02x07 - Shrimp & Grits

[bunniefuu]

Shoo!

I think Simca really hates me.

She's so jealous.

It's easy for me, but imagine
what she must be feeling.

Success changed everything,

and I don't know
what to do about it.

♪ [BIG BAND MUSIC PLAYS] ♪

You look a bit grim.

A little too much Blanche.
Nothing I can't handle.

CBS wants The French Chef.

Have we outgrown it?

Forward motion always leaves
a few things behind.

I do feel I owe them something.

WGBH is a very different kind
of network.

And there's nowhere else
I would rather be.

[PHONE RINGS]

ALICE NAMAN:
The White House called.

Julia is going to take WBGH

behind the scenes
into the White House kitchen.

I want you to direct.

What about Elaine?

ELAINE LEVITCH: And action.

I'm sorry I was distant.

JULIA: No, I'm sorry.

Young love needs room
to blossom.

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.

[bright instrumental music]

♪ ♪

[jazzy music]

- Luggage is all in.

- Oh, well, are you sure you
don't want to change your mind?

After all, state dinner with
the prime minister of Japan.

- I hung up
my diplomatic shoes long ago.

I'll pass
on this busman's holiday.

This is Julia's moment.

- Besides, Paul and I
have plans of our own.

- Try and behave yourselves.
- [chuckles]

- Yes, I know,
like asking a lion not to roar.

[chuckles]
- I'm so proud of you.

- Mm.
- Mwah.

- OK, let's load in.

Benny, you take
the first two-hour shift.

Russ, you are up next.

Julia, you navigate in shotgun,
followed by me.

- Fair warning, I am known
to have no sense of direction.

But my general instinct
is to head south.

♪ ♪

- Give our regards
to Lyndon and Lady Bird.

- ♪ 100 bottles of Bordeaux
on the wall ♪

♪ 100 bottles of Bordeaux ♪

- Doesn't she look just divine?

- Oh, hush.

I want her unvarnished opinion,

not your
financially motivated one.

Well?
- Well, you look gorgeous,

but gorgeous is a given
and maybe not the whole point.

[whispering]
- What does it look like?

- A bunch of daffodils.

[normally]
- Perhaps it's not obvious

to the uninitiated,

but a hothouse flower,
I am not.

- Of course you're not.

- There is a dinner
being given

in honor
of the Knopf Publishing House,

which I founded with my husband

I want a dress that says that.

- Uh...

- Formidable,
consequential,

and elegant.

- Maybe Chanel.

I'll see what I can do.

- [humming "God Bless America"]

[phone ringing]

- [vocalizing]

Child residence.

- Child residence
number one, perhaps,

but I am looking
at Child residence number two.

- Simca.

- Painter,
photographer, diplomat.

You are an architect too, Paul.

- To anyone
but a real architect.

- Nonsense.

This is perfection absolue.

Ah, the proportions.

- Well, I am
rather proud of it.

- And I have
the ideal contractor.

And in a year,
it'll be ready.

And you will spend
all your time here.

- Oh, I would love that,

as much time as we can.

Things are busy here too.

- Oh, yes.
Good to hear that.

Can Julia spare a moment?

- Julia isn't here.

She's at the White House.

- The White House?

- She was invited
to do a television special

about the making
of a state dinner

with the president

and the prime minister
of Japan.

[laughs] I know.

It kind of takes
your breath away.

- Apparently,
Theodore Roosevelt

and Mark Twain
spent time at this place.

- Together?

- Not that I know of.

We're part of history, my dear.

- Well, I don't know
what those two men

plan to do while in residence,
but...

my plan is to call Paul,

order room service,
and head to bed.

- Well, take time
to look at the view too.

- [chuckles]

Oh.

- Bernard wrote speeches
for Adlai Stevenson, you know.

That's the closest I ever got
to the White House.

Not very close.

You know what I wish right now?

I wish we had daughters,
you and I,

daughters to whom we could say,
look what your mothers did.

Look where your mothers are.

- That's funny.

I was just thinking
I wish my father were alive.

[stately music]

- Mrs. Child,
Gretchen Fletcher.

