Original subtitles

[sneezing]

Oh, Khadijah, your cold is definitely getting worse.

Synclaire, I told you. I'm not sick.

I do not get sick.

I think you should see a doctor.

Synclaire, I'm not leaving.

This is Flavor's special music issue.

It has to be done in the right way.

In other words by me!

[sneezing]

It's fine. Everybody else in the office

is gonna get your icky little germs.

Well, if I'm so sick

how come you're the only one who has noticed?

Here are those contracts you wanted.

♪ Check check check it out ♪

♪ Check check check it out ♪

♪ Do what you want ♪

♪ We are living ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Single ♪ ♪ Hey ♪

♪ Yes we're living ♪

♪ The single life yeah ♪

♪ We are living ♪ ♪ Hey ♪

♪ Single ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ And in a nineties kind of world ♪

♪ I'm glad I got my girls ♪

♪ Keep your head up what ♪

♪ Keep your head up that's right ♪

♪ Whenever this life get tough you gotta fight ♪

♪ With my home‐girls standing to my left and my right ♪

♪ True blue it's tight like glue ♪

♪ We are living ♪ ♪ Hey ♪

♪ Single ♪

♪ And in a nineties kind of world ♪

♪ I'm glad I got my girls ♪

♪ Haa ♪

So, Regine, when are you gonna go back to work?

[chuckles] I'm not asking.

Shoot, as long as they're remodeling the boutique

I am on a paid vacation.

[chuckling]

Now, all I need is a well‐oiled pool boy.

[knocking on door]

Hey.

‐ Hey, everybody. ‐ 'Hey.'

Guess, what've I got?

Cooties.

No. Dinner.

And some Kibble for you, Max. Now go play dead.

So, since when did you become so generous?

Well, since I have an expense account

it's all perfectly legitimate as long as we discuss business.

Now, do each one of you have

money in a bank account some place?

‐ Oh, yeah. ‐ Yeah.

Good. Keep it there.

Okay, dinner with prospective clients.

Here we go, Khadijah. Whoopsie‐daisy.

Right. I can help myself.

I got the flu. I'm not a old lady.

Oh, man. This is great.

Hey, you know how miserable Khadijah gets when she's sick?

Mm‐hmm, I refuse to live under the same roof

with her when she's like that.

Well, hey, fortunately there's an abandoned

apartment across the street

and it's got your name on the lease.

Here we go, Khadijah, up to bed.

Woo‐wo, woo‐wo‐wo..

Look. I got to prepare for this meet with Ed Anderson.

We need his advertising.

Ed Anderson, I just read about him in Black Enterprise.

He owns a chain of shoe stores, right? What's it called? Um..

Shoe‐la‐la.

‐ Yeah. ‐ Don't laugh.

If Flavor gets this account

we'll be operating the black for the first time.

Khadijah, I can handle the meeting with Mr. Anderson.

In fact, I can handle running the whole office.

Synclaire, no.

Okay, before you say no.

I'm up on every project.

I know the office inside out.

And all although I've never been in charge of anything in my life

I know, I've got great leadership skills.

You make a great argument.

What else can I say but no.

[coughing]

Uh, Khadijah..

Uh, there were some people at my office

laid out for weeks with this flu, baby.

Mm‐hmm. He's right. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Kyle, go sit a little closer to Khadijah.

Come on, Khadijah, please.

Synclaire, look.

[coughing]

Alright, the office is yours.

I'm too sick to argue with you.

Yes!

I mean, get well soon.

Listen, listen.

I want you to reschedule that Shoe‐la‐la meeting.

I'll handle Ed Anderson myself.

And I want you to call me if you need me.

Call me if you don't need me.

As a matter of fact

just put me on the speaker phone, okay?

And leave the line open.

Oh, Khadijah, you don't know how much your trust means to me.

Thank you.

I'm so proud of you, girl.

I always knew you'd get a chance to rule by default.

Hey, Regine, come here.

Since you off of work, uh..

Why don't you go down to the office

and keep an eye on Synclaire for me?

