[pop music playing]
What do I do? I just clack it when they say so?
Oh. Charming.
Hey, Glam fam, and welcome back to the channel.
I am Marco Mejia,
and I don't just wear Glamorous by Madolyn,
I work here too.
And today I am joined by a very special,
very gorgeous guest,
the legend, the diva, my boss, Miss Madolyn Addison.
Thank you. It's good to be here.
And thank you for employing me.
So, what's it like having me as your boss?
Great. You are the absolute best.
What's it like having me as an assistant?
Well, let's just say,
you are an assistant like no other.
Oh-- Okay, I will take that.
What are we here for today? What are we showing the kids?
We have a new, all-organic Pride palette
from Madolyn--
-Take two. -From Glamorous by Madolyn.
And why Pride? Why now?
Good question.
We are celebrating Pride
and redefining what luxury means for our brand.
It's a campaign that I cannot wait for you all to see.
Be sure to watch us tonight,
we'll be live-streaming from the launch party.
But until then...
[both] Stay glamorous.
When we all kicked this off,
you promised to get people talking and they are.
Everyone wants to see your campaign.
-Even me. -And everyone will. Tonight.
Even you.
What if I got a little peek first?
-Oh. -A flash?
A hint.
-Ooh. -Can't even give me a taste? I'm dying.
Madolyn just wants you to be as surprised as the rest of the world.
All right.
I do have a good feeling about this.
And I can't say exactly what,
but I think Vendemiaire is gonna come in with a number
that will make you happy.
And what kind of number do you think we can expect?
Oh, we're talking about the number now?
-You brought it up. -I'd feel better if I knew yours first.
It'd build trust if we knew yours.
-Worried Vendemiaire's gonna lowball you? -Why?
Worried we're going to walk away?
Chad, I think we're all gonna walk away tonight happy
and inspired too because Pride, right?
Right.
-I'll see you soon. [chuckles] -You too, Mykynnleigh.
Yes! [giggling]
Chad? Come on, celebrate.
You love to showboat.
That's right. I do.
But I can't!
[sighs]
None of this feels right.
Mykynnleigh should be worried that we'll walk away.
But she's not.
With all our buzz, we could have a better offer brewing.
But we don't.
She doesn't know that.
She sure acts like she does.
She does have the confidence of a mediocre white man.
Exactly.
It's like she can read our thoughts.
You said she was keeping tabs on us during crunch?
That she knew everything that was happening?
She does not have a mole.
Madolyn was the mole, she leaked the campaign.
Right.
[groans]
I have to talk to Mom. Not about this, something else.
[groans] Maybe it can wait.
I know you're worried.
I was too.
But we won!
We get to enjoy this!
-Make sure you do. -Okay.
[phone rings]
Madolyn Addison's office.
Sorry. The list for the event tonight is full.
I cannot accommodate you.
Madolyn Addison's office.
No, I cannot accommodate you.
Madolyn Addison's--
No, I cannot accommodate you.
Okay, the list is full.
The rope is closed, mamas.
It doesn't matter if you are Madison Beer herself.
I cannot make it happen.
This is Madison Beer?
Hi, diva, love your album.
I cannot accommodate you though. I'm so sorry. Kisses.
[Ben] I know how you feel.
Keeping the RSVP list for the Activation Event,
it's like being Dungeon Master.
Players want special treatment.
But you know what? If you step on a trap in my dungeon...
I'm sorry. You are rolling to dodge that Magic Missile.
-Well, speaking of Magic Missile... -I can hear you.
...when are we gonna crawl dungeons again?
-Soon. -Hmm.
Why aren't you on the list for the Activation Event?
Everyone's going.
'Cause tonight's the big finale against the Spider Queen
and I'm DM-ing.
I cannot let my party down.
Mm. You're good like that, aren't you?
I'm better.
Especially the second time.
Sex is like playing Mafia.
The first game is just for learning everyone's tell.
Looks like we have ourselves a second certified office romance.
We are not calling it that.
Why not?
It's been a week.
Pay attention. It's been a whole summer.
How's Uber Boy taking it?
We'll find out.
He's my lunch today.
