02x02 - Honeymoon's Over

[bunniefuu]

[Renee]
Previously on Run The World...

"I'd like to formally submit

my resignation
at Hot Tea Digest."

- I knew it.
- Ella had the right idea.

I should have stayed
with her in Tulum.

I'm not gonna beg again.

I-I'll let you know when I can
come back for the rest.

Consider this
my very calm resignation.

I also quit.

- Wait, w-what?
- Yep.

- Naomi.
- Hey, Sondi.

- Welcome back.
- You too.

I left Eclipse.

Oh, new agency?

Yes. Mine.

[jazz music plays]

[tattoo needle buzzing]

You know, my ex-fiancé
hated tattoos on women...

which I always thought
was really sexist, by the way.

f*ck that guy.

Thank you, Zeke.

Hoo.
[exhales deeply]

So we almost done?

Not even close.

Cool. Cool.

The band is sounding so good, B.

Hopefully the demo's
mixed by tomorrow.

- Dope.
- Yeah.

You don't think
I really sound pitchy, do you?

Bro, don't let my ex
get in your head.

Another night, another sad
drunk girl getting a tattoo.

[laughter]

♪ ♪

[Jason] f*ck.

[cell phone ringing]

♪ ♪

Someone better be dead.

[Jason] Your girl Whitney
getting inked

like it's the early 2000s.

She's what?
Are you sure it's her?

Well, did you go in there
and stop her?

Not getting involved.
She's a grown woman.

Come on, who are we talking
about right now?

This is spiraling
one-oh-m*therf*cking-one.

Then you better hurry up

and get dressed
and get down here.

I'll text you the cross streets.

Mm, it's fine.
My phone still tracks you.

[Jason] What the...

♪ ♪

[Renee] I don't have time
for this sh*t!

You know what I'm like

if I don't get my seven hours
of beauty sleep.

I still don't know why I'm here.

I thought you were
on Whitney duty.

Well, I didn't know I was gonna
be on after hours.

- You got to call Hope.
- Why me?

I thought you two got along now.

We do, when I have access
to rum and weed.

Now call her
while I go deal with this.

[car horns honking]

Whitney!

What is this?

[Whitney]
Hey! I'm getting a tattoo.

[Sondi] You need
to get here f*cking now.

- [Renee] Stop that.
- [Whitney] Come in.

[Whitney] It hurts really bad.

[vocalizing]

♪ ♪

[instructor]
And up and down...

[Renee] Girl, thanks for coming
on such short notice.

Of course.

So...

what's your take on that?

[Hope] It's not good.

She seemed thrilled to see me,
almost too happy.

She's got
a touch of the crazy eyes.

[Whitney] I know you guys
are talking about me.

[instructor]
You're doing great. Keep going.

[Renee]
Good. I want you to know.

I'm sorry, Whit,
but enough is enough.

You can't keep
calling in sick to work.

And fix
those overgrown eyebrows.

Oh, this is getting sad.

We'll come back to you, Whit.

Renee, what's new with you?
You land L'Oréal yet?

No, I left Mia three messages,

and she hasn't even bothered
to text me back.

Oh, okay.

Sondi, how are Matthew
and Amari?

Oh, Matthew, and Amari,
and Naomi are just great.

Who?

Amari's mother just got
discharged from the Navy,

and now she's back

to take care of the daughter
she gave birth to.

How dare she?

Renee, don't make light of this.

I'm happy that Amari
has her mom back,

but things are just changing
really quickly,

and it's getting weird, okay?

Like, Matthew's inviting
Naomi over for dinner,

so we can get
to know each other.

And that's a bad thing?

No, the bad thing
is that tattoo on your ankle.

A bumblebee with a song lyric?

- Really, Whit?
- The wrong lyric at that.

Okay, I thought it was "I can
have another dude in a minute."

It's not that big a deal.
It's the same meaning.

[Hope] Okay, okay,
enough with the negativity.

Let me gather you
all real quick.

Um, my vote...
Lean into the dinner.

Show you're not scared.

Show how much you mean to Amari.

You ain't going nowhere.

As for you and Mia,

I guess my last sister-circle
pep talk wasn't enough.

You should stage a fake run-in
right outside her home.

That's some high-school
bullshit right there.

- And it's f*cking brilliant.
- [Whitney groans]

Who am I trying
to look good for?

I ain't got no man.

I want ice cream.

[upbeat music plays]

[instructor] Breakup?

[Renee]
It's pretty obvious, huh?

[instructor] Mm-hmm.

Hope, you got that?

I'm on it.

You want to keep going?

