NELLA: Previously, on The Other Black Girl...
- Hazel. You're bad.
HAZEL: Come to a party tonight.
- You kinda made me look like you.
- All you gotta do is just chat a little bit, okay?
That is how you move up in the world.
- Don't you wanna be the up-and-coming editor?
- You shine, I shine.
- Kendra Rae took her own life. Broke my heart.
- Burning Heart. I think that Wagner should do a rerelease.
- Let's talk about it more tomorrow.
Things have changed. I need you.
♪ sensual music playing ♪
[body thuds] [Nella grunts]
[exhales] MALAIKA: You good?
- Yeah.
[exhales, grunts]
- Ooh, okay! The lipstick, the jewelry.
Aw! Did I finally convince my baby girl
to start shoppin' in the adult section?
- It was Hazel, actually.
- Okay. - Uh--
- [scoffs] So, I've been beggin' you to let me do your eyebrows for forever
and now you lettin' this brand-new girl
give you a full-ass makeover?
- Okay, well, you know that I am scarred from middle school
when I let the lady at the department store do my eyebrows
and it looked like two pieces of floss.
- Yeah, I know all about your trauma.
- Besides, Hazel's the one who pushed me to talk to Richard
in her clothes and this lip color,
and I just felt like,
I don't know, like a different person.
- And you think the lipstick did that?
[chuckling scoff] Okay, okay.
Praise Hazel.
- Okay, but seriously, we should all hang out
because I want this friendship to be a real thing.
- You are lowkey obsessed.
- So?
Dinner?
Saturday?
♪ Under Control by The Internet playing ♪
- Fine.
And just so you know,
Richard would've loved your proposal even if you were wearin' a trash bag
with trash in it.
♪ I know I'm destined for greatness ♪
♪ Fuck a critic's ♪
Please lemme do your eyebrows.
- They look fine.
- I'm tellin' you, you, you don't see what I see.
- They're fine. - You need help.
So, we're gonna have to work on your hips.
- All right. Look, I don't even really wanna [grunts] try it.
MALAIKA: So, you're gonna need to be in there
about [chuckling] three times a we--
Hello?
Did Hazel teach you to walk?
♪ suspenseful music playing ♪
Come on. NELLA: 'Kay.
MALAIKA: You good? NELLA: Yeah.
[distant sirens blaring] MALAIKA: Left, right, left, right, left.
♪ theme music playing ♪
♪ Pacific Ave by Pearl & The Oysters playing ♪
♪ My mind clocked out and left a note ♪
HAZEL: Oh!
Ah! [laughs] Okay, lip.
[gasps] Okay, blazer.
It's giving if Rihanna went corporate.
- That is literally the best compliment I have ever gotten.
I mean, who know I could pull off mixed prints?
- [clears throat] Me. It was me. [Nella chuckles]
- Hey, um, I was wondering
if you wanted to come over for dinner on Saturday
with me, Owen, Malaika. [Hazel gasps]
- Yes, I would love to. [Nella chuckles]
And, you know, I finally could put some faces to the names of your people.
- You are going to love Malaika.
You are both strong personalities, but that could work.
Like when Mariah and Whitney sang "When You Believe"
and didn't kill each other.
- Ugh. Beautiful. VERA: Nella. - Yeah.
- Please print two copies of the document I just sent you
and come into my office. [sharp inhale] Thank you.
[computer chimes] - Colin's sensitivity read is in.
- Ooh. Good luck.
- So, we can't say "crazy" anymore?
- The report says in the context of Colin's book, it's ableist.
- Oh, that's crazy-- Uh, uh, odd.
If we pull everything the sensitivity reader flagged,
there won't be a book left and we already have a release date.
- Well, how about I write up a memo summarizing everything
and then we can see what everyone else thinks?
- Yes, um, um, take your time.
I need to think about what to do here.
[knock at door] Come in.
- Hi. Richard wants to see you.
- Oh, of course. Is this about Colin?
- Actually, Richard wants to see Nella.
- Right. Um... that makes perfect sense.
- I know, I was shocked, too. I was like, "What?" [laughs]
[knock at door]
- Hi. You wanted to see me? - Yes, Nella, come on in.
I have been so thrilled, so, so inspired since our conversation--
- Me too, and I have been expanding
some of the details of the pitch. - And I, I love your enthusiasm,
but first,
how would you feel about meeting Diana Gordon?
