Other Lives is the tenth episode of the the third season of Snowfall. It is the thirtieth episode overall and season finale.
Outline
Franklin walks a different path. Life in South Central begins to change forever.
Summary[]
Franklin[]
In an alternate time, Franklin is still in college at Claremont McKenna, where he attending a physics class listening to a lecture. After class, he is approached outside the building on campus by a student named Annie. She asked Franklin who he would be in another another alternate dimension. Franklin claims he may be from Africa and possibly never knowing his ancestors to be captured and shipped across the Atlantic. Franklin then asked her the same question and she proclaimed herself to be the youngest Senator in U.S. history on track to becoming the first female U.S. President. Franklin then points out that 30 is the legal age to be eligible for a Senate run but she claims in her world that ain't a requirement. Franklin then notes her for not being ambitious and Annie asks him to show her someone on campus who isn't. Franklin then brings up the professors, who are spreading knowledge instead of using their talents for power or profit and points out the students on the campus are the ones to be feared. Annie then asks who Franklin is in this current life, and Franklin ponders whether or not Annie is trying to befriend a unicorn or if she has a thing for black dudes. Annie then admits she finds Franklin interesting. Franklin takes that as a compliment and assumes she is from somewhere east, naming Connecticut. Annie tells Franklin she came from Chicago. When Franklin asked what suburb she came, Annie then asked him if he is always this tough on people or just white girls. She then takes off.
As Franklin returns to his dormitory, he finds an eviction notice on his door. He later confronts the Financial Aid Officer, Jeffrey Pearson about the issue, learning there was an issue with the loan payments and how the loan was cancelled due to overdue payments. Franklin is then oblivious to the news, and Jeffrey informed Franklin of Cissy's recent W-2 form listing a reported income of 110 grand, which made Franklin ineligible for financial aid. Franklin then tells Jeffrey that's a mistake, seeing how Cissy doesn't make that kind of money annually and assures him that is an error. Jeffrey then asked for possible proof and Franklin notes that he could get ahold of him mother and see if she could send a copy of her W-2 form and suggested Jeffrey calls her and requested a few days to get it. Jeffrey then tells Franklin that they need proof of an error within 48 hours, otherwise Franklin will have to vacate his dorm and drop all his classes. Franklin tells him it's just a typing mistake and asks for an extension. Jeffrey then states to Franklin that if their financial requirements would be a burden for Franklin, then maybe he shouldn't be at Claremont McKenna. Jeffrey's assistant, Glenda, appears at the door and Franklin, who is now offended, claims Jeffrey to be stupid to identify a simple mistake on a form, and suggests he shouldn't be employed at Claremont McKenna. Jeffrey then asks Glenda to call security, but Franklin tells them not to bother, noting he will return, making it clear it is just a mistake as he walks out.
For the next couple of days, Franklin is carrying on his basic routines, and we go to Franklin talking to Annie about how he never really saw himself as being hard on people. He even offered to buy her some coffee, but she tells Franklin that there is a recruiter on campus and would like to check it out. Franklin and Annie then head to the classroom where the recruiter is giving a lecture. It's Teddy McDonald, speaking about his position in the CIA. He even points out the CIA is not exactly what the directors in Hollywood show youngsters what they are. Teddy then tells everyone that working in the CIA can be boring, but also dangerous, and very necessary. He then asks then students if they have what it takes to dedicate their lives to something bigger than their selves, and seeing how no one is darting towards the doors, he sees it as a yes.
Franklin later arrives at the Student Affairs building to offer Jeffrey the copy of the W-2 form along with the pay stubs and to apologize for lashing out the other day. Jeffrey then informs Franklin of some bad news, stating that the financial question brought his scholarship to the committee and it is being put up for review. Franklin is confused and asked what that meant. Jeffrey then tells Franklin how the Reagan budget cuts have thrown several aid situations into uncertainty. Jeffrey then tells Franklin the committee can review his aid package as soon as they can, but unless he has the $7,800 he still owes the University, he'll have to move out of his dorm immediately. Franklin is shocked to hear that, while Jeffrey claims it would not be fair to the other kids who have already paid their tuitions while they let him stay for free. Franklin has now lost it, and demanded to speak to someone else about this issue. He then requests a supervisor since he didn't like what came out of Jeffrey's mouth. Jeffrey is claiming there is no one else to speak to while stating once again the committee would review his package whenever they could. Franklin then tells Jeffrey it is already too late to drop his classes and there would be F's on his report should he do that. Jeffrey claimed it to be a shame. Franklin is oblivious to the remark and makes it clear it is his life. Jeffrey then tells Franklin that if he could pull himself up, he could do it again, but suggested reconsidering his attitude moving forward. A tear runs down Franklin's face as he jumps over Jeffrey's desk and attacks him. He is now kicked out of Claremont McKenna as he is escorted out of the building by campus security and leave the college campus with bags in hand.
