Season 1
1.7 Episode 7 of Season 1
1.6 Episode 6 of Season 1
1.5 Episode 5 of Season 1
1.4 Episode 4 of Season 1
1.3 Episode 3 of Season 1
1.2 Episode 2 of Season 1
1.1 Episode 1 of Season 1
Sunday, 30 March 2014
Mr. Selfridge - Episode Summaries
1.7 Episode 7 of Season 1
1.6 Episode 6 of Season 1
1.5 Episode 5 of Season 1
1.4 Episode 4 of Season 1
1.3 Episode 3 of Season 1
1.2 Episode 2 of Season 1
1.1 Episode 1 of Season 1
Friday, 28 March 2014
Episode 1 Season 1 – Mr. Selfridge Episode Summary 1.1
Synopsis: Harry Gordon Selfridge comes to London with an ambitious plan of opening a grandiose department store. He encounters many obstacles in his way beginning with the withdrawal of support from his partner after finding Mr. Selfridge a reckless businessman. Mr. Selfridge must now establish new relationships that will help him fulfill his dream. Meanwhile, Miss Towler, a shop girl at a glove counter loses her job due to Mr. Selfridge and learns that the man is the proprietor of the much talked about department store.Episode Summary: In 1908, Mr. Selfridge pays a visit to the Gamages Department Store to look at gloves and learns that the lack of display proved difficult to make a choice. He persuades the young lady at the glove counter to lay all the gloves in their selection on the counter that he may see what they have to offer. He asks her which pair of gloves she would choose. The shop girl picks a red leather glove and upon Mr. Selfridge’s urging explains her choice. She had made the decision based on the color and the softness of the leather and makes note that it is the finest Nappa from Florence. Mr. Selfridge then asks the sales clerk to try on the glove and praises her for the choice. The shop girl behind the glove counter is Agnes Towler. Soon, Miss Towler’s manager approaches Mr. Selfridge and asks him if he intends to make a purchase. Mr. Selfridge states that he was only browsing. The manager then orders him to leave the store. Later that day, the manager terminates Miss Towler without giving her references. As Miss Towler recovers from the shock of her unjust termination, a colleague hands her a box addressed to her. The box contains the red leather glove and a business card from H. Gordon Selfridge.Continue reading...
Mr. Selfridge invites the press to the construction site of what will be the biggest and the best department store in the whole world, Selfridge and Waring. Incredulity fills the press seeing that there is nothing there but a hole at the dead end of Oxford Street. They become even more doubtful when Mr. Selfridge declares that in less than one year the million-dollar hole in front of them will become a department store that will transform Oxford Street into the best site in London. The partner of Mr. Selfridge, Mr. Waring, arrives late at the site and irately orders the band to stop the music. He speaks to Mr. Selfridge in private to inform him of his decision to withdraw his support. Mr. Waring claims that Mr. Selfridge violated all their agreements with him hiring a band to entertain the construction workers, hiring staff before the store is built, and having a reckless advertising policy. Mr. Waring finds the whole endeavor madness. Mr. Selfridge asks only one thing of Mr. Waring; his former business partner must not reveal his withdrawal until the department store is up and running. Mr. Waring agrees to his request. Frank Edwards of London Evening News asks Mr. Selfridge of the state of his partnership with Mr. Waring. Mr. Selfridge eludes the question, but offers Mr. Edwards a proposition. Very much aware that Mr. Edwards is one of the best-connected men in London, Mr. Selfridge proposes that the journalist help him gain reputation around distinguished social circles in exchange for a considerable advertising account his newspaper will get from him. Moreover, he gives Mr. Edwards an edge on news he plans to make.
Mr. Edwards brings Mr. Selfridge to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane where Ellen Love stars in the musical comedy His New Girl. At the request of Mr. Selfridge, Mr. Edwards brings him backstage to the dressing room of Ellen Love and introduces him to her as Harry Gordon Selfridge. Miss Love immediately recognizes him as The Mr. Selfridge. Miss Love mistakes their visit as an invitation to be in their company, but becomes aware that Mr. Selfridge has come to offer her a business proposal. They speak of the proposition as she dresses behind the screen that defeated its purpose given the mirror that allowed the men to view the person dressing behind it. Intrigued with what Mr. Selfridge has in mind, Miss Love accepts the man’s business card.
