Previous
Calvin Evans
Walter Pine is the father of Amanda Pine and a producer for the local television network. He gives Elizabeth a TV show, Supper at Six, after witnessing her passion for nutrition. Although Walter’s instincts are more socially conservative than Elizabeth’s, Elizabeth repeatedly convinces him to let her do the show the way she wants to. After some encouragement from Elizabeth, Walter also stands up to Phil Lebensmal, his abusive boss. Like Elizabeth, it is important to Walter that he be a good parent and set a good example for his daughter.
Walter Pine Quotes in Lessons in Chemistry
The Lessons in Chemistry quotes below are all either spoken by Walter Pine or refer to Walter Pine. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 24: The Afternoon Depression Zone Quotes
“By the way,” he said, pausing, “have you ever noticed how women always say they need to run to the store? Not walk, not go, not stop by. Run. That’s what I mean. The homemaker is operating at an insane level of hyperproductivity. And even though she’s in way over her head, she still has to make dinner. It’s not sustainable, Elizabeth. She’s going to have a heart attack or a stroke, or at the very least be in a foul mood. And it’s all because she can’t procrastinate like her fourth grader or pretend to be doing something like her husband. She’s forced to be productive despite the fact that she’s in a potentially fatal time zone—the Afternoon Depression Zone.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 31: The Get-Well Card Quotes
Even though he knew he couldn’t possibly be the only one who’d hated the boss, he’d had no idea what a large club he belonged to. It was validating, sure, but also gut-wrenching. Because as a producer, he was part of Phil’s management team, and that meant he was responsible for pushing Phil’s agenda while ignoring those who ultimately paid the price for it. He reached for a pen and, for the fourth time that day, followed Elizabeth Zott’s simple advice: do what was right.
MAY YOU NEVER RECOVER, he wrote in huge letters across the middle. Then he stuffed the card in an enormous envelope, put it in the out basket, and made a solemn promise. Things had to change. He would start with himself.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 45: Supper at Six Quotes
“Let’s say supper at six, then,” Elizabeth said, not wanting her to go. “The home lab. Everyone—you, Wilson, Mad, Sixty-Thirty, me, Harriet, Walter. You’ll need to meet Wakely and Mason at some point, too. The whole family.”
Avery Parker, her face suddenly familiar with Calvin’s smile, turned back and took Elizabeth’s hands in her own. “The whole family,” she said.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Lessons in Chemistry LitChart as a printable PDF.
"My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." -Graham S.
Walter Pine Character Timeline in Lessons in Chemistry
The timeline below shows where the character Walter Pine appears in Lessons in Chemistry. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2: Pine
...got the job as the host of Supper at Six after a strange confrontation with Walter Pine, a producer at the local television studio. Elizabeth paid a visit to Walter’s office...
(full context)
Walter is taken aback when Elizabeth enters his office. He does not know why she came...
(full context)
Because of Elizabeth’s concerns regarding nutrition, Walter offers her a cooking show on his network. Elizabeth accepts the job because it pays...
(full context)
Chapter 23: KCTV Studios
Meanwhile, Walter Pine is stressed about finding a suitable show for an empty afternoon slot on TV....
(full context)
...co-author. Outraged, she confronts them and resigns. Back home, Harriet informs Elizabeth about calls from Walter, and Madeline is shocked to learn that Elizabeth spoke to Amanda’s father. Madeline tries to...
(full context)
Later, as Elizabeth is eating dinner, Walter calls her with a proposal for her to host a cooking show. Although she dislikes...
(full context)
Chapter 24: The Afternoon Depression Zone
Phil Lebensmal, the executive producer at KCTV and Walter's boss, instructs Walter to style Elizabeth provocatively for TV, suggesting skin-tight outfits. He also recommends...
(full context)
...the set, designed like a tacky kitchen and lacking the requested equipment, is complete, but Walter knows Elizabeth will dislike it. He tells Elizabeth that her role is to entertain, especially...
