Kingdom

I loved college.

I went for a year in Northridge.

I was gonna major in graphic art,

but then I found out

that you only end up designing pharmaceutical pamphlets,

so then I switched to art history.

I'm actually a pretty good artist.

I mean, not good enough to really, like, do it,

but I still sketch.

Like, even ugly things can be pretty in ways.

Then I had a kid, so I dropped out.

What's the password?!

Open the door, asshole. Come on.

What's up, fellas?

- Not bad. - Hey.

Wow, you guys are really cute.

Dude, how old is she?

This is who he had. It'll be fine.

She's not even dressed up or anything.

I got an outfit.

Are you Skinner?

Yeah, but...

We got you for all of us.

Okay.

Let me just get changed, and we'll have some fun.

Aah!

Oh! Fuck!

Ah, shit.

Point is, rats can be fucking anywhere.

Downtown, Boyle Heights, fucking Palisades...

they don't give a shit.

And that's great for me.

'Cause I'm building a goddamn empire on rats.

See what I'm saying?

You got to find a spot and fit in.

Do the shit nobody wants to do.

You see, I saw a need and I filled it.

That's being an entrepreneur, being a boss.

Goddamn, boy. You hearing me?

I'm trying to give you a motherfucking road map.

Oh, you're an inspiration, Carl.

You're giving me goose bumps.

Ah.

Okay.

You just keep on staring at that ass

that you ain't never gonna get.

Shit, boy, you may be white, but you still a felon.

Hey, Shelby.

Morning.

Alvey's in his office. He screwed up his knee.

What'd he do?

I think he was doing dead lifts or something.

Dead lifts? At your age?

I'm fine. I just tweaked it.

Have you thought about, I don't know, water aerobics?

Maybe a brisk walk.

So funny.

Give me it.

By the way, there was blood

all over my canvas this morning.

Yeah, Josephina called in sick today.

Well, then Josephina's got to find somebody to cover for her.

Or get Taylor or one of these other jerk-offs

who owes fees to do it.

You got to get somebody to do this.

You can't leave me with blood on this canvas.

I'll get into it.

Is Ryan working out today?

No, he texted me.

He's stuck at some bullshit job.

I got to figure out how to handle him, too.

I got to... I got to protect him.

Okay, well, it's your thing.

What do you want to do?

I think I want to close down the gym while he's training.

- No, Alvey. - A couple of hours.

- You're killing me. - A couple of hours.

Yeah, that's a couple of hours

that we're not making money.

I know, babe, but I got to manage this.

Okay? He hasn't been in a cage in five years.

He's hesitant.

He's got a lot of fucking eyes on him. You know?

He's scared.

I need him to open up, shake off the ring rust.

Not to mention the P.R. of it all.

I mean, I can't have anybody, you know,

saying Ryan Wheeler's washed up,

he's no good, he sucks, he's finished.

I, uh, got to take this.

- All right, two hours. - Bye.

- No more. - Yep.

Thank you.

- Two hours, I'm serious. - Nice jeans.

I am bushed.

There was a tranny in there who would not shut up.

Oh.

I mean, what a chatterbox.

Good stories, but Jesus.

Are you a fucking maniac?

Attacking a cop?

I mean, really, you're gonna fight a detective?

What is wrong with you?

I didn't attack or fight anybody, okay?

You've got to knock this shit off, Jay.

Don't make me feel bad, Lisa. Come on.

All right?

I haven't slept for a fucking night, I'm tired,

I got to take a colossal shit.

I'm not in the mood.

I'm not making you feel any way, Jay.

You do this shit to yourself.

You've seen the scar on my brother's head.

I'm just asking you to calm the fuck down a little bit.

You're right.

You're right. You're right.

Don't fucking placate me, motherfucker.

No, I'm... I'm... Lisa, I'm not.

I'm saying, seriously, you're fucking right.

Sometimes I can't help myself, Lisa.

I'm an emotional man.

- Did you tell my dad about this? - Fuck no.

I actually like having you around the gym.

Thanks for picking me up.

- Where to? - Home. I got to shower.

Also, I'm working the door at Tanya's this week,

so you can come by for some free drinks.

I might just take you up on that.

- Yeah. - Seat belt.

Fucking asshole.

So, other than the knee,

we're looking at a separated shoulder,

a cracked clavicle, and neck and back strain, right?

That's it.

How much pain are you in?

Pick a face.

Really?

Um... The light green one.

Number two.

Mild is a goal. It's not a starting point.

You should be at least a purple.

No, he looks like he's about to die.

I... I don't feel that bad.

Maybe you've just gotten used to a certain level of pain.

Maybe.

You can feel so much better than this.

You just have to learn to listen to your body.

How long until I can start fighting?

Look at you, already missing the point.

No, I...

I'm ju... you know, t-there's just, like, a lot of beads

and Buddhas and shit in here,

and I-I'm not looking to meditate.

What's wrong with meditation?

Nothing. It's great.

I'm not judging.

Yeah, you are. You'll see.

Okay, so, before we get started,

are there any other injuries that I should know about?

Yeah, um, three cracked ribs on this side,

two on my right, uh, cracked orbital,

um, broken collarbone, a couple concussions,

ripped my left a.C.L.

Uh, it's fine now, though. It's been a while.

And, uh, I keep spraining my ankle,

but it's just 'cause of how I run.

Oh, man. You're fucked.

Then what? Where do they go?

Like, to a mass grave?

Well, I think they burn 'em.

There's, like, a way they got to do it.

Do you do that? You burn rats?

No, I don't do it.

What a gig.

Yeah, it's fucking miserable.

But, you know, I got to have a job.

So I have no choice.

You got a job, dude. You're a fighter.

This isn't your job.

My parole officer put me in this,

and I'm there all day, so...

What's your parole officer's name?

- Dantzler. - Dantzler.

All right, I'm gonna talk to Dantzler.

I'll get you squared away.

Okay.

In the meantime, do you need anything else?

You okay in here?

- Yeah, I'm good. Thanks. - Okay.

This is fucking temporary.

You know that, right?

We'll get you back in the cage.

This is a fucking blip.

Eyes up. Eyes up.

Always.

Good.

Now king me.

Hey, baby.

Hey, man, I'm...

I'm looking for someone?