You're meeting that man? After what he did?
What? I'm being mature.
We need an official breakup.
I'm getting it notarized and everything.
So you're over him?
Yes. I'm over him.
Hmm.
Okay, fine. I still think about him sometimes.
-Mm. -I miss him a little bit, a little bit.
That's bad, right?
I think your girl Miss Rodrigo has a song or three about this.
I know, right?
She was not lying. Feelings are hard.
But you know what? I'm gonna fix this.
I'm gonna go to him face-to-face, I'm gonna end it. You're done.
Over.
Period.
That's the right thing to do. Right?
Just make sure the book is closed.
Or you'll keep wondering how it ends.
-Oh. And Ben, is he really...? -I don't know how that boy walks straight.
[inaudible dialogue]
[knocking on door]
Come in, James.
You're a hard woman to surprise.
You're in the calendar and I abhor surprises.
Well, I have something you won't abhor.
The EPK I've been shooting.
It's done, all edited together.
Hope you like it.
You look great. Of course you do. You're a pro.
You've been doing this for years.
This is you.
It's your journey.
It's what you did.
I can't bear to watch myself.
Could you e-mail it to me?
Yeah. Well, sure.
Should we take your car to the Activation Event?
Sure.
Unless I'm gonna make Teddy jealous.
You have to admit, he does seem to hold a torch for you.
Teddy? Me?
No, he's practically family.
Whatever you say.
I'm overthinking this, right?
Right.
Nobody's spying on us?
Right.
-Yeah. Yeah. -Yeah.
Yeah, I'm not worried.
Is that faucet running to throw off listening devices?
I saw it on Homeland.
It works.
This company could be walking into a trap.
Or you could be looking for a way to blow up a good thing.
I haven't blown up this good thing.
'Cause I'm the emotional bomb squad. Welcome to dating a Virgo.
I'm sorry for being a Scorpio.
Aw. But your Jupiter's in Cancer.
-Is that good? -It's beautiful.
[Venetia] Teddy?
What's wrong?
I was just checking in about the timing tonight for Madolyn.
Oh. I have her calendar. But you can just ask her, she's in there.
Yeah, but so is, uh...
Something wrong?
I'll be in the conference room.
Weird.
[knocking on door]
-[Venetia] Madolyn? -Mm?
Have you noticed Teddy behaving differently lately?
He's always unpredictable.
I left something in the town car, so I'll be right back.
[Parker] Marco?
Parker.
Thanks for doing this.
Thank you for this. I wanted to do this.
What is this?
I just wanted to close the book on us in person.
You should know that it's over.
Hmm.
It is.
Yes, it is.
I mean, yeah, I still think about you.
Maybe I miss you a little.
Maybe I like what you look like right now. But none of that matters.
It's over.
I get it.
It's over.
And thanks for being so nice.
I look like total dogshit today.
No, you don't.
I haven't even showered.
You know I like that.
-How long is your lunch? -Forty minutes.
Good enough.
It's kind of fun in a rush.
We should try that again.
We will not be trying anything again.
Ever.
-Okay, this was wrong. -Hmm.
Felt right to me.
I was gonna break up with you today.
Yeah, I know.
I was gonna talk you out of it. Did it work?
You lied to me.
I apologized.
You can't deal with the way I look.
Or how I dress, you make me feel bad about it.
No one's ever done that to me before, ever.
You're ashamed of me.
I've never dated anyone like you.
Okay? I'm not perfect.
I've got room to grow.
You got to give me a chance to.
Hey.
I know this isn't perfect.
It's better.
It's messy. It's angry.
It's real.
You don't get this with everyone.
Don't blow it up.
There's a world of people out there who like me the way I am.
I pick them.
Not you.
You can keep trying to forget about me, but it's not gonna work.
You can't just turn this off. I know 'cause I can't either.
[door opens]
You were right.
I know!
About what?
I told you Mykynnleigh ambushed me during crunch like she knew what was happening
-and what we were thinking. -But how? Nobody would talk to her.
Nobody had to. She was listening.
With this.
Where'd you find that?
Madolyn's town car.
[Teddy on recorder] So you're not even looking at other offers?
