Black-ish (2014–…): Season 7, Episode 11 - First Trap - full transcript

Considering everything
this country has done

to keep Black people down,
our firsts are monumental.

Who was the first White
Major League baseball player?

No one knows.

You just know Jackie Robinson.

First person to win an Oscar?
No one cares.

But we all know
the first Black woman

to win a Best Actress statue
was Halle Berry.

Ask that handsy fool from "The Pianist."

And who can forget
the first Black James Bond?

Idris Elba.



That one hasn't happened yet,

but I'm putting it out there
so it does.

These firsts
are a bittersweet testament

to obstacles overcome.

That's why to this day,

every Black first
is cause for celebration.

So please,
give a round of applause

for the latest addition to
The Museum of Black Firsts,

and also the finest...
Sorry, Halle Berry...

Pacific General Hospital's
first Black female partner,

Dr. Rainbow Johnson!

Thank you.

Oh.
Thank you, everybody.

I am partner.



This is going on
my stories.

Dr. Johnson,
you are goals.

Oh, thank you, Dr. Westbrook.

- I am goals.
- Mm-hmm.

Being goals has always been
my goal.

*BLACK-ISH*
Season 07 Episode 11

Episode Title:
"First Trap"

Captions by VITAC...

Brought to you by: Ford,
Built Ford Proud

Hey, hey.

I'm a partner.

I'm a partner.

Oh,
this is perfect.

I'm doing
a school photography project

on Black excellence.

Oh! Well, I-I'll give you
this photo.

No, no, Mom,
I need to take it.

- Come on, think.
- Mm.

Okay. Oh, look at that.

My wife
is Black excellence.

And to think,
the streets thought

that Shonda Rhimes
invented Black lady doctors.

Well, thank you,

Mr. First Black VP
of Stevens & Lido.

That is me.

But it's not just about
being called first.

It is important to me
to be in a position of power

so that
I can blaze a trail

for all of the other
Black women.

I wish
I was a Black woman

so that you could
blaze a trail for me, Mom.

Oh, I wish that,
too, honey.

But you know what?
I am starting with

Dr. Westbrook
in Neurology.

She has sort of become my...
My little protégé.

Wow, Mom.

Just when I think I have reached
the peak of Pride Rock,

you do something
to lift me up even higher.

Like a beautiful Rafiki.

So,
uh

Dr. Westbrook has asked
to see me tomorrow.

And... I think
it's because she knows

that I'm partner now

and I have the juice
to make things happen.

You got
the juice now, Bow.

Yeah, Mom is the juiciest.

Maybe you shouldn't say things
like that about your mama.

Should I send
Bow's gift to the house

or to her new
sexy partner office?

I wanna make sure
she gets

my Edible Entanglement
Arrangement.

How did you know
that Bow made partner?

She blocked you
on Instagram.

Oh, Dre, you basic,
basic bitch.

It's all about
the Finstagram.

You know
who's not being blocked?

- Hm?
- My Milli Vanilli Stans account.

Okay,
look here, Charlie.

While you're out here,
committing the IG fraud,

Bow and I
are out making moves.

You can call us
Melo and Dame D.O.L.L.A.,

because we are
blazing trails.

- Bow is definitely blazing trails.
- Mm-hmm.

You're kind of out there
with a Zippo lighter

- warming up your hands.
- I'm sorry.

Are you saying that I'm not here
boosting brothers?

Name one thing you done
to bring up a Black man around here.

I hired you, Charlie.

Correction...
I won this job fair and square

in a barefoot race
with you.

What about my assistant,
Curtis?

He quit a year ago.

And his last words
to you was,

"Don't forget that
letter of recommendation."

What about the brother
in the mailroom?

- Maurice?
- Yes.

Stevens hired him
after he hit him with his car.

So even Stevens is bringing up
more brothers than you.

Okay, Charlie, why are
youcoming for me, man?

It's not like you're doing
any better.

Au contraire.

I've been a member
of Black Ad Men, or BIAd Men,

for six years.

We organize professional
networking events and mixers,

not to mention
community outreach.

You have to be kidding.

Shaping a Black man's future
is nothing to joke about, Dre.

You just don't become

Nubian Gold Texturizing Crème
2019 Community King

without
taking it serious.

Okay, you know what,
Charlie?

You may have your little group,
but I have real power.

