The Other Black Girl (2023) s01e08 Episode Script

1
NELLA: Previously, on
The Other Black Girl
HAZEL: What are you doing Saturday?
I'm havin' a gathering.
- It's a hair party.
- Oh.
- Hazel is surrounded by Fembots.
- [GROUP GASPS]
NELLA: Jesse Watson canceled Wagner?
I wanna help you get
your message everywhere.
So, you'll think about it?
Oh, absolutely fuckin' not.
Please go and do some snoopin'.
You're never gonna get
another chance like this.
- [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
- Fuck.
It's a beautiful foam finger. Thank you.
- [DOOR SLAMS]
- Thanks for comin'.
Think I was wrong about Hazel.
- Ladies, this is Shani.
- [SHANI CHUCKLES]
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
- MAISY: Nella, meet Hazel-May McCall.
- KENDRA RAE: Leave Wagner, now.
HAZEL: You shine, I shine. If
she's dangerous, he's gotta hear it.
Tell people you belong
and they'll believe it.
You and I know exactly how
fucked up the system is.
[DISTORTED] You shine, I shine.
MALAIKA: Hazel is surrounded by Fembots.
NELLA: Kinda made me look like you.
EDITORS: Leave Wagner now.
EDITOR: You don't belong here!
- KENDRA RAE: Leave Wagner now.
- HAZEL: You shine, I shine.
[SIGHS]
This is Camille, Ebonee, and Kiara.
- MALAIKA: It's a cult.
- OWEN: What does this mean?
NELLA: I think I was wrong about Hazel.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
HAZEL: We catch more flies with honey.
We take our community
very seriously. [ECHOES]
♪
I genuinely feel sorry
for anyone who was unfortunate
enough to be in our way.
[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]
Nella.
[WHISPERS] Nella.
- [AGGRESSIVELY] Nella!
- Involuntary!
Mal, what are you doing here?
Owen called.
And thank God, because this
this is some Riddler shit.
I also found this in the microwave.
Is it just ketchup?
Sorry.
This is my Nana's bowl.
I stared at this all night.
Hazel must be collecting
these women for something.
I mean, that's what "voluntary"
and "involuntary" must mean, right?
What are they volunteering
or not volunteering to do?
Join the most moisturized
army of all time.
NELLA: We all have to
be connected somehow.
There is no way Ruby
showed up by accident.
Yeah, I don't see how
Hazel is meetin' Ruby,
unless she also likes gettin' kicked
off the Coney Island rollercoaster
- for gettin' too drunk.
- OWEN: Ruby was kinda fun.
No, no, no, but that Ruby is gone.
All of their past lives are gone.
Their Instagram accounts
only go back one year,
just like Hazel's.
It's like they came out of
a pod fully formed at 26.
What about Shani? She's the
one that warned you about Hazel.
What, what happened to her?
I haven't heard from Shani
since the karaoke bar.
How do you reverse stalk someone?
- Yeah.
- [DOG FOOD BY IDK FT. DENZEL CURRY PLAYING]
NELLA: I guess we go back to
all the places I saw Shani.
It's eleven o'clock, on
the dot, I'm on the block ♪
Ain't no time for no
sleepin' or yawnin' or whatnot ♪
Twelve runnin' 'round creepin'
and peepin for the drop ♪
The block is hot, the block is hot ♪
The block is hot, the block is hot ♪
They tried to frisk me, want me, hot ♪
Incarcerated, I won't be, hot ♪
Now what?
I cannot believe I have to be
at work in less than an hour.
- [KEYBOARD CLACKING]
- You can't go, Hazel will be there.
And we still have no idea
what the fuckin' deal is.
And Diana's imprint
launch party is tomorrow.
Can't go to that either. Hazel.
So, Hazel's connection to me is work.
But what about these other girls?
They're in completely
different industries.
Even Hazel's not that connected. Is she?
NELLA: Kiara's a buyer for Saks.