- Like,
Diana Gordon, Diana Gordon? - That one.
- I... I-- [chuckles]
I mean, that would be amazing. [Richard chuckles]
You know, assuming I don't throw up all over myself from excitement.
- Ooh, please don't do that.
- Oh, my God.
- I do love to be met with awe, but... I'm just a person.
- A person who wrote... Burning Heart.
- Diana, this is Nella Rogers.
Nella, the woman you're looking at with your mouth open
is my old friend, Diana.
- Nice to meet you, Nella.
- [gasps/whispers] It's really nice to meet you, too.
- Nella's one of our best assistants, although probably not for much longer.
Diana and I, um, reconnected recently,
and she's thinking of bringing her next project here to Wagner.
She's coming home. - [chuckles] Maybe.
- Maybe. I-- Yes, yes, yes.
Let--
[intercom beeps] - S-Sophie, would you gather
all of the editors in the conference room, please?
HAZEL: Yes, yes, of course. No problem. - Hazel. Hazel.
She's here; she's literally here. - Okay, bye. I can't read your mind, girl.
- Diana Gordon. I just met her, and she smells incredible, by the way.
Do you remember the first time you walked into a Bath & Body Works?
HAZEL: Ah. - Like that.
- Love that. NELLA: Yes.
- And I am freakin' out on the inside,
too, okay? NELLA: Mm-hm.
- But I really need you to calm down for me.
- Okay, I don't think I can do that.
- No, Nella, you gotta be cool around people like Diana.
This is our chance to really make an impression.
- Right. - Okay?
- Uh-huh. - All right.
- Okay. - You got this.
- Mm-hm. - Okay.
- Yeah... be cool. - Ah!
- Um, w-- Uh, how about, um,
a narrative-driven cookbook?
- Do I look like I cook? - Oh, girl, me neither... never.
- Uh, romance... is finally getting the respect it deserves.
Perhaps something Bridgerton -esque?
- I'm not much of a romantic.
Ask any of my ex-husbands. [all laughing]
- Have you ever considered revamping, like, a classic piece of IP?
Maybe something epic, like King Lear,
but, but, but, but from a Black, female perspective.
- Huh? - Um.
[clears throat]
At least it's not a cookbook. [quietly] Stupid idea.
- [sighs] I'm not dazzled, Richard.
- [whispers] Say something. - [whispers] Okay, okay, okay.
[clears throat] Uh, Ms. Gordon,
and everyone else, um,
what about a rerelease of Burning Heart?
- Thank you, Nella.
- No, no, no... Keep going.
- Oh, that's, that's what I meant.
- Right, okay.
Well, we could commission new cover art,
and get a new foreword by a young, fresh voice.
It'll open up a book that people already love
to a whole new audience.
[clapping]
- That's a smart idea, Nella. [Richard mouthing "no"]
Looks like someone came to work today.
[Richard chuckling]
- [mouthing] I told you. DIANA: But
Burning Heart... is a nonstarter.
It's too painful for me... and I don't wanna look backwards.
- Of course not.
♪ somber music playing ♪
Um,
I never should've pitched that idea.
Of course, that's not something you wanna revisit, I'm really sorry.
- You had the best idea in the room.
Even if it wasn't the right one.
- Thanks.
- You showed guts... and you were bold.
- Thank you for saying that. I really--
I mean, I just-- I admire you so much.
- You have a lot of potential.
You just need a little polish. [both chuckle]
- Well, I mean... ya know,
whatever advice you could give me, I-I would, I would cherish it.
- [chuckles] Why don't you come by my place on Saturday and we can talk shop?
- Like your actual house? - Mm-hm.
- Where you... live. - [laughs] Yes.
I do live at my house. - Right.
[both laughing]
- Well, then, of course. Definitely.
- See you then. - [softly] Yeah.
♪ light music playing ♪
♪
[knock at door]
- Nella. - Hi.
- Welcome to my home. - Thank you.
Wow.
- Can I, uh, take your coat?
- Oh, yeah, thank you.
Your doorman is very nice.
- Yes. [chuckles] - Here.
Thank you. - Make yourself comfortable.
I'm gonna get us some wine. - All right, thank you.
