01x04 - You Know How I Like It

[bunniefuu]

-Previously, on "Twenties."

-My old position as VP

is now up for grabs.

-I just don't want the only

two black execs at the studio

trying to k*ll each other

over a promotion.

-May the best man win.

-What are you passionate about?

-I used to be passionate

about acting.

-What do you

miss most about it?

-I miss feeling alive.

-What have you gotten

accomplished today?

-I was supposed

to work on my script

but I kept getting distracted.

And I still haven't found

my happy place.

-Writing isn't about

being happy,

it's about being disciplined.

-Every time I start getting

my sh*t together,

here you come.

Everything I say,

you can type ♪

World of collision,

catch my vision ♪

Hunt my flight down ♪

[bell dings]

-What's up with Hattie

and her long-a*s showers?

-It relaxes her.

-Well, it's making

my nerves bad.

Our hot water bill's gonna

be through the roof.

-I'm making sure

that she's saving her money

so that she can

get her own place.

-Yeah, remind me not to smoke

right before

I get in the shower.

I just be in there,

staring at the wall,

wondering why there ain't never

been a black Bachelor.

[laughs]

-What?

-Why'd you leave

your water running?

-'Cause it was a perfect temp,

so I left it on for Soraya.

-Who the hell is Soraya?

-You ran out of shampoo.

Oh, are these organic eggs?

-Of course they are.

-What did we say about guests?

-To ask first.

-Did you?

-Yes.

-When?

-I texted y'all.

-You sent that text

at 3:00 a.m.

We were asleep.

-I mistook your silence

for approval.

-She's like a child.

-What do you want me to do?

-I'm standing right here.

-Just respect my house, okay?

Respect it.

-First of all, it is our house.

And you're the last one

that needs to be talking

about being disrespectful.

-What are you talking about?

-What were you talking

to that waiter about?

-What waiter?

-The one at the merger party.

-Like, a month ago?

-You were lost

in conversation with him.

He handed you

his business card.

-Babe, you know

everybody flirts with me

men, women, dogs.

-Well, you need to stop

flirting back.

-It wasn't even like that.

He gave me his card 'cause

he's got his own sneaker line

made out of recycled tires

by Nigerian orphans,

and he thought I could

hook him up

with some investors.

I don't even know

where that card's at.

-Whatever.

-YeI'm gonna get

in the shower

and pray there's still

some hot water left.

-Sometimes a cold shower

can do a body good.

Where is my bagel?

-What?

-I'm in a bad mood ♪

Bad mood ♪

Hundred in the trunk

and I don't give a ♪

Yo,

I'm in a bad mood ♪

-I just wish I could get away

and get some writing done.

-Didn't you get away to

Santa Barbara a few weeks ago?

-You went to Santa Barbara

to write?

That's such a good idea.

It's so peaceful

and beautiful up there.

-She didn't go up there

to write.

-Wow, Marie. Wow.

-Don't "wow" me

when you're the one

trying to be a writer

but you never seem to be

writing anything.

-What were you doing

in Santa Barbara?

-I

-And why don't I

know about this?

-Guess.

-[gasps]

Hattie, don't let Lorraine

treat you like a plaything.

-I'm not.

-That's exactly

what you're doing.

She calls and you come running.

-I had another chick

in my bed last night, didn't I?

-You had another chick

on my futon.

-I just sat on that futon.

-And you only had her there

because that's

your way of pretending

you're not thinking

about Lorraine when you are.

You probably don't even know

the girl's name.

-Yes, I do.

-What's her last name?

-I ain't gotta

prove sh*t to you.

-Right.

-You need to get

out of my business and worry

about your own relationship.

-What? Are you and Chuck okay?

-We're fine.

[phone rings]

-[sighs] I told you

you could just call.

You ain't gotta use

the FaceTime all the time.

-No, I wanna make sure

you ain't doing nothing crazy.

-What would I be doing?

-Scissoring somebody.

-I told you,

that's not a thing.

-I saw it on a l*sbian porno.

-I don't even watch that.

That sh*t is for dudes.

-I am trying

to understand you better.

-Well, just ask me questions.

Leave that bullshit alone.

-All right. How's the job?

I mean, you know

That b*tch still got you

organizing her sock drawer?

-I ain't never did that.

-Well, look,

I ain't pay all that money

for you to go to school

to end up being somebody's

little errand girl.

-It's a very good job,

Miss Esther.

