I'm ready for the movies, lamb chop.
You gonna treat your grandma?
Uh, I would but, uh, I'm a little short.
Yeah... (Clears throat) Too easy.
Don't worry, baby. It's Grandma's treat.
Cheap just like his daddy.
You wanna come with us, chickpea?
Um, I would, but I gotta write
my trailblazer report for school.
I'm writing about Christopher
Columbus but I'm just not feeling it.
It's like saying, "Congrats, Chris.
You discovered a brand-new world
that is already filled
with people lookin' at you
like, who the heck is this guy."
(Laughter)
- It would be like me discovering this pie.
- Hey, that's my pie.
Then what's it doing in my mouth?
I would much rather be writing
about a real trailblazer
like... like you, Grandma.
The first female black
spy in the Organization.
What in the Harry Potter
are you talking about?
I wasn't the first.
Cleo Brown was.
Uh, speaking of firsts, did you know a
black man invented the traffic light?
Why don't we pay homage to him
as you drive me to the movies?
Hold your horses, potato chip.
Which, FYI, was also
created by a black man.
That sour cream and onion flavor?
White folks.
So if Cleo Brown was the first, then
how come I've never heard of her?
Probably because it happened in the ' s.
Back then, it was hard
for any woman to get ahead.
But a black woman? Forget it.
Sister couldn't catch a break.
But I bet they could catch a movie, which
means they're doing better than me.
For your information, back then,
there was no glass ceiling for us.
It was made of concrete.
Maybe that's why they wore the
big Afros, to soften the bump.
Oh, but Cleo changed all of that.
She was kinda like you.
Smarter than a set of encyclopedias,
those long, pencil legs,
and a smile bigger than the Mississippi.
She was a bad mama jamma.
♪ She's the baddest of the bad ♪
♪ The toughest of the tough ♪
♪ She's Cleo Brown and
she don't take no stuff ♪
♪ Cleo, Cleo Brown ♪
♪ Oh, when danger comes for you ♪
♪ You know I'll stand beside you ♪
♪ 'Cause ain't nobody
keep things hustle cool ♪
♪ I'll always find a way,
a way out of the fire ♪
♪ Don't tell nobody, tell nobody ♪
♪ I'm not perfect ♪
♪ So many things I wanna tell you ♪
♪ But I, I, I, I keep it undercover ♪
♪ Livin' my life, no way to learn ♪
♪ Doin' my thing, gonna make it work ♪
♪ Know I'm the realest,
baby, I'm fearless ♪
♪ But I always got your back ♪
♪ Nobody can do it like I can ♪
♪ I gotta find out who I am ♪
♪ Ain't got to worry about me ♪
♪ It's all part of the plan ♪
I keep it undercover.
I keep it undercover.
Grandma, you gotta talk.
I need to know more about this Cleo Brown.
Okay, okay, now calm down, baba ganoush.
Okay, let me start at the beginning.
The year was .
Nixon was just about to resign, the
Sky Lab was orbiting the Earth,
and the world was changing.
And Cleo Brown was right smack
dab in the middle of the storm.
Now the woman's movement
was well underway,
but we have a long way to go.
Cleo Brown was a secretary,
which is fine if that's what you wanna do.
But she wanted more.
Agent Ballard, I took the liberty
of doing a little research
for your mission to Bahrain.
As is custom, you will have
to burp after every meal
in order to show your
appreciation of the host.
If you don't burp, you
will blow your cover.
(Burps loudly)
You're welcome.
And in other news, it's tuna
casserole in the cafeteria today.
I don't understand why you work so hard.
We don't have to be good at this.
We just have to be here long enough
to make a man fall in love
with us so we can get married.
Hi, Harvey.
'Cause I love spy work.
The challenge, the excitement.
Cleo, stop dreaming
about your silly career,
and start dreaming about changing diapers.
Changing diapers is your dream?
Because that is my nightmare.
There is more to life
than marriage and babies.
Not according to
Marriage and Babies Digest.
Can I see that?
Oh, sure.
Ow!
Girl, get it together; it is .
I don't know about you, but
I wanna grab the brass ring
and live the thrilling life I was meant to.
Where's my coffee?
Right after I grab Agent
Whitman his coffee.