Camille is a chemical
engineer. And Ebonee
[MOCKINGLY] The youngest tenure-track
professor in New York state.
How does a person even do that?
It's impressive.
Gotta have friends in high places.
MALAIKA: Maybe their cult
pays for PhDs or somethin'.
Guys, guys, guys. "Ebonee Turner,
set to become the youngest Associate
Professor of Literature at Columbia.
A position created
by a generous donation
from one of the program's
most prominent alumni,
Richard Wagner."
- What, Richard?
- [MALAIKA GASPS]
I mean, you don't think
it's just a coincidence?
Have we learned nothin'?
Coincidences aren't fuckin' real.
♪
Shall we get started?
NELLA: Kiara is a buyer for Saks.
Ah! "Publishing Magnate Richard Wagner
named to the board of Saks
Fifth Avenue. February 2019."
And Ruby interviewed at Goldman Sachs
Where Richard's brother is CFO.
- Oh, my fucking God!
- OWEN: What the
GRANT: Huge week for you.
Tomorrow's the launch party
for your new imprint, focused on
diverse voices, Ascendent Books.
Very exciting. Did you
bring a photographer?
Uh, I didn't.
- Your loss.
- OWEN: What about Camille?
"A subsidiary of Wagner
Industries." Jesus, okay.
Wagner's always been
focused on diversity
ever since our first big
hit release, Burning Heart.
You know, tomorrow's launch
isn't really about me at all.
You should be interviewing
the bright, young women
that made it all possible.
In fact, you know what?
Come with me.
Richard is using Hazel to,
like, recruit Black women
and turn them into pod
people and farm them out?
And he's trying to farm you.
Hazel-May McCall.
Isn't that right, Nella?
Richard Wagner and Hazel.
Bitch, I told you. [SCOFFS]
[TENSE, PERCUSSIVE MUSIC PLAYING]
[PHONES RINGING, LIGHT OFFICE CHATTER]
♪
Hazel, where's our Nella?
Um, she, she didn't
come in this morning.
Really? Oh well, another time, I guess.
Don't wait too long,
this girl is on fire.
I'll walk you out.
Let's find out where she is quickly.
[DRUMMING INCREASES SPEED,
TRIBAL VOCALIZING INTENSIFIES]
How could I have been so stupid?
Girl, it is not your fault
that you work with psychopaths.
Now And I know I say all the time
that you attract the
energy that you put out,
[CHUCKLES] but it did not this time.
But I went to Wagner in the first place.
I'm the one who pitched the
rerelease of Burning Heart.
I put Diana and her
new imprint in danger.
I single-handedly rebuilt
Wagner's white-ass reputation
for a man who's using
the idea of diversity
to plant docile, little
pod women all over the city.
You had no idea what Richard was doing.
Nothing that I've
done at Wagner matters.
All of those late nights,
the cancer from the energy drinks,
I mean, everything
that I wanted is a lie.
OWEN: Come here.
♪
Should I make some food?
I can't eat right now.
I'd eat.
I mean, he offered.
I actually believed that bullshit
about being a part of a system
and changing things from the inside.
I mean, that [STAMMERS]
sounds so stupid now.
The system always wins.
[CHUCKLING] It's like Vegas.
- You're right.
- I know.
That's why I never go to Vegas.
Not even to see Usher.
The only way to beat a system
is to work outside of it.
I mean, he warned me.
Usher? That's not his song.
Jesse Jesse Watson.
He said that I was gonna have to grow up
and see Wagner for what it really is.
I gotta take him down.
Okay. Okay, I'm lovin' this energy.
We are strong.
We are ready.
And we are goin' down there and
punchin' Richard in his face!
I was just gonna call Jesse.
All right, I see that vision, too.
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
HAZEL: Nella!
I heard you, uh, called in sick,
so I brought you some
chicken noodle soup.
It's homemade.
It'll knock that cold right out.
