Rez Ball

In his car outside her grandma’s house, Tre asks Khiana if she wants to attend the homecoming dance. She declines, explaining that she experiences social anxiety at optional school events. She suggests a horror movie in Bemidji, but they’re both broke. Tre spent his birthday money on basketball shoes. Wes texts, inviting Tre to join him and Nate in an online tournament for Death Brigade: Bellum Edition. When Tre tells Khiana about this, she gets excited, revealing that she added Wes on social media after seeing him at school. She texts him to ask if they can join. He agrees.

In Wes’s basement, Khiana notices his documentary setup and learns that he’s filming Tre’s basketball journey. Wes’s dad makes snacks. Nate welcomes Khiana to Team Meezy. The game begins, and Nate explains a new AI demon called King Chaos. Tre’s character is eliminated quickly; Nate expresses frustration at Tre’s rusty skills. Khiana takes command, devising a strategy and directing Wes and Nate. She executes two perfect headshots, winning the round. Stunned, Wes and Nate learn that she received a beta copy months earlier and watched a tutorial video on the way over. Wes suggests that she start a streaming channel, offering to help with video equipment. They share a long, awkward look before Khiana redirects them to the next round.

Tre’s study timer goes off. His uncles, Ricky and Liver, arrive with beer to see his dad. Tre finds his parents decorating for Halloween outside; they mention more decorations in the garage. On the porch, the uncles drink and smoke while Mom serves leftover food. Liver recalls past Halloweens when Tre and Jaxon dressed as Batman and Robin, and then as Superman and the Flash. He shows Tre a photo; Mom’s face lights up before going blank. The memory saddens Tre’s parents. Liver says the first holidays after losing a loved one are the hardest.

Khiana texts, asking Tre to go costume shopping. Ricky teases him and gives him five dollars. Mom agrees but asks to meet Khiana afterward. In the car, Khiana discusses costume ideas: a gender-reversed Baraka or the Bride of Frankenstein. Tre shares that Halloween feels strange without coordinating with Jaxon. Khiana suggests that they coordinate. Tre mentions that he and Jaxon once went as Batman and Robin in costumes his mom made. Khiana proposes that they go as the Bride of Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s monster. Tre eagerly agrees. She notes that they must attend the same event; Tre mentions the school dance, and Khiana says costumes free her from social anxiety. Tre confesses that being with her makes him feel free from being seen only as the kid who lost his brother.

Khiana finishes applying Tre’s Frankenstein’s monster makeup. They take selfies, which she posts online. Tre’s mom takes photos of them, including one in which Khiana gives Tre a posed kiss on the cheek. At the school dance, music blares, but no one dances. They get punch from a table chaperoned by Mrs. Hendricks, a civics teacher, and Mr. Thomas, the athletic director. Mrs. Hendricks compliments their costumes. Mr. Thomas tells Tre he has a shot at making varsity and reminisces about Tre’s father’s skills. Khiana and Tre see their classmate Robert and his girlfriend MacKenzie dressed as Han Solo and Princess Leia. Tre reflects that he may now compete with Robert for a starting spot.

Khiana asks Tre to dance. He admits that he has never slow-danced, but she offers to lead. Their presence inspires other couples to join them. Tre goes to the bathroom, where Dallas offers him a drink from his flask. After hesitating, Tre takes a swig. Mason and Mike enter; the group passes the flask around, finishing it. Dallas gives Tre gum to hide the smell. Tre rejoins Khiana, who is talking with Wes and Nate in their annual costumes as Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers. The principal announces that Tre and Khiana have won best couple’s costume. Khiana hugs Tre and kisses his cheek. Feeling the alcohol’s buzz, Tre is uncharacteristically free and happy.

Tre stands nervously outside the gym on the first night of tryouts. Nate offers encouragement. The gym is packed with students. Coach Whitefeather announces a grueling boot camp of circuit training. The drills are intense; one student vomits and leaves. During a water break, Kevin compliments Tre’s speed and conditioning. Coach ends the drills and sets up scrimmages with last year’s starters as captains. Dallas chooses Tre for his team. Tre excels, feeling fresh while others are exhausted. His team remains undefeated.

