Younger – Me, Myself and O

By: Taylor Gates

The Empirical staff attends a P is for Pigeon reading at Charles’ house. Liza (Sutton Foster) thinks book sales will start turning up, but Diana (Miriam Shor) tells her that the numbers are too dismal—they’re going to have to cancel the book tour. Empirical is in huge financial trouble. Diana and Liza meet up with Charles (Peter Hermann) and his girlfriend Radha (India de Beaufort) after the reading. As always, it’s incredibly awkward.

Charles’ children enthusiastically run to Liza. They mention that they are moving to a more affordable home, as Charles needs money for his business. Charles says they might be moving, but they might not have to. He’s going to try and convince Edward L.L. Moore—author of the Crown of Kings series—to write another book.

Josh (Nico Tortorella) tries to convince Liza to have sex in Charles’ house, but she refuses, thinking it would be too weird and inappropriate. He says he wants her to step up her “away game.”

Redmond (Michael Urie) brings Kelsey (Hilary Duff) a new revolutionary, sex-positive book called Me, Myself and O. It’s about a woman who, after banging guys on four different continents, realizes her best orgasm is with herself. It’s sure to be a hit, but it won’t come cheap. Plus, the author is unpublished and doesn’t want to make any appearances. Kelsey and Liza pass and Redmond tells them they’ve made a huge mistake.

Charles begs Edward L.L. Moore (Richard Masur) to write another Crown of Kings book, but he declines. He doesn’t want to be put in a box. He can’t save Empirical, but is confident other young, upcoming authors can. Moore pays a visit to Liza at her desk, telling her she makes his blood run soft. Liza, recognizing this as a line from Me, Myself and O, gets suspicious. She and Kelsey research and find many similarities between Me, Myself and O and Crown of Kings and realizes that upcoming author Aubrey Alexis is really Moore.

Liza and Kelsey have lunch with Redmond, blackmailing him into revealing that Moore is the author of Me, Myself and O. This information gives them a change of heart and they say they would now love to publish it. It’s too late, though—Lena Dunham bought it for her own imprint. Refusing to give up, Liza thinks of a Plan B.

Maggie (Debi Mazar) makes out with new beau Malkie (Sally Pressman) at a bar. They’re talking about how Malkie manages to stay so in-touch with both her faith and sexuality when they’re interrupted by Malkie’s ex-girlfriend and best friend, Sarah (Katie Kreisler). Sarah owns a spiritual spa and invites Malkie to join her there for a moonlight ceremony the next night. Maggie clearly feels threatened by Sarah’s presence.

Liza has dinner with Moore, saying she found out by the masterful prose and similar writing style that he was Aubrey. He explains getting into the mind of a young woman started off as a writing exercise and as liberated the character in the book, she was liberating him as well. Liza promises not to tell Charles or the public, as she doesn’t think the story would be as inspiring if they knew the real author was an old, established man. However, now if they want the book, they’ll have to double their original offer.

At the office, Liza begs Charles to let them double their offer on the book, admitting that Aubrey is in the Empirical family and someone they don’t want making a relationship with another company. Liza tries dropping some subtle hints, which Charles is oblivious to. Finally, she points at a Crown of Kings book cover and he tells her to do whatever she has to in order to keep Moore happy and in-house. Liza says that Moore can’t find out she told Charles anything.

Maggie convinces Liza to go to Sarah’s spa with her, as she’s feeling insecure since Sarah is still obviously into Malkie. Liza agrees and they go to the bathhouse. It doesn’t go well at all. It turns out, the spa is really a ritual bath used by Jewish women. Maggie undresses and gets in the water. When one of the women sees a cross tattoo on Maggie’s back, all hell breaks loose and they have to drain the entire pool. Maggie apologizes to Malkie, saying she didn’t realize it was an exclusively Jewish ceremony and not just a spiritual thing. Malkie forgives and understands—she’d be jealous if Maggie was naked anywhere with her ex, too. Malkie won’t leave Maggie out of any religious things anymore, inviting her to a tradition the next night.

Kelsey plans to take over a contract for Aubrey to sign. She and Liza celebrate their acquisition and problem-solving with a hand hug.

Liza and Charles toast in his office. Charles tells Liza about how publishing was like collecting art for his grandfather, not making money. Their moment is cut short by Radha coming in, telling Charles she’s been waiting for him in the lobby. Charles grabs some work, leaving Liza and Radha alone. Radha wants to know everything about the woman who spends so much time with the man she’s absolutely crazy about. Before Liza can answer, Charles comes back in, saving them from another tense moment. Radha tells Liza they should grab lunch sometime.

Liza and Josh go to the park to support Maggie, who is playing in a softball game with Malkie and some of her Jewish friends. It’s so not her thing, but Maggie really likes Malkie. Liza tells Josh she’s ready to work on her away game now, moving her hands to his pants under the blanket they have draped over their laps.