All language subtitles for Strife.2023.S02E05.1080p.WEBRip.x265-PGW

Some explicit photos of Opal

went live on the site
last night.

- Who posted them?
- Came from Opal's account.

[Evelyn] That pig!

- Delete the skid marks piece.
- No!

Mm. Sweet.

Mm. Like Sweet Jane,
your number-one fan.

Should I be thinking about sex?

No. You should be having it.

[Lucy] Loosen
your thigh muscles.

Have you ever thought that
your sarcasm

might be a bit of a costume?

No, it's just my personality.

You remember the Tinder mishap?

- Ugh.
- I need you to talk to her.

By now, many of you will have
read Norma Pearce's new book.

You may feel like
the Evelyn Jones

you thought you knew has died.

But I'm not dead.

It's very difficult to
defend oneself against hearsay.

Perceptions are subjective

and almost impossible
to substantiate.

All I can do is deny -
vehemently deny,

Norma's depiction of me
and my colleagues.

[woman] No! Hate it.

The lady doth sound like
a defensive coward, methinks.

[Peter] Okay, what's the right
amount defensive then?

Because we need to
voice our dissent.

[woman] Ah, you don't let
the public determine

if Norma's betrayal is negative.

You determine it for them.

I have determined it, Sue.
It's bad.

The book's called "Toxic Boss".
I'm the toxic boss.

Yeah, and I'm
the dick-swinging publisher.

Ah, but that's cute,
that's punchy!

Ooh, makes me think
of a nice big dick.

[Peter] Look, we can deny
Norma's allegations all we like,

but in the end
the general public,

they're going to draw
their own conclusions.

The general public are drongos.

They'll believe
whatever they want.

Then, why are we here?

Because they'll also believe
whatever we tell them to.

We're going to minimise
the negatives,

and maximise the positives.

So, what are they?

Sorry, can you,
can you repeat the question?

The negatives and the positives.

What has she
actually said about you two?

Well, we don't exactly know.

Her, her writing's
very hyperbolic.

What do you mean,
you don't know?

We, um, well, um...

Well, we haven't read it yet.

[scoffs]

You're going to
have to come back

when you've actually got
something for me to spin.

[Sue] Okay, who do I invoice?

- Dick-swinging publisher?
- Yep.

You're paying, aren't you?

Well, you called the meeting.

She's your friend.

[tense music]

[man on phone]
Hello. Parrot Publishing.

Oh hi, I haven't yet received
my advance copy

of "Toxic Boss" by Norma Pearce.

[man on phone] Look,
we're only just keeping up

with the requests, but all
pre-releases have been sent out.

[clearing throat]
It might be a mistake?

[man on phone] You're right,
it probably is a mistake.

We have had so many phone calls
this morning, it's crazy.

[Paul] Evelyn,
is something on fire?

No, I'm just burning
some incense.

[man on phone] Sorry, where
were you calling from?

[mumbling] "Eve Life"...

[man on phone] Where was that?

Eve.

[man on phone]
Did you say "Eve Life"?

Yeah, that's not a mistake.
You're not on the list.

- Have a good one.
- [phone disconnects]

[phone clatters]

Paul!

Yeah?

I need you to call
Parrot Publishing

and get the advanced copy
of Norma's fucking book.

Don't say
you're from "Eve Life".

Well, what should I say?

Um, I don't know, pretend
you're someone different and...

[Paul] Okay...

Hi, yeah, this is Paul Clark
from Ask Adam Sales.

Yeah, I'd really love
to get my American hands

on a copy of "Toxic Boss".

I'm here for business
and pleasure,

but I'm a big wig, buddy.

I'm a hot shot.

You know, one day
I might be the President.

Can you make it out to
Paul at ah...

"Eve Life"?

Hello?

["Breakdance" by
Irene Cara playing]

I want hot topics,
punchy headlines.

Make me break my thumb
I'm clicking so fast.

You've got until I score
a home run.

- Isn't that baseball?
- A basket then.

A goal.

[foosball table rattles]

Gemma's shock exit
from The Jugglers.

