GLOW – The Libertines

By: Ellie Dolan-Yates

Bobby (Kevin Cahoon) is talking to a reporter about the ball. As he’s talking about his outfits Debbie (Betty Gilpin) takes him to one side and tells him to talk less about the dresses and more about the ball itself. We cut to Debbie sat with Tex (Toby Huss) and a couple of his friends who are praising her for getting him away from his ranch. They talk about Tex wanting to buy out a television outfit and he says the owner is being difficult. He says that the owner is very religious and would have to pray on selling his family business to a divorced man. So, Debbie tells Tex to tell him that “he’s dating a nice Christian girl who makes you see Jesus on a regular basis.” This makes Tex’s friends laugh. Tex is thrilled that his friends were impressed with Debbie and asks her to meet more of them on Friday. She says she has a team building thing with the girls.

Yolanda (Shakira Berrera) meets Arthie (Sunita Mani) coming out of the elevator. They say hi to each other and Arthie asks Yolanda if she’s going to the ball on Friday. Yolanda says that she wouldn’t miss it and Arthie says that she’s going too with the girls. Yolanda responds by saying, “Great, a bunch of straight girls going to an underground drag ball! Just what everybody wanted.” Arthie is hurt. Ruth (Alison Brie) is asking Sheila (Gayle Rankin) what to wear for her audition. Sheila tells her to forget that Sam (Marc Maron) and Justine (Britt Baron) are friends and that she better be back to perform their scene. Ruth says that she’ll be there. Rhonda (Kate Nash) is overseeing the pink BMX bikes being brought in for Rhapsody. She smiles at the guy setting up the bikes (Tommy O’Brien) who tells her to take it for a spin. He helps her sit on the bike and picks her up when she falls off. Bash (Chris Lowell) storms over to ask what’s going on. The guy says to take it easy, they’re just fooling around. Rhonda looks guilty. Bash tells him that he’s not his friend. He’s his boss and if anyone’s going to teach his wife how to ride a bike it’s him. The guy walks away and Bash asks Rhonda if she’s okay and kisses her, but she pulls away slightly. He kisses her again before he leaves.

Ruth is waiting nervously for her audition. As she enters the audition room Justine screams and runs to hug her. She asks Ruth if she can believe it’s happening and Ruth says of course she can, the script is great. Sam and Ruth say hello to each other and Sam introduces Jonathan (Armen Weitzman) the producer and Mitzi (Katie Flahive) the casting director. Jonathan says that Sam and Justine have been singing Ruth’s praises all day. Ruth auditions without her script and Sam smiles and nods approvingly. They all praise Ruth at the end of her audition. Justine thanks Ruth and she leaves looking confused. Sam follows her to tell her it was great. He asks her out for a drink after, in front of some of the auditionees, who don’t look impressed. Ruth says she needs to be on the road by 7PM. They agree to meet at 5.30 PM and Ruth leaves smiling.

Rhonda is asking Melrose (Jackie Tohn) about her “relationship.” She’s asking whether it’s emotional or an arrangement. She explains that things haven’t been good with her and Bash lately. She says nothing’s been happening for months and asks if she could borrow Paul (Nick Clifford), but not for what Melrose is thinking! She says when the guy earlier was flirting with her Bash got all possessive and turned on so she wants Paul to pretend to be a handyman and make a pass at her so Bash can throw him out and have sex with her. Melrose says her plan is amazing. It’s a night where she doesn’t have to worry if Paul’s off having sex with someone for money because he’s off not having sex with Rhonda!

