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“Mildred Pierce” – Photos/Synopses of the HBO Miniseries Debuting Sunday, March 27

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  • March 23, 2011

  • 4 mins to read

Kate Winslet as Mildred Pierce

Mildred Pierce, HBO’s newest miniseries, begins this Sunday, March 27, 2011 from 9:00-11:05 pm ET/PT. Starring Academy Award®/Golden Globe®/Screen Actors Guild Award® winner Kate Winslet as Mildred Pierce, the show begins in Glendale, California in 1931. Mildred, a young mother with a talent for baking, is left a “grass widow” after throwing her husband, Bert (Brían F. OʼByrne), out of the house. Forced to hunt for work to support herself and her two young daughters, 11-year-old Veda (Morgan Turner) and seven-year-old Ray (Quinn McColgan), Mildred visits an employment agency, only to encounter job opportunities she feels are beneath her. Amidst her job search, she receives dating advice from her friend and neighbor, Lucy Gessler (Melissa Leo), and begins an unexpected affair with an exbusiness partner of her husbandʼs, Wally Burgan (James LeGros). When Mildred receives a call from the agency regarding an opening as a housekeeper to a wealthy socialite, she reluctantly agrees to meet with her. After cutting the acerbic interview short, Mildred seeks refuge at a local diner, Cristoforʼs Café, where fate, and a waitress named Ida (Mare Winningham), will play a role in shaping her future.

In Part 2, Mildredʼs business prospects get a boost when she starts selling her homemade pies at the diner. With the help of Burgan, she finds a perfect space to launch a chicken-and-pie restaurant as business booms, though her marriage to Bert threatens to short-circuit its financing. After an amicable divorce, Mildred becomes the owner of her own restaurant, but her relationship with her precocious daughter Veda is fraying. On her last day at the diner, Mildred finds unexpected romance when she impulsively joins a handsome customer, Monty Beragon (Guy Pearce), on a holiday at the Santa Barbara shore. Unfortunately, her happiness is short-lived, as tragedy strikes when the pair returns home.

Part 3 airs Sunday, April 3, 9:15-10:30 p.m. ET/PT and finds us in 1931-1933, where, in the wake of the unspeakable tragedy, Mildred moves forward with preparations for her new chicken-and-pie restaurant.  After a slow start on opening night, the restaurant fills to capacity, and Mildred gladly welcomes Ida to help manage the frenzy.  Among the guests is Monty, who wastes no time reacquainting himself with Mildred, and impressing Veda with his refined stature.  At Monty’s suggestion, Mildred hires a new piano teacher for Veda, but is unable to buy her a new piano when the repeal of prohibition forces her to add a bar to the restaurant.  As Veda grows resentful, Mildred chafes at the indolent Monty and his extravagant lifestyle, culminating in an emotional New Year’s Eve face-off.

Parts 4 and 5 will be shown on Sunday, April 10th, 9:00-11:30 pm ET/PT. In part 4, it’s four years later – 1937-1938 – where, after expanding her Glendale eatery to include a Beverly Hills luncheonette, Mildred and Lucy, her best friend and junior business partner, eye Laguna Beach as the site for a new oceanfront restaurant, with a seafood-and-steak menu.  However, Mildred’s business success is tempered by a growing rift with Veda (now played by Evan Rachel Wood), who despairs when her longtime piano teacher dies and a prospective replacement, well-known conductor Carlo Treviso (Ronald Guttman), is less than complimentary.  Stung by rejection, Veda ends up in the company of society loafer Sammy Forrester (Nick Westrate), whose mother (Hope Davis) surprises Mildred with shocking allegations about their children.  When Mildred confronts Veda, an emotional argument ensues and Mildred angrily throws her out of the house.  After months with no communication between the two, Bert tells Mildred about Veda’s success as a singer on the radio.  Listening to Veda sing, Mildred is pained by her daughter’s estrangement, and is determined to win her back.

Part 5 takes place from 1938-1940: Though her initial attempts to reconcile with Veda fail, Mildred does end up reconnecting with Monty, who is only too happy to have his newly affluent lover purchase his family estate in Pasadena.  Meanwhile, Veda’s career as a coloratura soprano takes off under the tutelage of Carlo Treviso and a new manager.  Although mother and daughter finally make up on the occasion of Mildred’s wedding to Monty, all is not well.  After a stream of financial indulgences, Mildred ends up in a bind when the Laguna restaurant slumps, and the disloyal Wally threatens legal action on behalf of her creditors.  Urged by Bert to ask the successful Veda for a loan, Mildred returns home to a shocking revelation that will change her life forever.

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All photos Andrew Schwartz/HBO. ©2011 HBO Entertainment

 

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!