Mr. Morash,
Gretchen Fletcher.

Mrs. Naman,
Gretchen Fletcher.

- Oh, no, that's me.
I'm Alice Naman.

- I'm so sorry.
- It's no problem.

- On the contrary,
it's against protocol

to misidentify any official
visitor to the White House.

- Well, we're all
for protocol here.

- In what context?

- Whatever.
Life.

[laughter]

- Hmm.

Let me be the first
to welcome you.

I'm the deputy White House
chief of protocol.

The mission of our office
is to advance

the foreign policy goals
of the United States

by creating an environment
for successful diplomacy.

- It's like a recipe,
isn't it, Gretchen?

Protocol.

The closer you follow it,
the less likely you are

to burn the house down.

[laughter]

- OK, I will be
accompanying you

through your schedule
over the next two days.

You'll meet with members
of the White House staff.

We've allotted for two visits
to the kitchen

to track the preparation
of the meal.

- Oh, that's splendid.

- You'll note
the ceremonial arrival

of the prime minister,

all culminating, of course,
at dinner tomorrow night

with the president
and the first lady.

And you are?

- Avis DeVoto,
Gretchen Fletcher.

- Avis DeVoto.

No.

I'm afraid your security
clearance has hit a snag.

all: A snag?

- You haven't been cleared
for this level of access.

- Who are you, Avis DeVoto?

- I've done a few things
in my life of which I'm proud.

It's the anti-w*r agitation,
isn't it?

- You'd have to ask
the Secret Service.

- Can you introduce me?
- No.

But I can offer you the

It's very informative.

- Oh, no.

She's come all this way.

- No, it's fine, really.

It's a badge of honor.

And you've got a show to make.

I will take
that informative 10:00 tour

and get a next train
back to Boston.

- We're very pleased
to have the rest of you here.

I haven't seen your show,
Mrs. Child,

but the briefing book suggests
that America...

trusts you.

- Well, trust
is the key to diplomacy.

[laughter]

Shall we get on with it?

[bowling pins clatter]

[upbeat music playing
over speakers]

♪ ♪

- You've done this before,
have you?

- Well, not for years.

You learn a lot of skills
in the foreign service,

not all of them useful.

I was on the team...

briefly.

- Were you?

Well, that's imbalanced.

No, you first.
- All right.

♪ ♪

- These lanes are well-oiled.

You don't see that
in most local alleys.

Well, you know what?

The truth is, I don't feel
much like bowling anymore.

- Oh, well, we may have come
to the wrong place.

- Well, bowling was an excuse.

You know, we roll a few frames
poorly, like men do.

Have a few beers,
tell a few off-color jokes,

like men do,

talk about baseball,

mowing the lawn,
barbecuing.

- These men sound awful.

- A few more beers,
and the talk

would turn
to more substantial things.

- Such as?

- I don't know, our marriages.

You seem to have
the best marriage I know,

maybe the only
really good marriage.

You know how bowling
is essentially

a thing you do alone together?

That's me and Tilly.

That's my marriage.

- Well, I'm sorry to hear that.

- Well, she doesn't like
being with other people,

slightly agoraphobic.

That didn't matter
in the old days at GBH.

No one invited us anywhere,
anyway.

Now with Julia
and "The French Chef,"

my life has gotten much bigger,

and hers has gotten smaller.

And most of the time,
she just spends the days

with her twin sister.

- Oh, the knitter?

- I'm the third wheel
in my own marriage.

- While we're waiting
for all of these crazy lights

to be set up...
- Yes. [chuckles]

- Why don't you two
take the time

to get to know each other?

- Well, I already know Julia.

There's no introduction
needed there.

This is my first time
on the television.

A social secretary is
invisible, usually speaking.

- There are no cameras
right now, Bess, just us.

So tell me,

what does a social secretary
of the White House

do every day?

- Oh, all the unimportant
things, the invitations,

the decorations,
the seating plans.

- Well, that sounds marvelous.

- If you like throwing
dinner parties.

- [laughs]
I do.

[laughter]

- But I'll tell you a secret.

I may have the most important
job in the world.

- Really?
- Mm-hmm.

