Original subtitles

Gina, Pam, I'm sending you to House o' Cheese at the mall.

The manager's name is Chucky.

He's looking for people to fill mail orders for cheese logs.

Those nasty, fake cheddar cheese things with pecans?

It's $7 an hour and free lunch.

Free? Honey, hush, all right.

See you guys later.

Well, well, well.

Vinson-Taylor-Made Temps is looking kind of semi-professional these days.

And to what do I owe this honor?

For what you are about to receive be ye ever so grateful.

Amen.

Now, what are you talking about?

Well, E.H. Wright is looking for a temporary receptionist on my floor

and I recommended your temp agency, Jaleesa.

- Why, Whitley- - I don't know why. Probably pity.

Here's the name and number of the person to contact.

She's head of human resources.

Does all the hiring.

Well, thank you.

- Be sure you mention my name. - Okay.

You know, it doesn't hurt to have a good relationship with E.H. Wright.

They are one of the biggest insurance companies in the country.

I said, "thank you."

Call right now.

Send your best person.

And you can mail me my commission.

Whitley�

? I know my parents loved me ?

? Stand behind me come what may ?

? I know now that I'm ready ?

? For I finally heard them say ?

? It's a different world ?

? Than where you come from ?

? Yes, it is now, yeah ?

? Here's our chance to make it ?

? And if we focus on our goal ?

? You can dish it, we can take it ?

? Hey, just remember That you've been told ?

? It's a different world ?

? It's a different world ?

? It's a different world ?

- ? It's a different world ? - ? Than where you come from ?

? Ooh ?

? Than where you come from ?

Hello, Ms. Julia Reeves, please.

Hello, Mrs. Reeves, this is Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor

at Vinson-Taylor-Made Temps.

Yes. Whitley Gilbert suggested that I call you.

Uh, within one hour?

Well, yes, I will have my best person there within one hour.

No. Thank you. Okay.

Goodbye.

Within an hour. Okay.

Let's see. Within an hour.

Uh, working.

Working. In class. In class.

In jail! Jeez.

- Hey, Jaleesa. - Hi, Freddie.

Ah.

- Mmm, I couldn't. - Couldn't what?

Maybe� Nah.

What are you mumbling about?

There's a receptionist job and I need somebody right away.

Who does?

E.H. Wright, and I don't have anybody to send.

Oh, yes, you do.

Me.

Freddie, I don't think so.

Well, why not? They're a very evolved company.

They divested from South Africa, they recycle, they're politically correct.

- I can work there. - No, Freddie.

I am very articulate. Speak fluent messenger.

Freddie, trust me, you would not like this job.

- How much does it pay? - $12 an hour.

- I love it! - I don't.

Come on, my sister. I need the money. You need the help.

You know, it pains me to say this, but you're right.

Freddie, Freddie, please, this is very, very corporate.

No problem.

That means you've got to fit in.

Hey, just think of me as a social chameleon.

I can fit in with anyone, anywhere, anytime.

- Fine, then let's start here. - No, no, not the brush!

You're not combing my hair.

- No! No! No! - Wait!

E.H. Wright, please hold.

E.H. Wright, please hold.

E. H. Wright, please hold.

E.H. Wright, hold on, I'll transfer you.

- Okay. - Excuse me.

- Uh-uh? - What is this you gave me?

Oh, Morning Volcano, caffeine-free herbal tea.

It's terrific.

Knew you'd love it, brought the whole box.

- Mmm. Thank you. - Hey, anything, anytime.

E.H. Wright, please hold�

I know everything there is to know about art.

I was born surrounded by art.

- You grumpy. Have you tried meditation? - Later.

Okay, hold on. Yes.

Please tell me I'm dreaming.

- Tell me this is a nightmare. - Scary, isn't it?

Working girls unite.

Hey, what about lunch?

I'm going to kill Jaleesa.

Who ever thought we'd be at the same place together?

