Ep 2. Quiet and Nice

In the second episode of Industry season one titled "Quiet and Nice," the graduates of Pierpoint & Co. are being put to the test as they begin working on live deals. Harper Stern, one of the graduates, is struggling to keep up with the demands of her position as a sales trader and feels pressure from her colleagues to succeed. Meanwhile, her classmate, Gus, is dealing with personal issues which are affecting his work performance.

After a few successful trades, Harper's confidence begins to build, but she still feels haunted by her poor performance during her exam, which has left her with the lowest score in her cohort. However, her attempts to improve are affected by the competitive work environment and her personal life.

As her colleagues push her to take risks and make bold decisions, Harper struggles to maintain her values and boundaries. She is also dealing with the unexpected death of her father, leading to a breakdown and a search for comfort and connection.

Gus, on the other hand, is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality, which is affecting his job as a risk analyst. He is being outperformed by his fellow analyst, Rohan, who is more focused and efficient. After coming out to his colleagues, Gus tries to regain control of his personal and professional life, which includes a visit from his family, who are not supportive of his career or sexuality.

Throughout the episode, tensions rise between the graduates as they try to balance the demands of their jobs with personal issues. They are also forced to navigate the complex relationships between colleagues and superiors, including the charismatic head of sales, Kenny Kilbane, and the demanding head of trading, Eric Tao.

In the end, Harper is faced with a difficult decision that will either make or break her career, as well as her values. As she weighs the options, she realizes that the corporate world is not as simple or fair as she once believed.

"Quiet and Nice" is a powerful episode that delves deeper into the lives of the graduates at Pierpoint & Co. while shedding light on the complex and often cut-throat world of finance. It is a gripping and emotional chapter that explores themes of competition, success, morality, and personal identity.