- Hell, no. You better take your funky ass
- Okay, thank you, Hazel.
Thank you. But, yeah,
Nella is super sick.
I mean, it's very gross over here.
And, and probably
extremely contagious, too.
[OWEN COUGHS]
Yeah, nope, I, I definitely
think that I've already got it.
You could just leave the soup
out there, that'd be great.
Um, can you just open up the door?
I really don't wanna do that, Owen,
'cause that's how you get ants.
[DOOR OPENING]
All right, yeah. Why don't you just,
ugh, [COUGHS] slip it on through.
The soup? Owen, it's not gonna fit.
- It'll fit.
- Uh, it's not
- Oh, no, no, it'll fit. Yeah. Yeah.
- Okay. I just
I really just I really don't
feel like this is necessary.
- Ah, I just don't want you to get sick.
- Could you just
- There we go. Okay, thank you.
- Oh! All right. Um
- [DOOR THUDS]
- [HAZEL CLEARS THROAT]
You enjoy that.
And, uh, I really hope
that Nella gets better
for the imprint
launch party tomorrow.
It's, um,
[LOUDLY] it's gonna be her big
moment and she can't miss it.
She's not gonna miss it, right?
I don't know. I don't know. Bye.
- Uh!
- [DOOR SHUTS]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
This is poison, right?
BOTH: Trash.
NELLA: So, Hazel and Richard
are turning Black women into,
like, corporate Stepford wives.
And I don't even really know
how, mind control or something.
You know, I shouldn't have said
that 'cause I know it sounds insane,
and I'm not insane.
I know you're not.
Wait, so you believe me?
Look, you're telling me a racist
white man has an evil, racist plot?
It's the most sane thing you've said
to me the whole time I've known you.
I know that this sounds
like a conspiracy theory
Yeah, but high-key,
every conspiracy about
white people bein' whack
ends up bein' true in, like, 20 years.
[WHISPERING] And I think
that this is really bad.
So, we just have to uncover it,
and then, we use your
platform to go public.
Bet. Let's get it.
Wow.
- Thank you.
- Of course.
And, um look I'm really
sorry that this happened to you,
but I'm pumped that
you woke the fuck up.
- I-I might've been a little too real with you.
- You were mean.
[JESSE LAUGHS]
All right. [CHUCKLES]
That's okay. Call me out.
I like that.
[MATTER 2 YA BY AIN
AFRAID PLAYING IN SHOP]
- [CHUCKLES] Maybe we could talk strategy.
- Mm! Mm-hm.
Strategy is important.
Um, so, once we figure out
- the methodology
- [OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS]
[TRAIN RATTLING]
I just don't understand why she
has to go to this party at all.
Shouldn't she be staying as far
away from these people as possible?
Or I go with her and we
blow this whole conspiracy
wide open with bullhorns,
and graffiti, and stuff.
Thank you for the concern,
but I just need to get one more person
on mine and Jesse's team and get out.
I don't need to draw any
extra attention to myself.
MALAIKA: I can be subtle.
Subtle bullhorns.
What if you keep us on speaker
the entire time, just in case?
[PHONE RINGING]
Oh, my God, it's Vera.
Ay. I cannot take any more plot twists.
NELLA: Why is she calling me?
- What if she's involved?
- [PHONE CONTINUES RINGING]
Yeah, I'm, I'm gonna ignore that.
No, you have to answer.
She might know something.
But why would Richard fire
her if she was involved?
[RINGING CONTINUES]
Seriously, what can she
do to you through a phone?
[RINGING CONTINUES]
- Hello, Vera.
- Uh, Nella. Hi. Hi. Hi. How are you?
I've been better.
Yes. Well, of course, we all have.
But tonight is your big party, right?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, so I wanted to call and congratulate you,
and, um, on the rerelease. You,
you deserve all of the success.
Thanks. Well, gotta go.
Oh, no. N Uh,
Nella, wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait, don't hang up.
I, um, I God, okay.