-Marie, if you don't sit

your little bougie a*s down

Now, if you gon' do that,

you might as well come drive

for UPS.

-Oh, no.

-First of all,

them trucks don't have no doors

and you know

I don't like the elements.

-Well, I didn't raise you

to be nobody's sl*ve.

-Bye, Ma.

-Bye, Chicken George.

-[call disconnects]

-Man, she is a hot mess,

but she's right.

I need to get in

the writer's room.

-You have to earn that.

-She has.

-Thank you, Ni.

-Then you should figure out

how to charm Ida

into letting you in the room.

-How am I supposed to do that?

-Make it about her.

Narcissists love that sh*t.

-[inhales sharply]

-I gotta go, boos.

I have an audition.

-A cattle call and an audition

are two very different things.

-Shay!

-As soon as I let the universe

know what I wanted,

an opportunity

presented itself.

Y'all know I'm good

at manifesting sh*t.

-What's the studio?

-There isn't one.

It's a web series.

Black director.

Zulu Warrior Productions.

It says they have

87,000 subscribers

-Omarosa has more followers.

-Stop being negative.

-I'm just curious.

-Well, whatever it is,

I hope you slay that sh*t.

-Thank you.

-Are you sure

you're ready for this?

-Yes. I'm ready

to walk in my purpose.

-Well, I'm happy for you, then.

-Me too.

That web series gon' be trash.

-Just let her be happy.

[upbeat music]

-I'm telling you straight up,

Ida, look, now's the day.

-Um, what are you doing?

-I'm gonna go ask Ida

if I can sit

in the writers' room today.

-Are you high?

-No, but I'd like to be.

[both sigh]

-PAs don't get

to sit in the writers' room.

-But I applaud your gusto.

Black girl magic

is in full effect.

-I'm sick of running errands

all day.

I took this job so I could

learn how to be a writer.

-Sit down, be humble.

-Easy, Kendrick.

That's what I've been doing

for the past six weeks.

-If you test

the waters too soon,

you could wind up

losing this job altogether.

-Yeah,

we've seen it happen before.

-Remember Shaquila?

-Oh, how could I forget?

She was such a sweet girl.

-Well, at least she's in

a better place now.

-Who the hell is Shaquila?

-She PA'd for this show,

season one.

-And she got k*lled?

-Even more tragic.

-Ida cursed her out

in front of the whole crew

when she asked to be bumped up

to writers' assistant.

-Why?

-Because she had a bad attitude

and she liked to talk back.

-She also wasn't

a fan of the show

and she was only using Ida

to get ahead.

-The real tea is

she had a crush on Ida

and she found out about it.

-Okay, either way,

people said Ida

read her for filth

and her soul just got up

and left her body.

-Why'd you say

she's in a better place now?

-Oh, I just meant she's working

for some nice, white g*y man.

-Yeah, she's

a script coordinator

on "Vampire Babies."

Isn't that on the CW?

-Yeah, she is. I caught

an episode of it last night.

It's not good.

-Well, I'd rather

work for some nice,

white g*y man

than be stuck here

for the rest of my life.

Excuse me.

-I'm gonna miss her.

-I'm not.

-Uh-huh.

[dramatic music]

Yes.

Okay. Mm-hmm. Right.

-Uh, look, you are amazing.

-Uh-huh.

-And you have

a lot on your plate.

-Yes, I do.

-And my job

is to make your life easier.

-I'm aware of what your job is.

-And I would like to add

a few more responsibilities

to my job description.

-I could use

another landscaper.

My last one got deported.

I hate Trump.

-[chuckles] No.

I mean more work-related stuff.

-Well, look at you,

getting some initiative.

-[chuckles]

-In episode five,

we're referencing something

called

the Flatiron m*rder case.

-That sounds hilarious.

-It's a real thing.

And I don't wanna

get my facts wrong.

So do me a favor, hm?

Get me the court records

for Walters vs. California

Board of Cosmetology.

-Okay, great.

And where does one find

those court records?

-I mean, I could tell you,

but where's the fun in that?

I need them by end of day.

Ohh, and, um,

get me a smoothie as well.

You know how I like it.

-Yeah, I do.

[light orchestral music]

[chatter]

-I was always a night shift,

so if I'm doing night shift,

how am I supposed to audition?

You know what I mean?

-You're gonna be tired.

-Like, I'm tired.

-Hey! How y'all doing?

