Lipstick Jungle (2008) s02e01 Episode Script

Chapter Eight: Pandora's Box

Last season on Lipstick Jungle.
It all started with three best friends in the big city.
Everyone that knows you knows that you're a great mother.
So you say.
Wendy, balancing a successful career and a wild teen.
You can't pick and choose when you want to be the good mother, okay? It's really, really phony.
Victory, fashion designer in love with billionaire Joe When we are together, it is not my world, it is our world.
until he secretly bought her business.
I don't want the man that I'm dating owning me.
I am genuinely sorry for the lie.
And it got worse from there.
I want you back in my life.
Who is it? And Nico, a magazine queen who's falling for a younger man.
I'm Kirby Atwood.
Nico Reilly.
I can't stop looking at you.
No, I'm married.
What about you and Charles? What is going to happen? But Nico has suspicions of her own.
Excuse me, I'm so sorry to interrupt.
Megan is one of my most promising grad students.
You know, you are one lucky woman.
You know that, right? And in an instant, it all changed.
Hello? Nico! My husband had a heart attack! I just want my marriage back.
I love you.
I love you.
The new season of Lipstick Jungle starts now.
Hey, hey! Hey! How was your day? It was good, and you? Good.
What smells so good? Oh, food that I didn't cook.
Oh.
There's a message for you from Feldman's office confirming some more tests on Friday.
Yeah, yeah, more wires, more clumsy goons shooting ink in my veins.
You want to eat? Yeah, sounds good! You know what? I got a little something for you.
For me? Yeah, for you.
Thanks.
I know it was a little impulsive, but I saw it and I thought of you.
What are you doing? This light is too good to waste.
There's this little gallery on 11th Street.
I've passed it a dozen times, never even noticed it, but this one print really caught my eye.
Reminds me of that Stieglitz you fell in love with, remember? You don't like it? No, no, no.
I do.
It's lovely.
Honey, it has to be a coincidence, okay? Charles was drawn to that photo randomly Yes, he was unconsciously attracted to it because it's your body, your shoulder, your breast.
There was no breast.
Was there breast? I can't have that photograph in my house.
I agree.
Get rid of it.
How? I don't know, I don't know.
Give me a second.
I just got here, okay? I need a drink.
All right, you know what? I'm going to have to tell him the truth.
Why? Weren't you the one way back when that said that telling Charles would only hurt him? She said that.
I was there.
At the time, I thought you were just being a selfish ho.
I've since changed my mind.
I mean, what people don't know can't hurt them.
Nico, be flattered that after all these years, your husband still wants to nail you to the wall.
What's happening? Where are you going? Wendy? Maddie, what the hell are you thinking? Mom? Lady, what are you doing I'm her mother! Although according to this, I gave birth to you in the third grade? Out! Girls? Oh, jeez.
Someone is gonna spend the rest of high school wearing LoJack.
What if Charles has known about Kirby all along? What? What if he brought that photograph home just to drive me insane? Okay, I've seen that movie and you're not in it.
Maybe this is some twisted way just to get me to confess.
Nico, stop.
This is Charles we're talking about, here.
He may be stubborn and oblivious and really annoying to watch Jeopardy! with, but he's Charles.
He's not a monster.
This milk smells! It's supposed to, it's organic.
You know I have to call their parents.
I'm not trying to humiliate you.
Oh, really? What do you call it when you drag someone outside by their hair and hurl them into a cab? An intervention.
When you tell us that you're studying for a math test I told you! We finished early.
And you thought you'd reward yourself with a beer? Please, let's not do this again, okay? I get it, I'm in jail.
I'll clean the kitchen until I'm 50.
Taylor, put your shoes on.
This is not about jail.
It's about trust.
We give you a lot of freedom, Maddie, and you blew it.
You got to earn it back.
What does that even mean? You're done with sleepovers, forget the camping trip, you need to be supervised.
I am sorry, but that is what "you blew it" means.
Oh, yeah.
What are we going to do? Well, let's have a sip first.
We're in real trouble, Shane.
She has a fake ID and a new taste for cocktails.
Well, we don't know if she was going there for a drink.
Maybe it was just the thrill of sneaking in.
You are not condoning this.
I'm not condoning, I'm waking up, darling.
Look, she's a teenager.
