Episode 9 of AppleTV+'s surreal comedy-drama series, Government Cheese, features some significant developments for protagonist Hampton Chambers, as he finally seems to have some perspective on moving forward in life, while the threat of legal trouble also looms over him. His family, particularly his wife, Astoria, and son, Einstein, are at pivotal moments in their lives, and Hampton wants to be a part of their achievements at every step. However, the man is also determined to achieve his own goals, so he doesn't mind using Einstein almost as a cover to execute his next plan in Episode 9 of Government Cheese.
Episode 9 of Government Cheese begins with Einstein recording a video of himself pole vaulting with the help of his equally eccentric, but extremely caring and supportive girlfriend, Minnie. At the end of the previous episode, it was revealed that Einstein had received several offer letters from several prestigious universities in the country, along with an interview offer at Rocketcorp's Chatsworth factory.
Creators: Aeysha Carr, Paul Hunter
Stars: David Oyelowo, Simone Missick, Kyle Mac
However, Einstein has no interest in pursuing higher education, despite his intelligence and high grades, and he doesn't want to work at an engineering firm right now, no matter how high the position is offered. Instead, the boy still wants to pursue pole vaulting, a sport he truly loves, and that's why he's been trying to get into George Fox College solely because of its facilities.
While Hampton has never discouraged his son from pursuing his pole vaulting ambitions, he doesn't want to give Einstein free rein as to what he wants to do with his life. He feels Einstein needs to take life a little more seriously and therefore views the Rocketcorp job interview as a good opportunity that he should seize with all his might. It's clear that Hampton really wants Einstein to work at Rocketcorp, perhaps because he believes practical experience in a work environment is far more useful than pursuing higher education. It's also clear that Hampton and Astoria have different opinions on the matter, as the latter prefers Einstein to go to college rather than get a job right away, but the couple never discuss the matter again.
This is also because Hampton suddenly discovers a great opportunity thanks to Einstein's interview at the Rocketcorp factory, as he can use his son's interview to get a job at the factory. Coincidentally, a businessman named Dean Dremel was scheduled to visit the factory that same day, as part of his schedule, as his company, Dremel Tools, is a major Rocketcorp client. Hampton is confident that if he can show the businessman his self-sharpening drill and convince him of the product's capabilities, his business idea will be of great help. Therefore, he wants to arrange a meeting with Dremel and asks his contact at Rocketcorp, Manny Brinks, if it would be possible, but Manny dismisses the idea completely. Being a very important customer, and in fact, the only one who still visits the factory once a month, Dean Dremel is strictly forbidden from being bothered by the employees. Therefore, Manny makes it clear that he can't help, as he doesn't want to risk his job any further, and he also advises Hampton not to do anything stupid.
However, the protagonist is determined to make something big with his drill invention, especially since he's also desperate for money. Hampton still owes the Prevosts a large sum, and although he had planned to settle this debt with the money from the Temple Hillel robbery, he had also repaid it after numerous divine interventions and warnings. Therefore, it's time for him to figure out his path in life, and he decides to take advantage of the interview with Einstein, as otherwise he won't be able to get into Rocketcorp. Although Einstein isn't entirely interested in the interview and had planned to decline the offer without even showing up, Hampton almost forces him to change his mind and states that he will accompany the boy to the factory.
While they both wait for the interview, Hampton tries his luck with the receptionist to find out when Dremel will be visiting and if they can arrange a meeting. The receptionist, of course, is unhelpful, knowing better than to give out information to just anyone, although Hampton proudly confesses that he is also an official client of the corporation. He asks permission to enter the company premises, pretending he only wants to accompany his nervous son to the interview, but the receptionist also denies his request, as no one is allowed to enter without proper authorization. However, Hampton takes advantage of the woman being engrossed in an important call and finally sneaks into the facility, hoping no one will question his presence.
Once inside the Rocketcorp facilities, Hampton sneaks around and tries to find his target, having to hide from Einstein and his interviewer, as well as from Manny, because his partner is unaware of his new plan. After evading the action, he finally locates Dean Dremel and his team in a corner of the factory and doesn't hesitate to approach him. Hampton expresses his delight at meeting the entrepreneur, stating that he, too, is a traveling tool salesman, like Dremel at the beginning of his career. The protagonist claims to be a great admirer of Dremel's work, especially how he has built an engineering empire from humble beginnings. While Hampton's praise may be genuine, and it's possible that Dremel inspired him during his incarceration, his intention is undoubtedly to curry favor.