My departure was an
enormous wake-up call for me.
And I have been doing
a lotta work on myself
since I was fired in
front of the entire office.
[WHISPERING] Ask if she
knows about the mind control.
- [NELLA QUIETLY SHUSHING]
- VERA [OVER PHONE]: What was that?
Nothing.
Everything fell into
focus for me recently.
I had just really lost
track of what was important.
And I I want I
need [INHALES DEEPLY]
to apologize to you.
Oh.
Nella, I really believe in
you. And just a word of advice.
Don't, uh give your
whole self to the job
because, believe me, you
cannot get that time back.
Wow. That's really kind. Thank you.
[DEEP BREATH, CHUCKLES]
VERA [OVER PHONE]: So, what
are you going to wear tonight?
Um, the dress that I
wore to the holiday party.
Oh, yes, that's perfect. It's powerful.
Show 'em who's boss.
I plan to. Look, Vera, I really
gotta run, but, um thanks.
What was that about?
She was calling to apologize.
- Why didn't you ask her about Richard?
- [STRAINED LAUGH]
She's known him forever,
and we still have no idea how
Richard is controlling these women.
Call Vera back right now.
I don't want to call Vera back.
I still don't know who I can trust.
Back to my original question, why
are you still going to this party?
Unarmed.
Look, they still don't know that I know,
and they're expecting me.
And if Richard and Hazel
are as dangerous as we think,
there's still one more
person I have to warn.
[CAN'T LET YOU GO BY LP GIOBBI PLAYING]
♪
[PEOPLE CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]
Can't let you go ♪
When we're moving ♪
With the music ♪
I, I, I can't let you go ♪
Hey, Nella! Everyone
thought you were sick,
but you look so fun. Ya havin' fun?
Uh, yeah, tons.
I wish we were better friends.
I mean, never really
hung out. [CHUCKLES]
I guess I could've initiated, but
Actually, do you know how you could
be a better friend to me right now?
Anything.
Tell me where Diana is,
and tell no one you saw me.
She went to the powder room. [CHUCKLES]
And [MAKES ZIPPING SOUND].
[CHUCKLES]
You're definitely not the
worst person who works at Wagner.
Mm-ah. Oh, my God,
thank you. [CHUCKLING]
Hi, I'm Malaika, you
definitely recognize me
from every single photo on Nella's desk.
- Oh. Um [SCOFFS] I do.
- Mm-hm.
Uh, but, why
Nella needs your help We gotta talk.
Of course. No, come
in, come in, come in.
Thank you.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER IN BACKGROUND]
Nella.
- We didn't know you were
- Uh-uh, one, one second.
[STALL DOOR SHUTS]
Are you okay?
- [STALL DOOR SHUTS]
- Um, [EXHALES] no.
All right. Look. I-I know that this
is gonna sound Kanye-level wild,
but Richard and Hazel are
up to something terrible.
They are doing very bad things
to Black women all over the city.
They are changing them,
and they are turning them
into little corporate
drones against their will.
And I don't know how, but
they're trying to do it to me.
And it's only a matter of time
before they come after you.
And I think Richard probably did it
to Kendra Rae all of those years ago.
And maybe that's what sent her
over the edge. And I have proof.
It's, uh, on my wall at home,
which is why I didn't bring it
because it wouldn't have
fit in one of my tiny purses.
But all that matters
is that you trust me.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[BACKGROUND CHATTERING CONTINUES]
I do.
I believe you.
Oh, my God, thank you. [HEAVY BREATHS]
I knew it.
I've known there's been
something terribly wrong
with, with Wagner, with
Richard. I mean, it's why I left.
From the moment that Kenny went missing,
none of the pieces fit.
I mean, it's She warned me about him
and I, I didn't listen.
I, I thought maybe
- she was just going through some
- It's not your fault.
I just needed someone
else to help me see it.
I have a plan but I need your help.
- I can tell you everything.
- No. This is not the place.
