01x04 - The Divorcee

[bunniefuu]

[music playing through earbuds]

- [alarm ringing]
- [breathes deeply, sighs]

[sighs]

[sighs]

[chattering]

"LA PALOMA" FASHION SHOW
D-1

- [Ye-Ji] How was that 20-minute night?
- Short.

- Nothing else has come down?
- [Ye-Ji] No.

[Paloma] I'll go check on the Divorcée.

Morning.

Paloma?

The visuals for the bags.

Okay. So, red and green.
Show me the tests.

- Sure.
- Yes.

[Sophie] It's the day before the show,
and the Maison LEDU is buzzing.

Ah, here's Paloma.

- Paloma?
- Yes?

Your new collection is entirely upcycled.

Would you tell us more about the process?

- Later on, okay?
- Yeah. Uh, could we say in about an hour?

- No, later.
- Right, okay.

Well, I wasn't able to get Paloma yet.

But I won't give up. And, besides,
there's so much else to reveal. Follow me.

Excuse me. There are only seven stations.
Can I add one?

- No, we need ten.
- Ten? Okay.

Right. That for me?

Perfect. Thanks.

[man] All good.

That's good.

Morning.

[sighs]

[Paloma] He's leaving?

Off to his island.

Like Napoleon. To stop
spreading unrest all over the world.

Isn't that what you wanted?

[dogs barking]

[Diane] Now, nice and steady, darling.

Because some days
it's either you or the wild boar. You see?

- [Caroline] No. Are you mad?
- That's good. Cheek up against the stock.

- Louise, put that down now, please.
- [Diane] Right.

- Put it down.
- [Diane] Relax.

It's not a Kalashnikov. Come on.

Grandma's getting me a permit
to go hunting.

Right. But Grandma knows
you'd have to pass your exams first.

Well, to be a really good hunter,
one must start young.

Of course, in your case, that was no help.

Diane. It's the president at the Guild
about Fashion Week.

Oh, just tell him if he keeps
rattling on about Fashion Week

at the opening of hunting season,

his funding'll be cut.

Yes, right.

[Caroline] No, Victor, stop.
[giggles] I swear.

Victor!

I want you to ride with the beaters.

And Caroline, Louise and I
will ride with the shooters.

- Oh, but...
- But...

Ah! Ever fired a r*fle, dear?

No. So, well... So, come on, honey.

Victor. This way.

Get in this one.

No, that's no good.

No good. No good.

It's the train.

It has to be... It has to be longer.
It has to be heavier.

See, we have to really feel
all that stuff she's dragging behind her.

The weight of tradition, the...

All the pressure.

- The patriarchy. It's...
- Right, but how many centimeters?

Two meters would be ideal.

Palo, the workshop's overloaded already.

Two meters.

So, Joy, once you're here,
you stop in front of the painting.

You made this?

No. My dad.
He painted it for me before he died.

And I made it my signature.

So that's why I've decided to do
my first indoor show at LEDU.

- I'm so proud to be part of it.
- Thank you.

Hey, look, Sophie,

I'm sorry, but do you really
have to be filming me constantly?

Yeah. It's content I can use
for the making-of.

But don't worry. Sophie's not here.
Sophie is nowhere.

- Who's Sophie? Don't ask me.
- [Paloma] Okay, go on.

Uh, so...

Welcome to Schmuckville.

Excuse me?

We're at the bottom of the food chain,
just to catch the stray dogs.

Yeah. Oh. Stupendous.

Lucy?

Tell me, why am I being punished now?

Robinson.

Three weeks he's been stringing you along.

It's almost done. Tell Diane.

Listen.

Almost is not enough.

Can I borrow your phone for a second?

Sure.

Thanks.

PALOMA CASTEL'S FIRST SHOW
FOR LEDU - THE CRASH TEST!

[phone ringing]

Hello?

Ah, okay. You're ghosting me. Got it.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

Yeah, you're right, keep beating
yourself up for a bunch of ingrates

and waste your talent.

Uh, no, no, no, Victor.
It's a little hard.

