Lessons in Chemistry – Little Miss Hastings

As a crowd of women wait outside of studio doors, a young woman named Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson) arrives to set for her show. While walking in to a barrage of questions about cookware and endorsements, she handles each response with poise and kindness….even as producer Walter (Kevin Sussman) asks Elizabeth to endorse Presto soups during the show. But as the show Supper at Six begins, Elizabeth throws out the cans and explains how the chemicals in them are harmful. With a chuckle from her eager audience of women, Elizabeth announces that today’s dish will be lasagna.

In a flashback to seven years prior, a young chemist named Dr. Calvin Evans (Lewis Pullman) is seen running to work. Coincidentally, Elizabeth is also pulling into the lot at Hastings for work as a lab tech. On her way to one of the labs, Elizabeth is approached by Secretary Fran Frask (Stephanie Koenig). Frask tries to convince Elizabeth to enter the Little Miss Hastings pageant as she is the only female in the group. Elizabeth rebuffs the offer, despite Fran’s insistence of putting her down as a “maybe.”

After a shower in his lab, Calvin is interrupted by Dr. Robert Donatti (Derek Cecil). Donatti reminds Calvin of his absence from the monthly board meeting. Evans attempts to end the conversation with Donatti, but not before being reminded about his submission for the Remsen Foundation Grant….which is what funds Hastings. Calvin swears he is hard at work on his submission.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth is hard at work in Dr. Richard Price’s (Andy Daly) lab. As she assists others with their work and seems to enjoy sharing her knowledge, Prince reminds her of her place by continually calling her “honey” and asking for a cup of Elizabeth’s famous “beaker coffee.” Gathering and mixing the necessary ingredients, Elizabeth overhears the jealous men talking about Dr. Calvin Evans and his “golden child” status at Hastings. But it isn’t until they mention the supply of ribose that Evans has in his lab that Elizabeth begins to listen.

At lunch, Elizabeth prepares to submit her own entry for the Remsen Foundation Grant. Later that night after everyone has left, Elizabeth runs her own experiments for research. However, she realizes that she is out of ribose and makes the choice to enter Calvin’s lab to borrow some. While she is in there, Fran Frask spots her and decides to report the incident to Dr. Donatti. If nothing more, Fran has found a way to force Elizabeth to participate in the Little Miss Hastings pageant.

The next day Donatti reprimands Elizabeth for her actions of using lab equipment. Even when Elizabeth defends herself with her degree in chemistry and a potential submission for the Remsen, Donatti throws back her lack of Ph.D. and some gender stereotyping…much to Elizabeth’s dismay. But before she can leave the office, Donatti also pushes Elizabeth to enter the pageant to have more of the “Hastings spirit.” In the hallway, Fran hears about Elizabeth’s entry and immediately gets her to take a picture.

Upon arrival back at Price’s lab, Calvin ambushes Elizabeth and interrogates her. Despite Elizabeth’s best efforts to explain her chemistry background, Calvin labels her as a secretary and heads to talk to Fran Frask about his lab. However, when Calvin mentions that Elizabeth was the culprit and still mentions her as a secretary…Frask corrects him and explains that Elizabeth is indeed a lab tech.

That night at the Little Miss Hastings pageant, Calvin arrives to see Elizabeth and apologize. Although he attempts to approach her, he is unsuccessful and later suffers a severe allergic reaction to Mrs. Donatti’s (Valentina Garcia) perfume. He abruptly runs outside to throw up and bumps right into Elizabeth…who decided to leave after Dr. Price made some sexist comments towards her lack of pageant enthusiasm and showing skin. Taking pity on an ailing Calvin, Elizabeth drives him back to his house and helps him inside. With the opportunity, Calvin attempts to apologize for his actions…which Elizabeth refuses. As a second part of his peace offering, Calvin gifts Elizabeth with a bottle of ribose.

The next morning after his run, Calvin is greeted by friend Harriet (Aja Naomi King) and her kids Linda (Amentii Sledge) and James (Yasir Hashim Lafond). Harriet asks Calvin to watch her kids, which he agrees to. She also voices that she may need help as the town is trying to oust her from her home and build a highway.

At Hastings, Elizabeth is confronted by Dr. Price for skipping the pageant. When he closes the door, Elizabeth starts to freak out as she has flashbacks of a moment from her past. After the scare subsides and Price leaves, Elizabeth utilizes that anxious behavior at home. Aside from her love of chemistry, she loves to cook and decides to make a lasagna.

The next day during lunch, Calvin asks to join Elizabeth at her table….who is enjoying her homemade lasagna. After cutting a slice off for Calvin to eat, their relationship begins to bloom over food and talking about chemistry. During one of their talks, Dr. Price interrupts and asks Elizabeth to make coffee. Calvin notices that Elizabeth is treated less than by her peers and proposes a transfer to his lab under the guise of needing a new lab tech. The switch in lab would allow Elizabeth to continue her research on abiogenesis. While reluctant, Elizabeth agrees to Calvin’s idea.

Although Frask and Donatti give the respective chemists a hard time with the proposal, the transfer goes through and Elizabeth has the freedom to work in Calvin’s lab. Initially, working together proves a little rough as Elizabeth rearranges all the equipment and Calvin enjoys loud music. Eventually, they form a symbiotic working relationship and their attraction to one another begins to grow. The feelings begin to affect Elizabeth’s cooking one night as she burns her dinner while on the phone with Calvin.

Next morning during his run, Calvin has a breakthrough and is eager to tell Elizabeth. However, when he gets to the lab he closes the door….forgetting Elizabeth’s request to keep it open. In her panic, she runs out and tells Calvin that working with him was a mistake.

In present time, Elizabeth goes to pull her lasagna from the oven…only to find it has burned. Addressing the audience, she explains that sometimes you cannot control all the variables. Sometimes, things happen. Addressing the audience by telling them that it’s leftovers for tonight and time to have the kids set the table, Elizabeth walks off set.