The Chemistry Department celebrates Elizabeth's return with a party and a new lab coat with her initials, "E.Z.," on it.
Donatti, from the department, hints at his knowledge of Elizabeth's continued research into abiogenesis, surprising her.
Elizabeth finds herself questioned by Dr. Donatti about the status of her paper, which she says will take six more weeks of undisturbed work.
Dr. Donatti belittles Elizabeth by comparing her desired focus to that of a male colleague, Calvin, and points out the collaborative nature of their department.
He then assigns her menial tasks, such as typing papers and making coffee, instead of chemistry work.
Elizabeth discovers she has been demoted to a lab tech position and pushes back, but Donatti dismisses her concerns, subtly harassing her with the nickname "Luscious."
When she protests the salary of a lab tech being insufficient for her and her child, Donatti mockingly suggests she attend stenography school.
Distraught, Elizabeth barricades herself in the bathroom stall, where she encounters Miss Frask, who is dealing with her own career frustrations.
Frask reveals her lack of career advancement and the misogynistic behavior of her new young male supervisor and reflects on the sexist attitudes at the institute.
Elizabeth and Miss Frask discuss their respective situations, and Elizabeth learns that others believe she returned to Hastings because a wealthy investor is funding her research.
Frustrated and angry, Elizabeth confronts Miss Frask, challenging her complicity in workplace sexism; the argument becomes heated.
In a moment of vulnerability, both women reveal they were sexually violated by figures of authority, leading to their stunted professional progress.