Terror in the Factory

It was scary this week, watching Sally be terrified. Ringing phones, texts saying “I see you” and a box left at the factory for her. It had a heart inside – an organ, not a Valentine. Turns out it was a pig’s heart, but still! Little wonder she cowered in the office.

Sally was so frightened she forgot all about her interview with Cheshire Haven magazine. Cheshire Haven! How could she possibly forget that! “Musthang Sally” has thoroughly cowed Upscale Sally.

I don’t know where this trolling and stalking storyline came from. Did I miss an episode? Despite not really getting this, I am enjoying it. Because of Sally and Tim.

Sally is AbFab

Sally is just fabulous. She goes from petrified to gentrified in a flash. But it’s convincing because you see her willing herself to overcome her fear. Safe at home, with Tim and her daughters, social-climbing Sally is back. So too is Social Justice Sally. Even after being scared half to death at the factory, she summons her courage and speaks at a public meeting at City Hall.

Probably one of the funniest scenes ever, as Sophie, Rosie and Sally run into the mayor and his dog Barry. Sally does Introductions: “Martin is the mayor, he’s gay” and “my lesbian daughter Sophie and my straight-identifying daughter Rosie.” Mayor Martin praises Sally, “so full of life.” Rosie agrees, “yeah, she’s so pro-life.” A Sally scowl, “don’t say that, Rosie!” Meanwhile, Rosie is obsessed with Barry, as if she’s never seen a dog before, like, close up.

Brilliant too is Tim. He  worries for her safety, and for himself. He can’t bear thinking that something bad might happen to her. When she disregards his advice, he washes his hands of her. He bowed out of the Cheshire Haven interview, seeing it as endangering herself unnecessarily. What she sees as publicity and networking, he sees as social-climbing and self-aggrandizement.

Tim and social media

Her reluctance to shut herself off from social media confuses him. Some bad person is trolling you on-line and in real life, what’s to discuss? Stop giving them ammunition. She, however, doesn’t see it that way. Her work is important, a public presence is needed, etc. Ergo, social media.

But when she needs him, he is there. Sometimes he gets it right, like finding her at the factory. Sometimes, like at the City Hall meeting, it’s wrong. But for me? All week, both Tim and Sally have been perfect. Rosie and Sophie too.