Three-quarter power building to full in two.
Full power.
Unlike other Tupperware parties you may have attended,
I give thorough product descriptions and I also make my own snacks.
This Tuesday's menu will be freshly squeezed nectarine juice
along with lemon-lime bars on a graham-cracker crust.
Excellent. See you then.
What about this one?
"Butylated hydroxytoluene."
A good rule of thumb is not to eat foods that share ingredients with jet fuel.
I'll add it to my vocab list.
What color were Dad's eyes?
Blue, like yours. You know how recessive genes work.
What color was his hair?
Brown. Where are these questions coming from?
Mrs. Mudford is making us fill out a family tree,
and I know nothing about Dad.
- You know about your dad. - No, I don't.
Yes, you do. You know that he was a brilliant scientist,
that he was kind,
a very funny dancer
and my favorite person in the world until I met you.
Well, what about his parents? I need to put them on the tree too.
Your grandparents died in a car accident when he was young,
then he went to live in a boys' home.
What about your parents?
Ezra and Iris. We moved around a bit. Not that exciting.
So are we all alone?
We are the opposite of alone.
We have each other, we have Six Thirty,
and we have a huge family waiting at home for us for dinner.
But you are the chef, so you tell me. What do you need?
I'll get the flour. You go to the butcher counter.
- Copy. - But nothing too lean.
Of course.
- I want a gumball! - Stop it!
- Get back here! - I wanna go on the horsey!
- Off of the horse! - Is everything okay?
Yes. I am so sorry for my little terrors.
- It is quite all right. I understand. - You know, five minutes.
All I want is five minutes of quiet.
Well, if I'm being greedy,
I'd like them to set the table and occasionally say thank you.
But five minutes, I'd settle for that.
Those boys were being so rowdy. Geez.
Butylated hydroxytoluene.
That man was out of his mind. Can you imagine me hosting a TV show?
Seriously? Hear TV pays well.
What's the cost of selling your soul?
Depends. How much they paying?
I thought you sold Tupperware.
I sell Tupperware so I have time for my research.
I wanna be an actor. Like on Gunsmoke.
You wanna be a lawyer like your mother.
Or, if things don't work out, a doctor like your father.
You need more milk.
You're lucky you have a father.
You have a father too, bunny.
He's looking down on you right now.
I know. I was just being provocative.
Excuse me, Miss Zott,
but what is this unopened letter from Phillips Laboratory doing on your counter?
The same Phillips that has called you back for not one, but two follow-up interviews?
I prefer rejection after my meal.
Would you like me to preview it for you? I have an excellent poker face.
Open it!
- Open it! - Open it!
- Open it! Open it! - Okay, fine.
Read away.
"Dear Miss Zott, thank you for your continued patience
as we narrow our list of candidates.
We are thrilled--
We are thrilled to tell you that you have reached our final round
and we intend to make a decision shortly.
Please provide us with references at your earliest convenience
so that we may..." Blah-blah-blah-blah.
Congratulations, Elizabeth!
- References. - This is great.
What's a reference?
A reference is when someone you no longer wish to work with
holds the fate of your next job.
Anyway, I am not getting my hopes up.
I'm here to see Dr. Donatti.
I don't have an appointment, but I was hoping for the element of surprise.
Dr. Donatti no longer works here.
I didn't realize.
Who might I speak with about possibly--
Thank you.
Elizabeth?
Boryweitz.
So what happened to Donatti?
Well, you know how it goes.
The board was ready for some new blood.
New blood is just old blood recirculated.
Fair point.
I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to reach out these past few years.
You were just pacing yourself?
I'm sorry, Elizabeth.
Yes, well, I am up for a chemistry position at Phillips.
Coming here and asking for a recommendation is extremely unpleasant.
So please be truthful and write something befitting of my value
or, alternatively, say to my face you will be blocking my career advancements
as Donatti did.
I mean, I'm sure you've received a glowing review
from your current lab already.
I currently sell Tupperware.
I'm not going to write you a good recommendation.
I knew this was a mistake.
I'm not going to do it 'cause I'd like you to come back here.
Here? Are you kidding?