Children's band.
What's the angle?

Do we know Gemma?

She's the band's first
non-white member.

Her leaving looks... sus.

What about an historic look
on whitewashing

in children's music
and how that psychologically

affected kids like me?

[ball clacks]

[foosball table rattles]

What else you got?

Tantalize's new viral fake tan.

I'm thinking road test,
a photo diary.

See how the fake tan fares
over seven days.

Put the self into self-tan.

Oh, but not this self.

Being tanned is a proxy
for low socioeconomic status

for us Japanese.

It's very peasant farmer,
working in the fields.

Oh, that's a better angle.

What the fake tan means to
an Asian woman, write that.

[ball clacks]

- [Evelyn scoffs]
- [Lily claps]

[foosball table rattles]

How is this supposed
to be helping?

We're getting flabby. We've got
to be tighter. Got competitors now.

[ball clacks]

That's not fair.
I wasn't ready.

How's that my problem?

Everyone's talking about it.

Gemma's post already has
200 retweets

and this story's
really important to me.

[Evelyn] It's not the story I'm
against, Jeet. It's the tone.

Why would I want to click?

Make me care
without striking out.

- [ball clacks]
- That's baseball again.

[hands clap]

Alright, Pen.

- Wake up.
- Whoa.

You're wide open.
What you got?

Nothing. I was up all night
with Stormy.

He's got pinkeye.

That's highly contagious.

We just shook hands.

I just don't see how I'm supposed
to make racism sound peppy.

Well, right wing politicians
seem to make it work.

[ball clacks]

[Penny] Lily's got it.

[Evelyn] Pinkeye?

Norma's book.

[Jeet] We might be done for.

[Penny] Parenting editor
who hates children. [chuckles]

Everyone hates children.

Well, at least your character's
not the office virgin.

I've had sex.

I've had sex.

Don't look at me.
I'm the diversity hire.

Do I really talk about
myself that much, guys?

'Cause you could
totally tell me.

I'm serious. Tell me.
Don't miss my elbow.

At least she hasn't
used our real names.

Yeah, 'cause Evelyn Jones
and Emily James

- are not similar at all, are they?
- Shut up.

"Emily, over time, devolved
from a self-eulogizing writer

"into a misogynist feminist

"who appeals to privileged
middle-aged white capitalists."

[sighs] I mean, could
she use more adjectives?

This is very poorly written.

Hey, Norma's thing about Rita
being the office token hire,

you don't see me like that,
do you?

Of course not.

I hired you before
I even met you, Jeet.

I loved your blog.

Yeah, that's, yeah, cool.

That's what - I was just,
oh, nevermind.

- [Lily] Sorry.
- [Opal] Really stinks, too.

Guys, none of this is true.

You know that, right?

Right?

[Penny coughs]

She's pretty bang-on
about the Christmas party.

Leave it with me.

In the meantime, we've got
a website to fill, so get up.

Come on. Let's go.
Back to work.

Jeet, I may have been
a bit harsh

about your Jugglers piece.
Let's run it.

- Really?
- Yeah.

We don't just write about
middle-class,

middle-aged white women
playing tennis on Tuesdays.

[Evelyn tuts]

- [distant people chattering]
- [traffic hums]

Well?

Well, I mean, with some
of these claims, you know,

she might've defamed you,
but clearly it's fiction.

It can't be defamation. The
intern moves in with the boss.

No, that bit's real.

She broke up with her boyfriend.

I had a spare room. I was
trying to be a good boss.

- You wanted
her to like you.

- Sorry. Am I in therapy?
Where are the tissues?

Ev, you've got to maintain a

professional distance
with your employees.

Otherwise, you don't leave
yourself with any legal options.

Also, why do you even
care about this?

Because it hurts
when people don't like you.

Men don't really
understand that. Can I sue?

You can't sue if the statement
is substantially true.

What about libel
or a cease and desist letter?

[Daniel chuckles]
Cease and desist -

nobody sends those anymore.

I mean, they hold
about as much weight

as a strongly-worded tweet.

Come on Dan,
I've got to do something.

It's, it's unfair.