Mr. Selfridge’s family including his mother arrives in London. He welcomes them especially his loving wife with a warm reception and shows them the mansion that is to be their home in London. Mr. Selfridge arrives at his office where Mr. Crabb receives him with restless anticipation given that Mr. Waring’s money has not yet arrived and they have outstanding bills to pay. Mr. Crabb becomes even more concerned upon learning that Mr. Selfridge has already hired department heads and that they already are in the office waiting for their employer. Mr. Selfridge welcomes his new hires and explains his reason for hiring them before the store is even built. He gives them the task to spend twelve months scouring the world for the finest merchandise with the goal of showing it how to make shopping thrilling. He does not want them to be concerned with expenses for he wants to see product range and product quality. He is looking for merchandise that will elicit desire. Mr. Selfridge masks his worries with excitement and grandiose unaware that the same ostentation causes incredulity among his hires. Both Miss Mardle and Miss Bunting share the same misgivings with Miss Bunting already pondering about returning to her previous employer, Debenham and Freebody. She, however, is certain that they would not take her back given that she left them in the lurch. Miss Mardle notes of having heard rumors that Mr. Selfridge has not secured the money needed to build Selfridges. Mr. Grove appeases their concerns believing that jealous rivals must have spread the rumors. He hides his reservations from his colleagues and speaks privately to Mr. Crabb to gain reassurance of receiving their salary while the store is being built noting that he has an invalid wife at home.
Mr. Selfridge has breakfast with his family and becomes riled at the unfavorable newspaper article about his endeavor. The journalist doubts the fruition of the much-anticipated department store and accuses Mr. Selfridge of luring people into dishonesty with his strategy of putting goods on display. He becomes frustrated with the press’ lack of confidence in him. However, the article that found him leery is not as damaging as the one that revealed of Mr. Waring’s withdrawal of his partnership with Mr. Selfridge. Mr. Crabb becomes piqued at learning that Mr. Selfridge already knew of his partner’s withdrawal a week before and yet found no reason to inform him, the head of finance. Moreover, he approved all sorts of expenditure despite the knowledge of not having the capital to pay for it. Mr. Crabb, who left an estimable position to join Mr. Selfridge, notifies him of his disappointment and trepidation at the reckless way he conducts his business. Imparting his concerns, however, did not perturb Mr. Selfridge as the man instructs him to redouble their advertising.
Mr. Edwards manages to procure an invitation for Mr. Selfridge to Lady Mae’s soiree. Lady Loxley, whom everyone calls Lady Mae, used to be a Gaiety girl before marrying Lord Loxley. Having gained status through marriage, she now knows everyone who is anyone in London with her residing there while her husband spends most of his time in the country. Mr. Edwards finds her the person to find Mr. Selfridge a new investor. Having read much of Mr. Selfridge on the newspapers, he requires little introduction. Lady Mae is very much aware of the businessman’s predicament and offers advice. According to her, London dislikes being shown how to do things especially by outsiders. Moreover, she informs him that people in her class do not bother with shopping for they have tailors and dressmakers. Lady Mae is certain that Mr. Selfridge has come to ask her help despite his reluctance to acknowledge his need for a new investor. The drunken waywardness of Tony Travers interrupts their conversation. Mr. Selfridge mistook the young man as Lady Mae’s son only to learn that Mr. Travers is Lady Mae’s lover. He returns home and finds his family asleep. His son, Gordon, awoke when he checked on him. He begins to share his trouble at school. With Mr. Selfridge very much on the paper, even the children at school is aware of his troubles that one found reason to insult the young boy with assertions that Mr. Selfridge is a huckster. He informs his son that a huckster is not as bad as others might think and consoles him with claims that the bully will one day ask him for a job when Gordon takes over the firm. Mr. Selfridge finds solace in the arms of his wife, Rose, whom he declares to be the only woman in the world he wants to be with. His troubles, however, begin to consume him as his mother finds him deep in thought on the steps of the staircase. Mr. Selfridge begins to have doubts about coming to London with his ambitious endeavor. He worries of bankruptcy and leaving his family out on the street. Having come from nothing, his mother will not allow them to return to it and asks of his options. She learns that there is someone who can help his son, but he is hesitant to accept her help reluctant to become beholden to her. The mother of Mr. Selfridge begins to speak of his father whom she says would be proud of his son, but Mr. Selfridge does not want to hear anything about his supposed hero of a father. He contends that it has always been him and his mother who have endured.
Without any other options, Mr. Selfridge yields to seeking the help of Lady Mae. He brings with him, the gorgeous Henri Leclair, his friend who has just arrived from America. Mr. Selfridge claims him to be the best window display man in the world. Upon the request of Lady Mae, Mr. Leclair apprises her of his profession. Mr. Leclair believes himself a designer of space and imagines every Selfridges window a painting that allows its audience a chance to be part of the story. Lady Mae becomes intrigued after hearing that Mr. Leclair does not have any qualms about putting a motorcar in a window. She shrewdly supposes that Mr. Selfridge has come in desperation and makes it known that her aid comes with favors. Having already anticipated the requirements of doing business with Lady Mae, Mr. Selfridge agrees to her wiles. Lady Mae invites Mr. Selfridge to a shooting and introduces him to Mr. Musker. The man attests to choosing his business ventures the same way he chooses his horses; he looks them in the eye. Mr. Musker looks straight into the eyes of Mr. Selfridge, who tries to hard not to squint from the loud blasts of rifles. Fortunately, Mr. Musker finds him a suitable business partner and agrees to become his new investor. Months pass when at last stands the department store, Selfridge & Co. A long line of people stand in wait as they hope to land a job at the much talked about establishment. Mr. Grove advises the heads of departments of Mr. Selfridge’s preferences warning against candidates who are haughty and obsequious and favoring those who are friendly and respectful. Moreover, he approves of those with ambition and those wishing to better themselves. He forbids flirting and love affairs. In addition, female assistants who marry will have to leave.