You're an excellent chemist.
And whatever you may think of Hastings,
it's still the best facility in Southern California.
Far better than Phillips. You'd be foolish not to consider it.
- Chemist? - Well, junior chemist.
Which department?
DNA.
Between the Remsen and my esteemed reputation,
our DNA lab has become the authority on abiogenesis research.
Just dedicated men doing important work.
And we'd publish together. I'll even give you second author.
Who would be first author?
Well, it would be me.
You?
The man who stole my work and then lied about it?
I don-- I can't just put you in charge. Second author, it-- that's not nothing.
Second author is quite meaningful.
So you'll consider the offer?
I already have.
And who do you think this is in my family tree?
Lena?
The president?
"Could it be the president?" And no.
Amanda.
Could it be Lassie?
This is a family tree, not a doghouse. We're talking about people.
People are animals.
No, they aren't, Madeline. People are humans.
But people are mammals, and mammals are animals.
Madeline, that's enough.
Tommy?
Could I be an animal?
Now, stop it, Tommy. Stop it. Now--
Oh, no. No, all of you, stop it!
Sit down! Now!
Tommy.
Madeline, see me after class.
- Champagne? - Yes. Thank you.
Are you joining us?
Oh, no. I don't drink before lunch.
Excuse me.
Zott residence.
Oh, for Christ's sake.
She completely undermined the assignment and said people are animals.
But people are animals.
Well, that's not the point, is it?
Yesterday, during circle time,
we were having a discussion about Ralph's pet turtle
and Madeline interrupted and said that she was unable to find any Norman Mailer
on our bookshelves.
Well, she is interested in misanthropic characters.
Not surprising.
Are you suggesting that Madeline is a misanthrope?
I am suggesting that she is disruptive because--
because she is not challenged here.
I am suggesting that she would be better off
at a school with a more advanced curriculum
to keep her engaged.
Some place like the Caswell School.
I've never considered private school.
Well, I think it's time you should.
Thank you for your time.
You do like school, don't you?
Of course I don't like school.
What do you mean? Why didn't you tell me?
Nobody likes school. That's a fact.
That is not necessarily a fact,
and these are things that you should tell me.
You have enough to worry about.
Amanda!
Mom, can Amanda come over today?
Her dad has to work late, and we have to practice our secret language.
Of course.
Ank-thay yi-di-goo iss-may zi-di-got.
Come on, you two.
I'm not here to pitch you again. I'm just here to pick up Amanda.
And I wanted to say,
the chicken pot pie tasted even better the next day.
I don't know how that's even possible.
Not at all surprising.
When the pie cools, the starch goes through a process called retrogradation
where the molecules restructure into a crystalline form.
The flavor compounds are trapped in said structure,
which makes every bite more flavorful.
Yeah, I definitely tasted the extra molecules.
Quite delicious.
Come in. I'm making dinner.
I've never seen a kitchen like this.
That's because it is my lab that I also happen to cook in.
The girls are in the back.
They're teaching our dog their secret language.
How's Amanda been?
Polite. Funny. Engaging.
Although, I should tell you she did burst into tears
- when I offered her ants on a log. - Y--
My wife used to make that for her.
I'm so sorry. When did she pass?
Not dead. Divorced.
She's just in Nevada somewhere on a trip of spiritual enlightenment.
I don't know how you do it.
Do what?
Keep all the balls in the air.
I've been a single dad for all of three months,
and I feel like an uncoordinated octopus.
Well, the best advice I ever got is that no one is equipped to do this,
and then you expand.
You think you can't do it, and then you do it anyway.
I accidentally put a flask of gin in her lunch pail last week.
Well, whatever gets her through Mrs. Mudford's class.
Okay, here we go.
You know, this is why I thought you'd be a TV star.
And why is that?
Because you respect your audience.
You don't talk down to people.
You meet them where they are, and you somehow raise them up.
Well, if I were to consider it, we'd have to be 50-50 partners.
That's not how it works.
Well, then it would never work, because I won't be--
No, this would be your show.
You would be in charge of virtually every aspect of it.
If I do my job right, no one will even know who I am.