- Now, how's that?

- At tomorrow's dinner
with the prime minister,

nothing will be decided

and no business will get done,

and yet, because of it,
these two men who carry

the weight of the world
on their shoulders

will begin to trust each other.

And so the next day,
it will be easier

to reach agreements that make
the world better and safer.

- Just because
they broke bread together?

- Exactly.

That's what I do every day.

- Well, that seems to be
what so many women do

behind the scenes:

smooth the way without anyone
paying particular attention.

- Isn't it just?

[laughter]

[urgent orchestral music]

♪ ♪

- Well done.

♪ ♪

- This is Henry Haller,
renowned Swiss chef

who arrived at the White House
just two years ago

to cook for the president
and Mrs. Johnson.

Right now,
Chef Haller is preparing

tomorrow's dinner in honor
of the prime minister of Japan.

How many guests are you
expecting, Chef Haller?

- 120.

- Well, that's a lot
of appetites.

- It is, and we do this
three or four times a week

with no mistakes.

- Like a Swiss watch.

- Precisely.

- It's quite a responsibility.

- I don't think about that.

I think only,
it must not be too salty

and the prime minister of Japan
is allergic to strawberries.

- Oh, that's good to know.
[chuckles]

Well, I believe you may have
one of the most important jobs

at the White House, Chef.

- No, no, I just make the stew.

- Well, dinners
at the White House

are in good hands
with Chef Haller at the helm

of the most consequential
kitchen in the world.

- Cut.

[whispering] That was great.
- These are sloppy.

Are you rushing
to get upstairs?

Is that it?

Do it again.

[indistinct chatter]

[knock at door]

- Alfred.

Come in.

- Judith.

- So exciting
about tomorrow night.

- I heard you spent
yesterday morning

dress shopping with my wife.

- She can't do it
alone anymore,

and she so wants to look
just right for the event.

Isn't the dress perfect?

- I haven't seen the dress.

I could hire someone to babysit
Blanche for $2 an hour.

I don't need my best editor
wasting her time.

- I'm happy to lend a hand,
and all the work gets done.

- I'm taking you
off her list entirely.

- Oh, no.

No, don't do that.

Please, Alfred.

Blanche has no other options
but me.

- Retirement,

fading away,

which she's doing anyway.

[doorbell rings]

- What are you doing here?

- That's a long, crazy story

better told with a stiff drink
on a soft couch.

- Who is that, Stanley?

Tell them to go away.

Uh-oh.
- Uh-oh?

- Uh-oh.

- Who are you?

Well, one of you
must know who she is.

- I--

I am a student
of Professor Lipschitz.

c*m laude.

- Sweetheart,
how laude is irrelevant.

- It's not as bad as it looks.

- [scoffs] Really?

- I'm not in love with her
or anything.

- How old is she?

- She's 25.
She knows nothing.

- I do go to Harvard.
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

It was a terrible mistake,

a one-time--
I won't ever see her again.

- Really?
- Except in lab twice a week.

- That's supposed
to make me feel better?

- It makes me feel a lot worse.

- Stop talking.

This is who
you replace me with,

a person
who means nothing to you?

Oh, Stanley,
you can do better than that.

[door creaks and slams]

[glasses clink]
- To a day.

- [laughs]
both: To a day.

[jazzy music playing]

- But how strange life is
and how marvelous sometimes.

- Hmm.
- Two years ago,

I thought I was done
doing useful things.

- Tell me about it.

- Then you called.

- And you answered.

- Thank you,

both of you,
for bringing me with you.

And to think I thought
this show was a dead end.

Some dead end.

- It would be none of us
without all of us.

- I'll drink
to almost anything

but particularly to that.

♪ ♪

[Frank Sinatra's
"One for My Baby" playing]

- ♪ It's quarter to 3:00 ♪

♪ ♪

♪ There's no one
in the place ♪

- Give me five minutes.

- You have three.

Then I splash vermouth
in your face

and leave you with the check.

♪ ♪

- ♪ So set 'em up, Joe ♪

- I'm a very closed-off man,
Avis.

And you opened me up

to feelings, love,

also sex.

I like that a lot.