Khadijah, I'm not about to spend my time off

to go down to the office and spy on Synclaire.

In that case... can you please stay home and take care of me?

Spying is good. Spying's really good.

[instrumental music]

(Synclaire) Oh, nothing's much has happened Khadijah, everything's fine.

Alright.

Well, I started to do some filing and then you called.

I started to do some copying and then you called.

Oh, I started to call you, but then you called.

Listen, I'm gonna free up the line now because

you're getting ready to call.

Bye‐bye.

[laughing]

Oh, you're embarrassing me.

What? It's just an ordinary laugh.

Okay.

[laughing]

Regine, you volunteered to help me so start helping

and stop making personal calls.

Sorry.

Hello, Roger. Yeah, I got to go.

Synclaire is breathing down my neck.

Um‐hmm, well, Khadijah put her in charge.

[laughing]

'Exactly.'

[laughing]

I'll call you back.

Synclaire..

I need approval on this layout

before I send it to the printer.

Well, um, if Khadijah were here, what would she say?

I don't know. She'd probably tell me

to get this headline a bigger font.

Alrighty. Font bigger. Go.

Good job, everyone.

Well done.

'Well done.'

Come now. Come now.

Synclaire..

You want to see a grown man cry?

Uh, that's very secure of you, Russell

but no thank you, not really.

We're doing a music issue, right?

And I'm the music editor.

What makes you think you can make the headline

bigger on my layout?

Well, Khadijah asked me to take care of things

while she was sick.

Huh. She got brain fever, eh?

Alright, what would you've done?

Same thing.

But it would've been me.

Doing it.

Font bigger. Go.

Bobo gal.

(Overton) 'Oh, my.'

This is more shocking than that time I saw you naked.

Oh, Richard. I want you to go away.

I get very cranky when I'm sick.

Very cranky.

Luckily, I can take care of myself.

Yeah.

Did you take your medicine?

That stuff smell like feet.

Well, let's just see if it tastes like feet.

Now, say ah..

Nah!

Um... good.

Well, if you like the liquids, you'd love the pills.

Oh, look at that girly.

Give a brother a break.

You know, I promised Synclaire

I was gonna take care of you.

So, at least try some soup.

You can't make me.

Oh, come on.

There's chock‐full of vitamin, mineral, protein.

Things you need to get well.

And I'm not budging till this bowl is empty.

Now, come on.

You know, this is not what I meant but..

The bowl is empty.

And, girl, I have just begun to pour the tea, honey.

Oh, keep it coming, girl.

Is this company business?

Uh. Yes.

See, things were going just fine for David and Fatima

until he caught her in the dark room with Mike.

Regine, you don't even know these people.

So what?

I'm in the loop.

Synclaire, why don't you just stick a knife

in my heart and twist, twist, twist?

No, Russell, that would be mean.

Oh, you're Russell.

You know what this is?

My column. Which I now discover has been cut in half.

Thank you very much.

Russell, that was Khadijah's decision.

She's the editor‐in‐chief.

Well, I want my column printed in its entirety.

I'm sorry. I don't have the authority to do that.

Huh!

So, you're just a puppet.

A lackey of the corporate structure.

Sticks and stones, Russell.

Sticks and stones, man.

I can't believe this chicken yard magazine.

And you in charge.

I can't work like this.

I quit!

Russell! Russell, you can't quit.

We can't do the music issue without you.

You should've thought of that before

you sold your soul to the man.

Khadijah's not the man.

You don't have to be a man to be the man.

Oh, what difference does one little column make?

Huh, that one little column

is the aesthetic core of the entire issue.

'It's my masterpiece.'

Plus it's got this great little picture of me next to my name.

You can't quit!

You won't get unemployment if you quit.

Finally, I'm free from your creative tyranny.

Bye, everyone.

Yeah, well, you're fired!

Let that be a lesson to all of you. Back to work.

What am I supposed to tell Khadijah?

Okay.

Just tell her that Russell quit.

And the special music issue won't be coming up

because you messed up.

Oh, there's no shame in that.

