‘A Woman of Substance’ Puts Emma Harte in Danger
I’ve waited years for any of my children to show any kind of initiative or ambition. A coup – I’m almost impressed.
Episode 2 of A Woman of Substance opens again in 1977 New York City, where Emma listens to the damning tapes of journalist Jim Fairley’s interviews with her adult children. We now learn who Jim is – he’s the grandson of Edwin. Emma introduces Jim to her granddaughter and Head of Operations Paula Amory (Mara Huf) and mentions, as he’s about to leave, that she’ll be making funds available to re-open his magazine. We didn’t know it was in financial difficulties, but Emma did, and she’s cementing his loyalty to her. Taken by surprise, he tells Emma it wasn’t why he shared the news of the planned coup with her.
Paula is alarmed that Emma may have agreed to an interview with Jim, but Emma explains she doesn’t trust him: Betrayal is in his blood, and betrayal creeps up on you. It’s not a spoiler that Edwin’s behavior damaged Emma and forced her to become this tough, cynical woman who’s made a fortune. But there are more surprises after Paula rides the elevator with Jim to the ground floor; it appears the two are in love. He’s hoping Emma will come to accept their relationship, although Paula tells him their grandmother hates him.
Emma’s assistant Tyrone Huntley (Jerry Sloane) brings her biscuits to cheer her up, and she tells him the older she gets, the fewer people she trusts. He’s at the top of a very short list of two trustworthy employees, with Paula being the other one.
(Awwwww. Or are they both out for what they can get from the Harte-universe?)
