Brenda?
It's time.
-You okay? -Yeah.
We don't want to keep this judge waiting.
And what if we just get outta here?
Went all Thelma and Louise on their asses.
I get that you're scared.
But save the jokes for when you're back on stage, okay?
Only men name things after themselves.
There are no woman junior's. There are no woman the second.
Men have to do it. It's like a compulsion for us.
"Hi I'm Zeke Thompson and meet my lovely son."
"Zeke Thompson Jr."
Ladies and gentlemen that's all I got. You've been terrific.
Zeke Thompson.
Thank you.
In case you didn't know, I'm Joyce Golden,
the owner of this dump.
He started on this stage and now he's playing arenas around the country.
Alright go have a drink. We'll be back in a few.
Why don't you ask Zeke yourself?
I hear he's throwing an afterparty at his new place.
Yeah. You can show him your new material.
-Will you guys come with me? -No way.
I wasn't suggesting that we go.
C'mon, we haven't heard from Zeke since he blew up.
Seeing all the things I don't have will send me off the deep end.
We can stay for fifteen minutes, max.
Not me.
-What's up boys? -What's up Fletch?
You again. Oh hello. Missed you.
Tease.
See, if I grabbed a woman's ass like that...
Come to this party and you can grab my ass
all you want. Go. I dare you.
I can confirm it's a great ass.
No, you missed your chance.
I was on NyQuil that entire college tour and he didn't even try.
-True. True. -Insulting.
Please, Chadwick?
-Please, please. -No way.
-Please. Fifteen minutes. -I said no, bish.
Talk about a come up.
Yeah, now I gotta go home and kill myself.
It's still warm. I hate him.
-Hey, check it out. -What
-Chris Rock ten o'clock. -Where?
There he is. There's Zeke.
-Zeke! -Zeke! Zeke!
What are you doing here?
Come here.
You gotta meet my friends. Oh my god.
My guy.
You guys have to meet my Scott. This is the Scott that I have.
He manages me and like half the people in this room.
Scott, these are my friends. I came up with these people.
You remember writing jokes, listening to 2Pac all night?
Eating Bottom Ramen.
-Those were the days, man. -Those are still the days for us.
Hey, will you snap us really quick?
Yes. Photo. Family photo. Come here.
-What do you think? -So stupid. That's terrible.
Are you gonna post it?
Could you tag me?
So whatever happened to grumpy ass Aaron?
You know Aaron.
I was just gonna ask you something if you had a second?
We need to say hi to Sarah.
Can you guys just hang out for a little bit?
-Yes. Yes. -Okay, drink up!
There's so many drinks and they need to be drunk.
I'm sorry. I owe you.
Please, he's blind and gets nervous when I'm gone.
-I have to call the cops. -Don't. I'm on my way.
My dog's barking like a maniac again so I gotta go.
Bren.
Fine.
Just one second. Excuse me.
Excuse me. Where do you guys think you're going?
Gotta skate, bro.
-Bren, didn't you wanna talk to me? -You're busy. It's fine.
No, Scott is like prancing me around like a little show pony.
I am all yours now.
-I could just take the train. -My driver will take you home.
-Okay, alright. -Driver.
Hey.
If it couldn't be me, I'm glad it's you.
-God I love you. -I know. I know.
Love ya. See ya.
I wanted to show you my new material that I've been working on.
I sent a link to your manager, but I don't think he...
-You have the link? -Yeah, but it's too loud in here.
It's quiet upstairs.
-You can't leave your own party! -I can do whatever I want.
C'mon.
I grew up in foster care, I don't mean to brag.
And because of that everyone wants to know
if I want to meet my dad and I don't.
At all.
But I do want to know that he would want me so what I wanna do
is find out his name, find him on a dating app, match with him,
DM him a naked photo of myself,
and be like:
"Do you wanna be my daddy?" And he's gonna be like "Yeah".
And I'll be like: "Good, cause you are".
And then I'll ghost him...
You know what? That's pretty good.
