(HIP-HOP SONG PLAYING)
So, what's up? Why aren't you following me on any of my socials? Hmm?
Because I don't want to see what you're up to.
Come on, man.
- My TikTok's blowing up right now. - You and your 20 followers?
(CHUCKLES) Proud of every one of them.
I'm gonna go drain the chief. You want something in the kitchen?
I'm good, Uncle.
MAN 1: Move. Move.
(SIREN WAILING)
(GUN COCKS)
MARSHAL 1: Hands behind your head.
- MARSHAL 2: Move in. - On your knees.
Bring it up.
- The door was unlocked. - Clear.
Is this about the chip truck?
- MARSHAL 1: What? - Nothing.
(MARSHALS SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
-(GRUNTING) Tiny-dicked motherfucker. - Uncle?
- Hey, nephew. - What's happening?
Stay gold, Cheesy Boy. (LAUGHS)
(HELICOPTER WHIRRING)
Damn.
(SONG ENDS)
All right, Chester, let me give you the rundown.
Cheese.
- Excuse me? - Cheese.
- Cheese? You missed dinner. - No, it's what everyone calls me.
Oh, is it? Let's get something straight.
I'm not one of your thuggy-ass friends. Do you understand?
I represent the law, and in this house, I am the judge, jury and executioner.
I'll call you by your legal name or I'll call you dummy
or I'll call you dipshit or shit-ass.
Whatever the mood moves me to call you, I'll call you that. Got it?
You Native American?
- Yeah. - I know a lot of Native Americans.
They're good people. They saved my life.
Cool.
Okay. Daily chores. These rotate on a weekly basis.
You're the new guy, you clean the commode.
You know what the commode is?
- Uh, bathroom? - Yes. Julio.
New guy knows what a commode is.
All right, you room upstairs with the other shit-asses.
Maybe you'll switch to room down here, if you don't age out.
We have a house meeting tomorrow night.
All residents are required to attend. No cell phones.
If I see a cell phone, it's mine.
Is there a way I can actually make a phone call?
(BOTH LAUGHING)
Yeah.
Phone time, 5:00 to 6:00. You're welcome to try to make a phone call,
but you'll have to pry the fucker out of James' hands.
If you can do that, you can make a phone call. (LAUGHS)
Right? All right. Get upstairs, drop off your shit.
Let's knock out these chores. Okay, Chester?
- Okay. - Good.
Uh...
Hey. Um, my name's Cheese and my pronouns are...
Shut your ass up.
(LAUGHS)
(BOTH LAUGHING)
What did I say?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER OUTSIDE)
- Oh, fuck. Fuck. -(FLIES BUZZING)
Fuck.
-(WATER RUNNING) -(SCRUBBING)
(SIGHS)
Excuse me, bruh.
(GROANS)
(SIGHS)
Man. I almost didn't make it, bruh.
(SIGHING)
(ZIPS UP)
- Hey, appreciate you, bruh. - Don't mention it.
He was really dehydrated.
(TOILET FLUSHES)
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
(SNORING LIGHTLY)
BOY: (WHISPERING) Three, two, one. Get his ass.
-(THUMPING) - You thought I wouldn't find out?
(BOYS GRUNTING)
- Hey. What up, new guy? - Jesus.
- You wanna get some licks in? - Um, no, thanks.
I'm good. I'll just cheer you guys on from the sidelines.
All good, dawg. Just thought I'd offer. All right then.
(THUMPING CONTINUES)
- Hey. - Bro.
Make sure you don't go snitching to Gene, or I'll soap you up, too.
- Um, I won't. I won't. - I know you won't.
Now get some sleep, little homie.
(THUMPING CONTINUES)
(BOY GRUNTING)
BOY: Shut your whining.
Take it like a man, huh?
BEAR: Mom's been saying little people have been stealing her keys.
- Oh, shit. Here we go. - Hey, chill.
I didn't come here to fight nobody. Shit.
I didn't want to come here at all,
but (SIGHS) Elora's not answering her texts.
You should know Cheese got arrested.
- What? Arrested? For what? - Fuck you talking about?
They busted Uncle Charley for growing, so they arrested both of them.
Well, now y'all know.
Jackie, wait. Since I was talking shit on your dead brother,
I'm gonna let you give me a shot. Head or gut?
- Jackie ain't about that... - Head.
- BEAR: That was a good one. - Now we're good.
(INDIE ROCK SONG PLAYING ON EARBUDS)
Oh, fuck! Jesus Christ. You scared the shit out of me.
My bad, bro. I was gonna knock.
How did this happen?
Cheese got locked up.
What?
