[bright instrumental music]
♪ ♪
[indistinct chatter]
- We tried to contact you for weeks.
Then we got busy with production.
- But we made phone calls, sent a telegram.
- We did finally see your letter.
- A Mont Blanc of mail had piled up.
- The reason we were so persistent...
- Is that we have a proposition.
- I don't know if I've ever been propositioned
by two young men at once. [laughter]
- We want to bring "The French Chef" out to LA,
over to CBS.
- The whole show? - Every last stick of butter.
- We can offer a really big salary.
- Generous personal compensation.
And we'll spend on production.
It'll look like a million bucks.
- Like a real TV show. - We're already real.
- This might help you understand.
[upbeat jazz music]
♪ ♪
- This would be Julia's salary? both: No.
- That's how many viewers you have.
- Mm-hmm. - Not bad.
- Here's how many you'd reach on CBS.
♪ ♪
- You said in "Life" magazine you want to change the way
Americans think about food.
- And I do, but what about my team?
My producer, Alice Naman? - Bring her.
- The salary offer...
- Uh, Julia's salary offer, you mean?
- My wife's a Stanford grad.
But when it comes to finances, it's--
- Ooh, no. I don't think you understand.
♪ ♪
- Here's a bigger note.
- I didn't look at the first one.
This is all entirely Julia's decision.
♪ ♪
- For starters, let's just bring you out to LA
for some meetings.
- Oh, I grew up in Pasadena. - Then you must miss it.
- Well, only the oranges.
It is hard to find
a truly handsome navel on the East Coast.
[laughs] [both chuckle]
Egads, now what?
both: Business cards.
♪ ♪
- Should I write, "Thanks for supporting television
you can sink your teeth into"?
They're for the WGBH Telethon.
First 5 people to pledge $5...
"Thanks for the dough." [laughs]
- I-I think we should take this seriously, Julia.
- Oh, right. Just "bon appétit."
- No, the--the CBS offer. - Oh, yes, I know, Paulski.
I don't disagree.
- Shall I tell them to set up the week in LA?
- Uh, yes. It couldn't hurt.
But would you really want to live in Los Angeles, Paul?
We'd have to go around on roller skates.
- I'm not half bad on roller skates.
- I know it's a lot of money.
- It's what it would mean for the show--
reaching that many people.
- [laughs] We didn't even own a television until last year.
- But now we do,
as do 20 million other American households.
- Oh.
- And the money is nothing to sneeze at either.
[both chuckle]
[indistinct chatter]
- Hunter?
You want to run through the intro again?
Are you listening to me?
- Hmm? - The intro.
- Right.
Uh, welcome to the 10th annual WGBH Telethon,
your chance to support a station where--
Roland just went into the conference room.
- Yeah, that's not it.
- Hal's been having meetings all day,
with everybody except me,
because the meetings are about me.
He's already threatened to replace me.
- I haven't been in. It's nothing.
- Elaine had a muffin!
If these are muffin-level meetings, it's not nothin'--
not nothing!
Hal's been asking everybody who should get my job.
- You're being paranoid.
We actually have a lot to get through here.
- Right. Sorry.
[exhales deeply]
[indistinct chatter]
- Our set was better. - Much better.
- It's maddening... and annoying.
- I'm more in the "get even" camp.
For every no I get, I go after two yeses.
- Hmm.
- I took two big swings this week.
- All right, tell me. - Well, the first one is--
I'm going to get Julia booked on Johnny Carson.
What? She's in "Life" magazine.
- Johnny Carson had Eva Gabor on last night.
- I said it was a big swing. - Ooh, boy.
All right, what's the second? - The White House.
- Julia for president? - No, no.
But I hope that I can get her into their kitchen.
[upbeat music]
- Cranberry, nice. - Those weren't for you.
And you pulled me out of a meeting, Hunter.
- You'll be glad I did. Take a look.
The sign's bigger.
The telephone number is so much more memorable.
See how many fives there are now?
That's strategic.
Also, uh, we've installed three extra phones,
because it's going to be a crackerjack year.
[chuckles] - How crackerjack?
- Hal, we're about to raise $2,500.
