I've missed this little drive to the old salt mine.
Paris has its charms,
but there's something about Boston.
Oh, ow!
Sorry.
We were gone so long, Paulski.
The mountain of mail I collected would agree.
Oh, yes, you'll never guess what we found, Avis,
buried between newsletters from Paul's judo dojo.
Go on, the suspense is killing me.
A letter from CBS.
Are you going to be on "Sullivan"?
They want to talk to me about doing a show for them.
Oh, well, what are you going to say?
Oh, I'm not even going to think about it now.
We've been away for months.
It's like the first day of school.
I know. I couldn't sleep last night.
I am so ready for her leftovers.
The most gourmet thing I had this summer
was an Entenmann's crumb cake.
Oh, those are good cakes.
Lucy, we're home!
Wrong show.
Welcome back, Julia.
Oh, it's wonderful to be back.
I have missed each and every one of you.
Welcome home, Julia.
Oh, I am full up with inspiration.
I can't wait to hear about it.
- Hello, Alice. - Oh!
And Julia, we're going to put these here.
Oh, yes, lay it careful.
Now, everyone, before we start, I have brought goodies.
Come and find your name.
- I hope you like them. - Aww!
And gentlemen, the toys are for your children.
Oh, Benny, let me take a look at you.
Have you lost weight?
Just the weight I put on last season.
Oh, not for long, then.
All hail Julia, our conquering heroine!
Oh, Hunter, how nice to see you.
Ditto.
A moment for a quick catch-up?
Of course, yes.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Oh, how do you like the poster?
Oh, I do.
Although, shouldn't it be outside the building?
- Oh, they are. - Oh.
It's going to be a stellar second season.
Yes, it certainly is.
We sold in 12 more markets while you were gone.
We'll be airing in every region of the country simultaneously.
Sunday nights are Julia nights from coast to coast.
How thrilling-- a whole new audience.
I have big plans for this season, Hunter--
recipes I haven't even covered in my book,
they're so new.
OK, but desserts are your new sweet spot, pun intended.
Chicago, Philly, Houston,
they all want more dessert episodes.
Oh, I see. OK.
So, um, what's on your mind?
While in France, it occurred to me that
Paul might direct a few episodes this season.
He has that keen photographer's eye.
And, well, he's my best collaborator.
No need. I appreciate the gesture.
- But you're not a mom and pop-- - Gesture?
Paul is not a gesture.
The show is big.
You're big.
I got you a big director.
Oh.
Albert's on the verge of tears.
And I'll tell you something.
I don't like seeing that man cry.
Men shouldn't cry.
The writing is on the wall, Ralphie.
Next thing you know, we all go the way of the jazz priest.
And I don't mean heaven.
What do we do?
What did the UAW do?
What did the coal miners do?
Die of black lung?
Oh, I can't wait for you to see it.
I'm proud of you, Russ, the second I have an hour.
Oh, oh, no, no, no, I don't want you to watch it
in installments.
Installments?
The runtime is just under three hours, pal.
But it feels like a lot less.
Oh, wow.
That--maybe I should wait
until it's closer to fighting weight.
I only have fresh eyes once, right?
Oh, and Russ, can we go back to Al?
Al is worse.
Let's get an excerpt from the draft in "The Atlantic,"
first-hand adventures
with an ancient Indian tribe in the rainforest.
Apologies for the delay.
We started without you.
The posthumous Plath collection is out to other houses.
It is amazing.
After all Judith's hard work,
it's no match for someone's incompetence.
Go to hell.
Already there.
Pevius, take this over.
See if we can salvage something.
Alfred, the estate has been so difficult.
Really, it's hard to imagine another outcome.
Nobody's asking for your opinion.
If you would have listened to me
and hadn't rejected Plath in the first place--
Then what?
Enough with the excuses.
We're all getting tired of them.
I need it by morning.
Plath wasn't your fault.
Ted Hughes is a controlling bastard.
Stop, stop, stop.
Nobody gives a shit.
That chapbook wouldn't cover a pair of shoes.
I'm just frustrated--
frustrated with you.
Me?
You abandoned me with the James Cain draft,
taller than my borzoi.
No notes, no context.