- Watch this. Stevens!
- Yeah?

You know,
I think it's time that we hire

another Black ad exec...

Absolutely!
You know what?

A-As soon
and as publicly as possible.

Because between
you guys,

I am in
a little bit of hot water

with the P.O.C.s
because I...

well, just to be honest,
I-I-I ran over another one.

Ooh.
That is yummy.

Just like that,
Dre is back in the game.

Oh, yeah. That's it.

That's it.
Pretend I'm not even here.

Girl, I can't get enough
of your picture

- up onthe hospital partners wall.
- ♪ Hey, hey

You better be feeling yourself right now.

Knowing that my work is gonna
make a difference for you

is what
makes it worth it.

- Mm.
- You're gonna be the second

Black female partner
in this hospital.

I mean, look,
it's not first, alright,

but second... Huh?
That's pretty good.

We are gonna take
this place over together.

- Together?
- Yeah,

I got a seat at the table

and now I've been
saving one for you.

Bow. Bow.

- Yeah.
- Listen.

This is
so awesome for you.

I know!
Isn't it so exciting?

I don't want to take away
from your moment.

But I'm not interested
in becoming a partner.

- Wait. What?
- I don't understand.

You said
that I was goals.

- You are goals.
- Okay.

Just not my goals.

I should have been
more specific.

Uh, look, I've been watching you
on this journey

and it's gonna be a no
for me.

Congratulations again,
girl.

But I-I was...

I was doing this for us!

I don't like
anybody else here!

Okay. Okay.

Say,
"Black excellence"!

Can you believe
that Crystal

has been thinking about this
for a long time?

How am I supposed to
make a difference

in the lives
of Black women

when the woman
that I am mentoring

doesn't want to follow
in my footsteps?

I'll follow in your footsteps,
Mom. Just hand me your shoes.

I-I know you're trying, sweetie.
But just let her talk.

- Do you know that she wants
to move hospitals... - Mm-hmm...

So that she can be near
her aging mom?

How do you think
that makes me feel?

Huh?
I have been tolerating

these White doctors

- calling me "Dr. Girl"
for all those years... - What? Okay.

So she can just
kick back

and watch "Judge Judy"
with her mom?

Oh, really?

What was
all of this for?

Okay, babe,
maybe you just need

- to re-up your game plan.
- Oh, come on.

Yeah.

Like today,
I heard this inspiring story

about a guy
who had been sleeping on

helping brothers
at work.

But you can't fault him,
you know,

his life is probably full,
got a big family, you know,

and him starting the
second season of "The Sopranos."

You know,
but he recommitted himself

to helping
those brothers.

And because of that,

Stevens & Lido is now hiring
a new Black ad exec.

- Mm-hmm.
- Dad,

was that story
about you?

No, I'm pretty sure
it was about Curtis.

But he did that.

And you can,
too, babe.

Maybe you're right.

Mm-hmm.
Yeah.

Because you know what?

No one knows
how hard it is

for a Black woman in medicine
like I do,

and because of that,
I am not gonna give up.

That's my wife.

- I am proud of you, baby.
- Aww!

Proud
of our baby, too.

Aww!

Hey,
are you cool with this?

Huh?

- Uh, I-I'm sorry. I'm just...
- Yeah, sorry.

It's okay... looking at Psych
grad schools.

And there are just
so many things to consider.

- Hmm. - I don't know how you did it,
Dr. Johnson.

Well, listen,
sweetheart,

they are gonna pressure you
to go with the big-name school,

but that's not
what it's all about.

You want
to find a place

that has a culture
that you can thrive in.

Let me see this.

Ooh, well,
you might not want

to pick a school in
the Caribbean. Oh.

You know, if you can get a tan
in the classroom,

you ain't gonna
get a job.

- Oh, wow.
- Mm-hmm.

Well,
that's super helpful.

- Yeah.
- You see that, babe?

One mentee
walks out the door,

and another one
climbs through the window.

Mm-hmm.

Look at you two bonding.

Huh.
Might have to up

that Valentine's reservation
to three,

- Aww, sweetheart.
- Right?

Son, when are you gonna stop
flirting with my wife?

I helped Bow get back on track,
but now it was my turn.

They say you can judge an
adman by the width of his Rolodex,

and mine was so thick that
Drake was sliding into its DMs.

