Gustav
Divorce | Season 1 | Episode 5

Gustav

TV-MA | 28 MIN

Written by Cindy Chupack
Directed by Adam Bernstein

Robert meets with a lawyer, Gerald Watkins Mayfield, who admits he has no divorce experience, but "it's all law." As Robert explains his finances, they are interrupted by Gerald's wife/associate; Gerald's office is in his basement. When the hour ends, Gerald requests payment in cash.

Frances packs Robert's belongings into boxes and answers a call identified as "Law Offices of Gerald Watkins Mayfield." Only now realizing he dialed Robert's home number, Gerald backpedals and tries to play off the call as a prank.

Robert inspects the warehouse with real estate agent, George, and describes his vision for the Fun Space. Frances calls to say she knows about his lawyer—and knows he's an idiot. The next day Frances meets with an upscale Manhattan attorney who acknowledges his time is expensive, but not compared to what she could lose in the divorce. "The more that I know, the easier it is to get you what you deserve," the lawyer explains and Frances rattles off the many ways she's betrayed Robert.

Frances signs the lease for her gallery and Diane shares a list of artists from whom she and Nick have bought paintings. Frances sees Mickey Burgess on the list and notes he's having a gallery opening in Scarsdale that weekend. She and Diane agree to go.

On the phone, Dallas smokes next to her window and questions if Frances can afford her new attorney—the very one she recommended. Caught smoking, Dallas admits she started again because Cole wants to live with his stepfather and is spending all of his time with an "18 year-old hussy who looks like she's been pregnant twice already." Dallas ends the call and opens her office door which reads "Dallas Holt, Psychotherapy & Counseling."

"Not the best cut of meat I've had for under five dollars, but not the worst, either." - Robert

Robert and Nick go to a buffet so Robert can convince him to invest in Fun Space. Robert shows him a video presentation but Nick is still not interested. He tells Robert he's made one good investment in his life and that's Frances. Nick lets Robert know Frances hired a shark, and cringes when Robert repeats Gerald's assertion, "It's all law."

A well-dressed group of art-enthusiasts mingle at Mickey Burgess's opening. Recognizing her as an important patron, Mickey approaches Diane who then introduces the artist and his friend, Carson Hodges, to Frances. Frances holds her own with Carson and the pair decide to get a drink.

Robert holds an emergency meeting with Don and Gerald in Don's car, furious they lost the element of surprise. Gerald wonders if he's up to the challenge when he hears Frances has retained Max Brodkin. Frustrated by his situation, Robert fires both Gerry and Don: "This isn't a teaching hospital, this is my life, man."

Frances and Carson talk, and she explains her vision for the gallery and her reason for opening it. Another artist joins the conversation and tells Carson Frances does not have money like "her friend Diane, of Diane and Nick." The conversation between the artists gets heated and erupts into a fight. Frances sees herself out.

Robert meets with an expensive—and aggressively rude—attorney, Tony Silvercreek, in his fancy Manhattan office. In the cab home, Frances receives a call from Tony, and puts him on speakerphone. Hearing his name, Dallas gasps: Silvercreek is ruthless and hates women. Diane offers to take the dog back and Frances says no.

Dog by her side, Frances takes Robert's things and hurls them into the trash.

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