- Right. - [chuckles]
- I have a meeting. - Mm-hmm. Yep.
He's impressed.
- $2,500?
Last year, we made $612.
- The boss respects ambition, Alice.
[chuckles]
- [sighs]
Please don't say the ceiling is leaking.
- No, the ceiling is intact.
This is just--
it's a gift that was sent here for me.
- [chuckling] Oh.
"It's always sunny in Los Angeles.
From your good friends at CBS."
You have good friends at CBS?
- Well, that's a bit forward.
I have acquaintances at CBS.
- Are they weathermen? [chuckles]
- We had lunch, and I'd lost my umbrella,
so this is just a little joke.
- Hmm.
Well, that's...
that's--that's nice.
So is CBS wooing you?
- They read the "Life" article.
- Well, so did a lot of people, but you only got one umbrella.
- I should introduce you to them.
You'd knock their socks off.
And maybe you could talk to CBS about "By Women, For Women."
Now, that's a thought.
- Well, I have some big new ideas for us here,
at GBH.
- Yes, Of course you do.
- Well, tonight is a long night,
so rest when you can.
It really makes a difference that you're here, you know.
[indistinct chatter] - Oh, Paul, Julia.
- Judith.
- I didn't know you'd be here. - Oh.
Uh, Blanche made me try again with the Plath estate,
and I couldn't come to Boston and not say a quick hello.
I'm on the next train home.
- You look a bit grim.
- Well, they're jumping ship to Faber & Faber.
Did you know there was really only one Faber?
- Speaking of jumping ship...
could you stick around, stay the night with us?
I know you're exhausted, but...
CBS wants "The French Chef," Judith.
Paul and I could use your mind to talk it through.
- Wow.
Okay. O-of course I'll stay.
- We are live in less than a minute!
Anyone know who's missing on the phones?
That empty seat looks bad. - Avis, maybe.
- Oh. - Let me try calling.
- Uh, Benny. - Yeah, boss?
- We can shoot with two cameras.
Can you man the empty phone?
- Uh, I get kind of shy on the phone, but I'll do my best.
- All right, last looks, everyone!
- Whew.
Now, these phones are about to start ringing off the hook.
[chuckles] Uh, remember to smile, everyone.
- Hunter? - Yeah?
- Places. - Places.
Oh, yes. [chuckles] - All right!
We are ready in 5, 4, 3... [bell ringing]
[cheerful music plays]
- Welcome to the 10th annual WGBH Telethon,
your chance to support a station
where there's always something to learn.
We're proud to bring you the best of public television.
I want to show you the-- - Ugh.
If this is the best of public television,
I'm going to starve.
- Behind me is the famous tally board.
We'll be checking in periodically
to see how we're doing.
Let's hope we get so many pledges,
we run out of board.
- [chuckles]
- That's right. Good.
- Where are you?
- I'm heading out the door to register voters with Stanley.
- Oh, I assumed you'd be here for the telethon.
- No. Why would you assume that?
- Well, I don't know. It's WGBH, and--
- Stanley and I have plans. - Oh, right.
- If Goldwater gets in,
he'll start a nuclear war with the Soviets.
- Oh, well, we can't have that.
Tomorrow maybe.
- I'm going to be late. I've got to go.
[receiver clatters]
- Annuities can be very attractive
for people who want to invest in a slow and steady way.
- Our audience must like to do it slow and steady.
The annuities episode of "Economics for Laymen"
was our most popular one ever,
and we have it all queued up to show you folks.
But first, we need you to invest
in public TV.
We'll roll tape when the tally hits $20.
[phone rings] - I've got a call.
Hello?
Pepperoni?
I think you got the wrong number.
[receiver clatters]
- How long will the contract be for?
- I don't think we've gotten that far.
- I can't hear you, Paul. What are we doing here, anyway?
- We're-- [gasps] Finding chicken.
They haven't offered many details.
We're going out to LA to have some meetings.
- We should make a list of questions.
How many episodes a year?
Does Julia have creative control?
- Mm-hmm.
- Why are we finding a chicken? - To feed the masses.
[gasps] We can nab the crudités out there for roasted veggies.
- I was just about to ask you for the house key
so I could take a nap.