Mmm-mmm. Hush puppies.

Oh, Mr. Gaines, didn't you say you were going to start serving food

with more fiber and less fat.

Oh, sugar, if people want more fiber, they can go gnaw on a tree.

Ah, track. I love to see women run. Toward me, that is.

I know that doesn't happen too often.

Hey, you better be running to your math homework, young lady.

I'll get there. But first I got to start trying to read Romeo and Juliet.

I got an oral report this afternoon for Mr. Foster.

Oh, Professor Foster.

I know his material well. Flunked his class twice.

Why are you so proud of that?

You have your goals. I have mine.

Mission accomplished.

West Side Story?

You were supposed to get Romeo and Juliet.

Yeah, but� but it was out.

And the guy at the video store said this is same thing, uh, but with music.

Of course he told you that, Terrence, he wanted your $2.

Well, look at the box. Look.

"The same timeless theme as Romeo and Juliet." Thank you.

Get your $2 back.

Now, let's see�

"Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat

"and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarreling?"

What is this? A love story or a cook book?

Who talks like this anyway?

- Come on, we got a movie to watch. - Mmm, our first date.

Hey.

Winifred, I distinctly asked you for a cup of coffee.

- What is this mug of peat moss? - Oh.

Good morning, Miss Gilbert.

Dan, got your memo, and I'll be right back to you

as soon as I re-catalog all those new paintings.

Are you trying to poison me?

It's Morning Volcano, caffeine-free herbal tea

- and studies have- - Freddie!

I'll get your coffee.

You know, I'm not sure I agree with you, Mrs. Reeves.

Well, affirmative action does more to water down our accomplishments

than to help balance any employment opportunities.

I'm here by my own merits, not because of any quotas.

I hire people by their qualifications, not their color.

- I'll see you all later. - Okay.

Bye.

Uh, excuse me.

- I don't mean to interrupt. - Then don't.

But I couldn't help but overhear your conversation.

Freddie, my coffee is tepid.

I find it very difficult to believe

that a person in your position hasn't benefited from minority programs.

I didn't say that.

But what has benefitted me most was my ability to help myself.

That's what people need, not a crutch from the government.

What people need is an opportunity.

That's what affirmative action is giving them.

What she's trying to say that we're fortunate to have the jobs we have

and will do everything we can to keep these jobs we're so happy to have.

I'm opposed to programs that create dependency

and keep people from becoming self-motivated.

- Where is the elevator? - Yes, where is that elevator?

Well, before affirmative action,

how many Blacks held high-level positions here?

Oh, I'm sure there were quite a few.

- Well, how did you get your job? - Ha�

Excuse me? I don't have to explain myself to you.

But you have the ability to help people help themselves.

Why don't you hire someone with potential and train them?

Well, that's not my job.

No, it is your responsibility.

- Excuse me, you are- - Elevator's here!

This is Julia Reeves. She's head of personnel.

Miss Reeves, your elevator's here.

As a Black woman, I find your position deplorable.

And as a Black woman, I find your position vacant.

Fine.

What is your friend's name?

My friend?

I've never seen her before in my life.

What Romeo and Juliet was about is senseless violence.

It's like gangs today. People are dying over nothing.

Interesting point. Go on.

Like when they started shaking hands over Tony-

I mean, Romeo's body�

I thought to myself, "Why?"

Yes, I'm sure you did.

And what did you think of Mercutio?

Mercutio?

He was cool.

He was cool.

- Expound. - I liked him, too.

Well, now, perhaps you'll grace us with a medley from West Side Story.

Oh, it's not her fault, sir.

I mean, if there's anybody to blame, it's the man at the video store.

Look, Professor, you know, the play just didn't make no sense.

I couldn't get with it.

I signed up for English Lit, not a foreign language.

Miss James, do you realize that some people

consider the way you speak a foreign language?

Well, people understand me in my neighborhood.

Well, this is Professor Foster's neighborhood.