[Madolyn] We don't have any.
It's Vendemiaire and only Vendemiaire.
-Stop. -[recorder beeps]
That was yesterday.
It's got hours of conversations like this.
Phone calls. Everything.
Battery powered, voice activated, even has Wi-Fi.
Easy to hide anywhere.
This is not possible.
Teddy didn't do this. He's not capable of it.
Mykynnleigh tried to get me.
Who says I'm the only one?
[Chad] Could be for money.
Or he could be jealous of James.
It must have crossed your mind.
This is why Mykynnleigh is so confident, she knows everything.
Doesn't matter how good tonight goes.
Vendemiaire's gonna lowball us and we're gonna take it.
I mean, a sale's a sale, right?
We'll be okay, right?
This company is my mom's legacy, Venetia.
We deserve the best deal that we can get.
We're not gonna blow it up over that.
Money is how they show you respect.
Get Teddy on the phone. I need to talk to him.
He can't know that we know. It's the last advantage that we have.
I know what I'm doing.
[door closes]
-[Britt] Are you serious? -[Ben] Yeah.
-[Britt] You make this up every time. -Ben!
Question: What would happen if you left the Spider Queen alone tonight?
Well, she would wreak an unimaginable havoc
over the land of Waterdeep forever.
No, I mean, what would happen if you played D&D another night
and instead went to the Activation Event with me?
Ooh.
With you?
-Like a date? -[chuckles]
Like we're dating?
Maybe. I don't know.
I just feel like it's time that we put what's behind us behind us.
And give this a real shot.
So, what do you say?
Yeah, I could come. But I don't have anything to wear.
We'll figure it out.
I mean, I'll figure it out and force him to wear it.
Your day will come, Spider Queen.
Just not tonight.
What's up?
The air too hot? Need to hit a bodega?
Having second thoughts about tonight and just want me to drive?
We can be in Canada tonight if you want.
You sound in good form.
Well, we haven't been alone for a while.
Ah. You're missing James.
What's it matter?
It's just, I may continue seeing him, so I'm curious.
No, you aren't.
So you think I don't know what I want?
I know you don't wanna hear this.
Aren't you the one who told me to give this guy a chance?
What do you want me to say?
That he's a user?
That as soon as he's done with you, you'll never see him again? Nah.
You don't wanna hear that, so I won't say it, even if it's true.
You don't think I know when I'm being used?
Mm-mm. No, not my place.
If you have something to say, now would be the time to say it.
No, I don't.
And it's never gonna be.
Hey, Chad. You and Venetia meet me at the house in half an hour.
We need to have a little talk.
[Britt] Ben.
Hmm?
No.
Maybe we should swing by yours and grab your Star Trek uniform.
You figure it out. I just need to look good for Marco.
You two are really happy, huh? You dating?
You heard him. We are not calling it that.
But I am.
When Marco walked in, I knew this was it. You know?
And I just...
I just didn't wanna try. I didn't wanna fail.
But...
I'm here.
I got this.
I'm glad you let yourself do this. I didn't think you would.
Yeah, me neither.
Especially, you know, 'cause of that other guy.
There's another guy?
There was.
But he made Marco feel like crap and I don't.
Well, the end.
I have an idea, but you're gonna have to trust me.
Okay.
You're really caking it on tonight.
It's a makeup event. Drag-queen rules are in effect.
They can't see it from the back row, you're not wearing enough.
Hmm.
I could still get you in.
Oh, no, I already got my party started. You go have fun.
-Mom? -Hmm?
How do you know when someone's right for you?
This have anything to do with the man that sent you those?
Sort of.
Well, I can tell you how you know a man isn't right for you.
He gets you pregnant and leaves you,
and then you have to raise his flaky but lovable son on your own.
Look, I know that Dad was a dick
and definitely not the best guy in the world.
But did you like him?
Oh.
I loved him.
He was fun,
he was flashy, he knew how to dress,
and he could talk his way out of anything.
[chuckles] Sound familiar?
Mm.
I was always worried I was gonna lose him,
so I was always trying to be good enough for him.
Sometimes when you're young,
chasing love makes more sense than being loved.
