01x05 - Plus Ones

[bunniefuu]

[ELLA] Previously on Run the World

- [WHITNEY] Hi!

- [OLA] Hey.

Oh, hi, Anderson.

[ELLA] We're not back together.

We're sleeping together.

[MONIFE] Mommy's so excited

about this wedding

and so appreciative of

how devoted you are to Ola.

I cheated on Ola.

Girl, I been known that.

Did you just get here,

or did you see me dance?

I totes got here early,

and you were totes the best one

in the whole entire class.

I need Jason to get the f*ck

out of my house.

[RENEE] The f*ck out, Jason

Get the f*ck out

[ALL] Hey, hey, hey, hey.

[MATTHEW] The university knows.

They saw us at the park.

Somebody filed a complaint.

f*ck.

[MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS]

[WOMAN] Exactly how long

have you two been involved?

How long?

I think we should say six months.

Why would we lie?

If we want them to take

our relationship seriously,

we should say two years.

It sounds way more convincing.

Okay, but I think if they know how long

we've been keeping this secret,

it's gonna be catastrophic.

And I think it would be unwise

for us to finally tell our

truth by starting with a lie.

- Two years.

- Two years.

[WOMAN] Did you ever engage in any

sexual activity on campus?

["TEACH ME TONIGHT" PLAYING]

[DINAH WASHINGTON] Let's

Start with the ABC of it

[SONDI BREATHING HEAVILY]



[WASHINGTON] Roll right down

To the XYZ of it



- Help me solve

- [MOANS]

- No.

- No.

- No, absolutely not.

- Never.

[WOMAN] Why do you think you

should be granted an exemption?

Um

[CHUCKLES] well, since MeToo,

it's been impossible

for anybody to accept

that a relationship between

a professor and a student

could be consensual,

respectful, loving.

But I met a beautiful, brilliant woman

that I see as an equal, and I'm sorry

that I didn't turn off my feelings

because she was a student,

but I love her, I love teaching here,

and I shouldn't have to choose.

Sure.

Technically, what we did

was against the rules.

But it has never interfered

with my commitment

to my studies or my dedication

to being an impactful member

of our academic community.

Also, Matthew's a giant here,

and I do not want to be the reason

that another student

loses his mentorship.

[WOMAN] Our primary concern

is to protect our students.

So tell me, Ms. Hill,

do you feel in any way like

you've been compromised?

No. No, not at all.

[SUCKS TEETH] Girl, no, stop playin'.

[CHUCKLES]

[SLOW JAZZY MUSIC PLAYS]



[SINGER] We're running

We're running, we're running

We're running

We're running, we're running

We're running, we're running

We're running

We run the world

We run the

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[GROANS]

[EXHALES HEAVILY]

There is no way that you're

gonna get this thing unpacked

before the party tomorrow.

Oh, yeah.

Maybe just take it downstairs for now.

Well, yes, ma'am, Ms. Sondi.

Pullman Porter Powell at your service.

This is what you wanted, remember?

For me to give up my

sanctuary where I could

walk around in my panties,

unfettered.

Oh, hey, hey, hey.

Now, let it be known,

you can always feel

free to do a panty walk.

[AMARI] Just thought I'd let you know,

you've been putting the

towels in the wrong place.

I always put the towels

in the bottom drawer.

I know. I move them after you leave.

Now that you live here,

you should know where things go.

Oh.

Did she just throw me baby shade?

Yeah. I think she did.

Which is surprising,

'cause I actually thought

she liked you better than she likes me.

Right?

Ouch, that hurt my heart.

[SMOOTH MUSIC PLAYS]



[AMARI] Why are we

celebrating you living here

if you already lived here a lot?

Because your daddy

and I just want to celebrate

how much we're in love.

What's "in love"?

That is a very deep and

solid question, little girl.

Here.

Which color?

I get the feeling you

want me to wear pink.

It's pink or Vaseline, mama.

That one.

All right, sweetie.