Well, have you thought
maybe you're overreacting?

- No!
- I mean, it's just a book.

Who even reads anymore?

It's really gutted my team.

It just, it can't be published,
for them as much as me.

This is more than
hurt feelings, Dan.

Alright, well, leave it with me

and, you know,
I'll take another look, okay?

Thank you.

[ringtone chimes]

[Daniel coughs]

Um, yeah,
I can't talk right now.

Who's that?

Ev, time's up.

- Talk to you soon.
- Yeah.

- People do still read.
- Sure.

[upbeat music]

I want to attach two more
photos to my story.

- [Lily] Why?
- Because I'm making my point

that it's not the photos
I have a problem with.

It's about control.

Let me guess.
The new ones are much hotter.

He really exploited my bad side.

"My boyfriend is more
committed to his work than me.

"Discuss."

Oh, Paul, if you're going
to write the questions,

can you at least
make them sound like

they come from a woman
and not just you

working through
your personal problems?

That's it. I'm out of here.

Where are you going?

I forgot that's
not my office anymore.

[Evelyn] Opal, this is so
strong, but are you sure?

I'm making a statement

about the proprietorial
nature of men.

But maybe you
don't need to post it.

I bet you feel good
that you've written it.

Words are very healing.

No, vodka's healing.

Why are you so gun shy
all of a sudden?

I thought you didn't
care about commenters.

Well, we're letting Sweet Jane
run rogue.

[Evelyn] No, I want her
to keep me in check.

I just don't want all of you
dragged through the coals.

Norma's book
will be out in a moment

and the pitchforks will
be raised and ready.

Let's not let the naysayers
dictate our editorial.

The only people who should
dictate our editorial

are advertisers.

[Evelyn] Let's hope
they don't read her book.

Okay. Opal, go for it.

And keep up the good work, guys.

I mean, you're just
inspiring me every day.

- Whoa, don't do that again.
- What?

Whatever that was.

Why?

Because you're not
Sugar Ray, okay?

Oh, okay.

[footsteps tapping]

Wow. That was a lot.

[pensive music]

[keyboard clacking]

[sighs]

[sighs]

That's not how
the teacher does it.

Well that's how
we did it in my day.

- Well, it's wrong.
- [book slaps]

[paper rips]
Factorising is breaking down

numbers into smaller numbers.

- Then, when you multiply...
- Mum, your mouth is moving.

I don't know what you're saying.

Please help Addy with her maths.

No, I've got my own study.
What's for dinner?

Thank you. Dumplings.

[Vivian] Oh, yum. Where do
you guys go, Din Tai Fung?

[Evelyn] Oh, Vivian,
I didn't know you were here.

I was just leaving, but...

Oh, well, stay for dumplings.

Actually, we're going
to have dinner,

me and Mum and Addy.

Cool. Alright. Um...
See ya, Addy.

- Bye.
- See ya.

[fridge clatters]

You want to talk about it?

Not really. I'm tired.

- [footsteps thumping]
- [Alex sighs]

Al, I'm here,
if you want to talk.

I know. Thanks.

Alright. Well don't drink
all that orange juice.

You still on for dumplings?

[Alex] No, I'm not hungry.

[muffled grungy music]

Oh, where are you going?

I'm just going to call Gracie.

Oh, come on.
I want to factorise with you.

I'm never falling in love.

- [footsteps tapping]
- [mobile phone pings]

- [keyboard clacking]
- [footsteps thumping]

Um, they're here.
Where do you want them?

Oh, in Malala,

but I'll keep them
waiting for five.

- Micro power.
- Very micro.

[Lily] Hi. It's just this way.

[footsteps tapping]

Oh yeah. No, that's fine.
We can just, um,

we can go with that, yeah.

Sorry...

[Daniel] Ladies, pastry?

[indistinct chatter]

No, no, I thought that you quit.

Fuck no. I loved that job.

Still had six months left
on my contract.

They said I wasn't
a good fit 'culturally'.

Seriously? I mean, seriously.

One minute, I'm exactly
what The Jugglers need

to stay relevant. The next...
[Gemma pops] Trash time.

