Original subtitles

Aah! It's the princess of darkness.

Regine, it's cute, you look like a felt tip pen.

When I go out with Keith I like to dress metaphorically.

See, black reminds us that we are all mortal

and it's right up there with pin stripes

when it comes to slimming.

Y'all go to a performance or a thing where

somebody stands on a vat of beef gravy and reads Moby Dick?

No, girl, we could not get tickets to that.

So, tonight, I'm just gonna go and watch him paint.

Isn't that boring?

Not when you stand behind him, honey.

‐ He has got the tush of a God. ‐ Hello.

[doorbell rings]

‐ Hey. ‐ Hey, baby.

Keith, Keith, we were talking.

Who would you pick? Rembrandt or Picasso?

I wouldn't even compare them.

Their painting styles are so different.

No, I mean, in a fight.

♪ We are living single ♪ ♪ Hey ♪

♪ Ooh and in a '90s kind of world ♪

♪ I'm glad I got my girls ♪

♪ Oh keep your head up ♪ ♪ What? ♪

♪ Keep your head up ♪ ♪ That's right ♪

♪ Whenever this life get tough ♪ ♪ You gotta fight with ♪

♪ My homegirls standing to my left ♪

♪ And my right ♪ ♪ True blue ♪

♪ It's tight like glue ♪

♪ We are living ♪ ♪ Check check check it out ♪

♪ Check check check it out ♪ ♪ Single ♪

♪ Do what you want no free position girl ♪

♪ Ha ♪

Ladies and gentle ladies, please put your hands together

for McFadden and Spencer's

new associate director of funds management

Kyle, head brother in charge, Barker.

Give it up, y'all.

Come here, big poppa!

Woo woo woo. Woo woo woo.

Kyle, you cheap bastard.

Man, you get a big promotion

you cannot even spring for champagne.

Oh, we just polished off a nice bottle upstairs.

Matter of fact, my nose still tickling.

So, what does a director of a management association

what, whatever, do?

It's associate director of funds management

and I'm not entirely sure.

But generally speaking I'll be helping to predict

the long range financial climate.

But I also get a larger office, a larger ficus

and an executive door closer.

No offence, Kyle, but those perks don't sound very... perky.

At the executive picnic

I also get unlimited darts at the balloon pop.

Brother, you have arrived. You're the man!

Thanks, man.

[laughing]

How do you feel, Mr. Associate Director

of funds management?

Like I bought Microsoft when it was just ten cents a share.

I just dropped by to see

how you're settling into your new digs.

Oh, have you checked out your view?

Oh, Barker, this is Jordan, the top assistant in our pool.

You'd better watch out though, she wants your job.

[laughing]

He's right.

Mr. Higgins, Ms. Johnson called to confirm the buy order

of 100,000 shares of Sirus.

Sirus! She was supposed to buy Cypress.

Boy, communication around here really bites my bunion.

Well, I hope you're ready for a busy day, Mr. Barker?

No, please, you can call me Kyle.

No.

'Shall we go through your day's agenda?'

Great. Today is devoted to tax law.

At 8:30, you will have a meeting

where you'll be briefed on your 9:30 meeting.

At 9:15, you'll have a meeting to discuss the 8:30 meeting.

At noon, you'll summarize the meetings over lunch.

'A recap at 1:00.'

'A conference call on the previous meetings at 1:30.'

And then, a series of meetings.

Am I gonna spend my whole day on this?

Well, you know, Mr. Barker, there are people who would kill

and I do mean kill, for your job.

I see, no, it's just I was hoping to spend some time

doing some trading today.

Mr. Barker, there are people on lower floors who do that.

You're the associate director of funds management now.

Oh. Could you say that again?

Was I not clear?

Yes, I just want to hear you say my title out loud again.

Oh!

Keith, I took art history in night school.

Mind if a semi pro takes a peek at your pictures?

Sure. These are mostly nudes.

Ah, life renderings, capturing the human spirit.

Whoa, look at the tatas on this one!

Well, there's some naked men in here too.

[laughs]

Oh, oh, no, ah, yes, I think I know this brother.

