03x17 - The Foreign Identity

[bunniefuu]

Raven's Home was filmed in
front of a live studio audience.

- Morning.
- Hi.

Hey, mom! Booker
and I are gonna run

to that new cafe
downstairs for breakfast.

Why? W-Why would you do that?

Nia, we have perfectly good food

right here in the fri...

You know what? Why
don't you bring me something

with some jelly in it?

Hey, uh, Levi, you coming with?

No, thanks. I've
got a history project

on the Parthenon to finish.

Oh, well, honey, you can
take a break, can't you?

Rome wasn't built in a day!

The Parthenon isn't Roman, mom.

It's Greek, but good joke.

Oh, really? You did? That's
exactly where Booker and I are going.

- Tess says the bear claw is amazing.
- Mm-hmm.

How do you understand
what she's saying?

I speak fluent Tess.

♪ Ohhh ♪

♪ Hey... Yo ♪

♪ Let me tell you somethin' ♪

♪ Had my vision all worked out ♪

♪ But then life
had other plans ♪

♪ Tell 'em, Rae ♪

♪ It's crazy when things
turn upside down ♪

♪ But ya gotta get up
and take that chance ♪

♪ Maybe I'm just finding my way
Learning how to fly ♪

♪ Yeah, we're gonna be okay
Ya know I got you, right? ♪

♪ It might be wild, but ya
know that we make it work ♪

♪ We're just kids caught
up in a crazy world ♪

♪ C'mon! ♪

♪ It's Raven's Home ♪
Yo!

♪ We get loud! ♪

♪ It's Raven's Home ♪

♪ It's our crowd! ♪

♪ Might be tough, but
together we make it look good ♪

♪ Down for each other
like family should ♪

♪ It's Raven's Home ♪

♪ When it's tough ♪

♪ It's Raven's Home ♪

♪ We got love ♪

♪ 'Cause no matter the weather,
ya know we gon' shine ♪

♪ There for each other,
ya know it's our time ♪

Yep! That's us.

Look at this place.
It's so quaint!

Oh, and look at all this tea.
It reminds me of England.

Uh, you've never
been to England.

Conveniently,

neither have you, so
you can't check me, boo.

Hello, mum.

Can I have a cup of
Earl Grey, two biscuits,

a scone, and an apple juice
for me mate, please? Thank you.

Biscuits?

Nah, these are
straight up cookies.

We English know breakfast, mate.

Bonjour, mademoiselle.

I noticed your accent.

It's très charmant.

Très charmant?

Oui. Very charming.

You see, I am
visiting from France,

and it's so nice to
meet another foreigner.

You're from England, no?

No, Nia was just...
just... having a go

because I'm new to Chicago.

Fresh off the plane
from London, pleasure.

Enchanté. my name is .

Nia. And this is Booker, my...

Cousin!

I'm staying with him
for a cultural exchange.

Uh, yep. Nia was
just teaching me

all about biscuit cookies.

They're dope!

Booker, that's not rubbish!

Recycling is my passion.

You may have heard
of the Paris accord?

The Paris accord?

I live by it.

, are you planning
on visiting the Willis tower,

or the art institute, or millennium
park while you're here in Chicago?

Ah. Merci for the
recommendations.

Now, I will think of you
when I explore the city.

Au revoir.

Booker. Nia.

- Toodle-oo, !
- Yeah, bye!

Hey, uh, what the heck was that?

What? We had a moment.

He's charmant, and
he loves recycling,

and he's super cute,

but it's whatever. Look,
I was just having fun.

It's not like I'm ever
gonna see him again.

Forgot my keys.

Okay, now I will
never see him again.

Oh, and make sure you
mention the statue of Athena!

Ms. Gates is obsessed with her!

I forgot to mention
Athena in my presentation,

automatically minus points.

- Good looking out!
- Hey, kids.

Listen, I know you
didn't ask for our help,

but I thought what kind
of parents would we be

if we waited for that, right?

Surprise! We made
you the Parthenon!

- You're welcome!
- Wow.

That's the Parthenon?