I can't be the one
to stick my foot in the door at Rovel.

Betraying my family for a second time?

But you're just a rock in the shoe.

I mean, is Vincent gonna sell?

And your mom?

And what about me?

No. Diane knows that very well.

She'll settle for your symbolic 3%.

You have until tomorrow to tell me,
or the deal's off.

[employee] Paloma,
can you look at the makeup tests?

[Paloma] Can you show me later?

[employee] I don't wanna see anything off.

[Paloma] I think it's a bit much
for the mouth. I think we can take it off.

That's good.

You like it? It looks cool.

- Could be more natural, right?
- Yep.

- You mind?
- [employee 2] Mm-hmm.

- Paloma.
- [Paloma] Yeah?

These gentlemen want a word with you.

- Hello.
- Hello.

Thanks.

Ah. Decent BMI at last.

And what if we don't make it? Sorry.

What are you afraid of?
Your models are body positive.

Right, mine. But not the ones you imposed.

[Perle] Relax, okay?
We're used to surprise weigh-ins.

- [Luca] Joy, you come with me.
- [auditor] Check the weight.

[Paloma] Still, for the Divorcée...
[scoffs]

...really, you'd have been so much better.

No. I can't wear a size 4 anymore.

That's what I mean.
You're so beautiful like this. Ah.

That's the story I wanna tell
with this show. It's...

I heard you. But end of discussion. Okay?

- 18.7. It's close, but it's good.
- [Paloma sighs]

- You see?
- Mmm.

- [auditor] All right, go ahead.
- [auditor 2] Hello.

- [auditor] Okay. Go ahead, go ahead.
- [auditor 2] Okay, let's go.

Ladies.

[g*nsh*t]

[dogs barking]

[huntsman] Chop, chop.
Chop, chop, chop, chop.

Chop, chop, doggies.
Chop, chop. Chop. Chop, chop.

Chop, guys. Chop, chop.

Traditionally, the honor of the bleed
is reserved for the hunt master.

No!

Why are you running away?

Is that the goal you set for your life,
to leave your place to someone else?

Women won't shut up about gender equality,

but a sense of sacrifice has been
in their genes since before Cro-Magnon.

[inaudible]

Victor is much more comfortable
leading people than I.

I'm fine in the wings.
He was born to lead.

Come here, darling.

Don't embarrass me like your mother.

Let's go.

Put that down now.

Let her go!

[breathing heavily]

[Louise] Mom?

It's nothing, honey.

She's been doing that
since she was a girl.

I don't know what's wrong with her today.

The workshop's going to need
seven more hours for this look.

Hold my drink.

Step back a second.
Let me take a look. Let me.

Okay.

Okay.

We'll simplify here.
The bustier can be simpler.

What?

No.

- [sighs]
- No, no. No. No, no. No way. No.

- [Ye-Ji] Palo.
- What?

Everyone cuts the night before a show.

We can't finish the Divorcée
and nine other looks, all right?

Okay. Okay, okay. You know what?
Tell them to speed up in there!

Go get extras, or do something!
Whatever you have to do!

But that look, tomorrow it is ready!

Okay? It's in the show!

I'm not dumping any of my looks! Not one!

Oh! sh*t, the frigging...

Goddammit! [breathing heavily] Dammit.

[Joy] Perle told me
you wanted another fitting.

[Paloma sighs]

Something wrong?

Yes, actually, something is wrong.

Would you change right here
in front of us, please?

[Joy] What?

You have ten seconds to tell us
what's going on with your weight.

[Ye-Ji] Oh, sh*t.

Happy?

Everybody wears padding before weighing.

You gain a few pounds, and you lose them
just in time for the show.

- Oh, my God.
- [Joy] Everybody wins.

Perle told me it was okay.

[sighs]

I need to call my mother agent right now.

[cell phone chimes]

[Paloma] We can't lose the Divorcée.
It's our finale.

[Paloma breathing deeply]

You better have a look at this.

I've decided to do
the first indoor show at LEDU.