Agnes had just arrived home when Mrs. Payne starts pestering her about the rent. She learns from her brother, George that the woman has been nagging about it all day. To George’s consternation, he finds that his sister does not have the money to pay the rent for she had lost her job and has been looking for a new one ever since. George becomes upset at the news and grabs her by the collar. Agnes is not frightened of her brother, but becomes concerned that he is turning into someone they know. George apologizes and asserts that he is not like the person they detest. Agnes finds a job scrubbing floors and happens upon an article on the newspaper about the man that caused her dismissal from Gamages Department Store. Months later, she pays a visit to the address printed on the business card Mr. Selfridge gave her only to learn that it is the address of his house. Fortunately, Fraser, the butler takes pity and allows the young woman to enter the house as he sees if Mr. Selfridge will receive her. Mr. Selfridge meets with Miss Towler ready to dismiss her upon hearing that she has come to see him for a position. He, however, spends a few minutes with her after Miss Towler shows him the red gloves he bought for her and remembers her to be the shop girl at the gloves counter at Gamages. He remembers Miss Towler’s unwavering patience despite his demanding behavior and the floorwalker’s disapproving looks. He then learns that Miss Towler was dismissed without a reference because of him. He becomes apologetic for the misfortune he had caused the poor shop girl. Moreover, he gives Miss Towler a chance at a job and instructs her to come to Selfridges the following morning and to ask for the chief of staff. In addition, Mr. Selfridge offers to pay for Miss Towler’s cab ride home. Miss Towler arrives at Selfridges along with many others. Miss Mardle interviews her and learns that the young woman used to work at the glove counter at Gamages, but does not have any references. Miss Mardle dismisses Miss Towler having been instructed not to entertain anyone without a reference. Miss Towler, however, informs her that she had explained to Mr. Selfridge and that he said to speak to the chief of staff. Miss Mardle is incredulous of Miss Towler’s claims and speaks to Mr. Grove, the chief of staff. Mr. Grove confirms of receiving a note from Mr. Selfridge himself about a Miss Towler and shows it to Miss Mardle. Miss Mardle returns to her desk to inform Miss Towler that hers is a special case and that she is to start as a senior assistant in Accessories, the department she manages. Two other female candidates hear of Miss Towler’s good fortune and they begin to become suspicious of her.
The staff begins work a week before opening and all are in awe of the establishment including Miss Towler. Mr. Grove speaks to Miss Mardle of the irregularity in her department, it having four assistants instead of three. He requests that he be informed if Miss Towler does not work out. Miss Mardle acquaints Miss Towler of the Accessories department emphasizing that theirs is the most demanding department for they are responsible for over six thousand separate items of merchandise. It is Miss Towler’s responsibility to know them all and to be able to locate each one at a moment’s notice. Miss Mardle conveys her doubts at having Miss Towler made a senior assistant given her inexperience. She notifies the young woman that she will be watching her closely. Later, Miss Ellen Love arrives at the store educing awe from everyone at the store especially Doris Miller, who have run to Miss Love to ask for her autograph. Miss Towler volunteers to lead Miss Love to Mr. Selfridge’s office. They take the lift and Miss Love finds the elevator girl familiar. She learns that they were both in the chorus of Frilly Dolls at the Gaiety and remembers her as her former colleague, Mabel. Mr. Selfridge meets with Miss Love at his office that bears no chairs other than his. Miss Love decides to sit seductively on his desk instead. Mr. Selfridge uncomfortable at having the woman sitting so close to him gets up from his chair to stand a few feet away from Miss Love. He then begins to explain his business proposition to her. He wants Miss Love to exemplify the essence of Selfridges, which is beauty, elegance, and quality. She is to appear in their advertisements as an endorser, while continuing as a stage performer. Miss Love is delighted and accepts the proposition, but makes note that she had thought he had other things in his mind. She invites him to come see her at the show where she will be every day of the week except Sundays. Later, Rose learns from Fraser that Mr. Selfridge will not be coming home for dinner. It will be the third time her husband had done so that week making Rose anxious. Her anxiety is within reason for Mr. Selfridge has chosen to watch Miss Love perform instead of joining his family for dinner. The next day, Miss Love receives a fur coat from Mr. Selfridge. She sees in Mr. Selfridge a ticket out of the performing stage.