Guess he was just a big mistake, then.
Well, I got something good out of it.
Yeah, no, he was a mistake.
[both chuckling]
But he was the right mistake.
And I hope you make the right mistakes too.
-[cell phone ringing] -Oh.
Hello? Yes. Yes, this is a good time.
Yeah.
So what? Did Teddy admit it?
He all but did. He doesn't know that I know.
Mykynnleigh must have gotten to him.
So, what does that mean for us, for the deal? What do we do?
-Listen, I know you wanna call this off-- -[Madolyn] No.
We're using this.
What did you do with that recorder?
I deleted everything from today and put it back.
Good. I want Mykynnleigh listening.
I have a really good feeling about tonight.
Me too.
It's gonna be a lot more exciting than I ever imagined.
Yeah.
I shouldn't share this with anyone...
but we're calling off the Vendemiaire sale tonight.
-This is good news? -Excellent news!
I've had three new offers in this last week,
the industry is only talking about us, and more money, that means more freedom.
I couldn't be happier.
-[James] Does Vendemiaire know? -Vendemiaire? Not a clue.
And I can't wait to tell them.
Hi. I'm here for the event.
I love that for you.
Mykynnleigh Williams.
I'm on the list.
Okay.
[gasps] Okay, work. You're on the list.
It's early. We're just getting started. Right this way.
Your Pride experience awaits. Come on.
[Mykynnleigh] Sorry, where's the party?
The party awaits, but not until you answer one very important question.
-Can you survive Pride? -Yes.
Good. Then follow me.
It was the summer of 1969.
New York City Police launched a series of violent raids
against gay bars in Greenwich Village.
Except at The Stonewall Inn where patrons fought back,
launching six nights of resistance on the streets of Greenwich Village
that we know today as the Stonewall Uprising,
which supercharged the movement to celebrate queer identity and visibility
that we know as Pride today.
No one knows exactly how the uprising started,
but we honor drag artist and gay rights advocate Marsha P. Johnson
for fighting back at Stonewall and helping inspire Pride itself.
Mykynnleigh Williams,
can you tell me which of these statements came from Miss Johnson?
One: "I may be crazy, but it don't make me wrong."
Two: "You never completely have your rights, one person,
until you have all your rights."
Or three:
"As long as gay people don't have their rights all across America,
there is no reason for celebration."
All of them?
Yes, Mykynnleigh, all of them!
You did it. You're ready to survive Pride. Let's go.
Where?
[disco music playing]
You started Pride, Mykynnleigh.
It's parade time. Get in there and show your Pride.
Okay. Hi. Excuse me.
-And we're dancing! Having fun. -Wow. Pink.
Prouder, Mykynnleigh, prouder!
-There. -Oh, thank you.
-Almost there. You got it. You did it! -Okay.
You did it, Mykynnleigh. Keep it up. Follow me.
Thank you.
Corporate America loves Pride,
monetizing performative allyship one rainbow logo at a time.
Are you ready to exploit Pride
and wash away the sins of amoral capitalism?
Yes.
Then go through the Rainbow Wash, go!
[shouting]
-Come on. There's so much more to do. -Okay.
This is it, Mykynnleigh,
the Mountain of High Expectations.
Every corporation that tackles Pride has to climb it.
Now you do too.
Can you be inclusive but cautious? Attract praise without earning scorn?
And after all these decades, all these stakes, all these expectations,
can you use Pride to say something that actually means anything?
-I can. -Then go!
[screaming]
Okay, thank you.
Looks like you survived Pride.
-Did everyone here have to do that? -Even Madolyn herself.
How about we take a look around?
We'd love to show you what Pride means to us at Glamorous by Madolyn.
Ben!
Okay, diva, work.
Did I pull it off?
It's try-hard, right? Am I appropriating?
You look great.
I didn't know your ears were pierced.
They're not. It's glue.
Mm.
I just wanted to put my shoulder into it, really do the thing.
Well, you did it. Oh, did you wear smear-proof lipstick?
How do I know if I wore smear-proof lipstick?
Like this.
Thick.
-Okay. -That's pretty good.
