The premiere episode of Industry's third season, intriguingly titled "Il Mattino ha L’Oro in Bocca" (a phrase that eloquently conveys the wisdom of seizing dawn's golden opportunities), opens with a haunting reverie of Yasmin's past aboard a luxurious yacht, a world of opulence shared by her father and his affluent cronies. The memory is marred by a visceral disgust as she recalls witnessing her father indulging in an illicit liaison with a pregnant server, within the confines of her own cabin, a stark contrast to the glamorous facade.
The narrative abruptly shifts to a present teeming with paparazzi scrutiny, six weeks later, as Yasmin finds herself at the center of a media storm. Her father's recent indictment for embezzlement has sent him into hiding, casting a dark shadow over Yasmin's life and turning her into a target for relentless tabloid attention.
Stepping into the hallowed halls of Pierpoint & Co., Yasmin's path crosses with Sweetpea, her colleague and a prominent social media maven, who is engrossed in an article that brands Yasmin as their "Embezzling Heiress." The irony of being portrayed as wealthy while residing in a dilapidated abode stings deeply, leaving Yasmin reeling from a crisis of confidence. She feels her competence questioned, her future at the firm uncertain, and the fear of job loss looms large.
Desperate for reassurance, Yasmin reaches out to James Ashford, an investor, only to discover that his focus lies elsewhere – in pursuit of Henry Muck, the visionary CEO of Lumi, an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) pioneer. This unexpected revelation adds another layer of complexity to Yasmin's already tumultuous journey, as she navigates the treacherous waters of public scrutiny, professional uncertainty, and the relentless pursuit of redemption.
James adamantly refuses to collaborate with Yasmin, instead demanding she bridge him with Henry, a request that incites her ire. As the tension mounts, Kenny enters the fray, engaging Yasmin in discourse about Lumi's impending IPO, stirring up the atmosphere.
Concurrently, Robert finds himself tailing Henry Muck, only to be interrupted by a call from Yasmin, urgently warning him of James' machinations. Across town, at Pierpoint London, Eric's appointment as Head of Sales is met with enthusiasm as the board convenes, emphasizing the significance of Lumi's successful IPO to their interests.
Post-meeting, William attempts to exert undue influence, pressuring Eric to dismiss Yasmin due to the detrimental media coverage stemming from her family's scandal. This meddling only serves to irritate Eric, who resents being micromanaged.
Henry, meanwhile, emerges from a contentious interview with a journalist, his frustration palpable as he vents to Robert about the ordeal. Through their conversation, it becomes clear that Pierpoint has been vying for Lumi's IPO for half a year now.
Elsewhere, Kenny offers Eric heartfelt congratulations on his promotion, the two men's chat eventually turning to Yasmin. Kenny unwaveringly vouches for her, standing as her champion. Yasmin, seeking to address Eric directly, finds him indifferent, his demeanor cool towards her.
James makes a grand entrance at Lumi, confronting Henry with relentless questions about the earnings report, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the upcoming IPO. The bankers at Pierpoint, particularly Kenny and Yasmin, find themselves on edge, their anxiety palpable as they grapple with the potential consequences of this report.
Eric, recognizing the gravity of the situation, tasks Yasmin with keeping a close watch on James and ensuring that Lumi's trading performance on the day of its IPO launch exceeds expectations. In a subtle reminder of his authority, he alludes to his previous decision to dismiss Harper, urging Yasmin to keep any potential issues under wraps.
Meanwhile, Harper toils away as an Administrative Assistant at FutureDawn, a prestigious ESG-focused hedge fund. Yasmin reaches out to her, seeking a bridge to Harper's formidable boss, Anna. Harper, driven by her own agenda, endeavors to persuade Anna to increase their holdings in Lumi's shares, strategically timing it before the Initial Public Offering (IPO). Yasmin, taking up the baton, engages Anna in conversation, urging her to expand their portfolio.
Anna, however, is no fool. She senses the undercurrents, deducing that someone must be withdrawing their support, hinting at a deeper issue at play. The conversation with Anna abruptly ends, leaving Harper's attempts at further discussion met with indifference and a curt request to relocate her vehicle from the premises.