At home, Tre’s parents ask how tryouts went. He’s too tense to eat. Dad reassures him, comparing Tre’s skills to Jaxon’s. Mom says basketball is only a game. Tre retorts that it’s his ticket out and that he faces pressure to live up to his father’s and brother’s legacies. Mom praises his intelligence and self-motivation. Tre receives a text from Khiana suggesting a movie. When he asks permission, Dad suggests rest. Tre argues that Jaxon had more freedom. Dad becomes emotional, admitting that he wonders if stricter parenting could have prevented Jaxon’s death. Mom explains that they worry about Tre, given the struggles that many promising young people face on the reservation. Tre asks for their trust; Mom allows him to go and gives him money. In the car, Tre vents about his parents’ strictness. Khiana worries that basketball will leave little time for them. At the theater, she briefly rests her head on his shoulder before the movie starts.

On the final day of tryouts, Tre’s team is down by two in a scrimmage. Tre baits Mason into a bad pass, steals it, and scores a reverse layup to tie it at 20-20. On the final play, Tre guards Mason aggressively and forces a turnover. Tre calls for a pick-and-roll with Nate, drives to the basket while double-teamed by Mason and Kevin, and throws a no-look bounce pass to Nate, who scores the game-winner.

Later, Tre, Wes, and Nate hang out at Wes’s house, anxious about the roster announcement. A looming snowstorm prevents them from inviting Khiana. Wes wants to film an interview for his documentary, but Tre is tired. Wes argues that filming during uncertain moments makes compelling documentaries. Recalling another documentary Wes showed him, Tre agrees. Wes sets up and starts filming. He asks if Tre thinks he made the team. Tre gives a safe answer. Nate interrupts, passionately insisting that Tre is a lock and telling him to be more confident. Moved, Tre tells his friends he loves them and is lucky to have them. Calling Tre a brother, Nate praises his work ethic, vowing to train with him next summer. Filled with renewed confidence, Tre tells the camera that he believes he made varsity.

Tre and Nate rush to the gym to see the varsity roster. After waiting in line, they read the list. Tre’s name isn’t on it; both are listed at the top of the junior varsity (JV) roster. Nate tries to console Tre, but Tre leaves in a daze. In his car, he considers quitting basketball. At home, he tries to avoid his parents, but his dad confronts him. Tre reveals that he didn’t make varsity and slams his bedroom door. His mom enters and tells him she made “Indian tacos.” Khiana and Wes text messages of support. Wes texts that an interview about being cut would add grit to the documentary. Tre invites them over.

Khiana and Wes arrive. The three sit down to eat. Nate texts, jokingly complaining about not being invited. Dad tries to console Tre, saying it’s normal for a sophomore to be on JV and is less pressure than being the new guy on varsity. Tre feels embarrassed, recalling that his dad and Jaxon made varsity in middle school. Tre’s mom tries to change the subject away from basketball. Dad adds that Tre started playing basketball recently, unlike Jaxon, who began playing at a much younger age, and should consider a path other than basketball. Hurt by the comparison and lack of faith, Tre invites his friends to his room. Wes tries to cheer him up by mentioning that Michael Jordan was also cut as a sophomore, but Tre signals him to stop. Tre finds comfort in eating frybread.

Four days after being cut, Tre agrees to film the documentary interview. In the den, Wes sets up his equipment with Nate’s help. Wes asks why Tre thinks he didn’t make varsity. Tre gives a measured answer. Wes pushes him to share his real feelings. Tre begins discussing his pain and feeling like he let his dad down. Mom interrupts from upstairs, saying that Coach Whitefeather is on the phone. Tre takes the call as his parents come downstairs. Coach informs him that Mason and Mike have been suspended for two games for underage drinking. Coach invites Tre to suit up with varsity for the next two games, promising to teach him plays at Monday’s practice before Tuesday’s game against Clearbrook. Before hanging up, Coach tells Tre that his not making the team was never about talent.

Tre announces the news to his family and friends. Everyone is ecstatic; Wes captures the moment on camera. Tre texts Khiana the good news. Dad, looking proud, gives Tre $60 to take his friends out for pizza. Mom hugs him, and Dad gives him a high five. Tre, Nate, and Wes leave to celebrate.