And...
c'est fini!
There.
This is a fairly rich dessert.
A light supper, perhaps a roast chicken,
would make a perfect accompaniment.
And here I have a chilled Sauternes,
one of the noble wines of France,
to drink with our glamorous mousse à la framboise.
And that's all for today on "The French Chef."
I'm Julia Child.
Bon appétit!
And cut!
Yes, she's all yours. Yes, she's all yours.
Yes.
Oh, you've got the spoons out already.
Mmm.
God almighty.
It's like --
It's like biting into a raspberry chocolate cloud.
Julia!
Uh, Russ!
Assemble.
To what do we owe the pleasure?
What's wrong? Hmm?
Uh, listen, things are afoot.
KQED has invited Julia to do promotion
for "The French Chef" -- eh, radio,
interviews, a TV spot -- in San Francisco.
Oh!
How fabulous!
No. No, not fabulous.
We have French onion soup next week.
We have six days to prep.
There's no time -- Onion soup, shmonion soup.
Just reduce it.
That was a soup joke.
Oh, yes. Eh, it's three days.
Hotel stay, airfare on their dime.
-Impossible. -That's what I thought,
but I've got the prepaid tickets to prove it.
No, I-I mean, she can't leave right now.
Russell, we are a public television station.
We do not say no to free.
Then there's Tripp Wilson, head of programming.
He hates small talk,
hangs up the phone without saying goodbye.
You'll like him.
He's the line producer, and Tom handled the negotiation.
He's very sharp. Oh, also, the head of the network --
Al. Take a breath.
Can you write all this down for me? Sure.
A haiku, not an epic poem.
No way, not with Mickey Mantle in the lineup.
He's injured. Again.
Hope springs eternal.
Good show today.
It's been so much smoother having you back.
I hope we can keep it that way while Julia is gone.
I've broken up the time Julia will be away
into half-hour and hour-long segments for us to work through.
The red boxes are hours, blues are 30 minutes --
Oh, uh, honey, honey, you remember from the pilot episode
the way Julia likes to work.
We'll just, you know, have to feel it out first.
Just a touch of spontaneity.
I am all for spontaneity,
but can't we schedule a time for it?
Certainly.
Oh, uh, darling?
Darling.
Blue or...
I'm sorry, Judith, Paul is trying to blind me.
Can you say that again?
I've scheduled a book signing for you
on Saturday for "Mastering."
A book signing?
Well, I do love the way your scrappy mind works, Judith,
but we purposefully left Saturday open.
Ooh. No. Um, tell her it's fine.
We have all day. We can spare an hour or so.
The book needs you.
On second thought, count the Childs in.
Paul. Raincoat.
Good. I'll see you there.
Bye-bye, dear.
Bye. Bye.
Alright.
Uh -- ooh.
That shirt. Mm-hmm.
You wore it in Marseille with the buttons undone.
Mm.
After the signing,
I'll take you to this wonderful gallery in Sausalito.
And from there, we can stroll to this little bistro
with the most magnificent artichoke risotto.
Is it artichoke season?
Mm-hmm. Ooh.
Californian artichokes.
Mm-hmm. Dripping in butter.
You know, artichokes are an aphrodisiac.
In ancient Rome, women were forbidden from eating them,
lest they be tempted to lift their togas.
Oh, Paul.
Oopsy-daisy.
All these plaid dresses for summer.
Who wants to look like a checker board?
Not me. I am not a game.
How's the San Francisco trip going?
They're probably just landing, Mom.
I doubt I'll hear from them at all.
Unless something goes wrong,
in which case, it will be my fault.
Don't take your frustration out on these pleats.
This is your most flattering dress.
San Francisco was my idea.
I did the work, and they act like it just happened.
I didn't even get a thank-you from Russ.
Who's Russ again? My boss.
Maybe if I were a man or white,
or better yet, a white man --
Oh, stop that.
Honey, do you think it wasn't difficult for me,
or for your father in med school?
Did you think it was going to be different for you?
No, I know that it is difficult.
That is what I'm talking about.
Even when you agree with me, you disagree with me.
Your grandma always said,
"I don't want to hear about how hard it is.
I want to hear what you're going to do about it."
You know you can't afford to have a negative attitude.
I don't know why I ask you anything.
I always know what you're going to say.
Oh, really? What's that?
Well, you can't afford a negative attitude,
a hard head makes a soft behind...
Mm.
Mm, you just need to find a good man.
Oh, I knew I had something I wanted to tell you.
His name's Isaac.
Are we early?
Don't take it personally, my love.
Californians don't read.
-Hello. -Hello.
