02x02 - The Bra Whisperer

[bunniefuu]

["Malatel" playing]

[song fades]

[Ines] Ah, sh*t.

- Ines, you have a customer waiting.
- Morning, Sying.

And wedding season's coming. I
don't have anywhere to put that.

- I need more room in the back.
- Yes, I'll move some of my boxes.

- Thea!
- Hi.

Oh, you didn't bring the baby?

[stammers]
No, I'm escaping the baby.

I want to meet the baby.

Yeah, well, my t*ts are ruined.

All right.
Come, take your shirt off.

Let's see
what we're working with.

Ugh, my kid sucked me dry.
[sighs]

I used to have a goddess rack,
and now it's like, uh, the...

Uh, what is that dog
with the droopy ears?

- Dachshund?
- Yeah, I've got dachshund t*ts.

Oy gevalt! All right.

Well, first of all, you can't
put new t*ts in old t*ts' clothing.

Throw that away. Seriously,
throw that foolishness away.

- Okay.
- You need a push-up. You're a 34E.

[Thea] E? That's not a
real size. You made that up.

I've always been a D,

and now my t*ts are deflated,
so how are they bigger?

Listen, lady,
that's not how sizing works.

Don't try to tell me
how to do my job.

- [Thea chuckles]
- The Bra Whisperer of Brooklyn

in The New York Times, baby!

- Stop. Shush, sh... shush.
- "Ines Browne wants..." [mumbles]

I don't want everybody to know.

Okay, it's not a secret, Ma.
It's in The New York Times.

You told me your friend
was gonna do a little article.

You didn't tell me
it was gonna be a whole page.

I didn't know.
She clearly wrote all that

'cause she
had an experience with you.

Well, you know I don't like all
the fuss. And I have a customer.

Thea. Here, I'm gonna get you

- a T-shirt bra.
- [Thea] Okay.

You're gonna have
a lot more customers, Ma.

You're gonna need
a sign out front.

You're gonna need
your own store.

I mean, this is huge.
You're gonna blow up.

I didn't ask anybody
to blow me up.

Clearly. You spent half the
article talking about Hannah.

Well, I wouldn't be here
if it wasn't for Hannah.

[scoffs]

- You think she's seen it?
- I hope she has.

[traditional Jewish
music playing] - [chattering]

Are you Ines? You were
supposed to be here at 7:00.

So, so sorry, Mrs. Shanowitz.

I... I had problem with the
subway, and I'm new here...

Jamaica?

Uh, no, Belize.
[sighs]

But I try asking for help,
but the man I asked, he...

Oh,
women don't just talk to men.

You must learn our rules fast
or you won't make it here.

- This is Dovid.
- Ooh...

Come in. Come in.
Your lateness is contagious.

Now I'm late. I work in the
basement Monday through Friday,

but you'll mostly be up here.
Expect 12-hour days.

- This is Shira, my eldest...
- Mm-hmm.

...and Elkie.

They'll be helping
around the house

once they get back from school.

That one's Gila.

- Not mine and a lot.
- [Gila] Bye.

You'll see,
everyone's family around here.

- Did you come here with family?
- Uh, no. I came alone.

Hmm. That's the master. If
the door's closed, don't go in.

- My husband may be inside, and...
- We don't talk to the men.

It's complicated.

No outside food in this house.
We keep kosher.

Milchig and fleishig...
Milk and meat. Always separate.

Never the same dish. Pink for
meat. Blue or green for dairy.

My husband is color-blind.
It's a real problem.

Do them in different sinks.

You'll be making my lunch
and help Elkie with dinner prep.

Dovid is allergic to eggs.
He gets a rash.

I left feeding instructions
on the counter.

Um, don't light the stove.

Get one of the girls to do it
for you. Microwave is fine.

You're delicious!

- I'll see you at 5:00?
- [chuckles] Yes, ma'am.

Oy, please, call me Hannah.

Yes, Hannah.

