I was lucky to grow up
in a time and place where I could see
my parents have great friendships
with other successful Black professionals.
Uh, hey, Bill, you remember them clubs
we went to in Mississippi?
Uh, no talking across the board.
Hmm. You tell 'em, Lil, my ace boon coon.
Coach Long had known my dad
since they were 8.
Growing up, they bonded over games like stickball,
pick-up sticks, hoop-and-stick...
Yeah, sticks were basically their Internet back then.
Like our dads, Cory and I had a special connection, too.
We did everything together.
Hey, Dad! Guess what.
Me and Cory are going to enter
the Montgomery Soap Box Derby together.
And when we win, we'll go all the way to Nationals.
We're just going to need a power saw, some lumber,
and a box of matches.
What are the matches for?
To... burn things.
Nice try. Like I'm gonna let
a bunch of 13-year-old boys play with matches.
Power saw's in the shed.
- Thanks, Mr. Williams. - Thanks, Dad.
Take it outside! I don't want any dust or blood in my house!
While Daddy and Coach Long's friendship
had stayed the same over the years,
Mama's friendship with Coach had gotten a little trickier.
They'd been work friends for years,
then she got promoted and he had to report to her.
Oh, damn, Lillian. You got the magic hand.
- Ha! - Oh! Oh, by the way...
I need to come in late tomorrow. I got a dentist appointment.
Now, Cliff, you know all personal requests
have to be submitted and approved by a supervisor.
I'm just kiddin'.
I'll let it slide. Again.
I know you have my back.
See, it's good to be friends with the boss.
- Ha! - Ha ha ha...
Now, you can either win this book
or be late for work tomorrow, but you can't do both.
Ha! Gonna bring it right back.
Lillian. There you are.
I, uh, I just read over the budget numbers you submitted.
Good news... You're doing a great job.
The department's never been more efficient.
Why, thank you, Mr. Davidson.
Bad news... you still need to cut another 10%.
The person before you, uh, really inflated the budget.
He was the person before her.
Well, I already trimmed all the fat.
I'm not sure how you can expect me to find another 10%.
Well, I'm going to empower you to make your own decision...
Without me telling you what to do.
That's office speak for,
"I'm covering my ass in case this goes poorly."
But if I were to make a suggestion,
it seems the simplest fix would be to... let somebody go.
Hey.
Um, sorry I'm... I'm later than expected.
The... The dentist messed up.
I could hear the radio through my filling.
Cliff, are those papers on your desk
the ones you were supposed to file for the Birmingham office?
Uh... Oh, no, t-those are just duplicates.
Make me look busy.
These...
are the papers for the Birmingham office.
You know what? I'm gonna get through that
after break 'cause you know I am worthless without my coffee.
Ooh, shoot. It's almost 12:00.
You know what? This might bleed into lunch. I'll be back.
♪ All I know ♪
♪ Ohhh, through the highs and the lows ♪
♪ I'mma find my way home ♪
Kim, come help your mother. My hands are full.
- What's all this?
I need you to sort those into piles,
and then I'll let you know which tabs go where,
and I'll get the rest out the car.
You know, I have other things to do with my life.
Oh? Like...
your laundry
or your history paper
or your college applications?
Uh, do you want these alphabetized or color-coded?
What's going on in here?
I had to bring home a little work
to keep from firing anybody.
It's Cliff, isn't it?
I just hope he appreciates everything you're doing for him.
Well, I'm not letting him know.
It'd be weird.
So... if I'm doing Mr. Long's work,
does that mean he's gonna fill out my college applications?
Ooh, child. You don't want that.
Now, uh, before we break for lunch,
I have a little announcement.
We've all been working together to tighten the budget,
which temporarily means we have to shorten lunch
to a half-hour...
- until we catch up.
Hey... Hey, Lil.
Between me and you, y-you're not making many friends here.
What do you mean?
Look. It's...
Nobody's liking all your new rules.
You might want to back off a little bit.
Well, just between you and me,
they want me to fire somebody and I don't want to do it.
Well, look, I understand, but you're the boss now,
so you got to hurt some feelings.
So it's... it's better to hurt one person
than the entire office.
Now, if you want any suggestions...
when I was leaving work early the other day,
I saw Thompson already on the way out the parking lot!
That is because Mrs. Thompson had just gone into labor.
Where he going? She the one havin' the baby!
You know what, Cliff?