So you think that you
were a diversity hire

to make the band look more PC.

Babe, that's the only reason
people like us ever get hired.

Oh no, not always.

Yeah? How come none of
the office Anglos

are interviewing me?

Because I wanted to...

Look, once you've
ticked that box,

you're going to be out
in the scrap heap with me.

[footsteps echo]

[Jeet] Evelyn!

Just, sorry.

This is Gemma, you know,
from The Jugglers,

the kids' entertainment group.

Hi Gemma, lovely to meet you.

Oh, you're in
good hands with Jeet.

Oh, you two should be
in Malala, not us.

Why?

Because you're young activists.

Sure.

I'll just, I've got the meeting.

[footsteps tapping]

Evelyn, Laura -
Parrot Publishing.

Evelyn Jones.
Dan, Norma.

We just wanted to
assure you face to face

that "Toxic Boss"
is a work of fiction,

so any resemblance to real life
is purely coincidental.

Oh good, so you'll be putting
that wording on the cover then.

[Laura] It's already
with the printer,

so we can't make
any big changes,

unless it's a sticker from
Oprah's Book Club,

but the book will be sold
in fiction sections.

Well, your intention
as a publisher

doesn't actually matter.

My client can still claim
liability on unintended errors.

No, you'd have to prove
that Evelyn Jones

is identifiable in
'Emily James'.

Oh, that wouldn't be hard.

It's only two consonants
between us.

Emily has two daughters. Evelyn
has a daughter and a son.

[Dan grunts]

Perhaps Ms. Pearce can clarify
in all press interviews,

that "Toxic Boss"
is not inspired

by her time at 'Eve Life'

either as an intern
or later as a full employee.

Sure. Yeah,
if you think that'll help,

but personally I think
it'll raise the flag.

Hmm...

Oh, Norma,
I may have said and done

a version of these things,
like provide housing for you,

but you've misconstrued them
to make Emily sound like

a tyrant and that it was
all self-serving,

which it simply wasn't.

I'm sorry you feel that way.

I'm sorry, but I hate the

"I'm sorry
you feel that way" apology.

Okay. Well, I regret
that is your experience.

[Daniel] Would anybody
else like some of these?

No.

Okay, we agree on something.

Don't we have an obligation
as women

to protect each other?

You're firing
at the wrong enemy.

That's not how I see it.

I think what Norma means
is reality is such a powerful

source of inspiration...

- Thanks, Laura.
- Yeah.

So I guess I have no obligation
to protect you then.

What do you mean?

Well, I'm sure all my contacts
would love to know

that you're trying to
destroy my reputation.

That is simply not true.

You torpedoed your career
by plagiarising.

[Daniel] Alright, Ev, let's
maybe take a breath, hey?

Let's take a breath.

Well, I'm sure that
we can resolve this

without going public or court.

To court?
You guys are delusional.

Just so I'm clear,

you're feeling threatened
by Norma's book

because you know there's an
element of truth to it, right?

Her truth, which is subjective.

Shouldn't people be free to
interpret things differently?

Not if their interpretation
is full of untruths.

Isn't that what fiction is,
untruths?

Well, there's a little bit
of truth in your untruth.

It's just a book, Evelyn.

[Evelyn] It's an attack
on my business.

It's an attack on me.

It'll be my name and face
all over the media.

I'll be the one that's
made out to be toxic.

[Daniel slurps]

Please stop eating.

[Daniel] Well, you wait until
it's published,

and then, pending the reaction,

set about proving
any serious harm

that it's done to your
reputation.

Now there's going to be
considerable interest

also in the fact that,
you know, she's young

and you're, well, you know?

Thank you.

Anytime.

How's Jon?

He's fine.

Good. Hey, listen, I've
got a small favour to ask.

[Evelyn scoffs]

OK, careful.
I don't want her to see us.

Alright. That's her, the
redhead at the bar. You see her?

She'll know who I am.

No, she won't. Trust me.
She doesn't read "Eve Life".

I'm having second thoughts.

How about you do it for
the free legal advice, hmm?