- Hey.
- [Dovid coos]

All right, everyone. I'll be with
you in just a moment. All right?

- These will be perfect, huh?
- Mm-hmm.

- I'll be right with you.
- Okay.

All right. Let's see
what we're working with.

Do we have to take my shirt off?
Could you measure me like this?

Well, I don't measure. I use my
eyes. It's easy. Just lift, and I can help.

Look,
I don't even know why I'm...

Look, my body is not right,
and I ain't dating nobody.

Listen, you need a beautiful bra
for you, not for anybody else.

[groans]
Lift.

Baby girl, I look at all kind of
bodies all day long. Take it all off.

- It's all right. Safe space. Safe space.
- [groaning] I have back fat.

[chuckles]
That doesn't matter, my darling.

[laughs, inhales sharply]

Do you have back pain?

Uh, yeah.
It cuts into me back here.

Yeah, it's because the strap is riding
up. It's not giving you any support.

Everything just kinda falls,
you know what I mean?

Yeah. [Chuckles] When it sags,
I kinda feel like a... like a circle.

Like I don't have a shape.

Mmm. Come. Your weight
is your weight, my friend.

It's not a problem.
The bra is the problem.

[sighs]

Shame does you no good.

You deserve to feel amazing.

- Take a breath. Count to ten.
- [breathes deeply]

[Ines] Eyns, tsvey, dray,
fier, finef.

[gasps] Zeks, zibn, achet,
nayn, tsen!

Ooh!

No bottle,
you just had fleishig.

Oh, you're so good!

Oh, Mommy forgot her lunch.

I think we should
take it to her.

[Ines humming, singing]

[Hannah]
This is not working, Judith.

I keep telling you, you have too
much bounty for that bralette, keinehora.

[Judith] Well, then find me
something lacy to hold them up.

[relative] There's my favorite
nephew. Look at that punim.

[both laughing] -[Hannah]
Ines, you need something?

Oh, sorry for the interruption.
I... I brought your food.

Oh, thank you. Put it over
there. You're a lifesaver.

Ines, will you tell Judith her bazongas
are too big for that tiny piece of fabric?

Come on. Give her the truth.

[chuckles] She's probably right.

I get it from my father's side.

[Judith, Ines laugh]

Oh, this is not a bra.
This is the Brooklyn Bridge.

- [all laughing]
- [speaks Yiddish]

[in Yiddish]

[in English]
Pain in the tuchus, this one.

[Judith]
It spans the entire East River!

Well, she's been wearing
a double D. She's a 38F.

- It goes all the way up to F?
- It goes all the way to M.

[Judith]
It's a feat of engineering.

It took 14 years and 600 men
to build this thing.

[all laughing]

[Vizhnitz woman] I can't
figure out how Hannah does it.

Everyone goes to her.

[laughs] Bobov, Ger, Satmar.

I shop with her,
and I'm Vizhnitz. [Laughs]

I am lucky
she doesn't sell skirts,

or I'd be out of business.
[laughs]

I'll take this one.

Very good choice.

- Can I see that? Yeah, that one.
- Yeah.

This? Huh?
Mm-hmm.

[Vizhnitz woman]
That's it. [Chuckles]

Mmm.

Yeah.

I'll take this too.

[Vizhnitz woman]
Good. [Chuckles]

[Hannah] Okay, tell Sarah to
come see me, just not tomorrow.

I need a day off.

[sighs]

I can't get them outta here.
Where's Dovid?

Sleeping.
Oh.

Elkie's with him.
But I brought you a plate.

[sighs] Thank you.

I had a husband all these years,

and what I needed was a wife.

[laughs] Well, here. I'll...
I'll do that, and you can eat.

Yeah.
Oh. Thank you.

[chewing] Skirt suits you.

Mmm. Thank you.

But that's a terrible brassiere.

I can see the line
through the blouse.

[sighs] It's old.

I guess I don't pay a lot
of attention to my bras.

