The Other Black Girl

Come on, come on.

Nella! - Vera!

Morning, hi.

Look what arrived.

- Oh, I see. Ooh, it's a real brick.

- Seriously, you could knock someone out with that thing.

Oh, and that's exactly what we wanna do,

we wanna get this brick absolutely everywhere.

Ah! Don't hit me with the brick!

- Yes. - Right.

Funny. Oh.

Now, we just need Sam to pick a damn cover.

Hey, has Leonard brought those mockups over yet?

- I already told him that we need them by the end of the day.

And did you get the Colin cutout?

It's on its way.

God, as always, Nella, you're the best.

Mm. I wanna talk to you about the Colin Franklin later.

The one with Shartricia?

Mm-hm, you read it, right?

I couldn't finish it fast enough.

- Oh, well, great. Richard wants it in copyediting ASAP.

So, I want your thoughts.

Yep, pulling them up now, Maisy.

Yes, those pages were sent.

Yes, you would look great with bangs.

Yes, really.

Okay, see you later.

Maisy's trying to squeeze every last drop out of me before I go.

Yang, I am begging you,

please don't go.

You are literally the only one that I like.

Besides, aren't you gonna miss all of this, glamour?

I think I'll take law school.

- But what about the possibility of editing books?

Of telling stories?

So, that... I don't know,

a nerdy, little Black girl

who didn't grow up with kids who looked like her

could imagine a bigger world?

Feel less alone?

Aw.

Books were your friends.

I had friends.

Were they hobbits?

- Nella? Could you hand out the invitations

to Colin's announcement party, please?

Thank you.

Did you get my email?

Ah, Sophie!

Announce yourself, damn.

Sorry, hi.

- Hi. - Did you read that piece I sent?

- "The Token in the Corporate Machine: Being Black in a White Workplace."

Did you read it?

In the last 30 seconds?

It is such an important topic.

And, you know, I'm always looking for better ways

to be an ally to you.

That piece got me so fired up.

Mm.

- Anyway, you should read it, like, maybe right now,

and share if it resonates.

Oh, and, uh, here's a manuscript for Vera.

Richard might offer on it.

What the?

You okay?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm fine.

- Don't let this place suck the life out of you.

Wagner Books.

Excuse me.

We are so excited. Very excited.

There she is!

Nella, come.

There's someone you have to meet.

Hazel, this is Nella. Nella, meet Hazel-May McCall,

my new assistant.

Really?

Wow.

Hi.

It's so nice to meet you.

Uh, Hazel,

Nella will show you the ropes once you get started.

She's Vera's assistant.

The iconic Vera Parini?

Yeah.

Who can forget that Vogue profile?

Ugh, those pictures at the beach house in Montauk.

It was a rental.

It doesn't matter, I mean,

Colin Franklin really opened doors for her.

Y... This is gonna be so much fun having you here, Hazel.

Yeah, it's, it's gonna be fun.

And important.

Hazel mentors underprivileged students up in Harlem.

- We use the term "opportunity challenged."

- Oh. Yeah.

Our job is to embolden them beyond their circumstances.

Anything for my hood.

Oh, you're from Harlem?

Oh, Black mecca born and bred.

Oh, Nella and I, actually both from Connecticut.

It's not as cool as Harlem,

but we turned out all right, didn't we, Nella?

Did you go to college up there, too?

Uh, UVA.

Mm. - You?

Yeah, uh, Howard, class of '19.

Wow. Mm.

- You must have some crazy homecoming stories.

I mean, girl, the ones I can remember.

Lil Baby performed my senior year.

What?

- Girl, it was serious, I am still recovering.

Oh, my God, what I would give. Mm.

A kidney.

I would give a kidney.

Give me the kidney then.

Well, I...

- See, see? - I was ready to give it to you

if you wanted it.

- Well, you girls are gonna have a lot to talk about

and a lot of time to do that.

I'm just gonna walk you out, Haze.

Ooh, ooh, ooh.

Is that a fun nickname for us?

Haze, Maze.

I gotta get back for tutoring.

Uh, I will see you all very soon.

Very, very excited to be here. - Yeah.

Oh! Well, let me walk you out.

There's just a few questions... She's great!

I have to ask you.

The new Yang is Black.

- Bitch, I lit so many intention candles for this.

- It's like Wagner realized that we're in 2023

and there can no longer just be one of us.

Duh, finally!

So, tell me all about homegirl. What's her name? W-What's her vibe?

- Um, Hazel-May McCall. - Okay.

And, Malaika, she is so cool.

Like, even you would borrow clothes from her.

- I would only borrow clothes from Rihanna,

on our honeymoon in Greece.

- 'Kay. - Yeah.

Hey!

- Hey. - Hi.