-Good. How are you?

-A little nervous. But good.

-Girl, don't be nervous.

This ain't sh*t.

-Excuse me?

-Yeah, we do this kinda sh*t

just to pass the time.

-Mm.

-Is this gonna be bad?

-Of course it is!

-This sh*t was written

by some closeted g*y black man

who thinks he's Spike Lee.

-Then why are we waiting in

line to be a part of it?

-What's the alternative?

-But don't we wanna

do good work that challenges us

and forces us to grow

as artists?

-Of course we do,

but we don't have agents.

-Neither do I.

-Exactly.

This is what we have to do

while we work our way up,

Boo-Boo.

-But I don't wanna wait

in some long-a*s line

for something that's not

even gonna benefit me.

-[laughs] Peoples,

they come in here

thinking they gon' get

discovered by Shonda Rhimes,

blow up and be

on the cover of "Vogue."

-That kinda sh*t

only happens to Ellen Pompeo.

-Do you look like Ellen Pompeo?

-Uh, no, I do not.

-Neither do I.

-So, we wait in line.

We pay for acting classes

we can't afford.

We try to be

the one black person

in a diversity showcase.

-Oh, and we pray

a half-decent agent is there

and wants to take us on.

-It doesn't matter,

because most casting directors

are looking for a name, anyway.

-And the light-skinned girls

are still

everybody's top choice.

-Mm-hmm. Yeah, they are.

-If it's that bad,

what are we doing?

-Girl, we living the dream.

-[laughs]

-Hmm.

Are you SAG?

-Not anymore.

-Good, 'cause this

is non-union.

Ready when you are.

-Are you gonna say action

or do I just go when I'm ready?

-Wait for my command.

Go.

[sweeping orchestral music]

♪

-What's up, Tom?

I see you've been working out.

And that hair on your chest

is coming in real nice.

[laughs] I'd love to go

to the gym with you

and work on my

-Next!

-Is that it?

-Next.

[light music]

♪

Wait for my command.

-Hello, you have reached

the City Courthouse

of Los Angeles.

[speaks Spanish]

[presses button]

If you are calling

for jury duty, press two.

If you are calling to file

a marriage license

-Representative!

-press three.

-Speak with a representative.

-Sorry, all of

our representatives

are currently busy.

Please hold.

Your current wait time

is approximately 15 minutes.

-Man, damn!

[orchestral music]

♪

[phone rings]

-Hi. This is Dorian Graves

calling from CBS.

-[mouthing]

CBS?

-"Chocolate Bedtime Stories."

Is this, uh, Tia?

-No, this is Nia.

-Ohh.

Then you definitely

didn't get the part.

-Okay, you don't gotta

say it like that.

-I was in the room.

You were awful.

-Well, so is the web series.

-Yeah, but it ain't that bad.

[breezy music]

-Mm-mm, that's too weak.

More protein powder.

-CCLA Hall of Records,

how can I help you?

-Hi, I need to find

the court records

for Walters vs. California

Board of Cosmetology.

-Fax us a written request

and you'll have them

in 72 hours.

-No, I need them today

for my boss, Ida B.

The creator of the show

"Cocoa's Butter."

-"Cocoa Butter"? I'm not

familiar with that show.

-They're for my boss, Ida B.

She does

the show "Cocoa's Butter."

-"Cocoa" what?

-Like the lotion?

-No.

-I'm sorry, I have oily skin.

-What?

What's that got to do

Hello? Who am I speaking to?

-This D'Manuel,

how can I help you?

[angelic chorus sings]

-Hey, brother.

I work for Ida B.

from "Cocoa's Butter."

-Ooh, that's my show!

I love me

some "Cocoa's Butter."

-You do?

-Yes!

Me and the girls,

we got a whole fan club.

We call ourselves

The Cocoa Puffs.

Wait, you work over there?

-What is

[sucks teeth] Yeah.

-Ooh, girl,

you gotta spill the tea.

Is Cocoa gonna get together

with that beautiful

Michael B. Jordan-looking

construction worker

with the crazy twin baby mamas

while her man's in jail?

-Well, I can't be out here

giving away trade secrets

like that.

But maybe I can give you

some intel if you can get me

these court records

we're looking for.

-Name the case.

-Walters vs. California Board

of Cosmetology.

-Damn! The Flatiron m*rder?

Y'all gon'

put that on the show?

Ohh!

Season five about to be fire!

