Original subtitles

(birdsong)

- There you are. Bria, get over here!

(laughing) Bria!

Where are you going? Bria!

I am not at all surprised you forgot about the open house.

- How many bathrooms are there?

- Two and a half.

- Thought it was in the afternoon.

- No, Bria, I sent you the reminder text

and you even replied with that stupid gif art.

De rolly eye one.

No sah! No Bria!

Me never tell you to clean up this room before today?!

And you have packed nothing!

We leave in two weeks, Bria, two weeks to the day.

- First of all, I did clean up.

I mean, I-I tidied up. I-I hid all my weed stuff.

- And what about these posters?

And the bed is not even made.

You know what? I will handle it.

- No, no, no, no! Don't-don't touch anything, okay?

I-I know where everything is.

I don't need you messing up my flow.

- Flow? You can flow in this hog pen?!

- Okay. Just leave it. I'll take care of it later.

- Later, she says. Well, you better because I am not reminding you again.

(chuckles) Any questions, just let me know.

I'll be here until 4:00 p.m. today, so let me know.

- Okay, thanks!

(door closes)

(♪)

(phone clicks on)

(Bria sighs)

- No reply from Jackie yet, huh?

- No. Not yet. (sighing)

Maybe because we both know that apartment is way too expensive, to be honest.

- Yeah, but damn girl, we gotta find a place.

You heard your mom, we got two weeks!

- No, I know! - Yeah.

- But believe it or not, I may just call Gemma.

- Oh, okay, so now you like Becky with the good hair?

- Girl, you know white people always know someone

who knows someone who has a second house

they can rent for nothing.

Just because their cousins know each other or some shit.

- Yeah, you're not wrong. - Right.

- But... Gemma, again? - I...

- We're really feeding into her white saviour complex, no?

(phone rings)

Yo, that's some Hocus Pocus shit. I'm out.

- Gemma, hey. - Oh, my God, Bria, hi.

I just finished up at the stables so I thought I'd give you a ring.

I am so sorry it's taken me so long to return your call.

- No, don't-don't apologize. - I've just been dealing with a lot recently.

I actually lost my job, which was a super bummer.

- You have voided roughly $16,000 worth of fees

for students that you deemed to appear--

- BIPOC-y. - ...BIPOC.

In an effort to be... (both): A next level ally

and make good on overdue reparations.

- Am I forgetting anything?

- No.

But then I remembered, I still have my savings,

I still have my boyfriend,

and we just bought a super nice house together.

So, not all bad. - Nice, nice.

Uh, not about the job though, sorry.

- But now I'm super stressed because I have to break my lease

so I'm trying to help my landlord, Raoul,

find someone to take it over, otherwise, I'm on the hook

for $1,600 a month.

And he's super picky about finding the right tenant.

- Wait. Wait, wait, wait, Gemma, Gemma, hold on.

I-I think I may be able to help us both.

I'm actually looking for a place with two bedrooms, too.

- Oh, my God, Bria, are you serious?

Raoul's gonna love this!

Okay, if you want the place, you have to go by today.

So, I'll text him for a time and I'll let you know! Ciao!

(call clicks off)

- So, do you think she's more like Emma Stone in "The Help"?

- Shh! Girl, just be happy I'm no longer homeless, okay?

Come on, let's give Allan that old razzle dazzle.

(scoffs) - Bitch, you was never homeless!

(chuckling) What's she being so extra for?

Dramatic as fuck.

- We've been through this.

I would never start a speech with "As a proud Black woman

of the Caribbean diaspora."

Would you start a speech with "As a proud, Greek gay man"?

- Yes, that's how I open everything.

It's on my business card.

Look, we brought you and your team in for a lot of money.

The least you can do is speak at the executive retreat.

There'll be a lot of eyes on us.

- My job is the rebrand. Nothing else.

I gave up code-switching years ago, so if I'm gonna speak,

I'm only gonna speak candidly,

and that audience doesn't want to hear what I'd have to say.

- Yeah.

Maybe we won't need you there after all.

- Mm-hmm. Besides, I don't do country clubs.

It's against my religion. - Oh, you're religious?

- Religiously black.

- Ah, yep.

- Oh, hi! Sorry.

- Oh, Bria! What a lovely surprise.

- Hey, I just thought I'd make you some of my homemade spana-duc-kaduh.

- You mean spanakopita? - Yeah, that.

- Oh! (sniffs)

Oh, my gosh, it smells amazing.

You made this? - Yeah.

- It's just like the one I get from Delo's.

(curious music)

- I don't know Delo's. (laughing)

But you know, I thought it was just so nice

that you made jerk chicken, so I thought you'd appreciate

a treat from your own... people, I guess.

Yeah.

Also, I just wanted to say

that what you and the new marketing team are doing is just so exciting.