How about you run the productivity numbers
for everybody in the office
and then you let me know who's the weakest link?
Sure thing, Lil.
First thing tomorrow.
Hey, fellas! Wait up!
I got shotgun!
I'm telling you... Once we build it,
we can definitely get a sponsor.
Maybe the Cadillac dealership.
- That'd be cool. - Yeah.
Our best bet for a sponsor
would've been a junkyard.
Watch out!
Jesus take the wheel!
Hampton! That was amazing!
That was only a test run.
My dad said we're gonna make it even faster.
- How you gonna do that? - Prayer.
And my dad's an engineer.
How's your car coming along? I bet it's super-cool.
- Uh, it's coming great. - We definitely have a sponsor.
We were going to need some extra help
if we wanted to catch up with Hampton.
But we had dads, too. Might as well use 'em!
The best way to help you with your car
is by not helping you with your car.
Come again?
See, uh, helping you in the short term
is actually hurting you in the long term.
You'll understand one day.
And we won't be able to tell you when.
Right. Because that... That'll be helping us.
Which... hurts us.
You're welcome.
Okay.
Dean never finishes anything. I'm not gonna waste my weekend.
Look. We are two busy men.
We already have enough work as it is.
That mean you finally finished
that productivity report I asked for?
- I did. I did. - Oh. And?
And just as I thought. Thompson. Mm-hmm.
Are you sure? Did you run everybody in the office?
Yes. I-I mean, not... not me and you.
We are obviously the glue that keep the office together.
Now, now, after you fire Thompson, can I get a raise?
Look, losing this overtime
has put a real crimp on our family budget.
A raise.
Cliff, I'm supposed to cut the budget, not add to it.
Yeah, of course, of course.
Now, if you fired Thompson and Wiggins,
that'd do it.
See, I did the work for you.
The coals should be hot by now.
Y'all can get the rack out the oven.
Oh, Lil, you got the ribs, right?
Cliff was supposed to do them!
Damn. Uh, uh, I knew I was forgetting something.
Um, I should've started those hours ago.
Mama's look said she had had enough,
but Coach Long was face-blind and he couldn't tell
that her expression meant, "Stop talking!"
Hey, hey, Lil, you think you can grab some from Jerry's BBQ?
Or Pits'? You know, whatever you decide.
You always make it work.
Cliff, you're fired!
From the barbecue?
No! From your job.
I'm sick of covering for you! I'm done!
- What?! - You... You can't fire me!
- I quit! - What?!
Well, then you won't have any severance!
I can't believe you just fired me.
Nuh-unh.
My husband just got fired from his job.
We're gonna be needing that!
I'm not working on that open weekend. That's for sure.
What are you up to?
Hey, Max. Great work on the unclaimed-property report.
Thanks.
Where are you thinking of going to lunch?
Out.
Well, I hear there is
a new businessman special at the Rooftop.
It was a good lunch special, too.
Really nice spread.
- Swanee! - Lillian!
I was just stepping away for a moment.
I have Jennifer covering your line.
Well, you're not in trouble.
Why are people acting so funny?
I thought they'd be happy to get overtime and hour lunches back.
Well, Lillian, I, um...
Permission to speak freely.
Everyone's upset you fired Cliff.
He was everybody's favorite in the office. He's so fun.
Well, I can be fun in the office.
- You don't think I can be fun?
It's just that you don't have a reputation
for being the most not deadly serious person in the office.
- Is that what people say? - I should stop talking.
I see you're getting upset, and I don't want to get Cliff-ed.
Is that what they're calling it?
I think I hear the phone ringing.
Unfortunately for Mama,
there was no separation of church and state
when it came to the cold shoulder.
Hey, say, "Amen," everybody.
Amen! - Amen.
Before we begin today's service,
we'd like to ask if there's anyone here
with a prayer request to come forth at this time.
Is there one?
Yes. Yes, sir. Come on up, young man.
Come on. Give him an "Amen," everybody.
Amen!
All right.
Now, I stand before you with a...
heavy heart and a humble spirit...
as I confess to the congregation...
- that I've lost my job.
I have failed as a provider for my family.
Ohh...
And as you all know, I had a good job.
- Good job. - A good job!
- A good job. - But it's when you're
at your highest...
is when the devil shows up.
- Yes, he does. - Or she.
But he won't win this battle.
Because I have the Lord...
on my side!
Amen.
Now, everybody join hands together
in support of Brother Long as he fights the good fight
against the forces of evil.