Well, but you must. Come on.
Let's get you fitted.

[chuckles] No.

You can't work for me
and wear a bad bra.

They're the whole foundation.

- Thank you.
- If it doesn't fit right,

- doesn't matter what you put on top.
- No, no, no. Just wait!

- Come on. It'll just take a second.
- [groans, chuckles]

Let's see
what we're working with. [Sighs]

- Okay, you're a 36E.
- But you didn't even measure.

Oh,
my eyes are my measuring tape.

[sighs] Well, I was a C,
but I've put on a little weight.

That's normal. Bodies change.
No one wants to admit it.

Lots of feelings
around all of it.

You know, when I first started, I
thought women only needed bras. [Laughs]

But they need... [sighs]
Well, we need much, much more.

[Ines] Mmm.

No one wants to
let go of the past,

but bodies change.

That's natural, you know?

Especially after babies.

I had my girls.
I thought I was done.

Then, surprise, Dovid.
My body, all farkakte again.

[stammers]
You'll see, when you have them.

I hope you do one day.

You're very good with Dovid.
Natural mother.

I already have a child.

She's two, and she's back home
in Belize with my mother.

What's her name?

Priscilla.

It was complicated.

With... With the father?

My mother thought it was best
that I come here

on my own and then
send back for her later.

I'm worried she'll forget me.

Well, when you're ready,
you'll bring her.

There will be a season
for you and your daughter.

Try this one.
I promise it'll be better.

[sighs] This?
Mm-hmm.

All right.

I knew you would love it.
You look so beautiful.

- [phone ringing]
- [sighs]

Ines Lingerie.

No, I don't have any appointments
for today. How about Wednesday?

- Do we need to take a number?
- No, I know who's next.

- Can you call back this afternoon?
- [Sying] Ines.

- Yes, please. All right.
- [Sying] Ines!

Come, you're next. All right,
I'll be right with you.

You're next, all right?

Coming, coming. Excuse me.

They're hanging
their bras up in my dresses.

Oh. Sorry.

[Sying] You didn't tell me
you were in the paper.

I was sure to mention you.

Well, tell them they can't
block my door. Fire hazard.

And tell them
while they're buying a bra,

they should think
about a wedding dress.

Yes, yes.

Everyone please
line up on this side.

I'll be with you
as soon as I can.

I'm just one person.
Please be patient.

This is not gonna work for you.

You need something
that gives you a lift.

["Bring It On Up" playing]

[speaks indistinctly]
That's a nice lift here.

[speaking indistinctly]

[speaking indistinctly]

It looks fantastic, young girl.
You need to be lively and vibrant.

[customer] These are amazing.
Beautiful bras.

All right, lift your arms up.

[Ines speaks indistinctly]

[Ines] All right!
[speaks indistinctly]

Beautiful.

[speaks indistinctly]

Beautiful.

Good. Good, good.

Thank you so much for coming,
okay?

Bring Madison next time.
Come on. All right, take care.

- [phone ringing]
- All right.

- My God.
- [ringing continues]

[grunts]

- [grunting] Jesus.
- [ringing stops]

Ma, you've got to upgrade your
phone. You have the money, just do it.

I'm grandfathered in at 15.99 a
month, and I'll die with that plan.

Just get a smart phone.
You could have the Square app,

you could ring up customers... Boom,
not make things so hard on yourself.

Hey, no, no, no, don't touch
those. Those are Passover cookies.

I was just gonna have one.

No. They're for Hannah.

And the package
has to stay sealed.

[phone rings] - N...
No, let it go to voice mail.

It's probably a customer.

Then you should answer it.

No, they... Too many calls.
They're hounding me.

Then you should hire somebody.

I can get you
an intern at Kingsborough.

[sighs] Just leave it.

[ringing stops]

Ma,
you don't even have a real sign.

[chuckles]
Weeds out the dumb ones.

[laughs] - It's time
to get your own space.