Once Dremel draws his attention, Hampton shows him the theoretical design of his invention, the drill, and claims to have already created a perfectly functioning prototype. Although Dremel's partners initially balk at this sudden business proposition, the man himself appears quite intrigued, both by the product itself and by how he has been approached in this manner. More than anything, this approach demonstrates Hampton's passion and dedication, something he quite likes, and therefore, he's willing to take the matter seriously. He asks Hampton to send ten units to his office to test the Bit Magician and see if it really will be as revolutionary as the inventor has been making it out to be.
Hampton is excited about this development, especially since the total order value would be $3,000, which would help him settle his debts to the Prevosts, and so he requests payment. Since his business is technically nonexistent, with no one else on his team, meaning he'll have to manufacture ten units of the machine himself, completing the order will not only take time but also quite a bit of money. Therefore, Hampton tells Dremel that he needs payment for the entire order first, and this is where the businessman disagrees, naturally not wanting to make such payments without even seeing the machine in operation. The deal was about to be canceled when the receptionist entered the scene, with Einstein at her side, trying to surprise the young man. Hampton had previously told her that Einstein was a big fan of Dremel, which is why he tried to convince her to let them meet the man, but she refused. But now she's changed her mind, possibly because Einstein had just been offered an engineering position at the company, so he takes him to meet with his idol, Dean Dremel.
Hampton was obviously anxious at the time, feeling that his lies about Einstein's admiration for Dremel would be discovered and he would be kicked off the premises, but the opposite happened. Einstein came to his father's rescue and revealed that he had read about Dremel and closely followed his entrepreneurial career, perhaps suggesting that the boy had a strong interest in engineering and business, even though he would never admit it. He even mentions that he's about to receive a formal offer from Rocketcorp and then explains that it was his father who encouraged him to go to the interview, which was a great decision. Since Einstein is aware of his father's invention, he quickly realizes that he is trying to sell his idea to Dremel, so he indirectly praises him, mentioning how Hampton values commitment and hard work.
Although his invention, the drill, will undoubtedly catapult Hampton to a new level of success, it is precisely this invention that suddenly lands him in trouble with the police. Detectives Hargrove and Barfield had been investigating the burglary at Temple Hillel despite Rabbi Marty withdrawing his official complaint. The matter became even more serious after Bootsy was found in the chimney of a nearby house, although it is now revealed that the man is not dead, as he previously appeared, but in a coma.
A quick dig into Bootsy's past reveals that he was a professional thief, and since Hargrove had already deduced that there must have been an accomplice in the robbery, since no drill was found near the man, he begins investigating all of the thief's accomplices. Detective Barfield has an idea as to how Bootsy ended up in the house's chimney: he believes the man must have seen a police car while fleeing the synagogue, forcing him to take refuge on the old woman's property. However, the property wasn't a safe place either, as Bootsy was being chased by a dog, so he must have climbed onto the roof for protection and then crawled into the chimney to hide.
Detective Hargrove, however, doesn't take this theory too seriously, as she still believes the accomplice must have been involved in Bootsy's injury and ending up inside the chimney, so she reviews old files. She finds a connection to Jean-Guy Prevost, but then, upon further investigation, discovers a connection between Bootsy and Hampton, and decides to investigate this lead. She calls Hampton's probation officer, Tedd Eddlebrock, and asks him about Hampton's recent activities. Although Tedd wants to help Hampton and praises him enthusiastically, he also mentions how he invented a self-sharpening drill, which immediately piques Hargrove's interest, as he has also been searching for a convict skilled in drills.
So, the detectives immediately head to Hampton's house and meet with Astoria, questioning her about her husband's actions on the night of the robbery. While Hampton hasn't spoken directly to the detectives yet, he's already in serious trouble with the law and with his wife, as Astoria is furious about his choices. Hampton tries to argue that he acted in desperation and later corrected his mistake by returning the money, but Astoria tells him about Bootsy's condition, something completely new to Hampton. Hampton is visibly shaken to learn of his friend's coma at the end of "Government Cheese," and his reaction to the situation will be interesting to watch in next week's season finale.
Comments
Post a Comment