I think I know him.

Max, you can only see this guy from the waist down.

That's pretty much how the date went.

Max, this is about form and texture, alright?

Not about some peep show.

Whoa.

So, it doesn't bother you when Keith stares hours

on end at some naked woman?

Even if she has a body like, uh‐‐.

This one.

Oh, gee!

Max, try and climb out of the gutter, huh?

Come on, honey, I'm aesthetically mature.

Okay, sign me up as your next nude model.

I want to be art.

Why don't you go to the top of the World Trade Center

flash New Jersey... and straight get it out of your system?

No, I'm serious. I want to be taken seriously.

[laughs]

I would love to be immortalized by an artist.

Well, I'm not the one. I'm going out with Regine.

The Bohemian?

Or could it be her love of art isn't nearly as deep

as her fear of the power of my nakedness?

Go ahead and pose, you freak.

I don't know about this, baby.

No, Keith, honey, I'm not bothered by it.

So, what do you say?

Well, I have been looking for a new model

for my series called "Women Warriors."

[ululating]

Alright, shall we?

First up, you may have noticed a new face

reflected off the old walnut here?

Please, give it up for Kyle Barker.

Thank you, thank you.

Uh, when I first joined the firm, I‐‐.

Don't make a speech, Kyle.

Sarah, um, last time, I believe you were concluding

your forepart briefing on the long term direction

of the price of corn.

‐ Wheat. ‐ Wheat.

We have determined that the price of wheat

will be directly related to the price of corn.

Who do we have on corn?

No one.

Barker, it's on your plate.

Next meeting, we'll be all ears.

[chuckles]

[laughing]

Oh, uh, speaking of Barker

I believe you prepared a report on coffee makers?

[chuckles] Yes, I have, and it's been a real grind.

[laughs]

Alrighty, then.

Um, I recommend that we purchase Messerschmitt Dripmeisters

for our regional offices.

They're efficient, eye‐pleasing

and they come with a lifetime guarantee against rust.

I say we fast track that.

It was nothing, really.

Oh, but I did find out that Messerschmitt is selling off

its failing toaster‐oven division

and I suggest we put our people

into Messerschmitt stock in a big way.

Kyle, you're new, so I'll explain this once.

Recommending specific stocks is what you used to do.

Yes, Jeffrey, but this is something I‐‐

[laughing] I'm explaining this more than once.

Kyle, up here, on the 17th floor

we take the long view.

We make the big decisions.

Which reminds me where are we ordering lunch from today?

I‐I was thinking of Cuban.

How about sushi?

How about... both?

Oh.

‐ Hey, Khadijah. ‐ Hey.

Aren't you supposed to be at a dinner meeting?

Uh, the junior vice president

I was supposed to meet just died.

I'm sorry.

Uh, he was 98, he overtaxed his heartburn

buttoning his cardigan too fast.

I hate my job.

[sobbing]

Well, I thought you were the big executive?

I am, but I am drowning in a sea of tedium.

Oh, if I could squeeze through that tiny porthole

they call a window, I'd jump to my death.

[laughs] Well, Kyle, if you're bored

why don't you just ask for your old job back?

Khadijah, the Kyle career elevator only goes

in one direction, baby, that's up.

I'm beginning to think the only way to preserve my sanity

is go in there tomorrow and resign.

Well, whatever you decide, I'm with you.

Hundred percent.

Unless you get to borrowin' money from me.

Here he is, Reverend Taylor.

Associate director of funds management.

[laughs]

Kyle, I just had to come by and tell you how proud I am.

Oh, thank‐thank you very much, Taylor.

Hey, what's up, Reverend Taylor?

Not your attendance at church.

Well, see‐‐

I wake her up every Sunday morning

but Satan lulls her right back to sleep, sir.

Eh, as soon as Overton told me about your big promotion

I thought, "Mm‐hmm‐hmm‐hmm"

what a fine example for our young folks."

That's right.

When my daddy, the Reverend Taylor Senior..

You see, well, he was marching with Martin..

Luther King Junior.

