NELLA: Previously, on The Other Black Girl...
I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner
on Saturday. - Yes, I would love to.
- If we pull everything the sensitivity reader flagged,
there won't be a book left.
- How would you feel about meeting Diana Gordon?
- Instead of a rerelease, what about a memoir?
- Maybe this is something we can do together.
HAZEL: Jealousy's not my style.
I'm happy when good things happen to my friends.
- It is so fake and I can't believe you don't see that.
- How is she fake?
- Nella and I are working closely together now,
so I suggest you get used to that.
- Her name isn't Hazel, it's Eva. - What the fuck?
- Hey, hey!
[alarm blares]
[sharp exhale]
♪ tense music playing ♪
[people chattering]
[ambient city street noise]
[alarm blares]
[grunts]
[people chattering]
[alarm blares]
♪ tense music continues ♪
[people chattering] [distant siren wails]
[phone ringing]
- Owen? OWEN [on phone]: Babe.
NELLA [on phone]: What's wrong? - You haven't been answerin' my calls.
I was worried.
- I was on the subway. Aren't you at work?
- School was canceled. We have asbestos.
- What? Oh, okay. Look, I'm about to head into work,
and I really can't have this conversation again.
- You shouldn't even be at work at all. You're bein' followed.
NELLA: Babe, I'm okay.
Sure, that woman was scary, and, yeah, I didn't sleep last night,
but I told myself at 3 A.M. that her problem was with Hazel,
who she thinks is Eva for some reason.
- Just promise me that you won't go see her.
- I promise.
As soon as I see Hazel, I'm gonna get some answers, okay?
I love you.
♪ ominous music plays ♪
♪ theme music playing ♪
[elevator dings]
VERA: No, no, that is not what I'm saying.
I'm saying it is absolutely under control.
Um, handle this. Nella! Nella! Oh, finally.
Oh, this morning's been an absolute nightmare.
I couldn't even get my eyebrows on straight.
Thank God you got my coffee.
- Oh, um, that's actually--
And you're done. [frenzied chatter]
What's going on? - There's no time.
Colin's book.
It was leaked.
- Leaked? By who? [Vera exhales]
- The sensitivity reader, we think.
Doesn't matter. Point is, the book is out there!
And the response is-- [groans]
Well, [scoffs] well, see for yourself. [sighs]
NELLA: Oh, my God, Jesse Watson canceled Wagner?
How did this happen? I have Google Alerts for all those words.
- Well, the internet moves fast,
and, apparently, the consensus is that Wagner is racist.
- Right... Who knew?
- [sharp exhale] Look, I should've listened to you.
Not about the sensitivity reader, that person screwed us all over,
but about the book. It was bad.
- So, why didn't you do anything about it?
- I was trying to do the right thing for Wagner!
- I was doing what was right for Wagner and the world.
- And somebody leaked it, and now we're both drowning.
And, and... they want us to drop Colin.
He's our biggest asset.
He single-handedly keeps Wagner and the pageboy cap industry in business.
Look, I need your help.
- Oh... No, no, I'm not very good at that kinda stuff.
My friend, Malaika, is the one who does the--
- I need you.
- [sighs] Oh, my God.
[Nella groans]
'Kay.
- Hey, listen, um,
I begged Colin to save your job,
and... [inhales] now I really need your help to save everyone's in this building.
Richard has gone to talk to the board, and I am here.
I'm left in charge of damage control until he gets back.
But [whispers] Nella, Nella, Nella, I cannot go down like this.
Please.
- Okay. [Vera gasps]
- [sharp exhale] Thank you.
NELLA: Vera Parini will see you soon.
Okay, thank you. Bye. [frenzied office chatter]
- Holy crap.
Can you believe this? Do you think our jobs are in trouble?
- Yes. Have you seen Hazel?
I need to talk to her about something else.
SOPHIE: She called in sick.
- Seriously?
- I can't blame her.
Being affiliated with any kind of racial injustice makes me sick, too.
- Totally.
[sharp exhale]
[line ringing, call connects]
Hi, Trish, this is Nella in Vera Parini's office.
Vera wanted me to let you know
that Wagner is gonna be handling press for the time being
and that we have everything under control.
VERA: Nella!
Will you get me another coffee?
- I gotta go, Trish. Thanks, bye.