I...
I talked to a real estate agent.

Yeah, she's looking
for storefronts on Atlantic.

For what? It's a small job.

Hannah had the best shop
in the city,

and she did it all
from a basement.

- Stop living in Hannah's shadow.
- I'm not living in Hannah's shadow.

Really?
You're traipsing across the city

to deliver her cookies
that she could just buy herself.

She's my friend.
It's our tradition.

And you're going
with me this year.

No.
Yes, you are.

Don't be rude.

She asks after you all the time.
Now taste this.

- No.
- Come on, taste it.

Fine, it's delicious.

Now can I have a cookie?

Well, this is it.

It's not much, but it'll work.

It... It was a long flight, huh?

You hungry?

Just tired?

I can show you your bedroom.
Yeah? Come.

I move all of my clothes
out of these drawers

so you can
put your things in there.

And you can take that bed,
and I can sleep out here,

so you have your own room.
[chuckles]

[stammers] And I got you
brand-new pajamas, right there.

I have my own
sleeping clothes from home.

Oh.

Priscilla?

I'm very happy that you're here.

You want me to help you change?

I can do it myself.

Gonna smell like gefilte
until next Pesach.

- [chuckles] We all will.
- [chuckles]

Priscilla,
you wanna come help me?

Come. It will be fun.

[Hannah] Last year, I thought 50
pounds of potatoes would be enough...

- Hey. All right, come.
- [Hannah] Bought 60 this year.

- All right, put this in your hand.
- [Hannah] Dovid,

- why don't you sort the good ones?
- Squishy? [Chuckles]

Roll it around.

In the pot.

- It's squishy.
- Mm-hmm. Come over here.

Yeah. Roll it together.

Hmm.

- These are too small!
- [Ines] No... [stammers] I'm sorry.

I was just trying to make them
a little more manageable for her,

but we'll fix it. We'll fix it.

Oh, well, actually it's fine. You
know, just... just leave it this way.

I don't like chewing
huge matzo ba*ls myself.

We'll make some more?

I wanna go back and color.

Okay. All right, yeah, yeah.

All right, come. Wipe your hand.

- Okay, Ines. Thank you for your help.
- Mm-hmm. No problem.

[guests chattering]

You all right?

I want Granny's conch soup.

Oh, no, go ahead.
Try it, it's good. I made it.

[sighs]

All right, tomorrow we'll
have conch soup. [Sighs]

[recording narrator, Ines speaking
Hebrew] Baruch atah Adonai,

Elohenu melekh ha'olam,
shehecheyanu vekiymanu,

vehigi'anu lazman hazeh.

- [dinner guests] Amen.
- Why are you doing that?

Oh, it's just a prayer.

Kind of like the one Granddaddy
used to say.

[singing in Hebrew]

[kisses]

So much light.

Corner location, windows galore.

The neighborhood
is absolutely blowing up,

and the landlord has agreed
to do the floors.

You're not going to come across
another space like this. It's perfect.

[chuckles] I don't even know
what I would do with all this space.

Ma. What... You-You fill it
with all your new customers.

Can you give us a minute? Hmm?

Ma, it's perfect.

I'm happy where I am.

I don't need
to be a Victoria's Secret.

Okay, well how about somewhere between
Victoria's Secret and a storage closet?

[sighs]

Look... I mean, come on.
This is the dream, Ma. Come on.

I mean,
are you really telling me

you want to stay crammed in
the back of someone else's space?

Listen, I need to get back
to finish cleaning for Passover.

[smacks lips]

Thank you.
We're still thinking about it.

Thank you. We're not interested.

Ma.

[Ines] I dropped off Priscilla,
dropped off Dovid,

I threw in a load of laundry,
there's a brisket in the oven,

I'm free until 3:00.
What can I do?

Well, my own daughter doesn't
want to listen about her wedding night.

She wants the lacy nightie.

The same one that Shira had.