Then you were gone, and...

she was right there.

- This is the worst apology
I've ever heard.

I know why men cheat, Stanley.

- Of course you do.

The cheating was not about you,

how I feel about you.

It was about me.

You still mean everything
to me.

Isn't that what really matters?

- No.

No, it isn't.

The fact that it changes
nothing for you doesn't help.

It changes things for me.

You're...emotionally dangerous.

- You made a mistake once.

I let myself be vulnerable,
and you hurt me.

- That's true,
but that was at the beginning.

And the beginning
is different from now.

- It is.

You're right.
Good point.

But...

- ♪ I could tell you a lot ♪

- This is not me,

not all of me, anyway.

- [sighs]
You...

stupid idiot.

That's what breaks my heart.

What I have to do

breaks my heart.

♪ ♪

You have to go.

♪ ♪

♪ You'd never know it ♪

♪ But, buddy,
I'm a kind of poet ♪

♪ And I got a lot of things
I'd like to say ♪

- Hey, Benny and Lloyd
are already on the South Lawn

getting ready for the arrival
of the prime minister

and the military band,
all the pomp and circumstance.

[laughter]

- It's incredible.

- I'll meet you in
the famous kitchen right after?

- Deal.

- Biggest day of our lives.

- It is.

[laughter]
OK, let's do this.

[bright orchestral music]

- [sighs]

We really might have
slept in at this point.

- For two hours.

My beautiful ankles are
starting to hate these shoes.

- And for the record,
I could eat a horse.

OK, no more grousing.

Let us remember
what a momentous day this is,

what an opportunity,
and remain grateful.

- Agreed.

- Oh, poor Warren Harding,

condemned to a forgotten
hallway for eternity.

- So are we.

And we're not responsible
for Teapot Dome.

- Oh, Gretchen,
just the woman we wanted.

- Chef Haller is still
not ready for you.

- Of course.
Then we wait.

- But your colleague Russell

is getting
some wonderful footage.

- Oh, that's splendid,
and meanwhile,

might we trouble you
for a modest cup of--

- Well, manners
are not the same

as protocol, apparently.

- Well, they could all learn
a thing or two from Paul.

In his years of diplomacy,
he knew how to make

everyone feel special.

- This is fun, isn't it?

- For me too.
I don't get to do this.

Believe it or not, Julia
doesn't like Italian food.

- No. Pizza.

Everybody likes pizza.

- You would think, right?

So who's older, you or Millie?

- I am by two minutes.

Millie says
that's why she's more fun.

- A riot.

- Charlie's older, but we might
as well have been conjoined.

That's how it's felt
my whole life.

He's attached to me
with invisible cords.

- It's like in one
of those sci-fi movies.

Hunter doesn't understand.

- Well--

no, I don't.

- Millie and I can't help it,
but it makes him jealous.

- Well, Julia was the same way.

Used to drive her crazy.

- Is that why
you fired my sister?

- No.

That's why I hired her,

so I could share something
with the two of you.

I fired her because
she's completely talentless.

Who knew?

- I knew.
You could have asked me.

[laughter]

- I guess.

- [chuckles]

- Oh, look.
I figured this out.

Look.

Just put there.

And then you roll it.

See, it rolls right off.

That's it.

[tender music]

[indistinct chatter,
grill sizzling]

[upbeat music playing
over speakers]

♪ ♪

[bell dings]

- Thank you for agreeing
to meet me here.

- You have three minutes,
same as I gave Stanley.

After that, I throw a--

oh, coffee's too hot.

Just talk fast.

♪ ♪

- I just wanted to tell you
how much I admire you.

The way that you
stood up to Stanley,

you have so much poise
and dignity.

It's frankly inspirational.

♪ ♪

- That's what you
wanted to say,

not, I'm sorry for sleeping
with your boyfriend?

- No, no, that--that--that too.

I'm definitely sorry
about that.

Although if I hadn't
slept with Stanley,

I never would have met you.

- On the plus side,
Mrs. Lincoln.

- Will you be my mentor?

- Your mentor?

- In life, my mentor in life?

♪ ♪

- I don't know, Stacy.
I hate you.