Okay. Yeah.

- Girl, what are you doing?
- I'm finishing this workout.

I don't got $45 to waste.

sh*t, me either.

Damn.

f*ck my life.

[Renee cries]

I am so sorry.

Do you prorate?

[sultry jazz music plays]

♪ ♪

Oh, Mia, Mia, hey!

- Hey, you!
- Oh, Renee.

- [Renee] What are the chances?
- Sorry, Freshie.

- I owe you a call.
- Well, today's your lucky day.

'Cause now you can scratch
"give Renee good news"

off your to-do list.

Look,
I tried to find the right time

to pitch you to the big boss.

Uh-huh.

But he's never going to approve
a new start-up shop.

And to be honest, I don't know
if I can vouch for you

when I don't know that much
about it myself.

Fair enough.

So have dinner with me and Abby

and let us convince you
why two women

are way better than Eclipse.

I promise
we're worth the stretch.

I did have a dinner
cancel tomorrow night.

Okay, well,
tomorrow night it is.

I'll, uh...
I'll text you the details.

All right, honey,
I'll see you soon.

Yes!
[chuckles] Okay.

Oh.

[car horn blaring]

[upbeat music plays]

♪ ♪

Damn it.

Even the restaurants with
two Michelin stars are booked.

Oh, wait.

I think my au pair
blew the waiter at this place.

- We can probably get in.
- [giggles]

I... stop focusing
on where we're eating

and start focusing on the work,
so we can keep eating.

Well, dinner is an important
part of this, Renee.

I mean, you know that.

We've got to show

that we have the same access
as the big boys.

No, we have to show her

that we can offer her
what the big boys can't.

She's been at L'Oréal
for a long time.

She's used to the best.

Speaking of the best,
I have a gift.

- Really?
- Yeah.

[squeals, gasps]

"The Henley Ross Agency."

It's our logo.
I had it designed for us.

- Don't you love it?
- The font is nice.

It's brown and white, like us.

Yeah.

You know,
but there's no need for a sign

if we don't have
an office space,

and we can't afford
an office space

until we get some clients, so...

- Yeah?
- I hear you.

I know.
I mean, I want clients too.

But it would help us to go
after some smaller fish.

No. No.

We can get L'Oréal. I know it.

- She's my friend.
- Yes.

We're gonna try.

[sighs]

[soft music plays]

[indistinct chatter]

Am I in trouble?

[laughs]

It was a joke. I'm kidding.

Do you have any plans
this summer?

I want you to be my TA
for the summer session.

Seriously?

I-I mean,
I'm only a second-year.

I TA'd my second year.

And in case you're wondering,
the normal response I get is,

"Professor Baptiste,
I'd be honored."

Right. Sorry.
I'm just... I'm shocked.

And I'm flattered.

I just need to check on...

Don't you dare say
"with Matthew."

No, I wasn't gonna say that.

Um, I was gonna say,
"I need to check my schedule."

Uh, I have some things going on.

[sighs]

I signed Amari up
for the summer ballet class,

but her mom wants her to...

Never mind.

- You definitely don't care.
- Correct.

Can I just take the weekend
to think about it?

You can have tonight.

Okay.

Thank you.

Can I take this to mean

that you think
I'm, like, really awesome

because you asked me
to be your TA...

- Goodbye, Sondi.
- So good to see you.

[singer] ♪ We were sitting
Writing down our reasons ♪

♪ Working on those dreams
Till we got freedom ♪

[Whitney] Thank you
for getting me in here.

[Hope] Well, after I saw you
inhale that Chipwich

after the workout,
I knew I had to do something.

[Whitney laughing]

Oh, it's good to hear you
laughing again.

[Whitney]
What are you talking about?

I laugh all the time.

Uh-huh.
[scoffs]

[Whitney]
Okay, maybe not lately,

since I've been either crying
or raging, but...

I feel good.

[Hope] Okay.

♪ ♪

Oh, I look...

[exhales sharply]
Good.

[Hope chuckles]
Please.

Girl, you look better than good.

You are walking
into that office tomorrow

with confidence, okay?

[sighs]

[upbeat music plays]

[Matthew] All right, you guys,
have a good week.

Remember
we have a test coming up.

Study hard.

[indistinct chatter]

Hey, beautiful.

How did your meeting
with Baptiste go?

Uh, great.

She asked me
to be her summer TA.

[chuckles]

Really?

Really.

What, are you surprised?

No, no,
I'm not surprised at all.

It's, um...

I was hoping that since Amari's

gonna be spending
so much time with Naomi

that you and I could have a fun

and relaxing

summer together.