- Oh, come on, the old team.
You complained about the food yourself, baguette buddy.
If you don't help me here, people will starve--
or worse, eat. - Ugh.
- What are you doing here?
- Hello to you, too. - Oh.
Hmm. - [laughs]
- This is the worst possible weekend.
When did you get here?
- Look, I'd have called you,
but you'd have talked some sense into me.
- [chuckles] Hmm. You brought a lot of clothes.
How long are you planning on staying?
- Oh, the suitcase is all the work I have to do.
My clothes are in the briefcase.
[both chuckle]
- Oh, I have to be on set until midnight tonight and tomorrow.
- Uh-- - I only have Sunday.
- Only Sunday?
- I do have half an hour. - Mm.
- We're showing an episode of "Economics for Laymen."
- Oh, which episode? - Hmm.
[laughter]
[knock at door]
Oh, for goodness' sake.
- [muffled] No, no. They need you on the phone!
- ♪ If I had a hammer ♪
♪ I'd hammer in the morning ♪
♪ I'd hammer in the evening ♪
♪ All over this land ♪
- How many have you registered? - 15. You?
- 19. - 19!
- Winner gets to choose their own prize.
- That's not a fair contest.
I don't have your beauty or social skills.
- You don't have my lungs.
[shouting] Adam Horowitz, are you registered to vote?
- Yes, Mrs. DeVoto. - Oh.
Well, good.
- Watch this.
Hey, you boys!
A word over here!
- Sorry. I'm not interested in politics.
- Well, you better get interested.
- If the U.S. doesn't get out of Vietnam,
we're looking at a draft.
- I'm interested in keeping you boys in one piece.
Look, the forms are over here. You can fill them all out.
Come on.
Come on, fill them out.
We'll split those-- 17-21, so I'm still winning.
- [chuckles]
- We're back in 5, 4, 3... [bell ringing]
- You can't say I oversold it. [chuckles] That was fun.
Um, now I'm here with our very own Julia Child.
Enjoy the episode? - Oh, I adore annuities.
I flambé them with a little Cognac.
- Oh. - [laughs] I'm just joking.
That's a recipe for ending up in the poorhouse.
What's the tally up to, Hunter? - $75.
- Oh, the poorhouse indeed.
I'll tell you what...
I will come to your house, cook dinner for you--
something scrumptious with lots of butter--
if you are the first person
to pledge $100 right now.
[phones ringing]
- Hello. - [gasps] I got a $100 pledge!
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
[applause]
- Alice? - Hmm?
- Your mother's on the line.
- Tell her I'm not here. - I did.
She said she saw you.
- Um, ah!
Uh, Mom, this isn't the best time.
Why don't I answer my home phone?
Because I'm at work.
Why am I not answering my work phone?
Because I'm answering this phone, Mom.
No.
No, no, no. Sunday I can't do.
Because it's my one day off, and I need--
Well, maybe next week--
Okay. Okay, I'm going to put you down for a $50 pledge.
Okay. Love you, too. Bye.
- We hope you all enjoyed that episode of "Museum Open House."
It was so good my feet hurt. - [chuckles softly]
- Um, I'm back here again with Julia Child
and apparently the Karate Cats.
- Meow!
- I had no idea you two knew karate.
- Julia, can you make scrambled eggs
by shaking them before you crack them?
- Well, of course not, Binky.
You have to get the chicken to hop up and down.
- [laughing]
- And w-what's better than scrambled eggs?
- Tuna fish.
- A home-cooked dinner, right, Julia?
- [laughs]
What's the tally, Hunter? - Um...
it's been $215 for quite some time.
- Oh. All right.
Well, next person to pledge $100,
I will cook you dinner.
[phones ringing] - Ah, fantastic!
What a sound.
Julia Child will be back again soon.
Uh, Pinky, Poochy, we're about to show an episode
of "World Theater" I think you'll enjoy.
- And we're out. [bell ringing]
- No more dinners, Hunter.
I won't have time to make the show.
- It's chicken with apples and thyme.
- And butter.
- This is like a six-star restaurant.
- You mean five-star?
- I said six-star, and I mean it.
- Okay.