I am sending Mad to private school. It's expensive.
- How much would the job pay? - More than you've ever made.
My name is Walter, and I'll be your tour guide for the day.
Let's see. On your right, hair and makeup.
- I can do that myself. - No, you cannot.
This is Amos, the best boy. He is a good man.
And what makes him the best?
It's a job title.
- And this is Matt and Robert. - Hi.
- Hello. - Props.
What kind of props?
Whisks, spoons, miniature ponies, whatever you need.
And these ladies already your biggest fans.
- Shari, Nancy, Lynn and Ronni. - Hello.
So nice to meet you all.
- Nice to meet you too. - Okay. Now...
- Coffee? - Sure, how do you take it?
No, sorry, I get you coffee. That's my job.
How do you take it?
I'm all set. Thank you.
All right. And finally...
the control room.
Hello.
Then there's your new home.
Kenny, throw 'em on.
Morning, Mr. Pine.
Well, we put our heads together, came up with every woman's dream kitchen.
Well? What do you think?
This is revolting.
Okay, let's take a five.
Okay. No, I hear your concerns.
Thing is, TV, it needs to be inviting and fun.
Cooking is not fun. It is vital work.
Right. Okay, idea.
Let's think of the show as the world's best dinner party.
- When you and Mr. Zott throw dinners-- - There is no Mr. Zott.
I am unmarried. I was never married.
You know what, can we-- Why don't we pick this up later?
So, your-- Was Mad's father--
- Was he stepping out on his wife? - Oh, no. We were in love.
We were soulmates.
But he died suddenly before I knew I was pregnant.
I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry for you as well, for your divorce.
Oh, no. Don't be. We weren't in love.
I don't even know if she has a soul.
You know what? This is what we do.
Think about this whole TV thing as like a exciting new experiment.
...let's meet four nice people here.
First of all, our champion...
- Zott residence. - Hello, Miss Zott.
Just wanted to see if you and Mad wanted to come over tomorrow for a barbecue.
Mention my new marinade.
Well, Mad will be there, but I may still be studying.
- Studying? - TV.
How does one study TV?
Turn on channel 4.
Yep.
You got it?
Got it.
Okay.
Now, watch how often the host smiles or laughs.
My God, why do they smile so much?
There is nothing smile-worthy about life insurance,
but regardless, I am notating frequency.
I'm also correlating it with the ratings in the TV Guide,
focusing specifically on the coveted 24-to-35-year-old demographic.
Is this genius or crazy? I can't decide.
I only have two more weeks until the show airs,
so I don't have much time to study.
Well, if you need a study break, we'll be here grilling.
With my new marinade. Bye, Elizabeth.
- Bye, Charlie. - I love you. I'll miss you.
I thought Charlie was done with the graveyard shift.
That's what I thought too.
Use the yellow pages: the first place to look for anything.
Do I need a catchphrase? Does every show have a catchphrase?
Don't overthink it.
Never understood what that meant.
Goodbye, Miss Zott.
Goodbye, Mrs. Sloane.
...there goes the dirt.
Yes, sir, the secret words are...
Now, honestly.
"In a word, I had been too cowardly to do what I knew to be right,
as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong."
What does that mean?
I think Pip is remembering the times in his life
when he felt pressured to do or not do things
because they were expected of him.
And that makes him a coward?
Six Thirty.
Hey, Mad, do you remember Amanda's dad, Walter?
Do you think that I am suffering from amnesia?
We just saw him.
What I meant to say is that I'm going to be working with him at the TV station.
So that means our afternoons are going to look a little different.
But I like our afternoons.
I love our afternoons.
But I'm going to do what is expected of me, much like Pip.
I don't get it. You're a scientist.
I will be doing science, just in a kitchen with TV cameras.
Sort of like a teacher for people who want to learn how to cook.
Plus, there are financial benefits.
I know it'll be tough, but you say you don't like school,
and I'm wondering if Caswell--
you know, that big school down by the park--
if it might be a better fit for you.
Do I have a choice?
I would like you to try it,
and you have full veto power if you hate it.
