All language subtitles for Lessons.in.Chemistry.S01E02.720p.x265-T0PAZ

Miss Zott,
please explain
how you plan on taking

the X-ray diffraction images
outlined in your proposal

without first drying the protein
into a mineral crystalline form.

Dr. James Bernal
and Dr. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin

have pioneered a technique
that allows them

to expose pepsin crystals
for X-ray crystallography

within the mother
liquor solution
from which they crystallized.

In their crystalline form,
the proteins are largely solvent
by volume

within the cellular environment
from which they function.

This allows me
the unique opportunity

to image both larger proteins
and nucleic acids.

Huh.

I'm happy to elaborate.

Thought I'd find you here.
Always working.

Hardly. I just keep
looking at the clock.

What did they say?
Tell me everything.

It's too soon to know
for sure, but you just about
knocked their socks off, kid.

- Really?
- I can't believe it.

- Look, like I said,
it's not official yet.
- Who are the holdouts?

Meyers. He's old guard.

Did you see his face

when I parried
on X-ray crystallography?

He really thought
that he had me there.

One of the proudest moments
of my academic career.

Dr. Bates, um, I--

Oh, God, no. It's okay.
We're the only ones here.

Oh. Um, no, um...

I don't--
I don't feel that way about you,
Dr. Bates.

Hey, don't play dumb, Elizabeth.
We both know
you're anything but dumb.

- I should--
- Hey, hey.

- Not in here. I should--
- Just wait. Hey, just--

- Would you hold on?
- Just stop. Hold on.

- Hold still. Just hold still.
- Stop!

Please!

God! Christ almighty.

You fucking bitch!

You're a very lucky girl.

Dr. Bates has agreed not to file
an aggravated assault charge
against you.

However, the department
has asked
for a formal statement of regret

to proceed
with your PhD candidacy.

They want me to apologize?

Miss Zott, these types
of misunderstandings,

they rarely allow
for second chances.

This is an elegant solution
that works for everyone.

Unless, of course, you'd prefer
to discontinue
your PhD candidacy.

But I am currently
running experiments.
I'm months away from publishing.

You stabbed
a tenured professor
with a pencil.

Express regret for your actions,

and we will pretend
like none of this

unfortunate business
ever happened.

Now that I think about it,
I do have one regret.

Good.

I regret not having
more pencils.

I would like to return
to my previous lab position
as soon as possible.

Not sure I follow.

I no longer wish
to work with Calvin Evans.

I see. May I ask why?

It's just not working out.

Aw, I'm so sorry, I really am,
but sadly my hands are tied.

For Christ's sake, Fran.
What do I have to do?

Is there a form
I need to fill out?

A 20-step exit interview?

Whatever meaningless hoops
you want me to jump through,
I will do it.

You're a real piece of work.

Not even Dr. Calvin Evans
is good enough for you now?

- Excuse me?
- Since the day you got here,

you have just acted like you are
so much better
than the rest of us.

Marching around these halls

with your perfect little nose up

like you invented penicillin.

- Penicillin wasn't invented.
It was disc--
- Spare me.

I don't need to be lectured
by somebody so totally clueless.

- What do you mean?
- I told you

that things
would get complicated
with Dr. Evans,

but you didn't listen to me.
Because I'm a silly,
superficial woman, right?

What could I possibly have
to teach a great lab technician
such as yourself?

- I'm a chemist.
- You are a snob is what you are.

You're too good to participate
in Little Miss Hastings,

it doesn't matter
how much time and effort

- went into--
- I did participate!

No, you left early.
And you didn't tell anybody.

So, another lucky girl
could've had that spot.

Who could possibly care
about a fake pageant?

I care! It's my job to care.

And I think-- You know,
I think people would agree,

it's a more important job
than opening up your legs

to the most
prestigious scientist
in this joint.

That is unequivocally false.

You know,
Dr. Evans isn't exactly popular,

but he's a damn good scientist.

And you're neither.

You cannot force me
to work with him out of spite.
I'll talk to Dr. Donatti.

Be my guest.
He'll tell you

that we already filled
your position

in the amino acids lab.

A bright young fellow
from Harvard.

On his recommendation, in fact.

You made your bed.
It's not my fault
you have to lie in it.

Hi.

Hello.

- Can we talk?
- - Could you please go to that side of the room?

This is my side.

I've created a new
spatial system

that will maximize
our research productivity

while also respecting
each other's boundaries.