She now has two parents working long hours.
Well, what if I hadn't shown up, hmm? What if I hadn't been there? What if she had hooked up with some guy? Are we supposed to start talking about birth control? Well, if we do, it's probably best you had that talk.
If I knew more about it, she wouldn't be here, would she? I'll talk to her.
Maybe Ellen didn't understand.
We ordered a messenger.
Yeah, well, just doing my part to keep those pesky bicycles off the street.
Miss Ford? Hi.
Hello.
What are you doing here? I heard you had a package for me.
Thought I'd stop by, see what you've been up to the last couple of months, possibly lose a few fingers to frostbite.
Well, I'm headed out.
Roy, will you please give Mr.
Bennett that envelope? And this would be It would be some documents from my attorney.
They require your signature.
There's no surprises in there.
You said you'd sell my company the day that it turns profit.
That just puts it in black and white.
Can we please talk about what this is really about? Joe.
When you called me that morning I have an appointment She's a sales rep for a wine importer.
We've known each other for years, never dated.
When you and I stopped seeing each other, what started out as a You don't owe me an explanation.
routine wine tasting ended up It was a one-night aberration, Victory.
Joe, please.
Why don't you save your pump and dump adventures for your blog? I've missed you.
Miss Ford, Dahlia's here.
Yeah, well, he'll squeeze you in for a cut and blow.
He owes me.
Now, shut up.
Love you, bye.
Hi! Hi! Dahlia Morales, this is Joe Bennett.
Joe, Dahlia, my new publicist.
We know each other, don't we? I don't think so.
I didn't realize that you were hiring.
Oh, it's all about repositioning myself, branding my name.
My new business plan is in that envelope.
Plus, Dahlia's helping me find a new space for the store.
You dabble in real estate, too? Yeah, well, I'm no Joe Bennett, but, you know.
Dahlia? Coming.
Excuse me, please.
Thank you.
Switch.
Hey.
What are you doing here? I didn't know that you planned on putting those photographs of me up.
I only printed one.
Yeah, well, then you put it in the gallery.
Why didn't you tell me It wasn't exactly a plan, Nico.
The gallery owner loved that picture.
Actually, I figured that you of all people would understand doing what you have to do to get ahead.
Well, at my expense.
My husband bought it.
Well, at least one of us finds it funny.
Does he Does he know? No, look, maybe Why don't you call the gallery and tell them that there was a mistake? Maybe you can try to get it back, you know? I need you to figure this out.
You came down here for this? Why didn't you just pick up the phone, Nico? Well, I was hoping that you'd be more open to it if I came to you in person.
Maybe I wish you hadn't.
But I'll call the gallery, try and do whatever I can to help keep your life nice and tidy, Mrs.
Stern.
Thanks for stopping by.
That place was a locker.
I couldn't fit three dress racks in there.
Hey, hey! This way, this way.
Well, you know what? You get what you pay for, chica, okay? Your budget's a little tight.
Yeah, but somehow I didn't think I'd have to share a space with a notary.
Did you float these places past Joe Bennett? I mean, maybe we can expand our choices if he gets involved.
He obviously wants to be.
Why would you say that? Honey, you had a billionaire standing in your kitchen on a Tuesday morning, and he wasn't there for the waffles.
Well, Dahlia, you don't know Joe Bennett.
Everyone knows Joe Bennett, okay? He collects Lamborghinis and vendettas, and since you're still on his "like it" list Okay, listen, we are not we going to get him further involved.
I hired you to help me get free of him, got it? Okay.
Taxi! Taxi! Nico? Hey! What are you doing down here? Well, I had a meeting, so, you know Hi, I'm Nico.
I know.
We know a lot of the same people.
Oh, I gotta get this.
Excuse me.
We're supposed to be looking at some fabulous space down here.
I'll call you right back.
And this is what passes for fabulous these days.
Here we go! I saw Kirby.
Wait, what? Why do you ask for my advice and then do the exact opposite? Do you want to make a clean break? Then you can't see him.
Right.
Please tell me that, that is a rag.
Rags don't have tails.
Hold on, I'll get the lights.
You knew that seeing him I was trying to get that photograph out of my house.
Well, stop.
I mean, do you want to save your marriage or not? I do.
Then, Nic, you can't see this guy.