Julio. They need any more bussers at Red Lobster yet?
I can pass for Hispanic. Hook me up.
- Why does Julio get to leave? - You can go on pass if you've got a job.
So, if I get hired somewhere, they'll let me go?
Fucked up thing is, you can't go out and look for a job while you're in here.
But Julio's been in here a long-ass time,
so Gene just kind of lets him do whatever he wants, anyways.
Good morning, shit-asses. What an amazing day.
- Where's James? - He's still asleep.
- What? - On God.
GENE: James, what's happening? Get your ass down here.
Are you dead? What is happening?
Why isn't he down here? What did you guys do?
There's something amiss.
How's the toast? Want more? Be nicer with butter, wouldn't it?
You guys don't deserve butter. Eat your cornflakes.
Enjoy the strange orange drink. It had no label on it.
Bruh. That's dope as fuck.
Oh, thanks. I'm really bored. It's not that great.
Nah, that shit takes talent for real. You should draw my son's name, TJ.
- I'd get that shit tatted. For real. - All right.
That's what's up. Badass.
- Tino. - Cheese. Pronouns are he, him and his.
Oh, you're gay, huh? That's cool. My cousin bi and shit.
- I think you're supposed to say queer. - Hey, man.
I'm trying to let you know that I don't got a problem with no queers.
Gender identity and sexuality are two different things.
Anyway, how old's your son?
Fuck. I want to say he's, like, four now.
I don't get to see him much since I'm in here,
but luckily, his grandma sends me pictures sometimes.
- They're pretty cute, huh? - Yeah.
- I stay with my grandma too, sometimes. - You blessed, bro.
Old ladies hold shit down. All my kids with their grandmas.
- Kids? Like, plural? - Plural? Nah. They're mostly Native.
How long have you been here?
They put me here when I was, like, 16, and I'll age out in a few weeks.
So, it's been a while.
What will you do when you get out?
Well, I'm trying to get a job before I age out.
That way, I can stay out of trouble and start helping my kids' moms.
But anyways, what about you? Why are you in here?
I don't really know.
My cousin uncle's been getting into some shit and he got arrested.
And the cops took me here.
I asked them if I could stay with my grandma,
but they said I need to stay here
until they figure out some stuff with my "legal guardians."
Damn. Can't a Native live?
- You said it, sib. - Tino. My name's Tino.
Where'd you get Sib?
It's...
It's short for sibling.
Oh.
Word. Word.
-(SIGHS) Yeah? Can I help you? - Hey, um, I'm here to pick up Cheese.
- Who? - Uh, Chester. I'm his auntie.
(SNICKERS)
- How old are you? - What's that matter?
You don't look old enough to be Chester's auntie.
Indian ways.
- I've got a niece who's 58 years old. - Oh, right, right, right.
Even if I did believe you,
he's in our custody until the court says otherwise.
He's been in my care for the past two years.
And he ended up here. Wow. Good job.
- Nice. - Cheese.
What are you guys doing here?
Get your shit, bro. We're busting you out of here.
- I don't think that's how that works. - Come on, man. Shawshank.
- Let's go. - How do I even get out?
Parkour it, man.
- Hey, Jackie. - What's up?
- Where's Elora? - She's distracting the guards.
Again, I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do.
Maybe this will help you change your mind.
There's more where that came from, too.
Okay. Well, I'm calling the cops.
(SIGHS)
WILLIE JACK: Get down here. We ain't got time for this.
GENE: Chester, you better fucking be up there.
The house manager's coming back.
- What are you still doing up there? - Jump down.
- No. - I'll catch you.
- I got upper-body strength. - No, it's illegal.
You guys got to find another way. Remember me, all right?
- What the fuck was that? - What the fuck?
ALL: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Peace.
All right. So now,
without further fuckery, let's get into step five.
- Yes. - What is this?
What is this? This is part of my recovery.
When I was a young little shit-ass like you guys,
about your age, my life was in shambles.
I was a drunk, drug addict. I was an abuser. I was a thief.
There wasn't anything I didn't smoke or snort or drink or fuck even.
And then I hit a wall. I hit my bottom.
About three days into a bad bender, I finally made my way back home.
Walk into my house
and in my bedroom I found my wife, two midgets and a DJ.
AM radio DJ. Pretty popular.
I didn't like him. Even before he fucked my wife.
But it doesn't matter. I just lost my mind.
I literally lost my mind.
And I chased those midgets out of my house.
Naked midgets running out into the street.
And I went back and I was gonna kill that DJ.
I was gonna kill him with my own hands.
But he was big. He just kicked my ass.
I think he's still with my wife. It doesn't matter.