- Get one for yourself because you need to stay caffeinated. Mm!
- Nella.
Glad you're free. We have a crisis.
- Yep, I'm dealing with it right now. BRIDGET: Oh, not that.
Today is Shannon's birthday, and Hazel signed up to help.
But she's out sick,
so I'm gonna need you to get everyone to sign the card.
- All right, okay. I'll do it, all right? I'll do it.
- Oh, and don't worry. I'll handle the crepe chef.
- Crepe chef.
- [gasps] Nella. Oh, God, thank you.
I need you to gather everyone in the conference room
for an all-hands meeting. Hurry up!
- Okay, and don't forget the card for Shannon,
and don't mention the crepe chef.
It's a surprise! - Okay.
- Did I-- [sniffles]
NELLA: Maisy?
- Yes. [sniffles]
NELLA: You okay? - Yeah, I'm fine. I'm--
Oh, I'm just fine. [chuckles, sniffles]
Did Hazel not come in today because she thinks I'm... racist?
- What? No.
I think.
- I am a good person.
I volunteer, you know, when I can.
And, and now I have all of these authors
that I've been nurturing for a very long time
calling me and telling me that they cannot be associated with me.
All of my assistants have been POCs,
and now this is happening, to me!
Like, they're-- - Okay, um, are you angry?
- Am I allowed to be?
- Okay, listen... This is not about you.
And if I, of all people, can buck the fuck up
and do my job today... so can you.
- You're right. NELLA [whispers]: Yeah.
- You're right.
Oh, God... Thank you.
NELLA: Oh, okay. [camera shutter clicks]
- Did you just take a picture of me? "Hashtag support Black women."
- You know, I'll delete it. I'll delete it!
VERA: All right, everyone.
[groans] Richard is on his way, but I want you all to rest assured
that I have everything under control.
Colin knows that he has to come here immediately to the office,
but in the meantime,
we are going to focus on composing... [snaps fingers] his public apology.
MAISY: A public apology? - [sighs] Maisy.
- It's, like, isn't this a little too late?
- What? MAISY: I mean, let's be honest.
Colin... has always been a problem.
- We were alone in the elevator one time
and he looked me straight into the eye while he farted.
[phone vibrates] VERA: He's allergic to everything.
It happens all the time.
- Problem. VERA: Okay, focus your mind, Bridget.
Focus your mind!
Who has a good idea? We would like to start this apology well.
[line ringing]
[ringing, call connects] - What's going on? Are you okay?
MALAIKA [on phone]: Whoa, I'm good.
You the one with the stalker.
- No, that's Hazel's stalker.
And can you blame me for being worried? You said "911."
- With a dancer emoji
to emphasize that this is a 911 of spicy, hot tea.
NELLA [on phone]: Yeah, and on any other day,
I would really appreciate that, but today has been kinda rough.
MALAIKA: I saw.
Black Twitter plus Sophie is goin' off,
but it's about to get better... I think.
- What're you talkin' 'bout?
- You will not believe who is havin' lunch at my third favorite bougie spot.
- I don't care where A-Rod eats.
- No, no. Richard Wagner and Hazel.
- What?
- Shit, they gettin' up.
- No, no, no. [whispers] That's, that's impossible.
Hazel's out sick and Richard is-- - A zaddy. Pfft!
But wait... isn't he married?
- [whispers] To a Kennedy!
- I told you that company was a hellhole.
They all rotten to the core, even though I don't believe in monogamy.
NELLA: I can't believe she's pretending to be sick.
And what is Richard doing? Hazel is an employee.
- Or is it Eva? [laughs] Isn't that what the stalker called her?
Clearly, this girl has a lot of secrets.
NELLA: Oh, my God, this is so fucked.
You know, maybe that stalker was right.
- You not meetin' with her tonight, right?
VERA: Nella!
MALAIKA: ...to reassess that-- - [whispers] Oh, I gotta go.
- Nella? Nella?
♪ light music playing through restaurant speakers ♪
She hung up on me.
Where's my seafood tower?
[horns honking, ambient street noise]
- Let's not lose focus. We really have to get this done.
Oh, thank you for joining us.
Okay, besides some slight... complications,
we are going to go forward with my plan
for the public apology, so I need you to take notes.
- Maybe Colin should take notes.
- [sighs] Excuse me?
