Vaulter (episode)

*For information on the company, see Vaulter.*
"**Vaulter**" is the second episode of the second season of *Succession* and twelfth of the series overall. It premiered on August 18, 2019 on HBO. It was written by Jon Brown and directed by Andrij Parekh.

## Premise

Roman and Kendall do a "routine health check" of new media brand Vaulter to determine the future of the company. Tom tasks Greg with sniffing out waste at ATN, as Greg wonders if the divisive media outlet is the right fit for him. Connor and Willa host a soiree to mark their return to New York. Shiv brings Tom into the loop about her future at Waystar and with Gil's campaign.

## Plot synopsis

Sophie celebrates her birthday with her family and friends at Brightstar Adventure Park, which Logan cleared out for her. Kendall, Roman, and Shiv are summoned to their father's office. Logan watches an interview on PGM, during which Stewy claims that Logan is too old and out of touch to properly run Waystar. Shiv suggests that they retaliate immediately, and Logan agrees. He then tasks his sons with scrutinizing Vaulter, whom he believes to be a financial burden.

   Kendall and Roman arrive at Vaulter to perform the "routine health check." In an attempt to halt his investigation, Lawrence gives Kendall an overwhelming amount of company material to work through. Meanwhile, Roman takes a few staff members out for drinks in hopes that they'll reveal valuable information to him once intoxicated. Feeling out of his comfort zone, he calls Gerri and suggests that she accompany him. She declines, and he abruptly hangs up on her.

   Tom tasks Greg with sniffing out any inefficiencies within ATN after division head Cyd Peach insults him. Shiv meets with Logan, who reveals that she's required three years of training before becoming CEO.

Kendall and Roman meet with their father the next day to discuss their assessment of Vaulter. Kendall believes that Vaulter has the potential to be very successful, whereas Roman claims the company is systemically lazy. He also reveals that its employees intend to unionize soon. Logan sides with Roman and tasks Kendall with dissolving Vaulter. Kendall then goes into the bathroom, does a line of cocaine, and laughs to himself in the mirror.

Connor and Willa host a soiree celebrating their return to New York, which Connor takes as an opportunity to quietly announce his political campaign. Greg informs Tom that they should consider digitizing ATN's media library, as the traditional method is too time-consuming. Tom enthusiastically calculates the number of "skulls" that could be cut from the company as a result of digitizing. Back in their apartment, Shiv reveals to Tom that Logan offered her the position of CEO. Tom is supportive, though seemingly a bit disappointed, as he was under the impression that he could be Logan's successor.

The next morning, Kendall attempts to convince Vaulter's employees not to unionize by promising to have their salaries increased. Greg searches for a new apartment, soon realizing that he will likely be living in a compact studio. Kendall casually offers Greg an apartment that he recently purchased, and he agrees under the condition that he must throw a party there.

Shiv and Tom arrive at Roman and Tabitha's place for dinner. At the table, Roman reveals his belief that he will be Logan's successor, with Tom as his only competition. Shiv, however, dispels that notion. The siblings then begin mocking Tom's mid-western mannerisms and taste in clothing. Tom grows irritated and aggressively shuts down their teasing, causing tension at the table. Later that night, Shiv consults Tom on whether she should choose Senator Eavis or her father, both of whom have offered her significant opportunities. Tom reminds her that Logan has a history of disposing of people once he grows tired of them.

Kendall hires a team to secretly install Wi-Fi blockers at Vaulter. He arrives the next morning to announce that all employees have been terminated and must vacate within 15 minutes, revealing that his speech was merely a distraction. Shiv makes a poor joke about Gil, which causes him to fire her. Shiv, however, claims to Logan that she quit and is ready to transition into Waystar. Logan is satisfied with Kendall and decides to involve him in the proxy war, irritating Roman. Kendall stops at a bodega and steals a pack of batteries on his way out, only to immediately toss them in the garbage.

## Cast

* Hiam Abbass as Marcia Roy
* Nicholas Braun as Greg Hirsch
* Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy
* Dagmara Dominczyk as Karolina Novotney (credit only)
* Peter Friedman as Frank Vernon (credit only)
* Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans
* Arian Moayed as Stewy Hosseini
* 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
* Eric Bogosian as Gil Eavis
* Justine Lupe as Willa Ferreyra
* Caitlin FitzGerald as Tabitha
* Ashley Zukerman as Nate Sofrelli
* Juliana Canfield as Jess Jordan
* Swayam Bhatia as Sophie Roy
* Quentin Morales as Iverson Roy

## Quotes

* **Greg Hirsch:** Sure, just ATN? It's, It's like - kind of against my principles.
**Tom Wamsgans:** Your principles? Greg, don't be an asshole. You don't have principles.
* **Shiv Roy:** You have a toddler with a hard-on for the chief operating officer, and I'm going through a management training program?
**Logan Roy:** You're a young woman with no experience.
**Shiv:** A woman. That's a minus.
**Logan:** Well, of course, it's a f\*\*king minus! I didn't make the world!

## References

1. ↑ Succession Ep 2: Vaulter | Official Website for the HBO Series | HBO.com