Giving up things that pull you down.

- You know?
- Dammit.

My dad painted it for me before he died.
And I made it my signature.

[Ye-Ji] A making-of, my a*s.

It was all about posting her story.

The art of turning spontaneity
into marketing.

[Paloma, through phone]
And I made it my signature.

That dress tells the story...

This compunction to show everything.

Is nothing sacred anymore?

Good thing Perle is managing all that now.

- Tell me where we're going.
- Uh, no.

That's because after 30 years,
I can still surprise you.

We must talk about your son.

Such a mother hen. What's he done now?

Nothing, but we should anticipate.

I don't want him on the board anymore.
I'll manage his shares.

[Yann] First the father, now the son.

Here we are.

The whole oyster bed is ours.

The Creuses Fines is prizewinner
every single year.

The investment in terroir products
I've always wanted.

I'm awestruck.

- The 27th, are we taken?
- 27th?

The Celtic art competition is that day.

As mayor,
I can't possibly go without my wife,

who is known to contribute to the arts.

You have to imagine what that represents
for a man like me.

[Marie] Yes, I can imagine.

How sweet!

I won't ask you to come to Paris

to see how that little brat
has ruined my family's Maison.

I have to be at an auction anyway.
I'll make sure we're both represented.

What, you're leaving me alone?

You know I've been allergic to oysters
since that horrible weekend in Cancale.

And I'll miss my flight.

You should stay and enjoy it.
Don't worry, I have a driver.

And about your project, bravo!

Hard to miss a private jet.

Ten years ago, I was gonna do
a capsule collection of my own.

With LEDU.
The idea was streetwear couture.

The collection
I tried to steal from your closet?

Right. But this was
way before casual chic.

Vincent and Marie didn't get it at all,

my pant-legging evening wear
and sequined tracksuits.

They canceled the collection
a week before the show

because the brand's image was at stake.

That's when Vincent exiled me to PR.

Because that's the only thing
I'm good for.

I'd love to prove them wrong,
of course, but if I bail,

then they win.

And that gets me angry.

You're just better than them.

They don't deserve you.
You have too much talent.

Or maybe you're saying that
because you came three times tonight.

Maybe.

[Perle] Figure it out. I want her.

I said tomorrow. You heard me.

[whispers] I'm trying to steal
Gigi Hadid from Chanel for the Divorcée.

Were you going to tell me about Joy?

[sighs] Call you back.

I thought it was best since
we're showing the collection tomorrow.

Hmm. [scoffs]

Same with that story.

You're upset about that as well?

Was it really for the making-of
that Sophie was filming?

Or was she filming me
for a reality TV show?

I wanted people to be talking about you,
not about Vincent or Rovel.

That's my job.

The story's racked up
millions of views, by the way.

That's all that really counts?

It's who you are.

- Your words.
- Without my consent, though.

Perle, this can't work
if I can't trust you.

You wanna make money
by using all I've lived through?

You want me to fit the mold?

I'm not your enemy, Paloma.

Here's what I think.

This show is just as important
for both of us.

[Perle sighs]

What a shame if we start this new era
with a mishap

and damage the image of unity
in this Maison.

And I have the ideal replacement for Joy.

I did a story.

People are going wild.

[door closes]

After 17 years,
Perle Foster is back on the podium,

and she will be wearing a dress
that tells her story.

Ah! It gives me chills.

[sighs]

["Femme Fatale"
by The Velvet Underground playing]

[song continues]

[no audible dialogue]

[song continues]

[song continues]

[sighs]

- [Paloma] Morning!
- Morning!

How is everyone?

I brought you some croissants.

- Oh, thanks!
- That's sweet.

Careful around the dresses, ladies.

[song ends]

[phone ringing]

Hi, Mommy.

What do I wear for the show today?

- I have 3 million 8.
- [Marie] High-heeled Crocs?

I have no idea what the dress code is.

Ugly is the new cool, Mom.

I could have been dressing for your show.

An exceptional Ellsworth Kelly,
ladies and gentlemen. Truly exceptional.