- [chuckles] What a team we are.
What happened to being tired?
- Trussing the chicken revived me.
And we've been discussing CBS.
- Shh.
- You see Julia with the Karate Cats?
She's so funny. - Yeah, she is--
with everybody but me.
I don't get that side of her. - [sighs]
- Is she always so...
cordial with you?
- Honestly, I was a little mean to her.
[scoffs] I was the one that needed winning over.
- Well, but I'm at my wit's end.
- Just be yourself.
Isn't that what you tell everybody else?
[footsteps approaching]
[knock at door] - Yeah?
- You're on in three minutes-- final segment of the night.
- Uh, what's the board at?
- It's around $360, I think.
- [sighs]
- Uh, Hunter, one thing while I have you alone...
- Mm.
- Julia got a gift delivered here today from CBS.
- [clicks tongue]
Well, Julia's got fans everywhere.
I'm sure it doesn't mean anything.
Kick me when I'm down, why don't you?
There's only so much bad news I can handle at once.
[cheerful music playing]
It's been quite a year.
And with viewers like you, it's bound to be another.
Uh, but it's not free,
and that's why I'm back
with my pockets inside out.
I know we can get it up to $500.
Right, Boston?
Go, Boston.
Go, pledgers.
Yeah. Here we go.
There's the number.
There's your phone.
Hello?
People...
you have to understand...
public forums are like flowers.
You--you have to care for them.
Otherwise, they'll wither and die.
We're not CBS. [chuckles]
Ah, all right.
Uh, well, I think that's quite enough, uh, for today.
Um, tune in tomorrow
for another prodigious evening.
Thank you.
- And we're out.
Thank God.
[bell ringing, indistinct chatter]
- All things considered,
I think that was a very successful evening.
And we're on pace for a new record.
- Oh.
[chuckles weakly] Good.
- Yeah. - Uh--um...
- Can we all chat for a bit?
- Sure, yeah.
- Alice had an idea for tomorrow.
- Oh. This wasn't my--
- And it was a great idea.
She thought-- and I'm inclined to agree--
we might shuffle things up.
Let Julia try a few segments.
- Uh, how many segments?
- You...
- All of them?
- Are you firing me, Alice?
- Well, we just think
that your talent might be better used elsewhere.
- You're firing me. That seems to be the trend.
- No one is getting fired. Hosting isn't for everyone.
I found that out the hard way. - No. Yes. Right.
No, good idea. Absolutely.
Um, and if you need me, I'll just be elsewhere.
- Oh.
- You'll be amazing, Julia.
You get it intuitively.
- I have a request.
You do a segment with me. - [scoffs]
- Get the band back together.
- And Elaine can direct, huh?
I want to watch her in action.
- The entire menu was grand larceny,
which somehow made it even more delicious.
- Didn't it?
Thinking of letting us
into that hippocampus of yours, darling?
- Oh, I don't know.
Have we outgrown it?
- Well, there are arguments for being a big fish, but...
WGBH may be too small a pond. - It's a puddle.
- Just thinking about it makes me wracked with guilt.
And despite what either of you say,
I do feel I owe them something.
- Forward motion always leaves a few things behind.
Doesn't mean we should allow inertia to settle in.
- No, I suppose not.
I do wish you could stay tomorrow, Judith.
But my...
brain is too scrambled to make this kind of decision
at this hour.
- Think of what we might do
with real produce and a bit of forethought.
Care to cook with me again?
- Hey, you okay? - Not really.
- Well, come on.
Look, Hunter's no Dick Clark,
but you raised a lot of money tonight.
- Because of Julia. - Nothing wrong with that.
- [sighs] At least we have a game plan for tomorrow.
- Mm.
- Going to be cautiously optimistic.
- Optimistic enough that a little bad news won't sting?
I took a call in your office...
from "The Tonight Show."
- [sighs] They passed?
- Well, they said it just isn't the right time.
- Oh, come on. Of course they did.
- But that's not a no. It'll happen soon.
- Not soon enough.
None of this matters if Julia leaves GBH,
and she's got one foot out the door.
- Hey, hey.
Hey.
Come here.
- This just isn't the right time.