[phone chimes]
♪ Never Too Much by Luther Vandross playing ♪
- You know the saying, "Dress for the job you want?"
- Yeah. - Vera took that literally.
She went through a whole phase where she looked exactly like Richard.
- No. - [laughing] Yes.
Pocket squares, ties, the whole nine.
She tried to play it off as a Diane Keaton phase.
[Nella laughs]
You like the German Riesling.
- Yeah... Tastes great.
- You don't know what that is, huh?
- No idea. [Diana laughs]
- Uh... Diana,
I just wanted to, um, apologize again for bringing up Burning Heart.
Um... Richard,
he told me about Kendra Rae
and that must be so hard for you.
I'm sorry, I was not thinking.
- Your heart was in the right place.
[gasps] Don't go anywhere.
- I would literally move in if you let me. [Diana laughs]
♪ I just don't wanna stop ♪
♪ Oh, my love ♪ [phone chimes]
[texting]
♪ A million days in your ♪
[phone chimes] - Ah!
Sounds like Diana Gordon wants to adopt Nella. [laughs]
[knock at door]
- That'll be Hazel.
- At exactly 6:59.
'Kay, well, somebody doesn't fuck around. - I got this.
[Owen exhales]
Hi. - Hi.
Nella said that you were making paella
and the guy at the wine store said
that this goes great-- - Oh.
- with, um, saffron and--
As if that means anything to me. - Whoa.
[both laughing] I will open this right now.
Come on, come on in. - Thank you.
Wow, it's gorgeous.
MALAIKA: Hi. - Um, Malaika, right?
Yeah, that picture of you and, um, Nella at Afropunk faces my desk,
so I basically stare at you all day.
- That's not weird.
- Uh, Nella's runnin' a little behind.
Sounds like she and Diana are really hittin' it off.
- Ugh, I love that for her.
- So, she told you about Diana?
- Why wouldn't she?
- Not to be rude,
but I can't tell if you're bein' sarcastic or not.
- Yeah. [chuckles] We, uh, heard you're really funny.
- Thank you.
Um, of course not. [chuckles]
Nella is obsessed with Diana. This is a dream come true for her.
- Oh... I just thought you might feel some type of way
about her bein' there without you.
- [clears throat] Think I smell the, uh, saffron burning.
It was really expensive.
- Jealousy's not my style.
I'm happy when good things happen to my friends.
- Of course.
[phone chimes]
♪ R&B music softly playing through speakers ♪
KENDRA RAE [whispers]: Nella.
♪ ominous music plays ♪
Nella.
NELLA: Hello?
KENDRA RAE [whispers]: Nella.
- Nella... everything okay? - Yes, yeah.
- I thought you might wanna see this.
♪ Oh, baby, I'm yours ♪
- Wow.
[chuckling] Oh, wow. [Diana chuckles]
This is so cool!
Whoa, you guys were really into the blue eyeshadow back in the day, huh?
- Okay, watch it now. [both laughing]
- Okay, so, I was thinking, instead of a rerelease,
what about a memoir?
- Oh. - I mean, you have lived an amazing life.
Maybe it's time to tell your story.
- Ya know, I've thought about it, but the timing never felt right,
and I'd never been able to find an editor that I... trust enough.
- Well, maybe she's right here.
- Maybe this is something we can do together.
- Yeah. [Diana chuckles]
- Why don't I swing by Wagner first thing Monday
and we can discuss it with Richard.
- I'm sure he'll be thrilled.
- I'm sure he will be.
♪ Energy by MELONYX playing through speakers ♪
♪ Now I’m thinkin' maybe I’m part of the problem ♪
- Owen, where did you get this rug?
- Um... West Elm. No, uh, CB2.
- Cool... cool.
[door opening] - Hi!
Oh, my God, I'm am so, so, so sorry.
Ooh, that smells good. NELLA/OWEN: Mm.
- You good, babe? - I'm amazing.
Oh, also, um, we have to start drinking German Rieslings.
- German Rieslings. - [whispers] German Riesling.
Hi. [Hazel clears throat]
- Hi. - 'Scuse me?
Tell me, come here. How was it? Tell me everything.
- Oh, it was amazing!
I am becoming friends with Diana fucking Gordon.
[Hazel chuckles] And you're gonna become friends with her
and you two are becoming friends. - Uh-huh.