- Well, yeah,
sure, now,

but in time.

♪ ♪

- And frankly,
it's tough to mentor someone

with such low self-esteem.

- Wait, you think that I have
low self-esteem?

- Why else would you sleep
with your professor?

- A lot of my friends are
sleeping with the professors.

- Then how do you know
what you're being graded on?

♪ ♪

- You are like a genius.

You know that?
- Oh, my God.

- Can we do this again
sometime,

continue this conversation?

♪ ♪

- Why don't you give me
a few days

to stop wanting
to strangle you?

- Fair enough.

- Chef Haller and his staff
now have only a few hours

to complete this feast

for the president
of the United States,

the prime minister of Japan,
and 120 invited guests.

And this is the first course,
Chef Haller.

- Yes, a fish stew: lobster,
scallops, shrimp, and clams.

- Oh, a taste of New England.

May I?
- Oh.

- [whispering indistinctly]

- Thank you.
[chuckles]

And that's wonderful.

And this will be followed
by what, Chef?

- The loin of lamb.

- Ah, the filet mignon
of the lamb.

This is one of your
specialties, I understand.

- The president
and the first lady

are fond of this dish.

- Yes, well, I can see why.

It's just beautiful.

And you prepare this simply.

- Very simply.
The lamb does not need much.

- No, I quite agree.

What a treat your guests
will be in for tonight.

- And cut.

- Ah.

Well, that was perfect.

And may we stay
a few minutes more

to watch your team
at work, Chef?

- Absolutely not.

And please stop
touching my knives.

The stew is too salty.

You didn't notice?

- Well--

- We don't want to interfere
with your preparation, Chef.

Perhaps when everything
is ready,

we could return
to film the moment

the food leaves the kitchen.

- Who are you?

- I'm Alice Naman.
I'm the producer.

- You wanted to film
Chef Haller.

I permitted you
to film Chef Haller.

Chef Haller has allowed you
to taste his food.

He has watched you
touch his knives.

Chef Haller has smiled
at the camera for two days.

He has put up with you
long enough.

Now, go, and let
Chef Haller do his job.

- Yes, well, thank you,
Chef Haller,

for giving us so much
of your time.

- Out!

- Mm.
- Yeah. Yeah.

- All right, show me your pies.

[camera shutter snaps]
Beautiful.

- I made "The French Chef"
for you, you know.

- You did?

- Well, that pilot
was the first thing

I ever did that you liked.

I wanted to make you happy

and to have something
to talk about when I got home.

- And then I would
cook for you,

make you the things Julia made.

- Oh, those were
our best nights.

- Mm-hmm.
- [chuckles]

- OK.

I think we're ready
for the oven.

- Russell, if you
and Benjamin want

to start moving your equipment
into the state dining room,

the guests will be arriving
in about 30 minutes.

- All right.

- A timeline
of the evening's events.

- Oh, yes.

Tony Bennett?

Oh, I love Tony Bennett.

- Me too.
- [laughs]

- You can film
whatever you want,

whatever
your director's eye sees.

- Oh--
[laughter]

- I'm sorry if we had upset
Chef Haller in any way.

I know that he's under
tremendous pressure.

- Well, pressure is what
we live with every day.

Pressure is the job.

- Oh, my.

And when should we head over?

- Over to where?

- To dinner, for the dinner.

- You're not guests
at the dinner, Mrs. Child.

- Oh.

No, no, I was told that--
I have a letter.

- I'm sorry if there was
some confusion,

but you were invited
to sh**t a documentary,

not as dinner guests
of the president.

- It's part of the program
we're filming.

I conclude by sampling
the food that's been prepared.

- I have no idea
what you're talking about.

There are no seats
for you at dinner.

[liquid pouring]
- Ugh.

Are you sure you don't mind?

- Oh, no.

I may take mine off, too,
in a moment.

- [sighs]

- Oh, I know this is
limited consolation,

but we're getting
some great stuff.

Tony Bennett just sang
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams."

- Good choice, Mr. Bennett.

- Yeah.

Got to go.

- I say we break
into the kitchen,

m*rder Chef Haller
with his own knife,

and grab whatever food we can.