I apologize for taking up your Saturday, Les.
Are you kidding?
I'm just trying to avoid a fire hazard.
Are they all here for my signing?
I don't think they're here for the new Hannah Arendt.
Thank you.
Bye-bye.
We absolutely adore your show.
Oh, thank you, dear.
What recipes have you tried?
Oh, we don't cook.
Ohh, thank you.
I made this for you.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
Thank you.
Jul? Hmm?
If you don't mind, I'm going to sneak out
to the gallery before it closes.
Oh, Paul, I didn't realize
it was going to turn into this display.
It's marvelous, kitten.
I'm just itching to explore. I'll see you at the hotel.
All this, for that?
You didn't expect it, either?
You kidding?
KQED has no means of measuring our ratings.
There's been positive feedback, though.
Nearly 24 letters.
So, when do I get to meet the boss?
Oh, he's not coming.
Alice Naman?
Alice? Right.
Eh, she's back in Boston.
She works for me.
Helluva salesman. Relentless.
Thought I was her special guy,
then I get a call from Chuck Loudermilk in Philly, WHYY,
the other day asking about "The French Chef."
Oh, yeah? What'd you tell him?
Nothing yet.
Waiting to see how this goes.
Right.
Sign my spatula?
Ohhhhh! Ha-ha!
James!
It is an honor.
You know I have a soft spot for tall cooks
with hearty appetites.
Oh.
James Beard, have you met Judith Jones?
Not officially, no, but I am a fan.
Thank you. Likewise.
Well, I'm absolutely gobsmacked by this turnout.
San Francisco is a town of sensualists like us,
unlike dreary Boston.
Beans and cod and the like.
Ugh! Ugh!
And I'll prove it.
I'm taking you both out to dinner tonight,
to my favorite restaurant in the Bay.
The food is spectacular, the room is charming...
Oh! ...and the waiters are delicious.
Oh! Well, I'm sold.
Oh, Paul, my husband, is in town with me.
Oh, the more the merrier.
The artist straps himself into a harness
and paints upside down.
Remarkable.
Can I help you with anything?
I'm only here to look and -- and learn.
I'm -- I'm an artist myself, from Boston.
I paint standing up.
And, uh, what brings you to San Francisco?
Are you showing in town?
Uh, I'm here with my wife, actually.
She's promoting her television program,
"The French Chef."
Have you seen it?
Julia's weapon of choice.
Oh!
Oh, that is nice.
Avis, you really know your way around this kitchen.
Well, I should.
I found this house for Julia and Paul.
You know, it's funny.
I actually met Julia because of knives.
Street fight?
No.
Actually, she wrote a letter to my husband about knives.
Bernard wrote a column for Harper's
about the evils of stainless steel knives.
Julia felt the same and wrote to him in solidarity.
I was in charge of Bernard's correspondence,
so I read the letter.
I loved it so much, I wrote back to her.
And then we became pen pals.
For a decade.
Ah.
Then when Bernard passed
and my children started to live their grown-up lives,
I saw myself turning into that woman.
Hiding behind the curtains and watching the neighbors,
waiting for "Perry Mason" to come on,
telling the grandchildren about the time she was the May Queen.
Oh, you were the May Queen?
And then Julia moved here, and life became exciting again.
Ah!
It's the onions. I swear.
I never cry.
Oh!
Well...
Now we have enough oignon. Now we have enough oignon.
It's time for the butter.
Let's go easy -- say, eight sticks.
The tiniest splash of vermouth, for flavor.
Wait till you try the bread. It is a poem.
I just need to make a quick phone call, so excuse me.
Just one sec. Oh!
Oh, Paul didn't answer.
I so wanted him to come to dinner.
He'd adore the ambiance.
Well, you tried.
You just checking in with your husband?
No, the old ball and chain.
Hello? It's Judith.
I'm sorry for calling so late.
You know I don't sleep. I've been trying to reach you.
I haven't been back to the hotel.
It's been a wild day.
Did you wake up at noon, talk about your feelings,
and have a lunch of fiddly sprouts?
Not exactly. I have news.
As do I. You first.
Julia Child's book signing was packed.
Overcapacity.
We ran out of copies of "Mastering."
It was like a Beatles concert or something.
Sounds noisy.
I, however, can do you one better.
Your boy Updike has been short-listed
for the National Book Award.
Holy damn!
damning right, holy damn.
Well!
Well, this is very, very, very exciting.
Um, congratulations.
Congratulations to you, my dear.
You did that.
Goodnight.
A bottle of the '55 Saint-Emilion
and two martinis.
Sorry.
I'm worried I smell like onions.