-Damn, this is really good. -Thank you.
When did you write this?
I've been working on this for a while.
I was just thinking like what if I...
...went on tour with you?
-What? -Is that why you showed up tonight?
So you could pitch yourself to me?
Shut up. No, I just...
You know, I...
I know it took me a second to figure out my thing,
but if I just had a shot I would kill it.
Okay.
Okay, what?
Okay. You can host.
Are you serious?
Yeah and after a couple of cities you can feature?
Oh my god, really?
Yeah, you're talented. You're great, you're funny.
Thank you.
I have to go tell Chad.
Excuse me.
I think we should go back to your fancy party?
I'm so tired of talking.
I know. Listen. Hey, hey, hey.
I actually don't want to.
-I don't want to. -Why not?
-No.
It's not like we haven't done this before.
Remember the last time? It was super freaky.
Yeah, you remember last time?
Just relax.
I just want this to be over.
What if we just take the plea offer?
They only offered the plea because they want you to go away.
I know it's hard.
But this all started because Zeke Thompson raped you.
All I'm just saying is Black Twitter could be a little more inclusive.
Hey, look who's too smancy to return my call!
I have to hear it from 10 other people
that you're hosting Zeke Thompson's tour.
Joyce...
Zeke...
He...
Had sex with me and I didn't want to.
Are you saying he...
Yeah.
But how? I mean there must've been a million people around.
Joyce! He raped me!
Joyce.
I heard you .
- I'm just trying to ... -To what?
- To process! -I called you for help.
-Oh my god forget it. - Brenda, wait.
You and your damn temper.
Will you just listen?
I believe you and I want to help you.
You want me to tell you the truth or pull from the Me Too handbook?
Truth.
Okay, here it is.
You've been working our ass off for years
and you finally hit pay dirt.
This is the big time, Brenda.
How can I possibly work with him after this?
Can you imagine how many times I had to lie down
and take it from some dirt bag I was working with?
You just washed the stink off and got on with your life.
It makes me wanna kill God.
If He existed.
Oh Brenda, what are we talking here?
One, maybe two minutes of hell
in exchange for the opportunity of a lifetime?
Be smart, honey.
I care about you .
Nobody is gonna tell you the truth like me.
I care about you and I believe in you.
That's why I stuck with you all these years.
I know.
I want you to go to bed and call me in the morning.
Brenda, promise, you won't do anything without calling me first.
Okay?
Okay.
Okay. Bye.
Hello, New Hope Center, Queens. Can I help you?
I've been assaulted and I need to know what to do.
This is my hand, okay?
I'm inserting the speculum.
Almost there, Ms. Kramer, hang in there.
Dude.
I called Joyce.
She told me to let it go.
Take the tour.
Joyce is about Joyce.
-Zeke's her golden goose. -The bitch is a savage.
You know I heard she reached out to Cosby.
Too soon?
Do you think that he
lured them in with his Fat Albert impression?
Hey, hey, hey, gimme that BOO-TAY.
-You're gonna get through this. -I know. I know.
You are a damn warrior.
Chad?
Hey, your coffee's just horrible.
Yeah, well, so is my life.
What?
Here.
You reported it yesterday.
At least they didn't print my name.
No. But...
Your name's out there.
No. No.
"Lying. lying whore."
"Ain't no one gonna..."
"...beat that busted..."
I hit it. My boy hit it, the neighborhood dog.
She's thirsty. She's thirsty.
Those are... Hey. Look at me. Those are just trolls.
Don't answer it.
-What do I do? -I have no idea but I'm here, okay?
Okay?
I'm calling the cops.
Please don't hang up. Just hear me out.
Listen.
If you go through with this you will ruin both of our lives.
Bren, I'm sorry, okay?
I'm sorry if I misread some signals.
Misread the signals?
What about any of that made you think I wanted to have sex?
What are you talking about?
We have had sex on your floor.
Twice. And it was rough. That's how we liked it.
-I said I didn't want to! -Why didn't you fight back?
