Original subtitles

Bow: Growing up on a commune, my family never got flu shots.

We didn't need them.

Our small community

was isolated from the diseases of the outside world.

In fact, growing up, I never once needed to see a doctor.

With love, you don't need anesthesia.

[ Scream in distance ]

But my dad decided it'd be smart to get flu shots now,

since we were living in the Petri dish of suburbia.

[ Coughs ]

What is this place?

A hospital.

This is our school, dummy.

Slash hospital. Got it.

At the time, I didn't know why, but I was suddenly in a trance.

The equipment, the tools, the biohazard bags.

I was in heaven.

Now, there's no reason to be afraid.

These doctors and nurses -- they're here to help you guys.

Right, honey?

Mm. Mm? Mm.

[ Crying, indistinct talking ]

I'm seeing a lot of crying kids.

It's not a cute look.

Would it help if your mother went first?

What, now?

Uh, oh, no. [ Chuckles ]

They'd rather see their big, strong papa go first.

[ Chuckling ] Papa?

Just go.

I'll go first!

I didn't know what my mom was nervous about.

[ Chuckles ] This was one of the most

interesting things that ever happened to me.

You're saying there's a little bit of the flu virus

in the shot?

It's weakened. So don't be afraid.

I'm not afraid. I'm fascinated!

How did they figure this out?!

You're normally a nerd,

but right now you're being a super nerd.

[ Metal lid clangs ]

I mean, she wasn't wrong.

I was totally geeking out on this.

But my mother, on the other hand...

Actually, you know what?

I'm not gonna get one.

Well, I can't make you.

Why are you still here?

Mm, I need you to pretend to give me one

[whispering] but really sell it.

[ Normal voice ] My husband is watching.

[ Chuckles ]

Wow!

Ohh! I...

I feel the healing properties coursing through my veins!

That's not how this works.

You've made a mockery of me.

[ Whispering ] Band-Aid, too.

♪ In the mix ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh, they keep trying ♪

♪ But they can't stop us ♪

♪ 'Cause we got a love ♪

♪ That keeps rising up ♪

♪ In the mix ♪

♪ Life turns around ♪

♪ 'Round and 'round it goes ♪

♪ Ooh, it's a mixed-up world ♪ ♪ Ooh, it's a mixed-up ♪

♪ And that's for sure ♪ ♪ Mixed-up ♪

♪ In the mix ♪ ♪ Baby ♪

♪ We're gonna get by ♪ ♪ We're gonna ♪

♪ On our own, side by side ♪

♪ Love's all we need to be free ♪ ♪ Lo-o-o-ve is all ♪

♪ I got you, you got me ♪

♪ Yaaaaay us! ♪

♪ I-I-In the mix ♪

♪ Yaaaaay us! ♪

♪ I-I-In the mix-ish ♪

[ Coughing ]

What?!

You're coughing.

A lot. Are you getting sick?

[ Clears throat ]

Did you get a flu shot?

Absolutely not!

The flu shot is just another way

for doctors to kill black people.

What? I don't think that's right.

No, no, no. Your aunt is being silly.

If I was being silly, I'd bite eye holes

into my pancake and wear it like a mask.

Doctors are just a bunch of old white men

who want to hold us back.

-[ Sighs ] -Aren't there black doctors?

That's still a theoretical concept, baby.

You just went on a date with a black doctor.

He said he was a doctor.

Look, he wouldn't be the first man

who I dated that lied about his job.

Whatever the race of the doctor,

their job is to care for everyone.

Our job is to trust them.

I'm not letting no doctor use me as a lab rat.

You don't trust doctors? That's completely crazy!

My aunt's attitude may seem crazy to some people,

but it's not rooted in craziness.

[ Static crackles ] It's actually rooted

in history...ness.

[ Static crackles ] And a lot of black people

have a skepticism of the medical field

due to a long history of abuse and neglect.

During slavery, doctors claimed that if a slave

wanted to run away, it was because they had

a mental illness and not because of,

you know, wanting freedom.

Fast-forward to the '30s, doctors in Tuskegee

failed to treat black men with syphilis

just so they could study the disease.

Even today, black patients have longer ER wait times

than white people with the exact same symptoms.

This history,

plus limited access to affordable healthcare,

has led many black people

to stop going to doctors altogether.

[ Static crackles ] I don't mess with doctors!

You're missing out.

We all got our flu shots, and it was so cool.

Even you, sis?

Hmm? Mm-hmm. Of course!

Plus, I learned there's a doctor for basically everything.

Did you know there's a doctor just for your butt?

[ Coughing ]

Alright, sweetheart, come eat over here, please.

[ Sneezes ]

I couldn't tell if Aunt Dee-Dee was sick,

but when I saw my friend Rebecca,

I definitely knew she was.

Ow. Are you okay? You look terrible.