It sounds like I'm trying it, and that's about that.
Full veto power. I promise.
I love you, bunny.
I love you too.
Three, two, one, action!
"I'm Elizabeth Zott, and this is Supper at Six. Do"--
Well, I can't read this.
And, Walter, I'm losing, circulation in my arms.
Okay, no, good. Good.
This is good. This is why we do dress rehearsals.
- Okay. Yes. - And you look fantastic.
This dress would be fantastic on a midsize child.
I'm an adult woman.
Good. I love that energy. And, you know--
Could we get bigger cards?
No, It's not that I can't read it.
It's that my conscience won't let me read that.
I have my own thing prepared. May I? Or I will.
- Three, two, one? - You can just talk.
Okay.
I'm Elizabeth Zott, and this is Supper at Six.
Baking powder is an alkali
that will raise the pH levels of your chicken skin
and will result in a crisp texture.
I'm gonna take that back.
- Okay, Elizabeth... - I'm E-- Yes?
...if you make a mistake, just keep going. It's-- 'Cause the show is live.
- So, you know, we can't go back. - That's right. Yes. My apologies.
That's right. Okay.
All right.
As I was saying, baking powder is a leavening agent
which elevates the pH of the chicken skin.
In short, the skin expands when you cook it.
The more surface area, the crispier the texture.
- Allow me to demonstrate... - The skin's pH level? Is this a joke?
We're still finding the show's voice.
Big hair, tight dress, homey set. Check.
But we need a sexy wife, loving mother that every man loves to see
when he comes home from work.
But this time, we aim to shrink the square unit of our vegetables.
Square unit? What the fuck is this?
Phil. Look.
I mean, the thing is,
not only is she a cook and a mother, but she is also a chemist.
So I was thinking let's-- let's play up her credentials,
give housewives someone to aspire to.
- ...releases tear gas. - What are those?
Which is why I prefer goggles,
which are woefully absent from cookware sets.
Phil, I think we can make something meaningful here.
Meaningful? What are you, Amish? No!
We want tight dresses, suggestive movements,
like the way she dons her potholders just so.
And at the end of every show, she should make her husband a cocktail.
I don't think Miss Zott
- is gonna be willing to-- - Why the fuck would I care what she wants?
It's her show.
No, Walter. It's my show.
Hi, Six Thirty.
Welcome home, Mad.
Here's your schedule for today. 3:30 to 4:00 p.m., snack time.
There are deviled eggs in the fridge.
Suggestion: They're better with a little paprika sprinkled on top.
4:00 to 4:30 p.m., homework.
I always liked to do whatever my least favorite subject was first.
It gets it out of the way.
4:30 to 5:00 p.m., reading.
Read Great Expectations to Six Thirty. We left off on page 87.
5:00 to 6:00 p.m., Mrs. Waterhouse will babysit,
or Linda will take you to church for her choir practice.
Look both ways before you cross the street, and don't forget:
God is not real, but we respect other people's belief systems.
I'll be home for dinner. I love you. Mom.
- Mad! We gotta go! - Coming!
Pass me not O gentle savior
Hear my humble cry
While on others thou art smiling
Do not pass me by
Pass me not O gentle savior
Hear my humble cry...
Hello. Who might you be?
I can't tell you yet because I don't know you.
That makes sense.
I'm Reverend Wakely. This is my church.
I'm Mad Zott. I don't have a church because my mom says God isn't real.
I'm Linda's neighbor.
A family tree. How fun.
That's debatable.
- Debatable? - It means arguable.
Yes, it does.
What have you got so far?
On my mom's side, I have Ezra and Iris,
but I don't have anything on my dad's side yet.
I don't know where to start.
Why not just ask him?
He's dead.
I'm so sorry.
People say you can't miss what you never had,
but I think people are wrong. Don't you?
I think people are very wrong.
And what are these?
Some clues I found in my dad's study,
which I never went through, if anyone ever asks you.
But I don't know which school he went to, so it's useless.
See the winged bull?
That's how they draw St. Luke.
Your dad went to a school called St. Luke's.
Now, which St. Luke's?
That's the question.
