The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

• 1. Here's why cosmetics should come in unbreakable bottles

  Molly's mother introduces Molly, talks about her divorce 3 years ago and a bit about her life now. In the elevator, Molly reads Davey her new poem. Molly arrives at her job at Dennis Widmer's real estate agency. She's been having an affair with him and confronts him for not telling her he was married, which she's just discovered through an anonymous phone call. Molly sells a condo to a rich Indian guy, Birmanyi. Molly has lunch with her mother. Her mother complains about Molly's father retiring and doing nothing more than sitting on the barcalounger and about her brother living on an Indian reservation. She compares Molly with her sister, who's married with kids. In the elevator, Davey offers literary criticism. Later Molly plays piano and her ex-husband Fred uses his apartment key and comes in to listen. We find out that Molly is 33. Fred tells Molly that he's getting married. Molly takes a shower and breaks a cosmetic bottle (thus the episode title).

• 2. Here's why there are instances when vegetables aren't necessarily good for you

  Begins with Molly writing a poem in the park and her mother's commentary about being uncomfortable with the sensualness of her poems. The door across the hall from her apartment opens and closes and Molly yells at it that inhabitants have been spying on her for years. Davey lets her on the elevator with a load of pregnant women and comments on her biological clock. Her mother is waiting in the lobby and talks with Molly about her irritation with Molly's father. Biranyi (Bill) signs on the condo and asks Molly out for dinner. Molly quits her job. She goes to a jazz club to hear Fred play. (He's a sax player.) She has a flashback to meeting him. He introduces his fiancee, Kirsten. Molly has dinner with Bill. She gets spinach in her teeth (thus the title).

• 3. Here's why you should stay out of coffee shops if you don't drink coffee

  Intro: Florence narrates as Molly waits for a job interview at an advertising agency. Molly meets her garbage man, Nick Donnatello, played by the show's creator, Jay Tarses; Nick asks her on a date and she declines. Davey tells her that Fred visited in the morning and that her mother is upstairs waiting for her. Molly's mother is cleaning her cabinets and tells Molly that she's staying over and going to a doctor for tests the next day but she won't talk about what kind of tests. No one but Molly knows that she's going for tests. Fred calls and asks Molly to meet him. Molly meets him at the planetarium, where he's composing music for a planetarium show. He asks for her help. He's convinced that an album and fame and fortune will follow. She refuses to help. Fred invites her for coffee at Spiro's and she goes along. It is apparently ""their"" old place; people greet them as if they're still a couple. The guys from the ""old gang"" (The Fred Dodd Quintet?) show up. Molly greets them as she le

• 4. Here's why you should never wear high heels to the bank

  intro: Fred plays sax as Florence narrates, talking about Molly's love of music and Molly's father's musical career Florence continues narrating, explaining that she's fine and will be back, as Molly gets in a cab to go home from a composition setting. Molly sees Nick and they talk; he hits on her. Molly tells Davey that her mother is lost; she isn't in the hospital and can't be found but left a message saying she's fine. When she gets in her apartment, there's another message that her mother is fine. Fred calls. Molly goes to his apartment. She and Fred argue. The phone rings; it's Kirsten. Molly is at a recording session with the whole band. Alex, the trumpet player, freezes up. A woman in the sound booth comes on to Fred. Molly goes to a restaurant with Alex. Molly goes to the Waldorf-Astoria and knocks on a door; her mother answers. Florence explains that something happened to her in the hospital and she's considering her life. Molly goes back to the studio and Fred says he can't p

• 5. Here's why it's not good to stare at people in restaurants

  Out on a date with pilot Blake Novack, Molly spots her father, Edgar, dining with a woman who is not her mother. Molly and Blake are again interrupted when Edgar, not realizing Blake is in the bedroom, arrives at her apartment early in the morning to explain.

• 6. Here's why it's tough to sell watermelons after midnight

  Molly Dodd, on the verge of a breakdown, decides to see a psychologist after she tells Blake, a new boyfriend she thinks is perfect, she can't see him anymore. She realizes she has a problem when she rearranges her living room furniture in the middle of the night.

• 7. Here's why a torch is too heavy to carry in a purse

  opens with Florence talking about Nina and Molly's friendship, as Molly and Nina are making pasta Nina encourages Molly to visit her therapist. Fred stops by to get his moon boots. Davy and Molly talk about her considering seeing a therapist; he encourages her to do it. Her mother stops by and they talk about Molly considering seeing a therapist. Molly visits the therapist, Dr. Litchfield. At first she mistakes the therapist for a receptionist. The session starts out awkward, with the therapist taking pesonal calls and molly chattering awkwardly. Flashback to Molly and Fred's first anniversary. Then Molly settles in to talk about Fred and the therapist turns her attention to her, ignoring the next incoming call.

• 8. Here's why they call the little one a jingle and the big one the blues

  Martin is talking about writing jingles as he and molly are composing one Martin and Molly compose a jingle about eggs. Martin talks about what he does when he's stuck composing. Martin prods Molly to sing the jingle to Davy. She reads it to him. Davy gives his commentary. Martin and Molly walk around the city and talk. They hear a jingle they've written and dance. Martin approaches Molly and she gives him a ""let's be friends"" speech. They get on the Staten Island Ferry. Molly and her mother meet for lunch at a place with a WWII theme. Molly finds out that her mother was engaged to someone before Molly's father. Fred shows up. He invites Molly to a gig the group is putting on the next night, at which he's planning to play some of the planetarium music. Molly and Martin walk by as Fred is playing in an alley outside the club where he's playing. Martin goes in to get a table. Molly and Fred talk; he reminisces about their relationship. Molly goes into the club. Fred and the guys play. Fr

• 9. Here's another bedtime story

  The intriguing Birmanyi offers Molly a lucrative job, but the fringe benefits are questionable. Ex-husband Fred is having problems with his fiancée, Kirsten, and asks Molly to help her understand him. Molly and her mother, Florence, take a college extension course together.

• 10. Here's why it's good to have a cake burning in the refrigerator

  Molly and her two best friends, Nina and Robin, celebrate their 35th birthdays and share dramatic news: Robin is pregnant, and Nina is separated from her husband. But the most personal item Molly can offer is that she had a poem published in an obscure magazine. Molly's mother, Florence, threatens to move into Molly's apartment building.

• 11. Here's why Henry David Thoreau chose the pond

  Molly tries to get a comission check from her former boss and lover, who delays paying in order to see her again.

• 12. Here's why you've gotta bake a batch of cookies every once in a while

  Molly's unappealing poetry instructor, Duke, makes a pass at her and kills her desire to be a poet. Also, Molly's mother, Florence, wants to move to Manhattan, but her father, Edgar, refuses.

• 13. Here's why good guys sometimes wear black

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Cast

Blair Brown

Molly Dodd

James Greene

Davey McQuinn

Allyn Ann McLerie

Florence Bickford