Better Off Ted

Ted arrives at work and sees Linda waiting for the elevator. He admits things have been awkward since they kissed in HAZMAT suits. He asks if things will be okay between them, and she points out her boyfriend Don. Ted quickly gets off the elevator.

Phil and Lem are working in the lab and arguing about Phil's coffee and the fact Lem didn't stand up for himself to get coffee as well. Phil leaves and the power goes off. When he comes back, the lights come back on. When he leaves, they go off and Lem can't activate the motion sensors.

Veronica asks Ted about Don and realizes Ted is still hung up on Linda. Ted passes on Lem's report about the motion sensors and Veronica says they've installed a new state-of-the-art sensors… but they don't detect black people. Ted warns it's racial but Veronica says it's simply indifferent, and will get fixed… eventually. Linda notices Ted looking at her and he goes over to make sure she knows he's cool with Don. Linda boasts of all of Don's virtues, and suggests Ted play racquetball with her boyfriend. At the club, Ted realizes Don really is a good guy.

Phil arrives at the lab and realizes Lem was trapped in the lab all night when the door wouldn't open. He tells Lem to talk to Veronica but realizes he won't stand up for himself. Lem decides to get some other black workers and confront Veronica. Unfortunately, they get trapped in the elevator going up to her office.

Ted tells Linda he had a good time with Don, but she's less than thrilled. Meanwhile, Phil finally rescues Lem and the others from the elevator and they get to Veronica's office. Lem gives a prepared speech but Veronica immediately cuts him off and launches into a speech about how she was treated badly by the other girls in high school because she was too beautiful, so she can understand racial discrimination. She assures them the company is working on the problem and then tells them to get out.

Lem tells Ted that he was tough with Veronica, only to discover that the company has put in separate "manual" devices for its black employees. Ted and Lem go to Veronica but Lem starts to back down. Ted tells him to go ahead and he expresses his anger. Veronica tells him they've fixed the problem and he can walk away… tall. When Linda comes to tell them about the problem, Ted briefly interrupts her and she snaps at him. Ted wonders what's up and Veronica explains Linda's mad because she hoped Ted wouldn't get along with Don.

Phil arrives and Lem explains how the company fixed the problem: they've hired minimum-wage white employees to follow the black employees around. Phil tells Lem to do something and Lem leaves with his accompanying white man, Stu. The other black employees are fine with the fact they've got white guys working for them. Lem points out Stu isn't working out for him.

Ted goes to see Linda and tells her he can't be friends with Don. Linda questions him but Ted insists he hates him. She cheers up and they hug, then head for their team meeting together.

HR tells Veronica that it's discrimination to hire white people just to follow black people, so all they can do is hire more black people to follow the white people, and so on. She complains to Ted and they end up kissing. Ted starts to undress but Veronica changes her mind. She says it's not a good idea because he'd be thinking of Linda. Veronica goes back to the racism issue and Ted suggests they put the old system back but it'll be too expensive. However, Lem runs the numbers and they talk to Management, demonstrating they'd eventually hire every person on Earth to follow each other. The company installs the old motion sensors and spins it for PR. Veronica buys Ted new underwear and Don stops in to see Linda. Veronica suggests she walk away and as she goes Linda, checks to see if Ted is looking at her. He isn't.