Original subtitles

Previously, on Clean Slate...

- Dr. Vera Rishi Guerrera says... - Dr. who?

My therapist.

Have you all been up there talking about me behind my back?

Maybe I need to write his ass a letter.

- She's a she. - Maybe I need to write her ass a letter.

Does the little one get the same tough love from you that I get from Harry?

Trying to lean into the whole gentle parenting thing.

I wish I had some of that growing up.

That's going on my resume.

You better be careful because if Oprah hears you're coming for her...

Oprah? I'm coming for Bezos.

Well, excuse me.

This is my first step towards world domination.

Okay. Slate family car wash. Is your full party present?

Opal. You know we're all here.

Daughter Opal might casually know things.

But stage manager Opal has paperwork.

Most kids go to Career Day. Mine runs it.

And what did your kid tell you before we left the house this morning?

To not embarrass you, or it's to Craig's List to find a new dad.

Oh, my. She told him.

Don't worry, freckles,

you know we got the props, we got the swag, look at your daddy here,

in his freshest coveralls,

and we've got Des here, she gonna be our own Vanna Black.

Would you like to buy a towel?

Oh, bless your heart,

you're too young to understand how brilliantly witty that was.

Guys. Focus.

You're on deck right after Stuckey's Funeral Home.

Get your head in the game, Opal.

Little girl, big stress.

Get a move on, Clarence Everett.

Hurry up.

Harry.

Fern...

Clarence Everett quit being lazy and help Grandma lift this coffin.

What?

Ooh, what was that about?

That's Fern Stuckey.

She beat me on a technicality in the third-grade spelling bee.

And she just keeps rubbing it in and rubbing it in.

She's just a mean J-E-R-C, jerk!

Maybe not a technicality.

Dad, that was 50 years ago.

She's buried all your friends since then, she'll probably bury you, too.

Well, I just ain't gonna die then.

Next.

Okay, Miss Opal.

Opal.

Clarence Everett.

Yeah, that's right. Stare him down. He's got too many names anyway.

We ain't threatened by no freaky mortician.

What's going on in there?

- That cafeteria's popping off. - What is that?

Let's put the fun back in funeral.

When I say, "Big," you say, "Sleep."

- Big! - Sleep!

When I say, "Big," you say, "Sleep."

Oh, dear.

Now, we all know hard work is the key to success, right?

So that's why I carry this. Mm-hmm.

Ooh. A key chain.

And one of my hardest workers.

Would you please welcome to the stage my trusty rag man.

- Opal's daddy, Mack. - Honk, honk!

Beep-beep!

- Hey, Mack! - Hey, what?

Why did the sponge get all dressed up?

Why, because it was going to the soap opera.

Okay, kids, when I say, "Car," you say, "Wash."

Car!

- Ca... Car! - Wash.

I'm going to get the swag.

I'm not done.

Sweetie, you're toast.

I need you to go up there and talk about running your art gallery.

Opal, I can't, I don't even have a job right now.

- Then lie. - I can't go up there

- and lie to your little friends. - Please.

Please. I'm dying 1000 deaths out there.

I don't want to eat alone in the library for the rest of my life.

No, no, seriously though. Rust will eat your bumper.

Thank you, Mr. Harry. You have given us a lot to think about.

And now we have a very special surprise guest.

She is a businesswoman, an art connoisseur,

probably a model...

Oh, please, it was just a few catalog shoots.

She ran a very fancy art gallery in New York City.

That's where Taylor Swift buys sunglasses.

Miss Desiree.

Thank you, Opal.

We already have a question. Yes, young man.

If you're so fancy, then why are you here?

Why are you in a coffin?

Why am I here?

I'm here because...

Here because sometimes people fall down

and they have to find a way to pick themselves back up again.

Let me be honest with you.

My art gallery went under.

I made a lot of bad decisions.

Well, Gavin was a really bad decision.

- Ooh. - Ooh, that's a long story, girl.

Not for Career Day.

But basically, I got screwed.

But art is great, I love art.

And you should love art, too.

Art saved my life when I was a little girl growing up

right here in this town.

And though it's been hard,

I've always followed my passions.

And without passion...

there's nothing.

Miss Desiree.

Could you tell me if I put passion into my painting?

Is it this one?

Yeah.

I call it "Feelings" because I painted it when I was sad.

I see the passion clear as day.

It's derivative.

Modern art just goes right over my head.

Miss Desiree, look at my painting.

Will you look at mine?

How do I add passion to this one?

Do you really know Taylor Swift?

That concludes Career Day.

If you need me,

I'll be in the nurse's office seeing if chewable Xanax is a thing.

So, catalogs, huh?

Remember what issue? Just asking for a friend.

Mm. See you later, friend.

- Fight, fight, fight! - Go, Opal!

Fight, fight, fight!

What's going on? What happened?

Opal! Opal!

Fight, fight!

Did Opal just knock that waka flocka out?

Something's up with our girl.

Mm-hmm.

Rainbow Brite turned into The Rock.

That boy got a taste of what Opal was cooking.

Hey, what happened?

She's suspended.

Oh, you poor baby.

Poor baby? Hell, she started it.