I purple unicorn,

pink star,

triple red heart you.

I triple red heart you too.

You, my dear, are going to be

the prettiest little girl

at this party.

You're not wrong. I look fantastic.

Okay. Show me your moves.

Mm, mm. [GIGGLES]

So you two are free to see each

other in public now, right?

Yes, but I can't work

with Matthew anymore,

so I have to find a new advisor.

- Small price to pay.

- Not really.

Finding somebody new actually presents

a significant challenge.

It's tied to money and grants.

It's a whole thing.

Let's just say I need

to curry some favor,

hence lecoming-out party.

Saying "le" doesn't make it French.

Girl, whatever.

I need to generate legoodwill

- on lecampus, okay?

- [CHUCKLES]

Oh, taste this.

[ELLA] Mmm.

That is goodwill and butter.

- Yeah.

- [LAUGHS]

So

I need some advice about Anderson.

I want to ask Whitney if I can

bring him to the wedding.

- No.

- Why no?

And so quick with it.

Because he tends

to pull disappearing acts,

and wedding photos are forever,

and I don't want to pull

your head out of the toilet

when you are sh*t-faced

and crying your eyes out

because his inner f*ck

decided to show up.

As usual, your perspective

is clear and noted.

That's the response of

somebody who is actively planning

to ignore my sage and

usually spot-on life advice.

Here. Be useful.

Start snapping green beans.

I didn't come here to work.

This food ain't free.

[JAZZY MUSIC PLAYS]



It's been in the family

for three generations.

They were actually one

of the first Black families

to own on this block.

Way back before

the fifth sushi bar arrived?

- [LAUGHTER]

- I know, right?

How much raw fish

does Malcolm X Boulevard

actually need?

My parents thought

about selling it in the '90s,

but fortunately, I convinced

them to hold on to it.

And he's been rehabbing it ever since.

He restored the crown molding

and all of the oak

sliding doors from the '20s.

That's my red chair.

It's been in the family

since I was born.

- [LAUGHTER]

- [MAN] Well, how about that?

And this is an original Lloyd Toone,

the famed Harlem sculptor.

Did we always know

that she was this good

at putting on the pretty

dress and smiling?

I think so.

I have to remind myself

that GRITS are amazing

at this Stepford sh*t.

Grits? Like the food?

GRITS, as in

"girls raised in the South."

They have a certain talent

and aspiration for wifedom.

Ah, yes. Oh, those GRITS.

- Mm.

- Yes, yes.

So, Bride-to-Be,

are you ready for this weekend?

Uh, yeah, you know,

I'm excited for you guys

to finally see the dress.

I'm less excited about being

trapped in the same apartment

as my mom for 72 hours.

Oh, you know I love me some Gwynn.

- That's my girl!

- Well, your girl

can come and stay at your place

and get all up out my sh*t.

[CHUCKLES]

You're not telling her, right?

No.

But she's a 007-level snoop.

And snooping leads to confessions,

and confessions lead to tears,

and I just cannot.

Auntie Whitney,

are you going to wear a princess dress

when you get married?

I am going to wear an Amsale Aberra.

So yes, a total princess dress.

In fact, I get to be a princess

and an African queen

on my wedding day.

[HUMMING "BRIDAL CHORUS"]

How does she know that song already?

It's the cartoons.

The cartoons are not feminist.

[LAUGHTER]

Well, lovely party, Mrs. Dr. Powell.

Oh, well, thank you very much, my dear.

Hello, friends.

This is Reed.

Reed, these are my friends.

- Nice to meet you.

- Mm.

- Is that pecan pie?

- Mm-hmm.

- It's my grandmother's recipe.

- [REED] Ah.

It's on the dessert table over there.

Boo-yow. Pardon me.

"Boo-yow." Okay.

- Renee?

- Yes?

Who is dude I did not invite?

Oh, that would be Reed Locke.

- [SONDI] Mm-hmm.

- He went to Columbia,

works at a hedge fund,

owns a brownstone in Boerum Hill,

and he took me to Eleven Mad.