Hey, Virgil!

I have a job opportunity
for you...

Oh, you're out of
the advertising business now?

Hey.
Is this Urbana Creative Agency?

Folded?

It's Dre.

Okay, well, if I need a manny,
I know who to call.

But I won't.

Yeah. May I speak
with Damian Horford, please?

He moved on?

Okay, well,
do you have his number?

Oh... he's dead.

Hm.

What about you, are you Black?

Man, why the hell

are we always out of
Hot Cheddar Puffs?

I have
no knowledge of that.

You know, I'm... I'm...
I'm sorry, Charlie, man.

I'm... I'm just having
a Black identity crisis.

Oh,
I hate when them come.

Man, I've called
15 Black ad execs

and all of them are either
now retired,

out of the business,
or dead.

Hmm.

It's kind of hard
to come back from the dead.

But not impossible.

If you don't mind
driving to Arleta,

I happen to know
a reputable necromancer.

Oh, wait a minute.
Does he still work there?

I think he's there.

I-I think
he still works there.

I can't believe
that I've fallen this hard, man.

I used to have
my fingers on the pulse,

and now I can't even
get one person

to line up
for an interview.

You know who has all 10 fingers
on the Black pulse?

Charlie.

Let Brother Telphy
help you out, Dre.

My man
Darren T. Gibson...

He's a great guy,
more than qualified.

He can be here
this afternoon.

Hey, I-I'd love
to meet your guy, Charlie.

This is what I do,
baby.

I-It's all good.
It's seeped in my pores.

Oh, I'm so glad
he didn't touch 'em.

I'm so grateful
that you have time to talk.

- Oh, gosh.
- Planning for my future

is really,
really daunting.

I get it.

God, I wish I had someone
I could have gotten advice from

when I was in
your shoes.

- Mm-hmm.
- Oh, speaking of shoes.

You should get yourself
some golf spikes.

Okay.

I didn't know I was talking to
Miss Tigress Woods here.

Junior never mentioned
you like golf.

Oh, I don't like golf
at all.

Oh.
Not at all.

Not the bugs,
not the skorts,

not the people asking me
which NBA player's wife I am.

But I had to learn
when I was in med school

so that I could
get into my professors'

"Good Old Boys Club."

- Mm. - That was the
only way to have access

- to the big surgeries.
- Mm.

So you got to make
their interests your interests.

- Okay. Makes sense.
- Mm-hmm.

Also, you need to make sure
that your penmanship

and your grammar
are on point.

- They really care about that?
- Yes.

When I was
in residency...

- Mm-hmm.
- ...I misspelled

Neuroleptanalgesia on a chart

and a doctor
said to me,

"We don't speak 'Ebonics' here."

Needless to say, I never
misspelled that word again.

Like, never.

Oh, here's something
really sweet and lovely

that you can do.

Okay.

On your first day
of grad school,

write yourself a letter

about why you decided
to get into medicine.

It'll be like your
"Keep Going!" letter.

W-Well,
there were times

where you felt like
you couldn't keep going?

Oh, my God, yes.
Wow.

All the time.

I just kept my head down
and did my work,

and I read that letter
every day.

And sometimes there were
so many tears on it

that I'd have to
rewrite it,

but at that point,
I knew it by heart.

- God.
- I still remember it.

Hm.

"Dear Rainbow,
you are a strong queen

who has dedicated your life
to helping others.

And when no one else loves you,
I love you.

So in the words
of Harriet Tubman,

'If you hear the dogs,
keep going.

If you see the torches
in the woods, keep going...'"

Isn't that lovely?

Uh... whew!

It's something.
Right?

Uh-huh.

So I was interviewing Charlie's
BIAd boy Darren T. Gibson,

and I figured I'd give Stevens

a courtesy heads-up
about the meeting.

Actually,
I've met Darren before.

We were on
a Men in Advertising panel

a couple years back.

- Really?
- Yeah.

I found him, um,
kind of difficult.

But, okay, it's, uh,
your pick, your judgment.

I trust you.

Difficult?

Huh.

Darren.

Right now I'm a VP
at Essence Nation,

leading some
really exciting campaigns.

Yeah, that's cool.

But I also see here

that you only spent five months
at Chiat/Day.

What happened here?

Essence Nation
was closer to home.