I mean, he was late every day.
Mama was feeling really bad...
And not the kind of bad you're supposed to feel after church.
I know he was upset, but I can't believe
Cliff went up there and put on a show
in front of God and everybody.
The man did just lose his job, Lillian.
I'm well aware.
That doesn't mean he have to tell the whole service about it.
I thought the sermon was particularly enlightening.
- Especially for your situation. - How so?
Jesus was always very patient with the Apostle Peter,
even when he was being brash or petulant or showing up late.
- I don't remember that part. - You know what I mean.
He wasn't a perfect follower,
but Jesus still found ways for Peter to contribute
that best fit his personality.
I guess I could help Cliff find another job.
I'm sure somebody I know is hiring.
I think he'd appreciate that.
I take it you're paying attention to the sermons now.
I always pay attention!
What about last week when the Pastor said
that brown liquor was the devil's elixir?
That was real?
I thought I dreamt that part when I nodded off.
It was too bad Mama and Coach Long
weren't speaking to each other.
Luckily, Cory and I had no problem communicating.
I'm telling you, Cory. The horn should go, "A-wooo-gah."
Well, maybe your granddad's car.
Race cars go, "Eeeee-Eeeee!"
That's a siren, you dummy! We're not driving an ambulance!
W-What is all this noise, man? Huh? Y'all woke me up!
It was 3:00 in the afternoon.
He was not taking unemployment well.
Cory's being unreasonable.
Well, Dean's not taking any of my ideas.
Okay. All right. I see what's going on.
Y'all two need to learn about team dynamics, okay?
In... In a creative process,
you got to lay down some ground rules.
Look, everyone must be heard. No bad ideas.
Dean, what's your idea?
I think the car horn should go, "A-wooo-gah."
Okay. What's... What's your idea, son?
Well, I think the horn should go, "Eeee-Eeee-Eeee!"
All right. You know what? Forget... Forget what I said.
Forget... Those are two terrible ideas. And w...
Why y'all worried about the horn anyway?
W-Where the steering mechanism at, huh?
Where the brake system at?
How do we do that?
All right. Let... Let me see what I can do. All right?
W-What do you want us to do?
You can start by going in the house
and getting me something to drink.
Psh. All right.
Y'all talking about some "A-wooo-gah."
Boy...
Guess it was "A-wooo-gah."
After a long afternoon, we had made
significant progress on the car.
And by "we," I mean Coach Long.
Hey, Cory, Dean.
- Yes?! - Yes? Yes?
You're blocking my light. Move back.
Come on, now. Y'all see me working.
- Is he gonna drive it, too?
Wow! Look at you guys! The car's coming along great!
Mom, how'd you fire Coach Long?
Dean, that's grown folks business.
Well, you're grown. Can you please fire him
for us, Mrs. Williams?
He is not letting us do anything!
It's just like my diorama project.
He gave Lewis and Clark huge afros.
Eh, don't worry.
I think I have something that'll get him out of your hair.
Hey.
So nice of you to work with our boys.
At least someone appreciates my work.
Well, um, I just wanted you to know
that I reached out to a few people
who I think would be lucky to have you working for them.
And if you're interested, they'd love to meet you.
What type of jobs are you talking about?
Jobs that I think would suit you well.
A couple of accounting firms
and a law firm that's looking for a new financial manager.
And you told them nice things about me?
I did.
Thank you, Lillian. I've been bummed out.
We haven't been able to hang out
with you and Bill like we used to.
I agree.
W-Why don't you and Vivian come over this weekend?
You making your mac 'n' cheese?
- You know I am! - Well, we there, then!
Well, how am I gonna break it to the boys
I ain't gonna be able to finish?
- Thanks, anyway! - No, no, no! We're good.
We're good. We're good.
Mama's gesture to Coach Long
helped get things back to normal for all of us.
Cory and I got back to work on our derby car,
and our parents got back to spending time together.
Well, don't keep me in suspense.
I want to know about all your job interviews.
Uh, well, now that you mention it, um,
I did get an offer from the law firm.
- Hey. - Amazing!
So will you be running their accounting department?
Uh, well, they didn't offer me a job.
They actually want to represent me as a client.
As a client? For what?
We're gonna sue the state of Alabama.
For wrongful termination.
They think I have a really good case for racial discrimination.
- Yes!
Wait. Are you accusing me of racial discrimination?
Oh, Lil. It's not about you. We suing the state.