That's short for Eleven Madison Park.

- Yeah.

- We've all been there.

This party looks like the place

where the Black Twitterati go

to subtweet each other and die.

[SONDI] Okay, Renee.

I know that you're having a hard time

because of your divorce,

so I'm gonna be nice

and I'm gonna leave

you here with your friends

Ella and Whitney,

who won't tell you about yourself.

Mmm! This pie is slammin'!

What's up with the music, though?

You don't like jazz?

Jazz makes me itch.

I'm gonna go find the DJ.

Oh, I don't think there's a DJ.

[RENEE CHUCKLES]

Whatever.

I grabbed him by the p*nis

in the Uber on the way up here,

and he's packing. [CHUCKLES]

He's gonna be a lot

of fun for me later.

[LAUGHTER]

Okay, where's the drinks?

Ooh, they got "skrimps" here?

- Oh, my God.

- [LAUGHS]

[JAZZY MUSIC PLAYS]

Which is why intellectual compatibility

has always figured so prominently

into relationships that work.

But certainly you acknowledge

that in all sexual relationships,

there is a power dynamic at play.

Sure, but I don't believe

that women are always

the only ones who stand to gain.

- I mean, they're so

- Why shouldn't they be?

All women deserve to

f*ck up at least once.

[CHUCKLES]

- I'm sorry, what?

- f*cking up,

as in "upwards."

Every woman deserves to sleep

with at least one man

who can actually change

her station in life.

Why shouldn't romantic

entanglements be strategic?

Sex and ambition do not have

to be mutually exclusive.

You can have sex that gets you nowhere.

You can have sex

that gets you everywhere.

I mean, behind every great woman

is every man she's ever slept with.

Don't you think some of those

men should be great too?

Otherwise, she's kind of

just a great woman

with low self-esteem.

- Don't you think?

- Ooh.

That's-that's what I've

been saying, you know?

h*s be winning.

They be winning.

Can you guys excuse me for one second?

Ella, there's something over there.

I just need your help with it. It's

- Yeah.

- [SONDI] It's this way.

[RENEE] That's what I've been

trying to get at.

- Mm-hmm.

- The h*s in the world

Right?



[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

I am not f*cking up or whatever that

[WATER RUNNING]

Professor Baptiste,

you really don't have to do that.

Well, I couldn't find

any clean glasses upstairs,

so I just came down here

and helped myself.

Well, that's not necessary.

Thank you, though.

Thank you.

My bad, sis.

The food was delicious.

Oh, well, I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

Clearly, you're doing something right.

[CHUCKLES]

Half the female students

in the department

have been trying to lock

down Matthew for years.

The last girl,

certainly couldn't cook

as well as you, sis.

I don't think we've met. I'm Donda.

Ella McFair.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

I really dig your worldview.

I really dig your confidence.

Only a truly powerful woman

could pull off that hair.

Excuse me, ladies.

You okay?

Yeah.

Have you thrown a

party like this before?

Uh, once or twice.

Nothing like this one, though.

This one was amazing.

Like, on your own

or with a student or two or

Just me.

Why?

No reason.

[SOFT JAZZY MUSIC PLAYS]



["BAD GYAL FLEX" PLAYING]

Yes! Ah!

Ah! Oh!

[LEIKELI47] This is a bad gyal flex

When I come I come to collect

This is a bad gyal flex

Okay. Oh. [GIGGLES]

[LEIKELI47] This is a bad gyal flex

When mi campaign

Dey reelect

This is a bad gyal flex

Run up

You might get wrecked

Ah, oh.

[LEIKELI47] No one cyaan test

Okay, um

[CHUCKLES]

Do you mind taking this off?

No, I can't.

- Why?

- Well, I never take it off.

- Ever?

- Since she died.

I'm sorry, who? What, what?

My-my wife. Her ashes.

- Your dead wife's in there?

- Mm-hmm.

The best cook,

my best friend,

classy lady.