Our Pride campaign started here, in this bar,
where my mother, our founder, met three drag performers
who use our products, but you never see it in our market.
It's because we're luxury, and luxury has rules.
Right? No piercings, no tattoos, very straight, very cis.
These rules, they're unwritten, of course. Right?
But everyone knows them.
It's about glamour and distance, unattainability.
But we don't just do luxury.
We do beauty.
And beauty is about more than unattainability and glamour.
It's about sisterhood and kinship,
sameness.
That desire we all get when we sit down in the morning to try something new,
to be something new.
And that is what we are celebrating with Pride,
the one thing that brings us together.
Beauty.
'Cause it doesn't matter what makes us different.
We all have a seat at the table.
Madolyn's in the campaign? She hasn't modeled for 20 years.
Twenty-two, actually.
But if we're gonna make some noise,
let's make some noise.
This is good.
This is really good.
[cell phone rings]
-I have to take this now. -Okay.
She looks worried.
Good.
["Hot" playing over speakers]
Oh, here. Let's flip.
Okay.
Hey.
Our children, dating.
Oh, you didn't hear? They're not calling it that.
Why? It's been a whole summer. Why not?
I think Marco's still getting over Uber Boy.
You mean, the other guy? He has a nickname?
Ben told you?
Ben tells me why molten salt energy storage is the future of the grid.
I don't even know what that means.
They had lunch today. Marco and the other guy.
They what?
To break up. It's over.
[cell phone chimes]
Whoa. Looks like some serious deal drama's cooking.
I'll be right back.
♪ Baby you're hot, na, na, na, na ♪
♪ Hot like summer sun... ♪
That was not the plan.
We can't.
Of course. I'll handle it.
Chad?
[camera clicks]
Thank you. What, no photos with you tonight?
This is your big night. Let me take care of you. Champagne?
Yes.
Madam, we have to talk, please.
What's so important that it can't wait?
Congratulations.
After everything this year, you deserve it.
And maybe I should not have said what I said to you tonight.
-I didn't mean it. -Said it?
What's wrong?
Hi, Mom. Um...
Mykynnleigh would like a word.
It's all going on tonight.
Wow, Madolyn, you look amazing. Who are you wearing?
We'll get to that later.
I just had a call with the board at Vendemiaire,
and they have a proposal we should discuss.
Somewhere private, please.
I know the perfect place.
[door closes]
So when Vendemiaire hired me to feel out buying you,
I had two jobs.
The first was to talk them into it,
which wasn't easy 'cause of your balance-sheet issues.
But we did it.
You did it.
With this Pride campaign, you showed them you can still make noise.
My second job was to keep the price down,
which maybe involved me playing games to keep you hungry and on your toes.
Well, I did one thing right.
Vendemiaire wants to make an offer and a big one too.
Well, we look forward to hearing their offer
and weighing it against our options.
It's double.
Double what?
Double what they were ready to offer yesterday.
Like I said, I did one thing right.
That's your number?
That can't be your number.
Oh, it is.
But only if you sign right now.
How do you feel about that?
Can I horn in and get one?
Uh, yeah.
-Goodbye. -Goodbye.
So you and Ben, you're dating now.
Oh, we're not calling it that.
[camera beeping, then clicks]
He is.
Yeah, we are.
Are you serious about him?
Yeah. Ben is the best guy that I've ever met.
Even better than the other guy?
What...? Does Venetia tell you everything?
Yes, and so does Ben.
Because I've been watching his ass since art school.
Maybe I'm protective, but I've known him long enough to earn it.
Is Ben just your rebound? Are you using him?
No.
So you're done with this other guy? I mean, done.
Yes.
I mean, we've had lunch.
And we hooked up.
Okay, but I really like Ben, I swear.
It doesn't matter.
Until you're over this other guy, you're just leading Ben on.
I'm sorry.
I just... I've never done this before.
I'm just learning and trying to figure it all out.
If you can't get over somebody, that's your business.
But don't play with my Ben. Don't be the boy he can't get over.
He doesn't deserve it.
Pick him, or let him go.
Yeah.
We'll need Legal to okay this.
They already did.
This is exactly the deal we've been negotiating.