I mean...you always look pretty, but this time,

it's more of a sick pretty, like a runway model.

That's sweet,

but I feel like a catalogue model.

I don't know what's going on.

I didn't even consider she might be wildly contagious,

but I was confronted with my first medical mystery.

Well, what symptoms do you have?

Sore throat, headache.

I'm pretty tired.

I'm also really hot,

but that's probably because Mr. Colt just walked by.

It sounds like you have the flu, also known as in-floon-za.

Did you get your flu shot?

Yeah. But I've had the flu before.

Whatever this is, it's different.

Curious. Curious, indeed.

Huh? Sorry.

I'm kinda getting into this.

Maybe you should go see Nurse Joan.

It's okay. I'll get better.

If something's wrong with your butt,

they have a doctor for that!

What are you reading about, Bow-Bow?

I'm researching diseases.

Do you think Rebecca could have rickets?

Probably not.

[ Door opens ]

[ Coughing heavily ]

Oh, my gosh! Are you okay?

Never better.

Although I did nod off once or twice

driving home from work.

So I figured I'd stop by here for a pick-me-up.

Mm. [ Coughs heavily ]

You mind?

All yours. Mm.

Denise, I don't think you're in any state

to drive or go to work.

You should stay home tomorrow.

[ Breathlessly ] Maybe you're right.

I don't even have the energy to sass travelers

like I usually do.

What ever will the airport do?

See? I can't even sass Harrison.

I guess I'll head home.

Although, they did shut off my heat due to a discrepancy

between the amount they were charging me

and the amount I was paying.

Let me guess.

The discrepancy was the full amount?

It was.

I guess I don't have any other option

than to heal up there.

Unless...maybe I could stay here?

[ Coughing loudly ]

Well, it's kind of a full house.

I don't know where you would sleep.

Oh, please, sis.

Family takes care of family.

Honey, she can stay in Santi and Johan's room,

and they can sleep on the couch.

[ Coughs loudly ]

I am not sleeping on that couch.

Seriously, I can't sleep sitting up.

Dad, you think maybe you could take them

for the week?

I don't know. Last time I cared for a kid,

it was 30 years ago,

and even then, I was mailing it in.

Please, Granddad. You have five guest rooms.

I want to feel what it's like to be wealthy.

It is pretty great.

Alright. What the hell.

Yes! We're gonna be rich!

Great. Denise and her flu-like symptoms

will be staying here.

In our house. With me.

[ Sneezes ]

[ Coughs ]

Oh, my bones.

[ Groans ]

[ Wheezing ] Help.

Help.

[ Bell ringing ]

Are you really calling us with a bell?

I had a rough night in this tiny bed.

I'm on fire.

Can you feel my forehead?

Me?

Oh. I...

My -- My hand doesn't feel heat good.

Paul, do you mind?

I mean, she's your sister, but...

Yeah. Yeah, she's burning up.

We should go see a doctor.

Not gonna happen.

I'm treating myself the old-fashioned way.

I'll need as much ginger ale

as you can get from the store

and some garlic water for my ears.

Oh, and some mustard for my muscle cramps.

And if all else fails, I just sweat it out.

Is she serious?

I mean, holistic solutions are -- are great

to a point.

She's at that point. She needs medicine.

Paul, it's fine.

Some people just don't trust the doctor.

[ Scoffs ] What kind of fool doesn't trust a doctor?

They aren't fools!

I'm sure there are some very educated people

who -- who don't trust them for some weird reason.

Well, I guess I'll try to talk some sense into her

while you're at work.

Hmm. Okay.

Okay. Love you.

Ohh, did you have mustard for breakfast?

Huh?

Ohh. Have a -- Have a good day.

Denise: Paul?

Can you rub my foot?

You there? [ Bell ringing ]

Yeah, I'm -- I'm -- I'm here.

I didn't find what I was looking for

in the encyclopedias,

but I was still thirsty for the answers.

So I went to the most competent

healthcare professional I knew -- the school nurse.

Ooh, careful where you step.

I just dropped a box of needles.

I have this friend who's sick,

but I can't figure out what's wrong with her.

What kind of symptoms does this friend of yours have?

It's interesting.

Fever, headache, sore throat.

And she's really tired.

She even nodded off in Mr. Colt's class today.

And he was wearing a short-sleeve shirt.

Has your friend been kissing a lot of boys?

Well, she was just at a party

with her camp friends, so yeah.

Sounds like mono.

Let me check the lymph nodes on your neck

and see if they're swollen.

What are you doing? I'm not sick.

It's a very embarrassing disease to have.

Look, we both know there's no "friend."

Huh.

To see if someone had mono,

you performed a procedure called "touch a neck."

I could do that.

Alright. [ Slurps ]

What is going on? Hey. Did you turn the heat on?

Yeah, and I left the oven open, too.

I'm sweating it out.

