Nowhen

**Nowhen** is the first episode of Season Two of *Russian Doll* and the ninth episode of the series overall.

## Synopsis

*Nadia's 40th birthday is a few days away, and she's planning to celebrate it quietly with Alan. Then something really strange happens.*

## Plot

An older woman with red hair hammers away at the wall of a subway tunnel. She gleefully procures a duffel bag from within a hole. Later, Nadia walks down the street with purpose. She takes the subway to Lenox Hill Hospital, wherein Ruth sits in the waiting room after enduring a car accident, or, as she puts it, a “fender bender.” Nadia then assists Ruth with filling out the prerequisite paperwork and sees her godmother off while nurses whisk the latter away in a wheelchair. Nadia vows to pick up Ruth later.

Later, Nadia chats with Maxine on the phone regarding Nadia’s 40th birthday bash. Nadia claims she only wants to spend time with Alan, which slightly irks Maxine.

Next, Nadia waits for her subway train on the platform. She reunites with her enigmatic homeless pal, Horse, while he’s standing on a different platform. When Nadia’s train approaches, Horse wildly cackles while flipping her off.

Nadia boards the train, but something’s amiss. There’s a poster for *Sophie’s Choice*, and everyone’s collective clothing style appears antiquated. After spotting a Travis Bickle-esque man and snagging someone’s newspaper, she spies the date: 1982, a.k.a. the year she was born.

Then, Nadia exits the train and observes in bewilderment while passengers flee to the stairs. She meets a Guardian Angel, and a horde of them escort folks off the platform.

Once she’s above ground, Nadia encounters someone who shoves a nuclear weapon pamphlet in her hands. She withdraws a small matchbook from her coat pocket where her phone should be, with a note to meet Chez at 8 pm. Nadia asks the nuclear literature man to point her in the right direction.

Later, Nadia wanders into a pub where she’s supposed to meet the mysterious Chez. She chats it up with Danny, who learns she’s from the future. Suddenly, Chez rounds a corner after a drug deal gone wrong and whisks Nadia out the door with him. He appears to know her very well, notably since he gives Nadia “black beauties” and “ludes” before making out with her.

Next, Chez breaks into someone’s home and steals a duffel bag. They return to his abode, wherein they crank up the foreplay. Nadia briefly pauses the steamy action for a pee break. While in the bathroom, something peculiar regarding her reflection catches her eye. Nadia sees her mother, Lenora staring back at her in the mirror.

Not only that, but Lenora is very much pregnant with Nadia in said reflection.

Nadia experiences a visceral reaction to spotting her mother, or rather, being her mother, in 1982. She quickly grabs her things and leaves Chez in the dust. Thankfully, Nadia boards a subway train that transports her to 2022.

Later, Nadia tells Alan about her time-traveling misadventure. Alan isn’t keen on boarding a train to relive his mother’s past. Nadia muses they must have unfinished business, hence why she lived vicariously through her mother’s younger years.

Alan reminds her that Nadia’s past three birthdays haven’t yielded anything science-fiction-esque, so they must be in the clear.

Nadia returns to the hospital to check on Ruth, who appears to be in good spirits. Nadia asks Ruth about Chez, her mother’s former fling. Ruth claims he was bad news. Chez was around when Lenora lost the family fortune, which was a bag full of gold coins, a.k.a. Krugerrands.

She gets on the train again and revisits 1982, while Alan toys with boarding the subway himself. The doors open, and he reluctantly steps forward.

Nadia finds Chez in bed, post-coitus. He asks where she went, still thinking she’s Lenora. After they kiss, Nadia heads to the bathroom for a tinkle sesh. She emerges to find Chez and the duffel bag missing. Nadia chases down Chez, who stole that bag of gold from her grandmother. Unfortunately, she doesn’t catch him in time.

## Cast

### Starring

* Natasha Lyonne as Nadia Vulvokov
* Charlie Barnett as Alan Zaveri
* Greta Lee as Maxine
* Elizabeth Ashley as Ruth Brenner
* Chloë Sevigny as Lenora Vulvokov

### Guest Starring

* Rosie O'Donnell voices the Subway Announcer
* Irén Bordán as Vera Peschauer
* Brendan Sexton III as Horse
* Sharlto Copley as Chezare "Chez" Carrera
* Ephraim Sykes as Derek
* Athina Papadimitriu as Delia

### Co-Starring

* Lisa Wilkerson as Hospital Receptionist
* Daniel Morgan Shelley as Guardian Angel
* Malachi Nimmons as Danny Shaker
* Paige Gilbert as Nurse
* Chris Camaj as Bartender
* Connie Shi as Alan's date
* Carol Mazhuvancheril as Anti-Nuclear Activist
* Austin Smith as Dr. Grier
* Khalid Rivera as Guy With Mohawk
* Neal Mayer as Man on Subway
* Randall Marquez