I'm worried that I will always smell like onions.
Eau de French Chef. Mm.
You'll love it here.
Julia and I come here all the time.
And Paul third-wheels. And Paul third-wheels.
So, this can't just be my own personal "This Is Your Life."
Um, why television?
Do you remember the first episode of "The Twilight Zone"?
I don't remember any episode of "The Twilight Zone."
Oh!
"There is a fifth dimension
beyond that which is known to man.
The middle ground between science and superstition.
It lies between the pit of man's fears
and the summit of his knowledge.
The dimension of imagination."
Ooh!
I knew from the first episode, television was my future.
Mm. Endless possibilities.
It's not so easy, though.
You don't know watching at home just how hard it is
to make one little half-hour program.
The tears.
I don't know what you're talking about.
The mussels are fantastic.
And the steak frites.
Gougères -- delicious French cheese puffs
that explode in your mouth like firecrackers.
They're rough on my stomach.
You've had them?
In Paris, actually.
Huh.
I studied some French at Oberlin.
My parents took me to Paris when I graduated.
And here am I, mispronouncing cheese puffs to you.
Ah. Merci.
After you, mademoiselle.
La salade paysanne, s'il vous plait.
I'll have the same.
And French fries.
Oui, madame.
I wonder how they're doing in San Francisco.
Clever of Russ to sell the show across the country,
don't you think?
Mind you, there's no place on earth I'd rather be
than right here with wunderkind Alice Naman.
Thank you for joining me.
I hate eating alone.
Me too.
If music be the food of love, play on.
Give me excess of it. Give me excess of it.
Well, these shrimp are the food of love.
Flay on! Flay on!
Oh, James, you must go onstage again.
We chefs are natural performers.
No, do you think so? Mm!
Well, I was a theater major in college.
As was I. Mm!
No one thought I was particularly good, I'm afraid,
but I did break the world record
as Torvald's tallest little bird.
You played Nora? Mm!
You like Ibsen?
I loved throwing myself into characters,
becoming someone else.
Mind you, I always had an affinity for ham.
Oh, I'm the opposite.
I -- I was only ever really able to play myself.
Well, it's a very good part.
Ohh.
Mr. Beard, we're so honored
to welcome you back. Oh, thank you.
Mrs. Child, I'm a huge fan.
Oh, you're kidding. Bon appétit.
Amazing.
Would you like to see the kitchen?
Julia, could you --
Sorry.
Ooh, it smells like heaven in here!
Jason grows all his own herbs.
Oh? We have a garden in the back.
It's practically a farm.
Yes, Paul grows our herbs in the garden, too.
He would especially appreciate your attention to detail, Jason.
In we go. Yes.
Mm!
Ooh, yes! Ohh!
That is exquisite!
Julia, I could bathe in it.
Oh, my gosh.
I was 21, I had just graduated college.
We had this makeshift stage, totally uneven surface.
One of the leads broke her leg on opening night.
I suppose you told her to?
She took direction well.
You know, I translated "The Maids."
Of course I know.
I used your translation.
You know, it doesn't surprise me at all
that your background's in theater.
Why? A gateau isn't exactly Genet.
Some people are simply meant to be on a stage.
Yes.
Oh, no, sit. Sit, sit.
Another round. I've already paid the check.
Oh! Time for Act II of the evening.
I have a surprise. I'm beat.
Oh, nonsense. The night is young.
Alas, I am not as young as the night,
and I am three hours ahead.
Julia, this cannot be missed.
I am putting my foot down. Please.
Say yes.
Paul, I called earlier -- Oh!
James Beard here.
I need to borrow your wife for a while longer.
We have an important mission in the Mission.
Join us if you can, but there's no time to waste.
Are you up for it?
Uh, you go if you want to, but I am in for the evening.
Well, I won't be home late.
Hello? Ooh, Julia!
It's the city calling. We have to go, go, go!
Have a good time.
Oh, I love you!
Make a drink?
Okay.
Mm! Okay.
Mm. Hmm.
Oh, my. Who put that there?
Ah...
A Russian gymnast told me A Russian gymnast told me
that the key to preventing a hangover...
...is vodka.
Oh. Oh.
Oh, James.
Perhaps it's time I tucked you in a cab.
I have a full day tomorrow. Mm-hmm.
Shh, shh! Quiet.
Mm. Shh.
Ma.
Ralphie?
I met her.
Julia Child.
You what?
Oh, damn.
Oh, I wish Coco were here.
Bless you, Paul. Coco?
Yes, that was her name.
His name. The queen.
Are you alright? Mm.
Yes, I learned this trick last night.