- Ah. - Truly!

You know, did I tell you I have a marketing degree?

- Really? - Mm-hmm.

- So do I! - Oh!

You know, marketing is just such

a thought-provoking sector. - Yeah.

- It impacts us all on a daily basis.

So much power in it, you know? - Hmm.

- I'm sorry, look at me waxing poetic.

It's like I'm giving my valedictorian address all over again.

- Wait, you were the valedictorian?

- Yeah. - Whoa, damn!

(laughs) - Yeah, I mean,

I don't like to talk about it too much,

but yes, I was the valedictorian

for one of the top universities in the country.

- Wow. - Yeah.

I'm sorry, I-I should go back to my floor,

but if you need help with anything, focus group,

research, whatever. (phone ringing)

- That is... that's great. - Oh yeah.

- I'll uh, I'll keep that in mind.

- All right. Do that. - Excuse me. I'm on my way.

- Do that. (chuckling)

She's still here.

(Black Attack): Yo, you need to say something.

This is the closest we've been to a Black woman

since we started this job.

- What do I say? - Compliment her.

She looks and... (sniffs)

...smells amazing. What is that, coconut oil?

Just say something, anything. - Mm-hmm.

Uh, up or down?

- Shit. I didn't press the button.

Down, please.

- Yeah, yeah. (button clicks)

(clears throat)

- I meant anything better than that.

- Sorry. (elevator chimes)

(background music playing)

I love your blazer. - Oh, thanks.

I love your...

(chuckling)

Which department do you work in?

- Um, accounting. Yeah, it's not too exciting

but most people have been friendly so far, so.

- Huh. - Yeah.

- I would watch that.

They might be friendly,

but they're not necessarily your friends.

(elevator chimes) - Oh.

(sighs) (indistinct chatter)

- Oh, you're here.

I'm feeling like that meeting should've been an email.

(2 Kool Black Krew laughs)

- Shoulda. Shoulda.

(Bria and Black Attack fake laugh)

Holy shit, they're fly as fuck!

- There's just so much more life, you know?

So much more melanin. You know what I mean?

- Mm-hmm. - God!

And I bet they freely get to talk shit up there, too.

No need for code-switching. - Mm-hmm.

I mean, Sharon does seem like she'd be a sick boss, though.

- I need this transfer. - Hey, why don't you come

with me to the company retreat Saturday afternoon?

Oh, come on, help me set up.

I don't wanna be stuck with Frank all day by myself.

- Ah, no can do, I'm sorry.

I promised my mom my Saturday.

It's kinda this tradition.

We have patties at St. Patty's downtown.

It's like... a whole thing. - Aw. All right.

- Anyway, I better get going. I gotta see if I can get out early to view this apartment.

- What? Show me! Mm-hmm. - Oh, yeah.

Here. - Hmm!

- Yeah, me and my high school bestie, Jackie,

are each gonna take a room, so I'm amped.

- Oh, I love that.

So nice that you two are still friends.

It is hard to make friends as an adult.

- Yeah, for sure.

- Happy Rosh Hashanah, Ami!

- I'm not Jewish, Frank!

- Ami, I am! Toot, toot!

(chuckles)

- It's... interesting.

- Every holiday. Every holiday, he's on it.

- Damn! 48 hours for real?

(footsteps click past)

(devious music)

(footsteps clack, approaching)

- Bria! - Hey!

- Oh, I just got your end of quarter report.

And a day early? Thanks for being on it.

- It was my pleasure. - And I must say,

your Excel skills are quite impressive.

Your pivot tables are wow, beautiful.

- Wow. Thank you for noticing, Dawn.

And can I just say, your feedback is very motivating.

- Oh. I live to inspire.

- Oh! Is that perfume you're wearing?

That smells lovely. - Oh, mais oui, merci.

- Oh, de rien. De rien.

(chuckling)

Um, you know, I was actually wondering um,

because I did submit my report early, if I could um...

duck out to view an apartment?

Yeah, my mom is selling our family home and, you know,

I don't really have much time to find a place.

And you know, I-I actually did read the handbook.

- Then you know that time off

requires 48 hours notice, no exceptions.

Rules are rules, Bria. Sorry.

- Right, right. Got it.

(Dawn whistles away) Thanks anyways!

- Hmm.

Rules are rules, eh?

(echoing): Rules are rules, eh?

(radar beeps)

- Rule B4.

- That's a miss, mademoiselle.

B4 only applies to employees

who have been here for at least six months.

(gasps)

- Uh, try A7.

- A7, I can leave if sick.

- That's for employees with chronic illnesses

verified by physicians.

Ha! Try all you want, Bria!

(laughs evilly)

- There's gotta be something. - Girl, come on!

You gotta give me something. We're down bad.

- I've got it!

(both): E10.

