This Is My America

Tracy calls Quincy and tells him they need to find the gun. Tracy begins tying the pieces of the mystery together, which has implications for both Jamal’s innocence and Daddy’s. She wonders if the gun caused the death of the girl the night of the rally, or if it might even be the gun used in the Davidson’s murders, which would make Richard Brighton a suspect.

Tracy convinces Quincy to go to the Pike with her to look for the missing gun. They go into the same building where Tracy found Angela’s phone. As Tracy goes back into the small space between the conveyor belt and the wall, Quincy tells her to be careful and kisses her again. Tracy squeezes herself further into the small space and finds Angela’s interview bag. As Tracy rests her head against the wall she finds a small vent, inside of which is the gun.

Quincy is eager to retrieve the gun, but Tracy decides that it is better to leave the gun behind and wipe the area of their fingerprints. As they finish, they hear a truck pull up outside of the warehouse. Quincy and Tracy hide in an office in the back of the warehouse and Tracy uses her phone to record as Chris and Justin enter the building. Chris and Justin are also looking for the gun, and during their search, Chris reveals that the gun was the same one that killed the girl at the Black Lives Matter march. Chris also states that they need to find the gun before the cops, or his uncle will be in “big trouble” (342). Still hiding, Quincy texts Beverly to let her know they found the gun. Quincy and Tracy escape the warehouse and speed out of the Pike. As they drive away, a fleet of police cars speeds towards the Pike.

Tracy texts Jamal to let him know that it is now safe to come home. Jamal arrives soon thereafter, and Tracy introduces him to Steve, whom she has also called. Steve tells Jamal that his father, Stephen Jones, Esq., is going to arrive soon to take on Jamal’s case. Steve asks Jamal to tell him the story of what happened at the Pike, which he does, and Jamal reiterates that he will not be going public with his story until he can prove his innocence. Mama arrives home, thrilled to see Jamal.

They realize that Mama is not alone, and that Beverly has come to the house with Mama. While happy to see Jamal, Beverly realizes that she will have to take Jamal to the police station. Jamal protests and says that the police will have to shoot him before he goes willingly. Beverly argues that while she is a cop, she is trying to change the system from the inside. As tensions rise, they hear the whine of police cars rapidly approaching.

Officer Clyde and Sheriff Brighton enter the Beaumont’s house, exclaiming that Jamal needs to decide about how he wants to be taken in. Steve requests that the police question Jamal in the house, but both Officer Clyde and Sheriff Brighton refuse. Beverly advocates for Jamal and Sheriff Brighton accuses her of trying to use her family connection to Jamal’s benefit. She responds by pointing out Brighton’s own familial connections to the case: his son’s presence at the crime scene, his brother’s gun found at the scene and used at the march a few months ago. Sheriff Brighton does not relent and orders the perimeter of the house secured so Jamal cannot execute an escape.

As they do so, a white SUV arrives at the house. Richard Brighton gets out of the car. Tracy calls on their traumatic past to appeal to Jamal to go quietly. Reluctantly, Jamal agrees and says goodbye to Mama and Corinne. Beverly handcuffs Jamal and leads him out of the house. Meanwhile, Richard Brighton approaches his brother and he and Sheriff Brighton begin to argue, presumably about the gun. Sheriff Brighton attempts to get Richard to leave, but instead Richard grows increasingly agitated, claiming that he has a right to be there. A gunshot blasts and both Beverly and Jamal fall to the ground.

Jamal is uninjured, but Beverly has been shot. Officer Clyde begins to administer aid to Beverly and calls for an ambulance. Jamal sits in the back of a police car and Quincy, Mama, Corinne, and Tracy watch on, helpless. Tracy notes that Sheriff Brighton does not look relieved as his gaze moves between Beverly and his brother, who also sits in a police car.

At the police station, Jamal sits in an interview room. Steve informs Tracy and Mama that an external unit will analyze the gun, which means there is less likelihood of corruption that could harm Jamal. Tracy sees Dean and his parents arrive at the station, and Officer Clyde tells the Beaumonts that Mrs. Evans has arrived to make a statement and wants them to be present.

Mrs. Evans puts down the photo of the lynching and explains the events of that day. She reveals that her father was the Grand Wizard of the Galveston County chapter of the KKK, and that they murdered Minh Nguyen. She states that others also witnessed the murder, including Cathy Marcom Davidson and Richard Brighton. Mrs. Evans expands upon the connection between Cathy Davidson and Richard Brighton, revealing that the two were romantically involved but that Cathy broke it off due to Richard’s abuse. After Cathy married Mark Davidson, Richard continued to harass them and threatened them for working with James Beaumont. After the murders, Mrs. Evans attempted to bring police attention to Richard, but they never pursued the tip further.

Unable to contain her anger at the injustice Mrs. Evans reveals, Tracy yells for Mrs. Evans to tell the whole truth for the first time. Mrs. Evans states that the night of the Davidson’s murders she saw Richard Brighton leaving the office where their bodies were. Worried about her own safety and the truth about her father that Richard could reveal, she never did anything further. Her inaction led to the death of Jackson Ridges and James Beaumont’s incarceration.

Tracy meets Stephen Jones, Sr. at the police station. Tracy and Steve tell Mr. Jones about their suspicions about the links between Daddy and Jamal’s cases. Steve says that Chris is now providing information about the underground hate group and has even revised his official statement. Police now believe that Richard killed Angela to get his gun, which may be the same one used in the Davidson’s murders. Steve also reveals that the charges are dropped against Jamal.

Quincy and Beverly, injured but alive, arrive as well. Quincy tells Tracy to turn on the television, on which a breaking news story is playing about Innocence X taking on Daddy’s case, Jamal’s release, renewed inquiries into the Davidson murder case, and Richard Brighton’s arrest for the murder of Angela Herron. Tracy cries in joy, realizing what this means for Daddy’s release.

At the courthouse on the day of the appeal review, Tracy sees many members of their community present in a show of support for Daddy. In an impassioned speech, Stephen Jones argues for Daddy’s innocence and appeals to the judge to reverse the injustices done to the Beaumont family.

The presiding judge, Judge Vandyne, reads aloud the new pieces of evidence. The evidence includes previously unfiled witness reports that state Richard Brighton was in the vicinity at the time of the Davidson’s murders, a ballistics report which matches the gun used in the murders to the one owned by Richard Brighton, as well as DNA samples that match Brighton. The judge asks Daddy once more if he still claims to be not guilty for the murders of Mark and Cathy Davidson. Daddy answers in the affirmative, and the judge reverses his conviction; Daddy is a free man. The room erupts in celebration of this long-overdue act of justice.

After giving a speech outside of the courthouse, Daddy is speechless at seeing the surprise his family has been saving for him: his Buick, polished and ready to take them home. The Beaumonts drive home together, and Tracy feels free for the first time in seven years.

In a final letter addressed to Steve, Tracy informs him that this will be her final letter. She invites him on to her new podcast, Corner for Justice, which already has over 100,000 followers. She congratulates him on his most recent case and thanks him again for everything he has done for her and her family.