The crack about the 'American housewife' doing the dishes annoyed me, though. I sincerely doubt that Russian women were not the ones stuck with the dishes even when they weren't housewives. (If anything, I'd assume American women got out of doing dishes earlier because dishwasher...)

I actually interpreted the whole exchange as Gabriel hinting rather broadly that he wanted to talk with Philip alone, plus he then added that there was something for Elizabeth in the kitchen drawer, so it made sense for her to go out there. The Jennings' have a dishwasher, btw. Although, sometimes they're seen doing the dishes by hand also. A little inconsistent.