Coming, sir.
Here you go, Mr. Whitman.
Thanks, hon.
Her boss called her hon?
Well, baby, that's the
way it was back then.
What's wrong with hon?
It's condescending, it's belittling.
It's like saying a woman's
name isn't worth remembering.
How would you like it if I called you hon?
Compared to what you usually
call me, it would be a step up.
I see your point.
Sorry, hon.
All right, agents. We have a new mission.
(Snaps fingers) Hon, get the lights.
Based on intel we just received, there's
a brand-new group of subversives
calling themselves the Other Side.
Relax.
Chances are, we'll be able
to take care of them quickly,
and they'll never be heard from again.
Meanwhile, we suspect they're
using a local discotheque
as a front to print counterfeit money.
(Snaps fingers) Hon, get the lights.
Now as soon as our informant Smitty tells
us the location of the discotheque,
we'll move in.
We need someone cool and hip to blend in
with the glamorous discotheque crowd.
Henrietta, you haven't been
on a mission for a while.
You're our gal.
Yes, hon?
Actually, it's Cleo.
Um, I just wanted to say to Henrietta,
you are an amazing agent
and a total pioneer, girl,
but, um, I just think I'm a bit more...
well, disco-ier than she is,
and a better fit for this mission.
(Laughing)
You wanna go on a mission?
Well, yeah. I'm the right age.
I watch Soul Train, so I
know all the new dances.
The Bus Stop, the Robot, and my Funky
Chicken is the funkiest in town.
Cleo, I'm as progressive as the next guy,
but I can't put you on this mission.
Why not?
Because you're a woman.
Henrietta's a woman.
Well, yeah, but you're...
You're, um...
I'm what?
You're a secretary.
Now why don't you act like one,
and get me a doughnut. Can
you handle that mission?
I am so angry, I could pop.
I went in there and
volunteered to be on a mission,
and they practically
laughed me out of the room.
You really don't want a husband, do you?
You might as well walk
around here in boring clothing
and no makeup and... never mind.
Oh, now, sweetie, are you okay?
What the heck is wrong with you?!
Keep this up and you're
gonna get us both fired.
Power to you, but I can't
get caught up in your mess.
Girl, I got four kids, one of 'em need
braces, and I'm saving up for a car.
And how would I get us both fired?
Now you know good and well they
can't tell us secretaries apart.
Then why don't you go in there and
give Agent Whitman his doughnut?
Because if I go back in there, I'm
gonna shove it down his doughnut hole.
Cleo, why are you rockin' the boat?
Now just stay in your place.
My place? I don't have to stay in my place.
This isn't the olden days when you
had to be afraid to step out of line.
This is .
A black woman ran for
president of the United States.
Now, granted, barely anybody voted
for her, but you know what, she ran.
So now you think you Shirley Chisholm?
Girl, you ain't even Shirley Temple Black.
No, I'm Cleo, Cleo Brown.
I just want the same opportunities
to succeed as anyone else in here.
(Phone rings)
(Sighs)
Hello. Agent Whitman's office.
Yes, this is Cleo speaking. Oh, hi, Smitty.
It's the informant.
Uh, you know what?
Agent Whitman is in a meeting right now.
Can I take a message?
The Xenon discotheque.
All right, I'll let him know.
Thank you.
(Clears throat)
The Xenon. Interesting.
Cleo Brown, you are workin' my last nerve.
Now go in there and give
Whitman that message.
I could, and he could say, "Thanks,
hon. Go get me another coffee,"
or I could go to the Xenon,
complete the mission by myself,
and prove that I have what
it takes to be a real spy.
Now I'm taking this mission.
(Paper drops)
I forgot I burnt my bra.
This story's getting good.
Because she said bra?
No. Because this brave woman had
the courage to prove her worth
in a society that
undervalued her contributions
simply because of the color of her skin.
- And because she said bra.
- (Giggles) Yeah.
So let me guess.
Cleo Brown went behind the Organization's
back, completed the mission,
they say how amazing she
was and made her an agent.
Excuse me. Who's telling this story?
Right now, no one. Come on, Grandma.
You can't leave a chickpea hangin'.