Kitty Hawkins begins calling Miss Towler, Aggie, and remarks that the moniker is fitting of a scullery maid. Miss Towler returns the insult commenting that they used to have a cat at home called Kitty. The arrival of Mr. Leclair interrupts their banter. He has come to Miss Mardle’s department trying to find an item that will complete the window display. He is trying to determine what that item must be. He explains that the display is akin to a scene from a play where there are two ladies in a garden where one is standing looking out with her hand shading her eyes as if she is waiting for someone, while the other is seated, looking down at something on her lap. The thing on the other young lady’s lap is the focus of the picture. He has come to hear their suggestions as to what that item should be. Miss Mardle not having any suggestions to offer politely informs Mr. Leclair of their inability to help him. Miss Towler, however, suggests the use of a silk red rose, one that can be perceived as a token of love given to the young lady. Mr. Leclair accepts the suggestion and informs Miss Towler of his consideration of its use. That evening, Miss Towler bumps into Victor Colleano, the man he met in the employment line at Selfridges. He landed a job as a waiter at the Palm Court restaurant that is to open in a couple of days. He invites Agnes inside the restaurant and practices waiting on her table. Not having eaten at a fancy restaurant, Victor suggests that Agnes order a glass of sherry. Agnes becomes frightened at being caught, but Victor argues that his attending to her is part of his training. They both have a sip of sherry. Victor then takes a seat and shares his dream of owning a restaurant like the Palm Court. He then learns that Agnes has taken interest in window dressing. Agnes then becomes uncomfortable and politely takes her leave. Victor tries to convince her to stay, but fails. He instead accompanies her to the train station where George sees them. The young man is upset at the tardiness of his sister and at seeing her with a man. He becomes agitated and prepares to attack Agnes. Victor warns him, but George turns on him receiving a punch from Victor, who advises Agnes to find someone better. Agnes explains that George is his brother and comes to his aid. She learns that the cause of her brother’s unrest is the arrival of the man from whom they are hiding.
Mr. Leclair is still at Selfridges working on the window displays. With a cigarette in his mouth, he adds a silk rose to the ceiling of the display inadvertently activating the sprinklers. The people on the street watch as they see a silhouette of a man behind a curtained window and everything around him get drenched with water. The next morning Mr. Grove explains to Mr. Selfridge that they have not identified what activated the sprinkler system seeing that nothing had been on fire. He notes that they have not worked with a sophisticated system. Mr. Selfridge is anxious given that every window display is now soaked with water and the store’s grand opening is the next day. He, however, gets assurance from Mr. Leclair that impossible as it is, the window displays can be fixed. Mr. Crabb adds to his worries with news of the insurance company’s reluctance to cover them if the sprinklers go off the store. Mr. Selfridge orders Mr. Crabb to speak to the insurance company, while Miss Blenkinsopp is to gather all the staff. Everyone convenes to hear Mr. Selfridge’s address. He tells his staff that they are to prove their detractors wrong. He commends them for their work and asks them that they may spend their evening at the store in order to create the finest house of business that the world has ever seen. He makes it clear that Selfridges will open at nine in the morning the next day as planned. He makes his rounds and advises a minor change in the scarves display of Miss Towler, but commends her nonetheless. Upstairs, Miss Bunting struggles to finish her display and enlists the help of Doris from Accessories. That night, Mr. Selfridge finds Miss Towler admiring one of the window displays unaware that the silk red rose one of the mannequins is holding was her suggestion. Mr. Selfridge makes his way home and he becomes fretful at the sight of falling snow worried about tomorrow’s opening. Miss Towler rushes to the underground station at Bond Street, but just misses the lift. She manages to peep inside it just as the door is closing and finds Miss Mardle holding hands with Mr. Grove. She quickly removes her hand from Mr. Grove’s grasp soon after seeing Miss Towler.
Opening day has finally arrived. People rush to the doors of Selfridges anxious to see what it holds. At nine in the morning, a fanfare signals the opening of Selfridges. All the window displays are unveiled and people gasp in awe of the store and its merchandise. Lady Mae followed by Mr. Musker and Mr. Edwards meet with Mr. Selfridge to congratulate him of his success. They have brought their friends to experience the spectacle and more importantly to purchase merchandise. Miss Love also arrives at the store and introduces herself to Mrs. Selfridge as the spirit of Selfridges. Later that night, Mr. Crabb accounts the profits of the day. He could not help but be dismayed. Mr. Selfridge, however, heaves a sigh of relief. He walks home with his wife in his arms with a sense of accomplishment.