Four million for Madame.

After your recent mishaps, your father
and I think it's probably a good idea

for you to be turning over a new page.

Conversion therapy?

That his plan for me now?

All we want is your happiness.



- Where are you, Ma?
- We'll talk at the show.

See you later, honey.



[bidder] 4 million to 5.

- Five million now?
- What do you think?

- Madame?
- [bidder 2, in Spanish] Five million.

[in English] Five million going once,
going twice, three times.

- [gavel bangs]
- And sold! Congratulations, Monsieur.

[audience applauding]

Who were you talking to during my sale?

The oyster man?

You might say.
Another sort of spineless creature.

[both laugh]

Risking 4.5 million on a painting
you have a version of already,

it's pretty ballsy. [laughs]

And sexy.

You know it gets me hot
driving up your commission.

[whispers] No. Hey, hey.

What would your coworkers say?

They'd say not only men
like younger women, of course.

Which is very true.

You sticking around?

I have commitments in Brittany.
I go back tonight.

Well, cancel.

You don't have to play
the good wife for once.

Huh?

What, you... are you going to
waste your whole life

because of your husband's shares?

What century is this?

I don't expect you to understand.

No, just to be
your handy l*sbian girlfriend.

If that doesn't work for you,
we can end it.

I only wish it was that simple for you.

Hmm?

But I won't let you go, Marie.

So, you gonna say yes to Rovel?

No, I'm gonna say no.

I know it's in me. I'm capable.

But the truth is,
Victor's life there sucks.

[water flowing]

He's under Diane's thumb. He's trapped.

I'm not gonna live that way.

Except you don't have to marry someone
you don't love. Just live your dream.

Right. But if I sell, I have no crown.

I'll be rich, but without a title.

Banished forever without a kingdom.

Like Elizabeth II's n*zi uncle.

- The one who rotted in France.
- Mmm.

And so what will you do?

Victor can't comprehend
why you treat him like that.

And neither can I.

Does this imply there's a man
who's richer than I am?

No, only you would think that.

Yes. In any case,
I'm the richest woman in all of Europe.

Victor has sacrificed a lot for us.

He sacrificed his family.

Next, his Maison.

And, now that he knows
I'm your deal partner,

he thinks you want to double-cross him.

He's right.

- You're sabotaging our marriage.
- As if you needed me for that!

Here.

Look at that.

Picture of your husband with Perle.

A regular Harlequin romance. Look.

That was two months ago.

Yeah, but now it's over for good.

And you believe that?

- I trust Victor.
- Are you a dolt or are you pretending?

He wants my group.

And he knows he needs you to get it.

You mean you don't need him?

You remember you told me
to marry him, don't you?

But you're not alone in that marriage.

It started before he left LEDU.

He's a smoker. He can't quit.
He'll always be that way.

This is your family.
You must play your role.

The jilted house dog?

- [Caroline] Enough.
- Navarre on the line.

[Diane] Wait. Stay!
I want you to handle our informer.

[Lucy] I'm listening.

[Navarre]
Robinson doesn't wanna betray his family.

And he wants to spill it all
to his mother at the show.

[Lucy] No, don't let him talk
to Marie Ledu.

Stick to him like glue.

Yeah, well, there are no front-row passes
for LEDU receptionists.

[Lucy] You're sleeping with the nephew
and you're handsomely paid for that.

So figure it out.

[end-of-call beeps]

I gotta hurry.
But, uh, hang out if you want.

Might see you tonight?

No pressure.

[Luca] Let's go! Let's move!

Now! Let's go, let's go.
We need some help here.

Move all the stuff over there.

All right, people,
two minutes to the test. Listen up.

[Ye-Ji] Palo, what are you doing here?

[Paloma sighs]

[Paloma] Oh, she scares me.

I'm sure she eats baby kittens.

[chuckles]

[Paloma] They all turned out
to watch me crash and burn.

[sighs]
I'm not gonna make it through this.