Do not pass me by
And that concludes our time.
Tomorrow on Supper at Six, we will study colloids.
Although, I don't know why the show is called Supper at Six.
It should be called Supper at 5:30. But here we are.
Walter, we need to discuss the title. It's incredibly misleading.
Well, we can discuss that. And I just-- Let's have a drink.
I don't really drink.
- I do. - Okay.
I know what you're going to say, and adjustments will be made.
I took notes.
The set: altogether too cluttered. Cue cards: unnecessary, eliminate.
Wardrobe: Walter, this dress is obscene, and I need my lab coat.
- What? You won't consider a lab coat? - Elizabeth.
It has more surface area than an apron.
I don't understand why everyone doesn't cook in a lab coat.
Elizabeth, it's not about the lab coat.
Phil hated the show.
Phil? Who's Phil?
He's the station owner.
I hate him. I hate him so much.
He haunts me in my dreams. He haunts me when I'm awake.
Do I care what Phil thinks?
- No, I do not. - But...
I agree with him. We do need to make some changes.
I knew this was going to happen, Walter.
- You said that this would be my show. - Yeah, and it is. It is.
So make it yours.
You know what I love about TV?
Everything.
It has the power to transport and entertain.
It can make you feel a part of something.
The problem with the show today wasn't a set problem or a wardrobe problem.
It's more I wanted to see you be you. Not just a scientist.
But I am a scientist. That is who I am.
That may be.
But that's only a start.
Mrs. Mudford said I've been doing really, really well in class.
I bit my tongue till it bled when she had us draw penguins with coats and hats.
I guess she doesn't know
that many groups of penguins actually live below the equator.
Well, that is a common misconception.
And I haven't asked the librarian for a single book!
And at the cafeteria,
- I didn't share my lunch with Amanda-- - Mad.
I understand that you're nervous about switching schools.
But change is good. Change is evolution.
We're gonna split up. Do you wanna do the butcher counter or dairy?
Can't I just stay with you?
Sure, bunny.
Come in.
So, small, tiny, little change in plans.
- Nothing big. - Yes?
Really barely perceptible.
Walter.
We--
Supper at Six is airing tonight. Today. Right now.
On TV? But we still have two more weeks of rehearsals.
The reruns of the show that you replaced are not performing.
And here's the thing. Here's the good news.
And I maybe should've said this earlier.
We're the lowest-rated channel, so very few people will be tuned in.
And Phil hates us,
and he actually may be doing this as a reason to cancel the show.
So when you said you liaise with talent, is this what you were referring to?
I did not say I was good at it.
Break a leg.
I am considering it.
Testing. Testing. One, two, three.
Shari, take note of this placement.
Let's go! Let's go, people!
Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!
We're live in five, four, three, two, one.
I take cooking seriously, and I know you do too.
I also know that your time is precious, and, well, so is mine.
Is that a fucking pencil? What does she need a fucking pencil for?
In my experience, people do not appreciate the work and sacrifice
that goes into being a mother, a wife, a woman.
Well, I am not one of those people.
At the end of our time here together, we will have done something worth doing.
We will have created something that will not go unnoticed.
We will have made supper, and it will matter.
I prefer to have room when I'm doing my work.
It reinforces that the work we're doing together is important.
Harry, would you mind helping me clear these things?
And Eugene, Amos. Thank you.
Cooking is chemistry, and chemistry is life.
Your ability to change everything, including yourself, starts here.
Let's begin, shall we?
What worked for you with the show?
I'm an insomniac, and it put me right to sleep.
Potatoes are rich in vitamin C, potassium and complex carbohydrates.
I stand proudly with the overlooked workhorse of the kitchen:
women and baked potatoes.
Yes?
- I actually thought that she was-- - Would it have killed her to smile?
Totally. And it looks like she's got a good figure,
but she's hiding it behind that weird coat.
I am putting cinnamon in my chili. I've never done that before.
Don't be afraid to experiment in the kitchen.
Fearlessness in the kitchen equates to fearlessness in life.
Describe how you felt watching the show in one word.
- Bored. - Punished.
