♪♪ >> We come a little bit safe, right?

Like everyone.

>> My name is Zachariah Eser and I wrote a play called Black Women in Tech.

The play is about two very different black women who have moved into the Smart House in Porter, Indiana, and they get trapped in the closet because the smart home sensors cannot detect black skin.

And it's about the foibles of a smart home.

So, like smart home going wrong is something that's been baked into sort of my mind for probably a couple of decades at this point.

My partner is a technologist, actually, and so they are not a fan of the Internet of Things, which is when we put computers in, make smart things that don't necessarily need to be smart.

And so I was thinking, yeah, the more we get into smart technology, how long until door locks are smart and what happens when the door locks fail?

Oh.

>> Did that door just open by itself?

>> Yep.

I just turned on the automatic door setting on my phone.

>> I don't know if I trust Holy.

Is this the closet?

>> Yeah.

This is one of the hers and hers closets attached to the master bed.

I mean, main bedroom.

Sorry, babe.

I'm working.

>> On it.

Thank you.

Wait, so you're saying that this closet is only for one of us?

>> Of course.

There's another one exactly like it next door, huh?

See?

Isn't this better than our place in Brooklyn?

>> It's got more space, but we're still in the middle of nowhere.

Indiana.

Okay.

>> I can't deny that this is a big change, but it's a huge deal for me.

Thank you for coming.

>> I would do anything for you, hun.

I'm just not sure how I feel about being a guinea pig for a tech company.

Okay.

>> We are not guinea pigs.

We are part of a pilot program.

This is the house of tomorrow from the 1933 World's Fair.

Did you know that it is the first ever fully automated home?

>> Yes.

You've said a lot.

It's like your favorite tech fact this month.

>> It's a part of history.

And when Gagosian bought and updated it out of all the employees in my division, they chose me to live here.

It's a huge honor, and.

>> I can't help but wonder why you would be such a perfect candidate for that honor.

Could it be because you are the only black?

No.

>> No, I don't want to hear that.

Today we are celebrating our new smart home that we get to live in for an entire year rent free.

Now let me show you the automatic bidet in the main bedroom.

Huh?

>> Huh?

What?

Huh?

>> Nothing.

I think the automatic door setting must have toggled off in my pocket.

>> So just open the door like a normal person.

>> Fine.

I'm not getting a signal in here anyway.

>> Okay.

Quit screwing around and open the door.

Oh.

>> I can't.

>> Well, what do you mean, you can't?

>> Okay, it looks like it's still on the automatic door setting, but the room auto locked from the outside.

>> Well, doesn't the door remember we're in here?

>> It doesn't work like that.

>> Well, doesn't it see us?

And can it let us out?

I mean.

>> Um.

>> Um.

What is, um.

Okay.

>> And I don't think this is the case, but during the most recent beta test, some of the sensors had difficulty identifying people with darker skin.

>> You're kidding.

>> Not.

Not all the time.

And not the most recent sensors.

But you.

>> Are telling me that this thing literally doesn't see.

>> Color.

It it's.

It's.

It's possible.

>> Oh, hell, no.

Nope.

Nope.

None of you get.

>> Out of here.

Yeah.

Don't think either of us is strong enough for that to work.

No.

>> Hell, no.

>> I spent far too long in the closet, and there is no way I am going back.

>> Kick me.

>> Out.

Take a breath, honey.

>> I knew this smart house thing was a bad idea.

>> Penny.

>> Ho, ho, ho!

I consulted with my walking boy, and he told me to stay the hell away from this place.

>> You mean the bug in the jar from last night?

Yeah.

I don't think that was going to tell you.

Well, it was right, wasn't it?

>> Look, we're ignoring it.

Got us.

>> This is just a temporary setback.

We just have to find a tool to pry the door off the hinges.

Look around.

Carla, do you see any tools?

Okay.

I told you not to call me that at work.

It's.

It's Kelly.

>> Yes, I know, but we are not at work.

We are in our new.

Wait.

Oh, wait, is all of this considered work?

>> Well, Gagosian does have eyes and ears everywhere.

Oh, yeah.

>> With the doorbell cameras or the weird little slave robot?

Sure.

>> Well, the home does come equipped with a virtual assistant, actually.

>> What was I expected to call you out of your name?

Because you don't want your coworkers to know you're black.

Well, newsflash, Kelly.

They know.

>> I know they know I'm black.

It's just.

It's not as foundational to my identity as it is to yours.

>> Well, I'd say it's pretty foundational because it is the reason we are stuck in here.

>> Yeah.

>> Just let me breathe.

Just give me some space.

>> So I can breathe.

Let me just.

Let me just say.

Give me.

What are you doing?

>> I'm praying to the Lord.

>> Oh, my God.

Can you be serious?

We need to think of a way to get out of here.

Well, I am.

Okay.

We're trying to get out of a closet.

We're not trying to find a Mason-Dixon line, okay?

>> I don't make fun of your beliefs.

Do not make fun of mine.

Okay?

>> First of all, I don't believe anything.

I base everything I do on evidence.

>> Please.

You believe in all sorts of things.

Gargaron.

For one, even though they locked you in a closet and left you to die.

Oh, my God.

>> We're not going to die in here.

>> Another belief.

What evidence do you have of that?

>> Well, I can prove Gargaron is real.

Let's start there.

>> I see.

>> Penny.

I'm sorry.

Come on, talk to me.

We got to figure out a way out of here.