I can't believe you actually think --

Shh.

You're making me miss "General Hospital."

It always makes me feel better.

Huh. That's interesting.

That doctor seems great at what he does.

He just helped that woman out of a coma.

Oh, he's not actually a doctor.

He's an evil twin.

And that woman wants to be in that coma

'cause she struggles with the guilt

of accidentally giving her baby away

to the Brownstone Killer.

Oh, well, I-I-I'm sure

the real doctor will save the day.

Nope. He's in prison.

He was killing too many patients and selling their bones

to support his gambling habit,

as doctors are wont to do.

[ Chuckles ]

I don't know why I thought that would work.

Bump the oven up to 550 for me.

To broil? You got it.

It's like a bag of marbles!

You have mono.

They call it the kissing disease,

but you can get it all sorts of ways --

sharing a soda, sharing a carrot.

No judgment here.

Who shares a carrot?

I think you should see the nurse.

No way.

If I have mono, then she'll tell my dad.

And my dad will know I've been kissing boys

and ground me, maybe even make me transfer

to a private girls' school.

We have the money for it.

I call girl code.

What's girl code?

We're, like, really good friends now,

which means you have to have my back.

And also, you can't like any of the boys I call dibs on.

Dibs on Mr. Colt! Dibs on Mr. Colt!

Promise me you won't tell anyone.

Just cover for me today and let me take a breather.

My need to confirm the diagnosis

was fighting with my desire not to break girl code

and lose Rebecca as a friend.

And she'd dropped people for less.

She stopped hanging out with Alyssa

because her cursive was sloppy.

Well, rest is one of the best ways to heal mono.

Okay, I'll cover for you.

What are you wearing?

This is all Granddad grabbed for me.

Plus, he forgot to pack us lunch.

I'm starving and tacky.

I hate being rich!

[ Door slams open ]

♪ Simply irresistible ♪

In the 1980s, nothing was cooler

than getting fast food for school lunch.

♪ Simply irresistible ♪

♪♪

♪ Simply irresistible ♪

You didn't think I'd forget lunch, did you?

I did. Sorry.

I take it back. I love being rich!

I'd covered for Rebecca all day, letting her nap,

reciting her monologues, running her laps,

and while she still looked ill,

I was starting to feel pretty bad myself.

Rainbow, you really must get a blood test.

Even if your glands are fine, there are other indicators,

like being exhausted.

I'm just tired from helping a friend.

Ohh, there you go with that "friend" nonsense again.

Mono is serious if left untreated.

Really?

What's the worst thing that could happen?

You could die.

Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

And the second-worst thing?

Your spleen could explode, and you'd wish you were dead.

Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

Well, I hope no one at school ever gets that.

I think we need to tell a doctor.

I don't.

And if you do, I'll never forgive you.

But I-I really think --

Girl code.

Are you trying to stand up?

With all my might.

Alicia Johnson?

Are you finally ready for your flu shot?

I'm actually not done reading through the pamphlet.

I-I'll need to think on that.

Okay. Okay.

[ Cellphone ringing ]

[ Beep ]

Hello. This is Alicia.

Harrison: Where are you?

I'm at the clinic for a flu shot.

Wait, I thought you guys all got your flu shots already.

Everyone else did except me,

which is why I don't want to be around Denise.

I did get mine, and I don't want to be around Denise.

She can be very mean to me.

Why didn't you get it the first time?

I know intellectually it doesn't make sense.

I don't think flu shots are bad

or there's some conspiracy

to give black people different shots so they can control us.

I just still have a hold-up on getting one for myself.

That's dumb.

I hear you.

If I needed surgery tomorrow, I'd get it.

It's hard to forget

how I feel, even though I know it ma--

Wait, uh, are you still at work?

Aren't you supposed to be watching my kids?

I didn't forget to pick them up from school,

if that's what you're accusing me of.

Listen, let me call you back.

[ Beep, dial tone ]

Alicia, you're up.

Again.

[ Sighs ]

Mom really wanted to get a shot,

but sometimes the smallest fears

are the hardest to get over.

I'm sorry. I can't do this.

Denise: ♪ Everything to God in prayer ♪

Hey, babe. Hi.

Is Denise doing better?

Nope. ♪ Oh, what peace we often forfeit ♪

She dug up all my garlic, even though it's not

ready to harvest for another month.

♪ Oh, what [coughs] a friend ♪

Now she's drinking whiskey in our bathtub.

♪ We have in Jesus ♪

♪ All our sins and griefs to bear ♪

Is she... singing about Jesus?

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

She's in a bad place.

Oh, she also thinks I'm Sonny Crockett

from "Miami Vice."

[ Coughs ] Okay.

♪ Oh, what peace we often forfeit ♪

♪ Oh, what needless pain we bear ♪

Ohh.

Sis, I'm so glad you're here.

Just hear me now.