That will be your side
of the lab. This will be
my side of the lab.

Obviously, the room
is not perfectly symmetrical,

so I gave myself
11 square centimeters less,

which I think
is only fair considering
our body mass differential.

Elizabeth, I don't understand.
What did I do that was so wrong?

It's just clearer this way.

Is it hygiene related?
Because you'll notice
no more underwear.

I promise not to eat saltines
in the lab anymore.

Whatever it is, I'm certain
that I can make it right.

Dr. Evans,
I'm in the middle of something.

Could we have this conversation
at a later date?

Of course.

Should I--

How about I-I take off?

Give you the place to yourself.

Very well then.

Oh, don't eat that!
You'll make yourself sick.

Wait here. I'll be right back.

Hmm.

Oh! Nice to meet you too.

Um-- Well, best of luck to you.

Oh.

Are you ready to extract DNA
from a strawberry?

Here we go.

- That's it?
- Hello.

"That's it?"

You are looking
at the instruction manual
for life.

That looks like a booger.

Oh, boy.

- Can we watch TV?
- Mm-hmm.

Thanks for watching them.

I tried.

And meanwhile, the California
Highway Commission

sent surveyors out
despite our petition.

Or maybe because of it.

- They were taking measurements near the church.
- Can you imagine?

Mmm. That's awful.

Is there anything I can do?

Yes, actually.

The city council is having
a meeting
at the end of the month.

And the
Adams-Washington Committee is
presenting our case

against the freeway.

If you came,
showed your support,
it could make a big difference.

Sure,
but I don't have any expertise
in urban development.

You don't need expertise.
I've got that.

What I need is someone who looks
like you standing
on our side of the room,

backing me up when I say this
is a community issue.

I'll be there.
You can count on it.

Thank you.

You okay?

Yeah.

He's not in the building.

Give us the room.

This is the third week
in a row I have had
to cancel my tee time

to sit in a room,

waiting for a ghost.

- Sir, I was--
- Calvin Evans is a star.

Hastings need stars.

We need the awards and grants
that follow them.

Stars are not disposable.

You are not a star, Robert.

You are a suit.

Suits are disposable.

So let's, uh,
skip the pretense
of these weekly meetings

in this incredibly
depressing room,
and, uh, we'll set a deadline.

I'm giving you
to February the first
to get Evans in here,

presenting his
Remsen submission.

A day later and you are out.

Oh, don't be cross, Robert.
I'm a suit too.

It's just that, uh,
mine is more expensive.

Where's Evans?

I couldn't venture.

He cares for you, doesn't he?

You would have to ask him that.

Layoffs are coming.

If he doesn't secure
the Remsen funding
by the top of the year,

I will have to fire people.

Lab techs, for example.

Secretaries.
All the female support staff
are gonna have to go first.

The men, they need
to take care of their families.

When you're in my position,

these are the things
you have to consider.

Dr. Donatti, is that a threat?

When I fire them,
I will tell them the truth.

That it is the fault of the girl
that distracted Calvin Evans.

Calvin?

Calvin.

Calvin.

- What?
- Donatti came
by the lab yesterday.

So what?

He's going to fire people,
if you don't win the Remsen.

More pressure. Perfect.

Perfect.

Do you know what I've done
since I last won the Remsen
two years ago?

Do you?

Nothing.

Nothing.

I go into my lab every day,

and I shut the door
so that no one will see

that I haven't accomplished
a damn thing.

I'm out of ideas.

- And then I met you...
- ...and you had so many.

And it was
like I could breathe again.

We were building something.

And then you just--

You left me with no explanation.
You just--

I didn't mean to hurt you.

There's just things-- It's--

It's hard for me
to talk about. I--

I need the door open,
'cause I need to know
that there's a way out.

Okay.

If that's what you need,
I can do that.

I miss working with you.

I miss that too.

It's just--

It's hard to trust
that this partnership
won't go bad.

It might.

Can't say for certain.

Okay.

See you Monday then.

Elizabeth.
What's your dog's name?

Six Thirty.

Excellent name.
After carbon and zinc, I assume?

No. After the time
he wakes me up in the morning.
It's like clockwork.

May I ask you another question?

Asking to ask is inefficient,
moving forward, but yes.

Would you like
to learn how to row?

On that? No. No, thank you.

No. No, I just meant,
uh, on the water.

It's calming, picturesque.
And t-talk about efficiency.

There is nothing
more perfectly measured,
more entirely scientific

than rowing.

