All American – 99 Problems

By starrymag | October 23, 2018

By: Jessica Wolff

 

 

Young Spencer (Michael Wayne Williams) easily runs down the field for a touchdown and celebrates. Running to his mother, Grace James (Karimah Westbrook), he asks if his father saw him score. Grace informs him that his father isn’t coming back, and Spencer runs away.

 

In the present, Spencer James (Daniel Ezra) catches a ball on the beach thrown by Jordan Baker (Michael Evans Behling). Spencer compliments Jordan’s throw, and comments that they don’t practice like this in Crenshaw. Jordan tells him it’s team bonding and isn’t worried about their upcoming opponent.

 

Spencer runs over to Leila Keating (Greta Onieogou), who tells him that everyone is looking forward to meeting Beverly’s new star player at the upcoming booster party. Asher (Cody Christian) tells Jordan that he’s not happy with Spencer flirting with his girlfriend and taking over his position, declaring he needs to go. Jordan reminds him that he already tried, and Spencer is now living at his house. Leila asks Spencer to stay for the bonfire and JJ’s (Hunter Clowdus) performance, but Spencer tells her he has business.

 

Spencer goes back to Crenshaw and helps Dillon James (Jalyn Hall) with his homework. Grace comes home and points out that he keeps coming up with excuses to come back, reminding him he’s only supposed to be there on the weekends. She warns him not to blow his shot, but admits she misses him and embraces him.

 

Spencer sees Tiana ‘Coop’ Cooper (Bre-Z) get out of Shawn Scott’s (Jay Reeves) car, and she insists Shawn just gave her a ride. He is upset that she’s hanging out with gang-bangers, and Shawn tells him to go back to Beverly Hills. Spencer warns him to stay away from Coop and his family, but Shawn insists he’s just looking out for them. Spencer replies that they don’t need looking out for, and Shawn drives away.

 

Olivia Baker (Samantha Logan) walks in on Spencer as he steps out of the shower and is embarrassed and apologetic about seeing him naked. At breakfast, Jordan and Coach Billy Baker (Taye Diggs) discuss their upcoming opponent, and Spencer interrupts to make his own suggestions. Billy likes his suggestions and compliments his confidence.

 

Shawn runs after Coop, telling her they still have business. Coop tells him gang-banging isn’t for her and she doesn’t need his protection. During practice, Spencer and Asher taunt each other as they line up against each other. Spencer pushes Asher to intercept Jordan, and Asher is hurt on the play. Billy tells them that Asher is out of the next game with an ankle sprain, and Spencer suggests that he put him in on both offense and defense. Jordan questions his ability to maintain his stamina, but Spencer tells him to worry about getting him the ball.

 

Billy asks to speak to Spencer privately, and Spencer expresses his confidence that he can play both sides of the ball. However, Billy tells him that his responsibility is to him and tells him he knows about his visits to Crenshaw. He tells him that he can’t be working both sides both on and off the field, insisting he’s trying to protect him. Spencer insists he doesn’t need his protection, and that him playing both sides is the only way for them to win.

 

As they prepare to leave for the booster party, Billy tells Spencer to get dressed. Laura Fine-Baker (Monet Mazur) explains that the event is more formal, and Spencer tells them his blazer is at his other house. Laura offers to drive by his house to pick it up, but Spencer admits that he doesn’t have a blazer. Laura declares that he can wear what he wants, and Olivia offers her help in finding something.

 

Olivia fits Spencer into a suit, complimenting how nice he cleans up. Spencer compliments her ability to make people feel better and asks if she’s sure Jordan won’t mind borrowing his suit. Olivia explains that it’s Billy’s suit, commenting that they’re a perfect match. She explains the booster party to him, adding that the pressure on Billy is higher because the team is coming off a losing season. Olivia tells him that Billy lost himself after playing football until he got the opportunity to coach Beverly.

 

Spencer and Olivia walk into the fancy party, and Harold Adams (Casper Van Dien) asks Asher if Spencer was the one who injured him. Leila greets Spencer, and he’s surprised to see her there. She explains that she helps organize the booster events, and Olivia is annoyed that she’s interrupting them. Leila compliments Spencer’s suit and tells him the boosters are looking forward to meeting him.

 

Spencer and Billy talk to the boosters, and Harold asks Spencer what they feed him over at Crenshaw. Leila pulls Spencer away before he snaps at Harold and takes him outside. Spencer asks for her story and about the tension with Olivia. She tells him that she’s alone a lot as her dad is constantly out of town, and Spencer replies that at least she knows where her father is.

 

Leila asks where he went, and Spencer tells her they weren’t part of his plan. She tells him about her mother’s death, and Spencer apologizes. He explains that she thought she had a good life, but Leila tells him that anyone can have a sad story.

 

Billy tells Harold he’s sorry that Asher won’t be playing this week, but Harold questions his sincerity. Harold is angry that Spencer roughed up Asher in practice, calling him a thug. Billy tries to walk away, but Harold calls after him, implying that he’s comfortable with losing.

 

The argument attracts the attention of the rest of the party, and Asher attempts to stop the argument and apologize for Harold. However, Harold tells Asher that he has nothing to apologize for, as it’s Billy’s fault he got injured. Harold reveals that Jordan was the one who got Spencer’s transfer permit to Beverly contested, and Spencer confronts Jordan about being the reason he can’t go home at night.