It looks more like a
gingerbread house.

Yeah, I think I'm gonna stick
to my computer presentation.

Okay! But when we
were in the sixth grade,

a project like this would've
put us over the top.

- Over the top.
- Yeah!

Well,

this is why Tess
is here to help me.

She was...

How do I put this delicately?

More recently in sixth grade?

You know, in this century.

- I-I'm sorry. Are you...
- What?

Are you inferring that
we cannot compete

in sixth grade academics?

I didn't say that...

- We did the sixth grade!
- Yeah.

We did it. We did all
the grades, all right?

I even did all four
semesters of college!

Chels, no. No.

- Chels, it's not...
- I did!

It's four years, not semesters.

All right! I did
eight semesters.

What is it, ? ?

I don't care. I was there.

Hey, I'm just here to help Levi.

Is that a challenge, Ms. Gen z?

Gen z! Huh? Is it?

- Nobody said anything about...
- oh, no, no, no!

Somebody said that
they wanted to compete

in an adults versus children's

sixth grade aca-demic
compe-tition.

Nobody said anyth...

- We accept! We accept!
- We accept! We accept!

Yeah!

Until we meet again
on the b*ttlefield!

Otherwise known as
this living room. What!

So, are you gonna come help me?

Nia,

I was never gonna help
you. We both know that.

Wait, Nia? Booker?

?

I mean... !
What a surprise!

You live here, too?

The Davises on the second
floor are my host family.

I'm going to Eunetta High

for the three-week
exchange student program.

Crikey.

This is a mad coincidence.

What are the chances?

Yes, quel chance!

My first friends in
Chicago are my neighbors.

Would you like
to join me up here

for a picnic later
this afternoon?

- Brilliant!
- Super. See you at : .

A toute.

- Gesundheit.
- Cheers.

Well, looks like your
French boyfriend's

gonna be around for a while,
so, uh, gotta come clean.

Come clean?

Thirty seconds ago, I thought
I'd never see this guy again,

but...

Now I know he
lives in our building?

I can't slap fate in the face!

I'm going to keep
my foreign identity

for three weeks!

What? You're gonna
pretend to be English

- for three weeks?
- I have to!

It's too late.
already thinks I am.

And if I tell him I
was faking my accent,

he'll think I'm a liar.

Or worse,
culturally insensitive.

And I'm a modern,
intersectional feminist,

so that's the worst
thing to be called!

No.

The worst thing is pretending
to be someone you're not.

Just be Nia.

Come on, book! Help me!

I really like this guy.

Besides, you owe me.

For what?

favors, to be exact.

... Wow, these
are very detailed.

I don't know.

How you gonna keep this up?

Well, easy.

goes to another school,

so I only have to
keep this up at home.

Then he'll go back to France,

and by the time we
see each other again,

I'll have finished high
school and college,

masters and PhD programs,
and become so Americanized

I've lost my English accent.

Problem solved.

Wow, you are really
all-in on this French guy.

So, you'll help me?

Fine.

But first, I have a sixth
grade competition to host.

I owe Levi favors, too.

Welcome to the adults vs kids

sixth grade
academic competition!

Introducing, the mamas!

Yeah, the mamas!

Get in there! We're the mamas!

Versus smaller & baller!

- Smaller!
- And baller!

All right, look, I will read
a question at random

from a sixth grade
online test bank.

If you know the
answer, hit your buzzers!

First team to answer
questions correctly wins!

First question.

What is the Pythagorean theorem?

I know this, I know this!

A squared plus b squared
equals c squared, baby!

- One point for smaller & baller!
- Woo!

In your face!

Whoa!

Ding, blam, and kerplat

are examples of onomatopoeia!

Oh!

Got it!

Come on!

With to zero,
smaller & baller win!

Woo!

Until next time on
the adults vs kids

sixth grade
academic competition.

Hey, hey, hey!
Stay smart, Chicago.

- Good game.
- Yeah, yeah, it was a good game.

- It was a good game, kids. Good game...
- Yeah, yeah.

