"Cancel Couture" is the tenth episode and season finale of Season 1, and the tenth episode overall.
Synopsis[]
"With her job on the line over a Fashion Week debacle, Emily scrambles to devise a new plan while preparing to say adieu to a good friend."
— Official Netflix Synopsis
Plot[]
Emily and Mindy have breakfast together as they catch-up on what happened in their respective lives. Mindy shares that she was offered a job emceeing at the drag club she performed at during Li's bachelorette party. It would be two days a week that she would have to request off from the Dupont's. Her only worry is that they won't give her the time off as they are a conservative family. Emily encourages her to take the opportunity and not tell the Dupont's why she needs the nights off. She then receives a text from Mathieu and assumes it's about work so she hurries off to meet him at the docks.
He surprises her with a boat ride on the river where they spend the day together. They return to his home where they share a bottle of wine over his balcony, which provides a beautiful view of the city. Before they can take their relationship further, Mathieu receives a call from Pierre claiming that he's canceling his show at Fashion Week.
At Savoir the next morning, Luc is attempting to pitch an idea to Antoine regarding the next step for Maison Lavaux. Antoine isn't paying much attention to Luc as he's trying to flirt with Sylvie, while Emily is trying to text with Mathieu about Pierre's show. Luc is annoyed that no one is listening to him, just as Julien sees a news article saying that Pierre has canceled his show at Fashion Week. Emily receives a call from Mathieu that Sylvie steals so she can talk to him.
In Sylvie's office, she puts the call on speaker and Mathieu reveals that Pierre forfeited his venue. They did a run-through of the collection but Pierre just screaming "ringarde!" at everything and left. They wish Matthieu well before ending the call. Sylvie blames the entire event on Emily as she's the one who convinced Pierre to donate a dress that was destroyed, and the destruction led him to cancel his show at Fashion Week for the first time in a decade. She fires Emily and demands that she never step foot in Savoir again.
Emily retreats to her desk where Luc and Julien confront her on what's wrong. She tells them of her firing which relieves them, as it's impossible to fire someone in France. The bureaucracy of it alone makes it difficult. Luc recommends that she come in a few days a week under the guise of finishing things up with clients and stay out of Sylvie's way until the incident blows over.
She returns home to find Gabriel and Camille fighting outside of 1 Place de L'Estrapade. Camille shares that Gabriel found a restaurant in Normandy that he could afford so he's leaving to take the opportunity. Both women are hurt over the fact that he didn't tell them, but Emily feigns that she is only upset as a friend. Camille calls her a good friend and they hug before she leaves.
Emily visits Gabriel in his apartment and is surprised to find him packing already. She remarks that she'll miss his omelets but he's confident that this is the right choice for his career. After all, this is his dream. Emily asks to see a picture of his new restaurant and is charmed by the quaintness of the place. It is located next to a Michelin-starred restaurant, so Gabriel hopes people will come to his place when the high-rated one is too busy.
She returns to work the next day where Sylvie confronts her on her return, so she goes along with Julien and Luc's disguise. Sylvie asks Luc to rush the firing papers and Luc, in return, delegates the Maison Lavaux case to Emily. He convinces Sylvie that this is a good idea for now and she reluctantly agrees. Once at her desk, Emily receives a call from Pierre requesting to see her. Sylvie refuses to let her go alone and joins her.
At the house, Pierre shows Mathieu, Emily, and Sylvie his new collection. He was suddenly inspired and wants to show this dress to the world. Mathieu reminds Pierre that he forfeited his venue which Grey Space has now stolen, so they can't showcase the collection. Emily believes that she already has the perfect venue.
Once outside, Sylvie asks Emily what this "perfect" plan of hers is, to which Emily reveals that she doesn't' actually have one yet. Sylvie is exasperated with the entire day and worries that no designer will want to work with Savoir after this disaster. Emily shows her a video of Grey Space destroying Pierre's venue, which inspires an idea.
Emily returns home when she is surprised by Mindy's sudden appearance. The Dupont's fired her from asking for the nights off so she could emcee, so she's homeless now. She places her bags on the floor and asks if she can stay with Emily for now, to which Emily agrees though she finds it odd that they could fire her so easily. Mindy admits that it's easy to fire someone who has overstayed their work visa. Another visitor arrives so Mindy goes into the bathroom to get changed while Emily speaks with Gabriel.
He gifts her his frying pan so she can make omelets herself. He also invites her to Les Deux Compères tomorrow night as he's leaving for Normandy the day after tomorrow. She is reluctant to accept but ultimately agrees to try and make it for his last night in Paris. When he leaves, Mindy resurfaces and remarks that she heard the whole conversation as the walls are very thin. She encourages Emily to go to the restaurant tomorrow night.