I feel like I'm going to faint.

- Better that
than the fish stew, Alice.

Believe me.

- I figure it's been
a long day.

- Oh.
- Shrimp and grits.

- Oh.
- Oh, you're a saint.

- What's your name?

- I'm Zephyr Wright.

- Well, I don't understand.

With all this going on
tonight,

and you've made this
just for us?

- I made it for the president
and the first lady

on the second floor
in the private kitchen.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson
don't really care

for all the fancy food.

They'll eat this after
when they go up for bed.

- Mmm. I can understand why.

This is amazing.

- That's what Lady Bird says.

- Hmm.

It's salted to perfection.

So, Zephyr,
Chef Haller is the face

of the White House kitchen,
but you are the genius.

- We should be doing
the show about you.

- Oh, I don't think so.

I'm happy with how things are.

It was a pleasure to meet you.

- Is she still
at the White House?

- Dining with the president.

Tonight's the big night.

Simca?

- I am not a vain person.

- Of course you're not.

- I am embarrassed
to feel such trouble.

But how can you
possibly find your light

when she's such a bright star?

- Well, it was hard
for me, too, for a time.

I find that I've come
to terms with it.

- Oh, you're
a much finer person.

- Well, you can't make her
shine less brightly.

But that light
illuminates us too.

And she'll never
leave you behind.

- Mm, I don't know.
[chuckles]

- No, I'm telling you,

she loves you,
and she needs you.

- I don't want what she has.

I don't.

A television program.

But I don't want her
to have it either.

Those are my recipes
she's famous for.

- Yes, they are.

- [scoffs]

[bottle thuds sharply]

I ran out of wine now.

- The truth is, Simca,

we would not be where we are
if it weren't for her.

So this is just our burden.

But I'll tell you what.

You and I can be
charter members

of the Julia's Shadow Club.

And you can call me
anytime you've lost your way

and I'll buck you up
because I'm a fan.

- [chuckles]
Thank you, Paul.

But I'd rather see her fall
on her face once in a while.

- We took our name from it,

a name that still
no one can pronounce.

[laughter]

Thankfully, we didn't
take his golf game.

[laughter]

A man of infinite erudition,
impeccable taste,

peerless business acumen,

our founder and still
our captain, Alfred Knopf.

[applause]

- You know, I am a man
who prefers the written

to the spoken word,
so let me say simply

that I am supremely proud

of what you and I
have accomplished together.

I am bullish
on American letters.

And I look forward
to the next 50 years at Knopf.

[applause]

I believe
it's time for dessert.

- I'd like to say a few words
if that's OK with you, Alfred.

Thank you.

Alfred, here's to you
and this remarkable place

where we all work.

We tell stories.

More important, we decide
which stories get told.

The ones we do not choose
are, over time, forgotten,

which means we have
a very consequential job

to decide what is remembered.

Blanche Knopf is the cofounder
of this house.

It was her influence
that brought Sigmund Freud,

Albert Camus,
Simone de Beauvoir,

and Thomas Mann
to this country.

She championed German writers

who spoke up against the Nazis.

She was a champion
of women writers

wherever she could find them.

And no one could recognize
a unique voice

or guide it better
than Blanche.

[gentle music]

She has taste and discernment

that is without equal
in the world of publishing.

It is no disservice
to her husband

or any of the men
with whom she works

that she towers above them all.

♪ ♪

And so I propose a toast.

♪ ♪

A toast!

♪ ♪

To Blanche Knopf,

who has always seen
what no one else could.

all: To Blanche Knopf.

♪ ♪

- And rags to riches.

Yes.
- Well, that was an evening.

- Oh.

- The president
and the prime minister

got along swimmingly.

Everything went
precisely according to plan.

Those are my favorite words
in the English language,

"according to plan."

- You really know
how to throw a party.

- And on behalf
of the Office of Protocol,

I want to thank you
for playing your part

and making it possible
for us to tell our story.

This is for you,
a token of our appreciation.

Our guests love them.

The napkins have the logo.

- Oh, yes.
- Oh.

- You shouldn't have.