Malaika, I love your shirt. I didn't-- TLC is one of my all-time faves.
- They were ahead of their time. HAZEL: Yeah.
- RIP Lisa Lopes.
- All right, the paella needs, like, eight more stirs
and we're good to go.
Shit... We're out. Um, um--
- Oh, uh, I can get some... German Riesling.
And, uh, Owen, [whispers] why don't you come with me?
- No, babe, the, uh, the paella. - [whispers] Yeah, why don't you come--
- No. Don't worry. I, I got it... Eight more stirs, right?
- Perfect. So, you two... just sit here and become best friends
while we're gone.
[Nella whispers indistinctly]
- [inhales] Aw. [exhales] [door shuts]
Okay. Mm!
Let-- Mm.
♪ Baby-Baby-Baby by TLC playing on speakers ♪
So,
how long have you known Nella?
- Just so you know,
I'm not really buyin' this whole act.
- Act? - The clothes, the gifts,
the weird half jokes that my grandma would love.
You tried to screw over Nella the first day you met her, for no reason,
and now, all of a sudden, it's all puppy dogs and lollipops,
and, "Where'd you get this rug?"
- [chuckles] Yeah, yeah. Um... I fucked up for sure,
but Nella and I, we moved past all that
and I... I don't really know why you are so hung up on it
since it's not your business.
It just feels kind of... toxic.
- If it involves Nella, it absolutely is my business.
♪ But you gotta be down ♪
♪ A nickel gotta be true ♪
♪ Cause otherwise this "B" ♪ - Mm.
Who sings this song? - Seriously?
It's TLC.
One of your all-time faves, remember?
- Oh. [Malaika laughs]
Oh, duh. No, I hear it, I hear it now. It's--
[Hazel laughs]
- 'Kay... I'ma go to the bathroom.
♪ You got to love me deep ♪ Hm.
♪ Well, you want my heart ♪
- Think we got enough? Yeah?
We back! - Ooh, yes.
- German Riesling.
- Nella? Can we talk?
- Yeah. - In private.
- [quietly] Okay, one second, one second. - 'Kay.
♪ downbeat music plays ♪
♪ Truth is always under me ♪
♪
- Nella.
I say this with love.
But, bitch, are you blind?
- What?
- I held my tongue all night,
but, like, three weeks ago, that girl was fully comin' for you
and now, she is your friend?
It is so fake, and I can't believe you don't see that.
- How is she fake?
- Actin' like she didn't wanna go to Diana's instead of you.
Bein' so nice to me, what is that?
- Maybe she's a nice person.
- Also, just now, she had no idea when a TLC song came on.
- Okay?
- Who lies about knowin' a very popular '90s girl group?
That's crazy.
- No, you can't say craz-- [sighs] Sorry.
I think that you're overreacting. Okay?
And maybe she said that thing about TLC because she was trying to bond with you.
[Owen coughs]
[muffled] Which you don't make easy.
[Owen clears throat] And Hazel is happy for me.
We're a team now. Malaika, you hate everybody.
- Are you hot? MALAIKA: That's not true.
- I am not. Mm-mm. - Is it hot? Not hot.
I'm gettin' hot. NELLA [muffled]: ...thought she was the dumbest person you ever met
and then you dated her for three months.
- I didn't date Ruby because she was smart.
I dated her because she looked like a Fenty model
and then we broke up.
Why are you bringin' up old shit?
- I'm just saying maybe it's a pattern.
I can't believe you're goin' off like this,
after what, Mal, like, an hour with her?
Can't you just give her a chance? - I can't take this anymore.
I know that you are starved for melanin in your life, Nella, but this is not it.
- You don't own me,
and I can be friends with whoever I want,
whether Queen Malaika likes it or not.
You know, maybe you should go,
so we can enjoy our meal.
- Yeah.
Have a fuckin' blast.
♪
♪ Just ask me for some honesty ♪
♪ Don't beat around the bush with me ♪
I waited forever to eat this shit, so... I'm takin' some home.
You not even supposed to stir paella.
- It was nice to meet you!
[door slams]
[texting]
[phone whooshes]
♪ uneasy music playing ♪
♪ Splash by Mega. & Cat Gloss playing over speakers ♪
- You've had 36 hours to be mad,
you really wanna drag this out?
