Original subtitles

? Just take those old records off the shelf ?

? I'll sit and listen to 'em... ?

RAINBOW: I called 1986 my Tom Cruise Year

because it's when I became a latchkey kid,

like Tom Cruise in "Risky Business."

PAUL: So, now, this is gonna be a big responsibility.

Every day after school, while Mommy and I are at work,

you guys are gonna be alone.

ALICIA: What do you do if someone brings

a bag full of kittens to the front door?

I'd tell them to go away.

Kidnapped!

You shouldn't do anything,

or else they'll know you're there.

- Love you. - Yeah. Okay.

While we are gone, Rainbow's in charge.

Okay, Dad.

No. I'm serious.

I'm serious, 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 ?

?

My mom was also having a big year

because she made partner,

like Tom Cruise in "The Firm."

[Telephones ringing]

Except she was doing everything he did

in high heels.

- [Ringing continues] - Oh.

Alicia Johnson's office.

DENISE: Sis, is that your phone voice

or your "I'm a partner, but they didn't let me get a secretary" voice?

Because both are sad.

[Deeper voice] Alicia's not here right now.

Can I take a message?

I know it's still you, Alicia.

- Also, can I use y'all car this week? - [Receiver clicks]

It's not a big deal that I don't have a secretary.

I just started as a partner,

and I'm sure we'll be looking for candidates

in the very near future.

Do all the other partners have one?

Because the first thing I would do is get a secretary!

- [Evelyn "Champagne" King's "Love Come Down" plays] - Mm. Objection! Sustained!

Overruled!

You out of order!

You guilty! [Giggles]

Actually, the first thing you would have

is a law degree, and you don't have that.

Or your own towels.

You got eight towels for five people.

Santi little. She don't need her own.

All I'm saying is, being a partner is wasted on you

because you let too much stuff slide!

And that's the slippery slope to disrespect.

Today after I clocked out at work,

they tried to ask me to check this ticking bag.

You think I let that slide? Nope.

That's why I've been on an extended lunch

since yesterday.

If you're being disrespected, why don't you find another job?

Because I'm trying to get fired.

You don't get unemployment if you quit.

Well, I'm not trying to get fired from my job.

In fact, I'm trying to be an example

for people who come after me.

An example of being disrespected.

No.

I know how to choose my battles.

Maybe you need to let me pick your battles for you.

The trick is to raise your voice

before the other person even realizes you're in an argument.

Which maybe you would understand

if you would listen to your older sister!

See how good that just worked?

?

I know this is a big day for all of us...

a little bit more for me than for you, since I'm in charge.

But if Nickelodeon has taught us anything,

it's that all kids should voice opinions.

So I'm gonna let you both have a say in things.

Starting with snack. What do we all have a taste for?

I want Black people hot salad.

I don't know how to make collard greens, Santi.

And that's not really a snack.

Let's come up with something we all want.

I know what I want.

For you to not be in charge.

Ooh! I'll have the same!

Come on, guys!

We're all in this together, right?

Wrong.

I was very wrong.

What did you do to my clothes?!

I did you a favor.

In my sister's defense, she did invent fringe.

JOHAN: Check it out!

Johan!

- [Skateboard rumbling] - Aah!

[Clatter]

One down, one to go.

?

[Indistinct conversations]

The thing about the '80s was that a lot of workplaces

were more like boys' clubs than offices.

Which means, as the only Black woman,

sometimes they treated my mom less like a partner

and more like she didn't exist.

Thanks for putting that out. [Clears throat]

Sorry. Didn't realize you were pregnant.

Did you guys see the Lakers-Celtics game last night?

Oh, yeah, I love the Celtics.

Los Angeles is too, uh...

- "street." - [Chuckles]

Check it out. The Lakers roster.

[Laughter]

When racism like this happens,

every Black person asks themselves

what are they gonna do about it.

[Clears throat]

And my mom's decision...

to walk right out of that meeting.

Like I'm gonna stick around for that nonsense. [Scoffs]

Yard sale here!

Hey there! You look like a man who's married to a size six.

Griff?

Holy heck. Paul Jackson?!

- [Laughs] - I haven't seen you since high school!

I haven't seen you since high school, either.

Yeah, that... that's how that works.

How... How's it going?

Oh. All good, man.

- Just having a little yard sale. - Yeah.

You, uh, want some women's clothing?

[Chuckles] I'm good.

- Or, uh... Or wedding china? - [Chuckles]

Oh, oh! [Chuckles]

Do you want to buy a used wedding ring?

Oh, man.

It's almost a whole carat.

