Lipstick Jungle: Chapter Seven: Carpe Threesome (Episode 7)

Taking it to the streets: The ladies walk and talk.

Kirby & Nico have that kind of couples shower that only happens on TV or in the movies. Nobody's bitching about not getting under the spray, or getting shampoo in their eyes It's all very Danielle Steele, though I'm sure Ms. Steele would have put them in a clawfoot tub. Nico's nooner is interrupted when her assistant calls with an invitation to a Knicks-viewing party at the hotel suite of NHL Ranger team member Parks and his wife Kelly. As the couple is going to be on the cover of Bonfire, Nico accepts before going back to more post-shower smooches with Kirby.

Returning to the office, an awkward silent enounter with Wendy in the elevator. Wendy's wearing a huge vintagey necklace that would look great on me. Alas, I don't have a budget for fine jewelry (I can barely afford Claire's!). Nico gets off the elevator without saying a word, which is just as well, as Salvador pounces on Wen as soon as she arrives at the Parador office. A big picture starts shooting soon, and Lorraine Lippman, their screenwriter, still hasn't turned in her script. Even though Shane's out of town leaving Wendy to manage their home life, Wendy assures Salvador and her assistant Taylor that she'll get the script.

Victory is scrambling at home/work, as Joe is on his way over for a surprise meeting. Is he just trying to show her that he's in control? Roy seems to think so, but is confident Victory can be her professional self and not freak out. But Joe's got champagne and chocolates in the car. Why can't she just admit that she misses him? She challenges Joe, telling him to sell the company or at least schedule a proper meeting in a conference room and not in a car, and leaves, but not before snagging some hazelnut truffles.

The NBA party. Kelly and Parks (hello, Bobby Cannavale!) are friendly, especially to Victory, who's third-wheeling it with Charles and Nico. Charles isn't much on socializing, so he leaves early. With Victory hitting the after-party with Kelly and Parks, who hire her to style them for the cover shoot, Nico sneaks off for another assignation with Kirby. It's all hot and whatever, so much so that she ignores several calls from Charles. She finally takes something like the 17th call, and it's a doozy. She springs out of bed, panicking and dressing while Kirby is confused. Nico spits it out -- Charles had a heard taack -- before heading out to the hospital.

Wendy visit Lorraine at home, who is all talk about anything -- her romantic life, Wendy's heels, chicken curry -- anything but the script. Wendy agrees to have dinner, but not without a frustrated sigh.

Nico finds Charles at the hospital -- he's conscious, but the doctor (who points out they had to call several times, adulterer!) still has to run some tests to see full impact of the attack. Vic interrupts her carousing with Kelly and Parks to be with her. In a touching moment, she tells Victory that she was with kirby, and that she'd ignored the calls. Nico can't stop thinking about what might happened if Charles hadn't been able to dial 911 himself. Victory tells her it's about what she does from now on, so no need to dwell on what did not happen. Wendy comes, too, and she and Nico cry and hug and then cry some more. Nothing like a medical emergency to bring people together.

In the morning, Wendy makes it back to work to announce that production will begin, as she expects Lorraine's script that afternoon. On a saucier note, both Parks and Kelly make a pass at Victory while she is fitting them both for clothes. After an argument with Joe on the phone, Victory seems open to the possibility of a threesome, anything to move on.

At the hospital, Charles is a grouchy patient, which Nico sees as a sign of his improvement. He likes being with her alone, as it's been a while. It would seem to be a good moment to not tell him about Kirby, so she just tells him that she loves him and leaves to get the papers.

Back at Parador, Josh gives Wendy the bad news -- Lorraine is M.I.A. Wendy gets Lorraine on the phone, but it's a brief call that does nothing to assuage her fears that she will be totally screwed. As much as she'd like to work on the issue a bit further, she has to meet Victory so they can take Charles a few gifts at the hospital. Victory tells her about the pass from Kelly and Parks, wanting to know what she thinks. Wendy just shrugs and tells her to go for it if she feels okay with it. Wendy! Really!

Megan, Charles's hopelessly devoted graduate student, finds Nico at the hospital. She brought Charles's work down from Columbia. Where Nico is less emotional (though no less traumatized), Megan's on the verge of tears? "We're not going to lose him, are we?" while Nico's all "Who is this 'we'? Do you have a mouse in your pocket?" She didn't, but I kinda wish she had before booting Megan out the door. Nico coolly says she will tell Charles that Megan stopped by. In Charles's books she finds a note: "Thanks for everything. Miss you. M." It's written on pink paper. Is she just a student with a harmless crush?, Nico asks Wendy and Victory when they arrive. Nico was, once upon a time, and she married the professor. Wendy asks her, gently, what is Nico prepared to do about it. As way of an answer (to the viewers, if not Wendy), Nico makes her way to Kirby's apartment.

Victory arrives at Parks and Kelly's suite -- she's overdressed, as she's wearing, you know, clothes, and they're not. Okay, they're in robes. But they're drinking champagne. We've clearly gone past suggestive straight to seduction.

Wendy finally finds lorraine, who's actually almost finished the script. She doesn't want to finish because she's old and worried it's the last script she'll ever write. Screenwriters like her are in fear of losing their jobs to 20 year olds. Tip to Lorraine: get a computer. I think it might help. Wendy thinks that her talent will also get her work, and signs a note card promising Lorraine a blind contract for her next script. Future assured, Lorraine gets to work on her typewriter.

The threesome with Parks and Kelly seems to be going well for Victory, who gets liquored up. However, Parks and Kelly fight over his tendency to "hog the girl". No, Victory, you're not the first girl they've taken to bed, though it seems as though she might be the last. Victory beats a hasty retreat while Parks and Kelly pout.

Kirby's kitchen. He thinks the possibility that Charles is having an affair means that they should continue. Of course he does. Meanwhile, Nico realizes that all she wants is her marriage back. So she breaks it off.

Lorraine finishes the script while Wendy sleeps on her couch. Lorraine thanks her, musing that maybe Wendy should just move in with her whenever she has a script to finish. Wendy is flattered, though she doesn't think Parador or her family would appreciate that so much.

Victory calls Joe to apologize, asking him to come back into her professional and personal life. He might have said yes if he hadn't already bedded an anonymous blonde who Victory hears. Victory hangs up and begins to cry.

Over coffee at the hospital, Nico tells Wendy that she broke it off with Kirby. Wendy somehow manages to keep herself from doing the happy dance. Nico knows that it's the right decision, but she can't help but feel not okay about it.

Roy, my favorite of the "Lipstick Jungle" men, finds Victory at the kitchen table. She doesn't tell him about the call to Joe, though it's plain to see she's had a rough night. Roy hangs up his coat, suggests they take the day off to play hooky, and starts making them pancakes. Roy clearly wins the best assistant award. Take that, Taylor!