As the night descends, Yasmin, determined to evade unwanted paparazzi lenses, scurries to cover her windows. Amidst her efforts, Henry's call interrupts, extending an invitation that she cannot easily decline.
Concurrently, Harper finds herself lingering at the office, striving to rekindle the discussion about Lumi's IPO with Anna, only to be met with the latter's abrupt departure. Yasmin's frustration boils over when she discovers that Robert has unwittingly shared her contact with Henry.
Returning home with Dave, Harper endeavors to soothe Yasmin's frayed nerves. Nevertheless, fate conspires against Yasmin's wishes, and she finds herself compelled to confront Henry. Her intentions to discuss James' withdrawal are swiftly overshadowed as Henry and his uncles indulge in a squash match, their casual banter inadvertently treading on sensitive territory – Yasmin's father.
The mention of her past wounds Yasmin deeply, and she prepares to depart in a huff. But Henry, sensing her distress, attempts to mend fences, offering a sincere apology for his uncles' insensitivity. The evening, though tumultuous, takes a tentative turn towards reconciliation.
Among the duo of Henry's uncles, one persists in attempting to lure Yasmin into a romantic rendezvous, yet she firmly declines his advances. In retaliation, this man, with a sinister undertone, reveals that her father is indebted to him and menacingly threatens to make a scene at his club if she doesn't comply. Yasmin's heart sinks as she grapples with finding a way out of this predicament.
Fatefully, that very evening, Yasmin stumbles upon Denise, her trusted lawyer and confidante. Desperate to clear the air, she endeavors to explain how a photograph of her aboard a yacht, though captured ages ago, has misled the public into believing she still wields financial prowess, attracting those seeking to reclaim the debts her father has accumulated.
As luck would have it, Yasmin chances upon Eric on a date with a woman who isn't his wife, a revelation that catches her off guard. Eric approaches, his demeanor revealing the truth – his marriage is but a distant memory. Denise, ever the gracious host, extends an invitation to Eric to join their impromptu gathering, where they indulge in a fleeting moment of escapism through drugs. The haze of their shared indulgence fosters an unexpected closeness between Yasmin and Eric, as they confide in each other's struggles, Yasmin sharing about her father's mysterious disappearance, and Eric disclosing his impending decision to terminate an employment. He humbly requests Yasmin's understanding and space as tensions between him and Denise inevitably rise.
Meanwhile, Robert's world takes a tragic turn as he seeks solace in Nicole's embrace, their union culminating in a passionate night. But the morning dawns with a cruel twist; Nicole, now still and silent, has left this world. Robert, reeling from the shock, attempts to reach out to Yasmin, his voice choked with emotion, unable to utter the devastating news.
As Yasmin embarks on her workday, Eric's unexpected arrival, dressed in the remnants of their shared night, presages an impending storm. Shortly after, Robert's shattered frame makes its way into the scene, his emotional dam bursting at the seams, leaving Yasmin to confront yet another layer of life's complexities.
Eric sternly exhorts Robert to pull himself together and compels him to attend the crucial IPO meeting at Lumi. As Eric retreats to his desk, Kenny attempts to engage him in conversation, only to be met with Eric's disheveled appearance, prompting a terse reaction.
Eric's patience snaps, summoning Kenny to accompany him to a secluded conference room. In a terse tone, he informs Kenny that his employment is terminated. Kenny, taken aback, retaliates with the threat of making a spectacle, but Eric counters with a chilling revelation: he will expose Kenny's sordid past of harassing Yasmin. Kenny, defeated, slinks away, casting the blame unfairly on Yasmin for his own dismissal.
Meanwhile, Robert arrives at the highly anticipated Lumi IPO launch, where tensions are already simmering. The episode culminates in a dramatic turn as Lumi officially goes public, only to be marred by a catastrophic power outage that simultaneously plagues both Lumi and Pierpoint, plunging the celebrations into chaos and uncertainty.