Is... everything okay?

Oh, everything is better than okay.

You want to see

what selling a lifetime of cherished memories can buy?

- Come on. - [Chuckles]

[Ring clatters]

Oh! Oh, wow!

Your kids must love this!

They haven't seen it.

We only do supervised visits at the McDonald's playground.

So, yeah.

Oh, is that your bass from our band?

- It certainly is. - [Chuckles]

Unfortunately, Shelley snapped all my strings.

But...

might you remember this?

? Boo-doom-doom-doom, boom-boom-boom-bee ?

? Doo-doo-doo-dee, doo-doo-doo-bum-bum ?

? Bee-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo ?

Uh, do I remember our most popular song?

Yes, I do.

? Chicka-chicka-ba, ka-gee, ka-gee ?

? Gapa-jubba-jiba, ja-ba-ba-ba-choo ?

- [Inhales deeply] - [Both vocalizing]

They did this for 45 minutes.

- ? Oooh ? - ? Aww ?

Ha! Yeah!

[Both laugh]

What time is it? It's got to be late.

I got to get home 'cause my dad's coming over for dinner.

He's still alive?

[Chuckling] Yeah.

He did not like me.

Well, you lost your virginity in his Cadillac.

All I had was a hatchback,

and I wanted to make my girlfriend feel like the lady she was.

[Chuckles] Okay.

In my defense, I feel like I did way worse things to him.

[Chuckling] That's right. He did hate you.

[Laughs]

My dad and granddad had

a one-sided competitive relationship.

I'm proud of you for not having just wine coolers.

You're finally peeing with the toilet seat up.

[Scoffs]

Gotcha!

Real funny, Dad.

Ha-ha! Dumbass!

And this was my dad's chance to get even with him.

[Laughs]

What are you doing tonight?

?

GRIFF: Hey, Mr. J!

- [Chuckling] - Ohh.

Griff?

[Both chuckling]

What is he doing here?

Listen here, you little...

Hey, Dad.

Gotcha.

[Both laugh]

I told you.

[Laughs]

Oh, w-what are you gonna do? You gonna leave?

- Aw. - I'm just messing around!

Yeah, just like I was in your Caddy.

- [Chuckles] - Yes!

That went well.

You want to stay for dinner?

Oh, yeah, totally.

I've been eating Triscuits all week.

Mmm! Thanks, guys.

Never had soul food before.

That was Chinese.

So, Griff, uh, we have a little family tradition

where we ask how did we change the world today.

I'll go first!

I have nothing to report.

Johan got no head injuries,

and I like wearing my shirt like this.

ALICIA: Thank you, Rainbow.

Okay, I don't want to jump the line,

but you got to hear what I did.

So, picture this.

I'm in the conference room when one of the partners

pulls out a matchbook and makes a very racist joke.

- Mnh. - So, here's the best part.

I pick up all my belongings

and I walk right out the door.

And?

And I didn't come back.

Wow.

So you just left for the rest of the day?

Oh, no, I came back when the meeting started.

But they got the message loud and clear...

"Alicia Johnson is not gonna stick around for that nonsense."

I said that.

Wow. Who'd you say that to?

Myself.

So, when you came back, they apologized?

N-No. Unh-unh.

Did they stop telling those type of jokes?

No. They really went after one of our Polish clients.

But, you know, not my battle, so...

So you let it slide.

Mom, do you always let things like this slide?

No!

I'm surviving.

I don't think you guys get it.

Okay, let me take it from the top again.

- So, I'm in the conference room, right? - Alicia.

We get it.

You're not the strong, silent type...

just the silent type.

And that's when my mom wondered,

"Did I do the right thing?"

Which Tom Cruise probably wondered after "Vanilla Sky."

You think Rosa Parks would have been more or less of a hero

had she gotten up and just walked off that bus?

In my defense, we don't know for sure

if she was even protesting,

because she didn't change what she did.

Rosa just got on a bus and stayed on a bus.

Is that what we doing now? Slandering civil rights icons?

No. [Sighs]

In my head, I was just trying to show everyone

they couldn't tear me down.

I told you, letting that stuff slide is a slippery slope.

You have got to demand their respect.

I hear you.

Looking back on all the racist jokes

I pretended not to hear.

Even just the knock-knock jokes.

Trust me, you don't want to know who's there.

I'm not gonna tell you what to do,

but I'm gonna tell you what to do.

You need to be more like me.

Maybe you're right.

I'm gonna take a page out of your book.

- No more offensive jokes. - All right.

No more talking over me in meetings.