We have got to get through tonight.
Richard can't think anything is wrong.
Enjoy the party as much as
you can. Eat the crudités.
I can do that. I
Can I just say that this has
been driving me fucking crazy,
and it is really amazing and
validating that you believe me.
- [EXHALES]
- [DOOR OPENS, SHUTS]
MALAIKA: So, Nella
thinks Wagner's fucked.
Well, duh.
And if she has any
hope of takin' it down,
we need whatever dirt
you have on Richard.
Okay, well, I have dirt.
Um,
he spends a lot of money on manicures.
Miss, that is not helpful.
Don't you hate him?
- Well
- Y-Yeah.
Come on, gimme some real shit.
I think his hair is fake.
He hit a city bike with his
car, but he paid for it, so.
[GUESTS CHATTERING]
Good evening.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
Thank you for joining us tonight.
When I founded Wagner
in the Paleozoic era,
[CROWD LAUGHS]
I didn't really know what I was doing,
other than proving my father right,
that I probably should've
gone to law school.
But then Diana Gordon's first book,
Burning Heart gave
this company a mission,
and she gave me purpose.
And for that, I will always be grateful.
Please give a warm welcome to
the incomparable Diana Gordon.
- [CROWD CLAPS AND CHEERS]
- Come on up here.
Can't do this without you.
Thank you, Richard.
[CHEERING CONTINUES]
And so, to launch our new
imprint, Ascendent Books,
Wagner's renewed commitment to
promoting marginalized voices,
we give you the 35th anniversary
edition of the seminal Burning Heart.
- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
- There it is.
Yes.
Ascendant will celebrate the new
class of bright, young voices,
and one of those shining
stars is with us tonight.
Ladies and gentlemen, the
first signee to Ascendant Books,
I give you Mr. Jesse Watson.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[DARK, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[JESSE AND RICHARD SPEAK INDISTINCTLY]
Wow. What a moment.
Thank you, Richard.
You know, I can't think
of a company more aligned
with my goals and values
as an artist than Wagner.
Wagner's commitment to creating
an inclusive future in publishing
is nothing short of inspiring.
And thank you, Nella,
for helping me to see the light.
- GUEST: Inspiring!
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Nella Rogers.
[CROWD CLAPPING]
[DARK, DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
- Jesse!
- Nella. How's life?
Uh, what-what-what's going on?
Just tryin' to change the
world. What do you mean?
Okay, is this some, like, deep
undercover thing, or something?
- Please say it is.
- [CHUCKLING] What? No, Nella.
I'm joining the Wagner family.
Look, after our chat,
thought about things,
I got a haircut.
When I woke up this morning,
I realized I think
you got Richard all wrong.
You hate Wagner! You
literally told me that.
Yeah, but Nella, people change.
I-I heard Richard's
pitch and I believe in him
and what he's trying to do.
I believe in this company.
What about your podcast?
What about everything
that we talked about?
Yeah, but you showed me
that I don't have to be angry
about things all the time.
Wagner can be where we
make the real change.
Just like you said.
You in?
[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]
All right. I mean, you gon' wanna
try those garlic prawns, though.
'Cause they are dope as fuck. [CHUCKLES]
What the fuck?
What the fuck? [GASPS]
- I need to warn you about something.
- You stay away from me.
Okay, you seem really
keyed up right now.
- Do I?
- Uh, yes.
All right, this might
not be the best time,
but I thought you should
know it from a friend.
[SCOFFS, LAUGHS] Are you kidding me?
You're not my friend!
Who even are you?
I think you know.
You're Richard's puppet.
[CHUCKLES] You think
Richard is in charge?
Girl, you were so close
to figuring it out.
What are you talking about?
RICHARD [OVER SPEAKERS]: Now,
none of this would be possible
without the hard work of
two up-and-coming editors,
Nella Rogers and Hazel-May McCall.
Nella, Hazel, where are you?