My wife...
She just had a baby,

so it was a blessing being able
to cut that commute down.

Yeah, but still...

I'm surprised that you would
leave one of the big dogs

to go to a small firm.

You know how it is for us
at those big firms,

it's not always better.

But at Essence Nation,
I'm working on campaigns

on a level
I had never done before.

Well, what are we talking,
gas station ads?

Actually, it was
the Kaiser Permanente campaign

with Regina King.

You did that?

Hey,
how did I not know that?

Man, you are the reason
that I'm drinking more water.

Ah, you know, there's...
There's a lot of campaigns.

Hard to keep track
of them all.

No, I should know

what my fellow
Black ad execs are doing.

You know,
what is happening to me?

You know, one ding on you
from the White man

and I was convinced that
I shouldn't give you this job.

Hell, you were here
15 minutes early

and I judged you for having
that kind of free time.

- Excuse me?
- I was scrutinizing you more

because I assumed
you only did commercials

where they rap
about McNuggets.

It's no wonder I don't know
any Black execs,

hell, I'm too busy
second-guessing

whether they deserve
to be here.

You know what?

That's gonna stop today.

Brother,
this job is yours.

I would love to have you
on the team.

Actually...

I think I'm gonna stay
at the rapping nugget place,

but thank you.

Oh, hey, hey, Darren.

Wait.
Wait a minute, bro.

Do you know what four brothers
could do at this place?

Ooh. I probably shouldn't
have been in here for that. Ah.

While I was letting a Black protégé

slip through my fingers
at work like sand,

Bow was trying to pressure one
into a doctor diamond.

I found the letter
that I was telling you about.

That's it.
And, also, I remembered

and, also, I remembered
another med school story

about perseverance.
It was my birthday

and the chief resident
had just told me

that my gorgeous braids
were unprofessional and they...

Okay, Dr. Johnson,
can we have a heart to heart?

Ooh.
Ah, yes, please.

You're telling me
all these stories

like they're funny,
fond memories...

Uh-huh... but they're horrible.

Oh, no.

No. It's just
from a different time.

You don't get it.

That is textbook minimizing,
Dr. Johnson.

You needed
that defense mechanism

to get you through
years of abuse.

Abu...

This was not abuse.

It was
character-building.

It's why I'm the strong woman
that I am today.

You shouldn't have to
beat a person down

- to make them strong.
- W...

O-On the other hand,
tough love works.

You know,
my dad has been rough on me

and I'm great.

Right?

You've had to put up
with a lot of crap

to get to where you are,
Dr. Johnson...

Yeah.

...but you shouldn't have
had to.

Come on.

If I hadn't,
then it would have been worse

for all of the Black women
that came behind me.

Don't you ever wonder
who you could have been

if you didn't have to also
fight this other fight?

- No, they were justtrying to...
- Dr. Johnson.

- Okay, if the...
- Rainbow.

Okay.

Oh.

Oh, my God.

Oooh, the pizza rolls
are ready!

Why did you do that?

You could have been
her favorite daughter.

No, no, no,
it's... it's okay.

I'll just... I'm gonna...
I'm gonna read my letter.

- Okay.
- Yes.

- Tears are coming. I'm gonna...
- Okay.

You
go... Yeah, take...

No, take... Do you.

Take your time.

Hi.

Hey, babe.

Did you know

that when Jackie Robinson
retired from baseball,

that it was only
6% Black?

And that it's only
7% Black today.

I thought
we blocked Wikipedia

when Diane kept changing

- Michael B. Jordan's page
- "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

To "Married to Diane
Johnson.

- "Back off heifers."
- I remember.

Okay.

Jackie Robinson died
at 54.

- I know.
- And for what?

So he could get a couple more
Black players in the league?

Can you imagine
what he could have done, Dre,

if he hadn't been so focused
on breaking barriers?

Can you imagine
what I could've done?

I could be Dr. Rainbow Johnson
Poet Laureate

or Professor
of Chicano Studies.

You know
how I love that.

Well, I had the chance

to give a qualified Black man
a job today,

and I almost didn't
because Stevens made a face.

Hmm?

Babe, there's so few of us
at the table

that I felt that I needed
a White co-sign.

That's how
the system is set up.

You know, sometimes,
being the first...

It feels like the weight of
the world is on our shoulders.

Oh. It does.