 

After Harold declares that Spencer doesn’t belong there, Billy stops Spencer from approaching him. Spencer tells Billy that he’s done walking away and asks to prove himself by playing both sides of the ball. Billy asks for confirmation he can pull it off and agrees upon hearing that Spencer is confident he can.

 

When they arrive home, Billy asks Jordan if he’s really behind the contested permit. Jordan doesn’t deny it, and Billy asks why he would try to hurt somebody with less. Jordan tells him that he was jealous of Billy’s post-game interaction with Spencer.

 

Billy tells him he should have come to him, and Jordan points out that he moved Spencer in without asking them. Billy admits he should have asked but tells Jordan he’s disappointed in him. Jordan remarks that he’s always disappointing him, and repeats what he overheard Billy say on the phone about Spencer’s talent. After Jordan storms off, Olivia explains that while she’s glad he’s helping Spencer, she and Jordan need his help and support as well.

 

Spencer goes back to Crenshaw, and Dillon points out that he’s not supposed to be there. Spencer notices Dillon reading a comic book, and Dillon tells him that Shawn gave it to him. However, Spencer grabs the book and orders him not to talk to Shawn again. He assures Dillon he’s not mad at him and goes to confront Shawn.

 

Spencer warns Shawn to stay away from Dillon, telling him that he’s always been and always will be nothing. Shawn hits him, and Coop runs in to break up the fight as one of Shawn’s friends points a gun at Spencer. Spencer asks Coop what she’s doing, and Coop urges Shawn to walk away.

 

Shawn orders his group to leave, and Coop checks on Spencer. He asks why she’s doing this to him, and Coop explains that Shawn has been harassing her ever since he left. Spencer insists she should have told him, but Coop tells him that she’s been trying to protect him and his future from this. Spencer tells her he didn’t ask her to protect him, but she points out that she didn’t ask for his protection and that he can’t save the world.

 

On game night, Spencer struggles playing both sides of the ball and the opposing team leads at halftime. Shawn drives Coop to a neighborhood to deliver a package, explaining that he can’t get caught walking around at night. Coop asks what’s in the bag, but Shawn tells her to not ask questions. She gets out of the car and walks up to the house, and an old woman answers the door. She confirms that Coop’s with Shawn and takes the package. She opens it to reveal an egg salad sandwich and asks Coop to thank Shawn for her.

 

Returning to the car, Coop asks what that was as Shawn and his friends laugh. Shawn explains that the woman is his friend’s grandmother, who they take care of while their friend is in prison. He reminds Coop that they don’t have a way out like Spencer, so they have to take care of their people there.

 

Jordan notices Spencer clutching his side and tells Billy that he’s hurt. Billy insists Spencer’s fine, and has Jordan run the play. However, Spencer fumbles the ball which leads to a touchdown for the opposing team. Billy benches Spencer on the next play, and Spencer is upset. Jordan throws a Hail Mary, but the receiver is unable to catch it as the game ends with Beverly losing.

 

In the locker room, Spencer tells Billy that he could have caught the final ball. Billy tells him he probably could but tells Spencer to raise his arm. Billy determines that Spencer is hurt and tells him he could have risked serious injury staying in the game. Spencer argues that he shouldn’t have been benched, but Billy believes he was wrong to have Spencer play both sides of the ball. Spencer tells him that this loss is on him, but Billy tells him that he cares more about him than he does about winning. However, Spencer continues to insist he could have won the game for them.

 

On the weekend, Spencer returns to Crenshaw and Dillon makes fun of Spencer’s fumble. Spencer gives Dillon a copy of the comic book he took from him and apologizes for letting everyone down. Grace tells him that his opportunity is about more than just one game, but Spencer asks what good he is if he can’t win. She replies that he’s more than just his playing ability, reminding him he’s been taking care of everyone since his father left and that he can’t hold up the world on his own

 

Olivia gets into Asher’s car and asks why he wanted to meet. Asher admits they should talk about what happened, telling her that Leila has been pulling away since Spencer arrived. Olivia tells him their hookup was a drug-fueled mistake, and that she lost Leila because of it. She asks him to keep pretending it didn’t happen, insisting that it’s the least they can do for Leila.

 

Billy sits Jordan, Olivia, and Laura down and admits he didn’t think of them when bringing Spencer into their home. He apologizes and tells him they’re his priority. Billy gives them the choice on whether Spencer stays or goes, promising that he’ll be gone if they object to him staying there.

 

Spencer meets with Coop in the park and reminisces how they met for the first time they played little league football together. Coop reminds him that he threatened to quit the team when they tried to move her to the girls’ team, which allowed her to stay. Spencer tells her he’s worried about her, but Coop tells him to stop worrying and trust her.

 

Spencer arrives back in Beverly, and Billy welcomes him back with his special ribs. Billy tells them that the family decided to let him stay and Jordan apologizes for the permit issue. Spencer confirms that they’re good and he joins the family for dinner. In a flashback, young Spencer runs away upon hearing that his dad isn’t coming back, and Grace looks over at Billy who is watching them.