You can't give me bad news
and expect me to be amorous, Isaac.
- [laughs] Good to know.
- Look at this. - Looks marvelous.
- The secret is the béchamel. You'll be asleep before noon.
[laughter]
Bon appétit.
I've been doing some thinking about your offer,
which is generous.
I have a few requests.
May we speak openly, or should I slide you a note?
[both chuckle]
The issue at WGBH is we've been thinking too small.
And so, in addition to "The French Chef" series,
I would like to shoot a series of specials...
in France.
- Very smart. - Not a problem.
- And as I said before,
I'll need to bring my staff with me, if they're willing...
my entire staff.
- Not a problem. - Whatever you need, Julia.
Anything else? - We're all ears.
- Okay, then.
[line trilling]
[receiver clatters]
I've tried Avis three times today.
Do you think she's avoiding my calls?
- Uh, I-I think she's out.
Judith and I were disagreeing
about how to update a tuna salad.
Any useful tips?
- Don't change the subject.
- Yeah.
Ooh.
Give her space, hmm?
Clearly, that's what she wants.
It's what you'd want, if she'd hurt you.
- Seriously, though, the literary implications alone
are worth considering.
Imagine how many books we'd sell
if her audience increased tenfold.
- It is, uh, hard not to think about that offer.
Uh, don't you need cinnamon sticks?
- I'm surprised you even know what I'm making.
- I'm a diplomat. I served in Ceylon.
My palate is international.
- Care to make it interesting?
- What'd you have in mind?
- Well...
want to have a contest?
- Oranges from CBS.
Is there a scurvy outbreak I'm not aware of?
- It's merely a gesture, Hunter...
all part of the dance.
- And I have two left feet.
- Oh, Hunter.
- I hope you're at least considering staying.
I-I know we don't have much to offer.
I'm no dummy.
[sighs]
There's really nothing I can say.
But they don't need you.
We need you.
[melancholy music]
I-I don't want you to stay as charity.
That's not what I mean.
I just don't want you to go.
♪ ♪
Please don't go.
- Ready, Julia? We need our host.
♪ ♪
- [exhales deeply] - Help yourself.
- Uh, mm.
This. Ah.
- Well, have a bite.
- [clears throat]
[mouth full] Oh. Mm.
- Russ, I spent all day yesterday talking
to the staff about you. - Mm?
- WGBH has had one good idea in years.
- Oh.
- And it was yours. - [grunts softly]
- "There's a guilelessness about Julia
"the camera just eats up.
She can't help but delight us."
- Hal, you have to understand, that article--
- Now, don't-- don't be modest, Russ.
You're the man who saw what no one else could see.
I want that man.
I want that man to take the helm of WGBH.
- [swallows hard] A little dry.
- Oh, Russ, enjoy it. I am incredibly proud of you.
- For being a duplicitous villain?
- That's a tad hyperbolic, don't you think?
- Shh! Whoa!
[whispering] Keep your voice down.
- Why? You should be celebrating.
- I should be atoning.
How can I take a job based on a lie?
- You didn't technically lie.
You just went along with someone else's half-truth.
- What?
How--how can I take credit
for something I actively campaigned against?
How can I do it again, Marian,
when I never did it in the first place?
[groans]
[bell ringing]
- Bonsoir, mes amis,
and welcome back.
We've decided to shake things up,
not unlike a homespun vinaigrette.
Tonight, ladies and germs, I shall be your hostess,
and I want to hear those phones ringing
like the bells of Notre Dame.
Do you know what? I think I'll take a few calls myself.
[chuckles] [phones ringing]
Now, that's more like it.
Let's put our phone team to work, including...
May I, Helen? - Oh, yes.
- This very handsome gentleman.
Now, where were you yesterday
when the rest of us were working, Albert?
- Teaching a class.
- [chuckles] Well, I'm still marking you absent.
May I borrow this?
[indistinct chatter, phones ringing]
This is Julia Child.
- Oh, my goodness! - [laughing]
- Is that really you?
I love you. - I love you, too.
How much can you spare, dearie? [phone rings]
Well, if you could indulge a bit more,
why, I'll name a recipe after you--
the Bertie Bombe.