I did.
-Why didn't you just leave? -You held me down.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Relax.
You think cause you're famous now you can just treat people like this?
I'm a person, Zeke.
I may be crap, but I am a person.
You're gonna go through with this?
You're just gonna do it again.
Great. Say whatever you want, Bren.
Everybody knows you're crazy.
God!
Ms. Kramer. I'm sorry to keep you waiting.
I'm ADA Lavigne. I'll be in charge of your case.
-Thank you -We're just in here.
Just a few more questions about that night.
Can I leave out the part where I was raped?
It was a joke.
Right.
So in your statement, you mention that you entered the room willingly.
Why?
Zeke was about to go on the road for a tour,
and I wanted to pitch myself to open for him.
It's not out of the ordinary to "pitch yourself" in a bedroom?
It was just really loud in there.
I had the link on my phone and didn't want to play it in front of everyone.
So we just like went in like a room.
Was Zeke sober?
Didn't have my breathalyzer on me.
What about you?
-What about me? -Were you sober?
Sober enough to know I was...
Being raped.
You should commend yourself.
Most victims of sexual assaults never even report it.
I can't let him ruin someone else's life.
Are there more questions?
-I think we're good for now. -Thank you.
Just one more thing actually.
You waited a day to report this, why?
Because...
This is a nightmare.
Is there something else I should know?
Anything about your relationship with Mr. Thompson?
No.
-Are you sure? -Yeah.
Please tell the court in what context you met the defendant.
I was the ADA in charge
of investigating Ms. Kramer's alleged rape.
And as your investigation progressed
did Brenda Kramer's behavior change?
She got angrier, obsessive and disturbed.
Can we refrain from pathologizing my client?
Jury will disregard Mr. Lavigne's last statement.
Mr. Lavigne, it's too early in the morning for this.
I'll rephrase, Your Honor.
Mr. Lavigne how would you describe Ms. Kramer's state of mind.
She was upset, understandably.
Be calm.
Be calm. Ten years.
Fired me over text. Be calm.
-Hold up, Brenda. -Hold up?
-I'm just gonna talk to her. -She doesn't want to.
Tell her to get her ass out before I make a scene.
That's calm? What are you doing?
Chad, you got a set in fifteen. And you don't work here anymore.
I thought you cared about me.
I told you to call me before you did anything.
-So you could talk me out of it? -I am done trying, Brenda.
You had a chance and you blew it.
You only fired me 'cause Zeke is your meal ticket.
I fired you because you can't get out of your own way.
You'd never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Just take this check and get out of my club
before I call the cops.
Oh my god. You know I can't get a job anywhere.
Where am I gonna go? No one's gonna hire me.
Brenda, it's over.
I'm done.
One minute or you lose your spot.
I'm quitting.
Don't be stupid.
We can form a buddy act, take it on the road.
Go. Get on stage.
-Go. -I'll come by after.
I saw that.
She's wrong.
That's show business.
How disappointing because I came to see you.
You look familiar. Do I know you?
RBG's Cape, from online.
Oh my god.
RBG's Cape. You know, you are funny.
Thanks that's a high compliment coming from you.
I'm Tess.
-Nice to meet you. -Nice to meet you.
I'm sorry, I'm not going on tonight.
And I am no longer supporting this establishment.
There's a Thai restaurant a few blocks down. I'm buying.
I'm starving.
And they always make the woman out to be the crazy one.
Do you remember that movie Fatal Attraction?
When Glenn Close's character,
really successful, independent, goes crazy
after sleeping with a guy one time? Looses her mind.
And I personally feel like Michael Douglas sucked at sex.
Oh, Chadwick!
Whoa. Okay, you're jolly.
Tess, this is my best friend, his name's Chad.
Chad, nice to meet you. I'm Tess.
Have a seat.
I'll get you some wine.
-How'd it go tonight? -It was dead.
So Tess, what do you do?
I'm an associate at a law firm.
Contracts. Boring stuff.
Are you okay?
Okay.