James Cain's on autopilot.
For a cookbook.
I worked on three different manuscripts that trip.
You worked on eating bonbons.
Hey, you have a right to be angry, Blanche,
but not with me.
I am not your punching bag.
If you feel like a punching bag,
you've never been punched, my dear.
No, this is just the nature of the work--
the work.
You think you can come and go as you please.
This is not just some job, Judith.
Just because you have laurels
doesn't mean you can rest on them.
The moment you do is the moment you are out.
The truth is,
you can be fired.
Or I could quit.
- Julia? - Yes.
I want you to meet your new director.
Oh, yes.
Julia Child, Elaine Levitch.
It is a pleasure to meet you, Julia.
Oh, thank you for fitting in Russ' enormous shoes.
Well, you know what they say about men with big shoes.
- Big feet. - Oh, yes, right.
And you're from LA, too, aren't you?
Pasadena.
Well, maybe after the shoot, we could take some time,
and you could give me a sense of the show?
It's the show.
Let's get started.
Yes.
Hey, everybody, before we dive in,
I just want to say a few words.
Um, I'm so glad to be here,
to be working on this show with this amazing woman.
It's an honor, truly.
And I'm thrilled to be a part of this team
because that's what we are.
We each bring our own gifts to the table.
And together, we make a meal.
And in this case, literally.
OK, let's make a show.
Butterflies?
Caterpillars.
Julia, we're ready for you.
This season will take us on a journey
through France with delicious stews,
delectable desserts,
and even a bit of nouvelle cuisine.
Cut.
Cut why? What's wrong?
It's your eyeline. It's just slightly off.
Does it matter?
We've never had eyeline problems before.
Hey, Benny?
Could you just boom up a bit?
No tilt, just a couple inches higher.
Nice.
Much better.
All right, let's take it from the top.
Rolling.
And action.
Hello, Kansas City!
This is Julia Child.
Knock, knock.
Julia.
Hey, welcome back.
Oh, gosh.
That's what I call a hug.
How was France?
Oh, it's magnifique.
No, I'm glad to be back in the swing of things.
My mind is racing with ideas.
I'm sorry I didn't come by set.
I wanted to give Elaine some space.
How'd it go?
Well, it's fine. There's no shorthand.
Yeah, that'll just take some time.
It took us a little while.
Yes, of course.
Well, I brought you something from Paris.
Oh, come on.
What...
Foie gras.
Wow, remember that?
Well, yes, of course. My life depended on it.
A delicious souvenir of more than just France, thank you.
And how are you?
What's the latest?
I'm good, busy.
I'm working hard on this new documentary news program.
I interviewed a Harvard professor.
And I didn't make a complete fool out of myself,
I don't think.
It's been very rewarding so far.
I'm trying to shake things up, you know?
- Well, that's wonderful, Russ. - Yeah.
I'm here to see about my grade.
I'm busy.
So I'm looking at an F for fleeing?
Stanley, you have to know that I haven't been out on a date
with a man in over 45 years.
The last time I was on a date, the Model T was all the rage.
There were no televisions, no commercial air travel.
I'm talking pre-Oreo.
I have no excuse for what I did.
It was cruel.
And it was cowardly.
The honest to God truth is, I got scared.
I'm really sorry.
Pre-Oreo, huh?
Post-sandwich.
Well, there's a connection.
Evolution, if you will.
Just tell me next time.
I know. I'm a child.
But I don't pick the parsley off my chicken.
My colleague Elaine Levitch referred me.
No major health issues and no prior pregnancies, correct?
- No, sir. - Are you married?
No, sir, I'm not.
May I ask why you're seeking contraception pills?
I just want to be responsible.
There are lots of ways to be responsible.
Are you currently in a relationship?
- Yes. - A fiancé?
Uh, no, no, he's just--
Do you have multiple sexual partners?
Me? No, no.
Miss Naman, I've seen patients like you before.
I need you to answer truthfully or I can't help you.
One partner.
It's not my protocol to prescribe this drug
to a patient in your situation.
I'm sorry, I don't follow.
You're an unmarried woman who wants to have sex
without consequences.
I'm doing you a favor, young lady.
It's for your own good.
Sorry.