Smart!

[MOANING]

[LEIKELI47] This is a bad gyal flex

Hang it up, disconnect

This is a bad gyal flex

When mi campaign

Dey reelect

This is a bad gyal flex

Run up

You might get wrecked

[SLOW JAZZY MUSIC PLAYS]

Those blue Jimmy Choo

shoes were gorgeous.

Did you put those on hold?

I chose a shoe already, Mother.

Well, when do I get to see them?

I had them sent directly

to the bridal salon.

[GWYNN] What about a veil?

Have you chosen that,

or is that something

I can help you with?

[HORN BLARES, SIREN WAILING]

I have narrowed it down to two.

Pretty certain on the one I prefer,

but I'll try on both when we get there.

[HORN BLARES]

[RENEE] I mean,

I've always been intrigued

by the possibility of a threesome,

but I was hoping

the other chick would be 5'7"

with a stripper a*s

and, you know alive.

- [LAUGHS]

- Mm, talk about carrying

- around deadweight.

- [LAUGHS]

You know, for a bridesmaid dress,

this is actually really pretty.

[RENEE] Mm.

I think mine could use

a slit, you know?

I can't adequately

hit my Wobble in this.

See? It can't open.

[GWYNN] Hey, girlfriends.

- [ALL] Ah!

- Oh, Mama Gwynn!

[CHUCKLES]

Mama Gwynn!

- [SQUEAKS]

- Oh!

[LAUGHS]

Mwah.

- Hi.

- Oh, hi.

- Hi.

- Hey.

- Oh, okay.

- [ALL SQUEALING]

You ladies look gorgeous!

Can you believe my girl is doing it?

- My baby's a bride.

- [RENEE] Now, Mama Gwynn,

don't you think this would look amazing

with a thigh-high slit?

I could get with a little

Angelina Jolie moment.

- Pow!

- Hey!

[LAUGHTER]

Mom. Mom!

No.

Renee, no.

Mom, let's do the dress.

[WOMAN] Right this way.

- Well, somebody's in a mood.

- [ELLA] Mm.

[SONDI] And I am so not

in the mood for her mood.

Hope can deal with her

when she gets here.

You know, I am delighted to not

have to plan any bridal events,

but I kind of always thought

that I was gonna be

the maid of honor.

Really? [CHUCKLES]

'Cause clearly, if Hope hadn't

introduced Whitney to Ola,

it would've been me.

She prefers me because

you told everybody

she peed her pants in first grade.

Ladies, the maid of honor has arrived!

Oh, I am the worst maid of honor,

but I do apologize for my t*rd.

I saw a woman I know

from The Links at the airport

and missed my flight.

Her husband was almost our

first Black attorney general,

but he lost to Kamala.

Then in first class,

I sat next to this guy

Whitney and I know went to HBS with.

I think his name was Jamaal Jones.

I'll have to ask her.

He was a year behind us at HBS.

He was on there, sans wife.

He had, like, five scotches

and started staring at my boobs.

Ooh! But who can blame him?

That's been going on since puberty.

Ooh, ooh, ooh,

the bridesmaid gowns look great!

Mm. I think they're kind of plain.

Oh. Renee [CHUCKLES]

sometimes you are too honest.

Oh, Hope, sometimes you're too here.

- Where's my dress?

- [CHUCKLES, CLAPS]

sh*t.

[EXHALES HEAVILY]

[WHITNEY] Mom, it's like shoelaces.

- You just crisscross.

- Okay.

I'm working on it.

Hey, your father had a question about,

uh, one of the invoices

from Cohen & Rotter.

I thought we agreed to only use

Black vendors for the wedding.

Yes, I spent weeks

trying to find a Black-owned

lighting and flooring company.

There are none.

It's like we've been redlined

out of the vocation.

[SIGHS] That is a shame.

You remember Mr. Chapman?

He used to have a lighting company.

And he tried to pass

it down to his son,

but of course, he was trying

to be one of those hip-hoppers.