- If you stay a minute,
I can place you

in a strategic position
where you can catch

the president as he heads up
to the residence.

He may even stop and chat
for a minute if you're lucky.

- That'd be amazing.
[chuckles]

- Well, perhaps
while Russ is doing that,

Julia can interview
Zephyr Wright from the kitchen.

It would be wonderful
to include the perspective

of an ordinary citizen
who works at the White House.

- Oh, pity.

She's not on the list.

- Right.

Got it.

Well, we will just wait here
for you, Russ.

- Maybe when you're done,

I can get a minute
to talk about Hollywood.

- Oh, but you're
at the White House.

- Oh, it's a dead-end job.

No one stays
for the second term.

- Well, GBH is...

- Some women
just do better with men.

- This is pretty good.

- Hunter's wife, Tilly,
made it.

It's a bit of a story.

- Men just take
and take and take and take...

whatever they want.

And the world says,
go right ahead.

You're a man.

You want it?

It's yours.

- Yes, they're the worst, men.

I hate them myself.

- You didn't see this.
- Mm-mm.

- Don't be stingy.

[operatic music playing]

♪ ♪

Thank you.

♪ ♪

[sighs, sniffs]

I want love.

- Of course.

- But I'd prefer respect.

- Mm, respect is hard
to come by.

- Bernard wasn't like that.

♪ ♪

And you're not
like that, are you?

Like most men.

Why is that?

♪ ♪

- I really don't know
how to answer.

- Well...

you're not exactly
Clark Kent, Paul.

But you're a man among men.

♪ ♪

- Here, eat
before it gets cold.

- Ugh, I just need a hot bath,

and my whole outlook
will shift.

- [chuckles]

- I just wanted
to say good night.

- Oh.

- Oh, Zephyr,
how lovely to see you again.

You were
our absolute savior tonight.

- It's my pleasure.

I'm heading to the bus stop,
Ms. Naman.

Walk with me.

- I'll meet you
back at the hotel.

- Just tickles me.

I'm so impressed.

- Ugh, oh, no.

- I am.

How old are you?

- I'm 25.

- My, oh, my.
- Hmm.

- A young Black woman
in a position

of such important influence
over how people think.

- Thank you.

It doesn't always feel
that way, though.

Most of the time,
it just feels pointless.

- They've got a paved road,

and we're always
climbing a mountain...

- Hmm.
- Just to get

to the same place.
- Yes.

Yes, exactly.

- I understand.

Believe me.

And yet here you are.

- [chuckles]

- But now,

don't you be disappointed
in me, Alice.

- What?
I'm not. Why would you--

- Because I keep silent,

because I'm happy
to be silent

and invisible.

- I just wanted the world
to know you.

- You've found a wonderful way
to make your voice heard.

So have I.

You speak loudly,
and I whisper.

I say nothing
in Chef Haller's kitchen.

And I cook for the president

and his family
and his friends.

- You don't have to explain.

- We talk,
the president and I,

when no one else is there,

about many things,

consequential things.

He gave me the pen he used
to sign the Civil Rights Act.

- I had no idea.

- Of course not.

What would people say
if they knew?

You make me proud, Alice.

I wish I'd had the kind
of path that you had.

I did what I could,

and I got lucky.

Food gave me a voice,

just like with you and Julia.

- Hmm.

[brakes squealing]

- I look forward
to seeing the program.

[bus driver speaking
indistinctly]

- Thank you.

- We'll both fight the fight...

in our own ways.

[bright music]

♪ ♪

- [sighs]

♪ ♪

- Sorry about the way
they treated you two.

I just--I didn't know
it was my place to say.

- No, of course not.
And we had a job to do.

The job is what counts.

Respect is just gravy.

And given the heaviness
of Chef Haller's gravy,

perhaps a thing best forgotten
at this White House.

- OK.

Thank you.

- ♪ And please don't forget
to change your town ♪

It's getting late.

I will take the first leg
of the drive in the morning.

Good night.
- Good night, Russ.

- Yes, good night, Russ.

- ♪ When you lose your money ♪

♪ Please don't lose
your mind ♪

- The world isn't very kind
to women, is it?