Oy, stop... [speaks Yiddish]

I'm not just your mother.
I do this for a living.

I special-ordered
some negligees.

Moishe won't know what hit him.

- Oh, can you help Golde and Naomi?
- Sure.

Hello.

Ines, you're working here now?

I go wherever Hannah wants me.

She's being modest. People
are coming and requesting her.

[chuckles]

Well, my Naomi's buds
are starting to come in.

- She needs support. [Shushes]
- Stop!

Is this your first bra?

I remember hating my breasts
when they first came in.

Felt like somebody else's body.

But you'll get used to them,

and I'll find you
something comfortable.

All right?

- All right.
- Gila told me she's wearing sequins.

Ines, what are you
wearing to the wedding?

- Uh...
- You're coming, right?

Well...

Of course she's coming.

[sighs, chuckles]

[gasps]

["Kaitzad" playing]

- [rhythmic clapping]
- [laughing]

What's happening? You're
not gonna dance with me today?

Why not? I wanna dance
with you tonight! [Chuckles]

- Okay.
- Come on, it's gonna be fun.

[song, clapping continues]

[chuckles]

[Elkie] Come on!

[young Priscilla giggling]

[squeals]

[all cheering, whooping]

Oh. [Laughs]

You're a real Shanowitz now.

[Ines breathing heavily,
laughing]

[grunting]

Ma?

Oh, you were faking.

You weren't sleeping.
You're trying to fool Mommy?

[chuckles]
Yeah.

Well, it worked. Did you
have a good time tonight?

Dancing with Elkie

and all the girls... [gasps]

...and eating that big sundae?

I saw how many cherries you ate.

- I didn't eat that many. I didn't.
- You ate a lot. [Chuckles]

I'm glad you had a good time.

How long are we staying here?

What do you mean?

How long are we
staying here with them?

Oh, sweetie.

Hannah wants me
working in her shop.

She said women love me.
And I love it.

I'm going to stop nannying, and
I'm going to be her partner one day.

This is our family now.
[chuckles]

This is our life now.

And I promise you
it's going to be good.

Okay?
Okay.

Okay.
Okay.

- Okay. Okay? Okay? [Repeats]
- [chuckling] Okay. Okay, okay.

[chuckles]
All right, go. Bedtime.

You were right. Thongs. Who
knew? Flying off the shelves.

Mmm. I told you,
they're all the rage.

[chuckles] Not for my tush,
but whatever makes a happy home.

- Hello?
- Oh, Leba. [Chuckles]

There are packages on the
stairs. You want me to grab them?

Ines, remember Leba?
My cousin's wife.

Of course.

- Hello.
- Nice to see you.

Ines will be training you today.

For what?

Uh, Leba is joining me full-time

now that her youngest
is in school.

To work here?

Yeah.

[stammers] The both of us?

Well, it's a small shop. I think just
one extra pair of hands is plenty.

I'll grab those packages.

Leba's family has fallen on
hard times, and she needs the job.

It's, uh... It's an easy fit. She...
She's part of the community.

Don't worry.
Elkie will have good news soon.

[stammers]
She will need a nanny.

We'll be employing you
for years to come.

[footsteps]

[Leba clears throat]

Come, Leba. Uh,
Ines will show you the register.

Um... [stammers] To start a sale,
you just press this button

and turn this key, and the
drawer opens. [Breathes deeply]

Cover yourself.

Great, now I fit in.

Ah! [Chuckles] My cookies.

My friend.

- Tell me you got the raspberry ones.
- Mm-hmm.

Wouldn't be Pesach without 'em.
[chuckles]

Of course.

Priscilla,
you're so grown and so tall.

Are you married?

Ines, is she married?
[chuckles] -Soon, God willing.

[groans] Tell me you didn't
get hametz into my house.

Never.

Come in, come in, come in,
come in, come in. Let's...

[kisses]
I remember your favorite tea.

Priscilla, would you like some?

Yeah, we can't stay long.

