, man.
She don't want that for Javi.
- That's the reason why he should box,
to work out that aggression, okay?
The center is much more than just about boxing.
We have so many different programs,
not only for Javi, but for your daughters, too.
- [speaking Spanish]
- She said that Javi's way behind on his grades.
- I can get him a tutor.
As a matter of fact, let her know
that I can get my own kids to do it.
- Hmm.
- [chuckles] - What's going on?
A Dominican background check on your tutors.
Muchísimas gracias.
She gonna do it, but don't fuck this up.
[chuckles] - You smiling, and she's not.
- 'Cause she's Dominican, baby.
- Hey. You the appraiser? - That's me, Howard Long.
All Borough Appraisals.
- Nice to meet you. I'm sorry I'm late.
- Ah, no worries.
I was just admiring all these brownstones.
A couple of these date back to the 1840s.
- No kidding.
- Yeah, I'm a fan of pre-war row houses.
- Yeah.
Come on in.
- Thank you.
Oh, wow.
This is some nice place! - Yeah.
[camera shutter clicks]
- Oh, this is strong and sturdy.
Really well cared for.
Love it. She's a strong house.
- Okay.
Oh! [chuckles]
My wife has that exact same pillow.
- No kidding. - [laughs]
[camera shutter clicks]
I love the original wood trim.
- Yeah, it's great. - [exhales deeply]
You have a good-looking family right there.
[camera shutter clicks]
[smooth music]
- Oh. Hey, new guy.
How could you let this happen in your presence?
♪ ♪
- Okay, class, so who's ready to change their life, huh?
That's what I'm talking about.
- Tray, I'm ready to change this class.
- Just give it a chance, Jay. - This class--
- Just give it a chance!
- So it is important when we are doing a job interview
that we remember three things.
Maintain eye contact, be confident,
and always, always be honest, okay?
All right, who wants to start today?
Uh, Jaybird, why don't we start with you, sweetie?
Are you ready?
Okay.
All right. [clears throat]
Do you see this job as a short-term opportunity
or a long-term opportunity?
- Well, if I had to answer, I'mma stack
as many paychecks as I can until your background check
sees that I was previously incarcerated.
So it could be short term, a long term,
but, ultimately, it's gonna be on y'all's term, so I-I--
- Ooh. You keeping it real?
- Yes, Viola, he is keeping it real, right?
And I said earlier that honesty is the most important thing.
But, class, I think in this situation,
you could maybe rephrase that answer.
- [sighs] Okay.
But when folks find out my past,
they don't want to give me a chance.
- Right, baby, but the thing is that everybody's got obstacles
in their life, am I right? - Yeah.
- But, you know...
you gotta get over 'em, right?
Sometimes you got to get around them
and, hell, get through them.
That's the most important part. You gotta get through them.
- Easy for you to say and do. You got a job.
- My nigga, don't get it twisted.
I worked for this shit.
- [laughs] Okay, okay, look, look, look,
I got vocational training in the joint, all right?
I can repair cars. I can fix shit.
You know, do a lot of stuff, if somebody gives me a chance.
Y'all have a beautiful fucking day.
- Yo, Jay, Jay, Jay! Yo, Jay, come on, man!
This is what I'm talking about, man!
- Well, I'm sorry that you had to bear witness to th--
Actually, you know what?
I'm not sorry that you had to bear witness to that,
because that's actually a teachable moment
of exactly what not to do in an interview
and, quite honestly, what not to do in life.
- So, since honesty is off the table,
I'm gonna say I have a PhD from Yale.
- Mitochondria.
- Uh, what does that do, again?
- It's the powerhouse of the cell.
It's like boxing. - Oh, right.
So it breaks down fuel molecules
the same way I break somebody's jaw.
- That's it. [indistinct chatter]
Would you mind putting it in your headphones?
We're trying to study.
- What are you watching?
- It's this stupid show called "R-I-P Flip."
She's addicted. - It's "Rip Flip," dummy.
It's a show about a guy who flips houses
where murders took place.
- I know. I love that show.
- What? - [scoffs] Yeah, right.
- I do, especially the episode where he's trying
to flip this house where there's a double murder
and then he finds the third body.
- Yeah, it was so gross when those bones fell out the wall.
- Oh, man, let's get back to this.
♪ ♪
- Which one are you watching now?
- Check this out.
- [chuckles] Hold on.
What is happening?
♪ ♪
- Yo, I'm sorry, man.
I know I let you down back there,
but you got to understand-- she just a negative person.
I can't have that in my chakras right now.
And besides, she ain't have a sense of humor, anyway.
Just mean-mugging and scowling the whole goddamn time.
- Yeah, but it would have helped
if you'd have took it serious, which you didn't.
So what's done is done.
I still wanna do something for you.
Figure out a way to get you off the streets.
- Ah, cool, cool, cool.
Come over your spot, score me a couch or something, right?
- You out your rabid-ass mind.
You ain't staying at my crib. You staying here.