How can I help?
Well, hello to you too, Avis.
- Where did you come from? - None of your beeswax.
Here.
Great having the gang back together, huh?
I'll say.
And that Elaine...
The way she jumped in and just--
it was like she'd always been there.
Didn't miss a beat.
It's strange, I've never been directed by a woman before.
Isn't it fabulous?
Oh, and when she had Benny lift the camera,
it was as though she--
she brought Julia to scale.
I wanted you to direct, Paul.
- Hunter rejected the thought. - He was right.
I'd have been out of my depth.
Today was a master class, really.
Um, not to change the subject--
Stanley wants to join us for dinner tonight.
Stanley?
The man you were running away from,
who you refused to tell me you were running away from?
Apparently she ran a lap.
Oh!
- I was wrong. - Oh.
Anyone who can get you to say that out loud
is my new best friend.
Table for four. Oh!
One day, we'll find ourselves
in a war we didn't ask for.
Okay.
It's so good, Russ.
Like, moving, in the way that "Dumbo" is moving.
That scene where his little trunk is linked with his--
his mama's bigger trunk through the prison bars?
Oh, thank you.
The hours flew by.
I want people to remember
where they were when they saw this.
Their living rooms.
Do you think it's ready to show Madeline Anderson?
Who's Madeline Anderson?
She's an amazing documentarian.
And she's in town for work and wants to meet Julia.
I'm hoping to show it to her while she's here tomorrow.
Get ready, Madeline Anderson.
Russ Morash is about to blow your mind.
You OK?
It shouldn't even bother me at this point.
But I've had it.
- What did she do this time? - The two of them.
It's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf,"
get the guest.
And I'm the guest.
I don't want to be at work, always wishing I were home.
At least you have a place to go.
What does Blanche have?
If I wasn't so angry at her, my heart would be breaking.
Stanley, Avis told us you worked
on The Manhattan Project?
My claim to shame.
No, no, I'm so curious.
Were you and Oppenheimer shoulder to shoulder?
I don't stand that close to people.
As a physicist, it was intellectually thrilling.
But one of the dangers of working with the very small
is losing sight of the very big.
Changed the world.
Ave is a bit biased.
Ave.
Hey, did I ever tell you my Einstein story?
You met Einstein?
He's full of surprises.
Please tell us.
So I was doing a fellowship at Princeton.
And I wandered into this ice cream shop on Nassau Street.
And who do I see in line but Einstein.
You're kidding.
I said, pardon me, Professor Einstein.
What's good here?
And he said, "Well, boychik, I like the strawberry.
But it's all relative."
Hey, what's next weekend look like for you?
I got my trial coming up.
But I just can't stop thinking about,
well, you know.
Alice, hello?
Yeah.
You OK?
I have to talk to be OK?
No, no, but what about next weekend?
I want to see you.
Yeah, I want to see you too, but--
But what?
We can't do what we did last time.
What? I love what we did last time.
That's not what I mean.
We weren't careful, Isaac.
Then we'll be careful.
Sometimes careful isn't enough.
OK, then, we'll be very careful.
Look, what happened--
that won't happen again, not like that.
I promise you.
And if anything did happen,
we'd deal with it together.
We'd get married.
I'd get a job in Boston at some stodgy law firm.
I'd buy you a big house and a brand new Maytag.
Right,
and I'd spend my life using it.
What did you really think?
Well, he's a peach, Avis, very funny.
He talks a lot.
Well, he's lived a fascinating life.
Really?
Oh, really, he was charming.
Yeah.
Well, I'm glad.
- Thank you. - What for?
He's adorable.
OK, good night.
Good night.
- Well... - Well, what?
Do we think he's good enough?
He clearly makes her happy.
Oh, so you actually liked him.
Oh, I loved him.
But unfortunately, I'm taken.
It's not much fun being the curmudgeon between us.
I rather like it.
I'd like eight steaks,
all the fat trimmed from the sides.
- Thank you very much. - Yes, sir.
Julia?
Frank.
It's been years.
Goodness, what are you doing here?
My niece's birthday, but I'm in D.C.
I work with the FBI now.
I prefer a thicker cut, 1.5 inches.