Threw me out of my own house, and I just wandered into the woods.
But that's where I met the Lakota medicine man.
Wakan Mani.
Picked me up by the scruff, showed me the ways, changed my life.
Very grateful. I'm a better man now.
I'm even kind of friendly with one of the midgets.
These things can happen when you're sober. Yeah.
So, that's my story.
Why don't you start?
Take this and read step five, and give us a few words from your heart.
"Step five.
"Admitting our wrongs to a higher power and to those around us."
Well, I ain't done shit wrong since last week, so I'm good to go, bro.
- And with that, I'll pass. - Pass.
Come on, James. Little something? Nothing?
Pass.
(SIGHS)
Um, I'll pass.
No, you're the new guy. Just say a few words about your week.
I was arrested for no reason.
Um, I was sent to a poorly-funded group home.
There's that.
And I really hate it here.
Okay. Well, thanks for your honesty.
See that, James? Bare minimum. That was the bare minimum.
I have something to say.
- Tino? - Hmm?
- What's wrong with your bicho? - Fuck you just call me?
Every time I walk in the bathroom, there's nothing but pee.
What? You have no aim?
Oh, maybe you've got nothing there, so it sprays all over the floor,
the seat, the fucking roof.
- You're a snitch. - Calm down.
- I'm a snitch? - TINO: Yeah.
I walk in the bathroom wearing my socks. Guess what I'm stepping in.
- Your fucking pee. - We get it, we get it.
Once again, everyone has failed to engage with this step.
Except for Chester. Little bit. It doesn't matter.
I'm just happy you're all walking this path with me and, um...
Fuck it. Let's call it.
Fucking love you, girl.
You're gonna be the mother of my child someday.
You're the stars in the sky. You're my moon. You're the sun.
Yeah, you're all of those.
Hey, James, can I use the phone before chores start?
I just need to make a quick call. It'll only be a minute.
I know, I know. I'll ride with you wherever.
This will only make us stronger, baby.
Um, James, seriously, I just need to check in...
It's nothing, baby. (CHUCKLES)
Just some dude who's about to get his ass beat
if he don't step back and let me talk to the love of my life.
You're my queen.
- Fucking James. - Hell yeah.
Yep.
- You trying to call your girl, too? - No, my grandma.
I wanna tell her I'm okay. I don't want her to worry.
(SIGHS) Shit.
(JAMES SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
Don't let that fucking Gene see you with this.
And don't look at my recently deleted photos.
Don't look at any of my photos.
Make sure you use it tonight after Gene goes to sleep.
(SNORING)
- But he's asleep. - I said tonight.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
(BEEPING)
(LINE RINGING)
- IRENE: Hello? - Grandma. Um...
- It's Cheese. - IRENE: Who?
Cheese. Um, we met at IHS.
I've been coming over to your house every week.
IRENE: (CHUCKLES) I'm pulling your leg, cvpon.
I just... I'm sorry. I just thought that maybe...
IRENE: You thought I finally lost my marbles.
Still sharp as a tack, my boy.
Where have you been? I miss you.
You need to come by for a sofke.
Um, I miss you, too.
Um, I've been helping Uncle Charley with some stuff,
and, um, I'm gonna try to come over. Um...
- Hopefully soon. - IRENE: Well, I'm so happy you called.
It's good to hear your voice, cvpon.
Don't get too busy for the people who care about you, okay?
I won't.
IRENE: And you tell me if you need anything at all, grandson.
Sending you all my love.
- Love you too, Grandma. Good night. - IRENE: Night.
(CLOSES PHONE)
Okay, Jedthrow Brown. Let's go. Time to go.
- Sorry. - COP: Let's get going.
- Sorry, son. - God damn. Can I put some clothes on?
- Yes. - Shit.
You want to help? You want help me put on my fucking chonies?
Fucking diddler.
Okay, son. Put your clothes on. Cooperate.
Don't fucking "son" me. You're the worst one of all.
What kind of dude hangs out with underaged boys?
Billie Jean-ass dude. K-PAX, House of Cards-looking ass.
Fucking cold in here. Look. My nipples are cold.
Look, look. Yeah, that's what I thought.
Sick. ACAD. All cops are diddlers. Kiss my ass, motherfucker.
(SIGHS) All right. Uh, a lot of excitement, a lot of drama.
I'm a little triggered. Anybody?
You want to get a snack or something? Group hug?
Quick point, though. Not all cops are diddlers.
I'm not saying they're not, you know, morally dubious,
but not all of them are... Let's have a snack.
- Let's go downstairs. Come on. - For real?
Jed had the right idea with these pigs.
