The room is small, cluttered with books, clothes, and sewing supplies. RAE (13), the youngest of eight siblings, is sitting on her bed, staring at the corner where a dusty speaker sits. She holds a pencil in her hand, fiddling with it nervously before grabbing her phone. She plugs it into a speaker. Her eyes flicker with determination.

RAE taps her phone screen and presses play. The sound of rap beats fills the room. She throws her head back, eyes closing, letting the music take over.

The beat drops.

RAE
(rapping aloud, to the beat)
“Yeah, I’m tired of the lies, tired of the games,
Tired of the bullies always tryna put me to shame.”

She scribbles on a piece of paper, the rhythm matching her writing. The words come fast, her expression intense.

RAE
(to herself, like a mantra)
“What you gonna do about it? You can't, you can't do nothing to me.
You dare touch me, I'mma hit you back.”

She stands up and moves in front of the mirror. Her reflection stares back at her. This isn’t just a rap anymore. It’s her truth. Her battle cry. Rae clenches her fists, breathing in and out.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE RAE’S ROOM – SAME TIME

NIKI (14), the second oldest, sneaks up to Rae’s door and hears the rapping. She grins, shaking her head, and then opens the door without knocking.

NIKI
(smirking)
“You think you’re some kind of rapper now, huh? Trying to act tough like one of the boys?”

RAE turns sharply, staring her sister down. There’s no fear in her eyes—just fire.

RAE
(cool, steady)
“What you gonna do about it, huh? You can’t, you can’t do nothing to me.
You dare touch me, I’mma hit you back.”

NIKI
(laughs, rolling her eyes)
“Oh please, not the ‘I’m tough now’ act. You’re just mad ’cause you don’t know how to handle yourself.”

RAE
(leans in closer, voice lower, colder)
“Funny thing is... I’ve been handling myself for years. It’s you two who are scared of each other. You know it, and I know it.”

MINKY (15)
(pushing Niki aside as she enters the room)
“Oh, this is rich. Rae thinks she’s so tough now. What’s next, huh? You gonna rap your way out of everything?”

RAE
(boldly, not backing down)
“You wanna keep bullying me? Go ahead. But don’t think for a second I’m just gonna take it. I’m done.”

MINKY steps forward, face twisted into a mocking sneer.

MINKY
(mocking tone)
“Yeah, sure, you’re ‘done.’ Let’s see how far that gets you. You really think you can beat me?”

RAE
(without flinching, voice steady)
“What’s your problem? You think you can scare me by acting all high and mighty? You can’t.”

MINKY
(pauses, looking taken aback, then shrugs)
“I don’t have to scare you. I just have to remind you who’s in charge.”

RAE leans forward, eyes locked on Minky’s.

RAE
(calm but fierce)
“You’re not in charge of me. I’ve been giving you a chance to back off, but you won’t. You’re just scared, Minky. Scared of what?”

There’s a beat of silence. Minky looks away first, her eyes flashing with something Rae can’t quite place. The tension crackles in the air, but Minky says nothing more.

RAE takes a deep breath, brushing past her sisters and heading for the door.

RAE
(quietly, to herself)
“I’m done being scared. Done being weak. And I’m done letting you push me around.”

RAE walks out, her head high, leaving Niki and Minky behind in stunned silence.

EXT. FRONT PORCH – LATER

RAE is outside, sitting on the front steps. She pulls out her phone and starts typing out a new rap lyric, but this time, it’s personal. Her thoughts, her frustrations—all of it pouring into the words.

RAE
(rapping softly to herself)
“I ain’t scared no more, not of you or them,
If you wanna fight, bring it—don’t pretend.”

The wind blows through her hair, the music in her headphones louder now as she lets the words take over.

CUT TO BLACK.

END OF EPISODE 1