Tuesday Night Book Club, Episode 2: An Affair to Remember

The episode begins with a quote from Katharine Hepburn: “If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married.” Lynn and Jamie look upset. Tina’s phone rings. She puts off a work related call and helps her daughter with her homework. Another daughter wants dinner, but the phone rings with work again. Tina is doing her best to show us that she’s conflicted and pulled in a bunch of different directions. She tells her son that he needs to bring in the garbage. Her daughter asks her to focus.

It’s Tuesday night, so it’s time for book club. They’re reading She’s Come Undone, at least in theory. Once again, no one has read the book. Tina offers snacks, but Lynn says no- she and Jenn have “a figure competition.” Lynn says it’s like a glorified bikini contest, body building lite. The two compare body types. The voiceover tells us that Lynn has sacrificed a lot for her perfect body, and we’re reminded that she and her new husband Eddie argue a lot. She doesn’t get home most nights until 7:00 or 8:00, and Eddie feels neglected. Lynn says he didn’t even want to go to the competition. The women all agree that he should go.

Tina, the voiceover reminds us, is divorced and has to sacrifice a lot to take care of her kids. Her husband is dating a much younger woman, and the entire family is in therapy. The kids give her a report card every week- last week, she got a C and was devastated. She wants to focus on making sure she gets an A. She says she feels guilty every night.

Kirin, as you may recall, also has challenges with her marriage. She feels empty and lonely. She tells her friends that she has a lot and shouldn’t complain, but she wants some intimacy. They took a motorcycle ride last week- remember the sexy outfit? Kirin says it was very romantic. She suggested they go to bed early that night, hint, hint, nudge, nudge. But he spent the evening detailing his motorcycle. Jenn says she should have gone to the garage and nailed him. I like the way that Jenn thinks.

Sara wonders how to cope with growing up and starting a new business. She sells sarongs; she used to make them for herself, but she got so many compliments that she decided to start her own business. She realizes that she’s going to have to make some personal sacrifices if she wants to make it. She hates having to spend a big six hours at the office. Aw, poor baby.

Jamie, on the other hand, is confused about whether or not to stay married. She doesn’t want to make the wrong choice.

Jenn relaxes at home and spends about two seconds reading her book before she calls the other women. She has a surprise for them all. They’re hoping for a stripper, but no such luck- it’s a dermatologist who will give them all Botox, compliments of Jenn. They don’t look thrilled.

Lynn wonders if she will be able to move her forehead. They try to fix Tina up with the doctor. Cris doesn’t want any Botox. Jenn goes first with an injection in her lips. Lynn goes next as the rest of the women look on in a combination of horror and fascination. Sara is the next patient, and the women tell her she looks hot. Jenn, unused to her new lips, spills some wine. She and Sara kiss and marvel that they can’t feel their lips. It is not sexy.

Kirin is trying to get the nerve to talk to her husband Alan about “her unmet needs.” She interrupts him as he’s working on his laptop and says she hates his motorcycles. She recalls the night with the bike ride. He had no idea that she wanted him to come to bed with her. He asks her to be direct- he says he doesn’t get subtle. She cries and says she feels really lonely, like she’s second to the motorcycles. He blinks disbelievingly at her while she looks sad. Just about every scene in this show ends with someone looking sad, so get used to it.

Kirin and Jamie hang out at Kirin’s house. Jamie says she loves her husband, but she’s not in love with him. Kirin asks her how long she’s been having an affair. It’s been a year and a half. Jamie says she sometimes thinks she and her husband can work through it. Her husband Matt knows about the other man and is trying to understand it. Kirin says that somebody always gets hurt. Jamie admits that she does care about the other person. She’s not sure if she’d be fulfilled if she stayed married. Kirin asks if she’s going to be able to stay in her marriage. As is the norm for this show, Jamie responds by staring sadly off into the distance.

A song about “dirty little secrets” plays as Kirin tells Tina and Cris that she had no idea about Jamie’s affair. Cris thinks it’s common among women who get married young. Tina says that Jamie’s had multiple affairs and can’t believe Matt keeps taking her back. Kirin thinks he must really love her. Tina thinks he must not have any self esteem. Cris figures Jamie doesn’t respect him after all of this. Tina agrees- that’s why she’s falling away from him.

Sara and Jamie go to a tarot card reader. The reader tells Jamie that she’s pulled in two different directions at home and changes her mind a lot. Does she want her true soul mate? You can’t always tell who that is. She’s determined to make the right decision, the reader says, so Jamie needs to figure it out. Well, that wasn’t very helpful. Jamie looks sad. Again.

The reader does Sara next. It’s time for her to make a work-related transition. She describes a man who will help her and says it’ll happen soon.

Sara goes to her parents’ house. Her mom isn’t buying that the card reader is the one whose advice Sara should follow. Sara’s dad says that she needs to find a buyer. Sara isn’t worried about that. She needs to do some more research on how to run her business. Sara wishes someone would do the work for her. Her mom recalls that Sara has always had trouble making sacrifices. Sara says she loves massages, for example, and needs one a week. Her mom thinks she should give it up. Her dad thinks she’s holding herself back.