Tom, Gage and special guest Mary discuss Boots Riley's Sorry To Bother You from 2018.

In a dystopian near future, Cassius “Cash” Green lives in the garage of his uncle Sergio with his artist girlfriend, Detroit. Desperate for money, Cash takes a job as a telemarketer at RegalView, where he initially fails until an older co-worker, Langston, teaches him to use a confident, affluent “white voice” on calls. With this new persona, Cash quickly becomes one of the company’s top performers.

As RegalView employees organize a union led by co-worker Squeeze, Cash is torn between solidarity and ambition. After joining a protest, he expects to be fired but is instead promoted to the exclusive “Power Caller” division. There, he is instructed by the mysterious Mr. _______ to always use his white voice and learns that RegalView profits from selling weapons and supplying labor for WorryFree, a megacorporation that binds workers to lifetime contracts in factory housing—effectively legalized slavery.

Although disturbed by the company’s practices, Cash embraces the wealth and status the job provides. He moves into a new apartment, buys a luxury car, and saves Sergio’s home from foreclosure, preventing his uncle from resorting to WorryFree. As Cash withdraws from the union effort, Detroit quits RegalView and secretly joins the Left Eye Faction, an anti–WorryFree activist group. Their relationship deteriorates, and Detroit ultimately leaves Cash, accusing him of sacrificing his principles for success.

Tensions escalate when Cash crosses a union picket line and is injured by a thrown soda can. The incident becomes a viral meme, even benefiting the woman who attacked him. Cash later crashes Detroit’s art show, where she satirically adopts a white voice in her performance. His attempt to intervene backfires, leading to his expulsion and further emotional distance between them.

Cash is soon invited to a lavish party hosted by WorryFree CEO Steve Lift, where he is humiliated into performing for wealthy guests. In a private meeting, Steve reveals WorryFree’s true plan: transforming workers into obedient, super-strong human-horse hybrids called Equisapiens through a DNA-altering powder. Cash discovers one of these creatures imprisoned in the mansion and realizes his phone has captured a plea for help. Though Steve claims Cash only snorted cocaine, Cash refuses Steve’s offer of $100 million to become a manufactured revolutionary symbol.

Seeking to expose the truth, Cash exploits his viral fame by appearing on a popular humiliation-based TV show to broadcast the Equisapiens video. Instead, the plan backfires—Equisapiens are celebrated as a scientific breakthrough, Steve becomes a cultural icon, and WorryFree’s stock soars.

Ashamed, Cash reconciles with Squeeze, Sal, and Detroit, and recommits to the union. Using a security code from the video, he infiltrates Steve’s home. During a final protest, police attempt to suppress the strike, but the Equisapiens revolt and free Cash. Cash and Detroit reunite and return to Sergio’s garage, choosing solidarity and love over wealth.

However, the victory is short-lived. Cash begins transforming into an Equisapien, revealing that Steve lied about the drug. In the final moments, a fully transformed Cash leads a group of Equisapiens to Steve’s mansion, violently breaking down the door.