Back in the audition room for Justine’s film Justine, Sam, Mitzi and Jonathan are going through the auditionees. They come on to the English teacher and Sam says it’s Ruth, no question, but Justine doesn’t seem so sure. Sam fights for Ruth, but Justine says she’s not sure she’s totally right for the part. She likes another auditionee and Jonathan agrees. Oh no! Ruth is waiting in a bar for Sam. Sam meets her and Ruth says she doesn’t want to know how the rest of his day was as she wants this to be separate. Sam says it’s good to see her. She reminds him that he left without saying goodbye and Sam calls the bartender over. Ruth then tells him she thinks she’s in love with him! He tells the bartender to go away (but with a few choice words). He asks since when and she says a while. She was going to tell him after getting lost in the desert but he’d gone. She says she knows that she needs to do something about still dating Russell. She asks if it’s too late for them and Sam says she’s a nightmare before kissing her! Very passionately. He takes her back to his. place They don’t get very far as they are kissing outside the bar. Sam tells Ruth that she hasn’t got the part. Sam says that he has to do what Justine wants and Ruth backs away from him. Sam says he would feel like an asshole if he didn’t tell her before taking her back to his to…do what they were going to do. She’s upset and says he knew how much it would mean to her to finally have a chance to do something real. They argue as their ride pulls up. Sam pleads with Ruth to go with him, but she doesn’t.

Bobby’s party is in full swing and the girls are enjoying it. We learn Cherry (Sydelle Noel) is out of debt. Men dressed in barely anything carry Bobby, as Eva Peron, onto the stage in a glass “coffin.” Debbie is looking HOT dressed in suit and top-hat. Sheila asks Debbie if she’s seen Ruth, but Debbie says she’s probably just running late. She sends Sheila off into the crowd with a silver hat to raise money and says that they’ll save her and Ruth until the end. Paul knocks on Rhonda and Bash’s door dressed as a handyman and Rhonda invites him in. Rhonda pays him, generously. Arthie sees Yolanda kissing another girl. Noooooo! She gives money for the collection with tears in her eyes. Tex has turned up, much to Debbie’s surprise. He asked why she lied to him and she says that she didn’t think he would approve. He places a large amount of money in the collection hat and alludes to the fact that his nephew died of AIDS. Bobby tells Sheila that she’s on, but Ruth is nowhere to be seen! Bobby tells her to do anything to stall – just don’t f**k it up! She enters the stage alone. The crowd is raucous and even the GLOW girls don’t notice her. She moves the mic to the side of the stage and thinks of what to do. As she begins to perform a monologue from “Miss Julie,” Tammé hushes the crowd. Sheila has Bobby shocked and Tammé in tears. Tammé cheers loudly for Sheila and the whole crowd follow.

Rhonda is flirting with Paul when Bash comes back. Rhonda says “Joe” came to fix the hot tub as they are sat on the sofa drinking champagne. Bash says that he doesn’t mind Rhonda having company. He gets himself and Paul a drink and watches Rhonda flirt. Paul says if he had a girl like Rhonda waiting at home he’d never make it out the door. Bash continues to watch them, thinking. Bash agrees that he’s a lucky man and says Rhonda is beautiful and kind and sexy. Bash asks Paul if he wants to kiss her and asks Rhonda if she wants to kiss Paul. He says he loves her and wants her to have everything she wants. Rhonda is confused, but kisses Paul! A lot. Bash asks Paul if he wants to touch Rhonda and tells him what she likes. Bash watches Rhonda and Paul get it on then kisses Rhonda’s neck before she kisses him back. Rhonda takes them both to the bedroom. Bash and Paul end up kissing each other and touch each other.

Back at the (other) ball, Bobby introduces Sandy Devereaux St. Clair (Geena Davis). Sandy comes out dressed as a showgirl. Debbie and Sheila can’t believe it! Sandy looks magnificent. After joking around with Bobby, Sandy performs with him. Not long into their number Sandy asks Bobby if he can smell smoke, but he thinks she’s ad-libbing. She’s not. There’s a fire at the back of the showroom. As the crowd scramble out, they are greeted by homophobic graffiti, which Arthie stands and stares at. Her and Yolanda lock eyes before Yolanda is pulled away by her new girl. Bobby is staring at more graffiti on the wall when Debbie finds him. He is angry and sad and says “Well, I guess we got the word out.”