You swing on them, they'll kill your ass.
- So, you at least got to talk shit. - JULIO: You gotta do that.
When they arrest me, I'm gonna tell them,
"Ask your mother if she misses these nuts."
-(ALL CHUCKLE) - JULIO: Fucking hate these guys.
I try to stay on their good side.
Maybe they'll think I didn't do anything wrong.
Bullshit. That's being a coward, bro.
Seriously. A while back, my friends and I, we stole a chip truck.
Stole it in front of a gas station, sold it to meth heads.
- Damn. - That's hard, though.
Then I convinced the cop to take me on a ride-along.
- Told him it was a school project. - Hell no.
Keep your friends close, enemies closer.
Like Don Corleone in these streets.
Yeah, except I don't have any kids, and I'm more like a Tom Hagen.
Mmm. Well, I guess I'm the don.
I just hope all my kids don't turn out to be Fredos.
I knew you for two years. You never told me you had kids.
Well, we don't talk much.
That's why I'm always asking you to hook me up at your job.
A Native trying to change his ways.
I can't have my kids growing up like I did.
I'm sorry, man. I always thought you were just fucking with me.
There's so many people that come and go here,
sometimes I think it's better to just be alone.
You get to know somebody, and they go get arrested or something.
Then you never see them again.
I think it's okay to guard your feelings with barriers, Julio,
but I hope that one day you can have
a healthy relationship with people without fear of losing them.
- Why the fuck you talk like that? - Talk like what?
Like you reading from a white girl's Instagram.
Oh, he queer.
I had a friend, um, Daniel. He was like a...
He was like my hero, but, uh, then he died.
Well, he ended his own life.
And I read about some reasons why he might have did it.
And, um, it's just hard for people.
I just thought that maybe if I treated others
the way they wanted to be treated, they would do the same. Eventually.
I'm sorry about your homie, bro. It's hard out here for people. I get it.
You're a good man, Cheese.
GENE: Lights out, shit-asses.
(JAMES EXHALES HEAVILY)
- Hey, Tino. - What's up?
There's a opening at my job. I'll talk to my boss for you.
Good morning. We're having dry toast again?
Damn. Shirt's all wrinkled up. Don't disrespect the queen like that.
Hmm. Come on. Come with me.
- CHEESE: It's Sade, though. - JAMES: It's the queen of love to you.
You want to smooth the fabric with your hand ahead of the iron.
Always careful not to burn yourself. Hmm?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa...
You're gonna fuck up the whole shirt.
Ease in to it. Take your time. Like a good Sade song, hmm?
Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's it. Uh-huh.
See, now you're ready to get everybody pregnant with your looks.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Yeah.
All right, Chester. Time to go. Get your shit together.
- Is this the cop you made your bitch? - Shh!
- BIG: Hey, Cheese. - Hey.
Sorry, but I gotta put these handcuffs on you.
Stand up, turn around.
- BIG: Hold on. - Mind if I talk shit while you do it?
- Fine. Just don't make it too personal. - All right.
- This guy's a child molester. - Ah, Jesus. Fuck.
- Fucking shit-ass. Quit now. -(WHISPERS) Thank you.
Hey. Do you mind if I show homie some love before you take him to prison?
Be quick.
Hey, come see me at Red Lobster when I get the job.
I won't hook you up with free food,
but it'll be tight as fuck to see a bro on the outside.
I'll miss you, man.
Give your kids all my love, and be good to their grandmas.
I got you.
What you looking at, diddler? You see something you like?
Fucking shit-asses.
Hey, Chester. Listen.
Shugmanitu tanka, owaciyelo.
You will always be my friend.
Cool.
Come on.
- What did he say? - He said he'll always be your friend.
CHEESE: I got that much.
CHEESE: Can I sit in the front again?
(STARTS ENGINE)
Hey. Hey. Quit now. Thing's finally just dead.
That's a good thing, too. Be alone with our thoughts.
Where are we going?
- Your new placement. - New placement?
Great. Sounds awesome.
(SOULFUL ROCK SONG PLAYING)
- BEAR: Free my dawg! -(IRENE CHUCKLES)
Cheese, hey. You're gonna live here for a while.
Don't get no Xboxes or PlayStations, okay?
Otherwise you might stay here well into your 30s.
(CHEERING)
(BOTH LAUGHING)
Let's go put that Indian luggage down, cvpon.
(ALL WELCOMING)
- Young warrior. - Welcome home, brother.
- Mvto, Grandma. - You're free at last.
(CHUCKLING)
- Do you guys have an iron I can use? - IRENE: Well, sure. Welcome home.
(STARTS ENGINE)