Okay. So that night,
Cleo convinced her friends
to go with her to the discotheque.
I can't believe I let Cleo Brown
talk me into helping her on
some crazy secret mission.
Secret mission? She told
me this was a fix-up.
I hope no one sees me here.
I cannot afford to get fired.
I got four kids, one of 'em need
braces, and I'm savin' up for a car.
Well, I hope no one sees me here either.
How pathetic, being out
on the town without a date.
I don't wanna seem desperate.
Said the girl who tells first dates
she already has a wedding dress.
That is not desperate.
That is prepared.
Not you two.
What the heck are you lookin' at?
Jive turkey!
What, so you sayin' we not cool
and hip enough for this club?
Just for that, I'm not offering you
a bite of my meatloaf sandwich.
Don't tell me I'm not cool and hip.
♪ She's the baddest of the bad ♪
♪ The toughest of the tough ♪
♪ She's Cleo Brown and
she don't take no stuff ♪
♪ Cleo, Cleo Brown ♪
What the heck was that?
Oh, it's Cleo!
(Deep voice) Cleo Brown!
How you feelin', ladies?
You're late.
I may be late, but I am right... on time.
Well, actually, you're not.
But regardless, they're not letting us in.
You are with Cleo Brown.
They'll let us in. Ya dig?
Come on in.
Baby, I'm already in.
GRANDMA: And spinnin' on
the turntables that night
was the coolest deejay who ever lived.
DJ Funky Wonder.
Grandma Gayle, did DJ
Funky Wonder look like me?
Uh, no, fluffernutter.
Not even a little?
Sorry, soda pop.
Can he look like me?
Ugh! Fine.
(Feedback whines)
Are you ready to get on down?
Right on, right on. Are
you ready to get on up?
You're rockin' with DJ Funky Wonder.
I'm gonna make you
boogie-oogie-oogie
until you just can't boogie no more, baby.
Boogie.
Come on, ladies. You gotta loosen up.
We gotta blend in. We're on a mission here.
No, you're on a mission here.
I need to be home.
I got four kids, one of 'em need
braces, and I'm savin' up for a car.
Yes, you have mentioned that.
If you ask me, I'd just buy the car,
and tell that kid of yours to
smile with his mouth closed.
Yeah, Carol.
Be cool.
Don't be all, like, uncool.
All right, ladies, I'm gonna
groove my way to the back room
and see if I can get a picture of the
counterfeiting machine on my Afro camera.
Oh, what's an Afro camera?
It's a camera in my Afro.
Now all I gotta do is take a picture
of the counterfeiting machine,
send it in to the drugstore, wait a
couple of weeks for it to come back,
then show it to Agent Whitman.
Then he'll come down here to the disco,
and bust 'em cold stone
and then, shablooya!
I will be Agent Cleo Brown in no time.
Well, a little bit of
time, but you know what.
I've waited a year, so I
can wait a couple more weeks.
GRANDMA: Now don't ask me how,
but Cleo shimmied her way
into the bowels of the club.
"TNT Boom."
Man: It's right here in the storage room.
Okay, Skully, we're almost
finished pressing the LP's.
We definitely shipping tonight?
Yep, and no one will ever guess the
albums are actually made out of dynamite.
Ho! (Laughs)
The records will soon be in
the hands of the Other Side.
Hopefully soon, some
bread will be in my hands.
Ah, yeah, about that.
(Laughing) What was he thinking?
I make records out of dynamite.
Did he really expect me to pay him?
Clean up this mess.
And try not to blow anything up.
I'm starting to think I should've
let Henrietta do this mission.
I wonder if it's too late
to cram her into a tube top.
Oh, hey, Cleo.
Hey. It turns out there's some
pretty crazy stuff goin' on here.
Tell me about it.
This disco music is out of sight.
Turns out you can dance all by yourself.
I'm telling you, this music has changed me.
I don't need a man to dance with.
I don't need a man at all.
That's too bad, because there's a
guy over there checking you out.
I don't even care.
Why you dancin' over to him?
It's a coincidence.
Cleo, did you get the picture you need?
I got the pictures, all right.
Turns out they're making
records out of dynamite.
I need to tell Agent Whitman so he
can come down here and handle it.
So he can handle it?