>> I should have known that this was a bad idea.

>> Okay, maybe the smart home was a bad idea.

I meant.

>> Dating you.

Carla.

My astrologer told me Taurus and Aquarius do not mix.

I should have listened again.

>> With the astrology.

I told you I am not stubborn.

Okay.

Maybe sometimes, you know, just.

>> I should have never went to that damn Janet Jackson concert.

>> The Rhythm Nation 30th anniversary tour.

That was such a great night.

Yeah.

>> For you.

But I was stuck with.

>> With your friend Charlotte.

But that was only for the first half.

Remember?

She went home sick.

That's why you started talking to me in the first place, right?

And you told me all about your girlfriend and how you just broken up with her, and then.

Wait, wait, wait, Wait a minute.

Was Charlotte your ex girlfriend?

Did you pick me up ten minutes after breaking up with her?

Were you dating a white woman?

Yeah.

>> She was half Italian.

>> No, she had strawberry blond hair and.

No.

>> Okay, well, listen, I was going through a phase.

>> See.

>> That's what I'm worried about.

If you could date her and then go all hoodoo, Mystic, what happens when you get bored with me?

Well, no.

>> No, that's.

That's not going to happen.

I mean, this is.

This is who I am.

Laws and.

>> All.

I can't know.

>> That.

Okay, well, you have to believe me, okay?

>> You know I don't do that.

I need.

I need evidence.

Tell me.

Why did you and Charlotte break up?

>> I just.

I don't think that.

>> Penny, please.

Tell me.

>> I. Cheated on.

>> Jesus.

>> But.

Kelly.

>> Kelly.

Don't touch me.

>> Okay?

Look, what happened with Charlotte is not going to happen with us.

How can you be so sure?

>> Because I would.

>> Not have moved halfway across.

>> The country for her.

Besides.

>> With all these.

>> Cameras that are apparently in this house, I don't think I could get away with it.

>> You know, I.

>> Would need the cameras.

You know, even if your location data is anonymized, any smartphone is basically trackable by anybody with $50 in an Internet connection.

>> And that is the woman I fell in love with.

No situation is ever too serious for tech facts.

>> Oh, God.

>> Look.

>> I know.

>> You're not excited about the.

>> House.

Can you blame me even before this?

Look, it's not about the house.

Then what.

>> Is it?

>> You have the fancy job.

You make all the money.

I mean, when you got this transfer.

What was I supposed to do?

>> You know, you have a say in everything we do together.

Sure, but not really.

>> I mean, how could I let you pass up this opportunity?

You were so happy to be Kelly living in the house of tomorrow.

I just.

I didn't know where my lawyers and I fit in this new version of your life.

>> You fit in where you always have right next to me.

You've always been so good with our home.

And you always come up with.

>> I mean, what am I supposed to do here?

It's all automated.

>> You're so smart.

You'll think of something.

I mean, you could figure out how to get us out of this closet.

>> Oh, yeah.

I'll just carry around a white towel so the censors will have something to pick up.

>> I'm going to call Gagosian and have them upgrade as soon as we get out of here.

Bastards.

>> Oh.

>> Ha ha ha.

>> Upgrade.

Oh, girl.

You think an upgrade is going to fix this?

Let's break that down, shall we?

Upgrade it.

Uplifts the white man and downgrades the black spirit.

Oh.

>> Ha, ha.

Okay, babe, I love you.

But you know I can't stand when you do that.

>> Oh, God.

I know.

I just really hate this house.

>> You know what?

Me too.

This is just like Gagosian.

They act like everything is all fancy and new, and then they go cheap where it really counts.

Old sensors, faulty apps.

Do you know this entire house runs on Windows XP?

>> Did you say Windows XP?

Interesting.

>> Interesting.

What's interesting.

>> I just remembered the greatest tech fact you have ever taught me.

>> What are you talking about?

The night we.

>> Met, you told me that if you play the second verse of Rhythm Nation in the presence of a Windows XP computer, it crashes the hard drive.

>> But I still don't have a signal on my phone.

Well.

>> Guess we're going to just have to sing it a cappella.

>> You think that'll really work?

>> There's only one way to find out.

This is the test.

No struggle, no progress.

>> Lend a hand to help your sister do her best.

>> Things are getting worse.

We have to make them better.

It's time to give a damn.

Let's work together.

>> Come on now.

>> People of the world.

We're looking for a better way of life.

Oh, no.

Oh, my God.

We did it.

We did it.

I mean.

>> I wouldn't have known that without you.

And I am so sorry that I wasn't honest with you about Charlotte.

I just.

>> I'm sorry I dragged us halfway across the country without really checking in with you.

You know what?

I'm going to call Gagosian.

Have them send our stuff back to Brooklyn.

Wait.

>> No, hon.

This is your dream.

I may not totally get it, but I am not going to be the reason why you throw it away.

Then what will you do?

I don't know.

I'll think of something.

I mean, maybe I'll start a conjurors club.

It's got to be some black women around here somewhere.

>> Well, even if there aren't, there will always be at least two members.

Oh.

>> Well, are you sure you want to be involved in something so witchy?

I mean, what would your coworkers think?

>> Who cares what those white people think?

>> Now, you know it's going to require some belief.

I know that's not your thing.

>> Well, I believe in you, Penny.

I think I can start there.

>> I love you, Kelly.

>> I love you, too, babe.

And call me Kayla.

Oh, okay.

>> We are a part of a rhythm nation.