It's a beautiful day to improve yourself.

The more you learn, the more you know, the more you can accomplish.

Why limit yourself?

It's those words.

It takes time, Miss James.

Something you've obviously not given it.

This play was written in 1594 when people had an attention span.

That's because they didn't have cable.

I'll pretend you didn't say that.

Now, I want each of you to learn a speech from any play of Shakespeare.

Find the meaning of the words within the poetry.

And, Miss James, don't let the language confuse you.

Let it lead you.

I'll let it lead but I don't know if I can follow.

Try.

Your grade depends on it.

Tomorrow you will recite the passages aloud.

Jeez, what�

I'm glad you approve.

And now you may all exeunt.

Oh, dear.

I knew it. I knew should not have sent Freddie.

Oh, Jaleesa.

Why didn't I just send them a scud missile?

Jaleesa, this tragedy could leave an ugly blemish

on an otherwise pristine reputation.

They're never gonna work with me again.

I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about me.

I recommended you for this job.

You know, Whitley, it doesn't seem right that someone should be fired

for voicing their political opinions.

Opinion, Colonel Taylor?

Freddie declared war on the head of personnel.

It started when she made the first strike with her big bazooka mouth.

Freddie, what happened? What did you do?

Put paper in the aluminum bin or something?

I was minding my own business, when Julia Reeves, a Black woman,

came by spouting the ridiculous opinion

that affirmative action should be abolished at E.H. Wright.

- She said what? - Yes, and then she asked for my opinion-

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

I don't recall anybody asking you for your opinion, missy.

Well, somebody had to say something.

It was obvious it wasn't going to be you, the corporate coward.

How can anybody feel like that in this day and age?

Thank you. Power to the people, my sister.

I happen to agree with Miss Reeves' ridiculous opinion.

She just wants us to help ourselves like I did.

I worked hard to get where I am today.

Yes, Whitley, we have all heard about your struggle up from suburbia.

Jaleesa, what this girl did was totally unprofessional and out of line.

Ugh, what is out of line is continuing to do business with a company

that refuses to acknowledge the struggle of minorities.

Ladies, no, it's not that simple.

Well, if it were up to women like Julia Reeves,

we would all still be in the back of the bus.

Jaleesa, where are my clothes?

Top of the stairs, to the right.

Oh, that girl, she makes me crazy but I happen to agree with her.

I mean, at least she had the guts to stand up for her beliefs.

You were just standing up for another raise.

Oh, sure.

Blame the victim.

Brad, what do you think?

- I think, Whitley has a point. - Thank you, Colonel Taylor.

At least someone's thinking clearly in this room.

Freddie picked the wrong person and the wrong time to express her opinion.

Fine. Fine. Just take her side.

Come on, Jaleesa. This has nothing to do with sides.

It's just that it's the wrong way to run your business. That's all.

Oh, who asked you?

Okay, so it's, "Romeo, o Romeo, where art thou, Romeo?"

You rang?

Not your bell.

Studying becomes you.

Well, thanks to Professor Foster,

- I'll be jamming with Romeo all night. - Mmm-hmm.

Don't tell me he's Romeo?

Oh, no, no, no, I'm Othello, the Moor.

More or less�

"Get thee gone, churl."

Ooh, I like it when you talk dirty.

That means step off, biscuit head.

I'll get my butter elsewhere.

All right.

I like your translation, Lena.

Translation. Wait a minute. Hold it, hold it.

"What's in a name?"

"That which we call a rose by any other name

would smell as sweet."

Say what?

It doesn't matter how you say it. It all means the same.

Thanks, T. You gave me a great idea. Muah!

You know, baby, man does not live by ideas alone.

Come back when you're a man.

Come on, Poindexter, don't fail papa now.

Where are you? Oh, there it is.

Thank you. Good boy.

It's open.

Dwayne, you have got to do something about her.

- Freddie? - Don't try to change the subject.

