GLOW – Hollywood Homecoming

By: Ellie Dolan-Yates

Sam (Marc Maron) and Justine (Britt Baron) are travelling in Sam’s car and he is telling her to just be herself, but not as weird. She tells him she really wants “this and Sam tells her not to come across as desperate though. As the camera pans, we see that they’re at Tri-Star Pictures. Sam tells Justine to put on a happy face…but not that happy.

Rhonda (Kate Nash) is trying on some outfits in her and Bash’s (Chris Lowell) room. Bash tells her not to wear that particular outfit because whoever is coming hates animals. There’s a knock at the door and Bash opens it to his mom, Birdie (Elizabeth Perkins). She mentions that there is a water feature in the kitchen and Rhonda pokes her head around the door to tell her it’s a hot tub and invites her in. Birdie asks what is wrong with Bash’s voice and Rhonda explains that he’s on vocal rest. Rhonda forgets she hasn’t actually introduced herself and Birdie makes the point that she only knew Rhonda was married to Bash because American Express notified her of a new card holder.

It seems that Tri-Star Pictures are interested in Justine’s screenplay. However, it looks like they want to change a lot of it, which Justine agrees to but Sam looks unsure. Debbie (Betty Gilpin) is in the hallway working, eating and looking after Randy! Jenny (Ellen Wong) approaches her and asks for a pay rise since she is also the costume designer. Jenny asks for a 13% increase or she will cease her responsibilities and Debbie tells her that she will see what she can do. Debbie realizes that Randy has disappeared, but Dawn (Rebekka Johnson) and Stacey (Kimmy Gatewood) return him. They say he may have stopped breastfeeding, but he still has a thing for tits! Debbie points out that he’s a Vegas baby now.

Cherry (Sydelle Noel) and Arthie (Sunita Mani) are in the casino. Arthie says since Yolanda (Shakira Barrera) broke up with her she hasn’t been able to eat or sleep. She says the only person she wants to talk about it with is Yolanda, but she can’t. Cherry says that she doesn’t understand and Arthie mentions Keith (Bashir Salahuddin), but Cherry says they’re still married – just working in different places. Arthie leaves to eat alone and Cherry tells the dealer that she hates being alone. She says that she has four letters from Keith that she’s scared to open.

Rhonda, Bash and Birdie are eating and Birdie mentions that Rhonda is from England to which Rhonda replies “What gave it away?” Birdie asks if she’s from London, but Rhonda replies Bromley. Bash explains that it’s in the suburbs and Birdie says the suburbs in England are a bit dodgy. Rhonda mentions that she came to America because Duran Duran asked her and her mate to fly out with them on tour! Rhonda says she never would have been discovered as a singer in England (ironic) and she’s glad she stayed in L.A. otherwise she never would’ve met Bash. Birdie realizes that Rhonda is on the show, which makes her feel a bit better. Birdie asks Rhonda to go shopping with her, without Bash.

Back with Justine and Sam we see that he is telling her that what the lady at Tri-Star Pictures said was stupid. He wants her to meet another person, Don (Brandon Keener), who Sam gave his first job. Sam holds his hand out to Don, but Don bows at him- he’s a Buddhist now. Don says that he hasn’t read Justine’s script, but he just wanted to know if the rumors about Sam directing porn now are true. Justine and Sam explain that it’s women’s wrestling. Don tells Sam that no one cares about him. Don remembers him though and reels off a list of wrongs Sam did to him. Sam and Justine go to leave and as Don says he would feel better if Justine wasn’t there. She tells him to go f**k himself and that his last film sucked. Sam says they will be late to the next meeting, but Justine says there’s no point. Sam tells Justine how hard it was for him to set up all of these meetings. Justine says she wants Sam to get a camera and shoot her film like he did Blood Disco, but he says no because her film is so much better than anything he’s ever made or will make. Sam tells Justine it’s fine if she wants to screw this up, but don’t come crying to him. He calls her mediocre.