Well, your legal advice
isn't worth it.

I'll do it for Lucy.

[footsteps tapping]

Jill?

Yes. Do I know you?

Are you here to meet Daniel?
He's my husband.

Ex-husband?

No, still very much married,

three kids and a spoodle
with hip dysplasia.

What? No, he told me
that it was a cavoodle.

Sorry, but can you pick another
husband to be obsessed with?

I really can't be bothered
finding someone else

to raise the kids
and pay the mortgage.

Just leave me to
my dysfunctional marriage.

Hang on. He told me that
you were okay with it.

He's pre-diabetic,
eats a lot of pastry.

He's a shit lawyer. He bought
DJ turntables the other day.

He dyes his pubic hair.

[footsteps tapping]

Well, what did you say?

Never ask me to do anything
like that ever again.

- [Daniel sighs] Alright.
- [keys rattle]

Did Lucy tell you
about dinner tonight?

- She wants to see you.
- No fucking way.

She's making
the hoisin chicken wings.

With the garlic green bean
side thing?

- Mm.
- What time?

7:00.

- [traffic hums]
- [footsteps tapping]

- [sombre music]
- [keyboard clacking]

[Evelyn sighs]

[door knocks]

You got a comment
from band management?

Have you finished it yet?

I've read enough to know

that we have to get a right
of reply from The Jugglers.

Oh, but their point of view
isn't relevant.

This is a story about
the commodification

of multiculturalism
by white people

for the benefit of white people.

It's an expose on how diversity
hiring keeps people like me

oppressed and othered...

I understand, Jeet, but

we have to present both sides
of the story, so do it.

Evelyn, I really think that we
should just post my story as is.

Jeet, you know the rules.

You have to get them
to respond first, okay?

I left space for your article.
Now I have to post Opal's.

What should I do
for my birthday?

Maybe a low-key dinner here.
I'll cook.

The usual suspects,
and Bec and Rach.

So a dinner party then?

- Hey, I wanted to...
- [ringtone chimes]

Sorry, it's Jeet.
She won't stop calling. Fuck.

So do you think this time,
it's really it?

Do you think my career's over?

You're a woman. People
are going to criticise you.

People hate women.
Women hate women.

[Evelyn] This is so maddening.

I don't get to defend myself.

Facts don't matter.

Should I fight harder?

Probably not a good
idea to punch down, Ev.

She's a young writer.

[Daniel] Babe, have you
seen the chopsticks,

you know, the ones with
the little cranes on them?

[Lucy] Did you even look?

Thanks.

- I'll set the table. You relax.
- Okay.

I'm not going back to work.

What?

I'm enjoying being a wife.

What are you talking about?

Well, don't do this just for us.

Actually,
it's not just about us.

Six months ago, a patient
walked into the ER, pregnant

with cramping, sharp pains.

I dismissed it as early
Braxton Hicks, sent her home.

She didn't want to go home,
but I didn't listen.

[Evelyn] Because you were
overworked, Lucy, and probably

completely exhausted by...

She came back the next day

and I had misdiagnosed
an ectopic pregnancy.

There's a very good chance
that she will never be able

to have children because of me.

[Daniel tuts]

Because I knew better.

I'm not a good doctor.

- [Evelyn] That's not true.
- Come on.

Lucy, please don't do this.

You are an extraordinary doctor.

You work under
extraordinary conditions.

Please don't throw
your whole life's work away.

Don't give this up.

We'll talk about it
later in private, okay?

No, don't talk about it later.

I don't want her
to just be a wife.

Okay, well,
this is our marriage.

So you know, here, here,
you want this?

- Oh, don't be ridiculous, Dan.
- Well, come on!

- She's talking...
- Guys, I made a decision.

The chicken's burning.

Have you had counselling?

What are they going to say, Ev?

It's not your fault,
you shouldn't blame yourself,

you need to move on
with your life?

Yes. Sometimes it's good
to pay someone

to reiterate the obvious.

I'm sick of the responsibility
of being a doctor.

I find this decision
very freeing.

[footsteps tapping]

[Evelyn] Hi.