Ow, ow! Ow, it's too tight!

Okay, don't bite my head off.

I'm sorry. I just-I

I just can't breathe in this thing.

You know what? Why don't you just

go sit in the little chair

that's made especially

for mothers of the bride?

[SIGHS]

Could I get a little help

with this thing?

- [RENEE] Really great party.

- [ELLA] Yeah.

- Thank you.

- But that Baptiste, though.

- Baptiste.

- Oh.

What was that in the kitchen?

Mentioning some chick

from Matthew's past

and then calling me sis?

"Sis" is the most passive-aggressive,

non-sisterly sh*t ever.

I don't f*cking know you, b*tch.

I'm not your sister.

Don't "sis" me, ugh.

I think you're overreacting.

I mean, she came into my

house and she called me a f*ck.

No. She said you were f*cking up,

which I personally love.

Me too, it's already

on my vision board.

- That is a good idea!

- Okay, why are you

taking her side?

I'm not taking her side.

And if you are f*cking up,

then good for you.

Ladies!

I'm glad we have this

opportunity in person

for me to tell you

I received nary a response

to my email about my plans

for Whitney's bachelorette.

You know what, Hope?

It probably went to my spam folder.

[HOPE] Well,

I already booked everything,

so I need $800

from each of you by next Friday.

I accept Venmo, PayPal,

but no Cash App.

Eight hundred dollars? For what?

For the entire weekend,

it's actually quite reasonable.

It includes a hotel, dinner on Friday,

bottle service.

Girl, we are way too plugged

to be paying for bottle service.

Hope, even if I had

$800 just lying around,

which I do not,

I would not be spending it that way.

If any of you had responded

to my SurveyMonkey links,

we wouldn't be having this issue.

Oh!

- [RENEE] Whitney!

- [ELLA] Oh, my God, Whitney!

You look so beautiful!

[GWYNN] My baby girl gorgeous, right?

[SONDI] Sweetie. Oh, my.

- Oh.

- [WHITNEY] It's perfect.

- So, Whitney, about that slit.

- Really?

Whitney, I think all of the dresses

are perfect as is, no worries.

I thought we agreed

to ask for alterations.

[ELLA] I never said that.

Renee, I hope you weren't

expecting Ella

- to have your back.

- What is with you?

I'm just saying, if I have

a problem with a b*tch,

you have a problem with a b*tch.

- And I got a problem

- [GWYNN CLEARS THROAT]

- with Donda Baptiste.

- Oh, my God.

Excuse my language, Mrs. Greene.

Okay, this is getting silly.

Uh, maybe everyone needs a snack.

I brought chocolate-covered

espresso beans.

[RENEE] Also, Whitney,

I've been meaning to ask you.

Is there a way

that we can uninvite Jason

to the wedding?

Uninviting a guest to a wedding

is extremely poor etiquette.

Oh, I'm sorry, Hope,

if that was unclear.

When I spoke directly to Whitney,

I was talking to Whitney.

Okay, well, as her maid of honor

Hope, we get it, you're

the f*cking maid of honor.

[RENEE] And if he cannot be uninvited,

I was thinking perhaps maybe

I could bring a plus-one.

Hey!

You cannot plus-one cut-in-line.

I was gonna ask her

if I could bring Anderson.

Again, Anderson sucks.

Sondi, don't you have enough

Matthew drama in your life

to satiate your constant need

for male loathing?

Are you guys serious right now?

None of this is appropriate

for what we are trying

to do here, ladies.

Renee, Sondi, Ella,

closed-door session now!

[ELLA] I didn't even do anything.

[SONDI] Oh, you didn't? Interesting.

Ah.

Ah, ah! Whit, get your girl.

Hope, you don't need what they need.

Okay, I'm just gonna

stand out here and eavesdrop.

[WHITNEY] What is wrong with you?

I have enough going on

with this wedding.

I certainly don't need you three

showing your entire

asses in front of my mother.

Whitney, I swear I didn't do anything.