Rhonda is trying on clothes in front of Birdie when she is shown two coats, one of which looks exactly like the one Birdie is wearing. Birdie asks her which one she likes. Rhonda says she likes both, but one is expensive and the other is nicer and cheaper. She says she’s probably supposed to choose the expensive one, but chooses the cheaper one because she likes it more – the one that doesn’t look like Birdie’s coat. Rhonda says that Bash told her to be scared of Birdie, and she is, but she wants to be honest with her. She says she married Bash for the wrong reasons. She didn’t love him when he asked her to marry him as she admits that it was for her green card. She says that she has fallen in love with him though, not for his money but his personality. She sees people taking advantage of him for his money, but she doesn’t. Birdie has a hard time believing her. Rhonda explains that she had to cash Bash’s checks because he didn’t know how and whilst doing so she put all of them into savings so that he can’t spend them. Rhonda says that he’s not good with money, but not everyone is good at everything.

Randy is screaming the Fan-Tan down. Bash is in his hot tub working as Debbie puts Randy in the hallway. She broaches the subject of Jenny asking for a raise and that they can use the money put aside for “cigarettes and Dr. Pepper.” Bash writes Debbie a note to say that it’s fine. Debbie realizes that Bash can’t talk so tells him to rest his voice and then calls him a dickhead and states she doesn’t trust him. Randy has somehow got in the elevator and took himself to the casino. Good lad. A familiar looking man (Toby Huss) picks him up before Debbie rushes out of the elevator to get him. The man says he was sat next to Debbie on her flight when the stewardess gave her a pin for Randy to play with. Small world. As Randy carries on screaming, the man “Tex” asks Debbie out for dinner.

Justine and Sam are having another meeting about Justine’s script. Sam decides to let Justine do the talking. As she reminisces about the nerds in AV club, there’s something wrong with Sam. He’s breathing heavy and clenching his fists. Justine carries on speaking, but we can’t hear her – we just hear a high-pitched ringing. Jonathan (Armen Weitzman) tells Justine that they’d like to make her film and for her not to sell it to anyone else. As Justine and Sam are walking back to the car Justine is excited, but Sam still looks unwell. Justine wants to celebrate, but Sam says he has to see someone and gives her the keys to his car. He is being off with her. He follows her to the car to tell her that he’s very proud of her. As he makes his way back to the pavement, he asks someone to call him an ambulance.

Rhonda, Bash and Birdie are together in the penthouse. Birdie has their business manager and family lawyer on the phone. Birdie says Bash no longer needs an allowance since he’s doing so well and Bash reacts by banishing her! She tells him to stop embarrassing himself. The business manager explains that since he is married he can unlock the whole of his funds set up by his grandfather. Their lawyer says the $40 million (yes, $40 million) are his to do with as he pleases. Rhonda is shocked at the amount. Not bad for a girl from Bromley.

Debbie and Tex are at dinner. She says it’s nice to be on a date with a grown up for a change and he thinks she is talking about being with Randy. He says his boys are 18-24, but he missed a lot of them growing up. Debbie explains that she is Liberty Belle, but wants to transition more into producing. It turns out that Debbie has made the name “Tex” up and his name is actually James or JJ. He says Debbie can call him whatever he wants.

Sam is in hospital when he is told that he’s had a heart attack. He’s been lucky, but he needs to lay off the alcohol and cigarettes. He says there’s no one he wants to call. Birdie is leaving and tells Bash she’ll get him “all set up” and that eventually he will need a will. Birdie seems sad that she didn’t get to see Bash get married. Birdie says she will throw a giant party when Bash gets back and wants him to have children. Rhonda thanks Birdie for everything and for making Bash. She hugs Birdie, who isn’t sure at first, but then returns the embrace. Who can’t love Rhonda?! Birdie tells her to keep Bash interested however she sees fit.

Debbie invites Tex back to her hotel room for a drink, but he wants to take her out to dinner again tomorrow. Debbie says it’s moving a little fast, but Tex says she just invited him back. He leans in for a kiss and Debbie obliges. He says he likes kissing wrestlers. Debbie comes back to her room. Randy is asleep in his cot and Ruth (Alison Brie) is asleep on the bed holding a book. Debbie gets into the bed next to her, a massive smile on her face.

Sam stumbles through his kitchen door. Justine asks where he’s been and he pretends he’s been out all night. Justine says she celebrated with Billy. She refers to her film as “their movie” and he says it’s her journey. She asks him if he doesn’t want to direct it. He doesn’t understand. Sam missed Justine say she would only sell her film if Sam directed it. Justine says that he has to do it because she demanded that he direct it when she sold it. Sam says they should celebrate! He gets two glasses and pours some whiskey. They cheers. He looks at his glass, sighs and downs his whiskey.