What Now?

**"What Now?"** is the eleventh episode of the first season of *All American: Homecoming*. It first aired on May 9, 2022.

## Synopsis

**FACING IT HEAD ON** - After returning from break, Simone throws herself into distraction, including her tennis tournament, to avoid dealing with what's really bothering her. When Damon finds himself with more questions than answers, he finds help from Thea. With the help of Nathaniel, JR realizes he needs to change his narrative on how he sees himself after he has a viral game moment. Meanwhile, Amara inches closer to the issues going on with Bringston and Coach Marcus' paranoia is at an all-time high.

## Plot

Simone is in her dorm as she flashes back to her and Jordan breaking up. She looks at their wedding photo and then takes down all her pictures with him and puts them in a drawer.

Damon lay son a bed as he thinks back to Celine's revelation. JR goes jogging as he also recalls the revelation that Damon is his half-brother.

In a flashback, Damon denies being that baby as Xavier wouldn't have lied to him face his entire life. JR adds that would make them brothers, and they're not, as the DNA test wasn't a match. Celine reveals that JR having aplastic anemia requires a bone marrow transplant. Over time, his DNA can merge with the donor's, essentially, creating a new one. That's why their DNA didn't match. JR suggests that Celine and Damon do a DNA test instead. Damon wants to know why she gave up on him. There were a lot of reasons but she thought it was best for everyone. Damon lashes out that being lied too his whole life wasn't what was best for him. He storms out of the room.

Now, JR calls Damon who declines it.

Simone and Damon finish their tests wand he bumps into Simone, who gives him the cold shoulder. He tries to talk about their Fall break but she says it was fine. After class, Nate greets Simone as she wanted to check on her. Simone's been AWOL lately as she's been busy. Nate tells her that the "I'm fine" breakup mood isn't a good look. She shares some wisdom on not pushing away the pain, but Simone brushes it off to leave.

Amara dismisses her class when Ralph arrives. He's working on a new project and wants to talk with Marcus. He's hoping that Amara will help him get insider info, but she declines to help. He asks for an update on the financial story, but she doesn't have one, explaining the Veronica situation. She decides to go back to the financial story.

Simone practices on the court and Thea compliments her. They talk about Thea's actions before Fall break. Thea apologizes as she was dealing with PTSD from Kevin but is good now. She can focus back on tennis now, though she already qualifies for the tournament coming up. Simone calls her out on her happiness and knows it's because of a boy, thinking it's a great look. Coach Loni texts that they need to get back to practice.

Santiago leads the team into the locker room as he boasts over JR. Marcus exclaims to Damon that it's the worst baseball ever. He doesn't see an excuse and tells him to focus, angrily storming into his office.

Damon meets with Thea after the game and they tease one another over the game. Celine calls him but he denies it, with Thea calling him out on it. He'd rather go on that date he owes her and she's in. She warns that he can't hide from whatever it is forever.

Marcus and his assistant coach discuss the PEDs scandal shaking the baseball league. JR's performance is showcased on TV, which should bring great press to the HBCU if they can avoid another scandal.

Simone practices but becomes increasingly frustrated. She slams her racket onto the court.

Thea takes Damon to the PT room and uses a massage gun on him, helps him stretch, and they submerge in an ice bath. He stiffens up in the water while she remains relatively unphased. They make a bet to see who can stay in the water longest.

JR's mom visits him with the DNA test results that confirm Damon is her biological son. She hasn't told him yet as he won't answer her calls. JR is upset that she abandoned Damon, but she counters that his father wouldn't raise another man's child. Things got worse financially when he got sick. JR surmises she had to choose between keeping Damon and taking care of him, but she refutes the claim. That's what he hears and what Damon will hear.

Marcus works in his office when Ralph comes in. He wants to talk about Terry Tucker and the rising usage of PEDs in the MLB. He asks questions about Terry's behavior in college, but Marcus says he didn't notice anything. He's offended when Ralph asks if other players used, leading to an argument that escalates as Marcus becomes heated. He ignores a voicemail from his doctor about his meds.