Even the slightest head tilt
will offset the boat.

I...
...would be hard-pressed

to find someone better suited
for the sport than you.

And could be good for teamwork.

Remember to take a breath

and relax. You know?

Just be patient up the slide,
okay?

- You're rushing.
- Rushing?

What?
You just said I was too slow.

- Get outta your head.
- That's impossible.

Let the oars just sink in.

- You're doing great, all right?
- Calvin Evans, I am absolutely

- and completely hopeless--
- Whoa, whoa, whoa,
hey, no, no!

Elizabeth. Elizabeth!

"It's calming," he said.
"It's picturesque," he said.

Why didn't you tell me
you didn't know how to swim?

You said we would be in a boat.

A boat negates the need
for swimming, as I
previously understood the word.

Ideally, yes.

Thank you
for not letting me die.

- You mean gallantly
saving your life?
- Oh, please.

Do not take it that far.

It is picturesque.
I'll give you that.

Elizabeth, I think this
is gonna be a problem.

And I'm not sure
there's a solution.

I'm developing feelings for you.

Deep feelings.

And it's not fair
to you as a scientist.

You deserve to be treated
with professionalism
and respect.

So maybe you were right.

Maybe it is best
if we work separately.

That way, I won't be exposed to
your pheromones and--

Oh.

Correct.

What now?

We carry on.

But we'll be--
we'll be doing that again,
right? The kissing?

Yeah. There is always that risk.

And as you can see,
our proposed route

is the most
economically efficient one

and will also enliven
several blighted communities
in its path.

We are confident
that this freeway will be
a shining example

of urban geography.

Thank you, Mr. Jenkins.

Next, we will hear
from a representative

of the
Adams-Washington Committee.

Good afternoon.
I'm Harriet Sloane,

legal aid in the office
of Eugene Hollis,
proud Sugar Hill resident

and founding member
of this committee.

In your proposal defense,
you used the word
"blighted" nine times

to refer
to the Sugar Hill neighborhood.

I-I-I'm not sure
I-I know the meaning
of that word.

Grim, dreary, inhospitable.

Do you need me
to define any of those words?

Thank you. I do not.

I only ask because,
well, I'm confused.

I have two children,
Linda and Junior,

who love to sell lemonade
in Berkeley Square.

Duke Ellington
and his good friend
Hattie McDaniel

host salons in their mansions.

My husband,
who is currently serving
our country in Korea,

is the first Black chief
of surgery.

One of my neighbors is in line
for a Nobel in Chemistry.

So, when you say "blighted..."

...I don't understand.

When you seek
to put your freeway

through our
predominantly Black neighborhood

and two other
Black neighborhoods miles away,

solely on the basis
that they are "blighted",

my only recourse is to question
the definition of the word.

So, I've tried adding PRPP
and ATP
at various concentrations,

but the result
is always the same.

Maybe the solution
is too acidic?

Too basic?

I am genuinely offended.

What do you think I am,
some kind of dimwit?

No, definitely not.

We should take a break.

Take a break?
We haven't even been productive.

That's why we should
take a break.

Elizabeth,
you are smarter than me,

but there's one thing I have
that you don't.

A Y chromosome?

Yes.

But also,
I have a jazz mindset.

I know when to sit back,
go easy, let the ideas...

- Meander.
- ...carry me where they may.

Directionless with no goal?

Towards the supreme goal.

Which is?

The good stuff.

Come on, let's get outta here.

I want to take you somewhere
more important.

You're okay. I'm right here.

I thi-- I think that the issue
is that
my body's residual diving reflex

is being overridden
by my fear-paralysis reflex,

so I just need to find a way
to circumvent that reflex.

Mmm, could be.

I-I think you need to learn
to blow bubbles.

Let's try this.

Keep your hands on the wall,
put your face in

and s-- and blow bubbles.
You don't even have to put your
whole head in.

Just your face, like this.

You got it.

Oh, this is silly
that I'm so nervous.

I'm right here.

I changed my mind.

Well, okay. Um,

what if we were to kiss?

How would that be helpful?

If I were to occupy your mouth
as we go under, I think--

I think it could work.
You-You just have to trust me.

- Do it.
- Are you sure?

Yes, do it
before I can think about it.

How was that?

I'm not sure.
I think we should try again.

What are you writing?

Just some musings.
Not ready to share.

Give me a hint.

Oh,
you seduced then tricked me.

"Repeated hydrolysis of ATP
after it's already
been reduced to ADP"?