I love you. Mm-hmm.

I'm happy to have known you.

Uh-huh.

And I'll see you on the other side.

Okay, get up. Okay.

No, my legs have not worked since this morning.

Well, then how did you get up here?

Like a penguin. Ooh, ooh. Okay.

What's going on? Should we get her to a doctor?

Yes, we're taking her to a doctor now.

No! I hate doctors!

I do, too, but it's time.

Okay, wait. What?

[ Blows ]

[ Laughs ]

Alright, in you go there.

Look, I'm sorry I failed you, kids.

[ Sighs ]

What do you mean?

Well, I forgot to pick you up.

I forgot to pack lunch.

I sent you to school one day

dressed like that Boy George lady.

Yeah, it was a wild ride.

But we got fast food for lunch.

We're legends.

Oh, it wasn't all bad?

Well, that makes me really happy.

You guys are welcome anytime.

Come here!

Can we come back this weekend?

Not on weekends. Weekends are Granddad's time.

Love you, kiddos.

Love you, too, Granddad! Love you, too, Granddad!

[ Door opens, closes ]

I'm so glad we're back.

This week has been insane.

This place is a dump,

but it's our dump.

Wait, is anyone even home?

After a failed attempt

at jumping out of my dad's car window

on the way to the hospital,

my aunt was given an IV and medicine

to treat her illness, which turned out to be pneumonia.

I can't believe this experience hasn't changed your mind.

Paul, there are real reasons

behind why black people don't trust doctors.

A lot of them just don't take us seriously.

True. A-A-And that is a problem,

but you were able to get past that.

I mean, you didn't want to get a flu shot,

but you -- you still got one.

Actually...I didn't.

What? M-Mom. Really?

Babe, come on. This is crazy.

It's not crazy.

It might be wrong, but it's not crazy.

It also might not be wrong.

You can't write people's feelings off

just because you don't understand where they come from.

Get him, sis.

Denise, get in bed.

Remember when I gave birth to Rainbow?

Did something go wrong at the birthing bog?

I actually had you at a hospital.

And when we got there,

the doctor said I was in early labor

and it would be a while.

But then I felt something change,

and I called him back in.

[ Chuckling ] And he barely even checked me the second time.

He said I needed to stop being hysterical.

And once he finally came back in,

he needed to do an emergency surgery.

And it wasn't just that one event for me.

This has been my whole life.

No.

Oh, baby, I hate that I couldn't see that until now.

I'm sorry.

It's okay.

[ Sighs ]

And, Denise, I'm sorry

if I judged you or I pushed you too hard.

It's only because I care.

No. You did the right thing.

And now that you've been put in your place,

I can actually admit I needed help.

So thank you.

And, Alicia?

Hmm? Thank you, too.

I would have never listened to just Paul.

My aunt got the help she didn't want and was better for it.

And I realized I had to do the same thing for Rebecca,

even if it would break girl code.

Mr. Morgan?

There's something I need to tell you about your daughter.

No, no, no. She's not pregnant.

Because of me, Rebecca missed an entire month of school.

I called her a few times,

but her parents always said she was too sick to talk,

which I figured was her way of avoiding me.

I'm sorry you're mad at me,

but I did what I did, and I'd do it again.

Also, I took notes for you every day.

I even took a few tests.

Your grades have actually improved while you were out.

Rainbow, I'm not mad at you.

You aren't?

No, you did the right thing.

Plus, now that people know that I kiss,

I'm getting more attention from boys.

Girls are asking for tips.

It's actually really empowering.

That's awesome!

I've kissed someone before, too.

Hmm. Great.

I didn't know it at the time,

but getting my first flu shot changed my life's trajectory.

It was what set me on the path to becoming a doctor.

And it wasn't just solving my friend's medical mystery,

which I did...quite well.

Again, I'm a doctor now.

It was also witnessing my mom and aunt's journey.

I realized there was a real need for people

who look like me to work in medicine,

to assuage the fears of patients

who otherwise don't trust the system.

And I was lucky to have support every step of the way.

[ Applause ]

Announcer: Rainbow Sojourner Johnson.

[ Cheers and applause ]

[ Cheers and applause intensify ]

Thank you so much!

Whaa!

That's my baby!

Dr. Johnson! My wife's a doctor!

[ Air horn blaring ] My wife's a doctor!

[ Air horn blares ]

♪ Maybe God is tryin' to tell you somethin' ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

Denise.

What are you doing?

You aren't sick anymore.

Oh, I know.

But the acoustics in here sound ♪ amazing! ♪

Uh-huh, but we're trying to sleep

right outside this door.

Oh, girl.

If you can't sleep at night...

♪ Maybe God is tryin' to tell you somethin' ♪

[ Door closes ]

♪ Maybe ♪

♪ God is ♪

No!

-Mom! -Shh! Daddy's working!