-Let's get you to bed. -No.
-You're okay. -Get to bed.
You know what? I'll hold onto this for you.
Okay you can have that.
-You are just so soft. -I'll clean up.
She passed out as soon as her head hit the pillow.
It's gonna take her some time, Chad.
I'm sorry. You been here like five minutes.
How do you know what she needs?
Did you know that one in three women are subjected to sexual violence?
It's a club no one wants to belong to,
but it has the largest membership.
It's gonna be rough for her for a while.
So... Like I said, give her some time.
I grew up in foster care, I don't mean to brag.
everyone always wants to know if I want to meet my dad.
And I don't. At all.
But I want to know on some level that he would want me.
So what I wanna do is find out his name,
find him on a dating app, match with him,
DM him a naked photo of myself,
and be like:
"Do you wanna be my daddy?" And he's gonna be "Yeah".
And I'll be like: "Good, cause you are".
And then and then I will ghost him,
because the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Ms. Kramer's sense of humor...
Would you say her comedy is reflecting her off-stage personality?
Definitely.
Would you describe her behavior as promiscuous?
If sleeping with everyone at the club is promiscuous, then yeah.
So, just to confirm.
You told Brenda Kramer she could open for you before the alleged rape?
-Yeah. -So there was no quid pro quo.
No coercion of sexual favors in exchange for a job offer?
Absolutely not.
Why would she invent a story she knew would cost her
the biggest opportunity of her career?
Brenda is the poster-child for self sabotage.
She always has been.
Let's get back to that night.
So, she played you her material, you hired her...
We were laughing and having a good time.
Then we started kissing.
And you know, one thing leads to another.
No part of you thought that Brenda Kramer did not want to have sex?
We both wanted it.
I mean, it's not like we hadn't done it before.
You're saying that prior to that night you and Ms. Kramer...?
Had sex? Yeah.
Twice.
Can you repeat the question?
Do you have any knowledge of previous sexual relations
between Brenda Kramer and Zeke Thompson?
You can answer the question here or in court.
Yes, they had sex before.
And who told you?
Brenda.
Do you know why Lavigne wants to see you?
He probably has more questions.
Thanks for the clothes.
I don't even want to know how much they cost.
I wouldn't tell you anyway.
I never had a real female friend.
The girls in my business will cut you!
-You okay? -Yeah. I just always think it's him.
I hate being scared. Embarrassing.
I know what you mean.
You never told me about what happened to you which is...
No pressure, of course.
Sophomore year.
I was on my way back to the dorm and he raped me on the grass.
Just out in the open. How brazen is that?
He was captain of the rugby team.
And our parents traveled in the same circle.
So they got together and worked it out.
You know, and his parents were very embarrassed.
The thing is,
wouldn't have reported it anyway. I'm not brave, like you.
-You annihilate people online. -That's different.
Don't you ever think about him raping other women?
Of course. But I was just a kid.
You have to stop letting him get away with it at some point.
Open up, bish!
-Hey. -Hi.
Okay, you two need to stop
acting like bitches and just be civil.
-He's the one who has the problem. -No, I just don't like you.
Can I talk to you privately please?
-That woman is... -Don't start.
I saw the heads in the ashtray.
-The photos of you and Zeke. -We were just playing.
-If you came to bitch about Tess... -No.
The prosecutor called me in.
He said he would talk to people.
He asked if you and Zeke had sex before.
What did you say?
Before I recommend whether to bring your case to trial,
I have to weigh the likelihood of a conviction.
Right.
Based on witness interviews,
on the fact that you had sex with Mr. Thompson
prior to the allegation, which you withheld from me...
So sorry, what are you implying?
I'm not bringing charges.
Is this because he's famous, or?
No. You would be eviscerated on the stand.
The provocations on social media, the drinking, the promiscuity...
Got it.
There it is.
I'm a drunk and I'm a slut.
So I deserved it.
-Okay, look... -Cool.
I can refer you to a mental health professional.
I'm actually good.
I sincerely...