♪ intense percussive music playing ♪
- I mean, [sighs]
Colin clearly has no idea that he's done anything wrong.
So, what is this apology for?
Nobody's gonna believe a word of it.
And if we wanna write an apology,
it should be on behalf of Wagner and this entire department
for letting this mess happen. - I have been doing everything that I can
to get us out of this mess.
- Actually, I wanna know what Nella thinks we should do.
- Oh, well.
- I think we should cancel the release.
[group murmurs] - But Richard wants the book to go out.
So, do you like your jobs?
Fine, end of discussion.
- You said the book was bad and you don't wanna release it.
- It's not about what I want. It's about what other people need!
- If you were thinking of other people,
you wouldn't have buried the sensitivity read.
[group murmurs indistinctly]
- That's not exactly what happened.
- You are so afraid of losing this book, about losing money,
that you didn't see how offensive it was
and that we might all just lose our jobs anyway.
And now Colin's gonna make a fake apology and it won't change anything.
And I'm gonna be stuck in this bad dream
where we're all just sitting around eating crepes for Shannon's birthday.
- Really?! - It was a surprise!
VERA: Enough!
You're wrong about one thing. Change is afoot.
Because while we may be here eating crepes,
you will be fired.
[group murmurs indistinctly]
Please go collect your things.
- Nella isn't going anywhere.
♪
- Richard! Ah! [chuckles]
- Vera, let's talk outside, you and I.
- Oh, no. I, uh, I don't think that's necessary.
Um... I have everything under control.
So, whatever you wanna say, you can say here.
- Well, in that case, I have news.
In light of the inherent and glaring problems
with Needles and Pins,
we will be dropping the book effective immediately.
[indistinct murmuring]
- Well, you can't be serious, Richard.
- I am, yes.
- But just this morning... you told me to save the book.
- That was this morning.
I've been listening to some of the concerns raised recently.
I want this company to reflect the diversity,
the inclusivity, and the values of 2023.
Values, which by the way, do not include burying
the negative results of a sensitivity read
for one of our most important releases.
- I don't know what people have been telling you--
RICHARD: People, Vera?
This isn't about anybody but you.
I thank you... for your many years of devoted service,
service which must now come to an end.
I need to ask you... to collect your things and go.
[indistinct murmuring]
- Col-Collect my--
You can't-- M-Me?
[yells] What the actual fuck?!
[Richard clears throat]
Okay. - [mouths] Oh, shit.
VERA: Okay, fine. Fine.
Maybe I wasn't always as conscientious as I could have been,
but... I worked my ass off for this company, for decades,
and everyone in this room knows it!
I gave, [inhales] I gave up everything!
Ha!
Well,
I'm not gonna let this little bump in the road
compromise my... dignity.
[deep breath in and out]
[sniffles] I am walking out of here with my head held high.
Nella, my bag.
RICHARD: Nella doesn't work for you anymore.
[Vera chuckles]
- Right.
Mm.
Well,
Nella,
looks like someone turned you into a force to be reckoned with.
You're welcome.
[crepe cart rattling]
Ugh, you have got to be kidding me!
- I'm sorry if that was uncomfortable for anyone.
In the midst of the chaos today, I was thinking a lot about the past,
specifically about Burning Heart,
a book which represents both this company's past
and its future.
I think we should pause work on Diana Gordon's memoir
in favor of Nella's brilliant idea
of a dedicated rerelease of Burning Heart.
I've spoken to Diana about this and she agrees.
Nella, you will be running point on this as assistant editor.
Hazel will be there to help you along the way.
Not only that,
Diana will be launching a new imprint
focusing on and celebrating diverse voices,
and the Burning Heart rerelease
will be the centerpiece of that imprint's launch.
We have been ignoring the problems here for t--
Hm.
I have.
I've made mistakes,
and for that, I'm sorry.
But I am so proud
to be steering this company down a new path.
Let's all... make Wagner Books
a place we can call home.
[group applauds]
[cheers and applause]
[applause continues] ♪ light music playing ♪
♪ upbeat party music playing on speakers ♪ - Hazel, this cake is so good.
I can't stop eating it. HAZEL: Yeah, the place that I got it from
uses some special kinda spiced rum.
SOPHIE: Hm. - Actually, it was my grandparents' wedding cake.
GROUP: Aw. - Yeah, yeah.