Oh, congrats on the cooking program.
My wife loves it.
Oh, why, thank you.
They make that at WGBH, correct?
You know, my boss, Mr. Hoover, possibly the greatest American
since Abraham Lincoln, has made it the Bureau's business
to keep this country safe.
Oh, and I feel safer just knowing that.
You know, it's quite lucky
I ran into you, Julia, because there are elements,
subversive elements--
less fat on the sides--
who are trying to undermine what makes this country great.
And my job is to fight leftist dissidents.
And you might just be the one to help me out at WGBH.
Oh, Frank, that's not even funny.
I'm not laughing. Am I laughing?
That one needs to be more marbled.
So this isn't just a chance meeting.
I don't know, is it?
I can assure you, WGBH is not a dissident organization.
You let us be the judge of that.
Well, I think I would know.
They're my friends, Frank.
I remember you from the OSS, Julia.
And you look more circumspect than ever.
They'd be none the wiser if you just kept those
trained eyes and ears open.
Where'd he go?
And tomorrow, I'm interviewing Lee Webb,
this BU kid who's the National Secretary of Students
for a Democratic Society.
Well, apparently, they have the best marijuana.
Not that I would know.
I just wanted to check in.
Season two, here we go.
I've missed you, my veteran lead producer
who came up with me through the trenches.
I have plans for us, big plans.
It makes me so happy, Julia.
I am just brimming with ideas.
You know, I'm the one that got you Elaine.
- Isn't she incredible? - Oh, she's--
And now, Elaine and I are working on something
that feels kind of amazing.
And I don't think I would have had the courage
if it weren't for your example.
That's very generous of you.
I want to start taking more control over my life
and not just making accommodations
for other people.
Something else we have in common.
Shall we?
May I ask you a personal question?
Yes, of course.
How come you and Paul didn't have children?
Well, we wanted to.
But I was deep into my 30s when we met.
And Paul's a decade my senior.
We tried.
I imagine it would have been wonderful
to raise children together.
But then, of course, if we had,
I doubt I'd be here with you now.
What is this?
A peace offering.
I'm being nice to you, Blanche.
Are you crazy?
I don't eat from The Palm.
No dressing.
And shrimp are only 10 calories.
Of course I know that.
Do you know that a nectarine
has twice as many calories as a peach?
You've mentioned it a few times now.
I'll have three shrimp.
But that's it.
You take the rest.
Well, you're just going to sit there and watch me eat?
Oh.
Walk me through this.
I bet you won't be able to read it either.
Julia, we will take you on your mark
whenever you're ready.
Yes, just where I was headed.
In fact, I want to talk you through my entrance...
What's this?
Oh, I wanted it to be a surprise.
Let's--tell me more about your intro first.
Yes, well, I plan to open with an introduction
of the dish and its cultural context in the modern
nouvelle cuisine, simplicity and creativity
at once finding its way into this gorgeous loup en croûte.
That sounds lovely.
Yes, and what's going on over there?
Well, it involves Paul.
- Paul? - Paul?
Well, everyone told me how special your relationship is.
And I thought, why not highlight that on the show?
So picture it. It's the top of the episode.
And Paul is at the office.
And he's calling home to say he's bringing friends over.
And you realize, I'm not just making dinner.
It's a whole party.
It's time to bring out the big fish.
Paul doesn't work at an office.
He can be calling from anywhere.
It's not far off from reality, actually.
Julia and I host incredible dinner parties.
Well, it's certainly something new.
Well, yes.
Let's give it a try.
And, action.
OK.
Hello, Julia.
Um, you forgot to dial, Paul.
It's just rehearsal. We can do it again.
I'm waiting for her to answer.
Hello, Julia.
It's Paul.
I've invited some friends to dinner.
What's cooking?
That didn't feel honest.
I've invited some friends for dinner.
- Psst. - Hm?
Stanley wants to come over tonight.
- For dinner? - For dessert.
Oh, I see.
That's moving a little fast.
- You think so? - What do you think, Julia?
It's a work in progress.
Oh, it's brilliant, Paulski.
Julia, we can actually rehearse your intro now.
Oh.
Ready, and action.
Well, you heard him.