You have to put him out of your head.
And if you can't, you gotta see a shrink.
Or you could see a doctor and save your marriage in one visit.
One shot and you're back in business.
Oh, come on, ladies.
You can't be that far behind the curve.
Botox has moved south, way south.
They're shipping collagen down to the Delta.
I can hit speed-dial of seven women who you both know who've had their G- spots plumped, okay? Can we just talk about this lease? Honey, whatever you're getting from that guy you're not supposed to be getting it from, you could be getting it from the guy you've got.
And I know what you're thinking.
How does increasing your pleasure do wonders for him, right? I'm thinking I don't know your name.
No, seriously, every guy has got to be the superhero.
He's got to be Batman in that cave.
Moving on, are the utilities included? No.
Look, I'll give you Dr.
Galper's number.
Give him a call.
It doesn't hurt.
Much.
I gotta go.
Yeah.
Okay.
Bye-bye.
Bye! Oh, hey, look, plan for some fun soon afterwards.
My girlfriend Katie said that she was so sensitive she had to jump off the E train, all the vibrating and everything.
You know what, Vic, I'll call you, okay? Bye! Yeah, bye, bye.
Bye! I love her.
Send these to legal and tell Bill at Viking that I'll call him back when he's ready to offer me a sequel.
And take me off tonight's screening list.
Sal's gonna go, instead.
Sure you want me to go? Absolutely.
And I want you to read coverage on the Grisham project.
Okay, where are you gonna be? Home.
I need to get out of here at a decent time.
Oh, I see.
I get your job and Maddie gets a bodyguard.
Family first.
Your mother's on line two.
Oh, crap! Tell her I'm in a meeting.
I did.
She said I should be replaced.
Hey, Mom, what's up? I'm going to want to test this before you leave, please.
Mom? Mom? Where are you? At the Wharton.
I just checked in.
But if they can't find another mattress, I will be at the Four Seasons.
You're in the city? Why? Dental issues.
Look, darling, I don't want to keep you on the phone.
I just want to set a time to see the children.
Are you sure this is a king? It looks a lot like a queen to me.
Well, if you're not happy there, why don't you come and stay with us? Oh, no.
No, darling, really.
You know, I'm much more comfortable at a hotel.
Theoretically.
Mom, seriously, you are more than welcome to stay with us.
All right, fine.
Have your assistant send over the key.
Nico Reilly.
Hey, I got your message.
What's up? What do you say we do something crazy this weekend? What's crazy? I've got this invite to The Plaza, and I was thinking maybe we could do a romantic overnight.
You into it? Not really, if we're still in town, I'd just be thinking about all the work I'm not getting done.
Then we could leave town.
We'll talk about it when you get home.
Okay.
Dr.
Galper's office, how can I help you? Yes, hi.
I was wondering if I could set up a consultation.
What is this regarding? Well, it's the procedure that That uses collagen.
I got it.
The doctor's booked until November.
Are you interested in purchasing a home kit? It has an instructional video and a pamphlet.
Oh, no, no, I won't be doing that at home.
I'm not even sure I'll be doing it at all.
I just wanted to ask a few questions.
Your name, please? Mrs.
Charles Stern.
I was referred by Dahlia Morales.
How long does this take? Fifteen minutes, there's a numbing agent, you will feel a little prick.
Oh, excuse me.
Can you just hold on one moment? Hey! Can you guys come to dinner tomorrow night? Please say yes.
My mother's in town and she's much better behaved when there's guests.
Mrs.
Stern, there's been a cancelation for 8:30 tomorrow Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes.
Yes.
Yes, yes.
Okay, 7:30, my place.
Bring yourselves and body armor.
Mrs.
Stern? Yes, I'm still here.
Mrs.
Stern, we ask that you arrive promptly.
I assume you know the location? Oh, I think it's Park and 73rd? Not the office, ma'am, your G-spot.
The doctor appreciates patients who do their homework.
We'll see you in the morning.
Now what is this? Well, it's self-watering.
You get much tastier tomatoes that way.
Ten thousand years we've been farming, and somebody just came up with that, huh? Please.
Anything for a buck, right? Okay, Mom, can we keep moving, please? Yeah.
And please, can we not insult the vendors? Believe me, she could do with a few more people telling her the truth.