- Drained. Depressed. - Saddened. Lost.
Yes, your word?
Capable.
Capable? What the hell does that even mean?
And that is all we have time for today.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow
as we explore the fascinating world of temperature
and how it affects taste receptor cells.
Children, set the table. Your mother needs a moment to herself.
And we're clear.
He's got the whole world in his hands
He's got the whole world...
I was hoping I would see my new favorite detective.
Hi, Mr. Wakely.
I hope I'm not stepping on any toes, but here's a list of all the St. Luke's
in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado,
Connecticut and Delaware.
Now, it'll be up to you to get all the way to Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Wow. How did you do this?
I got them from the yellow pages at the library.
You go state by state and look up all the St. Luke's. And there's a lot too.
Churches tend not to have the greatest imagination
when it comes down to names.
Why are you helping me?
Because people who don't ask questions have blind faith,
and blind faith is the furthest thing from faith.
Can you say that again slower?
"How would you describe the host?"
"Stuck up." "Unpleasant." "Didn't smile once."
Smile?
Do surgeons smile while performing appendectomies? No.
Would you want them to? No.
- Mr. Lebensmal? - Not now.
If I tell you to smile, you're gonna fucking smile.
I will not.
I think what Elizabeth is trying to say--
He knows what I'm saying because I'm saying it.
Listen to me, young lady.
I am the owner of this station. Do you understand?
Will someone answer those fucking phones?
You cannot just come in here
and do whatever the hell you want.
I am not doing whatever the hell I want. If I was, I would be in a research lab.
Let me explain something to you.
Men are always trying to explain, and women are expected to sit and listen.
I do not want this job, but I need the money
and I will work harder than anyone to make this a show that I am proud of.
But you want a show that perpetuates the myth that women are imbeciles
and the biggest decision of their day
is what color they're gonna paint their nails.
I will not do that, and there is no amount of menace that will change my mind.
A man wants his wife to make him a drink after a long day at work.
So make the fucking drink.
Why do you assume that his day was longer than hers?
Why don't you make the fucking drink?
- Mr. Lebensmal. - What?
We're getting a lot of calls about the show.
Some confusion about tomorrow's ingredients.
Specifically, CH3COOH.
Acetic acid. Vinegar. It's 4% acetic acid.
I'm sorry. I should've put the list in layman's terms.
We might need to hire a few more girls if the phones keep going like this.
If you hold on, I can get you that information in a second.
CH3COOH is vinegar.
Supper at Six, can you hold?
Hello. Supper at Six.
Hello, Supper at Six. This is Elizabeth.
Yes, that Elizabeth.
I'm so happy that you liked the show.
- What you're seeing is combustion. - Yes.
The effect is dramatic, but the science is simple.
Best served with cake.
I don't think I've ever curtsied before.
Well, there's a first time for everything. And a last.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Children, set the table. Your mother needs a moment to herself.
Hello. Sorry, I'm a little late.
A little?
Well, these women drove all the way from San Francisco
and had a million questions about churned butter.
And I had to go over the supply list with the crew and--
Well, it doesn't matter.
What did I miss?
Everything.
Well, there's only one thing to do I suppose.
So tell me. Tell me everything.
Everyone that I've met at Caswell so far seems polite and smart and there to learn.
Well, the library is big.
I checked out The Real Life of Sebastian Knight,
and so far, it's a pretty good book.
- I am so sorry to interrupt... - It--
...but I watch your show every day and the episode about soufflés
and rising to the occasion was really inspiring.
My sister was afraid to ask her boss for a raise,
but I just told her what you said.
That "fear is simply neurotransmitters reacting to a perceived threat."
And she got it. She got the raise.
Wow. That is fantastic.
I'm gonna bring you a free piece of cobbler.
Thank you.
Cobbler.
I'm sorry. Mad, will you please tell me more about your book?
- Well-- - Okay, here we go.
And I am so sorry, could you just please sign this?
Of course.
Thank you.
- Wow. Thank you. - Thank you.
Again, I'm very sorry. You have my full attention.
Can we just go home?
Why don't we finish our dinner, and then we'll go home.
Okay.