Nonsense.

I'm making tea,
and you're keeping me company.

Mmm.

So, tell me, how's Dovid doing?
I've missed him.

Well, he was forced
to let his eyeglass shop go.

- He couldn't afford the lease.
- Hannah, why didn't you call me?

Oh, for what?
It's happening everywhere.

Glasses online are far cheaper
than anything Dovid can sell.

It's bad for me too, you know?

Almost all my clients now buy
their bras on Amazon.com.

Hmm.

I'm sure you have
the same issues.

Is online shopping
eating you too?

Uh, it's... it's been strange,

uh, and, uh, you know,
very, uh...

It's not easy.

Oy, the life of a business
owner, am I right?

Oh, Ines, maybe soak that pan?

Left a little crust on the
bottom last time you washed it.

I keep telling Reuven we could
fit a dishwasher under the counter.

It feels like we're
putting away breakfast plates

just in time to take them out
for lunch. [Sighs]

Thanks.

[sighs]

I'm putting in
my two weeks' notice.

Wait, what?

Why?

I just...

I need to.

[Hannah] Ines, you're family.
We can figure this out.

I need to.

But thank you for everything.

Wonderful.

This is absolutely wonderful.

I want her to open...
It is, right?

Ines! I had no idea.

Here I was, getting up the courage to
ask if you would come back, work for me,

pick up business together,
but I should be working for you.

Oh, no, no. Not at all.
[chuckles]

But I know that things
have been a little hard.

Hmm.

So, uh...

Here's a little something

to help Dovid and the family.

I can't take this.

This is too much.

Ines, what about you?
You use it.

It's my small gift, Hannah.

Well, I shouldn't be surprised.

Thank you. Thank you,
thank you for your visit.

- [kissing]
- [Ines] Mm-hmm. [Chuckles]

And you, only good news,
yeah? [Chuckles] -[kissing]

[Hannah, Ines speaking Yiddish]

Oh, your paper. You forgot it.

Oh, no, it's for you. Keep it.

Why would you
show her that paper?

I wanted her to know
that you were a baller.

Why in the world
would you give her a check?

- You hate her too much.
- I do not hate...

Listen, Hannah gave me a family
when I was alone in this country,

- and she taught me a trade...
- She's not your savior.

[scoffs]
You bring her food every year,

and has she ever invited you
to sit at the table?

[scoffs] You constantly
place yourself underneath her.

It's like...
It's like you carry her around.

I mean, why... why leave Belize?

Why leave your child,

if all you were gonna do
is come here and be a servant?

Why did you leave?

Mama told me to.

Right, but you wanted it too,

- or else you wouldn't have come.
- I left because I was scared.

I didn't know how to be
a mother, and... [sighs]

...I needed to start over.

I know that, Ma.

I've known that ever since
I came here and I met you.

[stammers] That's not why
I'm mad right now.

I'm mad because you came here

to-to make a life
that you won't actually make.

Whatever this is...
I mean, guilt or... or a penance.

Stop it.

Build something.

[Ines sighs]

Ma.

All these women
come into your shop,

and you make them feel like
the best version of themselves.

You don't let them shrink. Why
can't you do that for yourself?

[sighs]

[both speaking Hebrew]

[Priscilla sighs]

[Ines sighs]

[Priscilla sniffs] So what
was the name of that Realtor?

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
[chuckles]

Priscilla,
I just want to talk to her.

No, you're gonna do it.
You're gonna do it.

Where were we?
[laughs]

Ma, can we please just skip
to the plagues? I'm so hungry.

- [whimpers, chuckles]
- Okay.

[Priscilla breathes deeply]

Dam.

Tzfardeiya.

Kinim.

Hail, locusts,

slaying of the first born.
[groans]

[chuckles]
[chuckles] Please?

All right,
we hit all the big stuff.

- Let's eat. [Chuckles]
- [Priscilla sighs]

["Barubana Yagien" playing]