When Ma, Sylvester, and Dussie Mae get into a car accident on their way to the studio, the police officer racially profiles them by assuming they’re driving a stolen car. He also blames the accident on them and claims that Ma pushed over a nearby cabdriver, even though Ma herself insists the driver fell down on his own. Because Ma tells him she’s famous, though, the officer agrees to bring her to the studio on the way to the police station, clearly thinking somebody might bribe him to look the other way. Lo and behold, Irvin offers him money to forget about the incident, so he leaves without giving Ma any more trouble.