- The office has a scent-free policy

and anyone in violation of it should be reported to HR immediately.

- Looks like we're both trying to bend the rules, huh?

- Yeah. - Me with my time off request

and you with that hideously outdated perfume.

(gasps) - You said it was lovely!

- We lied. (both laugh)

- Sacré bleu!

- Huh, okay, we're really gonna need a sob story

if you wanna try to beat all these people.

I'm thinking we go with the angle that you're pregnant,

and maybe the pregnancy has been stressful while you're looking for a place.

Maybe. I don't know, you gauge where you wanna land with that morally.

But I mean, we're looking for a two-bedroom apartment

under $3,000, west of Ossington,

east of Roncey, north of Queen, and south of St. Clair.

So, it's like, what, do you wanna be right with God

or do you want a nice place to kill your plants?

There's two options. Only one right one.

- Thank you for coming. You guys come with me.

- Yeah, sorry, we're ready.

(tense music)

- It's been one hour, 32 minutes,

and two milliseconds since your journey in the line began.

My question to you is, what brought you here?

- Well, I was living with my sister

and then her at-home business selling hoodies

with very common phrases on them took off

and she needed my room for inventory.

- Ah.

- I've been moving from couch to couch,

searching for a place for a while now.

It's been hell.

How can a bachelor with no kitchen

and just a microwave cost $2,200 a month?

(cries) - It's rough.

Detect a little bit of an accent.

Guatamatelco?

- Si, senor.

Raised, not born.

- Ah, sí, yo también.

He estado aquí durante quince años ya.

- Quince años? - Si.

- Really miss those empanadas.

- Oh. (laughing nervously)

- Yo, you need a story! Child of divorce, job loss, dead roommate, something.

Come on! - Okay, okay.

(clears throat) - What's your story?

(sighing) - Well, my mom

dropped some pretty big news on me

that turned my life upside down.

It's been rough.

Real rough.

So, I've been looking for two weeks and--

- Uh, hold up.

Looking only for two weeks?

- I've been sleeping on couches for months!

- Yeah, we're also expecting a baby, okay? A child.

- Oh, oh, oh, please!

Hey, I heard you workshopping your story in the line.

(laughing) (indistinct chatter)

- 17 musty loveseats I've slept in since June!

17! - Was it 17?

- I don't care, I'm having a baby.

(overlapping chatter)

(immunity necklace rattles)

- I know what you're all about, buddy.

- I know...

(tense music swells)

...Gemma! (all exclaiming in frustration)

- Great. (both chuckle slyly)

- So... You know Gemma?

- Yeah, Gemma referred me. - Great.

I prefer personal references. - Hmm.

- So happy to offer you the apartment.

I just need your first and last month's rent

and your uh, completed application.

- Yeah! Yeah, of course um,

but I just wanted to confirm um, it is $1,600, right?

- No, it's $2,500.

- Uh, but-but Gemma said it was $1,600.

- Nope, sorry, lady. No can do.

$2,500 is still pretty fair for the market.

So uh, take it or leave it.

- Yeah, okay. Um, just give me five minutes.

- Okay.

(phone chiming)

- You're fucking lying.

- This is fucked, right? - Yeah, like did she give a reason?

- Yo, some shit about her job or something.

I don't fucking know. Like, I didn't ask you to move in,

so why wait 'til I find something to back out?

- Seriously. Like, what the fuck?

Yo, like not her sending you décor mood boards

this whole time she knew she was gonna fucking bail?

- Yo, for real. - Yeah.

- I should cuss her stink. Like, what the fuck?

- And she's been missing your weekly calls, too.

Basically, she never makes time for you anymore.

- Yo, that's true. - Yeah.

- I'm gonna text her. - You should text her.

Yo, let her know what's up.

(laughs)

I know that's right.

Uh-huh.

(sighing)

Yo, just "okay"?

- Yeah, the way I'm feeling right now,

if I text her, we're not gonna be friends anymore.

(phone rings)

(scoffs)

- Oh, Bria!

You can't say hi?

- Sorry, Mom. Long day.

- I have got great news!

We sold the house for $50,000 over asking!

And I already made reservations

for our St. Patty's Day celebration!

- Wow! Congratulations. I'm-I'm happy for you.

- Uh, Bria, that's it?

I-I got champagne.

Well sparkling, but...

- I'm sorry, I need a minute.

I've been running around all day.

I need a nap. Um, but I'm excited for St. Patty's Day.

(chuckles)

- Oh.

She want take nap.

(ominous music)

(sighing)

- What the fuck?!

Mom!

Mom!

I told you not to touch my room.

- Well, mi tired fi ask.

So house is sold, we need to get moving.

- Okay, but I was getting to it.

I was just out doing stuff like, oh, I don't know,

trying to find an apartment so I can get the hell out of here,

like you asked. - Oh, so you can't plan

your time like everyone else. - Of course I can plan my time.