It's just something
I'm playing with.

The products are AMP,
but I'm stuck. It's impossible.

The hydrolyzed molecules release
an inorganic pyrophosphate.

I'm very attracted
to you right now.

Mm-hmm.

With the energy produced
from the reaction

and the added
phosphorous-containing ion.

This is it, Calvin.

Oh, my God. Come here.

♪ Come, all ye faithful ♪

♪ Joyful and triumphant ♪

♪ O come ye ♪

♪ O come ye to Bethlehem ♪

♪ Come and behold him ♪

Are you going home
for Christmas?

What do you mean?

I'm assuming you have family
to celebrate the holidays with?

No. What about you?

I don't really feel
like celebrating this year.

All I want for Christmas is
to keep working.

Hmm. That's strange, Elizabeth.

Why?

I feel the exact same way.

What about you?

Calvin, turn the music off.

Do it again. Oh, wow, wow.

- Oh, w-w-wow, wow.
Oh.
- Did we do it?

- Oh, man alive.
- We did it.

We should celebrate.

We must celebrate.

Come with me.

Oh, number eight,
you little devil.

This is how you dance.

I think
this is the first time
I haven't hated Christmas.

Not big on holidays?

Mmm. Just reminds me
of things that
I don't want to be reminded of.

Me too.

Like what kinds of things?

Oh... ...uh,
all my relatives are dead.

I'm alone in the world.
Your usual festive holiday fare.

I'm sorry.

What about you?

My family? Uh, I lost my brother
when we were young.

And your parents?

I haven't spoken
to them since I was 17.
It's my choice.

- Really festive holiday fare.
- Really.

We are quite bad
at celebrating Christmas.

Mmm. Christmas is a fiction.

Right. Christmas is a fiction.

- I forgot about that.
- Mm-hmm.

Guess that means presents

are off the table.

But...
...I didn't say that.

I didn't mean to-- It depends.
What did you get me?

Meet me in the cafeteria
in two and a half hours.

Okay.

I did have some A5P
I wanted to purify

before next week, so...

Perfect. Okay.

Two and a half hours.

You cooked for me?

I can't promise it'll taste
as good as yours.

But, um, you know,
I did a practice run,
and it was-- it was edible.

The open flame
is a safety hazard.

Well, just wait
till you try the chicken.

This is odd. I'm--

Yes.

- Too far? Yeah.
- Mm-hmm.

You know, um,
it's not-- I mean--

It's good. Well done.

Well done?

Not well done. It's well-done.

It's good.

Your gift.

I thought Six Thirty
could be your running buddy.

Because I sure as hell
will not be doing that with you.

Oh, it's perfect.

Um, I have one last thing.

It's small, but...

...I think you should
move in with me.

And maybe you'll say it's--
it's too fast.

But we spend
all our time together anyway,

and I have so much space
for one person.

It's just illogical
for us to keep going
back and forth

and back and forth and--

Not to mention
just very disorienting

for Six Thirty.

Yes. Extremely disorienting
for Six Thirty.

I'll, um,
have to contribute to rent.

I-- I own the house.
It's paid in full.

Oh, no, no. I'll, um--
I'll chip in, in some way.

Um...

Dinner, four nights a week.

Three dinners and a lunch.

Deal.

Okay. Let me try this.

Mmm.

I think it's--
it's still missing something.

Mm-hmm. Yes, it is missing
quite a few things.

But it is an excellent start.

Thank you.

All right, go ahead.
What's it missing?

Do you have your notepad
and pencil?

Harriet. Sorry, he's still
getting used to his leash.

I've been trying to catch you.
I have some exciting news.

Oh, shit. The meeting.
I'm so sorry. I-- It's just
this research with Elizabeth.

And-- And you know,

We actually have a presentation
in a few hours.

Don't worry about it. Looks like
you got your hands full.

How'd it go?

How do you think it went?

- Here, let me help you
with that.
- I've got it. Thank you.

Good luck
with your presentation.

So,
building on the work of Pauling,

my hypothesis
supports the notion-- Uh, sorry.

My hypothesis,

supported by the notion

that proteins are composed
of amino acids--

I'm sorry, chains--
are composed by chains,

entire chains of amino acids.

It's quite exhilarating.

You ready?

It's a long time coming.

Good afternoon.

Dr. Evans, we've heard a lot of
thoroughly researched
submissions today.

So, we're all very excited
to hear what's kept you
behind closed doors for so long.