No more telling me I look exactly like Whitney Houston.

Yes!

Well, since you finally taking my advice,

I have a few things I want to bring up.

Let's start with your parenting.

Santi... that girl need a whuppin'.

Rainbow... also need a whuppin', but not by you.

And Johan, his headline...

you need to get rid of those furry toilet seats

until he gets his aim better.

Nasty!

?

After failing at my first attempt,

I decided to take a tougher approach

with my brother and sister.

What's for snack?

I don't smell any Black people hot salad.

No, we're having applesauce, and you're going to like it.

You better take some of that bass out your voice.

- [Bowls thud] - Unh-unh.

I'm tired of this being a kids' club.

You're gonna start listening to me around here.

I'm a big sister. I'm not your equal.

So whatever I say goes, goes.

?

[Sighs]

Are you cutting my pants?!

Shorts now.

I give up.

- [Rumbling, clattering] - JOHAN: Aah!

[Strained] Why do I keep doing that?

Why do you keep surviving?

[Groaning]

[Telephones ringing, indistinct conversations]

I'm still on my two-day lunch break,

so I figured I'd come check in

and see how you're doing being me.

It must not be going too well,

because I would never wear that shirt.

Actually, it's going great.

I walked into Harrison's office this morning

and demanded I get a secretary.

I'm starting to interview people tomorrow.

Did you get really loud, like I said?!

I got really loud, just like you said!

- Go on with your bad self. - [Laughs]

Hey, just wanna let you know me and the rest of the partners

are taking our meeting off-campus.

Wait. You're... having a partners meeting without me?

It's not your scene.

Unh-unh.

I am tired of this boys' club.

You're going to include me

in everything that happens around here.

I'm a partner! I'm your equal!

So wherever you go, I go.

Great! Meeting's at Chubbies Gentlemen's Club.

See you there.

Yes, I will see you there.

Pow!

What have I gotten myself into?

[Rock music playing]

- [Music stops] - Whoa!

Hey, uh, I'm not interrupting, am I?

Uh, anyway, I was in the neighborhood,

and I just wanted to stop by to apologize

for getting us off on the wrong foot.

Oh. That's mighty big of you, Mr. Jackson.

Can I call you Harrison?

I'm gonna call you Harrison.

Sure. Great. Whatever.

Uh, and I want to congratulate you on restoring a friendship

that will bring your life back in balance.

What do you mean?

Well, I mean you teach at MLK High,

you got your family...

you need a little salt in your pepper.

A white friend.

And this guy is really white.

[Guitar strums]

No, he is not.

Well! Celtics fan.

Larry the Legend. Your favorite, huh?

Oh, yeah, totally.

I-I also got new guy on the Jazz.

Oh, yeah. Love Stockton.

White, like all jazz should be.

Oh, here we go. The King!

You know, some people say he stole rock 'n' roll,

but, um...

us white guys obviously don't feel that way.

Dad?

Mm-hmm?

I see what you're doing here.

- [Static crackles] - Game on.

[Blues riff plays]

? Don't listen to my dad ?

? He's just trying to make me mad ?

? Ain't got no woman ?

? Almost lost his son ?

? And I heard his first wife ?

? Was a lesbian ?

? He's got the blues ?

?

? The boring white guy blues ?

Screw this. I'm out of here.

? When Paul couldn't come out to play ?

? I'd ring the bell and run away ?

- Hey, Griff... - Ooh!

Griff, he's... he's gone. So...

- Oh. - ...just stop.

Okay. Sorry.

How was Chubbies?

[Sighs]

- [Men whistling] - ? Round and round ?

So, I was looking over the Ramirez case and...

- Oh! - Yeah.

- Okay. Um... - Oh!

- She likes you. - Ma'am?

You... You dropped that.

Nice!

It's exactly what I dreamed about

when I worked my ass off studying for the bar.

Getting glitter on my face

and hanging out with daytime jobless perverts.

I believe they're called gentlemen.

You know, I never should've listened to you.

Your advice is always off.

You wanted me to spank Santi.

First of all, I said "whup."

Second of all, I was just trying to make you a strong woman.

Just because I'm not a stereotype

of an angry Black woman doesn't mean I'm not strong.

Well, I'd rather be a stereotype than have no backbone

and let people walk all over me.

Since you clearly don't understand what I'm doing,

maybe you need to leave.

No, maybe I need to leave.

Th...

I didn't want to know how "Knight Rider" ended, anyway.

- Bye. - Bye.

- [Chuckling] Hey! - [Gate closes]

Why'd you leave? Couldn't take the heat?