Hey, Palo, remember Madame Blin,
who we had in trade school,

who said we'd never make it
around the block?

- That b*tch can kiss my a*s.
- [chuckles]

- They can all kiss our asses.
- [chuckles]

They can all kiss my a*s.

Tell them, and say it
like you mean every word.

- Say it loud.
- [laughing]

- You can all kiss my a*s.
- Louder.

Kiss my a*s!

[both laughing]

Monsieur Rousteing, welcome.

Hello. Welcome.

Looking good. Let's move it, girls.
To makeup. Let's go.

Yeah, I know.

Olivier. [chuckles]

- You part of the Paloma Army?
- [Rousteing] Of course.

A young DA in an iconic Maison.

I mean, of course
I'm gonna be pumped about it.

- Thanks for the invite.
- Right.

We just hope she'll make it like you did.

Thanks. And the Robinson Army?

When is that coming out?

[chuckles]

- Well, I have a PR army.
- Mmm.

And I'm happy with that, believe me.

Okay. If you say so.

[chuckles] Bye for now.

I'm not convinced.

[Luca] One, two, three, four.
There's one missing.

Send them my way. All right.

The only thing left is over there.

Go to the other side.

Okay, yeah. Like yesterday.
It's exactly the same model.

This is it. On the other side.

Come on, pick up the pace.

[breathing heavily]

[sighs]

[sighs]

[sighs]

Yes?

[Caroline] Did Dad cheat on you?

[medical device bleeps]

Sex never mattered much to your father.

All he wanted was a child.

Unlike you.

I didn't marry your father for love.

He was older.
He wanted someone to bear his child.

I wanted status.

[Caroline] So marriages of convenience
are a family tradition.

[Diane] It's the only real leverage
we have.

And don't tell me how times have changed.

We'll always be reduced
to what's between our legs.

[Caroline] So we let him believe
he's going to be CEO?

[Diane] Victor will get over it.
He'll be very rich.

And when he figures out that you had
no intention of holding up your end?

You can divorce him.

Don't tell me that you're happy, Caroline.

The only thing he saw in you was me.

[breathing shakily]

It's happening just as you planned, huh?

You plan everything in advance.

I saw to it you were taken care of.

Your future and that of your daughter.

We'll show them
the only good family name to wear

is ours.

[Paloma] Okay, come on, tell me.

The dress is done, not the train.

And Perle ditched the fitting
five minutes out.

Oh, sh*t.

We have to cancel the Divorcée.

I'm not canceling it.
They'll just have to wait.

Excuse me. She can't be far.

[guest] Wow! Amazing!

[Marie] How original.

It's like a Christo
fashioned out of trash.

After Galliano's Hobo collection, this is
the Dumpster collection by Paloma Castel.

[Marie chuckles]

It's like a flea market.

Definitely not Bloomingdale's.

Mmm. Mom, hey, I have to talk to you.

Victor is a...

Hello.

So, this your mom?

I'm surprised you're here.

I'm here.

Company policy sanctions
workplace harassment severely.

Are you a consenting adult?

[chuckles] Mom.

[Marie] Excuse me.

Excellent life choice once again.

[phone chimes]

[Luca] Need some help here.

Who is at the station?

I'm just bowled over by the depth and
the sheer inspiration of Paloma Castel.

[phone ringing]

Yes, Sophie, sorry. I'll call you back.

Yeah, Robinson, sorry,
but Caroline Rovel is here. What do I say?

Honestly, if I were you, I'd kick her out.

- Come on.
- It's your call. You run PR for us now.

- So it's up to you.
- Okay.

Of course, you'd be throwing


She owns half the industry,

and you'd never work for another Maison.

Right, that's the job. Double-edged sword.

- Good luck.
- [scoffs]

[breathing heavily]

Are you gonna pull another Rachel?

Can't seem to breathe.

That b*tch trapped me.

I'm too old to model.

Look at me.

I'm ridiculous.

You're stunning, in my opinion.

And what an opportunity to flip the bird
at Vincent and the whole family.

This is your chance. It's perfect.