- Kind of.
- Okay.
I'm sorry.
But you really hurt my feelings with that shit you said.
- Okay, it was pretty low.
Michelle Obama would not be proud.
I'm sorry.
[chuckles] I don't know why I let this girl get into my head,
but, Nella,
I really don't get good vibes from her.
- And I don't see what you see.
But we don't have to love all the same people.
And you don't have to work with Hazel... I do.
And I like her... so maybe we can just leave it at that.
And besides, our little group was perfect before,
so-- - Mm.
- can we just go back to that? - Yes.
[both laughing]
You're right.
No new friends.
[Nella scoffs] [Malaika chuckles]
- I know it's bad if you're quotin' Drake in 2023.
- Right, but... also
when your shit with Hazel falls apart,
I'll be here.
- You meant that to sound sweet, didn't you?
- [scoffs] Maybe. [chuckles]
- What? - Just gimme one chance.
- Malaika. [sighs] - [singsongy] Say yes to the brows.
[quietly] Come on.
- Fine. - Ah!
- Okay, over there? - That's what I'm talkin' about.
Yes, 'cause we're here already, why not?
♪ percussive music playing ♪
- Nella. - Hey.
- Ready for the first day of the rest of your life?
- [chuckles] I really appreciate you believing in me like this.
And
I would really like to bring Hazel onto the project.
- Hazel?
- Yes, Maisy's assistant.
She loves your work just as much as I do
and you could, literally, mentor every Black woman at Wagner at once. [chuckles]
- I'm surprised.
I thought you would be thrilled to have more time with me alone.
- Oh, I-- [laughs] I am, but, um,
it's just--
[sighs]
Hazel is the one who convinced me to speak with Richard
about Burning Heart in the first place,
which is a lot of the reason why we're even here.
And my relationship with her is--
it's very important to me.
And I think that she deserves to be a part of this.
- Sounds to me like you're giving her a lotta credit
for something that you did.
- Maybe.
But
I don't wanna succeed if it means being the only one.
That's not what success looks like to me.
- Bring her on.
- Yeah? - Mm-hm.
- [laughing] Okay. Great. Okay.
Oh. [sharp inhale] - Hm.
- Okay.
♪ upbeat music playing ♪
I've been meaning to apologize
for accidentally putting you in an episode
of Real Housewives of Bay Ridge on Saturday.
- Yeah, I'm just glad nobody broke a glass.
- Well, we're a team now
and I mean that for real
because tomorrow Diana starts working on her new memoir
and she wants us both on it.
- Wait. Wait, what? Are you serious? - Yes.
I pitched her the idea of a new memoir,
and then I convinced her to bring you onto the project,
and I just know that you are going to kill this.
- That's just really, um-- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
I would totally give you a hug right now,
but I am so sweaty from havin' to talk to her.
[Hazel laughs] I'm just not--
- Nella, I'm leaving.
Um... about that sensitivity read.
Let's hold off on sending out that memo.
I'm gonna handle it myself with Colin.
- Um... okay. Are you sure?
- I'm positive.
[chuckles] I mean, I know all the tricks with him.
It's mainly about complimenting his eyes.
Anyway, we'll talk about it tomorrow. Have a good night.
- Okay.
You too.
♪ upbeat music playing ♪
- [chuckles] Hey, girl.
I didn't know you worked here. - Right.
You only asked me about four times at dinner.
- Oh, yeah. [chuckles] - Mm.
Don't come for me, Hazel.
I'm deadass.
It will not go well for you.
- Malaika,
as usual, you have it completely backwards.
I'm the one you don't wanna fuck with.
♪ ominous music playing ♪
Nella and I are working closely together now
and... I'm not goin' anywhere anytime soon.
At work or in her life.
So, I suggest you get used to that.
- Hazel?
You ready? - Yeah, that's me.
I'll see ya later, girl.
♪ ominous music continues ♪
[train rustles]
[indistinct chatter]
- Her name isn't Hazel. - What the fuck?
- It's Eva.
[PA tones]
- Hey!
Hey! Hey, wait!
[indistinct chatter]
AUTOMATED VOICE: Stand clear of the closing doors, please.
♪ tense music playing ♪
♪ music intensifies ♪
♪ eerie music playing ♪
♪