Simone passes Damon who asks if she's okay. She could ask him the same as heard about the game and them winning in spite of his pitching. She feels like he's lying when he says he's fine. Thea interrupts to tell Damon she's getting a table. Simone asks about their new friendship but her ignores the question to leave. She watches them until Amara appears, asking for an update in her life as things aren't going well for her lately. Especially, in school. Simone is having trouble balancing everything but Amara presses for more. She tells her about the breakup, citing that she's fine, but Amara doesn't think she's coping in a healthy way. She decides to ask her teacher for another chance at her exam. Amara reminds her that she's here if Simone isn't okay.

JR talks to Marcus in the gym looking for advice. But Marcus is annoyed about the press around JR's game. If everything is about JR it takes focus away from everyone else. Marcus needs him focused on the team, pressing hard if JR understands why he's saying.

Amara tells Ralph what she found out about Veronica and how she's pushing for funding in specific areas despite Bringston's alleged financial issues. She needs a source but will figure it out. Ralph tells her about his strange meeting with Marcus and the aggressive nature the man exhibited. She doesn't believe that Marcus got angry and thinks he's stretching because she turned him down. Ralph is a grown man and can handle rejection, but what he saw is worrisome. She should give him some space.

Thea and Damon talk about their relationship; she's had the best night. He agrees but their moment is interrupted when JR arrives to tell him the DNA results are in. They are half-brothers and it might be hard, but ignoring their mom isn't making it easier. Damon refutes the claim that he's her mom. JR asks about their relationship now. Damon views JR as the chosen son, so whenever he looks at him all he sees is how it was so important to take care of JR instead of caring for him. JR leaves and Damon apologizes to Thea for the drama. She doesn't think JR deserved the verbal onslaught. She knows he's upset but burning his newfound brother who was his best friend won't do either of them any good. She kisses his cheek and walks away.

JR visits Nate and Simone, the latter who is upset. She leaves for her tennis game since JR came to see Nate. She begins setting up the haircut he desperately needs, while he blurts out that Damon is his biological half-brother. He feels like his illness has stolen everything from him. She can't do anything about the brother part, but shows him the views on his videos. He can't blame himself for the choices of his mother. He can't let Marcus steal the moment as he's earned the recognition on and off the field. She decides to be his social media manager so he won't miss that moment.

Damon meets with Celine over the DNA results. She loves him and is here for him now if he wants a relationship. He doesn't see how she can love him if she never tried to contact him. Celine admits that Xavier wanted it that way. He had just married Damon's mom when Celine called to tell him about her pregnancy. He didn't want to risk the marriage he had so her agree to stay out of Damon's life. She apologizes as he spirals over his fathers infractions.

Amara talks to Jada about Veronica. She apologizes to Jada for getting her caught up in trouble in college, but Jada's already forgiven her. Amara tells her about Veronica's meddling, though Jada is certain Veronica isn't mixing business and personal life. She helps universities with financial problems as it's her job. But whoever she "helps" ends up sold.

Simone is being heckled by Becca, who wants to meet with her to celebrate after she talks to Jordan. Simone runs off emotionally into her dorm and Damon notices. She hugs him and he offers to help, knowing that she isn't fine. She tries to push him away as she can't talk to him about what's going on with her. He tries to push but they need to handle their stuff without each other. He walks away and she slams her dorm door, before sitting on the floor. She begins to cry into her hands.

Nate records JR working out in the gym. He's appreciative of her helping him. Marcus angrily storms up to JR, asking if he's stupid or hard of hearing. He told him to let go of that press and focus on baseball. He does not need another Damon Sims on his team. JR snaps back that he doesn't have another Damon, he has a Jesse Raymond. He won't apologize for what he's been through or what he's doing. He isn't breaking school policies so he'll have to get used to seeing his name trending. JR storms off as everyone stares at Marcus. Nate confirms that everyone is staring at him because he just did a lot. He merely glares at her.