- [APPLAUSE]
- That's our cue. Come on, Nella.
You wanna know who's in charge?
It's right in front of you.
I am so sorry I couldn't help. Truly.
We'll get him some other way.
He always wins and then he
just goes around out there
like he's a good person,
even though he's been cheating
on his wife for 40 years.
Yeah, the dude sucks.
[GROANS] I used to have
to go get his dry cleaning
when I was an assistant.
And Diana's negligees were
always just, like, in there.
It was so gross and blatant.
[SCOFFS] I mean, who screws
their bestselling author?
Wait, Richard and Diana?
Yeah.
Th-They're together?
Yes! And now she is back,
and they're like, "Oh
no, it's all business."
- I'm like, "I know what business." Okay?
- Oh, my God.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
RICHARD [OVER SPEAKERS]:
ladies and gentlemen.
There she is.
Diana?
It's you?
I thought No, it, it, it, it
doesn't, it doesn't make any sense.
RICHARD [OVER SPEAKERS]:
And where's your,
where's your partner in crime?
Where's Nella? Nella?
It's time for your big moment.
[GASPS] RICHARD [OVER
SPEAKERS]: Where is she?
Where is her partner
in cr There she is!
There's our Nella. Come
on you two, take a bow.
[MUFFLED CHEERING]
[EERIE, DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
HAZEL [MUFFLED THROUGH
SPEAKERS]: I, uh, I just
I have to say,
[NORMAL] coming to Wagner books
truly felt like coming home.
GUEST: Aww!
Like, finding my family,
and Nella, I guess that
kinda makes us sisters.
[HAZEL GIGGLES]
[EERIE MUSIC CONTINUES]
[MICROPHONE FEEDBACK SCREECHES]
You're a lunatic.
[GUESTS GASP]
We're not fucking sisters.
[CROWD GASPS, MURMURS]
Two seconds after you met me,
you tried to ruin my career.
What fucking planet am I on right No!
No. She's crazy. You're crazy.
She lied about the cake.
She's a liar.
Where's Jesse? Look at him.
He looks like a fucking robot.
This is what they do to people.
[GUESTS MURMURING]
Is this what you did to Kendra Rae?
What did you do to Kendra Rae?
- That's enough.
- Am I the only one who's seeing this?
Are any
[PANTING] Ca
Plea
[DREAM GIRL EVIL BY FLORENCE
AND THE MACHINE PLAYING]
Well, did you miss me? ♪
Walk on water just to kiss me ♪
NELLA [OVER SPEAKERS]: Oh, my God.
Oh, come and get me ♪
- I'm the crazy one.
- Drag me out, destroy me ♪
I've been expecting you ♪
They made me look like the crazy one.
Deliver me that bad news, baby ♪
Am I your dream ♪
Girl, pick up! This is the most
important voicemail in your life!
You need to leave that party right now.
Diana is in on it.
I repeat. Get the fuck out.
Okay. Uh, okay, uh.
Make me evil ♪
Owen, have you heard
from Nella? I can't
- [TIRES SCREECHING]
- [MALAIKA GASPS]
- [THUD]
- Malaika, Malaika, are you okay?
[OVER PHONE] Hello?
- Dream girl evil ♪
- [TIRES SCREECHING]
Dream girl evil ♪
[PANTING]
Dream girl evil ♪
Come on, pick up. Pick
up, pick up, pick up
- [SCREAMS]
- Dream girl ♪
You think of me in bed ♪
But you could never hold me ♪
You like me better in your head ♪
Dream girl evil ♪
Dream girl evil ♪
Dream girl evil ♪
Dream girl evil ♪
Watch me shimmer ♪
Shimmer ♪
A projection of your mother ♪
Mother ♪
But don't come crying ♪
Crying ♪
I am nobody's mother ♪
Center ♪
It cannot hold, it cannot hold ♪
It cannot hold ♪
It cannot hold ♪
It cannot hold ♪
[MUSIC FADES]