Masters of Sex - "Standard Deviation" Recap

Dr. William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan)

Season 1, Episode 3 - Full Synopsis

The episode begins with a flashback of Dr. William Masters demonstrating the spontaneous ovulation of female rabbits to his colleague and boss, Scully. He goes on to state a desire to study human sexuality to better understand sex, which he claims to have no understanding of. Scully is skeptical of this interest, claiming it to be in poor taste.

In present day, 1957, Masters meets with a virgin patient about to be married. She seeks birth control, and Masters demonstrates how to put on a condom, and she is visibly nervous about the notion of doing so. He suggests creams, jellies, and finally, a diaphragm. She selects the diaphragm, due to its being safe, effective, and discrete. When he explains that the size of the device is selected to match the cervix, she states her ignorance as to where that is located.

Virginia Johnson goes over the schedule for that evening with Masters for research on the physiology of orgasms set to be done with prostitutes from Betty DiMello's brothel. Betty continues to protest to Masters at her wanting her tubes to be untied so that she may have a baby with a wealthy man that is interested in her. He is dismissive of her requests due to her being a lesbian prostitute and child-rearing being a massive responsibility.

That evening, Masters and Virginia conduct preliminary questionnaire interviews on the prostitutes set to be the subjects of the research. The women are then hooked up to the machines and provided with "Ulysses," a vibrator with a camera, to be used if they wish. Each of the shown women have different  results. One appears to be highly successful with Ulysses (before the machine reveals that she faked it), one reveals she has not been able to come for several years now, and another insists on getting on all fours and being spanked by Masters in order to be able to come.

Dr. Lillian DePaul is introduced to Virginia by Masters. Master's wife, Libby, continues to undergo fertility treatments, and be ignorant of the fact that Masters' low sperm count is the reason for their being unable to conceive. Dr. Ethan Haas successfully coaxes Scully into allowing him to run a high-risk fertility case on quadruplets, under the condition that Masters be second-in-command.

Virginia enquires why Dr. DePaul left Cornell, and learns that it was overrun by men. While attempting to be accommodating to Dr. DePaul, she is instead asked to get her some coffee. At the brothel, Virginia states to Masters that she has re-worded some of the questions to accommodate the difference in lifestyle of the subjects, compared to who the tests were originally designed for. This proves to be effective, as the first interview reveals how her attitudes on sex were shaped by the sexual abuse she received from her uncle, as a young girl. In private, Masters and Virginia note that not a single subject is without some sort of sexually transmitted disease. Masters is irked by the lack of diversity in subjects, stating a desire to have more male subjects.

As Masters is performing the tubal ligation reversal on Betty, two of the male surgical interns present  make some distasteful comments regarding Betts being a prostitute, and he orders them to scrub out. He is unable to successfully complete the procedure and awkwardly meets her fiancee in the waiting room, who believes that she is having a procedure on her appendix. Later, he privately reveals to Betty that she has chronic salpingitis, an inflammation of the fallopian tubes caused by pelvic infection, and the extensive tissue damage has left her unable to get pregnant. Masters is angered by this apparent waste of hospital resources, but Virginia reassures him that he has held up his end of his bargain.

At the brothel, Masters and Virginia have male subjects for their research. One of the subjects enquires as to whether or not their eventual studies of sex will include homosexual intercourse. Masters demonstrates an ignorance as to how two men would be able to engage in intercourse. That subject calls another one of the subjects in to demonstrate. Masters later expresses to Virginia his belief that this apparent deviation from "normal" sexual behaviour will not allow them to gain a standard understanding of sex. Another flashback shows Masters' further inquiries as to how one would go about conducting a study on sex and sexuality, while Scully reiterates that he should not pursue such a salacious study.

Masters learns of Haas' taking on the high-risk quadruplet case, and insists to Scully that he is unqualified to take it on. Scully learns that Haas had not brought Masters on as a second, as agreed upon, and his heading of the case is revoked. Virginia discusses Dr. DePaul with two secretaries, and learns of their disdain for the idea of a female OBGYN, despite her tremendous qualifications. Later, Virginia pays a visit and brings a meal to Libby Masters, and finds her crying. Libby reveals some baby clothes and insists on Virginia taking them to the maternity ward for someone who can actually conceive. As she becomes more distraught at her supposed fertility problems, Virginia reveals that Masters is the one unable to conceive.

One of the gay male prostitutes approaches Masters, and states his desire to further contribute to the study, but Masters refuses, stating that his sexual deviancy is outside the realm of what they are researching. Masters returns home, and attempts to reassure his wife regarding the fertility treatments. The quadruplets have gained national press coverage, and Masters is credited to the press for the success (non-fatality) of the births, while Haas watches enviously.

Virginia meets Betty as she is leaving the hospital. She attempts to assure Betty that her fiancé will be understanding of her infertility. Betty, however, states that she will not divulge that information and that the only way for a woman to get anywhere is to hitch their wagon to a man. She continues, by making the claim that Virginia follows Dr. Masters around and that Masters is in love with her. Virginia denies this and insists she is merely his assistant.

Libby returns to the hospital, where Haas informs that he has successfully gotten her pregnant. Virginia enquires as to the nature of the study and their work relationship, due to Masters treating her like an errand girl during the day and a colleague at night (during the study). Masters scolds her, stating that she lacks the qualifications and training that he has and that she will be treated as an equal when she achieves that same level of achievement. Later, Masters threatens to inform the press that Scully had placed Haas, a fellow, on the quadruplet case if he is not given the proper set-up to conduct his research. Scully is unmoved until Masters cryptically states that he has been informed by the gay prostitute that Scully has paid to watch and/or engage in gay sex. Masters continues to say that he wishes to continue this research for the benefit of those living in the shadows. A flashback reveals Scully's essential role in Masters obtaining his current profession, by threatening to not accept the provost position if Masters was not also offered a position.

Masters returns home to his wife, where she cheerfully greets him, gives him a drink, sits him down, and informs him that it has been a good day. He looks on at her, stunned.

Masters of Sex airs on Sundays on Showtime