- The entire Roy clan travels to Logan's hometown of Dundee, Scotland, for a celebration of Logan's 50 years in the business; Kendall becomes enamored with Jennifer, an actress in Willa's play; a former employee proves difficult to silence.
- Credits Roll.
The sign outside of the Barrymore Theatre shouts, Willa Ferreyra's new play SANDS. The premier performance after party is underway, and Connor Roy (Alan Ruck) is thanking those in attendance. He is with his prostitute/live-in girlfriend, Willa (Justine Lupe) the screenwriter. Some of the Roy family are present, along with the principle players. Willa thanks the cast. The bar is open and Shiv (Sarah Snook) complains to her husband, Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) that the celebration dinner for her father's 50 years in Journalism is getting out of hand. What started as an intimate dinner has evolved into something much more elaborate. Shiv complains, "She [Rhea] went full on. She's turning it into a f**king surprise party Rhea produced Logan-athon." The male lead in the play, Chris (Saamer Usmani) intentionally bumps into Shiv at the bar. They exchange a nod and briefly chat. Tom is present and witnesses the brief encounter and realizes that Shiv knows the man, and suspects they were, at one time, intimate. He asks his wife, "Is that him?" On their wedding night, Shiv proposed a somewhat open marriage, and Tom, facing a fait accompli, agreed. Willa complains to Connor, "Its construction sand and it's supposed to be desert sand. I mean, can we fix that?" Connor shakes his head and replies, "Sure." Producing his girlfriend's play has cost a great deal of money and prospects for a breakeven or return on his investment is looking very dim indeed. Kendall (Jeremy Strong) interrupts to congratulate Willa. Acknowledging the play's poor quality, Connor confesses to Ken, "This is the worst it'll be. It can only get better." Insulted, Willa walks off to talk to the cast. Ken asks his brother about the female lead in the play, Jennifer (Sydney Lemmon). Ken is interested, but Connor suspects this complication may add to his financial woes. Shiv asks Ken about Rhea's planned tribute videos. It seems Rhea arranged for all of Logan's children to provide a tribute to their father that will be presented at the dinner in Dundee. Shiv is trying to get her brothers to help her undermine Rhea's efforts. Ken tries his best to deflect her so he can chase after Jennifer.
The tribute videos are recorded at Waystar-Royco headquarters. First up is Roman (Kieran Culkin). He is so unconvincing and insincere that the audio engineer (Bryan Burton) asks for another take, but won't explain his reasons. Roman does another take that makes it clear he is done. Connor and Shiv wait in the Green Room and talk about the upcoming Dundee Dinner. Shiv asks Roman if he thinks Logan is intimately involved with Rhea. Roman doesn't like the tone of Shiv's comments and asks, "You all wedgied up because Rhea stood on your back and worked your arms like an elliptical [machine]?" Roman and Connor laugh. Connor does his video salute to his dad, and his sounds sincere. Kendall arrives in the Green Room. Roman immediately queries Ken about his sex life. Ken makes it clear to Shiv that he wants no part of Shiv's plan to stop Rhea. Ken does agree it might be better to stick together as a family. He is called to record his video greeting to his dad.
The family and senior company executives are on the company jet heading for Scotland. Greg Hirsch (Nicholas Braun) asks Connor about the sand used in "Sands". He tells Connor there is some kind of parasite living in the sand and he is now infested with the mites. Connor claims he has no liability if there is something living in the sand. He suggests Greg take it up with the sand supplier. Logan states, to no one in particular, "Three thousand miles to pose with signage. Thank f**k I'm not busy." The company attorney, Gerri Kellman (J. Cameron-Smith) tells Logan that it is not too late to cancel. Logan wishes to proceed, and credits Rhea as having a good idea. It will be good PR. And speaking of PR, Karolina (Dagmara Dominczyk) sits down next to Logan to provide an update on an urgent company matter. Gerri nods to Karolina to proceed. Karolina explains that an employee in the accounting department, one James Weissel, has gone rogue and threatens to publicly expose details of the Brightstar/Cruise Division misdeeds. It seems that Mr. Weissel has been with the company a long time and knows where all the bodies are buried, no pun intended. Hugo Baker (Fisher Stevens) is in on the impromptu meeting. Logan makes it clear he doesn't want to hear about this. He tells Karolina, Hugo and Gerri to take care of the matter. Shiv talks to her stepmother, Marcia (Hiam Abbass) about Rhea. Shiv intimates that Rhea and Logan are physically involved. Marcia is not concerned, apparently Logan has done this before. Marcia explains to Shiv, "Don't worry about me. I'm not a child. I don't piss on the carpet every time it thunders." Shiv tries to salvage the conversation, "I just think we share some similar interests." Shiv walks to the back of the airplane. Marcia returns to reading her book after a quick glance at her husband.