Franklin is now back in LA as he has hopped off the bus with Cissy awaiting him at the bus stop and hugs him. Later, Franklin is with Melody, who is apparently sober, talking about how he attacked Jeffrey and is expelled, whether the scholarship goes through or not. He then tells her she'll be fine when she heads to Spelman. Franklin then heads to his uncle's home seeing his homie's still lifting weights on his front lawn. Franklin then enters the home to see Louie, who is pregnant, apparently she and Jerome know about the loan issue. Jerome pointed out they were going to help him out but with the baby coming and the deal with the Mexicans on the horizon, they are strapped on cash. Franklin then lets them know that he is done with school for the time being. Jerome then offers Franklin a job moving some weed, and Louie doesn't agree with that, but Jerome states he is trying to help out his nephew. Franklin later arrives in the Projects and approaches Leon's place, in this timeline, Leon is still rolling with the Crips and is now married to Wanda and have a baby together. Wanda snaps at Leon about how their baby needs a diaper change and Leon, who is high on some water, refuses, leaving Wanda to take care of it. They talk a little about Franklin not being at the college and Wanda reappears, demanding Leon to help clean up their baby. Wanda, as we see, is not a crack head junkie in this timeline, just a petite baby mama. When she heads back to her child, she yells at Franklin to take Leon back to school with him. Outside, Leon asked if Jerome is still in the weed and water game because he wants in. Franklin tells Leon he could ask. Leon then tells Franklin there are 6 of them at their mother's place and he needs to put something together. He then spots some dude filming him and demands to know why he is filming him. The filmmaker states he is making a movie. Leon does not appreciate what the filmmaker is doing and attempts to get the camera from him. There is a struggle and Franklin backs Leon away from the filmmaker, who is running off with his camera still pointed at Leon.
At home, Cissy talks to Franklin about the issue at Claremont McKenna, then talked about stopping at Cho's, learning that Mike is ill, and could use a hand, offering Franklin a chance to make a few extra bucks. Franklin is silent on the matter, leaving Cissy to believe he is rejecting the job. The next day, he is at Jerome's place helping him bag some weed. Jerome, of course, asks Louie to come help them but she refuses to get up. There's a bang at the door. Jerome grabs his pistol and Louie has her gun hidden under a couch pillow. Franklin checks the door and sees it's Leon. He lets him in and Leon, seeing Jerome with a pistol in hand, chastises him for being so uptight. Jerome then tells him that one day he will get himself shot. Leon then mocks his tiny pistol. He then sees Louie, claiming she is getting big, and Louie notes that's another way to get himself shot. Jerome then gets on the lowdown on moving the product and there is a war of words between Leon and Jerome. The argument then makes an ugly turn as Jerome is suggesting to Louie to shoot Leon. Things get out of hand real quickly in the house. Franklin and Leon are later walking outside after the fiasco at Jerome's place and Leon asked why he isn't in school. Franklin tells him he was screwed over, and possibly screwed himself even more. He explained how he thought he could play their game and still win. Leon then asks what's next for him.
