ZOE SUMMARY: February 13, 2008

Tonight's ep, for Zoe, was all about work. Completely. As in we didn't see one wink of her kids or adorable husband. Instead, we saw a series of increasingly frustrating examples of sexism in the workplace. It was incredibly irritating, actually, how sexist the workplace seemed in this episode, but I guess the show can't always sugarcoat reality so the women can coast along on their careers to the top.


We started with the situation, as laid out by Zoe's boss. A big client is coming in town, hoping to set up some philanthropic fund. Both Zoe and her really annoying, misogynistic colleague Clayton are assigned to lock down the client. Making the deal may mean a big promotion. But only for one of them. Dun dun dun!


Of course, Zoe jumps at it, but Clayton cautions her that this client is "a man's man" and tells her that he knows much better how to handle the client than she does, none of which makes her particularly happy. He brings up the promotion and how important it would be for him, to which she responds how important it would be for her. And then, because he wasn't quite annoying enough with his sexist comments, there was this piece of dialog.

Clayton: If you got this job, you could literally say goodbye to your kids until you see them at their weddings, maybe.
Zoe: You have kids.
Clayton: And a wife. Who doesn't work.
Zoe: Screw you, Clayt.

Yes, screw him indeed, sexist idiot. I really wish he'd just suddenly be gone from the picture. It seems that all of Zoe's work problems stem from him in some way (the Katherine ordeal being of course exacerbated by his doings).

Anyway, the client comes, with, surprise!, his beautiful, professional-looking wife in tow. She obviously has a lot of influence on him during the meeting and after it, she talks to Zoe, when Clayton grabs the client. The wife apparently connects with Zoe, telling her she understands how hard it is for a woman--especially a mother--in this field of work.

Yay, the wife likes her! That's one step. However, the wife is unable to make it to the meeting. Although Clayton tries to get Zoe to back off and not attend either, she stands her ground, even when Clayton suggests that they hold the meeting, not at a restaurant, but at a "modern geisha house," where beautiful Asian women obey the customer's every desire.

Zoe is, of course, disgusted by this. The picture above is when the two of them are discussing the potential meeting. Clayton insists, though, that he knows his man, the client, and that the client would love it there. Because he's male. So Zoe goes along too, determined not to be left behind.


[If anyone's wondering, the sign on the door says "Welcome" in Simplified Chinese. Yes, college education! You're good for something!]

At the club, scantily-clad Asian women massage their feet, while the men relax. Zoe starts to bring up business, although Clayton shakes his head no, saying that now's not the time. However, the client happens to like Zoe's idea, saying that she thinks just like his wife does. It's a deal! All is good, until the client's phone rings just as Clayton was suggesting some time with the ladies in the private rooms upstairs. It's the client's wife, telling him that the opera ended early and she's going to meet them at the restaurant they're at. Zoe helps the client with a cover, saying they're already on their way out, and the two boys run upstairs to play.

The last major scene for Zoe is the showdown scene. She walks in the room, very coolly, with her long red coat, to find that everyone seems to be celebrating. There is champagne, laughter, general absentminded milling about of people who would normally be at their desks working. What's the cause of all this merriment?


Turns out the boss found out that the deal went through and somebody got a promotion! That somebody being Clayton, not Zoe. Zoe is understandably angry and confronts the boss, who makes some remarks about how promotions are complicated business and patronizes her for a few minutes, while Zoe explains that she has worked longer and harder than Clayton, and also that the deal went through because of her, not him. She then realizes, out loud, that the boss has never promoted to that level a woman or a non-White man. The boss says "I don't like what you're insinuating," to which she responds "I'm not insinuating anything." And then she quits.

Yes, there we have it. Zoe, the most work-driven out of all of them, is now jobless. Will she be the next desperate housewife? Will she make it back to the top? We'll find out (I'm assuming) next episode!

For the complete episode summary, click here.