It feels like a classic already.
Oh!
Is that lipstick on your collar, Albert?
[chuckles] Bless you, Bertie.
Well, keep them coming, Boston.
We're really cooking now.
- She's better than I am, isn't she?
- Up next, our very own... - So much better.
[both chuckling]
Listen, I want you to hear it from me first.
- Hmm?
- Hal offered me your job.
They say they want
the man responsible for "The French Chef,"
which is you.
You saw something in Julia none of us could.
I told Hal you're the man for the job.
- Really? - Yeah.
- Thank you, Russ.
Thank you so much.
- He didn't care.
- Right.
[cheerful music]
- Those audience numbers they gave you were surreal.
- I know. It's a lot of eyeballs.
Uh, not talking about the sausage--it's eyeball free.
- What is this?
- That is your secret ingredient--
maraschino cherries.
- What am I supposed to do
with a cocktail garnish for lightweights?
- That's up to you to figure out.
- Touché.
But you'll have your hands full with this.
♪ ♪
- What is that?
- You never seen a Twinkie before?
- Never.
- A chef is only as good as their last plate.
Bonne chance.
- "And he bigan with right a myrie cheere.
His tale anon, and seyde as ye may heere."
And as this is my final telethon here at WGBH,
that will mark my last time reciting all 858 lines
of the prologue to Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales"
from memory for all of you.
Thank you.
And now, before I get too maudlin,
I am enthralled to be joined once again
by the incomparable,
and now National Book Award-winning,
John Updike.
- Honored to be of service, Duke.
- How gallant.
And the viewers will go mad
when you help me introduce their favorite episode
of "I've Been Reading." - I do love our episode so.
One of the great surprises of my year.
- Oh, me too, and it was,
but I meant the one with Julia Child.
- Oh.
- Well, in her defense, Johnny, she cooks.
- Maybe I could work the phones.
I've been told I have a lovely voice.
- I'm sure you do not. - I've even been known to sing.
- I don't think the audience would--
- ♪ I am the very model of a modern major-general ♪
- There he goes.
- ♪ I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral ♪
♪ I know the kings of England ♪
♪ And I quote the fights historical ♪
- ♪ From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical ♪
Not bad for an amateur.
The secret, though, lies in the breath placement.
♪ I can tell undoubted Raphaels ♪
♪ From Gerard Dows and Zoffanies ♪
♪ I know the croaking chorus of "The Frogs" from Aristophanes ♪
♪ Then I can hum a fugue ♪
♪ Of which I've heard the music's din afore ♪
♪ And whistle all the airs ♪
♪ From that infernal nonsense "Pinafore" ♪
both: ♪ In short, in matters ♪
♪ Vegetable, animal, and mineral ♪
♪ I am the very model of a modern major-general ♪
[applause, whistling] - Bravo, bravo.
- Thank you, sir. - Well done, indeed.
[phones ringing] - Hello, WGBH.
- Hello?
Alice. - Tell my mother I'm dead.
- No, it's somebody claiming to be from the White House.
[laughs]
- Put it through to my office.
[Jimmy Smith's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - Pt. 1"]
- Oh.
- Ah! - Oh, excuse me.
- Whoa. - Hey, hey.
- Hey! - Thank you.
- Whoa. - Uh, no.
♪ ♪
[phone rings]
♪ ♪
This is Alice.
♪ ♪
Julia?
- I know. I know. The editing suite--I'll be right there.
- No, no, no, no, no. It's not that.
It's not only that.
♪ ♪
Can you keep a secret? - Historically, no.
- What you're smelling is a dhansak curry
with a maraschino-cherry chutney.
I actually think the ginger and cherries
pair perfectly with the warm, toasted spices.
- And what are these? - I'm glad you asked.
I took a pure pork sausage that I made myself,
and I've nestled it
inside America's favorite snacking cake.
- Whoa. What do you call them?
- Um, "chartwinkeries."
- Oh, my--
This is delicious. - [chuckles]
- When I talked to you yesterday,
you sounded like you were ready to murder someone.
Look at you now-- chef de cuisine.
- This place is strange and special, isn't it?
