Something New Page #6

it down. She knows her stuff...

and she could give you the

numerical breakdown of anything.

Well, that's perfect 'cause

that's just what I need.

How about next week?

Can I let you know?

No. No, of course.

Of course, yeah.

Hey, you know what? Why don't

we go check out the grill?

No, I'm good, man. I'm good right

here. I wanna show you the barbeque.

It was nice meeting you.

Nice meeting you.

Hey, baby.

Hi.

How are you?

Good.

Who's that guy?

Some friend of Nelson's.

Nice plant.

Kenya!

Bye.

Bye.

See you later.

All right, guys.

So, we met Nelson's mentor.

Is that handsome or what?

And well-spoken.

He said that you were gonna

show him around.

Say good night, Joyce.

We have to go.

Young man, you did an

interesting job on the garden.

Oh, thank you.

Yes, very good work.

It was great talking

to you, sir. Me, too.

Did you get your cotillion invite? Yes.

You must come.

Senator Abamaus Leeds is-

We'll talk about it

later, Mother.

Come on, come on.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

Bye.

So, what's a cotillion?

Seventeen years old.

The debutante being

presented to society.

I can't believe

people still do that.

They take it seriously,

too.

That's Mom and Dad.

My escort, David Fontaine.

His father and mine

went to med school together.

My parents flew him out

from Atlanta.

You couldn't find

someone locally?

It was a big deal

to my mother.

"Kenya Denise McQueen

escorted by David Fontaine...

"son of Dr. And

Mrs. David Fontaine."

Whatever.

My grandfather passed away

two years ago.

And my nana

still lives in Baltimore.

Well, they look like they're

having fun. They lived for it.

It was the black high-society

event of the year.

So, you wanna go?

It's on the same night as

the community garden party...

but I can blow that off.

I don't know.

I think I'll skip this year.

Why? Because of me?

I'm a great

ballroom dancer.

I don't know. I just... I just

don't think we'd be comfortable.

We or you?

Come on, let's go to bed.

We both have to

work tomorrow, remember?

Yeah, I do.

Kenya!

Hey, Edwin.

Listen, I'm sorry about that

business with Jack Pino the other day.

I know he's being an ass. But, as you

said, we're here to serve the client...

and sometimes that means

putting egos aside.

Absolutely.

We knew you could handle it.

You're a pro.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Walter gave me the secret

to his famous grilled salmon.

Want to try it?

Whatever's fine.

You all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

The white boys at the plantation are

getting on my last nerve, that's all.

Could we put the white boys

on hold for tonight?

The white folks. The brothers,

the sisters. All of them.

What are you saying?

Just not tonight, babe. I, you

know... I had a rough day, too.

I need to get home

and relax.

You're asking me to not talk

about race? No, I didn't say that.

You expect me to be in this relationship

with you and never bring it up?

What? We talk about it

all the time.

I just said, not right now.

When? When is appropriate?

When we're at home behind closed

doors, when we're just joking about it?

No, just not all the time. All right?

It just makes me feel uncomfortable.

I'm sorry, but I wasn't

brought up that way.

First of all, you don't have

to talk about being white...

because no one reminds you

every day that you're white.

The only time you guys

know you're white...

is when you're in a room full of

black people. I'm in a room full of...

I'm in a world full of white people, and

every day they remind me that I'm black.

And if I can't talk to you

about my frustrations...

if I'm just supposed to keep that to myself

- Kenya, hold on.

You're a senior manager at one of the

whitest firms in the country. All right?

You graduated top of your class from

Stanford and Wharton, for Christ's sake.

You own a home. You earn

more money than what?

Black or white.

Certainly more than me.

So, you know, tell me about your

frustrations, 'cause I'm listening.

No, you don't want to hear it.

You don't want to hear about...

how when I show up

at an account meeting...

they always have to regroup

when they find out I'm the one...

who's responsible for their

multi-million-dollar acquisition.

They'd rather trust it

to a file clerk.

The guy who gets me my goddamn

coffee, because he's white.

Do you know

how insulting that is?

They're jerks. Forget

them, baby. They're jerks.

They have nothing to do with us.

They have nothing to do with us.

Brian, if I can't talk to you about

the black sh*t that drives me crazy...

or the white sh*t

that drives me crazy...

if I'm just supposed to keep that

to myself. Brian! And deny who I am-

No, I've never asked you to deny anything.

All I wanted, all I wanted was a night off.

That's what being black is about,

Brian. You don't get a night off.

You know what?

I'm never gonna be on the right side

of the war going on inside your head...

'cause I'm not black. All

right? I'm never gonna be black.

So maybe this isn't what you want.

Maybe it just isn't gonna work.

Maybe it's not.

Hi. Hey, Kenya. Did I

catch you at a bad time?

I can really

see myself here.

It is nice.

But I think the asking price is

a little too high for the area.

I would bid at about

80 grand less.

And when the broker asks you what

you think, don't be too enthusiastic.

Wait till tomorrow

to make your offer.

Okay.

Okay.

So, how are you two doing?

I like it.

Very good. And Mrs. Harper?

Oh, no. I'm

- Mrs. Harper has her questions.

But we'll get back to you

tomorrow with our final answer.

Sounds good. You have

my card. Yeah. Thank you.

Mrs. Harper.

Take care.

Enough about me.

So, how are the good old boys

treating you down at the plantation?

Oh, you know them.

Fond of testing us.

Oh, yeah.

The old black tax.

But we play the game.

We do what we gotta do

to get ahead. Don't we?

We sure do.

So, how often do you

get home to St. Louis?

Every once in a while.

Well, it seems like I'm tied to my desk

lately, though. I work most weekends.

Haven't been able to go anywhere.

And they got me up for partner now.

I know all about that.

You up for partner, too?

You?

You got it going,

there, girl!

Two partners. Watch out.

Dang!

You know, I hope

this isn't too forward...

but I would really like to

spend some real time with you.

But no, no, I've got to say, now,

I'm not one of these LA guys...

lots of women, the whole

fast lifestyle, all that.

I like to keep it nice and

simple. One lady at a time.

I'm thinking

about the future right now.

So what's going on with you, Kenya?

You got a man? You seeing somebody?

Now?

No. Not really, no.

That's what I wanna hear.

Yes, Mother. I'm picking

the dress up tomorrow.

Okay. Yes.

Mother, I'll call you back.

Okay.

Max!

You gonna let me in?

I haven't heard from you

in two weeks.

Don't you think you

should have called first?

Well, I thought

I'd just show up.

You're right. I'm sorry.

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