I'm sorry. You can punish me however you want.

I deserve it.

Hey, go wait outside.

Y'all come here.

Back in my day,

my principal would've paddled me into the middle of next week,

and the assistant principal, too.

Even the lunch lady.

She'd have snuck in an uppercut just like that. Mm-hmm.

Those were the days.

This girl's under way too much pressure.

It's just not like Opal.

I sure as hell don't know what to do about it.

- Give me your car keys. - For what? You can't drive.

Oh, I'm gonna backseat drive like nobody's business.

Get your smiles ready. It's time for Opal's day off

at Jojo's Down-home Hoedown.

Look at all these people out here on a work day.

Ain't nobody got jobs?

Maybe they're all delinquents like me.

This is the worst day.

Hey, Desiree. Can I ask you a question?

I'm still not telling you which catalogs I'm in.

No, I was just wondering...

Why are we here?

We're here because Opal is clearly

the most stressed out 11-year-old on the planet.

I mean, she's ambitious and all, but...

Ambition is one thing,

but Opal invents consequences for failure.

That's no way to spend one's formative yeas.

Hey, we've got to try something.

I sure as hell don't know what to do with it.

I know what to do with it.

I'm cutting the plug on this waka flocking field trip right now.

Dad, you should know,

I found Tums in Opal's backpack.

Can I have one of those?

Because you know that pork rind and coffee I had this morning?

It ain't agreeing with me right now.

Dad, we need to learn to model a good work-life balance for little Opal.

Hell, she's only 11.

Your cousin, Dale, he's got a work-life balance.

Still gotta loan his ass $15 every other week.

Cousin Dale is not here, Dad.

But fine, just go.

The car wash is always the most important thing, right?

We don't need you.

Clearly, you don't know how to relax anyway.

I don't know how to relax?

No.

I'll be the best relaxer.

And I'm gonna relax the hell out of this place

as quickly as possible. Mm-hmm.

Well, come on. Let's go!

Get the molasses out of your ass.

Time is money and losing money ain't funny.

Hey.

Wha-ow-ow!

Hey, I just wanted to thank you for taking charge today.

You're welcome.

Although it seems like somebody's going through

some kind of something over there.

Take that, lunch lady.

I will knock that nasty-ass hair net right off your head.

What!

Never even had to think about discipline till today.

First real hiccup, she won't even explain to me what happened.

Be patient.

I think if she can loosen up even a little bit,

she'll talk to you.

Although I'm not sure who needs to relax more at this point.

And that's for putting raisins in the potato salad.

I've created a monster.

I'll tell you what. I'll take one monster, you take the other.

Mnh. Deal.

I'll buy you a corn dog later.

Opal! Wait!

I'm a vegetarian.

Dad!

The real fun starts when I'm back at my cash register.

It's all in the wrist, you gotta flick them wrists,

you gotta flick them fast,

you gotta flick them wrists fast, you see what I'm saying?

Dad.

Dad, this is not a job, this is supposed to be fun and relaxing.

Fun? I am fun.

I'm amused. I'm fun as hell.

You are sucking the "amuse" out of "amusement."

That's what you get for taking the Harry out of the car wash.

Oh, my God, Dad,

that Facts of Life pillow has been there since I was little.

Wha... You been here before?

Yeah. Four times with Mom,

twice with Louis and Ella, and once on a school field trip.

You were always too busy to come.

Well, I had a business to run, and...

But I do remember, you always loved The Facts of Life.

Now, which one was your favorite again, was it Sneezy?

Dad, that's a dwarf.

Tootie, Tootie was my favorite.

Which one was Tootie?

The Black one.

Ew!

- Ha! Yeah! - Whoo! Here we go!

I'll be detailing Chevys before you know it.

Whoo!

What the hell happened?

Hey, what's the holdup here?

What's the holdup?

If your ride is broke, press that red lever there.

It says "release."

I can't. It's like the union or something.

Oh, no, we're stuck here.

It looks like we're going to have to breathe deeply into our bodies,

connecting to the present moment.

Because the present, after all, is a gift.

Are you meditating me again?

You planned this, didn't you?

Is this cahoots? Y'all in cahoots?

You weren't slowing down, Dad, so I did the slowing for you.

- You're a workaholic. - Well, you know what,

everybody can't be a lazy bum, live rent-free,

and bring delinquent kids to a theme park.

I'm lazy?

If I'm so lazy, how did I go from a runaway teen,

to running one of the top art galleries in New York City?

Work was all I knew, Dad.

Well, if you like my work ethics, you should be thanking me.

Well, when I was using your work ethic,

the rest of my life fell apart.

And so you're here.

And so I'm here.

It's just that...

if you had seen me more,

you might have seen me more.

Well, my eyesight ain't gone yet.

Chrissy, we're ready to come down now.

- Chrissy girl, we're rea... Where is she? - You see her?

Chrissy, this is not how "in cahoots" works.

Girl, where are you?

Okay, you don't have to talk to me.

But this is your chance to finally talk to Jojo.

You love Jojo.

Well, hi there, puppy.

You know, violence is never the answer.

Really, Dad?

You told a beloved cartoon character that I attacked someone?