Well, I'm not just here
to be your summer playmate.

Besides, we can have a fun,
relaxing time tonight

when Naomi comes over
for dinner.

[sighs]

It's gonna be fine.

- [sighs]
- [Matthew] And thank you.

It's important that Amari sees

that we can all make this work.

Right.

I know.

- [Matthew] You know what else?
- [Sondi] What?

I am done with classes
for the day.

- [Sondi chuckles]
- And...

- [cell phone chimes]
- Oh, hold on one second.

Ooh.

I have to go.

My girl needs me. I'm sorry.

Sorry.

Bye.

[smooth music plays]

Argh.

♪ ♪

[knock at door]

[soft music plays]

[Renee] Hey, girl.

Damn, girl.

Yeah, I know.
My home office is on struggle.

Yeah, it is.

So, how's it going with Abby?

Um, it's, uh... it's great.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

She was my boss
at Eclipse, you know,

but now that we're solo,

I don't think
she understands the dynamic.

She's second-guesses me
every chance she gets,

and then she just nods
in my face like she agrees.

It's some real
passive-aggressive sh*t,

you know?

And I know she quit,
and she's out on a limb,

but, you know, setting up
my own shop was my idea.

- Mm-hmm.
- And Mia is my friend.

And this dinner
wouldn't even be happening

if it weren't for me.

I mean, what if she tries
to contradict me

during this meeting?

Okay, listen to me.
You said it yourself.

She's not your boss anymore.
You are the lead on this.

Make sure she knows that.

This is your account.

Mia is your client,

so tell Abby
she can go sit her little...

- Okay, relax.
- Narrow a*s down somewhere...

Relax, Sista Souljah.

- [chuckles]
- I got it.

All right, well, don't SOS me

and not expect
the militant pep talk, okay?

- That is my specialty.
- It is.

- Who's the boss?
- I'm the boss.

- Who's the boss?
- I'm the boss.

[singer] ♪ I promise you
I won't do you like that ♪

[indistinct chatter on TV]

Hey, Radha.
[chuckles]

Uh, still working from home.

Um, I looked over the Alpine
foreign investment disclosures,

and they're good to go.

Uh, I'll be back soon.

Okay.

Yeah.

Hope.

Let's go for a walk.

You know, I don't see
what the big deal is anyway.

Are you being serious?

You do know this is you
we're talking about.

You live for work.

I was convinced if I got

a "we're worried
about Whitney" call,

it would be because they
couldn't get you to leave work,

not the other way around.

They called you?

I was gonna go to work today.

I just, you know...

I just couldn't.

You know, at work, I'm the sh*t.

It's just
with my messy personal life,

uh, I-I'm just
like everybody else.

Okay, well, mm, first off,

you and I will never be
regular people.

We were in the top five at HBS.

That is quantifiable proof
of how good we are, okay?

[chuckles]

Mm, what you need
is a confidence boost.

- No.
- Yes.

Oh, yes, we're doing it.

[Tay Money's "Grls Wknd" plays]

♪ Show me what you
workin' with ♪

♪ Show me what you
workin' with ♪

♪ I be in the club three plus ♪

♪ Every b*tch in here
tryna be us ♪

♪ Big body Uber
and you in a Prius ♪

♪ These Gucci heels
you be in Adidas ♪

♪ Bad a*s b*tch
I just made the front page ♪

♪ Don't get too close
'cause my hair just got laid ♪

♪ Broke a*s b*tch
and you just got paid ♪

Don't forget about us.

All right,
welcome to trivia night.

[scattered cheers and applause]

Yeah.

Looks like we have
a last-minute entry.

So give it up
for B School b*tches.

- Ooh!
- [host] Yeah.

All right, the first round
is world geography.

[indistinct chatter]

Question number one,

these three African countries

were once named
Northern Rhodesia,

Southern Rhodesia, and Zanzibar.

What are those countries'
current names?

Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania.

[clicks tongue] My girl.

No cheating, Greg.

- If you don't go on somewhere.
- Yeah, beat it, Greg.

- Keep 'em comin'.
- [both chuckle]

- They ain't ready.
- No, they ain't.