- Oh, well, you're acting like you can't.

And you're acting like your life and your schedule

are the only thing that matters and no one else's,

and that is selfish, Bria. - Selfish?!

- Yes, selfish, Bria.

I...I don't know what is going on with you

and why you can't get yourself together but you--

- But what?

- But you used to be so on the ball, such a hard worker.

That's what. - Well, maybe I'm not interested

in being that person anymore, Mom!

That gave me nothing but burnout!

I prefer to work smarter, not harder.

- Oh, I hate that saying, Bria!

That is nothing more than code for scamming the system!

- Oh, my God, no, it's not! - Bandulu business, Bria.

- That you have to work twice as hard to get half as far?

Shit, you used to tell me that's for the birds!

That's what society is trying to tell us

so that we keep knocking on doors while other people

are jumping through windows! I'm not trying to scam the system,

the system is a scam!

- What a way you sound like your dead stock puppa.

Full of nothin but debate about Blackness and liberation

and interested in nothin' but short cut.

Bria, how do you think I got here in order to give you the life that you're living?

And since when is hard work beneath you?

- I never said it was beneath me.

- Oh, you basically did!

You ever stop to think that maybe you can work smarter

because I already work harder! - And I understand that, okay?

And I'm grateful!

But I don't wanna just waste my life away playing some game

that was never designed for us to win! I'm sorry!

And I'm sorry that I don't wanna clock into some soul-sucking career

just to say that I have shit. And I'm sorry that I don't

wanna wait 'til I'm almost 50 to learn how to fucking relax!

- All right, just a gentle reminder your mom's Jamaican

and you can still get slapped. - Oh, relax.

So that's what this is all about.

This whole take a break business again, huh, Bria.

- Seriously, Mom?

When was the last time you took a vacation?

I mean, you haven't even been back home to Jamaica.

- Okay, Bria.

You can say anythin' you want say.

But all I hear right now is you hopping on the bandwagon

of that pipe dream all you owna unno young people have

where unno can do anything yuh want and yuh never have to work for it.

All I hear right now Bria is laziness and fuckery.

(chuckling)

- Laziness and fuckery.

Cool.

And I knew you wouldn't get it.

Yeah, I don't even know why I came back here.

- Devil busy today.

(tense music)

- Are you okay, baby?

Sh-should I call her for the cheers?

(door opens)

(sighs)

- I come in pea...

Oh, yo, I know you mad,

but your outside clothes on your bed, though?

(sighs)

- You know I... I've never done that before.

Think I went too far?

Hey, it felt good, though.

- Oh, yo, I bet it did!

But hey...

Do you think that maybe you kinda blew up at the wrong person?

That maybe some of that was meant for Jackie?

Look, don't get me wrong... (sighing)

You needed to have that talk with your mom

and it was foul as fuck of her to pack up your shit like this.

For real. But...

maybe you wouldn't have gotten so hot

if you just told Jackie how you were really feeling.

You know or told your mom how you were really feeling after graduating,

that that break was about you being burnt out, not lazy.

- Look, I just gotta focus on what I need to focus on.

And that's get the hell out of here.

Okay, boom. Look, one bedroom. Recently renovated.

- That's a parking garage.

- Oh, shit.

Okay. Okay, okay.

Um... Okay, how about this place?

One bedroom. It's above a bar.

Old as hell, but um, it could be fun.

- Single, nah! Look, and it's described as cozy.

And you know that means rats. (clicks tongue)

- Okay um, all right, look, look,

this condo has one picture, a really nice picture, though.

Um, $800 a month. Roommate situation.

But looking for immediate move in.

Okay. - Okay, okay.

- It does mention a special setup though.

Not sure what that means. (inhales)

- That could be sex trafficking or diamond in the rough.

No harm in checking it out. - Yeah.

- Or a lotta harm, actually.

(♪)

- Yeah, so I know the room is small,

but that's why I kept the rent so low.

I don't really need the money so much as I need help.

I travel a lot for work so-- - I'm sorry uh,

what do you mean by help? (both): Like a maid?

- What? No! No, no, uh, basically, the deal is this.

You seem decent so it's yours if you want it.

$800 a month is real. - Hmm.

- Like I said, I'm hardly here because of work travel,

but there is a cleaner that comes in bi-weekly.

I just need your help to take care of Bento, my cat.

- Huh? - Our unofficial third roomie.

He's a bit high maintenance,

but I can't bring myself to give him up.

- Hmm. - And I don't trust daycare.

So, giving somebody a good deal on rent in exchange for help

seems like the easy solution. - Mm-hmm.

- Oh uh, Bento's in his room right now.

- Oh. - You're okay

with cats though, right? - Yo, fuck that cat!

He got a Vitamix!

(♪)