Ep 13. Handle Your Business

In the season one finale of The Bernie Mac Show, titled "Handle Your Business," Bernie struggles to balance his responsibilities as a dad and a businessman.

The episode starts with Bernie receiving an important call from his agent, who informs him that he has landed a major commercial deal. The catch, however, is that Bernie must travel to New York immediately to sign the contract. Bernie is hesitant to leave his family behind, but he also knows that this is a huge opportunity for him.

Meanwhile, Bryana, the youngest member of the family, is experiencing some trouble at school. She has been getting into fights with her classmates and even punched a boy in the face. Bernie and his wife, Wanda, are called into a meeting with Bryana's teacher, who suggests that they take her to see a child psychologist. Bernie is resistant to the idea, insisting that he can handle the situation himself.

As Bernie prepares to leave for New York, he entrusts his sister-in-law, Benita, with the responsibility of taking care of the kids. He instructs her to keep a close eye on Bryana in particular and make sure she stays out of trouble. Bernie also leaves behind a long list of chores and errands for Benita to complete while he's gone.

Once in New York, Bernie realizes that the commercial deal is not as straightforward as he thought. He is left waiting in a conference room for hours, getting increasingly frustrated and worried about Bryana. Finally, he decides to take matters into his own hands and track down the executive who he needs to sign the contract with.

Back at home, Benita is struggling to keep up with all of Bernie's demands. She tries to take Bryana's mind off her troubles by bringing her to work at a beauty salon, but things quickly go awry when Bryana gets into a heated argument with another little girl. Benita is at her wits' end trying to handle everything on her own.

As the day wears on, Bernie becomes increasingly agitated. He has been unable to reach anyone back home to check on the kids, and he's starting to worry that something has gone wrong. He decides to cut his trip short and fly back home as soon as possible.

When Bernie finally arrives back at the house, he is shocked to find that everything is in disarray. The kids are all watching TV and eating junk food, the house is a mess, and Benita is nowhere to be found. Bernie is furious with Benita for not being able to handle things while he was gone.

In the end, Bernie and Wanda realize that they both need to take responsibility for their roles as parents and work together to address Bryana's behavioral issues. They decide to take her to see a child psychologist, despite Bernie's initial resistance.

"Handle Your Business" is a fitting end to the first season of The Bernie Mac Show. It highlights the challenges of balancing work and family, as well as the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions. The episode is both comedic and heartfelt, showcasing the best of what this beloved sitcom has to offer.