[JessB's "Day Ones" plays]

[singer] ♪ Yeah, this is
For my day ones ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ ♪

♪ This is for my day ones
Chillin' and grillin' ♪

♪ And whingin' with me
Way back since the beginning ♪

♪ This is for the women
Not quittin' and killin' it ♪

♪ Dreamin' about the time
When we would be winnin' ♪

♪ Hoppin' out the linen
We driven, hips swingin' ♪

♪ Making moves
So we never stay sittin' ♪

♪ These queen bees stingin'
I been thinkin' ♪

♪ I'ma keep bringin'
Till the phone keep ringin' ♪

♪ And it's true, though ♪

♪ Goin' into combat
Like it's judo ♪

♪ JessB with the beat
And the bars in the studio ♪

♪ Miss Scarlett
With the cool flow ♪

♪ Play the game, you know ♪

♪ You know I been killin' 'em,
Right, that's cluedo ♪

♪ Since way back then
They were there way back ♪

♪ Still on the grind
We ain't tryin' to lay back ♪

♪ Ray Bans on, no, I ain't
Tryin' to catch shade ♪

♪ I been blockin' out
The haters ♪

♪ With my future bridesmaids ♪

[smooth music plays]

- [Renee] Remember Rubber Well?
- [Mia] That was you?

- [Renee] That was me.
- [Mia] Ooh, fantastic work.

Lord knows I don't need
any more Tupperware,

but when Angela Bassett talks,
I listen, okay?

But, you're no longer
at Eclipse.

How does Ross Henley
plan to meet our needs

and expectations?

We hear you, and what
we currently lack in reach,

we make up for
in creativity and strategy.

Well, I know Renee
is bursting with creativity,

so strategy must be
where you come in?

Yep, I run strategy
at Henley Ross.

So...

what's your strategy
for this new brand extension?

[Abby groans, coughs]

I'm not really in the habit
of dispensing my expertise

before contracts
are signed, so...

But we would love
to pitch you some ideas,

just as soon as we get back
from the ladies'.

- Mm-mm
- [Renee] Yes.

Let's go.

[Abby] I have to pee, too.
[chuckles]

Okay.

[Abby] I just realized it.

What is your problem?
You don't want to see me win?

What? R... no, Renee.

Let me ask you this.

Why'd you go all Jerry Maguire
and leave when I quit?

Well, technically,
I went Renée Zellweger

because you quit first, so...

Abby, Abby.

I don't know.
Solidarity, I guess.

I just thought
it was really f*cked up

what they were doing to you,
so I needed to...

You felt bad for me
and thought I needed your help.

That's not what I said.

No, but that's what you thought.

No.

Renee, I think you're brilliant.

This meeting
is a pipe dream, okay?

We're never gonna get L'Oréal,
not even with Mia's help.

Why are you just saying
this now?

Because Mia's your friend,
and you were really excited...

So you were just, what,
just humoring me?

Renee, we're partners.

I just want to be real with you.

And I appreciate that.

And I'll be real with you.

I don't think this partnership
is gonna work out.

Thank you, Abby,
but I got to be on my own.

[scoffs softly]

Okay.

[soft music playing]

♪ ♪

[toilet flushing]

♪ ♪

Did you hear all that?

- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.

Oh, thank you very much.

No, no, no.
Please, let me get that.

No, I'll get it. It's fine.

[Renee] No, no, no, please.

[sighs]

This isn't gonna happen, is it?

No.

But don't take it personally.

You've been a hungry,
bossy b*tch

since the day I met you.

You made a bold move by leaving,

but I know
you're gonna figure this out.

- Thank you.
- Come here.

[both chuckle]

- [Renee] Thank you.
- [Mia] Of course, honey.

Keep in touch.

- I will.
- [both] All right.

- [Mia] All right.
- [both laugh]

♪ ♪

All right.

[sighs]

♪ ♪

Damn, Abby, a $50 scotch?

b*tch.

[smooth music plays]

So, Naomi, I have been meaning
to ask you...

How is your new job?

Great.

Not a lot
of Black women programmers,

but I'm back with my girl,
so I can't complain.

[both chuckle]

Sondi,

I do appreciate you stepping in

and doing all that you did.

You really went above
and beyond.

Well, Amari means
a lot to me, so...

I know.

But now you don't have to split
your time so much anymore.

But I'm... I'm still happy
to be here for Amari.

Oh, definitely,

but now you don't need
to overextend yourself anymore.

[Matthew] Um...

well, I am just happy
that my daughter

has so many strong, beautiful,
intelligent women in her life.

How about a toast?

To strong, independent women,

especially you, baby.

[all chuckle]

[Naomi] Cheers.

Yay!

Now, is it dessert time?

- Yes.
- Mm, too much sugar.

[light piano music playing]

You know,
since it's a special dinner,

you can have dessert this time.

- But what do you say to Sondi?
- Thank you, Sondi.

[sighs]
You are so welcome.