Oh, but, Regine, if Khadijah thinks I can't handle this

I'm never gonna get another chance to prove myself.

Now, that's not true, Synclaire.

The military takes virtually anybody.

Oh, look at Khadijah.

'She's so sweet.'

Hey, Overton, how is she?

Nothing two aspirin and a cattle prod wouldn't cure.

Ooh, Synclaire, you're home.

How's everything at the office?

What went wrong?

Nothing, Khadijah. Don't you trust me?

Regine, what went wrong?

Oh, nothing.

No. She was great.

No conflicts.

Nobody raised their voice and nobody quit.

No, no. Nothing like that. Nothing at all.

But whoo, am I right! Woof.

Well, uh, I'd love to prop you up, sweet thing, but

I got nothing left to give.

[instrumental music]

(Khadijah) 'Overton!'

What?

(Khadijah) 'Where's the TV guide?'

Coming.

(Khadijah) 'Overton!'

What?

(Khadijah) 'Change the channel!'

You have the remote.

(Khadijah) 'I can't reach it.'

I promised Synclaire.

Promised Synclaire. Promised Synclaire.

Promised Synclaire.

(Khadijah) 'Overton!'

What?

(Khadijah) 'Don't forget to cut off the crust.'

Okay.

‐ Hey, boy. ‐ 'What up, dude?'

I go that orange juice you wanted.

Mm‐hmm.

Man, I'll never get Khadijah to drink juice from concentrate.

Oh, Overton.

Man, what exactly are you doing?

She likes her toast without the crust. Okay?

Overton, man, you're going about this all wrong.

Her highness wants toast? I don't think so.

Slap some jelly on this bread like this.

She'll eat it and like it.

Observe.

Uh, yo, Khadijah.

[whistling]

Okay.

I've softened her up a bit.

And why don't you go on and make that toast?

And... no crust, huh?

Thanks.

(Max) 'Hey, Kyle.'

Forgot to wear your bib again?

Oh, Max, it's so good to see you.

Ooh!

Oh, man.

Daggone.

Well, Overton.

Here's that jacket I borrowed from you man.

Hey, Kyle, that jacket I borrowed from you..

Max, I hope you're here to take over. I'm tired.

Unfortunately. How's the patient anyway?

Hey, well, I hate to think of how miserable she'll be

when she gets pregnant.

Although not much chance of that happening

if she keeps throwing food on me

when I get close to her bed.

And they say we make the worst patients.

Personally, I think man have a higher threshold for pain.

Oh, please, Kyle.

If you had to endure cramps once a month

you'd knock yourself out with a blunt object.

Max, what would you know about what women go through?

Toast.

Right here.

Oh.

[mumbling]

Good morning, Khadijah.

Feeling any better?

[mumbles]

Oh, me. I'm fine.

Thanks for asking.

I don't care about..

Whoo!

Well, you got the soup.

You got the medicine.

Little juice left in the fridge.

Everything you need to take care of Frankenstein in there.

Yeah, well, bump all that.

I've got everything I need right here.

"May cause severe drowsiness."

I'm going to knock her out.

And then, I'm going to raid the fridge

and I'm going to work.

Too bad that stuff doesn't come in a dart.

Just be like..

[exhales sharply]

‐ Did Russell call yet? ‐ Uh, yes.

But he didn't want to talk to you, so he left a message.

"As long as you're running things, I shall never return.

"Also, I'm having a party Saturday night

and everyone's invited."

I'm going. I don't care.

Bad news, Synclaire.

When Russell quit, he took two other writers with him.

Now, we don't have enough copy for the issue.

What?

Okay. Okay.

Carmen, you know how you've been dying to break in to writing?

No.

Good. Here's your big chance.

Music. Write. Go!

Synclaire, there's a problem in the lab and I need you..

[clamoring]

[screaming]

What do you people want? I'm dancin' as fast as I can.

Alright, back off! Back off!

Back off! Get away.

‐ Excuse me. ‐ What? What do you want?

I‐I've got a 2 o'clock meeting.

The name is Ed Anderson.

I'm from Shoe‐la‐la.

