Ordinary People

**"Ordinary People"** is the ninth episode of the first season of *All American: Homecoming*. It first aired on April 25, 2022.

## Synopsis

**REEVALUATING** - Simone and the gang rally around Amara as she struggles with what to do next as new information comes to light. Coach Marcus is excited about the all-HBCU baseball game he put together until an old teammate stirs up bad memories that could possibly derail everything. As Damon, JR and the team are focused on the game, they are faced with some challenging guests and new adversaries. Thea has a close call with danger which costs her one relationship and brings a potential new one into her life. Meanwhile, Simone struggles to explain to Jordan her friendship "break-up" with Damon.

## Plot

Nate, Keisha, and Simone look at Amara's mugshot and discuss where and who it came from. Someone specifically set up the account to attack her aunt, though she's refusing to say what it's for. Jordan arrives and the happy couple embraces. Keisha asks how he got through security - Damon bussed him in. The girls leave to give the couple time alone, and they kiss, having missed one another.

They walk to the elevator as she apologizes for this not being the trip either of them imagined. He gets to finally experience the famous Patterson family dinner, or brunch, after all. It won't include Damon this time, so she lies about him having things to do and not seeing him this weekend.

At the family brunch, everyone brainstorms ideas on how to stand up for Amara at the school. She's already decided to resign and won't listen to their protests. The decision has been made and she wants pancakes now.

Damon and J.R. are in a dorm room getting ready for the showcase. Damon tells him about his father picking JR's mother out in the yearbook photos, so he suggests JR talk to his mom about the ordeal; she might know his birth parents. JR thinks he's reaching and doesn't want to involved in family drama again. His mom is fragile with the divorce so he wants to give her a minute and focus on the showcase. That's fair, as they need to focus on getting JR's spot back from Santiago, anyway.

Marcus stands at the microphone to speak to everyone before the baseball highlight. It includes examples of HBCU baseball excellence. Today is combine-style workouts and the only chance to be chosen for one of the exhibition teams competing in day two. They have two guest coaches, John "Buzz" Latimore and Terry "TNT" Tucker. With that, it's time to play ball. As the team prepare, Coach Shaw remarks to Marcus that he's doing everything to keep the program afloat, which is impressive. Marcus isn't in the mood for this, but Shaw insists that he's pointing out the growth. It must be tough for him, though. Having his old teammate from the minors make it to the big time, become a household name, then come back with all the praise while Marcus sits on the sideline with Shaw. Marcus is allowing him to sit on the sidelines with him. He's trying to save the program that Shaw ran into the ground.

Damon and Santiago watch a reporter interview a fellow pitcher, Orlando. Damon walks over to introduce himself to the pitcher and ends up taking over the interview. They get a photo of the top two pitchers together. Lando warns Damon that this isn't a friendly competition; he wants to embarrass him on the field.

Simone wants to get people to speak up about her aunt. Jordan reminds her that Amara doesn't want them to fight and Nate agrees. Keisha suggests a going away party so they decide on that. Jordan heads off to take a phone call as Thea seeks dating advice from Nate about Kevin. She's not sure if she wants to go on another date with him. Simone offers herself and Nate as her wing-women. Thea thanks them and leaves.

On the field, JR struggles to learn the catcher position so Santiago has to show him the right way. JR is up for pitcher and Lando makes a snide remark about him dropping his cape. He throws a 97 and Lando taunts him from the sidelines until he throws a 101. They have a tense conversation off the field.

Simone and Jordan talk about organizing the party when Amara comes in, upset after learning she's throwing a party. She asks her to let it rest instead of fighting. She's still fighting just in a different way. She doesn't want to force herself into a space where she's not wanted. She wants to go somewhere she's embraced. Simone didn't think of it that way. Amara understands her fierce nature but asks her to cancel the party. Jordan tries to console her.

Marcus talks to one of the guest celebrities and brushes off his invites to hang out. JR is upset over his performance and doesn't think he made any team. Marcus gestures to the highlights board, which has JR listed as center field which confuses him. Shaw remarks that he agrees someone is setting him to fail. Marcus tells JR to go shower then tells Shaw to stop giving advice and stay away from everyone. Shaw fakes a twitch and asks if he's taking his vitamins. Marcus tells him to mind his own damn business and they aren't his concern anymore.

That night at the party, Thea talks to Kevin who remarks on her tense attitude. He offers her alcohol which she ultimately drinks. Nate arrives so Simone introduces her to him before talking privately. She tells Nate to stand down and the girls dances away. Thea and Kevin dance.

Jordan and Simone talk in her dorm about Damn not being around much. He figured he'd want to help out in someway. Simone knows he wants to ask her something. He points out that she called him last week hysterical and now Damon isn't around. He wonders if they got into a fight. They didn't, but last week Damon flew home to visit his dad to talk abut his adoption. She went with him to support him emotionally only to learn they were emotionally entangled which wasn't respectful to Jordan. He struggles to understand it and asks where things are now. She put boundaries up and asks for his thoughts. He can't begrudge her for being a good friend. It's a reason he loves her and is glad she put up boundaries. She's a little dismissive so he offers to be pissed if it makes her better. She has a lot going on with Amara. He sympathizes with Simone but gets Amara's side of things. If things aren't working it's best to let go then hold on. Simone's at Bringston partially because of Amara. Jordan offers to take her mind off it by ditching the party for somewhere else.

