Ep 8. Never Say Die

Ben Epstein and Cam Calderon are two friends who are trying to make it in New York City's fashion industry. In season 1 episode 8 of How to Make It in America, titled "Never Say Die," Ben is trying to get their new clothing line noticed by a high-end boutique. Cam, on the other hand, is dealing with the fallout from his latest business decision.

The episode begins with Ben and Cam meeting with a buyer from a boutique called Crisp. They are trying to convince her to carry their clothing line. She asks for some tweaks to their samples, but ultimately seems interested. The meeting ends on a positive note, and Ben and Cam are excited about the possibility of getting their clothes in a high-end store.

Meanwhile, Cam's girlfriend, Domingo, is not happy with him. He had invested $5,000 of their shared savings into a mobile photo booth business without consulting her. And now, the business seems to be failing. Cam is trying to stay positive, but Domingo is upset. She's worried that they won't be able to pay rent, and she's upset that Cam made such a big decision without involving her.

Back at Ben's apartment, Rachel, their friend who works in fashion PR, stops by. She has some good news for Ben: a fashion editor she knows wants to feature their clothing line in an upcoming magazine spread. Ben is thrilled by the opportunity, but he's also worried. They need to have more samples ready for the shoot, and they don't have a lot of time or money.

Cam is still reeling from the mobile photo booth business. He tells Rene, who works as a delivery man but who has ambitions of becoming a chef, about the situation. Rene offers to lend Cam some money, but Cam is hesitant to take it.

Back at Crisp, Ben and Cam have their samples ready. They meet with the buyer again, but things don't go as well as they had hoped. The buyer tells them that she's not going to carry their line after all. She explains that she just doesn't see a market for their clothes - they're too similar to things that are already out there. Ben is crushed, and blames himself for not being able to convince her.

Meanwhile, Domingo has decided to take matters into her own hands. She tells Cam that she's going to start her own photo booth business, and that she wants him to help her. She's still upset about the money he lost, but she sees this as a way to make something positive out of it. Cam is hesitant, but eventually agrees to help.

Back at Ben's apartment, he's still trying to figure out what went wrong with the buyer at Crisp. Rachel tells him that sometimes, there's just no rhyme or reason for why someone doesn't want to carry a product. She suggests that he and Cam keep trying, and not give up.

In the end, Cam and Domingo's photo booth business seems to be taking off. They're busy with events every weekend, and they're making good money. Ben and Cam have also managed to get their clothing line into a smaller boutique, which is a step in the right direction. The episode ends with Ben, Cam, Rachel, and Rene sharing a joint and talking about their future plans. They may have hit some roadblocks along the way, but they're not giving up on their dreams.

Overall, "Never Say Die" is a bittersweet episode. Ben and Cam experience some small victories, but also some big setbacks. Cam's mobile photo booth business brings some tension into his relationship with Domingo, but they manage to work through it and come out stronger. And Ben learns that rejection is just part of the game when it comes to the fashion industry. Through it all, the friends remain supportive of each other, and are determined to keep trying to make it in America.