Tattoos don't age well on women.
Mom.
I'm telling you, what starts out on the shoulder can easily end up on the ass.
We need peppers and eggplant.
Is all this going to be for one meal? Many, actually.
I'm going to start leaving the office early to have dinner with the kids, at least until Shane finishes his project.
And who's going to be watching the studio while you're home rolling your own sausage? Maddie needs me right now, Mom.
Darling, I'm telling you that I had a title just like yours, it may not have been a studio, but a corporation is a corporation and you cannot be so cavalier.
There are dozens of younger people out there who'd be thrilled to put in a 60-hour week.
Then let them.
Yeah, well, I'm telling you that in a business like yours, you gotta sleep with a rock in each hand.
Who eats cauliflower? I do.
You got an opinion about that, too, Mom? No.
It makes you very gassy.
Oh, this is it.
This is it.
I want it, I love it, I have to have it.
It is a great location.
No, it's perfect.
Where was this property yesterday? Well, that's why we live here.
Your life could change overnight.
Oh, I just I don't want her to show this to anyone else.
I have to have this lease.
Vic, relax, okay? Breathe.
It's yours as long as you can deal with the owner.
What? Why wouldn't I be able to deal with the owner? Hello? Why are you e- mailing Joe Bennett? Does he own this building? Well, technically, he owns the whole block.
Oh, God, I'm sorry.
I thought you knew that.
Hey! Listen, I don't think that we're going to be able to do dinner tonight.
Oh, no.
Why? Oh, it's just not I'm sorry, it's not the right night.
What's going on with you? Come on, sit down.
Oh, can't.
Come on, you can sit for a minute.
No, I can't sit.
Okay.
Oh.
No, you didn't.
What? Victory told me about Please tell me you did not go for that miracle shot.
So what if I did? You've done some outrageous things.
I mean, you green-lit a movie about a crime-solving chicken.
Are you in pain? I don't know what I'm in.
All I know is that I can't sit through a two-hour dinner.
Nico, why would you do this? What? Why would you do this? Because I can't be lying next to my husband thinking about someone else anymore.
I'm trying to get back to what Charles and I had when we first met.
This may not be the whole answer, Wendy, but it's a start.
Wouldn't it be easier to tell him the truth? Come on, honey, you and Charles have been together a long time.
It's not like you haven't had your suspicions about him and his fawning co-eds.
Maybe he's got some sins of his own to confess.
If you both come clean, you can move on.
Come here.
No.
Oh.
Did they actually teach you to scale a fish? Yeah, and the next trip is about building a shelter from, like, twigs or something.
But I won't be going now, since I'm under house arrest.
Maddie, leave it alone.
Why is she cooking? Don't worry, I made a reservation just in case.
I know my way around a kitchen.
Well, not this one.
Oh, Wendy, don't be so sensitive.
Come on.
Can't be the best at everything.
God, it's like watching a race horse pull a plow.
But it beats going to the glue factory.
Did you call the super about the AC? It still seems stuffy in that bathroom.
Yeah, I left a message.
You know, that's a great spot for the photo, above the vanity, there.
Oh Yeah, maybe.
Honey, just Take it easy, okay? We've already done it once this week.
Come on.
I'm not a kid.
Why does this ice smell like onions? Is this thing broken, too? Everything's falling apart in this place.
Charles, why are we playing this game? What game? Well, the picture that you bought for me, it was It's a picture of me that was taken It was taken by someone that I met.
I met him last spring at Yeah? Go on.
He's a kid.
He's a photographer.
I don't know, I got caught up in it.
Charles, it felt so good to feel that someone was attracted to me, and And you had an affair with this guy? I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, but this I'm sorry.
Listen, it's over.
Wow.
Wow, okay.
Thanks for the bedtime story.
Charles, you spend your day surrounded by beautiful young students who send you gifts and shower you with attention.
Come on, haven't you ever Slept with them? No, they're my students.
I was one of your students.
That's how we got together.
Yeah, well, I was single then.
I'm married now.
To you.
Let me get in the shower first, please.
No, I've got a 9:00 with the music editors.
So What? Oh.
Well, careful what you wish for, love, I'm working now.
It feels great.
And you look great.
Now, why don't you just get in the shower with me? No, my mother is in the next room, okay? She will hear.