Oh. Uh. Okay.

Well, in that case, please have a seat in our waiting ...room.

Excuse me.

Synclaire, that's the big shoe guy.

It's time to call Khadijah.

Oh, my god. I forgot to reschedule the meeting.

I'm on a bus ride to hell.

Okay. There's only two things left to do, alright?

Let go of the wall and call Khadijah.

Hello, Khadijah?

Hi, it's me.

Things are a mess here.

Listen, oh, I'm sorry.

Just save the magazine.

I don't care about myself anymore.

Mr. Anderson is here now. Please tell me what to do.

Help.

Okay.

Uh, DJ love you, too, Grammy.

Okay. Bye‐bye.

‐ Well, what'd she say? ‐ Uh..

Well, I think she just wants me to handle this on my own.

Well, send him in. Send him in.

Uh..

Uh, Mr. Anderson, right this way, please.

You must be Ms. James.

Technically, yes.

Well, I'm looking forward to hearing your presentation.

Yeah? Well, me, too.

Well, Mr. Anderson.

You sell shoes.

Uh, and who buy shoes?

People.

People with feet.

Our readers have feet.

In fact, we have twice as many feet as readers.

Uh‐huh.

Uh, I don't have a lot of time.

Oh, well, who does?

Let's cut straight to the chase, shall we?

Your stores in Manhattan are doing well.

Very well.

And how about your stores in Brooklyn?

Well, they could be better.

Well, that's why I'm here.

No, sir. That's why I'm here.

The majority of our readers live in Brooklyn

and spend a good deal of their disposable income

on clothing, accessories, and footwear.

I'm gonna do you a pie chart.

Uh, that'll be quite alright.

You've give me enough to think about.

Well, uh, think about this.

We could put a coupon ad in next month's issue

and if your Brooklyn sales don't increase, your ad is free.

You're that sure?

If I'm wrong, I'm dead.

Uh, Ms. James.

May I call you Khadijah?

Of course.

Then Khadijah, you've got a deal.

Oh, thank you. Thank you.

I'll have my incredibly efficient assistant.

Synclaire send over the paper work.

Mm‐hmm.

Bye, now.

You worked it, Ms. Girl.

[laughing]

You worked it.

Now, you better get going on that paper work, Synclaire.

Oh, no, no, no.

I'm Khadijah, you're Synclaire.

Type on, sister.

[instrumental music]

For you, honeycomb.

Oh, you missed me.

No. I pity you.

Just spent three days with Khadijah.

Ooh. Hi, Overton.

Nice flowers.

Nice? What the hell you know about nice?

Girl, I can't even look at a piece of toast anymore

without breaking out into hives.

I'm sorry, man.

Was I that bad?

Does a mink wear fur?

Well, cuz, you did make a few mistakes while I was gone.

‐ Oh, here it comes. ‐ No, no.

On the other hand, you did get the shoe account.

That was pretty damn good.

Well, to tell you the truth

I was making it up as I went along.

Let me drop some science on you.

I do the same thing.

Yeah, you just got to trust your instincts and hope for luck.

Okay, well, my instincts are telling me to ask for

a couple of days off.

‐ You know? ‐ Uh, good instincts.

Bad luck.

Come on, now I need you around here.

Hey, I'm here for you.

Uh, before you start the struttin'..

Too late.

I do have one question.

Why is there a full‐page picture of Russell in the magazine?

It was the only thing I could do to coax him back.

He has a real problem with women in power.

Khadijah, good to see you, boss lady.

Got you a little welcome back gift.

Don't mention it.

Ass kisser.

[instrumental music]

(Overton) 'Khadijah!'

(Khadijah) What, Overton?

(Overton) 'I hate this juice.'

'Don't you have anything with less pulp?'

(Khadijah) I squeezed it myself.

(Overton) 'Well, I won't drink it.'

(Khadijah) "May cause severe drowsiness."

(Overton) 'Khadijah!'

'No, Khadijah!'

'Where's the toast?'

(Khadijah) It's coming.

Son of a..

[exhales sharply]

[Overton groaning]