Mrs. America
Wednesdays on FX (Hulu Exclusive)Mrs. America Season 1 Episode 4
Betty
Air Date:
Recap
In January of 1973, Phyllis and Fred watch the Supreme Court's decision of Roe v Wade on television.
Meanwhile, Betty runs into a group of women in New York City, and they celebrate the Supreme Court's ruling.
Later that night, Betty spends time with her neighbor, Natalie. She expresses her concerns about Phyllis Schlafly.
Some time later, 30 of 38 states have ratified the Equal Rights Amendment.
The Women's Caucus are at a barbecue. Betty is not talking with any of them, but she manages to sneak into the conversation through Shirley. Shirley is being investigated for misuse of campaign funds.
Betty tells her colleagues that Phyllis is a member of the John Birch Society. Betty thinks that they need to take Phyllis down.
Gloria does not want to get involved with Phyllis. Betty promises not to, but at a later press conference, she suggests that Phyllis might have ties to the Ku Klux Klan.
Phyllis gets a call informing her of what Betty has been saying.
The staff of Ms. magazine want to write about abortion, with the recent news of Roe v Wade. Maragret Sloan-Hunter wants to write about tokenism in the workplace, and her peers accuse her of making an issue out of nothing.
One staff member wants to write about Phyllis, Gloria does not want her to. Gloria finds out that Betty is invited to debate Phyllis at Illinois State University.
Screw, a pornographic magazine for men, infiltrate the phone lines at the Ms. office.
Later that day, Betty has a flashback of an appearance on a talk show. She goes on a date. Her date cannot help but ask about Gloria.
The next day, Gloria sees a crude, misogynistic in Screw magazine.
Phyllis asks Fred for debate advice. Fred suggests that to win the debate, Phyllis has to poke at Betty's personal life, where it would hurt. Afterwards, Phyllis forces her daughter to overcome her fear of swimming by jumping in the pool with her.
At the Ms. office, Brenda, Bella, and Gloria discuss Betty's upcoming debate with Phyllis. Bella suggests to convince Betty not to go.
Gloria goes to Betty's apartment, and Natalie answers the door. She tells Gloria that Betty left for Illinois. Natalie suggests to consider what the women's liberation movement would be like without Betty.
On a later day, Maragaret is at Flo's house for a casual gathering for black feminists. Margaret is asked about work. She tells her friends that her co-workers take what they have for granted.
Two guests tell Flo that they should not associate with Margaret to get support from black power movement. Margaret is gay. Flo tells off the women.
In Illinois, Phyllis and Betty debate each other. Once they go on stage, they start firing, constantly interrupting the other's allotted time.
Eventually, Phyllis hurts Betty emotionally. Betty bounces back by calling Phyllis a witch.
Meanwhile, Flo and Shirley talk about the stress that Shirley endures because of the investigation. Flo tells Shirley about the National Black Feminist Organization, and that they want Shirley to be their first keynote speaker.
At Alice's son's wedding, Phyllis realized her son has romantic feelings for Alice's son.
Gloria receives a note from Screw magazine. Instead of paying attention, Gloria reads an issue of The Phyllis Schlafly Report. She sees a flyer for the National Black Feminist Organization.
Later that night, Betty gets a call from Gloria. She offers Betty her support. Gloria thanks Betty for The Feminine Mystique.
Gloria gives the staff member who wanted to write about Phyllis the green light for the article.
- Show:
- Mrs. America
- Season:
- Mrs. America Season 1
- Episode Number:
- 4
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