Terry Flenory

**Terry "Southwest T" Flenory** is a main character and the deuteragonist in the Starz original crime drama *BMF*. He is portrayed by Da'Vinchi.

Southwest T is the quiet and calculating. He finds himself torn between two competing identities: being a new father and becoming the first male in their family to graduate high school or becoming a serendipitous dealer who must protect his brother from himself as well as secure their safety.

## Biography

### Early life

Terry and his older brother Meech grew up in southwest Detroit, in a highly religious home, alongside their younger sister Nicole. While most kids idolized Black stars on the Michigan sports teams, they've always looked up to the Chambers brothers, who the movie New Jack City was based on, and YBI, Young Boys Incorporated, who all the Detroit D-boys patterned themselves after. It was early in their adolescence that Terry but more so Meech, began getting involved in the dope boy lifestyle, starting with Pat, who Meech began dealing for at the rock house, telling their parents that he had started working at Wendy's. After learning the truth, Terry sought to join him.

### Shot in the face

Terry and Meech arrange a meeting with the 12th Street Boys to discuss the 50 Boyz having moved into their territory. Tee has managed to sneak a gun in and draws it on 12th Street when they demand that Terry and Meech give up their territory, forcing Meech to rethink his stance and give them the area. The following day, after moving to a new location with the crew and getting into an altercation at school with Kwame, Terry briefly attends his and LaWanda's baby shower before reconvening with Meech and B-Mickie to discuss a new business approach to moving their dope.

Terry and Meech attend Pat's party, where after another near encounter with Kwame and making the acquaintance of Boom and his wife, Markisha, they approach Pat about expanding their operation, but he turns them down. Nevertheless, Meech declares that it is time they become their own bosses, but first, Terry becomes a father as LaWanda goes into labor and gives birth to a baby boy. Two days later, after bringing the baby Terry home, Tee goes out to the car, where he is shot in the face and left for dead.

### Recovering from an Assassination Attempt

Terry is taken to the hospital, where he is joined by Meech. Covered in blood and the bullet still lodged in his head, a barely conscious Terry tells Meech to tell the family that he's sorry and to look after Terry Jr. He then slips into unconsciousness and becomes unresponsive.

Barely conscious and in a bed at Downriver Memorial Hospital, Terry tells Meech to look after Terry Jr. He then slips into unconsciousness. Terry awakens after surgery to the sight of LaWanda and his family. Fortunately, they were able to get the bullet out. When Meech finally returns, he reveals that Jay Mo allegedly shot Tee, though he suspect it could've been Lamar. Nevertheless, Terry wants Meech to solely focus on the business and leave the street violence alone. He later attempts to leave the hospital to find Meech, but collapses in the hallway and is taken back into surgery after they discover an infection moving towards his brain.

Following his second surgery, LaWanda reveals that she suspects Terry's incident wasn't a random carjacking. Like her, Terry is scared, but he also loves the dope game and has no intentions of stopping. This could give their son a chance at a better life than either of them ever had. Meech returns to the hospital, but this time, Terry is in no mood to joke after being faced with his own mortality. The brothers both admit that they're scared, but Terry has noticed a change in Meech, leaving him to suspect that something has happened on the streets.

Following his welcome home party, Terry and Meech discuss splitting the profits 50/50. However, they have bigger concerns, as they first have to get Pat back his money in six days with 10% interest, leading Terry to suggest moving their business to the factories after reading an article about drugs use at the power plants. Shortly after returning home, Terry is questioned about his shooting by Detectives Bryant and Lopez, but he insists that he doesn't remember anything. After successfully negotiating with a truck owner named Fonzo to help them push their work near the factories, Tee and Meech are confronted by Pat, who moves their deadline up a day. Nevertheless, they manage to pay him back.

Despite learning from Meech that B-Mickie killed Jay Mo, the brothers conducted business as usual, even throwing Terry a surprise party at the bowling alley, where they cross paths with 12th Street. When Terry returns home, LaWanda expresses that she's tired of being treated as replaceable. She informs Terry how she lied to the police and his parents simply to protect him, and reminds him that they're partners who should be treated equally.

### Finding a new supplier

Terry and Meech have secured a new safe house just north of 8 mile. Terry then confronts Meech for paying for the mortgage on the house, as it has caused friction between their parents, resulting in their father leaving the house. He then takes LaWanda and Nicole out shopping for baby Terry's christening. Unfortunately, they run into 12th Street, though the interaction doesn't escalate beyond words. That night, Tee and Meech plan to meet K-9's connect, Big L, at a nightclub, but he never shows. And so, Meech decides to go with Terry's plan and contact Rock's connect.

After meeting with Pastor Swift's niece Karen, who assesses Terry's case to determine if she should file a malpractice lawsuit, Tee and Meech go to meet with Rock's connect, but they are approached by two gunmen, who take them to a field, where Pat and Rock await. He discovered their plan to meet with a new plug. Fortunately, Pat blames Rock for betraying him more than he does the boys, and proceeds to bludgeon him with a shovel before instructing Terry and Meech to get rid of the body. Afterward, Meech and Terry meet with B-Mickie and Hoop, who reveal that Lamar got them for everything. Following baby Terry's christening, Tee meets with Big L on a street corner. Much to his surprise, Big L is a woman — the same woman from a few nights ago when he and Meech were at the nightclub. She's done her homework, and while Terry may be green, she is willing to do business with him on one condition, that being that she will only work with him directly.