♪ ♪

[cell phone vibrates]

Oh, this is my advisor.

Usually I wouldn't answer this
at the table, but it's work.

You understand.

No need to explain.

[Sondi]
Hello, Professor Baptiste.

[laughing] Hi.

So happy to hear from you.

I'm sorry
that I kept you waiting.

I would love to be your new TA.

Yep.

[laughs]

Thank you so much
for the opportunity.

[Naomi] Mmm.

[both laugh]

I'm so grateful.

♪ ♪

[Jason] Renee?

Uh, do you know what I'm trying
to do right now?

[Jason] No.

I'm trying to close
my kitchen cabinet,

but the hinge is broken.

[chuckles]

You know,
the hinge you said you fixed.

But you didn't fix it,
did you, Jason?

Because you don't know
how to fix sh*t.

All those muscles, those
well-sculpted CrossFit muscles,

and you can't fix
a g*dd*mn cabinet.

You know,
it's really a f*cking disgrace.

You spend all that time
at the gym,

doing burpees
and flipping big-a*s tires

or whatever dumb sh*t
you pay them to make you do.

But as soon as I ask you
to lift a damn finger...

Uh, did you just hang up on me
like a little...

[person] After Mo
showed up at the cabin...

[loud knock at door]

We recommitted
to our relationship.

And that whole mess
with the baby mama

and me having a miscarriage...

[knocking continues]

We already got
a house together, and...

Knocking like the damn police.

Sorry, a little riled up

from you calling my manhood
into question.

- Remember that?
- Nope.

Why are you here?

I still know when you need me.

- I don't need anyone.
- I'm not just anyone.

You're right.
You're no-f*cking-one to me.

You're full of sh*t.

You're full of lies.

And I can't even look
at you anymore

with that f*cking shirt on.

[box clatters]

[singer] ♪ Just let it go ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ Let it go ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ Let it go-o-o-o ♪

[Matthew]
Listen, um, I'm sorry.

[Sondi clears throat]

I know how that came off.

She basically said to me,
"Thanks for raising my kid,

but your job here is done now."

- It's not.
- I know.

She's not wrong.

I love you, and I love Amari,

but all of this

can be really distracting,

and I'm not trying
to spend the next five years

getting my PhD, so...

honestly...

Naomi's arrival
was perfect timing.

Well...

I appreciate you staying
so positive about all this.

Uh, one more thing.

I'm sorry that I was so selfish
about this summer.

And I got you a present.

[keys jingling]

[lock clicks]

These...

are the books
that you're gonna be using

in the class
that you're gonna TA...

Already annotated
by yours truly.

Congratulations.

You're gonna be great.

[soft jazz music plays]

♪ ♪

Hey, I'm, uh, going
to Atlanta next week.

Yeah?

With the band?

Yeah, studio time
is much cheaper there.

[Renee] Ooh.

Look at you being
fiscally responsible.

[Jason chuckles]

How long you gonna be gone?

Not sure. Few months maybe.

What? For real?

Yeah.

- What's wrong?
- [scoffs]

- You gonna miss me?
- n*gro, please.

Well...

don't let me keep you.

You're free to run off
to Hotlanta.

You know
they don't call it that, right?

Bye, Jason.

[Amber Mark's "What If" plays]

[singer] ♪ They say ♪

♪ There's no such thing
As coincidence ♪

♪ A million people
Tell me, baby ♪

♪ What are the chances ♪

♪ ♪

♪ That we connected? ♪

♪ ♪

♪ It had to happen
Exactly that way ♪

[Renee] "Renee.
I'm so sorry about last night.

"I think you're a superstar.

"Please accept this mea culpa.
Best of luck, XOXO, Abby.

"P.S., don't go telling people
I'm a Karen.

I sent you a little something."

[singer] ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ ♪

♪ What if, what if ♪

♪ If I never felt heartbreak
At all? ♪

♪ What if, what if ♪

♪ Never knew
What it felt like to fall ♪

♪ What if, what... what if ♪

♪ Tell me, how would I know
If it's love? ♪

- ♪ If it's love? ♪
- Yeah.

♪ ♪

♪ As I attempt to stage
A new love affair ♪

♪ A destined romance ♪

♪ Tell me, baby,
What are the chances ♪

♪ ♪

♪ We stay connected? ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I have to keep him
Entwined in my arms ♪

♪ If it were my choice ♪

♪ I would never let go
It's true ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ God, I hope this is true ♪

♪ ♪

♪ What if, what if ♪

♪ If I never felt
Heartbreak... ♪

[person] Whoo-hoo![giggles]