We're expecting a full table tonight.
I'm Julia Child.
And today on "The French Chef,"
we'll be making loup en croûte,
a delicious sea bass and puff pastry showstopper
that's sure to please a crowd.
That must be our guest of honor.
What is it now?
Roland, we are rehearsing.
This is a work action.
We're walking out.
Thank you so much for making this possible, Russ.
Of course.
If you have a few minutes after, or 100,
I'd love to show you something.
- Right here, right here. - Thank you.
You can't unionize your management.
- Who made that rule up? - It's literally the only rule.
Elaine could walk out. Julia could walk out.
- I don't even get paid. - Then you should walk out.
I'm sorry, what is going on here?
Millie's gone. Father O'Connor is gone.
Even poor Albert's on the chopping block.
And for what?
For not being Julia Child.
We're hardworking people doing our best.
And that used to be just fine.
But now, our best isn't good enough?
All the regular folks in the world get the boot?
As a proud member of the mediocre majority,
I say, enough.
Robert.
Hunter, for the last time, my name is Roland.
Great.
Now, shut up, Roland.
If you don't mind.
He got it.
Yeah, right, all right.
I wish I brought my camera.
All right, let's reset.
Right. Now, then, Lou?
Where were we, hm?
What on Earth has been happening here
while I was gone?
Honestly, very little for four months--
kind of a problem.
I don't understand.
"The French Chef" only got bigger,
which is great, aside from the fact
that it made everything else smaller.
Now they want it all big.
- Who is they? - Hal, the board.
I've had to make some tough decisions, Julia.
Well, this isn't what I was expecting
to return to, Hunter.
France was complicated enough. I thought home would be home.
Sure, sure.
This show only works when everyone is on the same team.
I get it.
But there's not much to be done.
The success train has left the station
and is halfway to Timbuktu.
Julia, you have single-handedly
turned this non-profit into a business.
All right.
Now, before you say anything...
your advice back in New York has been my compass.
I did just what you said.
I looked in my backyard.
It's all there.
I can't thank you enough for inspiring me.
I'm so glad.
So, thoughts?
Your enthusiasm is inspiring.
Also, very snazzy jacket.
Right.
Please don't take this the wrong way.
But this isn't a documentary, Russ.
It's a personal statement, an opinion essay,
a business card for you.
But how do you--
You made yourself the central focus of the film.
No documentary is free of bias,
but our aim is to be invisible,
to let the subject speak for itself
and allow the viewer to come away
with their own conclusions.
You want people to come away with something in particular.
You don't have a documentarian soul.
You have a teacher soul.
Russ, do you have a moment?
This place has gone bananas.
Julia. May I call you Julia?
I feel like I know you.
Julia, Madeline Anderson,
the documentarian I met in New York.
How lovely to meet you.
I brought my copy of "Mastering."
- Would you sign it for me? - Oh, yes, I'd love to.
Your show, well, it makes me happy.
I cook with you every Sunday night.
And after a long and often challenging week,
that is something.
Russ, gather everyone you can find
on "The French Chef" set in 10 minutes.
We are a family.
I'm afraid we haven't been acting like one.
And it's maddening to think that my little show
is the cause.
Egads, I don't want animosity because of me.
We need to support each other.
And so we're going to do what families do together--
in Europe, at least.
We're going to cook.
- Ugh. - Oh, yes, you too, Roland.
And don't tell me that you're mediocre
and don't even want to try.
Take a look at my college transcript.
The only way to succeed is to attempt.
Save some for tomorrow, huh?
Oh.
You know,
you should join us for dinner.
Tonight?
It's an open invitation. You don't even have to eat.
Don't tempt me.
Visit.
Play cards, drink martinis.
Do you know mahjong?
We know canasta.
I couldn't.
Of course, you could.
We'd even let you win.
Alfred's expecting me.
It's just one night.
We have a routine,
50 years strong.
At this point in my life, it's too late to break it.
But thank you.
Of course.
Oh, it's pretty good.
How are you getting along, Hunter?
Take over for me, will you?
- Hard work. - It is hard.
Very good.
I've got to run in about half an hour.
I've got that dinner with Stanley.
Uh-huh.
And then he's coming over.