Damon visits Thea to tell her that she was right about lashing out because he was hurt. She's made him realize he can't hurt his friends and family when he needs them the most. She gave him the wakeup call he needed to talk to his birth mom, but being around Thea has really held him together these last few days. They aren't complicated or messy, they just feel right. She agrees with him and he wants to give their relationship a real shot. As in, them being a couple. She pretends to think about it for a minute then accepts. He kisses her before leaving her dorm, promising to call her later. When he's gone, she does a happy dance in her dorm. She opens the door to Nate who asks for the black scarf she let her borrow. Simone and Jordan broke up, so now Simone's ready to deal with it. Thea gives her the scarf.

Damon stops by JR's dorm to talk with him. He apologizes for how he's been acting lately, as it's been a bit much for him. JR agrees with things being heavy. Damon met with Celine and, though he's not ready to take it to the next step, he knows for a fact that he's ready to get to know his little brother. JR is having Deja vu, but this time is different as the secrets are out. They're family and Damon will always have his brothers back. He offers a hand so they hug. They talk about JR's performance of the day, and how Marcus has been acting out lately. They worry about him but think they know someone who might know what's going on with him.

Nate and Simone dress in funeral clothing as Nate has dug a hole. They're not mourning the loss of Simone's first love, but to celebrate what it was. Simone had the best days of her life with Jordan, but knows there are other best days to come. Nate gives her affirmation. Simone opens the Jordan box and tearfully looks through their mementos, flashing back to the special memories they shared. She gives Nate the only copy of their wedding photo that she has. She felt so loved on that day. She hopes she never forgets that feeling. Nate tearfully promises that she'll have this feeling again. It's okay to release it. She puts the mementos in the hole. Simone hopes the memories of their love with provide a safe space for the beautiful flower seeds to grow. Nate shovels dirt into a hole then hugs her friends.

Simone tells Amara about the beautiful ceremony. Nate is glad she's been a good therapist to her and JR, but is stepping away for the night. JR and Damon pop-in to talk with Amara, but the awkward tension is apparent. Amara tells them they are all family in there and should help her with dinner. As they prepare food, Damon tells Amara about Marcus's attitude. Nate shows Amara the video she took of Marcus lashing out. Amara tells them to eat while she goes to check on Marcus.

She finds him in his office to ask if everything is okay. He accuses her of sending a reporter to field questions. He wonders if he paid her to sell her out, or if he got it for free. She's taken aback as something is wrong with him. She offers to help but he lashes out and knocks things off the table. He never needed her help and doesn't need it now.

Damon hands Simone the last plate as she wipes off the table. Nate comments on the second-hand awkwardness and goes to find JR, who is looking at Amara's board. They end up finding discrepancies in the funding stories they've heard from fellow students. It's weird they cut funding from two departments but have enough to rebuild a building that doesn't need it. Amara excuses the group for the night as she puts the pieces of the scandal together. Bringston isn't being sold, it's merging with a predominately white university, which means it won't be an HBCU anymore.

## Cast

### Starring

* Geffri Maya as Simone Hicks
* Peyton Alex Smith as Damon Sims
* Kelly Jenrette as Amara Patterson
* Cory Hardrict as Coach Marcus Turner
* Sylvester Powell as Jessie Raymond
* Camille Hyde as Thea Mays
* Mitchell Edwards as Cam Watkins
* Netta Walker as Keisha McCalla

### Guest Starring

* Robert Bailey Jr. as Ralph Wells
* Rhoyle Ivy King as Nathaniel Hardin
* Crystal Lee Brown as Celine
* Derek Rivera as Santiago Reyes

### Co-Starring

* Matisha Baldwin as Jada Skinner
* Loren Maxine as Becca
* Anton Peeples as Coach Lowe

## Trivia

* This episode's title originated from the song "What Now", originally sung by Rihanna.

## References

1. ↑ *All American: Homecoming*: Season One Ratings
2. ↑ Listings - ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING on The CW | TheFutonCritic.com