The next day at Grey Space's Fashion Week showcase, Emily, Sylvie, Julien, and Mathieu gather near the red carpet in hopes that their PR stunt will work. Sure enough, a garbage truck drives into the area blaring music and waving the Pierre Cadault logo. Pierre deboards the truck and his models appear wearing bold designs. He succeeds in stealing the attention back from Grey Space and making himself popular once more.
To celebrate the victory, they all go to Les Deux Compères where Emily releases a statement on her social media telling everyone to come to the restaurant where Pierre is dining. Gabriel is appreciative of her call to arms before excusing himself from the table to finish working. Mathieu invites her to Saint Tropez to properly celebrate the occasion and Emily happily agrees. They have a pleasant evening until Antoine arrives with Catherine, so Sylvie excuses herself to talk with some friends.
Catherine sits with Emily and remarks her appreciation that Emily is taking over the Maison Lavaux account. She slyly remarks that Emily is a much better fit for her husband, with Emily correcting that she's a good professional fit. Catherine responds that whatever they want to call it she approves.
In the meantime, Gabriel and Antoine discuss him moving to Normandy. Antoine understands the reluctance to take money from a significant other's family since his wife's family invested in Maison Lavaux. Antoine is sad to see the most promising chef in Paris leave, but as Gabriel watches Mathieu and Emily he remarks that there isn't much left for him in Paris anymore.
When the night ends, Emily bids a strained goodbye to Gabriel and then opts to return home instead of going out with Mathieu. She watches Gabriel close the restaurant from her apartment before realizing she can't leave things with him open-ended. She runs down to the doors and calls for him frantically, and when he appears, she admits that she couldn't just say goodbye like that. They kiss before returning to her Chambre where they have sex.
Later that night they discuss what just happened, and Emily remarks on how wonderful everything was. But they can't have a relationship because it would hurt Camille. The timing just wasn't right for them, but at least they have this one perfect thing. Gabriel agrees to this and they kiss before having sex once again.
Emily goes to work in the morning where Sylvie approaches her and reveals that she's decided not to fire Emily after all. She believes that Emily has what it takes to be great but lacks polish, which is why Sylvie won't be going so easy on her anymore.
During her walks home, Emily confirms her weekend plans with Mathieu, and pauses at Les Deux Compères to gaze at the boarded-up restaurant. She is interrupted by Antoine who is sitting outside and he reveals that he's there for business. He finds it convenient that she lives so close by. She is confused until Gabriel emerges from the restaurant and reveals that Antoine decided to back him for the restaurant so he's buying Les Deux Compères and staying in Paris. She is shocked but agrees to celebrate with them. Gabriel goes inside to get another glass, just as Emily receives a text from Camille who just heard that Gabriel is staying in Paris and wants to talk with Emily.
Cast[]
Starring[] |
Co-Starring[]
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Quotes[]
- Sylvie: You convinced Pierre to donate a dress that got destroyed, which shook his confidence so badly that now he won’t show at Paris fashion week for the first time in three decades. And if that wasn’t’ enough, you slept with his nephew, Mat. So now we have a fashion designer without a fashion show, which is almost as meaningless as an American who doesn’t speak French at a Parisian marketing firm.
- Sylive: You are fired. Get out of my office, clear out your desk, and don’t ever show your face here again.
- Luc: Emily, we will never desert you. Never.
- Pierre: Emily, I was about to show a stale, lifeless collection. I have been sleepwalking for too long, and now… I wake up!
- Mindy: Okay. So I did what you said. I took the job, told them I would make myself available on Tuesdays and Friday nights, and then avoided the question of gender expression with a coquettish laugh.
- Catherine: I think you will be a much better fit for my husband.
- Emily: Right. Uh, professionally.
- Catherine Lambert: Whatever you want to call it. I approve.
- Emily: We never really had a chance. But at least now we have this one perfect thing. I feel like I’m dreaming and I don’t want to wake up.
- Sylvie: About our conversation the other day, I’ve decided not to file your termination paperwork. You have potential, but you lack polish. So if you are to remain at Savoir, I won’t be so easy on you going forward. Understood?
Soundtrack[]
| Song | Artist | Scene Description | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Let’s Always Stay in Love | Meaghan Smith | Opening of episode | |
| Mes amis | Selectracks | Emily takes a trip on a boat | |
| Paris-Rome | Massimo Guadalupi | Emily finds Camille and Gabriel arguing | |
| Pulse | The Venice Connection | Emily arrives at work | |
| Burst Into Flames | Cavale | Emily drinks wine | |
| De Profundis (Ni Fleurs, Ni Couronnes) | Delphine Volange | Emily walks through Paris | |
| Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien | Edith Piaf | Episode ends |
Trivia[]
- Luc surrenders the Maison Lavaux account to Emily in the hopes it will help her stay at Savoir.
- Mindy moves in with Emily after she is fired by the Dupont's.
- Pierre crashes Fashion Week with his new line of couture dresses and is able to save his, and Emily's, career.
