Episode 6 of "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans," aptly titled "Hats, Gloves, and Effete Homosexuals," opens in the vibrant year of 1978, the show's contemporary timeline. Truman embarks on a hat-hunting adventure with C.Z., only to discover their trusty hat shop has shuttered its doors. When Truman inquiries about Babe's well-being, C.Z.'s casual mention of her improvement is met with a snide remark. Truman, having relapsed into drinking, is now focused on molding Kate into a Swan, an endeavor that Kate finds unpalatable, given the outdated allure.
Determined to make Kate his muse, Truman escorts her to La Cote, where Slim and Lee cast judgmental eyes upon him, urging Kate to forge her own path. Even the esteemed photographer, Dick Avedon, joins the chorus, admonishing Truman to relinquish his controlling grasp. However, Avedon remains neutral, offering Truman encouragement not to abandon his book, suggesting that dancing, like youth, is fleeting.
Taking this advice to heart, Truman escorts C.Z. to a disco, hoping to recapture a spark of youth. But their evening ends in embarrassment, as they become the fodder for gossip columns, humiliating C.Z. She sternly reminds Truman that his immortality lies in his book and that he must complete it, considering the sacrifices he has made.
Meanwhile, Kate, despite Truman's jagged behavior, attempts to offer him solace. But her efforts are met with a scathing outburst, as Truman lashes out at her perceived nagging. Her tears move him to a promise of improvement.
Elsewhere, the Swans gossip viciously about Truman's latest interview scandal, in which he is being sued for alleging that a drunken Gore Vidal groped Jackie Kennedy, Lee's beloved sister. C.Z., determined to support Truman, tries to persuade Lee to testify on his behalf, but Lee's homophobia stands as a barrier. This only fuels Babe's fury, who sides with C.Z. in her efforts.
As they venture to a department store in search of gloves, they are met with a disheartening revelation. The salesgirl informs them that gloves are no longer in vogue, hence unavailable. Kate, meanwhile, harbors the misconception that Truman is in Palm Springs to resume his work, unaware that he is instead indulging in drinking and flirting with the handyman, Rick. Rick's charm and humor win Truman over, and despite Rick's claims of being straight, he finds himself drawn to Truman. Rick agrees to accompany Truman to New York, but his ramblings about air conditioners and machines fail to impress the elitist circles. A month later, Rick's patience with Truman wanes, and Truman realizes that he has indeed fallen out of fashion.
The legal entanglements are escalating as Lee steadfastly refuses to lend Truman a helping hand. Even his legal representative urges him to swallow his pride and offer Gore Vidal a sincere apology, urging him to redirect his focus towards his literary pursuits. Meanwhile, Rick finds companionship with Kate, while Jack bluntly informs Truman that he never truly needed the Swans. His literary opus has effectively excised them from his narrative, and now it's time for him to embrace this fact rather than begging for their forgiveness.
Later, a drunken Truman rambles incoherently about Gore in a candid interview, leaving C.Z. with a heavy heart. Truman returns home to find Rick packing his bags, leaving him for a charming stranger he encountered at the department store. Truman accepts the inevitable with a heavy sigh, and they part amicably, though the blow shakes him from his lethargy.
At the conclusion of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans Episode 6, Truman finds the inspiration to resume writing. The chapter he begins chronicles his youth, when the Swans flocked to his side, eager to befriend the promising young writer.