### Suing the hospital

Terry attends a deposition with his parents, Karen, and the hospital's lawyer to discuss his eye and any possible malpractice, but when the lawyer displays photos which indicate that Terry has been dealing with Meech, Karen decides to suspend the deposition. Terry isn't sure if he should accept the money the hospital is offering. He can barely see out of his eye and wants the hospital to be held accountable, but if they proceed, it will put his and Meech's entire operation under a microscope. Later, Terry is questioned by his mother about the photos presented during the deposition. Terry lies and says that he isn't dealing with Meech. Nevertheless, the hospital is making an offer for $25,000. Between the photos and the fact that Terry tried to leave the hospital and fell, Karen believes they should at least consider the offer.

Upon learning that Meech kidnapped Zoe in an attempt to pressure Lamar into returning their stolen dope, Terry warns Meech that it is a bad idea, as it makes their own family liable to be attacked. When Lamar calls Meech's bluff, he is forced to improvise, so the crew apprehend Slick and force him to reveal the location. Despite getting their dope back, Terry is still struggling with whether he should settle with the hospital. What they're offering, he and Meech make in a day. However, LaWanda admits that it wouldn't be a bad idea to have some money of Terry's own, away from the drug business.

Terry and Meech argue over just how they're going to move their dope. In the meantime, they purchase a record store as a front for their business. Getting back to school, Terry asks Mr. Ryan for a spot in the college fair, despite the fact that the event is for juniors and seniors. Mr. Ryan agrees to allow Terry to help him set up the event, and in return, he'll introduce Terry to some admission directors. After dealing with the fall out of their parents learning that they've been selling drugs, Terry proposes an alternative to Meech; they franchise out to their group and give them each a bag, which they can get their own people to move. B-Mickie alone will get a brick, but in delivering this news to him, Tee discovers that he's hooking up with Kato.

Terry arrives late to the college fair, where Mr. Ryan awaits with one of the admission directors. He introduces Terry to the Western Michigan University director, who asks to know more about Terry. However, he's too overwhelmed by drama in the street and excuses himself. Terry returns home, where he is confronted by his parents. Terry reveals that he's been selling ever since Meech started. Between the two of them, they have more money than they'll ever need, but Lucille is worried about Terry's soul and warns him that not even she can protect him from that. Later, Meech and Terry declare that the 50 Boyz are no more and that they're "The Family" moving forward.

### Hunting down Lamar

Terry and Meech arrive at Downriver Memorial Hospital after learning of Darius' death and Nicole's near-abduction by Lamar. With the laws applying heavy pressure, Terry meets with Big L and asks for an extension to adjust their re-up schedule, but she declines. And so rather than moving the deadline for their crew, Terry and Meech decide to work the streets with their guys, but in shifts. With Meech taking the first shift, Terry attends Darius' funeral and apologizes to Nicole for getting her involved. Later, LaWanda tells Terry that she wants him to get out of the game, given recent events. He needs to choose between her and Terry jr or Meech. Terry has too much money tied in the streets to bail, but LaWanda isn't concerned with the money and gives him time to make a decision.

### Getting out the game

The entire crew is taken in and questioned by D.R.A.N.O officials about the killing of Detective Lopez, but when they refuse to speak, Commander Beckwith is left with no choice but to release them. After learning from Karen that the settlement money will be held in a trust until he turns 18, Tee and Meech go to meet with the boss of an Eastside crew they encountered, who so happens to be Boom, though he turns down their offer. Later, Terry goes with his parents to see Jay Freedman's car service business, which he is selling. He makes about 125K annually. Charles wants this business to be Terry, which he could eventually pass down to his son. This could be Terry's way out, but Terry isn't sure if this is what he wants just yet and asks for time to think about it.

After unveiling their new crew name, Black Mafia Family, Meech offers to join Terry on his next re-up with Big L to ask for more weight. Terry reluctantly agrees, but Big L draws her gun and demands that Meech exit her gallery, warning Terry that she'll kill both him and Meech if he ever disrespects her like that again. As for the ten keys, Big L grants Terry's request, informing him that their partnership has no limit provided that he continue to value the terms of their agreement. Terry begins to reconsider his life choices after LaWanda reveals that she and Terry Jr. are going to live with her cousin in Pennsylvania for a few months. In his final meeting with Meech, Terry reveals that he's out of the game and that he's going to use his settlement money to invest in the family business, as he's tired of all the consequences that come with the streets.

## Appearances

### Season 1

* See It... Touch It... Obtain It
* Rumors
* Love All, Trust Few
* Heroes
* Secrets and Lies
* Strictly Business
* All in the Family
* The King of Detroit

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Season 1, Episode 1: ***See It... Touch It... Obtain It***
2. ↑ Season 1, Episode 2: ***Rumors***
3. ↑ Season 1, Episode 3: ***Love All, Trust Few***
4. ↑ Season 1, Episode 4: ***Heroes***
5. ↑ Season 1, Episode 5: ***Secrets and Lies***
6. ↑ Season 1, Episode 6: ***Strictly Business***
7. ↑ Season 1, Episode 7: ***All in the Family***
8. ↑ Season 1, Episode 8: ***The King of Detroit***