Franklin later returns home and is approached by Teddy who was parked outside his home. Teddy then reminded Franklin that he was at the presentation he gave at Claremont and asked if he could spare a few minutes of their time. They are now in Cissy's home and when asked about his father, Franklin told him he was beaten by the police and died from the attack. Apparently, in the alternate timeline, Alton didn't survive the police crackdown on the homeless encampment. Franklin then asks why Teddy is there, and Teddy asks Franklin if the CIA would be the right career path for him. Franklin is then asking if Teddy is there to hire him, but Teddy notes that Franklin would have to finish school first, then go through their process, from exams, interviews, backgrounds checks, and a polygraph test, and based on a 3.9 GPA, 1540 score on his SATs, his high praises from his college professors, and his acute ability to easily move between worlds, Teddy suggested Franklin could handle it. He also states that diversity has become increasingly important for the CIA to meet their goals, they would have to broaden their perspectives. Franklin is surprised to hear it, but tells Teddy he never really thought about working for the government. When asked why, Franklin stated that the government never really cared about people like him and asked why they would help them. Teddy states that this kind of work is not for everyone. As he prepares to get up, Franklin then asks why he does it. Teddy states it's duty and he believes in America and it's mission. He pointed out how he was recruited at Yale because he was a bright student. Franklin then made it clear that there was an issue at Claremont even should he agree to the recruitment. Teddy then makes it known that he knows about him assaulting Jeffrey Pearson. He then pointed out a rumor the Alexander Hamilton punched a bursar at Princeton. Teddy then told Franklin that they are not looking for people with a spotless background but for people with some backbone. He then lets Franklin know that if getting back into school is a concern, he should consider it taken care of. He then hands Franklin his calling card, letting him know he'll be in LA for a few more weeks, then will be heading back do D.C. and should he be interested, he should give that number a call. Teddy then heads off.
Franklin is later working at Cho's working as a cashier and Karvel, who is apparently not dead and buried in the Mojave Desert in the timeline, walks in the store. Franklin is staring at the calling as Karvel acknowledges him. Karvel grabs a box of Apple Smacks, places it on the counter, and asks Franklin for some yellow flip flops at size 13 behind the counter. Franklin then grabs a pair of flip flops and breaks it to Karvel they down have 13's. Karvel then gets Franklin's attention once more and when Franklin turns around, he sees Karvel pointing a gun at him, demanding he opens the cash register pull the money out. Franklin then now rushes to the cash register and pulls some money out. Karvel shows he ain't an idiot and demands that Franklin heads back to the register to get all the money, chastising him for not knowing how to act in a robbery. He then pulls all the cash, including the coins out. Karvel then sweeps up the cash and orders Franklin to remove the cash from his pocket. Franklin does just that and throws it on the counter, and Karvel berates him for not having a whole lot of money. When Karvel started collecting the dollars, Franklin just told him to take the money and go. Karvel then snaps at Franklin, accusing him of telling him what to do, and reminds him he could easily kill him at that point. He then orders Franklin to say he's his bitch. Franklin obliges him, and Karvel grabs Franklin, holds the gun to his head and forces him to repeat that. Franklin then notices Andre enter the store, and as soon as Karvel saw Andre, he turned his attention toward him and fired his weapon in his direction. Andre took cover behind some shelves, drew his gun, and shot Karvel dead. Karvel's blood hit Franklin, who is now traumatized by the event, as he sits behind the counter. Andre asks Franklin if he is alright. Franklin gets up and sees Karvel on the floor dead. Andre then radios to dispatch on the situation.
Later that night, the police are securing Cho's, which is now a crime scene. The CSI team are investigating the robbery as the coroner is removing Karvel's cadaver in a body bag. Cissy rushes into Cho's and hugs Franklin. She then sees the blood on him and tells him it's time to go home. He agrees as he thanks Andre and heads off with her. As they are riding down the street, Cissy tells Franklin he will be going back to school somewhere and will find the money. Franklin then tells his mother he is not going back to that world because he doesn't belong there. Cissy then tells her son that he doesn't belong in Compton either. They return home and Cissy drenches a wash cloth and wipes down Franklins face and as Franklin is washing up, Cissy talks about how she had this same conversation with his father, how he was betrayed by the Panther and his country and how he let them win, treated as a man without a place in this world. Cissy even suggested Franklin should either reapply for a scholarship elsewhere or wind up back in the mess in Compton. As Cissy's words unravel in Franklin's mind, Franklin is still cleaning himself up. As he submerged himself in the tub, the memory of Melody shooting him plagues him as he awakens in the original timeline, in an ice bath. He pulls himself out of the tub, apparently alive after being shot thrice and Alton is there to wrap a towel around him and holds him tight. Franklin is then getting dressed and grabs a cane as he is needing it to manoeuvre himself. Franklin and Alton are preparing to leave the hospital but even noticed Franklin is having some troubles moving like he did on the stairs. Franklin and Alton have returned home from the hospital and Cissy is setting up Christmas decorations. She then greets her boys home.