Enjoy that taste of
victory 'cause, uh,

you're not gonna have it
tomorrow we get this rematch.

- Rematch?
- Oh, you want a rematch?

We'd love a rematch!

Woo!

You're going down!

How does this keep
happening to us?

We've so much in common!

Passionate about
the environment,

globally minded,
stunningly clever.

Or just stunning.

Ew!

Ugh! I was expecting more French

chocolat! not French
whatever this is.

But, you are
enjoying the picnic?

Oh, indeed! Of course he is!

Don't be cheeky, books.

This reminds me of the
English tradition of afternoon tea.

Oh, I'd love to attend an
authentic English afternoon tea.

Can I join you tomorrow?

Righto!

Help me.

Uh... Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep!

Nia can definitely do that

because she's been to teas.

And, uh, and England,
too, 'cause, uh,

that's where she's from!

Oh! I'll be right back. I
left the quiche downstairs.

Now, is expecting
an authentic afternoon tea!

How did one little fib make
things so complicated?

Little fib?

This is more like
the big Ben of fibs!

Get it? 'Cause, uh,

the big Ben is in London,

and that's where...
that's where you're from?

Okay. Levi,

repeat the story one more
time so I know that you've got it.

Nia's from London
and cooler than us.

Well, I wouldn't have
said it that way, but...

Yeah, fair.

Oh no. Do you guys think I made
enough cucumber sandwiches?

Oh, did you make one?

Then yeah.

But, what about the
tea? Has it gone cold?

Oh, relax, Nia!
Everything is great.

There are plenty of
sandwiches, the tea is hot...

And so is he.

I see you, girl!

! Hi!

Um, these are my American chums,

- Levi and Tess.
- Great to meet you both.

Wow, Nia, this looks amazing.

- My first afternoon tea.
- Well, mine, too.

I mean my... First on the roof.

I know your secret.

That's not good...
But, this was.

Hey, !

Uh, can I borrow
my cousin real quick?

I just have a question
about the, uh...

The crumpets.

Listen! Nia, I
just had a vision.

is gonna figure
out your secret at this tea!

What? Well, who's
gonna tell him?

Uh-oh.

Them.

- Keep away from mom.
- Gotcha.

So, Timo! Uh,

so in France, is all
toast French toast?

Or, uh, what about French fries?

Is it French French fries?

Mom, aunt Chels, um,

I'm actually doing my
English project up here,

but it's kind of a kid thing.

- Did you kids pay for this spread?
- Mm.

Welcome to afternoon tea!

Okay! Thank you!

It seems the neighbors
have joined for our tea.

It wouldn't be a tea
without some riffraff.

Hey, uh, why don't
we go enjoy the view?

It is, uh, it's riffraff free.

Looks like somebody
spilled the tea.

What tea? Huh?

No, no, there is no tea.
There is no tea to spill,

I can promise you that.

What did Booker tell you?

Well, I just spilled some tea

on the tablecloth, but, um...

What are you going through?

Nothing. I'll clean it up.

Right? There's no use

in crying over spilled
tea. It's all good...

I know your secret.

Look, I can
explain everything...

It's not necessary.

I understand why you
would put on a fake accent.

- You do?
- Please, Nia. Not with me.

You wanted to fit in.

Oh that? Oh, I was just, um...

Don't worry. I won't
tell them you're English,

but you should be proud
to be exactly who you are.

Absolutely. I am.

Then, why don't we
toast our guests right now?

In your real English accent?

For your country
and for your queen.

Uh...

Splendid idea, !

Yes, a classic
afternoon tea toast!

Hello, everyone!

Thank you all for coming to
celebrate my home country...

England!

Does Nia sound different to you?

And I'd especially
like to welcome

a special guest from
Paris, France, !

Oh, special guest.

Nia has a crush on that
guy. I bet it's the accent.

Oh! Yeah.

Been there, divorced that.

In the wise words
of Winston Churchill,

keep calm and carry on!

Long live the queen! Cheers.

Uh, the cucumbers
are cut just a little thick,

but for her first afternoon tea,

I think my bestie did her thing.

