Season 1, Episode 05:
Intrigues
Peter and Gil go jogging and discuss Alex's recent firing. At the suggestion of Gil, Peter sets up a meeting with Allan and calls in a favor to get Alex rehired at the Globe.
Stephanie goes into work and discusses the recent leak. She tells the staff that she's instituting new security measures, including keycards that will be required to access the offices after-hours. After she leaves the office, Rachel calls her source in the press and leaks confidential information about an upcoming story that will be featured in the magazine. Stephanie learns about the published scoop the next day and Rachel makes a show of being angered about the leak. Stephanie tells her that Carrie is likely the culprit behind the leak and is looking to get more evidence before she acts on her suspicions.
That night, Stephanie hosts a housewarming party for several guests. While she talks to an old friend, Carrie sneaks in and attempts to seduce Mark again, but he has none of it and leaves.
Rachel holds a meeting with Allan the next day and attempts to throw Stephanie under the bus while promoting her own leadership skills, but he still assures her that Stephanie has the situation in hand.
Mark is approached by a producer, Ian Walker, who offers to help option his play and get it produced. When Mark tells him that Carrie has the situation taken care of, Ian tells him that Carrie is only looking for instant gratification and isn't producing results. He offers Mark a $10,000 advance to produce the play and gives him a business card before leaving.
Peter runs into Alex outside the courthouse and learns that she's been hired back at the Globe. He invites her out to a jazz performance later that day in Central Park, and they head out with Carrie, Rachel and Gil. While Gil tries to hit on Rachel, she attempts to sabotage Peter's date by revealing to Alex that he was the one who got her job back. Alex storms off as Peter tries to make amends.
Alex is sitting in front of the courthouse the next day when Peter arrives for work and sees her. He attempts to smooth things over, but gets exasperated after listening to her make snarky jabs at him. He pulls her up and kisses her before walking off, much to her surprise.
Later on, the group goes to hang out at the Zinc Bar. After Gil unsuccessfully tries to hit on Rachel again, she becomes enamored with Peter when he shows up with Alex for drinks. They leave soon afterwards, and the angered Rachel goes to Gil and tells him to take her home and ravage her. The next morning, she asks Gil not to reveal their fling with anyone else.
After Mark sets up a meeting with Carrie to discuss his new contact and source of funding for the play, he arrives at the site and discovers that she rented a hotel room and is attempting to seduce him once again. He rejects her advances and tells her that he doesn't need her help anymore. He leaves as she shouts at him. The next morning, he tells Stephanie that he's glad he got Carrie out of his life before heading off to work.
However, it's eventually revealed that Stephanie hired Ian to pretend to like Mark's play as a favor to her. He takes a $10,000 check from her and insinuates that she knows nothing about writers before he leaves...
Tropes:
- Armor-Piercing Response: Ian's remark that Stephanie "(is) an editor, but doesn't know anything about writers" shocks her to the core.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Gil attempts to do this with Rachel.
- Evil Is Petty: Allan attempts to screw over Nikki by calling her clients and getting them to return the paintings they bought from her.
- Hypocrite: In the previous episode, Rachel barely even acknowledged Alex at the gala Peter was attending. When she finds out that Peter is dating Alex, she immediately changes her tune and tries to mine as much information as she can from Gil.
- Insult Backfire: Rachel's attempt to draw Alex away from Peter by telling her about how he was the one who got her job at the Globe back is reversed when it eventually leads to Alex and Peter getting closer.
- A Man Is Always Eager: Played straight and averted. Gil runs around like a rabid hound trying to hit on Rachel (who eventually gives in after seeing Peter leaving with Alex), while Mark is exasperated with Carrie's attempts to seduce him.
- Relationship Upgrade: Peter and Alex.
- Shout-Out: Gil refers to Alex as "Lois Lane, in the flesh."
- What the Hell, Hero?: Allan calls out Peter on wanting to get Alex hired back at the Globe.