Oh, please.

I could hear your never-ending

"This Is Us" relationship drama

and you sniping off about

that damn Baptiste woman.

- [RENEE] Mm-hmm.

- [WHITNEY] And, Renee,

Jason is in the wedding,

which you know,

because you two were

supposed to be giving a toast.

So no, I will not ask my future husband

to uninvite your future ex-husband.

And no, you cannot bring

some rando to my wedding.

And, Ella,

my ambivalence about Anderson aside,

he is not invited,

because Renee cannot bring a plus-one,

thus you cannot bring a plus-one,

because y'all.

[SIGHS]

So can you please

start being the friends

that I very much need right now

instead of acting like a bunch of women

who were cast as

friends in a reality show

but have never actually met?

And can you be nice to Hope?

She flew all the way

from Sacramento, and frankly,

she's the only one currently acting

like a decent human being.

[HOPE] Thank you!

[WHITNEY SIGHS]

I'm sorry, Whitney.

I'm so sorry.

So

would this be a bad time

to ask the seamstress

about that slit?

[ELLA] God, get out of here.

Oh!

Wait, don't leave me in here.

[SOFT JAZZY MUSIC PLAYS]



The foie gras sounds delicious.

Foie gras is really fatty,

so obviously, I can't eat that.

[CELL PHONE BUZZES]

Hey, babe.

[OLA] Hey, you.

Hey, future son-in-law!

[OLA] Hey, Mama Greene.

How'd it go today?

She looked stunning.

They all did. I took pictures.

Mom, he's not supposed

to see me in the dress

- until the wedding.

- Relax.

I was only gonna show him the girls.

[OLA] Uh, I am so sorry.

I just got a page.

I gotta go.

Uh, I'll catch you guys later?

Bye, sweetie.

[LINE BEEPING]

Honey

you seem angry.

Can we please just enjoy dinner?

Sure.

But something is up.

I know I shouldn't dig

because it's only gonna

make things worse,

but you're mad at me.

You're mad at your friends.

Why are you so mad?

I just have a lot going on,

trying to make sure that Ola's

happy and you're happy.

Oh, this isn't about me.

You have made it very clear

you only want me involved

in this wedding in a perfunctory way.

Not true.

I'm having the wedding

that you have always

- wanted me to have.

- Am I missing something?

The wedding that you've

always talked about.

If it were up to me, Ola and I

would've eloped years ago.

But I know how much that

would've broken your heart.

So here we are with a

boatload of your friends

and a cake when I don't even like cake.

Oh, hell, Whitney.

All I want is for you to

be happy, whole, healthy.

Why do you think I

call you every morning?

You don't share much about your work.

You keep your relationship

with Ola incredibly private.

You tell me more about Renee and Ella

than you do about yourself.

Well, you always ask about them.

I'm just trying to keep

you on the phone.

I go as far as you let me.

Sometimes I'm afraid to talk you.

You are more successful

than I ever was,

and maybe you think that means

I don't have anything to offer.

But I can tell you this,

this pressure you're

putting on yourself

is gonna catch up.

[EXHALES HEAVILY]

I am trying so hard.

[GWYNN] Why?

Sweetie, you should be savoring

every moment of this.

Your father and I have been

married for 33 years.

We just spent months stuck

in a house alone together.

That, my love, was work.

[CHUCKLES]

This should be the

best time of your life.

I don't want you to

pretend to be happy.

I want you to be happy.

- And do everything right.

- [GWYNN] Listen.

I raised you to be exceptional,

because you are.

I'm not going to apologize

for expecting you

to be the phenomenal woman

sitting across from me.



I just wish you would let me in.



[SERVER] Are you ladies ready to order?

Yeah.

Um

we'll have the foie gras

and bread and butter to start

and two old-fashioneds.

We have a lot to catch up on.

Sounds perfect.



[MID-TEMPO JAZZY MUSIC PLAYS]



[WOMAN] Whoo-hoo![GIGGLES]