Hey, mom, mom, look!

I know exactly what
you're gonna say.

Why did I think I
needed to pretend

to be from another country
just to impress ?

Look, I understand,
and I promise

I am going to
tell him the truth.

Great, but you know what
I was really gonna say was

why haven't you made
these sandwiches for us?

These are amazing!

Mm!

But yes, all that other stuff
about you telling the truth?

That's good, too.

Just don't know how to
tell him that I'm American.

You already have.

Ooh!

I'ma go.

I'ma go.

I'ma go.

Listen, ...

I'm not from London.
I'm from Chicago.

In fact, I've never
even left the country

or had mushy peas, and...

I tried fish and chips
once, but... not my thing.

But, quoi?

Why would you pretend?

At first, I was just doing
the accent for fun...

But then you were so excited
that we were both from Europe.

I just got so caught up.

I'm so sorry.

Hey, Chels!

- Oh, it pays to be a pack rat, girl!
- What?

Look at all the stuff that
I saved from sixth grade.

What? No! Oh my...

- look at all this stuff!
- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Yep. Smells like pre-teen panic.

Hey, what's this?

Oh, just some books and notes
from when we were your age,

and we're doing
some light studying.

Hey, but, what's this?

Oh! That's probably a note
Raven and I passed in class.

Yeah. "Am I your best
friend? Yes, no... ".

"Maybe?"

What, you circled maybe!

Come on, Rae, do it again!

Do it again! Do it again!

No.

You wrote this in class? Why?

Well, this is how
we communicated

without our teacher,
Mrs. Hearst, finding out.

So, you weren't allowed
to text in her class?

Strict!

Yo, I been there.

No, Tess, we didn't...
we didn't have cell phones

- in sixth grade.
- No.

We got them in college.

Right? And when we texted, it
wasn't like we texted all the time,

you know, because we'd run out.

Run out?

Like...

Like of-of phone charge?

No. No. No.

We ran out of texts.

It was like texts per
month, kinda like...

You get cell service

for a certain amount of...

Wow! Thanks, mom and auntie Rae!

Talk about a history lesson!

- What?
- You know what?

History is about
to wreck... your...

- World, little boy!
- Mm!

And I'ma catch it
all on the camcorder!

Oh, boy!

- All on the camcorder!
- What?

Welcome back to
the adults vs kids

sixth grade
academic competition,

' s edition!

Hey!

For your first challenge,

some call it a lost art,

cursive hasn't been taught in...

Yeeeaaarrrs.

For your first challenge,

read this cursive
paragraph aloud.

Oh, we got this.

Woo! The mamas
are ahead by five!

And the longhand competition

is no exception.

The only thing harder
than reading Beowulf

is writing it yourself.

Ugh, can I just type this!?

All right, for your
next challenge,

recite as many phone
numbers as you can!

I only know my mom's.

I'm sorry, what was that? What?

I only know Nia's.

Oh, is that all you know?

Aw...

What happened? Why
don't you just watch...

And learn?

All right?

Chelsea's childhood
home number! - ...

How! How do you
remember all of these,

and why aren't they
saved in your phone?

Not in the ' s, baby!

Back to aunt b! ...

we give up! You win!

What? Wait, w-w-we
win? We really win?

That concludes
tonight's competition

with a landslide
victory by the mamas!

Hey, you two! Hey, you two.

Stay in school.

You know what? Whenever
I need help, I'll ask you guys.

Don't you dare.

That's why we
send you to school.

I had a feeling
you might be here.

Look, um, I can
understand if you're mad.

I'm not mad.

Just disappointed.

Because...

I only get to spend two and
a half weeks with this Nia,

when I could've had three.

Aw.

But, I must confess...

I'm actually from the us of a!

Okay, well you're gonna
need to practice that

because I am not buying it.

I like the real you, Nia.

Besides, I never liked
you for your accent.

Just like you don't like
me for my French accent.

Yeah.

But, like, it helps.

So, want to show me your city?

We can go see
the, how do you say,

bean?

Yeah, that's...
Kind of how I say it.