You see, he was marching for you and me, Kyle.

And you haven't failed him.

Reverend Taylor, it's just a job.

I mean, jobs come and they go.

Oh, no! It's not just a job.

You see, it's a shining star to which our young people

can steer their course into the future.

You see, that's why I want you

to speak to the young achiever's program.

So you can show them with hard work and perseverance like yours

that no door is left closed, huh.

No door. No door.

He starts speaking in tongues, I'm outtie.

Five thousand shares of Glaser Techtronics.

[computer beeps]

Sell.

Ten thousand shares of Kan Com Com.

Buy.

Go forth and multiply, you beautiful little money, you.

Oh, downloading nudies from the internet?

[chuckles]

Busted. What can I do for you?

Well, this is volume two of the research‐‐

Jordan, please leave us alone, and shut the door.

Oh, well, if you need me I'll be at my desk

skipping my lunch for the good of the company.

Kyle, we have a real problem here.

Someone is using your access number to make trades.

Uh, he's very aggressive and actually‐‐

Jeffrey, Jeffrey, Jeffrey, I made those trades.

Why?

[sighs]

Look, I know I wasn't supposed to, right

but I want to take a dip in the shark‐infested waters

you know, keep my skills honed.

Listen, Kyle, I know that middle management is not very exciting

but if you can just take this kind of boredom

for five, ten years without cracking

you're corner office material.

Even if you crack, we won't fire you

we'll just medicate you and put you on the 13th floor.

So, Jeffrey, are you this bored with what you do too?

Oh, no, once you get to where I am, it's fun again.

So, wait, wait, how did you get through the tedium?

Two words, Donkey Kong.

Alright, why don't you just take off your robe

and get comfortable?

Okay, why don't you take off that robe

and get comfortable?

‐ Hey, baby. ‐ Hey.

Max, what are you doing here.. Oh, yes, that's right.

Today's the day that my baby here is painting stick figures.

Baby, you look great, I didn't expect you.

Please, Pavlov's dogs were less predictable.

I brought you a little gift.

See, we've been dating each other

for eight weeks and three days.

Happy anniversary.

Cinnamon rolls?

It's the dough anniversary

and, uh, I thought that I'd bake them.

‐ Here. ‐ Mmm.

Good, put extra icing on mine.

I'm going to work up quite an appetite

standing here buck naked.

Oh, uh‐uh‐uh, Max, um, wouldn't you like something

to drink before you get started?

Nope, I just wanna get naked.

[laughing]

[laughs]

Synclaire, Khadijah, what are y'all doing here?

Oh, I wanted to see this free‐for‐all

but Synclaire insisted that we, uh, have an excuse.

Maxine, this important carpet cleaning offer

addressed to you came to us by mistake.

‐ Feel better? ‐ Yeah, watch the show.

Max, you pierced your belly button.

No, no, that‐that's just‐just a clip‐on.

Yes, yes, as Keith's eyes work up and down my body

I wanted there to be little treats along the way.

[laughs]

Alright, see, maybe we should forget about this.

No, no, you‐you‐you have to paint her

because I don't know if she could handle yet another man

telling her to forget it

once he's seen her with her clothes off.

See, I told you this was gonna be better

than watching "Toy Story" for the third time.

Keith, could you turn up the heat?

I wouldn't want to blind you with my high beams.

Alright, that's it.

I admit it, okay?

I‐I‐I'm not hip enough to handle some freaky exhibitionist

put on a show for my man.

My goodness, Maxima!

S‐s‐s‐strippers at marine bases have more shame.

[laughs] I knew it.

All this talk about you being aesthetically mature.

Hah! Phooey! Oh, yeah, I'm just so fine you just can't stand it!

Ooh!

And you.

Where did you get off letting her pose just cause I insisted?

Well, frankly, I was kinda tripping when you insisted

that Max pose in the first place.

I mean, come on, baby, this is bizarre.

I know I'm an artist, but I'm also your man.

No, unh‐unh, that's it?

See that, Max, in your own special way

you brought two people closer together.

