"What's for Dinner?" is the eighth episode in the first season of the Apple TV+ thriller series Severance. It was released on April 1, 2022.
Synopsis[]
The team prepares a plan. Mark attends Devon and Ricken's party.
Plot[]
Irving sits on a bench reading The Emperor's Handbook. His dog, Radar, sits on the ground in front of him. He gets up and starts walking with Radar.
They drive home at Leonora Lake Apartments and go inside. Irving pours himself a cup of coffee and looks at a series of paintings, all of the same long, dark hallway. He sets up a new board and begins painting.
Mark, Dylan, Helly, and Irving all arrive at work. Helly gets a category to 100%. Mark leans over to check on her and she says she's doing well and will get it finished.
Dylan worries that Helly's not going to finish. He and Irving are already done with theirs. Mark tells them they should be at their desks and assures them Helly will make it. Irving says it might help to stand behind her and chant her name. Mark tells them to let her focus.
Cobel paces and asks Michick how Helly is doing. Milchick says it'll be down to the wire. They watch Helly work and Cobel says Helly will make it. She tells him to prep for when she makes it. And she wants to schedule an end-of-the-quarter wellness session for Mark, one last time. When Milchick asks if she's sure, Cobel says that it's been a trying quarter, but she's sure Graner and Kier are both pleased with Milchick's work.
Mark fidgets while Helly works. She calls him over to have him watch her do the final piece to complete Siena. Irving and Dylan rush in from the kitchenette to watch the animation celebrating her achievement, including Kier telling her he loves her. Dylan is happy they made quota. Irving says it's on now.
Mark and Cobel laugh in her office. Mark says they made it despite the staffing changes. She adds them spending time wandering the halls. She asks if he has decided whom he wants to have stay for the waffle party. He says Dylan. Cobel asks if he knows he can choose himself or someone else. Mark says it's his thing and he worked really hard. Cobel says she'll make the arrangements and tells him to drop by wellness. She says all department heads are doing it for the end of the quarter, with all the stress of Graner retiring and everything else. She thanks him, saying Lumon needed them making quota.
Mark waits for his wellness session. Ms. Casey peeks out the door and calls him in. He asks where the tree went. She doesn't answer. He notices everything's in boxes and asks about it. She says Lumon has a new wellness director, so she'll be retiring at the end of this session. Mark asks when they told her and she says they just told her. She turns on sounds of nature and tells him he's eligible for a special, augmented wellness session because he led his department to meeting their quota. Mark says he didn't think she'd get fired. She starts reading facts about his outie. He interrupts and offers to talk to someone for her. She says she liked being in the office with him that day. She knows she annoyed him, but her life has only been 107 hours long, mostly in the form of half-hour sessions. Her favorite time was the eight hours she spent watching Helly because it was the longest she was ever awake. Mark thinks there must be something they can do. She asks why he cares what happens to her. He says they're people, not parts of people. These are their lives and no one gets to turn her off. Ms. Casey tells him he's nice. Then she continues reading the facts about his outie.
Cobel watches Mark's session on her monitor. Milchick says it's good that Mark and Ms. Casey don't remember each other. It means the chips work, which is a win. Cobel tells him to take Ms. Casey back down to the Testing Floor.
Milchick escorts Ms. Casey to a door. He opens it and has her enter. She walks down a long, dark hallway. She turns around and asks if she's happy up there. He says yes, she does all sorts of wonderful things. She turns and continues walking. She stops and turns again, but when she starts to ask a question, Milchick says he has a lot to do today and sends her on her way. She enters an elevator at the end of the hallway that sends her down.
Mark goes back to MDR and tells Irving, Helly, and Dylan that he had a wellness check and Dylan is all set for the waffle party. He also tells Dylan that they fired Ms. Casey. Helly asks if there's anything they can do. Mark doesn't know. He asks if they're sure they want to do this. Before they can answer, Milchick comes in with their pre-waffle party egg bar social. They deserve it for reaching quota. But before they begin, he has a special gift for Dylan, their three-time refiner of the quarter. He hands Dylan a box. Helly tells Dylan to open it, but he wants to open it alone. Milchick says he should show them, so Dylan opens it. They're impressed by what they see in the box.
They enjoy their egg bar social as Milchick takes pictures. Helly offers to stay behind instead of Dylan, so he can see his kid again. He says what they're doing tonight is just the first step. She asks if he's sure.
Cobel goes into her office, where Natalie is waiting. In Natalie's hand are two pictures of Helly during her suicide attempt. She asks Cobel about it and Cobel admits it. Natalie asks why she didn't tell the Board. Cobel asks if Milchick gave Natalie the pictures. Natalie tells her to answer the question. Cobel asks if she's speaking with the Board. Natalie says they also know she's been spending time at Mark's sister's house. Natalie tells her it's been decided that she's being suspended from her job effective immediately. She's fired. Cobel asks if the Board is even there. After a moment, a voice says, "yes" over the speaker, shocking Cobel. Cobel apologizes for being rude and says she'll explain everything to the Board tonight. Natalie tells her the Board has ended the call.
Irving pulls out a compliance handbook and reads aloud from it. He puts an egg in the book and closes it.
Mark finds Helly in the kitchenette and Helly says she thinks the goats lay the eggs. Helly asks if he's scared about their plan. He admits that he's scared of getting caught. Helly says they left them unattended and thought they'd be too dumb to notice. They won't see it coming. He says they might not wake up. Or they'll be assholes out there. Helly says that's a given for her. Mark just hopes he has things he cares about. Helly says he pretended to care about her pretty well. He says she's easy to pretend to care about and she says the same of him. Milchick suddenly turns the lights on, saying the party is over because he needs to attend to a management issue. He says he'll leave the food and he'll be back soon to escort Dylan to Perpetuity.
