Younger – Merger, She Wrote

By starrymag | July 30, 2019

By: Ujjyani Banerjee

 

 

Early morning Liza (Sutton Foster) walks into a tarp-carpeted living room and finds Maggie (Debi Mazar) prepping to paint their ceiling. She loves it, but Maggie is morose and is afraid she’s losing her mojo. It turns out she was recently the subject of a tussle amongst bartenders who couldn’t decide on who’d serve her and kept her waiting for ten minutes. They soon discuss about Charles (Peter Hermann) and Liza reveals things aren’t smooth because of the corporate competition. Maggie suggests a merger; not only will everybody return back to working under one roof but Charles will continue to rake in profits.

 

At the office Diana (Miriam Shor), Kelsey (Hilary Duff) and Liza meet with an author named Travis (Lou Taylor Pucci). His book, titled Microdosing, is about ingesting microdoses of illicit substances that can improve energy levels, boost creativity and provide a greater sense of well-being. Diana needs to know how illicit are they talking about. Trevor lists out LSD, MDMA, etc. Liza feels this is like promoting drug use and it could become a legal affair. Trevor invites her to a medically-supervised retreat that he’s hosting over the weekend as he believes that his editor must experience it first hand in order to appreciate and trust it truly. Nervous but determined Liza agrees to participate.

 

Kelsey is proud of Liza and asks her to positively get her some samples, too. They soon join Diana for the voice auditions for Bronwyn Madigan’s (Becky Ann Baker) audiobook. They listen to a number of auditions, but Bronwyn isn’t impressed. Suddenly, Diana starts voicing out the lines perfectly as the rest stare at her in awe. Once she’s done, Brownyn smiles, rejoicing at having found her voice for the audiobook, or in Liza’s words a “Seasoned Slut.”

 

That evening Liza meets Charles for drinks and brings up the “Merger” topic. He appreciates the idea it but is worried that the board might pass on it, especially because Mercury’s current valuation is purely speculative with no cashflow whatsoever. He asks her join Mercury. Liza says she can’t do that to Kelsey. He reminds her that he abandoned Empirical to be with her and that it shouldn’t even be an option. Liza shoots back that he’s indeed making it one and calls it a night as she’s got to leave for retreat the next day. Charles reveals he’s in attendance too and shall be there for the same purpose. Ticked off, Liza picks up her coat and leaves.

 

The next day Charles meets Liza at the retreat reception but they end up keeping their reservations separate. They are each given a starter sample pill. On their way to their respective rooms, Liza and Charles stumble upon Josh (Nico Tortorella) who’s apparently a long time pal of Travis’s and is there to meet few venture capitalists. He’s planning on franchising Inkberg. Charles retires to his room. Liza and Josh pop in their pills in sync.

 

At the recording room Diana recites the lines passionately. Bronwyn is satisfied whereas Kelsey is mortified. Zane (Charles Michael Davis) arrives at the studio with Audrey Colbert (Willa Fitzgerald). They’re there for their audiobook recording, too. Kelsey stays back to accompany Zane. In the first attempt Audrey sounds too matter-of-fact. In her second attempt she’s quivering with fear, just like when she gave her statements in the court. Kelsey can vouch that Audrey is guilty. Zane admits to being wee bit petrified. Audrey overhears all of it as Zane forgot to release the button. She walks out that very moment and Kelsey hits hysteria. Zane and Kelsey go for drinks later. He mentions how he loved teaming up with her and they should do it long term. Kelsey reminds him that they’re messy together. Soon their conversation steers towards Charles asking Liza to join Mercury. Kelsey knows about it and is confident that Liza’s going to stay put at Millenial. Zane asks her to rethink as Charles and Liza would jeopardize their relationship for long.

 

Drugged Liza is having trouble differentiating Josh from Charles. While she’s in bed with Charles, who has come to apologize to her, she imagines him to be Josh. She says it’s wrong to be doing this. Finding it odd, Charles asks if she popped the pill. He didn’t. She admits to have taken the dose, hence the absurdity.

 

Later everybody gathers for an introduction session downstairs. Travis states how each individual shall metabolize the pill differently and if anyone is having a reaction he/she must see the doctor who welcomed them or Nurse Maurine (Cady Huffman). Liza notices that Josh’s and Charles’ voices have interchanged and that they’re merging to form one being. She rushes to see Nurse Maurine.

 

At home Maggie is busy painting the ceiling, but suddenly drops as her rope gives away and is left hanging like a bat. She squeals for help and notices a man at the opposite building whom she gestures to call 911. The guy starts to take his pants off looking at her struggle.

 

Liza reveals to nurse Maurine how she enjoys both men. While Josh is sweet and beautiful Charles is wild and amazing. Nurse Maurine says both men bring out two different sides of her and maybe she should keep both. Liza can still tell its wrong.

 

At home, Maggie tries grabbing scissors to cut off the rope. The guy is jerking off to every move of hers. After a struggle, she finally manages to release herself. So does the guy. She hisses at the pervert and gets back to her business.

 

Back with Liza we see Nurse Maurine suddenly starts to tap dance and asks Liza to imitate. She does. She imagines dancing in an empty theatre with Josh as well as with Charles when in reality she’s dancing alongside a plant and clicking selfies. Josh and Charles stare at her and can’t stop laughing.

 

The next day Charles and Liza get ready to head home. Charles reveals that he had a heart-to-heart conversation with Josh regarding kids which made him realize how much family means to him. Liza appreciates it. She gets home and asks Maggie how her weekend went. Maggie reveals the craziness. Liza is shocked and asks if she’s okay. It turns out that Maggie is fabulous. After all, she got her mojo back!

 

At the office Diana asks Liza for her gift in an unusually heavy voice. Liza is puzzled. Diana explains its her sexy voice that people appreciate and segues back to her original tone. She shows her the multiple plant selfies she received which made her assume that it was a gift. Liza curses Nurse Maurine under her breath. Kelsey comes in and Liza reveals there’s an awesome news awaiting her. They all go to the conference room. Charles is there. He puts down the proposal to Millenial buying Mercury for $1. Kelsey is taken aback. He continues that family has always been his priority and he can’t see it break. He adds that Kelsey shall remain publisher while he’d join as an editor, parallel to Liza working for Kelsey.

 

Kelsey agrees to acquire Mercury and induct Charles at Millenial. Diana is elated to see the gang back together!