Say look, all I know is that when my drawers hit the floor

the meter started. You owe me 35 bucks.

I didn't even paint you.

Okay, then you owe me 50 bucks for being a tease.

Young achievers, now, I know we all enjoyed

our tour of the brokerage firm, from the executive lounge

on down to the document shredding area.

But now, we're fortunate to have a very special speaker

and here to introduce him is last month's speaker.

Brother Overton Wakefield Jones.

Thank you.

Uh, during the time we had together last month

I got a chance to learn a little bit about yourselves

and your dreams, like, Danielle, you dream of

a chain of pork chop on a stick franchises.

And Paul here is waiting to foreclose

on the home for the elderly.

I realize y'all have doubts, well, doubt no more because

men like Kyle Barker have blazed a trail for you.

I'm proud to call him friend

proud to call him roommate..

Shorty.

Ladies and gentlemen, Kyle.

[sighs]

[Kyle clears throat]

I hate my job.

I'll get back to you.

Yeah, that's it, kids, start off with a joke.

See, that's the key to every good speech‐‐.

No, no, no, I really hate my job.

It's‐it's just not what I want to do.

I love to trade stocks.

‐ But you're getting crazy pay. ‐ Exactly.

Danielle, it's not about the money.

[indistinct chatter]

Whoa, ooh, young achievers

uh, uh, settle down, I‐I'm sure, uh, Brother Barker

is going somewhere with this.

No, see, that's the problem, I'm not going anywhere.

I'm trapped, I can't go backwards.

I can't stay here where I am

and that means I can't go forwards.

‐ Classic corporate conundrum. ‐ Yeah.

With a simple solution.

Don't forget how you created the African mutual fund.

‐ You know about that? ‐ Know it?

I moved most of my dad's pension into it, buddy.

When you found an area with no opportunities, you created one.

Why not do the same with your job?

Of course, and I know just how to implement that thinking.

You know, you're pretty sharp, what's your name?

It'll be on the invoice.

You remind me of myself when I was half your age.

Uh, reverend, if you'll excuse me

I have to go and work out this idea.

Well, Brother Kyle as the pharaoh said

to the children of Israel.

"Get to going."

"Get to going."

[knock on door]

I got your e‐mail. Well done.

I have an idea I want to run by you.

Something off the top of my head.

Oh, and now that's what I like.

An impulsive idea with detailed graphic support.

Lately, Jeffrey, you know, I have been distressed.

I have noticed the lack of communication

between the trading bullpen and senior management.

Uh, we're just not hearing each other.

So, I propose, we create a new position.

A position of executive liaison.

Someone who would split their time between

the executive offices and the trading bullpen.

That way we'll have someone down there

who understands the overall priorities

and someone up here who understands

the moment to moment dealings of the people on the front line.

I see, and did you have anyone particular in mind

to fill this unique position?

[laughing]

Kyle, you are as thorough as you are vain.

Even more so, sir.

Well, I have to admit it's a fascinating proposal

but you're on the fast track.

If you take a side shift like this

it may stall you, career wise.

Well, Jeffrey, risk is our business

and if it should not work out, I can always pack up my things

and try my hand at starting my own firm.

Message received.

Do you realize I'll have to fill your position

and that means you're gonna lose a few perks like the tree.

Oh, fine.

And the door closer.

Ouch.

And the worst news of all

you'll have to settle for less money.

How much less?

Let's just say, you won't be smiling that much.

(Synclaire) We'll be right back.

(Overton) 'Now, man's first tool was the hand'

which dates back to 250,000 BC.

That piece of flint was all you had to do everything.

What those Neanderthals wouldn't have given

for a Swiss army knife, huh, kids?

Now, when you talk about farm equipment

that's a whole different kettle of fish.

In Mesopotamia, early forms of ploughs

'were little more than forked branch'

'dragged through the soil by a pair of oxen.'

'Uh, uh, reverend?'

'Uh, if you go past the water cooler'

'could you bring me back a cup?'

'I'm a bit parched.'

Now, where was I?

(Regine) Woo‐hoo!

[Regine chuckles]