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Sunday, 23 March 2014
Chapter 4 Season 1 – House of Cards Episode Summary 1.4
House of Cards Chapter 4 Recap: Representative Francis Underwood shows Speaker of the House Bob Birch the draft of the Education Reform Act only to learn that the congressman has issues with the anti-collective bargaining provision of the bill. He is unwilling to take it to the floor concerned that he will lose the next election because of it. Francis relays Bob’s reluctance to Chief of Staff Linda Vasquez, who refuses to touch collective bargaining and only agrees to allow Bob speak with President Garrett Walker only when he has set a date to put the bill on the floor. Francis conveys Linda’s directive, but Bob refuses to accept it and insists that he speak with the President directly. He also reminds Francis that he works for him and not for the President. Francis, in turn, reminds Bob of the Chief of Staff's power and authority.Continue reading...
Francis meets with the President and Linda and is surprised to hear that the President has agreed to remove the anti-collective bargaining provision from the bill. Moreover, the President has agreed to meet with the Speaker of the House. Francis dissuades the President from doing so for it shows their weakness at conceding to Bob’s demands. He finds that Linda is in disagreement with his advice for she believes that not getting Bob’s cooperation will present difficulties in getting the bill to the floor. Francis stands by his advice citing that giving in will result in Bob walking all over the President for the rest of his term. Moreover, he provides his assurance that he can get the bill on the House floor as is. To Linda's consternation, the President follows Frank’s advice. Francis made it a point to embarrass Linda after she had tried to take credit for his idea that she refused to accept initially.
Tom Hammerschmidt proposes the termination of Zoe Barnes after the young journalist continued to accept TV interviews despite his expressed prohibition. He argues that her insubordination that highlights her lack of respect for authority gives him enough reason to fire her, but Margaret Tilden refuses to terminate The Washington Herald’s most popular journalist, much to his dismay. Mrs. Tilden speaks of an anecdote to convey her point that they are not in need of people who follow the rules, but rather those that have personality. Moreover, she approves of Zoe appearing on TV and welcomes more TV appearances from her. Unable to get the support of Mrs. Tilden, Tom instead decides to make Zoe, The Washington Herald’s new White House correspondent. It was Janine Skorsky’s position before Tom promoted her to become the Midwest Bureau Chief. Believing that Tom had called her to his office to fire her, Zoe is dumbfounded at hearing her promotion. She, however, asks for a day or two to consider the promotion surprising Tom, who figured that the young journalist would grab her good fortune. Zoe confides to Lucas Goodwin the promotion Tom offered her. Moreover, she reveals her dislike of it, believing the insipidness of the news from the White House given its proclivity to provide canned statements. Lucas finds her ungrateful for whining about a promotion other journalists would have killed to receive.
Remy Danton drops by CWI to inform Claire Underwood that SanCorp is now again willing to donate a large sum of money to her organization. Moreover, the company is increasing their donation to $1.5 million with the pretense of benefiting from good public relations. SanCorp remains reticent of what it truly wants in return. Claire informs Francis about her meeting with Remy in the hope that her husband will agree to her accepting SanCorp’s offer. Francis, however, knows very well that the donation will make him beholden to SanCorp despite its insistence that the money will not require anything from him. Claire finds it difficult to reject the donation, aware of what it can do to help her organization. She arrives at her office the next morning and learns that Gillian’s South Sudan project requires water filters and well-digging equipment that cost two hundred thousand dollars. Knowing that Claire will find the expense questionable, Gillian argues that the costly project will be the organization’s flagship project in Africa. Moreover, CWI will be the first to work on that scale. Claire dismisses Gillian to give her time to think it through and finds a package that came through messenger. Inside it is a framed photograph of her and Francis seemingly taken after he had won the elections. Attached to it is a note from Francis telling her that she does not need SanCorp, because she has him. Claire then gives Adam Galloway a call to ask him a favor.
Francis sees Majority Leader David Rasmussen having Pizza Hut for lunch at the cafeteria and decides to join him in order to entice the congressman into seeking Representative Bob Birch’s position as Speaker of the House. Francis tells him that he only needs 218 votes to depose Bob, a feat that is plausible. He believes that they can get 205 votes from the Republicans leaving them only needing 13 votes from their fellow Democrats. Colluding with the Republicans is a strategy David disapproves of and so does Francis, but it is one Francis believes will work aware that the Republicans would approve of Bob’s ousting. He confides that Bob’s defiance towards the White House has prompted him to seek his help. Despite the promise of a higher position, David rejects Francis’ idea with disgust. With David opting to go with the herd, Francis has to find other ways to unseat Bob. He begins to look for the one person who can bring in twelve votes. Doug Stamper suggests the Black Caucus and Francis sets his eyes on Womack. Doug finds that three thousand people in Womack’s district is about to lose their jobs, because the DOD is about to close the McCuddin Air force Base. Francis now only needs to find another base to shut down to leave enough money to keep the McCuddin Air force Base running. He finds his deliverance in Peter Russo.