Jerome[]
While Franklin was out of commission, the Bloods and the Crips have started an open war and Jerome has seen Manboy, Bootsy, and a pair of Crips driving down the road in Inglewood firing their Tec 9's in the air. Jerome then appears in the Bottoms to see a woman grieving her dead son. He sees people there dead, wounded, or succumbing to their wounds. The Bottoms is a war zone as their is fire and blood everywhere. As Jerome continues, he reaches for his sidearm tucked behind his pants, but upon seeing the Bloods appear, he lets go of his weapon and raises his hands in the air. Apparently Skully, Cornrows, and the rest of the Bloods just pass him up and continue on. Jerome now realized with Franklin absent, all hell has broken loose.
Franklin[]
At Cissy's place, Franklin is watching the news, learning about the gang wars in LA while he was in the ER. Cissy shuts off the television, telling Franklin he doesn't need to watch that. She pulls on her coat and lets Franklin know that she and Alton will be stepping out for a bit and asked if needed anything. He tells them naw as they take off.
Cissy and Alton appear at Jammin' Jerome's to meet with Jerome, Louie, and Leon. Louise breaks it down to Cissy and Alton how profits are down and the gangs are on the warpath. Cissy knows what Louie is asking of her, but she says no, telling them that Franklin is not ready. Jerome then tells Louie to let Franklin to make his own choice. Cissy disagrees as Jerome reminded her he started this empire. Cissy then stated that this business almost killed him, and pointed out how his heart stopped beating for 3 minutes while on the surgery table. Jerome makes it clear that he remembers and Cissy snaps at them for asking her to bring him back on. Everyone is silent for a moment. Cissy then tells the Family leadership that if Franklin ever comes back, it will on her and Alton's terms, and if they couldn't manage to run the business without him, then they should walk away from it before someone else dies. The leadership don't agree with Cissy on that and Jerome and Louie let Cissy know she is officially in the drug game. Cissy then tells them they should try being parents. There is a huge argument as Cissy defends her stances while Jerome and Louie keeping letting her know she is in the game. There is a huge silence as Franklin appears in the shop. Franklin then tells the Family leadership he is there and tells them talk to him.
Franklin[]
At Cissy's place, Cissy tells Franklin they have the money and they can start anew. Franklin tells his parents that's not why he started the business. Cissy then asked if he had seen what was going on out there. Franklin states he had which was his reason for not going anywhere. Alton then tells his son he can't control what is happening nor stop what is coming. Franklin then states there will be more chaos if they choose to run. He then tells them that a vacuum will be left over LA with gangs battling for territory and their community would be a warzone. When he asked if that is what they wanted, Cissy frets about how Franklin hadn't fully healed. Franklin gets off the chair with the help of his cane and tells his parents he's healed enough and must stay to fight. He apologizes to his parents as he departs. Later, he meets with Teddy in a parking lot near some railroad tracks. Franklin then stated to Teddy that he has comes to the notion that whatever didn't kill him made him sharper. Franklin then asked Teddy if he knew about LA suffering from serious flood damage, and when dams didn't solve it, the Army core of engineers built a 50 mile long waterway to save Los Angeles. He then pointed out how the rock he has sold made them money like nothing before but has cost and ruined lives and there was nothing he could do except to continue the motion. When Teddy asked how he could manage, Franklin suggested bringing in the federal government, identify anyone who poses a threat to stability, and with Teddy's help, they'll take them down, which is how they can keep the violence and bay and stay out of the newspapers so they can continue making money. When Teddy asked why he would agree to that, Franklin noted that the CIA wants him to keep the money flowing, and brings up many of Teddy's used alias's. Franklin then notes that Teddy could destroy him anytime, but Franklin doesn't fear death nor prison and makes it known that he will not be a slave to anyone, especially Teddy. Franklin then requests to continue with 1,000 keys a week and offers to make him so much money that he can fund his own Contra war and that the CIA would name a wing after him, but as long as he and the Family are protected and that no one comes after them. He then makes it known that after the end of this, they will both ride off into the sunset. As Franklin reached for a potential handshake, he reminded Teddy that he said he would be there with him to the end and asked if he meant it. Teddy stood there as Franklin kept his arm extended.
Cast[]
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Episode Deaths[]
- Alton Williams - Beaten to death by the LAPD (Confirmed in Alternate Timeline)
- Karvel - Shot by Sgt. Wright (Alternate Timeline)
Music[]
- Law of the Land by The Temptations
- 808 Beats by Unknown DJ
- Just Another Day by Tessie Hill
- Break My Stride by Matthew Wilder
- Strange Fruit by Nina Simone