Basically, if you got married in Harlem in, like, the last hundred years,
you had this cake.
SOPHIE: [exhales] Well, it's incredible. [laughs]
- Oh, and I love that you share it with us. COLIN: Vera! Vera!
Vera! Richard, what's going on?
Why is there cake and crepes? And w-where is Vera?
- Happy birthday, Shannon. [Bridget chuckles]
- Thank you so much, Richard.
- Colin, let's talk in my office. - What? No.
I'm not gonna be summoned to your office like I'm a naughty child.
My books paid for all of this.
They, they, they, they paid for these desks, and that chair,
even these stupid fucking balloons!
[Shannon gasps]
- Thank you for making this so much easier to say.
Colin, you are no longer a Wagner author.
[all murmuring]
Somebody call security. - Oh, I-I'd love to.
[phone button beeps, line ringing]
- [clears throat] Hello, yes, we need security.
No, not dangerous. Just some clown who doesn't get it.
[ambient city street noise]
- Nella! Nella.
Hey, hey, hey. [laughs] - Hi.
- Congratulations! Aren't you excited? - [quietly] Yeah.
- You haven't even said anything since we heard the good news.
- Yeah. No, I'm super excited. I'm, I'm just--
I'm tired, and I, I feel kinda blindsided.
- Ooh, in a good way? - Yeah.
- Okay, 'cause somebody had to tell Richard about that sensitivity read.
And once I did, it was pretty safe to assume
that he'd do somethin' about it. [chuckles]
- So, you weren't sick?
- Look, someone was gonna have to take the fall, and I made a move.
Vera has never done anything to me personally--
- She was my boss for two years. - But she wasn't promoting you.
And we both wanna be editors, right?
So, I genuinely feel sorry for anyone
who was unfortunate enough to be in our way. [laughs]
Ooh! You know what? Wait a minute.
I have something that I wanna give you.
[groans] Oh. [sighs] Oh, God.
♪ ominous music playing ♪ Can't--
Ah, here it is.
It's a crepe. [laughs]
They're delicious, and I saw you didn't get one.
- Oh, thanks.
You know, everybody was fawning over the cake,
so I really only tried that.
- Ugh, that fuckin' cake. I hate that cake.
It, ugh, reminds me of pukin' up Captain Morgan's.
I mean, honestly, it's my fault because I told 'em to send the last thing
they had in stock. - W-Wait, wait, sorry.
So, that wasn't your grandparents' wedding cake?
- [laughs] Girl, no! What?!
I don't know what my grandparents ate on their wedding day,
let alone all of Harlem.
Sometimes, you just have to be the person they want you to be, right?
Anyway,
congratulations.
It's gonna be a wild ride.
[Hazel chuckles]
- Her name isn't Hazel. It's Eva.
♪ suspenseful music playing ♪
[train rattling]
♪
- Hey, it's me. Everything's fine.
I... just got held up at work, so I'm gonna be... a little late.
Okay. Bye.
♪ suspenseful music playing ♪
- Name.
- Oh, um...
Nella?
- This way.
♪ suspenseful music continues ♪
GOTH ATTENDANT: This is your room. Enjoy.
♪ End Of The Road by Boyz II Men playing ♪
♪ Spinning around and around ♪
[tires screeching] ♪ Although we've come ♪
SHANI: Hey!
♪ To the end of the road ♪ [fighting, indistinct yelling]
♪ Still I can't let go ♪ [tires screeching]
[phone dings]
♪ I belong to you ♪
♪ Come ♪
- [through computer] The craziest thing about this whole situation is,
is, is, i-is that I am, in point of fact,
the least racist person that I know.
[sharp inhale] I mean, in truth, I, I, I, I, I, I don't even see colors.
I see characters.
♪ End Of The Road continues ♪
♪ You belong to me ♪
♪ I belong to you ♪
♪ Come to the end of the road ♪
♪ Still I can't let you go ♪
♪ It's unnatural ♪
♪ You belong to me ♪
♪ I belong to you ♪
♪ Girl, I know you really love me ♪
♪ You just don't realize ♪
♪ You've never been there before ♪
♪ It's only your first time ♪
♪ Maybe I'll forgive you ♪
♪ Mm ♪
♪ Maybe you'll try ♪
♪ We should be happy together forever ♪