Peter Russo forgoes the meeting with the shipbuilder’s public affairs team in order to fetch his kids from school after his wife called to inform him that she is flying to Orlando at the last minute to meet with the man she met on eHarmony. Later that night, Francis interrupts dinner with his kids to inform Peter that they need to close the shipyard in his district. He instructs Peter not to testify in defense of his district’s shipyard at the BRAC hearing the next day. Peter refuses to accept Francis’ order knowing that twelve thousand people, people who elected him, many of which are his friends will lose their jobs if he agrees to it. Francis tells him that his order is mandatory and advises against disobeying it. The next day, Francis meets with the head of the Black Caucus, Representative Terry Womack, with an enticing offer of making him the first African American majority leader in the United States Congress. Womack is aware that Francis only needs him to round up the votes and the majority leadership will be his reward for doing so. The congressman has second thoughts about conniving against Bob, but Francis persuades him into accepting it after he offers to keep the McCuddin Air force Base open making Womack a hero for keeping 3,000 jobs in his district. Womack guarantees Francis the ten to eleven votes needed to unseat Bob Birch.
Adam Galloway arrives at Claire’s office to look over photographs for the silent auction. The man finds her irresistible especially in her black dress that Francis helped choose. Adam invites Claire to his hotel room at the Mandarin, but Claire changes her mind about rekindling their affair. She arrives home and finds her husband by the window smoking a cigarette surprised to see her home that night. Moreover, Claire tells him that she had informed Remy of her decision not to accept SanCorp’s generous donation. They are going to have to raise the money for her organization through the gala. Since Claire had turned down SanCorp’s donation for him, Francis needs to get many of his powerful and wealthy colleagues to attend the gala. Claire, on the other hand, has decided to invite the Holburns to dinner with the goal of having Felicity Holburn purchase tables for the gala. Claire need not beat around the bush for Felicity had guessed the reason behind the dinner invitation. The Holburns agree to donate money. Felicity finds it a fitting compensation for procuring them tickets to the Jefferson Ball.
David gets wind of the Black Caucus backing his play for the speakership and confronts Francis about it threatening to tell Bob of the collusion against him. Francis counters his threat with a promise to leak the story to the press leaving Bob with no other choice but to drop him even if the current Speaker of the House believes David’s testimony. David is left to comply with what Francis has put in motion. Francis celebrates the success of his collusion at Freddy’s BBQ Joint when he receives a call from Zoe. The young journalist has decided to accept the White House correspondent position and just called to inform him about it and to assure him that she will remain at his disposal. Francis, however, disapproves of her promotion, because her new position will no longer afford him the availability he requires of her. Zoe drops by Janine’s cubicle to apologize, but she is confronted with a snarky colleague. Janine is upset at having been sent to the Midwest to give way for Zoe. The young journalist, however, did not only come to apologize. Zoe asks Janine to accompany her to Tom’s office for she plans to turn down the promotion. This, however, only upset Janine even more.
Peter appears before the BRAC commission to provide his testimony in favor of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, but he does not offer any. Christina Gallagher arrives at Peter’s apartment looking for him only to find his two young children there unsupervised. Peter did not divulge where he is going and left his cellphone in the apartment. He returns home heavily inebriated and ashamed for forgetting his children. He wakes up the next morning and finds Christina preparing the kids for a trip to their grandmother’s house. Christina had called Peter’s wife, Madeleine, with an excuse that Peter had to travel for work. Peter tries to explain his actions or lack of it at the BRAC hearing, but Christina is more concerned about the way he left his children. Christina breaks up with Peter and resigns from being a member of his staff.
Francis meets with Bob to inform him that David has been making a play for the speakership. Moreover, they have gathered enough votes to unseat him. Francis, however, offers Bob a way to keep his position as Speaker of the House. Bob needs to make Terry the majority leader and he must allow the Education Bill to pass. Bob accepts the offer and David loses his position as the majority leader to Terry. David is to acquiesce otherwise the DCCC will support his primary opponent in the next elections. Meanwhile, Zoe informs Tom of her decision to reject her promotion after she had already agreed to accept it. With Janine already in the Midwest, Tom becomes furious at Zoe and catches himself using a derogatory term for a woman. Zoe hears enough of it that she challenges him to say it again. Tom accepts the challenge and repeats the term over again without hesitation. Zoe begins to tweet about the incident while she is still at Tom’s office causing panic to the editor-in-chief, but the man fires Zoe instead of apologizing. Zoe decides to send the tweet. She leaves the office and spends two hours in a bar drinking. Later that night, she calls Francis, who is delighted about her decision. She invites him to her home. Francis arrives at Zoe’s squalid apartment and finds her ready for him.
