MASTERS OF SEX: MANHIGH {FIRST SEASON FINALE} (TV)
Summary
The first season finale in this drama series based on the book by Thomas Maier about the groundbreaking research into human sexuality conducted by Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson. In this episode, Ethan spends time with Gini and the kids before heading off to California for a job interview, and Henry excitedly watches on TV as Major David Simons is sent 19 miles above the earth with the aid of a balloon. Libby and Jane nervously prepare for Bill's highly-anticipated study presentation, and Margaret finally confronts Barton about his secret homosexuality, upset to learn that he knew of his true feelings even before they met. She accuses him of "stealing" her life with his lie, but he assures her that he is seeing a specialist for help. Gini continues working with Lillian, and Bill asks Barton to present a "united front" with him to the other doctors, despite the fact that he blackmailed him into permitting the study in the first place. Margaret talks to Dr. Ellenberg and is shocked by the dangerous and painful "treatment" options for Barton, including electroshock therapy, and Bill coldly dismisses Jane's suggestion of inviting Gini to the presentation, pointing out that she quit. Libby then asks Gini herself, but Gini awkwardly declines.
Lillian meets with Chancellor Fitzhugh and asks for Bill's financial "deal," but he reminds her that Bill brings extensive revenue to the hospital and that she herself has few patients, urging her to "grab their attention" with a breakthrough. Gini opts to attend the presentation at the last minute and the other doctors are at first impressed with Bill's innovative ideas, but he then introduces the films of Jane's internal organs and of Gini's participation, though without showing her face, and states that women's sexual abilities are "vastly superior" to men's. Fitzhugh angrily stops the presentation and calls Bill's work "smut," and the other doctors leave in protest. Barton, however, assures Bill that he will still support him, exasperated with "small-minded" attitudes about sexuality. Lester panics about his involvement in the scandal, though Jane reassures him, and Bill compares himself to the long-misunderstood Darwin and to Elvis Presley. Gini tells Henry that Major Simons surely had "helpers" with his own scientific project, and when the other doctors do not arrive for Bill's would-be celebratory dinner, Libby points out that the film was indeed shocking. Bill refuses to tell her who the female subject was, though declines that it was Gini.
Margaret, fearful for her husband's safety, asks Barton not to undergo the "primitive" treatments. Jane defends Gini against leering doctors at the hospital, and Gini talks to Lillian about a revolutionary new contraceptive pill, though Lillian states that she intends to focus solely on her important but unexciting goal about pap smears. Barton informs Bill that they are both going to be fired over the presentation, admitting that he has always envied Bill's daring nature. Gini is stunned when Ethan phones from California and proposes to her, explaining that he has received a promising offer from UCLA and wants to build a life with her and her children. When they are hauled before Fitzhugh, Bill pretends that he lied to Barton and "bamboozled" him into allowing the study, and Barton alone is allowed to keep his position. Jane frets to Lester about her guilt over Bill's firing, but Lester comforts her and the two end up kissing. Libby goes into labor and is taken to a predominantly black hospital nearby, and after giving birth to a son, she opts not to call Bill right away. Barton tells Bill that he is going to undergo the ECT after all, sure that he can "cure" himself, and Bill angrily smashes his former office window when he finds that the locks have already been changed. Gini discovers that Bill put her name on the study in acknowledgement of her work, and he arrives at her home in the rain, emotionally stating that he has realized that he cannot live without her.
Details
- NETWORK: Showtime
- DATE: 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:57
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 117032
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBT Collection - Drama; Drama, historical; Drama, medical; Women's Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: Showtime - TV series, 2013-2016
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Judith Verno … Executive Producer
- Amy Lippman … Executive Producer
- Sarah Timberman … Executive Producer
- Carl Beverly … Executive Producer
- Michelle Ashford … Executive Producer, Developed by, Writer
- Tyler Bensinger … Co-Executive Producer
- Richard Levine … Consulting Producer
- Lyn Greene … Consulting Producer
- Tammy Rosen … Producer
- Michael Sheen … Producer
- Michael Dinner … Producer, Director
- Greg Prange … Producer
- Thomas Maier … Producer, Based on the book by
- Valerie Joseph … Co-Producer
- Chris Leanza … Associate Producer
- Aaron Klemanski … Associate Producer
- Michael Penn … Music by
- Michael Sheen … Cast, Dr. William Masters
- Lizzy Caplan … Cast, Virginia Johnson
- Caitlin FitzGerald … Cast, Libby Masters
- Teddy Sears … Cast, Dr. Austin Langham
- Nicholas D'Agosto … Cast, Dr. Ethan Haas
- Beau Bridges … Cast, Barton Scully
- Julianne Nicholson … Cast, Dr. Lillian DePaul
- Heléne Yorke … Cast, Jane Martin
- Kevin Christy … Cast, Lester Linden
- Garrett M. Brown … Cast, Chancellor Fitzhugh
- Jason Kravits … Cast, Doctor
- James Eckhouse … Cast, Dr. Chuck Ingram
- Robert Joy … Cast, Dr. Ellenberg
- Allison Janney … Cast, Margaret Scully
- Cole Sand … Cast, Henry Johnson
- Kayla Madison … Cast, Tessa Johnson
- Tim Ransom … Cast, Dr. Rish
- Linara Washington … Cast, Lini
- Blake Robbins … Cast, Security Guard Brown
- Jocelyn Ayanna … Cast, Bitsy
- Wiley Pickett … Cast, Colonel Stapp
- George Jonson … Cast, Major Simons