(full context)
Walter expresses his condolences for Calvin’s death and empathizes with Elizabeth, but he advises against sharing...
(full context)
As Walter and Elizabeth are getting to know each other, they discover that Mrs. Mudford has summoned...
(full context)
Chapter 25: The Average Jane
...by the set, she openly criticizes it on air and walks off to talk to Walter, leading to an abrupt commercial break. Walter tells her that the set, designed for the...
(full context)
Elizabeth’s unscripted behavior infuriates Lebensmal, who angrily confronts Walter and threatens to cancel the show. Despite Walter's pleas, Elizabeth stands by her conscience and...
(full context)
Chapter 26: The Funeral
Two weeks into the broadcast, Walter is completely worn out. Despite his exhaustion, Elizabeth keeps insisting on changing the kitchen set....
(full context)
Contrary to Walter's expectations, Elizabeth starts her show by decluttering the kitchen set, handing out most of the...
(full context)
During the taping, Walter is so overwhelmed that he imagines his own funeral. He’s brought back to reality by...
(full context)
Chapter 29: Bonding
...of her show, Elizabeth teaches about various chemical bonds while making a chicken pot pie. Walter is concerned while watching her performance because Lebensmal, having renewed Elizabeth's contract for another six...
(full context)
Chapter 30: 99 Percent
Walter calls Elizabeth to sympathize over Amanda's troubles with the family tree project and informs her...
(full context)
Chapter 31: The Get-Well Card
...three weeks, followed by an entire year of bed rest, making work impossible for him. Walter is shocked to discover that Elizabeth was present during the incident and called for an...
(full context)
Elizabeth reveals to Walter that Lebensmal fired the entire team before attempting to assault her. She also tells him...
(full context)
With Lebensmal incapacitated, Walter steps up as the acting executive producer. He successfully syndicates the show nationwide and secures...
(full context)
Chapter 32: Medium Rare
Once inside, Walter’s secretary offers Harriet and Madeline front-row seats, which they accept after ensuring that the bright...
(full context)
Walter, concerned, meets with Harriet and Madeline, questioning why Madeline isn’t in school. He warns that...
(full context)
After speaking with Walter, Harriet and Madeline return to the audience to watch Elizabeth. In a bold move at...
(full context)
Chapter 33: Faith
...of atheism is shocking and results in widespread controversy, even from her most devoted fans. Walter starts receiving threats from sponsors and viewers who wish harm upon Elizabeth. Despite the turmoil,...
(full context)
Chapter 35: The Smell of Failure
Meanwhile, protesters opposing Elizabeth’s openly declared atheism gather outside KCTV. Elizabeth remains unbothered, but Walter is deeply concerned, especially since Elizabeth has been receiving numerous death threats. Six-Thirty is also...
(full context)
To appease Elizabeth, Walter lies and says that Madeline’s visit was due to a homework assignment, “Watch Your Parent...
(full context)
Chapter 36: Life and Death
...rejects it because she does not want to subject her family to an invasive interviewer. Walter, who has grown fond of Harriet and developed feelings for her, seeks Harriet’s assistance to...
(full context)
Chapter 37: Sold Out
...as “Luscious Lizzie.” Mrs. Mudford contributes a picture of Madeline’s family tree that erroneously shows Walter as a family member, leading to misguided speculation about Elizabeth's relationship with him. The magazine...
(full context)
Chapter 41: Recommit
...her retirement, declaring it her final show. The previous evening, she went gone to inform Walter of her decision and unexpectedly found Harriet at his home. It turns out that Walter...
(full context)
...audience responds with enthusiastic applause as Elizabeth wraps up the show. In a spontaneous moment, Walter thinks of a fitting final line and displays it on a cue card: “This concludes...
(full context)
Chapter 45: Supper at Six
...extends an invitation to them for “supper at six” at her home lab. She includes Walter, Harriet, Madeline, and Six-Thirty in the invitation and mentions that they should also meet Dr....
(full context)
