Standard Deviation (Masters of Sex)
| "Standard Deviation" | |
|---|---|
| Masters of Sex episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 3 |
| Directed by | Lawrence Trilling |
| Written by | Sam Shaw |
| Featured music | |
| Original air date | October 13, 2013 |
| Running time | 52 minutes |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
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"Standard Deviation" is the third episode of the first season of the American period drama television series Masters of Sex. It originally aired on October 13, 2013 in the United States on Showtime.
In 1945, William Masters (Michael Sheen) shows Barton Scully (Beau Bridges) an experiment he is conducting with rabbits. He then reveals to Scully that he wants to stop studying animal sexuality and move on to humans, claiming that everyone, including Bill himself, is clueless about sex. Time transitions back to February 1957, where an engaged college student (Mae Whitman) is consulting Bill about contraception. Not even aware of where her cervix is, she is clearly uneducated about sex.
Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan) eagerly tells Bill about the prostitutes from the brothel that have agreed to partake in their study. She is disappointed by Bill treating her like his secretary, when she prefers to be considered his assistant. Betty (Annaleigh Ashford) confronts Bill about his refusal to reverse her tubal ligation. He eventually agrees to do it, but still believes it is not a good idea.
At the brothel, Bill and Virginia watch multiple prostitutes masturbate, one of which fakes her orgasm. The next day, Ethan Haas (Nicholas D'Agosto) comes to the aid of a heavily pregnant woman. Meanwhile, Bill introduces Dr. Lillian DePaul (Julianne Nicholson) to Virginia, who also treats Virginia like a secretary. Ethan tells Master's wife Libby (Caitlin Fitzgerald) that the pregnant woman he was with is having quadruplets. He becomes interested as Libby tells him about the Badgett quadruplets, who, alongside the hospital that delivered them, received much publicity. He then goes to Scully and asks to be the doctor to deliver the babies. Scully reluctantly agrees, but due to his lack of experience, requests that Bill be in the delivery room with him. Back at the brothel, Bill tells Virginia that they are going to need men in the study.
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