- Yes... No! - No!

- No, I didn't say anything. - Explained it...

- Some kind of melee... - A melee?

I didn't say nothing about a melee.

- That's the exact word that you used. - Jesus.

Work with me, Jojo.

I make eight dollars an hour.

Would both of you just stop?

Listen, I will if you tell me what happened.

Please, Opal. Just tell him.

For the love of God.

Why did you jump on that kid?

'Cause he said I was going to end up like you.

Well, that was... ruff!

My lungs.

I'm going to sign you up for track.

Do you think they want to get out?

Or if this bowl is all they've ever known,

can they be happy?

I don't know, Opal.

Clarence Everett said...

He said that all you're ever going to be is a rag man.

Shouldn't have worn these stupid coveralls in front of your class.

I mean, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry that all I've been doing since I've been back is embarrassing you.

That's not what this is about.

This is about me.

I can't believe I'm going to die on this ride.

How was I supposed to know Chrissy would skip town after a ten-dollar bribe?

Don't you go spreading that out.

I don't want folks knowing all it took was a Hamilton to kill Harry Slate.

But suppose Harry Slate...

was the kind of workaholic

that missed countless childhood moments and never really got to truly see you,

but...

he has a tool on his keychain

that can get our asses down off this ride.

- Ha! Oh! - Then use it.

- Work. Get it! - I'm trying.

I'm working.

- Can't you work any harder? - Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Oh. Oh.

Shoot. Hey! Hey, I made it.

I told you I can do it.

I knew I could do it, but... I can't get up.

Is it okay that I want...

more out of life?

Of course, baby girl.

That's what I love about you.

But I screwed it all up.

And if I can't come back from this,

- then I'm just wasting my time. - Opal,

you had one bad morning.

I mean, do you know what I was doing at your age?

Hot-wiring cars?

Your grandma never had much of a filter.

So, clearly, I wasn't starting a Career Day.

Honey, you're a million miles ahead of how I came up.

God knows the places you're headed.

People are going to try to tell you what you can't do.

Only way they end up being right is if you believe them.

I believed them.

And I'm going to spend the rest of my life making sure you never do.

Hold up.

Did I just walk up and hear and casually drop a One to Grow On?

I think you did.

Darn.

Let's go get you a funnel cake.

Hey, hey, look who's here.

Someone looks like they're feeling better.

Never underestimate the power of fried dough.

Why don't we celebrate by winning Des

that Facts of Life pillow.

- Come on, Mr. Harry, do it. - Think I can do it?

I know I can do it, okay? Watch me.

One, two...

Did you see that? Did you see... Did you see that?

- I can't believe it! - That was the first shot, yo!

Well, the forty-third if you count earlier.

- Well, whatever... - Oh!

Um...

You did want it, right?

Mm...

Mm-hmm.

Hey, Desiree.

Look at us now.

Making up for lost time.

I'll bet your inner child just loves this girly ride.

Though the term "girly ride" is a bit sexist,

yes, my inner child is feeling seen and satiated.

What did she say?

He's doing his best.

Yeah, I'm not sure they ever get it exactly right.

Harry,

I wanna do better by Opal.

The way you provided for Desiree. I really admire that.

I want to do the same for my baby girl.

You're starting a rival car wash.

Oh, hell, I knew that was going to happen.

No, no, I want to be partners.

Look, I got ideas about marketing, expansion,

and we can turn my current pay into profit-sharing.

That way it costs you less if I fail.

Why would you want to do that?

I just want to own something.

Start a legacy for me and for her, too.

How much of this something do you want to own?

I was thinking 20 percent.

That's funny, 'cause I was thinking ten.

Under one condition.

That we have our annual corporate party right here at Hoho's...

- Jojo's - Whatever!

Can you have a corporate retreat

with only four people?

You can if I say so.

Mr. Ten Percent.

I'm about to throw up.

I tell you what, make it 15 percent, I'll clean it up for you.

Okay.

So, girl, what are we going to do about this Clarence Everett situation?

I'm working on it.

We got this?

We got this.

I'm hopeful that these 34 slides

have clarified my accountability towards Clarence Everett.

However, in a modern restorative justice model,

we seek not just an apology,

but also healing.

So, Clarence Everett,

do you accept my apology?

And would you like to move forward in the process of healing?

If I say yes, can we go to recess?

Clarence Everett has agreed to engage

in a meaningful discussion on poverty cycles.

- What? - And then,

to cofound the school's first-ever Young Entrepreneurs Club.

We meet Tuesdays and Thursdays. Thank you.

And God bless Richard Wright Elementary School.

On the next Clean Slate...

Where are you going this early on a Sunday morning?

I too am going to church.

What a lovely sermon, Pastor Hughes.

- Thank you so much. Mm-hmm. - Thank you.

- And thank you for coming. - So good to meet you, pastor.

Are you really going to let some narrow-minded pastor

keep you from being happy?

Though the going gets tough, you've got to hang tough to make it.

You're the best around!

My message to Pastor Hughes?

I'm gonna come across to him loud and clear.

What did you do?

Is that from Pastor Hughes' car?

I kidnapped the Son of God.