Avis, you have a beautiful home.
He looks half his age.
You should let him in.
Open those doors.
Open them wide.
Is this a metaphor?
Yes.
Oh, ha, ha, ha.
You got to hand it to Julia.
Oh, yeah, yeah, that was fun.
Although you and Ralph over-sugared the berries.
I told Tilly not to expect me before bed.
Let's hit the lights and get it rolling.
It's bad, Hunter.
Oh, you're just being modest.
Uh, modesty would be saying
I couldn't have done it without everyone's help.
This is actually bad.
Well, how bad?
Bad, bad.
There's a scale to these things.
I'm sorry, Hunter.
I know you were counting on me.
I don't know how I let it get this far before I realized.
May I?
Goodness.
How was your niece's birthday?
I don't have a niece.
What do you have for me?
Nothing, I swear, or I'd tell you.
Oh, boy.
OK.
Russ Morash, he's been in contact
with the Students for a Democratic Society.
They have been undermining our efforts
to stop the spread of communism in Asia.
Alice Naman,
she's a member of the Congress for Racial Equality.
Do you know what SNCC is?
Well, Alice's boyfriend does.
He's quite familiar.
Hunter Fox supported Henry Wallace.
This isn't funny, Frank.
I'm not laughing.
And I haven't even gotten to Paul.
Paul?
What does that mean?
You know what it means.
And we wouldn't want any of that to become public now,
would we?
Uncle Sam is counting on you.
I was the junior high girls hula hooping champion.
You were?
Last week.
My hips were popping like a radiator.
But what do you know?
Grandma won.
Way to go, Grandma.
You don't get to call me that.
Another wonderful evening, Ave.
Stanley...
Would you like to come in?
I would like that very much.
And Paul has his own role in the intro.
Oh, and I told Julia about our pilot,
the "by women, for women" idea I told you about?
Oh, yes, I like that idea.
Well, I told her how she inspired me to take the leap.
And she appreciated it, I think.
Oh, she saved the day with that chocolate mousse.
It was like summer camp, a good one.
What a busy and interesting life you lead.
Do you want some mousse?
Of course I do.
I'll clean up here, baby.
Mm, you're in an expensive mood tonight.
I love it.
Also, I slept with Isaac.
And I want to keep sleeping with Isaac.
I tried to get protection.
A woman at work, she referred me to a doctor in Back Bay,
but he was some old white man who interrogated me.
And he treated me like I was a streetwalker.
He wouldn't give me anything.
And I didn't know how to talk to you about it, Mama,
because you've always told me to wait until marriage.
But now, I feel like I don't know who to tell.
Wait, you slept with Isaac?
You're right that I said to wait
because in the eyes of the Lord, you're one flesh now.
You slept with Isaac.
I worried you might become an old maid.
Mom.
How was it? Did you have fun?
Don't--don't tell me. Don't--don't tell me.
Blink if you had fun.
Ah!
I knew it. Oh, Alice.
Oh, my baby is a grown woman.
Mom, please.
If this is what you want, and I respect that,
woman to woman,
I'll get a prescription from Dr. McCray.
I'll say it's for your sister-in-law.
And I won't breathe a word to your daddy.
OK.
Don't worry, baby.
I got you, hmm?
Come on. Mm.
Oh. Thank you.
I love this part.
What a crazy day.
You mean Roland?
You're a wonderful woman
succeeding in a mediocre man's world.
It comes with the territory.
You're in the stratosphere now.
If a few people can't handle it, nuts to them.
Let them go.
Yes, I suppose so.
Elaine's not mediocre.
I like her. She's got moxie.
Well, she certainly has that.
Big ideas.
Well, I liked how it was before,
our little show.
We didn't have to share it with anyone.
It's a feather in your cap.
That's all.
You don't have to share me.
I'm your own private show.
Oh, Paul.
What was it you wanted to tell me earlier?
I don't remember now.
It seemed important.
Maybe it was to tell you
how fabulous you were in your cameo.
It was strange, a little thrilling.
It gave me a window into your magical world.
But...
I'm no star.
You're my shining star.
Oh, I guess I won't be quite so anonymous anymore.
You're a good man, Paulski.