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Sunday, 16 March 2014
Tea Leaves – Mad Men Episode Summary 5.3
Episode Summary: Betty Francis, who has gained a considerable amount of weight, struggles to fit into her dress as her husband, Henry Francis, anxiously waits for her. Unable to fit into her dress, Betty feigns illness in order to avoid having to join her husband at a Junior League of New York event. Conversely, Don Draper helps his new young and slim wife get into her dress for a dinner with Raymond Geiger, the Heinz executive, and his wife. Don is eager to be at the restaurant before their client arrives and learns that Megan is keen to please the Geigers as well. Megan, however, loses her poise when confronted about the manner he and Don got together, but the Geigers are polite enough to let it slide. Her inquiry about the Geigers’ daughter prompted Raymond to ask Don about having The Rolling Stones record a jingle for Heinz using their current hit song Time is On My Side, one his daughter keeps on playing.Continue reading...
Pete Campbell and Lane Pryce inform Roger Sterling that Mohawk Airlines is about to drop their current agency for Sterling Cooper Draper and Pryce. The airline company asked for Roger to handle the account. Lane apprises him of the terrible shape the company is in with their multi-million dollar debt and potential mechanic strike. Pete brings up the need to have a dedicated copywriter for Mohawk Airlines, a requirement Lane could not fathom. Roger agrees with Pete believing that their client will not treat Peggy Olson seriously and Don will not agree to write local fare ads three times a week. With the partners including Don in agreement, Lane acquiesces to adding another copywriter to their staff. Don and Roger inform Peggy that she is to hire a male copywriter to work on the Mohawk Airlines account as soon as possible. Peggy reviews portfolios from various candidates and becomes exasperated with the lack of originality. Many candidates have included a modified version of the popular Volkswagen ad using it on other products. After hours of scouring through tasteless portfolios, Peggy runs into Michael Ginsberg’s collection and finds him to be a talented copywriter. Stan Rizzo agrees that the man does have talent, but dismisses him as a potential hire seeing that he could one day take over Peggy’s job. Peggy, however, states that she finds inspiration in talented people. She puts aside her competitiveness for a chance to work with a talented copywriter.
Although having a band with stones in its name sing a jingle for a product shaped as kidneys would be foolish, Don still asks Harry Crane to procure for them a meeting with The Rolling Stones in an attempt to please their biggest client. Harry succeeded in getting backstage passes at the concert in Forest Hills Tennis Stadium that Saturday night to allow Don to propose to them the idea of singing a jingle for Heinz Baked Beans. He waits outside his office as Don’s new African American secretary, Dawn Chambers, informs her manager of Harry’s arrival. An African American landing a job at SCDP was the result of the prank Roger and Don ran to embarrass Y&R. Their names sounding like homonyms have caused giggles on staff and partners alike. Don argues that he decided to hire her despite the confusion it might cause, because she was the most qualified of all the candidates.
Henry’s mother, Pauline Francis, drops by the next day to check on Betty whom she knows has feigned illness. She sensed that Henry was upset for not having his wife by his side at the previous night’s event. Pauline is aware that Betty’s weight gain was the reason for her absence and seeing her with a box of Bugles validated her supposition. She advises Betty to take control of her weight gain, which surprised her seeing that Pauline is overweight as well. The woman cites her heart condition and her lack of need to please men at her age as the reason for her not practicing what she preaches. Having taken her mother-in-law’s advice, Betty wastes no time to see her physician to ask him for diet pills. The doctor is reluctant to prescribe her diet pills without conducting an examination. Moreover, he believes that middle-aged women’s rapid weight gain is usually psychological, but thorough as he is, the doctor would like to rule out physiological issues first. It was right of him to do so for his examination revealed a lump on her thyroid. Shaken with the news, Betty rushes back to her house to find her husband, but he is nowhere in sight. She decides instead to confide with her ex-husband, Don. He senses that the news terrified his ex-wife and he does his best to console her. Henry, at last, comes home and uses his connections to get Betty an appointment with a formidable specialist the next morning. Betty is on her way to the doctor’s office when an old friend, Joyce Darling, bumps into her. The woman has cancer and is about to go through radiation therapy. She invites Betty to have lunch with her afterwards. Betty only ordered tea trying to limit her food intake despite learning that her health problem might be the cause of her weight gain. She jokes to be the only one to have cancer that causes a person to grow fat. Joyce confides that she only learned about her illness after the third visit. Moreover, she managed to keep her illness from her children despite her frequent doctor’s appointments. She would rather have her children think of her dying in an accident than having to say goodbye to them. This made Betty think of her own death and the unpleasant memory she will leave her children. She asks her friend of how it is like living with cancer and she gets a blast of reality full of dread such that Joyce accepts an offer from Cecillia, a clairvoyant, to predict their future knowing that the woman’s predictions are always pleasant. Betty hands her teacup for the clairvoyant to read her tea leaves. True enough, Cecillia finds that Betty means so much to the people around her for she has a great soul. Her words brought tears to Betty, alarming the clairvoyant who did not notice it right away. Joyce pays her for the prediction and sends her away. The thought of her passing has overcome Betty’s thoughts that she dreams about it that night. In her nightmare, she sees her domineering mother-in-law attending to her family in mourning.