The Roy entourage drives through the streets of Dundee, Scotland. They pass a bandstand in a park and Connor asks Logan to reminisce about his childhood. Marcia states, "You and Ewan were lucky to make it out to Canada." Logan mentions that he and his brother returned for their mother's funeral. Logan's return to the old country is bittersweet. The cars pull up to the hotel and everyone gets out. The hotel manager personally greets Logan outside. Shiv confronts Rhea in the parking lot. Rhea was waiting for Logan to arrive. "Hello. So, are you a person who can't look someone in the eye after you f**ked them?" Rhea responds, "I acted in good faith. I put you forward to Pierce, and it got out of hand. Your dad obviously felt out of the loop, and it wasn't as I intended." Shiv ignores the lie, and then asks about the CEO search. She notes that Rhea has included herself on the small list of candidates. Inside the hotel, Roman wants to discuss the Rhea situation with Gerri. Roman has come to calling Rhea, "the little blonde goblin." Gerri tells Roman that she and Frank are concerned. Logan is spending more time with Rhea and less attending to company matters. Gerri tells Roman that Eduard Asgarov has been invited to the dinner. She suggests that Roman court Eduard more intensely for financial involvement so Waystar-Royco can be taken private.
Jennifer gets a phone call from Kendall. He is inviting her to join him in Scotland, but Jennifer is concerned about her part in the play. Ken assures her she's not critical to its success. Marcia and Logan walk to their room, but Logan's bodyguard, Colin (Scott Nicholson) pulls him aside. Marcia takes the opportunity to confront Rhea with her concerns, "Are you regularly tested for sexually transmitted diseases?" Rhea is taken off guard. Marcia adds, "He and I still sleep together. I don't know what he tells you...So I will be more relaxed to know that you are clean. I don't know who else you're screwing." She reinforces her warning to Rhea by explaining her history of fighting for the men in her life. When Logan returns, Marcia and Colin depart. Logan chats with Rhea. Rhea intimates that Shiv and Marcia are barriers to their plans.
The family gathers in the hotel dining room. They have reserved it for themselves. They strategize on how best to sabotage Rhea's plan to succeed Logan as CEO of Waystar-Royco. Shiv proposes some ideas, but it is Roman who suggests the nuclear option, "Tell her to ask about Rose." Even Shiv is taken aback. Shiv asks her husband to woo Rhea to make Logan jealous. Roman explains his plan about Rose to Kendall. We never learn the story of Logan's sister Rose, but it is well understood by those close to him that it is a taboo subject. Rhea knows nothing of this and forges ahead with the toast. She asks Kendall for some suggestions, and Kendall casually mentions that a toast to Logan's mother, Helen, would be nice. Kendall adds, "I don't know, maybe mention Rose. His sister Rose who is no longer with us. He might appreciate that." Having pulled the pin on the grenade, Kendall waits and watches. Toast made, Logan puts his champagne glass down without drinking. There is an awkward silence, followed by some murmuring. Rhea realizes she has been played. Rhea tries to get close to Roman, but he sees right through her overture. Connor tells Logan that he is overextended financially. The cost of both the play and his presidential campaign has left him cash poor. Logan dismisses his oldest son with, "Yeah, don't worry son. I'm sure you'll work it out." Next on Shiv's agenda is to show Logan that Rhea is telling him what he wants to believe about Rhea. She is Liberal, and that she is a non-drinker. Logan is taking all this in. Connor decides to make a toast aimed at getting back at his dad.
On the street near Logan's childhood home, Greg complains about the bugs he got at Willa's play to anyone who will listen. Logan is expected soon to examine the house, but shows no interest and drives off leaving his family standing on the street. Gerri briefs Shiv on the Brightstar scandal. Since Logan doesn't want anything to spoil his visit, Gerri consults Shiv for official approvals of actions. So far, the crisis team has offered Weissel $10 million. Next on Logan's tour is a visit to a School of Journalism he has endowed. Rhea confronts Kendall on the Rose fiasco. She tries to win Kendall back but he is suspicious. The plaque ceremony outside is over when Logan's brother Ewan (James Cromwell) offers some observations, "Are you gonna change the name of the airport, too? As you fly off? The Logan Roy School of Journalism. What's next? The Jack the Ripper Women's Health Clinic?" The brothers are estranged. Observing this exchange is Greg. Greg is Ewan's only grandchild. So Greg is actually Logan's grand-nephew. Logan receives a robo-call regarding the upcoming shareholder meeting. Greg and Ewan chat. Ewan makes it clear to his grandson that he wants Greg to leave his position at Waystar-Royco, under penalty of disinheritance. That amounts to about $250 million.