She is the most unevolved, archaic, unenlightened human walking on Earth.

Whitley told me all about it.

You know, she doesn't think of how things affect other people.

It's always me, me, me, me.

I was trying to express myself. What happened to freedom of speech?

Freddie, did you lose the account for Jaleesa?

No.

Maybe.

No, I don't think I did.

At least, I hope I didn't.

Oh, no!

You see, I was just trying to balance an injustice.

You know, create a new world order. Is that a crime?

I understand, Freddie,

but Jaleesa's been working really hard to get this business going.

So, you think I came on too strong?

Just a little bit.

Ooh, a new math tutee.

I always heard the math department attracted the loveliest of the lovelies.

- I'm Ron Johnson, and, uh, you are? - Leaving.

- Freddie? - Yes.

Ooh, what a little dark and lovely will do for a sister.

You know, Brad, I think I might have overreacted, just a little bit.

I mean, why should I risk a potentially good client over one person's politics?

Mmm, looky here.

Redskins, three-point favorite this weekend.

But don't you think I'm supporting her policies by working with her?

Oh, look, big sale on weed whackers.

Well, I employ Black people. She employs me, and I'm Black.

Ah, looks like there's going to be a coup in Madagascar.

Maybe I should just go and talk to her.

Okay, all right, all right, Brad. You were right.

Oh, look, look, look, headlines, "Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor eats crow."

"Arise, Black vengeance

"from the hollow�"

"�from the hollow�

Arise, Black vengeance�"

Me thinks me went blank.

Thank you.

You get five points for costuming.

Miss James?

"O gentle Romeo,

if thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully,

or if thou think'st I am too quickly won

I'll frown, and be perverse, and say thee nay,

so thou wilt woo

but else, not for the world."

"In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond."

You've memorized it, but do you understand it?

Of course. You know that.

It's all about translation.

Oh, sweet thang Romeo, if you think I'm all that,

then step to me correctly,

but if you think I'm a skeeze, I'll be dissin' and dismissin'.

Then you'll be workin' overtime gettin' me back.

So stop perpetrating, and let's get this party started

'cause, baby, you know I love you.

I hear you.

"Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear

"that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops-"

"O, swear not by the moon,

the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb,

lest thy love prove likewise variable."

- You've done excellent work. - Thank you. Thank you.

You know, Shakespeare really spoke to the people

and I believe if he was around today he'd be a rapper. Vanilla Shake.

Mrs. Reeves, I apologize on behalf of-

For any inconvenience you may have-

Oh, excuse me.

I hope that this does not affect-

Freddie, what are you doing here?

Jaleesa, I had the most messed up nightmare last night.

I was trapped in this maze of corporate cubicles.

- You lost your business- - You are working my nerves.

Don't� Listen, it's my responsibility to apologize.

You have done enough. Trust me.

- Mrs. Reeves! - Will someone call security!

Freddie, I will handle this.

Mrs. Reeves, I am Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor and I am very sorry for all of this.

No, Mrs. Reeves, this is all my fault.

Everything I said is my opinion, not that of Vinson-Taylor-Made Temps.

Not necessarily that of

- Vinson-Taylor-Made Temps. - All right.

I am not apologizing for Freddie's views but I am apologizing for her behavior.

It was inappropriate and it won't happen again.

I appreciate your honesty, and I accept your apology.

- Nice meeting you. - Thank you very much.

Okay, let's go, Freddie.

Wow, this is so beautiful.

I thought you were just another pair of shoulder pads. I was wrong.

Thank you, I think. Goodbye.

You know, if you would reconsider your opinion about affirmative action,

I'd hang out with you.

Mrs. Reeves, um, until we get an appropriate replacement,

is there anything I can do for you?

E.H. Wright. Please hold.

E.H. Wright. Please hold.

E.H. Wright. Please hold.

E.H. Wright. Please hold.

- E.H. Wright. Please hold.

E.H. Wright. Please hold.

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