No, to smoke a cigar.

I was gonna save it for my next flight, but...

I got a whole lifetime to smoke on planes.

Can I... try that?

Ah.

You still throw like a girl.

[Scoffs] See? How come you can mess with me

but when I give it back, you can't take it?

[Sighs]

I can take a jab from you, because that's our thing.

Why does making each other feel bad have to be our thing?

'Cause that's what we do. We're men.

We watch hockey.

We compare breast sizes to fruits.

Well, I think maybe we should try

showing affection other ways.

Like what?

Hugging?

It's just not something I do.

But that doesn't mean that there's something wrong with me.

[Scoffs]

I bet Mel Gibson doesn't hug anybody either,

and he's totally normal.

- [Chuckling] Dad... - Look, look, son.

Messing with you is the only way I know

how to show you I care.

I can't help it.

I'm a product of the Depression.

Talking about feelings hadn't been invented yet.

[Inhales sharply]

So, essentially, every time you insult me,

it's your way of saying "I love you."

Of course it is, dumbass.

Well, I think you're a dumbass, too.

?

Look who's here to kick me out again.

It didn't work the first time.

You've been leaving for 30 minutes.

Oh, I'll be out of your hair as soon as I find my keys.

Mnh!

Did you hide my keys so you can't kick me out?

That would be so like you.

Did you check your jacket pockets?

Yes, I checked my jacket pockets.

I might not be a fancy-dancy lawyer,

but that don't mean I didn't check my jacket pockets.

[Keys jingle]

I got 'em.

[Sighs]

Why are we doing this?

Why are we arguing about who's stronger,

when it takes so much for either of us

to even exist in our workplaces?

[Sighs] I know.

We're both alone at these jobs where there's not a lot of us.

No one knows what we go through.

No one knows.

Feels like there's no right way to be.

If I do it my way, I'm inhaling cigar smoke and racism,

and if I do it your way, I'm eating macaroni at Chubbies.

Hey. I like the macaroni at Chubbies.

Yeah, it is pretty good.

[Sighs]

I'll be honest.

I don't know if I have the strength to do it your way.

I don't know if it's strength.

Oh, it is.

Until the world is able to allow us

just to be who we are in these places,

we're doing exactly what we need to

in order to get through.

Well, I better get home.

I have a long day tomorrow on the unemployment line.

What... You got fired?

Congratulations!

Thanks.

This'll be good for me.

Maybe I will find a job that will appreciate

the things I brought to aerospace.

Come work for me.

What?

I'm trying to create an environment

where people who follow me can succeed.

Why not start with you?

Besides, it'll be nice

to have another Black woman in the office.

- Are you serious? - [Chuckling] Yeah.

You want me to be an assistant attorney?

No. I want you to be an attorney's assist...

Denise Johnson, Assistant Attorney!

- No. That... - [Gasps] Okay!

Send a contract, and I'll have my lawyer look it over.

Wait a minute. You are my lawyer.

That would be what they call a conflict of interest.

See, girl? I'mma be a good assistant attorney!

- That... - Hey! [Laughs]

I got to call Mama.

Ooh! [Laughs]

After seeing my mom and Aunt Dee-Dee

recognize each other's strengths,

I realized there's not only one way to be strong.

We all have different strengths.

But I think mine is a willingness

to be vulnerable and honest.

So, thank you both for hanging in there with me

as I learn how to best use it.

Wow, Rainbow. That's so brave of you.

Never expose weakness.

? It's in the way that you use it ?

Hey, it's hard to be a strong woman,

especially when you're not quite a woman yet.

But I eventually learned how to become one

because I had so many strong people to pull from.

Like my mom and my aunt...

Yeah, girl, they got me being an assistant attorney. I...

Oh, hey, girl!

I meant to ask you... where is your desk gonna go?

Because...

Ohh! Ooh!

What? Where am I supposed to sit?

I can't be out there with those white people. Come on!

...and my dad and granddad.

And that's what made our family so cool.

Like Tom Cruise every time he was onscreen.

Except when he stomped on Oprah's couch.

That was weird.

?

["Love Come Down" plays]

Ohh!

I dropped my pen.

[Chuckles]

? Baby, you make my love come down ?

Ohh!

Dropped my pen again.

Slowly. [Giggles]

? Come down ?

I-I dropped my...

typewriter.

[Grunts]

? Oh, you make my love come down ?

Oh. Take your time. [Chuckles]

? Love come down ?

Mm. Oh. Oh!

Very difficult.

[Giggles]

[Laughs] Ooh.

[Giggling]

What is wrong with that?!

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