Well, we can always hum.
Oh, honey, stop.
No, really, stop it.
Hum.
Okay, no, stop.
Okay.
Come on.
Okay, you get in first.
How many is he showing us? Three.
One's in Green Park but I think we could skip it.
Unless you want to hang kielbasas in your window.
Listen, could we just clear the air here? You hired me to brand you, to turn your name into gold, right? We're going to have to walk while we talk And that address, which dare not speak its name, is prime.
I can promote that location, I can get clients down there.
Dahlia And I understand, you and Joe, it's complicated.
I get it.
But since you're already in bed Business with that man, who are you hurting by not taking that place? Okay, I know that you're the best.
I'm entrusting you with my future, but let's be clear on who works for who.
Hmm? Whom.
I am not renting a property owned by Joe Bennett, okay? Case closed.
Hey! You're still in love with that man, aren't you? Charles, what What's going on? No, please, don't do this.
Can we just Wasn't given a choice.
Feldman scheduled me for a double bypass at 7:00 a.
m.
What? Yep.
Just got the breaking news.
Test results came back.
There's a second opinion, a third opinion, and my opinion, I'm screwed.
They want me to check into the hospital.
I don't understand, you've been feeling so great.
A lot can change in a day, huh? Dr.
Paviet to Peds ICU, Dr.
Paviet Hey, have you eaten anything today? He's going to be in surgery for a while, so we can just go to the cafeteria and come back.
I'm not hungry.
Oh, God.
Listen, Nico.
Will you please listen to me? You are not the reason that Charles is on that operating table.
I broke his heart, I literally broke his heart.
Okay, so how about flowers, huh? We can fill up his room with these lilies.
Who's that? Megan.
The student? No, the groupie.
Well, what's she doing here? How would she even know? Look, Nico, this is really inappropriate.
Can I say something? No, please, don't.
Dr.
Sharp to admitting, Dr.
Sharp Let me.
Hi, there.
I'm Professor Stern's wife.
We've met before.
How did you know he was in surgery this morning? He told me yesterday.
Really? Was it just a general announcement to all of his students, or just his favorites? Look, I don't want to get into that here.
No, I'm sure you don't, but here we are.
Megan, you can skip the flowers.
I will send your regards.
I have more of a right to be here than you.
Excuse me? Charles made it pretty clear who he wanted to see when he woke up.
Do you want to see the text message? I am going to ask you very nicely to leave.
You can ask for a lot of things, it doesn't mean you're gonna get it.
Sorry to break the news to you, but your husband is no longer with you.
He's planning his future with me, so you might as well just step aside while you still have some dignity.
This is Nico and Charles, please leave a message at the tone.
Mrs.
Stern, this is Dr.
Feldman.
I'm at the hospital.
Would you please give me a call as soon as possible? It's urgent.
You can just put that down there.
I'm going to make room in the fridge.
How does this happen? I mean, on the Surgery Channel, somebody flatlines, you grab those paddles.
It happened in the recovery room, not surgery.
They were such a sweet couple, too.
Oh, they were perfect for each other.
Excuse me, Mrs.
Stern is in the next room getting ready for the funeral.
I like this one better.
I don't know what to do with my hands.
What am I supposed to do with my hands? Okay, well, you'll have tissues in this one, and you'll have your clutch in the other.
Can't.
Well, then, you'll sit on them, sweetie.
No one's going to be looking at your hands.
I can't go to this.
You kind of have to go to this.
Tell her she has to go to this.
You have to go to this.
What's all this? Don't ask.
Oh, why not ask? I am done with secrets.
My beloved husband of 17 years, he was building a case for abandonment so that I would have to pay alimony.
Never mind that he had knocked up one of his students and he put her up in a love nest up on 109th Street.
And do you know what? He was paying for her orthodontia.
We'll take that one.
And orthodontia? Veneers.
And a retainer.
He left me for someone who sleeps in headgear.
So Charles was seeing Megan before she met Kirby? Before, like three years before.
Oh, my God, who was this guy? Hey, that's mine.
There's more! What are you doing in there? Cleaning! Well, Nico, maybe you shouldn't do this right now.
Do something.
I am doing something, I'm drinking.