Damon arrives at the party and watches the dancers. He approaches Lando about the party but the boys is tense. Lando accuses him of using HBCU to boost his brand. He was prepared to come to Bringston when Shaw scouted him. Then, in came Damon with his big press conference, and Bringston didn't want Lando anymore. His entire family graduated from Bringston and now his lineage is out because Damon wanted to prove a point. He storms off.

Jordan takes Simone to a fancy restaurant where they have fancy tiny burgers. He invites her to dance as they make their own dance floor. He spins her and they sway back and forth before kissing.

At the party, Thea and Kevin are having a good time. He's glad she came tot he party and asks if she's ready to go. This was supposed to be a pit stop as he has one more thing to show her. She goes with him and he leads her to the dorms. She tells him she wants to go back but he begins to rush her. She tells him to stop and he grabs her arms, trying to force her to follow him. She screams for him to stop and Damon, who is walking by, angrily intervenes. She tells him to stop as she doesn't want to cause a scene. She wants to leave so he walks back with her.

Marcus is visited by Terry in his office who brings a six pack. Terry is getting ready to retire as there's an article next week that he took PEDs from the minors. He assures Marcus he doesn't have anything to worry about they're focusing on him. His people want him to do an interview to come out in front of it, which Marcus encourages, but Terry thinks it will ruin his legacy. The men argue over the past and their opinions on juicing. He asks Marcus if he would have kept taking the PEDS if it weren't for his reaction.

Thea sits in the dorm when Jordan gives her a water. She thanks him but doesn't understand what happened. She cant' believe he was going to take advantage of her when she was drunk. He offers to call someone but she's fine as nothing happened thanks to him. He offers to walk her to her dorm but she's gonna stay there and watch TV. He's just down the hall if she needs anything. She stops him as she knows she said she was okay, and even though nothing happened, she'd rather not being alone if he's not busy. He sits and asks what she's going to watch as he's picky with his shows.

Jordan talks on the phone as Simone walks back to the table. He hangs up when she gets back. He admits it was Layla who's had a rough couple weeks. He's been checking in on her throughout the day as things haven't been easy for her lately. She calls him a good friend.

The next day at the game, Jordan is up to bat with Lando pitching and Santiago catching. Lando throws two strikes before hitting Damon in the back of the shoulder. Damon angrily confronts him while Marcus stops Terry as he knows his players. Damon isn't going to hit him as it's supposed to be HBCU vs everyone. He wasn't trying to take anyone's spot. This is his journey now and wants to make sure everyone shines by playing ball the right way. The choice is up to Lando if he wants to make them look like fools or not. Damon walks off as Landon pitches a clean pitch to the next player. JR is in center field and performs well there. Damon and Landon nod to one another.

After, Marcus praises JR as center field was his suggestion. He wanted him to have a fresh start by rediscovering his love for the game instead of competing for the same spot. JR heads off the field while Marcus tells Shaw that JR is a star, he just didn't use him right.

Amara comes into her apartment to find everyone gathered. She asks what they did and what's going on. Marcus arrives late, but one time. Simone wants to show her that Amara is revered here and shows her a presentation that praises her for her work at the community. It's a tribute from the students to her. Amara begins to tear up and Keisha gives her flowers while Simone gives her a plaque. Amara can't express her emotions and walks away in tears.

Marcus finds Amara to ask what's wrong. She made a mess of things. Sometimes, she has to let it all out. He wants to make sure their personal situation isn't why she's leave. It's not, as it's just time for her to go. Timing has always been their problem but they might get it right one day. He thinks she should tell them. They go back out to the kids as Simone apologizes for upsetting her. Amara doesn't feel as though she deserves it. She explains that in her sophomore year she wrote an article to expose a medical facility her friend Jada worked out. They needed evidence so they broke into the lab after-hours to access the billing records. Before they could publish, the break-in was uncovered and they were arrested and charged with felonies. She was scared to go to prison so they took a deal to take a semester off in exchange for Amara and Bringston burying the story. Jada fell off the radar and the unjustly charged didn't get reparations. She feels that she doesn't deserve the accolades when she feels like a coward. Jordan thinks going after a story like that at such a young age is badass. He career is about helping people. She's more than a mugshot and should be able to let go of the past to stand tall. Simone thinks this is more reasons why the need her. Amara calls them all special, but she won't reconsider her resignation.

Jordan goes back to the dorms and talks with Thea about the game. She thanks him again for last night and he's happy to help. She offers to work together on their lit project or watch another episode of TV. He wonders if she's supposed to be a role model to him to do his schoolwork but she chuckles as even role models have bad days.

Simone and Keisha talk about her relationship with Jordan. She's worried that Jordan didn't get jealous as she'd be pissed if he did it with another girl. She worries about his relationship with Layla. Keisha thinks she's projecting but Simone thinks things are off now. They're different people now, but the real question, is if the people they're becoming make sense in the relationship.

A reporter gives a run-down of the baseball game. Marcus watches and his alarm goes off for his meds for a mood disorder. He remembers telling his friend that he doesn't need to cheat with drugs to feel happy and healthy. He throws away his pills.

Nate and Simone tell Amara that they found the person who circulated the mugshot, Veronica Skinner. Amara recognizes her as being Jada's sister. This has never been about baseball, this is personal.

## Cast

### Starring

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

### Guest Starring

* John Marshall Jones
* Martin Bobb-Semple
* Rhoyle Ivy King as Nathaniel Hardin
* Derek Rivera
* Mark Taylor

## Trivia

* This episode's title originated from the song "Ordinary People", originally sung by John Legend.

## References

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