Milchick escorts Cobel to the stairwell. He takes her key card and hands her a box of her things, then sends her out.
Mark tells Dylan not to mess with any other departments. Helly reminds him the process is meant to be done by two people, but Dylan assures her he'll be fine. They give him the key card and the directions. Mark says it's likely they'll wake up around people. They could be doing anything, so they need to be ready for anything as they go up the elevator. It's important to find someone you think you can trust and tell them everything. They don't know how long Dylan will be able to give them so they can't get distracted digging into their lives. The mission is the priority. Mark pulls The You You Are out of a drawer. He tells them he kept it and reads part of it to them. Dylan starts to recite it with him, revealing that he also read it.
Irving, Mark, and Helly wait at the elevator. Irving gets on and tells them it's time to find out what's for dinner. As the door close, Helly asks Mark if he thinks they're about to meet their spouses. He says maybe. Helly says it'd be a hoot if they're married to each other. They might be mid-argument even. Helly puts in her key card next. Then she stops the doors from closing and kisses Mark, in case they don't come back or maybe in case they do. Then she leaves, wishing him good luck. Mark looks around the area and then gets on the elevator himself.
Dylan practices the steps he has to take.
Milchick comes to MDR to get Dylan, but finds it empty. Dylan calls that he'll be out in a minute, then folds up the directions and takes a deep breath.
Mark leaves Lumon. Outside, workers are active, chasing things outside.
Milchick escorts Dylan to the Perpetuity Wing. He tells Dylan to enjoy and leaves him outside Kier's home. Dylan enters Kier's bedroom and finds a stack of waffles waiting for him. He sits down to eat them.
Cobel rants about Natalie as she drives.
Dylan finishes his waffles and sees that the plate is instructing him to go to the founder's bed. There's a mask of Kier on it. Dylan puts it on and dancers dressed as the four tempers come in and perform a sensual dance.
Cobel gets home and rages. She rips decorations off the wall and destroys her shrine to Kier. Then she embraces some medical tubing and a hospital bracelet with the name Charlotte Cobel.
The dancers finish and look at the bed but Dylan is no longer there.
Dylan takes his present and walks to the security room.
Cobel is crying on the floor when her doorbell rings. She finds Mark there. He says he's headed to Devon and Ricken's for their party. Devon asked if she wanted to go. Cobel says she's not feeling herself this evening. He understands and turns to leave. She says maybe she could drive her own car, leaving her free to go if she wants to leave.
Irving goes home, pets his dog, and gets coffee.
Mark enters Devon and Ricken's party. Ricken greets him and says the reading starts in eight minutes. He asks if Mark has his copy to read along. Mark left it by his bed. Ricken says it's fine. Devon comes over with Eleanor and tells Mark there's food. Ricken says Rebeck might share her copy of the book with Mark. Ricken goes to ask her about it, leaving Mark and Devon alone. They banter and Mark says they should talk later because he's been pondering a life change. Devon thanks him for coming and leaves to play host. Cobel comes up and hugs Devon.
Dylan makes it to the security room and puts in the key card.
Irving puts a finished painting aside then starts another.
Cobel apologizes to Mark and says she had a bad day at the shop. He is sorry to hear that and tells her that work is just work. She agrees.
Dylan uses his belt to secure the door so no one can come in. He pulls out his gift, which is a block engraved with the MDR team. He puts it in front of him, then pulls out the directions to get started. He works through the steps.
Irving plays music and paints.
Dylan starts the process, giving himself 19 seconds to open the circuit.
Cobel asks Mark about the life change he was telling Devon about. Mark says he was going to talk to Devon about his job. He's thinking he might quit. She asks if he's serious.
Dylan navigates to the overtime function.
Mark says he's not sure he needs severance anymore.
The computer counts down and Dylan looks for his next step.
Cobel encourages Mark to do it, to get way from Lumon.
Dylan struggles to reach to activate both switches. Finally, he's able to do it.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Adam Scott as Mark Scout
- Zach Cherry as Dylan George
- Britt Lower as Helly Riggs
- Tramell Tillman as Seth Milchick
- Jen Tullock as Devon Scout-Hale
- Dichen Lachman as Ms. Casey
- Michael Chernus as Ricken Hale
- John Turturro as Irving Bailiff
- Christopher Walken as Burt Goodman (credit only)
- Patricia Arquette as Harmony Cobel
Guest Starring[]
Co-starring[]
- Annie McNamara as Danise
- Grace Rex as Rebeck
- Donald Webber Jr. as Patton
- Olivia Alboher as Woman in Old Woman Mask
- Samantha Easton Farrow as Woman in Bride Mask
- Sarah Gold as Woman in Jester Mask
- Tara Rodriguez as Choreographer
- Weston Krukow as Man in Sheep's Head Mask
- Marc Geller as Kier Eagan
Notes and Trivia[]
- The Celebration Wedding Chapel filmed in Kingston, New York, was known for same-sex wedding celebrations.
Gallery[]
Promotional Stills[]
Screenshots[]
Season 1 | |||||
#01 | "Good News About Hell" | #04 | "The You You Are" | #07 | "Defiant Jazz" |
#02 | "Half Loop" | #05 | "The Grim Barbarity of Optics and Design" | #08 | "What's for Dinner?" |
#03 | "In Perpetuity" | #06 | "Hide and Seek" | #09 | "The We We Are" |
Season 2 >> |