Roman meets Eduard Asgarov (Babak Tafti) in a pub. Eduard is watching a soccer match on TV. He tells Roman he might want to buy a team, pack it, flip it, and walk away richer. Then Eduard proposes a joint venture with Roman to buy the Hearts team. Kendall is "entertaining" Jennifer in his hotel room. Connor knocks on the door. He is aware Jennifer has taken temporary leave from the play and pleads with Kendall to send her back to the U.S. In Shiv's room she meets with her brothers and again pleads for their help with the Rhea situation. All three brothers tell her to give it up.
It is time for the dedication and all the guests are arriving at the venue. Shiv and Tom walk towards the building and to her dismay, Tom agrees with Shiv's brothers, "...maybe there is a world in which Rhea makes more sense for me is the truth." Logan and Marcia prepare to depart for the party. Logan is expecting a small gathering. He hates large gatherings and surprises. Marcia reveals nothing. His bodyguard, Colin, drives them. Inside the hall a band is playing. Karl (David Rasche) and Cyd Peach (Jeannie Berlin) chat. Everyone is dressed formally. On a balcony above, Ewan tells his grandson, Greg, "Feting the King. Tacitus comes to mind. He's made a wasteland and calls it an empire." [Note: the actual quote is generally agreed to be, "They made a desert, and call it peace." So Ewan's observation would be a paraphrase.] Ewan reminds Greg that he expects a resignation. Logan has arrived at the venue, and Rhea reminds the guests that it is a surprise party. Logan walks in with Marcia to a chorus of "Surprise!" Logan turns tail and walks out. Marcia convinces him to return to the gathering. Kendall and Jennifer review some of the displays covering Logan's life. Jennifer realizes two important things: She values her acting and isn't impressed with Kendall's fawning behavior towards his dad. She makes a poor impression when introduced to Logan. Logan and Shiv decide to call a truce for the evening. Shiv gives her dad a gift. It is a book of photographs. They are all houses they've lived in. Logan recognizes none of them. Logan admits that perhaps Rhea isn't the appropriate choice for CEO. He makes an overture to Shiv, but Gerri interrupts. Greg and Logan discuss Greg's future while in the bathroom. Logan leaves the decision entirely up to Greg. Gerri briefs the crisis team. Hugo explains to the group that Weissel refused $20 million. Frank (Peter Friedman) and Cyd agree it could be that Weissel has a backer. In addition Weissel will probably go public with his allegations. The news will sour any CEO announcement. They decide not to tell Logan tonight. Shiv sees an opportunity to maneuver her dad to confirm his choice of Rhea. Kendall performs a rap tribute to his father. The audience is slack-jawed. Even Roman is embarrassed. Next on the agenda is the video tributes from his children. They are almost as cringe inducing as Kendall's performance. Roman interrupts Logan to tell him that he and Eduard have bought the Hearts soccer team as a present for Logan. Logan informs his youngest son that he is a Hibs fan. Eduard walks away and Karl tells Roman, "If it's any consolation, I'm horrible at gift buying. Yeah. Always get the wrong thing." Logan admits to Shiv his misgivings about Rhea. Shiv convinces him that Rhea is the right choice for the time being. Logan makes the public announcement. Marcia is not pleased, as she was not consulted on the matter of choice or Logan's plan to retire. Ken and Jennifer talk outside. Ken hasn't the courage to brush her off himself. He asks a lackey, Tony, to take care of the matter. Logan joins Marcia at their table. She lets her husband have it, "You broke something here. You hear what you wanna hear, then you punish me for something I didn't say. You're careless. You've been careless of me. I'm bored. You are boring me." Marcia walks out leaving Logan to unveil his plaque alone. Ewan was privy to the entire conversation and sidles up to chide his brother, "Guess you'll have to face your reckoning alone." Ewan adds, "It's hard to know which is more toxic, your news outlets or your Cruise Division." Logan unveils the plaque.
End Credits Roll.
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