Safe Room

"**Safe Room**" is the fourth episode of the second season of *Succession* and the fourteenth of the series overall. It premiered on September 1, 2019 on HBO. It was written by Georgia Pritchett, and directed by Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman.

## Premise

Roman begins a six-week management training program in the Parks division and is irritated about spending so much time with "normals." Logan brings Shiv in for a day at Waystar, raising suspicions with Kendall and Gerri. Connor and Willa attend the funeral of a family friend with a complicated past. Logan and Kendall arrange a covert meeting with PGM CEO Rhea Jarrell.

## Plot synopsis

Tom and Shiv are en route to Waystar Royco, where Shiv will have her first day as a shadow. They discuss ATN anchor Mark Ravenhead, who's recently come under fire for alleged Nazi-sympathizing. Tom claims that he's a well-liked and talented guy, and will likely keep his job; Shiv argues that it's best he be fired. They're then met with protestors, demanding that Ravenhead stay at the news network.

Roman arrives at Waystar's amusement park for his first day of training, as advised by Gerri. He grows irritated with the program and begins insulting visitors while working as a mascot.

Meanwhile, Connor and his girlfriend Willa Ferreyra arrive at former board member Moe’s funeral. Connor is surprisingly very excited, as he hopes to meet potential investors in his presidential campaign. After misusing the name with his family, Connor informs Willa that "Moe" is simply a nickname and his real name was Lester, "Moe" being short for "molester."

Shiv is having a work-related conversation with Gerri when they are interrupted by Jess Jordan, who whispers something in Gerri's ear. Once she hears that Karolina and Colin are also involved, Shiv pieces the clues together. Gerri then admits that Kendall has been shoplifting, and they are running damage control. Kendall enters the room, and Shiv acts differently around her brother. Trying to ignore her, Kendall makes his way down to the parking lot with Jess where they meet Rhea in private. She comments on the protesters out front, before they make their way upstairs to have a private meeting with just the two of them and Logan. She informs them that the Pierce Family is not interested in selling their company to him.

Back at the amusement park, Roman, using a fake name, has befriended another trainee named Brian. The two work together on their assignment to create an idea on a new ride that would interest park-goers.

Shiv skips her first board meeting. Once Logan arrives, they discuss PGM and the issue of Mark Ravenhead. Logan admits that it poses a problem to PGM, as they are more left-wing. To ensure that they don't have a Nazi supporter on their hands, Tom is tasked with interviewing Mark on the matter. During the meeting, Mark confirms that he did name his dog Blondie after Hitler’s, but that it's spelled differently. Tom, still trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, asks for more clarification on his opinions of World War II. Mark says that he sympathizes with the Germans, Russians, and Polish and has rather specific counts of how many "tragically" died. They are interrupted by a gunshot, and everyone scatters in different directions. Greg and Tom immediately meet up and stick together. They are directed towards a panic room by security.

Upon hearing gunshot sounds, Logan is immediately whisked away to a very private and secure safe room and asks where Kendall is. Shiv and Tom are on the phone together when she informs Tom she's entering the safe room now but does not see Tom. Soon Rhea is ushered into the safe room with Logan and Shiv.

At the funeral, Connor informs Willa of the lockdown and that the rest of the family won't be coming. She shares that she overheard some odd stories about Moe, coming from some of Logan's old buddies. Connor plays it off as them being from another generation, but Willa reminds him that Michelle Pantsil is present, and convinces Connor to change his eulogy so as to not be mixed in with Moe later during his Presidential run. Before going up to the front, Willa re-writes a very basic and generic speech to give, sabotaging Pantsil.

Tom and, especially, Greg panic upon discovering that they are in the wrong safe room. Tom insists they go to the better safe room, but security declines, insisting that it's dangerous. A bit later, as things appear to have calmed down, Greg admits to Tom that he wants to have, what he calls, "a business open relationship" and no longer wants to work in ATN. This upsets Tom, so much so that he begins throwing water bottles at Greg. Eventually, however, Tom agrees to let him go.

Meanwhile, Roman is informed of the shooting and is asked if he would like to leave the room. Roman uses the excuse to skip class while Brian presents. Later, Brian finds him to let them know they won. Roman insists it was just the family name.

After wandering the building and property, Kendall is eventually ushered into the private safe room with his father and Shiv. Rhea exclaims that she is finding it increasingly difficult to explain why she has to keep canceling appointments and meetings. Ken, Rhea, and Logan then delve into the real reason why PMG won't sell their company. Kendall begins to sweeten the deal with more money before an unofficial deal is made and confirmed. Logan sees Rhea off to her car and she suggests a peace offering, like firing Mark Ravenhead for personally offending Nan Pierce. Logan is informed the shooter was actually a suicide victim who blamed "bullying" within ATN. Logan seems less than interested.

Later that night, Roman calls Tabitha to talk to her about his first day. They make a small attempt at phone sex but Roman hangs up the phone in frustration. He then calls Gerri to ask if his winning idea can become a real attraction. Gerri scolds him, saying that it's a dumb suggestion. Roman begins touching himself to the sound of this.

The next morning Kendall again finds himself standing on the balcony, as he had during the shooting. Only this time there is glass, 10 feet high, stopping any potential employees from jumping, but specifically Kendall.

### Notes

1. ↑ As mentioned in "Vaulter".
2. ↑ As depicted in "Hunting".
3. ↑ Karolina and Colin, along with Frank, do not appear in the episode and were only mentioned.
4. ↑ Greg had previously promoted been to executive assistant for Tom at ATN.

## Cast

* Brian Cox as Logan Roy
* Nicholas Braun as Greg Hirsch
* Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy
* Dagmara Dominczyk as Karolina Novotney (credit only)
* Peter Friedman as Frank Vernon
* Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans
* Arian Moayed as Stewy Hosseini (credit only)
* Alan Ruck as Connor Roy
* J. Smith-Cameron as Gerri Kellman
* Sarah Snook as Shiv Roy
* Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy
* Rob Yang as Lawrence Yee (credit only)
* Jeannie Berlin as Cyd Peach
* Jessica Hecht as Michelle Pantsil
* Justine Lupe as Willa Ferreyra
* Caitlin FitzGerald as Tabitha
* Zack Robidas as Mark Ravenhead
* Scott Nicholson as Colin
* Patch Darragh as Ray
* Juliana Canfield as Jess Jordan

Guest* Zach Cherry as Brian

## Quotes

* **Connor Roy [to Michelle Pantsil]:** Hey, if you wanna print something in your little book, you may print the following line: "Connor Roy was interested in politics at a very young age." That's it.
* **Tom Wamsgans:** Have you ever read Mein Kampf?
**Mark Ravenhead:** Um... Yeah, couple of times, I guess.
**Tom:** Couple times? Were there Easter eggs you didn't get the first time?
* **Greg Hirsch:** Maybe we should try to get outside.
**Tom Wambsgans:** No, Greg! This is the safe room, okay? This is the panic room. We're safe here.
**Greg:** What? How is it safe?
**Tom:** Calm down!
**Greg:** It's just a room!
* **Roman Roy:** Everyone treats me like I'm a piece of shit.
**Gerri Kellman:** You ARE a piece of shit, Roman.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Succession Ep 4: Safe Room | Official Website for the HBO Series | HBO.com
2. ↑ Shows A-Z - succession on hbo | TheFutonCritic.com
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 *Succession*: Season 2, Episode 4: "**Safe Room**"
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Succession | Official Website for the HBO Series | HBO.com
5. ↑ Shows A-Z - succession on hbo | TheFutonCritic.com