- It would have to be,
to have one of the sharpest minds in publishing
cooking for the crew.
- We're live in one minute. Let's just mark it for Benny.
- Oh, really, Elaine, can't we just do it?
- I'm fine. I'm in good hands.
- I just hope this won't be like the time
I tried to sauté onions
and they landed on poor Avis's head.
[laughter]
- Avis and onions. [laughs]
- Okay. We are live in 5, 4, 3...
- Welcome back.
I'm telethon director Morash-- Russell Morash.
Julia Child is a great many things here at WGBH--
chef, host, and friend. - [chuckles]
- She's also an expert at the remarkable medium
of editing.
Tell me, Julia...
what exactly is videotape?
- Well, Russ, many people are intimidated,
but videotape is very simple.
It's brown and shiny.
It looks an awful lot like chocolate.
- Mm. - Mm.
[laughs] Awfully slippery. - Fascinating.
- I'm going to splice two pieces of tape together.
- Wow. H-how do you do that?
- Oh, it's just a bit of sticky tape.
Could you hold that down for me?
Thank you.
And then we just...
cut the edges off.
[laughs] - Incredible.
A real master. [both chuckling]
- [giggles] Now, just say a prayer for your fingers,
and I'll--
I have do it with my eyes closed.
[laughter]
[blade clangs]
- Johnny Carson said no--
or not yet, but we know what that means.
- Doesn't it mean "not yet"?
- And then the White House called.
- The White House? - Think about it.
What is the most important meal in this country?
- Uh, breakfast.
- State dinners, Russ. - Ah.
- Julia is going to take WGBH behind the scenes
into the White House kitchen--
first time anyone's ever filmed there.
- Wow. Alice, that's huge.
- And I want you to direct.
- What? Really?
What about Elaine?
- You were Julia's director. You're the one to do this.
- [sighs]
- [chuckles] Take as many as you like.
- "Your friends at CBS."
Zowie.
- Yes, they want me to come to LA.
It is rather confusing.
You got any advice
for an old girl navigating the West Coast?
- Well...
it usually goes one of two ways.
If you're a hit, then you grow--
not just your audience, but you, your power,
and you feel it, and it feels good,
and it feels permanent.
But that's a trap...
because nothing in LA is ever permanent.
- And the alternative?
- You miss.
And even a near-miss,
you'll be back here with your tail between your legs,
begging for your old job back.
- Well, I guess I was right
to assume there were strings attached to all that sunshine.
- Yeah, well, there are strings everywhere,
even where it rains.
I wish we'd gotten off to a better start, you and I.
- I beg your pardon?
- I don't need everyone to like me--I really don't.
But you never even gave me a chance.
- I think you've misread me, Elaine.
- No, I don't think I have.
I'm a lot of things, Julia,
but one thing I know is I'm good at my job.
- Oh, I have no doubt.
- You know, I've come across your type before.
Yeah, you're one of those women who doesn't like other women
telling them what to do.
But I promise you...
there is room for both of us.
- Well, it's been an illuminating couple of nights.
Thank you all for being--
- Fuel for the resistance.
- My hand is cramping.
Thank you.
- That must be why you've made so many spelling mistakes.
- Ah.
This is my tenth poster,
and I'm distracted by that program you insist we watch.
- They're your friends. - Mm.
- Besides, they put on quite a show.
- Like Alice Naman.
If you ever see the show outside of Boston,
chances are she's to blame. - Call her.
It'll make you both feel better.
- No.
- My, uh, constant companion behind the camera,
and sometimes even in front of it.
- How do you spell Massachusetts?
- I've been able to take my food journey
and share it with all of you,
from France to Boston to who-knows-where.
- $50!
- We have money flowing from all directions.
What a perfect way to close.
Even if we didn't hit
the scintillating magnitude of $2,500,
we still made scads more money than ever before.
- [clears throat] - So what's more--
- [clears throat] - What?
- Julia. - Oh.
Oh, I guess we still got a few moments left.
[sighs]
If you'll forgive me, it has been a very, very long night,
and my feet, frankly, are killing me.
But, you know, we truly have had...
so much fun singing for our supper this evening.
But the truth is,
WGBH is a very different kind of network.
