Younger – The Debu-taunt

By: Ujjyani Banerjee

Liza (Sutton Foster) is at Charles’ (Peter Hermann) house this morning. He is getting late for breakfast at Tribeca, but needs to submit his daughter Bianca’s book report at her school. Liza offers to help. She soon readies to leave, but the frigid weather forces her to find something layered. Not finding a single jacket of hers in the closet she picks up a random coat and leaves.

At the school Liza requests Mrs. Klepper (Becca Lish) to allow her to handover the report to Bianca in person. Turns out she cannot as she’s not a registered parent. Instead, she can leave the report at the office for Bianca to collect it at lunch. Just then Pauline (Jennifer Westfeldt) walks in. Recognizing the coat, she calls Liza from behind. Feeling awkward Liza starts taking it off, but Pauline insists her to keep it on. Mrs. Klepper gushes over both of Bianca’s mommies. Pauline clarifies that Liza is Charles’ girlfriend. She wants to bury the hatchet now that the divorce has been settled. She even asks Mrs. Klepper to have Liza registered. Liza is pleasantly surprised.

Upon reaching the office Liza tells Charles about her odd interaction with Pauline and how the coat got her in trouble. What’s worse is that she’s to have lunch with Pauline the next day. Charles almost chokes on his coffee due to shock. Liza feels she’s got to keep her spares of everything at his place from now on. Charles ramps it up further and asks her to move in. Diana (Miriam Shor) interrupts the lovebirds as she needs to speak to Charles. She reveals about her spontaneous engagement with Enzo (Chris Tardio) and seeks his blessing. They hug. She wants him to announce it as she’s not worn any ring yet and it’d be awkward for her. Charles agrees to do so and Diana is thrilled.

At the meeting Kelsey (Hilary Duff) discusses about “Debutante Ball,” an annual high profile event hosted by Publisher’s Weekly where first-time authors are escorted by their mentors into the publishing society. Zane (Charles Michael Davis) suggests having Pauline as their debutante. Liza, being her editor, decides to talk to her at lunch. Diana eyes Charles to reveal the big news. He does. Everybody congratulates her. Liza squeals out of excitement and tells she’s there to help. Diana asks her to calm down and be ready to help her on the D-day with the dress, hair and in-laws – basically be her Maid of Honor. Liza squeals and hugs Diana.

Liza bakes a pie and keeps wine ready for Maggie (Debi Mazar). She reveals about her moving in with Charles. Maggie is genuinely happy for her and asks her to go say yes, though she seems sad later when Liza leaves.

At their lunch Pauline shares how she’s gotten blocked while writing the sequel. Liza is surprised as she was oozing out with words during the first book. Pauline credits her marital anguish back then. Calling her a dream editor, she requests Liza to go through a few of her chapters to her help her crawl out of the block. Liza agrees but asks if she could be Millennial’s debutante at the PW event that night. Pauline says yes.

On her way to school Pauline calls Liza to tell her about a friend of hers who’s working at The New York Times and is invited to the ball. He’ll make sure both Liza and Pauline get good press. Pauline comments how men in the publishing always run off with their 20-something assistants. Klepper reveals Liza’s real age showing her ID as proof. Pauline is aghast.

At the ball Liza is escorted backstage while Pauline tells Charles what she learned about Liza. Unaffected, Charles apologizes wishing she’d learned about it sooner. Shocked, Pauline gets escorted backstage and is soon summoned to accept the award. In her speech she admits that her first book was autobiographical and sophomore slumps are always a worry for writers. She admits to being blocked and that she’s churning out cliched stories. She continues to tell that nothing could match the real life drama of learning that her ex-husband’s 20-something girlfriend is actually a 40-something woman. She stares at Liza whose two worlds have finally collided.

Diana rises up to defend Liza but she stops her from doing so, stating that all of it is true. Analyzing Kelsey and Charles’ expressions, Diana realizes everyone already knew. She stays Liza to stay away from her and walks out the hall. She gets a panic attack in the middle of Times Square and collapses on the ground. Charles and Liza take her to the hospital. Enzo shows up to meet Diana who’s not keen on seeing Liza or Charles. Diana reveals how she was the only one who was made to stay in the dark. Enzo admits he was clueless about her age but maybe they should talk. Diana won’t. Enzo conveys the same to Liza and Charles.

Charles is disturbed as Pauline now wants to revisit their custody agreement. Liza cannot move in with him amidst such tumultuous times. She gets home and crumbles on her bed. Josh (Nico Tortorella) gives her a call to congratulate her on moving in with Charles. Liza says she’s staying put and breaks down in tears. Josh hurries over.

The next day Kelsey and Lauren (Molly Bernard) freak out about the overnight press attack that Millennial has faced after Liza’s age revelation. Lauren brainstorms about quick damage control. Liza arrives. Zane gives her an odd look while Lauren calls her “ma’am.” Liza apologizes to her saying she’s got to start somewhere and inquires about Diana. Lauren says she came in at 6am.

Liza goes to meet Diana. She looks hurt and is halfway through drafting her termination letter. Liza wishes to explain why she did what she did. She admits to care deeply for her and she couldn’t say no to this only opportunity she’d gotten back then. Diana cannot imagine any self-respecting person doing the kind of job that Liza does. Who would go to the lengths of getting her coffee to cleaning her bird cage to holding her hand when she was alone on the red carpet to forcing her to fight for Enzo when she was busy chasing her away? Is it just for the money? Liza says she cared about her, that’s all. Diana respects the fact that she did what she had to do but henceforth, if they are to forge ahead together, honesty has to be the best policy. Just before Liza leaves her office Diana asks her to bring the numbers of the releases to her and though she’s aware that she can do it herself, she wants her to bring them to her. Liza’s lips break into a smile as she says she loves her too and walks out the door with her head held high.