They have a lot of money.
A lot of money.
Well, it affects me because I was the one...
Oh, w-wait. Lillian. Let me stop you right there.
Uh, I'm not allowed to talk about ongoing cases.
Mmm-mmm! Sweetie, you know, you just sound like
a Black Perry Mason. I love it!
Hey, hey, Bill, hey. Stop hogging that mac 'n' cheese.
- Don't make me sue you next. - Ooh!
Come on. Pass that over. Let me get that.
Lillian! Have you heard about the lawsuit?
Yes, I have, and what are we gonna do about it?
We're not doing anything. This was your doing.
You told me to fire someone.
My recollection is different.
You've gotta fix this. I don't care what it costs.
You told me to cut 10% of the budget.
Again, your recollection.
I don't want to be called in as a witness.
I can't go back to court. It never ends well for me.
What's this doing in my house?
What'd I tell you about bringing in stuff from outside?
And Cory?
Don't worry, Dad. It's just staying in here
so it doesn't get damaged before the race.
Hmm.
It looks like an actual car.
Well, great job, son.
So that's what it feels like
to finally have your dad be proud of you.
If it's in the house when I get back, it's firewood.
And... there it is.
Hey, baby.
No. Ah!
Don't touch. This is for Cliff.
But he's suing you.
You gonna make a casserole for that cop
that pulled you over the other day?
I'm just taking it over as a peace offering
so I can talk him out of this lawsuit.
I know you want to say something, so...
Go ahead. Spit it out.
Remember when Pastor said...
No, please. No quotes from the Pastor.
Just tell it to me straight.
I know Cliff was slacking at work,
but what would you have done for any other employee
in that situation?
Well, I would have given them a warning
and then a formal write-up.
Did you do that for Cliff?
- No. He's my friend. - But you fired him.
Well, he was taking advantage of the friendship.
He was, but you also let the friendship get in the way.
How was he supposed to know you were unhappy
if you never told him?
Thank you speaking up
and letting me know I was in the wrong.
- While we're at it... - And that's enough for today.
Hm, yeah.
If you're coming to talk about the case,
we told you we can't discuss that.
Vivian, she got a hot plate. Let her in.
I brought this to say I'm sorry.
Well, I'll give you guys some space.
I should've been honest and told you
I was upset about you
coming to work late and leaving early...
And I didn't always finish my assignments...
and I would always sleep in meetings...
and, uh, I stole all that toilet paper.
Wait. You were stealing toilet paper?
Lillian, open up your eyes.
The whole damn office is stealing toilet paper.
Well, also everyone in the office
misses you very much.
Especially me.
So...
I came to offer you your job back.
Oh. Uh, wow.
Um...
I'm... I'm flattered.
Thank you.
- But no. What?!
Vivian, I got this!
You did me a favor by firing me.
Look, it was good, but it wasn't my dream job.
Now I got the opportunity to pursue
something I'm passionate about.
Well, I know you'll be good at whatever you put your mind to.
So... you'll drop the lawsuit?
Oh, well, yeah, the lawyers dropped the case.
Um, turns out it's not racism
if you're just bad at your job.
So... no job and no lawsuit.
Huh! Well, I hope that you're just as passionate
about sleeping on that couch.
- I don't work here. - And I don't do broke.
But... But... But, baby!
Mama told her boss that she got Coach Long
to drop the lawsuit, and she used that as leverage.
And if we can afford to hire Cliff back,
we can afford to hire another employee to take up the slack.
Makes sense.
And... since you said this is my department,
I'm gonna make sure I'm not the only
Black employee here.
My recollection is...
exactly what you said.
And that's exactly what she did.
She hired a Black woman...
who she fired two weeks later
because "she thought she was cute."
But she replaced her with another Black woman
who worked there for 30 years.
As for Mama's relationship with Coach Long,
thankfully their friendship was back on track.
And watching them taught me
how to balance friendships and working relationships.
For the extra gravity.
You sure you don't wanna drive?
Nah, man. You're gonna do great.
Thanks. You can drive when we get to Nationals.
Ready...
All right, Dean! Come on, then!
Set... go!
Oh, no, no, no, no! No, no, no, no!
- Man! - Come on, now!
Man, I told you I should have drove!
The weight was too heavy. You sabotaged me.
I knew they couldn't do it.
Maybe we should've given them the matches.
So they can burn that piece of junk to the ground.
Captioned by VITAC...