Peggy Olson brings in Michael Ginsberg for an interview and finds him an appalling person. Michael finds no reason to impress Peggy seeing that she is a woman and he insists on seeing Don Draper or any man who has the authority to hire an employee. Michael, despite his poor first impression, does not seem alarmed. He pulls his crumpled resume from his sleeve, one that cited Allen Ginsberg as a character reference and has no advertising agency work experience. Peggy dismisses Michael after having only spent a few minutes with him. His dismissal finally made Michael realize the precariousness of his interview and he struggles to repair the damage with honesty and attempt at chivalry. Roger returns to the office after a drunken lunch with the executives of Mohawk Airlines and checks with Peggy about the interview only to learn that she has refused to hire the candidate believing that Don will not be able to work with him. Roger, however, orders Peggy to hire Michael in spite of his shortcomings for he had already told the client about it. Roger had initiated the discussion with the client about hiring Michael in order to get the sense of how Mohawk stands with having a copywriter who is a Jew. Ostensibly, Mohawk does not have any qualms about Jewish people believing that it is no longer an issue in most companies. Moreover, Roger believes that having a Jew among their staff modernizes their agency.
Don Draper enters the backstage of The Rolling Stones dressed inappropriately for a concert. He and Harry Crane walk over to the door to the dressing room where security refuses their admittance despite Harry relaying their appointment with the band manager, Allen Klein. Don bribes security into informing them of the band’s arrival, while he and Harry wait. As they stand in wait smoking a cigarette, teenagers approach them for a light, but not before ensuring that they are not with the police. The teens learning of their occupation and associating them with characters from the TV show Bewitched highlights the incongruity of their presence. Moreover, Harry manages to meet The Rolling Stones through one of the teenage girls. The other teenage girl is left with Don. She finds herself confiding to an ad man her fantasy. Don, hearing that the teen would do anything Brian Jones would ask her to do, warns the girl of her endeavor showing genuine concern. Their conversation is interrupted when Harry is hauled out of the dressing room holding an agreement that will have The Rolling Stones do a Heinz commercial. A minute later the crowd goes wild as they rush over to the band that had just arrived through helicopter making Harry realize that he had just signed an agreement with an unknown band called The Tradewinds whom he mistook for The Rolling Stones. Harry envies the young who are high on drugs and free of any worries. His reluctance to return home shows his regret for having married and for having started a family.
Megan wakes Don, who went to bed on his clothes from the previous night. Exhausted with last night’s fruitless waiting and with the news of Betty’s tumor, Don refuses to spend the day at Fire Island with Megan’s young friends. Don finally informs Megan of Betty’s tumor and uses it as an excuse for not wanting to go. Megan convinces Don to go with her to Fire Island citing the fact that he cannot do anything about Betty’s condition. Meanwhile, Betty spends the Fourth of July with her husband and children relishing every minute of it knowing that she might not have enough time left with them. Henry and Betty wait restlessly for the test results that the sound of a ringing telephone startles them. The first call turns out to be for Henry, but the second call that Betty answered delivered the test results. Betty learns that her tumor is benign. Husband and wife heave a sigh of relief and a chuckle, but Betty’s distress for the anxiety of learning of her potentially having cancer comes forth soon after. Fortunately, her tough yet loving husband is there to comfort her and to make her see how lucky they are to have eluded the worst.
Peggy follows Roger’s advice and presents Michael to Don with a strategy to limit the man from speaking. Peggy is surprised at the uncharacteristic agreeable behavior from Michael that is the opposite of his attitude during her interview with him. She is concerned after seeing that the man is not crazy after all and that he already has gotten the approval of both Don and Roger. Michael is saddened upon hearing Peggy’s disappointment only to learn that he was hired in spite of his obnoxious behavior towards her. Michael returns to the tiny apartment he shares with his father with news of him landing the job with an ad agency. His father is proud of his son’s achievement and prays over him in Hebrew.
Later, Peggy and all employees are called to reception to hear that Mohawk Airlines has chosen to return to Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. The announcement elicited applause from everyone. Roger, however, becomes incensed when Pete takes credit for getting the airline back and for making it sound like Roger will be working for him. Roger after assuring Peggy that she should not be worried about her hire taking over her job rescinds his assurance with a statement that Pete was the last person he hired. Don follows Roger after the man walks out of the celebration knowing very well the reason for it. He relays Betty’s misfortune in an attempt to console Roger revealing that he too needs comforting as well. Don worries about his children growing up without a mother aware that he had an unpleasant childhood for not having one. He calls the Francis’ residence to hear news about Betty surprising Henry, who was unaware that his wife had informed her ex-husband. He is relieved to hear that his wife does not have cancer, but Megan does not seem to care much.
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