I've just finished the
first draft of my memoir.

Ah.

And it needs some of
your editing technique.

Oh, I'm pretty brutal.
Just ask Addy.

[relaxing jazz music]

I'm not sure I'm the right
person to edit your memoir.

Well, you were there for most
of it and I'm, what am I?

An unreliable narrator.

Yeah, that's it.

[footsteps tapping]

Dad was the love of your life.

Funny way of showing it.

I've destroyed
every relationship

I've ever gotten into,

because you and Dad
were such poor role models.

Yes, we were young.
We didn't know any better.

And also, you were
slow to develop empathy.

- Keep reading.
- But why is that?

I was 13 before I realised that

the sound of your parents
shouting at each other wasn't normal.

- At least we didn't hide it.
- I wish you had.

It's important to fight,
healthy even.

That was a good lesson
you learned.

Yeah, but you only taught me
how to blow things up, Mum.

You didn't teach me
how to make up

or resolve conflict without
becoming resentful or bitter.

Ev, when I became a mother,

we were still smacking.

I did my best. I was busy.

I was working hard
to make a living,

so that we could have money,

and I was trying
to build a career.

I was also trying to be an
exemplary modern mother.

Now I've fallen
into the same trap.

Working is my whole identity.

I mean it's...

- Is it even worth it?
- Yes.

You might not feel it
and you might not see it,

but you're making a difference.

Christine, Norma, do you
think they would've left

and gone on to
bigger and better things,

if you hadn't
mentored them first?

Your ambition is not a curse.

It makes people,
women around you

feel they can do anything.

And also, someone's
written a book about you

and it's not yourself.

Thank you.

Want me to run you a bath?

Yeah, thanks.

- [calm music]
- [birds chirping]

[keyboards clacking]

I just want to say,
my door is always open.

I don't want any of you
to feel unheard.

It's important that you
enjoy where you come to work,

and who you're working for.

Metaphorically open.

Holy shit.

What?

- [Lily] Jeet?
- [Evelyn] What about Jeet?

"Iconic children's group
The Jugglers have accused

"Evelyn Jones
of sloppy journalism

"after one of her reporters
wrongly claimed

- "racial discrimination."
- Wrongly?

"The Jugglers say that
they didn't fire Gemma

"because of her race."
Surprise, surprise.

Then why did they fire her?

She does X-rated standup
as a side hustle.

It's just not
a good cultural fit

for the children's
entertainment group.

How dirty are we talking?

[Penny] Well, let's just say
her idea of the hokey pokey

involves root vegetables
and an anus.

Well, that's one way to
turn yourself around.

Yuck. Sorry.

Evelyn.

Is Norma not a big enough
threat to the business?

Just because Gemma
does dirty standup,

it doesn't mean that she wasn't
hired and fired because of her race.

Why does the white version of
the truth always trump the Asian?

That's beside the point.
The truth is the truth.

You said
the truth is subjective.

Well, I don't know what
the truth is anymore,

but regardless of that,
why did you go ahead

and post without approval?

Because what happened to Gemma
resonates with a lot of people.

It resonates with me.

I've told you,
you're not a token hire.

How many times
do you want me to say it?

Maybe not consciously.

I don't know.

Nothing I ever write
seems to make the mark,

and I thought that this one
would be different.

The environmental stories
may not pack as much punch

as, say, Opal's, but don't
think they don't have value.

Don't think
you don't have value.

- You're just saying that.
- No, I'm not.

You're the kind of reporter that
wants to hold us accountable,

to expose the truth.

The type that inspired me
to become part of the industry

in the first place,

but you cannot make
unfounded accusations.

It's not how good
journalists operate.

Even if what I'm trying...

Even if you think there's
truth to it, we need facts.

Not emotion or feelings, okay?

I'm going to have to give you
an official warning.

And I'm sorry,
but I can't be seen

to approve of sloppy reporting.

You know, sometimes I
wonder if there's actually

any point to any of this.

I'm just trying to change
things and make us better.

[sombre music]

["Utopia" by Goldfrapp playing]