Seems that San Francisco has fallen in love with you,
even the fairies.
Oh, I don't know about that,
but it's certainly the only place on earth
my singing will ever be applauded.
A standing ovation, imagine that.
Hmm. Oh.
Did you know Achilles was a drag queen?
His heels were killing him.
But it was just the one heel.
Oh, merde. I'm late.
Will you come meet me later at the station? Mm.
Well, um...won't James be there for support?
I could use your support.
I'm busy, actually.
Oh?
I'm having lunch with Claire.
You've been making your own plans, so...
Well, that's wonderful. But I just assumed...
What?
Nothing.
Send her my love.
I'm sorry. I have to go.
The car is...
Duty calls.
Off you go.
Sam has so many darn patients,
he's on track to outpace your father.
My dream is they'll open a practice together.
Dynamic doctor duo.
But where would the office be?
Close to here, of course. Your father's is too small.
There's some great space on Maple Street.
Alice, are you even listening?
Mom, could you be more supportive?
Of what?
Of me.
Can't I talk about your brothers without you getting competitive?
It's not about them.
Mom, it's hard for me at work.
I have to constantly explain myself,
who I am, why I'm there,
and when I come to you,
sometimes, I just want you to listen.
Oh.
Alice.
I'm your mother, not your friend.
Let's move those C-stands over there.
She's quite the sorceress, isn't she?
I've fallen under her spell.
You know, when "Mastering the Art of French Cooking"
debuted...
I was quite jealous.
Not only of the idea, the scope of it,
but the voice.
Even the title, the gerund -- it invites you in.
That was your idea, the title, yes?
Mm.
I want my cookbooks to sing like that,
Judith, and I need your help.
Do mine next. Oh.
James, I'm flattered, but that's not what I do.
Well, that's quite clearly what you do.
Oh. No.
I'm a fiction editor who happens to --
how did you put it?
Uh...
...have fallen under Julia's spell.
I edit Julia Child, not cookbooks.
I am not a-a cookbook editor.
Places, everyone. One minute to go.
We should find our seats.
Live audience members can go ahead and take your seats.
Let's move cameras to marks and fly equipment out.
This is a universal crepe batter.
You may add spices to the mix if you like, or nutmeg.
Good wrist work, Ken.
I can see you've had plenty of practice.
Have you made crepes like this before, Ken?
Haven't used a hot plate since chemistry class.
Oh, well, cooking is just like chemistry,
but we are encouraged to lick the instruments.
Oh, Ken, if you can assist me.
Kenny, Kenny.
Ooh, you're not afraid of a little flame, are you?
Didn't I read that your television station
burned to the ground?
Oh, that's before my time, dear.
Before my time.
This is great television.
Well, if lily-livered Ken won't help me
complete my show-stopper, perhaps my dear friend
James Beard will come to the rescue?
James Beard, everyone! James Beard, everyone!
And now, we flambé!
Julia, did you know that Crepes Suzette
were created by mistake?
A waiter accidentally set fire to --
Suzette.
A little bit of the sauce on top of it.
Thank you, James.
And there she is -- Miss Crepes Suzette.
Remember to tune in to "The French Chef" on KQED.
Ah. There you are.
Oh!
Teaching America how to cook is hard work, I see.
Those lights were awfully hot.
Anyway, I'd best be off. I have a plane to catch.
Oh, so soon? You came all this way.
Don't you want to play awhile longer?
No more play for me.
Julialand is the most entertaining place,
but there is a mile-high stack of novels
in my office calling me away.
It's good.
It's my work.
Somehow, I always feel replenished after time with you.
And my pants, always a little tighter.
Russ, I'll see you back there. Yeah. Okay.
Nice to meet you. Yeah, that's great.
She killed on the radio this morning, too.
I loved the bit about iceboxes.
I never call them "refrigerators" either.
Who has the time?
You really got something. It's funny.
I didn't understand it at all till this weekend.
A cooking show? With her as host?
I don't think we've seen anything quite like this.
Oh, and Russ, I spoke with Philly.
Expect a call. Oh.
Thank you. Great.
How did you come up with "The French Chef"?
I mean, how did you know?
I didn't.
I had no idea.
I think my mother would have loved "The French Chef."
Oh, Edith with a television?
Can you imagine?
She was too busy to sit still long enough.
You know, when she was bedridden,
I would draw for her,
just so she would have something to critique.
She lived to deliver pithy barbs.
My work gave her ample opportunity.
But I loved her, so...
I'm sorry that I haven't been able to visit you,
or Robert, as much as I'd like.
You've always been there for both of us.
And now Julia's right there in my l