Colored Television

Jane calls Marianne, the television agent, to fill Marianne in on the details of her meeting with Hampton. Marianne’s assistant, Carrie, tells Jane that Marianne has left town because her father is dying, and she will handle the details of the “if/come” contract with Hampton. Jane feels happy and relaxed while she continues to work on ideas for the television show. She contrasts the anxiety of Jane, the novelist, with the happiness of Jane, the television writer.

Jane tells Lenny that she is meeting with Hampton to do research for her novel’s revisions. Lenny comments on how much happier she seems since she has started working with Hampton, whom he calls “Lincoln Perry,” an early 20th-century character that played on racial stereotypes about Black people. Ruby hears them talking about Lincoln Perry and comes into their bedroom, followed by Finn. Jane shows Ruby a picture of Hampton, and Ruby says he looks like Lenny. Lenny jokes about it and tickles the kids.

That night, Jane gets a text from Hampton asking her if she can come to his office immediately to talk about ideas for the show. Lenny is asleep, so Jane gets dressed up and goes to the office without telling him where she is going.