Sh*t Show at the F**k Factory

"**Sh\*t Show at the F\*\*k Factory**" is the second episode of the first season of *Succession* and second of the series overall. It premiered on June 10, 2018 on HBO. It was written by Tony Roche and directed by Mark Mylod.

## Premise

Logan's incapacitation sets off a heated succession debate among his children, as the Board rushes to inform the media about leadership contingencies before the stock market opens. Greg is tasked to retrieve some important items from the Roy apartment. Kendall makes an impassioned final plea to keep Waystar/Royco in the family, and receives some sobering news.

## Plot synopsis

Kendall arrives at the hospital in a panic to see his father, who is currently unresponsive. He, along with Connor, Shiv, and Roman, are escorted out of the ICU and into a waiting area after questioning and berating the medical staff.

Roman and Kendall are put in charge of damage control while company executives prepare for Logan's potential death, even drafting an obituary at ATN. Connor becomes fixated on the idea preserving their father's body via cryonics. In another part of the hospital, Greg talks to his mother on the phone to update her on Logan's health and ask for more money. Gerri and Karl arrive and pull Kendall aside and announce that he will be CEO in Logan's absence, and that Roman had been promoted to COO just before the stroke.

Roman pulls Shiv aside and confides that he feels guilty about not signing the trust papers. He insists that Shiv sign them as well considering she "caused" the stroke with her hardball tactics and, offended, Shiv slaps him. They then tussle on the ground. Back in the waiting room, Marcia tasks Greg with retrieving some things from her and Logan's apartment solely to get rid of him.

Connor his girlfriend/escort, Willa Ferreyra, into the waiting room. Kendall informs his siblings that he's been appointed CEO, but Shiv and Roman, like their father, believe that he's unfit for the position. The doctor informs them that Logan had a hemorrhagic stroke and that, at his age, surgery is not an option. Shiv suggests moving him to another hospital, but Marcia insists against the idea. Kendall asks Lawrence Yee that he not report on the incident, but nonetheless, he runs negative press about the family. He then asks Frank to come back as COO, instead of Roman, and he declines. Meanwhile, Shiv and Roman ask Gerri to step up as CEO, but she declines as well.

Several hours later, Rava arrives at the hospital and comforts Kendall. Tom decides to ask Shiv to marry him, and she "unofficially" agrees, insisting that he ask again under better circumstances. Kendall and Roman agree to work together as CEO and COO, respectively.

Gerri pulls Kendall aside and reveals that in 1985, Logan took out a loan through the family holding company, adding to the company's already considerable debt, for the expansion into parks. She explains that the debt, which is approximately $3 billion, is secured against the company's stock, and once the stock hits 130, the bank can pursue repayment in full. If the bank decided to do this, it would eviscerate the company.

Though the rest of the family then disperses from the hospital, Marcia remains by Logan's bedside, where he begins to wake up.

### Notes

1. ↑ Cryonics, commonly known as cryogenic freezing, is a process that involves preserving human bodies at extremely low temperatures with the hope of potentially restoring them to life and health in the future. (source)
2. ↑ A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a weakened vessel ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain. The blood accumulates and compresses the surrounding brain tissue. It is usually caused by high blood pressure or trauma; consuming blood-thinning drugs may also increase a person's risk. (source)
3. ↑ The article which Lawrence runs is titled "Sh\*t Show at the F\*\*k Factory."

## Cast

* Hiam Abbass as Marcia Roy
* Nicholas Braun as Greg Hirsch
* Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy
* Peter Friedman as Frank Vernon
* Natalie Gold as Rava Roy
* Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans
* Alan Ruck as Connor Roy
* Sarah Snook as Shiv Roy
* Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy
* Rob Yang as Lawrence Yee
* Justine Lupe as Willa Ferreyra
* Dagmara Domińczyk as Karolina Novotney
* David Rasche as Karl
* Juliana Canfield as Jess Jordan
* Scott Nicholson as Colin
* Judy Reyes as Eva
* Mary Birdsong as Marianne Hirsch

## References

1. ↑ Succession Ep 2: Sh\*t Show at the F\*\*k Factory | Official Website for the HBO Series | HBO.com