You don't let them win
if you own it. Enjoy.

If only you could take
some of your own advice.

- Ah.
- [chuckles]

Oh.

[Paloma] What the hell are you doing?

It's gonna begin.
The Divorcée is not even ready.

I'll be right there.

[Paloma sighs]

[both laughing]

You look fantastic, Caroline.

Are you looking for inspiration?

And look who else has shown up!

Victor in the front row,
Perle on the podium.

It's like a blast from the past.
I'm so elated.

[Luca] Hold it, hold it.
Céline. Céline, go over there.

Let's go! Hurry it up.

All right.

You okay, Perle?



Okay, um...

Okay. Stop sewing. Uh...

We'll pin it. We'll pin it.

[chattering indistinctly]

Vincent has his faults,
but he was always on time.

No, no, it's time now, Paloma.
We've gotta go. We've gotta go right away.

I know, I know. Yes, yes.

Shall we go?

Let's go, yeah.

We've done the best we could.
Now let's go. Go.

- Showtime.
- [Luca] Hit it.

- We're a go.
- Okay.

We're starting. All set.

Stand by now.

[exclaiming]

- [electronic music playing]
- Go.

[music continues]

[music continues through tablet]

[music continues]

You know, about that fresh start
I mentioned to you this morning.

You should let me manage
your shares in the Maison.

You leave all that business to me.

And meantime you take up a hobby,
just like your father has.

That receptionist there.
I'm sure he's fun.

Take him on a trip around the world,
I don't know.

It'll be a load off your shoulders
in the end.

[music continues]

Okay, go.

All right.

- I've gotta go.
- Okay.

Monique, a pin.
Quick, quick, quick, quick.

That's it.

You're magnificent.

Okay.

[music continues]

[attendees gasp]

[audience applauding, cheering]

[audience cheering]

Paloma, you have to go out.

Paloma, you have to go out, take a bow.
Come on.

What were you going to say before?

No idea.

["Mama's Got Game"
by Amy Caddies McKnight playing]

[crowd applauding, cheering]

[song continues]

No way.

[Caroline] Underestimated
by your own mother. I know.

Welcome to the club.

We're not members of the same club.

Taking over for Victor
and trying to enlist me?

Trouble in paradise, Sue Ellen?

We have much more in common
than you think, Robinson.

We really want you at Rovel.
You'd have your rightful place.

Call me tomorrow.

Hmm.

You all right?

[no audible dialogue]

[Vincent] Good trip?

[Perle] Yes, thank you.

[Vincent] You were magnificent.

Her show too.

Don't you agree?

I say it was good, I dig my own grave.

If I say it was bad,
the whole world digs it for me.

- What should I say?
- Be honest.

- What's your straightforward opinion?
- [sighs]

It wasn't too bad.

There you are.

I'm sure she'd want to know that.
Your opinion matters to her.

Despite what she says.

Right, what shall I make for lunch?

Nothing.

I've gotta go.

So soon?

Yep.

You remember in 2005? In my last show?

Mm-hmm.

You thought I was overweight.

You gave me two weeks to lose 12 pounds.

I was pregnant.

Victor's.

No, you didn't ask me.
I'd made my own choice.

That was my job.

You took precedence over all the rest.

[sighs] Even myself.

And, um, did Victor know?

No.

The important thing is
I knew it'd be unbearable to you.

Because from the start, the day we met,

you couldn't imagine I'd be interested
in anyone else in the world.

Your brother least of all.

The day after the show,

you told me it would be my last.

Slim as I was.

But a little too old, I guess.

[sighs]

And then Victor married Caroline.

I truly am a monster, then?

I don't know, Vincent.

All I really know is that around you,
people are at their worst.

You cultivate the worst in them.

Thanks, Brigitte.

Hello. Hi.

How are you?

What?

My mother will announce on her birthday

she's handing you the reins of the group.

Congratulations.

You got what you wanted.

[Caroline sighs]

But...

you and I are still a team?

I'm there for you whatever comes our way.

[Victor] Thank you.