We have to get her there before the guests arrive, okay? How do you spend your entire life with someone and not even know who they really are? Don't look at me.
I don't even have a cat.
Guys, does either one of you need a bottle of something that supposedly grows hair? I'm good.
He was He was covering his bald spot for someone else, while I was sneaking into a doctor's office up on Park Avenue hoping that some kind of treatment would save our marriage.
With a kid.
I can't do this.
Yes, you can.
It's okay.
I can't.
You can, you can, you can, you can, you can, you can.
Hi.
I'm so sorry.
Thank you.
Goodbye.
Hi, thank you.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Hi.
I'm sorry.
Thank you, thank you.
I'm so sorry.
Thank you for coming.
Excuse me.
Thank you.
Sorry.
Oh! Who is that? That's Dr.
G-spot.
He's the size of a G-spot.
Hey.
Hi.
I'm so sorry for your loss, Nico.
Is there anybody here from your family? You're it.
Are you sure that you don't want us to come home with you? You know, I just think I need a little time by myself.
I'll be fine.
I'll be fine.
I love you, Aunt Nico.
Oh, sweetie, you, too.
Thank you.
You know where to find us.
Okay, go, go, go.
Go, go, go, go.
Need a ride? No, thanks.
Did I miss something? I don't know.
Did you? I've never been to a funeral that was such a chuckle fest.
Well, it's a long story, Joe.
Let's just say that some people are not who you think they are.
You cannot just say something like that and walk away.
People are not who you think they are.
Did you Google something about me that I haven't Googled yet? Did you sign the contracts that I gave you? It's with my legal team.
It's only been a few days.
What's the holdup, Joe? You bought and sold the San Diego Padres today.
Chargers.
What? San Diego Chargers.
Football.
Oh, whatever! Did you call Dahlia and ask her to show me your property? God, you just don't get it, do you? You think that this is gonna bring me closer to you, but you just keep pushing me further away.
I'm not interested in going backward.
Then why did you call me that day and tell me you wanted me back in your life? It was a weak, misguided moment.
Just because there was someone else in my bed.
Everything changed I understand I understand the rebound thing, Joe, but some of us actually stop before we go there.
You moved on after what? After five days? Clearly, we were never in the same place.
We broke up.
That's a technicality! What do you want from me? A business relationship, nothing more.
I am gonna take that lease, because it's the perfect location, and it's going to help me pay you off even faster, and if I didn't take it, I would still be letting you control me, and I'm over that.
I'm just not going to let it happen anymore.
Taxi! How's Nico doing? I just can't picture her walking into that apartment all by herself.
She may not go back to the apartment right away.
She might go back to the office.
Why would she do that? My guess, she feels safe there.
You know, it's where she carved a life for herself.
Mom Don't underestimate the value of having your own territory.
Mom, can I ask you something? Yes? If a colleague walked into your office and told you how to operate your department None of my colleagues ever would have done that.
Fine.
Then how would you deal with an outsider bombarding you with unsolicited advice? I'm not an outsider, darling.
I'm your mother, and I think I'm allowed to To only praise me when my choices are the same as yours? Isn't it possible you and I may not want the same things? I was hoping you could learn from my mistakes.
I have.
Mom, I love my job as much as you loved yours, but it's not enough for me.
Everything can change when you're not paying attention, and I don't want to look back that I wasn't around when my daughter needed me.
So apparently I've not only made mistakes, but you're keeping score.
I'm not blaming you, Mom.
You did what you had to do.
I appreciate it.
But we're not the same person.
I want to do things differently.
You're right, honey.
This is your company.
Two people can't run it.
But don't be so sure I didn't want the same things as you.
But if I had done then, what you are trying to do now, it would have been over for me.
As it is, I left too early.
What are you talking about? I'm talking about the career I can't get back! You didn't come into the city to see a dentist.
No.
I met with a headhunter, who thanked me for my interest and then suggested I go back to Connecticut and open a yarn shop.
Mom I'm still in the real world, Wendy! And running a yarn shop just isn't going to cut it.
Where are you going, Mom? To the Four Seasons.
We can all have breakfast in the morning.
Now, Mom, come on.
Stay here, please.
I want you to stay here.
No, no, no, come on.
You don't need me.
I didn't say "need," Mama.
I said "want.
" Taxi!
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