- Nigga, this a homeless shelter.
What the fuck, Tray? I'm not homeless.
I'm houseless. - Same soup, different bowl.
- I ain't trying to stay the fuck here.
This is fucked up, man.
- I never turn my back on a friend.
You know you mean more to me than that, okay?
Ain't nothing else I can do for you. I can't.
Now, the first step to solving your problem--
you got to admit you got one.
You can't help nobody that don't want to be helped.
I'm trying, man!
- Alright, maybe I got a little one, man.
- What's little about it, Jay?
The next person to help you
got to be you, man.
- [sniffs] - It got to be you.
Billy C is in there right now, my dude.
I just hope you don't fuck this up, man.
You're my man.
- But, Tray, I ain't homeless, man.
I'm not homeless, cuz. I'm not.
I'm not homeless, Tray. Yo!
- I remember saying that exact same thing when I was homeless.
Come on, why don't you come inside?
We'll get you a meal. It's all good.
It'll be okay. Come on.
[serious music]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter on TV]
[doorbell rings]
- Oh, hi, Josh.
Come on in.
[door buzzes]
[door opens, closes]
- How are you? - Good.
- Oh, good. You having a good day?
- Mm-hmm.
- Good, good, good, good, good, good, good.
So, uh, you want to tell me
what the hell happened yesterday
and when I became the father in a very pale Nordic family?
- I didn't say that that was your family.
I can't help what that man thought.
I'm just glad he thought it. Ha ha!
- What? What are you talking about?
- Listen, I knew I was gonna get
a better interest rate on my mortgage refi
if he thought you owned the house.
- No. No, no, no, no. That's crazy.
- Then how come it appraised for 30% higher
than when I had the Black Jesus on the wall?
- I don't-- - Open your eyes, Josh.
[chatter continues on TV]
- Oh. Oh, wow.
- Don't feel bad, okay? You're a gift.
A white boy in my family-- why not use him?
- You know what? We're gonna write a letter to the bank.
We might even sue them.
- I don't want to spend my money on legal fees.
No, I just want a lower interest rate.
- All right, well, you're welcome.
Glad I could help.
- We just got started. - What?
- You and me make a good team.
Wait till next week when the insurance man comes.
You and your Nordic family are gonna get me
that white-privilege discount.
Mm! Mm! - No, no, no, no, no.
[both laughing]
- All right, Javi, I finished grading your practice test.
Javi. - Look at that. [laughs]
- Javi.
Javi!
- [laughs] That's insane. - Okay.
Okay.
- Wow.
[cell phone ringing]
- Tray, answer that phone! - I'm trying. I can't find it.
- You want me to call it?
- Somebody's already calling it, Ma.
[cell phone continues ringing]
- Tray, we caught Jaybird breaking in at the center.
- What? - Get down here now.
- Oh, shit!
I'll be right there.
[cell phone ringing]
- That's me calling! Did you find it?
- Oh!
- Tray! Don't ignore me.
- Just listen a minute! - Shut up!
Shut up before I have you Tased!
Tray, the alarm went off,
and this security guard found this fool in here.
- The police is on its way. - Jaybird, this ain't you.
What's going on?
- I was trying to hook y'all up.
- By breaking in?
No, thank you, my dude. We good.
- Just check the stove.
[stove clicking]
- He fixed the stove. - And the oven.
And the hinge to the microwave.
And the Foreman grill.
I was trying to say thank you
for getting me that bed at the shelter the other night.
When I was asleep there, I realized I needed some help,
and you was trying to help me-- the both of y'all were.
But I was just wasting your time.
And I'm sorry. - [sighs]
Jay, you really be working my nerves.
You wanna do that interview thing again?
- Shoot, queen.
- [clears throat]
Mister Bird, what jobs have you had?
- I've been a handyman, done some house painting...
And I might be the world's worst waiter.
You know, the service industry's
just not my strong suit.
Shit, I don't even wear a suit.
- Do you know how to fix a hot-water heater?
- Why, yes, ma'am. That's light work.
- Mm. That's really crazy,
because, you know, we actually--
we're looking for a maintenance man.
- [chuckles] So whatchu saying--I was right about him?
- See, you always put too much on it.
Whatchu can do right now is work on this
now-working oven and make us some breakfast.
- That's her way of saying I was right about you, kid.
Hey, look, who's hungry, man?
I'm gonna make some Crunch Berry fritters,
prison style. [cell phone ringing]
Oh, my phone's ringing.
Yeah, Mommy, I found it. Uh-huh. Yeah--
I'm sorry. Mm-hmm. Yes, ma'am.
[Muzak playing]
♪ ♪
- Excuse me.
Ma'am, have you paid for those chips?
♪ ♪
- Josh.
- Oh, we'll pay on the way out.
- Great.
Thanks for shopping.
♪ ♪
Hmm.
You wanna see how my people do grapes?
- Okay. - You're gonna love it.
- Lead the way.
♪ ♪