Cleo, I thought this was your mission.
This is the chance you've
been dreaming about.
You will never be able to live with
yourself unless you complete it.
(Feedback whines)
Hey, hey, party people.
I was just in the back room, and
stumbled across a new record
from a band I've never heard of called TNT.
Their new single's called "Boom."
Let's see if it blows us away, baby.
Oh, it will blow us away, as soon
as he puts it on the turntable.
It's made out of dynamite. We
need to get outta here right now.
Or you can finish what you started.
Now all you foxy ladies and cool cats,
let's get ready to groove to "Boom."
No! You can't play that
record. It's a b*mb.
At least give it a chance, lollipop.
For all you know, it
could be... dyn-o-mite.
You may be bad, but I'm badder.
I am bad, bad Cleo Brown.
♪ She's the baddest of the bad ♪
♪ The toughest of the tough ♪
♪ She's Cleo Brown, and
she don't take no stuff ♪
♪ Cleo, Cleo Brown ♪
Grandma Gayle, I don't want you to think
that I'm accusing you
of stretching the truth,
but I just flat out don't believe you.
I mean, how did Cleo Brown, who had
never been on a mission before,
and was basically ready
to run through the door,
all of a sudden b*at the
snot out of bad guys?
Ten, , , I don't know the exact number.
I ain't no accountant.
But she did save the day, and there's
a whole lot more to the story.
But first, I gotta take a little nappy nap.
- Both: No!
- I'm just yankin' your chain.
Okay, so anyway, the next day, it
was right back to work for Cleo.
Cleo, can I see you in the
conference room, please?
Okay, this is it. Go get 'em, Agent Brown.
I am so proud of you.
♪ You're getting your promotion ♪
I see you have a bruise on your chin.
Well, you should see the other guys.
In fact, in two weeks, when the pictures
come back from the drugstore,
you will be able to.
Cleo, I'm furious with you.
I think what you mean is, good work.
You broke every rule in the
book going on that mission.
I think what you meant
to say is I proved myself.
I proved that I am just as capable
as anybody in this office.
I deserve to be an agent.
No. You deserve to be fired!
But I'm gonna spare your job,
because you have four kids,
one of 'em needs braces,
and you're saving for a car.
That is not me!
Look, I'm gonna do you a big favor,
keep this whole mess off your record,
because you're a good girl.
First off, I am not a girl. I am a woman.
Secondly, I am not good.
I am bad. Bad, bad Cleo Brown!
And last but definitely not
least, I will do us both a favor.
I quit!
You got that... hon?
Everybody back to work.
(Phone rings)
Hello.
Hi, Charlie.
A date tonight? I don't think so.
I am going disco dancing by myself.
Oh, and another thing.
I'm letting my underarm hair grow!
I want a promotion.
I wanna apply to become a spy.
Aren't you supposed to be making coffee?
I have made enough coffee.
Wait. So Cleo Brown rocked the mission,
saved hundreds of people
from a disco inferno,
and still never officially became a spy?
What the heck kinda female
empowerment story is that?
The kind we had in the ' s, baby.
But if you allow me to
finish, ramen noodle,
Cleo did go on to start her
own successful detective agency.
And Cleo's lesson was our blessing.
Because after that, the powers that be
saw that black women could do any job
just as well as anybody
else, if not better.
And we began to get promoted.
And that is the story of Cleo Brown.
You ready to go to the movies, hon?
No!
I'm too upset about what happened to Cleo.
And don't call me hon.
Well, I'm glad you liked the story.
You know, we should know about our past.
It's just a shame that
Cleo didn't get her due.
Too bad there's nothing
we can do to change it.
Or can we?
Cleo Brown kicked down the doors so that
my Grandma Gayle could become a spy.
My Grandma Gayle fought discrimination
with her head held high,
so that my mother could become a spy.
Then my mother, well, she... she kinda
dragged me into this without asking,
but you know what, I digress.
Some people kick down doors,
some people get dragged through
doors against their will.
Anyway... it is thanks to Cleo
that all young black female spies
can be brave, know our worth, and fly.
And that is why we honor
her today with this bust.
Oh, baby, it's okay. You can let it out.
(Giggling) She said bust.