Thank you, Dr. Donatti.

But, uh, as first author,

Elizabeth
will be presenting today.

Dr. Evans and I
have been investigating
de novo nucleotide synthesis

as a way of better understanding
early biochemical evolution

and abiogenesis.

Unlike the aminos study group,

we are starting with
the basic assumption that DNA,

not protein,
is the basic foundation of life.

After
successfully isolating PRPP,

we've used it to synthesize
uridine monophosphate

and inosine monophosphate
for pyrimidines
and purines, respectively.

I'm sorry, are you saying that
you can create nucleotides
from scratch?

That is exactly what
I'm saying, Dr. Price.

Even if you have managed
to synthesize nucleotides,

we here at Hastings
believe that DNA will
eventually prove

to be a dead end.

This protocol that you
and Dr. Evans have come up with

is likely nothing more
than a party trick.

Whether you believe
that proteins or DNA
are the foundations of life,

this synthesis pathway is novel.

Diels and Alder
won the Nobel Prize
for diene synthesis.

Miss Zott.

Miss? Isn't she a doctor?

She's a lab tech.

It is her research that is
the basis

for this proposal.

Dr. Evans,

this institution
has a reputation.

A reputation based
on the likes of world-class
scientists like yourself

doing world-class work.

Not the specious theories of
a pretty lab tech

who's been distracting him
from real work.

This work is revelatory, sir.

Sir, a lab technician
taking first billing
over a chemist?

Hastings would be the
laughingstock of
the entire scientific community.

I'd rather shutter the place.

Do you have any other chemists
to present for the Remsen,
or are we done here?

We are done here.

- Let's go home.
- We'll take my name
off the paper.

No, we won't.

Elizabeth.

- We can't finish our research...
- Elizabeth.

...without the grant,
and we can't get
the grant

unless we submit.

- The work is too important.
- I was protecting you.

Calvin,
I need you to understand this.

If I don't stand
on my own two feet, I'm no one.

And I need you
to understand this.

You are what I treasure most
in this world.

Not because you are pretty,
not because you are smart,

but because you love me
and I love you.

And you can try and deny it,
but I will not believe you.

When certain atoms collide...

...it is instantaneous

and it is inevitable.

It is basic chemistry.

I don't deny it.

Thank you.

We will submit on our own
without Hastings.

Can you even do that?

I don't know that anyone
has ever tried.

I don't feel bad
when I'm with you.

Thanks?

No, I just--

I mean, most of my life
I've lived with this

inexplicable panic
in the core of my heart.

When we're together,
it goes quiet.

You're like a medicine
that I wanna take forever.

If by "forever" you're talking
about the traditional model,

I'd like to be clear
so there's no confusion.

I don't want to get married,
and I don't want
to have children.

Yeah, sure.
Not right this instant,

- but I mean...
- ...eventually.

You'd be incredible--

Calvin, you could have
six or seven children,

and it wouldn't do anything
to your life or to your work.

A woman has to make a choice.

Does she want to have children,
or does she want
to do anything else?

I have made my decision,
and I'm not going
to change my mind.

And if that puts an end to this,

I understand.

Thank you for telling me.

Now I know.

Know what?

What you need.

As long as I have you
and you are happy,
that-- that is enough for me.

It's more than I could have
ever imagined.
And it's absolutely...

What?

I don't know. I--

Science has been trying
to define the laws
that govern our universe.

The equations
that can explain our past
and predict our future.

But I'm starting to wonder
if maybe we've forgotten
the most important variable.

Please don't tell me it's God.

Surprise.

Surprise?

What if life

is necessarily unpredictable?

Maybe even the very thing that
makes it possible
in the first place.

Is that how you explain
abiogenesis? How life began?

Surprise.

- You think the Remsen's
gonna go for that?
- All right. Okay. All right.

Oh, hear me out.
One of science's greatest minds
and his revolutionary theory:

surprise,
we can't predict anything.

All right.
We're gonna go on a run.

I need to have a think
on hydrolyzing enzymes.

Mmm. It's a dead end.

Mmm. Never know.

We're getting close.

- Very close.
- Mm-hmm.

Yes, we are going.
Good boy. Good boy.

Hey, come on. Hey, let's go.

Okay, let's go. Okay.

Yeah. Yeah, boy.

Come on. Hey. Hey,
Six Thirty, it's okay.
Come here. Come on.

Okay, okay.

He's not moving!

- Come here, give me a hand.
- - Go get help!