The people you see aren't actors.
They're teachers, teachers with something to share
and a passion for sharing it.
What other network would take a chance on a woman like me?
Where else could I learn and grow and fail
and just be myself in front of the camera?
We all owe a debt of gratitude
to the leadership of Hunter Fox...
Perhaps me more so than anyone.
It takes a certain kind of captain
to keep this ramshackle ship afloat.
He's got taste and vision...
and integrity, to boot.
And I couldn't imagine working for anyone else.
In fact, I don't think I could.
[emotional music]
No, this place is one of a kind.
He brought me to the party,
and now it's my one and only, my home.
♪ ♪
And maybe there are grander homes out there,
but home is home,
and there's nowhere else I would rather be.
♪ ♪
So mark your calendars.
I'll be back right here for next year's telethon,
and I hope you'll join me.
[phone rings]
- Hello? Yes.
Great.
We just received a donation for $300.
[all cheer]
- That is a very nice number, indeed.
So, from all of us here at WGBH,
good night, Boston, and thank you.
Bon appétit. [chuckles]
- You just pledged $300
on a professor's salary?
- I was moved to act.
Isn't that what we ask our voters to do?
- [scoffs]
You don't even teach in the business school.
You're a scientist, for heaven's sake.
- Ah, it's family money. - Oh.
- I never know what to do with it.
- [chuckles] Oh.
- And they're your friends.
- [clears throat] - Hmm.
What'd you think of the show?
- Oh, it came together in the end.
And the White House is going to be even better.
- Oh, isn't it crazy?
- Yeah, Russ will kill it...
at least that's the rumor.
- [sighs]
That's not how I wanted you to find out.
Julia has a history with Russ-- - No, I get it.
So...
should I assume there are wider implications?
- Well, you two, you just haven't--
I have to do what's best for Julia and for the show.
- Yeah, of course you do. [scoffs]
- For what it's worth,
I do feel like I am losing the only person on my side.
[melancholy music]
♪ ♪
[chuckles]
♪ ♪
- Just don't stay here too long.
♪ ♪
- It just wasn't the same without you by my side--
or under my skirt. [both chuckle]
- Well, I couldn't stay away long.
Besides, Stanley won't stop talking about Paul.
- Hmm? - He keeps asking me if I know
where he got his turquoise ring.
- Oh, Stanley, patron saint of WGBH.
- Mm.
- And once I finish cooking dinner for half of Boston,
I'll bake him a hell of a cake.
- He's picky about pastry, too.
- I'll make sure the cake and the frosting
don't touch each other.
- I'm sorry I was distant.
- No, I'm sorry.
Young love needs room to blossom.
- Oh. Young love.
- But I will need you at the White House with me.
And for that, I won't take no for an answer.
- Aye, aye, Captain.
I'd love to have a chat with LBJ.
Who else is going? - Oh, it's the whole team.
It's you, Alice, Russ.
- Russ?
- Elaine is no longer with us, I'm afraid.
- Oh.
- Couldn't find common ground.
Maybe she's right.
Maybe I do prefer being directed by men.
- Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree
about certain things...
like that.
Let's not forget these.
I'm a vigorous card player, and I get parched.
- Finally, we have a foursome.
- ♪ The bird with feathers of blue ♪
- Oh, thank you, Stanley.
- ♪ Is waiting for you ♪
- Fortification.
- ♪ Back in your own backyard ♪
- Everyone ready?
- Who dealt? - I did.
- ♪ You'll see your castle in Spain ♪
♪ Through your windowpane ♪
♪ Back in your own backyard ♪
♪ Oh, you can go to the east ♪
♪ Go to the west ♪
♪ But someday you'll come ♪
♪ Weary at heart ♪
♪ Back where you started from ♪
♪ You'll find your happiness lies ♪
♪ Right under your eyes ♪
♪ Back in your own backyard ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Oh, you can go to the east ♪
♪ Go to the west ♪
♪ But someday you'll come ♪
♪ Weary at heart ♪
♪ Back where you started from ♪
♪ You'll find your happiness lies ♪
♪ Right under your eyes ♪
♪ Back in your own ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Backyard ♪
♪ ♪