We're conditioned to work
10 times harder to succeed.

But is it all worth it
for 6%?

You know...
maybe Jackie Robinson

only made baseball
a little Blacker...

- Mm...
- but his sacrifices were felt

throughout sports
and the world.

Yeah.

You know,
maybe a person's impact

can't always be broken down
into numbers.

Mm.
That's right.

Mm-hmm.

Got to keep pushing.

Yep.

But I'm tired, though.

Babe, well,
put the torch down.

Alright?

This burden
has to be shared,

by your Black colleagues
and your White colleagues.

You'll be able
to pick it up again,

but let them
have a turn.

Maybe you're right.
Mm-hmm.

I'm not even sure

I know how to put down the torch
at this point.

Hey.

There's a first time
for everything.

Thanks, honey.

You're welcome.

Bow and I may have been down
for a minute,

but we were never out.

Bow took the time
to think about it

and realized
it shouldn't all be on her.

Hey, Dr. Windsor.

Diversity is a team sport.

I'd love to talk to you
about the diversity initiative.

Oh, yeah.

I saw that
you were heading that up

with, uh, Dr. Gutierrez
and Dr. Patel

and Dr. Running Water,
right?

Yeah,
I was heading that up.

But
can't take that on right now.

Oh.

Well, I'm sure diversity
will be there for you

- when you're ready.
- Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

I'm saying that other people
can lead the charge.

You care
about diversity, right?

- Of course.
- Yeah?

Why?
What have you heard?

Well, congratulations.

- Hm? - You are the man
for the job, Dr. Windsor.

- Wait, what are you doing?
- I'm handing the torch over to you.

You can pass out
those fliers.

And if I see them
in the garbage can,

then I'm gonna
set your car on fire.

Oh, my goodness.

- Really?
- Yeah.

For me, I made sure
my relationships

with other Black admen
were good,

starting with Darren.

Look, man,
I appreciate the opportunity,

I just...
I can't accept the job.

Bro,
I'm not here to beg,

I'm here to bond.

Now, can a brother
be a BIAd Man?

What is a BIAd Man?

Your networking group,
man.

Charlie told me
about it.

Man, that guy keeps trying
to change the name,

but won't pay any dues.

Ah.
Yeah, that is very Charlie.

You know,
he owes me $3,000 for lunch.

Oh, man,
I wish Jack was here,

because this is
Black excellence.

This...
is Black excellence.

You bet
your Black ass it is.

What do I do?

She made my mom snap.
I have to do something.

Olivia.

Hm?

It, uh,
pains me to do this.

You know
I wanted nothing more

than for you and my mom
to be close.

But we flew
too close to the sun.

Boy, what are you
talking about?

I think
we should break...

Just the lady
that I want to see.

Dr. Johnson,

I hope I wasn't being
too harsh on you yesterday.

I can be sort of
a tough-love kind of girl.

- Hmm.
- You hear that, Mom?

- Tough love.
- Mm-hmm.

- Love.
- Mm-hmm.

Well, having a 20-year-old
psychoanalyze me

was a tough pill
to swallow...

but I'm grateful.

I'm grateful
for your honesty,

and I actually needed to hear
what you had to say.

Oh, thank God.
Whoo!

Whoo!

You guys
still like each other?

- Yeah.
- What were you gonna say?

Doesn't matter, right?

Just let me
enjoy this moment.

Sync corrections by srjanapala

What do I do?

She made my mom snap.
I have to do something.

Olivia.

Hm?

It, uh,
pains me to do this.

You know
I wanted nothing more

than for you and my mom
to be close.

But we flew
too close to the sun.

Boy, what are you
talking about?

I think
we should break...

Just the lady
that I want to see.

Dr. Johnson,

I hope I wasn't being
too harsh on you yesterday.

I can be sort of
a tough-love kind of girl.

Hmm. You hear that, Mom?

- Tough love.
- Mm-hmm.

- Love.
- Mm-hmm.

Well, having a 20-year-old
psychoanalyze me

was a tough pill
to swallow...

but I'm grateful.

I'm grateful
for your honesty,

and I actually needed to hear
what you had to say.

Oh, thank God.
Whoo!

Whoo!

You guys
still like each other?

- Yeah.
- What were you gonna say?

Doesn't matter, right?

Just let me
enjoy this moment.