Masters of Sex S1E9 - "Involuntary" Recap

Bill decides that the external bodily reactions should be filmed, as it will be more effective than simply describing them. Bill has Virginia ask Jane to submit herself to be filmed, as her face would be out of the footage at all times. They hire a filmmaker named Lester to film Jane masturbating.

Ethan reveals to Vivian the fact that he is non-practicing Jewish and it spurs her on to insist that their wedding be Christian. He agrees to convert to Christianity but later grows conflicted about doing so, leading him to break up with her.

Virginia earns the top marks in her class and it causes the other (male) students who aren't doing anywhere near as well to ask her to join their study group.

Estabrooks, Bill's mother, figures out that Libby is pregnant. Libby insists that she not say anything because she doesn't want to "tempt fate." Bill tells his mother about his study, expecting to shock her, but she is not bothered and also notes that his father had had an affair with his secretary for several years.

Libby reveals to Estabrooks that her father had abandoned her after her mother died. Bill doesn't know this because she tells everyone that he is dead. Now having a family of her own means everything to her because she wanted her own happy ending.

Estabrooks has dinner with Bill, Virginia, Jane, and Lester. She learns more about their study and their findings. She also picks up on the fact that something is going on between Bill and Virginia. She later confronts him about this at his office. She begins by expressing regret at never speaking up against Bill's father abusing him. She transitions into comparing his father's affair to the one he is currently having. He becomes angry but she tells him to resolve the problems in his marriage. Bill goes home where Libby reveals her pregnancy. He is upset at her going behind his back to get help getting pregnant but she also confronts him about his lying to her about her being the one with fertility problems. She also points out that even though his work is important, there is no life and love in the clinical logistics of sex.

Jane watches the footage of herself from the masturbation study and becomes uncomfortable by seeing it from the outside. She rescinds her permission for Virginia and Bill to use the footage. Virginia then decides to be the one filmed masturbating while Bill operates the camera. Bill decides it would be better for him to try to distance himself from Virginia because of his growing feelings for her so he attempts to pay her like any other participant in the study. She is offended by the gesture and decides she should try to distance herself from Bill emotionally as well. She then rekindles her friendship with Ethan.

Masters of Sex airs on Sundays on Showtime at 10PM.