- ♪ When you lose
your good gal ♪

- No.

Most of us can't do
anything about it.

But you have a spotlight.

♪ ♪

- Yes, I do.

♪ ♪

- It's too late
for "by women, for women."

But it is not too late.

♪ ♪

- Thank you, Alice.

♪ ♪

- When will we see
the galleys

for "Keepers of the House,"
Albert?

- Next week,
week after, the latest.

- Very good.

Well, thank you all
for last night.

That was splendid.

Well, nothing more for me.

- I'd like to say a few words.

I'm going blind.

That's not exactly news,
but there it is.

For the past year, all my work
has actually been done

by Judith.
- Blanche, that's--

- No.

- She has covered for me

so I could pretend
to do this job that I love.

It is the only thing I love...

Except for Judith.

Thank you

for acknowledging last night

my part
in building this house.

But firms and office buildings,
that's Ozymandias stuff.

What will last

is the books.

And I have put
a piece of myself

in each of them.

Invisible...

But not silent.

And that's enough for me.

- I want to hear everything,
every detail.

- Well, it'll be
a remarkable program, I think,

but the whole visit
had the strangest effect on me.

- Hmm.

- At first, I was...
disappointed.

- Wh--

- Oh, apparently,
at the White House,

I am very small potatoes.

- Well, that can't be true.

They invited you.

- No, it is.
And it doesn't matter.

As you always used to say,
in the diplomatic corps,

we are smaller
than our purpose.

In the end,
it was invigorating.

- Well, that is very vague
but splendid news.

- Mm.
[chuckles]

What about you, Paul?

Did you get along?

- I did.

I accomplished
a lot of small things that...

seemed to be
very much appreciated.

Felt good to be
Paul Child this week.

- I should think so.

It's a wonderful thing to be.

- I spent time
with Hunter and his wife,

with Avis, with Simca.

- Gosh, you social butterfly.

- Mm.

- And then
here's a nice topper.

We got a call
from an old friend.

- Really? Who?

- Do you remember Frank Bludger
from our old OSS days?

Apparently, he's in town
for his niece's wedding,

and he wants to see us.

He already knew that you'd been
at the White House.

He told me
you're a true patriot,

and I agreed.

Turns out, he's in the FBI,
which...

fits for Frank,
don't you think?

Jul?

- He's not here
for his niece's wedding.

- My,

you do have your finger
on the pulse of things,

don't you?

- Yes, he's here to see me.

He's been following me
for months.

- [scoffs]

- The FBI wants information
about radical behavior at WGBH.

- At GBH?

I would have thought
you'd tell him to go to hell.

For months?

Why didn't you
say something, Jul?

- He blackmailed me.

[dramatic music]

He said
that if I didn't help...

♪ ♪

He would make public
the accusations

made against you
when you retired...

the communism,

the h*m*.

♪ ♪

- I'm sorry you've been
afraid all this time.

♪ ♪

- Well, I don't want to be.

I want to take them all on,

all these men.

Who are they, anyway?

- Julia...

♪ ♪

I'm not afraid.

♪ ♪

Let them say what they want.

They have no power over me.

I am a contented man.

♪ ♪

- I love you so much.

♪ ♪

I married the right guy.

- [laughing] Yes, you did.

♪ ♪

Frank may not have
considered this, but...

♪ ♪

We still have a few tricks
up our sleeves

from our old OSS days.

♪ ♪

Shall we beat them
at their own game,

you and I, yes?

- Yes.

Oh, yes.

- Let the games begin.

- ♪ God bless America ♪

♪ Land that I love ♪

♪ Stand beside her
and guide her ♪

♪ Through the night
with the light from above ♪

♪ From the mountains
to the prairies ♪

♪ To the oceans
white with foam ♪

♪ God bless America ♪

♪ My home, sweet home ♪

♪ From the mountains
to the prairies ♪

♪ To the oceans ♪

♪ White with foam ♪

♪ God bless America ♪

♪ My home ♪

♪ Sweet home ♪

♪ God bless ♪

♪ America ♪

♪ My home ♪

♪ Sweet ♪

♪ Home ♪

♪ ♪