It's everything we wanted.
No tricks.
They surrendered.
Vendemiaire wants you real bad. You win.
They know you have other options, but hopefully that number fixes that.
Just one question.
How much did your surveillance cost?
We know about your spy.
Huh. So you don't have any new offers.
Well, you played me first.
It's a secret to winning a negotiation, knowing what the other gal's thinking.
Maybe using the man you're dating was a low blow, but it's just business.
Wait. You didn't know?
Wait. You knew. You heard her. She knew.
Okay. This is bad. This is really bad.
Um, but it's done, it's over.
Might as well sign, save your company, and get stupid rich, right?
[door opens]
You need to fix this.
Madolyn?
Madolyn!
-Madolyn! -Not now, Venetia.
We have nothing to talk about or discuss.
We don't have to talk about it. But you need to go back and sign.
You want me to go back in there and sell our company
to the people who paid--?
No, sorry, bribed the man I was dating to spy on me?
Yes.
And it's terrible, but it's done.
Everything is the same.
And I know that you're hurt,
but we need this sale.
Maybe this is less about my legacy and more about your future.
I've given you everything I have.
Everything I am.
I was there for you when no one was keeping score.
I think it's time you stood on your own two feet.
If you were thinking about going home right now,
let me remind you once again
that my place is closer.
That could be fun.
Round two. Fight!
You know, we're having fun.
And it's great
'cause we're not even in a relationship.
Right.
Like, we can go out, we can hang out,
but we're not, like, dating.
You were the one who wanted to give this a shot.
Well, I'm not really looking for anything serious right now.
Are you?
You know, I'm so glad that you said something.
-You are? -Yeah. I didn't know how to talk about it.
-Me either. -There's been so much buildup with us.
Like we're supposed to be in love.
Like the moment we met, there was something special.
And there was.
Yeah, I know,
but it's so much pressure.
Well, there doesn't have to be.
It doesn't?
No, I mean, uh...
we're just having fun.
Yeah, good, 'cause I'm not really looking for anything serious either.
Are you just saying that to make me feel better?
No, I'm not lying about my feelings to make you feel better.
That would be very sad.
But, you know, maybe we should save round two.
I know I'm feeling a little...
You sure?
Yeah. Oh, hey, I might hit up the bodega for a Pedialyte, actually.
Go on without me.
Okay.
-Night. -Okay.
Hey, Ben?
You're beautiful.
Say it back.
[doorbell rings]
Who's that?
Venetia...
Madolyn, please. Madolyn!
Madolyn.
When we met, I was pounding the pavement.
I was fishing for clients.
Kind of have to when you're me.
The day after our drinks, I had a meeting with this makeup company.
Vendemiaire.
So I told them this crazy story,
that I'd met Madolyn Addison in an elevator,
and we had drinks, and I gave her my number...
And it wasn't like you were ever actually gonna call me, right?
But you did.
And then they did too.
And they offered me the world. They offered me work, I mean, real work.
And all I had to do was just check in with them once in a while.
You know, how's she doing, what's she thinking?
So I did.
'Cause what could it hurt? I didn't see how it could.
They're the ones who booked me that B-role gig...
so we could be close.
By the time they wanted that recorder, I just...
I couldn't say no.
And it was almost over. It was...
It was almost done.
Madolyn, we had something.
We still do.
All you have to do is just forget about the bad part.
I have.
To me.
[pensive music playing]
You were right.
I do think about you.
All the time.
Even when I shouldn't. Even when I should be pissed at you.
I even threw away something special because of you.
But I'm not gonna walk through that door if I embarrass you.
So just tell me now.
It's either all of this or nothing.
Where are you going?
I don't know. What are you in the mood for?
We're going out?
Anywhere you want. Just say where.
You're not worried that I'm gonna turn heads?
The only thing I'm worried about is screwing this up again.
[elevator bell dings]
After everything that we have given her, this is what she chooses.
Herself.
Her pride, her feelings.
I just can't with her. I can't.
You know, she once told me,
if you want something in life, you have to get it yourself.
So that's what we'll do.
We are going to make this sale happen,
whether she likes it or not.
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