Hold on, girl.

Let me go check.

And just so you know,

they usually try to give you

a 72 hour hold,

but I'm gonna hook you up.

What's a good callback number

for you?

-Yes!

[upbeat music]

[muzak plays over speakers]

-What up, bro?

-Oh. [laughs]

My bad. My apologies

for misgendering you.

-All good.

-My brother's trans,

so I should know better.

You on hormones?

-Uh, I'mI'm not trans.

-Non-binary.

-I still don't quite know

what that means.

-Genderqueer?

-You know what?

This is a lot.

I'm gonna go get in line.

[phone rings]

-Hey, girl. It's D'Manuel

from the courthouse.

I found you those records.

-Oh, my gosh, D'Manuel.

I love you.

-Yeah, you know we gotta

stick together

and do it for the culture.

But look, you have to get

down here, we close at 4:30.

-It's 4:00.

-Well, hurry

your a*s up, then!

-[receiver clicks]

-Hey, baby ♪

I'm watching you ♪

-Sorry, we're closed.

-Come on, man!

It's 4:35.

I know D'Manuel's

still in there.

-Who?

-Look, I gotta get in there.

I need to get these

court records for my boss.

Can't you just open the door up

and let me in, please?

I'll do anything.

-Anything?

-I mean, not anything.

-I like your style, girl.

-[chuckles] Thanks.

-Mm, mm, mm.

I've always had a thing

for those tomboys, you know?

-[chuckles] Okay.

-Yeah. [chuckles]

-So, um, you gonna

let me in the building?

-[laughs]

-Or no, papi?

-Oh Papi.

If I let you up in there,

am I gonna get that number?

-All right, man.

-Mm.

-323

-Local gal, huh?

-Yes.

[upbeat triumphant music]

♪

♪

♪

-I got the court records.

I called and called

till I got a black person

D'Manuel,

he's your biggest fan.

There was a 72 hour hold,

butI finessed it.

You know.

-We're losing that scene.

-What?

[sighs]

-So there's an advance

screening on the lot tonight.

Some young, hot director.

Should be rather dull, but

you're welcome to come along

if you'd like.

-Really? I'd love to.

-Come with me.

[hip-hop music]

Let's see here.

This should work.

-It's

-You look good.

-Thank you.

-[sighs]

-What are you doing here?

-Same thing you're doing.

Hey, you good?

-I'm fine.

-Yeah, right.

-What's that supposed to mean?

-Nothing.

-I'm still at work.

-So am I.

[light music]

♪

[upbeat music]

-The audition was awful,

but at least I met

some other actresses.

-Well, that's good.

-Yeah, they gave me the real.

-What,

that being an actor sucks?

-Basically.

-You just have to

go really hard

and be super committed

to the craft.

You'll get there.

-I receive that.

-Mm.

I'm sensing

some real negative energy

emanating from your center.

Your aura

is seriously messed up.

I think we need

to get you checked.

-Okay.

How long is this chakra

cleansing supposed to take?

-Don't make fun.

-[sighs]

Your head chakra's

nice and open.

Your heart chakra's

looking good.

Uh-oh.

-What?

-It's doing

that straight line thing.

-Yeah, 'cause you're moving it.

-No, I'm not.

-Yes, you are.

-Oh no, this is your energy.

-Well, what is it saying?

-[sighs] Your sacred chakra,

it's blocked.

That's where your emotions

are held.

Girl, your emotions

are completely shut down.

-I gotta go.

Love you.

-But I want you to love you.

[movie chatter]

[romantic music playing

in movie]

♪

-Thank you.

-Alicia. Oh, this is Hattie.

She works for me.

-I absolutely loved your film.

The layers, the nuance,

the depth.

This is the kind of work

I really wanna be doing.

I'm so inspired.

-Thanks. That means a lot.

Yes, Lauren.

-I know, right?

I got this for, like,

$2 on Melrose.

-I really enjoyed your film,

but the first act

was a little slow.

-Well, she had to establish

the characters.

-It shouldn't take 45 minutes

to do that. Get to the point.

-That's a good note.

I'll be sure

to keep that in mind.

-Well, we should be on our way.

-Oh.

-Congrats on completing

your film.

[orchestral music]

♪

-Who's gonna get it now? ♪

Get it, get it,

get it now? ♪

[electronic music]

♪

-Who's gonna get it now? ♪

Get it, get it,

get it now? ♪

♪