Hope that you go to hell.
Sir.
Now is not a good time for you to be here.
Brenda, I am so sorry.
Can you stop being mad at me and just let me let me be here for you.
Be here for me like the way you
were here for me with that douchebag DA?
Zeke's performing at Goldie's tonight.
Kicking off his tour before moving up to arenas
where he will help himself to a buffet of female fans.
Look. The DA screwed up big time.
Okay? But it's over now.
And maybe you have a chance to move on.
What a ridiculous little man you are.
-And you're a pathetic, lonely... -Don't.
-Seriously? -Okay Chad.
Just go.
Me? Don't you see that she's messing with your head?
I'd like to report an intruder. He's getting violent.
You're gonna pull that? Are you co-signing this behavior?
He's leaving, hang up.
Hang up.
Please, just go.
-Sorry. -I'm out.
He doesn't understand. He can't.
I saw what you posted on the rapist's Instagram.
"The only way you'll understand the burning shame"
"of what you did to me"
"me is if someone pours gasoline on you and lights a match."
That was the wine talking.
In vino veritas.
In wine, truth, Brenda.
"The only way you'll understand"
"the burning shame of what you did to me"
"is if someone pours gasoline on you and lights a match."
Do you know who wrote that, Ms. Richards?
Brenda posted it the night before Zeke Thompson performed at Goldie's.
And you attended this performance in person?
Y'all can't kill me!!
Alright thank you for the love. Thank you everyone.
I don't want to start heavy,
but the last two weeks have been a little rough.
I was accused of doing something that I did not do.
He did do it.
And they let him go. No one did anything about it.
Except for you.
Hey.
-Break a leg. -I'm never gonna forget your loyalty.
Hey, I got it, man. No worries.
-Zeke Thompson? -Yeah.
Jesus. God. What is wrong with you?
Zeke! Somebody call the cops.
I had to stop him before he hurt other women.
Rape is a heinous crime, I'm not denying that.
But we have a legal system...
The legal system did nothing.
Brenda Kramer may not have explicitly instructed you
to light Zeke Thompson on fire.
But she planted the idea in your head
and encouraged you, however indirectly, to act on it.
The fact is, you wouldn't have done what you did
if Brenda Kramer hadn't posted on social media.
I did it for you, Bren.
-Rapist. You should leave! -They should have killed you.
Order. Order.
I'll have order.
I'll have order or you'll be removed from the court.
I'm a comedian.
We say things. We say crazy things.
We say things that make people laugh and shock people.
Immature and childish maybe, but our intent is never...
...to cause violence.
What happened to Zeke was not my intent.
It wasn't?
Violence wasn't your intent.
No.
Look at him.
You did this.
-Your Honor. -Counsellor.
Pick up. Pick up.
Who is this and how did you get my number?
It's me.
I know you probably never wanna talk to me again.
But I just wanted to let you know that I've been
going back to meetings.
And if there is anyone that I need to make amends with it,
it's you.
I don't assume you're following my legal situation.
Today the verdict comes in.
I know this is a lot to ask, especially with...
...how badly I treated you.
But I was just wondering if there is any way that you can come up here?
I just don't wanna stand up there alone.
You were a good friend to me.
-Has the jury reached a verdict? -We have, Your Honor.
Will the defendant please rise?
To the count of the indictment aggravated mayhem,
how does the jury find?
Not guilty, Your Honor.
The jury is dismissed and we thank you for your service.
-Thank you for everything. -Take care of yourself.
All rise.
Bren, aren't you relieved?
Not really.
Zeke.
I did not mean for this to happen.
Yeah, well it did
I did not know that Tess was unstable.
I had no idea. I couldn't, I missed the signs,
And she was there for me.
Apologize. You raped her!
Move, please.
-Tess should have killed you! -Please let him go.
Please.
I know you're mad.
-But hurting them is not the answer. -What are we supposed to do?
I don't know.
Let's go home.
Subtitling: Kornelius Jelsnes LinQ Media Group